Abubakar is the tenth child in a polygamous family of fifteen. Raised by a peasant farmer father and a full-time housewife mother, Abubakar’s journey toward academic excellence began with a determination to escape poverty and break free from the challenges of social class in his community.

As the first in his family to attend college, he graduated with a first-class degree in Biology from Umaru Musa Yar'adua University and later earned a master's degree in Biology with distinction from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. His academic commitment earned him the prestigious Nigerian PTDF scholarship, which supported his undergraduate education. Through perseverance, Abubakar produced 10 academic research articles, generating over 30 citations, significantly contributing to his success.

Studying in the United States had always been his dream. In 2022, he applied to the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program and was selected as a finalist. Though his first attempt at U.S. school admissions in the fall of 2023 resulted in rejections, he continued to push forward. In February 2024, his perseverance paid off when he received a fully-funded doctoral offer from Wayne State University, including a GTA support package worth $63,382.

Despite graduating high school with an almost perfect GPA, Elizabeth faced significant challenges in attending college due to her father's battle with arthritis and an extremely low-income background. As the first in her family to attend university, these obstacles seemed insurmountable, but Elizabeth’s determination and resilience drove her to persevere.

In 2016, Elizabeth was accepted into the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program (OFP), but she did not pursue her undergraduate studies in the U.S. at that time due to other challenges. Three years later, she secured a full scholarship to Ashesi University in Ghana. However, she remained connected with her EducationUSA advisors and community, as her goal was to study in the U.S. for her master’s degree.

In 2023, after graduating, Elizabeth’s interest in international development led her to reach out to her EducationUSA advisor for guidance on graduate school. With her continued perseverance, she successfully applied and was accepted into top institutions like the University of California, Berkeley, and Sciences Po. Ultimately, she chose to pursue a Master of Global Affairs with a concentration in Sustainable Development at the University of Notre Dame.

As a recent graduate with limited work experience and mentorship, navigating the complex application process felt daunting for Jennifer. Yet, the challenges she faced only fueled her resolve to succeed.

A turning point in her journey came when she discovered the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program. Through the available mentorship and resources provided, Jennifer gained valuable insights into crafting a compelling Statement of Purpose, refining her CV, and preparing her application materials. The program’s support gave her the confidence and tools to navigate the application process successfully.

Jennifer is now set to pursue a Master's in International and Development Economics at Yale University. She aspires to design and implement policies that promote renewable energy adoption, reduce fossil fuel dependence, and expand access to clean energy in Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Jennifer credits EducationUSA with playing a pivotal role in helping her achieve her academic and professional dreams. She is profoundly grateful for their support and looks forward to making meaningful contributions to global development and energy sustainability.

Opeyemi Ojo Fatunbi is an accomplished scholar with a passion for research, education, and scientific discovery. He earned a Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Biology and Chemistry from Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, graduating as the best student in the Chemistry program. He went on to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, where he earned a First Class Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degree in Pure and Applied Chemistry and was recognized as the best-graduating student in his program.

Between his associate and bachelor’s degrees, Opeyemi worked as a research assistant at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, where he contributed to the development of Aflasafe®, a biocontrol product designed to reduce aflatoxin contamination in staple crops. This hands-on experience refined his research skills and deepened his interest in tackling real-world challenges through science.

After completing his undergraduate degree, Opeyemi participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, where he worked as a teaching assistant in the Industrial Chemistry program at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko. This role allowed him to combine his love for teaching with his dedication to research, further solidifying his aspiration to become an academic.

Despite his impressive academic achievements, Opeyemi faced significant financial struggles throughout his journey. His determination and resourcefulness enabled him to overcome these challenges, ultimately securing a fully funded PhD position in Chemistry and Biochemistry at Ohio University, Athens. His doctoral research will focus on RNA drug discovery, a field with the potential to transform global healthcare.

Rosemary Olubukola Ewetade is a dedicated and passionate lady who has a solid background  in Animal Science and she graduated with a first-class degree from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka  University (formerly Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi) from the Department of Animal  Production. She was ranked in the top 1% of her department. Before this qualification, she  started her academic journey in the year 2014 and graduated year 2016 when she obtained a  National Diploma in Animal Health and Production from the Federal College of Animal Health  and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Ibadan where she graduated with an upper credit  and then proceeded for her Bachelors in 2018. She is passionate about Animal Science and  Environmental Sustainability. 

During her NYSC program at Caleb University, she was a Graduate Assistant. This position  exposed her to many experiences where she demonstrated her teaching and mentorship style.  However, during this period she acquired knowledge and skills through networking and commitment.

Aside from academia, she contributed to her community, one of which is the EducationUSA  College Fair held in Lagos. She played a significant role by welcoming guests of about 2000  attendees, assisting in distributing over 2000 promotional items, ushering the attendees to seats,  and ensuring that College Reps were okay. She worked and networked with like-minded people,  and she has been mentored by the advisers.  

Over 850 applications were received for the Opportunity Fund Program (OFP), she applied but initially, she wasn't shortlisted but she attended the boot camp where she gained insight,  knowledge, and mentorship about how to secure full funding for graduate research assistantship  at schools in the United State of America. The information obtained during the Boot camp was  utilized and this made her recently admitted with a fully funded Graduate Research Assistantship  at Kentucky State University for a Master of Science in Environmental Studies where she aimed  to acquire knowledge and skills to proffer solutions to pressing challenges in the environment.

For Tochukwu, achieving his academic dreams was a journey of resilience, faith, and determination. In 2021, he set his sights on studying in the United States. He applied to at least eight colleges and several global scholarships, gaining multiple admissions but failing to secure the funding he needed for a master’s degree.

In 2022, Tochukwu applied to 15 programs, a mix of master’s and PhD options, balancing his goals for advanced studies with his desire to create an immediate impact in his field. Yet again, funding obstacles persisted, testing his resolve.

By 2023, Tochukwu took a bold approach, focusing on a single application to Virginia Tech, home to a top-ranked Civil Engineering program. His determination paid off when he not only gained admission but also secured full funding. This was the result of years of hard work, persistence, and belief in himself.

Tochukwu’s story is a testament to the power of persistence and faith. With his dreams now within reach, he inspires others to persevere against all odds.

Adebola Esther Adeniji holds a Bachelor of Technology (B Tech) degree in Ecotourism and Wildlife Management from the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA). She graduated with a first class and was the best graduating student in her department.  She has great interest in natural resources conservation and sustainable management.

During her National Youth Service Corps, She worked as a research assistant at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria where she gained more knowledge in Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing and its application in natural resources conservation and management. She collaborated in a research titled ‘Probabilistic Cellular Automata Modelling and Simulation of Land-Use Changes in Okomu National Park’ which has been published in a peer reviewed journal. After her National Youth Service, to hone her skills in GIS and remote sensing she interned at the Center for Space Research and Application, FUTA.  She is also a recipient of the IDEA WILD research equipment grant. She volunteered with non-governmental organizations focusing on making contributions to natural resources conservation and management such as Eden world initiative, Elom greenie, among others.

She got selected among the 27 successful candidates out of over 7000 applicants for the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program for the 2022/2023 cohort. Through the mentorship and financial help of EducationUSA, she successfully passed all the hurdles of getting into a graduate school with fully funded admission in the US. She secured a fully funded admission in the Ecological Sciences and Engineering interdisciplinary doctorate program at Purdue University.

Having been brought up in a local community and now growing up to lead life-changing initiatives has contributed immensely to my transformative leadership and capabilities. I realized earlier that education was the only weapon I had to fulfill my aspirations of becoming a global change agent. As a first-generation college graduate, I completed a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), graduating among the top students in my cohort (2021) and won several awards, including the Federal Government Scholarship Award from sophomore year to final year. The kind support I received as a scholar from this scholarship made it possible for me to earn a university degree. 

All my life, I have striven for excellence regardless of my socio-economic background, and I have achieved great feats regardless of the opposition and constraints. Throughout my academic career, I have developed a deep curiosity for the multifaceted and constantly evolving fields of science and technology. My college experience exposed me to different research subjects and sparked a thirst for more novel findings, with special attention to advanced materials and manufacturing. These experiences led to the discovery of my curiosity about understanding various engineering materials across a wide spectrum of real-world applications and inspired me to pursue an advanced degree. I am keenly passionate about developing solutions that are easily accessible for the retention of sustainable advanced materials and manufacturing technologies. 

As someone who is always willing to give back to my community, I did not limit my abilities to only academics; I’ve had the privilege of volunteering and leading more than five non-profit organizations within campus and the community in different capacities. I served as a vibrant executive of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers, FUTA Chapter. I also co-pioneered the establishment of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, FUTA, and served as its founding secretary. In college, I mentored up to seven junior students who also secured several undergrad scholarships. In 2022, I was unveiled as the face of Nigerian youth leaders by the Public Affairs division of the United States Consulate, Abuja, upon completion of a 9-month intensive leadership fellowship organized by the Africa Leadership Initiative West Africa. 

My desire to inspire and impact the underrepresented youth population around me led me to establish an NGO called Career Associates Nigeria with over 67,000+ followers on LinkedIn. The turning point in my career came when I got to the final interview stage of the EducationUSA OFP 2023 cohort and had the opportunity to participate actively during the Graduate School Bootcamp at the U.S. Lagos consulate. This experience and wealth of knowledge I garnered ignited a burning desire to pursue my dream of securing a fully funded doctoral program in the United States of America. Fast forward months later, I got my big win: the opportunity to attend the prestigious Pennsylvania State University in spring 2024 for my doctoral program in Materials Science and Engineering on a fully-funded offer covering a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a competitive stipend. 

I would like to extend a gratitude to EducationUSA for the mentorship, thank you! As a further projection, my research aims to focus on the design and development of new advanced materials with attention to sustainability and durability by leveraging computation, experimental techniques, and machine learning. Ultimately, my long-term pursuit is to pursue a tenured professorship in materials engineering and advanced manufacturing, where I can train and supervise students to become tenacious researchers while contributing significantly to the body of knowledge in the field.

Adeyemi graduated in 2020 as the best graduating student in the Department of Biochemistry at Lagos State University with a CGPA of 4.86 out of 5.00. During his undergrad days, he served as both the departmental coach and the director of education. After his undergraduate journey, Adeyemi embarked on a year-long National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) experience at a renowned pharmaceutical company, solidifying his practical skills and contributing to the pharmaceutical industry's progress. It was during this time that Adeyemi's dedication to biochemistry found real-world applications.

Eager to further enhance his research skills, Adeyemi pursued a graduate internship at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR). This experience served as a valuable stepping stone in his academic and professional journey, honing his ability to conduct in-depth research and investigate the intricacies of biochemistry in greater detail.

In 2021, Adeyemi secured a coveted spot in the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program, a remarkable milestone in his educational journey. With the generous support of this program, Adeyemi received full funding to pursue a Ph.D. program at Texas Tech University in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. This opportunity marks a significant turning point in Adeyemi's career, where he will continue to expand his knowledge and explore the boundaries of scientific discovery.

Adeyemi's story is an inspiring testament to what can be achieved through dedication, commitment, and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. 

John Olusegun Adeyemo was born and raised in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he completed his primary and secondary education. From his early years, John exhibited a thirst for knowledge and an unwavering dedication to self-improvement, evident even during his primary education.

Transitioning to Ideal Comprehensive College for his secondary education, John faced initial academic challenges, particularly in the field of Mathematics. However, he persevered and displayed an exceptional academic trajectory, culminating in his appointment as Senior Prefect during his final year of high school. Recognizing the need to cultivate excellence among his peers, John co-founded the Quiz Club, a commendable initiative aimed at grooming the top 1% of students for various competitions. Notably, John represented his school in numerous competitions, consistently delivering outstanding performances.

During the pandemic, John represented ICC at the SG Holdings Quiz competition for STEM students in his state. After several rigorous rounds, he emerged as the best STEM student in his region and 4th in the state. John graduated as the valedictorian with the best result from Ideal Comprehensive College and scored 313 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

Discovering the Opportunity Funds Program, John took a leap of faith and submitted an application, despite the slim odds of acceptance. His determination paid off when he received the news of his selection as an Opportunity Funds Program scholar. This came with a lot of responsibility as John knew next to nothing about the US application process. John received numerous rejections after submitting his initial applications to a variety of institutions in the US, including Minerva University. Reflecting on the process, John started Intellect Africa aimed at helping high school students understand the numerous opportunities available to them.

Despite encountering numerous rejections during his arduous journey, John refused to be deterred. For the final time, he applied for the fall of 2023, enduring a rollercoaster of emotions along the way. Ultimately, John received acceptance letters from notable institutions such as Stetson University, Florida Southern College, and Alabama A&M University, each accompanied by partial to full funding opportunities. Come fall 2023, John will be resuming at Alabama A&M University on a full scholarship covering the cost of attendance, where he hopes to study Computer Science.

Akinola Emmanuel is a first-class graduate of mechanical engineering from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, in the top 4% in a class of 97. Emmanuel's academic journey instilled in him a deep appreciation for the profound impact of education on individuals and society.

With a firm belief in the transformative power of education, Emmanuel is dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of others. He has leveraged his passion for helping humanity through GEGAS (Get Educated, Get A Skill) Africa, an initiative that focuses on ensuring access to quality education for underprivileged Nigerian youth. Currently, Emmanuel holds the position of communication lead, utilizing his skills to effectively convey messages and promote the initiative's objectives.

As an EducationUSA opportunity funds scholar, Emmanuel was exposed to firsthand information and guidance needed in applying to U.S. schools and provided the necessary resources to make his graduate school ambition a reality. Emmanuel applied and received two fully funded admissions for a Ph.D. program in Mechanical Engineering at U.S. institutions.

Emmanuel is set to embark on his academic journey at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he will be pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. His research will focus on additive manufacturing and Micro/nano-scale materials (Nanotechnology), an area he is deeply passionate about. 

In his account, becoming an EducationUSA OFP scholar was one of the best things that happened to him and he wholeheartedly believes that EducationUSA Lagos has the potential to assist Nigerian students, like himself, to reach for the stars. He eagerly anticipates the opportunity to contribute to the community that has played a pivotal role in his personal growth and is convinced that doing so will serve as a means to help aspiring individuals with goals and dreams similar to his own to reach their full potential.

Uche is the first child of a family of 6 and was born and raised in Onitsha, Anambra state. His academic strengths were evident all through his primary and secondary school years where he was always at the top of his class. In his secondary education, he was awarded overall best student for 3 consecutive years and finished as the best graduating student class of 2021, with a WAEC result of 7As and 2 Bs, and a JAMB result of 324.  Uche holds first place MAN Olympiads 2018 Niger state representative. Cowbellpedia mathematics competition 2018, North-central representative 2020 FEDCOL CHESS GAMES finals, first runner-up Abuja interschool chess competition Olumawu. He held various leadership positions in his secondary school: Deputy Head boy 2020/2021 session, (Young Catholic Students) YCS President 2020/2021, Vice-president Mathematical Sciences club 2020, President Mathematical Sciences club 2021, Vice-president Chess and Scrabble club 2021.

Uche attended Federal Government Academy, Suleja for his secondary education. His leadership skills and academic excellence were so evident that he was made a leader in various sections of the school setting. By his SSS2, he was made the vice-president of the mathematical sciences club, and later went on to become the president in his SSS3.  He also held executive positions in other clubs, like library club, JETS club where he was the vice-president and chess and scrabble club where he was also the vice-president.

Uche took a gap year, during which he applied for and was accepted into the opportunity funds program. Upon his admission into the program, he prepared for and had the SAT test in which he got 1480/1600. He worked well with the EducationUSA advisers to craft his university applications. He was admitted to Grambling state university, Louisiana on a full ride scholarship to study computer science. Uche hopes to become a top computer scientist and software engineer and hopes to use his qualifications to bridge the digital gap in his home country Nigeria and Africa as a whole. He will be the first in his family to obtain a bachelors degree.

Nnachor, Amarachi Clare hails from Enugu State, Nigeria. Despite facing challenges growing up in a rural setting where education for girls was undervalued, she was fortunate to receive support from her parents who, despite their lack of formal education, believed in its importance. She witnessed her parents losing their business during the Kaduna sharia crisis, which led the family to relocate back to the east and relying on their  grandparents for three years.

These experiences shaped her mindset and fueled her passion for finding creative solutions to various problems. Despite financial struggles, she pursued education and overcame obstacles during her tertiary studies. After completing her studies and the  national youth service program, she took on the responsibility of supporting her family financially due to my mother's accident. This made her start a small business of selling coconut oil, which helped contribute to her siblings' education.

The challenges she faced taught her valuable lessons in leadership and taking responsibility.  She got an award for a fully funded  scholarship for a PhD program in Chemistry at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. She is greatful for the guidance and support of Abuja EducationUSA team. She is very excited about the opportunity to study in a diverse and intellectually stimulating environment, where I can contribute to innovative research projects addressing Chemistry-related issues

Jolaoluwa has been an exceptional student right from primary school. Throughout his secondary school education, he was constantly part of the top 10% of students, and as such, a member of his school’s honors class. In his final year, he was a Senior member of his school’s computer club, an Assembly prefect, and a class representative in his set’s social committee. He also represented his school externally in debate, and created large study groups where he tutored his classmates in various subjects. He graduated highschool with a 3.88/4.00 GPA. During graduation, he had the best NECO result and the second highest JAMB score in his class. This earned him a commendation from the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, who assured him a spot in the university if he chose to attend. He later went on to score a 1530 on the SAT. 

Jolaoluwa proceeded to take a gap year to build practical skills that would be relevant to his intended career path in Computer Science and Engineering. He worked on building his programming skills by taking online courses and training programs. He also shadowed an engineer at Yaba College of Technology to gain some experience in the electrical engineering industry. 

Jolaoluwa engages in volunteer work such as cleaning up his neighborhood, assisting in managing events, and writing newsletters and articles for bodies he is affiliated with. He has also worked with his church as a technical A/V personnel and a welfare worker. Additionally, he tutored secondary school students in various classes, bringing complex academic concepts down to their level. 

Jolaoluwa got accepted into EducationUSA’s Opportunity Fund Programs. And with their guidance, he was able to gain admission with scholarships into a number of schools including Alabama A&M University, Georgia State University, Barry University, and Fisk University. He will be resuming this fall at Fisk University as an Erastus-Milo Cravath Presidential scholar to study Computer Science. He hopes to find new ways technology can be harnessed to improve the day-to-day lives of people.

Annabel is a hardworking, passionate and results-driven go-getter, who is eager to combine her veterinary medical background and research experience with her passion for infectious disease research. She graduated with high honors as the Best Graduating Student from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in the University of Abuja, Nigeria with a CGPA of 4.84/5.0. Her exceptional academic performance earned her thirteen out of the sixteen academic laurels awarded at the induction ceremony in February 2022. From her fourth year in veterinary school, she dedicated herself to carrying out impactful research and worked as a research assistant in the Department of Veterinary Pathology, resulting in multiple publications.

In 2021, despite being an undergraduate researcher, she presented a prize-winning research poster at the African Virology Congress. In her final year, she won the coveted prize to undergo a practical training program in molecular biology at the renowned Inqaba Biotec laboratory facility. By 2022, she was awarded the Women in Data Science grant to undergo the HackBio genomics research program, as well as the Summer Remote Bioinformatics fellowship for the RNA Institute at the University of Albany, New York, USA. Recognizing the importance of mentorship in fostering growth and bridging academic gaps among students, she served as the Student Director of Academics, championing tutoring, study aids, and class supplies.

Annabel’s passions extend beyond academics and research, as she has a long track record of leadership in volunteering and community service. She was the public relations for the One Health Club Uniabuja, spearheading health awareness campaigns against zoonotic diseases like rabies in rural communities in Abuja, Nigeria. As the director of exchanges for the African Education Initiative, she was engaged in providing aid materials to children in orphanages. During her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), she served as the deputy governor for the NYSC Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) community development service group, coordinating multiple community outreach projects including free medical outreach and climate action campaigns. She is also the Co-lead for the Power A Girl advocacy group leading initiatives to educate and inspire young girls to stay in school.

Annabel’s dedication, service and potential was recognized when she was selected as an EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program scholar (Fall 2023 cohort). She secured multiple fully funded offers from reputable graduate schools in the USA, and is now ready to embark on an exciting new milestone as she begins a fully funded PhD program in Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Utah. Overall, her dedication to science, research and education, as well as her passion for empowering individuals and communities continue to motivate Annabel on her journey as a researcher, global citizen and student of life.