Sebastine Ogbuka

University of Jos

University of Minnesota Duluth, MSc Physics

Sebastine is a 2019 Opportunity Funds scholar. Through the Opportunity Funds program, Sebastine received an assistantship worth over $16,000 to pursue his Masters in Physics at University of Minnesota. Sebastine worked as a volunteer research assistant at University of Jos

Segun Victor Obisesan

Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko

Auburn University, PhD Chemistry

"I never dreamt I could study outside the shores of Nigeria, but EducationUSA made me believe that you can be anything you want to be. All you need is to dream more, do more, pray more, and believe more because anything is possible."

Segun Victor is a 2019 Opportunity Funds Scholar. Through the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds program, Segun is currently pursuing his Ph.D. fully-funded at Auburn University with an assistantship worth over $66,000 (24 Million Naira)/ year. Segun is a First Class graduate of Chemistry from Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba - AAUA, where he graduated top of his class. Segun received multiple fully funded Ph.D. offers from top universities in the U.S. But decided to enroll at Auburn University because of its great program. Segun's research focus is photocatalysis and its application to solve environmental contamination.

Sochima-Amaka Ezema grew up in Enugu and attended the University of Nigeria Secondary School, Nsukka where she served as the school’s Head Girl. She graduated as the Salutatorian of the graduating Class of 2017 and was also awarded the Most Prospective Female Engineering Student. She represented her school in competitions such as those organized by the Mathematics Association of Nigeria and National Mathematical Center and she won several awards. Sochima applied to 21 U.S. institutions and was admitted to only one with full funding: Stanford University. She received over $80,000 in funding. She is currently a sophomore at Stanford pursuing a major in Computer Science. She is also the Secretary to the Stanford Undergraduate Senate and Co-President of Stanford Nigerian Students Association. She has worked on two research projects, one of which is to build and implement vine robots to explore the habitat of endangered California Tiger Salamander species. In addition to pursuing her academic and political goals, Sochima is very passionate about fashion. She works for Stanford Center for Professional Development as a Studio Operator for video production and also interns as a Fashion Stylist at MINT magazine where she has styled two photoshoots.

Tochukwu Nwoko

Federal University of Technology Akure

Miami University-Ohio, PhD Chemistry

Tochukwu Praise Nwoko is a 2019 Opportunity Funds Scholar and first-year PhD student at Miami University in Ohio. Through the program, Tochukwu secured a fully-funded offer from Miami University with an assistantship worth over $49000 (18 Million Naira)/year. Tochukwu is a First-Class Graduate of Chemistry from the Federal University of Technology Akure. Tochukwu is a published author in The Journal of Environment Protection and Sustainable development.

Urama Chilotam

University of Nigeria Secondary School, Nsukka

Kalamazoo College

Chilotam Urama is a 2019 EducationUSA Abuja Opportunity Fund Scholar. Through the program, Lotam received over $58,000 to pursue his bachelors at Kalamazoo College. Lotam graduated from the University of Nigeria Secondary School Nsukka. While in school, Lotam excelled academically, held various leadership positions, and was active in his school's Literary and Debating society, Band Club and school football team.

Yeipyeng Kwa

Baptist High School, Jos

Bryn Mawr College

Yeipyeng Kwa is a  2019 Opportunity Funds Scholar. Through EducationUSA, Yeipyeng is currently studying at Bryn Mawr College on a scholarship worth over $75,000 per annum. Yeipyeng took two years to navigate through the process correctly to be successful. Despite her 8As in WAEC and graduating as the overall best student from Baptist High School, Jos, it took more than just excellent academics to get admission and funding to study in the United States. Yeipyeng never gave up; she persisted and worked on her profile and application. Her hard work and determination were rewarded with a fully-funded offer from Bryn Mawr.

Yvonne graduated with First Class Honors from the University of Lagos, where she studied Chemical Engineering. As an undergraduate, she was an outstanding student who won several awards, including the Delta State Scholarship, ExxonMobil Scholarship and the University of Lagos Endowment Fund. She also worked briefly with ExxonMobil as a Process Engineer during which she was selected as an EducationUSA Lagos Opportunity Funds Scholar. Yvonne obtained a fully funded scholarship worth over $84,000 to pursue her PhD in Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. She graduated with a First Class in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos. Speaking about her experience with EducationUSA, she said, ‘’EducationUSA taught me that incorporating drive, discipline and determination into everything we do, leads to success’’.

Ajibola Lawal

Federal University of Technology Minna

University of Massachusetts, Amherst, PhD Chemical Engineering

 Ajibola Lawal is a 2018 Opportunity Funds Scholars. Through the Opportunity Funds Program, Ajibola secured over $60,000/year in funding to pursue his PhD in Chemical Engineering at UMass Amherst.

Ajibola Lawal is a First Class graduate of Chemical Engineering from Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA) Niger State. At FUTMinna, he was a recipient of the Agbami Engineering Scholarship Award. Apart from excelling academically, he was the assistant course representative and a tutor for freshman year courses. While at FUTMinna, he led a team that designed and fabricated a pyrolysis reactor for the conversion of agricultural waste to biochar.

Through the Opportunity Funds Program, Ajibola got a Deans fellowship to pursue his doctoral studies. He serves as a researcher at The Institute of Massachusetts Biofuel Research.

Akintonde Abbas

Obafemi Awolowo University

University of North Carolina at Charlotte, PhD Electrical and Computer Engineering

Akintonde is a 2018 Opportunity Funds scholar. Through the OFP program, Akintonde received $43,400 to pursue his PhD at University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Akintonde lost his dad when he was still very young. His mother, a primary school teacher, singlehandedly catered for the needs of the family. He was able to pay his way through school through the MTN Foundation scholarship. Even as a fresh graduate, Akintonde already had an international publication to his name.

Ayodeji Israel Aina

University of Ilorin

California State University-Long Beach, MSc Geology

Ayodeji is a 2018 Opportunity Funds scholar. Through the Opportunity Funds program, Ayodeji received an assistantship worth over $20,000 to pursue his Masters in Geology at California State University, Long Beach.

Ayodeji is the president was the student president of the American Association of Petroleum Geologist (AAPG) California State University Long Beach Chapter. His research is on Chemostratigraphic and Lithostratigraphic Characterization of the Lower to Middle Miocene Monterey Formation-Equivalent Strata of Long Beach Oil Field.

Basil Gaji

Mount Saint Gabriel Secondary School, Makurdi

University of Rochester

Basil is a 2018 opportunity funds scholar. Through the program Basil secured over $75,000/year to pursue his bachelors in Engineering at University of Rochester. Basil was the 2^nd best graduating student at Mount Saint Gabriel Secondary School in Makurdi, Benue State Basil was the 1^st place winner of the MAN Math competition, Silver medalist, Rubik Cube contest, Cowbell, and Olympiad Math competitions for the State.

Basil is currently at University of Rochester pursuing his Bachelors in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Basil serves as Newman's Sacristan. When not being a "jack of all trades" at Newman, he can be found working for University IT, riding his bike, or hanging out with friends.

Damola obtained her bachelors and masters degrees in Statistics from the University of Ibadan. She made a first class. She was a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Ibadan and tutored undergraduate students elementary Statistics courses. She worked as a Mathematics Instructor at a private school. Damola received full funding for her PhD in statistics at the University of South Florida where she works as a Graduate Assistant at Givens Associates at Argonne National Laboratory

Hammed Faruq

Federal Government Academy, Suleja

Philander Smith College

Faruq Hammed is a 2018 Opportunity Funds Program scholar. Faruq got the Presidential Scholarship to attend Philander Smith College.

A very hardworking, resilient and motivated student, Faruq moved from below average to the top 5% at the end of his time in high school. While at Federal Government Academy, Suleja, he represented his school at both State and National competitions including National Mathematics Olympiad, National Science Olympiad, and MAN Mathematics Competition. He was also among the pioneers of the Mathematical Sciences Club at his school.

Aside from academic achievements, Faruq was a member of numerous clubs, and he held leadership positions in most. He was the Resource Manager of the JETS club,  President of the Muslim Student Society, among others.

Friday Abolorunke

University of Benin

Tufts University, PhD Mechanical Engineering

Friday is a 2018 Opportunity Funds scholar currently pursuing his PhD fully funded (over $50,000/year) at Tufts University.

Friday was the overall best graduating student in the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of Benin. He was an active member of several organizations on campus such as the Society of Lifers Engineers, Nigerian Universities Engineering Students Association (NUESA), and the National Association of Mechanical Engineers (NAMES). Throughout his time at UniBen, Friday tutored other students from year 1 to final students in various courses. He also created a training manual for solar systems installation and was part of a team that designed and fabricated a Radio Frequency controlled Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.

Through the Opportunity Funds program, Friday is pursuing his doctoral studies at Tufts with a research interest in energy storage.

Helen Chioma Aloh obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Chemistry from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in 2015. Helen worked as a Chemistry tutor at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology and a Research Assistant with the Chukeze Research and Development Laboratory, Awka. Chioma got full funding as a graduate research/teaching assistant to obtain her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Auburn University. She is currently carrying out successful research on the structural and physical dynamics of enzymes responsible for sulphur acquisition during environmental pressures.