After emerging the best student in the 2013 edition of the Awokoya Chemistry Competition in Delta State, Ephraim enrolled in the Plant Biology and Biotechnology program at the University of Benin, where he graduated with a first-class degree. Also, he won the prestigious Federal Ministry of Education scholarship award as well as an award of excellence from the Student Christian Movement of Nigeria. After graduation, Ephraim interned with the Environmental Biotechnology and Sustainability Research Group (EBSR). Through this medium, he published three international research papers as well as a local research paper. Also, Ephraim won the best research and presentation award during the third edition of the University of Benin annual research conference (UBARD). Furthermore, he emerged as a finalist in the 2018 edition of the MasterCard Foundation scholarship at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. In 2018, Ephraim applied for the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program (OFP). And through this medium, he obtained a fully-funded scholarship worth over $28,000 annually to pursue graduate studies in the U.S. A first generation student, Ephraim is currently en route to acquiring a doctoral (Ph.D.) degree in Genetic Engineering (Biotechnology) at Iowa State University. He says “EducationUSA has taught me to dream beyond the horizon and shut out negativities from my mind.”

Farouk Haroun

Federal Government Academy, Suleja

Vanderbilt University

Farouk Haroun is a 2019 Opportunity Funds Scholar. Farouk graduated from Federal Government Academy Suleja with distinctions. Through the Opportunity Funds program, Farouk received a full scholarship worth over $78,000 (~29 Million Naira)/year to study Mechanical Engineering at Vanderbilt University. Farouk served in various positions while at FedAcad captaining the table tennis and soccer teams, and was the Headboy and JETS club president. He is interested in machine learning and autonomous systems.

Fortune Emmanuel-King

Word of Faith Group of Schools, Benin

Northwestern University

Fortune Emmanuel-King is a 2019 Opportunity Funds Scholar. Through the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds program, Fortune secured a full scholarship worth over $81,000(30 Million Naira)/year to study Electrical Engineering at Northwestern University. Fortune was only able to attend Word of Faith Schools Benin from Kindergarten to High School through the help of scholarships he received that were renewable every year by topping his class consistently. He is a National Olympiad Double Gold Medalist, Cowbellpedia State Champion, and Seplat Exceptional and Reliable Leader award recipient, amongst other honors. He also founded the Agape Tutorials( an 80-student member math tutorial). He served as the National Teenage President of the Agape Force Ministries, assistant head boy, JETS club president, Quiz club President, and Press Club president. Fortune is now pursuing his dream of studying electrical engineering with a focus on quantum computing and artificial intelligence, thanks to the Opportunity Fund Program.

Isaac Ogabiela earned his Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering degree from the Federal University of Technology, Minna. He graduated with First Class Honours. He worked as a Lean Six Sigma Coordinator with De-United foods industries ltd., Lagos and interned with T.Y. Plastics Limited as a Chemical Engineering Intern. Isaac is an EducationUSA Alumnus and a Graduate Opportunity Funds Scholar who is currently at the University of Massachusetts Amherst pursuing a doctorate degree in Chemical Engineering. He works as a Graduate Research Assistant in Heterogeneous Catalysis and Aldol Reactions.

Ismail Adigun Olayemi

Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Bowling Green State University, MSc Statistics

Ismail Olayemi is a 2019 Opportunity Funds Scholar. Ismail graduated with a First class in Economics from the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta. Ismail is now pursuing his Masters in Statistics at Bowling Green State University with funding worth over $29,000. Ismail was sponsored by the Economics department to present at the 56th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Economic Society of Nigeria, where he discussed the Nigerian unemployment challenges and solutions by modifying the popular Okun’s law. After graduation, he got a research assistantship position at Centre for Econometric and Allied Research, University of Ibadan where he collaborated with his professors and published 5 research articles in Economics and Econometrics in top journals.

Through the support of the Opportunity Funds Program, Ismail will be pursuing a Masters degree in Statistics with a specialization in Business Analytics.

Joseph Eniafe

Obafemi Awolowo University

Louisiana State University Health Science Center, Shreveport, PhD Microbiology

Joseph Eniafe is a 2019 Opportunity Funds Scholar. Joseph is the first in his family to graduate university. Despite the hardship he faced growing up, he graduated as the overall best student in the faculty of sciences at Obafemi Awolowo University with a degree in Microbiology. Through the support of the program he received several offers to pursue his graduate studies, including a $26,500 (~10 Million Naira)/year research assistantship position to pursue his PhD at Louisiana State Uni Health Science Center LSU Health Shreveport .

According to Joseph, “If I was asked two years ago how I hope to secure a scholarship for my post-graduate studies abroad, I really wouldn't have been able to come up with a definite, workable plan. With EducationUSA, I did not only learn about the great opportunities that abound to secure a scholarship in the US; I was also guided step by step throughout the application process. Really, I could not have done this on my own!”

Joshua Gbodi

Federal Government Academy Suleja

Vassar College

Joshua Gbodi is a 2019 Opportunity Funds scholar who received over $78,000 (Over 28 Million Naira)/year scholarship to attend  Vassar College. Joshua is a First-Generation student who graduated from Federal Government College Suleja with 7A1s and 2Bs in WAEC. He represented his school and won several prizes in competitions such as NNPC, PTDF, and SPAK Science competitions. Joshua is also an artist. He plays the guitar and draws. Joshua hopes to study Biochemistry at Vassar and plans to use his knowledge to improve the health sector in Nigeria.

Joy Amajioyi started with obtaining an OND from Yaba College of Technology. She then went on to obtain her Bachelors and Masters and graduated with First Class Honours from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). She was the best graduating student in her department of crop, soil and pest management in 2015. She did her NYSC with the Department of Biology, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt and also interned with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). In August 2017, she was selected as an Opportunity Funds Scholar. After working diligently on her applications, she got admitted to South Dakota State University for a fully funded MSc-PhD track in Plant Science where she is working as a Graduate Research Assistant. She is passionate about research for development (R4D) which supports the discovery and implementation of new ideas for reducing poverty, ensuring food security and improving lives around the world.

Juliet Onyekachi Okpasuo graduated with First-Class Honors and as the Best Graduating Student in Zoology and Environmental Biology in 2014 and a Master’s degree in Parasitology and Public Health from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. As a graduate assistant, she had five publications in international articles and has attended several academic conferences. Juliet was selected as an Opportunity Funds Scholar, and working with EducationUSA Lagos, she received admissions to three fully funded PhD programs in the U.S. Juliet is currently studying Molecular Pathogenesis and Therapeutics at the University of Missouri at Columbia. Sharing her experience, she stated, “EducationUSA taught me to be determined, committed, and unrelenting in the pursuit of my goals”.

Kenneth Ekpetere

University of Abuja 

University of Kansas, MSc-PhD Geography

Kenneth Ekpetere is a 2019 Opportunity Funds Scholar. From humble backgrounds, Kenneth was determined to attend university, so he worked to pay his way through school. He took advantage of every opportunity in school and not only graduated with a First Class in Geography but was also the overall best graduating student at the University of Abuja in 2016. As a recent graduate, Kenneth already had seven publications to his name, several in international journals. Through the program, Kenneth secured four fully-funded offers to pursue his graduate studies in the United States. Today, Kenneth is not only the first in his family to graduate university; he is pursuing his Ms-PhD in Geography at the University of Kansas with a graduate assistantship of over $35,000 per annum

Lucky Yerimah

University of Benin

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, PhD Chemical Engineering

Lucky Eshemomoh Yerimah is a 2019 Opportunity Funds Scholar. Through EducationUSA, Lucky received an assistantship of over $84,000 (33 Million Naira)/ year to pursue his Ph.D. at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Lucky is a Chemical Engineering graduate from the University of Benin. In addition to graduating as one of the top in his class, he was a High school science mentor who counseled over 200 students in 3 different high schools in Edo State. He is a published author and recipient of the Chevron Agbami Medical and Engineering Professional, MTN Foundation Science and Technology, and Total OML National Merit Scholarship.

Today, Lucky is majoring in Energy and Sustainability, focusing on Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration, and Process Engineering.

Maxwell graduated with a Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) from the University of Benin and then applied for the Opportunity Funds Program for a second time having been unsuccessful for his undergraduate program. In spring 2019, he was admitted to the University of Arizona as a graduate research assistant for a Master of Science in Plant Pathology/Phytopathology and obtained his MSc from there. An aspiring plant pathology researcher and Ph.D. student, Maxwell Chibuogwu currently works as a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Maxwell hopes to use the information and skills he acquires to improve the agricultural industry in Nigeria and Africa as a whole; furthermore, he is not only a member of several groups and clubs, but he is also a leader in some of them, too.

Mesoma Okolocha

Federal Government Academy, Suleja

Washington and Lee University

Mesoma Okolocha is a 2019 Opportunity Funds scholar. Through the Opportunity Funds Program, he was able to secure a scholarship of over $75,000(30 Million Naira)/year to attend the prestigious Washington and Lee University. Mesoma attended Federal Government Academy, Suleja. While at FGA, he served as the JET Club Vice President and was involved in various scientific experiments and presentations for the school. He graduated as the third best student having all distinctions in the WAEC Examinations.

He did not just excel in academics; he was actively involved in sports. He showcased his skills as captain of the Volleyball and Table Tennis teams.

Michael Okeke

Nnamdi Azikwe University

University of Kentucky, PhD Chemistry

Michael Okeke is a 2019 Opportunity Funds Program scholar. He is a First Class graduate of Pure and Industrial Chemistry from Nnamdi Azikwe University where he was the best graduating student in the department in 2016. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Kentucky.

Michael was born and brought up in Kaduna. He lost both parents at a tender age. His guardian supported him throughtout his university study. He encountered several challenegs but those did not deter him from graduating with a 4.6/5.0 CGPA and being the best graduating student in his department.

Michael Olubode

University of Ibadan

University of Oklahoma, MSc Petroleum Engineering

Michael Olubode is a 2019 Opportunity Funds scholar. Through the program, Michael secured an assistantship worth over $35,00 to pursue his Masters in Petroleum Engineering. Michael is a First-class graduate of University of Ibadan. His dad is decease and his mum, a fish trader had to cater for the family from her fish business. Michael education was funded by the Abayomi Oluwatosin Jiboku and Grace Leadership Foundations, despite the many uncertainties, Michael graduated at the top of his class and received the Dean’s Honour award. Currently, Michael is pursuing a double masters in Petroleum Engineering and Data science and Analytics.