Obinna “Bobby” Ilochonwu

Federal Government College, Nise

Berea College

Through the Opportunity Funds Program, Bobby secured a fully funded scholarship (over $51,000 per year) to study Nursing at Berea College.

Bobby is a proud alum of Federal Government College, Nise. In 2014, Bobby made the four-person team to represent Nigeria at the International Biology Olympiad in Bali, Indonesia. In 2015, he made the team again, that went to Denmark this time; where he emerged with the Best Nigerian result and 2nd best African result. Despite not gaining admission to schools the first time he applied, he never gave up and pushed through the application process again. Today, he is pursuing his passion on a full scholarship in the United States.

Olushola Awoyemi

University of Ilorin

West Virginia State University, MSc Biotechnology

Olushola Awoyemi is a 2018 Opportunity Funds scholar. Through the Opportunity Funds Program, Olushola secured over $30,000/year to pursue her masters in Biotechnology at West Virginia State University

Olushola Awoyemi is a first class graduate of University of Ilorin, Kwara State Nigeria from the department of Microbiology in 2015. Through the program, Olushola got a fully funded assistantship to pursue her Masters degree in Biotechnology at West Virginia State University.

Onyedika Ephraime Onuorah

St Pauls Academy, Jos

Bowdoin College

Onyedika Ephraim Onuorah is a 2018 Opportunity Funds Program scholar. Through EducationUSA, Onyedika secured a full scholarship of over $70,000/year to study at Bowdoin College.

Onyedika attended St Paul's Academy, Jos where he was the overall best student. His résumé boasts achievements such as the best in the Nigerian team at the International Biology Olympiad at Hanoi, Vietnam (2016); ranking 2nd and 3rd at the 2016 and 2017 National Biology Olympiads; achieving 8A1's in the 2017 WASSCE; Cowbellpedia Mathematics and NAFDAC competitions at both the junior and senior categories.

As a student, he was also active in sports and other extracurricular activities including the Fellowship of Christian Students (F.C.S), Boy's Brigade, JETS club (where he headed various research projects), MATHS club, and President of Tourism.

Oyindamola Omotuyi graduated from the University of Lagos, Nigeria with a Bachelor’s Degree (First Class Honors) in Systems Engineering. She was the first female in the history of Nigerian Universities to achieve a perfect CGPA of 5.0/5.0 and was the valedictorian of the 2015/2016 class at University of Lagos. Prior to graduating, she had

Richard Ewa Chukwu graduated with First Class Honours in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria. After graduation, he worked as a Process Engineer at Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals Ltd. In search of a postgraduate experience, Richard applied and became a beneficiary of the EducationUSA Lagos Opportunity Funds Program. He successfully received full funding to the University of South Carolina, where he plans to obtain a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. His current research centres on the design, synthesis and characterization of nanocatalysts via flame synthesis for various applications.

Victor Fabiyi

Ahmadu Bello University

Clarkson University, PhD Chemical Engineering

Meet Victor Fabiyi, one of last year's Opportunity Funds scholars. Through the Opportunity Funds Program, Victor received over $60,000 to pursue his PhD in Chemical Engineering at Clarkson University.

Victor graduated with a First class in Chemical Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University. He had the passion to pursue excellence in academics and research at a top school in the United States but knew nothing about navigating graduate school funding until he got selected for the Opportunity Funds Program.

Today, Victor is about to start the 4th year of his PhD program. He is working on Molecular Dynamics and DFT Calculations.

Yusuf Omotayo Jimoh

Federal Government College, Ilorin

New York University, Abu Dhabi

Yusuf Jimoh is a 2018 Opportunity Funds scholar. Through the program, Yusuf secured over $80,000 to pursue his bachelors at New York University, Abu Dhabi campus. Jimoh graduate with 9A1s in WAEC. He represented Nigeria in 2016 in the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) as well as representing the state at STAN, Cowbell, and NNPC Science quiz competition amongst others. Yusuf secured several offers before deciding on NYU Abu Dhabi.

Akeem Ajede

Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta

Auburn University, MSc-PhD Civil Engineering

Akeem Ajede is a 2017 Opportunity Funds scholar. Akeem is now in his PhD program fully funded at Auburn University

Akeem is a First Class Graduate of Civil Engineering from Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB). At FUNAAB, Akeem was a recipient of the Ogun State Government Scholarship Award. He was the Pioneer financial secretary of Association of Civil Engineering Students (ACES) (2012/2013). His undergraduate thesis is published in the African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Development. Akeem’s academic achievement, leadership qualities, and commitment to giving back made him a great candidate for the Opportunity Funds Program. Through the program, Akeem got multiple offers from top schools but eventually selected a Research Assistantship position at Auburn University.

Amarachi graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka with a first class and the best student in her department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering. For her National Youth Service, she started by serving at the University of Lagos for in the student administrative office. In her quest for research experience, she worked her way up to landing a student volunteer position in the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department then later as a Research Assistant. This gave her resume the much-needed girth to apply for studies in the U.S. Amarachi was admitted and has completed her Masters at the University of Utah and is currently studying for a PhD at Texas A & M University, College Station on a fully funded offer. She became an Opportunity Funds Program Scholar in 2017 and her mantra is “Sometimes good things come last minute but keep pushing and believe in yourself.”

Bukola Adeoye

University of Ilorin

Boston University, PhD Biomedical Sciences

Bukola Adeoye is a 2017 Opportunity Funds scholar. Bukola secured over $85,000/year in funding to pursue his PhD in Biomedical Sciences at Boston University School of Medicine.

Bukola Adeoye is a First Class graduate of Microbiology from University of Ilorin, Kwara State Nigeria. Throughout his stay at Uni Ilorin, Bukola received the Departmental Prize as the best student eventually graduating with the University of Ilorin Merit award in 2014. His dreams of furthering his education after his bachelors seemed unable, especially unattainable. Through the Opportunity Funds Program, Bukola got a fellowship to Boston University where he is part of a team of researchers investigating emerging infections endemic to West Africa as part of Boston University’s National Emerging Infectious Disease Laboratory (NEIDL).

Chidera is a 2010 first class honors graduate of Civil Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he won the Petroleum Development Technology Fund Scholarship which fully funded his undergraduate research project. He occupied several leadership positions in his class and department. He also led the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), University of Nigeria Chapter to win the coveted SPE International gold standard award for outstanding student activities and the award of the best SPE student chapter in 2015. His mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) experience was with a civil engineering consultancy firm, Ove Arup and Partners, where he was actively involved in projects that cut across several specialties in civil engineering. Chidera then went on to become a 2017 Opportunity Fund scholar, and with the assistance of his advisors at EducationUSA Lagos, he landed a fully funded combined M.S. and Ph.D. Program from Auburn University. Chidera hopes to make a positive impact in our society and is thankful for the assistance of EducationUSA advisors.

Chinonso Nwankwo is a 2017 Opportunity Fund Scholars who recently completed an M.Sc. degree in Mathematics (Applied and Computational Mathematics Focus) with a perfect 4.0 CGPA at Louisiana Technical University where he was awarded the Dr. Walter E. Koss Scholarship on merit basis. He then started a Ph.D. Program (in Fall 2019) in the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistic at the University of Illinois, Chicago with full funding and a Teaching Assistantship. Chinonso graduated in 2014 from Niger Delta University (NDU), Bayelsa with a First Class Honors Degree in Petroleum Engineering. He was the best student in the Department of Petroleum Engineering and Faculty of Engineering and received the Dean's award and several other awards. He was a recipient of the Federal Government Scholarship Award. In 2013, as the best student and active member of Society of Petroleum Engineers NDU Chapter, his paper in upstream petroleum business model was accepted and published in OnePetro (an SPE archive for published journal and conferences papers). Chinonso has a strong interest in the application of numerical differential equations and scientific computing in physical and energy systems, finance and business model.

Christian Chinenye Enyoghasi, a 2017 Opportunity Funds Program Scholar, graduated with a first class from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering with sponsorship from the Agbami Medical and Engineering Professionals Scholarship which saw him through the university. It was through his internship with Solberg Engineering Limited as a workshop assistant and Mobil Producing Nigeria as a Well work Assistant that he developed a passion to seek a higher degree research on renewable systems. He knew obtaining admission into a reputable international university could become a reality. He later anxiously submitted an application to the EducationUSA Opportunity Fund Program and with the support of EducationUSA advisors, he got into a fully funded PhD program at the University of Kentucky, doing so with just a first degree. Christian reminds us that we must “never settle for less and go beyond the limits.”

Chukwunalu was born and raised in Benin City, Edo State. He graduated from his high school, University of Benin (UNIBEN) Demonstration Secondary School (UDSS) as the salutatorian of his class. Apart from his academic achievements, he also held leadership positions. He was the leader of the student body of his high school, that is, the Head Boy for the 2015/2016 session. He was also the leader of his school’s Bible Club and secretary of the Youth body of the church he attended in Nigeria. Growing up, he always had a passion for science, and he represented his high school at science competitions at state levels such as the Society of Petroleum Engineer, UNIBEN Chapter, and the RCF (UNIBEN Chapter) Quiz competition (in which he and another student came out first position). He was admitted to Wabash College, Indiana with full funding. He is studying Biochemistry and aspires to go to Medical school. Aside from his academics, he is interested in music and is a member of the Wabash College Glee Club. He is also a member of Circle-K International (the premier collegiate and university community service, leadership development, and friendship organization in the world), the Wabash College International Student Association and the Wabash Christian Men. Studying at Wabash College has inspired Chukwunalu to pursue graduate school studies in the U.S.

Eberechukwu Justin

Dority International Secondary School

Tufts University

Eberechukwu Justin is a 2017 Opportunity Funds scholar. Justin got a full scholarship to Tufts University to study Computer Science.

Eberechukwu Justin is a self-taught programmer and graphic designer. In his days at Dority International Secondary School  in Aba, he showed exceptional aptitude in chemistry, mathematics and computer science. In JSS3, he represented Nigeria at the 44th International Chemistry Olympiad in Washington D.C where he emerged the best of the Nigerian team. He retained the top position in the National Chemistry Olympiad continuously in SS1 and SS2. In SS3, Ebere went on to represent Nigeria at the Pan-African Science Olympiad in Abuja where he received a gold medal. He eventually graduated high school with 7A1s in the WASSCE exam, the 3rd best result in Abia state. While studying for all of this, Ebere also taught himself to code in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, C++, PHP and Python, making him a seasoned web developer, as well as in the art of graphic design using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. He is currently using his creative genius and resilient spirit to change his life and the world around him.