Clara Uzoamaka Bokolo

Niger Delta University

University of Toledo, PhD Chemistry

I graduated as the best student in my department, went for my National Youth Service Program (NYSC) which will be completed in the year 2019. During this program, I saved up from my allowance in order to use it in applying to schools in the United States. I developed this interest to study in the United States when I overheard my lecturers mentioned studying overseas for their Ph.D. I had to peruse the website to narrow down to four schools based on my research interest. I was convinced to start up preparation for GRE. Of course, this wasn't an easy one. There were a lot of countless circumstances that hindered my preparation such as funds for GRE and TOEFL registrations. During this process, I got information from my brother about the EducationUSA Opportunity Fund Program (OFP) for first-class graduates and strong 2.1 graduates, I had to submit the required documents needed for the application. Fortunately, I was accepted into the program. I wrote GRE and TOEFL, prepared my statement of Purpose (SOP), and submitted applications to schools based on my research interest. I got admitted to two US universities with funding for my doctorate in chemistry. Afterward, I chose to attend the University of Toledo, Ohio, which offered me a fully funded scholarship and assistantship. I can't wait to start this journey in order to equip me with the required knowledge and experience to succeed as a professor.

Clement Tochukwu Okolo is a first generation college student who graduated with a Bachelors in Anatomy from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye. He was not the best graduating student, neither does he have a research paper to his name at the moment. But when he joined EducationUSA, he received invaluable informational support which was instrumental for his admission into three master's programs in the U.S. Starting Spring 2021, Clement is attending the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where he received a fully funded Graduate Assistantship, worth over $35,000 per year, to pursue a Master's degree in Informatics. His transition from Anatomy to Informatics is inspired by his desire to develop a smartphone based Iron-deficiency anaemia counselling application that would deliver life-saving advice and reduce the prevalence of the anaemia. Clement is the founder of Healthy Nigeria Initiative (HNI) which is a not-for-profit organization focused on encouraging high school students to stay away from substance abuse. In his words "I hope my story inspires you to relentlessly pursue your dream, even if it's one different from your background. Most will think you're crazy, but in the end you'll succeed."

Damilare Ajagbe Obafemi Awolowo University Oklahoma State University, PhD Microbiology “My journey through life up to this moment is not some “self-made” story.

       I owe a lot of my mum and other people who came through for me during moments when I need it most. It has not been life characterized by a bed of roses but it has been a worthwhile one. My primary and secondary school education was funded by my mum who was a teacher then but around the time I got admission into the university, mum had to go into missionary fully and this caused a big issue for the funding part of my education. I had to look at Uncles and Aunts and only two of them were able to assist with a little amount for my fees at different times while mum still had to struggle out the rest one way or the other. At some points I had to seek help from my friends in order to complete the fee and I had to cater for feeding and every other expense myself. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I had to combine working as a tutor in some tutorials centers along with my academics in order to cater for my feeding and other necessary materials I need. “ Damilare is a First Class graduate of Microbiology from Obafemi Awolowo University. He received the Award of Excellence in Academics from the Department of Microbiology and the winner of the Nigeria in Association of Microbiology Students (NAMS) Quiz and Debate. Damilare was very active in his community and has volunteered for Beyond Career Mentorship, Peace Walk and Freshers Orientation Program.

Daniel Adebayo

University of Benin

Wayne State University, PhD Biological Sciences

I am the third child and first son out of four. And interestingly, the first to attend the university in the family. Dad is a low-ranked police officer, and mum is a nursery school teacher in a private school. Since my dad is a Police officer, I lived most of my life in the Police Barracks. Those that have an idea about the 'Barracks life' know that where I grew up is one of the most challenging places to raise a child.

I am very privileged to have been raised in a family where education is greatly valued and appreciated.After securing admission into the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, to study Plant Biology and Biotechnology, paying tuition fees and meeting up with living expenses became a huge burden. My problems were further compounded by the flawed education system, lack of laboratory facilities, and poor access to study materials. Thus, I was forced to play my part in alleviating my family's financial burden. While in school, I had to engage in menial jobs during holidays to meet school expenses. I engaged in many farming activities alongside my family during holidays, where we would normally harvest cassava, process it into the Nigerian local "fufu," and distribute to distant local restaurants. I also resorted to teaching some undergraduate students while at the university to support my feeding expenses. At last, I am thankful that I graduated with a first- class amassing a CGPA of 4.70 on a 5.0 scale.

Becoming an Opportunity Fund beneficiary was one of the best things that happened to me. With the help of the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program, I was able to navigate the process of securing admission and funding in the United States. In the end, I was admitted into the Biological Sciences Ph.D. program at Wayne State University, Michigan, with full funding worth $ 58, 302. I am very grateful to God and EducationUSA for breathing life into my dream.

Daniel Yakubu

Baptist High School, Jos

Vanderbilt University

Daniel is a 2020 Opportunity Funds Scholar. Through the program, Daniel secured over $78,000/year to pursue his bachelors at Vanderbilt.  Daniel got 7 A1s and 2 B2s in WAEC in 2018. Daniel was 1^st place winner of the Plateau State “Discovering the Genius” quiz competition, Baptist Mission Schools’ Science quiz competition, the 2^nd place winner of the Chemical Society of Nigeria Quiz competition.

Emmanuel Musa

Kaduna State University

Oregon State University, PhD Chemistry

I was born in Jos as the seventh child to a family of eight. My dad was a military man, and even though I didn’t get to know him better, he was a gallant soldier who devoted his life in service of his country until his demise. My mother since then took up single parenting, serving both roles of mother and father and was so able to cater for the family from earnings she made as a petty trader. Life as a kid wasn’t easy, and as things became more difficult, we resorted to other measures. We started hawking food items, which was a necessary means to raise money for the family’s needs, and also in paying our school fees. From the age of 8, I started hawking items such as roasted fish, akara and soya bean cake (awara) among others, although this sometimes got me mocked by friends and schoolmates, it was for me a building moment, and I returned back home after every day sales with a victorious smile. It was from a tender age that I learned the sense of duty and responsibility, at the age of 10 I was already 18.

In school, I was deprived of many things; I had to rely on my roommate’s android phone to browse and report my school assignments and used his hand outs to study many times. I couldn't get my own copy.

After graduation in 2016, I was called up by the NYSC. During NYSC, I took up extra tutorial jobs alongside my primary assignment, and with the little savings I made, I was able to purchase my first fairly used laptop and android phone. It was during NYSC in 2018 that I first heard of the opportunity funds program (OFP) from a friend Obed Dodo who encouraged me to apply. I wrote the GRE and TOEFL exams in 2019, filled in many applications and in January of 2020, I got my first admission offer, a full scholarship to pursue a PhD in Chemistry from Oregon State University.

Emmanuel Ogunniyi

Federal University of Technology Akure

University of South Carolina, PhD Mechanical Engineering

My name is Emmanuel Abiodun Ogunniyi, I had my undergraduate studies in Mechanical Engineering at Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria and I will be proceeding for my PhD studies in Mechanical Engineering at University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA.

I grew up in a polygamous home. My mum used to work as a photographer when I was young but became hypertensive and equally very sick and was advised to stop working very early. This actually affected her side of the home as we lacked a lot of basic things as my dad only caters for the general needs.

Growing up was very challenging but I never relented. I struggled through secondary school where I barely made a good result, I was even forced to repeat my SS1 then, majorly as a result of being sent out of class for owing fees. I also couldn’t proceed immediately after my secondary to higher institution and had to stay at home for three years while doing some menial jobs, also taught in primary schools.

My undergraduate degree wasn’t with so much comfort but I was very keen on making good grades so that I can make the difference in my home and also proceed for my graduate studies. The challenges helped me grow into a stronger person and I graduated with a first class.

I knew the only way I can get through graduate studies is just through a scholarship whether it’s international or local as I needed some funding. I started applying for international scholarship opportunities before immediately I completed my undergraduate and I got lots of rejections along the way. I kept applying even while on NYSC and the whole story changed when I applied for the EducationUSA OFP. Before this time, I was already developing interest in graduate studies in the US, but I didn’t know how to go about it. Through the program, I learnt all that is required to get admission and funding. I secured two fully funded PhD programs and will be attending University of South Carolina, Columbia.

Francis Chukwunta is a 2019 EducationUSA Lagos Opportunity Funds Program (OFP) Scholar. Francis is a First-Class Chemical Engineering graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University. Francis also won several University, Faculty and National Merits Awards. Francis is passionate about continuous community improvement and energy sustainability. Francis secured a fully funded graduate program offer in Chemical Engineering from Oregon State University with an assistantship worth over $50,000/session. In his words, EducationUSA has expanded my world viewpoint, helping me to realize how intentional guidance can make distant dreams present realities. I am sure you would be next!

Francis Stanely Victor

University of Jos

Georgetown University, PhD Industrial Chemistry

I am Francis Victor, a graduate of industrial chemistry from the University of Jos, Nigeria. I am a native of Imo state, born and raised in Jos, Plateau state as the second of four siblings, raised by parents who were and are still peasant traders. Growing up, I had to work for everything I got. I sold on streets sides the entirety of my high school days, enduring the laborious task of having to read and prepare for tests and exams and having to sell on streets sides by junctions. Yet, I consistently came out the best graduating student most of my years.

My parents’ income wasn’t enough to give me the allowance of choosing a university of my choice outside Plateau state, so I settled for the University of Jos, Nigeria a familiar terrain, opting for industrial chemistry and foregoing my engineering aspirations because the university then didn’t have an engineering faculty in existence. I spent a year after graduating from high school working to raise funds to be able to register for the JAMB entrance examination and was admitted on my first trial. I taught part-time and took day jobs at construction sites to be able to pay my fees throughout my undergraduate studies. With all this, I still managed a first-class honor as at graduation as a first- generation graduate and first to graduate with a university degree in the entirety of my family, nuclear and extended.

I took the GRE and TOEFL exams coming out with respective scores of 306 and 103. I applied to sixteen schools, got admitted to eight with six, fully funded. I will be going to Georgetown University, Washington DC, with a yearly tuition waiver and graduate assistantship scholarship position summing up to seventy-one thousand US dollars ($71,000).

Godwin Adinya

Kazan Federal University

University of Maine, MSc Chemical Engineering

Growing up in a very remote region where the average family lives below 500 Naira per day, it is not uncommon to find youths whose lives have been battered and shattered and who exist without dreams. With the greatest challenge being financial difficulty, one will dare not strive to break out of the status quo. But I knew better. I knew it was fate to be born poor but it is my fault to stay poor. Against all odds, I was full of dreams and expectations even though nothing seemed possible at first glance. My parents could barely afford a semester fee of 3,000 Naira for my secondary school and no one older than I ever dared to go beyond secondary school to the university, yet I envisaged a spectacular advanced education beyond the four walls of Nigeria. I had no idea how this was going to be possible but I was full of faith and persistence. T

I completed my secondary school education at government secondary school, jiwa – Abuja and proceeded afterwards to begin my bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at the Federal University of Technology Minna –Niger state in October 2011. While at FUT Minna, I won several awards including MTN Foundation Scholarship, Agbami Medical and Engineering Scholarship, Addax Petroleum Undergraduate Scholarship and Shell Petroleum Undergraduate Scholarship and finally had to leave FUTMinna to Russia through the Federal Government Overseas Scholarship after just one year at the university. Truly nothing is a barrier to a determined mind. I watched the fulfillment of my dreams unfold as I pierced through the resistance.

My bachelor's education in Russia came with some real challenges that have altogether made me a better person. I remember sitting in my room alone and pondering the possibilities of learning an entirely new language and having to study a four-year degree with it. I knew that it would not be easy, but I also knew that for a man who has understood the powers of faith, persistence and hard work, it is much harder to fail than to succeed. So, I sat up and shouldered the responsibility

Today I have a bachelor's degree from Russia and with the help of EducationUSA I am currently pursuing a master’s degree on full scholarship at the University of Maine, USA.

Goodnews Amieghemen

University of Benin

University of Alabama, PhD Civil Engineering

I am the third child and only son to Mr and Mrs Amieghemen, a retired Civil Servant and Teacher respectively in Edo State, Nigeria. My parents always believed that education was a transformational key to making a better and productive life and despite the economic challenges placed before them, they did their best to give me quality education. Seeing their sacrifice, spurred in me the desire to be hardworking and excellent in my academic endeavors. This ingrained attribute earned me several awards, one of which is the Best Graduating Student of the University of Benin 2017/2018 Session.

With the desire to become an International voice in Civil Engineering, I always wondered how I could acquire a globally competitive post graduate education in a culturally diverse environment and thanks to EducationUSA, my wonder and dream has become a reality. I’ll be heading to the University of Alabama at Birmingham for a PhD in Civil Engineering and with my degree I’ll be able to contribute my quota towards moving Civil Engineering to the point it’ll be in the next generation.

Immaculata Daikpor

International School, University of Lagos

Bachelors degree, Swarthmore College

Immaculata graduated as the Head Girl of International School, University of Lagos with 8As and 1B, one of the best results in her school. While in high school, she served as President of the Literary and Debating Club, received several academic honors and won multiple literary competitions, including the National Travel Essay Contest which led to her one-year appointment as Ambassador of the Nigerian Aviation Industry.

Immaculata volunteers at different non-profits and hopes to use the resources she finds in college to create transformative empowerment opportunities for underserved Nigerian communities. She also volunteered as an intern at EducationUSA Lagos’ Advising Center and served as facilitator of the center’s book club. Immaculata Daikpor is an OFP scholar who was admitted in the Early Decision 1 round to Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. She is studying political science.

Isioma Jessica Nwayor graduated with a First-class as the best graduating student of the Department of Geography and Faculty of Social Sciences at Obafemi Awolowo University. She was a co-founder and the first president of the Geographic Information System (GIS) club in OAU and an NNPC Total scholar. Isioma is a published author in two International journals. In 2019, she was selected as an Opportunity Funds Scholar, she received three funded offers worth over $100,000 from three universities but decided to go for Indiana University Bloomington where she got a fully-funded offer worth over $65,000 per year for her MSc-PhD at the Department of Geography. Her area of research focuses on Climate Change and Climate Variability. In her words “I got a fully-funded admission even without applying for a core stem program, I couldn’t have done this without the help of the amazing EducationUSA Advisors, they provided me with the needed support and guidance. You can achieve the same and more if you play your part and work closely with your advisors”.

Izunna Okpala is a graduate of Information Technology from the Federal University of Technology Owerri. He graduated as the best MSc student in the school with a distinction. Also, he was the second-best graduating student in his department for the bachelor's degree. With 9 international papers and 2 local publications to his name, Izunna is also an approved reviewer in Springer Open, having reviewed several publications in the Journal of Big Data. In 2019, Izunna became an Opportunity Funds Scholar and received a funded offer from the U.S. He accepted a fully-funded scholarship to the University of Cincinnati worth over $40,000 per year for his Ph.D. in Information Technology with emphasis on Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing. Always trying to improve himself, he enrolled in the University of Oxford summer school in Machine Learning with a three-week scholarship. Izunna says "The professionalism and passion for students to which the advisers in EducationUSA operate is out of this world, and none of the above-mentioned accomplishments would have been possible without the proper guidance and assistance offered by the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program (OFP)”

Kehinde Ogunmola

Obafemi Awolowo University

University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, PhD Chemistry

I remembered the day like yesterday when I lost my caring and ever promising Father… hmm, he loved me so much. Despite my dad leaving behind a family of seven, I finished secondary school examinations with the best result in my school and I got admission directly to university simultaneously to study Chemistry at Obafemi Awolowo University.

During my undergraduate I took it upon myself to combine my academics with side jobs so as to take care of my expenses. There is a common saying that a strike in university is a curse, in my case it was a blessing in disguise as I set out to increase my side jobs so as to pay my school fees. In the middle of all this, I was still an excellent student as I made sure that my academics didn’t suffer.

It was a faithful Saturday afternoon at my undergraduate departmental library some months after my degree program, that I had this great encounter with a former EducationUSA opportunity funds scholar. Though we were told it’s on merit, I never really believed that it wasn’t a scam until I became part of the program. It isn’t just about assistance and advise, it is indeed a family. The bonding in this family I have honestly never experienced before. Now I am joining the graduate school in the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa for my PhD program in Chemistry fully funded.