Jeremiah Omolewa was born and raised in Lagos. Ever since childhood, Jeremiah has kept a record of academic excellence. He graduated from his primary school as the overall best pupil. He also graduated from his high school as the valedictorian of the class of 2020

At Good Shepherd Comprehensive High School, Jeremiah proved to be a highly motivated, passionate, and outstanding individual who broke various academic records, including having the highest UTME score(338/400) in his high school's 25-year history, and he occupied numerous leadership positions. He represented his school in several competitions and came out as a top student in many, including being an award winner at the Nigerian Institute of Physics Competition, the first runner-up in the JETS interschool project exhibition, the second runner-up in the Awokoya National Chemistry Competition, to name a few. As the president of the JETS club, he revolutionized his school by creating several Arduino-based robots and repairing damaged school electronics. As the Captain of his high school choir, he led the choir to perform at various school events. He is a multi-talented individual with several skills like playing up to seven musical instruments, designing and sewing clothes(he sewed several nose masks during the pandemic), creating graphics & websites, and coding, to mention a few.

After his secondary school graduation, Jeremiah decided to take a gap year from formal education to apply to universities abroad. During this time, Jeremiah served as a graphics, communications, and administrative intern at EducationUSA. He received admission into competitive institutions with scholarships ranging from partial to a full ride. These include Swarthmore College, Fisk University, and Arizona State University.

Jeremiah is presently at Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania, on a full ride where he is double majoring in Computer Science and Engineering.

Johnson Adegboyega completed his bachelor's degree from the Federal University of Technology Akure, where he graduated as one of the best students in the Department of Agricultural Engineering. During his undergraduate study, Johnson participated in different leadership and extracurricular activities. He served as the Assistant State Coordinator for Food and Gene Initiatives. He volunteered for Get Education, Get a Skill and Give Information Fight the Flood, working towards achieving sustainable development goals.

After his second attempt, Johnson Adegboyega was selected as an EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program Scholar in 2021. He was one of 34 successful applicants chosen out of over 2,500 candidates who completed an application. He has proceeded  to Purdue University for a Master's in Agricultural Engineering and specializing in Food Process Engineering. 

Joy Oluchi Amadi is a graduate of Chemistry from the Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria. In 2019, she emerged as the only First Class student in the Department of Chemistry, the best student in the science faculty, and the overall best graduating student of her institution. Joy has participated in extracurricular activities, community service, and leadership roles, all of which contribute to her broad talents. To begin with, she was appointed as the senior school prefect (head girl) during high school and represented her school in several academic competitions (debates, quizzes, etc.). Also, during her 200level in the institution, she served as an assistant general secretary for the Student's Chemical Society of Nigeria, Federal University Lokoja-Chapter, ensuring that the organization's objectives and goals were realized. From her second year until graduation, she assiduously taught Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics courses to students through the organization of free tutorial classes on campus, where she explained seemingly complex topics that they found challenging. During this same period (200 to 400level), Oluchi enjoyed the Federal Government Board Scholarship for Nigerian undergraduates due to her outstanding performance in the scholarship examination, which she wrote. While on her National Youth Service Corps program in Kwara State, Nigeria, she participated in community service work. Amadi joined the Reproductive Health and HIV Community Development Service Group after observing how carefree society's youth are. She was voted president of the organization shortly after being accepted as one of the volunteers. During this time, one of the most important roles she played was managing a team of eleven with the goal of sensitization. She made sure that she and her team went to schools, markets, clubs, and other venues to educate people about personal hygiene, reproductive health and the necessity of protecting it, HIV/AIDS and the importance of knowing their HIV status. She received an Award of Excellence for her true character and notable contributions to community activities that benefited over 700 people. These past responsibilities have helped her become a better leader and team player. 

Joy Oluchi Amadi is a 2021/2022 EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program Scholar. She was among the 34 successful applicants selected from over 2,500 applicants who completed an application. She secured fully funded scholarships in the United States of America to pursue her doctoral degree. She currently attends the University of Delaware, USA, in pursuit of her PhD degree in Chemistry. Her research interest will focus on synthesizing and designing molecules that will serve as applications for treating diseases and cancer. During graduate studies, Joy hopes to proffer solutions to " incurable " conditions.

Michael Temitope KADIRI is a first-class graduate of Industrial Chemistry from the Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. While Michael was at the University of Ibadan, he excelled both academically and in several leadership positions he held. Michael was the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Chemical Press for the session 2018/2019, where he amply worked closely with the team members to edit the weekly publications and also the release of the annual magazine of the department. Michael was also the Welfare Head of the student chemical society electoral committee, where he oversees the well-being of the members of the committee.

Michael loves to give back to his community, and this has been a massive part of his life, from volunteering to teach first and second-year students during his undergraduate days to reaching out to the less privileged under the auspices of Humanity Project Africa. Also, as the Vice-President of the Sustainable Development Goals group during his National Youth Service (NYSC), he created an awareness program for high school students on quality education and good health during his national youth service (NYSC) in Bayelsa state. Furthermore, he had teamed up with ACS (American Chemical Society) members at the University of Ibadan-being a community member himself- to organize programs for secondary school students by teaching them hands-on practicals on the making of liquid soap, air freshener, hand sanitiser etc.

Michael is an EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program (OFP) scholar. He was selected as one of the 34 successful applicants out of over 2500 applicants in 2021. Under the guidance of EducationUSA, he secured a fully funded offer for his PhD program in Chemistry from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Michael is interested in Polymer Chemistry with a particular interest in additive manufacturing, where he would use comput er-aided design for rapid prototyping and design of equipment.

Mojisoluwa Catherine Oludare was born and raised in Ondo state, where she also completed her primary education. Ever since childhood, Mojisoluwa has kept a record of academic excellence. At age 10, she was awarded a fully-funded scholarship by Shell, Nigeria, to study at one of the most prestigious private schools in Lagos State, Nigeria.

At Edgewood College, Mojisoluwa proved to be a hardworking and distinguished individual, breaking various academic records, occupying numerous leadership positions, and actively participating in various charity/ fundraising events at the school. She has also won various national and international leadership and academic recognitions, such as the Duke of Edinburgh Young Leader's Award and the Cambridge Outstanding Learner's Award- May/June 2019 Cambridge IGCSE, best in Nigeria- Geography.

After her secondary school graduation, Mojisoluwa completed a one-year accelerated A-Level Program, after which she graduated as the Valedictorian and best graduating student of the set. She then decided to take a gap year from formal education to apply to universities abroad.

During this time, Mojisoluwa also served as an administrative intern at EducationUSA

Mojisoluwa received admission into various competitive institutions with partial to full/almost full scholarships to nearly all of them. These include Minerva University, Howard University, the University of Illinois at Springfield and more. 

Mojisoluwa resumed  at Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania, on a scholarship worth over $75,000, where she hopes to double major in Biochemistry and Economics.

Nkwocha Stephen is a unique student, "the prof," as those around him popularly call him, due to his exceptional Intelligence and excellent academic accomplishments. 

He holds a bachelor's degree in Chemistry Education from the premier University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) and a First Class Master's degree from the Prestigious University of Lagos, where he graduated with a CGPA of 4.64/5.0 with a specialization in Physical Chemistry. 

During his undergraduate studies at the UNN affiliate campus for Education students at Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Owerri Imo State, he engaged in several leadership activities that assisted in developing a strong leadership personality. He was elected Secretary General of the National Association of Science in 2007. He was also elected the Secretary General of the Degree students association in 2008. He also served as the Electoral Committee chairman for the Students Chemical Society of Nigeria A.I.F.C.E. chapter, where he recorded a free and fair electoral process. 

After graduating in 2009, He participated in the compulsory National Youth Service program in 2010/2011 at Ile-Ife east local government, Osun State. During this period, he volunteered to mentor over 1000 students in Adolescent Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS prevention, and teenage pregnancy. The State Peer Educator Trainer coordinator gave him a commendation letter for his achievements. 

Stephen has served as an outstanding Chemistry tutor at Dansol High School. He also served in various capacities, such as the Head of the Science department, Head of the e-learning and Technical Committee, Head of the Robotics and Innovation committee, Head of the Summer School planning committee, member of the Academic Board, member of foreign examinations committee, and member of external competitions committee. He won several awards, such as "The teacher of the year in 2019 and 2021''. He also won the outstanding teacher's award in the 2021 Avogadro's Chemistry challenge by the University of Waterloo, Canada. He also got nominated for the Lagos State Best teacher of the year award in 2021. He currently has a YouTube Channel where he explains Chemistry topics to students preparing for the annual West African Senior School Examination.

Stephen is also an Innovation coach. In the past four years, over eighty (80) students from Dansol High School have been awarded Conrad Innovators in the annual Conrad Innovation Challenge. 6 teams have been Alternate finalists in the competition, and two teams (RET Innovate and Team Biocon) have made it to the Global Finals in Florida USA.

Stephen got a fully funded PhD scholarship that covers his tuition, medical insurance, and living expenses from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee where he is presently majoring in Chemistry.

Nmesoma Ebelechukwu Precious Onyejekwe attended Loral International Day Secondary school, Lagos, where she graduated as the valedictorian and had 6A's and 3B's in her WASSCE and 307 in her UTME. Having shown exceptional leadership qualities as class prefect from 7th-11th grade, she was unanimously appointed as the Head girl of the school in her graduating class. She served as President of the JETS Club and led inventions, which she and other club members displayed at interschool science fairs and competitions. She won a gold medal in the National Mathematics and Science Olympiad in 2018 and emerged in first place in the Junior Science category in Lagos state. In the 11th grade, she volunteered at the Loral Math clinic after school, where she taught mathematics to 7th -9th graders till she graduated.

Nmesoma participated in other extracurricular activities: literary writing, sports, and music. She was captain of the girls' basketball team and won a SIFA basketball gold medal in 2019. 

After secondary school, she took a gap year and learned python programming as a new skill. She continued volunteering at church as a fundraising committee member, raising donations for orphans, widows, cancer and HIV/AIDs patients. Conforming to her ambition to work in the health field, she also volunteered at Sirona Hospital in Festac town, where she gained a lot of clinical experience.

Nmesoma joined North Central College, Illinois in fall 2022, where she currently majors in Biochemistry. She is a recipient of their International Trustees Scholarship- a full-ride scholarship- awarded to only one international student.
 
 
 

Olaniyan Olawale Abiodun is a First class Statistics graduate from the University of Ibadan. He had a diploma in the same field from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, where he graduated as the best student in his department. 

He has gained relevant experience through internships and symposiums. For example, he interned at the Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, College of Medicine, the University of Ibadan where he participated in a data management short course and was introduced to the use of analytical data software like SPSS, Microsoft Excel, and R programming language. In April 2021, he participated in a physical symposium on Applied Statistics with R Syntax, which was organized by the International Association of Statistical Computing - African Members Group. 

Part of his research experience was his undergraduate thesis, where he worked on "Assessing the Effect of Socioeconomic Predictor Variables on Under-five Mortality: Evidence from 2018 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey '' where he applied the Wealth Index combination to show how poverty influences child mortality.

Olaniyan is interested in computational statistics and data science, biostatistics, medical statistics and statistical genetics. He got a fully funded scholarship from Western Michigan University where he is currently majoring in Statistics.

Peter Josiah Aminu

Kaduna State University

University of Colorado Boulder

In 2021, I graduated top of my class with a CGPA of 4.70/5.00 and a first-class degree in biochemistry from KASU. I maximized every opportunity I had to get into the laboratory because of my passion for research. Throughout my undergraduate, I was always assigned to lead my lab group which has helped build my confidence on the lab bench. I also was elected the pioneer president of the Kajuru L.G.A Student Association Kaduna State University Chapter in 2019. During the Covid-19 Lockdown, I enrolled in a five-week virtual computational biology internship hosted by HackBio where I learned a lot and collaborated with internationals to perform a project. The project, which attempts to elucidate the COVID-19 mortality risk assessment among various age groups using phylogenetic analysis, gave me my first collaborative publication in an international journal. Also, as a person who loves to inspire and impact knowledge, I found myself constantly tutoring my mates and many other students even after university. Currently, as a serving corps member, I left a biotechnology research facility so I could teach chemistry and biology in a government secondary school in Abuja.

Reuben Ogba Onwe is a first-generation graduate who obtained his bachelor of science degree in Microbiology (First Class Honors in 2019) from the University of Nigeria Nsukka. He finished as the best graduating student in his department, with several awards. Before his undergraduate studies, at the tender age of eight, Reuben lost his Uncle Ndubuisi Onwe to what he learned in his later years as liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) due to a late diagnosis of Hepatitis B virus. This changed his thought process and made him curious about viruses. Although at that age, it was unclear which profession he would major in. However, he made up his mind that the career would be one where he could contribute to putting an end to the emotional trauma people go through when they lose loved ones to what seems to him as preventable diseases. Paradoxically, his dad had a penchant for the law profession and was opposed to his vision of pursuing a career in the sciences.

Interestingly, during his high school days, after several disagreements, he was allowed to choose a career for himself. That was a great victory for him, as it marked the beginning of his journey in sciences. Furthermore, part of the things that shaped Reuben’s career were the numerous mentorships he got during his penultimate year as an undergraduate. After his compulsory National Youth Service, his research penchant made him return to his alma mater to volunteer as a research assistant in his undergraduate supervisor’s lab. This further shaped Reuben’s interest and made him join some peer research groups, notably, The Viral Seroprevalence Research group chaired by Professor Anthony C. Ike. This thus helped Reuben to coauthor some research and review papers, and he has thus far had two publications and two conference proceedings.

Apart from Academics, Reuben is a very social person with good leadership and mentorship qualities. Among other leadership positions he has held, during his National Youth service, he served as the president of the Culture and Tourism Community Development Group, Agwada Development Area, Nasarawa State 2020/2021, and also the Drama Director in the Christian’s Copers Fellowship Agwada, Narasawa State. In addition, Reuben has demonstrated various mentorship roles by assisting numerous students in multiple departments in the faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka, notably anchoring the Nigeria Association of Microbiology Students’ week for 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 academic sessions, respectively.

Reuben applied for the EducationUSA Opportunity Fund Program Abuja, 2020/2021 cohort but was not shortlisted. Nevertheless, he reapplied for the EducationUSA Opportunity Fund Program Lagos, 2021/2022 cohort and got accepted. Reuben secured two fully funded PhD offers at the SUNY Upstate Medical University and The University of Pittsburgh for fall 2022. He is presently at SUNY Upstate Medical University, where he is pursuing research in virology and cancer biology.

Ruth is the second of five children. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti #ABUAD in 2015, where she finished top of her class with a CGPA of 4.84 out of 5.00. She emerged as the best graduating student in the Department of Biological Sciences; she was also awarded and celebrated as the Student of the year by the Nigerian Association of Microbiology Students #NAMS-ABUAD Chapter. Throughout her studies in ABUAD, she received Founder’s Scholar Awards.

She was the General Secretary of NAMS-ABUAD Chapter and was appointed as a group leader for several courses to promote academic excellence among her peers. She served as a Graduate Assistant at UNIBEN during her National Youth Service Corps. 

In 2020, Ruth completed her Master’s degree in Medical Microbiology with a distinction from University of Lagos #UNILAG, where she finished as the best student in her specialization (Virology) and overall second best in the department. She worked as an Assistant Lecturer at Osun State Polytechnic Iree, where she started an independent research in Medical Microbiology coupled with diverse research in Microbiology.

In 2021, she started surfing the internet on how to acquire a fully-funded admission to the U.S, after several futile attempts in the past years. Gracefully, her friend sent her “EducationUSA OFP advert”; she applied and got selected as one of the 34 successful applicants out of over 2,500 candidates that completed the application. With exceptional advisors and mentors, she secured three fully funded admissions in the U.S. Ruth currently attends the University of Louisville as a fully-funded Ph.D. student. She is studying for a Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology and bacteriology.

In her words, “EducationUSA is a dream come true, and being an OFP Scholar is a huge blessing.” Thank you for the opportunity.

Saheed Adesile LAWAL graduated from the Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) as the overall best graduating student of the set with the highest CGPA in the history of the university. During his undergraduate days, Saheed demonstrated outstanding academic excellence, which earned him several honors, awards, and scholarships, including the Undergraduate Prize of Physiology, awarded by the Physiological Society, United Kingdom, the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited Merit Award, Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) Merit Scholarship, FUTA Muslim Graduate Award for Academic Excellence, GLO/HUAWEI Award for Excellent Academic Record, etc.

Being an individual who loves to be active and give back to his society, excelling academically did not restrict him from participating in extracurricular activities and leadership roles. Saheed was involved in planning and executing several medical outreach programs during his undergraduate days. He was also the electoral chairman for the Students' Physiological Society of Nigeria (SPAN), FUTA Chapter for two consecutive sessions (2017/18 and 2018/19), and he served as a member of the executive committee for the Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria (MSSN), FUTA Chapter from 2017 to 2019. He also volunteered as a tutor in his departmental academic tutorials and religious society. Saheed was the president of the Health-To-All Initiative (HTAI), a program created to give everyone worldwide access to the information they need to manage their health and live healthily.

Saheed Lawal is an EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program Scholar. He was one of the 34 successful applicants selected out of over 2500 that completed an application. Saheed secured a fully-funded offer in the United States of America (USA) to pursue a doctoral program (Ph.D.) in Neuroscience at Stony Brook University (State University of New York) for Fall 2022. His research will focus on the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. With the motivation to alleviate the rampant increase in the number of people with neurodegenerative diseases, this translational research will elucidate the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, and potential therapeutic strategies, thereby easing the lives of patients living with such disorders.

Seyi Bowale Adekoya is a First Class Chemistry graduate from Olabisi Onabanjo University. He graduated as the best student in the Faculty of Science, having a cumulative grade point average of 4.63 in a 5.00 grading system. 

Seyi proceeded to get a master's degree in Inorganic Chemistry at the Premier University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, where he graduated with a CGPA of 7.0/7.0.

Shortly after his graduation, he applied for a PhD in the United States of America and was offered admission to study chemistry at the University of New Mexico.

Seyi has a passion for knowledge impartation, which made him deliver free private lessons to his colleagues and younger ones struggling academically during his undergraduate days. Furthermore, he organized Easylife Coaching Classes for primary and secondary school students at no cost.

Seyi believes that for development to occur, individuals must be ready to give back to their communities. His passion for education, advocacy, and community service drove him to return to his alma mater to tutor the students in chemistry and mathematics and prepare them for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination during the holidays. He is also the General Secretary of the Charity Community Development Service during the National Youth Service Corps.

Currently, Seyi is teaching students planning to take their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination to assist in their training and development. He sees this as a great platform to contribute in his little way to the community. Also, Seyi wants to expose these kids to the psychological and socio-cultural opportunities education presents.

Seyi Bowale Adekoya is a First Class Chemistry graduate from Olabisi Onabanjo University. He graduated as the best student in the Faculty of Science, having a cumulative grade point average of 4.63 out of 5.00. Seyi graduated with a master’s degree in Inorganic Chemistry at the Premier University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State, Nigeria, where he graduated with a CGPA of 7.0 out of 7.0.

Seyi has a passion for knowledge impartation, which made him deliver free private lessons to his colleagues and younger ones struggling academically during his undergraduate days.

Furthermore, he organized Easylife Coaching Classes for primary and secondary school students at no cost. Seyi believes that for development to occur, individuals must be ready to give back to their communities. His passion for education, advocacy, and community service drove him to return to his alma mater to tutor the students in chemistry and mathematics and prepare them for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination during the holidays. He is also the General Secretary of the Charity Community Development Service during the National Youth Service Corps.

Seyi also taught students planning to take their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination and assisted in their training and development. He sees this as a great platform to contribute in his little way to the community. Seyi is currently a fully funded Ph.D. student of Chemistry at the University of New Mexico.

Temidayo David Idowu is a First Class graduate from the Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). He graduated as the best student in the Department and the College of Physical Sciences. Before his first degree, he received the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE, Chemistry and Mathematics) from the Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta (FCE ABK); he was also the best graduating student (First Class) in the Department. During his post-secondary education, Temidayo participated in various organizations and took up different leadership roles, such as President of the Mathematics Department (NAMSSN, FCE ABK), Welfare Director (SCSN, FUNAAB), Academic Committee Chairman (SCSN FUNAAB) and host of others. The academic excellence and welfare of the students were one of Temidayo's priorities. He organized and facilitated extra classes, tutorials, seminars and training for his colleagues and other students in the department.

Temidayo Idowu is an EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program (OFP) Scholar. He was among the 34 successful applicants selected out of over 2,500 in 2021. He went ahead (under the guidance of EducationUSA) to secure a fully funded PhD (Chemistry) admission at the University of Delaware, where he is currently studying. His desire has always been to contribute towards increasing the search and synthesis of novel drugs via safe, fast and economical pathways, thus improving the health of humanity.