Rosemary Olubukola Ewetade is a dedicated and passionate lady who has a solid background  in Animal Science and she graduated with a first-class degree from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka  University (formerly Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi) from the Department of Animal  Production. She was ranked in the top 1% of her department. Before this qualification, she  started her academic journey in the year 2014 and graduated year 2016 when she obtained a  National Diploma in Animal Health and Production from the Federal College of Animal Health  and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Ibadan where she graduated with an upper credit  and then proceeded for her Bachelors in 2018. She is passionate about Animal Science and  Environmental Sustainability. 

During her NYSC program at Caleb University, she was a Graduate Assistant. This position  exposed her to many experiences where she demonstrated her teaching and mentorship style.  However, during this period she acquired knowledge and skills through networking and commitment.

Aside from academia, she contributed to her community, one of which is the EducationUSA  College Fair held in Lagos. She played a significant role by welcoming guests of about 2000  attendees, assisting in distributing over 2000 promotional items, ushering the attendees to seats,  and ensuring that College Reps were okay. She worked and networked with like-minded people,  and she has been mentored by the advisers.  

Over 850 applications were received for the Opportunity Fund Program (OFP), she applied but initially, she wasn't shortlisted but she attended the boot camp where she gained insight,  knowledge, and mentorship about how to secure full funding for graduate research assistantship  at schools in the United State of America. The information obtained during the Boot camp was  utilized and this made her recently admitted with a fully funded Graduate Research Assistantship  at Kentucky State University for a Master of Science in Environmental Studies where she aimed  to acquire knowledge and skills to proffer solutions to pressing challenges in the environment.

Sadoh Odion Rosemary is a first-generation graduate who earned a First-Class Honors Bachelor  of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS) degree from Ambrose Alli University, Edo State, Nigeria.  Following graduation, she completed a one-year internship at the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba,  Delta State, Nigeria, where her dedication to learning and research led to her retention at the  Molecular Laboratory, Centre for Disease Control and Research (CDCR) during her National  Youth Service Corps (NYSC) placement.  

Motivated to advance her studies internationally, Odion applied to the Opportunity Funds  Scholarship Program (OFP), a highly competitive initiative supporting academically strong yet  financially disadvantaged students. Out of over 900 applicants, she was one of only 26 selected  for the 2023/2024 cohort. Through OFP’s mentorship from EducationUSA advisers, she  strengthened her graduate school application skills and learned about securing fully funded offers  for U.S. graduate programs. With their support, she successfully secured a fully funded offer to  pursue a Ph.D. in Biology at the University of Louisville in the United States, along with a  prestigious graduate research assistantship. She learned about the University of Louisville through  an OFP scholar and, after attending a departmental session, submitted a competitive application  that earned her this opportunity. Odion expresses deep gratitude for the support and mentorship  from EducationUSA advisers and previous OFP cohorts. Committed to paying it forward, she aims  to mentor future cohorts to help them achieve their goals of securing fully funded graduate offers. 

Salimat Sofela graduated with First Class honors in Chemistry from the University of Lagos. Afterward, she proceeded to Chrisland University, Abeokuta, as a graduate assistant, where she gained experience in teaching and mentoring undergraduate students on experimental techniques in Chemistry and Biochemistry. Also, she gained relevant research experience in drug discovery, which led to the publication of two first-author papers and two co-authored papers in reputable journals. 

Salimat aims to further her studies, and in her quest to navigate this process, she was among the 26 candidates out of over 900 applicants selected for the EducationUSA Opportunity Fund Program (OFP) in the 2023/2024 cohort. This program helped her gain valuable information and mentorship on securing fully funded offers to attend graduate school in the United States. With the help and support of this program, she successfully secured multiple fully funded offers into five schools, and she will be attending the prestigious Vanderbilt University for her Ph.D. in the Quantitative and Chemical Biology (QCB) Program. She got to know about the school and program she would be attending through a session that was hosted by EducationUSA and thereafter submitted a competitive application that not only earned her a fully funded offer but also a highly competitive fellowship award as one of the top three applicants which will enable her to focus primarily on her research for the first three years. 

Salimat feels grateful and privileged to have EducationUSA's support and is thankful to all the advisors and mentors from the previous cohort. She is dedicated to mentoring other incoming cohorts to achieve their aim of securing fully funded offers to attend graduate school.

Seun Omogbehin is a highly accomplished and ambitious individual passionate about academic research. He holds a First Class Honors in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. Through his teaching and mentoring experiences, he has become comfortable sharing new knowledge and learning new skills and ideas. These skills have led to university, national, and global recognition. He has been recognized for his outstanding academic achievements by receiving about nine scholarships, including the University of Lagos Scholars' Endowment Award, the prestigious Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Scholarship, the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture Scholarship, and the Western Union Foundation Global Scholarship. These awards recognize his academic excellence, determination to achieve his goals, resilience in the face of challenges, and sense of community. 

Seun has a demonstrated track record of success in academic research, with a notable achievement being his co- authorship of a research paper in an international journal. His undergraduate thesis, titled "Diffraction of Water Waves Through Breakwater Gaps," is particularly noteworthy, where he detected and corrected an error in the widely published equation by Morse and Rubenstein (1938) for the diffraction of waves through breakwater gaps. He is currently focused on research in coastal processes and dynamics, disaster resilience and risk management, wave mechanics, and coastal engineering. 

In addition to his academic achievements, Seun actively contributes to his community. Notably, he volunteered at the EducationUSA College Fair in Lagos, where he played a pivotal role in welcoming over 1,000 guests, including school representatives, graduate students, and high school graduates. His assistance in navigating questions about applying to U.S. universities and managing the event's logistics showcased his commitment to fostering educational opportunities. Furthermore, Seun led a team in conducting an interactive session at Lagos Progressive High School, inspiring 50 students to explore ICT-related opportunities in their academic and professional journeys. His dedication to bridging the gap between academia and real-world applications was evident in the showcased integration of ICT in civil engineering practices. 

Seun's commitment to environmental education was demonstrated through his participation in the African Youth for Environment Fellowship. By advocating against plastic pollution, organizing movie screenings, conducting workshops, and reaching over 1,720 students, he actively worked towards empowering young minds to take action and reduce their contributions to environmental challenges. 

Over the 600 applications received for the Opportunity Funds Program (OFP), Seun was one of the only 26 graduate scholars to be offered conditional admission to participate in the 2023/2024 EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program. This intensive program provided him with valuable information on how to secure full funding admission to competitive schools in the United States. Thanks to the teachings, seminars, workshops, and mentorship from this program, he received four admissions for his PhD program in the US. He will be attending North Carolina State University in the Fall semester of 2024 on a full ride where he will be working with Prof. Casey Dietrich on the modeling of long-term 3D circulation and transport patterns of hazardous materials in the estuaries and sounds of North Carolina. 

Seun is driven by a strong desire to make meaningful contributions to the field of Civil and Environmental Engineering with a concentration on Environmental, Water Resources, and Coastal Engineering and aspires to be a Professor of Coastal Engineering, where he can advance research in the field and ensure the implementation of proposed research studies through collaborative multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research. He is particularly interested in utilizing his skills to address critical global challenges and is determined to work diligently and consistently toward this goal. Seun's ultimate goal is to become the first Nigerian Nobel laureate in Applied Sciences.

Sinmiloluwa Akande is a first-generation student born and bred in Ibadan, Oyo State. She graduated from Morning Star Comprehensive College in 2021 and was privileged to serve in various leadership positions. She was the class captain of her class for 5 consecutive years and the head girl in her final year. She broke the record of the highest WAEC result ever had by her school in years by having 6As and 3Bs. She was also the Valedictorian of her graduating class.

Sinmiloluwa took a gap year after her high school graduation where she spent most of her time on self- improvement and giving back to her community. Her affinity for children propelled her to serve in her local church as a teacher. She also volunteers her time through secondary school outreaches where she mentors public high school students in Ibadan and broadens their academic scope. Her affinity for research also led her to intern at the Drosophila Research and Training Institute where she gained insights into how fruit flies(Drosophila melanogaster) can be used in the neuroscientific field. 

In June 2023, Sinmiloluwa was selected as an EducationUSA OFP Scholar after submitting her application by faith. She submitted her applications to various colleges in the United States of America. She got into Fisk University(Partial funding), Alabama A&M University(Partial funding), Wellesley College(Full ride), Simmons University(Partial funding), and Spelman College.

She will be attending Wellesley College this fall as a Neuroscience major student on a pre-med track where she hopes to continue researching on finding a better drug treatment for Parkinson's disease using fruit flies as a case study. 

When you can’t find Sinmiloluwa practicing her lines for the next playlet at church rehearsals, she is catching up with a Korean drama.

Timothy Ayeni holds a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry with a first-class honor from Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos, where he graduated among the top 1% of his class in 2020. His outstanding academic performance earned him several scholarships and awards during his undergraduate program, some of which include the LASU Scholars Award (2015-2019 academic sessions), LASU Chapel of Light Scholars Award (2015-2019 academic sessions), and LASU Christian community Scholars Award (2017-2018 academic session). He also presented his undergraduate research at the LASU Faculty of Science International Conference in 2020. 

Following his undergraduate program, Timothy's passion for biomedical research, especially in cancer, made him join the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) at Yaba Lagos, as a Graduate Research Assistant where he honed his research skills and experiences in molecular biology, tissue culturing, and molecular oncology in Dr. James Ayorinde’s lab for 11 months. His research experiences and enthusiasm qualified him to secure a fully-funded scholarship in the form of a Research Assistantship for his Master's program at Covenant University, sponsored by the World Bank for the 2022-2024 academic session. He is currently rounding up his master's program in Biochemistry with a specialization in Molecular Oncology and currently holds six research publications with two in the pipeline. 

Timothy's motivation to contribute to scientific efforts to reduce cancer burdens globally made him develop an interest in cancer research focusing on the molecular mechanisms of cancer cell growth, division, and metastasis, and investigating the genetic mutations contributing to these processes. This motivated him to begin his quest on how to enroll in a fully funded PhD program to acquire the advanced knowledge and skills needed to achieve his career goals. This aspiration turned into reality through the opportunity to be mentored and supported by the EducationUSA Advisers as an Opportunity Funds Program (OFP) Scholar. Timothy's journey to securing a fully funded PhD admission in the USA to pursue his academic ambition became clear and less difficult with the support of his Advisers; Mrs. U., Mrs. J., and Mr. G. at EducationUSA, Lagos. He is therefore extremely grateful for the unending support given to him by EducationUSA throughout his application and post-admission processes. 

Timothy will be joining the University of North Dakota in the United States in Fall 2024 for his fully funded PhD program in Biomedical Sciences, where he will be investigating the fundamental mechanisms including epigenetics, gene regulation, and DNA repair, and how the interruption of these processes leads to tumorigenesis and cancer progression, with the aim of developing therapeutic strategies against cancer.

For Tochukwu, achieving his academic dreams was a journey of resilience, faith, and determination. In 2021, he set his sights on studying in the United States. He applied to at least eight colleges and several global scholarships, gaining multiple admissions but failing to secure the funding he needed for a master’s degree.

In 2022, Tochukwu applied to 15 programs, a mix of master’s and PhD options, balancing his goals for advanced studies with his desire to create an immediate impact in his field. Yet again, funding obstacles persisted, testing his resolve.

By 2023, Tochukwu took a bold approach, focusing on a single application to Virginia Tech, home to a top-ranked Civil Engineering program. His determination paid off when he not only gained admission but also secured full funding. This was the result of years of hard work, persistence, and belief in himself.

Tochukwu’s story is a testament to the power of persistence and faith. With his dreams now within reach, he inspires others to persevere against all odds.

Adebola Esther Adeniji holds a Bachelor of Technology (B Tech) degree in Ecotourism and Wildlife Management from the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA). She graduated with a first class and was the best graduating student in her department.  She has great interest in natural resources conservation and sustainable management.

During her National Youth Service Corps, She worked as a research assistant at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria where she gained more knowledge in Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing and its application in natural resources conservation and management. She collaborated in a research titled ‘Probabilistic Cellular Automata Modelling and Simulation of Land-Use Changes in Okomu National Park’ which has been published in a peer reviewed journal. After her National Youth Service, to hone her skills in GIS and remote sensing she interned at the Center for Space Research and Application, FUTA.  She is also a recipient of the IDEA WILD research equipment grant. She volunteered with non-governmental organizations focusing on making contributions to natural resources conservation and management such as Eden world initiative, Elom greenie, among others.

She got selected among the 27 successful candidates out of over 7000 applicants for the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program for the 2022/2023 cohort. Through the mentorship and financial help of EducationUSA, she successfully passed all the hurdles of getting into a graduate school with fully funded admission in the US. She secured a fully funded admission in the Ecological Sciences and Engineering interdisciplinary doctorate program at Purdue University.

Adeyemi graduated in 2020 as the best graduating student in the Department of Biochemistry at Lagos State University with a CGPA of 4.86 out of 5.00. During his undergrad days, he served as both the departmental coach and the director of education. After his undergraduate journey, Adeyemi embarked on a year-long National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) experience at a renowned pharmaceutical company, solidifying his practical skills and contributing to the pharmaceutical industry's progress. It was during this time that Adeyemi's dedication to biochemistry found real-world applications.

Eager to further enhance his research skills, Adeyemi pursued a graduate internship at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR). This experience served as a valuable stepping stone in his academic and professional journey, honing his ability to conduct in-depth research and investigate the intricacies of biochemistry in greater detail.

In 2021, Adeyemi secured a coveted spot in the EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program, a remarkable milestone in his educational journey. With the generous support of this program, Adeyemi received full funding to pursue a Ph.D. program at Texas Tech University in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. This opportunity marks a significant turning point in Adeyemi's career, where he will continue to expand his knowledge and explore the boundaries of scientific discovery.

Adeyemi's story is an inspiring testament to what can be achieved through dedication, commitment, and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. 

John Olusegun Adeyemo was born and raised in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he completed his primary and secondary education. From his early years, John exhibited a thirst for knowledge and an unwavering dedication to self-improvement, evident even during his primary education.

Transitioning to Ideal Comprehensive College for his secondary education, John faced initial academic challenges, particularly in the field of Mathematics. However, he persevered and displayed an exceptional academic trajectory, culminating in his appointment as Senior Prefect during his final year of high school. Recognizing the need to cultivate excellence among his peers, John co-founded the Quiz Club, a commendable initiative aimed at grooming the top 1% of students for various competitions. Notably, John represented his school in numerous competitions, consistently delivering outstanding performances.

During the pandemic, John represented ICC at the SG Holdings Quiz competition for STEM students in his state. After several rigorous rounds, he emerged as the best STEM student in his region and 4th in the state. John graduated as the valedictorian with the best result from Ideal Comprehensive College and scored 313 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

Discovering the Opportunity Funds Program, John took a leap of faith and submitted an application, despite the slim odds of acceptance. His determination paid off when he received the news of his selection as an Opportunity Funds Program scholar. This came with a lot of responsibility as John knew next to nothing about the US application process. John received numerous rejections after submitting his initial applications to a variety of institutions in the US, including Minerva University. Reflecting on the process, John started Intellect Africa aimed at helping high school students understand the numerous opportunities available to them.

Despite encountering numerous rejections during his arduous journey, John refused to be deterred. For the final time, he applied for the fall of 2023, enduring a rollercoaster of emotions along the way. Ultimately, John received acceptance letters from notable institutions such as Stetson University, Florida Southern College, and Alabama A&M University, each accompanied by partial to full funding opportunities. Come fall 2023, John will be resuming at Alabama A&M University on a full scholarship covering the cost of attendance, where he hopes to study Computer Science.

Uche is the first child of a family of 6 and was born and raised in Onitsha, Anambra state. His academic strengths were evident all through his primary and secondary school years where he was always at the top of his class. In his secondary education, he was awarded overall best student for 3 consecutive years and finished as the best graduating student class of 2021, with a WAEC result of 7As and 2 Bs, and a JAMB result of 324.  Uche holds first place MAN Olympiads 2018 Niger state representative. Cowbellpedia mathematics competition 2018, North-central representative 2020 FEDCOL CHESS GAMES finals, first runner-up Abuja interschool chess competition Olumawu. He held various leadership positions in his secondary school: Deputy Head boy 2020/2021 session, (Young Catholic Students) YCS President 2020/2021, Vice-president Mathematical Sciences club 2020, President Mathematical Sciences club 2021, Vice-president Chess and Scrabble club 2021.

Uche attended Federal Government Academy, Suleja for his secondary education. His leadership skills and academic excellence were so evident that he was made a leader in various sections of the school setting. By his SSS2, he was made the vice-president of the mathematical sciences club, and later went on to become the president in his SSS3.  He also held executive positions in other clubs, like library club, JETS club where he was the vice-president and chess and scrabble club where he was also the vice-president.

Uche took a gap year, during which he applied for and was accepted into the opportunity funds program. Upon his admission into the program, he prepared for and had the SAT test in which he got 1480/1600. He worked well with the EducationUSA advisers to craft his university applications. He was admitted to Grambling state university, Louisiana on a full ride scholarship to study computer science. Uche hopes to become a top computer scientist and software engineer and hopes to use his qualifications to bridge the digital gap in his home country Nigeria and Africa as a whole. He will be the first in his family to obtain a bachelors degree.

Nnachor, Amarachi Clare hails from Enugu State, Nigeria. Despite facing challenges growing up in a rural setting where education for girls was undervalued, she was fortunate to receive support from her parents who, despite their lack of formal education, believed in its importance. She witnessed her parents losing their business during the Kaduna sharia crisis, which led the family to relocate back to the east and relying on their  grandparents for three years.

These experiences shaped her mindset and fueled her passion for finding creative solutions to various problems. Despite financial struggles, she pursued education and overcame obstacles during her tertiary studies. After completing her studies and the  national youth service program, she took on the responsibility of supporting her family financially due to my mother's accident. This made her start a small business of selling coconut oil, which helped contribute to her siblings' education.

The challenges she faced taught her valuable lessons in leadership and taking responsibility.  She got an award for a fully funded  scholarship for a PhD program in Chemistry at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. She is greatful for the guidance and support of Abuja EducationUSA team. She is very excited about the opportunity to study in a diverse and intellectually stimulating environment, where I can contribute to innovative research projects addressing Chemistry-related issues

Annabel is a hardworking, passionate and results-driven go-getter, who is eager to combine her veterinary medical background and research experience with her passion for infectious disease research. She graduated with high honors as the Best Graduating Student from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in the University of Abuja, Nigeria with a CGPA of 4.84/5.0. Her exceptional academic performance earned her thirteen out of the sixteen academic laurels awarded at the induction ceremony in February 2022. From her fourth year in veterinary school, she dedicated herself to carrying out impactful research and worked as a research assistant in the Department of Veterinary Pathology, resulting in multiple publications.

In 2021, despite being an undergraduate researcher, she presented a prize-winning research poster at the African Virology Congress. In her final year, she won the coveted prize to undergo a practical training program in molecular biology at the renowned Inqaba Biotec laboratory facility. By 2022, she was awarded the Women in Data Science grant to undergo the HackBio genomics research program, as well as the Summer Remote Bioinformatics fellowship for the RNA Institute at the University of Albany, New York, USA. Recognizing the importance of mentorship in fostering growth and bridging academic gaps among students, she served as the Student Director of Academics, championing tutoring, study aids, and class supplies.

Annabel’s passions extend beyond academics and research, as she has a long track record of leadership in volunteering and community service. She was the public relations for the One Health Club Uniabuja, spearheading health awareness campaigns against zoonotic diseases like rabies in rural communities in Abuja, Nigeria. As the director of exchanges for the African Education Initiative, she was engaged in providing aid materials to children in orphanages. During her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), she served as the deputy governor for the NYSC Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) community development service group, coordinating multiple community outreach projects including free medical outreach and climate action campaigns. She is also the Co-lead for the Power A Girl advocacy group leading initiatives to educate and inspire young girls to stay in school.

Annabel’s dedication, service and potential was recognized when she was selected as an EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program scholar (Fall 2023 cohort). She secured multiple fully funded offers from reputable graduate schools in the USA, and is now ready to embark on an exciting new milestone as she begins a fully funded PhD program in Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Utah. Overall, her dedication to science, research and education, as well as her passion for empowering individuals and communities continue to motivate Annabel on her journey as a researcher, global citizen and student of life.

Aondoakaa Philip Ityotagher holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Technology with first-class honors from the University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigeria where he received various awards including the award as the best graduating student in the 2016/2017 academic session. He worked as a student intern at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Kaduna Area Laboratory where he analyzed NAFDAC-regulated food products to ensure that established quality requirements were met.

He is also a volunteer member of the International Human Rights Commission. In 2023, Aondoakaa completed his Master of Science degree in Food Technology with distinctions from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He is passionate about food science research, particularly in the areas of value-added processing of food materials and the development of functional foods and bioactive components to improve public health and lower the risk of chronic diseases. He currently has three (3) publications to his name. 

Aondoakaa is an EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Program (OFP) scholar. Through EducationUSA he was able to apply successfully to graduate schools in the US. He secured a fully funded offer for his Ph.D. program in Food Science and Technology from the University of Georgia, United States. His research will be focused on enzymatic modification of lipids for various food applications (such as infant formula, trans-free margarine, shortenings, etc.). He intends to use this degree to positively impact the Nigerian food industry.

Awwal Damilare Oladipupo completed his bachelor's degree at the University of Lagos, where he studied Petroleum and Gas Engineering and graduated Top 1% of the institution and the valedictorian of the College/Faculty of Engineering and the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering. He has won several awards and prizes which include; The Oxford and Cambridge (OxBridge) Club of Nigeria Leadership Award for having excellent academic performance and outstanding leadership qualities, the Lagos section’s Society of Petroleum Engineers Most Dependable Student Award for his selfless act in service to other students, and influencing a better student community through his volunteering, Society of Petroleum Engineers Academic Excellence Award, ECPM Engineers Award, and so on. In addition, he was named one of the ten outstanding Engineering students in Nigeria and received special recognition and a prize for academic achievement from the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), he was also selected to participate in the Stanford Exposure to Research and Graduate Education (SERGE) 2022 program.

Awwal through the guidance and mentorship of the EducationUSA Advisers (Lagos), secured fully funded offers for a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at four universities in the US and is currently at the University of Michigan for his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with a research focus on leveraging computational techniques, such as machine learning, atomistic simulations, multiscale modeling, simulations, and software engineering, to accelerate the discovery and design of novel materials. He aims to harness these techniques' power to gain a deep, atomistically-resolved understanding of intricate phenomena.

In his account, he characterizes his time as an OFP scholar in EducationUSA Lagos as a pivotal and exhilarating experience. He is convinced that the EducationUSA team can make the graduate school dream a reality by offering top-notch human resources in the form of EducationUSA Advisors, supportive mentors, and inspiring team members. Through this community, he has acquired the skills to maintain a positive outlook, concentrate on his objectives, and continue developing on his growth journey in graduate school and beyond. He anticipates collaborating with other EducationUSA mentors to guide prospective students in achieving their aspirations.