In retrospect to a Saturday afternoon on 3rd August 2019, a day where I found hope from a Facebook post by Mr. Victor Ogunmola. At first, I was surprised some persons could invest in the life of young Nigerians by obtaining the “Almighty GRE” to help achieve their dreams. Attempting the GRE has always been a priority but getting required funds was a big dent on the dream.
As a first generation student and the first born in a polygamous family, I was privileged to have had a University education and my parents already made it known that is the best they could offer me, in order to be able to support my teeming younger siblings through schools.
I graduated with a first class honours in Industrial Chemistry. Without prolonged hesitation, I submitted my application few days after I found the Facebook post. Unfortunately for me, I wasn’t included in the list of first 10 beneficiaries, but as soon as more benevolent sponsors provided funds, I got selected in September and wrote the GRE in November.
The i-scholar initiative is a big family with sponsors from various spheres of life and profession, and aside the Graduate Exam sponsorship provided, these benevolent sponsors also share their career growth, stories and achievements with the young scholars; I believe this cheerful act is an integral value that makes the initiative a fertile platform for scholars’ career development.
The mentorship of Dr. Olufemi Akanbi and other partners has propelled me to further extend my tentacles of opportunity as I currently hold unconditional offers from four(4) UK universities, one in France and one in Belgium, although they all come with no funding. I also patiently await decisions from my application to US Universities.
To prospective i-scholars, endeavour to fully harvest the rare opportunity this initiative will avail you; I believe your drives in the pursuit of success will take you places.
