President Victor Ogunmola of the i-Scholar Initiative (iSI), a non-governmental organization, has announced the organization’s commitment to supporting the ongoing development of young Nigerians pursuing education abroad.
Ogunmola, the leader of an organization that has granted 255 scholarships to young Nigerians seeking graduate education overseas, has revealed plans to assist a minimum of 1,000 ambitious youths in their career pursuits by 2030.
During a meet-and-greet event in Lagos for 33 graduate scholars from various Nigerian universities who have secured placements and funding in foreign universities, Ogunmola shared his vision. The event was attended by members of the board of trustees, the management committee, and partners of the initiative.
iSI reports that more than 40 scholars from its 2023 cohort have already secured fully funded graduate programs at prestigious universities worldwide.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Ogunmola, a Geoscientist trained at the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, recalled how he maximized international opportunities as a young student.
Addressing the scholars, Ogunmola emphasized the importance of leveraging the opportunities provided by iSI as a community that supports one another. He encouraged collaboration among the scholars and highlighted the wealth of experience within the iSI community available to assist in their academic and career pursuits.
With a goal of awarding over 1,000 scholarships by 2030, Ogunmola emphasized the organization’s growth and impact since 2019, particularly in Nigeria. He stressed the need for additional support through mentors, financial donors, and application reviewers to sustain their growth and impact.
The scholarship offered by iSI includes comprehensive mentorship, coverage of standardized test costs required by foreign universities, and payment of graduate school application fees for all scholarship recipients.
Board member and professional coach, Mrs. Titilayo Olujobi, commended the initiative’s work and urged the scholars to appreciate the opportunities presented to them and to give back in the future.
Additionally, Mrs. Iyabode Attah, an engineer and coach for international opportunities at iSI, advised the scholars to be self-motivated, confident, and passionate in pursuing opportunities to advance their careers abroad.
The scholars expressed gratitude to iSI for providing access to international opportunities and pledged to make the most of these opportunities.
In conclusion, the scholars praised iSI for its role in their academic journeys and expressed enthusiasm about contributing to the organization’s mission and expanding its impact on education in Africa.