2016/17 CHEVENING SCHOLARS AWARDS CELEBRATION

Chevening scholars award

It was an evening of excitement and celebration as successful as 2016/17 Chevening awardees from Nigeria mingle with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, and past Chevening Scholars from Nigeria.

The Chevening Scholarships are the UK Government’s overseas scholarships, awarded to individuals with demonstrable leadership potential who also have good academic backgrounds. The scholarship not only offers financial support for people studying for a master’s degree at any UK university, it also allows beneficiaries become part of an influential global network of 46,000 alumni. In 2015, 45 Nigerian benefited from the fully funded scholarship.
Leadership Newspaper reports that people who had made it to become Chevening Scholars were being ushered in, some with their guests into the residence of the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Paul Arkwright.
Omoboyowa Roberts, one of the beneficiaries of the 2016/17 Chevening  Scholarship, told LEADERSHIP that, “this for me is a dream come true, something I had always looked forward to even from my university days. I am going to be studying, Masters in Peace and Development at Leeds Beckett University.

“I think it’s a global opportunity to meet with other scholars and to be a part of the alumni, and above all to be able to get the investment where you can come back and develop Nigeria as a whole, so, it’s been a fantastic opportunity, and I am happy to be privileged to be a part of the global network,” she said excitedly.

This year, Nigeria had the most applications for Chevening scholarship, about 4000. The High Commissioner also stressed on the importance of funding the programme so that more Nigerians could be beneficiaries as he called on the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to encourage their best to apply for a Chevening scholarship, as the scholarship needs more people in the civil service and government sectors.

Big names such as Channels television’s John Momoh, Nigeria’s Comptroller general of Immigration and many more have benefitted from the awards, including the Ministry of Foreign affairs Permanent Secretary, Audu-Rafiu Olusola Enikanolaiye. Supporting the network would in turn not just aid social networking, but provide opportunities for future generations of Nigerians.

A Chevening Scholar, with an offer at London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine to study Health Policy Planning and Financing, Chinwe Chikwendu, said “Perhaps why I am actually most excited is because it’s not just me, from my family here tonight, my younger brother happens to also be a beneficiary. We are going to the same university; we are going to do the same course, so I bet you this goes to show the level of transparency that is actually applied in the Chevening scholarship selection, because if there was any other thing that is considered then both of us would not be here tonight. I want to say, a big thank you to UK government first of all for the Chevening scholarship scheme, because this is just something very wonderful that has really helped so many people achieve their dreams, it is also something that has given many people the opportunity they had never really imagined they would get. So it’s something really wonderful, and I think the best way to reward the British government and Chevening, is for us to go out there to the UK and make the most of the opportunity.

Credit: Leadership News

MEET NIGERIA’S TOP 5 YOUNGEST PhD HOLDERS

         
 
Nigerians are one of the most educated nationalities in the United States, behind the Indians and Chinese. Nigerians attain the highest level of educational study (PhD) in various fields. The recent trends are the PhD holders in their very young age. These are Nigeria’s youngest PhDs, as compiled 
by this blog, Postgraduate Nigeria.

5. Dr. Olabisi Adeyemi, 26: This young intellectual
earned her PhD in Botany from the University of Lagos. Though she had maintained a track record of academic successes right from her secondary school, she acknowledge that having a PhD at her age, and the record of being the best graduating PhD student didn’t come easy. Born in Lagos Island local government of Lagos state, Dr. Adeyemi attended Girls’ Academy, L/Island where she was the best student in WAEC, with seven distinctions. She proceeded to University of Lagos and graduated with a first class degree in botany in 2006. She completed her PhD in within record time in 2012.

4. Dr. Opeyemi Shodipe, 25: This young Nigerian scholar bagged her Bachelor’s Degree at 19, from Babcock University. After the mandatory NYSC programme, she entered for a Masters at University of Ibadan, graduating best in her department. She capped it with a well-deserved Doctorate degree in Information Science from her alma mater, Babcock University. She was 25.

3. Dr. Salihu Dasuki Nakande, 25: Born in October, 1987, he is one of Nigeria’s youngest PhD holders, and arguably the youngest in northern Nigeria. He graduated with a first class degree in Information Technology from Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), North Cyprus at 21. Dr. Salihu completed his Master’s degree at Brunel University, U.K. He capped it with a PhD in the same University in 2012.

2. Dr. Olaoluwa Hallowed Oluwadara, 24: Acclaimed as Africa’s youngest PhD holders, Olaoluwa is a spectacular Nigerian intellectual and scholar, because of his achievements. He entered the University for a Bachelor’s degree at 15. He earned two B.Sc degrees in Mathematics and Physics, from University of Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR), run simultaneously. He bagged his Master’s degree from the same University. He crowned it with a PhD in Mathematics at the University of Lagos, Akoka, where he was the best graduating PhD student. Dr. Olaoluwa H. Oluwadara won University of Bangui’s all-time best student award from the Department of Mathematics (B.Sc), best B.Sc student award in Physics, 2007 and best M.Sc awards in Physics and Mathematics respectively in 2008. He currently is a Research Fellow of the Mathematical Analysis and Optimisation Research Group.

1. Dr. Nkemehule Karl Omebere-Iyari, 22: Here we have the leader of the pack. A colossus of intellectual ingenuity. Dr. Omebere-Iyari, bagged his PhD in Chemical Engineering from University of Nottingham in 2006, then aged 22. This amazing Nigerian, an old student of Kings College, Lagos had 8 As in his WAEC result at age 16. He proceeded same year to Oxbridge, Ikeja, where he wrote and passed his A-levels, scoring ‘A’ in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. He entered University of Nottingham immediately and graduated three years later with a first class in Chemical Engineering at 19 in 2003. He was also the best graduating student in Chemical Engineering that year. With a university scholarship, Omebere-Iyari wasted no time, and pursued his PhD. He received a EU grant of €17,000 every year, and finished his Doctorate in record time of three years, specializing in multi-phase flow. Omebere-Iyari has distinguished himself as an exceptionally gifted Nigerian. Upon graduation, he was worked with many multinational cooperation as Shell, Halliburton, e.t.c. He earned an MBA with distinction from INSEAD/Wharton, and is a member of many professional groups. He is our champion of the lists of Nigeria’s youngest PhDs

25 YEAR OLD BAG PHD IN BABCOCK UNIVERSITY

This is the amazing story of a young chap with a great intellectual prowess, who earned a docotrate degree (PhD) at age 25. Her name; Opeyemi Shodipe (yes, a lady). If she can achieve this, then there is no limitation for you. 
The event was the 10th convocation ceremony of Babcock University, Ilishan remo, Ogun state. 25 year old Opeyemi is the first graduate of the university to bag a PhD at that age. Her inspiring achievement did
not start on a positive note, as she was once considered a dullard by a teacher, back in her secondary school. An insult by her school teacher, and scolding by her mother, who incidentally is also a teacher was the wake up call she needed. Her academic result turned around.
She got admitted into Babcock University aged 15, to study information science, and graduate 4years after with a CGPA of 4.4. After the compulsory NYSC programme, she had her masters at University of Ibadan, and was the best student in the class. Sorrounded by her happy parents, the young scholar said she hopes to be a professor in the future.
Her story is a example of focus, tenacity, hard work and sweet success. While we may have complaints of the Nigerian factor, among other excuses, if anybody can achieve greatness, why not you. YES, YOU CAN!.

24 YEAR OLD BAGS PhD AT UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS.

“The saying that if you can conceive it and believe it, you will definitely achieve it” was brought to the fore as a young and intelligent scholar Olaoluwa Oluwadara bagged a Doctorate degree at the just concluded convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos. He was just 24.
Olaoluwa received his PhD in mathematics and was the best graduating postgraduate student with a CGPA of 5.0. With this record, Dr. Olaoluwa is now arguably Africa’s youngest PhD holder, beating other previous young scholars like 26 year old Olabisi Adeyemi, who received her PhD in the same University of Lagos and 25 year old Opeyemi Shodipe, from Babcock University.
Dr. Olaoluwa has held an impressive record of academic achievement through his education, he has been a top student since his elementary education, till he entered the Universite de Bangui in Central African Republic, where he graduated with a Cummulative
Gross Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0 in mathematics for his first degree. He received his Masters degree in Physics from the same university with an impressive record. He came to the university of Lagos in 2010 for his PhD studies under sponsorship by the G.S of the Deeper Life Christian Ministry. Postgraduate Nigeria says a hearty  congrats to our young ‘DOC’