I was denied admission locally, says UNICAF scholarship winner

Awe Oluwatosin Doyinsola has won The Nation/UNICAF University Scholarship in Nigeria. It covers tuition fees of 10,000 USD for the Master of Business Administration (MBA), offered online by multi-campus UNICAF University. In this interview with SOLOMON ODENIYI, Awe speaks on the scholarship and what he hopes to accomplish with the scholarship.

Can you tell us about yourself?

I am a graduate of the University of Ilorin.  I am 22 years old. For a while, I have wished to have a Masters in my field of study, both locally and internationally.  But I had desired to have this done more in a foreign institution.

Why do you prefer a foreign institution?

One of the reasons has been the challenges we face in this part of the world. Another is the system we have in Nigeria that is not as advanced compared with those in other parts of the world. Also, I have tried to get admission locally, but I was denied. The institution I had my first degree from also did not admit me for a master’s programme.

How do you feel about winning the scholarship?

I am very happy. When I was called, I was in a taxi and wasn’t sure what I was being told as I was very surprised.  When I got home, I informed my parents and they asked if I was sure it was not a scam. This was the belief in the country that strange calls like this are always from fraudsters.

How did you see UNICAF advert?

To be sincere, the day my father collected The Nation from a church member. He read through and showed the page the advert was published to me and asked if I was interested since I had always said I wanted to study abroad. I was not even optimistic that I would be chosen because I have tried this kind of offer and I was not chosen.

How will you cope since this is an online course?

That won’t be a problem for me. I have a computer as well as a modem. With that I am more than ready.

How do you intend to spread the good news of the UNICAF scholarship?

When I got the announcement that I emerged the winner and it was later published on the pages of the newspaper, I took a photograph of it and shared on all my social media platforms. I also went to the UNICAF website and wrote a comment on one of the posts thanking the university. The other thing I have tried to do is working with my brother who owns a website with a large traffic to help share my admission story.

Advice for youths?

No matter where you come, from rich or poor, be hard working and never relent in what you do.