One of my goals after completing my Erasmus Mundus scholarship in Europe was simple: to give back.
I had benefited immensely from the opportunity to study across Europe, build an international network and experience a level of personal and professional growth that I had once only imagined. I knew that many young people back home had similar ambitions but lacked the information, guidance and confidence to navigate the scholarship process.
So when I returned to Nigeria, I decided to turn that goal into action.
Since returning, I have trained more than 600 people on scholarship applications, both in Nigeria and online, sharing practical lessons from my own experience of applying for and winning international scholarships.
Taking the training beyond social media
I started by partnering with Africado Foundation to organise an online and in-person masterclass on winning fully funded international study scholarships.
The online session brought together participants from more than 20 countries, creating an opportunity to reach young people far beyond Nigeria.
It was not simply a motivational session. I wanted participants to leave with practical knowledge they could apply to their own applications.
We explored scholarship application strategies, how to identify suitable opportunities, how to position your experiences, and how to write compelling statements of purpose.
I also shared lessons from my own journey—including the mistakes, rejections and improvements that eventually contributed to my success.
The response reinforced something I had already experienced throughout my scholarship journey: sometimes, the information someone needs to change their life is simply information they have never had access to.
Taking the conversation to the university
I later hosted another scholarship masterclass at Federal University Lafia, engaging students on how to approach international scholarship opportunities and prepare themselves for competitive applications.
For many students, studying abroad can feel distant or unrealistic. My goal was to make the process more understandable and, importantly, more achievable.
I shared practical approaches to finding opportunities, building a competitive profile and presenting one’s experiences effectively in an application.
Being able to stand in front of students and share lessons from a journey that I had recently completed myself made the experience particularly meaningful.
Reaching young people beyond Nigeria
The training did not stop with these masterclasses.
I continued organising and participating in online training sessions for young people from different parts of the world. Through these sessions, I have been able to answer questions, review approaches to applications and share lessons that I wish I had known earlier in my own journey.
Altogether, these activities have enabled me to reach and train more than 600 aspiring scholarship applicants.
Why giving back matters to me
For me, this is more than simply teaching people how to write scholarship applications.
It is about creating access.
I know what it feels like to have an ambition but not always know the best way to pursue it. I also know what it feels like to receive rejection after rejection and still have to find the motivation to improve and try again.
Today, having gone through that journey and benefited from an Erasmus Mundus scholarship, I find fulfilment in helping someone else navigate theirs.
Every time someone tells me that a training helped them understand the scholarship process better, discover an opportunity or improve their application, I am reminded why I started.
The opportunity I received should not end with me.
If my experience can help another young person access an international education, build a global network and discover possibilities they previously thought were beyond their reach, then sharing that experience is one of the best ways I can give back.
Missed the masterclasses?
If you missed the series of masterclasses but are still interested in learning how to approach scholarship applications, I have made one of the training sessions available online.
You can watch the recording here:
Watch the Scholarship Masterclass on YouTube
And if you are currently pursuing a scholarship opportunity, remember: you do not have to figure everything out alone. Learn, improve, apply—and keep going.
My own journey from scholarship applicant to Erasmus Mundus graduate taught me that opportunities can change your life. I hope that, by sharing what I have learned, I can help more young people find theirs.
