Ejiofor’s academic feat had earned him the top spot in his graduating class, and he was publicly announced as the overall best graduating student. Traditionally, such a distinction comes with a symbolic monetary prize in this case, ₦50,000, which the university had pledged but failed to deliver.
The story gained attention after Alex Onyia, the CEO of Educate Nigeria, brought it to public light via his official account on X (formerly Twitter). He had earlier criticized the university’s failure to honour its commitment and later pledged to take personal responsibility for supporting Ejiofor’s academic journey.
From Disappointment to Global Opportunity
Sharing the update on Thursday, Onyia revealed that his mentorship and collaboration with Ejiofor over the past year had finally yielded results. Together, they worked toward securing international study opportunities, culminating in the award of a fully funded Commonwealth Scholarship.
“I have good news. Very good news,” Onyia wrote.
“You remember Chizoba Ejiofor, who graduated as UNN’s overall best graduating student with a CGPA of 4.98, but was denied the ₦50,000 prize promised to him?
I took him up as a full responsibility. We’ve worked tirelessly since last year, and today, we have the breakthrough.”
He confirmed that the scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, return flight tickets, and monthly stipends, bringing the total value of the award to over £33,000.
“This is a fully funded Commonwealth Scholarship. Over £33,000 in total support including airfare, living expenses, and tuition. Words cannot describe how happy and fulfilled I am today,” Onyia added.
An Inspiring Turnaround
Chizoba’s journey from being overlooked by his alma mater to earning one of the most competitive international scholarships serves as a powerful testament to resilience, mentorship, and the impact of community support.
His story has sparked conversations online about the importance of honouring academic excellence in Nigerian universities and the need for institutional accountability. Many have praised Onyia’s intervention, while calling on higher institutions in the country to do more to support and celebrate their brightest minds.
As Chizoba prepares to begin his postgraduate studies abroad, his success story now stands as both a cautionary tale and an inspiration a reminder that recognition may not always come from expected quarters, but excellence remains its own reward.
