By: Abdulrasaq Kamaldeen
Before the clock struck noon, Oyinlola Abdulsamad Ayomide, a Linguistics graduate from the MELL Department at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, anxiously checked his Gmail for news on his scholarship applications. Known for his relentless pursuit of academic excellence, he had pinned all his hopes on this particular message.
As he scanned the screen, his eyes caught the word “congratulations.” After facing countless rejections, the long-awaited success had finally arrived.
From Rejections to ‘Congratulations’
Hailing from Offa in Kwara State, Abdulsamad graduated from UDUS in 2021 with a Second Class Lower degree in Linguistics, earning a GPA of 3.38/5.0. Despite his best efforts, rejection had become a constant companion on his academic journey. But Abdulsamad remained resolute, undeterred by past disappointments. His determination to succeed kept him applying, fueled by the hope that one day, his persistence would pay off.
“In 2021, I applied for four different university scholarships but only got accepted by the University of Birmingham without funding. I was rejected by three other universities,” Abdulsamad recalled. “That same year, I went for an interview in Lagos with West Nigeria University, which offered a funding package, but my application was rejected. I am not financially buoyant, but I need a scholarship to further my education.”
After submitting numerous applications, Abdulsamad’s perseverance finally bore fruit.
“One day, I noticed another message in my Gmail account. Given the many rejections I had received, I felt hesitant to open it. To my surprise, the message was a positive one from Texas Tech University (TTU)—I had won a scholarship,” he recounted.
Abdulsamad was awarded a Graduate Part-time Instructor (GPTI) scholarship by the Department of English at TTU. This scholarship includes a teaching assistantship, where he will be responsible for teaching a First-Year Writing class while also taking additional classes to enhance his teaching skills.
“The GPTI scholarship is a fully funded position that covers my full cost of attendance. My tuition is covered, my health insurance is covered, and I receive a monthly stipend for my living expenses,” Abdulsamad explained.
Danfodite Shines on the Global Stage: Idris Yusuf Ayub’s Story
Another Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) alumnus, Idris Yusuf Ayub, shares a similar tale of resilience. Idris graduated with a 4.59 CGPA from the Department of Forestry and Environment and, like Abdulsamad, faced numerous rejections before finally achieving success.
Idris won a fully funded Mastercard Foundation Scholarship for a Master of International Forestry at the University of British Columbia. However, his path was not without challenges.
“It all started when I began my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Niger State. I applied for over 10 scholarships, meeting their requirements, but received five rejections. I was finally congratulated on the sixth one. I know good things don’t come easy,” Idris said. “I was never demotivated by the failures because I knew I met the requirements and never stopped praying. I was confident in every application I submitted, and Allah granted me the best among them.”
Build Yourself, Build a Portfolio, and Volunteer—Abdulsamad Advises
Abdulsamad advised undergraduate students to start building their careers while still on campus.
“Try as much as possible to get information. I was well-informed, and Munir Yakub was always there for me—he is my biggest motivation,” he said. “Give your best, dive into research experience, and don’t let someone else write your project. It’s essential to know the material, as you might be interviewed about it while searching for scholarships.”
Idris advises students to graduate with at least a 2:1, gain community service experience, and build good rapport with their lecturers.
“Students should focus on their studies and graduate with a very good CGPA, preferably first-class; if not, a 2:1 isn’t bad as well,” Idris advised. “Engaging in community service is very important; scholars give significant recognition to those with community service experience. You may not believe it, but the two recommendation letters I submitted for my scholarship were from organisations I volunteered for.”
He added, “They should also maintain good rapport with their lecturers. I know how much mine helped me, and I’ll forever owe Prof. Shamaki for what he has done for me in my scholarship pursuit.”
