First Class Graduate and IDP, Secures Fully-Funded PhD Scholarship
Amos Ishaku, First Class Graduate and IDP, Secures Fully-Funded PhD Scholarship
By AmforGod J. Olisa
Amos Ishaku, a First Class graduate and internally displaced person (IDP) from the Uhorgua camp in Edo State, has been awarded a fully-funded PhD scholarship by the University of Illinois, Chicago, USA.
Ishaku achieved this remarkable feat after graduating with a First Class degree in Chemical Engineering from Edo State University, Uzairue, in November 2023.
Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, the Coordinator of Home of the Needy, where Ishaku resides, expressed his excitement over this development, noting that it highlights the importance of creating opportunities for the underprivileged. The camp, currently home to over 4,000 children displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, has been a beacon of hope for many.
“This achievement is a testament to what can be accomplished when we provide a supportive environment for those in need,” Folorunsho said. “We want to let the world and our friends know that their support for the orphans, widows, displaced people, and the vulnerable in our center is yielding incredible results.”
He added that beyond Ishaku’s success, more than 200 other students from the camp are currently enrolled in various universities, with over 150 more in the process of securing admission.
“We are grateful to everyone who has believed in and supported us. Together, we celebrate this significant success,” Folorunsho stated.
Ishaku, who was also the Best Graduating Student in 2023 at Edo State University, received several awards, including the Mike Ozekhome Award for overall best-graduating student, Best Student in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Best Student in Entrepreneurship, and the Faculty of Engineering Award.
Folorunsho confirmed that Ishaku is set to begin his PhD program at the University of Illinois later this month.