WINNING SCHOLARSHIP: How Do I Sail on the Scholar-Ship?

 



By Emmanuel Akinwale



On Friday, November 3, 2023, the Faculty of the Social Sciences, through the ad hoc committee of the FATSSSA EDC, hosted a conference at the Faculty of the Social Sciences, building upon the success of a preliminary Zoom event held on November 2, 2023.


Originally scheduled in the Lecture Theatre (LLT), the event took an unexpected turn as it was relocated to FATSSSA's Room 036. The decision to change venues was explained by the Vice President of FATSSSA, who noted that the LLT had been continuously occupied for the past three weeks, causing disruptions to the SOC 208 lecture. Anticipating a lower turnout, the decision to relocate was made to prevent further disruption to ongoing classes.


The event commenced a few minutes past 10 a.m., featuring prominent scholars who provided valuable insights to the attending students. Notable speakers included:


- Dr. Deborah Olajire, a lecturer in the Department of Geography and a recipient of the French Embassy Research Grant.

- Ayotomiwa Elesho, a 300-level student of the Department of Political Science, NCDMB essay 2022 winner, NIMASA essay awardee, and an FSB scholar.

- Iyiola Abosede, a 400-level student of the Department of Mathematics, awardee of SON, NIMASA, and NCDMB essay awards.

- Clement Elam, a 300-level student of MBBS and a recipient of multiple scholarships, including NNPC/TOTAL, NLNG, FSB, and WMI(USA) scholarships.


The event was skillfully orchestrated by Toluwaleke Owonifari, the Vice President of the FATSSSA community, who served as the compere. Owonifari eloquently introduced the event's theme and highlighted the challenges FATSSSA students face in securing scholarships. He presented alarming statistics, including the low success rate among FATSSSA students in winning scholarships, citing only one FSB scholarship recipient out of 50 shortlisted candidates. This information underscored the urgency of the "Winning Scholarship" initiative, designed to empower students to pursue academic scholarships.


Dr. Deborah Olajire's presentation focused on the importance of "D and G." She emphasized Decision, Determination, Diligence, Discipline, and the "God Factor." Her discourse highlighted the significance of avoiding plagiarism, meticulous proofreading, lexical breadth, and reading reputable media outlets to enhance language proficiency.


Ayotomiwa Elesho discussed scholarship schemes and encouraged students not to be discouraged by restrictions, suggesting that building relationships with lecturers, volunteerism, and a relentless search for opportunities are key to academic success. He shared his experience of receiving over 50 rejection emails but persevering in his scholarship quest.


A spoken word presentation added artistic flair to the event, followed by a panel discussion featuring Ayotomiwa Elesho, Iyiola Abosede, and Clement Elam. Clement Elam emphasized the inclusion of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in scholarship essays and the importance of integrity in the application process. The panelists noted the limitations of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in evaluating scholarship applications and the necessity of human insight.


The event on November 3 was a continuation of the event on November 2, which featured esteemed scholars Michael Akintunde and Muhammed Alakitan.


Despite the valuable insights shared and the caliber of attendees, concerns were raised about the low turnout of FATSSSA students at the event, emphasizing the missed opportunity for crucial guidance.


The conference ended at 2:13 pm WAT, leaving attendees inspired and better equipped to pursue academic scholarships and future success.


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