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A Daring Winning Mind

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A blissful atmosphere it has been😇😇😇. Nothing good comes easily except by hard work, persistency and consistency🌺🌺. Winning comes with a daring mind ready to beat all hurdles.

Soooo today, we have a guest in the house. A guy with so much to offer life. Cute and opps BRAINY. Lets roll the ball.💃💃

Excited to meet you sir, can you please introduce yourself??

Thank you very much for having me. Oluwadunsin Emmanuel Adekola is my name. I was born and grew up in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. However, I am a native of Ondo State. I attended Union Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Ado Ekiti (1995-2001); Ado Grammar School, Ado Ekiti (2001-2007). I also attended Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) where I studied Ecotourism and Wildlife Management from 2008-2014. Afterwards, I got admitted for Master of Technology in Wildlife Ecology and Management 2015-2017 in FUTA as well. I gained admission into AP Leventis Ornithological Research Institute, University of Jos, Plateau State for Masters in Conservation Biology from 2016-2017 and presently studying towards my PhD in Biological Sciences at FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, South Africa. I graduated with a First Class during undergraduate and a Distinction Masters in FUTA. I won the NYSC State Chairman’s Award in 2015 during my NYSC program in Cross River State. I was employed by my Alma mater (FUTA) as a Graduate Assistant after NYSC program and currently an Assistant Lecturer. My first Master programme was funded by FUTA and also won the International AG Leventis grant. My second Master programme was fully-funded Dr. A.P Leventis. My PhD is being funded by National Research Foundation-The World Academy of Sciences (NRF-TWAS) and University of Cape Town International Scholarship. I enjoy learning, teaching and mentoring.

😮😮Wow, this is huge.What inspired you to seek for scholarship and to study outside Nigeria?

Well, I think everyone wants scholarship. However, for me, I needed a scholarship because I don’t have the financial stability to pursue a doctorate degree outside Nigeria. I have always loved learning and mental growth. Having chosen a career in academia, I knew it was pertinent for me to pursue a PhD. The price of pursuing a degree (especially for a PhD) is quite huge and one need to leverage on available scholarship opportunities. I was keen to study outside Nigeria to learn from ‘top guns’ in my chosen field. I chose University of Cape Town, South Africa because is the best University on the continent and ranked top 1.4% globally. In addition, the University rated third in the World University Rankings for Ornithology (my research area). That was my motivation.

Hmmm. Were you rejected?? how did you handle it? share your experience.

For me, I did not really face the challenge of rejection. I started applying for a PhD position and scholarship during my Masters programme. I made about three attempts in total. One eventually came with a rejection but I had already gotten another scholarship. So, I did not worry about it.

Fascinating. How many scholarships did you applied for before hitting the jackpot?

For a PhD position? Only one. I made the application when I was busy with my second Masters programme. Lucky me!

I call it GRACE😄. Did you feel excited after getting one? Share your experience.

Absolutely, I was super excited. I received the good news on the 4th of December 2017 (on my birthday). It was barely a month after I completed my second Masters programme. By the way, I was the only Nigerian that got the scholarship to study at the University of Cape Town.

Overwhelming💎. From your experience, what are the needful things to be done before securing a scholarship?

I think the most basic thing is to have an outstanding academic background and qualification. A good result makes an applicant to compete favorably with other applicants globally. There are always minimum requirements for scholarships. For Masters, second class upper is the minimum for most scholarships. First class is always an added advantage. There are even scholarships meant for only First class graduates. However, you can still win scholarships even with second class lower. Some scholarships (e.g., MasterCard and Chevening) emphasis on leadership skills. It is required that applicants have these skills to be considered for scholarship. In a nut shell, It is important for applicants to build a strong CV. Consider publishing your undergraduate thesis in a reputable (can be local) journal. Invest time to develop analytical and statistical skills. Finally, get a mentor who understands the nitty-gritty of scholarship applications.

Thank You. Any platform that students can get scholarships from? please share.

There are numerous scholarship platforms. A simple ‘google search’ works like magic. Most scholarship openings come out annually. Some of them include; MasterCard Foundation Scholarship, Commonwealth Scholarship, Chevening Scholarship, National Research Foundation Scholarship, Mandela Rhodes Scholarship, MEXT Japanese Government Scholarship, CAS-TWAS Scholarship in China, etc. I can also be contacted on Facebook to be added to my scholarship and mentoring group (my Facebook name is Oluwadunsin Emmanuel Adekola).

Nice💥. Studying outside Nigeria, how does it feel?? Stressful, tasking or quite with ease? Share your experience.

On a general note, is quite demanding. Regardless of place, studying isn’t for the faint-hearted. Hardwork is non-negotiable. I won’t say it is easy but the environment is more comfortable. There is no challenge of internet, electricity, etc, which makes studying enjoyable despite the challenges.

Smiles, What are your words of advice to intending scholarship applicants.??

Don’t give up on your dreams because of rejections. The best time to apply for any scholarship is NOW. Don’t procrastinate. Give it your best shot. When you receive a rejection, learn from it and move on with your application. Your dreams are valid. Keep your hope alive. If you believe in God, trust His Word and pour out your heart to Him in prayers. He is a loving and caring Father. He won’t give up on you. So, don’t give up on yourself.

I must confess sir, I am trilled🌸🌸. Wonderful. Keep being excellent sir.

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