i-Scholar Initiative Champions Global Academic Access for Underserved Nigerian Youths

The i-Scholar Initiative (iSI) has reaffirmed its dedication to empowering talented but underserved Nigerian youths through its 2025 Scholarship Awards, continuing its mission to bridge the opportunity gap and foster future African changemakers.

Themed “Expanding the Pipeline of Change Agents to Transform Africa,” the event celebrated a new cohort of scholars who have received funding and mentorship to pursue postgraduate studies at top global institutions.

In his opening remarks, iSI Founder Victor Ogunmola emphasized the organization’s core belief: “Talent is universal, but opportunity is not. We all have a role to bridge the gap for others.”

He described iSI’s model as a strategic response to systemic challenges that often hinder academically gifted Nigerian graduates from accessing international education. These challenges include the high cost of standardised exams, application fees, visa processes, and a lack of mentorship.

To overcome these barriers, iSI provides comprehensive support, including funding for GRE, GMAT, IELTS, and TOEFL exams, assistance with graduate school applications and visa processes, and access to a global network of mentors.

Since its launch in 2019, iSI has supported over 455 scholars, maintained an 85% success rate in securing fully funded scholarships, and facilitated access to more than $45 million in cumulative scholarship value. Beneficiaries have gained admission into leading institutions such as Stanford, Cornell, Tufts, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Southern California.