Ebonyi Scholar, Salome Enoshi Uwah Breaks Records in United Kingdom

Oluchi Chibuzor

Ebonyi State’s ambitious education initiative is already bearing fruit. In January 2025 the Governor Rt Hon Francis Ogbannaya Nwifuru flagged off 745 students on advanced-degree scholarships, 204 in the United Kingdom and 541 pursuing master’s studies in Nigeria. In an inspiring story of brilliance, resilience, and trailblazing leadership, Salome Enoshi Uwah, one of the beneficiaries has shattered academic and leadership records at the prestigious University of Greater Manchester, England.

Salome is a Master of Research (MRes) in Artificial Intelligence and has distinguished herself not just as a student, but as a global pacesetter, lifting the banner of Nigeria and Ebonyi high on international platforms. Her extraordinary achievements are as bold as they are historic, a founding leader and trailblazer, her accomplishments include:
Award-Winning Researcher: Salome represented the University of Greater Manchester at the IEEE Women in Engineering International Leadership Summit Research Poster Competition, where she emerged as the overall winner on the 28th of Nov, 2025. Competing with some of the world’s most brilliant engineering minds, she proved that African excellence knows no borders.

Historic IEEE Publications Record: Salome became the first student since the inception of the Master of Research in the Computing Department at the university to have three research papers published at once on IEEE Xplore, the world’s most respected engineering publication platform. Her research has sparked admiration from professors and professionals across Europe and beyond. Remarkably, she has maintained distinctions in all her coursework.

Founder of WIE Affinity Group at the University: In another remarkable first, Salome pioneered the formation of the Women in Engineering (WIE) Affinity Group at her university, the first-ever official platform supporting women in STEM in the school’s history. Her leadership is not just academic; it’s structural and generational, creating systems that will support women engineers for decades to come.

University Wall of Fame: For her unparalleled impact, Salome was featured on the University’s Wall of Fame recognised as one of the most famous and influential students ever produced by the institution. Her consistent academic excellence, maintaining distinctions in all her courses is even more astonishing considering she is balancing her studies with being a devoted wife and mother. She is the very embodiment of grace, grit, and greatness.

First Nigerian Woman to Lead IEEE Student Branch: Salome is currently the President of the IEEE Student Branch at the University, making her the first Nigerian woman to ever serve in that capacity. She continues to lay foundations and create platforms not only for herself but for others to rise, a true pioneer and beacon for women in technology.

IEEE Supernova Honoree: In September 2025 Salome was awarded the prestigious IEEE Supernova distinction, one of the highest honors in IEEE’s STAR Recruiter program. The IEEE citation noted her “spirit of leadership, mentorship, and community-building” and credited her with significantly expanding the University’s IEEE chapter membership.

In addition to her academic and leadership excellence, Salome currently works as a Research Assistant at the Centre of Intelligence of Things, where her expertise in Artificial Intelligence continues to gain global recognition. In October 2025, she was selected as part of the elite delegation sent to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Headquarters in Geneva, where she trained WTO staff on the application of AI in global trade and supply-chain optimization on the 28th and 29th of October 2025, a prestigious role rarely entrusted to students. Her contribution further solidifies her status as a rising global authority in AI and intelligent systems.

A Legacy Beyond Borders: Salome’s story is a shining reflection of what visionary leadership can do. Her life changed when the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Ogbonnaya Francis Nwifuru, launched the transformational scholarship initiative in early 2025.

In her own words, “I had almost lost hope of continuing my education after losing my father and taking on the responsibility of sponsoring my younger siblings’ schooling. This scholarship gave me a new hope, a new life, and a greater calling to impact my generation on a global scale. I am eternally grateful to His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, for his large heart and for giving Ebonyians and Africans, a future beyond what we thought possible.”

Salome also praised the Ebonyi State Scholarship Board for its transparent selection process and thanked them for choosing her university placement. Salome gave special recognition to her personal tutor and supervisor, Prof. Celestine Iwendi, for his unwavering support and mentorship to students.

Before arriving in the UK, Salome was already making waves, Salome founded the Kindle Women Initiative, a grassroots NGO that empowers schoolgirls with skills and mentorship.

Through Kindle Women she has personally sponsored eight scholarships for needy girls in her community Ngboejeogu. This is a narrative of a student from rural Nigeria overcoming hardship, spearheading change, and shining in world-class academia.

The Making of a Global Change Agent: Salome Enoshi Uwah is not just a student, she is a symbol of what is possible when courage meets opportunity. She has risen from adversity, carved new paths for herself and others, and taken the global stage with brilliance, poise, and purpose. Her journey is a proof that with the right investment like that of the Ebonyi State Government, Nigeria can produce world-class leaders, innovators, and change-makers. Indeed, Salome is not just making history; she is creating the future.