AFRICA | Two Nigerian bestfriends bags bachelors with first class,masters degree with distinction at US university, wins PhD scholarship.
Gift Iyioku and Oluwakemisola Adeusi, two Nigerian best friends, have proven that success is better achieved together than in competition.
Their remarkable academic journey saw them earn First-Class Bachelor’s degrees, graduate with distinction in their Master’s programs, and secure fully-funded scholarships for their PhD studies.
The duo began their academic journey at the University of Ibadan, where they graduated with First-Class Honors in German Studies. With their sights set on further education, they applied to only one university in the United States—the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa—and were accepted on their first attempt.
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During their time at the University of Alabama, both Gift and Oluwakemisola excelled, earning Master’s degrees in German with perfect 4.0 GPAs.
Their academic journey reached a new peak when they received fully-funded scholarships to pursue PhDs at Stanford University. Despite their success, the road was not without challenges.
Gift shared on Twitter that they could not attend their graduation ceremony as they were in Germany on a prestigious DAAD scholarship at the time.
The DAAD scholarship provided full financial support, including tuition, accommodation, airfare, and a monthly stipend of €1,200, allowing them to focus entirely on their studies. For more information, check on how to apply HERE.
Reflecting on their time at the University of Alabama, Oluwakemisola credited their professors for being exceptionally supportive throughout their academic journey.
“Our professors were deeply involved in our application process to Stanford. They reviewed our statements of purpose multiple times, critiqued the 25-page papers we submitted, and wrote glowing recommendation letters,” she explained.
When the news of their admission to Stanford came, their professors celebrated enthusiastically. The department chair even sent an email to over 150 people, announcing the good news and expressing pride in their achievements.
The transition to Stanford required significant adjustments. Their professors at the University of Alabama, recognizing their potential, went out of their way to support them.
Oluwakemisola shared a heartwarming story about how their graduate advisor worked tirelessly to secure funding for their final semester at Alabama. “Our advisor reached out to the university to sponsor our last semester because we had made the department proud,” she said.
“When funding seemed uncertain, she remained hopeful and persistent. Eventually, the accounts department classified us as resident students, which significantly reduced our tuition fees,” she added.
Their professors even volunteered to teach during the summer, despite it being a period when faculty typically did not work. Even before completing their Master’s program, Gift and Oluwakemisola began preparing for PhD applications.
Initially, they considered applying to McGill University in Canada but later focused on Stanford University, where they believed their academic profiles were a perfect fit. The wait for admission was anxiety-filled but ultimately rewarding. On January 25, 2022, both Gift and Oluwakemisola received emails confirming their admission to Stanford.
”We got FULLY FUNDED admission a monthly stipend ALMOST THREE TIMES our current stipend. In a NON-STEM Ph.D program! The panic-filled wait has ended, and a new journey is now about to start,” she said.
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