AFRICA | A brilliant Nigerian woman named Ifeoluwa Olokode Ifeoluwa Olokode, has achieved an outstanding academic feat at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
Through the prestigious Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship, she earned both a Master of Science in International Health and Tropical Medicine and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) within two years.
Her academic journey at the university began in 2022 when she was awarded the fully funded Pershing Square Scholarship, which supports students in the Oxford 1+1 MBA program.
This program allows participants to combine a specialized master’s degree from an Oxford department with the one-year MBA. With this support, Ifeoluwa first completed her Master of Science in 2023 before moving on to earn her MBA the following year.
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Reflecting on her experience, Ifeoluwa shared on Linkedin how the rigorous academic journey pushed her limits. Over months of intensive coursework, she attended over 700 hours of lectures and wrote more than 25,000 words in assessments.
During this period, she learned to apply multidisciplinary knowledge to business challenges and sharpened her understanding of finance, governance, and ethics.
She explored the impact of capitalism, developed critical systems-thinking skills, and examined how factors like reputation and purpose shape a company’s value.
Having gained theoretical experience, Ifeoluwa applied her learning in real-world scenarios—developing a potential acquisition roadmap for an African health tech company and analyzing the business model of a Nigerian film company.
Beyond academics, she took on leadership roles, serving as Co-President of her MBA cohort and Co-Head of Engagement for the Oxford Africa Business Alliance.
She played a key role in organizing the 2024 Oxford Africa Business Forum and moderating discussions that highlighted Africa’s growing presence in global business. In addition, she contributed to various initiatives that fostered diversity and inclusion.
She helped expand a mentorship program fourfold, connecting over 40 mentor-mentee pairs. She also advanced discussions on women’s health technology as a member of the Oxford FemTech Society.
Ifeoluwa’s dedication and excellence earned her a place on the Dean’s List, recognizing her as one of the top 10% in her class. She was also honored with the opportunity to deliver a speech at the end-of-course ceremony.
\Looking back, Ifeoluwa expressed gratitude to the people who supported her—her family and friends who encouraged her, the university’s disability support team, the faculty and staff at Saïd Business School, and the Pershing Square Philanthropies for funding her education.
As she steps into the next phase of her journey, she is eager to apply all she has learned to new challenges, ready to make an impact with the knowledge and skills gained from her time at Oxford University.
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