AMERICA | An exceptional lady named Onovughakpor “Onovu” Otitigbe has achieved an extraordinary academic feat by earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Engineering at Harvard University, all within just four years.
Her journey to this remarkable achievement began years earlier with a record-breaking milestone in high school at the young age of 17.
Onovu's Story and How She Did It
In 2021, Onovu made history at Albany High School, New York, when she became the first-ever Black valedictorian in the school’s 152-year history, graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
Her exceptional performance earned multiple scholarships and was accepted into 20 top universities across the United States, a testament to her brilliance and hard work.
Among these prestigious offers, she chose Harvard University, where she pursued her passion for science, creativity, and innovation through a dual academic offer of a bachelor’s and master’s program.
At Harvard University, Onovu demonstrated the same excellence, both in academics and extracurricular.
In 2025, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering and History of Science, a Master’s degree in Engineering Sciences, and a secondary concentration in Theater, Dance, and Media, all completed within four years.
Reflecting on her journey, Onovu shared on Instagram that her academic path was both challenging and deeply personal, marked by moments of struggle and profound growth.
She went on to share the deeply personal story behind her name—“Onovughakpor,” an Urhobo phrase meaning “Who can predict what life can bring?” She described it as both a melody and a message that shaped her path.
“It’s poetic by nature, as most Nigerian names are. One night, I played a recording of my grandmother saying it—O-no-vu-ghak-por. I matched her cadence to notes until it felt right,” she wrote.
”But something was missing—a note that defines a chord’s identity. That’s what my name means: uncertainty, openness, possibility. Every experience, every challenge, every composition brings me closer to finding that missing note,” Onovu added.
Behind her success were years of sacrifice, persistence, and faith. She attributed her success to her mother, who stood by her through all the hurdles.
“Only God and my mom know what it took. The chaos. The growth. The moments I wanted to give up. But through it all, I found harmony between science and sound, between legacy and invention,” she wrote.
Earning two degrees in Engineering, a field where Black women represent just 2%, was not just an academic triumph but a social statement for Onovu.
“The systems weren’t built for us. But my name reminds me that life doesn’t move by prediction. It moves by perseverance,” she admitted.
Beyond her studies, Onovu also pursued music and storytelling, using her art to explore the intersection of culture, identity, and innovation. She credits her mentors, family, and community for helping her “hear her melody more clearly” even when the world’s noise grew louder.
“My greatest gift was the people—those who reminded me that Onovughakpor is not just a name; it’s a song. And even when I couldn’t hear the whole chord, they believed it was worth playing anyway.”
Now, having conquered Harvard with distinction, Onovu is already setting her sights on her next goal, a dual MD/PhD degree, where she hopes to continue bridging engineering, medicine, and creativity to make an impact on human lives.
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