A brilliant Nigerian man named Aboluwarin Olaoluwa Kitan has achieved a remarkable academic milestone after earning a $320,000 scholarship to pursue his Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Esade Business School in Spain.
His achievement is even more remarkable as he was given an opportunity to study at one of the world’s top 10 MBA institutions.
Kitan's story Story and How He Did It
Sharing his story on LinkedIn, Kitan recalled that eighteen years ago, he could barely afford a laptop. What he could afford, however, was ₦300 per night at a cyber café.
For three years, he rented computers four nights a week, teaching himself how the internet worked and learning to code in Java. “No mentor. No roadmap. Just hungry to figure it out,” he recalled.
That determination became the foundation of his journey and it led him to one of Europe’s most prestigious universities.
EXPLORE SCHOLARSHIPS
Aboluwarin’s passion for technology and innovation led him to enroll at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), where he studied Computer Science.
He stated that the university provided not just structure but mentorship, guidance, and opportunities that refined his raw talent.
During his undergraduate years, he made national headlines when he and his teammates represented FUTA at multiple software competitions.
In 2013, their team won the ISPON Software Cup, beating over 70 competitors from universities across Nigeria with their innovative digital solution.
That same year, they emerged as winners of the Federal Ministry of Education’s Annual Software Competition, organized in collaboration with Microsoft Nigeria, Huawei, and the British Council.
Their winning project, named Enchanter, was a “twinkle-of-an-eye card exchange system” that allowed users to share virtual business cards through Near Field Communication (NFC).
After graduating, Aboluwarin built on his expertise to found an IT company, later evolving into Learnpally, an edtech platform now helping thousands of young Africans acquire digital skills affordably.
Learnpally partners with top African universities to make tech education accessible to anyone with just a smartphone and curiosity.
Still, Aboluwarin looked forward to more achievement. He set his sights on an international MBA program that would help him merge innovation with strategic business leadership.
He recalled that the application process was intense, from writing essays, preparing for interviews, and competing with some of the brightest minds across continents. But his persistence paid off.
Aboluwarin earned admission into Esade Business School, ranked 8th in the world and 5th in Europe, and secured over $320,000 in scholarships from top institutions across the United States and Europe.
At Esade, he will join an elite MBA cohort of 180 participants from 45 nationalities, embarking on a two-year journey of learning, leadership, and global networking.
Sharing his achievement is another LinkedIn post. Kitan dedicated the success to his father, looking ahead to greater accomplishments.
“Daddy, this one is for you. I made it into one of the Top 10 MBA schools in the world with over $320,000 in scholarships. Here’s to new beginnings, courage, and building the future. Be Bold,” he said.
Follow our Social Media Channels:
- WhatsApp: Scholarship Region WhatsApp
- Facebook: Scholars Region
- Twitter: @scholarsregion
- Telegram: Scholarship Region