AFRICA | A brilliant Nigerian man, Rex Obiwuru, has achieved an outstanding academic feat after earning a Master’s degree with 80% (Merit) from the prestigious University of St Andrews in the United Kingdom, through the fully funded Commonwealth Scholarship.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are jointly funded by the Commonwealth and UK universities, cover approved airfare, full tuition fees, and provide a £1,781 monthly stipend, as well as study and clothing grants. The scholarship is currently opened, apply HERE.
Rex's Story and How She Did It
Rex’s academic journey began in 2015 when he enrolled for a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs at ESEP-LE BERGER University, Republic of Benin. He graduated with First-Class Honours in 2019.
Two years later, he moved to Nnamdi Azikiwe University for a Master’s programme in History and International Relations, where he again excelled and graduated with Distinction in 2023.
Driven by his passion for global security and development, he applied for the Commonwealth Scholarship and was awarded full funding to study in the UK in 2024.
In 2025, he completed his second Master’s degree at the University of St Andrews, finishing with a strong Merit (16/20, or 80%).
Sharing his achievement on LinkedIn, Rex described his time in the UK as a challenging but rewarding experience.
“The journey wasn’t an easy one: harsh weather, a leap from History to Terrorism Studies, and moments of deep self-doubt. But every challenge refined me,” he wrote.
He also highlighted major milestones he achieved during his programme:
- Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) at the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (CSTPV), where he strengthened his analytical and research skills, especially in peace mobilisation.
- Dissertation Distinction (17/20, 85%), ranked among the best in the department.
His research explored the socio-economic roles of religious leaders in preventing violent radicalisation in Northern Nigeria, using 10 qualitative interviews.
Additionally, he received an exceptional four-page examiner’s report praising the work as
“an excellent dissertation… extremely strong and highlighting neglected actors and contexts.”
Rex’s overall result was a merit grade (16/20, 80%), and he published one book chapter with a portion of his dissertation was conditionally accepted into a Q1 journal.
Rex expressed deep gratitude to his supervisors, mentors, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, and the University of St Andrews for supporting his journey.
He concluded with a message of hope: “To someone out there: anything is possible. You can lose many things, but not your hope. Keep believing. I did it to show you that it is possible.”
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