Islamiyat Ojelade, a talented Nigerian student, has achieved a remarkable academic milestone by securing PhD scholarships to seven top universities in the United States. What makes this accomplishment particularly impressive is that Ojelade obtained these scholarships without holding a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, instead relying on her Higher National Diploma (HND).
Islamiyat graduated from the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro in Ogun State, Nigeria, with an HND in Science Laboratory Technology (SLT), achieving a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.89, which earned her the distinction of being the best-graduating student in her 2018 class. She was offered scholarships from Florida State University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Kansas, University of Kentucky, University of North Texas, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Marquette University.
Despite the challenges associated with the HND/BSc dichotomy in Nigeria, Islamiyat’s determination led her to choose Florida State University to pursue her PhD in Chemistry in the fall of 2022. She credits her success to hard work, resilience, and the mentorship she received, particularly from Dr. Babajide Ojo of Bestman Academy.
Her journey serves as an inspiration to many, showing that with determination and support, barriers can be overcome, and dreams can be realized.
Keep shining, Islamiyat!