UNN best graduating student Chizoba Ejiofor wins fully funded £33,000 Commonwealth scholarship after being denied promised cash prize by his university
UNN best student scholarship success has become a symbol of perseverance after Chizoba Ejiofor, who graduated with a CGPA of 4.98, was awarded a fully funded Commonwealth scholarship.
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Ejiofor, the overall best graduating student from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), had earlier been denied a N50,000 academic prize promised by the university.
The breakthrough was announced by education advocate and tech entrepreneur Alex Onyia, who revealed on Thursday that he had taken it upon himself to support Ejiofor.
The young graduate’s academic feat had captured the admiration of many Nigerians in 2023 when his results went viral, yet recognition from the university failed to match his achievement.
“I have a good news. A very good news,” Onyia wrote on social media. “You remember Chizoba Ejiofor, who graduated as UNN overall best graduating student with CGPA of 4.98, that UNN refused to fulfil the N50k prize promised to him? I took him up as a full responsibility.
We started working tirelessly together since last year to secure a fully funded scholarship, and today we have the good news.”
That good news turned out to be a prestigious Commonwealth scholarship valued at over £33,000.
The offer includes full tuition, flight tickets and monthly living stipends for Ejiofor to further his education in the United Kingdom.
Onyia expressed his deep satisfaction over the outcome. “This is fully funded scholarship from Commonwealth.
Over 33 thousand pounds in scholarship, flight tickets and monthly stipends inclusive. No one can describe how happy and fulfilled I am today.”
Ejiofor’s story is one of exceptional academic discipline and quiet resilience. With a CGPA just shy of perfection, he has joined a growing list of young Nigerians whose talent is recognised abroad more than at home.
The silence of UNN on the earlier failed promise has drawn criticism, but Onyia’s intervention has now turned the story into one of hope.
This episode has also stirred conversation around how Nigerian institutions treat their brightest students.
Many observers have praised Onyia for stepping in where the university failed, showing that private individuals can make an enormous difference in the lives of outstanding students.
Ejiofor’s scholarship win not only rewards his diligence but also signals the growing global competitiveness of Nigerian students when given proper support.
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As he prepares for a new academic chapter abroad, many are hoping his journey will inspire systemic change in how Nigerian universities celebrate academic excellence.
