Nigerian Woman Becomes Only Female First-Class Graduate in Her Department, Earns Full Scholarships Abroad

Against all odds, Zaynab Agboola made history as the only female first-class graduate in her department, securing fully funded scholarships abroad after overcoming multiple rejections.

A brilliant Nigerian woman, Zaynab Agboola, made history in 2020 as the only female first-class graduate in the Department of Agricultural Engineering and Biosystems at the University of Ilorin. Her outstanding academic achievements earned her multiple scholarships, including fully funded opportunities in Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Reflecting on her journey, Zaynab shared on LinkedIn that she entered the University of Ilorin six years ago with a bold dream—to become the first in her family to earn an engineering degree. Not only did she achieve this goal, but she did so with historic distinction, standing out as the only female first-class graduate in a class of 92 students.

Zaynab’s journey was far from easy. In addition to excelling academically, she took on leadership roles, serving as Vice President of the Faculty of Engineering & Technology and actively volunteering with JCI—all while managing the rigorous demands of her studies.

She credited her success to the unwavering support of her parents, siblings, lecturers, tutors, and mentors, with special appreciation for her undergraduate lecturers and level adviser, who played a crucial role in her academic achievements.

Zaynab’s academic brilliance earned her:

• A fully funded scholarship from the Turkish government

• A fully funded scholarship from Campus France Nigeria

• A 25% partial scholarship from the University of Roehampton, UK

After careful consideration, she accepted the Turkish government scholarship, which covered tuition, accommodation, visa and flight fees, health insurance, and a monthly stipend.

However, her scholarship journey was filled with challenges. In just six months, she applied for 10 scholarships, facing multiple rejections and unfunded admission offers. Instead of giving up, she used these setbacks as motivation to improve herself until she finally secured a life-changing opportunity.

Encouraging others who dream of studying abroad, Zaynab shared:

“Everyone has a different journey, and your dreams are valid. Rejections are annoying and draining, but they are also part of the process. Never give up. Just one YES is all you need. I am rooting for you, and I’ll see you at the top.”

Her story serves as an inspiration to students across Nigeria and beyond—proving that with determination, resilience, and the right support, anything is possible.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, SCHOLARSHIP REGION