Ejiofor, who graduated with an extraordinary cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.98, was initially overlooked by his institution after it failed to award him a promised N50,000 prize for academic excellence. But what seemed like neglect soon became the beginning of a bigger opportunity.
Tech entrepreneur and education advocate Alex Onyia took to social media on Thursday to announce the breakthrough, having personally taken up the responsibility of mentoring and supporting Ejiofor following the university’s failure to honor its commitment.
“I have good news. A very good news,” Onyia wrote. “You remember Chizoba Ejiofor, who graduated as UNN's overall best graduating student with a CGPA of 4.98, that UNN refused to fulfill 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.”
According to Onyia, the Commonwealth scholarship covers full tuition, international flight tickets, and monthly stipends—an all-expense-paid academic opportunity for postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom.
The scholarship, valued at over £33,000, is one of the most prestigious awards offered to students from developing Commonwealth countries. It aims to support individuals with exceptional academic talent and potential for impactful leadership in their home countries.
“This is a fully funded scholarship from the Commonwealth. Over 33 thousand pounds in scholarship, flight tickets, and monthly stipends inclusive. No one can describe how happy and fulfilled I am today,” Onyia added, expressing joy over Ejiofor’s success.
The development has stirred both celebration and reflection across social media, reigniting conversations about institutional support for academic excellence in Nigeria. Many have praised Onyia’s commitment and called for better structures to reward and encourage high-achieving students within the country.
Ejiofor’s story now stands as a powerful reminder that individual advocacy and mentorship can bridge the gap where institutions fall short—transforming missed recognition into a launchpad for global opportunity.