Top UNN graduate secures £33,000 Commonwealth scholarship

Summary

• Chizoba Ejiofor, the best graduating student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) for 2021/2022, earned a CGPA of 4.98 in Pharmacy
• Major scholarship win: Ejiofor secured a £33,000 fully funded Commonwealth Scholarship for master’s or PhD studies in the UK, covering tuition, flights, and stipends
• Education advocate Alex Onyia guided Ejiofor to the scholarship, sparking praise and debate about Nigeria’s support for talent 

Nsukka, Nigeria — Chizoba Ejiofor, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka’s (UNN) top graduate for the 2021/2022 academic session, has won a prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship valued at over £33,000 (approximately ₦69 million).

Letter detailing the scholarship award

Ejiofor, who graduated with a remarkable 4.98 CGPA from the Department of Pharmacy, was honored during UNN’s 52nd convocation in 2024.

The scholarship, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), will support his advanced studies in the UK, covering full tuition, flight tickets, and monthly stipends to foster global development through academic excellence and leadership.

The achievement came after education advocate Alex Onyia stepped in to support Ejiofor, who was initially promised but not awarded a ₦50,000 prize by UNN for his academic feat.

Onyia, who announced the scholarship on social media on June 12, 2025, had been working with Ejiofor since the previous year to secure this opportunity.

The news triggered widespread reactions online, with many lauding Ejiofor’s brilliance and Onyia’s mentorship. However, some criticized Nigeria’s education system for failing to adequately reward such talent, noting that Ejiofor’s potential was better recognized abroad.

Despite minor discrepancies in reports, some citing a 4.93 CGPA, though most confirm 4.98, the scholarship’s value remains consistently reported at £33,000, with Naira equivalents ranging from ₦65 to ₦69 million due to fluctuating exchange rates.