Nigerian Scholar Wins Stanford Scholarship After Historic 7.0 CGPA at University of Ibadan
Nigerian scholar wins Stanford scholarship — Ofure Mary Ebhomielen made history at the University of Ibadan as the first female student to graduate with a perfect 7.0 CGPA, the highest attainable score at the university and only the fourth time in UI’s history anyone had achieved it. That record helped her secure a fully funded scholarship to study for a master’s in Computer Science at Stanford University, where she specialized in AI and machine learning. Today, she works as a Software Development Engineer at Amazon.
How a Nigerian Scholar Set the Record at the University of Ibadan Before Winning Her Stanford Scholarship
Ebhomielen, from Uromi in Edo State, set her sights on graduating with first-class honors in Computer Science from her very first semester at UI. She stayed out of many social activities, and sometimes church services, to fit in extra study time — a routine that came at the cost of sleep, by her own account. The discipline held for four years straight. She never dropped below a perfect CGPA in any semester, through 200 and 300 level and into her final year.
Her result was announced at UI’s Faculty of Science graduation summit in May 2019, and formally recognized at the university’s convocation ceremony that November. Speaking at the ceremony, UI’s Vice-Chancellor noted this was only the fourth time a student had achieved a perfect CGPA in the university’s history, and the first time a woman had done it.
From UI to Stanford, Before the Rejection Letters Even Arrived
Ebhomielen’s academic record moved fast once she started applying to graduate schools. She’d already secured full funding from Stanford before some of her other applications came back — she’s since said that when Georgia Tech’s rejection letter arrived, she simply laughed, because by then Stanford’s answer had already settled the question.
At Stanford, she pursued her master’s in Computer Science while working as a graduate teaching assistant. She specialized in AI theories and principles, deep learning, and machine learning model building, and became proficient in PyTorch, a widely used machine learning framework in AI research.
Where the Nigerian Scholar Who Won a Stanford Scholarship Is Now
Ebhomielen has since moved into industry, working as a Software Development Engineer at Amazon. Her path — from a record-setting CGPA in Nigeria to a fully funded Stanford master’s to a role at one of the world’s largest technology companies — has continued to inspire students at UI and beyond, some of whom have said they followed her career specifically because of the record she set.
Reflecting on what got her through the sacrifices, she’s said the advice she’d give others is simple: “Stay focused on your goals and always fix your eyes on the prize.”
Related Funding Routes Worth Researching
Students pursuing a similar path — funded graduate study in computer science, AI, or engineering fields — can look into the Erasmus Mundus IMAPP Scholarship, the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES), and the Aston University Ferguson Scholarship for Africans, all currently active funding routes covering tuition and living costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Nigerian scholar who won a Stanford scholarship?
Ofure Mary Ebhomielen, from Uromi in Edo State, became the first female student to graduate with a perfect 7.0 CGPA at the University of Ibadan, earning a fully funded scholarship to study Computer Science at Stanford University.
What CGPA did Ofure Ebhomielen achieve, and how rare is it?
She achieved a perfect 7.0 CGPA, the highest attainable score at the University of Ibadan. According to the university’s Vice-Chancellor, it was only the fourth time in UI’s history a student had achieved this, and the first time by a woman.
What did Ofure Ebhomielen study at Stanford?
She pursued a master’s degree in Computer Science, specializing in AI theories and principles, deep learning, and machine learning model building, while working as a graduate teaching assistant.
What is Ofure Ebhomielen doing now?
She currently works as a Software Development Engineer at Amazon, having moved from academic research in AI and machine learning into industry.
Are there scholarships available for Nigerian students pursuing computer science or AI graduate study abroad?
Yes. Current options include the Erasmus Mundus IMAPP Scholarship, the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES), and the Aston University Ferguson Scholarship for Africans, all covering tuition and living costs.
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