In a stark revelation that underscores the tremendous untapped potential of Nigeria's brightest young minds, the i-Scholar Initiative has exposed a profound educational opportunity gap leaving thousands of high-achieving graduates stranded.

The nonprofit's recent findings paint a compelling picture of academic talent constrained by systemic limitations. Since 2019, the organization has received over 15,000 scholarship applications, with more than 10,000 candidates meeting global admission standards—yet only 455 students (a mere 5%) have been supported due to financial and mentoring constraints.

Victor Ogunmola, the organization's president, highlighted the national dilemma during a Board of Trustees reception in Lagos. 'Talent is universal; opportunity is not,' he emphasized, sharing that in 2025 alone, over 4,000 applications competed for just 100 available scholarship slots.

The challenges facing Nigerian students extend far beyond scholarship scarcity. Structural barriers including underfunded universities, outdated curricula, and limited access to modern research tools create significant obstacles. Ogunmola vividly illustrated this by asking, 'How do we explain a computer science student who does not have a personal computer?'

Amazon Web Services' Vice President of Global Services, Uwem Ukpong, noted that the primary challenge is access, not ability. Supporting a student through standardized tests often costs less than $1,000—yet remains financially out of reach for many high-performing graduates.

Despite these challenges, the initiative remains optimistic. Board of Trustees Chair Tolu Ewherido emphasized that many scholarship recipients are already reinvesting in Nigeria by mentoring new applicants and supporting local educational initiatives.

Looking forward, Ogunmola envisions transformative change: 'In the next five to 10 years, we want to see a nation where 90% of decision-makers are not only passionate and kind but possess the expertise and skills to lead effectively.'