I-Scholar Initiative

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I-Scholar Initiative

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We empower Africans to fulfill dreams via access to fully-funded scholarships in top Universities

10/28/2026

Not every opportunity comes at the first attempt, and not every rejection signals the end of a possibility. Sometimes, the difference between giving up and making progress lies in the willingness to pause, reassess, and approach the next opportunity differently.

In this application season, as admission offers, scholarships and fellowships fill timelines, it is easy to become overwhelmed by how far others seem to have gone. However, everyone's journey is different, and progress should not be measured solely by how quickly success comes.

Previous setbacks can offer valuable lessons, revealing areas that need improvement and approaches that may need to change. Rather than dwelling on past disappointments, this is the time to review previous attempts, seek feedback, explore new opportunities, and restrategize the plan.

Whether the goal is securing admission, obtaining a scholarship, or advancing professionally, sometimes the next step towards success is not abandoning the goal but changing the strategy.

This application season presents another opportunity to start afresh with better preparation, renewed focus, and a clearer sense of direction. A previous outcome does not have to determine what comes next.

Review the plan, restructure the approach and make this season count.

10/07/2026

One of the things that looking up to those who have gone ahead of us, on the path we hope to tread, should do is inspire us. Their journeys should not make us feel belittled, nor should they discourage us from pursuing our own goals.

The truth is that they did not always have it rosy. No one does.

The success stories we hear should not make us forget that there were failures, setbacks, uncertainties, and moments when things seemed impossible. Those parts of the journey may not always be shared, but that does not mean they did not exist.

Just because someone was selected after applying once does not mean their journey was without challenges or loopholes. Every journey is different, and comparison should never cause you to lose sight of your own progress.

It is important to remember that behind every ready-made outfit was once unsewn fabric, and even the finished outfit was not necessarily made perfectly on the first attempt. There was a process, adjustments were made, and errors may have been corrected along the way.

This illustration is simply to remind you that your dream is valid and that it is okay to try again and again.

A number of graduate school applications have opened, and it is important to take hold of these opportunities. Revisit your goals, prepare your applications, and do not give up. Keep making the effort.

We are rooting for you!

-ScholarInitiative

09/16/2026

Application season is just around the corner, and once again, it is time to give those dreams another shot.

For many, the previous application cycle may have come with rejections, unanswered emails, missed opportunities, or outcomes that were far from what was hoped for. It can be tempting to carry those experiences into the next application season and allow them to reduce the effort put into the next opportunity.

But every application is a new possibility.

A previous rejection is not a reason to approach the next opportunity with less hope or less effort. Instead, it can be a reason to return better prepared, improve what can be improved, and try once again.

Not every application will open a door. Not every email will receive a response. But sometimes, after several attempts, one opportunity changes everything.

As application season approaches, let the effort continue. Let the lessons from previous attempts guide the next ones, but do not let the outcomes determine how much effort is given.

Who knows? The next application might just be the 1% of effort needed to turn a long-held dream into reality.

09/15/2026

CONGRATULATIONS!! | i-Scholar Initiative (iSI)

We have some good news coming to your screen from the i-Scholar Initiative (iSI). Stay connected to our social media platforms!

We are excited to announce that one of our 2020 scholars, Afeez Badmus, Ph.D., a dependable ISI mentor and manager, completed and defended his PhD dissertation on 28 August 2026. Dr. Afeez Badmus defended his PhD dissertation titled “Reducing Tornado Losses through Enhanced Residential Building Design and Shelter Needs” in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at The University of Kansas, USA.

Congratulations, Dr. Badmus! The ISi family is incredibly proud of you and excited for the greater things you will achieve.

Thanks to all our partners, sponsors, and mentors for your support and commitment to this initiative.

Hard work pays! Stay Focused!

LinkedIn & Facebook: i-Scholar Initiative
Twitter: iScholarInitia1
Instagram: ischolarinitiative_isi

09/02/2026

To the scholars navigating the storms of the upcoming application season:

Right now, it probably feels like you are trying to drink from a firehose. Between drafting statement of purpose, tracking down transcripts, chasing recommendation letters, and preparing for standardized exams, the sheer volume of tasks to tick off on your to-do list can make you feel like you are barely keeping your head above the water.
So, when these daunting tasks want to overwhelm you, here are a few things you can do:
📌 Focus on a single task at a time
Realistically, you cannot finish every application task in one afternoon. Stop looking at the entire mountain. Pick one task, finish it, and cross it off... and viola, you have made progress. 👍

📌 Differentiate urgency from importance
Not every notification requires your immediate energy. Tune out the noise, close the forty open tabs on your browser, and work on one thing with a clear, calm mind.

📌 Your Value Exceeds the Process:
This season of high pressure does not define your capacity as a scholar. Feeling exhausted doesn't mean you aren't cut out for this; instead it means you are working hard at your goals.

📌 Protect Your Spark:
The curiosity and drive that made you want to pursue graduate study in the first place are still inside you, under all the administrative weight. Take a step back when you need to, breathe, and reconnect with why you chose this path.

You have already proven your intellect and resilience just by standing at this threshold. Trust your preparation, take it one step at a time, and keep moving forward.

You've got this!!!

08/27/2026

The 2026 i-Scholar Initiative (iSI) Lagos Meet-up!

The meet-up held on the 22nd of August 2026 was a great opportunity to meet, connect beyond screens, interact, share experiences, and admonish our 2026 scholars. We are impressed by the number of scholars in attendance.

The goal of i-Scholar Initiative (iSI) is to help talented and motivated students achieve their . We are interested in the growth and progress of these young ones, and it is our joy to see them reach the acme of their career. “Since 2019, i-Scholar Initiative (iSI) has Invested over $350K & mentorship in the career pursuits of over 555 Nigerian scholars. Cumulatively, i-Scholars have unlocked over $60M (and still counting)in graduate scholarships.

Annually, we gather in Lagos to physically welcome the new cohort of scholars to the iSi family. And we're thrilled to have interacted with the 2026 cohort last weekend in Lagos.

It was also a delightful opportunity to thank our partners and volunteers, and also to meet our scholars.

We can only get better as we seek new ways to improve. Don’t give up on your dreams! A big thank you to our ever-supportive board of trustees and partners.

Stay connected!

LinkedIn & Facebook: i-Scholar Initiative
Twitter: iScholarInitia1
Instagram: i_scholarinitiative

07/18/2026

i-Scholar Initiative (iSI) Onboarding Event for the 2026 iSI Scholarship Awardees

Reminder!!!

Our onboarding event starts in about 1hr 25mins! Don’t miss it. Congratulations once again to the 2026 cohort. You can access/unlock your potential by choosing to see beyond your present limitations, gaining access to the right knowledge, mentorship, community, opportunities, and believing that your background does not determine your destination in life.

Our keynote speaker, Mr. Ufuoma Ewherido is also ready for us. Come prepared!

We hope to see you soon. Your dreams are valid!! A big thank you to the BoT, MC, Partners, Scholars, and prospective volunteers who have made our vision a reality.

Date: 18th June, 2026
Location: Zoom
Time: 6 PM WAT/ 12 PM CST

Find the Zoom link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87416058913?pwd=aUnrMu8PjSFbzx6bwEafBuqzKErbAe.1

You could be part of our mission to expand the to more deserving scholars by making a donation. Let’s assist the talented young ones.

LinkedIn & Facebook: i-Scholar Initiative Twitter: iScholarInitia1
Instagram: ischolarinitiative_isi

07/17/2026

i-Scholar Initiative (iSI) Onboarding Event for the 2026 iSI Scholarship Awardees

A day to go!!!

One day to go, and we will be onboarding the 2026 cohort of scholars. It’s going to be worth your time and we are excited to have Mr. Ufuoma Ewherido as our keynote .

Mr. Ewherido holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology, an MBA, and executive education credentials from several internationally recognized leadership institutions. He is a community builder, nonprofit board leader, and trusted mentor who is passionate about expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and helping individuals reach their full potential through excellence, service and leadership.

He currently serves on several nonprofit boards, including as Board Chair of the Nigerian-American Multicultural Council (NAMC) Houston and Board Chair of the Fort Lauderdale DSA Academy for Autistic Children, where he champions initiatives in community development, education, and advocacy. He is a certified member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), Mr. Ewherido brings extensive governance expertise and a global leadership perspective shaped by a distinguished 32-year career with ExxonMobil.

Throughout his career, he held technical, leadership, and executive roles across multiple continents, leading major initiatives to deliver value through strategic planning, portfolio optimization, organizational development, operational excellence, and business transformation. To top it all, he is a proud husband and father, who resides in Houston, Texas.

Don’t miss this event! We hope to see you there. Your dreams are valid!! A big thank you to the BoT, MC, Partners, Scholars, and prospective volunteers who have made our vision a reality.

Date: 18th June, 2026
Location: Zoom
Time: 6 PM WAT/ 12 PM CST

You could be part of our mission to expand the to more deserving scholars by making a donation. Let’s assist the talented young ones.

LinkedIn & Facebook: i-Scholar Initiative Twitter: iScholarInitia1
Instagram: ischolarinitiative_isi

07/16/2026

i-Scholar Initiative (iSI) Onboarding Event for the 2026 iSI Scholarship Awardees

2 Days to go!!!

Your potential is not always revealed by where you begin, or the resources available to you. it is hidden beneath uncertainty, limited opportunities, fear, and circumstances that make your dream appear beyond reach.

How then do you access/unlock your potential? By choosing to see beyond your present limitations, gaining access to the right knowledge, mentorship, community, opportunities, and believing that your background does not determine your destination in life.

We are excited to onboard the new cohort of scholars on 18th June, 2026 and we are excited to have Mr. Ufoma Ewherido as our guest .

Mr. Ewherido holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology, an MBA, and executive education credentials from several internationally recognized leadership institutions. He is a community builder, nonprofit board leader, and trusted mentor who is passionate about expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and helping individuals reach their full potential through excellence, service and leadership.

He currently serves on several nonprofit boards, including as Board Chair of the Nigerian-American Multicultural Council (NAMC) Houston and Board Chair of the Fort Lauderdale DSA Academy for Autistic Children, where he champions initiatives in community development, education, and advocacy. He is a certified member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), Mr. Ewherido brings extensive governance expertise and a global leadership perspective shaped by a distinguished 32-year career with ExxonMobil.

Throughout his career, he held technical, leadership, and executive roles across multiple continents, leading major initiatives to deliver value through strategic planning, portfolio optimization, organizational development, operational excellence, and business transformation. To top it all, he is a proud husband and father, who resides in Houston, Texas.

Don’t miss this event! We hope to see you there. Your dreams are valid!! A big thank you to the BoT, MC, Partners, Scholars, and prospective volunteers who have made our vision a reality.

Date: 18th June, 2026
Location: Zoom
Time: 6 PM WAT/ 12 PM CST

You could be part of our mission to expand the to more deserving scholars by making a donation. Let’s assist the talented young ones.

LinkedIn & Facebook: i-Scholar Initiative Twitter: iScholarInitia1
Instagram: ischolarinitiative_isi

07/15/2026

Grad school application season is gradually approaching. And for anyone who didn't get the outcome they wanted last time, that result only closed one door, not the whole building.
Rejection has a way of feeling like a final verdict on our abilities. Most of the time, it isn't.

Here is what it is;

It's a mismatch between what was submitted and what that particular cycle needed,

A statement that needed sharpening,

A recommender who didn't know the applicant well enough to adequately recommend.

Mismatches are always fixable....

Programs change their cohorts every year. So should our approach for applying change too.

If graduate school is still the goal, treat this season as unfinished business, not a rematch you're likely to lose. Rebuild the weak parts. Get someone honest to read the draft before it's final. Apply with more precision this time, not just more effort.

One more attempt, done more deliberately, changes more outcomes than people expect.

Address

The Woodlands, TX
77389

Website

https://ischolarinitiative.org/

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