In a remarkable achievement, Blessing Ejeh, an alumna of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), has been awarded the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Scholarship to pursue her master’s degree in Poland, a country located in Eastern Europe. The exciting news came in May 2023 when Blessing received a congratulatory email notifying her of her selection for this highly sought-after scholarship.
Blessing, originally from Aidogodo, a town in Benue State, Nigeria, but raised in Abuja, expressed her elation at this remarkable accomplishment. Her academic journey at UDUS was nothing short of outstanding, culminating in her graduation with First-Class Honors, achieving a remarkable 4.61 CGPA on the 5.0 grading scale in the field of Sociology. Notably, she also received the award for the best graduating student in the Faculty of Social Sciences during the 2015/2016 academic session.
Speaking with a reporter, Blessing shared her scholarship journey, saying, “I’ve been applying for various scholarships since 2018 and faced a series of rejection letters. Therefore, I am immensely excited and deeply grateful to God for this opportunity to advance my studies beyond the borders of my home country.”
The Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Programme, funded by the European Union, is a prestigious initiative that offers students from around the world the chance to pursue interdisciplinary master’s degree programs across a minimum of two higher education institutions in Europe. This scholarship is highly competitive and widely respected.
Blessing’s journey to securing this scholarship was marked by determination and resilience. She first learned about the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship in 2021 through a LinkedIn post by a former scholar who had studied at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. After an unsuccessful application in January 2022, she remained undeterred and diligently prepared for her next opportunity. In January 2023, she applied once again, this time to the Women’s and Gender Studies – GEMMA program, and received the long-awaited acceptance.
Offering advice to fellow graduates, Blessing emphasized, “Education is not a scam, and their dreams and aspirations are valid and achievable as long as they are willing to put in the necessary effort, have faith in God, and never give up.”
Blessing Ejeh’s remarkable journey from Sokoto to Poland exemplifies the power of persistence and determination in pursuing educational and career goals. Her success serves as an inspiration to students and scholars alike.