A brilliant Nigerian scholar named Oladimeji Shotunde has achieved an extraordinary academic feat, earning two master’s degrees with distinction in the United Kingdom through fully funded scholarships.

In 2021, Shotunde made national headlines after graduating as the overall best student of the Lagos State University (LASU), Nigeria, breaking records with an exceptional cumulative grade point average.

But despite the spotlight, he found himself uncertain about the next step, torn between pursuing further studies or launching a career in industry as a business administration graduate. Seeking clarity, he turned to his mentors while also weighing both options carefully.

Soon after his convocation, he received offers from both the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Abuja, and a pre-NYSC internship at KPMG under the Strategy and Customer Solutions Unit. He chose KPMG, drawn by his interest in strategy.

While preparing for NYSC, Shotunde began applying for scholarships. Although it was his first time, and he did not invest too much hope, fortune smiled on him.

He received a nomination from University College London (UCL) for the prestigious Commonwealth Shared Scholarship.

At first, he did not realize the weight of this offer, but after consulting with his mentors, he understood what it truly meant—a fully funded opportunity at one of the top universities in the world, covering tuition, stipends, flights, visa, and more, altogether worth nearly ₦30 million.

He immediately began the visa process, and by October 2021, he resumed studies at UCL, pursuing a Master’s degree in Innovation.

Settling in was initially difficult. As one of only two Black students in his class, he struggled to find his footing. But with time, he met peers who challenged and inspired him

At times, imposter syndrome crept in, especially when he realized many of his classmates had years of professional experience while he was entering straight from undergraduate studies. Still, he reminded himself that growth takes time, and every day was a chance to improve.

Even while focused on his program, Shotunde remained uncertain about his long-term path—whether to continue in academia or return to industry. Once again, he turned to his mentors. A particular one, Professor Tayo Otubanjo, gave him compelling reasons to consider further studies.

Encouraged by that advice, Shotunde decided he would only pursue a PhD if he could do so at Cambridge or Oxford. However, Oxford did not offer the exact program he wanted, but Cambridge did—and with only days left before the deadline, he began his application process.

He wrote his statement of purpose, gathered recommendations, and submitted his application a day before the deadline. By late January 2022, he was shortlisted for an interview.

Nervous but determined, he reached out to current students for mock interviews and guidance. After the interview, he received the good news: Shotunde had been admitted into the MPhil (Master of Philosophy) program at Cambridge, a highly competitive pre-PhD track that admits only a handful of students globally.

However, he had one challenge: Funding. While still weighing his options, he was shortlisted for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship under the Cambridge Trust.

He went for the in-person interview, hopeful, but sadly, he did not receive the award. It was a crushing moment, but hope returned after a message from his department revealing he was among their top nominees.

Determined not to give up, he looked out for other scholarships and found two possible opportunities: the Rowan Williams Scholarship and the Standard Bank Africa Chairman’s Scholarship.

Though he was not entirely sure he met the criteria for either, he decided to try. In the end, he was awarded the Standard Bank Africa Chairman’s Scholarship. There was one final requirement: he needed to finish his UCL program with a distinction to secure his place at Cambridge. And he did.

In 2022, he graduated from UCL with distinction and began his journey at Cambridge. Two years later, in July 2024, Shotunde completed the MPhil program at the University of Cambridge.

Reflecting on his journey, he shared on Instagram his challenges and pride in seeing his parents present at his graduation from one of the most prestigious universities in the world.