USAP Nigeria Profiles
Profiles for our Nigerian students are still coming in and we will update this page as they become available. Below we profile the students whose information we have on file.
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Olayinka Fasawe
Gettysburg College '14
Olayinka Fasawe is the eleventh child in a family of fifteen children. He comes from Ondo state, South-west Nigeria. However he spent his early years in Kaduna state, northern Nigeria, where he had his primary education. He then moved on to Trinity International college for his secondary education. While at Trinity, Yinka as he was fondly called, was known to effectively balance his academics and his co-curricular activities. A excellent leader, he held posts like dorm head, dining table head (he does not joke with his food) and house captain. Yinka was the captain of the school's soccer team, and a member of the school's basketball and cricket teams. Despite all these activities, Yinka maintained a good academic performance through out his stay in school. He represented the school in a number of science competitions and emerged a finalist in the 2007 International youth physicists tournament finals in Abuja. He graduated from Trinity with the best result in the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations.
In his spare time Yinka can be found engrossed in his hobbies. His hobbies are a true reflection of typical Yinka. He can be found day dreaming of tearing Old Trafford stadium with his goals, inventing something new or dancing to Hip-pop music.
He was admitted into the USAP in 2009. Using the program's effective resources, he has gained admission into Gettysburg College to pursue a course in electrical engineering. He wants to specialize in communications. He hopes to work with one of the major communications in Nigeria. He will definitely be playing soccer at Gettysburg.
His motto is "Play hard, but work harder!"
Imoleayo Abel
Swarthmore College '14
"Anything worth doing at all is worth doing well."
This statement, Imoleayo says has led him to his accomplishments. Imoleayo, an indigene of Ondo state, Nigeria. He was born and grew up in
Lagos-the commercial hub of the country. He graduated from Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos. At F.G.C.L., he was the Headboy and one who will not be forgotten in a short-while because of his remarkable feats. He was consistently the best student in his class throughout his stay in the school. On the prize giving day of his school, he received 28 prizes for which he was given a standing ovation. He represented his school in various mathematics and science competitions such as the Oluwole Awokoya Memorial Chemistry Competition, Nigerian Mathematics Olympiads, Cowbell National Mathematics Competition, where he excelled at the national level. He also graduated with the best West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination result in his school. He is an enthusiastic soccer fan.
Luckily for Imoleayo, he was admitted into USAP and with the assistance of the amiable advisors, he was able to secure a place in the Swarthmore College's class of 2014. With interest in mathematics and physics, he plans to major in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science and believes he would be able to dig deep to bring out the best in himself while at Swarthmore. Imoleayo, a humble and level headed young man who believes 'nothing in life is impossible'. He hopes to use his acquired knowledge to provide lasting solutions to the technological needs of his endeared nation-Nigeria in the nearest future.
Mohini Ufeli
Mount Holyoke College '14
Mohini Ufeli is the youngest of four children. She comes from Delta state but has always lived in Lagos.
Mohini became a USAP participant in 2009, while attending Bridgehouse College where she wrote her Advanced Levels. Prior to that period, she attended Avi-Cenna International School where she was elected Head Girl during her final year for several reasons, amongst which was her consistency in academic excellence. She was also a member of the debate team, the music club and the basketball team, and successfully represented her school at numerous competitions and tournaments.
She is attending Mount Holyoke College in Massachussetts. Her love for extracurricular activities continues, evident in the fact that she is a member of the rugby team. She loves books and dance, and derives pleasure from playing the piano, violin and guitar. She is currently undecided on her major, but is intrigued by Biology and is also considering a dance or music minor.
Immanuel David Madukauwa-David
Massachusetts Institute of Technology '14
Immanuel, an indigene of Abia State, Nigeria was born in Ibadan, Oyo state, but lived in Lagos where he graduated in 2008 from King's High School. Prior to that, he schooled in Life Spring Academy, Kaduna, and CAPRO School, Gana-Ropp, Plateau State, where he completed some of his primary education. From a tender age, Immanuel has always had a keen interest in aeronautics-related activities and music. He therefore made it a goal to excel, despite his family's financial odds, and become an aeronautical engineer.
To this end, Immanuel worked assiduously, always placing first in his class and excelling in external science competitions such as the National Physics Olympiad 2009 and the National Institute of Physics Quiz Competition 2008. To crown all his efforts, in 2008, Immanuel emerged the best candidate in the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) with eight A1s and a B2 amongst a total of 1.2 million candidates in the region. On the musical scene, Immanuel formed a Christian rock band in secondary school called TMK due to the interest that his guitar playing raised among his peers. With these activities and God's help, he says, Immanuel gained admission into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he currently studies. He intends to major in Mechanical Engineering, a stepping stone to his ultimate dream of being an aeronautical engineer. Music, Immanuel believes, is the soul of life; so he still plays the guitar as a form of recreation and entertainment in addition to soccer.
Daniel Gbenga Alabi
Carleton College '14
"Be grateful for your problems for they stimulate an 'I can do' attitude." - Mark Victor Hansen.
This statement epitomizes Daniel Gbenga Alabi - his aspirations, lifestyle, and struggles. Naturally curious, Daniel loves to engage in challenging activities that could improve him and inspire others. He is a risk-taker who eschews parochialism. He enjoys smiling and meeting new people. Friends of Daniel can testify to his diverse engagements in sports (especially soccer), entrepreneurship, and poetry. His diversity must have piqued the interests of the Admissions officers at Carleton College MN - the college he was accepted to on a full scholarship basis. Gbenga is the only son and the third child amongst four children in his family.
Daniel represented his high school Model Secondary School and his country in diverse competitions (including Mathematics Olympiads - 2nd Best in Nationals 2008, Commonwealth and Jamb Quizzes (1st), Debates, scientific projects, and Entrepreneurship contests). He has won some prestigious international awards (like the GL Award) which only spurred him to do more for his country. A science student, Daniel is bent on science-related courses but is always open-minded to all sensible ideas and views. He attributes his success to God who favours and strengthens him. A staunch debater and presenter, Daniel effectively expresses his arguments as clearly as possible in order to communicate his point of view most accurately. He also believes that every man is born and to achieve some goal, fill some space, and affect lives; that's why he ceases every opportunity to engage in community service and contribute to social life. During his high school he partook in National environmental campaigns under the aegis of Model Global SAGE Enterprises where he served as the Director of Finance. A talented poet, Daniel has also written well-structured and incisive poems for celebration and introspection. He is also engaged in ICT activities and programming which he finds intellectually satiating and wants to reach out to more students and Africans through these activities.
Daniel believes in the "urgency of now". He has already started engaging himself in producing productive ICT solutions through his efforts to develop Web 2.0 standard sites and effective programming solutions. He believes that by God's grace he could affect more lives if he starts early (even before and after entering college); he could use his hands to positively influence his generation and ultimately achieve purpose.
"Blessed be the Lord my strength who teacheth my fingers to fight and my hands to war" - Psalm 144 vs. 1.
Daniel Chukuemeka
Kenyon College '14
Daniel is the fourth child and second son in a family of five children. He hails from Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State in Nigeria, but for the most part, has lived in Abakaliki – the state capital. He had the first year of nursery school at ABSU staff school; and following the creation of Ebonyi State, he moved to EBSU staff school. On completing Nursery 2, he was double-promoted to
Grade 1 for a reason best known to anyone who works with him closely. Again, he tried out the Federal Common Entrance Examination in Grade 5 and did better than all the 6th Graders. There was no need to waste a whole year. He graduated with the 6th Graders. Obviously, his tendency to do ordinary things in an extra-ordinary ways dates back to my early years in life.
Just about settling down in Federal Government College, Enugu, the news of his success in the Gifted Program Placement Test filtered into his ears. He was on the go again! He moved into Federal Government Academy, as a result, to face the best of the bests from all over Nigeria. Good a thing, we were all on full scholarship, so, financial anxiety was out of the question. In FEDACAD (for short), he slowly carved a niche for himself in the Gospel Choir, the school Drama Club, Students' Representative Committee and especially the Fellowship of Christian Students. He graduated with one of the best WAEC results in the school.
If asked, he would say that he was born in a haze and remained blind until he became a USAP participant in 2009. Weird, right? Yes! he was totally ambitious, optimistic, and all sweet things you can think of, but he didn't see an atom of reality in going outside Nigeria for University Studies! As a matter of fact, anyone who mentioned it to his hearing would need a dirty slap to wake him from his daydream! But here he is at Kenyon College, on the Gambier Hill, treading the "Middle Path" with smart kids from all over the world!
As an international student, he is slowly unleashing the diversity he brought to Kenyon College. His group won the first prize for an 8-hour scavenger hunt in the "Writing and Thinking" pre-orientation of 2010.
He intend to be a neuroscience major at Kenyon College, while fulfilling the daunting requirements for pre-medicine. He hopes to get into a top-tier Medical School in the US after Kenyon and do a residency in Pediatrics/Pediatric Neurosurgery. To this end, he'd love to establish a foundation where trained consultants will design the ideal curriculum for parenting and teaching every child born in Ohaozara – and by extension, Nigeria.
Chiamaka Chima
Tufts University '14
Born into the Chima family in the eastern part of Nigeria, Chiamaka never failed to live up to expectation. She excelled in whatever she ventured into but of course, after a good dose of hard work which earned her the first position throughout her stay both in Grade and High school.
This must be the reason why she got into the only Nigerian school for the Gifted and Talented (Federal Government Academy) on merit-based scholarship. During her stay there, she gained lifetime experiences and learnt to live with people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Suffice it to say that her relationship with both staff and students was very remarkable coupled with her nice disposition which earned her the Best-behaved Student in her finals.
On graduation from the gifted school, she got into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to study Engineering where she stayed for a while before gaining admission into the prestigious Tufts University with the help of USAP in Abuja, Nigeria.
Besides her academic pursuits, Chiamaka engages in activities like playing basketball and reading novels and hopes to add mastery of French and the Piano to the list of her abilities.
She believes that the sky is only a starting point and that with God, all things are possible!
Anjolaoluwa Lanre-Ladenegan
Morehouse College '14
Anjolaoluwa Lanre-Ladenegan is originally from Owo, Ondo state but he lived in
Lagos all his life. He went to Whitesands School for his secondary
education. At Whitesands School, he held many leadership positions and in his
final year, he was the house captain for the Appalachian House and was also a
part of the Junior Achievement Program and in his 5th year of secondary school. He
and his team, set up a company that dealt with the design of shirts. He was also
a part of the Drama and Press club, presiding over the latter in his 4th year of
high school. Furthermore, he was also in the soccer team. Academically, he remained in the top 5% of his class throughout his high school years and graduated in 2008 with one of the best national
examination results in his high school's history.
He got accepted in the USAP in 2009 and in 2010 he got into Morehouse College on a full scholarship. At Morehouse College he continues to excel in both academics and extracurricular. He is under the Dual-Degree Engineering Program. In the 2010 fall semester, he worked for, and achieved a 4.00 GPA and was consequently placed on the deans list. He is currently a Peer Led Team Learning (PLTL) leader and also in the Morehouse Judicial Commitee, the National Society of Black Engineers, Alpha Lambda Delta, the International Student Organization and the W.E.B DuBois Residential Hall Council. He plans to study Electrical Engineering with a concentration in power and renewable energy.
Zaidat Ibrahim
Mount Holyoke College '14
Zaidat, a Muslim, hails from Kogi State, Nigeria, but was born and brought up in Abuja. She is the first and only daughter in a family of five children. She had her primary school education at Jolasten Basic Academy in Abuja before moving on to Government secondary school Gwagwalada for her Secondary Education.
She represented her Secondary school in many competitions and had won in most of them. She was the most outstanding student, best female science student, and best student in English language, Biology, Chemistry, Geography of her graduating class. She left a legacy at her Secondary School and she will be remembered for warm but forceful nature, transparent honesty, high moral standards, firm but fair personality and most of all, her “fighting- to- succeed” character and her dexterity. No wonder other students at her school look up to her as a role model. Her hobbies are reading and writing articles. She also loves assisting others academically and she loves being a team leader.
She was part of the USAP 2009 cohort through which she successfully gained admission into Mount Holyoke College. She graduated with a degree in Biochemistry and is working on getting into medical school.
Olalekan Afuye
Bates College '14
Olalekan Afuye is currently studying Physics at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. He attended the Federal Government Academy (Gifted School) in Suleja, Niger State Nigeria. Olalekan's journey to studying in the United States is a constant testimonial of his resilience and determination to succeed. It was this resilience that spurned him from being below class average to topping his class, representing his school in numerous competitions and ultimately emerging the second-best student in the nation in the 2009 West African School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE). Some of the competitions for which he represented his school include the NNPC national quiz competitions, physics and chemistry Olympiads, COWBELL and NAFDAC.
He continues to excel at Bates College and was awarded the prestigious DANA Scholar award for demonstrating strong academic and leadership achievements. Outside the class, he mainly breathes football in its real, virtual and observed forms - Real as in playing for the Men's club soccer team, 'virtual' as in being a FIFA/PES video game pro and 'observed' as in spending his weekends on ESPN3, Veetle and Sopcast. He is also into some programming and loves microcontrollers.