TOUCHING: See How Vivian Nwofor A Nigerian University Graduate Got The Only National Scholarship Slot In UK

HOW can we best describe a person who made a First Class honours in a course of study and also 

repeated the same performance in a national contest? If not genius, then the best nomenclature 

suitable for such a person is ‘exceptional’.This explains the performance of Miss Vivian Nwofor, 

27, a first class Biochemistry graduate of Novena University, Ogume, Delta State who applied for a 

national scholarship scheme where just one person emerges as a winner yearly.Vivian 

NwoforSpeaking with Vanguard Learning, Vivian said:

“While conducting some research online, I stumbled on the Dr Murtala Mohammed Scholarship 

scheme and applied. The scholarship is for just one Nigerian who meets the required academic 

qualifications.”It is done in memory of the late General Murtala Mohammed, who ruled Nigeria 

from 1975 to 1976 before his asassination.The scholarship covers full tuition to study in London 

Metropolitan University, United Kingdom.According to her, some of the requirements are; a first 

class degree, a score of seven and above in International General Certificate of Secondary 

Education ,IGCSE, English language and be a Nigerian.“When I wrote the IGCSE examination, I 

scored 7.5. Out of the other first class holders that wrote the examination, I emerged first,” she 

said.Before this time, she had applied for Presidential Scholarship scheme and University of 

Westminster Scholarship but was not shortlisted.She said: “I did not believe that any of those 

applications will not be successful because I met their requirements.

I believed that with my result and with God, it will work out for me. Thus, I came out successful in 

the Dr Murtala Scholarship scheme.”Vivian whose father is a retired civil servant said that what 

she actually wanted to study for second degree was Biotechnology. But when she saw the 

Metropolitan University advert which specified courses it gives out for the scholarship, she had to 

opt for Biomedical Science.“I owe Novena University a lot because I gained a lot from there. My 

lecturers went a long way to contribute to what I am today,” she said.Going down memory lane, 

Vivian said: “When I wanted to study medicine at a federal university, I recall that they were 

asking for money before they could offer me admission.

“Before that time, I always had the notion that a private university is where you can just go and 

buy a degree and that was not what I wanted for myself.”In the long run, I met a friend who was a 

Mass Communication student at Novena University. She called me and I asked if I needed to pay 

before getting admission into the institution and she said I was not to pay anything.“She added 

that if my WAEC result was okay, it was enough for me to gain admission. “Then I submitted my 

JAMB and WAEC results and I got admission into Novena University.”Vivian noted that if anyone 

has ever heard that private schools give out marks or results, Novena is exceptional, “they only 

give students what they work for, if you work for your first class, you will be given the degree due 

for you. It is a school I am proud to associate with any time any day.”Looking forward to what lies 

ahead, she said: “After my second degree, I hope to apply for more scholarships because I still 

hope to have a master’s degree  in Biotechnology after which I will proceed to do my Ph.D to 

enable me lecture.“I like lecturing because I love to impart knowledge. As a woman, probably 

marriage along the way.Novena universityWhile my stay in the United Kingdom lasts, I hope to 

make my country and alma mata proud as I aim to have the best result in the school.”Dr Andrew 

Ekakitie who was her Head of Department (HOD) at Novena University while speaking with 

Vanguard on phone, pointed out that Vivian was an outstanding girl while in school.According to 

the HOD, she was someone who knew the reason why she was in the university.“In her class, she 

was the only student that made a first class in Biochemistry.”

Ekakitie who disclosed that Vivian had earlier represented the institution in an international 

science quiz competition in South Africa said Vivian performed brilliantly