Lucy Ikpesu-Ewhubare, a UK-based engineer and the founder of ScholarWaka, has opened up on her passion for making global education accessible to Nigerian students following a personal experience.
In a recent chat, Ikpesu-Ewhubare opened up on why she’s passionate about advancing girls’ education in STEM, expanding access to scholarships and global opportunities, and supporting sustainable development through education.
Reminiscing on her story as a young Nigerian with hope and determination, Ikpesu-Ewhubare noted that she loves to make an impact.
‘I’m just a girl who loves to be different and make an impact. I grew up in a low-income family in Nigeria and know first-hand how hard it is to access opportunities abroad without financial means. I held onto a dream, worked smart and hard, and after several scholarship applications and rejections, I secured a fully funded Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship to study Advanced Chemical Engineering with Energy at the University of Birmingham, after earning my BEng in Chemical Engineering from Delta State University, Nigeria, where I was also a three-year Agbami Chevron Scholar.
Today, I work as an Engineer in the UK, supporting the delivery of the UK’s national electricity network plan.’
Continuing, the engineer said, ‘I bring insight from both sides of the scholarship process. With over four years’ experience as a Scholarship Programme Manager, I led the recruitment, selection, and awarding of scholarships to African university students across more than 23 institutions in Africa. That journey, from applying to over 25+ scholarships and reaching out directly to professors, to finally winning my own fully funded place, shaped my belief that everyone deserves access to quality education, regardless of financial background. That’s exactly why I founded ScholarWaka: to help others navigate the path I once had to find largely on my own.
‘My purpose is simple: I don’t want people from the background I came from to limit themselves. We can be more. We can do more. Wherever you’re from, whatever you’re dreaming of, it’s valid, and it’s achievable. That’s the message I share through ScholarWaka and my YouTube channel: practical, insider guidance on what selection committees look for, and how to approach scholarship applications strategically.’
Correcting the notion on students that can apply for scholarships, Ikpesu-Ewhubare said, ‘That’s not always the case. Scholarships aren’t reserved only for first-class students. 2:1 or 2:2 graduates can apply and win scholarships, or maybe third class if the scholarship didn’t have a specific minimum grade requirement and they had an exceptional professional record. That said, some scholarships do have specific academic grade requirements, and in those cases, you do need to meet the minimum criteria to be eligible. But outside of that, it’s really not just about grades, there are other ways to strengthen and complement your academic profile.
‘For instance, if someone with a first-class degree applies but has no professional experience, community impact, or volunteering to show, a selection committee may actually favour someone with a 2:1 or 2:2 who’s stronger in those areas. It’s not just about how well you did academically. It’s also about your interpersonal skills and what you bring to the table beyond the classroom. It’s about how well-rounded and strong your overall profile is. That’s why I always encourage people: whatever grade you have, keep developing yourself. Build your profile. Build your work experience, volunteer, lead, take initiatives. Give back to your community – whether that’s through your church, your street, or anywhere else you can make a difference. Every bit of that contributes to a stronger, more compelling profile for scholarship applications.’
Ikpesu-Ewhubare also took time to explain how her ScholarWaka is helping intending students from falling into scholarship scams.
In her words, ‘First, be careful where you source your information. Only get scholarship details from credible websites like ScholarWaka. We research, verify, and simplify the process for you, but it’s important to understand what platforms like ours actually are. Third-party websites like ScholarWaka do not award scholarships unless they’re listing their own scholarship or programme that they directly own and run. Beyond that, third-party scholarship sites like ours don’t own the scholarships we share information on, and we can never guarantee you’ll receive one just because you saw it on our website. Another key sign: you should never be able to fully apply for a scholarship directly on a third-party website. A credible platform will always redirect you to the official scholarship or university website, where you can confirm the details you’ve read and apply through the verified, official channel – not through us or any other third party. Always verify, always go to the official source, and never pay to receive a scholarship.’