A brilliant Nigerian scholar, Oluwabunmi Fatoyinbo, has secured the highly competitive Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree (EMJMD) Scholarship. This award allows her to pursue a Master’s in Marine and Environmental Sciences across three prestigious European universities
- Universidade dos Açores – Portugal
- University of the Basque Country – Spain
- University of Liège – Belgium
From Disappointment to Opportunity
Oluwabunmi’s academic journey began in 2014 at the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE). Although she initially dreamed of studying Medicine, she was instead offered Fisheries and Aquaculture—a course she didn’t want at first.
“I accepted the course planning to rewrite JAMB by 200 level, but God had bigger plans,” she explained on LinkedIn. Even after retaking JAMB, she still didn’t qualify for Medicine. Rather than giving up, she embraced Fisheries fully and graduated in 2019 with a Second Class Upper Division.
5 Services You Might Like:
- Request Lab Setup, Repair or Upgrade
- Practice Exam Past Questions FREE
- Join your exam ongoing Live class
- Get Cheap Science Lab Equipment
- Run 150+ Chemical Analysis & Testing
The Long Road to Scholarships
By 2021, Oluwabunmi had shifted her focus toward international scholarships. She dedicated over seven hours weekly to perfecting essays, sending cold emails, refining her academic CV, and boosting her profile through volunteering and online courses.
“Between 2021 and 2023, I applied for several scholarships. I faced repeated rejections, and it was mentally draining. However, my family, friends, pastors, and lecturers kept me going,” she recalled.
After two unsuccessful attempts at Erasmus Mundus, she almost gave up. Still, in late 2023, she told her sister she would give it one last try.
Breakthrough After Perseverance
In November 2023, Oluwabunmi submitted her third Erasmus application. By early 2024, she was placed on the reserve list once again. Believing the opportunity had slipped away, she enrolled for an MSc in Inland and Coastal Fisheries Management at the University of Ibadan to strengthen her background.
Everything changed on September 10, 2024, when she received an unexpected email from the MER+ Consortium confirming that a spot had opened up.
“God showed up! I got an email from the MER+ Consortium saying a spot had opened up. I was overwhelmed—I couldn’t laugh or cry. I was just still,” she said.
This time, her perseverance paid off. The Erasmus Mundus Scholarship finally came through, fully covering tuition, travel, insurance, and living expenses across three countries.
A Transformative Experience
Now in her second semester in Europe, Oluwabunmi describes the opportunity as life-changing and enriching.
“All I can say is THANK YOU, JESUS! I’ve gained so much knowledge, exposure, and cultural insight. I look forward to giving back,” she shared.
She also expressed gratitude to:
- God Almighty
- The MER+ Consortium
- Her scholarship mentor, Dr. Igbalajobi
- Her siblings, lecturers, friends, and pastors
“To everyone who helped me along the way — thank you. See you all at the top!”
✨ Oluwabunmi’s story is more than a scholarship win. It is a powerful testimony to resilience, faith, and determination. Through persistence and grace, she transformed years of rejection into global recognition, proving that no dream is ever too far to reach.
Credit: Allschool, Allcbt
Don’t Miss These Updates
- Federal University Wukari Schedules 2025/2026 Students Association Elections
- Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program 2026: Fully Funded Master’s Opportunity
- JAMB Releases 2026 UTME/DE Registration Guidelines
- Likely JAMB Economics Questions
- FUTMinna Students’ Union Warns Students Against “Neolife” Group
