Foluke stared at her phone screen, reading Ayo’s message for the third time.
“Babe, check this Sterling thing. I think this might be your shot.”
She almost ignored it. Another “opportunity” from well-meaning friends usually meant another disappointment. But Ayo wasn’t the type to send random links. He knew her story too well.
The Dream Deferred
At 24, Foluke had been out of secondary school for six years. Not by choice. Her JAMB score wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t stellar either. Three attempts at gaining admission had yielded nothing but frustration and depleted savings. Her parents’ small tailoring business couldn’t fund another year of hoping.
So she learned to code. YouTube University, they called it. Free tutorials, borrowed laptops, and sheer determination. She was good, really good. But without a degree, most employers saw her as “just another self-taught programmer.”
The irony wasn’t lost on her. She could build websites that processed millions in transactions, but couldn’t get past HR because she lacked a piece of paper.
The Friend Who Wouldn’t Give Up
Ayo had been watching Foluke’s journey with the helpless frustration of someone who wanted to fix everything but couldn’t. He’d seen her code, knew her potential, and witnessed her quiet moments of doubt when she thought no one was looking.
When he stumbled across Sterling’s “Beyond Education” initiative, something clicked.
Miva Open University. No JAMB required. Fully accredited. Online learning with community hubs. It was like someone had designed it specifically for people like Foluke.
“This is different,” he typed furiously. “Look at this Miva thing. It’s legit. Founded by Sim Shagaya. And Sterling is giving out scholarships. Real ones.”
The Opportunity That Fits
Foluke clicked the link, her skepticism slowly giving way to cautious optimism. The details were almost too good to be true. Full tuition covered. Flexible online learning. Age range 16-35. Priority to underserved women, but slots reserved for men too.
The process was straightforward: nominate yourself or someone else through your Sterling account. Public voting would determine the first 74 winners; two from each state. No complex essays, no interviews with intimidating panels. Just a chance for people to invest in someone’s future.
The Nomination
“Can you nominate me?” Foluke asked during their next phone call.
“Already did,” Ayo replied. “The moment I saw it.”
Beyond Just Education
What struck Foluke most wasn’t just the scholarship opportunity; it was what it represented. Sterling wasn’t just throwing money at education. They were investing in Nigeria’s future workforce through their
HEART sectors: Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation.
This wasn’t charity. This was strategy. And for the first time in years, Foluke felt like she was part of something bigger than her individual struggle.
Sterling’s Beyond Education initiative is live.
Nominate someone deserving.
Because sometimes, changing someone’s life is just a nomination away.
