I am the second child of a hardworking father who is a carpenter. His hands are worn from years of lifting wood and crafting furniture work that brings in just enough to feed us, but never enough to lift us out of poverty. My mother is a local hairdresser. She braids and style hair in our small community just to make ends meet. Their earnings, combined, can barely support our family of six. They have given everything they have to raise us, but even their greatest efforts have not been enough to give me the opportunity I so desperately seek a university education.

In 2021, I sat for the WAEC exams and, by the grace of God and the strength of my parents’ sacrifices, I had 3As. I was overjoyed. I thought this was the beginning of a new chapter but my joy soon turned to sorrow when my parents informed me that they can’t afford it.

Since then, I have remained at home. My academic dreams have been placed on hold, not because of a lack of ability or determination, but simply because my family cannot afford the cost of tuition, books, or even transportation to attend university. I have not let the walls of poverty cage my ambition. I want to study Computer Science not just because it is the future, but because it is my passion. Even without access to formal training, I have been teaching myself how to operate a computer at a shop near our house, using whatever little resources I can find. I have spent countless hours learning the basics, driven only by my curiosity and a vision of what I could become. I imagine myself someday building systems, solving problems, creating opportunities, not just for myself but for others like me who were told that poverty was the end of their story.

Every day, I watch my peers move forward, while I remain stuck in the same place, not for lack of trying but for lack of opportunity. It is a pain that is difficult to put into words
. I have not given up, even after years of waiting. I believe in education. I believe it is the only way I can change my story, lift my family out of poverty, and one day give back to those who helped me when I had nothing but hope.

This scholarship is not just a chance for me to go to school. It is the key to unlocking a life my parents could only dream of for me. It is an opportunity for someone who has worked hard, waited patiently, and kept faith alive despite overwhelming obstacles. I do not ask for pity. I ask for a chance, I ask for a chance to prove that your investment in me will not be wasted.

Please help me turn my story into one of triumph over adversity.

Thank you for considering my application.