Rosemary Komolafe & Abdulbasit Fehintola
600-level Medicine & Surgery
University of Ilorin & University of Ibadan
In 1902, the Rhodes Trust established the Rhodes Scholarship as directed by the will of Cecil John Rhodes and awarded its first recipient in the same year, making it the oldest international scholarship programme and possibly the most prestigious.
Since inception, the purpose of this scholarship is to award young individuals with literacy and scholastic attainments, a duty to mankind, an exhibition of leadership abilities, and success in non-academic events — individuals who have the potential to lead and make an impact for good in the world. Over the years, the scholarship has been awarded for postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, which is where the scholarship only applies.
Although the Rhodes Scholarship covers for two years in the first instance, it offers scholars a life-long fellowship opportunity with previous scholars who are presently over 7,000. Scholars and, in fact, ‘finalists’ are open to numerous opportunities like research grants, access to other scholarships, funding for international conferences and more.
“I built a strong network, and from this network, I met someone who encouraged me to still apply to Oxford and covered my application fees. I was awarded the Clarendon scholarship which I had little hope of getting because I learnt it was highly competitive, and I guess the fact that I was a Rhodes finalist helped me. In addition to building and expanding your network, being a finalist boosts your portfolio and expands your worldview.”
Dr Afolaranmi on being a finalist and not getting awarded.
Each year, over 90 Rhodes Scholars are selected from about 64 countries (or 20 constituencies) to study at the University of Oxford. The West African constituency elects one or two scholar(s) from 18 countries. Usually, well over 1000 applications are received from these West African countries and they are screened until 25 top applicants are selected and virtually interviewed. About 10 finalists are then selected from those interviewed, and they are invited for a social engagement with the selection committee and other applicants which is then followed by a final interview. The period of selection, from the first call for application till the final announcement of the eventual winners, could take up to six months, and scholars for a particular year are selected the year before. For example, the 2021 Scholars are to start their postgraduate programme by October 2021 and would have been selected by December 2020.
In 1959, the Nigerian Rhodes Scholarships were proposed, and by 1962, the first Nigerian was elected a Rhodes Scholar. Up until 1992, when the Nigerian constituency was suspended, 14 Nigerian Rhodes Scholars were elected. As part of the global expansion of the scholarship by the Rhodes Trust, the West African Constituency was re-launched in May 2017 and was to elect two (2) scholars at most from 18 West African countries and territories every year. Doctor Toluwalase Awoyemi, a Nigerian, and Ghanaian Statistician Emmanuelle Dankwa, were the winners of the 2018 Rhodes Scholarships for West Africa. Ghanaian, Kofi Gunu, emerged winner of the 2019 Scholarship while Nigerian Godwin Nwangele emerged the 2020 Rhodes Scholar for West Africa.
When asked how it feels to be the pioneer scholar-elect for West Africa since its re-launch, Dr Awoyemi responded:
“It’s been a lot of pressure. My role in all this has been to pave the way for others and provide guidance whenever they need it. I am truly honoured”.
All around the world, Nigerians have continued to excel and break barriers. This article seeks to shine the spotlight on Nigerians — medical doctors — who have been finalists and recipients of the Rhodes Scholarship.
Since the re-launch of West African Constituency in 2017, there have been over 10,000 applications, with 34 out of 49 finalists being Nigerian. Out of these 49 finalists, 8 (16%) were medical doctors, the highest for any field so far.
One of the candidates was a two-time finalist, hence, breaking another record for medical doctors.
“I don’t give up easily. I was still within the age limit and I knew I wanted to have my postgraduate training abroad but couldn’t afford it. I had worked hard for six years, finished as the second-best in my class and felt I could use this to my advantage. Armed with the experience from last year, I felt I had an advantage.
Going through the application process — gathering new references and writing a new personal statement — again wasn’t easy, but it was definitely worth it. The second time around, I got the call and was eventually shortlisted for the final stage”.
Dr Adeyemi on the motivation to apply a second time.
More records were made as, for the first time, there were three medical doctors among the top 14 finalists for the 2021 scholarship — Abigail Arowolo, Boluwatife Ikwunne and Charles Dolly Kwame — and two women from the same school — the University of Ibadan — emerged Scholars-Elect.
Dr Abigail Arowolo, who happens to be the pioneer finalist from the Lagos State College of Medicine, had this to say:
“ It feels great. I believe I have paved the way for so many people and made them see that anything is possible”.
The medical doctors who have been finalists are listed here:
- Dr Toluwalase Awoyemi – University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 2016
- Dr Oluwafunmilola Adeyemi – University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 2017
- Dr Daisy Okonofua – University of Benin, Nigeria, 2017
- Dr Oluwasegun Afolaranmi – University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 2019
- Dr Abigail Arowolo – Lagos State University, Nigeria, 2019
- Dr Boluwatife Ikwunne – University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 2019
- Dr Charles Dolly – Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, 2019
Pendical had a chance to speak with some of these finalists.
In conversation with Rhodes Finalists
How did you learn about the scholarship and what factors do you think helped get you shortlisted?
Dr Adeyemi: I understood the importance of networking with senior colleagues, and I had seniors I looked up to — Dr Toluwalase (Awoyemi) was one of those people. He told me about the Rhodes Scholarship when he was shortlisted as a finalist and encouraged me to apply. When he was awarded the scholarship, I got the extra push to also apply.
Dr Afolaranmi: I learned about the Rhodes Scholarship when Dr Toluwalase (Awoyemi) applied in 2018. I had been putting together my documents for the application. I had a code of four things I wanted to accomplish after I crossed to clinicals: Build competence, be a good administrator, carry out research, and coordinate training and mentorship. So it was easy to fit into the requirements for the scholarship.
Dr Awoyemi: Sometime in September 2018, three weeks before the deadline, I was surfing the internet and saw they had started receiving applications. Thankfully, I already had my transcripts and personal statement ready because I wanted to apply to the Schwarzman scholarship. All the finalists were brilliant and eventually, all got awarded other scholarships. However, one thing I think impressed the panellists was the number of my extracurricular activities and my academics not being affected.
Dr Arowolo: I found out from a friend who sent me the link and asked me to go over it. There are four important criteria for the scholarship: Academic Excellence, Leadership (whether in a group, NGO, religious organization, student union politics), willingness to serve and ability to use your talents to the fullest — like extracurriculars — and lastly, humanitarian services, which includes volunteering. I had all these and this boosted me to get to the final stage.
How was the application experience in general?
Dr Adeyemi: I began to get my documents ready when I began my house job in 2018. To apply for the scholarship, you need long-standing academic excellence and strong references, so I reached out to my lecturers. These references have to be raw and written by people who know you personally. It helps to have a good rapport with your lecturers and consultants, especially for your character references. Your personal statement has to be thorough, and you can’t show anyone or get help from anyone. You have to have a unique story that would stand out among thousands of applications; this means you need to take your time to write it. I watched so many videos and read articles on personal statements. I was always on blogs of the Rhodes Scholarship finalists and recipients.
Dr Afolaranmi: It was an opportunity to reflect, fine-tune and think about the things that matter to me. Putting those things in words wasn’t easy. It was a terrific experience. It was one of the best weekends for most of us in my cohort.
Dr Awoyemi: It was a stressful period for me because I was doing a set of labour ward calls. I found out quite late, so getting letters of recommendation and filling out the application was difficult. I didn’t have anyone to speak to for guidance because it was the first time after so many years. I didn’t submit till a few hours before the deadline — I don’t advise this — because I was strongly considering postponing my application till the next year.
Dr Arowolo: It was good for me. I spoke with my Professors and they agreed to write my reference letters. I wrote my IELTS and gathered all the needed documents. I enjoyed the process.
How did you find out you had been shortlisted?
Dr Adeyemi: The first time, I was at an overnight call in the labour ward when I was informed I would be interviewed the next morning. I felt so unprepared. I eventually didn’t get the call and I didn’t think I would get to the final stage but I eventually got selected. It was God’s favour.
Dr Afolaranmi: It was a few days to my convocation. I got the call that I was among the top 45 while I was seeing a Barcelona match in ABH. I ran out and stopped somewhere between block D and E so I wouldn’t miss the call. I received that call right there on the field. I think Barca scored within that period. The shortlist for the top 10 came out some days later, after a couple of emails.
Dr Awoyemi: I didn’t hear from them for about two months. I had just finished an O and G clinic and I was with my friend, Ayokunle, when I got an email that I had been shortlisted and invited for an interview in a week. I had so many calls lined up but I was eventually able to get permission to leave a day before.
Dr Arowolo: I was at work when I got the call to let me know I had been shortlisted.
How did you prepare for the big interview weekend and how did it go?
Dr Adeyemi: I spent my time on YouTube, learning about continental dining and how to hold my wine glass. We had bowling and other events to get to know other shortlisted candidates. That period was great for networking and making new friends. I have friends I still speak to from that event. There was an initial question on what you would do if you were awarded the scholarship. The rest of the questions are based on your personal statement, CV and application.
Dr Afolaranmi: Preparation for me was a lot of reflection, reading my application materials, preparing mentally and brushing up my etiquette. At the interview, we all gave a five-minute pitch on why you should be a Rhodes scholar and answered other questions. I told my story from the past and the present, how it would all lead to my plans for the future and how it all fits into the Rhodes criteria.
Dr Awoyemi: I got there dressed in the oversized suit I wore for my graduation. It was a great experience; I made friends that I’m still close to. Before the interview, I read the interview experience of every Rhodes scholar everywhere in the world. I practised my poise mentally for the cocktail. I studied for the final interview in the labour ward call room. My colleagues also helped me out by asking me questions likely to be asked at various times — it took a community. During the interview, the first question was to give a five-minute monologue on why I should be the Rhodes Scholar. The other questions were about my leadership skills and extracurricular activities. It was fun on the first day but the tension was up by the second. I was just happy to be able to eat my jollof rice without a fork and a knife after the interview.
Dr Arowolo: I mostly prepared by gathering my thoughts on what I was interested in. The weekend was a beautiful experience and I believe my interview went well.
On being a finalist and not getting awarded;
Dr Adeyemi: Losing is always a painful experience for me. I always set high standards for myself so I try to meet or overshoot them. Losing the second time was more difficult because I had just lost a loved one. But I built an amazing network, and I am pursuing other scholarship opportunities to study outside Nigeria.
Dr Afolaranmi: Being a finalist is huge. Every finalist is a potential winner. There aren’t enough scholarships for all the qualified people. I went into it with a win-win attitude. So I was interested in networking and making connections that outlast the scholarship. From this network, I met someone who encouraged me to still apply to Oxford and covered my application fees. I was awarded the Clarendon Scholarship, which I had little hope of getting because I learnt it was highly competitive, and I guess the fact that I was a Rhodes finalist helped me. In addition to building and expanding your network, being a finalist boosts your portfolio and expands your worldview.
Dr Arowolo: It was a win-win situation for me. I didn’t think I would make it to the finalist stage, so I was honoured. I put in my best, so I didn’t feel bad.
How has the whole process changed/affected you?
Dr Adeyemi: This application made me realise that every difficulty or seemingly difficult thing would remain that way until I make an effort to do something about it. “It always seems impossible until it’s done” — Nelson Mandela.
Dr Afolaranmi: I got to know and understand better why I do what I do. I also learnt to communicate this better.
Dr Awoyemi: I don’t think I have been able to fully comprehend the scale of this scholarship. Most importantly, I have been given a large network of people and doors are getting opened for me.
Dr Arowolo: I met so many brilliant minds and this has broadened my scope of thinking and given me a different perspective. I found people willing to mentor me and I met President John Kufour.
What do you wish you knew or did differently during the application?
Dr Adeyemi: I wish I was more relaxed during the interview. I got feedback that I spoke quite fast, and this happens a lot when I’m tense. The interview is important but I think composure is necessary. Be relaxed and answer their questions. They want to have a conversation with you.
Dr Afolaranmi: Maybe be more relaxed, enjoy the process and take in all the fun of the days before the main interview.
Dr Awoyemi; I should have taken scholarships more seriously, even the state scholarships. They are great for anyone’s portfolio.
Dr Arowolo: I don’t think I would have done anything differently. I did all I was supposed to do, and we were all qualified. The slots just weren’t enough. I hope West Africa gets more slots in the near future.
What advice do you have for medical students who want to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship?
Dr Adeyemi: There are so many scholarships, and they are mostly centred on Academic excellence, leadership and community work. Volunteer in community services: Red cross and other social groups. Take on leadership roles — CMDA, hall reps, group reps — they all matter. It is also important to build a rapport with your lecturers — this helps them greatly in writing honest references and also came into play when I needed the second set of references. A lecturer I contacted remembered me because I was my group rep. Another consultant wrote a reference letter for me because of a patient I followed up diligently when I was in her unit.
Dr Afolaranmi: First advice would be to familiarize yourself with the application process and cast your net wide; there are quite a number of funding opportunities. It is also important to ensure that you are applying because it aligns with your plan for your career and future, and not just a bandwagon effect. It is beneficial to have enough information and gather all that you will need. I had my application documents ready before applications were open.
Dr Awoyemi: Extracurriculars are important. Get rid of any mental barriers; don’t just be about academics. Even representing your school in a quiz competition or winning an essay competition is pivotal for your portfolio in the future.
Dr Arowolo: Do your research on the scholarship early and ensure you are well prepared.
What programme did you get the scholarship for?
Dr Awoyemi: I got in for a PhD in Molecular Biology, with a focus on women’s reproductive health.
On the journey so far and what comes next;
Dr Adeyemi: Life goes on. I still want a postgraduate degree abroad. I currently work as a medical officer, and I hope to do residency training in the future.
Dr Afolaranmi: I am currently doing a Masters in integrated immunology with a bias for tumour immunology. I want to do more work in the lab before I return to clinical training, hopefully through a PhD. The goal is to be a clinician-scientist delivering compassionate cancer care and doing cutting-edge research.
Dr Awoyemi: Since I began my journey at Oxford University, I have been honoured to win numerous awards, including the Oxford-Morland-West Africa Graduate Scholarship, UK Rare Rising Star for top 10 black students in the UK, Oxford Black History Month (BHM) 100 for top 100 black people, Africa 35 under 35 among many others.
Currently, I am working on a study to detect pre-eclampsia (PE) early, understand the causes and develop more diagnostic tests for it. I am also studying the mechanism of action and diagnostic tests of spontaneous abortions and pre-term births. In the future, I hope to go back to residency training — cardiology, maybe. I would like to study the placenta’s ability to alter the cardiovascular system during pregnancy, to design therapies for people with failing hearts.
Dr Arowolo: I just completed my internship, and I work at a private hospital. I plan to do a Masters and, thankfully, being a finalist has opened me up for more scholarships at the University of Oxford. I would also like to work in the UK as a doctor.
Click here to watch our YouTube video on favouritism in medical school.
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This is so nice… So much information embedded in this post… pendical thumbs up… It was like I was watching a TV show ☺
These stories are really inspirational. Thank you!
Fast fact: The doctors’ last names start with”A.”😄
Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
A very interesting and stimulating read