Nexford scholarships: Letting tomorrow’s talent rise

No race or society has better genes or a higher IQ than any other. Men and women are born with equal potential for greatness. Yet all over the planet, immense talent lies untapped because a conventional university education remains out of reach for so many.

“Nexford is born different,” says Dr Sheila Fournier-Bonilla, Chief Academic Officer at Nexford. “We want to unleash the potential of the countless people who don’t dare to dream of getting a degree. We believe that doing that has the power to change the world.”

The skills to succeed, from day one

Richard Taiwo – a Next Generation Scholarship award winner from Nigeria – is a BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) learner. Designed to give people at an early stage in their career the skills they need to impress global employers, BBA learners can specialize from the start of their degree – choosing from options like doing business in Europe to foreign direct investment or artificial intelligence – so they don’t have to wait to step up to their chosen career.

He’s so impressed with our faculty and the classmates he works with on virtual projects that he’s already set his sights on the MBA program. “The Next Generation Scholarship has made it possible for me to meet some amazing and fascinating people, like my professors, and my incredible classmates. I’ve learned about culture, risk analysis, the political structure in America and so much more already.”

For many of our scholars, their award has made the difference between getting a degree or going through life without one. “This scholarship gives me access to the kind of education I’ve been aiming at for a long time,” says Nigerian MBA learner Sunday Rotimi, a winner of our Entrepreneurship Scholarship. As a scholarship for the business-founders of the future, Sunday got the award for showing entrepreneurial promise. He’s now learning the skills to start a business – from finance to marketing and HR – and will graduate with the confidence to create, grow and manage a profitable startup. “Without it,” says Sunday, “I wouldn’t have had access to such skill-based learning, which has really enhanced my life. I believe that if more people could get this chance, it could transform the world.

“My MBA has given me real skills that are shaping me already and giving me a new perspective on life. It’s also showing me what I need to do to achieve my aspirations, like reflecting on myself, and knowing my personality.” As a future business owner, Sunday will one day be a leader. So, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis he carried out at the start of his Nexford MBA has been a stand-out for him. “It’s already impacted me”, he says.

Unleashing opportunity

The savings some learners have made through their scholarship awards have enabled them to make a difference in their own communities. Nigerian Ugochukwu Oyenka – another Entrepreneurship Scholarship winner, currently part way through his MBA – owns his own company, and he’s invested the money the scholarship has saved him straight into it: “With this scholarship, we can touch more lives, pay more salaries and add value”, she says. Getting the scholarship has added fuel to the fire of Ugochukwu’s determination to succeed.

“It seemed too good to be true at first”, he continues. “Thirty percent off a US MBA? The fact that I can access a world-class MBA at a fraction of the price is so thrilling. The learning experience at Nexford is amazing. I’ve already made personal connections from the learning platform and I’m looking forward to continuing them when I’m done with my MBA.”

Getting a scholarship is clearly a big confidence boost that gives many learners the extra kick they need to excel. Another Nigerian MBA learner, Aleryo Boyo – who received a Next Generation Scholarship – says that the award has given her even more motivation to succeed:

“Simply knowing I have a scholarship at stake is enough motivation for me.

I never imagined I could be so focused when the workload of combining work and study is high. The intensity of learning makes me open my mind to the possibilities around me. I’m also applying that study discipline to other areas of my life and interpersonal relationships.”

Your future starts now

Applying the skills they learn at Nexford to life outside their studies is a huge benefit for all Nexford learners, not just scholars. But for MBA Entrepreneurship scholarship winner Michael Ariel, one core course was the push he needed to launch his not-for-profit business. Masmaikel (masmaikel.com) is his own scholarship foundation that he built to offer financial help to people in need. “We’re prioritizing unlucky people who have a big passion for and interest in education”, he says.

“My future business is in education for humanity, so getting this scholarship myself is a perfect connection.”

Nexford’s Global Leaders Scholarship is for tomorrow’s trailblazers. Many people want to lead, but few do. Leadership starts with having the right mindset. This scholarship is available for our AAS in Business, BBA or MBA degrees. Earn a place and get 30% off your entire degree, paying your remaining tuition in monthly installments.

Check out all of Nexford’s scholarships