From ICANSTUDENT Community to Florence Scholar: Omaye Justina Akor’s Scholarship Journey

For many students, finding the right scholarship opportunity can be just as challenging as winning one.

For Omaye Justina Akor, a 200-level Nursing student at the Federal University Lokoja, being part of the ICANSTUDENT community helped her discover an opportunity that would become a significant milestone in her academic journey.

After discovering the Florence Bamidele Makanjuola Scholarship through ICANSTUDENT, Omaye applied and persevered through a competitive selection process before emerging as one of 26 selected scholars.

But her journey was about more than simply finding a scholarship.

Through ICANSTUDENT’s scholarship webinars and application guidance, she learned how to approach scholarship applications more intentionally, particularly how to communicate her experiences effectively through her essays.

In this interview, Omaye shares her experience, the role ICANSTUDENT played in her journey, the moments she considered giving up, and what becoming a Florence Scholar means for her future in nursing.

The Interview

Congratulations on being selected for the Florence Bamidele Makanjuola Scholarship! How did you feel when you received the good news?

Thank you so much! I was overwhelmed with joy, gratitude, and excitement.

I was thrilled to become one of the beneficiaries of the Florence Bamidele Makanjuola Scholarship. It had always been my desire to become a scholarship recipient and be part of an initiative that supports students’ education and future.

Receiving the good news reassured me that hard work, perseverance, and consistency truly pay off. It also motivated me to keep striving for academic excellence and make the most of this opportunity.

How did you first hear about the Florence Bamidele Makanjuola Scholarship?

I first heard about the Florence Bamidele Makanjuola Scholarship through the ICANSTUDENT community, where scholarship opportunities are regularly shared with students.

What role did ICANSTUDENT play in helping you discover and apply for this opportunity?

ICANSTUDENT played a significant role in my scholarship journey.

Through the community, I became aware of the scholarship opportunity on time and received the encouragement to apply. Without ICANSTUDENT, I might have missed this life-changing opportunity.

Apart from sharing the opportunity, were there any specific resources, tips, guides, or support from ICANSTUDENT that helped strengthen your application?

Yes.

Beyond sharing the scholarship opportunity, ICANSTUDENT organized webinars via Google Meet where I learned valuable scholarship application strategies.

One of the most impactful lessons was understanding how important essay writing is in winning scholarships.

During one of the sessions, I learned about the STAR technique: Situation, Task, Action, and Result, which helped me structure my scholarship essay in a clear, organized, and compelling way.

The webinars, practical guidance, and shared resources greatly strengthened my application and gave me more confidence throughout the process.

Was there any moment during the application process when you felt like giving up?

Yes, there were moments when I felt like giving up because scholarship applications can be highly competitive.

However, seeing members of ICANSTUDENT community become scholarship beneficiaries made me more resilient and determined.

I honestly did not realize how competitive the FBM Scholarship was until I later found out that only 26 scholars were selected.

Despite this, I remained focused on my goal, gave my best throughout the application process, and trusted that my efforts would pay off.

The encouragement, success stories, and supportive environment within the community kept me motivated to keep going.

What aspects of ICANSTUDENT do you think every student looking for scholarships should take advantage of?

I believe every student should take advantage of the scholarship webinars, essay-writing guidance, and the opportunity to ask questions.

I have learned that intentionality and a well-written essay can make a significant difference in any scholarship application.

Students should also never hesitate to seek guidance from people with experience. Asking questions can help prevent mistakes such as submitting the wrong documents or misunderstanding application requirements.

These little details can greatly improve one’s chances of success.

In your opinion, how has being a member of the ICANSTUDENT community improved your scholarship application journey?

Being a member of ICANSTUDENT community exposed me to genuine scholarship opportunities, valuable application strategies, and a supportive network of students.

It also gave me the confidence to apply for competitive scholarships and taught me the importance of preparation, consistency, and believing in myself throughout the application process.

If you had never joined ICANSTUDENT, do you think you would have found or applied for this scholarship?

Honestly, I don’t think so.

I became aware of the Florence Bamidele Makanjuola Scholarship through ICANSTUDENT. Without the community and the consistent updates they provide, I might have completely missed the opportunity.

Joining ICANSTUDENT has opened my eyes to many opportunities I never knew existed.

How will the FBM Scholarship impact your education and future aspirations?

The FBM Scholarship will have a tremendous impact on my academic journey by reducing the financial burden on my family and allowing me to focus more on my studies.

It also motivates me to maintain academic excellence because I understand the responsibility that comes with being a Florence Scholar.

Beyond the financial support, this scholarship is an investment in my future.

It brings me one step closer to achieving my dream of becoming an excellent nurse, promoting health education, providing quality healthcare, and making meaningful contributions to my community and the healthcare profession.

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Omaye’s experience highlights something important: access to information can change a student’s trajectory.

Many students are qualified for scholarships but never apply because they never hear about the opportunity, discover it too late, or lack the confidence and guidance to complete the application.

At ICANSTUDENT, our goal is to help bridge that information gap by connecting students with scholarships, internships, grants, fellowships, study-abroad opportunities, and other opportunities that can support their education and future.

But discovering an opportunity is only the first step.

Through webinars, guides, practical resources, and a supportive student community, ICANSTUDENT also helps students approach opportunities with greater confidence and intentionality.

Omaye’s journey is one example of what can happen when the right student meets the right opportunity at the right time.

Looking for Opportunities?

Don’t let lack of information make you miss your next opportunity.

Join the ICANSTUDENT community and stay updated with scholarships, internships, fellowships, grants, study-abroad opportunities, and other opportunities for students. I Can & I Will.

Know a student who needs to read this? Share this interview with them and help someone else discover their next opportunity.