My name is Bright Uwakwe. I’m originally from Abia State, Nigeria, but I spent most of my life in Lagos. My fascination with flying began in middle school. Every time I saw a plane in the sky, my imagination would take flight. I didn’t know where I wanted to go, but I knew I wanted to go far.
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In 2023, with the unwavering support of Edward Consulting, I finally stepped onto a plane, turning a lifelong dream into reality. That dream grew stronger in high school when I decided I wanted to study abroad.
Then came 2020—the COVID-19 pandemic. With the world on pause and schools shut down, I had nothing but time to reflect. I lost my father in 2014 at just eight years old, and my mother single handedly raised me and my three siblings since then.
Coming from a low-income family, the realization hit me: if something didn’t change, our lives would remain limited by our income. My firm belief was that the key to changing our future for the better was through a good education. And I strongly believed this involved studying abroad. I didn’t know how I would achieve it but I knew I was never going to stop trying.
But it felt impossible. We couldn’t afford the costs, didn’t have connections, and I had no idea where to even begin.
People laughed at me when I shared my dream. Their question was always the same: “How are you going to afford it?” I never had an answer. But deep down, I kept believing.In the middle of all that uncertainty, I stumbled on an education consulting company called Edward Consulting on Instagram. I sent them a message: “Hi, good evening. Please, can I know more about college scholarships?” They replied with kindness and clarity. I was in SS1 at the time, and they advised me on what steps to begin taking. I shared my fears, and their response stuck with me: “It will work if we work with you and you follow our guidance. Believe it, and it will work out.” From that moment on, I stayed in touch—sending my grades, asking questions, and doing everything they advised.
On May 24, 2021, I had my first official consultation with Ms. Bimpe Femi-Oyewo, the Founder and CEO of Edward Consulting. She is literally the kindest person you will ever meet. She changed my life FOREVER. She shared insights about the study abroad process and all the things I needed to do. At the end of our session, she told me I had been selected as the recipient of the Edward Adefemi Oyewo Scholarship, in honor of her late father. It meant Edward Consulting would support me for FREE, covering all consulting fees, my SATs, tutoring, visa fees, SEVIS ID costs, and any additional help I needed. I couldn’t believe it. I started crying. For the first time, I could see a way forward.
I took the SATs three times. My scores improved from 1090 to 1230 and finally to a superscore of 1270 after Edward Consulting had arranged some tutoring for me and rallied support from their network; from friends like Mr. Gbemiga and Ms. Dembi. Throughout, Ms. Bimpe believed in me. She guided me through over 130 essays! Brainstorming and editing each one. There was no document that Ms. Bimpe did not review before submission. There were days when I would have writer’s block and struggle with certain essay questions, and she would have brainstorming sessions with me, focused on each part of my application. These sessions often lasted for more than an hour as she would break down each essay for me in ways that were easy for me to understand. She was so good that whenever I encountered a wall in any application, she would jump on a call with me to have a brainstorming session that would help me get past these mental barriers. Her unwavering guidance and support during the rigorous college application process were invaluable. This built my confidence and taught me how to tell my story—including turning my stutter from a weakness into a strength. And that allowed me to tell my story in a way that has never been told before.
The result? I gained admission to over 12 schools and was offered more than $2.1 million in scholarships, including a full-tuition scholarship and two fully funded scholarship offers. One of those offers was from the University of Kansas, where I secured a $130,000 full-tuition scholarship. The schools included the Appalachian State University, Howard University, Warren Wilson College, the University of Kansas, Baylor University, Albion College, and others.
Then came my first visa denial. Despite all my preparation and multiple prep sessions with Ms. Bimpe for the US student visa interview, I was rejected. I cried to Ms. Bimpe as she had arranged for my mum and I to stay at her house because it was closer to the US embassy in Lagos. She also arranged a round-trip transportation. But Ms. Bimpe stood by me. She told me, “We’re not giving up.” She brought me on as an intern at Edward Consulting, giving me the chance to build valuable soft skills and, just as importantly, earn and save money towards my education abroad.
During my time at Edward Consulting, I experienced so many firsts—my first time speaking publicly, my first slice of pizza, my first visit to the beach, and my first boat ride. But most of all, it was the first time I felt surrounded by a community of incredible people who truly believed in me and were rooting for my study abroad journey.
Ms Bimpe however didn’t stop there as she paid for another US visa fee, and we started another application. I was denied again. Somehow though, she never stopped believing in me, just like she does for all her clients. Still, she kept fighting, reaching out to her network to get me a third interview in Abuja. Friends like Ms. Olamide, Mr. Dapo, and Mr. Gbemiga contributed. EduTimes Africa also contributed to my transportation while in Abuja.
Ms. Bimpe connected me with one of her close friends, Ms. Biola, who welcomed me to Abuja with open arms. She picked me up from the airport, took me to my U.S. visa interview, and ensured I got back to the airport safely—all because Ms. Bimpe had reached out to her on my behalf. That’s what people mean when they say, “It takes a village.” Ms. Bimpe mobilized her entire community, friends, and family whom I had never even met, because she believed in me and shared my story. Their kindness and her belief in me carried me through. But I was denied a visa yet again.
This was the third rejection and this time I lost my scholarship because the University of Kansas had discontinued it, and since I couldn’t afford the program without the scholarship, having admission alone meant nothing. I had nothing. Back to square one.
Yet, I didn’t give up. At the Abuja airport, I pulled out my laptop and started searching for new schools. That’s when I discovered Appalachian State University and its prestigious Chancellor’s Scholarship. I applied with all I had—sending emails to admissions officers, the Honors College and even to current scholars. I wrote new essays using everything I had learned from Ms. Bimpe and she kindly reviewed my application. On September 15, 2023, I received news from Appalachian State University that I had been admitted, and then later in January 2024, I was invited to interview for the Chancellor’s Scholarship—on the same day as my JAMB exam. I chose to bet on myself and skipped JAMB. Ms. Bimpe helped me prepare for the Chancellor’s Scholarship interview. She helped refine my answers and boost my confidence. Two days after the interview, I got the call. I had been awarded the Chancellor’s Scholarship, the most prestigious at Appalachian State, and I was the first international student ever to receive it.
This scholarship covers everything: tuition, room and board, books, and even health insurance. It was more than I ever dreamed possible
when Edward Consulting began this journey with me. With one more visa interview ahead, I stayed at Ms. Bimpe’s home in Lagos again. She paid yet another US student visa fee for me, which was A LOT! This time, when I stepped out of the US embassy in Lagos, I ran to grab my phone to call my mom and Ms. Bimpe because my visa had been approved.
Today, I’m a sophomore at Appalachian State University, studying Actuarial Science—a perfect blend of maths, business, and finance. I got here through faith, resilience, and the power of education. Most importantly, I got here because someone believed in me when no one else did.
Thank you, Ms. Bimpe Femi-Oyewo. Thank you to the Edward Consulting team, who have become my family. Thank you to every single person who supported me along the way. You are my chosen family.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.