About Us Contact us Kannada

This report was first published in Cnn.com and has been posted here without any alterations or editing. To read the original report, CLICK HERE

One Nigerian teenager must feel like she has the world at her feet after receiving 19 full-ride scholarship offers from universities across the United States and Canada.

Victory Yinka-Banjo, a 17-year-old high school graduate, was offered more than $5 million dollars' worth of scholarship money for an undergraduate program of study, according to admission documents and estimates of financial aid awards.

"It still feels pretty unbelievable. I applied to so many schools because I didn't even think any school would accept me," Victory told CNN, relishing her academic prowess.
 
Born to Nigerian parents, Chika Yinka-Banjo, a senior lecturer at the University of Lagos, and Adeyinka Banjo, a private sector procurement and supply chain executive, Victory was given potential full scholarships from the Ivy League schools, Yale College, Princeton University, Harvard College, and Brown University.
 
The teenager told CNN that her multiple scholarship offers "have made me stand taller, smile wider, and pat myself on the back more often."
 
Other US scholarship offers included those from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Virginia.
In Canada, Victory was offered the Lester B. Pearson scholarship from the University of Toronto and the Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow (KMILOT) scholarship from the University of British Columbia.
"Their admissions processes are extremely selective," Victory added. "They only accept the best of the best. So, you can imagine how, on a daily basis, I have to remind myself that I actually got into these schools. It is surreal!"
 

Academic strides

A senior prefect during her time in high school, Victory rose to national prominence in late 2020 after she scored straight As in her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Months earlier, the Nigerian teen had been rated as the "Top in the World" in English as a second language (speaking endorsement) by the University of Cambridge International Examination (CIE). Victory aced the Cambridge IGCSE exam -- acquiring A* in all six subjects she sat for.
 
Victory told CNN her remarkable achievements are borne out of hard work.
 
"They have made me truly feel proud about the hard work I have put into several areas of my life over the years. I am slowly beginning to realize that I deserve them," she said.
The teenager remarked that her multiple scholarship offers "have made me stand taller, smile wider, and pat myself on the back more often."
 
Victory said she hopes to study Computational Biology. However, she is still weighing up her options on which school to choose, having been wooed by many prestigious institutions.
"I am still doing research on some schools that are at the top of my list, like Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Duke, Johns Hopkins, and just trying to compare and contrast all of them thoroughly," she told CNN.
 

An inspiration to Nigerian youth

 
Victory's mother, Chika, says her daughter's story could inspire other young Nigerians.
 
"It is noteworthy that she is not one of the Nigerian-Americans who often get into these schools because of their advantage of being born and bred in the US. She completed her secondary school here [in Nigeria]. It would be great if her story can be used to inspire the youths of our country," she told CNN.
 
Victory credits her academic success story to faith, parental guidance and discipline. She currently spends some of her free time tutoring other university admission seekers -- through the radio -- on key subjects such as math, English language, biology, chemistry and physics.

Courtesy: cnn.com

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.

Comments

 UAE: Abu Dhabi residents and expatriates received emergency alerts on their mobile phones on Saturday, February 28 afternoon amid reports of explosions in the city, warning of “potential missile threats.”

Mobile phones across the UAE capital buzzed as the alerts were issued, prompting people to take immediate safety precautions.

The message, reportedly shared by the Ministry of Interior, read, “Due to current situation, a potential missile threats, Seek immediate shelter in the closest secure building, and to steer away from windows, doors, and open areas. Await for further instructions. (MOI).”

Several users took to X to share screenshots and videos of the alerts and the situation in the city. Multiple posts circulated online as people reacted to the warnings issued across Abu Dhabi.

Vartha Bharati could not independtly verify the alerts.

 

 

The alerts came hours after Iran on Saturday attacked Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Qatar’s Doha, and Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh, according to the information shared, following joint strikes conducted by Israel and the US on Iran.

All Stories

63.66 lakh names deleted, 60 lakh under adjudication in post-SIR electoral rolls in Bengal
63.66 lakh names deleted, 60 lakh under adjudication in post-SIR electoral rolls in Bengal

Around 63.66 lakh names, nearly 8.3 per cent of the electorate, have been deleted in West Bengal since the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) began in November last year, bringing down the total number of voters in the state to over 7.04 crore ahead of the assembly elections due in April, EC officials said.
China calls for ceasefire, says Iran’s sovereignty must be respected
China calls for ceasefire, says Iran’s sovereignty must be respected

China has expressed deep concern over the latest developments in the region and called for an immediate ceasefire.
From enablers to champions, J&K's Ranji Trophy triumph beautiful: Sachin Tendulkar
From enablers to champions, J&K's Ranji Trophy triumph beautiful: Sachin Tendulkar

The Kashmir willow has been part of the journey for legendary cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, who on Saturday described Jammu and Kashmir's Ranji Trophy success as a "beautiful" transition from being cricket's enabler to a champion.

Copyright © 2026. Vartha Bharati. All rights reserved