Three Nigerian Students Shortlisted For Prestigious Global Student Prize 2025.
Three exceptional Nigerian students, Daniel Itegboje, Israel Smart, and Titilope Olotu, have earned a place among the top 50 nominees for the Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2025, a renowned $100,000 award celebrating outstanding students who make significant impacts on learning, their communities, and society. Selected from nearly 11,000 nominations across 148 countries, their inclusion highlights Nigeria’s growing influence in global education and innovation.
Daniel Itegboje, a medical student at the University of Benin, is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker. His film *O.Y.O (On Your Own)* sheds light on the lives of street children in Benin City, known as the “Elema” boys. The documentary has been featured at over 24 international film festivals, including the Oscar-qualifying Durban International Film Festival, and was nominated for Best Documentary at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards. Itegboje is working with local NGOs to establish a rehabilitation centre for these children, aiming to provide shelter, education, and healthcare. He also leads health outreach programmes, impacting over 2,000 students, and mentors young creatives through his YouTube series *Stories from Benin*, which has garnered over 150,000 views.
Israel Smart, an engineering student at the African Leadership University, has overcome significant adversity, including surviving a Boko Haram attack at age 11. He founded OneChild Africa, a non-profit delivering STEM education and mentorship to over 50,000 children across six African countries. Through his venture Smartel, Smart has introduced AI-powered hydroponic farming systems made from recycled plastic, supporting school feeding programmes and training over 4,000 farmers. His advocacy as a former Speaker of the Nigerian Children’s Parliament helped secure free education for 160,000 children in his state. If awarded the prize, Smart plans to expand hydroponic farms and build 20 internet-connected STEM learning hubs across Africa.
Titilope Olotu, a Nigerian-American biology student at UCLA, founded PADÍ For You, a non-profit providing menstrual care, mental health support, and financial literacy to over 14,700 students globally. A near-FGM survivor, Olotu developed biodegradable banana fibre pads infused with herbal agents to support women with reproductive health challenges. She is also advancing smart biosensor technology for personalised menstrual health solutions. Olotu has mentored over 450 students and supported more than 620 scholarship applications, earning recognition from organisations like Bloomberg Philanthropies and the NBA Foundation.
The Global Student Prize, now in its fifth year, is presented by Chegg.org in partnership with the Varkey Foundation. It recognises students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and social impact. The top 10 finalists will be announced later this month, with the winner revealed later in 2025, selected by the Global Student Prize Academy.
Nathan Schultz, President and CEO of Chegg, Inc., praised the nominees, stating, “Daniel, Israel, and Titilope are tackling global challenges with courage and innovation, building a better world through education, health, and empowerment.” Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Varkey Foundation, added, “Their stories remind us that education is a catalyst for change, preparing the next generation to lead with purpose.”
This achievement follows a strong tradition of Nigerian excellence in the Global Student Prize, with six Nigerian finalists recognised in 2024. As the world awaits the final announcement, these students’ inspiring work continues to shine a light on Nigeria’s bright future.
