NIGERIANS IN RUSSIA: MY SCHOLARSHIP JOURNEY

• What is your full name? (Brief introduction)

My name is Kilani Ezekiel Oluwaseun. I’m from Lagos, Nigeria.

• What are you studying now and at which university?

Right now I’m studying economics at Voronezh State University, Russia.

• How would you describe yourself right now? (What do you do?)

I’m a content creator and YouTuber. I run a scholarship and educational platform- Students Place, where we help people access available scholarships abroad and help students secure admissions in Russia. I also run a mini catering service in my city where I sell African /Nigerian dishes.

• Did you have any desire or prospects of studying abroad before your scholarship?

After graduating from secondary school, it was my earnest desire to study abroad either on scholarship or self-financed. Before my graduation, my dad had a desire for me to study in Benin Republic; this was one of the driving factors that fired up my desire to study abroad.

When I graduated from high school in 2017, I embarked on a serious search for scholarships. I entered every crook and cranny of the internet searching for various scholarships. I applied a lot, wrote a lot of scholarship examinations, got scammed, got rejected and did a lot to get success but all was futile. Not until I came across the BEA scholarship.

• How did you hear about FSB?

Unlike a lot of people who knew one or two persons studying in Russia or other countries under the BEA scholarship, I knew no one and hence had no information. I got to know about the BEA scholarship in the process of searching for scholarships online.

Like I said, I searched everywhere and applied for all the scholarships whether I was qualified or not. I came across the BEA scholarship online while carrying out my search.

• Can you give us a brief story of your scholarship journey from the application process to when you eventually travelled?

Information, they say, is power and lack of it can only throw one into confusion and a lot of losses. I got to know of the scholarship in 2018 and I applied for it but then I wasn’t fully informed of the process and all that was needed. As at 2018, one of the instructions for the scholarship was that everyone has to go to their state of origin to write the exam in a selected venue.

Sadly, I wasn’t so informed about this and I didn’t read it up. At that time, I was based in Enugu, Nigeria and my family is still based there. So I traveled to the venue in Abia thinking I was supposed to write there. Upon getting to Abia on the day of the exam, I saw people who travelled from different parts of Nigeria to that place, I mean those who were Igbos. 

Funny enough, I was told by one of the exam coordinators to travel to Lagos where I was supposed to write my exam that day. And it was the same day people in Lagos were writing theirs. Funny right? Well I had to forgo the scholarship that year and traveled back home but I had an intention of applying again the next year of which I did. 

Then in 2019 I applied for the scholarship again. At this point, the process already changed because it changes every year. While applying, I was already a student at the University of Lagos, but was on holiday at the time of the application. The process then was that one can select the venue that’s closer to where they reside. Me staying in Lagos was supposed to select Ibadan, which was the closest venue but I didn’t know.

I asked my mom which was closer to Lagos- Ibadan or Akure? She said Akure, which I chose. Getting back to Lagos and realizing Ibadan was closer than Akure, I called the scholarship board in Lagos to make inquiries. The woman that picked the call warned sternly that all those from Lagos and western states should converge at Ibadan for the exam which made me happy.

On the day of the exam, I went to Ibadan hoping to write there but was told to go back home that the dates, time and venue for each candidate would be sent via text to them. I had to travel back to Lagos that day. Meanwhile, I had arrived in Ibadan a day before the day I went to the venue so I had to sleep outside because I didn’t know anyone in Ibadan then.

Well, I got the venue for my exam (it was Akure) but I held on to the information I got from the Lagos state scholarship board and travelled to Ibadan for the exam, on getting there I was told that I had to travel to Akure- which was my actual venue. I had just 2000 naira with me then which was meant for my feeding and transportation back home- that was my last available money.

Well, I traveled to Akure and got to FUTA, the examination venue. I had to run from the gate to the venue so as to not be late. Of course, I had no money for a cab or shuttle. On getting to the venue, I realized the venue had been changed from FUTA to JAMB office, Akure. I was so frustrated, tired, hungry and broke. Thank God for a guy I saw there who paid for my transportation to the venue. I was already like 30 mins late for the exam.

Getting to the venue, I saw a long queue, I naively joined them waiting to be called in but then my instinct told me to go ask the coordinators since I was already late. I went ahead and asked the coordinators and told them I was to write my exam at 10am but it was already 12 noon. The woman was mad at me and she shouted and asked what I was doing there while my mates were already writing their exams.

She told me to quickly go inside and start writing. I rushed in, logged into the system and put in my exam details. Of course I had 30 mins left to answer 60 multiple choice questions that included Mathematics, English, Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning, Computer and General Knowledge. I was lucky cause the questions were quite simple for me. After all, I was a teacher at that time. I was eventually able to write about 45 out of the 60 questions.

The result was released and God willing I passed. I had to prepare my documents. I had issues getting my passport. I was so scared that I’d lose the scholarship but here I am today.

• What was the preparatory year and Russian Language like for you?

The language course was one hell of a journey filled with depression, tears, frustration, regrets and attempts to just give up. It wasn’t an easy one. I did not understand anything, had issues with accents and the ‘R-factor’, Russians are very keen with the pronunciation of their ‘r’. My teacher didn’t give me any breathing space. They mounted a lot of pressure but to the glory of God I overcame and passed.

• Would you come back to Russia for this opportunity if possible?

Left to me I wouldn’t want to come to this country to study in Russian again and to be honest, I wouldn’t advise anyone to but of course we are all desperate to leave Nigeria so I’d actually come back if there are no other means.

• Where do you see yourself in the next few years?

One thing I’m scared of is the uncertainty of the future but personally, I’ve started envisioning myself in the nearest future. I see myself being successful in the area of career which I have chosen to pursue. I don’t mean economics though. I wish to take my platform to a bigger horizon and expand our reach and services. I also wish to establish an African restaurant in Russia if I remain here after my studies.

• What are you doing now to reach those goals?

This period is my brooding period. I’m learning, getting contacts and building my community, getting mentorships, learning and working with people who are into what I planned to do. So it’s a process in place.

• What advice do you have for the newer students here or those who’d love to come to Russia?

Well, Russia might not be the kind of dream country everyone would have wanted but I believe this place is a stepping stone to somewhere greater and better. But the most important thing is “What are you doing while you’re here? Are you just studying or are you studying and also taking steps to a greater place using this country?”

On my channel, I made a video where I talked about studies after Russia and what’s next? You can check the video out so you can plan for yourself. Also, it is not going to be an easy journey at all. But with the right mindset you can scale through and come out successful.

• Have you heard about E-solutions before? What are our services?

Yes, I’ve heard of E-solutions and I have worked with them on a video promotion on my platform. It’s a financial service provider that helps you with your money transfer from Russia to major cities in the world including those in Nigeria and vice versa. They also help you trade cryptocurrencies and give financial advice on savings and investments.

• Please, share your social media handles for those who’d like to reach you.

Instagram: eazy_kiel_ (personal), students_place_ (business). YouTube: Students Place (one and only on YouTube).