How Angel Joanne Okonkwo, a Nigerian Scholar, Secured a Fully Funded Master’s in Financial Markets & Sustainable Investment at Audencia Business School, France Through the PTDF Overseas Scholarship

My name is Angel Joanne Okonkwo, and I am from Nigeria. I studied Finance at Afe Babalola University, where I graduated with a First-Class degree, a 4.60/5.0 CGPA, and was the Best Graduating Student in the Department of Finance. I also served as President of the Department of Finance.

At one point during university, I had a 5.0/5.0 CGPA, so academic excellence was something I took very seriously from the beginning.

Professionally, I have worked across finance, education, and curriculum development. Most recently, I worked as a Lead Curriculum Developer for undergraduate and postgraduate finance programmes at Miva Open University in Abuja.

I have always been interested in finance because I believe finance essentially influences how the world works. It determines how businesses grow, how investments are made, how economies develop and, increasingly, how we approach sustainability. I wanted to understand that world at a much deeper level, which is why I decided to pursue a Master's in Financial Markets & Sustainable Investment at Audencia Business School in France.

PTDF Overseas Scholarship Details

I was awarded the PTDF Overseas Scholarship, a fully funded scholarship from the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, to pursue my Master's degree in France.

PTDF is focused on developing human capital for Nigeria's petroleum and energy sectors, and the scholarship provides opportunities for selected Nigerian scholars to study at partner institutions in countries including France, Germany, Malaysia, and the UK.

I chose France and will be studying at Audencia Business School.

The scholarship covers my major study and relocation expenses, including full tuition, accommodation, monthly living support, visa-related costs, health insurance, and international travel.

The scholarship covers my major study and relocation expenses, including full tuition, accommodation, monthly living support, visa-related costs, health insurance, and international travel.

For me, receiving a fully funded scholarship was particularly meaningful because it meant I could pursue an international Master's without putting the financial burden of the programme on myself or my family.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

Yes. Before receiving the PTDF scholarship, I received several partial scholarship offers from universities in the UK, including:

• University of Stirling Partial Scholarship
• University of Dundee – Global Excellence Scholarship
• University of Bath – International Excellence Scholarship
• University of Glasgow – World-ChangersScholarship

I also received a few other partial scholarship offers.

I was grateful for all of them, but I continued looking because I really wanted a fully funded opportunity. Eventually, I received the PTDF scholarship.

Educational Background

My interest in academic excellence started long before university. Even in secondary school, I was often among the top students in my class.

At university, I became very intentional about maintaining that standard. I achieved a 5.0/5.0 CGPA at one point and eventually graduated with a 4.60/5.0 First-Class degree.

I was also the Best Graduating Student in the Department of Finance and served as the Departmental President. I completed my undergraduate degree at just 19 years old, so I was quite young while doing all of this.

But I didn't want my profile to be only about grades. I joined several professional and academic organisations, including the Accounting Technicians Scheme West Africa (ATSWA), the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), the Nigerian Mathematical Society (NMS), the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), and the International Association of Engineers, among others.

I also had an academic publication and wrote a book, The Effects of Financial Sector Reforms on Economic Growth in Nigeria, which was published by Grin Publishing and is now available on Google Books, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

How Did You Find Scholarships and Institutions?

I was very intentional about searching.

I regularly checked platforms such as Global Scholarships, Scholarships and Aid, Opportunities for Africans, and the SisterlyHQ newsletter. I also kept my own list of scholarships and tracked their requirements and deadlines.

I also took the IELTS in 2022, although I ultimately didn't need it for the scholarship I received.

I applied to quite a lot of opportunities, so I learned to keep my documents ready: transcripts, certificates, CV, recommendations, academic records, and other supporting documents.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the PTDF Overseas Scholarship?

I focused on making sure my application showed more than just good grades.

I had my academic achievements, leadership experience, professional memberships, publications, book and work experience. But I also had to connect those things to why I was a good fit for PTDF.

Because PTDF is focused on Nigeria's petroleum and energy sectors, I needed to communicate how my background in finance and my future plans could contribute to that broader sector.

I also prepared seriously for the interview. One thing I have learned is that you can have a great profile, but you still need to be able to communicate it.

I often say that you either have really good grades or you know how to sell yourself. Ideally, you should have both.

Luckily, I had both.

What Was the Scholarship Journey Like Emotionally?

It wasn't easy. I had applied for several scholarships before PTDF and had experienced different kinds of rejection. Some applications didn't get very far. Others took me through interviews before I was eventually unsuccessful.

After a while, I started wondering whether studying abroad was simply not meant to happen for me.

I even started considering a local MBA and thinking about other ways to move forward.

But I kept applying.

Looking back, I think the biggest thing that helped me was refusing to interpret rejection as a final answer. I kept improving my applications and looking for opportunities that fit me better.

Eventually, I got my yes.

How Do You Rate Audencia Academically?

I rate Audencia very highly. It is one of France's Grande Écoles, i.e., leading business schools, and I chose it because the programme sits at the intersection of several areas I'm interested in: financial markets, investment, sustainability and the future of finance.

My programme is taught entirely in English, which means I can focus on my academic work while continuing to improve my French for everyday life and interaction with people.

What Did You Pursue After the PTDF Overseas Scholarship?

I'm just beginning my Master's, so I don't want to pretend I have every detail figured out.

However, I hope to pursue doctoral research after my Master's, particularly around the intersection of finance, sustainability, economic development, and the energy sector.

Ultimately, I want my education to contribute to something bigger than my own career.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think it was the combination of academic excellence, leadership, preparation, and my ability to communicate my story.

I didn't just tell the panel that I had good grades. I showed them what I had done with those grades.

I had led my department, built professional experience, joined professional organisations, gotten promoted at work, published academic work, and written a book. More importantly, I could explain why those experiences mattered and how they connected to what I wanted to do next.

I also made sure the panel understood why I was a good fit for PTDF specifically.

I didn't want them to think, "This is someone who wants to leave Nigeria and get a foreign degree."

I wanted them to think, "This is someone we can invest in who has a clear reason for needing this opportunity and a clear idea of what she wants to do with it."

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I would apply more strategically.

Earlier in my scholarship journey, I applied to a very large number of opportunities. Looking back, I think I would have been more efficient by identifying three to five scholarships that were particularly aligned with my profile and tailoring my applications very deeply to each one.

I would also start preparing documents earlier. Having your transcripts, certificates, CV, recommendation letters and test results ready makes the application process much easier.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

First: apply.

Don't disqualify yourself before a scholarship committee has the opportunity to do it.

Second, build a strong profile. Academic excellence matters, but so do leadership, professional development, extracurricular activities, research, and having a clear sense of what you want to do.

Third, learn to communicate your value.

You can have an excellent profile and still lose an opportunity if you cannot explain why you deserve it, why you're a good fit and what you intend to do with the opportunity.

And finally, don't let rejection stop you.

I had moments when I genuinely wondered whether studying abroad was meant for me. I had other plans in mind because I wasn't sure it would happen.

But I kept going.

My biggest lesson is that you don't always need to know exactly when your opportunity will come. You just need to keep putting yourself in a position to receive it when it does.

For me, that opportunity eventually came through PTDF, and now I'm preparing to begin my Master's in France.