I am very honoured to share with you, my personal experience of how scholarship and mentorship has impacted on my ability to achieve my full potential.

At the end of my first year in the University, I was fortunate to be awarded an ExxonMobil scholarship for exemplary academic achievement. This scholarship covered the cost of my tuition and maintenance provided that I maintained the minimum acceptable GPA. The scholarship was therefore a motivation for me to excel throughout my five years study at Federal University of Technology, Minna.

During the early days of my career as an Engineer, I was especially interested in achieving professional qualifications. I was again, very fortunate to have had mentors who provided me with guidance and advice, and who played a major role in helping me qualify as a Chartered Engineer, Chartered Geologist and Chartered Manager. One of my mentors was instrumental in ensuring that I gained an admission into the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, to gain an MBA degree. He also played a significant role in ensuring that I completed my MBA degree programme with a distinction by giving me advice, expanding my network, increasing my confidence and giving me a gentle nudge to persevere when things got tough.

I have been involved with mentoring numerous young engineers and geologist in the UK since 2009 to achieve professional qualifications in Civil Engineering and Geology and I have seen first-hand, the positive impact such professional qualification has had on their knowledge, skills, ability and careers.

Professional qualification gave me skills that allowed me to transform from an Engineer to a Manager, while the MBA gave me the skills to transform from a Manager to a Senior Manager. It also provided me with the tools I needed to be entrepreneurial.

I am fulfilled today because I had a sponsor and mentors who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let them down, to let myself down.

I strongly believe RETECH Foundation will provide all its scholars and mentees with the same benefits I was very fortunate to have had.

Ronye EGBORGE
CHAIR and TRUSTEE.