Good day Holt and Community Members. Kindly help review my Essay for the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship
1.) What is the benefit of becoming a GOI-IES Scholar, to yourself (personally and professionally), to Ireland, and to your country of origin? MAX 500 Words
Growing up, I watched my father carefully run our small family eatery. Every naira mattered; one careless purchase could mean wasted food, lost customers, or a struggling family. These early experiences sparked my curiosity about how businesses and economies operate. This led me to pursue a degree in Economics at Babcock University, where I built a strong foundation in economic and financial principles. I am now eager to build on this foundation through a Master's in Business, specialising in Economics and Finance.
Becoming a GOI-IES scholar would make me the first in my family to study abroad, inspiring my younger brother and others from similar backgrounds. The scholarship would also reduce financial strain on my family, allowing me to focus on my studies. Growing up with limited resources taught me financial discipline, which I applied during university by helping peers manage their pocket money. In my current role, I have seen colleagues struggle with overspending and financial pressure, leading to poor financial decisions. Since financial literacy is rarely taught in schools, I began writing short articles and sharing tips with staff, customers, and peers to help them manage their finances and avoid fraud. This growing commitment led to my long-term goal of developing scalable financial literacy programmes for underserved communities in Nigeria.
Professionally, SETU's MBS programme offers modules such as Financial Risk and Compliance Management and Contemporary Issues in Business, both of which are directly aligned with the career I have built in audit and finance. Financial Risk and Compliance Management will enhance my expertise in regulatory oversight and internal control, while Contemporary Issues in Business will deepen my understanding of ethical finance and evolving global practices I can apply in Nigeria and other emerging markets. The AIB Centre for Finance and Business Research is a key reason I want to study at SETU. Its focus on ethical finance and regulatory compliance aligns with my interest in RegTech and will build on my understanding of AML and KYC frameworks. The Centre will equip me with the tools needed to address systemic trust issues in Nigeria's financial sector and help me design secure, transparent systems that protect the underserved communities I hope to serve.
One way I hope to contribute to Ireland is through active volunteer work. I plan to join Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI), which reaches over 60,000 students annually with the help of volunteers. Beyond classroom activities, I will share practical financial models from Nigeria, such as community-based savings groups like 'Ajo' or 'Esusu', and mobile-first approaches that promote financial inclusion. These traditional savings methods foster trust, accountability, and discipline, aligning with Ireland's National Financial Literacy Strategy.
Ireland's National Financial Literacy Strategy and SETU's link to the AIB Centre for Finance and Business Research reflect the kind of applied thinking I need to address low financial literacy and weak compliance culture in Nigeria. Through RegTech research and exposure to Ireland's regulatory frameworks, I will be empowered to improve transparency, rebuild trust, and advance financial literacy across Nigeria's underserved sectors.
(I am not familiar with this site but I noticed only threads with the @username could be replied to. I don't know if that's the same with mine but I added my @ below)
@Iykeibe
1.) What is the benefit of becoming a GOI-IES Scholar, to yourself (personally and professionally), to Ireland, and to your country of origin? MAX 500 Words
Growing up, I watched my father carefully run our small family eatery. Every naira mattered; one careless purchase could mean wasted food, lost customers, or a struggling family. These early experiences sparked my curiosity about how businesses and economies operate. This led me to pursue a degree in Economics at Babcock University, where I built a strong foundation in economic and financial principles. I am now eager to build on this foundation through a Master's in Business, specialising in Economics and Finance.
Becoming a GOI-IES scholar would make me the first in my family to study abroad, inspiring my younger brother and others from similar backgrounds. The scholarship would also reduce financial strain on my family, allowing me to focus on my studies. Growing up with limited resources taught me financial discipline, which I applied during university by helping peers manage their pocket money. In my current role, I have seen colleagues struggle with overspending and financial pressure, leading to poor financial decisions. Since financial literacy is rarely taught in schools, I began writing short articles and sharing tips with staff, customers, and peers to help them manage their finances and avoid fraud. This growing commitment led to my long-term goal of developing scalable financial literacy programmes for underserved communities in Nigeria.
Professionally, SETU's MBS programme offers modules such as Financial Risk and Compliance Management and Contemporary Issues in Business, both of which are directly aligned with the career I have built in audit and finance. Financial Risk and Compliance Management will enhance my expertise in regulatory oversight and internal control, while Contemporary Issues in Business will deepen my understanding of ethical finance and evolving global practices I can apply in Nigeria and other emerging markets. The AIB Centre for Finance and Business Research is a key reason I want to study at SETU. Its focus on ethical finance and regulatory compliance aligns with my interest in RegTech and will build on my understanding of AML and KYC frameworks. The Centre will equip me with the tools needed to address systemic trust issues in Nigeria's financial sector and help me design secure, transparent systems that protect the underserved communities I hope to serve.
One way I hope to contribute to Ireland is through active volunteer work. I plan to join Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI), which reaches over 60,000 students annually with the help of volunteers. Beyond classroom activities, I will share practical financial models from Nigeria, such as community-based savings groups like 'Ajo' or 'Esusu', and mobile-first approaches that promote financial inclusion. These traditional savings methods foster trust, accountability, and discipline, aligning with Ireland's National Financial Literacy Strategy.
Ireland's National Financial Literacy Strategy and SETU's link to the AIB Centre for Finance and Business Research reflect the kind of applied thinking I need to address low financial literacy and weak compliance culture in Nigeria. Through RegTech research and exposure to Ireland's regulatory frameworks, I will be empowered to improve transparency, rebuild trust, and advance financial literacy across Nigeria's underserved sectors.
(I am not familiar with this site but I noticed only threads with the @username could be replied to. I don't know if that's the same with mine but I added my @ below)
@Iykeibe
