Maniru Ibrahim is a Sokoto indigene who applied for Phd scholarship 20 times before he was able to secure it. Ibrahim, who is currently in Pakistan pursing a doctorate degree in mathematics, spoke with Daily Trust’s correspondent in Sokoto, Abubakar Auwal.
In the interview, he clears the air on the purported €20 million scholarship award and sundry issues.
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Daily Trust: Can you tell us about yourself?
Maniru Ibrahim: My name is Maniru Ibrahim. I am an indigene of Rijiya Dorowa Ward ‘B’ Sokoto. I graduated with a first-class honors Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto in 2017. During my studies, I was popularly known as Manirmaths. I used to arrange many tutorials for my classmates and my juniors. After graduation, I served in Zamfara from 2018-2019. Then, I got selected for the ICTP-CUI International Mathematics Master hosted by the CUI, Lahore, and co-funded by ICTP, Italy in 2019. The masters is taught by prestigious international faculty who are considered to be experts in their fields.
DT: You recently won a scholarship worth millions of Naira; how did you feel when you got to know about it?
Ibrahim: I felt very happy to pursue my Phd in such a great research centre. There is also a misconception about the funding like I have seen in some news. I am not getting €20 million funding. The centre is the €20 million centre, funded by SFI, Skillnet Ireland, Industry and Enterprise partners, as well as the three co-hosting universities UL, UCD, and MU.
The program provides a tax-free stipend of €18,500 per annum for 4 years during which time you will work towards a Phd. The Centre for Research Training (CRT) budget includes additional allowances for travel and accommodation costs related to visits to CRT partner institutions, industry and enterprise partners, international collaborators, and attendance at national and international conferences.
DT: Is it true that you have made 20 failed attempts before you got this one?
Ibrahim: Yes, I have applied in over 20 different places, where I was rejected.
DT: Any idea why you were rejected in the past?
Ibrahim: You know, getting Ph.D. funding is very competitive. You may get lucky and be selected with just one application and sometimes you have to apply to several places. I think I got rejected in some places due to the unavailability of the funding in my research area.
DT: What really inspired you to keep trying despite persistent failure?
Ibrahim: I am a very optimistic person. I also got advice from my tutor (Dr. Douglas) that I should apply as many times as possible because it is very competitive. I always pray for Allah (SWT) to give me good in this world, so whenever I receive a rejection letter, I just feel that this is not good for me that is why I did not get selected. If the one that is good for me comes, then with Allah’s mercy, I will get selected.
DT: How many times did you apply for this one?
Ibrahim: Just once and I got it.
DT: Are you willing to accept the offer?
Ibrahim: Yes
DT: You are granting this interview from Pakistan; can you tell us what you are doing there?
Ibrahim: I was awarded a scholarship by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy, to be among the pioneers of the ICTP-CUI International Mathematics Master in Pakistan, taught by prestigious international faculty and comprising a scientific program based on fundamental and core mathematical topics. I am in my last semester.
DT: What is your future plan?
Ibrahim: My goal is to be a research scientist in Data Science – to teach, specialize, do research in data science and contribute in solving real-world problems using data science and mathematical techniques.
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