Plateau State Governor ,Simon Bako Lalong has congratulated Nwangele Godwin, a 25 year old Nigerian winner of the 2020 Rhodes Scholarship for West Africa who was born and brought up in Jos.
With his selection, Nwangele Godwin became the second Nigerian and the fourth recipient of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship from the sub-continent since its re-launch in 2017.
Godwin, an Electrical and Electronics Engineering Graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka was born in 1994 at the Ande Hospital and grew up in Tudun Wada area of Jos, Plateau State.
In a telephone call to Rhodes Scholar-Elect Nwangele, Governor Lalong expressed deep excitement on his achievement which is traced to Jos where he built his life’s early experience and knowledge base which has earned him the prestigious scholarship.
Lalong said “I congratulate you for being elected as a Rhodes Scholar which is a rare award that goes not only to the brightest, but to young people with dexterity and character that projects a future filled with hope and expectations”.
Lalong said this rare achievement was another testimony to the great minds that have emerged out of Plateau State and are making the country and the world proud.
“This achievement puts you in the exclusive list of great achievers that we are planning to celebrate during the Glorious Stars Event coming up in 2020 where we plan to tell the positive stories of Plateau State as we continue to rebrand and open up our potentials to the outside world. We are very proud of as a young ambassador of our State” the Governor explained.
He said the State realized that the unfortunate crises of the recent past had sought to damage the hard-earned reputation and positive image of the State as the Home of Peace and Tourism as well as centre of learning, entertainment, sports and creativity.
This he said has to be countered with the right narratives which can be told simply and clearly by the testimonies of those who were groomed in Plateau State before being unleashed to the world where they made, and are still making huge impact.
The Governor encouraged Godwin to continue to be a good ambassador of Plateau State as he proceeds to Oxford University, United Kingdom, for his post graduate studies.
Godwin attended Albakans Pre-Science Private School, Tudun Wada-Jos before where he constantly maintained the top spot in his class and represented Plateau State at the NTIC Regional Mathematics Completion where he came tops, doing the State proud.
He went ahead to fly the colours of the State at the National Stage. He had his Secondary Education at St. John’s College, Jos where he also maintained top spot in his class, and also represented Plateau State at different competitions.
He later moved on to study Electrical Engineering at the University of Nigeria and graduated with a first class as the Best Graduating Student from the Faculty. He later received the COREN award as the Best Graduate Engineer in Nigeria for 2017.
He is currently carving out a niche in the renewable energy space of Africa, a dream he wants to live because of his love for mother earth, and the decision to join in the struggle to save earth and to redefine Africa.
Nwangele intends to study Energy Systems at Oxford and says his goal is to deepen his technical knowledge, enhance leadership skills, build valuable networks and develop a global strategy that would help to grow the vision of energy sustainability in Africa and beyond
Godwin was selected out of a total of 2,783 applications who registered as intending scholars for the 177 year old Rhodes scholarship which started in 1902 with past scholars including former US President Bill Clinton among other world leaders.
Godwin still lives the Jos dream of possibility even when it is thought to be very impossible.
