So, after my 17yo daughter was accepted into Northwestern Class of 2024, with generous finaid package, and was able to make the journey out of Nigeria through Cotonou last August (due to lockdown), I made a promise to God to do something for humanity (people I don't know). I have not been able to get around it till now.

So here we go!

Objective
To identify and pay for the SAT/ACT test of 10 underprivileged but brilliant Nigerian students.

Eligibility
You must be 16-19 years old.
You are in SS2 to High school graduate.
You are attending or graduated from a Nigerian Secondary School.
You will apply for the U.S. Colleges admission cycle of Class of 2026.
You will take the test in 2021.

Selected Applicants will Receive
10 applicants will be selected
Either of SAT1, ACT, or two SAT Subject tests will be paid for each person.
Additionally, anyone that gets a score of 1430+ (SAT1) or ACT equivalent will also get two SAT Subject tests paid for.
All payments will be made directly to the examination board. Late registration will not be paid for. No money will be given to any individual.

Gender Ratio
Minimum of four females will be selected.
Maximum of six males will be selected.

Application
As you can see from above, the intention is to select individual(s) that will score high in these exams and subsequently gets admitted, with full scholarship, into some of the elite U.S. colleges. As a result, academic prowess, in addition to personal attributes and family background, will be used to select individuals. To help with this, I will need you to write about yourself based on this format:
I am interested in learning more about you and the context in which you have grown up, formed your aspirations, and accomplished your academic successes. Please describe the factors and challenges that have most shaped your personal life and aspirations. How have these factors helped you to grow? (Maximum of 650 words).
On top left of your paper, please include (these will not be included in the word count):
Full name (Last name, First name) as it will appear in College Board or ACT.
Gender
Month and Year of birth.
Name of Secondary School.
Email address and phone number.

In addition to your essay, you may send other documents that you feel will help your case, including WAEC result, JAMB result, school transcript, external examination participation (Olympiad, Cowbellpedia, SPAK, etc.), etc. Make sure your documents are verifiable and match. Discrepancies may lead to disqualification.
Send Essay and documents to Kizito@hdiafrica.org

Due Date
February 8, 2021 at 11:59 PM (Nigerian Time).

Selection Announcement Date
March 1, 2021. Depending on the number of applications received, I may decide to speak with applicants.

Updates
Updates, including the list of individuals selected, will be added to this post as we proceed. If you have any question, suggestion, or concern, please ask or list them here. DO NOT send unsolicited email to me, as I will not respond.

January 19, 2021 Update
Please send your Essays as an attachment, either in PDF or docx format. Don't write your essay in the email body.

February 23, 2021 Update
Emails have been sent to the successful students. Congratulations! Please read the email carefully and follow the instructions given.

ottiz:
So, after my 17yo daughter was accepted into Northwestern Class of 2024, with generous finaid package, and was able to make the journey out of Nigeria through Cotonou last August (due to lockdown), I made a promise to God to do something for humanity (people I don't know). I have not been able to get around it till now.

So here we go!

Objective
To identify and pay for the SAT/ACT test of 10 underprivileged but brilliant Nigerian students.

Eligibility
You must be 16-19 years old.
You are in SS2 to High school graduate.
You are attending or graduated from a Nigerian Secondary School.
You will apply for the U.S. Colleges admission cycle of Class of 2026.
You will take the test in 2021.

Selected Applicants will Receive
10 applicants will be selected
Either of SAT1, ACT, or two SAT Subject tests will be paid for each person.
Additionally, anyone that gets a score of 1430+ (SAT1) or ACT equivalent will also get two SAT Subject tests paid for.
All payments will be made directly to the examination board. Late registration will not be paid for. No money will be given to any individual.

Gender Ratio
Minimum of four females will be selected.
Maximum of six males will be selected.

Application
As you can see from above, the intention is to select individual(s) that will score high in these exams and subsequently gets admitted, with full scholarship, into some of the elite U.S. colleges. As a result, academic prowess, in addition to personal attributes and family background, will be used to select individuals. To help with this, I will need you to write about yourself based on this format:
I am interested in learning more about you and the context in which you have grown up, formed your aspirations, and accomplished your academic successes. Please describe the factors and challenges that have most shaped your personal life and aspirations. How have these factors helped you to grow? (Maximum of 650 words).
On top left of your paper, please include (these will not be included in the word count):
Full name (Last name, First name) as it will appear in College Board or ACT.
Gender
Month and Year of birth.
Name of Secondary School.
Email address and phone number.

In addition to your essay, you may send other documents that you feel will help your case, including WAEC result, JAMB result, school transcript, external examination participation (Olympiad, Cowbellpedia, SPAK, etc.), etc. Make sure your documents are verifiable and match. Discrepancies may lead to disqualification.
Send Essay and documents to Kizito@hdiafrica.org

Due Date
February 8, 2021 at 11:59 PM (Nigerian Time).

Selection Announcement Date
March 1, 2021. Depending on the number of applications received, I may decide to speak with applicants.

Updates
Updates, including the list of individuals selected, will be added to this post as we proceed. If you have any question, suggestion, or concern, please ask or list them here. DO NOT send unsolicited email to me, as I will not respond.

Sir will you accept NECO?

Aquilapriscilla:

Sir will you accept NECO?

Any verifiable document that will prove your academic strength is accepted.

ottiz:

Any verifiable document that will prove your academic strength is accepted.

Thank you sir

ottiz:
So, after my 17yo daughter was accepted into Northwestern Class of 2024, with generous finaid package, and was able to make the journey out of Nigeria through Cotonou last August (due to lockdown), I made a promise to God to do something for humanity (people I don't know). I have not been able to get around it till now.

So here we go!

Objective
To identify and pay for the SAT/ACT test of 10 underprivileged but brilliant Nigerian students.

Eligibility
You must be 16-19 years old.
You are in SS2 to High school graduate.
You are attending or graduated from a Nigerian Secondary School.
You will apply for the U.S. Colleges admission cycle of Class of 2026.
You will take the test in 2021.

Selected Applicants will Receive
10 applicants will be selected
Either of SAT1, ACT, or two SAT Subject tests will be paid for each person.
Additionally, anyone that gets a score of 1430+ (SAT1) or ACT equivalent will also get two SAT Subject tests paid for.
All payments will be made directly to the examination board. Late registration will not be paid for. No money will be given to any individual.

Gender Ratio
Minimum of four females will be selected.
Maximum of six males will be selected.

Application
As you can see from above, the intention is to select individual(s) that will score high in these exams and subsequently gets admitted, with full scholarship, into some of the elite U.S. colleges. As a result, academic prowess, in addition to personal attributes and family background, will be used to select individuals. To help with this, I will need you to write about yourself based on this format:
I am interested in learning more about you and the context in which you have grown up, formed your aspirations, and accomplished your academic successes. Please describe the factors and challenges that have most shaped your personal life and aspirations. How have these factors helped you to grow? (Maximum of 650 words).
On top left of your paper, please include (these will not be included in the word count):
Full name (Last name, First name) as it will appear in College Board or ACT.
Gender
Month and Year of birth.
Name of Secondary School.
Email address and phone number.

In addition to your essay, you may send other documents that you feel will help your case, including WAEC result, JAMB result, school transcript, external examination participation (Olympiad, Cowbellpedia, SPAK, etc.), etc. Make sure your documents are verifiable and match. Discrepancies may lead to disqualification.
Send Essay and documents to Kizito@hdiafrica.org

Due Date
February 8, 2021 at 11:59 PM (Nigerian Time).

Selection Announcement Date
March 1, 2021. Depending on the number of applications received, I may decide to speak with applicants.

Updates
Updates, including the list of individuals selected, will be added to this post as we proceed. If you have any question, suggestion, or concern, please ask or list them here. DO NOT send unsolicited email to me, as I will not respond.

Where should I send these

...

Nostradamus1:
Where should I send these

Since you quoted the whole post, I am assuming you read everything.

ottiz:

Since you quoted the whole post, I am assuming you read everything.

I hope the selection process is going to be holistic and too much weight not put on the olevel results as some candidates might be determined but their olevel might not be exceptional.

please,try to extend the age limit to atleast 23years or more than.

Secondly,the school criteria should be focused on those who graduate from public secondary school as most of them find it difficult to feed, pay for their fees, and some don‘t even have sponsors.

lastly for those who represented their schools in competitions like cowbell,olympia and the rest what should they use as evidence.
please,try to consider my suggestions i know they might look offensive to you.May god bless,enrich and protect you.

There's nothing you've written that would be considered offensive.

Unfortunately, the age limit cannot be changed this time, and this is based on what I am looking for. Maybe in the future I may increase it, but not at this trial stage.

Regarding school criteria, the application is open to every student in a Nigerian secondary school. Selection criteria looks at the complete student.

If you represented your school in external competitions, like Olympiad, Cowbellpedia, etc., then your name should be on the list released by these bodies on their website. I know this because my daughter went through the process.

abdul1999:
please,try to extend the age limit to atleast 23years or more than.

Secondly,the school criteria should be focused on those who graduate from public secondary school as most of them find it difficult to feed, pay for their fees, and some don‘t even have sponsors.

lastly for those who represented their schools in competitions like cowbell,olympia and the rest what should they use as evidence.
please,try to consider my suggestions i know they might look offensive to you.May god bless,enrich and protect you.

ottiz:
There's nothing you've written that would be considered offensive.

Unfortunately, the age limit cannot be changed this time, and this is based on what I am looking for. Maybe in the future I may increase it, but not at this trial stage.

Regarding school criteria, the application is open to every student in a Nigerian secondary school. Selection criteria looks at the complete student.

If you represented your school in external competitions, like Olympiad, Cowbellpedia, etc., then your name should be on the list released by these bodies on their website. I know this because my daughter went through the process.

Yes they usually mention names on their website for state and National level not district level. Cuz I won several competitions in district level without getting an actual award or medal, just text books and study materials, it's in the state and National level that you get Prize in from of medals, Money, laptops etc

I have added a new update on the original post.

ottiz:
I have added a new update on the original post.

please sir kindly reply to the essays and credentials i sent via email so I'll know if you've gotten my message because emails could end up in junk or spam folder.

Similarly, your domain Kizito@hdiafrica.org could block my emails I want to be sure that you've received the credentials i sent. Please kindly reply with either SEEN/RECEIVED. You could also ask for additional information or ask me to substantiate any claim.

Regards,

Curious2020

ottiz:
There's nothing you've written that would be considered offensive.

Unfortunately, the age limit cannot be changed this time, and this is based on what I am looking for. Maybe in the future I may increase it, but not at this trial stage.

Regarding school criteria, the application is open to every student in a Nigerian secondary school. Selection criteria looks at the complete student.

If you represented your school in external competitions, like Olympiad, Cowbellpedia, etc., then your name should be on the list released by these bodies on their website. I know this because my daughter went through the process.

please!please!!please!!! consider me i've been looking for a way to write any international standardize or language exam but i don't have money to pay for any of the exam.I will be grateful if you can help me out.

Please, who knows how I can pay for the SAT in Nigeria with a GTbank MasterCard atm card?

I am no longer accepting applications for this, as the due date is over.

I look forward to reading your personal stories. I will be going through a little over 50 applications. I promise to give each application due consideration, especially those that followed the instructions outlined in the original post. I shall particularly favor those students that are brilliant, and through their stories in the essays, highlights the hardship they faced, financially or otherwise, while growing up. That was the reason for the essay topic.

Those that are selected will receive a congratulatory email message from me, in addition to further instructions on how to proceed, not later than March 1, 2021. The message will be sent to the email address listed on your essay paper.

Side Note: This is a suggestion, if you are seriously interested in applying to an elite college (top 50) in the U.S., especially the private ones. The essays are very important! Pay attention to the topic and focus your story on the topic. There is a reason why the topic was given to you. It is through your story that the admissions officer will get to know who you really are. Do not waste the opportunity to regurgitate what your transcript and your other results already highlight. These schools use holistic approach to evaluate applicants, and your personality and background, which are usually lifted from your story, are one of the more important metrics. Remember, most people applying to these institutions are brilliant, just like you. You distinguish yourself from others based on your story. If you notice I keep calling it story. Yes, tell a story in your essay. Engage the reader. Make them remember you through your essay. You are being raised in Nigeria. You have a lot of stories to tell about growing up here. It is okay to embellish a little, as long as that highlights who you are and whom you hope to become.

Good luck and God bless in your future endeavors.

I have added a new update to the original post.

@Ottiz, I am so excited. My student got selected for the SAT scholarship. I express my unreserved gratitude to you for being an uncommon helping hand!

On the other hand, part of the email received reads: "If you are receiving this email, it means you have been selected to have your one time registration for either the SAT or ACT[b] (without essay/writing) [/b]examination paid for by me. Congratulations!

Please what does this mean that the SAT the student would have to pay for the Essay/Writing by themselves? Kindly clarify, if you don't mind.

Thank you sir.

cmark11:
@Ottiz, I am so excited. My student got selected for the SAT scholarship. I express my unreserved gratitude to you for being an uncommon helping hand!

On the other hand, part of the email received reads: "If you are receiving this email, it means you have been selected to have your one time registration for either the SAT or ACT[b] (without essay/writing) [/b]examination paid for by me. Congratulations!

Please what does this mean that the SAT the student would have to pay for the Essay/Writing by themselves? Kindly clarify, if you don't mind.

Thank you sir.

as far as I know most colleges dont require the SAT essay since you have to write supplemental essays. Don't worry your student won't be needing it.

Most schools don't require SAT with essay or ACT with writing. They feel that the Reading and Writing sections of the SAT will be enough. The school notorious for requiring it is the UC system (California), and they are stopping the requirement this year. College Board may even phase it out, just like Subject tests.

When your student is registering, have him/her select the SAT without essay or ACT without writing.

cmark11:
@Ottiz, I am so excited. My student got selected for the SAT scholarship. I express my unreserved gratitude to you for being an uncommon helping hand!

On the other hand, part of the email received reads: "If you are receiving this email, it means you have been selected to have your one time registration for either the SAT or ACT[b] (without essay/writing) [/b]examination paid for by me. Congratulations!

Please what does this mean that the SAT the student would have to pay for the Essay/Writing by themselves? Kindly clarify, if you don't mind.

Thank you sir.

ottiz:
Most schools don't require SAT with essay or ACT with writing. They feel that the Reading and Writing sections of the SAT will be enough. The school notorious for requiring it is the UC system (California), and they are stopping the requirement this year. College Board may even phase it out, just like Subject tests.

When your student is registering, have him/her select the SAT without essay or ACT without writing.

This is very concise and clear, sir. Thank you sooooooo much!

.

My objective was to pay for the SAT/ACT registration fee for select students. That still remains the objective.

How to study for the test is entirely up to you.

In one of my emails to you, I believe I even directed you to a sub-Reddit, where students like you share SAT problems. Everything now depends on how proactive you are.

Regarding my daughter, I'll just tell you some of the things that may have helped her application, apart from test scores and essays:

Recommendation letters from teachers and school counselor.
State champion Math Olympiad.
State champion Cowbellpedia.
2019 MIT WTP summer program participant (EECS cohort).
Math and basic science tutor for a local NGO.
Created Math club in her secondary school.
School prefect.

Curious2020:
Hi! Everyone, and Congrats to all those who got this opportunity, Sir @ottiz I'd be glad if you can create a WhatsApp group and share the link to all those that got the opportunity, so we can study for SAT/ACT together, work together, share ideas and get into colleges together. And I also hope your Daughter who got into Northwestern can advice or mentor us on the group, I know you're a very busy person, but I'd appreciate if you could do this for us sir, Thanks!

ottiz:
My objective was to pay for the SAT/ACT registration fee for select students. That still remains the objective.

How to study for the test is entirely up to you.

In one of my emails to you, I believe I even directed you to a sub-Reddit, where students like you share SAT problems. Everything now depends on how proactive you are.

Regarding my daughter, I'll just tell you some of the things that may have helped her application, apart from test scores and essays:

Recommendation letters from teachers and school counselor.
State champion Math Olympiad.
State champion Cowbellpedia.
2019 MIT WTP summer program participant (EECS cohort).
Math and basic science tutor for a local NGO.
Created Math club in her secondary school.
School prefect.

Thanks!

Any one who have gotten their SAT scores pls indicate( from August 2021)

@ottiz can you please direct me to a sub- Reddit where students are interested in taking SAT exam or a WhatsApp group

@curious202 can you please direct me to a sub- Reddit where students are interested in taking SAT exam or a WhatsApp group

r/SAT

esther2002:
@ottiz can you please direct me to a sub- Reddit where students are interested in taking SAT exam or a WhatsApp group