Why Strong Nigerian Graduates May Miss Out on Chevening Shortlists

A first-class degree alone does not guarantee a Chevening shortlist. The programme’s work-experience requirement is not just about accumulating months from internships, NYSC or job titles. Applicants must show leadership, influence and a credible plan for creating wider impact. A corporate achievement such as meeting sales targets or supervising a team may be useful, but an essay should go beyond a job description. Explain the problem you addressed, the people or institution you influenced, the outcome you delivered and how the experience connects to future community, policy or sector-level change. The current application cycle closes on 6 October. Rather than recycling a previous essay or copying generic formats, review whether your academic background, work experience and leadership examples present a clear, evidence-based impact narrative. Share your degree class, current role and strongest leadership achievement for constructive feedback on how to position your application.

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