An Ebonyi-born scholar, Salome Enoshi Uwah, has continued to attract global attention following a series of outstanding academic and leadership achievements at the University of Greater Manchester, England, where she is currently studying under the Ebonyi State Government’s international postgraduate scholarship programme.
The government, led by Governor Francis Ogbonnaya Nwifuru, had in January 2025 sponsored 745 students for advanced-degree studies—204 to universities in the United Kingdom and 541 to various institutions in Nigeria. Uwah, who is pursuing a Master of Research (MRes) in Artificial Intelligence, has emerged as one of the most distinguished beneficiaries of the initiative.
Uwah recently won the overall prize at the IEEE Women in Engineering International Leadership Summit Research Poster Competition held on November 28, 2025, outperforming researchers from various countries. She also set a record in the University’s Computing Department as the first MRes student to publish three research papers simultaneously on IEEE Xplore, one of the world’s leading repositories for engineering and technological research.
In addition to her academic achievements, she pioneered the Women in Engineering (WIE) Affinity Group at the University of Greater Manchester, marking the institution’s first official support structure for women in STEM fields. Her contributions earned her a place on the University Wall of Fame, where she is recognised as one of its most influential students.
Uwah is also the first Nigerian woman to serve as President of the IEEE Student Branch at the institution, and in September 2025 she received the IEEE Supernova Award for her leadership and community-building efforts within the IEEE network.
Her global footprint widened further in October 2025 when she was selected as part of an elite delegation to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Headquarters in Geneva, where she trained WTO staff on the application of Artificial Intelligence in global trade and supply-chain optimisation—an opportunity rarely extended to students.
Speaking on her journey, Uwah said the Ebonyi State scholarship came at a crucial moment after she had nearly abandoned her educational aspirations due to the loss of her father and the responsibility of supporting her younger siblings. She expressed gratitude to the state government for providing what she described as a life-changing opportunity and praised the Ebonyi State Scholarship Board for its transparent selection process. She also appreciated her supervisor, Prof. Celestine Iwendi, for his mentorship.
Before relocating to the United Kingdom, Uwah founded the Kindle Women Initiative, an NGO dedicated to empowering schoolgirls with skills, mentorship, and education support. Through this initiative, she has personally sponsored eight scholarships for girls in her community, Ngboejeogu.
Uwah’s achievements continue to highlight the growing impact of the Nwifuru administration’s investment in education and human capital development. Her rise from rural Ebonyi to global recognition reflects what the state government describes as its commitment to producing world-class scholars, innovators, and leaders capable of making meaningful contributions on the international stage.
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