Exceptional Nigerian Student Graduates from a Prestigious U.S. College and Publishes First Memoir
Ruth Olujobi is a 21-year-old Nigerian student born and raised in Ikorodu, Lagos. Deeply passionate about accessible healthcare and quality education in Nigeria, Ruth has founded initiatives to give back to her communities.
Ruth has always hoped to be a doctor since she was a child and while growing up, she hoped to study abroad, using her education to contribute to Nigeria’s healthcare system. That dream came true in March 202, when she was accepted to study at Bowdoin College, one of the top schools in the United States, on a full scholarship. Four years later, Ruth has graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience, multiple awards and grants, and her very first book.
Throughout Ruth’s time at Bowdoin College, Ruth excelled. In her first year, she launched her health podcast, Blooming Daily, as a platform for empowering, impactful, and relatable health conversations. Her podcast completed 4 seasons while at Bowdoin and received streams from over 35 countries. She also served as the President of the African students’ community and worked as a Proctor for Bowdoin’s Residential Life for two years. Other offices she worked with were the Alumni Office, Career Exploration and Development Office, Center for Co-curricular Opportunities, and Dining Services. She was known for her bright presence, leadership, passion, wisdom, and much more.
Outside Bowdoin, Ruth served in various capacities. She has led Teennation, an organization dedicated to African youth leadership and empowerment, as the Global President for 3 years.
Ruth also served as a member of the national committee of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA). There, she was elected as a pre-medical representative of her Region in the U.S. during both her third and final year at Bowdoin.
Ruth won a variety of grants and fellowships to pursue her interests while at Bowdoin. The largest of them all was a 2025 Davis Projects for Peace Prize.
She was awarded a $10,000 grant for her innovative neuroscience initiative, Rekora, which aims to increase access to STEM education, exposure, and resources for under-resourced high school students in Nigeria. She also received a Fellowship in the Life Sciences grant from Bowdoin to conduct neuroscience research on campus in the summer after her third year.
Ruth loves to challenge herself, and she received a Bowdoin Summer Language Study Award after her first year, which gave her a grant to undertake an immersive language program in Hamburg, Germany. In addition, she was awarded the Hroswaith Fund Award twice, which allowed her to study abroad again in Munich, Germany.
Ruth was also awarded a Bowdoin Career Exploration and Development Funded Internship Grant, which supported her summer internship at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital after her second year. She was also a two-time recipient of the Peter J. Grua and Mary G. O’Connell Student Research Award, which enabled her to present her research at conferences. One such conference was held in October 2024 at Harvard Medical School, where she won first place in the pre-medical students category.
Ruth’s work at Bowdoin made her a student whose legacy will live on long after she has graduated. In May of 2025, she was awarded the 2025 President’s Award and a General R. H. Dunlap Prize, two of her school’s highest honors. These awards were given in recognition of her exceptional leadership, service, personal achievements, and contributions to the college.
One thing Ruth always emphasizes is her commitment to paying it forward. This was why she wrote her first book, Dear Sojourner: A Memoir of Lessons on Overcoming, Achieving, and Thriving In and Outside College. She believes the experiences and the lessons she learned while in college will be valuable for students in secondary school and universities around the world. Her book was written to help students thrive regardless of their background, and she hopes that her journey inspires students worldwide. Ruth hopes to continue on to medical school in the U.S. and to keep contributing to healthcare and education initiatives around the world.