With the Financial Burden of College Lifted through UNCF’s Support, Student Launches a Tech Future
Ahunna Ike-Njoku of Lagos, Nigeria moved to the United States in August 2022 with dreams of graduating from college. She started her collegiate journey at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD, but in her junior year transferred to Fisk University, a UNCF-member institution, after hearing stories from students who interned at top tech companies and learning about the university’s professional development opportunities.
As an international student studying mathematics and computer science and minoring in business administration, the road to financing her education was not easy. “I underestimated how hard it would be to balance school, work and family pressure,” she said. “There were moments when I was removed from classes due to delinquent payments, and I had sleepless nights not knowing who to call or how to raise funds.”
When Ike-Njoku entered her senior year at Fisk, UNCF scholarships were able to help her close her financial gap and cross the stage to graduation. “I received the UNCF scholarship at a point when my financial burdens were overwhelming,” she said.
Ike-Njoku was a recipient of the Goldman Sachs Market Madness: HBCU Possibilities Program, a four-month program where students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) participate in a case study competition. Each student team presents a strategic business plan to help provide solutions to specific real-world problems. “Through the Goldman Sachs Market Madness Fellowship, in partnership with UNCF, my teammates and I were assigned a professional mentor who worked at the intersection of computer science and finance,” she said.
Without the financial barriers of college education and reduced stress, she was able to focus on extracurricular activities that help enhance her professional development skills, pay off educational debt and apply to graduate school. UNCF’s support gave her time to devote to other passions. She was able to focus on building tech products with automated artificial intelligence (AI) systems and enrolled in additional classes. “I was able to convert the hours I previously spent chasing funding into working on meaningful projects and focusing on my coursework,” said added.
At her university, she is a member of numerous organizations, including the computer science club and the African students’ association. She was inducted into the Beta Kappa Chi Scientific Honor Society. Outside of Fisk, she’s a part of professional clubs aimed at supporting women and Black students in technology, such as ColorStack, AfroTech and Rewriting the Code.
She advises students applying to UNCF scholarships that they shouldn’t be afraid—applying brings them one step closer to relieving the financial burden of a college education. “UNCF scholarships are designed to help you grow and think more deeply about who you are and who you want to become,” she said. “The more you apply, the more you grow. I was not accepted into every scholarship I applied for, but I kept pushing—and in that process, I learned so much about myself.”
Even though she wasn’t sure if transferring to Fisk would work out, it became her best choice. “I was not entirely certain it was the right choice at first, since I was going purely on the testimony of others,” she said. “But two years later, having completed three internships and received over 16 academic excellence awards through various competitions and programs, I can say with full confidence that transferring to Fisk was the best decision of my life.”
Ike-Njoku credits Fisk for developing her into the woman she is today. One of her most memorable college experiences was organizing a chess tournament on campus. Receiving and witnessing the overwhelming support from friends and classmates for an event that she curated was an unforgettable moment.
She is graduating in May 2026 and thanks UNCF for making her dreams a reality. “I will be graduating summa cum laude, and I truly believe this would not have been possible without the financial freedom UNCF gave me,” she shared.
After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, she will pursue a master’s degree in applied analytics with a concentration in emerging technologies at Columbia University. Recently, she was accepted into Columbia University School of Professional Studies (SPS) Dean’s Fellowship Program for incoming graduate SPS students. She is passionate about utilizing data to help people make more informed financial decisions.
In the future, Ike-Njoku plans to create a platform for neurodivergent and low-income students to have access to quality education that’s tailored to their strengths and needs.
UNCF is proud of our students and alumni who have received scholarships that help them continue their education and graduate. These scholarships are invaluable to students, and UNCF is accepting donations to support students like Ahunna Ike-Njoku in their academic endeavors.