I am writing to share with you my remarkable journey since 2021, particularly my academic pursuit and experiences with the AWARMN scholarship program. My name is Ismaila Kuburah Onize, and I completed my undergraduate degree at the Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria, where I graduated with a second-class degree in 2019.

In 2021, I embarked on a significant chapter of my life as I undertook the compulsory National Youth Service Corps at the National Biotechnology Development Agency, Abuja. During this period, I was driven by a fervent desire to further my education and make a meaningful contribution to the field of chemistry. In pursuit of this aspiration, I applied for various scholarship opportunities, including AWARMN. To my delight, I received acceptance notifications from both AWARMN and the PTDF scholarship program. However, I made the decision to commit to AWARMN, which I had accepted earlier.

On January 29th, 2022, my academic journey took a transformative turn as I arrived at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, to pursue a master's degree in Environmental and Analytical Chemistry. The first year of my studies was primarily dedicated to coursework, comprising four courses in the first semester and seven courses in the second semester. I am proud to share that I performed well, securing four distinctions and earning credits for the remaining courses that the school uploaded.

As my academic journey progressed, I delved into the preparation of my project proposal. My research focused on the topic of "Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye in Wastewater Using Iron-Doped Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles." I defended this proposal in the first semester of my second year, in October 2022, and it was accepted with some necessary corrections and recommendations.

Immediately after the proposal defense, I embarked on the crucial laboratory work, guided by three primary objectives:

1. To synthesize and characterize Fe-doped TiO2 nanoparticles.
2. To optimize the photocatalytic parameters for the Fe-doped TiO2 nanoparticles in the degradation of methylene blue dye from wastewater.
3. To apply the optimized parameters of Fe-doped TiO2 nanoparticles for the degradation of methylene blue dye from collected environmental wastewater samples.

I am delighted to report that I have successfully achieved these objectives, and in June 2024, I presented my research results to the department. The results were met with approval, accompanied by valuable corrections and recommendations that have enhanced the quality of my work. Furthermore, I submitted my dissertation for examination in October 2023, marking a significant milestone in my academic journey.

I cannot express enough gratitude to AWARMN for their support and belief in my potential. This scholarship has played a pivotal role in my academic and research pursuits, allowing me to make a meaningful contribution to the field of environmental chemistry. I am excited about the future and the opportunities that lie ahead as I continue to work towards the betterment of our environment through innovative research and solutions.

Once again, thank you for your unwavering support, and I look forward to the next phase of my academic journey with great enthusiasm.