Excellence Anurika Joshua, one of three Nigerians selected for the prestigious Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program in 2023, recently graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Master of Development Engineering. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a global initiative that empowers talented young Africans to pursue higher education and develop their leadership potential. Alongside Hussein Oluwadamilola Orekoya and Kelechukwu Ogu, Excellence represented Nigeria in this competitive and transformative program.
During her time at UC Berkeley, Excellence stood out as a leader and changemaker. Her academic focus on Healthcare Transformations within the Master of Development Engineering program aligned with her commitment to addressing systemic issues in healthcare and fostering economic empowerment for women. Excellence’s speech as the student speaker for her graduating class captured the essence of her journey and the resilience of her peers. She reflected on the challenges they overcame, the diversity of their cohort, and their collective determination to create meaningful change. “The road ahead may be messy and unpredictable, but it’s in these moments of uncertainty that growth can happen and true transformation is born,” she told her graduating class.
Excellence’s contributions to the Berkeley community went beyond academics. She founded the Techy Train Incubator, a nonprofit organization that has trained over 10,000 African women across 35 countries in essential digital skills, enabling many to secure global opportunities. Her curriculum, An African Girl’s First Guide to Technology, equips young women with foundational knowledge and critical thinking skills to use technology in empowering ways. Her dedication to fostering innovation and gender equity earned her recognition and praise from her mentors, including her program director, Dr. Yael Perez, who described Excellence as “an extraordinary force for good.”
Her achievements during the program included numerous awards, such as the Davis Projects for Peace, the Digital Transformation of Development Fellowship by the National Science Foundation, and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition. These accolades reflect her ability to combine visionary thinking with practical solutions to address pressing global challenges. Excellence also made significant academic contributions, including a capstone project titled Bridging the Healthcare Gap: A Policy Review on Menopause Care in the United States, which highlighted her commitment to advancing healthcare policy and advocacy.
Excellence credits her success to the support of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, the Berkeley faculty and staff, and her community of mentors, peers, and family. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of collaboration, creativity, and empathy in driving impactful change. She urged her fellow graduates to embrace their role as changemakers and leaders, challenging them to create new paths in addressing global issues such as healthcare disparities, economic inequality, and social justice.
As Excellence looks to the future, her story continues to inspire. Her journey from Nigeria to UC Berkeley exemplifies the transformative power of education and the impact of visionary leadership. With her unwavering dedication to empowering underserved communities and fostering innovation, Excellence Anurika Joshua is poised to make an indelible mark on the world
