Hot SourceFunmi Ogundare
In an effort aimed at addressing the stark underrepresentation of black students in UK doctoral programmes, Nigerian-British academic, Dr Ifedapo Francis Awolowo is leading a transformative initiative to change the narrative with his pioneering programme, Accomplished Study Programme in Research Excellence (ASPIRE).
The initiative, according to him, is already producing measurable success; of the 59 black scholars mentored to date, 15 have secured fully funded PhD placements at leading UK universities.
Funded by the Office for Students (OfS) and UKRI, ASPIRE offers culturally responsive mentorship to black postgraduate aspirants, challenging long-standing systemic barriers that have left fewer than two per cent of UK PhD students identifying as black.
“This is not just about access, it’s about belonging, affirmation, and transforming the academic pipeline,” says Dr Awolowo, a Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University.
Born and raised in Nigeria before relocating to the UK, Dr Awolowo has drawn deeply from his heritage and personal experience of overcoming academic exclusion to create a model rooted in Ubuntu and Omoluabi, African philosophies emphasising community, integrity, and shared humanity.
He explained that unlike traditional mentorship schemes, ASPIRE centres emotional wellbeing and cultural identity, offering one-on-one mentoring, bespoke workshops, and leadership development.
“Scholars also receive support in navigating the hidden curriculum of academia, including networking, proposal writing, and the often opaque PhD application process.”
Awolowo stated that his approach is not just innovative, but deeply personal.
“I know what it means to be doubted. ASPIRE is my way of making sure the next generation has the support I never had,” he said, adding that his passion is shared by a growing network of volunteer mentors, many of them black academics who guide students while advancing their own careers, with several earning prestigious Senior Fellowships from the UK Higher Education Academy.
He added that the initiative’s influence now extends beyond university walls, with policymakers and sector leaders hailing it as a scalable model for inclusive postgraduate education.
Deeply rooted in Nigerian values and shaped by British academic rigour, Dr Awolowo’s work bridges continents and cultures.
“As a Nigerian-British academic, I draw from both worlds. AsPIRE is a way of giving back, not only to my students, but to the community that raised me,” he stated.
