Ijeoma Opara (21), a BA Honours graduate in International Studies, was recently awarded the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship along with 79 other recipients from South Africa and the rest of Africa. Opara, who studied within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University (SU), received her Honours degree at the December 2016 graduation. 

Since its launch in 2005, the Mandela Rhodes Foundation has awarded 377 scholarships to students from across Africa. The aim of the Foundation is to "build exceptional leadership capacity in Africa" through its various programmes, of which the scholarship is one.

"I was lucky that I was surrounded by people in my faculty and my department who encouraged me to apply for different opportunities while I was studying," says Opara as she explains how she made the decision to apply for this prestigious scholarship.

"Initially when I applied for it, I felt confident and I was excited, but as the selection process ran its course and the numbers decreased with each round, I became really nervous. After the final round, which consisted of an interview which took place in October, I wasn't necessarily feeling that confident. I felt like I was not necessarily saying the things they wanted to hear – a lot of the thoughts I shared with the panel was related to my own involvement in the student protests this year and specifically to the context of student movements like Open Stellenbosch. My involvement in that movement informs my own ideologies and my thoughts on the role of higher education in South Africa, and more importantly in Africa."

But, says Opara, her selection is a testament to the type of organisation that the Mandela Rhodes Foundation is: "they allow a diverse range of opinions and views and I am grateful for that."

While Opara will be enrolling at the University of Cape Town in 2017 to pursue an MA in International Studies, it is at SU that her interest in South African feminism studies was formed. After completing a BA International Studies at the University in 2015, she pursued an Honours in 2016, focusing on how the rape culture on university campuses has changed the theoretical lens of South African feminism."

Her supervisor was Prof Amanda Gouws of the Political Science Department. Gouws specialises in South African Politics and Gender Politics, and Political Behaviour. She was also awarded a SARChI Chair in Gender Politics in 2015.

"My research focused on what had been written on rape culture by South African feminists up until now and what has changed in that regard since rape culture at higher education institutions became a point of discussion in South African society in general because of the student movements."

Opara plans to continue to delve into that research for her Masters.

"I want to focus on research with a more African centred feminist approach, linking human security and feminism and gender, in terms of how we look at solutions for human security and various crises happening across the continent. The reality is that we are often gender blind when we look at solutions for various conflicts on this continent. I can hopefully add to scholarship in that field going forward."

While she has no definite plans once she has completed her studies, she is considering both a career in academia or completing her PhD and using the knowledge and skills she has gained as a political science student to pursue a career in a range of sectors where she can apply those skills.

For those who want to pursue scholarships like the Mandela Rhodes one, which entails a rigorous application and selection process, Opara's advice is simple: "Do not be afraid to ask for help."

"The people you least expect least to help you, will give you the support you need when you just ask. When I first submitted my application, I also asked friends to assist by looking over my application and providing me with constructive advice to improve it. It's also very important that you do not doubt yourself and to carry your own achievements and what you accomplished over the years with conviction. That is one of the most important things that I realised while applying for the scholarship – underestimating your achievements will be your downfall."

Photo: Ijeoma Opara recently received the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship along with79 other recipients from South Africa and the rest of Africa. (Mandela Rhodes Foundation website)