Nigerian Student Graduates as Valedictorian in Korea

Nnenna Onyima graduated with the highest academic honor, a Master of Science degree in Business Administration, from Daejeon University in South Korea, where she was also named valedictorian for the international students’ class. Her father, Tony Onyima, shared her journey on Facebook, detailing how her initial fascination with Korean dramas led to her learning the language and ultimately receiving the Global Korean Scholarship in September 2023.

Nnenna was one of 1,099 scholars selected from 131 countries and one of only 14 successful Nigerians. On August 21, 2026, during her graduation ceremony, she delivered a valedictory speech in Korean, surprising her father, who had traveled from Nigeria to attend.

He expressed his amazement at her fluency and confidence, noting that she had kept her valedictorian status a secret from him. Nnenna's achievement reflects her dedication and the support of her family in embracing her interest in Korean culture.