David Adefunmilayo, a Nigerian first-class graduate, has gone viral on LinkedIn after sharing how he walked away from a fully funded Oxford scholarship two years ago and has now been selected as one of only two recipients of a Commonwealth scholarship to study at Imperial College London, ranked second in the world by the 2026 QS Rankings. 

After reviewing the pre-sessional materials and reflecting on his own personality, he concluded that Oxford's intense academic culture was not a match for who he was. Why graduate chose love over Oxford Beyond academics, Adefunmilayo said a more personal consideration weighed heavily on his mind. He had just begun dating the woman who would later become his wife, and he feared that leaving Nigeria at that point could cost him the relatinship 

He wrote: "I can get another scholarship. But, I can't replace this woman." He chose to stay, and the couple went on to marry and welcome a baby boy, whom he described as the greatest award God has ever given him. During the years that followed, Adefunmilayo said he stepped back from LinkedIn for nearly a year, not out of defeat but to find clarity away from public noise. In that period, he accumulated over 38 professional awards, built his family and focused on personal and community growth 

Commonwealth scholarship to Imperial College London His patience has now produced a significant outcome. Adefunmilayo announced that he has been selected for both Chevening and Commonwealth opportunities, with this latest win being the Commonwealth scholarship to study at Imperial College London.