Scholar in the Spotlight – Aghogho Okpara

Aghogho Okpara is a 2017 All Ireland Scholar and the founder of Achieve with Aghogho (AWA) and an award-winning medical student at University College Dublin. Her young voice is currently driving global change in education. As a digital creator with a following of over 400,000 people, she uses her influence to inspire young people to fulfil their potential.

In January 2025, she founded AWA, a global non-profit organisation focused on helping students believe in themselves. The organisation runs monthly online seminars and community events which equip young people with the tools to thrive in education and early career. They have had over 2,000 registrations from students worldwide since their beginnings. Members of their community flock in from over 30 countries. AWA has partnered with institutions such as UCD School of Medicine, DCU Access and the German Embassy.
 
Aghogho is best known for her inspiring story about rising from failure. She has been interviewed on BBC News, was termed a “Face of the Future” by the Irish Times and recently named a “Voice for Change” nominee in the 2025 TikTok Awards. She is also an international keynote speaker and has delivered talks for global corporations such as Apple and Zoom.

Aghogho was recently named in Forbes 30 Under 30 for young people in Europe making social impact. Speaking about this recognition, Aghogho said; “This is truly a lifetime honour. Since I was as young as I can remember, I’ve held a deep inner belief that something in me could radically change the world. Through our work at Achieve with Aghogho, that belief took shape. And we are only just getting started.

“I hold a deep vision of one day seeing a world where girls and boys have equal access to education and opportunity. A world where talent is never inhibited by background, finances, gender, or geographical location. A world where young people believe in themselves no matter what.”

Aghogho is a member of the All Ireland Scholars and recently spoke on our scholar panel at the annual All Ireland Scholars panel about her experience and the importance of giving forward.