Book Review: Greener Pasture by Muneer Yaqub

How do you confront the moment of realization when you find yourself deeply entrenched in a
situation, like discovering you’ve worn your shirt inside out all day? This thought lingered
throughout my undergraduate experience.

Fresh out of secondary school, I applied to the university with dreams of studying nursing, fueled
by my passion for caring for others. But after a disappointing JAMB score of 220 and being shut
out of Ahmadu Bello University, I felt like I had just been served jollof rice without meat, at an
Owambe I dressed up for. Was it my score, the fierce competition, or did the universe decide I needed a detour?

So, I tried out again the following year, this time to another school: Usmanu Danfodiyo
University Sokoto. But maybe nursing wasn’t my calling after all; then, I jumped on the next
available course that’d get me an admission, so I don’t rot in my parent’s house running endless
errands. Microbiology! I thought it was a sensible choice; someone said it would lead me to a
career in a medical lab at a fancy hospital. Little did I know, I was in for a rollercoaster ride of
confusion and self-doubt.

The first year, reality set in – it didn’t look like microbiology had a future for me. I was hearing
stories of microbiology alumni working in the Keke Napep industry or simply jobless, and I
thought, “I think nursing is calling me back” – so I vowed to take another jamb. But I
was stuck in a relationship with microbiology. Somehow, I managed to convince myself that
leaving it would be like breaking up with an abusive partner: you know the saying, the devil we
know is better than the angel we don’t know.

Looking back, I see that my reluctance was rooted in fear and uncertainty because, by my second
year, I had already fallen in love with the course. But as I navigated my studies, thoughts about
the future began to surface. What’s next after my Bachelor in Microbiology? This would keep
me up at night. So, I turned to my dad for advice. He suggested that since I loved microbiology, I
could further my studies in it after graduation until I figured out what I wanted to do. Great idea!
Even though I didn’t know how that would be possible at the time, I was bought. Further studies
it is. Now, here comes another problem: given my undergraduate experience, with one
microscope to over 300 students, I didn’t think I wanted to continue my postgraduate education
here. Where, then?

Towards the end of my second year, I learned that an alumnus of my school and department had
secured a fully funded PhD scholarship in the USA right after his Bachelor’s in Microbiology. His
name, Muneer Yaqub. I was flustered, wondering, “How did he do it?” This was my path, and I
needed answers. Then luck struck, he had a Twitter page where he shared resources for
international students from developing countries looking to study in advanced countries. I dusted
my dormant Twitter account and began to keep tabs on him. This marked a turning point in my academic journey. I felt a renewed sense of hope; so, this thing is even possible. With the
economic situation in Nigeria being what it is, studying for free with a stipend while exploring a
new country sounded like a good idea.

I was excited when I learned later on that he had published a book titled ‘Greener Pasture: How
to Secure Fully Funded Scholarships for Masters and PhD in the USA.’ In no time, I purchased
and devoured the book. And as promised, the book delivered. It detailed step-by-step everything
I needed to know how to secure a fully funded scholarship abroad and, more importantly, how and
where to begin! – a question I had struggled with.

But beyond scholarships, this book was rife with wisdom. When the author wrote that
“opportunities are everywhere; we just aren’t informed,” this resonated with me deeply. Here I
was, holding an opportunity right in front of me as I scrolled through its pages, I couldn’t be
more grateful I had come across this beautiful book. It brought back to me the sensations I felt
reading ‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill for the first time, a book that transcended tips
on financial management into life lessons that have continued to stay with me.

Greener Pasture has taught me to “sell myself”—not arrogantly of course, but to confidently
highlight my achievements, no matter how small. This lesson proved invaluable when I sought
funding for a project…and I got it, all by selling myself. Apparently, the book arrived in my life
right when I needed it; a book I didn’t deserve, but one very much needed.
And if you’re thinking, “but what if I don’t want to study in the USA?” No worries—the book
espouses insights that are applicable anywhere in the world where graduate scholarships are
available.

It might also interest you that Greener Pasture has consistently featured as a monthly best-seller
on Okada Books and on top of that it was recently listed among the 2023 100 best-selling non-
fiction books in Nigeria according to Roving Heights, wedged between Trevoh Noah’s ‘Born of
a Crime’ and ‘Elon Musk’ by Walter Isaacson. It has also received positive reviews from
esteemed scholarship and graduate school mentors.

Growth involves embracing challenges and seizing opportunities. The lessons from Greener
Pasture extends far beyond scholarship applications. They emphasize self-acceptance,
determination, resilience and, most importantly, dealing with rejection – what Muneer referred to
in the book as “Love Letters”.

As I embark on my scholarship journey, I invite you to join me. With the guidance of this book, I
hope that within a year – as Muneer promises – we will both find our paths to one of the top
universities in the United States.

About the Writer: Aishat Taiye Omoniyi, a microbiology graduate from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, is currently serving her nation through the National Youth Service Corps. With a keen interest in furthering her education, she aspires to attend graduate school. Aishat also enjoys reading, writing, and exploring the world of arts.