THE ASTONISHING, INSPIRING STORY OF DOGGEDNESS TO HIT THE PINNACLE OF SUCCESS
*From wheelbarrow-pushing, campus shoe-mending to Professor of Ethics, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka
The success of men, they say, lies in their story. Life has never been easy even when it appears as if it is, for the rich and opulent in society, the truth is that there is always a stopwatch moment in everyone’s life, and then a moment that halts in precisely as a stumbling block towards whatever we intend to achieve.
There is a story for everyone irrespective of what one’s background might be. For Nicholas Uchechukwu Asogwa, it is one borne out of sheer willed determination to become a success, driven by his admiration of those he chose as models, rather than reclining in self-jealousy.
Prof Nicholas Asogwa’s story is a remarkable epic that heralds the tenacity of purpose by a young African determined to set aside encumbering challenges of poverty, from nobody to a world-class and reputable academic pursuit through the undying strength of the human spirit. The story of the one-time wheelbarrow-pushing to-campus shoe-mending youth represents HOPE for the downtrodden who think success is unattainable without connection or a god-father in Africa,
Welcome to the amazing and inspiring story of Prof Nicholas Uchechukwu Asogwa, an African from Umudiaka Village in Ihe/Owere, Nsukka, in Enugu State, Nigeria.
La Fete: Congratulations Prof on your recent achievement of earning a PhD, seeing the challenges you went through to attain this position. What gave you the drive and power to hold on in the face of obstacles?
Prof Asogwa: The determination to break the cycle of poverty in my family and to prove to all those who doubted me that a person’s background does not define his potential has been the driving force behind my resolve to persevere in the face of the varying challenges of life. This was the very reason why I persevered even in the face of the numerous rejections, disappointments, and setbacks that came my way. I am thrilled today that I never allowed all those challenges to define me.
La Fete: Tell us which part of Nigeria you come from, how many you are in your family and the names of your parents.
Prof Asogwa: I am from Umudiaka village in Ihe/Owere, Nsukka Town in Enugu State. I was born into the family of the late Mr Fidelis Asogwa and Mrs Roseline Asogwa (nee Ozioko). We are five in number. Of the five children of my parents, I am the second child and the first son. Three of us are graduates, whereas two are not. I inspired and continue to inspire my siblings both in education and in attitude to life.
La Fete: Aside from the wheelbarrow and shoe-making activities you did to keep body and soul going in the past, which other craft or trade did you engage yourself in?
Prof Asogwa: Definitely, barrow-pushing and shoe-mending were not the only menial jobs I did to make ends meet in the past. The two were prominent among the ones that I did. I did a lot of farm work for many academic staff of the Agricultural Faculty of our university who are today professors. Some of them were undergoing their post-graduate programme then while some were in the early stages of their career. The interesting thing is that the majority of them are still in the service. I also sold dried maize and fio-fio (a brand of beans) in our local market, using a wheelbarrow. During my Master’s programme, I was into the business of selling water, commercial phone calls (in a number of the students’ hostels of our university), as well as grinding business. Recall that in my story I narrated how I had to abandon my Master’s programme at a stage due to lack of funds, and how Professor JCA Agbakoba came to my rescue by providing me with an interest-free loan. The loan was the result of my discussion with him on my survival strategy if I must heed his advice to come back and complete my Master’s programme. It was that loan plus the assistance from a few others that helped me to establish these petty businesses in order to sustain myself.
PROF ASOGWA’S JOURNEY IN SEARCH OF EXCELLENCE
The remarkable story of Prof Asogwa is a thrilling motivation for every young person determined to go through the challenging and impinging road to success. And in telling his personal story after being conferred with the academic title of a professor, in what could be described as an autobiography, he enthusiastically gave the details of the sojourn.
It is a great and momentous occasion in my life as the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, announced my elevation to the sublime and prestigious rank of professor. I am deeply humbled to celebrate this momentous occasion. My gratitude goes to God, the undisputed Supreme Power of the universe for making my attainment of this feat possible. I stand before the world today overwhelmed with a profound sense of gratitude, honour, and accomplishment. I am bold to state that I am a living testament to the power of persistence, determination, and unyielding faith in the face of adversity.
I am deeply humbled and happy because looking back at my journey I am reminded of the enormous challenges and obstacles that stood in my path. I was born into a family facing abject poverty, which seriously threatened my educational opportunities. Times were hard, resources were limited, and dreams seemed unattainable. However, I was blessed with parents who instilled in me the value of education and the belief that anything is possible with hard work and perseverance.
My path to the prestigious rank of professor was not an easy one. I had to navigate through financial constraints, societal stereotypes, and a myriad of doubts. As I stepped into the hallowed halls of this university the very day I was offered employment, I knew that I carried the weight of breaking the cycle of poverty in my family and proving to all those who doubted me that a person’s background does not define his/her potential.
Determination
Throughout my academic journey, I was fuelled by an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a burning desire to create a better future for myself and my loved ones. There were countless nights spent studying while others slept, sacrificing personal comforts to ensure I could excel in my chosen field. I faced numerous rejections, disappointments, and setbacks along the way, but I refused to let them define me.
The sublime position of professor which I attained today is an affirmation of the truism in the saying that, ‘determination is the key to success.’ I could have been demoralised by circumstances if not for my determination to succeed. I recall with tears my days as a barrow pusher at the popular Orie Oba Market in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, and then my days as a shoe-mender in one of the female hostels (Bello Hall) in this same university where I became a professor. Sometime in 2016, I had a chance to meet with the owner of COU Barrows, the owner of the then-flourishing business outfit from which I used to hire wheelbarrows. In the course of our discussion, he told me that seeing me and getting to know what I have become makes him believe that, ‘what God cannot do does not exist.’
Two Samaritans
At this juncture, may I, in addition to my parents who laid the foundation of my education, mention the names of two persons who were strategically instrumental to my academic career and achievements? They are Bar Mrs Nkechi Ohanuka and Mrs Proscovia Ndoboli from Imo State and Uganda respectively. My relationship with them dates back to my days as a shoe mender at the university. Both of them were my regular customers then. Upon realising that I attended school up to secondary level in one of my interactions with her, Nkechi Ohanuka asked me why I didn’t want to further my education. I replied that I desired higher education badly, but that owing to my background, I needed to make some money that would help me to forge ahead. Coincidentally, the discussion took place at a time when the JAMB form was on sale. In the evening of that same day, Mrs Ohanuka came back to my shop, tapped me at the back and upon my turning to know who tapped me, she handed a wrapped paper to me saying, “I have discussed with my husband, go and purchase JAMB form.”
When she left I unwrapped the paper, and lo and behold, it contained N620.00, the exact amount JAMB form was sold then. That was in her final year. As GSM was not in place in those days, there was no means for me to contact her, nor for her to even know the progress of the person she invested in!
One thing I did which later helped me was to write her name boldly at the door of my room. Not knowing where and how to locate Mrs Ohanuka became a source of worry to me to the point that I had to open up to people who came around me about what was becoming a big challenge to me. Although I could not locate Nkechi Ohanuka, I dedicated my PhD work which had been scheduled for oral defence in February 2014 to her and Proscovia Ndoboli.
As fate would have it, and through the power of the Internet (Google & Facebook), I was able to reconnect with Mrs Nkechi Ohanuka in late 2013, about two or three months before my PhD oral defence, thanks to the suggestion made to me by my then office mate, Ven Dr Joseph Chukwuma. To the glory of God, Nkechi Ohanuka was present in my PhD convocation. The rest is now history.
In the case of Proscocia, when I informed her that she might not see me in my shop when next she came to repair her shoes, as I was due to leave, having gotten admission to further my education, she was shocked; shocked because she said she didn’t know that I attended secondary school much less sitting for JAMB examination. After congratulating me, she told me that she would like to come and know my place and see my parents. We fixed a date; and after visiting my place, she told me that even though my place is very close to the university, she wouldn’t want me to be attending lectures from my place.
In addition, she told me that she would pay for my initial school fees. She fulfilled her promise and left Nigeria the next year, following her graduation. Proscovia Ndoboli was a student of the Department of Religion. That was how I started. Nkechi bought the JAMB form for me, while Proscovia paid my first school fees and put me in the hostel. From there, my parents and I took over, and the struggle continued.
The concluding part of this amazing story, promises to be a MUST-Read in our forthcoming publication of your favourite magazine. Watch Out!