GREATER DAY
AHEAD (II)
One week later, as God would have
it, his church raised the required fund on his behalf. In consequence to this, his
Pastor accompanied him to his school for the awaited registration. It was
indeed a miracle just like his mother kept telling him.
Prior to the exam period, Uzo left no stone unturned towards ensuring
that he made distinction in all his subjects. He was thoroughly determined to
make his mum who he regarded as an ‘angel’ proud. He was a notable science
student in his school that in every interschool exhibition/competition
involving the school, he must be the school’s representative or one of the representatives
as might be the case.
When the results were released in August 1994,
he came out with flying colours just as he anticipated. More interestingly, he
was not just the best candidate among his set/peers but was the overall best in
the whole of Lagos State. As regards the amazing performance, he was granted a
scholarship by the state’s government to study his dream course, Medicine and
Surgery in any university across the federation.
His mum, Ugonma couldn’t hold
her joy. On hearing the latest development, she felt like running from Lagos to
Abia State – her home state. She alongside her entire family dedicated the rare
victory to God. And, she challenged her other four children to follow suit.
They were made to realize that their elder brother had laid a tremendous
foundation for them, hence had no reason to fail.
The following year being 1995,
Uzo sat for the University Matriculation Examination (UME) – now known as the
Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). He enrolled for the
University of Lagos (UNILAG) to study Medicine.
Consequently, he made an excellent grade when the result came out later
in the year, and he successfully secured admission in the university on merit
toward the end of the year in question.
Before he departed for the
campus, he had an indoor one-on-one meeting that lasted for several minutes, if
not hours, with his wonderful and darling mother.
“Uzo my son,” Ugonma called. “I
have always told you that God makes a way where there seems to be no way.”
Uzo grinned, visualizing the
memory lane.
They were seated on separate
plastic chairs situated in their humble room. Ugonma who was plump, about
4.8-foot tall and chocolate, was putting on a pink casual dress and barefooted.
On his part, Uzo was clad in multiple-coloured knickers, green polo spotted
with white colour and equally barefooted; he was slim, fair and about 5.5-foot
tall – he was a reminiscent of his late father. They were seated directly
opposite each other, but very closely.
“Now you can see for yourself.”
she proceeded. “Of course you have seen how miraculous our Lord is.”
“Mum, you are absolutely right.”
he responded. “He is indeed a miracle working God.”
“I am happy for you, my son.”
“Thank you mum.”
“Now that you are in the
university.” she proceeded, calmly grabbed his two hands with hers
respectively. “You must not forget where you are coming from.”
She continued relentlessly till
both of them became saturated. It was a holistic counselling section.
The following three days, Uzo
left for the campus. While in the university, as an ardent and gifted singer as
well as one who could play an organ perfectly, he never abandoned his artistic
talent rather he became more devoted to the calling.
As time progressed, as a first
year medical student and a well brought up chap, Uzo was taking three major
things very seriously; they were – his prayers, studies and talent. He resisted
everything that was liable to make him a failure.
Amazingly, his singing talent
took him round the state and beyond owing to uncountable public functions as
well as competitions he was engaged in, that at a point, he was chosen to
represent Nigeria in one international singing competition that involved
students of various tertiary institutions in the world.
In the aforesaid competition,
Uzo emerged as the overall best. In addition to the astonishing prizes attached
to the award which included hundred thousand US dollars, a duplex in Lagos
State and a Range Over Jeep, the organizer of the event – the United Nations
Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – issued him a
scholarship to study his discipline in any university of his choice across the
globe up to any level. But Uzo chose to remain in UNILAG so he would not be far
from his beloved family.
On receiving the incredible
news, his mother Ugonma passed out due to overwhelming euphoria but regained
her wellness after forty-eight hours in a hospital bed.
Little did the poor widow know that, there was a greater day that lied ahead
when her son was granted a scholarship by the Lagos State government.
From that moment onwards, their family’s life
changed overnight. Everything including food, clothes and adequate shelter
became available. To assert the least, they never lacked again.
The rest is history, please.
Comrade Fred Nwaozor
Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri
_____________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056Twitter: @mediambassador
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