For Mr Ugwu Johnmartins Ifeanyi, determination, hard work and dedication are the main key to success.
As a student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka in Enugu state, it was not at all easy.
Coming from a poor background he did everything legit to excel in the school including riding commercial bike. But, at the end, he graduated with First Class Honours with CGPA of 4.68.
In an exclusive interview with WITHIN NIGERIA reporter, Ugwu explained how he was able to clinch the highest position in school despite all the challenges he encountered.
In the beginning
My name is John Martins Ifeanyi Ugwu from Aku, Igbo-Etiti local government area of Enugu state. I came from a very humble background. I am the second son of my family.
My father, Ugwu James is a retired Catechist who earns nothing as a Catechist while mother is a yam seller.
We were only supported by my mother, a petty yam seller.
It was not easy for us from the beginning. We struggled to get through secondary school. But I and my younger sister were so much determined to succeed in life.
I and my immediate sister got admission the same year at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, while I studied Agriculture Extension while was in Engineering. We ate any how in order to survive in school.
I usually go home to help my mum sell yams during weekends.
How I bought the motorbike
During my third year, my mum gave me some money for school fees and I had to add the money I got through hustling to buy motorbike so that I can use it to support myself. So, every weekend, I will come out fully, ride commercial motorbike. I will use the money I realized there to support myself and equally my younger sister who was in Engineering.
However, in my fourth year, I joined some persons in doing Master of the Ceremony. I got some little money from there, but the truth is that job doesn’t come regularly.
Challenges I encountered
Actually it wasn’t easy for me. I started my bike business in my third year because of financial problems I heard to borrow my friends bike to hustle at least to eat two square meal a day.
But I never allowed it pull me down academically. I do go to bike work on weekends and market both weekends and any week day that my mom needs my assistance and that will result in me missing class for the day.
I had challenges while riding the bike like accident that made me sick for months so it became hard for me to survive but my mom helped me with the much she can.
So after that I bought my own bike with 100k my gave me as school fees and house rent. I started hustling with it that I can pay up my school fees and rent b4 it late. Finally I paid it and from it I paid for my four years and final year school fees.
Then the bike was stolen inside school just at the beginning of final year 1st semester exams which became another serious challenge for me seeing my project before me and no means of getting money I decided to start MC work and by the grace of God it paid way for me and I managed to finish the project my mom with the help of my support from my mum.
I was dedicated to everything I do I give it 100% attention be it studying, riding, MC and business.
Like I said my mom is selling yam so I do go to market to help her out and also from the profit gathered she will give me some money for my up keep.
I also encountered light challenges too. During my 3yr and 4yr we had no electricity for close to 9months. So I used candles in reading and sometimes go to school with my rechargeable lantern to charge.
It affected me deeply because all my assignments became hard as a result of continuous phone low battery. And I had no laptop till my final when my in-law gave me his to run my project.
Other challenge was that my lodge I stayed from 1-5yr was far from school because I had no money to pay for nearby hostel, so I have to trek. Because of that I will wakeup early.
The trying moment is my 4year when I had an accident. No money for food and I was only surviving by help from friends.
What next for me?
If I see the opportunity to go into large scale and mechanized farming, I will. However, I also have passion for teaching.
My advice to the youths
My advice to them is that they should be patient in all situation having these three things in mind
1. God.
2. Hard work and
3. Determination