My name is Ugwu Jacinta Onyinye. I hail from Ama-edelu village Eha-Alumona in Nsukka East Local Government Area. I was born into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ugwu Remigius. My father worked as a farmer but now has nothing to do because of ill health. My mother is a housewife. My parent gave birth to eight children, five boys and three girls, and I am the sixth issue among them.
I was born on 22nd April 1990, so I am 19 years old as I am writing. Due to some circumstances of hardship, my father couldn’t afford the money to send all of us to school, which made some of my brothers become salesboys after their primary education. My father picked my elder sister to train her in secondary school because my father couldn’t afford the school fees.
However, my father tried his best to bring us up in a Christian way. Things remained still, so I was taken to one of my mother’s sisters, who lives in Enugu but was married in Eha-Alumona. When I was in her house, I was so maltreated that I attended afternoon classes throughout my stay there, and I managed to finish my primary school education. I was waiting to know whether I would continue, but I had to wait for one year, and then I decided to return home. My aunt had the money but didn’t want to help my parent.
Furthermore, here is why I needed the scholarship: When I came back home, I had nothing else to do. Instead, I went to the farm and forest with my siblings to fetch some firewood. After the firewood was fetched, it was sold, and the money was used to solve some other problems.
One day, I was in the morning mass when our Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Okpe, announced the scholarship form. The form was sold at the Parish house, so when I took the news home, my parents were very happy but had no money to buy it. My senior sister helped me in that aspect; later, after collecting and filling out the form, I took the examination in the year 2001. Luckily, I passed the examination and was interviewed by Rev. Fr. Okonu, the director.
Meanwhile, after the interview, fortunately for me, I passed the interview. My name was announced in our Parish, and I was the happiest girl in my village. Even though I passed the interview, the money to buy some necessary things required by the school authorities became a problem. Then, my mother declared that instead of losing the opportunity given to her, she would borrow money from her friends to make sure that I went to school.
Finally, I was admitted into the school on 14th September 2001 and was the first person (female) to win the late Mrs Joe Odo Foundation Scholarship. I am now a fifth-year SSII.
On behalf of my family, I thank the family of Mr and Mrs Joe Odo for giving me great opportunities to go to school and for the help rendered so far in bringing me up to this juncture. I am sorry for the death of Mrs. Josephine Odo, who is also, mostly, my own mother.
I pray that her soul will rest in Abraham’s bosom. I also thank all her children who took over from her after her death, as well as our director emeritus, Rev. Fr. Onu, and incumbent director now in charge, Rev. Fr. Simeon Ugwueze. May the almighty God bless you in His way.
Thanks!
Ugwu Jacinta Onyinye.
