MOUA Convocation: From Palm Tree Climber To First Class Best Graduating Student 

Samson Chibuzo Ugwu hails from Olido Village in Enugu-Ezike community in Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State. The young Ugwu, second son among the six siblings to Mr/Mrs Pastor Jonah Ugwu narrates an inspirational story to JUDE OSSAI, Editor Daily News Nigeria on how he rose from palm fruit cutting to emerge as a first class graduate and best graduating student in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Management at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State.

.

Excerpt:

.

“I am Ugwu Samson Chibuzo, a dynamic and forward-thinking young man from Olido Enugu-Ezike in Igbo Eze North LGA of Enugu State. I was born on December 24th, 1995, as the second son among six siblings to Mr/Mrs Pst. Jonah Ugwu.

.

“My father is the founder and pastor of a local church, while my mother is a petty trader who sells brooms but provides most of the financial support for our family.

.

“At five years old, I left home to live with one of my aunties, who was disabled and that’s where I stayed until finishing JS3. During that time, I met Chijioke Fidelis  – my childhood friend and brilliant student – who positively influenced me academically. He became my mentor and my  academic coach.

.

“I attended our community primary school where pupils do not pay fees but instead submit crafts such as brooms every week.

.

“From primary one, we were taught how to make brooms. By primary four, I was climbing small palm trees and cutting fronds for myself and others using ordinary rope when we went to fetch brooms in groups. I became the designated frond cutter and received payment in brooms from my peers.

.

“This is how my palm tree climbing journey began. Eventually, I learned to climb taller trees and started cutting palm fruit for people who paid me a small fee. By primary five, I was making money from this skill to pay for my school fees (40 Naira every week in place of two brooms)  with ease.

.

“My expertise continued to grow until by the time I finished junior secondary school, I had become very good at climbing tall palm trees. When I left my aunt’s house after JS3, I returned home where I continued honing my skills in palm tree climbing.

.

“Prior to starting my senior secondary school, my aunt from a neighboring village named Umachi Enugu-Ezike visited our home and asked me to live with her. Initially, I declined but then she promised to support my education at any level if I stayed with her. Given my passion and love for tertiary education, I accepted her offer and moved in with her. She took great care of me and provided me with a bike that I used every day to attend Olido Community High School.

.

“Eventually, however, I realized that I needed to start earning money for myself instead of relying on her financial support alone. While she did provide some funds for my upkeep, it was not enough as I also had expenses related to maintaining the bike she gave me.

I resumed climbing palm trees at that location, despite her initial objections.  However, when her younger sister visited and expressed concern about the danger of my work, I stopped.

.

“Shortly, as I was preparing for WASC exams, robbers attacked our home and we were forced to flee. I returned to live with my father and continued climbing palm trees there.

.

“With all the hustles and tussle, I finished secondary school as the best  graduating science student of my set.

When I finished secondary school, I became a full time palm tree climber,  travelling as far as Edem Nsukka, Adani Uwani LGA and every part of my village to cut palm fruit for people.

.

“One thing about me is that anything I do, I do it with all my might, zeal and strength.  I abide by the Bible verse that says, in anything your hand finds to do, do it with all thy strength and might. Ecc.9:10.

.

“So, I was determined that even in my palm tree climbing, I was going to be the best palm tree climber and so I was. I was the village women’s favourite because I cut palm fruit/fronds for them with a professional touch. I valued my relationship with them, and I never took advantage of any of my customers.

.

“There’s no palm tree I couldn’t climb no matter how tall as far as the palm tree was in good shape. Any palm tree I said I could not climb, no other person would dare climb it.

.

“I made a lot of money from palm tree climbing but it was indeed a very risky and dangerous work. Almost every year, I heard the news of how a man from my village or neighbouring community fell off the palm tree and died.

.

“I faced a lot of challenges. Sometimes, my leg would drift; sometimes, I would almost cut my climber(climbing rope) while climbing up there. Sometimes, the palm fruit would almost fall on me.

.

“Sometimes, the climber would twist me and my head would be upside down. How about  snake ? I can’t count how many snakes I had fought and killed up there.

.

“If you shake my hands those days, it will be as strong as stone. Sometimes, I would have a lot of blisters on my waist, palms and the soles of my feet due to so much friction and trecking. I sustained injuries sometimes.  But I endured all the pains because I knew my life won’t continue like that forever.

.

“In all these things, my God delivered me and kept me from falling down from palm tree. God was my confidence and source of courage. I knew He won’t allow me to die from climbing palm tree. So anytime fear came up, I would pray and He would encourage me.

.

“So, before I took the step of faith of writing UTME, I had saved a lot of money. I was admitted to study Forestry and Environmental Management at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State.

.

“Whenever we had semester break, strike, or holiday, I would come back home and switch from student mode back to palm tree climbing mode. My parents tried their best in supporting me financially but it wasn’t enough for me.

.

“Those days if you see me, you won’t believe I was an undergraduate.  My customers used to pray for me that God should change my life because they pitied me so much .

.

“Well I didn’t pretend that I was rich or anything, rather I accepted my reality and was doing everything possible to change my story.

.

“Whenever I got back to school, I would focus purely on my studies.  And knowing where I came from and how the money I used to pay my school fees came about, I was determined that I must maximise my academic years.

.

“So, I studied very well, and God helped me, I came out with first-class and as the best- graduating student in both my department and college.

.

“During my undergraduate days also, I used the money I was making from palm tree climbing to start modern beekeeping business known as BeeSaved Honey Enterprise, which is now registered under CAC but no much start-up capital yet.

.

“Currently, I am serving my father land at Benue State and would like to further my studies home or abroad. So, right  now, I am searching for scholarship opportunities and soliciting for support.

.

“I am also praying that I get my dream job, which is lecturing immediately I finish my national youth service year so that nothing will push me back to palm tree climbing again.