Mocked, criticized and called a failure after writing JAMB seven
times without gaining admission into the university, and even
contemplated suicide, Precious Ogechi Ogbueri, went on to earn a BSc,
Masters degrees, seven professional certificates and and to crown it
all, he qualified as a Chartered Environmentalist in the UK. Below is
his inspiring story:
After my secondary education, I decided to further my studies.
I wrote the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th JAMB exams and they were all
cancelled. I decided to take the bull by the horn. I went to Enugu State
University for a pre-degree program. On the completion of the program, I
was offered a course in faculty of Science but the cultism in the
institution as at then was unbearable for me, having being attacked
twice. I decided to use the 5th JAMB that was released to study at
University of Port Harcourt. Then ASUU had a protracted strike that
lasted for over six months, I needed to write a 6th JAMB and I scored
274 but that score couldn’t offer me admissions as the two JAMBS were
combined because the strike entered another year.
After the first 6yrs
at home, WAEC too was cancelling my results and I wrote WAEC/NECO four
times. I was frustrated, mocked, criticized and called a failure. Some
of my classmates were already youth Corpers. Many out of pity told me
to quit because school wasn’t for me. The criticisms, mockery and name
calling from people that didn’t know what I was passing through
compounded my issues and I started thinking of quitting/suicide.
One evening, my brother in-law/mentor told me “Ogechi nobody can
frustrate or determine the outcome of your life except you, don’t quit
trying, you’ll be whatever you want to be” I repeated that to myself
over a hundred times that night and I assumed the position of a CEO in
my life.
I enrolled for another pre-degree program in University of
Port Harcourt, and wrote the 7th JAMB and it was also canceled but thank
God I passed the BASIC program. So to gain admissions to do a bachelors
program, I wrote JAMB 7times, WAEC/NECO 4times and Pre-degree 2times.
However, when I finally entered University, I passed Rivers State
government scholarship exams to study abroad but few weeks to departure,
another government took over in 2007 and cancelled the scholarship. But
I told myself I must study in Nigeria and abroad…..
People called me a failure but, I don’t know if I am still a failure,
if school is for me now or not, or if am still bewitched as people
said..
All I can remember now is that I have done
BSc in Nigeria, Masters in Safety and Environmental Management in UK,
have seven additional professional certifications, qualified as a
Chartered Environmentalist in UK and have worked both in Nigeria &
Scotland.
I have learnt that setbacks are actually strongholds in disguise if we don’t quit trying.
I have learnt that persistence wears off every resistance.
I have also learnt as a Christian that if your faith says Yes, God won’t say No, only be DETERMINED.
I give God ALL the glory and shame to the devil.
More Photos of Precious, below…
