By Adadareporters
John Chigekwu Kennedy, a mathematician, risks losing his Belgian university scholarship following his inability to fund the travel and other logistical demands.
Kennedy, from Obollo-Etiti in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, is therefore seeking financial assistance of Gov Peter Mbah of Enugu State and other well-meaning people to enable him to travel. He said he has up to March 15, 2024 to fulfill the requirements or risks losing the offer.
Kennedy, who said he required approximately N3.5m, said he got the same admission in 2022, but could not travel because of paucity of funds.
According to him, “I am required to pay the sum of 230 Euros to the accounts of the immigration office in Brussels. It is called Additional Contribution which is compulsory for every residence-permit applicant. I am also to pay 180 Euros to the accounts of the embassy on the day of biometric data capture, which I have up till 15th of this March to do, otherwise I lose it again. Other expenses go into flight, school accommodation and health insurance.”
The University of Nigeria graduate said his ambition was to study and return to Nigeria to use the knowledge to contribute to the development of the country. He said, “I read Mathematics Education. I am the author of New Functional Mathematics for Junior Secondary School, and that of senior secondary. I was born by a teacher, and he made me love mathematics. I never had the phobia associated with mathematics. I was motivated by my father who, while alive, used mathematics in solving societal problems apart from the theoretical part.”
On how he got the admission, Kennedy said, “I wrote the exam at the British Council in Abuja, and was successful. I used the same result to apply to Odisee University in Belgium for a scholarship to study Business Management. I was successful. I got this same admission in 2022, but couldn’t meet the requirements of the embassy. I applied again in 2023. That of 2023 will expire on 15th of March, 2023. My challenge is that if I don’t do the biometric data capture before March 15th, I would have lost this scholarship.”
On how his quest would benefit society, he said, “At the embassy level, there is a questionnaire I was given which is tagged ‘the purpose of my going there to study’. As a patriotic Nigerian, I wouldn’t study abroad and remain there. It is morally wrong to stay there after my studies. In the area of business management, which is my field, there is need for entrepreneurial development. Youths of these days want white-collar jobs that pay in millions. But such requires years of working experiences. Entrepreneurship comes with its challenges. The problem is the knowledge about the business. That is the area that good business plans are required. That is where my services will be essential: to help design successful entrepreneurship. There is need for entrepreneurship education.”
He appealed to well-to-do Nigerians to help him. He said, “I am an orphan and only son. The intellectual ability is there, but the support to utilise the brain is what I am lacking. I appeal for help so that this God-given talent of mine will be judiciously utilised for the development of mankind. Human mind remains the fundamental resources and once it is developed, the society will have a highly reduced crime rate, and improved developmental values.
“I beg our Governor, Dr Peter Mbah; our Senator, Barr Okey Ezea; business mogul, Dr Sam Maduka Onyishi; Chief Willy Ezugwu (Wilson), Hon Mark Obetta, who represents us at the House of Representatives; ex-Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Hon Simon Atigwe, representing Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency, among others, to come to my assistance. This is the opportunity I have to acquire knowledge-based skills that will be impactful in our generation. It is a three-year course. My number is 0816 231 9141.”
