By Ekanem Moses
Though sound absurd and unbelievable how such a high flier could settled for private job instead of gaining either automatic employment in the government service or furthering his educational career in any of the university of his choice within or outside the country.
This is a pathetic life story of Peter, Emmanuel Godwin, an indigene of Ndiya Usung Inyang, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, in Akwa Ibom State. He is from the lowest ebb of the society, at times suffer to be described as the poor of the poorest background. He lives in a thatch mud house with his parent. See attached picture.
His father, Mr. Godwin Peter Udoinwang is a bricklayer, a handsome man whom poverty has so twisted. The father disclosed to this reporter how he escaped death on the 31st December, 2020 as he fell inside a dug soakaway pit, while the top of the soakaway collapsed on him inside; he said he survived the incident by special grace of God, though he had fractured left hand which almost render him inefficient or inactive in his daily work as before.
The mother, Mrs. Hannah Godwin Peter, is bedridden due to an unknown ailment which according to the husband, they have been to and contacted many medical and spiritual places with no tangible development. Responding to question, Emmanuel’s mother couldn’t explain the cause of her illness. What actually kept this one-time-vibrant woman down remain unknown as the husband rather sob in pity of the wife, whom he said had suffered the disease for a very long time making him spend a little resources in seeking cure for her. According to Mr. Godwin Peter, Emmanuel’s father, he had six children but unfortunately, one had died, remaining now five; 3male and two female. He lamented how he managed to feed the family with no assistance from anywhere except his bricklaying work. Despite his fractured hand and the health of his wife, he keeps struggling to feed the family as well as attend to the children education in school thus making the already hard situation more burdensome.
But Emmanuel’s brilliantness attracted favour to him through a good Samaritan, Chief Aniefiok Udoinweh whom his father had worked for once. Without much ado, Chief Udoinweh became like a godfather to Emmanuel in furtherance of his education in the University of Uyo; before then, Peter, Emmanuel Godwin had his Primary education in Q.I.C Central School, Ndiya (2000 – 2006) and moved to Comprehensive Secondary School, Ndiya (2006 – 2012), whereby he still recalled his secondary school principal as one Mr. Basil W. Ntekop. Having born on 12th June, 1996 in Ndiya. He gained admission into University of Uyo in October 2016 and completed in 2021. In his comment, Emmanuel who expressed appreciation while responding to questions from this reporter, thanked Chief Aniefiok Udoinweh, whom he described as his mentor, as a man God used to enable completion of his university education with such flying colours.
Reacting, Chief Udoinweh – who is an indigene of Mbiokporo II in Nsit Ibom, attributed his closeness to Godwin Peter Udoinwang’s family, for his honesty, devotion and commitment to his bricklaying work. “It is through his work I came in contact with him, he is a man who earned my respect for being so diligent with his handwork.” Chief Udoinweh recounted how Emmanuel’s father carried a ladder on his shoulder all the way from Ndiya Usung Inyang to work for him in his house at Afaha Nsit, such a kind commitment he said couldn’t be ignored. High Chief Udoinweh in his element best said he was equally a beneficiary of scholarship to attend and advanced himself educationally; he therefore cited that as a reason he offered to ensure Emmanuel’s brilliantness in school didn’t suffer setback. Emmanuel academic performance became so outstanding that he excelled by graduating with B.Sc in Mathematics; First Class Honours Division.
Having emerged the Overall Best Graduating Student in the Combined 26th, 27th and 28th Convocation Ceremonies of the University of Uyo held on 8th – 11th November, 2024. Peter, Emmanuel participated in the one year mandatory National Youth Service from 26th April 2023 to 25th April, 2024.
Emmanuel said for anybody who may doubt his educational prowess, could feel free to contact his then Head of Department, Mathematics – Prof. S. A. Sanni (HOD) during his year 1 and 2; and Prof. E. E. Joshua as HOD in his year 3 and 4 while he said Prof. Idara Akpabio was the then Dean of the Faculty. He said since he couldn’t secure government employment despite his frantic moves to meet with some Commissioners, he lamented how all his attempt failed including letters to His Excellency, the Governor. He therefore resigned his fate to teaching in a private school in their locality Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.
In his word, Emmanuel explain his journey in teaching career thus: “I started teaching in the private school in January 2022 and left for National Youth Service in April 2023… I returned from Service in April 2024 and continued with them till date….” He expressed his disappointment of not having State or Federal government attention to render assistance to him in any form.
Somehow it looks ridiculous how such a brilliant boy could be neglected and rejected without any reward of any kind to show as a mark of encouragement even to others. In one of his letters shown to this reporter, when asked why his Alma-mater couldn’t retain him as a graduate assistant – part of that letter reads: “Financial issues have made my furthering of studies quite difficult. Also, effort to serve and work in where I can execute and utilize my prospects and capabilities maximally has proved abortive as I was made to be privy about the fact that my alma mater, the University of Uyo as a federal institution do not have the autonomy to employ staff because of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS)”. Acknowledging all the setbacks in his life as secondary, while the primary purpose in his life is to fulfil his goal of aspiring higher and soaring higher.
We are hopefully sure that His Excellency, with his ARISE Agenda mantra will give succour to this family. Emmanuel Godwin Peter needs to be encouraged. We humbly request and plead that His Excellency, Pst. Umo Bassey Eno, Ph.D should be of help in order to explore his prospects and potentials so that he can prodigiously utilize them to render his quota to the growth and development of our dear state and the society at large.
