By Our Correspondent
There were tears of joy as Mr. Ikechukwu Igwenagu of Umuokpu, Awka South Local Government Area, led his daughter, Ms. Nkiruka Igwenagu, on an emotional thank-you visit to Senator Victor Umeh, the man she described as the architect of her destiny.
Dressed smartly and glowing with pride, Nkiruka, a graduate of Architecture from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC), visited the senator under the auspices of the Victor Umeh Education Foundation (VUMEF) to present her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate. Senator Umeh had sponsored her education from her lowest moment to academic success.
Recounting her touching story, Nkiruka said her journey began in 2015 during one of Senator Umeh’s visits to Awka, when names were compiled for a scholarship scheme and beneficiaries were selected through a ballot.
“I picked a ‘NO’ and my world collapsed,” she recalled.
“I broke down in tears because I was about to lose my admission into the Federal Polytechnic, Oko.
My parents were already struggling to sponsor three of my siblings in the university.”
Her distress, she said, caught the attention of Senator Umeh.
“He asked why I was crying. I explained everything. He was moved by my situation and promised to sponsor my education up to Master’s level—and he kept that promise,” she said, visibly emotional.
According to her, the scholarship enabled her to complete her programme at the Polytechnic. Impressed by her academic performance, the senator later extended the sponsorship to her studies at UNEC, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture.
After graduation, Senator Umeh encouraged her to proceed immediately for a Master’s degree. However, due to the timing of her NYSC call-up, she opted to complete her national service first, prompting her return to present her discharge certificate and express her gratitude.
The visit was further marked by a parade of honour staged by Nkiruka in full NYSC uniform, drawing applause and admiration from those present.
Prayers were offered for Senator Victor Umeh and his wife, Lady Prisca Umeh, for what many described as an uncommon act of compassion and sustained commitment to human capital development.
It was gathered that over 300 students have graduated from Senator Umeh’s scholarship scheme at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, while more than 324 students are currently benefiting from the initiative across various tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Indeed, from a ballot “NO” to a graduate’s “YES,” Nkiruka’s story stands as a powerful reminder that kindness can truly change destinies.
