Friday Alobu, a former okada rider from Amagu village in the Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi state, just became the first member of his family to complete formal education by earning a PhD.
When Friday looks back on his journey, he remembers the difficulties he encountered trying to improve his social standing through schooling. Even though Friday began riding a motorcycle to support himself, he always wanted to go to college and earn more education.
Friday came from a lowly beginning, and he first had financial obstacles that prevented him from continuing his studies past secondary school. He was determined to escape the confines of poverty, so in 2001 he took advantage of the opportunity to join the Nigerian police force and looked for other work alternatives.
Dr. Friday Alobu discussed his goals and challenges in an interview with LEGIT.NG. “I am from Ohatekwe Amagu in Ikwo LGA of Ebonyi state.” In fact, I came from a low-income family and was the only one to complete a PhD program in higher education. Not only did my parents not complete primary school, but they never even went to secondary school.
“I was born with seven siblings, but none of them went to college, and some of them dropped out of secondary school,” he went on. Having no one to train me after secondary school, I was forced to take up okada riding in my village.
Motivated by his will to overcome his circumstances, Friday accepted the challenge of pursuing his academic goals against all odds by enrolling in university while serving in the Nigerian Police Force.
Friday Alobu’s journey from being an okada rider to having a PhD is a shining example of tenacity, fortitude, and the ability of education to break the cycle of poverty.
CREDIT: Allschoolabs, ALLSCHOOLABS
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