In Igbo land like many other African nations, Palm tree climbing either for palm wine tapping or harvest of its fruits is seen as the exclusive work of the poor, illiterate and less privileged.

Those who engage in this type of odd job wreaks deprivation and low life. They eat from hand to mouth.

However, one person seemed to have broken the jinx by using the proceeds to advance his academic.

 

Samson Chibuzo Ugwu, a popular palm tree climber in Igbo-Eze North local government area of Enugu state graduated with first class degree from Michael Okpara University, Umudike, Abia state.

Samson graduated in 2021/2022 academic session and few days ago, took part in the University convocation ceremony held in the university arena.

 

WITHIN NIGERIA reporter had an exclusive interview with him where he barred his soul on his motivation.

 

Excerpts;

May we meet you.

I am Ugwu Chibuzo Samson from Olido community, Enugu-Ezike in Igbo-Eze North local government area of Enugu state. I am a first class graduate of Forestry and Environmental Management, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia state. I want to impact the youths and indeed everybody positively in life.

 

Of all the courses in the University, why did you decide to study Forestry and Environmental Management?

I didn’t choose to study Forestry. I wanted to study Biochemistry. When I came here, they gave me Forestry and Environmental Management. I have not heard about the Course before. I was like, when I got to second year, I will change the course. But, when I got to second year, the course became interesting to me. My academic adviser also advised me that it is a nice course; so I had to continue with it. That was how I found myself in Forestry and Environmental Management.

 

How were you able to make it, combining climbing palm trees to harvest palm fruits with your studies and the end becoming the best graduating student in your department?

Well, talking about how I made it, it is all about determination and goal setting. It is also about setting your priority. I set my priority right. Whenever I am back to school, I focus on my studies. I don’t do any other job. I live a kind of life that will help me have a lot of time to study my books. I really had three places I go. From hostel to classroom and fellowship, back to hostel. These are three places I go.

Then, whenever I am coming home, I am coming with the thinking that I have left home. I am coming home to hustle for money. Whenever I am at home, the next day, I am off to climb palm trees to harvest palm fruits, hustling for money.

Before the holiday finishes, I would have made enough money to take me back to school. Like I said earlier, when I go back to school, I switch off anything that has to do with hustling and making money.

Graduating with first class and the best in my department, I must say, it was not easy. It was God that made it possible for me. I attended a program organized by my Fellowship. They taught us about goal setting and how to achieve it. That was in my year two. I just got CGPA of 3.77 in my year one.

In that program, they told us to believe that we can make first class. I was so much motivated in that program. I came back home and set my goal very well. I told myself how many As and Bs I want to get that semester. So, I set my goal very well and was reading very and I paid the price. So, that was how I made it. My goal was just to make first class. I didn’t know I will be the best in my department.

 

What was your motivation?

My motivation was that I hate poverty. I can’t describe how I hate poverty. I believe I was born to end poverty for myself, my family and as many people as possible. I still believe that education is the best way to end poverty.

 

How many palm trees can you harvest in a day?

I can cut an average of 50 to 60 palm trees in a day.

How much do you realize from harvesting each palm tree?

When I was in my place where I was using N100, I was making an average of N4,000 to N5,000 per day.

When I went to Edem and Uwani where we were using N200 to harvest one palm tree, I was making an average of N8,000 to N10, 000 per day.

 

What is your brightest moment during your undergraduate years?

My brightest moment in school was when I saw my result. I was able to make 4.5, that is first class. I was like, is this me? That was my third year. I was so much excited. I was screaming. That was my brightest moment.

 

What was your darkest moment?

My darkest moment was my year one. A week after I got admission, I couldn’t find my classmates. I stayed like one week without seeing any of my classmates. I was still feeling that I couldn’t find my classmates and MMM crashed out whereas I have an investment of N250,000 there. All the money I saved, my school fees, life savings and everything sunk.

 

Who sponsored your education?

My parents, myself and some of my friends helped me to finance my education. Whenever I asked them for help, they will readily help me.

 

Did you at any time think of quitting your studies due to stress and challenges?

Yea. The only time I thought of quitting was when MMM crashed out. All the money sunk. I didn’t have any money. I was almost begging to survive.

 

What is your next plan?

My next plan is to do my Masters degree, get job and make money. I am planning that when I make money, I will also establish my business very well.

Is first class for everybody?

Yes. I believe first class is for everybody that is willing to pay the price. Initially I never believed I could make first class. But immediately I set goal and was reading, I made it. I believe it is for everybody who can pay the price. It is anyone who can read and write and have the brain capacity to write JAMB and pass it.

 

What is your GP?

My CGPA is 4.63/5.

 

How did you feel when you discovered that you have made First class?

I was so excited, happy. It was a dream come through for me.

Who is your mentor?

My mentor during my early days was Ayogu Chijioke Fidelis. I also have Dr. kumuyi as my mentor.

 

What is your hobby?

My hobby is reading and discovering new things. I am a very inquisitive person. I also listen to talks or messages a lot.

Apart from financial challenges, what other challenges did you have in your undergraduate years? In my year one, I have challenges of too much stress. I was doing fourteen courses and at some time, I found it difficult to remember some things. Sometimes, it seemed to me that my brain has blocked. I was even seeking for academic advice.

 

Did you belong to any social, religious, political and cultural organization during your undergraduate years?

Yes. I only joined only one group; that is Deeper Life Campus Fellowship. I didn’t participate in cultural and social group; and all that. During election, I would vote but I didn’t belong to any political group.

 

Now that you are a first class holder, will you one day climb palm tree either to tap wine or cut palm fruits?

No. Never. I will never climb palm tree again. I saw it as step to where I was going. It was a ladder. It has served its purpose for now. I was doing because I didn’t have option.

 

When exactly were you born?

I was born on 24th December, 1995.

 

How did you feel when people especially your classmates see you as a palm wine tapper and at the same time a first class material?

I was the kind of person that despite what I passed through, I didn’t look poor. Many of them didn’t know what I was passing through. I tried to look moderate. I tried to appear great. It was only now that they know what I passed through. It was only few people that are very close to me that knew what I was doing.

 

Did you at any time during your undergraduate years feel sort of financially disadvantaged among your class mates?

Well, you know sometimes you will be going back to school but your parents will be telling you that there is no enough money, and all that. In fact, I didn’t feel financially disadvantaged because in all those things, God always provided for me. I never owed throughout the time I was in school.

 

Finally, what is your advice to the youths who have lost hope in Nigeria and future?

My advice to the youths is to know the purpose of their life. Set a clear goal and know where you are going. Be confident and believe in God and there is nothing you cannot achieve in life.