Akakan Umoh
The dream of an Akwa Ibom son, Mr. Ufot Clement Umoh, almost shattered by an accident has received a fresh lifeline as Dr. Unyime Idem, the House of Representatives member, has offered him an overseas scholarship to pursue his PHD.
The scholarship has rekindled a new hope for Umoh whose academic journey was almost truncated by the sad incident, thus opening a new chapter for him to continue his quest for higher academic qualification.
Before the accident, Ufot, a holder of a Master’s Degree in Economics, had commenced his PhD in Economics at the University of Ibadan, to specialise in Petroleum and Energy Economics.
By this, Mr. Umoh, awarded a fully funded scholarship to study in the University of Glasgow, Scotland, would leave for the United Kingdom to pursue a PhD in Operations and Supply Chain Management.
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Presenting a cheque to Umoh on Tuesday, the member, representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency,` described Ufot’s story as ‘‘ peculiar, as his first academic journey to earning a PhD was interrupted by a tragic accident, but whose determination to fulfil his dream never died.’’
According to him, ‘‘He had invested years of hard work into his academic pursuit when an unfortunate road traffic accident changed the course of his life and left him using a wheelchair.
‘‘For many people, such an experience could have marked the end of the journey. For Ufot, however, it became a painful interruption, not the end of his dream.’’
The Chairman of House Committee on Public Procurement said he was impressed by Umoh’s resilience, intellectual capacity and refusal to surrender to the circumstances he encountered, remarking ‘‘His story is a powerful reminder that there is ability in disability, and that physical limitations should never be allowed to define the limits of a person’s dreams, intellect or contribution to society.’’
Dr. Idem noted that ‘‘When I became aware of his story and academic aspirations, I felt compelled to support him in restarting the journey he had been forced to abandon.
Today, that dream has received a new lease of life.’’
He expressed the hope that Ufot would now have the opportunity to pursue his doctoral studies at the University of Glasgow and continue the academic journey that was interrupted years ago.
‘‘For me, this is not merely about sponsoring another scholarship. It is about restoring hope, opening a new chapter and giving a determined young Akwa Ibomite the opportunity to prove once again what is possible when talent meets opportunity.
‘‘Ufot Clement Umoh joins the list of the third batch of beneficiaries I am sponsoring to the United Kingdom for postgraduate studies, in continuation of my promise to train hundreds of our people abroad, equip them with global knowledge and exposure, and empower them to become self-sufficient while contributing meaningfully to the development and transformation of our dear state,’’ Idem added.
