In 1984, 16 year-old Abba, a student of Science Secondary School Dawakin Tofa, scored 9 distinctions (8 A1s and 1 A2) in his West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) Exams.

Examination authorities in Lagos didn’t believe Abba made those excellent scores without cheating. The authorities provided a car that took Abba to Lagos in order to retake the exam.

Abba was made to take the 9 exams in a duration of 3 days, under heavy supervision. After marking the rescheduled exams, he scored 9 A1s (the only ‘A2’ he had in English Language before the retake, now became ‘A1’).

Faced with shock, the authorities apologized and instituted the National Merit Award. And, rightfully, Sarki Abba was the first recipient of the award.

In 1989/90 school session, Sarki Abba graduated as OVERALL BEST Medical Student, and OVERALL BEST Graduating Student at ABU, Zaria— he was just 21.

Today, he is a Professor of Urological Research, and Professor of Urology and Pathology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA.

He also serves as Co-Director of Cancer Global Health at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University IL, USA.

©TalesOfAfrica
from Kano State Nigeria, the genius that was made to rewrite WASSCE after scoring 9 distinctions.

In 1984, 16 year-old Abba, a student of Science Secondary School Dawakin Tofa, scored 9 distinctions (8 A1s and 1 A2) in his West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) Exams.

Examination authorities in Lagos didn’t believe Abba made those excellent scores without cheating. The authorities provided a car that took Abba to Lagos in order to retake the exam.

Abba was made to take the 9 exams in a duration of 3 days, under heavy supervision. After marking the rescheduled exams, he scored 9 A1s (the only ‘A2’ he had in English Language before the retake, now became ‘A1’).

Faced with shock, the authorities apologized and instituted the National Merit Award. And, rightfully, Sarki Abba was the first recipient of the award.

In 1989/90 school session, Sarki Abba graduated as OVERALL BEST Medical Student, and OVERALL BEST Graduating Student at ABU, Zaria— he was just 21.

Today, he is a Professor of Urological Research, and Professor of Urology and Pathology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA.

He also serves as Co-Director of Cancer Global Health at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University IL, USA.

Credits ©TalesOfAfrica

The first daughter of the late Gov. Chukwemeka Ezeife, Okwadike, Dr Mrs Ogelue C. Ezeife Ugorji, has her father strongly supported the presidential candidate of the Labour Party Peter Obi in the 2023 Presidential election.
She said her father known for his firm stand on justice and equity, threw his weight behind Obi because he looked forward to a better and more united nation where every Nigerian would be treated justly and given a fair chance to succeed.
A statement issued by the Spokesperson of Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) Dr Yunusa Tanko quoted her to have explained further that her Father strongly believed that Peter Obi would have made it happen.

Dr. Ezeife-Ugorji made the revelation while paying a glowing tribute to her late father, Gov. Chukwemeka Ezeife, at his Commendation Service in Awka. Gov. Ezeife was the first civilian governor of Anambra State and an elder statesman. As part of his final journey home, a commendation service was held for him in Awka yesterday.

Speaking of his well-lived life, Dr Ugorji stated that her father, Okwadike, held justice and equity very highly.
She narrated how Okwadike, during his last visit to the United States of America before his death, revealed that his unwavering support for Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, was borne out of his deep conviction that Obi would build a just and equitable nation.

She further described the late Okwadike as a man of wisdom, a lover of peace, and an emblem of unity.
She said Okwadike was a truly detribalized Nigerian who related to everyone irrespective of tribe or religion. She prayed to God to grant her beloved father eternal rest and to grant that his hopes of a just and equitable Nigeria be actualized.

The event was well attended by many dignitaries and revered Nigerians, including the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo; President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; Former Governor of Enugu State, Okwesilieze Nwodo; Former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige, and many others.

When my wife was carrying my younger son Zillion in her womb, she asked me to promise her a gift when she puts to birth.

2months after, Zillion came.

A month later when I was sure she could go out with the baby, I took her to a big phone shop.

She had asked me for a particular phone.

My mother inlaw went with us. I didn’t know she was listening to our conversation with the dealer.

When she heard the price, her mood changed immediately. The front desk guys noticed it but couldn’t ask why.

Standing right there, I took my mind back to years ago when this woman was with me in an uncompleted building.

One night being our first day of washing clothes for people, we had finished this set of dresses and the owner asked us to deliver that same night.

We had not eaten since morning because the little money we had, we used it for buying of soap and starch.

We waited and eventually went to the man’s house at 9pm when he returned from work and handed the clothes to the wife.

She took it into their room.

1hour later, no one came out to see us. We waited and waited until the househelp finally came out and excitedly I felt she brought our money.

She approached me and said she wants to lock the door, they’re going to bed.

My wife was pregnant, she had not eaten and her stomach was beginning to hurt.

We got up, walked out and left their compound. They never paid us till today. It’s been a decade and yesterday evening I went to wash my car, lo and behold, the man who pleaded with me to park it in his own side so he could wash is the same man whom I washed dresses for and he refused to pay me till today.

He didn’t even know me.

I only introduced myself when I paid him and was driving out. Never seen a human statue but I think I saw a human being stand like one yesterday.

That night he did that to us, my wife and I trekked a distance going back because we didn’t have any money for byke.

Finally we saw one boy charging phones for people, my wife gave me her small Nokia phone for us to use and borrow money from that boy so we could eat.

The boy graciously gave us 1000naira and kept the phone. We never saw that phone again.

Back at the phone shop, I knew nothing could equal the price of her sacrifices. I brought out my card and gave them to pay for the phone.

Till we drove home, my mother inlaw didn’t say a word in the car. She was worried that her daughter just wasted my money.

She called her into the room and started complaining bitterly and my wife told her a little story about us.

She couldn’t hold back her tears and she came into my room to say thank you Inlaw.

When you have a wife that stood with you in your trying moments and she fought with you to conquer, the little you can do is appreciate her.

Show her you have not forgotten her love and sacrifices.

Several marriages hit the rocks during trying moments. If yours survived because your spouse had to stand with you, never take it for granted

– Obinna Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana