Blog > Issues in Depth > Development > Stories of Jeremiah Ugwu, Ifeanyi Okpaga, Cynthia Ukwegwu and Simon “Monday” Aliome |
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Jeremiah Ugwu, Ifeanyi Okpaga, Cynthia Ukwegwu, and Simon “Monday” Aliome are all students at the Hope High International School in the Eyboni State of Nigeria. The wife of State Governor Dr. Sam Egwu, Unis Ukamaka Egwu, built the high school and scouted the state to find the best and brightest pupils to attend the school. The high school has a program, fully paid by the state, to send the incoming students to the United States to study at a special summer program at St. Timothy’s School in Baltimore, Maryland. There, Globalization101.org had the opportunity to interview four incredible students. All four students expressed their gratitude to Dr. Sam Egwu and his wife for the opportunity to attend this school during the summer, and to study international politics and the US democracy.
Jeremiah Ugwu
Jeremiah was born in the village of Obodo Aba Obeage in Eyboni state. He is the youngest of five children, with an older brother and three older sisters. His parent work on agriculture policy for the local government. After visiting the United States, he decided he wants to become a Nigerian diplomat and work for the Nigerian Embassy in the United States. When asked how globalization affects his life, he said globalization has helped bring better transportation to his village and has allowed him to fly to the United States.
Ifeanyi Okpaga
Ifeanyi is fifteen. He was born in the town of Ezzangbo, part of the village of Umuagara. He is the youngest of six children, with three older brothers and two older sisters. His parents are subsistence farmers, who grow yams, maize, cassava and pumpkin. He believes education is important and understands that not everyone has the opportunity to go to school. He said many children are forced to farm rather than go to school. When he grows up, he wants to be an engineer, so he can construct roads. He said “most of my family lives in primitive areas where there are no bridges, no water and occasionally there is electricity.” When asked how globalization affects his life, he spoke about the importance of communication. Today he can make telephone calls, whereas five years ago he could not. He pays a local business 60 naira (about 50 cents) for a two-minute phone call on a cell phone.
Cynthia Ukwegwu
Cynthia was born in the village of Amudo. She is one of six children in her family. Her family traveled a lot when she was younger, so she has lived in a number of Nigerian states. Her sister is also in school and her older brother is in the first year of university. She wants to be an accountant and to help the government with their banking system. She dreams of working for the World Bank. When asked how globalization affects her life, she said it has given her the freedom to travel and to immigrate. She hopes to move to the United States. She hopes that after seeing the world, she can go back to Nigeria and use the ideas she has learned to help improve her country’s economy. Her trip to the United States has influenced her to want to take a leadership role in her community by becoming a chairperson.
Simon “Monday” Aliome
Simon was born in the village of Kpakpajiezzama. He is one of seven children in his family. His parents are subsistence farmers, who grow cassava, star fruits, cocoa and yams. He attended primary school in his own village before attending Hope High. He wants to be a mechanical engineer because he wants to build houses and bridges. When asked about how globalization has affected his life, he spoke about the spread of television and access to cars and telephones. He has to walk 30 minutes to school every day. Sometimes he catches a ride with a friend on a motorcycle or a bus. One of his favorite games he learned in the United States was “Simon Says.” He plans to teach it to everyone when he returns home. He hopes it will spread around Nigeria.
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