09Sep By giftfoundationglobal.org19 September 20230Blog From Hardship to Hope: A Journey of Resilience and Support My journey unfolds with the poignant chapter of my father’s passing in 2005, when I was just in Basic 1. Life took a harsh turn as we moved from Taraba state to our village following his funeral. My family faced daunting financial hardships, with my mom courageously taking on multiple jobs to provide for our 6-member family – three boys and three girls. I was the youngest, and our prospects for education seemed bleak. My mother, armed with a teacher training certificate, fervently sought government employment. Yet, her age and unwavering integrity hindered her from telling falsehoods to secure a job. We found ourselves at a crossroads, with education slipping beyond our grasp.Then, a glimmer of hope arrived. My elder brother earned a scholarship, to study medicine and surgery at the University of Nigeria, through a church competition. It was an unexpected blessing, a testament to divine intervention, as the scholarship wasn’t even the intended prize. The organizer recognized his exceptional intelligence and extended a helping hand. This event rekindled my own aspirations. I discovered the Abraham Nneji Foundation’s scholarship opportunity and eagerly applied, dreaming of attending university.Luck was on my side, and I received the scholarship. However, a cloud of uncertainty loomed over my university admission when the scholarship provider’s political ambitions faltered. In a cruel twist of fate, the scholarship was dissolved, and I found myself back at square one. But, just when hope seemed lost, destiny intervened once more. I stumbled upon the GIFT Foundation, a beacon of support and generosity. They not only covered my tuition fees but also provided the financial assistance I needed to pursue my academic dreams. With this lifeline, I persevered through the challenges and obstacles that had threatened to derail my education. In 2023, I proudly matriculated with my class, a testament to the power of resilience and the unwavering support of organizations like the GIFT Foundation.