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July 08, 2026
Working Through The Dream: a Student's Fight for Education ~ By Ukaigwe Blessing Chidimma :



This is a story of a student who refuses to let poverty ,distance ,gender bias ,or lack of money stop them from going to school,they are sacrificing,struggling and pushing forward because they believe that education is their only way out . That one student hawing ,trekking and studying with night candles,despite the challenge,the poor background they have to go through obstacles to reach it .Book by day work at night’.they hope for education,a better life ,a good certificate,a career.They chase education even when life makes makes it hard ,sometimes a student is being mocked by peers ,oppressed by their follow students ,but she still shows up in class .

Fighting alone without someone to guide you on scholarships ,applications or career ,no rich parents nor uncles to rely on.Behind every smile in a classroom may be a story of sacrifice,financial hardship,sleepless nights and unwavering determination. This is a story of struggles to fight for my education,I have been staying with my auntie for years ,since when I was nine till now ,determined to obtain in a university after writing my senior exam ,despite financial hardship,staying with my aunt I meant I could continue my education even though it came with responsibilities,far beyond of an ordinary student ,life under my aunts roof was far from comfortable,everyday begins with responsibilities,from school to work .

Thinking of getting a better education and support from my aunt was another way out ,she trained her children in school,me hoping to be supported also fails ,maybe because am not her daughter she doesn’t want to spend or support me ,she wants me to clean and do all house chores and take care of her shop . I have to apply for a work she doesn’t wants me to work after all the arguments and fights I went through with her ,I have to call my parents that I have to work to start saving for myself in school,they said I should go ahead ,but because am staying with my aunt,she doesn’t wants me to work ,I have to submit my cv in a supermarket as a janitor/cleaner ,I started working there,started earning my money salary that is 40k depending on it and using some of the money to buy some certain things in the house ,when I have worked for three years as a janitor I have to purchase a jamb form ,I purchased it and later sat for the exam and passed .

I got admission in imo start university faculty of media and communication studies ,I was so happy,I told my auntie she was so happy,later on i told my auntie about the school list meant to pay ,she did not say anything or react to it ,and before then I have said almost a three hundred thousand for my school bills ,I used it in paying my school fees and the others and bought some new cloths as a fresher ,I was so happy to be in university,I felt like I was rich a rich kid not knowing that I have more levels to carry on ,when I was in 200lvl I started seeing shege for myself,is hard to pay for my textbook book and others ,I was like thinking am gone ,200level second semester was my toughest time in school I wanted to drop out ,I wasn’t seeing money as I used to ,I want to join hookup like style but I said to myself,that was not the way I was raised,I was raised in a good home but despite the challenges I was contented with myself.

I have a friend who introduced me to ushering agency due to the way we share things and house close we are ,she introduced me to ushering and Catherine agency where I can also start earning money .I started doing two jobs to save myself from bills ,I have to manage ,balancing work and education became one of the greatest challenges of my life ,they were days when her be work schedule classed with lectures,forcing her to rush from one place to another in effort to avoid missing either .Her daily routine became a cycle of exchusion,she work up early to complete household chores,reported to work when scheduled,attended lectures whenever she could ,returned hone late to continue her domestic responsibilities and still found time often at night to read for test ,assignment and examinations ,sleep became a luxury rather than a necessity,rest was replaced by responsibilities,sometimes questioned myself whether the struggle was worth it ,yet each time I felt like giving up ,I remembered that I have started the journey already.

I don’t blame student that dropout of school or student that do hookup because the burden is too much for them to bear . *Education should never become a privilege reserved only for those with financial comfort .Every student deserves an opportunity to pursue knowledge without constantly worrying about survival,let us build a society where students are remembered for their academic excellence rather than unbearable hardships they endured to reach graduation ,when we support struggling students today ,we invest in the leaders and innovators who will shape a better tomorrow. 

This is why urgent action is needed *Government should expand scholarship,programs ,bursaries and financial aid for students from low income families. *universities should strengthen programs that allows students to earn an income with compromising their academic progress. *private organizations and non governmental organizations should invest in educational support initiatives that help hardworking student complete their education. *Families and communities should also recognize the importance of creating environments where students can study without excessive burdens that interfere with their academic success. *To student :Don’t quit your struggle has purpose *for advocacy if they feel it they will act on it .
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July 08, 2026
Quiet Classroom, Heavy Heart, How Student Caregivers Balance School and Caring for Sick Parents ~ By Nwachukwu Chioma Jennifer


 Many student face a difficult challenge that is often hidden from teachers and classmates,such as taking care of sick family members while also trying to succeed in school.These students are called student caregivers.This situation can be very stressful because school itself requires time , energy and concentration. Adding caregivers responsibilities makes life even harder 


The challenges they face includes :

Lack of time : student who are caregivers often struggle to find enough time for homework, reading and assignments because much of their day is spent caring for someone.

Emotional stress : seeing their loved ones sick can cause sadness ,fear and worry . sometimes they feel helpless because they cannot fully fix the situation .

Physical tiredness : sometimes caring for someone can be exhausting, a student may lose sleep , especially if the sick person needs help at night .

Poor academic performance: Because of stress and tiredness, concentration in class may reduce 

Social isolation: some student caregivers may stop going out with friends or participating in school activities because they have responsibilities at home 

How they try and balance both: 

Time management: They create schedules to divide time between school work and caregiving

Seeking help: some ask siblings , relative or neighbors to help share caregiving duties 

Talking to teachers: informing teachers about their home situation can help them get extra support 

Using free time wisely: They may study during breaks ,on transport or whenever they have a little free time 

Taking care of themselves: Resting, eating properly and talking about their feelings can help reduce stress

 Why support is important :

Student caregivers needs understanding and support from teachers and friends and also the society, for them to be more focused on school matters or education. School can help by offering counseling services , Encouraging open communication , providing emotional supports . Balancing school and caregiving is not an easy thing to do . It requires sacrifice, strength and patience.Many student caregivers carry heavy responsibilities quietly , while trying to build through education.

The government and public spirited individuals needs to understand these students and support them in their quest to balance both their academic pursuits and family responsibility This reminds us that behind some quiet students may be heavy hearts carrying a lot of pain and responsibility.
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July 08, 2026

 

CLEAN HANDS, SAFER HOMES, HOW SIMPLE HYGIENE CHOICE STOP DISEASE BEFORE IT'S START ~ BY EWUZIEM CHIJIOKE DANIEL

Have you ever wondered how something as small as the touch of your hands can affect your entire health? Everyday we touch hundreds of things without thinking such as our phones, money, door handles, chairs, and many other surface. Unfortunately, some of these simple touches could carry invisible dangers that may enter our bodies without warning?

The truth is , germs are everywhere, they are too small for our eyes to see, yet they can have serious impact on our lives. A person may look healthy but still carry germs which can spread to others. This is why one of the simplest safe habits in life is keeping our hands clean. This is a simple powerful habit weapon a against disease.

Many people remember hygiene when sickness appears. They wait until someone becomes ill before they start paying attention to cleanliness, but the question is. Why wait for disease to arrive when we have the power to stop it before it begins? 
Washing our hands with soap and clean water may look like a normal daily routine, but it is A life saving practice. Before eating, after using the toilet, after touching dirty surfaces, remove harmful germs, and prevent them from entering our bodies.

A clean hand is not just about personal appearance, it is about protection, the hand that prepare our meals, care for the children, and interact with others can either become a way of spreading sickness or a shield against it. The choice depends on the habit we build.

Our home also play a major role in our health. A beautiful home is not only measurable by it's furniture or decoration, but also by how safe and clean it is . An untidy environment can affect our health, and simple actions like cleaning surface, disposing of waste properly keeping food converd, and maintaining clean water can protect an entire family.

Many people underestimate the importance of hand hygiene because it feels like a small habit. However, history and everyday experience have shown that small habits can create big changes. A person who practices proper hand washing is not protecting themselves but also reducing the chances of spreading diseases to the family members, friends and the community.

Imagine a situation where someone uses the toilet and forgets to wash his or her hands before preparing food. The germs on his or her hands can easily move to the food and affect anyone who eats it. This simple mistake can lead to sickness. But with one careful decision, washing hands properly the entire problem can be avoided.

A safe home is also created through good hygiene practice. Our homes should be placed where we feel protected, but without proper cleanliness, they can become places where germs spread. Keeping the environment clean, washing, cooking utensils, storing food properly, and disposing of waste correctly all helps reduce health risks.

Good hygiene also shows responsibility. When we keep ourselves and surrounding clean, we show care for the people around us our actions can influence others. One person's good health can encourage another person to do the same, creating a positive change in society.

The good news is that preventing diseases does not always require expensive solution. It starts with awareness, discipline, but ignoring these little choices can open the door to illness.

Imagine a world where every person understood the power of simple hygiene. Fewer people would suffer from preventable illness. Families would stay healthier and communities would become safer, it all begins with one action keeping our hand clean.

In conclusion: clean hands and safe homes are powerful tools in the fight against disease. We do not need to wait until sickness comes before we take action. The power to protect ourselves begins with simple daily choices, washing our hands, keeping our home cleans and practicing good hygiene can prevent diseases before the start.


Clean hands Create safer homes , safer homes create healthier communities and a healthier communities begins with you... 



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July 08, 2026

 

When Budget Fails, Sickness Spread Closing The Funding Gap To Stop Farm Disease ~ By Chibueze chukwuebuka.

    If you travel through mbaise area covering Ahiazu,Ezinihitte, and Aboh Mbaise Local Government Areas you will see that farming is not just work, it is life.
 The land is rich for cassava,yam and palm trees, while almost every house holds keeps chickens, goats,pigs to support their families. But there is a hidden powerful force that always attack these wealth and our lands full of honey and this enemy grows stronger and more stronger every time government funds are delayed.

   Imagine not treating yourself earlier of early symptoms of illness or infections because of lack of money makes the case worst which can make the body prone to more deadly infections. But having money at the insecure periods makes it possible and easier for early treatment. This is exactly what is happening across Mbaise farms. When funding falls short, diseases spread quickly through both plants and animals and the cost to fix it becomes huge.

   Every year, the government budgets some money to help farmers. This money is meant to pay for agricultural officers to visit villages, teach people how to spot earlier signs of troubles, buy vaccines for animals, and give advice on keeping crops safe.

    But records from the 2025 - 2026 financial year according to Senate Committee in Agricultural shows that only 35% of this money has actually been released. The rest is tied up in delays, paperworks, or poor planning. Investigation shows that some of the funds have be used for personal gains which is as a result of corruption and lack of accountability from these officials or those in power -The governments. Because of this, officers rarely travel deep into rural mbaise geographical areas, the can not hold training or meetings in the communities and sometimes bringing up a professional expert that can teach and educate the semi illiterates or organize demonstrations for them on a better way of agricultural practices different from what they know.
    When a disease starts in one village, there is no one to rush to in other to stop it. It spreads like smoke in a windy room. Sometimes this is as a result of zero means of transportation for agricultural experts meant for looking into these problems.

    Both Crops And Animals Suffer; We often talk about cassava and palm oil, but animals are also very important here. In mbaise, a family savings often sit in their pigsty or poultry pen. When funding fails, animal protection suffers badly too.

    Without money for vaccination, drugs or regular checks common sickness turn into big outbreaks. Diseases like African swine fever can wipe out an entire pig pen in a day. Avian influenza kills thousands of chickens at once, even foot and mouth diseases in goats spreads quickly because there are no officers moving around to help farmers contain it. 

     Mr Emeka Nikki who is a well known farmer and also a leader from Ahiazu mbaise explained "last season, we lost nearly 3 out of every 10 bags of yams to bought and mosaic virus. But for animals the pains was too deep. Small farmers suffers the most. Big commercial farmers can or might afford private vets and buy their own medicine but the average family farmers in Mbaise relies entirely on government help. When that doesn't come, they are left helpless.

    Why This Matters to Every Student and Family;
When disease destroy crops in Mbaise or Mbaitolu, there is less food to bring to market in owerri and beyond even when animals die, meat,eggs and palm oil too becomes scarce. Less supply means higher prices. Even for some families that farming is their major source of income might loose huge amount of money when they are already struggling to provide for their children in school.

    The citizens especially Agricultural experts, trainers farmers or livestock producers call for help, the government needed to look into these problems at hand by;
 Releasing funds on time; When money is budgeted for farming and livestock, it should be sent when it is needed, not months later when the damage is done, but that is if at all the money will be released.
    Secondly, the  government can work together with private sector and community groups to share the cost of training farmers and providing vaccines and drugs to those rural areas in mbaise and other geographical areas.
     Also government needs to create an emergency funds for quick interventions before providing any other big help.

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July 08, 2026

    

LAUGH, LEARN, PROTECT: HOW PIDGIN HUMOR ON WHATSAPP IS WINNING STUDENTS OVER ON MALARIA PREVENTION ~ BY AGUOBI IFUNANYA JOVITA

ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL ON WEDNESDAY MORNING AROUND 8:00 I SAW A VERY HANDSOME GUY ,TALL,HE SHOULD BE AROUND 23 YEARS OLD , HE WAS SHIVERING AND I ASKED MYSELF WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HIM AND I WONDERED WHY A HANDSOME GUY LIKE THIS WILL BE SHAKING IN THIS HOT WEATHER  THAT MADE HIM EVEN WEAR A HODDY AND I WONDERED IF SNOW WAS FALLING AND I WASNT FEELING IT  AND THEN WITH FURTHER INVESTIGATION I LATER FOUND OUT HE WAS SICK NOT JUST SICK HE WAS SUFFERING FROM MALARIA AND I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS A STUDENT IN IFUNANYA UNIVERSITY MBAITOOLU A 300 LEVEL ENGINEERING STUDENTS .I EVEN FOUND OUT THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE MONEY TO TREAT HIMSELF EVEN A ONE SQUARE MEAL IS HEARD FOR HIM TO GET ,AND I ASK MYSELF EVEN ME AS A STUDENT IF I DON'T HAVE MONEY BUT MY THREE SQUARE MEAL IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE .

     THEN I REMEMBERED A SAYING NOT EVERYONE HAS IT EASY.

   HOW CAN WE HELP STUDENTS THAT ARE LIKE THIS ?WHAT ARE THE GOVERNMENT GOING TO DO TO HELP STUDENTS WHO ARE SUFFERING LIKE THIS? 65% OF STUDENTS NO GET MONEY AND THE SCHOOL WEY DEM KON DEY NO DEY EVEN HELP MATTER AT ALL ,IF STUDENTS NO PAY FOR HANDOUTS THEM GO FAIL THE STUDENTS  AND THEM NO WON HERE THE SITUATION THE STUDENTS DEY IN LIKE E NO CONCERN THEM , IF THEY ARE SICK OR NOT .


LETS HELP STUDENTS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MALARIA


WHAT ARE THE QUESTION STUDENTS  WE NEED TO ASK FIRST IS WHAT IS MALARIA ? Malaria is a life threatening disease caused by PLASMODIUM PARASITIES ,you get it from a female anopheles mosquito bite the parasite enters your blood goes to your liver and affects the red blood cell 


THE EFFECTS 

Fever ,chills, sweating, headache body aches, fatigue,vomiting,loss of appetite 


If not treated The affects it has on people 

In pregnancy : miscarriage, low birth weight

Organ failure : kidney an liver problem

Cerebral malaria : coma can cause death  , seizure 

Servere anemia : low blood because parasites destroys red blood cells


SOLUTIONS

 1) prompt testing + treatment: use rapid diagnostic test+ ACTs--- Artemisinin _ based combination therapy .this is WHO recommended drugs 

 2) Hospital care for severe cases : IV  artesunate + supportive care 

3) chemoprevention : seasonal malaria chemoprevention for kids and students , intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant woman 


PREVENTIVE TO REDUCED MALARIA


We use the "ABCDE" + "E" for Environment approach: 

1) Bites prevention  : sleep inside ITNs_Insecticide Treated Nets. Wear long sleeves in evening 


2) Drugs : Take preventive medicine if traveling to a place that has high risk of mosquito


3) spraying : IRS _ indoor residual spraying in houses .


4) Early diagonosis and treatment immediately 


5) Environment : Larval control_ cover water tanks , drain gutters, mosquitoes breed in dirty standing water 


6) Education : community sensitization on sign + prevention 


WHAT YEAR DID MALARIA COME OUT

   Plasmodium parasites DNA in 30 million years old mosquitoes trapped in amber  .In humans ,evidence of malaria goes back 50 thousand years, Ancient Egyptian also showed sign of it 

It was then discovered as a disease in the 1880 by a French doctor named Charles laveran 


WHAT SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT DO TO ENSURE HEALTH AMONG STUDENTS 


1) Free ITNs in hostels 

2) campus health centers

3) Environmental control

4) Health education : using posters ,Whatapp broadcast ,peer. Educators Teach in pigin+ local language focus on " sleep inside net " 

5) Malaria free school policy : including health education in students curriculum  and free health cheakups during school awareness eg IMSU for example 

6) vaccination rollout: including malaria vaccines to help children and students in schools and campus 

7) Data and surveillance : keep tabs on malaria cases in school clinics to know when their is an outbreak 


     Malaria is preventable and treatable, person actions like nets and a clean environment, government actions on drugs ,education and spray are all needed together.

 

For more enquiry visit jovitaifunanya407@ gmail.com or 

      CALL THIS HOTLINE 

08028978620




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July 05, 2026

  

MOTHERS MATTER: CLOSING NIGERIA’s GAPS IN PREGNANCY AND MATERNAL CARE ~ BY FAVOR MICHAEL

 Not long ago ,there was a pregnant woman ANASTASIA,who felt okay for most of her pregnancy. She attended antenatal care (ANC) only once because she said she was busy.near her due date , she started having severe headaches dizziness and swollen feets,but she thought it will pass. by the time the condition became worst she began bleeding and the baby’s movement reduced she was thinking when it time water must flow out not knowing not all women experienced it. family members hesitated,some said let’s wait , while others argued about money and transportation.

     Eventually help came , but not quick enough ANASTASIA survived , yet the experience changed her family she later said “if had attended ANC regularly and had recognized the danger signs early she might not have face such a serious risk”.

      For ANASTASIA it was bleeding while some might have a bigger problem in the future after childbirth. 
MOTHERS MATTER: safe pregnancy and maternal care are not just responsibilities for health workers,they are commitments for everyone.As we learnt that safety starts early with antenatal care (ANC) attend regularly,follow health advice,take recommended supplements prescribed for you,exercise or take a stroll,maintain good and proper hygiene and maintain good nutrition.

      When and how we deliver also matters and it’s also safety,A planned delivery at a hea facility with skilled birth attendants reduces the risk of complications for both mother and baby.

        Just as important in knowing the danger signs;heavy bleeding, severe headaches,fever, convulsions,reduced/no baby movements. when any danger signs occur we must not delay seek help immediately.Also,where both parents are of different blood group that don’t match there is a medicine to take so  you can conceive without miscarriages in the future after the first childbirth and also help you with safe delivery tips/ways,monitor your baby and aid you with perfect birth plans to avoid loss of life either the mother or the child let’s protect every mother because her  life matters. Let us commit to supporting mothers,encouraging them to attend antenatal care,plan for delivery and get help promptly.

    Families and communities should support women to access care including transportation,finances and respectful treatment.

MOTHERS MATTER- let’s keep every mother and baby safe 
MOTHERS MATTER- By protecting mothers,we protect life,protect families, and protect the future 
Every pregnancy deserves safe care 
Safe pregnancy is not luck-it is action

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July 04, 2026

 

HIGH MARKS, HEAVY HEART: ONE STUDENT'S QUIET FIGHT WITH DEPRESSION ~ By Nwaoha Karen.


"No one knows how heavy another person's load is until they try to carry it." — African Proverb

Every morning before sunrise, while the world still sleeps beneath a blanket of silence, one young woman is already fighting a battle that no examination script can ever reveal.

The alarm rings before 4:30 a.m. The darkness outside still clings to the sky, but inside a modest family home in Obibiezena, another day has already begun.

Twenty-one-year-old Nelson Rita, a final-year Mass Communication student at Wema University, does not wake up thinking about grades. She wakes up thinking about responsibilities.

Before she can become a student, she must first become a daughter, a caregiver, a cook, and a second parent.

The water must be fetched. Breakfast must be prepared. Her younger siblings must bathe, eat, and get ready for school. The kitchen fills with the smell of boiling food while the sound of clanging pots replaces the morning birdsong. By the time the family leaves the house, Rita's first assignment of the day has already been completed, yet none of it earns academic credit.

Then begins another journey.

Home is far from campus. Every school day, she spends nearly two hours travelling to lectures. Transport fares continue to rise, stretching a family budget already weakened after her father lost his job.

Sometimes the bus arrives late.

Sometimes there is no money for transportation.

Sometimes the road itself seems determined to delay dreams.

By the time Rita reaches campus, the lecture hall doors have already closed.

"You are always late," some lecturers tell her.

Attendance records quietly count what they can see.

They cannot count what happened before sunrise.

Who is this young woman? She is a final-year student with a remarkable 3.96 CGPA. What is her story? It is the story of invisible sacrifice behind visible excellence. Where does it happen? Between her family home and institution. When? Every ordinary weekday that feels anything but ordinary. Why does she keep going? Because she believes education remains her family's strongest hope. How? By sacrificing sleep, comfort, and sometimes even her own health.

Yet excellence does not cancel exhaustion.

Weeks become months. Sleepless nights become ordinary. The body begins to protest.

Headaches arrive like unwanted visitors.

Fatigue settles on her shoulders like a heavy backpack that never comes off.

Stress quietly builds a home inside her mind.

Still, deadlines refuse to wait.

Now it is final year.

Project work demands countless hours of research, interviews, writing, corrections, and presentations. While many classmates spend evenings in the library polishing chapters, Rita hurries home to continue another shift of unpaid family labour.

The house waits for her.

The cooking waits for her.

The younger children wait for her.

Responsibility waits for her.

Dreams, too, wait but dreams are less patient.

Neither of them is truly the enemy.

Poverty is.

The burden of survival is.

A system that asks young people to carry mountains before they can chase their dreams is.

Despite everything, Rita refuses to surrender.

She studies inside noisy rooms.

She reads while fighting sleep.

She revises lecture notes after everyone else has gone to bed.

She attends classes whenever transportation allows.

She submits assignments even when her body begs for rest.

Like a candle burning itself to give others light, she slowly consumes her own strength in pursuit of a future she hopes will change her family's story.

Many students like Rita walk through Nigerian campuses every day.

They are not lazy.

They are not unserious.

They are carrying invisible backpacks filled with financial hardship, family responsibilities, emotional pressure, hunger, and fear.

That's the heavy heart and quiet fight behind the high marks. 
Their lateness is often mistaken for carelessness.

Their silence is mistaken for indifference.

Their struggle remains unseen.

Education should not become another punishment for those already struggling to survive.

Universities can strengthen counselling services, create flexible support systems for students facing verified family and financial challenges, and encourage lecturers to look beyond attendance registers before passing judgment. Scholarships, emergency transport assistance, and academic mentoring can keep many promising students from giving up.

Government also has a role to play. Increased investment in affordable education, reliable student support programmes, better transportation, and stronger social protection for vulnerable families would reduce the burdens that many students carry long before they enter a classroom.

Families, too, should remember that emotional support costs nothing but can mean everything. Encouragement often carries a student farther than criticism.

Behind every outstanding result may be a story no transcript can tell.

Perhaps the greatest lesson in Rita's story is this: before asking why a student is late, ask what journey they travelled before arriving.

Because sometimes the strongest people are not those who never fall.

They are those who keep walking while carrying weights no one else can see.

As the African proverb reminds us, "No one knows how heavy another person's load is until they try to carry it." Some students do not simply carry books to school.

They carry families, dreams, disappointments, and hope all at once.

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