A Nigerian lady simply identified as Boma Jacks, has revealed the historic feather of achievement which her mother added to her hat.
She said her mum became the first women in her hometown in Imo state to bag a doctorate degree (PhD).
The proud daughter said her brothers’ threw a party for their mother when she returned home after setting the academic record.
Boma made the revelation while reacting a tweet talking about the way parents in south-east chose to train their daughters and sons after the civil war.
“After the Biafran war, because Igbo families could not afford to train their children in school, we had to make a choice. We chose to send the girls to school while the boys had to get into trade & the apprenticeship programme to help support the women’s education,” the post read.
According to Boma, asides from her mother, she also received congratulations when she graduated from medical school.
She wrote; “This is quite fascinating. My mom was apparently the first woman in her village or LGA (not sure which) in Imo, to bag a PhD & her brothers threw a party to celebrate her. I thought it was absurd at the time, since I grew up in an academic community, but I understand better now.
It’s the same way I got a lot of “Nnem, send your account details, you’ve done us proud!” from my uncles & aunties on my mom’s side, when I graduated med school.
Igbo people have always placed immense value on education, especially the education of their girls. Considering our deeply patriarchal Nigerian culture, it is so beautiful to know that this predates modern views on the importance on educating the girl child. Igbo Amaka.”
Meanwhile, the Labour Party, (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi has donated N10 million to Paul University, Awka in Anambra state.
He made the donation on Thursday, April 6, 2023 to the institution owned by the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, noting that with the elections over, he would continue his philanthropic gestures to schools and hospitals, which had to be put on hold due to the campaigns.
The former governor of Anambra state explained that intervention in schools and hospitals was part of his efforts to build human capital in Nigeria and improve infrastructure in such public institutions.
Speaking during a visit to the University, Obi recalled that before the campaigns, he was undertaking visits to at least three hospitals and secondary schools every month.
He said: “This is a visit that I would have made since January this year, but as you know, I was involved in campaigns. I didn’t want what I’m doing in the education and health sectors to be mixed up with politics. As a person, I endeavour to visit at least three hospitals and three secondary schools every month. As you would see later from the cheque I have for you, it was written since January this year.
“This Paul University is one of the institutions that benefits from my intervention once in a while in my own little way. I believe that to solve this country’s problems, we need to invest in human capital development, and this means investment in health and education, which is why I always intervene in these areas all over Nigeria.
“Elections are over and since I am no longer canvassing for votes, this is the time to show interest in my country by continuing what I have been doing. That is what I’m here to do at Paul University. I urge you all to keep doing the right thing as I believe that God will at his own time, intervene, and give salvation to Nigeria.”
