Virtual Revolution

In the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria called Sapele, Igho Ekakitie’s mother told him that “Education is the key to breaking the glass ceiling of poverty.” For Igho, his dream of pursing higher education was what he and his late mother shared. After high school, he volunteered for six years and raised enough funds to travel to the United States to pursue his college education. He obtained a student visa and flew to Boston, taking a bus to New York City from there.

Once he reached the city, Igho realized that his wallet, and the thousands of dollars he had carried inside it, were missing. Within the first 24 hours of reaching the United States, most of his hard-earned money was gone. With the little money he had stored in his luggage, he took a bus to Springfield, Missouri. Some of his fellow passengers pitched in to help him get a hotel room. A local church, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, helped provide for his needs for four months so he didn’t have to worry about finances.

Igho had chosen to attend Ozark Technical Community College (OTC) due to its affordability. Prior to attending OTC, Igho had no idea whether Missouri was a blue or red state, or that he would be one of very few African students at his community college. Fortunately he met a fellow African student who showed him around and told him about different leadership opportunities, communities, and resources. 

From there, Igho soared! During his time at OTC, he joined Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the International Honor Society for 2-year schools and community colleges. His involvement there led him to run for and win the office of Regional Vice President for the Missouri region. Service was his focus in Phi Theta Kappa, and he made sure that members from all chapters in the region were engaged and that induction ceremonies were a time to celebrate new members of the Honor Society. He was also an International President Finalist candidate for PTK, the highest position a student can serve in the society, campaigning and delivering a speech in front of more than 5,000 people.

For Igho, PTK was a stepping stone to greater heights. Though there had been a time when he had worried about not having the money to pay for school or living expenses, he never let his struggles overcome him. As a leader, he knew he must continue to make things happen, so he learned to negotiate and be present when making decisions. As a scholar, Igho knew that sharing his story and articulating his needs was crucial for his path to success.

After graduating from OTC, Igho transferred to Webster University in Webster Grovers, Mississippi. There he pursued a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations & Affairs, fully funded and working as a Research Assistant.

Right before the COVID-19 pandemic, Igho was in Alabama speaking to a crowd of students, never realizing what was to come.

Thankfully, he had a support system within Webster and was able to work from home. 

Igho’s ambition was always to help others and to be a voice for the voiceless. Regardless of the chaos that was happening during the pandemic, “There is still humanity in the world.”

As a human rights activist, he went on and served as a Delegate at United Nations Youth Assembly. Through this experience, he realized his love for politics and global sustainability. Two interests began to flourish during the pandemic; his love for anime and his desire to create a podcast. 

Although his many friends encouraged him to write a book about his experiences, Igho thought that he could record his story and hopefully inspire people through a podcast. He wants others to know that taking challenges and risks in life is how you grow.

Igho launched his podcast with an episode in which he shared his own story. The episode did surprisingly well, and the podcast became a platform for sharing the stories of international students from all walks of life.

“Americans don’t know the struggles that international students go through to get an education in the United States, especially those who are here right now.”

In this way, he hopes that their voices can be heard and that audiences can learn about these stories while also inspiring prospective international students to take those steps to get an education. Igho made it clear that it’s not all “roses.” He plans to use his podcast to share the challenges that international students face, as well, and to explain how they surmounted those obstacles.

After more than a year since the pandemic started, Igho is energized to continue his career path. COVID-19 did not stop him from pursing his goals; he saw it as an obstacle and an opportunity to learn.

Being far away from his home country in Nigeria, Igho stated that the thing he misses most is his family, the collective community, the weather, and most importantly, the food! 

Igho’s message is clear: The road to greatness is not always smooth. Never give in to fear and let the challenges be your teacher. Keep a positive mindset and always keep working towards those goals because remember, “Education is the key to breaking the glass ceiling of poverty.”

To hear more about his personal story, be sure to listen to the premiere podcast, where he goes into detail about his journey as an international student.