I’m Amaka Jasmine Oberhiri, and I’m from Nigeria’s Delta State. Lagos is a busy city where I grew up. I was an avid reader from an early age. I would frequently be found squirming in one literary work or another. “Everything is not book book,” my mother once said, and I remember it with fondness. Fortunately, I found other hobbies that allowed me to have a well-rounded life.
For the most part, my academic path up to secondary school went smoothly. I always excelled academically. I was the valedictorian and finest graduating student at my secondary school in 2018. However, despite my stellar marks, my life took an unexpected turn when I was unable to enroll in university that same year because of admissions issues.
Before it became two and a half years, I believed a one-year wait was acceptable. There was a period of anxiety, uncertainty, and bewilderment in between. Things didn’t seem promising, and I frequently failed to see a path forward. But I made the decision to put my faith in God, so I kept volunteering at events, singing in the choir, helping out at my local church, and working on my own growth. I eventually started looking into opportunities abroad, and just as I was starting to make progress, a worldwide lockdown was announced, which prevented me from leaving. I was devastated and began to feel depressed. I had the impression that everyone was against me. To get out of that dark place, I needed God’s grace and my family’s support. I finally had the chance to visit Turkey in 2021 when the worldwide lockdown ban was lifted.
Then my new adventure started. A new nation, a new language, and a new culture. Far from anything familiar, far from home. Throughout my life, God has been a solid pillar despite my struggles with self-doubt. I discovered a sense of belonging and kept using my talents to help others by participating in the choir, hosting youth events, working in the church’s media department, and holding various leadership positions.
And then there were the difficulties. From nearly falling victim to fraud to spending a whole month in a hotel, documentation problems caused me to worry and struggle for more than a year to locate acceptable housing! My scholarly endeavors were threatened by a number of financial limitations. As I work to maintain my academic excellence, I’m learning Turkish to improve communication, receive Covid, and heal. Not to mention the two significant earthquakes: the first claimed many lives and forced us to temporarily switch to online instruction, and the second left me in a state of shock and panic.
Against all odds, I made it to my final year, and seven years after I graduated from secondary school, I received a First Class honors BA in New Media and Communication from Nisantasi University. I was also selected the class of 2025’s valedictorian and best graduating student.
It was unreal to me to be speaking in front of my entire institution. This young Nigerian woman, who was raised in Lagos, was now representing Nigerian youth in front of a global audience in a foreign country. I was struck by the realization that dreams are, in fact, real. I persisted despite the restless nights, private cries, and quiet struggles. This accomplishment strengthened my conviction that greatness knows no bounds. and that young Nigerians may prosper anywhere. from local communities to global audiences.
Although this path has not always been straightforward, it has contributed to my success. As I continue on my path, I’m clinging to the belief that, with God at my side, I can achieve anything I set my mind to.
