Human Interest Stories

The Story of Susan Udey

Susan Ikori Udey is an SSII student of Ntol Comprehensive Secondary School in the village of Ndok, in Ogoja LGA. On that fateful day of Thursday, November 16th, 2006, after completing her household chores for her widowed father, Upla Udey, Susan set off a little late to school. She flagged down a motorcycle to convey her to school on time. On the way, her driver was involved in a head-on collision with an oncoming vehicle, trying to dodge a gallop on the way. Susan became the only victim of the terrible wreck that claimed her left leg. Curiously, the limb was seen hanging on a tree several hours after the accident. All attempts to reconnect her leg back to her body proved unsuccessful and today Susan has been crippled for life. Since the accident, Susan’s education has also been crippled, as Susan lost her mother a few years back. Her father is too poor to afford an artificial limb and she feels determined to continue her schooling one year after. The problem now is that she cannot afford school fees and other expenses that will match her new status as a handicapped student. Her school fees amounts to about $500 to complete her secondary school, while the amount she requires to replace an artificial limb is also another $500. Can someone change Susan’s life forever?

Adie Ukelina’s Protracted Illness

Adie Ukelina, age 19, was a promising young man who successfully finished his secondary school education and received honorable grades in his certificate exams. As he was preparing to enter the University after passing the JAMB (Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board) Examinations to read medicine, Adie was suddenly diagnosed with a heart condition that resulted in his stunted growth. He has been hospitalized for almost a year, and the doctors are asking for N100,000 (One hundred thousand Naira ($800) to effect his cure. Adie is an orphan with poor relatives who cannot afford this amount. He has been bedridden for over a year, suffering from an obviously treatable health condition. Who will save his life and his education?