By Elijah Ugani
For Ade Peter Ayim, what once seemed like a distant childhood dream has finally become a reality as he prepares to travel to the United Kingdom to pursue postgraduate studies.
Ayim, who described his journey as one marked by struggle, perseverance and determination, said the opportunity came through the intervention of Distinguished Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe.
In a heartfelt account titled “From Struggle to the UK: How Senator Jarigbe Helped Me Fulfil a Lifelong Dream,” Ayim recounted how he lost his father at a young age and faced significant challenges while pursuing his education.
According to him, his journey took him from Calabar to Lagos and eventually Ogoja, but despite the difficulties, he remained determined to acquire higher education.
His academic journey has so far taken him through the University of Abuja, where he obtained a B.Sc. in Public Administration; the National Open University of Nigeria, where he earned an M.Sc. in Public Administration; and the University of Osun, where he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Education.
Ayim said that despite his academic achievements, one major aspiration remained unfulfilled, the opportunity to study outside Nigeria.
He said that dream eventually materialised after he shared his aspirations through Mr. Joe Ulom, SLA, with Senator Jarigbe, who, according to Ayim, listened to his plans and intervened on his behalf.
The intervention, he said, facilitated his selection for a postgraduate scholarship through the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) to study MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Heriot-Watt University in the United Kingdom.
Although Ayim had initially hoped to pursue a PhD, he said he accepted the opportunity with gratitude, describing it as an example of how prayers can sometimes be answered differently from what people expect.
“For a young man who once struggled to afford air travel even within Nigeria, the thought of flying to the United Kingdom for postgraduate studies is overwhelming,” he said.
Expressing excitement about the new chapter, Ayim declared: “Peter De Rock Aka Okute is finally flying!”
He said the trip would mark his first journey outside Nigeria and would be undertaken not as a tourist but as a scholar pursuing another stage of his educational journey.
Beyond the scholarship itself, Ayim described the opportunity as the fulfilment of a childhood dream and evidence that perseverance can eventually meet opportunity.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the PTDF Executive Secretary and the entire PTDF family for what he described as their roles in making the opportunity possible.
He also acknowledged his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the platform had enabled him to become part of a political family through which the opportunity came.
However, Ayim reserved his strongest appreciation for Senator Jarigbe, whom he described as his leader, mentor, principal and “destiny helper.”
According to him, the senator’s support went beyond facilitating the scholarship, as Jarigbe also provided financial assistance towards the processing of his international passport, academic transcript and other preparations required for the journey.
“Sir, you did more than open a door for me. You helped me walk through a door I had dreamed about since childhood,” Ayim wrote.
Reflecting on the role his late father might have played in his life journey, Ayim said the opportunity had given him a sense that a journey his father could not complete was now continuing through another chapter of his life.
“My late father did not live long enough to take me around the world. Today, I believe God has used another instrument to help continue a journey my earthly father could not complete,” he said.
Ayim said the experience had also changed his perspective on missed opportunities, adding that he now believes that “delay is not denial” and that God’s timing may differ from human expectations.
He further defended his decision to publicly appreciate Senator Jarigbe, saying he believed in celebrating individuals who contribute to the progress of others and leaders who create opportunities for people to succeed. “You have given me a story that I will proudly tell my children and grandchildren,” Ayim told the senator.
He concluded his message by describing the opportunity as more than a scholarship, but as “a testimony,” “a dream fulfilled,” “grace” and “God.”
For Ayim, the journey from struggling to pursue education in Nigeria to securing an opportunity for postgraduate study in the United Kingdom represents another significant chapter in a life defined by perseverance and ambition.
