God’s wisdom has been evident in my life right from my lower primary classes, but came to even greater manifestation when I was about to go to secondary school. I wrote a National Mathematics Competition for Primaries 5 and 6 pupils in Nigeria and got 2nd position in Rivers State. This earned me a scholarship to study at Nigerian Turkish International Colleges (NTIC). Originally, the scholarship was meant to cover only fifty per cent (50%) of my tuition but after some time they increased it to seventy-five per cent (75%). This was only the beginning of many more testimonies.

In Senior Secondary 1, I moved to a new school, Preston International School, Akure. On getting to the new school, I was a little unsure of myself because of the change of environment, but God proved again that He lives in me and not in the location. By the end of that session I got the award of the Best Overall Student in Senior Secondary 1.

In the first term of Senior Secondary 2, the topics that we were being taught were extremely tough and everybody was complaining, especially about Chemistry and Physics. But by the end of that term I came out as the best overall in my class and took seven subject awards including Chemistry and Physics. This continued throughout that session. For the remaining term, I won the Best Overall Student and four subjects Awards. By the end of the session, I took the Best Overall Student Award for the session.

In Senior Secondary 3, I witnessed the height of God’s faithfulness. I went back to school for extension classes by August. During this period, we were supposed to finish up our IGCSE syllabus, which we did successfully except in…. (Guess where?) Physics again. The day of the Physics exam came and we were more or less not prepared but I entered into the hall and committed everything into God’s hands. After the examination, the students said, “So we wasted three years learning Physics, because as it is we don’t know anything”. The IGCSE results came out in January and I got three As and a B. I even got an A in the Physics that I felt totally unprepared for.

I wrote the SAT next and got a very high score. This, again, was God showing Himself strong on my behalf. My SAT score got many foreign universities writing to me. Many colleges wrote to me requesting that I apply to their school. My parents and I then decided to take a step of faith by sending my application to the Harvard and Princeton universities. Even though those doors did not open up, other doors opened up for me. I got scholarships to Colorado State University, St. Edwards University and Georgia Southern University, and was also offered admission into four other American universities.

The next step was to get my VISA. This I believe was just God affirming my name for me, Chibuokem, which means God is my portion. At the American Embassy, after waiting in line and doing my biometrics, I joined the line for the interview. There was this particular woman that everybody was afraid of because she had turned down almost everyone that was interviewed by her that day. However, as God would have it, this woman interviewed me. When I heard, “Next applicant to window nine,” my heart was in my mouth, but I went there with confidence in my Sovereign God. After a few questions, she told me that I had been given the VISA. I was like the first person she had given a VISA that day. I later heard from my mom that a lady had advised her husband that no matter what, he should not go to window nine.

I thank God for His faithfulness in my life, especially where my education is concerned. He has continued to open doors for me and I am confident that He that started this good work is faithful to complete it. Truly, “God is my portion.”