TOO EXPENSIVE TO FAIL - UFOT EKONG

A STORY OF HIS LIFE AS TOLD BY UFOT EKONG, THE AKWA IBOM BORN ACADEMIC CELEBRITY

April 2009 at a young age of 19 years, I set off from Nigeria to Japan on a journey to accomplish a goal I had no idea how I was going to achieve. To some unrealistic, to others ambiguous. One thing for sure is I was determined that I had what it takes. After a 23 hours flight, I arrived in Japan, as I enjoyed and admired the bullet trains that took me from Osaka airport to Central Tokyo Shinjuku. I could not but worry about how English was literally not used or spoken by Japanese people. Well, all I did was pray to God. 

I arrived Tokyo trying to get direction to the Tokai University station, all the Japanese people I approached could not understand English then it struck me, I was in trouble, and the language problem was deeper than I had expected or imagined. 

After settling down at the international residence、my first trip to the supermarket gave me a shocker, the price of 8 slices of bread was ¥120 approximately 200 naira. Then I knew money was going to be another problem. With two major problems, I knew the journey to my goal was going to be a tough one but I remembered the bible phrase “The battle belongs to the Lord”. So I set myself to achieve this goal. 

I enrolled into the language school for the intensive Japanese course which is designed/ structured to teach students enough Japanese language both grammar and spoken, for tertiary education. After a year or maximum 2 years, you're expected to compete with Japanese students that have had 12 or more years of uninterrupted education in Japanese language. 

The language school was hectic, we had writing and grammar tests every day, and many take-home assignments. So for 1 year you're supposed to just focus on nothing but Japanese. It was difficult to do social media interactions or call friends and relatives. Although it was stressful, I could see my progress so I was enjoying the learning process. When I had problems understanding, I called on the new friends I had made in School especially Japanese girls. (Never mind I kept it professional.) 

After the 1st semester I could speak a little Japanese and write about 200 characters but another major problem was back I had no money! I lost my father in 2005; we are a family of seven. At that time four of us were studying abroad, New York, Scotland, London and Tokyo sponsored solely by our mother (a widow) Even if my mother was a millionaire, it would be a difficult effort paying all our tuition. We all had to work through school but she pushed us because she wanted the best for us. It was certain I had to find a source of finance but my university was in a suburb, unlike Tokyo where one could find English speaking part time jobs. I had a Nigerian senior in his 3rd year at the same university he was also working and schooling, He could speak fluent Japanese, so once in a while I went to eat Nigerian food at his house, seek some advice or refresh my mind. He was willing to lend a hand and keep me focused. 

I applied for many jobs, I can’t count but I went for 56 interviews and never got hired. Don’t ask, I was depressed but the fact I had seen someone that could do it, I never gave up instead during summer break August/September, I bought 3 textbooks including writing textbooks and I decided to read and learn more because the reason I was not hired was mainly due to my poor Japanese ability. Although it was holiday, I would email my teacher for clarification where I had difficulties my teacher would come to school just to teach me in her office so I finished the 3 books and asked her to administer tests from the books. 

In September 2009 when the 2nd semester began, I was promoted to the 5th class from the 11th class where I started in April at the language school, a sign of progress and then the breakthrough came, and I got my first part time job. I got the job at Yamato Transport, the biggest private shipping company in Japan. It was a hectic and power-demanding job but I could have some kind of income the salary was not good enough so I had to get a second job and I got one at McDonald’s. Now, studies became my top priority so I had to balance two jobs and school, the faster I improved my Japanese proficiency together, the earlier I could start an undergraduate school. 

I couldn’t afford to fail or not make good grades because failure meant an extra semester for four months, that would cost me about ¥700,000 or more (about a million Naira) this was the

beginning of my struggle and hustle. I needed money to eat and live but I could not afford to fail. 
 

A basic weekday I went to school from 9am till 4pm, soon after I would rush catch a bus from the bus-stop to McDonald’s from 5pm -11pm. After McDonald’s I would get home do some assignments, sleep for 1 or 2 hours and by 1am I will be off to the shipping company job from 2am to 6am. I'd get home by 7am shower, take a short nap with multiple alarm clocks and by 9:20am I’m back in School. This was the same cycle all through 2009 to 2010. Throughout 2010 I had no day off; I worked 365 days even on Christmas day. 

In 2009, when I won the Japanese language speech contest I was informed that if I completed language school with the best results my first year in the undergraduate course would be on free scholarship. I was motivated, I had to read more and remain top of the class. Again I could not afford to fail; I needed the scholarship to relieve me of the stress from work. I was going through so much at that time, "stereotyping" at work, unfair treatment and all these things for personal reasons I will omit. However, I realized that if I was the best in whatever I did stereotype, racism, discrimination and many more would not have an effect on me. Having this thought in my head, I stayed focused. 

In July 2010, I completed the Japanese language course as the best student got the scholarship and in September I finally enrolled into an undergraduate course in electrical electronics engineering. The first year was a bit difficult the classrooms were big with over a hundred students compared to the language school, I had to sit in the front row so I could see the writings on the board and hear the lecturers clearly. I had to leave for school early which meant less sleep from my already few hours’ sleep every day. My apartment was 3 minutes away from school. 

Thank God! 

All my days in undergraduate I was top of my class but even my classmate especially Japanese never knew they would be asking around who was the 1st position but only my close friends knew. Anyhow I was always too tired to bother myself with such discussions. In my second year, I solved a mathematical equation that had been unsolved for many years. My undergraduate days were a bit better because I could schedule my lectures for afternoons and sleep in the mornings after night work compared to the years in language school. Throughout the four years as an undergraduate, I got partial scholarship because I was top of the class thus my fees amounted to about ¥600,000 a year (about a million Naira) so If I wasn’t top of the class of 170 people my fees would have been impossible to pay. 

From 2nd year I started an event called International Friday Night, an event that had more than 500 guests and was highly rated within and outside my university. So I had to deal with work, event and schooling. The event was however a source of joy. I produced the show for 2 years with a team of close friends from the end of 3rd year, I started research and building of the electric car. My hands were full, I had part time job, event, lectures and research to deal with. I will exclude other affiliations that are minor. Up till date that was the most challenging period of my life. I got a 1 year scholarship from Rotary International Club with a monthly stipend. With this, I could reduce my working hours which I substituted for research. 

We built a working electric car, it was beautiful! My other researches were making progress and in September 2014, I graduated with a 1st Class in electrical electronics engineering as the Best Engineering Student and an Overall Best Graduating Student. Many ask how did it feel ? I was excited I had successfully finished and achieved stage one of my ultimate goal to get a PHD. I was so tired, four days after I was scheduled to start my Master’s degree. My fianceé and many others wanted me to go out and celebrate but I refused because for the first time in 6 years, I wanted to sleep for more than 7 hours without an alarm clock. 

My family, friends, associates and many more celebrated me. Most people, who just heard my story in May 2015, wonder why I didn’t get the news out. Honestly, personally nothing has changed. I finished stage 1 Masters and PHD still remaining. I still have to work and school. I have more responsibility than ever with more undergraduate junior students researching under me at the laboratory. On January 1st 2015,  I co-founded an online based African accessories retail store with my fiancée called “Strictly African Japan” Some media reports said I work at Nissan, at the moment I do not. They also reported I have two patents to my name, I don’t rather. I have been at the top of research teams that have produced two or more patents. However, I cannot take all the glory because it would be unfair to many of my peers who also worked hard to make it a reality. 

 

I received more than 500 messages from Nigerians around the world, I really do appreciate it I still have 5 years of education till I finish my PhD in 2019 and I will do my best not to let you down and keep the flag flying. I can’t afford to fail because failure is too expensive. 

The struggle and hustle continues but I'll rather suffer 10 years and enjoy more than 50 years ahead. I hope to finally move back home probably to my home town Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria to join hands and build our nation to where it ought to be. Let me conclude that if we had the same learning environment like Japan we are capable of doing greater things. Nigerians are determined and hardworking people that’s my message and the image I intend to leave here.