I might be too long but u need to read it.
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.

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