IHEAGWARAM CHIMA a.k.a. THUNDER BOLT, THE SITUATIONAL MANAGER AND LEADER GRADUATES. CELEBRATE HIM

 

Chima (Right)

Iheagwaram Chima a.k.a. Thunder Bolt is intelligent, disciplined and focused. He is a lover of all, funny and a together guy, Gee to the boys. To the junior students he is very caring, and to the others, especially mates, he is a go-between. He is among those graduating from the Senior Secondary School.

Chima’s capacity for problem solving, is something to emulate. At a time the COVID-19 Pandemic, was heating the economy of most families, and by extension, students very hard (immediately the lock down was lifted and schools reopened for academic activities, when hunger and the attendant effects were at the peak), our young and hardworking buddy, Chima in his usual charismatic, caring, and very friendly disposition, rose to the rescue, when he creatively and skillfully activated a lifesaving problem solving mode, an award winning type, to help especially the poor, weak and badly hit by the dreaded COVID-19, Pandemic. His intervention project helped many students to adjust rapidly to the prevailing situation, to concentrate on the primary objective for their being in school: learning.

Iheagwaram Chima, in an attempt to bridge the gap that existed and cushion the economic effects of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic lock-down, on the students and their families, stepped out in a very dramatic, intelligent and confident manner, and organized a special festival which he tagged ‘Garri festival’. It was novel, a ground-breaking idea that may not clear easily from the minds of his fellow students. The event held February 14, 2022, and was used by the SS3B, the now graduating students of St. Paul’s Academy Jos, to mark the Valentine’s Day celebration. The festival required the students to contribute Dry Garri, sugar, groundnut, kwili-kwili (groundnut crackers), and milk, the elect is already aware of where I am heading to. Thus, to cut a long story short, the students in question came together and individually transported these items down their system (drank the soaked Garri together in one bowel).

This open collective event, I can tell you, did a lot to the psyche of the students. It, no doubt removed a lot of pressure from most students and their families, brought a total and very easy way to cope with the obviously very difficult period. It enabled many students who ordinarily would not be confident enough to support their life with soaked Garri in the school, to adjust to the situation they found themselves.

I have been waiting, hoping, and praying that the management of St Paul’s Academy Jos, will reward this open demonstration of commitment and capacity to carry others along. Chima, through the festival helped many of the students resolve the economic challenge of that period, in their schooling career. The typical Nigerians, especially those that have experienced difficult times, can relate better with this narrative... soaking/drinking Garri openly in a private secondary school like St Paul’s Academy Jos.

For those of you who are not Nigerians and therefore are not very familiar with Nigerian delicacies, all I can say for now is, Garri is a local food made from Cassava. It can be soaked in cold water and drank with sugar and groundnuts. it is equally served with what is known here casually as German stones. The local, if you like botanical name German stones, is “kwili-kwili.” 

The widely celebrated local food: fufu is made from Cassava and like Garri when prepared in what the locals refer to as swallow is taken with soup. We can continue the story of soaked Garri another day. In the event that we did not, please find time to make more research about it. Jolly ride in your effort...

Iheagwaram Chima, is a programmer, a lover of games and an outstanding problem solver, a situational manager and leader. He deserves some accolades. Let's celebrate Chima. Please wish Thunder Bolt well. Send in your comments, goodwill messages, and encouragement, through the commentary box below. Thanks

Nnabugwu Chinazaekpere 

Anchor/Host