Young Nigerian Man Who Worked as Bricklayer to Fund Education, Graduates University

A young Nigerian man who worked as a bricklayer to sponsor himself in school finally graduates, becomes the first person in his family.

Cyprian Maduadichie, a young Nigerian who worked as a brickmaker and bricklayer to pay his school fees, has finally graduated from Federal Polytechnic, Oko in Anambra State, Nigeria, with a degree in Mass Communication. Cyprian is the first in his family to achieve this milestone.

Faced with significant financial challenges, Cyprian took on various menial jobs to support his education. He recounted working as a sand packer, palm oil processor, and even completing assignments for others to pay his rent.

“If I got N5,000, it would go for my house rent; I would give it to the landlord. I used a hoe to make mud for people and got paid. I also worked at construction sites, carrying blocks and mixing concrete. That was very stressful, but it was for good,” he shared.

Cyprian’s father, a trader, was unable to provide financial support, and his mother, a civil servant, struggled to make ends meet with her modest salary. “My family basically survives on my mother’s little salary, and when I asked my mother for money, she complained and then I would feel bad. So, I just had to do everything within my capability to ensure that I had something in my pocket to support my education,” Cyprian explained.

Initially aspiring to become a priest, Cyprian had to abandon his seminary studies due to financial constraints and started working as a bricklayer during weekends and holidays. “During the holidays, I would come home, pick up my shovel and head pan, look for a building site, and ask for laboring work. If they accepted me, I would work and collect my money at the end of the day. With time, it became a habit,” he said.

Throughout his academic journey, Cyprian continued to prioritize his studies despite his demanding work schedule. “On weekends, I would look for jobs, do them, and use the money to support myself during the week. I started the menial jobs when I was in JS2 or JS3,” he added. To manage costs, he shared a room with a fellow student during his National Diploma program, splitting the N50,000 annual rent.

Saving money was nearly impossible. “There were times when all I had for an entire week was only N100. I would trek from my lodge to school for lectures, and then back. But I had foodstuffs. If I could find garri, I would buy N20 sugar and eat it to sustain myself. That was the normal campus life. It was not easy,” Cyprian recalled.

Despite these hardships, Cyprian remained dedicated to his studies. He maintained a rigorous reading schedule and worked diligently on his assignments and exams. However, financial constraints sometimes prevented him from purchasing necessary textbooks, impacting his academic performance.

Cyprian expressed deep gratitude to his friends who supported him, particularly in his final years, often buying him textbooks alongside their own. His journey is a testament to his resilience and determination to overcome adversity and achieve his educational goals.

READ ALSO: Young Man Emerges University’s Best Graduating Student With Mind-blowing CGPA

SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, SCHOLARSHIP REGION