Stranded in America: The incredible story of hope, survival, and rise to greatness

By Dr. Etido Oliver Akpan

Clever, an ambitious teenager, dreams of one day leaving Africa to study in America. He is accepted at a university in Tennessee where he will study business but is denied a visa ten times. Upon arrival in the United States, he experiences huge culture shock. Four weeks into classes, he learns his sponsor is unable to support him financially. Because he is on a student visa, he cannot work off campus and does not qualify for loans and financial aid opportunities. He goes without eating on many occasions. The physical and emotional pain are so severe that he wants to crawl out of his skin. But Clever is so determined to succeed, this hardship does not stop him. When graduation day comes, Clever and his girlfriend, Ayanna, graduate with honors. He is the valedictorian and presents a moving speech. They break up as they both face uncertain futures. Dealing with his dad’s loss right after graduation is daunting for him, and the feeling of abandonment is intensified when he cannot make it home. A year after graduate school, Clever meets Rosita. He marries abruptly, and it ends on a sad note. Despite his struggles, he neither gives up nor loses faith in God's plans for him. In his heart, Clever knows he will succeed. After these losses, he embarks upon a quest to find his first love, and he unexpectedly meets Ayanna again. They rekindle their romance, and the stage is set for new adventures.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Sep 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781400332045

Dr. Etido Oliver Akpan

Dr. Etido Oliver Akpan is also the author of Strategic Alignment: The business imperative for leading organizations and Finding and Keeping Your Significant Other: A formula for discovering and building a lasting love relationship. Dr. Akpan is a Professor of Business, Leadership, and Information Systems. He is a corporate trainer and a certified learning and development professional. He holds Bachelor of Business Administration in Management, Bachelor of Science in Bible, Master of Business Administration in Business, Master of Art in Advertising and Marketing Communications, and Doctor of Business Administration in Information Systems. The author is also a business consultant and a proud dad. It is his belief that this book will challenge you to never give up on your dreams or settle for mediocrity, even in your darkest moments. Please visit www.DrAkpan.com to learn more about the author.  

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Introduction

Toward the end of a brutal and deadly Nigerian Civil War in Clever’s birth country in West Africa, more than forty years ago, his mother was carrying him in the womb when his mom and dad inadvertently entered into the Biafran territory. The trip occurred on January 13, 1970. There was an apparent ceasefire agreement between the Nigerian side (Godwill and Justina’s zone) and the revolutionary Biafran troops, and that was why the couple embarked on the trip to begin with. Additionally, both Godwill and Justina were fluent in Igbo language and that swayed them to downplay any danger associated with making such trip. More importantly, Justina always wanted to be in the city of Port Harcourt when her baby’s due date approached. The city was the place her love story began when they met at Ifoko Beach and fell in love at first sight. She vividly remembered the beach and how they met. They were on a trip from Calabar to Port Harcourt in their family car to stay there until the delivery day, as she was further along into the pregnancy and it was only two weeks remaining before the baby was due to be born. The Nigerian Civil War, usually referred to as the Biafran War, was a terrible war between the government of Nigeria and the then southeastern provinces of Nigeria. Most Nigerians at the time believed the war was a civil conflict instigated by the attempted breakaway of the southeastern provinces of the country as the self-declared Republic of Biafra. On May 30, 1967, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu boldly proclaimed independence of the Republic of Biafra and became the Biafran leader from 1967 to 1970. The war began on July 6, 1967 and ended on January 15, 1970 – two and a half long and painful years.

Godwill stopped at a petrol station in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to refill the gas tank and to allow Justina to rest for some time. After getting something to eat and resting for a few hours in Uyo, the couple resumed their road trip and then headed to Port Harcourt. Unfortunately, the car they were riding in broke down between Aba (Biafran region at the time) and Port Harcourt (Nigerian side), despite the fact that the car was only three years old and was routinely maintained. After many failed attempts to get the car to start again, they abandoned the car and decided to trek to get some assistance. Godwill had travelled the route to Port Harcourt on many occasions in the past and was very familiar with the terrain. He also knew a mechanic a few miles from the location before the war began. The distance from where the car broke down to the closest mechanic shop was about three miles.

There was no available emergency medical transportation service or commercial vehicles nearby. Taking the shortcut into an unoccupied part of town turned out to be a wrong turn as they misguidedly ran into the Biafran soldiers’ checkpoint, and thanks to God that Justina and her husband were fluent in Igbo language at the time. Suddenly faced and surrounded by fully-armed and horrifying soldiers, Clever’s parents were traumatized and for a second thought they were all going to be killed. Godwill immediately shielded his wife and unborn child and informed the commander of the troop in Pidgin English and Igbo that she was very sick and needed to get to the closest medical center. He was a caring and loving man and always had his way with words. He was able to ease the tension by saying precisely what the soldiers wanted to hear and that helped them remain calm in the midst of such a nerve-wracking situation. The number of soldiers at this location was twelve: ten men and two women. The Igbo culture clearly discouraged and disallowed women from fighting in war at the time, but such rule was never consistently enforced by the Biafrans. It was also possible the two women were providing logistics support to the team to make it possible for the unit to fully carry out its assignments. The soldiers asked them numerous questions and also noticed Clever’s parents were unarmed, visitors on foot in such an isolated part of town and seemed to be very distressed. To their amazement, the soldiers abruptly put down their weapons while talking to them. As Clever’s dad was answering the questions, one of the female soldiers noticed Clever’s mom appeared to be pregnant and under tremendous duress.

The female officer pulled her to the side to confirm the pregnancy, as she did not feel it was proper to do so in front of her fellow officers and commander. When Justina confirmed she was indeed more than eight months pregnant, the female officer asked Clever’s mom for permission to share the information with her commander. The officer was shocked that Justina was speaking to her in fluent Igbo. Justina agreed to let the officer convey that information to the others in her unit. The troop commander, on hearing the news, told Clever’s parents his unit officers had killed every enemy (non-Igbos) they met that day and were about to do the same to them as well. Exclaimed the commander, We will spare both of your lives because of the baby you are carrying and for the fact that madam and you are so fluent in my local dialect. I like babies, although I do not have one to call my own; they are precious and innocent beings. My sister has two children, and I am fond of them and look forward to seeing them whenever I am on leave. The commander apparently cared more about the unborn baby than the parents, and his fascination with babies was a game changer that offered an escape route for Justina and Godwill.

Thank you sir, and may God bless you! Clever’s parents responded with an exhalation of relief.

Don’t mention it, the commander replied. The female officer talked to Clever’s mom again after her commander was done and was intrigued to learn she graduated from the same government college and on the same day as her older sister. Clever’s mom shared some positive experiences she had with the officer’s sister while at the Cornelia Connelly College, a reputable preparatory school for girls in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. The school was instrumental in training girls for future leadership roles, and there were students from neighboring states and countries in attendance at the college. Blessing, the female officer’s sister, was one of those students. Justina and Blessing were close friends and study partners at the school; they used to call each other Ufan, meaning friend in the local Akwa Ibom dialect. Although the officer’s sister was an Igbo lady, she was very fluent in Ibibio language and could speak it just like one of the locals in Uyo. The officer and Clever’s mom exchanged contact information, and she also gave her the current mailing address to Blessing, her older sister, and requested Clever’s mom inform them when the baby arrived. The officer then introduced herself to Justina as Captain Ijeoma, and Justina later learned her commander’s name was Brigadier General Udoka.

Blessing had a reputation for always playing too hard to get among guys as she was persistent in her studies while a student at the college. She was able to resist every guy who asked her out on a date except one striking and intelligent young man by the name of Edikan (meaning victory). He was charming and often persistent in attending the same functions that Blessing was hooked on. Blessing could not help but recognize his constant pursuit, and she finally decided to give him a chance at romance. You should have witnessed Edikan’s exhilaration! He was so happy and all he could say was yes! yes!! yes!!! - Justina recollected as Captain Ijeoma, Blessing’s sister, was listening and nodding her head with amusement. Blessing was an intelligent and beautiful lady, and many guys would have done anything just to have a date with her. She was about 5.4 inches in height, light in complexion, and with succulent lips. Her hair laid back in curls from her tender ears, and she had seductive and beautiful brown eyes. Edikan prepared with military precision before he dared to ask Blessing for a date; this included his learning and eventual mastery of the Igbo language, Blessing’s native language. In fact, Edikan asked her out in Igbo on their first date, to her complete disbelief and astonishment. You did all this for me? No man ever went this far just to go out with me. You make me feel very special, and I am so elated and honored, Blessing noted in reference to Edikan’s ability to learn and speak her native Igbo language so soon and flawlessly. Justina was practically recounting her recollection of Blessing and Edikan to Blessing’s sister as she was right there when the two started dating. In fact, Blessing was with Justina the day she was first asked out by Edikan and could easily remember the details of the conversation between Blessing and Edikan. Things do not always happen the way one wants, but they have a way of working out in the end.

Justina’s discussion with Captain Ijeoma continued for a few more minutes after talking for such a long time about Blessing, and then Justina and Godwill resumed their trek to the mechanic shop. From this place, it was about one mile to the nearest auto repair center and there was no transportation available since their automobile had broken down on their way, and all commercial vehicles had either left the town or abandoned operation because of the civil war that was under a ceasefire. One of the soldiers who never said a word during the encounter offered to give them a ride to the shop, but Justina’s husband gratefully turned down the offer. There was something about this soldier that did not ring true to Godwill as he earnestly but firmly assured him they would proceed on foot. The husband assisted her most of the way, and they finally arrived at the mechanic shop. The shop owner graciously stopped what he was doing and escorted them to their abandoned car by the highway. As soon as the mechanic inspected the car, he noted the problem was caused by a faulty fuel pump. He changed the fuel pump and to the couple’s relief, the car started again. They were overjoyed and could not thank the mechanic enough. They paid him and included a big tip for going out of his way to be helpful.

Godwill and Justina continued their trip to Port Harcourt and on arrival, they checked into the Hotel Presidential. After their grueling adventures, they ordered a well-deserved meal from room service. At the time of the check in, the hotel was relatively new and less than six years old. Both of them enjoyed the food and quality of service provided to them that evening and for the duration of their stay. Their suite was very large and beautifully furnished with private kitchen and dining amenities. The breakfast that morning was awesome in the restaurant on the second floor. Because of the stress Justina experienced during the trip the day before, Clever took her to a nearby medical clinic after breakfast to make sure everything was okay with her and the baby as she started feeling some discomfort. While in Calabar, Justina did regular checkup at the Calabar General Hospital to monitor the pregnancy to ensure the mom and the baby were doing well. Justina was evaluated and then transferred to what is now Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital in Port Harcourt. The hospital was one of the best medical facilities at the time for Justina to have her baby, as there were no OB/GYNS at the clinic; it was just a small community health center in Port Harcourt that was not fully equipped at the time to cater to Justina’s condition. Godwill and Justina eventually made it to the Hospital, and she was constantly being monitored throughout the ride to the hospital. Her condition was getting worse by the minute and by God’s grace, Justina was immediately admitted and properly cared for by the medical staff on arrival at the hospital. This hospital was the safest place for Justina to be, and she was given a room in the hospital until Clever was ready to be delivered. It had been a very difficult and stressful pregnancy thus far, and she was on bed rest the last two weeks before delivery.

There were various doctors and nurses attending to Justina on her arrival at the hospital. Dr. Essien and Dr. Edikan checked on her every few minutes to monitor her condition and progress. One of the nurses (Ms. Boniface) was always seen attending to Justina during her stay at the hospital.

Thank God there are many OB/GYNs at this hospital, Justina uttered ecstatically. What is OG/BYN? I have heard it twice and do not know what that means, asked Bisi, a four-year old boy who was attentively waiting in the hospital lobby with his parents to visit a family friend who recently underwent surgery.

OB/GYN and not OG/BYN, his mom, Olayemi corrected.

Thank you mom, Bisi responded with a big and innocent smile. OB/GYNs are doctors who specialize in the care of women. As many in the community know, the doctors in this hospital were specially trained in obstetrics, which is the care of pregnant women. This includes the preconception (before pregnancy) phase, pregnancy, labor, and childbirth, and after the birth of a baby. All our OB/GYNs were also especially skilled in gynecology, which normally includes a woman’s overall health care, explained Dr. Basit who happened to walk by at the time Bisi posted the question to no one in particular. Thank you sir! I love my mom, and it is really cool to focus on taking care of women, Bisi noted. I want to become a doctor when I grow up one day, and I would like to take care of little kids since I am just a kid, he added innocuously. You will make a great doctor Bisi. Kids are very sweet, and it will be very nice to specialize in taking good care of them. Please come back and visit us again in the future. I have to go now and will talk to you at another time, Dr. Basit said and then left for his next appointment to attend to patients. Olayemi and her husband thanked the doctor heartily for spending a part of his day with their son; That really means a lot to all of us, and you epitomize the high quality of care that many of our friends have received here in the past, Olayemi observed. Bisi’s parents were very happy that they brought him along for the hospital visit and were very impressed by their little boy’s maturity and inquisitions.

Justina was given a spacious and easily accessible room in the hospital and Godwill was right there in the room with her. The medical staff left the room momentarily after making sure Justina was okay. What a remarkable woman you are, Justina! Godwill said to his wife. "You never once complained about the stress of the pregnancy. You never grumbled about the difficult trip to the hospital. You are the noblest among women, and God truly blessed me the day I met you. I would not have been happy with any other woman but you, and our child will