A Glance at My Past: A Past Packed with Admixture of Events and Challenges

By Uzoma C. Akoma

In A GLANCE at MY PAST, Uzoma Akoma methodically traces the odyssey of his
life story and how the Lord,eventually, led him all the way through with glaring success
in life. Throughout Uzoma's youth, his parents spared no opportunity in ensuring their love,
care and protection of their only son then. It can be readily seen that parents' love and
care go a long way in welding the future of a child.
Little wonder that Uzoma grew up to be a youngman of strength and fortitude. Thus
when the vicissitudes of life emerged, with God's help he was able to withstand them
victoriously. This fact will be gleaned from the pages of this book which serves as an open
acknowledgment and confession of his encounter with the Lord thus far.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469153162

Book preview

Copyright © 2012 by Uzoma C. Akoma.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2012900949

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4691-5315-5

                   Softcover                                 978-1-4691-5314-8

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4691-5316-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Edited by: Christiana Akoma, Joshua Ince, Richard Peterson, Josiah Nwaogwugwu, Sam Mercado, and Godwin Ochor Nwamkpah.

Cover design by Tim Hutchings

Layout by Nathan Hamlett

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

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Dedication

This autobiography is being dedicated in ever loving memory of my parents, to my children, and grand children. It is further dedicated to my highly treasured wife and devoted companion, Dr. Christiana Nwaogbu Akoma, who is ever actively involved in every phase of my life’s endeavors.

This is a concise, true life story. Nothing has been deleted, nor coated to achieve superfluity.

FOREWORD

A Glance at My Past:

A Past Packed with Admixture of

Events and Challenges

I have known Dr. Uzoma Akoma from infancy, not only as a handsome cousin, but as one raised at the seat of wisdom, knowledge, culture, tradition and fear of God; where respect, dignity and hard work is stressed as the recipe for human growth and development. These human qualities are emphasized in any Ngwa family, but Dr. Akoma’s parents, Chief and Mrs. Shedrack Okamgba Akoma themselves were the anchor of these life principles. Therefore this book, A Glance at My Past: A Past Packed With Admixture of Events and Challenges, is a portrait of a man brought up in a disciplined home. Dr. Uzoma Akoma as we know him today is a complete gentleman. He is a product of his cultural and traditional root and a well-known military person in Nigeria and overseas. And currently in the United States he continues to make significant academic impact in the elementary school districts where his services are needed.

At a very young stage in his life when Dr. Akoma left home to pursue his education, he embraced successful people, aligned himself with good teachers, respected politicians and religious instructors from whom he learned basic leadership qualities. There is no wonder that his good choice of relationships paid off and ignited the spark that fueled his determination for success when his academic objective was almost derailed. About the time he was to take his final High School examination—a test that would open doors for more future opportunities and achievements—Satan organized a dangerous scheme to have Dr. Akoma dismissed from school. When it appeared that all hopes were lost for his survival and success, God opened up the chambers of heaven and the blessings of God fell on a son who called upon God all his life. Again, God doubled his blessings when the handsome Dr. Akoma connected with the beautiful Christiana Chigbundu in the heat of the crisis in Nigeria. People who wait on the Lord shall receive His GRACE abundantly.

A Glance at My Past: A Past Packed With Admixture of Events and Challenges is more than a biography and story of culture, tradition or African mythology. This book exposes the author’s confidence in himself and the unflinching belief he has in God for being in control of every situation, no matter how ugly. This refrain is clear throughout the pages of this book. This book also shows the author’s academic freedom to acknowledge other peoples’ impact on his life.

Readers should note the wisdom and good judgment of the author. When Dr. Akoma sensed that something diabolical was behind the Nigerian government sending him an abrupt return air ticket from London Airport to Lagos Airport in the heat of the Nigeria-Biafra war, he utilized the proverbial and unique Nigerian number six problem solving technique to defeat the enemy. If Dr. Akoma had walked into the Nigerian program as planned, we will not be here reading this success story. This is the grid that sums up the mysterious spirit of a believer in God. Of course Dr. Akoma was able to return to Nigeria but not through Lagos Airport which would have resulted to him digging his own grave and burying himself.

This book should be used by people from all walks of life–general readers, historians, social scientists and religious bodies. Youth who want to know what makes for success or failure in life should make it their duty to read and develop their minds. Teachers and parents who train others should equip their libraries with copies of this wonderful work of art. I am honored to introduce this quality book by Dr. Uzoma Akoma to you

Professor/Chief Josiah Nwaogwugwu

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Allocating space for special thanks to everyone who helped translate a dream into reality by making the production of this book possible could easily fill a separate book. I’m not sure that’s what the readership of this book longs to see. However, I crave your indulgence as I try to recognize, briefly, a few people who were instrumental to the eventual production and publication of this manuscript.

I make haste to accord special words of gratitude to my wife, Dr. Christiana Akoma. Thanks to her indeed. I married well. Her constant words of encouragement, her sharp and keen retentive memory, and above all, her insistence on, and belief in, the power of prayer became my never-failing tools that consistently spurred me up to the finish line. When I was devoid of the stamina to go on, she spiced me up with those invigorating words. When I needed a soothing hug, she readily gave one. Thanks to Nnamdi, Rowland, and Obinna for casting occasional cursory glance at their dad and wishing me good luck as I strived to retrieve those facts and events that were older than all of them. Thanks also to my brother, Chidi, for regularly calling to check on me and to wish me the best.

My big thanks go to my cover artist, Mr. Timothy Hutchings, of Illustrations and Graphic Designs, who proved that sometimes you can judge a book by its cover. His artistic manifestation and love for beauty can readily be seen on the cover of this book. Thanks also to the photographer whose astute professionalism aided to convert some of those old but historic pictures into modern, glossy, presentable photographs.

I also feel obliged to express my brief but succinct words of gratitude to Dr. Joshua Ince, Pastor Samuel Mercado, and Dr. Richard Peterson (senior pastor, Houston Central Seventh-day Adventist Church) for their support and encouragement.

It is impossible for me to wrap up this section of the memoir without assigning a measure of special thanks to Pamela Printing Company, Houston, Texas, under the leadership of Mr. David Smith. Mr. Smith and his team have certainly done me good. Their work speaks for itself. They added their ingenuity to make the overall effort of producing this book a visible and quantifiable success. I found them a happy and very approachable team. Also I tender my thanks to all those who inspired me and urged me on to complete this volume.

A special mention for a very dear brother, Chief/Professor Josiah Nwaogwugwu. He has always been a very loving and dependable relation. Indeed he was very qualified to write authoritatively about me, and he earns my profound words of gratitude. My two dear and very close, long-time friends: Mr. Godwin Ochor Nwamkpah and Chief John Nwangwa deserve a loving mention. Our friendships have been truly enduring, and quite beneficial.

Nor can I omit according special mention to my elementary school Headmaster, Mr. A.C. Moses, and my first High School Principal, Dr. W.G.A. Futcher. These men, in particular, furnished the fundamental spark that kept glowing in me during my elementary and high school years, and thereafter. Indeed they did their jobs of leading, pruning, and educating exceptionally well.

Last but by no means not least, my solid, unalloyed, thanks go to my late parents, Chief Okamgba and Mrs. Dinah Akoma who taught me all that I know.

INTRODUCTION

For a long time I pondered over the possibility of my writing something about my life. It was not that I saw myself as someone who accomplished that much in my life, but rather I considered the opportunity of leaving something, a legacy, as an important endowment for my children. They have at times come up with some searching questions about my past; questions that unequivocally lent themselves to serious and truthful answers. Answers to such questions, I hope, I have dealt with faithfully and frankly in this presentation.

I must confess that the prospect of taking on such a life project terrified me initially. Although I have read autobiographies written by other people, I’ve never attempted writing one myself. Even in spite of my love for writing, I could not imagine myself embarking on such a vital undertaking then would put to task my every power of expression and recollection. But the urge for me to write kept mounting. At first I dismissed the recurring thought with disdain and utter disbelief. Initially I did not see myself as someone possessing anything worth being written about. I have