Our graduates and alumni are the biggest proof of our success. The sheer change not only in their lives but its impact on their communities is unmatched. One of the graduates we hold dear, Abraham Omo Udu'a...
Abraham Omo Udu’a is our very first “Golden Rock Award” winner. His story applies to each and every one of the tens of thousands of graduates we are privileged to serve each and every year. Abraham was a young man with circumstances all too familiar not only in Nigeria, but also other under-developed countries in Asia, South America, and Africa.
Born to a family of few means, he was raised in a failed educational system with poorly funded schools. The teachers were often unpaid and even poorly educated themselves. Abraham was forced by the sheer basic need of a single meal a day to drop out of school and start working in a market place as a day laborer. Unable to get any help from friends or relatives, he was unable to purchase the most basic of school books, pay $10 school tuition, or even obtain 1 single $3 uniform to wash nightly and re-wear. He had no other viable option.
Even though difficult, he chose to reject the very attractive allure of robbery, drug trafficking, or gang activity, and chose instead to sleep in the mosquito-infested filth of the market place at night. During the day he served as a laborer. A porter carrying heavy loads on his head for traders. Too poor to own a wheelbarrow. He himself served as a beast of burden. He lived on half a loaf of bread and a bottle of soda/mineral as his entire daily sustenance. The only fare his daily earnings could afford. Abraham heard of and came to our open enrollment. He owned only the thread bare clothing on his back. But that's all he needed.
Our core curriculum includes a full health screen and healthcare. Abraham, like many of our students was found to be doing the impossible! A full grown man, carrying on a daily basis weights of four times his weight, stopping only to rest while he sought work, walking miles in the sweltering sub-Sahara sun of 110 degrees Fahrenheit living on the minimal of calories and a blood hemoglobin of 3! That quickly changed with our inexpensive, easy remedy of medical care, and affordable dietary changes. With that and education, the young man flourished.
Not only was he able to understand why he suffered a myriad of symptoms he was forced to ignore, but Abraham was for the first time able to think clearly. To think without the cloud of poorly oxygenated cerebral blood flow. To think without the ever-constant growing hunger that fogged his mental faculties and became a permanent part of his existence. To think without constantly being on the alert for the everyday dangers of that fighting off vermin. To think without interruption from police, who disallowed his place of sleep, sometimes with physical brutality. The transformation was amazing.
From the beginning Abraham proved that he was exactly what great men were made of and needed. This young man, who was surely only surviving by sheer self-will, excelled our schools. After completing the mandatory core classes, Abraham chose as his preference the school of Dental Hygienist. Today, as they say, the rest is history.
Abraham was a formidable force. On all levels of playing fields, he helps with all opportunities. Abraham is a real life wonder.
His colleagues were equally committed and motivated and many also gifted. But Abraham was unstoppable. After the first few weeks of difficulty, he prevailed and began to lead in classes. He was “The Most improved Student” before the end of the first month. From being close to illiterate and barely able to read the simplest words, Abraham challenged himself and read six to seven times more than was required in the study hall.
He started to read everything, from elementary school books to ones more advanced. Not deterred by how far behind our entry placement test categorized him, he was self motivated. Undaunted. The fire within him propelled Abraham. Propelled him all the way to the very top of his class in academics. He chose soccer as his sport and one of the two extracurricular activities our curriculum encourages. His soccer team placed second place with Abraham as team captain. His team, “The Avengers” won the Solid Rock Soccer Challenge 2018 with a $100 prize per player, and Abraham won the $500 prize as the highest goal scorer.
Today Abraham enjoys a minimum basic income of 220,000 naira per month. He is a dental hygienist to five boys only secondary schools. Because his services are known to excel in not only good dental hygiene outcomes, but also consistent cleanliness, respectful conduct, and honest business. The hallmarks of our graduate, many parents, and each of the teachers have also become his patients and he provides them care outside of school. His income is honestly earned and his story can easily be replicated by anyone willing to work hard, learn, and play by the rules.
Abraham is now expanding to a permanent location. He is affiliated with a dentist as is mandatory and refers all appropriate cases to the them. His referrals have led the dentist to offer him a space in the office. Abraham now has assistants and has added foot care and vision and hearing screening to his services. Tools acquired from A Solid Foundation have assisted his services success along with sheer grit, intelligence, calculated choices and control. He is the epitome of a lifestyle of A Solid Foundation's M.E.N and we are more than grateful that a multitude now follow in his foot steps!
M.E.N (Measured men who last the distance and stay the course due to intelligent planning and controlled execution of plans leading repeatedly to success in all the do. Empathetic men who put themselves in other people's situation and deal with all, parents, spouses, children, co-worker s fairly. Negotiators who have the skill of bringing out the best of those they come in contact with by allowing compromise and middle ground of understanding and compassion to lead to all winning in any conflicted situation.
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