By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Anambra-born businessman and philanthropist, Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, has taken to his social media to celebrate what could be best described as the remarkable transformation of a once-struggling street hawker, Ekuma Jeremiah Iziogo (popularly known as Jerry) who has now become a university graduate of Law, under his scholarship.
Recall that Jerry, who was always hawking drinks at traffic in Lagos State, first captured national attention in 2022 when a nine-second video of him went viral, showing him helping prisoners with the little token he made from his roadside hawking.
In the clip, he was seen generously sharing money to inmates being transported in a Nigerian Correctional Service van, despite his own economic hardship. This act of compassion touched millions of Nigerians and also attracted the attention of many, who saw it as a pure and rewardable demonstration of kindness.
Among those who noticed Jerry’s selflessness was Obi Cubana, who, during a live Instagram session with broadcaster Ifedayo Olarinde (Daddy Freeze), undertook to sponsor the his education, as he chose going to school out of the various options offered to him by Obi Cubana. At that time, Jerry had earlier dropped out of the Ebonyi State University (EBSU) where he was previously studying Law before hardship and financial constraints hit him and cut short his dream, forcing him to quit school and start hawking as a mean of survival.
However, Obi Cubana’s intervention later in 2022, rekindled this hope and dread, as he reinstated his admission and reactivated his academic pursuit of becoming a lawyer.
Three years later, in 2025, Jerry’s dream became a reality as he successfully bagged a Law degree.
Sharing the good news and recounting his testimony on social media, Jerry reflected on his journey with obvious tone of gratitude.
“Today, a journey that started with little or no hope of crossing the finish line has come to an amazing end… A raw but naked hope of becoming a lawyer that I had. How the hope crashed and how I started again even in a bigger and better way through the invaluable support of the good people of Nigeria… It was five years of diverse experiences,” he wrote on his social media handle.
He also extended special thanks to his sponsor, Obi Cubana, as well as to Daddy Freeze, and several others who supported him throughout the journey.
“Thank you for making my dream a reality. For keeping to all your promises… I can’t appreciate your candid supports enough. A true testament of your philanthropy and services to humanity,” he wrote, attaching photos from his graduation.
On his own part, reacting to the good news, the sponsor, Obi Cubana, lauded the milestone as both Jerry’s personal achievement and another undisputable evidence of the power of kindness, mentorship, and perseverance.
Congratulating Jerry and recounting the milestone in a brief post on his social media page, Cubana wrote:
“On 19th January 2022 when the offers were placed before you, you chose education! You made the best choice, today you are a 2025 law graduate!! You could have chosen to take the money and walk away to a temporal comfort and live for the moment, but you were wise to choose education! Today you have both education and the money, and more ahead!!! Congratulations Jerry, the world is yours!!!
“Thank you my brothers @daddyfreeze @iam_hymans for being part of this great sacrifice. The bigger job is ahead of us. “Jerry MUST be successful!
@jerryluck_”
This reporter, Izunna Okafor, gathered that aside financial sponsorship, Jerry also benefitted consistent guidance, encouragement, and mentorship from Obi Cubana and other well-wishers.
This good news of Jerry’s graduation and Cubana’s benevolent gesture have also sparked off a chain reactions and counter reactions on social media, with netizens pouring-in their congratulations, lauding the beneficiary and urging other Nigerians to emulate such acts of good heart, investing in people, and giving back to the society.
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