COM professor sponsors students in Nigeria

TEXAS CITY — Students at an impoverished African academy hoping for a higher education know, if they have an opportunity to come to America, they’d want to study at Texas City’s College of the Mainland.

A Nigerian native teaching biological sciences here traveled to his homeland this past summer, and for the paltry price of $300 he provided partial and full-time scholarships for nine students at Uche Stenographic Academy in Orlu.

“I was originally born in Nigeria and raised up in Italy,” Ndu Dikeocha said. “This college, which you see is ‘USA,’ contacted me over the Internet.

“There are many colleges like this in need. You can’t satisfy all of them. Many people argue where they should start, but we have to start somewhere.”

The school, which has students as young as 14, prepares its pupils for university academia, Dikeocha said.

The owner of the academy subsidizes many of the 1,000 students who attend, but the circa-1973 building is in need of repair.

The academy also faces other challenges.

“I sent them science books to help them,” Dikeocha said.

“I’m trying to change their situation for the better by raising money for infrastructure or educational supplies.

“Poverty is a major issue. Most parents can’t afford to send their children to college, so they need subsidies from scholarships.”

Dikeocha, who will celebrate 10 years in the United States in February, bought a laptop for the school and gave students T-shirts imprinted with “College of the Mainland.”

He is also trying to set up a student or faculty-exchange program, which has the support of COM’s president, Homer “Butch” Hayes.

“I think it’s an excellent opportunity to get to know a little more about the world outside Galveston County,” Hayes said.

“It’s important to prepare students for the future to know more about other communities and cultures.”

Hayes visited Ethiopia and Nigeria from 1966 to 1969 as a volunteer with the Peace Corps.

“I know of what he’s trying to do,” Hayes said. “We’ve had 35 students this past year from Equatorial Guinea doing petrochemical training.”

Dikeocha, who holds a doctorate in biology of reproduction, has also earned many professional accolades during his seven years at COM.

One day, he said, he will return to his homeland.

“If you know what you’re doing and work efficiently, there are many opportunities here for you,” Dikeocha said.

“But if you’re lazy, you better leave.”

Malik McCoy, a senior at Hitchcock High School, said he enjoys Dikeocha’s instruction.

“It’s cool, like his voice and accent,” McCoy said.