The Hold a Hand Project
The Hold a Hand Project provides financial support to underprivileged Nigerian students who are community leaders. We aim to empower these promising students to continue to strive for excellence amid adversity. Recipients of the Hold a Hand Project Awards are students with a strong dedication to the development of their regions through job creation, education, technological innovation, and healthcare transformation.
The awards evaluate the circumstances surrounding every individual’s drive and the challenges each face in the process of obtaining an education that will prepare them to achieve their goals for their communities. We believe that by creating a community of alumni with similar interests, we’ll induce fruitful partnerships that will benefit different Nigerian societies.
To achieve these, we have established relationships with Nigerian universities to facilitate our application/award processes. We are now in partnership with the African Leadership Bridge (ALB) which has trained leaders across Africa in the past decade. ALB alumni return to their countries to pioneer advancements and pay forward the privilege they’ve had to obtain international training. We hope that you find it in your heart to fund the program to lessen the financial burdens that restrict our future leaders.
Our Recipients
2023 Recipients
Success Mmachukwu
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Nigeria
Success hails from Ekwulobia in Anambra state, Nigeria. She is currently a student at COOU pursuing a degree in medical laboratory science, although she is in the process of transitioning her major to pharmacy. Her journey in the world of pharmaceuticals began during her tenure as a pharmacy technician, where her passion for comprehending the intricacies of medications and their transformative impact on individuals' lives took root. Her ultimate career aspiration is to helm a pharmaceutical company with a dedicated focus on medication rehabilitation, catering to individuals dealing with substance use disorder as well as those living with HIV and AIDS.
Promise Offor
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Nigeria
Promise, currently a medical student at COOU, discovered his passion for medicine through a deeply personal journey marked by his father's illness and subsequent passing. His aspiration is to specialize in cardiology, with the aim of making significant contributions to the healthcare of cardiovascular patients throughout Nigeria. Along his path, he has been fortunate to receive guidance from various mentors across diverse environments. Inspired by these experiences, Promise has dedicated himself to tutoring and mentoring students who encounter academic challenges. Moreover, he is nurturing his talents as a budding writer, with the intention of inspiring and impacting others through his literary works.
Marvelous Ofoma
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Nigeria
Marvelous hails from Asaba, in the heart of Delta State, Nigeria. Currently, he is dedicated to his pursuit of a degree in medicine and surgery at COOU, actively participating in endeavors aimed at alleviating the critical shortage of physicians in Nigeria. Before commencing his college journey, Marvelous conscientiously honed his web development skills through the National Institute for Information Technology. Here, he collaborated with individuals of various backgrounds, honing not only his technical abilities but also crystallizing his personal vision of success. His experiences within the Nigerian healthcare system have propelled him towards an exploration of specialized fields, with particular interest in pulmonology and hepatology.
Racheal Eligbame
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
Racheal, is a theatre and film major at UNN, and she aspires to carve a path as a director in the entertainment industry. Her unwavering determination has been a steadfast force, propelling her forward despite the hurdles posed by her background and financial constraints. Before embarking on her college journey, she devoted over a year as a primary school assistant, diligently saving to fund her education. Presently, she juggles her academic pursuits while working as a tutor, displaying an admirable commitment to self-sufficiency throughout her college years.
Akachukwu Chukwunachi
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
Akachukwu's upbringing and initial encounters with the achievements of figures like Dr. Ben Carson have profoundly shaped his aspirations and trajectory in the field of medicine. He is driven to excel as a surgeon, aspiring not only to perform at the highest level but also to spearhead initiatives that extend life-saving surgeries to Nigerians in need. This fervor for nurturing the next generation is evident in his prior role as an assistant teacher at a primary school, as well as his envisioned community project: establishing a local mentorship program tailored for children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Dominic Ezeani
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
Dominic's journey in pharmacy reflects remarkable perseverance and unwavering determination. He initially pursued combined biological sciences but demonstrated incredible tenacity by reapplying for the pharmacy major, underscoring his dedication to his chosen career. As an active member of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research in Nigeria, he engages in the broader pharmaceutical community. Dominic also contributes significantly to community health education, passionately combating drug abuse and misuse within his institution. In his role as Student Assistant Secretary General in the Faculty of Pharmacy over the past year, he has been instrumental in facilitating effective communication between faculty and students, fostering an ideal learning environment.
Daniel Agbaji
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
Daniel's journey through higher education is quite remarkable. Initially admitted to pursue a degree in medicine, he navigated the intensely competitive selection process, only to have his admission revoked due to the department's exceeding quota. Undeterred, he persevered and secured re-admission three years later, this time alongside his two siblings, all embarking on their first-year experience at UNN. Currently, Daniel not only dedicates himself to his studies but also works as a tutor to support his education financially. Simultaneously, he passionately engages in initiatives aimed at enhancing the well-being of underprivileged children in his community who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
2019 Recipients
Chinenye Umeononamma
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Nigeria
Chinenye is a law student at COOU. She is the sixth child in a family of eight, and has previously held leadership positions as the dormitory prefect and study facilitator in high school and college respectively. Chinenye's works and goals center around improving the interaction between the government and the people, thus ensuring that the environmental challenges of the common man are properly addressed.
Deborah Chibuike
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
Deborah is a medical student at UNN. She is from a family of six with her three other siblings also in the same college. As a physician, Deborah hopes to practice in a rural community and improve mortality rates. She currently explores her passion for community service by volunteering with Enactus, a global experiential learning platform for student leaders and social innovators.
Jerry Chiemeka
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
Jerry is an electrical engineering student at UNN. He is from a family of six and holds leadership positions in his church and in college as the youth leader and course group leader respectively. He is interested in electrical engineering research to improve the adequacy and affordability of electricity in Nigeria. He seeks to maximize the transfer of knowledge by creating significant internship opportunities for high school students.
Our Graduates
Faith Obaa
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Nigeria
Faith majored in economics at COOU. She's from a family of six. In college, she served as the assistant secretary of an anti-corruption organization. Faith is working to become an economic analyst. She has taken an active role in educating herself on computer programming. Her areas of interest include the improvement of health and living conditions, and the development of technology, and infrastructure for the general society.
Johnson Chinonso
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Nigeria
Johnson majored in business administration at COOU. He's from a family of seven and is a child of poultry farmers. He served as the senior prefect in his high school and tutored other students in math and accounting in college. Johnson hopes to address poverty in Nigeria by establishing skill acquisition centers and creating job opportunities for Nigerian youths.
Jennifer Akagu
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
Jennifer is a political science student at UNN. She lost her father at a young age and is currently in a family of nine. She worked temporarily post-high school to save for college and she held the secretary position in the PTA of the school she taught. Jennifer is an activist for gender equality and against social disparities. She has political ambitions and hopes to become a power symbol for women in her college and her larger community.
Who We Are
Our vision for the Hold a Hand Project lies on a desire to provide young Nigerian innovators with opportunities shared by similar minds across the world. As students ourselves, we have recognized ways in which societal structure and economic factors cripple many students’ abilities to create and serve in their communities, and we have resolved to change these stories. Nigeria has little scholarship programs and no student loan opportunities, thus families that are financially unstable end up not educating their new generations. Solving this literacy problem will bring breakthrough to many communities as children of the soil are more likely to return to develop their homes. Hold their hands today and leave behind your prints.