Queensborough student Adrian Omeh Knows that Inspiration Breeds Great Ideas
When Omeh came to the U.S. from Nigeria in November of 2014 he had already demonstrated remarkable entrepreneurial spirit and a natural talent for writing.
In Nigeria, Omeh was a strong advocate for peaceful coexistence and sought positive ways for people to feel engaged in strategies to avoid issues related to violence. He was inspired to create The Advocates, a board game dedicated to the memory of the hundreds of Chibok girls who were kidnapped in Nigeria in April 2014. In the game, players compete to ‘rescue’ the girls, and must navigate social vices such as terrorism, war, racism, corruption and child abuse. Omeh is currently seeking sponsorship for mass production of the board game.
His self-published novel, Harvest of Consequence, (2005) is the powerful story of a boy who is raised in an obscure village in East Nigeria. Through persistence and hard work at school he qualified to enter a debate tournament that took place in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. His stellar performance earned him a prestigious scholarship to continue his studies; however, his achievement was tempered by his beloved father’s terminal illness. The novel is at once inspiring, triumphant and tragic.
Omeh’s trajectory of success followed him to Queensborough where he enrolled in the summer of 2017. He is studying Internet and Information Technology and plans to transfer to York College where he will continue his studies in the same area.
“My greatest motivation is to stay current in the latest technology because the knowledge and the skills in this industry form the foundation of many careers. In Nigeria, I had limited opportunities to pursue information technology. I watched my dream die because the structure there barely allowed for working and going to school.”
At Queensborough, Omeh was inspired to write and submit a winning essay for the Con Edison Endowed Scholarship, awarded to outstanding students with a minimum 3.5 G.P.A. His $3,000 award will go towards textbooks and tuition.
“This scholarship is an opportunity to keep alive my dream of finishing my education while ensuring my studies won’t suffer because of a lack of finances. I will always be grateful to the sponsors of this scholarship.”
He spoke of ‘many great professors’ at Queensborough who have encouraged him to explore all of his academic interests. He has written letters of gratitude to his instructors and commented that James Geasor, an adjunct lecturer in the English department, ‘re-awakened my love for writing’.
Upon receiving his bachelor’s degree from York College, Omeh plans to set his sights on law school. His ultimate aspiration is to become a corporate lawyer so that he can advise and mentor young entrepreneurs who wish to start their own business.
Omeh resides in Queens with his wife, Uzoego Omeh, who is doing her residency at Flushing Hospital Medical Center. Previously, when she worked for the American Heart Association, Omeh followed her advice and received certification in Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Before long, his entrepreneurial instincts kicked in and he developed an app called, Heart Hero, a mobile game where players learn the right CPR steps to save a life during a cardiac or breathing emergency.
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