By Benue Info-pedia 

What started as a simple act of kindness on a lonely road in Benue has blossomed into a life-changing miracle for an orphaned girl. For Precious Ulegede, a ₦1,000 gift has opened the door to a university education she never thought possible.

It was an ordinary Monday morning in January 2024. But for a young orphan in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State, that day would mark the beginning of a new life.

Hon. Onah Blessed Emmanuel, a House of Representatives aspirant for Oju/Obi Federal Constituency, recalled how he and his wife were returning to Makurdi from their village, Anyuwogbu Ibilla, when they spotted a schoolgirl by the roadside.

Moved by concern, they offered her a lift. But when it became clear she was heading in a different direction, Emmanuel handed her ₦1,000 to assist her journey.

That brief encounter might have ended there but fate had other plans.

Weeks later, Emmanuel was handed a handwritten letter from the same girl. It was a message of gratitude but more than that, it revealed depth, intelligence, and a spark of greatness.
“I read it with tears in my eyes,” he said.

Curious, he made inquiries. What he discovered was heartbreaking.

The girl, Precious Ulegede, had lost her father at just two months old and her mother at the age of three. Left alone in the world, she had been living with her aged grandmother in Ibilla Alukpo.
But despite the odds, she held tightly to one dream education.

Touched by her story and impressed by her determination, Emmanuel stepped in.

He first sponsored her registration for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC). Precious did not disappoint. She delivered impressive results, scoring A1 in Government and Mathematics among other credits.

Encouraged by her performance, he went further to fund her Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.

Again, she succeeded.

Soon after, she secured admission to study Strategic Communication at Rev. Fr. Moses Oshior Adasu University, Makurdi.

Three days ago, Precious officially matriculated a moment many thought would never come.

Today, her future is secure.

Emmanuel has placed her on a full scholarship that will carry her through her entire university education.

Reflecting on the journey, he said:
“There are many Precious out there. We must find them and help them.”