Nigerian whose family ‘struggled’ to pay for US varsity elected student president

Chimezie Ebiriekwe, a native of Imo state, has emerged the Associated Students president of San Diego State University, US.

Associated Students is SDSU’s version of student union government.

Ebiriekwe won by polling 3,454 votes while his opponents: Ben Delbick got 1,189, Chloe Sension received 1,014 and Kaitlyn Hart received 94 votes.

Before his election on March 17, the Nigerian was the Associated Students vice president of university affairs.

After winning, Ebiriekwe shared his joy with The Daily Aztec.

“This moment is even better than the first,” he said. “For me, to be on the forefront, and for all four of my counterparts to win by a large margin speaks volumes how true the student voice is, and how the students know who the true executives are.

“It’s surreal. There’s not a lot of people who do it two years in a row. It speaks volumes that the students really respect me and want me to be their representative.”

In his bio on the school’s website, Ebiriekwe said his family struggled to send him to the institution.

“My parents and loved ones struggled financially to get me into college and in the position I am in right now, and I have no other option but to make sure I get everything that college has to offer and eventually have a great career for the rest of my life,” he wrote.

“Chimezie is not a very common name in America, but it is a known name in the country of Nigeria. My name means, “God fixes it”, I believe my name well fits the person I am today.

“The name, Chimezie, fits me well because it matches the lifestyle I live.”

Chimezie is also the treasurer for the school’s Afrikan Student Union (ASU) and he’s on the marketing committee for the American Marketing Association.