Reflecting on my journey, I remember being a struggling international student at Chicago State University (CSU), driving a taxi to pay tuition and make ends meet. Four years after graduating, I returned to campus as an Assistant Professor of Accounting, and in August 2024, I retired after 35 years of fulfilling and rewarding service. To God be the glory—great things He has done!
To celebrate this milestone, I have planned two unique gatherings, and I invite you to join me in rejoicing and celebrating at one (or both!) of these events:
Celebration No. 1: Black Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are a rarity—making up only 2% of all CPAs in the USA. Most CSU students cannot afford the CPA Exam Review Program. My wife and I have decided to pay it forward by establishing an endowed scholarship with an initial $50,000 donation. We aim to raise at least an additional $50,000, primarily from the CSU and accounting communities, for a total of $100,000. This scholarship fund will benefit Black CSU students aspiring to become CPAs.
Celebration No. 2: We’ve also donated $50,000 toward constructing a multipurpose community center in my hometown, Obazagbon, Nigeria, primarily for the children in that village and nearby areas. This village currently lacks electricity and running water. The center will feature a playground, computer lab, library, and other recreational facilities, all powered by solar energy.
To kick off this campaign, a client and a friend have generously contributed $10,000 and $1,000, respectively. With an estimated project cost of $100,000, we plan to raise at least the remaining $39,000 within a year. Fundraising efforts will be managed through a tax-exempt nonprofit organization that my wife and I established—The Least of These Ministries (www.tlotministries.org).
We chose to celebrate in this way because we are blessed to be a blessing to others. As the Bible reminds us, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.” — Luke 12:48.