The story of Okeke is a fiction but the narrative is based on real life experience of a young man born in a rural community. Okeke's father Nwude was the only surviving son of his parents who were prominent farmers. Nwude desired passionately to obtain Western education. But his dreams were dashed because of his father's sudden death. And being an only son in a patriarchal society, his mother wanted him to get married very early in life to enable him beget children to continue the family lineage. Although sad, Nwude accepted his fate with equanimity. This was how he married Okenu and became a wine tapper. Nwude vowed to send all his children to formal school. It was therefore under that circumstance that Okeke was born to the Nwudes.
Once Okeke attained school age, his parents sent him to school. After six years of primary school, Okeke exceled in the Common Entrance Examination scoring the highest marks and won a scholarship to study in the college. Unfortunately, this scholarship was denied him because he is from the marginalized region of the East. It was only later that he learnt painfully that those from the East were oppressed and systematically programmed to remain underdogs no matter how much they tried to excel.
In the secondary school, Okeke carved a niche for himself as his passion for science was increased as he kept dreaming of being an engineer to serve humanity. In his resolve to be great, Okeke vowed to excel academically in the college. He read of many scientists who spent their lives engrossed in finding out alternative solutions to real life problems. At the end of their college years, Okeke got admission into the university to study Engineering and graduated with First-Class honours. After his one year compulsory community service in the country, Okeke faced the world with confidence. But unfortunately, he was systematically frustrated from getting a job anywhere in the country because his name is OKEKE, a typical Eastern name. Thinking that a higher certificate could save him, he laboured to obtained higher certificates but yet was denied any job by a powerful tribe from the North. Faced by the trauma of oppression, Okeke severally attempted suicide. Even when he finally got a federal job the ruling Northern elite saw Okeke as a potential star from the East who could become a big threat to them. This was how those leaders began to plot his ruin. Luckily he got wind of the nefarious plot and left his post and later fled the country through the help his former boss.
But despite his comfort and safety overseas, Okeke was tormented by the thought that his family members and millions of people from the East were still oppressed. After much internal struggle, he decided to return to his country and vowed to spend the rest of his life fighting the systematic oppression of his dehumanized people. To equip himself for the battle against the monster of oppression in his native country, Okeke began reading many books and attending many seminars on revolution and social change. He found books on the life and writings of Karl Marx vey inspiring.
He read about an international conference on justice, oppression and strategic actions for peace and development. Captivated by the advertisement Okeke decided to attend the conference. This programme appealed to many of his personal interests and would later change his life radically and permanently. During the three day conference his determination and hardworking mindset were greatly enhanced as he became better empowered for the challenge back home.
Thus after what can be called his brief refuge overseas, Okeke grew into a charismatic, strong, courageous and optimistic young adult that can and will insinuate the difference in society. He relocated back to his oppressive country and was ever determined to fight and inspire people especially those from the East to fight injustice wherever and whenever they found it on earth.