29 December 2025
Today, December 29, started as a hopeful day as Chibuike arrived at the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. Eventually, once he had his interview, that hope turned to disappointment once again. With a reason stated by the interviewer as no guarantee of returning to Nigeria upon completion of studies, the visa application to come to the U.S. was denied.
It is heartbreaking considering the validity of his application and how much we have all done for over a year to insure a successful interview. But we will re-group and work to find the best solution moving forward. In a few days, he will resume studies at MUSON School of Music in Lagos, completing his final semester there, headed for a diploma in music. He and I will discuss his options, which may involve another stab at an interview and re-application to IUP. But your suggestions and advice are welcome by emailing me.
Or we may look for a country that is eager to accept talented, dedicated, driven students. With the mountains of new procedures the U.S. Government has placed on students and immigrants—especially those in predominantly Black African countries—we may have to look elsewhere. However, that will be a challenge due to the thousands of students across the globe looking for other universities in welcoming countries. Plus, he would probably require a full ride to cover tuition and housing.
Again, thank you for all your support in the past. To get him through the semester at MUSON, ending in July, additional support may be needed and would be appreciated, We will continue to post any developments on the webpage news posts.
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