8 April 2026
We’ve been busy—and making strong progress.
With support from Michael Jones and following Chibuike’s previously announced acceptance into the School of Music at the University of Victoria, he has now nearly completed the Canadian student visa and study permit process.
Several major milestones have already been completed:
- Enrollment deposit of $5,000 CAD submitted (approximately $3,700 USD)
- Medical screenings and police clearance completed with no issues
- Statement of purpose and financial documentation finalized
- Application now entering final submission stage
The final submission is expected by this Friday, April 10, following receipt of a Provincial Attestation Letter. A decision is anticipated in early July, which would trigger a revitalized fund-raising campaign. If approved, Chibuike will begin classes in September. We are optimistic, while remaining cautious.
The Canadian system is more detailed and costly than the U.S. process, and fully online with no interview required. This places greater emphasis on written materials and avoids the challenges of scheduling in-person interviews.
Application-related costs so far have totaled approximately $295 for screenings and $235 in processing fees. These expenses, along with the deposit, have been fully covered thanks to the generosity of more than 150 donors, including supporters of last year’s benefit recital.
Looking ahead, additional funding will be needed for travel, tuition, housing, insurance, and living expenses.
To support this next phase, I will be traveling to Victoria in mid-May (at my own expense) for meetings with university staff and potential donors. Although classes will not be in session at that time, I hope to connect with the Caribbean-African Student Organization. Given Chibuike’s background in Nigeria and his Igbo tribe heritage, I also plan to explore connections with several local Nigerian and Igbo cultural organizations.
Our Givebutter campaign site will remain active, and we will prepare a Canadian-based crowdfunding option as well.
Thank you for continuing to follow Chibuike’s journey. We welcome new ideas and especially connections in British Columbia.
Hank Knerr; Chibuike Fund Manager
- hank@raisingarts.com
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