UAPB student shares experience of surviving Russian invasion of Ukraine
PINE BLUFF, Ark. – A student attending the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff shared his experience of surviving the Russian invasion of Ukraine amid his journey as a nursing student.
Kennedy Abanihe is originally from Lagos, Nigeria and he said he went to Ukraine to become a nursing student with hopes of eventually becoming an anesthesiologist.
“When I left Lagos, Nigeria, I thought it was just going to be a smooth journey, oh six years in Ukraine easy, and it didn’t happen that way,” Abanihe said. “The war happened I had to leave and stay with my cousin in Germany for a while.”
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While living with his cousin after the invasion of Ukraine, he began applying for schools in Germany and in the United States.
“I got a scholarship here at UAPB, and one in Germany but I was trying to redirect my life,” Abanihe said.
He said he didn’t know anyone in Arkansas but he knew UAPB was the right move to make.
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Abanihe said many international students ask to hear his story and want to know why he kept going after leaving so much behind.
“Perseverance. I had to focus on where I wanted to be and I didn’t let the distractions get me off track,” he said.
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