Peace Mass Transit Boss, Onyishi honoured with NANS’ Highest Medal.

On December 23rd, 2022, Dr Samuel Maduka Onyishi, Founder and Chancellor of Maduka University and Maduka University College, was honored by the National Center for Youths Transformation and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) for his contributions to the education sector in Nigeria.

During the National Center for Youths Transformation and the National Association of Nigerian Students’ official visit to Dr. Onyishi at Ekwegbe, Enugu, they presented him with the association’s highest medal, the “5 Star Comrade,” recognising his dedication to improving the education system in the country through his massive investment in that sector.

Dr. Onyishi has significantly impacted and revolutionised the educational sector in Nigeria by establishing the yet-to-be-approved Maduka University and Maduka University College. (the secondary school arm of the university.

These institutions with world-class facilities will provide quality education to numerous students, playing a crucial role in developing Nigeria’s education sector and, most importantly, the students.

At the same time, the institutions provide employment to a massive number of Nigerians (both academic and non-academic staff).

Responding, Chief Onyishi said that the thank-you visit by the youths, together with the awards, was a fulfilment of what God had told him: “to be a helper to humanity.

Onyishi said that the school was God’s way of impacting the lives of Nsukka people and South Easterners and not a profit-making venture.

He also charged the students not to relent in their pursuit of academic qualifications, adding that the higher the qualifications, the better their chances.

He said, “You have to prepare yourself for greatness and be ready to multitask.” Don’t say I want to be here alone. Don’t say I am a graduate; continue learning; no knowledge is waste.

“When I see people like you coming to appreciate me, it means that what God told me is becoming reality.” So, as long as I live, I will serve God and be of help to humanity. If it’s about money and where to invest the money and make profit, I know where to invest and make more money in hard currency, fly my jets, and drink with people, but at the end, God will not be happy.

“I advise you, as you grow, don’t steal people’s money because you will invest it in people, but God will not be happy with your sacrifice; God is not happy with stolen money.” You can use the money to help people, but the credit will not come to you because God does not work with stolen money. It’s a dirty sacrifice and not worthy of the Holy Spirit.

“I want you to grow with the message, understand it, and multiply it. The essence of university is to give me a platform to multiply the little God has given me. Freely we receive, and freely we shall give. I love education. I told my children that none of them will join the business until they become PhD holders.

I made a promise that I was going to use the money God blessed me with to bless people. When I reached 50 years, I said what am I going to do with these and my own kind of God understanding is to invest on my people, where am coming from. As far as I’m concerned, God blessed me for Nsukka people and Igbo people. If he wanted me to be a blessing to Americans, he would have made me be born in New York.

“If he wanted me to be a blessing for Lagos or Abuja people, he would have made me be born there, but he made me be born in Nsukka; he made me to be a blessing to Nsukka people; he raised me for Nsukka people.” He raised me for the Igbo people.

“The Igbos are the major people that do road transport in this country, but I am the only transporter at that level that has a head office in the south-east part of Nigeria.” It’s because I don’t follow money but impact. God has reviewed the message I am carrying. I didn’t understand it in time. The message I am carrying is that God raised me for Ndigbo; the impact I will make is here first, in Igbo land.

“If I don’t build the university here first, it means I don’t even know my message from God.” I have the headquarters of all my automobile, lubricant, and other companies here in Emene, Enugu, and people used to tell me that because of that, I would not raise much money. Any amount I raise is okay for me. Do I need all the money in the world? I am okay if I get enough to do what I want to achieve.

The university is not an accident but a plan by God to help my people. Though, it’s a little bit late but half bread is better than none. I will continue to offer the scholarship to my people because I know they don’t have money. In 1998, when I was still driving the bus, God told me that I come from darkness and he will make me become light for them but I didn’t understand it then.

“When I started building this university, people came and said there is no money here.” How can you recover your money? Our people cannot pay school fees; South Easterners cannot pay, and that’s why you can’t find a big school here in the South East. I told them when they come, let them not pay school fees because they have already paid. “They brought the money I am using to build the university, so they have already paid their school fees,” he said.

The National Center for Youth Transformation and NANS expressed their appreciation for Dr. Onyishi’s commitment to education and his efforts to improve the lives of Nigerian students.

The Medal of a Five-Star Comrade is a testament to his exceptional achievements and a tribute to his invaluable contributions to the development of Nigeria, especially its education sector.

Honors and recognitions have become second nature to the Peace Mass Transit Chairman, Dr. Sam Onyishi, so this is another feather added to his cap.