When people talk about giving back, they usually think of nearby communities. Somewhere not too far from the city. Maybe a quick drive away. But across the river?
Across the River Niger?
That is not common.
But for Uchenna Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu, the Chief Operating Officer of Edufun Technik STEM Foundation, giving back means reaching those even beyond the water—those separated by the river and often forgotten. What drives her is stronger than the barriers standing in her way.
And there are many barriers.
Rising river levels during the rainy season. Fear of crossing water. Lack of electricity. Poor mobile networks. But none of that could stop her, not when her heart was set on helping others.
This was not your usual outreach. It was not a one-time visit or an event where people hand out gifts and leave. This was different.
It was deeper.
It was long-term.
It was about transformation.
Uchenna had a vision to bring digital literacy and STEM education to rural communities in Nigeria, starting with one of the most remote places in Anambra State—a small riverine village called Onono. And that vision came to life through the creation of a space called the Tech Equity Hub.
Yes. A real solar-powered tech hub, right there in the middle of a village that does not even have electricity.
Why?
Because Uchenna believes that once a person has access to digital skills, they can change their own lives. It opens their minds to what is possible.
And for her, impossibility does not exist.
Her Story Begins in Humble Places
Uchenna’s passion did not come from textbooks. It came from her own experience.
She was once that girl from a humble home. Her mother was a widowed village teacher who struggled to make ends meet. But she still found a way to register her daughter at a computer training center back in the year 2000, during Uchenna’s gap year after secondary school.
That digital empowerment through education changed her life.
Her mom couldn’t complete the payment for her daughter’s tuition. But Uchenna was a fast learner. Her curiosity and quick understanding caught the attention of the center’s managers. Soon, they asked her to help teach other students. And eventually, they made a deal: Uchenna would keep teaching in exchange for clearing the rest of her unpaid balance.
That experience opened her eyes.
If a basic computer literacy skill could pay off a training debt, what more could it do if given to more young people?
What if girls in underserved communities had that same opportunity?
That thought stayed with her for years. And it kept her going, even when the road to impact was tough.
Accelerating Impact Is Intentional
I am specifically passionate about this work,” Uchenna shared, “because the first time I ever touched a computer was in the year 2000… and that computer school literally saved me from an early marriage.
She speaks from a place of experience. Of gratitude. And of strong belief in what STEM knowledge for rural youth can do.
Digital knowledge showed me what it means to have real access.
It gave her a new lens to see the world. Now, when she visits rural communities in Nigeria, she sees young girls and boys who never had that chance, and she feels a deep responsibility to bridge the digital divide.
Because she knows just how rare access to technology and digital tools is.
And if it changed her life, it can change theirs too.
Delivering on the #TechEquity Dream
Uchenna had been nurturing this dream since 2017.
Now, with the help of her team and support from the Harvard Innovation Lab Fund, she finally crossed the River Niger again, this time with resources in hand. The dream was becoming real.
They brought study desks. Chairs. Solar panels. Inverter batteries. Laptops. Everything needed to build a fully equipped STEM innovation hub.
At the riverbank, the villagers welcomed them.
And together, they crossed.
It felt like a dream.
As they installed the equipment, connected the systems, and powered the hub, the light bulbs lit up. Laughter filled the air. Smiles spread across faces. For many, tears came too.
It was joy unspeakable.
One Step at a Time, a Ripple Begins
School hours were over that day. But some children heard about the return of the Edufun Technik team. They ran back to the school to watch what was happening.
They could not believe their eyes.
They saw their classroom transformed into a technology-enabled learning space.
The school chairman. The community leader. Everyone present said the same thing—they had never seen anything like it.
Uchenna could not help but wonder:
What if there was someone like me in every village?
What if more people with a heart for impact showed up for forgotten places?
We know we cannot save everyone. But we can help a few.
And even helping a few creates ripples of change.
What Happens Next
To ensure this effort continues, a trained STEM instructor will stay in Onono for one year. After that, another educator will take over. That way, the Tech Equity Hub will not just be a structure, but a living center for digital skills, coding for kids, and technology-based education.
Every small step we take moves us closer to a bigger dream.
You do not become a pilot, or an engineer, or an AI expert in one day. But it starts with access to STEM education. It starts with the first step.
And that is what the Tech Equity Hub in Onono represents.
A first step.
A bold one.
Across the river.
Be Part of the Movement
This is not just Uchenna’s story. It is not just about one village or one hub.
It is a reminder that impact starts with one step—one girl, one school, one laptop, one light bulb, one visit across the river.
Now, it is your turn.
Want to support STEM education in Nigeria and help expand tech hubs in underserved communities?
Know a place that needs a solar-powered learning center?
Want to sponsor a robotics kit, coding class, solar panel, or even a STEM teacher?
You can:
- Donate resources
- Volunteer your time or skills
- Partner with us on rural innovation
- Spread the word
- Share this story. Tag someone who needs to see it. Let them know it is possible—even across the river.
