Fourteen years after Kechi Okwuchi, got involved in a plan crash alongside with 109 passengers including 59 other students of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, onboard Sosoliso Flight 1145 heading to the Portharcourt airport slammed into the floor and burst into flames, Kechi Okwuchi, has graduated with first class in 2015.
She has equally obtained her MBA in Economics in 2017 from one of the University in the United States of America (USA), a friend of hers signed her up to audition for “America’s Got Talent” without her knowing, later participated in “The Champions” in 2019 where she got a golden buzzer from Simon Cowell.
Today Kechi Okwuchi is a motivational speaker and a musician.
It would be recall that on December 10th, 2005, was the date, 16 years old Kechi and her classmates of the Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja woke with a smile on their faces, it was the holidays and they were heading “home”.
They boarded the Sosoliso Flight. It was a jolly flight as Kechi sat in an aisle seat next to her close friend,Toke.
They boarded the Sosoliso Flight. It was a jolly flight as Kechi sat in an aisle seat next to her close friend,Toke.
Fifteen minutes to the end of the flight, an announcement that they would soon be landing at the Portharcourt airport.
But suddenly everything changed, they were going down way too fast.
Someone behind them asked “Is this plane trying to land?”
Kechi and her friend, Toke held hands together and was about to pray when the Sosoliso aircraft carrying 109 passengers that included Kechi and 59 other students slammed into the floor and burst into flames!
One hundred and seven passengers died including 59 students of the Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja.
There were only two survivors, 16 year old Kechi who suffered a 3rd degree burn in most of her body with 65% of her body affected.
She was flown to Milpark Hospital, where she was given 30% chance of survival. She was in coma for five weeks and her mum kept singing to her.
She sang “Wonderful and marvelous is Jesus Christ to me, sweeter than the honey in the honey comb is He, Jesus is real and He will never fail” I will praise Him now and throughout all eternity” she continued singing until she woke up.
She woke up and told her mum, she could hear her sing that song throughout her weeks in coma and recited it with her. She spent seven months in the hospital where she underwent over 100 surgeries.
She was later referred to the US in 2007 to undergo reconstructive surgery and till date she’s undergone over 125 surgeries.
She referenced her faith in God as one of the reasons she pulled through and In 2015, she graduated with a first class in the US and made this speech.
“This degree is not just a degree. It is a gift to the 60 students that died in a plane crash I was in 10 years ago. It represents the fulfillment of a promise I made to those students and their parents”.
Today Kechi Okwuchi is a motivational speaker, musician with an MBA in Economics. She never gave up on life even when it looked like giving up was the easiest route out.
She endured pain to reach the heights she has attained today whilst keeping her faith and belief in God. Obstacles are a sure thing in life, make sure you don’t give up in the face of trials. Never stop trying, never stop believing, never give up.
One day you will thank yourself for never giving up. No matter what you’re going through in life today, trust God, He never disappoints those that trust and believe in Him.
