Resonant Desire

The small Nigerian village Chuks I. Ndukwe called home had no electricity; at night, the only light came from lanterns, fires, and the stars that twinkled above the thatched roof of his house. Then, an American scientist brought an electrical experiment to show in Chuks’s primary school class. As Chuks turned a switch on and watched light flood his classroom, he felt an excitement like nothing he’d experienced before. Unable to contain himself, he shouted that he wanted to be an electrical engineer. At the time, his declaration seemed little more than a fantasy—his family could not afford to fund his education beyond primary school.
It took a special gift from one of his teachers to set Chuks on the path to realizing his dream. Along the way he overcame many obstacles, including poverty, a lung ailment, a military coup, and jealous coworkers who tried to derail his career with rotten eggs and voodoo.

Join electrical engineer Chuks I. Ndukwe as he recounts childhood memories he’d forgotten until they illuminated one of the darkest moments of his life. Resonant Desire is a reminder that everything is possible with determination, commitment, and a little help from those who care for us.