From a beautiful African country to Tucson, the second largest city in Arizona, Solomon Odiri Edo embarked this year on a journey that brought him from grasslands to the desert.
Born in the Nigerian city of Lagos, and with roots tracing back to the country’s agricultural Delta State, Edo has been strongly influenced by his home culture and his family’s farming heritage.
Edo’s passion for change, and a strong desire to make a difference, is what he said led him across several continents and an ocean, from Africa to University of Arizona.
As a biosystems engineering master’s student, and the author of two books he wrote in Nigeria, “You Were Made for Greatness,” and “My Lessons from the Pandemic,” Edo says he is driven by a desire to elevate the lives of those around him.
Before his U.S. adventure, Edo studied agricultural and bio-environmental engineering at Nigeria’s Federal Polytechnic. His research projects delved into areas like bioenergy and food quality.
As he honed his skills and developed a deeper understanding of his field, he began to see the potential for greater impact on a global scale. It was during his year of mandatory youth service in Nigeria that Edo’s resolve to pursue his dreams solidified.
“I realized sometime last year, after serving my country through the one-year mandatory youth service program, that I needed a better life,” Edo said.
“I met Solomon during my national youth service corp in Nigeria,” said Omolade Abu, one of Edo’s friends back in Nigeria. “At first, I perceived him as a loud person but eventually I noticed he was just an outspoken and vibrant person.”
Edo said his desire to leave got stronger after the February election.
“It got worse after the election was rigged in favor of the loser,” he said, “making me understand better that if I didn’t leave my country to work harder and better, I may never get the better life that I so desire, and a better life wasn’t going to come on a platter of gold.”
Edo’s older sister said her brother has always shown promise for leadership.
“Solomon was a very brilliant boy when he was young,” said Hanna Edo. “He was the assembly prefect back then, always preaching the gospel in school and every opportunity he got. Solomon is one of the few people who teach us about fairness and cooperation.”
Jondall Dava Renée, Edo’s advisor, first met him on Zoom and quickly realized he is a person who likes challenges.
“The moment I spoke with him I knew he was going to be a fantastic student,” she said. “He always talks about his brother being his father. “
“We had a time zone challenging we are always make sure i wasn’t meet him at 2am , solomon knew what to do , and he is very dynamique we had meeting every week , and he try to be prepare in advance, that i know he going to be a good student.” said Dava Renée advisor
The decision to leave Nigeria was one Edo made lightly. He was attracted to the United States’ education system and its state-of-the-art research facilities. He thought pursuing his education in the U.S. would provide him with the best possible education and opportunities to excel.
“I needed a higher degree, better connections, well exposed mentors in the field, and it was then that I realized that coming to the USA and U of A was the best decision,” said Edo.
When he was initially trying to get into the university, his sister said, he took the Joint Admission Matriculation Board exam once and passed, but didn’t apply in time. Then he had failed three times.
During this time, he almost gave up.
“He prayed , fasted but nothing was happening. He went through a lot seeing all his friends graduating and he made a vow to god and God came through for him. That was how he was admitted into the university after 4 years of waiting ; it was indeed one testimony about him. God has been faithful ever since in his life,” said Hannah Edo
Choosing the University of Arizona over other institutions wasn’t solely based on rankings or reputation. It was a feeling he had when he learned about the UA’s biosystems engineering program, and watched a lot of YouTube videos on the program.
“I applied to other schools in the USA, but the U of A specifically, I wanted in because after watching videos on YouTube, I realized that it is one of the best institutions in the USA where Biosystems Engineering is offered,“ said Edo.
He said he not only was accepted by the UA, but feels like he is part of the university. He has also enjoyed making new friends, friends like Kevin Ejele, who is also from Nigeria.
“ I met him while I was waiting to make an order at a Mexican restaurant at the student union,” Ejele said. “The fact that he is positive , thoughtful, smart , genuinely kind , funny and honest ,he as an open mind and looks to the good of all around him.”
In one word, Dava Renee, Solomon’s advisor, describes him as a leader.
By Pricilia Mugwa
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