How Ikenna Nweke Changed Nigeria’s Image In Japan

MICHAEL AKINOLA

The Police in Japan have commended a Nigerian, Ikenna Nweke, resident in the country for returning a lost wallet containing huge sum of money as well as credit cards to its owner through the Police.

The Police in a letter to him, expressed their gratitude towards his incredible and selfless behaviour, stressing that not all Nigerians were criminal-minded.

Nweke, who is a PhD student at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, and also a Teaching Assistant in the same university, said he stumbled on the wallet while climbing the staircase to buy some items for the wife at the Tsukuba centre.

When contacted, Nweke, who hails from Amauzari in Isiala Mbano LGA, Imo State, said he was born and raised in Okpoko, Onitsha, Anambra State, but relocated to Japan in 2013 through a Japanese Government sponsored scholarship program.

He said, “On the 19th June 2020, while I was going home from the University, I decided to get my wife her favorite kebab (a Japanese delicacy). As I was climbing the staircase around Tsukuba centre, I noticed something on the ground”.

“As I drew closer, I saw that it was a wallet. When I opened it, I saw a huge sum of money, a credit card, and other valuables.”

“I immediately reported to the Police. One of the officers was surprised and asked me why I did not take the money. I told him that there was no need for that because I was raised by responsible parents, and that I am also a Christian.”

“He told me that according to Japanese law, that I was entitled to 10% of the money found inside the wallet. Again I declined. The look on his face indicated bewilderment,” he said.

Mazi. Ikenna Nweke, who is married with four kids, revealed the owner of the wallet called him to show appreciation and also got a letter from the Ibaraki/Tsukuba Police.

“They expressed their gratitude towards my incredible and selfless behaviour. Not every Nigerian is criminal-minded. There are a lot of Nigerians abroad working so hard to erase the bad name given to “us” by the criminal few” Nweke stressed.

In an acknowledgment note, the President General of Nigerian Union in Japan, Mazi. Nnaji Kennedy Fintan said “Indeed you are a true and patriotic Nigerian. People who condemn other countries because of few bad individuals are shortsighted. You have proved to them that we have legions of goodwill. Congratulations for the indelible mark set!”

“Let’s together build an institution that will be timeless in its relevance, for ourselves and for the future generations world over” Mazi Nnaji Kennedy Fintan concluded.