A Nigerian teenager, Mercy Ugonma Olugu Ukpai, has continued to set Canada on fire with record-breaking achievements in education and sports, with more than forty-six medals to her credit.
The eighteen years old Mercy from Ohafia, Abia State in the South-Eastern part of the country was born in Nigeria but joined her father in Canada before her second year birthday.
Meanwhile, Mercy while speaking to journalists recently, said she had through dint of hard work, broken a lot of records in her education and sports – two focal points of her pursuit in Canada.
Among her, numerous achievements are medals in her various endeavours.
In 2019, Mercy earned the highest academic record with a 97% average at St Agnes Jr High School – Junior Secondary School, the first by any African.
She later made the Principal’s List Award (The principal’s list is 90% and above) at Citadel High School – Senior Secondary School). It was also the first by any African student.
While at St. Catherine’s Elementary School, Grade 6, she won Mount Sutton Everest Award- Highest Academic Achievement, and it was also the first by any African pupil.
She also was awarded the most outstanding youth in memorizing Black Heritage History at African Heritage Month Youth Quiz Award, among others
In sports, Mercy revealed that she won a total of fifty-six medals competing in various sporting events.
She won the Best Athletics Award for 2020-2021 in Nova Scotia.
She won Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation Exemplary Participation Award, 2019. She was the best female performance in the standing power long jump in Nova Scotia in 2018.
She broke the record in the Atlantic Region of Nova Scotia for the Vertical Jump, leaping 73.7cm in 2018.
She also broke the record in 10m and 30m sprint times at 14. The award read: “This was a tremendous feat for a 14-yr old without a track and field background’, in 2018. She was the MVP for Atlantic Girls Showcase in 201
In her, already filled trophy cabinet are seven heart hustle awards; nine-player of the game awards; five bronze medals; six gold medals; five silver medals; many track awards, among others.
Born by Dr Olugu Ukpai, Mercy traces her excellence to her father, who she acknowledged played a huge role in her. It was gathered that her father bagged first class at the University of Port Harcourt and was the overall best graduating student that year.
similarly, in 2020, OHAFIA TV News reported the same feat feat of breaking academic records by Mercy’s older brother in Canada.
