Ejituru's Dream

Eighteen-year-old Ejituru has just been admitted to university. The Nigerian girl has two dreams for her future: The first is to study in America and the second is to become a doctor. Her dream of living in America is fulfilled when her father forces her into an arranged marriage with Ignatius, an older man from her village who emigrated to the United States years before. Her family will benefit financially from their marriage.This aspirational story describes Ejituru's struggle to achieve her second dream.Nwanganga G. Shields grew up in Eastern Nigeria and now lives in Bethesda, Maryland. She is a graduate of St Andrews University in Scotland and American University in Washington, D.C. She is a retiree from the World Bank.