What began as online mockery of a graduating student of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, on Thursday turned into a N14m support fund after Nigerians learnt of the hardship he endured to complete his university education.

Madumere Felix Nwachikerendu, popularly known on X as @Felix_the_SUG and nicknamed “the Peanut Seller”, became the subject of ridicule on August 31, 2026, after photographs of him during his final-year project defence were posted on the social media platform.

The photographs, posted by an X user, @vector_olal, with the caption, “I just did my final year project defense”, attracted widespread attention and millions of views, with some users mocking Felix’s appearance, clothing and delayed graduation.

However, the narrative changed after Mercy Ninian, an X user who said she knew Felix, revealed the circumstances behind his academic journey.

Ninian disclosed that Felix had struggled with extreme financial difficulties while studying History at AE-FUNAI, forcing him to engage in various menial activities to survive and continue his education.

She said Felix fetched water, washed the clothes of other students, hawked peanuts and other items and sometimes slept in classrooms.

According to her, Felix was unable to pay his school fees when he was initially admitted into the university and subsequently struggled academically, eventually leading to his withdrawal after he could not meet the required CGPA.

Rather than abandoning his education, she said he rewrote the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination and returned to the university to continue his studies.

Ninian wrote, “If you know him, you won’t catch cruise with him .. this boy will fetch water, wash other students clothes , hawk peanuts , sleep in classrooms.. cos he wasn’t able to pay his school fees the first time he got admission and couldn’t meet up with the cgpa..the school withdrawed him .. still he wrote jamb and came back .. kudos to Felix fr.”

Her post attracted significant attention and prompted other people who knew Felix to share their experiences with him, including a former roommate who reportedly housed him for months during his first year.

Felix himself subsequently responded to the post that had mocked his project defence, explaining that his delayed graduation was not a result of laziness or lack of seriousness.

He said he was originally expected to graduate with his set in the History Department in 2023 but fell behind and refused to give up.

Felix wrote, “You can laugh at the picture, but you don’t know the story behind it. I didn’t graduate with my set in the History Department in 2023 not because I was lazy or unserious, but u chose to make mockery of me. You’re laughing at someone who fell behind but refused to give up.”

As the story gained traction, Felix confirmed his identity and joined the growing effort to direct support towards him.

The development received a major boost when popular X user, Wisdom Obi-Dickson popularly known as Sir Dickson Wizarab, responded to Ninian’s account of Felix’s struggles and urged Nigerians to support him.

Wizarab described Felix as someone the public could get behind and disclosed that he had personally made an initial donation of N100,000 .

He wrote, “Thank you, Mercy. This is someone we can get behind. I would like us to support him going forward. Today might just be his lucky day. This is his account number and I’ve sent mine. Raise am.”

The appeal triggered a rapid wave of donations from Nigerians on X.

Within hours, Ninian shared an update showing that Felix had received more than N4m, prompting further calls for people to support him.

Reacting to the development, Wizarab wrote, “He has gotten over N4million. Keep raising it for him.”

Screenshot of Felix’s account balance at 3.9m

The amount continued to rise as the story spread across social media, with subsequent updates putting the donations at more than N5m and eventually above N10m.

By Thursday, Wizarab announced that the fundraising had reached N14m.

He wrote, “I just want to thank everyone for your kindnesses and the trust. What began as a mockery turned out to be a miracle. Thank you for your eternal show of support. Together we raised the sum of N14m for him. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.”

He added that @Skolex5 would guide Felix through financial investment to ensure that his finances were properly secured.

Felix responded by thanking Wizarab and the people who supported him, saying he would later make a video to formally appreciate them.

“Thank you so much sir, I’ll still make a proper video and say a proper thank you,” he wrote.

Screenshot of Felix’s account balance at 14m

Meanwhile, Felix has cautioned members of the public against spreading false reports about him amid the attention generated by his story.

He specifically debunked claims that he had been attacked and injured, saying he was safe and that nobody had visited his home to attack him.

“This is fake, I wasn’t attacked and nobody came to my house. Would appreciate you don’t use me or my situation to chase clout pls thank you. I wouldn’t want to misinform the public and well meaning Nigerians, I’m safe and nobody attacked me,” he said.

Felix also reflected on his journey and attributed the turn of events to his faith and the promise he made to his late mother.

He disclosed that he designed a poster on the day of his sign-out as a tribute to his mother, whom he had promised never to disappoint, engage in illegal activities or bring disgrace to.

He wrote, “I did this poster on the day of my sign out as a tribute to my mother whom I promised to never fail, never to do illegal things and never to bring disgrace to.”

Reflecting on the support he subsequently received, Felix said he felt closer to God and believed that keeping the promise he made to his mother contributed to the transformation in his circumstances.

He urged people reading his story to remain upright and treat others well, saying good deeds would eventually yield results.

“Now you reading this post, just be clean and never go against God’s wish. Be good to people. If you don’t see the result now, you will surely see the result later,” he said.

Felix also resisted attempts by some social media users to compare his story with that of another person who had also attracted attention online.

He said he was not competing with anyone and had no interest in determining who was more successful or deserving of public support.

“Stop the comparison. I’m not in any competition with anyone. I don’t know him from anywhere but looking at how long he’s been here, he’s a great man,” Felix said.

He added, “I’m here cause God wants me to be here and not to compete on who is the highest or whom to choose over another. I’m here cause God wants me to be here and not to compete on who is the highest or whom to choose over another.”

The campaign has since transformed Felix’s viral moment from one centred on ridicule over his appearance and delayed graduation into a story of perseverance and public support.

From hawking peanuts and other items, washing clothes, fetching water and reportedly sleeping in classrooms while struggling to remain in school, Felix has now received N14m in donations following the exposure of the circumstances surrounding his journey through university. (PUNCH)