Online mockery raises N14 million for graduate who sold peanuts to survive

A photograph meant to mock Felix Nwachikerendu ended up drawing N14 million in support for the Nigerian graduate known online as “the Peanut Seller.”

The ridicule began on August 31, 2026, after an X user posted photographs from Nwachikerendu’s final-year project defence. The post attracted millions of views, with some users making fun of his appearance, clothing and delayed graduation.

The story changed when Mercy Ninian, who said she knew Nwachikerendu, described the hardship behind his academic journey. She said he studied History at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, in Ebonyi State, while fetching water, washing other students’ clothes and selling peanuts and other items to survive. She also said he sometimes slept in classrooms.

“

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.

According to Ninian, Nwachikerendu could not pay his school fees when he first gained admission. He later struggled academically and was withdrawn after failing to meet the required CGPA. Rather than give up, he retook the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination and returned to the university. Other people who knew him then shared their own accounts, including a former roommate who reportedly housed him for months during his first year.

Nwachikerendu responded directly to the post that mocked him. “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.” He later confirmed his identity and joined the effort to direct support toward him.

“

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.