I spent a very delightful evening with a certain gentleman in a village somewhere in the middle belt last week. It was an evening that stretched far into the night. With choice liquor, soft jazz music and the enveloping peace and quietness of an agrarian village night to keep us company, we discussed what many Nigerians gather together to discuss these days—the state of the nation, our profligate and reckless leaders, the fuel situation, the general level of impunity, and the increasing poverty level in the country. Almost as an afterthought, the subject of giving back to the society, and empowering the young ones, creeped into our conversation. This was when he told me about his ongoing project in the village which had gulped millions.
This was when an earlier visit of seven youth corpers, explained itself. Somehow, the youth corpers had found out that he was in the village and asked to see him. He met with them in my presence and after asking where each of them came from, offered words of encouragement and advice. He told them that he had once been a corper like them and urged them to be focused and dedicated. He explained that the NYSC was one of the finest policies of our past leaders and urged them to keep the Nigerian dream alive. Finally, he told them in simple words, that whatever he had achieved, they could achieve more as ours was a land of opportunity. I did not fully understand why the young corpers wanted to see him until he told me his story. This story is so intriguing, and the message so necessary in today’s acquisitive society that I begged to mention it in my column. He reluctantly agreed after some persuasion, but with the condition that his name would not be mentioned. I agreed because half a loaf as they say, is better than none. It is also, at the end of the day, more about the message than the messenger. Fortunately, I have to say a little about the man in order to get the context of his story. If his friends and those who know of him recognise him from my vague description, I hope it would not only give him the recognition he deserves, it would inspire and encourage them to emulate him in their respective communities. This gentleman, in his late 50s, was born in Lagos of middle belt parents.
The main occupation in his village is agriculture, or to put it more bluntly, subsistence farming. This was what his fore father did. This was what he would have done had his father not broken the circle and joined the Nigerian Army. This explains why he was born in Lagos. But his father did not rise beyond the rank of RSM in the Army because of his lack of formal education. This made him determined that his children must be educated. This explains why this gentleman went to school. But unlike many of us with a similar background, he remembers his humble beginning and the value of education in his life. He told me simply that he was a beneficiary of Chief Awolowo’s progressive policy on education and wanted to lift others up through education. So as soon as his business was in a comfortable place, he decided to set up a foundation the corner stone of which was education. He took up a secondary school five minutes’ walk away from his house in the village and proceeded to do a complete refurbishment one block after the other. So far he has spent over a hundred million naira and still counting.
When he finishes with the physical structure, he intends to retrain the teaching staff and make the school a model one in the neighbourhood. Then he would go to the next village…. The youth corpers play a part in the project. Meanwhile, he has told the principal not to disclose his identity or give his contact out. His explanation was that he is not doing it for public recognition or accolade. Just an inner conviction to lift people from poverty through education. Again, to put his profile in some context. He told me he has been in private employment all his life and has never handled a government contract. He is, he said, just a lucky person who because of his banking background, was able to recognise and take advantage of the opportunities in the land. So he has no need to launder his money or his conscience. He also has no interest in politics of any hue. Birds of a same feather obviously flock together as I met him through a mutual friend who told me a somewhat similar story of giving back through education. I am sure he will recognise himself as he reads my column whichever part of the world he is in. He went to play golf and found the caddy he had hired—those young men who carry golf bags—to be quite intelligent. After the game, he took him aside and asked a few questions. It turned out the guy was interested in continuing his education but was facing financial challenges. My friend took up his education which also included a monthly stipend so he could concentrate on his studies. When he finished, he impressed his benefactor to no end when he wrote to say he had graduated and his allowance should be discontinued and given to another indigent person. Today, that young man is in the employment of the United States Government. I also once sat near an in-law at a public function where her presence was recognised. Soon after, a young man approached her and introduced himself. He told her he was a beneficiary of the grant she had given his university and had been dying to meet her. Such stories of people giving back exist but are sadly, not enough. Many of those who benefited from community or government scholarships have forgotten their past and the need to give back. Many even climb to the top and remove the ladder. Such people must learn from the story of this gentleman. They must realise that nothing we have is really ours and that we are where we are for a purpose. They should try to discover the indescribable joy there is in giving back and helping others succeed through life. I end with this anecdote. An old man walking along the sea shore was putting small crabs that had been washed ashore in a basket so he could put them back into the sea. A child noticed what he was doing and said: ‘Sir, there are so many of them that what you are doing won’t make a difference.’ The old man looked at the child intently and said, ‘It will make a difference to the ones I have saved’.
VANGUARD
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