So touching! If you cannot control shedding hot tears, you may not need to read this post (photos)
PLEASE READ TO THE END.
He was only 16 two years ago when I ran into him at a workshop where I’d gone to fix my leaking radiator. The radiator man was quite busy with so many people waiting for him and so when I complained about my long wait, he simply asked this boy who just returned from school and was changing into his work clothes to attend to me.
Initially, I declined because since I arrived at the shop, the boys who appeared bigger than him in the workshop have not been able to carry out one duty effectively without their master’s intervention.
However, the young man calmly walked up to my car with a soothing smile and said, Oga nor worry i go do am, where the place wey spoil for the radiator? I looked at him and asked, you fit do am? He responded a second time, oga nor worry, so I opened the bonnet for him while watching closely as I didn’t want him to muddle up the already bad situation.
As he worked, I saw the cleverness and dexterity which he was displaying on the job and I couldn’t help but admire him. In no time, he had everything fixed without the radiator man helping him out. He then said, “oya oga start the motor” I quickly did to at least see the result immediately. Behold, the leakage was gone and the car was running smoothly.
As I went to pay the master, I noticed the striking resemblance between the man and the boy which prompted me to ask if he was his son to which he answered in the affirmative. Then I said, oga this boy is highly talented please try make you send am go higher institution when he finish secondary school.
The man gave a seeming empty look though covered with a hopeful smile and said, my brother nor be only you don talk this thing o but i go try, na this reason make me dey work morning till night under sun and rain here so. I paid him and left. Six months later, I took a friend there to have his car radiator fixed and on arrival, it was only the boy that was at the shop so I asked after his father and why himself didn’t go to school today.
He paused for a while and looked at me as if I never heard and said brother, my papa don die o! I shouted but quickly pulled myself together and asked when…??? He said na like two months after you come do your motor that time. As I started consoling him while holding back my tears from falling, I remembered the promise the father made before me to send him to the university and more tears welled up in my eyes.
Apparently, this was responsible for his absence from school at such an hour in the morning. Instantly, I saw a young talented man’s dream sinking before me. He finished the job he was handling and worked on my friend’s car with so much zest and focus.
When I asked him about school, he said he seldom goes now as he needs to be at the shop always to make some money to enable him pay his fees and also cater for his other siblings. That was the day I vowed to help see his dream of furthering his education come to fruition.
Today, as I count down to my birthday next Sunday 2nd of May, I went to the shop but it was no more there and when I asked after him, they took me to the back of an old building where I saw him working still with his father’s old work tools. I asked why he moved from where he was and he said sir, na Madam Mrakpor o, referring to the Delta State Development Agency that demolished and beautified their part of the market some time ago which pushed him to relocate to that spot where I met him.
He is 18 now, I asked if he still goes to school and he said yes sir, I am in SS3 now. This gladdened my heart while I took these photographs.
Please, FB friends, family and my fans, while I celebrate this year, i enjoin you to help me make that smile on this boy’s face broader as I plan to relocate him from that spot, register and prepare him for his final exams and JAMB at the end. His name is Chibueze Osadume. Please indicate here, if you are with me on this as we heal the world and make it a better place together. Nothing is too small …Fretlessly, we move! One luv!!
Teddy Olojoba FCMB 5068067016
Posted on Facebook by Teddy Fretless Olojoba
