“The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet” –Aristotle
The life of an average Nigerian is the life of lack and grave uncertainty. The socioeconomic status is in jeopardy and the complete population is affected; young, middle aged and the old. Nevertheless the predicament of the Nation, some individual have mastered the art of perseverance and determination to raise above all odds and become great.
The story of Olamide Moses is one that spurs up that commitment to achieving one’s goal especially as it regards academics. This story, which he told, when I met him at a conference Owerri. He narrated how life threw challenges at his face and also how he overcame those challenges.
Olamide Moses was born into a family of five; two boys and three girls. He was the last born of the family. The first was a male but for some reasons, never behaved as a first son should. Life happened when Moses lost his Dad to the cold hands of death. His dad suffered a heart disease known as Arrhythmia. This loss stumbled the family financially and because of this, Moses’ Mom could not sponsor Moses elementary education.
Everyone neglected Moses and advised him to work as a house boy in Lagos but Moses knew well, the benefits of education. His determination made him sell sachet water in the cool of the evening along the streets of port Harcourt so he can raise his tuition. Things worked out fine at first until his mom could no longer cater for his feeding. Moses now experienced life the more, and this time, with pangs of hunger.
This would have been reason enough to give up on school and probably become a houseboy or live in the streets. However, Moses did not relent. He secured a night job so he can raise extra money and attend school during the day. This of course was not easy but he scaled through. Successfully, Moses finished his elementary education and struggled through secondary School. Life die not get any easier as he could not afford tertiary education expenses. He stayed home for three years working hard amidst hunger and family issues. He was able to save enough and enrolled himself to a university. Thankfully, he graduated with a good result and now, he is working with one of the biggest firms in owerri.
He told me of how grateful he was for his resilience and persistence. There is something that was glaring in his narrative; his value and hunger for education and at the end education paid off, like it always does. Indeed, education might be bitter at his root but it is certain, that its fruit is nothing but sweet. I will conclude by saying, there’s a thousand excuse for something not to be done but just one reason why it should be done. so which will you go for? The reason or a thousand excuses? Choose wisely.