STEFO STORIES(1)

STEFO STORIES CONTINUES!

The day was just like others. I woke up very early to go and tidy up my church, The assemblies of God Church(the church I belonged then). It was a custom then to go and tidy up the church with my children three times a week. It was Saturday and the setting was in Festac, Lagos, Nigeria.

We had joyfully finished this task, and I was on my way back to our apartment. Few minutes away from the church, I saw the crowds of heads gathered at a sport. Some put their hands on their heads, some crying, some hosting, some laughing and some just stood confused and some I couldn't even figure what was going on in their heads and minds. I was confused but curious!

Few minutes later, pushing myself in between the crowd and with a stern instruction to my young children to remain where I left them, I found myself inside a kiosk and what I saw at the center of that small kiosk will remain fresh in my mind for life!

Yes. A  fresh corpse was lying there uncovered. A hefty, bulky black corpse!  Beside this corpse was a small petite woman, then a young boy of eight years old, holding tightly and helplessly her mother's wrapper. His shrieking cry and persistent question to his mum: " Who will pay my school fees now. Who will pay my school fees now”, wretched my heart to pieces and brought uncontrollable tears to my eyes.

The story ended sorrowfully. While I was there comforting this boy, some fiery looking men were busy parking: small fridge, broken stove, old bathing buckets and torn and tattered cloths from a corner of the kiosk into a small cab. Nothing of the poor man was left for this woman and the poor boy! The woman was left with the corpse! She was accused of killing the husband!

That incident shaped my life. I vow I will be there for that small boy. I vow I will be there for any widow and resist the injustices melted  to them and their children!
Today, that boy is a graduate and recently travelled  abroad to further his studies.

I have by God's grace , for twenty years, solely and with  my immediate family, supported, provided for countless widows and given over one hundred scholarships to their children Via  our  private schools in Lagos State and Ogun State:  Christel, Meir and Mehof Schools.

This year, the widows and widowers  in North Ibie will benefit from this gesture. No woman will be left to suffer. This time, we won't raise our voices alone,  The world is set to partner with us!

ONE DAY AT A TIME!