My father's love

My father was such an amazing dad who had so much love for his family and education. He was sent to school in Sokoto state Nigeria to the then teacher’s college because he was an orphan and non of his brothers and other relatives were willing to take responsibility of his upbringing been the last born of the house. This gave him the opportunity of working with the local government as a classroom teacher after he obtained a teacher’s grade II certificate. Some years later he met my mum at a youth conference and later got married. In a typical African society, women are hardly sent to school and my mum was not an exception. A year into my parents marriage, my mum had her first daughter and two years later she had another daughter. My father, knowing the value for education, he took it upon himself to tutor his daughters at home because then to be enrolled in school, your hands must cross over your head to cover your opposite ear and my sisters were not old enough by that standard. About two years later, she had another girl, this got family member complaining, this led to his elder brother’s wife marrying a second wife for him, believing that his new wife can give him sons, but my father refused. She actually collected money from dad to pay the dowry which he thought was for his elder brother who was not married then. My dad had to make it clear to them that he loves his wife and daughters and is grateful to God that blessed him with them and refused to take the new wife. After about two years, my mother gave birth to another baby girl, this was like adding pepper to the injury, some family members were like; another prostitute has been added to the family, but my father was never disappointed or discouraged. He later sent his daughters to school when they were of age, at the same time became a lesson teacher not only for the girls but my Mom was included. She later gave birth to two boys followed by me and my younger brother. My mother continued secondary education with my father’s encouragement. She went to the boarding school when I was just a year old, remember I am her seventh child. I was left in the care of her brother's wife while the other six were under my father's care. My father was so determine that my mother and my elder sisters proceeded to higher institutions whilst he was taking care of his job and family, financially, morally,socially and otherwise, he never compromise his intention and kept pursuing his goals with determination. He also ensured we lacked nothing including our sanitary towels and inner wears. He ensured we all went through to our tertiary institutions and all of us are now well respected in our community. The stories of role models in education will not be completed without mentioning my father's name in Kurama's chiefdom in Kaduna State of Nigeria who, did not only trained his own biological children, also sponsored a lot of children from different places, and touched so many lives in one way or the other. My sisters and partners have launched an initiative in honor of our dear parents, touching the lives of orphans and widows. This is because a man saw the need and understood that; to educate a woman is to education a nation. Thanks daddy.

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