Under the scorching Nigerian sun in the unrelenting heat of 1982,  I drew near to St. Mary Hospital in Okpoga. A massive crowd overflowed the entrance, their countenances etched with both anxiety and determination. Amidst the clamor, a voice that stirred my memory hailed me from the throng. A familiar voice called out to me from the crowd. I recognized my father’s friend. He asked if I was traveling back to Lagos, knowing about my recent arrival. I nodded, and then he explained that he had been arrested for not paying his annual income tax. He didn’t have the money to pay and the authorities threatened to impound his bicycle. I found out that thirty people owed N1.00 (One Naira) each for the year. I paid the money they owed with great difficulty, as I only had N170. A minimal surplus of N10.00 was left inside my pocket after the tax collector’s fee. Despite the unexpected expense,  I felt a profound sense of fulfillment and obligation, I knew it was my duty to lead this journey of charity and fulfillment with unwavering confidence.

The incident sparked a deep commitment within me to charitable work. I poured my resources into helping others, freely giving away money, food, clothes, shoes, and shelter. I was always there to support Mallam Ibrahim, a friend with eight children, by providing food and other essentials. Here is a memorable story about Dominic, a young graduate in Lagos who secured a job in 1997 after completing his mandatory national service. He approached me to borrow a shirt, tie, and a pair of shoes that he could use at the office for a month before purchasing his own. These material possessions were happily and amicably shared. 

 All of these humorous and heartfelt situations assembled, blended, and compacted the true meaning of life for me as a young Nigerian.