“When would this suffering end?”
Uzo soliloquized. “Or, could it be for eternity?”
Uzo whose father died four years back after a brief illness when he
(Uzo) was barely thirteen (13), was lamenting alone right in his family’s bedroom.
He was obviously an exemplarily brilliant chap who was about sitting for his
Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) which included WAEC and NECO; apart
from his academic excellence, he was an out-and-out child every parent wished
to behold. What actually prompted the lamentation was owing to the fact that
the poor boy was yet to register for the aforesaid exams because the needed
money wasn’t available.
Uzo who happened to be the first
child among him and his four siblings, was residing in Lagos State with his
family. His mother Ugonma who just obtained her National Certificate in
Education (NCE) via in-service programme was a primary school teacher, and she
was in Grade Level – 5; she actually entered the Civil Service few years back
with her Senior School Certificate. Life wasn’t in any way easy with Ugonma;
taking care of a family of six including herself was not unlike asking a palm
wine tapper to ensure that he produces at least five kegs of palm wine from a
particular palm tree on a daily basis. Indeed, the poignant state of the family
was seriously telling on every member of it.
“God,” Uzo called sorrowfully. “Please, come and rescue me from this
unending bondage.” He said looking at the ceiling.
“Why can’t I be like Musa?” He wondered.
“Or, Segun?”
Musa and Segun were his classmates
whose parents were well-to-do; their respective drivers drove them to school
daily. He kept on wondering if his own world was different from that of his
aforementioned colleagues, but more pitiably, his candid questions were left
unanswered.
He began to sing frantically. He
was an ardent singer since his childhood; in his church, he happened to be one
of the gifted and respected choristers in spite of his age.
The soliloquy continued until his mother who
was busy in the kitchen entered the room to checked on him having sensed his
absence, unknowingly to her that her precious son had almost committed suicide.
Uzo’s face coupled with the pillow that was lying on his thighs was covered
with fathomless tears. He was helplessly sitting on a bed.
“Uzo…..!”
His mum exclaimed as soon as she walked into the room.
She hastily walked to the bed and
sat very close to him, tenderly placed her left arm on his shoulders. “Uzo my
son.” She soberly called.
“Mum,” He managed to dish out.
“Why are you doing this to yourself?”
It was on Saturday morning at about some minutes past nine o’clock; and
it was a very sunny moment. His siblings were busy catching their funs outside.
The whole family was living in only one-room apartment.
“At 17, you’re not meant to bother yourself so much about things of this
world.” She said. Paused.
He adjusted himself a bit.
“Besides,” She rode on. “That you’re poor this year 1994 doesn’t imply
you would be poor by next year.”
“Who knows if I would be alive till next year?” He thought aloud.
“Stop saying that.” Scolded Ugonma. “Where does your faith lie?”
Uzo remained calm.
“Is this what I have been teaching you?” She said. Frowned. “I keep
telling you that God knows everything we are passing through.”
He seemingly became sober.
“And only Him knows the expiring date.”
His calm posture that abruptly metamorphosed into a pensive countenance
was really absorbing the opium. Ugonma’s pious nature had obviously helped in
her children’s upbringing.
“That you’re yet to register for
your SSCE does not mean you won’t sit for the exams.” She faithfully assured.
This time, Uzo became stronger emotionally and psychologically.
“Don’t worry,” Ugonma said. “God will surely provide the money, okay?”
“Uzo nodded passionately.
“So, wipe your tears.”
Ugonma who was only putting on a single purplish wrapper, partially
unfolded it and used it to assist him in wiping out the tears.
Thereafter, she made effort to rise him up from the bed and he complied
accordingly. “Come and help me in the kitchen.” She asked the moment he rose.
“Okay mum.” He concurred without hesitation.
One week later, as God would have it, his church raised the required
fund on his behalf and his Pastor accompanied him to his school for the awaited
registration. It was indeed a miracle just like his mother told him.
Prior to the exam period, Uzo left no stone unturned towards ensuring
that he made distinction in all his subjects. He was thoroughly determined to
make his mum who he regarded as an angel proud. He was a notable science
student in his school that in every interschool exhibition/competition
involving the school, he must be the school’s representative or one of the
representatives as the case may be.
When the results were released in August 1994, he came out with flying
colours just as he anticipated; more interestingly, he was not just the best
candidate among his set/peers but was the overall best in the whole of Lagos
State. As regards the amazing performance, he was granted a scholarship by the
Lagos State government to study his dream course, Medicine and Surgery in any
university across the federation.
His mum, Ugonma couldn’t hold her joy; she felt like running from Lagos
to Abia State – her home state. She alongside her entire family dedicated the
rare victory to God. And, she challenged her other four children to follow
suit; she made them realize that their elder brother had laid a tremendous
foundation for them; hence they had no reason to fail.
The following year being 1995, Uzo sat for the University Matriculation
Examination (UME), now known as the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination
(UTME) and he enrolled for the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to study Medicine and
Surgery. Consequently, he made an excellent grade when the result came out
later in the year, and he successfully secured admission in the university on
merit toward the end of the year in question.
Before he departed for the campus, he had an indoor one-on-one meeting
that lasted for several minutes, if not hours with his wonderful mother.
“Uzo my son,” Ugonma called. “I have always told you that God makes a
way where there seems to be no way.”
Uzo smiled heavily, visualizing the memory lane.
They were seated on separate plastic chairs situated in their room.
Ugonma who was plump, short and chocolate, was putting on a pink casual dress
and barefooted. On his part, Uzo was clad in a pair of multiple-coloured
knickers, green polo spotted with white colour and was also barefooted; he was
slim, fair and average in height – he was a reminiscent of his late father.
They were seated directly opposite to each other, but very closely.
“Now you can see for yourself.” She proceeded. “Of course you have seen
how miraculous our Lord is.”
“Mum, you’re right.” He responded. “He’s indeed a miracle working God.”
“I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you mum.”
“Now that you’re in the university.” She said. Calmly grabbed his two
hands with hers respectively. “You must not forget where you’re coming from.”
She continued relentlessly till both of them became saturated. It was a
holistic counselling section.
The following three days, Uzo left for the campus. While in the
university, as an ardent and gifted singer as well as one who could play an
organ perfectly, he never abandoned his artistic talent rather he became more
devoted to the calling.
As time progressed, as a first year medical student and a well brought
up boy, Uzo was taking three major things very seriously, and they were – his
prayers, studies and talent. He resisted everything that was liable to make him
a failure.
Amazingly, his singing talent took him round the state and beyond owing
to uncountable public functions as well as competitions he was engaged in, that
at a point, he was chosen to represent Nigeria in one international singing
competition that involved students of various tertiary institutions in the
world.
In the aforesaid competition, Uzo emerged
as the overall best. In addition to the astonishing prizes attached to the
award which included hundred thousand US dollars, a duplex in Lagos State and a
Range over Jeep, the organizer of the event – the United Nations Education,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) issued him a scholarship to study
his discipline (Medicine & Surgery) in any university of his choice across
the globe up to any level. But Uzo chose to remain in UNILAG so that he would
be close to his beloved family.
On receiving the incredible news, his mother Ugonma passed out due to
overwhelming euphoria but regained her fitness after forty-eight hours in a
hospital bed. Little did the poor widow know that, there was a greater day that
lied ahead when her son was granted a scholarship by the Lagos State
government.
From that moment onwards, their
family life changed overnight; everything including food, clothes and adequate
shelter became available. To say the least, the family never lacked again.
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