An X user, Gbenga Samuel-Wemimo, has narrated how a single act of kindness by a fellow student, Niyi Jenrola, and many other similar acts of kindness saw him through his education at Bowen University, Iwo.
According to him, he had serious financial difficulties when he gained admission to the institution but God came through for him.
He wrote:
“October 19th 2004, I had been at Bowen University for 17 days, and I had paid my acceptance fees. I was fasting and praying for a miracle to be able to pay my school fees before registration would close. My mum was running all over Ibadan and Lagos trying to gather my school fees.
“I was staying at UPE 3, my roommates were all in the 100 level. Everybody was busy signing course forms and settling down for lectures.
“When I left home, all I had on me was my transport fare that took me to Bowen. I had a bucket of custard and some sachets of milk. That was all! I woke up daily and went to the chapel to pray. God must come through otherwise I will have to pack my bag and return home. That was not an option.
“I broke my fast daily with custard at about 7 pm. I was as thin as copper wire. One afternoon, I was so hungry it felt like I was going to die. I went to the room to lie down. A young man came into the room and saw me. He looked at me and said “I have never seen you eat before since we resumed school. I have never seen you at the cafeteria. I have never seen you getting a takeaway pack. Why?”
“I just smiled. How many people will you tell your story? I had found myself in a very expensive school and I had no hope of graduating from there unless God came through. Food was the last thing on my mind.
“He said, “Please, come with me. Let me buy you lunch!” I followed him with joy, I needed the food badly. That lunch saved my life. Niyi Jenrola bought me my first plate of rice at Lumpus Cafeteria.
“After eating that meal, I went to the library and cried my eyes out. The rice tasted so good. It was the first act of kindness that I received in that school and it opened the door to others. My mummy came the following day and cleared my school fees. I also got some pocket money. Somehow, I graduated from that school at the right time.
“Today, I went to have lunch at Wakame Restaurant in Ikeja, Lagos. A couple came in and sat to my left. I looked at them from afar and admired the chemistry between them. They didn’t even look remotely familiar. They stood up to get their meal from the buffet options.
“The young man looked at me and smiled. I looked at him and suddenly I recognized him. Niyi Jenrola and his wife! My God! I hugged him over and over again.
“We talked for a while and he introduced me to his lovely wife. If ever a meal made a difference, it was that which this young man bought for me. God has blessed him indeed and he will always be blessed. I insisted on paying for his lunch today and he honored me by obliging me.
“I am writing this thank you note to him and many others whose acts of kindness are doing wonders all over the world. The meal he bought me is priceless, it came at a time when there was no hope. It made me realize that my prayers are not unheard or unanswered. It was the sign that made me realize all was not lost and it turned out to be as I saw it. I am grateful”.
