Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has rewarded a 15-year old boy, Chibuike Ibekwe, who dropped out of school and resorted to scavenging at the Ariaria international market, Aba, to assist his poor mother, Mrs Chika Ibekwe, a petty roadside trader, with scholarship and cash for his mother to improve her business.
While receiving the said Chibuike, his mother, and the chairman of Ariaria International Market, Elder Emeka Igara, at his native residence in Umuobiakwa in Obingwa Local Government Area of the State, Gov Ikpeazu said; “Your name is Chibuike, and mine is Chibuike, too. I am happy you’ve proven to be very honest.
“Honest people go far in life. Those who do not take what does not belong to them are people that God helps and saves in their times of difficulty. Thank you for being honest and for not taking what did not belong to you. You will go far in life.
“Your today can’t decide your tomorrow because you are honest. You will go back to school. I will ensure you finish your secondary education because you are honest. If you remain honest, you will remain my friend and I will make sure you see me every month. What you have done by returning the goods to the owner is a mark of honor and proof of your honesty. Thank you, once again, Chibuike for being honest”, the Governor said.
Luck smiled on Chibuike, who hails from Mbano in Imo State, the day one Mrs Goodness Uzoukwu, a trader in Ariaria, who deals in shoes and other wears, gave him a bag containing brand new shoes to dispose, thinking it was trash.
When Chibuike got to where he disposes waste and discovered that the content of the bag given to him by Mrs Uzoukwu was not waste but goods, he decided to return the shoes to her, refusing to listen to those who wanted to buy them from him.
Getting to Mrs Uzoukwu’a shop, she was happy and rewarded him and made a video of the innocent and honest Chibuike, thanking him for returning her goods and she posted the video on her Facebook page which in turn went viral.
When the attention of Governor Ikpeazu was brought to the video, he sent for Chibuike for a meeting with him saying that such honesty as displayed by the boy is what the society needs.
One Chibuike Okebugwu, a trader in Ariaria was contacted and he went in search of Chibuike Ibekwe, the 15-years old scavenger, got him and brought him to Chibuikem the Governor.
Chibuike’s mother, who got a huge financial boost to her petty trading business, as a result of her son’s honesty, was unable to control her emotions for what God has done for her family through the Governor
The Chairman of Ariaria International Market, Elder Emeka Igara, a member of the market executive, Mr Chibuike Okebugwu and Mrs Goodness Uzoukwu accompanied Chibuike Ibekwe and his mother, Chika, on the visit to the Governor.
-Enyinnaya Appolos
