About Dolapo Sharwama, who grace has found!

It could be amazing sometimes –sitting back, feeling relaxed and then you remember a particular scenario that happened in the past. These things do happen; it could be safe to assume we all have, at one time or the other, found ourselves cut-up in such moment. Before you realize it –as you pass the time on the sofa –you find your very self having to bring back memories of events that happened in the past. However, it sometimes lands one in an emotional state as you replay these events. And other time you end up smiling your way back into consciousness.
 

As the sun shines and becomes hotter one afternoon, I look down my route to see my destination in sight. I said to myself, “Hey, walk faster into that building [my mind alluding to where I was going] and get off the sun”. Just a few more steps –the thoughts drop in my mind –I should arrive at the journey’s end soon. 

Walking down the path, [in my one-two-and-three steps] right in-front of a building were two women seated on woodwork, looking disturbed and utterly disgusted. I almost assumed a loved-one was lost in that house until the loudness of the radio device they were listening to got to me.

I looked at my time and it was some minutes past 2pm. “Oh, it’s time for the spread of bad news, I quipped” A particular radio station has found a way to attract listeners to their channel around this time during working days by simply narrating all manner of ills and evils that go on in the country.

It may also interest you to learn that –nowadays the name of the said radio program known for dissemination of bad news has become a common word used as slang among the old and young in this part of the country.

This has become so popular among the people in my domain, and with the quantity of stories of unimaginable events and evil acts – discussed by the handlers of the aforesaid radio program you could almost imagined that nothing good is ever happening in the country. And this is why I bring to you today the story of a young Nigerian who is described –according to a user on twitter – as an individual who GRACE has found.

His name is Dolapo, now popularly called –Dolapo Sharwama. He has the following written on his twitter profile; which has become one of the sort after twitter accounts; gaining more followers at every moment.

The comment below literally summed up his own kind of “Olajumoke O’ni breadi” experience within the last couple of days.

“Went to work one morning as usual and then realized everything has changed”

Yes indeed everything has changed for this young man… So, a man who works at a radio station –an On-Air-Personality –tweeted the piece below one fateful day, and BOOM things begun to happen so fast for the flour baker who has a spot in Ojuelegba. 

Apparently, Dolapo is a hardworking Nigerian who designed a space to occupy and a void to fill in the market place. He mans a small space in Ojuelegba; positioning almost under the famous bridge. He had probably been selling sharwama in small scale until the 12^th of November 2018, when the OAP who obviously has being Dolapo’s customer, took to his twitter to post the piece as stated above.

A lot of people begun to favorite, like and retweet the post and before the end of the next 24 hours, more people troop to his spot at ojuelegba to patronize him; as they do however a selfie with Dolapo [ to the world ] by his new friends and fans across social media jumped off as a trend. The young man probably has more customers now than he can satisfy. His supplies now run out so fast.  

Following this development, a wind of favor has been blowing toward his direction, just earlier today Tuesday, 20^th November 2018; Dolapo was hosted on a radio program. It may interest you to learn that his new found friends on social media have been donating to support the young man in expanding his business.

Dolapo Sharwama may end up –in the next few months –owning a more furnished place for his sharwama business, eventually having to employ more hands and running a bigger enterprise. 

An organization has publicly pledged a $300 support for the growing of his business. They also pledged to help him with business registration, prepare a standard business plan and designed top class marketing strategy.

The vision of these guys is to make Dolapo’s Sharwama the most sorts after in Lagos –This would be facilitated through a uniquely mobile delivery concept as thought-about by his helpers.

Our flour-baker friend at Ojuelegba has also been offered a scholarship into Nigeria’s number one school for Continental culinary arts courses.

An author once defined “Luck” as when opportunity meets preparedness. When you find something productive to do, what happens is that –you have position yourself with something that may one day attract “Divinity” and then change your life completely. A taxi driver would one day carry a passenger as usual and his story would change for better; then he would later realize that he has conveyed GRACE on this fateful day. But what happens if he’s yet to take the bold step to venture into commercial transportation?

Just a few days ago I was having a phone conversation with a friend, we talked about life and spirituality, at a point in the conversation she shared a common statement from her senior pastor, quotes as follow…”The most dangerous man on earth is a man whose time has come”

I celebrate Dolapo, and I wish him the best!

So Folks, here is what is going on –someone who obviously was driving through the major road during the time this little chap [captured above] was surrendering to the call of nature [took a picture of this scene].

The person behind the camera captured a minor having a nap in the middle of a busy road; just inches away from moving vehicles as the boy sits-away on a highway divider. By the way, a quick look at those plantains lying in the tray beside him could only suggest one thing: A story of an abused teenager!

As we have it, this picture has found its way to the internet.

A random twitter user posted the said image few hours ago – He writes…

“Nigeria has failed this child”

Well, can I have your attention please? If you think the photograph in question is sorry enough then I advise you to skip the next few lines.

Let’s just keep it simple, the lad is now in safe hands –a passionate Nigerian has gone out of his way to look out for the youngster.

Here is some information I have regarding this situation.

So it happened to be that the young chap in question after he was found on the night – unfortunately – had been starving for three days.

The teenager is from Akwa Ibom and according to the boy; an individual who is supposed to be an Auntie had moved him to Lagos promising his parent that she would put their son in school.

But this has not been the case; the lad was instead forced to hawk plantains on the street of Lagos.

I know that this kind of story could break a heart. Apologies, if I just made you feel bad.

There is however some good news; apparently – the ashamed Auntie –who has also realized that she had failed to live up to the initial intention that made it possible for her to bring the boy to Lagos had succumbed to the guilt of having betrayed the teenager and his parent.

The young chap is now scheduled to be on a flight back to Akwa Ibom where the passionate Nigerian who has taken it upon himself to help the little boy would be holding a meeting with his parent.

He has offered the former plantain seller a full scholarship that would take him all the way. The helper has promised a bright future for the youngster.

I have another story to share if you wouldn’t mind…

I was on a motorcycle earlier today, moving from one side of the town to other part in the land. By the way, I wasn’t the one riding the bike. I had just paid my way on a chartered motorcycle.

As we journeyed on, myself and the bike rider were having pretty much random conversations [the kind of conversation that is often sparked by anything one sees along the way, road scenes, people etc. and sometimes trending news in the country –well, more often I do most of the listening. I try to understand people from their point of view.

It’s just amazing to see the kind of scene or event that sometimes caught people’s attention.

For instance, the motorcycle man had just ended a talk –then he immediately picked up another because he had just seen two horses [each on opposite side; separated by the road] the two horses were signaling one another through attitudinal reactions. You know how animal of same specie reacts when they feel threatened by their kind.

Then the bike rider quips…

“ehe ehe, wan mo ara’won ri o” laughing

The man had just suggested that the two horses know themselves.

Reader! Don’t worry it is okay to laugh.

So just like that, the comment came out of nowhere; it was completely unrelated!

Well, concerning the two horses, I am unable to confirm if the two animals indeed know themselves. I am sorry to disappoint you if you had assumed that I would have more information regarding the two horses.

The random conversation didn’t end there.

Remember it had rained for most part of today –as I continue to enjoy the cool breeze whilst on the bike.

The talkfest continued – at this point the tete-a-tete had switched to politics. I can’t recollect how we arrived at a political discuss. But we got there!

I listened on…

“APC should not even think they would have a chance in 2019” The bike man blasts…

Obviously alluding to the 2019 general election; the rider continues to pour out his disdain towards the ruling party as he engages me in our local dialect.

As usual I allowed the okada man to have a run of flow lending him my ears. Then I came in with a question…

“Sir, if you are offered N5,000 on election day to vote for APC what would be your decision?”

He didn’t think twice before he gave a straightforward answer…

“Yes I will vote for them o”… says the man.

“That’s the problem” I said… “We can’t win the battle if we continue to betray one another at the polls bowing to financial and material inducements”

Folks, the motorcyclist shared a story with me which left me bewildering and at the same time disheartened.

Before I recount what he said [which is the main reason yours truly decides to do a write-up]. Meanwhile, myself and the bike-man had a consensus which is the fact that stomach infrastructure in the face of poverty is the tool banked upon by politicians in Nigeria to keep the masses at their beck and call; to achieve this, the elites simply need to make sure the statusquo remains – which is – ensuring the larger percentage of the population live below $2 per day.

Political office holders are rarely motivated to carry out projects or initiatives that would directly impart the lives of ordinary Nigerians in a sustainable way.

So, the motorcyclist continues…

In his quest to emphasize the degree at which people in today’s Nigeria struggle to get by; hammering on the level of suffering in the land. My biker-friend mentioned it repeatedly “E wo, e’bi npa awon eyan gan ni ilu yi o”… Meaning a lot of people are in need of food.

He shared with me the story of a young girl he carried on his bike two days ago. According to him, the girl –whom he suggested would either be an eighteen or nineteen year-old – had stopped him to pay her way [as most people do] to Ondo road. They agreed on a fee and got underway.

The rider said he was surprised when this lady jovially asked about his marital life whether he has a wife or not. Responding to her, the motorcyclist said [jokingly] that his wife has run away. :)

What followed their conversation as the okada-man recounted is a sad thing to learn. The girl asked for a favor, she begged the bike-man for N500 explaining away her suffering state and how she dropped out in SS-2 because her parent couldn’t afford to be there for her anymore. Then, she practically offered the man sex as she challenged him to take her to a private place.

“I felt sorry for her” says the motorcyclist. “But I couldn’t do it”

I was almost praising the man in my heart seeing that after-all there are upright fellas among Okada-riders on our roads.

At this point [flashing back] I could only wish that the bike-man had put our conversation to rest considering that I was almost at my destination. It would have been a perfect ending if we had parted ways with the picture of his integrity been something to remember of him.

Then he mentioned a similar scenario involving a health-tech student, but unlike the girl he encountered two days ago, he has continually defiled this girl. He was uncouth with his choice of words; confirming that the sexual activity with the student from Health-tech would not end anytime soon.

“You can drop me here Sir” I said… arriving at my destination, I paid him for his service and we went our separate ways.

The level of poverty in the country is alarming. Political heads over the years have failed the masses, nonetheless, like the passionate Nigerian who came through for the young chap napping in the middle of a major road; you and I have a role to play.

Boluwatife Adekunle

@boluzzz

                                                       [Photo credit: Google image]

The simple compliments mean the most. Make someone’s day –Jawabin Neman

Let me share a story. It may just inspire you; perhaps many of us are unconscious to the truth behind this saying that “A compliment is verbal sunshine”.

In confidence! Don’t smile too much as you read through… Do we have a deal?

If we do, then here you go.

==

The other day my 4yr-old daughter made a remark. For the purpose of this write-up, she’ll go by the name D.D.

Following her comment I was reminded right-away that – in truth – my wife had [on this particular day] been to the salon earlier in the day.

“Mummy I like your hair” –we supposed she meant her new hairdo.

“Thank you my baby” was the response from her Mom… In an instant; I saw a glow on my wife’s face. :)

This is true, “the hairdo is really nice” I said quietly to myself… Too little too late it seemed; how could I not have acknowledged her look before now? [Says my thought] I knew my foot was already trapped in the door.

I only wondered how my daughter could manage to pay attention to such thing; well I don’t have to wonder anymore, I have witnessed more of such complimentary remarks from D.D in recent times. It’s becoming part of my experience nowadays. It has come to stay.

I will confess to you –Yours truly is now competing with D.D [secretly though]. My antennas are working; my signal is active –all this is so because there is the need to ensure that “this writer” says at the appropriate time what is expected of him before his 4yr-old would have to be the one to awaking her Dad’s consciousness toward the things he should have said. :)

Let me state here that the writer has no problem with D.D’s beautiful, innocent and honest compliments, I just do not wish that she goes first on some days. A married man reading this piece would certainly understand my quip.

Back to the night, one thing was inevitable [following the complimentary comment from D.D] which was the need to put up a Nollywood act – already I could see a flashing red light. The emotional-card obviously was that I didn’t care enough to appreciate my wife’s new look before that hour.

In all sincerity, I do care!

Well, I understand better that one should not be too familiar with such thing as insignificant it may appear. It didn’t occur to me that one’s spouse hairdo [no matter what] still demands a comment from the male figure in her life. Not ones in a while but all the time. Be that as it may, on the other hand though –I’d say [please] do not blame me, after-all, she always looks good in new hairstyles. ‘I was used to it’

By the way, I give good compliments. I know the little things [verbal, emotion, action etc.] that an average woman would like to hear or receive as the case may be.

But certain things just skip your mind sometimes. This is exactly what happened that particular day. It skipped my mind!

So, it was time for me to put up a Nollywood act. One-two-three go –Now, this is what happened, immediately my wife responded to D.D. At this point I had noticed that her face was starting to glow. Not wasting time, I turned to D.D “Yes, her hairdo is beautiful” –onward to her Mom, “This is true, I’ve observed this myself since you returned from the salon and I knew I would have to say this to you at some point”

Your dearly beloved received a strange look in return and I knew right away that Nollywood is not my calling. The message I read from her face that night was clear enough. Yours truly would have to be more sensitive next time. End of part 1

Part two…

There came this particular day we had similar scenario. “Oh, the timing was perfect on this occasion” –says my thoughts. I did not waste time to compliment my wife’s hairdo “You look amazing in your new hairstyle” She smiled and thanked me accordingly.

Cool stuff… With my shoulders now raised for obvious reason, I decided to pull the little girl’s legs.

“D.D what do you think of your Mom’s hair? Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Oh she likes it” her Mom stepped in, “that was the first statement I received from her as I returned”

Kai!

My eyes popped out, then I smiled in the same way someone who hasn’t used a toothbrush in four days would do.

“Saying such thing is good D.D” –Dad encourages

Thereafter, your dearly friend intentionally allowed that moment to die a natural death. I brought up an unrelated matter and it was just enough to change the topic on the day.

Something happened few days ago, my wife and I; alongside D.D were on our way home. By the way D.D’s mom had just left the stylist shop, so I knew for sure that the little girl hasn’t mention a word regarding her Mom’s hair.

There is a twist from me this time around. As a way to pass a compliment, I posed the question to my daughter instead.

“What do you think of your Mom’s hair D.D? “ It sounded off like rhetoric; I could accurately predict what her response would be. The usual rhymes [expected from a four year-old], especially the ones I am used to. “Mummy I like your hair” “Your hair is beautiful”

Then she looked at me and said

“Daddy I like your hair”

Light radiated all over my body, and I haven’t recovered from the joy that accompanied her remark.

The little girl noticed that I had visited the barber’s shop earlier in the day, and it just makes me feel good because truly my barber had spent more time than usual to give me the cut of my life.

It was good enough that she observed and much better that she gave such a complimentary remark.

Go out of your way today to pay a compliment to a friend, colleague, partner etc. A simple remark may just be the missing piece that’d make someone’s day.

Boluwatife Adekunle

@boluzzz