Obudu LGA, Cross River State Born Businessman and politician, Koko Dan, has shared his ‘Grass to Grace’ story with nitizens as a form of encouragement to struggling individuals.
The former House of Representatives candidate for Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwarra Federal Constituency, in a post shared today on his Facebook page, narrated how he hawked cigarette, and other items engaged in manual labour, etc to see himself through Primary and secondary education to his sojourn in Lagos as a squatter and security guard before his eventual journey to europe.
He wrote;
“While in primary school, I was a hawker of jenka bubble Gum. In high school I was an okada rider and I complement my hustle by going to ikom and obubra to cut the forest, till heaps to meet up my school need. I collect cigarette on credit from my cousin Adie Gregory when I sell I keep the profit and pay him the capital cost. When I left secondary school I was 16. One of my first engagement was as a house boy in Flat 6 Senior police officers quarter Area F Command Oba AKinjobi Road Ikeja Lagos.”
“I didn’t find confidence in the job and I move to squot with my friend Iworibo Tamunotonye in his university of lagos hostel. ENI NJOKU Hall. I was washing the students clothes for a living and helping them with some GST school work and errands”
“When the porter discovered that I wasn’t a student and was occupying the bed space, I was sent away. I had no where to go and I started sleeping under the St. Dominic Catholic church car park Yaba and luckily, I got a job and became a uniform security guard with technocrime special force university of Lagos second gate Akoka Lagos.”
“I was posted to whitewood communications GRA Ikeja Lagos. When I got to the spot the manager said I was too young and he can’t accept me. I begged him and told him little story about my life as an orphan. He wept and decided to allow me on the night duty so that I won’t be seen my the director.”
” See how God provided me with shelter? I hawk my pure water on the traffic of Mobolaji bank Anthony during the day and at night I resume to my guard duty.”
“This, is, where the story of my success began. I was able to travel abroad crossing the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean. Today the rest is history.”
“Why am I sharing this story? I want you to know that the beginning always seems improbable. And the word of God is yea and Amen”
Recall that, The philanthropist had on Wednesday 17th May, 2023 announced a support fund of 50,000 for a Struggling student of Cross River origin, but due to high inflow of nominations, increased the number of beneficiaries to 3, spread across the three Senatorial District of the state.
The beneficiaries are;
1. Wofai Usani- Cross River Central.
2.Elijah Solomon. With complement Levi Odey- Cross River South.
3.Kennerh Kenneth Ibobo- Cross River North.
According to him, “the three people I have chosen and many other nominees share similar story infact majority of us, Cross Riverians share almost same story of struggle but we are determined to making a decent effort other than the quick vices.”
“If you have a reason to give up, I want to encourage you to look at my life as a proof that there’s God.
This is what my family and I shall be doing to aid the struggling students monthly or more often in between the month as the spirit directs.”
Encounium has filled the air as many have pray God’s blessings for him and his family.