• Unwavering support, shunning opposition. • Blessings cascading, shielding from curses. • Celebration of happiness, banishing shadows of sadness. • Abundant joy, pushing sorrow aside.

B, born into affluence but deprived of parental attention, yearns for a different reality. Despite the wealth surrounding him, he desires the warmth of poor but attentive parents. His wish underscores the universal craving for genuine connections and emotional fulfillment.

Subsequent calls unfold a spectrum of emotions. Auntie P joyously shares news of her son securing a good job, praising amidst his mother’s amens. A heartbreaking call follows, with his mother consoling a schoolmate who has just lost her son.

When you entered our lives, we were well-established, providing you with the best. Unlike my early life, you enjoyed privileges—cornflakes, milk, private schools, chauffeurs, colored TV, and overseas vacations. You’ve had a good life, my child. We have also raised you well. We taught you to treat others as you would like to be treated and to make integrity your companion.

However, amid these challenges, hope persists. Stories of individuals making significant contributions to their communities, like the one encountered in Toronto, provide inspiration. There, someone invested in the education system and infrastructure of their hometown, sparking a positive change.

It remains perplexing why administrators of post-secondary institutions struggle to rally their alumni and leverage their financial capabilities to enhance their schools. This idea merits the establishment of dedicated teams equipped with world-class technology, accounting, fundraising, and networking skills.

Later, at a hotel in Ikeja, I enjoyed a complimentary breakfast of sweet potatoes and egg sauce. Despite the pleasant environment, I noticed there was no water provided unless purchased separately. Opting for tea, I overheard a man across from me expressing his discontent to a waitress. “Is there no normal water?” he asked.

It is wiser to have a domestically educated child who enjoys good mental health, rather than a foreign educated one grappling with mental health issues caused by culture shock, inadequate funds, loneliness, lack of support, racism, abuse, inadequate preparation and others, leading to health issues, confusion, sense of failure, drug and alcohol abuse, depression, resentment and eventual detachment from loved ones. Exercise prudence in choices that can impact your child’s mental and future well-being.

“And as for the judiciary, think of the Yoruba word ‘judi,’ which means ‘to shake your bum’.” He playfully shook his behind, and the students erupted in laughter once again, some even exchanging high-fives. “Mr. Jalingo is quite the entertainer,” Dende remarked to his seatmate, Titi, who nodded in agreement.