This is a popular story for all Nigerians on this platform although many might not know the real story. So I am using this medium to tell everyone both Nigerians and Non- Nigerians to learn from the story of this man. Let's begin;
There is this man called Lagbaja ( not the real name of the man) whose job is to collect thrift daily from people and at the end of every month or year, he returns their money for them. This is a local means by which the local men and women save their money when they can't afford to go to the bank and save their money. Many chose to do this because they can't stand the charges bank do take from the money that is being kept with them. They will tell you they are maintaining your account and remove charges for it, they are removing charges for SMS at the end of every month, all these make many not to put their money in the bank, so they prefer a man should keep it for them and bring it back at the speculated time they both agreed on. He was not educated and didn't know how to write nor read.
Are you wondering how the person who collects the daily contribution do survive and make a profit from it? Well, he does collect the money to run some businesses on his own and make a profit with it and then return the money to the owner whenever they want to use it.
He started collecting daily contributions from different people in the area of "Shomolu" ( a place in Lagos State, Nigeria ) without writing the names of those he collected their money down. He didn't put their names on paper. He was supposed to put their name on paper to know every individual who contributed money to him so that at the end of the year, he will be able to do an Account of their names and money but he never did.
He did these for many months, let me say for a whole year. Do you know how many days in a year? 365 days make a year, he collected all this money and never put their names on paper. When the time comes for people to collect their money at the end of the year, they call on Mr Lagbaja for their money and he told them the day he was going to come. They all waited for him patiently till that day.
The day came and he presented himself with their money. All of the people who didn't contribute money at all were present also to make jest of him and laugh at the people that gave him money. They have always backbite about him that how can a man that doesn't put down peoples names be able to refund their money accurately. All these they have said for the whole year and waited till that present-day where he will present the money.
To their surprise, he started calling their names alphabetically and gave every individual the exact amount of money they all contributed without making any mistake. They were many wow that day and many were fully shocked about the incident. People who were ready to make jest of him and laugh at him were all disgraced and went home sad. He was really appreciated by many and they gave him a gift to reward his honesty and intelligence. He was not educated but was able to do what an educated person can do with his brain.
Are you like that Somolu thrift collector?
Lessons to learn
Be diligent with your work or the place you find yourself
Be honest and be plain
Attain more skills to what you have already
There was a song that was composed by my favourite Nigerian artist called BRYMO. He titled the song "Navajo Somolu" and in the song, he was asking people a question that
" Are you smart as the Somolu thrift collector?
He asked this about three times in the chorus. I am also asking you that same question too. Reply to this in your mind and think deeply about it.
The lead image is the man behind the story.
Disclaimer: There is little fiction added to spice up the story, that's not the exact story.
Thanks for reading.
Byeee for now😘😘😘😘
10th August,2021
Nice write-up