God
bless kind-hearted Nigerians!
Gideon story changed from grass to grace within few days of speaking with C-
Classic, the Pulse Tv Vox Pop host on the effects of the ban on street hawking
in Nigeria. The story which touched over 600,000 people online triggered
kind-hearted Nigerians to raise about #400,000 naira for the groundnut hawker.
The life of 25-year-old Gideon
Ime Charlie, the groundnut seller who earns #1500 naira monthly has taken a
positive turn around after kind-hearted Nigerians took it upon themselves to
help him.
Since Gideon’s story went
viral, life has taken a turn around for Gideon, he has since moved from his
previous uncompleted apartment in rural Ajah to a more decent apartment in
Ajah, Lagos. ABVee Fashion Design Academy has offered Gideon an admission into
their six months fashion course which is worth over #200,000 naira and another
Nigerian has offered to pay Gideon #10,000 naira monthly for the next one year.
In a phone interview with
Pulse Tv, Gideon thanked generous Nigerians and stated that his mum prays for
them daily. He also stated he still cannot believe how his life has changed
within a few days.
Gideon passionately told
Pulse Tv that knowing his background, he would not want his children to go
through the same hardship as he has. He added that he would work towards making
more money to build a better future for himself and a home for his mother.
Read excerpts from the
phone Interview with Pulse Nigeria below:
How
much did you generate from kind-hearted Nigerians?
I feel blessed. I received
about 400,000 naira from kind-hearted Nigerians. I got enrolled into the ABVee
Fashion Design Academy for a six months course in fashion designing. Another
kind-hearted Nigerian said he would send me 10,000 naira monthly for one year.
I can't thank everyone enough.
What
did your parents say when you told them kind-hearted Nigerians have helped you?
They were extremely happy.
My mother wanted to speak to at least one person who has helped me, but I told
her it wasn’t possible as I also don’t know all of them. She then prayed for
them. I told them my siblings who had stopped school JSS1 could go back to
school. Wisdom Ime Charlie will be resuming the school section with other
students.
Are
you working? Any other business on the side?
I go to the academy from
Monday to Friday and my Saturday’s and Sunday’s are currently free. I want to
start a weekend business to keep the income flowing. Also, I love music and I
don’t want the dream of being a musician to die. I hope to release a single
titled “missing angel” soon. I pray Nigerians would support it.
What
were the first things you did after kind-hearted Nigerians helped you?
I rented a place, got the
necessary materials required for the fashion school to aid my learning process.
I am one who knows how to manage resources I know where I am coming from and
where I want to be. I don’t want my children to go through the same things I
have passed through.
What
are your plans for the future?
As I have mentioned
earlier, I don’t want my children to go through the same hardship as I have, I
would start up a weekend business soon. Although I am unsure of what it's going
to be. I love fashion designing, I plan
on starting my own fashion school. I also plan on dropping my own songs soon.
Nigerians should watch out for me.
You
know I live in a rented apartment, I would also love to build mine
Gideon was spotted during
the Pulse Tv Vox Pop where he reacted to the banning of street hawking by the
Nigerian Government.
The 25-year-old man who
hails from Ukanafan Local Government in Akwa Ibom narrated how he left his
hometown for Lagos in search of greener pastures.
Gideon stated that he
dropped out of school in JSS 3, so as to allow his five other siblings to
further. Soon after, he got a call from a friend in Lagos who introduced him to
the groundnut business. Gideon grabbed the opportunity wholeheartedly because it
was the only way he could reduce his parent's expenses.
“The man already told me
he’d pay #1500 monthly and I would receive food two times daily,” he narrated.
“Sustaining with #1500 naira monthly has not been easy,” he told Pulse Tv.
“I try to save #500 naira
monthly but the money is never enough after I purchase my basic needs like
toothpaste, bathing soap, slippers and body cream,” he said.
Gideon who describes
himself as a prayerful Christian believes his parent and friend’s prayer have
sustained him in Lagos.
Gideon’s story is one that
shows how kind-hearted Nigerians are and it simply cannot be forgotten in a
hurry. Thanks to all who contributed!
No comments:
Post a Comment