23/10/2024
"I Ran Into a Former Broke Course Mate!
Last Saturday night, I found myself at a bar with some friends. I wasn’t really in the mood to go, honestly. Why? Money no dey pocket, and I wasn’t about to go out and embarrass myself. But my friends, being the good people they are, insisted, “Bills on us, just come along.” It wasn’t the first time o, these guys have been God-sent, always having my back.
Earlier that week, on Monday, I had a job interview. The problem? No transport fare. Make e no be like say I dey slack, I called my guy, John. “Guy, e don red o,” I said. Reluctantly, he replied, “Okay, send your aza, make I Roger you something. But this na the last time o.” I could hear the irritation in his voice; after all, he was the one who even hooked me up with the interview.
Long story short, the interview was another failure – the umpteenth time. No qualifications, no job experience since graduating from college. Na so e be, depression wan finish me, but God no go shame us. My friends, pitying my situation, decided we should hang out that weekend, with them footing the bill, as usual.
When we arrived, everyone had already ordered drinks. I was just standing at the counter, chatting with the bartender—a fine girl—when this tall, handsome guy walked in. As soon as she saw him, she shifted her attention, naturally. No be surprise, the guy wore shades and a bougie outfit, obviously a rich man. But something about him was quiet and modest, which was strange.
The bartender asked if he wanted a drink, but he declined. Then, unexpectedly, he turned to me, greeted me, and called my name, “Tolu.” I was confused; he looked familiar, but I couldn't place him. Then he chuckled, took off his glasses, and it clicked—“Ayomide, is this you?!”
We exchanged pleasantries, and he offered me a drink. I tried to dodge too many questions about my situation. Eventually, I asked, “How’s Tope, your elder brother?”
The mood changed. With a long face, he said, “Tope has been sick o, he’s been battling cancer for some years now.” I was shocked. “Yeeeh! Tope, with cancer? But he no dey drink, no dey smoke!”
Apparently, Tope had been secretly struggling with the illness, and his family isolated him for treatment. That explained why he suddenly disappeared and stopped contacting people.
I asked Ayomide how he was coping with the family’s focus on Tope’s recovery, and he surprised me by saying, “I’m the one covering the medical bills.” Shocked, I asked, “But isn’t that too much for you?”
He smiled and said, “It’s not too much at all. I’ve been able to manage it well. That’s why we’re taking Tope to India for his treatment.” Confused, I asked, “But how are you making this kind of money?”
He laughed. “I’m a Real Estate Developer. I’ve been investing in real estate since our third year in Uni. I bought my first acre at 20, and I’ve been selling plots ever since.”
I was stunned. This was the same Ayomide that we all thought was struggling in school. Back then, his elder brother, Tope, was the popular one—smart, generous, their parents' favorite. Ayomide, on the other hand, always looked raggedy, was constantly picked on, and never seemed to have money. People even doubted they were related because of the stark difference between them.
But all that while, Ayomide had been working hard behind the scenes. He was a Realtor, selling plots of land and quietly investing his earnings. Who would have thought? From the guy everyone ignored to a successful Real Estate Developer.
After hearing his story, I couldn’t hide my situation any longer. I told him about my struggles. To my surprise, he offered to train me in real estate. Na so I take get new hope.
In this life, no matter what you do, TRY DEY INVEST. I’m not talking about shares, cryptocurrencies, or treasury bills—Invest in Real Estate. That’s the real escape route from poverty. Who knows, one day I might come back and share my own success story in real estate.
Life no balance, but one thing dey sure: wise investment no dey fail, na him sure pass!"
