Popular ICT lawyer, Photo journalist and philanthropist, Martin Beck Nworah has opened up on how he paid back an aged beggar who helped him with 100 naira when he was stranded.
According to him, the beggar approached him for help, as he reached out to assist her, he couldn’t find his wallet. After he explained to her, she gave him 100 naira for transportatin.
Martin further revealed that he visited her two days later with a huge sum of money.
He wrote:
“Sometime last year, I visited a senior colleague and friend at his law firm. We were sharing jokes as he taught me some lessons about the stock market when his phone rang. After the call, he sprang and told me I need to rush down to TBS court and get a date for a case he had interest in. He picked some files and we rushed down to his car.
On our way, he briefed me about the case and what he needed. The Registrar of that court was friendly so I knew I won’t have any problem getting what he wanted. He dropped me at TBS and drove to Ajah to meet up with a client about some land transactions.
The court had finished sitting when I arrived so I went to the court registrar, smiled at her as usual and told her what I came for. In 10 minutes, I was done. I saw a classmate from law school so we just spent couple of minutes catching up on old jokes before he left. As I came outside, I brought out my phone to book Bolt (Taxify) that would take me back to the office of my senior colleague when an old lady begging for alms caught my attention.
“My pikin wey wear fine suit, find something for me make I take chop.”
I blushed a little at the mention of the fine suit so I searched for my wallet to give her something. But my wallet wasn’t in its normal position.
I slowly returned my phones into my blazer, dropped the files in-between my legs and slowly searched myself thoroughly. The old woman was just watching me as I acted out my movie without saying a word. The Son of Nebu was really stressed. I didn’t see my wallet.
I immediately rushed back and ran upstairs to the court. I looked around but I didn’t see it. I asked the registrar and she said no one saw anything. On my way out, I put a call to the secretary of my friend’s firm and asked if she saw any wallet there.
“Brown? Filled up abi? Yea it’s here. Nawa oo Beck, look at how healthy your wallet is looking. Give me something for lunch na.”
I calmed myelf and told her to take something. At least I knew it was safe. The issue now was how to get back to the office since I didn’t have any cash. Lots of options ran through my head but the best was just to order the Bolt (Taxify) and pay once I got to the office.
I was passing the old woman begging for alms as I made my booking when she called out again. “My pikin you dey pass again? Find something for me na.”
I didn’t want to walk away like that because she sounded really nice, so I walked over to her and told her I didn’t come out with my wallet and I am trying to find a way to get back to the office. She looked really concerned as I told her I would find something for her when I come around next time.
She dipped her hand inside a small purse and brought out ₦100. She handed it over to me and told me to use it and enter bus to where I was going. I felt goose bumps all over my body. I told her to keep it and not worry about me. But she insisted.
“You dey smile like one lawyer wey dey always dash me money here. just manage that one make you no loss here my pikin.”
I took the money, thanked her and walked farther away from her before I finished booking my ride. When I got back to the office, the secretary brought my wallet and I paid the driver.
“Madam Secretary, how much did you collect for lunch from my wallet? This babe you get mind ooo.”
“Oga Beck, I bought ice cream too. You know the weather outside is hot so I wanted you to chill with it under this sweet AC when you returned.”
“Perfect way to steal more of my money abi? You are lucky one old woman made me happy today.”
She asked who the woman was and I shared with her, my experience with the old beggar. She was crying by the time I finished sharing the story. I had to start telling her sorry for a sweet story.
Two days later, I received some money for my personal logistics from a friend in
TON Mansion
, the community I admin. I split the money into two, put half in a
Tales Of Nigerians
branded envelope and returned to the old woman. I wore a jean and polo to avoid drawing people’s attention if I wore a suit. I sat beside her, thanked her for her gift the other day and gave her the envelope.
She was full of gratitude and never stopped praying for me till I left. I learnt a very important lesson from her that day she gave me ₦100 and that was why I returned with something much bigger to appreciate her.
Generosity is not in the size of the pocket but in the size of the heart.
If this life experience connected with you, you can share with your friends so they can read too.
Till we get to the Promised Land, I shall be waiting for when you will pass me a glass of water and thank God for the gift of grace for the race.
#TheMBN
Martin Beck Nworah”
