The Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has given a 15-year-old boy, Chibuike Ibekwe, scholarship for being honest.
Chibuike, who hails from Mbano in Imo State, dropped out of school and resorted to scavenging at the Ariaria International Market, Aba, to assist his mother, Mrs Chika Ibekwe, a petty roadside trader.
Luck, however, smiled on him the day one Mrs Goodness Uzoukwu, a trader in Ariaria, who deals in shoes and other wears, gave him a bag containing brand new shoes to dispose, thinking it was trash.
When Chibuike got to where he was to dispose of the waste and discovered the content of the bag given to him, he returned the shoes to the trader, refusing to listen to those who wanted to buy them from him.
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The trader, who was overjoyed, rewarded him and made a video of Chibuike, thanking him for returning her goods and she posted same on her Facebook page, which went viral.
When the attention of Governor Ikpeazu was drawn to the video, he sent for Chibuike, saying the honesty displayed by the boy was what society needed.
While receiving Chibuike, his mother, and the Chairman of Ariaria International Market, Emeka Igara, at his native residence in Umuobiakwa in the Obingwa LGA, Ikpeazu said, “Your name is Chibuike, and mine is Chibuike, too. I am happy you’ve proved to be very honest.
“Honest people go far in life. Those who do not take what does not belong to them are people that God helps and saves in their times of difficulty.
“Thank you for being honest and for not taking what did not belong to you. You will go far in life.
“Your today can’t decide your tomorrow because you are honest. You will go back to school. I will ensure you finish your secondary education because you are honest. If you remain honest, you will remain my friend and I will make sure you see me every month. What you have done by returning the goods to the owner is a mark of honour and proof of your honesty.”
The PUNCH
