20 Years Later, Man Pays Debt To A Carpenter

“There and then, I announced that I will send him to the university and bear the cost of his training.”

Onyebuchi Emenanka has returned to his old neighbourhood in Abia state to repay the debt he owes his neighbour who was a carpenter.

Onyebuchi who graduated from Abia State University(ABSU) 20 years ago said he wanted to surprise his old neighbours who helped him where he used to live as a student on Agiriga Street Okigwe.

Onyebuchi who narrated the event on his Facebook page said, “My mission was simple – to pay a surprise visit to my old neighbors, who are mostly local carpenters and petty traders”.

He narrated how he started living in the area, “I moved into that area sometime in 1998 and lived there till 2001 when I graduated. My brother Chiemezie Nwakanma was living there then and helped me secure the room. We were next-door neighbors. Iyke Aaron and Chizuru Kanu later joined us there.

There is this particular carpenter who was so kind to me then. He would do my carpentry works free of charge and will lend me money whenever I was broke. I didn’t pay back most of those monies. The Mbano man was just nice to me and treated me like his own son.

The man has a penchant for speaking high sounding grammar and we named him the Professor of Carpentology, a title he cherishes so much… Heheheheheheheh.

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17 years after, I stormed the place today and it was a big party. I ensured that there were drinks of different kinds and food to go round. All the carpenters stopped work to welcome their old neighbor. The women were not left out.

I told them stories of how that carpenter assisted me greatly and without seeking any payback from me. I thanked all of them for the kindness and love they showed me then. They were all amazed that I could still remember all of that almost 20 years after.

The carpenter had a set of male triplets while I lived there. They are all grown now and one of them works with him in his shop. He said the boy is brilliant but he has no money to train him in school. He lost his wife a few years ago.

There and then, I announced that I will send him to the university and bear the cost of his training. The man broke down in tears. I told him that his son should get a better life than he had. I am fully committed to keeping that promise. I shall help secure admission for him and see him through school. Who knows? He may be the channel through which God will liberate the family from the vicious cycle of poverty and deprivation.

It was a great day today as we drank and relived old times. I ensured that each of them got some small cash in their pockets.

Before I took my leave, they all asked me to kneel down while they said some prayers that touched my soul.

I felt a deep sense of fulfillment today.