Thread by @Osi_Suave

On my way home most days I use the Lekki Ikoyi link bridge and cut out to the express way using freedom way to avoid traffic.
It was a regular routine but something changed a while back.

There are kids that would hug my window and beg for alms. So I told this one I didn't have any spare change that day. He looked in my car as asked for the bowl of food I had on the passenger seat

Man I was so broken and I had to give him the food

It stayed with me for a while

Everyday as I would go home I'd buy food and give to this little boy.

He knew when to approach my car and what time I'd normally pass by

As soon as the light turned green he will run after me so the others do not shorten his ration.

On some day I'd forget.
On some days I won't see him
One particular day I closed really late and he was lying on the metal barricade as you exit that GTB gate.

This was a kid going through life in the harshest way possible

Today being Val's day I decided to do something special for him and his friends

I was able to Feed 40 of them

I haven't seen poverty at this level before

I literally cried on my way home. These are kids btwn 6 and 10 years old.

Who are supposed to be in school, begging day to day to survive.

With women and children being the most vulnerable casualties of poverty we as a society need to do more to lift these people and give them an opportunity to live decent lives.

As they are exposed to sexual assault and abuse.

This little boy and his friends have thought me so much about life and how poverty limits your growth, gives you no opportunity to dream but a constant desire to survive day in day out.

This little boy and his friends need us to give them a hand

To be a sure foundation to help them find a way out of begging to survive.

This has been the best valentine's Day I have ever had. The opportunity to do so much with the little I have.

In our communities we should play our part.

And not be oblivious to the things we can try to fix.

Happy valentine's day