06/07/2017
Who book epp? The under-told part of the MKO Abiola story.
When the name MKO Abiola is mentioned, two things come to mind: politics and money. We also know his father had many children before him that never survived.
Not many people know his academic feats. As a matter of fact, I have met people who thought MKO was just a barely educated money-miss-road business contractor.
Maybe because he spoke "conc" Yoruba, with his thick Yoruba voice interfering even in his English. Just don't know where they got the impression from.
No, MKO was an academic genius. And indeed read his way out of poverty.
Know these verifiable facts about his academic feats
1, He came first in his school from elementary through High School to University
2, Not a local champion. He was a regional champion. He didn't lead school, he was leading region. Any exam he wrote, he led the whole of Western region.
3, Not just a regional champion, he was an international champion. He not only had First Class in Accounting from the University of Glasgow in Scotland, he led the whole university. Yes, he thumped even oyinbo students.
4, He won many scholarships throughout his elementary, secondary and tertiary education.
5, He wrote and passed exams of and admitted members of the Chartered Accountant bodies of Scotland, England and Nigeria.
6, He won several prizes while writing exams of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.
7, He shattered the entrance interviews of ITT, the company that was employing him, so much so that he was given positions higher than what he applied for, beyond his level.
Yes, when next someone asks you: who book epp? Tell them, it helped MKO, son an unlettered farmer who hardly had 2 clothes to wear, out of poverty.
Or when next they ask you to name a billionaire that had first class, flaunt picture of MKO in their face.
Dear young friends, if you are from a poor economic background, please take your studies very seriously. I am not aware of any first class graduate that is not financial comfortable 5 years after graduation. Don't be deceived by what people say about academic excellence. It is a leveller. I have a close friend from a poor home that struggled to raise 17k to pay his school fees in our final year in 2006. He was brilliant, had a first class. Today, he is a blessing to their family, with house worth more than N60m in the heart of Lekki and another in his hometown. Just 10 years after leaving school. What liberated him and his family? His degree (and defence of it post-school). I will forever be an advocate of studying hard in school to make good grade no matter the voice against it as it is now fashionable on social media.
