How Alhaja Simbiat’s Kindness Helped Young MKO Abiola Overcome Poverty

Many have wondered why Alhaja Simbiat held such a special place in MKO Abiola’s life. The answer lies in her family’s generosity toward him. While Abiola was still in grammar school, he wore the same uniform from year one through year five. One day he arrived at Simbiat’s home in ragged clothes. Her parents immediately bought him a brand-new uniform, making it one of his happiest days. That visit also introduced Abiola to fried egg for the first time. Until then, he had only eaten yam. When he saw the egg, he asked what it was and was amazed to learn you could fry it in oil. Despite his early poverty, Abiola went on to excel academically. He earned distinctions in all 16 subjects, studied accounting at the University of Glasgow on scholarship, graduated with a first class and became a chartered accountant in Scotland, England and Nigeria. His story shows that humble beginnings need not limit your future.

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