Mr. Felix's death broke no one down more than it did to Jeff and he wept bitterly as he thought about the first time he met Mr Felix about a decade ago.
Jeff was born into a poor family and his father didn't value him because he wanted just female daughters. Mr Okoro always said that they were his ticket out of poverty and he planned to marry his daughters to wealthy people and make money from them.
He paid less attention to Jeff and there was little that Mrs Okoro could do. Jeff had a roof over his head and got two meals every day in return for helping his father on the farm every day but everything changed when he met Mr Felix on his way from the farm one evening.
"Hello young boy, what are you doing all alone in the bush under this scorching sun," Mr Felix asked when he came to inspect a land he bought near Mr Okoro's farm.
"I came to help my father at the farm but he has left to attend to other things," Jeff replied.
"You shouldn't be left all alone here and should be in school," Mr. Felix replied before leaving.
Mr Felix started a project on his land and saw Jeff often, they interacted severally and he discovered that Jeff was an intelligent kid so Mr Felix decided to meet Jeff's father and offered to help the boy go to school like every other kid.
Mr Okoro hesitated because he knew that Jeff wouldn't be available to help him on the farmland but he thought about it again and just let the boy go.
Mr Felix was happy when Jeff's father gave his consent and he took Jeff as his child, although he didn't have one. He enrolled Jeff in a good private school, provided everything he needed for studies and even away from studies.
Life turned around positively for Jeff and he grew as an intelligent kid. He made everyone proud and Mr. Felix didn't regret helping the young boy.
"You have been sitting here all alone, I hope you won't hurt yourself with tears. Your benefactor is gone and you have to prepare for what's ahead," Qudus, Jeff's roommate at the University said to Jeff while still brooding over Mr. Felix's death.
"He was a good man and I wouldn't have been here without him. It's just my second year in the university and I have to let go of the dream of becoming a graduate because there is no way I can continue with my education without Mr. Felix's help," Jeff broke down into tears again and wept bitterly.
Qudus tried comforting him but he was too sad. Jeff reached out to his parents for support and his father's response changed his mind about quitting school.
"I knew there was no future for you with education, come and continue helping me on the farm so one day, you can inherit me," Mr Okoro's words played in Jeff's head and he cancelled his plans to return home.
After that semester examination, Jeff didn't stop attending classes even though he couldn't buy textbooks or write exams. A year passed and he got a night security job at a company. Jeff used his salary for feeding because that was all he could do with the little money he was earning.
Jeff continued like that and soon every student in the school knew he was the student who attended class but didn't write exams. Jeff wasn't happy but there was nothing he could do about his situation.
Jeff was at work one night as usual when the factory power generator went off. Production was stopped and the engineers swung into action immediately but every effort to make the giant power generator work was futile.
He noticed the generator was taking too long so Jeff went to join the engineer over an hour later.
"Can I check it?" Jeff asked the head of the factory operations.
"As what?" Mr Ajayi asked.
"I am a mechanical engineering student and this is my field, sir," Jeff stuttered.
"The people you are seeing here are all professionals, I don't think they need your help," Mr Ajayi replied.
Jeff left there disappointed and just watched them after. About thirty minutes later, he paid attention to the sound the generator was making while they tried putting it on.
"The carburettor is the issue, dismantling the generator is not the solution," Jeff returned to tell Mr. Ajayi who listened this time.
"Have you checked the carburettor? Mr Ajayi asked the engineers so one of them decided to check and truly, it was the problem.
"Why would you have such a skill and settle as a security," Mr Ajayi asked Jeff and he explained his situation to him.
"You will make a great engineer and it wouldn't be bad if the boss invested in you. I will talk to him on your behalf," Mr Ajayi said to Jeff as they rounded up their conversation.
Jeff was delighted and eager to hear Mr Ajayi's feedback from the boss. It finally came and it was a positive one, the boss was willing to help Jeff on the condition that he work with them for some time.
Jeff agreed to deal and was able to further his education. He was delayed but not denied a shot of his dreams, Jeff repeated classes just to write exams and he became a successful engineer afterwards.