In June 2008, Azeez, my cousin came back from school and informed me of a program in his university whose form was on sale. He was an undergraduate student at the University of Jos. Azeez and I do refer to ourselves as cousins because his mother and my father are related through their grandparents.
I gave him money for the form and copies of my credentials when he was resuming school two months later.
A few weeks later he informed me that the woman who was helping to facilitate the admission was charging 30000 Naira. I agreed to pay the money when I get the admission.
In the last week of October, the admission list was released and I was admitted. I got prepared and left Ekiti State for Jos for registration immediately. I was welcomed by Azeez.
On the evening of my arrival, I was sitting down outside the room when Abdul, our next-door neighbor, returned from school. After exchanging pleasantries, he initiated a chat. We discussed many things.
"Congratulations on your admission. Which course are admitted to study," Abdul asked me.
"Science Laboratory Technology (SLT)," I proudly responded.
He paused for a few seconds with a surprised face before asking me further questions.
"Didn't your brother tell you the details about the course before encouraging you to apply?" He asked.
"What details? He only told me that the course is a full-time course with a lot of prospects."
"He lied to you. SLT is a part-time course and it has not been accredited by the appropriate bodies. Those who study it are not being mobilized for the compulsory national youth service."
In Nigeria, participating in national youth service or collecting an exemption letter if you are more than 30 years old is a testament to the fact that such a degree is genuine.
"Thank you very much. I will consult more and make appropriate decisions," I told Abdul.
The following morning, I went to the school to ask more questions from students and staff. It became clear to me that Abdul was right. I made up my mind not to register for the course.
I was still in the school when Azeez called me to meet him at a spot on the campus.
"You need to withdraw the 30000 Naira facilitation charge so that I can give the woman," he told me.
"I will not be registering for the course," I told him. I hinged my decision on personal reasons.
"Whether you are registering for the course or not, you must pay the money because the woman has done her job," Azeez insisted.
All my pleas to allow me to beg the woman with 10000 Naira with the explanation that I wasn't registering for the course fell on deaf ears. Azeez left me angrily.
I spent a few hours in the same seating position before going back home. I arrived home and met a shocker. Azeez had packed all my belongings and hid them.
"If you don't give me the 30000 Naira for the woman, you are going nowhere," he declared.
I was heartbroken and confused. I sat outside the room crying. Abdul walked in and was surprised about my mood.
"What happened to you?" He asked me.
I narrated everything that transpired to him.
Abdul practically took the fight as his own. He ordered Azeez to release my properties for me. Azeez resisted initially until Abdul threatened to involve the authority.
"My Aunt is in the administrative department. I will take this case to her. Who is that staff requesting 30000 Naira to give admission to students? By tomorrow, no one will force you to bring the properties out."
"Ojo," he called me. "You can stay in my place pending tomorrow when we are going to address the issue," Abdul concluded.
Azeez wasn't comfortable with the mention of involving authority in the case. He entered the room and brought out my belongings from where he hid them.
Tears were flowing freely on my face.
I slept in Abdul's room because I couldn't trust Azeez further. It was that night that Abdul informed me about the sales of forms for the university remedial program. It is a one-year pre-degree program. I opted for it since it would allow me to study an accredited degree course.
I begged Abdul not to involve the authority. I didn't want my issue to cause him problems with the university.
The following day, Abdul took me to the administrative office where I purchased the remedial form.
When Azeez sighted the form with me, he told me that he would make sure that I didn't get the admission.
"If you don't pay that 30000 Naira, your form will best be used as tissue paper."
I told Abdul about his threat. He laughed and assured me that I would gain admission.
"I will put your brother to shame. You will get the remedial admission," he assured me.
He renewed his desire to forward the case to the authority but I pleaded with him not to do that again.
I submitted the form the following day and I left Jos back to Ekiti.
A month later, I was admitted into the remedial program. Abdul didn't collect a dime from me in the guise of giving anyone to facilitate the admission. We later confirmed that Azeez didn't consult anybody for admission. He wanted to collect the money for his personal use.
I am ever grateful to Abdul, someone I never knew or met anywhere before.
When my cousin failed me, a total stranger took my fight as his own and helped me out.
I graduated from the university with a degree a few years ago and I am indebted to Abdul in appreciation.
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