….The ordeal of a youth struggling to survive 

By Olaitan Oye-Adeitan

It was on a Saturday afternoon, as he was approaching, I noticed he wasn’t looking happy.

Coming closer, he looked so pale with his palms appearing like there’s no blood.

What happened to you? I asked? 

“I went to donate blood and have not been feeling good”, he responded, expressing weakness.

But why did you? I asked.

“Because I needed money to take care of myself. It hasn’t been that easy. I have been going days without food.It’s really eating me up” he explained.

Oh my goodness! I exclaimed.

My PCV was checked before my blood was taken and it was 43 percent.But after the donation, it dropped to 25%.

I couldn’t contain my shock, “25percent and you are still standing”!

How much were you given?

He answered, “Four thousand naira and i used it to buy food and few other personal needs”. 

This is the pathetic ordeal of Uchenna, (not real name), a male youth in his early twenties. His story hit me like a ton of bricks.

He is an orphan and the first child (twin) of the seven children of his late parents.

He is tall, well built, intelligent, eloquent, very sound and full of potentials but life seems not to be smiling at him at all.

Since the demise of his parents, him  and his siblings had really not found life funny at all.

He has been shouldering the weight of his family since his parents passed away, doing all kinds of menial jobs just to put food on the table. But at the cost of his health, his education, his future, all on the line.

Uchenna is a hidden greatness that needs support to come to birth.

Four years ago, he cleared his SSCE examination with good grades, got two admissions in reputable Universities in Nigeria but couldn’t pursue his academic goal due to financial constraints.

One remarkable thing about Uche is that he is very hardworking and doesn’t mind any job as long as it is lawful.

However, he has been in a long search for a job that could assist him to cater not only for his immediate needs but to further his education and assist his siblings but hasn’t secured one.

Uchenna is slipping through the cracks and he has a genuine case that needs urgent help of  well spirited people or individuals who could just assist him to find his bearing in life and fulfill his destiny.

Could you be an answer to change this narrative?