At the point of death a man, Bakare Ologbenla, called his children and after praying for them, he advised them to follow his footsteps so that they can have peace of mind in all that they do.
The youngest child, Folasade, a female, looked at others and yelled, DADDY, ITS UNFORTUNATE YOU ARE DYING WITHOUT A DIME IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT, PERSONALLY, I CAN'T EMULATE YOU. OTHER FATHER'S THAT YOU TAG AS BEING CORRUPT, THIEF OF PUBLIC FUNDS LEFT HOUSES AND PROPERTIES FOR THEIR CHILDREN; EVEN THIS HOUSE WE LIVE IN IS A RENTED APARTMENT, SORRY, I CAN'T EMULATE YOU, JUST GO, LETS CHART OUR OWN COURSE, LETS PADDLE OUR OWN CANOE. Few moments later, their father gave up the ghost.
Three years later, Folasade went for interview in a multinational company. The interview panel already penciled down a candidate for the highly coveted post but wanted to complete the formality of interviewing all applicants on the list. As soon as Folasade sat before the interview panel, the Chairman of the committee asked, "Which Ologbenla is yours" and the Folasade replied, "I am Folasade Ologbenla. My dad Bakare Ologbenla is now late he died a poor man... then the Chairman cuts in,
O MY GOD, YOU ARE BAKARE OLOGBENLA'S DAUGHTER? He turned to other members and said THIS BAKARE MAN WAS THE ONE THAT SIGNED MY MEMBERSHIP FORM INTO THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ADMINISTRATORS AND HIS RECOMMENDATION EARNED ME WHERE I AM TODAY. HE DID ALL THESE FREE. I DONT EVEN KNOW HIS ADDRESS, HE NEVER KNEW ME FROM ADAMS, HE JUST DID IT FOR ME. He turned to Folasade, I HAVE NO QUESTION FOR YOU, CONSIDER YOURSELF AS HAVEN GOTTEN THIS JOB, RESUME TOMORROW, YOUR LETTER WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU.
Folasade Ologbenla became the corporate affairs manager of the company with two cars, one official ad one for private use, attached to the office, with a duplex and two drivers and a salary of N500,000 per month excluding allowances and other Esta-code when she travel outside Nigeria.
After two years of working in the company,the Group Managing Director of the company came from America to announce his intention to resign and needed a replacement. A personality with high integrity was sought after, again the company's Consultant nominated Folasade Ologbenla.
In an interview, I asked her the secret of her success and the sudden sky rocketing profile and in tears, she replied, MY DADDY PAVED THESE WAYS FOR ME. IT WAS AFTER HE DIED THAT I KNOW THAT HE WAS FINANCIALLY POOR BUT STINKINGLY RICH IN INTEGRITY, DISCIPLINE AND HONESTY. I asked again, why she is weeping since she is no longer a kid as to miss her dad still after a long time. She replied, AT THE POINT OF DEATH, I INSULTED MY DAD FOR BEING A HONEST MAN OF INTEGRITY. I HOPE HE WILL FORGIVE ME IN HIS GRAVE NOW. I DIDN'T WORK FOR ALL THESE, HE DID IT FOR ME TO JUST WALK IN.
So finally i asked, WILL YOU FOLLOW YOUR FATHERS FOOT STEPS AS HE REQUESTED? And her simple answer is I NOW ADORE THE MAN, I HAVE A BIG PICTURE OF HIS IN MY LIVING ROOM AND AT THE ENTRANCE OF MY HOUSE. HE DESERVES WHATEVER I HAVE AFTER GOD.
Are you like Folasade Ologbenla, it pays to build name, the reward doesn't come quickly but it will come however long it may take and it lasts longer.
INTEGRITY, DISCIPLINE, SELF CONTROL AND FEAR OF GOD MAKES MAN WEALTHY, NOT THE FAT BANK ACCOUNT. Live a good heritage for your children, I am building a good name for my children, not a fat bank account.
Written by Oluseyi Joseph Da Silva
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