ASAKE OKIN

Have you ever encountered someone who steps up to help children in need when they lose one or both of their parents or guardians? Growing up, there was a family that always had a full house. It wasn't until I was in secondary school that I realized who their biological children were. This family was always ready and willing to assist others, particularly children who had lost a parent or both parents. I remember when a relative of mine passed away, leaving behind several children. None of her siblings could single-handedly care for all her children, so they divided the responsibilities among themselves. Each of the siblings took in one of the children. "Asake, I'm ready to get married now. My parents married early but struggled with infertility until their 40s. They had our youngest sibling when they were in their late 50s. I started working at a young age to help take care of my siblings, and now that our youngest is finishing up university, I feel like I'm in a posit...

As I saw the car parked in front of their house, I knew it would be picking one of them.  As she approached their gate, I noticed how simple but elegantly dressed she was.  Even though I watched the car zoom off, it was her outfit I kept thinking of. As usual, I went visiting the next day, our folks have been friends before I was born and anytime my folks needed to send me on “the errand of no return” popularly known as Arodan in Yoruba, I was sent to their house. “Are you here for Arodan?” my Aunt asked, before I could respond she continued “go to the girls’ room, Fao is  looking for you" B, how are you today? Fao said “I love what you wore yesterday” I responded. Pardon my manners, good afternoon sis” I concluded “Really, you can have it” she said. She opened her wardrobe and brought out others, yes you can have them too. From that day till S.G came to whisk her away, she always gave me clothes. She taught me a simple lesson,  as long as they ...