At a time when role models are hard to come by and honesty is in fast decline in the country, a ray of hope recently came from Mr. Job Durojaiye, a student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State, who was reported to have alerted the authorities of First Bank Plc to the sum of N9.3 billion inadvertently paid into his account.
According to his own account of what happened, Durojaiye, a Higher National Diploma (HND) engineering student said on August 13, he had, upon withdrawing N2, 000 from his account at the bank's branch located in the school, discovered from his Automated Teller Machine (ATM) printout that he had a balance of N9.3 billion, instead of N1000 that should remain in his account.
This development, he said, aroused his curiosity. He decided to withdraw additional N20, 000 from the huge sum found in his account to confirm whether it was real. And it was. Three days later, he went to the bank to narrate his experience. The bank official he spoke to did not believe him until he supplied evidence through the ATM printout. He quickly returned the N20, 000 already withdrawn from the 9.3 billion. The bank took the refund, but did not, according to Durojaiye, give him as much as a pat on the back.
However, the Mountain of Fire and Miracles, a church where Durojaiye worships, has fittingly acknowledged his exemplary character by giving him a car and an undisclosed sum of money, as reward, while the authorities of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, awarded him a scholarship for the remaining part of his education. All of these amply show that honesty is the best policy and truly does have its rewards.
Indeed, the conduct of Mr. Durojaiye provides a good example for our youths and all government officials to emulate. By all standards, the young man richly deserves celebration. His exemplary honesty is rare in the country.
Although some many say he has missed a lifetime chance to be a billionaire, having refused the easy, fast lane to riches, we commend Durojaiye for taking the right decision. Clearly, a life without good virtues to be remembered for is not worth living, and a society without men and women with sterling moral compass, drifts endlessly.
On this score, Durojaiye could be a model for rebranding Nigeria. Coming at a time Nigeria is still savouring its Golden Jubilee celebration, the outstanding conduct ought to serve as a veritable platform to celebrate some of the excellent virtues of Nigerians.
In this era that icons have become a rarity in our country, we urge governments at all levels to hold out exemplary conduct such as that exhibited by Durojaiye for their officials to emulate. One of the ways that the government can prove that governance, indeed, is a human enterprise, is to accord due recognition to citizens who demonstrate uncommon character.
It is regrettable that often, we celebrate frivolities and scoff at good virtues such as honesty, trustworthiness, integrity and fear of God. These qualities are the essence of humanity. Had we, as a nation, prioritized celebration of notable acts of honesty and transparency, perhaps, our search for good leadership would have been much easier, and our country a much better place.
Let’s have your view, God bless you as you do. Shalom
