Iyabeji: From a hawker to a multi-million-naira shop owner, by Francis Ewherido

Today, I want to take a break from Nigeria’s unending breaking news and drama to dwell on a story that I have been postponing. It’s about a YouTuber, MrMikeGlobal, who has been touching lives of ordinary Nigerians. I wrote about him and others three weeks ago  

I decided to write on this particular act in a separate article. The story unfolded in a sequence of videos. In the first video, a young lady, who later identified herself as Iyabeji (mother of twins), was hawking water and soft drinks. It was obvious that she was in some form of discomfort. She balanced a basin containing bottled water and soft drinks on her head, while supporting herself with a crutch on her right side because her left foot had been amputated. MrMikeGlobal saw her across the road. She wasn’t the only hawker there, but he took interest in her. In his usual style, he took her wares from her, distributed them to people around and gave her money far more than the value of her wares. But unlike some of the other people he has lifted up and brought sunshine to their lives, he dug deeper. He got to find out that she’s a mother of four children, including twins (I am guessing because details of her family weren’t revealed). 

He took her home. What he saw was a rundown one-room accommodation where she lived with her children and a younger sister. It was a face-me-I-face-you (a building with rooms on both sides and a corridor running through the length of the building. The residents usually share a common bathroom and kitchen at the back end of the building, though Iyabeji cooked in her one room). I lived in one briefly during my NYSC in Port Harcourt and when I started life in Lagos in the late 80s

But Iyabeji’s was different. The building and her room were rundown and in a bad state. Inside the room was dark as it was evening or night. It reminded me of a visit to a relative about 20 years ago. My two eldest children I went with were hesitant when we got to the house. “Common, go inside. Our relative and his family live here,” I said firmly. Inside the one-room accommodation was dark, though the sun was blazing outside. It took a while before my eyes adjusted and I saw his wife and children.

MrMikeGlobal was touched. His next mission was to get them an accommodation which he did. He bought household items and furnished it. When the little children saw their new accommodation, they shouted, “wow.” They are young but they could see the difference. Iyabeji’s sister was dancing. It was supposed to be a surprise for Iyabeji, so she was blindfolded and led in. when the blindfold was removed and she saw the new apartment, she fell at MrMikeGlobal’s feet in joy and gratitude. As I was wondering how she was going to sustain this new status because it comes with additional expenses, MrMikeGlobal said he and the people contributing money for Iyabeji’s cause have paid two years’ rent upfront. But when you don’t have money, two years fly past like two months if you are fixated on the rent. How will she sustain this enhanced lifestyle with hawking of water and soft drinks, I continued to wonder? But MrMikeGlobal is a visionary young man with a global outlook. 

In the next video, he took Iyabeji for another round of shopping. He bought two deep freezers, a generator, fans, stabilizers, drinks, provisions and other items running into millions of naira. He had rented a shop for her. Everything was transported and loaded into a shop. When they got there, MrMikeGlobal told her to wait in the vehicle while they offloaded the items and arranged the shop, displaying some of the items on the shelves. By the time she was brought in and the blindfold was removed, she was blindfolded again this time by the spectacle she saw. Not even an anticipation could have prepared her for the well-stocked and beautiful shop. There was also a crowd waiting to welcome her. It was too much for her to bear. She rolled on the ground, while tears of joy streamed from her eyes.  I want to be sincere. I was also emotional watching the spectacle and transformation from a hawker to a multi-million-naira shop owner. 

As I watched with joy and emotion, I began to worry about a few things. One, the transformation from a hawker to a multi-million-naira shop owner might be too steep for her. How will she keep her books? What about stocktaking, delaying her gratification, cashflow management, etc. She’s going to need a lot of mentorships. Of course, MrMikeGlobal also had this in mind. He told her on the day of the unveiling that there should be a sign that buying on credit is not allowed. 

On a follow-up visit, he taught her another lesson. He bought a bottle of cold water and paid, but she refused to collect the N300 naira. Her sentiment was understandable because it didn’t feel right to collect money for a bottle of cold water from someone through whom about N20m was used to transform her life. But he used the opportunity to teach her a business lesson: friends, acquaintances and family should pay for items bought and services rendered. If not, there will be loss of revenue that can ultimately lead to the collapse of the business. She’ll need continuous mentorship. The transition was sudden and it will take her time to learn the ropes of business at that level.

I deliberately didn’t mention that MrMikeGlobal also enrolled Iyabeji’s children in a better school. From the brightness in the children’s faces, it’s obvious. On one of their birthdays, he took a cake to the school and celebrated with the celebrant and other pupils. The excitement was unbelievable. I know God blesses people who bring and joy laughter to children’s lives. 

Now the icing on the cake. When MrMikeGlobal opened the shop for her, I was wondering how she was going to manage with her handicap. MrMikeGlobal partnered with an orthopaedic clinic and got Iyabeji a prosthetic leg. In the last video, Iyabeji was physically transformed. She had a wig and was looking every inch chic. Who say money nor dey make iron float? For people who say Nigeria can never be good, Jesus is from Nazareth, where the Israelites believed nothing good can come out of.

This story is not just about celebrating MrMikeGlobal for allowing God to use him to bring sunshine and hope to the downtrodden or those who have given up on life. The story is meant to challenge all of us. MrMikeGlobal said his mission is to make the world a better place. What is your mission in life? Is it “me, myself and I and I only” or you are doing your little by giving a helping hand to others: an advice, a smile or whatever good you can do for others. It’s not always about money. Iyabeji’s story looks like something from a blockbuster movie. MrMikeGlobal, God bless and reward you for your good works.

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