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I’ll tell a few stories today.
The MacBook I currently use was a gift. @iaboyeji saw me at the Techpoint event in Jan 26 2019 and he said, “he wants us to go get the MacBook today”.
#Thread
The MacBook I currently use was a gift. @iaboyeji saw me at the Techpoint event in Jan 26 2019 and he said, “he wants us to go get the MacBook today”.
#Thread
Back story: I had met Iyin in 2018 via LinkedIn and he found a liking to me. He was interested in supporting the things I did then, which was majorly running @ConsonanceClub. We worked on a few things (that brought me money) & he invited me to speak at a GTB event in Unilag.
I spoke at the event side by side with him and it was a major highlight for me. He was impressed and was gassing me up and said, he was going to give me his Macbook.
After a few months, he decided by himself to get me a new one and he did in Jan 2019.
After a few months, he decided by himself to get me a new one and he did in Jan 2019.
He bought the Macbook for me and never looked back to ask what I had done with this laptop. I could have sold it but I didn’t. I didn’t because he had a reason he decided to shell out over half a million to buy a MacBook for a guy he met over the internet. He had a reason.
More than just supporting me or keeping to a promise he made, he said something - ‘you pay it forward’. He didn’t feel entitled to my growth or journey and haven’t even mentioned it to anyone but he did it and I’m extremely grateful for it.
Fast forward to 2020 and one of my bosses reached out to me mentioning that he wanted to do something for the community and his organization wanted to provide resources - and specifically MacBooks.
I immediately recognized it ad my opportunity to ‘pay it forward’.
I immediately recognized it ad my opportunity to ‘pay it forward’.
@EnyataCommunity did something remarkable and unheard of in the ecosystem. They gave out 50 MacBooks to young and deserving people with no strings attached.
I’m super proud of what we were able to accomplish and can’t wait to do it again. Thank you @DayoOyelade.
I’m super proud of what we were able to accomplish and can’t wait to do it again. Thank you @DayoOyelade.
Let me tell another story.
It was Monday, the 11th of January 2021. We had just given out the MacBooks at Enyata’s office on Saturday and I was back to work supporting startups across Africa with my awesome team at CcHUB.
At about 1pm, I received a call from my younger brother saying my dad was dead.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💔" title="Gebrochenes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Gebrochenes Herz">
At about 1pm, I received a call from my younger brother saying my dad was dead.
I was utterly devastated, my dad was ill for some time but no one ever considered it leading to his demise. I was working from home, so I sent a message to my manager, wore my clothes and set out to go home - didn’t even know I was going to be traveling to the village that night.
I was getting a lot of calls, decided to decline most calls but pick the ones I didn’t know because they might be from the ambulance guy, my relative or someone else.
In picking these calls from unknown numbers, I picked one from a lady with a nice voice...
In picking these calls from unknown numbers, I picked one from a lady with a nice voice...
She introduced herself as being one of the awardees of the MacBook and went on to say that she got a 2019 Macbook instead of a 2020 - we gave out a few 2019s.
I wasn’t sure how to respond to this. You were given a MacBook and the issue was 2019 vs 2020. I didn’t respond.
I wasn’t sure how to respond to this. You were given a MacBook and the issue was 2019 vs 2020. I didn’t respond.
I asked her if she wanted to return it and she said ‘no’ and I said she should manage it. To be honest, I was pissed so I decided not to ask for her name - I don’t know who she is till today but it was just interesting to see such entitlement for a gift with no strings attached.
I mentioned it to my friends much later after everything and we had a laugh about it.
In everything I realized that you can’t fault the good you have done because of the actions of a few recipients. You shouldn’t change how you give because of the action of those you give to.
In everything I realized that you can’t fault the good you have done because of the actions of a few recipients. You shouldn’t change how you give because of the action of those you give to.
The case about someone selling the MacBook that was received is quite unfortunate but expected. One of the recipients told me she was going to sell as Dayo was giving it to her. She explained the reason and I said she has to do what’s best for her - I think @samoflagos was there.
Ultimately, a good deed was done and it’ll be sad to see it tainted because of conversations like this.
There was a recommendation not to sell it but I can understand the appeal to sell it. People will be people. We must over look and move ahead - doing even more than last.
There was a recommendation not to sell it but I can understand the appeal to sell it. People will be people. We must over look and move ahead - doing even more than last.
@hackSultan’s reaction was from a place of hurt, I know I am. He was a great resource to this program and I support his work with DevC.
No one will be happy when the purpose of their effort is misused. He means no harm to anyone and is definitely accountable to the community.
No one will be happy when the purpose of their effort is misused. He means no harm to anyone and is definitely accountable to the community.
I am a recipient of the great community deeds of folks like @unicodeveloper, @ridwan_olalere, @aniediudo, @OoTheNigerian, @bosuntijani and a host of others.
I just hope that one day, someone can say the same about me and my work.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏🏾" title="Gefaltete Hände (durchschnittlich dunkler Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Gefaltete Hände (durchschnittlich dunkler Hautton)">
I just hope that one day, someone can say the same about me and my work.
Another story?
