HOW A CRIPPLED EX-BEGGAR SUCCEEDED DESPITE ALL ODDS
How A Crippled Ex-beggar Succeeded Despite All Odds
Originally posted on explicitsuccess.com as Crippled Ex-beggar becomes a lawyer (True Life Story)
Many people say success in life is luck or destiny but in my experience of ups and downs of life, I would confidently say it’s a choice. If you prefer to sit idle and expect opportunities to come your way, even God will shake His head in pity for you.
The truth is, you have a large say on what your end will look like, nobody else determines that. Little wonder people like inventors and great philanthropists were individuals that failed several times only that they quickly pick themselves up to start afresh again and again.
Amongst different unique stories of success I have heard in life, the story of Idowu is one in a million. I read it over and over again to remind myself that, if a lame man could sponsor his education from age 8 till age 37 and achieve two degrees back to back, there’s nothing a human being without disabilities cannot achieve.
Abdusalam Idowu during his call to bar ceremony
The success-driven Abdusalam Idowu was born sometimes in 1979 to Mr. and Mrs. Idowu.
Shortly after his birth, he was inflicted with Polio and crippled by it. Guess what, He was just three years old!
As if that was not enough, life punched him with another fierce blow at his tender age. He lost his mother.
His father and other relatives lost all hopes on him and stopped paying for his primary school education. Obviously, his lameness made them lose interest in his future.
He wasn’t promoted to primary one because his fees were not paid. He challenged his father and paternal grandmother for not supporting his education. Unfortunately, his tears fell on deaf ears.
His unparalleled determination kept pushing him through life irrespective of his physical condition, Abdusalam moved to the streets to source for funds and support.
He started begging at the age of eight in Erin ile, Kwara state. He saved every penny at that young age to feed himself, pay for his uniforms and pay his fees through primary and secondary school. He also paid for his final secondary school exams (WAEC), failed the first and second time, had a reseat the third year and passed.
He still wanted more from life. One morning, he took a train from Kwara state to Lagos state to beg for alms to further his education. He had no shelter, no food, no extra clothes, no shoulders to cry on. The bridge became his home. He just wanted education. He knew he would get more from life if he could just be educated.
Even with his ordeal, he was not discouraged. He forged ahead until he gained admission as a political Science student into the University of Lagos. Another financial need came up as he needed to pay his acceptance fee and tuition fee but had only N39,000 in his savings account.
That wasn’t his choice of study but he needed to just start first. He begged more. Walked the nook and cranny of Lagos to ensure he gets money to secure his admission. The additional money he saved was gone by the end of the first semester.
Fortunately, he had a ray of hope when PUNCH newspapers published his story and some sympathetic Nigerians and organization decided to sponsor his education.
While his first degree was coming to an end, he sat for GCE, JAMB and Post-JAMB exams for his desired course – Law. He really desired to be a lawyer.
As he was working on his final year project in Political Science, he gained admission again to study Law in 2011. He simply wrapped up his first degree and started his second degree immediately. He finished his degree in Law successfully and went on to Nigerian Law School. He studied hard, passed all exams in the final August/September 2016 bar examinations conducted at the end of the one-year programme.
He was called to practice law in Nigeria alongside 4,225 graduates during the call-to-bar ceremony in Abuja. He finally heaved a sigh of the fulfillment of his life ambition after all the years of struggle.
If Abdusalam Idowu despite his disability, what then is stopping you from succeeding?
At age 37, Abdusalam Idowu defied all odds, motivated himself through primary education, secondary education, 2 tertiary educations, Law school and was finally called to bar on the 30th of November, 2016.
“I wish to set up my law firm later and in the nearest future I want to become a judge,” said Idowu in a firm, positive voice.
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Now tell me what excuse you have not to succeed in Life. You have no excuse to fail.
I leave you with this – Success and Failures in life are deliberate CHOICES you have to define yourself.
Author: Joseph Abimbola. I am completely sold out on keeping people motivated on their journey to success. Personal development and perseverance are key ingredients to push on and sometimes, you just need to have encounter the right people to keep your spirit high and head up. You can read more from her here
(B.Agric, MBA)
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Serial Entrepreneur - International Business Planning Consultant - Speaker - Trainer - Author - Blogger - Network Marketing professional.
- 2018 SME Business Trainer and Coaching Advisor at GIZ for SME Loop.
- 2018 YALI RLC Online Cohort 9
- 2017 Fellow, Inspire Africa Train-the-Trainer Entrepreneurship programme sponsored by US Consulate Lagos and the Dickey Center, U.S.A.
- 2016 Fellow, Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme
- 2015 Top 50 Innovative Entrepreneurs, BET5 by Diamond Bank and EDC, PAU.
He is an alumnus of Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Lagos Business School (LBS), Pan-Atlantic University (PAU). Through his training, mentoring, speaking and coaching programmes, he has empowered many young people over the years to start and grow their own business, build wealth, create multiple streams of income and achieve financial independence.
- He is a Certified Trainer in Design Thinking by the U.S Consulate, Lagos and the inspire Africa Entrepreneurship Institute.
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