The last few days have indeed been some
of the most interesting times in the life of Mr. Lawrence-White Udoka.
Since photographs of the 44-year-old man hawking doughnuts while neatly
dressed went viral, the Akwa Ibom-born father of two has suddenly
transcended from a little known Nigerian to a celebrity of sort. From
east to west, north to south, images of Udoka are almost now a common
sight anywhere you turn to. It is an unprecedented period for him.
of the most interesting times in the life of Mr. Lawrence-White Udoka.
Since photographs of the 44-year-old man hawking doughnuts while neatly
dressed went viral, the Akwa Ibom-born father of two has suddenly
transcended from a little known Nigerian to a celebrity of sort. From
east to west, north to south, images of Udoka are almost now a common
sight anywhere you turn to. It is an unprecedented period for him.
“I have received a lot of calls from
people telling me that they have been seeing and reading different
interesting things about me on the social media. Whenever I go out to
hawk these days, people treat me differently, as if I am a superstar.
Though I am excited about this I give all glory to God,” he said during a
telephone conversation with our correspondent earlier in the week.
people telling me that they have been seeing and reading different
interesting things about me on the social media. Whenever I go out to
hawk these days, people treat me differently, as if I am a superstar.
Though I am excited about this I give all glory to God,” he said during a
telephone conversation with our correspondent earlier in the week.
But beyond the fame the 44-year-old man
now enjoys, Udoka has been through the rough patches of life, contending
with deprivation and crushing hardship for the most part of his early
life. Raised under the roof of a polygamist father with three wives and
10 children, life for him as a little boy growing up in the countryside
in Akwa Ibom where he hails from was tough. Apart from the difficulties
in accessing quality education as a result of his father’s lean purse,
living out his dream of becoming a successful engineer in the future was
quite Herculean. The situation remained troubling until he finally made
the long journey to Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial headquarters, in search
of a new life.
now enjoys, Udoka has been through the rough patches of life, contending
with deprivation and crushing hardship for the most part of his early
life. Raised under the roof of a polygamist father with three wives and
10 children, life for him as a little boy growing up in the countryside
in Akwa Ibom where he hails from was tough. Apart from the difficulties
in accessing quality education as a result of his father’s lean purse,
living out his dream of becoming a successful engineer in the future was
quite Herculean. The situation remained troubling until he finally made
the long journey to Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial headquarters, in search
of a new life.
“It was tough when I first arrived
Lagos,” Udoka said, as he shared his inspiring story with our
correspondent. “I was rejected in almost all the factories I went to
search for job not because I wasn’t fit but because the people there
always felt factory work was not for a person like me.
Lagos,” Udoka said, as he shared his inspiring story with our
correspondent. “I was rejected in almost all the factories I went to
search for job not because I wasn’t fit but because the people there
always felt factory work was not for a person like me.
“At one of such places, a staff of the
factory where I had gone to look for work told me that I should go and
get proper education, that he saw me becoming something big in the
future and not limiting myself to a factory. That was the last time I
ever went out to look for job again,” he revealed.
factory where I had gone to look for work told me that I should go and
get proper education, that he saw me becoming something big in the
future and not limiting myself to a factory. That was the last time I
ever went out to look for job again,” he revealed.
Driven by the quest to survive, Udoka
soon ventured into frying and selling bean cake popularly known as akara
in local parlance around his Ojota neighbourhood. It turned out a big
hit. Within weeks after he started, everyone was looking for his brand
of akara. It was a period of boom for him.
soon ventured into frying and selling bean cake popularly known as akara
in local parlance around his Ojota neighbourhood. It turned out a big
hit. Within weeks after he started, everyone was looking for his brand
of akara. It was a period of boom for him.
“People would come from very far places
just to buy my akara. It was as if they had been waiting for the type
that I did for a long time. I was never short of patronage,” he said.
just to buy my akara. It was as if they had been waiting for the type
that I did for a long time. I was never short of patronage,” he said.
But just when the 44-year-old was
enjoying the fruits of his labour and thinking on how to expand his
business to meet the growing demand, everything came crashing. A
malicious rumour turned the tables against him.
enjoying the fruits of his labour and thinking on how to expand his
business to meet the growing demand, everything came crashing. A
malicious rumour turned the tables against him.
“I was surprised when all of a sudden
people stopped patronising my akara,” he recalled. “There was a rumour
in town that a man somewhere in Mushin was caught using human blood to
prepare his akara and that had a negative impact on the patronage of the
snack. It affected many of us in the business tremendously. I had to
gather the small money I had managed to save to buy a motorcycle for
commercial transportation,” he said.
people stopped patronising my akara,” he recalled. “There was a rumour
in town that a man somewhere in Mushin was caught using human blood to
prepare his akara and that had a negative impact on the patronage of the
snack. It affected many of us in the business tremendously. I had to
gather the small money I had managed to save to buy a motorcycle for
commercial transportation,” he said.
Few months into commercial
transportation, the father of two switched vocation again – this time
going into baking and hawking doughnuts, egg and fish rolls after a
woman introduced him to the business. He abandoned transportation
following constant harassment by law enforcement agents in Lagos.
transportation, the father of two switched vocation again – this time
going into baking and hawking doughnuts, egg and fish rolls after a
woman introduced him to the business. He abandoned transportation
following constant harassment by law enforcement agents in Lagos.
“I didn’t ride okada for too long
because law enforcement officers were always harassing us and demanding
for money. I had to diversify into the making of doughnuts and other
items after a woman introduced me to the business. I look back today and
I am happy I ever made that decision,” he said.
because law enforcement officers were always harassing us and demanding
for money. I had to diversify into the making of doughnuts and other
items after a woman introduced me to the business. I look back today and
I am happy I ever made that decision,” he said.
Like akara, Udoka’s new products also
gave him popularity in the entire Ojota/Ogudu area of the metropolis
where a lot of people fondly nicknamed him “chop better” – for the
richness of his snack. Though he didn’t make as much as when he was
marketing bean cake, the new items also brought in a decent income. But
more than the sweetness of his products, it was his mode of dressing
that attracted customers to him the most – the Akwa Ibom native was
always looking smart and neat while hawking his wares.
gave him popularity in the entire Ojota/Ogudu area of the metropolis
where a lot of people fondly nicknamed him “chop better” – for the
richness of his snack. Though he didn’t make as much as when he was
marketing bean cake, the new items also brought in a decent income. But
more than the sweetness of his products, it was his mode of dressing
that attracted customers to him the most – the Akwa Ibom native was
always looking smart and neat while hawking his wares.
“A lot of women always told me whenever
they came across me that if they were mine they would never allow a
neatly dressed man like me to hawk. But unknown to them I was married
already.
they came across me that if they were mine they would never allow a
neatly dressed man like me to hawk. But unknown to them I was married
already.
“I had to always dress well because the
Bible says that whatever our hands findeth to do, we should do it well,
so I had to apply wisdom into my business. Dressing well was one of the
strategies I have used to grow my business. It is a way of appealing to
customers who ordinarily wouldn’t even think of buying doughnut at the
time,” he said.
Bible says that whatever our hands findeth to do, we should do it well,
so I had to apply wisdom into my business. Dressing well was one of the
strategies I have used to grow my business. It is a way of appealing to
customers who ordinarily wouldn’t even think of buying doughnut at the
time,” he said.
But beyond the regular profit he was
making from the business and all the attention that followed, the
44-year-old had bigger dreams. He wanted something that would open doors
for him – a more guaranteed route to escape poverty and all the
sufferings that he had experienced in his life. To make that dream a
reality, he enrolled for the 2015 Unified Tertiary Matriculation
Examination to study Political Science Education at the University of
Uyo, Akwa Ibom. The idea came not only as a joke to many who knew him
including his 41-year-old wife, Dorothy, but also as a feat impossible
to achieve.
making from the business and all the attention that followed, the
44-year-old had bigger dreams. He wanted something that would open doors
for him – a more guaranteed route to escape poverty and all the
sufferings that he had experienced in his life. To make that dream a
reality, he enrolled for the 2015 Unified Tertiary Matriculation
Examination to study Political Science Education at the University of
Uyo, Akwa Ibom. The idea came not only as a joke to many who knew him
including his 41-year-old wife, Dorothy, but also as a feat impossible
to achieve.
“My wife felt I was playing an expensive
joke when I told her of my desire to go to the university by sitting
for UTME,” he said. “She felt because of my age I should rather invest
in our children instead of going to school myself. But that didn’t deter
me, I insisted and God has been faithful.
joke when I told her of my desire to go to the university by sitting
for UTME,” he said. “She felt because of my age I should rather invest
in our children instead of going to school myself. But that didn’t deter
me, I insisted and God has been faithful.
“Even though I was always busy hawking
my items, I enrolled for tutorials at a centre in Ojota to prepare me
for the exam. Many times I went there with my snacks and while receiving
lectures some students would patronise me. I never missed tutorials for
once.
my items, I enrolled for tutorials at a centre in Ojota to prepare me
for the exam. Many times I went there with my snacks and while receiving
lectures some students would patronise me. I never missed tutorials for
once.
“I have faced a lot of hardship in my
life, so I didn’t want to go the rest of my life like that. I realised
education was the gateway in life. I knew if I could get education, many
of my problems in life would be solved. All the while I was selling
akara and riding okada, I had always nursed that desire to go to school.
I had hope that one day I would be enlisted into one Nigerian
university and by the grace of God that dream has come true,” he said
with a tinge of fulfillment.
life, so I didn’t want to go the rest of my life like that. I realised
education was the gateway in life. I knew if I could get education, many
of my problems in life would be solved. All the while I was selling
akara and riding okada, I had always nursed that desire to go to school.
I had hope that one day I would be enlisted into one Nigerian
university and by the grace of God that dream has come true,” he said
with a tinge of fulfillment.
Attaining that feat didn’t come easy –
challenges in different forms came his way. While some made subtle jests
at him, others told it to his face that he was only wasting his time.
But the more they tried to discourage him, the more his resolve grew
stronger.
challenges in different forms came his way. While some made subtle jests
at him, others told it to his face that he was only wasting his time.
But the more they tried to discourage him, the more his resolve grew
stronger.
“A lot of people sometimes wondered what
an elderly person like me was coming to do at the UTME tutorial centre.
In fact it took a long time for even the security men at the place to
accept that I was also a student coming for tutorials.
an elderly person like me was coming to do at the UTME tutorial centre.
In fact it took a long time for even the security men at the place to
accept that I was also a student coming for tutorials.
“But by the grace of God when the result
came out, I was vindicated. I scored 333 in the exam even though I was
43 at the time and was combining hawking and studying. I and my
daughter, Favour, sat the exam at the same time and we both did well.
came out, I was vindicated. I scored 333 in the exam even though I was
43 at the time and was combining hawking and studying. I and my
daughter, Favour, sat the exam at the same time and we both did well.
“I am studying Political Science
Education at the University of Uyo, I was admitted as a full time
student but I asked to switch to part time so that I can continue to do
my business. My daughter is studying Public Administration at the same
university and we are both in 200 level.
Education at the University of Uyo, I was admitted as a full time
student but I asked to switch to part time so that I can continue to do
my business. My daughter is studying Public Administration at the same
university and we are both in 200 level.
“Many of my lecturers today use me as a
reference point in some of their teachings. They salute my courage and
determination to succeed at all cost.
reference point in some of their teachings. They salute my courage and
determination to succeed at all cost.
“I must let you know that I don’t miss
lectures because I don’t like to copy other people’s notes. A lot of
useful things are said during lectures, so I don’t like to miss them. I
have never failed any course since gaining admission. Many people see me
as a role model,” he said.
lectures because I don’t like to copy other people’s notes. A lot of
useful things are said during lectures, so I don’t like to miss them. I
have never failed any course since gaining admission. Many people see me
as a role model,” he said.
Apart from attributing his success so
far to the mercies of God, Udoka also fingers his unique mode of
appearance as playing a key role in his wide acceptance even in Uyo
where he had stayed less than two years since gaining admission into the
city’s university. He receives favour in torrents.
far to the mercies of God, Udoka also fingers his unique mode of
appearance as playing a key role in his wide acceptance even in Uyo
where he had stayed less than two years since gaining admission into the
city’s university. He receives favour in torrents.
“People favour me a lot,” he cuts in.
“Many times customers tell me to keep the change and use it to take good
care of myself when they patronise me.
“Many times customers tell me to keep the change and use it to take good
care of myself when they patronise me.
“In fact in 2012, the commissioner for
environment in Lagos at the time during a chance encounter told me that
he liked the way I dressed and conducted my business and that he would
love to assist me with some money. He gave me N100, 000 and it was out
of that money that I registered for UTME.
environment in Lagos at the time during a chance encounter told me that
he liked the way I dressed and conducted my business and that he would
love to assist me with some money. He gave me N100, 000 and it was out
of that money that I registered for UTME.
“Here in Uyo, people patronise me a lot.
They look at my dressing and ask why I returned from America. They
think I had lived abroad before and only came back as a result of
certain circumstances.
They look at my dressing and ask why I returned from America. They
think I had lived abroad before and only came back as a result of
certain circumstances.
“After arriving here, I had to go to a
catering school to acquire more skills for my business. I am a qualified
caterer now; a lot of people have been coming to learn from me,” he
said.
catering school to acquire more skills for my business. I am a qualified
caterer now; a lot of people have been coming to learn from me,” he
said.
The future is looking brighter than it
was a few years back, the 44-year-old is already looking forward to
better things to come. But while making those lofty pursuits, he has not
forgotten the woman that has stood by him all these years. Her place in
his heart is special.
was a few years back, the 44-year-old is already looking forward to
better things to come. But while making those lofty pursuits, he has not
forgotten the woman that has stood by him all these years. Her place in
his heart is special.
“It is my heart desire for my wife to
also go to the university after I graduate,” Udoka, sounding a bit
emotional at this point, said. “She has been very supportive; she has
been a strong pillar behind me. Since I and Favour moved to Uyo for
studies, she has been taking care of the home, herself and our
17-year-old son, Donald. I cannot thank her enough for all the love,
support and understanding.
also go to the university after I graduate,” Udoka, sounding a bit
emotional at this point, said. “She has been very supportive; she has
been a strong pillar behind me. Since I and Favour moved to Uyo for
studies, she has been taking care of the home, herself and our
17-year-old son, Donald. I cannot thank her enough for all the love,
support and understanding.
“In life, when you record success people
will begin to see you differently. My wife sees me differently and
appreciates me the more now. Recently she was in Uyo to spend one week
with me. I really appreciate this. My wish for her now is to see her
attain the level of education I have now. It will make me happy.”
will begin to see you differently. My wife sees me differently and
appreciates me the more now. Recently she was in Uyo to spend one week
with me. I really appreciate this. My wish for her now is to see her
attain the level of education I have now. It will make me happy.”
Dorothy, who runs a thriving food stuff business at the New Garage area of Ojota, told Saturday PUNCH earlier in the week that she was proud of her husband even though she initially feared he was too old to study.
According to her, a lot of persons who have been following her husband’s rising profile have called to commend her as well.
“I am very proud of him, me and the
children; he is making us very happy. Though I had some reservations
when he was pursuing admission, today I give glory to God because he has
given us a new song. I know that by the time he and Favour graduate,
our lives would change for the better. I feel joy all over my soul,” she
said.
children; he is making us very happy. Though I had some reservations
when he was pursuing admission, today I give glory to God because he has
given us a new song. I know that by the time he and Favour graduate,
our lives would change for the better. I feel joy all over my soul,” she
said.