From head porter to prosperous landlord — the enduring lesson of hard, humble work.
In a bygone era, a young man named Adégbòrò left Ibadan for Lagos, seeking a better future. With no connections or capital, he began as an alabaru—a head porter—carrying heavy loads for traders at Oyingbo Market.
Through sheer grit, he saved enough to buy a wooden cart. This simple upgrade eased his labour and expanded his earnings. Within years, he owned six more carts, renting them out to others.
Exactly eight years after pushing his first cart, Adégbòrò purchased a rickety van—a bolekaja. He learned to drive it himself. Four years later, he owned a fleet of six vehicles.
When it was time to build a home, the true son of Ibadan returned to his roots. He constructed a magnificent house at Oja Oba, near the Olubadan’s palace.
Many wondered at his success and asked for his secret. His response was always a question: “Could you carry loads on your head at Oyingbo Market to earn a living?” Their answer was invariably, “Never.”
To which he would calmly reply:
“Eni ti ò le ṣe alabaru l’Oyingbo, kò le ṣe bí Adégbòrò l’Oja Oba.”
(One who cannot be a porter at Oyingbo cannot become like Adégbòrò at Oja Oba.)
His life echoes the Yoruba proverb:
Ìsàsùn tabi ikoko tí yió j’ata, idí rẹ̀ á kókó gbóná.
(The pot that will cook a delicious stew must first have its bottom scorched by fire.)
The Lesson for Today
Adégbòrò’s story is more than folklore—it’s a mirror for our times. Endurance precedes achievement. Sustainable wealth is built slowly, steadily, and with persistent effort.
Our youth must hear this. The get-rich-quick syndrome has ensnared too many—trafficking, exploitation, drugs, prostitution—all in desperate pursuit of illusionary “greener pastures.” Many still suffer today, even auctioned in faraway Libya.
Let us sit our children down. Teach them that work is the antidote to poverty. Share with them the timeless words of J.F. Odunjo:
Iṣẹ l’ogun iṣẹ
Mura s’iṣẹ ọrẹ mi
Iṣẹ la fi ń d’eni giga…
(Work is the cure for poverty
Be diligent, my friend
It is through work we rise…)
The poem reminds us: what is not earned through toil seldom lasts. Your arm is your kin; your elbow, your sibling. Do not trade the dignity of labour for the fleeting smiles of the world.
And though education, too, elevates, its value is unlocked only with seriousness and purpose.
Half a word is enough for the wise.
Let Adégbòrò’s journey remind us all: true elevation begins where comfort ends.
About Òkun Reporters:
We believe in stories that shape character and community. For more narratives that inspire, visit www.okunreporters.com.ng.
About The Author
