From Street Boy to A University Graduate: How Dr Betta Edu Transformed Life of Her Personal Photographer

 

By Rasheed Olanrewaju 

When the legendary Irish Catholic Nun, Mother Theresa who spent her life caring for the poor and downtrodden in the slums of Calcutta, India, made her popular quote, "Spread love everywhere you go. Let everyone you meet feel your love radiating and overflowing within you", she probably was referring to the former Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation,  Dr Betta Edu.This is because how Dr Edu systematically  transformed the life of her personal photographer, Smart Agbor Edim,from being a street boy to a professional lens man and then a University graduate perfectly aligns with Mother Theresa's assertion.

 Note that Dr Edu is not related to Smart or had a prior acquaintance with him or his family before accepting him as a personal photographer and then going ahead to ensured he acquired University education.

Dr Edu, a humanitarian per excellence, whose hobbies are touching lives, developing human capitals and  building people was known by many for her empathy and compassion for vulnerable people right from her days as the Vice President of the Student Union Government,(SUG),University of Calabar.

Her appointment as the Director-General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency after serving as the Special Adviser to the then Cross River state Governor, Professor Ben Ayade on Community Health opened another vista for many beneficiaries of her benevolence. 

Smart Agbor Edim who is now a fresh graduate of the University of Cross River state, (UNICROSS)was one of such beneficiaries.

To him ,the immediate past Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, is an Angel sent by God to turn his life around for good.

Edim who was a personal photographer to Dr Edu when she was the Director-General of Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, CRSPHCDA,has since become a son and member of the former APC Nnational women leader's immediate family.

In an emotion-laden note, Edim recalled  how on November 14th, 2017 he became the former Humanitarian Minister's personal photographer and how she had later insisted he needed to acquire more skills in photography and then further his education.The then CRSPHCDA DG had subsequent purchased Joint Admission and  Marticulation Board (JAMB) Examination form for him and as the saying goes, the rest is now history.

Recalls Agbor, in a short note entitled, "A Thank You Message To Dr Betta Edu" : "...On the 14th of November, 2017 I was asked by one Mr Kingsley to come and work with you as your personal photographer. Prior to this time, I had never met you and had no idea who I was coming to work for. I simply obliged because I was told you are a nice person. We met and that same day I started working for you while you were Director General, CRSPHCDA. 

"As usual, you called me one day and said “SMART you need to go to school and that I should go pick JAMB Form”, I obeyed and to cut the whole story short, Five (5) years now after you gave that matching order, I am pleased to announce to you that your BOY is a bonafide graduate, from the very prestigious University of Cross River State"

The appreciative young man went on to heap effusive praises on Dr Edu for changing his life, describing her as a true a mother who exuded empathy, compassion and love: 

"I want to sincerely thank you for everything. Thank you for making working with you seemless. Thank you for supporting me financially and paying all my fees through school. Thank you for the numerous trainings and many encouragement and opportunities you provided for my family , thus making me excel in every facet of my life. And also thank you for all the times you tolerated my excesses and showed motherly empathy and compassion. Indeed you are the best Ma. 

"You have indeed left a indelible mark in my life and I will forever remain grateful even in death. 

Reacting, Dr Edu described Smart as "My Son and just of  one out of numerous people that God has used  me to  changed their lives"

Speaking further, Dr Edu said: "I am very happy for Edim, he is a dedicated and hardworking  young man,who takes his acquired  skills seriously.

"Despite his tight schedule on the job functions,he combined it with his academics and today ,he's a graduate.The sky is his starting point" 

Smart Agbor Edim,  

has been a personal photographer to Dr Betta Edu for eight years and has followed her for official duties within and outside Nigeria.