Reality
He sold popcorn outside UNILAG gate.
Every evening, 4pm to 9pm. Same spot for 6 years. Engineering students called him “Prof Popcorn.” Not to his face. Behind his back. Because he always asked them questions about physics while scooping popcorn. “If heat dey make kernel explode, why e no burn your hand for the bag?”
They laughed. He laughed too. Then went home to his one room in Bariga. Slept on a mat. Shared a bathroom with 12 people.
In 2019, a final year student forgot his wallet at the popcorn stand. Came back panicking. ₦18,000 inside. School fees balance. Prof Popcorn returned it. Complete. The boy told his dad.
His dad was an engineer at Dangote Refinery. “Bring that popcorn man. I want to see him.”
He showed up in his best shirt. Clean but faded. The engineer asked him one question: “You wey dey ask my son physics, you go school?”
“SSCE. I pass. No money for JAMB.”
The engineer hired him as a trainee technician. Sent him to Ibeju-Lekki. He lived on site. Watched. Learned. Asked 1000 questions. Got certifications. Got promoted.
Last December he stood in front of that same UNILAG gate. But he wasn’t selling popcorn. He was in PPE, commissioning a power unit the school bought from Dangote.
Three engineering students walked past. One said, “Omo, this refinery people dey make money o.”
He smiled. Scooped nothing. Just said, “Na heat dey make kernel explode. But na pressure make am become popcorn.”
Nobody recognized him.
Your current location is not your final destination.
Sometimes the gate you stand at is the same gate you’ll walk through.
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