by Jewel Stephen
YNaija has set up a trust fund, calling on well-meaning Nigerians to join in recognising the uncommon act of honesty demonstrated by Josephine Agwu, the cleaner who returned the sum of N12million misplaced at the main terminal of the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
Josephine, who earns a N7,500 monthly salary grabbed the headlines earlier this month when she decided to do the right thing by holding in safekeeping the
money said to belong to Obinna Samuel, one of the thousands of passengers who utilize the international gateway daily.
There are reports that the Lagos State House of Assembly made attempts to reward Josephine’s act of honesty but she recently told reporters that she “is yet
to hear from them”, neither is she aware of their plans for her.
Josephine has reportedly exhibited similar acts by returning huge amounts of money misplaced at the airport before now. According to her: “People should appreciate what they have. People do a lot of bad things because they are not happy with what they have. With the little I earn, I try to manage it well. If I can’t manage that small money that I earn, even if I begin to earn N1 million, I will still not know how to manage it.”
“So, I am telling every Nigerian to be happy in any situation they find themselves. Don’t be faster than your shadow because so many things will go wrong. Sometimes things get bad because people want to be like others.”
Her sense of patriotism and responsibility has also attracted the attention of several notable Nigerians including Former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili, who willingly donated a sum of N50,000 to encourage Josephine.
“I think she should be rewarded for her honesty. The least we can all do is make her a shining example so that many others who find themselves in her shoes will
know that honesty indeed pays,” she said.
The trust fund set up by YNaija will gather funds from interested Nigerians in a bid to improve the welfare of the airport cleaner who, through her singular act, may have started a nationwide revolution of honesty.
