Breaking: Governor Uzodinma Adopts Nine-Year Old On Father’s Day

By Charles Igbo

Succour, finally, came the way of nine year old Oluomachi Joseph Opara , a street hawker, street singer, with an unbelievable, soronous, Angelic voice.

And, it couldn’t have come to him on a better day.   It was Father’s Day, a Sunday dedicated to appreciate fathers, and honour them.Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, on this special day,  played the fatherly role to the  hilt.

He adopted the nine-year- old as his own child, with all the privileges attached to a Governor’s son.

Oluomachi had stunned the world in a viral video, recorded of him, singing, while on his hawking duty. Obviously from a very lowly background, he helps feed his family by hawking every fruit in season – mango, pear, orange, pawpaw, pineapple.

But he is an extraordinarily gifted child. His voice is a combination of sweetness and honey. It carried power too. Watching him sing, one is, at once, sad and happy. A  combination of sadness and joy. Joy, because of the sweetness of his voice, and sadness because of his situation.

Wearing a not-too-clean Tee shirt on an also not- too-clean- short knicker, and rubber slippers, he always had his tray of ”wares” well-balanced on a head rest gingerly placed on either his head or, on the floor while he  sang.

It is not known how he was discovered, but for a paltry N50, he sang, and had become quite popular around the area he hawked.

But the day he was videod by a passer-by who have him the usual  N50, was his lucky day.

When the video was uploaded, it broke the internet. His father’s phone number was attached, as well as that of the person who videod it.

As the video went viral, many people offered to help. The offer came in like claps of thunder. A couple of people posted messages  asking for his whereabouts, so as to offer scholarship.

From Senator Stella Oduah, came an offer of a full scholarship, and a slot in a music school.

But the lad, whose father is a painter, said he wanted to be a Roman Catholic Priest – a Rev. Fr. No wonder he was that good in singing goose-pimple-inducing Roman Catholic songs/ hymns. To train as a Rev. Fr. is an expensive venture. But God had a reward for him.

The video was uploaded a day to Father’s Day. And it caught the attention of Governor Uzodinma. He immediately reached out to the family. Making the offer public, the Governor  said:

“In celebration of Father’s day, I directed that little 9 year old Master Joseph Oluomachi Opara, the viral Imo State-born singer be contacted, as I announce my intentions to adopt him as my own child and to undertake, personally, to sponsor him from primary school level (his current educational level) to Catholic Priesthood (his career choice)

“Master Opara made waves in the internet at the weekend with videos of his unique rendition of some Catholic hymns/songs which marked him out as a specially talented kid singer. This attracted instant applause  and commendations from the public.

“I believe in harnessing skills and talents and grooming them to be of better use to mankind and to this end, I directed that the family, through the Imo State Commissioner for information, Hon. Declan Emelumba, be informed of my intention to adopt their son as my own child, and to personally take over the full responsibility of his training until he becomes a Reverend Father, which he said is his life ambition.

“It is my expectation and prayer that little Oluoma attains his full potentials in life.”