Gbadebo was his surname but people often called him by the shortened form, 'Mr Gbade'. He was born in the interior part of lagos. He had his primary education at Abeokuta and was known for his brilliant academic performance in the grammar school He attended in his home town. He later married one Miss Kolajo, a beautiful girl born of a noble family in the same town.
The Gbade family was not particularly rich but his parents were able to give him sound education, at least, judging by the standard of his time in his town. As for his wife's parents, it was a big contrast. Her father was almost the wealthiest man in the town and her mother was the president of the Cloth Sellers Association of the town.
Mr Gbade and his wife left for lagos after their marriage in the early fifties and he was employed to work in a commercial bank in lagos, where he rose 🌹 to the rank of a cashier. His wife, having left the secondary school about four years after her husband, joined a commercial house, on her arrival in lagos. As a sales clerk.
Soon after they both got to lagos, they had their first baby. It was a male, Between the date of their marriage and the end of the fifth years, they had got three children in the family in quick succession. It was a happy family all through.
Considering the high cost of living in lagos and his meagre salary as a bank cashier, Mr Gbade confided in his wife of his intention to leave lagos for an oversea country where it would be easy for him to further his education. 'I raise no objection to any move that will bring us progress; I know it is all for the good of the family', replied the wife in a very humble and submissive way, characteristics of a well brought up woman who has high respect for her husband.
A month after this, Mr Gbade began to make all necessary arrangements for his adventure overseas in search of the 'golden fleece'. His wife's parents took interest in this venture, and in no time, they secured him a passport. His own family had not got much money for such an elaborate endeavour, but it was almost certain that money wouldn't be a problem.
'I'II go and discuss the problem of finance with my father and I'm sure he will be prepared to help', said Mrs Gbade, submissively.
Soon after this, she travelled to Abeokuta to discuss the matter with her father who did not hesitate to give to her daughter substantial sum of money to help. The Gbade family also withdrew an appreciable sum of money from their savings account to add to the amount of money given to them.
'I don't know how I can thank your parents enough for all they did, but I'm sure I'II one day be in a position to pay back their kind gesture', said Mr Gbade.
For months, the couple kept on preparing for the journey. The visa was obtained so also was the resident permit; and Soon afterwards, all other formalities were concluded. Three months before Mr Gbade's departure things were were as rosy as ever. He became the darling of the manager of the bank where he was working. People in the neighbourhood where they lived in Ebute-Meta liked them both more than before. His colleagues in his place of work started to show greater love and affection for Mr Gbadebo. His relatives saw his success at going overseas as a feat because in the early fifties going overseas was not as common as its is today. It was a novelty! A rarity, indeed.
There were three categories of students going overseas for further studies. The children of very poor parentage who risked their lives by going there without the hope of any help from anywhere. This type of students suffered a lot of hardships there. They had to combine studies with hardwork. They were almost invariably exposed to various dangers and ridicules, but usually they were dogged and determined. In the end, many of such students returned home with the 'golden fleece'. Although there were a few unfortunate ones who ended up in mental homes.
Another category of students who went overseas during this time was those who managed to win government scholarships. These students, sponsored by the government, experienced little or no hardships. Mose of them were brilliant students in their home country. They concentrated on their studies and spent very short time to attain their goals. Some of them, however, could misuse the opportunity and so end up failing their examinations.
The third category was those of very rich parentage. Their parents sent them overseas, and maintained them there throughout. These students wouldn't work. They were expected to fave their studies undisturbed since there were no financial constraints whatsoever. Mr Gbadebo happened to fall into this category. He had everything to give him enough comfort and happiness in American. His father in law was prepared to foot the bill. The wife was to stay back for some years before joining him, so that she could augment from other sources the money being sent to her husband.
The Gbade family was a happy one. There was no problem, financial or otherwise. Mr Gbadebo himself was a cool-headed husband. He was often seen strolling with his wife and children or sitting down quietly at home playing with his children. He loves his children so much that if he was away for an hour the children would badly feel his absence. Where fathers do not stay at home to showloce to their children, the children may not feel feel absence of such fathers. Children normally don't feel such absences. As for Mr Gbadebo, the reverse was the case. His wife loved him and, in return, he did not deny his wife any if her rights.
During the three month period preceding his departure, Mr Gbadebo experienced a number of interesting events. For, no mater how beautiful a thing may look like, there could not be some ugly aspects of it. All arrangements for Jo's accommodation in New York had been concluded. He was to stay first with the son of his uncle in law, Mr Kolajo, an engineering student in New York University, USA. Although he hadn't got any letter of admission at this time, yet there was every assurance from the university that the consideration had approval for his admission would be concluded before his arrival there.