A snacks seller in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, has become a millionaire overnight after her story appeared in a newspaper, thus attracting meaningful attention from a top government official who initiated a move to better her lot. The moving story of Anna James as appeared in today’s edition of Leadership Sunday reads thus:

“Last week, Leadership Sunday featured the story of Anna James, the struggling youth who sells snacks at the Utako market in Abuja to make a living while saving up money that will enable her pursue her dream of studying microbiology at the university.

“While the story was written to portray the life of a struggling girl who would rather sell snacks than bend her back to the degradation that some girls would rather choose, fortune smiled at Anna James, when the director general of National Orientation Agency (NOA) became interested in her story.

“The DG, Omeri Mike, one of those given the national honour by President Goodluck Jonathan as the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), said he got interested in Anna’s story because it portrayed the value of dignity in labour, the value that brought him to the position he is at the moment.

“Thankful for the honour he received, he decided to honour Anna James for portraying the value of dignity in labour.

“The DG at a reception to mark the celebration of his award in Abuja on Monday, September 29, 2014 spoke well of Anna and narrated her story to the hearing of the dignitaries who graced the occasion.

“He made a donation of N200,000 to Anna for her to process with her admission and go back to school. Also, the Minister of State for Power, Alhaji Mohammed Wakil, supported the donation with N300,000, while two other people donated N200,000 and N300,000 respectively, cumulating into one million naira that Anna received.

“And so, Anna James’ story changed from that of a common snacks seller to a millionaire overnight.

“Anna said she got a call on Sunday evening after the story was published to attend a function as a special guest to the DG-NOA and while she was scared at first to attend, she honoured the invitation, adding that at the event, she was given a special seat and treated like a VIP.

“When asked how she felt about the honour and the donations, she could not hold back her joy and excitement, as she prayed that God will bless the DG and all those who contributed to making her life a better one.”

•Photo shows NOA DG, Mike Omeri, whose intervention has dramatically changed the life of Anna James.

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