Chinyere, the mother of a final-year student of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State, has explained why she presented her son, Promise Okoro, with a goat during his department’s sign-out ceremony.

The unusual gift was captured in a video that later went viral, showing Chinyere arriving with the goat and presenting it to her son amid cheers from students before embracing him.

Chinyere, speaking with BBC News Pidgin, said the goat was her way of celebrating Promise for making her proud, following her instructions and avoiding cultism throughout his studies.

She said she had earlier promised to surprise her son if he successfully completed his education without disappointing her.

“I don’t have money for a 4matic jeep, and I love that guy, my son. I said, let me buy this goat as a gift.

“When he was going to school, I told him not to affiliate himself with cultism and to make me proud by not dropping out. I told him that if he made me proud, I was going to surprise him. He didn’t disappoint me.

“He has been respectful to the family and everyone. He’s a footballer, and I want to prove my love for him. That is why I bought the goat for him.”

Chinyere disclosed that she paid N120,000 for the goat, adding that she was prepared to spend more to keep her promise to her son.

“I bought the goat for N120,000. I said even if it is N200,000, I will try my best to see that I come with that goat,” she said.

The mother also described the reaction of the students when she arrived at the ceremony with the animal.

“As I was walking, they (students) were screaming. I was happy, and I knew my son too was,” she added.

Promise, meanwhile, said he initially misunderstood what was happening after hearing his coursemates shouting “say yes”.

“It was one of my coursemates that called me because I thought it was an engagement serenade because people in the vicinity were screaming, ‘say yes.’

“So I was surprised for her to even call me to come and see my mum because she brought a goat. I was asking if she knew my mum because I wasn’t convinced.

“I came, happy and deeply emotional. I wasn’t ashamed. I was extremely happy. I am not even ashamed in school; why then would I be ashamed of my mum or her action?” (Vanguard)