A mother identified as Chinyere has revealed why she presented her final-year son, Promise Okoro, with a goat during his department’s sign-out ceremony at the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State.
The unusual gift was captured in a viral video that showed Chinyere presenting the goat to her son before embracing him, while students cheered and celebrated the emotional moment.
Speaking to BBC News Pidgin on Monday, Chinyere explained that the goat was her way of rewarding Promise for making her proud, obeying her instructions and staying away from cultism throughout his time at the institution.
She said she had promised to surprise her son if he completed his studies without disappointing her.
According to her, she could not afford to buy him an expensive car, so she chose a goat as a meaningful gift to demonstrate her love and fulfil her promise.
“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.”
Chinyere added that Promise had remained respectful to his family and others, while also pursuing his passion for football.
She disclosed that she spent N120,000 to purchase the goat, insisting that she would have paid more to fulfil the promise she made 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 said she was delighted by the reaction of students as she walked towards her son with the animal.
“As I was walking, they (students) were screaming. I was happy, and I knew my son too was,” she added.
Promise, who was visibly surprised by the gesture, said he initially thought his coursemates were calling him to witness an engagement ceremony after hearing students shouting, “say yes”.
He said he was shocked when he eventually discovered that his mother had brought a goat to the school specifically for him.
“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.”
Promise said the gesture left him happy and emotional, adding that he felt no embarrassment over his mother’s unusual choice of gift.
“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?” he said.
The video of Chinyere presenting the goat to her son has since attracted reactions online, with many Nigerians praising the mother for celebrating her son’s academic achievement in an unconventional but memorable manner.
