“Every morning, he stood by the gate with a salute and a smile.”
He watched generations walk into the building.
Doctors. Engineers. Ambassadors.
But nobody ever asked for him.
Until the one girl he once protected from bullies…
Returned as the CEO — with his name on the invitation list.

The Security Guard Who Opened the Gate for 27 Years — One Day, He Was Asked Not to Open It… But to Walk Through It
Written by Rosyworld CRN

  1. Ikeja, Lagos.

Mr. Mfon Essien was the day gatekeeper at St. Lydia’s International School — an expensive school his own children could never attend.

He never missed a day of work.
Never complained.
Never raised his voice.
Just stood. Guarded. Saluted.
And helped little ones cross the road in the mornings.

He was the first to arrive.
The last to leave.
And the one person who never appeared in any school magazine or staff award list.

But one student never forgot him.

Her name was Temilade Fawole.
She was 10 when some boys tried to lock her in the toilet.
Mr. Mfon caught them.
Reported them.
Then stood by her class every lunch break for two weeks — to make sure she was never bullied again.

“Thank you, sir.”
“Just focus on your books, my pikin.”
She never forgot.

Years passed.
Temilade left for the UK.
She studied.
Worked.
Built a tech company.
And in 2023, she became the new owner of the same school she once attended — bought it through her company’s foundation.

She asked the management for one thing:

“Is Mr. Mfon Essien still alive?”

They said yes.
Still working.
Still at the gate.
Still in the same old shoes.

So, on the school’s 30th anniversary, he was invited — but not to stand outside.

The invitation was hand-delivered.
Golden envelope.
With these words:
“Today, the gate opens for you.”

He arrived in his cleanest shirt, confused.

When he stepped inside, the students stood.
The staff clapped.
And Temilade, now a grown woman in a blue power suit, took the mic:

“Everyone remembers who taught them.
But today, I want to honour the man who kept me safe…
Even when nobody else saw me.”

She walked to him and handed him a plaque, a ₦10 million cheque, and a deed to a three-bedroom bungalow.

He froze.
Tears rolled.
He knelt.
She pulled him up.

“You opened the gate for generations.
It’s time someone opened it for you.”

He wasn’t a teacher.
Wasn’t a principal.
Wasn’t in the yearbooks.
But he was in her story.

Because sometimes, the people who hold the smallest keys……. unlock the biggest legacies.
Lessons of Life For Those Who Reflect.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8rrrDWB/

Nigeria's Coat of Arms — Google Arts & Culture
Free flag nigeria africa illustration

KNOWLEDGE is POWERFUL. Please kindly share Newstime Worldwide website and videos with all your family and friends and contacts Worldwide, thanks. Almighty GOD continue to bless you always.

Please kindly also follow Newstime Worldwide on

INSTAGRAM

TIKTOK

TWITTER

FACEBOOK

LINKEDIN

YOUTUBE

TUMBLR

PINTEREST

MEDIUM

www.newstimeworldwide.com

Join Mr. Tony Oyatedor Weekly on Adure Radio

DISCLAIMER!

Newstime Worldwide is not responsible for external websites’ content.

DAVE’S SEAFOOD

IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU ARE READING AT NEWSTIME..,

PLEASE KINDLY LET US KNOW, IF THERE IS SOMETHING WE COULD BE DOING BETTER, WE WILL LIKE TO KNOW THAT TOO.

PLEASE KINDLY SEND US YOUR COMMENTS, QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS. THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME AND TROUBLE TO READ NEWSTIME WORLDWIDE.

 

NEWSTIME STAFF AND MANAGEMENT.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *