Dr. Obiosa Olisa: An unusual kind.

One day, as I strolled with him into the medical hostel, he met a lady who wasn’t looking too happy, and in his usual character and with so much concern, he asked her what the matter was. I can’t remember what she explained in detail, but the bottom line was that she didn’t have a mattress.

Obiosa Olisa told her to hold on, went to his room where about 6 of us were squatting with him then, rolled up the mattress we were managing, and took it to Aunty’s room!

Just like that!

Of course, I didn’t feel any offence or surprise at all. We had all come to understand who Obiosa was and how he operated. We knew he could do the same thing and more for any of us. His personality had rubbed off so much on us that we had started acting the same way.

(By the way, he somehow got another mattress for us by the next day. I don’t know how he did it.)

Those days in the Medical Hostel, University of Benin, if you were ever assigned to his room as his roommate, just immediately begin to look for another accommodation, because that room will in a short while, become where anyone who had accommodation problem could come and stay.

At a time we were almost ten students using his room as a base!

Once Bro Obiosa heard you had accommodation issues, his next words would be “Come stay my side na!” (Forget that while saying this he probably had like 6 people there already. Lol!).

I have never met a man as humble, selfless, kindhearted, and ever-ready to sacrifice for another like Dr. Obiosa Olisa. A true ‘Christian’ in deed and character.

While others teach in words, Obiosa was a leader who taught with actions.

How many of his stories of selflessness can I begin to talk about?

(I hope a few who have stories of similar encounters with him can share them here to show how amazing a human being he is.)

Happy Birthday my very senior and respected Egbon ‘Bros Obi’. You know how much I love and cherish you. You impacted and continue to impact me so strongly.

Thank you for all the Years of love and care.

I will still surprise you one day.