Nigerian contemporary Christian singer, Frank Edwards, has taken to his Instagram page to share an inspirational story of how he survived as a child by selling ‘Okpa’ (a delicacy popularly known in the eastern part of Nigeria) for ten years with his mother.
The Enugu state born singer, 28, who shared the post to inspire and advice people about waiting for God’s time, stated that all the difficulties people go through before they succeed is like a training for the future.
In the post, Edwards who revealed that he sold Okpa for ten years, stated that his experience at the time made him familiar with business strategy and dealing with customers, adding that his experience gave him training for the future.
Edwards revealed that his mom made the okpa daily and he had to sell it with her. He explained further that his eyes became permanently red due to the damaged caused when he fanned the flames of his mother’s cooking.
He expressed that even though his eyes are permanently red, the experience he gained in the past made him who he is in business today.
“You see this here it’s called okpa. My mum was making it and we were both selling it, this was my breakfast and dinner everyday.
The process of making it was ridiculous. My mom used fire wood and I was the one fanning the fire because kerosene was luxury.. So I had smoke entering my eyes 5 hours everyday for over 10 years except Sundays.
My eyes were always Red until it became permanent then I started having eye problem because I was always rubbing my eyes with dirty hands trying to clear the smoke. I didn’t understand why my vision was blurred, my mum had same issue too with her eyes, regardless we still hit the road to sell.
BUT GUESS WHAT THAT WAS WHEN I DEVELOPED A STRONG & NATURAL BUSINESS MINDSET, I KNEW A LOT ABOUT MONEY EARLY, I KNEW HOW TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO BUY.
I KNEW THAT SMOKE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO STOP ME, I KNEW THE ONES THAT BUY ON CREDIT AND NEVER PAY SO I ONLY GO TO THEM WHEN THE MARKET IS SO BAD BECAUSE ITS BETTER TO SELL ON CREDIT THAN TO HAVE IT SPOIL..
WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH TODAY IS TRAINING , THOUGH IT MAY LOOK LIKE SUFFERING BUT ITS TRAINING , DON’T LOOK FOR EASY WAY OUT , GO THROUGH IT AND COME OUT TOUGHER!!!
Though today I have permanent red eyes to the point when some ppl see me they ask “Do you smoke” I’m like God forbid! sometimes it hurts , most times I laugh because I’m like. .
IF ONLY YOU KNOW “ but how ever I am a happy man and I have enough pages in my book of testimony to encourage my children.
Very inspiring story.