Matthew

My dad celebrated his 70th birthday last week and I’ve experienced two of my worst lock-down hangovers so far.

It was worth it, we had an awesome all day family zoom call on the day of his birthday and an incredible zoom party a few days after with friends and family from all over the world giving my dad his flowers while he’s alive to receive them. It was beautiful (not least because 60+ year olds were able to navigate the tech without the help of children or grand children, hurray!).

The reason I’m writing about my dad here is because throughout his life he has been a near perfect example of the human capacity to learn, grow, fail and try, and it’s indescribably inspiring.

In the last few years he has rebuilt his family home in the village of Ogidi, Nigeria, and then not long after began a campaign to rebuild his old village primary school that has been left in ruins, denying local children an adequate place to learn. In less than a year he has raised almost twenty six thousand pounds.

On one hand this blows my damn mind, but on the other, it’s exactly what I should expect from him. It is without doubt that his determination to build and grow has so much to do with who I have become, and gives me the courage to take on this house build project.

Happy Birthday Daddy.