Our life as humans is indeed like a journey to nowhere. From birth the struggle begins and never ends until the ultimate tragic end – death. Where thus do all the struggles to succeed, to be healthy, to be wealthy, to have a family, and in fact to attain all other so-called goods of life lead to? They lead to nowhere?
Therefore, our lives appear to be a struggle unto nothing. Humanity seems a group of helpless men and women surrounded by adversities – both present and possible – and condemned irreversibly to death, with each awaiting their turn to walk into the gallows.
In such a miserable existence, the only thing that matters thus becomes how much we can stick together to offer comfort to each other amidst all troubles relentlessly haunting us, and provide succour in the midst of all agonies we have come to live with. This is LOVE. This is the only thing that matters when all others fail. Yes, there are troubles, afflictions, and miseries – but love is the tonic that cures them all. “Love conquers all (omnia vincit amor),” said the great Roman poet, Virgil. Love provides the ultimate succour amidst the pains of life. Where there is love, therefore, life becomes much less painful and hostile. In recognition of this eternal truth, Pauline theology thus declares that there are three things that will last forever; faith, hope, and love – but the greatest of the three is LOVE (I Corinthians 13:13).
The above meditation has stuck to my mind since Saturday, November 8, 2025, the day of the recent Anambra governorship election. I had gone to cast my ballot at a polling unit close to where I lived previously. This was my neighbourhood and I know a lot of people here, so the temptation to walk around and greet old faces was there but my greatest motivation, however, was to see someone who owns a provision shop close to another polling unit near the one I voted at. When I got to the shop, I didn’t see her, but saw the little daughter attending to customers. I decided to call her on phone, but as I made to dial the number, behold her approaching from the right direction and calling my name excitedly. We hadn’t seen for at least two years.
Onyimowo (fondly called Onyi) was looking somewhat bigger and had lost her hair. That was a result of chemotherapy, that cancer treatment that is often harsh on the body. We walked straight into her shop for more private conversations. She showed me her test results and told me how treatment had gone so far.
Onyi had made a WhatsApp voice note to me days earlier informing me that she is billed for a surgery to remove cancer tissues from her left breast. She was diagnosed with this cancer and doctors at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, have warned that further delay could lead to the disease spreading to the right breast. Of course that doesn’t end there; the metastatic behaviour of cancer is such that it can ultimately spread to other organs – usually starting with the liver, in the case of breast cancer. Thus, the surgery must happen now, but the obstacle is fund.
Onyi is visibly agonized! She lost her husband three years ago when she was just 36, and now having to fend for three children herself – and now this additional burden. Her frustration was obvious when she lamented before me, “God why didn’t you have me infected with HIV instead of this breast cancer?” She now has to endure excruciating pains some nights and which are being managed with pain relievers. Her blood pressure has spiked necessitating daily check.
For the first time, I am using this platform to appeal to my willing readers to come to aid of a needy person. Let us rally round this young widow and mother of three kids who wants to live for her children. Her enquiry from other cancer patients at the hospital indicates that the surgery will cost something in the region of N500, 000. Of course, there will be a liver function test before the surgery as well as post-surgical treatment including radiation therapy.
Anyone who is touched to offer a helping hand may send whatever they have (no amount is too small, as even N1, 000 from 500 readers will do the magic). Her bank details are as follows: ACC NO.: 2133747650; BANK: United Bank for Africa (UBA); ACC NAME: Ekwunyi Rose Onyimowo. One may also reach her on call or WhatsApp chat via +234-803-923-4979.
Thanks as you respond to this clarion call for succour.
Beyond the appeal I have made here, each one of us, whenever we look around us, must see where to give a helping hand as humanity struggles with its many adversities, pains, and burdens. Let our hand be always willing to help – through material giving, words of encouragement, labour etc., so that the world will be a better place.
This is my meditation and appeal this midweek.
Henry Chigozie Duru, PhD, teaches journalism and mass communication at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
