A mother, Chinyere, has explained why she presented her son, Promise Okoro, with a live goat during his sign-out ceremony at the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State.
The unusual gift sparked reactions on social media after a video showing the mother arriving at the institution with the goat for her son went viral.
But Chinyere said the gesture was not a publicity stunt or an impulsive decision, explaining that it was a promise she made to her son before he commenced his tertiary education.
Speaking during an interview with BBC News Pidgin, she said she had promised to reward Promise if he stayed away from cultism, remained focused and successfully completed his studies.
According to her, her son kept his side of the bargain by graduating while also maintaining his involvement in football and playing the organ in church.
Chinyere said she decided to fulfil her promise despite not being able to afford an expensive gift such as a car.
“I don’t have money for a 4matic jeep, and I love that guy, my son. I said, let me buy this goat as a gift,” she said.
She disclosed that she bought the goat for N120,000, adding that she would have gone beyond that amount to fulfil the promise she made to her son.
Chinyere said she was delighted by the reaction of students when she arrived at the institution with the animal.
“As I was walking, they were screaming. I was happy, and I knew my son too was,” she said.
For Promise, however, the surprise initially appeared to be something entirely different.
The graduate said his colleagues’ chants and the commotion surrounding him made him suspect that he was about to be involved in a marriage proposal.
He said he was stunned when he discovered that the unexpected guest was his mother, who had come to present him with a goat.
“I was surprised for her to even call me to come and see my mum because she brought a goat. I was asking if she knew my mum because I wasn’t convinced,” Promise said.
Rather than feel embarrassed by the unusual graduation gift, Promise said he appreciated his mother’s gesture and was proud of her for fulfilling her promise.
“I wasn’t ashamed. I am not even ashamed in school; why then would I be ashamed of my mum or her action?” he said.
The video of the mother and her son at the sign-out ceremony has continued to attract attention online, with many Nigerians describing the gesture as an unusual but memorable way of celebrating an academic milestone.
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