Why I gifted my son a goat on sign-out day — Mother

Chinyere, a mother of a final-year student at the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State, disclosed the reason behind gifting her son, Promise Okoro, a goat during his department’s sign-out ceremony. This act, which was captured in a widely shared video, elicited cheers from fellow students as Chinyere presented the goat to her son and embraced him.

In an interview with BBC News Pidgin on Monday, Chinyere explained that the goat was a reward for Promise's commendable behavior, including his adherence to her instructions and his avoidance of involvement in cultism. She had promised to surprise him upon his successful completion of his studies without falling short of her expectations.

Despite not having the financial means for a modern vehicle like a 4matic jeep, Chinyere chose to gift the goat to her son as a token of her love and appreciation for his achievements. She spent N120,000 on the goat, willing to pay even more if necessary to fulfill her commitment. Upon seeing the goat, Promise initially assumed that his classmates were summoning him for an engagement ceremony due to the loud cheers.

However, he was pleasantly surprised when he realized that his mother had brought the goat as a gift. Promise expressed his joy and emotional reaction to his mother's gesture, emphasizing that he was not ashamed of her action or of herself. The video of the mother presenting the goat to her son quickly gained traction online, garnering admiration from Nigerians who praised her for celebrating her son's academic milestone in a distinctive and heartfelt manner.