Lawyers at the closing moments of the just-concluded Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt were pleasurably surprised when announcements rang out from the public address system (PAS) asking whoever transferred N70,000 in error to a lady operating a Point of Sale (POS) service at the venue.

Mercy Bello Abu, South-South Coordinator of the Association of Nigerian Women Business Network (ANWBN), who is known as a women-led business development and sustainability specialist, said the lady named Chinasa Cynthia Okoro had N70,000 in her account that did not belong to her.

She went on: “The owner had already left Port Harcourt. He did not even know that the money had eventually reached her. She could have kept it. Instead, she went looking for him.

“This is the remarkable story of Chinasa Cynthia Okoro, a young POS operator and single mother in Port Harcourt, whose decision to return N70,000 has become a powerful lesson in integrity.”

The account added that during the NBA Conference in Port Harcourt, a lawyer who travelled from Abuja used Chinasa’s POS terminal for a N70,000 transaction. He was debited twice, while Chinasa initially did not receive the money.

“The barrister eventually left Port Harcourt, believing that the transaction had not gone through successfully. Later, Chinasa discovered that the N70,000 had entered her account. She could have kept quiet. But she said: “I cannot spend somebody’s money.”

Bello-Abu said Chinasa went looking for the owner. “She returned to the Stadium, where the NBA Conference was being held, and asked barristers she had become familiar with to help announce that someone who had used her POS had been debited twice and that she had now received the money and wanted to return it.

“They tried, but the barrister could not be found. Chinasa did not give up,” she said.

“According to the barrister, he later learnt that Chinasa and those assisting her had even gone to the NBA Secretariat in Port Harcourt to find out if anyone could provide a clue that would help them reach him. Still, they could not find him.

“When Chinasa returned home, she discussed the matter with her landlady. The landlady’s daughter suggested that they check the transaction receipt. They did. The receipt provided the barrister’s name. They searched for him online and discovered where he worked. They called his office.

“The barrister has since affirmed that when Chinasa called, he could not initially be reached through the office intercom. She pleaded with the receptionist to ask him to call her number.

“He did. That call finally connected Chinasa with the man whose money she had been trying so hard to return. The N70,000 was eventually returned to its rightful owner.”

Bello Abu, who is keen in grooming women entrepreneurs, asked people to think about this incident. She said: “Chinasa is a young POS operator working hard to make an honest living in Rumuosi, Port Harcourt. She is even also a single mother. For someone in her circumstances, N70,000 is not insignificant. Yet she chose integrity. She chose honesty. She chose character over personal gain. She chose to do the right thing when nobody was watching. This is not just a story about N70,000.

“It is a story about the kind of person we should celebrate. In a time when we often hear stories of dishonesty, Chinasa has reminded us that integrity is still alive. Let us support Chinasa.”

Continuing, the women supporter said Chinasa did not ask for a reward. She simply wanted to return money that was not hers.

“But people who demonstrate this kind of character deserve encouragement. If this story touches your heart, please consider supporting Chinasa’s small POS business and helping her build a stronger livelihood for herself and her child.”

Contacted, Bello Abu said: “Let us show Chinasa that integrity is not only noticed; it is appreciated. Chinasa, you could have kept the N70,000, but you chose to look for its owner. You chose to do the right thing. And that deserves to be celebrated. May your honesty open doors for you and your child that you never imagined.”

BusinessDay traced Chinasa through contacts. She is from Abia State. In a brief interview, she said: “Since that day that money was in my account, I did not know myself (peace). First, I don’t eat people’s money. No matter that I don’t have, the one I have is okay for me. Eating that man’s money will not do me any good. Rather, I will lose something in me.”

“I don’t see that money as anything, no matter that I don’t have. Collecting somebody’s sweat, I no go fit (I cannot do it). So, as I returned that money, my mind, my heart is at peace. I’m a free person now.”

She said she was very happy after returning that money. “Immediately we got the man’s contact, I was very, very happy to return that money. I’m telling you that I’m very, very happy to return that money. Now my mind is at peace. I don’t have anything in my mind again. The money has gone back to the man, so I’m very happy.”

Chinasa has big dreams. “I have a big dream, oh. Things around me are not going well yet, but I know one day God will open way, and I know God has already remembered me.”

Desire: Foodstuff business

If I can get capital, I would like to do foodstuff business. Yes. I grew up with somebody that does foodstuff business. So, if I see capital like now, I will handle business like foodstuff: frozen foodstuff, garri, rice, beans— all those things. I can do it. With God’s grace, I can do it.”

“Chinasa, who is both an orphan and single mother advised people never to eye whatever is not theirs. “Don’t eat it. You don’t know where God will bless you from.

“And my grandfather told me never to stop doing good. Not because of reward. So, anybody that knows that he is doing good, continue doing your good. Don’t wait till you get rewarded. One day, God will remember you and surprise you, as God has remembered me today by exposing my act. Continue to be honest. Be truthful to yourself.”

How Chinasa became a single mom:

A young man entered into her life few years ago, and made it look serious to the point of taking her to his home town. When pregnancy came, the man abandoned her, advising her to get rid of it, that he was not ready for marriage and child yet.

She said she did everything to get his support but as long as she did not get rid of the pregnancy, the man refused to be part of it. She said she had the baby eight months ago, a boy through Caesarean surgery but the man did not show up, did not help financially. “All my savings went into it. My business is now struggling.”

Despite this economic hardship and social difficulties, Chinasa kept tight to the N70,000, hunting for the owner, right faraway in Abuja, and never ready to pocket it.

Some dish out cruelty to others, some, like Chinasa, dish out kindness.

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