The sun was setting over the small town of Olorunda, casting long shadows over Baba Tayo's sprawling estate. Despite the grandeur of his home, with its wide verandas and meticulously kept gardens, Baba Tayo found little comfort in the luxury he had accumulated over the years. The once-vibrant businessman, known throughout the region as a man of great wealth and even greater wisdom, now spent his days in quiet contemplation, pondering the future of the legacy he had built.
Sitting in his favourite armchair by the window, Baba Tayo gazed out at the horizon, where the sky blazed with the fiery hues of dusk. His thoughts drifted to the early days when he had nothing but ambition and a few coins to his name. Those were simpler times, filled with the excitement of building something from nothing, of seeing his hard work bear fruit. But now, as the twilight of his life approached, the weight of his fortune felt heavier than ever.
His eldest son, Kunle, had visited earlier in the day, talking excitedly about a new business venture he wanted to pursue. Kunle was always full of ideas, always pushing forward, eager to make his mark on the world. But Baba Tayo couldn’t shake the feeling that his son’s ambition might lead him down a dangerous path, one where the pursuit of wealth overshadowed everything else.
Yemi, his second child, was different. She had her mother’s heart, always thinking of others before herself. Yemi had suggested using a portion of the family’s wealth to build a hospital in Olorunda, a place where the poor could receive free medical care. Baba Tayo had always admired her compassion, but he worried that her idealism might be taken advantage of in a world that often preyed on the kind-hearted.
Then there was Tayo, his youngest, who had chosen a path far removed from the family business. Tayo had always been a free spirit, uninterested in the trappings of wealth. She had recently moved to a small village by the coast, where she spent her days teaching children and living a life of simplicity. Baba Tayo understood Tayo's desire for independence, but he couldn’t help but feel that she was running away from her responsibilities.
As the evening deepened, Baba Tayo sighed and leaned back in his chair, the burden of his decisions pressing down on him. He knew he had to make a choice soon, one that would determine not just the future of his wealth, but the future of his family. The legacy he left behind would not only be measured in naira and kobo but in the values he had instilled in his children and the way they chose to carry forward his name.
Baba Tayo closed his eyes, seeking solace in the silence of the twilight. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: the wealth he had spent a lifetime accumulating was not the sum of his legacy. His true wealth lay in the hearts and minds of his children, in the lessons he had taught them, and in the love he hoped would bind them together long after he was gone.
