On the 24th of April, KAA, a passionate reader and writer, made headlines among friends by spending over One Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira shopping for books. Some assumed he must have an excess of money to afford such a purchase, but for him, it was never about having spare cash. One of the people who accompanied him stood in shock, openly questioning if something was wrong with him for making what seemed like an outrageous decision. He simply could not understand why anyone would not only build a new bookshelf for over Three Million Naira but also spend another fortune filling it with books.
Another friend, Ogbaga Ogba Immanuel, quickly explained to the surprised onlooker that this was KAA’s yearly tradition. Every year, without fail, he invests heavily in books. It is a commitment he believes separates those who consistently stay ahead from those who remain stuck. According to him, intelligence and knowledge come from continuous learning, while ignorance often stems from choosing not to grow in a world overflowing with information.
KAA shared a story from 2010 to drive home his point. After receiving N20,000, he was left with N15,000 the next day. Without hesitation, he decided to use every naira left to buy books. It was never about how much money he had; it was always about setting the right priorities. In his words, real growth comes from choosing learning and self-improvement over mere survival.
He challenged everyone to reflect on their habits. What are you doing to stay ahead? How are you upgrading yourself? What sacrifices are you willing to make for knowledge? For him, these are the questions that shape futures.
Interestingly, KAA pointed out that among his large collection, motivational books are rare. He has never relied on external encouragement to keep moving forward. In his view, if your energy depends on someone else’s motivation, you risk burning out when no one is around to cheer you on. True strength, he believes, comes from pushing forward even when the world is silent, when pain is loud, and when there seems to be no reason to continue except your own belief in what lies ahead.
His story is a powerful reminder that the fight for success is often lonely, silent, and invisible, but those who stay on their feet, even in the darkest moments, eventually find their place ahead of the crowd.
