- Kingsley Joseph, 11-year old boy stole the show at Annual Aba Fashion week
- Adidas recognized him, made the sachet water seller youth Ambassador
- Umu Aba Club took over his academic career sponsorship
For the family of Kingsley Joseph of Izzi local government area of Ebonyi state, December 9th 2023 will never be forgotten in a hurry.
It was the day their family story changed for better after years of living in abject poverty that forced their children, including Kingsley to drop out from primary four.
The annual Aba Fashion Week organized by Fashion mogul, Ugomdi Ogbonna was billed to take place that sunny Saturday in Aba in Abia state.
According to the organisers of the event, the Fashion Week which usually comes up few days before Christmas every is aimed at showcasing the fashion ingenuity of the Aba fashion designers and probably attract investors in the industry.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that Kingsley, like every other child of his age bracket and social status went to the venue of the event to catch fun and probably beg for alms from some individuals who attended the function.
He was also said to be a sachet water vendor after being dropped from primary four.
So, adorned in washed out red Adidas polo, jeans knicker and torn red rubber slippers, an attire synonymous with his type, Kingsley set out for the Fashion week that would change his life for better.
However, standing in the midst of hundreds of other observers, admiring the red carpet prepared for Very Important Personalities, VIPs, the 11-year old boy noticed that there is something common between the colour of his worn out Adidas polo and that of the rug used for VIPs red carpet show.
Pushed by this similarity, Kingsley, a primary four school drop out, stepped out from where he has been covered by other observers and took bold steps into the VIPs red carpet show with unique walking show.
As he was been cheered by other spectators for walking through the VIPs’ red carpet, he was overheard saying that he himself is also a VIP.
He repeated that he is also a VIP and deserved to walk on the red carpet meant for the Governor.
Our source revealed that Kingsley Joseph actually stole the show in the event.
He was the most outstanding personality in the event, and without him, many people would not have known that there was such an event in Aba.
In any case, some of the participants in the event who knew the academic history of the boy, approached him and promised to sponsor his education career, having dropped out from primary school as a result of his parents financial incapacitation.
However, few minutes after the incident, the Adidas company contacted the organiser of the event to look for the boy for them.
Our reporter also gathered that when he was eventually located by Adidas, the company actually made him their Ambassador with an undisclosed promotion contract deal.
Umuaba connect Club also remembers Kingsley
By and large, in a statement released by Umu Connect Club, Aba, the Association expressed their willingness to partner with the 11-year old boy.
The statement which was signed by the club’s president, Chima Anyaso read thus;
“Aba Runway Boy was welcomed by our president Dr. Chima Anyaso and the executives of Umuaba connect Association and was introduced to the members of the club during our end of the year event at intercontinental hotel in Victoria island Lagos.
“The event was a one night lodge event sponsored by the club in other to review and adopt our constitution and also give the members an opportunity to come together and merry.
“As part of our giving back policy, the Aba Runway Boy was asked some questions by the members of the club about his family background, what brought him to Aba, what he is presently doing to survive, what he would like Umuaba connect association to do for him towards achieving his dream.
“He responded that he would like to be an entertainer. This was acknowledged by the group and it was suggested that he will have to acquire knowledge by going to school.
“Umuaba connect association unanimously agreed that we will take him through school at any level of his choice either local or international. After that funds was raised towards the welfare of the Aba Runway Boy.”
Meanwhile the young boy has said that he would like to become an entertainer.