Nigeria, March 17 -- I write this from a point of pain and gratitude. Pain because of the death of a hard working and honest man, Rotimi Olaleye, who is both a great father, as attested to by his children who he has been taking care of single-handedly since his wife died about five years ago, and an honest and diligent auto mechanic, as confirmed by his clients, including me. We met less than a week before his death, but he left an unforgettable impression on me, even in death.

Gratitude? I, my wife and first child were less than 10 seconds away from where Mr Olaleye was when the fire that took his life occurred.

Let me start from the beginning. I met Mr Olaleye on 8 March, following a need to change my mechanic. I was introduced to him...