“AMBITIOUS BOY”

PLOT: The story is a biting satire that bedevil our modern society. It is a proof
of the fact that determination is a factor or key to success. Uduak the son of
chief and Mrs. Esuaiko was presented as the protagonist and a comic hero of the
novel. He was the last of the children of his parents. He gained admission into
primary school so late because of the financial background of his parents.

It was with the help of Dr (Mrs) Usen who granted him scholarship through his
primary and secondary school that he succeeded in his education. His father
was a responsible man but lost his job due to his honesty.

Uduak’s determination was a great one. He refused to follow bad friends and
God was with him through his university education. He graduated as a Medical
Doctor and was offered automatic job after his NYSC; he made his parents and
sponsor proud.

Chief Esuaiko was later in life crown the chief secretary of his kingdom. Emen
their second daughter got married to a responsible man and life turn around for
good to the entire family except for their first son Otue kong who was expelled
from the university due to poor academic performance.

CHARACTERIZATION

Uduak (The ambitious boy):

He was presented as the protagonist and comic hero of the novel. He was the
last of the four children of chief Esuaiko. He got admission into primary school
very late because of the financial background of the parent’s family.

He was so focused and determined and has to pay the price to succeed in life.
He was so happy when he was admitted. He was sponsored through primary

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and secondary school by Dr (Mrs) Sade Usen. He studied medicine at the
Ekondo State University. He graduated as a medical doctor, served in
metropolitan city of Jos and was retained at the General Hospital there in Jos.
He brought joy, happiness and fulfilment to his family.

Chief Esuaiko:

He was the father of Uduak. He worked as a confidential secretary in the

department of OTM, Ekondo State Polytechnic but was sacked for honesty and
integrity he exhibited against the wish of his HOD. He suffered untold hardship
and that was what delayed Uduak’s admission.

God later changed his story by giving him another job as a crown chief
secretary to his kingdom and life turned around for him. Dr. Sade Usen took
over the sponsorship of his last born Uduak who graduated and was employed
as a medical doctor and made the family proud.

Emen:

She was Uduak’s elder sister. She was also a determined and well-behaved girl.
She kept ringing the bell of encouragement on the ears of her parents especially
her mother. She went through some hard time of sexual molestation in the
hands of some boys but kept moving with life. God later blessed her with a
responsible husband in the person of Temitope and they lived happily.

Dr (Mrs) Sade Usen:

She was presented as a humanist and philanthropist in the kingdom. She was
the community leader in charge of education matters. She single-handedly
sponsored Uduak through primary and secondary school. She rendered selfless
services to her community. She was also a lecturer at Ekondo State University.

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 She was once kidnapped at the front of the university gate and suffered in the
hand of the abductors but was later released after some days. She was self-
fulfilled when Uduak her benefactor graduated as a full medical doctor. She
was a responsible and prudent woman well respected by everyone in her
community.

Temitope:

He graduated as a civil engineer from the University of Uyo. He was a brilliant

student in school that made him to gain popularity in the campus. He got
married to Emem and they both lived happily and God blessed them with a kid.

THEMES IN THE NOVEL

Determination and Focus: Uduak, the ambitious boy was so determined and
focus. He did not allow what happen to his elder brother (Otue kong) to happen to
him. Emem was also a determined girl. All the character that exhibited
determination succeed in the story.

Hard work: characters like Uduak, Emem, Temitope, Chief and Mr. Esuaiko were
hardworking people. At the end of the story all the hardworking people were hand
solely rewarded with good success.

Honesty & Reward of Honesty:

Chief Usuaiko exhibited high level of honesty especially in discharging of his duty
as the confidential secretary of the department of OTM in Ekondo State
Polytechnic. He was sacked because he refused to compromise his integrity. He
suffered untold hardship but was later rewarded with another job as a chief
secretary to his kingdom.

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Uduak, Emem, Temitope and Dr (Mrs) Sade Usen were all honest people and they
enjoyed the positive reward of honesty at the end of the story.

Philanthropy / Humanity:

Dr (Mrs) Sade Usen was presented as a replica of a philanthropist and a humanist.

She sponsored many young people in her community by giving them scholarship
to complete their primary and secondary schools. Many people in her community
including the state university sympathized with her when she was kidnapped. The
school went on strike for her sake. The entire community was turned upside down
for her sake. All the kidnappers had no option than to report themselves to the king
at the end of the day it pays to be a humanist.

Education:

Uduak, Musa, Paulo, Emem, Temitope were lovers of education. They did what it
takes to pass through their university education. They all studied hard while in
school and they succeeded in life. Dr. Mrs. Sade usen was also a lover of education
to the point of making it a duty to sponsor some young people in her community
through some levels of education.

Love:

Chief Esuaiko and his wife loved their children so much that despite their poor
financial state, they still trained them in school. Dr Mrs. Usen loved the children of
her community that she offered them scholarship to go to school. Temitope was
passionately in love with Emem and they later got married.

Marriage: The marriage between Chief Esuako and his wife was blessed with four
children and they were in cordial love throughout the story. See also the marriage

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between Dr. Mrs. Sade Usan and her husband was a blessing full of passion,
respect and success. The marriage between Engineer Temitope and Emem was also
characterized with tight love and blessing.