Great Nkor's Miraculous Escape: An Extraordinary Survival Story

In 2003, at approximately 11 pm, Bethel-Praise Nkor, a father returning home from a church service, encountered a horrific accident that would forever change his family's life. Carrying a keg of fuel, he found his one-year-old son, Great Nkor, being cradled to sleep by a lady. As Bethel-Praise went to change out of his pastoral outfit, the power went out. He alerted whoever might turn on the generator that he had placed a petrol-filled keg beside it, urging caution. Moments later, flames erupted from a room. Naked, Bethel-Praise rushed towards the fire, initially thinking his children were downstairs. He found and rescued a boy named Joshua from a wardrobe, who was trying to escape the inferno. The lady who had been holding Great then frantically pointed into the room, where Great Nkor sat at the far end, surrounded by burning mattresses and curtains dripping over him. Bethel-Praise's factory fire training kicked in; he laid down to see through the smoke, then bravely jumped into the flames to grab his son. As he held Great's leg, the burnt skin peeled away, forcing him to cradle his child under the buttocks and tilt his head back. Stark naked, he ran down the staircase, screaming for car keys to rush Great to the hospital, while others brought clothes for him.

This traumatic event marked the beginning of an arduous journey for Bethel-Praise Nkor’s family. Great Nkor was first taken to the children’s hospital in Surulere, and Bethel-Praise later drove at midnight to the Nigerian Ports Authority Hospital to bring another doctor to assist. In the days that followed, Bethel-Praise and his wife began the challenging task of raising money for Great’s numerous surgeries and treatments. They faced immense difficulty and blame, with people questioning their care for a one-year-old child. Earning a meager six thousand naira himself, while his wife earned slightly more at a bank, their salaries were insufficient to cover the extensive medical costs. A doctor once confronted Bethel-Praise about using his son to raise money, eliciting an angry response from the father who was only striving to ensure his son received the best care.

Great Nkor ultimately underwent seventeen plastic surgeries across various countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom. A turning point came when someone brought Great’s story to MTN, the telecommunication company, which offered significant assistance. MTN sponsored most of Great’s plastic surgeries, including his treatments in South Africa, and made him a brand ambassador. This necessitated Great’s mother leaving her job at the bank to accompany him on his international travels for medical care.

Beyond the obvious charring and scars, Great’s hands and fingers were turned backward, restricting him to holding objects like a pen only with his thumbs. He couldn’t stand properly until his tendon was flexed and released. When it was time for Great to start school, one institution rejected him, stating he “would scare off other children.” Fortunately, a different school showed great interest, allowing him to begin his education. His parents continued to tirelessly source finances for treatments and surgeries, ensuring they coincided with school breaks to avoid disrupting his learning. They also faced exploitation, such as an NGO owner attempting to leverage Great’s story for personal gain. Moreover, Bethel-Praise recounted the painful memory of a colleague suggesting his wife should have poisoned Great so she could live a normal life, a sentiment that brought his wife home in tears.

Despite these challenges, Bethel-Praise and his wife were remarkably intentional about how Great would confront his past. They hired a photographer to document his progress and journey, knowing he would one day be curious about his burn. They collected newspaper clippings from features in the Guardian and the Sun, which occurred during his time as an MTN brand face, to preserve the narrative for his adulthood. Great Nkor became aware of his burn during primary school, but university truly opened his eyes to a resilient mentality: “people have eyes, they’re going to see, people have mouths, they’re going to talk, life goes on.” This philosophy has guided him ever since. Reflecting on his journey, Bethel-Praise proudly notes Great’s accomplishments, including becoming the second-best in a drum competition after his hands were straightened, and ironically, being the only one in the family with perfect eyesight, while everyone else wears glasses. Great's proactive attitude was further highlighted during a surgery in South Africa, where he approached strangers who were staring, to openly narrate his story, stating, “I believe there’s a reason why you’re still alive, and there’s a reason you’re still where you are. God’s not done.”

Great Nkor completed his primary education at Evron Nursery Primary School in Surulere and secondary education at Gloryland International College, where he consistently achieved top grades until a surgery required him to leave. He later transferred to another school, and went on to study Industrial Design at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, graduating in 2021. Today, he works at a bank and recently achieved viral fame on Instagram for self-challenging himself to earn $30,000 a month as a UGC creator. This post garnered over 950,000 views, more than 100,000 likes, and over 3,000 comments, showcasing his inspiring journey and entrepreneurial spirit.

Great’s story also provides a stark context for burn injuries in Nigeria. A 2023 study published by the Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice indicates that burn injuries account for 4.8% of trauma deaths in the country, leading to approximately 20,000 fatalities each year. Alarmingly, 44% of patients in this study were children aged 10 years or younger. While scalding from hot liquids was the most common cause among children, flame burns, like Great’s, were the most prevalent cause among all burn victims. A significant challenge faced by most burn survivors is the lack of access to specialized care, effective infection control, and timely treatment. As Bethel-Praise reflects on Great’s incredible journey, he remains deeply appreciative of his and his wife’s intentional and unwavering commitment to their son’s progress and survival.