A Nigerian man has shared the heartbreaking story of a colleague who reportedly refused to take annual leave for 17 consecutive years, leaving many social media users deeply emotional.

In a now-viral post on X (formerly Twitter), the man revealed that the company’s management repeatedly tried to persuade the employee to take time off, but he consistently declined.

According to him, the colleague was known for his extraordinary dedication to work, always volunteering for extra shifts and staying until everyone else had left.

He wrote:

“Management practically had to force him to take public holidays. He was always the first to volunteer for extra shifts and the last person to leave the office.”

The story took a tragic turn after the employee reportedly collapsed at work and was rushed to the hospital. When the Human Resources department attempted to contact his family, they discovered that he had been a widower for 17 years.

According to the post, his wife passed away during childbirth around the same time he began working at the company. Although their baby survived, the grieving husband allegedly dedicated his life to fulfilling a promise he made to his late wife.

The post added:

“Before she passed away, she held his hand and made him promise her one thing, Give her the life we dreamed of, no matter how hard it gets. He kept that promise.”

The emotional story has since touched many social media users, with many describing the man’s dedication and sacrifice as both heartbreaking and inspiring.