EMMAWAD

DESPERATE LESSONS I was 19 years old at the time, waiting to gain admission into the university. I'd never been one to sit around doing nothing plus I desperately needed the money. So, I asked around for available jobs and a church member told me to check a new spot where an eatery was about to be set up by one of the top members of the church. I checked it out and was hopeful about being the cashier and also get to use the computer: this was in the 90s and I was among the few who had learnt how to use the computer. I was asked to return the next day before 9AM for the interview, along with other people of various age grades. From Surulre I headed for Costain and I arrived by 8AM. However, other DESPERADOS like me we already there waiting for their fate to be decided by the boss. After an hour and thirty minutes crawled by, we met with the boos, lady...   This woman, you could tell from the nature of her skin that she was of the high-class society. She smelt, spoke and...

The little I know about Nigeria is what others say about her; overpopulated, corrupt, dirty, poverty stricken, underdeveloped, a debtor, diabolic, dubious, etc. Definitely, your father and my mother would have mentioned one of the cited above. Is there anything new under Nigeria? Will she ever change to our concept of a great nation? Imagine your children responding to these questions. What do you think their reactions would be?  Would there be compatriots left of them? Would Nigeria be able to call for them to even obey? How would they show love to their fatherland by then? They might not even be familiar with any of their heroes past not to mention their labor. What would be the concept of freedom then when its meaning at the moment is meaningless? Do you even think peace and unity won’t be assessed by the “escape from Naija” spirit? If we do not even comprehend our noble cause how would God direct us? I mean, He can only guide those who don’t want to be misgu...