The Diary of a Nigerian Graduate
Wake up! lazy girl, go get that job! Same hoary words for 1095 days(3good years) It sounded like a broken Congo record. Awilo o! awilo gomba! awilo o! awilo mama! Mother hit me so hard that I rolled to the other side of the bed in anger. OMG! It was only 5:30am as I took a quick glance at the little clock on the table close to my bed. I hurried to the restroom to lay off the urine fighting for freedom. As I heard the sound of the urine, I sighed in relief wondering why I never use the restroom room till my bladder becomes full and about to burst. "Ivie, come to the sitting room when you are done " I knew what it meant, the usual family devotion by 6am had been moved to 5:45am.
"Omniscient, Omniscience, Omnipotent, Everliving God, The I am that I am,The Unchangeable changer, Jehovah jireh, Jehovah overdo, The Maker of heaven and earth ,The Master of the universe, The solid rock, The Rock of ages, I commit my daughter, Ivie to your holy able hands, any evil eye,mouth,hand that stands against her job, I destroy by fire! Holy Ghost fire! Dupe, my younger sister and Nosa, my younger brother chorused in unison. Dupe's amen was the loudest. Obviously, she was tired of the incessant loans I borrowed without paying back. The prayer was so intense that Nosa knelt and Kabashed(spoke in tongues) He had turned a prayer warrior overnight! Chai! I suddenly realized that my case was critical, I needed a job badly in order to avoid being constantly used as a prayer point.
On getting to the exquisite office of the Managing Director, he flipped through my credentials after a brief oral interview. I got the job and my duties were stated. My ear arched as I listened painstakingly to the duties of a glorified babysitter. "But Sir, I thought you meant an Official Assistant" He explained that he lost his wife four months ago,so his daughter was in need of someone to pick her from school and keep her company till he returns from work, all through the week except during weekends. I opened my mouth in disbelieve pondering why rich people make their lives complicated. "Imagine a University graduate like me! a glorified babysitter! I murdered quietly "rich people and their palaver!" "Sir I........I.......I. I was about to turn down the offer when he mentioned the monthly salary of Eighty thousand Naira and other benefits. I quickly took back my words, chewed and swallowed them. "when do I resume " it came out so fast, faster than lightning "right away"
I worked for three months before revealing the job description to my family members. All mother could say was that it was way better than being jobless "After all,a person who sweeps for the President cannot be addressed as an ordinary sweeper, the name has a presidential seal on it" Dupe's reaction was not different, "who white collar job help?, I prefer to babysit and earn that kind of salary o!
Source: Anita Aikhionbare