*TITLE: The Day I Trekked From Challenge to UI With No Transport Fare*
This is a true life story from my life in Ibadan. I hope it inspires someone out there who is going through hard times.
I no go ever forget that day - 14th of March.
My salary for pharmacy never come. I check my Opay, na ₦120 remain. I get interview for UI for 9am, and I dey Challenge by 7am. No keke money, no okada money. If I miss this interview, I go remain jobless for another month.
I swallow shame, start to waka.
From Challenge to Molete, my leg dey pain me. Sun dey burn my head like say na oven. For Molete, my slippers cut. I manage tie am with rubber wey I see for ground. People for car dey look me, some dey laugh. One woman for bus shout "Aunty, you dey alright?"
I no answer. I just dey waka dey pray for my mind.
By 8:45am, I don reach Sango area, sweat full my body like Christmas goat. My white shirt don turn brown for armpit. I think to turn back, but I say no.
I finally reach UI gate by 10:15am. Interview don almost finish. The Oga wey suppose interview me look me up and down. He say "Young lady, why you late? We started since 9."
Shame catch me. I no fit tell am say I trek from Challenge. I just say "Transport issue sir, Ibadan traffic."
He look me again, see say I dey sweat, my slippers don spoil. He just smile. He say "You get strong spirit. Sit down, let's hear you."
I talk with all my heart. I tell am how I sabi attend to customer for pharmacy, how I sabi arrange drugs, how I dey honest. He nod.
After 10 minutes, he say "You don get the shift. Resume tomorrow 7am."
Na there tears drop from my eye for reception.
That trek change my life. If I no trek that day, I for still dey house dey wait for job.
Sometimes hard line na the only line wey dey lead to better life. If you dey read this and you dey go through hard time, no give up. Waka your waka, even if your slippers cut.