A very long time ago, this little girl was born on a Wednesday morning in March in the year when Abacha created the last 6 states of Nigeria.
She grew up to become fascinated by the Universe and it’s many inhabitants and cohabitants.
She remembers the incredible things she did and adventures she took which all constituted her childhood memories and exuberances.
This little girl was brought up by an intelligent and strong mother who wanted her children to have access to the opportunities in life that she never had.
Her mother taught her never to covet other people’s things but always remain content with whatever she’s able to provide for her and her siblings.
This little girl started discovering herself at an early age and living her dreams.
At five years old, what was she trying to run away from?
Death. ☠️
It happened on the 7th day of September, 2001. This little girl was in Primary 1 with her twin brother and just getting used and/or exposed to life. They were in school, dad was out of town and mom was at work. Through the windows in her classroom, one could see the happenings on Bauchi Ring Road, Jos, Plateau State but how would a 5 year old ever know that an event that would change the history of Plateau State was about to unfold? It was about noon and learners were on break. All of a sudden, the atmosphere changed. She could feel it, she heard cries and saw people running helter skelter, cars dispersing in different directions and honking loudly, guardians started trooping into the school to pick their wards, teachers were as fear-stricken as an agbero who suddenly realized that he’d been exchanging words with a soldier. Reflexively, this little girl found her twin brother and held onto him firmly until one of their uncles came for them amidst the chaos.What was the hullabaloo all about? It was a shocker to see a once peaceful State, turning into a State of anguish and persistent unrest. Remember her dad was out of town? Yes, he was at Ashaka Cement Factory, Gombe State for a building contract business. There was no way he’d have known outright that his family back at home was not safe. Olusegun Obasanjo’s GSM had not come to Jos then, or shall we say this little girl’s parents couldn’t afford a handset at that time?
Well, by the third day, news started flying around over the radio that people were being lynched and houses burnt in Jos. Her dad heard and boom!!! Baba carried his briefcase and headed for home.While he was trying to find his way home unhurt, his family was taking refuge behind the mountains of Another Life Village where almost all dwellers around that locality had left their houses for. There were so many families clinging to one another and waiting for the crisis to be over. The only food the majority feasted on for those couple of days was bread and water. They were hearing gunshots from a distance and hoping, against hope, that their loved ones and especially this little girl’s father would come back home safely. He did, and the crisis subsided days later. But would that be the end to such heart-wrenching-mind-throbbing-fear-striking catastrophe in the city of Jos? Maybe. Maybe not.
It is only unfair that life hadn’t told this little girl that the world was full of angst and the people therein with hatred towards one another. Because why would any man – in the name of religion and politics – master-mind the suffering and eventual death of a fellow human just because (s)he didn’t belong to their sect or is willing to join them? Life hadn’t told her that he deals treacherously with some humans, making them lose everything they worked for and everyone they ever loved, while shining his luck on some other humans not because they are more qualified or what not but probably because ‘time and chance happeneth to them all’ or isn’t that what they say? This little girl hadn’t known LIFE.
She was just getting used to life as a toddler when this happened. Getting used to calling Mummy when she was in distress and Daddy when she was in pain. Getting used to taking pap and milk in the morning, garri and sugar in the afternoon, and Amala and ewédú in the night. Getting used to running the streets in her pants shouting her twin brother’s name and joining him to play with his friends when she gets tired being all by herself. Generally, this little girl was just not ready to experience life, as it were.
Many years later however, more experiences would flood in and she’ll just be too overwhelmed to process them all. Nevertheless, she lived through. Everyone does, don’t they?In 2010, her family finally relocated from Jos due to the incessant crises and moved to Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State for “greener pastures” and safety. Only that the grasses in Ijebu-Ode weren’t particularly green, but its walls were safe anyway. Life in Ijebu-Ode took another turn as she was exposed to different people with different mindsets and outlook to life. Through it all, this little girl kept growing, seeking knowledge, and advancing in great health and sound mind.
In the past decade, this little girl has truly evolved into a wonderful being with enormous experiences and challenges that has shaped her through the years. She has enjoyed the peace of mind that comes with living a God-conscious life hitherto and the supernatural rewards of kingdom stewardship. She has become a lot more intelligent – mentally and emotionally – and physically fit; she has met people whose impacts in her life are profound and has also had her fair share of frustration from some weird folks too; she has learned to be fully responsible for her actions and inactions and give up the blame game; she has traveled to more than 50 countries through the books she has read and the movies she has watched (a wonderful experience and notable achievement one must agree); she has broken geographical barriers and expanded her horizon of knowledge; she has come to appreciate the very essence of family because hers have covered her nakedness a thousand and one times; she has gained soft and hard skills – an unending process – and enriched her mind with wonderful stuff; she has done unimaginable things in the past that keeps slapping her in the face but has also learned to pick the lessons from her flaws and let go; she has made huge sacrifices to get things she wanted and they have paid off; she has loved herself over and over again, and would continue to do so till the chords of time shall lengthen.
Fast forward to current times, this little girl is in another stage of her life where self-care and fulfillment is of profound importance to her. She knows and understands that life is in stages and men in sizes, so she is on an intentional journey to make every moment count and appreciate the positive influence some humans have on her while siphoning the many toxic people that the Universe is unwittingly making her come across from time to time. She is constantly looking for opportunities for growth and numerous ways to expand her horizon of knowledge. She understands that whatever you give life is what you’ll get back from it, and in her ‘process’ of adulting, she’s found joy, peace and love in the things she enjoys doing for most part of her time daily.
As she’s growing, she’s unraveling parts of her she never knew existed and discovering traits she could swear was never in her from birth. And isn’t that the joys of adulting?
Well…
This little girl is NOW a woman. 🙊
A woman working every day to be a better human. A woman doing all it takes to make all her dreams come true. A woman – who is herself a work in progress – constantly drawing inspiration from other women. A woman who is inspiring other little girls who are doubting themselves or clipping their own wings, to face life head-on and make the best of it. A woman who wants to make a difference in any sphere and position she finds herself. A woman who, having lived for full 25 years in this beautiful Earth of ours, is grateful for life.
This woman is 26 today.
Happy birthday 🎉, Winifred.
Winifred Òdúnóku 