IRAWO: My Quest for Freedom 10

After secondary school in 1994, I joined the Boys (not Girls') Brigade of Nigeria whilst a member of 

St. Johns Anglican Church, Satellite Town, Lagos. I was made a warrant officer and the only female that played the drums. I played the snare drums.

In 1995, I met the father of my children. We became friends. He would accompany me to the bus stop where I would take a bus to church for my brigade practice.We were not dating. We were just friends. We did not date until 2001.

I got admission into Yaba college of Technology to study Accounting. I had wanted to study an art course like theatre arts but my father thought that they for 'olódos' with the exception of Law. Besides, I scored 198 and I could not make it into the University of Lagos or Obafemi Awolowo University for accounting.

I became as free as a bird. In OND 2, I moved into the hostel. I partied, raved, and clubbed with friends. The dance floor was always cleared for me and my dance partner so I could show off my MC hammer, Michael Jackson, etc moves. I took precautions though. I never drank at these parties for fear of being drugged, I carried my own water with me, always wore trousers, always had money in my pocket and a pocket knife tucked away in my moccasin or jeans in case of emergencies. I just wanted to party. It was not about boys. I was never crazy about boys or a boy’s money. I had my money. 

Times have changed. Apart from rape, these days, ladies also have to be wary of kidnappers and ritualists. You should not just go to any party.

I wanted to join the basketball team, elemu club and the cadet but my friends instilled fear in me that they were full of cultists. Nevertheless, some people thought that I was a cultist because of the way I walked, with a bounce, shoulders held high and because I partied a lot. I continued my ravings and little wonder; I finished with a pass and two carryovers in costing. My father was mad at me!

I did my industrial attachment at Equitorial Trust bank, Victoria Island, Head office and worked as a Communications assistant, receptionist and switch board operator. I decided to sit for ICAN-Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and took the exams seriously. I started from the foundation class and took a direct entry form into the university. 

I decided that I would retake my carryovers and move over to a university. My colleagues at work were always drumming it into my ears that their promotion was slow or never came at all because they were HND holders. 

The first day I told my father that I would not go back to a polytechnic, his reaction was hysterical. He was more concerned about my immediate younger sister finishing higher institution before me or being in the same class with my other younger sister. As far as i was concerned, those reasons were sentimental. What if I were studying medicine? 

My father wouldn't let me go and do runs for my admission for fear of being toasted by lecturers and he didn't really make efforts to get me on board. So, I lost that year. I sat for my carryover papers and later got admission to study diploma in accounting at Abubakar Tafa Balewa University, whilst still doing my ICAN. I came out the best student. I had a distinction. 

My mum was afraid of religious crises in the north so my next jamb 225 saw me in Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye after my second direct entry attempt into Obafemi Awolowo University failed.

I became a 'born again student' and in the first class. I did not finish with a first class like I hoped I would. It would have been a miracle if I did because I got pregnant and married in my first semester 300L and had to take care of our son. I began to score Ds & Es. Eventually, I graduated with a second class upper with honours. 

Bisola Rufai, my dear friend, helped me get a job at Marina International Bank and I worked as a marketing officer before it was acquired by Access Bank. 

I tried really hard getting into the Navy after my service year with Access bank. I did not enjoy bank work. It was boring, risky and stressful! My bosses were begging me to stay and that I would have a direct and straight forward entry into the core of the job and bank politics because I was already in the system. “No! Thank you!” I said and left. 

I came second in the Navy aptitude test at Ojo, Lagos and thereafter, in the physical exercises, I came second in the marathon race, health test and interview in Port Harcourt. Even my connections couldn't get me in because I did not know that I was a month pregnant with our second son. It had just been two months away from my last miscarriage caused by my stressful bank job. I had to make daily visits to some high net worth customers with police escorts who drove like crazy. Most times, they flouted traffic regulations more for security reasons; so that we will not be held in hold ups for fear of a robbery.

Initially, I would go with just the driver to these places. One day, I thought to myself, what if the driver makes plans to steal the money? What if a staff boycotts us and runs away with the money or sends robbers after us? The least of monies I collected was N5m daily. The bank authorities will not hear story o!

Afterwards, I requested for security escort and was given two police escorts. After sometime, news reached us that a staff was shot by robbers in the PortHarcourt branch while on cash collection, just like me. The following week, I left, besides, my service year was over. I had worked like a full time staff whilst at Access bank.

To be continued