Jane Chima

We were close to the pedestrian bridge when I saw them. 3 boys on the footbridge. It looked like they were in some kind of fight; 2 against one. Even more terrifying; no street light from the bus stop we came from to the next 3 bus stops. The last time I was robbed at the next bus stop at 6am flashed before my eyes. Picture from Google So, if you avoid them by running at this bus stop, how would you avoid them at the next bus stop, my conscience asked me. On we walked till we got close to the bridge and they noticed us. One of the boys started walking down. I eagerly pointed them out to my partner. “We need to go back” “Why?” he asked. “It is 3am and those boys on the bridge are coming down to meet us” “I don’t think so”. This fearless man answered. “Let me find a stick”. He started looking around him for a stick. I saw the second boy walk to the other end of the bridge and I turned back without waiting for my partner. “Wait now”. He called after me. “They c...

My 32nd birthday. I've been reflecting and reminiscing. Most of all, I have been filled with gratitude to God. My family has been the best! They have made me forget my rebellious teenage years. Lol.  God has surprised me this year.  My sister- the inspiration behind  The Cry Of Ishmael , got admission to a state University, my brother got married , I even got to live close to work in Lagos!!!  I wrote a book! I've also started another book😉😉 all in 2019. When I was 20, I wanted to be married by year 25. I was a romantic, you see, but I knew and read enough to run from fake relationships and I did, many times. I made a covenant with God.  My body and brain followed through(only possible by God's grace), so tough that I run from "love" that is different from Agape.  I was even engaged  I have shared this before ,  at 20. I fell in love this year, a  prayer request in December 2018. He didn't do much but I'm glad I...

From Left: Rachael Taiwo, Jane, Nasiru Zakariyau and Oluwaseun Guys, Late June 2019,  I got a Facebook invite from Oluwaseun Koshoedo. I didn't know she had planned and started a market strategy to get my old school mates(I am talking JSS1- JSS3 classmates) to attend Tolulope Gegeloye's wedding on July 13, 2019. We were all classmates at Folatek Model High School, Mulero, Agege before I left for Government Senior College, Agege. I had enjoyed the reunion at  Daniels Bolaji's Wedding  and because I love weddings and re-connecting, I promised I would attend. The event and the reunion was all I could imagine and more. We took lots of pictures, shared stories and I met my madam; Rachael Taiwo, who taught me subjects in class and at her home(I was a slow learner). I was so bad that I even had to copy her handwriting. I reconnected with Rachael Taiwo in 2018. It was amazing seeing her. She is now a Fashion Designer making big mon...

Today, I'm grateful for my father. He made a lot of sacrifices, shielded my siblings and I from the ills of the society till we "got out of hand". Lol. My dad traveled a lot. I'm not sure he had a formal education but he wanted that for all his children and he put in a lot of effort. I believe his experiences shaped him and I am glad that they did. When he saw one/any of us brilliant (in academics), he planned for his/her future. He sold a couple of his lands to further our education. I wanted to travel alone to my home town in 2008, my dad was against it but the adventure in me wanted that experience, I also wanted to see my namesake who was also my grandmother. I know now why my dad wanted shielded us. The truth is in the fact/reasons why people from my place aren't proud of where they came from. A couple of times, he asked me for the magic in remaining employed or changing jobs and I'd laugh. If you are reading this and you don't kn...

Hello! At the Entrance. My 2019 started right. I was privileged to be one of the 100 women selected to spend one day with the Media Mogul; Mo Abudu. She is one of the most respected people in her field. You have no idea how grateful I am to be one of the 100 women selected out of 500 applications/entries for the first edition of #YourDreamMomentsWithMo. I got/met a lot of Mentors but Mrs. Bola Adesola; The MD/CEO of Standard Char tered Bank, Nigeria? Oh my God, her story still gives me the chills. I saw myself in her that day. Believe it or not, Jesus loves me. I learnt a lot.. so much that I am undecided about blogging the lessons. I am walking in Dominion. See pictures. The Mentors Ms. Mo Abudu. She looks 33 Ms. Abudu with Mrs. Bola Adesola Mrs. Veronica Odeka Bidemi Zakariyau  The Catalyst; Mr. Lanre Olusola Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe I also made new friends.  With Tomike, The Host With Adesuwa ...

The day the name of Jesus saved my life.   My Sisters and I at Meiran- Ijaiye. I am the one in Yellow. See, Meiran Ijaiye was the most quiet place I ever lived. The area was plagued by thieves and an irresponsible government. There were bad roads and robbers who killed vigilantes. In all the years I lived there, I never believed I could be accosted/harassed so all warnings flew out the window every time I leave my house.  I would even use my phone as a torch en route to work.  That day,  I left my old apartment by 4:30am I used to leave by 3:30am or 4am so that I can get to the work which was on the Island on time.  On my way, I looked up and saw a man wearing "face cap" and "my good girl born in Yoruba land" nature kicked in. Good morning sir, I said. No response. I hurriedly moved a few paces from him only to hear: Freeze or I will shoot you. People of God, I froze o because I saw that he had a gun. I froze and I thought I would die ...

Sometime ago, I lived in a compound that employed a Nigerien as gate man/security guard. His name was Abdul. He was friendly, spoke clean aboki English and would run errands only if you reward him in cash.  After living in that compound for a few weeks, I discovered that the room Abdul slept in was unpalatable. He had a terrible mattress, rain and Sun beat him there. The landlord refused to fix the room. His duties were to wash every tenant's car, run errands and to open/close the gate. I would watch in despair every time he brings out his mattress for the sun do dry after a heavy downpour and "pack" water from his "apartment". Worse, some of my co-tenants refused to pay their dues to him. The monthly contributions we paid were his salary.  Abdul came to me after a few months of being owed.  Abdul: Welcome madam, abeg I wan tell you something. Me: Wetin happen? Abdul: I wan tell you wetin I never tell anybody for this compound. These pe...

This song gave me goose pimples on Monday morning.

Lyrics: Close by Marvin Sapp

I am graciously single, yes, but with a difference and I will prove it with some words. I turned 30 in December 31, 2017. Since then, I have been living a life filled with gratitude, reminiscing and being thankful to God who brought me this far. I vividly remember being hungry and walking the streets of Lagos so I can't fathom why or how God raised this girl from frying Akara in Pen Cinema Agege to being an Executive Assistant to one of the most respected CEOs in Nigeria. I have had the privilege of working with CEOs without applying or sleeping with anyone to work with them. I never applied or expected to work with my current boss. God has been faithful to me. I remember training with the Nigerian Legion for a security job after my stint with Akara at Pen Cinema, Agege only to be posted to the floor of the Executive Directors of Tell Magazine. The  change of status came when they asked my then boss to release me from my contract so that I cou...