As I sit, to my right a cup of Yughort {My sis made it btw, best in town} and to my right is a list of animes and shows I'd planned to see and I am also concurrently reading China Achebe's Things Fall Apart. It's the second day of my reading and it just keep getting more and more intriguing even though this will be my umpteenth time of reading the book. I take a break, heave a long sigh and decide to pen down my thoughts of the year unfolding before our eyes.
If I was told that by January 2020, this year will be riddled by so many unforseen circumstances like the pandemic and the never ending strike by the Academic staff Union of Universities, I would have hissed and smeared but here we are. As time goes by, we begin to question how far we've done in the year or even how well we've actually managed to survive this avant-garde conundrum we find ourselves.
My year started with great expectations like Charles Dicken’s book as I enrolled myself to the PGD programme in University of Lagos to further my education. I was really determined not to mess up my second chance at a degree, a higher one for that matter- even reasoned to use it as a passport out of this shithole {errm, yeah} through scholarships. I was going to do so well and I was seriously reading since the very first week. I got my textbooks early enough and got necessary past questions and materials- I was ready to kill the programme. 4 weeks to our first semester exams, convocation was suspended and weeks later Asuu begin their unequivocal strike. Morale went down amongst every other inch of muse and enthusiasms.
April 2020 was when it dawned on many Nigerians the reality of Covid-19. I remember teachers arguing with me in a school {pretty big one} in my area where I'd decided to teach English till ASUU call the strike off {didn't know it'll be months} that the Covid virus was as untrue as anything. I tried reasoning with statistics and all but to no avail. They only believed when it was months in and then they also increased the sensitization to the students and the community in which the school is located. Then the lockdown happened.
The lockdown for many was nice and a good time to spend with family but personally it was not. It was terrible and most of the time depressing. I tried to find out what was wrong, what made it different but I couldn't. I'd been home for a long time before, when I finished my JS3 Exams and that was cool. But this was different, it felt different in a lot of way, for one, there was everyone at home and so much pressure to “be doing something productive" sigh. I know it comes from a good place but I never work well under pressure {even though its in my cv, lol}.
Pressure kills me, my morale and make me just hibernate even while alive. So most times I'll be seen resting or gaming, there are the constant chirp of “you could have learnt this or that, you could have been a millionaire of you took this lesson, this course and that and a whole array of other things” so I took the advice. Around late April all through May, I start sending CVs out for Jobs and even internship and no one single positive reply from the more than 50 I sent out- it was always one “you don't have enough experience went or the pay is as shit as it gets". I went blank, it was like trying to shoot a ball to score a goal and hitting the air. I was dumb for a while and then I just moved on. Every thing happens for a reason right?
One of the mails I'd sent came back around July and it was for a remote editing job. I was glad, finally something I could kill, so I stayed at home while reviewing and editing works for them. The pay wasn't all that but it was a good feeling to have something entering your account after months of emptiness. Did this for 5 weeks then I quit to focus on becoming better for myself, which is still going well. Then around September, I got another gig, it was for 4 weeks, a brand was making an outreach to my area and I did that till late September. One of the most peaceful set of weeks in 2020.
As September was winding down, there was the rising cries for ENDSARS. It was nostalgic because I remembered when I was serving as a youth corper in Edo and I was taken by these men because I had a laptop in my bag as I was coming from Benin to Esan Central. I was out of words, they had taken several young guys also on the road after checking buses to see whose hair look different or who dressed nice. I was only saved when I met my L.I. and he ask the men to release me after hours of showing them proof that I am a serving corper. Only God knows what would have been the end of me that day and only God knew what happened to the other young men that I left in their hands.
This and many more are the reason why I was especially invested in this protest. I had seen them trample of people's right and robb people of their earnings in broad day light and still come the next day to eat and sleep. It was like a d ejavu-It wasn't a nice sight at all. I'm still struck by the incidents of 20th October, 2020. I really never thought a thing like that could happen, more less happen in a place like Lagos. It was traumatising but then I was glad to know the evil we have in government exceeds name and ideas.
The ending of the year was quite nice, reverberating if I may call it that for I tried as possible to find joy in any place I could find one. I'd promised to stop moping about the people killed at Lekki and look on the bright sides of life-so I went to weddings i could attend, greet friends and relations, made new friends and smile more generally. I also started writing fiction and publishing it on blogs and this too, my personal one, which is a huge step for me. These people who I met and inspired me are the people this post is dedicated to.
This post is dedicated to all these people who have knowingly or unknowingly put a smile on my face.I met A Joke this year and its definitely one of the best things to have happened to me in 2020, I'm so grateful for this if not any. I'm grateful for Liz, “ore" who even though I offended didn't forget me, love that she didn't. I'm grateful for Jire, who has remained smiling despite all the trials he's been through this year. I'm grateful to Patrick Manager jiggy for being as pure as ever, most gracious host. I'm grateful to Adura and Kunbi who has taken this 2020 and gotten the best out of it. I'm grateful to my boss Tomi, who's forced to do it again but dedicated to do it better.I'm grateful to my aunt, Mrs. Abebefe Onisowo Zainab for being a fiend in need. I'm grateful to Joseph, who has used this year as a source to bring Joy and enlightenment to people in his enlightenment to people in his neighbourhood. I'm grateful to Omolade, for putting me through crucial details and other things. I'm grateful to Eniola, who is hell bent on making me a millionaire,lol. I'm grateful for the relationships lost and grateful to the relationship gained. I'm grateful to Nurayn Adewale {he inspired my wale btw} who is finally done with his Msc in “Souti" as I use to say, the world is not ready! I'm grateful to everyone, mentioned or not for this blissful year!
Before I conclude this piece, I'm grateful to my family, my siblings who have been strong all through despite the mess they've been in, I'm grateful to my mum fro being a rock even during my darkest days, she really is the best. I'm also specially grateful to my Dad. He is an enigma and a real soulful person. 2020 has been a lot for him but he has ensured that none of us lacked what was necessary, we had houses to live in, those going to school did, those wanting to do professional exams did and many more. May everything he wish for come to pass, Amin.
I'm also grateful to you the reader, I can't even begin to think about how your 2020 went. Some might have it good, which is nice, I'm so happy for you infacf and those that have it a little less happy-remmeber that their you survived 2020, you can survive anything. Its been a wholesome year and I'm sure by the grace of God 2021 will be better. All you need do is Plan and pray♥️
Thanks for reading this piece, I'll appreciate your likes and comment! Complement of the season. Cheers 🥂
Till I write again, Peace and love to everyone!♥️🙏
i love the whole post man, the dedication part is even more intimate. keep it uppppppppppp
this is niceeeeeeeeeee