A Story about Hope and Transformation in Nigeria

My Father died when I was 16,

The doctor said he had a bad heart,

But I know the truth, My father died because he was poor.

My father was a good man,

Which means he was mumu, A Nigerian civil servant.

He was honest, A Man of integrity, 

And that drew all kinds of people to him,

But in my books not the right kind,

For they were just as poor as he was.

On one of his last days, he called me into his room and He said "My daughter, the country is yours, it depends on you now, I've taught you everything you need to know, have you ever seen me take what is not mine", "No baba", I said, "have I ever hurt anybody in order to ride " "No baba"I said, If i am your father you won't do such things"

I promised him, right there on his deathbed, looking back, I think 16 year old me was a comedian and my father did not know that his dream of a better Nigeria is still what it was, a dream.

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I'm in my 3rd year at university.

How did I get here?

Labour , hard labour and my mom of course,

To whom have I promised to finish school

Unlike my father, my friends are all

Rich men kids I don't roll with garbage 

I've seen poverty and I hate it

We party, skip classes and engage in other things. They tell me about their Rich dads and how much money they have. I make sure to drain them. They fund my lifestyle, my education and everything.

I believe this is my money, the money their fathers stole and since they have taken a liking to me, I'll drain them.

I can't wait to leave this country,

Despite my wrong ways I still remain best in my class and I won't waste my good brains in this God forsaken place.

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I had a dream last night that I was in a place with fertile crops, good roads, fat corn, jobs and other benefits for people my age.

I asked a passer by, where I'm I Sir, He stared at me with a confused look, This is Nigeria.

This is strange because for the first time in my life I woke up with hope in my heart.