The Opportunity

...A short story created by the BEMORE Girls as part of their project for the Creative Writing and Communication class

Image Source; Covenantgroup.com

Precious was born in Ilaje, Ondo state to an average family that lived a simple life. Her father, Mr Kunle Ajibola, works as a civil servant at the Ministry of Education. While her mother, Mrs Tina Ajibola works as an English teacher at the Aunty Ayo Secondary school just a stone throw from their home. She is 16 years old and loves to read, write and sing. Precious is known to be brilliant. Her mother talks about how she started reading at the age of 2. It’s no wonder reading became her hobby even as a teenager. She has always been the best in her class all her life and now being in SS3, she was preparing for her WAEC examinations. 

But things took a bad turn for Precious when her father died. Her mother, who missed lots of school periods after her husband’s death lost her job as a teacher. She then hawked bread in the mornings and cooked rice in the evenings to make ends meet. The financial downturn in the family caused precious to drop out of school.  She was so depressed and felt sad. Her friends consoled her and told her that everything will be fine.

Hawking goods

After dropping out, Precious decided to support her mother in order to save some money and cater for her brothers. She sold akara to the neighbours for 5 months. During this time, she passed through a lot of mockery by her school mates but she didn’t give up. She had an end in mind. Whenever she felt down, her mother’s words ‘hardwork pays’ rang in her ears.

One day while hawking, she wanted to cross the road and she was hit by a car, she fell down and her pieces of akara spiralled all over the road and some fell into the dirty gutter channels filled with stagnant smelly water. Thankfully, she was not hurt, only sustained a minor bruise on her knee. A woman came out and ran towards her, lifted her off the ground into her car;

'Oh My God, Oh my God’ Jesus, I hope you’re not hurt’ She Screamed

They got into the car and she laid her on the chair.

‘Thank God you’re not hurt’ Oh thank God’ She heaved after a while. She gave her water and let her rest for 3 minutes.

‘What is your name my dear, and what are you doing out here instead of being in school?

Precious then narrated her story beginning from the time her father died and her mother lost her job. As she spoke, the woman observed that she was very eloquent in her spoken English which made the woman pick interest in her. She inquired further about Precious’s mother’s whereabouts and after meeting her mother and learning of their family story, she was extremely touched by it and made up her mind to help. She asked that precious be in her custody for a while. So Precious went with the woman to her house.

Days passed and Precious found out that the woman is the Special Adviser to the first lady on gender issues. On a certain day, The SA needed to go for an official meeting at the government house. So she took Precious along and introduced her to the first Lady Her Excellency Mrs Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu. She told the first Lady precious’s story and recommended to here Excellency that Precious be a part of her Excellency’s BEMORE summer boot camp being a very intelligent girl. 

Her Excellency was so impressed by Precious’s eloquence and brilliance. So she sponsored Precious’s participation in the BEMORE boot camp and also offered her a Full scholarship up to university level. The BEMORE bootcamp will empower Precious with skills that will enable her be productive and outstanding in the near future.

Precious and her family were so excited about the offer and her mother shed tears of joy. Her Excellency invited Precious and her mother to the government house to give the official letter of scholarship.

‘Thank you your excellency’ Mrs Tina beamed, full of smiles

‘What more can I say?” She continued, ‘Ever since Mr Ajibola passed on, things has been so difficult for us. Thank you your Excellency for choosing to support a widow like me. We shall forever be grateful to you’’ She added.

Precious’s life changed from then on. She went on to study at the University of Leicester UK and graduated top of her class.

My BEMORE Experience

A popular philanthropist once said; there are two types of education, one should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live our lives’. The BEMORE summer bootcamp for girls by Her Excellency Mrs Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu is an innovative and educative program that empowers girls with skills on how to make a living and also how to live; through expository teachings that embraces both vocational and life coping skills. Like her Excellency said, it is a university of life.

So far, we have had a great time. Whoops! From early morning dances and exercises, Free books, ICT trainings, Solar Technical training, Classes on Leadership and Entrepreneurship, great food, Skills Acquisition sessions and also Creative writing/communication skills, Yoga with the first lady, etc. 

The experience is a lot to recount. But we want to attempt to describe our experience so far.

Group 1

Its very exciting being a part of the BEMORE summer camp. We heard positive live changing stories from the one held last year. It has really been a great time of learning and fun. Since we resumed this camp it has been all love and care from the matrons, we have networked and formed new friendships with the girls from other groups. Together we have enjoyed different things such as the early morning exercises. The classes are very enlightening and educative. Infact this is an experience we will never forget. Our gratitude goes to a wonderful woman, a caring mother Her Excellency Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu.

Group 2

Wow! It such an exciting time of learning and exposure to opportunities. The BEMORE Camp is the place to be. Many girls in my group liked and learnt from the different classes like the Leadership class, ICT, Solar and Entrepreneurship, Creative Writing/Communication and Blogging and the skill acquisition class. We heard of and took part in things we have never done before. We now know how to operate a computer, how to be proactive, confident and strategic as a young leader, How to couple a solar panel, how to start and manage a small business, needle work, shoe making and lots more. We really love the food and the morning dance and exercises. I particularly loved the Yoga classes with the first lady! BEMORE is Fun, BEMORE is bae. Thank you first Lady! We LOVE You.

Group 3

BEMORE! Clap, BEMORE, Clap, BEMORE clap, clap, clap (Our short anthem for appreciating the first Lady). What a fun and exciting time we have had so far. From Solar to Leadership, to ICT to Entrepreneurship, to Skills on Baking, Needle work, Shoe making and Soap making, It has been such an avalanche of fun and learning. Most of us has never been exposed to so much knowledge all at the same time. What have we done to deserve this? Our one and only digital mummy Her Excellency Arabirin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu made it possible because of her love for women and girls. Thank you Mama for this. It will never be forgotten in a hurry.

Group 4

It is indeed interesting to be here. My group members and I have learnt the true importance of timing and scheduling. We wake up at a certain time, have our classes at designated periods. This really thought us the good thing about goal setting and time management. Jogging so far has been my best sport activity, because it makes the whole body relax and one is energetic enough to face the whole day and that’s what we do every morning. After jogging and dancing, we prepare and go for classes. We have really learnt a lot on Leadership and Entrepreneurship, Solar and ICT. We now know what to do when we want to start a business, we learnt how to make a shoe, baking, needle work etc. Coupled with the entrepreneurship training it’s easy to apply these skills and make money.

Group 5

The BEMORE summer bootcamp has been filled with excitement and educative activities. I made new friends and acquired many skills and education which I am going to put into practice when I get back to my community. I have never heard about Climate Change before now. Myself and the others in my group are also hearing it for the first time and we are grateful for the book we received from Ms. Glory Oguegbu from Climate Smart Nigeria – The Year Ran Mad. We have decided to use the climate change book to educate the other students in our schools. Myself and my group members will find a way to teach others what we have learnt during this time.

Group 6

From the ICT to the solar, skill acquisition and entrepreneurship and needle work classes, I have so far learnt how to do lots of things I could not do. It is a wonderful feeling, I tell you to learn how to install a solar panel. It is expensive  I have learnt much more than I have ever dreamt of learning. The experience is very memorable. All thanks to Her Excellency Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu AKA Digital Mummy.

Group 7

Many girls in my group did not know how to operate a computer. But through the BEMORE summer bootcamp, we have learnt not only how to operate a computer, but also how to make a solar panel and solar oven. I’m really enjoying my stay here. I love the lectures. The matrons and ambassadors are very caring. I appreciate Her Excellency Mrs Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu for valuing us female children and creating this great opportunity which has transformed a lot of us. I really want to be like her when I grow up championing and advocating for the rights of women and girls. We shall never forget you Arabirin, may God almighty continue to shower more blessing on you and your family.

Group 8

Hmmm what can I say? This is one of the best experiences of our lives. Collectively my group members have had fun and learnt new skills at the same time. There’s nothing like having fun while learning. I really like the early morning exercises. I and my group members really liked the yoga exercises with Her Excellency. She is so energetic. She also lectured us on the importance of yoga exercises for our health. We learnt about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. We even learnt how to do the breast cancer check, we have been instructed to teach our mothers. We are grateful to Her Excellency for this opportunity. Most of us would never have had the chance to learn the skills we are acquiring no.

Group 9

The BEMORE summer Bootcamp 2018 has been so exciting. All thanks to our digital Mummy who stood by our side all the way. We love you Ma. We are s excited for the future ahead of us. I have learnt new exciting skills in ICT, Solar, Leadership and Entrepreneurship, Skills acquisition etc. I particularly learnt how to make liquid soap, Dettol, bead etc. I am sure to apply these skills as soon as I get home.

Group 10

In the BEMORE summer boot camp, we have had an amazing time. We made new friends and learnt solar Energy, ICT, Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Creative Writing. BEMORE has thought us to be young women of substance both in intellect, etiquettes, skills technology and even hygiene; this has prepared me especially to be a great leader and a mother in the future. The camp has been so much fun and i wish it will never end. Big thanks to Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu for the life changing opportunity she has given me.

The BEMORE summer bootcamp have empowered us and we will go home loaded with new ideas and innovations.