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From Hapless Farmer And Ikorodu Bus Conductor To US Citizen With Two Master’s Degrees And More
On this day Nov 16 2002 at age 23, I arrived the United States via the JFK Airport, New York from Nigeria with $20 in my pocket, an OND certificate from BIMTECH now Fidei Polytechnic, Gboko, and a heavy load of ambitions to do everything legally to succeed and make my poor parents proud.
Eighteen years after, the US gave me what my country of birth failed to: Two bachelor’s degrees free of charge; a master’s degree from Canada free of charge; a guaranteed top-level employment in NYC without bribing anyone; health insurance, security, citizenship and more.
It was a chance I took. For the 23 years I lived in Nigeria, life was nasty and brutish. I was a bus conductor in Lagos, sold tomatoes and bread in Ikorodu, worked people’s farmlands in Ikorodu, worked construction jobs in Ikorodu, and became a houseboy in Ikorodu—all to make ends meet.
I won’t forget Iya Wasiu at the Ikorodu Police Barracks. During the rainy season, she would engage me to work her farmland. I would make the heaps for yams, plant cassava and other stuff. After all the work, I would have blisters on my palm but happy with the money. I was 16.
In all, I kept a positive outlook. I believed in myself. I was never shy to wear the same clothes every day. I was never shy carrying my hoe and cutlass in search of the next farm to work for a fee. I was never shy shouting “Obalende CMS” as a conductor. I needed to survive.
I was still focused in my academics in Ikorodu High School. I was considered one of the most brilliant students in that school. I trekked from Police Barracks in Igbogbo Road, Ikorodu where I lived to Ikorodu High School, Sagamu Road, Ikorodu. It was indeed a journey.
When I finished secondary school, my parents didn’t have the funds to pay my fees at the University of Calabar where I got admission. I left Lagos to return to Gboko where my parents lived and joined my dad in selling okirika in bush markets such as Buruku, Ihugh, Tyowanye, etc.
It was while in Gboko, I found out about BIMTECH now Fidei Polytechnic. I applied and got admitted. While in my first semester, I got admission to the University of Houston, Texas. I was just too ambitious. I couldn’t help it. I told my dad. I needed $10k for the fees and other costs.
He went to his entrepreneur brother in Aba for a loan, but the man refused. He told my dad he had his own kids to send to school too. My dad and I returned to Gboko disappointed. On our way, I saw how disappointed my dad was. I told him I would go to the US one day. He chuckled.
After graduating from Fidei Polytechnic, Gboko with a distinction OND in Mass Communication, I took my certificate back to Lagos in search of greener pastures. I was introduced to Bala Dan Abu, a former editor of Newswatch Magazine and a contemporary of Dele Giwa.
Mr Abu, now an SA to Taraba State governor looked at me and asked how old I was. I told him I was 18 approaching 19. He said I was too young and that I should go back to school. I insisted I wanted to work. I told him my family challenges. He then decided to give me a chance.
This was how my journey in journalism started until I ended up in Abuja, courtesy of The Diet Newspapers owned by James Ibori, which had transferred me to Abuja to cover the National Assembly. I witnessed the 1999 handing over and the inauguration of that era’s set of lawmakers.
Once The Diet was rested, I was invited to join The Post Express owned by late Sunny Odogwu. It was in the Post Express that I ran into trouble with President Obasanjo after I reported a secret deal between him and late Robert Mugabe. Three editors and I were suspended.
Our suspension was reported in the newspapers to appease Obasanjo, who had threatened Odogwu. Few days after I was suspended, I left Abuja on the advice of my editor who told me I was under surveillance by the DSS. I went into hiding in Aba.
While in Aba, I got information that Reporters Without Borders had contacted my office and were interested in my situation. I got a US visa and, on November 16, 2002, I left Nigeria. I left all the pains and struggles to survive. I left the country that had failed her youth population.
Today, I am happier. Blessed with my own businesses, properties, freedom, and all. I am a true definition of the American Dream. My hope and prayer is that one day, we will have what is called a Nigerian Dream where leaders pay attention to developing the country instead of looting.
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