In-love With Start-ups

Between the heat, humidity and traffic I did not fall for Lagos as many of my friends predicted I will. In fact a former Lagosian told me, “all you need is three weeks and it will be difficult for you to live anywhere else” and I asked him, “why are you in Abuja then?” and I got a self-implicating smile. I must say housing is cheap here in Lagos but everything else is just plain exorbitant.

I have been working as a business developer/consultant in a company for the last 2 months and I have got 1 month left on my contract. I have enjoyed doing what I love but then there are always issues with working with start-ups especially when they are owned by absentee CEO’s. Here I am putting in my best because in a month’s time I will be done and I will need a recommendation for my next job and then my ‘boss’ is more absent than present. The stories of working in this company have been many and though we get to laugh afterwards it is a tedious time during the actual experience.

Apple or Pear

I’m standing in front of the mirror rubbing my cheeks to get some life into them. I look different this morning, maybe because I applied my makeup differently and had a bad dress day. Yeah, I woke up this morning with my mind set on an outfit and just as I put it on I realized what I had been afraid to admit; I need a budget for skirts! While all my tops still look pretty good on me my skirt size has increased and I am suddenly with only 1 skirt that fits because it flared. I ran through all my skirts in less than 10 minutes and opted for trousers, dashed out of the door into the cab and now I’m at the office feeling...well, alright, they’re just skirts right?

I Pledge

Happy independence to all Nigerians!

I am a proud Nigerian, anyone who knows me knows that and I get frustrated at the pessimists who go on and on about the issues we have. I love my country and I will keep the picture of a great country ever before me.

This morning I woke up with Nigeria on my mind and then my phone beeped and I got this rendition of the pledge from my friend and straight away I knew I had to share it with everyone.

                   

She-the-stranger

I watched her hum her way in and out of the room slamming the door so hard it bounced back on its hinges falling wide open again. Its been 6 days since she came to stay with me and its been 5 days since my irritation began its gradual rise. I have never had to share my space with a stranger before and that is what she still is after 6 days, a stranger! I am usually more friendly than I have been to her but because I have felt more frustration at her presence than companionship, I have kept my distance in case I snap and give her a little more than a piece of my feelings.

Dirty clothes have sat still in a bag by my couch, a damp towel has found its spot on my wardrobe door, strands of hair turn up everywhere and my boots and jackets have found a new owner. I'm more sad at my decision to help this stranger than happy at doing my friend a favour. My friend who I haven't seen in almost 9 years asked me to play host until she-the-stranger finds suitable accomodations. I was quick to accept as I was once a squatter with a friend before I found my place but my host was my friend so I could lounge. Now, I'm stuck with she-the-stranger who wont pick after herself and seems too comfortable in my space; my space which is my solace and now a damp smelly room that reminds me of my undergraduate days.

That humming which would not have mattered on another occassion grated on my nerves as I pulled the duvet over my head. "Please go to school", I prayed silently from under my hiding place. I desperately needed to clean and air my space. 4 hours later, I'm alone "ahhhhh" I sighed in relief, I have at most 7 hours before she-the-stranger returns with her endless questions and over familiarity. I have a few hours to own my space, my solace.

I keep saying to myself, "it could be worse, Ihotu stay calm all izz well"

Way To Go

The most recent irritation to road users is the number of tariffs they have to pay just to use the roads. It’s amazing how different groups waylay drivers and collect all kinds of amounts of money from them as payment for one thing or the other. The worst part is the mode of payment. We all know tax laws are slack in this country but that doesn’t give every union and corporative the excuse to become hoodlums and terrorists.

Take Abuja for example (I live here so I should know), road workers are made to pay for tickets everyday or they will be penalized with a higher sum than they owed. A few months ago, a taxi driver I know went to Mararaba, the first town in Nasarawa State coming from Abuja and was fined for not having a receipt that carries the Nasarawa State emblem even though he had one with the FCTs’. You have to note that the only demarcation between Mararaba and Abuja is a pillar and the same buses run through the two towns.