PART ONE
My name is Favour, but I am not favored. I am 26 years of age, born and brought up in Lagos state, Nigeria. Let me tell you a story about myself.
I ran away from home when I was 15 because my brother was constantly abusing me sexually. The abuse started at the age of eleven, I told my mum about it and every time I did, she shuts me up. She always says something about me bringing “shame” to the family and how I was possessed by an evil spirit. My dad? He was very strict and never really around. Even when he was around, we couldn’t even have a conversation with him, so I just kept quiet about it. I thought about telling my friends, but the part where my mum said I’m bringing shame to the family kept ringing in my head, so I never told any of them. I just quietly planned to run away after my secondary school graduation; hence I started saving money.
After graduation, I ran away from home without knowing exactly where I was going. I just knew I had to survive. I had to either run away and create a better life for myself, or continue enduring all my brother was doing to me. Furthermore, I knew I couldn’t endure, so I had to run.
On this fateful day, I put three clothes and a few things I’ll be needing in my school bag and left home without looking back. I got to the car park, decided to board a bus going to Lagos island, and alighted at the Ajah bus park.
I bought something to eat and started job hunting. At this point, I knew I needed a job that comes with accommodation, so I started looking for one. I slept under the bridge for a week, was constantly harassed and my money was stolen.
On the eighth day, I saw a post on a gate around sangotedo about them wanting a live-in maid. I dashed into the compound and applied for the job, luckily for me, I got the job and I was told to start immediately.
My madam was a single mother with two kids, her kids were studying in Canada, so she just required someone to live with her and keep the house clean since she’s a very busy woman. She asked about my family, but I told her I lost them in an auto crash and I didn’t even feel bad after saying that. My job was effortless, and I was thrilled. A few weeks later, I asked my madam if she could help me with my education. I told her I didn’t want the salary, and I’d prefer if the money went into my education.
She agreed but on the condition that the school has to be in Lagos and I have to return home every day which I agreed. I ended up applying to National Open University Nigeria (NOUN) it was very convenient for me since I didn’t have to go to class every day. My madam was very nice to me, we barely had any misunderstandings. My first two years at the university were good, I passed tests and exams, and I was very comfortable and genuinely grateful for the life I had.
After a while, my madam decided to relocate to Canada to meet her kids, it broke my heart because I saw her as my only family. She didn’t leave me stranded, she paid upfront for my remaining tuition fees and gave me three hundred thousand Naira. After she sold the house and left, I moved to a small house in Epe, thanks to a coursemate, and decided to start up a thrift wear business. I didn’t hear from my family, neither did I see them, and I was somewhat sad about it, but life has to move on.
My last year in the university came with bad luck. I lost everything I had, my money was all gone. A friend introduced me to a thrift vendor outside Nigeria which was twice cheaper as my supplier, so I just thought it was a big opportunity to make more money and I decided to buy with all my savings. I was greedy and didn’t even think about the possibility of it being a scam. They sent me rags, I almost ran mad!!! . Apparently my friend didn’t even know the person, she saw the advert on Instagram and thought it would help me.
At this point, I was truly grateful that my tuition fees were already paid. My house rent was going to expire in a few weeks and I didn’t have a dime to my name and I didn’t have anything expensive to sell. I just knew I was back to square one.
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