"A beefy man wanted to buy me something but I didn't know my leg was under his car tire"
By Kangmwa Gofwen
Samuel Ademola's breadwinner recalls a jingle the National Television Authority (NTA) used to air around 2007/2008: "Everyday for Naija, as a break day before the rooster even crows aahh , a lot of people don't wake up to start working eahhh for Nigeria. Drivers, them. Farmers, they dey, nko market people, we dey. Teachers, we dey. Some work for office, d' others at the factory, sportsmen nko oh, their own na for the stadium, everyone has their own…"
Ademola, who sells biscuits in traffic in Ibadan, Oyo State, turns up every day for his business as he hopes to return to Cotonou, Benin Republic, from where he is returned a few years ago.
“Before, I stayed in Cotonou. As soon as I finished my school certificate in 1998, I started struggling to continue my studies. I went to Lagos and spent a few years there and after a few years, I met my uncle who stayed in Cotonou. My mother had his contact for me, so I went to live with him in Cotonou.
“I started living with him and doing business, selling jeans with an Igbo guy inside the Missebo market. 'a road development. I started selling things inside the traffic, phone accessories and small groceries. Later, problems arose between the Government of Benin Republic and the Nigerians, I so had to come back to Nigeria. When everything is resolved, I will come back,” he said.
Although Ademola's business seems small, he has big dreams and has worked and saved to achieve his dream of moving to the United States of America.
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“That's how I ended up here. I have to struggle to support myself because there are no jobs anywhere. Also, I got my international passport because my friend who was also selling in traffic is in the United States and he said he wanted to help me move there as well. So I pray that very, soon he can get me through and get me going."
Although he plans to travel to the United States, Ademola still prefers the Republic of Benin to Nigeria because, according to him, it is easier to earn money there than at home due to the weakness Nigerian naira.
"Due to the exchange rate, their money there in Cotonou is stronger than the naira. I plan to go back there soon as our naira has no value. It's easier to get money. money in Cotonou than in Nigeria. In Nigeria it is not easy to achieve what you want. I can easily save 10,000 CFA there which is N12,000 here. It is not easy to achieve here."
Just as every job or business involves risk, peddling also has its risks and he suffered a fair share of those risks when he recently ventured into the business.
"I remember one day in Cotonou when I was starting to sell in traffic, a big man wanted to buy me something but I didn't know that my leg was under the tire of his car, while the car was moving, the tire was rolling on my leg and my foot started to swell, I spent three weeks in the hospital before I could resume my activities,” he said.
He said he hoped his visa/papers would arrive soon so he could leave Nigeria as like many people he had lost hope in the country.
“I hope my paperwork will be finished. I have started to process it. I have sent paperwork to those who help me and I hope they will bring it soon. I pray God to intervene in the matter of this country. Our young people have no hope in this country because a lot of people graduate every year and they can't find a job anywhere.
"I know some leaders meant well, but when they enter the system, it's as if something else pops into their minds and makes them let people suffer unnecessarily," said he said.
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By Kangmwa Gofwen
Samuel Ademola's breadwinner recalls a jingle the National Television Authority (NTA) used to air around 2007/2008: "Everyday for Naija, as a break day before the rooster even crows aahh , a lot of people don't wake up to start working eahhh for Nigeria. Drivers, them. Farmers, they dey, nko market people, we dey. Teachers, we dey. Some work for office, d' others at the factory, sportsmen nko oh, their own na for the stadium, everyone has their own…"
Ademola, who sells biscuits in traffic in Ibadan, Oyo State, turns up every day for his business as he hopes to return to Cotonou, Benin Republic, from where he is returned a few years ago.
“Before, I stayed in Cotonou. As soon as I finished my school certificate in 1998, I started struggling to continue my studies. I went to Lagos and spent a few years there and after a few years, I met my uncle who stayed in Cotonou. My mother had his contact for me, so I went to live with him in Cotonou.
“I started living with him and doing business, selling jeans with an Igbo guy inside the Missebo market. 'a road development. I started selling things inside the traffic, phone accessories and small groceries. Later, problems arose between the Government of Benin Republic and the Nigerians, I so had to come back to Nigeria. When everything is resolved, I will come back,” he said.
Although Ademola's business seems small, he has big dreams and has worked and saved to achieve his dream of moving to the United States of America.
Related News
“That's how I ended up here. I have to struggle to support myself because there are no jobs anywhere. Also, I got my international passport because my friend who was also selling in traffic is in the United States and he said he wanted to help me move there as well. So I pray that very, soon he can get me through and get me going."
Although he plans to travel to the United States, Ademola still prefers the Republic of Benin to Nigeria because, according to him, it is easier to earn money there than at home due to the weakness Nigerian naira.
"Due to the exchange rate, their money there in Cotonou is stronger than the naira. I plan to go back there soon as our naira has no value. It's easier to get money. money in Cotonou than in Nigeria. In Nigeria it is not easy to achieve what you want. I can easily save 10,000 CFA there which is N12,000 here. It is not easy to achieve here."
Just as every job or business involves risk, peddling also has its risks and he suffered a fair share of those risks when he recently ventured into the business.
"I remember one day in Cotonou when I was starting to sell in traffic, a big man wanted to buy me something but I didn't know that my leg was under the tire of his car, while the car was moving, the tire was rolling on my leg and my foot started to swell, I spent three weeks in the hospital before I could resume my activities,” he said.
He said he hoped his visa/papers would arrive soon so he could leave Nigeria as like many people he had lost hope in the country.
“I hope my paperwork will be finished. I have started to process it. I have sent paperwork to those who help me and I hope they will bring it soon. I pray God to intervene in the matter of this country. Our young people have no hope in this country because a lot of people graduate every year and they can't find a job anywhere.
"I know some leaders meant well, but when they enter the system, it's as if something else pops into their minds and makes them let people suffer unnecessarily," said he said.
READ ALSO IN NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
'I don't know', Guardiola offers update on Haaland's availability for Arsenal drawWhat's Your Reaction?
