In the year 1982, my father was a member of a team of paper technologists from India assigned to commission a paper-making factory in Nigeria's Kwara State. The Nigerian Government provided residential quarters to the Indian team and their families.
Twice I visited my parents during college vacations. During such a visit, I met a tall, slim Nigerian teenager, and high school student, Adekunle Omodele; who, during his free time would help my mother with household chores. Initially, he was apprehensive to try Indian cuisine, but soon became a fan of my mother's cooking.
Often I would walk down with him to visit a neighbour listening to him narrate his experience of school and life with his mother, a single parent. He once said, "Sister, In the Atlas book Nigeria is bigger than India!" I smiled and asked him what else he learnt about the two countries. He promptly asked, "Nigerian soccer team participates in the Soccer World Cup, but India does not, Why, sister?" I quietly replied, 'We are not as good as you are in the game of soccer." I smirked thinking, Indians excel in the colonial game of Cricket.
One day Ade handed me his school lesson sheet and asked me to read it aloud. When I finished reading it, Ade's face beamed with pride and happiness, "Sister, you can read Yuroba language!" It is a language spoken in the western regions of Nigeria and it uses Latin alphabets. Amused by his elation I replied, "Ade, it is written in English. I could not understand a single word I have read." His optimism touch my soul, "Sister, if you can read, then in no time you will be able to learn and use the language too! People will call you a brown complexioned person who can speak in Yuroba!" I then realised the value of a language as a bridge to diverse geographies and myriad cultures. Little did I know it was my last visit to the beautiful country of a large continent called Africa. I shall always cherish fond memories of my visit to the country and its people.
According to Ade, education was free and compulsory for all Nigerian children up to the age of fourteen years. Students of all the Nigerian schools and colleges were responsible for their cleanliness, Everyday the students used to clean and maintain the school and college premises. Can we imagine the students of elite Indian schools and of the educational institutions from Ivy League doing so? Would the corporate honchos, Judiciary, Administrative and Executive/Legislative big wigs regularly clean and maintain their office space?
True, when we compare ourselves with someone else we tend to compete and become bitter if not better. It is equally true when you compare with love and empathy for the betterment then you do not become bitter.
After successfully commissioning the paper-making factory the team from India returned home. It was then Ade gave a book to my mother asking her to present it me, to his sister. He used to address my mother as "Mamma". He said, "Mamma, I used to save some of the money you used to give me. I have got this book from my savings. When you reach home, please give this to my sister." The book is "Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary'. ('Junu' is my informal or nickname.)
For the benefit of those who enjoy and would like to learn a language: https://www.humanrightscareers.com/magazine/how-to-learn-the-un-languages-for-free/
Ade, my dear brother, I shall always cherish your gift!
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