As I walked into the hospital to visit a friend on admission, in walked a young female Doctor on the ward round and my friend introduced me to her as Havilah. Immediately, her face lit up. She introduced herself as Banke and requested that I stop by her office on the way out. On my way out, I obliged by stepping in to see Banke and she requested that I post her story. Please read Banke’s story.

“One day, several years ago, (as a young teenager of eighteen) at about five in the morning, I stood on a busy street in our city shivering from fear and cold when this saloon car stopped and reversed to pack beside me. I looked away, expecting it to be one of those men in search of a sexual partner. I could not bear to go through that experience again but though afraid, I remained rooted to the spot. Suddenly, a matronly looking woman emerged from the car dressed in a sparkling, crisp white nurses’ uniform. It was Mrs. Mfon Bassey. She was returning home from her night shift and had spotted me. As she approached me with a smile, she offered to give me a lift home and I got into the car. When I was comfortably seated, she asked for my name and address, I burst into tears and sobbed uncontrollably. “Ma,” I said, “I cannot go home. My mother will kill me”! She calmed me down and quietly drove me to her apartment where she lived with her sister and two children. She was widowed. After a bath and hot meal (the first I had in a long while), she asked me what I was doing on the street at that time of the day.

Ma, I began, “I am the first of three children born into a family where my deceased father was a bus driver and my mum, was a petty trader. Things seemed to be working for us until I lost my father at the age of five, to a motor accident. Thereafter, my young mother of three was branded a witch especially as she refused to marry her late husband’s senior brother as a second wife. She was consequently ostracised by both her own family and my father’s. Mama struggled to send me and my younger ones to school and I passed both my SSC examinations and JAMB (Joint Admissions And Matriculation Board) examinations with flying colours. Unfortunately, the funds to pursue my education at the University were not available and I felt devastated. I however continued to help Mama in the shop with her petty trading. That fateful day, Aunty Becky (our neighbour) approached me informing me that she would introduce me to her “work” which would enable me to raise the much-needed funds for my education. She however entreated me not to discuss it with my mother as she intended it as a surprise. That evening she asked me to dress up and accompany her although she informed my mother that I would be babysitting her sister’s children as their parents would be away for the night. Instead, she led me to a brothel where… (I broke down in tears again) I was sexually assaulted, debased, and traumatised ma, I could not wait for Aunty Becky to find my way out of there.”

Mummy Mfon showed empathy and promised to accompany me to see my mother and talk things over with my mother. That chance meeting with mummy Mfon was the visit of the angel that transformed my life. She did as promised and took me home and after a long discussion with my mum, I was asked to pack my few belongings and follow her home. Thus started my climb to a better life. I helped with household chores and was paid a salary which I sent to my mother to help with my sibling’s school fees. Mummy Mfon treated me like a daughter – fed and clothed me and encouraged me texamso learn a trade… make-up and gele tying. She encouraged me to retake the JAMB  and I got admitted on merit to one of the best institutions in the country to study medicine. She promised to pay my tuition until graduation and remained faithful to that promise. My make-up and gele tying skills assisted me in meeting up with living and other expenses. On my part, I impacted Mummy Mfon’s life by enabling her cost reduction due to my bargaining skills and approach as well as making nutritious cost-effective meals. I can proudly say I am who I am today because I met an angel in human form who transformed what would have remained the saddest day of my life into the best day of my life.

I intend to someday, write my autobiography but would wish to acclaim this wonderful woman, while she is still alive. Please ma, do me the honour.”

I left Banke’s office thinking to myself that this is God’s commandment in practice. This kind of love for your neighbour is what is needed to transform our societies. If things had been different, this young lady may have ended up in the world’s oldest profession – prostitution, instead of a doctor. So many of us are in a position to transform lives and impact our societies by lending a helping hand whether it is with the provision of services, advice, finances, connections, essentials like food, clothing, housing, job opportunities and the like but we would rather turn a blind eye to people’s needs and end up complaining about the banes of our society, when collectively, we can reduce the impact. May the Lord help us all.

Love

Havilah