“…Failing JAMB that year ushered me into a new world of realities.
It was the first time I understood the meaning of Nigeria happening to someone.
I became a laughing stock in my house. My elder brother and my elder sisters laughed at me at any slightest opportunity.
I had earlier boasted to them that there was nothing difficult in writing and passing JAMB, so I didn’t see any reason why one won’t pass it in one sitting. Now the table has turned on me.
No matter how I tried to explain to them what happened to me in the exam hall, they never believed. In fact, it sounded like fabricated story to everyone that listened to me because I had no evidence.
Failing JAMB turned me into the house help of my family and security man/key holder of the compound.
Since I would be staying at home for one full year without doing anything, my parents transferred all the house chores to me.
The entire compound gave me the key to hold because I was the only that didn’t have a place to go to.
While in secondary school, I always prayed for public holiday so I could stay at home, but now, being idle at home all day, I wished I could go to school everyday.
I was also ashamed of going to meet friends who were either preparing for screening or recently got admission in a new university.
Hearing them talk about it broke my heart the more.
I wished I had joined them in fasting and prayer. I wish I did divine mercy and prayers with them.
If going for Mbaka and Okunerere adorations would have saved me this shame, why didn’t I go? What is ordinary fasting that I couldn’t do?
I begged God for forgiveness over and over again.
Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months as the idle Duke that I have become, nearly died of boredom at home.
Like God answered my prayers, the new JAMB season finally came.
I promised to be humble this time around and do all those things I didn’t do before.
I registered for JAMB lesson at Bishop Alex Lesson Center, Nsukka.
I got Library card at St. Theresa’s cathedral Library.
I joined Divine Mercy group in the cathedral. Okunerere Adoration ministry became my Friday night club.
I must pass this JAMB this time around.
Little did I know that what young boys and girls did at those JAMB lesson centers were more than just studying for JAMB.
Ihe agbara na ụzọ erika.
In the next episode, I will tell you how JAMB lesson center gave me my first girlfriend and other stuff that happens at those centers and libraries.
Stay tuned…
DUKE THE NIGERIAN
(PASSING JAMB, Season 1; Episode 2) was brought to you by Ugwuagbo Emmanuel Chizoba Daniel (Zoba De Great)