Abuja.
In the famous words of Lady Whistledown “Gentle Reader, You Thought I Was Silenced, But You Thought Wrong. And If There Is One Thing You Should Know By Now, It Is That This Author Cannot Keep Quiet For Long.”
Yes. I’m back.
Don’t worry. I missed myself too.
Did you know?
The World Health Organization estimates that almost 300,000 women died from pregnancy-related causes in 2017. That’s 808 women every day, and Nigeria had the highest number of maternal mortality in the world.
In a nutshell, the five countries where a woman is most likely to die in a given pregnancy are:
- Nigeria
- Sierra Leone;
- Central African Republic;
- Chad;
- and South Sudan.
Last week, I was in Abuja for a work event that we planned — a launch. MSD for Mothers, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Ferring Pharmaceuticals are collaborating to provide access to a heat-stable formulation of the uterotonic carbetocin, a medicine used to prevent postpartum haemorrhage in women after childbirth. (read about it…please)
Arrived on Wednesday (event on Thursday), I was in charge of logistics and I had to make sure the guests’ tickets were booked, made sure they got into they got their tickets, was at the hotel for 10 am to make sure they didn’t have any issues checking in an all.
First things first, if you walk around Abuja with a shirt, jeans
and all — you will feel out of place. EVERYONE wears native.
Guy. Babes. Aboki. Non-Aboki. Okada guy. Plantain seller. Fan Yogo guy.
EVERYONE!
The worst part about it? For those who aren’t wearing native, they make you feel bad about it. Like…is it by force?
Anyways, so the event had everyone; First ladies of certain states, Doctors, Nurses and everyone else in the medical world. It was a superb event, as its effect over the years will help save more lives.
No woman has to die giving life.
Have I ever told you that articulate women have a special place in my heart? Jessica Pearson, Nike Adeyemi, Ireti Doyle, Mildred Okonkwo, Seyi Jolayemi, Ayo Mairo-Ese, and Abiola Adisa to mention a few. However, there’s a new woman on the list — Toyin Saraki.
She sounds like Ribena on ice. Like cold water on a very hot day.
LOOOOOOOOOOOOL. I know right. It’s very fascinating.
She was one of the guest speakers at the event. It was a lot of medical lingua, so I was already zoning and just facing my system making sure other things were going well and then She started talking.
Ladies and Gentlemen. They have get me.
It felt like Sade singing on keys. I was taken away. It was effortless. There was only one time when the whole hall was listening, it was because of her.
Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehn. That woman could tell you Jollof has finished and you will not be upset. God she speaks so damn well. She is beautiful too.
That’s all about the event.
Now let’s continue talking about Abuja, shall we?
I got hungry sometime on Wednesday, I called my sister and she said “order jumia food”. Whipped out my phone, and placed the order; the order showed up in like 25 minutes. E shock me.
The delivery guy gets paid and then I open the nylon to eat and then I received the shock of my life.
Like that wasn’t enough. I order bolt later that day to go to my sisters, I got in and the radio was playing “Ebenezer Obey”. In my mind, a Yoruba man, we can talk my way. I greeted him in Yoruba — if I knew, I will not have.
The conversation: (all in Yoruba)
Bolt Guy: How are you, Sir?
Me: I’m good.
B.G: Are you married, Sir?
Me: No Sir, why do you ask?
B.G: Whatever you do, don’t marry from Ondo state.
M: *perplexed*
B.G: Especially from Owo.
M: *trying to gather my thoughts*
B.G: He then goes on to give me his life story. How he met this babe and married her the legal way; registry and traditional and church. Only for her to leave his house after 2 months and pack everything in the house except the building itself and disappear with his few months old child.
Solomon — fine boy.
Showed me pictures of the wedding and pictures of Solomon.
His final words — are also in Yoruba.
B.G: When you want to marry, please beg your daddy to walk around and do the needful because OWO people are the worsk. Let your daddy have a hand in the person you wanna marry. Please, Sir, I’m begging you, don’t marry Ondo anybody.
Me: 5 Stars abeg. Quality entertainment.
Friday evening.
My sister decides to spoil me. She takes me out for food and drinks.
Note to all older siblings. When your younger sister decides to spoil you. Take it with a pinch of salt, because your day of billing will come like a thief in the night.
When the bill arrived, She said “ah ahnnn. Don’t worry about it”.
Dear reader, I know, I know. It’s coming soon and I’m bracing up for it.
Ladies and gentlemen, She ball me sha.
I raised a fine child.
To Jesus be my glory.
Coming back to Lagos, my flight times changed twice. Then I got onto the plane and my seat was at the emergency exit; they said I can’t wear earphones if I’m seating there.
*eye roll*
To all the people that said we would see and we didn’t…SMH!
To all the people that we saw, it was a great time.
I had a fly time in Abuja sha.
It’s Sunday. Don’t let anything sway you this week, you are fabulous!
Have a great week.