I was walking on the street thinking about my life as a first class graduate in medicine but who is now waiting tables. I am twenty four years old, I graduated from the university two years ago. I have been a waitress every since I was done with school because no company was willing to employ me even with my good grades. They kept asking about my background. I thought studying so hard and becoming the best would make life a lot easier and job a lot quicker to get but I was wrong maybe in other countries such performance can be rewarded but in Nigeria, it's kind of hard. If you aren't rich or if you don't have connections, it is going to be so hard for you to get anywhere even with your certificate of excellence.
I was half way to my work place when I felt my phone vibrate, I looked at the notification and it was a message from the federal government. With curiosity, I opened the message and it read thus;
Letter of employment,
Dear Miss Rachel Raymond, it's such an honor to present this letter of approval for employment to you for graduating with first class in the University of Lagos (Unilag). Take this letter, print it out and present it to any hospital of your choice and await your employment. Click this link view, download and print the letter.
I stood frozen for few minutes. I thought about it and I came to a conclusion that it was scam and the government wouldn't waste their precious time sending this kind of message to me. I pushed all thoughts that it could be real behind me. I sighed and started walking to my place of work when I heard a familiar voice call my name.
"Rachel."
I turned to see my friend, Agnes coming towards my direction and panting like someone who just finished running a marathon. She bent down to catch her breath. I patiently waited for her to get back her lost strength and find her voice too.
"Just the person I was looking for..." she paused. "...Have you heard?" she asked.
"Heard what?" I asked in confusion.
"That the government has created job opportunities for all graduates and they have also sent Letter of approval for employment to every graduates in each states. In fact, I received my own letter and I decided to grab my copy. I went to apply for a job at a pharmacy and guess what the manager asked me?"
I looked at Agnes with folded arms. "what?" I asked.
"Where is my letter of approval from the government?" She answered as my eyes widened in shock.
"What?" I asked.
"That was how I got the job oh. He did not ask me for any CV oh but for the letter of approval. I was shocked girlfriend, it wasn't funny at all." she told me as she waited for me to say something but I just kept mute looking at her as if she had grown ten heads. She noticed my silence and she asked, "Aren't you going to say anything?"
"Um..." I cleared my throat. "...I don't know what to say Agnes, if I say I believe what you have just told me..I will be lying."
"ahn ahn...why?" Agnes asked with surprise in her tone.
"Are you forgetting the country we are talking about?" I asked her. She looked at me stunned and when she didn't say anything, I continued. "This is Nigeria, Agnes. This is not South Africa or Ghana, this is Nigeria and you are telling me about the government giving a letter of approval for employment, like are you kidding me?"
"Rachel, I am telling you the truth. See let me tell you ehn, I was almost about giving myself to one sugar daddy like that when the text came in. The man didn't want me to leave but I was glad I hadn't collected his money or done anything oh if not, na die I dey. This text saved me from ruining my life Rachel."
Rachel smiled. "It's not real. It can't be real. If it was another country, I wouldn't have doubted it but Nigeria..." I shook my head. "...that's a no from me."
Agnes and I were arguing when we saw Agnes' mom carrying a shopping bag filled with foodstuffs. We rushed to assist her. "Good day ma." I greeted.
"Rachel, how are you?"
"Fine ma. " i answered helping her to carry some things.
"Mummy, where are all these foodstuffs from? I thought you said you wanted to buy a bag of rice, where are all these from?" Agnes asked.
"My children....if I tell you what happened in the market today ehn, the both of you will be shocked." Mummy Agnes said.
"how do you mean ma?" I asked.
"Everything in the market is now at an affordable price; at a price that both the rich and the poor can afford. A bag of rice that is almost twenty five thousand naira is now ten to fifteen thousand naira. I went to price other things and their prices are very affordable." she said as I opened my mouth while listening to the story.
Agnes saw me and bursted into laughter. "Rachel, close the mouth small." she laughed. I quickly close my mouth. "I told you our country is changing for the better. Now they are working on job opportunities and food. Who knows what else they will be working on to make Nigeria a wonderful place to live in?" Agnes asked.
"Agnes, do you remember uncle Chidi?" Agnes nodded. "He has packed his children from the United States back to Nigeria. He said, 'Nigeria is now the place to live'."
I listened to everything and I came to the fact that I was wrong about Nigeria all along. "Ma, I have to be on my way to work now." I told them as Agnes collected the things from me. "We will see some other time." I said as I bade them goodbye.
My walk to work was very slow because I was in deep thoughts thinking of everything. "Does that mean that I can stop working and use the letter of approval to get myself a job at any hospital?" I asked myself as a smiled crossed my lips. I have never felt so much joy. I brought out my phone and checked the link again. "I should go and print this out and try it out as well, if everyone is testifying about the good of the land, I should also testify." I said as I marched to the cyber cafe.
I did everything I needed to and I got the letter of approval printed in black and white. I took it and went to Luth and they asked me for the letter of approval, when I presented it to them, they went through it and asked me some questions which I answered correctly and immediately, I was given the job. I didn't even have to wait for days or even for hours, the job was given to me instantly.
I got down on my knees and with tears in my eyes I said, "God bless Nigeria." Finally the suffering of three years working as a waitress has finally come to an end. I will no longer be ridiculed for my good results but bad job. I have gotten what I deserved for being a graduate. "Dear Lord, please let this good news continue and always bless Nigeria."
I was still crying and thanking God when I felt someone tapped me. I opened my eyes and saw myself at the restaurant with my boss in front of me with anger written all over her face. It was then I realized, it was only a dream. I bowed my head as I couldn't stop the tears that was flowing down my cheeks.
"Look at you, a first class graduate and see where you found yourself." My boss said as she pulled me by my braided hair. "I have told you I don't want you sleeping while working." she scolded me as a slap landed on my face. "If you are tired of working here let me know so I can employ someone else."
She pulled my ear and whispered to me, "Next time I see you sleeping while working, you won't like what I will do to you." She pushed me and walked away.
I fell on my knees crying. I wasn't crying because of the harsh words she said to me, I was already used to her insulting me but I was crying because the only thing that brought smile on my face after so long happened to be a dream. Will this dream ever become a reality? If it does, will I be alive to witness it? I asked myself. Whatever happens may my love for my country never grow cold till then, God Bless Nigeria.