CHOICES

Amina, 19, hails from Borno state, North-Eastern Nigeria. She is from a wealthy home. She's written SSCE twice and failed Mathematics in both attempts. Now she's trying for the last time. "Otherwise, you'll be married off," her father threatened. So she's leaving no stone unturned to ensure she passes this time around. She lacks nothing: all she has to do is pass and she could go to any university of her choice in the world. She is studying hard!

Bola 17, comes from Ekiti State, South-Western Nigeria. She wrote and passed the exam at her very first attempt. She grew up with her parents in a modest environment. They didn't have much but they tried to provide for their children to the best of their abilities. Just that, their best is never enough for Bola. She wants more. She can't understand why they cannot do more for her. She always wants more. With the hope of gaining admission at hand, "i can't afford to look like a beggar in school, I have to find a way out". She resolved.

Amara, 18, hails from Anambra, Eastern Nigeria. She, on the other hand, hasn't written at all. She lives with a distant relative somewhere in Benue State, who refused to send her to school. She loves school and loves to study. Every opportunity she gets, she takes her cousin's discarded text books and studies. She spends most of her nights studying. She studies so hard, she sometimes puts her  cousins through with their school work.
Amara first heard about this SSCE from her  twin cousins, 14 year old Moses and Mercy, whose mum said they would attempt it in SS2 so as to have an idea of how the exam is.

As they discussed, Amara longingly wished she could get an opportunity to also attempt it. All her life, she has always dreamt of becoming a Medical Doctor. That was one of the reasons she willingly followed her mother's relative to Benue State,  believing she would put her in school. But, it's been six years now, she is yet to smell the four walls of a classroom.

She hasn't given up on that dream yet. That's why she spends most of her nights studying while the household slept. She was the best student in her class before she moved to live with her aunt in Makurdi.

Everyone had high expectations of her. If only she could find a way to reach her father, he would do his best to ensure she writes this exam because her mates will be writing too.
She hasn't seen them since she moved. She speaks to them on the phone under strict supervision from her aunt and she doesn't know his phone number.
She prayed and hoped God will hear her and somehow  make a way.

She was sent to the market on Saturday, and while trying to price Yams, someone called her out of the crowd. She turned round, lo and behold, it was someone from her village who lived very close to her parents house! She was so glad to see him! They exchanged pleasantries. She asked of her parents and he told her they were all doing well. She asked if he had her father's phone number and he did. He gave it to her. He even offered to call her parents so she could speak with them.
She thanked him, spoke with her parents briefly and promised to call another day.

Her parents were surprised but glad to hear from her. She didn't say much because of her neighbour. "Call them later, I will. Today! "
The speed with which God answered her prayers was numbing!

She went to a pay phone and called her parents as soon as she parted ways with her towns man.
She told her father how she would love to register for and write the coming SSCE. She then told him all about night studies despite the fact that she hasn't been going to school. He was not happy that she was kept at home instead of being sent to school but he was calm about it. As he spoke to her, a plan was conceived in his heart.  He bid her farewell and told his wife all that his daughter had told him.

The next morning, he was on his way to Markurdi. He just told his wife he was coming. Luckily he had the house address.
He got to his wife's relative's house before noon. Thank God she and her husband were home!

Everyone was shocked to see him. Including Amara. He greeted them and thanked them for taking care of his daughter. He wished he could leave her but age was catching up with he and his wife and they would need Amara back to help them with daily chores.
The aunt's husband tried to convince him to leave her for a while but Papa Amara was adamant. Her aunt on the other hand was speechless. Amara didn't even have a decent dress to travel in. If only she had the slightest premonition that he was coming, she would have bought a few things for her. How can she cover this up? How can she make it up with such a short notice?

Chimoooo!!!🙆🏻‍♀🙆🏻‍♀🙆🏻‍♀

She called Amara into her room and tried to cover up by giving her some of her children's clothes and undies but they didn't fit because Amara is of a bigger frame. She begged Amara to forgive her and not tell what she did to her. She knelt down, begging her to please stay and she would try to make it up to her. Amara told her all was forgiven. She would love to stay but her dad said her mum wasn't as strong as before. They need her. All was fine, she assured her aunt, and she meant it because she didn't even give her father details about how her life had been. She only talked about not going to school.

Two hours later, they were on their way back to their village. He made a quick stop and bought her a few things as Amara left behind the things her aunt gave her. It was obvious she didn't have clothes. Her father bought her some so she doesn't arrive Anambra looking like a pauper.

You see, fortune had smiled on him and he was doing well. He could afford to give his daughter a comfortable life now. His only daughter at that. He advised Amara to forget all she faced at her aunt's place and think about her future. "Don't even talk about it to anyone!" He told her.

He wasn't sure she would pass SSCE but he knew she had always been intelligent, and since she said she had been studying, he believed her. He will enrol her and even if she doesn't make it this time around, he'd pay for her next year. He'll get tutors to help her scale through.

The next day Amara was enrolled for the SSCE. She passed with flying colours! She also sat for UTME/JAMB and passed.
She was offered admission into the prestigious University of Maiduguri to study medicine. There, she met Amina and Bola. They were roommates and eventually became friends.

Amina was an introvert like Amara but Bola always loved to party and made friends with all sorts of people. She began to follow men for money. Her two friends advised her but she constantly fought with them. At some point she moved out of the room because she felt they were nagging, but moved back in after a few weeks.
She continued living life on the edge until their third year when she was invited for a party in Jos. Her roommates didn't support her, but she insisted on going.

The plan was for those attending the party to leave school Friday morning for Jos. They were told,  "Each of you will be meeting a dignitary whom you will escort and spend the rest of the evening with"
They were also  promised huge amount of money, "If the dignitary favours you, you could stay beyond Saturday"
They were all excited and aimed to please. They pit in extra effort in appearance that evening.
On Saturday morning, all the girls were asked to stay back for another party,
"The bosses were pleased with all of you", they were told.
Half  way through the "party", the venue was attacked by masked armed men. All the dignitaries were whisked away by their security. Bola and a few girls escaped, but the rest were gruesomely murdered with several body parts missing.

They barely managed to get back to Maiduguri. They couldn't tell anyone what had happened to them for a long time.
Bola's friends kept wondering what was wromg  but she would always insist she was okay when asked and turn her back to them.

A few weeks later, she finally told them what happened. They were horeified and understood her sudden withdrawal and new style of staying indoors. She told them "i actually watched as the girls were being slaughtered".
She had become sober after then. She was constantly afraid to move around alone, but Amina and Amara supported her and took turns being there for her. They lovingly helped her find her confidence. She changed her circle of friends0 and stuck with Amina and Amara. They both supported her as best as they could with funds and clothes where necessary. She didn't need to follow men to make ends meet.

Amina's parents were so nice that they took Amara and Bola like their own children. They were very generous and ensured the girls lacked nothing.

When she looks back, Bola believes God lovingly guided her to both ladies. They are a vital part of her life till date. Her story wouldn't be complete without them.
When the school authorities later heard the news and tried to fish out and possibly expel the students involved, those girls vouched for her. They prevented her from being rusticated. Her parents would have been so disappointed. But  look at her today, a Chartered Aaccountant working with a multinational corporation.
Amina is running her own Architectural Firm and consulting for big corporations.
Amara is a medical consultant with the World Health Organisation.

Truly, God has blessed her with the best of friends who have become  her sisters.
Only God knows where she would have been today but for their friendship and support.