A Childhood Inspiration of Law and Advocacy. (why I am an Advocate and why I studied Law)

I am Ethel, Presently an advocate for the Vulnerable population. 

I have not always desired to advocate for the Human rights of other persons; but certain childhood memories, made me know how much pain the vulnerable goes through every day, and how much joy it would bring them, if could love them too. Also, that we socially, culturally and academically include them in the society.

Some years ago, I had just resumed Primary 3, having been transferred to brigade primary school in Lagos. 

In those days in Lagos, the idea of Private schools and Nursery schools was a new line of education. And all schools then competed on equal grounds with government schools in all positive areas. 

Unions or Pressure groups were not left out. Unions such as the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUC), where a big deal in the country then.

The Spirot of unionism was so strong then that Unions and pressure groups great attention from the Government. Often times, the government could neither quiet them, nor could their demands be neglected. 

Unionism was so patriotic that, members where willing to die for the course they believed in. And thus, held the Government to Ransome, for every promise made to the people.

Brigade Primary School then, like every other Government school, soundly competed with private schools in all positive areas (well,  except in allowing girls braid their hair). 

The major Competitions which Brigade victories led other schools were in: Cultural dances, debates, sports, Fine Art and HIV awareness Campaigns by students.

I represented the school in debate, drawing, sport and cultural dance competitions. 

Do not think too far. I only knew cultural songs, but was not so good with cultural dances. 

In fact, a Maize plant pushed by the wind could do a whole lot better than me in dancing.

As for my performance in fine Art; I think I was talented in adding fur to every drawing I made. Hence, my fur adding gave me an edge over others (Laughs).

My participation in many extracurricular activities made me a social Bee; still, my close friends could easily be pointed out.

This was because, I hardly made close friends, and the few friends I had gradually left the school, having been transfered to another school. And Once again, I was left without any close friend... Social but friendless!

One day, Christian came late to class Again!  

But this time, it seemed I alone noticed that he was late than normal. 

The classroom Teacher punished him, and asked him to go sit down.

Christian with a long face, went to his usual seat at the back and started sleeping till break time. Do not be shocked, It was Christians routine. 

Christian comes late to school.

And most times, He arrives School when the Assembly has been dismissed,

around 5 to10minutes into the first-class teaching. It is at such times, that Christian shows up; walking like he has no parent to check his lateness to school.

He gets punished, and then walks to his seat and sleeps till break time. 

You see, Christian was my classmate from primary 3. 

He was a dark Lad with a long face and a bulgy eye. 

He was never known for anything good. For instance, his marks arebusually few points from failing the whole Examination. And he keeps his face like it represents all drop-out students, who waste their parents money, by sleeping in class.

Chistian's situation was such that, almost everyone in class, saw him as a useless and a good for nothing Pupil. 

Still, I could see so much innocence in Christians bulgy eyes, when he was not sleeping.

 It seemed to me, like there was more to him than anyone knew. Hence, i told myself that the lad was suffering, and I would be his friend, if no one else would.

Therefore, I went on with my plans to be his friend.

Trying to be friends with Christia, could be compared to predicting the exact day a woman would put to bed.

He was just too busy with his quiet life, to give me a little face. 

I tried all I could, but he just was not interested.

 I later admitted to myself that, he was just an invincible person who was present but was never there. 

Few days later, I noticed Christian smiling with one of our classmates, Mustapha. 

Everyone knew how close Mustapha and Christian where, but no one cared, and it also did not occur to me. Where Mustapha was smart and likeable, Christian was dull and reserved.

It really got me curios, how they both became to close.

Their relationship was one of truth, honour and loyalty. This intrigued me to know more and to be their friend.

At that moment, I walked up to them and greeted Mustapha while ignoring Christian.

Suprisingly, Christian (with a baffled expression), asked me why I chose to ignored only him.

Without care, I told him how i leant being snobbish from him and how my failed attempt be his friend, was his fault.

Christian and Mustaphaboth apologised to me, with Christian genuinely adding that he never noticed my friendly gestures.

Hence, from that day, we became friends. And later, Zaid (Mustaphas childhood friend) was also added, to make us a group of friends.

During one of our break time together, I noticed Mustapha and Zaid calling Christian "The Groundnut boy".

One may conclude that I was too curious; and curiosity kills the cat. Then, I am of the opinion, that information wakes and satisfies the Cat. Therefore,I asked them why Christian was nick named 'the groundnut Boy'?               

Mustapha answered, telling me that Christian was an orphan, and since he sells groundnut after school and also feeds on groundnut, He was named Groundnut Boy, to out live his situation.

Mustapha added that, the money realised from the sale of groundnut was what Christian uses to see himself through school. 

Wanting to be more clerified, I also asked why Christian's uniform had dull look, even when it looked clean.

Mustapha replied that the Uniform was Christians only clothe; and he had to sell groundnut till evening in it, and still washe and wear it to school, wet, every day.

I never expected the reply to make me feel the way I did. I felt really bad for Christian, but since Everyone was smiling, and calling him The Groundnut Boy, I followed suit with the encouraging nickname. We used it like a encouraging trophy rather than a mockery.

So, my instincts were right the whole time; the whole world had condemned Christian without a fair say.

Like Chriatian, many Vulnerable groups of persons have had their rights violated without a second thought to their humanity. Without the slightest reverwnce to the Humanity, which is the common ground  of all humans.

Therefore as friends, we gave ourselves nicknames; Christian was the Groundnut Boy, Mustapha was nicknamed Danger Butt, and Zaid was named Amina.

 Mustaphas nick name was inspired by his short. His short had torn, and he hated the fact that he would sew the uniform himself, and so he wore a red short inside his school uniform. Since red was known to symbolize danger, it earned him the nick name 'Danger Butt'.

As for Zaid, His mother was a local food seller in an all-girls secondary school. She was a vey kind woman, who sometimes sends food for us (Her sons friends).

The shocking thing was that, Zaid (like everyone else) calls his mother, Mama Amina. We found this odd, and thus, nick named him Mama Amina. 

Our Friendship grew better daily, and was well known to be of loyalty, truth and pranks. 

Yes, we pranked each other, keep our secrets save and defend one another.

 Throughout our stay in Primary school, we never fought, but we defended each others course with all we had.

This made others think that we had no self-worth, and that we were capable of fighting. 

The truth was, we hated fights and would never fight, but then we had to defend our friends honour like that, so none of their rights would be violated. In the course of time, other pupils could no longer badmouth Christian openly, since they would have to face us. 

We loved and cared for one another, as though we were of the same womb with same parents. 

Since we did not know how to tell each other that we loved and believed in them; we showed our encouragement through Pranks, and insult-like praise, or nicknames (in all, we meant the opposites of what was said). We all knew that it was our ways of saying, you may be the groundnut boy today, but it is a matter of time, until you become great in life.

Christian sleeps till break and then we teach him during break. 

One day in our Primary 6, Mustapha told me that Christian lives in an incomplete building. And whenever it rained, Christian may fall sick and thus not be able to school that day. 

That was what happened that day of his absent, and why I asked of his where about. I felt sorry for him, and I deeply thought of asking my dad to adopt him, but then, we already had a full house and it was not possible.

Every day in class, there was always a fart, of which no one knows the perpetrator.

My group knows, because the groundnut boy feeds only on the groundnut he sells, and the Fart always smells like rotten groundnut. 

Yes, at that time, the idiot would be sleeping. Well, we always prank him as punishment. You know, any one about to be pranked, always tries to get through to me, to spill the prank, or intervene on his behalf. 

This is because, I was treated specially like a last born, since  was the only girl and the one to first inspire a prank. In fact, if my friends give me a seat in class, I will never seat on it, because it may be a prank.

I saw them last in 2004 when I entered an all-girls secondary school and when I left Lagos, The Lasgidy. 

They are many people like Christian out there in the world. Some are children, Women, The elderly, the aged and Immigrants or Refugees. 

We are all humans, and I wish to see love and smiles, rather than pains and bully. Human Rights is the Birth right of all Humans despite the group. 

Finally, I wish to see my friends Again;

-Friends who would not eat at home but would sneak out their food and save up their feeding money to shares with friends. 

-Friends who forgave before you ever said sorry.

-Friends who would fight for you, even when they knew they had no strength.

-Friends who were never ashamed to be identified with you, friends like Mustapha, who may have been flogged, but would laugh like crazy so you are never be sad on his Account.

Today, I studied Law, and I am an advocate for the Human Rights of Vulnerable groups because of these persons who made me understand that true satisfaction is being true to ones self.

Author's Note:

Thank you all for finding out time to read this; You are appreciated.

My Special thanks and honour also goes to Barr. Charles Wakji; for proof reading and editing this work, even with his busy schedule. Bless your heart Sir!!