A few weeks ago I had scheduled a meeting with a British businessman who owns one of the biggest spice making companies in the UK.
I was interviewing him for a project and we agreed to meet on Zoom at 5 o clock in the evening.
I was eagerly looking forward to the interview on the day and he confirmed his availability around 2pm. Suddenly, about an hour later every where started to turn dark. 😳
I looked out my window to see if it was about to rain; it wasnt. The sky was just getting darker and darker. I checked my phone.
4:00pm.
Whats going on? I checked my laptop to make sure my phone was not misleading me.
My laptop confirmed that it was 4 pm.
What on earth is going on. why is everywhere dark??? Did I miss the meeting? 😳
I was lowkey freaking out but acting calm; “experiencing shock but maintaining beauty.” 😌
I started searching for answers but i didnt want to embarass myself so I came online to a facebook group that I follow (which has many Nigerians abroad) to ask what is happening.
They all laughed and assured me it was normal; we had just entered the period of shorter days and longer nights. Due to change in seasons, night starts from 4 o clock. 😮
I was relieved. So the world wasnt ending? lol. I called the man at 5pm as promised; 5 o clock was already like midnight in Lagos. I thought to myself: “Suya business for make sense here o.” 😄
I didn’t know whether to greet good afternoon, good evening or good night. He picked up my accent immediately; “are you Nigerian?” he asked.
Yes. I replied.
“Interesting country Nigeria. Brilliant people. Its a shame what’s going on with the government.” He was referring to EndSars. He had been following the story.
I agreed.
We went on to have a wonderful interview about his life experiences. He hadn’t done well in school and had struggled through most of his life; working in different countries.
He had served in the British army, fought in Rhodesia (close to Mozambique), worked on a ship, been a sheep farmer, been a waiter, a tractor driver, a ranger.
He had his first child at 48.
He hadn’t had an easy life but now had achieved significant business success and had comforts to give to his children; but was worried that his kids would be spoiled and wouldn’t appreciate the struggles that life entails.
I understood.
What’s the best advice you would have for a young person today?
He fell silent, thought for a moment and said:
“…fill your life with adventure.”
Ten Esan
