Showing posts with label Children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Children. Show all posts

Saturday, April 12, 2025

The Four Aishas


The Four Aishas : From Lagos To Aso Vila

This is a true life story of the four Aishas I know from Lagos to the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Abuja.

The first Aisha was the beautiful daughter of a Fulani gateman at a two storey residential building on Kalejaiye Street, off the Bajulaiye Road in Shomolu, Lagos.

He wanted me to marry her even though she was only 11 years old and told him that I Iooked like a tall and handsome Fulani man with fair skin and starry eyes. Aisha always accompanied her Yoruba friend of the same age to visit a Yoruba family in our residence, a bungalow popularly known as Morocco Ville in front of the Morocco Bus Stop of the Morocco Road in Shomolu. The residence was owned by the popular Morocco family and was built during the British colonial administration of Nigeria. My family and four other families were tenants in the building of different apartments. The Yoruba families were the Akanbi family, Asigbolusi family and the family of Baba Shadia. 

Aisha often accompanied her friend to visit the Asigbolusi family who knew her parents, Mr and Mrs Ojosu. 

Mr. Ojosu worked in the office of the Nigerian Energy Commission in Ikoyi on the Lagos Island. I visited him when I was one of the youngest national program consultants of the UNICEF at the age of 25 years. We met and became familiar and often had conversations about human development and the challenges of the political leadership of Nigeria. I was already popular after the publication of my book of original poems for Children, "Children of Heaven" by Krystal Publications Limited in 1987 and in 1988, there were reviews on the book by The Guardian and The Punch newspapers and on Radio Nigeria and the public presentation at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) on Victoria Island was on the prime time 7pm news of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) read by Siene Allwell-Brown, one of the celebrated newscasters in the country. Millions of people saw me on TV and millions heard the news on radio and read the reviews in the popular national newspapers. So whenever Mr. Ojosu and his family came to visit the Asigbolusi family, he always had the chance for our intellectual conversations and admired me with the daughter gazing at me with glints of excitement in her beautiful brown eyes. Girls at puberty begin to become affectionate with infatuation of lust and love for any boy and man they like. So I understood her admiration and excitement of always bringing Aisha along whenever she visited. Aisha told her father about me and introduced me to him when I was passing by their residence to visit my relatives in my uncle's two storey house at number 13, Kalejaiye Street. I often saw them as I visited my relatives almost every day.

I had several female friends, including our beautiful hood queen, Chinwe who often visited me and was my favourite girlfriend among other girlfriends.

I couldn't marry an underage girl even though her Muslim parents thought she was ready for marriage in accordance with their Islamic religion since the founder, Prophet Muhammad (puh) married Aisha, the youngest of his 13 wives when she was only a child and ended her virginity when she was only a 9 year-old girl.

The whole narrative of their lives is the subject of my historical fiction, "Unveil Me My Love" which Amazon refused the distribution of the novella, because of the fears of provoking Islamic terrorism like the "Satanic Verses" of the famous Indian novelist and essayist, Salman Rushdie. But another American publishing company published "Unveil Me My Love" and is available by special request.

It is only available in hardcover collector's edition.

The romantic narrative of an Abbysian bodyguard and trainer of the soldiers of Prophet Muhammad (puh) who was in love with Aisha. 

https://www.lulu.com/shop/orikinla-osinachi/unveil-me-my-love/hardcover/product-519468.html

The Aisha I refused to marry, because she was  an underage 11 year-old girl is now over 42 years and married with children.

The second Aisha came from war torn Sudan in pursuit of better life in Nigeria. She was black and beautiful and slender like the famous supermodels who were also from Sudan. I met her when she among the pretty ushers at the first credible international film festival in Nigeria, the Lagos International Forum on Cinema, Motion Picture and Video in Africa organized by Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria (ITPAN) from 2001 to 2006. It attracted local and international filmmakers and supported by the Nigerian film Corporation (NFC) and French Embassy. It started from when Chief Tunde Oloyede was President of ITPAN and continued successfully when Mr. Femi Odugbemi succeeded him as President of ITPAN. Famous Nobel laureate of Literature, Prof. Wole Soyinka and other important dignitaries were at the inaugural edition held at the Maison de France of the French Cultural Centre in Ikoyi.

I was attracted to Aisha and I gave her a phone number to reach me before I left.

Then one day, she called and said she had been kicked out of the flat in 1004 estate on Victoria Island where she had been staying with two Nigerian "runs babes" who were professional escorts. They falsely accused her of snatching their boyfriends.

She was waiting for me at the Yaba bus stop..She was homeless and wanted to come and stay with me. But there was no space to accommodate her where I was allowed to stay in the flat of a good friend in Moshalashi near the Jibowu area, off the Agege Motor Road on the way to Mushin. I would have persuaded my relatives in Shomolu to accommodate her in their two storey house, but they would most likely fight over sleeping with her. She was breaking down in distress and I was really feeling sorry for her. Her last resort was to call David Hivet, the handsome young French Regional Audio-visual Attache based in Lagos whom she met at the ITPAN's international film forum.  So, he came gallantly and rescued the Sudanese damsel in distress.

If I had accommodated Aisha, our first child would have been a grown up adult by now. 

I met the third Aisha when she was an office  assistant of a former friend I worked with as the media consultant for his communication company in Shomolu on the mainland of Lagos State. She was an attractive young woman from Kogi state  who had just completed secondary school and was waiting for the opportunity to go to any of the universities or polytechnics in Nigeria.

She was staying in the nearby Myyoung Army Barracks with her elder sister, a junior military officer married to a fellow junior officer in the Nigerian Army. 

We became close and would have become lovers, but I was distracted by other romantic affairs with more attractive female friends, including Linda Ikeji who was coming to our office in her car and with her laptop.

So, Aisha soon relocated to Akure in Ondo state to stay with her mother and family. She is now married with two kids. 

 

The fourth Aisha is Dr. Mrs Aisha Buhari, wife of the immediate past President of Nigeria, retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. 

I was invited to meet with her by the Office of the President in 2018 following my request to present my book on her husband, "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari: My Eyewitness Account of the 2015 Presidential Election".

I borrowed money from close acquaintances to travel to Abuja and paid for three days accommodation in a hotel in Asokoro close to the State House,  Aso Villa. 

I was welcomed to her office and sat down in her own official Office after meeting with the Information Officer, Dr. Haruna Suleiman and her special secretary, Dr. Hajo Sani. I was offered tea which I politely declined and accepted the cans of soft drinks and digestive biscuits. But I couldn't meet with her for three days and I said I would be stranded in Abuja without any more money to stay longer. So, I returned to Lagos in peace.

- by Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Author of "Diary of the Memory Keeper" and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.



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Saturday, August 10, 2024

A New Book: Like Their Fathers, Like Their Mothers



COMING OUT SOON

One of the new books I have written so far.

LIKE THEIR FATHERS,LIKE THEIR MOTHERS

Definitely a must read on the Nigerian society.

This is following my previous books; "Diary of the Memory Keeper" and "In the House of Dogs" also on lives in Nigeria, excluding my other books, "Children of Heaven", "Scarlet Tears of London",  "Unveil Me My Love", "The Prophet Lied", "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari" "The Language of True Love" and "Naked Beauty":((a romantic screenplay co-authored with Dr. Chika Christian Onu)

90 percent of my books are distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

#books

#author

#diary 

#memoir 

#novel 

#literature 

#nigeria 

#society

#buhari

#society

#parents

#sons

#daughters

#love

#beauty

#friends

#friendship

#relationship

#marriage 

#london

#heaven

#children

#amazon

#barnesandnoble

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

20 Years of Advocacy For Character Development of Nigerian Children and Youths for Nation Building: 2003 - 2023

20 Years of Advocacy For Character Development of Nigerian Children and Youths for Nation Building: 2003 - 2023


In 2003, my King of Kings Books International sponsored the King of Kings Books International National Essay Competition for Secondary Schools in Nigeria at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies of the University of Lagos with the mission of character development of Nigerian children and youths for visionary leadership in the nation building of a New Nigeria.

 In 2004 spoke to children and youths of the Foursquare Gospel Church at 62/66 Akinwunmi St, Alagomeji-Yaba, Lagos with the approval of the General Overseer, Rev. Wilson Badejo who met with me and commended my mission.

In 2004 I left Lagos for Bonny Island in Rivers State, where I sold books on medicine and true love in the Nigeria LNG Residential Area 1 where I had the presentation of my book, "The Language of True Love" on the Valentine's Day, February 14, 2006 and also sold the book on the street.
I joined the Assemblies of God Church in evangelism and supported church planting on Bonny Island.

I returned to Lagos in 2008 to focus on the advocacy for the education of the millions of underprivileged girls out of school in Nigeria.
The success stories include the following:






* Nigerian premiere of "In The Name of Your Daughter" cosponsored by the High Commission of Canada in Nigeria on May 23, 2019.





* Nigerian Premiere of “Girl Rising” with Holly Gordon of 10x10 and Participant Media on October 11-12, 2013. https://newsghana.com.gh/moments-nigerian-premiere-girl-rising/




* Nigerian premiere of "HE NAMED ME MALALA" for the MALALA Fund on October 11, 2015.


I am glad and grateful for the cooperation and support of everyone, company and organization since 2003 to date in the upliftment of Nigerian children and youths. 


- EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima 
Publisher/Editor, 
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series 
Tel: +2347066379246

Friday, April 7, 2023

Ọ̀ràézè Ǹrì, Kingdom of the Rising Sun

Ọ̀ràézè Ǹrì By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

Ọ̀ràézè Ǹrì
Kingdom of the Rising Sun

How can you traverse the universe,
When you have chosen not to see beyond your nose? 

They called her the ageless woman of the Igbo Ukwu. The Mother of all the Dibias of Afa divination. 

I came to the peak of the hills of Udi where I found her sitting under an Ugiri tree.
She was sitting on green palm fronds encircled by gourds. I came before her naked and bowed.
"Gini bu afa ghi?" 
She asked  in the language of our kingdom meaning, "What is your name!"
"Onyemachi."
I replied. 

She gazed at me. She gazed into my eyes. Her eyeballs were like golden almonds. She gazed at the windows of my soul. Then she nodded her hairless oval head.
"Hmm. Indeed Onyemachi. Of course, who knows God?"
She shook her head.
"Nobody knows God. They call, cry and shout His name every day and night and yet they don't know Him "
"Great Mother, I want to know Him. I have come to know Him," I said.
She gazed at me again.
With the index finger of her thin right hand she scribbled on the ground what I could not read and did not understand.

"You want to know Him whom they don't know?"
"Yes, Great Mother."
She brought out the bowl of the shell of a tortoise with a short stick of Ofo wood. Then she brought out the four strings of AFA one by one. 
"Open your right palm," she said.
I opened my right palm.
She held it and gazed at it.  She opened her right palm and gazed at it and gazed at mine again.
"The truth is only for the children of the covenant," she said.
"Not all the children of Yebu are called. Not all the ones who are called are chosen."
She picked up the first string of the AFA with her right hand and cast it on the ground.



Our forefathers and diviners said Yebu came with the Afa when he descended from the midst of the clouds in the sky with flashes of lightning and claps of thunder.
Yebu was one of the Sons of God who came down to the Earth. 

Genesis 6:
"And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose '"

© Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima. All rights reserved. No copying, duplication, publication and reproduction of the content without the authorization and permission of the author and owner of the copyright.

#God
#Creation
#Genesis
#fathers
#children
#mother
#sons
#daughters
#almond
#tree
#sun
#angels
#thunder
#lightning
#claps
#heaven
#Igbos
#AFA
#Nrikingdon
#IgboUkwu
#Nri
#Ofo
#Yebu

Monday, March 27, 2023

‘The Witness’, A Musical Stage Play on The Passion of JESUS Christ


"The Witness"

A Musical Stage Play that is sure to captivate audiences with its unique perspective on the passion of JESUS Christ.


This play is told from the point of view of Claudia, the only woman who spoke up for Jesus Christ. Through her eyes, we gain new insights and a deeper appreciation for the events that transpired. The Witness is not only a powerful story but also a musical play that promises to delight audiences with its moving performances and catchy tunes.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this project has been the opportunity to work with less privileged children who have a passion for theater. We have partnered with professionals who are training them and giving them exposure to the creative world. By supporting this production, you will not only be helping us to share this beautiful story with the world, but also helping to provide opportunities for these talented children.

In order to bring this production to life, we need financial support. We would be incredibly grateful for any contribution you can make to help us reach our fundraising goals. Additionally, we would be honored if you, your family members, and friends could attend one of our performances at Terra Kulture on either;

Friday, March 31, 2023 and Saturday, April 1, 2023. SHOW TIME: 3:00pm and 7:00pm each day.

Your presence would be greatly appreciated and would help to make this project a success.

Thank you for your time and consideration. We believe that The Witness has the power to make a real impact, and we hope that you will join us in bringing this important story to life.

Call Rosemary on Tel: 0802 312 4308 or Francis on Tel: 0816 979 5827 for seat reservation.

Regular Seat - N10,000. 

VIP Seat - N20,000.

VVIP Seat - N40,000.

Payment should be made to:

ORNAMENTS PRODUCTION LIMITED (FIDELITY BANK PLC)

ACCOUNT NO - 5610079924

Or on https://paystack.shop/the-witness-a-musical-stage-play

Sincerely,
Uche Cynthia Nwuka.


#JESUS 
#JESUSChrist 
#Christ 
#Easter
#Passion
#TheWitness
#drama
#musical
#play
#Claudia
#children
#project
#April
#saturday 




Tuesday, December 6, 2022

The World is Full of Unreasonable People

 Every conflict in history has been caused by Rebellion against rationality.

Humans have a preference for irrationality.
That's why the world has never known even one year of peace.
There is always a preventable war going on somewhere.

In the absence of noble ethos
The city burns in the violence of chaos.

The on going invasion of Ukraine by Russia is a rebellion against rationality.
The world is full of unreasonable people.

- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Author of "The Prophet Lied", "Scarlet Tears of London", "Diary of the Memory Keeper", "Children of Heaven" and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.
#people #london #amazon #books #Ukraine #Russia #war #conflict #rebellion #rationality #noble #ethos #heaven #children #prophet #history #chaos #world
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl1ubbitW4c/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

Sunday, December 4, 2022

The Rings of Power

Rings of Power

(An original story by Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima)

Kingdom of Nri
circa 4,000 BCE

The oldest monarchy on the continent of Africa is the Igbo monarchy of Nri Kingdom.

Ọ̀ràézè Ǹrì
Kingdom of the Rising Sun

How can you traverse the universe,
When you have chosen not to see beyond your nose? 

They called her the ageless woman of the Igbo Ukwu. The Mother of all the Dibias of Afa divination. 
I came to the peak of hills of Udi where I found her sitting under an Ugiri tree.
She was sitting on green palm fronds encircled by gourds. I came before her naked and bowed.
"Gini but afa ghi?" 
She asked  in the language of our our kingdom meaning, "What is your name!"
"Onyemachi."
I replied. 
She gazed at me. She gazed into my eyes. Her eyeballs were like golden almonds. She gazed at the windows of my soul. Then she nodded her hairless oval head.
"Hmm. Indeed Onyemachi. Of course, who knows God?"
She shook her head.
"Nobody knows God. They call, cry and shout His name every day and night and yet they don't know Him "
"Great Mother, I want to know Him. I have come to know Him," I said.
She gazed at me again.
With the index finger of her thin right hand she scribbled on the ground what I could not read and did not understand.
"You want to know Him whom they don't know?"
"Yes, Great Mother."

She brought out the bowl of the shell of a tortoise with a short stick of Ofo wood. Then she brought out the four strings of Afa one by one. 
"Open your right palm," she said.
I opened my right palm.
She held it and gazed at it.  She opened her right palm and gazed at it and gazed at mine again.
"The truth is only for the children of the covenant," she said.
"Not all the children of Yebu are called. Not all the ones who are called are chosen."

She picked up the first string of the Afa with her right hand and cast it on the ground.
Our forefathers and diviners said Yebu came with the Afa when he descended from the midst of the clouds in the sky with flashes of lightning and claps of thunder.
Yebu was one of the Sons of God who came down to the Earth 

Genesis 6:
"And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.


***
Read another original fiction by Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima in "Camouflage: Best of Contemporary Writing from Nigeria" distributed by Amazon.



Sunday, October 2, 2022

My US$3000 Challenge

I am in urgent need of US$3000 (three thousand dollars) within 24 hours to pay for house rent for one year.

Presently, due to critical economic crunch and delayed incomes, I don't have any money to pay for house rent and the welfare of my poor dependants of underprivileged children in Nigeria.

Delays in my incomes have been caused by lack of sales of my books on Amazon and other booksellers and delays in the acquisition of the film and TV rights to the movies and series I am marketing for producers and distributors.

I will be grateful for every amount of support I receive within 24 hours before I become homeless tomorrow.

CONTRIBUTION in USD can be sent to my bank account:

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc
365 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Beneficiary name- EKENYERENGOZI MICHAEL CHIMA
Account number- 0016426307
Bank identifier/SWIFT CODE- GTBINGLA
SORT Code - 058152353

CONTRIBUTION in Naira should be sent to my Guaranty Trust Bank current account 0016426297 
Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

Thank you for your support.

Gratefully,
EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima 
Publisher/Editor, 
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series
https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchimaeyerengozi
Tel: +2347066379246

PS:

If I receive more than the US$3000 I need urgently, the remaining money will be used for my charity for the education of underprivileged girls out of school in Nigeria which I have been supporting since 2013 by advocacy for girl education and the celebration of the annual United Nations' International Day of the Girl Child on every October 11.




Monday, August 1, 2022

Motherhood is a Full Time Job

Motherhood is a Full Time Job

Read the heart breaking news of the loss of three young sisters left in the care of a babysitter in Texas in the United States of America.
They were missing and later found dead in a neighbor's pond.
https://www.nairaland.com/7257370/3-sisters-went-missing-found

#Motherhood #parents #parenting #mothers #children #daughters #sisters #fathers #safety #protection #Lagos #Texas #America #Nigeria #home #school #work #job #babysitting

I have always been an advocate for mothers of minors to stay at home and take proper care of their young children until they become teenagers before getting another job outside the house.
Babysitters, nannies or housemaids cannot replace mothers.
If you cannot take care of your children, please don't have them.
Motherhood is a full time job
No work is more important than the precious lives of your children.
If you lose your job, you can always get another job.But if you lose your child or children, you can never replace them again.

Two weeks ago whilst about to cross a busy road with speeding vehicles on four lanes, I was standing by the roadside in front of the Zebra Crossing on the mainland of Lagos in Nigeria, a young girl returning from primary school was afraid to cross the Herbert Macaulay Road. The nearest footbridge was far away from the Alagomeji Bus Stop. There were three traffic wardens at the junction and one of them should have helped the unaccompanied little girl to cross the road, but they ignored her.
"Do you want to cross the road?" I asked her.
"Yes," she replied nodding her head.
I took her right hand and waited patiently, looking right and left until no vehicle or motorcycle was near the junction and we crossed the road safely.
"Your father or mother should have accompanied you to go to school and return home," I said to her.
"They went to work," she replied.
She asked me if I was going in the direction of her street in the neighborhood. 
"No. I am staying nearby," I replied.
"You should take a bus or tricycle to the bus stop of your street," I said.
"I don't have any transport fare," she said.
I gave her enough transport fare and waited until she boarded the right bus going to her street.
I will not even recognize her if I ever see her again.
This was not the first time I have done so. 

Dear Parents, do your duty for the safety of your children.

- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Author of "Children of Heaven", "Diary of the Memory Keeper" and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers worldwide.



Friday, May 27, 2022

HAPPY CHILDREN'S DAY!

#Childrensday #children

#Nigeria #thankyou #opportunity #education #digital #love #future #health #safety #network #school

HAPPY CHILDREN'S DAY!
Children are my best true friends and that is why my life is focused on doing my best for them to secure the future of our children.
The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of my company, International Digital Post Network Limited is focused on the education and welfare of the millions of underprivileged girls out of school in Nigeria.

Let us pray for the health, safety and well-being of our  children.

O, Lord JESUS Christ,
We pray for a heart that loves you.
Give us the strength to love others more than we love ourselves.
We thank you for this day.
We thank you for another opportunity.
Amen.

Lord,
I ask that you would direct our mind to know, investigate and seek the truth
and to understand the difference between wise and foolish choices.
Make us prosperous and victorious triumphant overcomers in the world.
In the mighty name of our MESSIAH JESUS Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever
AMEN.

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

The Nwankwos Celebrate Matriarch at 80

The Nwankwos Celebrate Matriarch at 80

The Nwankwo family of Obinagu, Osikwu village, Awgbu, Orumba North local government area of Anambra state, had every reason to roll out the drums to celebrate their matriarch, Mrs Victoria Nwamkwo ( aka Omenwa) at 80. 

For a woman who has seen it all-producing five children, 20 grandchildren and one great-grandchild- attaining 80 is a milestone worthy of celebrating.

Among Mrs Nwankwo's children is Chief Celestine Nwankwo( Nnabuenyi), a business mogul.

The well attended birthday celebration attracted dignitaries from all walks of life, including Chief Nwankwo's business associates and friends; Chief ( Sir) Pius Nwankwo, Chief Moses Nwankwo and son in law to the celebrant, Chief Ken Mbala.

The event started at 10 am with a Thanksgiving mass at the celebrant's residence.