Somebody's role model

Post Secondary school, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde was EVERYTHING for me. There was grace in her strides. She exuded confidence and a beautiful aura. I toyed with the idea of being an actress because of her😂. I would often try to mimic how she walked and dressed. I felt powerful because of her.

Then it was Simi in Uni days. Though not popular then, her music was EVERYTHING. I could sing ALL her songs word for word. I began to take my music seriously.

During MA days, it was Mali Music and Gaise. I began to really think deep and have uncomfortable conversations about religion and life. And then I threw in a little Ed Sheeran. Oh and Isha Sesay too.

Then I 'met' Sarah Jakes Roberts through her books and I was transported into her world and I was like Yassss! Chileeeee. Nobody 'badder' than! But seriously her faith and fashion have a serious influence on me.

I ran into my gym instructor one evening at the gym. He recalled that he had seen me earlier in the day. I was going to the gym in the morning and evening EVERY DAY. I was obsessed with losing weight. He told me I was beautiful and should embrace my beauty and that I did not need 2 sessions per day. That was the day I decided I would not kill myself😁. I never got his name till I left Westminster but he influenced me a great deal.

Then I 'met' Tiwa Savage through her interview on HIP TV One day. She damned her fame and told the world her truth. Just like that! Coincidentally, I was in the same boat. Then I thought, "If she can, then I can".

I guess what I'm trying to say is that at every point in my life I have had huge influences as you must have too.
Same way, you are also an influence to someone else. Make it count! I will continue to reiterate that your life is not just for you. It is a mirror that will guide someone else (even if it is for a short period of time). Live your best God-given life and do not abuse the sphere of influence He has given to you.

I have not watched an Omotola movie in ages, I have not yet listened to Simi's new song- By you nor Gaise's newest single, I don't have Mali's last album, I don't think I know any Tiwa Savage song (I still listened to SJR last week sha); but I am grateful for the roles they played in my life when they were most needed.

I should sleep now, else I'll keep typing away.

Peace, love and sunshine,

Your favourite writer girl,

Love.

Pay it forward

My wide smile gradually began to fade as I watched my co-passengers all depart the airport. I panicked as I continued to wait for my friend at ARRIVALS of the Indira Gandhi airport. I could not call as my SIM was not recognized and there was no internet. I could not do anything. Worse still, English is not the dominant language in India so I knew asking for help would be difficult. Hot tears had gathered in my eyes. I was in an unknown country. An unknown continent as a matter of fact and the only contact I knew was not there to get me.The first person I spoke to did not understand a word I said. Then I met another who understood English. I explained my situation and he asked for my friend's number. He called and spoke in Hindi to her and he said he would wait with me till she came. "She's here", I screamed as I sighted her from a distance. I was so grateful to him and we both went our ways.

Fast forward to 7 days later on my way back to Nigeria. We flew from India to Turkey where we had to wait 8 hours for a connecting flight to Abuja. I was prepared. I had a book, money to pay for WIFI and my fully charged phone and earpiece for music. I also took the plane blanket🙈 and used to make a comfortable seat for myself as there are no seats except in the the dining areas. I got comfortable and then called my parents (I had bought WIFI from a shop). Pops let me know I was entitled to a free meal since it's a long wait. I rushed there sharp sharp, ate to my satisfaction and went back to my WIFI spot (you lose connection when you move more than 10 feet away from the shop). I was just about to settle in when this mummy came to me.
Mummy: Well done o. Are you a Nigerian?
Me: Yes
Mummy: Abi Yoruba ni yin? (Are you yoruba?)
Me: *smiling and pretending not to understand Yoruba*. Side note: Yoruba people like to do parapo aka gum body when they find themselves abroad. And I really wanted a quiet time besides she would discover that my Yoruba is bad and begin a lecture on mother tongue preservation. Abeg I don't like stress, let's speak English.

Mummy went on to explain how she had been stranded at the airport for 3 days. She missed her connecting flight. The airport is too large so you have to keep checking the notification boards and she probably forgot the time. Since then she was not able to reach her daughter in America whom she went to visit and her family in Lagos that had been expecting her. She had no money on her to buy WIFI. It was a no brainer. I immediately asked for her daughter's number in America and called her on WhatsApp. Oh the joy! They must have spoken for 30 minutes. They spoke in Yoruba and I understood the entire conversation but I kept a straight face😏. Apparently, mummy went to visit her daughter and the husband in America and their living condition was very bad. The husband did not have a job and the daughter's job was not great. Mummy ended up dropping everything she had for them and went to the airport with no money. Mummy kept praying for her daughter and told her not to give up that things would be better. Her daughter promised to contact Lagos so they could come pick her.

After the conversation, mummy never left my side. I kept helping her check for her flight as she was flying to Lagos which was before me. When her flight number came on, I alerted her and she made me walk her to her terminal.

As I lost sight of her, I looked up and said "God I see what you are doing!" Isn't it funny how the universe demands from us the same things it gives to us. Only 7 days earlier I was stranded and a stranger helped me and it suddenly became my turn to help another.

After God has come through for you and the time to pay it forward comes, do not hold back. Especially in terms of kindness. If we all extend a helping hand, we will have a happy jolly world.

What will you be paying forward?

Your favourite writer girl,
Love.

P.s One way you can pay kindness forward is by sponsoring ONE child in Primary school through the PROJECT ONE initiative. It costs 36,000 per year without textbooks and 44,500 per year eith textbooks. Contact me for more details.

Living my best life

"Give me husband or I die" I said to my mother as I placed the bottle of otapiapia (rat poison) on my lower lip and prepared to gulp it down. My mother was confused and began to wail begging me not to take my life. Just in the nick of time, Ehigocho came in. Seeing the pandemonium, he offered himself and said the words "Here I am, I don't have money but I will marry her". He thus became the sacrificial lamb that stopped me from dying and married me.

This was somebody's version of how my husband and I met. She gave the gist as though it was first hand information and she lived in the same home with me. I laughed it off and did not bother to offer the true version.

I do realize that my purpose is way bigger than I am. My personality will have me hide away in a corner and fade into background but somehow at every point, I am sought out. I decided to stop running and face the fact that I am a force to be reckoned with. While I would love to wait and correct every wrong impression of me; I simply cannot. The tasks ahead are enormous and I must keep moving.

So instead, this is what I do- I live out my truth and audaciously live my best God given life. What this means is that...

*I am blessed on every side
*My husband and I are not poor and will never be.
*God has blessed us on every side. Our children surround our table.
*Our name and fame is travelling around the world. Domestic and international doors are opened unto us.
*We are instruments in the hand of God. We will bring about the salvation and deliverance of many.
*Our gifts will make room for us.
*We will die empty. Every potential God has deposited in us will used.
*We are chopping life. We will visit the most exotic places and enjoy luxury.
*Our names will continually be on the lips of many because we cannot be ignored.
*Our love is waxing stronger on a daily. God looks down on us and He is so proud of us.

These are my truths. What's yours?

When you do God, the world will eventually adjust. X

Your favourite writer girl,
Love.

Jesus was not mean

*
We had just parked the car when I saw a parent coming out of the premises of the school in tears. We beckoned on her but she refused to wait and kept walking very fast. I was furious, I thought a staff had been rude to her or perhaps something worse. It turned out that she had brought only one of her two children to school. The teacher asked for her son (he is in Pry 2 by the way) and she said his father would not let him come to school. When she was told the last examination for the term was today, she began to cry and walked away.

By 12 noon she was back in school with her son and immediately went on her knees begging for her son to be given his exams. We told her to get up as it was not that serious but she refused. She said that they woke up for devotion in the morning and her son instead of concentrating on the prayer was busy arranging his things for exam. He was found out when his sharpener dropped which caught the attention of his father. He was furious and said the boy would not write his exam and asked him to sit under the sun till 3pm. (If you live in Kaduna, you know what the weather is like now.)

The father who was furious on Jesus' behalf helped Jesus to punish a 7 year old boy in such a manner. Thankfully he had mercy and he was released earlier than scheduled.

It reminded me of a time I was tagged a witch because I would not kneel for prayer in late pregnancy😂 #JesusWasNotMean

*
Office gossip got to us that a certain staff said we would not make heaven and we were leading people to hell. She said this because we wear trousers and earrings. She said even the traditional thread was a sin against God. But she works for people going to hell and earns the money she spends from them. Does that not mean....? Anyway, never mind. Plus one of her children is on full scholarship. It is wickedness. #JesusWasNotMean

*
Someone cursed me out in public for walking out of an abusive marriage. I took it in good faith and wished his daughter the Lord's strength when she will eventually land in an abusive marriage. He flipped and said I was cursing his child. So e dey pain?😂 #JesusWasNotMean.

How about we cut people some slack, just as Jesus does us?
How about correcting people in love as Jesus did?
How about we don't force our beliefs on people but rather pray them through if we feel so strongly about them?
How about praying for people even when you do not understand why they do what they do?
How about minding your business?
How about being an example of what people should emulate?
How about being truly Christ-like?

Don't help Jesus punish people. Thank you!

Peace, love and cupcakes.

Your favourite writer girl,

Love.

Aanu Oluwa Kìítan - The full gist

"...I stretched out my hand to pick up the phone and see what the notification was about. It was his Twitter application. I tapped on it and the notifications were from the DM (Direct Message). I opened it and the first message I opened went something like this:

Dare*: Hi sexy
Twitter girl: Hi
Dare*: You look so beautiful
Twitter girl: Thanks
Dare*: I like you. Please give me a chance. I want to kiss you so passionately and run my fingers through your body.
Twitter girl: *No reply*
No this was not what was painful. It was the fact that the girl looked like a teenager and the date. It was during the last week of November, 2013. 2 weeks to our wedding. The exact time I was in London dead worried that we did not have a reception venue. I was so mad I felt like kicking something. But I chose to cry. I cried a long time. I felt used, stupid and played. I woke him up gently and as his eyes cleared, I just pointed the screen of the phone to him. He begged but his words were inaudible to me. I was in pain. My heart was broken into a million pieces. In the morning, I called our pastor to inform him and he asked that we both came to see him.
I did not take a picture of the chat and by the time we got to the pastors office, it was all gone. He deleted everything. He told the pastor I was confusing things; that he was merely encouraging a young girl in distress. I burst into another round of tears begging to be believed. ‘I know what I read sir’ I said to papa. I left that office convinced that what happened did not happen."

This is an excerpt from my book #BeforeIdieI'llLive. The moment I got done writing (a few days to my wedding) and held the manuscript and read it to myself, I could not believe the difference between the girl in that book and the woman I am now. As I got done reading, I blurted out 'Àanu Oluwa Kìítan'. That was the summary of my story. Indeed God has been merciful to me.

I felt like God wanted me to write my story for ME to read it and see how far I have come. I walked out of an abusive marriage and thought it was the end and God sent a hot cup of chocolate 😋 (HAVE YOU SEEN MY HUSBAND?). I may or may not be publishing the book.

Anyway, this song is close to my heart and it would mean a lot if you download, listen and share with others.

https://gospelmenu.com/sound/track/236960/aanu_oluwa_kiitan
Peace, love and chocolate,
Your favourite writer girl,
Love

If it blesses you, please share.

Àanu Oluwa Kìítan

'No mummy, you can't give out this one', Nifemi protested vehememtly. I had brought out a pair of one of my newest shoes and I told her that God laid it in my heart to give it to someone. She proceeded to rummage through my shoe rack and brought out a pair that is almost giving way. 'Take this and give it out', she said. 'But it's old', I replied. 'Yes, that's why you should give it out'. Sigh. Then I began to give a pep talk on how God loves us to give and to give the best. She was not fully convinced but she gave up and went to bed. By morning, she saw I had packed it up and she went, 'so you disobeyed me?' 😂😂😂

On our drive out that day I kept smiling to myself. It was only a few years ago that I sold my shoes on Instagram and Facebook (You will remember) in order to buy food for Nifemi. I allowed people come to my home to buy my personal belongings at ridiculous prices to raise money. I, THE LOVE OMORAIYEWA. This same me!!! I hand cut vegetables for many nights, packed in containers and went to drop at supermarkets to make ends meet. I almost forced all of you to buy coconut oil and you came through. I sold chinchin! I proudly wore hand-me-downs from my friends. I was just happy to have 'new' clothes.

It is this same me who God has decorated for his glory. He gave me the best family. The best husband. A beautiful ministry. Amazing gifts that I have bot even finished discovering. A beautiful life that is not perfect but that I am content with. Hunger is not my problem today and it will never be again in Jesus name.

I kept turning and tossing as I watched my gorgeous husband and daughter sleep this night and I said to myself 'ÀANU OLUWA KÌÍTAN' (The mercies of the Lord are never ending).

He changed my story. He gave me a new new name. Look at me and know that there is a God and even when the storm rages, he has promised he will be with us at every step of the way.

Share with me your #ÀanuOluwaKìítan story in the comment section
Let us know how God came through for you and encourage someone not to give up.

Peace, love, and doses of His mercy,

Your favourite writer,

L.E.S

P.S If it blesses you, share with others.

Project ONE

"Love Ebunlola Omoraiyewa, please come forward", my professor said. The girl from Kaduna had found herself at the University of Westminster (arguably the best media University in the UK). "Clamp clamp clamp" my boots introduced me as I found my way to the front of the class. It was my turn to present and I was nervous.

I had my First degree in a Federal University in Nigeria where you automatically failed if you did not purchase the lecturer's personal handout/ textbook. We never used or saw any computers and we wrote examinations on ICT. It was a system where the lecturer would misplace your examination script and you would be made to carry the course over to the next year. In that school, you would be lucky if a lecturer showed up twice during the session. But I am grateful for parents who invested in me. I attended the best Nur/ Pry and Secondary schools, so I had a good foundation.

At the time in that university, I was the only one who owned a laptop in my hostel block (over 100 occupants). People took turns to borrow my laptop. This was still privilege. In Nigeria, many people do not even attain this level od education.

My dad bought me academic books in my field from the popular Water Side bookshop in the UK. I was in their midst but I studied like an international student. I had more than enough resources.
After graduation, I was enrolled at an ICT institution and then I won a scholarship for a 3 months course by the World Bank. This further broadened my horizon.

Getting to the UK and being the only African and Nigerian in my class did not faze me. I knew I could compete with these people. I was very confident even when they would laugh at my Nigerian accent 😂
________________________________________

I approached the presentation table and set up the projector like a bawse😎 (I had never used a projector before then). I was very confident in my research. I had put in the work. Everyone paid rapt attention. I finished and was not afraid to take questions. I answered every single one of them. I was given a very loud applause. At the end of the day, I ran into my prof and he said to me "Yours was my favourite". I did a back flip in my mind. I felt like it was a personal victory not just for me but for Nigeria considering all the nations represented. By the end of the week, the results were released on our portal. I had the highest score and a distinction. YES!!! #WeGlobalNow

Education is one of my greatest assets. It has opened many doors I never thought was possible. This is why #ProjectOne is very dear to my heart. Every child deserves decent basic education and YOU can give ONE child that. Let God use you😘. You will be kept abreast with the progress of the child.

Please see flier for all the details.

Thank you to all who reached out to me and declared interest in sponsoring a child after my last post. I am truly grateful.

Peace, love and sunshine

Your favourite writer girl,
L.E.S

My wedding Vows

I call you Ayobami because you are all the joy my life needed. It's been 290 days, approximately 6, 936 hours, 416, 160 minutes and 24, 969, 600 seconds since we began this journey.

In this time, you have shown me that the God-kind of  love exists. You have loved me more than you have loved yourself. You have prayed with me and on me. You have been strong for me when I could not even be strong for myself. Not once have you ever let me down.

Your love for God is so pure and unreal. Sometimes I pinch myself and I cannot believe you're all mine. Me sef, I know say I don hammer. I got the man of my dreams. You are my answered prayer. My proof that God exists.

Thank you for holding on even when I pushed you away. Thank you for lovinv me intentionally; with patience and consistency. Thank you for loving my family. Thank you for waiting. Thank you for making our purity a priority. Thank you for being my steady suya supplier.😉

I promise to always be at your side, cheering you on and loving you to life. I promise to submit to you and find one thousand ways to love you. And when I have exhausted that, I will find more.

Thank you for your love. I love you. Anya

*My personal wedding vows to my husband read and delivered on the 2nd of February, 2019.

#Valentine
#MyForeverValentine

ONE

" You get sense so?". My mind which had drifted away was abruptly brought back to consciousness as I listened to the banter between my cab driver and a street urchin as we were stuck in traffic. The young lad had tried to earn a few bucks by cleaning the windscreen of the cab with his handmade screen cleaner which had been infused with detergent. "If I no get sense, no be here I go dey, na hospital you go see me", the young boy shouted back angrily as he wiped the detergent he had already put. The cab man, old enough to be his grandpa replied "Get out!". The boy retorted, "You too get out! Just talk say you no get money".

The boy walked away to other vehicles. About a minute later, he returned back with a N500 note and went by the driver's window to taunt him; "see wetin your mate give me". Just then the traffic light turned green and we had to move.

This is Nigeria! This is life! Everywhere hustle! I admired his tenacity (although laced with bad manners) but he had to survive. He was of Primary school age and should have been in school yet there he was hustling during school hours.

I was reminded of my desire to get all kids who should be in school off the streets but I immediately felt demoralized. There are millions of them across Nigeria. UNICEF reports that 13.1 million children who should be in school are on the streets. But I can start with ONE. And that ONE can go on to empower another. Children should be taught that they can be creators of wealth and not jubilate over a meagre N500 😣.

Redemption Academy gives at least 3 FULL scholarships every year and this year, my husband and I would be getting at least one child off the streets. If I start with ONE, you start with ONE and another starts with ONE; surely the goal is attainable. #ProjectONE

Do something for someone who is not in a position to pay you back. This is what true love should looks like. This is the God kind of love. He laid down his life for people who not only did not deserve it but who could not pay back. If you would like to start with ONE, do let me know.

Happy Almost- Valentines- Day.

Peace, love and sunshine.

Your favourite writer girl,
L.E.S