It was a delightful joy for me when I received the news from my uncle that Nestlé Company had granted me the privilege to do my PPA in their company. What a nice opportunity to work for a company as a corporate member! After the stressful period in NYSC camp, even though I was hoping to be posted back to Lagos, it didn't work.
NYSC decided to post me to Ibadan, which I hope to stick to. Getting to the company the following week to resume my duty was like good water for a fish. Allowing a free lunch meal with a pleasant monthly allowance, which I didn't hope I would have.
“Hello dear, I guess you are the new copper posted here.”
I replied, “Yes.” It was a pleasant thing for me to meet the HR of the department in person, Mr. Ben, who gave me a welcome greeting and a proper introduction to other staff and an office to stay in.
Mr. Ben was seen to be an accommodating person who was eager enough to help me out with any duty assigned to me that was difficult for me to do. Along the way, I met Miss Blessing, who was the secretary for the department. My spirit went along with her due to my first-term approach to her. It was as if I were brought up in a family because we interact and play with each other.
One day, Mr. Ben gave me a certain task to do. I did it efficiently without any errors or mistakes detected. When I submitted it to him, he was surprised.
“Wow!!! This is brilliant. I never thought you could do this; you can work as a secretary." I just looked at him with a tarnished face, wondering what he meant by that. But before the end of the day, I got a letter from the manager saying that I should report the next day as the department secretary.
I was grateful for the position, and thanks to Mr. Ben, who recommended me as the new secretary. After my service, I was detailed as the new staff member and a secretary.
A year later, I was done with my service and decided to leave for my homeland and my state. Although I worked with the company to my satisfaction and their benefits, They appreciated me so much and told me to stay. Although I wanted to stay, I was just thinking of my family. I love to stay close to them, and I love to always see them close to me.
Mr. Ben later said I should not hesitate to call him anytime I needed his help and should not hesitate to think about their offer.
I left after saying goodbye to all the staff.
Getting to Lagos,it was like a fish out of water loosing the sweetness of the water. I began to search for a job that would pay me more, as I'm no longer an NYSC member. I searched all the nooks and crannies but saw no job that suited my personality. My home now became a strange land in which I could be considered a strange fellow.
The last place I submitted my CV was a gigantic company. I was called for an interview. When I got to the venue, I saw so many people who were also waiting for an interview. We waited for these people to come, but then they wasted our time standing as well as sitting. We all sat for more than 4 hours, waiting for someone to attend to us.
“How come a company like this would have to put up this kind of character?” I said.
Someone later gave me a shocking reply, which I concurred with. “We are just wasting our time here. These people have got their favourites.”.
I reasoned with that statement and found it to be a reality. We were just watching them work in their offices, promising us that the manager would attend to us, not knowing that they had got their favourite.
I decided to leave without waiting, as I was feeling like a fish out of water that felt so disappointed,after a much time for interview.
On my way home, I received a message from Ibadan. “You have to come and resume with us, as we have missed you a lot. We have searched all around but failed to see someone who could take over your position.”.
When I saw the message, coupled with the frustration I had got earlier, I decided to accept the offer. I have to leave my family and loved ones just to face my life once again, but this time starting all over again.
I packed my luggage and dashed into the air. Although my parents supported my trip, This means I was only welcomed in a strange land, not a land of my own.