My name is Ayokunle Henry Talabi, but you can simply call me Ayokunle Henry. I hail from the beautiful town of Omuo Ekiti, a place that holds a special significance in my life. It was here that I completed my secondary school education and discovered my passion for writing.
After finishing secondary school, I had dreams of pursuing a career in engineering. However, due to my grades in Physics not being as strong as I had hoped, I decided to pursue a different path and settled for Estate Management. Although it wasn't my first choice, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
During my time in university, I had the privilege of meeting some incredible individuals who became my closest friends. We formed a tight-knit clique of five, always there for one another, sharing experiences and making memories. Being part of this group exposed me to new perspectives and opportunities, shaping me into the person I am today.
In my second year, I discovered another passion of mine—scriptwriting. I started writing scripts for church dramas, finding solace in the solitude of my own thoughts. I would often seclude myself from distractions to fully immerse myself in the creative process. This continued throughout my university journey, even during my industrial training (IT) in my fourth year.
When I entered my final year, I chose to live with one of my closest friends as roommates. He was a great source of encouragement, always pushing me to write more and hone my skills. Having someone who believed in my talent motivated me to explore new opportunities and take my writing to new heights.
After completing my university education, the next chapter of my life began with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). I was posted to Taraba State in the northern region of Nigeria. Despite the initial uncertainty, I had made up my mind not to request a redeployment. Interestingly, my mother remembered that we had a relative residing in Taraba, so she reached out to him. He assured us that everything would be fine, easing my worries.
On March 9, 2020, I embarked on my journey to Taraba State and arrived at the camp the following day. My time at the camp was brief due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I still managed to make lasting connections with fellow corps members. We affectionately referred to ourselves as "corona corpers," making light of the situation while adapting to the new normal.
For the next six months, I thoroughly enjoyed my service, finding solace in writing scripts, watching movies, and playing games. However, in October, I resumed my official duties at my Place of Primary Assignment (PPA), a village government secondary school. It was there that I encountered one of the major challenges of the village—access to clean water. We relied on river water for our daily needs. On the bright side, the electricity supply in the village was surprisingly consistent, ensuring that my phone was always fully charged. With minimal distractions, it was just me, my phone, and two other corpers, allowing me to focus on my writing.
Upon completion of my NYSC, I started working with a school, but it wasn't long before I rediscovered my passion for writing. Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting @Fashtioluwa, who introduced me to this amazing platform. I am incredibly excited to be here, eager to learn, grow, and receive guidance from all of you.
Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I look forward to sharing more of my experiences and insights with you in the future. Until next time!
Signing off, Ayokunle Henry