2 weeks ago
15
People often inquire me, “So, what bash you bash for work?”
And I ever answer: “Nothing.”
Yes, nothing. This effect sometimes annoys migration officers erstwhile I americium astir to permission the shores of Nigeria connected my predominant travels for different marathon oregon break. I wasn’t ever similar this. My beingness utilized to beryllium defined by rules, by expectations, by structure. But my beingness was besides shaped by stubborn dreams.
I studied Materials and Metallurgical Engineering and began my vocation teaching astatine the Nigerian Air Force Technical Training School successful Kaduna during my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year. At 20, lasting successful beforehand of young officers, I spoke passionately astir metals. I taught the characteristics, uses and however to support the assorted metals successful the aviation industry.
After my NYSC year, my brag offered maine a imperishable relation arsenic a Civilian Instructor. I accepted the connection and was transformed from being called a bloody corper to a bloody civilian. After a while, the word bloody civilian began to dependable derogatory. I wanted to beryllium an Officer Instructor. I couldn’t judge being considered a second-class national due to the fact that I was a civilian.
I took steps to articulation the Air Force arsenic a Direct Short Service Officer, but the strategy blocked me. Women were barred from the Engineering and different combat oregon method corps successful the Nigerian Air Force. Women were confined to the Education, Medical, oregon Logistics Corps, and I could not beryllium accepted into those corps due to the fact that those were not my tract of expertise. I near the strategy aft 3 years of being called a small excessively often a “bloody civilian.”
In 1993, I joined Cadbury Nigeria Plc arsenic a Management Trainee. My bosom yearned for Engineering, but Nigeria’s Labour Act besides said nary to me. Women could not enactment nighttime shifts, and the Engineering Department successful Cadbury ran 24/7.
Instead, I was placed successful Engineering Stores arsenic an Assistant Spare Parts Buyer. At first, this felt similar a detour. But slowly, I realised this was a caller arena. Managing spare parts was not conscionable astir stocking shelves; it was astir knowing the lifeblood of the factory. Bearings, belts, and bolts each mattered. I anticipated needs, minimised waste, and kept the machines alive.
Promotion came, and I stepped into the relation of Spare Parts Buyer. But I refused to fto the enactment gaffe into autopilot. Every determination I made was filtered done 2 elemental but almighty questions: Are we buying what we genuinely need? Do we truly request what we are buying?
Those questions became my compass. They saved the institution money, kept the machines humming without interruption, and built a heavy assurance successful my ain judgement and abilities.
I dove into accounting and earned my nonrecreational certification. My certification abruptly gave maine a caller brace of lenses, and I could spot the company’s bigger picture. I could intelligibly spot however my enactment influenced profits, losses, and the heartbeat of the business. I saw wherever my section sat connected the Balance Sheet. Life felt stable, predictable and comfortable. I could person stayed forever.
But Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company came on with an connection I couldn’t resist.
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