What if I said Yetunde is one of my destiny helpers? You probably won’t believe. But here is the story.
I resumed at Anchor Newspaper as Manager for Human Resource and Corporate Planning. Erm. That’s not exactly so.
About six months before the paper debuted, myself and my friend, Greg Obong-Oshotse, who later became pioneer Editor of Anchor, and some others, had resumed as consultants, to plan the editorial concept of the newspaper and the structure of its management.
Anyway, my job as HR&CD included interviewing prospective employees, giving them their letters of employment and settling them in.
Then Yetunde showed up. And my heart melted. I thought she was fragile and needed more attention. I was wrong! Yetunde came with a lot of professional experience and spunk, with a large dose of the milk of human kindness. I could also read “Christian” all over her, though she didn’t push it into your face.
I asked her a few personal questions. That was how I discovered that she was married to a police officer. That is why, anytime I called her after we all had left Anchor Newspaper, my first question to her is always, “How is the police officer in your life?”
She would laugh softly and respond, “He is fine.” And we would proceed with our conversation. But, regrettably, I never met her husband.
How Yetunde became my destiny helper is what I am about to tell you. Once in a while I would go to her desk and write a poem or short story for her. Little did I realise that she was impressed. Indeed, she was passing those pieces to Greg, the Editor.
One day, Greg published one of my short stories in the Anchor newspaper, without telling me. Members of staff, especially those in the editorial section of the newspaper, were congratulating me for a brilliant essay. I didn’t understand what they were talking about. I had not yet read The Anchor of that day.
Eventually, someone, I think Joke Kujenya, realised I hadn’t read the newspaper, went to get a copy and thrusted it into my face. First, I saw my by-line. Then I read the short story. I recall the details, though I might have written the piece more than three months earlier.
So I went to Greg and asked, “How did you get this story?” He said, “I have more,” and pulled out his drawer to show me many more poems and stories that I had written long-hand.
Then he told me that Yetunde, who didn’t know that I had studied journalism before studying accounting, was surprised that an accountant could write so well.
So, Yetunde thought I should be published. And Greg agreed. So they struck a deal. She should encourage me to write more poems and short stories. And that explains why she would come to my table and accuse me, “You have not written a poem or short story for me in a while sir.”
And right there and then, I would write something. And she was always excited. But I never knew that she was passing my manuscripts to Editor Greg, who continued to publish me once in a while.
After some time, Greg invited me to write a regular weekly column for The Anchor. I declined. But Yetunde showed up, to persuade me. I couldn’t say no to her.
I ended up writing a column during the week and a short story for the Sunday edition. I combined these with my regular duties in the management of The Anchor…
So, I am grateful for the conspiracy between Yetunde and Greg. Writing has provided my livelihood from that time. Even though I did other things, I have never left writing.
Thank you, Yetunde, for being my pathfinder.
