By Queen Azeez
Dear News Digest,
Although I plan to do this one day, I never really had the opportunity to. And now that I think I must write to you, I found time.
I want to tell you some things you didn’t know about me which despite not knowing, you accommodated me just like everyone else.
Leaving secondary school for university was a not-so-good transition for me because it was a time when I was at my lowest. It was a time when I was at war with myself. I had thought to myself many times I wouldn’t find good friends like the ones I just left.
I’ve always been someone who prefers to write down how she feels rather than talking to someone else.I was going to join Pen Press and already met their former Editor-in-Chief (EIC), Nurudeen Akewushola. Not until I met Ibrahim Adéyẹmí and changed my mind.
A sister of mine, Badmus Muslimah, had invited me to a workshop hosted by you. That was where I met Ibrahim Adéyẹmí. I forgot to mention how poor I was fairing in class. We met for the first time and you know his personality… The moment he found out about my department, he started speaking Arabic to me, using it to pierce my esteem. There and then, he told me I’m free to join either of the press boards. I can’t recall what and who persuaded me, but I chose you over the other. The only thing I remember is that – in summary– Digest is a family. And so I later realized that too.
My weaknesses was soon discovered and principal members decided to ‘torture’ me out of it. I promise, it was a worthy one.I remember days of anchoring meetings; even though I plan to be late, I’d be bombarded with calls. As if the meeting couldn’t start without me.
Apparently, they can barely hear what I’m saying. So, whenever it’s Queen’s time to talk, the conference room is always more silent.That doesn’t guarantee they’ll hear though.
I’m grateful to my Creator. I was resilient. Despite how torturous it felt, I didn’t leave. From there, I was blessed with humane humans. I was mentored by beautiful souls.
I only mentioned Ibrahim Adéyẹmí? No, that’s not all. There were other mentors who always took their time to check my works and correct me. They motivated me. I met, interviewed and listened to people of different genes(normal and crazy) from behind the curtains. I couldn’t face just anyone then, so I just gathered experiences.
My being chosen as Ad Daleel’s EIC then was because I was a campus journalist. But it was at a time when I was clueless and our predecessor expected that much springing writers.
Abdulrahman Yahya being the EIC and Abdulwaasiu (Eko Law) being his deputy. EIC mentored me and his deputy also at random times, put me through some steps. I inherited EIC’s column and I feel so bad I didn’t put it to much use like he did. I guess I didn’t have the courage to become a humble satirist till recently.
Maryam Abdullah was a source of inspiration to all ladies in Digest. She’d stand up for us and forcefully give assignments. There was Focus.
Muneer Yaqub, my inspiring brother and mentor. He was the only one who didn’t just me, but tutored me. You might’ve noticed some similarities in our works. Those are the ones I was able to copy.
Taoheed Adegbite before his time as the EIC and after, “looked after me”. I can’t hear Kuyeeeen and doubt who was calling me. I really don’t know why he had to change my name like that.
Turawa Bashir, once being a deputy to Taoheed and another time being the EIC, did the same. I can picture his Chinese-looking eyes right now.
Despite their not being on the campus anymore, I still seek their opinions and send works to them.
And now there’s Abdullah Tijani. I wouldn’t say he’s not a mentor either. He has also made a spectacular contribution to who I am today.
Through these beautiful souls, I found a path, relevance and most importantly, my voice.I found a family. A hobby. Friends. Connections. I made impacts too. As in, the Queen now argues. I found courage.
I’m not saying it was sweet all through. It was a bitter sweet experience. An elder recently advised me not to take shortcuts to success. He said success is hard, so I should work for it. We had our differences. We agreed and disagreed. But the good thing is, there are blissful impacts.
With you, I found the first “fun” in school. I started to prefer intellectual gatherings to random ones without impacts. I learnt to read beyond lines, read and read before writing. I learnt that learning, relearning and unlearning is part of life. I learnt to respect people’s opinions, individual differences and go for facts, just facts.
Borrowing Taoheed’s words, “Rome wasn’t built in a day. It was what? It was built gradually. So you need to do what? Juxtapose.”
I’m forever grateful for the opportunities I got with you and the souls I met through you. I hope you keep being you, even when Queen isn’t here anymore.