STRUGGLES OF AN UNEMPLOYED AFRICAN YOUTH

'Iya Wunmi bring me my order, I’ve been waiting too long and you know I have an appointment this afternoon!' said Odunayo, staring at the behind of a fair lady just about crossing the main road. 'What sort of appointment this time again? Are you not tired of looking for a job with a good pay? Start something small with your hands for crying out loud!' Iya Wunmi yelled.
Odunayo was so carried away with this fair lady, for a second he wasn’t hungry anymore. He watched as she crossed over to the other side of the road. She was so beautiful. Her eyes were huge as he liked them. She had the perfect legs and her curves could confuse a man. Just then, a range rover sport parked just behind her and honked. She quickly hurried to the vehicle and entered. 'Just like that! See what money can do! Imagine i had a job, i would be the one picking her up,' thought Odunayo. 'Womanizer! Come and carry your food!' yelled Iya Wunmi. 'Money, you don’t have. Job oh! You don’t have and you wan dey carry woman upandan? I pity your condition,' she continued shouting.
Odunayo stared at the food in his front after a help had just delivered it to his table. 'My father my father! Na food be this?' he complained. He looked at the food again. The food could tell his entire situation in life. The plantain was over fried, nearly burnt. His ewa agóyin was so small that he could finish it in three spoons. 'If the Nigerian economy was better, I would not be in a situation like this,' he pondered as he managed the little on his table.
It was past 2 by now and Odunayo had finished his meal as he stood up. 'Iya Wunmi, come and collect your money,' said Odunayo. Iya Wunmi left what she was down and hurried down to collect her money while she tightened the wrapper which was gradually falling from her waist. 'Ehen! You did not pay me for yesterday’s meal oh,' she yelled. 'Calm down now, we will sort that one out later,' he said as he handed her a hundred naira note. 'You sef ehn!' she hissed and went back to continue her cooking. Odunayo was still standing at the front of the outdoor canteen as he placed his worn out bag oh his shoulder properly. 'Today, I will be favoured, I must get a good job!', he said to himself as he boarded a BRT bus going to Oyinbo.
“light fades”

Odunayo's legs were tired now. He had been standing throughout the journey. 'Oh! We’re finally here,' he sighed as he pressed the red button on the bus signalling the driver to stop the bus at the next bus-stop. 'His hands were tired from holding the hanger on the bus. He looked at his time, 'zenith bank won’t have closed by now, it’s still 3:15,' he thought.
'What a relief!' said Odunayo. He stretched his back to relieve the pain. He was finally out of the bus and the bank was just in front of him. He quickly rushed to the bank as his heart started pounded. 'Today I overcome all odds, DEM GO HEAR AM TODAY!' he yelled while trying to enter the bank. 'Oga, drop your bag now!' the security man yelled, frowning at Odunayo. 'If too say i no come find job here, i for show this man who i be,' thought Odunayo and he put his bag down. He removed his documents from the bag and entered the banking premises. ‘That security man better keep my bag well oh,' he said to himself while looking for someone to attend to him.
'Agege, Agege, Agege,! Na u be this?' a man with a navy blue suit yelled as he rushed to embrace Odunayo. Odunayo turned slowly as he took his time to recognize the person in front of him. TIIING! It clicked. 'My father my father! Shege Oré mi,' he yelled as they both embraced each other. 'Long time no see, how far na, what brings you to this place?' said Segun. 'Omo, life has not been easy oh, na job bring me come this place,' Odunayo complained. 'Let's go into my office and we’ll talk more,' said Segun.
They both had a long talk on how Odunayo had been moving from one firm to the other finding a good job. Odunayo took another sip of the wine he was given. 'It has gotten to this point! I can’t take it anymore! Right now, I just want to give up on everything,' he yelled. 'Baba, NO TALK LIKE THAT,' replied Segun. He stood up from his sit and went towards the shelf. Odunayo was wondering the cause of the sudden movement. Segun brought out a document from the shelf and handed it to Odunayo. Odunayo gulped in the remaining wine down his throat so fast that he chocked on it as he saw the document. IT WAS AN EMPLOYMENT LETTER.

"photo credits: artpractical.com"
Due to the Nigerian economy, jobs has been very difficult to acquire and even good jobs are almost impossible to get. Even with a good degree, the labour market is not a good place to be in. Therefore making connections or so they call it is the only way out possible or you bribe your way into a job or an office. At this point, I wanna thank you guys for reading and hope you enjoyed it. You can kindly support with a follow back to show a vote of encouragement @gutzygwin.