So yesterday I was at the West African Examinations Council(WAEC) office, Ogba branch to get a certificate that I need for my screening in school. The certificate is so important for me to have that I travelled from Uyo to get it in Lagos....
Blah blah blah...
Something got to me while on this trip, something I saw around the WAEC office precisely. Just close to the WAEC office are some women loitering around asking every passerby if they are headed for the WAEC office. You see, these women aren't actually there to render any sort of help, instead, they are there to make you think that they want to help you but what they really want do is to defraud you of as much money as they can from you.
How do I know this?
I fell victim to one of them once in 2016. I was going to get this same certificate there at WAEC when one of them walked up to me and asked me if I was going to WAEC. I said yes then turned to leave when she told me that I wouldn't be allowed to enter there without a letter typed using a typewriter. I actually believed her. She told me she will type it for me. I said ok and followed her to her shop where she typed the letter. I can't remember what she typed now but I remember it was about 5-6 lines. She folded it and put it in a brown envelope. As I stretched my hand to collect it, she quickly chipped in that it cost #500.
Ha! Odindin #500 for komon leta(a whole #500 for a common letter).
I kuku paid and left thinking it was worth it, after all, I would get a pass. Lol
So as I entered through the gate, I headed straight to the reception only for the security guard there to stop me. He asked me what I came there for and I told him I was there to get my GCE certificate. He told me to go and come back the following Tuesday. I thought he said that because I hadn't presented the letter so I brought it out. I told him I had the letter for the pass and attempted to show it to him when he bluntly told me I didn't need any letter and that I had been scammed.
Me? Scammed? oh! Mon dieu(oh! my God)
I bowed my head in shame as I walked out slowly. Na so life be?(Is this how life is?)
I quickly scanned through as I was going home to see if I would see the woman but she was nowhere to be found. I accepted my fate and added the experience to my box of experiences. I didn't tell my mom what happened.
Fast forward to yesterday, I went back there and surprisingly, those women were still there doing the same business. I walked majestically passed them and didn't even bat an eyelid when they asked me if I was headed for WAEC office.
Once beaten, twice shy. Twice beaten, then you must be a fool. Na me talk am( I said it).
So I moved on to the office and presented everything they asked for, waited for hours and finally got the certificate.
Gloray!!
So what am I trying to say? (Like my mom would say after narrating one long ass story). This experience can be likened to what happens in life. In life, people will try to take advantage of every situation you're in to make themselves feel good. It is their joy at your own expense. Not everyone is out there to help you.
Shine your eyes.(Be wise)