There was a particular hunger experience back then in my university days I can never forget. Each time I reflect on how I navigated my way until I graduated, it pushes me to work harder so that my kids won't have a similar experience because it was way too much.
I am not saying that life should be all rosy at all points, but there are stages and levels of suffering. I remember my parents were saying I should hold on before entering school because of lack of funds, but I was determined to manage anyhow, provided I didn't stay at home; however, I managed until it became so overwhelming, but in all, it never affected my academic performance. In fact, some of my classmates with everything to eat and study comfortably didn't see my back academically. I was determined even with the level of hunger I passed through, but I wouldn't deny that I had a mild ulcer in the process, which was later treated anyway.
So in all the different levels of hunger experience I had in school, this particular one, I had no kerosene to cook anything, I had no raw food, I had no beverage, and even the normal garri with sugar I used to soak and drink to pursue hunger, I had none of.
Everything in my cupboard was empty aside from one cube of Maggi. Now, I didn't even have cash to buy anything, all my airtime; I exhausted it in making calls, calling my people to send me money no matter how little, and they kept promising to go to the farm, do some harvesting, and send me something. I kept waiting until I couldn't have the energy to attend lecture anymore; I was weak.
Meanwhile, my roommate was still going in and out, but I didn't know how to beg them for food. One handsome guy then who was ready to spend on me, Kept on chatting me up to come out so he could take me out, but I resisted him, even though I needed his assistance at that period, but I said a big no. I just said a silent prayer with my little energy remaining and slept off with an empty belly.
When evening of that day came, Dimma, my good friend who lived off campus, came to my hostel room in search of me. She was worried I couldn't attend the lecture, which was unlike me. She knew how committed I was to my studies, and thus she decided to see me before going home. I had no option but to disclose to her that it was hunger that was dealing with me and the reason for my absence in lecture. She felt bad that I couldn't confide in her as a friend, knowing how buoyant she is with the help of her rich parents.
She requested that I follow her to her place off campus, where she packed a lot of foodstuffs and beverages, including a tangible cash gift, all for me.
I was relieved, happy, and excited seeing such an act of kindness to me in time of my greatest need. Food is life; hunger already deprived me of my studies and joy, but she came through even without me asking for help.
I know I went through many experiences of hunger while in school, but this one stood out, as I had no escape route and was almost hopeless, but a friend finally came to my rescue, and that became my way out of hunger at that time.
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