BY MUSTAPHA BUKAR
How did I come about this year's #BOBAFEST? It was first announced to me by my mentor and boss, the founder of BOBAFEST and its first organizer, Sa’id Sa’ad. This is terribly important to me because the last one persuaded me to change many of my life choices.
It was also great to hear that my school, Future Prowess Islamic Foundation School, a school for the orphans and less privileged, was among the schools selected to participate in the event in the State. It was truly inspiring to me.
As a student, I was so excited to see so many different people sharing their thoughts and experiences during the event. It was at this event that I heard some amazing advice from a mentor late Professor Abubakar Othman, which changed my life. His words about the beauty of art inspired me so much that I decided to switch from science to arts, which is something I would never regret and I am now an arts student for that.
This year, my experience began when my mentor and teacher, Feama Usman Mshelia, the founder of Future Progress Book Club called my attention as the leader of the students in the club to the fact that our book club has been selected to participate in the event again. The excitement didn’t stop there, he added that this year, we would also explore a workshop along the BOBAFEST event. I was excited to choose journalism as my focus, given that I am already participating in a radio program called Da Rarrafe Yaro Kan Tashi.
Having the opportunity to attend a journalism workshop felt like a step closer to achieving my dream of becoming a journalist.
However, my experience did not stop there. Passionate, I was eager to make it to the two-day workshop. Something interesting happened on the morning of the event.
I made my way from Jiddari to YERWA EXPRESS NEWS office where the workshop was holding. You would laugh really. I left home and got into a Keke Napep at our junction. I told the rider to drop me at the post office roundabout. After he dropped me, I crossed the road and found another Keke Napep. I confidently told him I wanted to go to Leventis, opposite First Bank, even though I didn’t know the location. Unfortunately, I didn’t admit this to him. Instead, I sat in the Keke, acting like I knew exactly where I was going.
Once inside, I got busy chatting on my phone. After a while, I looked up and realized we were at Bolori Stores, a place I recognized but knew wasn’t my destination. I pretended it was where I wanted to go, I paid the driver, and took my change. Confused, I said, Oga, how far? Why is the fare this high? He explained it was the correct fare and he drove off, leaving me there. At that moment, I had only myself to blame.
I asked a man selling something by the roadside for directions. He told me, “That Keke Napep driver is wicked, he already passed Leventis with you.” He then advised me to cross the road, get into another Keke, and ensure the driver dropped me exactly at Leventis.
I followed his advice, crossed the road, and found another Keke Napep. This time, I clearly told the driver: Take me to Leventis and let me know when we get there, please. He agreed, and this time I finally arrived at Leventis opposite UBA Bank. As I looked around, I couldn’t do anything but laugh at myself. From the post office to Leventis, I could have just walked!
I then called Asma’u, the person who directed me to the office, and finally made my way there.
Attending the workshop was a life-changing experience. I gained valuable knowledge from an experienced journalist, Abdulhamid Al-Gazali, the Editor in Chief of YEN News. The knowledge I received were remarkable and will stay with me forever.