Julie: I am so glad we could meet up for lunch at last
Betty: Me too. It has taken us so long to find the time.
Julie: We always find time for the people and the things we love
Betty: So true.
Julie: It is a shame Ruth could not join us. She is not back from London yet.
Betty: Yes, she called to tell me. I asked her how the treatment is going and she told me it is not good news.
Julie: It is very sad. She has been given six months. She has asked me to help put her affairs in order, starting from revising her will. My chambers will handle it.
Betty: Poor Ruth. She has suffered so much. I am not surprised though. It is hard to beat cancer when it strikes more than once. Now I have lost my appetite
Julie: It is alright. You know our friend. She would not want us to be sad. She would want us to celebrate her life.
Betty: Celebrate her life? She is 53!
Julie: (Smiling) Yes, 53 with three great children and a stellar career. She also just became a grandma. That has made her so happy.
Betty: What goes into putting your affairs in order apart from having a will? We are all the same age and anything can happen.
Full article in 
Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a Gender Specialist, Social Entrepreneur and Writer. She is the Founder of Abovewhispers.com, an online community for women. She can be reached at BAF@abovewhispers.com
18 Responses
This is so cool, dramatically discussing several Nigerian social issues in such didactic manner. There obviously are still a lot left to be done and everyone must make active effort for making life better. We still have a long way to go towards development. And to Ruth, I celebrate you
I’m of the opinion that things won’t continue to be like this for this country. The older generation might have failed us as well as the present one but one day I’m sure we’ll all wake up and realize that we can no longer continue like this, and then we can collectively work and demand for the society we want to live in. Fight on dear Ruth, I don’t know you but I have the impression that you will beat this. Kudos to you ma’am for the dialogue, your creativity is always on point.
This is such an inspired conversation so dramatic. It is a job Well done ma. You were able to read the mind of our people and I can sincerely say these as been the issue facing the society. Those that have the right mind, focus, goals and determination for the land are not ready to involve them self into politics at vice visa.
Looking at the perspective of our coming generations been lazy compare to our elders. I seem to have a different opinion concerning these. We still have vibrant youths that are up to something and focused. Especially our female children to me are more hard working. I hope for a better future .
Hillary Clinton would have been a source of inspiration to other women who have the zeal for politics assuming she won the post of presidency. Not withstanding as women we should always be in support of our women who we perceive they have the right spirit towards politics.
Oh my!! What a conversation. Some valid points were made here. But I will like to pick on one. I really dislike comments of older men that are now in power claiming that they suffered to get to where they are yet we still face the same problem. What is now the reason for being in power? Most of these people only reward their wards and neglect those that they were once in their shoes. I was opportuned to attend an a wedding of the “elites” though i ate more than enough but I was sad in my heart, that this much money could be lavished on a wedding whereas there is another man that is not in power giving funds or granting loans to start up companies. Personally, i don’t believe in the government, and i know i will be successful but i will make sure i do my part in helping the less privileged. My prayers are with Ruth. May God sustain her during this trying period.
I wouldn’t love a lunch like this, because I really don’t like talking about government issues. It most times dampens the mood and atmosphere. A lot of valid points were spoken about over this lunch but my first question is how do we celebrate academic success in this country? I pray the son of the butcher just continues his life with a mindset of no help coming from the government. Or peradventure he could just become an artist in the music industry and then he can be invited for a show and paid huge sum of money. My second question is what have the people in power of influence done to make Nigeria a better place for the citizens? Oh! I think they just influence the lives of their immediate families. Let’s just ponder on this first, I have gone for job exercises that will get to the fourth stage and no call or feedback was made. How do you want to even raise money, the interest on loans from banks are overwhelming..How many youths are in the country? Again we don’t have a good census. How many can become entrepreneurs? I remember the article on the “upandan” life. This is how it is.
Hmmmmmm, Lunch Lunch…. So interesting how they switched from one point to another. This country is really messed up, even if I don’t like to say it that’s just the reality and I pray that God of restoration restores all the good of the country.
It’s a big slap and shame on Nigeria to host a program and record it in another country. Me and my frds were so pissed the day we found out that it’s been aired in SA. So they know how bad d infrastructure and security system is in the country and they have noting to do about it. This present government is a total disappointment and a big failure.
So true of this statement(” I wish there were more positive stories being told about our country though. We always generate the wrong kind of headlines. The good news is always buried under something terrible.”) All i see is a weak government and the media going about with all there sad news, when we still have little goodness to hear.
@Samuel, I quite agree with you…..The talk of government this, Government that dampens my spirit. Our country is stagnant and even the new ones elected to take up the leadership position aren’t happening matters at all, rather they are making it worst. So, what else is left for us here. We just keep praying to God for a miracle. I wuld rather invite my friend for lunch and discuss about things that would make us feel good than to discuss about our failed government.
I quite disagree with the point raised about the present generation children living a better life of luxuries. Yes ma, I wouldn’t want my children to go through the stress I went through in life. So, that Betty had to do al manners of job to survived back then, and now that she has achieved much she should be glad that her children won’t go through that tough part in life also. I won’t leave them to be spoit thou, I would rather let them have the best in a godly way also, I wil encourage them to strive for the best also so that they can be successful and independent. NYSC in undeveloped communities is not beans ooo….my views thou..Not with the kind of government we have.
Ruth, You are not alone, God is with you. May he see you through the cancer fight. And if the otherwise happens, all is still well. Jesus loves you always
When a friend posted this and mentioned me on it on facebook, I wasn’t sure if I would like it but reading this made me think deep most especially about life. It made me think deep that most of the people we think do not have stories, have great inspirational stories to tell.
I am inspired to be better, to make a change and be politically engaged not necessarily, holding a position.
Thanks Immanuel for letting me see this, I’m on this page forever.
I totally agree that we are a ‘Bournvita generation’. I have issues with youths that just don’t want to work hard but want to petch on people, youths that think that the government is responsible for them. Life is hard and if you take it seriously, you will enjoy every bit of it.
I am happy to see this, I mean I just read through and pass but this time i couldn’t ignore commenting. Great work ma’am. This platform is rich
This is very interesting but really are women ready to be responsible in leadership positions? Really? There is so much talk about women in leadership and they always forget that most of these women that have occupied one position or the other have failed woefully.
If they are able to get their onions right maybe, they will effect a change but really, I know that they are not ready. God bless Nigeria.
@lalekan my thoughts exactly. Women aren’t ready. They don’t even love themselves, this whole Hilary Clinton stuff, I am tired of it. She is white and her white women know her better than we know her. Are you sure that if someone else had shown up for what Hilary did, would she have voted also?
It’s more than just one woman standing up to make history, what change is she there to effect? Is she ready to work or just keep making history as the first female president? Really? I didn’t stand for her either neither did i stand for Trump. Because, there’s a difference, She just looked like the lesser evil of the two.
@sirkay, perhaps the youths you know are the ones you should speak for? Do you know how many hardworking youths are out there and the situation of the country makes them look worthless?
when you are in a place where everything is set for the high and mighty then you will know what it means.
The guy that finished with a first class should better work at being street smart or else you won’t get anything, ask those with similar stories. The government has made life unbearable for people and even the so-called peeps that want to do something new, they frustrate them. It’s sad but nobody wants to die, really.
The conversation is timely but what I really want to see is a solution. Can we profer a solution to our distresses? Can we just say something that will move us forward? It’s a good conversation but really, I am tired of seeing all these talks about government
I wish Ruth the best and also all the Ruths in the world battling cancer, battling one sickness or the other. I also wish Nigeria a quick recovery from her ailment that is if she ever recovers because sincerely, we are just a talking Nation.
It’s been a while here, Wow. so many comments already. I will go with @lanre on this one. We talk a lot in Nigeria, I like the whole story but I am sick of seeing people say the same thing all over again. I just want us to do the way forward and I have also decided to be politically engaged… I am joining the protest by Tuface this february. It’s time for us to do something.
Oh my! I know people will react differently but I support the writer on this one. Can we just start getting involved with politics? Let us do the right thing and stop waiting for someone else? This woman inspires me a lot and when I heard of her online platform, I decided to check it. We really do not need to be a governor or a president before we make things right.