I grew up in different part of this country. First, I'm opportune to have some beautiful memories in Cross River State, Nigeria. Today, I will share some of my memories and part of my life there.
My Dad was a military personnel. We were in Bauchi State (Northern part of the country) before he got posted to Cross River State in 2007. Bauchi State was cool and okay, and I know, if it was within his power, we would've stayed in that State instead of going to Cross River State.
Posted to Cross River State
In 2007 when my dad was posted to Cross River State, we were all happy. He traveled to the State alone to set up a place for us. Since it was inside a military base, he had to get himself a good house there before coming with the whole of his family.
In 2008, instead of taking all of us to Cross River State, he was taken to an operation ground (United Nations) in Sudan for peace keeping operations. He left and came back in 2009. Everything was still okay. Our parents decided to go to the village for the 2009 Christmas celebration before moving completely to Cross River State.
2010: In Cross River State.
Cross River state is a State in the south southern part of the country. The environment was much more colder and airy. After the 2009 Christmas and new year celebration, we moved completely to Cross River State.
In Cross River State (Afi-barracks ikom), a lot of memories I had there. I can say that state has more of my memories that I can easily reminisce on. We moved to Cross River State in January, 2010.
In 2010, while in Cross River State, at the age of 13, all I could think of was making new friends. I easily make friends and even, turn them to brothers from different mothers.
Pictures of some of my early friends in Cross River state.
These pictures were taking long ago, but I took them again with my phone.
Funny picture right 😂😂 I am the one at the middle with my two friends, Caleb to the left and David, right.
Secondary school
First, when we moved to Cross River State, I was enrolled in one of the military day schools, Army day secondary school. That was were I did my JSS1-JSS3 and finished in 2012. You might say the period of time is small for the classes, but I had already started my secondary school in Bauchi State before moving to Cross River State.
During this period of my first three years in Afi-barracks ikom,Crosss River State, I learnt a lot of things and made new friends.
Some of the activities we did back then with my friends was to go out in search of fruits, like oranges, mangoes, cashews, pineapples, pears, palm fruits, coconuts and lots of others. All these fruits are in excess when you come to Cross River State. We also go out for swimming and fishing.
More of my pictures
My first Christmas in Cross River State.
The friends I made.
Bigger boy in that year.
My Dad in the NYSC camp.
After some time in Cross River State, my Dad was taken to the NYSC camp for orientation of the corp members.
He stay there for almost four months. Below are his pictures while at the camp.
- The man holding the ball in this picture is my Dad.
After my Junior Secondary school.
After my Junior Secondary school in 2012, my Dad decided that I go to another school. But this time around, it was a boarding school in Ogaja, Cross River State. The school name is Federal science college... We call it Fedsco. I was eager to go to boarding school before then, but when in federal science college, I was as quiet and humble as anything. I found it a new environment. Making time to read is one thing, getting to know people is another thing.
The school here studies only science subjects and it's only from SS1-SS3. I was small and smart, but I had to understand the environment before I start mingling with others.
My days at FEDSCO
During my days at FEDSCO, I had a lot of things to remember. The school was completely boarding and they feed their students. I was kinda stubborn though. I don't like eating the food prepared by the school. I rather sneak outside the school to buy my own food, but that was when I was in SS2. We sneak out to buy food, watch football, and even to visit house since Ogaja to ikom wasn't far.
I finished my secondary school in 2015 and had already made hundreds of friends.
Some of my pictures in secondary school, during my graduation ceremony.
This is me. On my graduation ceremony, 2015.
Remember Caleb in the picture of my first friends, the one I posted above... This is Caleb in 2015, celebrating with me.
Honestly, this was one of my classmates. I couldn't remember her name. I lost all contacts with her.... Lovely friend.
This is Fidelis. Very troublesome friend. He loves God but lobes trouble too.
The best class mistress. She was my class mistress from SS2-SS3. I love her and she treat me like her son.
This is my mom at my graduation ceremony.
I'm really fond of my mom..
This is Esther. My best friend during my secondary school days. She can gist. We talk a lot, do most of our homeworks together.
This was the smallest girl in our class, Josephine.
After graduation
After I graduated from secondary school, I had to further my education to the university. That year, 2015, I couldn't make it to the university, and so was the next year, 2016.
Gained admission to study Industrial Chemistry
In 2017, I think around October 30th.... My friend called me and asked me to check my admission status because the school I applied have started giving admission.
I didn't spend up to 20 minutes in checking what he asked me to. I was shocked... Provisional admission into the Modibbo Adama University of Technology to study Industrial Chemistry.
I called my Dad immediately to tell him the good news. I also told my mom about it. We were all happy.
Some pictures
We were matriculated in January, 2018. This is me and my friends. I am the one at the right end. At the middle is Seth, then Emmanuel at the other end.
Matriculation was fun that day.
Another picture of me during matriculation in 2018.
My first female friend at the University. Very kind, intelligent and hardworking. I can burst of never meeting an hardworking and intelligent lady like this lady here. Her name is Mariah
Before getting admission into the university, my older sister already got admitted in 2016 and this is one of her matriculation pictures.
First year in the university
My first year in school was calm. I made new friends, new environment, new perspectives and lots more.
I finished my first year with no troubles, academically and socially.
2019; Saddest experience
In 2019 something that I can never forget in my life happened. That was the year I lost my dad, the real hero of my life. Just as I have explained earlier, my father was a military officer before he died.
At the University, in my second year, second semester. My Mom called me one fateful Thursday to tell me about the death of my father. I was reading my book at about 4:40am in the morning, preparing myself for a test. When I saw the call, I thought she wanted to ask me of my welfare there.
She was little bit courageous to tell me about my Dad's death. He died in the north east, due to Boko Haram bomb blast.
That day, I cried my voice and life out. I woke everybody in that apartment. I couldn't read anymore. My head was empty.. I felt like I have lost everything in this world. But after some days, months, and now, its two years, I have been able to move on with life, though I think of him every single day.
Some pictures of my father.
The one with the military clothes in front is my Dad
This is my dad, at the middle.
My Dad at the right hand side.
Gallant Nigerian soldier
He died in 2019, October 14th. Very bad day for me.
Some of my beautiful pictures in Cross River State.
Me feeling like an Alhaji
Together with my friends in church on Sunday
These are my world best twin, James and John, behind me.
They said we look alike 😂 well she's my friend, Mary.
Another friend, Faith.
This is my main gee.... David.
My three friends. Musa, Udoh and Godwin.
Selfie with friends
The day the commanding officer called out all barrack's youths.
Protestant church (St. Andrew's military church) youth's rally, 2020
During the youth's day, 2020.
My friend, gift❤️
Another friend, Sarah❤️
With my Reverend father, Rev. Danladi Pius, and his wife.
Another good guy, Okoro
Me and Favour
The guy at the right hand side, we call him Ebuka.
With my friends. Men in black.
We call him big cola😂
Was in the football field to train that day.
This is how big Caleb is now😂😂
This is my very good friend, Emmanuel.
After the death of my father
After the death of my father, we decided to leave the barrack and come back to our State, Adamawa State.
The church in the barrack celebrated us and even did a small send forth just to wish all well and to show how much they will all miss us. We don't live in Cross River State anymore, bug I really do miss that environment. That was where almost all my good and bad memories where created.
Some send forth pictures with the Christian women fellowship
This is where my journey in Cross River State ended. A State I really missed. I have enjoyed every single moment there and I wish to go back there and spend some quality time there.
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