Dear parents,

It’s so amazing how you’ve both parented me, even before daddy met mummy , he figured and made plans of what I will become.

Daddy wanted a boy who will bare the family name.

Mummy wanted a boy because that will cement her stay In her husband’s house.

To your disappointment, I came out a girl, I vividly saw contempt on Daddy’s face, mummy you only forced a smile when people congratulated you.

Deep down you wondered why I came out like I did.

You thought it was the witches of your village that manipulated my sex.

Years later, my brother came along and I saw your eyes lit up with excitement.

The smile so sweet and captivating, I couldn’t help it myself.

You both scolded me till I became obscure, shy and very timid.

You trained me to be responsible and groomed me so well to be the best wife material to my future husband.

Daddy lost his job and things became hard for us, because mummy was a house wife without any skill or job, we all tasted dust as we went back to the grass.

You couldn’t feed or take care of us so you decided to send my brothers to learn a skill or become an apprentice.

You both sent me to Auntie Gloria’s house where am to become their help. Idea was to take care of her children and go to school.

But auntie Gloria gave me banana and groundnut to sell so the family can feed well.

I did almost everything in her house even shared her husband.

He would sneak in at night, fondles my tender breast and inserts his fingers into me. At first I rejected him but he threatens to send me back to the village.

I know you both will be disappointed in me and I had to endure, until one night.

Auntie Gloria travelled to the village for August meeting .

Uncle Tom came into my room after the kids has slept and began his antics again, this time he asked that I go down on him.

I obeyed every instructions from him, suddenly like an angry man, he threw me to the bed, completely ripped my panties away and thrust that stick into me.

I cried out as the pain was so unbearable, but it looked like he was really enjoying himself.

It went on for so long that I lost all the energy in me. He came down and instructed I should never tell anyone.

Dear parents I took this because I was naive and mediocre and I didn’t want to fall your hands.

I believed you acted in my best interest. So I forgive you both.

8 years later, I became sick and auntie Gloria took me to the hospital, doctors said I was pregnant.

I was sent packing from the house that I’ve called home. @22 I am completely lost with a pregnancy from Uncle Tom, no one will believe me even if I said a thing.

I came back to the house and you both sent me to the street.

I didn’t know what to do, like an outcast I took my bag and cried to the road.

Night fall came and I took shelter in an uncompleted building, I cried till I dozed off.

I felt hands on me and about 3 boys took their turn and raped me.

I was unconscious and in a pool of blood, I woke up in a hospital bed and was told I lost the baby.

I was asked for people to contact I told them I had none.

This stranger Mr Frank took care of me and rented a place of abode for me.

Enrolled me in school and made sure I learnt a skill.

Dear parent, I am graduating with a first class tomorrow and will be going for my masters in the UK.

I know it’s OK for me to be angry at you but I choose to forgive you.

You wanted the best for me but went about it wrongly .

Dear parents, in my next world I want to be your daughter again but I want you both to not repeat same mistake again, I am lucky to be writing this letter today.

When there is a financial crises don’t send me out as a maid rather send me to learn a skill.

When daddy goes to work, mummy please go look for something to do yourself.

You are no longer meant to be an Ori-aku( wealth eater) , please go out and create your own wealth.

It’s only when mummy know that she can teach me effectively.

Dear parents, it’s a new world and my rights needs to be protected.

Dear parents, I almost labeled men as monsters but the same man who tore me apart, also made me become a better me.

Because I am a woman, who have seen things, I know they are not all the same.

I now know special attention needs to be paid on the girl child.

I now know I can also create wealth and have a voice.

I survived because, I am strong, beautiful, gifted and a conqueror.

I am a woman and I can change the world.

To every woman out there making the rest of their lives the best, I salute you all for you are treasures to this earth.

With you working hard, creating wealth and having a voice, the world will certainly become a better place.