WORLD TEACHERS DAY 2020: COVID19, A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.

With Hon. Abiodun Tobun 

This is not to blow my own trumpet but then, they said the well without water makes noise. If you then think I am blowing my trumpet, definitely, this well has water and does not make noise.

There is no doubt about the fact that the wind of COVID19 blew and the fowl's rump is clear for all to see. COVID really dealth we teachers a massive blow physically, mentally and financially.

Apart from we government employed teachers whose impact was only psychological, that of private school teachers is all manner of suffering.

The world cleanup day 2020 exercise

Many of us could not absorb the mental shock as we are used to being engaged from home, morning assembly, classes, break time, afternoon assembly, afternoon lesson and back home.

Generally, our brains are wired towards having a month holiday between July-August, but no, not this time, this holiday occasioned by COVID lasted for over 5 months and still counting for primary school teachers.

For private school employees, It was indeed an experience they will never forget in a hurry. They were abused and insulted to find something else to do. They did all manner of businesses or trades that did not dignify their profession, they had to survive.

As for me, in the midst of all the COVID drama, I tried to make the best use of the break as staying idle is not my thing. I was hungry to get something doing in the face of the total lock down imposed by government and the fear of contracting the dreaded virus.

With leaders in Ibeju-Lekki after presenting a career talk.

As fate would have it, I found myself engaging in volunteering activities for my community. With the lessons from drama/theatre still intact, working with different personalities was a walk over. The "all before self" principle worked so well and I enjoyed my altruistic service for my community. Although the voluntering came with a lot of intrigues, twists and turns, it was worth it as I also found myself volunteering to write which gave me much satisfaction and a leverage to do something new.

Sitting alone, I felt COVID had rolled back the years for me. It catapulted me back to how I used to practice my dream career, journalism. It was during my secondary school days that I was trained on how to read news and write reports by my teachers, Mrs. Urhogo R.I, Mrs. Adebambo and Mr. Adesanya MT under the distinguished, glorious and transformational administration of Elder Adeyemi O.S.

Recently, a good friend, Badmus Azeez who was together with me for glorious 3 years in our school's PRESS CLUB reminded me about how we once interviewed a one time Lagos Commisioner for Education, Late Prof. Shobowale with a radio tape recorder. One Magistrate Ellias, an alumni of my school also comes to mind. On a funny note, a news report I wrote got me into trouble one day. My fellow colleagues in the science department felt the news was an attack on their reputation and after the newscaster finished from the morning assembly ground, he was punished right in their classroom. I had to do all my best to get the boy released. Akintoye and Komolafe will remember this.

In an interview with Otunba TJ Abass

While I got freshly employed as a teacher by Lagos State Government under Akinwunmi Ambode in 2017, I bought the popular blue RCA brand tablet on loan. My future projection was to use it to prepare write ups of any kind in the comfort of my home instead of visiting the business centers. COVID provided the window for me to recoup the money with which I bought it through writing in 2020. 

In the ember months of the year before, a community discussion about students' mass failure gave me the first opportunity to explore my writing abilities where I prepared minutes, speech, reports and communiques. Notably, Brother Niyi initiated the dream of the NGO which I keyed into. Unfortunately, COVID came and swept us off our feets, it halted our plans and activities.

With Programmes Secrerary, FABE International Foundation, Mrs. Hodo Orok.

But as fate would have it, one Brother, Idris, who is also the coordinator of an NGO which I used to work with in my community called in to help him report a palliative distribution programme of another NGO. I did not think twice before jumping on the opportunity. Alas !, It was the beginnig of many national and international reports and stories which has helped shape my writing style. 

After a web of events took place, you know we humans are all gifted and unique in ways different, I found myself not only writing stories but conducting interviews. This was facilitated by a good sistet, Zainab who I also got to meet through volunteering.

To crown it all, volunteering to write reports relating to my community got me endeared to another International NGO. Although, one of my students earlier emerged victorious in the NGO's virtual debate. If you have been following me closely on Facebook and Twitter, you will figure out what I'm saying. I learnt some useful creative and poductive skills through this NGO and by God's grace, after presenting a proposal, I was financially bank rolled to carry out a first of its kind environmental awareness project in my community which recorded a huge success.

 

As teachers are celebrated worldwide today, I join others worldwide to celebrate this noble profession. Our case in the hands Nigerian leaders can only be sorted by divine intervention from above. COVID has really exposed our weaknesses and I implore us to explore the "second hustle" option in the country's present scheme of things so as to add more value to us. This is a wake up call to reason smartly. Selfless service may not attract a good pay in the beginning, it will pay off in the long run. Being helpful in advocacy programmes for the development of communities where we work is not a bad idea. It is all for the sake of self emancipation and nation building.

I am Kaka Babatunde and I want to make a difference by redefining the teaching profession in my own style.

HAPPY WORLD TEACHERS DAY 2020.