Tweet Conference

The urgency and need for FGM/C abandonment  cannot be overemphasized. This act has exposed many to lasting health complications, caused divided homes as in cases of Infertility,  and in some cases death occurs.

There is absolutely no known advantage of FGM/C, hence; the reason for it's abandonment.

Join us today using the hash tag #endcuttinggirls as we discuss extensively on the collaboration between implementing agencies: a key strategy for ending FGM/C in this generation.

Time: 5pm Nigerian time
Date:Today 24th August, 2017
Venue:Twitter

Participation is free for all. More details are on the E~poster.
#Endcuttinggirls

Unique, Incomparable and Quirky.

Unique, Incomparable and Quirky.

Growing up was fun for me and my siblings. We have a very exciting mom who would maximize every little opportunity to make us smile. I have always loved to sing and dance. To me singing was fun but the fun is always cut short whenever am told I can't be the soloist in our music crew and choir. I battled with this as a child but finally accepted that.

On other occasions, my mum will happily convey us to children birthday parties and they would always signal us for dance competitions because of our beautiful clothes I guess. (mom has always had a good dress sense). For all the competitions I can remember, I never won. Big sister Okorie Cassandra will always have  a trophy. This dealt with me a lot.

I am good at nothing I whispered to myself on several occasions. This affected my self esteem and created much room for anger and disbelief in oneself. I battled seeing things I could do very well but my eyes were blind to them.

***

In Primary school, I had a very close friend who was tagged 'beautiful girl'. I looked at her closely to discover what was the secret of her beauty. My insatiable self perceived it was her tribal marks. I cajoled my mom to giving me tribal marks. My sister succumbed to my consistent plea of encouraging my mum to give us tribal marks. It was a success, a huge one.

I didn't look like her. I was still me. I gave a close observation and realized she had dimples. Haba!  I gave up becoming her. I consoled myself and got focused on my academics and debate.

I heard a shocking news from her while we were about to graduate that left me flabbergasted for a long time. She has always fought to be me all the while. This made us loose our friendship as she couldn't face it that I was exceptional in the debate crew we both were part of. We hugged and laughed at our stupidity.

Today I can fit in to sing soprano while my sister is an awesome alto singer. We both didn't even continue in singing or dancing. . We have our different strengths and weaknesses. We now believe in harnessing our strengths and weaknesses for more productivity.

I will not dare promise to visit you as often as you want but you can always count on me to do that when my sister is involved. 

I have also come to the knowledge and understanding of what true beauty is. I can't try that physical comparison. Mbanunu! Even if sey I chop rat shit. Now I understand totally that we are physically beautiful in our unique ways with an utmost beauty which is in Christ.

"But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.(1Peter 3:4,ESV).

Our true Uniqueness isn't found in competition or comparison but is discovered in collaboration of our God given potentials.

Let's stick to that which we do better. We have been made eccentric  and harnessing our strengths and weaknesses will let our unique nature be seen by all.

You do not need public acceptance to know you are unique. Every 'BEING' is UNIQUE.

#IamVickyOkorie

#IamUnique

The act, Her death.

While she sleeps at night, she moves from one end of the bed with absolute comfort. But this was cut short. Her sleeping pattern has changed. Horrible nightmares accompanied by an unending pain/blood flow, triggered by an act which has no beneficial effect on her.

Conjoined Hearts

The cough was consistent
The doctor was persistent
The patient was insistent
His choice was to Live

He could hear the drop of water
The distance wasn't a barrier
It wasn't just mere water
It was a Tear drop

Even from the arraigned death Zone
He could feel the palpitations
Palpitations worth bringing the dead to live
Two hearts were conjoined
One about to slip

The struggle was immense
The Chaos was Rising
The choice was dwindling
But the teardrop was consistent

While eyelids close in death
While Life was a distant
Conjoined Hearts couldn't separate
Like a non specialist doctor
It's a boom

The Tear on the forehead
Of the second conjoined heart
Lips curdled like a suckling child
Doctor confused
Family confused
Love at Work

So invisible to all present
None could feel or understand
Only the Conjoined hearts could feel the effect

With a broad smile
He gained his life
Given to him by the other conjoined heart
It looks impossible

But.................

Life is redeemed by another Life of same source
That Life needs a true connection
A connection of no game
A connection that is real..
That connection is......
*LOVE*
And is found in you

Love

Heights are captivating
Words are engrossing
Eyelids are caught blinking
Sweaty pores of the nose emits sweats at interval
And all are noticed by a heart.

A heart can be drawn on a paper
By a perfect artist with all sides lining accurately
Only an external force can spoil the art
When this happens Internally
It only takes a Heart to notice it
A heart that cares!

That care is not a respecter of words
Not a respecter of actions
Not a respecter of events
Not a respecter of weakness's
It's Natural
It's Real
It's found only in a heart that Cares.

That Care isn't deserved
That Care isn't earned
That Care can't be bought
That Care is for a Special person
Special not based on actions
Special because It's  You.

Disability and our mindset

On Tuesday morning, I visited University of Jos main Campus with a friend for some special reasons. As we walked in through the gate, we were delayed as the security guard refused me entering the premises with my bag. My friend presented his Identity card which eventually gave us access.We entered with no previous knowledge of our exact destination.

As we stood at a central point to seek for directions from a passerby, a slim, tall, fair skinned young lady wearing a black hijab accompanied by another lady held my friend firmly on his palm. I felt uneasy until I saw that my friend was relaxed and calm.Her accent and choice of words were exceptional. I watched him closely as he beckoned on another lady and said "Please kindly assist me take this lady to the faculty of Law".At that moment, I realised the lady was blind and I became a bit excited to talk to my friend about her. We discussed for a while on the subject matter and we regretted letting her go because there was more to her than we noticed in the past few minutes.

Diaries of a village corps member.

While I was still at the National Youth Service Course (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Mangu Local government area of Plateau State, I had the full assurance that my Place of primary assignment must be in a comfortable place. I never knew my source of assurance,maybe because I so trusted God to make all things beautiful for His damsel or because I was the Chief Medical Laboratory Scientist as such should be given a good place.

A week to the end of the Orientation camp, friends, NYSC staff, and my guardians asked me to make a choice of my PPA but I bluntly refused all the offer that came crawling my way. I made it clear to all that I would serve anywhere am being posted to.

Self exaltation

The debate crew in my primary school was the most exciting team I loved to work with through out the years. They had the best charisma, exceptional speaking skill and above well rated by the teachers. I was fortunate to be part of that team and it helped build my confidence as a little child.

I kept on learning new facts and practicing how to speak better before the big mirror in my mum's room because I wanted to maintain that 'class' amongst my peers. On one occasion, I discovered that the thought of maintaining that 'class' and standard was my utmost pursuit rather than learning new facts. This was also accompanied by my academic performance as at time.

Days turned into weeks, months and years and I realized my friends in other schools where only those in the debate crew. I wanted to mingle with those who were highly rated and respected. Our meetings and gossip moments together where always about how people see us and the Joy we get from the various commendations. We felt we had arrived but we were all less than 11 years old.