By Adamu Hamza Marree Talum
It is really not uncommon in this country to see graduates living stranded after graduation from recognized institutions. The joblessness among youths is considered by some erudites as the source of terrorism that engulfed, particularly the northern region of the country.
In this fascinating story, we are introduced to the character of Mr. Sale and three other colleagues, named Ibrahim, Amina, and Sa'adatu who are joined by four others to attend an interview at the Aluminum Company, located in Yola, the state capital of Adamawa State.
As it is known in our society, one's destiny mostly hangs in the balance of where one comes from. Here is the story of Saleh whose metamorphosis from bottom-ladder's family that waxes his way to makelife bearable for himself and his family, especially his old-aged mother, who has emerciated to a dodderer due to the overloading of age.
Malam Saleh had engaged in many hard jobs before he made it to graduate from the university. He had to engage in laboring, such as going with Carpenter to do roofing, going with the masons to build houses, and his work was always to serve his masters before he finally paid and came back to the university. He had forfeited most of his lectures to go with these masons and carpenters before he earned stipends that could sustain him.
Saleh never dreamt of coming home or sending messages to his family and friends at home for the inerasable destitutions he had left behind. With this struggle, he managed to graduate with a 4.50 as his CGP. Saleh is now a graduate with First Class honors in Mathematics.
It was quiet on Friday evening when the advert was made on the social media platform that the Aluminium Company wants to recruit new staff members and Saleh got a penchant for working there after he had attended interviews in several places without being employed.
Shortly, Malam Saleh drafted his application letter and photostated his credentials for the interview on Monday.
The following day was Monday morning, Malam Saleh set out to attend his interview, likewise three others.
The company entrance is painted black and one must knock on the gate before a security guard opens it.
At this point, the security guard is a worn-out old man who looks terrified in the rags he puts on as his clothes. He intentionally threw some naira notes to the ground and called back as soon as the interviewee entered. All the people to attend the interview had claimed ownership of the thrown money except,Malam Saleh.
The guard reoffered him the money and he told him that the money wasn't his. He tried to convince the Young Saleh, but he still rejected the money. Finally, Saleh made his way to the waiting room before the start of the interview.
When Saleh sat with his other colleagues in the waiting room during the interview, they all stayed away from him because of the clothes he wore which were below standard.
Amina who was terribly looked down on by Saleh went stealthily and took away Saleh's credentials when he was asking the other colleagues why they ran away from him.
Shortly after this, they were all invited to the interview room. They sat down before an old man whom they later discovered was the security guard at the gate who permitted them to enter the company premises.
The story was indeed heart-touching as the interviewees looked at one another in shame while Saleh was confident. He is only guilty when he realizes that his credentials are no longer with him. He searched his little leather bag, which he put them in but couldn't get them.
He stayed with his vacant eyes in the interview room, short of a word. He wondered whether he would be permitted to go home and come back with the photocopies of his credentials that he kept in anticipation of further interviews.
The interviewer was addressing his interviewees but Saleh's attention was no longer there. He was almost scratching his body, he looked in no direction in particular.
The old man called their attention once again, there and then, Saleh's attention was now with him.
He asked for his money from the other participants who claimed the money that was not theirs at the gate while coming to the interview.
They shamelessly pulled out the money from their various pockets and offered it to the old man who initially pretended to be the company's gateman while he was the company's manager and the chairman of the interview committee.
All the other interviewees were dismissed from the interview room except Malam Saleh who was still in shock for not having his credentials in hand.
The old man looked in the direction of Saleh with much concern and offered his hand for Saleh to exchange pleasantries. Saleh's face beams but the issue with his credentials also deserted the joy that hovered on his face.
The old man declared Saleh to be the qualified person to be employed.
Saleh cleared his throat to thank the old man. He told the man that he had come with his credentials here only to realize that they were no longer with him. The old man called for the immediate closure of the company's gate. He then asked the security guard to search those people who were discharged.
The guard searched them one after the other and finally, Saleh's credentials were found with Amina. They all looked startled but Amina told the security guard that she did it with the knowledge of the other colleagues. Not knowing that the company's security guard was a serving Inspector of Police.
Inspector Manu immediately rang the nearby police division to come with a vehicle and carry those dubious people that went for the interview.
Malam Saleh was finally employed with salaries over #400,000 monthly.
1_What lesson did you learn from this story?
2_How true is it that we have characters like Amina and others in your society?
3_How helpful is envy or jealousy?
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