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Brain Buzz - The Boy at the Back of the Class, by Onjali Q. Raúf

 “A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.”

– C.S. Lewis

In this age of technology and the varied distractions that come with it, it seems a daunting task for young children to find the time to be captivated by the world of books. They are bombarded with social media activities - appropriate or inappropriate- or distracted by games and TV shows. And as a result, you wonder why it’s a chore to engage them in a world of books.

Conversing with an 11-year-old student of mine on the joy derived from reading books was a bit incomprehensible, as he would only read books as recommended by the teacher. He could not see what could be ‘joy-giving in a pile of papers. However, with a little encouragement, his mom took him on an adventure to the @tabithaskids, a fantastic bookstore where you can just get lost in a world of your own imagination. He picked a few attractive titles and began an exciting journey.

One of the books he got from the bookstore was titled The Boy at the Back of the Class, by Onjali Q. Raúf. This book fits what C.S Lewis said about children’s books. As my young student read the book, you could tell it was a book to have, and he passed it on to me when he was done. And I was enthralled. It is indeed a page-turner.

The Boy at the Back of the Class, by Onjali Q. Raúf

Mrs. Khan’s classroom has an empty seat at the back of the class which was later occupied by nine-year-old Ahmet, a Syrian refugee. His presence sparked a sense of curiosity among his classmates as everyone wanted to know about the boy at the back of the class. Who was he? Who are his parents? Where did he even come from? Questions everywhere!

The children’s curiosity was later satisfied when they found out he fled the war in Syria, without his mother, father, and sister. And as a result, a group of his classmates decided to come up with the Greatest Idea to reunite Ahmet with his family. They felt like they were special agents sent on an assignment by the government!

The Boy at the Back of the Class talks about friendship that knows no borders. It’s a story about a little kindness that goes a long way. And in this fascinating book, the author used humour to remind us of the power of kind humans in showcasing the effect of the refugee crisis, as well as treating one another right. It’s a beautiful story that I recommend to every child and adult. Believe me, it will be worth your time.

This book has opened my 11-year-old student to a world he is ready to interact with, and I am super glad!

...Ms Patience is a teacher and a child development expert.

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WUYE Keke Commuters Advised to Hold Exact fares as they board Rides

 

“..this change issue of change dey cause problem too much“ - vice-chairman monitoring, Wuye Keke Union

Wuye a residential district in an excellent central location is rapidly developing and thus an attraction for more businesses. And in addition to this buzz is the rapid increase of the tricycle business, popularly known as Keke.

The number of Keke service providers has doubled over the years to help with the overwhelming transport needs within and outside Wuye, as residents make good use of their services. Drivers doing business within the district are registered with the Keke union at the Wuye junction. Good as this may sound, it is not compulsory as there are drivers that ply the roads in Wuye but are not registered with the union. 

One of the problems passengers encounter with the drivers is usually centered around change.   A commuter who pays with a high denomination of money expects to receive change from the driver, however, the Keke driver may or may not have the balance or could be reluctant to look for it, which leaves the passenger upset.

One upset passenger we spoke to relayed his experience of how the driver initially agreed on fares but on getting to the destination, tried to change the agreements by asking for more money, in the end, causing a scene and harassing money out of him. 

“I have been harassed on several occasions where the Keke driver did not have change to give and as I went to look for the fare, the impatient driver started throwing stones at my gate. He felt I was wasting his time. Another time I took a Keke from Shafa, gave the driver N500 when I got to my destination and he zoomed off with my balance of N300. I regretted not having the exact fare” he exclaimed.  

Another passenger said after she tendered the money, the Keke rider started fuming and speaking a language she didn’t understand. Not long after that, another rider came by and they both got into a squabble with her. In the end, the drivers got away with her bag. 

Investigating further TWG spoke to the Keke leadership in Wuye. The Vice-Chairman, Mallam Sanusi enlightens us that they have heard about such unruly behavior by Keke drivers in Wuye but noted that though Wuye has a Keke union, not all the drivers, driving in the district are in that union. “Some passengers dey carry N1000 dem no go tell person when we reach the place before dem bring am” he lamented.

“We are telling our boys never fight your passengers. It’s better to give the passenger the money than to take their money go.

“We dey advice the public to be aware of bad eggs inside Wuye Keke drivers’ union. We also warned or drivers not to carry two in the front. If you see a Keke driving with two passengers in the front, it is in defiance of our policy and we advise not to join such rides” the Vice-Chairman  eludes.

The DPO, Wuye Police Station, CSP Oruruo in his response, states the fact that residents need to be security conscious at all time. According to him, “Keke passengers should endeavour to have correct fares when they take rides and avoid every form of confrontation”, he advised. 

As residents, we look forward to a more cordial relationship with the Keke union. TWG

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