It was in Obinze that I began school in 1973, and where my brother Jo’s influence deepened. Jo was competitive, passionate about football, and insatiable in his reading. He devoured James Hadley Chase and Nick Carter novels, and introduced me to Shoot–Goal! magazines that opened our eyes to English football. Together we became lifelong Arsenal fans. His love of literature and music rubbed off on me, shaping my interests far beyond the barracks. Our family moved often—Port Harcourt in 1974, then Yola in 1975. Yola brought a measure of stability. We discovered the town library, where Jo, our cousin David, and I spent hours reading and borrowing books. The librarians encouraged us, feeding our curiosity. By 1977, I was in Class 5 at Demsawo Primary School, and by 1978, I graduated early due to a federal policy change. But admission into secondary school proved elusive. My father, frustrated by repeated failures to secure placements for Jo and me, eventually retired from the Army in 1981. Before his retirement, however, he secured admission forms for Command Secondary Schools, established for military families. I sat for the entrance exam to Command Jos, passed, and began in September 1979. That moment marked the start of a new chapter—one of independence, discovery, and the challenges of adolescence. (To be continued) Readers reactions welcome. NEXT: CHAPTER 2: COMMAND SECONDARY SCHOOL, JOS (Monday, August 17).

Posted: 2months ago

Author: Editor in Chief

Current date: 18 October 2026