chapter 4

Lagos, Nigeria

Emma is listening to the news and she is worried about what Boko Haram is doing. They have just abducted more girls at a local school. Last year they went to Chibok and abducted 200 girls and Emma is not happy at all. She thought of how things were while she grew up. They could play anywhere without fear, and now things have changed. And all these changes are not good for business.

Nigeria might have overtaken South Africa to be the leading economic nation but there are so many things that need to be addressed. She has a meeting with the minister of finance and she wants to raise an issue which has been bothering her for a while now. While she was still deep in thought, her mobile ring and she put it on Bluetooth as she was driving. It was Frank.

"Hello, stranger."

"Hi Frank, it’s been a long time."

"How is my favourite girl doing?"

"I have never been better Frank. And what did I do to receive such a call in the middle of winter Frank?"

"You know me, I just thought of giving you a shout since we haven’t spoken for a while. Actually, I would like us to meet this week, there are some investor’s interested in some business here in Nigeria and I thought of you."

"It sound good, I will have my secretary set up a meeting."

"No you don’t have to do that, come to the compound this Saturday and we can have some meal, Madame Rose misses you and she would love to see you."

"That’s ok Frank, I will see you Saturday. Bye."

What kind of investors is Frank talking about? Frank has so many business, last time they talked about one of his deals Emma was not happy that Frank wanted to get her mixed up in drugs. It is the reason they have not been talking for such a long time. Well, she will go and meet these investors, business has not been good lately and she needs every funding she could get to run one of Africa multibillion Oil Company.

Emma pulled outside the parking space of her office and took out her laptop and handbag and get inside the building. There are so many people seated and she thinks maybe they are guest for other three companies that she has rented some of the space to them.

She greets them and take the elevator to the ninth floor, that’s where her office is. When the elevator open, she meet her secretary on the passageway and she immediately called her in.

"Lucia, there are so many people at the reception, and we are supposed to have five receptionists at the front desk. Why are the visitors not being helped or at least to be directed to where they are supposed to go?"

"They have come to see you, madam."

"To see me, I don’t have any appointments with such a large number of people, unless you forgot to put it in my diary."

"Yes, you don’t have an appointment with them, these are the parents of 45 children abducted by Boko Haram yesterday and they want you to help."

"They want me to help, why me? I am not the government and I don’t want to be mixed in the Boko Haram saga."

"They came to you because you are one of the few powerful and influential people in Nigeria and if the government can listen to you, so does Boko Haram."

"Okay, I guess it won’t hurt listening to them although I don’t see how I can help. Tell Precious to book Ground floor boardroom for us and put water and some snacks. I will be down in ten minutes, I need to make an international call."

"Thank you, madam," Lucia immediately left Emma’s office and went downstairs to Precious to prepare the boardroom as per her boss instruction. Emma is left alone in her office thinking, why do these people have to come to me? I don’t want to get mixed up in Boko Haram issue. I am running one of the largest oil company in Nigeria and up to now my company has not been attacked by Boko Haram and I don’t even want to cross them.

Emma sat on her chair asking herself, why did they have to come to her? There are so many powerful people who can assist in this situation who have closer ties with the group, why her. While she was still lost in thought she thought of the international call she had to make. She had to call the organisers of the International Oil Symposium which is taking place in Lagos in three months’ time and give them a go-ahead that her company will host it and she will be the keynote speaker.

She has attended symposiums of such natures in other countries before but she was not sure that Nigeria was at the right state to host such an event given the latest unrest and attacks by Boko Haram. She had a bit discussion with Frank when she was contacted and Frank as always put her mind at ease and said, she should host the symposium it will be good for her company and it will also prove to the world that Nigeria has the best when it comes to business and it can also help calm situation since the symposium will also address issues that Boko Haram are fighting against.

Emma quickly dialled the number of the organiser of IOS and tell them that she spoke to the Board of Directors and they have given a go-ahead that they can host the symposium in Nigeria and her company will provide all necessary support. The voice on the other end of the line was excited that Nigeria finally has come to the party. They said their goodbyes and Emma dropped the call and take the lift to go downstairs to meet the group of people she saw earlier when she comes in. She is still not keen on the idea of her getting involved but she also thought, it does not hurt to listen.

Emma is a tall dark lady with a beautiful body which according to her she is not going to mess it by having any children. She told herself that she won’t have any children due to what she has gone through as a child where her parents divorced and she and her siblings have to fend for themselves on the streets, thanks for Bra Frank her life changed drastically and today she is one of the richest women in Africa if not the world.

She opened the door of the boardroom and she was shocked to see different kinds of people inside the room and it seems as they were in conversation before she walked in when the saw her, they all keep quiet and Emma went and sit in front where Precious has prepared for her and some executives of her company.

Lucia went in front and welcomed everyone and introduced Emma to the people in the room. Everyone in the room knows Emma but to some, it was for the first time to see her closer like this. She was a beautiful woman, powerful with money and she has powerful friends if somebody can help is her.

Emma stood up and greeted the people and open the floor on what they were there for. The leader of the group BRING OUR CHILDREN BACK, stood up and introduced himself to Emma and told her that they are parents, brothers, friends, relatives of children abducted by Boko haram in different places in Nigeria in the past year.

They have knocked on many doors for help with no luck. They have tried government, churches and different institutions with no help. Somebody recommended that they come and see her. When the leader of the group said somebody recommended that they come and see her, Emma was curious of who is this somebody.

The leader of the group continued and said, they went to see Frank last week who recommended to them to a few people that can help in the situation and Emma was one of the names. He said to Emma that she is their only hope to bring back their children safely at home.

Emma stood there still shocked, thinking, how Bra Frank out of all people can bring her into this mess. Bra Frank knows Emma' stand on this and for him to send people to come see her and portrait her as a guardian angel, she does not understand. She was angry but she did not want to show it to the people in front of her. Everybody in the room were seated waiting for her response.

She carefully screened the room and noticed a few journalists in the room and she thought whatever she said she must be very careful because it can be misinterpreted and cause a big problem that it was. Emma was a very smart lady and with the skills, she learned from her MBA course she knows how to handle a situation like this and she is going to respond to these people in a  polite way, yes she might not have what they are looking for but she will try and make them comfortable. She thought.

"Well, what you are asking of me is bigger than me, it's bigger than the company that I am representing and I think it needs every person in Nigeria, the government, churches, schools, leaders of communities, Igwes of different tribes to stand up together and help resolve the situation. As Emma there is little I can do, I have been put on this position by the Board of Directors and I cannot take any decision without consulting them. I am not saying I am not willing to help. What happened to your children also affects me as a citizen of Nigeria. It also stands in a way of business. Investors are afraid to invest in our business in fear of instability in the country.

My elders, can I request that you give me time to consult with the Board of Directors and other businesses and see what we can come up with. We both know that this is a very sensitive issue and we need to deal with it carefully. I will suggest that we meet again in a week’s time, it will give me enough time to talk to the board. And can I also request that you choose a group of representative to come and meet with us instead of all of you coming?"

The leader of the group responded by saying they are grateful that she met with them although they did not get what they were looking for but were hopeful as Emma promised to speak to other business and her board. They will wait for a week and will come back.

"Thank you for your understanding. There is food prepared for you, before you go you can help yourself," Emma left the venue and went back to her office. While in the elevator, she was thinking of the whole discussion and asking herself why Bra Frank is doing this to her? Well, she will ask him tonight as he has invited her to a dinner to meet some potential business partner.

There was a frail woman in the room who looked familiar and she was asking where she might have seen her. She dismissed the thought and start checking her emails as there was an important mail she was waiting for. Her phone rang and it was Lucia.

"Yes Lucia, how can I help you?"

"Well, madam there is a woman here who was with a group of people whom you met earlier who would like to speak to you. She refused to tell us why she wants to see you."

"What’s her name and if she does not want to tell you to tell her to make an appointment because I am so busy right now."

"She said her name is Onica

Her staff know that she was a street kid but they have never heard her talking about her family especially parents. They know of her brother who is based in London and own his clothing company there and her younger sister who is studying in the US.

Chineke, what is my mom doing here especially now when my life is on its peak? Why does it have to be now?