Navigating the Chapters of Challenge with Tele

When Every Road Says "Go Back," But Your Heart Says "Forward"-Escaping to Nowhere

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What drives a young woman to pack her bags and leave everything behind with no plan, minimal funds, and without telling her family? In this captivating episode, we meet Victoria, whose remarkable journey across West and Central Africa began with a desperate decision to escape limited opportunities in Nigeria.

Victoria's story is one of extraordinary resilience and adaptability. After her father's accident left him partially paralyzed and her stepmother discouraged her education, Victoria decided to take a chance that would forever alter her life's trajectory. At just 18 years old, she embarked on a journey that would take her through Cameroon, Gabon, and eventually to Congo—crossing rivers on foot, spending months stranded on ships, and navigating complex border crossings along the way.

The heart of Victoria's story isn't just about physical travel, but about transformation. When she reached Congo, Victoria discovered unexpected talents and opportunities. Despite never having used a computer before, she taught herself digital skills and leveraged her English language abilities in the francophone country to build a career with international companies. Her integrity and work ethic led to her becoming highly sought after in a small community where everyone knew each other's business.

What makes this tale particularly powerful is Victoria's reflection that she has no regrets about her perilous journey. The experience taught her profound lessons about human dignity and respect that challenged the hierarchical traditions she grew up with. Her story reminds us that sometimes our most desperate decisions can lead to unexpected growth, new perspectives, and even love in places we never intended to stay.

Have you ever taken a leap of faith that changed everything? Share your story with us, and don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Your journey might just inspire others to find courage in their challenges too.

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Speaker 1:

Hello and welcome to Navigating the Chapters of Challenge with Tele. Today, I've got my friend Victoria in the house and we're going to have an interesting conversation today. Just before we do anything, I'm just going to ask Victoria to say hello to everybody, introduce herself briefly and we'll go straight into it. So, Victoria, say hello to everyone, please. Hello everyone. My name is Victoria and I'm so happy to be here. I'm so happy to have you here.

Speaker 1:

I haven't done a Podcast in a while, so I'm really excited to be back doing this and doing this with you. So it's going to be lots of fun. So everyone, watch out. We're going to have lots of fun on this episode. Okay. So, imagine, imagine yourself being so desperate to change your life and then you decide to pack your bag, leave where you're living and decide to travel all over, finding your way to Europe with no plan. No plan, very little money, a handful of friends you know, and just deciding yes, I'm leaving, without telling your parents anything. What on earth were you thinking, Victoria? This is exactly what my guest Victoria did. So, Victoria, tell us your story. What were you thinking? That's a very good question. Thank you, charlotte.

Speaker 1:

So when I finished secondary school, I came from a polygamous family, okay, and my stepmom was like, I'll say this in Yoruba. Okay, I hope we have audience who understand Yoruba. Okay, say it in English as well, so we can understand. Yes, yeah. So she said okay and that means, you know, young girls, they get pregnant. Let's all go and learn, tailoring, you know, and not to go to school. Okay, sorry, this was after your secondary school. Yes, after my secondary school. So what's amazing is that this person that said this, she was actually a school principal. Okay, so it's not as if she's not educated. Okay, my dad was a bank manager and my dad was very much into education. Okay, but you know, she controls, she says everything, so we just follow, okay. So my dad said, okay, well, I want my daughter to study. Okay, and she was at the bank, and you know, we usually go to my dad's to get money for everything. Mm-hmm, and they stopped giving money. Okay, you know, because I think she was controlling him. I don't know. But at the end of the day, I was so lucky.

Speaker 1:

One day I went to the market in Lake Ibadan this market is called Dugbé, okay, and I met one of my tutors late, Mrs Afolabi. She was my maths teacher, yeah, and she saw me and she said what are you doing in Dugbé? I said, well, I'm here to do some shopping. And she was like, why are you not in school? So I told her what happened and she said, okay, you know what, come and meet my husband and see what he can do for you. So I went to the husband and he's got his store where they sell chemicals battery chemicals, uh, hospital equipment, you know, to hospitals and, uh, outside batteries, yeah. So I, I joined them as a very long age. As soon as I left second list, I joined them. I started working him. He was a very lovely man. He's now a pastor. I live in the States. He still gets in touch. He was the one that kind of took me under the umbrella. So where was your dad, my dad? So that's another story Just as soon as I finished secondary school, my dad retired and we had a farm in Mamu, and our farm was massive.

Speaker 1:

We planted you know so many things there. I remember we took care of it when I was in secondary school, you know. So his plan was, when he retired, to go to the farm and stay there, you know, and start farming. Okay, well, unfortunately, um, towards the end when I was in secondary school, um, he retired and he asked me to follow him to the farm for day. I didn't want to go because I had my own plans. So I remember, I went into the house and he knocked on the door. We had this tailor beside the house that was saying 'Ko ni de lowun' meaning that you were in the house and did not respond, yeah, so then he left. He was upset and he left and I think about four hours later, one of the boys living with my stepmom came and said my dad had an accident, okay. And I was like no, he can't, because this is someone that travelled all over Nigeria. He was a bank manager and he's always traveling from one city to another, so how can he just go to Mamu, down there, you know, and have an accident? So, anyway, he went to the hospital and because he was diabetic, he went into a coma. He had a cut at the top of his head, so from there everything just went down the drain. So financially everything was down. So at this point it we were just home and we were all just trying to do our best.

Speaker 1:

When I started working, I remember I used to buy chicken and egg. The thing they put in the egg, egg, something. You know he loves them. I used to take it to him. Okay, they call it egg. You know, they put the egg and they put flour around it. Oh, what do you call this thing now? Scotch egg? Is it scotch egg? You're referring to Scotch egg? That's it Scotch egg? Yes, that's the one. I love that. Okay, yeah, that's it. Yes, that's the one he loves that. Okay, yeah, that's the one, yeah, yeah. So I used to go to Chicken Grosla and buy some for him and we got to there and before it he was paralyzed, you know, one side there, and everything just went down the drain. So me working was really a blessing. Okay, at that time, okay, and anyway. So that's where it was while I was working.

Speaker 1:

So before that, before I came to secondary school, I have a sister in the UK who sent me a form , nursing form, I remember, it was a South bank university, nursing form and she said I had to fill and send it back. So, because I did just get it when I was in year four, so I had my gracing, so I sent it back. I was at a third bank college and my dad refused, you know. I said no, you know, and my dad refused, you know. I said no, I'm not going to go through. You know, that was what they had in their face because they studied here as well. Okay. So I think most of them explained some things Okay, they don't want to, you know, go through, to go through, yeah.

Speaker 1:

So from there on I had that image of me being in the UK, okay, to study, to be a nurse, and I've always perceived that. So when I was working I was putting money aside, thinking, okay, one day I'll get my passport, I'll go to the UK and be a nurse, you know, but it never happened. Okay. And being a nurse, you know, yeah, but it never happened. Okay. It got to a stage where by my sister. I said she sent some money. And then people started taking money, you know, dipping us. Even the pastor took our money and said oh, I'm going to get a passport, I'm going to get a visa, but it never happened. So by then'm going to get a visa, but it never happened. So by then going to school was not a, you know, was not in me anymore. I just want to travel abroad, especially when I've told all of my friends that I'm going abroad, you know. So they keep saying when are you going? So you were very hopeful, but you had no plans, no plans. You were living on hope and faith, exactly Until one day there was this old man that lives not far from our house.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, he saw me. You know, when we have all these older people, they sit in front of the house every morning. So I used to greet him and he was like Okay, they knew that you should be in school. Yeah, I should be in school. And I said I don't know, my dad is unwell, so I'm just working. You know, my mom is, I said she's very strong, she won't cry because of her tissues. So it's like I'm the one. You know, they all depend on me at that time and I was barely 17, I remember.

Speaker 1:

So the man said you know what, I will take you to poly, but everybody was in school. Okay, so he said he would take me to Puli Badon. You know some people there. Okay, that will help. So that's how we left. He went, he put on his abadah the best clothes he had, you know, told the driver to take us there. So I took my result, we went there. We went to meet this man in a house. The man lives in a house inside the Bado Foli and the man was like this job already started. The semester is on. I've missed a lot of lessons, you know. He doesn't know if I will catch up. I said no, I'm ready to give it a go. So I said okay, and that's how I got ready to give it a go. So I said okay, and that's how I got admission to Polyvinyl.

Speaker 1:

Okay, and I remember when I went there my first day, I met this guy. I think he was I don't want to use the word deported from Egypt. I think it's very important to come back to Spurs as well. He has been out of the country by road and he was determined to go back. So we started talking and then, before you know, we're about four that wants to leave the country, to go to Europe by road. It's true, okay, and we brought the map. Okay, and we're looking at the map and we're like, okay, if we go from Ibadan to Maiduguri, we cross into Cameroon, cameroon, we go to Chad. From Chad we enter Sahara Desert, we go to Egypt. Egyptians, they are visa-free to the UK. Okay, at that time. So we just buy papers and then come to the UK.

Speaker 1:

How much money did you have on you that you were planning all this? That was our plan. So I told my sister, I lied to her, that I found someone that can get me a visa and a passport and she sent. Then. She sent about 16,000 Naira, so I'm talking about 1992 and that was a lot of money then. So I remembered when she sent the money, I divided it. I put some under my socks, something like this. I put some other in my socks, something I traded. And a day before my 18th birthday I knew that my mom would come to the school. She'd bring food for me, you know, to celebrate. So I told my guys. I said we need to listen to that. When she called they would say I've left. Okay, and that's what happened actually. So that's how we left Nigeria.

Speaker 1:

I got on a bus very early at Ibadan, went straight to my degree, took us about two days to get there, and when we got to the border in Madiguri, there was a lady that we met, a very nice woman. She works with the Nigerian immigration and she said where are you children going? So we were like, oh, we are going to Egypt, we are going to get a visa. We are coming to the to get a visa, we are coming to the UK Very naive. And she said but that's the other way around, what are you guys doing here? But she said we should go back home. We said no, no, no, we are so determined. And then she said okay, when you guys get the card, they go to the ambassador's house and stay there overnight instead of getting a hotel. Okay, and then you can continue your journey from there. So she gave us the address of the ambassador's house.

Speaker 1:

So by the time we got to Chad, it was late. We went to the ambassador's house A very nice man as well, you know. Before I continue, I should say that when God is with you, nobody can take it to Him and when he walks with you, whether it's the right path or the bad path, he will always be with you. I used to say something to people that God will never come down from heaven, he will always send somebody. And that was the case. And when we met the ambassador of church in 1992, he accommodated us, he gave us food. We were so happy. And then in the morning he said children, go back to Nigeria. So he only accommodated you for one night. Yeah, just one night.

Speaker 1:

The next day he took us to the bus station and put us on a bus going back to Nigeria. So we said we didn't argue with him, we just sat there and as soon as he left we walked him off the bus. He should have waited to ensure that you guys left. Exactly that was his meeting. As soon as the bus driver left, he came off and the bus driver refused to give us our money back because he's already paid the bus driver. We were there arguing, paid the bus driver.

Speaker 1:

So we were there arguing with the bus driver and one Nigerian guy came. He was an Igbo man and he said where are you guys going? We're all Uribas, four of us. And he was like where are you guys going? So we told him and he said why do you want to go there? You know most people that take the bus to and he said why do you want to go there? Most people that take the bus to Sahara.

Speaker 1:

What happens is, when they get to some area, their bus or truck cannot get to the sands, so they have to rent a cabin. Now the problem with the cabin is that the people that I can't see them they know you guys have money, so they will kill you on the way and take your money and then send back. Oh, some people will die in the desert Because of theft. And those are the ones that didn't use the camera, you know, they just went on their way. So Everybody was like oh, yeah, yeah, we don't mind, you know we are four of us. Okay, you know we can overpower them. So you were not afraid. You were not afraid at all. They were not afraid. I was Okay. Now you're being honest Because I was the only girl. Okay, because I was the only girl. Okay, mind you, okay. So I said no, I'm not going. When I had the camel, I'm like I'm not going to be on top of any camel. So the guy said in Angola they have a visa-free, you know access to UK. Okay, and it's better for us to go there. But what we didn't know at the time was that there was more in Angola, okay, you know. So as soon as we came to Angola, we were like, yeah, that's fine, you know, we go to Angola. So instead of going north, we now came back again to Cameroon.

Speaker 1:

Unfortunately, the immigration guy that snapped us out of Cameroon the day before is the one we met again when we got there. What did he say to you? I said what are you guys looking for? Because when we were passing, we told him we were going to Egypt and then you're back again in Cameroon the next day. We were going to Angola, oh dear. So instead of him stamping out to give us the transit visa to Cameroon, he stamped us to leave the. The transit visa to Cameroon. He sampled us to leave the country. Okay, to leave Cameroon, to leave Cameroon. So that means we have to go out of Cameroon. And we just we didn't say anything.

Speaker 1:

We took our passport, because one thing with a francophone country is this you must carry your ID all the time. If you have a room and your toilet is maybe 5 meters away take your passport, because you end up being deported. So that's the way it works there. It's because of the world, we get used to it, and so that's how we took the passport. We took the bus that he put us in. We got to the middle of the road, we told the guys to drop us and then we went the other way, so that he puts us in. We go to the middle of the road, we told the guys to drop us. Then we went the other way.

Speaker 1:

From Ganderi that was in Ganderi we went to Yaounde. From Yaounde we went to Douala. From Douala we entered Oyeme. Oyeme is a small city in Gabon. Okay, so they have a border with Cameroon and some other end, they have a border with Nigeria as well. So when we got to Oyeme, we met uh, some nigerians there. There was one guy he's what they call it a restaurant. Yeah, now to get to a year, we need a ferry.

Speaker 1:

So we were on the ferry and we were looking at the exit. We saw a policeman there and we started panicking and the guy was. He saw us because we knew straight away that we were strangers. So as soon as we came down, he took us straight to the office. What are you guys doing here? He was speaking in broken, broken English, yeah, and unfortunately, from Ibadan, we don't speak in English. Could you speak French? Yeah, he was speaking French, but then we had no clue. We don't do both in English, okay, could you speak French? Yeah, no, he was speaking French back then. We had no clue. Okay, we had no French, nothing at all. So we are just, we are like moi, toi, that is me and you. Me and you, that's all. Yeah, you're the same. We're like moi.

Speaker 1:

We go Angola and the man was looking at us like there's war in Angola. What are you guys talking about? So, at the end of the day, he took us to their police station. When we got there, we met their commander and the guy looked at us and said where are you coming from? So we explained, we told him our plans we were so hungry, oh dear. And he asked the wife to cook beans for us, the red beans, the big red beans with garlic. I remember when I was there, that was my first time eating garlic, garlic. Okay, because we were so hungry, you know, we just ate it. And then he said you know what? The next thing? He took us back. We need to go back to Nigeria.

Speaker 1:

So everybody from the day we started Kept saying you needed to go back. That's it Everybody was. You needed to go back, that's it. Everybody was just telling us to go back. So at the end of the day, next day, it took us to meet this Nigerian guy that owns a restaurant, and the guy had a house about four empty rooms. It's like a refugee camp, okay, and he said you know what? You guys are not the first in Nigeria. They'll pass through here. Everybody's trying to make it One way or the other. Yeah, and he now said the best thing for us to even do is to go to South Africa From Gabon, no longer from Gabon, no longer Angola. We said okay, okay, before we go to South Africa, we have to pass through Congo to Kabinda, kabida, to Luanda, all the way down to South Africa.

Speaker 1:

So by that time my money was almost gone, almost gone, almost gone. And there was this salon. I went there. You know, back home you have the dolly and you can try to do their hair, you play with the hair, I know how to do that. So so you know, people with the hair, the babies hair, I know how to do that. Okay, so, cut flat. So that's how I went to the saloon and I told the woman I know how to flat if she will take me. And then she said, okay, so I started working there, you know, doing people's hair, and I think we were there for like a month. Okay, so this was in Gabon. Yeah, yes, in Gabon.

Speaker 1:

And then the Nigerian government asked that Nigerians be deported back from Gabon. Okay, so everybody just started packing their luggages. I tried to run back into Cameroon. When we go to Cameroon, I remember we had all these dwarves that were helping us, because they are the ones that live in the beaches. I'm talking about rivers, because when you look at the map of Nigeria, the map of the whole world, you can see some countries that are beside each other. Mm-hmm. What we didn't realize at the time was this, this great land we are looking at, there are probably rivers, there might be rivers, there might be wilderness. Wow, only God knows Wow.

Speaker 1:

But there was a point we got to the border. We entered Ginnikitoria by mistake, because we were walking in the bush. So you were just walking in the bush without we were just walking in the bush, and aimlessly, aimlessly. But by this time there were so many, oh, my God, oh, there were so many of you. Okay, this time, yeah, we have the Senegalese, we have the Malians, okay, you know. So it's like all nations were there.

Speaker 1:

Okay, everybody trying to escape to Europe. Escape, yeah, because now they were not actually just catching Nigerians only. Okay, when they say Mbolo, which is their country language, okay, and I don't know what to say. Okay, they just grab you, so they are not speaking french, like the spanish girls are malians, they are actually okay. How are you? Okay? Yeah, you say when I am, I am fine. And if you cannot do that, then God help you. What if they asked you something more than that? What would you say If they had asked you more than that? You're wrong, you're wrong, you're wrong.

Speaker 1:

You know, at the end of the day, we left, yeah, and we got to the river and we saw these dogs. They just entered the water. They are the ones leading us. We paid them, okay, so we entered the water. They are the one leading us, we paid them, so we entered the water. Then there was a guy his name is Sam, very funny guy. So we are all in the middle of the river, walking just across, we can see where we are going in front of us, and we had our bags on the mid. So when we got to the mid, the stupid boy said in Yoruba, we don't even know if there's crocodiles in this water. Now, oh my God, what a thing to say. We don't understand Yoruba. We just are running the people in front of us, they don't know why we're running. They're running too. They were behind us, they had no clue. Oh my God, everyone just got caught.

Speaker 1:

And then we ran, we ran, we closed the water and we entered Cameroon. Back again, back to Cameroon, yeah. And then, from ran, we ran, we closed the water and we entered Cameroon. Back again, back to Cameroon, yeah. And then, from Cameroon, we went to all the way down to Weseo, which was another border to, from between Cameroon and Congo. Okay, cameroon and Congo. Now, when we got to Wessel, mind you, all these places, we have to pay to get our visas. We are not free. So we got to Wessel, we got a visa there, and then now to get to Brazzaville there's no road. Congo, brazzaville, there's no road. Congo, brazzaville, yeah, there's no road. Okay, we had to go by ship. Okay, now I missed Tompat From Cameroon to Congo was four hours on a boat, about 40 of us, and we were all tired.

Speaker 1:

At the time we met, I think, about three Nigerians again, nigerians mostly Again. So we all joined together on the boat and then we were on our way about three hours in. This is my friend Sam. Everybody was sleeping, everybody was tired. Sam said if you close your eyes on this boat, you open your eyes in heaven. He must have just been a troublemaker. Why do you say such a thing Honestly? On the boat, you know, the eyes were like it's just wide open straight away. I'm not ready to die yet. It's wide open straight away.

Speaker 1:

So when we got to Wessel, we rented a place there. We all stayed there and then we met another girl. Her name is Doris, she's from Nigeria but she was holding a Sierra Leonean passport. She's an Igbo girl and she said that she sent some cargoes to Luanda, you know, to Kabinda, and she's going to clear them to sell. So when she told us that, we took that story Anybody that's here, because before we were telling people we were going to the UK, okay, but now we changed our story. Oh, we sent our luggage to Kab, uk, okay, but now we changed our story. We sent our luggage to Kabinda. We have our cargo there waiting for us. You know we are going to clear it. Why did you change the story? Why did you change the story At this time?

Speaker 1:

Every time we tell people we are going to the UK, they are like you guys are going the wrong way, you know, go back to Nigeria. Okay, that they are like you guys are going the wrong way, you know, go back to Nigeria. Okay, that's what they are saying. But when we had the purpose and say that we are going to clear our cargo in Kabinda and we couldn't go because there was no flight because of the war, so we are going through the road so they allow us to go, they allowed us to go. They gave us visa, okay.

Speaker 1:

So the ship came. It was meant to spend two weeks from Wetsu to Brazzaville but because the water was very low, we were there for two months On the ship. On the ship we had people coming in from different parts, you know, coming off. Yeah, I think we met one white girl. It was only white man with some. He was carrying a basketball and he said his mentor was carrying, carry in basketball all over the world, you know. So we met. He was a very nice man, his name was Jackson, something like that.

Speaker 1:

Anyway, we go to Brazzaville at the end and the police officers, they won't let us go. They said that we are not supposed to be there. What are we going for? Nobody goes to carida direct mine because of the war. But we were so adamant so we said you know what? We have a visa. You need to call us the ambassador.

Speaker 1:

So by this time the Nigerians were actually in Pointe-Noire, bikipolas. Yeah, they went there to play and everybody was there, all the Nigerians, ambassadors, consular, all of them were there. So we were at the police station for like three days. They didn't put us in a cage or anything. They just kept you there. They just kept us. We were sitting with them in the office. We were just there In the evening. We'd go around, we'd walk around the port, we'd go out to eat. They had our luggage, so we had to go back to them.

Speaker 1:

At the end the consular came back and he came to the police station and he was like they have their visa, why are you holding them? And they said no, because they are not sure that we are going to where we said we are going because we are very young to be traders. So the ambassador, the consular, looked at us and said these children and me even though I was very tall but very tiny I remember it took me by the ears I go like this, where are you going? So everybody kept saying going back, go back, rather go back. Then they released us, they took us to the ambassador's house.

Speaker 1:

Luckily for me, ambassador came from Ibadan and then they asked our names and then I told them my name and said Ibadan, okay. And then they asked our names and then I told them my name and said Adelike. I said yes, I said Adelike, ibadan. And me. I was like, okay, I don't know, but I'm from Ibadan and I'm Adelike. And he said tell me about your father. So I told him I demand, just like crying. Apparently he was my dad, okay, you know. So he was so angry. He was like know when your parents must have gone through looking for you this and that. So he called home Okay, you know. And he told them everything. He's going to put me on a flight.

Speaker 1:

He was now more concerned about me, okay, and the other people that we left he brought on with. They were very upset. Okay, because it's like we had a plan, not because of me. The plan is going to change. I'll have to go back, okay, yeah. So he said it was good to be back on the plane and we're going to miss my parents. I said, okay, so we were there in the house.

Speaker 1:

The wife she had a lovely wife and she told us said okay, so we were there in the house. The wife said yeah, they love me, like him. And I asked the daughter it's supposed to be a disabled daughter, yeah, sorry. Yeah, I can hear you go on, I'm listening. Yeah, so I had a daughter and the daughter was disabled. So I was playing with a girl and something just came to my mind like, after all I've been through, I don't want to go back to Nigeria. You know, I want to move forward. So I went to talk to him and I said that you know, by then he's dead. I don. I mean, I don't want to go back, I want to go forward. You know I've left home. This is the reason why I left, you know. And he said, okay, that's what I want. Okay, so he now gave us a number of somebody in Poinua. Okay, that when we get there, we can go and meet the person.

Speaker 1:

So, but one of the people, another guy called Laide. He's older than me, I call him Laide. Yeah, his family was married to the Paraiso family. Okay, his father. So the Paraiso family. They are from Beninwa. Okay, they're Benin from Benin. So in Congo there's so many Benin. They dominated the place and Brailleite was like oh, I'm sure one of my dad's wife used to come from this place, you know, let me go and ask them.

Speaker 1:

So we went to the market and as soon as they mentioned Paraiso, they just took us straight to the woman's house. When we got to the woman's house we met the son. The woman was not home. So she gave us food, accommodated us and said the woman was not home. So she gave us food, accommodated us and said the room was in Point Noir. So by next day we dressed up, we took a train it's an overnight train to Point Noir, so there's no road at all.

Speaker 1:

And then, when we got to Point Noir, we went to meet the mom. She was so happy to see the lady to start with, and then, because I was a girl with Doris, they put us with this lady that had all her children back in the states. So she's an older lady, so we stayed with her. She was selling plastic containers and things like that. So in the morning we wake up, we go with her to the shop, we help her set it up. But Doris was so adamant that she wants to go to Cabinda. At this time we all believed her that she had a cargo there, okay, you know, because we thought she was lying Okay time. We all believed her that she had a cargo there, okay, you know, because we thought she was lying Okay, but we all believed her. So at the end she found her way. Okay, so she left you, okay, she left us, but we stayed there. So I stayed with the woman, you know, always helping her.

Speaker 1:

And I used to hear people talking about computers, you know, because most of the offices went to by. Then. You have all these big live screens with the keyboards and I'm always fascinated, you know, looking at it and I remember, before I left home when I was in secondary school, there is this type in place beside our house, our school where we used to, where you can learn how to type. Yeah, you know, I used to go there then to learn how to type. So to me. I believe if you can type, you can use a computer. Computer should be very easy for you to use. So I had about a school in Ponyo where you can learn how to use computer. So that's how I went there. So I started learning and they had a massive screen and keyboards.

Speaker 1:

And because I speak English, one of the guy was like with your English you can work in one company. They are looking for people that speak English there. Don't worry about French. They say no, don't worry about French, because by then I was speaking up a few words. I watched a lot of movies, a lot of French movies. So I was speaking up some few words to speak French. So that's how I went to this company and they said I need a work permit to work there. I said, okay, that's another challenge. I had a visa, but I didn't know you need a work permit.

Speaker 1:

So at the end of the day I met a friend, one lovely girl, she. She was on her first test and she said that she teach her English. So anytime I see her she's always speaking to me in English. You know, like by English, you know like by force, you know. So I'm trying to learn French. So I'm trying to speak French to everyone, because you're always calling somebody. What did you say? What did you say? So I want to talk by myself.

Speaker 1:

And this girl she had a boyfriend, he's a Frenchman. And the Frenchman said Victoria, I've got some magazines at home, financial magazines. I need somebody that can cut all the shipping adverts and enter it into the computer, because the guy is into shipping. So I said I can do that, that's easy. So he took me to his house and then he opened the story. It was full of newspapers the orange, then I don't know if it was Financial History, I don't know the orange papers.

Speaker 1:

So and he gave me a laptop. Now he asked me do you not use a computer? I said yes. Now he gave me a laptop. I don't know what a laptop was, so I switched it on. I mean, I don't know what a laptop was, so I switched it on. I mean I couldn't switch it on. Actually I just opened it, that's the word. And I stared at it. I don't know what to press. So I said you know what? I'm not going to lose this job. I think someone's died.

Speaker 1:

I tried putting all the papers, all the shit in that. So the man would come and said have you put that in the computer? I was right. I started cutting all the papers. Well, something to do, all the shit and all that. So the man who come and said, have you put that in the computer? I said no, I'm just cutting them for now.

Speaker 1:

After I cut it almost half of the newspapers you had to find another strategy, I'm sure. And my son said tell me, you don't know how to use a laptop. I said I don't know. I said I said the big one, but not this. So he took the laptop from me, he switched it on and then he went to words. He opened words. It used to be doc. Then he opened it. Then he said okay, just type here. I said, okay, now I typed. He left the work. I typed. I don't know how to save. So when I finished, I closed it. How can you not know how to save? I did it. Oh no, when I closed it, everything I've done. I didn't tell you. Oh no, when I close it, everything I've done. Oh no, how embarrassing. I thought back. I feel like where is it? And I said don't touch the laptop again, just keep crossing. Just keep crossing the paper, oh dear. I said don't touch the laptop again, just leave it. Keep crossing, just keep crossing.

Speaker 1:

So he came back one day and he said, oh, he's going to the restaurant with his friends, that's if I don't mind coming. I said, why not? He said they are English, they just came from the Philippines, so they're opening a company there and they're looking for someone that speaks English. I said, oh, you know, I speak English, I don't mind coming. So that's how we went for the dinner and I met two of them, one older guy and one younger one. So they came to open the company and they are looking for an office, so furniture and things like that. Before you know it, I just took it upon myself. You know, I look for an office for them. I got them an office. We set up what they call tables, decks, everything. So they made me a secretary and they gave me a laptop Again.

Speaker 1:

So this time I just went back to where I learned how to use a computer phone and I told the man that owns it listen, I need a laptop, I need to know how to use a laptop. So he to know how to use a laptop. So he had his own laptop that he uses, so he gave it to me and he taught me a few things. And then this company that came, they said they have somebody in a gym that can teach me as well how to use a computer, if I don't mind waiting after closing hours because the lady finishes maybe around 5 and then she comes to us. So they want to teach everybody, because by then I'm talking about 1994, people were using computers back then. So I used to pay. I remember I was the only one that paid All the Oinbo Filipino everybody they brought.

Speaker 1:

Once we finished it, they are gone, but I had the power. So I stayed and I started learning. And then they employed this guy, this Congolese man, to be their accountant, because what happened is for them to employ an expatriate it must be a job that a Congolese cannot do, okay, you see. So when I got there, the man came with somebody else who speak English and French, okay, and then he went to the what they call them working permit people. I said, oh, there's this lady that works there. She knows I work permits, which of those I did not have. So they said they would find the company 10,000 CFA if they keep me.

Speaker 1:

So I had to leave. Actually, I went to meet a guy that worked for me. I begged him. He said the man is his father-in-law. Oh, so there was nothing he could do. There's nothing he could do. I left the job, even though I was going to help set it up. I left. I left the job Even though I was going to help set it up, I left. Now, when I left, my boss that was there said you can go to another company to work, because he kind of understood what happened. So I went to another company. The first company I worked for was Falcon Atlantic. Then I went to Weatherford, ontario. It's an Italian company. So I started working with them and then they were the ones that gave me the work permit. Okay, they paid for it.

Speaker 1:

So, before you know it, everybody heard about Victoria. She speaks English, he speak English, he speak French, he never used computer. Finally, finally, Finally. Yeah, I was hot cake. Everybody wants to walk with me and by then I've known the customs immigrations. Poina is a small city. Once you leave your house, people say hello, hello, hello. Until you get to your workplace, everybody knows each other. So that's how I became I don't want to use the word popular, but I was able to help these people, you know, especially Nigerians, when they come. Okay, and I was lucky enough, I got a job in another company called Ninja Oil and I was there working with them until the war started in Congo.

Speaker 1:

So before you go any further, I want to ask you did you stop to think about your mother and what she was going through? Did it cross your mind? Did you send any word to her? And how long did all of this take? So all of this was around three years, because I left home in 1992. Yeah, two, two, okay, two years. So by 1994, I've already established myself, okay, working with a law company. So I missed that part of it.

Speaker 1:

When I got to Congo, we got back in touch with my mom. Everybody called her family. Oh, okay, okay, go, we go back in touch with my mom. Everybody called their family. And because the Beninua people they trade between Nigeria and Beninua and Bini, so we can only send them messages, we write letters, we give it to them. There is this man in Lagos. I never met the man. That is where they all go to. So we drop the letters on the one there and then they will now come. Your family will come and collect the letters, you know message that you have here. Okay, so that was what you know, okay, so my mom finally found out where I was, okay, and my sister here as well. Okay, and they're all begging me to go back to Nigeria, even though you had established yourself. Yes, why? Because it's Congo. What are we doing in Congo?

Speaker 1:

Okay, as a girl, you know, and one of the things that I was looking for was my service. Okay, you know, it's so easy for you to be a prostitute. Okay, because I'm a Nigerian Number one, I speak English, I, you know. I said I had a good figure, then, you know, figure eight, then Max, figure 20. I've got. Now, forget about that, let's not even go there. Let's leave that one aside. It's always. You know, some people. I have so many opportunities, yeah, in working with Chevron, in working with Shel, but they always want to sleep with me. Okay, and that was in my agenda Because, as I said, congo is a very small place.

Speaker 1:

If you sleep with somebody today, everybody will know, it's going to be on the street, everybody will know and they will not even say it as if it's a bad thing. You'll be in the restaurant eating and they will know and they will not even like say it as if it's a bad thing. You've been the restaurant eating and they'll be like, oh, I'm such a you know they'll treat that so you don't want something like that. No, and because of that, it kind of made me more people were happy to work with me. Okay, especially the, especially the men. Yeah, you know, they felt safer. Okay, because they were okay.

Speaker 1:

If I work with Victoria, you know she's not going to go with one of my engineers or anything like that, you know. Yeah, so it was so easy for me, okay, you know. Okay, so I was, I, very focused and yeah, so I started working with them and one of them so what it is they do rotation. Yeah, so they bring somebody for two months and then they put them with somebody else, and one of the person that came at the point was a Scottish guy. He said that he wants his wife to come as well. Okay, you know. So the wife came. Most of them they don't bring their family, okay, you know, but his wife came and the wife, she's into most riding. Okay, so she asked me if I can pick up a most riding place. So I used to sit somewhere by the airport when I take people to the airport Because most of my job is logistics.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so we spend about 15 people to the rig every two weeks and then we rotate, we bring them back and then we take other people. So when they come, my job is, before they come, they will have sent me their passport copies so I will get them visa. So by the time they come, you were making visa for people. Now you were getting visa. What an irony. Wow, ok, so I was getting visa. Irony, wow, okay.

Speaker 1:

So I was getting visas for them so they can go on the rig and walk. And sometimes we have people that walk off Rwanda, offshore. So I have to go to the Angola Embassy to get a visa and at this time we have a lot of Nigerians coming in trying to, you know, go to Europe or wherever South Africa, wherever they want to go to. So I just think that I thought get the visas, you know, pay for it and go, because by then I was now friends with the ambassadors, you know good people. So, anyway, I took this lady to the off-roading place and it happens to be a gentleman that works there. He's a Frenchman and he thought he took this lady off-roading. You know, I just walk her every morning before I go to work. And Demi and the friends were the same friends. Okay, and we got married. Oh nice, yeah.

Speaker 1:

So then it all started in 2001. And we had to leave, okay, so I went back to Nigeria. So you went back from Point Noir to Nigeria. So your initial goal of going to Europe you didn't meet that goal then. Nope, it never happened. So you went through all of that trouble to go back to Nigeria, which is what they were saying to you from the beginning Go back From the beginning.

Speaker 1:

Did you have any regrets at all during this journey? Was there any time where you felt, you know what, maybe I shouldn't have embarked on this journey? Not a single one. Really, it was so adventurous, I was so happy, wow, and it kind of moved me into who. I. So happy, wow, it kind of moved me into who I am today.

Speaker 1:

Okay, because sometimes when I'm talking to people, they look at me like, oh, it's just a girl. But by the time I open my mouth and start talking, they're like how old are you again? What's going on? Because where have you been? What have you seen? Because, honestly speaking, it helps me to respect people more.

Speaker 1:

Okay, in what way? No matter where you come from, your age, whether you are younger than me, whether you are older than me, it does not matter to me. I will give you the same respect, because in Nigeria we have this thing like if you are older than me, you know, the respect is always there. If you are younger than me, you know, the respect is always there. If you are younger than me or more superior than you, we have to treat you. I don't do that and you know, when I went back, I had so many issues because you had to mix with all kinds of people along the way. Along the way, I had to get along with them. Yeah, when I was in Nigeria, I had house helps. I eat at a diner with my house help and people insult me, but I can figure out why you want to create other person. Whether they are your house help, whether they are your household, whether they are your cleaners or gardeners, they are human beings. You have to treat each other equally. That's the way I see it. People don't see that way.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so let me ask a question. What would you say to your younger self about this, this journey that you embarked upon, if you had to look back, what would you say to your younger self? What are there any? Is there any advice you would you would give to your younger self? Yes, okay, so I would tell my younger self to stay at home. Just tell me, even though you refuse to go back, why, why, why would you say that?

Speaker 1:

Thank you so much for joining me today on Navigating the Chapters of Challenge. Your time means the world to me and I hope today's episode inspired and encouraged you. If you enjoyed this episode, don't keep it to yourself. Share it with your friends, family or anyone who could use a little hope and encouragement. You can find our podcast on Spotify, buzzsprout, apple Podcasts, youtube and wherever you love listening to podcasts, want to support the show? It's easy Just click the support button on Buzzsprout and any contribution, big or small, helps us keep bringing you stories and insights that matter. And don't forget to check out our latest book, navigating the chapters of challenge from trials to triumph, available now on amazon. It's packed with inspiration and practical wisdom to help you navigate life's storms. We'd also love to hear from you if you have a story to share, an idea or just want to say hi. Feel free to reach out your voice matters and, who knows, your story might just inspire our next episode. Thanks again for listening, stay strong, stay inspired, and I'll see you on the next episode.