Dr. Ifechidere Sophia Obani (Nwanyi Mbaise)

I remember dating a man who was very well-employed and earned over a million francs monthly. At the time, I was unemployed and surviving on my little business. I was never the type to ask for money, allowances or anything. I was just a quiet, simple girl trying to survive. We had an issue and stopped talking, but he kept insisting that we meet. I lived in another town and was so broke that I couldn’t afford transportation to see him. I didn’t want to ask him for transport money either. Two weeks later, he reached out again. I told him about an important event I desperately needed to attend. He asked, “If the event is that important, why don’t you come and see me first?” I insisted that the event was important, and he sent me an Express Exchange message saying he had transferred money to me. I took the last 500 francs I had, paid 300 francs for a bike to Half Mile and went to cash out. Only for them to tell me the code was incorrect. I immediately went to a call box, paid 100 francs to call him and explain what had happened. The moment he realised it was me, he laughed and hung up. I had to trek all the way back home. Ladies, please, work hard. Build something for yourself. Make your own money. Financial independence is not just about luxury, soft life or buying nice things. Sometimes, it is about having the dignity to walk away, the freedom to make your own decisions and never having to beg someone for basic consideration. The amount of cruelty I experienced simply because I had no money is something I will never forget.