"And who said girls can't have a proper education just like boys?" Bimpe asked, looking confused. "What does gender inequality in education mean?" she continued.
"Well, your father does. He believes a woman's place is in the kitchen," Mide replied.
"And who said that educated women can't be in the kitchen preparing meals for their husbands while still making an impact on society?" Bimpe countered as she walked in a circle.
"So, what are you going to do? Run away from home and continue your education? Because I don't think your father would allow you to study in his house," Mide asked, seeking clarity.
"I haven't decided what to do yet, but definitely not running away from home. I remember my mum telling me about my paternal grandfather, who sent all his children to school regardless of gender. But I thought they said apples don't fall far from the tree," Bimpe said, trying to understand what had influenced her father's beliefs.
"Maybe this particular apple fell on a different ground entirely," Mide said with a wide smile.
"Maybe I should tell the apple what you just said about him," Bimpe teased.
"Don't tell him, please," Mide replied, feigning a frightened expression.
"Since you've pleaded, I won't tell him about the apple story. But you know the one thing that I can't do, right?" Bimpe asked.
"You won't back down until you succeed at something; I know this as well as I know my name," Mide replied.
"Well, this is me; I will see you tomorrow," Bimpe said as she hugged Mide.
Bimpe is a beautiful young woman in her early twenties who has just finished high school and is eager to pursue further education. However, she is being limited by her father, who believes a female child's place is in the kitchen and not at school. Bimpe is the only girl in a family of five, with four brothers. She is the second child in the family. Bimpe's older brother is attending another institution to pursue a bachelor's degree in engineering, while Bimpe tries to convince their father to understand why she should be allowed to continue her education.
Bimpe is very hardworking. After finishing high school, she decided to work to help cover her school expenses, as her father wouldn’t sponsor her further education. She wants to be financially prepared.
Bimpe's mother is a housewife who abides by her husband’s rules and has little say in the household.
Secretly, Bimpe registered for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Examinations (JAMB) behind her father's back. To her great surprise, she passed with one of the best scores. Excitedly, she went home with the result but couldn’t show it to her father. Instead, she waited until the middle of the night when she noticed her mother in the kitchen.
"Mum, I made it," Bimpe whispered as she approached her.
"Oh my God, let me see!" Bimpe's mother exclaimed, stretching her hand to collect the result.
When Bimpe's mother saw the result, she couldn’t contain her joy. She screamed in excitement, startling Bimpe's father, who jumped out of bed thinking there was a thief in the house. He grabbed the cutlass he had hidden and rushed to the kitchen, finding his wife and daughter hugging each other.
"What is happening here?" Bimpe's father thundered.
"Well…" Bimpe's mother stuttered, struggling to explain.
"Dad, I passed my JAMB," Bimpe said, trying to maintain a composed expression.
"So, what reaction are you expecting from me? You should be helping your mother with house chores, not wasting your time with books," Bimpe's father stated as he reached for the letter, tore it into tiny pieces, and continued, "What's the point of going to school when you’re just going to get married and have children? Your only responsibility is to take care of your home, just like your mother is doing now."
Bimpe's eyes filled with tears as frustration bubbled up inside her, but she steadied her voice. "Dad, I want to finish my education and get a degree in accounting. It's the only way to improve my life, and I won’t back down until I achieve it."
"Education is a waste of time and money for a girl; I've told you this several times," Bimpe's father said as he walked back into the room, pulling his wife along with him.
Unable to hold back her tears any longer, Bimpe let them fall. Her heart sank, but the thought of becoming an accountant strengthened her resolve as she bent down to pick up every piece of her result from the floor.
The next day, Bimpe returned to print her JAMB letter, this time keeping it a secret from her father. Only her mother knew about it, as she had been supportive of Bimpe's education and pursuit of her dreams.
Bimpe refused to let her father's beliefs about girls and education deter her from achieving her goals.
As days turned into a week, Bimpe sat for the UTME exam and came out with flying colors. She was offered admission into the best university in the nation to study what she had always been passionate about: accounting.
She started college in secret, without her father's knowledge.
"And who said I can't be what I want to be?" Bimpe whispered to herself as she put on that matriculation gown.
Thanks for reading 🧡
