Oga U: CHAPTER 2

Crazy.

“What happened?”

The steam blowing through both her ears was enough to cook jollof rice.

“What’s going on?”

“Oga U gave my black hoodie to one of his customers. Can you imagine that man? Is he crazy? Is he stupid? That his wife mistakenly gave it out to someone who has a lot of black hoodies, and that the guy travelled with it! What do you even mean?”

“Jima, calm down.”

She was trying her best not to explode. This was not the kind of news she wanted to hear.

“This is so, so annoying.”

“I don’t understand. He gave someone to travel with it?” Chima tilted her head.

“Essentially.”

“So sorry.” Her voice softened.

“Sorry.” Grace furrowed her eyebrows.

“Sorry, Jima.” Maria squeezed her hand.

All she was heard was sorry. It was a birthday gift. The year before. She had planned to rock it this year. Her rock dreams were rolled to a halt. This was different. She didn’t forget it at home. Someone she trusted had mishandled it, and the worst?

They didn’t know where it was. Crazy.

“He told me that he’d cover the cost if it didn’t come back. I even refused at first.”

“Omo, even if regardless o. Collect the sweater and the money. Your sweater can’t be with a stranger.”

“That’s exactly what I’m going to do, Grace.”

“So sorry, my love.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you, guys. Let’s go.”

CONFERENCE TOPIC: AI IN MEDICINE—SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE

Time: 8:00am

Artificial intelligence has really been integrated into healthcare outside Nigeria. The earlier we get on board here, the better for us. It’s best we acquaint ourselves with AI so that we can use it to our advantage. So that we are not behind.

“It is fascinating to see how present artificial intelligence is with us now, Sally.”

“Brooo.”

“Bro.”

“The next thing you know, people won’t come to the hospital again.”

“Ha.” Sally had this funny way of saying things.

“With diabetic foot? You’re not wrong sha. Maybe AI will teach them how to amputate the gangrened foot.”

“Jima! That’s too far.”

“Is it really? You know—”

“Let’s go and buy Amala, guysss!!”

Chima and her interrupting convos whenever her stomach was on the line.

Maria and Grace had introduced them to this amala joint 3 months ago. Tasty stuff. Jima’s regular order was the amala wrap of 800 naira and 2 kpomos for 200 naira each. On a good day, she’d buy goat meat.

The ewedu and stew were free. Spending 1,200 naira for tasty and filling food. Good schtuff.

“Oya, let’s go.”

Although the day went down with Jima hoodie-less, the warmth of sisterhood and freshly made amala and ewedu soup with succulent kpomo kept her sane.