We are indeed at the last lap of the journey through the year 2017. It is time for stock taking and planning ahead for the new year. Our Correspondent, CHINWE MADUAGWU, spoke to a cross section of people on how they fared in 2017.
The year 2017 is almost over. A few days more and we bid it farewell and usher in the new year, 2018. 365 days are not a joke as we say. A lot can still happen and did happen in such a long period. Some people shared their experiences with The Next Edition.
Iya Faruk is a Bursar at a private Secondary School in Lagos and for her the year has been good. “2017 has been good to me. As long as we are alive, we have to thank God. Even though we went through a period of recession and things were really tough but, we have to take things as we see them especially those things we can’t control or change and life goes on. I hope and pray though that 2018 would be better than 2017.”
Mrs. Rachael Nwosu sells used clothes at Ilasamaja, Lagos, and for her it’s been a mix of the good and not so good. Yet in all, she is grateful to God. Her words, “firstly, I have to thank God for the gift of life. We’ve been going and coming in my family without any accident, there has not been any emergency.
“However, my dad was quite sick. In fact, he was hospitalised for three months and had one of his legs amputated. Still we thank God for life. He has been discharged from the hospital and is recovering very well.”
Speaking about her business, Mrs. Nwosu said she also has every reason to be thankful to God. “In my business too, despite everything, I thank God. This year, I was able to get a shop, moving from a small container in spite of the recession. However, because of the recession though, sales weren’t as good as it used to be, but for the much that came my way I’m thankful.
“I also had some challenges with cash to stock for Christmas sells unlike last year, but a friend came to my aid. One thing the recession has taught me is that one should manage and be content with what he/she has. If you try to do more than what you are capable of doing, that’s when you run into trouble,” she said.
Mr. Christian Afor a retiree who resides in Lagos, said, “I would say that year 2017 has been favourable to me; though there were some regrets along the line. But in all honesty my blessings far more outweigh the downsides. The simple truth is that one cannot count his/her blessings. Just like the song that goes thus “count your blessings and name them one by one…”
“So do I start from the gift of life and good health for members of my family or the provision of accommodation for us within a short period of time when my former landlady became a problem, or safe delivery for my daughter five years after her first child?
“Like every other Nigerian I have been affected by the recession, I felt it, but in all, I give God all the glory and sincerely wish that 2018 will be better,” she said.
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Miss Ijeoma Iroegbu said, “2017 has been a great big testimony for me. God granted me my heart desire, restored my health and made me bounce back to life. I really thank God for 2017 and pray that everything good in 2017 would follow me to 2018.”
For Isaac Eyo, a gospel reggae artist it’s been a good year. His words, “It has been a rare and long awaited breakthrough for me in all ramifications as a man. I see it as an introduction for the greatest years to come.”
Mrs. Eromon Iwu said she experienced the good and the not so good in the year. “2017 was a bit difficult in the sense that it was hard to adjust to so many economic changes. We had to make so many cut backs as individuals and as a family.
“However, I had a baby this year at a general hospital and for the first time, I was very satisfied with the treatment and medical care I got. It was also very cheap, compared to other hospitals. Truly, the general healthcare system in Lagos is trying, even if not perfect,” she said.
Ndueso Ukeme, a housewife in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom state, told The Next Edition that the year was remarkable in the sense that she secured a job after several years of graduation from University. “I have every reason to be grateful. I got a job as a teacher after several years of searching for a job. I really thank God for His mercies.”
Good or bad, the year is almost gone. We thank God for life and join our voices to pray for the best in 2018. We also wish you, our esteemed friends a prosperous new year.
