Chapter 7: New Beginnings, New Grace

Next day, alarm ring 8:30. I fling duvet commot—then remember say I no get work again.

First time in one year wey I fit sleep pass 6am, but my body still set alarm. I look around, room dey quiet. For a moment, I dey lost—na so person dey realize say the world no go stop because you lose job.

My phone buzz, new email.

I dey expect maybe one message from Musa or HR, but this one different. My mind dey curious.

As I open am, my eye clear immediately.

I read the subject again, dey wonder if na scam. But e no look like all those 419 format. My hand begin shake small as I read the first line.

"Ifeanyi, good day, I be Dr. Kamsiyochukwu, CEO of Medivision Technologies. Me and my team see your Github, you dey do AI for Alzheimer’s detection for some years now, na exactly wetin we dey do. We really want make you join us, we dey wait for your reply."

E shock me. Na this same Github wey I dey use practice. I never even talk to anybody about am, just dey code for fun. See as God dey work.

Alzheimer’s na dementia.

For my family, we get old people wey dey forget things. Na why the project dey personal for me. E sweet me say another person dey notice my work.

I just upload some projects for Github for fun.

I dey use am run small experiment, dey see if I fit fit improve myself. I no even dey expect person go check am. Just dey try dey sharp.

How far?

I pause. This na correct breakthrough. Na that kind story wey your uncle go call "divine connection." I dey reason am, dey smile.

First day of unemployment, never even start find job, opportunity just land for my lap.

Omo, see grace. Na so Naija dey—door fit close, window go open for another side. I dey grateful.

I google Medivision Technologies and the CEO.

I run background check sharp sharp. You no fit trust anybody for this town. I dey search LinkedIn, dey look company website, dey check if the man face match the name.

Company no too get gist, but CEO na heavy guy: Dr. Kamsiyochukwu, PhD from Duke, computer vision specialist.

As I see Duke for CV, I reason say this one na person wey get head. No be small boy at all. I see am for conference photo, dey present research—e sure die.

His personal homepage full of open-source projects wey he build alone when he dey school.

I dey scroll, dey see Python everywhere, Tensorflow, Pytorch, all those big names. This man no dey play.

With my professional eye, I know say this guy na real deal.

No be every day you see person wey get both brain and handwork. I dey respect am, even before I reply.

I no expect person like am to notice my Github project. I no go lie, e sweet me small.

For inside me, I dey do small victory dance. E mean say all my sleepless nights no waste.

But as I no too sabi their company, I no fit just gree.

I dey reason, say make I no go land for wahala again. I need check well.

I reply say I dey happy to talk more, drop my phone number join.

I add small politeness, "Thanks for reaching out, I go like learn more about Medivision and your team."

As I press send, Yunusa message me for WhatsApp.

Like say e dey watch me, message just enter: "Egbon, how body? You dey rest?"

"Brother Ifeanyi, new person start today. Old Musa say na him go maintain our project. Guess what? Na fresh graduate."

Yunusa no dey waste time. As e type, you go feel the sarcasm. "Baba, this one na real cruise."

"Everybody know say fresh grad na cheapest. Tsk tsk, dem sack you put bargain pikin—dem no get sense."

E pain am pass me. Na so young people dey feel when dem see better person dey waka commot because of office politics.

I just laugh.

I reply am, "Na their way, my brother. Make dem try am."

Musa dey serious so?

If na Musa, anything fit happen. E dey like shortcut too much. If dem like, make dem carry secondary school boy do am.

This na serious business for company. E think say rookie fit run am?

I know say, if this rookie see code, e go begin dey call pastor. I fit bet am.

Na craze dey worry am or e just trust my code too much?

E be like say Musa dey reason say code na beans. He never jam real-life bug.

E concern dem. No be my wahala again.

I don off data, dey focus on my next move. For this Lagos, if you carry office wahala for head, e go weigh you down. I dey free.

Because CEO call me.

As I dey think how tomorrow go be, phone ring. Number dey flash. My mind dey pray say make e be good news. As I pick, na CEO voice I hear. Sharp voice, no time for long talk. My day brighten.