My cleaner's daughter taught me something about hustle

I came home early yesterday and caught my cleaner's daughter, Aisha, she is maybe 14, using my kitchen to blend pepper for zobo. I was going to be angry at first. The mess, the noise, the distraction.

Then she told me she sells cups of zobo at her school every break time. She buys the hibiscus from Wuse market, boils it herself before school, and makes about seven thousand naira profit in a week. Seven thousand naira. She said she is saving for her JAMB form next year.

I just stood there. This girl wakes up at 4am to help her mother, goes to school, then finds time to run a small business. Meanwhile I am in meetings complaining about fuel prices and cost of living. The resilience of Nigerian children will humble you every time. I helped her package the zobo and told her she can use my kitchen any time. Masha Allah for that girl's spirit.