15/08/2025
The Amala Interview Saga.
By Chukwuemeke Precious Izomor
I remember one classic scene wey still dey make me laugh like mumu any time I think about am. A brother of a close friend of mine, wey don graduate since back in the days of Nokia torchlight, had been job hunting like say na marathon. Years dey pass, CV don fade, but job no gree show. Na so one day, he finally get interview invitation.
The man wear him one and only corporate shirt—the one wey the collar don dey wave like tired flag—plus him “government issue” trouser. You know those ones wey stubborn for ironing? E tie belt like say na seatbelt for accident prevention. He reach the company early, but his stomach dey cry war song. The man never chop since morning. You know that kind hunger wey make your ear dey hot small?.
Dem call all the candidates into the interview room. Everybody dey try form serious face, holding files like say na them dey carry company destiny.
They underwent different kinds of the interview and from the look of things, he is the less experienced amongst the other applicants for the job.
Suddenly, the Oga walked in with style—dark shades on forehead, shoes shining like newly waxed church floor, and in his hand… a takeaway plastic dripping small ewedu scent into the air. The aroma spread for room. My guy’s stomach answer “Amen” immediately.
The Oga, as courtesy dey demand, just drop one harmless Nigerian politeness: “Come and eat.”
Everybody for the room just smiled and said politely, nodding like choir members who no sabi the song " Thank you sir".
But my guy? He no hear “courtesy”—he hear divine calling. Before you fit say “Interview,” the man don stand up sharp-sharp, remove jacket, roll up sleeve. He waka go corner wash him hand with the kind focus wey farmers get when rain dey fall after drought.
He no just collect small corner of amala o, my guy take full mountain, like say him dey train for eating competition. Na there he now use fork dey drag the Oga’s shaki from inside the ewedu like seasoned fisherman. The Oga just dey look am quietly. Other candidates open mouth small, but pretend say dem still dey “serious.”
One babe even cough to hide her laugh. The man just dey happily Chop, nodding to himself like “Yes… this is destiny.”
When he finish, he lick hand like say na thanksgiving service. He even drop one line: “Ah Oga, God go bless you for this interview.” From that moment, everybody knew—this was his first and last day in that office. But my guy no send. Him later tell him fellow applicants “Look, my people, I no fit lose both ways. If I no get the job, at least I get lunch.”
I dey laugh till now thinking about am. But I also dey wonder, maybe na him approach to life dey need small adjustment. Because sometimes, you no fit just chop amala and expect say dem go give you job even if dem wan consider am. You need to show say you dey serious about the job, not just the food.
What do you think? In your own view, do you think he is wrong to quickly conclude his fate Or na him dey do right by trying not to loose both ways?
Mazta PreshTv
