Random acts of kindness are a good pick-me-up for bad days. In this article, five Nigerian women share their stories where random women were kind to them.
Bimbo, 23
When I gained admission into the University, I was supposed to stay with my aunt for a while. It was the second time I was going to her house — the first time was when I went for my post UTME. I missed my bus stop on my way to her house and the cab driver dropped me somewhere I did not recognize. My phone was dead so there was no way to reach out to my aunt.
Luckily, I remembered the name of the school in front of her house. I tried to ask the people around where I was for directions to the school, but no one answered me. They didn’t even want to help me charge my phone either. I was about to give up when I saw this woman waiting for a bike. I walked up to her and asked for directions. After explaining to her, she called a bike for me and paid my fare. When I got to my aunt’s house, I was sad I didn’t take her number.
Karen, 21
One day when I was in 100 level, I went to school for tutorials. I didn’t know I was on my period, and I was wearing a yellow skirt. I got up from my seat to talk to my friend and this girl walked up to me. She whispered in my ear that my skirt was terribly stained with blood. I thought it was sweet of her to tell me because no one else told me. I still see her in school, but I’m not sure she remembers me.
Ada, 24
In July, I was rushing to school for a class and didn’t realize that I had forgotten my wallet until I reached my bus stop. I was so embarrassed. I asked the girl beside me to pay, and I would transfer to her. She declined the transfer but she paid for my trip. I was so embarrassed.
Ife, 21
My mum died when I was 13, so I had to learn about everything related to women on my own. In June this year, I noticed my underwear no longer fit so I went to buy new ones. At markets, I was sorting through the pile of pants the vendor gave me to choose from when a random woman said, “Aunty, those pants won’t size you o.” She showed me that I could check whether or not a pant would fit me by stretching its thighs. I felt so touched cause no one had ever told me that before.
Muna, 21
During my first year of school, I got lost on my way to Owerri. It was raining heavily and I was unable to board a bus. Soon enough, it became dark. I had bags and it was obvious I was lost. Anyone could have taken advantage of me at that moment.
While I was standing there, one girl came to tell me it was unsafe to be there and I could get robbed. When I explained my situation to her, she asked me to follow her to her house. I had never done that before but something made me trust her. At her house, she hung my wet clothes, made me tea and gisted with me until I slept off on her bed.
The next morning, she made me breakfast before I left. It was such a sweet thing to do for a stranger.
I was on my way to school for an exam last semster in a keke. We got to school and the driver didn’t have change for me and I couldn’t leave without paying him. A lady in the keke told me not to worry that she had already paid for me.
Subscribe to our HER newsletter for more stories about African women and how they navigate life.