A day in my life in Nigeria

Short fiction

14th April, 2070

The day began very early, It was a norm for me but this time i woke up earlier than usual. The time was 4:35am. I was on my bed when I noticed that my wife and mother of my 3 beautiful children, was already awake and in the kitchen because from the bed room you could noticed that the kitchen lights were on, and that usually happens when Vivian (my wife) is getting set for the day. We lived in one of the high rise estate at Illupeju, Lagos. My train flight was already booked for Abuja for a meeting at 9am, meaning that I needed to be up and ready.

It was going to be a big day for me and my family because for the first time in Nigeria and in Africa, I will be interview by America's foremost and internationally acclaimed magazine "TIME".
See, Over past few months, I have been featured in history as one of the most profound and prolific Wildlife Photographer Nigeria would ever have, and that's because i was the first Nigerian and African  photographer to have been privileged to discover a new species of animal found in the heart of DELTA  called the "HOMONO MONKEYS" 

The discovery won't have happened if not for the help and support of my wife who motivated me, colleagues, friends, as well as a full funded support from SONY COOPERATION. Last year, SONY CO. commissioned me to take pictures of the last extinct (Panda) bears in the world. With their latest DSLR technology, they wanted their product �" The SONY ULTRA 1 �" to be the first 1000 Megapixel DSLR Camera to take pictures of these bears. Till today, I’m still not sure as to why they chose me to take those picture. Maybe it’s because I’m one of the best selling International Wildlife Photographers in Africa or perhaps it was because I was awarded as Best Photographer Award, for 'Save Animal Extinction' by the United Nations (first time an African Artist (Nigerian) would be given that) or probably because I was just too good with animals and cameras.

Whatever the reason, I was chosen to be one of SONY'S ambassador and that made me feel quite ecstatic. Hence why I was given the sole opportunity and support to carry out this great and remarkable discover, with the use of their latest technology and advance DSLR cameras such as the SONY ULTRA 1 and not to mention the modified GEO-3000 INFERRED TRACKED, that enables you to map out the territory, and also track heat wave and movement within the environment of a radius of 1miles, with is also connect to the orbiting satellite station in Japan and other major vast and high tech developing countries (including Nigeria).

It was an astonishing moment for me when I finally found the homono monkeys, quite difficult at first because it took a lot of patience and practicality to do so, thanks to the help of these gadgets, i remembered that I didn’t need to stress myself especially in taking those pictures because a backup had already been made on the SONY's Servers where I had a personal profile that was accessible to the world. 

The Homono monkeys are the most beautiful monkeys in the world and they were near Extinction. You should have seen how they looked in real-time, real life. They have pink lips, dark eyes, long legs. They are very good swimmers and climbers. Adult female homono's are somewhat smaller than adult males, their behaviour are that of compassion, empathy, kindness, patience, and sensitivity, they can sometimes be very aggressive too. Just like the primitive monkeys, they tend to share same quality such as social behaviours as well as sexual or reproductive patterns, They are omnivorous and inhabits in secondary forests, Now here the great part, one of the most fascinating discovery about them is that these species come in a range of colours, and these species have the ability to change colours. Yes monkeys that change colours
I witnessed it while taking pictures from that unique but hidden angle, it was so overwhelming that I couldn’t hold back the tears. While I was trying to adjust my camera to zoom into a nearby river where a group of homonos were, i noticed one was already taking a swim, I had to quickly repositioned my camera to capture my first shot. And behold!! it was changing colours from green to blue to pink etc. Looking at the view, I was convinced that there is a God and God is BEAUTIFUL.

How time flies. It was 5am and I was still on my bed viewing the pictures I had taken on my Sony X300 phone and also thinking of my interview today, when Vivian came into the room. I showed her the pictures and said to her that It was almost as if I stood beside God to capture the beautiful creatures, and then we both remembered that we need to say our prayers (the Rosary). We knelt down at the edge of the bed and prayed to God, thanking Him for everything that had happen over the past years of our lives.
We were THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING.

6:05AM, I was done taking a shower and getting dresses, I decided to put a call through to my good friend, colleague and mentor, Benedict. Sometimes I wonder why he hadn’t run away all these while knowing that I was a radical and rascal when I was attempting to become a wild life photographer, entering the deep forest of Nigeria eating bats and bush meat with corn, just because I want to take pictures of goats lol, well I was sure he believed in my dreams, I had put him through some hell with all my argument and fightings with people and the weirdness I obtained. I thank God for him, he inspires me a lot and he has no idea about that.
“Emma are you ready?"
"they just called this morning asking for you”
"I told them you're on you way, that you'd be there in no time" 
“the set-ups are grand and guess what”
"What" - I asked.
"you are going to be on the front cover of their special edition of NATIONAL GEOGRAPIC WILD magazine"
Now that was good news,
I told Vivian about it and she was quite ecstatic too. Those were usually the good moments we shared, part of the promises I made to her on the day we shared our vows, 'that she would be by my side to share in my joy and happiness with our children'

Vivian and I married 12 years ago. I was a young and radical photographer back then trying to eat. I met her at an exhibition on the island. On one occasion, I was  showcasing one of the photos of hippos we capture in Kano, alongside my friend and mentor, who trained me for 15 years, MR SEUN AKINSANMI. She bought one of our photograph and also became our major client. Her dad was an art collector so we got along quite well not until I asked for her hand in marriage. It was a difficult challenge for us back then but we pulled through, because we were both committed to the relationship. We courted for 5yrs before we got married.
We have 3 beautiful children, 2 boys and a girl, Anthony, Mark and Christie, they are all at their Grandma's place for the holiday at TOLEDO, OHIO, Pennsylvania. Anthony 11, had been given a full-scholarship award to go study engineering at any choice of University for being the most outstanding graduating student in high school but also for having created an app for the government that helps create a wider connective community for people within the state that help ease the response to emergency situation. Genius right? he got to from his mother, while Mark 9 and Christie 6, are still in junior high doing so well in their academics too. I was a proud father make I no lie .. I think I’ve drifted off for a while there. Sorry

Twas about 6:45am when Vivian reminded me that it was time to go, I was done having breakfast and getting my papers and all what's and what's not set when she came to hand me over my bag, my train tickets and jacket, as well as my regular sweet kisses and warm goodbye hugs, be safe and be good were the usual whispers to my ears. My train flight to Abuja was scheduled for 7:15am, Lagos to Abuja was going to take me max 1 hour. Lagos had changed a lot, it had changed drastically all thanks to the past and present government. We had a government that was truly ready to change the face of Lagos and take it to greater heights. Lagos was the new Dubai, if you have been to Dubia then you know what I'm talking about.

8:00am. I arrived Abuja on time, the interview today was going to be at the Radisson Hotel, and my room was on the 25th floor. Upon getting there I put a call through to Lee one of the directionals and PR to speak with the new Chairman of SONY COOPERATION, as at that time, I had met up with Benedict and Jude my PR, who brief me about the interview that was going to take place within an hour after which I would be having a live feed meeting with top executives of National Geographic wild on the new arrangement and proposal to feature me in their magazine. YUN SU, chief executive of SONY CO' and partner TED WATERS were excited to hear my voice. He mentioned that the pictures I took of the homonos have been published and that the pictures had gone viral. The new definition of viral was having over 100,000 views per minute; the pictures had been viewed on SONY's site over 4billion times. For a period of 2 days, this amazing discovery became Nigeria spotlight to the world. He also mentioned that the interview will be broadcasted live all around major cities in the world. I was glad to hear that because I also wanted my kids to see their father on Tv in America, cool right?

Around noon, after the interview with New York foremost presenter STEVEN HANNS of CNN and SMITH LYNN of New York Times, I checked my email only to discover that I had over 1000 new emails, I spent the next 50 minutes replying the very important and needed to be attending to mails while my other personal assistant read the rest. Benedict, Jude and Charles my assistant, made arrangements for the next meeting with was schedule for 2pm

While reading through the important emails, two of the mails caught my attention. One was from CANON INC and the other was from the office of the Sultan of Brunei. CANON INC was celebrating their 100th anniversary and they were inviting me for the  celebration and also the lunch of their new satellite camera (ZEUS) that would be lunched to space. I would be coming on board as one of the 3 official photographers of the event (a privilege that was being extended to an AFRICAN, no scratch that, Nigerian citizen for the first time). Then of course Sultan of Brunei wanted a portrait session for the 4 ministers he just appointed. He insisted on working with me because he had seen some of the works I did for his friend, the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktourm some years back when I ventured into portrait photography.

I called my wife Vivian to tell of the emails I got and also called the kids, I had the chance to speak with Grandma (Vivian Mom) and told her about everything. They all watch the interview. It is such a privilege to work again with leaders in different parts of the world, taking their photographs and getting invites to CANON historic event. And to think that this same wildlife photography was what my parents discouraged me from embarking on. Suddenly I felt a sense of emptiness, wishing that my parents were alive to see all of my reality. I miss them so much .

After the calls, I received several other calls from family members and friends, congratulating me for the remarkable interview I granted, and the New discovery. The interview had gone viral too. Within the next couple of minutes the pictures were published on so many social media platforms. Blogs, local magazines, ... you name it, I was on it, I was gradually becoming Nigeria fast uprising celebrity. Then I started getting calls for other media outlets requesting that I grant them an interview, the calls were becoming to much that I had to forward them to my management to handle. I was reminded by Jude to get set for the next meeting with National Geographic Executive.

At about 2pm,  the meeting started, seated with me were the usual Benedict and jude, along side was my very good friend and former partner Christopher kolawole of CK PHOTOS, who is also an ambassador for national geographic. He is one of Nigeria's prolific portrait and black and white photographer, he taught me a few trick while taking black and white photographs. mehn he was too good. Also at the meeting was the chief executive director John Walsh and his assistant professor Cavia Bent of NATIONAL  GEOGRAPIC. The meeting held for about an hour 30mins. It was a brief one. I agreed to become a brand ambassador for the national geographic wild for  4 years and also, to appear in the front cover special edition magazine schedule for next month meaning that I would be traveling to New York anytime from next week, arrangements were made and contracts  were signed. It's was a deal. And a good one, I felt a sense of satisfaction in my heart when I signed the papers, not only did I feel that, I felt the grouchy sounds for hunger in my belly. So we ordered the usual ofada rice and sauce with some salads and plantains immediately the meeting ended. I requested that jude made arrangements for us back to Lagos same day.

While eating my lunch and having a chat with Chris, I remembered that it was one of my closest friend and fan’s birthday Kaz Lala. I have been privileged to work with so many people over the years but Kaz Lala was one person I’m glad our paths crossed. He worked with me for a few years before deciding to head the media department in a new TV station that had just opened in Port Harcourt.

So I had planned the gift I would give him on his day, 2 days ahead. I called his mobile phone, he was at work and was about going for his lunch break when he picked. I wished him Happy Birthday and told him to open the envelope that a DHL delivery man had delivered at his office. I wish I was there in person. I had put in a small box the keys to the new Vesper 2028 model which was packed at his office. He shouted so loudly I was almost turning deaf. I wish i was there to have seen the looks on his face. I'm sure there were looks of shook and gratitude. These Vesper cars were in vogue and I had gotten one earlier in the year for Vivian although the advance limited edition of the Vespers the 2030 models. I don’t know what’s with me but so far I enjoy giving cars as gifts. Anyway, He couldn't stop thanking me for all the love and support and I couldn't stop thanking him for all the love and support he had shown me too over the years. I thanked him and wished him many more years to come.

4:30 and it was time to go home, while we were heading for the Marina Utako, train station that would take us back to Lagos, I made a few more calls to my inner circle friends and mentors, Mr Shola Animashaun, Mr Femi Adewuyi, Dare Tanimomo, Mr Effiong-Bright, Mr Tunde Ojikutu, Aisha Augie-Kuta, and of course the one man owe it all to, Mr Seun Akinsanmi, not to forget my sister Theresa and brother Isioma who had earlier called while the interview was ongoing. I really really do appreciate all of their efforts and support toward making my dreams a reality and I will never forget them.

About 5:45pm we were in lagos, a call came from Vivian, she wanted to know if I was already in Lagos, she also asked if I would be heading to the office or I'd be attending the evening mass for 6pm. I told her I would do the latter. Upon arrival, Jude my PR requested for Uber while I bided Benedict a "thank you and fair well hug. Before we got to lagos, i was briefed for tomorrow arrangement and meeting, jude assured that all the plans would be emailed to me before the end of the day. It's been joyful long day.
We were welcomed by a lot of crowd at the train arrivals. i was a little stooked by the reception I was given, almost everyone knew me to be the photographer that shot the picture that had gone “viral”.  My head was getting big and at this point I realize I was now a celebrity (naija celeb) hehehe.....

6pm. I got to church right on time. I noticed that Vivian was already in church too, sitting at our usual spot. she wasn't alone, I was trying to figure who was seated beside her from a diatance as i could barely see from my vantage. I drew closer to her to discover that it was Anthony my son. That was quite a surprise because I wasn't expecting to see him so soon.
At mass the preacher talk about how it was important to always be thankful to God for everything, even when facing adversity.
In my mind I thought about all the strives and struggles i had gone through and how I had doubted God's existence. Those years of my life I realised that I was blinded by the things of the world. I wanted more out of life and God wasn't giving it to me. Well I knew later in life that he didn't answer my prayers almost immediately because he had something better and that I need to learn to be patient at all times. Now I can see that His planed work and in fact, was way better that I expected.
GOD I AM MOST THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING.

At 7:45m, church was over and it was time to go home. I asked Anthony why he came back to lagos, alone and all the way from Ohio and he said he wanted to be the first to ask for my autograph from his celebrity father and renowned world class Wildlife photographer for National Geographic Wild. I Smiled knowing that I had seen this happen in my dreams.  I am Emmanuel Azuani and more than ever before I’m proud to be a Happy HUSBAND AND FATHER to the most amazing family but most of all, a PHOTOGRAPHER.

A day in my life in 2030.