Why They Call Me Second Mary Slessor - Prof. Mrs Christy
High Chief Madam Bassey Christy Young is the first child of late Etubom Otu Etim Nyong of Mbarabom, Creek Town in Odupkani local government are of cross river state. She was married and later divorced. She is blessed with two wonderful sons, Lawrence and David. She has been a teacher all her life starting from primary school, then to secondary school and finally lectured in the university. She lectured in ABU, Zaria, Bendel State University, Ekpoma, Delta State University, Abraka where she retired. She attended Mary Annie in Oron, Akwa Ibom state and went to Oregon State University in the United States of America. She is a professor of Agriculture in the faculty education. She is a home economist, an extension worker, who deals with the village women and men as well as a home maker.
Prof Christy is a delight to interview, though it was somewhat not easy to track her down for a chat. But the son, David, did the magic as he just cornered her for THE BEAGLE NEWS team of Judex OKORO, Missang AKPET and Ekanem ASUQUO to tell her stories. In the interview, the Professor emeritus tries to recall graphic details of her journey in life and her passion about orphans and the less privileged in the community she leaves in. She is a devout Christian. Though not a Catholic by birth but when in the university she worshipped with the Catholic Church since that was the only church on campus then. According to her, “I promised myself that I wasn't going to go out of the campus to worship so I worshipped there.”
Fondly called “Mma Mary Slessor” and Mummy Young by her then colleagues because of her soft spot for orphans, widows and fatherless, narrated the story, as she could remember, her journey in life and experiences with students. Like Muumy young she is. Mamma is still looking radiant and resplendent at her age, and ever smiling.
Excerpts...
A brief story of lifestyle and journey in academic world
When I was at work, some of my colleagues, maybe with the way I was going about my life and my lifestyle, used to call me Second Mary Slessor because I accommodated a lot of children and I called all of them my children. My students I taught, even those that were not in my department, some would run to me, and say, Mummy, I would turn and ask where did you know me? And they would start telling me. And in the whole Delta State University where I retired from, I was the first woman teacher that the student called Mummy or nicknamed Mummy. My colleagues were wondering why they call me Mummy. I said, am I not old enough to be called Mummy. Probably, I must have done one thing or the other to them that has made them to call me Mummy. I have real soft spot for orphans, for widows and fatherless.
I took care of four boys that were with me. One was with me for eight years. I trained him up to Master's degree. He's working in Edo State Broadcasting Service (EBS). He is married, with children. I had another one that read agriculture. The parents had him in the US. He is now in the US, married with children. Another one that lost his mother and I gave him a helping hand to enable him finish up. He read mathematics and was the best in mathematics when he graduated and the best in the science faculty. There is another little boy that I always pray for him. He is an orphan. No father, no mother, but all what I did, was to leave a little amount. There is one from Kogi City, whose story was very pathetic. During her final year, the husband, who was lecturing in Kogi State College of Education, died in an accident. She stayed with me and nursed the baby.
My journey to northern Nigeria
In 1970, when I came out of the college as a pivotal teacher I didn't have a job. I was staying with my uncle in Kaduna and they said those from North Central State, You know, Kaduna was in North Central State they were looking for staff. I was talking with some of my colleagues that had heard about the interview, they applied and went for the interview but I didn't hear but that day. I read it in the paper that they were interviewing them so I came to greet some of my colleagues and some of those that I grew up with. Whether they were still alive. Luckily, I met one and asked him of the mother and as I was going home, they said they were calling me. Who called me? I didn't know anybody here, I was still going. They shouted you, you, you. I still remember I was wearing a sky blue dress, He said, you, in sky blue. When I went, they interviewed me. And I was the first to be given a job. That was how I went to the North I did my youth service in ABU Zaria. I didn't want to take appointment there even when I emerged as one of the best corps member of the year. I rather went to Jos to look for job in University of Jos in extensions.
Back to Southern Nigeria
When I came back, my late father was still alive and he said, please my daughter don't go to north. You know, my mother wasn't alive again. My mother had passed on. He said don't go to north you never can tell tomorrow. If anything should happen, you don't know the language, so that discouraged me. When I got back home, I had a job with the Bendel State University of Ekpoma. That was where I started and the same story I am telling you, they wrote to me and asked me to send my CV. I sent my CV, they did not even see me, it was just my CV. Someone that I don't know introduced me, someone who we met where I was studying. I went there, and they said you have been given an appointment. So I was in the defunct Bendel State University now Ambrose Ali. I worked there till the time Ambrose Ali was released from prison and then from there to Abraka, Bendel State University now Delta State University. I was a pioneer lecturer. In Ekpoma, I was also pioneer lecturer because that was the year they started the university.
Mummy, can you remember some of your prominent students who have passed through your tutelage?
There is one here doing her sabbatical. I tell you, you know Delta is far away from here, and how she managed to come, I did not know and I never knew that she was a Cross Riverian. She is in college of education Akamkpa now. Mrs. Edet, that is from Yakkur, my second batch of students.
I taught Professor Mrs Mbah, a daughter who was staying in my house. She was in Umuahia but now she's gone back to her state and she is in the University of Education, Agbor. Professor Igadoh in Ambrose Ali University I thought her. I thought Professor Adebisi, she is in University of Ilorin presently, and she was here last year for seminar. There's also one Chiwendu she's in Umuahia now. I had so many of them and they all called me Mummy. Since they couldn't pronounce my surname Nyong, they all called me "Mummy Young". Peter Obi's wife, Margaret Obi is one of them. I was the one that sponsored her, she's my daughter. She came to read economics. I was all over and every department I go there will say Mummy you've brought another of your son or daughter. So, there are many of them my son and I find happiness helping them and God has been so kind to me.
On establishing an orphanage home
Because of my experiences with children and orphans, I had thought of establishing an orphanage home s I was about to retire. Yes, I was actually prompted. So when I got back, I said, should I start an orphanage home. What I had at hand then, I said, I knew government will not assist me because I have to look for where they will stay, isn't it? And then I made some calculations and resolved that it won't be possible. What do I do? I called my first son. I said this was what I had in mind and he told me the same thing that it will be very expensive, government might not help. I said okay I'm going to start a school and he said, "Hey, mom, that's it, that’s the best bet." And so I started this school and today we are moving on gradually.
So, in 2015 I started off and by then and I put up some small building. Then I said well we have to start. I think if I embark on starting a school, I may find an orphan, a brilliant orphan, isn't it? If I find a brilliant child, since I still have that support for orphans and for younger ones, I can sponsor the person. So, I started off and to God be the glory, we are now here and the school is going on and I tell you, it's still at the back of my mind that if I find any orphan that is brilliant, I'll take up the responsibility by God's grace, that is me. That's the little I can tell you about my life. When I wanted to name the school, so many names came to my mind but my son now called and said I shouldn't name the school after anybody that he will send the name to me. He sent the name to me "Calabar Scholastic Leadership Academy" and I said this is Unique. By God's grace those I am training are leaders of tomorrow and there will shine and be good leaders of tomorrow.
Can you compare the standard of education during your time and now?
Because we are in a global world and time changes and science has come in, there are certain things that are very good better than what we were thought. When I told my children here that I can recite what I was taught in primary one, there were shocked. I told them it was an Oron man who taught me and I can mention his name and I am still looking to see if I can find any of his descendants and I remember it was when we had Children’s day. Then we will go to different t church on Sunday to perform. This young man came and taught us and I was amongst them and he said "Good gracious, what do I see, a crowd of people, why are they here? They have come to see what we can do, what can we little children do to please them? We can sing, we can dance, we can clap, now our dear friends, will you like to hear us sing?” That was all what he taught us, at that tender age I don't forget.
The education of that time was ok, but we have to follow what is going on now in development since we are living in a global world. There are so many things that to me are not good enough but I am not here to criticise until I am asked to but there are some that are good and some that are not quite good.
A few days ago, I was talking to women, concerning something that happened. I called them and I was warning a little child and I told him that you came in and you were supposed to do this and do that, it is not good. I called my daughter in-law and I told her that I want her to help me correct this children, she said Grandma you remember what the pastor preached? He said "whatever you do, your reward is in heaven". What she meant is that since I have told this child that what she has done is wrong, I don't want her to pay me back, my reward is in Heaven. So, I should not now watch her to see if she is ready to perform what I have told her. I said if say my reward is in heaven and I stop so far without ensuring that she does it, am I helping the nation? Am I helping that child?
How has it been since retirement?
My dear children, I thank God for coming back home, no matter who you are, and where God has taken you to, home is home. There is no better place than home. Before it was getting to the time of my retirement, I said what can I do for myself? I don't want to depend on people. I have not been groomed by my parents, to depend on people. I have children but I didn't depend on them. God has blessed me with two biological sons and then I have some, that by one thing or the other, I had to take them in and supported them. Today, I'm glad that they have something to eat. That's the little I can tell you about my life.
