Ganiyu Praise Celebrates Birthday

Ganiyu Praise Temitope, a National Diploma 1 student of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism,celebrated her birthday today. 

To her, it was a miraculous celebration as she testified she wasn't prepared for the celebration in monetary terms.

Here is the brief interview she had with InsideNIJ.

Can you briefly tell us about yourself and your background?

My name is Ganiu Praise Temitope. I am an indigene of Oyo state and I am the second child out of five in my family. I spent most of my life at Ibadan except the four years which I spent at Port Harcourt during my primary school days. I attended Federal Government Girls' College, a boarding school at Oyo State for my Junior secondary school education and Wofun Graceland Height College, Ibadan for my senior secondary school. I gained admission into NIJ immediately I left secondary school. I am presently a student of National Diploma 1B of the NIJ and I am celebrating my birthday today which is March 14, 2017.

How will you say your other birthdays have been?

I will say my other birthdays have been good because I can remember my mom always buy things for me to share then, during my junior secondary school. I didn't really celebrate my birthdays during my senior secondary school days like my JSS, though my mom would still buy me drinks, sweets, biscuits for me to give my teachers and friends. I do always celebrate it, all my life but today, it was totally surprising because I only had N400 with me. I was even thinking of buying "bonze" worth N400 and share only to realize someone bought me a cake, it was something I did not expect and I am happy. I only added money just to buy a wine.

Has there ever been a day that you totally forget about your birthday, whereby the noise of someone greeting you "happy birthday" is what reminds you about it?

 No, no, no, I have never forgotten my birthday before, it is always in my brain but I just didn't really feel I should hype this one unlike before. Then, when it's my birthday, I will tell almost everybody about it, that tomorrow is my birthday but concerning this one, I didn't tell anybody even, I just selected any cloth to wear though some of my friends still complained about my dressing.

 Of all the ones you have celebrated in the past, would you say this is the best birthday you have celebrated so far?

This one is still surprising because then I know my dad will always send money and my mom will always buy something but this one, even daddy was to send money but he did not send the money, I was like, God, what will I buy, what will I share.

What have been the reactions of your friends towards you today?

Actually, I have so many friend but I don’t know whether they are really my friends deep down in them because I am someone that likes being free with everyone. My friends tried, some of them hugged me, some of them even came to school because of me, I had wishes. Some of my church members even sent their messages and I was suprised because I didn't know how they knew today is my birthday.

 Are you a good person judging from people’s reaction today?

Yes, I don’t know because my friend and people out there will know whether I’m a good person, but to me I communicate with everybody.

Are you saying you are not in the best position to answer this question?

YES