We all live in communities shaped by cultural beliefs and traditions passed down from one generation to another. Many of these beliefs become so deeply rooted that no one dares to question or challenge them.
Growing up, I never knew there was a better way of life beyond my community. I couldn't understand why people were excited about going to school, where many students sat together to listen to one teacher. I often wondered who wrote the textbooks people studied. I also questioned why anyone would spend so much money on a car or motorcycle when donkeys and other animals were much cheaper and could serve as a means of transportation.
Everything changed the day my uncle returned to the village after spending ten years in the city. He asked me to come with him and work as his house help. I refused because I had always heard that the city was not a good place to live. People said everything there was strange and different. However, my parents insisted that I should go with him, leaving me with no choice.
We arrived in the city at night. The streets were brightly lit, and countless cars moved in every direction. It felt like I had stepped into another world. Surrounded by lights everywhere, I was frightened and wondered if I would survive in such a place.
When we reached my uncle's house, he pressed a button on his car, and the gate opened automatically. I was amazed. We drove into the compound, unloaded our luggage, and entered the beautiful house.
I was given a comfortable room with air conditioning. Although I was exhausted, I could hardly sleep because everything around me was unfamiliar.
The next morning, my uncle called me to the living room. I tried to open my bedroom door, but I couldn't figure out how it worked. I stood there for nearly an hour until my uncle came and found me struggling. Smiling, he patiently showed me how to unlock and open the door.
After our morning devotion and prayers, I greeted my uncle and his wife. He asked me to sit down.
"James," he said, "I want to help you understand the kind of life we live here. You were raised according to the traditions of our village, but life in the city is different. You must be willing to learn, adapt, and grow."
He continued, "What happened this morning is a reminder that illiteracy and ignorance can become dangerous traps. The more you learn, the more freedom you gain."
He explained that many of the devices in the house were smart technologies designed to make life easier, but they required knowledge to operate. "Learning takes time," he said, "but if you are willing to learn, nothing will be impossible for you."
As I listened, I felt as though I had entered a completely new world. I realized I needed to begin life afresh.
At first, I could only communicate with my uncle in our local dialect. I couldn't speak with anyone else in the house. His wife often used gestures to tell me what she wanted because we couldn't understand each other's language.
One day, while sitting alone in my room, I asked myself if I was truly awake. Everything I saw was so different from the life I had always known. It felt like I had been born into a new world.
As the days passed, my eyes gradually opened. I realized how deeply illiteracy had affected my life. It had limited my understanding of the world and prevented me from seeing the opportunities around me.
I began to think about the people back in my community who, like me, had lived with limited knowledge simply because they had never been exposed to education. I understood that illiteracy is not just the inability to read or write—it is a barrier that can prevent people from reaching their full potential.
From that day, I made a personal decision to fight against illiteracy. Education became the key that unlocked my freedom. It broke the chains of ignorance and gave me the courage to dream beyond the boundaries of my community.
The greatest step I ever took was choosing knowledge over ignorance. That single decision changed my life forever.
Jeremiah Daniel Baba
— BookAndInk ©️2026
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