By ADESOLA AYO-ADERELE
The matter of Mrs. Stella Nwadigbo, the teacher in the video clip where a 3-year-old Abayomi Michael [arrowed here] was assaulted, reminded me of my Form 1 teacher, Baba Olufowobi. That was 1977 but I can’t forget him.
Stella Nwadigbo of Christ-Mitots School, Isawo Road, Ikorodu, Lagos, was teaching Michael Mathematics and the boy wasn’t responding the way she expected. She repeatedly slapped this boy, and each time, with the command, “Write 6 for me.”
Michael stood before her desk, writing in an exercise book. Each time this woman slapped this boy, he staggered back as if he would fall down, but he’s also adept at maintaining his balance as he soon got back to the standing position, without betraying any emotion.
I couldn’t finish watching the less-than-one-minute video clip because of the sheer brutality involved!
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Obviously, the pupils and an adult in the video were used to Mrs. Nwadigbo’s bestiality; so, no one behaved as if anything unusual was happening. Perhaps that was why little Michael neither cried nor rubbed his face each time the horrific slap landed on his face!
As for those pleading on behalf of the ani.mal in teacher’s garb, their plea is useless. This is Lagos. The Child Rights Act is a big deal here. Mrs. Stella Nwadigbo will be lucky if her jail term ends at 5 years.
Back to my teacher, we had taken Maths test that morning and, as usual, I scored zero. My teacher beat me silly and, in the process, inflicted an injury on my wrist. 48 years later, the injury is till visible.
As this cur.sed woman repeatedly slapped this helpless child, I raised up my left hand, sighted the injury for the millionth time and remembered Pa Olufowobi.
I still failed Maths in WASSCE, by the way. So, what did my teacher achieve with the brutality?
As for those pleading on behalf of the ani.mal in teacher’s garb, their plea is useless. This is Lagos. The Child Rights Act is a big deal here. Mrs. Stella Nwadigbo will be lucky if her jail term ends at 5 years.
