‎ Today is Children’s Day and Eid al-Adha (Eid el Kabir)  “Festival of Sacrifice” celebrated by Muslims worldwide.

‎ There was a time I used to wait for Children’s Day and anticipate it so much. Then fast forward to when I was sixteen, I started hating Children’s Day.

‎You know that time when you suddenly become too aware that you’re no longer a kid?

‎I was already out of secondary school then and in NIJ ( Nigerian Institute of Journalism). A Sixteen year old in university sure speaks of good speed.

‎But what is speed without direction ?. Even now sef, I still pray for direction till this day.

‎There was this lecturer, Mr Jack Amaso. He’s a pastor too, and I just realized that’s what he cared about. One thing about him is that he genuinely loves young students and tries to help them build themselves early. Catch them young they say – this man was always chasing after us.

‎The exposure, the little things he said, and the way he carried us helped me in some ways.

‎He used to call us “young lads” and then “Jangilover Club.”

‎If you know what jangilover is, then you know.

‎That spinning playground roundabout, spinning wheel every Nigerian child somehow has a history with.

‎Whenever he called me “Jangilover Club,” I’d just pause a bit because when last have I even ridden a jangilover? At that point I really want to clock it and take off the oversized coat that tied me to being called a child.

‎That’s not even the central idea of this post though.

‎Another celebration we always looked forward to in primary and secondary school was Eid.

‎Two days public holiday alongside the weekend? Beautiful deal.

‎The only thing that usually spoilt it was the take-home assignment.

‎But somehow Monday morning always came with assignment completion magic.

‎This is also not the central idea of this post.

‎Today, Children’s Day and Eid fell on the same day.

‎If this had happened when I was still in school, honestly it would’ve been bad news because two celebrations in one means minus one holiday.

‎Anyways, today is two-in-one and I noticed something.

‎I wished a number of people today and almost all my wishes were Eid wishes.

‎My younger sister was probably the only Children’s Day wish that came from me.

‎If this were years back, Children’s Day would’ve been my main wish tongue.

‎Funny how things change quietly.

‎So what’s this post for anyway?

‎Its to wish everyone Eid Mubarak and Happy Children’s day.

Just another work day for me, chilling at home, went out to get some drinks and meat followed me back home.

‎Mxm.

‎Apparently today can only really be experienced twice in a lifetime. Maybe thrice if you live very long.

‎Children’s Day in Nigeria is fixed on May 27 while Eid moves around because it follows the Islamic calendar. The two only align roughly every 33 years.

‎The last major overlap was around 1993. At this time there was no plan of me coming to this world.

‎This one is 2026.

‎The next one may happen again around 2059 or 2060 depending on moon sightings.

‎So when next this happens, I’ll already be fifty-something.

‎And funny enough, by then it’ll probably be Children’s Day wishes that naturally dominate my mouth again.

‎Eid Mubarak 

‎Happy children’s day to the adults who read this.