I met my friend Chizoba with her sister, Ijeoma at my then-guardian's home in Delta Park, Uniport around '87 or '88, I'm not very sure though. She had been told by people to avoid me as I was not a "person" and yet, out of the love in her heart, she drew me close, pampered me and treated me like her sister. This is a treatment I wasn't quite used to especially from someone I considered a stranger. After a while, she gained admission into uniport, while I was studying theatre arts. We became even closer and she became my guardian angel. She gave me food, clothes, money and pretty much everything I needed. These things were even more precious to me because I came from an extremely humble home and without her, I wouldn't have had those things. But the greatest gift she gave me was her friendship and her love and trust me, she had plenty of love to give. Fast forward to after my service year, I had no idea what I was going to do or where I was going to stay. How I was even going to start the hustle of life, I had no idea. But then my guardian angel, Chizoba, came to the rescue again. She, not only asked me to come to Lagos from Kano where I did my service year, knowing I probably wouldn't have a place to stay in Lagos, she also offered to let me stay in her family home on Banire street, Surulere. This action gave me the foundation I needed to find my feet where it would have, otherwise, been very difficult. Then she was also instrumental in the cascade of events that led to my marriage to my husband. She was basically a beacon that showed my husband his way to me. 

Chizoba was my friend. She was my go-to girl, my day one. Our conversations were so full humor, we used to joke around a lot. When I wanted to vent or just talk, she was always there.

There is so much I wanted to do with her, so much I wanted to give back to her, so many things I wanted to tell her. She probably didn't even know how special she was to me. And now my friend is gone. 

Chizoba gave me the gift of love and that love has made her immortal in my heart. Thank you, my dear friend, for all you did and I pray that your soul is at rest.

- Millicent