I am Jemima, a Christian who loves stories. However, some or most people know me as Mide. Before I dive into my journey of becoming a “benefit girl,” let me share a small backstory about how Mide transformed into Jemima and how everything changed! To rephrase, let me explain how God changed my name, and in doing so, changed my story.
My first name has always been Ayomide, which means “my joy has come.” But tell me, why did I receive my first passport at 16 with the name Jemima? Never did I think that Jemima would fit me. I mean, lol, Jemima seemed so fancy—like a name for those who are very beautiful and know exactly what they want in life. Although people tell me I’m lovely and have a sweet smile, Well, let’s say I couldn’t see but I knew I was lovely. How did Jemima get there you might ask, oh well that was my second name. Yea, the silent name that makes your name longer. So the person attending decided on her own to write Jemima as my first name, can you imagine? A typical Generation X Nigerian. Or just maybe I looked like a Jemima Sha.
At the time my passport first bore the name Jemima, it didn’t change anything. You know how it is—when someone isn’t using something, it doesn’t feel like something has changed. My passport was almost expiring, and I haven’t even had the chance to use it! Lol, where was I even planning to travel? Oh, I traveled to Seme in 2017 without the need for a passport. I crossed the border with Okada, Normal something. Well, at least travel na travel right?
In 2019, I finally started hitting the nail on the head regarding my traveling aspirations, and it dawned on me that, oh no, my first name is going to be Jemima! Changing it seemed daunting, especially as a Nigerian dealing with the Naija passport office—who has the time for that?
That’s how I began filling out all other forms with Jemima. It took a while to adjust, though. When I traveled abroad officially for the first time to Turkiye(remember I went to Cotonou o, even if its with okada, lol), I was asked what my name was, and I confidently replied, “Jemima.” My pronunciation was so off that those who knew the name would ask me if it was indeed the same Jemima. People would call me, and I’d often forget I was being addressed because, in my mind, my name was still Mide.
For 21 years, people called me Mide, and honestly, I felt underperforming. It’s been five years since I started answering to Jemima, and with tears in my eyes, I am truly grateful that the Lord changed my name.
Atlas, it wasn’t a mistake; God knew exactly what He was doing. And do you know what Jemima means? Oh yes, it means Dove! And guess what the Bible says about the recorded Jemima? Oya, let’s take a small trip to the Bible… Job 42:14-15. You’ve seen it, abi? Bless the name of the Lord with me!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my first blog post! I’m committed to sharing my journey and feeding your reading appetite with every diary entry. If you have stories of your own or messages to share, feel free to reach out to me on jemmylistens@gmail.com—I’d love to feature your stories too! Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog, and follow me on Instagram. I’ll see you here at the same time next week!
PS: I KNOW YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO SEE ME BEFORE THEN!
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