RMD's Visit TO QC

It was a bright Thursday morning sometime in November 1996. At about 7:45am, girls from all arms and all years filled down quietly to the assembly ground located below the Administrative block. As we approached the assembly ground, we lined up according to class and arm and waited patiently under the Yaba hot sun, for the principal, head girl and her deputies to arrive. The assembly ground was as big as a football field and it had the capacity to house 4000 students. Teachers and prefects were stationed at various locations of the assembly ground to calm talkative girls down and to ensure that students maintained the straight line. Usually, when the principal arrived, assembly would start with the school prayer.

However, this Thursday morning was different. We did not begin assembly with the school prayer. The Principal, Mrs. Marinoh, came out of her office very angry. She started assembly by punishing every girl to kneel down on the hard concrete assembly ground floor. She lashed out at us, expressing her disappointment for our unruly behavior the previous day.

On the afternoon of the previous day, Richard Mofedamijo (RMD) visited Queen’s College. Just like how any other gossip travels in Queens College, the news of RMDs visit travelled like wild fire. Despite the fact that classes where going on, many girls from both junior and senior block ran haywire, skipping their classes to see the famous movie star. Some even left their classes as Teachers were teaching them. There was commotion in Queens College that day. It is not everyday a Nollywood star visits a Federal Government School. The school became chaotic as girls scurried to see the famous RMD. Every girl was talking about RMD till next day. “Oh my gosh he so good looking”, “I did not realize he was that tall” Did you see what he wore” “He smiled at me”. Have you seen his latest movie” “I heard he is married with kids etc.

Although his visit brought excitement, the aftermath of the event was nothing to write home about especially for innocent girls who stayed at their class and continued their regular business. Assembly the next day was cut short as Mrs. Marinoh gave us a 20 minute bashful lecture about how unruly we had behaved and how we had disgraced Queen’s College. Mrs. Marinoh punished the entire school that day for precisely 4 hours. Girls knelt down under the hot screeching sun while they suffered miserably for their bad behavior. Trust me, the pain was very unbearable, by the time we got up from our knees, we were shaking profusely and if she had waited just one more hour, I am sure some girls who have fainted. School that day was sober as unruly girls reflected on their behavior.