IS NOW WHOLLY DIGITAL

When I got the call for an exclusive interview with Hairat Balogun, OON, the first female Attorney general of Lagos state, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. But getting to meet her, I realised she is a very kind but firm societal elder. She seemed to strike the right balance; evident in our conversation and her making jokes about coming to the office so she could fight with her son, Afolabi. All of these were well and good, but what struck me is how at 81 years old, she still wakes up, gets dressed and comes to work, arriving before her son and partner.

It reminded me of my grandmother. She was up at 5.30am every day and showered before 7.00am. She was also 80-something at the time. You’d see her taking walks around the property, examining all sorts of leaves and plants in our home. She went on to live till she was 110 years old and still got up early till she was in her late 90s.

The discipline they had could have also originated from their foundation. Their parents taught them to be up bright and early and go straight to school or the farm and work as they grew up.

Day after day, they did this until a routine was established. No wonder the bible says to teach a child the way he should go, and when he is grown, he will not depart from it. So ingrained in their system it became that, as TheWill DOWNTOWN cover personality this week said, “I don’t know anything else.”

Does not waking up early determine how disciplined a worker you are? It’s different for some these days— this does not apply to people who have regular hours; it’s more to techy guys who work all night and so have to sleep in the next day. In a situation like that, it’s a clear-cut case of change in times, and as such, not waking up early doesn’t necessarily mean you are unserious. It is, in fact, the opposite with the techies because they are making the cool bucks while others are snoozing away.

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Onah Nwachukwu Editor, THEWILL DOWNTOWN @onahluciaa +2349088352246