I remember JSS 2 and that last week before exams. Most of the teachers were done with the curriculum for the term. Only a few still came to class for revision. It was a great opportunity to clown around and make some noise on the block. In my class (JSS 2B), we would drum on the desks as we sang the trending songs; Soul 2 Soul’s Back to Life, Bobby Brown’s Every little step and MC Hammer’s Can't touch this. Some of us would try to show off a few dance steps, some would show off the fact that they knew the lyrics to the songs (it was a big deal back then) while some just wanted to chill and gist with their favorite girl.

JSS 2 block: top floor of building on the left.

On this particular day, the entire block was quite noisy, from JSS 2A through F and classrooms and corridor thronged with students fooling around so much that you would think it was 'Break time' instead of regular class period. But things had gone haywire because there was no teacher in sight. Suddenly from JSS 2F, we could hear footsteps of students running and as we looked outside it was almost like a stampede with a lot of pushing, stumbling and tripping. We also took off because we saw everyone doing the same. And in the blink of an eye, the hitherto busy corridor was emptied and there was perfect silence on the block from 2F to 2A.

Wetin happen?, we asked one another in whispers. Of course the response was, "I no know o." The guys sitting by the window looked outside again, just to ascertain what had caused the commotion but they didn't see anything. So we all decided to sit quietly, at least till the other classes start getting noisy again or till students start walking by the windows freely. A few minutes later, “Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...He’s coming, he's coming,” murmured the guys by the window.

And then, head up, no facial expression, chest out, arms behind his back with a long 'kpankere' extending from his hands and stepping like an army general he walked past our windows. In my mind, he was gliding. I could have sworn his feet didn't even touch the ground. He was Mr. Ayemoba, loved by the well-behaved and feared by the naughty like me. We sat frozen as he went into JSS 2A, we heard the class captain tap the table and the entire class stood up to chorus the greeting, “Good afternoon sir, you are welcome to our class”.

“Wetin he dey tell dem?” we asked one another wondering. After a few minutes he came to our class and our class captain tapped on the table but he raised his right hand and said, "Sit down". He walked straight to the blackboard, picked up a piece of chalk and wrote, "The Acts of the Apostles" boldly. Then he addressed the class for about 15 minutes and left for the next class.

We sat still and in shock because he had just dropped a bombshell on us. So much for the anticipated long vacation. Mr Ayemoba had just told us that we would all be taking his course (CRK) next school session and to prepare ourselves, we were to buy a “60-leaves exercise book”, and then read the entire book of The Acts of the Apostles in the bible and summarize it in no less than 40 pages with sketches of maps included! Even if you have to copy someone's work, copying 40 pages was still serious work. Anyway, the holiday went by very fast. I did my assignment and managed to escape the punishment assigned to those that failed to attempt or submit (usually I would be in that demography, but for the fear of Mr Ayemoba).

Here’s why I recalled so vividly this event that happened over 25 years ago:

Last week, I was teaching "the conversion of the Soul" and as I stood in front of my class, I began to have flashbacks of how my teacher simplified the entire book of "Acts". I could remember what happened and where it happened, who did what and who was involved. Even from preparing my lesson notes, I recalled so many things he taught as if it was yesterday and why? Because he made it simple. Mr Ayemoba was feared, but when he stands in front of the classroom to teach, he breaks it down real good. He was a great Teacher.

He reminds me of a quote by Louis A. Berman, "A good teacher is a master of simplification and an enemy of simplism". I guess he was referring to my teacher, Mr Ayemoba.