17 August 2025 @marinnewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2832: Broken System

source

This is my post on #freewriters2832 #dailyprompt broken system broken system hosted by @marinnewest's.
A malfunctioning system burdened Emem, Kufre, and Uko in Ukanafun, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A bright student, Emem aspired to attend college but was snagged by an untrustworthy educational system. Her school's principal left her stranded after demanding bribes for WAEC registration. As a talented mechanic, Kufre battled a local government that demanded taxes without building roads or turning on electricity. Because of the frequent shakedowns, his workshop barely made it. The market was dominated by avaricious middlemen, and Uko, a farmer, watched his crops rot because the promised government subsidies never materialised.
One evening, the trio met at a palm wine bar, their frustration simmering. Emem explained how her scholarship was "lost" in a clerk's pocket. Kufre said police confiscated his tools for "illegal parking." Uko lamented the loans that never materialised. They realised the system was more than just broken; it was designed to crush them.
Determined, they organised a community group to demand accountability. They staged protests, exposed corrupt officials on social media, and advocated for transparent government. Change began to take shape gradually—Emem received her scholarship, Kufre's tools were returned, and Uko gained access to a fair market. Their fight demonstrated that even a broken system could be bent by collective willpower.