31/07/2025
“They Fired Me for Being Pregnant — 20 Years Later, I Was the Guest Speaker at Their Company’s Anniversary”
PART ONE — THE LETTER OF TERMINATION
My name is Chinwendu Ofoma.
And this is the story of how I was erased… and then invited back as the voice they couldn't ignore.
I was 25.
Fresh out of NYSC.
Working as a secretary at Global Max Enterprises.
Hardworking, polite, punctual.
Everyone said I was “going places.”
Then I got pregnant.
Out of wedlock.
And everything changed.
PART TWO — THE SHAME FILE
I didn’t hide it.
I wore my bump with pride.
But in whispers, I heard:
> “How can she? She’s not even married.”
“Our brand doesn’t support moral scandals.”
“It’s bad for our image.”
Then one Monday morning…
An envelope sat on my desk.
Termination letter.
Reason: “Violation of internal moral code.”
They didn’t even let me pack my files.
PART THREE — THE WALK OF SHAME
I walked out of that building in silence.
The same building where I once stayed till 10 p.m. to submit reports.
The same building where I trained three other staff.
No one said a word.
Except the cleaner.
She hugged me and said:
> “Don’t let this destroy you, Aunty Chi.”
That sentence saved my mind.
Because at that moment?
I felt like garbage.
PART FOUR — THE SINGLE MOTHER WITH A VISION
I sold bread at night. Managed till i gave birth.
Tutored kids in the evening.
And by the time my daughter turned 5, I had saved enough to rent a small space.
That space became Mind Bridge Tutors.
A home lesson agency.
We started with 3 children.
Then 15.
Then schools began calling.
And soon, we were in 5 states.
PART FIVE — THE GIRL THEY ONCE CALLED A SCANDAL
My daughter, Adaugo, grew into a genius. Top of her class.
Loved computers.
She begged me to let her build a website for my business.
I agreed.
That one website attracted a European sponsor.
They gave us a grant to digitize education for out-of-school children.
We launched a nationwide campaign.
