There was a time when the biggest problem in a Nigerian child's life was deciding whether to watch cartoons first or do homework first.

And somehow, we always convinced ourselves that we would only watch one episode.

One episode became another.

Another became “Let me just finish this one.”

Before we knew it, evening had turned into night.

Then came the sound every child feared:

“Have you done your homework?”

Suddenly, the television became the enemy.

You would quietly reduce the volume and start doing mathematics with one eye on the exercise book and the other on the television.

Cartoons were not just entertainment. They were part of childhood.

There were the adventures, the funny characters, the villains we loved to hate and the theme songs we somehow memorised without trying.

And if your parents had already warned you not to watch television until you finished your work, you had to become strategic.

Sometimes, you would do the easiest homework first just so you could confidently announce:

“I've finished.”

Never mind that the most difficult assignment was still waiting.

And when electricity went off?

That was heartbreak.

You could be sitting comfortably in front of the television, completely invested in the episode, and suddenly—

NEPA had other plans.

Some children would wait patiently for the light to return.

Others would immediately start looking for a charged phone, radio or any other source of entertainment.

But there was something special about that era.

Before smartphones, endless scrolling and YouTube recommendations, watching cartoons was an actual event.

You waited for your favourite programme.

You knew when it was showing.

You could discuss the episode with your friends the next day.

And homework?

Well... homework was important too.

But somehow, the cartoon always seemed more urgent.

Those simple afternoons and evenings may have looked ordinary at the time, but looking back now, they were some of the sweetest parts of growing up.

Sometimes, childhood was simply a television, a favourite cartoon and a homework book waiting on the table.