MY TRAVELOGUE 1

Some years ago, my mother, Iya Olamilekan, went on a perilous journey from Ilorin to Niger state to trade. She did not tell me the exact place she was going to, but I heard stories that it was far and dangerous. I pitied her that year because she went to hustle for my JAMB fee, WAEC and NECO fee. I was so angry with her that day, but I also felt that it was one of her parental duties.

You might wonder about my father. Well, he was just recovering from a horrific accident that almost made him lose his leg. He could not work or support us financially then. He was bedridden and dependent on my mother's care.

I remembered a particular journey my Mom told me about, the journey she took 20 years ago, when my grandfather was Director of NYSC at Abakaliki. According to the story I was told by my mother, it was a hellish and adventurous trip.

On 29th October, 2023, I took a similar Journey in the name of students' struggle, we started the journey around quarter past nine in the morning, after waiting for different individuals who wanted to join us. We boarded a bus that looked physically and mentally exhausted before we even started the journey. The road from Ilorin to Mokwa was bumpy and dusty. The bus shook violently as it passed over potholes and cracks. The dust entered our eyes, noses, and mouths, making us cough and sneeze. The windows were rolled down to let in some fresh air, but it also let in more dust and noise.

When we got to Mokwa, I saw a lot of food stalls selling different kinds of dishes. I was hungry and tempted by the sight of big meats, but my pocket reminded me to cut my coat according to my size. I settled for a plate of rice without meat, while eating peacefully. Ridwan, my guy, took an awkward picture of me and tried to make me hate the food. He was always teasing me and making jokes.

Ridwan had his own plight though. While we were repairing our bus, which had broken down several times on the way, he saw a young beautiful lady who caught his eye. She had alighted from another vehicle that had stopped at Mokwa. Ridwan wanted to approach her and confess his love, but he was deterred by the lady's father who followed her around like Kiss Daniel's bouncer. He could only admire her from afar and sigh.

We left Mokwa, heading to Bida. We noticed that all the places we saw on our way had a suffix "GI". We turned it into a joke, shouting "gi gi gi" whenever we saw a signboard or a billboard with such a name.

The journey became more hellish for me when Manchester United lost to Manchester City in a football match. Ridwan told everyone in the bus that I was a fan of Manchester United, and they all started making fun of me. I could not cry because football is a game of luck; it's either you lose or win.

We continued our journey to Minna. Everyone was tired; no one was talking. We just vibed to Aluta anthem, which was playing on the radio. We spent an hour on an unknown road where no other bus was driving. We felt like we were alone in the wilderness.

someone wants to pee...

We finally got to Abuja, but we did not know the road anymore. I brought out my Google map and we started following the navigation. It guided us through the city's traffic and landmarks until we reached our destination.

The journey reflected most of the decisions we make while trying to set a goal. I decided to take this journey because I wanted to be exposed to some experiences in the students' struggle. I wanted to learn from my grandfather's wisdom and leadership. I wanted to see a different part of the country and its culture. I wanted to challenge myself and overcome my fears.

The journey was not easy or comfortable, but it was worth it. It taught me many lessons about life, friendship, love, sacrifice, and resilience. It made me appreciate what I have and what I can achieve. It made me grow as a person and as a student.