Followers

ILORIN IS NOT AWUSA OR FULANI TERRITORY

 The Origin of Ilorin: A Historical Insight


"Ilorin is not a Hausa or Fulani territory. Hundreds of years ago, Oko-Erin, or 'Elephant Forest,' was home to brave hunters like Òjó Oníṣekúṣe from Ijesha and Ẹ̀mìńlá from Ìlá-Ọ̀ràngún."


"Ọláderin, from Oyo Alaafin, was the first to settle here. His hut became a hub for hunters, and the name 'Ilorin' originated from the sharpening stone they used for their machetes."


"As people joined Ọláderin, Ilorin expanded. It was initially an Oyo settlement, with no other tribes present. Over time, leadership passed from Ọláderin to his descendants, eventually to Àfọ̀njá, a powerful warlord."


"Afonja's quest for power led him to invite Fulani Alfa, Alimi, for support. This alliance shifted the balance, with Hausa and Fulani presence growing. Despite Afonja's initial dominance, Alimi and his followers eventually


"Thus, Ilorin's complex history began as a Yoruba settlement and evolved through significant conflicts and alliances. Today, it's a blend of diverse cultures, but its roots remain deeply Yoruba."



YORUBA HISTORY THE STORE OF OYOTUNJI: A YORUBA (West Africa) KINGDOM IN UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

​THE STORY OF OYOTUNJI: A YORUBA (West Africa)  KINGDOM IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 


Oyotunji African Village is a village located near Sheldon, Beaufort County, South Carolina that was founded by Oba Efuntola Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi I in 1970. Oyotunji village is named after the Oyo empire, a pre-colonial Yoruba kingdom lasting from the 1300s until the early 1800s in what is now southwestern Nigeria. The name literally means “O̩yo̩ returns” or “O̩yo̩ rises again” or “O̩yo̩ resurrects” referring to the African Yoruba kingdom of Oyo, now rising in a new form near the South Carolina seashore.


Oyotunji village covers 27 acres (11 ha) and has a Yoruba temple which was moved from Harlem, New York to its present location in 1960. It was originally intended to be located in Savannah, Georgia, but was eventually settled into its current position after disputes with neighbors in Sheldon proper, over drumming and tourists.


HOW OBA EFUNTOLA ADEFUNMI I FOUNDED OYOTUNJI


During the slave trade era, many Africans were taken as slaves abroad. While going, some left with their culture and tradition which they continued within the foreign land where they found themselves. They continued with the culture and tradition of their fathers so as to maintain their identity.


The Yorubas in slavery are among the Africans that maintained their culture in the strange land and it was handed down to their children from generation to generation.


Many of their children, after the abolition of the slave trade, have married children of their former masters thus having children of mixed blood, that notwithstanding, they still carry on with their African culture in the foreign land since most of them cannot trace their root back to Africa.


The Yoruba culture has been one of the prominent and most celebrated one throughout the world till date. In the faraway United States of America, there is a Yoruba community named O̩yo̩tunji African Village. It is located near Sheldon, Beaufort County, South Carolina.


O̩yo̩tunji is regarded as North America’s oldest authentic African village. It was founded in 1970 and is the first intentional community in North America, based on the culture of the Yoruba and Benin tribes of West Africa.


It has survived 51years of sustaining the Yoruba traditional sociology and values in the diaspora. The village is named after the O̩yo̩ Empire, and the name literally means “O̩yo̩ returns” or “O̩yo̩ rises again” or “O̩yo̩ resurrects”. The village occupies 27 acres of land.


O̩yo̩tunji was founded by His Royal Highness O̩ba (King) Waja, O̩funto̩la Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi I.


Born Walter Eugene King on October 5, 1928, Oba O̩funto̩la Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi I, a Detroit native, began studying Afro-Haitian and ancient Egyptian traditions as a teenager. He was further influenced by his contact with the Katherine Dunham Dance Troupe in New York City at the age of 20, an African American modern dance troupe that drew from many cultures within the African Diaspora.


August 26, 1959, O̩ba Waja became the first African born in America to become fully initiated into the Oris̩a-Vodoo African priesthood by African Cubans in Matanzas, Cuba, and became known as Efuntola Osejiman Adefunmi. After his return to the United States, he formed the Yoruba Temple in Harlem in 1960. The temple, committed to preserving African traditions within an American context, was the cultural and religious forerunner of Oyotunji Village.


He later traveled to Haiti where he discovered more about the Yoruba culture. Armed with a new understanding of the African culture, he found the order of Damballah Hwedo, Ancestor Priests in Harlem New York.


This marked the beginning of the spread of the Yoruba religion and culture among African-Americans. He later founded the Sàngó Temple in New York and incorporated the African Theological Arch Ministry in 1960. The Sàngó Temple was relocated and renamed the Yoruba Temple.


With the rise of black nationalism in the 1960s, King began to envision the construction of a separate African American nation that would institutionalize and commemorate ancestral traditions. In June of 1970, he fulfilled this vision with the creation of Oyotunji African Village.


It was during this time that he also established a new lineage of the priesthood, Orisha Vodoo, to emphasize the tradition’s African roots. Today, over 300 priests have been initiated into this lineage and the African Theological Archministry, founded by Oba O̩funto̩la Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi I in 1966, now serves as the umbrella organization for the Village.


To further his knowledge of Yoruba culture, he traveled to Abeokuta in Nigeria in 1972 where he was initiated into the Ifa priesthood by the Oluwo of Ije̩un at Abeokuta, Ogun state, in August of 1972. He was later proclaimed Alase̩ (Oba-King) of the Yoruba of North America at O̩yo̩tunji Village in 1972.


In its early years, Oyotunji Village was home to as many as two hundred people. Today, its residential community consists of few African American families, governed by an oba (king) and the community’s appointed council.


Each family is committed to the teachings of the Yoruba tradition, which include a religious understanding of the world as comprised primarily of the “energies” of the Supreme Being Olodumare, the orisha deities, and the ancestral spirits. This religious world is maintained spiritually through rituals, chants, music, sacrifice, and annual ceremonies.


Oba Efuntola Osejiman Adefunmi passed away on Thursday, February 10th, 2005 at O̩yo̩tunji African Village in Beaufort County, South Carolina. Since Adefunmi’s death in 2005, the village has been led by his son, the fourteenth of twenty-two children of Oba Efuntola Osejiman Adefunmi, till date.


The O̩ba title is referred to as “O̩lo̩yotunji” of O̩yo̩tunji.


YORUBA HISTORY History Of Ile-Ogbo Town

​History Of Ile-Ogbo Town


Ileogbo is the headquarters of Aiyedire Local Government in Osun State, Nigeria. It is situated midway between Ibadan and Osogbo, the capitals of Oyo and Osun State. Ibadan is about 44 km to the south of Ileogbo while Osogbo is about 42 km to its north, Oyo 40 km to its west, while Gbongan and Ife are located to the east of the town.


The name Ileogbo comes from an old Yoruba folk tale that the people in this town had a very long life span. Ileogbo means the land of the old. The settlers in this town used to have a saying "Ile Ogbo mi ni mo de yi" (meaning the place where I will live till I am very old), and the name was later shortened to Ileogbo.


Ileogbo is one of the famous Yoruba land with its famous cultural activities and tradition,


Ore (ileogbo Ilu ore, omo arepo panda) said to be the protector of ileogbo citizen both home and abroad. Ore festival comes once a year and it attracts people far and wide. Ore tree is as strange as finding a lion in a hole dug in the ground that harbors a rat. When you account for the mother of whom her child's biography is shoddy, its sound unbelievable. But such is the feature of the cradle of a sacred Oore Tree located in Ileogbo.


Ileogbo, inarguably is a product of Ore Tree. The tree, because of its peculiarity, is a pointer to the seating of Ileogbo, the headquarters of Ayedire Local Government in Osun State. The tree life span is uncertain as the first settlers are younger than Ore tree.


The tree was located circa 1840 subsequent to a spiritual consultation with oracle by Kuseela, the only surviving Prince of the war between Fulani and Ileogbo in 1822. Ileogbo was checkmated by Fulanis in 1822, thus, the former site became desolated. After the clash between the troops of Alaafin and the Fulanis in Osogbo in 1840, tranquility returned to the affected Yoruba towns, Ileogbo inclusive. The development triggered Kuseela, consulted an oracle and was divined that he stops, with his entourage where ever he finds a tree tied with white cloth. It was divined that he, with his people shall organize a prosperous kingdom.


Tradition had it that the tree is manned by a male (Baba Abore) and a female (Iya Abore) appointed on the advice of the king. One of the past Iya Abore from Olukoun's compound nicknamed the tree Alhaja Jabaru. This name is not unconnected with the female spirit the tree is said to shelter. Some traditionalists considered Ore as a strong protection against any havoc in Ileogbo. The tree does not shed its leaves under its shade.


Eegun festival (masquerade) it is festivity that draws people from other towns and cities to Ileogbo.


Igbo festival is a must see tradition where young and old, men and women, boys and girls loyal to Igbo festival will be flogging themselves publicly in the city center.


Ileogbo has some private and public secondary schools like Luther King’s college ileogbo, Community High School, Ileogbo, African church grammar school, kuta/ileogbo others are Royal ambassador international college, ileogbo, Omoloye group of schools, ileogbo, Daarul-Hikmah Islamic School, Glorious group of schools, ileogbo and lots more


Aiyedire is a Local Government Area, one of the thirty Local Government Areas in Osun State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is located at 1, Col Ogunkanmi Road in the town of Ileogbo at 7°47′00″N 4°12′00″E. Hon. Adeboye Mukaila Oladejo had been its Chairman since 2017.


Aiyedire Local Government Area is divided into four districts namely Ile Ogbo, Kuta, Oke Osun (Alabata), and Olupona. For efficient administration purposes, Aiyedire South, a Local Council Development Area (LCDA) was created out of Aiyedire and headed by Hon. Olufemi Idowu.


This Local Government Area is located in the western axis of Osun state. It is bounded by Ejigbo, Ola Oluwa, Irewole, Ayedaade and Iwo Local Government Areas. It has an area of 262 km² and a population of 75,846 at the 2006 national census. It features two distinct seasons, the dry and rainy seasons. The average temperature of Aiyedire is put at 28.5° centigrade while the humidity of the area is estimated at 60 percent. Wind speed across Aiyedire is put at 10 km/h.


Farming is the predominant economic activity. Cocoa is a major cash crop cultivated in the area solely or in combination with other agricultural crops such as coffee, cassava, palm oil, kola nut, maize, pineapple and yam.


Trade is an important feature of the economic lives of the people with markets such as the Alaya main market and the Mosun market providing access for the exchange of a wide range of goods and services. Hunting and crop cultivation are other important economic enterprises engaged by the locals.


Sacred Idi-Oore Tree


The tree is famed a pointer to the seating of Ileogbo, the headquarters of Ayedire Local Government in Osun State. The tree life span is uncertain as the first settlers are younger than it. The tree was located circa 1840 subsequent to a spiritual consultation with oracle by Prince Kuseela, the only surviving monarch from the war between Fulani and Ileogbo in 1822 where they were defeated. In 1840, as tranquility returned, it triggered Kuseela, to consult an oracle for a new abode as the former settlement was desolate. The oracle divined that he stops, with his entourage where ever he finds a tree tied with white cloth. It was divined that he, with his people shall organize a prosperous kingdom. Prince Kuseela contacted the tree, weeded its surrounding, settled near at Akinmoyero`s compound and invited people from far and near and subsequently multiplied to about eighty two compounds with numerous suburb.


Tradition had it that the tree is manned by a male (Baba Abore) and a female (Iya Abore) appointed on the advice of the king. One of the past Iya Abore from Olukoun`s compound nicknamed the tree Alhaja Jabaru. This name is not unconnected with the female spirit the tree is said to shelter. Some traditionalists considered Oore as a strong protection against any havoc in Ileogbo. The tree does not shed its leaves under its shade.


Cultural activities


Anlugbua is celebrated annually. Anlugbua Akindele, a famous hunter and warrior was a progenitor that led his people from Orile-Owu to Owu-Kuta, where they are presently settled. He left Orile-Owu because he was not given the chance to reign after his father’s passage. His younger brother was made to ascend the throne, which angered him. So, he left and later settled in a place called Ikutamiti (I evaded death). It is Ikutamiti that was shortened to Kuta. After a reign of 300 years, he decided to sink to the ground, instead of dying physically. The spot where he entered into the ground is where is annually converged to celebrate. The place is now a local historical site.


The shrine is a sacred groove about three kilometres away from the town and inaccessible by vehicle and tucked inside the Anlugbua forest. Some of the rites are the sacrifices of live ram and dog in addition to pounded yam and okro/ogbono soup at the shrine. Persons who wear certain tribal marks called keke are forbidden from entering Anlugbua’s.


YORUBA HISTORY BRIEF History Of"Iwo Land In Osun State"

​BRIEF HISTORY OF IWO LAND IN OSUN STATE


Iwo is one of the ancient towns in Yorubaland. Its early history like the history of most Yoruba kingdoms, started at Ile-Ife early in the 11th century. Tradition relate that Adekola Telu, son of the sixteenth Ooni of Ife, Queen Luwo Gbagida, who migrated from Obalooran’s compound in Ile-Ife after the death of his mother. 


Prince Adekola Telu left Ile-Ife with a host of attendants headed to the unknown when they left Ile-Ife. However, his first settlement was at a place called Ogundigbaro which was a place located at the confluence of River Oba and River Osun. After a number of years at this settlement, they were forced to leave the place due to constant flooding.


After consultation with Ifa Oracle they moved to Erunmu District where they could not remain for a long time because of the depredation of wild animals around the area (Alademomi Kenyan). The sojourners then moved to Igbo-Orita from where, after a long time they proceeded to settle finally at Ile-Iwo.  It's claimed that Adekola Telu died at Igbo Orita. The site was a distance of about six (6) kilometres from the centre of the preset Iwo (Ibadan Iwo Garage).


Three descendants of Telu reigned here. They were Rounmu (who probably led the group there), ganfenumodi and Jikanmu (who had the most eventful reign). A separate account stated that while it was epidemic that sent them packing, they consulted Ifa oracle before leaving. Ifa therefore ordered them to leave Igbo Orita for a place where Eye Odidere (Parrot) abounded. It was on their way that Jikanmu fell sick and was being carried along by a man named Aimaku. Gossip House


As fate would have it, Jikanmu eventually gave up the ghost very near a river, which has today being named Adeke River (River where the King died – Obadeke) today. The man who was credited for founding the present Iwo was Olumade Parin. Parin had taken over from Jikanmu after his death, and had led the people to where Parrot is abounded. It was on their way that Jikanmu fell sick and was being carried along by a man named Aimaku.


The man who was credited for founding the present Iwo was Olumade Parin. Parin had taken over from Jikanmu after his death, and had led the people to where Parrot is abounded. That was how Parin became the first Oluwo in around 17th century.


Their kings are great by the successes achieved in war time. Their nobles show their nobility by their achievements at the war front. However, while Iwo shared similar sentiment of having a strong connection with Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba race, the reason for their migration is far from wars but that of direct and willing migration from Ile-Ife. Iwo is located round towns and major settlements which includes Asa, Oluponna, Ile-Ogbo, Ogbaagba, Kuta, Telemu, Ikire-Ile, Bode-Osi, Ajagba, Ajagunlase and Ikonifin just to mention a few. 


The rulers of these aforementioned settlements pay traditional homage to the Oluwo of Iwoland, the paramount ruler in the area. It must therefore be noted with satisfaction that people of Iwo and its environs co-exist peacefully together while believers of Christian, Islamic and Traditional religions intermingle among one another without problem.


May God Bless Iwo Land 🙏


YORUBA HISTORY Brief History "Ayede Ekiti"

​AYEDE EKITI

   

Ayede Ekiti is a town in Oye LGA of Ekiti state, South West Nigeria. The town was said to have been founded by a warrior, General Izimo from Iye-Ekiti and a mercenary (hired fighter), Atta Esubiyi (Echubiyi- This darkness or invisible person) from Ibadan Kingdom, a statement on Ekiti govt website revealed. 


History has it that some Igalas migrated to Ibadan many years ago, and many of such people have 3 tribal marks like Kogi Igalas. Esubiyi (Echubiyi) in Igala means darkness or invisible as hired fighters can demonstrate different powers, thus the name. Further more, Attah Esubiyi was said to have derived the name Atta from his war friend and colleague, Atta Igala (probably of Attah Royal house) from Bida Nupe (recall Prince Echude, son of Attah Ayegba who formed Nupe kingdom as in my previous post). 


This Bida Igala warrior who fought along with Attah Esubiyi came with his Igala followers were part of the Ayede Ekiti community first settlers. But whether Attah Esubiyi was of Igala origin or not, his fighting colleague whom he adopted his name as well as his followers are Igalas, and their descendants are still members of Ayede Ekiti town.


 The title of the traditional ruler of Ayede Ekiti till date is Attah of Ayede.

And so, our Ayede Ekiti Igala brothers and sisters, blood is different from water, and we are the same Igala blood no matter how long we were separated. 


We will reconnect soon and separate never again. Abomi Igala chaka, welcome to South West Nigeria.

Credit to Moses Imisioluwa Olaoke 

Thank you for the brief history


Signs To Know When You're In The Right Relationship...


1.  You can read one another extremely well.

In a healthy and strong relationship, you reach a point where the two of you know each other wholeheartedly. You can figure out if something is really bothering him or not and vice versa. He might not even need to say it, but for example, you can just tell by the way he talks.

2. You are very comfortable with one another.

You know you're in the right relationship when you don't shy out around him and you're completely yourself. Both of you act comfortable around each other and seeking perfection is just not your thing.

3. Your Lives are not dependent on one another.

 Another sign you're in the right relationship, is when both of you have your separate lives and appreciate some privacy. It's so healthy for a couple not to interfere in each other's lives and still spend time separately. 

4. You bring out the best in each others!

When both of you encourage one another to be better persons in general, then you know you're in the right relationship. Both of you understand work commitments and totally push one another to a better future without being selfish.

5. You show each other complete respect.

Because all couples fight, it's very important that both of you respect each other during any kind of argument. If you don't cross that borderline of decency and appreciate each others opinions, then it's the right kind of relationship.

6. You always remember the little things.

You and your partner should always remember the little things that come across your paths. You should also know that in this fast-paced life, we can be overwhelmed and unintentionally forget about things. If you're in the right relationship, you will make the sweet insignificant moments count.


7. You trust each others completely.

The best relationships are always built on mutual trust. Both of you should never keep secrets from one another, because trust is simply the backbone of any relationship. If you do trust your partner, then this relationship is worth keeping.

8. Sorry is not the hardest word in the relationship.

 One important sign you're in the right relationship, is that both of you know how to say sorry and apologize. If you have done something that pissed off your loved one, you know creative ways to say sorry and make them smile.

9. Your support for one another is unconditional.

Being there for each other is one of the things that can tell you you're in the right relationship! Standing by each other in rough times will just bring you closer to each other, increasing the bond you have more and more. 

10. Acknowledging and accepting each other's differences.  

Accepting each other's differences is what a healthy relationship is all about. People have different interests, opinions and hobbies. If the two of you understand this clearly, then you can guarantee you're in the right relationship.

11. You forgive and forget.

Nobody is perfect and we all have a past. If you can let go of the past and still enjoy being together, then this shows you're in the right relationship.

THE OMO OLOORE STORIES STORY 10: OMO OLOORE YOUNG PERSON/CORPER OF THE MONTH AWARD 

THE OMO OLOORE STORIES
 
STORY 10: OMO OLOORE YOUNG PERSON/CORPER OF THE MONTH AWARD 
 
After I got sworn-in as a member of the House of Representatives in 2015, I came up with a program – The Oyo State Young Person of the Month. 

The idea behind this was to encourage young entrepreneurs who were bootstrapping their businesses and making tangible progress. The reward for being selected as the winner for the month was N100,000. After the program ran for a while we then added another one – corps member of the month(For those serving). That way, every month we were doing both.
 
In November 2018, my team and I decided to do a follow up on those who had received the awards in the past and it was then we made an interesting discovery. We found out that most people were just following for the sake of the awards; after winning the awards some of them had unfollowed me. That was not the worst – some of them had even blocked my account after receiving the award.

The process of picking the winner(s) was very transparent and without bias as people voted and the person with the highest number of votes gets to win.

Then shortly before the 2019 elections as I was consulting, I discovered that all along, a lot of politicians were angry about the initiatives. Why were they angry? They were angry that I was giving that huge amount to young people who were not politicians nor had political inclinations. 

They opined that the awards were given to people who hadn’t done anything to ensure my victory at the polls; and that, perhaps, these people who got the awards did not even have voter’s card.

In fact, some of the people who had complained bitterly behind me for all those years were those who surrounded me. Some of them were folks whom I was paying salaries monthly; yet they felt marginalized because some young business people got N100,000. I feel it was the amount of money that got many riled up.
 
This resentment from the political class had been on for so long and I did not know. At that point, I could not stop the program, I just decided that if I was re-elected into the House, maybe we could create a third category to be dubbed ‘Young Politician of the Month’. 

Unfortunately, we lost and only two out of the numerous past winners reached out after the elections.Aye ooooooo😂😂😂
 
It was very discouraging to realize that while trying to be a decent young person in office by being supportive to young entrepreneurs and not only politicians ,I lost some political followers and sadly the ones I was losing political followers for were also not appreciating the gesture.

The people for whom you get into disfavour with the political class are the same people that would disregard all your effort.

People hardly put themselves in the leaders’ shoes – they do not feel that political office holders are human and feel pains too.
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The people that you’re going out of your way to do things for are the ones who do things that break your heart. Be Wise
 
There are so many lessons to be learnt here for would be leaders,present leaders and followers.
 
DO NOT FORGET TO GO GET YOUR PVC

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​THE OMO OLOORE STORIES STORY 9: I COLLAPSED!

​THE OMO OLOORE STORIES

 

STORY 9: I COLLAPSED!

 

In 2012 while I was still Commissioner for Youth and Sport, the Ministry organized a series of events at the time. One of such events was the Oyo State Job Fair/Empowerment program for young people. 


The idea of the empowerment part of the program was to provide young people with skills, start-up kits and a seed fund with which they could commence operations when the program was over. 


We had this program twice in my tenure and over 2000 youths were trained through that program and the skills acquisition ranged from Barbing to Hair dressing to Fashion designing to Graphic design to Event management to Photography and Videography.

 

Here is how we selected the participants – we created a website and people were directed to apply to be a part of the skills acquisition program. 


We gave a 30% slot to public office holders who had candidates interested in the program while we gave 70% to the members of the public who would be selected based on merit. 


A screening committee was set up with my humble self as the head. I wanted to be sure that only people who merited to be in the program got in so I really rolled up my sleeves and got involved. I wanted to be able to beat my chest to say ‘yes, only those who merited to be in the program got in.’

 

Being a part of the program was such an eye opener for me. After we released the names of those who had qualified, we invited them over to verify their credentials. 


Among those who had applied to be selected were people with two Masters degrees. In fact, there was someone with a PhD who applied and I was just like – ‘whao!!!’ It was then I confirmed my conviction that we were sitting on a keg of gunpowder with the issue of unemployment in the country. 


All these discoveries made me doubly committed to see the event through to fruition.

 

We got trainers in different skills sets – we made sure they were people who had built pedigree in their vocation.


During the period of the training, we had a top government official come around to talk to the participants and just admonish them. This time, it was the deputy governor that we had invited so he came two days to the end of the program.

 

Just before it was my time to mount the podium to speak, I realized that I was feeling feverish. I was seated next to the Deputy Governor and then, next to me was the Permanent Secretary for Youth and Sport. 


I was in my seat and I knew that I was getting out of shape. I was extremely tired and it felt like I’d collapse in that chair on which I sat. The MC called my name to come over and give my speech – he had no clue what was going on with me. I leaned over to the Deputy Governor and told him what I was going through; then he signalled to the Permanent Secretary to go up and read my speech on my behalf.

 

As the Permanent Secretary was reading the speech, I mustered all the strength in me and made my way out of the auditorium.I got out and I couldn’t find my driver, obviously he had gone on to chill. 


In the end, he was found and then I told him to take me straight home. Before we got home, I called my brother and told him to meet me at my place. I can’t remember how I made it to the door but as I entered the house, I collapsed on the floor. I was immediately rushed to the hospital.

 

Now, this incident happened two days to the closing ceremony of an event that we had worked so tirelessly to put together and the Governor himself was billed to come during the closing ceremony in two days’ time. I was on medication and I had drips being passed into me. The doctors who attended to me told me I had to be on admission for some more days. My mother came to the hospital to be with me, my brother and a couple friends also came too.

 

On the third day when the Governor was coming to close the event, I was still in the hospital. It was also the day we were supposed to give out the start-up kits and the seed-funds worth millions of Naira to the beneficiaries of the program. That morning, with the drip line still in my hand, I sneaked out of the hospital. I had made arrangement for the event’s branded t-shirt and face cap  to be brought over to the hospital and so I changed into the outfit inside the car. Then, we headed straight to the venue of the event.

 

As I appeared at the venue, people saw the drip line and began to ask why I had come when I wasn’t fully okay yet. The event opened and it was the Speaker,Sen. Monsurat Summonu who came up first. Immediately she saw me she also asked why I had come. 


Then came the governor, he saw the drip line too and he was furious. He scolded me big time and he directed that we completed the program on time so I could go back and rest. I couldn’t bear to be in a hospital bed while such a big event was going on.

 

I had dragged myself there because I just wanted to make sure that everything ran smoothly and thankfully the event went as planned. 


After the Governor gave his speech, we took him round to show him the things we were giving out and he was really impressed. He handed over the startup kits to a few participants for picture-taking and documentation while the rest would be done by us as he had to leave and attend to other state matters.

 

As he was leaving, I walked him to his car and when the convoy had begun to move, I headed back to the auditorium. Then, people began to signal to me that the Governor was beckoning to me and I walked up to his convoy. He said he noticed that I was going back to the auditorium and he directed that I should head back to my car right there and then; and go back to the hospital. I said ‘yes sir’ and after he had left I went back to the auditorium. We made sure that we distributed the kits and the funds and it was a successful outing.

 

To my dismay, as I was leaving the venue of the event – we saw a couple of people boldly selling their startup kits right there in front of the hall! 


The people for whom I had sneaked out of the hospital were selling the things we had put in place for them right where we had given them. If I had died when I snuck out of the hospital, that is how they’d have gone on to sell their kits and life would have moved on and I’d have remained dead. 


I learnt a big lesson - no matter what you’re doing in service of the people give your very best but also, prioritize yourself. Stay alive.

 

(join me every Wednesday at 6pm, as I share with you personal stories from my journey so far and the lessons I have learned from them)

 

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ILORIN IS NOT AWUSA OR FULANI TERRITORY

 The Origin of Ilorin: A Historical Insight "Ilorin is not a Hausa or Fulani territory. Hundreds of years ago, Oko-Erin, or 'Elepha...