Week 2 - Ado-Ekiti, Abuja, Ijero-Ekiti

Greetings from Ekiti State

Excited to visit my grandmother who is 102 years old, I headed to Ekiti state. I stopped in the capital to meet up with my dad who has been volunteering in the upcoming elections (the election was postponed by a week as of the time of writing this). After a quick trip to the country's capital - Abuja, we headed to his hometown two days later. My grandmother was excited to see me. She called me by the name she gave me when I was born. At her age, her memory is extremely sharp, her health in great form (apart from a shaky tooth), and she looked as beautiful as ever. Over the course of the week she told me stories of her upbringing, struggle, poverty, activism, outspoken nature, and greatest of all her commitment to ensure all her children educated. An opportunity her mother deprived her off. She told me how they walked for two days to travel between cities before cars were introduced. And how her legs were swollen when she arrived at her destination (Offa). For a woman who barely completed elementary school, she was successful in business as a merchant. she also took initiatives I wouldn't have expected such as putting my father and his younger brother in separate high schools because she didn’t them looking after each other, rather she wanted them to fend for themselves and learn when to stand down because they have the support of the other sibling. She told me about each one of her siblings, three older brothers and my grandfather. He was a man of means and thriving businesses until his sudden death which meant the family became poor and struggled to finance basic needs like education. Ultimately, her young kids had to be sent to live with her other siblings who because of their education had done much better financially.

Here are some pictures and videos from this week.


Heading out of Lagos. We drive through Ibadan, Ile-Ife, Ilesha, Aramoko-Ekiti.

Putting on a smile to overcome the stomach bug that came on during the trip and the car needing repairs

Getting the shaft or brake rotor adjusted. All part of the journey.
Entering Ado-Ekiti. Capital of Ekiti State


My dad working out of his volunteer office.

Last minute trip to the nations capital, Abuja. 

First night in Ijero-Ekiti visiting my grandmother with my dad to the side.

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