10 nollywood actors that live in Ibadan

Some of them have lived, while some are currently living in Ibadan. These are great actors and actresses who have in a way contributed to the yoruba movie industry especially.
Some of them have shot great movies in Ibadan too. I have always encouraged nollywood in some of my write ups and unlike most Nigerian youths I believe that the whole of Nollywood in general, the Yoruba movies, english movies, ibo movies and Hausa movies are improving daily.

1. Femi Adebayo

2. Dele Odule

 3. Laide Bakare

 4. Rose Odika

 5. Bimbo Oshin

 6.   Toyin Aimakhu

 7. Adebayo Faleti

8. Kola Oyewo

 9. Peju Ogunmola

10. Muyiwa Ademola

A big house

I walked to the giant gate, I didn’t know whether to press the bell or knock on the gate. I eventually did both, silly you would think but logically I pressed the bell at first  for what seemed like ages and got no response so I had to knock.

After what seemed like eternity she walked up to the gate and opened up for me.Tall and fat, her face was expressionless I didn’t know whether she was happy to see me or not. Her low cut revealed some grey hair, this was my second time seeing her but I still saw new features in her. she led me into the giant house after walking through the massive compound she told me to feel at home while she disappeared into the house.

As I wandered through the sitting room, I wondered why just one person will live in such a big house. She reappeared minutes later and told me she was going out. She showed me the kitchen which was like miles away from the sitting room, I discovered there were three other sitting rooms , one was even bigger than what I thought was the main sitting room.

As she left, a rain so heavy began. I started getting an eerie feeling, that creepy feeling you get when you are in a strange house all alone. I encouraged myself and as my stomach rumbled I found my way to the kitchen holding the noodles I had in my bag. I started to cook, I went to my room to get my phone and I returned to the kitchen in what seemed like a journey.

Back inside the kitchen I felt like I heard voices, I looked around, saw nothing then concluded it was my imagination. I continued again and heard another echo. Voices, was I hallucinating?  I began to panic just as I walked past the entrance I saw wet footsteps. Someone had come in. I was scared and immediately panicked. Who was in this house with me. The raindrops kept falling heavily.

As I rushed upstairs, entering the pathway leading to the ironing room. I ran into two young girls, it was sudden and shocking. They screamed! I was in between screaming and fleeing but then on realizing that I was the new visitor they were expecting , we all burst into laughter. They were the maids, they had been told about me but went to the market and had been caught in the rain. I was never told about them.

Everyone's time will come

I was going to write my NYSC experience, already advertised and prepared to write the article  such that lots of people were looking forward to it. Then life happened. I suddenly became occupied with rounding up at my PPA , sewing clothes  and the most tasking of all assisting my sister with the baby.

Yes ..her time had come to have and  nurture her baby and my own time had come to take up all her other responsibilities and assist her the best way I can. As I sit and write this I remember the days when we were younger, how had imagined that the things which I now do were meant for grown women and big aunties. How I had imagined the time will never come for me to step into that position. How I had imagined it was going to take forever before that time came.

Now I know better, there is time for everything, we individuals run the race of our lives at different pace and time. Your time might say you are in the afternoon, mine might say I m in the evening or in the morning.

My point exactly? Everyone’s time will come, everyone will pass through the morning, afternoon and evening phase of their lives. Everyone will have their own fair share of pain, loss, joy , happiness all the emotions and feelings released to the earth by the creator will be felt by everyone but at different times.

Even when a race is being run, each runner arrives at their destinations at different times. Besides we all weren’t born into the world at the same time. Why then should we expect to move at the same pace?

Always remember, either by predestination, purpose, plan or choice, your own time will come. You will experience the good and the bad. You will learn lessons of life, you will win some and lose some and in the end you will grow, achieve success, have memories and impact lives.

Silence

Silence is the best answer for a ____  goes the old saying. Sometimes silence is just the best answer for anybody. There are situations when we see something so bad, so annoying, so wrong happen in our vicinity and we just have to keep quiet  we do not speak because we know that our  words at that point point in time may appear destructive or in most cases unwanted.

In conflicting and confrontational situations it is usually said that when one of both parties keeps silent he gains respect of all. Even with certain issues silence only is the most needed virtue.

Silence can be powerful, although there are situations where prolonged silence doesn’t connote being powerful but the opposite. For instance in situations where one doesn’t know what to say or the right  response to give or where one has no contradicting response to whatever is being said or stated. Like the popular saying , silence means consent. Let me ask , does silence always mean consent? Do people always keep quiet when they mean yes or indicate positive answer to what is being said?

I want to believe that only strong people have the capacity to keep quiet in raging situations silence doesn’t always mean consent or weakness, it sometimes means “I’m strong enough to make peace, I’m strong enough to let this go for friendship sake or for peace sake, I m strong enough to see that it is wisdom  to keep your opponent or people guessing whats on your mind.

10 THINGS I DISLIKE ABOUT IBADAN

 

Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, is one of Nigeria's oldest and most historically significant cities. Once the heart of the Yoruba empire, Ibadan boasts a rich cultural heritage, reflected in its vibrant traditions, architecture, and local arts. As the largest city in West Africa by landmass, it has played a crucial role in Nigeria's history, particularly in education and politics. However, like any bustling metropolis, Ibadan faces its own set of challenges—from infrastructure issues to social dynamics—that impact the daily lives of its residents. This post is about my honest perspective on the challenges of living in Ibadan.

1. A lot young people have complained that it is not a place to start your hustle from. It is not a place with enough organizations to offer  job opportunities .

2.Lousy people: as friendly as Ibadan people are they can be very lousy. It is usually said that you will never find an Ibadan based person who can’t talk or can’t always give confronting response that is why petty thieves can even be justified against the owners.

3.Ibadan buses : I hate Ibadan buses terribly , only God knows where this buses emerge from.90%  of this buses are very uncomfortable.

4.There are bad linking roads in Ibadan most of these mini roads which are supposed to serve as substitute to the major roads are bad.

5. Apata hold up,  I don’t know about other areas in Ibadan but Apata- campus- Odo ona route hold up can be very frustrating.

6.As much as there are lots of enlightened  people, there are extremely local people residing in Ibadan, people who have  refused to become enlightened those who see Ibadan as an extension of their village.

7. Ibadan has a lot of dirty areas…. I know it is improving there are cleaners on the roads but still Ibadan has dirty areas,  some even throw refuse on the major road. The city is big , there are lots of residents this fact helps to account for the huge dirt.

8.Their yoruba accents easily gives them away  making them appear crude, especially those so into it.

9. A very prominent area along the the entrance into Ibadan is known to be very very diabolic. Women are married diabolically too such that they never regain consciousness  until they’ve given birth.

10. Means of transportation generally, drivers and conductors are usually dirty and hungry looking , both drivers and conductors use their hands to describe their destinations (crude nature) taxis n cabs don’t rush everywhere, leaving one to the mercy of molues and bikes.  Even Ajumose buses have issues.

        While Ibadan stands as a city rich in history, culture, and potential, it is not without its challenges.          From the limited job opportunities for young professionals to the ongoing infrastructure and social          issues, living in Ibadan can be both rewarding and frustrating. However, the city's vibrant spirit              and deep-rooted traditions offer a unique experience that continues to draw people in. For those              willing to navigate its complexities, Ibadan still holds the promise of growth and a deeper                        connection to Nigeria's cultural essence. As the city evolves, addressing these challenges will be             key to unlocking its full potential and improving the quality of life for its residents.

All that glitters...

All that glitters is not gold, the old saying has been since time immemorial. Yet it keeps being applicable to circumstances in our world today. Often times than not we are tempted to assume that something is just by looking at its first appearance, we are quick to assume that a baked dough is bread not thinking it can be puffpuff or doughnut.

About two months ago, I was returning from work, I got to the major market I usually got to before taking another bus. I was about crossing the road when a richly dressed middle aged woman spoke to me in Yoruba (my young lady, becareful o, watch before crossing) I was  touched by her care and concern and immediately appreciated her kind gesture as I crossed.

I continued to trek on the other side, as I waded my way through the crowd I heard the woman call behind me still in Yoruba (pls dear hold on) I thought she was going to ask for directions to a place she was going as it was a weekend and she was dressed like someone attending a party. So I stopped and the next thing was “can you please help me with any amount? I m going to Mokola I still have to return to Lagos today I just need some amount of money to get to an atm machine where I will withdraw money, any amount” I was shocked  at first, so shocked that I stuttered for words for few minutes  then she continued “you should be able to help me it may be 500, 2200, 100 or 50 naira” for  days I still couldn’t match the appearance of the woman with her begging disposition.

 This is just one of the few cases I’ve encountered that further portrays how much seemingly shiny, attractive things on the outside turn out to be the opposite of what they seem.

We’ve heard stories of rich men , gentle men, easygoing and  quiet men who turn out to be devilish ritualists pouncing on unsuspecting young ladies who fall victim. My point is we may not be able to protect ourselves from negativities and dangers 100percent but we can try , we can stick to the path of contentment and caution by reminding ourselves often that all that glitters is not gold.

Keep moving

Remember that funny song “I like to move it, move it, I like to move it move it, I like to move it move it, I like to MOVE IT!” That song truly gets us laughing all the time but I believe the lyrics of the song carry more weight and sense than we can imagine. I remember another word of wisdom “if you can’t fly, run, if you can’t run, walk and if you can’t walk, crawl, whatever you do just keep moving!

How do you get to your destination if you are not moving? How do you achieve your dreams, goals and aspirations if you are not moving? How do you progress if you are waiting to be pushed?

As individuals we need to arise, we need to know where we are going and we need to give it all it takes to keep going. Most great things in life come by force, nothing good comes easy. Let us not just take everything that life throws at us. We should be willing to make progress, achieve something new daily too. We must strive to be better than we were yesterday, today.

Diary of an Ibadan corper 4

Time flies, time waits for no one. Service year is gradually going, if there is one thing I am constantly glad about it is the fact that my struggle for monthly payment voucher signing will soon end. Also my weekly CDS signings to will be history. How I hate and dread  PV signing queues. Asides from the sometimes annoying officials there was frustrating queues but there were funny CDS personalities, friends I met. This made the experience a bit of fun. As it was interesting and fun to watch different young people, different nature, different behaviours. I met this young lady, who was a movie freak she was always rushing about, looking for whom to download, get films from. She never lacked nollywood movies on her phone. She even made friends over this. She became my friend because she thought I had movies on my phone and she wanted some! She is so flighty and loud.
One experience I mustn’t fail to mention is the nationwide NYSC headcount experience. That experience was a bad one. I had sincerely gone home  that weekend , I wasn’t the only one that had travelled sha. A lot of friends travelled too, I had friends  travel from the north to Abeokuta  yet they were not Ogun corpers.  Then I received a call the following day I arrived, Saturday. we were to assemble at our various local government. My first thought was “this must be a joke, are they serious at all?” I made up my mind to ignore the news and continued my activities that Saturday. But later that afternoon around 4pm I received more calls which confirmed to me that this “shii” was real. I began to plan how to get to Ibadan, I was told we had been given grace to come on Sunday. I began to plan, thank God I had extra Khaki and my sister’s jungle boot was still at home there was no church for me the other day obviously.
I began to see corpers in uniform very early the next morning everyone was obviously trying to beat traffic rushing to various states. That they the bus I boarded had just corpers which was a bit unusual. The last time I saw so many corpers was when I was going the first time to heed the clarion call. As much as there were corpers, we still had few passengers travelling with us. This headcount really got us, especially the part that anyone who missed it will get 2 months extension of service without pay. Service year was tiring enough, who wanted an extension. Funny dps of corpers rushing to meet up with the head count was everywhere. This very day, I made new friends in the car I took. I was the only lady in the car, there was

Mr. dark and slender, who sat beside me at the back seat, he seemed to be more of an extrovert, we talked a lot and within the few hours of our journey I realized he was almost a talkative. Because even when all of us kept quiet he was still talking.

 There was Mr Dark, huge and gentle who sat in front, he hardly spoke, but I was later to find out that we were from the same local government. There was a third guy with me at the back who seemed aloof. He didn’t look like he was from the west anyway but he was a corper too. On getting to Ibadan, i was a bit relieved to part ways with Mr. dark and slender as he belonged to a different local government. Surprisingly Mr. dark and gentle guy engaged me in his own episode of “let me get to know you” conversation .
To be continued…..    

10 things I love about Ibadan

Having spent the last 10months here,  I decided to write about a few pluses I think Ibadan has, I mean no state has it all but then Ibadan is really a cool place trust me....



1. Ibadan is the largest Yoruba city with social Amenities. This is such a prestigious thing about this state. It is a big city with different areas, scenes and locations. A balance of the enlightened, bubbling youth and indigenous adults.

2    Its peaceful nature
Ibadan is simply a balance between the ever peaceful Abeokuta and the industrial Lagos.

3.The malls and cinemas here are so accessible, reduced hold up and  the traffic is lighter. I can’t forget the first time I was going to see a movie at the Ikeja city mall with my cousins, we saw the movie right there in the car, we practically spent the whole day trying to get to Ikeja. The hold up was from the pit of hell!

4. Everything is cheaper!
 From transportation to food, its just less costly and more affordable.

5.Almost every church and industry has a branch in Ibadan. A sign that it is a central place, a megacity.

6.The people have fine interpersonal relations, they are accommodating. you hardly have problems with conductors or passengers unlike Lagos.

7.Amala, lol  they make the best Amala and Abula! Not that I am a fan of food or I specially love Amala, but I just give it to them for this.

8.Lesser crime rate, accept it or not , its true.

9.University of Ibadan , the premier university is  situated here

10.Humorous people, you can easily laugh around an Ibadan bred person.

Do the Right thing....

The right thing is the right thing . Not the seemingly right thing, not the wrong right thing. There is no amendment to the right thing, it is simply the right thing. I have to give it to Bez and Cobhams, the duo who released a song based on this title. Often times as humans we have devised ways to justify dastardly acts. We always have a good reason to do the wrong things. Everyone of us have a tiny voice of reasoning ‘the conscience’  who is the earthly judge of things,  somebody might say who decides whether something is right/wrong. The conscience does.

The world and the society has not even helped matters, it usually seems easier to do evil and more stressful to do good. How then will people stick to doing good against all odds? Will doing right ever gain grounds? Some people's conscience no longer lives or maybe they have just grown so hardened such that they no longer relate with the voice of reasoning.
When will we learn to act well, agree to do right even when or if it isn’t convenient? Why do we have so much bitterness, unhealthy ego and hard heartedness in the world suffocating love, doing right and peaceful living?
I know that through determination, strong will and grace, every human being can take the risk, go the extra mile to always do that which is right.

"Do the right thing, do the right thing
Do it all the time, do it all the time
Make yourself right, never mind them
Don't you know you're not the only one suffering"

Its my birthday!

      So I woke up this morning, feeling great despite the harsh n dry harmattan. I know sometimes we see a birthday as just a day we were born, no big deal. Sometimes we want to celebrate but we get overwhelmed by challenges, ups and downs. I know we sometimes don't get what we want or what we deserve. But somewhere in our hearts we hope and wish that lots of people remember how special this day is to us. That someone somewhere will send us surprise gifts and cakes, that somehow we will have lots of love showered on us and lots of people to celebrate this day with.
 
  So well, today is my birthday and I've come to realise that a birthday is not just a day we were born, it's a special gift, a day that promises the gift of a new year, a new start. A day that reminds us how God loves us specially and how uniquely made we are.
 
    I'm grateful to my lovely friends n family that have taken the pain to celebrate this day with me and shower me with the prayers I need. Friends are really the reason we smile. I wish today never ends but then my days of joy will never end, urs too will never end..Amen.
     I look forward to more surprises today, gifts are anticipated too...looool... happy birthday to me!