MY TRIP TO YALI RLC ALUMNI HOMECOMING

by Bashir Garba (Nigeria)

A leap into the unknown Nigeria

One day morning, I just woke up to check my email for any new entry message, particularly about the ( YALI RLC ) program I applied for. Fortunately, l just encountered with a message, that I had been selected to be among the participants for the YALI RLC Accra Ghana Alumni Homecoming programme. I was shocked, because I had never thought of being selected. Due to the high number of applicants. As a result, the message came very late, and I was needed to attend within a week. So I became worried, because I wasn't fully ready for the trip. Yet, I managed to make the money because I really wanted to attend, because I was very passionate about travels and attending such vital programs. Thus, I booked for a luxurious bus for the trip. The next day we set on our way to Lagos state (Digital Bridge Institute Lagos) where the program took place. Around 4: 15pm our trip started lightly, where the high numbers of passengers engaged themselves in different things, some were busy charting, eating while some just remained off. To me, I looked somehow innocent and decently seated. Along to me, there were two people; young man of my age, and an old man that looked somehow unfair. I then opened my bag and brought out a novel titled: "Things Fall Apart". Because I couldn't withstand loneliness. After a long journey, about 1: 14am we reached " Oka" a small town near a high hill full of hills and rocks, the weather was dark and cloudy because it was a rainy season. Coincidentally, we heard a terrible sound coming out of our moving bus. We were all scared, because it was in the midnight and the road was cleaned. The bus then slowly packed at the side of the road, everyone was worried and wanted to know what was happening, the driver then quickly stepped out of the bus and tried to find out the problem. Afterwards, he turned to the curious passengers and told us something that really shocked us; That an iron had broken in bus engine, the bus wouldn't be fixed unless it's parts brought from Kano state (where we had left so far). Things became complicated, as most of us started to look for an alternative, some decided to go to the nearby village to stay till dawn. While some of us decided to remain in the bus till it's fixed. I then started to find any possible way out, from my side I heard some two men talking about something that really touched me, that; a week ago some arm robbers attacked the area and killed almost 6 people . By hearing this, I just decided to join them because at least they had some knowledge about the condition and they looked like regular travellers. We then moved out of the bus and made our decision of getting into another bus; we spent almost an hour waiting for an upcoming bus, but yet, no sign of any bus ahead. Suddenly, we oversight a bus coming ahead of us. Thus, we gladly rushed into the bus, there we found out that all the seats had been occupied. Thus we remained stand up to a long time, Where some of the passengers started to drop out as we reached Ibadan, which gave us chance to have our seats. The journey continued. However, we reached Lagos around 10: 00am, where we found it too congested with traffic jam. By the way, we landed at exactly 4: 07pm. I reached Digital Bridge Institute where the programme would take place. I had been welcomed warmly. Although, I was late for the registration but things went smoothly where I was registered and then directed to my room. I took bath and came out for a delicious launch. Afterwards,the programme started. I really entertained and enjoyed meeting with the young future African leaders from the nine West African countries with different backgrounds in terms of culture, norms and values both males and females. We ate together, dance,and play different games for entertainment. There we spent a week on the programme activities. And I gladly made my way home. ATrueLifeStory By Bashir Garba.