NIGERIA: Oyo State: Trip to Ibadan

A phone call by a fellow Malaysian, Haji Wan Zamri inviting me to a short trip to Ibadan. The purpose of the trip was to visit a school, a few mosque/masjid and some water well which were donated by the people back in Malaysia. I said 'Yes' and in turn invited Amaludin and Huda to follow us too.

The usual route to take would be the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. It seemed that a few areas of the expressway had received a new fresh coat of road pavement. There's a lot going on at the moment on the expressway. Some areas the road are busy with lorries making interstate travel laden with goods, then you have the danfos (passenger van) and all manner of vehicles (US and Japanese made SUVs and sedans). 

Some parts of the expressway we managed to speed up, and some was just a slow paced due to vehicles that broke down in the middle of the road. Broken axle, overheat, puncture etc...take your pick. There were also settlements which would slow down the traffic due to people selling and buying by the roadside. 

The journey took about 3hr plus and behold, the town of Ibadan in Oyo state. Welcome!!! Geographically (size) it is the biggest town in Nigeria and at one time, in the 60's it was 2nd most populous town after Cairo. In terms of size for my readers in Malaysia, you can put 2 states of Malacca in Ibadan town. That is just the town, not Oyo state mind you.

Ibadan town

The town is certainly big. There wasn't any high rise per se... but hundreds of thousands of buildings and mainly houses as far as the eye can see. All along the road, and up and down the valley in Ibadan. 

My friend in his car guided us around town and finally we arrived at our first destination....the Islam Da'wah School of Ibadan. According to the school's Chairman, it was envisioned by his late father Alhaj Ballo Alli Adelani. At anytime, 3000 students could be taught per year. Alhamdulillah, we are waiting for shipment of exercise books and stationery for the students. All donated by generous donors in and out of Malaysia.  

Road to the school

The Chairman of the school (left)

The grave of Alhaj Ballo Alli Adelani

The school was a labour of love by its founder in 1974 and so much love for the school that even he was put to rest beside the main building of the school when he passed in 1997.

The late Alhaj's effort reminds me of my late grandfather too. Tuan Guru Haji Mohammad Yassin bin Muhammad from my father's side. He also established a school (click here) with a surau (small mosque) in the compound of his school too. 

From the school, we made our way to a settlement nearby. We visited the late Alhaji house and a mosque nearby. We passed some personal donation from various individuals and friends in Lagos to the community and to the committee member a set of generator for the use of the mosque. I did not realise that the place was without electricity which is quite common here. Well, you can have electricity but need to have a generator set and enough fuel for your need. 

Haji Wan and wife

Haji Wan Zamri also brought us around and officiate some of the wells donated by our muslim brothers and sisters from Malaysia. He made sure all the proceed according to the request of the donors.

In fact after Ibadan, a trip to Ikorodu in Lagos is in order to set up a few community water wells for use in that part of area. All the wells that had been set up are waqf (endowment - closest translation I could provide). 

Apartments in Lagos would have their water (to bathe and wash) sent by water tanker truck on weekly basis. Houses might opt for truck or men/boys sending water in plastic jerry-cans on a big barrow (pushcart). But in the areas we visited, it would be better to have these community wells (open during mornings and evenings) until a more permanent solution provided to them. 

Madam trying to fill a water basin with water from the well.
(Note the steel well cover)

The last place we visited that day was a bit further. Haji Wan was supposed to inspect and commissioned it before we head back to Lagos. The committee of the mosque where the well is located were present. Haji Wan took the first scoop of water and on behalf of the donor announced the well in order for the use of the community. 

All in order, happy that there's water to use and the well constructed according to the agreed specs; we left Ibadan and head back to Lagos. In two weeks time, Ikorodu...here I come!