One of my favourite cities!

Not many people reading this would have ever visited one of my favourite cities. I love it because so many 'first' memories were made for me there. It is the city where I first learnt about diversity, love, and tolerance to mention a few. It's the city where I grew up and some of her lingo continue to graze my lips; Ilorin.

Ilorin is the capital of Kwara State ( the State of Harmony) in the south west region of Nigeria. Growing up there was fabulous. Many of those living there were not indigenes of the state but it did not make a difference. Diversity was celebrated and there was a huge sense of community.

Ilorin has 2 Universities, a Polytechnic, a College of Education and several schools within her walls. There are also some religious educational institutions like the United Missionary Theological Seminary and the College of Arabic and Islamic legal studies. Needless to say, it is very much a student's city.

You can cover the length and breadth of Ilorin, visit tourist places and entertainment venues in less than 3days. If a place that is free from the hustle and bustle of crowded cities appeals to you, Ilorin is for you.

The post office is one of the hubs of the city. All roads pretty much lead there and you can get a taxi to anywhere from the post office. It is also a good spot to hang about and get a real feel of the city.

Back then, if you boarded a taxi, you were more than likely to know someone in it and if you did, more often than not they would cover your fare. It was the way things were. People looked after one another. The taxi drivers were super kind too an extra 10 bucks could usually get you to your door.

You also could be damned sure if you were caught behaving badly in a public place your parents would have caught wind of it before you even arrived home. To think there were no cell/mobile phones then. Really, how did they do it?

There is something about living in a place like Ilorin. It could be the sense of contentment in the air, the tangible tranquility, low cost of everything or the fact that people are never too busy to say hello.

Whatever it is and no matter where you are from, Ilorin my childhood city begins to feel like home so much so that when you leave, you carry with you her calmness, you sometimes long to return and you miss the harmony that you experienced there in ways you can not possibly imagine fa.

*Fa - is an Ilorin expression that is used for emphasis or sometimes just for the fun of it.