1. Some people make money from this recession and keep it for their future unborn generation - Selfish!!

2. Some people do not make enough and so are limited within their means - Wishes are horses

3. Some people dream of making enough to help others - Maybe you?

4. Some people barely make enough yet try as much as possible to assist based on their capabilities - Maybe you too!

Whichever category you fall into. The pictures below is an attempt to sing the song of those who fall in the second category. They are limited within their means, and so, they can only 'wish' to have enough to cater for the basic means of life.

This photoBlogger embarked on a journey into the places where these people make domain, in order to portray how they live their lives. He uses the instrument he has, 'The Camera' to beam light on these places, so the world can see, what really these guys are going through.

This is the timelines of one of his trips into the slum of Ilaje, Bariga..Lagos State


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt3SKRxCl_Y

After the Makoko trip, I saw a kind of beauty that only a photographer would see and also the need in the slums, so I decided to plan the second trip to Ilaje Community in Lagos State. I noticed how people around my area (which is not only limited to my area alone) argue day in and out about the dwindling economy and socio-political landscape. Fuel, Electricity and the price of Tomato. Now there is recession, I figured that the timing has never been better in dropping this post! Yaaay!

I spoke with some brands on Instagram, and they supported with the basics we can afford and moved into this community.

If you don’t want to be inspired and be charged, please don’t scroll down. However if you really want to! Then this is the page for you!

Brief on Ilaje Community

Ilaje is a sprawling slum located along the Bariga axis in Lagos, situated by the Lagoon. As you move closer to the settlement , you would immediately begin to see wooden houses constructed on that brackish water of Lagos lagoon. You would also notice an environment so dirty that you would think it’s not fit for anyone to reside. But then, people live here even happily. As you move into the community, you would begin to see both the young and old wander about, some aimlessly, and some with intentions, work or business as the case is.

Apart from the various shanties that you would see on the bank of the lagoon, most of the people in the community live in huts made of planks, bamboo on the lagoon. I also noticed that many of the people were mainly Egun. Ilaje is an area in Lagos where the poorest poor reside; from an environment laden with filth and excreta to houses with open bathroom. The community is surely laden with poverty at the end; illiteracy, filth and other social ills.

The amazing part about Ilaje is that there has been no story of an pandemic/endemic and that the community boast of the best portable water which was said to have drawn out from the same brackish lagoon water. We also observed that a lot of Non-governmental organizations have come to impact the people positively in terms of food, education and health facilities. However, it seemed from my view and what you would see that these were never enough. They need more support, right.

The interview with in the soon to be released video has a lot of young minds that are very ready to work and are skilled one way or the other. Can you imagine, I met with producers, mobile phone engineers, fashion designers in Ilaje. On my discussion with them, I realized the need for these guys to be empowered! The video would be dropping soon! It is amazing!

My Conclusion

It is very pertinent that the government should move its arm of support into these communities. Empowerment is very key and massive sanitary lectures should be given to these people, to incite them on the act of cleanliness in all ramifications. The earlier research I saw online showed that the government was looking at resettling the Ilaje people, which to me is even not feasible in the near time. To this end, it would be important to support the community in whatever capacity they can. Enough of the media hullabaloo of empowerment we see on TV.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3yGTX15ZlM

I saw a couple of wastes here and there, which was predominantly dominated by top brands in Nigeria. Bottles of drinks, purewater, sanitary pads, and all sorts muddled together to form the terrible and stinking environment where they live. If the FMCG’s are looking for where to channel their Corporate Social Responsibility to, it is in the Ilaje Community. Away from all the fashion shows, beauty pageants and ‘show-off’ on TV. Ilaje is the real deal.


http://deedeesblog.com/2016/09/13/my-amazing-ilaje-story-life-in-lagos-slum/

Deturla, this is great. Keep on with the good work.

I'm always surprised whenever I read of communities like this and learn that they barely experience disease outbreaks. I think there should be a scientific explanation to this. Probably the people have developed a kind of immunity against the likes of cholera and typhoid or something

wroskian:
Deturla, this is great. Keep on with the good work.

I'm always surprised whenever I read of communities like this and learn that they barely experience disease outbreaks. I think there should be a scientific explanation to this. Probably the people have developed a kind of immunity against the likes of cholera and typhoid or something

Yaaaay!!...Boss! Where have you been?

Yes Seriously! I was amazed when I learned this as well. Amazing life they live in Ilaje.

At less than a dollar a day, they strive so hard to live within their means. They are amazing people, trust me! They only need help and empowerment.

painful truth ... but the world has to see this too..

poverty is not a death sentence... below are pictures of the bajau tribe off the malaysian coast.. they are poor, live on water.. but my pple.. their waters arent polluted.. geez whats wrong with us in africa

Then some mofos will be living in a room self contain and yet won't av d reason to thank God.

Solidkay:
Then some mofos will be living in a room self contain and yet won't av d reason to thank God.

Man! If anyone wants to be inspired! Here is the place to go!

kilokeys:
painful truth ... but the world has to see this too

Let's hope some grateful individual can push this to the world!

deturla:

Yaaaay!!...Boss! Where have you been?

Yes Seriously! I was amazed when I learned this as well. Amazing life they live in Ilaje.

At less than a dollar a day, they strive so hard to live within their means. They are amazing people, trust me! They only need help and empowerment.

I have been around Bro...just on the low dey look Baba God face, my call must be picked
I do see your post on fb

Let's pray the government helps them soonest. These is just one of the slums in Nigeria and come to think of it, that place is under a senatorial district. #shakingmyhead

kilokeys:
painful truth ... but the world has to see this too..

poverty is not a death sentence... below are pictures of the bajau tribe off the malaysian coast.. they are poor, live on water.. but my pple.. their waters arent polluted.. geez whats wrong with us in africa

WoW!! would love to go there someday!...Let's see if this can happen to our slums too!

deturla:



WoW!! would love to go there someday!...Let's see if this can happen to our slums too!

clean up is possible.. its just sad.. sewage gets dumped in that same water, trash cans and bottles, company waste ..

i yaff tired

cc: Seun
Mynd44
Lalasticlala
Obinoscopy

I thought we were poor. I was wrong.

What about an Italian woman who committed suicide today because her sex Video leaked on the internet..See that one here: http://factflyers.com/pretty-lady-hanged-sex-tape-leaked-online/

Wow

....And they seem so Happy!!!!

When you expect nothing from Life aside what you see around you, Satisfaction is what you get .

Blame GEJ for this.

photoblogger

Naija unclothedness online

smh...our leaders have ruined this country..imagine people struggling to collect a piece of 10naira biscuit,while sumone allegedly stole and stashed as much as 30million usd in her account..May the wrath of God come upon the destroyers of our country..

Wow.. pls brother come to Warri, you will blow!!

who do we blame now... Jonathan or Buhari... PDP or APC.... Military Government Or Democratic Government?

I wish I cld watch it. Am already moved to tears without even watching...

OP is an irresponsible slowpoke for this entire episode.

One of the most foolish posts that I've seen on this forum and there have been a lot of them.

My question now is - why is this on the front page?

Chisos
Mehn this life

@op this is soooo amazing!! your pictures are woooow!!! keep up with your good works....I pray God rewards you. if we could all contribute our little quota of helping hands, communities like this would be better places to live in.