Hi all. I am Toyyib. I am the first child in a family of seven. My parents are civil servants. I grew up in Akure. Akure is a small University town in the South West Region. That meant we had fewer amenities than the urban cities. What this show I think is growing up meant I had my challenges has is true for others.

My street is a close knit one, typical culture in the rural areas. Your neighbor knows you, could scold, punish or ask something of you.

My peers on the other hand were my playing mates. We played football, share novels, ideas and imagination.

This afforded me to have people to share the moments with, share burden with, the good, the bad, the ugly. Although I rarely play football these days, when I do I enjoy the moments. The connections that come with relating with people.

Today, I am a graduate, a passionate writer and a believer in a better and fairer morrow. Connecting with people is when I meet with them, talk to them, see light in what they have written, listen to them and other means. So these days what I do is to observe, analyse and think about solutions to our various problems – bad infrastructure, bad governance, dwindling economy, poor education and a host of others.

What is more interesting is our unrelenting attitude. We strive despite the government rather than because of it. We labour to go to school, we push the limit to get our dreams and goals.

We cannot stop. The next option is becoming a thug, a tomato seller, a cab driver. No one wants that life. I think that is the singular reason why we push. The hope for a better tomorrow, a better future, a better life. One in which we envision having a family, shelter, food on the table and other goodies of life. In the end we won’t stop. We won’t relent. We’ll keep pushing, we won’t settle till we’ve achieved our dreams.

Thanks.