OH! IBADAN
Home of many firsts. The Pacesetter State even though it might not have held the ace. But you can't take these away:
The 1st University, (U.I) Ibadan
The 1st Teaching Hospital, (UCH) Ibadan
The 1st Stadium, (Liberty) Ibadan
The 1st TV Station, (NTA)Ibadan
The 1st Private TV Station, (GALAXY) Ibadan
The 1st Skycrapper, (Cocoa House) Ibadan
The 1st Housing Corporation, Ibadan
The 1st Dualised Road, (Queen Elizabeth Road)
The 1st Parliament, Ibadan

Ibadan was the seat of government in the Western Nigeria. But when they want to talk, they say this Ibadan people. Was it not Ibadan that taught all of you how to speak English, taught every Nigeria-trained Doctor how to do surgery, taught journalists how to present news and carry cameras, the housing corporation in Ibadan approved all the estates and designs.

That was how this lady came from Lagos for the first time and was shocked to discover that Ibadan is different from the picture she had carried in her mind for years: Ibadan is old, full of old people, they can't speak english, you need a translator, too dirty, houses don't have toilets, there are no recreations, people carry tribal marks on their cheeks, everybody wears ankara, there are no pentecostal churches, they go to ori oke, no studios in Ibadan, no good musicians, no event planners, bring everything you need from Lagos if you have an event in Ibadan, the place is jagajaga. Shior. But Now, they want to settle down in Ibadan because it's cheap, friendly, free, and easy to move around. Go Back! Don't spoil air for us.
By Oladimeji Adewole Skillo ‪