WHY WE LOVE OUR SUBURBS (2)

So last week, I gave 3 (three) reasons why suburbians will choose to remain in their respective neighbourhood. This week, we continue with the 2nd series of why we love our suburbs. Take a look…

Availability of Artisans (Service Providers):
It’s almost impossible for one to be stranded in the suburbs because a lot of artisans, cutting across virtually all vocations either stay or have their workshops in the suburbs. So you will always find one that can save the day. There are a plethora of hairdressers/hair stylists, cobblers, mechanics, spare parts merchant, tailors, food/fruit vendors, water vendors, electricians, vulcanizers, welders, panel beaters, dry cleaners, janitors, plumbers, masons/bricklayers, drivers, motor cyclists, cabmen, the list is just endless. You can easily locate them whenever the need to engage their services arise.

Communal Spirit:
I have lived both in the city centre and the suburb and I can tell you that one thing that residents of Abuja suburb enjoy that’s lacking to a large extent in neighbourhoods in the city centre is the communal life. In the suburbs, virtually everyone looks out for his neighbour and there is just a greater bond between residents. While leaving in the city centre, precisely Asokoro, I could count the number of times I even saw my next door neighbour and whenever we stumbled on each other, it was a very quick “Hi” or “Good morning”. In my present neighbourhood (a suburb of course), I can say that a brief daily chat with the neighbours is almost guaranteed. Two weeks ago, my neighbour knocked on my door to say hi. She expressed concern that she hasn’t seen me in two days and wanted to check up to be sure I was okay….I felt so loved. Now that’s communal life….sharing and loving.  There is a greater sense of responsibility to one another in the suburbs than in the city centre.

Affordability of Commodities/Services:
It just goes without saying, that things are much more affordable in the suburbs than in the city centre. Be it the cost of accommodation, school fees, articles/consumables, food items, transportation, etc. Just a few days ago, I bought a basket of fresh tomatoes for just N200. Honestly, I was scared when the seller told me the price, I had to ask him again, because I thought it was a slip of the tongue or I probably didn’t hear him correctly. But it turned out that was actually the price. He explained that he got a basket from the farmers directly who were scared it would go bad if they didn’t sell them all up.

Hear me, the suburb gives you value for your money.

Kindly share your comments or views on why you love your suburb. Cheers!

WHY WE LOVE OUR SUBURBS (1)

There are bucket load of reasons why Abuja residents love their suburb (yours truly inclusive…lol). There are just so many things around the suburb that make life in the suburb much easier and fun. We won’t be able to exhaust them today, so in this first part, we shall examine 3 (three) reasons why suburbians will choose to stay/remain in their respective neighbourhood: 

1.     Neighbourhood Mini Markets

Every suburb has its own neighbourhood market where one can quickly dash in to pick some fresh vegetables for soup, some groceries and spices stew/sauce, refill gas or even buy kerosene for the stove (when the gas runs out at odd hours) and get other ingredients or condiments for cooking….in a jiffy. It is highly unnecessary, driving miles to the big market to buy things, especially during emergencies. While living in the city centre, it was really inconveniencing and disappointing dashing to the mini-marts or supermarkets to get one or two items and not finding them. That automatically meant driving to the major market and you may as well go back home (without getting what you want) if it was already 6pm as these major markets close by 

6pm.

2.     Evening/Night Markets

I can authoritatively tell you every Abuja suburb has an evening market, located at strategic points especially at major junctions or entrances of the suburbs. These markets start building up as from 4pm and terminate at 10 - 11pm. Items mostly sold in these markets include clothing’s, shoes, handbags ( other accessories), phones (new and fairly used), fruits, food items, bed sheets, curtains , to mention but a few. One major reason why we love our evening markets is because quality items are sold there at ridiculously affordable prices, compared to shops, boutiques and the big markets. A lot of young urban professionals patronise these markets because most of them have time to shop only at evenings on their way from work. I patronize these markets too and I can gladly recommend same to you…in fact, the phone from which I am writing this was gotten from these evening markets #wink. So the next time you come into Abuja, don’t fail to check out our evening markets, you will be glad you did. And please, thank me later #wink.

3.     Neighbourhood Schools

Every suburb has its own public and private schools. You will find at least a public (government) junior secondary and/or a senior secondary school for parents who cannot afford the private schools. But there are also the very affordable private schools as well as the very expensive ones. It behoves on you to make your choice. The interesting thing is that parents do not have to travel miles just to send their kids to school. A lot of these schools are walking distances for parents and their children.

So, I urge you to take advantage of these benefits and don’t forget to thank me later.

Have a productive week ahead!

THE SPIRIT OF OUR PEOPLE!

My interest in the life, sights and sounds of Abuja suburbs grew when I began searching for a shop in these places. Oh, I haven’t told you?…I am a  baker. I had just started my confectionery business and with my business plan, settling for the very high prices of shops in the city centre was just a big NO! NO!! for me. So, I had to search for a more affordable option, in a thickly populated suburb  that would be good for business. 

In the course of my voyage, I discovered a lot of villages (don’t be scared, ‘village’ is a common term for suburbs in Abuja…lol) I had never been to or even heard since my stay in the city. The uniqueness of each suburb triggered the desire to launch this blog; to share my discoveries with the people of Abuja, Nigeria, Africa and the world at large. There is so much of life going on in these places, so much to savor, so much to learn from and even much more to get you inspired.

One unique attribute I find common is the STRONG SPIRIT OF SURVIVAL expressed by every Nigerian living in these areas. I see this attribute in the tenacity of the ‘Okpa-girl’ living in Nyanya (a suburb), who with little or no education, wakes up as early as 3 am to prepare okpa (a yellowish coloured puddy made from the okpa plant, a food indigenous to the ibo tribe), sets out into the city centre as early as 5am, moving from Asokoro to Area 11 and even as far as Wuse 2 just to sell at a better price, in order to make ends meet and to SURVIVE. 

I see it in the akara woman (Mama Akara) in the heart of Galadimawa village, who fries akara in her zinc constructed hut, and from the proceeds, trains her five children through school (3 are graduates already). 

I also see it in the energy of Mallam Hassan, the water vendor (Mai Ruwa) who fetches water for almost every restaurant/shop in Gishiri, with his handmade wooden truck; he loads it with at least 12 jerry cans (25 litres each) of water and moves from shop to shop, always wearing a smile, the difficult nature of his daily routine notwithstanding.

I see this also in the young bank executive who lives in Kubwa but works in Central Business District and has to be up as early as 5.30am to catch a bus if he must be at work in time. 

These Nigerians all believe in the Nigerian dream; that through hard work, perseverance and determination, they can achieve all they desire to achieve.

The spirit of our people…a reflection of resilience, determination, ingenuity, patience, diligence!

Photo Credits: www.google.com

WELCOME TO THE 'OTHER SIDE' OF ABUJA…

When the name Abuja is mentioned, it elicits images of power, wealth, hardship, governance, e.t.c. There is this general notion that Abuja is a very tough and expensive city, meant for the high and mighty. I remember telling people that I was going to settle in Abuja after my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and at every instance, I was seriously talked out of it.

What can I say? Yes! It is true that Abuja is the seat of power in Nigeria and that the powers that be and make things happen in this country all reside here. It is also true that Abuja could be a tough place to live in and maybe more expensive compared to other cities in the country (especially housing).

The above notion notwithstanding, I would like to introduce to you, another side of Abuja that a lot of people know little or nothing about. I would like to call it the “humane” side of Abuja. A side to Abuja which is beginner friendly, affordable and accommodating, no matter your level in life. I am here to introduce to you, ABUJA SUBURBS!

A lot has been said and written about the metropolitan city of Abuja, but not much about the suburbs. And even the little that has been written about the suburbs, paints the gloomy picture of negativity. Most of what you get to see is how these suburbs lack social amenities, proper planning, poor hygienic conditions, under constant fear of demolition by the housing authorities, to mention but a few. This blog is out to showcase that ‘other side’ of Abuja, to celebrate the sights and sounds of life in Abuja suburbs, to serve as a business guide to existing and prospective business entrepreneurs, proffer information on relatively affordable accommodation in peaceful suburbs to intending settlers/beginners, celebrate the resilience and success stories of persons who have been able to achieve a lot in business and career within these areas, and lots more.

The general notion is that the municipality enjoys more social amenities than the suburbs, but as we take you on this ride, you will discover that, that’s not always the case.

Every suburb tells its own story, radiates its own beauty and uniqueness, and presents it’s own surmountable challenges. There is just ‘something’ which makes every suburb stand out. I have and still live within this special category (wink) and have a lot to share.

I welcome you to excitement, I welcome you to adventure...welcome to ABUJA SUBURBS!

CHEERS!

hat many people do not know about,perhaps a side that a lot of people can relate to,start from ke things happen in this cokvjnkmc xjsjkxklmmjkolkjgtyr6tu8jkl;lmmmhhhhaaasertyuiuioopp[o[p,mnbvcxzasdfggiuyuiiooollllmmmmmnnbb….hktkh………….jktjgtdfkbhiruhyep………..kvgojkopgoghdfgkldhoui…………3jjou……………….jgglgkf………wemnvkjfjlotptm,….ooo…………….g..g.g…kk………………………………….nkhgj………..njhklnjdlkjgsdfkl;jklklyklhjl