Being a travel blogger sounds interesting. Traveling is something I love doing. I love exploring new places. If not for work and other activities, I don't mind spending every day on the road just seeing how beautiful the world is and how fast technology is driving us to the future.
The recent journey I took was to Keffi, one of the local governments in my state. My very good friend Ella was writing her final examination for year four in the University (it is popularly known as sign out)
She insisted I go over to celebrate with her and I had no option rather than to do so because I was not opportune to go for her matriculation, missing this one would not be nice of me.
That day, I woke up very early and started preparing. By 9:00 Am, I was already by the road. I didn't go to the park because of their high transportation charge and the delay in getting the car loaded.
I was so lucky, I didn't even spend upto 15 minutes and I got a car, we bargained with the driver and we ended at a fair price.
It's been a while since I traveled out of my place. I was surprised with the way the road has changed, there is now this beautiful checkpoint around Garaku.
The way the place was designed and properly arranged got me in awe, it's just like one of those international checkpoints. For the first time, I thought I was in Abuja, while I was in my state. But there were no security agencies there. I was wondering why they made such a sweet checkpoint and nobody was there.
The journey was fast because of the double lane we now have, and within a short period of time, we arrived at Keffi. When I alighted, I put a call through to her but she didn't pick up.
So, I crossed the road to the university gate and stood under a tree. I know that she was probably in the examination hall.
While I was still standing there, a convoy came out from the school with a siren and stood around the entrance, just some distance away. At first, I thought it was the vice chancellor of the school going out but I was amazed when I saw students in the car, some wearing white packet shirts, others White t-shirts with different writings with pens on them, they were shouting and throwing money around.
The people standing around with other students ran in that direction and kept picking up the money until the boys stopped throwing the money and moved. I was like "Wow, money is good," those guys were young. I got moved by the event.
There were a lot of students around doing different things, but a majority were just snapping their portraits. You could see the joy on their faces.
It was then I realized I was missing something, almost all the people I saw who came to celebrate with their loved ones either held a portrait, bouquet, or wine, and I on the other hand held nothing. But I managed to encourage myself and I put myself together.
While still thinking about how to go about it, Ella's call came in, she directed me to the place where she was and I took a ride inside.
Nasarawa State University Keffi is really big and beautiful. I only used to hear about it from people and see the gate whenever I was traveling but that day, I entered inside.
That school is big, It's just the kind of environment I love, very perfect for those who love to trek like me.
When I and Ella met, she hugged me and introduced me to her friends. After that, she handed over a pen to me and I wrote on her white t-shirt. (That's the signing out) I also did likewise to her friends then we snapped pictures on her phone.
this picture is mine
The place was so crowded, students were just showing off, spraying money everywhere, bathing with expensive wines, and doing all sorts of funny things. It was a moment to remember.
The school authority told them not to make the environment too noisy so they brought a DJ and made him play music outside the gate.
After all the pictures, she said she wanted to dance, that we should go outside the school where the DJ was playing music. It was on our way I asked out of curiosity if those guys I saw in convoy were senator's kids. She laughed at me and said, "That's how it's done there, the boys hired those cars to celebrate." It was then, that I got some air in my spirit, but I still got motivated to work hard though.
At the gate, several students were there, dancing, some soaked with water and painted with colors like crazy people. It was that day I saw people selling bundles of naira notes, there's nothing you won't see in Nigeria.
After the dance, one of our friends too came to see her. She came with her boyfriend who offered to take them out. So, I excused them and used that avenue to visit a few friends around then I returned home.
What needs to be changed
I was so pleased with the experience that day, there was no cultist clash and no fights, it was such a peaceful event however, those students who hired cars to show off were driving recklessly even within the school environment.
I was not so happy with that, they could hit someone or even have an accident and lose their lives in the process. What gain will it be to celebrate your final examination and then die in the process? It doesn't make sense. I wish the school authority would take measures on that, preventing any form of reckless driving within the school during sign-out events.
