“In all my years of hiking, I’ve never seen a snake and Nigeria is not as insecure as people make it look”
This was Ifeanyi Ukoha (IU) talking about what travelling within Nigeria is like. We got together with him to try and understand his fascination with travelling within Nigeria and how his experiences have changed his outlook.
Ibiene: How did you develop this love for travelling?
IU: When I went to Abuja in 2012, I met a hiking group and discovered that I loved it very much. Now, I live and work in Bayelsa and it just fuels me to see more, do more and experience more. There are places like Bras which is said to have white sandy endless beaches. Other places in the south I look forward to visiting is “Abokin Falls in Cross Rivers state and Gurara Falls.
Ibiene: What has been your biggest challenge with travelling within Nigeria?
IU: My biggest challenges have been the roads. The roads are difficult to ply and there’s always a fear that while stuck on the road, one has to be extra cautious especially places that aren’t very welcoming to non-indegenes.
Ibiene: What motivates you the most?
IU: Life! Life is spontaneous and with an adequate sense of discovery, one is given the ability to have an open mind, meet and know people from different cultures and with a myriad of perspectives. There are people out there with so many alternative ways and mindsets and I want to learn from them.
Ibiene: What goal do you hope to accomplish with exploring Nigeria?
IU: I hope to cause unexpected change. I strongly believe in “Buy Nigeria to grow Nigeria”, promoting Nigeria and strong family values. Nigeria is a county with a rich heritage and creativity and everyone can benefit from that.
Enjoy some of the sites IU has visited and shared with us below.
You can find more of Ifeanyi Ukoha’s travel images on our Instagram