A Village That Lives On Water But Can Barely Get Water Odonla Ilaje, Ondo State

A visit to Odonla, one of the numerous towns spread out along the long Atlantic seaside line of Ilaje, Ondo state with a consolidated extended populace of more than 391,200 individuals in a region of about 1,357km2, will positively open your eyes more extensive to the untold real factors of the tenants of such riverine network. 

Expectedly, fishing is their major monetary distraction and related exercises to such can be considered progressing to be far as your eyes can take your curiorisity. Try not to consider gifting these enthusiastic local people a vehicle, they may not so much welcome it; not on the grounds that they are unreasonable individuals essentially yet the truth of the matter is glaring - vehicles can't proceed onward water. Both the old, youthful and even the females could be seen rowing their kayaks of various sizes for various purposes. 

Before long as you jump on a vessel for a ride into the riverine network, seeing filling stations raised marginally over the water tide would definitely interest you. Chapels, schools, bars and visitor houses are likewise not fantastical. You're utilized to peddlers on the land right? They aren't short of such methods for moving their products and supplies too like Bread, Satchet Water, Bean Cake, fishes and so on starting with one spot then onto the next looking for willing purchasers. Consumable water is exceptionally scant, since the water they live on is now contaminated by oil spillage. They purchase a satchet of water as high as N40 relying upon how cool it is required. They travel for a significant distance looking for usable water on thin kayaks which are helpless before the water downpour relying upon whether it would be delicate on a portentous day or rather fierce. 

Suprisingly, you can't remove anything from them with regards to enterpreneurship aptitudes and a resillient soul against the foundation of their apparently "brutal" condition. One of their darling children, Orioye Benedict Gbayisemore, even won a National MSME Award, an activity from the Office of the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. He was talented a shiny new vehicle and a check of 500,000 naira. 

The Village to Villa example of overcoming adversity of Orioye Benedict, a youthful angler from such far off riverine region is a living declaration that the Nigerian youth can at present endeavor to imitate even in the dim and sad circumstances of life!