Kwara state

Facts: Kwara state is close to Osun state, as well as Jebba. It comprises of several ethnic groups, including Yoruba. Its capital is Ilorin, and the present governor is Governor Bukola Saraki. The spoken languages in the state include English, Yoruba, Labari, Batonun and Nupe/Tapa.
Experience: I went to Ilorin to visit my cousin for her birthday, and spent about five hours on the road from Lagos. We passed through Oyo state, and Osun state, through the following towns and cities, (in no particular order) Ogbomoso (Osun state), Ibadan (Oyo), Iwo, and parts of Ogun state.
There were several towns and quaint villages along the way, and as it was a regular route for transporters, the people were ready to offer several products for sale. Many items like yam tubers, large snails, freshly plucked tomatoes and pepper, ripe banana and plantain bunches, dodo ikire (fried plantain coated in fried pepper stew - really delicious!), fried beancakes (akara), roasted yam slices, and other by products from the farm. Processed products were also offered, like Gala (beef rolls), plantain chips and other packaged products.

To get to Ilorin, I boarded an old peugoet 505 station wagon that took only six passengers. Fortunately for this blog, unfortunately for my body, the car did not have any shock absorbers, so I had a really bump ride to Ilorin, made worse by the fact that by the time we got to our destination, I wanted to ease myself so badly that I didn't even argue with the driver and just found a place to sit while I called my cousin to pick me up.

Ilorin is a beautiful place. Almost all the roads are dualized and there are several sites to visit. There are several lodges, hotels, and motels, but the crown of all in the city is the prestigious five-star Kwara Hotels. It is located near the Government House and Ariya Gardens. There are other places to visit, like Water View, Brunch Cafe (they make the most delicious fried gizzard, garnished with pepper y pepper sauce, and before I start drooling let me move on), Royals (a first class eatery that satisfy your every need. They even have a machine that churns out espresso, coffee, tea, green tea, cappuchino and many other things), Ostrich, and of course the usual Mr Biggs, Tantalizers and Sweet Sensation eateries.

Ilorin has Kwara state Fire Service HQ, a quaint old building, and a museum. There are various mosques and churches that you can attend. For me, I attended the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), and I was hooked. Its a cozy church that is youth- and business-inclined. Its at Tanki.

Weather: They have what they call the "total weather day". It comprises of a lovely morning, a scorching sunny afternoon (I do mean scorching, as the sun was biting my skin. Seriously.), a cool evening, and a rainy night. By the third day, I was thinking that I need to buy sunscreen.

Did I mention the lovely accent they have? I love the flow and undulations and the way they role their vowels around their tongue. Its another way of speaking Yoruba, which is a general language in the city. Then the town is host to the University of Ilorin which has been in existence since the 1970s. There is also an international airport, but is temporarily not functional for international routes, only local flights.

I spent a week in Ilorin and got to see most of the town. Most of the prominent banks have branches there - I saw ETB, GTB (two branches), Intercontinental, Zenith and Oceanic Banks.

I spent one thousand and five hundred naira to trave to Ilorin, and spent seven hundred naira to take a bus back. The journey took five hours back to Lagos.

So if you ever have the chance to visit Ilorin, make sure you have fun like I did!

Abuja

Facts: Abuja is the Federal Capital Territory of the country Nigeria. Its a planned city, because of that, there are many architectural wonders created to blow your mind. There are a few natural wonders, like Zuma rock.

Experience: I visited a lot of places during my stay in Abuja. The best time to see the architectural wonders is at night, when they are illuminated. There was the Unity Fountain, which has extensions named after every state in Nigeria. There is the CBN building, which looks so lovely with the inner illumination and the naira signs on the side. There are many parks that you could just go to and stroll round, parks like Millenium park, among others. Abuja is a structured city, so there are lots and lots of eateries to visit, and clubs to go to. Ceddi Plaza is a lot like Silverbird Galleria - top floor = cinema rooms and eatery, second floor = stores, of books, clothes and other goods, and ground floor = other stores, and parking space.
Then lets not forget to mention Sahad stores, who still is the one stop shop for everything food, undies, toiletries, clothes, native material, baby needs, cosmetics - just name it!
I had a lovely time in Abuja, visited several areas - Garki (the main business district), Maitama, Kubwa, Wuye, Wuse, Wuse II, Berger, and Jabbi.

If you are ever in Abuja for a stretch, (and you can afford to give yourself a magnificent treat) try Transcorp Hilton Hotel, or if you are on a budget, try Reiz Continental Hotel. If you are on a less flexible budget, try Peace Haven hotel (for a more reasonable price, you get internet facility, and a pool to swim in along with your normal package).

Make sure you also visit Blakes, a restaurant plus fun bar, which host the most shows in Abuja - almost every month you'll find a collection of Nigerian stars coming to perform.

So, come and have fun!