27/06/2025
“The Journey of Iyalenuoluwa in a village ”
Iyalenuoluwa had always been a city girl born into the rhythm of buzzing horns, tall buildings, and constant movement. Life in Lagos had shaped her: fast-paced, sharp-witted, and confident. So, when the NYSC posting came and she saw Ibite-Olo, Ezeagu Local Government Area in Enugu State, she thought it was a mistake. She stared at the paper, then laughed. A hollow laugh. This couldn’t be real.
But it was.
Her journey into the village was like stepping into a different universe. The roads were long and winding, bordered by thick trees. Ibite-Olo was quiet—too quiet. There was no traffic, no malls, no suya spots on every corner. Just red earth, scattered houses, and people whose lives were rooted deeply in tradition.
The culture shock hit hard. The language barrier made her feel invisible. She couldn’t even buy food without a mix of sign language and awkward smiles. The power supply was unstable, and the network came and went like an unfaithful lover. Nights were long, lit by touch lights and lamps. The silence, once a luxury, now felt loud.
She was tired.
Drained.
Questioning everything.
“This is not what I imagined for myself,” she would whisper to no one in particular, laying on the mattress her PPA provided for her.
But slowly—very slowly—something began to shift.
The students at the local school,bright-eyed but stubborn, greeted her with joy each morning. “Good morning, Corper. Her name became music in their mouths. Their laughter filled her classroom, even when she had no chalk or lesson plan.
She began to adapt.
In the chaos of it all—the unpredictable days, the uncomfortable nights, the longing for what used to be—she began to grow.
Yes, she was still tired.
Yes, she still missed the city.
Yes, she still counted the days.
But something in her had changed. She began to find strength in simplicity. She laughed more, worried less. She understood that growth sometimes comes in unexpected places.
And even as she prayed daily for the service year to end, she knew a part of her heart would always remain in Ibite-Olo.
Because in the middle of nowhere, Iyalenuoluwa found something.
Herself.
