COPDEM media training: from Abuja to Anambra — an interesting journey

By Ursula Ibeawuchi

To make it more interesting for you, as you grab your popcorn and a drink, I will highlight some factors that played out as I made an interesting journey by road from Abuja to Anambra State, to attend a Capacity Building Workshop on Journalism, Leadership and Digital Media, organized by Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) and Diaspora Digital Media (DDM).

The distance from Abuja to Awka is approximately 470 km, and the journey typically takes around 7-8 hours by road, depending on traffic and road conditions.

However, I set out by 5:45 A.M from my abode in Newsite Lugbe, FHA Abuja to GUO park in Utako, Abuja. The bus which was scheduled to leave by 6:30 A.M did not leave until 7:30 A.M (an hour later) because the bus manager was still collating names of passengers waiting to be picked up from their Gwagwalada and Kogi parks, which are quite some distance from their main park in Utako Abuja.

Embarking on such an interesting journey by road, there are several transportation companies to choose from. To mention a few are GIG, Peace Mass Transit, ABC Transport, GUO etc. These transport companies operate on this route, offering various bus types and schedules.

However, I chose GUO for its years of safety track record, comfort and efficiency.

Our bus moved and journeyed along Abuja-Kogi Highway, passing through beautiful historical hills and water. The most intriguing part of my journey was the moment we passed through Nigeria’s Confluence Point, which is the point where the Rivers Niger and Benue meet, located in Lokoja, Kogi State.

The Abuja-Kogi Highway is generally in good condition, but through the journey, we encountered some potholes and bad roads especially when we approached Enugu State.

While my journey was enjoyable between Abuja and the stretch of Kogi, the same was not for me when we were passing through Enugu because of the several roads that are not tarred, filled with big potholes.

As with any road trip in Nigeria, it’s essential to exercise caution and be aware of your surroundings, especially at night.

However, I traveled during the day and witnessed no such security threat; I would add that it was by God’s Grace. We passed through so many security check points especially when we got into Anambra State, through it’s suburbs.

There are several rest stops and amenities along the way, including restaurants, fuel stations, and convenience stores.

We made a stop in 2 places, Kogi inter-state park with several eatery points, where I ate a very sumptuous Oha soup, with 2 sizable pieces of meat and 2 wraps of “swallow” (eba and fufu), plus a bottle of chilled water. That served as a nice brunch for me; I was really having fun while eating.

Fufu and soup

Another stop was along Enugu-Anambra borders, where the driver made a stop to buy some ‘Okpa’ (eastern delicacy made from a specie of beans) for himself, and also advised us, his passengers to buy also. I got the answer as to why the driver advised we also buy ‘Okpa’ after when I tasted it. That served as my early dinner.

The journey continued. I was really having fun because GUO is a premium transport, with good leg space, cooling AC and movie onboard.

Finally, our bus arrived in Awka town, at GUO park by 5:45 P.M.

I eventually arrived at our training ground, Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) Villa in Awka, Anambra State after 11 hours (by 6:30 PM), which will be attributed especially to the bad roads we met in Enugu State and some part of Kogi suburbs, as well as the delays we encountered at the parks and filling stations.

My story will not be complete if I do not inform you my beautiful readers that this training which I have journeyed from Abuja to Awka in Anambra State is an all-expense paid trip, with good foods while learning in a conducive environment on Journalism, Leadership and Digital Media with Industry best lecturers.

The training will span for 2 weeks, starting from the 25th of November and to end on the 6th of December, 2024.

May I inform you that before I eventually went to bed in my cozy room, I had a nice late dinner; white rice with the famous Anambra ‘ofe akwu’.

Ursula Ibeawuchi is the COPDEM Chairperson, FCT, Abuja.

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