By Desmond Ike-Chima

Over the past couple of years as a journalist and travel YouTuber, I have covered up to seventeen different countries, capturing the beat of bustling cities, sampled their ways of life, and documenting their untold stories.

I find it very amusing how people often go chasing thrills across the globe, but end up overlooking the good stuff right in their own backyard. However, that wasn’t going to be me this time, so upon my brief return to Nigeria, I decided to flip the script and approach in a different manner. All I wanted was to relax and be ‘taken kia rof’ in the voice of Mercy Eke of BBNaija.

And so, last weekend after craving a change that felt nearby, straightforward, and truly invigorating. I decided to pack light, left the chaos of Lagos behind, and boarded the first-class train to Ibadan, a city popularly referred to as one of brown roofs and quiet rebellion. The mission was simply a quest to rediscover home, to feel the pulse of Nigeria beyond the noise.

The Magical First Clas Train Ride from Lagos to Ibadan in Style

The Lagos – Ibadan train isn’t Morocco’s Al Boraq or the TGV trains in France, but for ₦10,000, the first-class cabin offers a surprising blend of comfort and calm which is a rare luxury in Nigeria’s transport ecosystem.

After nearly breaking my neck hopping on three Okadas trying to beat Lagos traffic to the train station I finally made it just three minutes before departure, but once inside the train, the cool air condition hit me right away. I claimed my spot by the window, and after stowing my stuff at the overhead compartment, I then lounged back as if the whole railway belonged to me.

That soft rumble from the engine filled the air. The noiseless but steady clack of wheels over rails turned out surprisingly relaxing. I nodded off for a while until the voice on the PA system announced our first stop: Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti Station, Papalanto.

More than an hour after, when I finally stepped off at Moniya station that evening, I could already feel the unhurried but consistent vibe of Ibadan already renting the air around me.

DAY 2: Eleyele as the Hidden Soul of Ibadan
Folks rarely think Ibadan boasts of a body of water, but that’s where they get it wrong. Eleyele Lake qualifies as one of those under-the-radar spots, hanging around quietly, but pops up to catch you off guard when you least expect it.
The scenery at Eleyele Lake was quit a cinematic discovery.

The complex songs and chirpings of the birds were not only therapeutic; they were soul lifting and left me in Awe. I had those in my heard as the local boat driver kitted me with the life jacket prepping for takeoff from the jetty.

As we sailed halfway across the lake towards the edge of the mangroves, I asked him to stop while I sucked in the view and atmosphere. And I took a moment to appreciate nature as man’s greatest gift from God and it dawned on me that getting immersed or probably absorbed in the study of nature is remedial and soul satisfying.

But while I was still watching the sun dip over the mangroves, listening to the wind whisper across the ripples, then the buzz from a sleek, seven-seater boat sped past, loaded with tourists and laughter. That’s when I learned about the private company that offers luxury boat cruises at the lakeside with fancier boats that are a little more expensive but worth every naira. I made a mental note: Next time, I’m doing this right.

“Ahéré” and The Traditional African Cuisine for Royalties
At the end of my Eleyele adventure, by noon, hunger had clocked in, it was right on time to taste my first meal for the day. So, I hopped into one of Ibadan’s iconic Micra taxis, you know those small, rusty sedans that somehow hold the city together and I headed to a place called “Ahéré”, which is another shocking discovery that changed the rhythm of my Ibadan travel adventure.
Forget get fancy cutlery. This spot on Akala Expressway is rustic, raw, and beautifully authentic. The name “Ahere,” meaning “house on the farm,” fits perfectly. Built entirely from grass, palm leaves, and natural wood, it looks like a time capsule from old Yoruba villages.

They served me a combo of sumptuously delicious potpourri of meal inclusive of, handmade pounded yam with Efo Riro (local vegetable sauce with Iru) laced with Ogunfe (goat meat) and snake meat that tasted like victory.

And for extra encouragement, these guys mesmerized my day with the final blessing, a calabash of palm wine, drawn fresh and served in the old African tradition, the kind that carries the dignity of ancestors and the taste of celebration. Brothers and sisters, I drank it the traditional way, slowly but reflectively.

However, the fact that for under ₦20,000, I had eaten like royalty, laughed like a local, and felt like a man who’d just reconnected with something pure will stay rent free in my head, and I’m definitely doing this again when next I visit.

The Under-₦10,000 Adventures

Ibadan isn’t trying to be Lagos, and that’s the magic. With just ₦10,000 you can stretch your joy while going down memory lane like it happened to me.

At Ventura Mall, I spent the afternoon in the game house, racing virtual cars and losing gracefully to 3D motorbikes. Before that, I ticked off a bucket-list item: Go-karting along Awolowo Road. The karts might not match international standards, but the thrill was just as real.

Then came Suya Rice from Betta Jollof later in the day. The flavour was so smoky it could start a love story. I packed it to go, headed back to the hotel to prepare for Davido’s 5ive Tour concert at Liberty Stadium; an epic way to wrap up my Ibadan adventure later that night.

The 5ive Tour Experience: Lights, Chaos, and Lessons

Let me start by saying this: I’m a Davido fan. But fandom aside, a journalist is got to do his job as it, which is to tell it as it is.
The concert, held on Sunday, November 9th, was pure energy wrapped in confusion. I arrived at 7pm to find total chaos at the gates. The ticketing process was a circus. Online tickets were suddenly invalid, forcing thousands to rush to Shoprite to convert to physical passes. The traffic that followed was Ibadan’s version of Armageddon. Liberty road towards Shoprite was locked for over two hours.

By the time I finally made it in, the crowd was restless. Hours passed. The hype men tried, but agitation grew. When the organizers pushed up-and-coming acts on stage, it backfired. Cans full of sand and water flew from every corner from the agitated crowed who maintained that they specifically came for Davido’s performance. Insults flew louder in the local dialect and I couldn’t stop laughing because they sounded like jokes.

At one point, artistes were literally stoned off stage. Trust Ibadan crowd, they don’t do pretense.

By 1:00am, Dremo Drizzy came up. Then B-Red afterwards followed by Mayorkun, who like a musical paramedic revived the vibe.

Finally, at 2:10 am, Davido stormed the stage in his Yoruba outfit adorning a local fila (cap).
His energy was contagious. His setlist, perfect. But midway through the performance, a minor stampede broke out near the barricades. A young man carrying his girlfriend on his shoulders triggered a wave of chaos when she fell. It could have been avoided with better crowd control which the organizers failed to do.

Still, Davido delivered. For over an hour, he gave Ibadan his all, closing with “With You” featuring Omah Lay, and just before 3:30 am, the crowd roared in satisfaction, forgiving everything that went wrong.

Reflections: The Real Treasure of Travel

As my train rumbled back toward Lagos the next morning, I stared out the window, reminiscing about the irony of it all. I had traveled the world chasing stories, but this one, right here in Ibadan, reminded me of something fundamental:
You don’t have to cross borders to find wonder. Sometimes, it’s just a train ride away.
It’s not the luxury of the destination that makes travel worthwhile; it’s how intentionally you choose to experience it.

So, as Detty December 2025 approaches, remember this: Ibadan isn’t just about brown roofs and Amala. It’s calm, culture, laughter, and stories waiting to be told.

And if you ever need help curating your next adventure, you know where to find me—
walkerdiarystudio@gmail.com DESMOND IKE CHIMA is an award-winning journalist and travel YouTuber with over 11,000 Subscribers on YouTube. A pro travel bucket list curator, and founder of ENigeria Newspaper.