June 01, 2010: Yobe (Dudaye, Nangere) - Borno (Marama) - Adamawa (Sankepuo, Ganye)

Drive Time:
Yobe – Borno 3.5hrs
Borno – Adamawa (Yola 3.5hrs. Sankepuo 6hrs)

Today was easily one of the best days on the tour. And it was all about our visit to Sankepuo village in Ganye Local Government Area of Adamawa state.

First, I must say that it was disappointing to get into the state where our ex Vice-President (Alhaji Atiku Abubakar) comes from, and discover that it is not well developed. What has he done for his people? His people echo the same sentiment. Sad, really.

Anyway, we got to Sankepuo village several hours behind schedule but the indigenes waited. And with the welcome we received, you would have thought we brought electricity to the whole village for the first time. We were treated to a song and dance performance by a Women’s group – the Sankepuo Women Micro-Credit Union. And then I was personally presented with a ‘drum’ of pure natural honey, sourced from the village. It was amazing. When our solar lantern gift was presented to the head of the Sankepuo primary healthcare clinic, Jehega Bunu, the women began to ululate loudly and come in turns to hug members of our team. The experience was priceless! All of this was co-ordinated by our friends on ground – Ayal Yohanna of CRUDAN, and Rev. Eliseus Voma.

Before Adamawa, we had been to both Yobe and Borno state.

In Borno state, Mary Muna Madu (staff nurse/midwife) at Marama hospital tells us that the hospital gets electricity supply just once a week, which lasts a maximum of 45 minutes. The hospital improvises with candles, torchlights and hurricane (kerosene) lanterns.

The story is very much the same in Yobe state where the village chief< Alhaji Hassan Adamu, said he would be most grateful to secure many more solar lamps/phone chargers for his people. He says the combination device (light/phone charger) is very useful for attending to the lone patient that is admitted to the clinic (unbelievably, this is a one-bed hospital), and ensuring the clinic head’s phone is always charged and available when he needs to be reached in an emergency. Adama Buba, the female clinic staff is so excited at the prospect of replacing candles with a much stronger and safer light that she can hardly stop smiling. Her boss, Ilyasu Umaru, is no less appreciative. Hmmm, it reminds you how much we take for granted in the urban areas...