June 28, 2010: Lagos state (Imope village, Ikosi-Ejirin LCDA)

Today, we undertook a 170km trip to Imope village in Ikosi-Ejirin LCDA of Lagos state. The objective was to install a free solar panel (courtesy of Solar Jooce) in the village, on the condition that it would be the backbone of an income generating micro-business: garri-processing, palm oil processing etc. This community was recommended by the Rural Development Ministry of Lagos state, and two of its officers accompanied us to Imope.

Bam! It turned out to be the MOST challenging journey since Solar Jooce was set up. First, there are only 2 ways to get to this village - via a canoe or walking on a wooden foothpath supported by stilts over water.

The solar panels and heavy duty battery went via canoe, while we took the other route, drove some distance by car and proceeded to walk atop a very long wooden foot path. Mid way walking, part of the shaky bridge broke and three of us found ourselves ankle-deep in water. Luckily we had fallen in a shallow water area. My word, while our local guides traversed this 'bridge' with relative ease (they instinctively knew where the wooden planks had weakened and so avoided those areas), we sweated buckets while envisioning falling headlong into reptile infested waters.

With great relief, we proudly crossed the bridge, both ways, in one piece. It was an invaluable experience.

At Imope, we discovered that the village of 500 inhabitants already had a generator donated to them by the Lagos state government, which they claimed not to use because they could not afford diesel. We asked why they couldn't pool kerosene expenses and apply it to purchasing diesel and they drew a blank.

It was clear that this community hadn't gotten into a productive frame of mind, and simply wanted to be spoon-fed by "Government" or any other willing donor.

It also reinforced our belief that, for a community to inculcate an ownership approach to any project, the solution was definitely not to give them handouts, but to get them to be a partial investor. With their monies invested, no matter how small, they are 110% likely to make the project succeed.

And so, we hoisted our solar panel once more onto the canoe to transport it back to dry land, while we trudged back across the delicately wobbling bridge to catch up with the solar appliance that would arrive at the other side (sea bank).

For Lagos state government, it was back to the drawing board to determine the most appropriate beneficiary for our solar panel donation. Our uncompromising brief is to select a micro-business (or group of micro-businesses), that would make a small contribution towards owning the solar kit, and for whom the kit would be life-changing.

June 25, 2010: HERTZ renews commitment to Solar Jooce

At the end of our 36-state, 17-day expedition across rural areas of Nigeria, many people asked "what next". Good question.

In conjunction with the Lagos state government (on Monday, June 28, 2010), we will be visiting a rural community in the state (Imope village in Ikosi-Ejirin local Council development Area) which has no light at all. We will have 3 objectives:

a) Determine what the solar needs of this 500-strong community are
b) Provide a solar panel that will power an income generating activity or a social service.
c) Select a couple of women who we will train as the solar panel is being installed. At the end of the project, the women will become the 'Community Solar Troubleshooters' who will fix any problems associated with the panels, or commmunicate the problems intelligently to our expert Rural Women Trainer.

Today, HERTZ Country Manager, Christian Chigbundu (pictured above), confirmed HERTZ' commitment to supporting our work long term. The company will be providing the transport to Imope village, and all other subsequent communities we will be working with nationwide. We are most appreciative of this partnership...

Expedition Concluded - The Aftermath

It's Saturday, June 12, 2010 and we're back in Lagos, having flown in from Abuja. We are extremely thankful to our Partners and Sponsors for supporting our 'Solar for the Massses' cause, which saw us driving across Nigeria in 17 gruelling days.

To Nextek Platforms who jumped on board (with little persuasion) to take care of our digital requirements.

To the individuals who took a leap of faith and sponsored solar lamps, especially Alima Atta of SESEMA PR (www.sesema.com) and Reginald Akujobi-Roberts of Diamond Bank.

To the anynmous donors who simply went to our site, sponsored lamps but didn't leave contact details.

To Hertz Rent-a-Car for the Toyota Hilux made available to us from start to finish. The Hilux perfectly suited the rugged terrain we passed through. And the Hertz driver, Femi Yusuf, whose professionalism at all times makes him a big asset to his company.

To Crystal Palace Hotel, owned by Gen. Sam Momah (rtd) - our Patron - & Mrs. Momah, for accommodation and superb hospitality.

To the Christian Rural & Urban Development Association of Nigeria (CRUDAN) for linking us to local contacts in every state. We had asked international organisations and government bodies for a database to help us plan our national itinerary, but met a brick wall. In frustration, we found CRUDAN on the Internet, contacted them two minutes to show time, and they responded swiftly. All thanks go to the organisation's Executive Director, Sam Ishaya and his team of zonal co-ordinators (David Yisa, Ayal Yohanna, Kene Onukwube, Armstrong Tseaa, and Adewale Adeduntan) for making our transition from state to state seamless.

Travel Tips
We thought it might also be useful to share some reflective thoughts. We did learn a few important lessons on the road. It is important to travel light in terms of people and equipment. You don't need a Hollywood/Nollywood production team to get your story together. A team must be able to multi-task.

Technology:
a) a USB modem might be sufficient for your browsing needs, but not for heavy file transfers
b) a Blackberry is useful for GPS functions, mobile email, and work organisation
c) a 12MP camera can come up with great shots. Always have a back-up camera.
d) you need mobile phones from two networks. Usually, one network does better in certain areas than the other network

Personal:
a) Take along bedsheets and pillowcases - you never know where you might be forced to sleep
b) a hand sanitiser is essential because you're constantly touching dirty surfaces
c) disinfectant (Dettol) is also essential as are antibiotics and ibruprofen
d) small towels instead of big ones (which do not dry quickly)
e) cotton clothing (ankara or t-shirts) take a beating and still come out tops
f) Mosquito repellant

Cultural:
a) listen, listen, listen (and observe). Learn a local greeting ahead of your planned visit. It's usually a good ice-breaker.
b) Wear a headscarf? Take off your cap/hat? Ask a local person what's appropriate or else communication may shut down between you and the host community.
c) never refuse a gift even if you won't need it
d) Rural people are far smarter than people think. Don't be patronising.

June 11, 2010: Kwara (Aladi/Gudugba, Ifelodun LGA) - Kogi (Agbadu Bunu, Kabba Bunu LGA) - Nasarawa (Nasarawa Eggon, Nasarawa Eggon LGA) - Abuja

Drive Time
Ilorin (Kwara state) - Aladi/Gudugba 45mins
Aladi/Gudugba - Agbadu Bunu 4hrs
Agbadu Bunu - Nasarawa Eggon 5hrs
Nasaraw Eggon - Abuja 2hrs

We've made it to the finish line. Not a scratch, not a hitch from the start of our 36-state road expedition (May 26, 2010), right to the very end (June 11, 2010). We did a total of 9,309km.

It has been a very humbling and eye-opening experience - meeting with, listening to and sharing ideas with rural and semi-rural communities for the 17 days we have been on the road. Grassroots people are working hard and suffering, and bearing it with dignity. Someone needs to tell their story. Someone needs to teach them how to fish, instead of throwing the odd fish their way.

Today (at stop # 35) we met a farming family hidden away in the heart of Kwara state. Sustaining themselves on home grown crops (guinea corn, cassava, yam, shea nuts, beans etc), they were proof positive that farming is the answer to ending hunger and poverty.

To the head farmer, Oliver Boor (he asked a LOT of intelligent questions about solar), our gift of a combined solar lamp/phone charger solved 4 of their their major problems:
a) Because they do not have electricity, the new solar application would ensure they could now work into the night - with bright light - sacking their produce and pounding (such as cassava and bean pods)
b) the phone charging facility of the lamp would also ensure their phones were permanently charged so that could call the city (Lagos) and negottiate prices for their produce ahead of time
c) Using the solar lamp would mean a huge savings because they would no longer have to buy so much kerosene.
d) For their health, their eyes would be less strained, and they had already made a connection between kerosene fumes and the chesty coughs some of them suffer

We helped them make a link between using solar and enhancing environmental sustainability, underlining the fact that kerosene is a harmful fossil fuel whose fumes contributed to environmental degradation.

Meanwhile, at stop #36 (Nassarawa state), our hearts bled when we saw the work being done by an NGO, the Okphwuo Foundation. Headed by Chief Ajegena, the foundation runs a tedious mobile clinic service, getting around on decrepit motorbikes and having to cross large areas of water just to get to poor communities in need of health services. Mr. Ajegena says a proper mobile light is one of the problems they face - a kerosene lantern is crucial to his job in examining & treating patients in far-flung villages that are not even connected to the national grid. Yet kerosene is so expensive, and the Foundation cannot afford it because villagers are unable to pay for health services, despite medication being heavily discounted. A vicious cycle.

Mr. Ajegena and his wife Cecilia (a volunteer and environmental health officer) were therefore thrilled to receive our solar gift, and we wished we could do so much more. You wonder why there are people making such sacrifices every day of their lives yet no-one seems to be paying attention.

We visited some of Ajegena's patients at the Foundation's site, and were sad to see a young Fulani herdsman, lying half conscious from a serious bout of cerebral malaria. Ajegena was sure the boy would eventually be fine, and told us that malaria and typhoid are the greatest killers in the many communities he travels to.

That gave us an idea - maybe on the next Solar for the Masses regional expedition, we could pack in a whole load of sponsored mosquito nets and give out to people along with solar lamps...

Connectivity

Internet: Glo Mobile works in very unexpected places. It was consistently available throughout Kogi.

Mobile: In Aladi, GLO & MTN work only in patches, and outside the house (a spot a few inches away from the gate)

In Agbadu (Kogi), GLO saved the day. It worked while MTN had no signal at all. However, in other Kogi villages (Oke Bukun, Ayegunle Igun, Odo Ape) MTN & GLO both worked.

In Lokoja (capital of Nasarawa), GLO was again the network that worked.

June 10, 2010: Lagos (Mafoluku. Oshodi LGA) - Ogun (Araromi, Oloke LGA) - Oyo (Isalu, Iseyin LGA) - Kwara

Drive Time
Lagos - Abeokuta (Ogun state) 1.5hrs
Abeokuta - Oloke village (Ogun state) 45mins
Oloke - Iseyin (Oyo state) 1.5hrs

We have done 7,487km to date and at the end of today we would have covered 33 states out of Nigeria's 36 + the Fecderal Capital Territory, Abuja.

After visiting Primary Healthcare centres across 80% of all the states in the Federation, a certain predictability has crept in. You know what to expect. A centre with little or no electricity. And the ever-present lighting substitues such as a kerosene lantern, a local bush lantern, a torch, a candle, and inventive contraptions such as the boxed battery atached to a CD, with light points on the circumference of the CD!

Joined by Loveth Azubuike, our officer in charge of Rural Women Solar Engineers, we set out for a refreshing angle today and we got lucky.

Our first discovery was a traditional borth attendant, Christy Nwachukwu, who works out of a small room, split into two sections by a curtain. At the front end is her chemist where she sells an array of over-the counter-medicines (she's a trained nurse). At the back end of the room lies a narrow bed where Christy delivers women of their babies. The fact that her mini labour room is sometimes lit by a lone candle does not diminish the influx of patients, but Christy tells us the candle factor is always at the back of her mind as an accident waiting to happen.

At the Isalu Maternity Centre (Oyo state), the midwife, Mrs. Titilola, is so excited to receive a solar lamp/phone charger from us. She takes us in to chat with a lady who had had a baby the night before. Mrs. Titilola repeats a recurring comment we've heard along the way - that poor lighting is not only dangerous to the health (kerosene fumes are linked to chest infections), the eyes (bloodshot eyes), but that it has also become increasignly linked to post-natal depression. The new mother agreed that she would sleep and recover better if she didnt have to potter about in the dark when the candle goes out.

The golden find of the day was the Garri maker in Ogun state, Chief F. A. Saliu. This 72-year old man is the Baale (chief) of Araromi (Oloke LGA, Ogun state), yet he still actively works at making garri out of cassava.

Chief Saliu regrets that his eyes have gone bad from years of straining over pans of garri and using a small bush lantern as a light source. He showed us 4 different frying points for processing garri(it is fried in a deep oval pan over firewood), and said the one solar lamp he had just received from us would really light up the processing area for quicker and better output of garri. It would also help in protecting the vision of his younger co-workers.

At the end of our visit, Chief presented us with an ample bag of garri.

June 09, 2010: Ekiti (Araromi-Ekiti, Ijero LGA) - Osun (Molufon) - Lagos

We're into Day 15 of the Solar for the Masses expedition. Our 29th and 30th stops were Ekiti state (Araromi Basic Healthcare Centre in Ijero LGA), and Osun state (Molufon Health Centre in Orolu LGA).

In Osun state, the Oba of Orolu Kingdom, Ifon - His Royal Highness Oba Moruf Magbagbeola Adekunle - took our mission so seriously that he asked three of his high chiefs to escort us to the Molufon centre. One of the chiefs informed us that the threadbare Molufon Health Centre served 3 local governments, meaning that critically ill people often lost their lives during the long trek to the clinic.

In a show of appreciation for our solar lamp gift, the staff of Molufon health centre presented us with several bottles of vitamin supplements.

We spent the night in Lagos

Connectivity:
Internet: Good signal strength from GLO in Ekiti and Osun states
Mobile phone: In Ikoro Ekiti, MTN service was good, while GLO was weak

June 08, 2010: Edo Sate (Ubiaja) – Ondo (Ago Daada) – Ekiti (Ijero)

Drive Time:

Ubiaja – Agodaada 3hrs
Agodaada – Akure 40mins
Akure – Ijero 2hrs

To date, we’ve done 7,675km – from starting point (Abuja) to Ijero in Ekiti state.

As the Solar for the Masses road campaign draws to a close, we still get up each morning wondering what interesting things we might discover.

We got off to a good start today, but it all went pear-shaped at our second stop.

The first port of call (our 27th stop) was the Ubiaja Primary Health Centre (Esan South East local government) in Edo state. The Local Government Chairman, Hon. Andrew Ojiemhenkele, had hand-picked this PHC as being most in need of our solar solution.

The Ubiaja PHC was not much different from much of what we had seen as we criss-crossed Nigeria – old building, worn infrastructure and equipment, archaic lighting methods (kerosene lanterns, torchlights, and candles). The stories were no different either. There were currently no admitted patients in the 8-bed hospital but a baby had been delivered the night before by the Matron, Mrs. Agbogidi, aided by a singular kerosene lantern. Halfway through the delivery, the lantern went out (it was out of kerosene) and they reverted to just one torchlight. We shared a story about how clinics actually delivered babies, aided by light from a mobile phone, thinking we were recounting an extraordinary tale. Turns out we were the ones out of touch with reality.

As usual, we asked to see the lantern, and I must say that this particular one made you wonder if the unit did not house a bunch of ailments all on its own.

The staff shared a joke with us. To underscore the lack of electricity, we were shown a very old radio which we were told was permanently plugged to the electricity socket - in the hope that one day soon, power might be restored to the clinic!

The second stop of the day (Ondo state) turned out to be a not-so-amusing joke. Our guide took us two hours away from Owo/Akure junction, to the Agodaada Community Health Centre (Iju Akure North Local Government Area) - only for us to discover that the clinic had since been abandoned by the staff. Apparently, the community is notorious for its violent clashes (caused by leadership tussles), and the last outbreak had seen members of the community fleeing for their lives, including the clinic staff who had refused to return.

After the merry-go-round, we decided to postpone our donation to Ondo state until a suitable recipient was found, and headed for the next state (Ekiti) where we spent the night.

Connectivity

Internet: Good service from Glo, even in Ijero (Ekiti state) which seems like travelling to the end of the world.
Mobile: Glo & MTN work well in Ubiaja, Akure. No MTN/Glo network in Agodaada. MTN more reliable in Ijero.