On the 6th of April 2023, MOYI had the rare fortune of going into the hinterland of Makoko on foot and on canoe, navigating through the hordes of people, with little children forming a large chunk of the populace.

Our first observation was the stench of the atmosphere, it was thick and almost unbearable, yet in less than 30 minutes, it was the least of our thoughts. It was as if our system rebooted and adjusted. Next was the waterways traffic. It was disorganized, at the same time organized. Every paddler had an understanding of how to navigate the brown dirt invested water high way. Oh, and there is no age limit to being a paddler. We saw children as young as 5 years paddling. It was a mixture of wonder, excitement, and sadness. At last, we arrived at the school, our intended destination. It was built on water but now sits on reclaimed land. It was, in essence, a one storey building surrounded by water. It was compact, very amiable, and welcoming children.

As our team and proceeded to each class, I was overwhelmed by the sense of contentment. To this, people, this was their "Ebenezer," and they were proud of it.

Soon, the team from the Lagos Waterways Authority arrived. Their mission..... To donate 200 life jacket to the school. As we watched the officials demonstrate the use of the jacket, we could not miss the bewilderment in the eyes of the children. It said something like this:“we thank you for your kind gesture but we don't really need a life jacket, we can swim to any depth unhindered"

Our visit to Makoko is one that will leave an indelible mark in my heart for the rest of our life. It is one better experience than imagined. It was really an eye-opener. If we are to take one thing away from this trip, it surely must be the appreciation for the life we have, and are blessed with because what I saw in Makoko is ANOTHER LIFE!