By
Iniobong Udoh
Sometimes when I’m tempted to generalize the Yoruba tribe because of the divide this present government has caused, I pause.
Because truthfully, some of my biggest supporters and the most amazing people I’ve ever met are Yoruba.
Then I just tell myself, it’s not a tribe thing. Maybe it’s a Lagos or individual thing.
Because honestly, some of the kindest, most generous, and most genuine people I’ve ever encountered (even offline) are Yoruba.
When I first started my tech journey, I was using borrowed plug-and-play laptops for months. The first person who believed in me enough to buy me my own laptop was Yoruba.
Through him, I met his amazing wife and family, people who now see me as one of their own. Their home in Ibadan is now mine to visit and stay anytime I’m in town.
When I moved to Lagos, the family that hosted me for over a year (and who have now become my adopted family) are Yoruba.
And funny enough, I met my adopted brother who introduced me to that family right here on Facebook.
When I was going to Ekiti to serve in 2015, I didn’t have the numbers or influence I have now.
I almost got stranded until a Yoruba woman, a total stranger, opened her doors to me and let me spend the night until I could get to camp the next day.
When I visited Ivory Coast for the first time, I didn’t know anyone there. I just made a post on Facebook saying I was in town.
A Yoruba friend reached out, connected me to another Yoruba brother, and that changed everything.
He made sure I was comfortable, treated me like royalty, simply because “a Yoruba friend said his friend was in town.”
During my service year in Ekiti, I had several Yoruba families who took me in like their own.
They gave me rooms in their homes, fed me, gave me money to survive when Gov. Fayose and the school weren’t paying corps members.
Even now, whenever I travel out of Nigeria, many of those who send me money “for miscellaneous” are Yoruba friends.
The first coffee I got in London? From a Yoruba sister.
My first dinner in Manchester? Sponsored by a Yoruba friend.
My mentor is Yoruba.
Many of my closest friends who have become family are Yoruba.
And if I ever needed to borrow ₦10 million today, the first person I’d call is a Yoruba friend.
And here’s my little brag, there’s no Yoruba state I’ll visit that I won’t have a place to stay for free. None.
And yes, I’m bragging. Because that’s how loved and cared for I’ve been by Yoruba people. ❤️
There was even a time I used to think I’d marry a Yoruba man, but it seems some people got on the queue before me and picked all the good ones, leaving just the Yoruba demons behind 😂
Professionally too, many of my gigs, leadership recommendations, and open doors have come from Yoruba people.
Sometimes when I tell my friends, “My elder sister Bukola bought me this shirt,” they look surprised and say, “But that’s a Yoruba name.”
And I’ll just laugh and say, “Yes, she’s my adopted sister.” 😂
Or when I tell them I’m going to see my grandma in Iseyin or my uncle in Ibadan, they’ll be like, “But you’re from Akwa Ibom?” 😂😂😂
I’ve been so blessed by Yoruba people, and I know I’m not the only one.
And to be honest, I’m not one to forget the kindness or goodness of a tribe just because a few loud-mouthed people have allowed themselves to be used as tools of disunity by one person.
So if you think I’ll stop making friends with people from this tribe, no matter how disgruntled I might be with some of them I won’t.
Because I don’t ever want to miss out on the goodness, love, and warmth I’ve already enjoyed from my adopted Yoruba tribe. ❤️
Iniobong Udoh
#techclaritycoach #techwithini
