KALGO-ALGO: The Unforgotten Town of A Youth Corp Member

Rasaki Salawu

Never will Kalgo, a town situated between  two other important towns (Jega and Birnin Kebbi) in Kebbi, be forgotten by me. It was the place where I served the nation under the NYSC Scheme from March 8, 2011 to February 16, 2012. During the course of my serving, I found a new home amidst the hospitable people of Kalgo. 

They readily became my brothers, sisters and parents. Time rapidly flew by and soon it was time for me to say goodbye. My friends (most of them children) came to bid me farewell. I cannot forget those last moments in Kalgo. We joked, played games, took pictures and ate from morning till around 12pm when I announced that I wanted to go prepare for my homeward journey.

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed. Utter silenced prevailed for some seconds and then they started crying. I was moved to tears and tried fruitlessly to prevent myself from crying. Flashbacks of the moments we have shared together kept coming and I started missing those moments right from there.

After some 20 minutes of shedding tears and reflecting on those times spent together, the Kids prayed for me in turns. I could feel the sincerity in their prayers. I left Kalgo on the 19th of February but I know I left a part of me behind because I cannot help but think of my loved ones in Kalgo. From there I understood that there exists a brotherhood that transcends blood relationship and I pray that God will facilitate my meeting with my Parents, Brothers and Sisters in Kalgo once again.  

Mr Bello, Mr Labaran, Alhaji Idris, Mallam Munir, Mallam Muktar, mallam Hayatu (Koko specialist), Babangida Usman, Al-Mayahu, Idris Muhawiyyah, Abubakar, Babangida dan Agaji.... My students- Ghadaffi, Zango, Musa(Baba Mutum), Hudhaifa, Aminu, Kasimu, Asma'u Bello, Idris Hussainat, Hassana, Idris Zara'u, Bello Zara'u, Hussei Adamu.  My Children- Bashar Bello, Hauwa'u, Nasir, Abubakar, Fatima(Keremi), Fatima( Fulani special missing- cried the most), Balkiz, Hafsat, Abba Gara, AbdRahman Idris, Mudathir Dan Kamba(disturbs me a lot), Yusha'u, Halima (Baby), Aliyu, Usman. The list is endless

Note: This piece is an account given by  Rasaki  Salawu, a Youth Corp Member in 2011.