A lot of people I have interacted with assess how much fun they will have on a trip or at a place based on what there is to at that place. The warmth, hospitality or helpfulness of the people is usually secondary to the attractions! I want people to have a good time when they visit my city and I want the World to know that Nigeria is beautiful, vibrant and rich in culture, so I am very passionate about adding new places to the map, verifying the information available on the map and writing quality reviews that let people know what to expect when they visit local businesses in my city.
A lot of people, foreigners and Nigerians alike, believe that there is nothing to do in Abuja! People often say that Abuja is boring or soulless! I actually know several people that travel to Lagos to turn up/party - preferring the Lagos nightlife to Abuja. As a local guide, I know that people that say there is nothing to do in Abuja are just not in the know! I believe that by putting quality information on the map, I’m contributing to a database that helps people get to know Abuja better which will ultimately lead to a more enjoyable experience in Abuja, Nigeria.
The Abuja society is definitely more reserved than the Lagos society as Abuja is a lot closer to conservative Northern Nigeria and because a larger population of Abuja residents are civil servants and professionals in more conservative industries; Lagos is a lot more free-spirited with a larger population of artists, creatives and entrepreneurs. I’m confident people can have as much fun in Abuja (Nigeria in general) as anywhere else in the World if they know what to do, where to go or how to get around! I was born with local guide curiosity so even though I’ve only lived in Abuja about 5 years I’ve been privileged to experience some of the best of Abuja.
Here are my tips for having fun in Abuja:
For Literary or Artsy Folks
The Abuja Literary Society has Open Mic from 7 - 9 pm on the 1st and 2nd Fridays of every month at Transcorp Hilton and Sandralia Hotel respectively. Just ask for the venue/hall of the event from the reception of these hotels and enjoy 2 hours of Abuja’s engaging literary community sharing poems, spoken word pieces, songs etc. The vibe is always great at the open mic with people giving feedback, cracking jokes and inspiring!
The literary community is also one of the warmest social groups in Abuja, it’s an easy place to make friends and feel like part of a community. Other literary events that hold in Abuja are often promoted at the Abuja Literary Society so it’s also a good network to keep you in the loop of things.
For the Active and Outdoor Lovers
There are numerous hiking groups in Abuja that hike/run on fixed schedules, some hike every Saturday but majority hike on alternate Saturdays with smaller groups within these groups running within the city centre during the week. The Abuja Hash House Harriers is the ultimate of the hiking group however and most of the smaller groups actually started off from the hash and still have their members join the hash.
The Abuja Hash House Harriers isn’t a business with a physical location so it isn’t listed on the map, though the hash’s meet up schedule is 2 pm at Durban/River plate Park for a 2:45 pm departure to the hash site. There is a hash/run every other Saturday and special hashes happen occasionally to mark some holidays or celebrations, details of runs can be found on the Abuja Hash House Harriers website and social media pages.
For the Nightlife
There are so many clubs, lounges and bars in Abuja; knowing where is lively and the right time to get there is the difference between a turnt night out and crushing disappointment! If you like to get to bed early, the nightlife may not be for you as most Abuja clubs don’t get going till well past midnight.
From my observation using a Friday night – the Abuja crowd starts off the nightlife at more casual spots like the Junkyard grill, Keje Grill and Beer Barn then move to favourites like Play Lounge, Mosco Underground and the Caribbean Nightclub after midnight! I like sleep so I don’t go out too often but when I do I want to make it count! My best advice to have a fun night out in Abuja is to go out with the right people…for the nightlife, it’s all about the people you go out with!
For the Foodies – A growing list
Nowadays it seems like a new restaurant or café is popping up at every corner and I love it! Besides creating attractions for locals and visitors, these businesses contribute to local communities by providing employment and economic stimuli! I especially love the diverse range of international cuisine now available in Abuja; presently on my list of International Food to eat in Abuja, there is Ivorian, Ethiopian, Mexican, Chinese, Indian, Jamaican, Italian, & Sri Lankan! Creating lists and visiting businesses that catch my eye as they pop up on the map is my new favourite pastime!
Other Attractions – The Innovators
The list of things to do in Abuja is growing! Some less conventional things to do include Kayaking at the National Stadium with Kayak Abuja and Paintballing at Central Park!
It’s always exciting to find out about businesses and organizations doing creative things or introducing something uncommon! Some of the innovators have their best content on their social media pages rather than on the map so those they haven’t reached on social media don’t know what they offer so I make a point to inform businesses I visit to claim their business on the map!
I was going for a simple post for my connect live application but I enjoyed writing this so much it became an elaborate article lol! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this and find the information helpful! I would be super excited to meet anyone visiting Abuja and it would make me happiest if you have a great time in my city/country.
I’d love to learn about your cities and the best things to do if I visit! Please share!
