01/07/2026
People hear the name Makoko and immediately picture poverty, hardship, and struggle. I wonāt lieāI came here with my own assumptions too. But as I walked through the community, something completely caught me off guard: a supermarket.
It made me stop and think.
Behind every headline and every stereotype are real people trying to build normal lives. Families still wake up every morning to work. Parents still provide for their children. Entrepreneurs still invest in businesses. Customers still shop for food and everyday necessities. Life doesnāt stop because a community is poorāit adapts.
This visit reminded me that we should be careful not to define an entire place by a single label. Every community has challenges, but it also has resilience, ambition, and people doing their best with what they have.
I was worried before coming here because of everything Iād heard. But seeing this changed my perspective. Sometimes the biggest lesson from traveling isnāt what you expect to findāitās what you never expected to see.
What was your first thought when you saw this supermarket? Did it surprise you too? Share your opinion in the comments. Letās have a respectful conversation and learn from each otherās perspectives.
