I’m an NCTJ-qualified journalist based in London who has reported stories in both the UK and Australia. My portfolio showcases a mix of travel writing, lifestyle features, and some of the most memorable stories I’ve worked on — blending my love of exploration with a commitment to impactful storytelling.

Highlights

Stories I have written over the years

Ayo’s Substack •

Sydney or London? The Truth From Someone Who’s Lived Both

London and Sydney are both global metropolises — buzzing with energy, diverse cultures, and, for lack of a better phrase, unreal vibes.It’s no surprise, then, that in London you’ll find clusters of Australians in Clapham, Battersea, and now Hackney. Meanwhile, in Sydney, Brits gather around the ever-popular Bondi Beach. A win-win cultural exchange.As someone who grew up in Hackney, East London and has spent three years living in Sydney, I’ve had a taste of both worlds. Here’s what I think each c...
Daily Mirror •

Seven-year-old girl was given 3 months to live after repeatedly rubbing her legs

A mum whose young daughter was given a devastating cancer diagnosis is in a race against time to save her life.

Nicola Caton's daughter Isla is just seven years old and has been fighting the disease since she was two.

Her family, from Stratford, East London, have been searching all over trying to find the right treatment and clinical trial which would help her, after a doctor gave her just three months to live.

For mum Nicola, this has been five years of seeing her daughter battle the aggress...
Ayo Lana •

Stepping back into the unknown

The unknown is something we say we want to explore but rarely ever do. The thrill of wanting to know is more significant than actually wanting to do it. Venturing into the unknown is no easy feat. We don’t approach the unknown because, simply put, it is scary.


Leaving the comforts you are accustomed to and all you know is a daunting prospect. Whether it be jumping into a new career or trying something out for the first time, the unknown provides no specific answers and rarely the ones you’d e...
MyLondon •

'I visited London's best place to live but I think somewhere else is better'

Everybody thinks where they live is usually the best place to live. It's an opinion steeped in subjectiveness and always will be; it can't be helped. Then, there comes a time when the experts will share their opinions.

The experts, in this case, are The Sunday Times. In its 11th year, it put together another series of the Best Places to Live in the UK and London had six neighbourhoods gracing the list. Hackney was one of them (I found myself smiling) as well as Woolwich and Notting Hill.

At th
Ayo Lana •

Navigating Grief and New Beginnings in Perth

A year in Perth has come to an end, filled with ups and downs.


Diving into the unknown was something I feared but ultimately had to embrace. When you’re travelling, it brings constant doubt which can fester and grow, especially in times of tragedy.


Two weeks before my 30th birthday in August, I received a text informing me that my father had passed away in Nigeria. Anger, shock, and regret engulfed me like waves crashing over rocks. It’s a strange feeling to know your dad is no longer her...
MyLondon •

'I was a basketball player - now I'm a Savile Row tailor making celebs' suits'

Some people in life know instantly what they want to be when they grow up. Others will have different paths till they eventually find what is right for them. Then, you have those who excel in the different things they do and through some unfortunate events, eventually find what they want to do.

That is what 47-year-old Kabiru Abu's life could be described as. The dad-of-two born in Nigeria, moved to London to to continue his IT studies as well as taking exams in project management and business

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