I'm an NCTJ-qualified journalist who has covered stories in London and Australia. Here, you'll find a snapshot of some of the stories I've written over the years.

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...
Ayo Lana •

Top things I found out while travelling through Western Australia

Well, if you’ve been following along, I’ve travelled the West Coast of Australia and the Outback for a month with my girlfriend.


It was a wonderful and truly magical experience. In terms of things that we did: visited National Parks like Kakadu, snorkelled the Ningaloo Reef and saw turtles as well camped out in free campsites.


In terms of ranking the ones I enjoyed the most of the national park, my rankings would be Kakadu, Kalbarri, and Karijini. However, they are all special in their own...
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 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
MyLondon •

Market trader of 40 years who knows every face on the high street

If you were to walk down Seven Sisters Road and past the Enkel Arms pub you would hear passers-by repeatedly shouting "Hey Keith, how you going mate?" It is no understatement to say that may be one of the most common phrases uttered.

Outside the pub is a market stall run by Keith West. An ever-present figure on the road for the last 40 years, his friendly face and instant charm have seen him selling fruit and veg to Holloway locals that have become like family. Customers walk by, young and old,
mirror •

Amazon-style Wakuda marketplace launched to sell diverse products on one website

A pair of friends have joined forces to launch a website selling products by Black creators.

Nathaniel Wade and Albert Larter decided to go into business together to help showcase items they struggled to find on the high street.

Their online marketplace Wakuda showcases Black creators and a range of different products.

Nathaniel and Albert, both 32, met in primary school with their friendship going from strength to strength as the years go on.

They both excelled in their own field of experti
MyLondon •

Mum and 6 kids living in mouldy 2-bed home so cramped they sleep on the floor

A West London mum and her six kids living in a two-bed house have slammed their housing association for its constant "neglect" of their needs. Sabrina Andrew, 35, a teaching assistant who works 40 hours a week, moved into her home in East Acton in 2010. At the time she only had two children but since then her family has grown.

Sabrina is currently on maternity leave as she takes care of her six-week-old newborn but her living situation has not changed. Sabrina and her family have had to navigat
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
mirror •

'Luxury £1.5m shopping hub' lies abandoned with one shop left six years later

A £1.5m luxury shopping district now lies abandoned with empty buildings, smashed windows and graffiti as locals claim that the plan was always going to fail.

Hackney Walk was paid for by City Hall in the wake of riots in 2011 which caused severe damage to neighbourhoods throughout London.

High-end brands such as Gieves and Hawkes, Zadig and Voltaire, Matches, Present, Nicole Farhi, and Nike all moved in but after opening in 2016, within the next couple of years most of these brands had left.
MyLondon •

'Secret' London village people only find when they can't afford famous neighbour

Peckham, Hackney, and Tottenham are all areas that have seen record development in recent years. Once your neighbourhood has been given the 'up-and-coming' label, it puts it on an upward trajectory where house prices rise, new blocks of flats appear and trendy cafes replace old-school haunts.

But one such place that has gone under the radar is Highams Park in Waltham Forest - and that's how locals like it. The East London neighbourhood is nestled next to its more famous neighbour but the locals
MyLondon •

London café never charging more than £1 for tea & customers queue out the door

London is never in short supply of cafés. You're never too far away from a frothy cappuccino or a bacon sandwich.

Whether it's a greasy spoon or an Insta-worthy spot, there is something for everyone. Then, there are cafés that attract young families, kids and dogs.

That is the case for Humphry's. Located in the beautiful Highams Park, it looks unassuming from the outside with its simple white exterior but on the inside, it is a vibrant café filled with laughter and chatter from people of all a
MyLondon •

Once thriving Roman Road market nearly empty as 'Yuppies' move in

East London is famed for its working-class roots and people getting their hands dirty to make their way up in life. Whether they were slugging it out in Hackney or flogging their goods in Whitechapel, the East End was always associated with poverty and overcrowding. Regardless, people loved it.

That was never more clear than with Bow in East London. To be classified as a 'Cockney' you needed to be born within earshot of St Mary-le-Bow, it was a badge of honour. The likes of Ray Winstone, Danny
MyLondon •

Neighbourhood was 'a dump' but is now so gentrified it looks totally different

Over the last few weeks MyLondon has been visiting some of London's "most gentrified" neighbourhoods to look at the impacts - good and bad - that huge changes to their character are having on the people who live there. This week we visit Hackney Wick...

“Change is a part of life, nothing you can do about it,” says Husein Husein with a smile, leaning back on the sort of old-school blue chair in a café you rarely see anymore. Husein, 52, who is known as H to his customers, has been serving people
National Council for the Training of Journalists •

Community reporter wins award for impactful report on the reality of living in a new London housing estate

New housing developments are the bread and butter for reporters up and down the country.

But for community news reporter Ayokunle Oluwalana, his impactful way of reporting on the realities of living in a new estate in Croydon led him to receive a monthly editorial award by Reach PLC.

The 27-year-old, who works at MyLondon, initially received a press release about a new Pocket Homes development in Hackney.

The development from Pocket Living stood out to Ayokunle. Standing at 6’5” and with the
MyLondon •

I used my last £300 to make bum-shaped candles. 2 years later I've earned £422k

When the pandemic hit Gaby Jones was one of the hundreds of thousands of people who lost their job after the hospitality industry was decimated. Doing some soul searching to find her next career step, it ended up being somewhere a little more external that she drew inspiration from.

The 26-year-old from Chiswick, who had been working in luxury events, had a lightbulb (well, candle) moment. She explained: "My boyfriend and I were sat in Wagamamas in Parsons Green and weren't sure what was next f
MyLondon •

Meet the Londoners who have shunned houses for a life on the water

You wouldn't be wrong to think that owning a house is the dream of many young adults. But as London house prices and rent are ever-increasing, the option of owning property may seem out of reach.

That's why more and more people are choosing to forgo homeownership in search of a different way of life. When you hear 'living on a boat' you might imagine the luxury yachts of the rich and famous that they grace during the summer. The reality is a lot simpler, according to those who live on them.

Ta
mirror •

"I tried a new 'pocket home' no wider than a London Underground tube train"

With land at a premium and house prices spiralling, not to mention the cost of living crisis, many people are trying to find ways to buy their first home that won't break the bank.

To that end, Pocket Living offers affordable homes to first-time buyers at prices at least 20 per cent below market value, but there's a catch.

Their recent 'Pocket Homes' build in Croydon has individual flats that measure 38sqm with a width of just 3.5metres - barely any bigger than a Tube train.

Now, MyLondon Jou
MyLondon •

Boy, 14, stopped and searched by police while play fighting with friends

An East London mum has been left feeling 'heartbroken' after her son was stopped and searched by police and told to lie on the ground after he was 'play fighting' with friends. Jacqueline Dom told MyLondon she was left in shock when her son Kayden, who was on his way to a guitar lesson, texted her saying he was "so scared".

Jackie explained that the 14-year-old told her he and four friends were on the main road outside Stratford Park on Wednesday, May 18 around 4.15pm when he says police on pat
Load More