Do You Forget Days? Employ Your Phone as a Free Assistant

If you’ve ever lived in Ota or passed through the town, you’ve probably been to, seen or heard of Oja Ota — Ota’s famous traditional market, which holds every five days. There’s something magical about the energy of market day: the buzz of traders calling out deals, the aroma of freshly fried akara, the long queue at kulikuli stands, the bargain banter, and of course, the “customer come o!” anthem that fills the air. But despite how popular Oja Ota is, there’s one problem that even the most seasoned residents face: “When is the next market day?”

I am not joking! This question is as common as asking for the time. And guess what? I’ve asked it more times than I can count. The cycle doesn’t follow the regular 7-day week, so unless you’re actively tracking it, Oja Ota day sneaks up on you like a surprise debit alert.
However, we carry smartphones everywhere, but we’re still forgetting important, repeating things like Oja. Something had to change.

Tech Solution Tip: Set a 5-Day Reminder

Your phone can do more than send WhatsApp messages and play TikTok videos—it can actually help you keep up with the Oja cycle!

You can stay one step ahead by setting a recurring reminder or calendar event that repeats every five days. Even better? Set the reminder for the evening before so you can plan, get cash (you know, the POS might mess up!), and list what you need to buy.

However, this tip is also applicable to other things, according to your particular needs or use cases. Here’s how to set it up on both Android and iOS:

How to Set a 5-Day Market Reminder on Android (Google Calendar)

1. Open the Google Calendar app.
2. Tap the + icon and choose Event.
3. Name it something like “Oja Ota Market Day”.
4. Set the first market date (e.g., if the last one was 25th May, the next is 30th May).
5. Tap on Does not repeat > choose Custom.
6. Set it to repeat every 5 days.
7. Scroll down to Add notification.
   • Set 2 reminders:
     • 1 day before, 8:00 PM (to plan ahead)
     • On the day, 7:00 AM (to take action)
8. Save.

Boom! Now your phone is officially your Oja assistant.

How to Do It on iPhone (Apple Calendar)

1. Open the Calendar app.
2. Tap the + icon to add a new event.
3. Title it “Oja Ota Market Day”.
4. Set the start date to the next known market day.
5. Tap Repeat > select Custom.
6. Choose Every 5 Days.
7. Under Alert, set:
   • Day before at 8:00 PM
   • On the day at 7:00 AM
8. Tap Add to save.

Now you and your iPhone are in sync with Ota’s traditions. No more excuses!

Do you already have a reminder set for Oja Ota or other events? Or did you forget last week, too? Drop your own funny market story in the comments! Perhaps you have seen the kulikuli queue too.