NIGERIA: INFINITE POTENTIAL II

I must take time to apologize to all my readers for being away for so long. It has been a wild goose chase for me to restore my internet connection. Now that I'm back I would like to thank God Almighty for the way technology is helping us achieve more; faster.

Meanwhile, Has anyone heard about the Welcome2Nigeria Project? I'm sure quite a few or none at all. That's a project I'm involved in as one of the media consultants. I will be using this channel to elucidate more on what Welcome2Nigeria Project is all about in due course.

I started a series on Nigeria which i intend to be one avenue to project Nigeria of now and of our dreams. This new year 2008, I'm going to be doing a lot on the Nigerian Image.

Here is the continuation of Nigeria: Infinite Potential

In Abuja, a city founded in the centre of the country in 1974 and made into its capital in 1991, the population is growing ceaselessly. Besides the activity generated by the Transcorp Hilton, Sheraton and Chelsea and other Hotels, the government is also making efforts to entertain foreign visitors and residents in the city. Last November, the capital celebrated its second carnival, which grouped together several of the country's most famous tourist attraction. Among the most spectacular events were a traditional Atilogwu dance and the scintilating gallop of over eight hundred Durbar Horsemen.

The Durbar festival is traditionally held in the cities of Kano and Katsina twice a year - once after the month of Ramadan, and again during the muslim celebration of Ide-el-Kabir (which commemorates Abraham's sacrifice to God of an animal in place of his own son). During the festival, the Emir receives the tribute of his subjects, who fire their rifles as they let out the reins of their embellished steeds for the gallop.

Nigeria also has several nature reserves, though tourist facilites are yet to approaching top-class. One that stands out is Yankari, in Bauchi. The best time to see wild animals is between November and May, when the dry season parches the vegetation. Another interesting reserve with a lovely landscape of green mountains, radically different from the rest of the country, is Mambilla Plateau on the frontier with Cameroon. It offers relaxing vistas of green tea plantations spreading over gently undulating hills. The neighbouring Gashaka-Gumti reserve contains the highest peak in Nigeria, the 2409-metre Chapal Waddi. This region is inhabited by buffalos, monkeys, hippopotami and even gorillas.

Nigeria is a great country of huge potential, and it is sure to leave an indelible mark on anyone who manages to overcome their fear of the unknown, allowing themselves to be drawn along by the hospitality and enormous cultural variety of its people.

NIGERIA: INFINITE POTENTIAL

Now being a Nigerian and living in Nigeria, my perception of the impact Nigeria would have on a foreigner cannot be rightly placed or imagine. As i read through an article by Carlos A. Dominguez on Nigeria, I realized that the best way to paint the Nigerian Picture is to allow a foreigner give a first experience account of his encounter as he arrived Nigeria. He writes:

Nigeria is a place that boosts the adrenalin. If you are on your way to Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, get ready for a full immersion in what they call 'culture shock'. Its population of more than 120 million will make us forget the very notion of solitude. And there are other things we will quickly have to jettison. While you are staying in Nigeria, any thoughts of anonymity will be pure fantasy. It will prove impossible to go unnoticed, walk along a pavement or look in a shop window. Such things do not exist here.

For most of the expatriate colony, life in Lagos consistsd of going from one air conditioned space to another in the shortest time possible, rather like a game of snakes and ladders. The western community lives mainly on the two of the city's islands, Ikoyi and Victoria Island, where there are large numbers of shopping centres, cinemas, European and American restaurants, clubs and discotheques packed with while people. Without leaving the islands, visitors can attend functions at the French Institute, the Goethe Institute, the Polo Club and other institutions which recall Nigeria's colonial past. The pool at the Federal Palace Hotel and the tennic courts of the EKO Meridien are other popular meeting places where Europeans can find a home from home.

Of course, there are many other things to do, see and fee if there is a whill. A good way to begin a submersion in the local culture is to visit Glendora Bookshop in the Falomo Shopping Centre, located on Awolowo Road in Ikoyi. There, shoppers will find books by Nigeria's most famous authors, such as Chinua Achebe, Ben Okri, Wole Soyinka (the winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize for Literature) and Ken Saro Wiwa, or can learn about publications by new writers.

Also on sale are discs by Fela Kuti, the political activist and mythical creator of Afrobeat, as well as by his son Femi (live performances every Sunday at The Shrine in Ikeja) or the masked singer Lagbaja (appearances on the last Friday or every month at Motherlan in Ikeja). Besides Afrobeat, other styles like Juju (King Sunny Ade), High Life and Fuji are sure to delight music lovers. Widespread too are new forms of urban music such as hip-hop and rap.

Nigeria has been consolidating itself in recent years as a great film production centre. Nollywood, as the country's film industry has come to be called, is following the Indian pattern closely, and now produces more than 500 films a year. All are low-budget, but their endlessly twisting plots keep audiences captivated all over the continent.

Nigeria's cultural wealth comes from way back. The country's current territory once lay at the centre of the great African empires, as the terracotta remains of the Nok culture testify. There are 2500-year-old heads to be admired at the National Museum in Onikan, Lagos. The Yoruba bronzes of Ile-Ife, which date from the 7th to 18th centuries, caused stupor and awe when first shown in Europe owing to their superb workmanship, unique in the whole continent.

To be continued...

NEWS FLASH: EMERGENCY ALARM COMMOTION AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TODAY

Men Wetin I take ma eyes see this afternoon, I wan laugh die. But true, its not a laughing matter. Our Distinguished Senator Love life no be small.

Make I cool down yarn una as I take see am.

As usual, I went to check on my friend and check out what was happening at the National Assembly Abuja today. As I was approaching the entrance to the new set of buildings (Senate Wing), I saw what I could only interpret as a 100 metre dash. Only that this time the runners are definitely not dress or prepared for the race and they were made up of distinguished Senators, Honourables and other unidentified persons.

In utter confusion, I breaked and watched as herds of men and women were struggling to outrun each other out of the only entrance and exit doors. See as dem dey tear race. Then it occurred to me that these highly placed movers and shakers of Nigeria could only be running for their dear lives. My instincts kicked in, ah! abi na last weeks fight at the House of Reps 624m contract scam don degenerate to a bigger skirmish!

Now I decided to just keep my distance and observe what is up. After a while I noticed they all stopped outside the building and were looking back into the building, bewildered.

To cut a long story short, there was an emergency alarm that went off. Apparently, as the building is new, the Julius Berger technicians were rounding up their work and carrying out some routine tests on the Emergency, and Fire Alarm Systems which is connected to the Public Announcement system. As they tested the automated emergency announcement, all hell let loose. The automated emergency system with a computerized voice triggered: "Attention, this is announcing a code red emergency, evacuate the building. I repeat, evacuate the building"

As they had ran to safety, One Distinguished Senator asked another what it was. I overheard him answer "I think it was a bomb" then another person said: "no i think that was fire". Then over the P.A. system I heard: "Ladies and Gentlemen, Sorry for the inconvenience. That was a false alarm and the fault has been ratified"

Immediately I realised that I was freely moving around and standing beside these mighty men that on a good day, their aides do not allow anyone approach 5 yards closer to them. But now in the midst of fear and uncertainty everyman is equal. Even in a 100metre dash, agbada no be hinderance! That is Naija for U. Honestly am impressed with this state of the art emergency system.

The President's Son and Microsoft Employee - The son of Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo is a Program Manager at Windows

Just came across this one while doing my usual waka about on the internet.

You want a private one on one with Bill Gates? Well, you have to be the son of a president to get a 15 minutes meeting. This is the case of Dare Obasanjo, Program Manager at Windows Live. As Microsoft accounts for in excess of 70,000 employees worldwide, its bound that there should be some diversity within the workforce. Well, here is a link pointing to a Wikipedia entry on the current Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo (foto), and the father of Dare. Dare got to chat with Bill Gates as Microsoft's co-founder was preparing for a visit in Nigeria. "BillG asked a couple of questions about me and my family such as how long I'd been at Microsoft, where I want to school, if my mom was Stella Obasanjo (she isn't), what my mom did, if I had any siblings back home and so on. I appreciated talking about myself and was put at ease before being asked about Nigeria or my dad," confessed Dare. Dare additionally revealed that Gates' visit to Nigeria was related to the involvement of the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation into Africa and efforts to eradicate polio in Nigeria through vaccination. "We did talk about Microsoft a little. When I mentioned I work for the Windows Live platform group he mentioned that this would be an interesting area to be in over the next few years and commented on a number of Windows Live services such as Windows Live Spaces, Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Mail. He also talked about some of the leadership changes we've had across Windows and Windows Live," also revealed Dare. After the 15 minutes talk was done, while exiting the building, Dare Obasanjo witnessed a conversation the Receptionist was having with a visitor. For your amusement and consideration,
here it is:

Visitor: Where is Bill Gates' office?

Receptionist: I'm not at
liberty to divulge that information.

Visitor: I need to see him, I just
downloaded Windows Vista and I have a number of complaints.

Thought I should share this. Im particularly impressed with Dare Obasanjo's Achievement. He couldn't have gotten the Job because he is the President's Son. Imagine sef, Bill Gates only had fifteen minutes for
him. Try that in Naija. If you fit employ President son na board of director's position Im go get, nothing short.

PUGILIST HONOURABLE LAWMAKERS: IN A SHOW OF SHAME

Today , I went to the National Assembly to see a friend of mine that is a personal staff to a Distinguished Senator of the Republic. Today I had an experience I will never forget.

My friend did not have much to do, so we gisted about opportunities and other things that could emanate from his work place (you know the usual opportunies - contracts, connections, employments, etc. Just comparing notes to see how we can run things.

After business as usual he informed me that today is the hearing for the over (N600m) six hundred million Naira contract scam against the Honourable Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives Hon (Mrs.) Patricia Ette. We decided to head to the Hearing Room 1.

We got there and to my amazement, the whole place is packed full to the brim. Come and see Naija in shapes, sizes even classes too. Interestingly these people all came to this hearing for different reasons. Some came to see that justice is done. Some are sympathisers who think the Lady is being victimized because she is a woman (the first female Speaker in the Federal House of Rep.). There were a load of journalists, cameramen, name it every media house is represented. I think I belong to the category of people that came to witness the hogwash called the legislative arm of the Government pretend as usual.

Just as we got in. We heard the chairman of the panel call up Madam Speaker to come and give her testimony. Immediately one of the honourable members in her group (She came with a group of supporters) Started hailing her with so much alacrity that I wondered if the ocassion was a chieftaincy or turbaning ceremony. Just at the same time the oposition from the other side of the room retorted with Ole! Ole! Ole! meaning thief! thief! theif! And so I watched as was mean't to be a panel of enquiries into the 634 million Naira contract scam against the Honourable Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives that has been a buzz for a while took a different turn when the two factions (supporters of the speaker & the opposing side) engaged in fist fights right in front of the cameras and whoever cares to watch.

The dishonourable acts showcased by the Honourable Members is nothing compared to the much anticipated October 6th Heavyweight Boxing encounter.

I enjoyed the fight! had I known, I could have placed a bet on one of the factions before it all started. Maybe bet on (with) Madam Speaker, I sure say she go remain after the whole tin don blow over. The hearing has been adjourned to a later date.

Like Nollywood would say at the end of every first movie "Watch out for Part II" "Grab Your Copy Now" "To God be the Glory"