School Visit

Children Lining Up For Introductions

In an effort to get out of the city and see a bit more of Nigeria, the team ventured to Minna, the capital of Niger State.  We left Abuja before the sun was up in order to avoid the impending street closures needed for mandatory street cleaning.  The trip lasted about three hours and it took us by Zuma Rock, small villages, booming market places, and the picturesque countryside.  Our ultimate destination was school for the deaf and blind.  The children who attend this school also live there year round.

Upon our arrival, we met the principal and director of the school as well as took a brief look at the exterior of the school.  It was pretty basic.  There two long barrack style rooms, one for the girls and one for the boys.  Lined up were rows of bunk beds.   Each bed had a mosquito net, which is quite important to prevent malaria.  Windows to the dorms were open to welcome the breeze, as there is no air conditioning, heat, or running water for the bathroom.  A few of us brave ladies visited the bathrooms, but believe me, it was out of necessity not curiosity.  We were able to see the classrooms which consisted of wooden benches and desks.

Typical Classroom

The children were delighted to meet us.  They were eager to know where we had come from and why we were visiting.  One little boy immediately made friends with Kim, as he took her hand as she walked.  The teachers asked the older students to help gather the little ones and to ensure they put on their school uniforms.  Then they all lined up in front of the main building.  The principal addressed them to introduce us as well as give a very motivational speech.  He stressed the importance of their studies and education and told them they can achieve anything they aspire to do, that their physical disabilities would not prevent them from realizing their dreams.

Ability in Disability Play

Each member of our team addressed the students, stating our name and what country we were from.  The students were especially fascinated with the teammates from India.  In preparation for our visit, many of us brought pencils, candies, and games for the children.  We passed out the goodies and Kim and Glyn played soccer with them.  A few of the older students put on a play for us, titled “There is Ability in Disability” and then some others did a dance number.  However, the children were most excited in having their picture taken.  They wanted group shots and individual shots which each of us.  They were so excited to be on camera.

Demonstrating Dance Moves

Before we left each of us donated one day of our per diem (about $45) to the school to be used to purchase supplies as needed.  While we have no way of actually knowing how the money will be spent, we hope it will go to improving the lives of these children.

Snap Shots With Some of The Students

More Snap Shots With Some of The Students

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Coffee

While all very different places, what do Barcelona, Beijing, Madrid, Moscow, Paris, Prague, Rome, and Riga all have in common?  One can order a brewed cup of coffee almost anywhere in these cities.  I would even venture to say that they all have their own unique coffee culture whereby tourist and citizens alike are able to find a cozy street front cafe to meet friends, relax, or perhaps read a book.  One can order a cappuccino, an espresso, or a plain ol' Americano to get their daily dose of caffeine.  Not so in Abuja....

While "coffee" is is readily available in here, it is not of the brewed variety.  Those Kenya beans that Starbucks sells have not quite made it to Nigeria.  Instead, there is instant Nescafe single serve packets.  They are usually accompanied by a single serving of evaporated mile and a sugar cube.  It doesn't matter if you are at a hotel, in the office, or at a restaurant, instant coffee is the only choice.

So imagine my surprise when Kate and I went to Lagos over the weekend and went to a coffee shop!  We had brewed coffee and a carrot muffin for breakfast on Saturday.  It was so tasty we ordered a second.  On Sunday we were treated again to the good stuff.  While Abuja does not need a Starbucks or even a McDonalds to invade the restaurant scene, one could make a killing on selling Krups Single Serve Machine, French Presses, or the old school drip or percolating coffee makers!

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Guara Falls—The Great Falls of Nigeria

In between Minna and Abuja, there is a State Park called Guara Falls.  On the way back from Niger State, the team took a detour from the highway to check them out.  We were pleasantly surprised to see a newly paved road--much nicer than the highway I might add, but a little discouraged when a group of men under an umbrella approached our van and asked for 500 Naira each to enter.  As we did not know what to expect or if it was customary to pay such fees, we were a bit skeptical.  However, we reasoned that we pay to enter parks and attractions at home, why should it be any different in Nigeria?  After paying the fee, one of the men hopped in our van, apparently our tour guide.

We continued down the newly paved road and parked when it ended.  There was a nice pavilion where you could have picnic and a paved path to view the falls.  The view was worth the 500 Naira.  The State did a nice job of creating a great overlook whereby visitors could take pictures.  I took a couple of snap shots and then headed back towards the pavilion.  That is when our guide told us that he was there to lead us down to the bottom of the falls.  We took him up on his offer and headed down the path.

 

There were stone stairs leading down to the river bed.  Once we descended, we climbed on large rocks so that we could get a good view of the falls.  The best way I can describe the hike and the landscape, is to compare it to the Billy Goat Trail in Great Falls.  From the bottom, the falls were quite impressive.  After taking in the scenery and relaxing for a bit, we hiked back to the top and headed back.

Guara Falls could definitely be a tourist attraction for those who visit Abuja.  Just make sure to pack a lunch and be careful not to drink too much water…as there are no restrooms

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Faces of Nigeria

One of the most beautiful things in Nigeria is its people.  They are polite, kind, genuine, proud and hardworking.  Each morning they acknowledge you, thoroughly interested in asking about your night.  Whenever you arrive at a store, the hotel desk, or even a taxi, they greet you with a sense of formality and are eager to converse.  They openly answer questions about mundane life in Nigeria such as food, landmarks, local traditions and customs.

This a land of opportunity for any entrepreneur.  New business are sprouting up like weeds.  For example, dry cleaners are popping up in the city to meet the growing demand of business people, food vendors cater the growing population, and stores such Sahad Market draw enormous crowds due to its variety of products.

As a foreigner in a big city, you do not feel threatened or uncomfortable.  You do not see beggars in the street and are not hounded for donations or to make purchases.  There are no cat calls when passing construction sites or unwanted eyes following you as you walk down the street.

Children are well behaved.  Even the littlest ones make it though church with not so much as a peep.  They are cheerful and always smiling. Their eyes are bright with wonder

While Nigeria still has a way to go in terms of development, one thing is sure, its people are determined.

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Where Does Your Chicken Come From?

Glyn told the team about a conversation he had with a local Nigerian woman while at the office last week.  The conversation sparked from Glyn’s observation of free roaming chickens throughout the city.  He asked if these hens and rooster were the source of the roasted foul sold by the street food vendors. The woman replied yes and then asked Glyn where he obtained his chicken, to which he made a joke by stating “from the grocery store."  The woman replied “I feel sorry for you!”

This weekend the team saw first hand where chickens come from in Nigeria.  On the way back from our trip to Niger state, our driver stopped at a local market to purchase chicken and yams.  From the bus, I watched him negotiate with various chicken vendors to pick the best rooster and negotiate a price.  One should note, our driver was shopping for live chicken, not the prepackaged Perdue chicken we buy from Safeway.   For about $10 he purchased a fine looking rooster.

So one may ask, how did our driver get a live rooster back to Abjua?  Easy, he put it in the back of the van.  Lucky for us, it was a separate compartment from our seats, but we still heard it rustling around, as we drove back to the city….  Glyn, as well as the rest of the team, now know exactly where chickens come from.

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It Is Not The Destination, But The Journey

Monolith On The Way To Niger State

This weekend the team was able to get out f the city on a couple of day trips. While both days started early, waking up to see the sunrise was well worth it.

On Saturday, we took a trip west to Niger State.  As we left the Abuja the contrast between the city and the county became clear. As we passed by many small villages and markets, we were afforded a glimpse into the every day life.  The further west we went, the more the buildings and construction gave way to green vegetation including mango, palm, and banana trees. 

Rural Life On The Way To Niger State

We saw women carrying goods on their heads and babies on their backs, men working the fields, and shepherds herding goats and cows.  We passed by markets with fresh fruit, yams, and live chickens.  We spotted traditional Igbo mud huts, primary schools, churches and mosques.  We passed by a huge monolith and contemplated how something to large seems to appear out of no where.  As we drove, I was amazed at how green everything was.  As Nigeria is in a tropical client, located near the equator, it is almost like a jungle.  Our destination was a school for the deaf and the blind.  On our way back to the city, we stopped at Gurara State Park to visit the waterfall.

Oral Polio Vaccination Program

On Sunday we headed to Nasarawa state to participate and observe in an oral polio vaccination program.  Upon exiting the city limit, we began to see the signs of rural life.  The main streets and junctions were bustling with people heading to and from both church and markets.  Upon our arrival, we visited local Secretariat and met the director of the local public health division.  We learned about the program, its successes, and some of the challenges.  We then visited a local palace of tribal elders and were received in their great room.  Once introductions and a warm welcome from our hosts were complete, we broke into smaller teams to go to various churches participate in the vaccination efforts.

While our destinations were ultimately the school and polio vaccination program, the journey was equally enlightening.  It provided unique insight into life outside of the city that i tried to grasp not only in my mind, but with my camera.

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An Evening with Ola at JB’s Bar and Grill

Sunset at JB's

Happy Hour at JB’s.  What a better way to end the day then with good friends, red wine, and a beautiful sunset?  Anick, Iti, Brajesh, Kim and I met our IBM security contact, Ola,  for drinks after work.  He is based in Lagos, but had been working in Abuja for a couple of days.  He arranged for the team to meet this evening at a local watering hole.

We met up thinking we would get a couple of drinks and then head home, but we got way more than expected.  The owner accompanied us at our table and was an excellent host.  He brought a tray full of appetizers to share.  He even went out of his way to accommodate the vegetarian of the group.  As the sun set, the bug lamp was illuminated, and the lizards came out to feast.

We discussed the differences between Lagos and Abuja, the craziness of driving in the city, and other options for Abuja entertainment. It was a great evening.

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