Back home

Been several years since my last post. I had a great adventure during my 2 years in Nigeria. Lots of good things - great work, met some fantastic people and had a lot of fun (like you can only have in Nigeria). Probably wasn’t the best time to be in Nigeria though with the economic decline. But it was a great experience that I am glad that I have.

I’ve been back in the UK for 2.5 years now on a new adventure. So much has happened in that time that it’s hard to decide where to start. I hope to find the time to tell some of the stories - coming home, working as a minority after achieving success in my home country, BLM etc. lots to discuss.

But that’s for another day. 

Going home

So, it has been quite a few years since I posted something here... Funny how easy it is to fall out of the habit (not that I was that prolific previously). In that time, I've had all sorts of adventures, transitions and even had a second child who's now three years old! It remains incredible how it seems like nothing really changes from one day to another but when you fast forward a few years, then the changes are pretty clear!

So, changes... I've seen a lot of changes during the last few years and am about to make a big one myself. I am about to take on a role based in Nigeria focusing on the healthcare sector. It is a pretty big step for me given my family will remain in the UK, but one that I've probably thought I would take around this stage in my career. The opportunity is (I think) obvious - greater opportunity to have an impact, it is an under-served market and it is home. So I am looking forward to it, admittedly with some trepidation (probably need to spend a bundle on flight tickets going back to ma familia). Will share how that goes in the coming months...

Acting President

So, Nigeria's Acting President has finally started acting like one. Having dissolved the ailing President's cabinet, he is making very popular appointments and some would say consolidating his hold on power.



My interest however is in this term Acting President. What does that really mean? Does that mean that the AP is holding fort for the "Real" President? In which case, the AP should only do things that the RP has asked him to do? Does his appointment ever get confirmed? Under what conditions?



On the face of it though, Mr AP is going about his business and starting to give a sense that Nigeria is on the move forward again. He appears to have ditched the 7 point(less) agenda and is making noises of sorting out one thing. He has at least stopped Nigeria being the butt of all jokes. Possibly because he knows he is only "acting" i.e. he only has a fixed term that is not likely to be renewed.



In the end, possibly the problem with Nigeria's leaders is that they don't realise that they are "Acting". We need more Acting Governors, Ministers, Commissioners etc. And maybe if that happened, we would have more people doing their jobs properly.

Getting a new passport

I recently had to obtain a new passport at the Nigeria High Commission in London. I must admit, I was more than a little anxious about visiting the Commission, given my previous experiences there. Lets just say, you wouldn't visit there if you could help it.

Anyway, I arrived at the embassy at about 10am on a Wednesday morning and didn't leave until just past 5pm. During that time, I count being on queues 8 times, had very little information on the process and no sense of how long I would be in the embassy. The one amelioration came when a senior official took time to address the waiting "customers" after a near riot as tempers were frayed.

In the end, I got through the process and will return someday to pick up the renewed passport. My advice - if you plan to visit the Commission for a similar reason - have a good meal, take a second meal along and go expecting to spend the whole day. And maybe it won't be as bad as you expect!

Been a while...

Ok, been 9 months without a post. I suppose blogging is more work than I thought!

So, lots have happened in the time, done a lot of travelling. Seen a number of interesting places and had some good experiences. The one perhaps that I recall without fondness is my Swiss Fondue with a view experience.

So, I was in Zurich last April for a meeting and my team had an idea to go have Swiss fondue for dinner. After making enquiries, we got a recommendation for a restaurant that combined good fondue with a view. So, we piled into what was the largest BMW I had ever seen and head off to the restaurant. After about 15 minutes, the driver announced that we would soon arrive at the train station. Now, no-one had an idea that the restaurant we were headed to in Uetliberg was not accessible by car. We initially thought it was a joke, but sure enough, the driver pulled up in a farm like area and announced that we had to walk through a field to the station. At 8pm, on an April evening, without proper coats.

So, we arrive at the station, but, no trains for the next 25 minutes so we stood outside in the cold without any shields and took a battering. By the time the train arrived, I knew I was in trouble from exposure. But, like a good sport, thought the dinner would make up for the pain. As we arrived at Uetliberg though, there was no restaurant in sight! When we asked the driver for directions, he pointed to the sky (or so we thought). In anycase, turned out we had a 10 minute hike up the mountain on foot, to reach the restaurant!

The actual restaurant was ok and we had cheese and meat fondue. My team was in great spirits and we didn't really mind the journed back. I survived the next day of meetings, the flight back to London to pick my son, and then the overnight flight to Lagos. By the time I got to Lagos, I was a complete wreck and had to stay in bed for 2 days (thank God no SF by then!). Thankfully the hot weather and home cooking helped me back on my feet in no time.

But the irony: I really don't like cheese!

See article on an event we organised recently...

http://nigeriahealthwatch.blogspot.com/2008/10/medical-mission-with-difference.html

The state of Nigerian healthcare

I have just read an article by Mr Simon Kolawole of Thisday newspaper. Truth be told, I am not impressed by either Mr Kolawole's style or the newspaper's editorial rigour but he gave a very clear picture of many people's experience of the Nigerian healthcare system and hopefully ignited debate on the subject. There are very few people who will disagree that the system is in shambles and needs to be overhauled. No better signal of this is required than the fact that political leaders choose to get healthcare outside the country. Contrast that with the US where a Presidential candidate gets flack for owning foreign made cars.

There are several responses to the article that share the personal experiences of readers. In particular, I read of one person's loss of a limb in part because of what appears to be professional neglect and lack of resources. Just makes me wonder why it is so easy in our society to ignore the value of life.

Things just can't continue this way much longer. There has to be a change in the mindset somewhere along the line. People have to demand more and maybe a first step is for the media to mount a campaign on the entire health care system and make it the subject of conversation for the next 6 months to a year. If leaders will not lead in this matter, then maybe they should be led by others. The press can investigate the activities of the ministries and the government departments and make people uncomfortable with their actions. Professional bodies can start to demand more of their members in the quality of service they provide. The legal profession can influence creation of laws that punish the culprits for their failings. Patients can stop accepting bad service and either walk with their feet or be prepared to seek redress.

And I can continue to pursue my goal of transforming healthcare in Nigeria...