Eduvision Youth Empowerment Center

When I left Nigeria for South Africa in July, 2009, Eduvision's computer training center was just being completed...we'd signed up our first students & were giving classes on about 10 or so donated PCs...

Since then, the project has grown significantly with the hiring of 4 teachers & the submission of 45+ students per term...we've also added on 2 outside school programs, with children from neighboring government schools receiving free IT classes as well...

Development on the structure continues with the addition of an entire new wing of at least 6 classrooms, with another office, hall & lecture room...expansion is currently underway & commences as sponsorship (funds) allow...

the week before last I went to the project site to review the progress & survey the current development......here's what I found:

signs of progress

 Matthias & friend fiddling with Corel Draw

 Brian Whyte needs IT input...

 selfie

 new students signing up..

students learn on donated computers

 teacher & student

new & existing centers

Pray for Nigeria...

Africa is at once the most romantic & tragic of continents...There are those, nevertheless, who would write universal history & leave out Africa...        --W.E.B. Dubois

Thinking specifically of the first part of the above quote, I've seen this to be true throughout my entire time in Africa & Nigeria is no exception to this adage...I pray for Africa's future...that she will eventually faze out the tragedy & let the romance thrive...

Over the last years Nigerians have had to deal with economic downturn, frustrations in development & the distribution of profit from Nigeria's rich resources, major widespread acts of terrorism by sources known/unknown & suspected throughout the country--particularly in the North--resulting in the loss of thousands of lives...It's amazing how much has transpired during the 4 years I was away...yet none of my friends have changed...they still beam with the same joy, strength, resilience & resolve they did when I last saw them 4 years ago...The character & spirit that is brought out through all their challenges is what I'll always admire about Africa the most...

The other day a few of us had dinner at a hotel in Area 11 that happens to be owned by a retired general & former minister who's also been a friend & supporter of our mission here in Nigeria for more than 15 years...This remarkable man is also a talented author & has penned an autobiography & several economic & political works as well...General Momah was kind enough to give me a signed copy of his latest book titled 'Nigeria Beyond Divorce', which I've since been going through over this long holiday weekend. It's incredibly informative & well put-together. This book covers in detail the history of Nigeria & constitutional structure formed by Nigeria over the last century from the precolonial days till now. With the recent terrorist activities in the North carried out by the Boko Haram group, the election campaign for a new president starting next year & the political climate continuously changing, General Momah implores the people (specifically the government) of Nigeria to reform in anyway necessary to bring the country forward into the next faze of growth & progress that Nigeria deserves...

I'm enjoying it so far...

I'm not sure if there's an online purchase option for this book available (yet), but below is a little resource information on the book, in case anyone here in Africa (or abroad) may want to look into ordering a copy...

Nigeria Beyond Divorce
Published by Safari Books Ltd
ILE ORI DETU
1, Shell Close
Onireke, Ibadan.
e-mail: safarinigeria@gmail.com






I pray for Nigeria's future...I hope you will join me in praying for Nigeria as well...

BIA (Back In Africa)--week 1

Africa. Thundrous energy & vibrant color. Dense brush & intense heat. A love of mine for more than a decade. My hobby. My passion. My home. It's been interesting being back in Africa after 3 years & back in Nigeria after 4...almost immediately in landing I experienced a flood of memories in seeing Abuja again (all good, thankfully, yet stepping back in time always seems awkward)...There's some emotion involved in remembering all that you did, who you did it with, & especially in thinking about what you may have done differently if given the chance to do it again...

On a practical note, I think for the first time in 13 years I had a small culture shock when coming back to Africa...After spending significant time living & working in the U.S. with it's every convenience, development & efficiency, Africa is immediately made to look noticeably the simple 3rd world station it is...You couldn't have 2 worlds more opposite, but I'm also finding similarities in the 2, as Abuja continues to develop...which is another thing I noticed also immediately when arriving on Wednesday: changes in infrastructure & roads, etc. throughout the city as we drove in from the airport, some parts having digressed slightly & a myriad of new structures & improvements were the more apparant..

I wasted no time in diving head first into the culture (although my welcome meal was dinner at an Indian restaurant :P) & within my first 2 days I was here I had:

--witnessed a traditional/cultural/religious event put on by dignitaries & representatives from the Catholic Church here in Abuja...

--drank my first Chapman in 4 years (a traditional Nigerian spin on Soda (pop) with a mix of Sprite/Fanta/Grenadine & a cucumber slice (very important))..

--while being hosted at the home of a dear friend, ate a delicious, fiery meal of Garri (Kasava meal) & vegetable soup with curried chicken...the first bite knocked my socks off, but after that it was like "I'm back" & I ate the whole portion brought to me..thankfully my stomach "remembered" the ol' days & didn't fight me on any of the new-old foods I was giving it to work on....

...not bad for 2 days in...pics follow (low quality due to internet speed (or lack thereof)...