WINDS OF CHANGE: AIESEC NIGERIA

3..2...1 Countdown to transition... and a new beginning

2007-06-08T17:46:00.000+02:00

It really feels good to be blogging again after a very long time. Guess I have been a bit lazy these past couple of months because of the lack of internet access in the office and there's always so much work to do that there's always something else competing for attention.
Transition is here and we have been at it for the past couple of weeks. In fact our transition agenda runs for ten weeks (pretty long time) cos we want to get it right this time and also get rid of the scrappy tradition that has been in place. It has been fun so far but somewhere along the line, I had a accident and also fell real sick that I had to travel for some urgent medical attention. Am currently writing this from the Coal City of Enugu where am recuperating.
To all those who stood by me during this period through phone calls. sms and... i wish to say a very big 'thank you'. Also to my teammates, Niyi and Kole and Asekun who went thru a lot for me, You guys are the Bomb.

I am going to keep to my word that from now to the end of my term on the 30th of this month, am going to be a regular blogger on this space, sharing both my past and present experiences with you all. Cheers...

PS. remember to check out my blog at http://lifeinnaija.nomadlife.org for my personal posts

One Luv

Abah Kaycee
MCVP ER 06/07

ipm

2007-04-12T18:16:00.000+02:00

New year, new man.

2007-01-08T19:17:00.000+01:00

How many times can people die before their real death? In the past few weeks, I feel like I have resurrected so many times, passing through a deep reflection and reformation process. The Xmas break was exactly the 2 weeks I needed to get myself up again.

Last time I blogged, I guess I was in Kano. So much has happened and I’ll just bring you up to date. I left Kano on Tuesday 19th December after postponing my travel twice in order to do more work with the LC. We had a lot of marketing during that period (quite satisfying), we had a send forth gathering for their 2 trainees and what more? Well, I left the LC as a very broke person because my personal funds ran out and Moyo had to bail me out at the end of the day.

It was a very rough 12-hour travel. One I do not wish to remember and do not hope to relive. Anyway I got to Ilorin around 9pm and had a good time getting myself up again because of the environment. Spent the day quietly and then saw a couple of people and left very early Thursday morning to resume work. Got to the office and met Moyo, Abah and even Tobi! He was around to give me some help as to preparation for NC especially in the area of Agenda. I am so grateful to him because he gave me enough insight to kick start the work properly, and together we’ve come along way now. Now, it was already 21st and I had up till 24th to draft about 10 important documents before I set out for Xmas. 3 LC visit reports, faci applications, MC applications, and many other minor stuff. We had a very serious meeting in which we argued about stuff and how we were supposed to balance our enormous work with the fun we wanted to have bcoz there was a Xmas party that was underway on Saturday. Well, I have learnt now to always do my work first because I completed it only about 60% and did not get to party until Saturday nite when we all went to the club.

On Friday, Lagos LC peeps were here bcoz their LCP had apparently blown the false alarm and we had to entertain them somehow. It was quite noisy and groovy (I guess) at the office though I did not partake apart from sipping a few glasses of liquor (while at work!!). Well, there was Olaolu (LCP Abeokuta), Fisayo (LCP Ife), Sade (LCP Lagos), Asekun (National Project Director), all MC CC members, and Abeokuta and Lagos LC members basically. We had fun at the club and returned to work afterwards. Sunday saw me leaving with my undone jobs and a heavy heart for Xmas to Cotonou where I went for a quiet time with my Mum.

So, there was fun but the MC Xmas party was not what it promised to be. The beach party did not even hold because of miscommunication and lateness, as usual.

Cotonou was what it promised to be. Fun at Xmas and heavy groove and eating at New Year. I had quiet time to do serious planning, reflection and decision making for the coming years. No complex New Year resolutions though, as I just want to be a lot simpler and more understanding. Resolutions have failed me in the past so why set things you cannot honestly achieve? There was also an end of year party organized by the new extension LC in Cotonou. It was hippie fun and u know… well, I’m not gonna tell you what happened there except that it was fun and I was very active there! I have so far met with the LCP Cecile (she is Rwandan by the way, that’s the power of AIESEC!!), The National coordinator and few EB members. They also have a lot of potential for growth and we talked about possible areas of cooperation in the next few months/years being CEED, EAP matching and structural support with getting them their MC status, if possible.

I had to see the dentist too, an ordeal I don’t want to remember and don’t wish to even go for follow up in February.

Well, I have returned to the office. A new man, a new spirit (am typing this stuff for you at 4am as I came to finish up some work) and I have a whole lot of cleaning to do in the house during the day. I hope we can all keep this tempo here. Today was quite cool for me. I got back from Cotonou around 11 am or so and got to work, straight up as there was electricity but hardly had I started than they took it, typically.

Anyway, I have since been able to drop off the rug in the rooms for washing. That rug is a disaster. Got a visit by the ex-LCP of AIESEC PH, Samuel as well as Chuks Etuka with whom I had wonderful conversations about what the future holds for our dear organization. Moyo also showed up and we dropped the rug off at the dry cleaner’s together. He then went to the bank and I again got a visit from Iheanyi, the coordinator of the AIESEC Minna expansion (the expansion I have always dreamt of). He’s full of passion and I hope we can do something big before he leaves school in August. For, now, structures need to be put in place for future growth. I might have to pay a visit there in February to monitor progress.

Then there were 2 trainees who came in with Mosun (Lagos VPER). Xanthie, our good friend from Greece and Marcel from Netherlands. We had nice conversations with Iheanyi before he left first, then Marcel to Yaba (it was funny seeing him board the danfo bus) and Xanthie whom we escorted to the Cyber café, Amsterdam.

Well, got back to the office and there was electricity, did some cool work, got some food to eat outside and got back to the office to some strange stuff. First, I saw a black cat!! It was having a field day with our refuse which has now become legendary and I was so scared chasing it away because it was dark and I kept seeing its shiny eyes before it ran away. Then I just had to get myself ready to sleep alone in the office. Here I am now, woke up when electricity came up and av been trying to get busy.

First, I need to get busy with music tomorrow. There’s no music anywhere as the main computer seems to have crashed. May God grant us Abah on time!!!. And the only system here has stupid music you don’t even wanna hear. I also hope the other guys resume work fast as I cannot stand the loneliness in the office, though it pays off because I can work better and more efficiently.

Anyway, I have to return to sleep now, so I can wake up early enough to clean up the place, browse for a looong time and get even readier with NC preparations.

Ciao,
Happy New Year 2007 in arrears,
Adeniyi.

Am Back..... and Back

2006-12-21T01:05:00.000+01:00

Hi
Am sorry for not having blogged since I started LC visits. I was rather busy (Not saying Niyi was jobless :-p) and didn't have much time to do so. I just came back from the visits yesterday night (2hrs ago) and still feeling very groggy but I promise to do so by tomorrow. Lots of Aproko for the interested and I can see that Niyi has been having a field day in my absence.
Yesterday (20th) was my birthday and am still open to receiving birthday gifts from those that care (hope you do). Here's wishing a Happy Birthday to all my Birthday buddies (Khadijat's sister inclusive). You can read up on how my day was at http://lifeinnaija.nomadlife.org
Cheers and Beers...

Abah

some pics so far

2006-12-18T11:51:00.000+01:00

picture 1(slanted)... My nephew whom i visited in kaduna

Pic 2 (group)... happy people, group picture with AIESEC JOS peops after the LC meeting. the pics wil appear on thier website/
am the last man, at the top most left corner of the page at the back.

cheers.

Adeniyi.

hello guys from kano...i'll send pics 2mrw

2006-12-17T18:11:00.000+01:00

Today is another day. And a good day whenever blogging is involved. Haha, Abah, I’ve finally beat u to it now, right?? Abi connection no dey East again? Or shey dem don kidnap u ni?? These days Niger delta pple no go even sabi whether u b MC or Bangladeshi trainee….easy oh!

Well, Kano is the gist now oh! And u might be wondering why av been so frequent these days here. I’ve had a laptop to myself since I got here, a luxury I did not enjoy elsewhere so I can always gather my thoughts anytime and write a long stuff down. It’s about 8.30am and am still the only one awake in my room (Moyo, u see?? No b only 12 noon I sabi wake up!! When I get work, I know when to do it!) Today should be the most tedious day for me yet. Starting off by 10am at the bank where I have to make some payments to the MC account, hit the market to get some stuff, go see a BOA/Alumni member for some kinda meeting on NC re-strategizing, go see a TN taker for re-raising, meet with the EB again, watch the arsenal match, chat with some people by 5pm and go for the trainees’ send forth by 9pm. Men, lawal ohhhh! Na to ready for war oh!

Already I have done so much work with them and I really feel like I came here earlier or that I could spend much more time with them here. The guys have been amazing personally. I no dey lack food, they’ve been cooperative with my needs (internet mainly) and generally cool sha. Only that I have thoroughly complained about the cold and that I need some sacrificial lamb to be sacrificed to reduce the cold, and that, they’ve still not been able to supply. Seems all the pinks ran away when they heard I was coming….i no know ohhhh! Na only LCP and OGX remain…so, I had to find consolation in blankets, jackets and what have you. I go sha survive!

Lemme take you back a little. When I left jos, I went to kaduna to spend the nite with my brother, his wife and my 2 nephews. Nice day, nice nite, lots to eat and talk about. Finally the kids were all tears when I had to get out checking one of my old time friends in town and even more when I finally took by bag to hit the road. Then kano was next. I slept almost throughout the journey because of a major headache I picked up in jos. And of course, I got somehow missing when I got to kano. Well, it should still be one of my scariest days till now.

When I got to the car park, I got into a bus. Apparently, lilian had told me to enter a cab and I didn’t hear well. I just asked the bus conductor if he were going to “old site” and he nodded (wetin im for do?). So he asked for money at some point in the journey and I asked him how much it was. Then he looked baffled (if I sabi where I dey go, I suppose sabi the fare now…), and I asked him “how much is it to old site?” men, it wasn’t funny. The guy just looked like I had just abused him. He looked at me, looked at a couple of guys in the bus (as if to say “dis na meat”) and took his eyes off. So, I thought men, I don enter my own today oh…. Na like dis my own wan end?? Inside bus??? For kano??? Haba. To make things worse my battery was low, so I couldn’t call lilian or my brother to tell them how to share my assets if anything happened. I just had myself to pity. Nobody could correctly translate what the guy was saying into English for me. The fool sitting near me was one young chap that was just smiling as if, if u no hear Hausa for new millennium, u no dey reign. And I just looked at faces and asked the obviously non-hausa man in the bus what to do. Then he asked the driver (as if im no see me for bus all the while) and told me that they were gonna drop me someplace where I could get a bus to new site, my real destination.

So, truly, all the passengers in the bus alighted and I was even more scared when the guy told me to remain seated. No b drop u say u go drop me?? Why the love now??? Well, to cut it all short, the guys wanted to truly get me a cab but the approach once more convinced me I was about to be sacrificed for the sin of not hearing hausa and entering the wrong bus. They wanted to get to another junction and missed the turning, so they had to enter a couple of inner roads and turned about four times at different junctions to get to the right place. All the while I was thinking ….shit, na d slaughter house dem dey find dey miss road like dis oh!! Only conductor, driver, and the fool, by my side…… so my fears had been justified after all. I was so scared. Really, it’s funny now but look at how many times my life has been threatened since November. 3 times. The first was in Lagos along with 8 other guys at the AIESEC office when a small accident occurred that could have fucked us up. Second was with Abah in the market. That time, it was a train that got stuck some how. And now, this. Guess, I really have to start going to church more often.

Well, that was about it. I finally got the bike that got me home and what happened again before I saw lilian is another story. I’ll save that for another day else I risk calling this headache back. Well, we have done a lot of work.

The following day, Thursday I started the meeting with the EB, then we had to go see their BOA/Alumni member at UBA, from there we went to Diamond bank where the branch MD is also an alumnus. We asked him to join the BOA and he’s considering it. Lilian and co also went to access bank, or was it Cadbury?. All this was for NC marketing Cadbury was positive. And yeah, I forgot. We also dropped a proposal with the branch MD at UBA too. He promised to get back to us and the BOA, Mr. Caleb promised to follow up on our behalf. We were supposed to see the TN taker for their current trainees but we were very late so we had to fix it for the following day.

When we got back, we tried to draft the conference contract of performance document which they will sign today. Yesterday was Friday. Another busy day. I stated off at the cyber café to reply some urgent mails, and then we went to see the TN taker. Very nice intelligent man. These guys are very lucky here. He treated us very well, spoke to us like his peers and gave a lot of insights on how to improve the delivery/quality of exchanges we offer. Obviously, he was speaking out of his own XPs and even vowed to take more trainees once these things could be rectified. Well, they are not stuffs out of our reach and am confident we’ve just re-raised a traineeship, if not 4! Bcoz he’s cool with being Learning partner for ASK.

From there, we went back to the house to finish off our meeting with the EB. 4 EB members were around and we saw a lot of loopholes as well as a lot of points they could capitalize on. Kano has the potential no doubt. They just have to explore it. It was quite motivational and they’re looking for new ways to solve their old problems. I have no doubt they can still do something between now, NC and elections/handover.

After the meeting, we went to see their trainees to invite them for a nite out to mark the send forth. But we couldn’t and we’ve fixed it for Sunday evening. Which means I have to reschedule my journey for Monday, I don’t mind they are nice girls and the kano pple still have work on Sunday. We need to go see some NC venues and have a final meeting to get done. Besides, av still not seen the OCP and I think he’s coming in today.

The dates for NC are being proposed for 20th to 28th of January. We’ve heard about 2-3 schools might be having exams but the best we can do I think is to pray for them it doesn’t hold because these guys cannot do anything earlier than that date. They are already in a tight corner and do not usually resume early, so members no go dey. Apart from that, it gives them more room to plan to deliver a bomb-ass conference. It will be. I will give you more gists after I see the potential venues and we do the NC prep meeting today.

That will be all for now. Am beginning to send very long messages now and am enjoying it. I will leave my personal blog till I get back to ilorin. I’ll try to upload some pics here, I hope it works. If it works, fine if not u will have to cope with picture less blogs. I’ll send pics when I get to ilorin on Monday.

All the best the Gunners against portmouth today. We need to show character and spirit in these trying times.

Alright, it’s 9.15, I neva bath and I get bank to go by 9.30. I better go get ready before lilian gets here ready to chop my …. Off for being late.

Peace. Niyi.

Jos... thanks for the smiles

2006-12-15T12:37:00.000+01:00

They say it’s a lot healthier for us to smile than to frown, right? Well, am all smiles leaving jos and have all reasons to believe that my northern visits were not a mistake afterall.

After I bid a particularly emotional farewell to Abuja, I embarked on the Jos journey. I saw a lot of ambition and desire to succeed in the newly restructured EB of Abuja. They should become members of the network by January and we are all trying our best to ensure that this goal is met now rather than later, in 2008!

I met with prospective members & EB and since they do not have a structured membership yet, it was hard to organize them all in one place..., I even had to reschedule one of my sessions to a later day. But then, I really enjoyed discussing with the members and Khadijat, who is coordinating things there and very motivated to see things happen there. Things will happen….. they have the market, potential membership, BOA, the central government and what more, the unalloyed support of the MC!

Thank you Abuja, for giving my visit a meaning, the care, support, all the food (and beer!!). Thank you KDJ, Taffy, Kemi and all of you nice people. Because of you, Abuja will no doubt live up to our dreams.

Next was Jos. I didn’t know what to expect going there. David was gone to IDC in India and was not yet back as at when I was about to leave Abuja. Ironically, I tried sending him a text which went through and he was actually in lagos waiting for me at the office (we were to go to the north together!) well, the short of it was that I contacted Ruth, the VPER and got things in motion. Announced I was coming and would like to meet EB and LC. Finally got in here, met Dave, got to his room, settled and by the second day I went to browse and got a lot of time to spend there and get a backlog of work done. Thanks chizoba for ur generosity. Next, I went with chizoba to the Glo head office in Jos where I met one of their big supporters, an alumnus of Ilorin LC (Bunmi Abejinrin). She was quite cool, and even taught me one or two tips in good leadership and politicking… haha, yeah!! And not only that, I even got a nice free Glo Polo T-shirt. How better could the day get???

The following day (Sunday) I did the meeting with the EB and got their current state. They’re currently doing quite well, only we identified they had to strengthen their HR and Talent management processes so that they could have a good footing for the next EB. And of course, there was the Chelsea-Arsenal match that was ongoing while we were having the meeting. The draw was a consolation to Chelsea (rather that Arsenal) and I think our boiz did their best away from home to prove they have temperament for big games and can even beat champions without Henry, Gallas, Toure, Rosicky! Always a Gunner!!!

Monday was d-day! I met the LC. Men, see pinks…. I immediately told myself I could as well have my shot at a 30 minute fame, which I tried my best to achieve. I had Deji (VPHR) and Dave (LCP) help me out with Refreshing identity and vision 2010 respectively, while in my traditional fashion, I handled my favourite topic: LC structures and Competency Model (CM). There wasn’t enough time for me to connect the CM with Talent management (very impt for them) as there was a church service that was under way. The peops were already organizing the hall for the service.

We took pics which will appear on their website, afterwards. I chatted with a couple of guys/chicks and got back to Dave’s room.

I said jos has given me renewed zeal in my visits because it’s probably where I have met the largest membership so far. They were quite responsive, and jovial. Beautiful faces who kept me laughing all the time. Man, was I laughing!

In Dave’s room, there were Iyke and Henry, both AIESECers. And u just can’t stay in the room for 15 minutes and not laugh your hearts out, especially when all the 3 are in the room. My trip here was cool. They are far from perfect, but we got a starting place. They play a key role in the North, and with the kinds of discussions I had with people here, both EB and non-EB, I know there is the potential for things to improve drastically.

The time is 6.48am, Tuesday 12th right now. I am hitting off at a laptop owned by one of Dave’s numerous pinks (apparently pinks are the benchmark here…). I hope to post this at some point later in the day. I should leave here latest 10am in the morning after going to a couple of places with Dave. Am heading for Kaduna where I will spend the night in my brother’s house with his family before moving to Kano on Wednesday for my last stop in the north.

Am sorry for posting this very long stuff but I couldn’t resist it. What with the luxury of having a system to use in a long time traveling. I’ve not posted in a while and I dunno when next I’ll be here.

This is str8 from my heart. I am growing. I am developing. I am learning. I cannot explain what’s been going on to me in the last few weeks but what I do know is that I wouldn’t stop at anything to stretch myself to the edge to see my potentials fully developed and explored. I wouldn’t stop at anything to give support and mentorship to those who need and deserve the same kind of opportunities I had to get to this stage.

Thank you Abuja and Jos for the nice times so far. I can only look forward to a better reception, work environment and results in Kano. I know we can do it!

Signing off wiv madd luv, Adeniyi.

C'est moi,mon cheri!

2006-12-12T08:24:00.000+01:00

ok guyz, i know its been a while now that i put anything up.so lemme give u a brief update.
the most important one: chelsea couldn't even beat ARSENAL at home!! so much for the 'blues' lol.
finished up with Lagos LC on wednesday n was involved in their selection interview.it was real kool cos i got to see people who were applying to join AIESEC for the third time.goes to show the worth of what we have that some of our members fail to see (niyi,na ur work be that oh!).

moved on to abeokuta where there was sposed to be an LTS on saturday.discovered on friday nite that all the sessions and outlines for the LTS on my memory stick was corrupt! arrggghhhh!! my first LTS as MCEB must nt flop!so, rushed to the cafe to download some PPT from aiesec.net(thank God for the virtual platform!).was on it till ten pm.then had to edit some the next morning(D-day).it wasn't a train wreck as i imagined it would be.surprisingly, it was kool.we had fun n of course,i couldnt help but speak passionately for EAP!! :-)

left abeokuta on sunday morning afta the all nite party and lotsa palmwine! n now in ibadan(moyo left the same day i gt there).met with the VPP and the ASK director.things nt so rosy asper ASK but they have good plans n i'm sure it will be ok.talking bout plans,having problems with PH LC,especially with them sending an update of the project they r running.has to do with the animosity towards the MC(niyi pls include LC/MC relationship in the agenda for NC).

won't be going to benin from here as planned.spoke with the LCP and they r not ready for MC visiting them yet(due to the skool nt being in session).will go back to the ofice via ilorin.need some good mother cooked meals.ttyl

UP GUNNERS!

Love from Jos!

2006-12-09T12:31:00.000+01:00

am happy that today, i finally have a chance to write something about my experince so far.

well, my fears about going to abuja were immediately diffused when i got a cool welcome by fola and saw khadijat later in the night. we started off with work the following day with about 10 members at the session including about 4 EB members. the following day, we could do much coz of low attendance but we ran another session the folowing day. I left there on friday with a lot of happiness.

1. The EB is now restructured.
2. there were many new pple who wanted to see what AIESEC was like and what is was all about. so, i hope they become members by February.
3. there is motivation and zeal from the EB emmebrs to meet up with membership criteria by january in kano.

and so much more. i will write my report on our newest Lc as soon as i get back to lagos.

for now, i am in Jos. i shld meet with the Eb tomoorw and then with the team leaders and other Lc members on monday preaching the word of alignment and empowerment. i hope things go perfectly.

then i should embark on what shld be my most meorable and tedious journey in the north. the jourbey to kano, host to NC 2006.there's alot of work to be done thereas i have been warned and i guess we are up to it!

well, that will be all for now.
Enjoy the Chelsea-Arsenal match tomorrow.

Luv,Adeniyi

cold!!!!!

2006-12-07T18:50:00.000+01:00

This is unfair. just when am about to leave the cyber cafe... the connection gets better.

well, just to holla...at still in abuja, moving to jos tomorrow.

guys call me, am lonely!!! and the cold is like it was in Poland, can u imagine!!!!

but, am cool

ciao, will talk better maybe tomorrow when in jos

Adeniyi

HOME ALONE!!!

2006-12-05T07:13:00.000+01:00

this is TERRIBLE!!!
I've been in the office all alone since sunday(when niyi left) and it has been pure agony!neva new being alone was going to be so bad!the bonding of this team really has its side effect; working effectively without these guys around is almost impossible.Had to go see my brother and his wife on sunday to keep from going insane!!!!!
LC visits still going on,Moyo is now in Ilorin,Niyi in Abuja n Abah lost somewhere in the east(lol).Should be in Abeokuta myself tomorrow and then on to benin(if i get the LCP on fone,been trying for the past three days to no avail).Should finish up with Lagos today n i have to gt all the LTS material ready for Abeokuta(my first LTS as MC).
EAP is driving me crazy.just been doing a lot of brainstorming(with me myself and i of course!).coming up with new ideas but i dont have anyone to act as 'soundboard' and the other option is having a 'rotten week'.i really must get some real work done today.wonder what i'll use as motivation.................

Homecoming: Going back to the north!!

2006-12-03T01:33:00.001+01:00

This is the day. It is already sunday and i'll have my church service in the bus going to abuja. I am really beginning to have mixed feelings right now about the whole idea of MC visits for quite some reasons.

1. Talking to some LCPs, it really hits off at some of them that the intended cost sharing will affect the negatively especially as many LCs still owe MC dues for the year. the only good thing is that they understand why we are asking for it. am even thinking we had better credit it to their account once we get some finances from elsewhere(if we get!!)
2. Communication has been poor for me, with the LCs am visiting, and i am getting scared that i might get stuck somewhere in the north. may God save me. the only consolation for me is that i have quite a number of friends and family i can always fall back to. but what about the whole essence of the visits?? all the sesions i have day dreamed myself running. all the work??
i leave in a few hours to abuja and am even yet to talk to Khadijat who is the coordinator of that new LC. i spoke to Taiwo (taffy) after several attempts to call khadijat (whose phone was off all the time) and we have arranged something just in case i still do not connect to khadijat b4 getting into abj. well, God be with me.

i expect to have a swell time in Kano especially with pending work for the OC for National Congress. For Jos, am waiting for Dave's arrival from India and Sylvia has just told me there's the possibility of having the visit to zaria too, though in her absence....

Apart from that, am coooool!! had a sweet chat today with one of my dearies after a long tiiime. and thank God we've got electricity now. I have a couple of clothes to iron and get my luggage ready for the journey. not to talk of the bulk of mails i have to send now.. well, if not for internet in the office......

And yes, av gotta scream now!!!!!!!! after all the stick we've been getting in the last few days for losing 3 games in a month, ARSENAL have just yet bounced back. and in grand style at that!
Beating our chronic Derby rivals tottenham is a potential message to our next hosts... did i say c*e*s*a....??
there are many angles to that game though i am now avoiding to discuss games before they are played. just permit me to give these indices: Arsenal might have lost 4 games so far this season, but we have won all the big games that have come our way so far. Out of the top 5 teams that finished last season, we have disgraced Man Utd, Liverpool and now Tottenham with no particular regard for Home/Away.

So, all i can say is...Chelsea beware. the Gooners are back!

Right now am really looking forward to tomorrow's journey and hope i have enough access to the web to give you all the gists of the trips, work and cold winds of the north.

Just a few words before i leave... i have been doing alot of reflection these days and going through people's blogs recently, i noticed the regular trend of people really trying to show their real selves to the world. Letting it all out, so to say. This is quite an official blog for me and i'll keep many personal stuffs to my personal blog..(i know av promised to get it up, i'll do that asap and post the link here!!)

I have just been amazed at how people get to judge others from a distance. People might have a particular view about you but until they really meet you, nobody can ascertain how wonderful we all are individually. Living with my new team mates has taught me alot about the need for endurance, understanding and tolerance.

I have had my normal rounds of irrational behaviour on the team, arguments, shouting etc (and am not the only one!!) but i have learnt now to put myself first in other people's shoes to really understand how they feel and why they react in a particular way. I want it to be the only lesson you've so far learnt if you've not gained anything from all my blogging. it has worked for me and has always given me a different of situations.

Try it, and see how amazing this tool is for personal development.

Signing off.
Luv, Adeniyi.

2006-12-03T01:33:00.000+01:00

Blogging Again!! This time from Awka

2006-12-02T17:34:00.000+01:00

It was hard really waking up this morning cos I was really tired afte the 'groove' last night. Said my byes to Niyi and Xanthie (Mosun left very early) and got to the park just in time to board the bus. I had mixed feelings on my first port of call. I was contemplating whether I should go straight to Enugu or stopover in Awka. It was really a very short journey for me cos I had taken some sleeping tabs and slept virtually all the way. There was a brief stopover somewhere in Umunede so that we could get something to eat. I slept off immediately the bus continued on its journey only to wake up o to the sound of the driver on the mic announcing that awka was the next port of call. I made up my mind there and then and stopped. On getting down, I immediately saw Emeka (LCP), Daniel and DonChiChi (all aiesecers) at the park. It was as if theyknew I was coming and had come to pick me up. We all laughed about it and I ended up straight in a cyber cafe from where am doing this. Actually we are having an LCPs and MCs meeting now and am taking time off to blog. After this, I think I really need to go get myself refreshed cos am feeling really tired. I would be leaving for Enugu tomorrow evening to start the LC visits and also go see a doctor cos I have been feeling rather down of late. Niyi, hope you have a safe trip tommorow. Am already missing the office and the rest of the guys (already feeling homesick [17a]).
Anyway cheers and .... Beers!!!

Kaycee

Started LC visits bt MISSED da PARTY!!!

2006-12-02T08:38:00.000+01:00

too bad i had to miss the party.i went for 'the experience' featuring kirk franklin n the rest of the gang but ended up sleeping all thru cept for when kirk performed(i usually have more fun in the office at nites than this).but i did start LC visits on the first day(thanks to Lagos LC being a few minutes walk from the office!).it really felt awkward at first talking to these guys nt as a fellow member of aiesec per-se but from the position of the MC.I'm glad i started with them first though,cos now i'm all gingered up to take on benin n abeokuta.Abah has travelled.n it's gonna be lonely here in the office cos i gt to leave last n return first.oh well...........

Partying on the eve of LC visits

2006-12-02T01:46:00.000+01:00

whao,
today was quite hectic. woke up so early to use the internet and have been running around since. No rest! As if it wasnt eneough, Abah literarily dragged me to the Galleria to have a nice party before going out on LC visits( he kicks off tomorrow). well, hope he doesnt spend all his precious money before time.... am always available to help with that anyway.

We had Xanthe(an Enugu trainee) and Mosun (lagos VPER/F) in attendance too. Just got back and wanted to post this before the gist gets stale.

Abah takes off tomorrow for his LC visits. and he finally got 5 LCs (unfortunately), because he has to go to Enugu and Nsukka as 2 LCs. Am leaving for abuja on Sunday morning instead of monday as i planned.
there'll be a coool meeting with LCPs tomorrow , so let's hope it turns out fine.

Plus, Arsenal has another deadly match with Tottenham, (May GOD save us!!!)

ok, now am going to sleep. already dozing off.
Adeniyi.

Friday 1st December!!! Start of LC Visitation

2006-12-02T01:45:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was actually the official start of lc visitation. I had been looking forward to it with so much passion, it being one of my first responsiblities outside Lagos in a n official capacity. I dont know where things started going wrong but I guess I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I woke up feeling rather heavy and tired and I realized I had not yet packed my things. The lights had come on jus five minutes before then andby the time I walked into the office, Kole and Niyi were busy hitting away at the keyboards. I realized I still had so much work to do. By the time I finally got my acts together, it was 9am which was rather late to get a bus to Enugu but I decided to give it a try. I ended up not getting a bus and had to return to the office. I felt really bad cos I had made plans already but had not executed them properly. The day wasnt going to be a waste so I decided to go and see a movie, Casino Royale: A Bond Movie which was premiering at the galleria. Things went rather fast but it happened that my date did not show up on time as plaaned and by the time we all got to the galleria (by this time we were four) the tickets for the movie were sold out ( actually, I learnt it sold out around 2pm) We had to resort to playing games at Nu metro the ended up at Cubes. We all really had fun coupled with the fact I met an AIESEC alumni from my school who I had not seen in ages. We just got to the office now and since I am finding it hard to sleep i decided to put this up .Sincerely, the truth is that am also trying to beat Niyi at a second posting cos the minute we walked into 17a, he decided he wanted to blog. Sometimes I really dont understand this his new found love for blogging. Guess its out of the feeling to share with you guys our daily exeriences at 17a and what life is like on the MC. Hope you visit this blog from time to time and dont forget to drop a comment when you feel like.
AIESECERs from PH, Calabar, Enugu, Awka and Nsukka, watch out for me cos am coming fully loaded and prepared for you all.
With Love from 17a
Cheers and have fun this weekend

Kaycee

2006-11-30T23:01:00.000+01:00

Oh shit, abah beat me to it!!>>>
Well, nothing dey happen. welcome to my blog.....

Finally, the moment has come for me.
For the past 6 weeks or so, i have been reflecting alot on my personal life as well as my AIESEC career.
The different turns things have taken could not be better understood unless you were in our shoes.

Since it is my first real blogging experience, am happy to finally put to some use one of my fondest (but least explored) passions: Writing.

Being on the MC has definitely taught me to appreciate alot more of the basic things we ignore in our daily lives. I cherish my subordinates alot more. I want to understand my teammates alot more. I have develped a greater sense towards helping the guys in the grassroots(LCs), things i think i lacked in my time over there.I love my sleep. Most of all,i appreciate how it was at home having food to eat at all times and not having to always fend for yourself.

Apart from that, i have tried to draw myself closer to many of the past guys who have taken this path in the past. They say "the kid who washes his hands clean,dines with the elders". Bringing back our country on track will take alot of devotion from all and sundry. and i think as time goes on the reality will set in that this is a new breed. finding solutions to old problems.

Well, enough of philosophy. At the office, work has been slow but hectic. No light (NEPA, or PHCN cut power as much as 3 times before i could finally lay my hands on this page! The generator is on/off these days. Internet has been restored from 9pm to 9am!! the guys here are jjust awesome. great team!! Abah, always smiling and quiet. Kole, his ever crazy self. clown of the team. Moyo, is the oga who tries to keep a balance btw play and work. But the normal stuffs are not missing. Our usual bouts of argument, searching for food, scouting for visitors... and of course having fun. Going out for a movie or drinking beer.

Watch out at NC for a session on team management and how to create the right atmospheres. GCP from us!!

Am starting my LC visits on monday. It feels like the MC visits by the Director. and seriously, it's a mental thing. i might as well imagine am in a classy plane , when in actual life, am in a night bus or car. While am in abuja, it just feels like i just landed at monrovia, or in south africa. I'll be going to Abuja, Jos, and Kano. Zaria is on holidays and we'll be doing our evaluations either online or at NC in Kano.

Since, it is our team blog, i'll keep alot of my personal stuffs to my personal blog which i shall load and link to this soon.

Hoping to catch you guys again soon. Lots of gist on the way.
Stay tuned.
Adeniyi.

2006-11-30T22:40:00.000+01:00

I am actually posting on this blog in a hurry cos I really want to beat Niyi to it. The blog was set up some weeks back but I guess nobody has had the time to sit down and put something up here despite the fact that we now have internet access in the office. For those of you that do not know me, you can just call me Kaycee and if you feel you want to delve into my personal life, just follow this link to visit my personal blog http://lifeinnaija.nomadlife.orgNot promising you that my life is interesting but... Guess I have to hit the "publish post" button now and pray he has not posted already.
Cheers!!
Be right back

Kaycee