I went swimming in Nigeria a few weeks ago.  

Now, Nigeria is generally not on the list of tourist destinations.  We tend not to hear positive things about it.  Mostly in the news we hear about poverty, abductions and, more recently, sectarian violence.  Indeed, while I was there, there was a bombing of a church in the center of the country.  (It should be noted that, at the same time, there was a shooting on a campus in the US.)  Nigeria has been known for years as a haven for Internet and credit card scams.

But I was not there on vacation.  

I was in Lagos at the invitation of a client, Total, to conduct a training program for a group of their managers — the program “Day-to-Day Team Management”.  Normally I would not think of going to Nigeria — too risky.  However, in this case, the culture of the client is very much focused on security and safety and thus I knew that I would be taken care of with great care.  Indeed I was.

The training program took place in Lagos at a small luxury resort hotel and conference center on the island of Ikoyi — one of the upper class and secure areas of Lagos connected to the business district on Victoria island.  It is located in a residential area with restricted access, surrounded by a wall, and with a team of security people.  Very comfortable and with (too much) good food.  That is where I would do my swimming – in the pool.

Let me share with you some of my observations from this brief and very limited visit — my first exposure to Nigeria.

First, about the people who I met and interacted with.  The sampling was limited – participants in the program, other people in the company, the hotel staff, and the people at the airport.  I found them to be friendly, soft spoken, educated, hard working, professional, and competent. My interactions with people left me with a very positive impression.

As for what I saw, I saw a developing country with energy, potential, and a lot of poverty.  In the business districts, there is construction of new office towers and hotels.  Lagos is a major banking center in Africa with several pan-African banks.  (They advertise on CNN.)  Lagos is connected to the world by the underwater fiberoptic Africa loop.  I had good WiFi Internet in the Hotel.

But, I also saw massive poverty and a very stratified society.  The upper class does well.  I saw in passing, expensive houses on the river with docks and boats.  I saw (at a distance) a very large population living in very poor conditions – in slums and shanty towns.  This leads to some thoughts on the nature of the problem that causes instability in countries such as Nigeria (and others).  That will be a topic for another posting.

But, meanwhile, my brief visit to Lagos was but a first exposure to Nigeria.  I was positively impressed by the people who I met and enjoyed working with them.  I look forward to my next visit and to working with another group.

You may not agree with me but,   That is how I see things.

Mark Louis Uhrich

Maisons-Laffitte, France,  9 July 2012

©Copyright Mark Uhrich