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How We Spent 36 Years In Nigeria With 10-Day Visas — American Tourist Narrates

Published

2 months ago

September 5, 2024

Admin

Two American tourists, Liza Gatsby, and Peter Jenkins, have recounted what led them to spend over 36 years in Nigeria instead of the 10-day transit visas that were approved for them in 1988.

The two tourists made the revelation in an interview with a content creator, David Nkwa, monitored by Punch on Wednesday.

According to them, they never planned to stay in Nigeria beyond their approved days of visitation until they saw the need to save drill monkeys in the country because they were impressed by the dominance of interesting opportunities in areas of Science and Wildlife Conservation, the roads, the hospitality of Nigerians and the living condition that appeared better compared to America in those days.

“I’ll tell you what I like about Nigerians. Okay, that’s what makes Nigeria different from every other country in Africa. They would say ‘hey! Oyinbo, come in na, sit down, make we talk. Make I go buy you drink.’ That is the difference between Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

“There were a lot of interesting opportunities in areas of Science and Wildlife Conservation that we became involved in, and we’re still here 36 years later. We arrived with a 10-day transit visa, and we have been here for 36 years.

“We founded a nonprofit organisation called Pandas that ranches monkey drills in Bano and Calabar in Cross River State. I don’t think that one species is more important than another, just like I don’t think that human beings are more important than drills or elephants are more important than whales; I think we are all of equal value, and the drill is a scarce species, it’s one of the rarest animals in Africa and it’s one of those animals you never thought you would even see when we were traveling across Africa, you know I had my Wildlife Field Guide and you look at the pictures,” Gatsby, one of the tourists said.

Speaking on why Calabar was their place of choice, Jenkins said they had done their research and that aside from Cameroon, Calabar was another place for monkey drills, stressing that no scientist or tourist had discovered that those animals were living there until 1987 when they consulted the local people in the community and got funding to make it habitable while conserving the rare species of Monkeys and other animals including girafees.

Jenkins added, “I love Nigeria, this is a great place. Come and live in Calabar and be at rest.When we got here, the population of Nigeria in the early ’90s and the late ’80s was around 65 million.

“The amount of natural resources that were still intact was extraordinary, and the density of wildlife generally in the forest was better compared to today. In fact, it’s appallingly low now, but in those days, this was a wonderful place to do research. Communities were very welcoming in those days; life was cheap; here, diesel, which is what our Land Rover ran on, was 35 Kobo, and with 29 kobo to the market, you would come back with two heavy bags with change in the pocket.

“We were comfortable and found Nigeria habitable. It was the best value country on this continent by far. The food was cheap, the road was perfect. There was no gallop deeper than a bottle cap.”

Meanwhile, Gabsty identified the lack of patriotism as the challenge facing many Nigerians while berating the growing negligence of the country’s culture, heritage, identity, music, traditional herbs, and healing.

“Nigerians don’t have pride in Nigeria’s natural heritage. I think that’s a big issue because that’s what it takes to try to make a difference. People don’t take pride in their cultural identity, language, traditional herbs, and healing.

“There was this huge wealth of knowledge when we came here on traditional healing and herbs from the forest, and that was another thing that put value on the natural resources here, but which of these old herbalists have an apprentice who is learning from them and when these old guys are gone, all that knowledge is going to be lost?

“You go to the market now; we see herbal teas and herbal cures imported from China. How do we know that those things work? What’s wrong with our traditional ones here?” She queried.

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Bread and butter activists: Wike not available for such adult delinquents-Olayinka slams Adeyanju

Published

46 minutes ago

November 16, 2024

Naijablitznews

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reiterated that the Minister will not give attention to “professional scammers and hustlers” who are masquerading as activists.

In a statement on Saturday, the Spokesperson to the FCT Minister said most of those jumping from one social media platform to another to speak against the FCT Minister were doing so because he ignored them and is making the “Yahoo Yahoo” antics through which they have sustained themselves to fail.

He said; “While growing up as a child in the hilly town of Okemesi Ekiti, one of the lessons I learned from my grandfather was never to wrestle with pigs. He was constantly telling us that the danger of wrestling with a pig will be that at the end of the fight, sane minds won’t be able to differentiate between you and the pig you fought with.

Therefore, as a matter of principle, we won’t dignify some people with any response.

“This is more so that we know how a certain emergency activist diverted election money to purchase a petrol station. We know how some so-called activists have fought themselves over protest money, including the one in 2019.

News

AFCON 2025Q: Eguavoen excuses bereaved Nwabali from Amavubi clash

Published

4 hours ago

November 16, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Super Eagles caretaker coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has excused Stanley Nwabali from the team’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Rwanda

The Chippa United lost his father on Friday morning.

The former surveyor died at the age of 67.

“He (Nwabali) has been excused from the game. However, the player will come to watch the match and cheer his team mates on,” team administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, told thenff.com.

Eguavoen now has two goalkeepers, Maduka Okoye and Amas Obasogie available for the game.

The Super Eagles will host the Rwandans at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Monday.

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Gov Okpebholo Makes Six Fresh Appointments In Edo

Published

4 hours ago

November 16, 2024

Naijablitznews

The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved the appointment of six more persons to serve in various capacities in his government.

Those appointed include Dr. Emmanuel Paddy lyamu as the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB); Lucky Enehita-Inegbenehi as the Managing Director of the State Waste Management Board; and CP Friday Ibadin, Rtd, State Corps Commander, Edo State Security Corps Governance.

Others are Stainless M.I. Ijeghede as the Managing Director, Edo State Traffic Management Agency, (EDSTMA); Sir (Dr.) Lucky Eseigbe, as Managing Director, Edo State Public Building and Maintenance Agency; and Engr. Emmanuel Ehidiamen Okoebor, as Hon. Commissioner of Finance-designate.

In a statement on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, made available to newsmen in Benin City, he said the six appointments take effect from November 15, 2024.

Dr. Iyamu holds a Bachelor of Science and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Benin. He is also a holder of Doctor of Science in Petroleum Resources from the European American University.

Iyamu is a strategic leader and renowned expert in security, business administration, human resources. An alumnus of Oxford University (Said Business School), he holds a Professional Doctorate in Leadership and Management from City University of Paris.

With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Iyamu has excelled across the banking, oil, and gas sectors, significantly improving corporate security and crisis management operations.

Until his appointment, Dr. Iyamu was the Chief Executive Oficer of Gabbem Integrated Services Lid, a leading company specialized in marine equipment and services.

Similarly, the second appointee Enehita-Inegbenehi obtained his B.Sc. (Human Resource d M.Sc. in Strategic Leadership and Governance from the University of Cape Coast respectively.

He is a dynamic and result-oriented professional, with an extensive experience in leadership and human resource management. He has proven abilities to analyze complex issues, develop effective strategies and guide teams towards success while fostering professional growth.

Inegbenehi was the Chief Executive Officer of JEI Visions Iron Metals, JEI Visions Service Apartments as well as JEI Visions Cleaning Services.

The third appointee CP Ibadan worked and retiredY from the Nigeria Police after a meritorious 35 years of service. He was one of the 11 officers seconded to the United Nations Mission in Kosovo and was a regional officer in the Headquarters.

He has attended various security courses in Egypt, France, USA among others. CP Friday Obadin holds the Bachelor Degrees in Philosophy and Law, respectively and was later called to the Nigerian Bar in the year 2007.

He is a member of Afican centre from crime prevention research studies, Cairo, Egypt. He is happily married with children.

The fourth appointee ljeghede holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He had a successful career in the Petroleum Industry, having worked and held sensitive positions, particularly in the Well Engineering and Safety Department in Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Ltd.

He retired from the Service of Shell after a meritorious service.

The fifth appointee Eseigbe obtained his LL.B and LL.M at the Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma respectively. Until this appointment, Lucky Eseigbe Esq, was a Legislative Aide/Legal Adviser/Consultant to notable Honourable Members of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from year 2007 to November 2024.

The sixth appointee Okoebor was born on October 21, 1972. He had his first degree in Civil Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Benin, Benin City respectively.

Engr. Okoebor, MBA has over 25 years of experience in the Banking Sector, including roles at the Standard Trust and United Bank of Africa (UBA).

He rose through the ranks in the Banking Industry to the position of Assistant General Manager (AGM) and is currently Regional Manager, United Bank of Africa (UBA) overseeing 15 Business Offices.

Engr. Emmanuel Ehidiamen Okoebor MBA is also a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and a registered member of COREN.