Kenoma - The Art of Composure

Cycle of Life’s Sweetness and Pain

2011-12-31T13:13:00.000+01:00

Amidst all my activities and lack of time to keep up with regular updates on my blog I try to at least once every year write a piece just to capture some of my feelings and share them with anyone who feels like reading.

I like to use my experiences as a touch point to inspire anyone who might be interested in my point of view on life.

It’s amazing how life serves us with different dimensions of feelings and it’s even more amazing how we as humans never get to understand and celebrate life – pretty complex isn’t it?

The Cycle of Life’s sweetness and pain is something I coined out of my2011; both from personal experiences and experiences of others close to me. This Cycle is present in our everyday lives in different aspects. It is the way life spins around us and drops off things that make us both happy and at the same time bring us pain.

Imagine that one of the most beautiful and systematic creations of life is procreation; look at the process of mating (sweet), the pain of pregnancy and child bearing (painful process) and ultimately the sweetness of raising your own child (sweet). Isn’t that interesting?

In another view It is the way we celebrate the things that make us happy and the way we cry about the things that make us unhappy – some of us are only able to be in our fullest when life is sweet and in this time we channel our energy where it most benefits us but when things are opposite; when we are in a down state of mind we tend to express very low energy and our demand for a complementary energy sources to sustain us increases.

The notion of always expecting the ideals and always forgetting the reality doesn’t always end well, because reality mostly always wins.

It doesn’t take an extra eye to see that all human beings are selfish and in every situation thinks of them self either first or last because there is always a self fulfillment somewhere in the process undermining what that means.

Life is beautiful and we humans are beautiful. Life has a way of taking care of us and giving us what we want and showing us who we are, showing us where to go, undermining what society has made us think we are. Life has very interesting ways of showing us where we have been lost and helping us find ourselves.

We cannot undermine all of these and not celebrate life. At any point of the cycle you find yourself, celebrate life because it’s a constantly changing cycle. Just open your eyes and watch out.

As you go into the New Year my simple message to you is. Free yourself and celebrate life, respect your life and respect those of others.

I wish you a much more celebrated life in 2012.

Once every Year

2010-12-31T15:11:00.001+01:00

Almost Six months ago, on my birthday I wrote a piece about how so many things come only once in a life time.

Today is the last day of the year 2010, the end of another decade and its only going to come once in our life time…Its usually a day when people stop to think of the last 364days of their lives, a day when people stop to ask themselves how the next 365 days of their lives would be, a day when people make tonnes of new resolutions considering all the changes they want to make in their lives and a day when people bla bla bla…

Amidst all these reflections it is usually a time for intense celebration and enjoyment with friends and families; a lot of kparakpoism and night time fire-working on the streets, the clouds are lightened like the triumphant entry of angels into heaven.

After all these celebrations, It’s hard to say what the New Year has in stock for us but the more modest our expectations, the more room we will have to surprise ourselves with amazing things in the New Year.

What is easy to say is that people will always be a part of your New Year just as they have been a part of your last years. The good and bad experiences that shape us are created daily with the people we come across in life, with the people we spend our time with, with the people we have those wonderful conversations with, with the people we care for, with the people who care for us and with the people whom we love and those that love us.

Our lives will ultimately be meaningless if we were to spend these 365 days without such experiences. So it’s actually worth dedicating this piece and this day to all those who have been part of my life in every single way good or bad. You have thought me something that can only contribute to making me a better, more resourceful, more flamboyant and more fruitful person. And I thank you all for that.

While I say thanks, I will also say in the New Year, simply keep your head up and stay focused, it’s not always easy to be right but always strive to do good, think about yourself but consider others.

Happy 2011 and wish all the best.

God Bless

The Social Diary of A MANbrand™

2010-11-19T14:16:00.001+01:00

The Social Diary of A MANbrand™

Watch this space closely... and stay tuned for some very interesting insights coming your way !!!!

Experiencing Outdoor Subculture

2010-08-29T15:23:00.011+02:00

Our lives are a continuous journey of experiences that are bound to inspire and shape us, make or mar us. For me, intense experiences have been the strongest tool for personal development and my perception of life.

The last 3 days in Chamonix have been abundantly enriching for me, introducing me to the way of life of the outdoor subculture.

It was an ULTRA TRAIL mountain marathon called the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) with over 6000 runners from different parts of the world who came together to run for 168km through the Mont Blanc across 3 countries (France, Italy, Switzerland). It started on Friday,6pm, and ended on Sunday, 6pm. (Yes, the athletes were expected to run all through the night without sleeping.)

However, the race was cancelled after 31km due to outrageously bad weather conditions. There were mixed feeling about this decision, but i was most overwhelmed by the strong feelings of despair displayed by the athletes. Some cried and you could see in their faces just how much this race means to them..

I don't want to go on and on about the race but I got thrills from the passion and emotions that I saw from athletes of different ages, old and young, in these last days, all wanting to do what they are passionate about: running in nature. (Mind you, these guys are ordinary people like me and you). It made me realize that no matter how some things - like running for 48 hours straight - might feel strange to some of us, it feels perfectly right for others.

The amount of fulfilment these people get from running in the mountains cannot be overemphasized. I truly respect them and I truly have learnt something from them these last days, seeing them out there in the middle of nowhere, in the rain, under the sun, pushing through, enduring every single pain, avoiding obstacles on the way and most ultimately enjoying themselves, the determination to reach the finish line, the feeling of fulfilment on their faces as they cross it, the outburst of emotions from friends, families and loved ones as their dads, mums, husbands and wives come running in with all stain of muds over them... Guys, it was just an awesome moment to celebrate.

What I take away from this is the message that you can do anything, you just need to be prepared, physically and mentally. So, don't stop pushing those limits. You can always make it to the finish line...

"...and as for brands, try to always understand deeply the motivations of your consumers because this is the point where you can provide the right solutions for their needs and engage them with the right activities to create that meaningful brand experience; a fundamental principle for gaining the needed equity to keep the brand alive and relevant for a very long time".

-Kenoma Agbamu

Chamonix, France. August 29th, 2010

On top of all this, the Scenery in Chamonix is amazingly fantastic ...

Africa Unites the World - A Message to Africans

2010-07-12T01:06:00.001+02:00

The spirit of the World Cup brings different people different feelings and emotions, and as I was watching the final celebration tonight, I couldn't help but think to myself how proud I am as an African that this was happening on African soil.

The first World Cup in Africa, SUCCESSFULLY hosted, shows how much we as a continent can do, shows the potential we have despite our challenges challenges, shows the difference that positive will can make where there is the determination to succeed.

For the last 30 days, Africa has been on the lips of over 3 billion football enthusiasts worldwide, in all types of media, TV, Radio, internet - not because of poverty, HIV/AIDS, war or other negative activities, but as a continent that unites the world.

This is an amazing feeling for me because it shows me that when I look into the future I can see a continent that will lead.

I hope our leaders can learn from this as a progressive symbol of truth and hope for the continent. It is time we show the world what we are really capable of.

Today I am so proud to be African, and I feel reassured. I want to say THANK YOU to South Africa for taking the lead in making this big difference for the continent.

There is so much more we can do to reposition the perception people have of us. Let's not allow this momentum die - young or old, male or female, leader or follower, this task in our hands.

Do your part and make us proud!!

It only comes once in a life time

2010-07-10T03:14:00.005+02:00

July 10th, 2010: 2:50am, Lugano, Switzerland

Life only comes once...

A baby only takes its first step once...

A baby only speaks its first words once ...

A baby only has one first tooth...

A child will have only one first birthday...

A child will have only a one first day at school ...

A teenager will become 18 only once...

A woman/man will only have their first child once...

A man will only drive his first car once...

A student will only get his/her first degree once...

A couple will only have their first kiss once ...

(this list can go on....)

There are so many "only once" in in a life time. Cherish those moment, love those moments, celebrate those moments, give thanks to God for those moments because they will only come once..

It's the 10th day of July 2010. It's a special day to me, my birthday, and it only comes once in a year. The next time it comes it will be a different age and a different day of the week, a different time in my life.

Enjoy today, celebrate, give thanks to God and cherish today with me.

God Bless...

Virgin Nigeria Becomes Nigerian Eagle Airlines

2010-01-27T11:01:00.002+01:00

With this new strategic change for the nation's airline carrier, there are so many questions to ask ...

What should we hope for?

Will the withdrawal of the known Virgin brand have a negative effect on the airline?

Is the new airline 100% Nigerian owned or who is the new strategic partner?

In a highly competitive industry, what would be the competitive advantage for Nigerian Eagle Airlines?

What would they be known for?

I hope we can find answers to some of these questions over time.

Haiti - Another Time for Reflection

2010-01-15T16:13:00.006+01:00

Since Tuesday, 12th January 2010, I have been following the news on the catastrophic earthquke that happened in Haiti, a country that is suffering from an unstable political situation, a poor economy, civil war and immense poverty.

As I watch different news stations, from Aljazeera to CNN and BBC, and read different internet websites, the images of dead people on the streets, injured people, and those mourning their dead children, brothers, husbands, wives, and families breaks and bleeds my heart.

Today, I watched a man trying to dig out his three children from under the debris of his home with a little hammer, while his wife cried bitterly and rolled on the ground - of course those children have been dead under that collapsed building since Tuesday. There is no heavy machinery for emergencies to help rescue people.

Three days later the international community has begun to arrive with aid, thanks to the United States, France, China, UK, Cuba, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Qatar, etc. The United Nations, and other non-governmental and individual volunteers on ground assisting those people.

This is a time in my life where I wish that I had the resources to go to Haiti to join the thousands of volunteers there, to play a role in helping those people through these dark times. But as I don't, I can only call on you as you read this post to join me in praying for those who suffer in that country, that God will give them the strength to go through these tough times.

It is reaassuring to see the world come together amidst all the chaos from terrorism, religious, racial and cultural conflicts to help the Haitian people, but I keep asking myself some questions

If there never was an earthquake in Haiti, would we have ever seen this kind of aid mobilization for all those who have already been suffering in that country?
If Haiti had a more developed economy as a country, wouldn't it have had a better emergency response portfolio that could help even before international aid arrives? (This is a lesson for all those unscrupulous and callous leaders who would rather fight for politcal positions than provide for their people.)

May all those who have lost their lives in this catastrophic event rest in peace.

Switzerland and the Minaret

2009-11-30T10:54:00.002+01:00

Nearly 58% of Swiss voters on Sunday cast their ballots in favor of banning the construction of new minarets in the Alpine republic, a surprise result that led at least one Swiss member of parliament to declare that "the foundations of Switzerland's direct democracy have failed."
That is clearly wrong. Swiss direct democracy shows its merit when Swiss voters use it to stand up to their political elites. Having said that, Sunday's vote, for all the hand-wringing leading up to it, was a decidedly mild-mannered sort of protest. The construction of new minarets is banned, but the building of mosques is unaffected, and the vote does not affect the four existing minarets in the country. Nobody's freedom of worship is threatened, but a symbolic message has been sent.

But what message, exactly? The vote betrays an undercurrent of fear among the Swiss—a fear that is not without cause. There is no denying the connection between radical imams and terrorist acts. Nor should anyone look away from the fact that too many European Muslims flatly reject the norms of their host countries, sometimes in ways that are criminal: honor killings, child brides and the like.

Yet banning minarets does nothing to address that fear. It merely makes it less likely that the average Swiss will be confronted by a visible symbol of Islam upon his skyline. Thus, even as a symbolic gesture, it seems to encourage a head-in-the-sand approach toward the 5% of Swiss who are Muslim. In much of Europe, this is the norm anyway, the result of political correctness and cowardice.

Rather than being a blow against that attitude, Sunday's vote seems only to reinforce it. Banning minarets won't do anything to assimilate Switzerland's or Europe's Muslims, or to ensure that economic opportunity is available to everyone of whatever creed, or to deal with Western Europe's demographic problem of too few newborns.

The ban, in other words, does too much and too little at once. Too much because it becomes a very visible and easily exploited symbol of supposed European intolerance. But it accomplishes too little because it seeks merely to hide from view the problems that gave rise to the fear of the minaret in the first place.

Source:

My Bad Experience with an Airline Brand

2009-07-17T10:53:00.010+02:00

You don't even have to be on board an airline to have a bad experience ...

Last Saturday I had to purchase a ticket for my brother to London, and I was very lazy, being in bed and not wanting to get up. Anyways, I reached for my netbook and went on the internet to book and pay through my online banking. I was lying down there on my bed feeling very cool with myself, having found a way not having to drive all the way to the airline office. I booked the ticket and paid for it. (By the way, it was an Emirates ticket.)

This was my first direct interaction with services of the brand Emirates, with obviously very high expectations from this very premium brand. At this moment those expectations were still being met. I paid for the ticket and got my receipt sent to my mail box. However, there was no e-ticket sent. 1 day went by, 2 days, 3 days, still no e-ticket. Only for me to receive an email from the airline that my booking had been cancelled... For God's sake, my account had been charged 4 days ago and someone is telling me that my booking has been cancelled?! That was only the beginning of my frustration.

I call the airline, but no one picks up. I go to the bank and they call the airline, but no one picks up. I go to the Emirates office at the airport and no one can help. They say I have to go to the their head office in Victoria Island. For those of you who have no clue where that is... just imagine at least 1 hour in traffic and probably another 2 hours when returning.

Now I am back to where this all started. This was the reason I wanted to avoid going to the Island and pay for the ticket online but now it turns out that I end up having to do that anyway.

I make my way to the Island yesterday and the security guy at the Emirates office passes me on to this guy who offers to assist me with my problem. I am standing there waiting, the guy takes my payment receipt and says "I will be with you in a short while". 30 minutes later he returns to say "They are working on it". I say thank you ...

Now it's 1 hour 30 mins and I am still waiting for these guys to just print a ticket I have already paid for. Then I am there for 2 hours and I am getting calls, I have to attend to pressing issues at the office. This guy seems to have forgotten me. I am angry and no one there will even look at me. The security guy say to me that they can't give this guy a call because they don't have his desk phone number (this is an office, for God's sake - how much flimsier can an excuse be?) i ask them to go in to remind this guy that I am still here, but they say no they can't go in. (Who has the responsibility of attending to people at the counter when those who are stationed there don't even know their jobs?). Now I am completely over the edge, angry, furious, just name it...

Then to my greatest surprise a young lady walks in with her kids and she has the same challenge as I do ... paid for a ticket online which was never delivered.

I mean, why do you have to start an online service when you know you are not ready to provide the services excellently and professionally? It's completely rude to your customers. Lots of brands destroy their perception in the minds of their customers and prospective customers by simply rendering some shitty services

Well, the long and short of this story is that after almost 2hr 30mins a lady asks me in to attend to me, and you know what?! The ticket had been printed for over 2hrs and that guy just forgot about me outside and made me wait for nothing!

I know some of these brands are built on very strong propositions to their customers/ consumers, but then it's especially important that when people interact with your brand the kind of experience they get from the people they talk to and the ambiance of your office leave a lasting impression that will continue to help reinforce that proposition. But in this situation that wasn't the case and i am sure that there are thousands of consumers out there that suffer similar experiences from brands they interact with.

Finally, the key question: Are brands aware of this? Or there are just not able to properly implement internal branding exercises that will ensure a structured way of dealing with customer issues. Well, if you read this and you have had a bad experience from any brand, please share...

More Than Just the King of Pop

2009-07-08T00:12:00.004+02:00

"If you want to be a street sweeper then sweep the streets like Beethoven played music..."

Tonight I saw the biggest memorial service I have ever seen. The memorial for Michael Jackson. It made me wonder who this man truly is, beyond being Michael Jackson, an Entertainer, the King of Pop.

I never knew him beyond his songs, but after hearing all the testimonials tonight from people who have experienced him, it felt like I had experienced him from a completely different perspective. I saw not just that legendary Michael Jackson anymore, but a humanitarian who used his gift to give people hope, direction, love, peace of mind, fulfillment.

I saw a man who, beyond the colours of his skin, at different times in his life has been able to unite people, touch people's lives and send a message to the world with words as simple as PEACE & LOVE. He taught the world that all of us - young and old, male and female, black and white, Asian and Latino, all races and all kinds of people - are one world and that we can live in peace.

The question then for me is: Does God care about how you change the colour of your skin or about how you use your heart for the goodness of mankind?

I am truly touched, and for me this is both an inspiration and a further reinforcement that I can be who I want to be by doing it the best way I can, I can change peoples lives, I can put smiles on peoples faces and ultimately I can be there for the good of mankind.

There is a Michael Jackson in every one of us, let's find it and spread the message of LOVE & PEACE amongst our brothers and sisters.

Rest in Peace, MJ.

Ideas Rule the World…

2008-11-09T14:16:00.007+01:00

What happened to the United States of America last week was felt across countries globally and it has kept me thinking about how much more change this world is going to experience in the coming years. I remembered writing a certain piece over a year ago, which I think was just proven right. So I am sharing this one with you as an honour to a man who has demonstrated extreme determination and shown all of us that you can achieve anything if you only believe.

Congratulations, Barack Obama

Ideas Rule the World…. By Kenoma Agbamu (10/22/2007)

Looking at how society has changed and evolved in the last centuries, one constant has been the fact that every change in society starts with an individual.

From past to present, from the richest economies to the poorest, from the most peaceful territories to the most disturbed, ideas have played a crucial role in shaping leadership styles in public, private and civil societies through different times and space.

When you look at the evolution of the world of technology, science and business, it is however clear that there is an element that has strongly influenced the core of innovation and creativity in these areas. This element is the way that ideas are configured.

Some of the greatest minds of recent times have leveraged ideas to make different impacts in society. The Google duo Larry Page and Sergey Brin out of mere curiosity challenged the way search engines work and with their idea to integrate a page ranking formula they ended up changing the way people use the internet. Today the word Google has almost taken over the word "search" all you hear is "google this, google that".

The likes of Mohammed Yunus have changed the way people see poverty alleviation by simply starting a small loans bank to give micro loans to women. Today this has changed the lives of thousands of women and families in Bangladesh.

All these changes in society, be it in development, technology or businesses, find their origin in one idea or the other.

Using the concept of leadership and looking at some of the most successful rulers who have shaped the world, we see clearly that they were not followed as leaders because people liked the shape or color of their faces, but rather because people liked the ideas behind their visions. That was how they built their followership, be it good or bad.

When I imagine the influence of ideas in the world, I can only imagine to what extent the absence of ideas would leave the world in a perpetual state of stagnation and, in the long run, regression. Luckily that will never happen because idea creation is a core part of the human existence.

In summary, there is absolutely no limitation to the argument that ideas rule the world. It has been a constant and will continue to be a constant in the way human being do things.

----------------

I am now curious to see how the Obama idea of "Hope and Change" will manifest itself in the lives of the American people and, through ripple effect, in the rest of the world.

Thank You.

The Pregnancy of 2008 - My Thanks to 2007

2008-01-02T10:51:00.002+01:00

Years have come and gone and yet another ... People say that one year gives birth to the next, but this time I see it from a different perspective. 2007 has left 2008 pregnant. When a year comes to an end, most people reflect on the year to capture those moments, experiences, challenges and successes that have shaped them over that year and most times the product of this is a New Year's resolution – but does this really make things different in the coming year? J - Well, don't ask me ...

What I would like to share with you all is that 2008 is pregnant and this is the handiwork of 2007. So many things happened in this last year. It was a year of discoveries and confirmations. Everyone I met in this period gave me an opportunity to discover something different.

When I capture my moments of 2007 I can't help but smile and say thank you because each single memory lets me discover or reconfirm something about myself and this would not be possible if it weren't for all the different people that I met throughout the year.

I would like to use this opportunity to give my New Year's wishes to all those that I have not been able to contact directly. As you read this message, I want you to know that you have been a part of my 2007 and my thanks goes to you for playing a role in making 2008 a pregnant year for me. As we step into 2008, we step in to await the beauty, brightness, goodness and warmth that is yet to come. May 2008 be a year where our conceivables of 2007 be put to birth.

Being that one of the things that shapes me most is the people that I meet and the different discussions I have with them I also want to say a huge thank you to all those people who have joined me in different times to have different discussions; you have in one way or the other increased my horizon so please celebrate with me.

The beauty about life is not always about how happy you are but about how happy others are because of you so I also want to say a big thank you to those people whom have found relevance in me and whom I have been able to touch their lives positively in any way; You have given my the reassurance that life is beautiful and you have always left me with a smile on my face and I wish you well in the next year.

My special love goes to all Swiss Friends or friends who are not Swiss but Live in Switzerland J you are truly not forgotten thanks for being a huge part of my 2007 and hope to see you somewhere soon – (Happy New year in German, French and Italian)

See you all in 2008 ..

One Love

How it all started©

2007-09-10T09:53:00.004+02:00

My Life, My Purpose

When I take a deep look at my life and try to describe it, I realize that it is an evolution of different chapters that have led up to where and what I am today.

I would love to share a bit of my AIESEC chapter with you and hope that you might find it useful.

One decision that led to a continous journey of achievements, fulfillments and a future ...

In the year 2000 when I got into university, you know young, flamboyant and ready to rock and roll, I didn't really know what I wanted in life, it just felt nice being in university. I just wanted to have fun and that was it. However, one fateful afternoon I met a group of students dancing and trying to attract attention to themselves. They all wore face caps with a similar logo so I knew that they were from an organization. I tested out my curiosity by going over for a brief probe. Well to cut the long story short... this was how I met AIESEC members who were actually doing a recruitment campaign. When I made the decision to join AIESEC I had no clarity of what I was going into, I just saw it as a place where I could find some fun and that was it.

Precisely 20 months after I had joined AIESEC and already attended close to 8 AIESEC National conferences, my highest motivation was still derived from fun and parties. Although I learnt a bit, learning wasn't a priority at that time, To top it off, I was from the worst performing LC. We had over 120 LC Members, but we could not achieve any results. (and we didn't really care because we didn't even know what to do).

The turning point came when my LC was closed down in January 2002 due to non-performance at my 8^th National Conference, 20 months after I had joined AIESEC. That was when I realized that I had been in the organization for the wrong reasons. After realizing this and the fact that my LC was still dear to me, I said to myself that I would not be part of a failure. I decided not to let go but go further and do what was right to help my LC regain its membership.

I ran as LCP for the 2002/2003 term and won. It was my first strategic role ever in my life. I was faced with real challenges of making sustainable decisions in a place where I had so many friends. A lot of people were going to get hurt because a lot of restructuring had to be done, but I was driven by passion and the determination to make a difference rather than by what people would say. This was where I began to learn the responsibility of leadership. Cutting the story short, my dream was actualized at the end of the year when my LC had realized 7 exchanges (as opposed to 0 exchanges in the previous 4 years) and that year I won the Most Outstanding Leader Award.

This is where the aspirations and ambition of Kenoma became strengthened because I could now feel and see the value of taking an active role in my own learning - and the key secret was "learning by doing"

A lot of things continued to happen after this great achievement, but sorry there is not space to share them in detail. In 2004/2005 I became MCVP Exchange, 2005/2006 I became MCP and African Growth Network Chair and I spent this last year here in Switzerland as External Relations Manager alongside with doing an Internship with the United Nations, where I currently work as a consultant.

This is just a summary of a 7-year AIESEC Experience and a lot has not been said. But what I really want to get across is this: What made the difference for me was one single decision that I made – to run for LCP in order to save my LC. And because I paid attention to the principles of self-driven learning (through challenging my world view, increasing my theoretical and practical experiences, creating a network of contact and self reflection) I have now seen so much more and learnt so much more than I could have earlier imagined.

Learning is a continuous process. AIESEC has a lot to offer you, but that responsibility of what you get out of it lies only in your hands.

You are privileged to know this now. If I had known earlier I wouldn't have wasted my first 20 months, but I am lucky I didn't fall out along the line because a lot of people did.

Your time is now!!!! Make the best use of it.

“Trapped in the Elevator”

2007-09-03T13:18:00.003+02:00

Uhmnn … some of you will say what was Kenoma caught doing? Well, it was not similar to R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet", but just a very silly case of my stubbornness. As hungry as a lion I left my apartment to get something to eat from a shop called COOP (one of the Swiss versions of the TESCO and Sainsbury), and this was how it started. I got out of the flat and realized that the elevator was sealed with a tap on my floor. I annoyingly dragged myself together with a friend and we took the stairs (although it's just on the 4^th floor). The most annoying thing was that the lift was working on all other floors... Well, what ever... We got to the shop and it was damn closed. (Mind you shops in Switzerland close at 5pm on Saturdays and during the week at 7pm…hehehe). So we chose option number 2, took the bus and headed to the Migros shop at the main station. (Migros is another big Swiss brand in superstores.) We got there and wonderful, we got all what we wanted, and were now ready to garnish some awesome and delicious meal.

So we headed back to the flat and guess what? When we arrived I saw some guys coming out of the lift on the ground floor and I said "Hey, it's working!" When we got in, something in my mind told me to get off on the 3^rd floor and then drag myself up the stairs again to the fourth floor, but I didn't listen to my mind and pushed the button for the 4^th floor. Swissssssssssssssssssssssshhhhh, up we went. I arrived on the fourth floor... and here we are... the door refused to open and the elevator refused to go back down.

Oh my God, I wished I had followed my mind. We kept on ringing the emergency alarm and hitting the door but no one... 10mins…. 20mins… I am getting hungrier…. Well, I reached for my cereals and fruit yoghurt and started eating and she reached for her sushi and started eating… 30mins... We were done eating and still ringing the emergency alarm. No answer. I picked out my mobile I wanted to make a call to Ivo to call for help and realized my call credit was below calling allowance. And my friend hadn't taken her mobile phone out. However, split seconds after I got an SMS, and guess who it was - the person I just wanted to call (why on earth didn't he just call me rather than send an SMS L). 40mins and finally we heard voices. We started ringing the alarm and hitting the door until they spoke back to us and heard us and came to the floor where we were trapped.

The God-sent neighbors were able to find the keys to the elevator door and open it. Woooowww, how nice it was to smell the fresh air of freedom.

And that was how I was "TRAPPED" in the elevator.

Lessons Learnt: Never again will I see a sealed tape on an elevator door and still try to use the door. And if I do get stubborn I must first confirm that I have a good neighbor that can organize a rescue for me J before i use it. I still couldn't use the lift this morning while leaving to work because ... I don't know if it's been fixed! J

Peace out…!!!!

Kenoma Is Back!!!!!!

2007-09-01T14:03:00.002+02:00

Wow, it's been a while since I came here!!!! I need to clean up the cobwebs from my blog... ..:-)

It's a lovely sunny Saturday afternoon and life has been excitingly wonderful. I have been living abroad for over one year now and it has been a very impressive and valuable experience I must confess.

I just felt like writing something. Am chilling at home and have 3 movies to watch (" The Fountain", "Donnie Darko" and "Next"). After watching over 25 movies this week week, now I finally have company again ...:-). Guess for yourself what that means, hehehe :-).

Check me out in the next couple of weeks for more updates on my life. See ya…

Aid Versus Trade (Okonja Iweala Former Minister of Finance of Nigeria)

2007-08-06T10:34:00.001+02:00

2007-06-04T10:52:00.000+02:00

Your Seduction Style: Au Natural

You rank up there with your seduction skills, though you might not know it.
That's because you're a natural at seduction. You don't realize your power!
The root of your natural seduction power: your innocence and optimism.

You're the type of person who happily plays around and creates a unique little world.
Little do you know that your personal paradise is so appealing that it sucks people in.
You find joy in everything - so is it any surprise that people find joy in you?

You bring back the inner child in everyone you meet with your sincere and spontaneous ways.
Your childlike (but not childish) behavior also inspires others to care for you.
As a result, those who you befriend and date tend to be incredibly loyal to you.

What Kind of Seducer Are You?

Letter to My Blog

2007-04-18T16:39:00.001+02:00

Dear Blog ...

I am so sorry for being such an unfaithful and inconsistent blogger. I know my readers must be fed up and wonder what the hell is wrong with me, but I have been so choked up with work and pleasure and I forgot to capture those moments on here. What a guy i am ...

But I will be coming back in full swing to update u guys on what has been happening cos quite a lot of water has passed under the bridge since I last blogged. The question is: Can I recapture? Or do I just start again from here? Well, we shall see.

Coming Soon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who Am I ?

2007-03-06T12:59:00.001+01:00

It's absolutely exciting the kind of things we think of sometimes. I was imagining that as a spermatozoa I demonstrated my thirst for winning by winning that one heck of a race with millions of sperm athletes racing to ovulation.

Living life as a born winner is very exciting because it gives you the capacity to make the best out of loosing. I have tried to define who I am several times in different scenarios, but still I have different definitions. I have tried to seek definitions from people, but still I find different definitions. It's funny how life can be so complicated. Sometimes you think you are this and then you see your self doing this or thinking that.

I feel very choked up in my current way of life. I am starving for something new. My last seven years have been engulfed with the same kind of people, same kind of vocabularies, same kind of experiences, the same kind of thinking. I feel that there is only so much i can give. Life is not supposed to be boring.

Most times I see myself like a soldier on a mission and that mission I call ''Operation Contribute'' where I am just interested in finding fulfillment in life from supporting people to at least put a smile on their face. I still don't know how I will be able to do this, but i know i will do it, cos I am a fucking Winner.

Emotional freedom is the answer; it is the internal driving force of the world.

One decision you make today can change your life and can influence the lives of others for ever...

King Shaka the Great

2007-01-22T15:15:00.001+01:00

I onced played the role of King Shaka at a conference as facilitator for a group of delegates where we formed the Zulu empire. Here are some real facts of Shaka the great.

Leadership Lessons from Emperor Shaka Zulu the Great:

Build a Sense of Mission
Mission is more important than convention
To be a conqueror, be apprenticed to a conqueror
Lead the charge (from the front)
Build a fanatical team
Go where angels fear to tread (Good old courage is still king)
Be a good strategist (or get one)
Know the battlefield (better than the enemy)
Be obsessed with world-class technologies
Don't believe your own PR

WHO is Shaka Zulu?

Long ago, in 1789, in the rolling green hills of Zululand, a Zulu woman called Nandi gave birth to an unwanted and illegitimate child. The child’s father, Senzangakona, from the clan of Zulu, wanted nothing to do with them and the tribal elders sent a message to Nandi saying "the girl has a beetle (shaka) in her belly". Nandi was relegated to the lowly position of third wife. When Shaka was six years old he allowed a dog to kill one of Senzangakona’s sheep and from that day forth, Shaka and Nandi were cast out by the Zulu clan.

In shame, they were forced to return to the clan of Nandi’s family. Shaka hated living with his mother’s family, they were treated as outcasts and he continuously suffered the cruel, taunting of the other children who referred to him as "the fatherless one." The family were forced to move around from clan to clan until they found a degree of acceptance by the Mtetwa tribe. Shaka grew to young manhood herding sheep and cattle. He showed extraordinary bravery in protecting the animals under his care, and one day killed a leopard single handedly using two throwing spears and a club.

At the age of twenty-one, Shaka became a soldier and distinguished himself in battle under the Mtetwa chieftain Dingiswayo. Shaka proved to be an excellent military strategist and introduced changes in battle methods that were to be a great success. Dingiswayo was a good leader of his people, and under his protection, Shaka grew into a rich and important person. One day Senzangakona came to pay homage to Dingiswayo and was gratified to find that his son had become a great man. He promised Shaka the chieftainship of the Zulu clan after his death. However Senzangakona bowed to the pressure of his wives, and after his death, Shaka’s young half-brother, Sugujana became chief. When Shaka heard the news he broke into a great rage and killed the new chief in battle. Shaka dressed up in his glorious and fearsome battle costume of blue monkey fur and genet tails, and with his own Mtetwa regiment by his side, became king of the Zulu’s.

Shaka set to building a mighty new kraal, it was called Bulawayo, "the place of killing." Nandi was brought to live there in a sumptuous royal kraal of her own. A great feast was held in honour of the new capital and the hills rang out with the roar of the royal salute, "Bayete, Nkosi! Bayete Nkosi!" Shaka marched in revenge on his mother’s Mlangeni clan who had treated them so cruelly in his youth. Victory came easily and Shaka developed a taste for the power of battle.
Shaka continued to revolutionise the Zulu army. He introduced new weapons, new regimental structures and battle formations. He was a cruel and strict disciplinarian. Soldiers caught disobeying his rules were immediately put to death. He forced his regiments to run barefoot over fields of thorns so that their feet became hardened and they could move more quickly in battle. Shaka scored victory after victory. Each clan that was conquered was assimilated into his tribe and the Zulu’s became a great and powerful nation ruling over vast tracts of land in the southern coastal and interior regions of what is today known as KwaZulu Natal.

In 1825 the British arrived at Port Natal. Shaka invited the two British commanders, Fynn and Farewell, to his kraal where he entertained them with a majestic display of his power. Shaka granted the British full possession of Port Natal, and in return the British plied him with gifts of brass bars, beads and blankets. The British at that time were forced to respect the power of the Zulu and there was no trouble in Shaka’s lifetime.

After the death of his mother Nandi in 1827, Shaka became increasingly paranoid and unpredictable. Ironically, unbeknown to him, members of his inner family circle were hatching a plot to destroy him. In September 1828, Shaka was assassinated by his half-brothers Dingaan and Mhlangana who stabbed him to death with their spears. He was buried the following day together with personal possessions and Dingaan become king.

From then on the Zulu Nation began its decline. Shaka may have been an unpredictable and bloodthirsty tyrant but he increased the power and glory of his tribe and will always hold an important place in the history of both the Zulu’s and South Africa.

My Journey to the Land of "Topalki"

2007-01-19T19:20:00.002+01:00

Got back from Prague 3 days days ago and still so overwhelmed with satisfaction ... My job couldn't make me settle down, so I decided to write something in my Blog. Well, thank God its Friday ...

I left home that morning as early as 6:20am so I could catch a train to Geneva at 6:34 am. My flight was at 11am, but I didn't want to take any chances. I got to the Airport and waited for about 30mins before check-in for Prague started. So I maneuvered my way through the self check-in machine, got my boarding pass, checked in my luggage and went off for some sight-seeing through the Geneva airport. As soon as I was at the waiting lounge and tried playing around with my laptop I realized that I could get wireless internet. So awesome, I just love the internet. But to my great dissapointment SwissCom controlled the hotspot and to gain full access you have to pay ... Anyway, never mind, I just continued with some offline work. I left Geneva soon after, arrived in Prague after about 2hrs 15mins and got the best welcome I have ever had at any airport - a beautiful girl holding a sign with my name and a very really chilled can of beer as a Welcome to the Czech republic.. :). Thank you, Starosta!

That's how my experience in Czech republic started and if I continue I am sure that I am going to type something that you should'nt read :) . But to capture this quickly: once again in my life I have met a set of people that have challenged my every bit and contributed to shaping my personal development. I really want to say thank you to all of you .. the Next facis: Beata, Catarina, Eva, Ivan, Kevin, Kvetos, Pak-Man, Paola, Piotr, Vladimir, you guys are extremely brilliant individuals and it was so cool working with you through pre-meeting and the entire conference. Thank you for the inspiration I got from you ... to the MC Eva, Fabian, Jacob, Jana, Myka, Nina and Sisa ... you guys are unstoppable, I really appreciate your trust in me by giving me the opportunity to chair your conference. Thank you so much guys, your contribution to my personal development means so much to me.

To the Topalki Players (if you want to know what a real drinking competition is then go to Czech republic :-): you guys rock. 300 liters of beer in one night?! Man, I bow my head to you.

Prague, I will be back!

Much love from Switzerland...

Mind your Step.......

2007-01-07T01:18:00.001+01:00

Don't call me stupid when you read this post, just bear with me for a moment ;). You know, for the last two weeks I have been working on a lot of population data and statistics, dragging different inspirations from it and here i wanna share this one with you.

As I type this post, the world population is approximated at 6,568,143,007 (billion)... (exploding, ehnn?)

So here is my mind your step message to you: Knowing we have 6, 568,143, 007 people in the world and each person has 10 toes... jeezzz, that means that there are 65, 681,430,07 toes in the world! And we never know when we will step on somebody else's toes ;). Take this as my 2007 message to you: Mind your Step!

Post Holiday

2007-01-03T22:35:00.002+01:00

Yeahhhh, my first post after the new year's celebration... :)
I feel so good about going back to work! I have missed being at work during the holiday period.

I had a very important meeting today that I had been looking forward to for months: meeting my new boss! I have not had a direct boss since September. The position was vacant and my office has been looking for an expert to man that field (External Relations and Advocacy). So now we finally found someone and I will be working directly under her. Apparently she was the Chief of Advocacy for UNAIDS and it seems that she was doing a lot of magic for their fund raising strategies. From talking to her today I know she is very strategically inclined. Although she does not start work until the 1st of February we had to familiarize her with the state of things and discuss what will be priority when she starts. After 2 hours of meeting I was very satisfied. I know I am going to learn a lot from her and I am looking forward to working with her in the next months. Welcome, Leyla!

My "Sylvester"

2007-01-01T01:51:00.002+01:00

Posting at 1:51 am... I have not gone crazy but rather just wanted to share a funny thing that happened to me. You know since Xmas Eve I have been seeing on different posters and on the internet different captions tagged SYLVESTER party and I have been wondering: who is this Sylvester? I mean, he's so popular, having different parties in different cities. Well, this what happens to a man who does not speak or understand German, because you know what? To my greatest surprise SYLVESTER in German just means New Year's Eve. How could I be so stupid? :)

Well, I just thought that would be interesting to hear. Anyway, now that we all know what Sylvester means I can now tell you that I spent my sylvester hanging out with some AIESEC friends in a little Swiss village somewhere on a farm. It was so nice. For the first time I tasted Sushi (although I really didn't like it because of the taste of raw fish). The others liked it, it was gone in no time. I guess it's just me not being used to it.

Am writing this post from Zurich. After having had a nice time at Sarah's house with the other AIESEC people, what else can I say but that I was really impressed with the fireworks in Zurich. They were really cool. How did it go in ur city?

Happy New Year!!!

Have You Ever...?

2006-12-30T17:20:00.002+01:00

It's 5:21 pm and I am here again. I know you people will say: How come he blogs so much nowadays? Well, the answer to this question is that I haven't really been doing much because i have a long vacation until January 3rd and I am so bored. There is no one around for me to talk to or visit and I feel too lazy to travel to another city. So since after Christmas I have been spending time just taking care of myself, eating, sleeping, watching movies. and sometimes studying :). And also preparing for NEXT 2007 that am chairing in Czech Republic. I hope after the holidays I will still find this passion for this blog that I have suddenly developed. Because I actually find it quite fun.

Well, about my question above, "Have you ever?", I know you are probably curious to know what I am talking about. I was just preparing the premeeting Agenda for NEXT 2007 and I took a 5 mins break to eat something and here I am now, thinking about something that always strikes me real hard. I don't know if it's only me or some of you have had such people in your lives. This doesn't have anything to do with emotions or feelings, it's just me trying to understand how people can switch over night and become totally different from how you used to know them or how they used to present themselves to you. I met a friend a while ago and we just connected really really well and I really had very high expectations from this individual. But to my greatest surprise I received that person threw some horrible things at me 3 months ago. I never expected that. Our friendships experience had a very fast bonding curve and trust me i am not very good at that - my name Kenoma means "Beware of friends"), but this incident immediately built up a wall between us. And now I wonder, is it worth talking about or finding out from this person what really happened? Or is it better to just stay the way we are and keep moving on with the lesson learnt that people, no matter how they appear, can always change. Maybe time will tell, because thats life, time is the one thing that's always constant.

Note: All of this doesn't change the fact that this person is a great individual.

Break in transmission - - - I just got a call from my close friends in Nigeria, Website, Kome and Obinna and they are all together drinking beer and welcoming Charly Potter back from Kenya after one year on an internship with GlaxoSmithKline and you know the feeling... It just feels like I should be with them right now... Miss you, guys (wake up, Ken, because that's not possible now :) )

Well, those were the things I was thinking about and decides to post here since I am now turning into a blog addict. But now I have to go back to the pre-meeting agenda i was preparing. See you in my next thought

My 2006 Reflections

2006-12-28T18:05:00.002+01:00

Today is Thursday, the 28th of December 2006. Three days to the end of the year. Wow... I am sitting on my bed after watching a movie, just trying to think of all the things that have happened to me in the last 12 months. It's amazing how fast the year has gone by. It was January just yesterday and here we are sending out compliments and merry messages for a new year. Isn't God great?

I am trying to count my blessings, but i just can't finish counting them. God has been so great to me this year. This year has been a year of further self discovery, exploring the meaning of my existence and my role in this world and it has been great how God has made me learn different lessons, from people that I have met this year, from the different roles I have played, and even in times when I thought it was like the end of the world. God just pulled through and the most beautiful part is that I never go through these experiences without a lesson learnt. Both good and bad experiences have all contributed in shaping me and preparing me for the next year.

Is it "love"? My heart was really in love and for me that was my world, but sometimes things just don't work out the way we expect them to and even as it hurts and bleeds my heart to fall out of love I have learnt a lesson from that experience and i am grateful to God for letting it be so.

Is it "love"? I have been mistrusted, but God has always exonerated me and my innocence. In times when I have been trusted I tried not to fail and even though sometimes I make mistakes I was always ready to learn.

I am just looking up on my wall to look at the T-shirt that I was wearing at my last AIESEC conference in Nigeria in May this year and it feels so beautiful to read what all my members wrote. You guys were the biggest contribution to my learning curve this year... What else can I say but thank you and send my sincere love from Switzerland.

I really want to thank all the people that I have come across virtually and physically this year, family and friends. What I want you to know is that you have helped me in one way or the other to pass through a challenge or an experience that have shaped me positively.

There is no better place to tell the world that God has been the architect of my progress in 2006 and I give him my everything as I say thank you, God, and pray that he continues to be with us all and open our eyes more as we progress into a more progressive year in spirit and in life.

Take a minute of your time just to say thank you to God. He has been wonderful in our lives.

I wish you a peaceful and successful New Year ....

Some memories captured in 2006

My Xmas Eve

2006-12-28T17:25:00.001+01:00

What a wonderful Xmas dinner I had! You can imagine, me in the Swiss German family of a friend. It was so beautiful although i can't speak swiss German and only a few people present could speak English. I found it one of my greatest Xmas experiences because I had to recite a verse of the Bible in German :) (although no one understood my pronounciation) .

The dinner was great with lots of wine and champagne and I received my only Xmas gifts from this family. Even from the 81 year old grand mother I got a gift. It was so sweet (and do you know that at 81 she still drives!). It made me feel really good.

Afterwards I caught up with friends for a beer and then another and then another and then it was 3am. We played PS2 until 5am before I finally tried catching some sleep.

Well, I had a splendid time. How did u spend ur Xmas Eve?

You have the POWER of choice- use it wisely!!!!

2006-12-24T01:27:00.001+01:00

Have you ever thought about the word choice? I had been at home all day today and then I went out to a bar to have a drink. Sitting at the bar having a beer - there were alot of young boys and girls hanging out for the saturday night - sitting there I was just thinking about life and about how some people have got choice and how they use their choice, while some others have got choice but circumstances and external factors force them into not being able to their choice. Why can't the social world just be so flat that everyone can play on the same field. Globalization is strongly influencing the flatness of the economic world, yet on the other hand it seems that there are more and more conflicts erupting out of misunderstandings between cultures and religions. In a world that is for us all. Where are the words "fairness and equity" in our actions?

Well, I just walked home at 12:30am in the cold, still wishing the diversity of the world could be converted into positive energy. It's not a one day journey, it's not the cry of one voice, it's not the job of one man but for all of us. I am committed to playing my role and contributing my own quota. Ask yourself the same question. What role do you want to play in making the world a better place, in putting a smile on the face of a child somewhere in the world?

People, the world is in our hands... People are suffering. They have the choice not to, but circumstances won't let them exercise it.

We have a choice now ... to sleep and watch people suffer or to start in our own little way to contribute to making things better.

The choice is yours - use it wisely. Good night and happy Christmas tomorrow.

The Art of "Ice Skating"

2006-12-23T15:02:00.001+01:00

Absolutely funny how I suddenly felt like a child that was learning how to walk for the first time. You should have seen me in those ice skating shoes looking so cute, like the Winter Olympics ice skating champion. It was a lot of fun skating with the other guys on the MC. Chris was busy trying to master his 360 degrees breaking skills, Ciliea was skating with lots of expertise and sometimes on one foot. Stefan was doing his thing, the way he knew best. Aida ... well, the last time you skated was when you were 6 years old. Dominique became my coach and was really encouraging me that I could do it. Yeah, I took the courage and that after tripping six times with my butt hiting the ice hard. I just had to do it - and here I am today with my first skating adventure. At least I was able to move on my own without any more supports from the guys.

Now who wants to challenge me in ice skating? Because I would woop your ass big time..:)

''Male Circumcision'' A way forward for reducing HIV Infection ??

2006-12-18T11:00:00.001+01:00

The United States National Institue for Health (NIH) announced on the 13th of December an early end to two clinical trials of adult male circumcision because an interim review of the trial data revealed that medically performed circumcision significantly reduces a man's risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS through heterosexual intercourse. The two trials conducted in Kenya and Uganda support the findings of the previous South African intervention trial, demonstrating an almost 50% reduction in HIV infection among circumcised men.

Share your comments ...

Click to Read More..

In response to this, the international community, specifically UNFPA, WHO, UNAIDS and UNICEF, as well as the World Bank, released a joint statement saying:

"..... Although these results demonstrate that male circumcision reduces the risk of men

becoming infected with HIV, the UN agencies emphasize that it does not provide complete

protection against HIV infection. Circumcised men can still become infected with the virus
and, if HIV-positive, can infect their sexual partners. Male circumcision should never replace
other known effective prevention methods and should always be considered as part of a
comprehensive prevention package, which includes correct and consistent use of male or
female condoms, reduction in the number of sexual partners, delaying the onset of sexual
relations, and HIV testing and counselling.

It is anticipated that news of these results will heighten interest in male circumcision from
governments, non-governmental institutions, and the general public in a number of
countries, in addition to increasing demand for male circumcision services. WHO, the
UNAIDS Secretariat and their partners will review the detailed trial findings and will then
define specific policy recommendations for expanding and/or promoting male circumcision.
These policy recommendations will need to take into account:

Cultural and human rights considerations associated with promoting circumcision;
The risk of complications from the procedure performed in various settings;
The potential to undermine existing protective behaviours and prevention strategies that reduce the risk of HIV infection; and the observation that the ideal and well-resourced conditions of a randomized trial are often not replicated in other service delivery settings.
Countries or health care institutions which decide to offer male circumcision more widely...... "

Shark Attack

2006-12-09T13:40:00.001+01:00

Have you ever survived a shark attack? ... 11 Newies and 1 faci came together to make one home group: The Sharks. I want to say that your energies put together as a team know no bounds. You guys are amazingly exciting individuals and you can't imagine how much I enjoyed just being around you, learning from you and being responsible for your learning. Together we kicked ass guys and no one can stop the Sharks. But that is not the end. We must make sure that people feel us even as individuals. Let's take to

our LCs every element of those energies and that momentum that we created and put them into our LC activities. Let's raise the name of the Sharks high by being outstanding in living our AIESEC experiences. If you ever feel like sharing and talking don't hesitate to talk to me or the team. If we can keep the communication, we can help each other retain that trust that we built in ourselves and take forward our learning, turning passion into action ...

What an Amazing Team

2006-12-07T13:27:00.001+01:00

Let me introduce you to an extremely amazing group of people who called themselves Newie facis. If you ever come across such special people, if you ever work with such special people, make sure to keep those special moments. It's is worth it. I hope these memories remain in my head.

Meto's "But whyyy", and "I likee. You Likeee"? ... Even those random memories light up my dull moments.

Cheers guys...love all a' ya.

How the People i meet Shape My life

2006-12-06T12:25:00.001+01:00

The meaning of an experience can be seen from different perspectives. It is so amazing how, as I continue in my journey of personal development, I now realize that it has not always been about the positions I have held or the roles I have played, but rather about the people I have met and now when I reflect I do not think about that job I did, but the people I encountered while doing that job. People bring me joy, people bring me sadness, people make me think, people make me reflect, people give me an opportunity to continue to feel my strengths and weaknesses, people challenge me to be a better person...

I strongly feel this shift in my paradigm. For me it's now about the people.

I want to use this oportunity to say thank you to all the people I have met in my life at any point. You have contributed in helping to shape my life in one way or another and that process is still on. I do not forget and will not forget ...

This special thanks goes out to the DOIT 2006 facis, the most recent team that I worked with who made a very significant impact on me. Majken, Kreta, Emmanuel, Chafic, Toni, Vincent, Victor, Marcelo, Abhijit, Himanshu, Andries, Meto, Christina, Sophie, Wendeline, Melissa, Zara, Jana, Lena, Regula, Davinia, Ciliea, Stefan, Aida and Chris (hope I didn't leave out any name): Thanks to you guys. Together you guys are a vineyard of inspiration and from this vineyard I will continue to harvest .... Plenty love al' ya... :-)

Chasing The Dream !!!

2006-09-24T15:16:00.002+02:00

This was my second external UN event since I started working here. It was such an exciting experience. I had the opportuity to give a speech as a youth representative and it turned out to be the most inspiring speech from a young person most of the guys had ever heard. I felt like a celebrity in a different reality (and na for Kofi Anan territory ohhh :)). So I decided to share my speech with you.............

¨It is with great pleasure that I stand here today as a youth representative to share a few words about how the lives of youths are being shaped by what I call societal limitations and how so many of these youths survive against all odds.

These pictures and stories of young people really touch me, but moreover they inspire me. I feel the joy and breath the air of a youth that is chasing a dream, wanting to achieve it by all means.

As to myself: What brings me here? How did I get here? What is my mission here? The point is that I am just like one of those young people, seeking to achieve a dream against all odds.

Growing up in Nigeria, in a family of 8 children, 3 brothers and 4 sisters, being the 7th child doesn’t really give you a clear picture of what your future is going to look like. I had aspired to be a pilot, a medical doctor, an architect and even an engineer, but what I could afford was to get a bachelor in geography and regional planning.

My energy to keep on dreaming and my drive to discover led me to join an organization called AIESEC, which stands for the international platform for Young people to discover and develop their potential. Through its network I have found exposure and it is by this same organization I am here today as an intern with the UNFPA. My search for a competitive advantage in my field is becoming true.

I see a strong connection between the MDGs and youths. The MDGs will create a more integrated platform for young people to dream and achieve.

Thank you very much¨

so na im be that ohh just watch out for more reports ... :)

My Warsaw-Zurich Story

2006-09-18T00:23:00.002+02:00

Would I have left one bag behind? 4th September 2006

I packed my stuff and took off in a taxi to the airport from Liam's house in Warsaw. There I met my African brothers travelling to South Africa, and Botswana also . You know we talked for a while because the Swiss Air counter was not yet opened. It was soon my turn to check in and behold, my luggage weighed 45kg and I had a 20kg baggage allowance. I was asked to pay 43 polish Zlotis per kg which amounted to 1075 zlotis (268 Euros).

Where the hell was I gonna get such money? It was twice the amount of the ticket I had bought. But God always has a way of using human beings as angels... As I looked around confused I suddenly saw Zuska from the Swiss MC 05/06. We were gonna be on the same flight! She had a small bag of about 10kg only and we kind of rearranged and checked in together.

God, thank you. What would I have done ... leave one bag behind?!

Zuzska, you are an Angel... :)

Me and Chris in Geneva

2006-09-18T00:18:00.001+02:00

6th September

Today it was Chris and me. I am in my suit again because we went going to a press conference: the launch of the State of the World Population Report. It was launched by Ms. Safiye Cagar, the Director of the Information and External Relations Department from New York. It was a pleasure to meet such a dignitary on my first day at work proper. It was really interesting and informative. I am beginning to get into the groove of things.

Me and Chris headed back from Bern early because I had to get my bank account and GA travel card. Afterwards I had a nice time in my little apartment with the other guys on the MC.

My First days at the UNFPA in Geneva

2006-09-18T00:08:00.002+02:00

5th September- Me and Aida in Geneva

I didn't get the opportunity to do this posting on the 5th of September which was actually my first day of work. You should have seen me my in my sparkling office outfit. I was in a smart black suit. It wasn't a very busy day. I had expected to just meet Caroline, the admin associate, but then she introduced me to everyone around. I filled out the form for my UN badge. I was so excited - soon I will be wearing the UN ID around my neck.

Aida (VPER AIESEC Switzerland) was taking me around Geneva. From the UNFPA office we went to the Palais des Nations (that is the UN main building) where I had to get my badge, but unfortunately the ID machines were not working so I couldn't do it on the 5th. It was nice afterwards, because I went to the LC Geneva office before getting some junk from McDonalds and taking the train back to Bern.

Wishing You Guys the Best Year Ahead

2006-09-14T03:18:00.001+02:00

Things have changed so much since July 1st which was the end of my AIESEC term as MCP of AIESEC in Nigeria for the year 05/06. It was an awesome year working with a spectacular team (Abbey, Seyi and Simeon). You guys are really great and I wish you all the best in the year ahead.

Seyi, thanks for taking over my position because I know that AIESEC in Nigeria will reap a lot of results through you.

Abbey, keep keeping on with your Youth Service. Your dream is in front of you and I know you have the capacity to grab it and achieve it.

Semioni... :) Man you have an ability and LGE is going to feel it. I wish you all the best in ur search for upliftment.

To the new team, Peekay, Bunmi, and Shehu ... Transition was fun. Our last conference was great. Having you guys all through that period was very inspiring for me because I knew great things would happen in AIESEC in Nigeria this year. You guys are awesome.

So let's drive to the top. I wish you guys (Anti Random Squad) a successful year ahead.

I am writing from my little home town of Benin City as I take some time out to unwind and reflect on my experiences in the last years.

Cheers guys...