The Rotarians who met us are extremely friendly and open. They appear genuinely happy to see us visit their country and see what they have accomplished.
The traffic is frantic. 4-5 lanes wide on a two lane road. Much "chicken" played to get in and out of lanes. Took 1 ½ hours to go 20 miles to the hotel. Seems Nigeria is moving faster yet everything seems somehow under control by those who live here.
Lots of small shops and sales stalls – these are different from India as not only fruit, vegetables and spices but also furniture, auto parts, and many more material things are sold.
Crazy how “hawkers” stand between cars or on the side of the road selling everything from newspapers, pop, water, dried banana or plantain, nuts, Nigeria dress, bread etc.
Large piles of garbage in some places with people picking through for items of value for resale or to be used for other things.
Derek says he see tremendous improvements and change since 2005. The roads are in better condition and there is an effort to beautify some areas.
Monday, May 25, 2009
How we got to Nigeria (Flights)
MAY 13, 2009 (WEDNESDAY)
And so it begins – departed St. John’s on AC651 at 0935. Agent noticed a problem and said he could not check my bags through to Lagos. Also said he would join my return flights from St. John’s to Halifax with the remainder of the trip so there is a single file.
At Halifax met my cousin Diane for lunch. Returned to the airport to meet the other team members just arriving. As they were checking in, an agent suggested I check to see if the gate agent could pull my luggage and check it all they way through. She did.
1755 Departed AC667 for Montreal. We grabbed some supper at the airport. Not much time between flights.
1950 Departed AC870 for Paris. Sat with Eric, Angie and their 15 month old daughter Skyla. Her parents are from Romania & Crete. He is originally from Paris but works in Montreal in 3D graphic arts. Taking their daughter home to meet his family.
MAY 14, 2009 (THURSDAY)
Short stop in Paris to go from Terminal 2A to 2C, the last stop. We had little time as we had to wait a long time for the bus and had to clear security again.
1110 Departed AF854 for Lagos. Sat with a lady from New York going to Lagos for two weeks with her 17 month old daughter (born on Christmas Day). Slept on and off. Flight was 4720 km or 2928 miles and took a little more than 7 hours – arrival 1620 Lagos time.
At Lagos Airport we were stopped and asked for Yellow Fever Certificates. Derek did the talking – could not find mine – later it was in my luggage. We all got through. We were met outside the Immigration and Customs are by Somo Omoniyi and his group. The vehicles used to take us are pretty upscale.
And so it begins – departed St. John’s on AC651 at 0935. Agent noticed a problem and said he could not check my bags through to Lagos. Also said he would join my return flights from St. John’s to Halifax with the remainder of the trip so there is a single file.
At Halifax met my cousin Diane for lunch. Returned to the airport to meet the other team members just arriving. As they were checking in, an agent suggested I check to see if the gate agent could pull my luggage and check it all they way through. She did.
1755 Departed AC667 for Montreal. We grabbed some supper at the airport. Not much time between flights.
1950 Departed AC870 for Paris. Sat with Eric, Angie and their 15 month old daughter Skyla. Her parents are from Romania & Crete. He is originally from Paris but works in Montreal in 3D graphic arts. Taking their daughter home to meet his family.
MAY 14, 2009 (THURSDAY)
Short stop in Paris to go from Terminal 2A to 2C, the last stop. We had little time as we had to wait a long time for the bus and had to clear security again.
1110 Departed AF854 for Lagos. Sat with a lady from New York going to Lagos for two weeks with her 17 month old daughter (born on Christmas Day). Slept on and off. Flight was 4720 km or 2928 miles and took a little more than 7 hours – arrival 1620 Lagos time.
At Lagos Airport we were stopped and asked for Yellow Fever Certificates. Derek did the talking – could not find mine – later it was in my luggage. We all got through. We were met outside the Immigration and Customs are by Somo Omoniyi and his group. The vehicles used to take us are pretty upscale.
Agenda for our Time in Nigeria
May 14, Thursday
1600 (4 pm local time) Arrive at Lagos International Airport
accommodation Americas Best Hotel, Ota, Ogun State, District 9110
May 15, Friday
District Conference & Gala Night
May 16, Saturday
0700 Breakfast Fellowship with RC Ota
Group lunch at Chicken Lovers, Abule-Taylor
Hosts pickup at District Office after lunch
May 17, Sunday
Rest and familiarization with hosts
District welcome dinner Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja
May 18, Monday
Visit Temidire Primary School, Olambe
Lunch and fellowship with RC Ikeja
Visit Rotary Wheel School for “Beggars Children”, Oko Baba Ebute Metta
May 19, Tuesday
Visit Medical Equipment & Bore holes in Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ife
Visit Ogun State University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu
May 20, Wednesday
Visit Bore hole project sites in Lagos
Farewell dinner hosted by PDG Juli Adelusi-Adeluyi
May 21, Thursday
Business Meeting with Water and Sanitation Committee
Shopping & Sight seeing
Group lunch, rest and refreshing at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja
1800 (6pm) depart for International Airport
1600 (4 pm local time) Arrive at Lagos International Airport
accommodation Americas Best Hotel, Ota, Ogun State, District 9110
May 15, Friday
District Conference & Gala Night
May 16, Saturday
0700 Breakfast Fellowship with RC Ota
Group lunch at Chicken Lovers, Abule-Taylor
Hosts pickup at District Office after lunch
May 17, Sunday
Rest and familiarization with hosts
District welcome dinner Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja
May 18, Monday
Visit Temidire Primary School, Olambe
Lunch and fellowship with RC Ikeja
Visit Rotary Wheel School for “Beggars Children”, Oko Baba Ebute Metta
May 19, Tuesday
Visit Medical Equipment & Bore holes in Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ife
Visit Ogun State University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu
May 20, Wednesday
Visit Bore hole project sites in Lagos
Farewell dinner hosted by PDG Juli Adelusi-Adeluyi
May 21, Thursday
Business Meeting with Water and Sanitation Committee
Shopping & Sight seeing
Group lunch, rest and refreshing at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja
1800 (6pm) depart for International Airport
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Medical Packs
Through the Health Partners International of Canada, we are purchasing 6 medical packs to take with us. These will be given to Lasuth Teaching Hospital or the hospital in ljebu-lfe or ljebu-Ode. Wherever our Nigerian hosts feel they will most benefit.
Each medical pack weighs 50 pounds, costs approx $575 and contains:
Each medical pack weighs 50 pounds, costs approx $575 and contains:
- antibiotics
- antiemetics
- oral rehydration
- anti-ulcer medication
- analgesics
- antihistamines
- antiparasitics
- antifungals
- antihypertensives
- vitamins
- antimalarials
- medical supplies
- topical creams
- eye & ear drops and ointments
With the cooperation of our clubs, we are hoping to a Rotary District Simplified Grant to cover half the cost of the medical packs.
Our Flights
With the good efforts of Katie Irwin, The Travel Store, Summerside, our arrangements to fly are made.
We depart Halifax May 13, 2009 at 1755 for Montreal.
With just over an hour stopover, we will be hurried to catch our flight to Paris at 1950
We arrive in Paris at 0830 on May 14 and have just over 2 1/2 hour stopover.
Air France departs at 1110 and we arrive in Lagos at 1620
Our return sees us leaving Lagos on Air France at 2310 on May 21 and arriving in Paris at 0610 on May 22. We have a 7 hour lay over in Paris before departing on Air Canada at 1330 for Montreal. We have about 1 1/2 hours in Montreal before departing for Halifax at 1615 arriving at 1840.
I still have to arrange to return to Newfoundland. The cost of our flights from Halifax return is $1,729.23
We depart Halifax May 13, 2009 at 1755 for Montreal.
With just over an hour stopover, we will be hurried to catch our flight to Paris at 1950
We arrive in Paris at 0830 on May 14 and have just over 2 1/2 hour stopover.
Air France departs at 1110 and we arrive in Lagos at 1620
Our return sees us leaving Lagos on Air France at 2310 on May 21 and arriving in Paris at 0610 on May 22. We have a 7 hour lay over in Paris before departing on Air Canada at 1330 for Montreal. We have about 1 1/2 hours in Montreal before departing for Halifax at 1615 arriving at 1840.
I still have to arrange to return to Newfoundland. The cost of our flights from Halifax return is $1,729.23
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Team
The final team members are from the Rotary Club of Summerside and the lone representative from Newfoundland and Labrador:
Derek Key, lawyer with McInnes Cooper, Summerside
Dr. Arthur Davies, Minister in the United Church & Community Service Chair
John McCarthy, Manager of Commercial Banking, Western PEI
Dr. Richard Wedge, PEI Health Services
Dale Craig, new Rotarian & operator of local United Van Lines
Derek Key, lawyer with McInnes Cooper, Summerside
Dr. Arthur Davies, Minister in the United Church & Community Service Chair
John McCarthy, Manager of Commercial Banking, Western PEI
Dr. Richard Wedge, PEI Health Services
Dale Craig, new Rotarian & operator of local United Van Lines
Mark Brown, District 7820 Governor Nominee for 2010-11.
Each of us are now dealing with the normal course of innoculations and Visa applications.
A New Rotary Experience
On January 11, 2009, Rotarian Derek Key, from the Rotary Club of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada (District 7820) invited me to be part of a team of Rotarians invited to return to Nigeria (Rotary District 9110) to view projects funded by Rotary Clubs in District 7820 (mostly Atlantic Canada).
He cautions that Nigeria is not a nice place - it is one of the poorest countries in the world with no clean water. The Canadian government has had a Travel Advisory in place for 10 years suggest you not travel there. It is described quite accurately as "The Ten Worst Places in the World". Recently, there have been armed attacks on the main road leading from the International Airport.
Derek says this is not a place which we will be anxious to return. Our eyes will be open to what it means to be poor. Not the poor described in our communities but so desperately poor that their children literally die in their arms because there is no health care, no food, no clean water and no supports of any kind.
Yet we will meet some of the kindest, most generous folks imaginable, who work in these conditions every day of their lives. It is a place where we have been able to make a significant difference because of the commitment and generosity of Rotary Clubs in Atlantic Canada.
Four years ago, Derek was the Rotary Team Leader for a group of four, up and coming people in their fields, to travel on a Rotary Group Study Exchange (GSE) to Nigeria. The Rotary Foundation sponsors GSE as an opportunity for people between 25 and 40 to travel to another country from 4 to 6 weeks to live with Rotarians, experience the culture and environment as well as gain an understanding of similar work in that country.
While in Nigeria, Derek and his team encountered places where clean water, medical supplies and good educational materials were sadly lacking. They committed to raise funds to have wells drilled.
Since Derek's GSE team returned to Canada, Rotarians in District 7820 raised sufficient funds to build several wells to serve as few as 500 residents and as many as 20,000. Rotary has provided the needed resources to put books in schools, sickle cell clinics in local neighbourhoods, and a hot of other projects identified by local Rotary Clubs in Nigeria. In all, literally thousands have enjoyed the benefits.
In addition, District 7820 has delivered three containers of medical equipment and supplies to Nigeria.to provide water to funds were raised, wells drilled, medical and educational supplies were sent to Nigeria. Derek wants to return to Nigeria to see what difference these projects have made and to determine if there are other worthwhile projects we can attempt to secure cooperation and funds to begin.
In 2008, I participated in a Rotary project in a small village in India. A marvellous experience that showed me how many hands can make a significant difference. Read more about that project at http://Rotary-district7820.blogspot.com
He cautions that Nigeria is not a nice place - it is one of the poorest countries in the world with no clean water. The Canadian government has had a Travel Advisory in place for 10 years suggest you not travel there. It is described quite accurately as "The Ten Worst Places in the World". Recently, there have been armed attacks on the main road leading from the International Airport.
Derek says this is not a place which we will be anxious to return. Our eyes will be open to what it means to be poor. Not the poor described in our communities but so desperately poor that their children literally die in their arms because there is no health care, no food, no clean water and no supports of any kind.
Yet we will meet some of the kindest, most generous folks imaginable, who work in these conditions every day of their lives. It is a place where we have been able to make a significant difference because of the commitment and generosity of Rotary Clubs in Atlantic Canada.
Four years ago, Derek was the Rotary Team Leader for a group of four, up and coming people in their fields, to travel on a Rotary Group Study Exchange (GSE) to Nigeria. The Rotary Foundation sponsors GSE as an opportunity for people between 25 and 40 to travel to another country from 4 to 6 weeks to live with Rotarians, experience the culture and environment as well as gain an understanding of similar work in that country.
While in Nigeria, Derek and his team encountered places where clean water, medical supplies and good educational materials were sadly lacking. They committed to raise funds to have wells drilled.
Since Derek's GSE team returned to Canada, Rotarians in District 7820 raised sufficient funds to build several wells to serve as few as 500 residents and as many as 20,000. Rotary has provided the needed resources to put books in schools, sickle cell clinics in local neighbourhoods, and a hot of other projects identified by local Rotary Clubs in Nigeria. In all, literally thousands have enjoyed the benefits.
In addition, District 7820 has delivered three containers of medical equipment and supplies to Nigeria.to provide water to funds were raised, wells drilled, medical and educational supplies were sent to Nigeria. Derek wants to return to Nigeria to see what difference these projects have made and to determine if there are other worthwhile projects we can attempt to secure cooperation and funds to begin.
In 2008, I participated in a Rotary project in a small village in India. A marvellous experience that showed me how many hands can make a significant difference. Read more about that project at http://Rotary-district7820.blogspot.com
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