Monthly Archives: July 2015
Pictured with the Speaker of the Nigerian National Assembly, Yakubu Dogara (center) and Women in Politics Forum President, Eberre Ifendu (left) at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria. I have been pretty hard on Nigeria since arriving in May 2014. There are crazy drivers, periodic power outages (as many as four over the course of an hour), aggressive conversations and corruption at every turn. But as I settle into Nigeria, I have… Read More
Today, I entered the beast, better known as the Balogun Market in Lagos, Nigeria. Lagos is one of the most populous cities in the world serving home to over 19 million people (about two times the population size of New York City). The Balogun Market is a large and noisy outdoor and indoor space that is made up of stalls along complex and confusing aisles. The market is known for its cheap… Read More
I will never forget the sinking feeling I felt when I turned on my television on Thursday morning, June 18 and heard the CNN reporter announce “Breaking News” from Charleston, South Carolina…it would be a gut wrenching day as nine innocent souls lost their lives in a horrific attack at a historic church. Since that time, we have gotten to know each of the victims in a personal way. Clementa Pinckney was… Read More
No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck. – Frederick Douglass Once again, I am celebrating America’s independence by working to enhance democracy in Nigeria. This past week, I traveled to Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria for work. Calabar is said to be the number one tourist destination in Nigeria (for Nigerians). The city host carnival… Read More
A FREDAY in AFRICA! 