April Edition

Our APRIL EDITION is out. Photos show the front and back covers.

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INSIDE TRACK is a quarterly magazine that contains articles, interviews, and photos.

Letter to the Editor

Below is an email we received from one of our readers:

Hi I am moving to Abuja in early May to live with my partner who will be working in the city for up to two years.

I am slightly nervous about coming out after hearing mixed reviews of the city and quality of life, ranging from very positive to the very
negative. This has made me a bit frightened and apprehensive.

I would be really interested in hearing your views having read your blog. My partner will be working from 9-7 5 days a week. At present I cannot
drive. Is it safe for women to travel, get taxi's, walk around and drive alone?
(I am planning to pass my test before moving.)

Also are there any expat clubs which I could join? I will not know anyone when I move so it would be really good to meet people and get involved.

Many best wishes,
Jessica

Dear Jessica,

First of all, as you may already know, Abuja is where almost all Diplomatic Missions in Nigeria are located, as well as the fact that the Nigerian President's official residence is here, so I guess these will say much about the security and quality of life in the city.

Getting a taxi is generally safe (during the day at least), as well as walking around and driving alone.

Regarding the clubs, scroll down to see some of the clubs and associations you can join when you get here.

We wish you a pleasant stay in Abuja...

Araceli
Editor
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Networking in Abuja: The clubs and associations

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One of the things newcomers in Abuja would like to find out is how they can meet like-minded people with whom they can spend an hour or two each week or month. Below is a list of some of the notable clubs, associations, or networking groups in Abuja:

Abuja International Women’s Club is a non-political, non-religious, non- profit making organisation established for women from the international and local community residing in and around Abuja. The main purpose of the club is to promote friendship and understanding amongst women of diverse nationalities by organising social, recreational and humanitarian activities. For further information email abujaiwc@yahoo.com. (Photo on the left shows some members of the AIWC.)

Abuja Dashers is an informal group of runners who meet three evenings a week, Tuesday to Thursday 5.30pm to 7pm, to run in and around Abuja. Distances range from 3K to 10K. Various levels of fitness and speed are represented. Contact Jennifer jbrinkerhoff@chemonics.com or 0805 502 2820 or Douglas DouglasGuest@compuserve.com or 0803 291 1221.

Abuja Literary Society (ALS). Readings are held on the first Friday of the month at Transcorp Hilton Hotel. Last Friday of the Month at the British Council, Maitama. Third Saturdays at NuMetro Mediastore, Ceddi Plaza Central Area Abuja. Abuja Poetry Slam (performance poetry competition) is hosted in March, June, September and the Grand Slam is in December. Special guest writers normally feature at the 1st Friday readings at the Hilton. ALS organises special workshops, retreats and exchanges. ALS can help you with manuscript editing; organise book presentations, marketing or special literary nights/events. Time for all programmes is 7pm to 9pm. Call Victor on 0803 311 7246 or Ken on 0802 901 1826.

The Sunday Film Club is held on Sunday evenings at Salamander Cafe. This is a must for anyone interested in Art House cinema from Africa/Europe/Asia/Middle East and is free of charge. Salamander Cafe has generously offered their space for us to meet with large LCD screen TV and surround sound speakers. Screenings are every Sunday, arrive at 5.30pm for a 6pm sharp show time. There will be a chance to discuss and share ideas about the film over a drink after the screening. Address: Salamander Cafe (opposite Union Bank, near Mama Cass), 72 Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2. 0702 785 0932.

Abujaclubsalsa. Salsa Dance Classes are back and better every Tuesday and Friday, 7.15 to 8.15pm at the sports hall (behind the lawn tennis court), Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. For beginners, improvers, intermediate and advanced skill levels. Other dances include merengue, cha-cha, bachata. Enquiries. Dare - 0803 576 2379; Mikey - 0802 306 6583 http://www.salsa-abuja.com/

Friends of Yankari – a group of members who want to develop and safeguard the Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State, through their ideas, skills and enthusiasm. If you are interested in joining please email Nichola Saunders on friendsofyankari@gmail.com. All donations and membership payments go directly to fund Yankari Game Reserve and its game rangers. We are at the moment sourcing GPS equipment for our rangers from our current funds. The annual fee is N5,000 for individual annual membership and N50,000 for corporate annual membership.

The Cricket Club of Abuja. The club meets at 10.45am every Sunday at the CCA ground next to the National Indoor Stadium on the airport road. All players welcome! We have all necessary cricket equipment so you do not need to bring your own. More details can be obtained from Deepak 0805 309 1244, Brai 0803 315 5158 or Ladipo 0805 550 3027.

Hash Meetings. Meet at Hilton at 3.00pm, in the parking lots on the left, just beyond the entrance gate. The Abuja Hash is a family-friendly hash with G-rated songs and you can choose to drink water or soft drinks (or beer, of course!). The cost is N800 for basic hash amenities and another N1,200 for dinner afterwards. Interested people should contact Michael Glees on 0803 408 1039.

Nigerian Field Society Abuja Chapter. Established in 1930, takes trips and has events devoted to the exploration of the Nature and Cultures of Nigeria and West Africa. Click on NFSAbuja.org to see a calendar of upcoming events: http://www.nfsabuja.org/

Abuja Art and Culture

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Jumoke Verissimo, a Lagos-based copywriter and journalist, read from her recently published poetry collection last Saturday, February 28, 2009, at the Pen and Pages in Abuja. The reading was organized by the Abuja Writers' Forum.

Other writers on Jumoke and her book:
"Whether confronted on the page or at your seat in a room where Jumoke is in one of her spellbinding performances, these poems are unrelentingly lively and lyrical. Hold them in your hands, in your heart, and let them be what she has created them to be: brilliant torchlight to guide you across previously unlit landscapes of memory, of murdered dreams, of desire, of guilt and of loss; territories from which you will not emerge untouched." - Tolu Ogunlesi

In this first collection of poems, Jumoke Verissimo remakes language beyond mere lyricism to uncover the roots of pain and the passion that will heal it. She addresses communal hurt as a personal fate that awaits an assured balm...This poet will travel." - Odia Ofeimun

How (not) to be kidnapped

On the 13th of February, a story that kidnappers were operating in Abuja and had kidnapped a lawmaker’s daughter, a university student, was on the front page of a national daily. Although it was denied the next day by the university where the student is supposedly enrolled, kidnapping is one of the major security issues in some parts of the country. Below are PERSONAL AND SECURITY GUIDELINES you may find useful. This information was sent to us thru email by Fred D. Borbon of Addax Petroleum Dev. Nig. Ltd. VI, Lagos:

KIDNAPPING is a sophisticated crime that usually requires elaborate plans for success. Kidnapping schemes start with observation and scrutiny of victim’s routine.

For security to be effective, it must permeate through every member of the family, including the children. The aim is to generate security-minded attitudes and habits in all family members.

Adults should become conversant with proper security procedures to be taken, not only in kidnapping situation but all emergency occurrences.

House-helps, drivers and security guards should be thoroughly screened and subsequently trained in proper security procedures.

Assess the threat and your level of exposure.

Be aware of your surroundings.

When walking – be in populated areas.

Before entering your house – watch out for tails; counter-tails.

Before entering your car – look around; lock doors as soon as you sit.

When driving – rear view mirrors are great; 360° coverage
Adjust your lifestyle.

Do not keep late nights; if you have to, then stay with many others.

Ostentatious living is not advisable; action speaks louder.

Watch what you say and what your children say; the wall have eyes and ears.

Cut out routine in your way of life.

Avoid dangerous neighbourhoods and random taxis.

If you observe a threat, report to security immediately.

WHEN KIDNAPPED:

Remain calm and businesslike as possible; do not panic, beg or cry.

Cooperate with the abductors and not try to escape.

Resistance can result in injury or even death.

When in transit, make a mental note of direction travelled, odours, landmarks, unusual noise and length of time involved.

Leave your fingerprints by touching various part of vehicle or the house you are taken into.

Remain impartial in any philosophical or social discussion.
Do not discuss rescue efforts, ransom terms, amnesty offers etc.

Bear in mind that every possible effort will be made by your family, company and security agents to obtain your quick and safe release.

WHEN SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED:

Report the incident to the Security Department immediately.

Do not panic or start broadcasting the incident.

Be conscious that you are being watched.

A Negotiating Team will be set up by Law Enforcement & Company Security to handle the situation.

Refer the first contact telephone call to the Negotiating Team; do not volunteer any information or start negotiating with the kidnappers.

Give critical information about the spouse or child to the Negotiating Team; do not volunteer any information or start negotiating with the kidnappers.

Rest assured that the child will be released safe and sound: child abductors take extra care to ensure that the child does not fall sick or die.

EXTRA TIPS:

Educate children in conversing with strangers on the phone, answering doors, while playing outdoors and going to and from school or places of worship.

Use a private car to take children to school or at least accompany them to the school bus.

Parents should insist never to release a child from school without parental consent. Consent should not be verbal or by pretext of a well dressed person. Claims must be confirmed by school authorities.

Advise children to stay with friends at all times.

Advise children never to enter a stranger’s car even though they claim to know mommy or daddy.

Children should be taught to raise alarm if someone is trying to remove them by force.

TYPES OF KIDNAPPING:

Express: Kidnapped in a car and driven around town and robbed of all valuables; Lagos “One-Chance” technique

Virtual: Email or phone threatening you that your child is abducted and you must send money

Political: Kidnapping to sway political decisions; original MEND tactics

Ransom: Kidnapping for financial gains

Spousal: Kidnapping wife or children for divorce purposes; mainly done at school or church premises

Article

DON'T DIE ON THIRD

-by Ramon Ruste

It was like one of those classic games in sports, right down to the last minutes. I was not just a spectator cheering for my favourite team; I was the team, or at least as a pitcher, I was a part of the softball team on its way to the championship, definitely spelling out a difference in terms of adrenalin’s presence in one’s body.

An aborted home run brought me standing on the third base. The game was down to the last 9th inning with our team doing the last batting. The score was 3-2 in favour of our opponents, The Knights. With two outs, our team’s next player to stand on the batting plate was a right fielder who had a poor batting record of six standing strike outs in a 5-game season. Everybody was thinking the same thing: What were our chances of tying the ball game? And probably winning the Championship with an extended inning?

Our team, The Light Bringers, had a chance if only our teammate could make a good batting, allowing me enough time to run for the home plate and tie the score at 3-3. But there was a fear that he would simply succumb again to a standing strike out and leave me stuck and figuratively dying on the third base. A daunting thought indeed, a worst case scenario. And just as we had initially feared, the unwanted scenario struck. The umpire called two strikes and a thrown ball against our batting player. And being a pitcher myself, I knew that the opposing pitcher would take advantage of his pitch count of one ball and two strikes. He would definitely swing for a wild pitch, hoping to deceive our batter for an extended swing at his bat and eventually striking him out.

Being the assistant team captain, the only thing I could think of while contemplating the critical situation was: Don’t die on third! Glimpses of what we were taught in high school about getting inspiration from great people and leaders entered my mind. In sports, I knew that the late Lou Gehrig, a pitcher and a first baseman with the New York Yankees, was a standout. At this point, I felt that increasing our chances of winning depended on me. I had observed that the catcher of the opposing team, sniffing a win within his grasp, would just quickly throw back the ball to the pitcher, unmindful of my advanced position on the third base (already just a few feet away from the home plate for a vantage run to make a score). With this in mind, I decided to take my chance for a steal base. And right on cue, I made a dash for the home plate, luckily catching the pitcher off-guards as I went sliding down my goal, lifting in the process a mist of hovering dust with the catcher trying desperately to get hold of a ground ball pass from his pitcher to tag me out. The only thing I heard as I reached the home plate was a shout from the umpire declaring me: Safe!

For me it was a risk worth taking, as true to my prediction our batter got his 7th standing strike out. My desperate home plate run gave us a tied ball game that eventually won our team the championship after an extended 10th inning game that saw the final score at 5-3.

The phrase “Don’t die on third” and the softball championship taught me a lot not only in sports but in life’s struggle. They provide me with the right impetus not to give up easily when in pursuit of goals and objectives. ●

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ramon Ruste, a trained accountant, is from the Philippines. He is currently working as Technical Cost Controller in Abuja. He has lived abroad for a great part of his adult life, working first in Dubai and Saudi Arabia and then coming to Nigeria. He has been in Abuja for the last seven years, actively involving himself in civic and social activities - qualities that got him elected for a one-year term as President of the Filipino community in 2002. As a sports lover, he plays bowling and runs regularly to keep fit. Ramon is an advocate of “eat and burn strategy” to maintain body weight.

Who was Lou Gehrig?
Lou Gehrig was an American baseball player in the 1920s and 1930s. He set several Major League records and was popularly called the "The Iron Horse" for his durability. He was voted the greatest first baseman of all time by the Baseball Writers' Association. A native of New York City, he played for the New York Yankees until his career was cut short by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), now commonly referred to in the United States as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Over a 15-season span between 1925 and 1939, he played in 2,130 consecutive games. The streak ended when Gehrig became disabled with the fatal neuromuscular disease that claimed his life two years later. (Source: Wikipedia)

INTERVIEW: Jochen Theis from Germany

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Twenty four year-old Jochen Theis is a German student who was in Abuja last year as part of his course training. Here, he talks about his Nigerian experience including his love for pounded yam and pepper soup...

INSIDE TRACK: Why are you in Nigeria and how long have you been here?
JOCHEN THEIS: I am in my last year of Business Administration at the University of Mannheim and I came to Nigeria to work as a trainee for a construction company with the intention of gaining more working experience. For this time, I will only stay for six months and I’ve been here since July.

INSIDE TRACK: What negative aspect of Nigeria did you hear before you came?
JOCHEN: Plenty. After I got the job offer, I started making research about Nigeria, mainly through the internet. The information you get in the beginning does not really invite you to think about taking the job in Nigeria. But even if you intensify your search, you will mostly come across negative articles.

INSIDE TRACK: What positive aspects?
JOCHEN: The most helpful for my decision to come here was a conversation with a former trainee of the same company who was here in the beginning of the year. He really gave me a positive impression not only about Nigeria and Nigerians but also about the job situation. The most important for me was just to get a good scale for risks and opportunities in Nigeria.

INSIDE TRACK: What Nigerian food has appealed to your taste?
JOCHEN: I regularly enjoy the rich choice of Nigerian vegetables and I also usually spice up my dish with the famous bush pepper. Speaking about meals, I found shawarma and pounded yam to my liking. Besides that, I also like pepper soup, but only if the cook respects my limits for “spicyness.”

INSIDE TRACK: What places in Nigeria have you visited?
JOCHEN: In general I am in Nigeria for work, so the possibilities to travel are very limited. Nevertheless, I try to use every opportunity to experience the country in which I have decided to live for six months. So far I was in Jos and at the Guara Falls. For the future, I hope to be able to see Lagos and the Yankari Park, too.

INSIDE TRACK What do you like most about the country?
JOCHEN: It is hard to say what I like most, because I like quite much. To provide just a selection, first of all, as the dominant part of my life here, I am satisfied with the job. As I am very much into nature, I also appreciate Nigeria’s rich landscape. Last but not the least, I like Abuja’s nightlife and the possibilities to enjoy the rare free time here.

INSIDE TRACK: When you go back to your country, what will you tell your friends about Nigeria?
JOCHEN: I will probably describe Nigeria as a country of contrast and struggle. While it is a country with unique richness of natural resources, the differences in living circumstances for Nigerians are probably bigger than in many other countries. As all verbal descriptions could not picture Nigeria, my recommendation to everybody will just be to get a personal impression by visiting the country.●

(This interview was published in the first edition of Inside Track Magazine. Jochen Theis has gone back to Germany. Editor)

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