The 16th Annual Nigerian Reunion: The Full Gist

Long post alert. This is a detailed account of my experience at the 16^th annual Nigerian Reunion. If you want to read the summary of my entire weekend (and the events of the Nigerian Union), you should read my weekend recount post.

Let me just start by saying that I was (still am) really disappointed at all the negative commentaries about the Nigerian Reunion – mostly from people who were NOT at the reunion – it reminded me of what Mr. Jackson (one of the panelists) said about Nigerians not being unified. It’s like once something is being done by a fellow Nigerian, we must find something wrong with it. Most times, we are just grasping at straws with absolutely no constructive criticism.

The reunion was not perfect; neither did it lack areas that can be improved on. While people were insulting people for what they wore and how they wore it, for how they posed for pictures, etc, I was busy getting inspired at the number of Nigerians who ARE doing big things.

My first event was on Saturday, July 7^th and it was a town hall meeting. I was honored to be on the panel. It started later than it was supposed to, and the turnout was poor, but the knowledge I took away from it was priceless. We were about 50 people in total, including the six panelists.

The host of the meeting asked each of us what we thought was Nigeria’s biggest problem, and how we could fix it. My response was that it was our orientation. The way we think and process things will unfortunately always leave us behind the rest of the world, unless we change it.

By the end of the panel, I had given away and received so many business cards. I got to meet fellow Nigerians that were doing big and important things, people that were trying to leave their mark. And I was deeply humbled and impressed.

Some of the people I met were Mr. Famuyiwa, an engineer and real estate broker who has businesses in America, Nigeria, and Ghana. He travels to Nigeria every six weeks, and he was just recently invited to dine with President Barack Obama.  I met Mr. Brunner, the vice president of Arik Air. I met Ms. Kabeya from Dish Network, Mr. Dada, chairman of the board of directors of NIDO, Mr. Ekechukwu, regional director of NIDO, Ms. Nnoma-Addison, Vice President of AMIP News, Ms. Adewunmi of Renovate Nigeria, Ifeanyi of Lead Nigeria, Ms. Ladeyemi from Making Change, Lanre Awesu from Exodus Guild [Nigeria], Mr. Segun Adeyina, the President of NRC, and much more.

I got to network with these people and have some serious conversations about possible collaborations for the future. Even if we never collaborate, they might lead me to someone who I will collaborate with.

The Image Awards was later that evening, and a lot of people received awards for their various contributions to business, life, Nigeria, etc. My favorite award recipient was Olasupo Rufai Dosunmu who had a moving story. While driving one day, he got into a head-on collision with a drunk driver. After countless surgeries and physical therapy, he now walks with crutches. His left knee does not bend at all, and his right knee only bends 65 degrees. There was barely a dry eye in the room when his sister introduced him. She, too, couldn’t stop crying. He was honored with the 2012 Exodus Image Award, “Striving In Adversity.”

My favorite performance was Mike Okri. Ice Prince was the biggest star of the evening, but I was not crazy about his performance – not to imply that it was not good. But I don’t like it when the artist is singing/performing with his music and voice playing in the background. It’s like playing a CD and someone who knows the lyrics is singing loudly above the CD. Every single Nigerian concert I have attended has been this way. It’s something that should be worked on. But Janelia and Mike Okri performed with a live band. Cool stuff.

Short video I recorded of Mike Okri performing. Next time I’ll keep my iPad in a horizontal orientation.

The next day (Sunday, July 8^th) was the comedy show with Basket Mouth. I expected for there to be an opening act, but to my pleasant surprise, Basket Mouth opened and closed his show, and he entertained us for almost three hours straight. We went home after that. No after party for me. I got to meet some listeners and readers though, like Odera of SimplyIfeoma, SlashWisdom (he’s absolutely nuts), and OluKanye (nuts too!), and some others too, whom I’m not sure would want their names listed here.

Food for thought: The president of NRC was in his twenties when NRC started its reunions. How old are you now, and what have you started/accomplished? I don’t know about you, but I am challenged!