March 2011
7 posts
BACK IN THE USA 3-31-11
I have been back in the USA for one week and pleasantly surprised by how many people have asked me about my trip to Nigeria or told me of their own recent or upcoming “travel adventures”.
Willie, a Lagos, Nigeria Fireman I had the pleasure to meet
A Lagos, Nigeria Fire Station
It took a few days for the trip to fully sink in so I could respond to the top question I was asked. “What...
30 tags
Nigeria Rising, 3/20/11
Zuma Rock located just outside of Abuja, Nigeria. Our Nigerian driver told us this rock has never been able to be scaled.
As we prepare to leave this fascinating, complex, and rapidly growing City of Lagos, Nigeria I am reviewing the list of public policy priorities any dedicated City Manager, Mayor, or City Council member would have made after nine days here. Things Americans generally take...
Nigeria Report, 3-18-11
Whatever sidelined me for a day I sweated out last night and rejoined the Amobi Okoye Foundation team for a 12 hour day of promoting education and American Football in this off the charts, visually and culturally stimulating city, which is teaming with activity. The sights, sounds, and story lines in Lagos, Nigeria are riveting, endless, and emotional.
But back to business, while news the NFL...
11 tags
Thursday, 3:30 pm in Lagos, Nigeria / 3-17-11
I skipped the coaching clinic this morning and managed to get on the internet through my mini-computer, in my hotel room, $10 dollars for 24 hours. The travel, heat, long and harrowing car ride to and from the slave port yesterday resulted in a back and neck ache.
Walking the Badagry slave port, from which the 400 + year Atlantic Slave Trade was launched by Portugal around 1425, was a surreal...
15 tags
Nigeria Photos
To see some amazing images from Nigeria and to follow the trip check out the following websites.
Jason Ryan Creative
International Federation of American Football (IFAF)
fb Connor Barwin Fan Page
14 tags
Nigeria Visit - 3-16-11
I am “out of pocket” as they say for 11 days, helping out with an educational, medical, and sports mission organized by NFL football star Amobi Okoye, who hails from Nigeria. My youngest son Connor plays defense for the Houston Texans with Amobi and asked if I was interested in tagging along to help out. Absolutely.
I jumped at the opportunity, not only because I have never been to Africa...
Making Sense of the Census 3-14-11
As the US Census bureau releases the 2010 Census data scores demographers, business strategists, professors, and think tank types will pan the treasure trove of US Census data for a few golden nuggets of insights as to how our society is changing. Early Census data confirms that Oak Park has once again defied expectations and predictions. The Census bureau’s population estimating division had...
