Nigeria Travel and Growth 2006/2007
December 2006 – August 2007

I could not describe what I felt when I arrived at Murtalla Mohammed Airport in Lagos in December of 2006. For once Eduwatch was not on my mind. I was in Nigeria to commiserate with my siblings after the death of my mother, Mamapapa or Mama Bookworm to many because she once owned a book and stationary business aptly named The Bookworm, West Africa Ltd. I was finally beginning to try to turn my previous exhaustion and discouragement about Nigeria into positive active energy that would allow me to give what I could of myself and my time to my siblings. I was not going to think of Eduwatch. I was going to make every effort to detach myself from the unpleasant realities of Nigeria.

Being in Nigeria gave me a chance to get back on the horse and to reflect on what was really behind some of the deeply disturbing experiences I had had with various Nigerians. I finally accepted what I already knew. Nigeria is not always kind to its children especially those who live outside its borders even when they come back with the better ideas to move the country forward. I now understand better that Nigeria's loss of brain power is not just from other people purposely "stealing" Nigerian brains through employment, it has just as much to do with the preacher not being popular in his home town and the need for Nigerians to survive and to be recognized and compensated for what they are able to do.

After the initial couple of years of welcoming the ideas and possible success of the "migrant" Nigerian child, anger and resentment began to build against the seemingly happy go lucky intruder whether she came bearing gifts; jaded angry people who sometimes should know better became stumbling blocks because they felt that the new returnee had not been in the trenches and out in the storm as they had and they waited gloatingly for the day she too would get the joy knocked out of her.

I had had my share of experiences with enough angry and contentious people who sought to ensure that I too would become as bitter and angry as they; that I too would move from a stance of compassion to abrasive and aggressive self-service dedicated to winning by intimidation alone. For a while I too succumbed to the deep negativity that accompanies getting burned by one's own people and pledged to turn my back on Eduwatch and all that it stood for, but I couldn't. I have since learned that one must not personalize the kind of negativity that almost choked me. I experienced first hand the evil that poverty, mindless greed and ignorance breeds in otherwise intelligent people. The true evil is in poverty and desperation not within the individual.
Returning from Nigeria in January of 2007, I realized the power of what I had been able to achieve thus far through Eduwatch and I gained a new appreciation for non-profit work in economically challenging parts of any nation. I am delighted that I have now re-opened the doors of Eduwatch once more with a greater determination to serve marginalized children. I am now much richer in experience and deeper in empathy. I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I have yet another chance to work toward making the world a better place one person and one deed at a time