Throwback: ABUJA: Excursion with MATRADE TC of West Africa

About three dozen of us here, scattered all over Nigeria. Three locations where you can find us, Lagos..Abuja and Port Harcourt.  We do receive guests from Malaysia from time to time. Had the privilege to receive Dato' Hazimah Zainuddin and entourage of Hyrax Oil came to Lagos and visited other Africa countries few weeks back.  

Dato' Hazimah Zainuddin

I've met most of the Malaysians here and I enjoy their company vice versa, I hope. We organised lunches, tea time and the occasional breakfast. In Lagos, my 'sparring partner' would be the MATRADE (Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation) officer in charge of West African region. MATRADE is the National Trade Promotion Agency of Malaysia.

The Old City Gate

Saifuddin Khalid (Dean) is the Trade Commissioner based in Lagos, Nigeria and covers 24 countries in West Africa. From Mauritania all the way to Chad....and from there, turn south all the way to Democratic Republic of Congo, that longitude. He is very busy and usually I see him during breakfast. Meeting business owners, Chiefs and Oga (big man, boss) on almost daily basis. 

I also made a point to visit Abuja every quarter. The routine would be meeting the HE High Commissioner of Malaysia and the rest of  Malaysians working there. Abuja is 800km from Lagos and flying there is the most sane decision. There are domestic flights all over Nigeria and its easier to travel by air. Honest... 

expressway to Abuja

Abuja National Mosque

During the last trip, once arrived we (me and Dean) had breakfast with a veteran Malaysian in Abuja, Azfeezal. I think he's been in Abuja for quite some time now. We jokingly said that a visit to Abuja must start by visiting him first. Need to "kowtow" to him... also he knows the best place in Abuja for 'makan-makan' (eat). Better get on his good side...

From where we had our breakfast, it was a short drive to the High Comm's office in Maitama. There's always a long queue outside...and I mean long queue (for Visa). Which I don't see outside other embassies or High Comm offices. I guarantee the staffs and including the locals they employed working flat out everyday to get the application processed. 

H.E the High Commissioner of Malaysia to Nigeria is very likeable person. I have an uncle who was a diplomat too (Datuk Kamal Yan) and I can see the same trait in both of them. I joked once with Datuk Lim, our High Comm here in Abuja...he is such a smooth talker that a curse i.e "go to hell" is such that the listener on the other end look forward to the trip! He's from Malacca (a state in Malaysia, steep with history) and had the pleasure to dine with him few times. Met his counterparts from other countries like from Thailand, China, Indonesia , Korea and Japan during Merdeka Celebration.

H.E Datuk Lim Juay Jin
High Commissioner of Malaysia to the
Federal Republic of Nigeria

H.E with Dean

Mr. Yunus

They discussed about the investments made by Malaysian companies in Nigeria and other issues as well. H.E also mentioned about the interview by Leadership Newspaper which published the interview here (click please) I think the interview is self explanatory.

Next was the meeting with Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) just outskirts of Abuja. They have a big piece of land which they organise exhibitions. We met the chamber's President himself, Mr. Tony Ejinkeonye. A slide show about the ACCI and the latest visit by Turkish delegation (if I am not mistaken). 

Mr. Tony Ejinkeonye and Dean

the exhibition centre with office space

Next meeting was a bit unexpected. At first we thought it won't happen. But a last minute call from his assistant inviting us to come over to visit this next person.

Alhaji Dr. Babanga Tukur, was a former PDP (political party in Nigeria) Chairman. He was gracious enough to meet us and with his assistant briefed us about the African Business Round Table which he is the Life Patron of the organisation. He spoke of his youth and ....wait a minute....Palm Oil/tree. ouch! We get this often here. Apparently, along the line to create the palm seed Malaysia is so famous for...a part of it comes from Nigeria. We enjoyed his hospitality, but the TC is a very busy man indeed. 

Alhaji Dr. Babangi Tukur and Dean

There was another 2 meetings and how time flies!...it was already time for dinner. We met Azfeezal..the veteran Malaysian at his apartment in Maitama and we went to a Lebanese restaurant that night. 

It was Albasha! You can Google it. It serves Lebanese and continental food. Ranked #8 out of 84 restaurants in Abuja, according to TripAdvisor. 

I was in Abuja for a day...but Dean had an appointment in Kaduna, Kaduna state. It's a  3 hour drive from Abuja and I heard that he had appointment as soon as he arrives in Abuja later that day. As for me, I took a morning flight back to Lagos. Need to be at school for some parent-teacher-student activity if I'm not mistaken. 

morning in Abuja before 'rush hour'

Last Sunday, Dean had some guests from MATRADE Malaysia. I joked that they sent people to monitor you since I do update our activities online. So I invited them, Aizal and Shahrizal to my place. I did my own investigation too! I asked them if they are here to scrutinise Dean...hahahah. They said they were  in Lagos to install some software for the office here. Phew!

We talked over tea about experience over here. Kak Shiela, who married a local came too, but alone. Next time told her to bring her other half to our gatherings. It was great fun! To Aizal and Shahrizal....come again to Lagos...you barely scratch Lagos on your first visit!

Aizal (left, sitting),
Kak Shiela (at the head of the table)

Shahrizal (right, sitting)