NIGERIA: Be safe

I am currently living in a country where there's only a handful of Malaysian here. There are 5 families in Lagos plus some blokes who are on various assignments with some of the multi-national companies based in Lagos. In the mix, we have Shiela Madu who married a local man many many years ago. 

In Abuja, there's about the same number of us, but from time to time; Khairy from Matrade office in Lagos would announce there are Malaysian currently in Nigeria on attachment as consultants to some other international or reputable local companies in other locale (e.g Port Harcourt, Calabar etc). 

Since there's only several of us here, we know each other quite well and always within contact; just to be on the safe side. 3 years in Nigeria had thought us a lot on being constant contact within the group. Like I mentioned to prospective business group back in Malaysia, it's generally safe but like everywhere else; things can go wrong. So, it's best in to be in contact with the rest of Malaysian here, staff of the High Comm included. 

Pictures on other websites and online news site

I am happy to say that in Nigeria, finally I had arrived in the blog scene. Not that the blog has lots of readers, even at the moment no followers..ahahahah... still, it's quite an accomplishment when the pictures were featured in some of the online news in Nigeria.

Naturally our High Commissioner, Datuk Lim Juay Jin is usually the most sought after Malaysian in Nigeria. He represents Malaysia for the past few years, did countless interviews and talks and like the diplomats I've met (there's one in the family too, mom's side) he's very much liked too!

Anyway, back to subject... these two pictures above were the ones I managed to find from the search engine but from another site altogether. The pictures were doctored a bit (crop, magnified, change of saturation etc) but frankly, I am pretty much OK about it. 

Next time, just name give credit where its due (in my case). OK!

NIGERIA: Lagos: Eid al-Kabir / Eid ul-Adha 2016 (Part 1)

This would be our second time celebrating Eid al-Kabir/Eid ul-Adha (click here) in Lagos, Nigeria. Alhamdulillah, thank Allah this year we were able to participate in the Qurban (sacrifice of livestock during Eid ul-Adha). 

In the morning of Eid, I went to my usual masjeed near Awolowo Road. The jama'ah (congregation) this year is much bigger and even the imam took his time before we began to perform the solar (pray). It was not until 9.30am and still, throngs of people entered the area we performed the solah so special, only twice a year according to the Islamic calendar. 

NIGERIA: Lagos: Hello Khairy, Goodbye Saifuddin (MATRADE TC)

At long last, the family and also the replacement officer for the Malaysia Trade Office in Lagos has arrived. Yes, Saifuddin Khalid...the indefatigable Trade Commissioner for MATRADE, his assignment had come to an end. He was here for a while during the Ebola crisis and  later had been instrumental in setting up the the MATRADE office in Lagos. All in all, 3 very colorful years with challenges which are very unique IMHO.

Khairy (l) and Saifuddin (r)

The officer replacing him, Khairy Maidin arrived with his family a few days earlier than the above photograph was taken. We had breakfast at Cactus Cafe, along the Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue. I was happy to meet him after our initial meeting in Malaysia sometime in June.

We invited Khairy and family over to our place and as it happens our High Commissioner was around in Lagos for an official visit. It was great to see Datuk Lim Juay Jin after my last visit in December last year to Abuja with Saifuddin.

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