Day 3: Behold the Dead Zone (Buffer Zone)….

This morning, again! With great enthusiasm, expectation and inquisition, we set on the tour to the United Nation Protected Area with the UNFICYP. The briefing on the “battle for Nicosia Airport was excellent, giving us the needed insight to understand the tour the more and taking us back to history. The visit to the airport proper was touching. It brings the reality of the (war) conflict into the heart, seeing the airport damaged and abandoned as it were in 1974 when the problem started makes one feel the impact of the damage of the conflict the more.

The UN camps too were a great sight to behold. Nothing can be more exciting than meeting the soldier over launch and hearing their experience as peace keepers. I was pleased personally meet some of this soldier and for the first time, I feel like being one. (But can I?). We were privileged to also visit the shopping centre, pick up some souvenirs as evidence of our passage through the camp. Participants were delighted to get souvenirs for their loved ones back home.

Looking at the UN Peace Keepers (UNFICYP) facility and the time they have being here, the cost of maintaining the forces here, It was really sad to know that the UN spends so much money to keep peace in an areas whose conflict could have been resolved if people could be more tolerant and patient. This money could have help feed millions of hungry people in different part of the world. Cater for dying sick people etc. What an Irony…Life could be funny at times.


Its time to meet the leader of the ‘Turkish Cypriots’, Mehmet Ali Talat. And for this purpose we had to cross the “boarder” to the northern Nicosia to meet him. He was a good man, patience and relaxed. He spent so much time to brief us on His own side of the story and just like his Greek Counterpart expressed optimism that the latest peace talks might work.

In my observation, the ‘Cyprus Conflict” is a unique conflict and is basically a political war and not a problem of the people. It’s a problem of quest fro power and control.

Day 2: This part of Nkabom is called ”Meeting the President”

With a lot of enthusiasm, excitement and expectation, we rolled out to the Presidential palace in Nicosia to meet the president of the Repblic of Cyprus. Demitris Christofias. The presidential palace is a quite place with little security as I had hoped. You know back in Nigeria, the seat of power is characterised with heavy security presence. With a warm reception, we were shown round the palace. Soon we settled to meet Mr. President, what a delightful moment as Mr. President joined us in the room with a warm hand shake to welcome everyone individual. (I was really delighted to get to shake hand with Mr. President).Sharing His story was quick and the questions rolled in. The answers too were long but not detailed as I had expected. The president spend a great deal of time to push for the 'greeks cypriots' position on the conflict from early times till now.We soon had a photo opportunity with the [present and a lot more time for individual paparazzi. I think it was a delightful experience after all especially when almost all of us had not had opportunity to meet our presidents. Before we know it its another session on conflict mapping where we were allowed to share ideas on stuffs like is conflict natural? Is a world without war possible? etc. its debate time as individuals justified their stand on either side of the argument. University of Nicosia is our Host.P.S. Its day 2, and I was privileged to meet some more delegate on one to one basics. Sharing ideas, interest and belief. Its fun.

Nkabom...DAY One...Getting the Basics!

At Nkabom 2008 (the commonwealth youth Leadership Programme), we 29 young people from 23 countries and territories, living in 6 continents. Between us we have traveled the whole circumference of the globe and we speak some 27 different languages. We live in every corner of the commonwealth; from Barbados, Bangladesh, Singapore, South Africa, Malta, Nigeria, Uganda, Mauritius and beyond. Some of us are from huge countries like Canada, Australia. Others come from tiny Islands like Vanuatu, Jersey and even Cyprus itself. We share interest in celebrating our diversity and multiculturalism.

Despite our varying differences, we share key similarities, notably; we are all young and passionate about sharing ideas especially about conflict and peace building.

We had come to Nicosia to experience the Cyprus conflict and use it as case study to develop our leadership potentials, as key agents for peace building, share deep insights and ideas on how we can contribute to a peaceful and better world as young people. Starting from our inputs and contributions in local community to the time we become commonwealth leaders of tomorrow.

Here is the first day. We get to meet each other formally and introduced ourselves, shared our passion, interest, expectations, fears and more important our uniqueness (USP).

We were introduced into the programme and given background information on the need and essence for peace with little exercise that seek to boost our understanding of the concept of peace. We were able to bring out four words that that causes conflict (Inequality, Intolerance, miscommunication…)

It’s lunch time and we met costa (a young cyproit) who showed us around and we had lunch, had a glimpse of the the green line from the restaurant’s garden.

Evening was another great time with Prof Yiannis Papadakis (social anthropologist and expert in the Cypriot conflict from the university of Cyprus) leading us on a tour to the green line. It was really great seeing the division lines and being in a no man’s land.

Dinner was great with Prof Yiannis as our special guest. Tiime for more and more question… It is really exciting getting to know the basics of the Cyprus conflict and conflicts as a whole..

PS: Met some of the Nkabom delegates, it was really great getting to meet some new passionate young people from different part of the world who are passionate, committed and interested in contributing to a better world.

Nkabom 2008 Participants

Martin Atela (Kenya)
Alvin Singh (Canada)
Talha Ghannam (United Kingdom)
Leigh Elston (Jersey)
Danial AbdulRAhman (Malaysia)
Reema Chataroo (Mauritius)
Maria Tsiarta (Cyprus)
Swati Chawla (India)
Richard Hargy (Northern Ireland)
Fiaza Muhammad (United Kingdom)
Alex Nuwagaba (Uganda)
Asiya Mohammmed (Trinidad and Tobago)
Ival Cummings John (UK/ Sierra Leone)
Kyasingmong Marma (Bangladesh)
Suryani Lukman (Singapore)
Andrew Solomon Napuat (Vanuatu)
Rosie Sitorus (Australlia)
Barbara Soetan (United Kingdom)
Jiselle Baker (Canada)
Olalekan Oshunkoya (Nigeria)
Valeria Okai (Ghana)
Hopolang Selebalo (Lesotho/South Africa)
Daisy Kirk (Malta)
Devan Marten (New Zealand)
Amarasingham Jeevan (Sri Lanka)
Helen Astaniou (Cyprus/UK)

Nkabom here I come!

On my way to Cyprus for the commonwealth youth leadership programme (Nkabom), I had to transit through in Egypt. Spending two in night the beautiful ancient city of Cairo was an experience worth sharing. While waiting for immigration formalities, interacting with the fellow travellers some of whom were also first time visitors to the city dominated the first few hours of my stop at Cairo. All of us are inquisitive to see the city and explore some her uniqueness, but since we were only here on transit there is a limit to what we can see.

At the popular La Passage five star hotel where we were lodged for the night, (this gesture from Egypt air disabused my initial expectation from the airline as friends had accounted for several experience in the hand of this airlines, some making them to spend the night in airport lounges…) the experience was indeed a night to remember, from the difficulty of getting a familiar food from the hotel collection( I had to settle for bread) through meeting tourists who were at the city to explore the beauty of nature, to learning a few Arabic names and their meanings( Mina, Islam, Bella(beauty)..).

The time for sleep was not left out because I had the greatest sleep in along time, far away from my daily stress, I was alone, relaxed and comfortable for the first time (but not away from my laptop which I still used to fine tune my presentation against Nkabom). The hotel room was excellent (anyway I don’t expect less from a five starred hotel)

This experience will not be complete without sharing some of my observations. Yetunde Osho is a young Nigeria who studies Medicine in Ukraine. Unlike other young Nigerian abroad I have seen, she was passionate about Nigeria, this we shared and we engaged in along discussion about what we youths home and abroad can do to help our country Nigeria. I was amazed at the disposition about the need for young people to help build a new Nigerian. As I late knew, I was not surprised she lived in the north for larger part of her life.

I think it is worth it to let you guys know that I was opportune to visit Beirut (Lebanon) spend few hours in their airport and shop at the duty free shops, good place though…

Another experience I will like to comment about is the treatment of the Cyprus immigration. I was not surprised to be treated like a typical Nigerian (black). They scrutinised all my claims even after verifying them and finding them to be correct. My entire attempt to proof to them my intention here is simply to attend a youth leadership programme for a few days and leave the island proved abortive. They doubted me and even accused me of being a second timer in the island. It was frustrating and very annoying to be treated that way when all I wanted was just to come and learn a few lessons from the Cyprus conflict. Sincerely, if not for the intervention of the authority of the organisers, the immigration officer was ready to send me back on the same plane that brought me. Is that not annoying? Does it mean all black people are interested in coming to “these” countries to seek greener pastures? It was really sad. I think we should do something really quick as Nigerians and better our lot.

Young Nigerian to meet President of Cyprus

This is what happen when you pursue your passion. Young Nigerian to meet President of Cyprus

Nigerian graduate Olalekan Oshunkoya will meet President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat as part of a youth peace-building programme taking place in Nicosia next week. Oshunkoya, 24, from Ogun State, was selected from hundreds of young people around the world to take part in a week-long programme of activities relating to the theme “Conflict and Beyond” as part of the Commonwealth Youth Leadership Programme. The event comes just a week after long-awaited reunification talks between the Cypriot President and Turkish Cypriot leader are due to commence. As well as discussing conflict resolution with the respective leaders, Oshunkoya, along with 28 other gifted youth delegates from 21 Commonwealth countries, will take a rare tour inside the Green Line with UN Peacekeepers and participate in workshops with the UNDP and British Council. Oshunkoya is a graduate in Mass Communications and works in graphic design. He has been closely involved with youth work in Nigeria having been the director of Dreamakers International which works to empower talented young people. Olalekan will bring valuable enthusiasm and experience to the programme which aims to inspire leaders of tomorrow. “We need to let young people wake up to know that they are worthwhile people with unique talents and skills, and that they have the power to make a difference in their community.”