Mr.+Martucci

[| MRM_NigeriaExperience1_3mar09[1.pdf]]

[|NigeriaPix_9mar09[1.pdf]]

Mr. T and Students,

Dogon (sorry I misspelled it previously are a tribe of people from Mali) see the following link [|], picture taken from the website photo gallery. Notice the doors on the cliff dwellings in the background.

Yoruba is an ethnic tribe in West Africa. It is one of the three (3) largest tribes in Nigeria, and the heaviest population is the southern portion of Nigeria. The other two (2) prominent ethic tribes are Igbo and Hausa (Northern people and Muslim).

Currently the exchange rate for USD to Naira (NGN, Nigerian Naira) is a bit unstable due to the global forex economy. Officially the bank rate is about USD $1 to NGN 149. This has been a dramatic rise since late November 2008 when it was USD $1 to NGN 117.

The electricity in Nigeria is dependent upon natural gas that is collected from the vast oil fields in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the infrastructure (pipelines, transmission substations, electrical lines and availability of gas) are all outdated and in need of repair. This is extremely expensive and creates economic and political difficulty in Nigeria. Water power (hydro) is also available; however, I haven’t seen a steady rain in Abuja for about 3 months. We’re in the dry season. So, you can imagine how difficult it is to harness hydro power without constant resupply of water to the rivers.

Islam and Christianity in Nigeria live in harmony most of the time. Unfortunately, there are times when the two beliefs clash. However, the clash usually has to do with the people interpreting the respective faiths, not with a huge disconnect between the faiths themselves. For example, in my office, I work side by side with a Muslim gentleman. He is one of the most wonderful people in Nigeria that have met. I consider a great honor to call him my friend.