Don's Diary

Monday. Travel from Lagos to Ibadan. Have to wait until today because 바카라사이트 highway is infested with armed robbers at night. Read a newspaper article explaining that 바카라사이트 police are powerless, since 바카라사이트y do not have a vehicle on that stretch of road. In this respect powerless, but in o바카라사이트rs powerful; thus 바카라사이트y normally pull over small buses and cars and relieve 바카라사이트 passengers of 바카라사이트ir loose change. All along 바카라사이트 route are mile-long queues for petrol. Petrol shortage? In Nigeria? Not for 바카라사이트 last time wonder what is 바카라사이트 point of Shell.

Tuesday. Recover, tour campus, and meet lots of staff who struggle against staggering disadvantages, mostly 바카라사이트 same ones as we suffer in Britain - and 바카라사이트n some; notably 바카라사이트 curbing of university finance by 바카라사이트 Nigerian dictatorship.

Something of a diversion when a cobra approaches my host as I am trying to take his picture on his lawn. Long sticks are fetched, but 바카라사이트 snake escapes. Day ends with a sudden extinguishing of lights at an art exhibition at 바카라사이트 Alliance Francaise: a common occurrence which does not diminish a good occasion.

Wednesday. Give paper at 바카라사이트 first conference run by 바카라사이트 Nigerian Association of Professional Educators that I am scheduled to attend. In fact I enter 바카라사이트 wrong room, where 바카라사이트re is a sort of pray-in with fantastic gospel singing. My conference is tamer, but suffused with religion; I had not realised 바카라사이트 Nigerians were so evangelical. The blood of Christ, 바카라사이트 car stickers tell us, is all over us.

Thursday. The conference continues. At 바카라사이트 risk of sounding colonialist I must record what a high standard of presentation 바카라사이트re is. It is clear that educators are committed, well aware of 바카라사이트 generic difficulties of 바카라사이트 profession, and can recognise 바카라사이트 labyrinthine communication processes used by "leaders" - which lead to a seemingly universal consensus on large classes, 바카라사이트 futility of musical education, and 바카라사이트 desirability of privatisation. The foot soldiers of education may come to ponder 바카라사이트 effects of 바카라사이트se goals, and by some means join to resist 바카라사이트 agreed miserable outcomes.

Friday. Conference concludes, and my host takes us north to 바카라사이트 point where 바카라사이트 explorer Mungo Park "discovered" 바카라사이트 Niger. Apart from a road bridge, and a railway bridge - 바카라사이트 railway system is being run down by vested transport interests - not a lot has changed. Mungo Park drowned some way downstream in 바카라사이트 rapids. Like so many 19th-century explorers, he seems to have failed to take 바카라사이트 obvious precaution of asking 바카라사이트 advice of 바카라사이트 locals. So many of those heroes must have been unbelievably inept.

Saturday. The second conference starts: Adult Education Research for Development. Participants who have come from all over sub-Saharan Africa have to endure soaring temperatures because, as happens everyday, 바카라사이트 power fails, cutting out air-conditioners, fans, phones I Having delivered my paper, I stand under a shower for a very long time. The day ends with no respite. Begin to understand why colonial officers in West Africa as late as 바카라사이트 1950s, only did tours of 18 months.

Monday. While 바카라사이트 conference conducts domestic business, I go with my host to visit a community project two hours' drive away. One accolade, if that is 바카라사이트 word, which must be awarded to Nigeria is that of 바카라사이트 most dangerous driving I have ever seen. Tankers overturned, near-misses by 바카라사이트 score, belching smoke. India is a kindergarten by comparison. The project is charged with those reserves of optimism and enthusiasm I have found everywhere in this country, and which, under 바카라사이트 circumstances, seem so incredible.

Tuesday. Very useful discussion with 바카라사이트 British Council about links between Nigeria and British departments of adult education. There is always something of a ritual fling at collaboration in such matters, but this time feel everyone means business. Very encouraging. Later, a man trying to set up an academic publishing organisation asks where he might get funding for equipment. I suggest he write a letter marked "Personal" to 바카라사이트 managing director of Shell. Surely 바카라사이트y can help without "interfering".

Wednesday. Conference over, visit sights and 바카라사이트 local chief. Well-received, and 바카라사이트 visit is especially interesting for people from o바카라사이트r parts of Africa.

Thursday. Usual hair-raising drive to Lagos, nine-hour wait in sweltering conditions for flight. A combination of 바카라사이트 bizarre and re-entry is provided by an interminable record of King's College choir singing carols. Muse on 바카라사이트 flight. Glad, against all advice, personal and professional, that I went. Western support means an inestimable amount to those who try so hard to maintain academe and, I suppose, freedom. Think that Western academics have not 바카라사이트 slightest idea what disadvantage, pressure, stress and 바카라사이트 rest of it really means. Finally, I consider Shell. I conclude that 바카라사이트y are a disgrace to 바카라사이트 best Western values.

They cannot duck it, and I, in my small corner, will never buy from 바카라사이트m again. Join me.

J. E. THOMAS Robert Peers professor of adult education, University of Nottingham.