Kudos to Nigeria Embassy but…

By Hakeem Babalola

I have made it a ritual to keep in touch with our embassy ever since it got its website, and most especially when the website was recently given a fine face, something quite unusual in the history of Embassy of Nigeria Budapest, Hungary. Although there's need for improvement, I must confess that I find the new website accessible and friendly.

I should probably state why I find the new website approachable before anyone accuses me of this: "how much have they given you?" Many Nigerians, including those yeyepastors and imams I suppose, think too much in terms of material wealth instead of spiritual aesthetics. Let them fool you further if you like.

Pardon my digression into irrelevant details o jare. As I was saying, the new website provides necessary information even though further improvement is needed as mentioned earlier. Or are you one of those folks who think that Rome or is it Abuja was built in a day! Frankly speaking, what I like most in this new website is the news section where Nigerians are informed about the activities of the embassy. Information is simply inevitable in one's life as I have constantly reminded whoever cares to listen.

I am going to cite two quick examples. I got to know the "VIP's" who attended the 48 th Independence Day October 2008 without attending the jamboree. Thanks to the newly improved website. Also, the official presentation of Letter of Credence to the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Her Excellency, AA Obileye, is being displayed on the newly improved website. For someone like me who always crave for happenings about his embassy, I have no choice than to embrace a little information I could scan.

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I am also impressed by the speed in which the embassy disseminates the information about our newly appointed ministers. Fellow Nigerians, this is what I am talking about. Gone were the days when it took the same embassy a whole year to change the name of a former House Speaker to the new one. Gone also were the days when our embassy's guest room used to be littered with Hungarian junk papers like Metro or Blikk. Alas, nothing makes me happier than seeing our representatives performing at their best.

Yes, this is unprecedented in the history of Embassy of Nigeria Budapest, Hungary. Perhaps this is the main reason behind my enthusiasm. For I have had cause to advice the embassy on the importance of technology in this Information Age – especially a vibrant website – in one or two of my articles as far back as July 8, 2007 when the former was published on my blog. Whether it was coincidence or not, I was and still happy that the embassy upgraded its website a few days my Open Letter to  Nigeria Ambassador Hungary was published in Nigerian news magazines.

But of course I won't count my chicken before they are hatched. Nigerians officials could be erratic when it comes to administration. I hope the present crops of diplomats would erase this parochial thinking on our own part. Don't blame us though; it is that our minds have been damaged by your predecessors who chose to behave as local champions, and who had transported the usual civil servant (or is it civil master) attitude from home.  

And if not for the newly improved website, how would yours truly spot the above picture which I think is misleading regarding protocol. My first reaction seeing the picture was like we have had a new ambassador. I mean, for anyone other than Madam Ambassador to come before  Onijala, Head of Chancery (2nd from right), during an official function, depicts two things. Either he has been demoted (May God forbid) or a new ambassador has been inaugurated.

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Someone should please enlighten me. Is it appropriate for the ambassador's spouse to be lined up, and for that matter above our official representatives? Do their children also attend official functions? Is Mr. Obileye performing official duties here? And how did he introduce himself during the function? I imagine a situation like this: "I am the ambassador's husband. I am here to accompany my wife, her Excellency, because I understand that you guys are crazy for beautiful African women."

Jokes apart, indirectly it shows the macho aspect of Nigerian men. I mean we have had two ambassadors who are men. None of them allowed their wives to enjoy this kind of spotlight. If the Obileyes have toddlers at home, I suggest that Chief stays with them whilst Madam performs official duties. Of course, it is a different ball game when for example; the embassy is celebrating Nigeria’s independence. Enlighten me please.