Nigerian @ MindSay

Watching the first leg of the IAAF Golden League in Oslo two weeks, I was completely astounded to see another Nigerian hurdler in Spanish colours.

This was not Glory Alozie, who ditched the country in 2001 after winning silver medal at the Sydney Olympics, but a young lovely talent - Josephine Onyia.

She came 5th in a modest 12.93seconds , but last week took the women's 100m hurdles at the 46th Zlata Tetra -Golden Spike, IAAF Grand Prix meet in Ostrava with 12.91 seconds.

Nigerian athletics technical director, Sunday Bada could only lament at another talent drain. He described change of nationality as another medal lost at next month's All Africa Games.

Bada told the Nigerian Daily Champion newspapers:

"Our athletes are leaving in great numbers, we must have to stem this trend otherwise that is how we would be losing our best athletics talents."

Onyia, who currently lives and trains with Alozie in Valencia has a season's best of 12.82 seconds over the 100m hurdles with a season's best of 12.82 seconds and will now represent her adopted country in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

So where do Africa go from here? should we simply resign that we will forever be losing our best talents to the developed and richer nations? what do you think is the way forward for Africa?

To Mr. Nadeem Alizaje, Nigerian Embassador to America who needs to transfer money

Oh my gosh sir, I just received your email after two years of working in Nigeria with the peace corp.  I had no access to my personal email address and who'd have thought you'd need my help so soon!!! I was just there! I imagine that's how you got my name, it's amazing that you found my email address, since I'd almost totally forgotten about it. 

Now, I understand that in order to transfer the money from Nigeria, we will need to cover the wire transfer fees which will cost me an initial 40,000.  I would normally not be able to do it, but apparently, another 60 emails from fellow citizens wanting to give me a loan of 400,000 for 400 a month have come through!!!  I'm SO excited that we'll be able to get so much money!!.  Now, I've just counted another 2100 other emails from people in similar situations as you who are transfering the SAME amounts from other countries.  Together, we'll be able to help SO many people!!!

Now, in order to proceed, since I have no access to a computer past tonight at midnight, I will need you to send me your name and phone number along with all of the details of our "situation" to my new apartment: 1600 Pensylvania Avenue, Washington DC.  I will need your full name and your ambassador id number as well as a phone number and a way to meet in person.  If you don't have your ambassador ID number(because of having to leave your wartorn country in such a rush, then simply  give me all of your passport information to allow for easy money transfer.

I'm so glad that you reached me as this is the last time I will ever be near a computer, but I can assure you that we can transfer that 143.7 million dollars securely.

YAY!!!
have a nice day.