Charles and Susan Oropallo of Peterborough, New
Hampshire, attended the Seventh International Alternatives to Violence
Project (AVP) Conference, held September 1-4, 2002 at the University of
Lagos in Lagos, Nigeria. During that trip they met many interesting Nigerian
individuals.
They were both equally awed by the warmth, caring, and
friendliness of all those whom they got to know while visiting Lagos. This was
in stark contrast to the numerous warnings discouraging travel to Nigeria.
One Nigerian AVP facilitator in particular, Ebere Eugene
Emerue, took the time to give Charles and Susan a personal tour through the
college campus area, where he lived at the time, in Akoka, Lagos. The tour
included using public transportation, showing them the college dorm in which he
resided, taking them to places where students hang out, and much conversation
sharing Ebere's thoughts, hopes, dreams, and pride for his country. As well,
Ebere treated them to wonderful Nigerian cuisine at a small local restaurant on
campus that he frequented.
Ebere told Charles and Susan when he started showing them
around that he felt it was important for them "to see the real Nigeria and
how Nigerians really live." From Eugene's words came RealNigeria.org.
RealNigeria.com was
a natural offshoot, placed on the Internet as a way to assist Nigerian AVP
facilitators with a web presence for their businesses or professional
occupations.
