My Nigeria showcases friends of Nigeria who have either been to the country or have an interest in Nigeria. It is an avenue for them to tell the world their thoughts about Nigeria and her people.

The latest my Nigeria features Kevin Barry a.k.a. Kayode Oyinbo in the current edition of Come To Nigeria magazine. Enjoy!

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CTN: Please introduce yourself to our readers

Kevin Barry:

My name is Kevin Barry.  I am sometimes referred to as Kayode Oyinbo.  I am originally from the state of Wisconsin in the United States, and have been coming to Nigeria for seven years now. I first came as a student in an exchange program and studied at the University of Ibadan for one year. My undergraduate degree is from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in International Relations and African Studies.  I have spent the last few years working in consulting, communications and business development all over the world, with a focus on the Middle East and Africa.

I have always had a place for Nigeria in my heart and can’t seem to stay away.  I speak Yoruba fluently, and also have a great interest in bata and talking drum traditions.  Aside from the beautiful array of languages and cultures in Nigeria, there is tremendous unrealised economic potential. Nigeria is blessed with an incredible population and wide array of natural resources, and the country is hungry for investment.  Nigeria is a somewhat difficult place to understand for outsiders, as it is not simple and nothing is straightforward.  An image problem (sometimes well deserved, other times not), also often serves as a hindrance to foreign investment and tourism flows.  Now that I’ve invested a great deal of time and energy into understanding Nigeria better, I am able so see it for what it is which has opened many doors for me.

CTN: What do you think about Nigeria and would you advise anyone to visit?

Kevin Barry:

Nigeria is a complicated, unique and special place. Aside from obvious characteristics on the surface, it is completely different in its culture, attitude and worldview from any western country I have ever visited. Therefore, it is easy and tempting to quickly formulate opinions about the country, but I believe it deserves a closer look that is as complex and multi-faceted as the country itself before one can truly understand the place for what it is.

Nigeria is first and foremost a land of paradoxes; It is a country that has everything and nothing at the same time; Everything is possible and impossible at the same time.  It all depends on “how you play your cards,” who you know, and dare I say luck (or God’s Grace if you are truly Nigerian).  Conventional logic or “common sense” as an American or European would define them do not exist in Nigeria-in fact, the polar opposite of these notions is what pragmatically takes place on the ground in Nigeria.  Perhaps a better way to encapsulate this ideal is that Nigeria has its own unique forms of logic and procedure.

Nigeria’s people, as anywhere in the world, are products of their environment.  There are all kinds of people in Nigeria-with over 250 ethnic groups and cultures, it is hard to truly answer the question “what do I think of her people.”  Just like any former colony, there is a constant antagonistic dance between traditional culture and contemporary culture which has been heavily influenced by the British, as well as western pop culture.  Overall, Nigerians are extremely welcoming, hospitable and jovial.  I have always appreciated and been inspired by the widespread sense of humour that is prevalent within Nigerian culture, and this is my number one “coping mechanism” for dealing with stress or adversity in Nigeria.  Nigerian’s are extremely entrepreneurial, resourceful, bold and quick on their feet. These qualities contribute to a very intense and robust society, and even sometimes contribute to a less than desirable image of Nigerians abroad.

CTN: What do you think about CometoNigeria magazine and the website Cometonigeria.com?

Kevin Barry:

Nigeria can be a complex knot to unravel, and Come To Nigeria Magazine is a laudable attempt. The visibility and insight it provides as a one stop shop is extremely useful to prospective visitors, as it is a much more dynamic medium than traditional printed guidebooks.  It is a great starting point to providing the kinds of resources Nigeria needs to strengthen and develop its tourism industry, as well as providing credible and up to date logistical information. Africa is not yet a place where one can easily and comprehensively find credible answers to everything on Google, or even by talking to individuals on the ground.  Come To Nigeria plays a critical role in helping to shift this paradigm.

Read more of Kevin Barry’s interview inside current edition of CometoNigeria Magazine

To feature on our website and magazine, please email us at cometonigeria@googlemail.com