Thread by @hartng

Greetings all.

As some of you are aware, I am in Copenhagen, Denmark attending a 10-Day Summer School on Urban Resilience organised by BLOXHUB with support from UN Habitat & other partners. I had intended to share how I got here on arrival on Wednesday but jettisoned the plan.

However, this evening, as I was studying our class activity for tomorrow, I felt a nudging to share as my spirit told me that I would be encouraging someone who needs to read the story. If you're that someone tugging at my spirit, this is for you.

#Thread.

A little background. So Circa 2016, @chimeasonye was working with us in Abia State as Adviser to the Governor on SDGs. He came to me with the idea to put together a bid for Aba to be designated a Resilient City. Working with other colleagues, we worked on the application.

It was my first exposure to the concept of Urban Resilience but having majored in Environmental Law with bias towards Climate Change & Environmental Democracy, I felt at home with the concept & we drove the campaign. Unfortunately, our application didn't go through.

We were gutted but with the experience, I remained in tune with studies on Urban Resilience. Fast forward 2nd week of July this year. I got a mail from a tweep here forwarding my LinkedIn Profile to a Professor in Denmark & recommending me for a Summer School on Urban Resilience.

It was the week I was burying my Dad & naturally, I had a lot on my plate and when I checked the program details, the application deadline had lapsed plus I didn't quite know who was recommending me so all of these factors put together made me ignore the mail.

2 weeks later, about 10th of August, the Professor replied asking me to fill the attached application form for consideration. Note that deadline for applications was June 23rd. I filled the attached forms and submitted as requested.

Next day, I got a mail that my application had been accepted subject to a Skype interview to ascertain my oral suitability for the program. I supplied my Skype ID & they called in and we had a 20 minutes interview where I answered a variety of questions live.

After the Skype interview, I was told, still on Skype, that I was exactly the kind of person they were looking for to attend the course. As a sweetener, they offered to waive the school fees of some thousands of Euros for me just so I can join them. I accepted the offer.

They sent me letter of invitation & other supporting documents so I can apply for my visa. I went to VFS Abuja next day August 15 & submitted my Danish Visa Application. While waiting for my Visa to come out, I had an official engagement in the US so I retrieved my PP & travelled

I returned from the US after a week & returned my Passport to them. I got a call from the Danish Embassy to say that my Visa was to be denied for insufficient documentation. How? I have been to 22 Countries as you can glean from my attached Passport. How can you deny me Visa?

The lady who called said the decision had been taken but something told her to call me & hear more from me. She explained that I didn't provide enough proof of my ties in Nigeria & that my documentation was scanty. I explained that I didn't think I needed to & she said I did.

I argued that within the pendancy of my Danish application, I have been to America & back. Where else would I want to run to? She explained that they were facing a wave of illegal immigration into Denmark by Nigerians & they have toughened their processes.

We went back & forth & I oscillated between exasperation & indignation. Finally, she said she would go out on a limb for me & recommend a review of the decision on my application & request that I be granted the Visa. They issued my Visa and I arrived Denmark on Wednesday.

Note that the fees waiver I got only covered for the tuition fee. I paid for my ticket & accommodation from my purse. But I knew the benefits of a program like this to my personal development. Events since I got here have proven that I made an inspired choice.

There is one other Nigerian here, Lookman Oshodi, from Lagos & a Zimbabwean living in South Africa. Apparently, there is dearth of qualified professionals in this field in Africa & needless to say, they're rushing us with requests for interesting collaborations & engagements.

Lookman & I have also agreed to return & mainstream Resilience within the framework of Urban Planning in Nigeria leveraging on the invaluable experience we are getting on this program. We will be collaborating on a number of projects both in Nigeria and in different countries.

Quick takes in conclusion.

Keep doing what you're doing. Someone is taking note. Know the difference between it did not work out & it is a work in progress. What you thought was a full stop may just be a coma waiting for the right time to continue beautifully.

Update your social media profiles. Watch your social media footprint. You never can tell when the only link to access you will be your online profile. What will be found on you if there's a need to virtually assess and access you?

There is no such thing as overdocumentation when applying for a visa. Better to overdocument than to underdocument. Measures for granting Nigerians visas are getting more stringent. Do not leave anything to chance. Show full workings whenever you are applying for a visa.

That you have multiple visas on your passport is no guarantee that the next country will grant you a visa. Every country assesses applicants on the merits of their application measured against the parameters set by the country. No go show yourself. Follow their rules.

Do not let opportunities pass you by. All-expense-paid academic programs are the crown jewel but whenever you need to cough out some personal funds, do not turn your back. Purpose to attend & God will help you raise the required fund.

Dear @enobong, thanks for recommending me to Prof. Tollin to attend this program. Gutted that you couldn't make it too but be rest assured, I am here on behalf of both of us. I shall furnish you with all the materials & we shall work together on new vistas this will open.

And I say a prayer for you @enobong. The same way you unbidden & unsolicited, recommended me for an International program, so too shall my God in heaven announce you to the world. You have my utmost gratitude and respect. You will doubtless reap the reward of this good deed.

So from the beautiful and resilient city of Copenhagen, this is my story of how I got here.

I hope someone is blessed by this.

Udo diri unu.