Team building

IBM is partnering with an NGO called CDC Development Solutions (CDS). The role of CDS is to work with IBM to identify Corporate Service Corps assignment opportunities in the destination countries and provide in-country support for the Corporate Service Corps participants.

Last night Ann Oden, the CDS country representative for Nigeria, had invited us all to her house for a dinner. She had prepared a wonderful dinner for us with so many local specialities. Our client representatives and local partners were also invited. Me and Greg will be working with Mr. Odo Effiong who is a Special Advisor at the ICT Development Department, Government of Cross River State.

This morning we had our first "team building excercise" - myself, Greg, Lindsey and Hermann went running with Odo in the rain at 6:30 am. On a Sunday morning, can you believe it! We had to go so early because Odo would be going to church around 8 or 9 (all the Nigerians are very religious, north of the country is predominantly Muslim and the south is Christian) and according to him it's not good to run in the afternoon. I have to admit that the locals were looking a bit amazed by us.. But there wasn't that much traffic yet and despite the rain the weather wasn't too bad for running either. So maybe we'll go for it agin.

Today we will have a tour around the city. It is hard to believe there are over a million people living in here.