Diaspora Dialogue Series With LA

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Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the Diaspora Dialogue Series with LA. My guest, Engineer Tinah Ibironke grew up to follow in her father's footsteps and become an engineer. She did not remain in Nigeria to join his firm as love brought her to the United States to marry her spouse. She likes the opportunities the United States offer, especially in education for her and her children. She remembers her boss being caught off balance because she stood up for him to sit down - what would have been a standard practice in Nigeria. She missed having "the village" to help raise her children here in the United States. Listen for more of my engaging conversation with her.  Email me at  [email protected] if you would like to be my guest.

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 In this episode, my guests are Mr. Babafemi Okubanjo and his daughter, Eniola. Mr. Okubanjo was living his best life, having retired as a Permanent Secretary with a state government, and being a pioneer staff with the federal government's Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, when the US visa lottery figuratively "knocked on his doors." That opportunity almost went with the wind, with a notification slip that could have blown away. In time though, he relocated with his family to the United States, and one culture shock was the level of respect for elders, far different from Nigeria's. Eniola, appreciates the opportunity of becoming anything that the United States provides, and did not miss the corporal punishment she left behind when she started school in the United States. Listen to the full conversation and let us know what resonates with you! What beauty of the homeland do you miss? What blessings of the new land do you greatly appreciate? How do you rate the benefits of global integration?

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Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the Diaspora Dialogue Series with LA. My guest, Boma Akainy, got in trouble for saying she would live in the United States one day, when she was growing up. No female person from her village had ever lived in the US! She absolutely believed the tale that keys were left in cars in the US, and people just hopped in and out of cars! She never heard about domestic violence until she came to the US but now works in that space both in the US and in Nigeria. Listen to her interesting insights. What factors influenced you relocating from your home country?  Share your thoughts with us on the beauty of the homeland, the blessings of the new land and the benefits of global integration.. Email me at  [email protected] if you would like to be my guest.

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Hi! On this episode of the Diaspora Dialogue Series with LA, my guest is Dr. Chichi Nwajei. an optometrist based in Maryland. Dr. Chichi was visiting the US and volunteered with an eye clinic, where she learned lessons that encouraged her to stay and do more. Today, she is an author, TV show host and more. She is founder of "The Peacock House" - a name she picked for her business at the age of seven. She remembers how you don't necessarily have to go to a hotel to get special treatment in Nigeria as people are very hospitable and treat their guests like superstars! Listen for the full conversation.

What factors influenced you relocating from your home country? What do you like most about your new homeland? Share your thoughts with us. Email me at  [email protected] if you would like to be my guest.

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Gbenga Ogunjimi grew up wanting to be a military officer from growing up when the Nigerian leadership was military rule. He found out that his core interest was in leadership. That gave him the opportunity for a "Reverse Peace Corp" type program by the US State Department in the United States.

Today, he runs the first Nigerian Community Center in the US, which he co-founded in Washington, DC. His was a "rude awakening," arriving in the US during winter  - to "dead trees" and a somewhat lackluster "Almighty America." Listen to our conversation on this and more - the big difference opportunity makes, bedtime story books for his son, which wasn't his own experience growing up, and the need for Nigerians to hold leadership accountable both in the diaspora and in Nigeria.

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In this episode, we listen to previous guests, Mr Kunle Faleti, Mrs Felicia Omoni, Mr Chuks Eleonu, Rev. Dr Dayo Ekundayo and Attorney Tinu Akinshola share some notable cultural differences between Nigeria and the diaspora, what they miss about Nigeria, and thoughts on "retiring and going back home."

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Let us know what experiences resonate with you and if there are any surprises.

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After Attorney Tinu Akinshola graduated with her degree in law, she got married and relocated to the United States to join her husband. She was not able to pursue her interests to join federal agencies immediately because though she had a green card, those were reserved for United States citizens. For professionals who come to the United States, they have to be ready to "stoop to conquer" as their foreign transcripts need to be evaluated. They may have to start at a lower rung. She notes that while discrimination is an issue of concern in the United States, there are laws in place to address it. This is not the same with Nigeria, where tribalism is not as aggressively targeted. Listen to more of my conversation with Tinu.

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It was exciting news to have received a government scholarship to attend graduate school in Nursing in the United States in 1986. What Dayo Ekundayo did not know then was that shortly after arriving in the United States, she would have to sleep at the train station with her four-years old son and her four months old baby! And when she got a place to live shortly after then, she had to request police escort to return home safely. Returning back home to Nigeria began to make sense. She preserved. She ended up earning her doctorate degree in Nursing, worked for 28 years and now runs a clinic in retirement. Listen to learn more about Rev. Dayo's journey. 

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In this episode, host, Dr. Lillian Agbeyegbe speaks to Chuks Eleonu, who is in the DMV area. Chuks story is an interesting one, from choosing to come to America over going to Europe to cut the time of learning a new language, to having his father live with him, and experience him raising his children differently than he was raised. For Chuks, there won't be any "retiring and going back home" - you may guess the reason incorrectly.

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Today's guest, Mrs. Felicia Olaitan Omoni shares about her journey to the United States. She came with her husband and they made several efforts to go back to Nigeria when he graduated from the seminary. It was years later when her husband needed a liver transplant that she appreciated their inability to return home. Their children, who all have Yoruba names, drew the line on calling everyone "Daddy" and "Mummy" but did learn that respect involves not calling older people by their names. She is glad to be aging in the United States because she still gets to be active and do things herself.

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