Ghana ,Nigeria Bond is warm too

Ghana, Nigeria Bond is the Warm Abassador Oluseyi with his family in recent times Abassador Oluseyi with his family in recent times ADEMOLA OLUSEYI Onafowokan, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, has said the bond of friendship between Ghana and Nigeria is at its warmest currently. Ambassador Onafowokan was speaking with DAILY GUIDE in Accra during a spotlight interview. The High Commissioner also spoke on trade issues between Nigeria in Ghana. The well traveled diplomat said his wife, Pauline Onafowokan, whom he described as his best friend aside Jesus, is the sweetest woman in the world. Below are excerpts of the interview: *Ghana, Nigeria Trade Matters*Oluseyi Ambassador Oluseyi Onafowokan *Daily Guide* (*DG*): Is it possible to create a Nigerian market in Ghana, looking at recent trade issues in the country? *Ambassador Oluseyi (AO): *Why not? It’s quite possible. As a matter of fact, when the honourable Minister Hannah Tetteh was the Minister for Trade, she said if Nigerian traders can source for land, they can be guaranteed the permission to run their own market just as the Chinese have done without interfering with the Ghanaian traditional market. *DG*: How strong do you think the bond between Ghana and Nigeria is? *AO*: Bond? Wow that is big! Nigeria and Ghana have had a checkered history. We are families, brothers and sisters, cousins, husbands and wives. We are inter-married. We have fantastic background and economically we trade. In West Africa, Ghana and Nigeria are trade partners. We play football together and we used to play cricket together. The bond between us is unshakable. We might have had small small (problems), not too smooth a relationship but that was long ago. As of now, I believe our relationship is at the warmest. *DG*: What do you have to say to your fellow Nigerians plying their trade and businesses here in Ghana? *AO*: They should be law-abiding. They should respect the law of the land. They should not violate the ECOWAS treaty and I believe if they do that and they conduct themselves well; they do not involve themselves in politics where it does not concern them, I think they will enjoy their stay in Ghana. Ghana is very welcoming, that’s what I have seen so far. ***Advice For The Youth* *DG:* What advise do you have for the youth who aspire to become like you? And what are some of the courses they need to pursue? *AO:* Make sure you get a solid education. I joined the Nigeria Foreign Service with a masters degree because I had made grade one in my ‘O’ level. Have a solid education and be focused. However, you don’t necessarily have to be a diplomat to be successful. There are a lot of other fields that you can be successful but if you want to be a diplomat, a good degree in the arts and social sciences would really put you on your way. ***Career/Family life* *DG:* How interesting is your work? *AO:* My work is very interesting, mentally very tasking. I do a lot of travels but diplomacy is not about wining and dining alone. There are dangers too but the joy I get personally from doing this work is more than the disadvantages. It affects your whole being, your wife, your children, their education, going up and down, selling your properties, coming back. It’s sometimes bedeviling but if you are really committed to it that this is what you will always love to do, I don’t think you should have any problem about that. *DG*: What do you do for leisure and where do you love to hangout? *AO:* I try to play gulf at Achimota when I can find time. At other times, I do go to the restaurant or the Diplomatic Guest House, not too far from here (referring to the Nigerian High Commission) to listen to jazz music and to relax and wine sometimes. And I travel around Ghana quite a lot. *DG:* Which of the Ghanaian dishes do you love to eat? *AO:* I have tried kenkey and banku. *DG:* Oh okay. *AO:* I think banku is too heavy for me. *DG:* What about fufu? *AO:* No, I have not tried fufu. *DG:* Fufu is just like your pounded yam. *AO:* I know, I am not a fun of pounded yam. I like groundnut soup. And the last time I visited the Ashantehene, I was served with some meat, wrapped around very tasty and delicious. I think that’s a good one. *DG:* Who is your best friend? *AO:* Jesus and my wife. *DG: *That sounds good. What is the most expensive gift you ever gave out? *AO:* Probably to my wife. If it is not bought with money, I think I have given her my love but if it is bought with money, I have given out so many gifts I cannot recollect; but there is this porcelain tiger I bought for my wife on a Valentine’s Day like today in 1994 in Havana, Cuba. It’s a big porcelain tiger. I will still have that till tomorrow. *DG:* What is the most expensive thing in your wardrobe? *AO:* Maybe my traditional cloths; they are quite a thing of value. *Fond Childhood Memories* ***DG:* Any found childhood memories? *AO:* Oh yeah, I remember growing up in my native Nigeria and in the primary school, the adventure we used to do in the forest. I mean these are things you can hardly find again back in those areas. And in the secondary school, you know when you play truancy with your friends and you go and hang out in the bush and you won’t go to classes. But generally, I think I had a beautiful upbringing, beautiful exposure from day one. And I’m full of fond memories and expressions of my late brother. *DG:* Tell me about your wife? How did you meet and all that? *AO:* Oh Pauline; she is a sweet woman, best woman in the world. we’ve been friends for 34 years now but married for 31 years. I met her in Port-Harcourt. As a young man, the moment I set my eyes on her, I knew she was the woman I’m destined to marry. Three years after we married and we have two beautiful children, very successful in their own right. And we have three grandchildren. *A Word for Ghana* *DG:* Your final words? *AO:* I want to wish Ghanaians very well. I want Ghanaians to welcome Nigerians just like how we welcome Ghanaians back home. There is no rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana. We are a family. Nigeria will always be there for Ghana because we know that Ghana will always be there for us. We are traditionally bonded even before colonial times and I will be very happy if we remain so. *DG*: Thank you very much. *AO:* Thank you my dear sister. *Biography* Ambassador Ademola Oluseyi Onafowokan was born on July 29th, 1955 to the Onafowokan Family in Ikorodu division of Lagos State, Nigeria. He started his elementary education at St John School, Aroloya. Later, he proceeded to Lagos Municipal School and ended his primary education at Emmanuel Primary School, Isonyin in present day Ogun State. He attended the Methodist High School, Ibadan and Christ High School, also in Ibadan, where he obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC) Grade 1 in flying colours. At age 20, Ambassador Oluseyi Onafowokan got his A ‘level in the Polytechnic, Ibadan. Between 1975 and 1979, he was at the University of Benin, for his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. This prepared him for a flourishing career as a diplomat. The seasoned diplomat proceeded to the Prestigious University of Ife (Now Obafemi Awolowo University) in Ile Ife for his Masters Degree in International Relations. He completed this successfully in 1981. Armed with all these academic credentials, Ambassador Onafowokan was ready to make an impact in the diplomatic arena. He got admission into Nigeria Foreign Service in 1982. He is an avid scrabble player and golfer. He loves soft fiction and autobiographies. He is multi-lingual and a diplomat par excellence. He is widely travelled, having been to several countries in the world. His marriage to his soul mate Pauline Onafowokan has produced two children and three grandchildren. BY Rocklyn Antonio This entry was published in General News . Bookmark the permalink .← DHL Expands Network in Sub-Saharan Africa Messi Motivates Barca → Leave a Reply