Several years ago, I attended a six-week International Public Relations Program in the UK, and the class had a large contingent of Nigerians-including 10 from one Federal Government parastatal (I’ll save the name for now, until I’m asked to testify against them!).
It was so exciting meeting several “brethren” in class, and we quickly made friends. Then, I realized we had some solid PR professionals from the oil majors, Government and some FMCGs, including yours sincerely from Cadbury as it were then. Now, from this particular FG parastatal, 3 of the participants were on terminal leave and none, except one, worked in the PR Department. Yet, we were all attending the same PR training.
As a young professional, I gave the program my best, after all there was a prospect of acquiring a Diploma in International PR at the end of the day. Some of the other folks took the program seriously too, but almost all of them from this FG parastatal were just loafing around. They attended classes spasmodically. One never came again after the registration and opening ceremony-until the closing day. I often met him at the Baker Street Station dressed in ceremonial outfits heading to one part of UK or Europe or the other with his delectable wife-who looked like she was visiting the UK for the first time and needed to see everything and everywhere.
Now, here’s the real gist of my tale: Cadbury gave me about £6000 for boarding and feeding and transportation, after paying the course fee. Ijebu company! But my compatriots from this FG parastatal came armed to the teeth with £13,000 each. Guess what? Each of them 9 participants were asked to “drop” £3000 making a total of £27,000 in an account, as soon as they arrived the UK. Of course they complied. Or else they won’t ever attend an offshore training-my informant confided in me (soon after I complained about his nonchalance).
Now, you see why and how a civil servant (Head of Training & Development and his cohorts) can afford to keep one or two or more kids in good schools in the UK and other parts of the world. You see how they acquire luxury home offshore? Criminal! Very criminal! That’s one way they loot the economy, and I’m sure it’s still going on TSA or no TSA. So sad, so sorry indeed!
Lest I forget, at the closing ceremony, these jokers all showed up, collected their certificates, took photographs with the English Course co-ordinator and the President of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA). End of story! Job done! Money made. All parties sorted and happy.
Shame.