I REMEMBER VISITING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WAY BACK WHEN, AS A TREAT FROM MY PARENTS AFTER MY GRADUATION FROM CITY UNIVERISITY, LONDON, ENGLAND. IT WAS A RUDE SHOCK TO ME, AN AFRICAN, ON HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE US OF A, TO LEARN THAT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN I CAME IN CONTACT WITH WAS NOT MUCH UP TO SPEED ABOUT OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD OUTSIDE OF THE USA. I GUESS NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS GOING BY GEORGE BUSH JR'S GRASP OF GEOGRAPHY DURING HIS FIRST PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. WHAT POINT AM I TRYING TO MAKE? - THE WORLD IS MADE UP OF MANY COUNTRIES, PEOPLES AND CULTURES AND WE SHOULD BROADEN OUR MINDS AND ENLARGE OUR HORIZON BY LEARNING ABOUT, AND VISITING OTHER PLACES AND PEOPLES.

IF YOU ARE READING THIS BLOG, HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT NIGERIA? DO YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS ON THE MAP OF THE WORLD?

DO YOU KNOW

* THAT IT IS THE MOST POPULOUS BLACK NATION ON EARTH? ONE IN FOUR OR FIVE BLACKS IS A NIGERIAN.

* THAT IT GAINED HER INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN,  ON OCTOBER 1, 1960?  SO NIGERIA IS CELEBRATING HER GOLDEN JUBILEE AS A NATION THIS YEAR.

* THAT THIS YEARS ALSO MARKS 50 PLUS YEARS OF RADIO AND TELEVISION IN  NIGERIA?

* THAT THE COUNTRY IS MADE UP OF DIVERSE TRIBES, TOUNGES AND CULTURES?

* THAT CONTRARY TO WESTERN MEDIA, THE MAJORITY OF HER 140 MILLION PLUS CITIZENS ARE NOT FRAUDSTERS BUT HONEST HARD WORKING PEOPLE?

* THAT HER CITIZENS ARE VERY WARM, FRIENDLY AND WELCOMING OF FOREIGNERS?

SO BROADEN YOUR MIND, ENLARGE YOUR HORIZON, LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND CULTURE AND ENJOY THE GREAT HOSPITALITY OF THE COUNTRY AND HER CITIZENS BY ATTENDING THE INTARA TELEVISION AND RADIO FESTIVAL AND AWARDS TAKING PLACE 1ST TO 4TH DECEMBER 2010 IN ASABA, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA.

A JOLLY GOOD TIME AWAITS YOU.