For the Love of Green and Red

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A few minutes ago, at the back of the plane I could hear African uncles feverously debating about the state of affairs in their country. Nothing better says welcome than the common gathering of African men debating what the government needs to be doing.

In a couple hours I am going to land but as I listen to my favourite Afrobeat, my heart leaps at the thought of revisiting my second home. To hear the bustling cacophony of traffic, mixed with the chatter of market women as the African heat reconnects with my skin like a lost child. However, I am even more excited to start exploring the possibilities for different forms collaborations between both homes.

Before leaving, I met with Darla, from the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, to get more details on identifying specific opportunities that exists within the region.

To best represent Canada and understand what we can offer the world, I gathered market information from STEP, Global Affairs Canada, and SREDA. I have to say that in a couple hours, I have a clearer understanding of the gems within Saskatchewan and the opportunities for partnership. For instance, Saskatchewan is referred to as the world basket of the world with a booming agri-business industry. On the other hand, West African countries have a rapidly growing population with food security being a prominent concern. Apart from Agriculture, other similar industries include mining and energy.

During my flights, I identified panelists that I plan to interview to understand the economy, the opportunities for trade, list of company looking to expand to Canada, and other cultural intelligence. To name a few, I intend to speak with Ambassador Christopher Thornley, a native British Columbian that has represented Canada in a number of African countries such as Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and more. Likewise, I plan to approach Dr. Ayo Teriba to have a better understanding of the economy. Dr. Teriba is the CEO of Economic Associates and has provided consultations to institution such as USAID and the World Bank.

There’s a part of me that is both nervous yet humbled to be able to speak to individuals like the ones previously mentioned. However, another part of me is ready to take the challenge fearlessly with a great zeal of love for my two homes.