My Travel

Nosa Oyegun | 22:08
‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria

WHAT IS your favourite travel destination?

Nottingham, United Kingdom (until December 2010).

Why do you like to travel?

For work, leisure and to get more exposure.

How many countries of the world have you been to?

Twenty seven (27).

When did you first leave Nigeria and to where?

November 11, 2001 – to South Africa.

What was the last country you visited?

Belgium.

What county would you like to visit that you have yet to?

Australia.

Where did you or will you have your honeymoon?

Egypt.

What’s your coping strategy for airport security?

I travel light, try really hard to stay polite (except for trips I’m not keen on making) and travel with more documents than required. You can never go wrong with having proof of everything – what I’m going to do, who invited me, all previous passports bound together as one (that helps with the ‘frequent traveller’ psychology for airport security) and return ticket to Nigeria (usually included in my passport at the point of entry even before I’m asked). Travel is tough for a young Nigerian – beginning with visas and ending with airport security who’ve been trained to treat you as guilty until proven innocent – but preparing for the worst always helps lower your ‘disappointment bar.’

Have you ever missed an international flight and how did you handle it?

Yes. My reaction depends on how many minutes after check-in closes we’re talking about. When I was few minutes late after the counter closed, I put on my innocent face and pleaded to be allowed on the flight – which is usually helped by my ‘travel light’ mantra. When missing the flight wasn’t my fault, I made my way to the guy/lady in charge of vouchers (even if I won’t need it) and rebooked eventually – and at another time demanded for another flight for a popular route. When it was way past boarding time and my fault, I went to the airline’s office to seek a good rebooking deal – praying for a seat on the next available flight. But regardless of why – and how – I miss the flight, I get in touch with anyone expecting me so they don’t assume otherwise when I don’t turn up. I’m not usually as calm as this response sounds, by the way.

What’s your number one travel pet peeve?

Talkative seat neighbours who were not exactly part of my travel plan – or the in-flight entertainment system. Y!

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