Leicester Award for Employability Skill

My studies at the University of Leicester really afforded me a great chance exposing me to wide range of academic and learning experiences.   The Leicester Award Employability Skills Course came to me as a boost and opportunity to enhance my education. Immediately I indicated my interest, I was fortunate to be selected and included to undertake the course.   Actually, I was totally blind no idea what the course is all about despite using and patronizing many social medias especially facebook.   Prior to this course, I had an idea in website design and even created my website.  The award employability skills came with something new to me.  I was wondering where and how I can coup to understand the concept of the course and to even design. 

I started getting idea of the course and what social networking is all about with the first work, branding.  The lesson ignited the insight of the social networking and opened my understanding of it.  The class discussion and academic assignment opens up my knowledge of social media completely different from what I acquired previously.  I never know that companies recruit people now through the use of social media.  My first branding framework placed me on confusion  not understanding but the course and discussion among the group intensified, the concept of the course began to suffice.  Unit 2 of the course introduced me to network proper and afforded me the insight of blog and needs for communication.    Getting companies and make comparison on their social media was difficult task for me at the beginning.  It was hard to think about which company to use.  However, with the assistance of the group and the facilitator of the course, it became easy for me. 

I created my blog and continue developing it to make it rich and reflecting me before the public.   Interesting, people checked my blog and started posting comments.  That therefore encourages me and adds more zeal to develop and post comments.  Its interesting that the course just like the other modules, paved room for interaction with others who are far from me and may not even meet in the near future.  I got to know other people, their ideas and even shared my knowledge with them.    This course really broaden my knowledge and understanding of social media especially blogging which I had zero knowledge prior to this course.  I now understand the importance of blog and how companies use to employ people. The blog enabled sharing comments with others widely.  One important thing I also learnt in this course is about Lindkin.  I quite got to know that it’s a site uses for hiring of people and seeking for job by candidates.  It increases my basic understanding and exposure on how to use social media, what information to share on social network like facebook, twitter to mention but a few and who to share my information with either public or private.

Hosting United Nations Conference in New York

United Nations is a global organization and its Headquarters in New York is the center for the conduct and harmonizing the activities of its member states.  It conducts series and various activities among which are international conferences, bilateral, seminars etc.   One of the major events is its annual General Assembly Meeting in September.  This event attract the presences of Presidents, Head of States and Governments and other Very Important Personalities in New York.  The safety and security of all these personalities primarily falls on the Department of Safety and Security which I belong in conjunction with the United States security agencies.   Organizing and hosting this particular event always pose a huge work and challenge to my office bearing in mind, the number of people attending at the same time, crowd, political issues among the participants to mention but a few.    Especially, during the Presidency of George Bush, following his occupation of Iraq, his war on terror and other views.  These actually generated global hatred on George and intensified security at the United Nations.  

During this period of the General Assembly, protest and other violence activities around the United Nations complex increase understanding the personalities that will be gathered at the complex.  However, being a professional in the field of security and with my military background plus training obtained on security, I applied these in preparing and hosting this event that always ends peacefully and successfully.  In achieving this, we first organize meetings with all the security agencies involved, the Protocol office and the office of the Conference Management to coordinate and streamline plans that will effective host this meeting successfully.  This meeting is also to share responsibilities among us, understand each other’s limitations and expertise, and plan heavenly for the event.  Security is a collective responsibility and everyone is responsible.   First, we ensured that the program is made in such a way that US President does not come to the complex the same time with people like Iranian President, late Hugo Chavez and other perceived conflictual personality.   

We minimize the presence of regular UN Staff Members to only those who have direct business with the conference come to the complex for the period.  We block the main street and minimize access to the UN building.  Special ground passes and identifications are issued in accordance to where and who you are during this meeting. Delegations and reduced to minimal to ease and control crowd in the complex.  All these are measures that I and other supporting staff put in place to ensure safety and security, conduct this high level conference peacefully without any bridge of security.  With this in place all the time, the UN has not recorded any incident or failure during this particular meeting that have VIPs in attendance annually.  There has never been report of attacks, violence or injury during the General Assembly Meetings in New York despite the global challenges.

A Year Abroad

As many may know, either through my profile or other means, I am a Staff of the United Nations based at its global headquarters in New York.   The nature of my duties however, involved travelling abroad and meeting different kind and categories of people.  I basically provide safety and security to the Staff, diplomats, visitors, VIP and the entire UN properties globally.

One memorable long period of stay I had abroad was my service to the world in Chad.   I was sent to Chad following its political crisis that created many rebels and different factions.  There was also an overflow, spillover of refugees from Darfur that needed protection by neutral international body.  Chad is in Central Africa, desert and under developed country and French speaking.  My mission starts with my preparation, medication clearance and my personal administration needs.  The first action I took was to first study the weather, culture and people of Chad so that I can be able to relate with them accordingly.  The language was also an important area that I considered in my preparation.  I enrolled in French class in New York where I studied and learn the basic French language in a month.

On arriving N’Djamena, the capital city of the country, I found my colleagues at the airport who welcomed and ushered me to the United Nations office.   On completion of my in processing and other formalities, I was taken to my hotel by one of the Staff of the mission.   My stay in Chad was really challenging and interesting.  I was faced with series of security issues ranging from hijacking of UN Staff by rebels, militias and other national security agents, stealing of UN properties to mentioned but a few.  It was really difficult handling the security situation couple with attitudes of the Chadians.  But in order to play my role and do what I was sent over there to do, I adopted series of skills and methods.  Customary to the UN procedures, we recruited local staff (nationals of the country) to assist in my duties. 

  

As part of my professional skills and knowledge in security, I trained the local staff working with me to perform duties according to my expectation.  I made friends with key security leaders and created good working relationship with the National Police, National Fire Service and the Government Soldiers.  These are the elements required to discharge out duties effectively.  We needed their total supports in so many ways but sensitively employed them in the work.  I used the locals when faced with issues relating to the Chadians as they know the behaviours of their people and speak the local language more than I do.  I was able to actually safe the United Nations Staff, secured United Nations property and made working environment peaceful in the realization of the United Nations mandate in Chad.  Although, not alone but in the support of my team and other staff.

Turmoil in Egypt

It’s unfortunate that African democracy is in turmoil again.  The current situation in Egypt is not only putting contemporary democracy in peril but the country as whole.  Mohammed Morsi was elected into the office through a due process of democracy which the western world especially United States is advocating for.  However, its contradicting that the same western world playing a lackadaisical attitude towards the involvement of the military in toppling a legitimate President.

There is due process of removing a democratically elected President just like the process of giving him the mantle of leadership.  What can we call the situation in Egypt today…when others lamenting it should not be call coup???.  Where is Africa heading to again and what is the future of African democracy…..