Last Sunday was the United Nations UN International Mother Language Day which I celebrated with friends and colleagues on the Lancaster University Recirculate Project.
I gave a simple challenge that folks should translate the phrase 'Go with the Flow' in their mother tongue, write it out with the project's hashtag and the attached is the collage of what we got.
Interesting though that even within Igbo language of Nigeria for instance, there were different translations of the same phrase and this got me thinking. Every researcher has a voice which must be heard but of what significance is a voice that cannot be understood and of what impact is a language that can be understood but cannot be communicated?
As I host an international webinar on the Participate Program tomorrow, Wednesday 24th February at 11am UK Time, on 'how researchers can best communicate their work', come and learn the principles of writing a blog, producing a documentary, writing a policy brief or a creative piece so that you can be better understood by a lot more people than your usual crew.
Register here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/participate-with-recirculate-international-research-communication-webinar-tickets-138932293229
Or just join directly using this link - https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/ap/t-59584e83/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fteams.microsoft.com%2Fl%2Fmeetup-join%2F19%253ameeting_NDIxOTdjOWMtNDgwNC00ZmRjLWI5OWEtOGYyZjAxN2EyMGYz%2540thread.v2%2F0%3Fcontext%3D%257b%2522Tid%2522%253a%25229c9bcd11-977a-4e9c-a9a0-bc734090164a%2522%252c%2522Oid%2522%253a%25224798dfed-f852-472e-bc92-650bf8c1d095%2522%257d&data=04%7C01%7Ca.odon%40lancaster.ac.uk%7Cb76269323b93452a07da08d8d71ca3c3%7C9c9bcd11977a4e9ca9a0bc734090164a%7C0%7C0%7C637495865295559687%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=kibkSa%2FKn%2FOaowpsXstwxkIztTdChk0uhwopt%2F2SMvM%3D&reserved=0
#leadership #communication #management #recirculaters # #people #researchers RECIRCULATE GCRF
WE DON’T UNDERSTAND!!
Distinguished Professor,
Enlightened Academic & Researcher,
No!! don't look behind!! I am talking to you sir. Yes you Ma!! That's it. 😊
Your worth is invaluable and your capacity is incredible. You search the depths of unresolved issues with a flair and bring hidden truths and revelations to bare.
In Africa, the measure of your prowess is the number & ranking of your research publications. In fact, it is the reason for your promotions. You are the foundation of development and the summation of enlightenment.
But who else can read and actually understand those research publications besides your fellow professors and researchers?
Governments officials have the power to make the change you seek but only understand policy briefs. Industry execs have the funding you need but only understand products and impact. Society have the problems you try to solve but only understand blogs, tweets and community language.
What if every African researcher could write a blog, a business report and a policy brief alongside their research papers?
Join me as I chat with the amazing @ugochigreenangle on IG Live today and an international webinar for the Participate Program on 'how researchers can best communication their work - February 24th at 11am UK Time. See flyers for details. #communication #talk #impact #research
Before COVID, I earned when I travelled and it was fun but since then I have been blessed to earn from behind my laptop but it came at a cost of investing in self and knowing what to do.
Then I spent some time last year developing different partnerships to make international programs accessible and affordable to Africans and you will be hearing more about these.
For now, if you want an international scholarship for an international MBA onto one of the most practical and affordable MBA's in Europe designed for Africans - The Real World Skills MBA for the Future of Africa from Zürich Elite Business School (ZEBS) Switzerland.
Drop by for a chat tomorrow, Saturday 13th February at 2.30pm UK time using the zoom link -
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81530795073?pwd=T1JoRmhDeG9nOExSZTVYcFJ4ZmliUT09
Meeting ID: 815 3079 5073
Passcode: 020598
I will be joined by Prof Adonis Fragkakis, the President of Zürich Elite Business School and Mr Vassilis Kazazakis, Manager at Google and Alumni at ZEBS.
The RWS MBA is taught by global industry experts, complete in 10 to 12 months, win a fellowship with seed capital to start your business upon completion and so much more. Don't miss the webinar!!!!
Today I celebrate my PhD Supervisor, Prof Kirk Semple Kirk Semple of Lancaster University for picking up an amazing award!!
I finished my PhD at Lancaster University some 14 years ago and in that period, my supervisor has changed his status from a supervisor to a colleague, to a brother and a friend. Now that's saying a lot and those who understand, truly understand.
I was his first African PhD student and after that he has supervised over 30 African PhD students till date by his design and requests. He is a Scotsman (he is very particular about this fact), this a clear love for Africa. Do you know that Prof Kirk Semple has published more international research papers about pollution and recovery in the Nigerian oil and gas industry than several Nigerian academics because of the partnership between him and his PhD students.
How often does a Nigerian researcher write a research proposal and considers a partnership with a Kenyan researcher and vice versa? Understanding the principles of partnerships in research!!!!
This week, my good friend Kirk, won the International Impact Staff Award at Lancaster University because of his incredible work in Africa. Those annoying early morning airport taxi drop-offs, those luggage drags down terminals, those fights about Nigerian and Ghana Jollof rice and times away from family. It's all paying off in the end. See story here - https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lec/about-us/news/building-relationships-to-change-the-world
Congratulations boss!!!
