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| Firienhiwot Mekonnen |
In the past few years,
there have been many foreigners both living in Nigeria or outside whose love
for the country knows no bounds. Some of these people have not minced words in
expressing this love.
One of those includes Firiehiwot Mekonnen, General Manager of Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria.
Mekonnen served as
head of traffic and sales before her new appointment as GM and travels across
Nigeria to coordinate the affairs of the airline which was named the most busy
international airline operating in Nigeria in the last few years.
In a recent chat, she
says she loves Nigeria and really means all she says.
She recollected her
first years in Nigeria and the negative stories she heard before her arrival adding
that she has really fallen in love with the country and its people.
The woman who coordinated
the recent all female crew flight of the airline including pilots, engineers
and cabin crew into Nigeria a few months back noted that Nigeria is a vibrant
country.
According to the
mother of one who oversees the huge business interests of ET in Nigeria
including five daily flights into and out of Nigeria, the stories she heard
about Nigeria “did not fit into the realities on ground. I have made many
Nigerian friends and even wear Nigerian dresses and eat Nigerian food. Evwen
my family members and friends in Ethiopia now wear Nigerian dresses because of
me. My first impression
about Nigeria was very nice and very beautiful. Nigerians are very enterprising
people. They are very happy and bubbly with energy. I like that. They can start
up a conversation with you even when they do not know you”.
By Fred Iwenjora
By Fred Iwenjora
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