The early part of this month was really something to write home about..., not because I won lottery but because I will like to highlight just two things. And hey...I'm alive....and it's actually very funny how I wote this post down since early part of this month and I didn't post it. Thank God for the draft feature.

One of those early weekends, to be precise, on Saturday began as it always does on the last Saturday of every month here in my state (Akwa Ibom).

The city wakes up to a unique kind of quiet. And from exactly 8 AM to 10 AM, we observe a state-wide sanitation exercise, this is a standing tradition here.

This is not just a recommendation from the govenment, it comes with strict rules that everyone MUST obey.

There are full restrictions on movement, no cars are allowed on the roads and people are encouraged to stay within their immediate neighborhoods to clean up, mostly gutters and refuge dumps.

And that's why, the streets that are usually buzzing with activities, became strangely peaceful, filled only with the sounds of brooms sweeping and neighbors chatting as they clear debris from their surroundings.

Also,monitoring teams were very much active searching for defaulters. These are the only quick jobs our governments provide for the youths especially those ones that seems to be a threat to the community😌. The government see this as empowerment - sadly, what these guys earn can't even takes care of them alone for a week, but this is not what I want to talk about today.

For one thing, my state government excels when it comes to environmental cleanliness.

They truly value cleanliness and a tidy environment, and it shows in how consistently this exercise is enforced. Infact, my state - Akwa Ibom is among the first 8 cleanest state in Nigeria. as a matter of fact the number one. Check the statistics.

Well, this is not just the government effort alone, the citizens of my state and city are incredibly cooperative when it comes to keeping our environment spotless and as such, it makes this go smoothly.

It is a beautiful example of community spirit, and as a community organizer it always makes me proud to see how dedicated we are to maintaining our clean surroundings.

Once the two hours of communal effort were over at 10am, the city slowly began to hum back to its usual lively self.

As soon as the restrictions lifted, I headed out. I had arranged to help a young man who had traveled all the way from Lagos down to Uyo.

He needed assistance installing a solar water heater in my neighborhood. I arrived there and we exchanged greetings, and started on the task.

However, as we worked, I noticed something was off. His movements were uncertain, and his questions suggested a lack of basic knowledge about solar installations.

Somehow, my helpful nature wanted to guide him, but my mind was also disturbed with questions. I was curious to know why a company will send someone that doesn’t have a single knowledge when it comes to solar installation to this type of work, it’s a shame.

Well, I couldn't keep what ws disturbing me again, so I politely asked him, Have you ever installed a solar system before?

Looking a little embarrassed, he answered – ”Honestly no. I just started this job with my company about a month ago, and this is my first time.”

My jaw almost dropped. I was really disappointed and quite surprised. Why would his company send someone completely untrained, all the way from Lagos, to handle such a technical job?😳 It just didn't make sense to me.

He then explained his company's policy: they sell solar water heaters and other solar devices, and as part of the purchase, they send one of their sales representatives to handle the installation, no matter which state in Nigeria the customer is in. Hence, the reason he was sent.

While I understand wanting to offer a comprehensive service, I believe there should be a clear difference between a sales representative and a trained technician. Sending someone with no practical experience for an installation reflects poorly on their brand.

I chose not to mention the company's name publicly to avoid damaging their reputation, but I certainly didn't hesitate to send a detailed feedback through their website. They seriously need to improve their staff training, or what they call their technicians, because this situation speaks volumes about their quality control and customer commitment.

Imagine sending a novice to install an expensive solar water heater. That joke is too expensive.

Moving forward, I also asked him how he got my contact information. He explained that he had searched on Google for solar businesses in Uyo, hoping to find a local expert to help him for the day.

He had contacted several people, but many were quoting excessively high prices, and others simply didn't respond.

So, he kept going down the list until he found my number. We spoke, and we agreed on a price. To be honest, the payment was quite low, but at that moment, it was better than sitting at home doing nothing. At least, the small amount I earned helped me buy a few essentials.

In summary, it was a long weekend, but really ended well. It was more of a training session than an assistance, but we got the job done eventually.

And the good news? The site engineer came by for inspection and we had a good chat. We exchanged contacts, and I'm really holding out hope that this encounter will lead to some better opportunities in the future.