“I left Nigeria as a youngster. I was just 19. When I got to Germany in the later part of 1968, it was for education, pomp and play. I enrolled into a polytechnic and acquired a certificate. My practical work experience started immediately, while I was at school. You were required to do practical experiences in your field and that was when my work life started in 1972. 

I see myself as an engineer, simple and short. I had sailed as chief engineer of ships and vessels with various German shipping lines. Before then, I had been superintendent engineer in charge of building and repairing new vessels in Stocknia Shipyard, Gdynia, Poland for a German shipping company. I also designed and built several container vessels for a German company. 

In my life, I had also built and commissioned the only Coca-Cola plant in Conakry, Guinea, built and commissioned a cement factory in Damascus, Syria. I supervised the entire process. Currently, I am the President/CEO at Bratco Overseas GMBH, a company involved in maritime activities, marine resources, marine consultancy and offshore equipment brokerage. We are also involved in turn-around-maintenance of offshore vessels and refineries. We also procure to sell, dredgers and other offshore logistics equipment. 
With this very impressive CV, one wonders why you don’t want to come to Nigeria to live and work. 

Who says I do not want to come to Nigeria. I am first of all a Nigerian through and through. I see myself as a Nigerian, who lives in Germany, because my business headquarters is there. My legs are in Nigeria. We have branch offices at Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Warri. 

I am more in Nigeria these days. I am not a politician but, if my services are needed, I would return but if not, I prefer living in the city of Hamburg. There are several professionals who would love to return to Nigeria but the atmosphere is not yet conducive. For instance, you must have millions of naira to contest an election in Nigeria, which you are not even sure of winning, so most of us in the Diaspora would rather stay where we are for now, and sneaking into Nigeria when it is necessary. If you ever attend the meeting of Nigeria in Diaspora Organisation Europe, NIDOE, you would understand what I mean.

I am a member of NIDOE. I am also the president of NIPEG, that is...Nigerian Professionals and Entrepreneur Group in Germany. These should tell you that I think home. We meet every time to deliberate on how to make Nigeria better and compare with our countries of residence. 

You talked about building ships for Nigeria, could you elaborate?
I had been involved in building ships in the past, while working for ship building companies. I have also been part of building for Nigeria. My expertise is part of what manufactured NNS Aradu and NNS Ofiom, Nigeria’s main warships. I recall that naval head at that time, Admiral Fingesi, urged me to return to Nigeria and live. 

Whenever he heard that I was in Nigeria on a visit, he never stopped asking me to return home. I also recall that former Minister for Tourism, Jubril Ayinla, who was the XO of NNS Aradu then, and also Navy Captain Dipo Ayeni, the first governor of Bayelsa State, also of the Navy, wished I was based in Nigeria. I said no then because I didn’t see my future guaranteed but I have not stopped making incursions into contributing to the development of my country. 

With your involvement and vast knowledge in ship building and maritime engineering, how do you feel now that Nigeria took delivery of NNS THUNDER as a gift from the US, even as it costs so much to maintain? 
I feel good because it is a gift and my father always told me to take gifts and thank the giver. But I feel bad because it would cost us much to fuel and maintain. I feel bad because some of us in the Diaspora have not been given a chance to show ourselves and our core competences.

I can single handed build a new fuel efficient and modern warship for Nigeria from start to finish, if given the opportunity. This is not a boast. So, when I hear that Nigeria took delivery of a war ship, it makes me feel somehow because it shows Nigeria’s over dependence on others for things we can handle by ourselves. I have a design of a war ship on my table looking at me every day I sit on that table. It would be very fuel efficient more than an obsolete vessel not built for today’s voyage. I feel sad that Nigerians are not given any chance to express themselves on things concerning our country, as government prefers expatriates. I can tell you that Nigerian engineers abroad, who have been involved in ship building, can give Nigeria better fuel efficient ships

Can you recall your early days in Europe and compare her with the moment? 
Europe is no longer the same as it was many years back. When we came to study, you could see families looking out for young African students to support. May be at weekends you visited them and they also looked out for you taking care of some of your basic needs. Now you see so much more number of Africans doing everything to go to Europe to settle. Some white people are threatened that the new African population may soon overwhelm them. So there is resentment these days. That is where racism comes in. But indeed, Europe has always been a place where your hard work would always pay you dividends. Opportunities of excellence abound and all you have to do is to key in. Europe is not a place for indolent people especially Africans.

Any African who wishes to come to Europe must first of all know what he or she wants. My only advice is that you know it at the back of your mind that it is not going to be easy. You must realize early that you are on your own completely.
I advise anyone who wants to spend so much money to get visa to Europe to use the money to start a business in Nigeria. Even people from Ukraine, Poland, and Russia still come to Germany to look for job. Why don’t you put your money to good use and not bother to travel. Greener pasture of those days is not the same of today. Young people should try to get education. They may also take the risk but elders should not bother because they may start a journey of no return.

What are the basic challenges of a new comer to Europe? 
Language is the main problem. I was lucky during my early days; I had somebody I lived with. Those days in the 60’s, you went shopping and someone comes around you to ask where you come from. They readily give assistance to you. I was lucky to have such support. There wasn’t much racism. It started when the asylum seekers started flooding into Germany. Germans started thinking you were gunning to take their jobs. Let me tell you, there is racism in every country. Even in Nigeria, it is not strange.

Aside from these, there is also environmental challenge to deal with. The weather was harsh to a new comer. Again the little resources the new comer came with will be fizzled out before he knows it. He also has to deal with the system of government and try to understand the way it is organized. For every one in Germany, there must be authority and permission to do certain things. The new comer from Africa must have to deal with this difference in culture.

If you later get involved in corporate activities, your clean records will speak for you. If you are doing genuine business, they know. If you are clean in your business, you won’t have problem in Germany.
However, if you are a new business owner in Europe, you must know what you are going to do and realize that you may not make profit in the first few years. You must be resolute. Nigerians are determined people unlike many other people from other African countries. You must do a comprehensive survey of what you want to do before ever trying.