Something I have learnt - Sonye Allanah

Some people seem to think they know everything whilst others think they know nothing of value to others. The truth is that we can all learn something from anybody else - if we are prepared to listen! This is the heart of The Knowledge Exchange - you passing something of value that you have learnt on to me so I can benefit, and vice versa. Don't forget that you will have very little idea how how much value a lesson that you learnt in life a long time ago might have for me.

October’s contributor is Sonye Allanah who will be joining us from her home in Nigeria. Sonye has been a career diplomat for over 20 years including senior postings at the Nigerian embassy in Paris, Dakar Bonn and Berlin.Sonye has also been Deputy General Manager for government affairs at Total Energy in Nigeria and served as the first female Director of Protocol to former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.Throughout her career Sonye has championed the rights and role of women - often in very male dominated sectors so whichever lesson from whichever part of her life she decides to share at this session it will definitely be one not to miss.

A LESSON FROM EGGS AND NOODLES

As a small child, I was very selfish, self-centered, and outslicked other people just to get ahead of life. Each time I failed, I always thought that the entire world was at fault. It never struck me that the problem could be me. One day, my father decided to cook for the both of us. He put two bowls of noodles on the table. One bowl had an egg on top while the other bowl didn’t have any egg on top. Eggs were like gold in the place where we lived. It was a precious commodity that I only get to eat it during festivals and New Year.

My father warmheartedly asked me "My child, please choose the bowl from which you wish to eat from.” I quickly chose the bowl with the egg on top without hesitation, started eating ahead of my father, and congratulated myself on the wise choice I made and began to brag about how easy it was for me to decide. Then to my surprise, as my father ate his noodles, there were TWO eggs beneath the noodles! I felt so bad and hated myself for being too hasty and I even tried to make some excuses.

My father smiled and said to me “You must remember that what your eyes see may not be true. If you intend on taking advantage of people, you will end up losing.” (credit Earl P Linked in)

Lessons I have learnt is an informal space where on the last Friday of each month a diverse group of people from the well known to the completely unknown will share one or two lessons they have learnt in life. This month's guest will be followed with an opportunity for group discussion plus the sharing of any other life lessons that you or the other participants might want.

For 2024 these events are completely free.