Team Bonding at ZODML: Chicken Republic, Skelewu and Orange Paint

The ZODML team tackles a painting job with smiles, music, and an expected hue of paint as Larry Agbabs, an NYSC member serving at the organisation, shares.
From L-R: Kenechi, Emmanuel, Ejike, Mena, Nike, David, Dave, Uche and Godi
 

The day started off dull; the sky was gloomy, a brisk wind was blowing and heavy drizzle was falling. Despite the depressing weather, I got to work very excited as Friday, September 20 was scheduled to be an eventful day as a team of ZODML’s staff would be painting our Internet Learning Centre (ILC), a computer centre set up by the organisation to provide government school students with access to computers and the chance to learn IT skills.
That Friday, I arrived at work all kitted up in my painting outfit: brown trousers that had been hiding in a corner of my wardrobe, and a baggy blue shirt I got as a present. The people who were going to the ILC were excited, while everyone else was envious because they were going to miss out on. Our team arrived at the ILC at about 9am. Looking at the building, our excitement was soon dampened at the sight of the work ahead of us. Our first task was to safely pack up the computer equipment and devices used in the ILC, a stressful task that was soon alleviated by the sounds of Fela Kuti’s horns blasting through the sound system. Everyone was soon singing and dancing along as they swept the floors and disconnected tangled cords. After we packed and cleared up the computer equipment, tables and chairs, the main event was ready to take place. First, we whitewashed the walls to cover up the dull and flaking paint. Godi, our IT manager, had visited the market beforehand to buy the supplies we would need. He had selected a paint colour called “Golden Yellow,” something that wouldn’t be too different from the old colour. When the whitewashing was done, we cracked open the paint buckets…to see a bright orange colour staring back at us. It was too late to return to the market, so we decided to embrace the new vibrant ILC - and hoped that the students would like it too. The energy that Fela had supplied was supplemented with some Davido, TLC and Jay Z as everyone took to their brushes and rollers with enthusiasm, laughing and cheering each other on. When we reached the halfway point, it became clear from some facial expressions that hunger had taken over. Two of our team put down their brushes to get us food from Chicken Republic (although I would have preferred some “Mama Put” because we all know how they count food in most fast food restaurants). The food did its job and we soon got back to painting. We had originally intended to only paint the inside of the ILC, but Godi and David, inspired by the vibrant colour and a chicken-and-rice-fuelled burst of energy, decided to take on the outside of the building. The sun, which had come out for a while, began to retreat as we toiled, and it was only through the timely arrival of Ejike, who helped put the finishing touches on our work, that we were able to beat the rain. Before admiring our handiwork, we had to set up all the computers, desks and chairs ahead of the students’ first day back the following Monday. Although energy levels were flagging at this point (and some people had collapsed on chairs outside), we were able to get everything sorted by 4.30pm. Sulayman, our freelance photographer, had been taking pictures in between paint strokes all day, and enthusiastically snapped photos of the completed masterpiece as we took in the ILC’s new look. Of course, the team also posed for some in front of the building – we had to make sure everyone at the office got a glimpse or two at our work of art. On our way back to the corporate office, as a reward for our hard work, Mother Nature blessed us with the rain she had held back all day. The following Monday morning at 9, Godi, Emmanuel and I unlocked the door of the ILC to prepare for the students’ arrival. The first few faces that peeked in looked first surprised, then excited at the sight of the new and improved ILC – the perfect way to kick off a new school year. [slideshow_deploy id='2177']