<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><font color="#333333">Dear Eric,<br><br>Thank you for your detailed breakdown and in particular for the clarity on the work and commitment from Pierre over the years. The successes within Africa in relation to Internet development as relates to ICANN activities as mentioned in your email on all the Af* has been tremendous and is indeed encouraging and should be applauded. <br>
<br>I would also want to make sure that we do not and i mean DO NOT disrespect the work that has been done by fellow Africans over the period and in particular the support and engagement of Pierre. It is important to note that he also has been very professional in his interactions as far as i can remember. <br>
<br>What i think is the issue to focus on is the consistent engagement of building a strong conglomerate of Af* institutions (mentioned below) that are very technical in nature and that are indeed very exclusive in the way they operate. This is made very clear by Eric's detailed articulation of Pierre support and engagement. <br>
<br>My opinion is that we should be careful not to create an African misunderstanding on up coming opportunities that are open for develop and growth FOR ALL. I think its important to be inclusive and open. This i believe is a much needed action from all and i am waiting for the opportunity to engage for our prosperity. <br>
</font><br>He is the "unseen" leader in the building of the Af* institutions namely</span><br style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">
AfNOG, AfriNIC, AfrISPA, AfriCANN, AfTLD, AfRALO, AfFREN and now AfCERT.
I</span><br style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">
must put on record that when we were establishing AfrISPA, he was one of</span><br style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">
the quiet advisors who would tell you what to do and when to say what
and</span><br style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">
what not to do or say. When there is geat controversy and someone is</span><br style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">
discounted, Peirre would echo "atleast lets hear his or her side of the</span><br style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">
story" and conclude "whether we like it or not, he or she is part of the</span><br style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">
African story". Am sure if a court of competent jurisdiction sentenced</span><br style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">
someone to death without giving them a hearing, Peirre would still echo</span><br style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">
"lets hear his or her side of the story" - it takes great patience and
an</span><br style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">
unusual substance for humanity to have that nature.</span><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 12:40, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:emko@internetresearch.com.gh" target="_blank">emko@internetresearch.com.gh</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,<br>
<br>
Dear Sir/Madam,<br>
<br>
In the wake of current developments and without prejudice, i present my<br>
testimony of Mr. Peirre Dandjinou - an "unusual" leader of our time. i<br>
first encountered Peirre Dandjinou at an AfNOG/AfriNIC meeting in the turn<br>
of the 21st century and he made time to engage on ideas to grow the<br>
Internet in Africa, we have since being engaged at the level of ideas and<br>
doing things for Africa.<br>
<br>
Mr. Dandjinou cuts across on language lines, very fluent in english and<br>
french, am sure in other languages that am not aware of. His disposition<br>
is soo African, it took me a while to realise he is of Beninou extraction.<br>
Worked in the UN System as a diplomat and at the same time engaged with<br>
the African private sector, he has a unique ability to balance the<br>
interest of governments, civil society, academia and private sector - an<br>
unusual leadership skill. Interestingly, he has such a quite and inclusive<br>
nature that he can do all the ground work for a meeting and during the<br>
event, he wont say a word and at the end, he would say, WE had a great<br>
meeting, now lets get to action. He is one of those leaders, who leader<br>
from behind by building community. Even when you disagree with him, he<br>
would find something that you both agree on and say, lets focus on that.<br>
<br>
He is the "unseen" leader in the building of the Af* institutions namely<br>
AfNOG, AfriNIC, AfrISPA, AfriCANN, AfTLD, AfRALO, AfFREN and now AfCERT. I<br>
must put on record that when we were establishing AfrISPA, he was one of<br>
the quiet advisors who would tell you what to do and when to say what and<br>
what not to do or say. When there is geat controversy and someone is<br>
discounted, Peirre would echo "atleast lets hear his or her side of the<br>
story" and conclude "whether we like it or not, he or she is part of the<br>
African story". Am sure if a court of competent jurisdiction sentenced<br>
someone to death without giving them a hearing, Peirre would still echo<br>
"lets hear his or her side of the story" - it takes great patience and an<br>
unusual substance for humanity to have that nature.<br>
<br>
The ICANN Community of which am a peripheral participant stands to benefit<br>
greatly from such an "unusual" leader and i submit that any institution<br>
that takes Peirre Dandjinou unto it's board would be greatly enhanced by<br>
an "unusual leader".<br>
<br>
To conclude, let me sound a caution; we as Africans "sacrificed" our<br>
leaders (Nkrumah, Nyerere, Uhuru etc) of the post colonial era and thats<br>
why we are where we are, please lets not make that mistake again in the<br>
21st century when history beckons with new leaders in the likes of Peirre<br>
Dandjonou and co.<br>
<br>
On a lighter note, i like to call him PDD, if you know what i mean.....:-)<br>
<br>
Eric here<br>
<br>
<br>
Eric M.K Osiakwan<br>
Director<br>
Internet Research<br>
<a href="http://www.internetresearch.com.gh" target="_blank">www.internetresearch.com.gh</a><br>
<a href="mailto:emko@internetresearch.com.gh" target="_blank">emko@internetresearch.com.gh</a><br>
42 Ring Road Central, Accra-North<br>
Tel: +233.30.2258800 ext 7031<br>
Fax: +233.30.2258811<br>
Cell: +233.24.4386792<br>
<br>
<br>
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