Earlier in March 2018, I was invited to attend and speak at the London Crypto Currency Show which held today and as expected, I was supposed to be doing a post from there with pictures and stories of how amazing the event is.
What happened you may ask? Well, read the attached below.
Long story short, I was denied entry to the UK because as a "Self Employed young Nigerian", my earnings were inconsistent with what people of my type should earn and then the amounts I earn as a blogger also played against me.
These unexplained deposits are as a result of the way Crypto reacts. Anyone remember the rise of SBD way back in 2017 and how it has dropped now?
Well, I did mention that I make at least N380,000.00 monthly blogging and also get earnings from other online sources associated Steemit.com, but that didn't seem to matter to the person who stole my day. He or she just went on to hate.
One very expensive and hellish visa application process.
The application for a UK visa wasn't easy nor cheap. It also came riddled with some human made difficulties and hurdles.
First of, I paid $210USD (N77,146.72). Waited patiently to get a call from the embassy that my passport was ready for collection and didn't. I had to make a call on the morning of 11th April and got charged 1GBP 47cents per minute. I actually made two calls, the first was when they told me my passport was ready and dispatched and that I should visit the collection center, and they charged me 9.59GBP (N5,027.05). For some reasons this debit was made yesterday while I was trying to get over the shock.
So, when I got to the VAC, I was told my passport was not ready yet and I needed to wait until I get the confirmation that it was ready. I couldn't take that so I called the embassy again and this time, some very rude and fowl mouthed girl answered and this time they charged me 6.85GBP (N3,584.10) for telling me some stories about waiting.
After that call, I asked to speak with the manager at the VAC and he advised that I went to the British High Commission at Walter Carrington to complain that my passport was being delayed and that I needed to travel that evening.
I immediately went to the BDHC and complained at the gate and the gate man there by the name of Mike assisted me when he heard my story and how I needed to attend a conference that is meant to add value to my community. After another round of waiting that lasted 2 hours, I was referred back to the VAC to collect my passport.
By now, I was beginning to worry what was going on.
52 minutes later, I was back at the VAC. Made to wait for another 1 hour and then my passport was handed over to me without the visa. All these happened on the 12th and it wasn't easy.
How did I feel?
Well, I felt broken and really sad. I was torn and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the empty passport and then the rejection note someone took time to draft.
I asked myself if it was a crime to be a self employed young man with some very big dreams. I wondered why they would have issues with me earning that much money as a self employed person in a country where corruption is king. Why are they trying to stifle creativity?
Will we as a people be able to truly be seen as being different and then embraced as such?
I felt betrayed and disappointed at the way I was treated by the British Embassy.
They denied me entry to the UK for the most important show yet of my career as a Blockchain lover, enthusiast, investor and teacher, without even giving me a chance to defend and explain myself.
They didn't take into cognizance that they may be ruining my career, something that I have so labored for.
They didn't even think of the community I am representing, they just went on to dash the hopes of more than 3000 people.
Silver linings?
Well, when I contacted @Starkerz and informed him about what happened he was unhappy for sure. He however talked me into smiling and I did smile for real because I was without joy at that moment. I also got talking with the legendary Dylan @Anarcotech and he also gave me so much hope and promised he was going to help me make my presentation on the stage because the world needed to hear the STACH story.
And he did.
I may have missed going to London, but STACH didn't and that is some silver lining for me, STACH and the community. It is a win for the Creative Commons.
What next for me? What next for STACH?
I am just getting started and will continue to do what I love doing and that is building an offline that will become stronger by reason of the people whose voices are being used for great gains.
I am still in the helm of affairs of STACH and the team keeps increasing. I can't wait to introduce them to you guys. Although we may not be developing new hubs for now, we will certainly be taking the decentralization gospel far and wide. We will continue to build communities on the Blockchain and hope our world stays better every time.
We just recently incorporated STACH and will be releasing some major projects that will kickstart STACH 2.0. Exciting days ahead!
My word to you.
Many of us found the Steem Blockchain at a time when we needed something to believe in. Steemit was that "Thing" and we believed in it and it took us to places we least expected we will ever be. We attained heights never imagined and made changes that are being felt worldwide and doing so much good.
Special thanks.
To @Starkerz, @Anarcotech, @Stephenkendall and the entire #Promo-Steem team for their interest in STACH and the work we are doing; and for helping me make sense of the rejection, thank you guys.
To @Donkeypong who also spurned some funny jokes to make me find my shine again, thank you.
To the organizers of the LCCS, for taking time out to hear my story and determine it was worth sharing with the world on your stage, thank you.
To my team members at STACH and the entire Nigerian/Africa/Global community here on Steemit, thank you for believing in me and the best wishes I have always enjoyed. My journey to this level is all possible because we took it together.
This is not a time to give up on yourself or on the Steem Blockchain or on decentralization, this is time to start digging deep and drowning yourself more into innovation. Things can only get better!!!