Atanda Jubril is a bright young Nigerian, who like many others from his home country, has chosen to study here in North Cyprus. What sets him apart from the crowd is that he studied architecture in Nigeria but decided to continue his post graduate education here. At Cyprus International University he is not only carrying out research for his PhD, but he is also lecturing to undergraduates studying there. Atanda has a busy academic schedule, but he is also a prolific blogger.
I caught up with Atanda just before he was about to go on a trip to Germany. He calls himself a fashion blogger and like many other talented African students that I have met here, he loves wearing clothes that express his personality perfectly. Atanda likes to mix the old with the new and you can often see him wearing a combination of braces over a shirt and trousers - with a smooth hat and cool sunglasses to complete the look. "I always have a hat on, it's my trademark," he says proudly. Atanda uses his knowledge of fashion to advise others and on his regularly updated blog he often offers suggestions on how to mix colours, fabrics, etc.
Atanda's blog not only showcases the stylish clothes taken off the hangers in his wardrobe, he also likes to explore the beauty of North Cyprus. Taking advantage of the eclectic architectural styles of the ancient buildings scattered around the island, Atanda is very comfortable posing in front of old Ottoman door or even a majestic gothic cathedral. In one of his most recent blogs we can find Atanda in front of Selimiye Mosque in the old quarters of Lefkoşa, attending a classic car exhibition. With a pedal bike as an extra accessory, the photographs taken not only showcase Atanda's clothes that suited the occasion, but also the location and the shiny classic cars on display. In another blog Atanda and some friends are lazing around the pool at a local aqua park, and again the photographs show the beauty of the country as well as the warmth of the smiling faces enjoying a fun day out.
Atanda's blog is one that he has created himself and all his thoughts and ideas and adventures here in North Cyprus can be seen on the site http://www.arct5000.com. The "arct" comes from the names of the modules taken on his architecture course. Young, fashionable and talented, Atanda is happy to share all his passions with the rest of the world. Whilst he is here in North Cyprus Atanda is promoting the island in the best way possible, and for that we are eternally grateful.
