Nigeria, Oct. 22 -- "Daddy, Daddy - don't be scared. Everything is under control. Suleman was crushed by a hit-and-run drunkard, but he is currently admitted at Cedarcrest."

That was the message from my son, Saad, last Monday morning in Kano - a morning when I was preparing to open an executive training programme we were hosting with the Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR). I had been in the city for more than a week, overseeing the PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship. The days had been full and productive. The BPSR training was meant to cap the visit. I was in conversation with the Director General, Dr Dasuki I Arabi, making final preparations before participants arrived, when the call came.

I have been a father long enough to ...