After 4 years as a Teacher of Technical college in Kajaani, Finland, I felt that there could be some other interesting experiences elsewhere.

I saw in a newspaper that African Development Bank, AFDB was looking for an Economist from Finland for Social Development Investment Projects in its Head Quarters in Abidjan, Ivory Cost. I sent my application with my opinion that evaluation of design, construction documents and construction costs belong to tasks of an Architect. My opinion was agreed and my qualifications seemed be suitable for the job description.

In its letter, AFDB wrote that that they have many Economists but no Architects and they asked how soon I could start my work there. After a couple of weeks I moved with my family to Abidjan. After arriving there, I was sent immediately to Cairo, Egypt to prepare a vocational school project. My wife and out 3 sons, Niko, Iivo and Otso (who was born in Kajaani, Finland) stayed in the hotel.
My work in the African Development Bank opened the whole continent to me.