Power Generation Drops as Gas Shortage Forces Closure of Four Gencos Egbin, Omotosho, Olorunsogo, Paras lose 1,988mw Chineme Okafor in Abuja Four power generation companies (Gencos) have been unable to generate electricity to the national grid for several days, due to gas supply
challenges, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) disclosed yesterday. The TCN said in a statement from its General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, that the national grid
was experiencing reduced power generation due mainly to emergency maintenance by the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) of its gas pipeline supplying gas to Egbin, Omotosho, Olorunsogo and
Paras Power Stations. The TCN statement issued in Abuja explained that this was caused by leakage discovered on the EscravosLagos Pipeline System gas pipeline, necessitating the
total shutdown of the four power generating plants on 25th April, 2019. On the same day, records from the Office of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, stated that average energy sent
out was 3,930 megawatts (MW) while 1,988.21MW was not generated due to unavailability of gas. It also said the power sector Continued on page 6
Saudi King Okays Planned Multiple Oil Investment Pact with Nigeria… Page 6 Saturday 27 April, 2019 Vol 24. No 8783
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Kajuru Boils again, El-rufai Reinstates 24-Hour Curfew John Shiklam in Kaduna Deadly violence has again erupted in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State that is becoming notorious for frequent violent ethno-religious conflicts. The latest clashes, which
occurred late on Thursday reportedly led to the death of three people and burning of a house and this has compelled the Kaduna state government to, once again, impose a 24-hour curfew on Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru Local Government Area of
Kaduna state to avert another wave of bloody ethno-religious clashes. It was learnt that since Thursday evening, tension had been mounting in the community, following an alleged attack on two Adara boys by some Hausa boys.
According to sources in the area, “the two of our boys were coming from a local market in the evening on Thursday and decided to follow the bypass. ”They were attacked and thoroughly beaten by some Hausa boys. One of them was
taken to St. Gerald Hospital where he later died as a result of the beating.” The incident was said to have sparked tension, prompting the deployment of more security personnel to the community to avert outbreak of violence.
However, it was learnt that there was serious hostility between the two groups yesterday morning following news of the death of one of the boys that were beaten. Sources said three people Continued on page 6
PDP: Buhari Should Transmit Letter to N’Assembly on Private Visit to London No proper hand over to vice president Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus, yesterday in Abuja declared that President Muhammadu Buhari’s ongoing 10-day private visit to London, United Kingdom is an illegal and unconstitutional trip. Speaking during a media briefing on the state of the nation, Secondus, who described Buhari’s trip as “voyage unknown”, said it was condemnable that the President travelled to the United Kingdom without notifying the National Assembly and also did not hand over power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The PDP Chairman also lamented the escalation of bloodletting occasioned by the barrage of criminalities across the country, saying these developments have
raised serious concerns on the issue of leadership and whether there is a government in place.” Secondus noted that “while the Presidency continues to argue that there exists government in the country today, what obtains in reality is different.” He noted that rather than give teeth to governance and address biting national issues of concern like the insecurity, “the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government exerts all its energies and resources planning nefariously how to undermine democratic institutions.” According to Secondus, the security situation had been such that prominent Nigerian clerics have been raising serious concerns on the issue of leadership, even Continued on page 6
Emefiele: MFBs Advanced N482.89bn Credit to MSMEs in 2018... Page 6
LAGOS WORLD CLASS TRANSPORT PROJECT... L-R: The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Planet Projects, Biodun Otunola; Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; and President Muhammadu Buhari, during the commissioning of the Oshodi Transport Interchange project of the Lagos State Government conceived and built by Planet Projects… Wednesday
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Saudi King Okays Planned Multiple Oil Investment Pact with Nigeria Nigeria to benefit from Saudi Aramco’s investments across the globe Chineme Okafor The King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Crown Prince, H.R.H. Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud have endorsed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) being prepared by Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to enable both countries engage in multiple aspects of oil and gas business. Nigeria’s Ministry of Petroleum disclosed this yesterday in a statement which said the information
came from Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih. The ministry noted in the statement that areas of interest for the MoU would include Nigeria’s attempt to revamp her decrepit refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna; building of a brand new refinery; investment in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), as well as product supply trading in crude oil and refined products. The idea of preparing and signing the MoU emanated
when Al-Falih had a high level bilateral meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu in Riyadh on Wednesday. The statement said the partnership investment agreement would be signed with President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the early draft of the MoU would be ready in the first week of May. The ministry’s statement said the Saudi minister stated that his team would undertake the task of drafting an outline of the MoU in consonance with
Nigeria and that it would consequently move through the bureaucratic channels of getting the requisite approvals and endorsements. Nigeria’s governor at the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr. Omar Farouk and that of Saudi Arabia, Adeeb Al-Aama, have been nominated to fast track the process for the official endorsements and signing, the statement said. It also said Al Falih, reiterated the possibility of establishing an independent refinery in Nigeria as Saudi Arabia considers
Nigeria the best hub to reach other African countries. Similarly, it noted that Kachikwu, expressed his expectation that the definite signing of the MoU would further cement the cordial relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, adding that his visit to the country became necessary on account of their commonalities. According to the statement, the agreement would in principle open the doors for Nigeria to potentially benefit from Saudi Arabia’s and Saudi Aramco’s recent aggressive oil
sector investments across the globe. He disclosed that Nigeria would leverage the huge success of Saudi Arabia in the industry, especially with regards to Saudi Aramco’s turnover of over $200 billion in the last year. He further applauded the cooperation between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia at the highest global level of OPEC, while expressing his excitement that the two lead persons for the MoU drafting are seasoned OPEC governors with the highest levels of competence.
Emefiele: MFBs Advanced N482.89bn Credit to MSMEs in 2018 James Emejo, Bamidele Famoofo and Nume Ekeghe ÓØ Gombe
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, yesterday disclosed that total aggregate loans granted by Microfinance Banks (MFBs) to micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country stood at N482.896 billion as at December 2018. He added that the CBN was working to increase the share of micro credit as percentage of total credit to at least 20 percent by 2020. Speaking at the opening of the CBN 27th seminar for finance correspondents and business editors in Gombe State, themed: “Repositioning Microfinance Banks for Real
Sector Growth”, Emefiele noted that small businesses had been more successful in securing credit from the microfinance institutions rather than conventional deposit money banks (DMBs). He noted that data from the licensed credit bureaus indicated that the operations of micro finance banks had helped to improve financial inclusion among smallholder peasant farmers, artisans and other small business operators. Emefiele, nevertheless, bemoaned the inadequate spread in the location of the MFBs in relation to their target beneficiaries, demand for immovable collaterals for loans, high interest rate, and absence of a credit reporting system. He added that the apex bank
is currently working assiduously to address identified challenges. He emphasised the fact that microfinance institutions exist to provide financial services to the economically active operators of the base of the income pyramid who are either undeserved or not served at all by conventional financial institutions. Represented by CBN Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Mr. Edward Adamu, the governor noted that the CBN had in 2005 formulated the Microfinance Policy Regulatory and Supervisory Framework in line with its developmental role. “The policy was aimed among other at bringing microfinance institutions and activities into greater focus in order to deepen financial inclusion and alleviate the financing needs of micro,
small and medium enterprises (MSMES),” he said. According to him, “The bank has since then worked towards increasing access to financial services for the economically active poor in order to enhance job creation and poverty reduction. “The bank remains committed to the economic empowerment of disadvantaged groups including women and actively seeks to achieve this through the instrumentality of microfinance amongst other initiatives.” He further added: “Only recently, the bank took some actions including a thorough review of the subsector, increased surveillance and revocation, where necessary. These measures were intended to revitalise the sector to ensure
the institutions remain missionfocused and to grow public confidence in sub-sector. “In a developing economy like ours, the link between microfinance and the real sector is quite strong. Microfinance banks are conceived to serve as critical financial lubricants for the real sector, which is the pillar of sustained economic growth. “At the moment, economic policy in Nigeria faces a major challenge of reviving growth which is the (only) sure path to ending pervasive poverty. Microfinance has worked in this regard in many climes and promises to work in Nigeria, if we get it right.” The CBN governor added that by increasing access to credit and related services to the economically active segment
of the low income population, microfinance directly contributes to expanding the production base and serves as credible strategy for increasing financial inclusion and reducing unemployment. He added that the CBN, in collaboration with other agencies of government is currently implementing various intervention schemes in addition to promoting microfinance. Emefiele, however, noted that the theme of the seminar was appropriate considering its recent efforts to prime the MFBs as catalysts for financial inclusion and poverty reduction. He stressed that the meeting was aimed at deepening the interactions between the CBN and the media for the benefit of the society, which both institutions serve.
bag' governor in the state does not seem to know how to engender peace among the people, pointing out that his actions and utterances facilitate instead of ameliorating the ill feelings among the people. The PDP national chair further said that after several attempts by the APC to hijack the legislature failed, it turned to the Judiciary ridiculing the revered third arm of the government to the point of removing their confidence. According to him, “The executive-backed humiliation of the head of the Judiciary, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, is a well-designed strategy by
the APC administration to intimidate and coerce judicial officers particularly the Judges and Justices to fall in line and endorse all their undemocratic behaviours that are bound to come to the judiciary for adjudication.” Secondus advised members of the Judiciary particularly those handling election matters and who are all Nigerians and are living in Nigeria that the country and rule of law should guide all their actions. Furthermore, he them urged them to know that providence has placed on their laps the opportunity to make positive history and
enshrine justice and fair play in the society knowing as a fact that no nation grows on injustice and injustice breed crisis. To this end, Secondus enjoined Nigerian leaders through the media to speak up on the situation in the country and not wait until the nation finally grounds to halt before they voice out. While appreciating the good work by the media, Secondus urged them to do more in condemning the deliberate bastardisation of critical institutions of democracy and clear destruction of separation of power among the three arms of government.
Kajuru Local Government Area has been a theatre of deadly conflicts for about two years now. Only last week, two aid workers, a Briton, Faye Mooney, and a Nigerian, Matthew Ogwuche, were murdered by gunmen.
Prior to this week’s violence, the Kaduna State Police Command confirmed last month that no fewer than 16 persons were killed by gunmen at Barde Village under Maro in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.
Violence erupts easily in Kajuru and other parts of Southern Kaduna and takes the form of attacks and reprisal attacks by the various communities, which maintain strict religious and ethnic divides.
"Due to the diversion of the load from this line to the two transmission lines equally feeding Lagos axis, load shedding in Lagos axis was minimised to about 280MW at the first instance. However with the attendant gas supply issues and sudden gas leakage problem, load shedding
increased considerably," she added. Mbah stated that “the TCN regrets the inconveniences and wish to assure Nigerians that power supply would return to normal as soon as normal gas supply is restored to the affected power stations and transmission repair work is completed.”
PDP: BUHARI SHOULD TRANSMIT LETTER TO N’ASSEMBLY ON PRIVATE VISIT TO LONDON questioning whether there is a Commander-in-Chief in this country. He stated: “I have called you this day to speak on some burning issues that relate to our dear country. The apparent incompetence of the ruling APC in the handling of affairs of governance has continued to take a huge toll on the nation. “The level of bloodletting occasioned by the barrage of criminalities across the country can only be happening in a country without government. Things got even worse as the remaining goodwill of the people on this government vanished after it arm-twisted
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), into tampering with the will of the people in the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly Elections. “There is no evidence of the presence of government in this country as crimes of all kinds are committed all over the country and Nigerians have never lived in such great fear and trembling for their lives. “From Kaduna to Zamfara, Benue to Taraba, Plateau, Lagos to Enugu, bloodletting is continuing unabated, even the President's home state of Katsina has lost about eight local government areas to bandits, much less the North
East. “Just last week, a female foreign humanitarian worker, Faye Mooney, a Briton was brutally shot dead in Kajuru, Kaduna state. The situation has deteriorated to the extent that this country can no longer protect the lives of international aid workers who are here to help us clear our mess.” Secondus further noted that the continuous bloodletting in Kaduna state should be blamed on the type of provocative leadership existing in that state and indirectly encouraged by the federal government. He stressed that the 'body
KAJURU BOILS AGAIN, EL-RUFAI REINSTATES 24-HOUR CURFEW were killed, while a house was burnt following the confrontation between the two groups. Chairman of Kajuru Local Government, Cafra Caino, who confirmed the incident said the situation had been brought
under control. He said the state government had imposed a 24-hour curfew on the community to avert further violence. Caino said, “Yesterday there was tension and security personnel were deployed and
the whole area was condoned. “But this morning, there was another growing tension, but the situation has been brought under control. ”The state government has imposed a 24-hour curfew to avert violence.”
POWER GENERATION DROPS AS GAS SHORTAGE FORCES CLOSURE OF FOUR GENCOS lost an estimated N1.407 billion due to insufficient gas supply, distribution and transmission infrastructure. In the TCN statement, Mbah, said that prior to the incident, Omotosho NIPP and Olorunsogo NIPP had already been out due to gas supply issues. According to her, NGC
worked hard to repair the gas pipeline so that normal gas supply can be restored to the affected power plants. "At present, repairs have been completed and the pipeline is currently being pressurised prior to resumption of gas supply to the affected power stations," she said.
Mbah, further noted that the TCN had diverted about 312MW load from the Benin-Egbin 330kV transmission line, which tripped at 23.14hours on Tuesday, 23rd April, 2019, to Omotosho –Ikeja West and Ayede-Ikeja 330kV transmission lines, due to on-going repair works on
the Benin-Egbin 330kV transmission line. "The tripping was caused by a line cut between Ofofu and Okada, however TCN engineers are making concerted efforts to complete repair work on the transmission line, despite the very difficult terrain at that location.
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Ă?ĂĄĂ? ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ahamefula Ogbu 08116759810 (Ă?Ă—Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁĚš Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă– ahamefula.ogbu@thisdaylive.com
BACKING A GOOD CAUSE... L-R: Secretary, Nigeria Bar Association-Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL), Adeoye Adefulu; CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Oscar Onyema; Chairman, (NBA-SBL) Seni Adio; council member, NBA-SBL, Justina Lewa; Vice Chairman, Conference Planning Committee, NBA-SBL, Ozofu Ogiemudia; and Chairman, Conference Fund Raising, NBA-SBL, Baba Alokolaro, during the closing gong ceremony by the council member of NBA-SBL at the NSE oor in Lagos‌ yesterday
DHQ: New Salary Scale Not Approved for Armed Forces Army redeploys NYSC DG, six generals, denies torture, cannibalism video
Kingsley Nwezeh Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË
Military authorities yesterday clarified that there was no approval for a new salary scale for the armed forces. This is coming as Nigerian Army redeployed the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Major General Suleman Kazaure and six other generals. Army headquarters also denied that its personnel were involved in a torture and cannibalism video circulating on social media. A statement issued by Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday declared that the documents circulating online purporting a new salary scale was fake. “The Defence Headquarters
(DHQ) has observed with utmost dismay, the circulation of a fictitious document that has gone viral on social media purportedly showing a new upgraded Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) salary structure with effect from May 2019. “The DHQ wishes to clarify that the said document does not exist, neither does it reflect the true salary structure of personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,� the statement signed by Defence Spokesman, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said. Nwachukwu said, “though the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Muhammadu Buhari, signed a new minimum wage of thirty thousand naira (30,000) on 18 April 2019, it is however, outrightly mischievous for
anyone to circulate fake documents detailing salary structure of the AFN. “The DHQ therefore wishes to reiterate that the purported new salary scale for members of the AFN being circulated is nothing but a false and malicious publication intended to cause disaffection among members of the AFN, as no such salary scale exists.� The statement further noted that “it is also very pertinent for the general public to note that the AFN does not approve salaries for its personnel. “Members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the general public are therefore urged to please discountenance the fake document in its entirety.� Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army
has approved the postings and appointments of some of its senior officers. Those affected by this include, Major General Suleman Kazaure who has been posted from National Youth Service Corps to Nigerian Army Resource Centre and appointed as Senior Resource Person, Brigadier General CA Bossman from Nigerian Army Archives to Command Schools Services and appointed as Director Command Schools Services, Brigadier General E Angaye is appointed Acting Director Veterans Affairs Department (Army) and Brigadier General BA Tsoho is posted from Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs to Nigerian Army Language Institute and appointed as Commandant.
Others affected in the postings are Brigadier General AA Goni from 82 Division Education to Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs and appointed Director Information, Brigadier General FC Onyeari from Headquarters Nigerian Army Supply and Transport to Defence Headquarters and appointed as Acting Director Catering. Others affected in the redeployment include Brigadier General S Ibrahim from Nigerian Army University Biu to National Youth Service Corps and appointed as Director General, Brigadier General SS Ibrahim is now appointed Registrar Nigerian Army University Biu. The statement signed by Army Spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa, said the postings and appointments were
with immediate effect. In another development, the Army said a torture and cannibalism video circulating on social media depicting soldiers engaged in torture and acts of cannibalism were not personnel of the Nigerian Army. A statement entitled ‘Mutilating Fellow Human Beings Not in Our Character, Training, Mandate and Standard Operating Procedures’, the army high command said, “the Nigerian Army (NA) has observed with dismay a video clip circulating on some social media platforms showing some persons in camouflage uniform mercilessly disfiguring a leg of a fellow human being, with some others shabbily, carelessly and variously dressed. Some are wearing bathroom slippers.
Buhari Donates N180m, Electoral Kits, ‘Primary, Junior Secondary to be Others for Guinea Bissau Elections Tuition-free Under Dapo Abiodun’ Jean-Claude Brou. “President Buhari had in response Omololu Ogunmade Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday donated $500,000, an equivalent of N180, 000,000, to Guinea Bissau in support of the West African country’s legislative election tomorrow. The president also donated 350 units of electoral kits, 10 motorcycles, five Hilux vans and two light trucks to help the troubled country conduct a successful election. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement, said the president in his capacity as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Governments, also sent the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, as his envoy to Guinea Bissau along with the President of ECOWAS Commission President,
According to the statement, the donations which were a response to a request for assistance from Nigeria by the government of Guinea Bissau, were also viewed as Nigeria’s contributions to efforts to get the country stabilised. The statement also said the president sent the minister to the Republic of Benin to deliver his personal message to President Patrice Talon. The statement read: “In his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, President Muhammadu Buhari, this morning, directed the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama to undertake an urgent mission as his Special Envoy to Guinea Bissau, in the company of ECOWAS Commission President, Jean-Claude Brou.
to an urgent request for assistance by the Government of Guinea Bissau graciously approved support to the country’s election process including three hundred and fifty (350) units of electoral kits, ten(10) motorcycles, five(5) Hilux vans, two(2) light trucks and Five hundred thousand US Dollars ($500,000). “This vital assistance ensured that legislative elections held in Guinea Bissau, which should help in stabilising the country. “In a separate development, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister will also undertake a mission to Cotonou, Benin, to deliver a personal message to President Patrice Talon from President Buhari. The visit is in the context of the brewing political crisis ahead of April 28, 2019, legislative elections in the country.�
The incoming administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun in Ogun State plans to make Primary and Junior secondary school education tuition-free. This is as the governor-elect has assured the management, staff and students of Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Omu-Ijebu, of immediate attention once his government is inaugurated on May 29, 2019. Ogun State Deputy Governorelect, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele disclosed the planned free tuition when she visited the Lepers’ Colony in Iberekodo and Gideon Orphanage and Home for the aged in Asero Abeokuta. According to a statement by her aides, yesterday, the Dapo Abiodun-led administration would make education free up
to the Junior secondary school level, stating “this must be a bonus for them and here and they will be happy to hear that.� Salako-Oyedele, who was accompanied by the wife of the Governor-elect, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, was responding to a request by the Chairman of the Lepers’ Colony, Elder Ojoawo, that the N10,000 monthly stipend of the lepers be increased. Ojoawo had said that the N10,000 could no longer cover lepers’ basic expenses, especially the school fees of their children. But the Deputy Governor-elect explained that her visit with Mrs. Abiodun was to celebrate Easter with the inmates and make donations, adding that the gesture was part of Dapo Abiodun’s goodwill towards the
physically challenged and people with special needs. She said the incoming administration would make adequate provision for these classes of people in order to make them realise their full potential and contribute positively to the development of the state. She, however, admonished other well-meaning people of Ogun State to always show love and benevolence to the less-privileged not only during festive periods but all through the year. The promise by Abiodun was made when he granted audience at his Iperu Remo residence to the Coalition of Tai Solarin College of Education Staff (COTAS), led by their Chairman, Comrade Daniel Aborisade.
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In Brief Ritualists Kill, Harvest Octogenarian’s Organs
Barely three weeks after a 50-year-old woman was killed at Arigidi Akoko in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State by suspected ritualists, who removed her two breasts, an 80-year-old woman was early yesterday killed in similar manner at Okeagbe area of the state. The suspected ritualists removed the breasts of the 80-year -old woman, Mrs. Kajusola Mogaji after smashing her head. THISDAY gathered that the mother of five, who was a devout Christian of Anglican Communion, was killed when other occupants of the house where she was living had travelled. It was gathered that neighbours of the late octogenarian just woke up the following day and saw her lifeless body in the pool of blood. One of the daughters of the deceased, Mrs. Kehinde Adewumi described the killing of the old woman as wicked, gruesome and barbaric. Also, a junior brother to the late octogenarian, Mr. Vincent Sunday, a retired civil servant, described her late sister as God-fearing and peaceful person. The Divisional Police Officer for Okeagbe Akoko, Ibitayo Adetarami, who visited the scene said the police would get to the root of the matter.
JTF Arrests Suspected Ekiti Killer Herders
FOR SECURE OSUN... L-R: Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Comrade Amitolu Shittu; Governor of Osun State, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola; Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Abiodun Ige and Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, during the launching of ‘Operation Puff Adder’ by Osun Police Command at Police Headquarters, Ring Road, Osogbo ...yesterday
20 Condemned Convicts Escape Death as Ambode Commutes Sentences Frees 14 who had spent 20 years in prison No fewer than 20 condemned prisoners in Lagos were saved from the hangman when the state government commuted their death sentences to life imprisonment just as it freed 14 inmates who had spent 20 years in prison. This was sequel to the recommendations of the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy which toured the prisons to review cases in the drive to decongest prisons. This was made known when the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem (SAN) was handing over the order for the release of the inmates signed by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to prison authorities. Kazeem explained that the development was pursuant to Constitutional provision for the constitution of an Advisory Council and empowered the Governor
power to grant clemency to convicted persons on the advice of the Council. “Prerogative of Mercy is a right recognised under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended); Section 212(2) of the Constitution provides that the powers conferred on the Governor under Section 212(1) shall be exercised by him after consultation with the Advisory Council of the State on the Prerogative of Mercy as may be established by the Law of the State,” Kazeem explained. According to him, the inmates were considered to benefit from the prerogative of mercy after due examination of their case files, which revealed that they had been reformed and ready for re-integration into the society. Kazeem congratulated the freed inmates, and advised them to be of good conduct outside the prison.
FG Set to Revamp Communications in Nation’s Airspace Chinedu Eze
To sustain the safety record in air transport in the last six years, the federal government has initiated plans to revamp radio communications system in the nation’s airspace. This is to ensure effective communication between pilots and air traffic controllers and to eliminate currently existing areas where there are blind spots, where radio messages are not effectively received in the airspace. The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Captain Fola Akinkuotu, who made this known also disclosed that all challenges experienced in the area of communications were being tackled with relentless vigour by government. Speaking at the interactive session organised for Air Traffic Controllers and Pilots in Lagos at the weekend, Akinkuotu said that radio communication had really
improved since the last two years but noted that more needed to be done to have a very efficient system. He said radio communication was a critical factor in pilots-air traffic controllers and pilot-pilot exchanges during flight operations. The NAMA boss said at the interactive session that Nigeria’s airspace deserved the very best radio communications system, and that government was working to deliver it, insisting that there was no going back in achieving an efficient radio communication. “We have made inroads in the area of radio communications but there are challenges. I want to assure my colleagues, the pilots and the controllers that efforts are being made. And we are not going to stop. I am not going to stop, so long as I am in NAMA, from trying to deliver an optimally functional radio communications system for our airspace.”
Also speaking, Chairman of the Council, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo said aside its power under the Constitution, the setting up of the Council also served as a way of de-congesting the prisons. He equally congratulated the beneficiaries of the clemency by the Governor, and urged them to avoid acts that led them into prison in the first place. The Controller of Prison in charge of Kirikiri Maximum Prison, DCP Emmanuel Oluwaniyi commended the State Government for the efforts to decongest the prison. Oluwaniyi, who was newly
deployed to the state, said it was gratifying that he was commencing his stewardship in the state on a good note with the release of inmates who were due to be re-integrated into the society, just as he equally admonished them to be of good conduct outside the prison. Aside Oyewo and Kazeem, other members of the Lagos State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy are Mr. Adedotun Adetunji, Mrs. Musili Onasanya, Mr. Olumide Oniyire, Mr. Chris Okoye, Mrs. Bolatumi Animashaun, and Mrs. Yemisi Ogunlola (Secretary).
Military Confirms 6 Dead as Aiteo Puts Out Oilfield Fire Emmanuel Addeh ÓØ ÏØËÑÙË
The Nigerian military has confirmed that at least six persons suspected to be the masterminds of last weekend’s fire incident at OML 29, operated by Aiteo, were killed during the inferno which engulfed the facility. Aiteo, an indigenous company which acquired the oilfield from Shell in 2014, had shut oil injection on the line and declared ‘Force Majeure’ on product exports, following the fire incident on April 2. The revelation came even as the company confirmed that the fire outbreak reported within its Right Of Way(ROW) of the Nembe Creek Trunkline, Nembe local government of Bayelsa State, had been put out. An Aiteo Spokesman, Ndiana Matthew, said the security team conducted further inspections at various times and confirmed that the fire had been contained. He added that in line with regulatory requirements, a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) comprising security and regulatory agencies as well as community representatives and Aiteo personnel will be constituted and deployed to the site to attend to the necessary
incident formalities. While on a visit to the location, the new JTF Commander in the Niger Delta, Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade, told journalists at the site at Awoba, along the 97 kilometre Nembe-Bonny oil export pipeline, that troops on surveillance at a nearby houseboat who arrived the scene confirmed that all the suspected vandals who breached the pipeline under high pressure died from the ensuing explosion. Akinrinade, who was on the inspection with Rear Admiral David Adeniran, Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, expressed regret at the development which led to the outage of the 150,000 bpd Nembe Creek Trunk Line. While noting that the security operatives responded immediately, he added that although the vandals died during the illegal operation, the military was tracking their collaborators. The Commander assured that the joint military force, Operation Delta Safe would redouble its efforts against oil theft and pipeline vandalism and assured oil firms in the Niger Delta of safety of its personnel and facilities.
Barely a week after some assailants attacked Iyemero Ekiti in Ikole local government and killed two persons, combined forces of security forces deployed to the area yesterday arrested two suspected herders in connection with the attacks and killings. Within the last two months, the suspected herders had attacked a farmstead called Eda at Iyemero five times and raided the village. In an attack which occurred last week Wednesday, two persons were killed. The Olu of Iyemero, Oba Ebenezer Ogungbemi, disclosed that the sinister motive of the assailants was to sack the residents, who are predominantly farmers and take over the land. Sequel to the killing, Governor Kayode Fayemi ordered immediate construction of police station in the town. Fayemi also ordered deployment of military JTF, comprising combined forces of security agencies and local hunters to patrol the town up to its boundary with Kwara and Kogi states. Explaining how they were arrested, the head of local hunters in the town, Mr. Jimoh Eisikin said they were arrested by his men around 1a.m. on Friday.
Buhari Celebrates Tony Momoh at 80
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday felicitated with accomplished journalist and former Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh, on his 80th birthday (April 27th, 2019).The president, according to a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, joined the media industry in celebrating the former minister’s contributions to the growth of journalism in Nigeria, particularly his visionary role of advocating integration of communication strategies in development plans and implementations. Adesina also said the president extolled Momoh’s courage as exemplified in his forays into politics during which Buhari said he provided strong leadership as the then Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), after earlier serving as the Chairman of Media and Publicity for the All Nigeria’s Peoples Party (ANPP) campaign organisation for many years.
Dogara’s Free Medical Treatments in Bauchi
Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has sponsored free medical treatment to 10, 000 people in Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State suffering from various ailments. The medical outreach which commenced yesterday at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi, would be carried out by specialists under the aegis of ‘Doctors on the Move Africa’. Speaking with Journalists shortly after inaugurating the exercise, team leader of Doctors on the Move Africa Dr. Haruna Joseph Kigbu explained that this was the first phase of the annual free medical outreach being sponsored by the Speaker adding that the second phase would hold in Azare, Katagum Local Government Area of the state. ‘’We are here today, to implement a free medical outreach programme that is being sponsored by the Speaker of the Nigerian Parliament Yakubu Dogara. Our projection for the next six days is treat about 10, 000 patients. Last term, we were able to treat 18, 000 patients in this hospital,’’ he said.
VC Counsels Students against Cultism
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Dutsin-MA, Katsina State, Professor Adamu Babba-Kutigi, has charged students and staff of the institution to desist from engaging in cultism and other social vices that may damage their future and affect their academic growth. The Vice Chancellor who gave the warning at the 8th matriculation ceremony of the university yesterday said the institution under his leadership would not tolerate acts of indiscipline and wanting behaviour amongst students and staff. According to him, “sanctions which include expulsion from the university also await those involved in cultism and other forms of misconduct such as fighting, stealing and disrespect to constituted authority of the university.” He said the university would apply the same sanctions on students that dress in a manner that makes it difficult to know or identify them. “Already, the university has setup a dressing code committee to address this problem.”
Civil Service Pensioners Elect New Officers
Federal Civil Service Pensioners, Osun State Branch, have elected their first executives to run the union office for the period of four years. The elections took place recently at NUP secretariat (Pension House), Osogbo. A statement from the Chairman of the body, Omonijo Taiwo, promised to work for the development of the branch for the benefit of all the members. He also commended the executive officers at the national secretariat and pledged to sustain the relationship between the Osun State branch and the national. The Chairman equally stressed the need for mutual understanding among the officers and members He, however, thanked the members for the peaceful handling of the state elections The elected executives are Taiwo as Chairman,Vice Chairman Bolaji Oluniyi, while Treasurer is Mrs. Joseph Olusola. Others are Dominic Oyebode as Auditor, Adepoju Amusa and Mrs. Odediran Omowumi as Trustees, Olaoye Basiru Ajibola as General Secretary and Tunde Aremu :the P.R.O
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ͺͿ˜ ͺ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
Buhari Should Be Visiting Kajuru, Garin Magaji, Not Lagos
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t was so depressing watching President Muhammadu Buhari in Lagos on Wednesday giggling while commissioning Governor Ambode’s projects. This drama was a charade. For me, Buhari’s only business in Lagos should have been a visit to the notorious Apapa ports and the roads leading to the place. The Lagos farce was happening while thousands of people in communities across the country are in anguish following persistent killings of their loved ones by bandits, kidnappers, herders and Boko Haram. Our dear President has evidently not learnt to connect with Nigerians who are losing loved ones to these catastrophes. Buhari should be visiting Kajuru in Kaduna State and not Lagos. Do I need to remind our President that scores of people are killed virtually on a weekly basis in this hapless community? I guess I need to remind our President that just ten days ago, a British humanitarian worker, Faye Mooney and her Nigerian companion, Mathew Oguche, were killed in Kajuru by kidnappers. Three other Nigerians were abducted at the scene. As at press time, the killers of Mooney and the Nigerian had not been apprehended, while the three people abducted are yet to regain freedom. Mooney’s story is thought-provoking. She was employed by a non-governmental organisation called Mercy Corps and posted to Nigeria. Mooney came into the country to help Nigerians, but was murdered by the kidnappers. She had worked with Mercy Corps for almost two years, devoting her time to making a difference in Nigeria. Several people, including her colleagues and those whose lives she had impacted were heartbroken. I was moved to tears when I read a tribute paid to the 29-year-old British aid worker by her family. It was a tribute to her bravery and beliefs: “Faye was an inspiration to her family, friends, students and work colleagues. Her bravery and her belief in a better society took her to places others feared. We are so proud of who she was and of everything she achieved in her short life. Her memory will always be cherished.” In Kajuru, apart from kidnapping for ransom, herders and locals are persistently at war, leaving hundreds of people dead and so many families bereaved. Security agents in Kajuru have compromised. This is why the killings have persisted. This is the place to be for Buhari. He must end the Kajuru killings. Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State must also show greater commitment to ending the carnage in Kajuru. He is seen as having compromised. A statement by the Chairman, Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Joseph Hayap, on Wednesday, speaks volumes about the frustration of the community with El-rufai. Speaking in Kaduna, while receiving building materials donated to the victims by the National Secretariat of CAN, Hayap, urged the governor to secure communities in Kajuru Local Government Area to enable victims of the attacks return to their homes. Hayap also wants the communities in Kajuru to evolve ways of protecting themselves from attacks by bandits. Back to Buhari, even in his native Katsina State, our President is hardly seen connecting with bereaved families. 19 days ago, bandits attacked Garin Magaji village in Batsari Local Government Area of the state. The council Chairman, Mannir Muazu, confirmed that five people were killed during the attack while 10 others were injured. The bandits also set ablaze many houses and vehicles. Several communities in Buhari’s beloved Katsina State have been taken over by bandits and kidnappers, with scores killed daily. Governor Aminu Masari lamented the debacle when the acting Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu visited him 17 days ago. “These bandits strike at will, maim at will, destroy lives and property at will,” Masari, who spoke through his deputy,
These are the places our President should be visiting. He must be seen sharing the pains of bereaved families and taking pragmatic actions to end the killings. Surprisingly, even when floods ravaged many communities in his beloved Katsina State last year, the President did not deem it fit to connect with the victims Mannir Yakubu, told the police boss. “In other parts of the state, we also have kidnappers who not only take people on the road but in the comfort of their homes,” he added, citing the incidence of governor Masari’s in-law who was abducted in the comfort of her home. She was freed after an undisclosed amount of money was paid to the kidnappers. Right now, nine local government areas are under the servitude of bandits and kidnappers in Katsina State. They are Safana, Jibia, Batsari, Dan-Musa, Faskari, Sabuwa, Kankara, Kurfi and Dandume. Governor Masari calls them frontline local governments. These are the places our President should be visiting. He must be seen sharing the pains of bereaved families and taking pragmatic actions to end the killings. Surprisingly, even when floods ravaged many communities in his beloved Katsina State last year, the President did not deem it fit to connect with the victims. The communities ravaged by the floods were Kwata, Dantudu, Sabuwa, Tukare, Tsohuwar Tukare, Ungwar Mai Kwari, Makori, Modoji, Shinkafi, KukarGesa, Katoge, Sako, Ungwarn-sarkin Rafi, Ungwar Tofa, Dakare and Kauran Fawa. Talking about the police, IG Adamu and his boys have failed woefully to stem kidnapping and banditry across the country. The IG is always ordering “the Police Special Forces and other Tactical Units to deal decisively with bandits and other violent criminals.” Just the usual rhetoric. Intelligence, technology, quality equipment and quality manpower are essential, if the police are interested in curbing these evils. Unfortunately, the Nigerian police of today lack all these. This is why banditry, kidnapping and other troubles persist. When lawbreakers are not arrested and chastised according to the law, they
Faye Mooney, killed in Kajuru
are emboldened to commit even worse crimes. This is precisely what is happing in mother Nigeria of today. There are numerous examples of the ineptitude of the police in this regard. My heart bleeds whenever I remember the killing of two NYSC members in Bayelsa State and the police’s failure to apprehend the killers. Precisely 31 days ago, gunmen stormed the residence of a private school proprietor in Swali, a suburb of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and shot three members of the National Youth Service Corps, staying in a lodge provided by the school’s proprietor. While two of them died in the attack, the third one was critically injured. Popoola Olamide, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University/indigene of Oyo state and George Onokpoma from Delta State were murdered by these bastards. The walls of the room were riddled with bullets while blood soaked the floor; the blood of innocent young Nigerians, whose only crime was heeding the call to serve motherland. The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Olusola David and his boys are not behaving as if a grievous crime had been committed. I checked yesterday to know if any progress had been made but there was no positive story from the police. The so-called manhunt for the gunmen who killed the NYSC members was just a pretense. The gunmen are still at large. I am again challenging IG Adamu to smoke out the killers of Olamide and Onokpoma. The culprits must be arrested and brought to justice. Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar was apropos when he said: “Impunity must end and must end today. These crimes continue to reoccur because previous killings have not been met with justice. These killings must end or Nigeria will lose desperately needed friends, partners and investors. Not only do I
condemn this recent killing, but I make an urgent call for the federal and state authorities to track down the culprits and make them pay for their crimes. The time for empty rhetoric is long gone. Now is the time for urgent national action to stem insecurity. Nigeria must once again become synonymous with peace, progress and prosperity. This can only happen when crime and punishment are a natural cause and effect.” On the flip side, IG Adamu must investigate his men in the Ogun State Command over their role in the abduction of a Canadian, Kyliuk Morris. The allegation by 52-year-old Canadian that policemen in Ogun State assisted him to deliver N2.5 million ransom paid to his kidnappers to regain his freedom, is frightening. Morris was abducted by the hoodlums in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state. The Canadian said, “A policeman, who collected the ransom, paid the kidnappers to get me released from my abductors. Aside from the ransom, they (police) asked my wife to give them N20,000 as transportation fare. They said they risked their lives to get me out. “I want the government to be aware of what happened to me…I want people to be aware of what is happening. I just went through personal experience. If they (the police) have a job to do, they should do it. I think government at all levels should hold the police responsible for what they are hired for. If someone is kidnapped, the police should do their job. My wife went to see them, but they made no effort. My wife told them the exact place where I was; nothing was done. They dragged their feet.” Policemen delivering ransom to kidnappers? Wonders shall never end in Nigeria. IG Adamu must send a special team to Ogun State to investigate this.
Fumbling Lagos State Water Corporation
Ambode
Lagos State is a bundle of contradictions. A state with a trillion Naira budget is often struggling to provide the most basic amenities to its populace. The Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) is a good example of these contradictions. Conservatively, I will say that less than two per cent of homes, offices and factories in Lagos State have access to public water supply. Yet, LWC is persistently struggling to supply these few consumers. For several weeks now, water scarcity has persisted in several parts of the state. The lethargic LWC tells Lagosians that its engineers are working hard to restore supply. There are always technical faults in major water works of the corporation. LWC wants us to know that the Independent Power Project (IPP) powering its major water works had broken down.
Even though LWC has connected to the national grid, consumers need to know that the light coming from there is not steady and disrupts water production processes. There is scarcity of gas supply too. Consumers should exercise a little more patience. Stories, stories, stories and unending stories. No doubt, LWC is one of the most inefficient corporations in Lagos State. The result is the persistent water scarcity in many parts of the state. Communities in Costain, Ojota, Ketu, Anthony, Obanikoro, Mile 12, Ogudu, Lagos Island, Apapa Road and Surulere are gasping for breath. Consumers in these areas spend huge sums buying water. The leadership of the LWC is due for an overhaul. New hands must be allowed to take charge. I sincerely hope that the incoming government will do the needful.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 27, 2019
SUPER SATURDAY
Kizz Daniel on Fire
Born Anidugbe Oluwatobiloba Daniel, musician Kizz Daniel is evidently on top of his game. His highly successful London NBS concert tour, which ends tomorrow, testifies to this, reports Ferdinand Ekechukwu
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y the time you finish reading this, Fly Boy Inc. owner and recording artiste, Kizz Daniel, would be set for his much anticipated music show at the 02 Indigo Arena in London tomorrow. The artiste has for the past one month been on a music tour and has had tremendous shows in major UK cities including Birmingham and Manchester. Tagged Kizz Daniel Live in Concert, the gig tomorrow is the last phase of his UK NBS Tour/Concert. The singer, after the release of his second studio album ‘No Bad Songz’, had announced he would be headlining his debut concert in UK. The concert tour is aimed at promoting the album which was released in
December. Shortly before starting the shows, the music star had taken to his Instagram page with the post, “UK #NBS tour/concert coming to you! I will be live in Birmingham on the 18th of April, Manchester on the 19th of April and London on the 28th of April 2019.” Kizz Daniel kicked off 2019 with the NBS Tour and has recorded tremendous success in his outings of the show which he graciously acknowledges after each performance, like he captioned: “Thank you Manchester...London up next this Sunday the 28th of April, we bring down the roof at the Indigo O2!!!” The shows in Birmingham and Manchester were sold out with screaming fans. His London tour expectedly would ride on the heels of his ‘Fvck You’ challenge which
sparked off conversation on relationship and infidelity on his latest single. On the new song, Kizz Daniel sings of a relationship where he is not his preferred lover’s first choice partner. The story gets a little bit weird from there. “Fvck You” appears to slut-shame a woman for her decisions, but Kizz Daniel also sings, “Shebi Na Me Dey Find Sisi Yellow”. His admission of his personal culpability in the relationship says he is probably aware the same woman is out of his league. It is believed in the sense that the song was destined to resonate with the social media generation to whom discussions on infidelity have become regular. Plus his star power which is sometimes required to channel
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 27, 2019
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SUPERSATURDAY Kizz Daniel on Fire a subject like that. An extension of this also includes the concept of body shaming, which the song was made up of. Since Kizz Daniel released a video of himself performing the song on March 24, 2019, his official Instagram page has been littered with numerous covers of the song from fellow celebrities; Tiwa Savage, Falz, Simi, Sarkodie, Lil Kesh, Victoria Kimani, Tiwa Savage, Eva Alordia and so forth. Even Wyclef Jean joined the bandwagon of Kizz Daniel’s single challenge. From his chart-topping single ‘Woju’ at inception and his critically acclaimed song, ‘Yeba’ to a third follow up single, “Laye,”along with a video two weeks later which was shot in different locations in the eastern part of Africa, the afro-pop afro-beat singer sure won hearts of music lovers. Off his 20 track sophomore album ‘No Bad Songz’ is ‘Madu’ which has remained a staple on music collections. His debut entry song was yet to live up to its potential when he stormed the scene with the smash hit ‘Woju’ produced by DJ Coublon in September, 2014. The video succeeded it afterwards, shot in Lagos and was directed by Adasa Cookey. The track held siege of the MTV Base Naija Music chart for over two months occupying the top spot for six weeks. While fans were still basking in the euphoria of the new hit, he did collaboration with two music superstars Davido and Tiwa Savage and brought out the remix, thrilling the target audience once
more. This development set a record. The remix of ‘Woju’ peaked at Number 1 and Number 2 respectively on the MTV Base Official Naija Top 10, the first time that an original
song and its remix would peak at the first and second positions on the chart. Kizz Daniel released his first studio album titled New Era on May 14, 2016. With the album, he got an award to show that he had the best album of 2016 which showed that his work did not go unnoticed. The album went viral and it got universal recognition which also made him happy. He initially had doubts about the album. “I am glad I made the album because initially, I had doubts about its success. I thought it wouldn’t be a hit because I did not feature major players in the music industry. Thankfully, it came out well and the fans loved it.” In November 2017, Kizz Daniel announced his split from his record label. He was sued by the former record label but was not found liable on any of the infractions he was accused of. In May 2018, Kizz Daniel announced that he had changed his stage name from Kiss Daniel to Kizz Daniel, a name which promptly reflected on his social media accounts. New Spotify and Apple Music accounts were also created immediately with the name Kizz
Daniel, with his new songs featured. In June 2018, Kizz Daniel’s former record label G-Worldwide made a move to own the rights to the name “Kizz Daniel” and further advised the singer to desist from using the name or face legal consequences. After his exit from G-Worldwide, he set up his own imprint with the name Fly Boy Inc. which signed two new acts Demmie Vee and Philkeyz. After which Kizz Daniel was featured on Demmie Vee single entitled “You Go Wait?” 2018 was sure a good year for the baby-face pop star as he featured DMW boss, Davido on “One Ticket”, another single which rocked airwaves and buzzed within 24 hours of its release. Prior to his arrival at the center stage of show biz, he had obtained a degree in Water Resources Management and Agro-meteorology from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in 2013. While pursuing his studies at the university, his dreams of becoming a music artiste was still domiciled in his heart, waiting for the set time to unleash. Upon graduation, he went all out into it. With regular pep talks and fables from his father, and with encouragements from Jahbless (a Nigerian musician) he ventured into the music world signing into G-worldwide entertainment label under Emperor Geezy, the label owner. Under the Gworldwide group, he released his first single ‘Shoye’ produced by Beatburx in May 1, 2014 alongside a video. As he perhaps round off his UK tour, a movie script titled Love Me awaits the singing sensation to mark his Nollywood debut alongside Chidinma Ekile in the lead role.
Thank You Manchester...London Up Next this Sunday
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T H I S D AY ˾ SATURDAY APRIL 27, 2019
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APRIL 27, 2019 • THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
INSIGHT
What hope?
Why Katsina Thirsts
Zero Malaria Starts With Me
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very year on 25th of April, World Malaria Day is observed to raise awareness about the vector-borne disease. The commemoration aims to create awareness on malaria prevention/control, renew political, domestic and international commitments, fight malaria and advocate for disease funding. It also affords the opportunity to bring to fore the devastating effect of malaria on families, communities and the economy. World Malaria Day focuses on a specific theme every year and this year the theme is ‘Zero malaria starts with me’. As per the theme, the focus of the programme this year is on empowering communities across various countries to take ownership of preventing malaria and providing proper care of the treatment to those in need. A case study of Nigeria which depends heavily on foreign funds, donor agencies, foreign aid programmes is cheery and demoralizing on key aspects that affect the wellbeing of its citizens. This is in tandem with government to rise to the task in planning and providing more on the funding and subsidising malarial treatment and drugs. It should also provide enabling environment to encourage local production of drugs. Malaria still remains a public health concern, a major cause of mortality and morbidity, especially among children under five and pregnant women. It continues to threaten the lives of people despite huge funds made available to restore normalcy. Indeed, there is no issue of greater importance than realizing the fact that “one disease” apart from the huge toll it exacts on health budget, is making life simply unbearable for children, pregnant women and the aged. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a first generation vaccine known as RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) acts against Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly malaria parasite globally and the most prevalent in Africa. The vaccine provides partial protection against malaria among young African children, the population most affected by the disease. Piloting of the world’s first anti-malaria vaccine for children aged between six months and two years will begin in the country from May 1 this year. The vaccine — Mosquirix or RTS,S is being introduced as a boost to Africa’s National Anti-Malaria Programme with a trial. There is no gainsaying that this development is novel as malaria is leading the majority of people into the trap of chronic poverty where poor households are compelled to expend large amount of money on treatments of the disease.
Populations exposed to the unremitting impact of malaria always have lived and died in destitution of one degree or another as a result of a gap between the concept in ideas and the practical steps taken to get results. Undoubtedly, the demoralizing aspect is that malaria has disrupted not only families and communities, but also the entire growth and development of the country. It slows development, especially with regard to the state economy in diverting developmental capital to finance healthcare. It is an undisputed fact that the growth of every economy depends heavily on the health conditions of its labour force. Currently less attention is also being paid to preventive medicine as it appears certain diseases are being intrinsically linked to the environment and lifestyles; most diseases such as malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia can be reduced by low cost mechanisms. A typical case in Nigeria is the devastating environment especially inhabited by many city dwellers; inadequate waste disposal nationwide coupled with poor drainage systems. Common sense tells us that prevention is better than cure as more children die because of this failure by governments. Most of our gutters are uncovered or if covered are not deep enough and are chocked with pure water sachets and black bags. Though awareness of malaria has been on the increase, there is still more to be done. The philosophy of Malaria Day should be everyday commitment, focused on fighting this ancient disease— which has become a modern–day health issue. Yusuf Hassan Wada, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto
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efforts (time and resources) expended to served my National Youth Service Corps put certain chieftains of the PDP down (NYSC) stint in Katsina, Katsina State, and this past four years would have been that town turned out to be a great place committed to a national programme to live and go to in the mid-1990s. Thus of potable water-works centred on now I could empathise when the news media the Niger-Benue confluence at Lokoja report that Katsina thirsts for potable water, whence potable water would be piped to that which should not be a problem in the major urban centres in the far north. This second decade of the 21st century but, alas, is simple visionary planning that escaped it is one huge scalable hurdle that we have the honcho at the top, and this is sad simply ignored. The combined 16-year stint of indeed. Governors Umar Musa Yar’Adua and Ibrahim Shema of the PDP ensured that potable water Sunday Adole Jonah,Department was piped to households in urban areas where of Physics, Federal University of the need was greatest but the four-year stint Technology, Minna, Niger State of the APC governor, Ibrahim Masari, tanked every good deed the PDP executed, and now plumbing works are rusting away all over town Listen to the Words of Science and isn’t Katsina the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari? If there were Katsina visionaries at all, they would have realised ike many I was saddened that a town on the edge of the Sahel is one to hear that Alan Alda has that needs urgent water management culture Parkinson’s disease. I was also and sustainable exploitation of groundwater saddened that he felt it was reservoir-sources but this APC government necessary to discuss an issue that covers up its gross incompetence by playing to many may keep private because as the gallery in dishonest fashion. Now, all the he said ‘I thought, it’s probably only a
T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKU MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE
T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com
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matter of time before somebody does a story about this from a sad point of view, but that’s not where I am.’ In times of illness and passing we should consider the theme of his message and concentrate on the positives in life. Most will know him for his acting in M.A.S.H. as a brilliant, trouble making doctor although his role in West Wing as a brilliant potential President is well worth watching. His real brilliance is however as a story teller and his contributions to science in this role at the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. There are many that can tell a story well but few tell stories of importance so well. Science is better off because of him as there is a need for clear communication in a world of fake news and fake science - climate change deniers and anti-vaccination falsehoods. Keep telling the world about science as I and many others will keep listening. Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍşÍżËœ ͺ͸͚Î
NEWSXTRA
APC: Life Pension for Bayelsa Lawmakers Ungodly Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State, yesterday kicked against a bill approved by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly for the payment of life pensions to past and serving lawmakers in the state. Leader of the House, Peter Akpe, had argued that the bill, when assented to, would provide reasonable financial security for the beneficiaries and shield them from economic uncertainties in the future. According to him, those qualified to benefit from the bill must be indigenes of the state who had served in the state as well as in the old Rivers State for a minimum period of two years. The law being pushed by the House of Assembly prescribes a monthly post-service life pensions of between N0.1 million and N0.5 million for members of the House. But the APC in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, said the proposed law was not only ungodly and self-serving, but
wicked in a state regarded as one of the most impoverished in the country. “The party has also observed how the strange idea, which was proposed as a bill and passed by the House on Wednesday, has set the public pulse racing. APC Bayelsa completely rejects this life pension bill for members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly,� the party said. APC said it was unsympathetic for members of the House of Assembly to seek to enhance their own lives at the expense of the vast majority of Bayelsa people living in pain and penury. Buokoribo described the life pension bill as an unspeakable crime against the people. He added: “Regarding this latest move by the House of Assembly, we again say that the idea is avaricious, wicked, and insensitive. By proposing such a law, the lawmakers have merely portrayed themselves as a people who feel no concern for the feelings of their suffering constituents. “APC advises the legislature to withdraw the obnoxious pension bill and avoid the appalling crime
FOR ACCOUNTABILITY... L-R: Senior Partner, SIAO, Mr. Ladi Smith; Senior Partner, SIAO, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo; Chairman, Lagos District, Society of ICAN, Mrs. Omolola Oke; and ICAN President, Alhaji Rasak Jaiyeola, during the courtesy visit of ICAN President and his team to SIAO Accounting Farm in Lagos ‌ yesterday
against the people of Bayelsa State.� The opposition noted that in the event of the legislature’s refusal to
NDDC Faults Rivers Govt on Sealing of OfďŹ ce Complex Beneth Oghifo The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has faulted the action of the Rivers State Government in obtaining an ex parte order for the sealing up of the office complex of the commission on Aba Road, Port Harcourt, allegedly on tax evasion. The Rivers State Government had last Friday obtained an ex parte order from the state High Court ordering the sealing up of the premises of the NDDC for failing to pay the River State Internal Revenue Service the sum of N50 billion. But in a statement issued yesterday by the Director of Corporate Affairs of the commission, Mr. Charles Odili, the NDDC denied ever owing the River State Internal revenue the said amount, insisting that it had paid all necessary taxes such as Withholding Tax and Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax
to the state government. The NDDC statement further noted that even if there were discrepancies between the figures paid and the amount expected by the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS), it would then require proper tax audit to ascertain whatever differences there were, stressing that in this case, there was neither any such tax audit nor even a hint that there was a problem. It lamented that “due process was not followed�, noting especially that the said court order was obtained “from a provincial division of the state’s High Court sitting in Omoku,� some 60 kilometres away from Port Harcourt city. The statement further noted that the commission was thus neither given fair hearing nor a chance to defend itself against any allegation, even as it was not even served the said court order before the NDDC premises was sealed.
According to the Commission, “We have had cause to discuss our tax obligations with officials of the RIRS in the past and all the grey areas were resolved amicably. It is therefore an act of bad faith for the revenue agency to begin to take actions that impugn on the reputation of an interventionist agency that is serving the people of the Niger Delta region.� The statement added that “for the avoidance of doubt, the commission has as recently as January this year settled its outstanding tax obligations to the RIRS,� stressing further that “we have cleared all withholding tax (WHT) on enterprises and Pay as you earn up to March 2019, including arrears.� The NDDC called for the vacation of the ex parte order so normal work could resume at the commission while both parties could engage in dialogue to resolve whatever differences that might be existing.
Bad Leadership Responsible for Niger Delta’s Underdevelopment, Says Activist Sylvester Idowu in Warri A Niger Delta-based Activist, Mr. Mulade Sheriff, has said that bad leadership was responsible for the slow national growth and development, especially in the Niger Delta. He lamented that Niger Delta, besides infrastructural deficits, was bedeviled with high rate of poverty, following utter disregard for the region’s economic dynamics. Comrade Mulade drew federal government’s attention to economic, environmental, communal and leadership crises rocking the region
at an interactive session in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. He urged government to consider the setting up of a sustainable and comprehensive social welfare programme that would change the attitude of a few people who usually take advantage of the crises in the region to enrich themselves and build empires across the region in the name of fighting for the region’s development. Mulade insisted that the Niger Delta people were no longer interested in arms struggle to agitate for the development of the region,
saying that “we can no longer put up with individuals masquerading as those agitating for the development of the region.� The Niger Delta activist called for an end to developmental setbacks that political, traditional and religious leaders in the region are feasting on. He said: “they are the major problems of development in the region, sowing the seeds of selfishness, ethnicity and hatred among the people, in addition to the region’s development resources being embezzled by political and other leaders.
heed the advice, Governor Seriake Dickson, should withhold his assent to the pension bill when
it is transmitted to him. “Failing this, the party calls on the people of Bayelsa State
to embark on a campaign of peaceful resistance against the rogue assembly,� the party said.
Winner-Takes-all Attitude Fuels Post-election Challenges, Says Okowa Development identified as most critical in post-election management Omon-Julius Onabu Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă‹ĂŒĂ‹
Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that those who were victorious at elections should strive to work towards forming an inclusive government as the attitude of the winner takes all often experienced in the country had the tendency to aggravate post-election challenges. Okowa stated this in Asaba in an address at the First Maris Annual Lecture with topic, ‘Managing Post-election Challenges: Nigeria as A Case Study’, organised by the Marist Trust Council, and held at the Orchid Hotel, Asaba, the state capital. Chief Williams Makunde, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), was the guest lecturer while the panel of discussants included Engineer Faith Nwadishi,
Founder/Executive Director of KIF who represents Africa CSOs actors on the International Board of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI); Chief Fred Majemite, a legal practitioner and former Delta State lands, survey and urban development commissioner; Senator Stella Unuezi Omu, former Chief Whip of the Senate; Dr. David Oba, a political scientist and UNFA trainer; and moderated by Dr. Kemi Emina, a seasoned academic and journalist. Governor Okowa, who was the special guest of honour at the event, described the subject of the lecture as apt and timely, noting that while the process culminating in election was important, the management of the aftermath of elections was equally important. Represented by the state Commissioner for Water Resources, Sir Fidelis Tilijie, the governor
said that the winner-takes-it-all mentality should be discouraged because it exacerbates undesirable post-election developments due to the feeling of frustration it could engender among those who failed to secure victory at the polls. Okowa, who said he was a strong believer in free and fair election, urged the people and all the stakeholders in the democratic system in Nigeria to allow peace to reign so as to ensure stability in the system while those not satisfied with the outcomes of the different elections should follow due process by seeking appropriate legal redress. The guest lecturer, Dr. Makinde, had practically set the tone for the subsequent robust discussion by the panelists when he asserted that post-election issues were centred around development, which he identified as the purpose of democratic election.
Bailout: Pay Directly To Workers Account to Avoid Diversion, Says Kogi PDP Yekini Jimoh Ă“Ă˜ ÙÕÙÔË
The Kogi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has called on the Federal Government to pay the balance of the N30.8billion bailout funds directly into workers account, pointing out that any money released to Gov. Yahaya Bello would go down the drain, unaccounted for, leaving workers more pauperised. The PDP in a statement signed by Bode Ogunmola made available to THISDAY on Friday acknowledge the sufferings of Kogi State workers who are being owed for between seven and 30 months as the case maybe, however called on the Federal government not to look at the crocodile tears of Bello that when
released the balance of N30.8billion would be used to offset workers’ salaries, pointing out that the federal government should fashion out a process to directly pay into the account of the workers. The Party warned Kogi NLC not to fall cheap to Gov. Bello’s antics that the bailout funds would be used to pay arrears, pointing out that, aside the bailout funds, the governor had accessed close to N70billion Paris club refunds, aside commercial loans, lamenting that Gov. Bello had plunged the state into debt of about N200billion since he assumed office. According to the party, the administration of Capt. Idris Wada applied for N50 billion, even though the state was not indebted to that
amount, and knowing full well that all the requested money may not be approved. The funds which got approval during the Capt Wada’s administration was however not released to him for political reasons but was released to Gov. Bello who rather than have the arrears of the workers paid, accumulated more arrearsl because the money accessed by the present administration allegedly went into private pockets. The PDP disclosed that following the drastic drop in oil prices in 2008, and in 2013, with oil selling for as low as $32, a situation that made most States not to be able to pay salaries, said states like Kogi with less internally generated revenue became faced with the challenge of salary payment.
T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱ͵˜ Ͱͮͯͷ
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T H I S D AY ˾ SATURDAY APRIL 27, 2019
Plus Ijeoma Okwara The Fear of Failure Sometimes Rob Me of Life Changing Opportunities
Tayo Asamu Losing My Mum Sparked the Entrepreneurial Spirit in Me
FASHION FILE GLOBAL SOCCER FAIRGROUND SHOWBIZFLAIR
pg. 22 pg. 29 pg. 36 pg. 45
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 27, 2019
PLUS
The Fear of Failure Sometimes Rob Me of Life Changing Opportunities Having had a clear vision of what she wanted out of life and where she wanted to be, fast rising blogger, Ijeoma Daisy Okwara relocated to Lagos immediately after graduating from the University in order to pursue her dreams. She had worked with an insurance company after which she contested for a spot amongst the stars when she participated in MTN Project Fame. Ijeoma is running one of ≠the most interactive entertainment, lifestyle and general news pages on Instagram. The Ijeoma Daisy’s blog is gradually becoming a household name. She talks to Azuka Ogujiuba on how it all started, the challenges that come with being a blogger, handling her home front and blogging as a wife and more After graduating from the University, you worked with a telecommunications company after which you went into music and was one of the contestants of MTN Project Fame. How was it like trying to Änd your Ialance as a young lady after school?
F Ijeoma
inding my balance after university wasn’t much of a struggle for me as I already knew what I wanted for myself. I relocated immediately to Lagos, got my first job as a temporary staff with an Insurance company, did my NYSC in Lagos, went for Project Fame and afterwards, got a job with a telecoms company. Those days were pretty much very instrumental to where I am today. Following your participation in posting aIout )rother Naija , 0jeoma +aisy has not only gained massive followership on 0nstagram Iut is now one of the most inÅuential pages on 0.. How did it all start? Blogging about Big Brother Nigeria started in 2017 when my best friend, Bisola disclosed to me that she was going into the house, so I figured that it’ll be
nice to support her by posting about her activities in the house. When the show kicked off, a lot of people started coming around my page, requesting that I post about the other housemates. At the end of the show, my followers had doubled. Fast forward to 2018, I decided that since I had BBN fans following me, they might be interested in watching the new season and that was how I became fully involved last year. A lot people feel that the )ig )rother Naija Reunion show wasn’t necessary, what do you think aIout that? I agree the reunion wasn’t necessary knowing how controversial the show was. It re-opened old wounds and brought back the negative energy we thought had died down. I understand the organisers probably wanted to provide some sort of closure for housemates that were still hurting but it seemed they completely forgot that they had some crazy fans out there who were ever ready to go to war. What’s your take on the relationship situation amongst Ale_, ToIi, *ee* and Leo? I actually didn’t take their relationships
ͺͿ˜ ͺ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
19
PLUS Life Has Taught Me to Keep an Open Mind and Judge People Less
Ijeoma
seriously because I knew it would be a different ball game when they are out of the house. So, I was not surprised with whatever’s going on with them. I’m just happy they are all busy and making money. What’s your aim as far as blogging is concerned? My aim for blogging is to end up being one of the most reliable sources of information someday. A lot of people think that blogging and posting on Instagram is one of the easiest things to do. Tell us about your challenges and experience so far. I used to think so myself. Posting on Instagram is easy if you are simply reposting other people’s post. Sourcing for news is one of the hardest parts of blogging. For every news I post, I run a check on them to ensure they are not fake. My experience so far has been fun because I love sharing stuff with my people. I love updating them with my latest findings and breaking news and I totally appreciate the feedback I receive from them. It’s been fun so far, though not easy.
If you have the opportunity to meet one blogger in the world, who would that be and why? That blogger would be Linda Ikeji. I admire her work ethics. I used to be an ardent reader of LIB way back and that was when I noticed how hardworking and focused she was. While people sleep, Linda will be up posting news and when I visit her site in the morning, there would be interesting news posted already, even on Sundays, Linda never stopped posting. I was intrigued by that honestly and that is why I respect her till date. How do you cope with your job and your home front as a wife? I have an understanding and completely supportive partner. He has zero issues and is happy to throw his weight behind whatever makes me happy. What do you have to say about some married couples who come to social media to drag each other over issues instead resolving things behind closed doors? Married couples who bring their issues to social media strike me as
people who have no respect for their marriage. Self-control and restraint are very important in marriage and these people obviously lack them. Tell us what you think about domestic violence and the increasing rate of child abuse in Nigeria? The increasing rate of child abuse in the country is disturbing. Thank God for social media because sometimes I wonder what would have happened to those poor children if it wasn’t for it. Parents need to pay close attention to their children and endeavour to have candid conversations with them every now and then. For domestic violence, my advice is to quit any marriage that is abusive. A man or woman that abuses you physically will never stop. It is better you leave that marriage alive than ending up dead while trying to make it work. Aside blogging, what else does Ijeoma do? Nothing else, I’m into full time blogging. What’s your biggest fear in life?
My biggest fear in life is fear of failure and sometimes it ends up robbing me of life changing opportunities. But I’m working very hard to overcome it. How was growing up like, tell us about your parents and siblings? I come from a family of eight. Dad’s a lawyer; Mum was a teacher/ educationist. Growing up as the last child of the family was kind of uninteresting for me. My folks were too protective, so I ended up basically keeping to myself. What’s the biggest lesson life has taught you so far? Life has taught me to keep an open mind and judge people less and never to regret doing anything that makes me happy. How is your leisure like? I enjoy watching movies and surfing the net. I can be online the whole day, learning new stuff. What’s your guilty pleasure? Food. I love food What’s your husband’s favourite meal? Rice and stew.
I Have an Understanding and Completely Supportive Partner with Zero Issues
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 27, 2019
PLUS
Tayo Asamu Losing My Mum Sparked the Entrepreneurial Spirit in Me Born to a wealthy property merchant, affluence and good life were enjoyed until Tayo Asamu lost her father. After losing both parents, she took the plunge and started making lemonade of life’s lemons. Armed with an Accounting degree from Obafemi Awolowo University and an excellent entrepreneurial drive, the taste of food from the kitchen struck a responsive chord in her, as opposed to the rigours of the ledgers and balance sheets. Today, Tayo caters to royalty and her life is a testament to hard work, resilience and self-belief. The CEO Mealsworth, Ashamu tells Adedayo Adejobi how losing hermom spurred her to taking on life head-on, the contract that launched her to reckoning, and the secret to getting her undivided attention as a single lady
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ͺͿ˜ ͺ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
PLUS On Several Occasions I Felt Embarrassed that My Mum Was Selling Fairly Used Toys How did an accountant and daughter of a land merchant become a caterer?
Be focused, don’t lose sight of your vision, and be patient.
Passion! I have always had passion for cooking. I also think I inherited it from my late mum, Mrs. C. Bola Ashamu. Growing up, my mum loved cooking for large events, be it for family, church or community. My defining moment was at the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp. At the camp, we had an interplatoon cooking competition and I wasn’t allowed to participate and our platoon lost. Our food was terrible, I felt bad because the platoon had all it needed to be the best. I decided to pursue the profession. I do not like food prepared badly.
What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur? Analytical, marketing and interpersonal skills are key skills needed to succeed.
What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
Poor output due to hiring un- skilled staff. I overcame that by employing those with the right skillset, training more and firing without sentiments!
*oming from such an afÅuent family, how did your folks react?
What were your best worst sub jects in school?
By the time I started, my parents had passed on. However, my siblings were initially against my decision, as they preferred me pursuing the Accounting profession since that was what I studied. My elder brother was the only one who supported me both morally and financially from the onset. The story has however changed now, as I enjoy their support now.
Cost Accounting. The lecturers were good and it was also very practical.
What do you like doing in your spare time?
Trying out new recipes and spending time with friends and family.
Who is your celebrity crush?
+o your recall your Ärst job. :hare the experience?
Tyler Perry
I had informed family and friends of my new business. My first client was my late Mum’s friend, Mrs. Bakare, who gave me a catering contract to make breakfast for the women’s group in her church. That contract launched me to limelight, as I received referrals and other contracts from the job.
Are you single? Yes
How would someone get your special attention? A funny person has my attention 100%
What does a typical day involve?
What is your ideal man?
No two days are the same. The day starts typically with working on orders previously taken and taking more orders.
A man after God’s heart
What is your favourite movie?
+id your accounting experience help you in launching your own business?
Sarafina.
How boy craay are you?
Oh yes it has, although I’ve hired an accountant once the business grew beyond me.
Nothing too crazy. Home girl the whole time
What made you want to launch a confectionery brand?
What would you change your name to?
Passion.
None other than the ones I have...
What was your biggest challenge in launching your business?
What pet would you love to have? A parrot
Having to overcome logical reasoning was the biggest challenge I faced. I studied Accounting and so, leaving that to follow my passion marked a watershed. Following my heart instead of head was the biggest challenge. I am however grateful to God having brought me thus far.
Who is your inspiration?
I’m inspired by my late mum Caroline Omobolanle Ashamu, God and Nature.
What is your favourite song?
What was your start up capital?
Put my name on it by Tasha Cobbs
I wish I could remember. Starting off the catering service wasn’t capital intensive initially. Although my late mum wasn’t a caterer, but she had loads of cooking utensils, I found them very useful and I still use them till date.
Where would you like to visit?
Seychelles, the Caribbean and Cayman Islands
What single event has had the biggest impact on who you are?
How much is the business worth now in terms of billing? It’s difficult to say because a lot of things are involved.
+id you use an agency to help you develop the brand image and packaging design? Yes, I used my cousin’s creative agency. He was quite instrumental to our-branding and he offered advisory services for next to nothing.
What top tips would you give to someone looking to launch their own business? Be the best you can be.
Tell me about a time you dealt with an awkward customer? It was an awkward moment. When I newly started, I gave my customers two options. First, to buy all the cooking ingredients while we cooked and the second option was to buy the cooking ingredients
Tayo
ourselves. So, on this particular job, it was the clients daughter’s wedding and she opted for the first option but it was difficult getting the needed materials we bargained for from her. We started late and agreed on using cooking gas. Unknown to us, many things were left unattended. She said to me at the last minute, I don’t have gas or kerosene. I laughed because I thought she was joking only for her to say the only thing she had were petrol and fire wood. Though late at night, I insisted and my staff looked for kerosene. That singular action taught me a lifelong business lesson on honouring agreements. I have however re-jigged my business model since then.
If you were unable to provide a full delivery to a big customer, how would you deal with the problem while ensuring you kept their business?
We have the capacity to cater to big clients, sizeable audience and large gatherings, and so that wouldn’t be a problem. We would deliver value hitch-free. Besides, our mantra is similar to one Nigeria’s banks’ mantra- One customer. There are no two customers who are the same.
What three pieces of advice would you give to college students who want to become entrepreneurs?
Losing my mum made me smell the coffee on time. Thankfully I had learnt a lot from her so it wasn’t difficult starting a business. My mum after buying all sorts of electronics for export into parts of Africa would still bring in fairly used toys. She cared less about her status, even though she had the wherewithal to buy same quantity of new ones, she was happy doing it provided she was making money. On several occasions I felt embarrassed that my mum was selling fairly used toys. It doesn’t matter how many times a day my mum noticed the way I felt, she would sing it to my ears that there is dignity in labour. She had different ways of saying it. When my friends visited she would ask that they come and see the toys. Those moments created mixed grill of emotions. But I believed my mum did it just to pass across a useful message. I started my catering career by providing lunch to Zenith Bank and I was able to do a good job at that courtesy.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͿ˜ ͺ
Fashion File
REOLA Campaign
with
AZUKA OGUJIUBA
azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͿ˜ ͺ
FASHION FILE
REOLA Campaign Reola is a premium Nigerian fashion brand that specialises in producing handmade bags and shoes from locally sourced leather and other African fabrics. The campaign showcases the range of bags in the brand’s stable. The bags come in various sizes from the mini, midi and maxi.
The campaign is clean and minimal but bold and daring at the same time for the different occasions for everyone. One can appreciate the brand as they play with various skins like the snake skin. Have a look below Brand :
@shopreola on Instagram Shopreola.com.
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˜ ˞ APRIL 27, 2019
JOE/FAJ THEFRONTLINES
If I Were President...(1)
T
he news issuing out of Libyan this week has been very disturbing. According to the Libyan authorities, there are over 700,000 migrants from different countries, majority of them, Nigerians holed up in that war torn country. This figure excludes those who have successfully been evacuated back to their various countries including Nigeria, those who perished at sea in their last ditch attempt to make Europe and the few who successfully made it across. The debacle in Libya has been described globally as modern day slavery. This trade in human cargo has been going on in Libya for decades even under the watchful eyes of the late Muamar Ghaddaffi. Last year, a CNN team shattered this closely guarded secret in an exclusive expose on the clandestine activities of smugglers, human traffickers in connivance with rogue Libyan security officials. The outcry and condemnation that greeted the CNN expose notwithstanding, back home the response or rather reaction has been to say the least noncommittal. As recent as few days ago, rather than recognizing the migration in drove of qualified citizens to foreign land to seek greener pastures as a major human capital development challenge, the minister of productivity, a medical doctor by profession, Chris Ngige decided to make a huge joke out of it by justifying brain drain saying Nigeria has enough doctors to cater for its population. Can Ngige tell Nigerians that our country has met the UN standard of 1:100 - a doctor to a hundred patients? Ngige’s mouth diarrhea is hardly surprising. He is an establishment person who has virtually been a parasite on Nigeria’s commonwealth. Why not? At what age was he physician to President Shehu Shagari? Ngige has been on the corridors of power almost all his life living at governments’ expense. The irony of Ngige’s type is that, they suffer from short term memory and have easily forgotten they had the very best out of Nigeria. Nigeria trained them in the best schools, provided them jobs and all the comforts of life. But today, they have all constituted themselves into a bourgeoise class where they lord it over the masses whom they should be serving as ministers. All we hear from government is that the administration is taking Nigerians to the next level, what other next level could be worse than this if not death? It would appear that our leaders, past and present either were and are ill prepared to lead, jinxed or are outrightly wicked. Which is why it is hard to comprehend why policies that work effortlessly in other climes fail woefully in Nigeria because Nigeria lacks institutions but rather has in place, tin-gods comprising of strong men and women that are holding the country down. Let us face it, things have been bad but nothing has been as hopeless as what obtains in Nigeria today even when we have a government that rode to power on the Big promise of Change.
JOSEPH USHIGIALE jushigiale@yahoo.co.uk, joseph.ushigiale@thisdaylive.com 08023422660 (sms only)
Buhari
To underscore how hopeless NIgerians are in their own country, check out the number of people, skilled and unskilled seeking sojourn abroad. There is hardly a country in the world today that Nigerians are not seeking to migrate to including even Ghana, the same country whose citizens were expelled in 1983 by the Shagari regime. On a daily basis, Nigerians are leaving in droves, those who are still here fervently want the easiest way out. The beauty of democracy is the right it bestows on every eligible voter to vote and be voted for. The Greeks were quite smart in conceiving this governance system where The People remained central to the formation of any democratic government. The people of Ancient Greece coined the word demokratia from two words demos meaning People and kratia meaning power or rule both of which form what is today known as democracy. Loosely defined as a government of the people, by the people and for the people, Wikipedia defines Democracy as a system of government where the citizens exercise power by voting. In a direct democracy, the citizens as a whole form a governing body and vote directly on each issue.
Whatever it is, the centrality of the concept is that the people are firmly the drivers of the process since they are instrumental to forming the government through voting, have the right to change government through the same system of voting and the focus of any democratic government should always be about the people. But Nigerian politicians have changed all that to mean government of the elites, by the elites and for the elites. It is so because, they have muddled up the system in connivance with some rogue technocrats to ensure that votes don’t count. Since your votes don’t count, who needs you the masses? But Nigerians continue to groan and to borrow from Fela, suffering and smiling under the yoke of democracy, where rather than reaping the dividends of democracy, the reverse is the case. From a global point of view, is governance such a big burden on our leaders? I do not think so as today I’ll outline what I would do if I were President. On assuming office, my actions and policies would be guided by two principles: to sacrifice and lead by example, end fiscal profligacy to save cost by doing away with wastefulness and make Nigerians the central focus of my administration. To begin with, I will shun official accomodation, get a modest and comfortable accomodation from where I would commute to work daily. My convoy would be reduced to just two vehicles, my vehicle and a backup just in case of a breakdown. These vehicles must be my personal vehicles and must be fueled from my pocket at all times. I will reduce security details to the barest minimum two and a steward. I would donate the entire presidential fleet to kickstart the national carrier, return the crew either to the Air Force or convert them to be integrated into the national carrier. I will proudly fly our national carrier to any country I am going to in the world as a passenger and would not charter any plane to cater for me and my family exclusively. This singular initiative will save the country N7.3b which is the 2019 annually budget for the maintenance of the presidential fleet. It was N4.4bn last year. My cabinet would be dominated solely by those who are offering to serve in the true sense of the word. What it means is that, my ministers would have to come from their homes, drive their cars to work and work for the good of Nigeria. This time around, they will truly serve and not to be served. It is about time our ministers live among us, feel what we feel, see what we see and eat what we eat. Readers can continued online www.thisdaylive.com
How Not to Raise Maggot-Infested Generation
I
n continuation of our “crusade� clamouring for drastic changes in our parenting and guidance “syllabus� as the grundnorm for a progressive and egalitarian society, we shall make space today for a rehash of what, for lack of adequate choice of words, can be described as the ultimate whiplash for degenerate parents bent on foisting on this nation more degenerate children, and their even more despicable siblings. Permit me to turn your attention again to a full non-academic dressing-down from the vice-chancellor of a private faith-based Nigerian university, ostensibly, on the social media group of “concerned parents� of his wards. Prof. Dapo Asaju was both incisive and surgical, in cutting through the decadent layers of muddled, pampering and slothful hemorrhoids called “modern� parenting. You are cordially invited to look into this mirror, search for your likeness...and make appropriate adjustment...for the sake of your legacy, and the well-being of your country. “Dear Parents, Greetings. It is not likely that I will post any (message) on your platform after this. I must express my shock at the behavior of some parents and their messages against the VC and the University in recent times. It is not common for VCs to exchange words with parents or students over matters of University rules, discipline and morals. I’m not sure you individual parents interacted with your VCs where you studied. My simplicity and availability has been abused and that has to be withdrawn forthwith. You sent your children to Ajayi Crowther University believing that they will get good education and sound morals. The discipline here is no where near that of some sister Christian Universities which are over subscribed. The development going on here academically, spiritually and infrastructure-wise has been much improved and works are ongoing to make things better. Students ought to have some endurance and not be spoilt with claims and rights that shouldn’t be fought over. What happened recently? 1. ACU would have resumed for second semester on 25th Feb. Due to the shift in date of elections, we changed resumption to 16th March (more than two weeks) yet many students resumed many days after the deadline!
And you want us to tolerate that? Parents who habour students when they ought to be in school are themselves not disciplined. You can’t raise next generation with the same corrupt and indisciplined ethos that has ruined Nigeria. We eventually allowed all late comers in after keeping them waiting outside gate for few hours as punishment for them to learn how to obey rules of punctuality. Parents who disobey rules and set bad examples do not expect red carpet treatment just because they paid fees for their children’s education. 2. A student committed sexual immorality and confessed in writing to have had sex with two female students in classroom and was placed on suspension pending trial yet the Parents proceeded to sue the University and post insults against the University, forgetting that we have rules and that the two girls also have parents who have been hurt, and innocent students who might be badly influenced. 3. You complain about light, water, etc. We put on generator for students between 6-8am, 10(am)-1pm and 6-10pm daily in addition to when PHCN gives power supply. We spend N3.7m monthly on PHCN bill and buy 20,000 liters of diesel monthly to run ten generators, totaling about N8 million per month yet the University does not receive one kobo in subventions from the proprietor, Anglican Church. We forget that even in our homes do we always have light? 4. Do you know that the hostels, except one, do not belong to the University and that we remit the rent to the owners who do not maintain the facilities? We spend our own money to carry out repairs in hostels that do not belong to us. In this last semester we have spent about N5 million to repair facilities including providing alternative water system, purchase 185 fans, sockets, toilets, nets, etc. 5. You parents decided that we should compel your children to observe daily library hours, which is one reason students are complaining. Be it known that in a three floor library in which we have invested over N30 Million in recent accreditation exercise, you will hardly find five students reading there. They are all busy with their phones: browsing rubbish. They don’t read except a few serious ones who end up with good grades. Many end up in third class. Some hardly attend classes for up to a week yet they turn up for exams and are disallowed. They think that once they paid fees, they are entitled to be passed. Bad homes produce bad students.
COUNTERPOINT
FEMI
AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON fajalive1@gmail.com 08182223348 - (SMS Only)
6. Recently Deans reported that less than 10 students were found in their respective faculties during a period when more than 1,600 students should be in class. Your children are mostly unserious. They want to play around with opposite sex unchecked, they want to go to town to smoke hemp or prostitute. But we gated them and as a result the University is now well rebranded. 6. We decided to lock hostels during lecture periods in order to force them to go to class or library. But you parents protested asking for “freedom� that will eventually destroy the moral and academic lives of these children. You same parents who have your children elsewhere obey the more stringent rules at Covenant and Babcock Universities, etc and you want Anglican Church’s University to tolerate trash! Based on your protest we have after one day’s trial, reopened the hostels at all hours and released your children to choose whether to study or sleep in hostel when they should be in classes. They now have freedom to choose whether to fail or pass. We shall henceforth not treat them, in your words, like “Secondary school students�. Some of you will bear the consequences of your indiscretion. But we will not allow anyone teach us how to run our system. 7. Parents who find it difficult to abide by our rules and regulations are kindly advised to withdraw their children. We are not desperate to keep any student here. We will sanction hemp and drug users, those who bully others and want to behave like cultists and sexual perverts. Those who can’t train their children well will not be allowed to corrupt other children here. 8. May I advise that no parent should call me on phone on any matter concerning students henceforth. The Dean of students will attend to the public on complaints. I wish you all the best and may you and your children do that which is right in the sight of God and for the future good of the coming generations. Amen. ––Rt. Rev. Prof. Dapo Asaju, Vice-Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University�.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͿ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ
EXPRESSION
Between ‘Diligence’, ‘Hard Work’
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AILY Sun Editorial of April 19, 2019, welcomes us this week with two schoolboy howlers: “The late jurist will be remembered for his hard work, diligence, selflessness and commitment to nation building (nation-building).” An exercise for my dear readers: check out the meaning of ‘diligence’ and ‘hard work’. Both words cannot co-function in the same environment or, indeed, anywhere. “As Shettima rounds up (sic) in Borno” (DAILY SUN Opinion Page Headline, April 19) A rewrite: As Shettima rounds off in Borno… “Opposition parties raise alarm (the alarm) over rising tension in Benin Republic” (International News Headline, April 19) “Some of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Zamfara State, who fled their ancestral homes in the wake of armed bandits attacks are battling with….” (THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER, April 29) Get it right: in the wake of bandits’ attacks “Police detonate bomb in Kaduna” (DAILY INDEPENDENT Headline, April 14) As irredeemable as our policemen are, they cannot publicly detonate a bomb! What they do is to defuse it. Both the print and electronic media are guilty of this malapropism. ‘Detonation’ cannot be used in the reported circumstance: “Men of the Anti-Bomb Disposal Squad of the Kaduna State Police Command yesterday recovered and detonated another bomb at one of the gates leading to NNPC staff quarters….” “More greaze (sic) to your elbow.” Beyond the spelling error (grease), it is ‘more power to somebody’s elbow’, but you can grease somebody’s palm if you have corruptive tendencies!
“Glo’s associates relieve Man U-Barca match experience” Have a lovely week: relive. Even as an ardent supporter of the topmost English team, that was a mismatch now worsened by this local language poverty! BUSINESSDAY WEEKEND Front Page Headline of April 13 circulated two embryonic blunders that remind one of dissemblance: “Rescued banks, investors in last minute (last-minute) rush to tie-up (tie up) deals” “Ondo police discovers illegal arms factory” Police: plural verb always. “But coming within a shared calender space of one another (a comma) it pointed to one fact….” This way: calendar. “Access Bank helped liberalized (liberalize) the supply end of the financial market.…” “For a party and leadership that had barely swim (swum) out of the blemish of the corruption scam….” Furthermore, there is no need for ‘scam’ in the extract because of its dysfunctional input as it is clearly otiose: the blemish of the corruption. “From indications, many elected political leaders in our democracy are still basking in the thrills of election victories, copious weeks after they’ve (they’d) been sworn in.” “An irate Nigerian wondered why the honourable members were not made to refund the N4,000 daily sustainance allowance.…” Get it right: sustenance. “Shortage of such materials as stationeries for printing order papers....” Some of the words that are uncountable: stationery, furniture, cutlery, heyday, jewellery, equipment and loot. “In another incident, six suspected armed robbers, including a military personnel....” ‘Personnel’ is a collective noun. Rite it right, as Dr. Adidi Uyo will write: a military officer. “...that you will be sent to jail to rotten
and regret the day you embarked on those inglorious acts of perjury and forgery.” Adjective: rotten; verb: rot. “Compatriot Bankole, can you imagine the great rupture your imprisonment would have caused in the placid relationship existing between the three arms of the Nigerian government….” ‘Between the three’ again…? Just among the three, I beg you. “The embarrassing development, according to a principal engineer who inspected the damages….” On Guard: ‘damage’ is uncountable except in legalese. “…defence pact between two unequal partners which was well open to blackmail, curtailment of freedom of speech at the price of democracy. Yank out ‘two’ in the interest of linguistic currency. Don’t depend solely on dictionaries (some of which tolerate a few of these embarrassing contradictions); be inquisitive and exploratory in language usage, which is the hallmark of developmental communication. I always advocate lexical modernism as a way of life. “Importers and customs agents may have deviced a new strategy to pay lower tariffs….” Noun: device; verb: devise (in Standard British English usage). The excerpted muddle is the American version of it. The same thing applies to ‘advice’/‘advise’ and ‘practice’/‘practise’, among many other entries. “This practice which makes the government to loss (lose) substantial revenue….” “Therefore, confronting robbers who are armed with superior arms and ammunitions is only being irresponsible and foolhardy.” ‘Ammunition’ is non-count. “Less than 5 per cent of Nigerians have assess (access) to telephone–even public telephones.” “If two towns in every local govern-
MEDIAGAFFES
EBERE WABARA
ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948
ment in the country is (are) provided with telecommunication facilities every month, within 4 to 5 years, the project would have been completed.” “Philosophers literarily (literally) threw metaphysics through the front door and bolted it.” “Firewood could just as well had (have) served as handsets.” “Often, a simple telephone call could save lives that are needless (needlessly) shed on our highways daily.” A poser: is it lives that are shed or blood? “A few weeks ago, an Abuja-based paper has (had) alleged that....” “These brazen acts of banditry is (are) also enveloping secondary schools.…” ‘Even when he was answering questions from newsmen, he was still beaming with smiles.” Would the man have ‘beamed with a frown’? Please, delete ‘smiles’ to avoid morphological crises! Orji Kalu yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari is not responsible for the marginalization of Igbos (sic)” Reported speech: President Muhammadu Buhari was not responsible for the marginalization of Igbo. “He observed that the September 22 OPEC meeting would be a break-or-make event that would determine the way the price goes.” Fixed expression: make or break. “In any case, there is no doubt that the actions and perhaps inactions of President Buhari since May 29, 2015, has (have) been giving a sizeable part of the South West serious concerns.” “…force his friend to comply to (with) his own desires at the pains of being bundled into their horrendous cell.”
POLITY
Winners Emerge in Eko Hotel’s Eco-friendly Children Art Competition Justina Uzo
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hree schoolchildren, including a student of Kings College Lagos have emerged the lucky winners of Eko Hotel and Suites’ eco-friendly children’s art competition which the hotel organised in Lagos on Easter Monday, April 22, 2019. Master Adegoke Ademola, 14,from Kings College Lagos took the first position; ,Akindele Abdulkarim, first runner-up, and Miss Olugbenga Ayooluwa , 15, of Holy Child College, Lagos, were named winners of the epoch making eco-tourism initiative which kicked off penultimate weekend as part of the Easter holidays and commemoration of World Earth Day. The winners who were part of the 10 shortlisted artists were selected from 100 entries. They were rewarded with cash prizes and valuable gifts; the first place winner received N250,000.00 (two hundred and fifty thousand naira), including an Ipad set, second prize winner received N150,000.00 and for third position, it was N100,000.00. Master Ademola who was elated throughout the glittering ceremony said he hopes to spend part of the money in buying materials for his paintings while his mother can spend the rest on his school fees. The visual art contest was restricted to secondary schools students in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos. The lucky ten and their guardians were treated to a two-day allexpense paid weekend at prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos leading to the grand finale on April 22. In a bid to save the environment as well as commemorate this year’s Earth Day Eko Hotel and Suites organised the eco-friendly children’s art competition with the hope to involve youths in the causes close to their hearts. Chairman, Eko Hotels’ Board of Directors, Mr. Christopher Chagoury, said Eko Hotels management had taken a decision to launch a global campaign for a greener and healthier environment, as part of efforts to preserve the planet earth. “Concerned about our immediate environment and the global community, Eko Hotels is determined to make considerable investment in ensuring a more eco-friendly environment culture that is embedded in the daily operation of its hospitality business. Therefore, the hotel has embarked on environmental awareness and sensitization programme
The lucky winner Adegoke Ademola receiving his star prize from Caline Chagoury, founder, Art 21 (Fourth from left) and renowned artist Olu Amoda while his elated mother and others watch with admiration.
to expose the guests to a greener and inspiring eco-friendly living, which includes tips for energy, lighting and water consumption during their stay,” Chagoury said. It was gathered that Eko Hotel staff had undergone several weeks of training and re-orientation to make them “environmentally responsible and conscious of how they affect our environment.” They are being equipped with the necessary tools required to aid them in leading the change towards an eco-friendly hotel and they are championing the eco –friendly drive with keen interest. Energy consumption, according to the hotel management,
had significantly reduced while several water conservation practices had been adopted and gradually, utensils/ amenities are being replaced with biodegradable options and hundreds of children are being sensitized on the need to reduce our carbon footprint. “We are far more than just a global and local leader, we are the equivalent of a community that hosts over 500,000 clients each year providing them with water, energy, food and a hospitable environment. With ‘Eco’ right in our DNA, the board of directors decided it was time to expose our guests to a more caring and greener lifestyle,” Chagoury said.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 27, 2019
POLITY
Annual NACJ Integrity Lecture/Award Holds May 23 Olaoluwakitan Babatunde
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he Annual Integrity Lecture/Award, organised by Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists (NACJ) will hold in Lagos on May 23, at the Sheraton Hotel. NACJ is set to roll out drums in celebration of some Nigeria’s illustrious sons and daughters who have over the years impressively demonstrated the spirit of integrity in their capacities as leaders. The list of the awardees includes Dr. Olugu Upkai, a Nigerian Medical Doctor based in Canada with a large heart for philanthropic services; Chief Daniel Chimezie Okeke, MD/ CEO Express Concerns International Ltd;
Hon Chris Azubogu, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation; Mr Basil Agboarumi, MD/CEO, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, (SAHCO) and Pastor Dr Paul Obadare, African renowned Evangelist and General Overseer CAC WOSEN. Others are Hon Justice More Nike Obadina; Hon Justice Sedoten Sosi Ogunsanya and Senator MAO Ohuabunwa; Pastor Sunday Ekanem Ibuot, Special Adviser, Political/ Legislative Affairs, Akwa Ibom State, and Engr Chinedu Orji, Majority Leader, Abia State House of Assembly. His Highness, Sir Henry Micah Biterefie 11, will be honored as the Integrity Man of the Year, in the Royal Category. A statement from the organisers said:
“Interestingly, top on the awardees this year are two sitting governors who obviously display high level of integrity in their styles of governance. We also have a new dimension of corporate integrity award category this year which is going to a reputable bank as the Integrity Bank of the Year.
C&SCouncilofProphetsCelebrates50yearsofMountHoreb Olaoluwakitan Babatunde
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embers of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement worldwide will, from 29 April -3 May, gather at Orile-Igbon, Oyo State, for the Annual Mount Horeb ascension, a programme organized
Commandant Obalim: Passing of a Committed Patriot Nnalue Obalim
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very community is blessed with worthy and highly patriotic indigene who contribute their best endeavors to their upliftment. A common axiom has it that unto whom much is given much is expected. However it is not many that give much to community in the commensurate manner they are given. Only a few highly patriotic indigenes give substantially to their community. Commandant Ezekiel Chuks Obalim (rtd) aka small London, of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is a name that has gone down in the history of Awkuzu Community in Anambra State as one who has touched many leaves positively in the community. His most outstanding contribution is the electrification of the town in 1987. His role as Chief Launcher during the launching of the project apart from being the largest contribution also attracted many indigenes of the town to support the worthy project. His Progress Motors Ltd, EC Oba Estate Development Company Limited. High Places and Tours, Ezeko International Agency Limited are staffed mostly with his Awkuzu Indigenes to demonstrate that charity begins at home. Born of very humble parentage, he was edu-
Obalim
cated at St. John’s Primary School Awkuzu then went to Premier College Yaba for his Secondary Education. His passion for business influenced him to study Business Administration at the prestigious Strayer college Washington DC, United States of America from 1982-1986 to obtain his first degree. He started working with Zinoxy Security Organisation in Maryland USA as a supervisor for two years. Thereafter he joined Kenturcky Fried Chicken as Cus-
“The entertainment industry is not left out as Nigeria’s popular DJ Jimmy Jatt and the renowned strong hearted social crusader, Mr Charles Oputa will also be honored for their sense of integrity. The Keynote address tagged, Integrity, Essential Ingredient For Effective Legislation And Building A Virile
tomer Service Manager. He returned to Nigeria in 1986 and established his Progress Motors Ltd soon after in 1987. He joined the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC as District Officer in 1992 and rose rapidly to attain the post of Commandant before he retired. He served variously as State Commandant of the corps in Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Bornu and Zamfara State Commands and finally at the headquarters before he retired in 2005. A devout Christian, he also attended Christian Faith Theological Seminary Inc. from where he obtained a Phd. This gold fish that has no hiding place breathed his last a few weeks ago and since then Awkuzu community has being thrown into big mourning, Many of his associates and friends among whom are but not limited to Dr. Lawrence Ojemeni MFR, Chairman/CEO of Lento Aluminium Limited HRH. Igwe Chris Onyekwuluje Eze Nya 1 of Umunya, HRH Igwe Peter Uyanwa, Ezedike of Ukwulu, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, Chief Ignay Nwene (Agbalanze Awkuzu) Chief Chucks Olu Akabike (Obodoeze) have paid glowing tributes to him. His remains will be laid to rest on Wednesday April 24 2018 at his residence in Umudunu, Dusogu Awkuzu. May his great soul rest in perfect peace Amen.
yearly by the International Council of Prophets of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church (Worldwide) Ayo Ni O. The programme will also take in the 50th anniversary of Mount Horeb ascension and Thanksgiving. According to Prophet Abiodun Ogunsakin, Conference General Secretary, the theme of the programme is “Conquering Faith; The Triumph of the Church”. “Today’s church is confronted by enemies on every side and the persecution of believers is severe in nations, said Ogunsakin, who added that the theme has been carefully and prayerfully chosen to further reiterate the great commission which, is the triumph of the church through the power of Jesus Christ. The conference will include keynote addresses, workshop, seminars, presentations, games, spiritual fitness programmes, vigil and 2019 Ascension of Mount Horeb. The major highlight of this year’s conference is the ordination of Special Apostle Prophet Zaccheaus A. Emmanuel as the Conference Supervising Prophet (CSP) by the Baba Aladura and the Spiritual father of the CMSC worldwide, Most Rev. Dr. Samuel A. Adidoye. Special Apostle Prophet Emmanuel, who has been acting Conference Supervising Prophet since 2014, will be ordained as the third Conference Supervising Prophet on 3 May. Hel holds a doctorate degree in Humanities from the Pan African Bible Seminary and has served the church in different capacities before his new position.
PHOTO NEWS
L-R : Director, MTN Nigeria, Gbenga Oyebode; Founder, Five Cowries Initiative, Polly Alakija; Director, MTN Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro; and Senior Manager, Programme Implementation, MTN Nigeria, Abasi-Ekong Udobang, at the press launch of the Five Cowries Initiative sponsored by MTN Foundation as part of its Arts and Culture initiative to promote and retell Nigerian and African stories in Lagos ...recently
L- R: Chairman, Asian Banker, Emmanuel Daniel, Head, Consumer Propositions, Access Bank Plc, Dolapo Orelaja; and Senior Manager , Business Development – Africa , Asian Banker, Ashan Abeyratne, at the prestigious Asian Banker ‘Excellence in Retail Financial Services’ Awards held in Lagos...recently
L-R: Chairman ARM Pensions, Emmanuel Ikazoboh; Group CEO, Jumoke Ogundare; Managing Director, ARM Pensions, Wale Odutola; and Partner, Leapfrog Investment, Karima Olokun-Ola, at the ARM Pensions 14th Annual General Meeting in Lagos...recently DAN UKANA
L-R: Business Development Manager, Crop Protection, Abubakar Ahmed; Commercial Director of Corteva Agriscience, North West and Central Africa, Alain Pescay; and the Marketing Manager, North West and Central Africa, Badr Mohmoud, at the Seed Connect Conference and Expo held in Abuja...recently
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 27, 2019
POLITY Abiodun Hits the Ground Running, Amosun Still Raising Dust Femi Ogbonnikan examines the composition of the Economic Transition Committee and Work Groups set up by incoming governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun and the dust raised by the outgoing governor of the state, Ibikunle Amosun, over the defeat of his candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, in the governorship election
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ome May 29, this year, the outgoing Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, will formally handover the baton of the leadership of the state to his successor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the governor-elect. Abiodun has hit the ground running. He has unveiled members of his Economic Transition Committee and “Transition Works Groups.” This is a demonstration of his commitment to inclusiveness. The composition of the committees are broad-based and a rich blend of human resources, painstakingly selected from critical stakeholders, including politicians (both in the APC and other parties), experts, women, youth, organised private sector, people with special needs and non-indigenes, among others. According to the spokesperson of Abiodun, Hon Remmy Hazzan, aside the Economic Transition Committee, headed by former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Tunde Lemo, “There are 10 work groups to focus not only on key items in our manifesto, but also on connected matters that strengthen institutions, and build capacity that will ensure that government agencies deliver on their mandates effectively and efficiently on a sustainable basis. Motivation of Ogun State work force is a very key objective in this regard.” While inaugurating the Economic Transition Committee and Work Groups at TCC Resort, Abiodun pledged the readiness of the incoming administration to make a difference and provide quality leadership to the people of the state. Despite the fact that the people of the state had become cynical of government and the political class in general, he said that he was conscious of the fact that the expectations from the incoming administration under his watch were high. Abiodun stated that the task was not made easy by paucity of funds, “but notwithstanding, the incoming administration is determined to make a difference and provide leadership that earns the confidence of the people, a government that has character and can be trusted.” Besides, the governor-elect pledged the commitment of his administration to continue the implementation of the ongoing projects that have a clear line of sight for the upliftment of Ogun State and benefits to the people. “I am hopeful that the incumbent government will provide us with timely accurate information on all the ongoing projects in the state and the general state of affairs of our common patrimony,” he said. Abiodun said with the commitment to the central theme, “Building Our Future Together Agenda”, he had directed that a database be developed and continually updated on the abundant human resources of Ogun State extraction across the globe to enable his Administration to tap into from time to time. But, still unrepentant and adamant, Amosun is mussing over the failed bid of Adekunle Akinlade, to succeed him. At a recent world press conference to herald the fourth edition of the 2019 “African Drum Festival” held at MITROS residence, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, precisely on Tuesday, April 16, the outgoing governor took a swipe at the governor-elect (Abiodun) and his “Lagos cabal” (political godfathers), during a question and answer session. In his characteristic manner, Amosun who had at several public fora boasted of being in control of the political structure of the state and also, has the magic wand to make Akinlade governor, raised dust during the interview.
But notwithstanding, the incoming administration is determined to make a difference and provide leadership that earns the confidence of the people, a government that has character and can be trusted
Abiodun
When asked why he has declined to inaugurate his transition committee that would provide for a smooth hand-over to the incoming administration, Amosun, in his riposte, said: “Did they send you to me? Were you sent to ask political questions? You should go back to those that sent you to come and ask such a question, because I know how to respond to such. They have not made any request for the inauguration of the transition committee. And if it is two weeks away to the May 29 hand-over date, if they reach out to me, then, I am ready.” However, he promised to spill the beans concerning the true stories behind the Ogun State Governorship election when he vacates office. “From May 29, I will be free to open up on political issues in the State. I have been asked to quit talking about the elections and politics, because I am still in office,” said the outgoing governor. Amosun also explained why he labelled some people “no brain”, an abusive language, reportedly common in the state’s corridor of power. Amosun hinted that he usually deploys the language each time anybody does things that defy “logical reasoning”. The outgoing governor noted that “education does not mean reasonableness” and lampooned those criticising his administration’s programmes and policies. “Government is a serious business. You must have brain to do the job. That is why I said, “no brain”. Yes, I will say ‘no brain’ when you are doing something that defies logical reasoning. How? You went to school, travel around the world, see the way things are being done, but it is difficult for you to replicate here,” he said. The outgoing governor, however, reiterated his commitment to completing ongoing projects, by “working to the last second of my administration.” Meanwhile, in his reaction to the 21 senior servants hurriedly elevated to the Permanent Secretary (PS) status in less than two months to the end of his office, former Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to ex-governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Mr. Wale Adedayo, blamed the outgoing governor over the unsavoury development, in a bid to court enmity for the incoming administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun. “There is no doubt that the recently warped appointments by Amosun cannot stand as it has caused a lot of disaffection, low morale, as well as distrust among the ever brilliant civil service in the state. “A review of the list indicates that favouritism was placed above merit, while only few were done on merit to cover the
entire mess or how do one explain a situation where a state that produced a foremost civil servant in the entire country in person of late Simeon Adebo, propping a GL level 13 officer and elevating him as Permanent Secretary in the midst of highly qualified and brilliant Senior Directors in the Civil Service. This individual (name withheld) in the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) was twice promoted in the last two years from grade level 13 to 15 and to now be elevated to a PS, sounded so ridiculous and highly insensitive. “As if that is not enough, his paymaster, an Accountant in Governor’s office is presently on GL 14 and promoted to the post of PS at the expense of his more qualified seniors in the same ministry, while another officer in AG office on GL 15 (another Amosun boy) also sailed through in the Father Christmas bonus. “Apart from laying a booby trap for the incoming regime as being done in virtually all areas of governance in the state, this singular act will not augur well for the service as it means inexperienced hands will now be at the helms of affairs. Amosun should have allowed the incoming administration to select the team, instead of hurriedly jumping the gun. “Conclusively, there are seasoned professionals in every department of the service and to now sacrifice such on the altar of politics, rather than ethics, competence and experience should not stand the test of time,” averred Adedayo. Unperturbed, the governor-elect, Abiodun has attributed his emergence to the benevolence of God. He said: “Succinctly put, it was the most turbulent, most bumpy, most challenging, most difficult tale of a political heroism in which the incumbent did everything humanly possible to stop me. This is considering the fact that this incumbent has been a friend of mine for over 25 years.” Abiodun, in a testimony relayed to an audience at a Redeemed Church of God in London, said he practically went through hell in his bid to become the governor of his state. The most shocking aspect of his experience was the fact that those he thought he could trust with his two eyes closed were the ones beating the drum for his downfall and disgrace. “I thought that God will not forgive me if I didn’t come forward to share a bit of my testimony and my ‘only God’ moment. I stand here as a testimony of the awesomeness of the Almighty God, and the fact that God is greater than man. God will be God and man will continue to be man, because if it were for men, I will not be the Governor-elect of Ogun state. I have been in the private sector, but I have always had a passion for politics. In 1997, I made my first show in politics; I ran for the senate. I became a senatorelect, and I was the youngest ever elected senator in Nigeria. I was so young that there was a controversy that I was probably too young to be sworn-in because the age limit then was forty and I was not quite forty. Fortunately or unfortunately, the Head of state then died and that republic came to an end. I tried again in 2015; I was persuaded to run for the senate, and I didn’t quite win. Well, I won, I was rigged out, and I went to court. I won at the tribunal and my opponent went and appealed and it was overturned. “I was so unhappy. I thought to myself, ‘this is surely it, I am done with politics; I must just face my business and leave all these politicians alone. They are not trustworthy, they are not reliable, and it is just a waste of money and resources.’ As time went on, in 2017, I had an unfortunate incident. I lost my first son, and life could not have dealt me a worst blow. I withdrew into my shell. For over six months I could not function. I could not go to work, I didn’t see people; I became a complete recluse. “Then, in 2018, someone came to me and said will I consider going back into politics. Of course, I said never. Then, it was that I should go to the senate, and I said I was not interested. I have done this twice, so I’m not interested; God definitely does not want me to be a senator. At some point in time, someone asked me: ‘would you consider being a governor?’ I said that I will consider, but I will first go to God and see what God has to say about it. To cut the long story short, I became convinced that God indeed wanted me to be Governor of Ogun state. “I could not explain it. I sat down with the incumbent Governor and had a chat with him. Of course, he said ‘No, never; I will offer you senate.’ I said, ‘I don’t want senate’. Eventually, our Pastor Prof, the Vice President intervened. He now said: ‘May be, you should consider this senate.’ I said ‘okay. I will do it,’ only to find out that the incumbent governor that had indeed offered me this senate didn’t mean it. He actually was just leading me on. When that became clear, I went back to Pastor Prof and said, Pastor Prof, God is telling me something. I am going to be the governor of Ogun State.”
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 27, 2019
POLITY Lagos Residents to Commute Easily with Oshodi Interchange Operation Ferdinand Ekechukwu
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he Oshodi Transport Interchange Project, which is part of the Lagos State government’s planned effort to ease traffic challenges in Lagos, was during the week commissioned by President Muhammed Buhari, among a couple of other projects, following his second working visit to the state. Described as Africa’s first mega bus terminal, the president had during the inauguration observed that the project would impact development in and across the state. According to Buhari, the new Oshodi Transport Interchange; the Mass Transit Medium and High capacity public buses and the reconstructed Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road by Lagos State Government clearly demonstrate the need to continue to provide high impact projects for the development of infrastructure and opportunities for job creation at all levels. He further noted that “Just as this transport interchange with three different terminals is going to change the face of public transportation; the mass transit buses totaling 820 will move the people of Lagos State in a more comfortable and more efficient manner. These projects by Lagos State are perfectly aligned with the efforts of the Federal Government to improve the country’s infrastructure especially in the transport sector.” The project under the administration of Akinwunmi Ambode, the governor of Lagos State seeks to transform Oshodi into a world-class Central Business District (CBD) with business, travel and leisure activities conducted in a serene, secure, clean, orderly and hygienic environment.Constructed purely by an indigenous construction firm Planet Project, the Oshodi Transport Interchange as a people-oriented project would help at least one million residents commute easily daily. The Chief Executive Officer Planet Project, Mr. Biodun Otunola had disclosed this while conducting newsmen round the multi-level transport interchange. According to Otunola, Terminal Three is ready and will kick off operations on May 2. Terminals One and Two are expected to be ready in less than three weeks. The terminals are expected to take care of inter and intra city transports. “About one million people use transport in Lagos State daily. “What we have done is to create a stateof-the-art terminal that will ensure security,
L-R: The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Projects Planet Limited, Biodun Otunola; Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; and President Muhammadu Buhari, during the commissioning of the Oshodi Transport Interchange project of the Lagos State Government handled by Projects Planet Limited… on Wednesday encourage passengers to shop as they are travelling and make them as comfortable as possible with easy to access ticketing system. The Multi-level bus terminal in Oshodi is to address the traffic, environmental, safety and transpiration problems in and out of Oshodi and Lagos at large. “As you all know, a lot of us travelling from one part of Lagos to the other have to use this particular spot where we are, which is Oshodi. Oshodi is perhaps the busiest transport interchange in Africa. Based on the study we carried out at the initial stage, we discovered that over 76% of the open space in Oshodi is occupied by transport activities. Here, we have three terminals. Terminal one is for inter-city transportation. So, if you are travelling to any
part of Nigeria, including West Africa, you will be able to get the bus here and the terminal will run for 24 hours. The whole terminal has been designed to have all world-class facilities. “Terminal two is to serve Lagos West and all the people going towards FESTAC, Mile 2, Abule Egba, Oshodi, Isolo and Ayobo. Terminal three will also serve people going to Lagos east and Lagos Island, Ojota, Ikorodu, Marina, Obalende, including Berger.” The terminal is meant to station up to 500 buses of Marcopolo brands comprising of 27 and 70 seat buses.” Continuing he said, “each of the floor is about 3,700 square meters and that can take close to 40, 000 people at a time. The terminals can take one million people every day. And each of the terminals has six lifts and one escala-
tor. So in all we have 18 lifts and three escalators. The skywalk connecting the three terminals is the longest skywalk ever in the country.” The project will consolidate all the 13 city and interstate bus parks into three multi-storey terminals, providing standard facilities including waiting area, loading bays, ticketing stands, drivers lounge, parking areas, rest rooms, accessible walkways and sky-walks linking all the terminals. The Oshodi Transport Interchange Project is part of the Bus Reform Initiative of the state government, designed to transform the axis forever and enhance connectivity. While is a laudable project, maintenance should be of utmost concern when it fully commences operations.
Connecting with Consumers Title of book: Connecting with consumers: insights engagement conversations. Author: Akachi Ogbonnaya Ngwu Publisher: Consumer Scores International Limited Year published: 2018. ISBN: 978-978-967-535-7 Book Review: Martins Hile, Executive Editor, Financial Nigeria Magazine.
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he author of this book is a core marketing communication professional, yet he is also a writer. And we must commend him for adding to the body of literary works in Nigeria and seeking to promote a reading culture among his colleagues in the industry. As I said in my endorsement of the book, it is a “relentless reminder on the need to professionalize the local industry, while also providing refreshing insights on emerging technological trends and global best practices in the marketing communications industry.” The book consists of 20 incisive chapters, which are arranged into four carefully delineated sections. The book is a decisive call-to-action for a new way of thinking about marketing communication and consumer advertising. With the advent of digital technologies, the age of creative disruption is upon us. We have seen this phenomenon play out in banking, retail, transportation and other sectors. There is a disruption also sweeping across the marketing communication landscape. The fragmentation of content across multiple channels is a challenge for media organisations and advertisers.And given the proliferation of mobile devices, the attention span of the 21st century consumer is very limited. The author of this book calls the attention of brand owners and their media agencies to find creative and innovative ways to grab the attention of these restless and ever-mobile consumers. One way he proposes for this to happen is for advertisers to know and understand their target audiences – in terms of their demographic,
psychographic and behavioural statistics. In providing a clear and concise understanding of the practical aspects of marketing communication and the emerging trends in
consumer advertising, the book emphasizes the need for service providers to offer services that enable their clients to achieve their campaign objectives. The author goes to great lengths to inform us that marketing communication is no longer a one-way affair.Activating consumer patronage requires an active engagement with the consumers and the market. In fact, a whole chapter is dedicated to the dynamism of engagement marketing as an effective way to build brand equity and loyalty. He discusses emerging and innovative forms of marketing communication such as branded content marketing, influencer marketing, and utilizing brand touchpoints to attract patronage. He also makes the important distinction between old and new media. Indeed, digital and social media advertising are the new frontiers in advertising. But he does not suggest that the old is being replaced by the new. On the contrary, as you read the book, professionals in the industry are invited to leverage the opportunities that media fragmentation and creative disruption present. There is a marriage that is proposed to integrate both traditional and digital media to deliver exceptional value to advertisers and improve the utilization of the various media platforms. Out-of-home outdoor advertising plays a strategic role in the domain of advertising. The author knows all about this as someone who has worked in that space for years and being the Founder/ CEO of Consumer Scores International Limited, a Lagos-based in–store advertising solutions provider. The call-to-action in this book also includes the urgent need to address unethical corporate governance practices in the Nigerian advertising market. The author emphasizes the need to improve employee welfare. Effective regulation of the industry will address unsavoury practices in the industry. Regulatory agencies also have a responsibility to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. I hereby invite everyone to not only get a copy of this book aptly titled “Connecting with consumers” but also recommend it to your colleagues and friends.
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 27, 2019
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POLITY
Annual NACJ Integrity Lecture/Award Holds May 23 Olaoluwakitan Babatunde
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he Annual Integrity Lecture/Award, organised by Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists (NACJ) will hold in Lagos on May 23, at the Sheraton Hotel. NACJ is set to roll out drums in celebration of some Nigeria’s illustrious sons and daughters who have over the years impressively demonstrated the spirit of integrity in their capacities as leaders. The list of the awardees includes Dr. Olugu Upkai, a Nigerian Medical Doctor based in Canada with a large heart for philanthropic services; Chief Daniel Chimezie Okeke, MD/ CEO Express Concerns International Ltd;
Hon Chris Azubogu, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation; Mr Basil Agboarumi, MD/CEO, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, (SAHCO) and Pastor Dr Paul Obadare, African renowned Evangelist and General Overseer CAC WOSEN. Others are Hon Justice More Nike Obadina; Hon Justice Sedoten Sosi Ogunsanya and Senator MAO Ohuabunwa; Pastor Sunday Ekanem Ibuot, Special Adviser, Political/ Legislative Affairs, Akwa Ibom State, and Engr Chinedu Orji, Majority Leader, Abia State House of Assembly. His Highness, Sir Henry Micah Biterefie 11, will be honored as the Integrity Man of the Year, in the Royal Category. A statement from the organisers said:
“Interestingly, top on the awardees this year are two sitting governors who obviously display high level of integrity in their styles of governance. We also have a new dimension of corporate integrity award category this year which is going to a reputable bank as the Integrity Bank of the Year.
C&SCouncilofProphetsCelebrates50yearsofMountHoreb Olaoluwakitan Babatunde
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embers of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement worldwide will, from 29 April -3 May, gather at Orile-Igbon, Oyo State, for the Annual Mount Horeb ascension, a programme organized
Commandant Obalim: Passing of a Committed Patriot Nnalue Obalim
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very community is blessed with worthy and highly patriotic indigene who contribute their best endeavors to their upliftment. A common axiom has it that unto whom much is given much is expected. However it is not many that give much to community in the commensurate manner they are given. Only a few highly patriotic indigenes give substantially to their community. Commandant Ezekiel Chuks Obalim (rtd) aka small London, of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is a name that has gone down in the history of Awkuzu Community in Anambra State as one who has touched many leaves positively in the community. His most outstanding contribution is the electrification of the town in 1987. His role as Chief Launcher during the launching of the project apart from being the largest contribution also attracted many indigenes of the town to support the worthy project. His Progress Motors Ltd, EC Oba Estate Development Company Limited. High Places and Tours, Ezeko International Agency Limited are staffed mostly with his Awkuzu Indigenes to demonstrate that charity begins at home. Born of very humble parentage, he was edu-
Obalim
cated at St. John’s Primary School Awkuzu then went to Premier College Yaba for his Secondary Education. His passion for business influenced him to study Business Administration at the prestigious Strayer college Washington DC, United States of America from 1982-1986 to obtain his first degree. He started working with Zinoxy Security Organisation in Maryland USA as a supervisor for two years. Thereafter he joined Kenturcky Fried Chicken as Cus-
“The entertainment industry is not left out as Nigeria’s popular DJ Jimmy Jatt and the renowned strong hearted social crusader, Mr Charles Oputa will also be honored for their sense of integrity. The Keynote address tagged, Integrity, Essential Ingredient For Effective Legislation And Building A Virile
tomer Service Manager. He returned to Nigeria in 1986 and established his Progress Motors Ltd soon after in 1987. He joined the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC as District Officer in 1992 and rose rapidly to attain the post of Commandant before he retired. He served variously as State Commandant of the corps in Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Bornu and Zamfara State Commands and finally at the headquarters before he retired in 2005. A devout Christian, he also attended Christian Faith Theological Seminary Inc. from where he obtained a Phd. This gold fish that has no hiding place breathed his last a few weeks ago and since then Awkuzu community has being thrown into big mourning, Many of his associates and friends among whom are but not limited to Dr. Lawrence Ojemeni MFR, Chairman/CEO of Lento Aluminium Limited HRH. Igwe Chris Onyekwuluje Eze Nya 1 of Umunya, HRH Igwe Peter Uyanwa, Ezedike of Ukwulu, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, Chief Ignay Nwene (Agbalanze Awkuzu) Chief Chucks Olu Akabike (Obodoeze) have paid glowing tributes to him. His remains will be laid to rest on Wednesday April 24 2018 at his residence in Umudunu, Dusogu Awkuzu. May his great soul rest in perfect peace Amen.
yearly by the International Council of Prophets of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church (Worldwide) Ayo Ni O. The programme will also take in the 50th anniversary of Mount Horeb ascension and Thanksgiving. According to Prophet Abiodun Ogunsakin, Conference General Secretary, the theme of the programme is “Conquering Faith; The Triumph of the Church”. “Today’s church is confronted by enemies on every side and the persecution of believers is severe in nations, said Ogunsakin, who added that the theme has been carefully and prayerfully chosen to further reiterate the great commission which, is the triumph of the church through the power of Jesus Christ. The conference will include keynote addresses, workshop, seminars, presentations, games, spiritual fitness programmes, vigil and 2019 Ascension of Mount Horeb. The major highlight of this year’s conference is the ordination of Special Apostle Prophet Zaccheaus A. Emmanuel as the Conference Supervising Prophet (CSP) by the Baba Aladura and the Spiritual father of the CMSC worldwide, Most Rev. Dr. Samuel A. Adidoye. Special Apostle Prophet Emmanuel, who has been acting Conference Supervising Prophet since 2014, will be ordained as the third Conference Supervising Prophet on 3 May. Hel holds a doctorate degree in Humanities from the Pan African Bible Seminary and has served the church in different capacities before his new position.
PHOTO NEWS
L-R : Director, MTN Nigeria, Gbenga Oyebode; Founder, Five Cowries Initiative, Polly Alakija; Director, MTN Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro; and Senior Manager, Programme Implementation, MTN Nigeria, Abasi-Ekong Udobang, at the press launch of the Five Cowries Initiative sponsored by MTN Foundation as part of its Arts and Culture initiative to promote and retell Nigerian and African stories in Lagos ...recently
L- R: Chairman, Asian Banker, Emmanuel Daniel, Head, Consumer Propositions, Access Bank Plc, Dolapo Orelaja; and Senior Manager , Business Development – Africa , Asian Banker, Ashan Abeyratne, at the prestigious Asian Banker ‘Excellence in Retail Financial Services’ Awards held in Lagos...recently
L-R: Chairman ARM Pensions, Emmanuel Ikazoboh; Group CEO, Jumoke Ogundare; Managing Director, ARM Pensions, Wale Odutola; and Partner, Leapfrog Investment, Karima Olokun-Ola, at the ARM Pensions 14th Annual General Meeting in Lagos...recently DAN UKANA
L-R: Business Development Manager, Crop Protection, Abubakar Ahmed; Commercial Director of Corteva Agriscience, North West and Central Africa, Alain Pescay; and the Marketing Manager, North West and Central Africa, Badr Mohmoud, at the Seed Connect Conference and Expo held in Abuja...recently
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Divine Odurudu running in the same heat with Usain Bolt during the 2014 Rio Olympics
Divine Odurudu
Reviving Nigeria’s Hope in Sprint In recent years, Nigeria’s performance in the sprints has dwindled and the country could no longer count on its sprinters for medal in major competitions like the Olympics and World Athletics Championship. The country’s athletes now only thrive in competitions such as the All African Games and to some extent, the Commonwealth Games. However, with sprint sensation- Divine Odurudu finding his groove, hope is now back on the horizon for medals at the world stage
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hough Nigeria may not have won medals in the sprints at the1980, 1984, 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games in Moscow, Los Angeles, Seoul and Barcelona respectively, the country paraded mind bogling names such as Chidi Imoh, Innocent Egbunike, Yusuf Ali, Mary Onyali, Ajayi Agbebaku, Gloria Alozie and Falilat Ogunkoya among many others, most of them emerging courtesy of American scholarships. The order continued up till 1996, in Atlanta when the country won its first Olympic gold medal. However, since the Beijing Olympics in China, our hope for a medal at major international competitions is largely dependent on Okagbare. With a silver medal in Beijing Olympics, another silver and a bronze medal respectively at
the 2013 World Athletics Championship, until Okagbare passed her peak. She indeed failed to qualify for the semifinals of the women’s’ 100 metres at the 2017 World Athletics Championship in London. She had similarly failed to make the final of the event at the last Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Since then followers of track and field in Nigeria can only look forward to medals at minor competitions such as the Commonwealth Games and All African Games. That may have changed however with the emergence of Nigerianborn sprinter, Divine Oduduru. Oduduru broke Nigeria’s 13 years sub-10 seconds jinx in the 100 metres race after breaking his personal and season best records to set a world leading record of 9.95sec to win at the Michael John-
son Invitational in Waco Texas, USA, last Saturday. He also broke Francis Obikwelu’s national record of 19.84sec set in 1999 in the 200 metres , with a new world leading of 19.76s, thereby becoming the ninth Nigerian to ever run sub-10 in the 100m, and the second to go sub-20 in the 200m. “I worked for this. My coaches have always been telling me that I have to get into the moment where I can feel everything. I want to say thank you to Coach Calvin Robinson for getting me to this point in my life and my career. “We have a great team, and I want to say thank you to everyone for their love and support,” Oduduru said after the race. Just 122 sprinters in history have broken the 10-second barrier in the 100m, and only 72 sprinters have gone sub-20 in the 200m.
“It’s something we do in practice. We run, time the rest, then come back and run another race. He (Robinson) said to just run it the way I do in practice,” he added. Oduduru shattered his personal best by over a tenth of a second with a time of 9.94 seconds and exactly 55 minutes later, he graced the track again in the 200 metres and ran a blistering personal best of 19.76 seconds, breaking Paul Obikwelu’s 19.84 seconds mark which was set in Seville in 1999. His time is also the second-fastest time ever run by a collegiate athlete. Meanwhile, former Sports Minister and Chairman National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has commended the new sprint sensation
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APRIL 27, 2019 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
GLOBAL SOCCER
Divine Odurudu coasted the best time in 2019
on his impressive performances at the Michael Johnson Invitational where he ran a 9.94sec in the men 100m, Nigeria’s fastest since 2006 when Olusoji Fasuba ran a time of 9.85 sec to set a new African record. Abdullahi who was Minister of Sports and Chairman of NSC when Oduduru was discovered at the 2013 African Youth Championships in Warri, Delta State, said he followed Oduduru’s progress since then and he was not surprised by his feats over the weekend. “I was not surprised by his achievements, I never for a moment stopped following since we discovered him at the Warri 2013 AYAC which we hosted, I knew he was a world beater in waiting.” Abdullahi posits that Nigerians and indeed the world have not seen the best of Oduduru as he has the potential to run faster and better. “For him to start the season with such a fantastic time, I know he will get better and chances that he will make podium appearances at the All African Games in Morocco and the IAAF World Championships in Doha.” Abduallahi also commended the Delta State Government and for
their huge investment in sports and Solomon Ogba for his uncommon passion for athletics and investment of personal resources in Nigerian athletes irrespective of where they come from. In 2016, Oduduru ran in the 200m semi-final of the Summer Olympic Games, in a time of 20.59, but missed out of a place in the final. His semi-final time was well short, falling behind his brilliant performance in the heat of the same event, where he finished behind the only eventual 200m champion, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt. Oduduru ran a personal best of 20.34 in the race and his exploits attracted a chat from one of the greatest Olympian and Sportsman the world has seen, Bolt. Bolt went on to win the 200m final in a time of 19.78 to set a season’s best in what was a competitive field but with a slow time. Fast forward three years, with Oduduru now taking tutelage at the prestigious Texas Tech Raiders, the former African Junior champion and African Games silver medal winner is posting incredible times, shattering his own personal best (20.08) in the 200m, his time would have won him gold at the 2016
Olympic Games 200m event, with Bolt in the field. The 22-year-old ran the best time in the 200m as well as the 100m in 2019 at the invitational competition, boosting Nigeria’s chances of a return to dominance on the continent with the African Games only four months away. Meanwhile, Texas Tech assistant coach, Calvin Robinson is happy to see Oduduru running well once again and says it is all due to the lad’s ability to rebuild his confidence level and develop happiness. Robinson noted that Oduduru had put all agony and gloomy emotions behind him, to bounce back stronger and start executing techniques he learnt on the training ground, as he goes running faster than ever. Oduduru, who is also a leading member of Texas Tech’s relay team and reigning 200m champion, tied the school record set by Andrew Hudson at the institution’s classics meet. In recognition of Oduduru’s return to the top spot, Robinson hailed the lad for being able to execute such results after just one week of training. The assistant coach disclosed:
“We went back to work and fixed some things to make sure he was confident with what he was doing. We talked about coming out and running two fast races because that’s what it’s going to take at Big 12s and NCAAs. And, that’s what he did. He had a good execution, he looked fluid and I’m happy with the way he did.” It, however, remains to be seen for how long Oduduru would stay at the top level.
G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE
THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKWU THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE
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Man Utd, Chelsea Battle for Top-Four Spot After both sides bungled their chances at establishing their top-four position midweek-Chelsea drew at home to Watford, while Manchester United were beaten by City rivals, Manchester City, the Red Devils will on Sunday host the Blues as both sides struggle for Champions League qualification. While Chelsea could still book a Champions League spot if they win the UEFA Europa Cup, United’s only hope of competing in the prizest competition at club level is to book a top-four spot
n what is a pivotal game in the race for the top four, Chelsea will travel to Old Trafford on Sunday for what promises to be an exciting Premier League encounter. Chelsea missed a chance to take advantage of the teams around them slipping up (Arsenal, Spurs, and Manchester United had all lost earlier that weekend) on Monday night against Burnley, with a pair of soft goals cancelling out strikes from N’Golo Kante and Gonzalo Higuain. The Blues do sit in fourth place, however, three points ahead of Manchester United – who lost to Manchester City on Wednesday in a clash with huge title race impli-
cations, but Chelsea fans watched keenly as Pep Guardiola’s outfit pegged back the chasing United. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are in a bad way, however, after a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Everton led to the questioning of many players, and the usually meek Norwegian tactician came out and openly said some of his players wouldn’t be part of his plans going forward. In the reverse fixture back in October, it was an enthralling encounter, with Ross Barkley’s 96th minute goal rescuing a point for the Blues. Then United manager Jose Mourinho was also involved a touchline bust-up after a member of the Chelsea coaching staff celebrated a bit too close to the ‘Special
One’. The teams also met in the FA Cup fifth round at Stamford Bridge, where goals from United midfielders Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba sank Chelsea. All eyes will be on Maurizio Sarri’s team selection, and particularly which striker he opts to start at the top of his formation. Gonzalo Higuain bagged his first goal since March 3 against Burnley, but the red-hot Olivier Giroud has four goals in his last five starts. The Italian’s decision may go a long way to determining which of these clubs would play Champions League football next season. Chelsea however have the safety net of Champions League qualifica-
tion should they win the Europa League, where the face Eintracht Frankfurt in the semifinals. After their visit to Manchester, Sarri’s men host Watford and visit Leicester in their final two league games, both of whom are involved in the race for seventh and potential Europa League football next season. Despite a dreadful run of seven defeats in nine games, capped by another derby lesson at the hands of City, United remain in the hunt for a top-four finish. However, Solskjaer must summon a response when Chelsea visit Old Trafford on Sunday if the Norwegian is to dismiss growing doubts that his superiors jumped the gun in handing him the job on a permanent
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GLOBAL SOCCER ÜÏ×ÓÏÜÝÒÓÚ ËÌÖÏ Head to Head 19-04-27
Man Utd
1-1 Chelsea
18-10-20
Chelsea
2-2 Man Utd
18-02-25
Man Utd
2-1 Chelsea
17-11-05
Chelsea
1-0 Man Utd
17-04-16
Man Utd
2-0 Chelsea
16-10-23
Chelsea
4-0 Man Utd
16-02-07
Chelsea
1-1 Man Utd
15-12-28
Man Utd
0-0 Chelsea
15-04-18
Chelsea
1-0 Man Utd
14-10-26
Man Utd
1-1
14-01-19
Chelsea
3-1 Man Utd
13-08-26
Man Utd
0-0 Chelsea
13-05-05
Man Utd
0-1 Chelsea
12-10-28
Chelsea
2-3 Man Utd
12-02-05
Chelsea
3-3 Man Utd
Chelsea
Team Man City Liverpool Tottenham Chelsea Arsenal Man Utd Wolves Watford Everton Leicester West Ham Crystal Palace Newcastle Bournemouth Burnley Southampton Brighton Cardiff Fulham Huddersfield
P 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35
GD 67 59 30 21 23 13 1 0 6 1 -10 -5 -9 -13 -18 -17 -22 -35 -43 -49
Pts 89 88 70 67 66 64 51 50 49 48 43 42 41 41 40 37 34 31 23 14
As at 25/04/19 ÜÏ×ÓÏÜÝÒÓÚ TODAY
Tottenham v Crystal Palace v Fulham v Southampton v Watford v Brighton v
West Ham 12:30 Everton 15:00 Cardiff 15:00 Bournemouth 15:00 Wolverhampton 15:00 Newcastle 17:30
SUNDAY
Leicester Burnley Man Utd
v v v
Arsenal Man City Chelsea
ÙÞ ÒÙÞ NAME
Sergio Agüero Mohamed Salah Pierre Aubameyang Sadio Mané Raheem Sterling Harry Kane Eden Hazard Jamie Vardy Paul Pogba Alexandre Lacazette Gylfi Sigurdsson Richarlison Callum Wilson Raúl Jiménez Son Heung-Min Roberto Firmino Luka Milivojevic Romelu Lukaku Joshua King Aleksandar Mitrovic Ashley Barnes Glenn Murray Leroy Sane Marcus Rashford Anthony Martial As at 25/04/19
CLUB
12:00 14:05 16:30 GOALS
Man City 19 Liverpool 19 Arsenal 19 Liverpool 18 Man City 17 Tottenham 17 Chelsea 16 Leicester 16 Man Utd 13 Arsenal 13 Everton 13 Everton 13 Bournemouth 12 Wolves 12 Tottenham 12 Liverpool 12 Palace 12 Man Utd 12 Bournemouth 11 Fulham 11 Burnley 11 Brighton 11 Man City 10 Man Utd 10 Man Utd 10
ÚËØÓÝÒ Ë ÓÑË ÓâÞßÜÏÝ TODAY
Bilbao Atlético Leganés Barcelona
v v v v
Alavés Valladolid Celta Vigo Levante
12:00 15:15 17:30 19:45
SUNDAY
basis last month. Meanwhile, Arsenal suffered shocking back-to-back defeats to Crystal Palace and Wolves at the worst time to fall back outside the top four. Unai Emery’s men have won just six of their 17 Premier League away games and face two more difficult road trips to Leicester and Burnley either side of Brighton’s visit to the Emirates. However, like Chelsea, Arsenal could end up relying on the Europa League as a route into the Champions League as they face Emery’s old club Valencia in the last four. Tottenham Hotspurs on the other hand could still seal their place in the Champions League next season
by winning the competition as they face Ajax in the last four. However, Mauricio Pochettino’s men are on course to seal a fourth straight season of Champions League football as they sit third, four points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal. Tottenham have won all four games since moving into the club’s new stadium and appear to have the easiest run-in of the top four contenders as they host West Ham and Everton either side of a trip to Bournemouth. Despite being level on points with Chelsea with a game more to play, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes thirdplace Spurs are guaranteed a place
in the top four, but feels that Sunday’s clash between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford is critical to deciding the other top-four spot. “If Chelsea would have got those extra two points there would have been a huge deficit, certainly for Manchester United being five points behind (in that scenario),” Carragher told Sky Sports. “I still think Spurs are there. I look at that now and a lot is riding on United versus Chelsea. “If Man United come out of this week with four points it’s great for them. The vital game is the one against United for Chelsea. I keep changing my mind on who will get in but not on Spurs.”
Valencia11:00 Girona v Sociedad v Villarreal v Vallecano v
Eibar 11:00 Sevilla 13:00 Getafe 15:15 Huesca 17:30 Madrid 19:45
MONDAY
Real Betis
v
Espanyol
20:00
ÏÜÓÏ TODAY
Bologna Roma Inter
v v v
Empoli Cagliari Juventus
14:00 17:00 19:30
v v v v v
Napoli Parma Genoa Lazio AC Milan
11:30 14:00 14:00 17:00 19:30
v v
Udinese Sassuolo
18:00 20:00
SUNDAY
Frosinone Chievo SPAL Sampdoria Torino MONDAY
Atalanta Fiorentina
34
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͿ˜ ͺ
GLOBAL SOCCER
L-R: Sir Henry Muogho; Rear Admiral Godwin Ombu(rtd); Navy Captain Ayo Daramola(rtd) and Mr. Emmanuel Agha during the Admiral John Jonah annual Sailing Competition held at the Nigerian Navy Sailing Club, Ojo, Lagos...recently.
Professor Osato Giwa Osagie presenting a trophy to one of the players
Heineken UCL Tour: Puyol Hails Okocha, Drogba
Obele Community Wins Howzat National Junior Cricket Tourney
Former Spain international, Carles Puyol has hailed the African duo of Austin Okocha and Cote D’Ivoire Didier Drogba as two of the finest players to have come out of Africa. Puyol made this known during the Heineken UEFA Champions League Tour to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Though the former Barcelona defender admitted that he never played against Okocha at competitive level but he said he
Obele Community High School, Randle Avenue, Lagos on Sunday emerged winner of the 23rd Howzat National Cricket Super League for Philip Asiodu trophy after a very competitive affair. The tournament which had five schools participating from the initial eight invited was staged on a round robin bases at Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School, Randle Avenue, Surulere, Lagos. The host school and Federal Government College, Warri, Delta played in the third place match, while Obele Community High School, and Liasabi Grammar School, Abeokuta, Ogun State slugged it out in the finals. Obele Community won the toss and elected to bat and went on to score 114 all out in 19.2 overs, while Liasabi Grammar High School scored 71 runs all out in 14.2 overs. Obele Community won by 43 runs. However, it was Liasabi Grammar School’s Dada Toluwalase that won the Man of the Match after bowling 2.2 overs. The first placed school was rewarded with N50,000, while Liasabi Grammar School and Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School, which placed second and third, went away with N30,000 and N20,000 respectively.
had great respect for his skills and could not stop admiring him anytime he gets to watch him. The three times UEFA Champions League winner however, said former Chelsea great, Drogba remains his toughest opponent during his playing career. “I came against him severally in the Champions League against Chelsea and he was one of the most unpredictable strikers I ever faced. He does
unpredictable things and thereby very difficult to mark,” Puyol said. The Catalan however counted himself lucky for not having to come up against Argentine Lionel Messi in a match proper aside from training. “Messi is no doubt the best player in the world and you just can’t mark him. He does things that are out of this world and I’ll always be grateful that it was only in training that
I do come against him,” he admitted. As part of his tour to Uyo, Puyol played an exhibition match against a side that had Okocha and other Super Eagles 1994 sets, which includes Mutiu Adepoju, Austin Eguaveon, Uche Okechuku and Daniel Amokachi. The match attracted huge turnout at the Godwill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, as the crowd cheered every of their moves.
32 Teams Set for Trophy 5-a-side Regional Finals A total of 32 teams across Lagos, Osun, Oyo and Ogun States will battle for spots in the round of 16. Ten teams from Lagos will do battle with 10 teams from Oyo, six teams from Osun and six teams from Ogun. The regional matches will produce the 16 teams that will compete for a place in the quarter finals and eventually the final two that will compete for the star prize and a place in the pan African regional finals in Tanzania to compete for the African title. The semi-final and final matches will take place May 11 at the Campos Memorial mini stadium. The first round matches witnessed massive spectator turnouts, with the different teams cheered on by their supporters. The teams are playing for the top prize of N3 million and the chance to feature in the Pan- African regional finals in Tanzania The Trophy 5-a-side Field of Honour tournament is an initiative of International Breweries PLCs aimed at supporting and growing grassroots football. Since its formal launch, the competition has recorded highly exciting knock-out matches across the four participating states. Supporters will also be rewarded, as part of the 5-aside initiative. Five supporters will get the chance to travel to Tanzania with the winning
team. Draws for the five lucky winners, also known as super fans, will take place at the finale. The lucky fans will win for themselves all expense-paid trip to Tanzania to cheer the team to victory. To qualify for the super fan draws, fans are to visit select bars where they will get scratch cards upon purchase of at least two bottles of Trophy lager. With the scratch card, fans can win either t-shirts, caps or receive
a raffle ticket. At the finals of the tournament, a live raffle draw would be held and four lucky winners selected to go on the trip to Tanzania. A fifth winner will be selected via online draws. This maiden edition of the tournament covering four states is a pilot phase. Subsequent editions will cover more states and eventually extend to the 36 states of the federation. The regional matches
will take place in Lagos at the practice pitch of the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos. In Oyo State, the regional matches will take place at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, Osun State University Football Field, Oshogbo in Osun State and the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta in Ogun State. The quarter final will take place May 4th in National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos and Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Minifootball Association Seeks Support to Host Tourney for Makinde The Minifootball Association of Nigeria (MAN), Oyo State Chapter has sought the support of Oyo State Government and football enthusiasts for the game towards harnessing its benefits. The MAN Coordinator in Oyo State, Mr. David Adewoye, made the call during a news conference in Ibadan recently. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that MAN was duly registered in Nigeria and affiliated to World Minifootball Federation (WMF) since April 27, 2018. THISDAYgathered that MAN is one of the 144 countries duly accredited and affiliated to the WMF, whose membership cuts across the six continents of the world. Adewoye said that support
was needed from the incoming government in the state and other relevant stakeholders to develop minifootball towards benefitting from its unifying educational, cultural and humanitarian values. “We want to use minifootball to promote integrity, ethics, fair play and anti-corruption. This, we also hope to use in engaging our youths and creating employment. “Minifootball is not capital expensive . We want to promote sports and organise local competitions. We want to also promote the development of women minifootball .” He said that efforts were ongoing to ensure that the state remained a major force in Nigeria as regards minifootball , having been initiated from the
state. Adewoye said that minifootball across the world was making significant progress with Nigeria moving with the trend. “In 2018, the Nigerian Minifootball team made its first appearance at the Nations Cup in Tripoli, Libya, from May 5 to 12. “We won a match, drew one and lost one. Our team ended fifth and was the best team of the tournament. “It is good to note that the team secured a ticket to the 2019 Minifootball World Cup scheduled to hold in Australia from October 1 to 11,” he said. He said that Nigeria would host the second edition of the Minifootball Nations Cup scheduled to hold in 2020.
Participants Hail FESTAC Fitness Walk
Shakarasquare in conjunction with Ontogenny Media organised the third edition of the annual Festac fitness walk with the aim of raising awareness on healthy living, community bonding, environment development and social networking among participants. This year’s walk which featured a Nollywood Super actor, Bolanle Ninilowo a.k.a. Nino was funfilled. The Five kilometer walk started from FHA field, 23 Road, Festac with high-end individuals, celebrities and the general public who walked in their thousands to the end point, the famous Festival Mall. The participants included the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Chairman, Valentine Buraimoh, Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Medical Association, Federal Housing Authority, Nigerian Police Force and other notable individuals in Festac Town and Amuwo Odofin. Festac Fitness Walk 3 was powered by Power Oil, Other sponsors include: Zenith Bank PLC, Leadway Assurance,CAR45, Paramount Healthcare, Lasena Mineral water, MIKANO and Silverbird Cinemas. Buraimoh in his remark, thanked the organisers ‘Shakarasquare’ and the sponsors for the good initiative, promising to always support the program which is geared towards a stronger sense of community ownership and healthy living. Festac Fitness Walk is an annual event geared towards healthy living, a stronger sense of community ownership, social networking and community development.
ͺͿ˜ ͺ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
35
GLOBAL SOCCER
Olufikayo Tomori tries to stop an opponent. Inset…posing with his Player of the Season award
Oluwafikayo Tomori Blossoming Outside the Bridge With two transfer markets ban placed on Chelsea, the Blues may need not to worry in one area of the field-the defensive department, as many of their loanees are doing very well defensively for their various clubs. Just on Tuesday, on loan Chelsea defender, Oluwafikayo Damilola Tomori was voted defender Derby’s Player of the Season
C
helsea defender Oluwafikayo Damilola Tomori who’s on loan at English Championship side Derby County was voted the Club’s player of the season. The 21-year-old, who came through Chelsea academy won the FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League with the club before making his senior Blues debut on the final day of the 2015/16 season against Leicester City. Tomori has made 49 appearances for Derby in all competitions this season and has helped them into their current position in one of the promotion play-off positions with three games to play. They are sixth. “I came here on loan so I was not expecting to win this, I just came to do my best,” said Tomori after collecting his Player of the Season award. He has previously been Chelsea Academy Player of the Year.” “I’m just glad the fans recognised that I was trying to give my best and hopefully I can continue that for the rest of the season and we can get into the play-offs and get into the Premier League. “I try not to let it sink into my head because otherwise I may lose concentration but it is nice to hear,” he said. Derby County visit one of their rivals for a play-off place, Bristol City, this Saturday before finishing with games at Swansea City and at home to West Bromwich Albion. Tomori is eligible to represent Nigeria at international level through his parents, through his birth in Calgary and England through his upbringing having lived in the country since he was a toddler. The Rams defender has impressed for Frank Lampard’s side in the Championship.
He followed up his Derby County Supporters’ Player of the Year award by being named the Rams Player of the Season on Tuesday night. The 21-year-old central defender collected the Jack Stamps Award at the Championship club’s end-of-season dinner. Tomori has thoroughly impressed during his season-long stint from Stamford Bridge, starting 40 of the Rams’ 43 league games and also playing in all eight of their cup matches. Lampard has spoken highly of Tomori following the central defender’s impressive performances upon joining Derby County on loan in August 2018. The Nigeria Football Federation target has also impressed for the Young Lions ahead of the U-21 EURO, picking up the Man of the Match award in his last game against Poland. ‘’His progression this year has been incredible. From when he came in, he was a good young player anyway, but you can see how pivotal he has been in our team. He has grown from within and I’ve enjoyed working with him day to day. He wants to learn and improve his game but all the attributes he has, he is using them,’’ Lampard said. Tomori, who previously enjoyed loan spells at Brighton & Hove and Hull City, has not played for Chelsea’s first team since making his professional debut against Leicester City on May 15, 2016. Tomori arrived in the summer as competition and cover for what was viewed as the first-choice pairing at centre back of Curtis Davies and Richard Keogh. An injury to Davies ahead of the first home game against Leeds United opened the door to Tomori, a big moment for him but not a
good afternoon for the team as the visitors won 4-1. “Injuries have restricted Davies to only three starts, and Tomori deserves praise for the way in which he has stepped into the team. “He has brought genuine pace to the back line, a valuable commodity, and he is capable of hitting raking diagonal passes. “It is now difficult to split Tomori and Keogh when it comes to player of the year. They have been Derby’s most consistent players; they have helped each other, as partners at centre back should. “It’s easy to get lost among the dozens and dozens of loanees, too many to count on Chelsea’s books.” That’s been the case with young Tomori, who’s been overshadowed, certainly in terms of media attention, by fellow Chelsea loanee Mason Mount at Frank Lampard’s Derby County. But as crucial as Mount has been to the Rams’ promotion hopes, 21-year-old Tomori has quietly become an indispensable part of Derby’s setup. In fact, other than club captain Richard Keogh, who’s literally played every single minute of every single game in every single competition (46 matches in total), no one has played more than Tomori. And Tomori only lags behind the Ironman Keogh by 270 minutes - and one of those games he missed as he hadn’t yet joined on loan! Tomori’s success isn’t surprising. He’s always been a rock for the Chelsea youth teams and he showed well in his previous two loans (half season at Brighton, full season at Hull, both in the Championship). It’s fair to say, he’s now too good for the second tier, an
assessment that Lampard fully agrees with. “There is still a lot more steps in him to go but he was incredible on Saturday against Rotherham. He performed from the first minute until the last and when he plays like that, it’s scary to think how good he can be. He can go to the top if he plays like he did on Saturday and can get better.” So that’s two-for-two with Lampard and Chelsea loans, with both Mount and Tomori taking full advantage of the coaches’ trust, shout out to Jody Morris here as well! and repaying said trust with excellent performances. “I’ve always said with loans that it is a twoway street. They do well for us, hopefully, we do well for them, and they go back to their clubs improved. It is satisfaction because, like most of the young players, they are sponges, they want to learn, they are hungry and do well at this club. “If you watch the way Tomori celebrates every goal; he sprints up the field and celebrates with everyone and he feels it. That is what the fans want to see and that’s what makes players have the capabilities to be top players because it comes from that hunger within. We have huge satisfaction with how he has progressed and he needs to keep it going for the last couple of games,” said Lampard. Derby currently sixth in the Championship table, level on points with seventh-placed Middlesbrough but boasting a better goal difference and also having a game in hand on the Teesside outfit. Lampard’s charges have three regularseason games left, away at Bristol City, away at Swansea City and finally at home against West Bromwich Albion.
36
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t "13*- , 2019
FAIRGROUND with
Stage Play 'High', a Story Worth Telling
AZUKA OGUJIUBA
azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com
I
n 2018, the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria, confirmed that, at least, 14.3 million Nigerians were into drug abuse. The statistics showed that the large demographic involved in drug use and abuse was between 15 and 64 years old. One in seven persons had used a drug. Among every four drug users, one is a woman. And about 4.6 million Nigerians had used drugs for non-medical purposes. Such stunning statistics is why High was not just an average theatrical stage play, but a platform to create awareness and educate the society on drug abuse and its effects. Set in modern day Nigeria, High follows the journey of teenage friends back for holidays from their respective boarding schools. Being close to each other and having relationships that have taken years to build, they discover that one of them suffers from drug abuse which eventually led to an overdose. It causes a rift within their clique. Their parents get to learn of the situation; facing the truth about their children and the killer that is drug abuse. The play which was set in Muson Centre, Onikan in Lagos, Nigeria, on the 13th and 14th of April, 2019 was executive produced by CEO/Founder of Rue14 Studios, Keke Hammond. It saw the COO of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Mazen Mroue, Ik Osakioduwa, Adebola Williams, Tosin Durotoye, Adeolu Adefarasin in attendance amongst parents and teenagers. “Brilliant acting, on a heartbreaking subject. Say no to drugs.” A raving review from Her Excellency and Founder-President of Wellbeing Foundation, Toyin Saraki, who was, also, in attendance. “Kudos to the Keke and the Rue14 crew. The message is really strong- from the role of the parent to the responsibility of the child. We shouldn’t let our children consume and learn alone from their friends. As a parent, you need to spend time with them to filter and engage,” counseled Debola Williams High was supported by MTN, Union Bank, Performing Arts Workshop and Studios, Savvie, Desire 1709, 24 Apparel, House of Irawo, Zrim Couture, Femy Toys, TDA Couture, Garment Care, Shop Taymib and TOSFA. With media partners: FlyTime TV, Rhythm FM, Accelerate TV, YNaija, Smooth FM, City FM, TVC, Business Day, Vanguard, Guardian Life, Pulse, Genevieve Magazine, New Mums Hub, and Lagos Mums.
L-R: Dr. Emeka Onyewu; Mrs. Toyin Saraki ; Dr. Babafemi Adenuga and Mr. Mazen Mroue
Tosin Durotoye and Debola Williams
Toyin Saraki giving a Speech
Ade Laoye, Keke Hamond and IK Osakioduwa
Actors on stage
Actors on stage
Keke Hammond
Guests on Red Carpet
Cross Section of guest at the event
Ade Laoye and Dr. Babafemi Adenuga
37
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t "13*- , 2019
FAIRGROUND
LuxuryByFeyi Represents big at 2019 Coachella Festival
T
he Nigerian London based luxury fashion brand was represented on Coachella stage with her Coco by Lbf number, donned by American rock star artist @lauraleezy from @ khraungbin rock band for her #coachella performance. Coco by @luxurybyfeyi was one of the piece presented at Aston Martin London last year during SS19 London Fashion Week . Order yours at www.luxurybyfeyi.com/ shop Instagram : @luxurybyfeyi #luxurybyfeyi Facebook : Luxurybyfeyi.
Meditol Soap , Partners Set to Commemorate World Malaria Walk
Kids Funderland 2019 Ends in Style in Lagos The biggest family-centric event during the Easter Celebration, Kids Funderland, recorded huge success as children and parents were treated to varying degrees of light-hearted pleasure in Lagos and a family will spend a weekend at the Federal Palace Hotel, VI, Lagos. The event which was organised by Bavent Street Live and supported by First City Monument Bank (FCMB) took place between Good Friday, 19th and Easter Sunday, 21st of April at the Lekki Special events Centre, Lekki 1, Lagos, Nigeria. At Kids Funderland, children were able to reenact their fantasies as they were treated to thrilling magic shows and amazing performances by celebrity dance group, Dream Catchers. Tech enthusiasts were not left out as they got first-hand beginner's lectures on robotics, coding and capped these with Virtual Reality games. FCMB lived up to their customer focus mantra by putting smiles on the faces of some families at Kids Funderland through discounted ticket
sales and exciting giveaways. PS Luxury and Knicks and Knacks also played a part in delivering fun-filled experiences to families and kids within various age groups, by curating and ensuring logistical support. Other highlights at the event include; manicure and pedicure for kids, a massage session, squad skates, and loads of adventure and fun video games in the game-truck. One Master Tife Pearce also emerged winner of the Easter Egg hunt from the draw and will spend a weekend with his family at Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Commenting on the success of the event, Founder, Bavent Street Live, Hakeem Condotti said; “We realise that we are all busy and more often than not, life just gets in the way, however creating family moments such as this, particularly during the festive season, is paramount. The kids had so much fun and we can’t wait for the next edition as we promise much more.”
Osas Ighodaro Ajibade with GM GM Evans Ltds Joseph M. Okonkwo
With over 219 million cases of malaria in 2017, Sub- Saharan Africa has the highest share of the global malaria burden with Mosquitoes as the root cause of the disease. Evans industries limited, manufacturers of Meditol Antiseptic soap, an antibacterial and mosquito repellent soap, announces their anti-malaria walk. The company urges friends, associates and colleagues to join in the charity walk and awareness programme. World Malaria Day is internationally observed on the 25th of April every year and recognises global efforts to control malaria: the Evans Industries team as well as volunteers will walk for the cause on Saturday 27th of April 2019. The walk will give the company and its partners the opportunity to create awareness for Malaria, and in turn inform people on the role mosquitoes play in the spread of the disease as well as educate on ways to prevent and cure malaria to help reduce death rates. This year, World Malaria day focuses on the
theme ‘Zero Malaria Starts with Me’. Meditol alongside actress Osas of Joyful Joy foundation will participate in a three kilometer road walk on 27th April from the National Stadium Surulere to National Theatre where there would be doctors and medical representatives educating participants. The essence of the walk is to create awareness on the dangers of the disease, while sensitising motorists and pedestrians and the local community on the importance of accessing available interventions and free malaria test. The walk will commence at the National Stadium and end at the Queen Amina Garden at the National Theatre. The route will span around 3 km, with a DJ and dancers to keep up the momentum for the duration of the walk. Participants should look forward to championing the cause, hearing professional and experts talk about the prevention and treatments free malaria tests, free refreshments, T-shirts and caps, complimentary Meditol soaps and lokmal antimalaria drugs. This programme is supported by Emzor Pharmaceutical Limited.
Adewunmi Omolehinwa, Timibra Atili and Hakeem Condotti
38
THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t"13*- , 2019
AUTO
Porsche Cayenne
New Third Generation Cayenne Models Hyundai Motor Names on Display at Porsche Centre in Lagos Simon Loasby Head of Stories by Bennett Oghifo
T
he latest generation of Porsche’s most successful SUV model line is now available in Nigeria, continuing its triumphant story since 2002 when it debuted as Porsche’s first off-road variant and first vehicle in the German automaker’s line with four doors. The arrival of the brand’s flagship SUV was first celebrated at a special media event held by Porsche Centre Lagos, the premium vehicle division of Stallion Motors Limited. Completely redesigned from ground to up, the Cayenne brings closer its racetrack roots and offers greater versatility and more performance than ever before. Powerful turbocharged engines, enhanced chassis systems, a range off-road modes and a sharper design underpin the model’s credentials as a true sports car in its segment. Additional enhancements to the latest generation also include intelligent assistance systems and more connectivity features aimed at offering improved driver and passenger comfort. General Manager Porsche Centre Lagos Anurag
Shah, said: “Since its initial launch, the Cayenne has been one of the most popular models in Nigeria, and I have no doubt that the third generation, which offers even more sports car performance and practicality, will continue this success story. “For me, the new Cayenne’s versatility is truly unique. It is at home on any road, but it is equally ready to explore new terrain. It enjoys a short sprint as much as a long road trip, and the commute to work as much as a lap on the track. It is capable of producing a superb drive experience virtually anywhere, and that is really what sets the Cayenne apart from any other SUV. We’re very excited to be welcoming it to Nigeria today.”
The new Cayenne offers a spacious cabin, with severalcomfortandconveniencefeaturesthroughout. The luggage compartment has been increased by 100 litres, just as the Porsche Advanced Cockpit concept brings the vehicle and the occupants closer through increased connectivity and intuitive controls. The centre console with Direct Touch Control and a new 12.3-inch touch display for the Porsche Communication Management act as the driver’s interface to all vehicle functions. PCM can be configured for up to six individual profiles to store a large number of interior settings, as well as specifications for lights, driving programmes and assistance systems.
Design evolution A bold new design stays true to the unmistakable identity of the Cayenne but delivers a more streamlined, athletic impression to complement an increased length and lower height. The pronounced bonnet, redesigned headlight contour and trademark large air intakes underline the Cayenne’s improved driving dynamics from the front. Narrower side windows, a redesigned rear wing, wide rear end with integrated light strip and wider alloy wheels further enhance and emphasise its sports car genes.
New driving modes A true all-rounder, five pre-programmed drive and chassis modes can be activated in accordance to the terrain via the PCM. For example, drivers can choose between Mud, Gravel, Sand and Rocks settings to adapt to the relevant conditions. Depending on the selection made, the control unit optimally conditions the engine and chassis systems including the new Tiptronic S, the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel system and the PSM stabilisation programme.
Big Wins Recorded at Nigeria Transport Awards
T
oyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) has emerged as the Auto Company of the Year at the 7th Nigeria Transport Awards and Lecture held recently at Radisson Blu hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. In a similar vein, the Group Managing Director of CFAO Group in Nigeria/Country Delegate, Mr. Thomas Pelletier; the Managing Director of PAN Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Boyi; and the Lagos State Commissioner of Transport, Mr. Ladi Lawanson also won awards. Notable among the other awardees were the Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abiodun Dabiri; Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. JelaniAliyu; the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Engr. Fidet Okhiria; and the General Manager of Mandilas Motors/Leasing Division Kemi Koyejo. The General Manager was one among the four women who won in the four modes of transport. Others are the Managing Director of Nahco Aviance Plc, Mrs. OlatokunboAdenike Fagbemi (Aviation); Port Manager of the Apapa Port, Nigeria PortsAuthority, HajiaAishaAli-Ibrahim (Marine); and the Nigerian Railway Western District Head, Angelique Ikwuka (Railways). According to the Editor of Transport Day newspaper, organiser of the awards, Mr. Frank Kintum, TNL, the sole accredited distributor
L-R: Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abiodun Dabiri; Senior Lecturer, Covenant Unversity, Dr. Oscar Odiboh; Head of Marketing and Communications, CFAO Group Nigeria, Funmi Abiola; and General Manager, Marketing and Communications, Coscharis Group, Mr. Abiona Babarinde at the 7th Nigeria Transport Awards, Lecture and Exhibition held recently at Radisson Blu hotel, Ikeja, Lagos
of Toyota vehicles in Nigeria, was adjudged the Auto Company of the Year for its well laid organisational structure, transparent mode of operations and delivery of value for money automobiles. The President/Chairman of
Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Uche Messiah Olowu, delivered the lead paper entitled--“Financing the Transport/Allied Industry: Stock Taking and Paving the Way Forward”.
Styling Group
Hyundai Motor Company announced that Vice President Simon Loasby, Director of Hyundai Design in China, has been promoted to Head of Hyundai Styling Group at Hyundai Design Center in Korea. Since his arrival at Hyundai Motor in mid2017, Mr. Loasby has played an integral role in defining Hyundai’s design identity in China, spearheading introductions of new models with stylish design language, including the LaFesta sporty sedan. “I’m honored to be able to contribute to the enhancement of Hyundai’s global design capability,” said Simon Loasby. “At a time of enormous change in the industry, I’m looking forward to this new journey for the development of exciting, innovative concepts and unique aesthetics for Hyundai vehicles. I’m also excited to support value creation and positive brand experience for our customers“ In his new role, Mr. Loasby will oversee design strategy and direction for Hyundai models worldwide, reporting to SangYup Lee, Head of the Hyundai Design Center, and Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Design Officer of Hyundai Motor Group. Mr. Loasby’s position as Director of China Design will be succeeded by Vice President Minchul Koo, who is currently the Head of Hyundai Exterior Design Group. “I am confident that the addition of Simon to the main design center in Korea will greatly enhance our ability to spread our design philosophy to the next generation of vehicles. With seamless global collaboration and transparent communications, we will advance Hyundai’s long design tradition to meet the rapidly-changing needs of our customers in this dynamic new era,” said Executive Vice President Luc Donckerwolke. Mr. Loasby’s key role will be to lead the further development of ‘Sensuous Sportiness’, Hyundai Motor’s new design identity. Relying on the signature design of Hyundai Motor, upcoming vehicles will reflect Hyundai’s design philosophy with a harmony of proportion, architecture, styling, and technology, incorporated with fresh, modern taste. Based on his industry experience, Mr. Loasby will add insight to create emotional value and desirability in vehicles through design. Mr. Loasby, 51, earned a Master’s Degree in Vehicle Design from the world-renowned Royal College of Art in London, and studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of London. Prior to joining Hyundai, Mr. Loasby spent 10 years in China as Director of Design for Volkswagen Group China, working on numerous high-profile projects for Chinese customers, following leadership roles at Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor Cars.
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Rolls-Royce Celebrates Success in China at 2019 Shanghai Motor Show Stories by Bennett Oghifo
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olls-Royce Motor Cars set a remarkable business record in 2018 and achieved its greatest sales result in the brand’s 115year history, with 4,107 cars delivered to customers in over 50 countries worldwide. The automaker said in a statement that the Greater China market played a significant role in the marque’s 2018 success story; becoming Rolls-Royce’s second-largest market. It is anticipated that the market will, at some point in the not-too-distant future, become Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ largest single market. “I am very pleased with our performance in Greater China. At Rolls-Royce our patrons are our life blood,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “They are our heroes and friends. We are wholeheartedly committed to meeting their diverse needs and desires. For our Chinese customers, being in the Rolls-Royce family is a special experience, like no other. And they are deeply appreciative of our meticulous attention to the most modest details, and we welcome their custom.” As the world’s top luxury brand, Rolls-Royce is gaining ever increasing favour amongst young, ultra-high-net-worth Chinese customers who are attracted to the brand’s youthful model range, and exceptional personalisation
Rolls-Royce Wraith
options. Phantom, which is Rolls-Royce’s pinnacle product, sells more in China than anywhere else in the world. “China is a key component of our global strategy, has become one of the fastestgrowing markets for Rolls-Royce, and made
a pivotal contribution to our record sales in 2018,” said Leon Li, Director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Greater China. “Our Chinese patrons are younger than in our other markets, exceptionally successful, and have a global perspective. All of this contributes to
their unique tastes, and appetite for highly bespoke Rolls-Royces.” Rolls-Royce Motor Cars returns to Shanghai Motor Show this year with a breathtaking line-up, showcasing the near-infinite Bespoke possibilities of the brand.
Boyi: NAIDP Bill Panacea for Nigeria’s Auto Industry
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heManagingDirectorofPANAutomobile Nigeria, Ibrahim Boyi has urged the passage of the New Automobile IndustryDevelopmentPlan(NAIDP) Bill, among others because it would accelerate growth in the industry. Boyi said this would also attract the development and growth of Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) which has huge capacity for mass employment, value chain addition and export revenue for the country. The Chief Executive of PAN stated this when he met with the World Bank Group on Private Sector Development at PAN’s corporate head office in Kaduna, recently. The World Bank team, headed by Dr Supo Olusi, was on a policy development strategy mission to help fashion out Nigeria’s private sector business development instruments. Boyi said lack of industry protection through no strict policy implementation, coupled with uniform policy instruments incentives to heavy capital investors and mediocre garage operators, the nature of our porous borders, allowing smuggling of used vehicles, all contributed in dwindling the fortune
I
love my barber but I love his saloon situated somewhere in Wuse 2 at the heart ofAbuja, the Federal Capital Territory more. For over ten years he has crafted my hair mostly on Saturdays to make me look good. Even when I am posted out of the Federal Capital Territory, he religiously monitors my newly found barber because of the unique contour of my head which only theAlmighty God can explain because the contour takes after Him. Unlike women who spend time at the saloon discussing fashion, we men spend time at the saloon discussing mostly football and national issues or politics. Saturday last week remains no different but captures its uniqueness in providing the material for this week’s piece. It was at the saloon that the idea for this piece was birthed. I had gone there in my usual routine to have Chike my barber at KAX salon beautify my head for the week. On my arrival on this faithful day, I was stunned at the topic for the day. Instead of the usual politics and football, road safety was the menu. In order to have a feel of what some saintly Nigerians think of our driving behavior, I choose not to disclose my identity but to just listen to this seven feet client who spent over an hour lamenting at what he described as the madness on our highways. In his feat of anger, he said it is obvious that madness is the order of the day while driving on Nigerian roads. He submitted that there was indeed a funny irony as those who chose to drive sanely are actually seen as mad while the real madmen are hailed as heroes for their guts in exhibiting
of the OEM and made investment in the sector unattractive. “As at the last count we have only eight operational OEMs out of the 70 that existed in 80s and 90s who contributed in PAN attaining 40% local content, assembling 90 vehicles in 3 shifts with over 4000 direct employees,” he lamented. The World Bank team leader congratulate the PAN management team for their tenacity to sustain operations despite the harsh economic realities, and also concurred with Mr Boyi’s support for the NAIDP Bill which they see as one strong instrument for the revival of the OEMs and window for direct foreign investment “with potential export revenues running into billions of dollars,” Olusi added. In a related development, at the just concluded Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit 4.0, Ibrahim Boyi, who was plenary discussant of the topic, ‘Reviving the Manufacturing Sector: The way Forward’, called on government to develop an “effective manufacturing policy that will drive growth through rigorous implementation and marshalling out various incentives, like strict compliance with Executive Order of Buy Made in Nigeria to protect and grow local industries.”
I Love My Barber SAFE DRIVING with
Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa (Corps Commander) Corps Public Education Officer Federal Road Safety Corps. + 2348033026491 grass irresponsibility and disrespect for the rules that govern civil driving. This young man cited several cases when this madness is displayed. The most common in cities such as Lagos andAbuja, the Federal Capital Territory is at traffic lights.According to him, every time, he stops at a traffic light point as indicated by the red light, uncountable number of vehicles blare their horns for him to give way. He wondered why this level of impunity is displayed when there is a Revised Highway Code which for instance says you must give way to vehicles on your right at a roundabout and stop at a traffic light point when the red light comes on. He also lamented on people who indulge in using their phones while driving and even the rate at which people speed even when they have the whole family with them in the car. His concern prompted me to do this piece. When I set out to do this piece I was torn between the topic, “saints and sinners and madman as drivers”.i settled for the latter because of the need to reflect the
R-L: Leader of World Bank team, Dr Supo Olusi; Managing Director of PAN Automobile Nigeria, Ibrahim Boyi; and a management staff of PAN
thoughts of my good friend at the saloon hoping that my view would change the attitude of some people who by their actions on the wheels naturally tag them as madmen on the wheels. This is not my first piece on this. I recall a piece I did sometime in 2014 titled learners or lunatics who in my view rank as the first within this group. In that piece I tried to paint the picture of the nuisance learners constitute daily on our roads. In that piece, I wrote thus.... if you want to know what I mean by the good and the bad, let me first state that from our observations, the good guys represent the learner-drivers who are not ashamed to be tagged, learners and such body display the “L” sign as mandated by law. The bad guys on the other hand represent learners that refuse to display the “L” out of ego and pride and even when they do, they willingly flout all the rules that guide learners. Specifically, the National Road Traffic Regulations 2004 mandates all learner drivers to observe the following rules: attend a certified and approved driving school as prerequisite to obtaining a fresh drivers licence. In the course of this coaching the learner driver must display an ‘L’-plate, which is a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter ‘L’ for many countries if the driver is a learner under instruction or a motor cycle rider with provisional entitlement to ride restricted motorcycles. What this means is that this rule is a universal convention with slight variations from country to country. In the case of Nigeria, section 27, subsections 1-3 of the National Road Traffic Regulations earlier cited spells out the details as applicable to learner drivers. For the
purse of this piece, let me stress here that besides displaying an ‘L’ sign, a learner driver when issued a learners permit, must be accompanied by a licensed driver-instructor sitting beside him to drive a vehicle or type stated in the permit from a period not exceeding three months from the date of issue on the highway specified in the permit. Besides, the permit in itself forbids the learner from carrying any person no matter the level of affiliation except the instructor. In addition, the learner-driver must at all times comply with relevant traffic rules and regulations. Unfortunately, these provisions are daily abused by learner-drivers who no doubt display the ‘L’ sign yet disregard the other provisions meant for their safety and the safety of others. The highflying learners on their own don’t even display the ‘L’ sign and arrogantly violate all other provisions. It is even strange that motorists expose themselves to unnecessary risks by offering to drive in such vehicles. It is also strange that women by our findings in the course of patrols rank among the greatest offenders when it comes to infractions that have to do with learner-drivers. It is very common to see women who are learner-drivers on Sundays and during school runs flout all safety precautions by carrying children in such vehicles and even doing the same their way to worship centers. I must emphasize at this point that the rationale behind the Federal Road Safety Corps driving school standardization programme which makes it mandatory for fresh applicants to attend a certified and approved driving school, to nurture a fresh generation of drivers who will drive by the rules and help the national projection of a zero level for road traffic·
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 27, 2019
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T H I S D AY ˾ SATURDAY APRIL 27, 2019
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ APRIL 27, 2019
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On Michelle Obama ‘Becoming’ World Bestseller Ferdinand Ekechukwu
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ormer US First Lady Michelle Obama’s memoir continues to smash records. Michelle’s memoir is on track to become the most popular autobiography to date, according to its publisher. To her it was a big deal seeing her book when it was finally released and the reviews that had followed it moments afterwards. So she was excited, nervous. All that summed up her feeling. “I kind of realised because I texted my staff, I was like, ‘I’m sorry guys. I’m just realising this is a big deal. It just so hit me. “People were starting to review the book as it sort of leaked out and then people were reading and then I was reading their reviews of the book and I was this is real. This is out. This is it…” Michelle noted while reflecting on her historic journey discussing her new book. It is her story from the South Side of Chicago to First Lady, and ultimately becoming a role model for millions. The book, titled Becoming, was first published in November last year and has already sold more than 10 million copies, according to Bertelsmann, Penguin Random House’s German division. Quite instructive it is to note that the book is all about her. But not just about her or about women but as black people. “You know what I know about my story is that it is the quintessential American story.” Becoming is an intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by Michelle Obama. Candid about her inner life, Michelle titles her life chapters “Becoming Me,” “Becoming Us” and “Becoming More,” which mapped perfectly with the psychological stages of identity, intimacy and care – the eras identified in women’s lives. In that sense, Michelle Obama represents “Everywoman.” Noteworthy to state that in a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama had emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of the present era. The former first lady was incredibly accomplished even before she married a future president and set an example of grace and dignity in the White House for eight years. As First Lady of the United State of America – the first African American to serve in that role – she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a peaceful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. As sourced about her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her from her childhood to her years as an executive, balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty, and lively wit, she describes her triumph and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her story as she has lived it – in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, suffice to say “Becoming” is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations and whose story inspires hence it rocket sales. When the book was released in November of last year, it sold 725,000 copies on its first day and two million copies in North America within two weeks, quickly becoming the best-selling book of 2018. It also broke the record of best first-week sales at Barnes & Noble and went on to become a number one seller abroad, including in the U.K. and Germany. Now it looks like Becoming is on track to become the best-selling memoirs of all time. Bertelsmann Executive Board member Markus Dohle had stated: “We published Becoming simultaneously in 22 countries through Penguin Random House publishers. I reckon Michelle Obama’s book has the potential to become the biggest memoir of all time.” According to the publishers, the book sold more than seven million copies across all formats in the six weeks to the end of 2018. It also became the best-selling book of 2018, 15 days after it was published, according to NPD BookScan data. The 400 page book, Becoming, is the first in a two-book deal between the Obamas and Penguin Random House. The publishing house reportedly paid $60 million for the deal in 2017, a record for U.S. presidential memoirs. Following its success, Michelle’s husband, former president of the US Barack Obama, had also signed with Penguin Random House to publish his White House memoir. Obama’s memoir is expected to be released later this year, but a formal date has not yet been set. Publisher Penguin Random House had announced just in the last week of March 2019 that “Becoming” has
Michelle Obama at her book signing event
sold close to 10 million copies to date, across print, digital, and audiobooks globally. “I’m not aware, in my personal experience with Penguin Random House, that we ever sold 10 million units of a memoir,” Markus Dohle, Penguin Random House’s Chief Executive told The Wall Street Journal. “We believe this could be the most successful memoir in history,” added Bertelsmann Chief Executive Thomas Rabe. Bertelsmann owns a 75% stake in Penguin Random House. Michelle Obama’s “Becoming” can be read in many ways: as a political memoir, as a story of being black and aspiring in America or as a Cinderella story that transports an ambitious black girl from a 900-square-foot apartment
to a home with 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms and 28 fireplaces spread out over six floors, and a staff of ushers, florists, housekeepers, butlers and attendants for her every need. Following the release of Becoming, the former First Lady went on a national book tour where she sat down with celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Reese Witherspoon. During one event, Barack even surprised her onstage and opened up about first meeting her: “I hadn’t met somebody who was that strong and that honest—somebody who I just felt was a rock. She was somebody who I knew at that point I would always be able to count on, and someone, if she was the mother of my children, I knew my children would turn out extraordinary.” But even as Michelle Obama enters the final month of the global book tour for her memoir, one of her character traits, fashion, would not fail to attract necessary comments; most notably what she wore. The book tour was always going to challenge convention when it came to the clothes. Even as first lady, Obama strayed from protocol to wear everything from designer to high street. But that is not the focus of this piece. However, a look at the best autobiographies ever written includes memoirs by famous historical figures, authors, politicians, celebrities, and more. The list includes a wide variety of books that are considered autobiographical. Not all of the best autobiographies ever written are dark and serious just as Michelle’s. Some manage to mix an ample amount of humor in. Top selling biographies and autobiographies since the dawn of the millennium may now be the least popular type of book. Nielsen - which tracks UK book sales - said Michelle Obama’s book was currently 11th on its list of top 20 bestselling biographies and memoirs. Peter Kay’s autobiography ‘The Sound of Laughter’ tops the chart in terms of revenue at £9.3 million. Comedians figure prominently on the list with Paul O’Grady, Dawn French, Russell Brand, Michael McIntyre and Frank Skinner all making it to the top 50. When the publication date is taken into account, the list looks very different. Steve Jobs biography, though the most expensive on the list at RRP £25, sold on average 535 copies a day since it was published in October 2011, making it the fastest selling book on the biography list. On Becoming as bestseller or not bestseller, an opinion declared that it is safe to say, no one in publishing was especially surprised to see Obama’s book on the bestseller list. As Porter Anderson, editor-in-chief of Publishing Perspectives, told ThinkProgress, “People are seized by the current political climate like we don’t ordinarily see, and that is driving readership” to non-fiction and political books in particular. Even overseas, Anderson said, readers are clamoring for books about the American political scene. But the scale of the success is remarkable, and that particular honor — bestselling memoir of all time — is a little eyebrow-raising. Like, the best? Better than Angela’s Ashes? Better than Anne Frank’s diary?
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MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874
L-R: Public Relations Manager, Tolaram Group, Mrs. Omotayo Azeez-Abiodun; 2019 Winner of Lagos NYSC ‘Miss Bold and Beautiful’ Beauty Contest (First Batch), Miss. Jackie Ibiso; Camp Coordinator, Lagos State NYSC, Prince Mohammed Momoh and a Corps Member, Onyekachi Cynthia, during the 2019 Lagos NYSC ‘Miss Bold and Beautiful ‘ contest sponsored by LUSH Hair in Lagos ... recently
Corporate Affairs Manager, Total Nigeria, Albert Mabuyaku; Skills Acquisition Program,SAP, beneficiary, Roli Eden and Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Total Nigeria,Chinwe Ifechigha, during the company’s empowerment programme for youths in Delta State ... recently
PricePointe Debuts in Nigeria A new retail store, PricePointe Wholesale Club, has spread its tentacles in the Nigerian market, to address retail challenge in the country. The new entrant, modelled after the United States of America based Costco and Sam’s Club, would deal strictly in wholesale offerings to customers comprising retailers, families and individuals that are registered on the platform. The colourful launch held at the store’s flagship warehouse in Ilupeju, Lagos, in partnership with Ecobank and Old Mutual Limited. Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mr. Tayo Williams, explained that the new venture, which is more of a cooperative for cooperatives, is a formal wholesale store that exist to reward and solve problems for retailers, as well as get best deal for registered members.
He said: “PricePointe Club is pioneering a world-class multi-store to provide a one-stop lifestyle shopping experience for Nigerians who want to shop things conveniently in bulk for self and family, at really great prices. We plan to spread to six locations before the end of next year with Lekki as our next focus.This is to make our products accessible to our loyals regardless of their locations. “With products and services sourced directly from manufacturers and providers, our members will enjoy groceries, household items, appliances, insurance, flight tickets, petrol, diesel, and more at massive discounts that can’t be found anywhere else; all of which are open to club members. Retailers can also buy less than a carton but still enjoy wholesale prices, as well as the convenient opportunity
to shop from 6AM every day, including Sundays.” Williams further disclosed that as part of efforts to deliver excellent service, the firm had teamed up with various manufacturers and service providers to ensure that its members get the lowest possible prices. Some of them include Nigerian Breweries, Reckitt-Benckiser, Procter & Gamble, 7UP Bottling, Indomie, Binatone, Powergen, Powerhorse, UAC and others. In addition to food and groceries, the store also provides other services as Tire and battery centre, restaurants, dentistry and eye clinic amongst others. The event hosted by Chioma Omeruah, popularly called ChyGurl, brought together some of Nigeria’s most respected individuals, celebrities and industry leaders.
Cross Wave, AFRYFI Task Youths on Productivity The African Youth Focus Initiative (AFRYFI) and Crosswave Service, have charged Nigerian youths on productivity and effectiveness at a summit organised for young entrepreneurs , apprentices and prospective stakeholders in the beauty industry. The summit, which held at Ikeja, Lagos had the presence of industry icons and veterans such as ,Founder of Elegant Twins Institute of Cosmetology, Dr. Elizabeth Osinsanya; Founder of AVI Beauty Smith, Kofo Martins and Chief Operating Officer of Bnatural Spa Group, Jumoke Olatunji, amongst others, who shared their grass to grace experiences0 in the beauty business and shed more light on the strengths and challenges in the sector. In her address, Founder of Elegant Twins Institute of Cosmetology, Dr. Elizabeth Osinsanya, described the sector as one that is pregnant with
huge opportunities at every segment. While encouraging participants to tap into the wealth of the industry, she said that it is not enough for youths to focus on white collar job alone but should equally complement it with vocational skills which is now very lucrative in present day economy. She said: “The beauty industry is advancing on a daily basis with a lot of innovations that are raising its standards.It important we embrace these changes as not to be left behind in global practice”. Speaking on ‘Emerging Challenges in the Nigerian Beauty Education: Need for Solutions’, Founder of AVI Beauty Smith, Kofo Martins, noted that despite sector’s achievements and hopes, it is still constrained by challenges as: inadequate qualified teachers, lack of generally accepted standards, lack
of uniform standards & certication and inadequate guidance/ counselling to guide students into proper career path amongst others. While she reckoned that challenges are inevitable in emerging fields, regardless, she advised the youths to take their place in the N3 billion industry as there are more than enough rooms for new entrants. The convener of the summit and Chief Executive Officer of Crosswave Service, Taiwo Ape, stated that the objectives of the programme was to encourage professional and standard practice that will in turn open doors for opportunity, development and innovations. “So far, as a result of the programme, we have helped grow aspiring , budding and established professional youths to succeed in the industry through networking, skills update and development.”
Mouka Unveils Products to Mark World Malaria Day Indigenous manufacturer of mattresses and other bedding products, Mouka Limited, has diversified its business with the launch of ‘Mouka Mozzi Insect Repellent ‘, to mark 2019 World Malaria Day. The move according to the company was in line with its mission to add comfort to life and contribution towards the global campaign against deadly malaria. Describing the new product at an event to mark the day, Chief Executive Officer of the company, Raymond Murphy , stated that in addition to product defence against mosquito, the new repellent also provide protection against bedbugs, mould, bacteria spores, spiders, cockroaches and dust mites. “ With each application, a consumer can enjoy 24 hours protection for up to 3 months which is not possible with insecticides”,he added. Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olajide Idris, represented by the state Malaria Elimination Programme Manager, Dr. Abimbola Osinowo disclosed that the state government has renewed its commitment to tackling malaria using a multidirectional approach, including environmental management and integrated vector control for prevention of malaria. He added that Mouka has taken a step in the right direction with the production of its repellent. Commenting on the product, the Chairman of Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Associatio, NMA, Dr Saliu Oseni, expressed delight at the company’s new move, adding that NMA is in the process of endorsing the innovation as it joins Mouka in it resolve to tackle malaria scourge. In his assessment of the product, a medical personnel from the Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutic and Toxicology at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Omoniyi Yemitan, noted that the product contains active ingredients extracted from plants, making it non-hazardous for humans, including pregnant women and children.
Lush Hair Dazzles Lagos NYSC Members Culinary Delight Berths in As part of efforts to promote socialisation among the youths, fast growing hair brand, Lush Hair, has sponsored ‘Miss Bold and Beautiful’ beauty pageant organised by the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) in Lagos State. The ‘Miss Bold and Beautiful’ pegeant, which is adjudged to be one of the enthralling and best social activities at the NYSC Iyana Ipaja orientation camp in Lagos, is usually a tough contest amongst plus sized ladies, where representative of each platoon emanating from different states across the country, gets to exhibit both beauty and brains to emerge as the overall winner for a particular batch. At the end of the activity, Miss. Jackie Ibiso from Rivers State, representing platoon 1 emerged the overall winner of the contest among the nine other contestants. This was after she scaled through the series of set criteria, such as confidence display, composure, and test of intelligence, which also included current affairs questions. Part of prizes offered the overall winner was a free hair makeover for three months, amidst other luxury gifts. Speaking on the initiative, Brand manager of Lush Hair, Sukhum Pannu, explained that the brand
was ever willing to support any initiative that was synonymous with women and beauty. He said: “Lush Hair is a proudly Nigerian quality brand specially designed to meet the beauty needs of the African woman, which is why we will always be inclined towards supporting strategic women-oriented activities, the brand stands for confident, modern and trendy women. “Miss Bold and Beautiful contest is a very special activity here on camp that encourages women to always stay beautiful, confident and always on top of their game, irrespective of their background, societal status or body size, which is exactly what the brand largely stands for. Also speaking at the ecent, the Lagos State NYSC Camp Coordinator, Prince Mohammed Momoh, commended the Hair brand for keeping the social engagement alive and making it a memorable one for the corps members. Appreciating the brand’s gesture, winner of the contest, Jackie Ibiso, said, “it is such a honour to have come top among my beautiful colleagues. This contest has also helped to further boost my sense of confidence; I must thank the Lush Hair brand for presenting such opportunity in an interesting way.”
Nigerian Food Sector
Culinary Delight has announced its entrant into the Nigerian fast food space with the launch of different food brands that cater to individual taste. This is even as experts have predicted a boom in the food space as consumers become more aware and knowledgeable. Speaking during the launch at the company’s office in Ilupeju, Lagos, General Manager of the company, Mr. Charles Ovat Peter, revealed that the firm was announcing its presence with its two flagship brands, namely, Pizza King and Mama Mia. According to him, the Pizza King comes in different variants and sizes of Pizza while Mama Mia serves rice meal options and chicken relishes from across the world. “We are very excited to welcome Nigerians to a unique concept in catering and restaurant services. Our vision is to set up several brands catering to different global culinary trends. We will be stepping things up several notches in
terms of quality, pricing, packaging and variety at Mama Mia where we will offer cuisines from all over the world, initially offering Chinese, Persian and Indian dishes. “The menu will be regularly updated to include new and exotic dishes popular worldwide, with an emphasis on rice meals. “At Pizza King, we aim to understand our customers’ tastes and preferences and introduce new flavours based on local tastes and demand. We have launched with nine pizza variants - the classic margherita, spicy Hawaiian, chicken suya, chicken tandoori, vegetarian exotic, minced beef pepperoni, butter chicken, butter cottage cheese”, he said. While expressing confidence in the market potential, Peter disclosed that in the nearest future, the organisation was looking at expanding from current kitchen concept model to setting up stand-alone outlets for each of the brands they have launched, in the nearest future.
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SHOWBIZFLAIR
Simi, Basking in ‘Omo Charlie Champagne’ EBEN Gospel is My Lifestyle, that’s what Sets Me Apart pg. 48
Guchi Debuts with ‘No Be Jazz’ pg.52
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SHOWBIZFLAIR
Simi, Basking in ‘Omo Charlie Champagne’ Singer and Songwriter Simisola’s third album “Omo Charlie Champagne” swiftly follows her acclaimed 2017 eponymous album ‘Simisola’, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu
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he news about town in the entertainment scene is Simisola Ogunleye simply known as Simi. The afro-pop singer celebrated her birthday with the release of a third new album ‘Omo Charlie Champagne Volume 1’ which she dedicates to her late father. The ‘Jamb Question’ crooner took to her Instagram page @simplysimi to announce the 38 minutes 13-track album produced by four beat makers – Vtek, Oscar, legendary Beat and Season with all the songs written by her. On her Instagram page, @Simplysimi, the singer attached the following message to the picture of a track list to the new album and it read, “When I was compiling this album, I knew I wanted to dedicate it to my daddy, Engr. Charles Oladele Ogunleye who passed in 2014. I’m blessed to have come this far. I’m blessed that it was possible for me. I do not take this for granted. I couldn’t possibly be more thankful for this journey. To have amazing people like you supporting me every day is absolute Magic! “I love you. #OmoCharlieChampagne is out now!!!! Yessss! I’m thankful to all the amazing people that made this possible - I also want to say a massive thank you to @ patorankingfire @falzthebahdguy @maleekberry and my “lover na bessss friend Adekunle Kosoko - as well @vtekdawesome @legendurybeatz and @sessbeats. “If it’s 12am in your area, go on all the platforms and listen to #OmoCharlieChampagne Vol. 1 - link in my bio. Like I said, it’s my m******* birthday and for my birthday present, share my album!!!!” ‘Omo Charlie Champagne’ swiftly follows her acclaimed 2017 eponymous album ‘Simisola’ which went on to win ‘Album of the Year’ at the Headies and contained a bunch of fantastic singles, including ‘Joromi’ and ‘Lovin.” The album features four other artistes including her singer hubby, Adekunle Gold. The first track, Charlie, being the title song, she dedicates to her late father. In the song, she talks about how she felt after his passing and life without him. The third track Jericho, she featured Patoranking. The fourth song By You wherein she features her hubby is perceived to be her fans favourite owing to how far they have come in terms of the love and bond felt in the love song. The fifth track, Immortal, she featured British Nigerian artiste Maleek Berry. In the seventh track titled, The Artist, the velvety voice singer talks about the pressures celebrities face living in the limelight. The ninth song, Mind Your Business, featuring Falz will make for fans delight as it addresses fans who taunted the ‘Bahd Guy’ when Simi got married to Adekunle Gold. Expectedly following the album’s release, fans took to Twitter to praise Simi’s prowess, causing the album to become the second most trending topic on Nigerian Twitter. @Abbyfamous wrote, “So, I waited for this. Simi is never a disappointment! She’s just as ever amazing and
beautiful in everything, her lyrics, voice and heart. She’s such beauty. “I have listened to this album on Boom, and it continues all day. I Stan your Queenship! Happy Birthday Sweet!” @_detola tweeted, “I am staying up all night to learn every damn words from #OmoCharlieChampagne it’s worth every penny guys! “It made me cry, laugh, think, chill. Simi is not only intelligent and talented, she’s GOLD.” @ Drews_daughter said, “This album is food for the soul. The Simi army has been fed. Thank you queen @ SympLySimi Many more years.” @ Beulahonoh tweeted, “My fav track in @SympLySimi ‘s omo Charlie champagne album I guess is ‘Mind your Bizness’ ft Falz, has been on my repeat.“It has an important message for all them Amebo. Happy birthday Simi! May God bless you. Keep making awesome Music.”
Simi
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Toke Makinwa Glares in New Comedy Movie ‘Makate Must Sell’, a new comedy movie starring Toke Makinwa joins the pack. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports
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his is not about Toke Makinwa but the fact that anything containing the On-Air-Personality and Vlogger is often seen as a must sell. Her controversial book ‘On Becoming’ sold like condom. Good or bad, she holds strong influence on any product or service, like her morning drive radio programme. As much as there are those who as much doesn’t really agree with her takes, her name attached to any project expectedly brings about positive ends. With the media girl making her big screen debut, it is safe to assume this ‘Makate Must Sell’ movie which officially premieres on May 3 will be a must sell at the cinemas! Even the cast are optimistic about the movie making high sales including Toke herself. However, the extent of the sales will be determined by the outcome of the patronage by movie buffs. An upcoming movie, “Foreigner’s God” was supposed to be the movie that would have launched Toke into Nollywood. Most bulletin about the movie ran with the celebrity fashionista as its star. In 2015, Toke made a cameo appearance on Funke Akindele’s hit TV series, “Jenifa’s Diary,” sharing a scene with Akindele and Juliana Olayode. The new comedy movie ‘Makate Must Sell’ joins the pack of other films in that genre. Excited about her new foray, the radio host took to Instagram to share the news. “Verified. Finally guys the Makate Must Sell this May. Can’t wait for you guys to watch this one, your baby girl is bringing the heat alongside these amazing acts.” It’s been long coming for the movie which kicked off filming on August 23, 2017 a collaborative effort of Filmone Distribution, Screenart, See Fam and
Ahh Entertainment. The year almost entering the second quarter, and we have seen a lot of movies being released already. As seen in the 60 seconds teaser for the movie directed by Don Omope (Taxi Driver: Oko Ashewo, Tatu), Toke takes up the role of an ostentatious single friend to three of the movie’s lead cast. Following the trend of commercially successful movies such as The Wedding Party, 30 Days in Atlanta and Chief Daddy, Makate Must Sell boasts of an ensemble cast mostly popular comedy actors to make viewers high with laugher. The comedy film tells the story of a thirty-something-year-old lady ((played by Chigul) whose friends are determined to get her married in 12 days. On this journey, she encounters a lot of questionable character in the guise of suitors, who she indulges just so to find a suitable man for marriage. In the teaser, Chigul’s character is at a wedding reception when a much younger friend or cousin as it seems says, “aunty, we are waiting for you o” indirectly meaning it’s her turn to be wedded. This prompts Chigurl’s character to urgently say “don’t wait… don’t wait” and then to someone else on the phone in another scene that in two weeks my ‘makate must sell’. Most interestingly, she goes on a date with Blossom Chukwujekwu, who is dressed quite eccentrically and tells her right off the bat that he isn’t a man or woman. The movie also stars Akan Nnani, Josh 2 funny, Wofai Fada, Daniel Etim Effiong, Greg Ojefua, Charles Okocha, BBN star Bisola Aiyeola and the movie producer, Toyin Abraham. Toyin as a producer is popular for her sell out movie “Alakada”, but has been tight in various love related scandals all through career.
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SHOWBIZFLAIR EBEN
Gospel is My Lifestyle, that’s what Sets Me Apart Emmanuel Benjamin, aka Eben, is a gospel artiste, songwriter and minister known for his Afro-pop, hip-hop, and dance-influenced sound. Raised in Lagos, Eben started out as a rapper, and eventually to studio work, singing backing vocals. Today, he is one of the most celebrated gospel power houses in Nigeria and has blessed the lives of tens of thousands with his music. He talks to Tosin Clegg, about his music, upcoming projects, family and more Eben and the Gosgem conference
slate, so it’s what you indoctrinate them with they follow. So far, they are following everything I’m doing; they follow me to programmes and see me in my office as a minster of the gospel. This thing isn’t hypocritical, as when kids start going haywire they must have seen some elements which warrant such, so it’s on us as parents to live out the gospel in our homes.
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he recent Gosgem conference was about empowering music ministers. They say knowledge is power and I believe you are a sum total of your knowledge base. So basically, it’s to increase the knowledge base, when people know about their works they would live better. This conference was like a first of its kind and it’s a laudable one. You could see that people were hungry to know how it works and how they could fulfill their calling.
Hammer House Records Hammer House Records is my entertainment outfit. It handles music production, video production, music promotions and everything about media and publicity is what we do. We also have a band, so it’s basically a house with different department of its own and very soon we would be going into empowerment and motivation for young ministers.
I’m sold out to the promotion of the gospel For me, it’s not about getting known or having a business but it’s about promoting Jesus and letting the whole world know what he did for them. Gospel is my life style and that’s what sets me apart from any other kind of musical act out there. When you are a circular artiste, it’s your own agenda and your brand but as a Gospel artiste, it’s not about you but about your Master. So, I think that’s what separates us from the secular world. My music journey has been over 10 years now and it’s been an awesome journey and full of blessings. I’m thankful to God for it. People need to know the power in the name of Jesus and know that he is here today and forever. That he is not history and he is much alive today, and as he was over 2000 years ago, so he is today. People tend to forget that, and so in my song, Jesus at the Center, I felt people should know miracles happen and his name still holds sway. Keeping up with the family is the Grace of God My wife is also in the ministry and she understands the sacrifices we make and I’m just blessed to have a family that understands what my life is about and what my calling is about. It’s by His grace and I’m thankful that marriage didn’t reduce my commitment to my purpose and vision and, if anything, it made it stronger because my wife is also part of it. My wife sacrifices a lot and if she needs to do anything, she has my full support. She slowed down on her commitments and engagement as an artiste because of our kids, so if she needs to do anything now, I’m all for it. At the end of the day, life is all about
My style My style is me and I’m cool and confident with it. I’m not someone who looks for the downfall of anybody, as I have always been myself and what God is doing in my life. Anything you see me wear is an expression of my confidence. So, if I feel like going corporate or swaggalicious I do it. Collaborations I have a lot of collaborations coming out this year. I have audio, visuals and also a concert in September. We are bringing foreign acts and also local acts who are my friends and it’s going to be amazing. I haven’t done anything at the magnitude we are planning. Also, a lot of videos would be out and we would be touring as well and we hope we can meet our target this year.
Eben
fulfillment and that means if your wife is not fulfilled in your marriage, then she is not happy and if she isn’t happy that’s problem in your marriage. My wife, Jehdiel is such a charming lady. She just stole my heart; she is the greatest thing that ever happened to me. She loves God and she is sold out on the gospel and anybody that loves
God gets my attention. I think I’m lucky to have married someone like her. Our kids will sing the Gospel It would be strange if our kids don’t sing and I don’t think there is any likelihood that they won’t sing. When they come to you, they come as a plain
How I want my legacy to be At the end of it all, I want to know in my heart I have done everything he laid in my heart to do for him. And I have been able to change lives and reach the number of people he wants me to reach. I want to be someone that would be said that in his life time he did this and that for the gospel and his service to God. There is a preacher in me It’s part of the Grace God has given me and many people don’t know that side of me, so there is also the preacher in me. And God willing, and as everything unfolds, we would be seeing all the grace in full measure.
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Tosin Clegg 07062816737 e-mail: tosinclegg@hotmail.com
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MY STORY
Gists
NWAGBO CYNTHIA
I Bring in Uniqueness, Class to what I do Nwagbo Cynthia is a celebrated fruit designer, event planner and renowned baker. She studied Microbiology but has taken her knowledge into healthy meals, and ensures she sparks goodness at every event she organises. She tells Tosin Clegg how she started, her budding career and a lot more
AT MIDEM MUSIC CONFERENCE, EXPERTS ADVOCATE STAKEHOLDERS’ ENGAGEMENTS A gap in stakeholder engagements has been identified as some of the bane of reaping optimal results in digital distribution. This is the reason most Nigerian music creators in particular are not leveraging digital distribution to step into new territories, expand their audience and get the best results from generally marketing their content. This was the consensus of panelists at the second edition of Midem African Forum, Lagos that held recently at Raddisson Blu, Ikeja. The panel considered the importance of data in applying new tools and perspectives for music in a digital world. In her submission, Tosin Sorinola, a respected voice and senior executive with Boomplay, an Africa leading music streaming site, noted that a lot needs to be done in terms of constant engagement across the music distribution foodchain. According to Sorinola, who is Global Head of PR and Marketing Manager, West Africa, new approaches need to be adopted to reach stakeholders. For instance,
she said, “At Boomplay, we are into partnership that will take us to several campuses across Nigeria to have these conversations and catch early the emerging generation of content providers. We can talk about data all we want but there are not enough data scientists out there. When we get all this data, who will analyse them? How do we get insights from data and how do we make use of it?” Sorinola was joined by other experts including Thibaut Mullings of IDOL, South Africa, MTN’s Oye Akindeinde, promoter Bizzle Osikoya, events’ organiser, Chidi Okeke, while the session was moderated by marketing strategist, Kelvin Orifa. In corroboration, Mullings underscored the importance of an accurate Meta Description as a fundamental tool that drives virality of music contents. “Internet algorithms are wired to respond to Meta Descriptions and that is why content providers must perfect the skill,” he said.
WALE ADENUGA’S KNOCKOUT DAZZLES CINEMA GOERS After its triumphant premiere at Silverbird Galleria Lagos, last Sunday, Wale Adenuga Productions’ Knockout has achieved yet another outstanding success, as the star-studded comedy masterpiece sold out numerous cinema halls across Nigeria and Ghana over the long Easter weekend. According to Wale Adenuga Jnr., Producer of Knockout, “Since Knockout hit the cinemas on Friday 19th April 2019, the audience’s response has been more overwhelming than we and the cinema houses could have ever imagined. The most amazing part is how the movie’s success is mainly attributed to word-of-mouth; where people who have seen it are taking it upon themselves to ensure that all their family and friends also enjoy the delightful experience. It’s unfortunate that because the cinema halls keep getting sold-out rapidly, we have many complaints from people who have not been able to secure their tickets; but we recommend
going to the cinema venue very early or even purchasing the tickets the day before.” The blockbuster movie is being distributed across all regions by the experienced Silverbird Film Distribution, and is enjoying strategic support from a wide range of reputable media organisations; including HipTV, Rhythm 93.7FM, Africa Movie Channel, SilverbirdTV, Smooth 98.1FM, ONTV, GoldmyneTV, Kennis 104.1FM, R2TV, Soundcity, RaveTV, YawNaija, LailasBlog, TrybeTV, The Herald, JybTV, Spice TV, R2 92.9FM, CorrectTV, and of course wapTV. The Knockout contains entertainment and enlightenment suitable for every member of the family; and it is still showing at cinemas across Nigeria and Ghana, including venues operated by Silverbird, Genesis Deluxe, FilmHouse, Ozone, Viva, Mcrystal, Lighthouse, Timsed, Magnificent, OOPL, Kada, Nostalgae, Cartege, Mees Palace, Marturion and others.
H
ow did it begin?
The major inspiration of my fruit business, Fruitified NG, was the need to provide healthytreat options for people at events, something healthy, natural and yummy. What I do differently is not just serving fruits at event but also making the fruits look attractive and almost irresistible. I also use the fruits to make beautiful artworks, which is always a show stopper.
What other things are you into? I’m also an event planner and cake maker, this I learnt from my mum who is a full time cake maker and a bespoke event planner here in Lagos. So, it’s a business I grew up assisting my mum in and as time went by, I developed interest in, and I must say it’s a beautiful business.
What makes you different? As a young entrepreneur, I’m bringing in uniqueness and class to what I do because nobody likes boring anymore and with my youthful energy I’m always trying new things to make my services stand out uniquely.
Challenges and goals? Biggest challenge in business is funding to expand the business as my brand is different from what we’re used to. Goals for myself is to be successful so I can impact positively in the society and also see the Fruitified NG brand become bigger than she currently is.
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SHOWBIZFLAIR
Temi Otedola Cooling Down with Mr Eazy Temi Otedola cooling down with Mr Eazi, backstage, after the Nigerian act performed at the 2019 Coachella Music Festival on Easter Sunday, 21st of April, at Indio, California, United States.
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Omoni Oboli@41 Nollywood actress, Omoni Oboli, marked her 41st birthday on Monday, posting elegant pictures on her Instagram page. The super star “born with the gift of agelessness”, added: “Thank you Lord for Chapter 41.”
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Guchi Debuts with ‘No Be Jazz’ Twenty two years old Ugochi Onuoha is poised to take the music scene by storm. Young with beautiful voice so captivating and a good number of songs in her cache, the new artiste who has just come out with a single titled ‘No Be Jazz’, might just have confirmed her calling. The talented singer who goes by the stage name ‘Guchi’ seems to be in safe and stable hands with her management team as she makes her debut in Nigeria’s entertainment industry. Ferdinand Ekechukwu reports
A
s petit, preened and pretty new artiste Ugochi Onuoha steps out straight into the waiting hands of arts and entertainment writers, only she could tell exactly what was on her mind seeing unusual faces stare at her for the first time in a setting she’s not used to. Though she immediately stepped back into her room in an executive suite at Raddison Blu to pick up stuff (it seems her phone), one could tell she doesn’t seem anxious; she appeared prepared for the session with newshounds. At the moment, she has recorded a good number of songs lined up for release; unlike they say in the industry, ‘she will be releasing them back to back’. But right now, she has just come out with her first single, titled ‘No Be Jazz’. The video of the song already shot and directed by Unlimited LA. A first hand listening and viewing of the work was availed to the team while her management crew from Media Viva Production (MVP) watches from the fringes of the private lounge. She sounds very impressive and promising. The viewing session over, the chat with newshounds began. Cheery with rays of smile and looking into the faces around her, she explains first her state of origin and then her stage name ‘Guchi’. ‘I’m an Ibo girl from Imo State’ . . . So the ‘Guchi’ is derived from her real name ‘Ugochi’. She started doing music in 2012 and has been in the background for seven good years. In someone’s opinion, Guchi strikes some voice semblance with Nigerian singer Simi. But she doesn’t agree to any likeness to that comparison. “I don’t think so. There’s no relationship. I think I sound like me I don’t sound like anybody else. I sound like ‘Guchi’. I don’t sound like Simi.” Presently a Theatre and Media Arts students of University of Lagos, she could have been a lawyer, a doctor or something. Why music? Her foray into music was inspired by her passion for music. “I have always had passion for music. Right from growing up I started from the choir in church. And so from the very beginning I have always had passion, the love for music.” Everybody seems to start from choir that is if it’s not mum a chorister or dad a guitarist or a singer. For ‘Guchi’ where did she draw her music instinct from? Growing up her dad was always playing Michael Jackson when she was still a kid. And she has always heard Michael Jackson and has always loved Michael Jackson. “So, I would say my dad is a music lover and I got it from my dad,” she said laughing. The second child in a family of four, Guchi feels cool speaking a little more about childhood and her family. She grew up in Abuja and was born in Kaduna. She had to relocate to Lagos to pursue music. She doesn’t see much challenge doing
music and schooling as her course and act are somewhat interrelated. She says she has got the support of her parents to do music. In fact, she recalls precisely at the age of seven being the only child among other extended family kids singing for her grandfather during a feast. “. . . My granddad has a lot of grandchildren, great grandchildren and we are having a get together with my grandfather and I was the only child that could come out and sing in public. So I started singing at the age of seven per se. I could come out with a mic and sing.” Really, she has got a nice video and lovely song but it’s no child’s play out there in the music scene. The competition in the industry, for a choice of a mild word, is stiff. How prepared is she? Like she had anticipated that question, her response followed thus swiftly: “Very prepared”, she said repeatedly. “Okay like I said earlier I started music in 2012. I didn’t come out 2012 that’s because I have been preparing for this. “Yes I am very prepared I have dozens of songs recorded already. Not like I’m going to record more like I don’t have songs. I have dozens of songs we are going to drop this year like back to back. And I’m still going to record. So I think I’m very prepared. I didn’t come out last year, I didn’t come out last two years, and I didn’t come out last three years. For me to be coming out now and I started music in 2012 I’m very prepared.” Afro-beat seems to be the in thing in the Nigeria music now and as far as even to the African music industry. For Guchi’s genre of music she plays Afro-pop, dancehall and highlife. That’s eclectic. “Basically, I would say I do Afro-pop, dancehall and highlife,” she reveals. “I’m very good with highlife, I’m very good with afro-pop and I’m also very good with dancehall. So, whatever it is, whatever instrument that I listened to maybe afro-pop, dancehall or highlife, I can still murder it. So I don’t need to really be in the afro-pop that everybody is doing. It depends on what inspired me doing afro-pop music. I don’t think I’m everybody’s kind of afro-pop.” For her No Be Jazz song she draws inspiration for the song looking at the modern and traditional kind of love that existed. “The girls are more interested in the money and the guys are more interested in sex. But the No Be Jazz is preaching patience, more of the old kind of love that women get married to their husbands not because of money but because they really loved genuinely. I would say that. In the good time, in the bad time my mother was with my dad. So, I would say my mum inspired it.” That sounds deep, but contradictory coming from a non-conservative young looking lady. “I sing base on what I can imagine, what I can feel, what I see around me, what I see people doing. So it’s not just about me,” she said.
Guchi
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NEWSXTRA
African Development Bank Approves US$70m Loan for Ebonyi State Road Charles Ajunwa
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) yesterday approved a US$70 million loan for a road project in Ebonyi State. The Bank will provide US$40 million, while its co-financier, the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF), will contribute US$30 million. The Islamic Development Bank is also providing Nigeria a loan of US$80 million, while the Ebonyi State Government will provide US$17.60 million, for a total project cost of US$167.60 million. The Bank Group’s funding will cover the rehabilitation and asphalting of a 51 km stretch between Nwezenvi and N’Doko, and part of the corridor between N’Doko and Ezzamgbo spanning 38.91 km. It is expected to be completed in five years. The project will aid the agricultural State of Ebonyi’s aspiration to develop special agro-industrial zones dedicated to the processing of subsistence crops.
LAST RESPECTS... L-R: Former Member, Federal House of Representatives, Ihiala Constituency, Anambra State, Hon. Chuma Nzeribe; former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi; Deceased’s son, Mr. Chuka Onwuchekwa; MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo; deceased’s daughter In-law, Mrs. Chioma Onwuchekwa and CEO, Beauty Touch Cosmetics, Ify Ugo-mgbemene, at the burial ceremony of Lolo Benedeth Onwuchekwa held in Azia, Anambra State...recently
Report Reveals 244 Female Suicide Bombers Used by Boko Haram Bennett Oghifo
Two hundred and forty-four female suicide bombers were involved in the 434 bombing attacks carried out by the Boko Haram group between April 2011 and June 2017. This is contained in a 2018 report by the Lake Chad Commission and the African Union Commission ‘Regional Strategy for Stabilisation, Recovery and Resilience of the Boko-Haram-affected Areas of Lake Chad Basin’ gives insight into the various ways in which women have been affected by Boko Haram violence. The report was presented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Nigeria Office during
its training of 20 officials from Nigeria’s criminal justice system and training institutions, security and defence sectors, the Bar and civil society on ‘Gender DimensionsofCriminalJusticeResponses to Terrorism’. Thetraining,whichtookplaceinAbuja, was based on a Nigeria-specific training module,developedbyUNODCcountry office in Nigeria, according to a statement, yesterday, by their Outreach and CommunicationsOfficer,Mr. Sylvester Atere. The workshop was part of the EUNigeria-UNODC-CTED Partnership Project III: Support for Criminal Justice Responses to Terrorism and Violent Extremism, and it was financed by the European Union. The report states that “The Lake
Take Advantage of African Court on Human Rights, Advocates Anukam As Court’s president visits Buhari next week AlexEnumanh ÓØ ÌßÔË
Nigeria’s representative in the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Justice Stella Anukam on Thursday urged Nigeria to avail herself of the huge benefits embedded in being a part of the continental court. Justice Anukam, who is one of the two judges from the West Africa region on the bench of the 11 member justices of the continental court disclosed that the court over time had reached several remarkable decisions in protecting the rights of her citizens. The judge of the African Court who disclosed this while declaring open a Mini African Court Sensitisation and Training Programme for the Media yesterday in Abuja, lamented the failure of the country to make the declaration recognising the competence of the Court to receive cases from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and individuals. She said, “We want Nigerians to take full advantage of the court. The African Court was created to protect human and peoples’ rights.” Justice Anukam disclosed that the parley with the media was aimed at increasing awareness of the court and
its benefits to the people of Nigeria. Meanwhile, a delegation of the court led by its President, Justice Sylvan Ore will make a one-week working visit to Nigeria where they are expected to meet President Muhammadu Buhari and some key officials of Foreign Affairs and Justice. The officials of the court will also visit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice. A statement by the Registrar of the court, Dr. Robert Eno explained that the “visit will help to enhance judicial co-operation and share experiences between the two countries.” According to the statement, the reciprocal visit follows the inaugural visit by the ECOWAS Court of Justice to the Arusha-based Court in February last year during which a memorandum of understanding was signed. The visit, he added, was part of the Court’s ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with Regional Courts on the continent. A similar MoU was signed by the African Court with the East African Court of Justice last month in Arusha.
Chad crisis has disproportionately affected women and girls. From being at the forefront of the displacement crisis to constituting the majority of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, to suffering stigmatisation from association with different groups, women and girls are faced with different challenges than men and boys.” It said, “Paradoxically, women, girls, men and boys have supported Boko Haram’s activities in different ways and carried out attacks, sometimes willingly, and other times under coercion. For example, 244 female suicide bombers were involved in the 434 bombing attacks carried out by the group between April 2011 and June 2017. Women are also believed
to have also engaged in non-violent operational roles, including as trainers, recruiters and intelligent operatives.” Those trained, the statement said were to be “equipped with the skills as trainers, as part of efforts to build the capacity of Nigerian justice sector practitioners to understand and respond to the different impact of counter-terrorism laws and practices on women and men, and to ensure respect for women’s rights in this context, as well as in the context of Nigerian justice sector institutions.” They were joined by experts from UNODC, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, UN Women, and the African Union.
Oyetola Pledges Improved Security as Police Launch Operation Puff Adder Yinka Kolawole ÓØ ÝÙÑÌÙ
Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola yesterday promised more security so that the state could continue to retain its status as one of the most peaceful in the country. He described security as condition precedent to improved economy and better life for the people. According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Mr. Adeniyi Adesina, Oyetola spoke during the launch of Operation ‘Puff Adder’ by the State Command of the Nigeria Police Force in Osogbo. Launching the Operation, Governor Oyetola said his administration had given security sector the required attention as part efforts to drive the socio-economic and political policies and programmes of his administration. . He said, “since development and progress of any state could be measured by security of such society, hence the need for the support given to security agencies by the state government.” Oyetola said his government had demonstrated high sense of commitment to maintain and sustain the tempo of the relative
peace being enjoyed in the state. He pledged his government’s continued support and collaboration with the security agencies to eliminate all forms of crime and criminality in the state. Governor Oyetola commended the Acting Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu for the initiative, saying the scheme would further help to nip in the bud all forms of insecurity challenges confronting the state and nation at large. H said: “We are committing resources to advance the security architecture of the state having realised that peace is condition precedent to inviting investors and development partners to the state. “I thank the Osun Police Command for the invitation to be a part of the new initiative to combat crimes in the nation and in the state. “I also commend the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Muhammed A. Adamu, for initiating Operation Puff Adder as a response to the serial crimes in the nation. “I equally appreciate the Osun Police Command for its contributions to the profile of State of Osun as one of the safest and most secured states in Nigeria.
It will improve road safety and accessibility of farming communities and small-scale industrial areas. Some 1,400 jobs will be created during the construction phase. Once completed, the road network, which will cover a total 177.81 km, is expected to serve also as an international link between the State of Ebonyi and the country’s eastern neighbour , Cameroun, in addition to connecting Ebonyi to Benue and Enugu. In line with its High 5s priorities, the project attests to the African Development Bank’s commitment to improving the quality of life of Africans by improving accessibility and road safety in its member countries. The Bank began financing transport projects in Nigeria in 1972 and has since provided the equivalent of US$630 million in financing the sector, including a US$69.9 million facility through the private sector.
APC North Central Youth Movement Backs Party’s Zoning Arrangement Ugo Aliogo
Amidst the political controversies on who becomes the next Speaker of the House of Representatives, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Movement of the North Central zone has backed the zoning arrangement of the party for the various leadership positions in the National Assembly and especially the House of Representatives. The group reminded supporters of marginalisation in the North Central about the zoning of National Assembly positions, stating that the position of Senate president who doubles as the Chairman of the National Assembly has been occupied by the North Central in the last 12 years. “Senator David Mark was Senate president for eight consecutive years, while Senator Bukola Saraki has been in the saddle since 2015,” the group said. The group, however, kicked against the candidacy of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila for the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Speaking yesterday at a meeting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, jointly presided over by Coordinator and Secretary of the group, Jonah Botruang and Abounu Barnabas, noted that if the ruling party must prevent a repeat of the 2015 experience where the party was outsmarted in the battle for the
presiding officers of the national assembly, it must begin consultation with all stakeholders to present another candidate for the post of Speaker from the South-west. They stated several reasons why majority of the members of the House of Representatives are not favourably disposed to voting Gbajabiamila as their Speaker. According to the group, “Gbajabiamila is seen as a stooge and god son of the APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu and for majority of the members as vote for him has the tendency to compromise the independence of the House as the House of Representatives will be remote controlled from Bourdillon. He is also a lone-ranger that does not relate well with his colleagues. “Members of the APC caucus that supported his failed ambition in 2015 are yet to recover from the victimisation and deprivation they are subjected to as many of them lost out in the share of chairmanship and deputy chairmanship positions and other goodies from the Speaker. “To many of them who are lucky enough to be re-elected, it’s a case of once beaten, twice shy. If feelers from the newly elected members are anything to go by, they are not ready to be used as pawns in the House of Representatives’ political chess game. Simply put, many of them will not support Gbajabiamila.
‘Conflicting Judgement Bane of Nigeria Democracy’ Sylvester Idowu ÓØ ËÜÜÓ
A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Sunny Onuesoke has condemned conflicting judgements by the judiciary arising from the recent elections warning that the problem is threatening Nigeria’s nascent democracy. Onuesoke who spoke to journalists over the weekend while on his way to a climate change conference in Lagos noted that conflicting judgments, especially by courts of co-ordinate jurisdiction at the High Court level, were not only creating problems in the electioneering process, but also creating uncertainty in the nation’s growing democracy. He argued that conflicting
judgments do not only confuse counsel and leads to uncertainty with regards to slum decision, it equally impacted negatively on the public perception of ability to guarantee unequivocal justice. The PDP Chieftain reiterated that issue of conflicting judgments arising from pre-election and post-election cases has set Nigerian democracy backward. He observed that a case where one court in one judicial division give judgement on a particular course of action only to be contradicted by another court of coordinate jurisdiction from another division or even within the same division on the same subject matter did not augur well for the development of Nigeria demoracy.
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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ ͺͿ˜ ͺ
NEWSXTRA
YIAGA AFRICA Assess Successes, Challenges of 2019 Election Yinka Kolawole ÓØ ÝÙÑÌÙ
EMPOWERED TO RULE... L-R: Chairman, Ikosi Ejinrin LCDA, Hon. Samson Adeniyi; Lagos State Commissioner for Lacal Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Muslim Folami; presenting the staff of Office to his Royal Majesty, Oba Nelson Aderemi Obayomi Ogunlari; his Olori Ademiade and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Affairs, Alhaji Tajudeen Adeniyi Quadri, during the presentation of instrument of appointment staff of office to Oba Olowu of Owu-Ikosi Kingdom, Lagos State...yesterday
Jang vs EFCC Case: ICPC Lied On Oath, Witnesses Tell Court Seriki Adinoyi ÓØ ÙÝ
Two Defense witnesses in the ongoing case between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the immediate past Governor of Plateau State, Jonah David Jang have told a Jos High Court that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offence Commission (ICPC) gave completely false testimony to mislead the court when it said that it obtained voluntary statement from Mr. Yusuf Pam, a former Cashier in the office of the Secretary to the State Government standing trial alongside Jang. Mr. Taiwo Olorunyomi, an investigator with the ICPC, had penultimate week testified before trial justice, Daniel Longji that two written statements which the anti-graft agency obtained from
Pam, who is facing N6.3bn charges alongside the former Governor were voluntarily obtained. Olorunyomi, who was the 8th witness called by the EFCC Prosecution Counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) had also claimed that Pam made the statement in the presence of Sha, during interrogation at their Abuja office on 17th and 23rd November, 2016. The Prosecution Counsel had sought to tender the written statements as evidence in the court but the Defence Counsel, Mr. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) had objected to the admission of the statement on the grounds that it was not obtained voluntarily, a development which made Justice Longji who presided over case to order for a trial-within-trial in order to ascertain the voluntariness of the controversial documents.
But at the resumed hearing of the case in Jos yesterday, the witnesses Mr. Yusuf Pam and a Manager with the Plateau Express Services, Mr. Gyang Sha told the court that the ICPC gave false information to implicate them. Pam, being led in evidence by the Defense Counsels, Mr. Benson Igbanoi and Mr. Sunday Oyawole Sunday said that the ICPC official lied on oath before the court as Sha was never present when he was interrogated and pressured to write the said statement at the ICPC office. Narrating how he was threatened on the two different occasions by the ICPC officials during interrogation at the Commission’s office in Abuja to make the statements, Pam insisted that the two written statements which he gave were never voluntarily obtained but done under duress.
He said, “My Lord, the ICPC official, Mr. Taiwo Olorunyomi lied. Though Mr. Gyang Sha drove me to Abuja, he was not with me in the interrogation room during my interrogation by the ICPC official. Whenever they were not satisfied with my answer, they activated the threat to detain and jail me. Then, the answer I will give will be as a result of the threat. The same pattern followed my interrogation when I gave the two statements.” Sha, who was also led in evidence by the Defense Counsels under cross examination, also testified that the ICPC official lied as he was never present when Pam was interrogated. Sha said, “My Lord, I was not present when Mr. Pam was being interrogated by the ICPC. I was in a separate room at my friend’s office and I did not leave my friend’s office throughout the interrogation.
Edo Govt, NEMA Roll Out Agric Edo Govt Lauds Igbanke Unity Forum for Donating Furniture to Primary Schools Intervention Programme for Farmers Affected by Flooding Andrew Ikehi Agbale, was the deliberate effort Adibe Emenyonu ÓØ ÏØÓØ ÓÞã
The Edo State Government in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced an agricultural intervention programme for farmers in three local government areas of the state affected by flood disaster in 2018. The affected local governments are Etsako East, Estako Central and Esan South East Local Government Areas (LGAs). During the inauguration of the programme in Etsako East and Etsako Central, Edo State Team Supervisor for the NEMA programme, Mr. Christian Omeje, said the intervention was designed to provide farm inputs to the affected farmers and alleviate the sufferings from the disaster. Omeje said the programme holds simultaneously in other states affected by the 2018 flood disaster to prevent food shortage across the country, noting that the first stage of the programme includes data capture of affected farmers, which will provide details on the type of inputs to be distributed. “The first stage of the programme has commenced in Etsako East and
will be extended to Etsako Central and Esan South East LGAs, while the second phase will involve distribution of farm inputs such as agrochemicals and seedlings to the farmers, who were captured at the first stage,” Omeje noted. Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Special Duties, Hon. Yakubu Gowon, commended the federal government for the initiative and assured of the state government’s commitment to ensure a transparent process. Gowon said the initiative was a follow up to the distribution of relief materials by the state government, noting, “Farms in the three councils of the state were destroyed by the flood disaster. We believe NEMA’s agricultural programme will guarantee food security.” Chairman, Etsako East LGA,Alhaji Aremiyau Momoh, commended the state and federal governments for the programme, noting, “We commend the cooperation between the state government and federal government in ensuring the victims of flood disaster in 2018 are given succour. The agricultural initiative is laudable and will increase food production in the state.”
Edo State Government has lauded a facebook group, Igbanke Unity Forum (IUF) for its continuous donations to schools in the community. The IUF had in October 2017, donated thousands of customised exercise books to students of the three secondary schools in Igbanke community. Making the commendation while officially presenting sets of furniture donated by the IUF to the 14 primary schools in Igbanke, Edo State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Emmanuel Agbale, said although, the social media was largely known for its negative acts, the IUF had turned it to a veritable tool for positive development of schools in the community. “This is one of the positive impacts of social media that the Igbanke Unity Forum has brought to the benefit of the education sector in the community,” he said. The commissioner, while saying that the state government was not unaware of the infrastructural challenge in some of the state public schools in the area, hinted that plans were already underway to address the challenges. Part of the plans, according to
by the Obaseki-led administration to ensure that all the public schools in the state were equipped with state-of-the-art furniture, just as he promised that as soon as the project commences, schools in Igbanke would be given utmost priority He, therefore, enjoined the benefitting schools to put the equipment into proper use, urging them to take ownership of it. Earlier, acting chairman of the IUF, Prince Eric Agbonifo Uwagbai, said that the gesture became necessary following an online media report where pupils in almost all the primary schools in the community were filmed sitting, and writing on bare floor in their various classes during lecture. Moved by the ugly development, Mr. Uwagbai, who spoke alongside one of the co-founders of the group and former editor at THISDAY newspapers (now Publisher of an online medium, METROWATCH, (www. metrowatchonline.com), Mr. Collins Edomaruse, said that the group, during its last Annual General Meeting (AGM) decided to embark on the project of equipping the schools with the sets of furniture.
YIAGA AFRICA has conducted an extensive reflection sessions with its State Focal Points in charge of election observation deployment in various states in Nigeria to assess the quality of its deployment for the 2019 elections. It could be recalled that YIAGA AFRICA through its Watching The Vote (WTV) project deployed 3906 observers across all Local Government Areas in Nigeria for the 2019 Presidential elections using the Parallel Vote Tabulation methodology and has taken steps to assess the process in a bid to improve on it ahead of the Bayelsa and Kogi Governorship elections coming up November 2019 Before the elections, YIAGA AFRICA built a structure of 48 State Focal Points (SFPs) across all 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with states like Kano, Lagos, Rivers, Anambra, Borno, Katsina and Kaduna having more than one SFP due to its geography and population. WTV recruited SFPs were in charge of project in the state as they recruited Local Government Areas Supervisors in every LGA in Nigeria while also representing the project in election observation related activities in their states. The LGA Supervisors on the other hand recruited polling unit observers from sampled polling units with the support and coordination of the State Focal Points in the state. Thus the SFPs are in a position to assess the quality of PVT deployment in the state ranging from quality of observers and whether they have been recruited from the right polling units. During the post-election debrief session across all Geopolitical zones in Nigeria; SFPs revealed that the WTV project helped to build the capacity of citizens and provided an opportunity for them to participate in the process of entrenching free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria. This is evident as some observers voluntarily covered subsequent elections as citizens’ observers without support from the WTV project. The PVT deployment for the 2019 general elections also improved gender mainstreaming and women participation in the electoral process as SFPs revealed that in most cases over 40 per cent of Polling Unit and roving observers are female. Another major success recorded by the largest movement committed
I, formerly known and addressed as MISS SHARON WOLU ONWUCHEKWA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SHARON WOLU CHINWO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note. I, formerly known and addressed as LASIS AFEEZ, now wish to be known and addressed as LASISI AFEEZ OLAMILEKAN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note. I formerly known and addressed as ABOLARIN ALIU, now wish to known and addressed as ABOLARIN ALIU AJAYI and my DoB was wrongly captured as 18th of May 1985 instead of 16th May 1985.All former documents remain valid the general public should please take note.
to credible elections during the 2019 elections is the fact that despite the threat to violence in some areas, WTV observers successfully deployed to sampled polling units without major hitches. Similarly, WTV observers were mostly seen as ambassadors of credible elections in their communities. Also the project built on its credibility as election stakeholders, like electoral commission, Nigerian Police other security agencies, traditional and religious leaders and other election stakeholders further reaffirmed their confidence in the WTV election observation project. For instance, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Oyo State, Barrister Mutiu Agboke opined that “WTV will always gain recognition because they have integrity, call me for any of your activity and my team I will attend”. Similarly, Dr. John Oyedokun Adewoye of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Oyo State said YIAGA AFRICA WTV project is a well-recognized institution in electoral matters and assured the support of the NSCDC throughout Oyo State. Likewise, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ondo State endorsed the WTV project saying, “honestly WTV project is doing wonderful by using data and technology to enhance integrity of election, I wish INEC will adopt the system”. While the WTV successfully deployed observers to sampled polling units, getting quality non-partisan citizens was a herculean task especially riverine communities, clustered localities and settings with low literacy level. Despite these challenges, coupled with insurgency in the North East the team leveraged on existing relationship with members of community and opinion leaders to make sure deployment was 100% on Election Day. As YIAGA AFRICA’s Watching The Vote prepares for the Bayelsa and Kogi Governorship elections, we remain committed to building confidence of citizens in the electoral process as we continue to build a nationwide movement of citizens committed to credible elections. We hereby appreciate the support of election stakeholders like the Independent National Electoral Commission, Nigerian Police, NSCDC, Traditional and religious leaders, the Nigerian Union of journalists and most importantly our observers for a successful deployment of the PVT during the 2019 elections
I, formerly known and addressed as ANYA ONYINYECHI JUSTINA, now wish to be known and addressed as OPURUM JULIE CHINYERE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note. I, formerly known and addressed as ALAO TEMITAYO YETUNDE, now wish to be known and addressed as AKANDE TEMITAYO YETUNDE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note. I, formerly known and addressed as MISS IDAHOSA MAGDALINE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS PHILLIP MAGDALINE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note. I, formerly known and addressed as CHUKWUWOIKE IFEANYI SYLVESTER, now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUWOIKE IFEANYI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.
ͺͿ˜ ͺ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER
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SPORTS XTRA U-17 AFCON Final
Nigeria May Face Cameroon as Japanese FA Exposes Guinea NFF files complaint to CAF The dust has not settled over the age cheating allegations made by Senegalese Federation against the Guinean National Team competing at the ongoing U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Tanzania. The Senegalese Federation has irrefutable evidence that two Guineans players Ahmed Tidiane Keita and Aboubacar Conte forged their current international passports and a complaint
was lodged with the Confederation of African Football. The physical and mature looking Guinea U-17s qualified for Sunday’s showpiece after a 10-9 win on penalties against Nigeria in the semifinal but they could be disqualified from the competition at the end of investigations by CAF. Ahmed Tidiane Keita and Aboubacar Conte played for Guinea at the U-16 International Dream
Cup 2017 in Japan with different ages compared with what they have on their passports now at the 2019 U-17 AFCON in Tanzania. According to sports. orange.fr, the Japanese Football Federation has since sent CAF travel documents to decide on this issue as the players changed their identities to enable them play at the U-17 AFCON. “All delegations are waiting for the reaction that will be adopted by
CAF,” said a member of the delegation of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF). Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation filed a complaint to the Confederation of African Football on Friday over two non-eligible players named in Guinea’s starting lineup in their 10-9 victory on penalties against Nigeria in the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations on April 24. The Nigerian Federa-
tion informed CAF that Aboubacar Conté and Ahmed Tidiane Keïta wearing the number 11 and 15 jersey respectively played in the tournament with different passports (born in 2002) from those they used in another tournament in Japan two years ago (born in 2001). The Nigerian Federation had asked CAF to disqualify Guinea while the Golden Eaglets play Cameroon in Sunday’s showpiece and CAF’s
Disciplinary Committee must decide within 24 hours. In the meantime, the Golden Eaglets continued their preparations for their final game in Tanzania, with another training session held yesterday. Sidos FC midfielder Akinkunmi Amoo has passed a fitness test and is available for selection, he was substituted against Guinea due to an ankle complaint.
Moses Says No U-Turn on International Retirement
Nigeria Golden Eaglets at the ongoing AFCON U17 listening to last minute instruction from their coach
Sala’s Father Dies Three Months after Son’s Death The father of Premier League footballer Emiliano Sala, who was killed in a plane crash earlier this year, has died three months after his son. Horacio Sala, 58, suffered a heart attack yesterday, his friend and president of his local club confirmed. Daniel Ribero, from San Martin de Progreso, told C5N TV channel that Mr. Sala had passed away before doctors arrived at his home in Progreso. Emiliano Sala’s plane crashed en route to Cardiff after leaving from France. The Argentine footballer was on his way to joining his new club Cardiff City from French club Nantes in a club record £15m deal when the crash happened over the English Channel. Progreso mayor Julio Muller led the tributes to Mr. Sala, telling La Red radio station: “Horacio could not overcome Emi, we thought that after the discovery he would be able to close that circle.” In a statement, Cardiff City
said the club offered its “deepest condolences” to Mr. Sala’s friends and family. “They are very much in the thoughts of us all at this difficult time,” a spokesman said. The Piper Malibu N264DB plane carrying Sala and pilot David Ibbotson went missing over waters near the Channel Islands on 21 January and it took rescuers two weeks to find the wreckage. The football star’s body was recovered on February 8, after a private rescue team took over the search for the missing plane. The father-of-three, a longdistance lorry driver, spoke to the BBC two weeks ago and pleaded “that justice be done” for his son. He told the BBC Wales Investigates programme he wanted to “continue investigating all the things that we have to know and that we can know.” “That is all I can ask,” added Mr. Sala, who had split up from his son’s mother Mercedes. Air accident investigators are still looking into why the Piper Malibu plane carrying Sala to
Cardiff for his first training session crashed. The light aircraft was piloted by Mr. Ibbotson, from Crowle, North Lincolnshire, whose body has not been found. The legality of Sala’s flight has
not yet been established, but a preliminary report from air accident investigators in February said the pilot was not licensed to carry fee-paying passengers and the plane was not registered for commercial flights.
Victor Moses who has been appealed to by many to rejoin the Super Eagle’s squad has stated that there is no going back on his retirement. The former Chelsea winger retired from international football after the Super Eagles crashed out of the Russian 2018 World Cup, citing the need to focus on his family and career at his former club, Chelsea. However, it has been gathered that the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, and Coach Gernot Rohr have attempted to convince Moses to make a return to the senior national team which is preparing for the 2019 AFCON. “We have to respect his decision. If he changes his mind we will welcome him back. But he has to find that motivation within himself to come back and be ready to give his 100 per cent at all times, as we know he can. “Then, of course, it is important that he gets back to playing regularly at his club and get his sharpness back,” Rohr had said. Early this year, Pinnick disclosed that he had begun moves to persuade Moses into returning to the Super Eagles team. “I believe he is someone that has paid his dues and he shouldn’t just leave Nigerian football unceremoniously. I talk to him every day and I make him understand that he can still return. “Even if he says I’m begging him, I don’t mind. It is not as if we don’t have players, but we need to encourage our players so that others will know that even when they retire, we still have them in mind, even though some of them retire because of ego,” the NFF boss said. He said: “He can’t just say he is going and we let him go just like that. I will be meeting with him and his agent soon at a roundtable and even if he wants to go, there must be a ceremony for him to go. Just like what England did for Wayne Rooney. We must celebrate them at every point in time.” Moses played 37 times for the Super Eagles, scoring 12 times since making his debut in 2012, won the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria in 2013 and represented the nation at two World Cups, in 2014 and 2018.
Semenya Wins 5,000m Gold at S’African Athletics Championships Caster Semenya won 5,000m gold at the South African Athletics Championships - a new distance that would not require her to lower her testosterone levels. The double 800m Olympic gold medalist is challenging athletics governing body over its regulation restricting testosterone levels in female runners. The Court of Arbitration for Sport is due to deliver a verdict on Semenya’s appeal by the end of April. Semenya, 28, also cruised into Friday’s 1500m final. Under IAAF rules, female
athletes with naturally high testosterone levels would have to race against or change events unless they took medication to reduce those levels. The regulations will apply to women in track events from 400m up to one mile and require athletes to keep their testosterone levels below a prescribed amount “for at least six months prior to competing”. Semenya has previously been asked to undertake gender testing by athletics chiefs, but no results have officially been made public.
Speaking at the championships, Olympic 400m champion Wayde van Niekerk said: “She’s fighting for something beyond just track and field; she’s fighting for women in sports (and) in society. “I will support her and, with the hard work and talent that she’s been putting into the sport, with what she believes in and what she’s dreaming for, I’ve got a lot of respect for her. “I really hope and pray that everything just goes from strength to strength for her.” Semenya beat Olympian and defending national
5,000m champion Dominique Scott at the championships, winning in a time of 16 minutes 05.97 seconds. However, Scott said she was unsure if Semenya could be a serious Olympic contender over the longer distance. “Honestly‚ I have no idea ‚ “ said the 26-year-old. “Before today, I probably would have said no. It’s hard to compare a 5,000 at altitude to a 5,000 at sea level. “But I think she’s an amazing runner and I don’t think there’s any limit or ceiling on what she can do.”
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Shehu Sani to FG “Today, the entire Northern Nigeria is under siege. In the North-west, it is the armed bandits, the North-central is experiencing attacks by herdsmen and the North-east is ravaged by insurgents” – Senator Shehu Sani lamenting the overwhelming security challenges facing Northern Nigeria.
PENDULUM DELE MOMODU
dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com
In Search of Public Relations Practitioners in Africa
F
ellow Africans, let me start by expressing my unflinching love for Africa and all Africans, regardless of race, gender or colour. My love of Africa was ignited by my older Brother, Professor Ezekiel Oladele Bolarinwa Ajayi, a Physicist who got his PhD from Stanford but, in the course of his university education there, encountered racism first hand as a student in America. His supervisor at Stanford was William Bradford Shockley Jr. who shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with John Bardeen and Walter Brattain in 1956 for “their researches on semiconductors and their discovery of the transistor effect.” My story today is not really about the scientific adventures of my dear Brother, from the same womb, and his eccentric Professor, it is about the politics of race and hate in the classroom and the reason why I embrace all things Africa and African unapologetically. That is not to say, that I too am racist, but merely to emphasise that I cannot close my eyes to where I come from simply on the altar of trying to be politically correct. Professor Shockley was unapologetically racist. He wasted precious time trying to prove how “the major causes of the American Negro’s intellectual and social deficits are hereditary and racially genetic in origin and, thus, not remediable to any major degree by practical improvements in the environment…” You can then imagine how gobsmacked and shocked Shockley must have been to come in contact with not just a Blackman in his class, but one from a village called Gbongan, in today’s Osun State. Shockley seriously believed in the theory that Blacks should be sterilised before coming in touch with Whites, a terrible prejudice that totally radicalised my brilliant brother who went all out to demonstrate to Shockley that though he had travelled long distances to arrive in California and across oceans, he was as phenomenal, prodigiously cerebral and, ultimately, as decent as any White man. In effect, my Brother, Professor Ajayi, was not only a first class physicist, he also became a courted academic in his field, thereby shocking Shockley to the very marrow. My Brother showed interest and participated in the activities of the Pan-Africanist Movement. He even attended one of the Pan-African Conferences in Dar es Salaam, as many distinguished leaders of African descent converged in Tanzania. My Brother met the great President Nwalimu Julius Nyerere and came back with so many literatures extolling the virtues of the African race and some books that lamented the unfortunate quagmire Africans have got sucked into. One of his favourite books I inherited without his permission was HOW EUROPE UNDERDEVELOPED AFRICA, by the famous Guyanese historian and author, Walter Anthony Rodney. Rodney was so radical that he got assassinated in 1980. Naturally, I followed up with other radical literatures by compelling authors like Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of the Independent Republic of Ghana. I instantly fell in love with two of his popular books, Consciencism and Africa Must Unite. I read Frantz Fanon, the French West Indian philosopher and psychiatrist, who wrote the seminal work, The Wretched of the Earth. Thus, my romanticism of Africa started in earnest. Of course, my Brother had arrived
Former Ghanaian President, Dr John Dramani Mahama
in America in the middle of the civil rights movements and agitation for racial equality. It was impossible not to read and know about the amazing contributions of the American Baptist Minister, Martin Luther King Jr. who was assassinated at the unripe age of 39, on April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Motel, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. I read about the American Muslim Minister and human rights activist, Malcolm X, who had been assassinated earlier on February 21, 1965, also at the young age of 39, in Manhattan, New York. I, like many of my contemporaries, was fired up by these iconic iconoclasts. I bought and devoured the African Writers Series, published by Heinemann Books as a secondary school student and this was the genesis of my interest and love for literature, particularly African Literature, and the background for my Masters Degree in Literature in English. My first knowledge of Africa, its history and the peoples, came from reading authors from the North and to the South of Africa. Egypt’s Naguib Mahfouz, Kenya’s Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Meja Mwangi, Cameroon’s Mongo Beti, Ghana’s Ayi Kwei Armah and Kofi Awoonor, Nigeria’s Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Elechi Amadi, T. M. Aluko, John Munonye, Kole Omotoso, and others, Senegal’s Sembene Ousmane, South Africa’s Alex La Guma, Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda, Cameroon’s Mongo Beti, Ferdinand Oyono, Mbella Sonne Dipoko and others, Somalia’s Nuruddin Farah, and so many other authors. My original plan was to be a teacher, marry a teacher and live happily thereafter because I was surrounded by teachers – my Brother was a lecturer in the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, and my Sister, Feyi Adeniran’s husband was a teacher at my alma mater, St Johns Grammar School, Ile-Ife. But man proposes and God disposes. Unknown to me then, those books actually prepared me for a journey in a different direction, journalism, which I came into by pure accident. Let’s leave that for my forthcoming memoirs. I have gone through this relatively long preamble to evince how I became fanatical about the celebration of Africa. Once upon a time, it seemed the West saw nothing good about Africa, which Joseph Conrad had described as The Heart of Darkness. Many racists believed, won’t be surprised if
they still do, that Africans live on trees and jump from one tree to another like monkeys. Indeed, the monkey chants, gestures and depictions we hear and see on sporting grounds, particularly the football terraces, when our talented African stars showcase their skills tells me that this belief is still rife amongst some ignorant people. Africa was synonymous with wars, famine, deprivation, diseases and all what not. At the beginning of Ovation International magazine in London, in 1996, we took a firm decision, and made a bold commitment, to publishing stories about Africa in a positive manner. 23 years after, the world has come to agree and accept that Africa deserves a standing ovation, against all odds. Many of those who did not understand our mission and trajectory refused to see the good in celebrating ourselves if no one would look our way. Africans have had their fair shares of greatness and also backwardness. But no race has a monopoly of both. The difference is we have been our own worst enemies. We love to rubbish our own achievement while we celebrate that of others. On our part at Ovation International, we have laboured assiduously to put Africa on the global map where it rightly belongs, and we shall not relent. The best of Africa deserves this. I’m particularly grateful to the Africa Studies Centre at Oxford University for rekindling my interest in academic work some 31 years after finishing my Masters degree at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. I’m particularly delighted by the privilege of rubbing minds with world scholars. For me, there is no better place to be at this time than Oxford. I intend to make the best use of the opportunity. Oxford made it possible for me to start the first quarter of this year on a powerful note. The second quarter is even looking more exciting. On May 10, 2019, we shall have the honour of the distinguished presence of the former President of Ghana, Dr. John Dramani Mahama, at Oxford. According to a release, “H.E John Mahama, former President of Ghana will give his insightful lecture at Saïd Business School in collaboration with the African Studies Centre and the Oxford Africa Business Alliance. President John Mahama was the President of Ghana from 2012 to 2017. Previously, he served as Vice President between 2009 and 2012. He is a communication expert, historian and writer and the presidential candidate of Ghana’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2020 presidential election. He is the author of My First Coup d’État and Other True Stories From the Lost Decades of Africa (2012). The lecture will include an audience Q&A moderated by Prof. Wale Adebanwi, Director of the Africa Studies Centre & Rhodes Professor of Race Relations.“ Oxford University is doing so much work on Africa at the moment and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share in their huge experience and vast libraries of research materials. Africa seems to be the last virgin continent. With the right kind of leadership, Africa and many more Africans would ultimately occupy their rightful position in the pantheon of greats. I’m happy that our modest efforts at celebrating Africa has not gone unnoticed. There are times you feel no one notices your hard work or shares
in your vision. You almost get enslaved by frustration and capitulation. But when I feel this way, I remember, where I have come from, and how far the journey has taken me, and I refocus and re-energise myself. The biggest task facing Africa today is how to rebrand itself from a squalid continent to a prosperous one. This is why we need to engage in serious public relations to clean up the image of Africa as a gabbage continent. One country that has changed its savage narrative to a positive one of unity, growth and progress is Rwanda. Rwanda should be a case study for Nigeria and Nigerians in particular, and the rest of Africa in general. Rwanda has benefited immensely from what I consider to be the power of positive thinking. The leadership of Rwanda has demonstrated the limitless capacity for human endeavours and achievements. Please, let me now share my good news. On May 14, 2019, by the grace of God, I will be conferred with the honorary Fellowship of the African Public Relations Association (APRA), the only recipient from Nigeria. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda will be decorated as a Patron of APRA. Other recipients of honorary Fellowships include former Ghanaian President, Dr John Dramani Mahama, and Ambassador Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission (AUC). In a letter signed by the President of APRA, Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, he wrote: “Concisely, APRA sells ‘Positive Africa’ and in line with our key intervention areas, recognizes individuals for their efforts and accomplishments in promoting the continent. Considering your dedication to Africa, and role as an inspiration to our profession, the Executive Council of APRA is proud to confer you with the Honorary Fellowship of its association, with all rights and privileges pertaining to. “You will be decorated at the opening ceremony of our 31st Annual Conference tagged ‘Africa and Storytelling: Changing the Narrative”… Other expected honorees will be the President of the Republic of Rwanda, HE Paul Kagame, who will be decorated as a Patron in line with his office, the Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission, Ambassador Kwesi Thomas Quartey, and former President, Republic of Ghana, Mr John Dramani Mahama as Honorary Fellows respectively…” My sincere gratitude to all members of the APRA, and in particular, the Executive, for finding me worthy of this amazing honour. This acknowledgement of my modest contribution to the development of a positive African ethos, greatly humbles me. It makes me ever more determined not to relent in my efforts to champion what is best and noble about Africa and Africans, and to refuse to follow the pervasive trend of succumbing to the prejudiced notion that nothing good can come out of Africa. This award will definitely inspire me to do more for Africa. Once more I also use this opportunity to appreciate all my fans and well-wishers who have also made this award possible. I believe that your demonstration of affection for me has helped the APRA and its Executive, in no small measure, in coming to the conclusion that I deserve this much cherished award. Thank you APRA! God bless you, God bless Africa.
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