Harmony Magazine of Ikoyi Club 1938 by Taiwo Obe

ISSN 1 5 9 7 - 1 9 0 2

The Ikoyi Club 1938 Magazine

january - march 2013

GOLF CAPTAIN

eBI pINNICK

IKOYI CLUB 1938 CHAIRMAN

RICHARD GIWA-OSAGIE

chairman’s parting words

womens’ health concerns

wrongly diagnosed

golf special women &

wines

OUR

moms

A Musa

AKINOL

Chinedu

F R O M T H E H O N O R A R Y S E C R E TA R Y

Gratitude THE TRUSTEES • Mr R.L. Kramer • Mr Alaba Okupe • Engr Akin Laguda GENERAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS OFFICE BEARERS • Chairman – Mr Richard Giwa-Osagie • Vice Chairman – Mr Babatunde Akinleye • Honorary Secretary – Otunba Abiodun Olufowobi • Honorary Treasurer – Mr Oludayo Olusanya • Golf Captain – Mr Ebiyemi Pinnick Other Members Chairmen of Sections • TennisMr Billy Joe Ekwunife • Swimming – Mr Freeborn Okunowo Erherede • Squash – Arc Sanya Akindele • Table Tennis – Mr Tony Owolabi • Billiards, Snooker & Pool – Mr Adediran Benson • Badminton – Reginald Ezebube Udeagbala • Other Sports – Mrs Ify Onukwuba • Entertainment – Mr Olatunji Okesola • Premises Adviser – Engr Sunmade Agbe-Davies • Bar Adviser – Adeniyi Adesegun Sowemimo • Catering Adviser – Olabimpe Esho Publications Sub Committee Chairman: Otunba Abiodun Olufowobi Members: Segun Afadama, Lanre Idowu, Ted Iwere, Taiwo Obileye, Tony Onyima Editorial Consultancy, Design and Production: Harpostrophe Limited, 2 Anifowoshe Close, Surulere NG101211, Tel: +2348023130829, 08186935900 email: info@harpostrophe.com. Printed in Nigeria by Printpro Projects Limited, 2 Anifowoshe Close, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria NG101211. Tel: +2348120168147

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his is the valedictory issue of HARMONY cant and worrisome. This must remain an internationfor me as the magazine’s editor-in-chief and al family club where members deserve the presumption of being decent, reasonable and responsible members Honorary Secretary of Ikoyi Club 1938. I pray that the light lit should never dim much of the society. We do not need to have 35 million laws trying to enforce the Ten Commandments less quench. I have done my bit in these two years and I submit (apologies, Earl Wilson ). myself to your judgment and posterity. For instance, the Rule that a serving office holder be suspended while the Trustees are investigating a peSignificantly, however, I am signing off with an issue in honour of Motherhood. tition from any member is not service-friendly because it fails to prescribe corresponding punishment for a My people say “No one can carry the baby as the mother” , hence it was a good day when the club hosted petition found to be frivolous or compensation for Dr Doyinsola Abiola during the Women Evening such office holder whose reputation would have been of the 74th Anniversary and she talked maligned and injured. This Rule remains a viable “nuke” hovering over all serving office about her mom as her mentor. The media holders and may not motivate members to scholar and amiable wife of our symbol of serve. My two pence: The cooking fire should democracy, late Bashorun MKO Abiola, This must not be measured by the length of the snake. who, apart from being a mother, remains a remain an Facility decay and wanton waste have beacon of journalism in Nigeria, did justice to the topic in the very simple and personal internation- set in, in geometrical proportions; the way she re-created the relationship she had al family maintenance regime in the club today is with her own mother. club where inadequate and remains a point of financial Memories about my own mother almembers hemorrhage. Contract Administration (Lowest bidways set me with misty eyes when I travel deserve the der policy has been grossly abused by conthe nostalgic lane of my childhood. My presumption tractors (members and staff?) and it simply mother was what a mother should be and of being means poorly executed contracts are recycled more. She remained my most successful teacher at the “World” University (quite decent, rea- ad infinitum. Paper. Paper. Paper: Even if we get paintriguing and ironical considering that I sonable and taught her to read and write when I was in responsible per for free, we need to restrict its use. Let’s the primary school) albeit she was as wise, advantage of the e-business tools that members take sharp and intuitive as they come but she are available today and save cost and the of the soci- environment. never had the opportunity of formal eduety. Finally, I must express my heartfelt cation; but don’t take a bet, my mother was gratitude to members of this great club for never an illiterate!!! May the Good Lord continue to keep her in Celestial bliss. the opportunity to serve. I remain eternally My experience in the service of our grateful to the members who invested their great club remains a sour/sweet one. It is my opinion confidence in me; particularly those who kept my back and silently urged me on at challenging times. that, going forward, we should quickly address these I am grateful to the staff of the club, fellow General cogent issues: Committee members, the wonderful team I had in the The Rules of the Club: I humbly submit that we need to take another look at our Rules. The rules are Membership Sub-Committee, my think-tank of media meant to be obeyed by esteemed members of this great gurus in the Publication Sub-committee, the Taiwo Obe (TO/Araisokun) led consultants to Harmony (Taiclub – they must necessarily carry a human face and should not, under any circumstances, take anything joWonukabe Ltd/Harpostrophe Ltd), and the Secretaraway from the fact that we are all responsible adults ies of my Sub-committees. and heads of families. The club belongs to all of us and Above all, my gratitude goes to the Almighty God, though categories of membership may differ but we who takes the glory for this outing - “Because he hath should all enjoy equal status under the Rules as proset his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set vided for in the founding Grundnorm of the Club. The him on high, because he hath known my name.” (Psalm anxiety of protecting the commonwealth should not 91:14) lead us to criminalise ourselves so much as to regulate Otunba Abiodun Olufowobi “coughing.” We need to query why we are now gener(PABIEKUN) ating so much litigation as if it is one of our founding editor-in-chief/Honorary Secretary, objectives - post amendment to our Rules as against Ikoyi Club 1938 what obtained under the Rules regime between 1938 pabiekun@yahoo.com. Mob: 08060934000 and 1998; the attendant legal fees is becoming signifi-

20 6 Update

39 Law

9 Cover

41 Bars & Delicacies

The Elders have their Day as STI Table Tennis tourney holds.

It’s the turn of our dearest mothers to be celebrated. Roll out the drums.

20Interview

Contents 27

Meet Richard Giwa-Osagie: up close and personal.

Special Feature

An engaging, even explosive tee-up with Golf Captain Ebi Pinnick plus a South African safari and Facts of Life.

27 gOlF

What do women know about wine? Hear it all from Laura Clay.

42Nutrition

‘’Food is ready.” What food? Find out the combo that may be good for you.

43Health

Top medic, Prof Boma Ogedengbe, discusses women’s health problems.

45Hahaha Mixed grill.

and how did me Golf Captain When did you beco that come about? . I was nick Pin i yem Ebi is y name , the Golf Section elected Captain of ruary 2012. Feb in 8 193 b Ikoyi Clu asto way nal not the traditio My election was but there cy of the section, cend to the captain my candidacy and I t for por sup le amp was Captain ditionally, the Vice osed) sailed through. Tra ted Captain (unopp elec ally atic om is aut ation . But we had a situ apthe following year was tain ng Vice Cap where the then sitti 1 election ted) due to the 201 two pointed (not elec the re whe , f Section situation of the Gol ition could not proceed pos contestants for the d proper. since then I have serve to the electionand section in 1991 and man-

The legal implications of wrongfully diagnosing a patient.

I joined the club ittees: Under the Chair d house sub-comm serve in the following main current Trustee, Mr. Alaba Okupe, man ship of our Anga) as Vice Chair (under Mr. Fubara ittee; also under the of Rules sub-comm Sode, Toye . Adm Chairmanship of sa) Omo as a served (under FOJ member of PPMC. n, Within the Golf Sectio ber of the I served as a mem pean Nigeria Open (a Euro comPGA Tour event) John mittee under Gen. Shagaya. I served also as Handicap Secretary under the following Golf Captains Shina Aigoro, Charles Majoroh, Uyi

Y C N I A T P A C s er tt – and other ma

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Update PARTY

…one day for the elders

words: anthony okeoma pictures: richard enesi

hen it’s the club’s anniversary, the club’s elders have their exclusive Day. So, it was during the 74th

Anniversary. Venue: Club Lawn. It was a day filled with “old school” music, food, drinks and plenty of reminiscing by these folk who are 65 years old and above or who have been club members for at least 25 years. Two of Nigeria’s grand(daddy) musicians, Victor “Baby Jowo” Olaiya and Fatai “Won kere si nomba wa” Rollin’ Dollar, were on the bandstand and kept the party alive – and agog. Olaiya’s son, Kayode, would later take over – and isn’t he going to be another great trumpeter; like his old man? Club Chairman, Mr Richard Giwa-Osagie, welcoming the elders and their guests, stated that “whoever does not listen to the words of the elders should be pitied.” While taking a break from his trumpet and soaking up the convivial ambience, Olaiya, the elder, that is, said: “Wonderful occasion, am delighted to be here…. A wellpackaged activity because the members of the club remembered the aged; there is merriment and people seem to be on top of the world. You can see that I and Sir Fatai Rolling Dollar, are very happy to be here and we are happy to play, so it’s a beautiful day.” Another club elder, John Mensah, 78, expressed similar sentiments: “Beautiful evening,” he said, adding, “wonderful, we the old ones

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all about th e club , outsid e and within

u p d ate a l l a b o u t the c l u b , o u ts i d e an d w i th i n

are enjoying it. It is ending but then it’s just starting. I rate it 90 per cent.” That should gladden the heart of Club Vice Chairman Mr Babatunde Akinleye, who’s the chairman of the anniversary’s organising committee; this evening, he was happily heralding the elders to the party. Dance! Dance!! Dance!!! And, Mr Giwa-Osagie set the ball rolling. He would be joined on the dance floor by Entertainment Chairman, Mr. Tunji Okesola; Table Tennis Chairman Mr. Anthony Owolabi and others. Till fade.

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u p d ate a l l a b o u t the c l u b , o u ts i d e an d w i th i n

FEEDBACK

issn 1597-1902

n the last issue (Special Children’s Issue, October 2012), we invited our young ones to tell us the morals taught by the fables that Gerwine Bayo-Martins graciously rosÉ, anyone? supplied to the magazine. In this issue, we are publishing maker of the first entry that came in soon after the magazine was babies published. It’s from eight-year-old Subomi Olaleru, who keeping ‘em attends Karis School, Magodo GRA, Lagos State. Miss bUsy Olaleru’s favourite subject is English Language. She likes singing and dancing and dislikes fighting and playing losing battle, rough. paying doUble Dear Subomi, whenever you are at the club, please meet the Ag GM, Mr Tokunbo Ekundayo, who will hand praising yoUr over gifts that have been provided by Unilever Nigeria child plc. or not We shall publish other entries in subsequent issues. If you have not sent yours, please go ahead and email us at info@harpostrophe.com. Meanwhile, let’s enjoy Subomi’s, which is on the “Foolish Tortoise.” the ikoyi clUb 1938 magazine

special children’s’ issUe october 2012

toying with a visa ban

oUr

children

The morals she learnt: 1. You should not be angry with your environment and the world around us 2. You should not act on decision that comes to your mind when you are angry. 3. You should learn to use your five magic words please,excuse me,sorry,thank you and pardon me. 4. We should always be polite to others. You should not think you are the smartest. Children should learn from others, their teachers and parents.

FROM THE SECTIONS STI 2013 Table Tennis Tournament The Table Tennis section has had more tournaments than any other section within the last few months. The latest was the Sovereign Trust Insurance (STI) tournament that saw some outstanding display by the competing members. S. Oki who was the champion at the last tournament sponsored by Union Bank Plc. was replaced by Emmanuel Jack who was second at the same tournament. Jack will hold on to the title until a new champion emerges. However, the winners at this STI tournament are: Men’s Single Div. I 1st Emmanuel Jack 2nd Sheikh Adnan 3rd V. Dacosta 3rd S. Oki 5th F. Sokoya 6th G. Okunneye 7th B. Adebayo 8th S. Ileyemi Men’s Singles Div. II 1st Soji Aladesuru 2nd Alfred Okoigun

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3rd Sumbo Ileyemi 3rd Adesanya Olu Men’s Doubles 1st Emma Jack/T. Shobande 2nd B. Ayomide/S. Aladesuru 3rd F. Sokoya/H.K Lee 3rd L. Dada Bashua/Y. Adeyemi Ladies Singles 1st Annah Lee 2nd Tolu Onakoya 3rd Mrs. Dada Veteran Singles 1st V. Dacosta 2nd G. Okuneye 3rd B. Ayorinde 3rd A. Owolabi 5th A. Adeyemi 6th F. O Azeez 7th J. Ogunleye 8th T. Shobande Super Veteran 1st B. K Adebanjo 2nd L. Dada Bashua 3rd L. Onolaja 4th F. Oduntan 5th B. Laja 6th T. Obileye 7th B. K Abayomi 8th U. Njoku

table tennis tournaments from 2012 - above & Left: union bank tournament; below & bottom: arco tournament pictures by richard enesi

p reface to co v er

WHAT MY

MOM’S HANDS

TAUGHT ME harmony

p reface to co v er w hat my mom ’ s han d s ta u g ht me

ne young academically excellent person applied for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the first interview; the director did the last interview, made the last decision. The director discovered from the youth’s CV that his academic achievements were excellent all the way: from the secondary school until the postgraduate research, he never had a year when he did not score. The director asked, “Did you obtain any scholarships in school?” The youth answered “none.” The director asked, “Was it your father who paid for your school fees?” The youth answered, “My father passed away when I was one year old; it was my mother who paid my school fees.” The director asked, “Where did your mother work?” The youth answered, “My mother worked as clothes’ cleaner.” The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect. The director asked, “Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?” I want to recruit The youth answered, a person who “Never, my mother would not put money first always wanted me to study and read more books. Furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.” The director said, “I have a request. When you go back today, go and clean your mother’s hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.” The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back, he happily requested his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to the son. The youth cleaned his mother’s hands slowly. His tears fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother’s hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother shivered when they were cleaned with water. This was the first time the youth realised that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him pay his school fees. The bruises in the mother’s hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his graduation, academic excellence and his future.

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After finishing the cleaning of his mother’s hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother. That night, mother and son talked for a very long time. Next morning, the youth went to the director’s office. The director noticed the tears in his eyes, asked: “Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?” The youth answered, “I cleaned my mother’s hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes.” The director asked, “Please tell me your feelings.” The youth said, “Number enough of facebook , son. it is 1, I know now what is time to cut the grass outside appreciation. Without my mother, there would not be the successful me today. Number 2, by working together and helping my mother, only I now realise how difficult and tough it is to get something done. Number 3, I have come to appreciate the importance and value of family relationship.” The director said, “This is what I am looking for in my manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. You are hired.” Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and as a team. The company’s performance improved tremendously. A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop “entitlement mentality” and would always put himself first. He would be ignorant of his parent’s efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. For this kind of people, who may be good academically, may be successful for a while, but eventually would not feel a sense of achievement. He will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying the kid instead?” You can let your child live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it. After a meal, let them wash their plates and bowls together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow grey, same as the mother of that young person. The most important thing is your child learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to get things done. *Author unknown

co v er

MOM’S THE

WORLD W By Anthony Okeoma

hen women talk, they talk about, er, men. Not when it’s the ladies of Ikoyi Club 1938, and it’s the Women’s Evening of the club’s anniversary, and the speaker is a media professional with a PhD to her name, Doyinsola Abiola. If you may, you can also add her Igbo name, Chinyere given to her by her Igbo baptismal godfather. “It is in my former documents, and I am proud to have that name,” she told her audience gleefully. harmony

co v er mom ’ s the w or l d

Dr. Abiola, widow of businessman, politician and the presumed winner of Nigeria’s 12 June 1993 presidential election, Bashorun Moshood Abiola, didn’t waste too much time that evening in declaring her stance, as she started with the following statement: “I think if we excel, if we are our mothers’ daughters, perhaps things will be better in this country. I do not think any country can make it without its womenfolk. Women have the sky numerically, geographically; we make half of the world’s sky. I do not see how you can do it economically, socially, any wise, to ignore half of your population; not to utilise half your population to the

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optimum level. Perhaps we won’t have all the difficulties we have now.” She continued to prime the audience: “I believe that as a woman you must have knowledge about a little bit of everything because you are at the centre; everything will gravitate towards you. If you marry, have your husband who is working and all the rest, who will bring home certain things to you, to seek your advice. In this day and age, you have to be very knowledgeable, not only in terms of book but also in experience.” But, her mission that evening was to talk about mothers as mentors; using her mother, Mrs Caroline Ololade Abo-

I do not think any country can make it without its womenfolk. Women have the sky numerically, geographically; we make half of the world’s sky. I do not see how you can do it economically, socially, not utilising half your population to the optimum level.

aba, as an example. No, she didn’t come to the club with her. “I lost my mother years back,” she noted. Still, we can meet her. “I will tell you about my mother. She came from a notable family in Abeokuta. Her father was what you would call Chief of Staff, to Oba Ladapo Samuel Ademola II, Alake of Egbaland; in fact they went on exile together. My mother’s first marriage was to a monarch: the Osile of Egbaland. She had a son for him but when she could not adjust to palace nuances and norms, she reassessed the relationship and decided that it was not for her. But at that time it was a taboo to leave a king, but she did. She said ‘you wait and see me run.’ She left the monarch, and was match-made with my father, Mr William Adebayo Aboaba, who also was from a notable family. My grandfather was the Balogun of Egbaland. My father came to Lagos at a very young age. In those days men could follow their sisters to live with them when they (the sisters) got married (what they call Omo Iyawo); so he came to Lagos to live with the sister, Mrs. Odeinde. They were matchmade, they got married; and I should tell you that they were real soul mates. My mother was the COO of home affairs; she was solidly in control. My father, I must confess to you, was a gentle and quiet man; and he was a civil servant in those days, with the likes of Adebo. My mom, my mentor

“My daughter was about three years old (when my mother died). But she made such a vivid impression on her. My mother was a very strong woman. She had three girls for my father. I brought one with me - but she had to go somewhere else - just for you to see what I am talking about, to know where I am coming from. Everyone needs a mentor and for me it’s my mother; everything I do, think, I always consider what she would say.” Just to be sure that everyone was on the same page with her on her perspective of mentorship, she asked: “Do you have mentors? Why do you think you need a mentor?” First to answer was Mrs. Lawal Aisha: “I think we need a mentor, so that we don’t go astray; and then to be able to know our right from our left. Most of this information is collectively gathered through our mothers, most especially

co v er mom â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s the w or l d

Dr mrs doyinsola abiola, flanked by Mr richard giwaosagie and mr babatunde akinleye, at the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evening

a guest contributes flanked by club secretary otunba abiodun olufowobi and club chairman giwa-osagie

mrs erelu reading the citation on dr abiola

another guest contributes flanked by mr akinleye and Mrs bimpe eso

a cross-section of the women

mrs moji giwa-osagie makes a contribution

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co v er mom ’ s the w or l d

because that is the first education a child would have as he or she is growing up.” Then came Tokunbo Iyamu: “I have a mentor, and that’s my mom. She is my role model. (My mentor) is someone I would aspire to be like; emulate in especially all the good qualities that person possesses, and that’s who I consider a mentor.” Of course, those answers tickled Dr. Abiola. She had kindred spirits – sort of – in the audience. “Good. Good. I’m happy that your mothers too are your mentors….” Perhaps, we should let her continue from here – uninterrupted; except to offer her a glass of water now and then. I told my mom everything

“My mother was my mentor because she was one person I could tell all to. You cannot have a good relationship with your mentor if you cannot tell her the truth in any matter, no matter how bad it makes you look, because she can only go by what you say to her when you ask for advice and the rest of it; that is why I held on to my mom because I could tell her the truth. I believe you have to tell your mentor the truth, for any meaningful relationship between you. My mother believed very strongly in her three girls. She was determined that we were educated. In those days, female education was not a priority. I wanted to be a medical doctor but I can’t stand the sight of blood. I did the next best thing I took a pay a day. Conscientious, self-assured, disciplinarian, allows you to choose

My mother was such a conscientious person. She was self-assured. There was nothing you took to her that fazed her. When you go to her and say this or that is happening and you can’t take it, she would say se o ti tan (is that all?) and if you say yes, she would say ‘my dear, tomorrow is another day and you will face it.’ Whenever you are taking a decision she would say, ‘is it what you want?’ If you say ‘yes’, she would say ‘you will have to live by your decision.’ I remember when I had a very bad habit – reading while at the dining table. Everybody would finish eating and I still haven’t. One day, my mother got angry and yanked the food off my table and said, you will go without food, I said ok.

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I crawled into bed; late in the night I was very hungry; I crawled out to the pantry where food was kept, I wanted to go and eat. My mother did not sleep because she knew that was going to happen; she waited for me. As I tried to pull out food, she snatched my hand and said, ‘you are not going to eat. You refused to eat at the right time.’ She was a disciplinarian. Yet, she could be very compassionate. She would listen to you and let you be whatever you wanted to be. I remember when I was going to get married. My husband, whom some of you may know, in his usual spontaneous manner went to our house, knocked on the door, and informed my parents that he was going to marry their daughter. My father said ‘who the hell are you?’ So he introduced himself in his usual way: ‘My name is Abiola’ They said, ‘and so?’ He said, ‘I want to marry your daughter.’ And they said, ‘have you asked her? We have nothing to do with this.’ So they said, ‘look you are in the wrong place, go and ask her.’ Neither I nor my parents knew anything about polygamy. My parents - my mother especially - said to me. ‘We love you dearly. You chose it, you will live with it.’ Every time I had difficulties, and I said to them, ‘I think am going to opt out of this’ they said, ‘you chose it, you will live with it.’ In retrospect, I think they did me a good favour because what would it be like if they tried to bring their own rules and regulations into my marriage? I see so many marriages breaking up because parents try to carve their own kinds of marriage for their children; it is totally impossible. We do so many silly things; because this is the way we women are. My mother was totally dependent on my father. She had no cheque book; she never wrote a cheque. My father was the provider. She was happy with whatever she was given, but in that submission, she had tremendous strength - nothing happened in that house without her approval, but she was also mindful of her husband. In those days, when we wanted to go out, we had to take permission. As girls, the rule was that you would have to give two weeks’ notice. Anybody inviting you out would have to send an invitation two weeks in advance. We became

My mother was my mentor because she was one person I could tell all to. You cannot have a good relationship with your mentor if you cannot tell her the truth in any matter, no matter how bad it makes you look.

notorious for it - you want to invite us out, you have to do it two weeks before time; and when the invitation arrived my parents would vet it and take a decision whether we would accept or not, and that decision was taken primarily by my mother, but the person who would break the bad news was my father; so if you wanted to direct your anger, you directed it at him. That is the kind of relationship they had. I never saw my parents fight - they never did – at least not in our presence. No. They never said anything that would suggest that there was a disagreement. Original deficit manager

I call my mother the original deficit manager, and am sure you all are familiar with that. My mother could make anything out of nothing. She didn’t throw away foodstuff the way we do. She knew how to preserve food, and she would put them together and you would taste it and it would be fantastic. She went to the market on Fridays, and it was a big thing with her because she had special portions for meat, fish, vegetables and all the rest of it. She knew how to price things. She would move from one food stall to the other. Can we go home? I would urge. She would say ‘girl, you are going to be somebody’s wife in future, you must learn how to do this, and you must learn how to negotiate in the market.’ She knew when something was fresh or not. As soon as the seller raised it, she would tell you, ‘don’t even bother showing me that.’ She knew the technique. If it is fish, she would open the gills and look at it; she would tell me ‘look at it, if it is not red, it is not fresh.’ When we were doing all that I was wondering why, but it has stood me in good stead. Women, especially professional wome, are not truthful to themselves. My mother would tell you, if you say this is where you are going, that this and this is likely to happen. How many of you truly talk to one another in the work place? I don’t think men operate that way; they network. I belong to so many groups; but I network with men more because they will tell you, when you are afraid of it, that it is not going to work or it will. When women get into positions of power they become all knowing - they

co v er mom ’ s the w or l d

don’t need anybody’s advice. When they are booted out of the office, they become normal; then they would call you, “aunty” and I would ask ‘what do I owe this honour? They would say, ‘I just want to find out about something,’ then I would say ‘really, c’mon what is it?’ Then some would cry, and I will wonder….

a cross-section of the guests at the women’s evening

Do you say you are sorry?

My mother taught me to say sorry because it takes a courageous person to say ‘I am sorry.’ There is nothing wrong in saying I am sorry. I even say sorry to my grandson. He is only eight months old. Once, I forgot the time of his meal, and he was wailing and crying, and I said to him, ‘I am sorry.’ I don’t know what my gesture was to him, but he calmed down. So put that in your vocabulary: to say ‘sorry.’ It’s all about mission, not power

All of a sudden we are now in an age where they are talking about women of power. I hit the board because power connotes arrogance; connotes misuse of power, connotes selfishness. My mother was a woman of mission - which was to train her three girls to the best of her ability. My eldest sister was a banker. My younger sister studied French, but through the Akintola Williams and Mama Oye Williams, she went into secretarial work. It was through her I met (the Ikoyi Club 1938 Vice Chairman) Mr. (Tunde) Akinleye. She said ‘Tunde is a good boy’ because he was more or less a boy then. He started a company; we stayed with him in the company, now he has grown and now a full-fledged CEO of his own company. Yahoo Inc made Marissa (Meyer) the new CEO. She told them she was pregnant, they still went ahead to make her the CEO. Then that started a discussion, can women have it all? Meaning: can a woman be a CEO of a company as well as be a mother? My mother taught me something she never talked about it. She was just herself - she did it naturally. She is much loved on her father’s side and same on her mother’s side. She was a socialite because she went round the family. She was a full-time housewife, and my father’s chief of staff. My father was helpless without her. Incidentally they died

My mother was true to herself. She had deep emotional connection to work. She believed in work; that you have to be industrious. She had a mission and she believed you have to achieve. She also believed you have to aim for joy - be joyous.

within one year of each other; (that’s why I had said) they were soul-mates. My father would not eat because she would always prepare her husband’s food for him to eat. You may wonder what the significance of what I am saying is; it is that we will not make it in this country without strong, compassionate women with a mission, not powerful women; powerful women for what? I consider myself a strong woman because we are operating from strength. God is his own interpreter and he has deemed it fit to put us side by side with the men because there are certain things we do and do well, and there are certain things men do and do very well, and if not for that we won’t be members of Ikoyi Club 1938. My mother used to call me jokingly “Emily, oni kaba” because I worry all the time. I used to call Tunde and say why can’t we do this, and he would say Sista Doyin, we are in Nigeria, and I would say, and so? In this country we have the human resources, natural resources, we have the number. We have no business being the way we are; and I think the onus is on the women. We have lots of work to do. Who’s your true friend?

Friendship for my mother was a lifelong thing. I know my mother, and we became true life friends. For me, people I call my friends are people I went to elementary school with because we support, and stand by, one another no matter what any of us may have become. When my daughter was getting married I wrote a piece to people I was invit-

ing, it was like poetry; and I told them that my mother told me that it takes a village to raise a child - you cannot raise a child by yourself, it takes a village. So I wrote to them and said as one of the villagers, you are invited; and I made bold to tell you that everybody in that village has done something in my daughter’s life. Many people were asking who would be the chairman of the wedding, and I told them not to worry that they will see the chairman, and behold, yours truly was the chairman (she points at Mr. Tunde Akinleye); and when he stood up and spoke about my daughter, everybody said you made the right choice. So Gbeyinsola grew up knowing him, and she has taken after me; just as I call him, Gbeyinsola will call him, ‘Uncle, I am coming to your office.’ Things she has not even discussed with me, she would discuss with him, and that is friendship. Not a friendship that when you become the CEO of a company, people start to lie to you, calling you His Excellency, madam and all the rest of it; you can’t rely on that, you have to rely on true friendship. I now quickly conclude. My mother was true to herself. She had deep emotional connection to work. She believed in work; that you have to be industrious. She had a mission and she believed you have to achieve. She also believed you have to aim for joy - be joyous.” If a Joy-O-Meter was deployed when she concluded, the joy in the hearts of her audience would melt a heart of stone. harmony

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MOMS OR

DADS

“I love my dad more than my mom,” you’d probably heard not a few girls say that. On the other hand, you will find a lot of boys attached more to their moms. No, we are not going into the study of Oedipal/Elektra complex; we simply want to share what three individuals told us about parent-child relationships. The respondents spoke to Harmony’s Correspondent ANTHONY OKEOMA

co v er m u ms or d a d s

How to be a successful mom

“I

t is just natural to be attached to the person who brought you into the world, but funny enough you realise that many or some daughters are attached to their fathers than their mothers. A lot of daughters find their mothers as confidants, those they can discuss issues they cannot do with their fathers. Womanhood is a very interesting and tough thing because from the stage of bringing children into the world, it is actually labour - the woman goes through labour, as they say. Nursing the child is no joke. And, you have the responsibility of bringing them up successfully; like the saying goes, ‘The child that is not good is the mothers’ and ‘the successful one is the fathers’. Tough, but I think I enjoy being a mother. Women should play their role very well. They should understand they have a role bestowed to them by the Almighty… and by nature; the role of making things good – keep the home peaceful, and, outside of the home, be peace-loving. Keep the balance between every relationship – husband/wife; mother/ children; wife/mother-in-law and even the family you left to come and join another family. So a woman should be able to play such roles reasonably so as to be a successful mother - that is womanhood.”

Mrs Moji Giwa-Osagie (FCIB) is a Financial Management Consultant and a member of the Governing Council of The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. harmony

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‘I thought my mom was weak….’

“A

s a growing child, to be honest, I didn’t really look up to my mother as my mentor; it was my father I saw as my mentor, because he was all over the place…he was captivating; so I saw him as somebody who always wanted things to be done and they had to be done. I wanted that kind of thing in my life. My mother was a little bit on the soft side. I believed, because of us children and because she loved her marriage and loved her husband, she had to be submissive to him, which I saw then as a weakness. But being a mother now I have seen that what my mom did was absolute womanhood. She was a real mother who loved her children, who wanted the best for her children. I now understand what my mother went through raising me as an only girl in a family of six. I remain ever grateful and indebted to her. I will spend the rest of what I have on her just to appreciate her; as my mentor and as my best friend because I confided in her - there is nothing I don’t tell my mom - that is what she means to me now. From that experience, I have also made my two daughters – one is 24 and the other is going to be 22 - to confide in me first - let them see me as their friend first before the friend they have outside. They ask me anything and I try to ask them to bring their friends home, because when you know their friends and their friends know you they can’t go wrong. When there are hidden agenda, they might get into trouble. When I was growing up my mom made me do all the work - the wash-

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ing, the cleaning, setting the table, clearing the table; but now I make my boys wash the plates, I make them clear the table and their rooms. I try to share the duties among them. My advice to women, especially married women, is for them to understand their husbands. Yes, we are created equally but then we are still helpmates to our men; so we should try to help them in any way we can. We should also help one another: women are not one another’s best friends but we should leave that limitation, that barrier, that strife and present a common front, and be helpful to one another - that way we’ll go places.” Mrs Ify Onwukwuba, Chairman of Other Sports Section

Mothers are wonderful

“M

y mother was my all and all. Moms are wonderful in your life. Without them I wonder what anyone can do. My daughter got married three months ago; and people ask ‘how is the new bride?’ I tell them she’s fine. They ask: ‘Do you call her on a daily basis?’ I wonder why I should; that should be her husband’s duty. I, however, realise that my wife (her mom) are in constant touch. I got home yesterday and saw my daughter’s car in my house; that means she must have exchanged her car with her mom - so you can see the relationship between daughter and mother or between mother and son. I even want to add that between son and mom it is so wonderful that you won’t want to know what goes on between them. Simply put, mothers are wonderful.” Mr. Adeniyi Sowemimo, Bar Adviser

p oetry

POETRY

IN NUMBERS

n the 2012 Mothers’ Index, which documents conditions for the well-being of mothers and children in 165 countries (42 developed nations and 122 in the developing world), Nigeria came 80th among the 80 countries ranked. In other words, Nigeria is one of the worst places to be a mom. yy Estimated number of Nigerians who are female – 80.2 million. yy Nearly 1 in every 4 women in sub-Saharan Africa is Nigerian. yy Out of the nearly 6 million who enter the labour market every year, only 10% are able to secure a job in the formal sector and only one-third of these are women. yy 54 million out of Nigeria’s 80.2 million women live and work in the rural areas and provide 60-78% of the rural labour force yy 1 in every 5 businesses is run by a woman but they are constrained by the lack of capital and have to rely on savings. yy Only 15% of women have a bank account. yy Only 1 in every 3 in the privileged non-agricultural formal sector is a woman. yy In 8 Northern States, over 80% of women are unable to read (compared to 54% of men). In Jigawa State, 94% of women are illiterate (compared to 42% of men. yy Only 36% of women deliver in a health facility or in the presence of a qualified birth attendant. yy More than two-thirds of 15-19 year old girls in Northern Nigeria are unable to read a sentence compared to less than 10% in the South. yy 47% of Nigerian women are mothers before they reach age 20. yy 1 Nigerian woman dies in childbirth every 10 minutes yy Family planning plays an essential role in reducing maternal mortality. 62% of Nigerian women with higher education have used contraceptives whereas only 8 % of women without education have done so. yy Only 9% of those who stood for elections in April 2011 National Assembly elections are women. yy Of the 360 House of Representatives members, 25 are women. yy Only about 4% of local government councillors are women yy 1 in 3 of all women and girls aged 15-24 has been a victim of violence. 1. Recommendations

The public sector at the State and Federal levels should consider policies and incentives to ensure that woman fill 50% of public posts. The public sector should identify measures to ensure that women fill at least 30% of posts for judges and permanent secretaries. States should allocate 10% of their budgets to education. States should spend 10% of their health budgets on health care (up from 6.5% on all health currently) SOURCES: Gender in Nigeria 2012 Report (© British Council Nigeria, 2012); Nutrition in the first 1,000 Days - State of the World’s Mothers, 2012 (© Save the Children, May 2012) Thanks, Eniola Dada, Global Ambassador, The International Alliance for Women, for the assistance.

The female child - from cradle to womanhood By Moji Giwa-Osagie

She probably was born into an ovation not too loud because in most cases, the other gender would have been preferred Fortunately, history and indeed current events have confirmed the misconception of this notion At a tender age she shows tendencies of being responsible, caring and peace-loving Not just a pretty face, she is endowed with high Intelligence Quotient (IQ) However, she is vulnerable to intimidation and harassment on her way to adulthood That is the girl-child. Yet she survives and achieves all what her opposite gender achieves, sometimes more, sometimes better On the job she is conscientious and indefatigable To be noticed, she needs to work twice as hard as her male counterpart She is sometimes under-rewarded Nevertheless, she climbs to the top with dignity and pride She is admired, she is appreciated, she is emulated She is an inspiration to posterity, she is a success story That is the career woman. The home-front must not suffer The children must be cradled and well bred She is held responsible for their actions She takes the brunt for their misdeeds She is taken for granted for their success She nurtures and guides them to realise their aspirations However, she laughs last as successful children recognise her role and give her due credit That is the mother. She cares for the man and supports his endeavours She is his confidant and his friend in need She bears the brunt of his external aggressions She makes the home a haven of his resort She is seen as the devil behind his unfavourable decisions Nevertheless, she enjoys the luxuries of his success She is the partner beside the successful man That is the wife. ALL THESE DEPICT THE WOMAN! OUR WOMEN!! OUR MOTHERS!!! Mrs. Moji Giwa-Osagie (FCIB) is a Financial Management Consultant and a member of the Governing Council of The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. She writes as a hobby. harmony

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TERVIEW IN Y R O T IC D VALE

Y BY HARMON EDITORS

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There’s the Richard Giwa-Osagie, whom members of Ikoyi Club 1938 know as their chairman. And, then, there’s the Richard Giwa-Osagie, the person, who, perhaps only a handful of members of Ikoyi Club 1938 know. We are interested in this latter. We want to know him. We want to hear the full story of Richard Giwa-Osagie, the person. What was the attraction to joining Ikoyi Club 1938? And, when exactly did you become a member? I was born in Benin-City to late Pa Saliu A. Giwa-Osagie of Oloke family in Benin Kingdom and Mrs. Comfort A. Giwa-Osagie an Itsekiri from the royal family of Gbenebitshe Omateye Akengbuwa of Warri Kingdom. I had primary and secondary school education in Benin City and Ibadan Grammar School respectively. My formative life was in Ibadan and Lagos. I ended up being a chartered accountant and I have been in practice since 1979. To me, joining Ikoyi Club came naturally because I had been used to the club as a child, actually as a junior member. I lived at 5, Bank Road, Ikoyi with my uncle, Chief F. S Giwa-Osagie, the first African Director of Prisons. We used to trek from the house through the golf course to buy hot dogs, chocolate ice cream (Big Dip) and also for the monthly children’s film show. The children’s parties then were like carnivals. Therefore, it became somehow imperative for me to join when I became an adult. I was proposed to the club by my family doctor and friend, Dr. Ebun Sonaiya and seconded by Mr. Soji Awogbade and I became a member on 12 January, 1993. As chairman of the club, you have presided over a number of induction nights? Tell us, how did your own induction go and would you say that what attracted you to the club is still there? I can say that the attractions of Ikoyi Club are still there. Our facilities are of global standards and are continually being improved upon. People from abroad get here and marvel at what they see. In my opinion, Ikoyi Club 1938 is still very much the place to be. Inductions at Ikoyi Club 1938 are usually colourful, I can remember when I was inducted in January 1993 under the Chairmanship of Mr. Segun Johnson in his sparkling white complete “agbada” in the Rotunda with well-polished wooden floor as usual. Each successive administration has maintained this core value. For some years now, we have had more junior members migrating to ordinary members. It’s pleasant when you call on the parents and the children to be recognised and take a bow. In most cases, they look like brothers or sisters to their parents. It’s very interesting to see children become adults. You were a past District Governor of Rotary International; pioneer vice chairman, Deloitte Alumni Association; past president, University of Ibadan “MBA” Alumni Association (Lagos); Hon Treasurer, Ikoyi Club (2006-2008) and the chairman of the club since 2011. Would you say that being the senior prefect of Ibadan Grammar School (1970) prepared you for these leadership roles? Would you consider that you were born to lead or you developed leadership qualities and what are these? I believe in both maxims that leaders are born and at the same time, leaders can be made. As a born leader you just find yourself emerging the leader in most forums. Gentle disposition or aggression has nothing to do with it. Successful leadership is a factor of your conduct and organisation of what / where you are leading. You have rightly reeled out some of the leadership positions I have held successfully (there are even more). Some were by selection, some by election.

Without being immodest, some good qualities in me must have been responsible. I can say my leadership qualities derived from a rather strong valued background. I am from the Oloke Family of Benin City which include EdoOsagie, Igho-Osagie, Bello-Osagie, Giwa-Osagie, Ojo-Osagie, Oshodi, Ogunbor, etc. It is a close-knit and disciplined family with the fear of God and good core values. Mind you, my grandfather, Late Chief Yusufu Giwa-Osagie was the first Mogaji of Benin Muslims while his elder brother, Late Chief Bello-Osagie was the first Balogun of Benin Muslims. Apart from the innate qualities of being calm and calculated, focussed and pro-active; experience matters. I had good experience in Ibadan Grammar School and good training in Deloitte. You can imagine heading such a highly populated school of both ordinary and advanced level students at that young age in those days. I was the link between the students and the school administration. I had to meet the principal and teachers; my “Cabinet” – the prefects. I had to have my thinking cap on at all times. It was quite rewarding because it is good to interact with good elders. In Deloitte, I qualified in record time and held responsible positions quite early in my career. Being a District Governor administering over 80 Clubs was a tremendous experience. Rotary International is a service organisation which objective is to give selfless services to humanity. Its activities are governed by strict rules and regulations of best practices. I had a successful tenure as District Governor 2008/2009 which earned me other Rotary International positions that I hold today. A good leader must be visionary, selfless, fair and firm. As a Rotarian, truth is the watchword. This wealth of experience was brought to bear on my leadership in Ikoyi Club 1938 and had seen us through a number of intrigues and challenges. Cast your mind back to the 2011 keenly contested elections that brought you to the chairmanship of Ikoyi Club 1938. For the first time, share with us what you believe made you win that election. The election was really keenly contested by four of us. There is no other secret behind my victory other than that I worked hard during the campaign and I became the member’s choice due to their perception of me. I thank members for accepting me thus giving me the opportunity to serve. Your mission was “to enhance global standards in the club and make it a truly international and family club through upgrading the club’s sporting, recreational, library and other facilities, prudently and transparently.” Mission achieved or not? Show us your report card. Mission achieved to a large extent. I’ll take them serially. As a family club, we have enhanced the children facilities. We provide bouncing castle for the children’s pleasure once a month. The club may consider buying different types of castles in future when the Car Park pavilion offers us enhanced storage facilities; running cost will also be a factor. Monthly film show which I enjoyed in the 1960s and 1970s as a junior member, was re-introduced by this administration. This has generated very high interest amongst our children. You need to see them discussing the various film titles and preferences. Children’s playground is currently undergoing renovation with a sponsorship of N5m from Access Bank Plc. Heineken’s Bar, Main and Cads’ Bars have been renovated. The associated snags are being addressed. Unfortunately, the furniture delivered for the Main Bar were not according to specifications and so they were rejected. The company supplied synthetic leather instead of animal leather. Furthermore, the finishing was poor. I still wonder how and why a company can attempt to cut corners with Ikoyi Club 1939 made up of eminent personalities from all sectors of the economy. We shall recall the APG if the furniture are not delivered according to specifications and within reasonable time. Library project is being done in phases. Procurement of books and recruitment of a professional librarian is the first stage and is in progress. harmony

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with his wife, moji

group Family Picture at Orobosa’s wedding in 2009

Richard Giwa-Osagie with daughter Eghosa during her induction by ICAN president Mr Doyin Awolabi in 2012

There is continuity in Ikoyi Club: I expect the next administration to take over from where we stop. Ikoyi Club belongs to all of us.

Thereafter, the library will be moved to the New Admin Block with adequate furnishing. Sporting and Recreational Facilities have been enhanced by the Sectional Chairmen and the Golf Captain. You will recall that the Club came first in the last quadrangular games and also the best facilities managed organisation by the Facilities Association of Nigeria in 2012. We are also in the process of concessioning the Main House kitchen. This decision was taken in the overall interest of the club both for prudence and value for money. The club cannot continue to subsidise the Main House kitchen when other food vendors who are our tenants make profits. Ten catering outfits bidded, two of them have been selected for testrun of two weeks each to enable members have their input in the final selection. The provision of the Car Park pavilion and latest technology-driven access control and archival systems were also the projects you promised to step up on. How far? If you are familiar with property development you will realise that the preparation job involved for this type of project especially in this environment, is quite enormous. This administration has done almost all the preliminary work. We arranged and held a Special General Meeting on 20 October, 2011 where the project cost was approved. By October 2012, the cost had gone up by 50 per cent and it was then estimated that the sum of at least N800m will be required from corporate advertising while the balance will be internally generated. Considering the quantum and the short time frame, the Fund-raising Sub-Committee initially developed a concept involving a marketing consultant who would be remunerated at an agreed rate based on actual amount directly realised by the consultant on behalf of the club. However, after due consultation with the Trustees Task Force, another funding con-

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cept has now been developed using club members for direct approach to target organisations. This administration has done almost all the preliminary work; we have gone through the cumbersome bureaucratic process. In the meantime, the building plan has been accepted in principle by the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning as we have received demand notes for the building plan. The Technical Sub-Committee had assessed the technical aspect of tenders from three grade “A” contractors. A joint Tenders Sub-Committee meeting will be held in late January, 2013 for review and recommendations to the General Committee for final decision. This will be a major point in my Handover Note. There is continuity in Ikoyi Club: I expect the next administration to take over from where we stop. Ikoyi Club belongs to all of us. The important thing is to get it done, in good time for that matter, in the club’s interest. On the technology-driven Access Control, the project is about 80 per cent completed and the equipment will soon be installed. The members’ data capturing which will include biometrics will soon commence. On completion of this project, members will use their cards to gain entrance to buy goods and services including payment of subscription. You sought to maintain a club where discipline rules and which will constantly attract quality members and achieve genuine harmony In general. What’s your assessment in this regard? In terms of discipline, majority of our members have shown good degree of discipline. This is what we expect from quality members. Anybody worth being a member of Ikoyi Club 1938 should have respect for norms, rules and regulations. There has been low level of contravention within the past two years, fewer number of people taken “Up Stairs”. That, I will say, is our achievement in discipline. I will continue to say this, “Global Harmony” is our motto, harmony within must be our watchword. The club is a place for recreation, not a place to nurse animosity or frivolous complaints. Members should

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to arrive at good decisions which have been responsible for our achievements. Most of the time, our decisions were by overwhelming majority. Some of the General Committee members are very passionate about this voluntary service and they work selflessly in the best interest of the Club. I appreciate Richard Giwa-Osagie them a lot. Richard and his wife, Moji flanked by Senator (DG 2008 – 2009) with Udoma Udo-Udoma and Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd) Whatever unpleasant experience Late President umaru during Richard’s installation as District Goverany of them might have had during Yar’adua nor of Rotary International, 2008 the course of performing their duties should be taken as one of those Richard Giwa-Osagie with Goverthings you come across in serving nor Babatunde Raji Fashola durpeople. ing a Club visit in september 2012 I would like to encourage them not to rest on their oars. Those who are aspiring for higher offices in the club should work towards it in good faith. Can you tell us about your wife, children and grand-children? And, with Venus and Serena Williams what do they think about you? during their visit to the club in 2012 Mojisola is my childhood friend and my wife of over 33 years. She is the true definition of a “better half”, my confidant, my counsellor, my worst critic, chairman of my “Supporters Club” and many more that words cannot describe. She is an ordinary member of Ikoyi Club 1938 in her own right. She campaigned by my side in all my with Dan Maraya-Jos, elections in the club, to the extent Polio Ambasthat people nicknamed her Hillary sador for Clinton!! Rotary International Moji, a professionally qualified banker (FCIB), retired from Union Bank. She is a current Council flow together in good spirit. This is overtly displayed all member of the Chartered Institute around the club with banters and patting all the time. We of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and preached genuine harmony which has been achieved. We now into financial management appeal to those who come with other objectives to have a consultancy. We have two daughters change of hearts. and a son. Mrs Orobosa Adenusi, What do you say to a prospective Ikoyi Club 1938 memBSc Biochemistry (Unilag), MSc ber? If you have the singular powers to change how Ikoyi Environmental Engineering (ImpeClub 1938 is run, what will you change? To a prospective rial College, London) works with an oil servicing company. Her husband, Ikoyi Club 1938 member, I will say, come to a renowned internationalAdefolarin Adenusi, a chemical engineer also a product of Imperial College standard recreation club. Come and enjoy sporting with global standard London, is also in the oil and gas industry. Eghosa is a chartered accountfacilities, come and meet the movers and shakers from all the economic ant with Masters Degree in Finance and Investment from Queen Mary sectors of this country – Nigerians and expatriates - come and enjoy Glob– University of London. She is a Senior Associate in the Advisory Unit of al Harmony. Come to Ikoyi Club 1938, the place to be. PricewaterhouseCoopers. Ikponmwosa, the chip off the old block, has a What will I want changed in the administration of Ikoyi Club if I have Masters Degree in chemical engineering from University College, London. the singular power? For me to comment on this, I will not want to look at He works with an oil company abroad. So far, we have a grandson, Fola, by it from the angle of singular power. Power, like leadership is situational. the Adenusis. Fola is fun to be with. You cannot talk of singular power in a membership club situation where What do they think about me? A loving, caring, humorous father, people pay subscriptions and have stake in the running of the club. bubbling and young at heart. It is a happy family and I am ever grateful to We would like you to say a few words about, and to, your General CommitAlmighty God for His mercies. tee members. How do you relax? I must say, I have a very good team. They have contributed immensely I like being around my friends and I enjoy parties with my room temperato the effective running of the club. ture dark beverage from St. James Gate, Dublin (laughter). Most of my General Committee members are very committed and hardworking. We are very frank with ourselves, we debate issues objectively Thank you very much.

To a prospective Ikoyi Club 1938 member, I will say, come to a renowned internationalstandard recreation club. Come and enjoy sporting with global standard facilities, come and meet the movers and shakers from all the economic sectors of this country – Nigerians and expatriates - come and enjoy Global Harmony. Come to Ikoyi Club ‑1938, the place to be.

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f l ash b ac k

GENERAL COMMITTEE’S VISIT TO OBA OF LAGOS: PAYING HOMAGE

BOOKS, GOOD FOR RECREATION TOO: ON DONATION OF BOOKS TO THE IKOYI CLUB 1938 LIBRARY

HOSTING THE WILLIAMS’S SISTERS: HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE, VENUS & SERENA

WORKING HARMONIOUSLY: VICE CHAIRMAN TUNDE AKINLEYE SPEAKS AS OTHER OFFICE BEARERS LISTEN

INDUCTION NIGHT: WELCOME TO IKOYI CLUB 1938

THE CHAIRMAN SPEAKS....

IT’S TIME FOR MUSIC...AND DANCE: KING SUNNY ADE AND HIS MEN ON THE BANDSTAND

HANGING OUT 9CE-LY

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golf

When did you become Golf Captain and how did that come about? y name is Ebiyemi Pinnick. I was elected Captain of the Golf Section, Ikoyi Club 1938 in February 2012. My election was not the traditional way to ascend to the captaincy of the section, but there was ample support for my candidacy and I sailed through. Traditionally, the Vice Captain is automatically elected Captain (unopposed) the following year. But we had a situation where the then sitting Vice Captain was appointed (not elected) due to the 2011 election situation of the Golf Section, where the two contestants for the position could not proceed to the election proper.

I joined the club and section in 1991 and since then I have served in the following main house sub-committees: Under the Chairmanship of our current Trustee, Mr. Alaba Okupe, served (under Mr. Fubara Anga) as Vice Chairman of Rules sub-committee; also under the Chairmanship of Adm. Toye Sode, served (under FOJ Omosa) as a member of PPMC. Within the Golf Section, I served as a member of the Nigeria Open (a European PGA Tour event) committee under Gen. John Shagaya. I served also as Handicap Secretary under the following Golf Captains Shina Aigoro, Charles Majoroh, Uyi

captaincy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and other matters

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Akpata, and Seyi Johnson. Under Seyi Johnson (2008/09), I re-established the Golf Clinic for Children with R&A Scotlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s participation, spearheaded the process to resolve slow play successfully on the course and revised the golf course hole handicap stroke index. Did you set goals for yourself on attaining the captaincy or prior to that? Were there areas of the Golf Section that you felt would require your special attention? Prior to becoming Captain, I had some ideas of what needed to be done but did not set any goals until the Executive Committee of the Golf Section was in place. Personally, I saw the following areas as needing attention: course drainage, fairways, clubhouse facilities and capital budget performance. Furthermore, the Section recently adopted a Five-Year Development Plan, involving significant upgrade of Governance, Course and Clubhouse facilities and equipment. The programme of actions embedded in that plan is designed to ensure our facilities match and possibly surpass current global standards and the expectations of our esteemed membership. Notwithstanding that several aspects of this plan are in design stages, our efforts must be aligned with the applicable design elements of the plan. In March 2012, the Executive Committee set the following focus areas as priority: 1. Current capital budget execution (traditionally, less than 20% of budgets are usually spent); Strategies to accomplish this included proper planning of projects and early engagement of Club Management, the Tenders and Premises subcommittees. 2. Golf Course: a. Drainage (ensure zero or minimal course closure due to flooding), b. Fairways: Establish process of replanting and tackling the 3 fairways, c. Acquisition of appropriate/key course equipment: procure critical equipment and spares: Eliminate mismatch between actual needs and equipment & spares procurement, d. Establish and publish a maintenance programme, e. Renovation and upgrade of course toilet facilities. 3. Clubhouse: Bring clubhouse in line with internationally accepted standards, including upgrade of bathrooms and locker rooms. Give the clubhouse a general facelift. Investigate ways to make Terrace Lounge setup and ambience more suitable for event hosting. 4. Others: a. Competitions and Entertainment: Keep members active throughout the year. b. Implement online booking for tee times c. Standardisation of advert boards and enhancing advertising revenue d. Meetings should be more productive; use the Internet to extend the capacity and engagement of the Committee

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the Section recently adopted a Five-Year Development Plan, involving significant upgrade of Governance, Course and Clubhouse facilities and equipment... to ensure our facilities match and possibly surpass current global standards and the expectations of our esteemed membership. So, how do you rate your tenure thus far? Are you on course to attain your set goals? If you are, please provide specifics. If not, why not and what are the challenges? So far, the Executive Committee of the Golf Section has accomplished

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most of its major (and perhaps more significant) goals for the 2012 -2013 period. On the golf course, we have gone 10 months without a single day of course closure arising from flooding! Brian Reece, in the late 1990s, was the last Captain to work extensively on the course drainage and his effort carried the course through the early 2000s. Since then the course has seen cumulative yearly closures of four weeks and up to three months in some years. The committee adopted a deliberate four-phase drainage alleviation programme funded through sponsorships and the golf levy account. The Internal major open drainage works were completed at minimal cost to the section. Cappa & D’Alberto and Mr. Efe Edward donated heavy equipment, while labour was funded from the levy account of the Section. Generally, the drainage works were in line with the Five – Year plan. Underground minor drains from fairways will be pursued along with other elements of the plan. Pat Bassey (Course Officer), Sam Ogunbiyi (Treasurer), Paul Danjuma (Course Manager) and Tayo Babalakin (Vice Captain) provided leadership and played significant roles that were instrumental to the success of this effort Relative to fairway re-grassing, working with various experts from neighbouring golf courses including Lakowe Lakes (Lekki Town) and Smoking Hills(Ilara-Mokin), we initiated various experiments but regrettably discovered that we did not have the in-house talent for large-scale replanting. This will, however, be pursued under the full scale Five –Year Plan implementation. With respect to club facilities, the course toilets have been renovated, upgraded and updated by a sponsor, Black Pelican Limited (IL Bagno), leading to the present condition where the on-course bathroom facilities

are in much better shape than those in the clubhouse facilities. In the clubhouse, our efforts focused largely on intensive maintenance and house keeping while we waited for major projects to emerge from the club tenders process - a major challenge. We quickly realised that to make an impact we needed to get sponsors to pay directly for projects, while internally ensuring a proper competitive bidding process. To this end, Fidelity Bank Plc (thanks t o Douglas Ude) is currently sponsoring the renovation and upgrade of our ground floor to bring it in line with international standards. Fidelity has also installed an ATM in the section that dispenses only mint currency notes. To accommodate the ATM, Fidelity has revamped and modernised the entire golf section entrance and reception area. In addition, Airtel Nigeria (thanks to B. Sumanth) is sponsoring the renovation and upgrade of the Upper Terrace of our Clubhouse, in the process converting it into a fully air-conditioned Banqueting/Lounging facility. Both projects will be completed by early February 2013. Dr. Faye Iketubosin

On the golf course, we have gone 10 months without a single day of course closure arising from flooding! Brian Reece, in the late 1990s, was the last Captain to work extensively on the course drainage and his effort carried the course through the early 2000s.

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(House Officer), Eng. Ife Oyedele (Assistant House Officer) and our Vice Captain, Arc Tayo Babalakin, provided leadership for clubhouse issues and their contributions were critical to the success of these projects. We recorded other significant accomplishments. In the area of competitions, a full annual calendar of substantial tournaments, introduction of sponsored and better-structured Monthly Mugs (thanks to Frank Igbene); and introduction of new handicap software with online tee time booking (thanks to Wahab Sarumi). The tension associated with tee time booking has been significantly reduced. Various initiatives including introduction of quarterly newsletters and standardisation of billboards by the Media sub-committee headed by Uzo Nwankwo with Pat Bassey, Sam Ogunbiyi, Ted Iwere, Pat Ukah and Niyi Latinwo as members. Our performance relative to capital budget execution, in my view, was below par. The Golf Section, like most sections of the club, is capacity and capability constrained to execute its capital budget in line with the club tenders process, even with advance planning. I will summarise my view of the challenges and the management model currently being adopted by the club at the end of this interview as a forward-looking piece. Comparatively, how does the section rate with golf sections in other clubs, in Nigeria, in West Africa? Traditionally, Ikoyi Club 1938 has been referred to as the premier club in Nigeria, in West Africa, perhaps because of its age, exclusivity and influence of its members among other criteria. While this statement may have been partially true two to three decades ago, all you need to do is to take a look at some of the poorly maintained structures on its premises and all that will be left to support this statement will be the age of the club and the influence of some of its members. Now relative to the golf section versus other golf clubs in Nigeria and West Africa, Ikoyi Club Golf Section is at a major disadvantage as a result of its arrangement with the Main House. At inception in 1938, this arrangement probably worked because of the quality and understanding of its joint membership, which I believe we have since lost. Started in 1924,

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Ikoyi Club 1938 has been referred to as the premier club in Nigeria, in West Africa.... While this statement may have been partially true two to three decades ago, all you need to do is to take a look at some of the poorly maintained structures on its premises....

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the Golf Section hosted the Nigerian Open through the mid-90s and up till then rightfully earned its status as the premier golf facility in Nigeria. At this point, with modern courses like Lakowe Lakes (in Lekki Town, Lagos), Smoking Hills (Ilara-Mokin near Akure), Le Meridien (Ibom) and IBB (Abuja), all we may have left in Ikoyi is membership size and history, if we do not change our operating model. Typically, as a result of the value of the real estate, capital and operating demands of a golf course, the running of an establishment including a golf course is driven by golf. Swimming, tennis and other sporting activities were added to provide full coverage for the golfing families. At Ikoyi Club 1938, this model is the other way round, with the main house processes poorly anticipating the needs of a golf club. Golf course maintenance is a highly technical field demanding a lot of experts for each aspect; economy of scale is therefore required since burden on a single course may cripple the profit centre. Most private and public golf courses have discovered this ; hence most of the golf courses in the United States are managed by a handful of Golf Management Companies led by multinationals such as Troon Golf and ClubCorp. I was a member of Kingwood Country Club (Houston) managed by ClubCorp, the venue of the film Tin Cup (a Kevin Costner movie). The difference that comes with this model is obvious and far-reaching in service delivery! What’s corporate support of the Section like? Is it as desired or needs more vibrancy? Perhaps you also want mention your active supporters with a view to appreciating them. As you can see from this interview so far, the corporate support for the Golf Section has been good but we could use a lot more. Some of our strong corporate sponsors include First Bank, UBA, Fidelity Bank, Ecobank, MTN, Airtel, Nigeria Breweries, Oando, Total, Chevron, NAPIMS, Samsung, Mac-Tay, Accenture, Technip, XMN Technologies, Park ‘N’ Shop (SPAR), Custodian & Allied Insurance, Sheraton (a constant) and Southern Sun. We appreciate them all and others that I may not have listed. We are also gladdened that Shell and Exxon-Mobil have promised to come back on board. The Golf Section is always happy to explore areas of support, for example the Junior Golf Clinic or even the golf course redevelopment. During our interclub match play with Achimota Golf Club, in November, we learnt that Tullow Oil has undertaken to completely revamp the Achimota Golf course (a sister course) to bring it in line with PGA standards. Hopefully, a similar investment on our golf course by an IOC is not out of place and will demonstrate serious commitment to Nigeria and its citizens. You have junior members who are making waves in international circuits. Please tell us more about them and what specifically the Section has contributed to growing the sport among the younger members of the club.

Anita Uwadia (14 years), currently placed 3rd on the leader board for girls 15-18 years on the US Hurricane Junior Golf Tour 2012, and Tokunbo Pedro (15 years) also currently placed 3rd on the leader board for boys 1518 years on the same tour, both represented Nigeria at 2012 British Junior Open with impressive results. Both of them were top participants from the 2008/2009 Ikoyi Club Junior Golf Clinic. Since then, their parents have been funding their golf training in the highly competitive US circuit, where their successes have brought Ikoyi Club 1938 positive recognition. With golf as an Olympic sport in 2016, I have very strong hopes for these worldclass golfers. The Nigeria Olympics managers will be well advised to take serious note and start investing in them now. With the Ladies sub-section of the Golf Section now taking responsibility for the Kid’s Golf Clinic, I am again excited in anticipation of new stars that will come along from this program. What should be members’ expectations for the rest of your Captaincy? Members should expect that we would complete all the projects that we have started. In addition, they should expect to see a lift fully installed to service and complement the Upper Terrace of our Clubhouse, which at completion

So far, the corporate support for the Golf Section has been good but we could use a lot more. (But) we appreciate them all. The Golf Section is always happy to explore areas of support.

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will be a full-fledged banqueting facility. This project is driven by the need to accommodate the physically challenged (given our aging demographics) and to bring our facility to international standards. The lift will be fully sponsored by members. I am indebted to the following members who have arranged to fund this project Efe Edward, Robert Bakre, Son-Ari Jack, Tayo Rotimi, Mofe Boyo, Bode Agusto, Bola Awobamise, Pat Bassey, Uwem Udoh, Mohammed Oyibo, Uche Obilor, Seplat Petroleum, Dapo Oshinusi, Oti Ikomi, Alex Kothoor, Kola Olawunmi and, without being immodest, myself. Finally, the more I learn about the running of the Club, the more I am convinced that we have the wrong management model. To be specific, I believe there is too much member interference in the club’s day-to-day running and our management model is not sustainable. We are attempting to use part timers (members who have completed a full day’s job) to handle a full time employment! This club was conceived as a five-star establishment but look at it today with decrepit facilities that should not be associated with this quality of real estate. We need to start thinking seriously about outsourcing the management of this club to a first rate Hospitality Company and get members. Members should come to the club for relaxation, networking and to enjoy themselves not to work or look for contracts; a practice regarded in ethical terms as insider trading! I enjoy being a member of Ikoyi Club 1938; a good sporting facility, the drinks are cost effective and you are almost always in good company. My focus in this interview has been largely on areas for improvement that are needed to preserve the integrity of our club. My experience with the club, as a captain, will be incomplete without discussing my perspective on our Tenders and Maintenance processes. In my view, without a total overhaul of both processes, the decline of the club will be much faster. The current leakages from both processes that are inter-related is amazing; with proper maintenance, we can actually focus our capital budget on real growth projects rather than replacement or renovation of existing facilities due to lack of maintenance. Relative to maintenance, my vote is to completely outsource this aspect. It should be obvious to every club member by now that we do not have (and probably cannot effectively develop) the in-house competence to handle the maintenance that our club deserves or require. As captain, I attended several Tenders subcommittee meetings. The members of this subcommittee are mostly gentlemen, truly committed to doing the best for the club but the challenges of our Tenders process are overwhelming. Some of these challenges include: the volume of work (due to the slow pace of reaching resolution more items pile up), lack of proper support staff (resulting in poor and incomplete bid analysis), award to lowest bidder without proper technical pre-qualification (resulting in award of contract to incompetent contractors and wastage), timing, duration and frequency of Tenders meeting (curtailing attendance of sub-committee members and viable contractors), involvement of club members as contractors (process integrity) and pressure from requesting sections. The supervision of the project after contract award is another major challenge. Given some of these challenges among other reasons, quite a few serious and competent contractors tend to avoid competing for the club’s

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The more I learn about the running of the Club, the more I am convinced that we have the wrong management model. I believe there is too much member interference in the club’s day-to-day running. contracts. As a result, except for off-the-shelf items, most of our capital projects have not delivered the desired quality (without serious intervention) in a timely manner. The procurement process for a major corporation is a very serious affair that cannot be left to part-timers. A first rate hospitality company must have a leakage proof procurement process in place. As an officer bearer and member of the General Committee there are three areas I really wanted to see some movements this last year: the registration of the club rules, award of the multi-storey car park contract and full implementation of access control. The first two were slowed down as a result of conflict in role perception between the Trustee and General Committee while the last is a reflection of the club’s inability to efficiently execute a project. Given the tension between the Trustees and General Committee in 2012, there is a need to properly re-define the roles of both bodies. Ikoyi Club 1938 can really not afford the inefficiencies of urgent issues being trapped between both bodies. The registration of club rules is urgent given that the last registration was in 1999. This in is itself is an indictment on the various leadership of the club since then - a realisation that should have spurred the entire club to urgent action. Notwithstanding our official roles and responsibilities, as members first and foremost, we all need to learn to work together for the enhancement of our great club. Long live Ikoyi Club 1938, long live the Golf Section.

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A SA GOLF PRO, REMI OLUKOYA, FEMI OLUFOWOBI, AND EBI PINNICK

ANOTHER VOTE OF THANKS BY MAJAROH

ARCHITECT CHARLES MAJAROH

AL ARRIV

ICE, FIRE & OTEA R P T A

TOWN CAPE

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AT ROBBIE AT RO ’S HOME MILLIOBBIES DIN NAIRE NER -G AT & BAS HORU OBOH, OM N ISADE YOUN G

VOTE OF T HANKS by retary otunba honorary secabiodun olufowobi

o “The world is a book and those wh do not travel read only one pageof.”Hippo

otunba olu ER fowobi UND the nelson MANDELA stat N, ue IN SANTO RG JOhannesBU

– Saint Augustine rtunity to visit South Africa oppo any n have always turned dow should I visit an (SA). My thinking had always been that why traditional visit desAfrican country which is equidistant to my have the impression tination, London. More importantly, I do reading some not-soof SA being a dangerous destination after is that why should I visit comforting articles. But now, my mindset me by its sheer granLondon when I can do South Africa. SA took tended meanings please). deur and the warmth of its people (no unin e, poverty, HIV/AIDS, etc SA is not without its own challenges – crim r impression than that SA - but no visitor will come away with a lesse try. is a beautiful, rich and a “first world” coun 1938 Golf Captain Club i Ikoy from I got words early last year on will be visiting SA on a Mr. Ebi Pinnick, that members of the secti

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GAT OBOH AT PROT EA

HS at CAPE TOWN

PROTEA FIRE & ICE

FIRE & ICE

BASHORUN FATAI AROBIEKE

GER, GOLF SECTION MANASUD AN E EN IGB K FRAN MANTH

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HS AND JOE ODUAH AT FAIRWAYS

golfing tour. I had in 2011 visited Ghana with members of the section and much of my memory of that visit was not abou t golfing but the bonding, camaraderie and conviviality that I shared with the “Golfers all” family. It was on the Ghana tour that imprinted in me that “going rate” is not exclusive to the “forex” and ancillary trad e and that our Good Lord is not only called upon in times of danger but also in times of jollification!! So, when the opportunity to visit SA came, I remembered the Ghanaian experience; and with the estimated larger entourage, I threw in my hat and looked forward to an enjoyable experience with the “Golfers all” family. The Inter Club Match Play games were scheduled to start on 26 Octo ber 2012 at the Westlake Golf Club in Cap e Town and end four days later at the Randpark Golf Course in Johannesburg. The party consisted of 40 golfers of various age groups (the oldest can father the youngest mix) but with a single denominator – love of golf and fun regardless of the evident disparity in age, status and net-worth. The travel logistics for the tour - from the SA visa, flights and hotel - came at a good value with the economies of group booking and the champion here was Mr. Frank Igbene who as the Competition Secretary of the Golf Section delivered a hitch-free tour. The outbound flight on SAA on 24 October was quite good and SA

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immigration formality at Oliver R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg was a breeze. We connected for the two-hour flight to Cape Town almost immediately. Cape Town has such simple yet majestic beauty. First dinner On the evening of our arrival in Cape Town, the group travelled to the cosy area of Weinberg to attend an open house Barbeque and Dinner hosted by Mr. & Mrs. n Robert Bakre at their beautiful Cape Tow Rob d calle y ularl residence. Mr. Bakre (pop with ion Sect Golf bie) is a member of the substantial business presence in SA. Robbie and his amiable wife spared nothing (I mean nothing) in ensuring that we enjoyed the evening. When Robbie announced that he has also arranged “completion” conviviality later in the evening at a posh night club, the party “grudgingly” accepted the on offer and that outing remained the icing to but ce choi no with the cake. We were left rs hou wee the till e drink, dance and danc e before we returned to the hotel. Mr. Bakr is a jolly good fellow. Protea (Fire & Ice) Hotel, Cape Town This was our residence in the four days we spent in Cape Town. It is a “no smoking” hotel but not to completely dump the smokers, the hotel in an innovative mants ner, had a “Coughing Room” where gues

can smoke but sitting on real coffins!! The message was not lost on smokers amongst us who nonetheless were not deterred by l the symbolic “coughings”. From the hote e Tabl the of look you will have a grand Mountain (one of the main attractions in Cape Town). This mountain is so named ly because of its flat surface which amazing kiloa over is It it. r attracts clouds to cove metre above sea level, flat on top (about three kilometres wide), with a view to die for. Match Plays The golfers played at the Westlake Golf Club, Cape Town, on 26 October; at the Pearl Valley Championship Course Cape th Town on the 27 ; at the King David Golf th Club, Cape Town on the 28 ; at the Randpark Golf Course Bush willow Champithonship, Johannesburg Course; on the 29 October and at the Randpark Golf Course, Firethorn Championship Course, Johanth nesburg, on the 30 . The party returned to Nigeria in the evening of 31 October effectively missing the august visit of the Williams’ sisters to the club earlier that day. The Fairway Hotel & Golf Resort Johannesburg The group stayed at this beautiful facility for two nights in Johannesburg. The

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ED BY CROSS SECTION AT THE DINNER HOST

ROBBIE

DINNER AT ROBBIE’ S HOME

AFTER DINHS VOTE OF THANKS e hom s IE’ NER at ROBB

FRANK IGBENE, SUMA NTH AND ROBBIE

S HOME DINNER AT ROBBIE’ EBI PIN NICK(G OLF BASHO CAPTAIN), AD RUN arobi MIRAL eke AN ONI, D CELE

FRANK IGBENE, SUMANTH AND BASHORUN AROBIEKE

Fairway is a mixed de velopment of a golf course, luxury rooms, double storey Golf Villas - each with four en suite rooms, gym, tennis court and spa facilities. We really had a ball here. In th e evenings after the rounds of golf, we ha d sundry informal groove sections and th ese events certainly cemented the bond of African brotherhood between the land of M adiba and Nigeria. No long story. Bird’s eye view of So uth Africa South Africa (estimate d 2012 population is 50 million) is indeed a spectacle. The cities we visited are modern, offering all the amenities you would expect anywhere in the first wo rld. It has a thriving business community and obviously a powerful economy. Th e people - almost everyone speaks Engli sh - are friendly, much laid back abou t life, and always a delight to be around. Compared to the fas t pace we are used to he re in Nigeria. This is especially true in Cape Town where it seems that everything happ ens at a slightly slowe r pace. The people esp ecially the women are very honest about th eir social lives and are heavy drinkers an d smokers. SA is an

ODUAH, ROBBIE & SEMOWO

ve just scratched the amazing country. I ha any stunning places surface; there are so m rtunately could not to explore which unfo y visit. I will certainly be attained in a six- da return.

ROBBIE WITH BROT HER SAHEED AND A MEMB ER

LAST SHOT

uble when he A golfer was in big tro niversary. forgot his wedding an omorrow there His wife told him; “T e in the driveway for m better be something in 2 seconds flat.” that goes zero to 200 e wife found a The next morning th driveway. She opened small package in the new bathroom scale. it and found a brand ts for the husband Funeral arrangemen rday at his favourite have been set for Satu golf course.

ROBBIE AND WIFE

Olufowobi - Otunba Abiodun etary cr Honorary Se

WITH ROBBIE

E IN SA MACHIN ROBBIE harmony

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FACTSvsOF LIFE

THRILLS & FRUSTRATIONS

GOLF

For Golfers & Non-golfers Alike (Part II) By Akinbayo A. Adenubi, mni 1. IF IT’S WORKING, WHY FIX IT?

A golfer who started playing this game about two years ago in Ikeja Golf Course would give you an enjoyable round every now and again though you have been playing this amazingly “crazy” game for about a decade. Not too long ago, when you had a round of golf with this guy, you started fretting. Incredibly, his game has gone down the drain. He could hardly get any stroke right. Not even his tee - shots which were always long and on the fairway! After the first nine holes, the guy gave an explanation for his dismal performance. After his consultation with two golf pros, he was advised to change his grip. And his game has never been the same! If you can enjoy your round of golf in your early 60’s, why re-fix your grip? Why ruin your game while trying to play in an orthodox manner which doesn’t work for you? 2. DON’T EVER, EVER GIVE UP, NOT IN GOLF!

Do you know of any other game apart from golf where you end up so poorly in your overall scores and yet you pick up one or two trophies plus gifts? You had a woeful performance in your front nine holes and you almost picked up your ball. What a wonderful surprise when three holes later (on Hole 12) you played a shot that was adjudged nearest to the pin which earned you a trophy plus a lovely present. And this happened in a major competition where your overall scores are nothing to write home about.

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3. DOES GOLF HAVE THERAPEUTIC VALUE? A TRIAL MIGHT CONVINCE YOU!

Your spirit was at a low end that beautiful morning - the kind of weather that was

made exclusively for golf. You were playing a round of golf with a very good friend when your spirit still remained dampened. The main concern that morning was the depressing state of health of a very close relation. Half-way through the game, a casual conversation ensued and you opened your mind to your golfing partner who was most supportive with his kind words. Results? Your game picked up and you finished the round in a very high spirit. 4. MAKING THE BEST OUT OF A FORCED BREAK

This incident happened during the 2012 Nigeria Cup Competition. After teeing off very early in the morning - yes by 6.40a.m, a deluge of rain poured on the course for about 90 minutes. Some golfers were already around Hole 7 when the course marshals decided to halt the game. Those who were having a good round were, of course, reluctant to stop. But stop, they must. In the drinks hut (between Holes 7 & 14) ensued a very lively, impromptu discussion which lasted about 25 - 30 minutes in a most relaxed atmosphere. The unforgettable topic was the inherent dangers in government con-

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7. SWIMMING & GOLF: DIFFERENT GAMES, DIFFERENT STROKES!

No, we are not about to do any serious analysis of the distinct differences between the two games. Anyone who is into the two games cannot but notice that golf is indeed basically a slow-paced game. If you doubt this assertion, let the golfer try a few laps in the swimming pool after a few months’ lay-off from the pool. Warning: You may need the services of a life-guard just in case you start gasping for breath after only one and half laps! 8. SELECTIVE MEMORY

tracts despite its attractions. No more details. Time up to continue with the competition. 5. ODD & EVEN NUMBER HOLES

You may recollect that we commented not too long ago on a diplomatic couple who played a pleasant round of golf in Abuja by keeping to their own self- made rules. Yours truly borrowed a leaf from this couple when he played a few rounds with an elderly golfer who ended up not taking honour - not even once. The seemingly embarrassing situation pleasantly eased off when we both mutually agreed in subsequent games to tee off in turns on odd and even number holes. Yes, we are talking about golf and not odd and even vehicle plate numbers which the Lagos State Government used to ease the flow of traffic in the 1980s!

The changing room of any sport is understandably a reservoir of stories of agony, triumphs, humiliation, selfdeceit, friendly slander and what have you. A golfer played a flawless round of golf - one of those days when everything went right. Two days later, this same golfer on his home course, which he thinks he knows like the back of his hand, plays a most disappointing round and just can’t do anything properly. In the changing room, he declares gleefully to fellow golfers, “That was my worst golf round ever.” Don’t believe him! As a beginner, he must have played many horrible rounds which he has conveniently forgotten.

9. A 16-HOLE COURSE & ITS HIDDEN MERITS

How did we come by 16 holes? A heavy rainstorm mid-February last year did considerable havoc to our 18-hole course. To enable members enjoy their golf rounds, the course was opened after a long 10-day compulsory holiday - with the proviso that playing was barred on Holes 9 & 10 where repair work would go on for a few more weeks. Hence, only 16 holes were available. This turned out to be an unexpected blessing. High handicappers were returning to their sheer delight gross scores of 86, 88 & 90. What a great feeling to be playing well under 100 even when you’ve played only 16 holes! And it should be remembered that Hole 9 - one of the closed holes - is not one of the easiest holes on the course. 10. PERHAPS! PERHAPS!! PERHAPS!!!

Someone once remarked innocently (albeit with a large dose of ingenuity) that if some golfers who spend so much time, attention and resources on matching the colours of their golf outfits - shoes, socks, shirts, shorts, caps, belts and even towels - could make equal fuss on improving the standard of their game, what a remarkable impact they would see on their scores! Is that why a reputable golfer, Sam Snead, warns: “You can’t go into a shop and buy a good game of golf?” Perhaps! Perhaps!! Perhaps!!!

6. GOLF BEGINS AT 75!

Is old age a sufficient excuse for playing an abominable round of golf? Old age in this context would apply to a golfer who is over 60 years old. Some golfers in their early and late 70’s would ask you to go and look for another reason, apart from age, for your playing a poor round of golf. Rightly, some guys well over 70 would play admirable, long tee-shots which would belie their ages. The story must be told of a 75-year-old, active golfer whose graceful, masterly strokes are such a great delight to harmony

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course by 6.30a.m. The more committed golfers tee-off by 6.00a.m with the aid of “night” balls that blink and sparkle for about five minutes after being hit by a golf club. And the night balls are on duty till about 6.45a.m then they are swopped for normal golf balls. These early birds - a rare breed of golfers - complete the 18 holes by 9.30a.m and not later than 10a.m. A few who play one ball, i.e solo, complete the whole course by 8.30a.m! Other Hints

11. DO YOU NEED BETWEEN 4 & 5 HOURS IN A DAY TO ENJOY A ROUND OF GOLF?

One main reason (you guess) why some guys and gals have been afraid to play golf is the erroneous belief that if you cannot take a day off your work, you should not go near a golf course. To debunk this impression, let’s take a brief look at only three case studies - all based on real-life experiences Case Study (1) A successful architect and a top bank executive play golf from 6a.m - 8a.m twice a week and cover comfortably 11 holes. And the two gentlemen would be at their desks by 9a.m on their golfing days. When they close for business in the evening, they would have had sufficient exercise for the day. Thrice a month, on Saturdays, they find the time to play with other guys and spend much longer time on the course. Case Study (2) A medical doctor who runs a successful practice and a retired bank CEO make it a point of duty two or three times a week to play golf from about 4p.m and do 11-14 holes at their own leisurely pace before dusk! Case Study (3) The early birds - early risers - get to the

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One key point must be made here, though. Four balls (for golfers) make a complete set. The truth is that for those who want to play golf in a hurry (off the peak period), two or three balls will be ideal for such a golf set. Some courses are designed in such a way that you can play nine holes without feeling as if you are abandoning half-way: Abuja & Ikeja Golf Courses readily come to mind. When you are eventually beaten by the golf “bug”, who cares whether an 18- hole course takes four to five hours particularly in a competition when there is so much at stake? After all, golf is only one of the very few games where there are so many prizes to be won in a single competition. Little wonder, committed and renowned golfers make such bold claims about the values golf offers. Time and space will only permit us to cite two pertinent quotes: “If you watch a game, it’s fun, if you play at it, it’s recreation, if you work at it, it’s golf.” - Bob Hope “Beyond the fact that it is a limitless arena for the full play of human nature, there’s no sure accounting for golf’s fascination... Perhaps, it is nothing more than the best game man has ever devised.” - Herbert Warren Wind 10 RANDOM RULES & GUIDELINES THAT YOU MAY NOTE OR IGNORE AT YOUR OWN RISK

A friend who has been making serious effort to avoid the frustrations of this fascinating game and is bent on concentrating on its thrills gives the following rules and guidelines: 1. Never, ever lose your temper on the course, no matter the provocation. 2. When playing in a group, avoid uncomplimentary comments on your

partners’ game. 3. Count your scores accurately, even when you have lost complete control of your game and you are playing poorly. 4. Always think before playing a stroke. A post-mortem analysis of your faults, helpful as it seems, may not yield immediate results. 5. Don’t go for distance all the time; play sensibly; play safely. 6. Don’t ever play a shot without giving adequate consideration to those ahead of you. You might just play a shot which is too close to those ahead, when you least expect. To err is human, to play thoughtlessly is to injure others. 7. When you fail to tee-off properly, remember that it is just the beginning, and not the end of the hole. 8. If a caddy attempts to cheat in your favour, resist it. You are responsible for your scores. Not your caddy. 9. There are occasions when you may have to pick up your ball in your own interest because of inclement weather though you may be having a fantastic round of golf. 10. As Robert A. Reynolds dutifully advises: “Remember it’s only a game.”

law

DOCTORS – BEWARE OF

PATIENTS! Patient: Doctor, what does the X-ray of my head show? Doctor: Absolutely nothing!

hief Buruji Abednego had been our client for over 20 years and is regarded as one of our ‘rain makers”. On his last visit to our office, after the usual updates of the briefs we are handling for him, he told me of his state of body pain and weakness. I suggested he sees his GP but he waived it off by saying the condition was likely the result of the long trip to Singapore from which he just arrived the previous night. When the chief stood up to leave, it became apparent that he was ill and that his condition may require immediate medical attention. I then decided to see him to the lift (14th floor) and his car. It was quite a fortuitous decision because by the time we rode the lift to the ground floor, the Chief was fainting and I had to direct the driver to take us straight to his preferred hospital. The consulting doctor was able to stabilise the chief and for reasons best known to him, directed that the chief be taken to a renowned medical laboratory facility for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan. The rather expensive scan was done and the laboratory issued a “clean bill” indicating the non-observance of any significant medical condition. Upon the laboratory result, the chief was given a clean bill of health by the doctor but advised to “get his foot off the pedal” for a while. Two weeks later, the chief had to be evacuated to London when his condition relapsed. At his Harley Street hospital, the

MRI scan was equally carried out and alas, the MRI result indicated the existence of a significant blood clot in the leg a.k.a DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis). Blood clot in the leg may lead to a pulmonary embolism and death of the patient. That was a life-threatening condition which had to be treated immediately. Unfortunately, the DVT worsened and chief suffered a multiple pulmonary emboli. As a consequence of the prior medical diagnosis failure (misdiagnosis) he is now more at risk of developing further vascular problems in the future including post thrombotic syndrome. Chief Buruji Abednego was a victim of medical misdiagnosis. The misdiagnosis of a life-threatening condition, such as DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) Cancers, etc, usually leads to untimely and avoidable deaths. When cases of misdiagnosis and other medical facility failings occur (commonly regarded as medical malpractice or medical negligence) issues are raised about possible legal liability for the failings. The doctors, nurses, surgeons and pharmacists, laboratories (hereafter “medical providers”) come into focus. The public is rightly entitled to regard these professionals as “health solution providers” or “miracle workers” because of their specialised training, legal recognition and perception of being knowledgeable in the field of health. Legally speaking, medical malpractice occurs where a medical provider exposes a patient to improper, unskilled, or negligent treatment or acts in a negligent manner when treating a medical condition. Malpractice can occur from an action taken by the medical provider, or by the failure to take a medically appropriate action. Examples of medical negligence include: yy Failure to diagnose, or misdiagnosis of a disease or medical condition; yy Failure to provide appropriate treatment for a medical condition; yy Unreasonable delay in treating a diagnosed medical condition; yy Operating on the wrong patient or body part yy Damaging healthy organs during surgery

Medical malpractice occurs where a medical provider exposes a patient to improper, unskilled, or negligent treatment or acts in a negligent manner when treating a medical condition.

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law

yy Leaving a sponge or surgical instrument inside the patient yy Inadequate disinfection of surgical instruments causing an infection yy Improper amounts or administration of anesthesia prior to surgery resulting in harm, such as permanent brain damage. It may be true that medical providers are human after all and they could err despite their best intentions, they have their own personal stresses which may affect their performance and allow them make occasional errors, especially when under immense pressure. However, for a medical provider, the implications of such a lapse in concentration or negligence can be far more disastrous than from a banker or a baker. Negligence is conduct that falls below the standard established by law for the protection of others against an unreasonable risk of harm. To prevail in a negligence action, a claimant must establish by a preponderance of evidence, that the defendant’s (medical provider’s) conduct was unreasonable in light of the particular situation and that such conduct caused the claimant’s injury. That an accident or an injury has occurred, with nothing more, is not evidence of negligence. There must be evidence that negligence caused the event. The law does not hold medical provider legally responsible for all medical or diagnostic errors save for medical negligence, which is indefensible, and actionable. However, to succeed in a medical malpractice lawsuit, the claimant must prove four things to the court’s satisfaction, to wit: yy A medical provider -patient relationship existed. yy The medical provider was negligent -- that is, did not provide treatment in a reasonably skillful and competent manner. yy The medical provider’s negligence caused actual compensable injury to the patient. Without damage (losses which may be pecuniary or emotional), there is no basis for a claim, regardless of whether the medical provider was negligent. yy The injury was caused in fact or proximately caused by the substandard conduct. The claimant may also rely on the rule of evidence known as res ipsa loquitur. The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur (Latin for “the thing itself speaks”) states that the elements of duty of care and breach can be, when there is no direct evidence of the defendant’s negligence, inferred from the very nature of the accident, even without direct evidence of how any defendant behaved. A rebuttable presumption or inference that the defendant was negligent arises upon proof that the instrumentality or condition causing the injury was in the defendant’s exclusive control and that the accident was one that ordinarily does not occur in the absence of negligence. For instance, while under anesthetics, the nerve in the arm of a patient is damaged although it was not part of the surgical

procedure, and the patient was unaware, at the material item, which of a dozen medical providers he passed through, caused the damage. The way to go for the lawyer is to plead res ipsa loquitur. Thus the claimant, unable to rightly prove negligence on the part of the medical providers, may rest his case on the plea of res ipsa loquitur - which shifts the burden of proof from the claimant to the defendants and where the defendants fails to give evidence in rebuttal to discharge the burden, the plea and the claim succeeds. However the plea of res ipsa loquitur will only apply in the following circumstances: (1) when the thing that inflicted the damage was under the sole management and control of the defendant or of someone for whom he is responsible or whom he has a right to control. (2) The occurrence is such that it would not have happened without negligence. (3) There must be no evidence as to why or how the occurrence took place. If there is, then the plea is inappropriate. It is after the appellant has established evidence from which negligence is inferred that the burden shifts to the respondents to rebut any presumption of negligence. The incidence of medical negligence is steadily on the increase in Nigeria, not for dearth of knowledge or professionalism of our medical providers but, in the main, because of infusion of their personal stress and vicissitudes of life into their callings. Most do not have the wherewithal to update their knowledge and cannot catch up with the pace of the development of cutting edge life saving techniques and technology. More: the medical laboratory industry in the country is largely unregulated – fake reagents abound and many experienced medical providers have openly queried the Staphylococcus” and the “Typhoid” scams that remains their forte. Something tells me that medical negligence litigation could be the next income stream for the legal industry because unlike in the recent past, patients are becoming enlightened and are challenging medical treatments and diagnoses. The regime of nominal compensation for medical negligence may also be over albeit we may not have reached the level of the mega-bucks compensatory damages of the US but our courts are beginning to award truly compensatory damages for medical negligence – so medical providers should watch it.

The incidence of medical negligence is steadily on the increase in Nigeria, not for dearth of knowledge or professionalism of our medical providers but, in the main, because of infusion of their personal stress and vicissitudes of life into their callings.

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Otunba Abiodun Olufowobi, Barrister, writes via pabiekun@yahoo.com

gallo.com

b ar & d e l i cac i es

By Laura Clay

few. Madame Clicquot took over running the family business in 1805 when she was widowed at only 27 years of age. Under her leadership and direction, the now-called Veuve-Clicquot Champagne House thrived and she developed several champagne licquot Veuve C innovations which are still used today. Madame Lily Boursault Bollinger too made her mark in the world of champagne and not just for the quote for which she is so well-known: “I drink it when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it—unless I’m thirsty.” Nowadays, Carole Duval-Leroy took the helm of her lily_bolling husband’s family champagne house of the same name at er a time when she was not only a very young Carol_ woman, but a mother to three young sons. Duval She, with her female wine-maker, Sandrine Logette-Jardin, has so improved the quality of the wine and the business that Champagne Duval-Leroy now produces in excess of five million bottles selling worldwide and is ranked in the top 15 of Champagne Houses. Their top and most exquisite cuvée is called simply, Femme. In Bordeaux, if you buy wine from a group which calls itself Les Medocaines, Quatre Filles dans le Vin, you will be rewarded by wine made by the fairer sex. Vanya Cullen is one of the vanya cullen greatest wine-makers in Australia, leading the way in biodynamic wine-making, and she just happens to be a woman. However, all these women mentioned came to wine through their husbands or fathers. Not so Katie Jones from the UK, who upped-sticks and left her job for warmer climes, but much harder work, and has very successfully developed her brand, Domaine Jones, from a winery in the Roussillon area of Southern France. She works in the vineyard and in the winery; she designs and packages the bottles; katie jones she markets and sells her wine. She is the proof that women make great wine-makers and tasters not to mention multi-taskers. stripes.com sevenstarsand

winbiz. com.au

Women though should have more confidence in their ability to taste and choose wine just as much as men, possibly even more so. There’s some debate over whether women have more taste buds on their tongues than men and certainly, although there is no scientific proof for this, women do seem to be sharper at picking up aromas and are better at expressing what they smell. This is not just my own observation but a widely held view in the trade. Men, on the other hand, seem to take more time to learn about wine – to read about it and remember what they’ve learnt. This is something a woman can do too and then, with a little confidence in her own tastes and views, she will be become just as expert as her partner. But women don’t just make great tasters, some actually make the wine. The Drinks Business recently listed at No 1 of Most Powerful Women in Wine, Gina Gallo, chief winemaker of Gallo Family Vineyards, a company which sold 75 million cases in 2011. That’s a lot of wine and that’s one woman with a whole lot of influence on what we all drink. There have always been famous wine women in history, of course, but until more recently they have been

Gina Gallo

007museum.com

et’s not beat about the bush; women tend do to the shopping and the cooking but when it comes to the wine to accompany the dinner that they have planned, shopped for and prepared, their partner may well take control. It seems that women lack confidence in what has historically been considered as man’s domain. Well, not so in my house. I buy, select, open and decant the wines; I let my husband know exactly which part of the cellar he can source a wine from, if I am not there and which wines he is strictly forbidden from touching! This may not be all that surprising as it is, after all, my job. He works in finance so he looks after our bank balance, a sensible division of labour we find, especially when you consider my ineptitude for figures, and I look after the cellar!

org wikipedia.

Women & Wine

Laura Clay is a wine presenter and educator as well as a writer. She was the UK Champagne Ambassador for 2010, is an accredited Bordeaux Tutor and Chairman of the Midland Wine and Spirit Association. She is Honorary Secretary of the Association of Wine Educators and a certified tutor for the WSET. wineanorak. com

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n u tr i t i on

What local food shall we

eat?

micronutrients. Food allergies and Food intolerance: Based on psychological or physiological reactions, some

By JANE ELEODIMU

act: Nigeria is richly blessed with various foods with the required nutrients. Some American nutritionists who visited recently even compared Nigeria to the biblical Garden of Eden. Reality: we have shifted from the provisions of nature to the technologically modified foods. I posit that if we go back and harness what our land is producing, we would find that the rate of health deterioration would be greatly reduced. Of course we can write a tome on this, but the fundamentals will do in the little space – and time – we have. What is Human Nutrition?

It is the total process of how we obtain foods from our environment and the factors that facilitate the usage of such food materials (nutrients) for the body’s vital activities. Activities like growth, development, maintenance, protection, procreation etc. What factors affect our food choices?

Income Level: We eat what we can afford to buy e.g. some can afford yam flour but not wheat or semolina. Cultural factors: E.g. snail is rich in iron, good for treating anemic children but in some cultures, it is a taboo. Religious factors: Some religions avoid meat consumption because they worship animals as deity .So they remain vegetarians. Environmental factors (Availability, Access): Yams are more available in the Middle Belt while cassava is more in the east. Information: Nutrition information, (whether negative or positive).E.g. fruits are too sugary therefore should be avoided (false).Everybody should avoid meat conCarbohydrates sumption (false).Proper dietary counsel from a PROYam FESSIONAL DIETICIAN is needed to rectify these. Cassava Social status: Some people eat and drink certain Rice foods with friends just to feel among. Phobia: Maybe they had a terrible coincident Corn experience when they ate a particular food e.g. food poisoning due to unhygienic preparation. They now Wheat developed a phobia for that food. Least considered but most important factors that affect our food choices: Health Status

Age: Children need more protein (2.2g/kg body wt) than adults (0.8g/kg body wt). Gender: Males have more muscle mass to maintain therefore require more energy. While females need more iron to maintain ovulation. Occupation: Is it sedentary or active? Mental power demands more amino acids, serotonin and dopamine. Physical active needs more carbohydrates,

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people tend to avoid certain foods. E.g. beans might cause heartburn in some people (as a result of weak protein-enzyme digestibility). In this case, substitution is needed to avoid nutrient deficiency Physiological status: Pre-pregnant, pregnant or lactating. More nutrients because you are feeding for two. Medical history/condition: Diabetes, low-calorie diet; HBP, Lowsodium, Low-cholesterol diets etc; Migraines, Low-caffeine foods; Ulcers, Gastric diets; etc, etc. Below are some of our general food groups and combinations. For each meal, choose one from each of the food groups to create something close to adequate diet in quantity and quality. Note: This is a general meal plan and does not include those that require special diets as a result of disease anomalies or other physiological/psychological disorder (consult a dietician). See the table below for some of our local foods and combinations. Drink lots of water in-between meals and avoid excessively cold water. Jane C Eleodimu (RD) is a clinical dietician/nutrionist. Email: jcoption@yahoo.com. Feedback on article to harmony@harpostrophe.com Protein

Fats & Oil

Micronutrients/fibres

Beef

Palmoil

Teas (black or green)

chicken

g/nut oil

Cocoa beverages

Fish

Butter/margarine Fruits: (apples, bananas, pineapple, (preferably for children) watermelon, pear, Oranges, grapes, etc.)

Eggs

Soya oil

Vegetables: (ugu, choko, gbure, bitterleaf, waterleaf, garden egg, etc)

Beans

Flaxseed oil

Pale vegetables: (peas, carrots, lettuce, green beans, cabbage, etc)

Bread

cowpea

Olive oil

Cocoyam

soybeans

Coconut oil

Sweet potatoes

Bambara nuts

Irish potatoes

Locust bean

Plantain

Oil bean groundnuts egusi ogbono milk Veal (goat meat)

hea l th

COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS IN WOMEN By Prof O K OGEDENGBE

omen experience similar medical disorders as men, as they become older, such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and obesity. However there are some diseases peculiar only to women. Some, such as cancers of the female organs are life-threatening, others are less harmful such as uterine fibroids and infertility, whilst some are physiological or due to the normal ageing process. Cancer of the cervix This is the most common cancer seen in women in developing countries such as Nigeria. Unfortunately because of the lack of screening and ignorance about the significance of symp-

toms, the woman usually presents herself when it has become advanced. There is usually abnormal bleeding in between the menstrual periods or following intercourse. This cancer is associated with early intercourse and pregnancy, as well as those who have multiple sexual partners. Recently, a virus called Human Papilloma Virus or HPV has been found to be present in over 90 per cent of those who present with cervical cancer, and there is now a vaccine which will prevent the infection and therefore prevent its acquisition. Cancer of the cervix has largely been eradicated in developed countries by regular screening using the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pap Smear.â&#x20AC;? This detects the cancerous changes early before it becomes invasive. For low resource countries screening can also be done by inspecting the cervix after it has been painted with ascetic acid for abnormal changes. Screening should be done yearly for three years in sexually active women over the age of 20 years and every three years thereafter if the results are normal. In the early stage, the abnormal areas detected by the Pap Smear can be removed and the woman cured. If it has become cancerous, in the early stages, it can be treated by surgery and radiation. Late cancer can only be treated by radiation. Cancer of the breast This is the second most common cancer in developing countries but the leading cause in developed countries. It was usually seen in women in their over 50 years, but a more aggressive form is appearing in younger black women. It runs in families and is associated with late pregnancy and breastfeeding. It has been found to be more common in women with a certain genetic make-up, a finding which can be used for screening. It is usually revealed by the discovery of a lump in the breast and confirmed using X-rays and ultrasound scanning. Routine screening using mammograms in women over 50 years of age reduces the deaths from breast cancer by 30 per cent. The actual diagnosis of cancer can only be made after the lump has been removed and inspected under the microscope. Treatment may be by removal of that entire breast and radiation. However, these days following removal of the lump, the patient is treated with cancer cell killing drugs. Uterine fibroids These are non-cancerharmony

H E A L T H C O M M O N H E A L T H P R O BL E M S I N W O M E N

ous tumors of the uterus which are more common in black women and present in 20-30 per cent of all women over the age of 30. They tend to grow in size and are usually multiple. They may be present without symptoms and even co-exist with pregnancy. However, depending on the location they tend to produce heavy menstrual periods and anaemia. They may prevent conception, cause miscarriage or premature delivery. The diagnosis is made by finding a lump in the lower abdomen or on ultrasound scanning. Treatment is usually by surgical removal of the fibroids only, called myomectomy or removal of the entire womb, (hysterectomy), depending on whether there is a desire for further child-bearing. The fibroids tend to grow back if there is the uterus is not removed. Removal of the womb also prevents the risk of developing cervical cancer. Infertility There is a high premium placed on child-bearing in our culture, and infertility is found to be the commonest gynaecological complaint seen in Nigeria for which treatment is sought. It is found in 20-46 per cent of couples in West Africa and the cause is equally divided between the man, the woman, and both partners. In Nigeria, blockage of the fallopian tubes is the commonest cause, unlike in the developed countries where disorders of ovulation are found to be more common. Blockage of the fallopian tubes is usually from infection introduced following a pregnancy or more commonly an induced abortion from unwanted pregnancy. The latter is a leading cause of maternal deaths in Nigeria. Most developed countries, by preventing unwanted pregnancy, through improved moral values, abstinence and most especially contraception and providing safe induced abortion where indicated, have eliminated abortion as a cause of death in their women. Infertility caused by abnormalities in the man is being increasingly diagnosed in Nigeria and is also often caused by infection of the male genital tract. It can also be secondary to excess heat to the genitals, alcohol, and smoking. Rarely a cause may not be found. The best treatment for tubal blockage and infertility in the man has been recognised to be Assisted Reproduction, otherwise known as “Test Tube Babies”. This involves the manipulation of the egg and sperm which are artificially fertilised to achieve conception. This procedure is now obtainable in almost 30 centres in Nigeria with success rates comparable to those found in developed countries. Menopause As women are now living longer, more are experiencing the natural symptoms associated with the withdrawal of the female hormone “oestrogen” because of their failing ovaries. Menopause is defined as the normal cessation of menstrual periods usually occurring after the age of 40 years which is a result of this withdrawal of oestrogen. Other common symptoms experienced include hot flushes, sweating, palpitations, anxiety, depression, inability to sleep and irritability. The woman may experience vaginal

dryness and loss of libido. It may cause thinning of the bones or osteoporosis, weight gain or cardiovascular disease. The menstrual periods may initially become irregular or just stop abruptly. Estimation of certain hormone levels will confirm the diagnosis of menopause. Management of the symptoms will include counselling to counter the psychological effects of lifetime changes. If the symptoms are severe the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), will be of assistance. The giving of hormones is particularly indicated when the bones or cardiovascular system are affected. Hypertension, diabetes and obesity Hypertension, diabetes and obesity are all inter-related, and loss of weight can be the first line of treatment for diabetes and hypertension. Many times, hypertension runs in families, but it is very often aggravated or precipitated by stress, and pregnancy. These disorders can lead to “stroke” which occurs when a blood vessel in the brain gets blocked. If the blood vessel happens to be in the heart or lungs it can lead to sudden death. It is therefore important to avoid obesity if hypertensive or diabetic. In addition to weight loss, one must adhere strictly to one’s medication, and see one`s doctor regularly. Exercise has been found to be of paramount importance in the management of hypertension and diabetes. Its role in weight loss has been well documented, but regular exercise is now known to reduce the occurrence of many diseases. It has been shown that a brisk walk for 30 minutes a day leads to good health. Depending on your age and make-up anything from golf to swimming or jogging is advisable. Well women clinics. It is now advocated that women should attend what are otherwise known as “Well Women Clinics.” These are clinics where women can go for screening for cancers and early detection of chronic diseases. Patients can monitor their weight and blood pressure as well as check their urine for the presence of sugar to see if they are diabetic. Screening for cancer of the cervix using Pap Smears or visual inspection is usually available. Breast examination is done and the woman taught how to check for lumps by herself. Family planning counseling is given and effective methods dispensed. These Well Women clinics provide a forum where a woman`s health can be monitored for early detection of many illnesses and also a place where she can get information on how to deal with all aspects of her health. Ideally they should have a link with specialised health institutions so when abnormalities are found the woman can be referred to the appropriate physician. These clinics are available in developed countries and should be established here in Nigeria also. They can be located in recreational areas such as Ikoyi Club 1938 for ease of access, providing an added facility for its female members. This will go a long way to reduce the late presentation of many medical disorders and keep our women fit and healthy.

It is now advocated that women should attend what are otherwise known as “Well Women Clinics.” These are clinics where women can go for screening for cancers and early detection of chronic diseases.

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Ogedengbe, B.M, BCh, MA (Oxon), FRCOG, FICS, FWACS, FMCOG, is professor of obstetrics & gynaecology

HAHAHA! SIN OF LYING A priest told his congregation, “next week I plan to preach about the sin of lying. To help you understand my sermon, I want you all to read Mark 17.” The following Sunday, as he prepared to deliver his sermon, the minister asked for a show of hands by those who read the passage. He wanted to know how many had read Mark 17. Every hand went up. The minister smiled and said, “Mark has only sixteen chapters. I will now proceed with my sermon on the sin of lying.”

IS GOD REAL? An atheist professor was teaching a college class at Alabama and he told the class that he was going to prove that there is no God. He said, “God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I’ll give you 15 minutes!” Ten minutes went by. He kept taunting God, saying, “Here I am, God. I’m still waiting.” He got down to the last couple of minutes and a big 240 pound football player in the class walked up to the professor, hit him full force in the face, and sent him flying from his platform. The professor struggled up, obviously shaken and yelled, “What’s the matter with you? Why did you do that?” The football player replied, “GOD WAS BUSY; HE SENT ME!” Credit: anvari.org

BEST OF CLASSIC COMEBACK RESPONSES “In an interview,Gulf War (1991) General Norman Schwarzkopf was asked if he thought there was room for forgiveness toward the people who have harboured and abetted the terrorists who perpetrated the 9/11 attacks on America. His answer...”I believe that forgiving them is God’s function. Our job is simply to arrange the meeting.” A LAWYER QUESTIONING A DOCTOR DURING A TRIAL: Q: “Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?” A: “No.” Q: “Did you check for blood pressure?” A: “No.” Q: “Did you check for breathing?” A: “No.” Q: “So, then, it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?” A: “No.” Q: “How can you be so sure, doctor?” A: “Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.” Q: “But could the patient have still been alive nevertheless?” A: “It is possible that he could have been alive and practising law somewhere.” LIVE AUTOPSY Q: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people? A: All my autopsies are performed on dead people. Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body? A: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m. Q: And Mr. Kennedy was dead at the time? A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy.

ture was taken? Q. When he went, had you gone and had she, if she wanted to and were able, for the time being excluding all the restraints on her not to go, gone also, would he have brought you, meaning you and she, with him to the station? Defence Counsel: Objection. That question should be taken out and shot. Q: What is your date of birth? A: July fifteenth. Q: What year? A: Every year. Q: This myasthenia gravis-does it affect your memory at all? A: Yes. Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory? A: I forget. Q: You forget. Can you give us an example of something that you’ve forgotten? Q: How old is your son--the one living with you. A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can’t remember which. Q: How long has he lived with you? A: Forty-five years. Q. Do you know how far pregnant you are right now? A. I will be three months November 8th. Q. Apparently then, the date of conception was August 8th? A. Yes. Q. What were you and your husband doing at that time? Q: She had three children, right? A: Yes. Q: How many were boys? A: None.

Q: You say the stairs went down to the basement? A: Yes. Q: And these stairs, did they go up also? Q: Mr. Slatery, you went on a rather elaborate honeymoon, didn’t you? A: I went to Europe, sir. Q: And you took your new wife? Q: How was your first marriage terminated? A: By death. Q: And by whose death was it terminated? RIDDLES Barbie is going to a party. The party is for her father’s sister’s daughter’s brother. What is her relationship to the guest of honour?. • That attorney is my brother, testified the accountant. But the attorney testified he didn’t have a brother. Who is lying? • If you reverse the digits of my age, you have the age of my daughter. A year ago, I was twice her age. How old are we both now? • Nancy’s cousin’s uncle’s wife’s sister is what relation to Nancy? • Ralph married two women without divorcing either of them and with neither woman divorcing him, committing bigamy or dying. How is this possible?

Answers She is his cousin. No one is lying – the accountant is the attorney’s sister. My daughter is 37 and I am 73 Nancy’s aunt Ralph was a minister who conducted 2 weddings

Credit: Famous Quotes & Sayings

DUMB DUMB DUMB PROCEEDINGS. Q: (showing a picture) that’s you? A: Yes. Q: Were you present when the pic-

Q: Were there any girls?

Contributed/ Adopted from Internet sources by: Otunba Abiodun Olufowobi (Pabiekun) Barrister. pabiekun@ yahoo.com Do you know how far pregnant you are now? harmony

member? Want to be a

Ikoyi Club 1938 is a premier family club of highest standards in Nigeria with eight sporting sections in one location. Home to all nationalities, its motto is ‘Global Harmony Through Recreation’ and it strives to retain the elitist status of the founding fathers with members who must be on top of their professions. 1. How to join

Step 1 An intending member must first obtain and complete the White Form at a cost of N7,000 through a financial Ordinary Member, whose membership must not be less than two years, or a Life Member as a condition for being considered as a person who can join Ikoyi Club 1938. Step 2 The intending member will complete the White Form and obtain sectional Chairmen’s signatures on it; before submitting the form to the Subscription Manager. Step 3 At this stage, the Membership Sub-Committee will screen the candidate through an interview with the proposer in attendance. At the interview, the sub-committee is at liberty to call for relevant documents, such as marriage certificate, evidence of professional and educational qualifications, audited accounts/reports etc, after which the successful candidate will be issued the Green Card at the rate of N10,000. Step 4 The successful candidate will complete the Green Card which shall be sponsored and seconded by two Ordinary Members who are: yy Paid-up yy Of not less than two years standing. yy Are personally acquainted to the candidate for five years or more. Step 5 The Green Card will be forwarded to the Subscription Officer for preparation of the bill. Step 6 The candidate makes payment

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to the club and is issuedis made to the club and the candidate is given a temporary membership card which is to be surrendered on the day of induction. The Green Card is valid for three months from the day of issuance. 2. CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP

Membership in Ikoyi Club 1938 comprises the underlisted categories: ORDINARY MEMBERS

This category of members comprises persons over 25 years of age and they must go through Ikoyi Club 1938 Membership joining process according to the Rules. SPOUSE AND LADY MEMBERS

This category is made up of persons over 21 years of age, having fulfilled all conditions in Rule 2.2 of Ikoyi Club 1938. Members under this category have no say in the management of the club, except having gone through a process of election as provided for in Rule 3(g) of Ikoyi Club 1938. LIFE MEMBERS

A member who has been elected an Ordinary Member of Ikoyi Club 1938, on attaining the age of 65 years and having been a paid-up member for 25 years without break, with his spouse and children who are junior members, shall be entitled to a Life membership. Such a member shall be exempted from paying subscriptions or other fees in respect of the use of the club facilities and shall be entitled to all membership privileges. HONORARY MEMBERS

Members under this category have the honour conferred on them at the discretion of the General Committee who will propose such a person for election as Honorary Member. Such persons must have rendered an exceptional service to the club or the country, and will have their names displayed on the Club Notice Board for seven days prior to the consideration of such a proposal by members at the February General Meeting of the Club. JUNIOR MEMBERS

A Junior Member is a child, aged 12 to 25 years, whose parents are Life, Honorary, Ordinary or Spouse/Lady Members of the Club. A Junior Member, on attainment of 25 years of age, who wishes to continue as an Ordinary Member shall be granted 50% rebate on the entrance fee, provided such Junior Member satisfies conditions stipulated in Rule 2.5(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of Ikoyi Club 1938. 3. BENEFITS OF A LIFE MEMBER

Benefits of a Life Member are as prescribed in the Club’s Rule. These include exemption from payment of membership subscription bills, and some other statutory fees or levies, as may be approved from time to time by the General Committee through the February Annual General Meeting. Such exemption covers children who are Junior Members, as well as the Spouse of such a Life Member.