Businessday 03 jun 2018

BDSUNDAY BUSINESS DAY

‘NotTooYoungToRun’ law: What hope for the Nigerian youths?

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Stanbic Africa Holdings boosts confidence as it raises investments in Stanbic IBTC to 64%

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Sunday 03 June 2018 Market & Commodities Monitor Brent Oil

5yr Bond

$76.96

-0.06 13.45%

Gold

10yr Bond

$1,299.40

0.00 13.31%

Cocoa

20yr Bond

$2,458.0

-0.01 13.42%

inside

Desperate ambition politicians in marriage of convenience

By Our Reporters

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ith less than nine months to the 2019 general elections in the country, there have been alignments and realignments among politicians and political parties, all with the intent of consolidating old grounds or pitching new tents.

Politics being a game of permanent inter-

Dawn of killerdrugs: Onne Customs ready for battle with smugglers

Vol 1, No. 220 N300

est, politicians from across the divide are weighing their options. As some politicians have been signifying their intentions to contest for one position or the other, those who feel their chances are slim in their present political parties have begun to negotiate their exit to other parties where they feel they have greater chances to realise their dreams, while some others have already moved.

As it is, though the defections have largely been a two-way traffic between the ruling

All Progressives Congress (APC) and the major opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the newly refurbished Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which not long ago formed a merger with the former President Olusegun Obasanjo-inspired Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM), have also recently received some defectors.

However, as would be expected, the APC seems to have been the biggest gainer in the

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Opposition must field one candidate to have a chance against Buhari – Odumakin

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Montaigne Place Urban Art Series unleashes Tolu Aliki’s ingenuity p. 38

The Rt. Revd. James Olusola Odedeji, Bishop of Lagos West Diocese, Anglican Communion, dedicating Our Saviour’s Church, Egbe, Lagos, recently. Pic by Pius Okeosisi

How l escaped from the hands of Fulani herdsmen in military uniform - Nwauzo Ngozi Okpalakunne

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idnapping in Nigeria has become a frequent occurrence. No day ever passes without news on kidnapping dominating the media space. No one is safe. Children and

adults alike are being kidnapped on a regular basis.

In some cases, victims are lucky to make it alive out of their kidnappers’ den whereas some others are not so lucky. There have been instances where, even after ransoms are paid, the victims never returned alive.

The statistics is startling.

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) says that Boko Haram has kidnapped more than 1000 children in Nigeria since 2013, including the Chibok girls, Dapchi school girls and

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Sunday 03 June 2018

IssueOfTheWeek Nyame’s conviction: Kudos, EFCC, but...

CHUKS OLUIGBO

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embers of the Alleluia Chorus are already chanting, glorifying and magnifying the name of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the conviction of Jolly Nyame, who governed Taraba State from 1999 to 2007.

Nyame on Wednesday bagged a 14-year jail term without an option of fine after a high court sitting in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja found him guilty on 27 out of the 41-count charge of money laundering brought against him by the EFCC. He was arraigned by the anti-graft agency for allegedly looting public funds to the tune of N1.64 billion during his tenure as governor of Taraba State.

Specifically, the court sentenced Nyame to 14 years for criminal breach of trust, two years for misappropriation, seven years for gratification, and five years for obtaining valuable public properties without consideration. The court rejected Nyame’s plea for leniency and held that the sentence would run concurrently, even as it discharged the defendant on 14 counts of the charge.

“As a reverend, he must have been seen as an epitome of morality, piety and everything good. How will Reverend Nyame begin to explain to people of Taraba State his actions and inactions? How can he justify causing such a colossal loss to the state?” said Justice Adebukola Banjoko, who delivered the judgment.

“Citizens of Taraba had elected the defendant, a clergyman, on three separate occasions to govern them, which shows constant level of trust. The expectation must have been so high,” Banjoko said.

Though Nyame’s conviction is commendable, considering the EFCC’s notorious tardiness in prosecuting high profile corruption cases, it is really nothing to celebrate. Clearly, Nyame’s case is a one-off, the exception rather than the rule.

In June last year, BDSUNDAY reported that while the commission was quick to obtain convictions in minor fraud cases – such as those involving Usman Ahmed, Isiyaku Mohammed, Mohammed Badadi and Rilwan Abdullahi (possession of fake naira notes worth N583,000), Christopher Ngene (three-count charge of fraud to the tune of N200,000), Hannah Abraham (14 years imprisonment for obtaining money by false pretence), Obinna Nnamdi (two-year jail term for internet fraud), among others – serious cases involving politically-exposed persons tended to linger on end. To think that the Nyame case had dragged for 11 whole years! As I write, such high profile corruption and money laundering cases involving former Governors Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Orji Uzo Kalu (Abia), Saminu Turaki (Jigawa), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Alao Akala (Oyo), Rasheed Ladoja (Oyo), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Aliyu Akwe Doma (Nassarawa), Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto), and Abdullahi Adamu (Nassarawa) are still pending.

Prior to this time, not a few Nigerians had accused the President Muhammadu Buhari administration of being selective in its anti-corruption war.

Nyame

Femi Aribisala, a scholar and international affairs expert, in an April 19, 2016 article on Premium Times entitled ‘Don’t Believe the Lie: There Is No War Against Corruption In Nigeria (2)’, accused Buhari of “fighting corruption with corruption”.

He said corruption was not limited to stealing money, but also includes disregarding the rule of law under a democratic system, flouting judicial verdicts, trying politicians on the pages of newspapers instead of in law courts, unlawfully killing hundreds of Shiites in Kaduna, as well as detaining Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife for several months without trial.

“The APC does not even pretend to be anti-corruption. Both the corrupt and the clean are welcome with open arms into the party. No politician with corruption allegations hanging over his head is ever denied membership of the APC. As a matter of fact, the party is a safe harbour for corrupt politicians seeking protection from APC persecution,” Aribisala said.

“Apparently, if you are a member of the PDP, you are deemed by Buhari’s APC to be corrupt. But once you cross over to the APC, you automatically become squeaky clean,” he added.

Martin Onovo, presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2015 elections, in a July 2017 interview, said the APC-led administration was not fighting the war on corruption with a sincerity of purpose, alleging that it engaged in “selective prosecution of those who are not in the party or who have served in the Jonathan administration”.

“The government of the day is not sincere about its fight against corruption because there are some APC chieftains who are allegedly corrupt or who have baggage but are in this government of President Buhari. The fashionable thing for any politician who is being investigated to do in order to be let off the hook is for such a person to defect to APC and his or her sins would be forgiven. There are so many examples but

let me save myself the agony of mentioning names,” Onovo said.

“In a nutshell, APC is now safe haven for corrupt politicians who want to escape being prosecuted judging by its selective anti-corruption war,” he said.

But a day before Nyame’s conviction, Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesperson, debunked the allegations that Buhari’s anticorruption fight was one-sided, saying the EFCC goes through a process to determine whether a case can be prosecuted based on the strength of the available evidence.

He reiterated that belonging to a political party does not mean corrupt individuals are immune from prosecution, pointing out that the immunity applies to only the four categories of officials provided by the constitution.

Speaking on Channels Forum, a Channels Television programme where opinion leaders and policymakers discuss and find solutions to Nigeria’s problems, on Tuesday, Uwujaren cited the case of Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia State, saying the former governor’s defection to APC has not stopped the alleged corruption case involving him.

Kalu, who defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in November 2016, is being prosecuted on charges of fraud running into billions of naira allegedly perpetrated by him when he served as governor of Abia State.

Uwujaren said the alleged corruption case against the Kalu was ongoing, emphasising that defecting to the APC had no effect on the matter.

“Yes, Orji Kalu has left the PDP to APC, but that does not mean that his case under prosecution has stopped. I can recall that on May 11, the prosecution closed its case in that matter. That case is going on and I don’t see how political association can affect the matter that is being prosecuted in court. It has nothing to do with the corruption allegations against him,” he said.

In May last year, Bolaji Abdullahi, national

publicity secretary of APC, also told politicians planning to decamp to the APC fold that the party would never be a safe haven for those facing corruption charges.

“People who are coming to APC have their reasons for joining the party. But we made it clear that APC will not provide a safe haven for anyone who is trying to shield himself for whatever he is being accused of. I don’t know any of these people who have decamped, who had corruption cases hanging on their necks and who after joining the APC, those corruption cases have been dropped,” Abdullahi said.

Barely three weeks ago, during the Passing Out Parade of 2017/2018 EFCC Detective Superintendents Course 7 at the Nigeria Defence Academy in Kaduna, Buhari had charged EFCC detectives and superintendents to be courageous in fighting corruption and combating oil theft in the country.

“You are trained to go after treasury looters and oil thieves; Nigeria will be grateful to you for adding value to the fight against corruption,” said Buhari, who was represented by Ibrahim Idris, inspector general of police.

No doubt, APC and its hangers-on would count Nyame’s conviction as one of Buhari’s achievements and would latch on to it to campaign for Buhari in the 2019 election. This is already happening as many of them who were hitherto silent about Buhari’s so-called anti-corruption fight have regained their lost voices since last Wednesday, even though it is clear that the case had been on long before Buhari.

But let’s even assume it is to Buhari’s credit that Jolly Nyame has been convicted, that alone does not give enough credence to the anti-corruption fight.

The simple fact is that in the absence of so much real achievements, APC and members of its Alleluia Chorus are clinging onto anything.

But away from the APC-Opposition ping-pong, Buhari has not shown a strong resolve to fight corruption. The fact is that Nigerians get hysterical when they hear corruption. Buhari and APC understand this and are playing it to their advantage.

That is why no member of the Buhari government or the ruling party today makes a sentence without mentioning the word corruption. It is now a sing-song. It is their joker.

If Buhari were not merely paying lipservice to the fight against corruption, he would rethink his insistence on Ibrahim Magu acting as EFCC chairman despite several rejections by the National Assembly, he would beam his searchlight into his own APC, and then, maybe, he would also look under his very nose, into his cabinet, and ask those who allegedly financed his 2015 campaign with looted funds where they got the money from.

Chinua Achebe was absolutely right when he said in The Trouble with Nigeria, “But to initiate change the President of this country must take, and be seen to take, a decisive first step of ridding his administration of all persons on whom the slightest wind of corruption and scandal has blown.

When he can summon up the courage to do that, he will find himself grown overnight to such stature and authority that he will become Nigeria’s leader, not just its president. Only then can he take on and conquer corruption in the nation.”

Until then, the whole anti-corruption war will remain a charade.

Sunday 03 June 2018

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PhotoSplash

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Joseph O. Afolayan (m) with the Dean, Faculty of Natural & Applied Sciences, Professor Johnson O. Fatokun (left) and the Head of Department, Physics, Victor Nwankwo during the inspection of a Radio-wave receiver given to Anchor University by Indian Centre for Space Physics. The inspection took place in the Office of the VC, AUL.

The management and participants of the project-based learning workshop with the facilitators during the training.

Members of the Anchor University’s (AUL) Management team with the facilitators of Project-Based Learning Workshop held at AUL during the opening ceremony of the workshop. The Facilitators, Paula Quinn (3rd left) and Caitlin Keller came in from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the United States.

L-R: Niyi Osinkolu, head, employee services, First City Monument Bank (FCMB); Kunle Malomo, group managing director, Great Place to Work (GPTW) Institute; Felicia Obozuwa, divisional head, corporate services, FCMB; Sola Oyegbade, head, training academy, and Gonzalo Shoobridge, country director of the institute, during the presentation of awards of ‘’Second Best Company to Work for in Africa’’ and ‘’Best Workplace for Female in Africa’’ to FCMB by GPTW Institute at the Best Companies to Work for 2018 Africa Awards ceremony in Lagos.

L-R: Simpa Adaba, head, wealth management, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria; Sola Aiyepeka, president, Liverpool Nigeria Supporters Club; Bola Adesola, CEO Nigeria and West Africa, Standard Chartered Bank; Yetunde Oni, country head, commercial bank, Standard Chartered Bank, and Gbemiga Sowemimo, CEO, CeeSbee Projects at the UEFA Champions league finals Match viewing for clients in Lagos sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria.

Rolayo Akhigbe, divisional head, transaction banking, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), (r) with Oluwabunmi Akinyemi, project and talent manager, Techpoint.ng, during the Techpoint Inspired Conference, supported by FCMB, held in Lagos Recently.

L-R: Chima Cartney Igwe, director, Chemical, Fibre and Environmental Technology, FIIRO; Bolaji Daniel, coordinator, Ikorodu Fish Farmers; Gloria Elemo, DG/CEO , FIIRO; Kunle Lasaki, ED, Zealett Incorporated, and DeleOyeku , director, extension & linkage, FIIRO, during a workshop on fish smoking technology organized by FIIRO in Lagos .

High Chief Josiah Sanni (JP), the Oshemi Onayinmi of Igarra and Traditional Head of Eshimozoko Family, Presenting Chieftaincy Title to Daniel Majebi Ukana as the Omozaze IZUMI II, The Abekuku of Igarra-Kingdom with his wife Stella Ukana, in Igarra, Akoko-Edo L.G.A, Edo State.

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News APC Chair: Badaru committee disagrees with Buhari over Oshiomhole James Kwen, Abuja

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s activities for t h e Al l Pr o gressives Congress (APC) National Convention gathered momentum, the Governor Abubakar Badaru led Convention Committee has seemingly disagreed with President Muhammadu Buhari on the choice of Adams Oshiomhole as the next national chairman of the ruling party.

Buhari had two months ago in conjunction with about 20 out of the 27 APC governors endorsed the former Edo State Governor, Oshiomhole for the position of APC National Chairman.

However, the committee posited that the June 23 National Convention, “will be open to all aspirants who are deemed qualified in line with the convention guidelines to vie for positions they are interested in”.

Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo

Oshiomhole

State governor who is the Chairman, Media and Publicity Sub-Committee APC 2018 National Convention, gave this indication at a press conference in Abuja.

Oyo Head of Service tasks secretaries on professionalism Akinremi Feyisipo, Ibadan

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he Head of Service (HoS) of Oyo State, Olawumi Ogunesan has charged the Secretaries in the Civil Service of Oyo State to put professional expertise in their practices and ensure accurate documentations in their various offices to enhance quality service delivery.

The Head of Service who spoke through the Acting Permanent Secretary, Service Matters, Adejoke Ejitayo gave the charge at the closing ceremony of a six month reporter’s course tagged ‘Verbatim Reporting’ organised by the Simeon Adebo Staff Development Centre held at the Conference Hall of the Centre, Secretariat, Ibadan.

HoS noted that the State Government will continually support the workers in their quest to upgrade themselves by allowing them to participate in various capacity building Programmes that will make them more productive.

She further stated that the Ajimobi-led administration is committed to the welfare of the civil servants through the payment of worker salaries, introduction of Health Insurance Scheme, issuance

of promotion letters for Year 2013 to 2016 affected workers in various levels and cadres.

Ogunesan, while admonishing the graduands to be good ambassadors of the centre at all times, hinted that the year 2017 promotion exercise will commence soon.

Earlier, the Acting Director General, Simeon Adebo Staff Development Centre, Olufunke Daniel said the programme was organised to produce vibrant verbatim reporters and secretaries who will work in the State and Federal House of Assemblies to cover and report accurately the proceedings of the plenary sittings. She stated further that the Authority of the Polytechnic, Ibadan has approved the Center to run National Diploma in Management Courses such as Accountancy, Business Administration, Public Administration and Local Government Administration in which the certificate of the Institution will be issued at end of the Programme.

Speaking on behalf of the Graduands, Zainab Adigun appreciated Oyo State Government for allowing them to participate in the programme, adding that the skills and knowledge acquired will be used accordingly in their various offices.

Ajimobi specifically said Buhari and the governors are entitled to their opinion; hence all members of the party qualified by extant laws and convention guide-

lines are free to contest.

“The President and any other person can declare.

More will declare. The election is competitive. Many people can contest. The delegates will decide who gets which position,” he noted.

The Oyo State governor stated that the convention committee decision to open the contest to all aspirants was in line with APC’s vision of entrenching true democratic ideals, not only in the party but in the entire country.

“The business of the convention shall be conducted strictly in line with the most sacred democratic principles and the process will be free, fair and credible.

“With regards to the distribution of leadership positions within the party, we have opted to maintain the current zoning arrangement. The purpose of zoning is to ensure equitable representation for the entire country. To this effect, we have also introduced measures to ensure

adequate representation of special interest groups such as women, youths and people with disabilities.

“Members of these special interest groups are encouraged to aspire to leadership positions within the party. That is why concessions have been granted to women and people with disabilities. Aspirants who fall in either category will only be required to pay 50percent of the cost of the application form for positions to they wish to run”, the Chairman media and publicity committee stated.

Ajimobi was confident that the party will have a successful national convention that will unify the APC, make it stronger and put it in a better position to further fulfill its electoral promises.

He said the party has put in place a comprehensive mechanism to deal with all issues arising from the recently conducted ward, local government and state congresses in line with its constitution.

Nigeria cannot grow unless it pays attention on education - Ikpeazu UDOKA AGWU, UMUAHIA

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overnor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has said that Nigeria can never grow if it continues to neglect the education sector.

Ikpeazu, who made the observation during a town hall meeting organised by the Umu-Aba Connect Association at Terminus Hotel, Aba, said that his administration places premium on education and has been training primary school teachers under the tutelage of Australian instructors.

He said that a total of 1,500 primary school teachers had so far been retrained while some primary school teachers from the state would soon travel to Australia for more training.

Ikpeazu assured that by the end of this year, the strength of education in the state would have grown as a total of 304 schools are being rehabilitated across the state while four

model schools are under construction, adding that he intends to reverse enrolment from private to public schools.

The Abia chief executive said that he has been able to redefine Aba as a brand as the Aba man is known for his hard work and resilience and attributed all he has achieved despite challenges to the “can-do-it-spirit” of the Aba man.

He regretted that some of the things he is doing now ought to have been done long ago and promised that his speed of work rather

Ikpeazu

than diminish will increase in 2019.

Th e g o v e r n o r a l s o assured that the state government would take over the construction of Obohia and Ohanku roads

by December this year if the NDDC contractors handling the project fail to do something on the roads.

Cosmos Ndukwe, deputy speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, in his speech extolled the virtues of the governor for taking Aba to the pinnacle where an Aba person could be proud of.

Earlier, the president, Umu-Aba Connect As s o c i a t i o n , Em e k a Okwaraji who described the association as a nongovernment and non-profit organisation said the aim of the town hall meeting was to create a conducive platform for government and Aba people to interact and to pave way for more development in the city.

He commended Ikpeazu for the quality infrastructure he has been providing in the state and assured him of their support in 2019.

Sunday 03 June 2018

Nigeria cannot develop by copying Europe UI Development Sociologist Akinremi Feyisipo, Ibadan

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or Nigeria to move forward, there is the need to develop her own goals, use indigenous resources and knowledge systems to drive it, a Professor of Development Sociology at the Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Olanrewaju Olutayo, has said.

The don said the country cannot develop if it continues to copy development goals of the so-called advanced economies.

Presenting the 429th inaugural lecture entitled ‘Certificate is Equal to What?’

Olutayo noted that Nigeria has been preoccupied with the colonial mentality of copying other countries rather than developing her own strategy.

He described as balderdash the placement of Nigeria as 152 out of 158 countries in the human development index, saying that development is never by comparing a nation with another based on the yardstick set from outside.

Olutayo however, challenged Nigerian academics to produce knowledge relevant to the transformation of Nigeria.

According to him, the usefulness of earning a certificate is not to hold the paper but using the knowledge to impact society.

He maintained that if Nigeria wants to develop, the federal and state governments as well as local governments must set its own goals and develop means through which it plans to achieve such.

“In our self-reappraisal, as is often mistaken to be true, it is important to establish that development is never about comparing one nation with another. As such, the human development index placing Nigeria in the 152nd position out of 158 (UNDP 2016) is balderdash.

Each nation, wanting to develop, should set its own goals and develop means through which it plans to achieve such. Consequently, contextual analyses come to the fore rather than the generalisations for development,” he said.

The professor of development sociologist noted that the Nigerian chewing sticks are medicinal for treating dental diseases, treating liver diseases, sickle cell anemia and blood pressure than toothpaste.

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News

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Obaseki sacks entire staff, closes Sterling Bank undresses ‘Eyo’ in Lagos College of Agriculture Iguoriakhi

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IDRIS UMAR MOMOH, Benin

n what could be described as 2018 Democracy Day gift, Edo State government has sacked the entire staff of the state- owned College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.

The 37 years old institution was established by the civilian administration of late Ambrose Ali in 1981, closed by the military governors and reopened by the Lucky Igbinedion administration in 2001.

The school charged with the responsibility of offering Ordinary Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Agricultural Technology, Animal Science, Crop Science, Agricultural Extension and Management temporarily closed on August 2017 by the Godwin Obaseki-led government with a promise to revamping the institution.

Offering reason for the closure in August 2017, Obaseki had August 2017, said the college had poor standard.

“I shut down the school to enable me invest money and bring it up to standard.

I will revamp the school so that the graduates will be employable”, the governor said in 2017.

He said he is in talks with Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) and PRESCO Plc., to join hands with his administration to revamp the school, help train students and provide them with employment.

“I will provide allowance to the 261 students in the school and send them to farms for industrial training,” he had promised.

The state government in a letter signed by Monday Osaigbovo, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, dated

May 25, 2018 to all the staff announced the termination of their appointments.

The letter titled, “Restructuring of the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi”, the commissioner said following the restructuring of the college and subsequent closure, government has decided to terminate their services with effect from January 31, 2018.

“You are requested to handover all government properties in your possession to the permanent secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources immediately.

“Furthermore, I am to add that in line with your terms of engagement, your cheque for January 2018, monthly salary with one month in lieu of notice is herewith attached”, he said.

The staff in a peaceful protest to the palace of the Oba of Benin said their sacking did not followed due process.

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agos State Government through the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) joined Nigeria’s leading commercial bank, Sterling Bank Plc to make history when Undressed Identity, a monumental sculpture of the famed Eyo masquerade was unveiled at Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island during the weekend.

The environmentallyfriendly art piece made from recycled aluminum was one of the four winning entries from the maiden edition of RecyclArt, a competition initiated by Sterling Bank to inspire a new generation of Nigerians artists and art genre.

Produced by Dudu Emmanuel, the finalist who represented Lagos zone in competition, Undressed Identity repositions “Eyo” in the public space, using recycled Aluminum as a medium of expression in showcasing its costume including cap, staff and flowing gown.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Lagos, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, said Sterling Bank is a force for good and valued partner

that has collaborated with the state government to deliver several life enriching and citizen-oriented projects.

“I am delighted but not surprised to see Sterling Bank pioneering the reuse and repurposing waste into artworks as I have come to associate the bank with projects that are of immense value to the society. Let me also use this opportunity to commend LASPARK for its entrepreneurial intervention and initiative which has helped to birth this public-private partnership with Sterling Bank. We hope to collaborate with the bank on more value-adding projects in the near-future”, Durosinmi-Etti remarked.

Executive Director, Corporate and Investment Banking Sterling Bank, Yemi Odubiyi said, “RecyclArt was initiated

by Sterling Bank to inspire a new generation of Nigerians artists and art genre. It is about using the power of the arts to awaken the citizenry to change how they relate to the environment and rethink how items that should be recycled can be disposed in a creative manner”.

Odubiyi noted that Undressed Identity has proven that artists can do amazing

things with recycled and repurposed materials. He commended Dudu Emmanuel for turning aluminum scrap into a public monument thereby creating value from objects that will otherwise litter dumpsites.

General Manager, Wealth Management & Financial Institutions, Sterling Bank, Moji Bakare added that “RecyclArt is part of Sterling Environmental Makeover (STEM), the bank’s umbrella Corporate Social Responsibility programme, which promotes good sanitation, hygiene and environmental sustainability across Nigeria in fulfillment of the bank’s brand purpose of enriching lives. It was introduced to empower young artists while also supporting the environment by promoting the recycling and repurposing of waste materials. Care for the environment has become vital because we do not have to go far to see the negative effects of improper waste disposal”.

RecyclArt was introduced

by Sterling Bank in 2017. The response to the initiative was remarkable with about 630 entries received from young and emerging artists across Nigeria.

How l escaped from the hands of Fulani herdsmen ...

Continued from Page 1 other young girls from the northern region.

Besides Boko Haram’s involvement in abduction, the Fulani herdsmen who now camouflage as soldiers wear military uniform. They are a huge threat.

Amaka Nwauzo, an Abuja-based business woman who was recently on a visit to Lagos for a conference, told BDSUNDAY that she miraculously escaped from the hands of Fulani herdsmen who blocked the highway, dressed in military uniform, commanding motorists at gun point to get down from their vehicles, and victims were marched into the bush. This, she witnessed and experienced while on her way back to Abuja.

Nwauzo, according to her, was in Lagos for a twoday event tagged ‘Mothers of the Nation Conference,’ organised by Christian Women Association. She explained that the aim of the gathering was to pray against the continuous killing of innocent Nigerians, particularly in the northern region of the country by herdsmen and also in-

tercession for Nigeria for a peaceful 2019 general election.

Below is the story as narrated by Amaka: After the conference which was a successful one, I boarded an 18-seater bus belonging to GUO Transport Company going back to my base in Abuja. That was on the 11th April, 2018. We left Lagos before 7.30am. It was a smooth journey; we did not encounter any problem on the way until at about 5:25pm on the highway between Lokoja and Abaji, just very close

to the military check point.

We saw more than 50 men in military uniform with sophisticated guns in their hands.

Initially, we thought they were soldiers at a check point. They stopped a Toyota Camry Car before us and ordered the five men in the car to come down, including the driver.

Immediately, some of the armed men started shooting in the air as if there was a war.

At this point, our driver quickly stopped and ran inside the bush with all the male occupants of the

bus; leaving me and two other women inside the bus. At this time, all the vehicles coming behind us were reversing with a great speed; also vehicles coming in the front were all turning back. It was at this point that great fear came upon me. There was commotion all over the place as everybody was running for his or her dear life. It was a horrible situation; l started praying, asking God to come to my rescue. Meanwhile, I and another two women were still inside our bus.

Immediately, they came to our vehicle and ordered the three of us out of the vehicle. They marched us into the bush to other five men from the Camry.

The men were marching in front inside a thick forest with their hands up, above their head. We, the women were also ordered to follow them by force with our hands up also. At this point, one of them hit his gun on my neck and ordered me to move faster; as we were moving they were shooting sporadically in the air.

As we continued moving in to a very thick and fearful forest, l heard a voice from my right ear saying ‘enter this hole’ and when I looked

at my left, behold, there was a hole and I now came down gently and entered the hole and the herdsmen passed without seeing me.

It was when all of them had moved into the forest together with other travellers that the Nigerian military men arrived the scene and started shooting again inside the forest.

I was still inside the hole thinking that they were still the herdsmen, but one of them started making frantic calls, calling everybody and assuring that they were real soldiers on a rescue mission; that was when I knew that they were real military people. Unlike the kidnappers that were only communicating in Hausa Language, these real soldiers were speaking good English.

At that point I raised my hands and started calling them for help and they came and rescued me out of the hole and brought me to the main road where our vehicle was packed.

By then, the other male passengers who ran into the bush had started coming out, including the driver to enter the vehicle. So, we continued our journey to Abuja without the two women that followed us

from Lagos.

Two days after the incident, l learnt that the same Fulani herdsmen took away 18 passengers at that same spot where our vehicle was attacked.

One now begins to wonder what is happening on our highways and why the government is keeping silent despite having knowledge of this serious crime. After a week, l also heard that one of the two women was released after her family paid a ransom of N2million and according to her they (herself and the other woman) were molested by their captors.

I am alive to narrate my ordeal; I wonder how many people that have been killed or their lives negatively altered by the activities of these hoodlums. I am sure that this horror happens every day on our roads, women and young girls are the worst hit; they are being raped, infected with all manner of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and some are even killed in the process.

Our government should stop paying lip service to the issue of security; there is no security in this country.

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News

SERAP, Judiciary commended for ‘radical’ ruling on budget-padding

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he judgment of the Federal High Court Lagos compelling the Federal Government to probe allegations of padding and stealing of about N481billion from the 2016 Budget by some principal officers of the National Assembly has been described as a necessary fillip to the war against corruption.

The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) says with this historical ruling by Justice Muhammed Idris it is clear that the anti-graft war is becoming an all-stakeholder affair.

In a statement signed by the Coordinator Austin Braimoh and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, the group also heaped encomium on Social-Economic Rights and Accountability Projects (SERAP), a non-governmental organisation for taking the matter to court.

“The ruling is a welcome radicalisation of the judiciary

approach to expanding the horizon in the fight against corruption and its debilitating consequences on Nigerians across board. While we encourage the Judiciary as an institution to continue with this commendable proactive engagement in the Federal Government led

fight against corruption, we specially applaud the Social-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for initiating the legal process that culminated in this remarkable ruling through the filing of Mandamus suit to compel the Federal Government to

probe the budget padding and stealing allegations.

“We, on behalf of all Nigerians, thank and congratulate the SERAP on the outcome of the suit and, particularly commend the SERAP for championing a new course of citizens’ engagement in the anti-graft war.

L-R: Babatunde Hunpe, special adviser to the Governor on the Environment; Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment; Moji Bakare, general manager, Wealth Management and Financial Institutions; Babatunde Annan, director, Creative Arts Department, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture and Gboyega Adegun, general manager, Large Corporate, Sterling Bank Plc; at the unveiling of the Recyclart Sculpture by Sterling Bank at Muri Okunola Park, Lagos.

Stakeholders urged to take critical look at PIGB before its passage into law

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takeholders, including the government, National Assembly, inter-governmental organisations, non-governmental and civil society organisations, even the international oil companies and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) involved in the legal reforms in Nigeria have been urged to take critical look at various aspects of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) before it is finally signed into law.

The advice was contained in a communiqué issued in Lagos on Wednesday at a Roundtable Dialogue on PIGB jointly organised by Centre for Financial Journalism and Facility for Oil Sector Transformation (FOSTER).

Participants at the roundtable reviewed the current status of the entire Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) with particular reference to PIGB already passed by the National Assembly but yet to

be signed into law by the President, noting that other aspects of the PIB are yet to be fully articulated.

The Roundtable also called on government to take the entire PIB seriously and ensure the passage of the various aspects of the Bill expeditiously.

“In this regard, government should continue the paradigm shift in setting the fiscal framework and not just the ‘governance’ or administrative framework; promote and ensure that dry gas works; deliberately incentivise gas production for wider domestic utilisation; incentivise local participation in the petroleum economy; manage transition from the current regime; ensure a robust manpower strategy and deliver the reforms as anticipated in the various bills; ensure petroleum policy continuity to make it fit into the expectations of Nigerians,” it stated.

The roundtable also noted with deep sadness the delay in passing the PIB into law since it was introduced about 17 years ago, saying that Nigeria as at present does not have an oil-driven or oil-powered economy as testified to by the nature of cyclical crisis of the oil sector over the arch of time and space.

“What the country has is an extractive industry that

Kachikwu

is based on vertical operations that cost humongous amount of financial resource, in addition to the dysfunctional structures that compose the oil and gas sector.

This is why the entire Nigerian political economy has not arrived at the height desired so far in comparison with other oil-producing countries both within Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and outside it,” the communiqué observed.

It also identified the challenge of poor management of the oil sector over its history as the main issue to be addressed in the formulation of policies for the oil sector in the new era. It also called on government to always have national interests as the major consideration in the appointments into the core operating complexes in the oil and gas industry that require technical and substantive professionalism and not political loyalty.

Kwara Assembly passes two bills into law SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin

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h e Kw a r a St a t e House of Assembly has passed into law the bill to prohibit the Production, Transportation, Storage or Sale of charcoal.

Under the amended Charcoal Law, it is now an offence to not only produce charcoal, but to transport, sell or warehouse it in the state.

However, on the amended Chain Saw Men Law, it seeks to check the flagrant violation of the old law by increasing fine from N50,000 to N100,000, or 2 years imprisonment or both, while registration of chain saw men under the amended law now raised from N30,000 to N90,000.

Renewal fee also increased from N20,000 to N60,000 to ensure replanting and nurturing of trees to check deforestation in

the state.

Speaking after the passage of the two bills, the Deputy Speaker, Chief Matthew Okedare who presided over the sitting, praised members for their commitment in ensuring timely passage of the two bills.

While directing the Clerk of the House, Ahmed Katsina Mohammed to prepare clean copy for the governor’s assent, he enjoined Governor Abdul Fatah Ahmed to ensure prompt assent of

the two bills to preserve the state’s eco-system.

Also speaking on the passage of the two bills, the Chairman House Committee on Health and Environment, Hon. Ahmed Ibn Mohammed expressed delight over the passage of the bills, pointing out that all loopholes in the old laws had been blocked to prevent global warming and other attendant consequences of indiscriminate felling of trees in the state.

Vodacom pledges support for the next generation of ICT ‘Super-girls’ AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

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etermined to support the next generation of ICT supper-girls,Vodacom Business Nigeria has held a one-day industrial visit for female students from Grace High School, Gbagada and Lagoon Secondary School, Lekki as part of the activities marking the celebration of the recently concluded 7th edition of the International Girls in ICT Day. The event, which forms part of a global campaign that seeks to encourage young girls into considering ICT as a profession and enable them contribute their quota to the growth of the industry in Nigeria, was organised by e-Business Life Communication Limited, publishers of e-Business Life Magazine.

International Girls’ in ICT Day is an initiative launched through the Information Technology University (ITU) with the idea of creating a global environment that will empowerandencouragegirls to consider careers in the ICT. However, as the number of school girls opting to study technology-related disciplines keep declining in most countries of the world, ITU has committed itself to championing the change required to open the minds of young women to see role having a career in technology can play in creating far-reaching opportunities for them.

Speaking at the event, Funke Atanda, senior manager, Product Development of Vodacom Business Nigeria, said that Vodacom is committed to accelerating the change needed to create

relevant opportunities for women through ICT. “By supporting ICT skill acquisition for young girls and opening their minds to new technologies that exist and continue to develop, we are able to encourage more girls to choose courses in the ICT sector. This will help increase the number of women in the sector in the near future,” Atanda said.

Atanda said that initiatives like the ITU Girls in ICT Day would go a long way towards encouraging this change, thus, strengthening the sector while continuing to improve social and economic development in the country.

“By providing donations, training and support to ICT driven programmes, Vodacom Business Nigeria is accelerating the removal of barriers for girls and women in the ICT industry,” she added.

Recall that in line with goal five of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Vodacom Business has created various empowerment programmes such as the Women in Leadership Programme, aimed at creating leadership and personal capacity in women across all employee levels.

Others include the #ConnectedSheCan campaign, a socially driven campaign aimed at celebrating the accomplishments of women within the Vodacom Business Nigeria workforce and the youth empowerment programme, the ‘Power to You’ project from which the Girls in ICT Day was activated, to enable both girls and technology companies to reap the benefits of greater female participation in the ICT sector.

MTN reaches out to pupils on Children’s Day

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here was palpable joy and excitement at the premises of St. George’s Primary School, Ikoyi recently, as the school authority and children received MTN Nigeria, in celebration of Children’s Day. With the holiday falling that weekend, the telecommunications company took the opportunity to spend some time with its younger neighbours.

Children’s Day celebrates the welfare and inherent potential of children, who are vital in achieving the success of any country.

“When we think of Children’s Day, we think of one key word – Bright,” said Ferdi Moolman, CEO, MTN Nigeria, while addressing the pupils. “Bright describes the future that we are trying to build together and it also describes your future. We believe that your future is bright and because of that, I say to you – stay confident,

stay focused and ALWAYS believe in yourself.”

Accompanied by MTN e x e c u t i v e s a n d s t a f f, Moolman spent the time speaking with the teachers and children, while also d i s t r i b u t i n g g i f t s . He asked that teachers’ efforts be applauded for their indispensable role in shaping the country’s future leaders.

Esther Akinnukawe, Human Resource Executive, speaking at the event, said, “Beyond our gathering here today, across our service centres and office locations, we are also celebrating Children’s Day and sharing the same message that we are sharing with you today – you are the future and we believe in you.”

Showing their appreciation, the administrators and teachers of St. George’s Primary School were full of praise for MTN, commending the company for the outreach.

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News ‘You are ‘religious armed robbers’ for selling prayers’ Ignatius Chukwu

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man of God has tongue-lashed those he termed ‘religious armed robbers’ in Port Harcourt allegedly selling prayers and other favours from God. The condemnation came from the founder of God’s Love International Ministries (Power Holy Ghost Arena), an apostle, A.O. Barnabas, who said the ‘robbers’ were masquerading as men of God collecting monies for counseling and prayers.

Barnabas has thus threatened to shut down such places with his brand of evangelism backed by work without money. “For freely he received and freely he gives.”

Hear him, “How much did Elisha pay to receive the mantle from Elijah? Most men of God now sell healing waters, handkerchiefs, Elijah’s mantle, etc. They must surely give account for these sales according to biblical promise that judgment will begin from the pulpit.”

He said it was wrong to do God’s work for money, saying those doing so were nothing but wolfs in sheep’s clothing. He spoke at the fourth anniversary of the Church in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria over

the weekend.

The apostle wondered how an ordained man of God would collect cash, cars, houses, etc. for prayers and still claim that God said so.

To Barnabas, it must be the devil that said so. He swore at such men of God and said they must surely give account of their various acts in the temple of God. The man of God further said many have fallen victims to such fraudsters and advised Christians against those criminals who masquerade as bishops, apostles, prophets or pastors. He revealed how to know a true man of God, saying when such men prayed, heaven suspends whatever it is doing and send down answers.

He further regretted latest trends in churches that parade Hollywood actors and actresses at the altar and turn alters of God into shrines for comedians, beauty pageants, organising of suya nights, Jeans carnivals & football clubs.

The man of GOD claimed that rapture is coming very soon and his mission to Port Harcourt from Lagos as directed by the Holy Spirit is to prepare real Christians for it.

He also revealed that it is an error for a real man of God to die in plane crashes, road accidents or boat mishaps.

Osun 2018: Ogunbiyi, ex-MD Mutual Assurance Benefit, joins guber race …As APC aspirant absolves Aregbesola of alleged plans to impose candidate spite my sojourn round the globe, I am still culturally at home with my people in Ile-Ogbo and Osun State in general. I know exactly what to do to return Osun to the right path, because I have good knowledge of the needs of its people.

“Osun is in heavy debt.

But I have the wherewithal to still manage the economy even with the indebtedness.

If PDP can trust me with its ticket, we will do our best to develop the state without tears.”

Meanwhile, An APC governorship aspirant in the state, Oriolowo has said Governor Aregbesola , would not support imposition of candidate in the party.

BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA

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kin Ogunbiyi, former managing director of Mutual Assurance Benefit, has formally declared intention to vie for the governorship ticket of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun state.

This is even as Adelere Oriolowo, project coordinator of Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP II), who is also eyeing the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial ticket in the state, absolved Governor Rauf Aregbesola of complicity over alleged plans to impose a particular candidate.

Ogunbiyi, amidst large number of supporters, during a visit to PDP state secretary, Osogbo, said his intention to govern the state was borne out of the desire to salvage Osun from the brink of collapse.

He also claimed his experience in the private sector, coupled with his good knowledge of Osun places him in good stead in the race to succeed Governor Areg-

Ogunbiyi

besola.

On the financial situation of the state, Ogunbiyi, who hails from Ile-Ogbo, a town in Osun West Senatorial District said: “Osun State has been classified as a failed state, despite the resources the state has which can make it to stand on its own as a

country.

“When we say we are coming out to contest, what we intend to do is to turn things around. I want to appeal our people not to sell their votes. If you have not collected your permanent voter card, do so now.

“I am an Owu man. De-

Oriolowo, who stated this during an interview session with newsmen in Osogbo, said that Osun West Senatorial is ready to produce governor on the platform of APC and urged electorates to support any candidate the ruling party presents at the poll to guarantee continuation of laudable achievements of the present administration.

Ruining ease of doing business: Truck drivers in Onne Professor Johnbull x-rays ‘Arranged Marriage’ in cry out over alleged extortion, multiple levies Godwin Egba, Port Harcourt

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rom all indications, the much-celebrated Ease-of-Doing Business in Onne Port, Rivers State, is still a back breaking policy to over 4,000 cargo truck drivers operating in that port axis. Government’s efforts at reducing hassles for businesses seem to be crashing in the sensitive port.

This is because the drivers’ daily pain is that they are bugged with unabated extortion by uniform security personnel who come to mount road block or on patrol along the Eleme EastWest road coupled with double taxation imposed on them by the youth of Onne host community.

Adolphus Ugwu, chairman of Freight and Cargo Union, Onne Port Chapter, disclosed this during an improving safety culture programme for the union members organised by

the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), lamenting that a driver on delivery trip with containers or cargo who fails to respond to demand for tip made by group of security personnel on the road, receives physical molestation or beating.

The newly elected chairman who exonerated officers of the Nigerian Customs Service, Onne, from such arbitrary complicity or arm-twisting methods also confirmed that the union

maintains a cordial working relationship with Safety Officers of NPA Onne.

Ugwu, who described Onne Port hosting the Nigeria’s Oil and Gas dedicated Free Zone as an envious maritime business hub in the sub-Saharan region appealed to the Ports Authority to expand the park allocated to the truck union operators, noting that the population of the organised union members is increasing beyond 4,000 with

trucks.

He pledged on behalf of the union that the minimum safety standard would be observed as required by the NPA, stressing that observing safety is critical to their lives and the transport business.

The Onne Port Manager and other stakeholders in their remarks advised the drivers to avoid consumption of alcohol; hard drugs and over-speeding to avoid accident that could have multiplier effects on their lives, families and the transport business at large.

The Port Manager emphasized, “We recognise you transporters in the ports industry for your critical role and contribution to cargo service delivery, therefore, we need your maximum co-operation with our safety officials for us to maintain the tempo of Ease-of-Doing business culture in the Maritime industry, especially in our Onne Port.

new episode

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he latest episode of the television drama series sponsored by Globacom, Professor Johnbull, will be examining the intricacies of the practice of arranged marriage.

Consequently, the episode is entitled Arranged Marriage and comes with the bells and whistles of a typical Professor Johnbull episode. It is rigged with humour and eternal lessons, and features all the favourite stars including Professor Johnbull (Kanayo O. Kanayo), Mai Doya (Funky Mallam), Etuk (Imeh Bishop) and Olaniyi (Yomi FashLanso).

The episode will show a hilarious attempt at ‘fixing’ Professor Johnbull’s loneliness through an arranged wife by his ‘proximate people’, namely, Mai Doya, Etuk and Olaniyi. It would be interesting to see how their efforts pan out.

Another plot in the

episode revolves around Abadnego (Martin Nebo) who has sprouted some beards, which his mother believes is enough proof that he is ready for marriage. How will the son regard her mother’s honest intentions of making some arrangements to ensure her beloved son settles down?

Lovers of this series should gear up for interesting twists and some good laugh when the episode goes on air at 6.00 p.m. on Sunday on DSTV Africa Magic Family and GOTV Channel 2. There is a repeat broadcast on Thursday at 9.30 p.m. and on NTA Network, NTA International on DSTV channel 251 and NTA on StarTimes at 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.

Arranged Marriage can be also seen on Anambra Broadcasting Service at 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday.

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Sunday 03 June 2018

News Nigeria needs N18trn year-on-year to bridge infrastructure gap - Economist PwC’s Nevin in his presentation at the Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria Advocacy round table on infrastructure with the theme, ‘Filling the Infrastructure Gap,’ opined that without a proper electricity costing system in Nigeria, the right investment cannot be attracted into the power sector to bridge Nigeria’s infrastructure gap.

Babatunde Fashola, minister of Power, Works and Housing and special guest of honour at the round table on infrastructure said the government is working to ensure enough funding for infrastructure development especially in the power sector that is considered a key determinant for economic growth.

Fashola who was represented by his Special Oba

SEYI JOHN SALAU

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or Nigeria to bridge her infrastructure gap and grow the economy at par with the current 2.6 percent population growth, Nigeria will need an estimated N18 trillion Year-on-Year investment said Andrew Nevin, Chief Economist at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

The economy expanded 1.9 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2018, easing from an upwardly revised 2.1 percent growth in the previous period. However, with the N9.1trn Appropriation Bill for the 2018 fiscal year awaiting President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent, Nigeria will need an average of another N9trn to meet its infrastructure development.

Nevin

Ajimobi commiserates with Aboderin family, Punch Akinremi Feyisipo, Ibadan.

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yo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has received with utter shock the news of the untimely death of the Chairman of the Punch newspaper, Wale Aboderin,

whom he described as an illustrious son of the state, and a lovable brother and consummate gentleman.

A statement by the Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy to the governor, Bolaji Tunji, lamented that death had again snatched one of the great sons of the land, who spread his signa-

ture effervescence and love everywhere he went.

The governor expressed sadness that death cut short the dream of the foremost entrepreneur and affable administrator, whose magic wand, he said, had further entrenched the Punch as a dominant force in the newspaper industry.

Professor Tunde Opeibi with the VC, University of Lagos, Professor Toyin Ogundipe, FAS, after delivering his Inaugural Lecture

Prof Opeibi with Management Team, University of Lagos

Ajimobi said, “That the Punch newspaper now prints simultaneously in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt is directly attributable to the business acumen, dexterity and gogetting efforts of my late brother, who toiled day and night to sustain the family’s business legacy.

“The enigma called death has again cut short the life of one of our shining and unassuming stars. Wale was a great citizen of our dear state and son of the soil in whom we were well pleased. The news of his sudden death saddens me.

“His simplicity and modest lifestyle despite sitting atop a multi-billion naira enterprise are exemplary and noteworthy. I was told that no employee enters his office with a frown without leaving with a smile.

“I can boldly say that death is not the end of my adorable brother’s life, since only his body departed us.

His spirit can never die; it continues to live with us. His legacies of humility, selflessness, integrity, diligence and Godliness shall continue to live with us.

“I know that no soothing words can help ease the pain and loss that my sister, his dear wife and lovable children are feeling at this moment, but they will forever be in my prayers and thoughts.”

The governor prayed that God should give the entire Aboderin family, management and staff of the Punch newspapers, the sports community, as well as his friends and loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.

Adviser, Obafemi Hamzat, said Public Private Partnership (PPP) is fundamental to bridging Nigeria’s infrastructure gap since the government does not have the money to develop the necessary infrastructure across the country.

AhmedRufaiMohammed, president/chairman of Governing Council, IoD Nigeria in a statement said Nigeria economic growth and development has been stunted over the years, as it has been virtually impossible to provide the necessary economic and social amenities that could lead to improvement in the quality of lives.

According to him, this deficiency has also made it impossible to realise the much goal of diversifying the economy to take advantage of the abundant natural and

human resources in Nigeria.

“Although so much money has been spent in the power sector, the provision of steady power supply has eluded our nation for over three decades. Yet, everyone is convinced that the solution to the majority of our economic and social problems is strongly linked to the lack of performance of this vital sector of our economy,” said Mohammed.

Adekunle Abdulrazaq Oyinloye, MD/CEO, The Infrastructure Bank and Keynote Speaker said metering gap in the power sector resulted in huge collection loses for the DisCos. He however, opined that implementation of the ERGP could stimulate investment in the power sector, and thereby fill the infrastructure gap in Nigeria’s power sector.

Sundiata Post launches Sundiata Scholar, Nigeria’s first educational social network

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igeria’s authoritative online news platform, Sundiata Post Media Group (https://sundiatapost.com) has launched the country’s first specialised social network, Sundiata Scholar (https://scholar. sundiatapost.com), an educational social media platform.

Sund­iata Scholar provides an avenue for people in the edu­cation industry, name­ly students, teacher­s, lecturers, profe­ssors, administrators, alumni groups and education stakeholders, among others, to connect and inter­act with their cont­emporaries and other acquaintances within and outside the co­untry.

Sundiata Scholar, which took off on Friday, June 1 will be on test run for a period of three months up to August 30, 2018.

During this 90-day test run period, users’ fe­edback as well as suggestions regarding possible improvement will be received for possible inclusion in the mobile app being planned.

CEO/Editor-In-Chief of Sundiata Post Media Group, Max Amuchie, while comment­ing on the developm­e nt, expressed excit­ement over the company’s latest introduction, which he said, wou­ld provide the much needed platform for more enriched intera­ction among the ed­ ucation community wi­thin and outside the country.

Amuchie enjoined the public to send in useful feedback dur­ing the test run per­

iod to enable the developers come up with a final product that will meet users’ expectations.

“We are excited abo­u t Sundiata Scholar. We believe that the networking interface coupled with the highly educat­ional information and compendium of rich resource materials available on the social network will allow our visitors to ha­ve a very good expe­rience as we continue to grow and increa­ se our market presen­ce,” he said.

Sundiata Scholar of­fers a wide range of features that are very appealing and user­friendly. These include: Free web space.

Each member is prov­ided free web space to publish content. With the web space they can also build their profiles which will serve a dual purpose of, allowing friends or contacts to identify members from their profile­s ; while the data en­tered by the members is used by can be used to connect with other members who have a similar backg­round.

Sundiata Scholar also allows mem­b ers to upload photo­graphs, audio and vi­ deo files. All posts are arranged in descending order with the last post coming on top. Every conte­nt is published in real time, and becomes visible instantly.

Content posted by members can be browsed and commented upon by all members who form part of the co­m munity. Content can also be tagged from third party sites on subjects that int­erest the group.

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Cover

Desperate ambition Continued from Page 1 current gale of defection hitting across

the country.

Last November, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had left the APC and returned to the PDP fold to nurture his presidential ambition.

Since then, the wind of defection has never ceased to blow across the country, from Ebonyi to Edo, Rivers to Katsina, Lagos to Niger, Enugu to Kebbi, Adamawa to Plateau, and many more.

In February, Jerry Gana, a former information minister, Tunde Adeniran, a former education minister, and Godsday Orubebe, a former Niger Delta minister, all founding members of the PDP, moved to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) which merged with the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) and People’s Salvation Party (PSP) to form a formidable party ahead of next year’s elections.

In November last year, Martin Elechi, former governor of Ebonyi State under the PDP, his wife, Josephine Elechi, Solomon Onwe, a former deputy national chairman of the party, and about 6,000 others were received into the APC fold by Join Odigie-Oyegun, APC national chairman.

Otherdefectorsincluded Edward Nkwoagu, Labour Party governorship candidate in the state in 2015, some former senators, former House of Representatives members, commissioners, special assistants, permanent secretaries and local government chairmen who served under Elechi.

Late December, Nyesom Wike, Rivers State governor, received hundreds of APC decampees from Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

In January, the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) dealt a big blow to the PDP camp in the state as major PDP heavyweights, including Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, member representing Egor/ Ikpoba Okha Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, and Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, a former gubernatorial aspirant of the PDP, alongside their loyalists and supporters, dumped the umbrella and embraced the broom.

Also in January, the APC in Kebbi State formally received Usman Nasamu Dakingari, a former governor of the state, his deputy, and 267,000 decampees from PDP, including three former chairmen of PDP in the state, former lawmakers, commissioners, former local government chairmen and top government officials in the Dakingari administration in the state.

Dakingari, who was governor of Kebbi State for eight years under the umbrella of the PDP, said his move into the APC was to help the party to move Kebbi and the nation forward.

Similarly, the APC in Etche Local Government Area, Rivers State received 1,018 decampees from PDP and ACD in an event that was witnessed by Chibuike Amaechi, immediate past governor of the state and Minister of Transportation.

In February in Minna, Odigie-Oyegun received 34,826 members of the PDP who defected to the APC in Niger State. Among the defectors were Aminu Yusuf, deputy chairman of the PDP in the state, Adamu Usman, a former Speaker of the State Assembly, and Abdullahi Wuse, a former Attorney-General, who said they joined the APC to assist in developing the state.

In some states of the federation, the wind is blowing in the opposite direction as APC’s loss becomes PDP’s gain.

In February, the PDP in Plateau State received over 2,400 decampees from APC in Kampani Zurak, Bashar District of Wase LGA of the state amid smiles, wild jubilation and celebration among the PDP folks.

More than 3,400 members of the APC in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State also defected to the PPD, complaining of neglect and hardship in their former party.

Similarly, Felix Obuah, chairman of PDP in Rivers State, received 1,000 defectors from APC to the PDP, including Ngerebia Emmanu-

Melaye

Atiku

el, APC state ex-officio member and president, Nkoro Solidarity Forum, in an event that took place at Opobo Town, in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of the state.

In the same month in Enugu, over 2,000 members of the APC in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of the state defected to PDP. In Bayelsa State, Tarila Tebepah, a professor and former chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC), Hon. Stephen Erebor, former Commissioner, Bayelsa West Senatorial district, and Augustine Lugbenwei, onetime chairman, Brass Local Government Council, were among over 6,000 people who defected to PDP and were received at the Government House, Yenagoa, by Seriake Dickson, the State governor.

Adamawa State also saw Ahmed Ali Gulak, a former adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on political matters, and others defect from PDP to join APC in February, accusing that PDP of impunity, injustice and lack of internal democracy.

Gulak said 42,000 members of PDP across the 21 local government areas of the state, including the entire structures of his former party, were defecting with him to join the APC, signalling that “the PDP is destroyed and buried”.

The wind of defection also recently blew in Katsina State, where big names like Senator Ibrahim Idah (PDP), Hon. Ya’u Umar GwajoGwajo, former Speaker under PDP, Alh. Bature Umar Masari, former Director General, PDP Katsina State Campaign Organization for 2015 General elections, and Hon. Musa Adamu Funtua, former state Commissioner for Agriculture under PDP government, bade goodbye to their former party.

Other decampees included Dr. Yusha’u Armaya’u, former chairman of People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), and 34 local government executives; Alh. Ibrahim Abdullahi Tsauri of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and his supporters, and 264 councillors of the PDP defunct local government administration.

The National Assembly is not spared. Jagaba Adams Jagaba, formerly of APC Kaduna State, decamped to PDP; Nnanna Igbokwe, PDP Imo State, decamped from PDP to APC early in the year; Johnson Agbonayima of PDP Edo State decamped to APC, while Edward Pwajok of PDP Plateau State decamped to APC. Similarly, Emmanuel Ukoette in 2017 defected from the PPD to APC. Ukoette, who represents Oruk Anam/Ukanafun Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom State, won election to the House under the platform of the PDP. Other decampees from PDP to APC are Hassan Saleh (Benue), Adamu Kamale (Adamawa), and Zaphaniah Jisalo, all of who came to the House of Representatives on the PDP platform.

In Benue State, Herman Hembe, immediate past member of House of Representatives for Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constituency, who was chairman, House Committee on FCT, dumped the APC for PDP shortly after the court verdict that nullified his election. Though his defection may not have been formally organized, he is now seen publicly in PDP fold

at all significant functions of the party seriously criticizing the APC government, particularly that of Governor Samuel Ortom.

Another decampee is Hinga Biem, retired permanent secretary with Benue State Civil Service. Biem had contested for PDP governorship ticket in 2014 but did not win. He joined APC shortly after the 2015 general elections but has also recently defected to SDP, where he is seeking the party’s governorship ticket.

Beyond these, there are also strong indications that some APC stalwarts in the state would likely dump the ruling party to other parties, particularly SDP and PDP. Barnabas Gemade, former PDP national chairman and caucus member of the PDP, was amongst members of the then ruling party that metamorphosed into nPDP and finally joined the newly formed APC. As a leading member of the nPDP block in APC also nominated to partake in the ongoing negotiation between nPDP and APC, Gemade, current senator representing Benue North East, is likely going to dump the APC along with his nPDP members if the talks do not materialise. Some pundits are insinuating that at the individual level, he is already in talks with the SDP. Similarly Mark Gbillah, the Gwer East/Gwer West representative in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly, is said to be weighing options of leaving APC to another party as it has become clear that the party’s kingpins in Makurdi have already shopped for his replacement. The first-term member and deputy chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Upstream, who is a very close ally of Speaker Yakubu Dogara, is believed to be in talks with SDP to realise his second term bid.

Orker Jev, chairman, Business and Rules Committee of the House of Representatives and the third-term member representing Buruku Federal Constituency of Benue State, is another possible defector. As the 2019 election activities heighten, one does not need a soothsayer to project that Jev is dumping the APC. First of all, he is aspiring to represent Benue North-West Senatorial District, currently occupied by former Governor George Akume, who is the leader of APC in Benue State.

Ordinarily, if Jev sincerely wants to realise his ambition, he has to look for another platform since the State Working Committee of APC has signed and sealed that the ticket he is eyeing is an exclusive reserve for Akume.

Jev was among the nPDP delegation led by Kawo Baraje that presented petition to the APC national chairman which indicated his discontentment with APC. Though there are feelers that he would join SDP, it is also said that he is being wooed by PDP and many parties due to his perceived popularity as well as rising support base.

In Oyo State, many notable leaders of the PDP have moved to the APC. The decampees include a former governor of the state and Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s opponent in the 2015 election, Adebayo Alao-Akala; his former deputy and poster-boy of the Lamidi Adedibu political family, Taofeek Arapaja, and former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin.

The list also includes a serving House of

Representatives member, Segun Odebunmi, and the immediate past chairman of the PDP in the state, Yinka Taiwo.

Others are Kehinde Olaosebikan, a former chief press secretary to late former Governor Lam Adesina; Ademola Ojo, former state chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON); Asimiyu Alarape, a former speaker of the state House of Assembly; Adedeji Otiti, Brigadier-General Brimoh Yusuf (rtd), five serving state lawmakers, and Ayodele Adigun, a former Secretary to the State Government.

Some of the decampees are interested in replacing Governor Abiola Ajimobi come 2019, while many are interested in clinching the tickets for Senate and House of Representatives as well as other positions in the broom party at the state and federal level.

At the decamping ceremony held five months ago in Ibadan, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, national leader of the APC and former governor of Lagos State, said the party was ready to welcome as many political bigwigs as possible.

“We have a stainless kitchen and we can accommodate as many cooks as possible and because we have a variety of menu in the political kitchen of planning this future, we love those bigwigs and we can accommodate them all. It is in the same forest that you find a hippo that you find an elephant and you will find a rabbit. In political platforms, you must look for the addition not the minus,” Tinubu said.

But as APC received decampees, so did PDP. Rashidi Ladoja, former Oyo State governor, as well as Seyi Makinde and Sharafadeen Alli and their supporters returned to PDP. Ladoja and Makinde were the governorship candidates of Accord and SDP, respectively, while Alli was the running mate of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, who contested under Labour Party.

Mulikat Akande-Adeola, Jumoke Akinjide, as well as other bigwigs are still in the party.

Also, Femi Lanlehin, senator for Oyo South, who contested the 2011 election on the Action Congress of Nigeria platform but moved to Accord Party in the 2015 elections to vie for Senate again but failed, has moved to PDP with Ladoja.

Senator Hosea Agboola recently dumped the PDP, saying he was no more interested in politics.

The trio of Makinde, Alli and Lanlehin are seriously interested in becoming governor of the state in 2019. They have signified their intentions and have started work underground to achieve their aims.

The new PDP in Oyo is an amalgam of five political parties, namely, the old PDP, Accord Party, SDP, Labour Party, and Alliance for Democracy (AD).

To bring peace and harmony to the party in the state, there was a proposed sharing formula of the 26 state positions in ratio of 14 and 12 between two groups loyal to Ladoja and governorship hopeful, Seyi Makinde. While PDP got 13 offices, Accord got only six, SDP three, Labour Party three, and AD one.

In Cross River State, John Owan Enoh of PDP, senator representing Cross River Central, moved to APC; Senator Florence Ita Giwa moved from PDP to APC; Alex Egbuna, former chief of staff to Liyel Imoke, moved from PDP to APC; Sandy Onoh of APC, a former Commissioner for Environment, moved to PDP, while Julius Okutu, a former commissioner, moves from PDP to APC. There are, however, indications that in the weeks ahead, some of these people may return to their former parties following acrimony in the APC congresses.

In Lagos, Musliu Obanikoro, a former senator, moved to APC from PDP; Lagos lawmaker, Jude Idimogu, defected from APC to PDP, while another Lagos lawmaker, Victor Akande, moved from APC to PDP. Other decampees include Adedayo Clement Adeyeye, who defected to the PDP from the APC last week, Markafi Sherriff, who moved from PDP to APC, and Dino Melaye, who tactically defected to the PDP from APC following a prolonged brush with the Federal Government.

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NewsFeature Intra-Africa trade tops discussions at 12th annual NBA-SBL business law conference ...provides platform for further engagement on AfCTFA

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CHUKS OLUIGBO

he workability or otherwise of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and the role of lawyers in the emergent new dispensation will form the crux of discussions at the 12th Annual Business Law Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL).

Scheduled to hold June 27-29 at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, with the theme ‘Bringing Down the Barriers – The Law as a Vehicle for Intra-Africa Trade’, the conference will also serve as a platform for continued engagement on whether or not Nigeria should sign the AfCFTA agreement.

At a press briefing in Lagos to announce this year’s conference, Olumide Akpata, chairman, NBA Section on Business Law, said the theme of the conference was agreed at a time the signing of AfCFTA by the African Union (AU) member-countries was imminent.

“And so we thought that we needed to begin to imagine what doing business on the continent would be post signing of that agreement. What we did not contemplate was that Nigeria would not sign. Nigeria has not signed, but the door is not closed on that yet,” Akpata said at the press briefing, Thursday.

It will be recalled that during the 10th Ordinary Session of African Union Heads of State summit in Kigali, Rwanda, 44 African countries on March 21, 2018 signed up to AfCFTA, a European Union-like agreement aimed at paving the way for a liberalised market for goods and services across the continent. Nigeria made a last-minute withdrawal and did not sign the agreement.

Akpata said though Nigeria has not signed, the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations, with President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval, was still holding consultations across the regions to get the buy-in of Nigerians to determine whether or not to sign that agreement. As such, the issue was still topical and it was germane to continue the conversation.

“The whole idea is to weave a conversation around that agreement to find out how workable it is. Basically, Africa will be transformed to EU-like setting and so we want to find out whether or not we have the infrastructure that is necessary to make that a reality. That is from a general perspective, but also important will be us as lawyers checking whether we are ready for that eventuality of Africa as one trading bloc and the fact that we need to re-imagine our law firms in the new dispensation,” he said.

Okey Egbuchu, chairman, 2018 Conference Planning Committee, said platforms have been provided at the conference for the Federal Government, the AU, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and other African countries to dialogue with stakeholders on the AfCFTA and other issues arising therefrom.

“Africa does more business with other continents than within, thereby limiting her potential. Fears have been expressed by stakeholders not only in Nigeria but

L-R: Seni Adio, vice chairman, Nigerian Bar Association-Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL); Olumide Akpata, chairman, NBA-SBL, and Okey Egbuchu, chairman, 2018 conference planning committee, at a press conference to announce the 12th annual business law conference in Lagos.

other countries in respect of the AfCFTA regarding issues of dumping, limitation of the ability to manage tariffs, loss of revenue, influx of persons and so on. In fact, Nigeria tactically withdrew from signing the AfCFTA due to the concerns expressed by stakeholders like organised labour and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria,” Egbuchu said.

“The Federal Government is currently engaging stakeholders and we have provided platforms at our conference for the Federal Government, the African Union, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and other African countries to dialogue with stakeholders on the AfCFTA and more,” he said.

He informed that conference speakers and panellists from all over the world, sourced from the governments, corporates, the regional bodies like ECOWAS, the law firms and law societies and other professions, would do justice to the many topics spanning 12 sessions.

The speakers, he said, include George Lipimile, czar of the COMESA Competition Commission; Chiedu Osakwe, Nigeria’s chief trade negotiator; Stephen Karingi, director, regional integration and trade division, UNECA; Samallie Kiyingi, general counsel, Africa Export-Import Bank; Yemi Candide-Johnson (SAN), president, Lagos Court of Arbitration; Linus Gitali, executive chairman, Tropikal Brands (Africa) Limited; Chidi Ajaegbu, founder and chairman, Chisco Transport Limited; Haresh Aswani, managing director, Tolaram Group Nigeria, among others.

A breakdown of the sessions shows that session 1, themed ‘Bringing Down the Barriers: The Law as a Vehicle for Intra-Africa Trade’, will examine the raison d’etre for the agreement establishing the AfCFTA;

session 2A, ‘Financing Intra-African Trade and Development’, will examine how key stakeholders intend to rise to the demands of financing the expansion of intra-African trade, while session 2B, ‘Continental Trade and the Imperative of Unimpeded Movement of Goods, Labour and Services’, will consider the concerns of various stakeholders and the mitigating safeguards.

“This is a lawyers’ conference, and expectedly we have a special plenary session for the profession with the topic, ‘Law Practice in the Time of the African Continental Free Trade Area: Reimagining African Lawyers’,” Egbuchu said.

“We the lawyers will examine the opportunities available for us when the AfCFTA takes effect. Many African Law Societies have been invited to join us in the discussion,” he said.

Other themes to be discussed at the sessions include ‘Enhancing Transport Connectively in Africa’; ‘Marching in Lockstep – Building Sub-National Competitiveness for Global Investment’; ‘AfCFTA and Transformative Industrialization in Nigeria’, ‘Standardizing Continental Regulations on Consumer Protection and Competition Law’; ‘Enabling eCommerce across the African Continent’; ‘Institutionalizing Reforms in the Ease of Doing Business in Africa’, and ‘Establishing a Framework for Resolving Intra-African Commercial Disputes’.

In keeping with its tradition, the conference will also be spiced up with a debate session. The topics for the session include ‘Should Nigeria accede to the African Continental Free Trade Area?’; ‘Should Lawyers continue to self-regulate?’; ‘Pupillage in Law: Should it be mandatory?’, and ‘Should there be ‘Ladies’ at the Bar?’.

The SBL, a special arm of the Nigerian Bar Association which engenders the develop-

ment of commercial law and specialised commercial law practice in Nigeria, uses its annual conference to seek to create an environment for business lawyers within and outside Nigeria to network and engage on issues relevant to their fields as well as to establish a thriving relationship between the business community and government institutions. And the results have been commendable.

Speaking on this, Seni Adio (SAN), vice chair, NBA-SBL, said the annual NBA-SBL Business Law Conference, now in its 12th edition, has not been a mere talk-shop but has always ensured that there are tangible outcomes.

Adio said the SBL was working with the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER), which is a collaboration between the Senate, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and the NBA-SBL, as well as the Presidential Council on Ease of Doing Business (PEBEC), to improve Nigeria’s business environment. He added that through its joint committee with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the body was also working to improve operations of the CAC, adding that the new CAMA Bill recently passed by the Senate was an outcome of that engagement.

Corroborating Adio, Egbuchu said the NBA-SBL was in partnership with the executive arm of the Nigerian government through PEBEC and the National Assembly through NASSBER in the ongoing review of the country’s laws, regulations and procedures to enhance the ease of doing business.

“The results have led to the improved ranking of Nigeria in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business index. We expect to also engage government and stakeholders to position Nigeria to benefit from the AfCFTA,” he said.

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News Feature Dawn of killer-drugs: Onne Customs ready for battle with smugglers …Posts N23.2bn in Q1 of 2018 GODWIN EGNA,Port Harcourt

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he Nigeria Customs Service Onne Area II Command, Rivers State, has demonstrated its readiness and commitment to fighting killer drugs now ravaging the oil region. Most of these drugs are said to be rampant in the Onne industrial axis where money comes easily to the youths and import window is available through the dedicated port. The Customs said it has drawn a battle line, saying it’s armed to the teeth to square up with smugglers of contraband goods who dare to route their illicit cargos through the Onne Port.

In the history of illicit (killer) drugs business and consumption across the globe, Nigeria was on the chart as a transit country for drugs like Indian hemp or cannabis, cocaine and other opium products. The rate of consuming them was significant compared to other regions of the world.

Even despite stringent laws in some countries in Asia, Middle East, North and South America and Europe consumption of this drugs and the general business part of it were on alarming dimension.

However, patronage of many of these killer drugs has exploded in recent times in Nigeria as a dumping ground. The most popular ones that are making waves and ravaging the consumers especially the youths are Tramadol, Codeine Syrup, Tarmacking besides Indian hemp, cocaine and others.

The Nigeria government has just woken up to effect a total ban of Tramadol and Codeine following the harmful effect or damage they are causing to the youths of all classes (students in

Hameed Ali

post primary and tertiary institutions, the out-of-work young men and ladies even those in the entertainment industry.)

Even then, government ban on the products (Tramadol, Codeine and Cocaine) can hardly guarantee a panacea to eradicating their circulation and consumption as long as activities of smugglers across the nation‘s sea and Airports are concerned.

The land borders are porous. This is where and why the existence of the Nigeria customs service is critical in the area of regulating and checking mating import of harmful products into the country.

The smugglers seem to be dare-devilish. Call them intransigent or recalcitrant it has been observed that some smugglers in this class had tried in recent past to beat the Onne command to their fraudulent practices either in attempt to fly containers from

the port, under declaration of imports or concealment with intent to cheat or evade payment of correct duties to the Federal Government. But they are always losing their goods to the command throughout-right seizure.

The Onne Customs Area Comptroller [CAC], Abubakar Bashir, said recently that it would not be in his time that recalcitrant smugglers would turn Onne Port as their smuggling route to the detriment of lives, security and economy of Nigeria.

He and his able and diligent officers made a public show of a large quantity of killer-drugs the command seized recently comprising Tramadol, Tarmacking and other fake pharmaceuticals of different composition.

Bashir declare that the antismuggling activity of 2018 resulted in seizing 9x40ft containers loaded with 8,245 cartons of

different killer drugs consisting of 250mg of Tramadol and other analgesic drugs falsely declared as pressure reducing PVC valves.

Duty values of these goods were put at N395million.

The CAC noted, “We are particularly delighted by this seizure because we recognise the harmful effect they have especially on our youth and the current national challenge of substance abuse.

The cargos were imported from china and India.”

With regards to the public out-cry over the unmitigated dangerous, deadly effect of these drugs on the society especially youth as leaders of tomorrow, one could imagine the far-reaching damage or enormity of destruction the 8,245 cartons of the various fake, killer drugs could have caused to hundreds of thousands of consumers if all the packets and pieces were successfully sold and shared out to gullible consumers.

An Onitsha-based importer who chose to remain anonymous reacted that “tramadol, codeine and others are ravaging the lives of our modern youth irrespective of religious or socioeconomic background. Effects of these drugs are commonly noticed with both adults and youths who engage in one violence, crimes or social vices especially cultism among youth in schools or the unemployed”.

He further noted that despite the ban pronounced on the hard drugs, “our borders are porous and there are highly connected Nigerians who can smuggle in any of those killer-drugs, arms and ammunition into the country unchecked, so who can completely stamp out smuggling not even In the Asian, Middle East or Europe clime”.

The importers’ observation was not disputed by a cross-sec-

tion of maritime stake holders who shared similar view. However, the Onne Customs boss, Comptroller Bashir enlightened the public in his recent media briefing on the activities of his command that, “the activities of the Nigerian customs Service cuts across all facets of life in the sense that, when we: seize items like elephant tusk; we are actually engaged in protecting wildlife and natural habitats.

“When we seize rice and other banned food items, we are actually engaged in enhancing the capacity of local entrepreneurs to employ Nigerians, improve local food production and to achieve self-sufficiency in agricultural growth. When we seize arms and ammunition, we are actually engaged in enhancing national security and promoting peace and harmony in the society”.

On the statutory duty of revenue generation, the command released a figure of N23.3billion generated so far within the first quarter of 2018 compared to N22billion generated in the first quarter of 2017, indicating that it is on track of diligence to make a good delivery of N117. 8billion as its 2018 target to the Federal Government.

Earlier in the year, the CAC in his media briefing disclosed that the command recorded N105 billion from January 2017 – February 2018, explaining that in 2017 the command was given N112.5 billion of which it was able to generate N93.6 billion and made 26 seizures with a duty paid value of N470million.

Bashir said with optimism that, “in line with the mission and vision of the service, the Onne command has once again resolved to improve on the achievement of 2017 by displacing greater diligence in all its activities for 2018”.

out a shepherd under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, with Leah Sharibu still in captivity for her faith and without any real known effort by the Federal Government to ensure her release.

We seem to be stuck with a leadership that is without care, love and empathy, with President Buhari clearly keeping a distance with the victims of the senseless killings going on in Nigeria.

We call on all Nigerians to reflect on the reality before us.

And to join the national conversation and lend their voices to our

demand that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari should be humane, sensitive and pragmatic in deploying every resource of state to halt this bloodletting. And ensure that every Nigerian citizen in captivity is rescued. This is the primary responsibility of government as contained in Chapter 2(b) of the amended 1999 Nigerian Constitution.

This is the democracy that we paid for.

Is this the democracy we paid for?

KINGSLEY MUO

I

t is a critical part of our common history that the Fourth Republic and Nigeria’s return to democracy came with a huge cost which is still fresh in the minds of many.

We did not bargain to escape the jackboots of the military dictators and be killed right under the watch of a supposedly democratic leadership. This is not the democracy we paid for.

It is unacceptable that it is under our hard-won democracy,

that we are still encumbered with dictatorial vestiges, as it becomes clearer every passing day, that we can no longer enjoy our Right to Freedom of Speech and the Right to Freely Assemble as guaranteed by the Constitution of our great country.

While many Nigerian homes and towns are in dire need of effective policing to ensure the safety of the most vulnerable Nigerians in areas of conflict, the Nigerian government daily deploys the Nigeria Police and other security apparatuses to

harass defenceless citizens who dare to demand equity, fairness and justice for all.

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) now have to march into streets to protest days of starvation and other inhuman treatments before they receive what looks like a daily ration. A recent report of Amnesty International stated that young women and mothers in IDP Camps in Nigeria now have to bargain sex for food when it is finally available. This is not the democracy we paid for.

We are now like a flock with-

*Muo is a Lagos-based political analyst

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Feature

Why Amnesty programme may remain a burden OLUSOLA BELLO

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he recent outburst of Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for Petroleum Resources, over the unsustainability of the Amnesty programme in the Niger Delta is coming rather too late in the day as the beneficiaries are already getting too used to the freebies.

Any attempt to jettison the programme now would be resisted by the people with everything they have, including attacks on oil and gas facilities. Such attacks can easily bring the Federal Government to its knees because the facilities are the major source of government revenues, besides the environmental problems that would accompany such action.

The minister had, few months after he came on board in 2016, said the government needed to improve its Amnesty programme for militants in the Niger Delta to address neglect by the government and international oil companies.

“The Niger Delta has become a cacophony of voices, but without a purpose. It has also become a region with a cacophony of all kinds of projects,” Kachikwu had said.

“If you look closely from the past 10 years, up to $40 billion has been made available for that region and you can never tour the Niger Delta and see a N1 billion or a N500 million investment, but I am telling you, collectively, for the past 10 years, that was what has gone into that region,” he had said.

The statement came after the militants attacked oil facilities of Chevron’s onshore operations and a warning from local leaders in the Niger Delta that military intervention would not stem the violence.

Kachikwu had sounded then like someone that meant real business for the development of the region in terms of infrastructure development and job creation. Unfortunately, his suggestion then ended where it was made.

The non-action by both the federal and state governments in terms of creating sustainable infrastructural development has made the minister’s recent warning or observation at the Seventh Sustainability in the Extractive Industry (SITEI) conference in Abuja a mere echoing of the fear that oil and gas industry operators have often expressed about the Amnesty programme.

He also disclosed that N1.7 trillion would be invested in the region between now and 2021 to pursue the development of the region. But he did not state what form the investment would take.

Whether the bulk of it would go for paying stipends or not, it is yet to be cleared.

The alarm Kachikwu raised in 2016 should have been followed with concrete plans that would ensure that there were companies or industries at home where some of the beneficiaries of the programme who were sent abroad to study or acquire one skill or the other, and even those trained at home, could be employed to display the skills they have learnt. But in the absence of these companies, whether large or small, that

Catholics Protest

can absorb the beneficiaries for gainful employment, the government would have to continue to pay the N65,000 per head until it is able to restructure the programme in such a way that would take the eyes of the beneficiaries off the monthly stipends.

The continuation of the programme for this long without feasible and viable industries that can employ these youths makes the Nigerian economy vulnerable to attacks by the youths of the region, who are capable of holding the country into ransom if their demands are not met.

Kachikwu said over $40 billion has been invested in 11,000 projects in the Niger Delta in the last 10 years without anything to show for it.

Rather, abject poverty, environmental degradation and a huge army of unemployable youths have been the hallmarks of the region. Most of the tangible things that are seen in the region were put there by oil companies that are already overburdened by taking up government responsibilities in terms of provision

If you look closely from the past 10 years, up to $40 billion has been made available for that region and you can never tour the Niger Delta and see a N1 billion or a N500 million investment, but I am telling you, collectively, for the past 10 years, that was what has gone into that region

of social amenities through their social investment programmes.

Godwin Izomor, managing director, Vowgas Limited, queried the impact of the amount spent so far both on the people and the environment.

He said doling out money to people was not what the Niger Delta region needed but creating enabling environment through infrastructural development that would allow for growth and development of businesses in the region that can the region’s teeming youths.

According to him, if the $40 billion claimed to have been spent was used to create industrial parks in five states of the Niger Delta, it would have created many jobs for the people and grown the economy of the region.

“The government and the international oil companies should sit down and draw a plan of how they can raise $40 billion in the next five years. They should put the money in an escrow account and invite international companies to build the industrial parks. The multiplier effect of such parks would raise both the economy of the people and revenues of both those states and the federal government,” Izomor said.

He said people that would be employed at such industrial parks would be trained and retrained through such industries that are attracted to relocate to the parks and which would always want to retain their services.

Izomor also took a swipe at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), saying the commission has no justifiable impact on the people of the region.

“The contracts the agency awards are on paper most times. People who reside in Abuja give directives on how the money for those contracts should be shared without the contract physically executed,” he claimed.

Also commenting on the issue, Eddy Wikina, former external relations manager for Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), said the

whole Amnesty thing was not sustainable from the outset.

“It has been a big scam enriching a few warlords and people in government.

That money should have been applied to create jobs in the region. You encourage people to work and not stay home lazy with dependency mentality,” Wikina said.

Arguing that the programme had been flawed from day one, Wikina said much of the much-touted N65,000 stipend did not get to the militants but was diverted to pay the militant leaders and top government officials.

“They would now threaten destruction of the region if the government stopped the payment,” he said.

As expected, some of the militants that are direct beneficiaries of this anomaly have already reacted to Kachikwu’s statement by threatening “No Amnesty programme, no peace in Niger Delta”.

The group under the aegis of Niger Delta Progressive Front (NDPF) described the minister’s statement as vexatious, provocative, irrational and capable of heating up the relative stable environment in the Niger Delta.

In a statement after an emergency meeting in Abuja, the group warned that the government should call its officials to order.

No doubt, the militants have become so used to the free money and would rather not want any development in the region that would deprive them of their “meal ticket”.

In all of this, however, some observers say while the government may have its blame in the region’s underdevelopment, the people of the Niger Delta region, especially the militants, cannot be exonerated as militancy, kidnapping and all other negative activities in the region have compelled companies to relocate to other parts of the country. There cannot be development in an atmosphere of tension. True economic growth and development can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace.

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Feature ExxonMobil’s N13bn investment and long term economic benefits in A/Ibom ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

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obil Producing Nigeria (MPN), operator of the Nigerian National Corporation (NNPC/MPN) joint venture, is almost a household name in Akwa Ibom State. An affiliate of ExxonMobil Corporation, it often sees itself as a good corporate citizen and has oftentimes affirmed that its presence in Akwa Ibom State and indeed Nigeria is for a long haul. This appears to show the company’s commitment to ‘working closely with the government in helping to improve quality of life.’

Since it began operations more than three decades ago and with its base in Akwa Ibom State, the oil company has contributed greatly to the economy of the Akwa Ibom State and that of the Federal Government through its numerous programmes and projects. In many ways, it has made investments in education, health, skill development and has also forged a mutually beneficial relationship with the host communities.

Apart from its commitment to providing long term health, educational and economic benefits to its host communities, it recently performed the ground breaking ceremony of three major communityassisted projects in Akwa Ibom estimated to be worth N13 billion. The ceremony took place in Ikot Akata, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the state.

Before this event, ExxonMobil subsidiaries have ‘powered the economy of their neighbouring communities’ and that of the country with investments supporting economic growth. For instance, they contribute more than N130 billion to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) since 2001 and more than N230 million ground rent to Akwa Ibom State.

Similarly, it is a major contributor to Akwa Ibom economy with over N230 billion paid annually based on the 13 percent derivation principle for oil producing states.

It has also sustained payment of subvention to health workers in the riverine Ibeno communities of the state where its operational base is located for more than two decades and has been providing subvention to the maternal birth injury hospital in Itu, Akwa Ibom State for about two decades too, a development that helped many to have access to healthcare for the treatment of an ailment that the society stigmatises such patients.

“ExxonMobil is our backbone; the oil company gives us certain amount of money every month to support us,’’ says Ngozi Ndubuau, the matron of the hospital which treats Visco-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) disease.

For the ground breaking ceremony, another example of the company’s contribution to the state and its people, the projects included a technical skills acquisition facility at the Community Technical College, Ikot Akata in Mkpat Enin local government area, a trauma centre at the University of Uyo teaching hospital and an engineering faculty complex at the University of Uyo. The three projects are to be completed over the next 18 months and it is believed that the investment is one of the largest community investment expenditure by any company in the country.

The significance of the projects should

Mobil be seen from various perspectives in that while the trauma centre would take care of the health needs of the people, the engineering faculty would when completed provide a conductive learning environment for students while the skills acquisition centre will serve as the hub for the training of youths in various vocations.

Because of the volume of the investment and coming at a time when it seems difficult for oil companies to commit to developing their host communities, the ceremony turned out to be a meeting point for top government officials and key players in the Nigeria’s oil industry.

For instance, while Paul McGrath, Chairman/Managing Director of Mobil Producing Nigeria unlimited and Udom Inoyo, vice chairman of the oil company led the delegation as it were to the ground breaking ceremony, the Akwa Ibom State government was fully represented, Governor Udom Emmanuel was present, Moses Ekpo, the deputy governor and Emmanuel Ekuwem, the secretary to the state government, commissioners as well as royal fathers and members of the academia, all graced the ceremony.

It was not that the oil company has not implemented any project of value before in the state, perhaps it was because of the likely impact and economic benefits of such a huge investment in one fell swoop would bring to the state.

Speaking at the ceremony, McGrath noted with satisfaction the cordial relationship existing between the oil company and the state government restating the joint venture’s commitment to long-term operations and mutually beneficial relationship with the state.

“We know we can continue to count on the support and cooperation of the government, our communities and other stakeholders as well as all collectively work towards making these projects a reality and eventually enjoying the many health, educational and economic benefits they are designed to provide to the good people of Akwa Ibom State,” he said.

According to him, the company has enjoyed relatively peaceful relations with the people of Akwa Ibom state for the past three decades pointing out that the company has made substantial revenue and community investment contributions

in the areas of health, education and empowerment projects.

He maintained that the company is committed to ensure even deeper social and economic benefits for the communities near its operations and across the state in the coming years.

“We are proud of our contributions and look forward to working together with all stakeholders for greater achievements,’’ he said.

Giving an insight into the choice of the projects, a major stakeholder in the oil industry, the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) led by the group general manager, Roland Ewubare said it was an outcome of extensive engagement with key stakeholders in Akwa Ibom and it represents their conviction that direct benefits to citizens should be at the heart of every social investment decision by companies who operate the country’s oil assets.

Represented by Hillary Akpan, head of Gas unit at NAPIMS, he said his organisation worked extensively with MPN in reviewing the investment proposals for the projects adding that it only granted execution approval based on their conviction that they would provide significant socioeconomic benefits to communities in Akwa Ibom State.

“The projects will address gaps in two focus areas which we consider vital to social and economic development, capacity and skills development in Nigeria’s oil industry and accessibility to quality health care for citizens. The technical skills centre and the engineering complex when commissioned will considerably extend opportunities for Akwa Ibom indigenes as well as other qualified Nigerians to development much needed technical skills in our oil and gas industry,’’ he said.

Describing the projects as ‘’truly important’’ he solicited the support of all to ensure its success by being delivered on schedule and expressed happiness the joint venture partners have over the years found Akwa Ibom state and its people to be worthwhile partners of progress to the benefit of all stakeholders adding that it has helped to ensure business sustainability.

Specifically, the technical skills centre consists of a three-block training complex

for critical skills required in oil and gas careers such as pipeline fabrication, welding, electrical works, chemical lab works, civil works and engineering. The centre is expected to train more than 100 students annually, mostly from the neighbouring communities.

On the other hand, the trauma centre which is to be housed in a two-floor medical complex will help reduce mortality rates from major medical emergencies.

The centre will include a resuscitation and burns room, a theatre suite, helipad, ambulance by and triage area, high dependency and radiology units, mini labs, wards, pharmacy, administrative offices, library and doctors’ call and seminar rooms.

For the engineering complex, it is to be equipped with generators and independent water supply and will feature two floors of workshops, laboratories, a lecture theatre, conference rooms and faculty offices. It is expected to serve 2000 students, mostly from Akwa Ibom State.

Overwhelmed with joy, the state governor, Udom Emmanuel thanked NNPC/ MPN joint venture for the investment in Akwa Ibom State and promised to ensure that the peaceful atmosphere prevalent in the state is sustained as a means of attracting more investments.

The governor explained that the location of the projects was not based on any political consideration maintaining that those who are likely to be the major beneficiaries are people from Akwa Ibom State.

The paramount ruler of Eket Local Government Area one of the core oil producing communities in the state also lauded the joint venture operators for the investment though he expressed mixed feelings that one of the projects ought to have been located in the oil bearing communities.

Indeed, the joint venture partners have demonstrated their enduring commitment to contributing to the growth agenda of Akwa Ibom State and their decision to invest N13 billion worth of projects in health, education and skills acquisition is a clear testimony to this and will without doubt create long term economic benefits in Akwa Ibom State.

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Feature Five sisters living with disabilities among 745 jobless youths now entrepreneurs in Delta …10 years from now, we will reap multiplier effects of empowering our youths - Okowa MERCY ENOCH, Asaba

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o five sisters from Okolie family in Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, this seems a moment of fulfillment in their lives, as they have now been elevated to the level of chief executive officers of their enterprises courtesy of the Job Creation of the incumbent administration led by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in the state.

Twenty nine-year-old Chiedu, her four other sisters namely Rita, aged 27; Franca aged 25; Amanna aged 22 and Linda aged 20 are all persons with disabilities (PwDs) and had no viable means of livelihood even to take care of their kids.

Rita told BDSUNDAY that they’ve been living with the disabilities which came as a result of polio meningitis that attacked them at their childhood ages. Only their brother who is aged 30 is not affected by the disease. The death of their father at their tender age, she said, made their matter worse as it led to their mother raising them single-handedly until she passed on at the age of 67 few years ago. She said their mother ensured they had education even to higher institution level.

The five of them, she said, are hair dressers but they seemed helpless and hopeless because there was no financial assistance to enable them establish a hair dressing salon.

Hope however smiled on them during Governor Okowa’s townhall meeting at their local government headquarters, AkwukwuIgbo, where he had a ‘heart-toheart talk’ with the people of the area on issues of governance. Rita said the occasion offered them opportunity to make pathetic appeal to the governor over their plight as PwDs. That appeal did not fall on deaf ears as the governor ensured their plight was looked into. The result was that they were among the 745 beneficiaries of the Skills Training Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs (YAGEP) of the state’s job creation, 3rd programme cycle 2017/2018. They fall under the Brown STEP category whereby the beneficiaries are given orientation course and one month refresher course, and then empowered with starter packs to establish and run their enterprises.

They now have viable means of livelihood as they have been retrained as hair-dressers and each empowered with starter packs comprising basic tools to start up and run their enterprises successfully and even train and employ others.

A team from the office of the Chief Job Creation Officer had to travel from Asaba, the state capital, to their father’s compound at

Ogbeowelle Quarters, Ibusa to deliver the starter packs to them.

The Coordinator-STEP, Onyeisi Nkenchor, said their engagement in the STEP programme was a demonstration of Okowa’s commitment to taking youths off the streets into meaningful enterprises.

An elated Rita, who spoke shortly after the induction ceremony of the 745 STEP and YAGEP beneficiaries held in Asaba, told BDSUNDAY, “All along, nobody has remembered us as the Governor Okowa administration has done to us.”

“We only presented our matter during the town-hall meeting at Akwukwu-Igbo when the governor visited and we were assured our plight would be taken into consideration. We thank the governor for keeping to his promise and pray that God will help him to sustain the programme so that other Deltans could benefit,” she said.

With the empowerment, Rita and her sisters would now stay in their salon and practice what they learnt thereby surviving economically through it. Era of dependence on other people seems to be over with the gesture done them by the state government.

Another Brown STEP beneficiary, Beauty Ominugo told BDSUNDAY that she has been empowered to run her enterprise as hairdresser. She spoke shortly after the induction ceremony.

She said she became PwDs following injection given her in a hospital when she was five years old, which instantly made her unable to walk till date. She only moves with assistance of wheelchair.

Notwithstanding her health challenge, the 45-year-old, said she hustle to earn a living. “I go to a weekly market and purchase items for sale. I usually board keke and the keke man would convey me and those items home. When I have money, I do go to Cotonou and buy Belgium shoes and come back home and sell. I also weave hair. All these I do to ensure my

MERCY ENOCH, Asaba

Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa (centre) with 30 PwDs shortly after the induction of 745 STEP and YAGEP beneficiaries in Asaba family survives economically. So, I will now combine my experience as hair weaver and the knowledge I acquired during my training as a hair-dresser, to make a living. No more hustling to and fro markets,” she said.

During the induction ceremony, the chief job creation officer, Eric Eboh, a professor, disclosed that “out of the 745 beneficiaries inducted, Brown STEP has 209 beneficiaries, Green STEP has 347 beneficiaries, YAGEP has 159 beneficiaries and PwDs has 30 beneficiaries”. He disclosed that their training and starter packs were funded from the World Bank-European assisted State Employment and Expenditure for Result (SEEFOR).

Presenting the 745 beneficiaries to the governor for induction, Eboh informed the governor that they had carried out his directive to the effect that the five PwDs sisters were among the inductees and had been trained and

empowered with starter parks to start up their enterprise. “They were formerly disabled but now, they are able. They are among the inductees here present” Eboh exclaimed. This annoauncement attracted a thunderous ovation from the crowd at the event which held in a large hall at Orchid Hotel, Asaba.

Responding, Governor Okowa expressed gladness that those who are challenged physically were part of the current cycle just as they were part of the second cycle of the programme. “I’m proud of the 30 of the PwDs that are on this programme. I believe that whatever disability they have, this programme would bring ability to them all,” he expressed.

A total of 3,069 youths have benefitted from the job creation scheme since the first cycle three years ago and out of this number, 80 are PwDs. Okowa said the success story of the first and second cycle attracted the attention of the World Bank SEEFOR to fund the current circle. According to him, the success stories of the beneficiaries of the first and second cycles (2015/2016 and 2016/2017) encouraged him to continue with the current cycle (2017/2018). The erstwhile jobless youths are now employers of labour, helping to grow the economy of the state.

He recalled the maiden edition of STEP and YAGEP Business Fair and Exhibition held last December specifically for STEPreneurs and YAGEPreneurs to showcase their products to the world. He expressed hope that the event would become an annual one to help the beneficiaries grow their businesses.

He said efforts were on ground

for the scheme to be established by the law of the state House of Assembly, for it to be sustained beyond the present tenure in the state.

Reason for this, he said, “When we continue to empower our youths in a positive manner, we may not reap all the things today but I am confident that after 10 years, the multiplier effects would be felt in this state and nation”.

He informed that the state executive council was already finetuning the process of approving the starting of the fourth cycle of the programme because of the confidence the state has on the current beneficiaries. “There are new introduction in this 4th cycle because communities would be involved, religious bodies would be involved and other persons will also be involved,” he added.

He revealed that “We are also looking forward to engaging those who have been trained even before now, and they have not had opportunity to start their own lives, to take them up and have them go through refresher course and to establish them.”

Okowa assured, “We will not relent in our efforts to continually engage our youths in such a manner that will keep hope alive in these very difficult times”. He however, pointed out that the difficult times were getting over

by God’s grace and Delta State getting more peaceful, and the youth getting more fruitful.

“We will not dash their (youths) hopes,” he declared. “We will work with them in partnership to ensure that we will bring meaning to their lives and that those who bite their fingers would not bite their fingers anymore,” the governor assured.

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Feature

De-risking the Port Harcourt investment climate …EU, UK point to non-violent elections …Other experts point to ease of doing business, massive agro-investment, manufacturing IGNATIUS CHUKWU, Port Harcourt

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iger Delta elites have not stopped moaning over the loss of the $15billion Dangote hydrocarbon investment portfolio (refinery, petrochemical and fertilizer) to Lekki, Lagos, said to guarantee over 250,000 direct and indirect jobs, all due to violence and youth restiveness. This has led to fresh efforts to de-risk the region so Port Harcourt can surge back as a preferred investment destination where jobs would be available to the youth.

When the US ConsulGeneral, F. John Bray, came calling in Port Harcourt on April 10, 2018, to flag off youth training and entrepreneurship scheme sponsored by the US, the business community led by president of Belemaoil, and prodded by the Rivers State government, urged the US to lead Western presence back to the Garden City by establishing a ‘Business Liaison Office” in the City. The diplomat said such thoughts could only be entertained should Rivers State post a non-violent election exercise in 2019.

Before the man could get to Lagos, the ruling party in the state (People Democratic Party) which has no rival in the upcoming local council elections, painted the state red with violence in mere primaries. This was immediately followed by the rival All Progressives Congress in its congresses.

Now, the new European Union (EU) ambassador to Nigeria (Head, ECOWAS delegation), Ketil Karlsen, came to Port Harcourt on May 28, 2018 to flag off a business luncheon and after visiting the state governor at the Brick House, said at the Hotel Presidential later that the images and messages still coming out of the state are all about tension.

One of the most concerned groups in the region, the Rivers Entrepreneurs and Investors Forum (REIF), a strong business pressure group, staged its quarterly Business Lunch Hour Network on May 28, 2018, on

Bobmanuel welcoming the deputy governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo

de-risking the Rivers business environment so as to boost industrialisation through purposeful leadership and using agriculture to boost economic development. This was staged in conjunction with the EU with active participation of the United Kingdom.

At the same platform, the EU and UK pointed to the starting point; nonviolent elections, free and fair election. In fact, the EU’s Karlsen made it clear that this remains the focus of the Union in the coming elections. This is exactly what his predecessor, Michael

Arrion, dropped as the biggest achievement of his tenure while in Nigeria, being the successful elections in 2015. Now, the focus by the EU, US and UK seems to be Rivers State and its violent political pathway where Gov Nyesom Wike and former governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, are principal but opposing figures with the senator, Magnus Abe, creating a triad.

Why businesses must set 2019 agenda in Rivers – REIF boss, Ibifiri Bobmanuel REIF says over 60 per cent of the voters are from the

private sector and should thus decide what those who want to canvass for their votes must talk about. The REIF President, Ibifiri Bobmanuel in his welcome remarks said businesses can no longer wait for the political class to decide when to wake up.

He said; Businesses must stand up instead of looking up to the government. We want to use this opportunity to show the government what we as businesses want to see from them. What we are doing is about giving back to society. Lagos is waxing on but the South-

Chris Roberts, CEO, Kay Jay Energy Limited with REIF President, Ibifiri Bobmanuel

South and East have everything they need to spring to a stable economic entity; airports, seaports, land, youth population, etc. In this hall, we have students from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), trade groups from Aba, teams from China, etc.

Our businesses are being harassed through taxes, so, we must come together. We can do a lot to safeguard the business sector. In 2015, we carried out a debate for political parties in Rivers State adjudged as the best in Nigeria. This gave birth to agreements with each of the three topmost political parties in the state (PDP, APC, Labour). We reached agreements with them on infrastructure, seaports, taxes, reopening of the courts, proper market for SME, etc. Violence was an issue but we got the parties to sign peace deals. We got some of our partners from outside Nigeria (US ambassador came) to come and impress this on the parties.

We are going to do it again this time. We will get the government to do the much they can do too.

EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Ketil Karlsen; Tension still coming from PH zone There is too much dependence on one source of income in Nigeria; it is bad for oil alone to fuel the economy. There is need for

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Feature inclusive growth. The EU will continue to promote free and fair elections in Nigeria. Last week at an event at the EU headquarters in Abuja, we tried to sample the opinion of Nigerians who attended it. More than half of the 532 sampled pointed to security as their number one concern that government or anybody seeking elected office must first tackle; followed by rule of law, then transparency (no to impunity), and infrastructure.

You cannot compete internationally as a producer if you must have to build your own infrastructural backbone from the scratch.

Income distribution is important in ensuring that growth is inclusive. It is important to the political leaders. Those seeking power must first ask what they intend to do with it when they get it. Right-based approach by government is the best.

Institutions of government must not be for fun.

Citizens must no longer wait for the politicians to produce results always.

was represented by Louise Edward, head, Niger Delta desk, said the Niger Delta region is important to the UK. He noted the activities being undertaken to bring stability and security in the Niger Delta, adding that the UK will continue to encourage the state government in its actions on taxes.

How we provide infrastructure, fight insecurity - Wike The governor was represented by the deputy governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo who said REIF is doing well to project Rivers State in good lights. Leadership is important but it is an age-old problem in political philosophy. The state takes infrastructure with utmost seriousness; that is why we in Rivers State have devoted 70 percent to infrastructure.

That is why we carried out biometric exercises to fish out ghost workers and allow only genuine workers to be paid. The rest fund is to projects.

Security is paramount to us; that is why we enacted laws making kidnapping and

Chris Roberts, CEO, Kay Jay Energy Limited with REIF President, Ibifiri Bobmanuel

cultism highly penalised. We created the Rivers State Neighbourhood Watch. The FG employs the police but we help to equip them. We have created a portal to help people find jobs. We are creating a business hub, too. We renovated schools, and paid N4Bn counterpart funding in 2017 as arrears to attract FG counterpart payment with which we

REIF President, Ibifiri Bobmanuel, in a welcome remark

There must be pressure on them to deliver. Businesses must demonstrate the way forward.

Tension is always coming from Rivers State and this is not good for investments.

There must be level-playing ground for all contestants.

We (EU) are working to support free and fair elections (supporting the INEC, political parties, etc). Since 1999; we have observed elections in Nigeria. We are out to support the EU ways of doing things but we are keenly on listening to you, the people. The EU is working in over 100 communities on sanitation, health, etc.

UK Ambassador to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, who

The EU will continue to promote free and fair elections in Nigeria. Last week at an event at the EU headquarters in Abuja, we tried to sample the opinion of Nigerians who attended it. More than half of the 532 sampled pointed to security as their number one concern that government or anybody seeking elected office must first tackle; followed by rule of law, then transparency (no to impunity), and infrastructure

rebuild schools in the state.

It is the FG agencies that cause trouble: INEC, Police.

They don’t want the people to vote their choices. Let the international community observe the coming elections and see what is happening. Rivers State is totally committed to one Nigeria.

Bayelsa, NDDC make strong case for Agro-investments The Bayelsa State government represented by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Doodei Week, made strong showing on the panel, pointing to the decision of the government to exploit the importation gaps in fish and starch to

create businesses and investments. He pointed at the $2.4Bn import bill on fish and $500m for starch, saying fish and cassava grow well in his state. Week talked about the establishment of what he called aquaculture villages that could start with 500 ponds in one village to take 7000 fingerlings per pond, hoping to close as much as $600m fish need. This would create over 15,000 jobs.

He went said the cassava investment would lead to processing plants that would supply starch and cut into the $500m supply gap in Nigeria per year.

The NDDC Director of Agriculture; Marcel Eshiogu, said the interventionist agency has found that fertilizers were harming the soil in the region and thus came up with what he called soil booster to be applied with inorganic fertilizer. Already, Commission, working with a US firm, has procured 51,420 litres of organic fertilizer and 51,420 litres of soil booster. All the Niger Delta states have got their allocations. “We expect bumper harvest this farming season as a result of this”.

On credit to farmers, he said it has been difficult in the region because of land preparation costs but said a new partnership with Fidelity Bank would help manage credit to farmers in the region. “We are working with IFAD (a UN agency), to boost farming in the oil region. Under this partnership for a period of six years, the IFAD would bring $60million while the NDDC would bring $30million, totaling $90million investment. It would be deployed in a scheme we call ‘Train Me to Train Oth-

ers’. This would be in fishery, poultry, livestock, etc.”

Idise Emeni: Agriculturist and farm service expert The experience in farming is that you may record big harvest but with huge loss due often to theft. It is not easy to be a farmer and it is not attractive. Farmers are poor-looking. Nigeria has about 25 small holder farmers who are poor due to poor yield and other losses. Now, groups come to dupe them with one loan offer or the other.

Agriculture needs support like in oil industry that has oil servicing firms. Labour is expensive especially for cassava and palm produce work; so, there is need to supply weeders to farmers to reduce cost of labour, if any agency wants to intervene in the farm chain.

There are palm pruners now that help to reduce cost of labour. There is need for off-takers. There is need to empower the farmers.

Farmers are poor and highly dependent. Agriculture should not be a hobby but a serious practice with full attention. There is invasion of army worms and pests that destroy promising farmlands. We suffered many disruptions when we started full time farming. We realised that we had to experiment with all year round planting; some crops did not grow well in off seasons.

It is advisable to do processing so you can preserve the produce which would have to travel far, sometimes abroad.

I advise Nigerians to concentrate on supplying to Nigerian demands, foreign investors will come.

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Perspective The rising profile of Abia Polytechnic OKECHUKWU KESHI UKEGBU

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bia State is firing from all fronts in its development strides, especially in Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s thematic areas.

Recently, attention shifted to Abia State Polytechnic, Aba where the institution signed a Memorandum of Understanding with two organisations, the Association of Tailors and Fashion Designers (ATFAD) and Leather Products Manufacturers Association of Nigeria. The MoU is part of the institution’s numerous efforts to boost the business activities of the Aba community, and according to the Rector of the institution, Prof. Ezionye Eboh, “It is our way of giving back to the city of Aba as an institution that is socially responsible”.

The three-month programmes target the small and medium manufacturers in the city and would ensure that every businessman in the city is acquainted with the basic skills of doing business. Also, the courses outlined in the MoU are Basic Mathematics, Basic Management Principles, Basic English and Basic Book Keeping.

It will be worthy to note here that the MoU coincides with a similar MoU the institution signed with Green Field to provide Social Health Insurance Programme for students of the polytechnic at no extra cost after enrolment.

From all ramifications, the MoU is apt at this period Aba, the commercial-hub is on a steady march to fulfill the appellation “the Japan of Africa”. By Prof Eboh’s projection, God willing and other things being equal, the programme will train

Ezionye Eboh, rector, Abia State Polytechnic

about 10,000 artisans in the next three years.

“If our plan works out, in the next three years, we will have trained about 10,000 artisans,” he said.

It is indisputable that Abia Polytechnic has great contribution in the current stride of Aba to sustain its status as the SME hub of the country. The institution is the biggest public institution in the city and has the mandate of providing manpower for the country’s drive

towards technology.

The three months certificate programme is a transformation process for the artisans, upgrading them from local artisans to world- class entrepreneurs, who are empowered with certificates.

To buttress this, Prof Eboh noted, “We’ll also train them on how to separate self from business, especially in terms of their finances.

Of course, we will teach them the basics in cleanliness, rudimentary English, and self-confidence. We hope that this effort is in synergy with a whole lot of other activities being undertaken by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration, and we have no doubt this will positively alter the business of Aba within the next couple of years.”

Besides, the institution is diversifying its efforts. Such efforts would ensure the operation of a Mass Communication Department in the institution in the months ahead. This is cheering news because, when the department comes on stream, according to the chairman of the state branch of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), John Emejor, “it will help the practising journalists in the state who are yearning to update their certificates in the profession”.

To block leakages in the revenue of the institution, every financial transaction in the institution is now made through bank to avoid misappropriation, while admission and checking of results and other processes are now done online.

This is to discourage time wastage.

Also, efforts are now on top gear to rejig the internally-generated revenue process of the institution for improvement and to reduce the

dependency of the institution on the state government.

It is apt that the internallygenerated revenue process of the institution is rejigged to ensure that the level of dependence of the institution on the state government is reduced.

The situation is captured by the state Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu, thus: “The major challenge remains that the school’s current monthly wage bill of about N170 million cannot be sustained by the internally generated revenue profile of the institution, hence, the workers and management need to work together to evolve a sustainable solution that will ensure that the institution truly becomes autonomous as envisaged by the law setting it up.

“Abia Poly receives and autonomously uses school fees, grants and other revenues to run its operations. We expect the management and workers to rejig their operations to ensure that what they make can, at least, conveniently

The institution is diversifying its efforts. Such efforts would ensure the operation of a Mass Communication Department in the institution in the months ahead

pay workers while Government supports with subventions.”

It is important that now that the institution’s profile is rising on a steady note, activities that would constitute a clog in the wheel of progress should not be tolerated.

This includes sabotage of any form.

Thank God that the four-week industrial action embarked by the three unions in the institution that paralysed academic activities in the institution for the period has been resolved and academic activities resumed. Kudos to Abia State government for its intervention.

The administration of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu has demonstrated more commitment that it has the interest of the institution at heart. The state in many occasions has come to the rescue of the institution. These interventions have manifested in the forms of relieving the institution of debt burdens, among others.

On the salary issue, we are optimistic that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as a listening governor would evolve ways to put the issue at bay.

“We appreciate the decision of the workers to put the students and the state first. As a government, we will ensure that the agreement reached between the union and the management of the institution is fully respected and implemented. The government is currently reviewing the plan presented by the management of the institution to ensure sustainable payment of wages and seamless operation of the Polytechnic,” John Okiyi Kalu strongly promised.

Ukegbu writes from Aba, Abia State.

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TheWorshippers Our Saviour’s Anglican Church: Giant strides taken in faith Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Egbe, Lagos on May 27, 2018 hosted the Lord Bishop, Rt. Rev. Olusola Odedeji of the Diocese of Lagos West, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion to the dedication of its church. SEYI JOHN SALAU, who was there, writes on the strides of faith made by the Egbe Archdeaconry, as well as the impact of church development on worshippers.

W

e have heard about small men doing great things, so also have we heard about smaller people making great strides. A case in point is David and Goliath, how the little known shepherd boy from the countryside defeated the well-known warrior who for many years had tormented the Israelites.

That was the story of Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Egbe. A church in a remote place, yet it was made the headquarters of what is today known as Egbe Archdeaconry by the Lord Bishop of the Lagos West Diocese of the Anglican Church.

Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Egbe, though small in size and number, has taken several steps that place it among champions, especially when it comes to church development and evangelistic outreaches for which believers and the church in general are called for.

“A Church Growth principle is a universal truth which, when properly interpreted and applied, contributes significantly to the growth of churches and denominations,” Donald McGavran, founding Dean and Professor of Mission, Church Growth, and South Asian Studies at the School of World Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, once wrote. “It is a truth of God which leads his church to spread his Good News, plant church after church, and increase his Body.”

In a similar vein, the scripture gave an express command to Christian faithful to go into the world and make new disciples.

In Matthew 28:19, it says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Therefore, churches are planted primarily to win new converts as they grow and develop the Christian faith of the people amidst trials, persecution and challenges.

As Gene Veith, author of ‘Loving God with All Your Mind: Thinking as a Christian in the Postmodern World’, writes, “One would think that [persecution] would be an obstacle to church growth when joining the church meant a death sentence. And yet, the age of persecution was the greatest period of church growth in history.”

History has taught us that the church movement started and actually grew in

L-R: Ven. Ariire Kolawole, Vicar, Our Saviour’s Church, Egbe; Rt. Rev. Olusola Odedeji, Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion; and an officiating priest at the Dedication of Our Savior’s Church, Egbe in Lagos recently. Pic by Pius Okeosisi

the face of persecution faced by the early Christians who were martyrs for their faith in a new religion, a religion that is today witnessed in remote parts of the world to the testimony of the scriptures. That movement of church development has seen many churches spring up in remote villages and cities, even in places least expected.

Though doctrinal teachings and creed may differ, all Christians are baptised into one faith, one gospel and by one name, Jesus Christ – a name given by which all mankind might be saved.

Bishop’s impression of the dedicated church Bishop Odedeji of the Lagos West Diocese of the Anglican Communion, who said he had been a part of the church long before he became a bishop, could not hide his feelings about the newly dedicated church.

“When I came in, I saw the reason why a vibrant and goal-oriented priest must be brought here – that was what I did. When I brought the vicar here, he was just a priest

and this place was archdeaconry headquarters, so it was like a contrast, but I knew the young man was more than able and that he has done again today,” Bishop Odedeji said.

“This is not the first church God has used him to build; the church where we brought him from was completed by the same man, Venerable Ariire Kolawole,” he said.

On the significance of dedicating a church, the Bishop said from historical point of view, from the church custom and tradition, and from the biblical perspective, nothing is used before dedication.

“Dedication is just saying this place is now set apart away from profane and common uses but for the use of Blessed Trinity, away from any other uses. This place is not just a place where anybody can do what he likes; what is only permitted here is the worship of Yahweh.

“When you look at the Old Testament passages, when a synagogue is newly built, God will be invited afresh to take his proper place. God said, ‘Wherever my name is recorded…’ Therefore, the name of the Lord will be recorded afresh here today. That is what we mean by dedication, it’s just saying it is set apart from other common uses.

“Here now nobody eats; the only food permitted here is the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Nobody cracks unnecessary jokes here, same way nobody comes in here to sleep – this is exclusive to God and for God alone, and it is a holy land from today,” the Bishop said.

Our Saviour’s Anglican Church Before March 15, 1984, the nearest Anglican Church to Egbe people was St. Paul’s Ishaga, Isolo and St. Peter’s Idimu. However, some Anglican members that relocated from Isolo to their own personal house in Egbe, so conscious of the spread of the gospel, thought of having an Anglican Church in their new abode. The move was first made by

one Pa Rueben Ogunlano of St. Paul’s Isolo, who went to his vicar, Rev. S. K. Olanrewaju, to seek counsel and permission to start an Anglican Church in Egbe.

Other members also raised the issue of having an Anglican Church in Egbe and went to seek the consent of their vicar. Among them were Niyi Banjo and Akinyemi, while the then District Church Council (DCC) under the leadership of Rev. Ola Oyebajo paid for the land by instalment (twice). After the payment, both Pa Ogunlana and Mr. Adeosun started the move to get more Anglican members around Egbe for the new church.

St. Paul’s Isolo donated a pulpit, lectern, baptismal font and altar table, while Adesanya and Gbokoyi constructed and donated all benches and wooden lecterns. The altar was paid for by Banjo while drums were also donated by one Mrs. Coker. She also added two priests’ seats in the altar, while choir hymn books were donated by Adebayo and Agbolade donated lectern.

This small Anglican Church increased and was later made the headquarters of an Archdeaconry, which was inaugurated on March 3, 2009, and Ven. Jacob Adelagun Oluwase was made the first Archdeacon.

The old church building was demolished to give way for the new one on December 2, 2013. On December 10 of the same year, the foundation of the new church building was laid by the Ven. Dele Okunuga, the Archdeacon of Isolo Archdeaconry as directed by the then Bishop, Rt. Revd. Peter Awelewa Adebiyi, while Ven. Christopher Aiyejoto was the vicar. But before then, on December 8, the faithful moved into the new building with only pillars to carry the halfroofed structure. The roof was completed on Saturday, December 16.

Venerable Ariire Kolawole, the man at the centre of it all Venerable Ariire Ayo Kolawole resumed duty as the Vicar of Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Egbe on August 15, 2013 while the church was still in its old small church building with new pillars and half-roofed surroundings.

Thanking the Lord Bishop whom he referred to as “a father, mentor, leader and benefactor”, Ven. Kolawole said the dedication of the church was “a proof of God’s manifestation and His genuine love towards His own people”.

He appreciated the members of Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Egbe, who were instrumental to the completion of the task of constructing a befitting edifice for the Egbe Archdeaconry headquarters through their support.

“Some members that may not like us to mention their names but whom God has already registered their names in the book of life – I thank you for your financial support to make the bank loan payment possible and completion of this long overstayed vision.

“The structural engineer and supervisor of this project for four years, Engr. Femi Kehinde (a Baptist member) came to our rescue when the ship was totally down and the church was almost made a thing of ridicule. He used his time, men, money and experience for four years without collecting a penny from the church,” the vicar said.

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Inspirations Fresh and Flourishing PASTOR I.S JAMES TEXT: PSALM 92:12-15

[12] “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

[13] Those who are planted in the house of the LORD Shall flourish in the courts of our God. [14] They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, [15] To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

W

e have come almost halfway into year 2018 yet the word of the Lord to us, His pin-point word of the year, remains fresh and particularly relevant. Expectations are still high. Men are waiting for one kind of harvest or another. Those who have sown in tears are waiting to reap in joy. And the rains are here to indicate their support of the word. Of course, every element of His creation lends their support and participa-

tion to every word of God. They ensure that all things work together for good to them that love God and to those who are called according to God’s purpose, as Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:28.

As God’s servant, let me affirm the word over you and yours, “You will remain fresh and flourishing!” Amen. It is what the Lord said to us in Glory Christian Ministries.

After the word came to me, I embarked on an intensive study to see how ‘fresh and flourishing’ was expressed/explained in other versions of the bible apart from the New King James Version, NJKV. Here are some of the things I found: 14 KJV – “…they shall be fat and flourishing” 14 NLT – “…they will remain vital and green.”

14 NIV – “… they will stay fresh and green” 14 NCV – “… they will be healthy and fresh.”

14 GNB – “… are always green and strong.”

14 AMP – “… they shall be full of sap of spiritual vitality and rich in the verdure of trust, love, and contentment.”

Understanding the Symbolism In giving us the Word, the Lord likened us to 2 things: • The Palm tree

• The Cedar in Lebanon.

1. The uncompromisingly righteous shall flourish like the palm tree be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon majestic, stable, durable and incorruptible - 12 (AMP) THE PALM TREE Out of about 2,500 species that grow in different environments from the desert to the rainforest, the Date, Oil and Coconut Palms are the best known. They are mostly straight with evergreen leaves.

To flourish like the palm tree means to stand tall, upright, stately, having Long life; with the idea of beauty and prosperity. The figure of the palm tree gives us the idea of fruitfulness and usefulness. Every part of it is useful. They have provided food & sustenance for people over the years.

Palm leaves were an emblem of peace, joy, victory, triumph and celebration both by the Romans and Jews alike (John.12:1213; Rev.7:9).

Palms grow slowly, but steadily from century to century, uninfluenced by the changing seasons that affect other trees and patiently yield their fruit from generation to generation.

One of the most graphic representations

Solomon made of the Palm tree was carving it as one of the 3 symbols that beautified the walls of the ‘holy of holies’ (1Kings.6:29).

This wasn’t just ornamental, but the very best symbolism of the righteous for when they are planted in the courts of the Lord, they will remain fruitful, fresh and flourishing, for as long as they live, and go on to a glorious immortality afterwards!

The Palm tree symbolizes: • Beauty and Fruitfulness • Upright, Stately and Long-life • Food and Nourishment • Evergreen in all weather!

• Longevity as age doesn’t impair their fruitbearing capability!

• Symbol of Peace, Joy, Victory and Triumph!

To be continued next week

Dr. Iruofagha James is the Founding Pastor, Glory Christian Ministries, Odo-Olowo Street, Apapa/Oshodi Expressway, Ijeshatedo, Lagos. www.isjames.org Tel: 08060599144

Ali vs Tyson; The better fighter

REV. YOMI KASALI

T

@rev.yomikasali

here has been this debate of who the better fighter is between Muhammad Ali and Iron Mike Tyson.

Some feel Ali indeed is the ‘Greatest’ not because he called himself the greatest but because of his style of fighting and winning. Others feel it is Mike Tyson because of the way he knocked his opponents out and how he became the youngest champion coupled with the most feared ever boxer in the world.

I like to take inspirations from such issues personally with deep spiritual insights into scriptures on how to Fight and be a Winner in life’s battles. We face challenges daily as believers and are fighters whether we love to or not. The scriptures tells us that our confession is a battle and we must fight this battle to WIN it not just be in the ring. ...so who was the better fighter?

The Apostle Paul told us that we should be ‘Strong in the Lord and in the Power of His might for we wrestle not against flesh and blood...’ (Eph. 6 v 10). He also told Timothy that he should ‘fight the good fight of faith’ (1 Tim 6 v 12), because ‘he had fought the good fight’ (2 Tim 4 v 7). In fact he challenged the Church in Corinth

on how to fight ‘so fight I not as one that beats the air’ (1 Cor. 9 v 26). God wants us to fight to win the battles of life not run from battles as some pray daily.

So what is my opinion on who the greater and better fighter was between the two boxers and how can that be of instruction to us as we fight the enemy in life’s challenges? You must not give up in life or quit on God but continue to hold on to your confession of faith even in the face of apparent challenges, you must fight to Win and not beat the Air. TIPS TO BECOMING A WINNER BE WIRED TO TAKE PUNCHES: Muhammad Ali was a better fighter in this regards. He was wired to receive punches than Mike Tyson, the heaviest puncher in Ali’s days was George Foreman and he threw so much punches in the battle called ‘Rumble in the Jungle.’ Ali stood his grounds and took them all, in fact he barked at him with these words; ‘Is that all you’ve got?’ Unlike Tyson who had not trained himself to take punches but to throw them, so when Evander Holyfield received so much of his punches and wasn’t knocked out, he became frustrated and bit the opponent’s ears. Learn to WITHSTAND PRESSURE IN LIFE. YOU HAVE TO THROW PUNCHES TO WIN FIGHTS: This is a very necessary evil in Winning battles of life. I have not seen any Winner who just takes the punches and is declared victorious without throwing punches. Judges count the punches thrown not received hence you MUST throw punches to win in life. Be willing to fight challenges, adversities and the enemy, some believers are afraid of

throwing jabs and never win. It is like not scoring goals in the game of football yet want to win games.

OBSERVE THE RULES: I have keenly observed sadly that Believers don’t respect rules of engagements anymore and many leaders are adjudged winners through cheating. We have to observe rules in life to win. You cannot throw punches below the belt and expect to be celebrated, rather your points shall be deducted. Tyson bit someone’s ears and was disqualified after points were deducted. Ali observed rules and we call him the greatest today, he didn’t use drugs to enhance his performance, did not bite anyone and certainly did not punch below

the belt. The Bible says we shall not be crowned if we do not observe the rules (2 Tim. 2 v 5).

BE MAGNANIMOUS IN VICTORY: Muhammad Ali was known to have been magnanimous in victory most of the times after his fights. We have to also understand that it is important to show grace in victory and not pride. The Bible puts it this way, ‘having done all, to stand...’ (Eph. 6 v 13), and ‘let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he falls...’ ( 1 Cor. 10 v 12).

I hope you have been inspired by this piece.

Rev. Yomi Kasali is Senior Pastor, Foundation of Truth Assembly (FOTA), Surulere, Lagos

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DR Congo and fresh Ebola scare

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Sunday 03 June 2018

TAYO OGUNBIYI Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

S

cary news about the resurgence of the dreadful disease from DR Congo (DRC) surely calls for serious concern. According to World Health Organisation, WHO, DRC had over 39 suspected, probable or confirmed cases of Ebola between April 4 and May 13 while 393 people identified as Ebola patients are currently being followed up.

The DRC has had more Ebola virus outbreaks than any other country in the world. Over the past 10 years, there have been five cases: 2007, from 2008 to 2009, 2012, 2014 and 2017.

Indeed, the Ebola virus was first identified in the country in 1976 and gets its name from the Ebola River, which is situated near the village where it was discovered.

Scientists believe it was initially present in wild animals living in tropical rain-forests in equatorial Africa. Fruit bats have also been identified as one of the main hosts as they can transmit the disease while remaining unaffected by it. The disease spread to humans when they come into contact with blood or other body fluids from infected animals, usually through hunting.

Obviously, if the Ebola trend in DRC is unchecked, Nigeria and other African countries might be some risk. Cheerfully, from her past experience with the disease, Nigerian authorities are conscious of the fact that if the country is not going to be caught napping in another Ebola drama, preparation is quite vital. It is, therefore, pleasing to note that the country’s Centre for Disease Control has taken additional preventive measures such as placing its emergency operations centre on alert and issuing a public health advisory. Also, the National Port Health Services have heightened screening at points of entry. There are also protocols in place to ensure that if a case is suspected, it’s detected early and response activities are initiated immediately.

But then, it should not just be about what individual countries are doing alone. There should be more of collaborative efforts, especially among neighbouring African countries to really ensure that the disease does not have a foothold in the continent again.

In 2014, the eventual defeat of Ebola was partly possible because the African Union put up a common front against it. So, the African Union must approach the DRC Ebola renaissance with the same speed and methodology it successfully deployed in 2014.

Meanwhile, as for our country concerned authorities must ensure that our borders are well protected. Health workers at the various local and international

airports must ensure that those coming into the country are properly screened to determine their Ebola status. Equally, all hospitals in the country need to train more of their medical personnel on how to handle Ebola-related cases.

The Federal Ministry of Health must also step up its public enlightenment campaigns to further create awareness on how to prevent infection from the deadly virus, and in case of infection, how to identify the early symptoms which is characterized by sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, sore throat and death. There is need for aggressive production and distribution of Information, Education and Communication Materials on prevention and management of Ebola Virus. Slots for jingles on radio must be increased and made to have widest coverage.

Similarly, schools must not compromise current hygiene trend. To do that would be suicidal. Officials must continue to insist on proper hygiene among teachers and students while screening of visitors, staff and students must be a continuous process. Appropriate government officials and other key stakeholders in the health and education sectors must continue to pay routine visits to schools in order to ensure compliance with stipulated Ebola preventive measures.

Perhaps more importantly, everybody must be watchful of their health situation and swiftly report

any odd health situation to the nearest medical facility. Failure to do this at the right moment may possibly jeopardize numerous lives. This is not exactly the moment in time to play with health related issues. Every household must continue to preach and imbibe positive hygiene measures to guide against harmful tendencies that could jeopardise family health.

In a country where management of emergencies and disasters is lethargic, a nation where healthcare facilities and personnel are grossly inadequate and Doctors’ strike incessant, the possibility of coping with another outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus disease will, no doubt, be very difficult. This is why the authorities must act fast to secure the nation’s borders and prevent entry of the deadly virus.

We must be proactive in our attitude towards the prevention of diseases outbreaks; our responses to catastrophes in this clime are usually reactive. In this instance, our fire-brigade approach of rushing out to quench fire all the time, rather than figure out how to put in place measures to prevent fire outbreaks must be jettisoned. Our nationalistic tendencies for lack of prescience must not prevail in protecting ourselves against the deadly Ebola Virus. A stitch in time saves nine.

Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

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AKINWUMI ADESINA Adesina is President of the African Development Bank.

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frica is at a crossroads. Six of the world’s ten fastestgrowing economies are now located in the region, and the continent’s GDP is expected to grow at a rate of 4.1% this year, up from 3.6% in 2017.

Ye t A f r i c a ’ s e c o n o m i c growth has not been accompanied by a commensurate level of job creation, which has particularly negative implications for women and young people.

In fact, today’s jobless growth could even reverse the gains made in eradicating poverty in recent years.

The problem is that Africa’s growth, while impressive, has been volatile, because it has been driven mainly by high commodity prices, rather than by manufacturing. The economic effects of this imbalance should not be underestimated. Among other things, it explains why a region that produces about 75% of the world’s cocoa accounts for just 5% of the nearly $100 billion annual chocolate market.

Despite its vast natural resources, Africa will remain at the mercy of commodity prices and trade flows until it underPHILIPPE LEGRAIN Legrain, a former economic adviser to the president of the European Commission, is a visiting senior fellow at the London School of Economics’ European Institute and the founder of Open Political Economy Network (OPEN).

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big reason why Western politics is in such disarray is voters’ pessimism about the future.

According to the Pew Research Center, 60% of Westerners believe today’s children will be “worse off financially than their parents,” while most Europeans think the next generation will have a worse life. To paraphrase the philosopher Thomas Hobbes, they expect youngsters’ lives to be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish – and long.

Pessimism afflicts those who have lost out economically, as well as those who worry that they (or their communities) may be next. It affects young people anxious about their prospects and older people nostalgic for their youth. And it encompasses both economic fears that robots, Chinese workers, and immigrants are threatening people’s livelihoods, and cultural fears that white Westerners are losing their privileged status both locally and globally.

When people doubt that progress is possible, they tend to fear change of any kind. Rather than focusing on opportunities, they

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A roadmap for African industrialization takes a profound structural transformation. The time has come for Africa to unlock its true economic potential by following in the footsteps of every modern economy and undertaking the transition from agriculture to manufacturing.

Africa’s manufacturing sector is the weakest link in its ongoing integration into the global economy. Today, primary products (raw materials) comprise 62% of Africa’s total exports, the highest share in the world.

At the same time, manufactured exports per capita in 2014 totaled just $218, which is among the lowest levels in the world, and far below other developing regions such as Asia ($883) and Latin America ($1,099). Clearly, Africa must start catching up.

Fortunately, there is already a global consensus that industrialization matters, and that it is in everyone’s interest for Africa to become the global manufacturing power it ought to be. With its “High 5 Agenda,” the African Development Bank (AfDB) has made industrialization a top priority. Likewise, industrialization is a key component of the African Union’s “Agenda 2063.” And, in 2016, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2016-2025 the “Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa.”

But such pronouncements

are meaningless in the absence of concrete action. To change the region’s economic trajectory, African policymakers must focus on three key areas: industrial policies, infrastructure financing, and leadership.

We now know that industrial policies can be effective in boosting growth. The question is whether states possess the capacity to implement the policies they design. If they do, they can channel resources toward industry and marshal available technologies to create synergy between the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

A number of African countries have already moved in this direction. Ethiopia, for example, has created special economic zones, where it has lowered production costs by investing in infrastructure. As a result, the country has emerged as Africa’s largest hub for textile manufacturing, attracting major players like H&M and Primark. Similarly, Rwanda’s Kigali Special Economic Zone, which exempts firms from taxes for ten years, has attracted a $20 million investment from Volkswagen for a new vehicle-assembly plant.

But industrialization cannot happen without power, roads, and railways, which is why infrastructure must be a key focus. As of now, the AfDB pegs Africa’s

infrastructure gap at $130–170 billion per year. Closing it will require not just more financing, but also more innovative thinking, particularly concerning joint public-private efforts.

To that end, the AfDB has expanded its portfolio for financing new infrastructure projects in several countries. As part of our “New Deal on Energy for Africa,” we have scaled up investment in renewable energy and put $265 million toward developing two solar-power plants in Morocco.

In Côte d’Ivoire, where demand for energy is surging by 8-9% annually, we are investing $60 million to bring a new 44-megawatt hydropower plant onstream.

African countries should make such investments now to reap the demographic dividend of the continent’s population bulge in the years ahead. As manufacturing activities expand, they will need to be supported by more robust knowledge- and skill-based economies, which will require higher investment in education to boost technical and vocational skills and training.

No country has ever undergone economic modernization without industry. But, more to the point, no functional industrial sector has ever emerged in the absence of strong, committed leadership. Consider

Mauritius, which in the 1970s was a low-income mono-crop economy with a per capita GDP of just under $250. Today, Mauritius is an upper-middle-income country with a more diversified economy and a per capita GDP of around $9,600. It is often cited as a model of economic success in Africa.

How did this come about? As former Mauritian Prime Minister and President Anerood Jugnauth has put it, “There is no miracle. It is due simply to hard work, discipline, and will.”

Leaders who want to develop a strong manufacturing base must have the political will to distribute resources fairly and pull the private sector along.

Mauritius experienced its fair share of challenges in moving from low-end manufacturing to technology-intensive goods and services. But it now stands as an example of what committed leadership can accomplish.

Other African countries would do well to emulate it as they pursue their own economic transformations.

All told, Africa is well placed to seize many of the opportunities that the global economy offers emerging markets. It already has the resources and the labor; now it needs committed leaders like Jugnauth who will implement the right policies.

Overcoming the politics of pessimism see threats everywhere and hold on tighter to what they have. Distributional cleavages come to the fore – toxically so when overlaid with identity clashes. Western politics can become rosier again, but only if politicians first address the root causes of the gloom.

Today’s naysayers come in three shades. Accepting pessimists – often center-right voters who are doing fine but are worried about the future – believe that shaking up the system is impossible or undesirable, so they grudgingly accept their country’s diminished prospects. Politicians of this type seem content, in effect, to manage a relatively comfortable decline.

Anxious pessimists, often on the center left, are glummer about the future, but seem content merely to soften its hardest edges. They want to invest a bit more, and to distribute more equitably the meager proceeds of weak growth. But they are also increasingly fearful of technological change and globalization, and thus seek to limit their pace and scope. The goal of center-left politicians of this kind seems to be to make an uncomfortable decline more tolerable.

Finally, angry pessimists – often populists and their supporters – think economies are rigged, politicians corrupt, and outsiders dangerous. They have no desire to manage decline; they want to

destroy the status quo. And they may pursue lose-lose outcomes simply so that others will suffer.

What these groups have in common is a dearth of viable solutions. Both accepting and anxious pessimists focus so much on the risks and difficulties of change that they ignore the pitfalls of inaction – not least the rise of populism – while angry pessimists assume that they can smash the system while maintaining its benefits. Western societies, for all their flaws, provide unrivaled prosperity, security, and freedom.

Authoritarian nationalism and economic populism endanger that.

While the West’s relative decline is almost inevitable, its economic dysfunction is not. Yet pessimism can be self-fulfilling. Why undertake difficult reforms if a dark future seems preordained?

As a result, accepting and anxious pessimists tend to elect governments that duck difficult decisions (witness Germany’s grand coalition), while angry pessimists make matters worse (by voting for Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda or for Brexit, for example).

It doesn’t have to be this way.

As French President Emmanuel Macron has demonstrated, bold leaders can succeed with a message of hope, openness, and inclusion, and by promoting a vision of progress based on credible

reforms. In my book European Spring, I set out a blueprint for economic and political change in Europe, much of which could apply to other overly-pessimistic countries – notably the United States.

Inspiring and reassuring voters is a political challenge, not a technocratic one. But it also requires ambitious policies to expand the economic pie faster and share it more fairly. Three big changes would help.

First, governments must do more to spur productivity growth, which is the basis for higher living standards. Stimulating investment – in green technologies, for example – would boost demand now and increase productive capacity later. Funding new research, expanding access to risk capital, and crafting supportive regulation would also help.

Second, to spur value creation, authorities must crack down on value extraction. Easing restrictions on development would curb property speculation and allow cities to grow, create more jobs, and increase the supply of affordable housing. Financial reforms, including scrapping the tax subsidy for debt, would encourage equity investments in the real economy. Tougher competition policy and streamlined businessformation processes would slash monopoly profits and empower start-ups.

Third, governments must bolster both opportunity and security. To embrace change and take risks, everyone needs flexible skills, a decent income, and a reliable safety net. As in Estonia, every child should learn computer programming.

Improved access to higher education would broaden horizons, inoculate against populism, and boost incomes. Lifelong learning should become the rule, as it is in Denmark.

Real wages need to rise. Countries could emulate Britain in increasing the minimum wage, or provide bigger tax credits to low-paid workers. Taxes on labor could be cut by taxing land values.

And a modernized welfare state needs to offer greater security for the self-employed.

A capital grant of some 10,000 euros, dollars, or pounds – funded by a tax on lifetime bequests, or a progressive expenditure tax – would give every young person a stake in society, a buffer against misfortune, and the means to invest in their future. As in Sweden, state pensions should adjust automatically with the size of the workforce, encouraging immigration.

Better economic policies cannot cure all social or cultural ills.

But they can help the West escape its pernicious pessimism, and make possible a politics of liberal and progressive optimism.

We cherish readers’ reactions to stories and articles published in BusinessDay. All such reactions, which must not be more than 250 words, should be sent to bdsundayletter@businessdayonline.com with names and addresses of writers. The star letter every week will be rewarded.

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Sunday 03 June 2018

Politics

‘My plan is to triple Imo IGR from N600m to N2bn per month’ CHIDI OKORO is a frontline aspirant in the 2019 Imo State governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Before joining the governorship race, Okoro, who trained as a pharmacist at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and holds MBA from University of Lagos and Executive Masters Degree in Positive Leadership and Strategy from IE Business School, Madrid, Spain, has held senior management positions in Promasidor, MTN, Reckitt Benckiser and Emzor Pharmaceutical.

He has also served as managing director/CEO, GlaxoSmithKline Nigeria, CEO Africa, Suntory Beverages, and managing director/ CEO, UAC Foods Limited. In this interview with CHUKS OLUIGBO, assistant editor, Okoro unveils his plan to jump-start the Imo economy with a N25bn venture capital fund. Excerpts:

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s someone who aspires to be the governor of Imo State in 2019, could you give us an insight into the state of Imo at present?

Imo State is at a crossroads; it is at a tipping point. We are at a stage where we stay stagnant or we just fall off the cliff and it will take so much to recover.

Let me tell you what the issues are. The first is lack of rule of law, lack of transparency in government operations, lack of respect for citizens’ rights and traditional institutions – these things no longer exist. So, over time we have bred a generation of Imo young people who don’t understand what it means to respect court process or follow due process for transparency to thrive.

Number two is that quality of life is complicated right now. If you look at education, school enrolment is good at 97 percent, but when you come to quality, it is an issue. And education happens to be the industry in Imo. Every year we turn in about 150,000 people doing WAEC, about 90,000 candidates going to do JAMB exams, and typically 40 percent of them get admitted. We have five higher institutions and those institutions take about 15 percent of Imo indigenes. So when you go round Nigeria and the world, you see Imo indigenes all over the place. But in terms of quality, teacher-student ratio in Imo is about 1:67, the recommended ratio is 1:18, so we need three times the number of teachers. Many of the teachers have to retire because they are out of date. ICT is not taught in our schools, so that tells you the education is actually broken. Waste management is zero, it doesn’t exist in Imo at the moment, so when you go through our major cities you see heaps of refuse. Security is also an issue. Unemployment in Imo is about 30 percent, youth unemployment 58 percent, so there are about 300,000 Imo young people looking for job right now. Every year we graduate about 35,000 to 40,000, so in another 10 years we would probably have a million people hanging out there and looking for job. When you have this quality of people looking for job and there are no jobs coming, they would go into crime. Unemployment is high because we don’t have industries in Imo. Imo is number 7-10 in consumption of goods in Nigeria. This means that Imo can consume if it can produce. Imo is also an hour from Onitsha, Nnewi, Aba, and Port Harcourt, all big commercial industrial consumption cities, meaning that if you can provide environment for manufacturing to thrive, then you can have people set up. Imo disapora is about the biggest from South-East of Nigeria because we don’t have opportunities back home, so we are all over the world. Again, development in Imo has centred around a small space in Owerri, even though Imo has 5,000 sq. km land, and you have to get into Owerri to feed because that’s where government thrives. We haven’t been

able to create the environment for development to get diversified. It is a very tough situation and if we don’t fix it now, we have a very terrible future coming.

And these are facts. Over time I worked with the Imo Arise Group to understand what the issues are; we researched and we got the facts, and that’s why we thought that we should get in the race to try to devise solutions.

You seem to have a thorough grasp of the challenges facing Imo, but you will agree with me that solving these challenges requires a lot of money, at a time many states depend entirely on allocations from the Federation Account. How do you intend to tackle this challenge?

Let me give you a couple of facts about Imo State. Imo economy is a $14-billion GDP, per capita is $3,500, actually almost double Nigeria’s per capita. The Imo diaspora ship in a lot of money back into the state, the challenge is that it is consumption money they ship in, it’s not investment money, so the money is not turned around. If you look at countries like India, Indonesia, China where they have big diaspora, they take the money and turn it around up to seven times. So, what am I going to do? I want to jumpstart the Imo economy with a $25-billion private sector-funded venture capital fund.

Imo gets in about N4 billion to N5 billion every month from the Federation Account. Our debt situation is N90 billion and $63 million. By the way, a state that makes N50 billion-N60 billion a year can afford to owe N90 billion, the challenge is how you intend

to keep an economy that pays that off while meeting other obligations to civil servants, pensioners and contractors.

Imo IGR is about N500 million-N600 million every month, that’s a shame because we do not produce anything.

So, with the N25 billion, what do we do? The first thing Imo has to do is to start producing. We are going to create eight light manufacturing clusters with this money, so we are going to build 25 hectare-50 hectare land across different parts of Imo. Orlu will have a pharmaceuticals cluster. Pharmaceutical is a $1-billion market dominated a lot

by Imo indigenes but they don’t take it home. Mbaise will have a building materials cluster. Owerri will be beverage.

If you go to a place like Akokwa, ceramics is their business. Ngor-Okpala will have electrical cluster, and so on. When we do this, we will build structures, put in embedded power and put in the roads, and it costs barely $2 million per cluster. Then we invite people to come and invest, and we give them two years to start paying for the property. The moment we start manufacturing, jobs get created, IGR will rise. The plan is that within two years we will triple the IGR to about N1.5 billion-N2 billion per month, and that’s easy. Because we can consume, we can manufacture, and because we have the manpower, we can manufacture.

Number two, ICT is a trillion-dollar industry. We have good education level in Imo, 89 percent literacy rate.

Median age is about 20 years. We will create an ICT innovation hub and we partner with people in Asia and the West. We will get Imo youths into the

structure so that they can start making inventions that we can sell in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world. We have some of them doing that already but they don’t have the infrastructure, they don’t even have the power, they don’t have the basic wifi.

Thirdly, Owerri is a hotel city today; we want to transform it into hospitality, conferencing and entertainment city so we quadruple the value. That’s where the money is. Hotel rooms at N12,000-N18,000 a night cannot build you an economy. But if I can get entertainment, hospitality and conferencing thriving, it will be about N60,000 per night and money will flow in.

Education is another place where we thrive. We love education. We can partner with the private sector to build high-value, high-quality secondary schools and universities. Imo is about the only state in the South-East where you have almost no private university yet. The ones built around the SouthWest and South-South, go there and see the student population. We can make investment into such and let private sector run it, they return funds to us and we use it to fund our basic education. A typical university can create jobs for about 5,000 people. If we put that money down, we create those jobs.

You have a background in pharmacy, which makes you a key player in the health sector as well. So, what would be your approach to healthcare delivery?

Let me tell you about Imo healthcare at the moment. Imo vaccination rate is at 58 percent, so 58 percent of children born in Imo get vaccinated. Imo has 100 registered pharmacies. Imo has a doctor-patient ratio of 1:7,000, World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends 1:600. Imo has below 500 doctors, so we need another 10 times the number of doctors. At the moment we train about 25 to 30 doctors a year, that doesn’t work. We don’t have enough doctors, and we will not have enough doctors because as you train them, more will leave. So we need public health specialists or community health specialists, it takes two years to train them. What we need to do is revamp their curriculum in schools and get them the proper training. The community health centres no longer function, we will get them functioning again. Only about 25 percent of Imo people would get decent medical care, I am not saying quality medical care. 27 percent of Imo indigenes still go to streams in the villages to fetch water, that’s what they drink. We have 17 general hospitals, they still remain the same size they were many years ago and our population has doubled in the last 30 years. So the healthcare is broken. There are six ailments that worry our people in Imo State – malaria, lower respiratory tract infections, hypertension, diarrhoea, and so on.

We want to do basic things, and our approach is going to be preventive healthcare. We will make sure we achieve 100 percent vaccination over a two-year period. We will cut stream water out. In every community and in the schools, we put tap water. If the people have access to good water, you cut the disease burden by half.

When you get 100 percent vaccination, it helps productivity, because when people are more productive, they can look after their health. It’s a cycle. When they are healthier, they spend more time in school, and when they are educated, they’re healthier.

So the family has more money to actually do other things.

On tertiary health, we plan a ‘Medical Village’ where we intend to attract the Imo diaspora to contribute to build world-class medical facilities.

We will provide the infrastructure, with power, security, and our people in diaspora can build good hospitals so medical tourism can thrive. And we will also push some of the N25 billion venture capital fund to facilitate private community healthcare industry to create pharmacies, medical laboratories, and maternity homes in rural and semi-urban areas so that Imo development gets diversified and the economy starts to really be genuine and real. We will revamp the teaching hospital in Orlu. Digital health is taking the fray. We can deliver digital health to communities without having to have a doctor there.

Successive governments, both at the federal and state levels, keep speaking of economic diversification through agriculture, but there is really not much to show for it.

What plans do you have for the agric sector?

What we want to do in the agric sector is very simple: we want to do a farmto-shelf policy. We want to focus on a few things. A lot of cashew nuts come out of Imo, we have banana and a lot of crops other crops. How can we take these to the shelf? If you go through Okigwe, for instance, a woman sells a small bowl of cashew for N1,000. If I take that cashew and process it, I will sell it for N5,000. Just processing gives it five times the value. This woman goes through so much stress planting that crop, but she cannot unlock value because we haven’t tried to energise the value chain. So, my focus is how to unlock that value chain. If this woman knew that the cashew she is selling for N1,000 can actually be sold for N5,000, and if she knew how that happens, she would work harder. I spoke about creating light manufacturing clusters. I spoke about food processing in Okigwe. We are going to set up those factories through PPP so that people can go and process their produce and get them on the shelf. Our plan is to energise farmers, facilitate them to take their produce to the shelf.

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Politics ‘NotTooYoungToRun’ law: What hope for the Nigerian youths?

INIOBONG IWOK

T

he signing of the ‘NotTooYoungToRun’ bill into law by President Muhammadu Buhari has elicited reactions among political stakeholders in the country. The question on the lips of many people now is if the development gives any ray of hope of more youths’ involvement in politics in the country.

Last Thursday President Buhari in the presence of selected youths across the country finally signed the ‘not too young to run bill’ into law.

One of the issues that have dominated political discourse in the country in recent time is the need to give more opportunity and chance to the Nigerian youths; that is removing restriction that would inhibit the youths participating in politics and their aspiring for elective positions.

This anticipation informed the furore that heralded the signing of the bill into law which relaxed several stringent and discriminatory provisions of the constitution which stand against young Nigerians from contesting for elective positions.

The new law passed by the Nigerian lawmakers last year July and now assented to by the president, alters sections 65, 106,131,177 of the constitution, and reduces the qualification age for the president from 40, to 30; governors from 35 to 30; Senator from 35 to 30; House of Representatives members from 30 to 25 and state House of Assembly membership from 30 to 25.

Perhaps, what has further fueled the agitations over the last few years is the increasing number of youths elected into leadership positions in civilised societies across the world.

France President, Emmanuel Macron was elected at the young age of 39 last year. Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau elected at the age of 43 three years ago, and the North Korean leader who succeeded his father and still leading the Asian country against the west.

While in Nigeria and Africa, the reverse is the case; In spite of several years of bad governance and misrule by the leaders, it seems in several societies there is an entrenched cultural practices which stand against the youths’ participation in politics.

European Union Ambassador and head of the EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ketil Karlsen recently raised the alarm about the low number of Nigerian and African youth participation in politics, noting that for democracy to be representative, it must represent all the demographic population of a country of which the youths make up the bulk of the population in Nigeria.

“There is a shortage of youth’s participation in politics in many countries including Nigeria. And I wonder why; is it because of disempowerment? Is it because of alienation? Is it because of fear of participation? Or because there is a perception that participating will not matter

Buhari

or because they feel they are unworthy, that I am not so sure of.

“But I think we need to ask some questions, that is the reason for this outreach today. Another question to be taken into consideration is to ask what it takes for youth participation in politics; we have to look at funding, political parties and campaigns,” Karlsen said.

However, in a complex, difficult and unpredictable political terrain like ours; the signing of the ‘Not too young to run bill’ into law may offer a ray of hope; but it may just be one of several hurdles in the

A youth’s leader and Accord Party Chieftain (AP) Lanre Bamishile, applauded the signing of the bill into law, but added that Nigerian electoral system was more complex beyond age restriction

battle ground potential youths seeking electives position in the country have to cross to realise their ambition.

A youth leader and columnist, Wasiu Adeneye, writing recently on Nigerian youth’s participation in politics, lamented that the poor reading culture and little knowledge of the nation’s political history had contributed to the Nigerian youth’s low awareness and participation in politics.

Adeneye further blamed the poor education standard in the nation’s tertiary institutions and the inability of authorities of tertiary institutions to allow independent student union to exist which could serve as a platform where the youths could hone their leadership skills.

“Is laudable, age, in my opinion, has never been an encumbrance to youth participation in the nation’s politics. It is not enough to know that President Muhammadu Buhari is the president of the country and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is the vice-president. No! There must be a vivid awareness of the nation’s political history: how she came into existence, her battle with British colonialists before independence, her short-lived first, second and third republics; her long years of military rule and a potpourri of other issues that continue to shape her existence and the role of the youths in moulding her future.

“Unfortunately, information about these events is only available in bookshops and libraries, which makes it inaccessible to many youths due to their poor reading habit. In fact, only a few youths are interested in current happenings in the country as many youths loathe the idea of reading newspapers or listening to the news, not to talk of their interest in events that took place in the dim past,” Adeneye said.

“I also found out during my study that the Nigerian youth lacks veritable platforms to acquire and hone his leadership skills. In many of our universities, student unionism is frowned at; and where it exists, the leadership of the union is no more than the appendage of the school management. How then can the nation’s youths be sufficiently imbued with the right leadership skills to make them active participants in the nation’s politics when they study under regimented academic climate, where dissenting voices are stifled and contrary opinion are shouted down? But our universities’ administrators would have the nation believe that her future is in good hands with such unquestioning and politically inept products,” he further said.

A youth’s leader and Accord Party Chieftain (AP) Lanre Bamishile, applauded the signing of the bill into law, but added that Nigerian electoral system was more complex beyond age restriction.

“The law is welcome it would give more people chances, but it goes beyond that.

Look at the political space in the country; you can see that it is highly monetised; how many youths can afford such money, except you have godfathers somewhere backing you. Even the parties, what we have are old people parading themselves as youths; they are not ready to leave; so these are my fears,” Bamishile said.

The Lagos State Chairmen of Advance Democratic Party (ADP) Adewale Bolaji, applauded the signing of the laws, but also noted that enough youths were not contesting for elective positions because of the monetisation of the electoral process and violence that is associated with elections in the country.

“The signing of the law is welcome; of course, Buhari does not have choice than to sign that bill into law, but if you look at it, is it just because of his second term bill that he is doing this. The youths are not coming out to participate in politics, you may say that is because of the monetisation of the electoral process and violence in the system over the years; I don’t blame them but we need to see them more,” Bolaji said.

Perhaps, the real change begins with a mental shift among Nigerians on the need to jettison the idea of being induced before they vote for a candidate during elections. There is also the urgent need for serious reforms in the political parties, to discourage ‘cash and carry politics’ allow internal democracy, which would give chances for youths to seek elective positions and emerge as candidate in the various political parties.

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Politics

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Politics Opposition must field one candidate to have a chance against Buhari – Odumakin As Nigeria inches towards 2019 general election, main political actors are aligning themselves against one another and verbal wars are gradually taking the centre stage. In this interview with NATHANIEL AKHIGBE, Yinka Odumakin, the spokesperson for Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba social-cultural group, takes a critical look at President Muhammadu Buhari’s stewardship since 2015 and the possible alliance that could dislodge him in 2019. Excerpts: Recently, President Buhari and expresident Olusegun Obasanjo involved in direct and indirect verbal wars after the latter asked the former not to seek re-election in 2019, for what he called poor performance. The President hit back when he told members of the Buhari Support Group that a former president spent $16 billion on power and yet Nigeria is in darkness. What do you make of these political intrigues ahead of 2019? think it is not a coincident that the President came out smoking against Obasanjo a day after the former president visited Afenifere in Akure. We could see the veto in the President, and of course the PTF saga. But the unfortunate thing in the whole saga is that for instance, I remember in 2015 when the APC was seeking to contest elections they went to Obasanjo in Abeokuta to beg him to navigate them. So, they were not aware of this $16 billion at that time.

In the last three and half years now they said that they are fighting corruption, they never remember the issues until now we are moving towards elations and Obasanjo is no longer in their boat that they now remember that there was $16 billion whatever. Well, I believe that if they think that they have a case against Obasanjo, he has said he is ready to be probed. They should probe him if he has committed infractions or offences as per the power sector.

But I also think that we need the President also to do more work because of when the president speaks, I remember in those days when we were young, when the government official speaks it enters civic class, you can take it as it is. But when the President said it is $16 billion and evidence started coming out that it is not $16 billion, it is $6 billion, and it is this and that! It doesn’t matter even if it is $1 billion, the President should be able to give accurate information. I listen to a recent speech that “between 1999 and 2015 that oil sold for $100 a barrel throughout those periods”. I mean, pupil in school will want to quote that; and they know that in those periods oil was sold as low as $8/$10 per barrel. And it reminds me of an America vice president, I think it was under Bush, who went to the public school and ask a pupil to spell potato and the young girl spelt it correctly but the VP said she was wrong and he was correcting her. So, after the VP left they asked the young girl “what is your reaction to what happened between you and the VP today”? And the young girl said “the future America’s vice president should study hard”. Be that as it may, I also believe that the Aruna Adamu report on the PTF; I have read the report and that report is scandalous! I also wonder why President Obasanjo did not act on that report at the time because the reports is damning of the humongous of the fraud perpetrated in PTF. So, rarely, I think we should get to that point in our country

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Ogunbiyi

where we should not sweep these things inside the carpets when it happens, so that they don’t become just political weapons. If we are serious about fighting corruption in our country and dealing with corruption when it happens, and not to use corruption has a political weapons.

And what has happened with Obasanjo has shown one thing about these governments; like I said that in 2015 they did not know that Obasanjo spent some money on power without power, when they went to beg to navigate them; when Obasanjo and them were doing symbiotic in the last three and a half years, now that is no more before we are hearing about $16 billion on power, that is exactly what is happening with anti-corruption war in Nigeria. If you against APC today and there is any allegation against you they will magnify it before they will even take you to court and they will start using mass media to persecute you. But once you cross to APC and they see the broom they will pass over you. That is not how to fight corruption.

I remember in Oyo State in 2015, the incumbent Governor Ajumobi scored about 37percent of the votes, Ladoja had about 34 or so, another person had 30 or 28percent of the votes

Some sections of the Nigerian public also believe that President Buhari is jittering ahead 2019 over his fallout with Obasanjo. Is Obasanjo that powerful today in Nigeria political landscape in terms of what he says, who he supports; does Obasanjo really decide who becomes Nigeria’s president, bearing in mind his warning to former President Goodluck Jonathan not to contest the 2015 election and his subsequent defeat?

I think with the kind of arrangement we have in Nigeria now, there are some powers, interests and blocks that you cannot just push aside because they are influential within what we have now.

When we talk of people like Obasanjo, Danjuma, Babangida, few people like that, some from military background, some from economic sphere, and those who have the power of money. So, there are some captains in some sectors that every presidential aspirant will want to relate with because their support is invaluable, or not being against the aspirant even though he is not supporting the aspirant. But when such forces begin to come against you there is tendency for an incumbent to become quite uncomfortable.

Now, the APC congresses: the party has been riddled with crises which have continued to linger; the chairmanship tussle, the convention problems and many issues confronting it; where do you think all these leave the APC ahead of 2019?

I will not bother my head so much about APC congresses because they are basically their internal affairs, except that this is a ruling party: the party that controls the government that will conduct the general elections in 2019. And if they are conducting their internal affairs this way, since you cannot give what you don’t have and it is said that domestic polity determines foreign policy. How will they conduct and influence the general election outcome? When there was Local

Government election in Kano we saw a lot of underage voters. INEC set up a panel to look at the issue but till date we have not seen the reports of that panel. Look at the man in Rivers State, the man who was indicted in INEC reports on by-election in Rivers, who is now brought back as leader of SARS. So, when I look at the impunity that is going on within the ruling party, how they are conducting their congresses, and how they are killing their own members.

And if it is APC to APC and in the first election, officially there was fifteen deaths reported; second election killings all over the places. A Yoruba proverb says that ‘when a man takes a pestle to hit his brother from same father and mother in the head, then his half-brother should run for cover’. So, clearly, the schisms, the deviations and acrimonies within the APC over their congresses and primaries and the way they are conducting it, we are interested observers. Like I said, a lot of what they do within their own party, will dovetail into the general relation.

And if they are conducting their internal affairs this way, what that suggests to those who want to run against them is that there will be war!

And what are the prices for war? It means our country is in trouble!

There are Nigerians who believe that the 2019 presidential election is already rigged in favour of Buhari and his APC. Do you share this sentiment?

I don’t think so. There may be appearances and cause for fear. First of all, we have unique scene: for the first time in the history of our country, the President of Nigeria and the chairman of INEC are from the same zone. The nephew of the President, a lady, is today said to be the most powerful woman in INEC. We have a situation whereby out of 17 serving security chiefs in Nigeria today, 16 are from the north. You control the Police, the Army, the DSS, and the rest of them. So, clearly, given the kind of situation on ground in Nigeria, it can lead to worry and fear; but when the people are determined, that enough is enough, I believe that all these things will pail into insignificance. And except the people are not determined, but when they want their vote to count and be counted and they want to enforce their will, no army in this world can stand against an idea whose time has come.

People are talking about political parties coming together to form solid alliance against the APC. Can the APC be removed through such alliance in 2019 and can this alliance reach agreeable consensus for this purpose?

We saw it in 2015 whereby a ruling party was removed. So, the indefeatability of a ruling party has been removed and demystified in politics.

Yes, the opposition parties, if they have strategy the best thing for them is to come together to fuse. Because once you go on different platforms as oppositions, there would be trouble for them. I remember in Oyo State in 2015, the incumbent Governor Ajumobi scored about 37percent of the votes, Ladoja had about 34 or so, another person had 30 or 28percent of the votes. So, they divided the votes; 37percent was what gave the victory to the incumbent. So, in order to avoid that kind of situation in 2019 at the national level, all the opposition parties

must be truthful and agreed on a thing; it should not be more than one serious candidate against the incumbent. Like I said, the incumbent has a lot of advantages: the security, INEC, much money, and so on. The only chance against them is pull together, set aside differences and realise that it makes more sense for you to have 10percent of 100 than to own 100percent of zero.

Because if the oppositions don’t get their act right by going against the incumbent with many parties and the incumbent wins, they are back to zero. Ultimately, if they don’t come together, they are wasting their time.

Life is becoming very cheap in Nigeria with state of insecurity here and there: the killings in Benue, Taraba, and Kaduna, just to name a few, have become a source of concern to everyone including the international community.

How worried are you?

Well, like someone recently said that the best commodity in Nigeria today is blood. Blood is shared in Nigeria today every now and then.

Human life means nothing today in Nigeria.

Something happened last Sunday: I was at the airport in Lagos and I met the former AGF, Babachair Lawal; and he said to me after I greeted him. ‘You are the one giving my Oga trouble. I will kill you’. Although, he said it jokingly, but when people at that level begin to joke about death, that tells you the level where the state has gone: that human life means nothing again! And that is why it is worrisome that the government has done nothing. People are being killed mercilessly across the country, and the government is looking the other way. In fact, in most cases, the government of the day is even making excuses for the killers by telling the victims to ‘go and live in peace with your neighbours’. Killer neighbours! The IG said ‘those who are killing people are they not Nigerians’? The Minister of Defense said ‘the reason why they are killing people is because their victims have blocked the cattle routes’. And I am not aware of anybody that has been arrested or apprehended for this mass killing going on across the country. So, this situation has created panic within the system that perhaps, those who are doing the killings have cover from State Forces. And when General TY Danjuma came and said ‘yes, there is collusion between the military forces and the killers’, even though the Army came out to say ‘they are crying foul where there is none’, ‘I tend to believe Danjuma because if there is no protection for these killers, they would have been brought to

Well, there are more agreements on how to build consensus in terms of…not everybody, but at least the majority taking position book. Meanwhile, they are still relentless in their merciless campaign of death. I am really worried about what is going on in some sections of the country.

Are you also worried that the President, having disclosed that the IG of police disobeyed the his order to relocate to Benue State till peace returned and the IG till now has not obeyed that order but still sits as IG of the Nigeria Police?

Does this mean that the President is not really in charge of Nigeria, as it is being insinuated by many critics?

Well, I want to take that as pint of the salt.

How can you as the President of Nigeria instruct an IG of police to go to a place and he refused to go and all you can do is to lament ‘I didn’t even know that he did not go there’? And two months after the man is still in office! There is something they call ‘Taqqiya’, which is deception.

That is what that one is all about. The IGP today we know is a sacred cow. And when you look at the antecedent of him becoming IG; this was a man who was CP in Kano in 2015, he was in charge of Kano as Commissioner of Police during the 2015 general election and 1.9 million votes were recorded for one of the presidential candidates and that figure was a million more than those recorded in the National Assembly elections. And hours after the announcement of the results, the REC, his wife and two daughters were burnt to death. It was the same IG that said that the fire incident was natural and that was the last we heard of the incident. A family of four, wiped out just like that! Between then (2015 and now), he was first taken to the Force Headquarters as AIG, and within a few months, he became the IG of Police and about 30 officers were retired to pave way for him. DIA and AIG officers were retired prematurely to pave way for him to become the current IG! So, if that kind of thing (disobeying presidential order) happens, you can understand where it is coming from and why that will happen and he is still the IG of Police! The fact that he is still the IG shows clearly that he is untouchable!

Sir, after the trended ‘transmission’ ‘transmission’ comments of the IG and President Buhari’s prolong medical trip last year and yet, the President would be seeking re-election in 2019, are Nigerians not neglecting their civic responsibility by not demanding and obtaining information on the state of health of these two public servants?

For the President, I think that he has spent close to 150 days outside this country treating himself for an undisclosed ailment. And for the National Assembly, one is left to wonder why they are not doing anything about it. This is part of the problems of our Constitution which emphasises that to enquire about the state of health of the president at least two-third members of his cabinet should send letter to the National Assembly to investigate the health of the president. But how are we going to get ministers to do that? Even a president that is dead and his corpse in the mortuary cannot get enough ministers to sign that his health should be investigated! And I wonder why in all the amendments to the Constitution the National Assembly is not looking to this spot. As for the IG, when you look at what happened in Kano, it is dangerous for the polity to have a man whose state of mind you are not sure of to be IG in a country of over 180 million people; because this is somebody that is dealing with force that carry weapons. So, it is clear that given what happened in Kano, when the IG could not read his own script but rather ‘transmission’ and ‘commission’, there is a need to examine the state of his mind to be sure that his state of mind is well to function in that office.

You look at the southwest politics which is hugely divided along party lines; what is Afenifere doing to close these lines ahead of 2019 presidential election?

Well, there are more agreements on how to build consensus in terms of…not everybody, but at least the majority taking position. Some time last year we had a Yoruba Submit in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where we stated clearly what the Yoruba want out of this country in terms of federalism and the rest; that is where we have always stood and will continue to stand. And I think what we are trying to do is galvanise the whole of southwest around those demands.

What is happening with the ‘Handshake across the Niger’?

Yes, ‘Handshake Across the Niger’ is still on. It was initiated to ensure that we rally ourselves and create understanding and for the people of the southwest and across the Niger to know that there is a shared origin among them and that we share similar issues like the structure of Nigeria; and that we must come together to ensure justice and equity. Just few days ago we saw that the southeast held its own structural rally and the southwest

was there in full force. And Chief Adebanjo was dressed in full Igbo attire. That shows that the expected time has come and we will continue to pursue greater understanding among our people. And after that we have seen the Obi of Onitsha and the Ooni of Ife are promoting this idea more and we will continue to do it until we get the idea to the grassroots that we share a common ancestry; common interests; common civilisation and that we should use it to promote harmony between us and the rest of Nigeria.

What are you hearing about Nnamdi Kanu and is Afenifere interested in his whereabouts?

When the Python Dance of the military was happening in the East, we made our position known about the fact that we are against the use of force against unarmed civilians and declaring them terrorist organisation, whereas the Fulani herdsmen who have killed thousands of innocent Nigerians have not been so treated. We saw that as double standard. We pray and hope that Kanu is safe and that in due cause, whatever case the government has against him would be dealt with and he comes back home to play his role.

Were you to be seating with President Buhari now, what would you be telling him concerning the governance of Nigeria?

Mr. President, you were elected to protect the lives and property of Nigerians but in the last three years your government has not shown that the lives of human beings matter anything. You have rather shown that you care more about cattle than human beings in Nigeria; that should not be so. When you were sworn-in you said that you belonged to everybody and to nobody. But you have shown that you do not belong to all Nigerians. You are to protect all Nigerians and give them a sense of belonging, not only those who are rearing cattle.

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AssemblyWatch From the Red Chamber With

OWEDE AGBAJILEKE

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ov e h i m o r h a t e him but you can’t ignore him. There are some people with nuisance value and the embattled senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye, is one of them.

He heeded the appeal by ‘commonsense’ senator, Ben Murray-Bruce and resumed plenary last week. Recall that Melaye was forced out of legislative duty for over a month after he was arrested and allegedly humiliated by the police.

His appearance in Senate was not without the usual drama. The ‘Aje ku iya ni oje’ Crooner arranged a dramatic mise-en-scène when he walked into the chamber with a neck brace and walking stick. However, after he informed his colleagues

Melaye’s technical defection and matters arising from #NotTooYoungToRun law during plenary that he was no longer comfortable sitting on the row of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and requested to sit on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) row, the controversial senator was aided by six obviously excited PDP senators to his new seat. The opposition lawmakers included Ben Murray-Bruce, Foster Ogola, Danjuma La’ah, Samuel Anyanwu, Obinna Ogba and Bassey Akpan.

It then begs the question: if Melaye walked into the chamber and initially sat at the APC row unaided, why was he assisted by six hefty men to his new seat? The dramatist personae were merely acting a script.

Like other Nigerian politicians, legislators have a penchant for drama. And on a day proceedings are aired live on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), lawmakers know that most officials in the Presidency are glued to the station to watch live proceedings.

Also, the word ‘Technical’ has assumed prominence in the nation’s political environment.

From ‘technically-defeated’ Boko Haram to President Muhammadu Buhari’s

‘techncial stopover’ in London while returning from the United States of America, the latest is the ‘technical defection’ of Melaye from APC to PDP. Ahead of Monday’s meeting of the defunct new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) bloc in the APC with President Muhammadu Buhari, the action of Melaye who is also a member of the group was aimed at negotiating from a position of strength.

And with the ‘protection’ he received from Senate President Bukola Saraki who is also a member of the group, the stage is now set for the mother of all defections in the present administration, should negotiation break down.

Meanwhile, it was jubilation for #NotTooYoungtoRun campaigners when President Buhari signed the ‘#NotTooYoungToRun bill’ into law. Recall how angry campaigners protested and barricaded the National Assembly main gate last year over fears that the clause had been expunged from the constitution amendment exercise.

The law which alters relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution reduces the

age qualification for some elective positions in the country.

Prior to the amendment, Section 65 (1) of the Constitution required 35 years for Senate and 30 years for House of Representatives; Section 106 (b) provided 30 years for House of Assembly even as Section 131 (b) required 40 years for President. In like manner, Section 177 (b) provided for 35 years for Governor.

But the new amendment lowers the constitutional age limits for the office of the President from 40 to 35 years; House of Representatives from 30 to 25 and House of Assembly from 30 to 25. However, the age limits for senators and governors were both retained at the age of 35 years.

Only three state assemblies rejected the bill when it got to them for approval.

They include: Lagos, Kano and Zamfara State legislatures. Ironically, the sponsor of the law, Tony Nwulu represents Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency of Lagos State.

No doubt, the initiative will open a new vista for young Nigerians contesting for elective offices.

Reps, INEC’s conspiracy against electorate and need for budget cut

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o say the least, this is the most disappointing moment for the literates and progressives considering the output from the Executive and Legislative arms of government. For me, the resolutions of both Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and House of Representatives to rule out electronic voting in the forthcoming 2019 general elections, is an ambush against the electorates whose votes may not count. Without any form of prejudice, anyone can conclude that it was a deliberate efforts to give room for manipulations.

If not for any other reason, the issue bothering on underage voting and the need for accountability, credible, free and fair elections should have geared the Commission to be innovative and make Nigeria to be par with other advanced economies in the world.

I had serious challenge since I heard the INEC chairman’s pronouncement. Then what came to my mind was the justification for appropriation of whooping sum of N45.5 billion for recurrent expenditure with zero budget for capital expenditure?

That was the single line item captured in the 2018 budget report passed by the National Assembly. For crying out loud, what is the staff strength of INEC to warrant such a bogus amount on yearly basis since the commission has little or nothing to offer? That’s the first way of reducing the cost of governance, starting with INEC! The submission made by the INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu that the Commission cannot contract a Nigerian company to print electoral materials and other reasons, can no longer hold water since its major concern is the printing of ballot papers! With timely planning and release of funds to the Commission, there’s no justification for anyone under the heaven to agree with the Commission to import ballot papers despite the fact that they claimed have security features! This is simply what Nigerian Security Printing and Minting (NSPM) can do within weeks, under strict supervision of the security agencies.

By now, high-level meetings should be going on between INEC and NSPM on Ekiti State gubernatorial election and

subsequently for Osun State gubernatorial election.

According to its management team, INEC did not make any attempt to approach the company before concluding that no Nigerian company has the capacity to print ballot papers! I considered that as speculative and suspicious, possibly due to the gains accrued to the deal! I recall very vividly, that NIGCOMSAT demonstrated to the former INEC Chairman its capacity to deploy e-voting machine ahead of the 2011 general elections. This was demonstrated as far back as 5th July, 2010. Likewise, in 2015, the agency did not waiver in its campaign that the device is ready for deployment.

But the hard stance of the Commission, seems worrisome as if it lacks faith in the Nigerian Institution(s), and in servitude to foreign companies. Of course, everybody can read in-between the lines, the various compromises caused by human factors during the previous elections which eventually led to suspension of about 205 of its staff who indicted by a panel of inquiry set up by the Commission.

As at the time of writing this piece, there’s no information as to whether they’ve been prosecuted or not! The above assertion further nullifies the reasons adduced by INEC accounting officer.

Similarly, I gathered that INEC did not grant audience to delegation from National Agency for Scientific and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) who invented solar e-voting device last year. Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology during the presentation of the device by NASENI, had promised to facilitate the presentation to INEC. We must learn to curtail waste of scarce resources, not even in an era when we are trying to save forex. Why should INEC be creating huge employments and capital inflow for other countries for an election that will take place in a day?

The same frustration is facing Nigeria on importation of petroleum products and preference for payment of trillions of naira as subsidy for imported products. I strongly hope that the Civil Society Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations will take over the

Notwithstanding the immense benefits, the alteration of the constitution poses another serious challenge for youths aspiring for political offices.

Vying for political positions in the country is left for rich individuals due to the huge amount of money involved in preparation for elective offices. For a candidate to win election in this part of the world, he needs to have deep pocket. Money has long dominated our elections, and the problem is worsening. Cases abound of wealthy individuals who sell their properties just to contest for elective offices.

Some of the campaign expenditures consist of cost of organising political rallies, printing of campaign posters, leaflets, t-shirts and fez caps, purchase and branding of campaign vehicles as well as television, radio, newspaper, magazine, online and billboard advertisements among others.

In other words, this could promote another form of godfatherism, as young aspirants who lack the financial war chest would become willing tools in the hands of godfathers and moneybags politicians.

From the Green House With

KEHINDE AKINTOLA campaign from hereon.

Without doubt, Nigeria will continue to be a laughing stock among comity of nations if we fail to address all these flaws and stop the import freak as a nation. I imagine how much from the N9.120 trillion will be going for importation of various products appropriated in the 2019 budget for the MDAs? I can imagine how frivolous we are with all the endowed resources and the level of insincerity we have among those who govern this country over the years!

Sunday 03 June 2018

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27 2019 Watch

Is there a David anywhere?

CHINWENDU SUNDAY

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ith the endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari for the presidential ticket of the party by the governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the door may have been shut against anyone nursing presidential ambition on that platform.

The endorsement was ahead of the party’s National Convention this month where its candidate for the February 2019 election would emerge.

Buhari had recently declared his ambition to run again at the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja after which he jetted out of the country to London.

The declaration came at a time when many Nigerians believe that the President is not deserving of another term given his below-par performance in the last three years.

They believe that under his watch, the country has experienced a serious economic slowdown that has negatively impacted the quality of life of citizens. They also point to the widespread killing of innocent citizens by the Fulani herdsmen, and the kid-glove handling of worsening insecurity in the country.

Observers said that the President’s declaration has thrown a serious challenge to the opposition and that such a decision in the midst of deafening cries and lamentation in the land occasioned by seemingly non-performance amounted to grandstanding and a feeling of “who can stop me?”

Since the President announced his decision on the 9th of April to seek re-election bid, however, no other member of the party has openly indicated intension to challenge the President for the ticket of the APC. Nigerians were outraged on that Tuesday in April when Benue State was in a mourning mood, Buhari and APC governors were talking about re-election. They gathered in Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a facility built and maintained by tax payer’s money, to talk about a fresh mandate for a new term when the current one has not been justified.

That was the same day gunmen visited a Catholic Church in fury and snatched away in cold blood the lives of two priests and several worshippers in Benue State.

After the endorsement that very Tuesday, the next day the report on human rights abuses committed in the current administration since 2015, chronicled by the United States Department of State, went viral on the social media.

While some analysts have said that the endorsement of Buhari signaled a smooth return to the power stool in 2019, arguing that there is

Buhari

largely absent of a formidable contender, some other pundits believe that it is not over until it is over.

There are some other aspirants who have since declared their interest to contest the ticket with President Buhari. One of such aspirants is Adamu Garba 11 an entrepreneur-turned politician, who exuded confidence, thus: “I am contesting under the platform of the party as president. We have been assured and given guarantee that they would do the right thing, we want to see the way the primaries go first, before thinking of the next move.”

Some analysts say that with the Buhari’s APC in control of the wealth of the country and the security apparatus, it may be inconceivable to imagine that power may slip from their grip, discontent in the polity over the poor state of affairs, nonetheless.

But the allegory of the defeat of Goliath, the Philistine warrior as chronicled in the holy book, gives an insight into what is possible in power struggle, even when the odds are strikingly staked against someone.

There was a time in Israel, when the people’s hearts fainted over the daily threat by a man of war, Goliath, the Philistine warrior. He dared Israel to produce her best to challenge him. The sight of the intimidating figure made the hearts of the best of Israel’s soldier to sink.

Saul the king was in distress over the daily taunting and apparent state of hopelessness.

Although Israel’s soldiers had massed out at the war front and although everyone in Israel knew their men had gone to face the foes, they were oblivious of the fact that those they were trusting to bring deliverance were as fearful and helpless as the least man in town!

No one was able to face Goliath who had been a man of war all his life. He had everything going for him - sophisticated spear, breastplate, iron helmet, iron shoes and everything that seemingly protected his body. And he had the height that made any Israel’s soldier looked like a dwarf.

Each time he came up to taunt Israel and to urge them to send someone to battle with him, King Saul and his men scampered because the man would not just speak, he roared. He even challenged Israel’s God! Then came a game-changer, David, a boy who strolled into the war arena on an errand. Every other thing that happened remains a history.

Today, analysts say that the APC has named its Goliath and the question is - is there a David anywhere?

Several names are being bandied as those jostling to deliver the Nigerian masses as it were, but analysts believe many of these peo-

ple may have not got the right stone to bring down the Goliath and that any attempt to go into the war with such level of unpreparedness could leave, not only the challenger, but the entire masses more bruised than they were.

Several names have since come up as those seeking their parties’ endorsement to do battle with the APC’s “Goliath”.

In the camp of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are Atiku Abubarkar, Sule Lamido, Ibrahim Shekarau, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Aliyu Mohammed Gusau.

Some pundits say the battle in the PDP is likely between Kwankwaso and Atiku, and that it is either of the duo that can pose a resistance to Buhari “For Kwankwaso, he is wellreceived in Kano and he is likely to split the votes in Kano where massive votes always come from.

But my fear is that Kwankwaso does not have the same clout across the country. But granted that the PDP picks him, he may have a block vote in South East that is predominantly PDP and a huge harvest in the South-South. In the South West, he can also make an impact, ditto in North Central where it is expected that protest vote will be made against the APC over the herdsmen killings,” Cromwell Gaius, an Abuja-based policy analyst said.

Describing the chances of Atiku

Abubaker should he clinch the APC ticket, Gaius said: “I sincerely think, without belabouring the matter that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is the best bet for the PDP in the circumstance. Why did I say so? Atiku is well-received in many parts of the north; he has the money to run his campaign without relying so heavily on his party; he his friends and allies across the country. In fact, I must tell you that the man has more friends in the south than he has in his own region of north. If you are talking about or looking for a David, Atiku fits the bill,” he said.

In the last three years quality of life of Nigerians has drastically reduced. Job losses have been terrible and employments have shrunken as companies struggle to stay afloat. Security situation has gone 100 times worse than it has ever been since the country’s return to civil rule in 1999. It is difficult to describe the current regime as a democracy as almost all the ingredients of a democracy are lacking. Life has been brutish in Nigeria.

The report by the US Department of State on human rights abuses in the country succinctly captured the situation of things and observers have also raised the alarm that Nigeria may likely witness a full blown anarchy as it approaches 2019 except the ruling party moderates its actions and inactions.

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Sunday 03 June 2018

LASU land: How risk takers have become landlords with C of O JOSHUA BASSEY

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hat ordinary tantamount to risk taking several years ago by desperate Lagos residents, who sought to become home owners, however, illegally, is turning out a blessing.

Encouraged by the activities of land speculators, in a state with over three million housing deficit, several residents had swooped on a large expanse of land that the Lagos State government acquired in the early 1980s for the future expansion of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo. The government, and management of LASU, it was learnt, had left the land largely undeveloped, fencing off only the portion that accommodates the immediate campus, and for several years, turned blind eye on the unsecured part of the acquired land.

Speculators and the original owners of the land, some of whom were said to have lamented that the land had not been fully utilised for the purpose acquired, gradually began to feast on the unsecured portion.

By the last count, over 8,000 structures were said to have been illegally erected on the LASU land. The huge development was said to have discouraged the government from rolling out the bulldozers, choosing instead, to engage the squatters.

Over the last few years, there have been back and forth discussions on the issue, with the squatters pleading to

Representative of Lagos State Governor and commissioner for information & strategy, Kehinde Bamigbetan (seated r), condoling with the widow of Punch Chairman, Titilayo Aboderin during a condolence visit at their Lagos residence. With them are permanent secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Information / Strategy, Kofoworola Awobamise (right); director, Office of Public Affairs, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Toro Oladapo (2nd right) and Nike Akande (3rd r).

retain their property.

In a stakeholders’ meeting last week, presided over by Idiat Adebule, Lagos State deputy governor, the squatters got more than they bargained for, as the government, against all expectation, slashed the fee it earlier requested the land encroachers to pay for the regularisation of their title by 67 percent.

With the rebate given, the squatters are to become landlords with the payment of N1.25 million per plot, down from N3.9 million.

The reduced fee will guarantee for the squatters Certificate of Occupancy

Air Force vows to flush out militants in Lagos, southwest

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he Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has recruited 7,000 personnel in three years and vowed to flush out regrouping militants in Lagos.

Sadique Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), told journalists at the inauguration of some buildings for its personnel at 041 Communications Depot, Shasha in Lagos, the force was leaving the stone unturned in fighting the militants in Lagos.

“We have been in Lagos, Taraba and other states in the country. Very soon, something is going to be worked out which will involve not only the Air Force but all military formations.

“Our commanders are giving us all the inputs. Just like we flushed them before, we are going to continue to flush them with the support of other security agencies.”

The CAS said the force had recruited 7,000 personnel in the last three years, adding that new helicopters and aircraft were also acquired.

“Professionalism is not just about equipment and training but most importantly, about the human beings because human being is the most important resource.

“The whole essence is to ensure that Nigeria and Nigerians are secure and be able to go about their businesses without fear.”

The CAS said that the NAF embarked on massive construction of new accommodation as well as re-modelling of old ones to address the infrastructural deficit of the past.

“It is quite important to ensure that the living condition of our tireless and hard working personnel is given high premium.

“Human beings, being the most

important resource in organisations, ought to have their welfare needs addressed in order for them to be effective in discharging their assigned roles and responsibilities.”

He said that the NAF base, Shasha, being one of the bases in the Lagos area, was critical to the successful conduct of NAF operations.

“It is, therefore, appropriate that such a base receives commensurate provision of facilities for the general well-being of personnel and their families. The project being inaugurated is dedicated to one of our pilots who paid the supreme price while on a national assignment.

“The project is therefore, named after the senior officer who passed on while on rescue mission on an Alpha-Jet aircraft.

“It is hoped that this would create the enabling environment and serve as motivation for personnel to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.

A number of platforms in our inventory are also undergoing reactivation and will soon be injected back to service to boost our counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.

“You could remember that the NAF was also instrumental in riding the creeks within the southwest region off criminal elements.

“As much as capacity is being built within the NAF, we must continue to develop strategies to anticipate and curb other emerging security imperatives across the country,” he said.

The newly inaugurated accommodation is designed to house a total of 120 airmen and airwomen. The accommodation is built to take care of the personnel that had just been recruited, to enhance the operational effectiveness of the NAF.

(C of O), survey plant and other relevant documents that confer on them the ownership of their properties.

The squatters, according to Adebule, had appealed to the state government that they did not want to continue as LASU’s tenants.

“Governor Akinwumi Ambode has agreed and given the concession that you will not be LASU tenants anymore.

He has also agreed that the annual payment to LASU will no longer be. The governor has also agreed that we will go on with the process of land regularisation and not demolish your property,

except those who deliberately went into LASU compound,” Adebule said.

The deputy governor explained that after valuation of land in the area, putting market value in the front burner, government came up with N3.9 million to be paid for the regularisation of a plot of land. This, she said included the cost of obtaining certificate of occupancy, survey, among other relevant documents.

“When we took this amount to the governor, he gave us consideration of 67 percent rebate. This means that for a plot, you will be paying N1.25 million instead of N3.9 million. We want the process to be seamless; we gave a timeline at that time, but the timeline will no longer exist. We are going to set a new timeline for ourselves for the process of payment to be seamless,” she stated.

According to her, the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, with the Surveyor General, would draw up a team for this process to be seamless, saying that there would be a desk officer to attend to the needs of the stakeholders.

“Government will make the process very seamless and open. We will pass information across to you through the website and make sure you are ready with your documentation when the time comes for you to regularise your land. We will ensure we drive this matter to a conclusion,” she added.

A community leader, Taofik Aina, Baale of Igbo Elerin and Sunday Kapo, chairman, community development association of the affected aea, lauded the government for the gesture.

Lekki emerging Africa’s biggest business destination – Ambode

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ovenor Akinwunmi Ambode has described the Lekki corridor an emerging Africa’s biggest business destination given the multi-billion dollars investments within that area Ambode, who was on a recent visit to the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) in the company of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and Femi Otedola, chairman, Forte Oil, said that the massive investments by the government and private sector, was changing the landscape of Lekki.

Dangote, among other investors, is building an oil refinery and petrochemical plant within the Lekki free zone. The refinery, which will be the single largest in the world, will have the capacity to refine 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

According to Ambode, the infrastructural renewal within Lekki-Epe axis was geared towards preparing Lagos in particular and Nigeria in general for industrial revolution.

The governor said he was pleased by the remarkable progress made since the last time a major inspection tour of the projects was carried out, adding that activities within the zone would positively impact on the economy of the state.

“You are all aware that we flagged off the construction of Lekki Deep Sea Port a few weeks ago. What we are doing more importantly, as a government, is to continue to encourage the Dangote Group and other investors to do what is right for this country and for us to join

hands to show that Lagos is the next destination for the industrial revolution that is taking place in Nigeria and we are very happy to be doing this.

“That is what this Lekki Free Trade Zone area is all about; that is why a whole lot of what we are doing in the Epe and Lekki axis in pieces more or less when they come to fruition will really show that Lagos is the next destination for investment in Africa,” he said.

Aliko Dangote, while also speaking, said the combined projects under construction within the LFTZ was the largest anywhere in the world, and that it was important for the right message about the axis to be communicated to the people to appreciate its impact on the economy.

“What is happening here is the largest project anywhere in the world today and this visit is just to show the governor the industrial jetty that we have built including the water breaker which is 900meters which is almost like about a mile.

“This is to show what we have done in terms of bringing in our cargo to build the refinery. We have done quite a lot in terms of water protection and also it is environmentally friendly and this is what we have shown the governor.

“This is just showing that this place is going to really open for business and we are looking for a lot of infrastructure to be built and this place will be the next destination for any investment in Nigeria.”

Friday 01 June 2018

BUSINESS DAY

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Sunday 03 June 2018

Focus African youth demand a seat at the table Voices of young Africans are becoming difficult to ignore living conditions, fuels migration out of Africa, and contributes to conflict on the continent itself,” notes the AfDB. The AfDB adds that “the desired long-term outcome is expanded economic opportunity for both male and female African youth, which leads to improvements in other aspects of their lives.”

The bank therefore aims to create 25 million jobs through its Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy (2016–2025) and spur economic growth by empowering the youth to realize their full potential.

BUSANI BAFANA

A

new wave is sweeping across Africa.

Elections on the continent are increasingly yielding younger leadership than ever before. From presidents to ministers and governors, senators to members of parliament, Africa’s young people are demanding a seat at the political table.

The youth are using their large numbers to vote in younger leaders or leaders they feel will be sympathetic to their plight.

In Uganda, Proscovia Oromait was only 19 in 2012 when she became the world’s youngest MP, representing Usuk County in the Katakwi District.

“What I said when I was younger was that in years to come, I will become the president. It’s just been my dream to become a leader of Uganda. And here I am, the youngest MP. And I’m so proud of what I am,” Ms. Oromait told the UK’s Independent newspaper in an interview.

In South Africa, Lindiwe Mazibuko, 37, was elected leader of the opposition in parliament in 2011, representing the Democratic Alliance. She became the first black woman to hold that position. “There is no prosperity for our continent without a vibrant, diverse and truly competitive politics, founded upon excellence, transparency and commitment to the public good,” Ms. Mazibuko said in a TEDxEuston talk in January 2016.

There are more young leaders coming up in parliaments in Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya , South Africa , Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Cameroon, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda and others. And the August 2018 presidential election could give Zimbabwe’s political leadership a youthful makeover.

Fo r t y - y e a r - o l d N e l s o n Chamisa, the new leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, is angling to be Zimbabwe’s new leader. Were Mr. Chamisa to win, he would be one of Africa’s youngest democratically elected presidents.

Sixty percent of Zimbabwe’s 5.3 million registered voters in the watershed elections are under 40, according to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. It is a show of commitment by the youth to deciding a new course of governance after the leadership of Robert Mugabe.

African youth participate at an international youth forum at the UN headquarters in New York. Photo: Africa Renewal/ Shu Zhan

Mr. Mugabe, 94, was Africa’s oldest leader until he resigned as president in November last year, having ruled for 37 years.

A young voice In a recent interview with the German radio station Deutsche Welle, Mr. Chamisa said, “It is young people who are the movers and shakers. We want to also see that in politics. We want our continent to be painted young.

We want our continent to have a young voice.”

In a 2015 article for CNN, David E. Kiwuwa, an associate professor of international studies at Princeton University in the US, notes that “the average age of the ten oldest leaders [in Africa] is 78.5 compared to 52 for the world’s ten most-developed economies.”

On average, according to Mr. Kiwuwa, “only between 15% and 21% of [these African countries’] citizens were born when these presidents took the reins.”

Some Africans argue that “with age and longevity in office come wisdom, foresight and experience,” Mr. Kiwuwa writes. He further posits that, given opportunities in politics and other sectors, Africa’s youth can transform the continent. He regrets that the long tenures of older politicians continue to stifle the emergence of credible youthful successors.

Innocent Batsani Ncube, a 39-year-old Zimbabwean political scholar, echoes Mr. Kiwuwa’s sentiments, stressing that youth rarely get the atten-

tion of Africa’s political leaders, who do not believe young people can lead.

Older political elites believe they have all the solutions to development challenges, Mr. Ncube told Africa Renewal. “An example is the approach that those in leadership use to solve young people’s job problems.

Their solutions mostly suit the elites, rather than the young people. There is limited consultation in ideation between the youth and the older leaders.”

Youth need a seat on the transformation train because of their energy and passion, argues Kuseni Dlamini in a paper published in 2013 by Ernst & Young, a UK-based professional services firm.

Energy and passion “The single most important factor for continental growth is the energy and passion of young

The African Development Bank (AfDB) says that onethird of Africa’s 420 million youths (those ages 15–35) are unemployed, another third are vulnerably employed and only one in six young people is gainfully employed

Africans who have a palpable sense of positive energy and optimism,” adds Mr. Dlamini, who is the chair of Times Media Group of South Africa and head of Massmart, a retailer affiliated with Walmart in the US. “They [youth] are young entrepreneurs, innovators, scientists, academics, engineers, professionals. They do not want aid or charity. They want to unleash their full potential,” said Mr. Dlamini, who was named “Young Global Leader” in 2008 by the World Economic Forum, a recognition accorded “higherperforming leaders” who mentor other youth.

Africa’s population will be 1.6 billion by 2030, according to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and the rapidly growing youth population will constitute 42% of that number. The youth will need opportunities to participate in politics, jobs and overall inclusion in development.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) says that onethird of Africa’s 420 million youths (those ages 15–35) are unemployed, another third are vulnerably employed and only one in six young people is gainfully employed.

“While 10 to 12 million youths enter the workforce each year [in Africa], only 3.1 million jobs are created, leaving vast numbers of youth unemployed. The consequences of youth unemployment in Africa are pervasive and severe: unemployment translates to poorer

Disrupting the status quo African youth are demanding a seat at the political table, but the agribusiness sector, which could be worth $1 trillion by 2030, according to the World Bank, is the low-hanging fruit.

The African Agribusiness Incubator Network (AAIN), a business development company based in Accra, Ghana, wants youth to innovate and lead the continent’s economic transformation.

Ralph von Kaufmann, an agribusiness mentor and consultant with AAIN, says that “agribusiness presents opportunities for youths and women, but there is a need to create the right policies that facilitate their participation.”

Nthabiseng Kgobokoe, a young livestock and horticulture farmer in South Africa, told Africa Renewal that the first step must be to “include the youth in policy making. Education alone cannot address all our issues; there is a need to create conducive political and economic conditions for us to be successful young entrepreneurs.”

Ms. Kaobokoe said young entrepreneurs across Africa face similar challenges, including a lack of access to financing and other resources, red tape and inadequate policies to foster inclusive growth.

Policy makers forget that youth are the backbone of any socioeconomic and political development, stresses Ms. Kgobokoe.

Talented young people must step forward and be part of decision making, says Ms. Mazibuko. “We [in Africa] are emerging from that stereotype of a dark continent, the hopeless continent.... We must run for office, we must work in the civil service and we must disrupt the political status quo.”

Culled from Africa Renewal

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Interview ‘With biometric visa, arbitrary charges, agents are no longer possible’ In furtherance of the campaign on ease of doing business, the Nigerian consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa is taking proactive measures to ensure easy visa procurement foreigners, and passports for Nigerians residents in the country. In this interview, GODWIN ADAMA, the consul general, speaks to OBINNA EMELIKE on feats achieved so far with new visa and passport polices.

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ow has it been since assuming office?

I assumed duty as the consul general of the federal republic of Nigeria based in Johannesburg, South Africa in March 2017 and on settling down immediately, I went into the field because that was when there were xenophobic attacks here.

One of the issues was to get myself involved directly with Nigerians in South Africa since my basic responsibility here is to attend to their welfare.

We have made more contacts with the authorities and also with Nigerians. The proactive move has encouraged Nigerians here to respond to anything that affects them immediately and this has improved relations between the mission and Nigerians resident in South Africa.

One of the ways we achieved this was to ensure that the consular service at the mission was greatly improved.

What are major issues Nigerians in South Africa decry?

One of the issues before now was passports. When I came, I discovered that several Nigerians were agitated and this could lead to conflict because they apply for passports and the application will stay for two to three months without hope of getting the passport.

I told them to give me a time and I will be able to resolve that. I can assure you now that a Nigerian that captures for passport gets it in 48 hours latest.

Those who came from outside Johannesburg get it and go back immediately. This is how it has been for the past six months and it will be sustained. What I did was to make sure that I have enough booklets from Nigeria to serve their purpose and it is working well.

South Africans are complaining of difficulties in obtaining Nigerian visa here, are there improvements now?

Well, because of the federal government sustained campaign on ease of doing business, we issue visa within 48 hours, and we have made all the processes less cumbersome.

With biometric visa, arbitrary

challenges, especially with the economy, which went into recession. The situation affected trade and the number of visa application from South Africans.

However, things have improved now, the South African economy has bounced back and visa applications have increased.

charges and agents are no longer possible. We have put measures in place to fast track visa procurement process and get more people to visit Nigeria.

Several Nigerian associations in South Africa have paid courtesy visits to my office and urged for collaboration in resolving challenges Nigerians face in South Africa.

We have further created the awareness of the improved services on social media, especially Facebook, twitter and Instagram.

About three months ago, we rolled out our biometric visa capturing processes in Johannesburg because it is more efficient, information is better documented and it helps in security. We are one of the few countries today that do biometric capturing for visa processing.

As well, visa applicants will no longer require biometrics after capturing them for sometime because their information are captured and documented for future use.

It has enable us to deliver visa faster to South Africans and other foreigners here who want to visit

Nigeria. We capture and issue visas within 48 hours except if there are local objections.

What are the impacts of the recent improvement?

The issue has been perception.

We go about meeting would-be visitors and potential investors in strategic gatherings across the country to intimate them that the visa processing is improved now.

Some do not know because they use agents, and these agents are business people who make it difficult to the would-be visitors just to make them pay more. With the system on ground, travelers longer use agents because they must visit the consulate to have their biometrics captured or no visa. It is longer business as usual.

They have to visit our visa facilitation centre, Online Integrated Services (OIS) and once you are there to capture and you pay, your visa will be issued from there and you pick it up without interface with any agent.

You know, last year and before the recent change of government, South Africa has had some

Are there efforts at improving visa reciprocity issue?

That is the issue that we are discussing now at bilateral level. But Abuja has been very corporative in recent times. Diplomacy is based on reciprocity and we have tried to emphasis it through methods that they will understand, but the truth is that we need more South Africans to visit Nigerian because most of them visiting Nigeria are going for business. But it is not every Nigerian coming here are useful to their system. That is why the issue of reciprocity should be treated with some degree of discretion.

Before I came here I have witnessed the difficulties. I have intervened on a number of occasions for officials that are coming and the visa officer there had to go to office sometimes on Saturdays to issue visas. It is a question of lack if corporation.

But our people are to be blamed sometimes for stress they pass through in procuring South African visa. They often visit the embassy few days to their trips. Of course, that is not right, if you need a visa you should go at least two weeks to your travel date because there are controlling entries.

While immigration controls visaissuanceinNigeria,homeaffairs does that in South Africa and there are issues that they need to look out before issuance of visa and if such issues are not well presented, they may affect the visa issuance.

What do you think are the major challenges of Nigerians living here?

Some Nigerians occupy good positions here in South Africa, if you remove Nigerian doctors in South African medical field, the system may not stand well because there are many Nigerians working across several medical professions here. In the academia, there are many Nigerian professors in South African universities, and other professionals.

But there are some Nigerians who have unskilled labor that create some challenges here and these are people that get involved in illicit things, especially drugs.

Staying in a community, there is need for you to stay peacefully and relate effectively with the community in such a way that tension will be reduced, we have paid so many consular visits to see how we can douse such tensions and encourage our people to engage in businesses that will not create issues and at the same time, the problem of perception because many South Africans have not missed up with other Nigerians or visited Nigeria, hence they use the few that involve in negative things here as yardstick to judge other Nigerians. They nationalize the crime, crime has no nationality and individuals that commit crimes should be treated as such. They should not generalize because in doing that you create a negative perception that affect even the innocent, especially hundreds of Nigerian professionals who are gainfully employed in South Africa.

What do you think of Xenophobia attacks?

It is condemnable and we have always condemn it. Government here do not necessarily encourage it, but person to person relationship is where most of these attacks emanate from.

Of course, there is envy because of the way some Nigerians live their lives here.

You are in a community where people are living a life that is moderate and discretional and you are living ostentatiously, there are bound to be reactions, and this is what happen in some cases. But xhenephobia does not happen only to Nigerians, it affects other nationals too.

It is a fact that unemployment is very high today in most African countries and because government cannot carter to the needs of everyone who has no job, there is often reaction that could be violent, So, it is natural for some people here to think that the foreigners, including Nigerians have taken their jobs. But it is not true because there are other nationals here today.

Friday 01 June 2018

BUSINESS DAY

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Sunday 03 June 2018

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SundayBusiness Three Crowns Creamer brings new experience to families

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he race to milk consumption in Nigeria has over the years resulted in a significant increase in the number of milk brands. Indeed, the category is brimming with dairy products all staking a claim to offering wholesome vitamins and minerals needed for healthy living. But the drive to get more Nigerians to consume milk suffered a huge setback as the country slipped into economic recession in 2016, with loss of jobs or slash in personal income.

The rise in inflation and had severe effect on the purchasing power of consumers, and many in a bid to survive the harsh climate, down traded their preferred dairy brands for cheaper options; some exited the dairy category completely. This exposed a huge consumption gap in the segment.

Three Crowns Milk recently stepped in to fill that gap with the launch of an extension called Three Crowns Evaporated Creamer. The brand is a bridge between the high quality offering of the premium category and the affordability that the massmarket segment offers.

With just N120, low end consumers can enjoy the delicious and taste of a top milk brand, without leaving a hole in their pockets. More so, families who could no longer afford to buy milk due to the economic situation and high cost of the regular milk products can now return to a regular dairy consumption habit.

Three Crowns Creamer was first unveiled to Nigerian consumer on March 13, 2018. And to Friesland

EDHA approves deduction of state’s share of $1b excess crude account by FG IDRIS UMAR MOMOH, Benin

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Campina, it is a reflection of how much the company’s loyalty to the Nigerian consumer. Speaking at the product launch in Lagos, Ben Langat, Managing Director, Frieslandcampina Wamco Nigeria Plc, reiterated the company’s commitment to continue to nourish Nigerians with quality and unrivaled nutrition.

He said Three Crowns had been at the forefront of nourishing and providing quality diary nutrition for mothers and their families. “Three Crowns is the first milk brand to show care for mothers and acknowledge the important role they play in the family.

“The brand recognises that when mothers, socially believed to be our primary care takers, are themselves taken care of, this directly and positively impacts the care they give to their families.”

His sentiment was reiterated by Omolara Banjoko,

Senior Brand Manager, Three Crowns, who said the new product was very smooth and tasty, adding that “once you put a little drop into your cup of tea, you get a perfect white and a perfect taste.”

At the onset of the launch there have been few questions, with people wanting to know if there was any difference between Three Crowns Milk and Three Crowns Creamer. But such inquisition quickly vanished when consumers began to use the Creamer, and notice that it is not just more affordable at N120, but it whitens tea faster.

“My tea and coffee gets whiter with just a few drops and it also let out that rich taste that my children love.

And to cap it up it is very pocket friendly,” Fatima Adeleye a Lagos based teacher said.

According to Chuka Anyanwu, trader in Lagos, Three Crowns Creamer provides a

realistic alternative for consumers that care about eating healthy but worry about the high cost of milk. “If you manage very well, you can actually afford to nourish your family with the goodness of milk, no matter your social status. After all, it’s just N120 and anybody I’m sure can afford that,” Anyanwu said.

Some analysts have said Three Crowns Creamer could not have come at a better time because, even though the economy is technically out of recession, many families are still shackled by the double digit inflation rate. So, the post-recession consumers are more careful about what they spend their money on. “So a brand like Three Crowns Creamer is sure to win because it brings value to the table at a more affordable price, Ganiyu Olowu a Lagos based brand analyst said.

embers of the Edo State House of Assembly on Friday cut short their three weeks break to pass a resolution authorising the Federal Government to deduct the state’s share of the $1billion Excess Crude Account to finance the purchase of military equipment towards fighting insurgency in the North-East region of the country.

The resolution was sequel to a letter personally signed and sent to the house by Godwin Obaseki, the state governor. The letter read in part, “I write to the Honourable House to ask for the resolution of the state House of Assembly to allow the Federal Government of Nigeria to deduct from the state share of the excess crude account the sum of $1billion dollar towards the procurement of military equipment for the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other security challenges”.

Th e h o u s e h a d o n Wednesday ended its fourth quarter of the third session of the sixth Assembly and adjourned to reconvene on June 25, 2018.

Before the passage of the resolution, Kabiru Adjoto, speaker of the House, had observed that the clerk of the house in a circular said there will be an emergency plenary session by the lawmakers yesterday to take a resolution on a matter that is very important and urgent

to the state.

“The sitting is called by the clerk that is why we are sitting today. Initially, we adjourned sitting to June 25, 2018 but because the matter is very urgent and it affect the people of Edo State that is why we came for the sitting.

“We received the notice and the letter written by the clerk that is why we have to reconvene the house for the plenary session”, he said.

The governor’s request was unanimously supported by the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers who attended the plenary session.

The lawmakers who spoke in support of the request noted that insecurity is no longer peculiar to the North-East geo-political zone but across the entire country.

They opined that insurgency and criminal activities cannot be addressed and fought against by any government without sophisticated military equipment.

However, Monday Ehighalua, (PDP), representing Esan West, who has a contrary opinion urged the federal government not to transfer its financial burden of fighting insecurity to state governments.

The lawmaker, who decried the parity in the sharing of the monthly federal allocation between the federal and the state government, urged the federal government to use it share of the excess crude fund to finance the purchase of the military equipment.

World No Tobacco Day: Smokers deserve to learn about smoke-free alternatives – PMI

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hilip Morris International (PMI), a leading tobacco company committed to designing a smoke-free future, marked this year’s “World No Tobacco Day” with a call to recognise the day as “World No Smoking Day”.

World No Tobacco Day is observed around the world every year on 31 May. It is intended to encourage a 24hour period of abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption around the globe.

But PMI is of the view that people who smoke and those who love them deserve the opportunity to learn about smoke-free

alternatives to cigarettes.

This, it says, is because despite the well-known health risks associated with smoking, many people continue to smoke.

The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that there will be more than 1 billion people who smoke in 2025, about the same number as today. Their best choice would be to quit – but many don’t. It makes sense that these men and women should have access to and information about less-harmful alternatives to cigarettes. It is on the basis of this that PMI is calling for an additional, bold approach to public health.

“For people who will oth-

erwise continue to smoke, WHO is in the perfect position to drive switching from cigarettes to sensible alternatives. A policy that informs people about those alternatives – in essence, a World No Smoking Day – would reduce smoking prevalence to a far greater extent and at a much faster rate than the existing suite of tobaccocontrol measures alone,” said André Calantzopoulos, PMI’s chief executive officer.

“People who smoke deserve a sensible plan that takes full account of better alternatives to cigarettes. For our part, we’re determined to deliver a smoke-free fu-

ture through innovations that stand up to scientific scrutiny and that meet consumer needs,” Calantzopoulos said.

Available information says PMI has already committed $4.5 billion in supporting a team of 400 world-class scientists, engineers and technicians who have spent years creating and testing a range of smoke-free products that offer a much better choice for the millions of smokers who don’t quit. More than 5 million smokers worldwide have already completely abandoned cigarette smoking and switched to IQOS, PMI’s heated tobacco product, with 10,000 smokers

switching every single day.

But PMI is not the only company pursuing innovation as important to the world’s 1 billion smokers worldwide – the tobacco industry generally is beginning to move in this direction, to the benefit of men and women who smoke.

“Our short-term ambition is that one out of three of our consumers, 40 million men and women who smoke, will have switched to better alternatives by 2025. Ultimately, we want to be in a position to stop selling cigarettes entirely. However, we need the support of governments and the public health community

to make this happen in as short a time as possible.

I believe that instead of just designating one day as World No Tobacco Day, we should promote every day as World No Smoking Day,” said Calantzopoulos.

PMI is proposing that governments and authorities investigate thoroughly how scientifically substantiated smoke-free products can be used as a complementary public health strategy alongside smoking prevention and cessation. It believes that with appropriate government control and oversight, these products can have a meaningful and positive impact on public health.

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SundayBusiness Imperative of informal sector for mortgage industry growth

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t a time in Nigeria when the economic growth depends largely on private enterprise, the place of the informal sector in the economy can hardly be overemphasised. This is why, like the rejected stone, the informal sector as a component of the economy has become the head of the corner for economic growth.

All in a jiffy, both the housing sector and the mortgage system have woken from sleep and discovered that this sector could be leveraged upon for growth.

The pension fund is also in this league, though in relation to both mortgage and housing.

There is an on-going debate on the possibility of including the informal sector with its estimated N81.048 trillion annual income in a new housing fund that could be created and added to the existing Pension Commission’s (PenCom) multi-fund structure with the aim of narrowing down housing affordability gap.

This however has to happen alongside lowering of mortgage interest rate to single digit of 8- 9 percent, down from the current 22 - 25 percent commercial rate which operators charge on mortgage loans. The argument flows on the assumption that the inclusion of the informal sector operators who constitute 67.54 million of Nigeria’s 81.15 million workforce in the contributory

pension scheme will lead to increased housing affordability.

In the same vein, as economic activities continue to shrink leading to loss of jobs, salary cuts and significant drop in personal income, most of the primary mortgage banks (PMBs), which are struggling with hash operating environment and rising non-performing loans (NPL), are looking to the informal sector to sustain their operations and also stimulate growth in that sector.

Low capital base coupled with the prevailing economic conditions have so impacted the operations of these banks that a good number of them are unable to meet their contractual and statutory obligations to their clients and regulators respectively.

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Commission (NDIC), one of the regulators of the sector, was quoted as saying that the inability of as many as 15 PMBs to pay their insurance premium as at December 2016 was an unfortunate situation that put the customers at risk. “The loans and advances extended by these PMBs declined significantly by 31.87 percent to N168.96 billion in 2015”, the commission added, pointing out that 14 out of 42 PMBs failed to render returns to it while unpaid premium from nine PMBs amounted to N238.30 million the same year.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says that notwithstand-

ing PMBs’ improved performance in the past couple of years, their loans and advances, deposit liabilities and other liabilities decreased by 6.85 percent, 5.25 per cent and 5.89 per cent to N154.46 billion, N115.77 billion and N68.06 billion, respectively, at end-December 2016 from N165.83 billion, N122.18 billion and N72.32 billion at end-June 2016.

But the operators are not resting on their oars. They are building blocks and putting measures in place to engender growth of this fledgling sector in order to increase access and affordability, and by extension, enlarge the clan of homeowners in the country.

Unbundling of mortgage origination process, further reduction in loan origination period, introduction of computerised land titling registration, land title insurance, introduction of uniform underwriting standards (UUS) for informal sector, enactment of foreclosure law, and wider public awareness for the sector are part of the push by the operators for the growth of the sector.

Mortgage is a sub-sector of the economy and the operators are saying that since the larger economy is not doing well and the mortgage sector is not insulated from what is happening in the larger economy, what is happening to them is not unexpected.

“We know what happened to

Talking Mortgage with CHUKA UROKO (08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com)

oil price and the foreign exchange market. These have affected everything in the economy. In the case of oil, both the volume and the price went down. All these affected consumer purchasing power. Don’t forget that the balance sheet of the mortgage banks were not strong abnitio”, said, Ayodele Olowookere, CEO, Omoluabi Mortgage Bank Plc. He stressed that the problems of the mortgage banks revolve around their small capital base and so there isn’t much they can do. “For all the money that I have, unless I raise additional capital, I don’t think I can do 1,000 mortgages. To do mortgages, you need long term funds and that is the only way you can do long term mortgages”, he said.

Udo Okonjo, vice chair/CEO, Fine and Country West Africa, agrees, emphasizing that the real core factor responsible for the slow growth in this sector is that the banks and the mortgage institutions don’t have long term funds; all they have are short term deposits. “The underlying fundamental for mortgage growth is that we have to have

saving culture and large financial base because mortgages are long term funds. In an ideal world, you will be talking about 20-25 years mortgages at very low interest rate”, Okonjo added.

Technically speaking, Nigeria has no mortgage system and Okonjo reasons that the country doesn’t really have a real estate sector. “What we are doing is just scratching the surface. If we really want to create wealth through real estate which is one of the major ways the developed world creates wealth, then we have to develop and grow the mortgage sector”, she emphasised.

But the operators are not deterred. “We are here to stay and grow this sector”, Olowookere assures, revealing, “at Moluabi, we are looking at the best way to do things, especially in credit management and evaluation. We are looking at the informal sector.

People in this sector are not collecting salaries, but earn huge and regular income. So, we are finding creative ways of bringing them into the net. We are also looking at new ways to raise capital by bringing in more shareholders”.

CIMA, ICAN sign agreement on accelerated professional certification

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he Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association) and The In-

stitute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) have signed a groundbreaking Membership Pathway Agreement (MPA) to

advance the accounting profession in Nigeria by broadening access to their professional qualifications and resources.

Bekeme Masade, chief executive, CSR-in-Action (2nd L); Kenenna Onwuagba, IT, CSR-in-Action; (L); Flora Mbata, executive assistant to the chief executive, CSR-in-Action (2nd R) and Imaobong Umosen, Business Development, CSR-in-Action (R), at the Inspiration FM Children’s Day carnival where CSR-in-Action distributed its Good Citizen book to participating Children in Lagos, recently.

The association, the unified voice of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the America Institute of CPAs (AICPA), will provide an expedited pathway to the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation for ICAN members who meet experience and exam requirements.

ICAN members who qualify for the CGMA designation will also earn membership of CIMA and the Association, gaining the support of the world’s most influential body of accountants, a worldwide network of 667,000 professionals and students, as well as an expansive portfolio of tools to develop their competencies across practice areas. ICAN will reciprocate, providing an accelerated route to membership, which includes examination, leading to the Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) qualification for eligible CGMA designation holders.

The MPA between the Association and ICAN is a continuation of both bodies’ efforts to advance finance professionals in Africa to meet the needs of an evolving

business environment.

Speaking on the partnership, CIMA Africa Regional Vice President, Badi Promesse, FCMA, CGMA, MBA said: “This groundbreaking agreement is a continuation of our commitment to driving a dynamic accounting profession that will enable professionals to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world. It will expand opportunities for the most highly qualified professional accountants across Nigeria and Africa, enhancing the breadth of their knowledge and the quality of insight they can provide in value creation and preservation. These professionals will successfully gain the knowledge and resources they need to go beyond for the future.”

ICAN President, Ismaila Zakari, who signed on behalf of ICAN, said: “I am glad that we are here today to sign the agreement which will promote professionalism in accountancy globally and particularly here in Nigeria. The agreement will also take care of reciprocity between eligible ICAN and CIMA members as well as promote research and development.”

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SundayBusiness Food & Beverages With Ayo Oyoze Baje

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he increasing economic challenges faced by millions of families across the country, with increasing job losses, food insecurity put immense pressure on available financial resources when new children are born. Be that as it may there are additional physical, psychological and nutritional issues to overcome by the nursing mother after child delivery.

These include: (a) production of Grade A milk. (b) Speeding up your physical recovery from the trauma of child birth (c) maintaining the levels of energy required by a nursing mother and (d) losing the excess poundage of pregnancy.

Weaning tips for breast-feeding mothers In addition to your balanced diet, with food sources enriched with carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, minerals and vitamins, eat occasional snacks of candy bars, white bread added to your milk.

Malt-based drinks (Maltina, Amstel Malta, Malta Guinness) have been found to stimulate milk production.

Nursing mothers as well as pregnant women need to consume more calories and proteins, to help in the production of mother’s milk.

Mother’s milk remains the best for the baby because it contains anti-bodies that protect the baby from infection.

It should be taken exclusively in the first four months as breast milk provides all the nutrients the body needs to grow and develop.

The proteins build up the cells.

The calcium builds up the bones and eventually the teeth.

Between 4 and 6 months, introduce other foods, such as fruits and vegetables in a mashed form.

Wash foods and utensils well.

Between 5th and 9th months, babies need more calories and proteins than breast milk can provide. Continue to introduce such foods as baby food, dairy products and soft, mashed meat later.

After the 9th month, mother’s milk is no longer the main food but a complement. The baby should be introduced to the family food. Ideal diet should include vegetables, cereals, legumes, meat and dairy

products. The diet should include dark-green leafy vegetables, orange or yellow fruits and vegetables such as mangoes, carrots and pawpaw. In fact, children under three years should eat 5-6 times a day.

The mother should provide variety of good food, not forcing the child to eat when it is satisfied, nor withholding food when it appears hungry. Though nutritionists/dietitians recommend 1,490 calories for pregnant or nursing mothers, do not make the mistake of getting that from fried, fatty, salty and sweet-tasting fast food.

Starve yourself and starve your baby. Under no condition should you fast or skip any meal while breast-feeding. Extensive dieting to reduce weight will burn large quantities of fat and cause concentration of ketenes in your milk which can be hazardous to your baby.

Provide diets rich in fibre, complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and dried beans. They possess vital vitamins and minerals as well as trace elements we all need. As a mother, such diet will produce milk that contains adequate quantities of the right nutrients.

Both carrots and malt-based drinks have been found to boost breast milk production.

Avoid sweet, sugary foods including carbonated drinks that are empty of calories.

Choose natural foods to processed ones because the latter of-

ten contain excess sodium, sugar, fat and additives, all of which are not healthy for both the mother and child.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine, in addition to nicotine from cigarette smoke. If nicotine enters the breast milk, it could cause respiratory problems and possibly sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

10 Laws of successful weaning There has to be an emotional and physical connection between mother and child. Do not show any dislike for the food you give to your baby.

Use clean cup and spoon for feeding the baby as the use of feeding bottles for cereals like pap encourages the fast growth of bacteria which could result in diarrhoea.

Cleanliness is next to successful weaning. The child should be fed in a clean environment. Keep flies away from food and feeding utensils. Wash fingers before meals.

Introduce weaning diet from 4-6 months.

Do not introduce weaning before 4 months because it could lead to diarrhoea and insufficient breast milk.

Avoid late weaning (after 9 months) to prevent malnutrition.

The child may not get to like the new food.

Add finely chopped vegetables and fruits to baby’s diet from 9 months, when the baby can chew.

WAV reiterates commitment to deepen local content Josephine Okojie

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he West African Ventures (WAV), Nigeria’s foremost indigenous engineering, construction and installation service provider in the offshore sub-sector, has strongly reiterated its commitment to deepen local content in the oil and gas industry in other to create wide spread employment for millions of Nigerians.

In a statement, the company stated that it hopes to achieve this through the deployment of specialised state of the art in-country vessel fleets (JASCON Fleets), as well as hiring experienced Nigerians to play a crucial role towards the optimisation of Nigeria’s oil assets.

Edmund Ejiogu, general manager commercial and sales, WAV restated this during a visit of Maikanti Baru, group managing director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the company’s exhibition booth in the Nigerian corner sponsored by Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) at the just ended 50th anniversary of the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) which held in Houston, Texas in the USA. WAV who was of the exhibitors at the conference, put up a good exhibition to boost Nigeria’s drive for an inclusive upstream industry where Nigerians will not only have the requisite skills but also the technological platform and capacity.

Baru, while at WAV stand at the Offshore Technology Conference, also reiterated government’s com-

mitment to driving local content in the upstream segment of the Nigeria oil and gas Industry and appreciated and commended WAV as well as the other Nigerian companies which had an exhibition stand at the OTC. He noted efforts in driving indigenous participation of Nigerians in the global oil and gas sector by being the 100 per cent preferred Nigerian partner to international oil companies in the successful execution of Offshore Construction, Installation and Production (OCIP) projects in record time.

Responding to the NNPC group managing director, Edmund Ejiogu

said the company’s participation at the conference was to show to the world that Nigeria has come of age and can match best practice organizations across the world in these specialized areas.

Speaking in the same vein, Stanley Onuosa company secretary, WAV and manager, Nigerian Content Development, affirmed the fact that the company not only leverages world class assets, manpower and technical know-how in the delivery of its mandates, but is also helping to train new crop of local skills in diverse areas of Nigeria’s oil and gas operations.

He added that the company’s participation in the 50th Anniversary of the OTC was compelled by the need to help sustain the momentum already garnered by government’s local content manpower development policy under the able supervision of the Nigeria Content Development and Management Board (NCDMB).

It should be recalled that WAV recently trained 26 young Nigerians under the SONAM Development Project Pipeline and Okan Pig Receiver Platform Transport and Installation contract (SONAM/ NC HCD).

Media launch of Assessment report of West African Net Work for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and other Civil Society Organisations

Continue to breast-feed during the weaning period as it supplies the much-needed protein for the baby’s growth.

Since the baby has small stomach it needs frequent meals than an adult. Give the child 4-5 meals each day in addition to breast milk.

Seek expert advice from health workers on breast-feeding or visit Chief Olu Akinkugbe Nutrition Centre at Friesland WAMCO CAMPINA at Ogba, Ikeja Industrial Estate.

Consult your doctor when the baby falls sick. *General tips *Women who stop eating red meat in combination with green vegetables may stop ovulation. *To combat back ache eat salad with washed raw vegetables, mixed with steamed vegetables and plenty of fruits, except banana. *Eat a lot of berries such as oranges, tangerine and guava that are rich in Vitamin C, fibre and folate. *Intake of foods rich in iron and calcium are necessary. *Read books that are comical or on things that take your mind off stress. *Drink between 6-8 glasses of water per day. Fewer cups of water can slow your metabolism by 45 calories in a day.

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media

2 million pairs of shoes exported from Aba daily – Ikpeazu UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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ollowing his campaign in the promotion of Made-in-Aba products, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has revealed that no fewer than 2million pairs of shoes (two million) are being exported daily from commercial hub centre of the South-East.

Ikpeazu, who made the revelation in Umuahia during the celebration of three years in office and 18 years of democracy, said that about 250 leather and garment makers employed about four persons thereby creating jobs for Abians.

He said that for shoe and garment industry and commerce to flourish, massive road infrastructure had been embarked upon by his administration in Aba to enable buyers and sellers access the various markets, particularly Ariaria International market.

He also said that his administration engaged the services of grade A construction companies who build solid roads that would last for many years.

He further said that his administration had completed over 60 roads, majority of such roads are in Aba, adding that it was the only way to enhance the internally generated revenue of the state.

“My ambition is to make people come to Aba and Umuahia to do business. With this, I know that my people can fend for themselves.

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Equity Market Stanbic Africa Holdings boosts confidence as it raises investments in Stanbic IBTC to 64% ...Joins Cadbury Schweppes Overseas, Nestle S.A. Switzerland, Total Raffinage, etc ... Acquisition attributed to debt for equity transfer, reduction of free floats Stories by TELIAT SULE

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n spite of the current market downturn, Stanbic Africa Holdings last week made a statement about the enormous potential of the Nigerian equity market with the acquisition of additional 1.141 billion ordinary shares in Stanbic IBTC Holding, a development that raised its percentage shareholding in the company to 64.4 percent.

“This is to inform The Nigerian Stock Exchange that Stanbic Africa Holdings Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Standard Bank Group Limited) and parent company of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, has recently acquired an additional 1,141,191,943 (one billion, one hundred and forty one million, one hundred and ninety one thousand, nine hundred and forty three) ordinary shares in Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC in an “Off-Market” transaction. With this acquisition, the total percentage shareholding of Stanbic Africa Holdings Limited in Stanbic IBTC has increased by 11.35% from 53.09% to 64.44% post this transaction” Stanbic IBTC Holdings said in a note to the Exchange.

Based on the company’s latest audited financial statement for the period ended December 31, 2017, the major shareholders with percentage shareholding above 5 percent in Stanbic IBTC Holdings were Stanbic Africa Holdings Limited with of 5,333,569,874 ordinary shares representing 53.07 percent and First Century International Limited with 750,504,089 ordinary shares representing 7.57 percent.

Our analysis shows that the latest block sale could have come from one of the 11 shareholders other than Stanbic Africa Holdings that controlled 7,378,393,724 ordinary shares, representing 73.42 percent of the total shares outstanding.

With Stanbic Africa Holdings Limited initially in control of 5,333,569,874 representing 53.07 percent, that leaves 2,044,823,850

ordinary shares from which the 1,141,191,943 ordinary shares involved in the cross deal could have come from as none of the other minority shareholders has enough units as the shares traded in the cross deal. Stanbic IBTC Holdings’ share price closed at N46.10 on the day the deal was announced, meaning that the deal would have cost N52.61 billion.

Some analysts agreed that a major motive behind this deal was more control in its local subsidiary while others however suggested that the bloc deal could have been motivated by a debt to equity transfer.

“This kind of deal could have been motivated by debt to equity transfer. It is most likely that a debt transaction took place between the parties in the past and this is the time the repayment was made in the form of a bloc sale of shares’, said Wale Olusi, an analyst with the United Capital.

“Investors now are considering so many factors about Nigeria and these include currency risk, currency risk and policy normalisation

in developed economies and as such some of them fly for safety which is what is responsible for the market downturn. Meanwhile, this is the time for domestic investors to come in as the market downturn is a global phenomenon ”, Olusi added.

“Stanbic Africa Holdings wanted to reduce float and have more control in Stanbic IBTC Holdings as these are likely the motives for the latest acquisition, Fola Abimbola, an analyst with CSL Stockbrokers said.

The Nigerian equity market has lost the momentum it recorded in the first two months of the year.

In January and February 2018, the All Share Index (ASI) posted 16 percent and 13.30 percent returns but that steam has been lost as the market returns are worse off now compared with the same period a year ago. It further closed lower at 8.53 percent in March; 7.91 percent in April while in May 2018, ASI ended in the negative territory at -0.36 percent.

Analysts are of the opinion that the latest move will boost market confidence.

“It is a sign that in spite of the downturn, the Nigerian equity market holds a lot of opportunities for investors. From my viewpoint, the acquisition was done to have more control in Stanbic IBTC Holdings”, said Saheed Bashir, group head business development at Meristem Nigeria.

“The acquisition was done for a strategic reasons and it will not have a negative implication for the market so long that the 30 percent free float requirement is not breached”, said Fisayo Adetayo, an equity trader at EDC Securities Limited, a subsidiary of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI).

“It could have positive effect on the stock in question”, Adetayo added.

Based on this development, Stanbic Africa Holdings has joined the likes of Cadbury Schweppes Overseas Limited, Nestle S.A. Switzerland, Total Raffinage Marketing and BOC Holdings Limited as firms having a minimum of 60 percent shareholdings in their domestic subsidiaries.

These are the listed firms with

highest dividend payout ratios in Nigeria for decades and they still sustain their tradition up to the present moment. Consequently, we are of the opinion that higher dividend income motivated the cross deal between Churchgate and Stanbic Africa Holdings.

Cadbury Schweppes Overseas Limited controls 74.97 percent shareholding in Cadbury Nigeria based on the latest audited financial statement for the period ended December 31, 2017, and it earned N225.29 million dividends from the N300.51 million declared as final dividend in FY17.

Nestle S.A. Switzerland control 66.18 percent shareholding in Nestle Nigeria just as it earned N14.43 billion as final dividend from the N21.79 billion final dividend paid to shareholders in FY17.

When combined, Unilever Overseas Holdings BV Holland and Unilever Overseas Holdings BV control 67.09 percent shareholdings in Unilever Nigeria. They both earned N1.93 billion from the N2.87 billion paid as dividend in FY17.

Total Raffinage Marketing controls 61.72 percent shareholding in Total Nigeria and as at the end of the 2017 financial year, it earned N2.93 billion as dividend from the N4.75 billion final dividend paid to shareholders.

BOC Holdings Limited UK controls 60 percent shareholding in BOC Gases and it received N49.95 million final dividends from the N83.25 million paid to shareholders in FY17.

Other foreign investors that are major shareholders with percent shareholdings in excess of 50 percent in companies registered and listed in Nigeria include Heineken Brouwerijen BV Holding and Distilled Trading International BV Holding with 53.23 percent shareholding in Nigerian Breweries; Setfirst Limited and Smithkline Beecham Limited which both have 46.4 percentage shareholding in GlaxoSmithkline Consumers Nigeria as well as John Holt & Co.(Liverpool) with 51.45 percent shareholding in John Holt Nigeria plc.

Bears on the prowl as equities lose N908bn in a week ...YTD market returns now -3.73%; Conoil records N1.58bn PAT

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quities listed on the Nigerian bourse lost N908.23 billion last week. The market capitalisation of quoted stocks on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed further lower at N13.34 trillion last week Friday compared with N14.24 trillion on Friday May 25,2018. This amounted to a loss of N908.23 billion.

A significant part of the loss was

recorded in just one day between May 31, 2018 and June 1, 2018. In just a day, the market capitalisation lost N466.64 billion representing 51 percent of the total loss in equity value last week. Year to date, the market capitalisation of listed stocks closed lower at -2.01 percent.

Similarly, the All Share Index (ASI) ended last week at 36,816.29 points compared with

39,323.62 points it recorded on the week that ended May 25,2018.

Week to date, the ASI closed at -6.38 percent while year to date, it was down by -3.73 percent.

At the close of business last week Friday, the sectoral indices that outperformed the ASI include the NSE Premium Index which closed at 4.86 percent; NSE Insurance Index, 1.62 percent; NSE Oil & Gas Index, 3.21 percent, and

NSE Pension Index at 3.91 percent.

Other sectoral indexes closed in the negative territory.

Meanwhile, Conoil Nigeria has released its audited financial statement for the period ended December 31,2017. Gross earnings rose by 36 percent from N85.02 billion in 2016 to N115.51 billion in 2017.

On the contrary, profit before tax, profit after tax, total assets and total equities fell when compared

with similar period last year.

Profit before tax fell by 45 percent; profit after tax declined by 44 percent; total assets fell by 10 percent while total equity declined by 3 percent.

Furthermore, profit margin declined to 1.37 percent in 2017 as against 3.37 percent in 2016. This is as the cost of sales relative to gross earnings rose to 89 percent in 2017 as against 83 percent in 2016.

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BrandsOnSunday SPOTLIGHTING BRAND VALUE

Telling authentic African stories behind ‘MultiChoice Talent Factory’ initiative MultiChoice Africa has committed to an undisclosed investment in a Talent Factory to provide skillsets and develop young Nigerians in the film industry towards igniting and growing the multibillion Naira industry. Daniel Obi looks at the industry and possible impact of the factory on the industry.

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Evolution of Nigerian film industry n 1992, some young Nigerians including Kenneth Okonkwo as Andy, Nnenna Nwabueze as Merit, Kanayo O Kanayo as Chief Omego and Rita Nzelu as Tina, acted an exciting movie called ’Living in Bondage’. The movie depicts crazy appetite for money. It told the story of a young man, who got involved in ritual for money, kills his wife for that purpose and subsequently becomes rich but later he was haunted by his wife’s ghost.

That movie, considered as one of today’s Nollywood classics, fast-tracked the trajectory journey of Nigeria’s multibillion Naira film industry. The success of the movie created traction for more young Nigerians into the film industry. Today, Nigeria’s film industry is said to be the second largest, after Bollywood (India’s film industry) when number of films produced annually is considered.

The large production of films

by Nigerians which have great local appeal because of the cultural resonance has also reduced the quantum of foreign films purchased by local stations and Nigerians. In fact the local films have hooked many Nigerians and Africans, especially women.

Today, what started as small private initiative without government support then has grown big contributing hugely to Nigeria’s economy. This was clear in 2014 when Nigeria’s economy was rebased as it was revealed that film industry has made great contribution to GDP. It contributed 2.3% (about N239biliion) to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2016. This is with the fact that some of the films are not of international standard and some of the players do not really have thorough education or skills in film making.

MultiChoice Initiative to upgrade industry skills Recently, MultiChoice Africa, foremost video entertainment services provider, launched, MultiChoice Talent Factory, MTF aimed at igniting and growing the industry into vibrant, economic centre. It simply means

to upgrade the skills of young Nigerians who have passion in filmmaking so that they can produce quality films with international standard.

The MultiChoice Talent Factory will involve academies and Masterclasses. The academy is a 12-month educational programme aimed at furnishing 20 deserving, young, talented Nigerians who want to work and innovate in film and television production. The applicants who must be below 25 years must demonstrate passion for any aspect of the industry. Those who are slightly above 25 years but have strong passion may be considered.

While Nigerian talent factory will also draw students from other West African countries, the factory will also be established in Kenya and Zambia with 20 students each for those regions, making a total of 60 students across Africa in initial years..

MultiChoice said that the MTF Academy students will be provided with skillsets to develop their talent, connect with industry professionals and tell authentic African stories through a comprehensive curriculum comprising theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in cinematography, editing, audio production and storytelling.

The idea of the programme

is to develop talents to produce quality and international standard films and tell African narratives. In Nigeria, MultiChoice is partnering with Pan Atlantic University to deliver content and ensure the success of the programme. It is also ready to partner with other relevant organisations and government agencies to ensure that the growing and promising Nigerian film industry is supported.

“The African development story has long been defined by investment in the vast mineral wealth on the continent, leaving our creative industries to fend for themselves on the fringes of economic development for far too long. As a result, the film and television industries have not developed at the same rate as other industries on the continent, and not for a lack of talent, passion or imagination,” says John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria. “ As an African business, MultiChoice, together with our valued partners and stakeholders across the continent, has collaborated to make a positive socio-economic impact in the communities in which we live and work through the MultiChoice Talent Factory initiative.”

Ugbe further states, “There is no better time than now; this being MultiChoice’s 25th year

of operations in Nigeria, for a project of this scope to concretize what we stand for as an organisation, as it lays a foundation that will foster economic growth for tomorrow’s leaders, and by extension our continent”.

“Professional training is key to success in any occupation. We need interventions like the MTF so that emerging filmmakers are better equipped in the creative processes that have scholarship and technology at its foundation,” says Femi Odugbemi, MTF Academy Director for West Africa.

Analysts believed that that Nollywood generates at least $590m annually, behind only Hollywood and Bollywood as they also believe that African film industry, in which Nollywood is by far the dominant player, would continue to contribute significantly to the GDP growth projections for the continent .

This can only be achieved if the industry is supported with such MultiChoice programmes.

MultiChoice is therefore calling all aspiring young film & TV creatives to apply for the MTF Academy from 30 May 2018, on www.multichoicetalentfactory.com. The Call for entry will close on 05 July 2018. The 60 post-school MTF students (20 for each region) – will be selected from 13 African countries where

MultiChoice operates -will have an exciting opportunity to hone their television and film production skills in the company of industry experts during the yearlong programme that will begin on 01 October 2018.

Initiative commended At the launching of the programme, players in Nigerian film industry including Zeb Ejiro, Mike Okolo of School of Media, Pan Atlantic University commended the initiative as a well- thought out to enhance the development of the industry.

With such programmes, there will be increase in international standard and quality Nollywood films. This is expected to trigger increase in demand and subsequently reflect on revenue and employment.

“An increase in demand for programming is also likely to generate new opportunities for content producers. According to a PwC report, Nigeria’s entertainment and media revenues will more than double to reach an estimated $8.5bn in 2018, from $4bn in 2013, with internet one of the key drivers. Mobile internet subscribers are forecast to surge to 50.4m in 2018 from 7.7m in 2013, according to the report”, a report said.

Just like football, Nollywood films help to position and create a perception for Nigeria.

Therefore, it is important that film script writers, producers, actors all players in the industry understand this fact and assist to build a global acceptable image of Nigeria through films. With this understanding, government agencies and other relevant bodies need to key into MultiChoice Talent Factory.

Some consumers of films tend to believe what they see in films. There is nothing wrong in portraying Nigerian or African cultures but continuous portrayals of witchcraft and voodoo must be to the extent of giving the continent a good perception.

However, the need for quality local content is significant to the growth of Nigeria’s film industry and the industry cannot grow without such skills upgrade as being planned to be provided by MultiChoice.

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Arts

Montaigne Place Urban Art Series unleashes Tolu Aliki’s ingenuity OBINNA EMELIKE

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f you are a regular patron at The Palm Mall in Lekki, Lagos, for grocery or cinema, it is time to glue your eyes on beautiful artworks.

At the Entrance 2, Montaigne Place, a beauty and lifestyle company, has unveiled a huge artwork by its window facing the parking lot of the mall. Instead of putting the generic advertising in its business space, Montaigne decided to bring something lively and engaging that the public can enjoy.

The eye-catching artwork, which is named ‘Forever Yours’ is an 8ft, 11 inches tall installation by Tolu Aliki, a contemporary Nigerian artist. Beyond the window, four other beautiful paintings of Aliki adore the interior of Montaigne Place, offering customers values beyond the products they buy at the luxury beauty retail outlet at The Palms Mall.

Aliki is the first artist commissioned by the beauty company to kick off its Montaigne Place Urban Art Series; a platform to bring to the public view exciting contemporary works of Nigerian artists. The series involves the commissioning and installation of artworks in a variety of media while offering free access and viewing to the public.

Explaining his works, particularly the

Forever Yours, an installation by Tolu Aliki

installation, Aliki said, Forever Yours examines and celebrates the essence of our commitment and love for the people we care about and those who care about us. He noted further that the art is about loving and giving back unconditionally. “A part of the painting tells a story of a surprise party held to celebrate the lady in green dress, who is excited after receiving a gift of a black stallion. She gazed on the musicians with her head tilted towards the music suggesting deep absorption in the moment and an engaged passion.

Her pose exudes so much grace, as well as, a feeling of disappointment and companionship”, Aliki explained.

Recalling his challenges while working on the artwork, the Mass Communication

graduate who has been studio artist for 12 years, said, “Forever Yours is a masterpiece painting and installation. It is my first work on large scale and took about two months to finish. As well, it is overwhelming when you are working on this kind of scale because you have to be moving all over the work, up and down because of the sheer size of 8 feet by 11 inches standing.”

Though he was on his feet 24 hours, and stood for hours to paint with a three-step ladder, Aliki enjoyed the work because of the challenges it posed.

He commended Montaigne Place for the collaboration, which is pushing his brand up for the rest of the six months they will be at The Palms Mall and for offering the platform

to other artists every quarter as part of her giving back to the society after years of running successful businesses.

Speaking on the rationale for the art series at the unveil of Aliki’s works at the Montaigne Place at The Palms Mall on Thursday, Alali Hart, CEO, Montaigne Place, noted that art creates a beautiful and kinetic dimension to everyday life, and it educates, enlightens and uplifts the mundane to the extraordinary.

“The idea of Montaigne Place Art Series came from my love for arts and desire to share art with the public, especially those who do not always have the opportunity to visit the galleries or buy artworks. The idea is simply to put and commission works of art in our locations that the public can access without having to pay to enjoy it”, Hart explained.

On the choice of Aliki as the first artist to be commissioned on the series, Montaigne’s CEO said the artist was favoured because she has some of his works and loves his style. “I love his style; very colourful, and eye-catching and giving the location of the window of Montaigne Place at The Palm Mall overlooking the parking lot, it is a very strong visual statement, so we felt Aliki’s strong colours and style can do that”, she explained further.

She assured that after Aliki, Montaigne would give the platform to different artists to promote their works and for the public to be engaged in that way.

“The plan is to have new artists every quarter so that the public can engage with their works. So, we are ready for more collaborations not just in The Palms but in our different outlets across the country”, she said.

Montaigne Place urges the public to look out for exciting artworks in over 13 of its outlets in cities including; Lagos, Abuja, Enugu and Port Harcourt.

MUSON hosts children music festival to commemorate 2018 International Children’s Day

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eing one of the annual festivals organised by the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), this year’s edition held on Saturday May 26, 2018 was to commemorate the International Children’s Day. The exciting music festival in its third year featured arts and crafts, exhibitions, panel of discussion by successful professionals and a fabulous music concert. In performance were: the amazing MUSON Junior Choir and other choirs from schools drawn across Lagos comprising- Government College, Lagos (Senior), Awaking School and Children International School. There were also solos and duets alongside other thrilling presentations that held the children and parents transfixed throughout event duration.

The MUSON Junior Choir is made up of children from all backgrounds within the ages of 4 and 16 and had its first appearance at the maiden edition of the Children’s Music Festival in May, 2016 with 25 children in total but the number has since been upgraded to 55 members and has grown tremendously in all facets under the directorship of Ayo Ajayi (artistic director/ pianist), Raphael Francis (music director & facilitator) and Kehinde Oretimehin (conductor) all members of the MUSON Alumni School.

Beyond the rousing ovation that greeted every musical performance, the panel of discussion was highly educative and interactive as well. It gave the platform to entertain

Children performing at the event.

questions from children who were curious to make diverse inquiries about how to broaden their career horizon and remain resolute in the pursuit of individual aspirations.

The five-man panel consisted: Nat Evuarherhe (retired pilot), Opeyemi Oduwole (head: Privilege Banking, Diamond Bank), Bayode Olawunmi-Treasure (Guinness World Record Holder for the Longest Reading Marathon), Olufemi Mobolaji-Lawal and the moderator.

The children were no less dazzled by their

personal feats and were enjoined to imbibe reading insatiable reading habit which is a vital ingredient for carving an excellent career path.

Speaking at the overstretched Agip Recital Hall venue of the festival, some of the choir members and participants expressed gratitude for such opportunity to showcase their Godgiven talents. “I am grateful for such wonderful opportunity” says 12 years old Davina Crepi from a school in Surulere who gave an awesome performance of the song “Never Enough”

by Loren Allred from the movie-- The Greatest Showman. “I barely joined the MUSON Junior Choir in March this year, today; look at how far it has taken me”, she enthused.

“I am happy to have joined the choir which has exposed me a great deal. There are so many talents here and it is an open opportunity to sell your talent to the world. The festival has been fun. According to the panelists, “reading autobiographies helps to realize dreams”, says Agwu Deborah, a member of the MUSON Junior Choir.

For participants like Obafunke Akinkungbe; it was a special experience to see her age-mates sing so well. “I love the way the choir sang and was so thrilled to see people I know singing beautifully well. I would love to see this again next year. I play recorder and piano”, she said.

Ifeoma, from Apapa says, “I love to be part of the choir next year. I sing well and the festival has been such a fantastic experience”. Angela says “I came just to see the festival and enjoy myself. My favorite song is Flashlight by Jessie J. The performances here today have been interesting. I would love to be here next year as well.” She concluded.

The organiser has the clear objective of raising young professionals who are thoroughly grounded in the understanding and performance of music. The vision is to be Nigeria’s iconic children’s music group which will go on tours for performances and competitions within the country and beyond.

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Arts Hi-impact TV debuts with first HD, unique programming OBINNA EMELIKE

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he Nigerian entertainment sector, schools and families were elated on May 29, 2018 when Solution Media and Infotech, delivered on its promising of bringing onboard, Hi-impact TV, the much anticipated Nigeria’s first full high definition (HD) television.

Hi-impact TV, which was commissioned by Yemi Osinbajo, vice president of Nigeria, who was represented by Folarin Coker, director general, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), hit the airwaves on June 1, 2018 and offers rich family related, entertaining and educative contents, with a further promise of the best television programming in Nigeria.

The first HD TV, which comes with a receiver, is a partnership with Viewsat and it offers beyond quality content; high resolution picture quality, natural colours and settings, perfect sound among others.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Vice President said Hi-impact TV is a revolution in the Nigerian broadcast, entertainment and media industry going by its being the very first channel to transmit all its

Dignitaries at the first programme of Hi-impact TV at its ultra modern studio

programmes in full high definition.

Beyond showcasing the countries rich culture and creative talents, Osinbajo noted that Hi-impact TV will improve employment and contribute significantly to the economy through employment opportunities for

actors, producers, directors, cameramen, scriptwriters among others.

In his speech, Joseph Ejiogu, sales manager, West Africa, Viewsat, described Hi-impact TV as the attraction in the Nigerian entertainment industry because of its world class technol-

ogy and HD. He promised that Viewsat will deliver Hiimpact TV programmes on its free to air platform across sub Saharan Africa and some parts of Europe, and by so doing, take the Nigerian content to the global audience.

Earlier in his welcome address, Prince Adeleye

Lipede, managing director, Solution Media and Infotech, noted that the new television channel is set to make a difference in content and programming with the hope of impacting the society positively.

“Hi-impact TV is focusing mainly on education,

entertainment and family.

Just as our pay-off, ‘Securing the Future’, Hi-Impact TV will air programmes that have meaningful impacts on the family, including drama series, cartoons and on-air classes”, Prince Lipede said.

Detailing the difference the TV will make in education, the prince said, “As a way of assisting our children to excel in the Junior/ Senior Secondary School Examinations conducted

by WAEC, NECO as well as the Joint Matriculations Exams, we have designed a programme called ‘Syllabus for Excellence’ to take care of those subjects that usually pose challenges to students, as one of our many programmes.”

In his remarks, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, the Alake of Egbaland, who came with Obas from the host community, commended the Egba people for scoring many firsts and charged management of Hi-impact TV to offer indigenes of the host community who are qualified good jobs rather than menial ones.

However, with the addition of Hi-impact TV, HiImpact Planet, Nigeria’s largest amusement park, and resort, located on KM 12 Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, is now a true entertainment hub for all class of fun seekers.

Gallery 1957 presents motionEmotion by Chidi Kwubiri

Ibeji dazzles audience at maiden concert

his summer, Gallery 1957 will host a major solo exhibition titled ‘motionEmotion’ by Chidi Kwubiri, a Germany based artist. The exhibition is curated by Sandra Mbanefo Obiago in collaboration with SMO Contemporary Art and runs from June 29-July 30, 2018 at the studio in Accra, Ghana. motionEmotion is the culmination of a lifelong dream of Chidi Kwubiri’s, in which he speaks to the power of music on the creative soul. The exhibition of at least 15 spectacular large canvases and two conceptual installations reflect the spirit dance of celebration, joy, mel-

he African Artists Foundation, Victoria Island Lagos, was filled to capacity Thursday evening, May 29, 2018, as Ibeji, a retro-contemporary afro music artiste, dazzled the audience at his maiden headline concert, ‘The Ibejii Live Experience’ (TILX).

The concert, which was infused with cocktails created from the big bold flavours of premium scotch Johnnie Walker, brought together lovers of alternative music from across the diverse demography of Lagos society, in a serene atmosphere, where they were regaled by tunes that fused the old and the contemporary, delivered live by the crooning, mysterious and enigmatic lover man, Ibejii.

From his ensemble, to his music and style of delivery, concertgoers could not get enough of the artiste who, in only two years in the Nigerian music industry, has already distinguished his craft.

To add further to an already packed and extraordinary experience, Brymo, a renowned singer and com-

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Hypnotize by Chidi Kwubiri

ancholy, energy, hope, and protest that music evokes in people wherever they gather.

In motionEmotion, Chidi Kwubiri takes us on a journey across sound, rhythm, performance and dance, by presenting paintings which speak to the outer and inner manifestation of music on identity, the rise of freedom movements, and the impact of lyrics on society across different generations.

The works introduce a multi-layered, almost opaque world of colour and silhouette that gently seeps into visual consciousness. Utilising his characteristic dripping paint

technique on large canvases, Chidi Kwubiri reveals expertly rendered hazy outlines of figures in motion and dance, in a sea of minute dots and drips.

Chidi Kwubiri presents a new monochromatic body of work with minimalist colour highlights alongside his signature colour palette, which reinforce the power of unity and hope against the socio-political tensions surrounding global immigration issues. His bold interpretations also touch on the impact of music on global youth movements by interpreting cross-generational rhythms, culture and political consciousness. The exhibition at Gallery 1957 shows the artist on a journey of sensory memory through paintings of cultural crusaders - such as afrobeat legend Fela Kuti and reggae prophet Bob Marley - juxtaposed against contemporary dances with their roots in Africa, including twerking, popping & locking, hip hop, and rap. motionEmotion is set against a backdrop of live music, freestyle instrumental and art based performance.

The exhibition follows a two-week artist residency in Ghana with Gallery 1957.

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poser, made a surprise appearance in support of TILX. Ibejii and the ‘Ara’ crooner dazzled the audience as they jointly performed ‘Alaigboran’, a retro-track off Ibejii’s maiden album, GreenWhiteDope001.

Brymo’s show at #TILX was presumably return favour for Ibejii’s stellar performance at Brymo’s own jawdropping concert at Terra Kulture Lagos in December 2017, where a then freshly unveiled Ibejii held the huge concert audience spellbound with his sterling performance as guest artiste.

Guests at TILX were also serenaded by the exceptional performances of alternative music artistes such as; ‘Dwin the Stoic, Celeste Ojatula and Aduke, a talented performer.

Slim & Chika, the dance artistes, warmed up the evening with their highly choreographed dance repertoire.

The Ibejii Live Experience is a festival to celebrate those who, like Ibejii, choose to indulge in music that is pure and true, and slightly different from the mainstream. #TILX will be an annual event, holding each year on Democracy Day, May 29.

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Entertainment Highlife comes home to Port Harcourt …headlined by popular music duo, the Obiligbo Brothers IFEOMA OKEKE

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hen it comes to appreciating and enjoying the highlife genre of music, Port Harcourt, the Garden City, is the grand master. The city has over the years maintained its taste for this beautiful music as it is blared from speakers at almost every occasion.

So Legend Extra Stout’s decision to host Port Harcourt residents to another exciting edition of its Real Deal Experience show on June 10, 2018 at the Xmas carnival ground, Elekahia Road, is a nice homecoming. For the second time in a row, the muchtalked-about entertainment event is to be headlined by popular Igbo Highlife music group, the Obiligbo Brothers.

Following their critically acclaimed performance in Onitsha during the May edition of The Real Deal Experience, the Obiligbo Brothers will be returning to the stage again in Port Harcourt to entertain their growing fan base, and this of course is due to popular demand.

Indeed the duo have become fan favourites not just in their

home state of Anambra but also the South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria.

Speaking ahead of the show, the two brothers who have enjoyed massive success with the release of their latest studio album “UDO GA DI”, said: “First we want to thank Legend Extra Stout for creating the Real Deal Experience show. For us, every opportunity to perform in front of our fans is a big deal and the feeling

that comes with doing it on Real Deal Experience stage is even more exciting. We are glad to be performing two times in a row after our last show in Onitsha.

We can’t wait to step on stage and bring the best of highlife music to the Port Harcourt audience.”

Emmanuel Agu, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream larger and stout brand NBPlc. while commenting on the upcoming Port Harcourt event said: “In our

usual tradition of giving the best to Nigerians, we are glad to bring the thrills, fun and excitement of Legend Real Deal Experience to Port Harcourt. Besides giving the residents of the city an unforgettable experience with music and entertainment, we will also be interacting directly with our customers in the beautiful city.”

The Legend Real Deal Experience show which involves music, comedy, role play, brand educa-

tion, eulogy, games, prizes and a lot more, will see former BBNaija 2018 housemate and lover of the brand Ifu Ennada co-host the event alongside popular comedian De Don. The Real Deal Experience show also features the ‘taste, tell and win’ competition which is a blind taste test wherein consumers identify Legend Extra Stout as the Real Stout and winners get to win exciting prizes.

Nicki Minaj, Migos, Janelle Monáe, others to perform at BET Awards ANTHONIA OBOKOH

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he iconic annual BET Awards will feature performances by some of the biggest music stars, including Nicki Minaj, Migos, Janelle Monáe, H.E.R. and Ella Mai. BET in Africa, part of Viacom International Media Networks Africa multimedia portfolio, last

week announced the first group of performers to take the stage at the June event.

Now in its 18th year, the Award show continues to break boundaries by creating culturally relevant and brilliantly entertaining broadcasts.

Meanwhile, as previously announced, DJ Khaled dominates this year’s nominations with a total of 6 including ‘Video of the Year,’ two for ‘Best Collabora-

tion,’ with Rihanna and Bryson Tiller for ‘Wild Thoughts,’ and with Jay-Z, Future and Beyoncé for ‘Top Off,’ ‘Album of the Year,’ and ‘Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice.’ Kendrick Lamar follows with five nods including ‘Best Collaboration,’ with Rihanna for ‘Loyalty’ ‘Video of the Year,’ ‘Album of the Year,’ and ‘Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice.’

Other leading nominees include Migos, nominated for four awards including ‘Best Group,’ and ‘Album of the Year,” and SZA, also nominated for four awards, including ‘Best Female R&B/Pop Artist’ and ‘Best New Artist.’

In a BET Awards first, the top nominees from Africa and Europe (as voted for by an acad????????????

emy of industry experts) will now compete for the Best International Act category, with the winner being honoured as part of the US broadcast.

Hosted by Jamie Foxx, the BET Awards 2018 takes place at the Microsoft Theater on Sunday, 24 June 2018 and premieres across Africa on BET (DStv channel) on Tuesday, 26 June.

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Life&Living Fashions Finest: Redefining the fashion in Africa IFEOMA OKEKE

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ashion in Africa and Nigeria has grown in leaps and bounds. As countries age; fashion itself ages, but in an innovative manner.

New fashion trends have emerged, finding their identity into our cultures, mode of dressing and our identities.

As countries across Africa embrace various fashions, most of these countries have stuck to their mode of dressing however in more admirable ways.

The dynamism of fashion has made it become even more prominent across countries in Africa, adding significantly to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and changing the perception of African countries in the global space.

Therefore in a bid appreciate the fashion of various African countries and show to the world, the rich diverse mode of dressing Africa exhibits, Fashions Finest Africa made a debut in Nigeria on Sunday 27th August 2017 at the Guest House Ikoyi, Lagos.

It was tagged Renaissance and it featured four amazing emerging designers SGTC Clothing, 1407, Sally Bawa and Nkadz. The fashion show was talked about for weeks in the fashion sphere as it surpassed all expectations.

Just before the Epic Show the Fashions Finest Africa team in collaboration with Eagle 8 Consulting organised master classes on

Wednesday, May 23 and Thursday, May 24 at NEPC Training Center, Apapa.

The Master classes were anchored by Mabel Doe (Fashion Consultant/Fashion Technologist) and Jennifer Sutton (DevelopmentDirector, Fashion Enter/Capital Uk).

The master classes themed ‘How to transform from boutique to Mass production” had a lot of fashion entrepreneurs in attendance.

The Epic Show started on Friday, May 25, 2018 with a Fashion Conference themed, ‘Increasing Nigeria’s participation in the global garment

industry”. The conference was enlightening and in-depth about the garment industry and the production process.

The headline Speaker Jennifer Sutton, explained thoroughly the process of garment making, Mabel Doe, Fashion Consultant also gave explanations on the garment production and the factory process.

There was also a panel session featuring Nigeria Fashion industry experts where they spoke about their experiences and challenges, the session was moderated by lucky Idike and Jennifer Sutton, the panel-

lists included, Mabel Doe, Fashion Consultant/Fashion Technologist, Chris Oputa, CEO Studio 24, Funmi Ajila-Ladipo, FADAN President, Morin Obawaya, CEO Morin O, Adenike Ogunlesi, Founder Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, and Ohimai Atafo, CEO Mai Atafo.

The prestigious fashion awards held on the same day celebrated those who have made a mark in the fashion industry.

The show continued on Sunday and Monday with exhibitions and fashion runway shows from amazing vendors and designers. The designers who showcased include, The Fabric Hub, Guzzling, Ageless Fashion, Sakky 7 Creative Fashion, House of Caacuun, Oma Humprey Signature, Oma Couture, Made by Needle Queen, Jane Michael, Saanduks, SGTC Clothing, Love Nwafor, Fhibbs Signature, IsiAtagamen, Gavachy, House of Moreni, Apex Clothing, Keerahs Fashion Cave, Adejo, Must Blow, Hackky, Tai.Lore, Vonray Designs, Morin.O, Niiffe, Lines by Chaab, JP Kouture and Mai Atafo (white and black collection in collaboration with Nivea).

After the fashion show on Monday there was a fashion rave, with DJ Crowd Kontroller on the wheels on steel.

Fashions Finest Africa Awards was all glitz, glam and grandeur. The Fashions Finest Africa Awards was birthed out the need to celebrate those who have made a mark in the fashion industry.

The Fashions Finest fashion Africa weekend extravaganza kicked

off in the morning on Friday, May 25, 2018with an enlightening fashion conference at the Balmoral Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos themed “Increasing Nigeria’s Participation in the Global Garment Production Industry”.

There were also breathtaking performances by AFX Theatre Company and Juliana Dede.

Fashions finest award winners include: Male Model of the year – Tosan Dudun, Female Model of the Year – Ayommide Ayodele, Fashion Retail Store of the Year – Payporte, Fashion Icon of the Year – Deola Sagoe, Fashion Blogger of the Year – Kefi Boo, Fashion Influencer of the Year – Toke Makinwa, Designer of the Year – Lisa Folawiyo and Emerging Designer of the Year – Rich Mnisi.

Other Awards include Men’s Wear Designer of the Year - Mai Atafo, Women’s Wear Designer of the Year – Tubo, Young Designer of the Year – Emmy Kasbit, Makeup Artiste of the Year – D’artiste by Dodos, Stylist of the Year – The Style Infidel, Fashion Show of the Year – Guaranty Trust Bank Fashion Weekend, Outstanding Contribution to Nigerian Fashion Award – Omoyemi Akerele, Accessories Designer of the Year – Pichulik, Creative of the Year – Papa Oppong, Shoe Designer Of The Year- Buqisi – Ruux, Bag Designer of the Year – Femi Handbags, Fashion Photographer of the Year – Reze Bonna, Fashion Magazine of the Year – Schick Magazine and Indigenous Fabric Maker of the Year - Adire Lounge.

have ‘a bit of everything’ is not an excuse. This takes us back to rule one. If you use a small plate, you wouldn’t be able to fit everything on one plate anyway.

Do not sit too close to the food bar, as might be tempted to keep going back for more even if you don’t need more. The fear of having too many eyes on you when you have to walk across the room

from a far corner might stop you fromgoing back for seconds, thirds or fourth rounds of servings. If it’s not possible to steer clear of more food, try positioning yourself closer to the salad bar than the dessert trays, since we tend to consume more of whatever’s conveniently within reach. At the very least, face away from the buffet — one study shows this also aids in curbing excess consumption.

Eat slowly. Taking your time during a meal makes you feel fuller, faster. “Signals for feeding are sluggish in terms of influencing the brain, so they’re easy to ignore,” says neuroscientist Gary Wenk, author of ‘This is your brain on food’. It can take upwards of 30 minutes for stop signals to register. Pace yourself by savoring each bite, chewing thoroughly, and using a knife and fork (or chopsticks, if you can).

Try filling yourself with fruits and vegetables as starters before actually heading for the main meal.

How not to eat at a buffet!

JUMOKE AKIYODE-LAWANSON

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he annoying habit of buffet binging has become very popular, especially in Nigeria (as a result of our ‘awoof’ culture).

For those not familiar with the word ‘awoof’ it simply means freebies. Nigerians are generally known to love free things and will accept anything without charge.

So of course you should be able to imagine the scenario when you have to pay for only one plate of food and be able to eat as much as you like.

I’ll recount my experience of the famous ‘bottomless drink’ at Nandos’ restaurant in London.

I sat down quietly, all by myself, eating my quarter peri chicken (Medium hot) and French fries with corn on the cob and coleslaw as my side orders. I took my time, noticing everything around me and I realised that everybody

had their individual drink glasses on their table and only refilled it once. I thought to myself, what’s the point of having a bottomless drink policy if I’m only going to fill my cup once. So the Nigerian girl in me decided to overfill myself with drinks even before my food was ready. I had a glass of every fizzy drink available and found it very difficult to finish my food because my belly was filled with drinks. You can call that greed. I felt really silly afterwards.

But that scenario is very common in Nigeria, especially at buffet type restaurants. An all-you-caneat buffet with a variety of limitless food supplies should not inspire you to indulge excessively, piling up your plates with far more than you need. To make sure that you’re not going off course during a buffet, try following these simple steps.

Use smaller plates and glasses for portion control. Not only do big bowls, plates and cups hold more food and drinks, they make the

quantity look smaller than they actually are. People that serve their food with really large plates, are often adjudged as glutons.

Do not, for any reason pile up your plate with every single thing on the menu. It totally unacceptable to have rice, vegetable soup, beans, yam, eggs, stew, plantain and pounded yam all on your plate at the same time. Wanting to

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THINGS TO DO IN LAGOS Events Happening Today!

Mente De Moda Date: Sunday, 3 June 2018 Time: 12PM Venue: B.I.C.S Gardens, Lekki Phase 1

BE A STREET FOODIE THIS WEEKEND…

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ost people are super careful when it comes to where to buy their meals and would probably turn down the option of roadside or street food in less than a second of it being suggested.

But, just because it is termed ‘’street food’’ doesn’t mean its recipe is only got from the moon and can’t be prepared in the comfort of

your home. Either way, there are a couple of food vendors who still know the importance of hygiene, so relax. (Hehe) Anyway, here are a few popular yummy ones you should indulge in, if you haven’t: Akara (Bean Cakes) and Bread - African Burger I grew up eating akara on most school mornings and found it really unique; that red

shapeless edible ball. It always had the right amount of every ingredient I had no idea of (until now).

So whilst somewhere in the world someone was having ‘’hamburgers’’, as proper Lagos children, we came up with the ‘’African Burger” – Akara pressed into the center of a loaf of bread. It’s quite filling and tends to leave you sleepy afterwards.

TEA TIME WITH CHIZOR Date: Sun, June 3, 2018

SUYA Typically, once it’s 5pm in Lagos, you start to see the setup of any roadside suya spot. Why it is only done at night, I do not know. But, I know for a fact, it is usually delicious.

What’s your favorite Suya-combo?

Mine is with Garri soaked in cold water. (You should try it) I also hear the best places to get Suya are in Ikeja and Glover court (in Ikoyi).

Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM Venue: East Mole, Lekki Phase 1

When I think of the rainy season, I think of boiled corn with pear or roasted corn with coconuts.

Whoever came up with the above combination, that has become a norm, is a food genius!

Perfect taste; or is there a better combination?

P.s – photos sourced from the web.

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BusinessDay MarketPlace With Gero Care CEO/Founder Dr Ebi Ofrey Gero Care is the Uber of health care for elderly people. However, please note that it is not an E-business, because physical doctors go to check on your parents not computers.

Enlighten yourself on this amazing service as you read through Dr Ebi Ofrey’s interview;

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SEXPERIENCE LIVE (SEX SEMINAR) Date: Sun, June 3, 2018 Time: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM WAT Venue: Bar Enclave, 1 Adeola

Adeleye Street, Lagos.

P.s – want your event featured? Send me an e-mail: Violet.johnson@businessdayonline.com

11 Things The New Princess Of Sussex, Meghan Markle Can’t Do Anymore Being a royal is one thing every girl must have dreamt about as a child right? But being an actual royal isn’t easy at all. There are a lot of rules that govern the royal home and not just everyone can blend in.

Meghan Markle got married to the love of her life, Prince Harry on Saturday and she is sure living a brand new life as we speak. Below are 11 things that she can’t do now that she is the princess of Sussex...

No personal social media account No selfies No right to vote or speak of politics publicly She can’t jet off on a vacation with friends as she needs about 6 months to plan one

She can’t have pets No one is allowed to continue eating once the queen is done, so whether she’s half way through or still very hungry, she must stand up She mustn’t be seen with a hat or tiara on her head and no irresponsible dressing She is not allowed to play monopoly She can’t eat any shellfish (lobsters, oysters or crabs) Christmas comes early for any royal.

Meghan must now celebrate Christmas day and open presents on the eve of the day as she will be too busy attending to royal duties on the 25th She can’t travel without a black attire as every royal family member packs up a black attire in case of death.

Would you be able to cope with these strict rules and many more others?

hat Is The History Of Gero Care?

The story about Gero Care as I always say cannot be complete without me narrating my personal experience. Though I’ve been a medical doctor for the past 16 years, a few years ago, in the space of 2 years, my father had 2 strokes. Subsequently my mother had called me and told me her blood pressure and sugar level were high, but that wasn’t the main thing. My mom had said something that jolted me around same time, she expressly said that I had neglected them. Up till that point in time I had thought I was the perfect son who send money to his parents. But when I looked closely at my life, I realized I had focused solely on my business, thereby neglecting this special group of people. I think this situation is peculiar to many of us, when the only time we hear anything is when something goes tragically wrong. And so the question was – is there a way we can provide for our parents health care needs, no matter where we are in the world, and remind them that they haven’t been forgotten? That’s how we came up with Gero Care, to solve this problem for my parents and a million of Africans across the continent experiencing the same thing.

So How Does Gero Care Function?

Gero Care makes it possible for Nigerians anywhere in the world, to subscribe for regular doctor visits for their parents and elderly ones in their Nigerian homes. We don’t only detect and manage conditions early, thereby increasing their life expectance, we also serve as friends and listeners to our patients. As we have noticed over time that most of these old people don’t really have anyone to talk to about that funny neighbour or market issue or town crier. But to begin to benefit from these services, you are required to subscribe. All you need to do is go to our website www.gerocare.org, create an account for yourself, add the details of the person you will like us to manage and then make payments (N6,300).

Immediately that is done, they are matched to a doctor close to where they are who will provide regular visits. It could be once or twice a month. You will get reports from each visit on your application. Real time follow up is key for us. When the doctor gets to your house, he checks in on his device and wherever you are you know the doctor is at ‘mamas’ place.

When he’s done he checks out and you instantly get a report on how she’s faring for that particular day. If she needs drugs or tests you know and with your permission we will supply those medications to her.

We like to describe ourselves as an online hospital, with outlets and reach points anywhere our Gero doctors and applications are. Right now we have over 700 doctors across Nigeria and we are in every state asides Kebbi. For us it’s all about the entire hospital care in the comfort of your home.

What’s Being Done Presently To Put Gero Care On The Map? Like I mentioned, the only time people hear anything about their parent’s health is when something has gone wrong, so it’s clear that there is a need but the awareness is not there.

There is a problem and we are the solution. We are doing our best to ensure that we get this information out there, via speaking engagements in various communities, churches and events. We are also trying to establish an online presence, just to let people know that this service is available.

Furtunately, in the last one week, we were picked as the top 50 innovators in Africa and we are hoping we can use this platform to showcase ourselves to the rest of Africa.

Are There Any Cases You Reject On The Care Platform?

Right now there are no cases. The only area where we don’t have a presence of doctors is in Kebbi state. Rural areas also received this service but at an added cost. So basically the only reason why we might refuse a case is because of location (Kebbi).

What Challenges Do You Face As A Business?

The challenge right now is getting people to understand the importance of preventive health care. Many people feel like their parents are healthy and don’t need the services of Gero Care. But to such people I always like to tell the story of a close relative, an elderly man who was very fit and looked healthy. On a particular Sunday, he went to church, participated in regular church activities, got home, called a friend up and suddenly he stopped talking. When the friend couldn’t hear him anymore, he got worried and went over to his place. What had happened? The man was dead!

We must get people to understand that preventive care is key, especially because it detects a lot of complications early

enough in older age. Monitoring the elderly, is never a waste of money. Don’t just send money home for up keep, let it get spent on the right kind of health care.

How Do You Make Profits?

A small percentage on every subscription fee is our profit.

Most of the money goes to providing the service.

How Do You Deal With Situations Where Doctors Forget Their Monthly Check Up With A Patient?

There is a reminder sent days before the appointment. So if for any reason the doctor can’t make it, he/she reschedules.

Our rates are quite affordable. It’s N6,300 a month. What I like to liken it to is your cable TV subscription. It’s a cost that can be added to your budget without causing significant dents to your pockets. You don’t need to break a bank while taking care of your loved ones if regular checks are carried out and it’s taken care of from the headache stage.

Do You Think Nigerians Will Ever Pick E-Health Services Over A Physical Hospital Service?

For the new generation it’s very likely, because everybody is moving more to mobile and the internet. Ours kids nowadays will read from tablets first before reading from books, making them more inclined to technology. So yes, years from now, people might prefer to pick E-health services over going to the physical hospitals.

What Do You Do To Stay Ahead Of Competition?

Right now the key thing we are doing is creating awareness.

To stay ahead we are trying to get people to understand the importance of what we do and avoid the alternatives not competition. These parents breakdown whether fully or partially before they are taken to the hospital. The attendant cost of hospital care and logistics is what we really soak up on our part. Some may also go to religious organizations seeking answers to an impending illness when it could have been avoided from the start. This is what I consider as the alternative to what we provide. So if you know that you don’t want to wait for things to get too bad before attending to your health, Gero Care is your go to. Picking us will definitely keep us ahead of competition.

Where Do You See Gero Care In 5 Years?

The goal is to export certain business and business models of Nigeria to other parts of the world. We have realized that this problem is not just peculiar to Nigerians but people in other African countries. We hope to be in these other African countries as our problems are similar.

The structure we have in place is not a substandard version of the hospital, it’s a typical primary health care center. Whatever services you can receive in a hospital, you can also receive in Gero Care. We are definitely the future of primary health care and a physical building may not be entirely necessary as all you need is provided at home.

Interview by Uzochikwa Akumah

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Travel

Upbeat heightens fun for children at their special day OBINNA EMELIKE

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t was an unforgettable experience for children and adults alike at Upbeat Centre for this year’s edition of Children’s International Day on May 27, 2018.

Upbeat, which is unarguably the first-ever West African trampoline park and recreation centre in Nigeria, hosted hundreds of children across several engaging activities, especially a Superhero-themed party, which kicked off the celebration on Children’s Day. The party witnessed children dressed in their favourite superhero outfits with near perfect efforts at mimicking their heroes’ unique characters.

Besides the party, the children were engaged in activities such as; trampoline fun, superhero party games, air hockey, superhero obstacle course, party favours, treasure maze, arts & crafts, photo booth sessions, dance arcade, music, game consoles, lots of indoor games among others.

Of course, the trampoline was truly fun for both the children and adults as most first-time visitors had wonderful experience jumping endlessly on the bouncing platform. As expected, some children were even somersaulting, doing various acrobatic styles and making new friends while still bounding up and down the trampoline.

There was no need for parents to watch over their children as no

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Some children having fun at Upbeat on May 27th

children was idle, while the roving eyes of Upbeat staff kept watching and directing the children to dare more adventurous fun at the centre.

As well, the parents were not left out. From trying their hands on any fun activity, taking pictures with their children and friends, and watching with excitement, they had fun.

However, the centre provided a veritable platform for eating, making new friends and business networking for the parents, coupled with relaxation by the lagoon side for fresh air while the children play endlessly across the plethora of fun activities at Upbeat.

“We had an amazing time at Upbeat Centre and the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Upbeat centre is always fun and I can never get tired of coming here”, Susan, a mother of three, said.

But what surprised her most what the fact that even parents brought out the inner child in them and played to stupor.

For Nick, a foreigner, Upbeat Centre is one place he has been with his family over five times since it opened because the family likes the activities it offers. “The facilities are world class and security is perfect. I have been busy with my wife and friends here, while the children are playing for over two hours now because the fun activities are engaging”, Nick said.

But what Amaka, a mother of two, likes most is the fitness related activities, especially now that

Dubai hosts 4.7 million visitors in Q1 2018

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ubai’s tourism sector rallied strongly, steadily picking up pace through the first three months of 2018 in light of growing currency pressures as it continued to retain and grow share across global markets. The city welcomed 4.7 million international overnight tourists from January-March 2018, posting a stable two percent increase in traffic versus the same period last year.

According to a report release

by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), leading source markets continued to highlight their affinity for Dubai as the top three retained their positions versus 2017. Recording an impressive 7 per cent year-on-year increase to deliver 617,000 visitors, India helped level out the relatively stable second-placed KSA (-1 percent) and the steeper decline in visitation from third-placed UK (-8 percent). Russia ended the quarter in fourth place, continuing its upward trajectory by topping the growth charts with a stellar 106 per cent increase over Q1 2017, delivering 259,000 tourists, benefiting from availability of visa-onarrival facilities for Russian citizens from early last year. Similarly, 5th placed China also continued to leverage its visa-on-arrival status, delivering 258,000 Chinese visitors, up a strong 12 per cent.

Posting double-digit increases in most countries, Europe made

Southern Sun Ikoyi wins 2018 Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame Award

particularly strong contributions in the first three months of the year, with Germany in seventh place up 13 per cent with 194,000 visitors, France up 17 percent with 103,000 in 12th place, and 14thplaced Italy up 20 percent with 80,000. In a record first appearance, Sweden featured among Dubai’s top 20 source markets, delivering 42,000 visitors, up 9 percent.

Rounding off the top 10 feeder markets, sixth-placed Oman ended Q1 down 4 percent, showing signs of recovery after challenging economic conditions that dominated 2017 resulting in significant reductions in tourist arrivals to Dubai. Travellers from eighth-

placed US increased by a moderate 2 percent, while declines were witnessed by both ninth-placed Iran and 10th-placed Pakistan at 19 and 22 percent respectively.

From a regional perspective, Western Europe retained pole position, contributing an unprecedented 23 percent of overnight visitor volumes, ahead of the GCC and South Asia, both with 17 percent shares. The proximity markets across the MENA region continued to deliver sustained volumes at 11 per cent share, while North and South-East Asia drove 10 percent of the volumes. Meanwhile, Russia, the wider CIS and Eastern Europe collectively delivered 10 percent of total visitation

children are getting obsessed easily. For her, a visit to Upbeat takes a child and even an adult a step away from obesity.

Speaking on the Children’s Day outing, a staff of Upbeat who pleaded anonymity said Upbeat is unique because fun, fitness and life of its customers are its priority; hence it is committed to offering a blend of fun and fitness in one-stop-shop.

Beyond the fun at Children’s Day, Upbeat Centre, which is located at 11 Admiralty Road, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, extended the fun for the children with special mid-term activities from May 29 to June 3, 2018. The surprise is a flat rate of N5,000 charged for each child for all the fun activities.

and contributed an impressive 50 percent increase in visitation for the first quarter. Rounding off the regional mix and reflecting the sustained diversity of Dubai’s visitation base, the Americas contributed a consistent 6 percent in volumes while Africa grew traffic volumes by 15 percent to contribute a total of 5 percent, and Australasia the final 1 per cent of the regional mix for Q1 2018.

Helal Saeed Almarri, director general, Dubai Tourism, commented: “The first quarter of the year has yielded stable performance supporting strong growth for all adjacent sectors like hotels and airlines. We expect to build on this strong base of 4.7 million visitors, to accelerate momentum through the summer and beyond – on the back of our strategic investments, partnerships, and policy enablers that are geared to collectively drive strong growth in 2018. As we move forward, the steadfast support we receive from our government, public and private sector partners is invaluable, and together we can look forward to delivering our Tourism Vision target of welcoming 20 million annual visitors by 2020.”

At the end of March 2018, Dubai’s growing hotel room inventory stood at 108,807 spread across 689 hotel and hotel apartment establishments, representing year-on-year increases of 4 and 1 per cent respectively.

outhern Sun Ikoyi is awarded its second prestigious 2018 Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame recognition by the reputable global travel review site, TripAdvisor. The highly coveted accolade comes as the renowned international hotel has consecutively won the Trip Advisor Certificate for Excellence over the last 5years, 2010 to 2015.This recognition hereby celebrates Southern Sun Ikoyi for its consistency in sustaining and delivering quality Excellence in Hospitality to its guests over the past five years.

The Certificate of Excellence Hall of fame award which was developed to recognise, highlight and reward distinction throughout the global hospitality industry, celebrates the finest hotels and hospitality companies in the world with consistent excellence ratings and is adjudged by the vast number of guests who visit any named hotel. Their comments and reviews about the hotel are posted onto the international travel website which is visible to millions of travellers from around the world.

Southern Sun Ikoyi’s tradition of excellence was appraised by guests on a whole range of hospitality services varying from its superb culinary reputation, sophisticated ambience for guests, top quality gym and facilities, courteous staff, efficiency, security and value for money amongst other points. The hotel’s particular warm response to all comments and queries posted onto the website has earned them excellent ratings with guests over the years.

Receiving the award with delight, Mark Loxley, general manager, Southern Sun Ikoyi, attributed the hotel’s second Hall of Fame win and continued success to its commitment to delivering a world class facility with dependable and quality service. He commended the dedication of staff and management of the hotel for their consistent effort in delivering superior service at all times.

Loxley then reaffirmed Southern Sun Ikoyi’s commitment to remaining the preferred destination for business and leisure travellers alike, stating that “our strategized aim for delivering consistency in excellence has proven to be favourable with our guests over the years, hence our hotel recording outstanding recognitions for quality service delivery”.

The annual Trip Advisor traveller’s awards continues to remain one of fierce competition for top hotels around the world even as Southern Sun Ikoyi also continues in its stead of delivering top notch excellence. Southern Sun Ikoyi is proud to be recognised again in the prestigious Hall of Fame for Excellence category as one of Nigeria’s leading and finest hotel for the year 2018.

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Travel

Kids take-off on Emirates on children’s day in Lagos Stories by IFEOMA OKEKE

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s part of the ways to celebrate the children’s day, Emirates Airline put the Nigerian children in a celebration mood with a myriad of social activities at the Ikeja City Mall, Lagos.

The event organised by the multiple award winning airline was fun-filled with shows ranging from photographs, games, eating, drinking and ultimately, the cinema show.

At the early hours of Saturday 26th of May, the City Mall had been filled to the brim with lots of children dressed in Emirates Pilot and cabin crew uniforms and moving towards the well decorated Emirates’ podium.

The occasion which kicked off at about 11am engaged the over 100 children who attended the event with the popular and amazing movie known as Sherlock Gnomes. For over 60 minutes the ever captivating movie kept the children

glued to their seats with total focus on the screen.

Addressing the children in his short welcome speech before the children and their parents went into the cinema session, Afzal Parambil, Emirates Country Manager in Nigeria, thanked the children and their parents for massively turning up for the event.

According to Parambil,

the activity, which was in line with the airline’s felicitation with young travellers and intending young travelers, provides an opportunity for various school children and every Nigerian children, the opportunity to have fun and to feel honoured by the airline, particularly on the occasion of Children’s Day. While encouraging at-

Air Peace emerges company of the year, attributes feat to customers

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igeria’s leading carrier, Air Peace has won the “Company of the Year Award 2017” of Leadership Group.

The airline received the award weeks after it was recognised as a “National Carrier of Repute” at the Annual Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Umuahia, Abia State, where six of its crew members were also honoured as “Nigerian Crew Member of Repute”.

Speaking at the Leadership 2017 Awards in Abuja on Thursday, Sam Nda-Isaiah, Chairman of Leadership Group Limited, said Air Peace and other award recipients were selected for the honour strictly on merit.

Nda-Isaiah hailed the carrier and other awardees

for making significant contributions to the economic development of the country, urging them to sustain the high standards they were reputed for.

Meanwhile, Air Peace has dedicated the award to its customers, saying their huge support and patronage had been the pillars of its success since it commenced commercial flight operations more than three years ago.

The airline assured that the award, which was received on its behalf by Oluwatoyin Olajide, its Chief Operating Officer, would spur it to deepen the quality of its flight services. “ Th e a w a r d f r o m Leadership Group”, the airline said in a statement issued by Chris Iwarah, its CorporateCommunications Ma n a g e r, “ i s a n o t h e r

proof of the high quality of our contributions to the development of Nigeria’s economy and delivery of excellent flight services.”

It assured: “We are driven by our passion to reward the huge support and patronage of our esteemed guests over the years. We are not going to spare any effort to make the flying experience of our guests truly great and rewarding. Soon, we will be announcing dates for the commencement of the expansion of our route network to Asaba, Bauchi, Kaduna, Makurdi, Osubi, Nigeria Air Force Base in Port Harcourt, Monrovia, Lome, Abidjan and other West Coast destinations under the third phase of our no-city-left-behind project aimed at having many more people experience our spectacular flight services.

tendees to Patronise Emirates at all times, Parambil who is also the Regional Manager of West Africa said “thank you very much for coming. Your parents brought you here and you will watch only one movie.

Next time you are traveling, make sure you fly Emirates where you can watch over 3000 movies. We want to celebrate it with you and

make it exciting for all of you”.

At the end of the party, children and their parents were given free Emirates souvenirs, including bags, books, food, drinks amongst other valuable items.

Commending Emirates Airlines, Fabamise Dolapo, a parent, thanked the Emirates for their kind gesture, pointing out that recognising children in such a way is the best CSR. “This event shows that Emirates knows what they are doing. They are not neglecting the children and I give them kudos. Bringing them together is the best an airline could do but they should also create a platform where they can hear the voice of these children so as to know how they feel”.

Appreciating Emirates, another parent, Folake Oyewande said that she was highly impressed even though this was her first experience.

“This is the first one I am attending but I must tell you that I am highly impressed with what Emirates is doing. They have shown that

they are really the leading carrier. I am very happy that my children are part of it.

But I must add that they should provide pilots and cabin crew uniforms for all next year because that is the attraction for the children”.

Similarly, Egwuatu, a journalist and a parent who simply identified himself as said what Emirates is doing for children is very commendable.

“It is a good one for the children. It is good and I hope the airline sustains it. They should however, take time to educate the children more on Emirates culture, history and all they do,” Egwuatu pointed out.

To Ezinwa Elienai, a student of New Crown Stars in Ogun State, Emirates Airline has made her children day celebration very memorable and interesting.

“This airline is very good and I like them. They have made my celebration look big as we watch the cinema show. I pray to God so Emirates Airline will continue to grow since they have children like us in mind at all the time”

Dana Air bags NANS’ best CSR award, recognises CEO as icon of societal development

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or its passionate commitment to the society, one of Nigeria’s leading air lin e s Dan a Air, h as been recognized as the Best Corporate Social Re s p o n s i b i l i t y ( C S R ) Company of the year 2017/18, by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

Jacky Hathiramani, the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, was also conferred with the Icon of Societal Development Award, for his ‘’leadership acumen, Giant stride in the aviation sector and Humanitarian service.’’

Odebunmi Idowu, the National Public Relations Officer of NANS, who made the presentation to the airline during a courtesy

visit to Dana Air’s Murtala Mo h a m m e d Ai r p o r t (MMA2) office in Lagos, said: so many companies do not understand the meaning of giving back to the society in which they operate. Most of them believe is all about the industry and profit, leaving out the society and people who keep them in business. ‘’Today, we have decided to honor one of Nigeria’s finest airlines for their outstanding service delivery in the aviation industry and most of all, their passionate commitment to giving back to the society.’’ ‘’We are aware of Dana Air’s discount for corp members and Nigerian students, Commitment to the fight against cancer

in Nigeria, and constant support to the Nigerian entertainment industry and as patriotic Nigerians concerned about our development as a country, the leadership of NANs resolved in her best capacity to honour Dana Air ManagementintoNANSHall of fame and also present this award as Nigeria’s Best CSR Company of the year, having reviewed your immense contribution to the economy and your humanitarian and community development initiatives.’’

Odebunmiwhodescribed the airline’s CEO as a very humble and accommodating personality, also thanked him for his humanitarian service, and extolled his management and leadership acumen.

African Business Aviation Association appoints Fadugba as Chairman

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he African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) has announced the appointment of the CEO, African Aviation Services Limited, Mr Nick Fadugba, as its new Chairman.

He was appointed b y Af B A A’s Bo a r d o f Directors during the recent European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva ,

Switzerland, and replaces Tarek Ragheb, the Founding Chairman of AfBAA. Fadugba established African Aviation Services in 1990, with the aim of promoting aviation development in Africa and he is widely recognised as an authority on the African aviation industry.

He is a former elected Secretary General of the African Airlines Association

(AFRAA), currently the Advisor to the Association of African Aviation Training Organisations (AATO) and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAes), UK. Over the years, Fadugba has provided a widerange of consultancy and advisory services to international and African aviation organisations and governments.

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Sunday 03 June 2018

Health&Science Frieslandcampina hosts health practitioners on 2018 world milk day

Risk factors of adult-onset and occupational asthma

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sthma is known to affect people of all ages. While it often starts in childhood, it can also develop for the first time in adults. In childhood, asthma triggers are more likely to be allergies.

However, it is not same in adult-onset asthma which is more likely to be triggered by work-related and factors such as hormonal changes and lifestyles.

Occupational asthma is adjudged the most common cause of adult onset asthma and constitutes about 15 per cent cases of asthma in adults of working age. In addition, up to 10 per cent of employees develop asthma in some industries.

In adult-onset/late-onset asthma (occupational asthma), exposure to certain substances at work can cause it. The allergens that cause occupational asthma, otherwise known as respiratory sensitizers cause your airways to be hypersensitive.

It may take some time before you start having asthma symptoms after being exposed to the allergens, a small amount of the substance can trigger the asthma symptoms, Such substances can include things like chemicals found in spray paint, flour or grain dust, wood dust, animals, latex or substances found in fumes amongst others.

However, some of these jobs are likely to cause occupational asthma when you are exposed to allergens includes: Vehicle spray painting(workers spraying cars and other vehicles) - Chemical called isocyanates (typically in 2-pack paints) Baking (workers in bakeries, flour mills and kitchens) - Flour dust and enzymes which contain additives such as amylase Woodworking (people working in joinery and furniture industries) - Dusts from hardwood, softwood and wood composite, Glues/resins Soldering (people who work in the electronics and assembly industries) - Fumes from rosin-based solder flux Healthcare work natural and rubber latex proteins, Gluteraldehyde and invisible toxic gases, particles and vapours from

diathermy, Penicillin’s/ Chiwuike Uba, is a founder of cephalosporin’s Amaka Chiwuike-Uba Founda Working with anition (ACUF). mals (pet shops, stable

ANTHONIA OBOKOH

igeria’sleadingdairy nutrition company, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC., makers of Peak milk, Peak 456 and Three crowns milk hosted Health Care Practitioners to advocate and reemphasise the health benefits of milk and draw attention to the importance of preparing wholesome meals. The event which held in Lagos on June 1st in commemoration of the 2018 World Milk Day.It had in attendance about two hundred healthcare practitioners including GPs, Nutritionists, Geriatrics, Cardiologists, Dieticians and Nurses. ‘‘Milk is a major source of calcium, a mineral that promotes strong bones, as well as helps fight weight loss. Unfortunately, numerous slimmers evade milk and dairy items since they believe they are fattening. The present view of milk as harmful in increasing cardiovascular risk should be challenged and efforts should be made to restore it to its legitimate place in a healthy diet,” said Ben Langat, managing director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria, in his welcome address.

Langat stated that the occasion provides a wonderful opportunity to highlight the immense bundle of essential supplements contained in milk.

“To deal with getting the best out of the nutrients that milk offerswithoutbeingindangerofany sickness is to drink milk every day and incorporate milk in your meals as much as possible,” he said.

According to Brai Bartholomew, President of Nutri-

Maureen Ifada, Marketing Manager (Peak milk); Bartholomew Bari, President Nutrition Society of Nigeria; Mrs. Ore Famurewa, Corporate Affairs Director FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC; Barrister Olayinka Oladunjoye Commissioner of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives Lagos State. Samuel Adejare, Hon. Commissioner for Water Infrastructure Development; Zatur Hassim, Specilized Nutrition Lead.

tion Society of Nigeria (South) speaking on the importance of milk drinking said “Milk is a complete food that supplies essential nutrients to the human body - carbohydrates, proteins, fats and micronutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, folic acid, vitamins D, A & B12.

He further added that several benefits are associated with milk consumption noting that Strong bones and teeth, growth and tissuerepair,redbloodcellformation and health, strong immunity.

“Milk contributes to the prevention of micronutrient deficiencies in the vulnerable groups and diversity of diets of the poor. This shows the goodness of milk!

“Nigerians, young and old, should therefore include milk

in their diets to benefit from its goodness,” added Bartholomew.

However, delivering keynote address, R.A Sanusi an associate Professor of Human Nutrition at the University of Ibadan pointed out that the food we eat is related to either promote health and prevent disease or is a cause of many of the chronic non communicable diseases.

According to him, Milk is good food which when added to our daily diets improves the quality and diversity of our diet.

Whatever it is we eat, it is very possible to include Milk.

In addition to the world milk day celebration, FrieslandCampina WAMCO organised a PeCaDoMo (an acronym for Peak Can Do More) competition

where participants were engaged in preparing various recipes using Peak milk.

FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC has been a necessary part of most Nigerian homes since 1954 through its flagship brand, Peak Milk. The company was incorporated in April 1973 as West Africa Milk Company Nigeria (WAMCO) and commenced operations in 1975.

It is also deeply committed to improving the lives and welfare of its consumers and communities across the country.

Over the years, the company has proven itself an excellent corporate citizen by supporting schools, charities and communities across Nigeria through its Corporate Citizenship programme, launched in 2004.

Kwara screens 4000 females civil servants, remodels 50 primary health care SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin

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he Kwara State government says it has screened about 4000 female civil servants in the state to ensure their status and prevent breast and cervical cancer and ensure health society among kwarans.

Abdulfatah Ahmed, the state governor who disclosed this while briefing journalists in Ilorin the state also revealed that about 50 primarily health care institutions were remulded largely to serve the rural environment.

“Because we are aware that in a bid to drive health care, you need to be conscious of availability and accessibility.

That was why we set- up programmes to ensure that drugs are made available at all our health institutions through a well structured drugs revolving scheme.

“Under the scheme, we have seen how availability inclusion of getting right infrastructure in place and that led us to remuld 5 general hospi-

tals including the one of Ilorin, Offa, Share, Omu-Aran and of course Kiaima. These are critical areas that are supposed to serve primary and secondary health care facilities.”

He added that, “We also improved our accessibility through expansion of incorporating health insurance which

covers about four to five local governments in three senatorial districts in the state.

“Through the office of first lady, under her LEAH, we were able to partner and ensure that over four thousand female civil servants were made to under go screening which will clearly define their status and give

them the latitude to next step where necessary.”

According to him, one of the biggest challenges health care service is faced with today in Nigeriaandotherpartsoftheworld is non communicable diseases like cancer, tumor and others.

“These diseases unfortunately affect people without knowledge until it gets bad, that was why it becomes imperative that we create sensitization in areas of making information available through people going for check-ups and ensuring their status before it really get bad.,” he said Speaking further, Ahmed explained that, “ We are now fully giving in to comprehensive state wide health insurance scheme. The law to drive the health insurance scheme has been passed, the structure has also been put in place that fully upscale the health insurance scheme and will make health services available to average persons that live in rural environment with as low as N1000 to N2000 to have all year round health care service delivery.

CHIWUIKE UBA

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owners, laboratory workers, zookeepers) - Animal fur, feathers, dander, dried urine and saliva dusts, ‘animal aeroallergens’ Working in agricultureAgricultural dusts - grain dust and poultry dust, or other dusts, fungal spores, bacteria, endotoxins, mites, animal dander and faeces, plant dust, soil, bedding, feed and feed components, chemicals, etc.

Engineering (people who work in machining or shaping) - Metal working fluids (MWFs), Cobalt Hairdressing (Hairdressers) - Persulphate in Hairdressers’ bleach, hair dyes Banking (people in the cash counting room) – Dust. This is peculiar to Nigeria due to poor handling of Nigerian currency notes by the citizens, causing the notes to be so dirty; hence, produce unusual dusts during counting The second type of occupational asthma is the irritant-induced occupational asthma, which occurs when a chemical is inhaled at work and it irritates the airways, causing asthma symptoms.

Usually, this happens when there is an accidental chemical spillage in the workplace. Some of the irritant chemicals include chlorine (used in swimming pools) and ammonia which is a common agent in refrigerators.

In addition to occupational asthma, cigarette smoking, respiratory infections and nasal congestion, female hormones and stressful life events are other factors responsible for adult-onset asthma.

Occupational asthma is preventable if required measures are put in place by an employer who is using substances which can cause asthma in the workplace to prevent and control worker exposure.

Finally, knowing and understanding your asthma triggers and avoiding them is a first step to managing your asthma. If you are currently employed in an industry that exposes you to the identified substances, it is important to consult either qualified occupational physician respiratory physician to check your systems. Asthma is not a death sentence. Together, we shall BEAT ASTHMA.

Sunday 03 June 2018

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BDSUNDAY 47

Sports

World Cup: Nigeria kits sold out after 3million pre-orders

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Stories by ANTHONY NLEBEM

igeria may not be favourites for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, but they seem to have won fans over with their new kit for Russia.

Football fans went crazy for Nigeria’s new Nike kit as they queued up along Oxford Street on Friday morningtogettheirhandsonitbefore it sells out.

Three million fans pre-ordered replica shirts, according to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and shoppers queued outside Nike’s flagship store in London on Friday to try to get their hands on the clothing.

The home and away shirts, priced at £65, were sold out on the sportswear giant’s website soon after they were released.

Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi is among the players who modelled the kit, which was first revealed back in February, along with Leicester’s Wilfried Ndidi, who wore a branded bucket hat and jacket for the promotional photos.

The makers describe the home kit as a “subtle homage to Nigeria’s ‘94 shirt, with its eagle wing-inspired black-and-white sleeve and green torso”.

Theawaykit,meanwhile,isa“cool, refined vision” of a classic full-green strip.

Nigeria will debut the in-demand kit in their friendly against England on Saturday evening at Wembley as they continue to prepare for the World Cup. London is home to thousands of Nigerian ex-pats and people with Nigerianheritage,meaningthekithad no shorter of takes at Nike’s central London HQ. The Super Eagles are looking forward to the tournament after they beat Argentina 4-2 back in November and they will face them again in the group stages.

Their squad is relatively young and 21-year-old Alex Iwobi features heavily in promoting the new gear along with Kelechi Iheanacho.

The new collection is ‘Naija-inspired’, with the Mercuial 360 boot available in green and black, reflecting

the colours used in the new kits.

The Nike kits went on sale in Nigeria on May 29 and hit the stores in other countries on June 1 with people in London spending the morning out on the streets in hope of picking up something from the new collection.

Nike UK have revealed on Friday morning that all three shirts sold out almost instantly online and add that there is likely to be limited availability left in stores.

They also claimed there are currently no plans to restock the collection, which will only make the much sought after pieces all the more valuable.

Nigeria will play Czech Republic next week after facing England as make final plans ahead of the World Cup. The Super Eagles will line up in Group D along with Croatia, Iceland and Argentina.

Sports punter wins big on BetKing

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n astute sports punter in Anambra has won N3million with just N500 after playing on Nigeria’s fastest growing sports betting platform – BetKing.

The prediction king, who goes by the name Micheal Obiorah expressed delight as he shared his story with members of the press. In his words, “I just believed I could win. See the result now.” He expressed that he has been a sports fan since childhood and when BetKing came to town and called on fearless prediction kings, he was very eager to join the playground for kings.

Michael attributes his success to daring belief in his ability to predict like a king of the game. He talked about the favourable odds as well as the comfort he felt playing at one of the Kingmakers’ shops in in Anambra.

In a statement, Micheal Obiorah expressed gratitude to BetKing for providing a platform that was favorable and efficient especially because he received his winning within 24 hours of making his request.

He also added how his winning would help him finish long-term projects and also promised to keep playing on the platform.

According to the Chief Sam, the Super Kingmaker who manages a BetKing shops in the region, “winnings like this continue to prove BetKing as a royal brand in Nigeria, supporting everyone who wishes to be a winner”, he said.

In the same development, the MD/CEO of BetKing, Byron Petzer said in a statement that BetKing will continue to create endless winning opportunities for fearless prediction kings on the platform.

This win follows a recently reported win of over N7million on BetKing and according to a statement from the previous winner; he is busy making serious investments in several parts of Nigeria.

BetKing is a sports betting company that launched on February 22, 2018 in Lagos, offering online services Nationwide and agency services in 8 states within Nigeria.

With headquarters in Lagos state, BetKing is working towards a nationwide expansion that places several physical shops across all states in Nigeria. Among the offerings of the company’s services are sports betting, not restricted to football, hockey, cricket, tennis, basketball and more, customized state-of- the-art virtual games including the exclusively designed sports Kings’ League.

To join the playground for kings, users can visit www. betking.com to sign up. Users who prefer physical shops can simply walk into any agent shop across Lagos, Anambra, Ondo, Ogun, Akwa-Ibom, Imo, Oyo, and Osun. You can also follow BetKing on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook with the handle @BetKingNG or join the conversation on Social Media with the hashtag #PlaygroundForKings

Kwesé inks deal with BON for FIFA World Cup broadcast … Over 80 terrestrial TV stations to hook-up to Kwesé Free Sports … An estimated 100m Nigerians to watch 32 free-to-air FIFA World Cup matches

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wesé and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) have signed a Free-toair TV Rights Sub-licence Agreement to provide the widest coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia on terrestrial television in Nigeria. The agreement will see over 80 terrestrial television stations broadcast the FIFA World Cup to an estimated 100 million Nigerian viewers.

Kwesé’s exclusive free-to-air channel, Kwesé Free Sports (KFS), is a 24-hour sports TV station that transmits on UHF channel 32 in Lagos but through this partnership, the channel’s reach will be extended to all 36 states of the federation with the BON network comprising 39 private broadcasters including the Africa Independent Television (AIT) network and the Silverbird Television network, and over 30 Nigerian

L - R: Chairman Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), John Momoh; General Manager, Kwesé Free Sports Nigeria, Chichi Nwoko; Econet Media Executive, Zachary Wazara and Group Managing Director, Daar Communications, Tony Akiotu, after Kwesé and BON signed a Free-to-air TV Sub-licence agreement for the 2018 FIFA World Cup broadcast.

Television Authority (NTA) network stations.

General Manager, Kwesé Free

Sports Nigeria, Chichi Nwoko said: “By tuning to Kwesé Free Sports UHF 32 in Lagos, or any of the BON

network stations, football fans will enjoy 32 of the 64 FIFA World Cup matches live, including all Super Eagles and African teams’ matches, as well as select matches from the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final stages.

“Kwesé Free Sports’ goal is to ensure that every Nigerian has the opportunity to enjoy the FIFA World Cup whether on television or radio, wherever they are in Nigeria”, she added.

Kwesé Free Sports will provide the feed to BON member television stations across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria.

Consequently, a record number of football fans who would not have had access to watch the world’s biggest football tournament will enjoy 32 FTA matches on their local television station.

BON is delighted to announce that it will broadcast the 2018 FIFA World Cup to all viewers, Chairman, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, Mr. John Momoh said.

He added that “BON is committed to ensuring that all Nigerians can share, contribute and participate in enriching experiences through the dissemination of information using audio and video technology capable of reaching the audience simultaneously. We are focused on providing the best services to our audience and clients; and by combining the wide and national coverage of our members with Kwesé’s offering, means that we can ensure that all Nigerians have the opportunity to watch the matches and cheer on our Super Eagles during the FIFA World Cup whenwatchingviafree-to-air,regardless of their location in Nigeria.”

BDSUNDAY

NEW YOU CAN TRUST

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SUNDAY 03 JUNE 2018

2019 and the people’s power

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s the 2019 general election inches closer by the day, Nigerian voters should be wary and indeed, careful in taking sides with politicians, especially when they engage in brick-bats and all forms of altercation. This is because in most instances such are for selfish ends rather than the overall interest of the country and its good people. All in the bid to capture political power, or retain it, more by crook than by hook, good governance has been sacrificed for subterfuge, betrayals, outright use of force and fiat and all manner of laughable intrigues.

Taking a retrospective view of Nigeria’s political landscape since the return of democracy in 1999 and the major events that have defined and shaped it, it should be obvious that ordinary Nigerians have not had value for the sacred trust and immense goodwill they have invested in the political class. Whereas, many of them had looked forward eagerly to the deepening of democratic culture, much of what they have got is that of politicians leaving the substance (of good governance) to chasing the shadows (of self-aggrandisement).

Whereas, ordinary Nigerians had the fervent hope that the new crop of policy makers would understand and assuage their mounting pains of poverty and ignorance, what has dominated the political sphere are issues that are predicated on the personalising of political power. Making the rule rather than the exception from 1999 were controversial issues such as certificate forgery scandals, the use of impeachment by the lawmakers either as a bargaining chip. We have had other distractions such as intense intra-party squabbles, killings of perceived political foes with voiceless victims such as Chief Bola Ige, Harry Marshal, Aminasari Dokubo, Funsho Williams and Dr. Ayo Daramola (all of blessed memory). Hardly does anyone talk about them again. That is Nigeria’s brand of dog-eatdog politics for you!

Not done, we have been served other political melodrama of the weirdest kind such as the use of the anti-graft bodies especially the EFCC as a veritable tool of treachery, as weapon of witch hunt against perceived political foes or for political vendetta. We have had incessant increase in the pump price of petroleum products and the comatose state of the four refineries whose Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) has remained only a

pipe dream!

As expected, the political class has redefined the concept of corruption. Chief amongst these is using one’s position to feather the nest, be bold enough to be paraded in the court of law as having corruptly enriched oneself, while putting on a cosmetic smile and raising a fist to acknowledge the cheers from the rented crowd! That is not all.

As a former governor, the best bet is to use part of the ill-gotten wealth to find your way to the otherwise hallowed chambers of the National Assembly as a Senator. There you have the audacity to make laws for those who still do not understand that here in Nigeria, political power is meant for the favoured few who must trample on our common will with our common wealth?!

Even after Senator Shehu Sani revealed that each Nigerian Senator smiles home every blessed month with a whopping N13.5 million as running cost in addition to the over N750,000 monthly consolidated salary and allowances no Non- Governmental Organisation(NGO) has deemed it fit to fight for its reversal. None has sponsored any bill in that regard or led any mass protest to decry it.

So, why the hue and cry that one of them, Gbajabiamila actually went ahead and bought a N75m Mercedes G-wagon car as a birthday gift for his darling wife? As criticisms trail the show of opulence in the midst of grinding poverty, the man in the eye of the storm says that he saved for years to achieve his dream. “Tell that to the marines!” an angry analyst expressed his angst.

But that is only a part of the larger problem.

The wave of violence and related bloodletting that trailed the recent primaries of the ruling APC as well as the parallel versions across the states should inform us that all is not well with our polity. Another controversial issue is that of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration always baring its fangs when his erstwhile political friends suddenly turn into ferocious foes. It happened when Alhaji Atiku Abubakar cross-carpeted back to the PDP. Soon after, Intels, one of the companies he has interests in became EFCC’s target for investigation!

In a similar odious replay of the use of political power for personal gains, when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo dared the president not to attempt to return to Aso Rock, come 2019, Nigerians were suddenly reminded of the long-forgotten alleged financial scam of $15 billion electric power probe. So, the question is

AYO OYOZEBAJE Baje is Nigerian first food technologist in the media and author of ‘DRUMBEATS OF DEMOCRACY’

The electorate should therefore, get registered and use their voters’ cards to elect only leaders that are sincerely desirous of restructuring the polity to benefit the people

this- should the fight against corruption be selective? And why must former PDP stalwarts, alleged to have soiled their hands in shady deals suddenly become saints as soon as they jump ship to the APC? What moral lessons are our politicians teaching the younger generation?

Who is fooling who, and who is allowing himself to be fooled?

In essence, one would want Nigerians to ‘shine their eyes’ and realise that most of those who hold our collective political destiny in the hands have no allegiance whatsoever to the Nigerian state, or the people. They do not believe in people’s power or terms such as ‘in the interest of the people’ or the ‘common good’.

They have misconstrued political power as the easiest avenue to enrich themselves and their cronies. But we cannot go on this weedy way for long. Not at all!

It is in that wise, that enlightened citizens are asking for a thorough review of the constitution so that power is returned to the people where it should rightly reside. Devolving political and economic powers to the federating units (states or geo-political zones) as against this injurious unitary system of government (with state governors going cap-in-hand every month-end to Abuja for crumbs from the master’s table) has become imperative, if we want good governance.

We want institutional review that would make it impossible for political appointees to dip their hands into the national till and like avaricious locusts strip our green fields into desert wastelands and yet get away with blue murder. We want Nigerian politicians to be true ‘servant leaders’ as former President Umar Yar’Adua rightly advocated.

The electorate should therefore, get registered and use their voters’ cards to elect only leaders that are sincerely desirous of restructuring the polity to benefit the people.

Off the Cuff Playing the monkey with ‘NotTooYoungToRun’ law?

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t was very interesting watching President Muhammadu Buhari last Thursday as he signed into law the ‘Not too young to run bill’. He was surrounded by some handpicked youths whose appearances suggest they are not in the band of the ‘lazy youths’ the President talked about the other time.

The youths looked well fed and fine arrayed, suggesting that they are from rich and well- connected homes.

Last Tuesday during his nationwide Democracy Day broadcast, President Buhari had promised to sign the bill. The bill was passed by the National Assembly last year to alter Sections 65, 106, 131, 177 of the constitution. It was to reduce the age qualification for president from 40 to 30; governor from 35 to 30; senator from 35 to 30; House of Representatives membership from 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly membership from 30 to 25.

Controversy has since trailed the hasty assent to the bill when other bills that would better impact the country are not even being considered. The speed at which the President assented to the bill and the timing have set off many insinuations. While some believe it was aimed at sand-papering a controversial statement he made recently that Nigerian youths were a bunch of idle illiterates which earned him some bashing from the youth, some other analysts say it is all about 2019.

They believe that the President must have signed the bill into law just to woo the youth to vote for him.

“This is pure politics. President Buhari knows that his administration is not that popular because of poor performance. He thinks that assenting to the bill could sway youth’s perception and eventually get them to vote for his return in 2017. This is the time all manner of bills can be signed into law.

“In this part of the world laws don’t mean

anything to those in government, after all we hear how government refuses to submit itself to the rule of law and court judgments,” Okaro Jibril, a member of the Civil Society Organisation (CSO), said. They see such exercise as meaning almost nothing to them. In the case of the ‘NotTooToungToRun’ law, the President knows that it does not concern him after all he would be leaving the stage in some years to come assuming he wins in 2019,” said.

At the occasion, he told the youth not to contest against him, but to wait till 2023.

One major concern about the new law is that the targeted youths are mostly the children and wards of old brigade politicians. Such youths have since been corrupted by their parents who had presided over power for a long time. So, with such youths the evil days are not over for Nigeria.

Quick Takes 386,000

This is the total litres of crude oil said to have been seized recently from a vessel by the Navy in Delta State.

The sins of yesterday In Nigeria, we are quick to read meanings in everything. We look at things from the perspective of ethnicity and religion.

A man was voted into power by his people but he neglected them and squandered the money meant to lift their standard of living. Now, when the long arm of the law tries to catch up with such a man, we the deprived turn round to scream persecution! Who is persecuting who?

Published by BusinessDAY Media Ltd., The Brook, 6 Point Road, GRA, Apapa, Lagos. Ghana Office: Zion House, Shiashie, OIC-Galaxy Road, East Legon, Accra.

Tel:+ 233 243226596, +233244856806: email: bdsundayletter@businessdayonline.com Advert Hotline: 08116759801, 08082496194. Subscriptions 01-2950687, 07045792677. Newsroom: 08054691823 Editor: Zebulon Agomuo, All correspondence to BusinessDAY Media Ltd., Box 1002, Festac Lagos. ISSN 1595 - 8590.