BusinessDay Weekender Magazine 14 Edition

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SATURDAY 31, OCTOBER 2020

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EDITION 14 I 31, OCTOBER 2020

THE WAY FORWARD

Travel

Lead

Get Away to Grenada

Things to consider in your fight for change Businessday.ng

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SATURDAY 31, OCTOBER 2020

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For more information: Please Call: +971 4 325 3447 | Whatsapp: +971 52 732 4097 E-mail: info@rangedevelopments.com • www.rangedevelopments.com Businessday.ng

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Travel

SATURDAY 31, SATURDAY 31, OCTOBER OCTOBER 2020 2020

Get Away to Grenada

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ocated in the eastern Caribbean Sea, the island nation of Grenada, fondly referred to as the Spice Island, entices visitors with its white sand beaches adjacent to crystal blue water, nutmeg scented breezes and locally distilled rum. This English-speaking nation with some of the friendliest people in the Caribbean offers something for every type of traveller, from the laidback lounger to the active adventurer. With no current active COVID-19 cases on the island, Grenada is an ideal retreat for families, friends and solo travellers. The island has clearly outlined health guidelines, ensuring a safe holiday experience. Travellers visiting from most countries are required to provide a negative PCR test within 7 days of arrival. All visitors are required to book their stay at a Pure Safe Travel Accommodation, approved by the Ministry of Health and listed on the official Grenada tourism website. The protocols are under constant review and visitors should check the official website for the latest updates. Activities on the island range from

a relaxed sail on a chartered yacht to sightseeing safaris to a day spent teeing off on the greens at the Grenada Golf & Country Club. Ocean-lovers can enjoy world-class diving, sport fishing, sailing, and Seafari boat tours, while those who prefer to keep their feet on dry land can catch some sun on one of the stunning beaches, hike the lush rainforest or visit the River Antoine Rum Distillery, the the oldest functioning water-propelled distillery in the Caribbean. Grenada is also known as the Caribbean Capital of Chocolate, with four major chocolate companies on the island. Located outside of the hurricane belt, Grenada consists of the island of Grenada itself, and two smaller islands, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. The tiny island of Carriacou is known as an excellent dive and snorkel destination with clear waters, pristine coral reefs and its premier Regatta Festival held annually in August, the longest-running in the Caribbean. With just 900 residents, most of whom derive their income from boat building and fishing, Petite Martinique boasts beautiful beaches on its calmer

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Western Leeward side. The island’s signature festivals include the Cultural Petite Martinique Heritage Weekend and the Whitsuntide Regatta. One of the Grenada’s latest developments is the Six Senses La Sagesse, expected to be complete by 2022 and slated to feature one hundred luxury rooms and suites, oceanfront villas, spas, shops and watersports’ facilities. Six Senses is considered one of the world’s leading luxury hotel brands and is part of the Intercontinental Hotel Group. “We’re excited to be developing an ultra-luxury resort that will allow guests to experience the best of this beautiful island, ” said Mohammed Asaria, Founder & Managing Director of Range Developments developers of the Six Senses La Sagesse Grenada. “Situated on a beach named as one of the best in the Caribbean, and just a 15-minute drive from Grenada's airport, our guests will be able to start their holiday right away.” Range Developments is the market leading investment and hospitality company, operating across the Eastern Caribbean. Projects by the resort developer have attracted over 1,600 investors and helped more than 4,000 individuals gain second citizenship so far via its Citizenship by Investment programme. Range Developments is the only company that has a track record of delivery in the Citizenship by Investment sector with multiple completed projects. By investing US $220,000, plus associated government fees in the government-approved Six Senses La Sagesse real estate project developed by Range Developments, investors and their families (subject to completion of satisfactory due diligence) are granted dual citizenship in a 3 month period without the need to visit or reside on the island. In addition to visa free travel to 140 countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, the Schengen Region, Russia, China and many others, Citizenship of Grenada also permits the investor to make an investment (suggested minimum amount is US $150,000) in the United States in exchange for residency (under the E2 visa program). BD Range Developments may be contacted on: Email: info@rangedevelopments. com Whats App: +971 52 732 4097 www.rangedevelopments.com Businessday.ng

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Editorial

SATURDAY 31, OCTOBER 2020

C O N T E N T S

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LESSONS FROM SUDAN'S REVOLUTION From Sudan to Nigeria, Lessons on sustaining a revolution

BUILDING AWARENESS The way forward: Building awareness and enlightenment through social media?

LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND Leaving No One Behind The Long Walk To A New Nigeria

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STATEMENT Statement by Patriotic Nigerians, Nigerians of the Diaspora and Friends of Nigeria

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ART OF THE WEEK Independence and Modern Nigerian Art (Part II)

22 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The Business Leader’s Guide to Launching AI Chatbot Programmes (Part II)

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CULINARY DELIGHTS Beginner’s Guide to building a Food Photography Portfolio

HEALTH TODAY Doctor burnout... A dangerous phenomenon

MUSIC & COVID-19 Music and the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic on its consumption

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BUSINESS Is your Company like Sparta?

MUSIC & MENTAL HEALTH Mental Health in the Creative Industry

RECIPE Pepper soup

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Editorial

PUBLISHER/EDITOR CHIEF SATURDAY 31, OCTOBERIN2020 Frank Aigbogun

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MANAGING DIRECTOR Ogho Okiti EDITOR BUSINESSDAY Patrick Atuanya EDITOR BUSINESSDAY SATURDAY Lehlé Balde EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Fabian Akagha

Editor’s Note SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 2020

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STRATEGY, INNOVATION & PARTNERSHIPS Oghenevwoke Ighure MANAGER, CONFERENCES & EVENTS Obiora Onyeaso CalibriMANAGER, ADVERTS Ijeoma Ude COPY SALES MANAGER Florence Kadiri DIGITAL SALES MANAGER Linda Ochugbua HEAD OF DIGITAL SERVICES Onyinyechi Eze HEAD, HUMAN RESOURCES Adeola Obisesan DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION Orasopee Communications Ltd. CONTRIBUTORS Husameldin Elnasri Titilade Oyemade Toju Akapa Osse Sinare Onyeka Akpaida Tolu Adelowo Oliver Enwonwu Olumide and Ifeyinwa Anyadiegwu Akanimo Ekong Monisola Adanijo FMCP Seyi Xodus Chidera Muoka Favour Olanrewaju Oluwafadekemi Areo Mercy Ayodele

Dear Weekender readers, I hope you are all doing well and staying as safe as you possibly can. As the nation heals and rebuilds from the distressing month that was October, I hope you are doing well and recuperating from what was a traumatic week. Allow me to remind you that COVID-19 is very much still around. I urge you to take care of yourself, wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds and practice physical distancing to remain COVID free. Do make sure that you are eating well and boosting your immune system with nutritious foods and vitamin C rich fruits. There is a global second wave of coronavirus and in Nigeria, current sharp increase in COVID-19 cases may suggest that a second wave may be looming. I know there is a lot going on and our attention is diverted, but it is vital that we all put our health first. Given the peculiar time the nation finds itself in, the past three editions of the Weekender focused solely on #endsars movement and content. This week, our lead story spotlights the way forward and you will find articles around the #endsars movement and the next steps, and a comparison between 2018 Sudan revolts and Nigeria’s most recent protests. In addition to the comprehensive news roundup, regular Weekender content is back and you will find many enjoyable articles: from Small Business Saturday, which celebrates small businesses, to a recipe, a piece on art and independence, food photography, how to build your own AI chatbox, and much more. Thank you for reading. Have a restful weekend and Happy November.

BD

PHOTO CREDIT Google Images ENQUIRIES lehle.balde@businessday.ng samuel.anyanwu@businessday.ng ADVERTS Ijeoma Ude +2348033225506 PUBLISHED BY BusinessDay Media Limited The Brook, 6 Point Road, GRA, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria. 01-2799100 www.businessday.ng LEGAL ADVISERS The Law Union

Lehlé Balde is the Editor of BusinessDay Weekender email: lehle.balde@businesssday.ng | social: @lehlelalumiere

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News Roundup

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SATURDAY 31, OCTOBER 2020

Amnesty international released evidence pertaining to the shooting at the Lekki toll gate OLUWAFADEKEMI AREO

The United States has halted the crowning of Ngozi Okonjo Iweala as WTO Director General

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he World Trade Organisation has delayed the announcement of Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as its new Director General after the United States raised concern about her selection as a consensus candidate after receiving support of about two thirds of voting member nations. According to reports from Geneva, just before the announcement Wednesday, the United States representative at World Trade Organization took to the floor to insist that South Korea’s candidate remained a contender, and that Washington will not recognise Okonjo-Iweala as the consensus candidate for appointment as Director-General. In response to the US surprise Wednesday objection, the General Counsel of the WTO has now postponed its announcement of the new Director-General until a further meeting, which is now scheduled for 9 November; after the US presidential elections.

More than 80 million Americans have voted so far in the 2020 elections

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he early vote surge currently going on in America has far surpassed the total early vote in 2016, even as the US election is less than a week from now. President Trump, the Republican president is being challenged by Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden, who is best known as Barack Obama's vice-president but has been in US politics since the 1970s. According to BBC polls, Joe Biden has been ahead of Donald Trump in most national polls since the start of the year and he has hovered around 50% in recent months and has had a 10-point lead on occasions. Every one, therefore awaits the 3rd o November 2020, to know who would be declared the next president of the United States. Businessday.ng

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mnesty international, a nongovernmental organisation which is focused on human rights has on Wednesday released investigative evidence concerning the Lekki toll gate shooting. An on-the-ground investigation by Amnesty International confirmed that the Nigerian army and police killed peaceful protesters as their collation of videos and photograph footage revealed that two army vehicles left the Bonny Camp - a military base approximately a seven-minute drive from the Lekki Toll Gate at 18:29 local time on

20 October. This was followed by four vehicles with flashing lights in a convoy appearing to be vehicles used by the Nigerian military and the police, all headed towards the Lekki toll gate. The vehicles were tracked to the Toll Gate and at around 18:45 the Nigerian military opened fire on the peaceful protesters.

2020 Anzisha prize goes to 21 year old Egyptian Entrepreneur

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laa Moatamed, a 21 year old Eg yptian entrepreneur has won the 2020 Anzisha prize of US$25,000. The Anzisha Prize, which is a partnership between African Leadership Academy and Mastercard Foundation,

celebrates African entrepreneurs aged 22 years and younger, and has so far supported 122 entrepreneurs. Moatamed is the co-founder of Presto, a leading delivery management service which provides business owners with an affordable and convenient delivery service for customers. Passionate Moatamed said “Across Upper Egypt, I saw people suffering from the problem we are solving and I wanted to try my best to help them, especially small businesses owned by women. I want to expand my service across Africa to help women who are suffering from operational hassles.”

Lagos state judicial panel began the hearing of police brutality cases on the 27th of October 2020

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he Lagos state judicial panel began the hearing of police brutality cases on Tuesday in relation to the core demand of protesters who successfully demanded the end of a widely feared police branch called the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS). The panel which is made up of eight people including two youth representatives and is expected to sit for the next six months. One of the hearings from that day was from a father of five who sought

justice for what he said was a 47-day detention in 2012 at the hands of SARS officers that came after his boss accused him of theft. He said he bled profusely and lost two teeth as officers beat and tortured him, demanding he confess, and later took his car, generator and the deed to his house. By 2016, however, a ruling court awarded him N10 million, but till date, SARS never paid him nor the guilty officers disciplined. The panel has said that this case would be ruled on in 7-10 days.


News Roundup

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Tanzania's current president is poised to be declared the election winner

W Sanwo-Olu admits Nigerian soldiers were responsible for the Lekki shooting

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lmost one week after videos and graphic scenes from eyewitnesses and protesters show that security forces dressed in Nigerian army uniform opened fire on unarmed protesters at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos, the governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday admitted to Cable News Network (CNN) that, indeed the military was responsible. “From the footage that we could see because there were cameras there, it seems to me there were men with a military uniform which should be Nigerian

army,” Sanwo-Olu said during an interview with CNN on Monday evening. When the American news-based pay television asked the governor of Africa’s biggest city to confirm again that it was the military that ordered the shooting of unarmed protesters at the Lekki toll gate last week Tuesday, Sanwo-Olu said: “Yes, they were there and that is what the footage shows.” He also said that the CCTV footage of the event would be made available during the judicial panel hearings and all everyone involved would be held accountable for their actions.

Karl Toriola has been named MTN Nigeria's next CEO, effective from March 2021

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TN Nigeria has named Karl Olutokun Toriola as its next C h i e f E x e c ut i v e O f f i c e r (CEO), effective from March 2021. Toriola has now become the second Nigerian to be named as CEO of the Nigerian unit of MTN Group after Mike Ikpoki in 2013. Toriola has worked with the MTN Group over the last 14 years he is very vast in business analysis, telecommunications, corporate finance, human resource management, risk management, and even engineering. He bagged his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo university, Nigeria in 1994 and went on to obtain his Master’s degree in Communication Systems from Swansea University, United Kingdom, in 1996. Toriola’s drive for excellence has

ith 60 percent of counted votes, Tanzania’s current president, John Magufuli has 83 percent of the votes and has won 194 of the parliamentary seats, while the opposition won just 2. The United States has said “irregularities and the overwhelming margins of victory raise serious doubts about the credibility of the results.” Main opposition presidential candidate Tundu Lissu with the CHADEMA party, who has received 14% of the vote so far, has rejected the election and called for protests. The opposition alleges widespread fraud including double-voting, ballot boxseizing and the rejection of thousands of election observers from polling stations. Few international observers were allowed to watch the vote. The electoral commission has denied allegations of irregularities in the East African nation irrespective of observers saying that Tanzania’s reputation for democratic ideals is crumbling, with Magufuli accused of severely stifling dissenting voices in his first five-year term.

Lai Mohammed has called for the regulation of social media in Nigeria

T pushed him to further acquire more certificates in corporate finance, human resource management, and breakthrough programs for senior executives from London business School, Harvard business School, and IMD business School, respectively. He is also an Alumnus of the prestigious Wharton business school and the European Institute of business administration (INSEAD) where he obtained certificates in strategic risk management, and finance for executives.

he Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday said that the nation is sitting on a keg of gun powder regarding the issue of fake news, hence the need for the government to immediately begin to regulate the social media space. He said the biggest challenge facing the country is the issue of fake news and misinformation, warning that the next war that will be fought in the country and across the globe may be fought through social media. He compared Nigeria to China where they went and could not access google, Facebook, Instagram and even emails because they made sure it is censored and well regulated. The bill against social media in Nigeria has however been condemned by many Nigerians, celebrities, and human rights activists. Businessday.ng

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Lessons from Sudan's Revolution

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From Sudan to Nigeria, Lessons on sustaining a revolution HUSAMELDIN ELNASRI

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here is a crucial need for a central organizing and coordinating body that leads the revolution activities. In Sudan's case, we elected for this body not to be a partisan one as people were losing faith in the opposition parties, and having them on the front might have repelled people from joining. Hence we went for the Sudanese Professionals Association as a coalition of unions and civil society organizations. This body was explicitly formed to lead the Revolution and was led by several activists and accepted political faces who were operating secretly inside the country but had some leaders residing abroad for their safety and the Association's sustainability. As the Revolution developed, a broader coalition was made to include political parties, civil society organizations, religious groups, and armed rebels groups, which was then widely recognized as the political backbone and cover for the Revolution. It was named rightly named "the Freedom and Change Forces." This body organized and coordinated the revolution activities, set the dates and times for protests and civil disobedience and communicated with the national and international stakeholders. As the Revolution progressed, The Revolutionary Committees were created in the residential areas in Sudan's cities. These committees helped to mobilize the youth of their neighborhoods to join revolution activities. The Power of Communications: The Coalition communicated ran an excellent communication campaign through the following: 1. Created official social media pages on Twitter and Facebook, but it eventually included Instagram and other platforms. 2. Launched mottos and hashtags such as #‫ سب طقست‬and Businessday.ng

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promote them widely on and off social media 3. They promoted revolution icons who broke their fear and contributed to the Revolution (including some heroes who gave their lives for the cause).


Lessons from Sudan's Revolution

SATURDAY 31, OCTOBER 2020

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and media on social media helped bring the international community's attention to what was happening in Sudan. The Revolution appointed spoke persons in many big cities worldwide, making it easier to reach out to international media, TV stations, and even local radio stations in the USA and UK. Reaching out to national and international celebrities and starts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram had helped to get the message of the Revolution to the world. Examples of those will be Rihanna, Idris Alba, LL J Cool‌ etc. The Revolution unleashed humor and satire on the previous regime, defeating the fear in people's hearts from the security forces' brutal force then. Ridiculing the senior members of the previous regime in public helped put pressure on them and make them look defeated. They used historical dates of previous revolutions to set new activities such as April 6, October 21, which are dates of revolutions that tumbled previous military regimes in the 60s and 80th in Sudan.This renewed the hope for change again in the hearts of Sudanese.

Reduce The Cost Of Participating In The Revolution: One of the biggest challenges of revolutions is the fear of the high personal cost for the people who join. Fear of getting arrested, hurt and injured, getting fired from a job, or losing one's life or the life of loved ones. Hence, whoever is organizing the Revolution needs to work on minimizing this cost as much as possible, and here are few techniques that might help achieve that: 1. Start small acts like letting the horn on the car off at a specific date and time for a minute or putting on a specific T-shirt color. The purpose here is to make it accessible for many people (mostly new ones) to feel what it's like to say no to oppression without really putting their lives in direct danger. 2. The use of short well organized civil disobedience has also enabled many people to participate in the Revolution safely. 3. The experience proved that it is better to call for distributed demonstrations rather than big central ones. It became more common to have local demonstrations in the outer city and residential areas, making it harder for the security and police forces to control and spread their resources thin. Having many demonstrations at the same time will give the impression that it's much bigger than it was at the early times. 4. The Sit-In site was a village of its own with services such as a health center and kitchen. It was a significant source of solidarity and togetherness, giving many people the chance to belong to the Revolution and contribute in whatever way was comfortable for them. 5. Always come up with quick and small ones and present them accumulatively to project the idea of growth and achieving goals.

4. It facilitated the creation and promotion of the Revolution Art, including photography, poetry, songs, graffiti, and drawings. Art enabled the Revolution to connect to the soul of the Sudanese culture. Putting all of this art

In the end, let me remind you that the Revolution is an accumulative act that takes time and a lot of effort. However, fatigue and frustration can set very quickly if results and goal achievement are not being seen on the horizon. Growing and sustaining a revolution requires lots of strategic thinking, excellent communication work, and a whole lot of inspiration-seeking. BD Businessday.ng

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Lead Story

SATURDAY 31, OCTOBER 2020

How do we nurture this newfound consciousness to transform our future ALASSANE BEYE

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espite the COVID-19 pandemic, the intensity of global public protests has not abated, neither has the brutality of police in response. While the reasons vary, the results differ, political leaders are being put on notice the world over, Leaders! No more promises, it is time for results! The #EndSARS movement which took Nigeria and the social media world by storm two weeks ago is capping an eventful year in ECOWAS. In Mali the M5-RFP movement mobilized hundreds of thousands of youth in the streets of Bamako, culminating into the fourth military coup of the nation’s history as protesters rejected eight years of bad governance, corruption scandals and bloodshed. Meanwhile Ivory Coast and Guinea, and before them Togo, are facing the all too familiar electoral tensions related to efforts by leaders overstaying their welcome at the helm of the countries’ destiny unlike in Ghana, Liberia and Niger. These frustrations are opening the door for alternative voices to emerge. Most often in the form of leaderless youth movements, fueled by social media, the new platform for community engagement. Young people around the World are discovering an age-old truth: Power is in the hand of the masses when they are united! As this reality sets in in the streets of Hong Kong, Beirut, Bishkek , Khartoum, Lagos, Paris, Chicago, Santiago or Caracas, the question of what comes next becomes crucial If we are to make these moments true breaks in the cycle of inequality and exclusion politic. It is time for us to stop complaining about the mismanagement of public resources, the blatant violation of electoral processes, tolerate the gross negligence of political leaders and to decisively influence who is put in charge and what they do with the power bestowed on them. If African politicians extend their stay, it is precisely because the role is too comfortable for them! Serving one’s country should be a sacrifice, not a ticket to the high life. How do we nurture this newfound consciousness to transform our future? • Let us realistic with our expectations. African nations need deep structural transformation. Tinkering at the edges simply Businessday.ng

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will not cut it. Structural problems take time, patience and resilience to fix. Having a game plan with short term actions to create an environment of trust, of hope that solutions will be found to the most pressing issues is critical. One chance for many African nations is that access to basic descent services, greater transparency in the management of public funds would go a long way in building that trust and this is achievable as long as those in charge are conscious that they are here to Serve and NOT to Serve themselves. • Power is taken, not given. The biggest lessons drawn from the Arab springs, the revolutions in Burkina, Sudan or Mali which have led to regime change is that political power vacuums never last long. Thus, as protests gather momentum, credible alternatives must organize, strategize to either capture the levers of power and public administration, or be prepared to sit down with those controlling them to ensure key demands are fulfilled. • We must prepare. Changing a broken system entails, dismantling it, but also creating something else to replace it! In 1992 when Mali ushered its democratic dispensation, a group of teachers, community activists, syndicalists offered a dream of progress, justice and civil liberties most Malians had never experienced. Unfortunately, over the next thirty years they built a system that served a political class which enriched itself tremendously without being able to satisfy the basic needs of the majority. As we denounce WHAT we don’t like about today, we must answer the question of HOW do we change it in a thoughtful, credible and realistic manner. Not everyone is destined be enter politics, but every citizen, especially those privileged to have had an education have a duty to call out our leaders when they fail to fulfill their obligations to provide citizens with acceptable basic public services, ensure our safety, a transparent and fair judicial system or the opportunity to create wealth for our families and our communities. We owe it to our children, we owe it to our Nations, and we owe it to ourselves. BD Alassane Beye is a Tutu Fellow.


SATURDAY 31, OCTOBER 2020

Book Review

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Book Title: Management FasTrack Author: Oladapo Akinloye Published by: KVR Publishing Year of Publication: 2016 Number of pages: 115 Category: Management

Perfect Guide to a Successful Career A Review of Oladapo Akinloye’s Management FasTrack: Bringing Today's Manager to Speed TITILADE OYEMADE

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t goes without saying that it takes skill and patience to excel as a great manager. Unfortunately, a number of managers do not seem to understand their responsibilities, neither do they know how to handle the pressure of leadership. As a management and development expert, Oladapo Akinloye observed some of these issues which then motivated him to publish the reference material and manual titled Management FasTrack. Aimed both at entry-level and experienced managers, it is a straightforward and helpful guide that promotes a positive attitude to work. The breezy, simple text is well organised and easy to follow. The book contains several topics, organised alphabetically ranging from accountability to team building. You can choose to either read chapter after chapter or jump to the chapter that most interests you. Akinloye’s Management FasTrack subtitled “Bringing Today's Manager to Speed” speaks to managers who truly desire to fast-track the growth of their knowledge and take the lead in the workplace. The book is prefaced by quotations from various great leaders describing and accentuating what’s to come in each chapter. Some chapters begin with Akinloye’s prethoughts, helping to make the information that follows digestible and some end with an afterthought about the topic just presented. As you go through the pages and chapters, you become more informed on the role and responsibilities of a manager. Supporting examples and personal anecdotes from Akinloye’s time in people management and development help to stress the importance of management and leadership; both elements make the text more engaging. The text is business-like and concise; the book uses short paragraphs and provides the readers brief explanation of what a manager must know if he must succeed

at work. Some chapters are longer, and a particular chapter ‘Peak Performance’ was discussed in two parts explaining the steps to managing people for optimum performance. The book also explores such significant topics as career emancipation, career fast track, learning fast from failures and new beginnings. The 115-page book ends with a bibliography making it easier for the reader to find out more about the topic. This book would benefit managers who desire to win in their careers and is recommended for all those who would like to enlighten themselves about people management and its practical applications. BD oyemade is a business execute in a leading organisation and holds a degree

in Russian Language. She’s the convener of the Hangoutwithtee Ladies Event and the publisher of Hangoutwithtee magazine. She spends her weekends attending women conferences, events and book readings. She loves to have fun and to help other women have the same in their lives. Email: titi.oyemade@gmail.com Social: @tiipree

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SATURDAY 31, OCTOBER 2020

The way forward: Building awareness and enlightenment through social media? FAVOUR OLAREWAJU

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n the last one week, Nigeria has seen the widespread looting of businesses asides government-related properties across the states, especially after the killings of innocent protesters by men in the military uniform on Tuesday, October 20 2020. This was quickly followed by the discoveries of COVID-19 palliatives in strategic warehouses of different locations within the country. In response to these many happenings, particularly triggered by Black Tuesday, many persons, celebrities and organisations have explicitly stated the need for social awareness and enlightenment in mitigating the massive chaos for a united and better Nigeria. This includes the masterclass on ‘Understanding the Principles of Governance’, organised by a data-analytical company called ‘DataLeum’ held over the weekend on October 24th & 25th 2020. The online class focused on educating Nigerians about the Businessday.ng

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current situation of the Nigerian economy, Nigeria’s constitution and basic rights as citizens. This is asides numerous other forms of social media enlightenment from influencers such as the Feminist Coalition, Reno Omokri, an activist, author and humanitarian; FEMBOL Group, a logistics and procurement management company; Runcie C.W. Chidebe, a researcher and curator; Yvonne Okwara-Matole, a Bloomberg ALI Media fellow, facilitator and moderator; Sam Adeyemi, a leadership consultant; and Tunde Omotoye, a co-founder of Human squad in Toronto, Ontario and IELTS ambassador. Other celebrities and influencers who have given their voices to support social media enlightenment in view of the #EndSARS protests include Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, popular Nigerian musician Simi Kosoko; Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, a network of young Nigerians promoting good governance and citizen engagement; MassiveMac, a software designer, entrepreneur and brand influencer. These social media awareness activities


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have been reported by international and national mediums such as Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, Reuters, Nairametrics, Quartz media and so on. The Feminist Coalition, a not-for-profit organization and one of the leading supporters of the #EndSARS campaign publicly decided on October 23 2020 to stop receiving funds in favour of the #EndSARS protest. This decision was spurred following the President’s address to the nation on October 22, 2020. The organisation revealed that it has received a total amount of N147.85 million including donations in USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, GHS, KES and BTC. From this amount, N60.4 million has been disbursed to support the 2-weeks #EndSARS protest, leaving N87.45 million which they plan to use in funding medical emergencies, relief for victims of police brutality and families of the deceased as well as legal aid for wrongfully detained citizens. Despite efforts to use the social media as an amplifier of democracy, the government has consistently seen the social media as a form of threat. This is evidenced in the Anti-social bill that was introduced by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on November 5 2019 after it passed its second hearing to criminalise the usage of social media in disbursing false or malicious information. The bill was originally titled ‘Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulations Bill’. Senator Mohammed Sani Musa who is highly conservative from Northern Nigeria

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sponsored this bill. Although this bill has received a lot of controversy in terms of opposition by mostly human rights activists and civil societies such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, few politicians like Akwa Ibom’s state senator, Akon Eyakenyi, it also got support from President Buhari, his wife and daughter alongside many other senators. More recently, on Thursday, October 29 2020, in response to the lootings that went rogue in the wake of #EndSARS protests, Desmond Elliot, a popular veteran actor and movie director, turned Politician and member of the Lagos House of Assembly for Surulere constituency has gone viral in a video during the plenary session of the House for openly blaming the huge carnage in Nigeria upon social media. Elliot, who claimed to be overwrought by his emotions and distraught by the massive destruction wrecked upon members of his constituent that lost their source of livelihood within the blink of an eye, referred to the younger generation as ‘children’ who rebelled against their elders. His words have caused a lot of backlash from Nigerians on social media who expressed their disappointment over Elliot’s hate statement for belittling the youths and the recent deaths of innocent civilians. Eventually, Elliot tendered his apology and tried to explain the reasons for his actions. Additionally, a Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for victims of police brutality in Nigeria, presided over by Justice Doris Okuwobi officially commenced its sittings on Monday, October 26 2020. This panel has been openly supported by President Buhari and the Lagos state government. Lots of eye-opening revelations have been made by victims. In Abunike’s story, his boss accused him of fraud in 2012, for which he was arrested by police and taken to the Ojo Police Station where he was beaten, paraded like a thief around Alaba International Market, removed two of his teeth, spent 47 days, beat his wife and mother when they came to visit and sold all his properties including houses, cars, phones and generator. Abunike was eventually able to file a lawsuit against SARS at the Federal High Court Lagos before Justice Ibrahim Buba, who ruled N10m as damages in his favour but efforts to get this money has been futile and only his land document has been recovered while his other belongings remain amiss despite not being found guilty. The story of Abunike gives insight to the long years of suffering police brutality, the desire for social media awareness and the diverse opposition of social media by many politicians. This fight against transparency and accountability in the Nigerian system and social media awareness is further evidenced by the oath of secrecy included in the proceedings of the Judicial Panel, for which Majekodunmi Temitope Oluwaseun and Oduala Balatito Olorunrinu, the Lagos representatives out of the 9-man panel refused to sign on that Monday of October 26. To cap this up, a call for respect of the legal and fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens has been released by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on October 29 2020 in respect of the illegal detention of suspects in the looting and destruction of public buildings and private businesses. BD Businessday.ng

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Coalition Feminist

SATURDAY 31, OCTOBER 2020

Meet the Feminist Coalition Nigeria OLUWAFADEKEMI AREO

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During the #EndSARS protests, a team of women amazed every one of us with how quickly they were able to raise N147.86 million in two just two weeks. This team is the Feminist Coalition which was founded in July 2020 by a group of Nigerian women with a primary mission: to champion equality for women in Nigerian society with a core focus on education, financial freedom and representation in public office. Driven by their vision to see a Nigeria where equality for all is a reality in our laws and everyday life, their work is synonymous with youth emancipation and the struggle for freedom. Although created to push gender equality in Nigeria, the coalition supported wholeheartedly the movement against police brutality through fundraising for the sustenance of peace during the protests and to ensure the safety of everyone exercising their constitutional rights by helping them with food, water, masks, medical aid, security, information, and legal aid. All funds to the group towards the #EndSARS protests (which has been stopped anyway) were raised through the generosity of well-meaning people and concerned Nigerians who want their voices to be heard and their demands to be met. The coalition defied odds ranging from their accounts being frozen and an alleged restriction on some of the acBusinessday.ng

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counts of the donors and at the end of the day received funds in US dollars, Canadian dollars, Euro, Ghana cedis, Kenyan shilling, and Bitcoin. In full support of the #EndSARS protests, the feminist coalition made their platform a resource base for everyone protesting across Nigeria and went on to be extremely transparent and accountable for every penny that was raised. They successfully disbursed N60.4 million and have stated clearly that the remaining N87.45 million would be channelled to #EndSARS response medical bills, legal aid network, relief for victims of police brutality and the families of the deceased, memorial for the fallen, and #EndSARS mental health support. The Not-for-profit organisation which was initially founded by 2 women Damilola Odufuwa and Odunayo Eweniyi now includes 12 other exceptional women: Layo Ogunbanwo, Ozzy Etomi, Ire Aderinokun, Fakhrriyyah Hashim, Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, Jola Ayeye, Laila Johnson-Salami, Karo Omu, Obiageli Ofili Alintah, Tito Ovia, Kiki Mordi, and FK Abudu. The coalition aims to improve the rights of Nigerian women by dwelling on three aspects: women’s rights and safety, financial equality for women as well as legislative power for women. Members of the coalition can, however, choose to work on specific standalone projects in line with their passion. BD


Leaving No one behind

SATURDAY SATURDAY 31, 31, OCTOBER OCTOBER 2020 2020

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LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND THE LONG WALK TO A NEW NIGERIA ONYEKA AKPAIDA

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he month of October commenced with the celebration of our Nation’s 60th Independence; segued into a nationwide protest against police brutality, accompanied by a horrific and unforgettable night at the Lekki toll gate where unarmed protesters were shot at leaving many injured and some losing their lives and ended with businesses and homes being looted and plundered by hoodlums. There has also been rising unrest in Namibia, Congo and Cameroun with citizens fighting against rape, sexual assault and multiple injustices in these nations. The question of what next is echoing in the hearts, lips and social media handles of Nigerians as we desperately looking to make sense of all that has happened and how we can continue the fight for a new Nigeria. Our nation’s inflation rate has maintained its month-onmonth upward trajectory for 14 months and currently stands at 13.71%, prices of food keep rising and the nation is plagued by sadness, frustration and lack of trust in the competence and integrity of our leaders. What really is next for us as a nation especially as a youth who still resists the allure of another passport and intends to work towards building a new Nigeria? I will say Social Sector Development! In Nigeria today, there is a wide gulf between those that enjoy a decent quality of urban life and those that don’t. The vast majority of households, especially those in informal settlements, live in overcrowded conditions, sometimes located in areas which do not provide adequate defences against chronic poverty, frustration, crime and health hazards. This marginalized population that share fences with the middle class and aspiring- upper class. Guess where the hoodlums looting businesses and attacking middle-class individuals at home come from? These underdeveloped peri-urban communities. Our continuous failure to develop these communities will forever leave us with a ticking time bomb that resets itself after detonation. Growth inclusiveness should be the prime agenda for a Nation’s economic development policy as it prioritises the social sector development, an approach which ensures rapid and sustained growth across all sectors. The incidents in the last week following the looting and ‘palliative” hunt in different parts of the country is a clarion call for us to fight poverty, provide leadership/mentorship, create jobs and better opportunities at grassroot levels. This goes beyond social safety programmes implemented by the

government that have not addressed the real issues at the grassroots. As a social development practitioner at the grassroots, I will enjoin others to find newer and innovative ways to solve the problems we have identified. We need to work less in silos and embrace collaboration in reaching more people in lesser time. For those who intend to go into public office at grassroots, state and federal levels, the time to start the work is now. There is an urgent need to work with CSOs and other practitioners in strategizing on various programmes to reach this marginalised population. We should see crowdfunding platforms busy with different initiatives. The work will not be a walk-through as the rot is deep but with consistency, commitment, determination and innovation we will work in creating sustainable changes for them. I will love to see various influencers going into their local communities to sensitize about the power of a citizen and reshaping the mindset of ethnic bias often wielded as a weapon by politicians. Get on the radio and talk to people in your local language, create flyers, organise and host town halls meetings; find local influencers in these communities and get their buy-in. We need to sell this new Nigeria as the best thing since sliced bread. We cannot afford to leave anyone behind as we are forging ahead with our plans for a new Nigeria and in doing this we will be curing the illness and not treating its symptoms. BD is an experienced financial service professional with 10+ years of experience in financial inclusion, consumer-centric digital banking and public sector engagement. She is the founder and Chief Impact officer at Rendra foundation, a fintech social enterprise working actively to advocate for and drive inclusive finance for low-income and forcibly displaced women in Nigeria to enable them create sustainable changes for themselves, families and communities. Through her work in financial services, Onyeka has brought in over 2,000 women into the formal financial services sector and believes that empowered women birth stronger communities and ultimately stronger nations. onyeka

Onyeka is a Cherie Blaire and YALI RLC Alumnus and was featured in The Spark Magazine 2020 Wonder Woman Edition in recognition of the Nigerian women breaking barriers and empowering low-income women and recognized by Donors for Africa as one of the leading 100 African women in development. Onyeka provides thought leadership to policy makers and stakeholders through several articles and publications which have been featured by The Africa Report, Business Day and Guardian Nigeria. She also volunteers as a Mentor on Mentor X Africa and an editor, with Inclusion Times - a leading financial and digital inclusion media platform.

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Statement

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SATURDAY 31, OCTOBER 2020

Statement by Patriotic Nigerians, Nigerians of the Diaspora and Friends of Nigeria Let Peace and Justice Reign.

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ur hearts are broken by the tragic events we are witnessing as the nation is being torn apart by our failures. Yet from the blood and ashes arise opportunities for the rebirth of our nation. We believe that Nigeria must now renew its promise as sung in the National Anthem’s second stanza: O God of creation, direct our noble cause Guide our leaders right Help our youth the truth to know In love and honesty to grow And living just and true Great lofty heights attain To build a nation where peace And justice shall reign. These stirring words have never been more relevant or urgent. EndSARS, initiated by Nigerian youth, is a metaphor: a means to voice pent-up frustration by our youth at the lack of access, negligence and flagrant abuses resulting in diminishing economic and educational opportunities available to them in this resource-rich country. This movement, the outrage at Lekki on October 20, 2020 and in days immediately following, and countless other violences and injustices which have passed in relative anonymity all these years, offer us a reflection, a clarity, an opportunity and a challenge. We stand with these young citizens, who insist only on basic civic decency to which our own reckoning and recommitment is long overdue. We stand with all who demand new norms of equity, accountability, and good governance and the abiding determination to put them into consistent practice. We appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria to commit, as promised, to: 1. acknowledge the pain of all who have lost loved ones to these acts of violence and compensate them appropriately; 2. identify and hold all perpetrators of all attacks on peaceful demonstrators at Lekki Tollgate, and elsewhere, accountable for their actions; 3. ensure human capacity development and education for all in current and future budgets and guarantee integrity in implementation; and Businessday.ng

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4. define timelines for implementation of all championed reforms. With sincerity of purpose, all hands must join together in this moment to rebuild our great nation. Let Peace and Justice Reign.

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Signed: Abimbola Okunsanya · Alva Klassen ·Ayman Bakr · Ben Sproule · Charles Odugba Chris Bishop · Chris Oyetunde ·Colin Ray · Corrie Kern · Cynthia (Boer) Boyd · David Weeks Doosuur Victoria TilleyGyado · Gbemi Balogun Petersen · Grace Keith Ijeoma Uwakwe-Okoronkwo · J. A. McDowell · J. Ihenacho · Jack Beeksma · Jennifer Rasch Karen Urhoma · Katy Fine · Kevin Boer · Kevin Ray · M R Seriki · Mark Burgess Markus Lemke · Maryam Mayaki · Michael Magaji · Nathan Nyabam · Mrs Ngozi Enem Olayide Balogun · Oluwatoyin Adegbite-Moore · Nicholas M · Onche Rajesh Ugbabe P. Benjamin · Rasheedat O. · Roshen Hendrickson · Rowena G. · Ruth S. Idakula · S. Jacobsen Sam Olima · Sarah Childs Lout · Susanne Adesola Gooding · Tim Sproule · Tracey Anozie Tsahai Gomwalk Jacobsen · Uzodinma Ezimora · Zahra Ugbabe Link to sign-on:


SATURDAY 31, OCTOBER 2020

Cartoon

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Image of the W eek

SATURDAY 31, OCTOBER 2020

Chemka Hot springs Osse . G. Sinare, Founder & Creative Director, OGS Studios I Website:Â www.ossegrecasinare.com I IG: @ossegrecasinare Businessday.ng

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SATURDAY 31, OCTOBER 2020

Laughter in the Mirror

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Art of the week

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SATURDAY 31, OCTOBER 2020

Independence and Modern Nigerian Art (Part II) OLIVER ENWONWU

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rt is not static, like culture, art changes its form with the times. It is setting the clock back to expect that the art form of Africa today must resemble that of yesterday, otherwise the former will not reflect the African image. African art has always, even long before Western influence, continued to evolve through change and adaptation to new circumstances. And in like manner, the African view of art has followed the trend of cultural change up to the modern times.” These incisive words by celebrated artist Ben Enwonwu MBE serve as an introduction to the second part of the essay ‘Independence and Modern Nigerian Art’ begun in a previous edition of this publication. Apt, they are all the more significant when one considers the artist’s unique positioning, marked by the unusual longevity of his career, which straddled the precolonial and postcolonial periods. Today, art from Nigeria is charaterised by the rich multiplicity of forms and themes including consumerism, sexuality and the body, the gaze, migration, hybridisation and identity. Many artists draw from indigenous aesthetics and the geometric forms of classical African sculpture. Some like Abiodun “

Nengi Omuku Bodija Heiress 2013 oil on canvas (140 x 120cm)

Diseye Tantua Forward Ever, Backward Never acrylic on canvas (153 x 122cm) Businessday.ng

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Olaku, Duke Asidere and Reuben Ugbine express themselves in more traditional media like painting and sculpture; they are located between the old guard—the early pioneer modernists and those excelling at conceptual art, performance art, photography, video and new media. Formally-educated and represented by leading galleries all over the world, several resist categorisation as African artists, preferring to contextualise their artistic practices within wider global discourse. This essay discusses broadly some of the works and themes that dominate artistic practice in Nigeria including those that speak to the reality and identity of the African people— the interconnectedness of everyday life lived across borders, family and the relationship between people. Examples are Diseye Tantua’s focus on social groups in urban spaces around the city of Lagos, often depicting forms in transit and movement and Abass Kelani’s reimagining of family history to Williams Chechet’s exploration of iconic imagery of Nigeria’s political history and Ima Mfon’s focus on social and cultural identity. Other notable artists engaging in this theme are Gbenga Offo, Tolu Aliki and Gerry Nnubia.


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Peju Alatise Unconscious Struggle metal, resin, wood, panadol tablets and acrylic (274 x 117 x 71cm)

Still others like Oliver Enwonwu and Joshua Nmesirionye locate a large part of their oeuvre in the metaphysical by interrogating liminal spaces— the intersection between the spirit and physical worlds. Informed by an immediate need for Nigeria to curb global warming, non-biodegradable deficit and other environmental issues, this category of artists are characterised by their open approach to form and the materiality of their media as seen in their repurposing of discarded objects. These found materials indeed hold memory and several layers of historical and cultural meaning. Occupying the fine line between painting and installation, artists include Nnenna Okore, Adeola Balogun, Gerald Chukwuma, Alex Nwokolo, Richardson Ovbiebo, Raqib Bashorun and Dotun Popoola. In recent times, women have risen to occupy positions formerly largely occupied by men, a phenomenon attributable to increasing campaigns for gender equality and women empowerment in the 21st century. Works in this category are not only made by women but also touch on their emancipation and liberation. Noteworthy artists include Peju Alatise, Nengi Omuku, Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko, Uche Edochie and Taiye Idahor. In all, the aforementioned artists and themes are barely representative of the broad diversity available in Nigeria. However and more importantly, they underscore our rich artistic heritage to form an important trajectory of our recent history. BD

William Chechet Control the Economy 2017 giclee print (61 x 61cm) Businessday.ng

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Artificial Intelligence

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SATURDAY 31, OCTOBER 2020

The Business Leader’s Guide to Launching AI Chatbot Programmes (Part II) TOLU ADELOWO

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his is part 2 of the Business Leader’s Guide to Launching AI Chatbot Programmes. In this series, I am demystifying the perceived complexities from launching AI Chatbots by providing an intuitive step by step guide that business leaders can follow. In part 2, we continue from step 4. 4. Define the Intents Once the primary role of the chatbot is known, the next step is to define the list of possible intents the Chatbot should process. Intents can be seen as the jobs to be done by the user when interacting with the Chatbot. The most important question to ask at this stage is ‘What is our customer trying to achieve whenever they use our products/ services?’

For example, possible intents for a Supermarket AI chatbot could be: • Buy groceries Businessday.ng

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• Check price of milk • View opening times

The list of intents defined at this stage should be as comprehensive as possible (aim for 70-90% confidence level) and as such, managers must gather data from all customer facing teams on needs and wants of customers. Other sources of data like Website traffic, emails, FAQs can also be reviewed

Finally it is important to note that the list of intents should be in line with the primary role of the chatbot. For example, a psychologist AI Chatbot has no business selling airtime credit to end users.

5. Define Entities Entities can be defined as the pieces of information required from the user to achieve an Intent. For example, the entities required for an Open Bank Account intent


Artificial Intelligence

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could include: • First name • Last name • Date of birth • Email Address • Bvn • Phone number For each intent defined in step 4, the required entities need to be clearly defined.

6. Select Channels This is the perfect stage to decide what platforms the AI Chatbot will run on. If the steps in this guide has been followed up to this step, the team would already have enough data (like customer preferences, customer intents) to make the right decision on the best channels to deploy on.

The possible list of available channels are as below: • Email • Facebook Messenger • WhatsApp • Telegram • Email • Phone • SMS • Website

7. Select Conversational Styles The conversational style of the Chatbot is the mode of interaction between the end user and the Chatbot.

There are three conversational Styles to choose from:

Structured This conversational style lends itself more to the use of fixed menus and options. The chatbot presents the user with a defined set of menu options from which the user can choose from. Consider using this conversational style if the Chatbot will have a clear and defined set of Intents or if there is a need to use local languages to interact with users.

Unstructured This conversational style is based on human natural language for the interaction between the Chatbot and the user. For example, users may be able to interact with an Airline Customer Service Chatbot using statements such as ‘When is the next flight to Abuja?’ and the Chatbot can similarly reply with statements like ‘The next flight to Abuja is on Arik Air at 2:30 p.m. Would you like me to book a seat on this flight for you?’. Consider using this conversational style if the Chatbot will have a very large number of Intents that makes it difficult to display in a menu format or if the primary role of the AI Chatbot does not lend itself to using menu options (examples are Counselling Chatbots). Mixed Using a combination of structured and unstructured conversational styles. Consider using this conversational

style if the Chatbot will have a mix of users with varying technical savviness. 8. Decide on ChatBot character Chatbots should absolutely have characters. Chatbots can be funny, polite, professional, aggressive etc. The Chatbot character helps define the tone and nature of the conversation with users.

The Chatbot can also be given a name like the likes of Temi and Ada.

In defining the Chatbot character, the brand and the values of the organisation should be considered. To be continued… is the Chief Executive Officer of Cousant Limited – a Technology consulting company that works with clients to solve the increasing complexities in managing technology products, projects, people and operations in Africa. Tolu is also an accomplished author that has written two e-books which are the ‘The Case for decentralized workplaces in developing economies’ and ‘The Rise of the Emerligent Economies - How African economies can win the AI war’. adelowo

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Culinary Delights

SATURDAY SATURDAY31, 31,OCTOBER OCTOBER2020 2020

Beginner’s Guide to building a Food Photography Portfolio ANJOLA AWOSIKA

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f you’re considering working full-time as a food photographer, you will need a portfolio that exhibits your work and skill set. It is a significant property you must have reason being that people who are willing to work with you will have a visual understanding that aids their decision of whether you can bring their vision to life. A portfolio serves as a guide to clients when they seek the right food photographer for a project, and it can either be digital or printed. In this new age, the digital portfolio has taken precedence. It is easier to find a food photographer through several digital means like a website and social media page. As a beginner, you can decide to have both a website and social media page. There is a whole dynamic as regards handling a website portfolio, but with social media, it is easier for potential clients to find you. On social media, your followers get the opportunity to like, comment, and share your work to reach a wider audience. You can either update your portfolio daily or weekly as you evolve. A lot of food photographers use Instagram as their portfolio. Instagram’s grid layout gives your photos more visual appeal as potential clients or followers surf through your page to have a glimpse of your work. Some food photographers go the extra length to have a synchronized theme for aesthetics but remember your goal is to showcase your work and not focus on aesthetics because Instagram aesthetics doesn’t determine your style. Your style is an Businessday.ng

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outward reflection of your personality, and that should come through in your images. Before I started uploading my work to Instagram, I was so confused about certain things like “what would people think? will they click the like button? What if they don’t share it?” I became worried about the kind of images I had. Then I read an article that discussed how a portfolio should display your versatile skill. Your portfolio will attract whoever, but it is you that determines if they fit your target audience goal. For instance, if you’re looking to acquire a potential Nigerian client, your online portfolio should showcase images that appeal to your Nigerian clients whether it’s a bowl of Jollof rice or a pounded yam dish or a Nigerian salad, and so on. Remember that your portfolio is your voice as a food photographer. It will either speak for you or against you, and this is due to several factors, but a great portfolio would always attract the right people that will engage your services. BD Hi! I am Anjola Awosika and I love food. My love for food birth the idea to photograph it. I am self-taught, a graduate of YouTube. I started shooting food professionally in 2018. Since then, I have shot hundreds of dishes. Currently, I work as the official photographer for Livvy’s Twist Cake Company. Also, I have worked with notable chefs in Nigeria like Chef Fregz including SMEs in the food industry. Storytelling and creative innovation are my forte. I am passionate about the food industry in Africa and I want to be among the game changers. I live in Lagos, Nigeria.


Health Today

SATURDAY 31, OCTOBER 2020

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Doctor burnout… A dangerous phenomenon

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DR MONISOLA ADANIJO

urnout” is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. The hospital environment can put doctors and other clinicians at high risk for burnout, especially because of busy work days, high patient load, and emotional intensity of the job. It is marked by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization (adopting an impersonal approach toward patients), loss of empathy and a lack of sense of personal accomplishment. Doctor burnout is actually very common worldwide. Studies have shown that as many as 40-50% of doctors in the USA experience symptoms of burnout. The situation is understandably worse in Nigeria with over 75% of Nigerian doctors reporting one or more symptoms of burnout. It is also worthy of note that female doctors experience burnout more commonly that males; this may be due to added pressures of family, reproduction and gender bias.

Some causes of doctor burnout include: Sense of Powerlessness; especially for doctors who work among populations in poor socioeconomic situations like Nigeria, the inability to do what they can to help their patients' medical issues leads to a feeling of defeat and futility. Keeping up with increased patient demand as well as patient load; the number of people seeking medical care has exponentially increased, without a corresponding increase in numbers of doctors. Some outpatient doctors see as many as 30 patients in a clinic day!!!! Poor working environment; absence of basic work tools, facilities and resources to render proper patient care can lead to frustration in low socio economic countries like Nigeria. Working too many hours, with loss of work/life balance; contributes to physician burnout and there is a correlation among hours worked and physician burnout rates. Poor remuneration; although the practice of medicine is considered a call to service or largely “humanitarian”, when the doctor is unable to provide adequately for the family due to poor salaries, it can be a major cause of frustration and reduced self-worth. What are the symptoms? Physical • Feeling tired and drained • Lowered immunity • Frequent headaches, back pain, muscle aches • Change in appetite or sleep habits • Drop in libido or impotence Emotional • Sense of failure and self-doubt • Feeling helpless, trapped, and defeated • Detachment, feeling alone in the world • Loss of motivation

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Increasingly cynical and negative outlook Decreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishment

Behavioral • Withdrawing from responsibilities and procrastinating • Using food, drugs, or alcohol to cope • Taking out frustrations on others (spouse, children, staff or coworkers) • Skipping work or coming in late and leaving early Dangers of doctor burnout Our public health policy should address this unwholesome development as it has implications for patient safety, doctor safety and healthcare system performance as a whole. Doctor burnout is a danger to patient health as doctors with burnout are more likely to be involved in patient safety incidents, they are also more likely to deliver suboptimal care to patients owing to low professionalism and diminished empathy for patients. Many doctors experiencing burnout are also prone to clinical errors and patient mismanagement errors (this is more profound amongst surgeons). Extreme cases of burnout has led to increasing suicide rates among healthcare workers in general, and doctors in particular. Management As most of the symptoms of doctor burnout are the same as depression/anxiety/chronic stress states, mental health habilitation is paramount in its management. Healthcare facilities should have a health worker psychological management system in place to help provide support. Doctor communities where there can be connections with colleagues are advised. Doctors should have a sense of control over their work and schedules, with opportunities to grow and excel in their chosen specialties. Others include; community involvement opportunities, employee recognition events and information about creating flexible work schedules. BD

dr adanijo fmcp a Cardiologist and the Medical Director at Naveen Healthcare.

With experience spanning over 20 years, she built her pathway in medicine and cardiology working in reputable medical centres such as Mecure Healthcare Limited, Barnes Hospital, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Chevron Hospital, Lagos to mention but a few. Her passion for preventive cardiology led her to convene the Naveen Healthcare 10,000 Hearts Project, in order to help individuals detect, protect and correct cardiovascular diseases. Skilled in cardiovascular diagnostic procedures and treatment, a fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, a member of Nigerian Cardiac Society, American College of Physicians, Hypertension society of Nigeria and an international associate of the American College of Cardiology. She also has a Diploma in Leadership and Management from the University of Washington, USA. As a Continuous Medical Education (CME) provider, she has worked with the likes of Trigen Healthcare Solutions, Pfizer GP Academy, Diamond Helix Medical Assistance, Pfizer Pharmacy Academy, Global Health Project and Resources, Sanofi-Aventis Nigeria, Novartis Nigeria and Servier International. She has helped build capacity in Electrocardiogram interpretation, preventive cardiovascular diseases, management of heart failure, patient education and more. She launched the first TeleElectrocardiogram project in Nigeria and West Africa and does her part in contributing to good health and wellbeing, a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG3) of the United Nations. moni.adanijo@naveenhealthcare.com I www.naveenhealthcare.com I Instagram: https://Instagram.com/moni_adanijo I https://Instagram.com/naveenhealthcare I Linkedin: Monisola Adanijo

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Music & COVID-19

Music and the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic on its consumption OLUMIDE FALEGAN & IFEYINWA ANYADIEGWU Brief insight into music consumption usic consumption is a very vital aspect of the Entertainment industry as consumption relates both directly and indirectly to revenue for all the key players involved. Simply put, the easier it is for the consumer to consume/access music, the more revenue is generated for record labels/artists/ distribution agents. The channels of consumption/revenue were clear: Live and Recorded Music. The former includes revenue from tickets sales of live shows (concerts, tours), merchandising and spand onsorships. While Recorded Music, combines revenue primarily from streaming, downloads and sales. [According the PWC, recorded music revenue contributed an estimate $26 billion in 2018 with Live music contribution $27 billion to the total music revenue in the same year. Image and source: PwC, World Economic Forum]

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Effects on Recorded Music during the pandemic Physical Sale/Consumption: Since the advent of the internet and the transition to the digital sphere, the sale of physical copies of “music’ have declined. For instance, the retail chain popularly known as HMV has allegedly shut down some of its retail stores due to the challenge of selling physical copies amongst others. In Nigeria, before the pandemic, sale of physical copies was somewhat tricky because of the large rate of piracy which seemed to prevail over the legitimate modems like retail stores. Now during the pandemic, with the restriction of movement and reduced income, this avenue is handicapped. Noteworthy is that physical copies of music are now becoming “collectors items” and set to be very valuable in future. Digital consumption(includes streaming, downloads, online sales): This modem on the other hand is the major source of revenue for music. According to International Federation of the Phonographic Industry(IFPI), 341 million people had paid for music streaming subscription by the end of 2019. It was reported that in the same year, digital consumption accounted for the li-

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on's share of worldwide music revenues, with streaming services alone accounting for 56 percent of the industry’s total haul. As it relates to the pandemic, there has been evidence to suggest that there was a slight decrease in music consumption overall. This maybe due to the pandemic affecting people’s spending habits as income was not as disposable due to job loss, change in lifestyle from an active to more sedentary living and other mitigating factors. Not surprising that, this decrease appears to be elevating as consumers adjust to the “new normal” way of living, the streaming services in particular are seeing an increase in consumption resulting in increased revenues. Effect on Live Music during the pandemic With restriction on movement and ban on large gatherings, live performance revenue can be said to have “literally disappeared” effectively reducing the industry’s total revenue by half. These losses include potential revenue from sale of tickets of live performances, sponsorships, and merchandising (although we are yet to crack this a key revenue source in Nigeria). This is especially tragic for Nigeria because of the challenges the country faces with limited access to internet and data, live revenue is a very lucrative source for the key players. Post-Pandemic Outlook The post-pandemic outlook appears challenging and revenue forecast for the live performance is expected to be revised down significantly especially in Nigeria. One way of solving this dilemma is the monetization of online live performances including payment to access online live performances, paid membership subscription to artist channels. This way, Artists can performance for a fee for fans directly from their homes with help of services like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook. Whilst this is ideal, monetization on these types of content may be challenging not necessarily in terms of unavailable infrastructure, rather the reluctance of consumers to spend an extra cost on online live performances which some struggle to see as different from a purely “digital” sale. Primarily, the allure of the live performance is seeing the artist live and in person where fans and artists are able to physically interact. It will be difficult for digital consumption to replace live performances instead digital consumption can supplement the live performances. For instance, digital consumption has no restrictions on audience numbers which is good for live performance revenues as it equates to sale of more tickets. For recorded music, the revenues are projected to continue to rise as these channels seem to have mastered the art of access to the consumer regardless of the climate. In addition, the pandemic has sparked some additional level of innovation for the key players in the music industry as we now see ways of increased engagement with consumers that increase consumption and revenue through services like Tiktok and Triller. Conclusion There is no doubt that people’s consumption in music has changed thus affecting the industry’s revenue. The change in consumption does not equate to a reduction or increase in the value of music in our industry, it just shows that consumption is reactive. The simple solution to keep afloat in these times will be to embrace and find the gap where live and digital music meet. BD

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Business

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IS YOUR COMPANY LIKE SPARTA? AKANIMO EKONG

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n the 2006 movie, 300, a shocking scene ensued when a messenger from Persia delivered an undesirable message to the King of Sparta, Leonidas. Rather than express his displeasure or convey his own message to the god-King, Xerxes, he killed the messenger! A taboo, because messengers (employees) are meant to be given a haven to express themselves, without being kicked into the well. Psychological Safety is the belief that you will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with your ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes. It doesn't mean your ideas will always be applauded. It is an environment where there are no repercussions if your opinion differs from that of ‘the Boss’. When Psychological Safety isn’t present, going to work and communicating with co-workers can feel as if you are navigating landmines. So, it becomes safer to stay quiet and not risk an explosion instead of giving direct feedback or sharing your opinion. Rather than focus energy on the common goal for the greater good, employees spend time tiptoeing around assumed landmines, avoiding crucial conversations and interpreting behaviours and actions – rather than clarifying. This drives ineffectiveness and inefficiency. How can we cultivate a work environment that enhances learning, candor and effectiveness? Some ideas… 1. Inclusion Safety – improve the onboarding process to ensure new employees quickly connect and have a sense of belonging.

2. Learner Safety – create a culture where people feel comfortable to ask questions, receive feedback, experiment, and own up. 3. Contributor Safety – explain the ‘why’, assign the ‘what’ and delegate the ‘how’. Provide autonomy and guidance in exchange for results. 4. Challenger Safety – leaders need to master how to increase intellectual friction (idea collision, debate, constructive dissent) yet reduce social friction that may arise. At the end of the movie, regardless of how formidable the Spartans had been in previous wars, they lost to the Persians. Something Leonidas was forewarned but didn’t heed. Your company may not ‘die’, but it won’t live up to its full potential if leaders don’t ‘heed’ and deliberately cultivate this environment. It’s simple to implement but not easy; requires leadership commitment, hiring right, culture alignment and continuous coaching. So. Is your company psychologically safe? BD ekong is currently the Founder and Managing Director of Candor Consulting

Ltd, an adaptive and authentic Business Consulting firm providing training, employee wellbeing & team building programs, performance management and IT outsourcing services. Candor Consulting also sources & recruits mid and senior level candidates for organizations. Akanimo is a serial trainer, peak performance coach and mental health facilitator. akanimo@candor.ng, www.candor.ng LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/candorconsulting

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Music & Mental Health

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Mental Health in the Creative Industry SEYI XODUS

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e all have down moments, dark phases and get in weird funks. We reach points where we will rather be left alone to reflect or wallow in our anguish and hurt till we can muster the will to rise again. As a coping mechanism, some of us delete all social media platforms or switch off mobile devices, some others turn to narcotics and alcohol. The most common of all coping techniques and search for rejuvenation is entertainment - Music, Movies, TV shows, Books, anything engaging, fun or deep enough to get us hooked, binge on, and momentarily shut the world out. More often than not, our preferred healing bubble is created by a creative. A writer, an artist, a speaker/podcaster, vlogger etc. At our lowest we turn to the Creative Industry, but even the best therapists need therapy. According to a study carried out by Inspire Wellbeing, a mental health service provider in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in conjunction with Ulster University, the likelihood of a mental health problem in the Creative sector is three times that of the general population. The most common diagnosed disorders were anxiety (36%) and depression (32%). High proportions (60%) reported having had suicidal thoughts, 37% had made a plan for suicide and 16% had made a suicide attempt in their lifetime. 63% of the population sample admitted to having a mental health, alcohol or drug problem. Players in the Creative Industry cut much deeper than the known faces in the limelight. There are Publishers, Editors, Videographers, Directors, A&Rs, Managers, Distributors, Photographers, Accountants, Marketers, Social Media handlers, Lawyers, the list can almost run in perpetuity. These people are the backbone of the Creative Industry, and in numerous ways play a role to ensure creative output is Businessday.ng

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delivered promptly, effectively and profitably. It is not uncommon to hear of drug overdose being the cause of death of famous creatives, while some see the use of drugs as a key that unlocks the dam of creativity and gets the juices flowing, for others drugs serve as ocean tides to drown the pain, and as more is ingested, less is felt. There’s an expectation that certain careers with lots of traumatic incidents – say doctor, firefighter – come with mental health risks, yet research shows those in creative professions are also prone to depression at a higher rate than the general population. So why? The Creative Industry is a high pressure environment. The reports are overtly available for all and sundry on charts, best selling status, award nominations, YouTube numbers and so on. Success or lack of is visible to the general public, hence the existence of doctored perception. This takes a toll on all parties involved, as something which started off as passion gradually morphs to work, or worse, a chore. Like sport, the Creative industry is a numbers game. The big bucks only exist in the big leagues for the most part. Each unit of intellectual property costs little or nothing and success lies in scaling - from 100 views to a million, from one copy of a book sold to a billion copies sold. Intellectual property is limitless and the possibility for it is endless, however till the crossover to the major leagues is made, the envelope is hardly stimulating. Also worthy of note is how society views the Creative Industry and it’s players. Introducing yourself as a vlogger, podcaster or staff at a film production Company will bestow upon you the perception of “cool” to a Young generation and possibly “unserious” to an older generation, and it stops there. BD


Opinion

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The Power Of Voice-Telling Our Stories CHIDERA MUOKA

to platforms, albeit rather slowly. Birthed on Twitter, it moved to Instagram, then Facebook and WhatsApp. Every platform used by any class and demographic in Nigeria could relate and lend their voices. Yet, the most powerful of stories that emerged from this protest was done on Instagram Live as DJ Switch documented the shootings and killing of peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate. This courageous effort has caused a ripple effect in a system filled with webs of corruption and lies.

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he spark that ignited the solidarity of the Nigerian voices in continents across the globe, came from a heated car chase by a citizen who had just witnessed the death of a young man at Wetland Hotel Ugheli, allegedly at the hands of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS). This random and organic form of capturing an event is akin to the recorded video of the killing of George Floyd, which reignited the Black Lives Matter protests. The strength in recording a moment in history is one of the purest forms of storytelling. It is unplanned, organic, and emotes the most from its viewers because it transports them to the environment of the event. This spark turned into a flame when the likes of Debo Adebayo known as Mr. Macaroni, and Rinu Oduala known as Savvy Rinu, documented their experience of the 72 hours of peaceful protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly. Once again, the seamless use of social media to share your stories was their strength in connecting with a larger audience.

journey with an even large community on social media. As the days progressed, media houses began reporting on what would be one of the biggest protests in Nigeria’s recent history.

DJ Switch at the Lekki toll gate (Source: Instagram)

Falz and Runtown marching to Onikan (Source: Premium Times).

Mr Macaroni sleeping outside the House of Assembly. Savvy Rinu (Twitter)

This flame continued to kindle as the likes of Runtown and Falz took to the streets the next day to march from the Lekki Toll Gate to Onikan. For every step taken, they shared their

For years, we have undermined the power of the Nigerian voice in telling our own stories. Anyone who has access to a camera phone and any social media app can do the stories once left in the hands of journalists. The rapid shares of our stories from Nigeria spread. All over the world, Nigerians in the diaspora could identify with the feeling of frustration, helplessness, and oppression as it concerns the ruling government. This feeling led to simultaneous protests in several countries, and this solidarity in the voices was unexpected, as the protests held the commercial city of Lagos down for two weeks. The stories moved from platforms

Over the past few weeks, and despite the restrictions of media houses by the National Broadcasting Commission, the voice of the Nigerian youths has created a ladder to our ideal state. A government is accountable to its people. It forces international media houses and governments to pay attention to a voice that is otherwise stifled by its motherland. So, when next you question what your voice will do in the grand scheme of things? Remember that you are just a pixel in the bigger picture. Remember, every story documented is a story worth sharing. BD is a multipotentialite and a storyteller. A firm believer of storytelling, she is committed to push compelling narratives through her storytelling agency, House Of ZETA. muoka

IG: @themadamezeta /Twitter: @ TheMadameZeta / LinkedIn: Chidera Muoka

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Recipe

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house. I suspect some of you might be needing this recipe in the coming weeks. Ingredients for Pepper Soup: • 1kg Chicken or Assorted Beef • 4 Ehu seeds/ Nutmeg • Chilli Pepper ( to taste) • 2 teaspoons crushed dry uzza (optional) • 2 medium onions • Salt (to taste) • 3 Maggi stock cubes • Crayfish • 1 teaspoon of thyme • 3 Garlic glovers Cooking time: 40 minutes

Pepper soup T

he Nigerian Pepper soup is a popular recipe. It is such a versatile recipe as it can be prepared with different types of meat and fish. Thus there is the Chicken Pepper Soup, Catfish pepper soup, goat meat pepper soup, Cow Foot Pepper Soup, and the Assorted Beef Pepper Soup. I’m a big fan of chicken pepper soup. The Nigerian pepper soup; be it with chicken or with assorted meats is a huge Nigerian staple. It is a huge appetizer at Nigerian parties. There is no Nigerian party without pepper soup. People usually go to exclusive bars or restaurants to eat Pepper Soup, but when one is under the weather, the last thing you want to do is leave your Businessday.ng

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Instructions 1. Wash the chicken in water and 2 tbsp of vinegar to remove the rawness. 2. Remove the skin from the chicken and clean the insides. 3. Chop the pieces of meat into halves. 4. Place the chicken into a pot big enough to make your soup. 5. Fill 3/4 of the pot with water 6. Place the pot on the stove to boil at a low flame 7. Check the pot after 30 minutes. You will notice oil being released from the chicken. 8. Begin to add your spices i.e. powdered pepper, grounded crayfish, pepper soup seasoning, and Maggi cubes. 9. Stir the pot gently. 10. After washing, dice the large onion, scallion and thyme it to thin pieces. Add them to the pot and stir again 11. Add a pinch of salt then do a taste test, remember to adjust Maggi seasonings and spices and amounts according to your liking. 12. Finally, add your scent leaves then leave to boil 13. After another 15-30 minutes, your Nigerian Chicken Pepper is ready to serve . I have to say that this soup really does have medicinal benefits as I started to feel better as soon as I had it. The spices hit the right spot and i truly believe this soup has ingredients that unlock cold symptoms. BD


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