ComeToNigeria vol 6 issue 04 2015

LIFE AND STYLE OF THE COUNTRY

Vol. 06 | Issue 04 | 2015 04

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People and Places Africa Legacy

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CONTENTS

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MUSIC OF NIGERIA

Regulars Have you triedNewsNigerian Travel/Investment Next Issue Suya?

Top 5 of LatestGadgets 18 25 64 uya African Kebab made usually by the Hausa people found Kidsis an zone 66or Tsire

S

throughout the West Africa. It is called Tchichinga in such countries as Ghana and Niger. The Hausas, the Tuaregs and the Berbers have a similar North

Cover photography: Elephant @ Yankari Game Reserve Irene Becker

African culinary culture which prominently features beef, lamb and mutton.

Meat is often marinated for several hours in peanut paste or in groundnut oil-infused spice blends. Traditionally, the meat is then threaded onto wooden skewers before being cooked on an open grill or on a rotating spit, over an open fire.

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Ukodo as prepared by dooneyskitchen.com

Nigeran Suya being made traditionally

Suya kebabs

Preparation

Step 1

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Nigerian parties are made extra special when one of two items appears on the

Sprinkle salt onto the cubed or slices of beef.

menu. The first is a big cauldron of the Nigerian pepper soup. If you cannot

Empty half of the contents of the Balangwu paste onto the beef (keep the other half for

pull that off, you can dazzle your guests with a giant platter of Nigerian kebabs

gazing the kebabs later). Massage paste and salt thoroughly into meat.

called Suya.

Ingredients slices of yam

Step 2 Thread meat over wooden or metal skewers.

To achieve a quick and satisfactory result

2kg of beef (preferably lean brisket cut into cubes 0r slices)

in a domestic setting, place the kebabs onto the trays and place under a hot grill for 3 to

1 Jar of Naija Balangwu paste 1/2 teaspoonful of salt

5 minutes on each side to seal in the flavour.

Alternatively, you can place kebabs onto

20mls of vegetable 0il

flat round trays, place a lid or cling film and microwave on high heat for 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 3

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Publisher’s statements

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Editorial

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Postcards Lagos through Davesh Uba’s Lens 10 Great Places to bein Nigeria

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Hot Issue Business and Investment opportunity in Nigeria

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Lunch time in Nigeria The making of Nigerian plantain pudding - Ukpo Ogede

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Famous firsts in Nigeria Christopher I. Chalokwu -First black professor of a US university in its 140 years Nigeria’s First Hritage Site grinded crayfish

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What you should know A brief look at what you need to know before you go

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Webpreneurs Featuring blogs and websites by www.cometonigeria.com Nigerians

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Book reviews

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Inspirational Nigerians

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Music of Nigeria

Review of books by Nigerian writers

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Pour the vegetable oil into the left over paste. Stir the oil into the paste to loosen it.

Use a pastry brush to spread the loosened paste unto the kebabs.

Nigeria Fashion

Featuring Ade Bakare Step 4

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Place glazed kebabsunder a hot convector

My Nigeriaoven, griddle or a barbecue fire for about

minutes - don’t forget to turn the kebabs Featuring Kate10 Hallet over after every few minutes. That is it,

ready to eat Nigeran Suya

ready for consumption!

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Latters and cometonigeria commentsFirst Quarter 2014

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Nollywood story

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Travel and Holiday People and places

Adebayo Ogunlesi Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar rtd

Davido-The rise of a music star

Featured Story Nigeria’s Spectacular Festivals

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MUSIC OF NIGERIA

Publisher’s Statement

LIFE AND STYLE OF THE COUNTRY

Copyright 2010 CometoNigeria Magazine. ISSN 2044-1932

Published By:

Jollof Limited The Old Saint Lawrence School Building, Westminster Road, Kirkdale, Liverpool L4 3TQ UK Tel/Fax: + 44(0) 151 9222911 Mob: +44 (0) 75 51574179 Email: info@cometonigeria.com Website: http://www.cometonigeria.com/

In Nigeria:

Newday Nigeria Limited, Tel: +234 (0)8146357485, +234 (0) 8025633323

In America:

4930 Heritage Valley Drive, Douglasville, Atlanta, GA 30135 Tel: +1-678-732-7070, 678-637-7700, All editorial and advertising enquiries should be forwarded to: info@cometonigeria.com OR cometonigeria@gmail.com

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Oladimeji Adisa

Associate Editors

Alun Roberts Lanre Sangobunmi

Production Manager Adeyemi A. Adisa

Dayo Adeniran Abdulhakeem B. Olanigan Yekinni Opeloyeru

Neil Peacock Amanda Ushedo

Graphics

Gina Lisa Pate, Dayo Adeniran Declan McSweeney

Marketing

Editors

Legal Adviser Ranti Adisa

Distributors in Nigeria Newsstand Agencies Ltd Tel: +234 709 8123 459 newsstand2008@gmail.com

Distributors in UK

Post Scriptum Tel: +44 208 526 7779 davidjones@postscriptum.co.uk

Photography

Akara Ogheneworo Orbit Imagery, Jeff Tafoya Victor Onyebuchi Ibeabuchi Olori Olawale, Irene Becker Soji Ogunnaike, Ayo Asaaju Kunle Oladeinde, Devesh Uba Tosin Adeleke, Dipo Kehinde

Stories

Dayo Adeniran Lady Yemi Akinola Oluwole David Olumide Olushoga Myne Withman Franker Aligbe

What manner of a country is Nigeria? It keeps getting lickings, some self-inflicted, some externally-induced, yet keeping on ticking. It keeps scoring own goals time after time, yet keep on winning! That’s the mystery of this great nation unlike any other, our own Nigeria, an exciting paradox, wrapped up in a riddle and enigma, with a mystery woven around it like an irresistible ribbon.

Our mission, at COMETONIGERIA, is to be a worthy chef serving up all the enticingly great things and wonders of wonders that make Nigeria great; and using our crossover platform to bring the World to Nigeria while side by side, taking Nigeria to the world, inviting the connoisseurs of all that is bright and wonderful to sample the Oladimeji Adisa irresistible delights that make Nigeria great: the culture, the festivals, its peoples and Publisher /Editor-in-Chief places; and tempting bouquet of endless opportunities.

If along the line we have succeeded to whet the appetites and wonderlust, not to mention investment pull of the people, we would have feel fulfilled as this edition will show you.

Tourism has an important place within the world economy and represents a means of livelihood in many countries with huge number of tourist visits. It is a known fact that the pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia and Israel have contributed to their respective Gross Domestic Product (GDP). If the government of Nigeria can invest in tourism, as our strength in religious tourism have shown in recent years, I am very convinced that it will improve our GDP a whole lot.

There are new sets of people coming to Nigeria everyday for the first time who have ended up staying there because they just love it. We continue to receive enquiries about where people can visit and how they can enjoy their stay, mostly now that our government are fixing the security of the country and making our people to be more accountable in all areas of life, as well as working hard to bring back the glory and respect Nigeria was known for. We therefore need the government to do more for tourism just like what the World Conservation Society is doing by protecting eco-tourism in Bauchi with their own funding.

It is always good when you come to Nigeria, to find out before you go to some areas, just like when you travel to other places in other parts of the world. We want our visitors to take note of this.

In our continuous journey of discovery of the beautiful country that is Nigeria and our efforts to fight tooth and nail for the continuation of this project, we’ve met a magnet of truly helpful people, and friends, well-wishers and partner-in-progress: I give kudos to Dr John Osamor, Rev Dr Mosy Madugba, Dr Phillip Oyewale, Pastor Peter Yakubu and Alhaji Isiaka Idowu. Life is not measured by the amounts of breath we take, but moments and people that take our breath away. Thanks a trillion for your never-say-die support for our lofty, if not excitingly challenge cause to help make Nigeria great.

Going places? Come to Nigeria. This is the place to be.Together we’ve got miles to go, mission to fulfil and miles to go, before we sleep… See you when you get there!

Editorial Board

Dr John Osamo, Ade Arogundade, Fatai Ogunribido, Tunde Oyinloye, Neil Peacock, Mohammed Sani Adamu, Wale Ojo-Lanre, Amanda Ushedo, Bisi Ogunbadejo and Oladimeji Adisa

Oladimeji Adisa Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Designers

Rabia Designs, Liverpool, UK. Tel: +44 (0)7584662142 Email: rabia.design@gmail.com Web: http://www.rabiadesigns.co.uk While the publisher of CometoNigeria Travel Magazine makes every effort to ensure that the content of the magazine is accurate at the time of going to press, it cannot accept responsibility for any error that may appear. The publisher strongly suggests all visitors to Nigeria ensure travel documents and vaccines are up to date before travelling.

The editor of the magazine is happy to receive contributions.

However, while every care is taken with materials submitted, neither the editor nor the publisher can accept responsibility for the material. All submitted materials must include the contributor’s name and address. CometoNigeria cannot guarantee the return of submitted material.

Copyright 2015/2016 CometoNigeria Magazine. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form or stored in any form on a retrieval system without the prior permission of the publisher.

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE @ http://www.cometonigeria.com/subscription

Keep in touch with us

On Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cometonigeria On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/come.to.nigeria On Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/cometonigeriaTV

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in three days by the lighting of the 500-year-old sixteen-point lamp called probably the most popular event during the festival is the ‘Iboriade’, which is an assemblage of the crowns of the past

Editorial rulers of the city for blessings.

This event is usually led by the sitting traditional rule of Osogbo - Ataoja of Osogbo and the Arugba - a virgin maid

who carries the famous calabash, which bears the propitiation materials to the

This issue of ‘Come To Nigeria’ provides a vivid illustration of some of the many of this giant of the African continent, with a particular emphasis priestesses. This particular event attracts on its many cultural festivals. These festivals reflect the country’s religious diversity, visitors from across the city and beyond. Tourists as wellinvolving as Yoruba Christianity, Islam and traditional religions. tradition worshippers as far as Brazil, Also highlighted is the success of the Nollywood film industry, which has set an United States, Japan, Cuba and Europe usually come to witness this example remarkablyfor the rest of Africa and has engaged the attention of the Nigerian diaspora colourful event. and friends of Nigeria all over the world.

Neil Peacock Osun River, as well as the Yeye Osun - the touristof attractions Osun High-Priest, and a committee

Editor

FAMOUS FIRSTS

The success of inspirational Nigerians at home and abroad is also outlined.

Nigeria’s tourism potential has long been neglected, but whether for festivals, wildlife or landscape, this beautiful country has much to attract both its expats and those of other nationalities willing to explore its potential.

Myne Whitman gives a great outline of the evolving nature of Nigerian literature, and2015 how39it is exploring hitherto taboo subjects. Following in the footsteps of Wole cometonigeria Fourth Quarter Soyinka and Chinua Achebe, these modern men and women reflect the vibrant culture of Nigeria.

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If like me you really love music, Davido’s music is real and inspiring. With the new government finally setlling down and tackling security as well as other areas that are raising the image of the country for good, now is the time to come and enjoy the beauty of the county. We are waiting for you

Neil Peacock

igeria’s First World eritage Site

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n 2009, Nigeria marks 10 years anniversary of Sukur Kingdom designation as a World Heritage Site (WHS). World heritage sites fall under three categories; Cultural, Natural and Mixed,

and each site must be of “outstanding universal value,” as ned by the “Convention Concerning the Protection of the World ural and Natural Heritage.” ce the adoption of this United Nations’ Educational, Scientific Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention in 1972, over 1, sites, including historic buildings, archaeological sites as well orks of “monumental sculpture or painting” have been granted S status across the globe. ery December, theDavido-A list is further increased theof addition rising star isby one the of sites, and Sukur Kingdom in Madagali Government Area hottest new tallentsLocal in Nigerian A) of Adamawa State in northeastern Nigeria is the country’s musicwith countless awards and

of Marrakech. The Nigerian delegation to that summit included top federal government officials, National Council for Museums and Monuments technocrats and the then Adamawa State Governor, Mr. Boni Haruna.

Nigeria’s application presented to UNESCO relied a lot on previous studies by two Canadian academics, Dr. Judy Sterner and Prof Nicholas David. Dr Sterner is Head of Liberal Studies at Alberta College of Art and Design, while David is Faculty Professor of Archaeology at University of Calgary. According to these scholars, “The (Sukur Kingdom) scenery is magnificent, and while mammalian wildlife is limited, there is a rich avifauna and a fascinating botany.”

In 1999 UNESCO inscribed Sukur, on the World Heritage List as a very exceptional landscape, illustrating a form of land-use that marks a critical stage in human settlement and its relationship with its environment. The cultural landscape of Sukur is also powerful testimony to a strong and continuing spiritual and cultural tradition that has endured People You can read about what make for many centuries.

This edition Editor’s picks Music of Nigeria

world heritage site.

Nigeria’s first Heritage Site, officially chart hits to hisWorld name over the wn as Sukur Cultural Landscape, was listed in 1999, and has past few years. You will enjoy his tification Number 938. Interestingly, Sukur Kingdom, Nigeria’s story.

WHS is also Africa’s trailblazer in the “Cultural Landscape” gory. rrently, Nigeria has only two world heritage sites; the country’s r WHS, the www.cometonigeria.com Sacred Osun-Osogbo Grove, was listed in 2005.

ough Nigeria hosts many prospective world heritage sites, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM),

Travel and Holiday

Nollywood story

Nigeria’s film industry known as Nollywood to be the second largest producer of films in the world. for tory eas v a H us? r you Send Firsts in s ou Fam geria to @ i

and places page take reminds readers about the effect of the last centenary celebration on Nigeria tourism.

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MUSIC OF NIGERIA

‘Ina Olojumerindinlogun’. The main and

TRAVEL IMAGES

POSTCARDS Travel images from Nigeria

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Lagos through my lense

Devesh Uba Devesh Uba is a Lagos-based Indian Digital and Social Media Marketing professional and founder of NaijaGoSocial.Com, Nigeria’s first content focussed Social Media Agency. His other interests are independent filmmaking, travelling and motor-cycling.

You can see more of Lagos through Devesh’s lense via: Naija Go Social: http://www.naijagosocial.com Nigerian Street Photography: http://snapitoga.tumblr.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/snapitoga Photography: http://www.flickr.com/photos/deveshuba

2 Lagosstreetatnight

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NothingstopsaLagosian!

Seen her is a snapshot of a young lady trying to get on a commercial threewheeler motor tricycles (locally known as Keke Napep) on a flooded street of Lagos after a heavy downpour of rain.

Lagos is just as busy in the night as in the day! Sometimes Lagos feels like a city combined of several cities!

3 Lagosskyline

4 Windowshops

A beautiful snapshot of the Lagos skyline that showcases the cosmopolitan

These small window-shops are very common throughout Lagos. They

feel that all major cities have while still showing the soft lull of the Marina.

mostly stock items of everyday basic use…nothing fancy!

..

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TRAVEL IMAGES

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TRAVEL IMAGES

POSTCARDS 10 Great Places to be in Nigeria

...be thrilled in abuja

...be intrigued in lagos

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TRAVEL IMAGES

...be bold in kamuku national park kaduna

...be indulged in nigeria

...be relaxed in nigeria

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TRAVEL IMAGES

POSTCARDS 10 Great Places to be in Nigeria

...be inspired in obudu

...be free in lokoja

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TRAVEL IMAGES

...be entertained in lagos bar beach

...be cultured in ijebu-ode

...be engaged in portharcourt

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ESSENTIALS

YOUGO BEFORE

When to visit!

Currency

Entry formalities

Nigeria can be visited all year round but the traveller planning a visit should take the following into consideration: rainfall, particularly in the south, between May and September. Rainfall can be heavy in June and can cause some inconveniences.

Temperature ranges from 23–31°C in the south, with high humidity and much higher in the north. A cooler, but dusty harmattan season usually stretches from December to January.

Nigeria’s currency is the naira (N) which is divided into 100 kobo. Currency notes are issued in denominations of N5, N10, N20, N50, N100, N500 and N1000. Coins are issued in 10K, 25K, and N1. Except for hotel bills in some hotels, foreigners can do their shopping and other business in the local currency. There are a number of Bureau De Change and banks at each international airport where the visitor can convert from local to foreign currency, and vice versa.

Major banks with international branches operate electronic money transfer services, and it is safe to use your credit cards. It is safe to use your credit cards for your hotel bills and at other recognised outlets.

Visitors from the Commonwealth countries as well as other nations require an entry permit, obtained in advance, and the application should be supported by a letter of invitation and a return ticket for the journey. Processing will take at least two days.

HAUSA and FULANI

KANURI

MARGI KAMBERI

BORIM

Currency regulations

NUPE JUKUN IGBIRA TIV IDOMA

YORUBA IGALA LAGOS

EDO IBO

IJAW

EKOI

IBIBIO

Language English is the official language of Nigeria and it is used at all levels of administration, law, commerce and education. It is spoken with varying degrees of fluency by 50% of the population, making Nigeria the largest English speaking country in Africa. However, there are three major ethnic languages: Hausa - mainly spoken in the North; Yoruba - spoken in the West; and Igbo - spoken in the East. Another widely spoken language in Nigeria is the Pidgin English (though with varying regional influences on dialect and slang). Other Languages include Kanuri, Edo etc.

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There are no restrictions on importation of foreign currency. A currency declaration is, however required both on arrival and departure, for large sums of money in excess of US$5,000.00. Import or export of Nigerian currency is strictly limited to N5.000 (five thousand Naira only). Hotel expenses or bills may be paid for in foreign currency. Personal baggage up to 20 kilograms and belongings such as cameras and laptops for the use of bonafide visitors are admitted free of duty. In addition, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225 grams tobacco are allowed. The importation of illegal drugs is punishable by a jail term.

Health regulations An international vaccination certificate against yellow fever (10 years) is required.

Cholera (six months) is also required if coming from an infected area. Prophylactic anti-malaria and TB inoculation are recommended. Nigeria is a tropical country and therefore, it is necessary to protect yourself against malaria. It is advisable to take recommended medication from your country of departure. The most recommended drug for use in Nigeria is Chloroquine Phosphate taken once a week.

To be started two weeks before departure continued throughout the stay here until two weeks after returning.

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ESSENTIALS

What you need to know...

To enter Nigeria, a valid passport and visa are both required for nationals of virtually all countries. Passports must be valid for at least six months after the period of intended stay. All visitors to Nigeria must hold passports or ECOWAS travelling documents (for nationals from ECOWAS member countries). Citizens of countries for which Nigeria requires visas must obtain entry information and visas in advance from Nigerian embassies or consulates abroad. Visas cannot be obtained aboard planes or at the airport. Check your nearest Nigerian embassy or consulate for more information on travel requirements.

JAN

2016

Reaching Nigeria

Baggage Examinations

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

By Air: There are international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt Domestic flights operate between all the major cities. Some airlines that fly to Nigeria include Arik Air (London, New york - Lagos, Abuja), British Airways (London - Abuja, Lagos), Virgin Atlantic (London Lagos), KLM (Amsterdam - Abuja, Lagos, Kano), Air France (Paris- Lagos and Port Harcourt), Alitalia (Milan -Abuja, Lagos), Turkish Airline (Istanbul -Lagos), Lufthansa (Frankfurt - Abuja, Lagos), Iberia Airlines (Madrid-Lagos), North American Airlines (Baltimore/Washington, New York - Lagos), Delta Airlines (Atlanta - Lagos). Others include China Southern Airlines, Emirates, Middle East Airlines, Qatar Airways etc.

International airports in Nigeria are staffed

by Customs Officers who conduct normal checks of baggage on all international arrivals. Standard security checks are in operation at all Nigerian entry ports.

1 Jan: New Year’s Day 26 Feb: Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet) 25 Mar: Good Friday 28 Mar: Easter Monday 1 May Workers’ Day 29 May: Democracy Day 1 Oct: Independence Day 07 Jul Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) 11 Sept Eid al-Kabir (Feast of the Sacrifice) 25 Dec: Christmas; 26 Dec: Boxing Day

Getting around Public Transport: The entire country is well connected.

Getting around is relatively easy, except that there could be delays owing to traffic jams in some cities. As usual, there are multitudes of coaches and buses that will take you to any part of Nigeria you wish.

Self Drive / Hire Cars: Road conditions in the cities are good.

Petrol is very cheap in Nigeria. Driving is on the right hand side and an International Driving Licence is required. Car hire is available in Lagos, Abuja and other major cities.

By Boat:

MUSLIM FESTIVALS

GIFT SHOP Airport customs Visitors to Nigeria are allowed 4 litres of alcoholic beverages and 200 cigarettes duty-free. Visitors may export souvenirs, although some articles (e.g. animals skins and antiques) require an export permit.

Illegal drugs of any description are not allowed into Nigeria. Please check with a Nigerian Embassy, Consulate or High Commission nearest to you for current information before departure.

Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking.

Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Kabir (Eid al-Adha) may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Time Zone Nigeria is 1 hour ahead of GMT, meaning that during daylight savings, it would be 12:00 in London, 1:00pm in Nigeria and 8:00am in New York.

Transport by boat is not widespread unless you venture into Lagos and other riverine areas of Nigeria.

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UPDATES/NEWS

Travel Minister advocate for a new way to fund the tourism sector in Nigeria

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Medview Airline to Begin Direct Flights to London

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edview Airline, one of the fastest growing Nigeria domestic airlines, commenced direct flight services to London from Lagos from November 20, 2015.

With this, Medview has joined Arik Air as indigenous airlines that now operate the lucrative London route, which had been dominated by UK carriers, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways, for years.

With two Nigerian airlines operating to London, it is hoped that fares to Europe’s busiest city will come down soon making it inviting for more people to come to Nigeria.

The airline’s managing director, Muneer Bankole, said at news conference in Lagos that the flight fare will start with N149,000 (Economy) and N599,000 (Business class) with a 32kg (2-piece) baggage allowance for economy and a 32kg (3-piece) baggage allowance for Business class.

He said the airline has also secured slots at Gatwick Southern Terminal in London with additional services such as Limousine service for Business class travellers and bus connections to Victoria station and various points in central, south and East London.

The Lagos-London route has remained one of the busiest in the world yet remained the most expensive, it is against this backdrop that Medview airline is entering the route as a Nigerian flag carrier with

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the possibility of reasonable fares, good customer care as well as excellent excellent in-flight entertainment. in addition, African/continental meals will be served on board with a variety of music and films to compliment, the B767 aircraft has been configured in 30 Business class and 191 Economy cabin. Starting with four weekly flights on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the airline will surely create add opportunity for passengers flying other airlines to receive good customer service.

Bankole, disclosed that Medview has entered into partnership with Ethiopian airline and Boeing on maintenance of its aircraft. He said the airline would operate from the second busiest airport in London, Gatwick. He added that it would by the first quarter of 2016, that they attain the International Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), a benchmark for global safety management in the airline industry.

Bankole said since it started operation Medview has trained many personnel as pilots, engineers and others and because of the airline’s commitment to manpower development, Medview has provided pilots, engineers and others to other airlines in the country; this Bankole said, makes him happy for that invaluable contribution to the development of air transport in the country.

inister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has advocated the dedication of 1 percent of passenger fare of international airliners to fund the tourism sector in Nigeria.

Mohammed told the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism that other countries around the world were already implementing the 1 percent charge.

He said such money if dedicated to the tourism sector would stem capital flights, as more Nigerians would visit tourism sites in Nigeria rather than travelling abroad.

“Most countries charge airlines operating in the country and bringing people into the country, a percentage of the fare for the tourism development fund.

“This is not done here in Nigeria; we need to charge airlines like Lufthansa, Delta, British Airways, Air France and others.

“If all the airlines that come to Nigeria can devote just one per cent of their passengers’ fare to tourism development, it would assist us in developing facilities to boost tourism across the country.

“We will be coming to the senate very soon to see how this can be drafted into a law that will make it mandatory on all airlines coming in,” he said

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UPDATES/NEWS

Nigerian diaspora remittances reach $20.77 billion in 2015 Airline Operators rake over N10 Billion in six months ...And Nigeria to sign BASA with 15 countries - NCAA

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igeria’s Civil Aviation Authority has disclosed that foreign and domestic carriers in the country’s aviation industry raked over 10 billion naira from ticket sales in six months. Director General of the country’s regulatory agency, Capt. Muhtar Usman made the disclosure while delivering a paper at the 21st League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) seminar with the theme: “Achieving a win-win Aviation Sector in Nigeria” at the agency’s annex in Lagos. He stated that the total amount of ticket sold on the domestic routes stood at 2,352,011,595.17 naira, while the international operators sold 8,176,919,415.10 naira, within the same period. The NCAA boss added that the total volume of passengers airlifted from January – July 2015 by the domestic operators stood 6,061,740 passengers while their foreign counterpart freighted 2,341,748 in similar period.

“From January to July of 2015, the total amount of ticket sold on the domestic routes was 2,352,011,595.17 naira, while the international operators sold 8,176,919,415.10 naira, within the same period. The total volume of passengers airlifted from January – July 2015 by the domestic operators is 6,061,740 passengers while their foreign counterpart freighted 2,341,748 in similar period.” Usman stated the revenue generated by the operators would have been better but for the transition period and elections which restricted wide scale travel. The DG also disclosed that the fifteen countries have indicated interest to sign Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), with Nigeria while thirteen others are waiting www.cometonigeria.com

for renegotiation of their existing BASAs. He noted that a lot of foreign airlines are finding Nigeria an investor’s basket.

“A total number of 15 (Fifteen) countries have so far indicated their preparedness to sign Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with our country. While 13 others on the threshold waiting for renegotiation of their existing BASAs.” Captain Usman affirmed that the agency is putting finishing touches to the process leading to the registration of all Aviation Fuel Markets in the sector adding that existing one would have to regularise their operations while new entrants will file fresh application with the same requirements. He said the regulatory agency is determined to put in the past the hydra-headed problem of dearth of technical staff noting that the agency now has a preponderance of Aviation safety Inspectors (ASI) and the requisite technical manpower.

“NCAA is putting finishing touches to the process leading to the registration of all Aviation Fuel Marketers. The existing ones would have to regularise their operations while new entrants will file fresh application with the same requirements.

“The Regulatory Authority is determined to put in the past the hydra-headed problem of dearth of technical staff. We now have a preponderance of Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASI) and the requisite technical manpower.

“We have interviewed and employed a lot of engineers who are presently undergoing training at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, (NCAT), Zaria. “Against this background, it is pertinent to note that the future of aviation is now on passenger experience and aviation technology.”

R

emittances from Nigerians living abroad hit $20.77 billion in 2015, making Nigeria the sixth largest recipient of remittances in the world, according to the World Bank’s Migration and Remittances Factbook 2016.

Remittances to Nigeria rose every year over the last decade from $16.93 billion in 2006 to $20.83 billion in 2014. In 2015, however, remittances fell slightly to $20.77 billion.

According to the report, the top two sources for Nigerian diaspora remittances in 2015 were the United States ($5.7 billion) and the United Kingdom ($3.7 billion).

The global top ten remittance recipients this year were India ($72.2bn), China ($63.9bn), the Philippines ($29.7bn), Mexico ($25.7bn), France ($24.6bn), Nigeria ($20.77bn), the Arab Republic of Egypt ($20.4bn), Pakistan ($20.1bn), Germany ($17.5bn), and Bangladesh ($15.8bn).

Nigeria tops the top five remittance recipients in Africa by $20.77bn, followed by Ghana ($2.0bn), Senegal ($1.6bn), Kenya ($1.6bn), and South Africa ($1.0bn) Total remittances sent by migrants to their families in their home countries reached $601 billion in 2015, with developing countries receiving $441 billion, the Factbook said.

The United States was the largest source of remittances in the world, with outflows reaching $56 billion, followed by Saudi Arabia where $37 billion was remitted from, and Russia at $33 billion.

“At more than three times the size of development aid, international migrants’ remittances provide a lifeline for millions of households in developing countries,” said Dilip Ratha, co-author of the Factbook.

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UPDATES/NEWS

Investment Ornua, formerly the Irish Dairy Board, has opened a new Kerrygold packing factory in Nigeria.

T Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts plans to open its first property in Nigeria

M

övenpick Hotels & Resorts has revealed plans to open its first property in Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa.The company has signed a landmark deal with Queen Amina Garden Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of Urban Shelter, a prominent Nigerian property development company, to manage the 250-key Mövenpick Hotel and Conference Centre Abuja, marking another milestone in its ambitious African expansion strategy.

With a projected launch date of early 2019, the upscale hotel will be Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts’ third property to open in West Africa.

Located in the Nigerian capital’s desirable Jabi Lake district, an upmarket residential area undergoing rapid development, Mövenpick Hotel and Conference Centre Abuja will offer guests a peaceful lakeside setting while also offering excellent road links to the nearby international airport and city centre.

The property will be a focal point of The Queen Amina Garden, a stunning contemporary leisure and entertainment destination currently under construction, designed to cater to Nigeria’s growing affluent society and international guests, with key features including a retail

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promenade and residences.

“Nigeria is Africa’s economic powerhouse with a GDP of $568.5 billion and a population of 177.5 million in 2014, according the World Bank.

“It is the world’s 20th largest economy, its eighth largest oil exporter and by 2050, will become the third most populated nation after China and India with an estimated 440 million inhabitants,” said Alan O’Dea, senior vice president Africa, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts.

“Opening a property in the thriving modern capital, Abuja, the country’s political hub, home to foreign embassies, global oil exporting companies as well as OPEC’s regional headquarters, is a strategic move that truly capitalises on the city’s strong growth in trade and business.”

Mövenpick Hotel and Conference Centre Abuja will also cater to the capital’s swelling population with some areas of the city witnessing growth of between 20 per cent and 30 per cent annually.

One million people live in Abuja, rising to four million if you take into account its suburban areas.

he investment is the latest in a series of major global investments by Ornua as it seeks to expand routes to market for Irish dairy produce.

Irish powdered milk will be exported to Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, and packaged at the facility.

It will be marketed under the Kerrygold brand.

Kerrygold powders are sold in small sachets, pouches or tins, primarily through small distributors.

Ornua opened its African headquarters in Port Elizabeth in South Africa in 2013 and currently employs 250 people.

Nigeria is one of the top three importers of powdered milk products in Africa and the largest importer of full-fat milk powder.

The new factory is a joint venture between Ornua and distribution and packing partners, Fareast Mercantile Company Limited (FMCL).

Recent major investments include the development of new and expanded production and innovation facilities in North America, Germany, Spain, the UK, Saudi Arabia, as well as here in Ireland.

Welcoming the opening of the facility Ornua CEO Kevin Lane described the latest facility as “another important step in our growth plans for Africa”.

The facility was opened in Lagos by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney, who recenlty led a trade mission to Nigeria.

www.cometonigeria.com

UPDATES/NEWS

Culture Leisure

Nigeria to acquire two satellites from China for $701m

N

igeria has opened talks with China for the financing and construction of two new communication satellites at a cost of $701m.

The new satellites, to be known as NigComSat-2 and NigComSat-3, are to serve as backup to the country’s existing communications satellite, NigComSat-1R, which was put in the orbit in December 2011.

The General Manager, Satellite Applications, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, Mr. Abdulrahman Adelajah, disclosed these at a media parley hosted by the company in Abuja on Wednesday.

He also said that NigComSat had won a bid to provide In-Orbit Test for Belarus for the launching of its new satellite from the company’s Abuja ground station.

Adelajah said the China EXIM Bank would finance the construction of the new satellites, which would likely be handled by the China Great Wall Industry Corporation.

He stated, “Following the successful launch of NigComSat-1R, two additional satellites, NigComSat-2 and NigComSat-3, are required to provide backup services, expand operations and boost customer confidence.

“The Federal Government has already commenced budgetary provision in this respect. In furtherance of the sustained commercial relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China, the Ministry of Finance has been negotiating with the China EXIM Bank to provide a loan facility to support a

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series of Nigerian developmental projects, including the manufacture and launch of NigComSat-2 and 3 at a cost of $701m.”

He added, “Both NigComSat-2 and NigComSat-3 satellites are designed to operate in a geostationary orbit and delivered to orbit locations of 19 degrees East and 22 degrees West, respectively for provision of C-Band, Ku-Band and Ka-Band payload capability for a minimum service life of 15 years.

“NigcomSat-2 is designed to cover Nigeria, Middle East, China and other Asian countries, whilst NigComSat-3 will cover Nigeria, and the South and North America. With the three satellites in orbit, it will be possible for the Nigerian telecommunications industry to dominate the African market within a period of five years after the launch of the satellites.”

Nigeria’s first communications satellite, NigComSat-1, was designed and built by the CGWIC at a cost of $400m. The satellite, which was put in the orbit in May 2007, was deorbited in November 2008 following the development of a power fault. It was replaced in December 2011 with NigComSat-1R by the same company.

In a statement made available to our correspondent, the Head of Public Affairs, NigComSat, Mr. Adamu Idris, explained that the company had been announced as the winner of a bid to provide In-Orbit Test and Carrier Spectrum Services for the Belintersat-1 satellite owned by Belarus.

The Belarus satellite, also constructed by the CGWIC, is set for launch in January 2016.

Adventure

LETS GO THERE! Where do you want to start? From Cape Verde to Nigeria, From Mali to Senegal, West Africa presents you with a wealth of activities that will amaze your Visitimagination.

visit www.cometowestafrica.com email info@cometowestafrica.com cometonigeria Fourth Quarter 2015

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HOT ISSUE

Business and Investment Opportunities in Nigeria The Nigerian economy is rated among the most resilient in the world, and the economic growth has been on an upward trajectory even in the midst of world economic recessions.

A

s we all know, INVESTMENT is a very broad term that has different meanings. In economics, investment is the process of gathering newly produced physical entities, such as houses, machinery, factories, and goods inventories or assets and in finance, investment is putting money into an asset with the expectation of capital which would grow in value and would bring about dividends and interest For the purpose of this publication, investment is simply defined as the action or process of investing money for profit. Kindly allow me to group investment opportunities into two categories, the investment you would do and you must be prepared to investment your money, time, and your skill, your energy through your active participation or supervised and the second is when you use other peoples time, energy and skill through sending your money ‘errand’ (passive involvement).

The Nigerian economy is rated among the most resilient in the world, and the economic growth has been on an upward trajectory even in the mist of world economic recessions. Nigeria is the most favourable investment destination in Africa since 1999 when Nigeria regained democracy and according to the world bank, Nigeria is classified as a mixed economy emerging market, with its abundant supply of natural resources, well-developed financial, legal, communications, transport sectors and stock exchange (the Nigerian Stock Exchange), which is the second largest in Africa.

The fact The Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. There are over 500 ethnic groups in Nigeria, of which the three largest are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba with an estimated population of about 168,833,776. Nigeria is one of the largest producers of crude oil, but does not refine its own petroleum, but rather imports petroleum

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products. The largest producers of cassava, but never produce starch in commercial scale or ethanol. Nigeria is the largest tomato producer, but is the largest importer of tomato paste in the world.

Nigeria as a country is becoming an increasingly attractive hub for foreign investors in the light of various economic, political and social reforms that are sweeping through the anti-corruption campaigns by the present regime of President Muhammadu Buhari, resulting in a much improved business environment conducive for foreign direct investment.

Eight Profitable Business and Investment Opportunities.

Agriculture, Sewing of specialized uniforms and robes, E-services, Education, Stock market, Eco-friendly Off-Grid Power Supply, One stop shop: . Health and Fitness club, Information & Communication.

1. Agriculture-Farming: Cassava Plantation.

Nigeria is ripe for a green revolution, with more than 33% uncultivated arable land. There is a huge demand for cassava locally and internationally and the local demands are not even met at the moment by the cassava growers in the country. Also, there is a high demand for starch and ethanol worldwide, starting your own cassava plantation is a viable business. On the other hand, you can lease farmlands from local authorities in several states. Ogun, Osun and Oyo states are currently pioneering such farm activities.

There is little or no risk involved with the cassava farming because it is a very tolerant crop and it would grow where other crops don’t grow well and in low nutrient soil as well. There are various species that can be used depending on where land would be available.

Cassava is use for food: Garri, Fufu, it is also needed in healthcare and Pharmacology as raw material, distillers also needs it, same as textile mills need cassava and 12 months after planting is the harvest time. Also in local demand are: Poultry and Animal Husbandry and www.cometonigeria.com

HOT ISSUE

Fisheries.

for you to invest and reap the dividend.

2. Sewing of specialized uniforms and robes: School uniforms, party uniforms (also known as aso ebi) with a unique logo, customised bathrobes and choir robes with the church crest are on the increase in Nigeria. Before investing your money, please make a further research.

5. Stock Market: Over the past years, amid bearish performance of stock markets in developed countries such as USA and United Kingdom because of the effect of global recession, Nigerian stock markets have bucked the negative prevailing style and are currently recording solid triple digit performance. These positive movements, coupled with Nigeria’s low correlation to world markets make investment appealing for portfolio diversification.

3. E-Services: Nigeria market is still trying to catch up with the world of e-services. E-payment, bulk Sms services, web design and hosting, database management services, e-portal management for government and companies are still important areas to invest on.

4. Education: Owing to the fact that government owned schools are plagued with several problems such as strike action by the teaching and non-teaching staffs, poor maintenance cultures, non-payment of staff salaries, poor infrastructure and learning environment which has caused a ripple effect on students’ poor performance and behaviour. These problems lead many parents to withdraw their children from public schools and enrol them in private schools.

The demand for privately run school is on the increase in Nigeria. From crèche to day centres, nursery to primary, secondary to tertiary education and parents tend to trust private schools. This is your opportunity. Why can’t you start a school that encourages creative thinking in children such as the new UK or US education curriculum with the theme ‘play and learn’ rather than the cramming based learning of the past? Most parents would prefer the humanistic approach of ‘play and learn’ classrooms and the perceived softer learning environment to the tensed and strict ones.

Let children be children and you would see a difference in their self-confidence and self-esteem.

Also, there is a huge demand for online tertiary education and study from home programs in Nigeria. In order to encourage parent and people with a busy schedule to make progress without sacrificing their parental responsibility or paid job for education or self improvement, studying from home and online University program with accredited courses are needful in Nigeria. This is another opportunity www.cometonigeria.com

6. Eco-friendly Off-Grid Power Supply: Despite the critical reforms in Nigeria electric power sector, there is still a huge deficit in the electricity supply. Owing to the location of Nigeria in the world map, the country experiences high density of incident ray from the sunlight.

The natural sunlight is still untapped in the country.

Investors can invest in photovoltaic solar panels, inverters and batteries to produce eco-friendly off-grid power and because there are no moving parts in solar power, it has a little maintenance. There is huge demand for this type of power generation. Solar chargers for phones and tablets are needed as well. Solar lanterns, solar powered TV and radio are also popular in the Nigerian Market.

7. Security and Property Protection Consultancy Services: Many of our wealthy people want the services of a security and property protection consultant. The service is purely tailored to meeting the need of individual client. It could be location tracking of commercial and private vehicle, security marking and tracking of valuable items to realtime surveillance of premises and monitoring services.

Human recognition system security service is an untapped market in Nigeria. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tagging and geo-location devices is a remedy against kidnapping. Hoteliers, government departments, private, and corporations could be a targeted market.

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LUNCH TIME

NEXT ISSUE

The edition that will be the 1st quarterly issue of CometoNigeria in 2016 will be available from March and we will be covering the following topics and many more:

Hot Issue: Changing our mind set

? logger b l e v a Tr our Send y le to rtic story/a igeria@ on comet l.com gmai

Music of Nigeria RELIGIOUS TOURISM: Nigeria’s Fastest Growing Tourism Sector Lagos to Calabar by Road My Nigeria: Interview with Claire (Oyinbo Prince) Books! Books!! Books!!! Books By Nigerian Writers Top 20 Global Brand s andthe Nigerian Economy Plus States/City in focus: Highlighting tourist sites, hotels, restaurants and nightclubs Other Top Restaurants and Hotels in the country Featured Sites, Festivals and Resorts Striking photos and many more!

For adverts placement in the next issue of CometoNigeria Magazine, please contact: Neil Peacock or Amanda Ushedo on +44 (0) 151 922 2911, Email: info@cometonigeria.com If you would like to contribute stories and images, please send your materials to info@cometonigeria.com.

Some of the Previous editions

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www.cometonigeria.com

S

uya or Tsire is an African Kebab made usually by the Hausa people found throughout the West Africa. It is called Tchichinga in such countries as Ghana

and Niger. The Hausas, the Tuaregs and the Berbers have a similar North African culinary culture which prominently features beef, lamb and mutton.

Meat is often marinated for several hours in peanut paste or in groundnut oil-infused spice blends. Traditionally, the meat is then threaded onto wooden skewers before being cooked on an open grill or on a rotating spit, over an open fire.

Ukodo as prepared by dooneyskitchen.com

Nigeran Suya being made traditionally

Suya kebabs

Nigerian parties are made extra special when one of two items appears on the menu. The first is a big cauldron of the Nigerian pepper soup. If you cannot pull that off, you can dazzle your guests with a giant platter of Nigerian kebabs called Suya.

Ingredients 2kg of beef (preferably lean brisket slices of yam

cut into cubes 0r slices) 1 Jar of Naija Balangwu paste 1/2 teaspoonful of salt 20mls of vegetable 0il

Preparation Step 1

Sprinkle salt onto the cubed or slices of beef.

Empty half of the contents of the Balangwu paste onto the beef (keep the other half for gazing the kebabs later). Massage paste and salt thoroughly into meat.

Step 2 Thread meat over wooden or metal skewers.

To achieve a quick and satisfactory result in a domestic setting, place the kebabs onto the trays and place under a hot grill for 3 to 5 minutes on each side to seal in the flavour.

Alternatively, you can place kebabs onto flat round trays, place a lid or cling film and microwave on high heat for 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 3 Pour the vegetable oil into the left over paste. Stir the oil into the paste to loosen it.

Use a pastry brush to spread the loosened paste unto the kebabs.

Step 4 Place glazed kebabsunder a hot convector oven, griddle or a barbecue fire for about grinded crayfish

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ready to eat Nigeran Suya

10 minutes - don’t forget to turn the kebabs over after every few minutes. That is it, ready for consumption!

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LUNCH TIME

Have you tried Nigerian Suya?

NIGERIA FESTIVALS

NIGERIA’S SPECTACULAR FESTIVALS N

o doubt about it, Nigeria is blessed with about 200 million of hospitable, hardworking and fun-loving people. From the north to the south, west and east, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is full of amazing people with diverse and fascinating cultural backgrounds. Within this diverse cultural backgrounds are some of the most beautiful cultural festivals and carnivals with energetic dances and colourful costumes. Nigerians like to party, we love to celebrate; there is hardly a day will pass without one or two celebrations somewhere in the country. But are we making use of our cultural attractions to generate much needed revenues for both the government and the hosting communities?

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www.cometonigeria.com

NIGERIA FESTIVALS

www.cometonigeria.com

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NIGERIA FESTIVALS

Calabar festival

C

alabar Festival is indisputably the biggest and longest multi-dimensional, multi-faceted tourism leisure and entertainment programme in West Africa. Thirtytwo days of exciting events, colourful activities and unprecedented yearly participation by close to a million people from all over the world.

A festive season that started at the turn of the Millennium has grown in popularity, scope and participation year in, year out. Today, the festival is arguably Nigeria’s strongest tourism brand. The Cross River State Government has employed this festival over the years to drive its tourism efforts and provide exposure for its vast tourism sites and infrastructures such as the Obudu Mountain Resort, 28

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Tinapa Business Resort, Marina Resorts among others. The Festival starts with the Tree-Lighting ceremony on the 30th November at the Millennium Park, Calabar and culminates in the Thanksgiving Ceremony on 1st January of the succeeding year. In between, there are musical concerts which have featured renowned national and international artistes like the late Lucky Dube, Joe, Alpha Blondy, Akon among others. There are also awareness campaigns and seminars on contemporary issues of global concerns, children’s Christmas Camp, theatre performances, vocational training for youths, fashion and food fairs, a weekend at the Obudu Mountain Resort to celebrate Africa, and so many other side attractions. Of course there is a two-day Carnival Calabar to spice up the season. www.cometonigeria.com

NIGERIA FESTIVALS

Carnival Calabar is a unique display of African heritage showcased through music, dance, drama and visual creativity which is reflected in the design of floats, costumes and make-up. Despite the fun and relaxed atmosphere around the carnival, a great degree of thought, creativity and discipline goes into the interpretation of the carnival theme under a strict adjudication process. The result is pure magic - an outpouring of colour, sound and spectacle, unmatched by anything else on the continent.

Carnival Calabar is an annual event that takes place on the 26th and 27th December, and it is the highlight of the 32-day Calabar Festival which runs from 30th November to 1st January. With over 50,000 costumed revellers and more than 2 million spectators as well as audience of over 50 million television viewers, the carnival www.cometonigeria.com

is seen as the largest cultural festival in Africa. Carnival Calabar features 5 major competing bands and 10 non-competing bands. The major bands are comprised of approximately 10,000 revellers each, including up to five kings and queens wearing large scale costumes that interpret the annual theme and set the tone for the other outfits. Sections of these costumed revellers create a riot of colour and sparkle, along a 12km route accompanied by live music, well-decorated floats and steel bands. The carnival parade terminates at the UJ Esurene Stadium which is the final adjudication and end point of the competition for ‘Band of the year’ in various categories.

This competition attracts an additional 15,000 seated spectators and 10,000 others in and around the stadium, as well as about 50million televison viewers.

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NIGERIA FESTIVALS

Iwude festival

I

wude Festival, that used to be called Iwude Ogun in the past, is a festival aimed at bringing all Ijesa people of all religion together to celebrate and felicitate. Iwude, which

usually takes place between December 17 - 26, is the oldest traditional festival in Ijesaland. The festival is a one-week event which usually climax with the Paramount ruler of Ijesaland, Owa Obokun Adimula coming out of his palace in the morning, moves in grandeur across a section of the community, celebrates with his people and return to the palace in the evening.

Prominent among the places touched by the Owa are Yeyerise’s palace, Obanla’s palace, Sawe’s palace, Lejoka’s palace and Salotun’s palace. In each of these places, the Owa is expected to hold a court whose duration varies from 1-2 hours.

Iwude also affords the traditional Chiefs opportunity to demonstrate their loyalty to the Kabiyesi. The Iwude festival is the “mother of all festivals” in Ijesaland as it brings together all Ijesa people. It features cultural displays and regalia which manifests in Owa Obokun dressing with royal beads, crown, umbrella, walking stick, horsetail, steps, smiles and dance. It also features exchange of gifts from Kabiyesi to the Chiefs and vice versa.

The Iwude is being used to foster greater unity by bringing together all Ijesa people at home, from other part of Nigeria and abroad, develop the whole place while also celebrating the heroes and heroines. The festival is now branded as convergence of ancient and modern, a celebration of the best cultural values of Ijesa’s. It is also a mixed grill of pomp and pageantry, excellence and beauty.

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www.cometonigeria.com

NIGERIA FESTIVALS

Ofala festival

F

or over 700 years, the week-long proceedings known as the Ofala Onitsha Festival, kicks off what is traditionally called the New Yam

Festival.

For the Onitsha people of Anambra State, the festival brings to an end the ‘planting and starvation’ season during the dry months of summer, and begins the period of harvest and plenty in October for the people of the kingdom. It is also a cultural celebration of the bond between the people of the Onitsha and the renewed promise of peace and prosperity.

This event is hugely popular with usually up to 100,000 natives, international dignitaries and tourists arriving. Its traditions reside in the belief held by the people’s forefathers that the eating of the yam could be bring illness and death to those who consumed it. The festival celebrates the communities’ success over the crop by killing it themselves through eating the yam without any ill effects. Its other purpose is to mark the annual outing of the Obi (the local King) who inspects his subjects and rejoices with them that no person has died as a result of eating the yam.

Before the final ceremony, the Obi goes into a four day spiritual retreat, abstaining from worldly pleasures and communing with ancestral spirits and invoking the gods of fertility. He emerges to a twenty-one gun salute to join his people amongst cheers and rejoicing before making a speech paying tribute to the ancestors of the community. On the following day the townsfolk parade before

the Obi in a rich sea of colour, dance and clothing extravagance.

The Obi will also dance around the arena three times during the celebration. Along with the thousands of revellers who take great delight in this highlight of the cultural calendar, it is also an opportunity for the elite sons and daughters and elders of the town to participate in the parade celebrations wearing magnificent hats made out of ostrich and peacock feathers and attire fit for a place known as ‘land of the nobles’.

Seigbein festival

S

eigbein festival in Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, is an annual celebration that has a fascinating history dated back several centuries.

According to oral tradition, the festival came about after the death of King Oboro, said to be the founder of Amassoma. He was particularly well known for his fishing skills and renowned for his skills in trade and agriculture, and, inevitably, his demise drew a multitude of supporters from across the neighbouring communities.

In order to entertain these mourners, the king’s three sons decided to hold a grand fishing and feasting event in their father’s honour. The mass communal fishing successfully took place at a nearby lake and the festival has been celebrated every year since then. The festival is usually held at the end of May, and still involves plenty of fishing, food and amusement. The year’s harvest is also put on display for all to see, and gifts of food are exchanged between families and friends.

The Seigbein Festival is a time for honouring and remembrance of the ancestors, and reunion. Visitors to the festival today can enjoy an expanding selection of diversions, including musical and dramatic performance, dancing and other activities. www.cometonigeria.com

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NIGERIA FESTIVALS

Durbar festival

D

urbar Festival is a celebration of the two great Muslim Festivals of Eid-al-Fitr and Eid al-Kabir, and dates back hundreds of years when the Emirate in Northern Nigeria used horses in warfare.

It was a demonstration of their strong powerful army by the chiefs and a show of readiness for war and affirmation of allegiance and loyalty to the Emir by the different regiments. During the festival, each town and wealthy household had to bring their horses to regional Durbars to showcase their horsemanship and prove they were ready for war.

In the modern times they have incorporated prayers into the beginning of the day before the parades take place in squares or in front of the local Emir’ s palace, but horsemanship is still the main attraction. Each group must gallop at full tilt, swords drawn, past the Emir and his retinue then brake and salute. The Emir’s own regiment are usually the most inspiring and go on last. It is a spectacular traditional concert and bazaar of music and culture.

The day starts with prayers outside each town and city, followed by processions of flamboyantly dressed horsemen, several musclebound wrestlers and flute players in headdresses, to the public square in front of the Emir’s palace. Here, each group takes their assigned place before the Emir arrives last of all with his magnificent 32

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entourage.Groups of horsemen then race across the square at full gallop with swords drawn, pass a few feet from the Emir and stop to salute him.

This colourful procession, full of pomp and pageantry, features contests among the royal cavalry, drummers, trumpeters, praise singers and wrestlers. The riders wear bright coats of armour and, on their scarlet turbans, copper helmets topped with plumes. The Emir, draped in white and protected by a heavy brocade parasol embroidered with silver, rides in the middle of the cavalry. It depicts the past glories of the Emirate before the influence of western culture. After all the action, the Emir and his chiefs all dressed in ceremonial robes retire to the palace and drumming, dancing and singing continues into the night. The event is a flurry of colour in sandy northern Nigeria.

The Durbar is a celebration of that longstanding horse culture.

Horses and camels became critical to the survival of highly developed cities such as Kano, Katsina, Zaria, Bauchi, Bida, Maiduguri and many more in the Northern region as early as the 14th century. Horses, along with gold and salt, formed the backbone of the expanding trade across the Sahara with Egypt, Algeria and Morocco before Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas. Emirs based their military might on the cavalry. Powerful lieutenants, www.cometonigeria.com

NIGERIA FESTIVALS

under a chief cavalry officer, the madawaki, would lead forces of horsemen, loaded down with lances, axes, shields, and chain-mail coats into battle against rival cities or empire. The Durbar is also fired by the passion of Islam. At the height of the jihad, in 1804-1812, Usman dan Fodio, would gather troops in his capital at Sokoto during the dry season to plan out the year’s war strategy.

In addition, the Durbar was also supported by the British Empire.

The word itself comes from the Persian Darbar, which means court-room or hall of audience. A special Durbar had marked the proclamation of Queen Victoria as Empress of India in 1876. After Sir Frederick Lugard invaded Northern Nigeria with his West African Frontier Force and conquered the Sokoto Caliphate in 1903 when the Durbars were organised. It was a Military parade to remind their subjects and the old Emirs of the Crown military might. A grand Durbar was also organised during the celebration of Nigeria’s independence from Britain in 1960. Aside from the Durbar festivities of the North, there are few other areas in the country where Durbar is celebrated.

The city of Kano

In Nigeria’s Islamic North, the end of the fasting month is celebrated with equine cavalcades called Durbars. One of the best places to see them is Kano, West Africa’s oldest surviving city and an www.cometonigeria.com

ancient centre of Islamic learning. In Kano, the festival is called Hawan Sallah. The Emir hosts the Durbar and it culminates in a procession of highly elaborately dressed groups of horsemen who pass through the city to the Emir’s palace. Once assembled near the palace, each group representing a nearby village, take it in turns to charge towards the Emir, pulling up just feet in front of the seated dignitaries to offer their respect and allegiance. The Kano Durbar usually attracts huge following because of its pageantry and magnificent display by the army of royalties on parade. While tourists still think Kano Durbar is the biggest and richest, some people think Katsina’s Durbar is the most remarkable and glorious.

But we think all the Durbars are spectacular. They all portray the richness of Nigeria culture.

The Muslim connection Right through the Islamic world, the Eid al-Fitr festival is celebrated in a variety of ways. It marks the end of Ramadan, the month when Muslims fast during daylight hours (in Arabic, eid means ‘festivity’ and fitr means ‘to break the fast’) and Ide-el-Kabir (commemorating Prophet Ibrahim sacrificing a ram instead of his son).

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NIGERIA FESTIVALS

Black Heritage festival

B

lack Heritage Festival is an internationally recognised cultural festival inspired by the spirit of

convergence for which Lagos remains pre-eminent.

The festival celebrates African creativity within a carnivalesque of traditional and contemporary dance, music, painting and photo exposition, drama, design and fashion display, an symposium, film and video fiesta and other artistic and intellectual offerings, both inter-state and international.

This annual festival that usually comes up in April, starts from Badagry - a town that played a major role in Nigeria’s involvement in slave trade - to reunite black families and to bring Africans in diaspora back to their roots.

Lagos State has a long history of holding carnivals, particularly on Lagos Island, as a result of historical links with the returnees from the slave trade and their descendants from Brazil, West Indies and Sierra Leone in the late 19th century. Lagos Black Heritage Festival is a seven-day cultural manifestation during which hundreds of performers animate the ancient city of Badagry and cosmopolitan Lagos. As part of the festival, there is a carnival termed Lagos Carnival that features different groups of participants from all over the country and beyond in their unique costumes. The carnival also features parades within Tafawa Balewa Square, where paricipants would gather in bits, dancing and showing skills, all to the delight of Lagosians.

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NIGERIA FESTIVALS

Ojude Oba festival

L

ike Ile-Ife, Ijebu Ode has remained remarkable over decades as an ancient city with rich cultural heritage,

which has provided traditional values that serve as a symbol of unity for the Yoruba people of Ijebu kindred.

One if its rich cultural symbols of unity is the Ojude Oba Festival.

The Ojude Oba Festival brings the sons and daughters of the ancient city from wherever they reside in the world back to their ancestral land annually to reunite with their families and friends amidst diverse fanfares. The festival is usually held in two days after the Ileya festival (Eid-il-Kabir). The Ojude Oba festival shifts from Ijebu Ode to Ijebu-Isiwo for another three days celebration after the Ileya.

The main purpose of the festival is for the people of Ijebu to come together as one to honour their king and the festival is regarded as one of the biggest in West Africa.

The annual Ojude Oba Festival started some 100 years ago when Imam Tunwatoba led his friends and family members to pay homage to his friend, Oba Fidipote, the then Awujale of Ijebu Land during the Ileya festival for his assistance to the peace Islam enjoyed in his domain. This event has grown in leaps and bounds to assume the status of a flagship cultural festival. The festival has now grown to be a rallying point that brings together sons and daughters of IjebuOde from across the globe and re-uniting them. It was supposed to be just a festival, a celebration to appreciate the King but the Ojude Oba Festival has grown beyond that to become a symbolic arm of the people of Ijebu, a rallying point that strengthens social

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NIGERIA FESTIVALS

relations among the people. The Ojude Oba Festival is a pilgrimage for the people of Ijebu. The yearly cultural festival is colourful, full of glamour and entertainment with displays of masquerade dances, cultural attires and other cultural dances. It is usually a day that indigenes and visitors enjoy the best of cultural values and hospitality in Ijebu Ode. The festival started about a century ago as a purely religious event when the Ijebus imbibed Islam as a way of life. All Ijebu people are expected to come home for the festival, kill a ram, even if they are no longer Moslems, and attend the Ojude Oba to dance with their age group before the Awujale. Ijebu people are noted for their love of displaying what they have and this festival allows the various groups to show off their wealth and prosperity. The event was preceded by the parade of the Regberegbes, a unique age-old institution established to wield the society into age groups, male and female for the purpose of bringing development and progress to the community. There are at least 36 groups with the average of at least 50 members per group.

These are followed by the parade of the Baloguns and Dodondawas, the most colourful and breathtaking event of Ojude Oba. Balogun is a descendant of the war heroes who gained notable victories for the Ijebu nation during the inter-ethnic Yoruba wars in the precolonial history of Nigeria. Ijebu Ode is a city/council capital of Ijebu Ode Local Government Area in Ogun State, south-west Nigeria. The city is located 110km north-east of Lagos; it is within 100 km of the Atlantic Ocean and possesses a warm tropical climate. The estimated population of the city is put at 222,653 by the 2007 census. According to investigations by wakaabout, the city has about 39 Public Primary Schools, 14 Public Junior Secondary schools, 13 public Senior Secondary Schools, 110 approved Private Nursery and Primary Schools and 22 approved Private Secondary Schools. It is the second largest city in Ogun State after Abeokuta. Since precolonial times it has been the capital of the Ijebu kingdom. The largest city inhabited by the Ijebus, a sub-group of the Yoruba ethnic group who speak the Ijebu dialect. The ruler of Ijebu Kingdom, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, known as the Awujale of Ijebuland, resides in Ijebu Ode. Ijebu Ode has strong agricultural economy. It is the trade centre of a farming region where yam, cassava, grain, tobacco and cotton are grown. www.cometonigeria.com

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NIGERIA FESTIVALS

Njuma fishing festival

N

juwa is an annual fishing festival

performed by the Buatiye (Bata) people of Rugange, Njoboliyo, Dasin, Dulo, Bagale, Dagri, and Vunoklan villages of Adamawa Emirate.

The festival attracts many people from within and outside the communities. Though there is no particular fixed date for the festival, it usually takes place when the level of the water in the lake subsides. In most cases, it comes up in April.

The festival used to be a two day occasion which is normally marked by lots of performances ranging from traditional dances to competitive running, tug-of- war, boat riding, swimming, fishing etc.

The festival like other fishing festivals in the country attracts many fishermen with different kinds of fish-catching styles and skills.

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Afan cultural festival

A

fan festival is celebrated by the Kagoro people in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State to marks the end of the annual harvest of grains and the beginning of the hunting expeditions as well as other numerous activities. Afan, which means mountain or hill in local language, is a festival that usually takes place on the first day of the new year and it has other processional features that include traditional dancers like ‘Kodai’, ‘Dodo’ dancers, Boys Brigade, Girls Brigade and many other colourful activities. The festival

is like an annual ritual for Kagoro people where cultural dances and masquerades are colourfully displayed. Most Kagoro people use the festival as a mean of reunion with loved ones and thousands of others from within and outside the country who converge in the town for the festival.

The town is always full of visitors from nearby communities as well as foreign tourists a day before the festival and hotel accommodation is usually a problem.

Therefore it’s advisable to always book your travel earlier to be able to get a decent hotel accommodation within the town www.cometonigeria.com

I

n Benin City, Igue Festival is celebrated every December

by the reigning Oba and his subjects to mark the end of the Benin’s year and to usher in the new year.

The festival is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for the outgoing year.

According to the tradition, the festival was introduced when the ancient Benin man became conscious of his creator and his success in his undertaking; he thanks his spiritual head and god. He believed that his head led him through the successful adventures of the year.

Osun festival

T

he Osun Osogbo Cultural Festival, which takes place every year in Osogbo, celebrates the goddess of fertility, Osun. The festival renews the contract between humans and the divine: Osun offers grace to the community; in return, it vows to honour her Sacred Grove.

This ceremony is part of a rich indigenous Yoruba religious tradition has become one of the ten largest religions in the world, with upwards of 100 million practitioners. Osun festival is celebrated in the month of August at the world popular Osun Sacred Grove in Osogbo. It is a two-week long programme that usually starts with the traditional cleansing of the town called ‘Iwopopo’, which is followed in three days by the lighting of the 500-year-old sixteen-point lamp called ‘Ina Olojumerindinlogun’. The main and probably the most popular event during the festival is the ‘Iboriade’, which is an assemblage of the crowns of the past rulers of the city for blessings.

This event is usually led by the sitting traditional rule of Osogbo - Ataoja of Osogbo and the Arugba - a virgin maid who carries the famous calabash, which bears the propitiation materials to the Osun River, as well as the Yeye Osun - the Osun High-Priest, and a committee of priestesses. This particular event attracts visitors from across the city and beyond. Tourists as well as Yoruba tradition worshippers as far as Brazil, United States, Japan, Cuba and Europe usually come to witness this remarkably colourful event.

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NIGERIA FESTIVALS

Igue festival

NIGERIA FESTIVALS

Igogo festival

I

gogo festival is celebrated in Owo, Ondo State. The annual festival is usually witnessed by the chief celebrant, the royal father Oba David Victor Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi III, the

Olowo of Owo, traditional male chiefs, the people of Owo and tourists. The festival is said to have started during the reign of Ologho Rengenjen who reigned between 1314 and 1346. Being a monarch he

had many wives and one of them was called Moree Oronshen who possessed supernatural power.

As reported, Ologho Rengenjen got married to the woman not knowing she was a goddess, the goddess was loved due to her beauty, spiritual and contribution to the development of Owo kingdom. She confided in her husband that she was not an ordinary woman and begged him not to violate her taboos. The story went on to inform us that the monarch was made drunk by one of his jealous wives one day and he revealed the three taboos; you shall not splash water in her presence, a bundle of wood should not be thrown in her presence to the ground and okra spices should not be pounded in her presence. But when the monarch was away on sport expedition the three taboos were violated before her very eyes and she wept profusely as she fled the palace.

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Ogun festival

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sually takes place in July, this 3-day Ogun festival is the most popular annual festival at Ikole, Ekiti State, in south-west Nigeria. Celebrating Ogun, the god who is

said to preside over iron, hunting, politics and war, the honouring of the deity, as well as the remembrance of their fallen military heroes, takes the form of colourful masquerades, which take place in many of the towns and villages across the State.

Devotees use things such as palm oil, roasted yam, palm wine and cola nuts are to worship their ancestors.

On the first day of the festival, known as ‘Oyigi’, the oba (king/ruler) dresses in military uniform and dances through the town. The following day is for the war chiefs – or, ‘elegbes’ – who come before the ruler in the midst of a large crowd of townspeople to pledge their loyalty and service to and pray for king and the town. When each of these meetings ends, the people join in dance around the town, led by the oba and his elegbes.

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NIGERIA FESTIVALS 5 OF THE BEST

Ila Oso festival

T

he Ila Oso Festival begins in the second week of December and ends a few days before Christmas. It is a special time in Uzuakoli, Abia State, when every age group from the youngest to the oldest march past in proud displays of artistic talents and other achievements. The festival is said to have its origins in a journey made by the Ezera people - a town about 15 miles from Uzuakoli - to express solidarity to their neighbouring villages and settlements. The visitation was marked by a procession featuring members of the visiting entourage and their supporters. The original event is now remembered in the annual ceremony Ila Oso. It is a special time, a trooping of the colours and every age group from the youngest, two to six years of age, up to middle aged and senior citizens. Each age group march past in proud displays of their artistic talents and other achievements. There is friendly rivalry between the different age groups and the five villages that make up the town of Uzuakoli. Each village has one day to march and dance through each of the five villages. On the last day of the ceremonies all the five villages meet in the main square for a day of music, dance, and camaraderie.

Obitun festival

O

bitun festival is held in Ondo town, Ondo State, as an initiation ceremony for preparing virgin girls for womanhood and announcing they are ready for arriage.

The festival spans over the course of nine days and is normally scheduled to coincide with the installation of a chief.

On the first day, the maid must remain in her home; however, the following seven nights she is joined by her friends and fellow obituns, and they all sing, dance and enjoy themselves. On the ninth day, the obitun must wear a beautiful three-piece aso oke (traditional hand woven fabric) and beads draped around her neck and waist, and perform the traditional bridal dance with her friends around the town. It is also common for them to have their bodies painted with eye catching white markings. It is the belief of the people of Ondo town that if this initiation is not carried out, the girl will be cursed and might even end up childless. In these modern days, however, these ceremonies are not so frequently practiced as they once were.

Kagoro festival

K

agoro Festival of dance and music is a year-end cultural celebration by the people of Kagoro, Kaduna State. It is a re-union festival with the best traditions of their past and cultural heroes. Local people see the festival as a way of meeting up with old friends, exchanging ideas, cementing ties, and even as an opportunity to meet a prospective spouse. The festival is characterised by cultural dances and displays from the local people and neighbouring communities. It begins with a procession led by the Boys Brigade, traditional dancers in authentic costumes, and the ‘Oegwam Oegworok’ (Kagoro Chief) on his royal horse followed by sons and other prominent guests. The sons of daughters of Kagoro in colourful costumes follows leading into the central part of town and outside the Chief’s Palace where the activities take place. In line with its cultural past many of the dancers dress only in lion skins and leaves covering their bodies.

It is also a festival of prayer and reflection for a new era of peace, prosperity, and unity amongst its people. The festival takes place within the first week of January each year.

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NIGERIA FESTIVALS

Argungu festival

O

ne of the most prominent cultural festivals in Nigeria, the legendary Argungu Fishing Festival heralds the start of the annual fishing season

in Argungu, Kebbi State. The festival is the culmination of a four-day cultural event.

This four-day cultural spectacle began in 1934 to celebrate the peace agreement between the Kebbi Kingdom and the former Sokoto Caliphate, which had been a long-time coming.

The festival is held along a sacred mile of the Sokoto River, a tributary of the Niger River, near Argungu. About 5,000 men from throughout Nigeria take part in the approximately 45 minutes of frenzied fishing. Using nets with calabashes (gourds) as floats, they can catch perch of up to 140 pounds.

The largest perch are presented to the emirs, or rulers, who hold the festival.

Argungu’s fishing festival celebrates life. It is a precursor to modern day fishery management programmes and a way of conserving natural resources and preserving traditional ways of living.

The festival also forms part of an ancient fertility ritual which, for the local people, is the most important part of the celebration. It takes place in February or March, when the farmers have stopped working on the land – marking the end of the growing season and welcoming in the fishing season in spectacular style.

Thousands of fishermen line up like an ancient army, carrying their traditional nets and gourds. At the sound of a gun, they pound towards the narrow river and leap into the water. They have just one hour to catch the biggest fish. The competitors stagger up the stone steps to have their fish tagged and weighed. The fishing festival takes place to the beat of drummers who move through the surging water on their canoes. The annual competition is growing in size as some of the fishermen struggled to find space to enter the water.

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E

gungun is one of the world’s oldest festivals. er stream is located at the popular Obudu Mountain Resort on the

highlands of Cross River State, only 45 miles from the border with Cameroon. It

NIGERIA FESTIVALS

Egungun (masquerade) festival for people that like nature, is one of the natural attractions that can be found at Obudu Mountain Resort. It also has a nature reserve that is home to 250 different species of migratory birds. Some of the other attractions and facilities at the resort

possesses a temperate climate due to its

are cable car, a newly built world-class

high altitude.

The highland possesses a temperate climate

water park with state-of-the-art swimming facilities, water slides for children, teens and

due to its high altitude, and it’s one of the

adults.

most talked-about destinations not only

Contact: Obanliku Local Government Area, Obudu,

in Nigeria, but also in West Africa. The resort offers an area of idyllic tranquility

Tel : +234 803 550 6257

and an enchanting scenery. This water stream, which is ideal for picnics, especially,

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NIGERIA FESTIVALS

New Yam festival

A

lso called Iri-Ji, the New Yam festival is one of the biggest and oldest festivals

celebrated mostly by the Igbos of south east Nigeria. New Yam is an annual festival that usually takes place in August where the individual Igbo communities each will have a day in the month of August to celebrate the festival. The festival symbolises the conclusion of a work cycle and the beginning of another. Invitation to the festival is usually open to everyone. What this means is that, there is abundant food for not just the harvesters but also for friends and well-wishers. A variety of festivities mark the eating of new yam. These festivities include cultural dances.

Ikeji festival

I

keji Festival is a long held tradition passed down through the ancestry of the Arondizougu Clan. Usually celebrated in April, Ikeji is an annual festival of the people

Eyo festival

L

agos has come to be synonymous with Eyo festival; the festivity that depicts the history and culture of the indigenous people of

Lagos State. Also known as Adamu Orisha masquerades, they are normally held to pay homage to deceased Yoruba leaders such as an Oba or other important Lagos dignitaries. Eyo costumed dancers parade through the city, attired in flowing white gowns and veils and carrying a staff.

They all wear large coloured straw hats that indicate the family compound to which they belong. Handed down within Eyo groups, the festival brings the community together, integrates all strata of society and pays obeisance to the ruling Oba (king) of Lagos.

The main highway in the heart of the city (from the end of Carter Bridge to Tinubu Square) is usually closed to traffic on Eyo day, allowing for procession from Idumota to the Iga Idunganran palace. Also referred to as “Agogoro Eyo“ (tall Eyo), the masquerades hold on to long patterned sticks called ’Opa Obata’, which are adorned with diverse rich cultural decorations.

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of Arondizougu kingdom that spread alongside the south eastern part of Nigeria. The festival is known as the largest and arguably the oldest pan Igbo cultural festivals. The Ikeji festival is very rich, in both historical and cultural festivities, filled with scintillating performances from masquerades, memorable sights, comic acts and magical dances from different dance groups.

The festival began as a ceremony to mark the end of the planting season and the beginning of the harvest season. The festival has been regarded as a unifying force over the years and it has a huge popularity as a tourist attraction.

Ikeji Festival lasts for four days, and each day has special significance, as they correspond to the four Igbo traditional market days. Each of these market days: Eke, Orie, Afor and Nkwo, has its own significance and represents a particular aspect of the Ikeji festival. Pulsating rhythms accompany the days of the festival, enhancing the feelings of bonhomie, unpredictability, and excitement.

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NIGERIA FESTIVALS

Olojo festival

Olojo Festival annually takes place in Ile-Ife in Osun State. The festival is a ceremoney of a pledge of loyalty by the sons and daughters of Ile-Ife to the Ooni (traditional ruler).

During the festival, the King usually comes out with a special crown from seclusion and holds consultation with the hundreds of Yoruba gods.

Patigi regatta

Patigi Regatta is a popular cultural festival in Kwara State. Organised by Patigi Emirate Council, the festival comes up annually in April and it marks some significant occasions in the history of the Nupe kingdom. Usually witness by people from all works of life, the festival features fishing, swimming and canoe paddling.

Oru-Owere festival

Oru-Owere Festival is celebrated by the people of Owerri Nchi Ise community of Imo State. The festival is marked by a period of the observance of peace, love, friendliness and togetherness. Activities marking the festival last for a week and it usually begins with the roasting and eating of special yams.

The festival is celebrated annually in July.

Belle festival

B Ijakadi festival

C

elebrated annually in Offa, Kwara State, Ijakadi Festival is a social-cultural festival that literally means wrestling festival.

Ijakadi is an ancient tradition for which the town of Offa is popularly known. Celebrated in the third week of January, the festival is aimed at providing a platform for the people to showcase their cultural heritage to the outside world. It is also a way of doing something that will not only sustain the cultural lifestyles of the people but also promote tourism within the community as well as the entire Kwara State.

The three-day event usually includes a roadshow parading the five districts of Offa; the Arewa Offa Beauty Contest - a competition in search of the traditional Offa woman and a food expo that exposes guests to real local cuisines such as their popular sweet potato meals (Offa’s main food produce is sweet potato). The main show of the festival is the Ijakadi - traditional wrestling contest, which usually starts at the district level with a grand finale on the final day of the festivity.

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elle festival is celebrated annually by the Mumuyes - one of the dominant tribes with rich cultural history in Taraba State, north-east Nigeria.

The festival, which takes place in January, is an important period to commemorate the gallant past of their forefathers and their movement from the Yorro Hills to the present settlement.

Activities at the festival involved initiation of young men into adulthood and celebration of a bumper harvest. This annual festival usually starts with hunting of game, where hunters are drawn from the 12 clans that comprise of the Zing Chiefdom for a seven-day hunting expedition in which the biggest caught game emerge the winner.

Also, part of the highlights of the events include a march past by the clans (locally known as Sa Belle), core traditional dance (known as Taani Kuru) and display of cultural artistry, visitation and exchange of gifts amongst relatives and friends, while young girls are also engaged in a festival race during which, according to the belief of the locals, the first contestant who gets to ceremonial sit of the festival will receive an ancestral blessing for a bumper harvest.

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FAMOUS FIRSTS

Famous firsts in Nigeria

Christopher I. Chalokwu Frst black professor of a US university in its 140 year history.

P

rofessor Christopher I. Chalokwu is an academic expert in the field of Geosciences and Physical Science and a boundless advocate of educational reform, who is knowned as the first black professor of a US university in its 140 year history.

Now a US citizen, Professor Chalokwu was born in 1952 in Jos, Plateau State, located in the centre of Nigeria. He attended St Theresa’s Primary School in Jos, later the family moved to Yola in Adamawa State on the eastern fringe of the country.

This was the period of the Nigerian civil war and his father who was an account was killed during the conflict. Chalokwu completed his secondary education at St Paul’s Grammar School in Ogwaishi-Uku, an Igbo speaking town in southern Nigeria. It was whilst here he had the odd distinction of being nicknamed Bunsen Burner due to his avid interest in chemistry.

From his early educational years in his homeland he moved to the United States to expand his academic career, first at Miami Dade College in Florida, where he gained an A.S. degree in 1976. He then located to Chicago to the Northeastern

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Ilinois University where he gained a B.S. with honors in geology in 1978 and the M.S. in Geology in 1980. In 1984 he earned his Ph.D in geology and geochemistry from Miami University. In the same year he landed a tenure-track position as a faculty member in geology and geochemistry at Auburn University in Alabama, one of the major land-grant universities in the US. He managed to earn his tenure at the university and thus become a full time faculty member by developing a teaching and research program, attracting graduate students and financial support from a number of grant supporting agencies. Professor Chalokwu quickly rose through the professorial ranks to become the first fully tenured, black professor in the university’s 140 year history.

His success as a faculty member at Auburn University combined with his future roles as a US Senior Fulbright Scholar, and Distinguished Professor of Geochemistry at the University of Ghana, Legon, led him on the path to his position as founding Dean of the Schools of Arts and Sciences at Benedict College, Columbia, South Carolina during the period 1996 to 1999. He was also elected a Fellow of the Geological Society for his contributions to the discipline.

In more recent years he has further developed his professional career in a number of educational advisory and planning roles, notably holding the position of Vice Chancellor for Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment, and Academic Affairs at The University of Tennessee, during a troubled time of reduced state funding for higher education. In 2001 he was appointed his current position as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Geochemistry and Physical Science at Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois.

Outside his institutional responsibilities he has founded the Medical Assay Laboratory and its subsidiary Medical Assay Phlebotomy to provide laboratory services for a range of health organisations and to train medical health offices for the industry.

He also co-founded the Three Rivers Academic Consulting and Assessment Group, a consultancy organisation which partners with higher education institutions in Africa.

Over his long academic career Professor Chalokwu has been the author of over 100 publications and presentations in his field, and has also published extensively on issues dealing with Higher Education such as assessment, improving student engagement through technology, and performance funding.

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FAMOUS FIRSTS

Nigeria’s First World Heritage Site

I

n 2009, Nigeria marks 10 years anniversary of Sukur Kingdom designation as a World Heritage Site (WHS). World heritage sites fall under three categories; Cultural, Natural and Mixed, and each site must be of “outstanding universal value,” as defined by the “Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.”

Since the adoption of this United Nations’ Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention in 1972, over 1, 200 sites, including historic buildings, archaeological sites as well as works of “monumental sculpture or painting” have been granted WHS status across the globe.

Every December, the list is further increased by the addition of new sites, and Sukur Kingdom in Madagali Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa State in northeastern Nigeria is the country’s first world heritage site. Nigeria’s first World Heritage Site, officially known as Sukur Cultural Landscape, was listed in 1999, and has Identification Number 938. Interestingly, Sukur Kingdom, Nigeria’s first WHS is also Africa’s trailblazer in the “Cultural Landscape” category.

Currently, Nigeria has only two world heritage sites; the country’s other WHS, the Sacred Osun-Osogbo Grove, was listed in 2005.

Although Nigeria hosts many prospective world heritage sites, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), among others, are working on more suitable locations into the WHS list.

Although preliminary work on Sukur Kingdom began many years earlier, the unique landscape was finally designated a WHS in 1999, during a UNESCO conference in the Moroccan resort city

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of Marrakech. The Nigerian delegation to that summit included top federal government officials, National Council for Museums and Monuments technocrats and the then Adamawa State Governor, Mr. Boni Haruna.

Nigeria’s application presented to UNESCO relied a lot on previous studies by two Canadian academics, Dr. Judy Sterner and Prof Nicholas David. Dr Sterner is Head of Liberal Studies at Alberta College of Art and Design, while David is Faculty Professor of Archaeology at University of Calgary. According to these scholars, “The (Sukur Kingdom) scenery is magnificent, and while mammalian wildlife is limited, there is a rich avifauna and a fascinating botany.”

In 1999 UNESCO inscribed Sukur, on the World Heritage List as a very exceptional landscape, illustrating a form of land-use that marks a critical stage in human settlement and its relationship with its environment. The cultural landscape of Sukur is also powerful testimony to a strong and continuing spiritual and cultural tradition that has endured for many centuries.

y for stor a e Hav us? r you Send Firsts in ous Fam geria to @ ia Ni iger m eton com email.co l goog

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WEBPRENEURSHIP

Webpreneurs nigerian

Suggest a Nigerian website or send yours to cometonigeria @gmail.com

A few years ago, some writers said Nigeria was lost in Cyberspace, because no worthy websites were found in the country. But today, Nigerians presence on the Internet is overwhelming. Not for the wrong reason though, the majority of today Nigerians are setting up websites that are not only appealing to a Nigeria audience but to global traffic.

ogbongeblog.com

Jide Onasanya is the founder of the popular ogbongeblog.com, a business guru who brings into blogging an educative mixture of tutorials, tech reviews and business start-up ideas. He has created an exceptional platform to convey different ground-breaking ideas and tech DIY resources. Jide originally studied biology at the University, but his creative and writing instincts pushed him into blogging.

bellanaija.com .com

Uche Eze is one the few top successful Nigerian ladies that has achieved amazing success in blogging. She is the founder of one of the leading blogs in Nigeria, bellanaija.com, one of Nigeria’s leading blogs for entertainment, TV, style and many others. Her incredible blog was launched in 2006 and has grown to be at the top of the park blogs in Nigeria. As an excellent writer, she publishes more in-depth coverage of the Nigerian fashion, lifestyle and entertainment. Uche has influenced a lot of new bloggers in the country.

geniigames.com

Adebayo Ibidapo Adegbembo is the founder and lead programmer at Genii Games Limited, publishers of geniigames.com is the parent entity behind the Asa (meaning culture in Yoruba) brand; a growing collection of interactive mobile apps and web videos for kids to learn about African Cultures in fun ways. The Culture (Asa) apps and videos feature Games,

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Third Quarter 2013

Animation, Voice, Text, Sound and Colourful graphics to deliver subjects ranging from languages, folktales, ethics and etiquette. The apps are available across multiple mobile platforms such as iOS, Android and BlackBerry.

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BOOKS

BOOKS

BY NIGERIAN WRITERS M

Myne Withman @Myne_Whitman

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ost of the books reviewed here are collections of short stories selected from naijastories.com, the premier website totally dedicated to showcasing Nigeria writing. According to the introduction written by well known writer, Dr Tade Thompson, the stories “are tales of the human condition. They are not necessarily what the literati of the West think of when they imagine African fiction.

Here we get a sense of a generation trying to find its voice. We have stories of every genre. We have done away with the cliched African. Here we are with our abortions, our bereavements, our lust, our pretty showdowns, our pederasts, our in-law wahala, our problems chatting up girls in the diaspora, our memories of childhood, our fights, our incest, our love, our examination stress, our metafictional accounts, our encounters with university campus cults, our broken families, our ..well, you get the idea.

We rob banks, but we also eat salty beans to show our children we love them. The books show a microcosm of Nigeria encapsulated in the words of young talented writers.

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T: LifeStyleMOT A: Tope Lawal Y: 2014

L

T: LoveHappens A: Nkem Akin Y: 2013

ifestyle MOT is a self-help workbook

N

ew friendships and career achievements

gradually transition Gladys

for those who need

to review their lifestyle. The

into an independent young

book serves as a reminder

woman. Soon, she begins

for de cluttering one lifestyle.

to fall for wealthy Edward

The author came up with

Bestman who, though

this unique simple to read

physically attracted to her,

self help book based on her

is emotionally unavailable.

personal life experience and

Edward is very wealthy,

that of people around her.

but he is haunted by the

Lifestyle MOT is seen as the

past of his illegitimate birth

type of Car MOT tests that

and other secrets he will

is done periodicaly to keep

not share. How can Gladys

the vehicle on the road and

get him to accept her as part of his life?

repairing part that needs doing. Lifestyle MOT tests

The exciting volume 1 of this two part Series follows Gladys

have to do with checking one’s lifestyle and doing a review. Content

and Edward in a journey through the streets of Lagos, and the

of the book includes declustering your home in order to have clutter

pathways of the heart as they navigate class differences, past

free environment, it also talks about mental declustering, wardrobe

baggage, premarital sex and more.

management as well as career review. This book is suitable for anyone who needs to keep in check and have a blissful lifestyle.

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BOOKS

3

4

T: OurRamisHaram A: Stella Ibagere Y: 2012

T: Reflections ofSunshine A: Kelechi Njoku and others Y: 2012

R

O

eflections of Sunshine is a moving, elegantly written, incredibly insightful collection of stories that explore interpersonal relationships, loss, pain, and family - a man in coming of age feels he has to kill his brother, a couple cannot have children leading to cracks, a young woman mourns a crumbling engagement, a son has to take action as extended family squabble over his dead father’s property, a young man pines for lost love and a young woman puts her own choice above that of her mother.

ur Ram is Haram and other stories focuses its attention on everyday life and everyday people.

Each of the stories dwells on personal yet universal experiences of life, which will speak to anyone who has ever lived in Nigeria of the good times and the bad, and of the ties that bind and the distances in between.

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T: WipingHalima’sTears A: Yejide Kilanko Y: 2011

W

iping Halima’s Tears and Other Stories is a collection of Nigerian short stories centred around the themes of sadness, regret and heartbreak.

The tales are rich in variety; they range from a child being forced into an early marriage to a would-be emigrant seeking greener pastures. But the one thing they share in common is a capacity to touch the wellspring of compassion in you.

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cometonigeria Third Quarter 2013

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INSPIRATIONAL

Inspirational Nigerians Inspirational Nigerians showcases Nigerians home and abroad who have been a source of inspiration to Nigerians in their respective professions. It is an avenue to celebrate their achievements and showcase their success stories to inspire other people.

Adebayo Ogunlesi

B

orn in 1953, into the family of Prof. and Mrs. T.O. Ogunlesi of Makun, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria, Adebayo O. Ogunlesi – or, ‘Bayo’ to his friends and colleagues – is a prominent Nigerian businessman who has been named United States’ 7th Most Powerful Business Executive in 2002. He has served as Chairman and Managing Partner of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a New York based joint venture between Credit Suisse and General Electric Infrastructure that invests in infrastructure assets in the energy, transport and water sectors, since 2006. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Goldman Sachs. He was named lead director on 24 July 2014.

Mr. Ogunlesi, whose father was the first Nigerian-born medical professor, was a graduate of Kings College Lagos, Nigeria after which he received his B.A. with first class honours in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, from Oxford University, his J.D. magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School and his M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School. Before he graduated magna cum laude in 1979, Ogunlesi and W. Randy Eaddy historically became the first two black men ever to serve as editors of the prestigious Harvard Law Review. According to one of his teachers at King’s College, Mr Ogunlesi loves getting things done, and this is very much apparent from a glance at his curriculum vitae.

Ogunlesi is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association and was a lecturer at Harvard Law School and the Yale School

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First Quarter 2014

of Organization and Management, where he taught a course on transnational investment projects in emerging countries. From 1980-83 he served as a law clerk to Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall of the United States Supreme Court, before entering private practice with the New York law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore. He later became Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Client Officer of Credit Suisse, with whom he had previously served as a member of Credit Suisse’s Executive Board and Management Council and chaired the Chairman’s Board.

Before this, he had been the Global Head of Investment Banking at Credit Suisse. He swiftly rose through the company’s management ranks, eventually heading Credit Suisse First Boston’s (CSFB) project finance group. When that group joined forces with the power-finance group, he remained in charge. Two other mergers, with CSFB’s oil and gas group and chemicals group, made the unit so large that it was nicknamed the “Bayo-sphere.” Ogunlesi advises clients on strategic transactions and financings in a wide range of industries and has worked on transactions in North and South America, Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. In 2009, Global Infrastructure Partners acquired the majority in a London Gatwick Airport in a deal worth £1.455 billion.

Ogunlesi has lived in New York for over 20 years and is active in volunteer work. But he also cultivates his ties to Africa. He informally advises the Nigerian government on privatisation.

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Colonel (retired) Abubakar Dangiwa Umar was born on 21 September 1949 in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State to a schoolteacher and administrator with the traditional title of Wazirin Gwandu. His father became a member of the House of Representatives in Lagos (1954 - 1964) and Commissioner for Works in the then North-Western State (1968 – 1975). Colonel Umar was governor of Kaduna State in Nigeria from August 1985 to June 1988 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. After retiring from the army in 1993, he became a social critic and the founder of Movement for Unity and Progress, a political party.

He was educated at Government College, Sokoto between 1964 1968, Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna, (1967 - 1972), Nigeria Army Armoured School, Ibadan, (1972), US Army Administration School, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, USA (1976), Royal Armour School, Kentucky, USA (1977 - 1978), Command and Staff College, Jaji (1978 - 1979 and 1982 - 1983), Bayero University, Kano (1979 - 1981) and Harvard University, USA (1988 - 1989).

Abubakar Umar joined the Nigerian Army in 1967 and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in March 1972. He held various positions, including ADC to Major General Hassan Usman Katsina, Deputy Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters. Umar was appointed General Staff Officer in the Department of Armour, Army Headquarters.

At the time of the coup of 27 August 1985 in which General Ibrahim Babangida assumed power he was a Major and Chairman of the Federal Housing Authority (1984 - 1985). He was appointed Military Governor of Kaduna State from September 1985 to June 1988 and later promoted to Lt. Colonel.

He had to deal with a serious religious crisis within the state in 1987, becoming unpopular with all sides of the dispute. Among his popular quotes, is: “If you win a religious war, you cannot win a religious peace and since the killing started how many Christians have been converted to Islam? How many Muslims have been converted to Christianity? It is an exercise in futility”.

In 1993 he became a Colonel and Commander of the Armoured Corps Centre and School. He was opposed to the annulment of the 12 June 1993 presidential election, and started looking for support within the army for installing the elected president M.K.O. Abiola as a result of which in October, 1993, he was detained on suspicion of conspiracy, but was not charged. After being released he resigned from the army.

After retirement, Umar became Chairman and Chief Executive, Work and Worship (Gas Company) Nigeria Limited, Kaduna. Umar was a vocal critic of the Abacha regime, and joined the G-18 group of politicians that publicly opposed Abacha’s plan to become president. During the Nigerian Fourth Republic, he was outspoken on many issues. In June 2000 he said the concept of a monolithic Northern region was obsolete and unnecessary.

In June 2004 he said that the government’s unpopular economic policies were creating social unrest. In May 2005 he spoke out against the forced retirement of a deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and accused the government of insincerity in its fight against corruption. He strongly opposed proposals to let Obasanjo run for a third term. In January 2008 he supported the controversial removal of Nuhu Ribadu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the basis that Ribadu was insufficiently experienced, and had carried out the directions of the then ruling President without question. In August 2009 he accused late President Umaru Yar’Adua of nepotism in his appointments. In December 2009 he called on the ailing President to resign.

In a June 2014 interview he stressed the importance of dialogue to resolve the Boko Haram insurgency, saying: “I don’t think there is connivance between military people and Boko Haram ...I think there must be unity of purpose; the nation must be united in this very dangerous war against Boko Haram. The only way Boko www.cometonigeria.com

INSPIRATIONAL

Colonel (retired) Abubakar Dangiwa Umar

Haram can succeed is if the nation gets divided and it is up to the federal government to unite the public against Boko Haram.” He believed that an overhaul of the entire leadership of the country is the way forward if the country hopes for a brighter future.

In one of his submission entitled: ‘We Must Get Leadership Right,’ Umar said there was nothing wrong with Nigeria that was not caused by Nigerians, or that could not be fixed by Nigerians.

Blaming the country’s woes on bad leadership, Umar said: “The political space has been dominated by the most selfish, unpatriotic and greedy political elite who have succeeded in capturing and retaining power through a monetised and divide and rule politics. It is obvious that military dictatorship has simply been replaced by a fake and illiberal democracy.

“Despite the much touted growth statistics, there is no denying that our economy is in crisis. With the rebasing of the economy, Nigeria is said to rank as the largest economy in Africa. But the irony is stark: as a monocultural economy which perches precariously on only the oil leg, it limps so badly it can hardly walk.”

Umar lamented that 15 years after military rule gave way to democracy, the expectations of Nigerians are yet to be realised, and stressed that it required the right leadership to address the country’s challenges.

He said, “The popular belief is that democracy has the capacity to produce such leadership: a leadership that emerges through free and fair elections; one that is guided by the rule of law and is accountable; a leadership whose motivation is service to the people and the advancement of their wellbeing.

“Nigeria can restart its journey to the future it deserves by following the twin paths of (a) restoring the primacy of public good over private greed and (b) rejecting the notion that has been peddled since 1999 that the interests of our various peoples are incompatible and forever in conflict.

“The first requires leadership to re-acquaint itself with virtues of honesty, integrity, empathy and self-abnegation, accept the rule of law as the guiding principle of governance and embrace planning for real development. The second requirement is for the political elite to refrain from propagating or counting inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations as a zero-sum game.”

Colonel Abubakar Umar (retired) is truly an inspiration to many Nigerians.

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MUSIC OF NIGERIA

Davido

The rise of a music star

D

avido is one of the hottest new talents in Nigerian music with

album’s content but that did not stop it from receiving a host of nominations

countless awards and chart hits to his name over the past few

for Best Album of the Year, receiving the top prize for Best R&B Pop Album at

years. He has made his mark with his energetic performances

The Headies (formerly The World Hip Hop Awards) in 2013.

and his fresh take on Afrobeat style music with quick fire rap

With barely a pause for breath he started work on his second album release

and singing, blended with upbeat videos and dance routines. Davido was

at the beginning of 2013 and released the single Gobe (Yoruba for ‘Trouble’).

born David Adedeji Adeleke in Atlanta, USA, but brought up in Lagos, Nigeria,

With the hallmarks of a fast slinky rhythm, the video surprisingly shows

where he attended the British International School. He has had a desire to

Davido being beaten up by a group of thugs after winning the heart of a

create music from his early years; at the age of 13 he began producing his

girl. The song was produced with his long-term collaborator Shizzi, HKN’s

own music in various studios, exploring the depths of his talents in a band at

in-house music producer and was another commercial and critical success,

high school. Believing in the ‘do it yourself’ attitude of staying true to his own

being ranked at No.2 on Premium Times list of the best songs of 2013. Since

sound, he set up a record label HNK Music with his older brother Ade. When

then Davido has released One Of A Kind, with a video that was filmed in South

asked once who he would like to be produced by, he responded with “myself, because I know what I want exactly!”

Taking his own advice has been paid off handsomely with a string of successes since he burst onto the music scene in 2011 with the massive hit Dami

Africa, which visualises a united Africa, and finishes with a quote from its director Tebogo Tebza Malope, ‘One Nation, One People, One Africa’.

The next single Skelewu gained notoriety by being promoted with an instructional dance video to accompany the Skelewu dance competition, in which viewers could upload their own onto

Duro. This song not only made a huge impact on

YouTube of them dancing to the song. Skelewu peaked at No.1 on

the dance floor but also for its colourful video,

the Afrobiz’s No.1 chart. His most recent releases have been the

which the following year won the award for Best Video by a New Artiste at the Nigerian

fourth and fifth singles from the upcoming album, the T Spice f produced Aye, and Tchelete (Goodlife), which is a collaboration

Music Video Awards. The single was one of

with South African duo Mafikizolo. He also collaborated with

several released from his debut album Omo f

Diamond Platinumz, Sarkodie, Tiwa Savage, Lola Rae, and the

Baba Olowo, (Yoruba for son of a rich man), in

South African house band Mi Casa for DSTV’s (Digital Satellite

which included guest appearances from Naeto

Television) Africa Rising campaign, on a song to inspire Africans

C, Kayswitch, and 2 Face Idibia, amongst others.

to become involved in local community social investment

Highlights include Feel Alright with Ice Prince

projects.

about the ups and downs of a relationship, Dollars In The Bank featuring K Switch, which regards gold diggers out for f

Despite his song writing and production duties for other artistes he has also managed to fit in a wealth of live performances sharing the same stage as Keith Sweat, T-Pain, and Fabolous. Davido defines

his wealth, and the later

his music as Afro Pop, “I’m telling

single releases Gbon

I’m telling people how I feel. My

Gbon, and the mid-

message is to make people

tempo flavour

happy when they hear my

of All For

song. I sing happy songs.” It

You. Critics

is difficult to come away

were

from Davido’s music

divided

without feeling upbeat,

over

he is sure to wipe any

the

blues clear away.

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MUSIC OF NIGERIA

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FASHION

Ade Bakare Couture

creations ignite the fire of feminine sophistication. creations ignite the fire of feminine sophistication.

B

orn in Bromsgrove (British Midlands), Adebakare graduated from Manchester University College after which he began working at the fashion houses of Victor Edelstein and Christian Stambolian, purveyors of style to the English establishment in the 80s and 90s and thereby gained his initial tailoring experience.

He established Ade Bakare Couture in 1991 and started selling his own collections twice a year (spring/ summer and autumn/winter) to boutiques such as Chic of Hampstead, Adele Davis of Bond Street, Lucienne Phillips of Knightsbridge and Ambers of Amersham in various parts of England, Scotland and the Channel Islands.

He explored the other aspect of the fashion industry when he created the perfume Breeze in 1998, which was inspired by his childhood days spent along the breezy West African coaster city of Lagos in Nigeria.

He followed up on the Breeze brand with the introduction of the moderately priced line of bridal gowns and brides’ maid’s dresses to cater for the design conscious bride.

His evening gowns are so elegant, day gowns so exquisite and wedding gowns so lush! Ade Bakare’s creations ignite the fire of feminine sophistication. Selected by Bride’s Magazine as one of the most influential designers in London, Ade Bakare’s collections include bridal, daywear, evening wear, hats and fragrances. Due to his accrued popularity, the British designer with a Nigerian origin has showcased his collections all over the world to include Morocco, Cape Town, Vienna, Mozambique, Nigeria, and New York and recently in Paris where he was also given an award.

His line of clothes have graced the backs of lots of English celebrities and aristocrats, he has also opened a boutique in Nigeria where he is equally seen in esteemed circles, designing for 1st ladies, senators, wives of ministers, Royalties and professional women. To show his dedication to the motherland, Ade Bakare has embarked on couple of ventures that are geared towards encouraging the efforts of new and young designers. In recognition of his effort for his support in empowering young fashion designers in Nigeria, he was given an award by the Ministry of Youth and Culture in Abuja In 2011, Ade celebrated 2 decades of Ade Bakare Couture in the fashion industry with a grand event in Nigeria at the prestigious Wheat Baker Hotel, Ikoyi where Ade was also responsible for designing the female staff uniforms.

The event enjoyed the support of notable entities like MTN Nigeria, Vlisco, Lagos State Government, LASAA, Moet Hennessy Nigeria, Keystone Bank amongst others.

The event was also used to launch his line of jersey dresses under the Bakare Breeze diffussion line. The jersey line dresses was inspired by some of his clients notably Helen Ajayi and Rosemary Fowler.

Ade Bakare’s dresses has been described as classic, with a touch of modernity, using fabrics such as wool, silks, lace, crepes but he is more celebrated for his gazar and organza sweep coats which are ultra feminine and luxurious.

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FASHION

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MY NIGERIA

My Nigeria

My Nigeria showcases friends of Nigeria who have either been to the country or have an interest in Nigeria. It’s an avenue for them to tell the world their thoughts about Nigeria and her people. This edition of My Nigeria features Kate Hallet

people off and often they will choose other more

Can you please introduce yourself to our readers?

so much to see. For example, Yankari, Kano (during

My name is Kate Hallet and I am originally from

the Durbar), Sukur, Calabar (especially during the

New Prague, Minnesota in the United States. I’ve

Carnival), Abraka and the Sacred Forest in Osogbo

spent almost five years in Nigeria now. I have lived

to name a few..

affordable places like Ghana instead. But there is

in both Yola, Adamawa State and Abuja. Recently, job at a School in Abuja called, Aduvie Montessori

What do you think about Nigeria as a giant of Africa?

International School and I was also the Manager

West Africa in particular is nothing without

for the Afromysterics Art Gallery in Abuja. I am

Nigeria. Considering when you leave Nigeria, that

married to a wonderful Nigerian man and we have

one in four Africans turns out to be a Nigerian,

visit. It’s a great source of information. It’s very

a daughter. I have a passion for politics, cooking,

the human capacity alone is enormous. Nigeria

useful.

writing and traveling. I write a blog (www.

is so resource rich and filled with opportunities

thisnigerianlife.blogspot.com) that tells my tales of

that in my opinion it truly is the giant of Africa. I

How often do you visit Nigeria

my life in Nigeria which also advises people about

have realized this especially since I’ve been in NYC

I live here full time and travel about once or twice

life in Nigeria.

because I run into Nigerians everywhere.

a year outside.

What do you think about Nigeria and her people, and would you advise anyone to visit?

They often say that Nigeria is not on the tourism belt, what do you think Nigeria can do to change this?

What are the most important things you miss when you are away from Nigeria?

I love Nigeria. I consider Nigeria my home now

They can make tourist visas easier or make them

When I travel outside of Nigeria, sometimes I

and I think it’s a great country in Africa to come

available when you land. They can encourage

miss the chaos and speed of life (believe it or not).

and visit but I think if you come to Nigeria,

tourism by doing ad campaigns in other countries

I definitely miss the hot climate when I leave. I

you must go to some place other than Abuja to

or even encourage domestic tourism amongst

also miss hearing Nigerian music and eating fried

experience life in Nigeria. Nigerians are very

Nigerians and those in the Diaspora who come

yam and stew. The pace of life and the way you

friendly and hospitable. They expect you to

home to visit. They can host more festivals

interact with one another is so different than in the

try new things and you definitely will have an

or events to encourage those from outside as

US. Often when I go home it takes me some time to

experience outside of your comfort zone. There

well. For example, Farin Ruwa is the tallest

adjust back to American life.

is so much to see and do here, and there is so

Waterfall in West Africa yet it is very difficult

much more than meets the eye. The markets, the

to reach because of the terrain. Even with the

festivals, the music, the scenery and nature are so

difficult terrain it’s only a four-hour drive one way

What do you miss when you travel away from your country of origin?

different and glorious. Nigeria is much like the US

from Abuja. If they fixed the road and tarred it, it

Starbucks and other coffee houses. Nigerians

because there are so many parts and regions and

would take far less. It’s amazing there and very

think that coffee is Nescafe and that tea is Milo or

each is so different.

people go to visit and I think the cost for an entire

Lipton... Oh my goodness! I miss good coffee and

group of people is only a couple thousand Naira.

tea (although there are some places in Abuja that

Is Nigeria ready for tourism?

If you have never been, you should go. Also, events

really try but in general it’s expensive for a normal

I think the people are definitely ready for

like the Ake Festival in Abeokuta are something

American thing). I miss the affordable and the vast

tourism. Most Nigerians (and I’ve traveled

that could attract a lot of visitors and shine a great

selection of food at home. I miss white Christmases

extensively) are very friendly and welcoming

light on Nigeria.

and snow. I also miss American Thanksgiving and

I moved back to the US with my husband. I left my

the food.

to ‘strangers.’ The only problems I foresee are

change this. Two, moving from one city to the

What do you think about this project - Cometonigeria.com and the website?

next is not so easy for most foreigners. The buses

Regularly. I read the magazine as often as I see it

are not easy to manoeuvre and they often don’t

on the shelf. I like to collect such magazines for

go to most tourist destinations. Three, traveling

travel information within Nigeria for myself and

in Nigeria is very expensive. So it will put most

when I have guests from back home who come and

three things. One, visas are not easy to obtain for tourism and the government is not doing a lot to

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FEEDBACK

, s r e t t e l Your ents commtos & pho

Send your comments to cometonigeria @gmail.com

NIGERIA IS NOT GLOBAL SOAK AWAY FOR EVERYTHING BAD. Nigerians are achievers, they are successful people, citizens of Nigeria should be applauded, honoured, for the resiliencies, the high hopes, good wills and other things that make them contribute to the economy of whereever they found themselves. Those who are calling Nigeria bad names should always remember that out of the 170 million people there must be some bad eggs as it is in other countries. We surely do have our issues but the attack from foreign world bodies and popular news agencies is appalling.

Even with the insurgencies and all other menace, Nigeria is mostly peaceful, and for any Nigerians in diaspora, it is still the best place to visit. Not that, things aren’t bad, but are they terribly bad? No. I think our people respect and love foreigners. Nigeria is never a soak away! Will never be. All of the beautiful places in the country still exist in nature, in culture, the people, in sports as well as our love, caring, unity, and amazingly our faith in God. This magazine is making me proud of who we are.

Zakari Audu -London, UK Editors Response: You are absolutely spot on. The best way to change things to us is that we should all work actively to remake and reshape our country.

Changing the mindset As a Nigerian living in Germany for many years, I have always felt everywhere in the country is not safe for me to visit. Everything I have read online and sometimes in the press here are too negative for me to take the family home despite that I have an aged parents that are still alive. I was asked by a friend from in Holland to check your website and subsiquently I subscribed to your magazine out of curiosity and I want to tell you that I have removed the mindset totally as we I took all the family home during the last long summer holidays and we all will go again in April. Thank you ComeToNigeria for making me a new person and enabling my children to know their grand parents.

You will never know magnitude of what reading your magazine did to my family. I am grateful.

Nnamdi Udechukwu -Rees, Germany

Editor Response: Nigerian generally must remove the minds and start helping the country to grow. Surely there are many people like Nnamdi that need to try going home and will be amazed at the level of growth www.cometonigeria.com

Star Letter

and development in some of the way they left things years back. Together we can build the country and take negative spells out of peoples mind.

The Outstanding Waterfalls Thanking the heavens I am native to Cross River State where Agbokim Waterfalls is situated. I want to tell people from other states to go there and they will be inspired.

I think present government need to further develop similar waterfalls all over the country to attract more visitors and help boost the tourism development.

Godwin Otobong -Atlanta, USA

Infrastructure: Construction of roads

Nigeria, we must not abandon works on the security of the people and the infrastructural development. We must emulate ideas from countries such as China, Saudi Arabia, Israel and UAE, who are working very hard to keep the security of the visitors and the locals intact and above everything.

Tolani Adefioye -Lagos, Nigeria

Editor Response: We love Nigeria and will continue to speak infavour of adequate security of people and properties, letting our leaders know that good infrastructural development is the answer to enhance our economic growth.

Editor Response: We are advocating and promoting ways that the government could follow to help in developing all the tourist sites in the country not only Agbokim Waterfalls. It is the only way to attract more tourists to visit and enjoy the untapped nature in Nigeria.

For the love of Nigeria This is a laudable project that can move Nigeria forward. But if throughly we love

Disclaimer: Images featured on this page are not the properties of CometoNigeria; they were posted on our forum by users and visitors.

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HOT ISSUE

Nollywood!

How Nigeria’s film industry took the world by storm

Nollywood movie shop the street of Lagos

I

n 1992, Kenmeth Nnebue, a small time electronics trader bought a large number of blank videotapes from Taiwan. He struggled to sell the consignment. This poorly planned business venture hit a dead-end. But rather than give up altogether, Nnebue hired a theatre director to produce a low budget film to copy onto the tapes to help sell some of them. The movie was an instant hit. Titled “Living in Bondage”- the story of a farmer in a big city who loses his wife and is haunted by her ghost, sold more than half a million copies. Nigeria’s film industry, known as Nollywood, was born. By the 2000s the film industry constituted 1.4% of the country’s £307 billion GDP and Nollywood produced more films each year than any other country in the world except India. Nigeria’s economic model for film production also inspired production across Africa. In recent years a two pronged approach has emerged. The traditional model, which targeted the domestic audience with cheaply produced 18

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First Quarter 2014

but accessible entertainment remains at the heart of the industry.

Yet a new phenomenon, known as New Nollywood, which appeals to international audiences with expensively assembled films, has also strengthened Nigeria’s lucrative film market.

In order to assess the extraordinary success of Nollywood, it is necessary to delve into the unique business model which separated Nigeria from other nations. From its outset, the focus of the country’s film industry was on scale. There were no film production studios or trailers for the movies. Movies were produced quickly with a low budget. They utilised digital cameras rather than the more elaborate celluloid. Films were copied on to CDs, rather than DVDs. Such cost –cutting measures were vital. It meant there was a low barrier to entry for producers and films were accessible to the Nigerian public who often paid little more than $1 to purchase such entertainment.

It was this focus on domestic, rather than international support www.cometonigeria.com

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which proved vital. As Alessandro Jedlowski, a Research associate at the University of Naples explained: “Since its early years, Nollywood has been based on commercial film production made of low budget, locally produced films oriented toward local audiences. While in most other African countries, filmmakers depended on external funding (mainly from the Francophonie and the European Union) and used to target international film festivals and world cinema circuits, Nollywood producers and directors built an economically sustainable industry that did not need any external support to survive and proliferate.” All of this meant that the Nigerian film industry was flexible, independent and for a while, a unique phenomenon in Africa.

But long standing media consumption habits in Africa’s most populated country were also inextricably linked to the success of the Nigerian model. Whilst deep rooted economic crises afflicted many in the African continent during the 1980s, when Nollywood emerged in the following decade, it engaged with deep rooted social and economic trends particular to Nigeria. As Jedlowski said: “Nigeria had one of the largest urban middle class populations and was one of the most technologically advanced countries in the region. Homevideo entertainment was popular since the mid-1980s and pirated VHS tapes of foreign films used to circulate widely already few years before the first locally produced videos saw the light. VHS readers were widespread both in individual homes (among the urban middle class) and video clubs. For these reasons, while in other countries that began producing video films at the same time (such as in Ghana), videos had to be screened in theatre halls and could circulate only thanks to the personal initiative of the director and producer, in Nigeria video distribution enjoyed wide popular and commercial success thanks to better structured economic environment for video circulation and independent media consumption. When the first local videos were produced, they… reached an audience which was already accustomed to home video consumption and had the means to purchase local videos and patronize the local industry.” Where electronics traders once provided the financial muscle behind the industry, today funding emanates from a wide variety of sources. From local investors to diaspora Nigerians and even some states like Lagos and Cross-River, many have contributed to bankrolling the industry.

Indeed Nigeria’s successful film industry has played a pioneering role in Africa.

Nollywood movie poster on the street of Lagos

Nollywood films are based on issues relatable to many Africans- like moving to a new city, contrasts and tensions between traditional and modern attitudes towards family life or religion. Such themes were explored through an unapologetically “afrocentric” approach, embodying an assertive pan-African appeal. This has significantly shaped the film industry of Nigeria’s neighbouring countries. “In Ghana” says Jedlowski , “the influence has been more direct…where Nollywood played a big role in influencing the development path of the local industry. If, by invading the Ghanaian market in the early 1990s, Nollywood has threatened the very existence of local productions, it has also offered an economic model and arena for commercial competition that has ended up boosting the local film business.”

The situation changed by the late 1990s as the market became saturated. Despite the huge consumer base of more than a billion Africans and some 155 million Nigerians, competition intensified and the industry was seemingly on the decline. Budgets were squeezed further and quality of production was reduced. It was around this time that some industry moguls and producers started experimenting with a different business model. Since around 2009, this niche area has complimented, rather than competed with traditional Nollywood films (which continue to overwhelmingly target domestic audiences.) In what became known as “New Nollywood”, higher budget films which targeted elites, international audiences and diasporic communities were created. Films were produced for six times the budget of a typical Nollywood production. The likes

of “Half A Yellow Sun” cost $9million to produce. Others such as “Anchor Baby”, released in 2010, utilised online distribution platforms and became the first Nigerian film to be sold on ITunes. In Britain, BSkyB, a satellite broadcaster, own the rights to showcase Nigerian films- a privilege for which African diasporas must pay a monthly subscription. It is no surprise the industry has its sights set on international recognition as Nigerian filmmaking offers Africans around the world an opportunity to sample life back home once again, providing a tangible reminder of their homeland.

Such lucrative potential has been met with action from the government with President Goodluck Jonathan’s announcement of a generous tax relief scheme and an $18.7 million training programme for the industry.

Whilst the economic success of the industry cannot be denied, its future trajectory is difficult to predict. Viewing films in a cinema, for so long a largely inaccessible luxury for many, has increased in numbers. Such a development offers an outlet for Nigeria’s aspiring and established elite. For Africa’s diaspora communities, online distribution platforms may prove increasingly vital. But domestic audiences, the cornerstone of the industry, remain at the forefront to the future success of Nollywood. What made the business unique was its flexibility, mass appeal and low barriers to entry for consumers and producers alike. Currently the industry is adapting to new technology and the viewing habits of different audiences. Whilst challenges remain, Nigeria’s film industry remains in an envious position.

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TRAVEL/HOLIDAY

People and Places

An overview of the impact of the last Centenary celebration on Tourism in Nigeria

Lady Yemi Akinola

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...inthe pictures Image above: Omo Forest image on the far right: Obudu Mountain and Okomu Wrinkled-Hornbill

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s we are all aware, Nigeria, our great country, marked 100 years of the amalgamation of the south and northern protectorate leading to the formation of the geographical entity known as Nigeria in 2014.

Tourism, as it were, has been greatly promoted by the various governments in power over the past 100 years; however, if the truth be told, there is still a vast amount of human and natural potentials that remains untapped in the tourism sector. A whole lot more needs to be done to push this sector of the economy to its rightful place in our society.

Tourism can be found in all spheres of society; there are both domestic and international tourism potentials in Nigeria, each with the urgent need to harness both sections. Tourism, for some, is life itself, as it can be found in every nook and crevice of society. To mention but a few, we have agricultural tourism, health tourism, sports tourism, infrastructural tourism, religious tourism, and cultural tourism, which is most promoted in Nigeria, amongst others.

All these areas, if properly and systematically harnessed, would cause an influx of people to visit places in Nigeria they would normally not come to.

That centenary means different things to many people, but for the common man on the street it was difficult for him to comprehend how it might have affected his lifestyle. A local fisherman, farmer or palm wine tapper in his village, for example, did not see himself in the bigger picture of the centenary; neither was the carpenter, a local cab man or the trader in the market.

Yet all these people form the bedrock of both domestic and even international tourism. A tourist might come into

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Third Quarter 2013

their town to witness a certain festival or visit a historical site: he needs the cab man to take him around, the farmer and fisherman to provide the cuisine, the local palm wine tapper to bring refreshment, and the local trader to sell the crafts of the carpenter to take home as souvenirs.

The solution to this underlying problem which is causing so much loss and waste within this sector of the economy is simple yet complex. Simple because it just needs the collaboration of all the stakeholders in the tourism sector e.g. the hospitality industry, the transport sector etc., as well as organisations with vested interests (e.g. the infrastructural sector as well as the various local, State and Federal bodies) to form a unified front and consensus to move the industry forward.

If it is so simple, then why do we say complex? Well, complex because it takes a total overhauling of the mindset of our people to achieve the simple solution.

There should be a reorientation of our people right from the grassroots that tourism is a means of livelihood for them. There are many economies in the world that rely mainly on tourism as their source of foreign earnings.

Countries such as Gambia and Kenya have had to totally reorientate their citizens to recognise the importance of tourists to their economy.

Our people need to know that right from the first person the tourist meets till they are escorted off, they need to be treated with respect, fairness and always to deliver their services courteously and with a smile.

Here is wishing the new leaders of our dear country many more years in progress and unity.

Together, we can move the industry forward.

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GADGETS CORNER

Top 5 Latest GADGETS of 2015

W

e are in a new era, where computers games are replacing

discovering new space lines, producing talking robots, controlling

books, where digital world has totally replaced the

everything with remote manager and people no longer have time to look

analogue, where gadgets are all we need.to manage virtually

back to the stone-age and everyone on earth are now prone to spoon-

everything. Even when you come to Nigeria, you will find yourself among

feeding, requiring all of us to be alert and mobile.

the users of the latest technology. Name it!

To bid 2015 farewell, we want you to have a look at the top 5 tech gadgets

In today’s world of technology, people are making moon their homes,

that reigned during the year that you might love to own.

1. SkyBell Wi-Fi Video Doorbell with ios android app

T

hrough SkyBell you are informed who has come to your door, this video doorbell lets you see, hear and speak to the visitors standing on the threshold, and it is specially designed in USA for the ease and comfort of people. It will provide live video feed on your Android or iOS

2. Wi-Fi Smart Switch for Controling Electronics

T

he best way to monitor your home appliances is to have smart switch which lets you know about the energy consumption by the electronic devices, through its simple interface, you can turn on/off the electronic appliances like TV, heaters, air conditioners and iron etc.

3. Wireless Smart LED Soft White Bulb 80% Less Consumption

K

eep the control of your bulbs and lights in the house with this LED soft white bulb, you can dim or highlight the bulbs through the setting in the mobile application &manage it like you want.

4. FiLIP 2 Smart Locator with Voice for Kids

5. Ultra Slim Qi-enabled Wireless Charging for all Smartphones

L

oo tired to get up and find the nearby switch board? Now get rid of all such problems and let you lifestyle become easy.

Through this wireless charger now you can charge up your devices wherever you are. Never run short of battery. Be more techno. Try out these gadgets this year.

ocate your kids wherever they are. This watch is not only a watch but it works like a secure mother who watches over her children so they don’t get lost

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Third Quarter 2013

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Hotel Luxury you can afford “Bring this flier & claim an INSTANT 20% discount” Luxury Rooms Conference & Seminar Facilities Restaurant Laundry 150 Seater Hall (Fully air conditioned) Guest Lounge Interesting Corporate Rates Exciting Weekend Packages

Luxury Rooms Restaurant Conference & Seminar Facilities Multipurpose Hall Meeting Rooms VIP Lounge Laundry

West African Cuisine & Vegetarian Paradise An ancient blend of West African Spices that gives a warm avourful experience to your vegetables and pulses.

A unique blend of African spices that delivers a delicious Soup. Cook with a medley of mushrooms or vegetables to produce the popular Nigerian Pepper Soup. Gives a kick and a warm, avourful experience.

ODEIGA ODEIGA

PEPPER SOUP MIX Cooking instructions:

Stir fry chopped onions and your medley of mushrooms in a sauce pan; sprinkle 2 - 3 dessert spoonfuls of Pepper Soup mix; stir in, add water, bring to the boil, simmer for 10 minutes; puree and serve with bread.

SUYA SPICE

ODEIGA

JERK SEASONING

Cooking Instructions How to use: For vegetable

kebabs, put cut vegetables in skewers, sprinkle Suya spice and grill. For Mixed Bean Salad - put together quantities of cooked pulses, add a dash of vegetable oil of choice, sprinkle Suya spice, toss and serve.

Our cookery videos are available online on our Youtube channels www.youtube.com/user/odeigahouse

Odeiga House

Unit 46, Cariocca Business Park, Manchester M12 4AH www.odeigahouse.com www.naijacookingsauces.com Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/naijacookingsauces

Available at

and online at

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FourthQuarter 2015

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