Cometonigeria vol 7 Issue 01 2016

LIFE AND STYLE OF THE COUNTRY

Vol. 07 | Issue 01 | 2016 01

£5. €6. $8. R50. ₦1500 www.cometonigeria.com

Religious Tourism: Nigeria’s fastest growing tourism sector Hot issue: Tourism - the emerging asset for the Nigerian economy

LAGOS TO CALABAR Exciting,adventurousandfun

REGULARS: REGULARS: SHOPPING

TRAVEL FASHIONNEWS FAMOUS FIRSTS TRAVEL NEWS INSPIRATIONAL FAMOUS FIRSTS NIGERIANS RESTAURANTS & BARS INSPIRATIONAL NIGERIANS SHOPS, RESTAURANTS & BARS

Nigerian languages Africa Legacy

What’s Fieldwork character got to Adventure do with at the land Holidays of origin?

Sungbo Eredo

Oluwagbemiga Babalola

The impeccable Nigerian styles and songwriter, captivating singer designs of and producer

Adebayo Jones

EXPLORE * SHOP * EAT *INVEST *ENJOY

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CONTENTS

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C O N T E N T S

Regulars 18 Travel/Investment News 25 Next Issue 66 Gadgets Cover photography: Pond Under the Sky, Nguru Lake, Yobe State Nigeria Copyright: Irene Becker

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Publisher’s statements

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Editorial

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Postcards

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

What you should know

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

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Hot Issue

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Lunch time in Nigeria

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Featured Story

Business and Investment opportunity in Nigeria

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Famous firsts in Nigeria

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My Nigeria

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Religious tourism

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Letters and comments

Esie museum – the first museum in Nigeria.

The University College Hospital

Webpreneurs

Featuring blogs and websites by Nigerians

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Book reviews

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Inspirational Nigerians

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Music of Nigeria

The making Okro soup

Languages of Nigeria

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Lagos to Calabar by road

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Nigeria Fashion

Adventure

Featuring Abiola Orimolade

Claire Edun aka Oyinbo Princess Nigeria’s Fastest Growing Tourism Sector

Review of books by Nigerian writers

Jelani Aliyu is a leading figure in the Nigerian automobile industry.

Bigiano - award-winning Nigerian songwriter, singer and producer

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MUSIC OF NIGE-

LIFE AND STYLE OF THE COUNTRY

Publisher’s Statement

Copyright 2016 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, (0)8023023710 and (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

Editor

Nancy Adegbenro

Gina Lisa Pate, Dayo Adeniran Neil Peacock, Amanda Ushedo

Graphics

Production Manager

Legal Adviser

Alun Roberts Lanre Sangobunmi

Adeyemi A. Adisa

Marketing

Dayo Adeniran Abdulhakeem B. Olanigan Yekinni Opeloyeru Morgan Okunnuga

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 Bright Chukwuemeka

The great living legend, Muhammad Ali, once said that ‘to be a great champion, you must believe you are the best. If you’re not, pretend you are.’ He said Champions aren’t made in gyms.

Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, and a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.’ One of his favourite quotes that I wholeheartedly will continue to respect is the fact that ‘If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough’. This ComeToNigeria project; sometimes make the heart skip a beat. And I agree with Julian Jarreau, who also said that, “Generating creative work is not for the faint of heart”, zbecause we put everything we have behind this project of showing the world what a beautiful nation Nigeria is.

Stories

Dayo Adeniran Morgan Okunnuga Myne Withman Franker Aligbe Dr John Y Osammor Omotosho Hakeem Olamilekan

Editorial Board

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

Designers

Rabia Designs, Liverpool, UK. Tel: +44 (0)7584662142 Email: rabia.design@gmail.com Web: http://www.rabiadesigns.co.uk

OLADIMEJI ADISA

Publisher /Editor-in-Chief

As Nigerians, we can only show you how great we are if you come visiting us. We have everything that makes a nation tick. We have the weather, the people, the culture and food that will entice you. There is unity in our diversity. We speak numerous languages and we are showing you some of them in this edition.

We cannot ignore the huge numbers of people that comes into the country on regular basis just to pray. If we don’t mention anything about religious tourism then we are omitting the importance and contribution of religions to our tourism development. The yearly events of several churches in Nigeria bring in millions of visitors many coming for the first time while several have made it a routine practice. The ministries of Pastor Enoch Adebayo, Bishop Oyedepo, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, Prophet TB Joshua, Dr Olukoya, Pastor Kumuyi and many more are doing great in projecting Nigeria to the rest of the world.

Nancie recently joined the team and she will edit this edition in line with our rotational policy.

Neil and others are still much part of us. At the home front, Morgan Okunnuga, also joined us to lift up the business development side of things.

In 2010, we joined others calling for balance true stories about Nigeria reflecting our life, culture and our diversity, stories that can repair the dignity and respect of our people who have been misrepresented by western civilisation and more recently the media for far too long.

Today the call is still relevant, we hope the media can reveal the good sides of Nigeria and not just sit on the negatives.

I gratefully thank several people that helped in realising another fascinating edition, among them are: Dr John Osamor, Bright Chukwuemeka, Irene Becker, Davesh Uba, Karl Eversely and Hrishikesh Puranik. Enjoy.

Oladimeji Adisa Publisher/Editor in Chief

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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The people of Nigeria are a group of very fascinating people with an inherent rich culture and developmental strides that has come to be over the years.

Nancy Adegbenro

The country is abundantly blessed with natural resources, intriguing landscapes and a wonderful weather all year round. This is why the ComeToNigeria team has the vision to share the amazing attributes of Nigeria with the rest of the world.

Editor

This edition particularly discusses religious tourism which has become the fastest growing industry in Nigeria. The great philosopher Aristotle once said “in all things of nature there is something of the marvellous”; this is so true about Nigeria. In the midst of all the beautiful natural endowment of Nigeria, religion is deeply rooted amongst Nigerians and now it has become a magnet that pulls people from abroad into the country.

Also an interesting read is the unique character the three major tribes in Nigeria which are; the Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa. It is pertinent to note that despite the fact that these three major tribes dwell in the same country, there are very distinct traits in their character that stands them out from each other.

Our lunch time recipe presents a delicious and nutritious dish known as Okro soup. This easy to make dish is very popular in Nigeria but also important is the nutrient content which is discussed in this edition.

Therefore on behalf of the ComeToNigeria team, we implore you to peruse the rich heritage of Nigeria, see the inspiring stories of Nigerians making global impact and other interesting articles found in this edition. Ultimately, we encourage you to visit Nigeria, where a warm welcome filled with great adventure awaits you.

Nancy Adegbenro

This edition Editor’s picks Music of Nigeria

Award-winning Nigerian songwriter, singer and producer Bigiano officially released his first album called “Shayo Master” in 2008.

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Religious Tourism

Nigeria has become well-known in recent years for the growing international presence of its churches.

Languages of Nigeria

Here we present the lists of some languages out of many to mark the fact that we have come a long way as a nation.

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Editorial

TRAVEL IMAGES

POSTCARDS Travel images from Nigeria

1 Davesh Uba

Through my lens Devesh Uba is a Lagos-based Indian Digital and Social Media Marketing

making, 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:

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Emir’s Palace, Zaria

Fascinating entrance to the Emir’s Palace in Zaria, Kaduna State.

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Lagos Skyline from my window|Lagos Nigeria

The sky was pretty clear and visibility was amazing. So took a shot of Lagos skyline from my window.

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Tomatoes and Pepper | Nigeria

On a recent trip to Epe, just a couple of hours drive from Lagos I visited this market with stunning colours and great fish!

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Nigerian Women, Lagos Nigeria | Explored

You can always see them work... in the streets, in the markets, in the homes, in the corporates and even at the beach!

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1 Iren Becker Nigeria

Nigeria through her lens Iren Becker is an independent photographer who specialises in portrait and landscape photography. She had dedicated the past decade to her greatest passion: photography.

In 2005, during a trip to Nigeria with her family, she fell in love with the people of the country. She began to invest more time into exploring the Nigerians and their culture through her camera lens during her yearly trip there.

In 2014 she finally decided to relocate her life by moving to Kaduna. She had won several international photography awards, and her work had been shown in several collective and individual exhibitions all over the world. http://www.facebook.com/irenephoto http://www.irenebecker.eu http://www.flickr.com/photos/35240543@N02/

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Performing collective Sallah prayer in Argungu

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Dance by magician (Rawartauri) in Emir’s Palace

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Fulani Woman in Kaduna

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Pond Under the sky, Nguru Wi Lake, Yobe State Nigeria (Cover image)

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1 Hrishikesh Puranik

My Nigeria Lifetime Memoirs Hrishikesh Puranik is an entreprenartist. photographer, traveller, teacher, photo tour operator, cinematographer & businessman.

He is the Founder, Director at Lifetime Memoirs.

He has lived and traveled extensively all over Nigeria. https://www.facebook.com/lifetimememoirs

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Exploring Makoko

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Whale watchers

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Shop on Water

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Lagos street at night

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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

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ToenterNigeria,avalidpassportandvisaarebothrequiredfornationalsofvirtuallyallcountries.Passportsmustbevalidforatleastsixmonthsafter theperiodofintendedstay.AllvisitorstoNigeriamustholdpassportsorECOWAStravellingdocuments(fornationalsfromECOWASmembercountries).CitizensofcountriesforwhichNigeriarequiresvisasmustobtainentryinformationandvisasinadvancefromNigerianembassiesorconsulates abroad.Visascannotbeobtainedaboardplanesorattheairport.CheckyournearestNigerianembassyorconsulateformoreinformationontravel requirements.

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 06 Jul Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) 10 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 National summit on culture and tourism

T Ooni calls for development of domestic tourist centres

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ni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has called for massive investment in the development of various tourists’ centres across the country, in order to generate employment and boost revenue.

The monarch made the call in his palace, in Ile-Ife, while receiving an investor from Ekiti State, who is also Chairman, Prosperous Group of Companies, Abiodun Isinkaiye.

He noted that the tourism sector has great potentials to lift up the economy at all levels, but regretted that the money-spinning venture has been neglected for long by the government and the private sector.

Arik Explorer launches Ground Transfer Service

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rik Explorer, Arik Air’s leisure and packaged travel subsidiary, is launching a ground transfer service for London bound passengers from Heathrow Airport to destinations within London city. The ground transfer service is in collaboration with Puzzles Group and Hummingbird cars.

The airline said all London bound passengers departing Lagos will be able to book this service at Murtala Muhammed International Airport 18

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The monarch said the nation has no option, but to embrace the tourism industry to enhance its revenue, particularly now that the price of crude oil has crashed to a ridiculous level.

The Ooni, who is also investing in developing sites, which can attract tourists to his domain, said Nigeria was blessed with abundant places of interest, which tourists could visit for relaxation.

Ogunwusi said, “Many Nigerians travel outside the country to visit places which are not as rich as the ones we have in the country.”

He appreciated Isinkaiye’s investment interest in his state. .

he Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed says the 2016 Summit on Culture and Tourism is not a talk show that will not bring in any positive results.

The minister spoke recently in Abuja, when he declared the threeday summit closed.

The theme of the summit is “Repositioning Culture and Tourism in a Diversified Economy”. The minster assured that all the papers presented at the summit would be properly looked into.

“All the materials, papers presented in the course of the summit will be submitted to a committee that would look into them and see how the ideas can be harnessed. The committee will be given four weeks to take these literatures and see how we can make the recommendations implementable. After that, we will call a meeting with stakeholders from tourism, culture, entertainment and others to strategise how those ideas can be implemented,” he said.

He lauded the participants for their commitment and assured them that culture and tourism industry would witness positive change that would bring in revenue for the country.

with the option to pay in Naira. With this service, London-bound passengers need not worry about having immediate access to foreign currency on arrival at Heathrow.

The collaboration makes the services of a reliable and reputable transport company accessible to Arik Air travelers from prices as low as thirty three pounds (£33) one way (or its Naira equivalent).

Arik Air passengers will be able to book this service at the Arik Explorer stand at the Arik Air check-in counter located in the departure hall of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos from May 3, 2016.

For more information please call 08027642338, email: info@arikexplorer.com or visit www. arikexplorer.com. www.cometonigeria.com

UPDATES/NEWS

1,500MW TO BE ADDED TO THE CURRENT ELECRICITY GENERATION IN THE COUNTRY

Foreign Airlines doing great on Nigerian routes

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otwithstanding the harsh economic reality, the classification of Nigeria as high yield and mixed income route would continue to make foreign carriers flourish. Managing Director of a leading airline, who preferred anonymity, expressed the view.

This is compounded by lack of functional national carrier or competitive flag carriers to force down airfares. Business and First Class cabins are usually sold out because of high travel taste of Nigerians, coupled with demand that far outweighs supply, forcing these international airlines to jerk up fares at will.

He said that the pulling out of Iberia from the route was not because it is not lucrative, explaining that the European airline hadn’t built the type of capacity created over the years by airlines such as British Airways, Air FranceKLM, United, Delta and other mega carriers.

He added that the action would be to the great advantage of BA.

The pulling out of Iberia from the SpainLagos route had raised fears that other mega airlines could follow suit, but two of the leading foreign airlines restated their commitments to the Nigerian routes.

Both BA and Iberia are owned by International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG), indicating that the British carrier could clandestinely fill in the gap for Iberia following Iberia’s inability to grow the route over the years.

The airline chief disclosed that foreign carriers are getting high yield on Nigerian route, stressing that many Nigerians even enjoy paying for their tickets in the United States currency; a situation he said pleases the airlines.

He said: “Foreign airlines are getting high yield on this route. It is a mixed income route.

Nigeria is not a single currency route.

So, it will be difficult for these major airlines to stop operations. We do not have airlines to even challenge them.” Experts are of the view that passengers from Nigeria pay more than travellers from Ghana, South Africa and other countries in Africa.

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The Spanish national carrier, Iberia Plc, operating under the Oneworld Alliance had penultimate week announced plans to cease operations to Nigeria from May 12, 2016, citing dwindling low patronage for the action.

Regional Manager, West Africa of British Airways, Mr. Kola Olayinka, while speaking to New Telegraph, said it is inconceivable for BA that has operated in Nigeria for 80 years to leave a route it helped develop.

He agreed that the nation’s economy was tough at the moment, but gave assurance that the challenge would be resolved very soon. On the $600 million airlines’ funds allegedly trapped in Nigeria, Olayinka said the International Air Transport Association (IATA) would be in the best position to give the actual figure, just as he declined to be specific on the BAs funds stuck in Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He, however, confirmed that foreign companies including airlines held a meeting with the House Committee on the Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS) in Abuja recently. He described the meeting as fruitful, but noted that the carriers’ inability to repatriate its

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he Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) has promised to attract investments to the States as they play host to Nigerian Investment Council of USA in Abuja. The Council which had promised to collaborate with the Commission to attract profitable investment from the United States of America is presently facilitating in flow of investment worth 50billion dollars into the Energy and industrial sector.

The Acting Executive Secretary Mrs. Ladi Katagum who received the delegation assured them that the Commission will always support them to make sure that they bring in this investment. Stating that with this level of investment into the Energy and industrial sector more Jobs will be created and the economy will improve adding that with the present situation of decline in oil price the present administration is working seriously to develop other sectors in the Country.

She further maintained that NIPC is the only agency of Government that is saddled with the responsibility of monitoring, coordinating and promoting investment opportunities in the country and is ready to partner with any investor whose is interested in other sectors in the country.

She added that President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to diversify the Nigerian economy further beyond oil. She also assured them that the Commission can initiate discussion with some State Governors and relevant Government Ministry and Agencies to make sure that more investment is attracted into the country.

Earlier the President of Global Edison Corporation Mr. Rod Johnson informed the Commission that his Company is ready to invest in the Energy sector. He noted that if the project is completed it will add 1,500 megawatt to Nigerian electrical grid in 24 months and will quicken the industrialization of the country by turning its abundant mineral resources into steel, concrete and natural gas pipelines that will spread energy throughout the country.

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UPDATES/NEWS

Investment Nigeria remains best place to invest in the world —Dangote

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U.S. to invest $600 million in Nigeria in 2016

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he U.S. Government would invest 600 million dollars as development assistance to Nigeria in 2016, the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, said. The U.S. Secretary made this known in a statement issued by the Public Affairs Unit of the U.S Embassy in Abuja. Mr. Kerry was quoted as saying this at a bilateral meeting between Nigeria and U.S. officials in Washington D.C. The U.S. Secretary said “our development assistance this year will top 600 million dollars”.

“We are working closely with your leaders, the leaders of your health ministry, to halt the misery that is spread by HIV/AIDS, by malaria, and by TB,” he said.

Mr. Kerry then lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s actions in the area of security and the attempt to diversify the economy. He said, “The U.S. is very encouraged by President Buhari’s commitment to diversify the Nigerian economy in order to make it less dependent on a single commodity for export earnings, and that means we need to develop sustainability.

“Sustainable growth depends on a climate that is welcoming to investment and respectful of the environment and of workers’ rights,” he said.

He added that the U.S. Power Africa Initiative was aimed at strengthening the energy sector, where shortage in electricity frustrated the population and impeded growth.

Mr. Kerry said that the U.S. Young African 20

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Leaders Programme, which many Nigerians participate in, was preparing the next generation to take the reins of responsibility.

He noted that the U.S. was working with Nigeria to fight illiteracy, especially in the Northern part of the country.

“We are working together to fight illiteracy, especially in the country’s north, where the lack of opportunity has been holding people back and Boko Haram murdered thousands and disrupted million lives.”

The statement quoted Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, as commending the U.S. support to Nigeria.

Mr. Onyeama said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration had put in place measures to diversify the nation’s economy.

“We’re really looking to diversify into areas such as agriculture, tourism, solid minerals and other extractive industries. ‘’We have to promote our manufacturing sector and look at sustainable economic growth.

“For sustainable economic growth, we appreciate that we have to also develop a manufacturing base,” he said.

The foreign minister said Nigeria was also placing emphasis on Foreign Direct Investment which he said was key to the economy and stressed the need for Nigeria to do a lot more to make it an attractive place for business.

hairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has said he will never shy away from investing in the economy of Nigeria as his company, performed the $1 billion ground breaking of Dangote cement plants at Okpella, Edo State.

The new plants are expected to add six million metric tonnes of cement per annum to the company’s current output bringing it to 41 million metric tonnes per annum with potentials for 6,000 new jobs.

Speaking during the ground-breaking ceremony, Dangote said Nigeria still remains the best place to invest in the world, adding that a key factor that drives investments in an economy is the presence of an investor-friendly business climate.

The African richest man noted that Edo State is today one of the most attractive investment destinations in Nigeria, saying: “The economic reforms in Edo State, especially in the area of tax, innovations in rural finance and investment on infrastructure, have produced an enabling environment that has further provided a platform for future growth.

All these factors made us consider investing in the state. “Nigeria is a growing economy. Our developmental challenges are quite enormous and will require the combined efforts of government and private sector to overcome them. It is in this light that we are here to contribute our own quota to transforming the economy of Edo State as we have done elsewhere.

Dangote explained that the investment in Okpella, Edo State was one their several successful projects ongoing in parts of the country and outside in more than 15 other locations in African countries, in line with their Pan African investment strategy.

He said: “Last June, we commissioned our cement plant in Ethiopia, and in August of same year in Zambia and Cameroon. We commissioned our plant in Tanzania in October. We plan to commission very soon, some of our other African plants in Senegal and South Africa. “Also last year, in Lagos, we signed a deal valued at $4.34 billion, with Sinoma International Engineering Company Limited, for the construction of 10 additional new cement plants across Africa, with one in Nepal in Asia. www.cometonigeria.com

TRAVEL IMAGES

Nigeria leads Africa’s hotel chain development with 61 new hotels

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espite the slowdown in Nigeria’s economy resulting from plunging commodity prices, growth in the hospitality industry in the country has remained strong. A new report by W Hospitality Group, Hotel Chain Development Pipeline Survey, has shown that new hotels in the development pipeline in Nigeria are up 20 percent from last year’s figure. About 61 hotels are to be built in Nigeria in 2016 with a total number of 10,222 rooms.

The hotel development projects in Nigeria account for 16 percent of the total pipeline in Africa in 2016. The Hotel Chain Development Pipeline Survey provides data on hotel development across the continent. More than 64,000 rooms are in the continent’s pipeline in 2016 from 36 hotel chains and 86 brands. This is an increase of almost 30 percent from the previous year, according to the W Hospitality Group survey.

For sub-Saharan Africa, the development pipeline for 2016 is 42 percent higher than the hotel development projects for last year. The number of North Africa’s new hotel projects is expected to rise by 7.5 percent this year.

“The evidence from our survey is clear – investors remain confident about the future of the hospitality industry on the continent,” said Trevor Ward, Managing Director at W Hospitality Group. “Even when pummelled daily by low commodity prices, exchange rate problems, political challenges and poor

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infrastructure, Africa remains resilient.”

Global hotel chains, which previously did not show much appetite for Africa, are ramping up investment on the continent. In the 2009 inaugural survey by W-Hospitality, there were 19 international and regional hotel chains with a pipeline of 144 hotels and less than 30,000 rooms on the continent. The figure has grown to 365 hotels with over 64,000 hotel rooms in 2016.

Nigeria remains the country with the most rooms in the pipeline. Angola has displaced Egypt in second place with 7,560 hotel rooms. Angola is the country that has shown the greatest growth in 2016. In July last year, AccorHotels signed a deal to build 50 hotels with around 6,200 rooms, all of which are under construction. In September, a UKregistered investment company, GoldenPeaks Capital Holdings, signed a contract to build two and threestar hotels in all 18 provinces of Angola over the next three years at a cost of about $1.2 billion.

Other countries in Africa among the top ten based on hotel rooms are Egypt (6,660), Morocco (5,681), Algeria (3,263), Tunisia (2,976), Kenya (2,956), Ethiopia (2,460), South Africa (2,058), and Senegal (1,943).

Mauritania has its first three branded hotels under construction. The Hilton chain, which opened its first property in Chad in January 2015, will make its debut in Botswana this year

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HOT ISSUE

Tourism – the emerging asset for the Nigerian economy

By Dr John Yahaya Osammor

The enigma of our land and of the people called Nigeria continues to mystify many all over the world.

Nigerians, wherever they are situated or found always make a mark, good or bad, but often good.

I

t is often said that necessity is the mother of invention. Nigeria as a country is very blessed, even if we Nigerians do not know it. The world, however knows it.

Nigeria has always been an Oil producing country, right from the time when Palm Oil was the ‘Big’ commodity to when crude oil was discovered. The ‘Crude Oil’ on a tree – Palm Oil, is still a highly sourced commodity, even if the crude oil from the ground is falling in value.

The enigma of our land and of the people called Nigeria continues to mystify many all over the world. Nigerians, wherever they are situated or found always make a mark, good or bad, but often good. Demographically, Nigerians are a class apart. It is therefore not to be ignored, that these diverse people, who inhabit the land called Nigeria, must be of interest to the teaming observers of our peoples, our progeny and destiny.

To start with the geography of Nigeria is very diverse and interesting, going from the North to the South or East to the West. We have beautiful physical landscapes, waterfalls, springs (hot and cold), hills like those in ‘Gerty’ in Nassarawa State and Udi hill in Enugu State and so on.

The cultural diversity of our peoples, intriguing colours, various tastes, cuisines and dishes, traditional textiles and clothing, music and dances, art, indigenous dramatic repertoires, Dubar, Osun Osogbo, Argungwu fishing festival, to name but a few. All these are 22

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sectors in their own right that can be developed and presented sensibly and tastefully, whilst maintaining their originality and authenticity of their source.

Religion, both Islamic, Christian, AfricanTraditional or I’d prefer to say, a blend of the vestiges of our ancient Egyptian heritage and Levitical practices and heritage, is another hidden asset. Nigeria - a land of ancient peoples, from the days of Noah in the Bible, a land of the descendants of Shem and Ham; of Nimrod and Jacob and Moses (Nwaosisi in Igbo). It is no wonder that the great evangelical revival movement is coming from Nigeria.

Whilst our Islamic brothers and sisters are heading for Mecca and Medina, we see that many others are flying into Nigeria from the Christian world.

Tourism has been the mainstay of many thriving economies in Africa and elsewhere.

It is a sustainable revenue earner that will not decline the way the oil income has done and will remain long after the oil wells would have dried up. Compared to oil, tourism requires far less amount of resources to develop. It is devoid of all the negative environmental impacts that are usually associated with oil and once fully developed, tourism will offer the widest possible prospects for job creation within the local and national economy.

In considering tourism as an asset, we must be very conscious of the implications and the enormous responsibility that developing such an industry imposes on our people. As

we want to encourage millions of people to our lands, we must develop a new mindset for service and ensure that our social systems (electric power supply, public and individual security, insurance, health care, public health, etc) are made to work and seen to work.

The industry will surely attract all manner of people to the country; those interested in investing in various aspects of the industry – hotel chains, restaurant chains, transportation, communications, etc. We must not be naïve as we are welcoming, but must be wise and develop our ‘native intelligence’ and be discerning. Nigerians as a whole would need to pretty and quickly be educated about this industry – Tourism. We all have a role to play, both as service providers and as watchdogs for our nation’s destiny and security. It can no longer be business as usual, when things that need to done today are kept for another day or shoved under the table.

The current Nigeria’s Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed, says “the Ministry will make Culture and Tourism the bedrocks of our economy”. If the Governments of Nigeria see Culture and Tourism as an industry to develop, then she must lead responsibly from the front and show dedication and dogged commitment to the course. Tourism will create huge employment opportunities for our people whilst opening new business opportunities. We need to wake up and grow up to the job it will bring. Long live Nigeria. www.cometonigeria.com

HOT ISSUE

Bird watching at Chad Basin

Idanre Hills Undo

Night Scene Abuja www.cometonigeria.com

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Okro and Okro Soup

By Dr John Yahaya Osammor

LUNCH TIME

T

he plant Okro or some may say Okra is a tropical plant, known for its fruit, commonly referred to as OKRO – that contains the Okro seeds. It is also known in some circles as ‘Lady’s Fingers’. The Botanical name is Abelmoschus Esculentus or Hibiscus Esculentus, the later name is used mainly by those, who grow Okro as a flowering plant for its bloom; one of the most beautiful blooms in the vegetable garden Okro is pantropic, for it grows right across the tropics. However, okro can be grown anywhere, especially in regions with long, hot summers.

The beauty of the Okro fruit is that it is used both as food and medicine. Okro is known as a good source of high vitamin C, Vit A, Magnesium, soluble fibre (pectin), folate, Vit B6 calcium, potassium, and also contains thiamine and riboflavin. It is also rich in anti-oxidants and is one of the richest plant source of essential

fatty acids (code named ‘Omega-3’).

There are many varieties of Okro in Nigeria; there the dwarf fruit, the spineless and long, the big fruit variant and the smooth-skinned hairy variant (this variant produces less mucilage, when used). There is also the purple or burgundy fruit variant, not popular in Nigeria.

As a plant, Okro has a special place in Ayurvedic medicine, for its functional effects; where it is used as demulcent, emollient, cooling, carminative, stimulant, cordial, antispasmodic and for genito-urinary problems.

In many tropical countries Okra is often stewed with tomatoes, deep fried, pickled, boiled or steamed and served with butter, as well as eaten raw, fresh from the garden. Some folks don’t like okra’s gummy quality when it’s boiled or steamed, and it seems to be more popular when combined with other vegetables, fried or pickled.

Okra is used as a natural thickener for soups and stews and is an essential ingredient in gumbo.

Okro Stew (‘Soup’) In Nigeria Okro is used by most Nigerian mothers, possibly weekly for food, making stews or ‘SOUP’ as we tend to say, or as vegetable accompaniment, but I dare say that many are unaware of the functional and nutritious benefits of this ubiquitous ‘super fruit’.

Okro stew (or Soup – I’d prefer to say Stew, for the word soup, implies a dish that you drink with a spoon or from a cup), is a ‘Super’ Stew.

It can be made in various ways by using the fresh ‘baby or immature’ fruits or using the

mature, dried and crushed fruits (this method is found mostly in the Northern part of Nigeria – Mia’n kupewa).

Okro Stew can be made as a ‘straight’ Stew (that is eaten without the need for other stew) or as a vegetable to accompany some other stew, like Tomato stew. It can be made with or without meat or fish or can be made with a medley of cuts of meat, offal, fish and sea food.

For this recipe, we will use a simple, but complete method to make the ‘straight’ stew.

Ingredients

Preparation

Okro fruit, diced or chopped - 400g 1 medium sized Onion, chopped.

Palm Oil - 50g Beef – 400g Dry, Smoked, Fish – 300g (de-boned) Crayfish – 20g Dry Pepper powder – 5 to 10g 1 cube of Vegetable Stock – 8g (one can also use traditional seasonings like Daddawa or Ogiri or Iru) Salt (to taste) - 5g Water – 150g

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STEP 1 -Place the Beef, Onions, the dry, Smoked, fish, and bring to the boil and cook for about 5 minutes. STEP 2: Stir in the Crayfish, Dry Pepper and vegetable stock, Palm oil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Taste for salt and add as found necessary. STEP3: Stir in the chopped Okro, bring to the boil. Continue to stir, then reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes and it is ready to be served.

NOTE 1 Okro Stew can be served with any carbohydrate dish of your choice, preferably, Pounded Yam, Eba (dough from Gari), Semovita or Semolina dough, Amala, Boiled Yam, etc. The above recipe will be enough to serve two peoples.

NOTE 2 Okro can be made as a cooked vegetable to be served with Tomato Stew. In this instance, simply put the chopped Okro and Onions into a sauce pan with about 100 mls of water, a pinch of salt; cook for about 5 minutes. To serve this, serve the Tomato stew first in a plate, then add the Okro as required. www.cometonigeria.com

NEXT ISSUE The next edition of CometoNigeria will be covering the following topic and many more: Hot Issue: What the Western leaders think about todays Nigeria - Changing the mind-set Music of Nigeria Top Fast Selling Estates in Lagos and Neighbourhood

gger? o l b l e Trav our Send y le to rtic story/a igeria@ on c omet l.com gmai

My Nigeria: Interview with Kevin Barry (Kayode Oyinbo) Books! Books!! Books!!! Books By Nigerian Writers Top 10 Favourite Budget and Tourists Hotels Top 10 Global Brands in the Nigerian Economy Plus States/City in focus: STATE TOURISM COMMISSIONERS: 1Year Score Card 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, Ekundayo Adeniran or Morgan Okunnuga on +44 (0) 151 922 2911, Email: info@come tonigeria.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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LANGUAGES OF NIGERIA

WHAT’s CHARACTER GOT TO DO WITH LAND OF ORIGIN?

Y

ou must have lost count, if you’ve got wanderlust or business predatory spirit running in your blood the number of times you’ve heard, ‘Not in Our Character’ in your encounter with a Nigerian to swat off a particular type of conduct that is generally alien to the culture the native hails from.

In the same vein but on the flipside you will not even think twice before attributing a particular character-trait to people from a particular linguistic or cultural area, which defines the content and character of who they really are that goes beyond mere geographic expression.

Character is like a tree and reputation is like its shadow. “The shadow is what we think of it: the tree is the real thing”, so counsels the legendary Abraham Lincoln.

explicit details, that these traits or a consistent run of the traits, have become the dominant unifying bond of that particular tribe, ethnic or linguistic nationality or race, as the case may be.

As the late Bob Marley still resoundingly reminds us, “You can not run away from yourselves”. You are who you are and ‘guilty’ by association with the cultural or ethnic nationality or race you belong to; either through accident of history or Divine Design or the immutable laws of natural selection, which no human has the power to alter a whit in his favour.

Indeed, it is when the traits on display do not gel with the dominant force of nature on display that the term ‘not in their character’ or ‘not in our character’ come out to play.

Thus globally the Germans have become the emblem for ‘rugged, rock-solid discipline and order’, Swiss for ‘quiet efficiency and This imprint or enduring and lasting non-alignment’, the British for ‘diplomacy’, impression, expressed every second of their Americans for ‘grandeur writ large and lives in unguarded moments and at the ingenuity’ so we on.love to celebrate; there subconscious levelsand of their daily lives, has in colourful costumes. Nigerians like toand party, general terms, become give-away is hardly a daythat willbetrays pass without one or two celebrations somewhere in the Asour it is cultural on the global scale into allgenerate these foreign who they are andcountry. the trueBut colours ofmaking their use of are we attractions much nations of the so it communities? is for ethnic or character beyond the realm of the colour of the government needed revenues for both andworld, the hosting linguistic nationalities in Nigeria, each with their eyes. its own character display; the good, the bad and the ugly; with the sunny side of positive It also goes beyond stereotyping, prejudice outlook in ascendancy. or bigotry, because a more painstaking profiling or auditing will reveal, sometimes in 26

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LANGUAGES OF NIGERIA

sonal and collective in the manner of a chosen people breaking out to make unprecedented breakthroughs right round the world.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and adventurous people, united in their resolve to help one another, can change the world.

Indeed it’s the only thing that had ever has.Life cannot be more beautiful than that.

THE HAUSA-FULANI CONNECTION: MASTERS OF THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE. Conscience is an open wound. Only the truth can heal it.Truth well told, and truth well told, the Hausa-Fulani stock who dominate the politics of the largest swathe of nationalities in the North can be said to be the masters of the art of the possible who have deftly deployed the substance, sense and sensibility in their cultural make-up to dominate politics and business in Nigeria.

THE IGBOS: MASTERS OF THEIR OWN DESTINY...NEVER LEAVE YOUR BROTHER BEHIND. Have you ever spotted an Igbo beggar carrying a begging bowl in Lagos or any other business city of Nigeria? Not very likely - it could be plainly said without over-labouring the cliche that ‘this character trait’ of going a-begging, a-borrowing and a-sorrowing is not in their character.

A purely republican culture who across the mists of time have found it beneath that cultural dignity to kowtow to any other human being, preferring to seek salvation from poverty and servitude through getting their hands dirty and enjoying the fruits of their labour and the sweet scent of success that comes with it!

If this comes with a barely-disguised hint of showboating, all the better, as it is no crime to announce to the world that you’ve arrived!

If you’ve got it, flaunt it, if not get it, because you can’t just fake it!

With Ndigbo, age is respected but achievement supremely revered as no space is reserved for the band of effeminate men or weaklings referred to as ‘efulefu’, so every able-bodied man and woman must be up, running and scrambling for a decent means of livelihood just before the cock crows at dawn.

This entrepreneurial spirit and the endless chase of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow has inspired many Igbos to scatter all through Nigeria and beyond to gather wealth.

Outside of excellence in scholarship recorded by some legends in the area of scholarship, science, humanities, the Igbos have also thrived in the field of global sports with two of their’ sons’, from the former Eastern Region, late Hogan ‘Kid’ Bassey (now South-South) and Dick Ihetu Tiger, ranking as the first frontiersmen to 28

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bring global sporting honours to Nigeria, the first, Bassey in the featherweight and Dick Tiger in the middle weight.

In the world of enterprise and business acumen, the Igbos have punched beyond their weight predominantly in the trade and transportation segment of the economy. They have negotiated their adventurous people to corner the renumerative spare-parts business in Nigeria and even other parts of Africa, travelling out to structure juicy deals with global brands in the business and becoming flourishing major distributors of household brands, especially electronics and the ICT segment of trade.

It is one of the beautiful compensations of this life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself, so says Ralph Waldo Emerson.On this score he has Ndigbo in mind. ‘ Never leave your brother behind’ has become one of the motivating ethos woven into the fabric of the Igbo culture that has helped it advance the career of individual members of this group and help propel them on the road to progress on all fronts.

This spirit has helped propel the dreams and careers of kinsmen and women who shared same kindred spirit with each other and are willing to help the less endowed members achieve their dreams.

Once up the ladder the beneficiary in that binding chain of kindness that holds the people and society together, also sets store to helping others of their stock who need a little lifting to reach the top and make good meaning of life.

This is what the virtuous cycle and winners’ circle is all about!

It is no secret or rather the worst-kept secret if there ever was one that this civic ethics to reach out and help one’s kin has helped the Igbos to be the lords of whatever fields they surveyed in the world where they dominate.

Success is a mind game-and the Igbos have devised an ingenious way of making it both

A largely devout Muslim population, steeped in the Koran that defines the peoples’ ways of life, mixed liberally with growing presence of adherents of the Christian faith, the people have always found a rallying common bond in piety, puritanism, diplomacy and statecraft, all of which have helped the ascendancy of the people of the North in the high command of Nigeria’s affairs.

On the score of piety and integrity it was once said, as a legend of the age, that if a citizen from the North made a promise to anyone in course of a negotiation or transaction, you can always bank on it without blinking.

The Hausa-Fulani people always believe that to cultivate kindness is a valuable part of the business of life and are freely given to almsgiving to help the less fortunate.

You have not lived a perfect day, even though you have earned your money, unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you.

All these, together with sound business sense, thrift, generosity and honesty, have helped form the winning combination in the make-up of the Hausa-Fulani stock whose stock has been on the rise in the business of life of the Nigerian nation.

All these prized assets have helped set the stage for the presence and dominance of the people of the Hausa-Fulani and the other ethnic nationalities in the North at the perch and commanding heights of Nigerian politics, economy, global business, industrial-military complex and soon with their leading lights shining like a million stars.

In Forbes Global Business Rating, for instance, Alhaji Alihu Dangote, the brightest star from the sky of the North and Nigeria is ranked the richest man in Africa and 23rd in the world with diverse interests in oil and gas, household items, cement and haulage making his ever-growing business empire tick. www.cometonigeria.com

He, in true character of the stock that he hails from proved that after the verb ‘To love’, ‘To help’ is the most beautiful verb in the world’.

We cannot live for ourselves. A thousand fibres connect us with our fellow men, a fact of life never lost to the culture in the North. Men and women are rich only as they give. He who gives great service gets great returns.

This is one of the moving elements that help in the make-up of the essential Hausa-Fulani character, that has helped forge their destiny in the scheme of things in Nigeria and beyond.

THE YORUBAS, WITH DIPLOMACY & TACT AND AUDACITY OF SELFBELIEF Manners maketh a man. As a man thinks in his heart, so he is. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.

Good breeding cannot be purchased in the market-place.

Honesty is the best policy. Character is like

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smoke. No matter how hard you strive to conceal it, it will reveal itself in unguarded hours.

All these elements of distilled wisdom of the ages and brilliant strokes of native intelligence constitute what make up the Omoluabi concept in Yoruba culture; a total package that defines the True Original Yorubas.

Here it is not so much what someone says or professes to be that counts, though it matters, too, but what he does in his daily interaction with his family members, neighbours, family and friend and business associates.

Charity, however begins at home, as a bad husband can never be a good man. In the same vein a bad wife can never turn out to be a good woman. At the essential moment of truth that flawed character traits will not only smoke him or her out but will floor. When deeds speak, words are nothing. A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed. All these are encapsulated in the essential DNA that make up the Omoluabi: It is expressed in the total package that make up the Yoruba essential character.

It is a daily lived-in experience and exposure that portrays exceptional character, outstanding nobility of mind, respect for the other fellows’ point of views even when you do not agree with opinions being canvassed; love and respect for

the dignity of labour, honest dealings with all and undiminished passion to defend the defenceless and to fight for the rights of the downtrodden.

The Yorubas believe that ‘We must not only give what we have, we must give what we are’ to the noble cause that the group seeks to champion.

It is this trait that has always broken free to pitch the Yorubas(activists) against the rest of the Federation on some highly-inflammable issues, even when they elect not to support their kinsmen as vividly expressed in their firm opposition to Ernest Shonekan’s headship of the makeshift Interim Government and the President’s ill-fated 3rd term enlighten campaign that died before arrival.

The Yorubas believe that while patience may appear to be a bitter plant, it has sweet fruit, which only comes after one has refused the attractions of quitting mid-stream. One never really lose until you quit trying. When you believe you can - you can. Part of this makeup resonates with this virtue that makes perfect sound sense. Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom and has become the defining trait that makes the Omoluabi tick.

Blessed are those that can give without remembering and take without forgetting.

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Yet in spite of his immense wealth, he is still self-effacing, humble and a devout Muslim, on top of being a philanthropist, spending and investing billions of his wealth to improve the living condition of the people though laudable philanthropic causes that are enriching dreams and transforming lives.

LANGUAGES OF NIGERIA Above all the Yorubas are accomplished masters in the fine art of diplomacy and are up to all good when it comes to the art of balancing forces to create harmony.

The Omoluabi is a builder of the commonwealth and would do everything to preserve the sanctity of the nation that gives him identity, integrity and prosperity.

One of the hallmarks in the Omoluabi persona is to restrain oneself from stoking the fire of destruction on the shelter where one lays one’s head.

Better to jaw-jaw than war-war as one may be destined into a journey of no return if out of provocation one uses one’s hands to destroy the house that provides shade, shelter, security and substance for all.

NATIONAL CHARACTER

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From the rainbow coalitions that make up the Nigerian nation has emerged a common strand of traits which when woven together has become the national character.

Running through the veins of every Nigerian is the never-say-die spirit, the will to win and

the passion to perform against all odds. The friendly nature of the Nigerian people anywhere they go and genuine hospitality on the homefront makes Nigeria the place to be and a place where the sun never sets on laughter, come rain or shine.

There is a nation.

It’s worth a visit for all.

When will your next travel be?

A warm welcome awaits you.

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LANGUAGES OF NIGERIA

Here are the lists of some languages out of many to mark the fact that we have come a long way as a nation.

References: Wikipedia.com, Joshuaproject.net, Ethnologue.com, Jamtan.com

1. Agatu

The language is common in Benue state, Otuko Divison, Agatu, Ochekwu, and Adoka districts. It is also spoken by few people in Nassarawa state, Awe and Nasarawa LGAs. The two states have a population of about100,000 people who speak the language.

2. Anaang

The Annangs are a cultural and ethnic group that lives in the Coastal Southeast Nigeria (also known as Southeastern Nigeria or former Southeastern State of Nigeria). At present, the Annangs people number 1,000,000 in eight local government areas of the present thirty-one local government areas in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.

The Annangs have a rich oral tradition. It is believed that the group have their origins in Egypt and settled in Ghana before arriving in the present area. The name Annang in Twi in Ghana means fourth son. It is believed that Annangs started their migration from Egypt around 7500 BC. The Abiakpo came to the northern range of Annang from Eka Abiakpo. They were quickly followed by the Ukana clan, the Utu, Ekpu, Ebom and Nyama (the British would lumped these together and gave the name Otoro), and other Annang clans.

3. Baatonum

Also known as Bariba, (and also Baatombu, Baatonu, Barba, Barganchi, Bargawa, Bargu, Baruba, Berba, Bogung, and Burgu) is the language of the Bariba people of Benin and Nigeria and had been the language of the state of Borgu.

It is not closely related to other languages. An estimated 460,000 people speak the language.

4. Bade

Bade (also spelled Bede, Bedde, or Bode) is a West Chadic language spoken by 250,000 Bade people in Yobe State and Jigawa State, Nigeria. Their traditional ruler is the Emir of Bade. Dialects are Gashua Bade (Mazgarwa), Southern Bade (Bade-Kado), Western Bade (Maagwaram), and extinct Shira. Speakers are shifting to Hausa. Bade is a tonal language. Each syllable of a noun is specified for high, low, rising, or falling tone.

5. Berom

The Berom (sometimes also spelled as Birom) people are an indigenous ethnic group of the Jos Plateau in Nigeria.

Within Plateau State, they are concentrated mostly in the local government areas of, Jos South, Jos North, Barkin Ladi (Gwol), and Riyom. They speak the Berom language, which belongs to the large Niger-Congo family of languages. It is not related to the Hausa language (which belongs to the Afro-Asiatic family) as has sometimes been claimed by some Hausas of Northern Nigeria. 300,000 speak the language in two local governments.

The Berom people have a rich cultural heritage, which is unique and said to portray God’s sovereign attributes.

They celebrate the Nzem Berom festival annually in March

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or April. It is one of the major aborigine groups in Nigeria (Plateau State) that “totally” looks to or trusts God (Dagwi) for its existence, sustenance and history. The current governor of Plateau State, Jonah David Jang, is a Berom.

6. Bole

Bole (also known as Bolanchi, Ampika, Borpika, Bolewa, Bolawa) Dialects include Bara and Fika, spoken in the Fika Emirate. Bole is a language spoken in Yobe and Gombe States of north-eastern Nigeria. About 250,000 to 300,000 people speak Bole, making it among the largest languages in the region, perhaps surpassed only by its linguistic cousin HAUSA, the dominant language of all northern Nigeria and the sub-Saharan language with the most native speakers, and KANURI, the historically dominant language of northeastern Nigeria over the past few centuries.

7. Bura-Pabir

Bura-Pabir is language spoken in Adamawa State and Borno State, Biu and Askira-Uba Local Government areas.

Bura-Pabir (also known as Bura, Burra, Bourrah, Pabir, Babir, Babur, Barburr, Mya Bura, Kwojeffa, Huve, Huviya) is a Chadic language spoken in by an estimated 250,000 people in Adamawa, Nigeria.

8. Hausa

Spoken as a first language in large areas of Sokoto, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Bauchi, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Gombe states. Spoken as a second language in the northern half of Nigeria.

Hausa(Yaren Hausa or Halshen Hausa) is the Chadic language with the largest number of speakers, spoken as a first language by about 34 million people, and as a second language by about 18 million more, an approximate total of 52 million people. Hausa is one of Africa’s largest spoken languages after Arabic, French, English, Portuguese and Swahili. Also spoken in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Eritrea, Germany, Ghana, Niger, Sudan, Togo. Alternate names: Hausawa, Haoussa, Abakwariga, Mgbakpa, Habe, Kado. Dialects: Kano, Katagum, Hadejiya, Sokoto, Gobirawa, Adarawa, Kebbawa, Zamfarawa, Katsina, Arewa. Barikanchi is a Hausa pidgin used in military barracks. There is a pidgin or market Hausa. Subdialects of Eastern Hausa: Kano, Katagum

9. Ibibio

Ibibio is the native language spoken by the Ibibio people of southern Nigeria. It is the official language of Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. The name Ibibio is also used for IbibioEfik. The Ibibio are related to the Anaang and the Efik peoples. During the colonial period in Nigeria, the Ibibio Union asked for recognition by the British as a sovereign nation. The Annang, Efik, Ekid, Oron and Ibeno share personal names, culture, and traditions with the Ibibio, and speak closely related varieties of Ibibio-Efik. Spoken in Itu, Uyo, Etinan, Ikot Abasi, Ikono, Ekpe-Atai, Uruan,

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in Itu, Uyo, Etinan, Ikot Abasi, Ikono, Ekpe-Atai, Uruan, Onna, Nsit-Ubium, and Mkpat Enin LGAs. About 2 million people speak the language.

10. Idoma

The Idoma is the second official language spoken in Benue state central Nigeria by nearly a million people especially in Otukpo and Okpokwu LGAs.

11. Igala

Igala is a language spoken by the Igala ethnic group of Nigeria. An estimated 800,000 speak Igala, primarily in Kogi State, Delta State and Edo State. Dialects include Ebu, Idah, Ankpa, Dekina, Ogugu, Ibaji. The Agatu, Idoma, and Bassapeople use Igala for primary school. Igala is related to Yoruba. The Igala language as well as Igala culture and tradition has influenced other languages and cultures around the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers.

12.Igbo

Igbo is the principal native language of the Igbo people, an ethnic group of southeastern Nigeria. There are approximately 24 million speakers, who live mostly in Nigeria and are primarily of Igbo descent. Igbo is written in the Latin script, which was introduced by British colonialists. There are over 20 Igbo dialects. There is apparently a degree of dialect levelling occurring. A standard literary language was developed in 1972 based on the Owerri (Isuama) and Umuahia (such as Ohuhu) dialects, though it omits the nasalisation and aspiration of those varieties. There are related Igboid languages as well that are sometimes considered dialects of Igbo, the most divergent being Ekpeye. Some of these, such as Ika, have separate standard forms. Igbo is also a recognised minority language of Equatorial Guinea.

of Edo and Ondo states of Nigeria. The other key members of the Yoruboid group are Yoruba (22 million) and Igala (1.8 million) along with the various Yoruba dialects spoken in Benin and Togo.

16. Gbagyi

Gbagyi (also spelled Gwarri and Gbari) are an ethnic group in central Nigeria. They predominantly live in the Niger, Kaduna, States and the Federal Capital Territory.

They are also found in Nasarawa and Kogi States in central Nigerian Area.

Gbagyi is the most populated ethnic Group with over 700,000 indigenes in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria and their major occupation is farming.

The Gbagyi people are known to be peace-loving, transparent and accommodating people. Northerners are fond of saying in Hausa language “muyi shi Gwari Gwari” (meaning let’s do it like the Gbagyi or in the Gbagyi way).

In addition the Gbagyi people have emerged as a unique breed of people among Nigerians, their culture shows how much they have come to terms with the universe. Daily they aspire to give life a meaning no matter what situation they find themselves in.

13. Igede

Igede is an Idomoid language spoken in Benue State and Cross River State, Nigeria, by 250,000 people.

14. Ikwerre

Ikwerre, also spelt as Ikwere, is a language spoken primarily by the Ikwerre people with 200,000 population who inhabit Rivers State, Ikwerre, Port Harcourt, and ObioAkpor LGAsin Nigeria. The classification of Ikwerre as an Igbo dialect is a subject of controversy among some in the Ikwerre community. Most publications classify it as an Igboid language. There are indications that the Ikwerre society was bilingual even in the pre-colonial Nigeria, with people speaking other Igbo dialects and Ikwerre.

15. Isekiri

The Itsekiri language is a major branch of the Yoruboid group of languages, which as a group is widely spoken in Delta State. Itsekiri is spoken by nearly 900,000 people in Nigeria as a first language and by many others as an additional language notably in the Niger Delta and in parts 32

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LANGUAGES OF NIGERIA

17. Gera

Gera (also known as Gerawa) is a language spoken in Bauchi state Nigeria among 200,000 people. Speakers are shifting to Hausa.

Portuguese who first heard about it from the coastal Itsekiri, who pronounced it this way; from this the kingdom came to be known as the Benin Empire in the West.

18. Goemai

Goemai is a language spoken in the Plateau state of Central Nigeria by approximately 200,000 people.Its speakers refer to themselves and their language as ‘Goemai’; in older linguistic, historical and ethnographical literature the term ‘Ankwe’ has been used to refer to the people. Goemai is a predominantly isolating language with the subject–verb– object constituent order.

19. Esan

Esan is a tonal Edoid language spoken in Edo State Nigeria by 200,000 people. Dictionaries and grammar texts of the Esan language are being produced, which may help the Esan appreciate their written language. There is a high level of illiteracy among the Esan, and a large number of dialects, including Ẹkpoma, Ewohimi, Ẹkpọn, and Ohordua. Most annual Esan Kings’ Council meetings are largely conducted in English for this reason.

20. Fulfulde, Adamawa

The Fulfulde speakers are traditionally nomad cattleowners whose way of life is inextricably tied to their livestock. The Fulfulde language has diverged, through time, into a number of mutually intelligible dialects.

Fulfulde (Adamawa) spoken by over 7,611,000, is a major language of the Fulbe people (also known as Peul or Fulani), who are found throughout West Africa. The Adamawa dialect is widely spoken in the Adamawa Province, North Province.East central Nigeria, Taraba and Adamawa States.

Alternate names: Eastern Fulfulde, Fulatanchi, Fulani, Fula and Fillanci.

21. Ebira

Ebira (Egbira) is a language spoken by over a million people in the Kwara State, Nigeria. The Ebira is also spelt Igbira or Igbirra. These days Ebira is no more pronounced or spelled “Igbira or Igbirra” because it is considered to be insulting to most of the Ebiras but then, Ebira people are an ethno-linguistic group of Nigeria. Many Ebira people are from Kogi State, Kwara State, Nasarawa State, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Edo State. Okene is said to be the administrative centre of the Ebira-speaking people in Kogi state, not far from the Niger-Benue confluence.

22. Edo

Edo (with diacritics, Ẹ̀dó; also called Bini (Benin)) is a language spoken primarily in Edo State, Nigeria by over 1,000,000 people. It was and remains the primary language of the Edo people of Igodomigodo. The Igodomigodo kingdom was renamed Edo by Oba Eweka, after which the Edos refer to themselves as Oviedo ‘child of Edo’.

The Edo capital was Ubinu, known as Benin City to the www.cometonigeria.com

23. Efik

Efik, also known as Riverain Ibibio,is the native language of the Efik people of Nigeria, where it is a national language.

It is the official language of the Cross River State in Nigeria.

Efik is a dialect cluster spoken by about 3½ million people of Akwa Ibom State and Cross River States of Nigeria, making it the sixth largest language cluster in Nigeria after Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani, and Kanuri.

24. Izi-Ezaa-Ikwo-Mgbo

Izi (Izii, Izzi) is an Igbo language spoken by over 593,000 people in Ebonyi state in Nigeria. It forms a dialect cluster closely related Ikwo, Ezza, and Mgbo. Speakers of the Izi language are spread over a large area. Belonging to a larger group of people called the Igbo, the Izi distinguish themselves from their neighbours and have divided themselves into many clans. Izi speakers are found East of Abakaliki, the capital of the Ebonyi State and extend as far as the Anambra and Imo State boundaries.

25. Izon

Izon (Ịzọn), also known as (Central–Western) Ijo, Ijaw, Izo, and Uzo, is the dominant Ijaw language, spoken by a majority of the Ijaw people of Nigeria. There are over two dozen dialects, all mutually intelligible, of which the most important are Gbanran, Ekpetiama and Kolokuma.

Kolokuma is the language of education. 1,000,000 plus people speak the language.

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two dozen dialects, all mutually intelligible, of which the most important are Gbanran, Ekpetiama and Kolokuma.

Kolokuma is the language of education. 1,000,000 plus people speak the language.

26. Jju

Jju, or Kaje, is a language spoken by the Bajju people of Southern Kaduna state in the Northern Middle-Belt area of Nigeria. The name “Jju” is the native name of the language to Bajju people while the more commonly known name “Kaje” is a pejorative name used to refer to both the Bajju people and Jju language by the larger Hausa people.

It appears to be a variety of Tyap, though speakers are ethnically distinct. There are over 300,000 speakers.

27. Kalabari

Kalabari is an Ijaw language spoken in Rivers and Bayelsa States. Its three dialects are mutually intelligible.

The Kalabari dialect (Kalabari proper) is one of the bestdocumented varieties of Ijaw, and as such is frequently used as the prime example of Ijaw in linguistic literature.

The language, spoken by 258,000 people, was under threat largely because of the massive relocation that has taken place in the area due to the development of Nigeria’s oil industry in the Port Harcourt region. The Kalabari language became the basis of Berbice, a Dutch Creole spoken in Eastern Guyana. Kalabari language words have been proposed for some modern technical terms.

28. Kamwe

Kamwe, also known as Higgi, is a Chadic language spoken in Adamawa and Borno States in Nigeria and North Western Cameroon with an estimated 300,000 speakers.

Dialects include Nkafa, Dakwa, Krghea (sometimes called Higgi Fali), Fwea, Humsi, Modi, Sina, and Tilyi. Psikye is considered to be another language. Other named dialects of Kamwe are: Tlowou; Ghea; Ndou; Hwuro; Midla; Kali; Mampe; Mitta. The Kamwe people were said to have migrated from the Middle East most probably from the present day Israel/Palestine around the 900 AD. They first camped in present day Ethiopia for a long time before proceeding to Nchukili, Sukur, Ghe and Nkafamiya over a long period of time.

29. Kanuri, Central

Kanuri is a dialect continuum spoken by some four million people, in Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, as well as small minorities in southern Libya and by a diaspora in Sudan. It belongs to the Western Saharan subphylum of Nilo-Saharan. Kanuri is the language associated with the Kanem and Bornu empires which dominated the Lake Chad region for a thousand years.

30. Kanuri, Manga

Kanuri Manga is one of the dialects of the Kanuri language spoken by 200,000 people in Yobe, Jigawa and Bauchi states of Nigeria. The language is also used in trading and it is 34

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spoken by a minority in Northern Cameroon.

31. Karekare

Karekare (also known as Karaikarai, Karai Karai, Kerekere, Kerrikerri) is a language spoken in Bauchi and Yobe State, Nigeria. Dialects include Birkai, Jalalam, and Kwarta Mataci. Over 200,000 people speak the language.

32. Khana

Khana (Kana), or Ogoni proper, is the prestige variety of the Ogoni languages. It is the lingua franca of speakers of the East Ogoni languages spoken in Rivers state, Nigeria.

200,000 people speak the language majorly in Khana LGA.

33. Kirike

There are over 248,000 speakers of Kirike language in Okrika, Port Harcourt, and Ogu-Bolo LGAs of Rivers State.

34. Mambila

Spoken widely in Sardauna LGA and Mambila Plateauin Taraba State. Mambila is a Bantoid dialect chain stretching across Nigeria and Cameroon. Notable dialects are Barup, Bang, Dorofi, Gembu, Hainari, Kabri, Mayo Ndaga, Mbamnga, Tamien, Warwar (in Nigeria); Ju Ba, Sunu Torbi (Torbi), Ju Naare (Gembu), Langa (in Cameroun). It goes by numerous names, which, besides the dialectical names, include Bea, Ble, Juli, Lagubi, Nor, Nor Tagbo, Tongbo, and the spellings Mabila, Mambere, Mambilla. An estimated

35. Mumuye

Mumuye is the most important of the Adamawa languages with over 400,000 people speaking the language.

It is classified in the Leko–Nimbari branch of Savanna languages, as Adamawa is no longer considered a valid family. According to Ethnologue, there are multiple dialects: Zinna, Dong, Yoro, Lankaviri, Gola (Bajama), Gongla, Kasaa, Saawa, Jalingo, Nyaaja, Jeng, Gnoore, Yaa, Sagbee, Shaari, Kugong, Mang, Kwaji, Meeka and Yakoko.

36. Mwaghavul

Mwaghavul (also known as Mupun and Sura) is a language spoken in Barakin-Ladi and Mangu LGAs of Plateau State, Nigeria by over 295,000 people. Dialects are Mupun and Panyam. Mwaghavul has one of the most elaborate systems of logophoricity known in any language.

37. Ngas

Ngas, or Angas, is a language spoken in Plateau State, Nigeria. Dialects are Hill Angas and Plain Angas. There are over 400,000 thousand people who speak the language in Pankshin, Kanam, and Langtang LGAs.

38. Nigerian Sign Language

Nigerian Sign Language is the national sign language of deaf people in Nigeria. It was introduced in 1960, a few years after Ghanaian Sign Language, created by Andrew Foster, a deaf African-American missionary, and www.cometonigeria.com

LANGUAGES OF NIGERIA

is based on American Sign Language (and indeed may be considered a dialect of ASL), as there had been no education or organisations for the deaf previously. There is a Ghanaian influence in NSL; both are based on American Sign Language. NSL is unrelated to local Nigerian sign languages such as Bura Sign Language. Chadian teachers for the deaf are trained in Nigeria to show how popular it became.

39. Nupe-Nupe-Tako

The Nupe language (Nufawa, Nupeci, Nupecidji, Nupenchi, Nupencizi) is spoken primarily by the Nupe people of the Middle Belt region of Nigeria; its geographical distribution is limited to the west-central portion of this region and maintains pre-eminence in Niger State especially in Mariga, Gbako, Agaie, and Lapai LGAs. Over 800,000 people speak Nupe in Nigeria.

40. Obolo

Obolo, or Andoni, is a major Lower Cross River language of Nigeria. The Andoni people of Rivers State, of Nigeria, www.cometonigeria.com

are considered to be an Ijaw tribe by some, a distinct ethnolinguistic group by others, and a people closely related to the Annang, Igbo, Ibibio and Efik people of Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State in Nigeria. Like these people, the Andoni people refer to God as Awaji or Owaji. An estimated 200,000 people speak the language.

41. Pidgin, Nigerian

Spoken in Southern states and in Sabon Garis of the northern states, coastal and urban areas. Alternate names: Nigerian Creole English, Nigerian Pidgin English. Dialects: Lagos Pidgin, Delta Pidgin, Cross River Pidgin, Benin Pidgin. There is no unified standard. The dialects listed may be very different from each other. Partially intelligible with Krio of Sierra Leone and Cameroon Pidgin.

Pidgin, or pidgin language, is a simplified language that develops as a means of communication between two or more groups that do not have a language in common. It is most commonly employed in situations such as trade, or where both groups speak languages different from the language of the country in which they reside (but

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Fundamentally, a pidgin is a simplified means of linguistic communication, as it is constructed impromptu, or by convention, between individuals or groups of people.

Pidgin is not the native language of any speech community, but is instead learned as a second language. Pidgin may be built from words, sounds, or body language from multiple other languages and cultures, and allows people or a group of people to communicate with each other without having any similarities in language and do not have any rules, as long as both parties are able to understand each other.

Pidgin can be changed and do not follow a specific order.

They also usually have low prestige with respect to other languages.

42. Samba Daka

Spoken in Taraba State, Gashaka, Jalingo, Bali, Zing LGAs, and in Adamawa State, Ganye and Mayo Belwa LGAs. Alternate names: Chamba Daka, Tsamba, Tchamba, Sama, Samba, Jama, Daka, Dakka, Dekka, Nakanyare, Deng, Tikk. Dialects: Samba Daka, Samba Jangani, Samba Nnakenyare, Samba of Mapeo, Taram, Dirim. Close to Dirim.Daka (Dakka, Dekka, rarely Deng or Tikk) is one of two languages spoken by the Chamba people in Nigeria.

The Chamba dialect is called Chamba Daka (or Samba, Tsamba, Tchamba, Sama, Jama Daka; also Nakanyare) and constitutes 90% of speakers. Other dialects are Dirim (Dirin, Dirrim), Lamja, Dengsa, and Tola. Over107,000 people speak the language.

43. Tarok

Taroks are an agrarian society in the hills and on the plains southeast of Plateau State in Nigeria with population numbering over 300,000. The Tarok people call themselves as oTárók, their language as iTárók and their land ìTàrók.

They are found principally in Langtang-North, LangtangSouth, Wase, Mikang and Kanke Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Plateau State in Central Nigeria.

Their main town of Langtang is located about 186 kilometres south-east of Jos, the state capital. They are also found in large numbers in Shendam, Qua’an-Pan, Kanam and Pankshin LGAs. Scattered in Nasarawa and Taraba states are Tarok farming communities.

44. Tiv

The Tiv language is spoken by over two million people in Nigeria, with a few speakers in Cameroon. Most Nigerian Tiv speakers are found in Benue State of Nigeria. The language is also widely spoken in the Nigerian States of Plateau, Taraba, Nasarawa, Cross River as well as the FCT Abuja. It is part of the Southern Bantoid Tivoid family.

45. Tyap

Tyap is spoken by over 130,000 in Kaduna State, Kachia, Saminaka, and Jema’a LGAs. Alternate names: Katab, Kataf. Dialects: Kafanchan (Fantuan, Kpashan), Kachichere (Aticherak, Daroro), Katab (Atyap, Tyap), Kagoro (Agwolok, Agolok, Agwot, Aguro), Atakat (Atakar, Attaka, Attakar, Takat), Sholio (Asholio, Asolio, Osholio, Aholio, 36

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Marwa, Morwa, Moroa, Maruwa, Maroa).

46. Urhobo

Urhobo is one of the Edoid languages and is spoken by the Urhobos people of southern Nigeria, near the northwestern Niger delta. The Urhobo is the major ethnic group in Delta State.

The Isoko and Urhobo are related in language and culture, leading to the missionaries erroneously labeling both peoples as Sobo. This name was strongly rejected by both tribes.

The Urhobo nation is made up of twenty-two sub-groups, including Okpe, judged to be the largest of all Urhobo sub-groups. The Urhobos are noted for having their own unique style of speaking Nigerian Pidgin English. Since their language is very demonstrative that translates into their style of speaking English and Pidgin English.

As a result of their unique language style, their names are also unique. An example of a unique Urhobo name would be the name Onaodowan, belonging to the Onaodowan family from Warri and the Onomakpome, belonging to the Onomakpome family from Sapele.

Urhobos are over three million according to the 2006 census in Nigeria and classified among the first ten major ethnic groups in Nigeria. The word Urhobo refer to a group of people and not geographical territory.

47. Yekhee

Afenmai (Afemai), or Yekhee, is a language spoken in Edo State, Nigeria. Not all speakers recognise the name “Yekhee”; some use the district name Etsako. Dialects include: Auchi, Uzairue, South Ibie (South Ivbie), Uwepa-Uwano (Weppa Wano), Avianwu (Fugar), Aviele, Ivhiadaobi, Ekperi. Over 274,000 people speak the language.

48. Yoruba

Mostly spoken in Oyo, Ogun, Ondo Osun, Ekiti, Kwara, part of Kogi, part of Edo and Lagos states.Yoruba (natively èdè Yorùbá) is also a language spoken in other parts of West Africa. The number of speakers of Yoruba was estimated at around 20 million in the 1990s. The native tongue of the Yoruba people is spoken, among other languages, in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo and in communities in other parts of Africa, Europe and the Americas. A variety of the language, Lucumi, is the liturgical language of the Santería religion of the Caribbean. It is most closely related to the Owo and Itsekiri language (spoken in the Niger-Delta) and Igala spoken in central Nigeria.

The Yoruba group is assumed to have developed out of undifferentiated Volta–Niger populations by the 1st millennium BC. Settlements of early Yoruba speakers are assumed to correspond to those found in the wider Niger area from about the 4th century BC, especially at Ife. As the North-West Yoruba dialects show more linguistic innovation, combined with the fact that Southeast and Central Yoruba areas generally have older settlements, suggests a later date of immigration for Northwest Yorubas.

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ADVENTURE

Journey to Calabar by Road

G

erwine Bayo-Martins teaches at a Secondary School, she paint, photograph, write stories and and published a novel in 2011. She is from Hamburg, Germany and live near Frankfurt. She gave an account of her journey by road from Lagos to Calabar. Enjoy!

TAKING OFF The taxi will pick us up from home to the Bus Terminal. It is late already, nervously I check our tickets again, the tickets of IFE SINA CHI. motors. I am told this means “The Thing that came from God”. I take it as a good omen for our journey.

The bus ticket states that passengers need to be ready half hour before departure. The departure time is 8.00 a.m. It is now 7.30 a.m., the time 38

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we should be there. Bayo is telling me to be calm. We will make it. The taxi enters into our compound; the driver apologizes and says he had a flat tyre. We leave and soon turn into Ikorodu Road. Of course we are meeting the usual daily go slow, always there, especially at this time of the day. Going downtown is hell, every day.

At the opposite side of the road we see the bus terminal. We have to continue to the roundabout and then turn back. Another 20 minutes before we will reach the terminal. Now we are there, meeting the hustling and bustling crowd. The entrance into the terminal is a huge gate, flanked by two heavy stone pillars.

We see so many people waiting, sitting on wooden benches. Not too far aside I see a pink sofa, not occupied. I walk there, place my back pack on the seat and sit down.

I look around. Which one will be “our” bus? Four huge buses are being prepared for departure. A huge crowd assembles around it,

not in line, just anyhow. My husband has gone to enquire about the bus we will take. But it’s not yet our turn. A man assures us, that he will call us, when all is ready. This will not be too soon, I gather from the ongoing activities. Again my husband was right, when he told me not to worry…

WAITING FOR DEPARTURE I am trying to make myself comfortable on the sofa as much as possible and look around at what is going on. Mostly I see young women and men.

We listen to Christian prayers transmitted from a loudspeaker, soon followed by hymns. Then we hear a voice asking us to please be patient.

I feel we all have more than enough patience, sitting here and waiting. Facial expressions show resignation.

It is Friday, a long weekend waiting, Monday will be Id-el-Kabir. That’s why so many are

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ADVENTURE

Onitsha, Owerri, Aba, Calabar. A young boy nearing us is asking my husband: “Will you permit me to draw your portrait?”

My husbands nods, the boy takes out a copy book and a ball pen, and starts drawing. After he finishes he tears out the sheet and gives it to Bayo. He is being paid generously and a big smile crosses his face.

Next another young man passes by, different kinds scissors are dangling from his fingers. He offers cutting of finger- and toenails. And really, some guests are using the service. Of course, all done without protective gloves…Again, another man appears, this time elderly. In his right hand he carries a wooden box. On his head he balances piles of rubber soles of different sizes. With his left hand he produces sounds with a rattle to draw attention to his services.

Now an employee of the bus company is waving and beckoning to us. We are to come and enter the bus. I feel relief. I take my suitcase and roll it towards the luggage hole down in the bus. The bus is huge, looking new and shining white with green letters IFE SINA CHI painted on the body.

Beautiful. I climb the narrow steps into the cabin.

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We look for our seats. The seat covers are made from plastic material. It will be hot, I think.

Bayo sits down at the window, I take the aisle seat. I am looking around, I feel so excited about my first journey with a Nigerian bus. More and more passengers enter. Time now is 10.30 a.m.

UNEXPECTED ENTERTAINMENT An entrance in a wooden wall protects the glass cabin of the bus-driver, The moment we set off, a man is rising from his seat and positions himself in the aisle. He starts praying passionately, loudly and devotedly. He prays for a safe journey, a safe return and after he finishes praying he starts preaching. He is using a psalm as the topic of his sermon.

After a while I feel tired listening to him.

When he finishes I think, nice, now we can have our peace. Nothing could be further from the truce. After the preacherman has settled himself back into his seat, another man is getting up.

He carries a big bag, places it at a wooden table beside the middle door. The bag looks heavy.

He opens it and takes out a huge jar of cream.

He informs us that this is made of Aloe Vera.

All are gazing at the jar. A lecture follows: Aloe Vera and the plant’s great ingredients, its general use and, of course, the benefits of Aloe Vera in cream…The jar is passing from hand to hand, we all apply some cream to test it, of course. He is successful, some are buying a jar.

Next he is introducing a balm to be applied agains pains in joints. Again samples are passed around. The balm tin is small. I open it and sniff a bit. It smells nice. Our joints will surely become stiff on this journey, I think, the balm will be useful and I buy a tin.

The next product he introduces is hair pomade. So it continues for two (!) hours, one product follows the other. After he introduced all products, he zips his bag close.

As if by an invisible command the bus stops, the salesman exits. I am told that this was a “mobile salesman”, a business which promises a lucrative income riding many of the busses which cross Nigeria day in, day out…

Men pass in and out the cabin of the bus driver. We can only look out sideways, not from the front.

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ADVENTURE

Grassland, green and yellow, thorny clumps of bushes, lush high trees, dry brown trees, palm trees, Iroko trees, her majesty of trees, and umbrella thorn trees. We are crossing the rain forest belt, getting into savannah. It is dry season. Rain did not fall for long. The beautiful red soil is dry and cracked, yearning for water. We pass by brown low hills, the bed of yam roots. At the roadsides we see tables with piles of yams, pyramids of oranges, goat meat, beautifully carved voluminous wooden mortars with their heavy pounder. Great for making the lovely staple foods like pounded yam, eba, amala and many more. Nothing is better than when they are naturally pounded with a mortar by an experienced hand…

People are waving to us. We see old wiry men riding old worn bicycles, on their head they balance sugar cane. The canes are bending down to each side almost to the floor. A great act these wonderful men are performing. We see some small houses.

The village we do not see here, they are inside the forest, away from the road. But we see church towers standing out of the trees, also minarets of mosques, many religions exist side by side, then peacefully…God is everywhere in HIS multifarious forms and faces.

the journey, except those drivers, whose home it is.

The women fill the plates for us, fork and knives for those who need it are ready in a box.

They serve us varieties of foods. All tastes are satisfied.

White or fried rice. Fried plantains (dodo). Pepper soup. Egusi soup (soup with grated melon seeds and assorted meats and/or fish). Then fried meats, beef or game like bushmeat and grasscutter. Not to forget, eba, Amala, Agidi, Fufu and more. Drinks are in a cooler, which does not contain much ice anymore, they are not so cold, but that’s ok.

I order for Vitamalt, white rice, two pieces of meat and pepper sauce. Not so my husband, he prefers his home food to street food.

Hardly twenty minutes we have to eat, we are called to continue the journey.

BENIN-CITY New prayers. New hymns. Nice.

On the road again. Eastward…Benin will be the next big city. We will pass through and no stop, unfortunately. Benin-City, a legend, with an exciting history, and not all is pleasant history. Benin was the capital of the celebrated Kingdom of Benin. Its name in Edo language and how her indigenes call her is Oredo. This wonderful city survived centuries of war and upheavals. The longevity of the city and its monarchy goes back to antiquity. After centuries of supremacy the British colonizing forces brutally brought this to an end in 1897. The Empires of Ghana, Borno, Mali and Songhai declined into oblivion, but the Benin kingdom and her monarchy survive till today in their capital, Oredo. The history of Benin is long and highly captivating, but this is

FIRST BREAK The aircondition is functioning well. Still, it is warm inside, but bearable. Meanwhile it is after two, time for our first break. Continuously the mobile salesmen got in and out and in again. We are nearing Ore, in Ondo State, to stretch a bit and hopefully get some refreshments. Apparently it is a busy resting place, people are milling around, buses, lorries and limousines drive in and out. My eyes fall on EKENE DILI CHUKWU, another one of the many bus lines, the name means: “God is being praised”. I love those names of buses and more even the inscriptions we see on lorries, kiakia (small bus), molue (big Bedford bus) and other cars. The inscriptions are so diverse, religious like “We love Jesus”, “God is great” and many more, or praises of character qualities like “patience”, “invincibility”, “resilience”. philosophical texts or proverbs in many languages, Nigerian and English or French, depending. Not only words, beautiful paintings and drawings, “bus art”, like biblical scenes, animals like lions or giraffes, to name a few.

People journeying, or characters from Nigerian folktales. These characters are part of everyday life and storytelling, they are not just found in books.

The imagination and art of Nigerian artists is ever inexhaustible. So great.

The restaurant is a big hall, open air, a roof resting on wooden pillars. You order your food at a long counter. Many women are there ready to serve the uncountable customers daily. They look so beautiful in their colorful dresses and head ties. They serve you friendly and are always ready for a joke and laughter. I admire their strength and swiftness, everyone coming here is in a hurry to continue

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ADVENTURE

for another time. Let me quote C.O.O. Ugowe here: “Benin City was incorporated within the colonial administration after its conquest, her art treasures in the palace were looted by the conquerors, and sold off to Europe, and her reigning king was exiled to Calabar where he died in 1914. Ever since, the kingdom has been ruled by very capable Obas whose prowess and achievements in the new colonial dispensation matched that of their illustrious predecessors.”

(Nigeria, p. 43).

When we enter the city, we observe many people and all are working very hard. Huge lorries line the roads and are either loaded with goods or relieved of them. Always fascinating for me are the loads people carry on their heads, like huge piles of mattresses towering high, or long bamboo poles hanging down at both sides of the body. Women too carry baskets of fruits or packets on their heads, or huge enamel plates, and a baby on their back. Often they carry bags right and left in their hands, too.

Many roads are tarred, others are dirt roads, bright red soil, cars riding along, passing through clouds of sand, The dry season leaves the air polluted with dust, heavy with waste, scraps of paper, scraps of plastic flying about, tumbling down to settle and making the roads filthy…

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ONITSHA And on we go, we are nearing Asaba, will cross the Niger onto Onitsha, the twin city of Asaba.

One of my wishes has come true now: Crossing the mighty river Niger…The enormous bridge links the two states Delta and Anambra. The bridge was completed in 1965. I love bridges and this huge steel bridge is extraordinary.

Onitsha has such impressive history and I am eager to take glimpses of it, since we will also pass through….Onitsha is famous because of the huge market building. It was destroyed in the Nigerian Civil War (1967-70) and later rebuilt. Readers like Onitsha market for its famed “Onitsha Literature”. This literature developed during the post colonial time. They are stories in booklets, affordable for all. Today they are wanted items. All cities around here are trade centers, many creative and enterprising merchants and other business people live here. Onitsha is situated at the east bank of the river Niger and south of the confluence with the Anambra River, an ideal place for trading.

Onitsha became the political and trading centre of the Igbo kingdom of Onitsha. An Onitsha Obi (king) negotiated with British traders, so that they could establish a trading post in the

town. History has taught us what these trading posts were planned to become and later to totally take over the people and transform them against their will into Christians, destroying their own culture. Such we can read in Chinua Achebe’s famous novel “Things fall apart”.

When passing through the city, the bus drives slowly, so we could buy the things offered by sales girls and boys coming to the windows, like groundnuts, bananas, ice water. Some carry wooden boxes with glass sides on their head (called “show glass”). These contain small cakes, boiled eggs, salted and sweetened bakery products. These young people, often children balance their wares and walk gracefully, even swiftly from window to window, with fantastic speed they change money and lift it up to our windows, at the same time watchful of cars, motor cycles and rollers, incredible. All in a dusty atmosphere, like I saw in Benin, with scraps of things flying in the air, things one could not think of in one’s wildest dreams, like scraps of cloth; just imagine anything of waste, that can be twirled by wind… accompanied by loud hooting, screaming, screeching of brakes…I was disappointed about the dirt everywhere, I never expected such in a once glorious city.

A similar sight we were to meet later in Aba.

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ADVENTURE

We continue and pass through the Igbo heartland now. The Igbo are a numerous people of far over 25 million in Central- and East Nigeria and many live in diaspora. Since 1944 they were engaged in the country’s freedom struggle under Nnamdi Azikiwe in the then anti-colonial government called “National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons”. This became the leading party of the Eastern Region. Nnamdi Azikiwe became the first President of Nigeria after gaining independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960. He held the presidency throughout the Nigerian first Republic. He died 1996.

Now we are nearing the former airstrips of Uli, a town which held immense importance during the Biafra war for supplying the soldiers with arms and the civilians with needed goods to survive.

When I passed through Uli way back in 1975 we saw the wrecks of airplanes still lying down there. This time we are not stopping and can see nothing. Maybe, because they are now totally overgrown by nature’s force…The grassland we are passing reminds me of the slogan “even the grass will stand up and fight….”

In 1967 Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu declared the Republic of Biafra, the land of the Rising Sun. She existed from 30 May 1967 to 15 January 1970, taking its name from the Bight of Biafra. The history can be read in numerous books documenting various aspects of the war and fictional works of famous Nigerian authors, namely Cyprian Ekwensi, Elechi Amadi, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, to name a few. The wounds are not healed, though…I am looking out, passing the dense forests, the lush green shrubs and trees, no open villages, but houses surrounded by beautiful gardens and compounds.

We are passing Port Harcourt on to Aba, where we shall lodge.

ABA

I was here also in 1975, the same trip when I saw Uli. What I remember vividly were the craters on the roads; unrepaired marks of bombings during the war. Maneuvering our Jeep that time was like climbing and descending hills and this is no exaggeration. We were like a ship in heavy seas, moving forward for hours crossing the

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scarred city. Aba, another city loaded with heavy interesting history of colonial times, thinking of the rioting against the heavy taxation the British colonial government wanted to enforce by new headcounts including women. The most famous riot was that by women 1929-30, known as Aba Women’s Riots. The resentment was against the warrant chiefs, the system of Indirect Rule, and the colonial administration. In the course of the uprising stores were sacked, courts set on fire and the warrant chiefs attacked. Aba was a centre of Nigerian nationalism, anti-colonial struggle and women emancipation. The famous female political activist Mrs. Margaret Ekpo, acted through market women groups and societies.

The same Mrs. Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti was doing for western Nigerian women. I felt happy and elated to follow the tracks of such a great woman like Margaret Ekpo. Much later I found her biography in a remote corner in a bookshop at a hotel in Western Nigeria and read it with awe: Margaret Ekpo: Lioness in Nigerian Politics

by Stella A. Effah-Attoe and Solomon Odini Jaja.

We checked into our hotel. After dinner of pounded yam and egusi with meat and fish we took a little walk along the neighborhood, it was already dark and all we saw were dimly lit houses, stray dogs, and some children playing. We were tired and in no mood to go anywhere, but to our room to sleep.

Next morning the brilliant sun was still hiding a bit when we left the hotel to continue our journey, the final leg, long expected and waited for. The morning hustle and bustle accompanied us until we turned into the Ikot-Ekpene Road…IkotEkpene, a name ringing scary and sad memories to me from the time when I was confronted daily with eerie news during 1968 - news from papers, TV films, news reel, and eye-witness reports from Nigerians visiting Hamburg, Germany, where I lived then, following the war as we all did who were connected with Nigeria. And now I am here, not treading the ground though but driving through and SEEING the area with my own eyes.

The landscape is so beautiful, thick forest, such great wonderful awesome trees, peaceful in their emanation, regal in their look, silently keeping their secrets of decades gone.

ON TO CALABAR

The most exciting part of the journey is starting for me now. I will see the city, where my husband was born and raised until the family returned to Lagos in 1944. What I know about the city that time, I know from him, telling me about his early life. The family used to live in Fosberry Road, which is now Nelson Mandela Road. I found that so appropriate, when I saw it. But right now we are still on the road to the Garden City. A beautiful tarred road it is. Left and right we have a glimpse of the Rubber Tree Plantations adjacent to the road for many kilometers.

Bayo has always told me how cosmopolitan the city used to be, when he was young and he wrote much about it in his many documentaries. During colonial rule of Great Britain, Calabar was the first capital of Nigeria, the seat of Government of the Niger Coast Protectorate, Southern Protectorate and Oil River Protectorate.

As far back as the 16th century, Calabar had been a recognized international sea port, shipping out goods such as palm oil. The indigenous people never took the occupation by foreign rule easy, they fought until all fighting could not stop the turn events had to take and we can read about in history books. Conglomeration of different people lives together in Calabar, whose original name was Atakpa from the Jukun words Ata and Akpa. When Bayo was a child there were Lebanese, Syrians, Portuguese, English, and French and of course British people, he told me, and that his teacher in primary school was Lebanese. I could never stop listening to stories about Calabar. Later I read up a lot about Mary Slessor, the Scottish missionary who lived not in Calabar but in the Okoyong. We went to visit her grave at the graveyard near Andersen Street. A small statue is there.

But now we are driving into the city, clean roads, orderly traffic, whitewashed houses, lovely lush lawns and flower beds I see. It is a real Garden City. I am so exited, happy and grateful to be here, a dream fulfilled.

All looks so calm and orderly.

Check in formalities work well and smooth, finally we are in our room. My husband is really

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ADVENTURE

Check in formalities work well and smooth, finally we are in our room. My husband is really exhausted now, he is a cancer patient, normally going strong still, but the journey was long. We have to discover, that neither the air condition nor the ceiling fan do work. We contact the staffs; hectically they try out many things, to no avail.

We have to move into a different room, where finally electricity seems to be connected. It was critical already, the heat was very oppressive and, I felt, much more than in Lagos.

In the night I experience one of the heaviest thunderstorms I ever witnessed and torrents of rain beating the roofs for hours.

Calabar is a highly fascinating city because of the history which happened there, before and during colonial times. Apart from Efik people so many different indigenous people live around there with diverse cultures, to name a few the Qua, Efut, Biase, and Akampkpa. All have different fascinating customs that one can study for a lifetime and learn so much.

The Efik and Ibibio people started city life in the early 17th century. Soon it became a centre of trade; white traders came there to get fish, cassava, palm oil and kernels. The slave trade also made its terrible impact there.

Calabar is presently the capital of the Cross River State. I found the city so enchanting and alluring. We were embraced by the warmth and hospitality of the people of Calabar in abundance.

I enjoyed the smooth driving, the interesting architecture, and the lush vegetation everywhere.

The trees appeared greener and thicker than anywhere else.

Returning to Lagos we decided to take the service of private transport and no more the bus. I had my experience with IFE SI NA CHI which I certainly will never forget and enjoyed.

I recommend their service for anyone who likes to experience Nigeria closely and adventurously.

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FAMOUS FISRT

Famous firsts in Nigeria

Esie museum – the first museum in Nigeria

F

or centuries, they have confounded every mind with their mysterious presence. Since their discovery over 240 years ago in a thick forest near the community, no one has been able to solve the raging puzzle: who carved the Esie statues?

Esie is a quiet community in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. Inside the Esie National Museum, the first museum in the country, stands the mysterious stone images whose origin has remained unknown till date.

The statues weigh between 0.55 and 104 kilogrammes, and they stand between 14 and 20 centimetres in height. Some are male while others are female. Some are seated on stools even as others are on their knees.

Some of them are garlanded with beads. Others are either playing some musical instruments, holding assorted weapons of war, including arrows and machetes. There are those posing as if in deep meditation. So how did these statues suddenly arrive in the lives of the men and women of Esie? It was gathered that even the dwellers of the town have been unable to explain their origin.

Around 1775, a powerful hunter and founder of the town, Baragbon, had discovered the statues near the community. Unable to fathom what he had seen, he rushed back home and intimated the people. As would be expected, the 44

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oracle was consulted and the people promptly moved the bizarre objects into town, after the necessary sacrifices.

Baragbon, it was learnt, was a strong hunter who usually stayed for many months in the forest on hunting expeditions. It was on one of such trips that he accosted the strange, aweinspiring objects.

The hunter was said to have discovered the statues seated in a semi circle, with one in the middle. It was as if the statues were having a village meeting, with their king or leader sitting in the middle, presiding.

After they had consulted the oracle, the people were assured by the priests that the mysterious collection would bring no calamity to the town.

In fact, they were told that the images would bring fame to the land and would protect Esie and its people from any harm.

To place it on record that such a discovery was made at the site, a popular tree, famously called Peregun in Yoruba land, was planted at the place in 1775. Researchers said more of such statues are still lying buried in the ground. In 1945, 170 years after Baragbon made his epochal discovery, the British Colonial Government established Nigeria’s first museum at Esie. The reason was to help preserve the soapstone statues discovered by the people of the town in 1775. Little wonder the museum is known as the mother of all museums in Nigeria.

Mrs Mopelola Mowunmi is the current curator

at the museum.

Nigeria is, without a doubt, blessed with many sculpture traditions. Many cities and towns across the country have for many centuries dazzled the world with their unique artistic traditions. Benin, Ife, Owo, Igbo-Ukwu, Nok, Ikom and Oron, among others, have carved a niche for themselves worldwide as having created unique artistic traditions. But the Esie soapstone statues remain the most unique and mysterious.

Igbomina is a sub group of the Yoruba people inhabiting the Northern part of Yoruba land.

Igbomina area is surrounded by Ilorin people, the Ijeshas, the Ekiti people, the Yagbas and the Nupes. The mysterious images are not the only unique things about Esie. The Igbomina town parades other historical sites. Some of them are the Cathedral Church of Saint Michael (Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion), which is more than 100 years old, the old palace of the monarch, Elesie, the tomb of past Esie monarchs at Agbo Ile Ooye and the final resting place of Baragbon at Oke-Sanlu. A monument with a plaque that lists the names of all past Elesie has been erected at the place. Also in the museum is the shrine previously used for the worship of the images before Christianity and Islam stopped such practices.

Another interesting thing about the Esie statues is the different facial marks belonging to different peoples in other parts of Africa, www.cometonigeria.com

CHARACTERISTICS OF ESIE STONE IMAGES

i. They all have facial marks of three horizontal lines between eyes and ears ii. Some have vertical lines on the chin iii. Majority wears necklace and bracelet iv. Some have scarification on the face v. All the objects are figures vi. No two of about 800 soapstone figures look exactly the same. They differ in facial features hair styles and dress vii. There are figures of women, holding swords and quivers of arrows viii. All soapstones figures have dates of their origins un-determined.

And they are all located in National Museum Esie. Beside the soapstone images in Esie, similar stone images have been reported in places like Ijara and Ofaru, both in Igbomina village near Esie. Esie soapstone images and Ikom monoliths or Akwanshi of Cross Rivers are two example of stone figures in Nigeria.

Phillips Stevens Jr. supervised the construction of a new museum where the stone images of Esie currently resides. The museum is affiliated to the West Africa Museum Project, International Council of Museums and other organisations.

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The University College Hospital

T

he University College Hospital, (UCH) Ibadan is one of Nigeria’s most important hospitals, and has had many landmarks in its history, including the first department of nuclear medicine in Nigeria.

It was established by an act of parliament in November 1952 in response to the need for the training of medical personnel and other healthcare professionals for the country and the West African Sub-Region.

The establishment of the hospital was as a result of a Visitation Panel in 1951, which assessed the clinical facilities for the clinical postings of medical students registered for M.B.B.S. degree at the University of London.

UCH was strategically located in Ibadan, then the largest city in West Africa, which is also the seat of the first University in Nigeria. The construction of the hospital commenced in 1953 in its present site and was formally commissioned after completion on 20 November 1957.

UCH was initially commissioned with 500 bed spaces. Currently the hospital has 850 bed spaces and 163 examination couches, current bed occupancy rates is over 70%.

The hospital, at inception in 1948, prior to the Act of parliament, had two clinical Departments (Medicine and Surgery). However, it has evolved to accommodate about 60 departments, including the first Department of Nuclear Medicine in Nigeria, commissioned by the then Honourable Minister of Health, Professor Eyitayo Lambo on 27 April 2006.

The hospital and the University of Ibadan, function in excellent relationship and it is impossible to think of one without the other, in the areas of health, manpower training, research and clinical service.

This functional interdependence was emphasised and followed from inception till today.

In addition to undergraduate medical programme (based in the College of Medicine of the University of Ibadan), the UCH also provides for: Postgraduate Residency Training Programmes in all specialties of Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pediatrics, Otorhinolaryngology, Ophthalmology, Anesthesia, Laboratory Medicine, Psychiatry, Community Medicine, General Medical Practice, Radiology, Radiotherapy and Dentistry.

The UCH also provides diploma /professional programmes in the School of Health Records & Statistics, Environmental Health Officers Tutors Course; Primary Health tutors Course, Nurse/ Midwife/Public Health Nurse, Nurse Tutors Course, Post registration Courses in nursing e.g.

Peri Operative nursing and Occupational Health Nursing.

The hospital is primarily a tertiary institution with appendages of community based outreach activities at Igbo Ora, Abedo, Okuku, Sepeteri, Elesu, and Jago where it offers primary and secondary health care services. It has 56 service and clinical departments

FAMOUS FIRST

signifying that the mysterious carvers must have had a contact with the various peoples long before the statues were made. That, along with the hair styles on the statues, suggested some link between the Esie statues’ carvers and people from places like Benin, Nupe, Ghana, Egypt and Sudan, among others.

Scholars and archaeologists from around the world are struggling to find a likely solution to the puzzle of the mysterious statues of Esie.

But one thing they are all agreed on is that the soapstone statues of Esie are quite unique and awe-inspiring.

Professor (Mrs) Bolanle Awe, celebrated scholar, historian and chairperson of the Esie Monuments Festival Committee, absolutely agreed. Her words: “Apart from being the mother that gave birth to all other museums in Nigeria, the unresolved mysteries of the Esie Soapstone Statues reinforce the unique point that they represent an indispensable link to key epochs in the history of mankind.”

Professor Awe said the committee was established by culture-conscious indigenes of the town with a view to ensuring the preservation, protection and projection of all Esie cultural heritages for the benefit of the people and the community. The committee, she said, would be doing the Annual Esie Monuments Festival.

Local and foreign tourists had been visiting the place to see the Esie stone images for many decades even before the establishment of the museum in the community. In 1912, the respected German traveller and anthropologist, Leo Frobenius, had visited the site of the museum where he was reportedly astonished by the size and sophistication of the stone carvings.

In the history of Nigeria arts, such culture like Nok, Igbo Ukwu, Ife, Benin, Owo and Tsoede are apparently over emphasised without due regards for others that might have together brought about a diverse and rich arts of ancient Nigeria.

and runs 96 consultative outpatient clinics a week in 50 specialty and sub-specialty disciplines.

In addition to the College of Medicine, UCH “houses” a Virology Research laboratory, a W.H.O Collaborating Centre in Immunology and an Institute of Advanced Medical Research and Training (IAMRAT).

The Hospital also houses the Special Treatment Clinic (STC), a state-of-the-art clinic for research, training and treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and runs clinics for people living with HIV/AIDS. In addition, there is a department of nuclear and an institute of neurosciences. Satellite pharmacies are provided on each specialty floor for easy access for the procurement of drugs for patients on admission. A pain clinic and a hospice service are also on place for the care of terminally ill patients.

Since its inception, the hospital has trained over 7,000 Doctors, 600 Dentists, 6,000 Nurses, 3000 Midwives, 500 Peri-Operative nurses, 2000 Laboratory Scientist, 800 Environmental Health officers Tutors, 600 nurse/midwives/Public health educators, 500 Primary Health Care Tutors, 700 Community Health Officers, 800 Physiotherapists, 700 Health information Management Personnel (formally referred to as Medical Records Officers).

The patient turn out in the accident and emergency (A&E) Department of the University College Hospital averages 6000 annually and more than 150,000 new patients are seen in the various outpatient clinics every year.

As far back as 2001, the million-clientele mark was attained. Due to the facilities available, the manpower and track records, UCH enjoys wide patronage of both national and international clientele.

The management of the hospital, spurred by the Federal Government efforts in refurbishing the teaching hospital, has taken steps to widen the scope of services provided by the resuscitation of the openheart surgical procedure of the Hospital.

In May 2006, a surgical team successfully performed open-heart surgery on three pediatric patients, a feat that created an important landmark in medicine in Nigeria. Today UCH stand out among its peers globally despite many challenges and as the first teaching hospital in Nigeria.

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WEBPRENEURSHIP

nigerian Webpreneurs

st Sugge an i r e g a Ni or send e e w bsiturs to o y nigeria@ o comet .com gmail

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.

africanaturalistas.com

naijasinglegirl.com

Founded in 2012, Africanaturalistas.com is a hair care blog. It is about

Naijasinglegirl is a satirist, lifestyle blogger, brand storyteller, content

hair Consultancy and hair products.

creator and most importantly, the Chairlady of all the single girls

Here they talk about your natural hair! Embrace it, study it, and very

in Nigeria

sure that you will eventually fall in love with it - Believe that. It is the

She is on a quest to find a good man, a good job, good food, good

freedom to express yourself like you never knew before.

money and all other good things life has to offer. The blog is her

It is for all ladies with hair - both ladies with natural hair and those

documented experience during this chase.

with relaxed hair who are looking for more natural ways to care for

Rather than weep over her no-boyfriend and no-money status, she

their hair, and minimise the amount of chemicals use.

chooses to laugh about it here, and hope you do, too.

The blog want to help with hair issues, hair care, hair maintenance, etc.

allwithwords.co.uk All with words is a unique platform where general issues ranging from lifestyle choices, recent happenings, fashion, food, God’s word and even inspirational words are shared.

Most times these issues are discussed just for banter but at other times it is done to inspire social change. So if you like reading intriguing articles, need some motivation to keep going in life or just passionately curious, visit my blog and join me in this amazing journey as I share my thoughts on interesting topics.

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BOOKS

BOOKS

by Nigerian writers Nkem Akin

A Kind of Bravery and Other Stories Most of us have experienced tough times, maybe we fought back or maybe we were overwhelmed, but no matter how long it takes, we are champions if we are still standing by the end. In this book, the characters manage to overcome the challenges that love, family, friendship, and the pursuit of happiness throw their way either by keeping their head up, putting their head down, looking away, not seeing at all or offering a helping hand.

The stories in this collection will show you the latent courage we all have in us, and maybe by the end you’ll approach your own situations with a fresh pair of eyes.

Seun Odukoya, Rayo Abe, B Olaifa, Adiba Obubo, Tamo Iruene and others

Rachel Academy Heroes and Other Stories Most of us have experienced tough times, maybe we fought back or maybe we were overwhelmed, but no matter how long it takes, we are champions if we are still standing by the end. In this book, the characters manage to overcome the challenges that love, family, friendship, and the pursuit of happiness throw their way either by keeping their head up, putting their head down, looking away, not seeing at all or offering a helping hand.

The stories in this collection will show you the latent courage we all have in us, and maybe by the end you’ll approach your own situations with a fresh pair of eyes.

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Yejide Kilanko

Love’s Second Chance

BOOKS

Daughters Who Walk This Path

Nkem Akin

It’s the 1980s in Ibadan, the city of

This book starts 7 years after the

seven hills and little Morayo is as

end of Love’s Beginning. After their

happy as a lark. Kachi, the boy she’s

break-up, Efe goes to America to

been crushing on has made it clear

finish her education and Kevwe puts

that the feelings are mutual. Her

his life into the company he had

friendship with Tomi is a source of

started. Fate steps in and when she

the simple joys of childhood. Eniayo,

returns to Nigeria, the couple meet

her younger albino sister is growing

again. Can they rekindle what was so

up to be a lovely and chirpy little

perfect for them when they first met?

girl. Dad and mom are doing well.

Will family again put a stop to their

They’ve just moved from a rented

relationship? Or has too much time

three-bedroom flat to a new two-story

passed for them to reunite, especially

complex built from scratch. But this

as Efe has a new man in her life?

picture-perfect world comes down

Love’s Second Chance will warm

in a crash one unsuspecting day.

your heart even as it takes you deep

Morayo’s near blissful life is abruptly

into the pain that both Efe and Kevwe

and quite savagely cut short by an act

had experienced in their time apart.

of sexual violence.

The book explodes the mystery of the young lover’s break up and brings Efe face to face with Kevwe’s twin brother!

Nathaniel Oyinloye

Nigerian Community Human Rights Challenges The book brought awareness on the issue of homelessness, health, HIV/AIDS, women in the prison system, child trafficking, abuse and children in care system. It is a selfless individual undertaking work for the community.

The book take you on a journey to understand the challenges confronted by the less privileged people and the author’s advocacy on homelessness, prostate cancer, gay equality health, HIV/AIDS, women in the prison system, child trafficking, abuse and children in care system. It is a selfless individual undertaking work for the community. For over a period of eight years he has spoken at many conference for health awareness issues, crime prevention, women empowerment to mention but a few.

The book provide a diaspora perspective on human right challenges and how to enhance knowledge and understanding of it within the Nigeria communities in the UK.

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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.

Jelani Aliyu

J

elani Aliyu is a leading figure in the Nigerian automobile industry who is making his mark at a global level. He is General Motors Lead Exterior Designer and the designer of the Chevy Volt. General Motors is the world’s largest automobile maker. The car has been described as an American revolution and one of the hottest concepts in the design line.

Jelani was born in 1966 in Kaduna, to Alhaji Aliya Haidara and Sharifiya Hauwa’uAliyu. The fifth of seven children, theirs is a very close-knit family. For him, it was a great experience for him growing up in Sokoto, surrounded by the rich culture of the people and the state.

From 1971 to 1978, he attended Capital School, Sokoto, an excellent school and this served as a very productive educational experience for him. In 1978, he gained admission into Federal Government College, Sokoto, from where he graduated in 1983 with an award as the best in Technical Drawing.

Jelani was privileged to meet and make many good friends from all parts of the country and beyond during this time. He drew a lot, designed his own cars, and even built scale models of them, complete with exteriors and interiors.

After FGC, he got admission into the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria to study architecture, but soon discovered that curriculum did not support his future vision and plans.

After considering other institutions in Nigeria and their academic programmes, he concluded that only Birnin Kebbi Polytechnic had the study criteria that would support his future goals. It was the only one 50

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that he felt offered the best creative programmes and had experience that would give him the best foundation required to study automobile design abroad.. He was there from 1986 to 1988 and earned an associate degree in architecture, with the Best All-Round Student award.

At Birnin Kebbi Polytechnic, Jelani did some in-depth research into home design and construction, looking into materials and structures that would be most compatible with the local environment and climate; buildings that would stay cool in a hot environment with little, or no artificial electrical air conditioning. Upon graduation from the polytechnic, Jelani worked for a while at the Ministry of Works, Sokoto.

In 1990, Aliyu moved to Detroit, Michigan to enrol at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit under a Sokoto Scholarship board sponsorship.

Having always wanted to study automobile design, this was a dream come true and an absolutely fascinating experience. The course was very practical and emphasis was put on creativity and the development of new designs to provide solutions . He received his degree in automobile design in 1994 after which, he began his career with the design staff of General Motors. He worked on the Buick Rendezvous and was the lead exterior designer of the Pontiac G6. He also worked on the Astra with General Motors’ Opel Division.

With his brilliant work on the design of the Chevrolet Volt, which was unveiled in 2007, Jelani Aliyu is considered by many to be the super star of the General Motors renaissance. He is an inspirational Nigerian.

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INSPIRATIONAL

Biodun Shobanjo

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iodun Shobanjo is the CEO of major Nigerian communications firm Insight Grey. He is well-known as the host of the reality TV series, The Apprentice Africa, shown on stations in several African countries. He is the son of a civil servant whose job involved regular transfers between locations. The Shobanjo family’s frequent moves left the young man with a cosmopolitan world view and his early experience as a broadcaster prepared him for life as an advertising practitioner.

Mr Shobanjo, who rose to the post of Deputy Managing Director of Grant Advertising before his 30th birthday, co-founded Insight Communications (now Insight Grey) in 1979 and has today grown the company from the initial 18 man strong team into a large and powerful advertising organisation.

The Troyka Group which is the holding company for Insight, SKG2, Optimum Exposure, Media Perspective, MediaCom, Quadrant and Halogen, amongst others, employs thousands of Nigerian men and women.

Mr Shobanjo attributes his success to a fierce determination and a steely cando attitude. “I was young when I left Grant Advertising and young people are very daring, so it didn’t cross my mind that I wouldn’t make it. Again, without meaning to be immodest, I really have never failed in my life. If you’re not used to failing you don’t even contemplate failure.”

The ever dapper man of style says there are four essential elements for success and he lists them as “Professionalism. The other is honour. The third is integrity.

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The fourth is passion. They come in any order but if you have these four things, chances are that you’re going to succeed.”

A consummate advertising and marketing communications practitioner, Mr Shobanjo as an inspirational Nigerian, is a perfect choice to host The Apprentice Africa because as a believer in people, his business style has favoured a mentoring ambience which has spawned protégés who are leading lights of the advertising and marketing communications industry in Nigeria.

Today, the CEOs of the top 10 advertising and marketing communications outfits in Nigeria are proud alumni of what admirers love to refer to as the “Insight University”.

Mr Shobanjo brings to the Apprentice Africa over 40 years of top-notch corporate experience, entrepreneurial savvy, multi-disciplinary industry experience and a business maxim founded squarely on the belief that success is not negotiable. As he loves to say: “Winning is not everything. It is the only thing!”

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MUSIC OF NIGERIA

Bigiano

Award-winning Nigerian songwriter, singer and producer

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BG Records is in search of a reliable partner to invest in this project, which will be beneficial to both parties.

Oluwagbemiga (God lift me up) Babalola (born August 1), known professionally as Bigiano, was born in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He started his career with Triple B and has picked up two awards - best video of the year and viewers’ choice award - at the Sound City Musical Video Awards in Nigeria. They released an official single in 1999 called “Egba Mi”.

In 2010 he was nominated for the MTV Base Award, for Best Music Video of the Year and Best Artist of the Year.

In that same year, he won Best Artist of the Year at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards held in the United States.

In June 2015, Bigiano re-launched himself with a new hit song Tonight, which went straight into the top 10 countdown, and shortly after he came back with two additional songs, I Be Somebody and One and Only.

To date, Bigiano is one of the few Nigerian artists that can be proud of the level of music videos produced.

There is consistency in the quality of his work.

Based on Nigerian media statistics, from the amount of airplay attention and response towards his released singles, it is evident that his musical offering is highly in demand on the contemporary scene.

While working towards the release of his album scheduled for late 2016, Bigiano has decided to shoot a series of videos to accompany his hit tracks released as singles to fulfill the following: • To rebrand himself, as he positions himself as one of the biggest artists in the Nigerian music scene.

• To showcase his great talents in music and entertainment locally and globally.

• To reach out and connect with his numerous fans.

• To stimulate growth in the Nigerian and African music industry.

• To inspire young people all over the continent.

• To create a unique tie in opportunity for brands within the music industry.

It is worth noting that the videos to his hit tracks ‘I be Somebody’ and ‘Tonight’ which were the first in the series has since been enjoying massive airplay across the continent and topped the MTV Naija Music video chart.

Bigiano is requesting some financial support towards shooting four music videos to accompany the songs he will release within the next five months.

Bigiano is planning on doing at least five musical collaborations that will take him to the next level and establish him both locally and internationally. The planned collaborations include: • An International Act - Big Sean or Chris Brown • Davido (Nigeria) • Moneoa (South Africa) • KO (South Africa) • Uhuru (South African)

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MUSIC OF NIGERIA

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ward-winning Nigerian songwriter, singer and producer Bigiano officially released his first album called “Shayo Master” in 2008.

It was a huge success across Africa and made him a superstar.

He returns to the industry with a plethora of hits recorded, with three singles that have already been released and at least seven more to follow.

Five videos are scheduled to follow.

NIGERIAN FASHION

Abiola Orimolade

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biola Orimolade is an indigene of AdoEkiti. He graduated from the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife where he studied Agricultural Economics, his best meal is Beans, fried plantain and Garri. Growing up was quite fun, inspiring and challenging for him. He wasn’t born with a silver spoon but his Parents gave him the best things in life any child could wish for.

Abiola’s entrepreneurship journey started in the year 2011 when he was in his 2nd year in the University. He founded the BlackNBold Fashion House, an organisation saddled with the objective of promoting young designers of colour. The company as promoted over 1,000 young designers since inception. In the year 2014 he established the BlackNBold Publishing Company, which produces the BlackNBold Magazine. The magazine has been nominated in the following awards ceremony for Magazine of the Year- BEFFTA UK Awards, West Africa Fashion Awards and the Nigerian Fashion Icon Awards. Abiola is the founder of the Nigerian Student Fashion And Design Week, which is the largest student fashion week in Africa. And he is also the founder of the Project Clothe The Orphans, a charity foundation that provides relief materials to the less privileged ones on boxing days.

He won the Next Rated Fashion Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 at the West Africa Fashion Awards and has been nominated in several other awards within and outside Nigeria. He was listed in the year 2015 by the Pauline Long show on Sky 182 in the Uk as one of the Top 50 Personalities of the year. In April 2016, he was listed amongst the Top 100 Most Influential Creatives by Chub Magazine in England where he occupied the 55th position.

His work has been featured on the Pauline Long Show (Sky 182), The Magazine Show (Ben Tv London), AIT (Nigeria), Vow Fm (South Africa), Cool Fm (Nigeria), Inspiration Fm (Nigeria), Fashion Ghana (Ghana), Guardian Newspaper, Nigerian Tribune Newspaper, This day Style to mention a few.

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NIGERIAN FASHION

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MY NIGERIA

MY NIGERIA

My Nigeria My Nigeria showcases friends of Nigeria who have either been to the country or have interest in Nigeria. It is an avenue for them to tell the world their thoughts and views and Nigeria and her people.

This edition of My Nigeria features Claire Edun (Oyinbo Princess) Can you please introduce yourself to our readers?

Hello to the readers of Come To Nigeria Magazine! My name is Claire Edun and popularly known as Oyinbo Princess, a UK based actress. I am British, born and raised in England. I have passion for Nigeria, the country, people, culture and traditions. I have used my experience within the entertainment field to entertain, act and host for Nigerians both in the UK and various other countries.

From developing a love for Nigeria, I have become almost fluent in Pidgin English.

Learning Pidgin English at first was quite difficult, from listening to music (which was mainly in Pidgin) and visiting Nigeria both for pleasure and work purposes, I have managed to grasp the language. I enjoy watching Nollywood films, which again have helped to aid my learning.

People often ask me, why Nigeria? The answer is simple... I have never met such hospitable people, of whom most are ready to welcome you regardless of colour, background or race.

On every visit to Nigeria I have felt welcome, cared for and looked after. From travelling south to Warri and Port Harcourt, to visiting Ajegunle and reaching the north in Abuja and Kano - I have had such wonderful experiences.

I am not a born Nigerian but I am so passionate about everything Nigerian, I like to represent and promote the wonders the country holds. I may be British and white, however inside, I am Nigerian and proud to feel connected..

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

As you can see from my introduction, I hold Nigeria and the people close to my heart. As in many countries, there is some poverty, living conditions are difficult in many areas, but one thing that always stands out about Nigeria, is that the people are always so willing.

Willing to make changes, willing to help others, willing to endure difficulties with the knowledge things can change - where there is a will, there is a way. Here in London we also have poverty, people who sleep on the streets – it’s something most countries face, but the way Nigerians face things is very commendable. I think Nigeria is one of the most beautiful places I have visited, so colourful, warm, friendly and full of hidden treasures. Anyone visiting Nigeria can enjoy so many things, from visiting museums to learn about traditions and culture

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to resting by a pool, from experiencing the amazing tastes and aromas in a traditional Bukka Joint (a local roadside eating house) to entering markets to look for a good bargain, there is so much to take in and absorb. I would advise everyone to visit Nigeria, go there for yourself and experience it – it’s all too easy to join the ‘band wagon’ and make assumptions of a country, especially if you read negatives on news reports, but I would recommend you visit for yourself, see through your own eyes.... Like me, you may make Nigeria a place you visit every year!

Is Nigeria ready for tourism?

I totally believe Nigeria is ready for tourism. I feel that with an injection of tourists to Nigeria, it would help the economy, local business operators and families. Whether tourists wish to have a relaxed pool side holiday or a fun packed adventure holiday, Nigeria can offer all.

One thing I love to do when in Nigeria is to visit local ‘Fashion Houses’ and have clothes made for me both dresses, traditional attire and trouser suits. It is cost effective for me and I receive a tailored service, I also feel good for bringing business to much needed businesses, helping them boost their profile and driving new custom. You may think that if you visit Nigeria as a white or black British you will stand out, however you would be surprised at how many expatriates are actually based in Nigeria.

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

To me, Nigeria is the giant of Africa. It is the most populated country within Africa. The number of languages currently estimated and catalogued in Nigeria is 521. This number includes 510 living languages, 2 second languages without native speakers and 9 extinct languages. I believe there are currently 36 states and the federal capital in Nigeria, again making it the giant of Africa. Nigeria is also full of ‘Natural Resources’ apart from petroleum, Nigeria’s other natural resources include natural gas, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, gem stones and arable land. The oil and gas sector accounts for about 35 per cent of gross domestic product, and petroleum exports revenue represents over 90 per cent of total exports revenue.

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

Nigeria is not known to be tourist destination and I feel that a few things could improve the chances of driving tourism into the country.

Firstly, most people when planning a holiday, will automatically search the Internet for security related issues and things to be aware of.

Working on improving the security situation in Nigeria, not only for its own people but for those who wish to visit, would indeed entice more people to consider Nigeria as a holiday destination. Secondly, affordable accommodation and package holidays would take the hassle away from travellers trying to organise their own itinerary. It is noticeable that in Nigeria, to be able to stay in a hotel chain that is recognised world wide, you will need to spend a large amount of money. The same hotels in the UK for example, are much more affordable and therefore a more viable option. It is cost effective in Nigeria to stay in a ‘self catering’ type apartment or a local hotel, however many tourists would like to stay in a hotel chain they recognise, which is not always possible at such costs.

Having package holidays in place, where the well-known hotels work in partnership with an airline, to offer the full package at a reduced rate, would indeed be an incentive. I am a proud supporter of wishing to see smaller companies not only thrive, but exceed their goals, therefore I revert back to talking about improved security - with more efficient security in place throughout the country, it would benefit the smaller hotels and tourists would feel comfortable and most importantly safe, staying in somewhere new.

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MY NIGERIA

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

This project - cometonigeria.com and the website is a brilliant idea. It gives people the chance to have a ‘one-stop’ website to visit, where they can find out all sorts of important and interesting information. From looking at where to visit, different destinations and where you would like to stay, all the information is available. Travel news and events can also be found, to give you more of an insight into current affairs. The website is also linked to various social media sites, which enables consistency with ease.

Promoting Nigeria is what I personally stand for, therefore I see this website as a wonderful creation. There is a forum where people can talk with one another, to share experiences and information first hand - again a great addition.

The website shows Nigeria in the ‘good light’ it should be known and I hope others will follow in the footsteps to help educate those who are unsure of what Nigeria is like and has to offer.

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

The main thing I really miss when I travel out of London and head for Nigeria, is my family.

Anything else can be replaced or replicated in Nigeria. I am very much a family orientated person, so I do find it difficult not being able to pop round and visit my loved ones. I also miss the availability of WiFi and light supply - I am very much into keeping up to date on social

media. One thing we take for-granted in the UK is the constant supply of power - we are blessed to very rarely experience power cuts.

When the power cuts in Nigeria, though one may be able to manage the situation but it is important for the government of Nigeria to improve this and give the people a change.

How often do you visit Nigeria I often visit Nigeria. I thoroughly enjoy being in the country and experience new things every time. Nigerians are always very interested to know where my passion stems from and will go to extreme lengths to make me feel comfortable. I have learnt so much from my visits and I feel Nigeria as a country and the people within have enriched my life. Whenever I return back to the UK from Nigeria, I want to instantly start making preparations to return!

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

When I leave Nigeria, I mostly miss the friendliness of those who surround me. I obviously have my own close family and friends here in London, however in Nigeria, it’s those who I don’t know very well that make my trip most enjoyable.

I can be in the company of people for the first time today, who then become people I feel I have known for years, almost overnight. When I revisit, I often notice that it’s those people who are the ones to first welcome me back, eager to know how I am doing. I miss the weather also, the dryness of summer and the humid evenings. I even miss the way I walk out of my accommodation in flip-flops and have my feet feel the sandy roads within minutes yes, it’s the silly little things in life!

Another thing I miss is the traditional foods - I absolutely love Nigerian dishes and although I can cook the majority myself, by sourcing the produce needed in local African stores in London, you can never beat the taste of a freshly prepared dish, with local produce and actually made in the country of origin!! Lastly, I miss the amazing aromas of the markets, the noises of the busy roads and the general hustle and bustle of a lively country.

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RELIGIOUS TOURISM - Nigeria’s Fastest Growing Tourism Sector

Rev. Mosy Madugba speaks extensively to CometoNigeria about Religious Tourism

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igeria has become well-known in recent years for the growing international presence of its churches. The spread of the Nigerian diaspora to a growing number of lands has led to a higher profile for Nigerian-founded churches, as well as of Nigerian pastors in the older churches. This reflects the profoundly spiritual nature of Nigerian culture.

Here we profile a major interdenominational Nigerian Christian ministry, the Ministers Prayer Network, in their-own words. Rev. Mosi Madugba speaks extensively to CometoNigeria about Religious Tourism 1. THE BEGINNING Ministers Prayer Network started 21 years ago. Within these years, its ministry has spread to over 70 countries around the world – from Africa to Europe, North and South America, and Asia.

2. OUR IMPACT Through her annual global conferences, called Global Prayerquake Gatherings, it has revived the place of prayer in most churches in Nigeria. It has received awards from church leaders as the “Catalyst� for revival and positive transformation in their various church denominations. It has produced thousands of prayer intercessors and warriors in Africa. It has trained and commissioned many Christian ministers in the apostolic and prophetic ministry.

It has led several cities in transformation efforts resulting in several of them renouncing idolatry and covenanting to worship the only true God. It has raised young leaders for various church denominations. The youths we raise every year enter into various church denominations as leaders.

RELIGIOUS TOURISM

Religious Tourism 3. INFLUENCE ON TOURISM Nigeria is blessed with large ministries and churches. Some church denominations have buildings that accommodate over 100,000 worshippers in one seating. The phenomenon is strange to many nations. So, many Christians around the world visit as tourists to inquire of the secret of church growth in Nigeria. They enjoy our unique worship dance styles and local music.

4. IMPACT ON LOCAL COMMUNITY Residents and leaders of surrounding communities have visited me to express their appreciation for bringing such large Christian gatherings with its blessings to their area. Their wives who know how to cook have opened restaurants and mobile eating spots.

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5. WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE COMING GLOBAL PRAYERQUAKE During our conferences, miracles take place, and hundreds are healed free of charge. God visits physically in a pillar of cloud in the day.

Heads of churches come to share the secrets of church growth in their churches for less experienced pastors and Christian leaders to learn. So many come to learn from these experienced leaders.

Many others come to make friends and associates. Others come to receive healings.

Some participate at our conferences so as to get reliable business partners for their business. Many have met their husbands or wives at these conferences and are very happily married.

As men and women receive information, knowledge, revelations and spiritual impartation, they become more fruitful and highly productive and this increases the global cumulative impact of the church around the world.

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RELIGIOUS TOURISM

6. IMAGE BUILDING FOR NIGERIA Several foreign delegates from the different corners of the earth visit Nigeria in particular and Africa in general for the first time in their lives.

They discover it is a very developed country with modern airports, high rise buildings, factories, all types of restaurants, with latest models of every car brand name on our streets, et cetra. They meet healthy looking and expensively dressed children on Sunday mornings and at the conference. They encounter glorious thunderous passionate sessions

by Nigerians for their nations, and a level of hospitality we do not enjoy when we visit their nations. Automatically, without asking, they fall in love with Nigeria, her people and her food.

Contrary to skinny and bony pictures of Africa’s starving children used by some fraudulent Western organisations to raise money, they see Nigerian people as they are and love it.

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7. DATE OF THE NEXT GLOBAL PRAYERQUAKE The next Global Prayer, Missions and Christian Leadership gathering will take place next year between January 8th – 13th, 2017 at the organization’s International Convention Centre, Obuzor, Asa, Abia State, not far away from the oil city of Port Harcourt.

The conference theme is “ Speed Up The Harvest.” We shall feature speakers and resource persons who are on the frontline of evangelization around the world to revive the passion for Christian Missions and Evangelism and teach participants the most effective methods of doing it today.

For easy and quick access to the venue, most foreign delegates fly into Port Harcourt International Airport directly from Europe with either German Airlines – Lufthansa or Air France. Others fly with several other airlines into Lagos and catch a local flight to Port Harcourt Airport.

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RELIGIOUS TOURISM The roads from the airport to the venue are well tarred and the road journey takes about 30 minutes depending on the traffic situation.

There are available different standards of hotels and guesthouses and even dormitories for those who cannot afford the hotel rates. Apart from the cost of the airfare, it is the most inexpensive global conference in the world and yet one of the most fulfilling and rewarding Christian gathering in the world.

CONCLUSION I must thank you all at ComeToNigeria for the efforts you have made to promote tourism to our great country. Any country can move itself into the tourism belt if the citizens design it to be so.

8. CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE NIGERIAN CHURCH GLOBALLY The Nigerian church has helped to sustain the global missions momentum worldwide, which the Western church has lost. The Nigerian church has the largest number of foreign missionaries in the world today.

Due to poor leadership, Nigeria’s economy has not been developed to carter for the great population of 170 million people. As a result of lack of job and quality education, many youths are attracted to crime.

It is the same everywhere in the world. But there are millions of great, honest, faithful and upright Christians in the Nigeria. Some of them teach and work almost in every country of the world and have done very well.

The present bastardization of the Christian religion by hoodlums parading as pastors is an unfortunate development. It is a sign of global spiritual decay. A strong wave of revival would take care of this.

But we see this same problem in most countries of the world today though in varying dimensions.

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www.cometonigeria.com

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

CometoNigeria Online When l stumbled on CometoNigeria on line, my reaction was “to do what”?

That thought was immediately followed with “government propaganda”! But on checking the magazine, l realized, it has nothing to do with government; it’s purely private initiative to promote Nigeria’s culture, tourism and business potentials. I like what l saw, simply educative, entertaining & colourful. I’m based in Kaduna, how can l get it, to buy? Online reading to me is not as real as when it’s really real.

Yusuf Alibaba Kaduna Editor Response: The magazine is available in some of the magazine stands in Kaduna. We are hoping to circulate more in the future because they go very quick out of the shelves.

Guide To Tourists Nigerians Travelling Abroad

CometoNigeria is a great and colourful magazine, packaging and promoting corporate image of Nigeria.

The magazine’s focus on our culture, tourism, lifestyle, business and free of politics is commendable.

Your guides to Tourists coming to Nigeria are well spelt out.

I am an undergraduate student and some of us are highly interested in tourism and may like to visit other countries as tourists in future. It will be appreciated if international passport processing, visa procurement and tour agents are regular featured in the magazine.

Emmanuela Okorafo Port Harcourt Editor Response: Your suggestions are noted and they would be reflected in the future editions of the magazine, though we cover most of them on our website. I therefore suggest you visit www. cometonigeria.com also.

Festac ‘77

I saw one of your editions at a shopping mall in Lagos.

A fascinating edition with main caption: Nigeria Spectacular Festivals. A vintage culture and celebration of heritage and lifestyle in colours. www.cometonigeria.com

This edition brings back the nostalgic feelings of Festac ‘77 I was in secondary school then, apart from the National Arts Theatre, the venue of the festival, no source of information or historic materials available for reference or children education.

Can your magazine, CometoNigeria bring back the historic and nostalgia of world black culture, heritage and lifestyle to us live?

Aderemi Shomorin Ikeja, Lagos Editor Response: It is very much possible to for us to do just that. I will like to assure you that we are going to work on an edition soon to celebrate Festac ’77 because the only way to attract more tourists to visit our country is to educate the people about history and culture also.

STATUE OF NIGERIA AT MARYLAND LAGOS those agricultural products would have helped in balancing our books because palm oil makes up of over 60% of world production of ‘vegetable oil’ even though many of us may never believe that palm oil are used in the production. I want to use this opportunity to call on the new government of Nigeria to do more in getting our palm oil exported more like they do in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia that got the seed from us in the first place.

Monday Daniel London, UK Editor Response: It is true that Nigeria need to go back to basics to f enhance our economy if the production of palm oil, cocoa, groundnuts cotton and rubber are revived, Nigeria will surely move forward.

Enigmatic Palm Oil

I recently stumbled on Dr John Osammor story on Palm Oil in one of your last edition.

I was moved having compared the situations and growth of palm oil productions in Nigeria and the country that got introduced to it through us. It shows that most of those who led us from the sixties till now the reason why many of our agricultural products vanished into thin air. Look at cocoa and cotton too.

Now petroleum prices are collapsing and

Under construction World Trade Centre, Abuja Nigeria. Posted on http://cometonigeria.com/

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GADGETS

Gadgets this quarter 2. BEARTOOTH GETS SERVICE WITHOUT A SIGNAL TURNING YOUR SMARTPHONE INTO A TWO-WAY RADIO

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usic festivals are great until you try to phone your friends up front, and your cell signal gets blocked by thousands of other people doing the same.

Enter Beartooth: It’s an off-grid transmitter that pairs with your smartphone—via Bluetooth, naturally—turning it into a twoway radio for texting and calling.

3. THE BEST 360-DEGREE CAMERAS YOU CAN BUY RIGHT NOW

1. ENTER THE PINKBOOK

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pple has new Macbooks out. Updated versions of the one from last year, the one with the single USB-C port for charging and data. This time, they’ve got a slightly faster processor inside (Intel Core M sixth-gen vs. last year’s fivegen). They’re the same thinness (13.1 mm) as before.

They still cost $1,300 a piece. But they are available in more colors, including rose gold a.k.a. pink, making this the first Apple Pinkbook.

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oday, a raft of new 360-degree cams provide the most immersive video you can get—short of putting on a virtualreality device. Compact and light, they can capture people, places, and action anywhere.

Here are the best options for shooting around.

Like any good assistant, Jibo takes calls and gives alerts. The 7.6-pound, nearly foot-high robot can recognize faces and autonomously learn individual preferences. He can even recite a favorite bedtime story or snap photos on demand.

4. THE ROBOT COMPANION YOU’LL WANT TO HANG WITH Jibo’s Specs

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ike any good assistant, Jibo takes calls and gives alerts. The 7.6-pound, nearly foot-high robot can recognize faces and autonomously learn individual preferences. He can even recite a favorite bedtime story or snap photos on demand.

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5. ROOST SMOKE-DETECTOR ALARM BATTERY

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ake your old smoke detector smart. The Roost plugs into any off-the-shelf model and sends alerts to your smartphone if the alarm rings or when the battery gets low. www.cometonigeria.com