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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2013
The Midweek Magazine
E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
PHOTO: ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU
‘Invest in literacy’ • Over 773 million youths/adults, 250 million primary-school-age children can’t read, says UN chief
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N an era when knowledge is highly celebrated and priced, over 773 million people across the world are still unable to read a story aloud to their children, it was said. And two out of three are women. The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made the revelation in statement to marke this year’s World Literacy Day. This year, the focus was on the need for investing in learning and literacy level. He urged urging countries to invest in learning and literacy. He noted that literacy is a foundation for a more just, inclusive and sustainable world that can help in the advancement of all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), He said: “Literacy enables people to gain access to information to improve their health and nutrition, widen their livelihood options, cope with environmental change and make informed choices. “More than 773 million young people and adults around the world cannot read this message (his message for the commemoration of the Day). They are among the ranks of our fellow citizens who have not yet gained full literacy skills. They may not be able to fill out a job application, decipher a bus timetable or read a story aloud to their children. Two out of three
How to overcome challenges in marriages A
are women who are denied this essential ingredient to full participation in society.” While lamenting of the number of children of primary-school–age and adolescent that still cannot read, he urged: “Make education and literacy national priorities and to work with partners across society to advance these goals. By promoting literacy, we can help millions of people write their own chapter of opportunity in their lives and our common future. “When we invest in learning and literacy, we invest in human dignity, development and peace. That is why I launched the Global Education First Initiative, which focuses on ensuring that every child can go to school. Worldwide at least 250 million primary-schools-age children cannot read, write or count. Half of these girls and boys never make it to school or are pushed out before their fourth year. Another 200 million adolescents, including those who completed secondary school, do not have basic literacy skills — and so our initiative also focuses on improving the quality of education as well as fostering global citizenship.”
BUDDING author Bukola Oyetunji has said “problems are bound to occur in marriages, and it is left for us to know them and learn the tactics in solving such problems”. She noted that any marriage or relationship is prone to face a challenge if they are allowed to overpower the relationship, which would lead to breakdown. She said in such instance, the break down may be called divorce or breakup in some cases. He spoke at the launch of her new book One Good Spouse Deserves Another in Lagos. The book, which was reviewed by Olufolakemi Amosu, has a very rich content of preparing people mind towards marriage and also those already married. She described the content of the book as an eye-opener to such problem and how they can be tackled. It identifies problems that might occur when people are in relationship. According to Olufolakemi, “the author has done a great job in making this book. It is an expression of great courage and
commitment by the author and is also an extent of sacrifice because the book will transform lives and impact on people.” The 18-chapter-book has 130 pages filled with inspiring content to help maintain a good relationship. Marriage is all about life experience, once there is the absence of such experience, the marriage might crumble, but the book content as a lot of experience to teach couples, and even teenagers. She added the book is an inspirational book that explains how married couples can overcome marriage problems and explain what marriage entails to teenagers. The author goes further apart from making a book; she made it accessible online in order to encourage the habit of reading which is gradually diminishing. No doubt, the book is recommended to anyone looking forward to marry and those who are married.
Development Company and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, were among the 25 organisations bidding for the purchase of the National Arts Theatre, the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex and the Tafawa Balewa Complex, Lagos. To qualify for the data room inspection, each firm paid $10,000. The data room exercise, which began on April 24, 2007, was expected to be concluded on April 30. Infrastructica, UACN Property Development Company, XL Management, BHI Ventures, Jadeas Trust, Lloyd Anderson, Dolphin Proper-
ties, Zillenium Limited and BEPONG were among the bidders. But in September, last year, Chief Duke said a committee was set up to look into the possibility of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the management of the facility. “The committee consists of representatives of the Federal Ministry of Housing, Infrastructural Regulations Committee and Surveyor General,” he said. He added that the committee engaged BGL Consultants, a foreign consulting firm, to look into ways of turning around the surroundings of the theatre. The
minister said the theatre ground had empty space with smelly water, which should be rehabilitated and the land turned into a five-star hotel, a shopping mall, offices, leisure spots and car parks. “This was designed 37 years ago, when the theatre was built but because of lack of funds, the plan did not come up. We issued a quit notice to National Gallery of Arts (NGA), National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN) so that the plan can be materialised,” Mr Duke said.
By Evelyn Osagie
LITERATURE
By Latifat Runsewe
LITERATURE
‘Theatre redevelopment should be transparent’
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equipped with simultaneous translation facilities for eight languages and conference/banqueting halls. The complex until recent quit notice by the minister of Tourism Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, houses the National Council for Arts and Culture, Nigeria Gallery of Arts, National Troupe of Nigeria, News Agency of Nigeria and numerous restaurants and petty trade outlets. It would be recalled that the UACN Property