Sun News - October 6 - Inner

Saturday People OCTOBER 6, 2012

17

BUCHI

•Photos: OMONIYI AYEDUN

I abandoned my PhD programme for music when God called me

By EMERSON GOBERT, JR.

O

ne peculiar thing about gospel reggae crooner, Buchi Atuonwu, is that he prays and praises God at 12 noon every day. Saturday Sun witnessed this recently, as an interview had to be delayed for him to perform the daily ritual, which lasts for about 15 minutes.

During the interview, the musician revealed how he shelved his doctoral degree and lecturing career in the ivory tower to go into full-time gospel music ministration. He talked about how he uses music to preach the word of God, among others.

Why do you choose to be a one-name artiste?

That appeals very strongly to me, but I must say also that I admired greatly a certain one-name writer called Chinweizu. I admired his novel approach to issues. He came different and he came refreshing and strikingly. He was a one-name writer, so I think the one-name thing stuck.

Could you tell us about your childhood?

I had an interesting childhood. I was born in Kaduna to parents of Abia State origin, but I actually grew up in the coal city of Enugu. Now, as you would expect, I’ve talked so much about myself, repeatedly about these issues that today, it doesn’t hold much fancy for me anymore for me talking so much about my person. It holds little fancy for me talking about my person, but in a nutshell, I was born in Kaduna to parents of Abia State origin and I grew up in Enugu, then later on in life, I came to Lagos for my higher education and I’ve remained there ever since.

Which schools did you attend when you came to Lagos?

The University of Lagos. I read English Language and Literature. I hold a Master’s degree. I also hold half of a Ph.D degree (laughs).

Does that mean that you are in the process of getting a Ph.D? I had completed my Ph.D and I did very well, but I did not complete my thesis. I didn’t write and defend my thesis and I left because it was time to leave. Now talking spiritually, it was time to leave and so I left. I long to return to the classroom because, in a manner of speaking, it is my first love. It is a deep longing that I have, but I’m not yet permitted to do that. I excelled in it and I was happy doing it. In my first degree, as in my second degree and in the Ph.D class, I think that the records in the University of Lagos would bear me witness, that I was the best student in the department and I say that with every sense of humility. I said that to let you know that, naturally, such a student would want to be in the classroom. Everyone wants to be in the area of their strength and in that way, I long to be in the academics. I long to go back to school, but as I said, I am not released yet from within.

What inspired you into music?

It was a very strong desire to pass a message across to my generation. I know that I have something to say. I’ve something to contribute to my generation and it is in a message. It is in the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as delivered to me. I began to write that message. I wrote it in poems but hardly anyone read me because the reading culture has dwindled

greatly in our society, as you well know and so poem after poem, I poured out my heart and my message, but I didn’t get it. I felt I was not making sufficient impact because literature was not what this generation longed for. They longed for music and, thankfully, I had some music left in me, having been a nightclub deejay for many years before I became a Christian.

So it reached deep within me, prompted, I must say, by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. With the deejay skills and with that bit of music in me, I began to express my message. So the earliest songs that I sang were musical renditions of poetry that I had already written, as at this time. So I began to sing my poems.

That’s how I got into gospel music. So it became for me an extension of the classroom, where I was lecturing in the University of Lagos and it was time to move and I still had a message to pass on to the people so the music stage became an extension of the classroom for me.

Why do you choose the reggae genre?

I didn’t choose reggae; reggae chose me. Reggae appealed to me when I was young and reggae won me over when I was much younger and I began to listen to all manner of reggae and so by the time I became a Christian and there was a need for me to sing, I had to use the form, which I already had internalised before now and that’s reggae music.

How many albums do you have to date?

I have five audio albums and two video and the five albums have remarkably come at intervals of three years. The first was released in 1999; the second in 2002, the third, in 2005, the fourth, in 2008 and the first one in 2011, but I’m about to break it by not

•Turn to pg 18

18

SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012

Saturday People •Continued from Page 17 waiting for another three years to release a new album. This year, I have another album coming. It is not really another album though, but a reproduction of some of the songs of old – the songs that I released in 1999 and 2002, What a Mighty God, Jesus must be Honoured, It is well. I’m reproducing them for today. The songs have remained in the memories of people; it has remained thank God, on the lips of people, but I think that to make a global release at this time, I need to clean them up a little bit.

‘I smoked weed before coming to Christ’

Who is your role model musically?

I don’t know if I can separate my role model from my music because he has become my role model in life and music is a part of my life. Let me explain. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome led me by the hand and introduced me to Jesus and I found that in all that I do and in all that I think, it is my meeting with Jesus; it is my relationship with Jesus; it is this new life that he has given me that has informed everything else that I do and how I do the things that I do so I cannot really separate him from my music but of course, there are people that I admire in music. There are people who have influenced me musically. One of such people is Rev. Uma Ukpai. Another is Panam Percy Paul and then the old Voice of the Cross. Of course, in terms of style, the influence of Ras Kimono is unmistakable in my singing because before I got born again, as I said, I was a dee jay in a reggae night club and he was the one who invited me to join him in that reggae night club as his partner in the deejay business so yes, if you listen to my music, you will find his influences.

Which of your works would you consider your best and why?

Let me give you the stereotype answer that a typical artiste would give you. They are like children born to you and there is hardly a preference for one over the other. They all appeal to me in different ways, so I don’t really prefer anyone generally speaking. They are all special in their own ways.

Which one recorded the highest sales?

As at the last count, I would say it’s still among the song, It is Well, which came in the album, So Beautiful and the song, Mma Mma, which come in the album, What a Life. So far, I think those two have been ahead in sales above the others.

Some people say your works are quite commercial success. How rich is Buchi?

(Laughs) I like that. You know I never thought of it that way, but it is interesting. Even though they were not commercial ventures, they have yielded commercial gains – sizeable, appreciable commercial gains.

Sometime ago, you undertook a project for upcoming artistes. What has become of it?

It is on-going. I had a talent hunt show, where I collaborated with some people and found new voices for the kingdom all around the country and we rewarded financially, but you see, that’s not enough. Money is not enough to an upcoming artiste because it wasn’t money that made the successful ones and so the project has continued. Now I have a radio programme. I have one hour on Brilla FM sports radio every Sunday and it is a platform for showcasing new gospel artistes and new voices in the king. It is a veritable platform for exposing them and then I have the Big Tones label, which is also designed to encourage and expose these new voices. I realise all too well that gospel music is not Buchi. It is not about Samsung and Sammy Okposo. Gospel music is not about individuals. Gospel music is not Panam Percy Paul. Gospel music goes beyond the individual. It is a message and a mandate that God has given to us and the field is white with harvest, but the labourers are few, so I will do all that I can to encourage more labourers to come in so that the work will be quickly done because Jesus is in a hurry to return.

What inspires your lyrics?

Jesus does. We see life in different lights.

Put differently, we see issues from different perspectives, but when you see life from the light of the word, you discover that you are seeing life in its reality and at that point, it is difficult to speak of any other except Jesus. It is difficult to sing of any other, except Jesus. If we have a clear understanding of the times in which we are, we would speak differently and behave differently. If that sounds a bit too philosophical, let me simply say that it is the word of God, which I have heard and the revelation of Christ in my spirit that makes me and what I sing, because it is so beautiful I can’t keep it to myself. It is so glorious I can’t keep it to myself. How can I have so much peace, live in so much peace when all around me, I see people who are toiling? How can I live in so much prosperity when all around me I see people who are dying in lack? I mean how can I keep it to myself? That’s what informs my message – a desire to bring other people to enjoy the life I’m enjoying in Christ.

Do you intend to go into full-time ministry?

I am in full-time ministry. I sing the gospel full-time. I don’t sing the gospel a little and something else a little.

Have you ever considered doing a secular

Is there an event in your life, which you can consider the most glorious?

I’ve tried before now to put my finger on a particular event that I would describe as the most glorious, but there have been so many and it’s difficult to choose one. Okay, let me go in the direction that I’ve always gone. I would say Malawi. I would say it’s my concert at the National Stadium, Malawi. I think that God took me aside to Malawi to teach me what the music ministry should be - in practical terms and in that concert, I saw so much of the glory of God physically manifested on the people who came to listen to me. I think the only other place I saw something close to that would be at the Johannesburg stadium in South Africa.

•Buchi album?

No! Perhaps, before 1992, yes, but since I received Jesus; since I saw this light, it has never crossed my mind. Instead, I have thought of how to intensify the spirituality of my music.

Not many musicians have stable families.

How have you been able to manage yours?

I’m not a musician, in the sense that people know musicians. If by a musician you mean someone who is permitted to live without responsibility, I am not a musician. If by a musician you mean someone who holds only his music dear to himself, then I’m not a musician; but God has helped me to keep a stable family because and only because I’ve depended on him. Let me also point out that there are musicians who have kept stable families.

Through discipline, there are musicians who have kept stable families.

How do you handle female fans?

I don’t see them. I don’t see the sex of my fans. I see people who love the God in me. I see people who love the God in my music. I don’t see female fans as female admirers.

How do you see the menace of piracy in Nigeria?

Devastating, but I think that COSON (Copyright Society of Nigeria) has done wonderfully in this regard. We are not where we used to be in the matter of piracy. It has gone beyond somebody in the market duplicating or replicating your work and selling them. Piracy has gone far beyond that. It’s gotten to users of music respecting and paying for the intellectual property that they are making use of. I’m referring to radio stations, TV stations, hotels and cinemas and movie makers, people who use music commercially ought to pay for music and we are getting there.

Some people say record companies are also involved. What’s your take on that?

I agree. I have seen this happen. Yes, where people pirate the work that is entrusted in their care, a case of the dog eating the bone that is hung around its neck.

What, in your opinion, is responsible for revolution in gospel music in Nigeria?

I could say it is power play. The creativity of the artistes. But majorly, it is the dispensation in which we live in again. As different interests have found music useful for their purpose, God has also found music useful for His purpose and so He has stirred up people to sing the gospel. He has stirred up people to provoke others to worship Him. That majorly I would say is a factor.

Have you ever suffered any terrible embarrassment in life so far?

Yes. Several. Now thinking about it, I can’t say why I wasn’t embarrassed. I don’t know why I just would not feel embarrassed. Maybe, it’s because I’ve lost my personal reputation and I have no personal reputation to protect. I died long ago and now, for me to live is Christ.

When you are dead to yourself, there are things that will matter to other people that don’t just matter to you anymore otherwise, how would you explain being driven off the stage in the presence of hundreds of thousands of people and the number is not an exaggeration; people who gathered at a crusade and I was singing and while I was on stage singing and I saw people loved it. They lifted their hands and they were dancing with me but suddenly, I heard somebody say, “Where did you bring this Rasta from? I asked for gospel artiste.

Why did you bring me a Rastafarian? Send him away. Cut the sound” and while I was still singing, they switched off the sound and shoved me away from the stage and in the full glare of the people, I walked away with members of my band. But again, years later, the same people who drove me away from that stage invited me to and sing the same songs to them at their meetings. Thank God that I was not embarrassed enough to become angry.

Your cap has become your identity. Has it any special meaning to you?

My cap brings me closer to my audience.

My cap brings me face to face with the people I want to reach. If I dressed up in a suit and tie, not many people would reach out to embrace me when they have been beaten in life. Not many people would reach out to embrace me when they want to speak honestly to somebody; when they want to talk about their pains and their challenges. I’m sent to the people in the street. I’m sent to the armed robbers. I’m sent to the violent men – the armed and violent men. I’m sent to the prostitutes. I’m sent to the dregs of life; of society in a manner of speaking for they are really not dregs. They are just people who have been defeated by the circumstances of their lives. I’m sent to them and for their sake, I have become like them.

Most reggae musicians are associated with marijuana and you have been a disc jockey in a reggae nightclub before. Have you ever done drugs?

Can I tell you what? I think my greatest worry is about this interview. I’m wondering how you will caption it. I’m wondering how you will title this interview and so I’ve tried to pull my punches. If I say, “I’ve had my fair share of marijuana,” the journalist may say I’ve had my fair share of marijuana. If I say I’m sent to the thieves and prostitutes, the headline may be “I’m sent to thieves and prostitutes.”

All those things that make the story sensational but can I count on you to go beyond sensationalism and tell the people the truth? Yes, of course, I smoked weed before I came to Christ.

Today, I get high, very high, I got higher on the Holy Spirit than I ever did on grass.

How do you assess the Nigerian music industry generally?

Vibrant. Creative. Handy. Blossoming at this time and it is that there is something to do with the dispensation in which we live. We are living in a dispensation where people love music. It was appointed before now that in this dispensation when the Lord shall return, music will rule the airwaves and different interests would employ music to fight for the souls of men. Music can lead a man in a direction that he has not planned for. Music can win the souls of man. Music can distract a man. Music can mislead a man. Music can blind a man.

Music can destroy a man. Music is a powerful tool and in this dispensation, music is in the hands of different interests.

SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012

19

Saturday People ‘Why, at 87, I’m still offering scholarships to indigent boys, girls’ the establishment of Nnobi Microfinance Bank Plc. It is important to say that all these projects were put in place without the people of Nnobi paying any levy for them. The capital for the project was either my money or supplemented by goodwill funds from some individuals.

From DOM EKPUNOBI Onitsha

A

t 87, Chief B.B.O. Emeh still exhibits great passion for philanthropy. He has really done a lot for his community, Nnobi, in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State and at the national level.

In the past, he played a great part at the National Population Commission, where he served both as a Registrar and Commissioner.

He was at different times a member of Local Government Creation Committee, chairman, Board of Directors of National Electric Power Authority and Chairman of Nigeria Educational and Research and Development Council.

In this interview, Emeh, who still speaks with such high level of articulation, despite his age, revealed that he has passion to help humanity. He revealed his plan to award scholarships to 50 indigent students from Nnobi.

You are now 87 years but you look much younger than your age. What is the secret?

I attribute everything concerning me to God. I also wish to say that I try to live a very simple life of honesty and fairness to all and to maintain a balanced diet, in order to avoid some health complications that are associated with what we eat.

•Emeh

Could you tell us about your childhood days?

Before I was born, I understand that my father, Ochumba Okenwa, was rich. That was before the arrival of the white man at Nnobi. He had a lot of things, some of which were said to have been acquired using force. At that time, people believed in the maxim of might is right. When the white man arrived, he could not do some of those things that made him wealthy.

He, therefore, became poor, to the extent that he could not pay our school fees. I then had to pick palm kernels and do other menial jobs to pay my school fees. I picked palm kernel at Aba and sold. I also sold firewood and water at Aba to pay my school fees. At Jos, I became a load carrier for people.

We understand that you were once in the Nigeria Army. Why did you leave?

One Joseph Umeh took me from Aba to Jos, with a promise that he would train me in school. When it became obvious that he was not ready to pay my school fees, after I had stayed for a long time in Jos, I joined the Nigeria Army at the age of 17. A relation of mine saw me in the Army and asked them to discharge me.

After my discharge, I came out and began to teach. After teaching for 13 years, I got admission into Free Town, Sierra Leone, which was the first university in Africa.

What did you study at Fourah Bay College?

I entered but did not complete the programme. In 1960, I transferred to University of Durham, in England and graduated in Economics. When I came back, in 1962, I started work in the Ministry of Economic Planning as a statistical officer.

What would you say of your primary school days?

I still remember that I fought a lot in the primary school. There was serious competition among school children, which was often taken beyond the classroom. Sometimes older and stronger students beat up bright students after the school hours, for scoring higher marks in the class work. I used to beat some of the students until one day one Isaac Ugochukwu dealt with me the way I could hardly forget.

What would your people, the Nnobi people remember you for when you must have passed on?

I have indeed, left a lot of legacies that will be difficult for anybody to surmount in this town. Among other things, I built the Afor Nnobi Market, which is the largest market around, with 730 lock-up shops and 2,200 open shops. I also built the nationally acclaimed livestock market and the abattoir with my own money. I brought the Divisional Police Office (DPO) to Nnobi and I was instrumental to

What gave you the impetus to execute all those capitalintensive projects?

I was the President General of the town union for quite some time, but even now that I am no longer there, I still have the passion for human and infrastructure development of my community. At present, I have written to 13 villages in Nnobi to nominates 50 pupils that I will offer secondary school scholarship. An interview will be conducted to select the students. That is one of the ways I want to continue to contribute to the development of the town, even now that I am no longer in active service.

There have been this national policy on childbirth, which gave each couple a maximum of four children. What do you think?

The national policy on childbirth cannot work because of diverse religious and cultural beliefs of the people. The Muslims, for example, are allowed, by their religion, to marry up to four wives.

Would the four children approved for the couple be related to the man or to his wives? If a man marries four wives and each of the four wives has four children, it means that the man has 16 children and that violates the idea of the policy. It can only work if every man marries only one wife and they have a maximum of four children.

How would you compare the politics of today with that of yester years?

Politics of the old was more peaceful and enjoyable. It was a game. Politics of today is characterised by too much violence, hatred and killings etc. Our present politicians must do some technical adjustment and play it according to the rules.

Winners must win convincingly, while losers should wait for another day. It must not be a do or die affair, as they are playing it now.

Towards a Peaceful Living (Vol. 3)

By Josiah Bonire 07055822097 jjbonire@yahoo.com

Critical thoughts on Behaviour (Section Five): Chapter Five

Understanding behaviour 2317. To ask a man to stop a habit is to ask him to stop having pleasure. Only an arranged hardship in the habit might stop him.

2318. Man innovates more in his struggle for recognition than in the tackling of the puzzle and problems of the world.

2319. Many people struggle so much to create and be recognized, but great innovations come more by accident than the intent of the innovators.

2320. Man is so much a worshipper of himself less than being a worshipper of any god.

2321. Knowledge often decides belief, and belief decides a man’s conscious and willful acts.

2322. Frequently, it is belief that aches the mind.

2323.Some rejoice at gold, but others hiss at it. For, it is what gives happiness that is worthy.

2324. A man’s environment largely decides his problems. And his problems decide how he behaves.

2325. Usually, the meaning of the present becomes clearer only much later.

2326. Whatever will make a man behave foolishly often seeks to make him angry, very happy or relaxed.

2327. A man can become angry in response to provocation, but most acts of wickedness arise from envy and jealousy.

2328. What looks good to a man is decided by his knowledge and sense of judgement.

2329. Failure to get a suitable answer is what asks for thinking. A fool does not even see the question and therefore lives on unperturbed while onlookers weep for him.

2330. It is often in the bid to assure himself of his worth that a man competes.

2331. It is a mind that does not understand that worries.

2332. Ignorance of consequences often is the reason for the youth’s audacity.

2333. Some did not mean to advice wrongly.

They only did not understand.

2334. Wisdom wants the problem solved, for that is the problem. But folly wants to be the one to solve the problem.

2335. It’s a man who is not sure of his ability that frequently patronizes testing grounds.

2336. Availability dictates how to use, which in turn can decide how a people behave.

2337. If there were no rules and laws, there won’t be hypocrisy.

2338. Intelligence is the speed of recognizing what appears to be actuality.

2339. As a wise man loves thinking does a foolish man loves to talk.

2340. In eagerness to see what is coming, people sometimes attempt to hurry the sunrise.

2341. Conscience puzzles only where no satisfactory reason is given for a behaviour. That is why some murder and yet sleep well.

2342. Laziness detests to take pains, and it is in trying not to take pains that some take short, atrocious cuts.

2343. It is difficult to say which generation of man was happier, for each knew few alternatives to the conditions of life that prevailed during its time.

2344. Wise men talk to be understood, but fools talk to be feared.

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SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012

SINGLES WORLD

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M

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SATURDAY SUN

EW

October 6, 2012

21

EVERY WOMAN

Why I’m in love with Nigeria

–Felicia Henderson, American actress

By RACHAEL AGUNTA rachaelchiegeonu@yahoo.com

T

hough an American, Felicia Henderson prefers to live the rest of her life in Nigeria. Her first visit to the largest nation on the African continent some years ago had an usual impression on her, an impression so charmimg that she decided at once to make this shore her home.

One of the strong indications to this decision is establishing herself in the nation’s film industry, Nollywood, as a fast-rising actress.

In this encounter with Saturday Sun, Continued on Page 22

FASHION POLITICS ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY &LIFESTYLE

22

SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012

EW Continued from Page 21 Henderson, a widow and a graduate of Allied Health and Business Management, shares her love for Nigeria and Nigerians as well as her experience in the industry, among others.

Entry into Nollywood I entered Nollywood through friends. I have many friends who encouraged me and believed in my talent. They pushed me and it turned out that they are correct because so far, I have proved to be talented in acting. The camera likes me and l love it. I was also into the industry somehow in America in the sense that I modelled and did some vocal things and so forth.

EVERY WOMAN

‘At a tender age, I told my mum I will live in Africa’ played by Tony Akposheri (Zakky from New Masquerade) and his wife, Ngozi. It is an interesting soap that teaches a lot of lessons and morals.

Her preference for Nigeria I believe Nigeria is the place God has ordained to be my home.

Other things she does Aside being an actress, my passion is developing, inspiring and motivating the youths in the country. I believe that our youths are the key to Nigeria’s development and thus we must prepare them for the huge task ahead.There are so many potentials here and I believe that if we Acting key into the development of our small My first acting in the Nigerian film industry was in a production called News and medium enterprise, so much would be accomplished. There are vast potenFor Nokia. I co-starred with Bimbo Manuel. I am also on Tinsel where I play tials in our hospitality and tourism sectors if properly focused and packaged.

Myra and in Spider where I am married Besides, Nigerians are naturally endowed to Femi Branch and I also played Sasha as sportsmen and women so if the sports with my real life son, Tevon, who plays sector is well handled, Nigeria will Alex.

Moreso, I am in Troubled Waters where become much greater. So, the youths just need proper motivation and focus. I I stepped outside my normal character and played a househelp known as Auntie believe Nigeria will regain her crown and glory with the support of all and sundry.

Violet.

Now, my current production is 2 Sides It may take a bit of time, but it will surely come. Look out for my own project comof a Coin where I play Theresa Benson.

Theresa Benson in the Coin is an educa- ming out this year. It will also be an tionist married to Dr. Alex Benson played avenue to empower and motivate Nigerian youths.

by Akin Louis and mother of two children Ronke and JB. The story revolves Part of her body she cherishes most around the intricate web that entwines us The eyes are the window to the soul to our staff, Nnamdi Okafor while the lips guard so much. So, I cherish

Henderson

my eyes.

Sexual harrasment I have not been sexually harrased by anybody because I am a no-nonsense person. I don’t leave room for such. I know it exists but because of the people I have worked with, I have been fortunate enough to have bypassed such.

Henderson

Most challenging role This season on 2 Sides Of The Coin my character is a bit difficult as I have to explore emotions I don’t normally encounter. Theresa Benson is a bit troublesome but I am a very cool and rational person. I don’t get angry easily, so it was hard to key into that emotion.

Relocating to Nigeria I believe Nigeria is the place God has ordained to be my home. I didn’t choose it. It was a part of me before I was born. I recall as a child telling my mum that when I grow up, I will live in Africa. At that time, I never even knew there was such a place as Nigeria. All we were exposed to was Africa as a continent, so I assumed that countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania were all part of one place. But the first time I came here, I fell in love with the country. I am touched by the people’s resilience, drive and faith. I have since adopted it as my home.

Hobbies I love singing, reading, travelling and helping the underprivilleged.

SATURDAY SUN

STDs and infertility

By PAUL TORTY

I

am very grateful to God for the numerous lives we have touched through our herbal remedies. We thank God so much for the opportunity given us to serve and affect lives positively. I am so happy when I get such calls to the effect that our herbal remedies healed somebody somewhere, such as healing from stroke, infertility problems, asthma, ulcer, diabetes, hypertension, bacteria infections and sexual diseases, etc. God, in His infinite mercies, has been helping us to touch lives positively through our herbs.

I have been vindicated. Since I started this column, I have been receiving a lot of testimonies from people who have taken our herbal remedies for diverse health problems I discuss in this column every Saturday. Not just herbal remedies, I’m talking about documented and researched herbs by Dr Hoffman whose medical articles on certain herbs have been of tremendous effect in our treatment.

And that is the reason everyday, testimonies come to me about how our herbs have helped couples to have children. Testimonies of how sperm count increases. I have received testimonies of how women having scanty menses or no menses at all have got their menses back and eventually become pregnant. I have received testimonies of how men, women and breadwinners who are bedridden having been battered and shattered by staphylococcal infections, took our herbs and now returned to their jobs and businesses just in a matter of days and weeks. I have seen children, boys and girls, graduates who are battling with certain sysmptoms and, of course, don’t know the origin of their symptoms. But when they come to us, we tell them and encourage them that God will make them well through our herbs and, of course, in a matter of days and weeks, they come back to us and with smiles on their faces that their health have been restored. I remember a lady who had staphylococal epidermidis. This specie of staph comes with boil and intense itching at times. It was a terrible case because the infection led to a growth and terrible itching in her vagina. She confessed to me that she experienced terrible discharges with disgusting odour. I remembered that she was crying when she was narrating her case to me. Though she was pretty, because of her condition, she rejected every man who made advances to her for marriage. But today, the infection has left her and the growth dried up

while she was on our herbs within a period of one month. She is now married and presently pregnant. She now sends her former university friends who are having infection to our office for treatment. I have passion for herbs, especially those documented by Dr Hoffman, a former lecturer at University of Wales and former President of American Guild of Herbalists. His herbs have proved to be excellent and reliable in our treatment of staphylococcus and other illnesses to the glory of the Almighty God. I have advocated in this column that compulsory laboratory test involving culture of blood samples and urine should at least be done to verify that patients are not being destroyed by bacteria infections while most of the times malaria and typhoid tests are being done to exclude simple culture on blood, urine and siemens. Women should carry out laboratory H.V.S to determine if there are infections as most infections can lead to serious pelvic pains, resulting in infertility, tubal blockage and ovarian infections. These infections reduce the sperm count and lead to low libido among men leading to male infertility.

Urethral examination and swap should be done on men in order to know if there are bacteria infections like stapyloccocus or any other bacteria infections. I am worried that even the elite and very well educated in the society battle with certain symptoms and they don’t know what to do and these infections keep killing our people gradually. The infection also changes a womans menstrual cycle leading to scanty or no menses at all – Amenorhea.

Whereas in the case of men, infections like staphylococcus can destroy and lead to oligospermia where sperm count is less than 20 million or even azospermia where there is no ejaculation of spermatozoa at all. Our people need to be enlightened and adequately informed. Staphylococcus in some parts of the world have been classified as super bug as they now form resistant to certain drugs.

While streptococcus manifest more on the skin causing serious irritation on the body such as itching, difficult breathing, feverish condition, waist pain, streptecoccus also is noted to attack the lungs leading to streptococcus pneumonia. Generally bacteria infections are not only contracted through sexual intercourse. Every bacterium has its origin. But can be spread during sexual intercourse with infected partners. Bacteria infections which are also known medically as microorganisms by medical experts or as germs by laymen can be very dangerous and life threatening as they affect the different tissues of the body as follows: they attack the lungs leading to difficult breathing, chest pains and cough condition.

For treatment, Call Dr on 08037140368, 08051625888, and 08083860575. email: paultorty@yahoo.com. website: www.drpaultorty.com.

Lagos offices: Suite 11 and 12 upstairs, Ariket Plaza, Alake Bus Stop Idimu-Ikotun road, where you can access our herbs.

Dr Torty is the editor of Maximum Health Link magazine and the CEO of the The Saints Herbals and The Saints Medical Foundation, Lagos.

Our offices are: Lagos office: 41, Awolowo Way by Ecobank, Opp. Ipodo Market, Ikeja.

Ariket Plaza , Alake Bus Stop, Suite 12, last floor, Idimu; Aishetu Emeowa Plaza, off Lonlo Bus Stop, Iju; Abuja: 268, Ado Bayero Block, Garki 2, Ultramodern New Market, Abuja.

Enugu: Shop B2, Ifesinachi Plaza, by Ogbete Main Market, close to Holy Ghost, Enugu.

Port Harcourt: 2 Awkwuzu Street, off Ikwere Street, Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt.

October 6, 2012

23

Frequently asked questions, answers and testimonies (164) ello, sir. When is it okay for a dating couple to be intimate? I have been seeing this guy for two weeks and we have gone out twice. I really like him and I am interested in a long term relationship. I just don’t know if he will leave after sex because you never know with boys – Joyce

H

Dear Joyce, there is no concrete way of knowing if a man will stick around or run away after he has been intimate with you.

But you can start by ensuring you don’t have sex on the first date. Men just have a way of not valuing women if they are too easy.

Secondly, let him understand that you don’t want to rush anything and that you are interested in a long term relationship. I think once a man knows exactly what a woman wants, he will think twice before going further.

Hopefully, he will go along with your conditions and when the time is right for intimacy, you will know – Uche My girlfriend and I have been together for two years. She is a really nice and generous woman and I will like to marry her.

But I recently discovered that she has a five year old son. Since then, I am not sure how I feel about the marriage and I don’t know what to do – Kanayo Dear Kanayo, being a single mother is not the same as having a deadly virus, so don’t start panicking unnecessarily. You will be shocked to know the percentage of children all over the world that were conceived out of wedlock, before their parents even thought of marriage. Every now and then sexually active women get pregnant unexpectedly. It happens to a lot of women. But very few of them have the courage to keep the pregnancy because it is a difficult decision with a lot of consequences. That is why the abortion rate is high all around the world. But once in a while, you find that woman who has the courage to make the difficult decision of keeping her baby.

Single mothers, who have that courage to face the consequences of an unplanned pregnancy, should be supported and not treated like inferior citizens. So, if you love this woman that you want to marry and she is as wonderful as you say she is, there is nothing stopping you.

Who knows, this son of hers could grow up to become a really important historical figure like Nelson Mandela and when that happens, I am sure you will be proud of him and be glad to call him your son.

Sometimes, life does not go exactly as we plan, but it doesn’t mean that the unexpected cannot become a good thing.

Take care my friend. You have my support – Uche Good day. I completed the dose of Extenze Plus penis enlarger that you recommended and I am happy with the enlargement results. Even though I am big now, I still lack stamina to continue intercourse after the first round and I experience premature ejaculation too. How do I fix this? Thanks – Ibrahim Hello Ibrahim, lack of stamina and premature ejaculation require very different treatments. For stamina, an energy enhancing supplement is all you need. Mojo Boost for instance is a very good performance booster and will keep you going for hours. To prevent premature ejaculation, use a delay cream. Keep It up Delay Cream is very good with long lasting results. Just apply it on the penis a few

minutes before intercourse and you will last longer. Reapply any time you want to have intercourse – Uche I am interested in organ enlargement but I cannot wait for months before I see a result. I need something that works fast – Benjamin Benjamin use Size Rx penis enlargement cream. It gives instant results that last for up to 24 hours – Uche Are oil based lubricants better than water based lubricants? Please, I need a good lubricant that my husband and I can use. I also need a supplement for performance that both of us can use too. Thanks – Mrs Kalu Water-based lubricants are better because they are soluble in water and, therefore, easier to wash off or dry off afterwards. A good water-based lubricant for couples is the Couples Make Love Warming and Tingling Lubricant. It is a two in one lubricant with a male portion and female portion.

It is the best we have had so far. And for a performance supplement you can use with your husband, look for Hot Rawks. It gives strong erections in men and deep arousal in women. Hot Rawks is unique because it is the only supplement that men and women can use together – Uche Is there anything you know that can stop sagging breasts? Vicky There is a cream for women called Max Firmer Breast Cream. It smoothens and lifts sagging breasts so you can give that a try – Uche That’s it for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08191978308 or 08027901621 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

24

SATURDAY SUN

October 6,

My life as campus queen

EW

EVERY WOMAN

– Orafu, Miss UNIZIK

By DEBORAH ONUNKA

A

few months ago, 21-year-old Uchechi Priscilla Orafu, from Akokwa, in Imo State, became the most celebrated young woman of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. In a contest

of beauties, she emerged the most beautiful woman on campus and was crowned Miss UNIZIK. Saturday Sun sighted this Psychology undergraduate in Lagos recently and she spoke about herself, her emergence as a beauty queen and what she would do during her reign.

Could you tell us those things you like?

I love listening to good music. I also love dancing to good music. I love the flashes from camera.

Now that you are a beauty queen, do you still love these things or you now love other things?

I am still the same person. Nothing really has changed about me.

As a celebrity, what has fame done to you?

Fame hasn’t affected me negatively, in anyway. Am still my humble self. I still hang out and spend time with friends. I still study hard and put my academics first. I am still my normal self and I hope and pray that I will remain the same throughout my reign as campus queen and beyond.

How do you combine celebrity status with your studies?

As I said earlier, I am still my usual self. I still attend lectures as expected of a serious student. I like to be in the first row in class, so that I will hear the lecturer well and make my notes. I do my assignments, as expected of a serious student. I take my academics seriously. I am in school to excel and I intend to do this. I will remain a serious student. I will not allow fame to affect my studies.

What do you intend doing during your reign?

I intend putting up a programme tagged, “search, find and develop.” It’s going to be a talent hunt. The forms are going to be given to the students for free and motivational speakers are going to be invited to speak to the students. The workshop will dwell on prostitution, human trafficking and drug abuse. It is going to be held monthly. I also intend giving out exercise books to pupils of Nnamdi Azikiwe Nursery & Primary. I will be visiting orphanage homes monthly throughout my reign.

Priscilla Orafu

What do you want to be remembered for?

I want to be remembered for being a hum- Priscilla Orafu ble queen, a queen as brave as a loin but with Normally men seek after beauty queens. a heart of a dove. I want to be remembered as a queen that touched the lives of the under- How would you handle this?

There’s no problem whatsoever. I can hanprivileged, orphans and also a queen that impacted positively, on the lives of students. dle it perfectly. I have good moral and family background. I have been trained to be respectWhat influenced you into beauty pageant ful and to comport myself, no matter the situation. Before now, I have always comported and modeling?

I was born an entertainer. I have passion for myself. I know pretty men seek after girls, what I do. I was influenced into modelling by even if you are not a beauty queen. I will hanmy drive and passion. As I said earlier, I love dle the situation as I have always done. My the flashes from cameras. When I was Christian upbringing will always be my guidyounger, friends and relatives told me that I ing principle. have the stature and charm of a model. I have When you saw other contestants, were you always seen myself as a queen. ever intimidated?

I was never intimidated. I knew I would

win the contest because God has endowed me with beauty that people acknowledge. If I thought I would not win, I wouldn’t have bought the form. I was confident. This is not the first time I participated in beauty pageants.

I didn’t go into it for fun. I did to win. I was focused and determined and with God on my side, I knew victory was mine.

How did you prepare for the competition?

I did a lot of personal practice in my closet, aside the normal training and grooming that was given to all contestants. I read a lot of current affairs and did research on my school’s history, so as to adequately answer questions.

I also put God first. I prayed without ceasing.

ASPIRE

25 SATURDAY SUN October 6, 2012

Editor: SHOLA OSHUNKEYE

YOUR SATURDAY MAGAZINE

AYINDE SOAGA GM,OGTV,Abeokuta

Me, money and journalism –Pg 30

26

SATURDAY SUN

ASPIRE

October 6, 2012

Interview AYINDE SOAGA GM,OGTV,Abeokuta

I almost checked out of Nigeria ...But thank God, I never did

By TEMITOPE DAVID-ADEGBOYE If you are one of the 30 million acclaimed viewers of the Nigerian Television Authority,NTA,then,you wouldn’t forget him in a hurry.

Indeed,you would have known him like you know the palms of your hands.For many years,his handsome face and velvety voice were constant features on the station’s prime time news at 9p.m.,every night.His name is Ayinde Soaga.

Perhaps as an eloquent testimony of his versatility as a journalist,Soaga covered several beats during his NTA years,and soared like the eagle on every one of them.At various times,he was a war correspondent (Nigeria’s own Peter Arnett) prowling around in trouble spots scouting for news;law correspondent;National Assembly correspondent,and finally,the crowning glory-the NTA Network News at 9 p.m.

However,despite his exploits in NTA,not many people knew he started actually started his career from the Ogun State Broadcasting Service,OGBC,Abeokuta,the Ogun State capital,where,ironically,he has returned to call the shots.Today,he is the General Manager to the TV arm of the broadcast station,having been seconded from NTA to help use his experience and expertise to take the station to the next level.

Soaga is barely one year old on the seat but his achievements have justified the confidence his bosses reposed in him as a square peg in a square hole.Within one year at the helm,he has transformed the station into a 24-hour station.And having introduced a lot of technology into the operations OGTV,he has brought OGBC back into the broadcast journalism in Nigeria.

In this interview,he went down memory lane to reveal how he dumped his law ambition for a career in journalism.Today,he is full of praises to Allah that he chose journalism because,like he says,the profession has not only taken him to the five continents of the world,it has also has brought him fame and fortune,and helped him to contribute his quota to national development.He also speaks on what he would like to be remembered for when he vacates office as the GM of OGTV. Here are excerpts from the interview: Ogun State Polytechnic was established, and they started with Mass Communication. So, I decided to drop Law and I went to study mass communication. I was one of the pioneers of the

polytechnic. We were the first to start HND, because Nigeria government was awarding NND (Nigerian National Diploma). Although we protested against it, the protest lasted for nine

‘Nigerian journalists and Nigerian journalism have evolved. … Right now, Nigerian journalists know how to edit videos on laptops.

Many journalists in NTA do that. When they travel abroad, they send reports back to Nigeria the same day’

Soaga

Photos: BIODUN ADEYEWA

How did you choose journalism as a career?

It happened that when I was in the secondary school. We were used to schools having literary and debating society. Occasionally, we were constantly visiting other schools for debate, recitation competitions and all these, and I was very much involved as a student of Baptist Boys’ High School, Abeokuta. I won several prizes, laurels in quiz competitions for the school, as well as the whole Western Region.

This was between the early 1970s, long before Ogun State was created in 1976. I remember that as students, we used to go to WNTVand WNBS in Ibadan for quiz and debate competitions on television. I never thought I would be a broadcaster. I was familiar with TV and radio houses, like the OGBC, to take part in quiz competitions in 1976 too.

However, something happened, in 1978, when I went to do take the first JAMB exam ever. I chose the University of Ibadan as my first choice to study Law. I had wanted to be a lawyer because that was my dream profession.

Meanwhile, while I was coming to Aiyetoro, after taking the JAMB exam, I saw a huge crowd at OGBC on Aiyetoro Road, and I decided to find out what the crowd was for.

On getting there, I found out they were having an audition and that there had been an announcement on radio, seeking for those that have good voice and people that can present. So, I joined the audition. I could not get auditioned that day.

However, we were given one paper to write down our names. The next day, I took part in the audition, and my name was short-listed among those that would take the second audition.

Eventually, just four of us were taken. That was how I joined broadcasting in OGBC on August 1, 1978.

As a staff of OGBC, I presented different programmes and later became a radio presenter. I was also a disc jockey. So, it was convenient for me to present musical programmes like musical jamboree, no clip show, etc. I was enjoying the broadcasting job; I was enjoying the limelight. I enjoyed being known by the public, so I forgot all about school. But luckily for me, in 1979, the

months because we didn’t like the fact that we have to go for work experience for one year.

Before it was four years straight. Then, I was the Public Relations Officer, (PRO) of the National Association of the Technological Students (NATS).

So, you are not just a broadcaster but also an activist, a unionist?

Yes. Like I said, I was actually the PRO of the Students Union Government (SUG) in the Polytechnic. I contested the SUG election, and ran for PRO. So, how did you become an NTA staff?

My first attachment was in NTA in 1981, and that was for four months. That was when I built my relationship with NTAand I also had friends there. Because I was an announcer before I went to Ogun Polytechnic, I also went for additional training. So, I became a trained announcer, which made it easy for me to be a presenter on television. So, when I went to NTA, I had friends who were inviting me to come and do programmes there. The late Yemi Ogunyemi, was a producer in NTA; he invited me to help him present his programmes. I began presenting programmes like Music Innovations, and Old Soldiers on NTA and I was being paid money.

By the time I finished the attachment, OGBC gave my job back and I continued my work after my OND. They gave me a senior position then

which was level 7. After I finished OND, I was to continue working and going to school, but OGBC management then said I should choose between going to school and working. So, I had to resign from OGBC in March 1984. We were forced to resign by the second GM of OGBC, Mr. Onabolu, he was then the Director of Programmes in OGBC. Immediately I finished, I went to serve in Uyo. After the service year, I returned to Lagos and was freelancing with my friends in NTA, and I was making more money.

I will also come to Abeokuta to do news report for NTAAbeokuta and NTALagos. I freelanced for a couple of months until Dr. Biodun Shotunbi who was the General Manager of NTA Abeokuta, convinced and begged me to join NTA. Although I didn’t want to join because I was comfortable with the freelancing job, as I was getting more money than what was being paid to graduates. But he convinced me otherwise and so I finally joined on August 12, 1987.

SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012

ASPIRE

27

Interview

‘There were times, I felt like quitting NTA’

For how long did you work for NTA? Presently, I still work with NTA. This is like a secondment. I have a two-year secondment, which expires next year June. When Governor Amosun appointed me as the GM of OGBC, I took a secondment and I was granted.

How would you describe your experience as a journalist working with the NTA? NTA has been good to me because they opened the world for me. My experience in NTA has been very encouraging and very interesting.

Like I said, I began in NTA as a reporter and I was employed by Dr. Biodun Shotunbi, who during that period, had just been promoted as Deputy Director of News in Lagos. He then invited me to come to Lagos. It was in 1995 that he asked me to come to the headquarters. I was among those that were transferred to the headquarters, because NTA picks people across the nation. Among my set then was Kalu Otisi from Enugu, Shade Haastrup, who was picked from Ibadan, while I was picked from Abeokuta.

Since I got the headquarters, I worked on the economic desk and later when I went to Abuja, I was moved to the National Assembly desk and that helped in opening many doors for me because I have been able to travel round the world. I have travelled to almost all the continents and there I got different experiences on reporting on political and national events.

With your experience so far, how would you rate the new crop of broadcasters baring in mind the kind of training your set got and what you all turned out to become?

When we joined broadcasting, there was so much stress on presentation. These days, you find out that people are barely tagging along and they are growing. However, I don’t find that stretch for excellence. People are doing broadcasting but I don’t them see them come out as distinguished among the crowd.

What are they doing wrong or do you think the influence of technology is affecting their performance negatively?

No, technology should improve things and not spoil them. Over time, online broadcasting is what technology has brought; it should also improve the pace and delivery of content. What I am talking about is individual skill and style. I don’t see much enthusiasm that was the hallmark in our time, because people wanted to distinguish themselves, in order to stand out among the crowd. So, presently, I will say I don’t see much of distinction.

As the GM here, what have you done to help bring out this distinction that you are craving for in them?

When you come to a place like this, you will see that they already have people employed and you can’t just sack them and employ some other people. You have to work with the people on ground. However, we are trying to give them some kind of training for the general staff to see how they can improve on their skills. And when we have the opportunity to employ one or two people as supplements, we do. Since I came in to OGTV, we have gone 24 hours. That has put

much pressure on the existing staff. In that way, one has had the opportunity of bringing together the vision of people who should be presenters.

And we have been able to bring those who have the basis to build up.

What type of leadership style have you employed, knowing that this structure has been here so that you don’t have problems?

The leadership style I have employed is one in which you give people opportunity to do what they know how to do best. But they are guided.

When I came here, I let everybody know my vision of how things are done and how things should be done. I told them what needs to be done; and what you they shouldn’t do. Of course, coming in, I heard and saw a lot of things about the station. Then, I brought them together and I said ‘this is the way I want to go’. I was able to sell out my vision and my approach to doing the job. I also gave them a signpost on the limits that they can go, and a roadmap to follow.

For instance, I told them that they must always a balanced view of everything they cover because we are the people’s television and we must always allow the people to have a say. So, at all times, they get the pros and cons of any issue they are treating. They must never do one one-sided reports. I also tell them on who and who to bring on the programme. When you do that you will have balanced programmes, and the number of people that will complain will be reduced. In the media world, people complain when you do a one sided job.

As someone who is well travelled and has met with other journalists around the world, how would you rate journalism in Nigeria?

I would say we are doing very well looking at us on a global scale. Before now, the area that was bad was the IT, but we have been able to bridge that gap because most journalists now have been able to get their own laptops and iPads, and they can send materials immediately to their different media houses right from event arena. Before now, when we travelled out on assignments, we used to be fascinated by our colleagues from CNN, BBC, and some other services like Reuters, who would send materials back immediately, while we would be looking like strangers. And we will not be able to do that until we get back to Nigeria.

But right now, that is not the case any more.

Nigerian journalists and Nigerian journalism have evolved. We have bridged that gap. We can do many things ourselves. We even do standuppers abroad. I did a stand-upper in Mexico and it was aired in Nigeria immediately because we now know how to do. We now know how to encode videos and send and also edit them.

Right now, Nigerian journalists know how to edit videos on laptops. Many journalists in NTA do that. When they travel abroad, they send reports back to Nigeria the same day. So, we have been able to bridge the gap.

Nigerian journalists are very hard working.

When we go abroad, we are no longer intimidated when we meet foreign journalists because there is nothing they can do that we cannot do. I don’t see anything they can do that we cannot do in Nigeria. We know how to get our information

‘I thank God that I was refused that visa.

Because now, when I go abroad and see Nigerians there, I feel sorry for them. I pity them because I feel that they do not really belong.

They may be okay and comfortable, but they do not belong there’

Soaga when we go out and how to deliver it. We are not lazy and we are not afraid. We have opened ourselves to challenges. I was among the people that covered the Liberian civil war; I was there for the post-war events too. We covered it effectively and were sending reports down to Nigeria. In fact, I led the team and we went with an OB Van, so that helped us in sending live reports.

So far, what has been your highest achievement?

Well, I have not really given it a thought to say that this is the highest achievement for me. So, many good things have happened, but I remember the first time I did a live broadcast from another country was in Monrovia, Liberia. It was also the first time in the history of NTA. The first was the church service for President Helen Johnson-Sirleaf in Liberia, which NTA covered live. We used a disengy equipment. We flew that equipment to Liberia with a Nigerian Air Force plane.

I can also remember reporting live from the Lagos High Court; I used NTA OB van as well.

For me, it was an experience, because I hadn’t done those things before in my life. I would do a report and edit it at Lagos High Court and just take the tape back to the station. So, I think that was a high point for me. At that time, the editors on duty in NTA were surprised because I was operating like an experienced reporter. My supervisor was Lola Alakija, she was the reporter on ground but she gave me the opportunity and supervision to package my reports.

What were the hazards you faced reporting the Liberian civil war?

For us, reporting war was well guided because we stayed with the Nigerian troops and contingents. And so they were guiding us on what to do and what not to do; where to go and where not to exceed. It was okay because I didn’t see much problem in doing that. It was a dangerous mission but it was also fun. It was one of the high points of my career.

You seem to have enjoyed your career so far. Have you ever felt like quitting this job?

Yes! I felt like it. Before I joined NTA

Abeokuta full-time, I was earning four times what staffs were paid. In 1989, I felt like quitting the job and even leaving the country, because what I was being paid could not sustain me.

Then, I was living in my father’s house in Abeokuta. The house was fully furnished but the money I was earning could not even sustain me.

At times, I won’t even have money to go to work. So, I said to myself: ‘what kind of life is this?’ I seriously felt like leaving the country for the US. You wanted to do ‘Andrew’-check out of Nigeria?

Oh yes! I wanted to check out. I desperately wanted to go the US. It was that bad. But I was refused a visa. I felt very angry. Although I was planning to just go and spend my holiday there, but the way things were at that time, I could have just changed my mind and not come back to Nigeria again. Somehow, I had a rethink and I said I could make it in this country. I just needed to do one or two things so that I will be comfortable. But looking back now, I thank God that I was refused that visa. Because now, when I go abroad and see Nigerians there, I feel sorry for them. I pity them because I feel that they do not really belong. They may be okay and comfortable, but they do not belong there.

So, what advice do you have for people, especially youths, who, like you, may be struggling to check out by all means?

They should pause, think, and apply the breaks. There are no dollars to pick in the streets of America. You must be ready to work your fingers to the bones. Nigeria is a blessed country. It is a land of infinite opportunities. All our youths need do is to get good education, be focused and tap into the enormous opportunities this country provides.

What’s your attitude to money?

I see money as an instrument to use for achieving set goals. I see it as messenger that must be put to good use for the benefit of mankind and humanity. Money must, by no means, be anybody’s god. It is a servant. I’m not crazy about money, people should not. Because in so far God is able to meet our needs, everything becomes easy.

How do you balance you religion with your profession?

Well, I am a Muslim, and I try as much as possible to be a good Muslim. My profession has nothing against my faith and vice versa.

Balancing my work with religion is very comfortable, because a Muslim prays very early in the morning, so that helps me to get up and prepare for work. Your morning prayer defines your day. The next prayer is at 2:00, so one can easily find time to pray and it is very comfortable.

When you leave OGTV, what would you like to be remembered for?

I would love to be remembered as a GM who has been very prudent with the way I managed

Continued on page 45

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SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012

Traveller POETRY IN MOTION

By ABUMERE EASTER 07056031011

10 days in Ge

Home of history and THE RICH ALSO CRY

By KEMI YESUFU,

who was in Germany

I thought you knew earth’s face When you approached her gates But you said you were a genius Hearing the whispers of lizards I thought you knew her chambers Where she hides that secret pot You claimed you saw her virgin land, That courtyard of her golden box So you chose the arm of flesh Flesh that brought you wealth Indeed, you’re sought amongst men Eran no migho, clap for yourself A! Your Lazo Guvenci shoes No photo copy, your style pukka Young women eye you a groom Take a kola nut, I duff my cap A! See your paradise Fine boy, I like your swagger This land boat you cruise, Sure benefits your street cred But I’ve seen you behind my fence In that mood when pain is friend As you sobbed, I read your lines How you desired the end of times Wisdom is the greatest, not pence Grab it and live a dame on earth But wait, give the needy a help He may be your landlord in death.

I didn’t know what to expect when in August, I accepted an offer from the German Embassy to attend a 10-day programme on women empowerment organised by its national cultural organisation, the Goethe Institut. Of course, I had much information about Berlin and a little about Bonn, the host cities of the event for which I and 11 other carefully selected African women were scheduled to attend. I also had an impression of Germany as a nation and Germans as a people.

For years, like many other Nigerians, Germany, for me, is the definition of efficiency just as it is the name of a European country.

Like the majority of football lovers in this country, I love, and often hail the German male football team, otherwise known as the ‘German Machine’anytime they are on the field of play.

No matter how far the German national team (both male and female) go in a competition, they leave the impression of a compact group with good organisation.

Another thing that stands this country out is its globally admired brands such as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Volkswagen and, of recent, its trailblazing leader, Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Despite not knowing any tourist attraction other than the Berlin Wall, and having much less people to ask “how far?” with Germany compared to places such London and New York, it wasn’t difficult for the German Embassy to convince me to participate in the programme.

Having produced Western Europe’s second female leader, after the iconic Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher, I felt that no other country had higher moral authority to host such a programme. Merkel was recently dubbed Forbes Magazine Most Powerful Woman ever. Few argued with the respected journal because for being in the forefront of European Union (EU) leadership, Chancellor Merkel is, indeed, influential beyond petty debate. Her prominence on the global scene beats the wildest dreams of many feminists across the world especially those in her country. The German society remains largely patriarchal with majority of the women willing to work part-time so as to raise a family.

Nevertheless, my belief that Germany was the right place to share ideas on gender empowerment was further enforced at the Berlin airport. Once it was time to leave to Meyers Hotel, where we would be housed for a week in East Berlin, we got into a taxi driven by a middleaged woman. Before I could digest the novelty of a female commercial driver, the lady cabbie dutifully lifted all three heavy boxes of her passengers into the boot of her car. She got into car and the only time she spoke during the 20minute drive to the hotel was when she answered, in the affirmative, the question of our guide, Katharina Ichbin, who wanted to know if she knew the hotel we were headed to.

Unlike Nigerian cabbies, their counterparts in Germany make use of GPS technology a lot.

Once you tell them your destination, they key it into their hand-held device that is placed a little above the dashboard and off they go. But this female cabbie, who looked like a heavier version of Chancellor Merkel, is the last individual who fitted into the stereotypes of Germans through my stay. Though Germans have remained efficient, industrious and result-oriented, I was in for many pleasant surprises.

GRAFFITI AND OTHER SHOCKERS Graffiti is the first thing you notice in the capital city of a country touted for its orderliness.

With an estimated 500,000 trees, the green nature of a temperate country with millions of

Berlin TV tower

Berlin City

blondes is quite outstanding, but I daresay it is the abundance of graffiti that stunned me as a first-timer in Berlin. It will be safe to say that it’s only high government offices that are free of graffiti in the German capital. Other buildings

are covered with wall art from simple wordings to complicated artwork such as nude female torso.

Another unique characteristic of Berlin is that millions of people move around on bicycles. Having arrived on a Sunday, September 9, 2012, my guide advised that I check out Mauer Park, which has a well-patronized flea market.

“It is a fun place to be on Sundays,” she told me. “Do check it out. It is 15 minutes walk from the hotel.” And with that sound advice, I undertook an outing that lasted for one hour and forty-five minutes. I missed my way twice.

Yet, I was determined to find this fun spot that was the rendezvous of colorful visitors as I was told by anyone I asked for direction. By the time I was through, my legs were aching just as I learnt how to use a map the hard way.

Berliners often grab your map to give you directions.

But it was worth all the stress in the end. I got to see thousands gathered in various groups to watch different bands perform at the famous park. Artistes play their hearts out hoping that large crowds gathered to watch them drop some coins into their bowls. A pop trio, made up of two guys and a girl that introduced themselves as Charity Children Berlin, evoked emotions in me. As a music lover, I prayed in my heart that the group hits it big with their debut CD that they announced would soon be released. There is no way they can survive on the coins thrown into their bowls.

More interestingly, I had the opportunity to move around a bend–down select (secondhand clothing and other fairly used materials) market in the country with Europe’s strongest econo-

SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012

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Traveller

ermany

d hospitality The African participants my. Our own Jankara market is the Berliners’ flea market. It was amazing to see traders ring their bells to attract customers like those in the old Tejuosho market would do. I was surprised to see families hang out in the countless cafes. What I saw along the streets is contrary to the belief that the family was fast becoming extinct in Europe.

Also, there were many big churches within Meyers Street where my hotel was located; I was tempted to believe that Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) learnt, from the Germans, the idea of locating its parishes five minutes’walk from each other. It is common place to hear church bells during the daytime. Yes, the churches weren’t full and I hardly saw people going into them, but during a chat with Irmgard Maria Fellner, the Head Culture and Media Relations to Africa and five other regions, she told me that she would love her children to be raised in a Christian way. “I would love my children to go to church. For me, Christianity is an integral part of my culture which I would love to pass down to my two kids,” she said with a smile.

Aside from the old East and West Germany, another categorization of Germans is the Catholic south and the Protestant north. There is also the mixed northwest where Catholics and Protestants live. The current chancellor is the daughter of a protestant clergyman who, though from the old West Germany, raised his family in the defunct German Democratic Republic (GDR). The truth, however, is that issues like Catholic south, Protestant north, western and eastern Germany are more like historical facts, most people think of themselves simply as Germans and nothing more.

If you ask me what is the national pastime in Germany, I would say, without hesitation, dog walking. It is simply a national passion. I saw two people who, my guide said, were homeless, walking their dogs by their sidewalk. After ten days spent moving around four different cities in Germany, I came to the conclusion that majority, if not all Germans, love dogs. Every two minutes, you will see someone walking his/her dog. People bring their dogs to parties.

Within the time I spent in Germany I saw the specimen of almost all dog breeds, from the poodle, to the Chihuahua, the lab retriever and of course the Alsatian also known as the German shepherd. The people of

Germany love the canine family.

BERLIN,TOURISM CAPITAL OF EUROPE I arrived Berlin a few days before a current global event, it was the September 12 Court ruling that okayed Germany’s contribution to the European Union’s bailout fund for its distressed members. But for an African like me, the city reminded me of ancient history, the Congo Conference held in 1884, which resulted in the division of my continent among 14 colonial powers. I never really thought of Berlin as a leading tourist destination. Having witnessed the tourism boom in Rome in summer of 2011 and the incessant rush for the United Kingdom visa back home, I placed London and Rome higher than Berlin.

How wrong I was. Alas, the German capital is among the top three destinations in Europe, rubbing shoulders with Paris and London.

Data emanating from the MODUL University Vienna showed that London, Paris and Berlin remain the three most popular destinations in Europe with Berlin recording no less 22 million-bed nights in 2011. Indeed, there are many tourist attractions in Berlin. Sure there is the Berlin wall which draws millions of tourists each year. The 167.8 kilometre-wall was built on August 12, 1961, and it fell on November 9, 1989. Between 136 and 209 people were killed trying to escape from the east to the west according to current research, so it is easy to understand why it draws many visitors. Tourists even buy fragments of the wall for as much as 14 Euros, but my favorite site was the TVTower. Built by the GDR government in 1969, you can see all of Berlin from the tower located near Alexander Platz. My group decided to have lunch in the rotating restaurant in the tower. We didn’t regret it. The tower that stands 368 metres high is a product of engineering wizardry. The German celebrate the TVtower as a symbol of a united country. But I had to wait a while to hear clearly when I got out of the tower. I guess the pressure from the high heights got to my ears. Still I was happy to have seen some of the sites I had visited earlier like the River Spree.

The boat tour on the river was also one of the highlights of my stay in the German capital. For most tour guides, cruising through the River Spree is the perfect introduction to Berlin’s architecture and historical

Berlin Children Charity perfoming at Mauer Park

monuments. Within the 30 minute-cruise, you get to see Potsdamer Platz, the Reichstag (the seat of the German parliament), the Chancellery, nicknamed the washing machine, the Museum Island and the Berlin Cathedral.

Aside from the numerous historical sites, including the magnificent Berlin Jewish Synagogue-turnedmuseum, culture is another thing that attracts visitors to Germany. The Germans are known for their mastery of the Opera. But my group chose to attend a dance performance by talented youngsters called The Loft. The septet performs at the Chamaleon Theatre in uptown Berlin. Though we had to bend to walk through an open refrigerator and on to the stage which had male and female performers dressed in nothing but white underwear just to get to the sitting area, it still didn’t prepare me for an hour long entertainment that had me on the edge of my seat. A little mistake and any of performers would suffer terrible injury.

That was how daring their acts were. What was simply described a dance performance turned out to be an electrifying show of acrobatics, joggling, a little magic and drama. It was the closest I have gotten to see real life circus acts I had watched on television as a kid. I would definitely ask anyone who would look beyond the risqué attire of the performers to drop by Chamaleon Theatre.

Good enough, Berlin isn’t the only city that has fine tourist sites in Germany. We got to visit the Kolner Dom a massive Catholic cathedral in Cologne. The building of the Cologne cathedral commenced in 1248 and was completed in 1880. The colossal cathedral is a UNESCO world heritage site.

A TASTE OF GERMAN HOSPITALITY I had seen many Berliners taking their family out during my strolls in their city but I had to wait until seven days later to get an invitation to a German home. The invitation came from Katharina Daun, our guide in Bonn. She invited us to the wedding anniversary of her parents, Dorothee and Karl Daun. The Dauns are retired teachers. We had to travel by bus for about 35 minutes from Bonn to her hometown, Soleign. We were welcomed to the party hosted in the garden of the Daun home by the elder brother of host, 80-year-old Richatz. Just like his brother, Ricatz, Katharina’s dad has visited Africa, Ghana to be precise, where he still volunteers in two secondary schools.

Most of the guests at the party were happy to see six Africans in a party in a quiet town. Their happiness was expressed by the way they took turns to speak with us, each one sharing his/her African story after inquiring how well our trip had gone. Unlike other non-English speaking European countries I have been to, the Germans speak English much better and more frequently. So, it is easy to converse with them.

German parties aren’t like those held in Nigeria. You get the impression that things are kept simple. First, we are treated to cakes and beverages of our choice.

This is followed much latter by boiled quail eggs and glasses of sparkling wine. We are told that dinner was still being prepared by one of the old aunties of the Daun family. It is friends who take turns to perform for others not a band hired at a high cost. The climax of the performances came when the celebrants sang together and were later joined by guests, including me. I made do with the English songs on the list of songs shared to all the guests. When it was time to leave for Bonn, we left grudgingly because we were having a good time.

ROUTE 44 TO THE TURKISH AND BOHEMIAN HISTORY The Turks are the highest number of migrants in German. Due to their large numbers, Islam is the second largest religion in Germany. They have a large stake in the tourism industry. Turks run some of the best restaurants in Berlin. Yet, the unemployment rate is high as 40 percent among Turkish migrants. The school dropout rate is also high among the migrant community. But tourists who want a correct version of Turkish history are given a tour named after the underground route that ends in Karl Marx Street, West Berlin.

Our group is given a one-hour tour around the Kreuzberg area dominated by Turkish families. Our guide is Gul-Ayanur, a 46-year-old Turkish migrant who came to Germany at the age of six. Despite coming to Germany as a child, she told me that she is yet to become a citizen. This is largely due to the German citizenship law, which doesn’t allow dual nationality. But her not being a German citizen doesn’t diminish her vigour in speaking about the history of the villages in Kreuzberg. Gul took us on a tour of what used to be the Czech (Bohemian) section of the area.

The Bohemians who came to Germany centuries before, just like the Turks, were invited to boost the workforce. In this section that used to be divided from German part of the village by a wall, we were shown a 200-year-old house. Though there are families domiciled in the historic house, we are told that the Berlin government handed down strict instructions to its occupants on the use of the property. They aren’t allowed to alter the house in any way that it affects its original design.

‘Thank God US refused me visa’ Continued from page 27 this place and who allowed the staffs express themselves.

I would like to be remembered as a GM who allowed the innate ability of staff to come alive. I have been able to ensure that people were themselves even without being supervised and also be confident. I have allowed liberty and professionalism, so that they will be able to realize themselves professionally and by the time I leave this place, I hope I will be remembered as the GM who has brought innovations in the way people do things.

My coming here, I have used a lot technology for our operations, and it has brought OGBC to the stream, that is anywhere you are, you can watch OGTV live. For example, if at 8:00p.m., there was strike in Abuja, then by 2:00a.m. you will see it in our bulletin; I brought that here.

Since I came, virtually all staffs now have laptops and now we have WI-FI connection, which enables the staffs to browse easily. I am happy I brought that.

Did you meet up any resistance because trying to introduce new things will certainly change people?

I don’t think I met any resistance, because I am from Abeokuta and I have been in OGBC. So many people knew me from here, and this was my beginning. I knew most of the staffs before; so, introducing new things to them was not a problem for me. There has been no resistance or obstructions, expect that human beings, in some areas, have not been able to adapt to some kind of change, and it is due to the fact that I have not been forceful about the changes. So, when I go through it again and see that people do not like it, I look for another way I could go about it, not by forcing it down their throats.

How do you relax?

After work, I go home and relax with my family.

Staying with my family, for me, it’s relaxing.

How was life growing up?

I came from a very huge family. My father was a polygamist. He had 25 children from 10 women. From my mother, we are seven. All the children grew up together, because my father had many houses. I was born in ObunEko in Lagos, and I grew up in Ajegunle, Apapa. In 1963, my father bought a house in Zaccheus Lane, Ajegunle, the family moved there. So, in 1972, I came to Abeokuta for my secondary education because my father wanted all his children to study in his hometown. So, I had to pick three schools, BBHS (Baptist Boys High School), Abeokuta Grammar School and Egba High School. I decided to go to BBHS because I liked the view of the school.

Who would you say has impacted more in your life between your father or your mother?

Both of my parents had influence on me, but, of course, it was mostly my father. Like I said, all the children lived with him.

If your father had so much impact then you must be a polygamist too. Are you a polygamist?

No! I am not a polygamist and I will never be. I have just one wife. Although my father was a polygamist but he did not like it. My father was a complete gentleman. The polygamy happened because he didn’t have children on time. Someone who got married in the late 30s and didn’t have a surviving child till his late 50s. That was when he decided to marry my mother as the second wife. The year, I was born, three other wives also bore him baby boys.

Who are your mentors?

My mentors are people who don’t have names. My mentors are the ordinary people who have impact, and I look at them and borrow ideas from them. But in broadcasting, the person I can really call my mentor, as a youngster, is Olusesan Olusola. He was my senior on the job.

But my real mentor is Otunba Kunle Lolasope. He was our principal presenter at OGBC then. He really had a long lasting life impact on me, because he would chastise me.

Then, as an announcer, he would take note of everything you say, every word you pronounce wrongly, and then the following morning he would correct and abuse you. He was able to help us instill professionalism in our presentation.

What is your best advice to up-coming journalists?

The best advice I can give to anybody is to have patience. In anything you do in life, you have to be patient and work hard. For example, if as a photographer, you get your collections and put in for an award and you are rejected, try again. I will also say journalists these days should be more patient and wait for their time. There is time for everything under the sun. Don’t be in a hurry to get to the top. Learn the ropes and rudiments and you would find that the sky would be the starting point.

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SATURDAY SUN

ASPIRE

October 6, 2012

Winning Ways

Road maintenance,a vehicle Really, you are a winner for youth employment Let's Talk Opportunities

DELE ABEGUNDE deleabegunde@yahoo.com 0807-788-7880

was like this. The infrastructure were built by ordinary men led by drive, vision, resolve and patriotism. A group that has a building, construction, civil, mechanical, structural or road engineer among them will be at an advantage.

They will earn their income by collecting toll that will be regularized and monitored by the government so that arbitrariness is not permitted.

The money will not go to the government. No. It will go to the cooperative who will in turn pay them on a monthly basis and also pay off the government take of grant because income will be earned daily. The rates charged will be the same all over Nigeria. I could already hear people complaining, but the roads will be well maintained and the danger of future or immediate explosion by the anger of the unemployed youths would have been curtailed and I dare add that armed robbery will be reduced. All the kidnappers and robbers accosted said what they wanted was decent life.

The second alternative will be to register the youths on local government by local government basis. There are seven hundred and seventy four of them of them in Nigeria and then do all that has been suggested above could be done except that it will not be a cooperative society now, but a registered business name which could grow into a limited liability company. At the inception to reduce cost was the reason for the suggestion of a business name. The issue of who will coordinate will then come up. My suggestion which is not full proof is that a retired, honest and forthright man or woman could be raised to lead them and offer direction. Every local government knows the honest leaders. I personally but subjectively will recommend Dr Datti Ahmed of Kano to help those from there. Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Rtd Col Dangiwa Umar, and others like them will like to still affect the young ones as they all gracefully age. They will give force, backing, leadership and control to the vehicle.

Income will still be generated on a daily basis through toll collection, this will be well monitored to ensure proper collection and remittances. A common bank account will be opened into which the collections will be paid and at the end of each month, all the youth will be paid. They could opt out to pursue other life’s after they have been adequately empowered or by reason of the skill acquired float their own construction companies individually or as partners.

The advantage of this suggestion is that our

Nigeria is a vast nation which covers several vegetational regions from the rain and mangrove forests in the South to the Sahel savannah in the North. This variation affects the land geomorphological structure and consequently the road lay out and it’s rapid or slow attrition. The biggest problem in Nigeria after power is poor road network. At independence, the road structure though not as vast as we have it today was well constructed and well maintained. This was what was responsible for the low accident rate then especially by the trailers. This was despite the fact that the roads were narrow and long winding, they were good.

Even in some areas in the South West of Nigeria, some of the roads still there were those constructed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

The second issue that gave rise to the write up today is the level of youth unemployment. It has become very alarming. For those of us who live in Lagos, it is not strange to see able bodied young men and ladies doing nothing but just idling away throughout the day. This is potently dangerous and particularly here on any day that there is a breach of public peace, every car owner on the road is a target to be attacked. The anger could be palpably felt. Last week I suggested our returning to the land to get into the food chain to do something productive and ameliorating for the unemployed and those gainfully employed. While thinking on another national opportunity that could provide employment for a great number of youths, it occurred to mean that road building, repair and maintenance could be another overwhelming employment tool. During the Biafran war, roads were built at such notice by soldiers on both sides of the divide and even Alhaji Balarabe Musa, very strong bridges were constructed.

The roads in Nigeria are already well delineat- Rtd Col Dangiwa Umar, and ed to Federal, State and Local government roads. others like them will like to This will make it easy to assign specific roads to a group of youths for building, repair and main- still affect the young ones as tenance. I studied how China conquered her vast they all gracefully age’ land mass and it was by the use of her youths.

They were involved in every facet of the national development and construction. Either of two purroads will always be well maintained and the pose driven vehicles could used and I will speak youths will always have employment because as on their advantages and disadvantages. The first some grow out of the group, others will come in. could be by way of setting up a cooperative sociConstruction skills will be built as well as develety. I don’t want to use a Non Governmental oped and personal vision will be ignited from Organisation ( NGO ) because it has been abused. here.

The youths in a local government area or ward The disadvantage is that toll points will be could be assisted to form cooperatives with an many, but in all honesty, those who don’t travel initial take of grant provided by the government all the time have less to pay, while those who using this vehicle. All the youths will be required travel, though will pay, but will be assured of to subscribe to the membership of the cooperative good and well maintained roads and security society. They will be regular contributories to this because these guys will always be on the road. society. The government will then be required to I have just been thinking of how greater provide for this cooperative, tools, machines and employment opportunities could be given to the access to asphalt. They will then be assigned paryouths to earn decent living and enhance their ticular roads in their city, state or local governself-esteem. This suggestion is actually targeted at ment to be maintained. It may be a bit rough at all youths especially the graduates. This was my the beginning but as they continue with the repair brain wave for this week. By GOD’s grace, we and maintenance, the skill to do this well will be shall explore other things next week, till then developed. I watched a thirteen episode video on don’t give up and avoid wrong associations and how the United States of America developed, it relationships.

‘Every local government knows the honest leaders.

I personally but subjectively will recommend Dr Datti Ahmed of Kano to help those from there.

Success Tips

DADA Z.I. (The Educator, 08028471149, 07029309472) Dadazi2000@yahoo.com

Life is a battlefield and that is not to scare anybody. Do not wish you do not have problems, for problems will always come. Whatever you may be facing right now as problems, do not run from them, don’t wish they never happened; do not blame yourself or anybody. When problem comes, face it squarely and it will soon become a success story. Life can be much better for you. Your life story can have a happy ending rather than a sad one.

Becoming a winner has not so much to do with the number of awards; neither does it have to do with many academic degrees. Having much money, having children, looking good beautiful and handsome, possessing fleet of cars, be a general manager and chairman of a large company, be a head of an organization or appointed as a political leader are not criteria that you a winner.

Winners do not need to prove their mettle. They don’t feel superior to other people. Rather, winners truly care for others. Winners think not only of themselves; they live in such a way as to help make the journey of life a little easier for others.

According to Whitley, author ‘The Psychology of Winning, losers are unaware of what is going on around them. Losers are unaware of what others need and they are unaware of their connection to all of life in general.

There is need for you to see yourself as a winner, think like a winner, develop a winning attitude. See yourself winning in everything you do. This does not mean you will always be in first place; it simply means that you will be the best you can be and that you will help others to be the best they can be. Winners attract people to themselves. If you have qualities of a winner you will be like magnet; people will like to associate and come near you. Winners are successful people. You are a winner when you make other people to be happy; successful and live a fulfilled life.

Winners possess good qualities which you must imbibe in order to become winner in life. Winners make things happen.

It is those who make things happen that win in life. Do not just be a news readers, be a news maker.

Winners perspire. Winners always con-

tinue to do what they have started doing without getting tired. They refuse to give up. Even when they fail, winners never give up. Winners possess strong minds.

They never quit until they have succeeded.

If you desire to become a winner, get prepared to take calculated risks. Taking risks is something many people hate to do; yet taking risks is the endeavour that brings the greatest reward in life.

Becoming a winner requires hard work.

Hard work does not kill, it only removes hard life. The alternative to hard work is hard life. Do not stay idle in life. There are jobs for everyone to do. Only the lazy people will complain of no job.

No one is created a loser. God created you a winner in life but it will take a willing heart and a working hands to win.

You must have a strong will to becoming a winner. Where there is a will, there is a way. You can never succeed in making a person a winner against his will. What do you want to accomplish in life? Let your will be strong about it, let your resolution be firm and sooner or latter, you will become a winner.

To become a winner, be discontented with everything that is common in yourself. Compel yourself to improve your mind and your natural abilities. Once you discover your natural gifts and talents, develop the gifts and make sure the talent stands out until people will admire and desire to pay the price for it.

Everybody wants simple things. That is why only few are winners because they are not willing to do what others wouldn’t do. If you are willing to be uncomfortable and do things you are afraid to do; you will develop your potentials and add value to your life. Most successful people are winners because they decided to get out of their comfort zone in order to embrace God’s will for their lives. For the Eaglet to soar, the Eagle has to remove the eyeries and every comfort around the Eaglet by creating a hard condition. You must identify the fear holding you back from reaching your next level of success

‘There is need for you to see yourself as a winner, think like a winner, develop a winning attitude. See yourself winning in everything you do.

You are a winner when you make other people to be happy; successful and live a fulfilled life’ in life.

We are not created to be failures. You are only a failure when you stop trying. It may interest you to know that successful people have failed before. Their only secret however, is persistence which is doing the right at the required frequency till you hit the target. Don’t give up trying, because you are destined to succeed no matter what. You too can be a winner if you so much desire it and work towards becoming a winner. Till next week, bye for now.

SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012

ASPIRE

Snaparazzi Solemnization of holy matrimony between Feyisope Ibidunni Aina and Afeez Oluwadamilola Atoyegbe at Ten Degrees Event Place,Oregun,Ikeja,Lagos recently Photos BIODUN ADEYEWA

Mr.and Mrs.Aina Ayodele,bride’s parents

Mr.and Mrs.Afeez Oluwadamilola Atoyegbe,newly wed

Mr.and Mrs.Kayode Biney

L-R:Mrs.Moronukeji Atoyegbe,Mrs.Oloruntoyin Atoyebge,and Alhaji Kunle Atoyebge, groom’s parents

L-R:Mrs.Bimbo Davies,Mr.Akintunde Faderin and his wife,Olufunke

A Guest and Mrs.Funsho Oshunkeye (r)

Brig.General and Mrs.Ransome-Kuti Enitan

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SATURDAY SUN

ASPIRE

October 6, 2012

Focus

Reinstated, unrepentant Prof.Tella,sacked Ogun bond antagonist,returns to varsity 20 months after

…Says:‘I’ll do it again’

By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO,Abeokuta A leopard, they say, cannot change its spots – it seems the same goes for Professor Sheriffdeen Adewale Tella, former Vice Chancellor of Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

In June 2010, the university teacher wrote a letter to the Ogun State House of Assembly, arguing that the decision of the state government to access the capital market for a N100 billion bond did not make sound economic sense.

Shocked by the action of the professor, the administration then led by Otunba Gbenga Daniel described the teacher’s position as “a motor park economic proposition.”

The government waved its heavy hand, and Tella was sacked from the state-owned Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), where he was on leave of absence to serve as Vice Chancellor of Crescent University. Tella’s sack from OOU was preceded by his removal from office as Vice Chancellor of Crescent University by its proprietor, Prince Bola Ajibola, who begged the state government for forgiveness.

In the letter dated May 30, 2010 and addressed to then Governor Gbenga Daniel, Ajibola, who regretted the effrontery of the Vice Chancellor, said: “The content is so terribly shocking that I am not only disturbed, but equally depressed that such a letter emanated form the Vice Chancellor of a university that I am connected with.

“Apart from the doubtful and questionable content of the letter, it equally, by innuendo, portrays me in a seriously bad light as a dubious traitor against someone that I consider not only as my friend, but also as my son.

“I do not know, neither am I aware of the real or ulterior motive behind the letter. But I want to say in all honesty and in the name of Almighty God, that I am not connected directly or indirectly with the writing of such a letter.”

The former judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague further stated: “I am not in the habit of destroying singly or collectively, what I have built and if I knew such a letter was coming, I would have stopped it at all costs at my disposal. Such a letter portrayed the entire entity of the university in such a terribly bad light with unsolicited intrusion into political and economic arena of the state which is a diversion unconnected with the purely academic concern of the university.”

Ajibola assured that he was already weighing options aimed at effecting damage control, saying: “I hereby put forward our unreserved apology to you and your government, that we keep praising for good governance over the past seven years. Let me hereby once again re-affirm what I have said over the years that your performance in government is excellent.”

With the condemnation from high quarters, many thought Tella would develop cold feet, eat his words and seek ways of returning to the classroom. But the teacher remained adamant,

choosing instead to bear the cross of his conviction.

Days rolled into 21 grueling months, but Tella remained unrepentant. Then something happened. Through a letter dated September 25, 2012, the professor was reinstated by the management of OOU. Signed by Mrs. Lara Osusanya, the acting registrar of the university, the letter directed the professor of Economics and former dean, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences of OOU, to resume immediately.

The letter read: “Council at its 171st meeting held on Thursday 13th September, 2012, considered the recommendations of the ad hoc committee on guidelines for the selection of principal officers and issue of disengaged staff.”

It explained: “Having noted that the decision to terminate your appointment on 27th December, 2010 was unfairly decided, it directed that the letter terminating your appointment be withdrawn and that your appointment be reinstated into the university with effect from 13th September, 2012.”

Reacting to the development, Tella, who was honoured at a send-off party by the Department of Economics of Babcock University, where he took up lecturing job after he was sacked by OOU’s management, described his recall as the handiwork of God. Said he: “To God be the glory, I received the reinstatement letter with joy and gratitude to God who made things happen even when a mortal had thought all was lost. I must not deceive you, there have been travails, because there were people who tried to work against my recall when it became evident that I would be recalled by the university’s authorities.

“I thank God that He made it possible for me to be recalled, because it is a vindication that truth can’t be subdued. What I did was the truth, it was to save the situation of the state and not personal or meant to ridicule anyone or group or even the state government.”

‘Irrespective of what my advice generated and the travails that I went through, let me tell you that I have no regret, because evil thrives where those who are supposed to speak out refused to do so for one reason or the other’

Tella, who said he suffered for saying what he considered the truth of the situation then, maintained that he had no regret for his action.

His words: “As a mortal, one must go through difficult periods in life. What happened to me at the Crescent University and the OOU was a predetermined thing from Almighty Allah, because nothing happens to human beings in life without the knowledge of God. “For me as a person, I regarded my leaving the Crescent as well as sack from the OOU and my eventual recall as one of the travails of life which a mortal must undergo in life. “(There is) nobody in life that does not have his or her cross. Those periods could be regarded as my own cross and I bore it in good faith and commitment to God who saw me through the turbulent period.”

But were Tella to find himself in a similar situation in future, would his action be different? “I have no regret for my action or advice to the government. If I found myself in such a situation again, I would not mind doing what I did, just as I am ready to suffer for it all over again,” he pledged.

He added: “Irrespective of what my advice generated and the travails that I went through, let me tell you that I have no regret, because evil thrives where those who are supposed to speak out refused to do so for one reason or the other, because without travail in life, nobody learns any lesson.”

Asked whether it would not have been wiser to refrain from commenting on the bond issue, Tella’s countenance suddenly changed.

He defended himself: “It was not political, what I did was purely academic. In academics, you dabble into what you know; you tell people what it should be, whether people accept it or not is not important.

“When we do research and the researcher finds out the result of the research is against what he had in mind, he can’t but interpret the research based on the report that we have. For me as a person, an academic must be bold to say it as it is no matter what will happen to him since it can be proved.

“I have no regret for my action on the bond debacle that led to my removal from the Crescent and the OOU, where I will return tomorrow (last Wednesday). I exercised my right not only as a Nigerian, but it was the right thing any academic must do to save the society.”

On the lessons he learnt during his travails, Tella said: “I learnt a lot of lessons among which is that a man or a woman must be himself no matter the situation he or she finds himself or herself. I have learnt that one must be consistent, one must be truthful and stand by whatever he

believes in no matter whose ox is gored, because I have noticed hardly does anything happen without being appreciated or condemned.”

According to him, since his position on the bond controversy, he had being more appreciated by people he never thought would reckon with him.

“That’s how God works. I have headed a Muslim university like the Crescent, but I never thought I could even find myself in a Christian school like the Babcock University (BU), where I received succour after my unceremonious sack from the OOU. “If that one (my removal from Crescent University as a VC and sack from OOU as a senior lecturer) did not happen, this one (lecturing at Babcock University) would not have happened.

I believe God has being doing this to tell me that I am on the right path.

“After my little contribution to the academic and manpower development of the tertiary institution, I was even appreciated with a certificate of excellence. I thank the management for providing me a shed when the roof of life was leaking; my fond memory in this university will forever be with me.”

At a send-off party for him by the Department of Economics, Banking and Finance of BU, which coincided with the appreciation of staff and students of the university, Tella recalled how he got to the university, expressing satisfaction with the curriculum of the institution.

He said: “I remain indebted to the Vice Chancellor of this great university, who though had never met me before, read my story in the newspapers and invited me through a colleague.

When we met, I told him I had other options, but he persuaded me to be here, and I must tell you, within the short period I was here, I can tell you that this university will go higher and higher.”

Professor Sam Alalade, the Head of Department of Economics, Banking and Finance of BU, described Tella as a humble person the university would miss greatly.

Said he: “Within the short period that he stayed here, we enjoyed his academic contributions to the university. I am impressed with him and the university will miss him greatly. He is a committed lecturer who will never allow anything to hinder him. Professor Tella is one person I like to emulate in my academic career. I wish he would not leave this department, because he is someone that we really need in this environment.”

For his part, Dr. Dele Olaore, the chief of staff to the Vice Chancellor of Babcock University, commended the department for appreciating their own, noting that the initiative could spur people to do more.

SATURDAY SUN October 6, 2012

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EVERY WOMAN

I’m gray and proud T

here is one thing most presidents have in common at the end of their first terms: more gray hairs. The graying of the Commander-in-Chief is symbolic of the stress associated with being top dog in the world’s most powerful nation. However, research shows that psychological stress does not, in fact, impact the colour of one’s locks.

For both presidents and the rest of us, gray hair is simply a part of the normal aging process, and the rate you go silver is genetically predetermined. Going gray is not associated with earlier mortality, and premature graying is not, generally speaking, a sign of a illness or ill-health in younger adults. There are, however, some specific health conditions, such as vitiligo (an autoimmune disorder that causes uneven pigmentation) associated with gray or white hair, but for most of us, going gray is just a fact of life.

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slow down and eventually stop producing colour all together in what’s called apoptosis, or genetically predetermined demise.

Scientists have yet to identify the exact mechanism by which melanocyte cell death occurs.

Tips to make hair colour last A study of more than 4,000 women and men from 20 countries determined that about 75% of people between the ages of 45 and 65 have some gray hair. In general, people of European descent gray earliest followed by Asians and Africans. It’s interesting to note that a lucky 1 in 10 has no gray hair by retirement age. Beginning at age 30, your chances of having gray hair go up 10-20% per decade.

It may feel like you sprout more grays in the wake of a stressful event, but that’s probably because middle age is basically a series of anxiety-ridden events. Between working, raising kids, and caring for older parents, the Gray Hair’s in Fashion, but What About “sandwich” years of 45-65 can be stressful, especially for women. They are also when we at Work?

Hair colour comes from the pigment naturally start to look older. melanin, which has two hues, blackish brown In 2011, L’Oreal announced it was in the and reddish yellow—the amount and mix of early stages of developing a pill that would each determines your individual shade. Hair without any melanin is pure white. The pig- prevent melanin reduction, but at this point, ment is produced in cells called melanocytes, there is still no silver bullet to keep away the located at the base of the hair follicle. The grays. melanocytes inject pigment into the hair. At – Courtesy, Yahoo.com some point in everyone’s lifetime, these cells

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SATURDAY SUN October 6, 2012

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EVERY WOMAN

RADIANT LIFE with

Evang. FEMI OLAOLUWA

08056158736, 08022556887 radiantlife40@yahoo.com

w.w.w. radiantencounterfemi.blogspot.com

Supernatural God: Abounding testimonies

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od is good. It takes His supernatural power to make barren woman like Sarah to conceive when she was past age (Hebrew 11:11, Psalm 113:9). It also takes only Samson Grace the same divine power to give happy married life to a spinster or bachelor who has waited endlessly for a spouse.

May I share with you some testimonies from our various conferences across the nation: After the last conference, a lady from Bayelsa State sent an SMS on August 29, 2012 that read: ‘Good day, sir, I was in your Waiting Mother/Father in Balyesa, God used you to pray and encouraged me with the word of God. God has used you to bless me: I did a pregnancy test today and it was positive.

One of the participants of our last February Uyo, Akwa Ibom State conference also shares this: ‘ I was about getting married when I attended your conference in Uyo. But despite protest from a friend, I did not only pray for God to perfect my marital issue, I also placed my hand on my stomach during prayer for those who were believing God for the fruit of the womb. Miraculously, I did not only get married, but God has also blessed me with a pregnancy.

In Ilesha, Osun State, one of our Christian sisters, who had waited for 21 years for the fruit of womb, had a baby boy in March this year.

We give God the glory for the testimonies because it takes the supernatural power of God to do all these. Beloved, the same power is available to deliver you from hardship, debt, affliction, sickness and other unpleasant experiences. Jesus says, come unto me, all you that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest (Matt 11:28-30).

Lifegate 2012 Convention tagged, ‘Supernatural God’ comes up on Sunday, October 7, 2012 (8 a.m.), Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos. Samson-Grace is the Presiding Bishop of Life Gate International Churches. For prayer and counselling, call 08066890291, 08051138664. Email: psamgrace@yahoo.com.

Monthly prayer bulletin (October, 2012)

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et us thank God and give Him the glory for last month and what He has in store for you and your family this month.

Plead the blood of Jesus over everybody in your family and pray like this: Let there be a repositioning in my life and destiny; give me overwhelming testimonies, help from above is my portion- let this month bring outstanding performance to my destiny this month in Jesus’ name.

I speak to every part of my

body not to accommodate evil against my destiny; let me have a divine contact with the one that will help me in life and let my life attract unimaginable blessings this month.

Frustrate every plan of my enemies Jesus’ name.

I shall do your WILL this month in Jesus’ name Pastor Isaac Ogundele is with Word of Hope Ministry, Mowe, Ogun State.For prayer and counselling call, 08057384944 and 08065591017.E-mail: wordofhopem@yahoo.com

100 Must-watch Christian films watchful and stand firm in The Destroyer faith. It reveals

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he film tells the story of an erstwhile fervent Christian, a leader of various units and departments in a Christian fellowship but he gradually embraces worldliness. A concerned elderly couple tries to help him and the divine intervention is made available for his restoration. But he sadly abuses the grace.

The DESTROYER exposes the watchers to the biblical admonition that warns believers on the need to be

that the greatest enemy of a man is not really outside but compromise one allows that may initially look innocent but at the end will grow up to the person’s destruction. It is written by Pastor Yemi Adepoju (08057925819) and produced Victory Drama Group (also the producers of Sworn Enemy and Double for Shame).

Call or SMS Evang Femi Olaoluwa (08056158736) for Radiant PrayerOutreach Supports,Christian films,Drama Tracts and information to publish your Christian messages in The Sun

Koshoni

At 70, life has taught me to accept what I cannot change –Margaret Koshoni, wife of former Chief of Naval Staff

By VIVIAN ONYEBUKWA vvnchinyere@yahoo.com

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he is simple but elegant. Merely looking at her, one would think that she is in her early 30s, but Mrs. Margaret Koshoni will be 70 in a couple of days. She is married to the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Patrick Koshoni CFR (rtd) who also once served as Health Minister, Aviation Minister and Transport Minister. In this interview, Mrs. Koshoni went down memory lane on her early life, life at 70 and what makes her marriage tick.

Let us a bit into your background I was Aderoju Akintoye before I got married to Koshoni.

I’m from the hinterland of Lagos, Isale Eko. My parents are from Igantungoro of Lagos. We were of royal descent. I married my husband in November 1966 in UK but we have been into relationship from when we were in secondary school, actually from form 2. People referred to us as Magi/Pat, that is, Margaret and Patrick. We had a small bulletin that was Magi/Pat in school. Before we got married, he was in India for Naval training and I was in England, but he came down to London for us to get married. We have four sons. They are doing very well and we have been blessed with many grandchildren. Our children surprised me with five grand daughters. I had none of my own, but I am very happy that God is good enough to fill my home with girls, (5 girls and 3 boys). I am very grateful. On October 8, I shall be 70 years old. I am eternally grateful to God to have attained this age in spite of all the upheavals and tribulations in one’s life. Seventy is the time that God allows us on this earth. He says three scores and 10. I thank God that I am going to be 70 but I know that the Almighty is going to bless me with more years and good health. I desire same for my husband and my entire family.

What is life like at 70?

At 70, life should be very pleasurable. We are pretending that it is still pleasurable, but it isn’t, because in those days, 70-year-old women were like rarely old people. They sit in their homes and their children and family run around to give them wherewithal. But 70 of these days, we are still on our feet, running around trying to make ends meet, because in these days you cannot depend on your children to do anything for you because they have their own problems too. If parents don’t help their children these days, it is very difficult for the children to move forward. Some fathers have foresight. They started institutions which they handed over to their children. These children do not know how very lucky they are that everything had been packaged and delivered to them. But some others, they still have to find their feet and this is where good parents come in.

Parenting is never finished, you look after yours until the end of your time. Now we have to help our children, help our parents and help our grand children. In spite of all these adverse conditions, 70 is still a beautiful age.

What is the secret of your successful marriage?

When occasion arises, you have to ask God to give you the courage to accept the things you cannot change. There are so many things in a marriage that you were not looking forward to and you didn’t know would happen. When they happen, if you are not strong or have God with you, the marriage collapses, splitters and you go your separate ways. For me, I made up my mind even when my marriage was young that I shall never allow my children to have a stepfathers. And, they will never know stepmothers. That means I have to stay in my marriage through thick and thin.

I begged God to make this possible, and I am glad that it is possible. I tolerate the things that I cannot change. I realized that people are different. When you are boyfriend and girlfriend, it is so platonic and not real. When you get into

SATURDAY SUN

EW the marriage, you get into the reality of the situation. And you know that this man who has been a boyfriend, as a husband, he is a different person.

You cannot change him, he cannot change you.

So, you decide to meet each other half way. And that has been my principle. I try to look after number one. Number one in this case is my children, husband and my home. After that, the external family comes in. Husband and wife do fight. I remember always and everyday that God says don’t let anger settle in your mind and you go to bed with it. No matter how many times we fight, I find it in me to go to my husband and say, “I am not quarrelling with you, I have nothing against what has happened, I forgive you”. Even if I am on the right side, I still find it in me to apologise every night before I go to bed because I can’t sleep with anger in my mind.

What are the life challenges you have faced in all these years, and how were you able to surmount them?

There have been a lot of challenges especially in my life. Thank God that I am outspoken. I don’t try to hide my pains. I look for help wherever possible. I talk to my friends about my problems. I have divergent opinions of what I should do and what I should not do. I listen to this section, I listen to other section, but I always make up my mind on what I want to do. I put it before God and whatever is in my mind to do, that is what I do. Men must stray, they must betray their wives, but if you are strong enough and you know that no situation is permanent, you can sail through.

Any regret in life?

If I have to come back to this world, I will come as a man, because men seem to have the best of two worlds. The women are the ones who get pregnant and go through the pains, go into the kitchen and do the cooking, do the job around the house, while the man goes to work, goes to the club on his way to have a drink, come back home to eat, shout a little at what is not done properly and go to bed. By the time he is in bed, the second stage of the woman’s job is starting. So, when I come again, I hope to come as a man, and a very wealthy man.

that has failed the parents, students and the general populace.

What do you do to give back to the society?

I do a lot to give back to the society but I don’t advertise what I do. I have what is called a soup kitchen in my meagre kitchen. I cook every Friday for the destitute persons. I feed beggars up to Amukoko. I go around wherever I see a conglomerate of beggars, that is my next destination.

I help to rehabilitate the area boys, whatever you want to be, I help them half way. Most of them are not serious but I still do my bit. I support a lot of charity. I send a lot of children to school. A family in Abuja has five children. I have been looking after them for the past 13 years.

Fortunately, these are very good children. One is now in the university. The others are very intelligent. They always come first. I house them, school them and I found work for the parents.

This is part of what I do. Again, I support charities in the UK, and in Cyprus where we have a home.

What is the secret of your beauty at 70?

The secret of my beauty if there is any left, and my stature, is dependent on my background. In our days, you not only go to school to learn, you also go to school to learn social graces, etiquette and acceptable behaviour. They teach you in school to work your head first, your head high, your chest in, your back out, everything. We walk to music. This is inculcated into my system. And I still remember, if you don’t walk properly in school (heels first), they can even dismiss you from school for that by our Lady of Apostle, when it was in the hands of Catholic Sisters. They watch you, they see how you walk. If you are not responsible, they call your parents and you leave the school. So, you have to do what the Rev. Sisters ask you to do. As for my stature, I think it is hereditary because my father died at about 92 years but he still maintained his slimness. I think that is what I inherited from my family.

What do you do to enhance your elegance and beauty?

I think it is just from God because I don’t do anything to enhance it. I hardly make up. It is just recently that I started to use cream and everything. For me, I dress like a boy as long as it is neat and clean. What I can’t do without is deodorant. All the others I can manage without them.

Looking at the level of immorality in the society these days, would you say that mothers or parents have failed?

The system has failed. The system has failed parents, children and everybody. What I want you Are you a designer freak? to know is that the children we refer to as prodiNo, I am not a designer freak, but when I was gal sons, so to say, and the women we refer to as getting to 60 and 65, I just thought it is best now prostitutes, don’t like to be where they find themto have qualitative things around. I buy what I selves now. Nobody was born to be an armed like, designer or not. I like to be classic. I’m not a robber. Nobody was born to go into prostitution. follower of fashion. I want to be acceptable and I’m not canvassing for them. When you are my dress, decent. Fashion means nothing to me. I pushed to the wall, you can’t break the wall and enjoy looking at people who are fashionable, but I hide in it; you have to bounce back. These chil‘m not fashionable because fashion has a sort of dren are bouncing back. Nigeria has a lot of limit and you have to keep abreast of the new money. Our well-to-do people should drop whatones. I like classic, it would always be there. ever they are doing now, take charge of the destiThere are some trousers from Giorgio Armani tute and the desolate persons and spread a little bit that is 15 years old. I still have them and I still around. They don’t want to live in high rise build- use them and they are ok. ings. They don’t want to drive Mercedes Benz.

All they want is to have at least two meals a day, have a job to return their confidence and selfrespect, at the end of the month, earn something.

In our Nigeria of today, if the government gives N1 million to everyone in this country, government will not feel it. And the recipients will find good use to it. All our so-called wealthy people should try to do mass housing project and give habitation to these people. You can’t wait for government to do everything. Do massive employment; it can be done. We have loads of waste land, nobody is planting. If we have enough food and people have eaten and they are full, I bet you, they will not go to steal. They might now want to know how to do this food to either export or to sell in the market to put little money. Don’t think that people who are armed robbers are born to be armed robbers. They are graduates who find themselves at crossroads.

They are ashamed at what they are doing. But remember they have to keep the body and soul together. I think everything has to come from our government and our well-to-do people. There are loads and loads of wealthy people here, but instead of helping the desolate, we flaunt our riches, give presents to those who already have, do large parties and give food to people who still have food in their homes. And these unemployed graduates who are now okada riders are watching. They are seething with anger like everybody else if you find yourself in that position. So, it is not even parents who have failed. It is the system Koshoni

October 6, 2012

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EVERY WOMAN

familytonic with Osondu Anyalechi oanyaalechi@yahoo.co.uk

Pastor Adeboye: My true twin brother

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s I stood up at Murtala International Airport, Lagos, to check in, I embraced my beautiful wife, fine children and beloved friends. There was no doubt that my annual vacation had really started. My wife’s rationalization was that if I could not rest in Nigeria, all things being equal, I would be compelled to do so elsewhere. Kenya was her choice and Chuma, our dear Christian brother, was residing there. For some inexplicable reasons, I did not buy that.

Spruced in English suit, my hand luggage and Bible on both hands, I joined other travellers on the queue. To the U.S. To Kenneth Hagin’s Camp Meeting.

To meet Kenneth Hagin, the great faith teacher. To spend a ‘lang’ week with God before travelling to Corpus Christi. To listen to Cape Copeland, Oral Roberts, John Osteen, Fred Price, etc. Yes to Tulsa, the City of faith teachers.

That was in June, 1982.

What attracted my attention most on arrival in Tulsa was that a Nigerian was being honoured. His name was everywhere, dwarfing any other personality. It was the 10th Camp Meeting and it was also his 10th attendance. Scarcely did any other person have that record, at least, not in black Africa. That was our Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God. As the 40,000 participants were celebrating him, Nigeria was being celebrated. It makes me happy that the only person that helped the Lord Jesus Christ in carrying His cross was Simon of Cyrene, an African. God will never forget Africa for good and so none of the attendees in that Camp Meeting would forget Nigeria. Although much was known about Adeboye in the U.S, it was not so in his native country.

In 1975, however, I was fellowshipping in the Christian Union, University of Lagos. Someone who was aware of my love for ‘hot’ messages told me one Sunday that I missed one that day, given by a lecturer. I knew it must be Dr. Onofeghara but the person said that he was not the person. ‘Then it must be Bro. Kumuyi,’ I suggested but he said it was not. It was after some years that I guessed it was Pastor Enoch Adeboye. As he was celebrated in Tulsa, so was UNILAG celebrated, a university that has produced many God’s Generals.

Think about it – Prof. Francis Onofeghara, Dr. William Kumuyi, Dr. Enoch Adeboye, Dr. D. K. Olukoya, et cetera, all in the sciences!

During the Ministers’ Conference some years ago, Pastor Adeboye said something that impressed me deeply and revealed much about his personality.

‘If I transfer a Pastor to the North as a revenge for some ills he did to me and he is killed, God will require his blood from me,’ he said. Do people not use transfers for retribution purposes? I was ministering in a Church convention in Makurdi in 1995 when a pastor, in one of the frontlines Pentecostal Churches, testified how he was a victim. ‘To punish me,’ he said, ‘I would be sent to open a branch once the number of my flock reached 100’. Pastor Adebayo knows what many great Ministers of God do not know or care to know.

My Church leadership told me that my 70th birthday cake would be cut on March 5, this year. Pastor Ovia, the former number two man in Deeper Life, was the Guest Minister. Unknown to me, it was far beyond cake-cutting. It was a full blown birthday celebration. A lavish lunch was fixed. That was certainly a great surprise to me. I am grateful to the GO, DGO and the entire ministry. My joy rose to crescendo when I heard that a similar celebration was taking place in the Redemption Camp. Like mine, it was shelved from March 2 to 5. It was a birthday celebration too and also of a 70th celebration! The celebrant was Pastor Enoch Adeboye. We were born the same year, the same month, the same day and I suspect, the same hour! Beni!

That gladdened my heart. Who would not? It was different from the story Chief D.O. Opoko of the blessed memory told us at Uzuakoli in 1965. A certain poor man, he said, was buried the day a certain rich man was being buried.

As would be expected, there was much wailing for the rich man. In the land of ‘See me no more’ was the poor man jubilating. ‘There are mourning me,’ he said, ‘after all, there is no way of making a distinction whether someone is weeping for me or for the rich man’. I never felt so. After all, it was in the U.S. that I was told about celebrating my 70th birthday and I turned it down for personal reasons.

The unanswered question has remained why God allowed me to be born the same day this great man of God was born. Here is a man that ministers to millions of people while I do, only to hundreds. Perhaps much is still expected from me in God’s ministry. Perhaps, I need to strike harder while the iron is hot. Perhaps, I need to rise up and start ministering to thousands of people and from there to millions. Perhaps I need to key in to his prayer life. Perhaps I need to learn to be humble like him. Perhaps, putting on Adeboye-like smile, I need to be saying to my congregation, Let somebody shout Hallelujah.

‘For Pastor Anyalechi to be born the same day,’ said Pastor Dimgba Igwe during the celebration, ’with such a great colossus like Pastor Adebayo, could not be by mere coincidence’. And it was not. And it should not. Being both Nsukka lions is not enough. Being both born-again is not enough. Both of us having a similar background, from the classroom to the pulpit, is also not enough. Attending Kenneth Hagin’s Camp Meeting is not enough. What is enough is for me to love Jesus like Pastor Enoch Adeboye.

For further comment, please contact Osondu Anyalechi on 0802 3002-471; anyalechiosondu@yahoo.com

52

SATURDAY SUN

October 6, 2012

Kiddies World With Rachael Agunta, rachaelchiegeonu@yahoo.com, 08021055176

When did Nigeria gain independence?

is old.

What is your Rufiat daddy’s name?

Kazeem His name is Mr. Kazeem.

What is your How old are mummy’s name? you?

Her name is I am six years Mrs. Kazeem. old.

What does What class ? in u ur daddy do? yo yo are He is a trader I am in ng CD. lli se e Primary Two. nam What about Where do you of the propriyour mummy? live? etress of your a. sh Ije at e She is a nurse. liv ?

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Is she your ple.

Do you like grandma?

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What is the It is because she

N

igeria is a country colonized and ruled by the British.

In 1960, she gained independence and began to rule herself. Kiddies World went to Florida Nursery and Primary School, Aguluejika, Lagos and asked children the above question. We came back with these views: teacher? e can Yes, because sh l. el w ry teach ve ddy’s How old ar old.

What is your dae?

I am six years nam His name is Mr. Anyaoha.

What is your mummy’s name?

Her name is Mrs. Anyaoha.

What does your daddy do?

He goes to or w k.

Where does he work?

He did not tell me where.

What about What y? m um ? your m class are you in Two. in the school. ks or w e Sh ic I am in Bas eria live?

When did Nig ce?

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I am from Im ur class Do you like yo

yaoha Chukwuka eAyonu?

Raliat Fahn

u?

How old are yo old.

I am six years e you in?

What class ary Two. I am in primar live?

Where do youolekun.

I live at Adam you come from?

Which state doos State.

I am from Lag daddy’s name?

What is your ebi.

His name is K mummy’s name?

What is your ura.

Her name is N ur daddy do?

What does yo He works. ur mummy?

What about yo r, cream and earShe sells powde rings. ur school?

Do you like yo is beautiful. it e us ca r?

Yes, be ur class teache Do you like yo e is fine.

Yes, because sheria gain indeWhen did Nig pendence? ence.

1952, independ

•NEXT WEEK’S

e Yes, because sh e. m to nd ki so is Chiamaka What is your Ohaegbu daddy’s name?

His name is How old are nny.

Su you?

What is your I am six years e? mummy’s nam old. is e m na Her What class are Josephine. you in?

What does your I am in daddy do? me.

Primary Two. u He does not flog yo Where do ur yo t ou ab What live? jo. mummy?

I live at Adeboyeyou come the time.

She flogs me allme of your Which state do na e th is What from?

State. class teacher? rs. Elisho.

I am from Delta school?

Her name is M Do you like your don’t Do you like her?

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What is fasting?

Short Story

Birthday Palava

By UJU ASOMUGHA (10 years-old)

O

nce upon a time, there was a girl called Ashley and her best friend, Bella. One day, Ashley forgot Bella’s birthday and Bella was so angry with her that she didn’t even talk to her, for the whole day. When Ashley went to see her, she saw her crying and asked why she was crying. Bella didn’t answer, instead, she kept crying. Ashley ran to Bella’s mum and asked her why Bella was crying and her mother said, it’s her birthday and no one remembered to say happy birthday. Oh! I forgot. I have to rush to the store to buy her something. Please, tell her. Ok said Bella’s mum. So, Ashley ran to the store. Bella’s mum came to her and said, your friend told me something to tell you. Well, I don’t want to hear if it’s from her. Bella’s mum begged her but she refused so she left her and went back to the kitchen. When Ashley arrived with Bella’s gift, she asked Bella’s mum if she told her she was

going to get a birthday gift for her and she said yes. Then, Ashley ran to Bella and said ‘happy birthday, Bella dear girl’. Bella ran to Ashley and hugged her. ‘Why did you forget my birthday?’

Bella asked. Today was a very busy day and I forgot everything, she said.

So, Ashley and Bella became friends again, the best of friends in the whole neighbourhood that were loved by everyone.

Chidiebere Paschal Onyebukwa

celebrated his sixth birthday recently.

Congratulations from Kiddies World.

Uju

Send your comments, short stories and poems to the above e-mail address

GUS final 12 emerge Sunday

Ibinabo Fiberissima emerges first AGN female president OCTOBER 6, 2012

53

ENTERTAINER EDITED BY TOSIN AJIRIRE O8056008696

Cossy, my supposed Ghanaian lover & I –Cynthia Agholor

54

OCTOBER 6, 2012

ENTERTAINER

By NKECHI CHIMA-ONYELE nk4caleb@yahoo.com

L

ooking at Cynthia Isioma Agholor, one thing you cannot deny her is that she’s beautiful.

Some other people say she’s also sexy.

Whichever one you choose, the truth is that people could hardly pass this budding actress without looking back to behold her beauty, charm and physical built.

Agholor, a popular personality in the Nigerian film industry, started her acting career as a young star featuring in kiddies programmes, like Kiddies Vision 101 and Tales by Moonlight, in the 1990s. since them, she has featured in many movies, including the controversial Glamour Girls.

In this interview, this talented actress talked about her life, as a movie producer, movies she co-produced, her mind blowing television series, her life as an actress and why she produced My Sister, My Child and her experience as an only child.

She also cleared the air on the rumour that she’s dating a top Ghanaian producer. On this she said: “Honestly, I don’t know if anybody in Ghana bears such name. The only Elvis I know in the movie industry bears the surname Chuks and he is my platonic friend. He is a Nigerian and not a Ghanaian. When it was reported in soft tell magazine that I am in love with the said producer and altarbound, I wondered why people could write such evil lies about me. They said he has been spoiling me with cash and gift. They also said I am paying him to enable him feature me in his movie. I have never dated a Ghanaian in my life. The only related truth in that story is that my name is Cynthia Agholor and I actually travelled to Ghana to do a job.”

How long have you been in the industry?

I started as a young star with NTA programme, Kiddies Vision 101 and Tales by Moon Light, but I got into Nollywood in 1996, where I featured in Glamour Girls directed by Chico Ejiro, though I was still a teenager.

After that movie, I featured in Silence Night also directed by Chico Ejiro, where I played the character, Agnes. I acted alongside with Ann Arinze, Segun Arinze and Fred Amata among others.

Which movie would you say brought you to limelight?

It is entitled The Year 2000, which was produced by Theodora Anyaji, which was shot in 1997. The movie brought me to limelight because it was after that movie that people were recognising me everywhere I go. I remembered vividly the day I was so embarrassed in the market, where people were moping at me, with so much excitement. In fact, it was so embarrassing and I felt like covering my face. I have featured in other flicks, but that movie established me in the industry. After my experience at the market, I became cautious about where I go and what I do in public, since I have become a public figure.

You were one of the hottest actresses in the 90s, but you disappeared, as it were. What happened?

I left the movie industry in 2000 when I gained admission to study Marketing at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State. I was getting frame and jobs to feature in movies, but I needed education, for greatness. So I had to go to school. Well, I was modeling while in school because it was not tedious and it didn’t take much of my time. I did photo modeling to sustain myself. I came back to the movie industry in 2005 to establish myself again. By them, everything had changed and I appreciate Nollywood for their great improvement till date.

As a model, which pageant did you do and what are you working on

presently?

I have featured at the Nigerian Fashion Shows, as a model. I was once Miss Campus of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko. I was first runner up in Miss Lagos. Currently, I am training models on fashion show and beauty pageant. I also have my own beauty pageant, tagged the little queen of Lagos. I have done the maiden edition and am working toward the 2nd edition.

Why did you choose the children aspect of beauty pageant, since it is believed that the adult ones are profitable?

Actually, my motive is to establish these children in talent, not just education, so that they would have a substitute profession to fall back on in future, as well as help them in

building their career. The rate of child abuse is worrisome.

Everyday you see children who are supposed to be in school hawking to assist their parents to make ends meet.

Though it is true that the economy is bad and the poor is finding it difficult to survive, it is wrong for those little ones to be exposed to dangers at a very tender age.

How did you raise fund for the project?

I received financial support from good-hearted philanthropists, who are interested in such project, and because they love my ideal, they gave me quality support. My company is still promoting the little girl, who won the last edition. She is talented in acting, writing and she is also a dancer. In fact, she is doing well and she is enjoying stardom. She is a source of inspiration to many young children.

How did you go into movie production after?

As I said earlier, I left acting, at a point, for school. At that time, I was embracing stardom in the industry. When I returned, I didn’t want to start begging for role. Instead I decided to set a standard for myself, for them to look for me. Rather than present myself cheap, before directors and producers in the industry, I went into producing.

Producing my first flick, My Sister, My Child, actually announced my returned the way I planned it. It has really helped me to get roles from other producers and directors.

How did you raise fund for the production of your first movie since you just left school?

While in school, I was saving from the earning in the modeling jobs I was doing. I appreciate God because He was making the job available, and it was never a barrier to my education. However, I got assistance from friends, who helped me to realise my dream as a producer. I am very grateful to them. When the movie was released into the market, it was indeed, a success because it won nominations and an award. I have also co-produced with Borris Communication, in the flick entitled Sincerely Yours. Then I started featuring in others movies, which I can’t give count of their names. Recently, I did a television series entitled Tear for Tomorrow, which has 65 episodes. I co-produced it with Paul Julius. It is a very big television series, with over 500 casts, which took us three months to shoot.

What were the challenges you faced in producing Tear for Tomorrow?

It was quiet challenging because of the people involved and you have to balance the connectivity to have a perfect production.

What inspired you to co-produce a television series?

I realised that most movies we produced don’t gain much recognition; rather after sometime they die. All the effort you put into such flicks die, because people are no longer interested in the them.

I thought about making an impact in the movie industry and the idea of television series came to my mind. Till today am still watching television series produced in the 50s and 60s, in America. They don’t die. Despite all the challenges we passed through, the series is ready. Though we invested a huge amount of money in the project, we are not in a hurry to release it. We have a good product. It has enough episodes to blow your mind and keep you glued to your television set.

Since you came back, have you been getting roles?

Every other actress who has left the

OCTOBER 6,, 2012

55

ENTERTAINER industry knows he or she will face such challenges, because the industry would not be the same way you left it. I know that I need time for God to actually know that I am back.

Before I started my production, it was not easy for me to get roles. It’s naturally that when you are coming back you will experience such.

Nollywood is highly competitive. How do you hope to survive as an elite star?

I don’t expect to see the industry the way it was when I left, so I give God the glory. I believe that it only God that establishes anyone in his or her career. I don’t like competition and I am not trying to run a race, because if I was looking at someone’s achievement in the industry, I would have come back since. I am very grateful to God for my talent and as an actress with potentials, I don’t need to be into competition with anybody, because I believe in my ability, which has been speaking for me in the industry.

Could you share your growing up experiences?

It was fun growing up with my parents. My father is dead, but I am still living with my mother and my stepsiblings. I am the only child of my mother, but we live as one family because my late father built love and respect among his wives and children. In fact, my stepsiblings call their mother aunty and address my mother as mummy; that will tell you the extent of love we share in the family. We grew up loving each other; so I find it difficult calling them my father’s children because we have the same blood.

As an only child of your mother, how spoilt are you, because people believe most only children are sometimes spoilt brat?

Though my mother pampered me as an only child, t she didn’t relent in scolding me when it was necessary. Even as an adult whenever I do something wrong, my mother would correct me in whichever way she deem necessary. She didn’t treat me like her only child. I hate to see my mother feel bad, so I try to make her happy with the way I live my life. I have lost my father and she is all I

have now. I pray she lives to see my children. So I am not a spoilt child. Do I look like a spoilt child?

Would you say you are an achiever in the movie industry?

I would proudly say that God has been on my side, because it is not every actress that started with me that have produced a movie. I thank God for giving me such grace and I have also co-produced television series of great repute. The success of an actress is not qualified by her multiply appearances on movie, but what she has been able to give to the industry. I appreciate all the actresses, for their talent and I pray God will lead us to achieve our dreams, no matter the challenges.

It was rumored that you fought naked with Cossy. What happened?

It was so embarrassing, when my name was in the press that I was involved in a fight with Cossy, to the extent that we fought naked. I was so surprised because she is my friend and we don’t have any problem with each other. Why should we fight naked in the street? It not true! My enemies are just disturbing their heads because they can never stop the blessing of God upon my life. It didn’t affect me in anywhere, but I was so concerned about my fans’ reaction on the news. They were calling me and sending messages on twitter, facebook and emails. I felt it was imperative to find out why the reporter wrote such ugly story about me. After calling her, to find out where she got the fake news, she pleaded with me to forgive her. She confessed that she heard it from someone and felt it was true. She did not make effort to confirm it.

Imagine writing s u c h story without thorough

investigation! It’s over now, but I want my fans to know that Isioma Cynthia Agbolor can never fight naked in public because I am not a mad girl. I am from a very humble background.

Have you ever dated anyone in the industry?

I perceive everyone in the industry as a family and I would not want to disgrace myself or do something that will make me look stupid before people. I have not dated anyone in the industry.

Are you in any relationship?

It’s personal and I don’t want to talk about it on pages of the newspaper. In any case, I am in a relationship, but I wouldn’t tell you who’s involved till the wedding proper, which you will definitely hear about.

You just returned from Ghana. What did you go to do there?

I actually travelled to Ghana to shoot a movie, which has the working title, Finding My Soul produced by Fred Joe. You are alleged to have a sizzling romance with a top Ghanaian producer, Elvis Lamptey…

Honestly, I have don’t know if anybody in Ghana bears such name. The only Elvis I know in the movie industry bears the surname Chuks and he is my platonic friend. He is a Nigerian and not a Ghanaian. When it was reported in soft tell magazine that I am in love with the said producer and altar-bound, I wondered why people could write such evil lies about me. They said he has been spoiling me with cash and gift. They also said I am paying him to enable him feature me in his movie. I have never dated a Ghanaian in my life. The only related truth in that story is that my name is Cynthia Agbolor and I actually travelled to Ghana to do a job.

Could you tell us about the movie you featured in Ghana. It’s rumoured that you paid money to be featured in the movie…

Of course! I was paid for the job, even before leaving Nigeria to do the job in Ghana. We bargained and they paid my flight ticket and part payment for the job. So why will I pay a producer to feature me in a movie? If I had such money to throw around, I should have invested it to produce my own movie, rather than give my money to a producer. I am not looking for fame because by the special grace of God, I have made a name in the movie industry, with my talent.

Some people believe that you have loose morals. What would you say to that?

I would have loved everyone to die once so that God will judge us at the same time, if it possible. There are thing I don’t like and I don’t do. For instance, I hate the smell of cigarette; that is why I hardly feature in roles, where I will smoke cigarette. I only drink alcoholic with low percentage, like Irish cream, when I want to drink. I would not say I am a saint, because nobody is, but I am not loose. I am a Christian. That I am an actress doesn’t mean I don’t have the fear of God. In America, it’s difficult to hear someone judging anyone, but here in Nigeria they have taken it as a profitable business. We should learn how to stay away from people’s affair because it is only a jobless person that gossips.

What is your relationship with the producer, Fred Joe? His personal manager introduced me to him, when he was actually looking for an actress to play a certain role. He had worked with me in over three movies, where I played lead characters. So, he believed that I will interpret the character perfectly. I remember that his personal manager worked with me in the movie entitled Belief, where I played a lead character, which was produced by Stone. I have worked with him in Quest for Riches, where I played the major character with Ernest Obi. I also worked with Fred Joe’s personal manager in the third movie entitled Critical Decision, where I played the female lead character.

When Fred Joe was looking for someone to interpret the last role, he called me because of he knew my ability as an actress. So, I don’t know where that evil rumour is coming from.

56

OCTOBER 6,, 2012

ENTERTAINER

GUS final 12 emerge Sunday T he final 12 contestants that will lurk horns in this year’s edition of Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS 9) will be unveiled at a final selection party scheduled to hold tomorrow, at the New Expo Hall of Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

They emerged after a screening session that lasted over a month and whittled the number of contestants from 3000 to 30 outstanding individuals.

The 30 finalists emerged after undergoing tigorius physical and mental exer-

cises at locations in Owerri, Benin, Makurdi and Lagos. However, only 12 will make it to Usaka Forest, Obot Akara Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, where Gulder Ultimate Search 9 will hold.

Among others, the winner walks away with a whopping N9 million, a N500,000 swagger allowance and a brand new SUV worth N10 million. For this year, three past winners will be playing the role of Gatekeepers. They are GUS 4 winner, Dominic Mudabai, GUS 8 winner, Michael Nwachukwu and GUS 5 winner, Christopher Okagbue.

Waje’s NGO to keep Makoko kids in school

S

inger, Aituaje Iruobe, better known as Waje has launched her charity initiative known as Waje’s Safe House.

Among others, Waje’s Safe House will support NGO’s and causes that require

assistance in actualizing their goals and objectives and the first NGO her platform will partner is the Mental and Environmental Development Initiative for C h i l d r e n (MEDIC) in an initiative tagged Project HELP (Help Educate the Less Privileged).

The objective is to help keep the children of Makoko, Lagos, in school by raising funds through ring back tones of her new singles, Oko Mi and I Wish which are currently on rotation.

Ibinabo Fiberissima emerges first AGN female president

M

odel, singer and beauty queen, Ibinabo Fiberessima has written her name into the annals of the motion picture industry in the country. She has emerged as the first Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) female president.

Fiberessima beat Emeka Rollas to clinch the position after a keenly contested election. Last weekend, she was sworn into office by members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria Electoral Commission (AGNEC) at AGN office in Surulere, Lagos.

Commenting, Ibinabo said: “I have always said it that we need to revamp AGN and this is an opportunity. Today change has come to AGN. We need to bring back sanity to the guild; enough of the fighting. We have to come together now and forge ahead. We need to solve the

problems of our veterans, we need to reach out to them. We need to set up a health plan and an insurance plan. There is just so much to be done.

“My team is going to embark on a transformation agenda and I am using this opportunity to extend a hand of cooperation and freindship to all those that lost to join hands with me and my team and move AGN forward.”

In attendance were immediate past presidents of AGN, Segun Arinze and Ejike Asiegbu.

The event was also witnessed by a cross section of Nollywood practitioners including Zeb and Chiko Ejiro, Frank Dallas, Obi Osotule, Abubakar Yakubu, Jibola Dabo, Emma Ogugua, Florence Onuma and Mercy Salami among a host of others.

•Arinze and Feberissima

Kingsley Ariole poised to storm Nollywood

By Daniel Ijioma Okereke

storm, The Real Igbo Man and Church of The Devil to mention a few.

Acting is challenging he admits but new face is about to take on Nollywood and his name is says it’s also a life style rather than a career. Hear him: “One Kingsley Ariole, a verneeds to be fully prepared, satile up- and-coming actor read and master scripts and who is currently making just be one’s self and act waves and is hard working. like you don’t care who’s Ariole has shared screen space watching you. with super star actors but his “Let me also use this dream is to work with actors opportunity to advise other like Ramsey Nouah, Mercy up-and-coming actors to Johnson and Justus Esiri among always be patience, hard others. working and always give He has featured in Palace of their best during auditionNiggers, Black Berry Babes ing,” he said.

Season 2, The Tormentors, The •Ariole

A