SATURDAY 17TH NOVEMBER 2018

Nigeria Faults US Report on Rice Importation Shola Oyeyipo in Abuja The Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu has faulted a report by the United States Department for Agriculture which suggests that the nation

had imported rice to the tune of about three million tonnes, saying it was inconsistent with available facts.

Bagudu, whose state is one of the largest rice producers in Nigeria, told the National Food

responded by saying that their assessment was based on satellite imaging of flooded areas and consideration that we are about to enter electioneering period and that demand for rice by politicians

Security Council presided by President Muhammadu Buhari that he made contact with the US agency to establish the basis for the report, because it was worrisome.

He said, “The US authorities

or for political purposes will increase. Thirdly, that most West African countries depend on Nigeria, and because of the flooding, they concluded on those assumptions that Nigeria will import more.

“Certainly, that is an erroneous report, even in spite of the fact that flooding of upland rice production has been quite much this year. Even Continued on page 6

Appeal Court Upholds Convictions of Dariye, Nyame … Page 8 Saturday 17 November, 2018 Vol 23. No 8613

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Saraki, Lai Mohammed in Supremacy Battle As Kwara Holds By-election Hammed Shittu in Ilorin It will be a test of popularity and acceptance today for President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Information and Culture,

Lai Mohammed and President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki as they battle for control of Kwara politics in the byelection for Irepodun/Isin/ Oke-Ero federal constituency.

The seat became vacant

following the demise of Princess Funke Adedoyin.

President Buhari had charged the All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the state headed by Lai Mohammed to take back

the state from Saraki who defected from the ruling APC to the main opposition party- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Although, Lai Mohammed, being the highest office holder

in APC from Kwara comes from Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area, which is within the federal constituency in contest, Saraki, who is highly influential in the state, would prove that he

remains in control and could command followership even after dumping his former party.

Already, the Independent National Electoral Commission Continued on page 6

Election 2019: Campaign Officially Starts Nationwide Tomorrow

Atiku to launch policy document Monday PDP: Amaechi using public fund for Buhari campaign President: Ohanaeze’s endorsement of Atiku inconsequential

Adedayo Akinwale and Shola Oyeyipo in Abuja Political parties will kick off campaign nationwide tomorrow for all elective positions in line with the time table of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2019 elections.

This is coming on the heels of allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the Director-General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation and the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi had been using government fund to campaign for the President.

The electoral body, relying on the Constitution and the Electoral Act, had since January 9, 2018 released the time table

and schedule of activities for the 2019 elections, and had stuck to the schedule despite immense pressure on it.

The Electoral Act, as amended, states in 99(I) that “For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.”

Thus, according to INEC’s time table, political parties would begin campaign for presidential, national and states assembly elections on November 18.

However, political parties, especially the PDP and the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) had been contravening Continued on page 6

UN Interested in Credible Election FOOD SECURITY ON THEIR MINDS… President Muhammadu Buhari receiving a report from Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State after the National Food Security in Nigeria, Says Envoy… Page 8 Council Meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja…yesterday

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PAGE SIX SARAKI, LAI MOHAMMED IN SUPREMACY BATTLE AS KWARA HOLDS BY-ELECTION (INEC) has has distributed sensitive electoral materials to all the four local government councils where the exercise will take place.

Tension has gripped residents of the state, following alleged arrest of some PDP officials and members in the constituency by men allegedly in police uniform. .

Besides, scores of the PDP members in Ajase-Ipo in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state had been declared missing in the wee hours of yesterday's night ahead of today's by-election.

However, the state police command has deployed 1,500 policemen to maintain law and order during the by-election, which will be a straight fight between Saraki's PDP candidate Mr. Saheed Alatise and Lai Mohammed party's candidate, Mr. Raheem Olatunji.

Both parties have been

throwing barbs at each other resulting in the palpable tension in the state. Besides, there have been accusations and counter-accusations on plots to rig the election.

The PDP camp had accused the APC leader in the state of planning to "import" political thugs from Lagos and Osun states to manipulate the exercise with the state chairman, Hon. Kola Shittu also alleging plots by the federal government to arrest their party leaders so as to make way for the ruling party to muscle through and rob them of victory.

The APC leadership, on the other hand had accused the PDP of planning to use uncollected permanent voters cards to rig the election.

The state chairman of APC, Hon. Bashr Bolarinwa told journalists that the party advised the INEC in the state to check such illegal plot

so as to have a free and fair bye-election.

Tension heightened Thursday over a reported attack on the campaign train of APC’s candidate, Mr. Olatunji by unknown gunmen though no casualty was recorded.

However, the state police command said that it was still “investigating the veracity of the claim raised by the APC candidate for the byeelection.�

The state police Public Relations Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi told journalists in Ilorin yesterday that "the report on the attack was being awaited from the reported area where the incident purportedly happened." He however assured the people of safety within the area of the by-election and the state generally.

Despite the tension, the two leading political parties

campaigned across the federal constituency soliciting the support of the electorates.

Speaking at the campaign rally of the PDP at Omuaran, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government, the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed urged the residents of the four local government councils that make up the federal constituency to come out en masse to vote for the PDP and its candidate, Alhaji Alatise.

He said that the people of the area should allow the good work of the later holder of the seat, Princess Adedoyin to continue.

The governor also urged the people not to be intimidated by the heavy presence of security men in their communities, but should feel free to go out and cast their votes for the PDP. Ahmed said that the PDP would continue to win

election in the state because of the transformation that every section of the state had witnessed between 2003 and now under the administration of Saraki and his own government.

The government in a statement condemned the alleged crackdown on members of the PDP and charged the people to fearlessly guard their votes.

Also at a mega rally of the APC at Omuaran, Alhaji Mohammed urged the people of the area to come out and cast their vote for APC candidate, Mr. Olagunju.

The minister, who condemned the alleged attack on Olatunji by unknown gunmen during his campaign tour of the area, said that the party would work with relevant agencies to ensure free, fair and credible election today, with adequate security before, during and after the

election.

He said the election would begin a new chapter for the party and would be used to show the world that the APC was intact and the preferred party.

Meanwhile, INEC said that a total of 170, 918 ballot papers and other electoral materials were distributed to all the four local government councils where the by-election will take place.

Madami also said that "1,855 electoral officers would be involved in the election. A total of 125, 865 PVCs were collected from the four local governments where the election will take place.�

He however restated that the commission would conduct free, fair and credible by-election.

Ahead of today’s election, the police had banned the activities of vigilante groups in the affected areas.

from two tonnes per hectares to five and six. So, the President is looking into that to see how we can deal with it.�

He also hinted that the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) was about to restructure the Bank of Agriculture such that farmers would be able to buy shares in the bank, adding that “eventually it will become the farmers’ bank. And we hope in the process that it will bring down interest rates reasonably maybe to five per cent or a little higher, so that agriculture will become

attractive and people can raise capital to invest.�

On herdsmen/farmers clashes, the minister said: “We are putting in place a programme now to see if we can aggregate all the wastes from harvest - from maize stock, rice stock, sorghum, Millets, beans, process them, add molasses and feed the cows instead of letting them roam around and getting to the point of conflict with the farmers. “We also announced a decline in foreign exchange

expenditure on food items in the last five years. The items are sugar, milk, Rick, tomato and wheat. In 2013 we spent $1,424,968.1 importing these five items, the figure dropped to $1.280 billion in 2014. These are figures from the CBN as at Monday this week. In 2015 the figure dropped further to $971 million and to $780.792 million and in 2017 the figure is now $628,643 million. The figure for the 2018 will be ready next year. You can see the decline in our importation of food.

salesman of a derelict product, saying, “he should have known that for Nigerians, Atiku Abubakar represents light and a brighter future, whereas President Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) represent a national misfortune.�

we inherited was terrible – no roads, the railway was killed and power. They lacked conscience because anybody with conscience will not do what they did. We will report them to Nigerians. Let anybody lead this country but not the PDP. They were so reckless with the resources of the country. “If you ruin the economy, send your children abroad to get education, won’t they come back? I said it 30 years ago that this is the only country we have. We must stay here and salvage it together.�

The leaders of the delegation, Engineer Emeka Ekwuosa and the National Chairman, United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, promised to mobilise support for Buhari in the South-east, saying that his re-election will be a national consensus.

He reassured him that the Igbos and people of the South-east generally understand the good things he is doing for Nigeria “which has unfortunately been misunderstood�.

Also, President Buhari, who received a delegation of Imams and senior Islamic scholars from the 36 states of the federation at the State House, said he was determined to lay a foundation for free, fair and credible elections in the country, noting that there was a gradual improvement in the quality of elections After a speech by the Islamic scholars, Buhari said measures being put in place by his government had resulted in gradual improvement of elections, as seen in Edo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States from what he described as “dismal and unacceptable levels witnessed in Rivers and Kogi states.�

NIGERIA FAULTS US REPORT ON RICE IMPORTATION though prices have increased in response to flooding, we still have adequate paddy rice in Nigeria.�

The Governor explained that, “The official importation in Nigeria is about 4,000 metric tonnes of rice. Secondly, the biggest exporter of rice, Thailand exported 1.1 million metric tonnes of rice to West Africa between January and October this year, and India exported 4.02 million metric tonnes of rice to West Africa from January to the end of July this year. That is a total

of 1.5 million metric tonnes.

Even if all of it was smuggled into Nigeria, that was the total amount of importation one could attribute to Nigeria.�

Bagudu has said repeatedly that his state was working towards achieving a price of N10,000 per bag of local rice.

Also addressing the Security Council, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Audu Ogbeh, harped on the need to place a ban on NPK 151515 fertiliser on the grounds that it was not useful to crop or

soil in the country He told journalists: “We called for the ban of fertiliser NPK 151515 which has been used in the country for many years but recent research revealed it was not useful for any crop or any soil; soils differ and so does crop.�

According to Ogbeh, “To believe there is one uniform fertiliser you can spread for every crop is a fallacy. And it is because we have done soil test and change the formulations of fertilisers. Some of the yields we are getting now are rising

ELECTION 2019: CAMPAIGN OFFICIALLY STARTS NATIONWIDE TOMORROW the Electoral Act through their respective support groups, who had been sponsoring publications in newspapers, as well as promoting their candidates on campaign billboards.

On the other hand, the electoral umpire which ought to ensure that political parties abide by the Electoral Act had not been bold enough to wield the big stick.

With the campaign officially starting on Sunday, the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar is billed to begin his campaign on Monday in Abuja with the launch of his policy document, which would contain how he intends to direct the affairs of the country if he gets into the saddle of leadership next year.

The presidential candidate is rounding off the composition of his campaign machinery, which would be a mix of the organisations that delivered him at the primary, the party and former aspirants’ structures.

The former vice president, earlier in the week, addressed members of his Campaign Organisation and briefed them on the shape of the emerging structure, telling them that they would be collapsed into a more inclusive electioneering machine that would be used to power him into the presidency.

Also on Wednesday, Atiku held his first meeting with his campaign council, whose members were named a few days after he won the party’s presidential nomination.

Those at the meeting included the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus; Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council and the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; the Governor

of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, zonal coordinator, North-West; Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, zonal coordinator, NorthEast; Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, zonal coordinator, North-Central; Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, zonal coordinator, South-South; and a former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, zonal coordinator for the South-West.

Others included, Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, zonal coordinator, South-east; a former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki, Chairman, Legal Matters; and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom, who is the Chairman, Fund Raising Committee.

The main opposition party is also expected to name its comprehensive campaign council today, according to the spokesperson of Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCO), Mr. Segun Sowunmi.

He said, “As you are aware, his excellency returned a couple of days ago and in a few days, I believe any moment from now, the comprehensive campaign council will be unveiled, which to the best of my knowledge, will be under the leadership of Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

All the other members of those committees will be unveiled in due course. “As for our campaign, I can assure you that we will start immediately the whistle is blown. Our programmes and activities are well documented in a brochure and we will unveil them one after another. “From the way I perceive it, which is not final or authorised or approved, I believe that the first thing that we deserve to

do is to bring to the table an unveiling of a comprehensive policy. And before this unveiling, we would have easily commenced our activities.

Where we will go, when we will go and the areas we will go will be unveiled. “Considering the approach to the presidential campaign, the PDP has decided to sell the party and its candidate to Nigerians by engaging in an issue-based campaign rather than exchange uncivilised words with the ruling party.�

Meanwhile, the PDP yesterday accused Amaechi of using government fund to campaign for President Muhammadu Buhari.

The PDP, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, alleged that with this action, Amaechi had demonstrated the height of corruption both in Buhari’s administration and in the person of his campaign DG. The main opposition party therefore challenged Buhari to demand the immediate resignation of Amaechi to demonstrate his “touted integrity.�

The PDP also advised Amaechi to prepare to “return to Rivers State to face his multiple corruption indictments instead of trying to promote a failed candidate being paraded by his party.�

The PDP statement said, “If Amaechi has not lost touch with reality, how would he be comparing Atiku Abubakar, who is widely celebrated by Nigerians across board, due to his integrity and proven competence in managing resources, to a failed Buhari, who Nigerians know is responsible for the grinding

hardship, hunger, starvation and escalating insecurity in the nation in the last three and half years? “How can Amaechi compare Atiku, a known and tested nationalist, who has become the rallying point for national rejuvenation and reawakening to Buhari, who has sunk the nation deeper into the sea of nepotism, divisiveness, dissentions and agonising despondency? “How can anyone compare Atiku, an epitome of wealth creation and youth empowerment to Buhari whose tenure will only be remembered

by Nigerians for hardship, unemployment, job losses, wealth destruction, economic frustrations and destruction of institutions that engender good governance and freedom? “Is it not an aberration to attempt to compare Atiku, who played key role in a government that paid our nation’s foreign debt, to Buhari, whose administration specialises in accumulating debts, borrowing money to service debts and plunging our generations yet unborn into bondage? “How can Amaechi compare Atiku, a promoter of democracy and fundamental human rights to President Buhari whose administration has stood down all known democratic virtues, and relishes in violation of human rights, disobedience to court orders, disdain for constitutional order and condoning of extra-judicial killing, harassment and illegal detention of citizens as detailed in reports by international bodies?

The PDP said while it was a settled fact that Buhari could not be a match to Atiku, it understood Amaechi’s frustration as a beleaguered

President: Ohanaeze‘s Endorsement of Atiku Inconsequential Also yeaterday, President Buhari said the celebrated endorsement of Atiku by Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Indigbo was inconsequential.

The President, who made the pronouncement when he met select group of South-east leaders at the State House, Abuja, said “well-meaning� leaders from the region had told him to disregard the endorsement as one lacking substance.

According to President Buhari, the split within the Igbo socio-cultural group over its reported endorsement of Atiku did not surprise him, noting that “from that moment, I knew that the resolution would not stand, and alas, there it was.�

Addressing the South-east delegation, Buhari said the APC got it right from the very beginning that the major problems facing the country were mainly security, corruption and the economy.

He assured Nigerians: “We have done so much and given the chance, we will do more.

Given every chance, we will tell Nigerians where we were in 2015 and what we have achieved up to now. “We will not get tired of speaking about the golden opportunity Nigeria lost during 16 years of the PDP. We earned money, which we didn’t use. “The state of infrastructure

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Ă?ĂĄĂ? ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ahamefula Ogbu 08116759810 (Ă?Ă—Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁĚš Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă– ahamefula.ogbu@thisdaylive.com

WORKING FOR HUMANITY...

L-R: Executive Director, Elizabeth R, Mrs. Ibidunni Ighodalo; Assistant Pastor, Trinity House, Pastor Niyi Akenzua; Chairman Board of Trustees, Heritage Adoption Support and Advocacy Group (HASAAG}, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo; Trustee Manager, (HASAAG}, Mrs. Eme Akenzua; Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; and Vice Chairman, Famfa Oil, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija at the 2nd Annual Conference of Heritage Adoption Support and Advocacy Group (HASAAG}, in Lagos...recently

Appeal Court Uphold Convictions of Dariye, Nyame, Reduce Jail Terms

Reduces sentences to 10, 12 years respectively Slams N495m fine on Nyame

Alex Enumah Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, on Friday, reviewed downwards the jail sentences of two former governors, Senator Joshua Dariye of Plateau State and his Taraba counterpart, Reverend Jolly Nyame.

The two former governors were earlier handed down 14 years imprisonment each after an Abuja High Court found them guilty of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds.

The trial judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko, had in her judgment handed down the maximum 14 years imprisonment to the duo after finding them guilty of criminal breach of trust. The court in addition handed them the maximum sentence of two years each for criminal misappropriation of funds.

However, the appellate court while delivering judgments yesterday on the two separate appeals filed by Dariye and Nyame against the order of the High Court, reduced the sentence of Dariye to 10 years while that of Nyame was brought to 12 years. The Court in addition awarded a fine of N495m on Reverend Nyame.

The three- man panel of the Court of Appeal in the judgment, which upheld the decision of the trial court however, held that the trial court erred in applying the maximum punishment on the governors on the grounds that they were first offenders.

The appellate court in Dariye’s appeal, held that the initial 14 years jail term was “excessive and therefore cannot be sustained� because the defendant was found to be a first offender.

According to Justice Stephen

Adah, who delivered the lead judgment, while the issue of sentencing is discretionary, such discretion must be governed by law and must not be fanciful, arbitrary or excessive.

Also Justice Adah held that the trial judge ran contrary to section 416 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, when it sentenced Dariye to two years imprisonment under count 12, without conviction. He consequently quashed the sentence and set it aside.

The court further noted that there was no basis for the conviction of Dariye in count 23, because the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant diverted over N1billion ecological fund meant for Plateau State into buying a house in London.

Therefore, the court held that conviction of Dariye based on count 23 was “wrong and therefore liable

to be quashed.

However, Justice Adah agreed with Justice Banjoko on counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 17, 21 and 22. He consequently reduced the jail terms from 14 to 10 years.

Delivering judgment in Reverend Nyame’s appeal also yesterday, Justice Emmanuel Agim, who read the judgment of the appellate court, said Nyame’s appeal against the verdict of Justice Banjoko failed in its entirety.

However, while the court reduced the jail term from 14 to 12 being that Nyame was a first offender, the Court of Appeal held that taking into consideration section 315 of the Criminal Code Act, the trial court failed to impose a fine as stipulated by law in view of the gravity of the offence leveled against Nyame to serve as deterrence.

Justice Agim berated Nyame for abusing his office as governor by

Buhari: Fighting Corruption Takes Longer When Adhering to Rule of Law Shola Oyeyipo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that he would not relent in the fight against corruption despite that it takes longer time when adhering to the rule of law.

The president stated this, yesterday, when he received members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), led by Reverend (Dr.) Samson Ayokunle at the State House in Abuja.

Buhari said he was bent on fulfilling his electoral promises of securing the country, fighting corruption and resuscitating the economy and reaffirmed that he was on course in his commitment to actualising his vision and objectives

for Nigeria. He said: “It is on record that some cases initiated by the antigraft bodies since 2003 are yet to be concluded. We will, however, not be discouraged. Where monies have been recovered, such monies will not find their way back to the looters, as I have directed EFCC to account for money it has recovered and put them in a dedicated account.�  Responding to CAN’s request for an overhaul of the intelligence gathering system, President Buhari said that the burden of intelligence gathering involved everyone, especially district heads, traditional rulers, opinion leaders and particularly, religious

leaders that are very close to the grassroots.

According to him, bandits who operate in various communities live among the people. He enjoined leaders of thought in various communities to give security agencies information about criminals.

As regards farmers-herdsmen clashes, President Buhari told the CAN leadership that the government was working towards finding a lasting solution to the issue.

He also told the visitors that he had the assurances of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the 2019 elections would be free and fair as he had been a victim of fraudulent

elections and a beneficiary of free and fair election in the past.

The CAN delegation had eulogised the president for his efforts in fighting corruption, his administration’s initiatives to stem the tide of unemployment, the various efforts aimed at revamping the economy, the implementation of the Bank Verification Number and the Treasury Single Account.

They also commended Buhari for the relative improvements in the areas of security and the fight against Boko Haram terrorists, but noted that despite government’s efforts in providing security, Boko Haram terrorists continue to attack some soft targets.

converting public funds into private usage, adding that the former Taraba governor exhibited a “callous criminal mind and the impact of his criminal act was devastating to the entire people of Taraba state�.

Agim noted that “public office corruption� is in the class of crime against humanity, terrorism etc and that the offender must face the full wrath of the law. sHe insisted that the trial court was right to have convicted the former governor, adding that

“security vote is a public fund and its usage must be properly accounted for.�

Consequently, having reduced the custodian sentence from 14 to the 12 years, the appellate court ordered Nyame to pay the total fine of N495 million. The breakdown is: counts 1, 2 and 6, N100 million each; in counts 8, N50 million; counts 10, 12, and 14, N20 million each and counts 16, 18, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32, N10 million each, while count 36 is N5 million.

UN Interested in Credible Polls in Nigeria, Says Envoy Ernest Chinwo Ă“Ă˜ Ă™ĂœĂž Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂž

The United Nations (UN) Special Representative of the Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, has said the UN and the International Community were committed to ensuring that the 2019 general elections in Nigeria were credible.

Speaking after a meeting with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, at the Government House Port Harcourt yesterday, Ibn Chambas added that the international community also craved peaceful polls in the country.

He said: “The United Nations and the International Community are very interested in the 2019 elections. We want to see how the elections can be peaceful “We are working closely with the federal government, with the states and national institutions which are charged with the conduct of elections to ensure a credible process.�

He stated that the purpose of the engagements was to ensure that all stakeholders contribute to the development of a credible

electoral process.  “At the end of the day, we will be able to have credible and peaceful elections, which enables Nigeria to play her role as a leader in West Africa and Africa. “We discussed ways that we can put some confidence building measures to allow politicians, civil society organisations and eminent personalities play a role in minimising conflicts that could occur before, during and after the elections,� he said.

The international diplomat added that they would ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) worked in ways that would enhance confidence of politicians in the process.

He also commended Governor Nyesom Wike for donating modern office complex to United Nations agencies in the state.

Responding, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said elections should not be a do or die affair.

He said the current winnertakes-all attitude should be discouraged in the interest of the nation.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 17, 2018

SUPER SATURDAY Faith Morey Goes Topless to Reignite Interest Ex model, Faith Morey excites her fans with scintillating pictures revealing voluptious portions of her endowments, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

T

here’s something about her many sultry images online that leaves you to the imagination of her as transgender.

Maybe for her incredibly sculptured body, but one can arguably say she’s not, on a closer look though. Coupled even with the fact that she’s a young mother, puts paid to that. This, aside that not a few know her makes her not your regular celebrity star with just a little less than 53,000 followers on Instagram and less than 300 on twitter.

The ex-international model, Faith Morey, gave her fans something to salivate about on Tuesday with a picture revealing a generous portion of her chest. The Ikwerre, Rivers State-born exhibitionists attempted to overdo herself as she had only a fur coat covering parts of her breasts. She tagged the picture posted on Instagram: “Once you get a taste of peace you’ll cut anyone off to keep it.”

Born Faith Chituru Amadi, the mother of one started modeling in 2008 and had previously stated that Naomi Campbell was her role model. She got her breakthrough after participating in Nigeria’s Next Super Model competition in 2009. She got married to Randy Morey in 2010 and they have a son named Ethan. Since leaving the runway, Faith Morey has concentrated on her family and selling swimwear and lingerie online.

She has also made posting pictures in several stages of undress on social media a pastime. This super sexy and family happy lady, Morey, met her husband in the course of her career. “I am grateful for my modeling career because it led me to my husband. You have to love someone to marry them and stay married. The love and bond between couples keep their marriage. My husband is supportive of my career.”

But despite being married, men are after her. To this she had noted that she cannot trade her family for guilty pleasure despite advances from men, which to her is an appreciation of how beautiful she is. “I have a family to consider. I would not want to throw my family away for my guilty pleasures.

Even as a married woman, I still get advances from men. It only reminds me that I am a beautiful, black and intelligent woman. I would check the mirror the day I stop having admirers,” she once declared in an interview.

She’s comfortable posting steaming pictures of herself online though, like ritual, she does. She also went braless occasionally, when it was needed and in some cases, photos of herself and her son, Ethan, travelling the world, visiting friends and just enjoying each other’s company. As a starter, she had to learn to be a lady. “Nobody wanted to give a dress to a tomboy. My toned legs posed a challenge. Nigerians have their version of how a sexy leg should look, and a curved or toned leg wasn’t it. I used to wear trousers to castings so they could pick me for my walk and not my legs. “I came to the US and I realised the sexiest legs were the curved legs. Now, when I walk on the street, women approach me to ask who my trainer is.

Also, as a six-foot model wearing a size 11 shoe, it was difficult to get my size. I used to keep my legs behind my seat, so people would not see my toes sticking out of my shoes. It was quite embarrassing”, that has been her challenge. Being a mother has changed her life in a tremendous way; she wouldn’t imagine a life without her son.

Being a mum taught her patience, unconditional love and how to be open to negotiation. “I love every aspect of motherhood. Being a mother keeps me on my toes. You do not know what it is to be selfless until you have a child.”

On her personality, she’s outlandish. “When people see me, they say I am pretty and perfect, and my close friends say I am a weird average girl.

I could say I am shy when I walk into a room full of people.

“However, I am confident at the same time because I am not afraid to express myself. I am principled, old fashioned and family-oriented. I am a goal getter and very ambiguous.” People mistake style for brand. My style is a reflection of how I feel. Often times, I combine outfits from different designers and when I step out, people scream and ask where I got the outfits from. I like shorts, shirts and a pair of heels. I love shoes and I splurge on them when I shop.”

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 17, 2018

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SUPERSATURDAY

Bolanle Austen-Peters Mirrors Eko in ‘The Bling Lagosians’ With her yet to be released movie, The Bling Lagos, Bolanle Austen-Peters mirrors Lagos society life style, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

“I

t’s a wrap! 23 days, 18 locations, 60 cast and what a crew! Blinglagosians see you next year.

Directed by Bolanle Austen-Peters. Follow @ the BlingLagosians,” Bolanle Austin-Peters wrote.

That caption to a picture of herself with some of the main cast posted online, signified the end shoot of her new movie ‘The Bling Lagos’.

With an air of excitement around her Instagram post, it is edifying to the director’s announcement, having successfully showcased critically acclaimed stage plays such as Saro the Musical, Wakaa the Musical, Fela and most recently, the Kalakuta Queens.

Her directorial debut, “The Bling Lagosians”, tells the story of a powerful Lagos socialite who prepares for her flamboyant birthday party while her husband fights to prevent foreclosure of their family company for billions of unpaid loans. This is a story about the fake lifestyles of many Lagosians. Intrigues upon intrigue are weaved as the plots unfold. But the famed crossover theatre practitioner owes it yet to tell movie buffs if the plot is in any way reflective of her lifestyle or not, being an upper class resident of Lagos.

Now in its post-production stage, as reported, fans who had witnessed the rush as clips and images, flooded social media, asking for the release date. But they will have to wait till sometime in 2019 to fully see the movie. Though from the Instagram page dedicated to behind the scene shots of the movie, one can deduce that, true to its name, “Bling Lagosians” is based on the lives of Lagos’ ostentatious social strata.

From the Instagram page, it was gleaned that the movie looks vibrant, exciting and absolutely glamorous, featuring dancers and an opulent wardrobe. The nearly all lead cast female movie hoists big names from the old and the new actors such as Sharon Ooja, Monalisa Chinda Coker, Jimmy Odukoya, Bisola Aiyola, Bamike Olawunmi (Bambam, BBN 3), Denola Grey, crazy Broda Shaggi, Gbenga Titiloye, Jide Kosoko, Helen Paul, Toyin Abraham, Osas Ighodaro Ajibade, Tana Adelana, Elvina Ibru, Alex Ekuboh and a host of other known names.

With the upcoming movie, which is also from the stable of her eponymous film productions company Bolanle AustenPeters Production (BAP) joins a growing list of powerful women behind movie projects, calling the shots from behind the camera. Austen-Peters had earlier before BAP Productions in 2003 set up the popular Terra Kulture, an art and culture centre.

Much like Terra Kulture, BAP Productions was predicated on the need to fill a void in the Nigerian theatre industry.

Seven years down the line, she found her love for direction, to which she took a course in directing. As she sits in the director’s chair for the first time for the company’s second movie, the Bling Lagosians, her vision for this movie is to create something reflective of her Lagos experience and relatable to others. “It is a movie about life in Lagos, the drama that comes with living in Lagos, especially society life.”

Austen-Peters had earned accolades when she produced her first movie “93 Days.”

Her productions outfit has only existed for some few years, but on the account of its successes, Austen-Peters says she feels like it has been existing for decades. Part of the successes she ascribes to the abundance of talents in the country.

The 2015’s 93 Days feature movie on the deadly Ebola outbreak in Nigeria, which starred America’s Danny Glover amongst a sterling cast of Nollywood top names, was premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, the Chicago Film Festival, the Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival, the Johannesburg Film Festival, the Cologne/ Germany African Film Festival, and nominated for a Rapid Lion Award.

It also received the highest nominations in the 2017 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards - AMVCAs, a total of thirteen nominations, receiving an award for best lighting desiger. 93 Days was also nominated in seven categories for the 2017 Africa Movie Academy Awards – AMAA, which was the highest nominated film in that year’s awards. From the records, it is almost impossible to talk about Nigeria’s vibrant art and entertainment scene today without mention of Bolanle Austen-Peters.

The 49-year-old changed paths from law to an arts entrepreneur whose contribution to the Nigerian theatre industry is immense. She says, “Increasingly you realise that the wealth of Nigeria is in the creative mind and not in the oil that we have.” Being more than just a woman invested in the passion of the creative industry, she has been able to turn it into businesses. Definitely, she’s one who knows her lane, owns her space and comfortable in it.

Despite all her achievements, when asked if she considers herself to be successful, she was quoted to have asked, “Myself?” almost unbelievably. She goes on to say, “I’m on a journey. I’ve been able to add value to a lot of lives; I’ve been able to create fun for myself in the course of this. And I’m grateful to God and I believe that we’ve got a long way to go.”

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COMMENTARY

CURTAILING THE ABUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA Tayo Ogunbiyi urges the stakeholders to get directly involved in curbing the ills of the social media

S

ocial networking sites which started from Orkut, followed by Twitter and Facebook have become the vogue across the world, especially among the youth because it makes communication easy, seamless and extremely interactive. Just a few clicks and you can chat with friends and family, from all across the globe. Facebook is, perhaps, the most popular social networking site as it is one of the two most frequented websites in the entire internet. It usually trades places with Google as the most visited web service, and by the company’s estimates, it now has over 800 million active users, more regular visitors than the entire internet had in 2004. As at June 2012, Facebook had over 955 million active users, more than half of them using it on mobile devices.

Social media, also known as the new media is a platform that thrives on social interaction, using accessible communication techniques. Through the use of web-based mobile technologies, social media turns communication into interactive dialogue. What makes social media thick is that it accelerates conversations in a more interactive way that makes communication more effective and worthwhile. It takes communication beyond the limitations of the traditional media, which most often delivers content but doesn’t permit readers, or as the case may be, viewers or listeners, to participate in the formation or development of the content. Globally, there is an array of social media networks such as YouTube, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, to LinkedIn, Facebook and a host of others.

Being a platform that encourages unrestrained communication among users, social media produces the kind of fun that grasps people’s attention. The opportunity it provides for users to unreservedly share ideas and disseminates information makes it trendy among a variety of people all over the world. Aside the opportunity it offers for unbridled communication, social media creates an unusual prospect for all manner of people to bond by sharing their thoughts online.

Though, such people might live in different parts of the world and might not even have the slightest chance of meeting in life, the bond that the social media stage creates among them is quite astonishing.

Social media offers an opportunity to be seen and be heard without any restriction, which the traditional media does not give. Today, our world has been radically transformed courtesy the social media.

Information dissemination is now faster and easier while genuine business transactions can be promoted through the medium for a vast global market. Undoubtedly, the social media has made our world a more exciting place to be.

But then, the social media has unfortunately become an avenue for users to display and perpetrate acts of boundless social madness.

In the social media, there is little or no regard for opposing views.

Users simply exhibit bigoted stance to contrasting viewpoints from fellow users. This trend is reflected in uncouth words such as ‘stupid’, ‘foolish’, ‘crazy’, ‘insane’, ‘idiot’, ‘empty- head,’ etc., often used on the

THE SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BECOME AN AVENUE FOR USERS TO DISPLAY AND PERPETRATE ACTS OF BOUNDLESS SOCIAL MADNESS

medium to describe people who put up analysis that others disagree with. Curiously, such views are viciously condemned not because those that are opposed to them do so on the basis of superior argument, but just because the proponent of the view is ‘senseless’!

Aside this, the social media sometimes flourishes on falsehood. On many occasions, the genuineness of information posted on the media is suspicious. While conventional media processes and scrutinises news gathering and dissemination and thus exercises control in addition to operating a feedback mechanism which gives room for refutation when practitioners erred, the social media affords faceless people the stage to send conniving and spurious information. Sadly, those that practice this usually get away with it since there is no compelling process or law to insist on confutation.

The result of this, of course, is unlimited madness on the social media space. Someone with no verifiable story, puts it on the social space and before you could say jack the whole space becomes animated, discussing and sometimes freely passing judgments on certain characters based on the ‘strength’ of such an unsubstantiated story. Through this trend, many people have been ‘authoritatively’ confirmed dead on the social media while many have equally been labelled as ‘looters’, ‘thieves’, ‘fraudsters’ etc., when in actual fact, their cases have not yet been investigated not to talk of getting to the court.

At the end of the day, the victims of such misleading information are faced with the task of responding to issues that never existed.

Sadly, some youth have become so addicted to social networking sites that you wonder if they do any other productive thing throughout the day. They spend hours using these sites thereby harming their performance in other fields. Some of them have made a mess of their lives on the account of this uninhibited addiction to social networking sites. There have been instances of a few youth being lured and inducted into terrorism and other such social vices through social media networking.

Thus, as useful as the social media is, its abuse can be menacing.

The use of a tool largely depends on the users. For instance, a doctor operates with a knife while a murderer could also kill with a knife.

For users of the social media, especially the youth, the watchword, therefore, is cautiousness. Meanwhile, parents, NGOs, religious organisations, related government agencies, educational institutions, and all other concerned stakeholders are enjoined to take active interest in taking up advocacy crusades aimed at curbing the excesses of the social media. Though, it is practically impossible to impose barriers on the cyberspace, but with the active participation of the major stakeholders, we could tone down the negative effects of the social media.

Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Lagos

NIGERIAN ARMY UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT The army university in Biu will contribute to the dissemination of knowledge and growth, writes Abdullahi G. Abubakar

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et me from the onset, come clean, by saving the reader from having to guess the raison d’etre of this piece, which is a salute to two visionary individuals from Borno State and proud sons of Biu. They are Lt. Gen. Tukur Y. Buratai an army general per excellence and Dr. Bukar Usman, a near recluse but erudite writer. The duo though coming from different career backgrounds, do share enormous passion and commitment for the development of education and knowledge. Under the watch of the former, a Nigerian Army University was established in Biu while the latter’s works have put Northern Nigeria on the global literary map. Bukar Usman writes in both Hausa and English on diverse subjects such as; History, Literature, Folklore and Educational Development. He also provides incisive commentaries on contemporary issues of political economy, diplomacy and international relations. Dr. Usman’s nearly 500-page book, “A History of Biu� is arguably a masterpiece of a research endeavour.

So are his discourses in, “My Literary Journeyâ€?, “Girl-Child Education in Biu Emirateâ€? and the Hausa folklore. These works of Usman apart from ďŹ lling the yawning gap in sphere of publication in Northern Nigeria, will leverage the current national desire to start early learning with mother tongue(s). In fact and since the times of late Abubakar Imam, Dr. Bala Usman, and the likes, the North has not witnessed such volume of works by an individual on culture, folklore and history as done by Bukar Usman. Kudos to Dr. Usman for giving us hope in reviving reading and writing culture in a nation that most people found it tasking to reply a simple text message! The reading and writing culture nowadays in Nigeria is so poor that, jokes have it that, if you want to hide something highly valuable from the people, place it between the pages of a book and for certain it will be safe for ages as only few will be curious to touch it. Bukar Usman is changing this narrative for the better. He is a real inspiration in building a knowledge-based society.

As for Buratai, his accomplishments as Chief of Army Staff are glaring. Under his command Boko

Haram has been successfully decimated. Hope has been restored across most of the North East region.

He has also checkmated the secessionist IPOB movement by Nnamdi Kanu and his co-travellers.

Furthermore under his watch the army was able to maintain calm across the Niger Delta region. As a team player Buratai built operational cooperation with countries of the Lake Chad basin namely Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin republics with a view to routing Boko Haram from the region.

On the whole therefore, this son of Biu has so far discharged his national assignment creditably under the direction, and enormous support of his Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari. Together, they have been able to save the nation from ultimate disintegration. But then Buratai is not all about guns and bombs. The security challenge in Nigeria is a passing phase in nation-building which will eventually be surmounted. And when the history of the unfortunate would undoubtedly be written, Buratai’s name will be in gold.

But by far his enduring national legacy shall be in the realms of knowledge and educational development. Buratai like most great soldiers knows that sustainable peace and progress can only be achieved through knowledge and enlightenment. He places unprecedented high premium on the training and motivation of officers and men of the army and crowned it with a Nigerian Army University Biu, (NAUB) Borno State. It is thus, this vision that unites him with his fellow compatriot from Biu, Dr. Bukar Usman, one of the prolific writers of our time. The establishment of NAUB in Biu is strategic and humbling to the Nigerian army and the people of Biu respectively. The NAUB with its express goal of promoting “national defense and development activities� would have profound impacts on international, national, regional spheres.

It is on record that NAUB is the first and only Army University in the Lake Chad basin region of Africa comprising Cameroon, Chad, Niger and

the Central Africa Republic. Though the institution would operate under different political, economic and social orientations, its research activities would benefit this group of countries immensely, as they face common security and developmental challenges. Nationally, it is a welcome addition to the stock of comparatively limited universities in Northern Nigeria. A region that is educationally disadvantaged. Of the 164 universities in the nation (NUC, 2018), less than 50 are located in the North which has over 50% of the nation’s population of about 190 million people. By implication the development of manpower (doctors, lawyers, bankers, engineers, etc.) would naturally be asymmetric with far reaching acrimonious consequences for national harmony and stability as sections of the country jostle for limited opportunities in the future. And at present, the UNICEF (2018) indicates that about 11.5 million are out of the school system in Nigeria.

Sixty seven per cent of this number is in the north, the bulk of which is domiciled in the North East.

They are NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training). With no education, skills or know-how, these classes of young men and women end up being jobless, poor and disillusioned: a ready-made recipe for crisis. Under the circumstance any move aimed at increasing the number of educational institutions in the area would have a salutary effect.

On the army’s part, as a national defense outfit, NAUB would serve as “laboratory� of sort in the research and study of insurgency/national security, among others, in Nigeria and beyond. It would also underscore the army’s quest for the transformation of the army into one of the best in the world through technological development and innovations. The NAUB location is ideal for this task, in terms of access and serenity. Within the host North East region of Nigeria, Biu is an equidistant from the extreme ends of the states that constitute its catchment area of the university namely; Toro (Bauchi) to Biu, Nguru (Yobe) to Biu, Gashaka/Bali (Taraba) to Biu, Mubi (Adamawa)

to Biu, Damasak (Borno) to Biu and lastly Gombe.

On the part of the host community, Biu people, the development is humbling for which they will forever be grateful. The community had for long been yearning for a university given the fact that apart from agriculture, the pursuit of education is the next industry in Biu and indeed Borno South. Successive governments in Borno have, arguably appreciated the critical role of education in engendering sustainable human development.

Presumably, most governors of Borno appreciated this fact but failed to act beyond rhetoric. No thanks to the fact that governance in Borno is usually held captive by the state’s power structure and socio-cultural forces. Thus instead of adopting holistic approach to educational development the government focuses attention largely on the state capital Maiduguri, to the exclusion of the northern and southern axis of the state. This is a trend that started even before the rise of Boko Haram insurgency in 2009 or there about. Today, aside Maiduguri, even relatively safe parts of the state have been rendered desolate as capital projects in tertiary institutions, are concentrated in the capital.

While security challenge has been cited as a major factor in the uneven distribution of capital projects, geopolitical sentiment is at its core, especially with regard to the southern part of the state.

There has been this long held view that persons from that region constitute the bulk of the lower and middle manpower cadres of the state civil service. As a consequence, larger chunk of the state resources is spent on wages, salaries and pension.

It is thus felt in certain quarters that extending capital projects to the southern axis of Borno would amount to “undue favour�. Plausible as this argument may seem on face value, it has serious down sides. For instance, meaningful development is never achieved in environments where parts are held-down for others.

Abubakar, former Director National Directorate of Employment, wrote from Kaduna

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INSIGHT

What is the way out?

FCT and the Health Sector

Nigeria and China’s Open market China has a big market of over 1.3 billion people and it is our sincere commitment to open the Chinese market� – President Xi Jinping.

T

he prime worry for most commentaries about China and Nigeria bilateral cooperation is what can be done to breach the gap of the trade imbalance, which is in favour of China. Even as Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Zhou Pingjian said in his recent interview that “China never deliberately pursues trade surplus‌â€? and correctly argued that “trade pattern is more of a natural outcome of the competitiveness of product and consumer’s choice.â€? Many would argue that China as major responsible power should take deliberate measures or steps to grant access to her market, the only means to reduce or even eliminate the trade imbalance between her and Nigeria.

However, it is important to note that the clarion calls have been fully heeded by Beijing. The first China’s International Import Expo that opened 5th - 10th November in her mega commercial city of Shanghai offered a concrete response to access to China’s huge market, which President Xi Jinping made a solemn and “sincere commitment to open’’. For anyone who thinks that the determination to open Chinese market for Import is sham or rhetoric, the Chinese leader assured that “China initiative to expand imports is not a choice of expediency. It is a future-oriented step taken to embrace the world and promote common development.� And in order to meet the trend of exponential trend in domestic consumption, he assured that China “will take more proactive measures to increase people’s income and spending power, foster new growth areas of medium-high-end consumption, continue to unleash the potential of the domestic market and expand the scope for import.�

Leaving no shred of doubt that China means what it says, President Xi Jinping made clear that “we will take further steps to lower tariffs, facilitate customs clearance, reduce institutional costs in import and step up cross-border e-commerce and other new forms and models of business.�

And to underscore what is at stake, in gaining access to the market of 1.3 billion people, whose purchasing power would be upgraded, the Chinese leader projected that “in the next coming 15 years, China’s import of goods and services are expected to exceed 30 trillion and 10 trillion U.S dollars respectively.�

And the first China International Expo which

was attended by 172 countries including Nigeria, more than 3600 companies and more than 400, 000 Chinese and foreign buyers and which will hold annually from henceforth, is a major and significant leap in accessing the Chinese market.

The question of anyone concerned about the trade imbalance between Nigeria and China should ask or would be asking, is how far Nigeria seized the opportunity of the expo to expose Nigerian manufacturers and businesses to the opportunity of China’s huge market? According to the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, the China first International expo “serves as another new and important platform for various products to access the market,� adding that he “believes Nigerian friends will seize the enormous business opportunities in this.� The Chinese envoy further expressed optimism that just as “made in China,� products enjoy wide popularity in Nigeria, we would be delighted to see more “made-in-Nigeria for China� products becoming popular in China as well.�

Charles Onunaiju is director, Centre for China Studies, Utako, Abuja

T

he Ministry of the FCT is the institutional agency charged by the federal government to provide services to the residents of the federal capital in all the sectorial areas of human developments.

The ministry has made tremendous impacts on the residents of Abuja through the provision of qualitative services, regulations and infrastructural needs of the health sectors.

Today Abuja is ranked as one of the fastest developing cities in sub-Saharan Africa because of the tremendous impacts recorded by this administration in the provisions of health services in the FCT. Five FCTA hospitals including Maitama, Bwari, Asokoro, Kubwa and Gwarinpa have been computerised while the Radiology units at Gwarinpa, Wuse, Kubwa, Asokoro and Maitama hospitals have been upgraded with sophisticated equipment to make the hospitals up to date.

The Zuba Cottage Hospital and the Karu General Hospital have commenced health services since their re-openings by the minister of the FCT. The minister has also given approv-

T H E SAT U R DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKU MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: ďŹ rst name.surname@thisdaylive.com

als for speedy recruitments of qualified health personnel for various vacancies so that the hospitals are not starved of manpower. Some renovations were carried out in the hospitals and they are now fully operational.

The FCT health secretariat has always been asked by the minister to always be pro-active in the administration of health and in keeping with this directive the health secretariat has started employing qualified individuals into the health sector through vacancies and areas of needs. The health secretariat has also secured full accreditation of FCT hospitals for residency training in obstetrics and gynaecology for the period of five years, a major leap in the health sector. Computerisations of five FCT hospitals, establishments of 265 HIV sites in the health facilities within the six area councils, upgrading of one of the Abuja central medical stores to the status of state drugs distribution centre to aid the speedy equipment of hospitals with needed drugs.

Others are upgrading of the radiology units in the five general hospitals as well as registration of 72 private health services and closure of 66 facilities due to failure to comply with the regulatory guidelines.

There is therefore the urgent need to keep the pace in the provision of health facilities in the FCT. A situation whereby the residents of the FCT have to travel to other states and abroad for medical tourism leaves a lot to be desired in a country that is as endowed as Nigeria.

Our reputation is always at stake because the FCT mirrors our standards in almost all facets of life in our country.

It is sad that a city that is well endowed as the FCT is ranked very low in the provision of health services and this is a clarion call on the FCT administration to immediately improve the pace of developments in the health sector.

It is however gratifying to acknowledge that the authorities have conceived a proper implementation strategy for the FCT which involves a road map strategy that will make the residents witness in a short time improvements in the administration of the health sector to curb incidences of medical tourism and in the long term, making Abuja a city with one of the best health centres in the world.

Musa Musawa, Abuja

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NEWS

In Brief OwerriTech Boot Camp

The OwerriTechHub has hostedafreedatascienceandartificialintelligence bootcampforyouthsinImoStateanditsenvirons. Accordingtoastatement made available toTHISDAYby Opeyemi Olugbemiro, the hub organised the traininginpartnershipwithUS-basedtalentrecruitmentcompany 115Garage and CovenLabstotrainparticipantsonbeginnermodulesinPythonandRfordata scienceandArtificialintelligence.Olugbemirointhestatementsaidthiswould form part of its efforts to boost tech participation and provide viable digital opportunities for the talent pool in and around Owerri. In the statement, the Chief of Operations at the Hub, Desmond John-Bosco, said training was just oneoftheplannedeffortsbythehubtobuildaskilledcommunityofinnovators andstartupfounders.John-Boscoaddedthattheywouldcontinuetoengage developmentpartnerstosupportyoungentrepreneursinthestate.Heexpressed pleasureontheturnoutfortheeventandaddedthatOwerriTechHubwould announcemoreopportunitiesinthecomingmonths.Â

2 Arrested for Killing Undergraduate

ThepoliceinBayelsahaveapprehendedtwosuspectswhoallegedlymastermindedthekillingofa100-levelMathematicsundergraduateoftheNigerDelta University(NDU)lastweek. Spokesmanofthecommand,AsinimButswatsaid thebreakthroughwasaresultofthepartnershipofthenewPoliceCommissioner, Joseph Mukan, with relevant vigilance groups in the state. “On 16 November, 2018,atabout0500hours,withtheassistanceoftheBayelsaStateVigilante Service,oneJuniorDaumunabo‘m’20years,ofEbisMechanicStreetAmarata, wasarrestedwithalocallymadepistol.  ThesuspectledPolicetoarrest one L-R: Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi; President, state’s Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice George Ayibakepreye Idionyo ‘m’ 30 years who allegedly supplied the locally made Nnamani; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Catholic Bishop of Enugu Doicese, Most Rev. Dr. Callistus Onaga; state’s Chief Judge, pistol. Uponinterrogation,JuniorDaumunaboconfessedtobeamemberof Hon. Justice Priscilla Emehelu and Hon. Justice Centus Nweze of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, during the Mass marking the opening of the the Greenlander cult group, he also confessed that he was a member of the gangthatshotandkilledSeiyefaFred,�thepolicesaid.Meanwhile,theSpecial 2018/2019 Legal Year of Enugu State Judiciary, held at Holy Ghost Cathedral, Ogui, Enugu, yesterday. AdvisertotheGovernorofBayelsaStateonSecurity,Mr.BomaSpero-Jack, saidthatthetwosuspectswereapprehendedbytheBayelsa StateVigilante ServiceonFriday.

NEW LEGAL YEAR...

At Zik Lecture, Mkapa Says Nigeria Not As Corrupt As Projected Saraki seeks commitment to anti-graft war CharlesAjunwa Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ David-ChyddyElekeĂ“Ă˜ ĂĄĂ•Ă‹

Former President of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa has said that Nigeria was not as corrupt as being projected by the Western media and other foreign anti-corruption bodies.

This is as Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki called for a greater commitment to the fight against corruption in the country.

The duo spoke yesterday at the 7th Zik Annual Lecture held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.

Mkapa in his keynote address themed: “Taming the Monster of Corruption in Africa�, however identified corruption as the bane of Nigeria’s development.

While commending the efforts Nigeria had made in fighting corruption, the ex-President of Tanzania maintained

that most Western countries were more corrupt than African countries.

Mkapa, who went down memory lane on how he fought corruption in his country when he was president noted that corruption was caused by greed and inordinate ambition.

He said: “The fight against corruption must start from the federal government because it has all the capacity to do.�

On his part, Saraki, who chaired the lecture, said it was time for all Nigerians to recommit to the efforts aimed at eradicating corruption from Nigeria as envisioned by the nation’s founding fathers, one of whom was the Great Zik of Africa.

The President of the Senate also stated that the late Zik believed and worked for transparency and accountability, “virtues that would help to banish the cankerworm of corruption from the country if they are imbibed

Buhari Approves New Appointments, Confirms Others Olawale Ajimotokan Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

President Muhammadu Buhari has ratified new appointments into key federal agencies while also confirming those earlier appointed.

Among the people whose appointments were confirmed included the Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr. Adebisi Shonubi, Part- time Chairman, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria(AMCON), Muiz Banire (SAN) and Secretary Nigerian Diaspora Commission, Dr. Sule Yakubu Bassi.

A statement signed on Friday

by Olusegun A. Adekunle, Permanent Secretary (General Services Office) Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, added that those on the confirmed list included five Chief Executive Officers and two Executive Directors of federal agencies.

Shonubi, the former Managing Director of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc, was named the CBN Deputy Governor in June

with effect from October 17, 2018 for a period of five years in the first instance.

Banire’s appointment at AMCON took effect from October 17, 2018 for a period of five years in the first instance, while Bassi’s appointment at the Nigerian Diaspora Commission was with effect from October 19, 2018 for an initial period of four years.

The statement also said the president appointed Senator Abba Ali and Mohammed Sagir as members (Non- Legal Practitioners) Federal Judiciary Service Commission for an initial period of five years with effect from October 24, 2018.

Dr. Yomi Kasali was appointed Director/CEO, National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), Ilorin for initial term of four years with effect from October 28, 2018, while Dr Olufemi Ajayi Oladunni was confirmed Director/CEO Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) Ilorin.

and practiced by all Nigerians.�

Saraki said: “Without wishing to pre-empt the subject of today’s lecture

by His Excellency Benjamin Mkapa, we should ask ourselves what Dr. Azikiwe would have made of the political landscape of today, particularly with regard to the problem of corruption.

Let us think upon the example he laid down, the ideals he stood for, and from which he never wavered. “As we listen to this 7th Zik Lecture, let us meditate upon the legacy of Azikiwe, one of the greatest Africans of the 20th Century. As founder of the historic West African Pilot Newspaper, Azikiwe was for freedom of the press. He was for accountability and transparency...He believed in and fought for Nigeria’s unity. “When I think about his legacy, I am indeed humbled; and it is a thing of pride to be chairing this event today.

As we listen to the 7th Zik Lecture delivered by the eminent keynote speaker, let us recommit ourselves to defeating the monster of corruption in our country; and by so doing, set a standard for the whole of Africa. “It is by ridding our system of governance of the cankerworm of corruption that this country can grow to achieve its true destiny as envisioned by the founding fathers, one of whom was the great Zik of Africa,� he stated.

He noted that the Great Zik ofAfrica was not only an astute politician and statesmanbutamanwhothoughtdeeply about his country in particular and the African continent in general. “He thought deeply about the direction Nigeria was going, and he did his very best to steer her on the right path. We need more thinkers in our national life, and it is my expectation that today’s lecture will go some way towards nudging those of us in this audience in that direction.�

Saraki described the Annual Zik Lecture series, held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, as a veritable platform to propagate Zik’s ideals, formulate new ideas and devise solutions to current national challenges.

He said: “It is fitting that this Annual Lecture Series has as its setting an institution of learning in his name. I say this because Zik of Africa was a renowned intellectual, and the power

of his mind connected Nigeria to the entire Black World. “It is fitting, therefore, that we remember the great man of learning in this place of learning. It is fitting that we walk in his footsteps in our quest to formulate ideas and devise solutions to current challenges. It is fitting that erudite lectures are delivered to advance his cause and propagate his ideals. “We often lament these days that our politics is bereft of ideas. The more reason one welcomes and wholeheartedly supports this lecture in memory of a man of ideas whose example inspires us still, and can give rise to new idealists in our national life.�

Speaking in the same vein, the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi, concurred with Mkapa, describing corruption as a hydra-headed monster that “kills professionalism, entrepreneurship and hard work�, thus rendering societies and countries incapable of any meaningful development. “Hard work is behind the development of many countries of the world.

In these countries, where citizens have equal access to opportunities each citizen is challenged to work hard, you see their entrepreneurial spirits being challenged. In such a situation, each professional strives to achieve his full potentialities. But in a corrupt country, the contrary is the case for one can even find a councillor living larger than university professors because they have access to the treasury,� Obi said.

As a panacea to the menace of corruption, Obi said that the Atiku Presidency would build institutions and entrench processes that will naturally check corruption.

Recalling his days as the Governor of Anambra State, Obi said that it was because of his ability to strangle corruption that he was able to pay all contractors, settle arrears of pension of over N35 billion, developed all sectors without borrowing a dime from any financial institution and above all left over 75 billion Naira in the treasury.

The Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha in his speech, said President Muhammadu Buhari, had made remarkable progress in the fight against corruption because he was sincere in the cause.

PDP Accused of Blackmailing Oshiomhole

The member, representing Egor/Ikpoba-Okha constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Ehiozuwa Agbonnayima, has accused the Peoples DemocraticParty(PDP)ofblackmailingNationalChairmanoftheAllProgressivesCongress(APC),ComradeAdamsOshiomhole.Agbonnayimasaidthe purposefortheblackmailwasbecausethePDPknewthattheyhadnohopeof winningtheelectionwithOshiomholeasChairmanoftherulingparty.Agbonnayima,whospokeinachatwithnewsmeninBeninCity,capitalofEdoState, added that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, had no business making any statement against Oshiomhole. He noted that the reason the PDP was makingnoiseandusingpoliticsofcastigationaswellasblackmailingpeople wasbecausetheyhadnothingtoshowcaseasachievements.Agbonnayima saidthePDPhadnothingtotellNigeriansasnextyear’sgeneralelectionswould beaboutachievements.Accordingtohim,“Whentheyweregivenopportunity to serve,theyserved into their pockets.

Reward for Best Igbo Language Students

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano will Saturday present cash awards to three secondary schools students who made the best results in Igbo Language, in the just concluded senior school certificate examination.

Obianowillpresenttheawardstothestudentsunderthecategoryofoverall nationalbeststudentinIgboLanguageandthreebestinthestate,alongsidean Igbointerestgroup,Igboekulie.ThePresidentofIgboekulie,PrinceBenOnuorah, disclosedthistojournalistsinapressbriefingonFriday,sayingthattheaward, whichisanannualeventispackagedtoencourageyoungpeopletotakeinterest inIgboLanguage.Onuorahwhospoketojournalistssaid,“Ourmajorinterestis toencourageyoungpeopletolearnandspeakIgboLanguage.TheUNESCO hadpredictedthattheIgboLanguagewillgoextinctbeforetheyear2050,but weareworkingtoensurethispredictiondoesnotcometopass.Indoingthis, wereachedouttotheWestAfricanExaminationCouncil(WAEC)tosupplyus withdataontheperformanceofsecondaryschoolstudentsintheexamination, and we intend to make this a yearly award, and also rotate it among the five southeasternstateof Nigeria.�

Simba Den Opens New Branch

As part of eort aimed at providing Nigerians with quality inverters, the managementofSimbaDenhasopeneditsagshipstoreonAdmiraltyWay, Lekki Phase1, Lagos. General Manager, Simba Group Mr. Sohan Sharima noted that the Lekki branch was the Sixth branch in Nigeria and the second branch in Lagos. Speaking on the products, he noted that the inverters they were marketing include Luminous, Genus, and Kstar.  Speaking on Luminous, he noted that the inverter was synonymous with happiness. “It provides uninterrupted power supply without air or noise pollution.

When power goes o, Luminous inverter kicks in automatically without the hassle of change over. Inverters can save you money because they do not require diesel and have very low maintenance requirements. He added that Luminous inverter could run security systems, garage doors, electronic gates,, lights, fan ,TV Audios/ Videos Systems, water pumps, refrigerators, ACs, microwaves etc. According to him, we also have great after sales service.Â

Unusual Praise 2018

The 8th edition of Unusual Praise will take place on Friday, November 30, 2018. TheUnusualPraise 2018 is one of the most anticipated Praise Nights of the year, where worshippers will be treated to a night of unforgettable spiritual connection, singing and worshiping with an amazing lineup featuring 12 time Grammy award-winning gospel ministers, CeceWinas,Tim Godfrey,MahaliaBuchanan,ChiomaJesus,BukolaBekes,PanamPercyPaul, Midnight Crew, Frank Edwards, Mercy Chinwo, Preye Odede and a host of other anointed ministers. Unusual Praise has quickly grown to become the biggest of its kind within the Catholic Community in Africa- with explosive and spirit ďŹ lled performances by Megastar Acts such as Sinach, Nicole C Mullen, Don Moen, Olumide Dada, Frank Edwards, Sr. Agatha Ozah, Steve Crownandaplethoraofgloballyrecognisedgospelstarsinpreviousyears.

This year’s edition promises to take things to another level with spirit ďŹ lled acts you cannot aord to miss, quality content and most importantly a refreshing and uplifting experience in the presence of God.Â

THISDAYt SATURDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2018

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Plus

Olumide Soyombo I Close My Eyes to Side Chicks in Order to Build My Business

pg. 20

GLOBAL SOCCER FAIRGROUND AUTO SHOWBIZFLAIR

Enoch Adeboye

How to Attract Favour from God

pg. 29 pg. 36 pg. 38 pg. 45

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PLUS

How to Attract Favour from God Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s message on how to attract favour from God through fellowship with the creator at all times is still generating interest, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 17, 2018

NOVEMBER 17, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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PLUS Fellowship with God is the security of Christians in the days of trouble

I

t’s not every time that Pastor Enoch Adeboye speaks outside of the Holy Ghost congress. In fact, he rarely does except on special occasions. So whenever he speaks outside of his established congress, it is believed to be by the leading of the Holy Spirit Just recently, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Adeboye, spent quality time inspiring Nigerians to be in fellowship with God, in order to get His attention.

Adeboye spoke at the recent 17th Annual Abuja Special Holy Ghost Service, held in Keffi, Nasarawa State with the theme: “Divine Choice”.

According to him, fellowship with God is the security of Christians in the days of trouble, because it makes them more than conquerors. Ministering on the theme, Adeboye said that Divine Choice influences other choices, and it makes believers conquerors. “When men make their choices, errors are bound to occur. But when the choice is from the Almighty God Himself, be it spiritual, political, professional, it is perfect and settled,” he said.

According to him, when there is Divine Choice, the permutations of men become irrelevant. “And the purpose of Divine Choice will manifest and make believers conquerors. Being with God is the peak of relationship and it makes Christians become supernatural.” Adeboye said that to make a Divine Choice, a believer must “not just serve God casually, but delightfully and excitedly, so that it will trigger supernatural favour.

“He will silence every instrument of pain, shame and mockery over your life,” he said.

Adeboye also said that God often chose to accomplish his works through those the world regarded as “foolish, weak, unimpressive, or ordinary,’’ but who would diligently call on God for everything. According to him, God has two main purposes for doing that: “First of all, to accomplish great things through unexceptional people, and to prove that the world’s wisdom is foolishness “And second, God’s people don’t have any reason to boast: They have no power to save themselves and no ability to serve Him apart from His strength and wisdom. God isn’t interested in impressing human talent and natural ability. He is looking for humble people, who are totally dependent upon Him, and willing to make themselves available for whatever He calls them to do.”

According to him, “Our God is all knowing, powerful and self-existing, hence making up His mind on anything does not have human influence or interference, therefore His Choice is always just.”

The G O said that God’s choice was based on the finished work of calvary, which is also His divine provision. To enjoy God’s provisions, the cleric urged Christians to recommit themselves to pleasing God and work out their salvation.

He said: “Having come to the salvation knowledge of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, you need to walk out your salvation daily with fear and trembling, to enable you qualify to dwell and reign with God in His eternal abode-heaven.

“Are you precious to God? Have you brought yourself into a relationship with God so that if you die today,

God will notice that somebody has died? The chosen will be defended tremendously against his enemies.”

Adeboye further noted that there was a relationship between Divine Choice and diligence, just as David was committed to his father, Jesse’s business. “David showed diligence and commitment to his father’s business and he caught the attention of the Almighty. What are you doing in the Kingdom that will catch God’s attention? No wonder the Bible says who is he that says and it comes to pass when the Lord did not command it?”

As simple and as direct as the sermon appears, the import of the message is the need to commune with God at all times to enjoy His divine provisions. Fondly called Daddy GO by his multitude of adherents, Pastor Adeboye is considered one of the most influential pastors in Nigeria and the world.

So, let me say it loud and clear again that God has not told me who my successor is. What God had told me several years ago was that He would tell me who my successor would be at least five years before I would be called home and as at is now, He had not told me anything as regards that, which means He is not ready to call me home in the next five years

As the leader of the church, which was established in 1952, Pastor Adeboye is reputed to have worked very hard to expand the church’s outreach and today the church has several branches across the globe in more than 190 countries with over 14,000 in Nigeria.

The clergyman had stated that his aim was to put a church within five minutes walking distance in developing cities and five minutes driving distance in developed cities.

He recently warned those spreading rumours of who would succeed him, to desist from such act. With biblical allusion, Pastor Adeboye then noted: “Elijah knew before Elisha knew that he would succeed him, Moses also knew that Joshua would succeed him and likewise Eli knew before Samuel and not the other way round and therefore, God will tell me first before any other person about who will become my successor as a general overseer.

“So, those of you who are carrying rumour of who would be my successor or claiming to be the one that God had chosen should desist from such act as God had not shown me anybody yet. Some even said I would hand over to Bishop Oyedepo, some said to Pastor Joe Olaiya because the two are very close to me that they do minister during our major events such as the conventions, Holy Ghost congresses and yet another quarter said one of my sons is the one succeeding me.

“But I would advise you to always check sources of your information before believing such information and also to focus on whatever you are doing rather than spreading rumours.

So, let me say it loud and clear again that God has not told me who my successor is. What God had told me several years ago was that He would tell me who my successor would be at least five years before I would be called home and as at is now, He had not told me anything as regards that, which means He is not ready to call me home in the next five years.”

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 17, 2018

PLUS

Olumide Soyombo I Close My Eyes to Side Chicks in Order to Build My Business Thirty five year-old Olumide Soyombo exudes rare confidence and great personality.

As the brain behind Blue Chip Technologies Limited, a company he co-founded at an incredible age of 24 and now the Founder of Lead Path Nigeria, he is not taking a back seat in the journey to the sky. The Aston Business School graduate is not only a great influencer of this age but also tirelessly clearing the path for future achievers, especially through his Lead Path initiative that mentors start ups in Nigeria and beyond. Single but not searching, the ICT magnate talks to OMOLABAKE FASOGBON about overcoming distractions, especially with opposite sex to fulfil his dreams, his interest in Nigerian youths as well as inspirational journey to the stardom

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ÍšÍżËœ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

PLUS My First Client Mistook Me for a Job Seeker

H

e might look young in age and carriage, but Olumide Soyombo sits and dines with shakers and movers of the society. Perhaps, this was the reason why this reporter waited almost unendingly before he was eventually tracked down on a sunny Tuesday afternoon.

Ask him what matters most to him in life, and Soyombo will be quick to bring his business to the table. Bearing this in mind, he orders his steps intelligently.

Soyombo works very hard to achieve the unimaginable even when friends thought he would ride on the fortune of his wealthy old man to make a living.

He shocked them all when he actualised the Blue Chip Technologies dream with his partner, Kazeem Tewogbade.

Unfortunately, his father shares the philosophy of Warren Buffett, the American business tycoon who does not believe in making or gathering wealth for children. Having this at the back of his mind and supported by his self-reliant nature, Soyombo decided early enough in life to set up a business.

He recounts his journey thus: “After I completed my master’s degree in Birmingham, I came back to Nigeria in 2006 with a mind to build my company and not to work under any firm. Interestingly, a couple of my friends were already praising me that I have my father’s business to manage.

But I decided to start some consultancy projects with some banks in England and Nigeria on data warehousing and business intelligence. It was while doing that project that I met my partner, Kazeem. We became close and decided on working together. That was how the Blue Chip journey started�.

As a fresh graduate, Soyombo possibly might not have saved enough to nurture a business with a very bright vision. Indeed, this constraint almost killed his big vision, but his old man was able to save the situation, with conditions though. “Like I said earlier, my father is a disciplinarian and that actually helped me and my two siblings who are also doing well in business. His idea is to teach us and support us in fishing but not to give us the fish. Having laid down the plans for the business, it got to the finance stage and my colleague and I met my dad and discussed our plans. Having seen the prospect, he gave us our first ever seed fund of N5 million in 2008 but he took 50 per cent of the company on agreement to return the shares once we pay back.

Fortunately for us, we paid him back towards the end of that same year and he gave us back our shares. He was out to teach us a lesson that there was no free lunch anywhere and that means one has to work for whatever one earns.�

Excitedly, the first deal on his platform was a story he would love to share again and again. Comically, he relates it: “So, we got a call that a company was looking for some business intelligence analytics resources.

I and my partner left our office in Onikan for Victoria Island. We had to jump on Okada to meet up with the appointment. When we got there, I was asked to come in while my partner was asked to remain in the reception.

We both became curious. On getting inside, the interviewer started asking me questions usually presented to job seekers and requested for my resume. It took me time to explain to him that I’m not an applicant but was there with my colleague to talk about our company.

Apparently, they were recruiting. In the end, we were able to convince them that we can outsource talent to

Soyombo

When they come, I close my eyes and focus on my business, otherwise, they won’t let me achieve my dreams.� He added: “But on a serious note, I am a very disciplined person, I see dating or relationship as a two way thing, beyond physical attractions, I look at the values that a lady possesses and how it complement mine

them. As at then, we didn’t even have anybody on ground, although we had already interviewed some people to hire but we have not really absorbed them. So, we had to quickly hire the resources and outsource to them. The project actually earned us our first ever cheque of N400,000 and that really gave us a good reference.�

In no time, the firm literary felt the vigour and strength of its energetic handlers, soaring to a global firm with first tier telecommunication companies and top banks on its list of clients.

Asides developing positive attitude to work, the polo game enthusiast also hinted that his line of focus could also have given him an edge being a relatively new space in ICT. “We decided to focus on analytics and data warehousing. This is because we felt and still believe that analytics and data is the new oil that will lead the next industrial revolution. Not too many people have explored these areas.

We wanted to distinguish ourselves as a company, in terms of building intellectual property in a new frontier.

To the glory of God, we have been able to achieve this.�

The highest point of his life, he declared, was when the company won a deal worth more than $4 million, which according to him, was the first time a local company was getting a project of that magnitude in the ICT space. Judging his facial expressions, it was a deal well deserved for a hardworking person he is, as well with his team. On this achievement, he has this to say: “We are worth the feat I must confess. I see it as a reward for extra work. It has become a norm for me not to relax with a major accomplishment.

Like Oliver twist, i thirst for better offer and that is why my brain is always active with ideas and strategies. It may surprise you that we have delivered quality projects that would have been otherwise executed by foreign competitors. We have been able to prove to tier one telcos and banks that local people can deliver world class projects.

Some of our projects are being featured in case studies of different original equipment manufacturers, OEMs. My greatest achievement is the fact that the company is recognised as no 1 data warehouse business intelligence in West Africa.�

It is usually said that behind a successful man, there is a strong woman standing. In the case of this tech guru, since he is yet to tie the nuptial knot,

he says behind his own success is his most appreciated partner Speaking so fondly of him, he said: “I have always said and will always say that co- founding a business is like getting married. You watch out for some qualities in your partner before the eventual agreement. In the case of Kazeem, I give him the credit. We met while I was doing some consultation projects like I said earlier. Aside the fact that he is older, he is disciplined and focused. I’m also very disciplined and focused but we found complimentary skills with each other. He has the technical leadership; in fact, he is seen as the father of data warehouse in our business intelligence. I also have the technical skills but I handle sales and business development. I am more of street, socialite and business development person. We decided on sharing responsibility early enough.�

Looking at the system engineering graduate from afar, one would conclude that he boasts of all the socialite features in terms of appearance, dressing, connections and lifestyle. While one is not wrong after all, he is on the other hand clerical and so, he balances his station.

By the way, being a workaholic does not stop him from rollicking. Life to him is all about working hard and playing hard if one must enjoy it at all.

At every giving opportunity for such, he is either off to Lagos Polo Club or exploring nature by the beach side.

The staunch Manchester United follower speaks about his life after unknotting the tie “My motto has always been ‘work hard and play hard.’ When I want to work, I work like there is no play and when I want to play, I play like there is no work. Once I’m not thinking business, I’m either playing squash or watching football. I am a supporter of Manchester United since I was 12. I love the club because of its winning record. I also love to read books. I set target to read four books in a month. I read autobiographies a lot because I get inspired by people’s stories. I also read books on technology and startups, business and religion books. I travel a lot too. Once I travel, I like to relax by the beach side.�

He is also a member of the Lagos Polo Club amidst other notable Nigerians. Talking about his interest in the club, he says: “I was invited to the club by a child hood friend of over 26 years.

He plays polo and he always invite me to come and see him play. That was

how I picked interest in the club. He tried to force me to play but I refused.�

Why? the reporter asked curiously and he replied: “It’s a pretty expensive and addictive game, I have a lot of other things I’m still pursuing. However, I support teams in terms of sponsorship.

I’m always over joyous when a team I sponsored wins.�

Soyombo, like every other polished guy, is not free from women advances, especially now that he is still single. His response on how he deals with such passes is quite shocking. Laughing out loud, he said: “Well, you are right but if you must believe me, I don’t have that time. In fact, I don’t have money to spend on ladies.� You mean you would have loved to have them but couldn’t because of financial constraints, the reporter asked sarcastically. He replied, “haha�! you this girl, don’t come and implicate me o. I said I’m not looking at their side. When they come, I close my eyes and focus on my business, otherwise, they won’t let me achieve my dreams.� He added: “But on a serious note, I am a very disciplined person, I see dating or relationship as a two way thing, beyond physical attractions, I look at the values that a lady possesses and how it complement mine.� Questioned on why he is yet unmarried, he bellowed, “haha Labake,� screaming the reporter’s name, “please let’s leave that and discuss something else.� After much pestering, he finally revealed: “I’m planning to get married next year by God’s grace.

Can you tell us who the lucky lady is?, “no no no,� he interrupted, “don’t question me further on my bride or marriage. I’ve given you a clue already.

Just be praying for us�.

With a significant number of distinguishable exploits in a highly competitive ICT space where he is currently calling the shots and impacting global economy, the Benin born lad is also bent on changing the narratives of Nigerian youths, economy wise and he is living up to his determination in several ways. One of such is his Leadpath project. “As we move into the fourth revolution around knowledge based economy, ICT becomes the key driver. So, in 2014, we set up Leadpath as a seed fund company in Yaba, to invest in new tech companies, where we bring up young talents with developing and interesting innovations around Fin tech, agriculture technology and education.

So far, we have invested over $1.5 million fund through this initiative. With this, we have been able to take a better number of youths out of the streets.

More so, quiet a number of companies and SMEs have been established.�

The Bluechip Chief envisaged better days for Nigerian youths as he said; “I’ve seen an incredible number of young guys who are doing very interesting things. These guys, although young, are doing better and bolder things than what I did in 10 years. I’ve seen a lot of committed and hardworking youths in our institutions of learning; Covenant University especially.

I’ve seen business minded, young people who are taking advantage of the internet opportunities they have today.

During our own time, we didn’t have the luxury of internet on our phones, other than to visit cyber cafe. This is just to tell you that Nigeria is blessed with talented and hardworking youths.

Government just needs to provide right enabling environment from the regulatory stand points, because you find out that in many of the innovative spaces, innovations go before regulation. There should be an incentive around approval for people who are willing to take such risks.�

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 17, 2018

EVENTS

T

he Church of the Resurrection in 1004 Housing Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos, was agog on Saturday afternoon, 10th November, 2018, with the Naming and Christening Service of Ruth Temitope Olohita, the baby of The Venerable S. Igein Isemede, former Vicar of Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa-Balewa Square (TBS) Lagos, a baby born in August, 2018, in his retirement by his wife, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Omobola Isemede who is in her late fifties. The Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, The Rt. Rev’d. Dr. Humphery Bamisebi Olumakaiye, Ph. D. mandated the Vicar of Anglican Church of Transformation, Abijo, The Rev’d. Canon Kiri Wakama to conduct the service on his behalf. The host Vicar and Archdeacon of Victoria Island Archdeaconry, The Venerable Ifedola Okupevi spared no effort to ensure a most spiritually fulfilling service and the comfort for the large crowd. The Methodist Archbishop of Ibadan Archdiocese, The Most Rev’d. M. Kehinde Stephen, a family friend to the couple, conducted the Naming in a manner that made everyone very relaxed. Here are some of the faces at the event.

Photographs by multiple award winning photographer and Director of Photography: SUNMI SMART-COLE.

L-R: One of the baby’s mothers, Mrs. Efe Etomi, carrying baby Ruth and the proud parents.,Ven. Mrs. Isemede

The retired provost of the Cathedral Church of Christ, The Very Reverend Yinka Omololu congratulates the Isemedes.

L-R: Engr. Festus Oseni, his wife, Anne, and Engr. Stephen Omoniyi Okin.

The Methodist Archbishop of Ibadan, the Most Revd. Kehinde Stephen, left, his wife, Iyabo, and H.R.H. Olu Falomo

L-R: Hon. Akinwunmi Berkley, his wife, Modupe and their son Ayomide

Venerable Olusegun Kuti, left, and Venerable Luyi Akinwande

Mr. Olusegun Ogunkua and his wife, Iyabo.

The Revd. Canon Akpoghene, left, Venerable (Professor) Dayo Ejiwunmi and The Rev. Bayo Adeyemi-Cole.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 17, 2018

EVENTS

Mrs. Itunu Rewane, left and Chief Mrs. Atema Akindele

Mrs. Ajoke Braithwaite, left, Mrs. Abiodun Alex-Duduyemi and Mrs. Lulu Anderson

Mrs. Olushola Adeniregun and her husband, Olufemi

The Isemedes and Mr. Sunmi Smart-Cole

Mrs. Momie Oyibo and her husband, Alabo Chambers Oyibo

Dr. Geoff Ohen, left, his wife, Ogugua, Mr. Soboma Ajumogobia and and his wife, Rita.

Mrs. Chinyelu Ugoji, left, Miss Onyinye Nkwazema and Miss Ijeoma Okonkwo

Ms. Bibian, left, Ms. Ify and his Bernadine Okoro.

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˜ ˞ NOVEMBER 17, 2018

PERSPECTIVE Do They Still Believe Lies That Buhari Hates Christians?

Sharon Faliya Cham

I

n 1999, not long after Obasanjo became President, some people in Odi, Bayelsa State murdered some Mobile Policemen sent there on a peacekeeping mission. The then President Olusegun Obasanjo, a Christian, didn’t waste time in ordering heavily armed soldiers to go there and wipe off that “Christian community� as punishment for the murdered Mobile Policemen!

Some six or seven years later, another “Christian community� called Zaki Biam in Benue State murdered some soldiers sent there on another peacekeeping mission. Well, Obasanjo didn’t also waste time in sending heavily armed soldiers to this Christian community to wipe off the community in vengeance for the gruesome murder of those gallant soldiers!

But what do we have today under Muslim President Muhammadu Buhari? An Army General on a trip from Abuja to Bauchi was ambushed and murdered by a very primitive community also claiming to be a “Christian community� in Jos, Plateau State, after which they dumped his car in a deep water pond, and then buried his corpse in a shallow grave from which they removed it and dumped it in a well after it dawned on them that the shallow grave has been discovered by military Intelligence!

Looking at the history of the Nigerian Army, and, indeed, all armies across the world, do you think the Army was not itching to avenge their murdered General by invading that community, and then wipe off any living thing they could see?

The only thing that made the difference here is the kind of Commander in Chief the Nigerian military currently has in power. A cool headed, rational and compassionate Commander in Chief like Buhari will calculate the factor of innocent people and other collateral damages within the area of the murder, and then order the military or the Army in particular to exercise restraint and allow the natural course of justice to take place!

Ladies and gentlemen, this is why today, under President Buhari, instead of the Dura Du community

Buhari to have been wiped off (by now) by angry soldiers over the gruesome murder of their General, we merely have the terrorists or murderers of the General hiring 120 lawyers to defend them in court!

Yes, 120 lawyers! That should tell you that those primitive murderers are being backed by certain powerful persons and groups who have up till now not condemned the gruesome murder of that General. Not even a word of condemnation or commiseration was heard from ex - senior military officers of those people, and neither have we heard any from their Paramount traditional ruler! Only Governor Simon Lalong and the leadership of COCIN Church were left moving around, visiting families of the murdered General as well as visiting the Defence headquarters and the President to apologise and calm frayed nerves!

Now, if President Buhari were an ethno-religious bigot the way some pastors would want you to believe, the fact that the murdered General was a Muslim would have gingered or propelled him to wink at the Army to invade that community and have it wiped off the way Obasanjo did to Odi and Zaki Biam.

Something tells me that the people of Odi and Zaki Biam are currently envious of the Berom people of Dura Du, where a whole Army General was killed and still got the privilege of having their community intact till date plus the awesome privilege of 120 lawyers to defend the killer squad that murdered the General. But as we all know, both Odi and Zaki Biam communities never had the privilege of hiring 120 lawyers to defend their own killer squads unlike their Berom brethren who both have this privilege and the other privilege of even addressing press conferences to attack and question the Army. This can only happen under a very thoughtful, compassionate and patient President and Commander in Chief!

Yet, this is the same President that some people love to label as a tyrant or dictator, which leaves you wondering whether the words ‘tyrant’ and ‘dictator’ have acquired different meanings Either hate him or love him, one thing has been made manifestly clear in the last few years that President Buhari has shown great love, care and compassion to those who unduly hate him, even to those who spent their worthless hours praying and wishing him dead on behalf of those who see Nigeria as a big cake that should simply be sliced, shared and eaten in Dubai or in Switzerland or in Panama or in any part of the world that didn’t have the misfortune of being ruled and ruined..

Why Buhari Is Getting It Right on Projects Dan Ochonma

W

hen you’re fighting corruption that has got as close as being the face and very definition of your administration as President Muhammadu Buhari has done over the last three and half years, it becomes difficult to escape the sharpened knives of critics on the way and manner in which you handle projects initiation, execution and final completion.

Early enough fasten your belt with the fact that Nigeria is littered with abandoned projects-a roll call of almost every administration in Nigerians’ recent memory.

With a pocket loaded with corruption demystifying bullets, Buhari has been accused by some, of being rather busy commissioning projects of his immediate predecessors rather than the ones he initiated. But the calculation of the man who made history of displacing an incumbent in power-first in Nigeria’s history-, going by analyses provided by close Presidency sources has been double fold.

The recession which seemed to have ambushed the administration as soon as it came into power cautioned it enough on the futility of immediately lunging into several new projects- with the usually attendant huge but largely inflated billions involved in such projects-just as the past administrations before it. The script, largely unwritten as it were, has always been, discard every project once it has the signature of your predecessor.

Buhari, even for all his anti-graft virtues will never do that. There’s always that lingering worry though that he has those game- changing moments, like reviewing the valuation of such projects and cancelling them. Again, not the retired Daura General.

So what is the reaction to the massive corruption with which these projects were awarded?

The anti-corruption stance of the administration and specifically of the Buhari persona- who is sufficiently aware of the ‘corruption and inflated contracts’ that usually trail the award of such contracts by previous governments, drew its steps back in plunging into such cesspool of corrupt and short-changing tactics. And with avowed financial prudency of the administration, the stage was set for ‘behaving the right way in the economic recovery and growth of Nigeria’.

In a straight shoot therefore, the President, as a deliberately thought out policy, has been completing and commissioning projects either started or abandoned by his predecessors as ‘part of agenda to right all the wrongs done by the previous governments before him’.

Yes. The President for instance in July 2016,

inaugurated the Abuja-Kaduna railway for commercial operation-a project conceived and started by the erstwhile administration of President Goodluck Jonathan but completed by the current administration. As Nigeria’s first high speed rail, that will run on speeds greater than 100 km/hr for both cargo and human coaches at an estimated value of $1.04 billion, would it have been better if the President and his administration had left the project to waste? In that case, there will be only one loser: Nigerians.

In the last three years of his administration, President Buhari has executed projects worth over $5 billion.

These projects which are in the areas of infrastructure and human capacity development were done with the support of the Chinese. Speaking in Beijing China recently, the President said Nigeria’s partnership with China through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has resulted in the execution of vital infrastructure projects across the country, valued at over $5 billion.

According to the president, the Chinese support to Nigeria has also impressively addressed significant challenges in the areas of power, transport, agriculture and humanitarian assistance.

Again for President Buhari, what counts more than any other in the execution and funding of projects is the economic recovery and growth of Nigeria-much more than who initiated and who completed what projects.

He had said while dispelling insinuations about the so-called death trap by Chinese government on developing countries, insisting that Nigeria would be able to repay every loan she has taken from China.

These vital infrastructure projects synchronise perfectly with our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. “Some of the debts incurred are self-liquidating.

Our country is able to re-pay loans as and when due in keeping with our policy of fiscal prudence and sound housekeeping,� he had said while dispelling insinuations about the so-called death trap by Chinese government on developing countries, insisting that Nigeria would be able to repay every loan she has taken from China.

President Buhari said that,�Nigeria is leveraging Chinese funding to execute $3.4 billion worth of projects at various stages of completion.

These he said include the upgrading of airport terminals, the Lagos – Kano rail line, the Zungeru hydroelectric power project and fibre cables for our internet infrastructure. “Furthermore, less than three months ago, Nigeria signed an additional $1 billion loan from China for additional rolling stock for the newly

constructed rail lines as well as road rehabilitation and water supply projects,� he said.

This according to him is as an additional Chinese mechanism to build further cooperation in our quest for infrastructural and economic development.

When the leadership of Kano Traders Association led

by Alhaji Ahmed Sani, Chairman of Kanti Kwari Traders Association visited him recently in Daura, Katsina State, President Buhari pledged that his administration would not relent in doing the necessary, to create jobs, expand trade and encourage greater productivity.

One of the best things any administration that is focused can do is to revive projects long abandoned by previous administrations.

President Buhari has among others revived $2.5billion Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline, which was abandoned by the previous administration. Commending the President for this, Alhaji Ahmed Sani, Chairman of Kanti Kwari Traders Association also applauded the Buhari administration for the ongoing works at river ports in Baro, Niger State, Lokoja, Kogi State and Oguta in Imo State which were abandoned for about a decade but would now be completed before May 2019.

Equally of note are some of the actions taken by the President on projects by his administration, suspected to have been in any way smeared by corruption. He has made it clear several times that that he will spare no one in the anti-corruption war. He kept to his words by suspending the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, over allegations of financial impropriety. It is instructive to note that Lawal is one of the closest associate of the president and his suspension was a clear signal that in the anti- corruption war there will be no sacred cows.

On the anti-graft war and transparency in projects, the Buhari administration, set up the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA): PICA to strengthen con trols over government finances through a continuous internal audit process across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), particularly in respect of payroll.

Through the activities of PICA, more than 50,000 erroneous payroll entries have been identified, with payroll savings of N198 billion achieved in 2016.

Also, the Federal Ministry of Finance has set a target to ensure that the Federal Government’s Payroll Platform -- the ‘Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System’ (IPPIS) -- covers 100 percent of MDAs by the end of 2017. Currently 60% of MDAs are enrolled on the IPPIS platform.

Ochonma, a banker and international ďŹ nance expert, wrote in from England.

˜ ˞ NOVEMBER 17, 2018

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PERSPECTIVE

2019: Between Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Doing Fraud Garba Shehu

E

lection campaign begins tomorrow, November 18, ninety days to the vote, and something of great interest to citizens and international observers alike is what kind of contest to expect. There is no gainsaying that this is an immensely important election. Apart from the fact of the stark choice of either going forward or backwards; choice between light and darkness, a large percentage of the country’s traditional and political elite is up in arms against the sitting Buhari administration, which they accuse of disrupting their lifestyle, itself characterised by licentiousness especially when it comes to dealing with the commonwealth.

This opposition, it must be said, has liquidity of the type that government itself does not have. The US Dollar rain by a major opposition party at their convention in Port Harcourt is a dire warning in this direction. This contrasts sharply with the high level of discipline put in place through the Treasury Single Account, TSA being implemented by the Buhari government. It is a matter for great concern that the leading opposition parties have resolved to undertake a campaign clearly aimed at aggravating differences between Nigerians on the basis of especially religion, region and tribe.

Adocument in circulation, from the resolutions of a retreat in a foreign country by one of the parties makes no pretences about their plan to cause tension between various communities. They have dramatically begun actions to destroy the integrity of the election process.

Even before the gates open for the race to begin, this country is already witness to a unique type of campaign based on unverified allegation or distortion propagated in the two chambers of the National Assembly which are strangely led by opposition candidates in a minority party in the coming election. They have lately launched scathing attacks on government concerning payment for fuel subsidy and the emergency feeding programme of the displaced communities in the Northeast.

There are vivid reports of unscrupulous opposition politicians who have finished the lives of our youths by handing guns to them, turning them into rag-tag guerrillas confronting our security agencies in Abuja and states in the north central zone.

For the All Progressives Congress, APC administration at the center, initial moves towards 2019 have been about the effort to publicise the administration’s achievements while at the same time dispelling negative propaganda by the opposition.

While it is clear that the opposition is unprepared for a contest based on policies programmes, and past records of work, they are bent on distracting the attention of voters by appealing to sectional feelings and throwing voters into confusion. Churches and Mosques and other places of worship are being recruited for election propaganda.

For us in the APC, the task before us as we embark on the campaign is to make plain and clear how the country progressed over the last three years and I dare say that there is so much to talk about. We are proud of our achievements. But we must first of all make the voter to illustrate where we are coming from because without doing that, it is hard for many to appreciate the enormous strides the nation has made under the present dispensation.

For instance, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, at a press conference early this week announced that this administration has achieved the remarkable

feat of doubting the available electric power in the county, from less than 4,000 megawatts to now 8,000 mw. This wattage is the available power that is generated and transmitted. Distribution, which is now in private hands, has improved but at 5,000 mw, it still has a lot of catching up to do.

If we had continued with the pace, corruption and ineptitude that characterized the war against Boko Haram by 2015, it would have taken us decades to eliminate the terrorists’ hold on Nigerian territory and have them confined to a little corner in the country, by the banks of the Lake Chad. Agriculture was abandoned in that region and only a few could grow their own food in years.

The Boko Haram had a state within the Nigerian State with a defined territory, a flag, a system of administration complete with taxation and a court system. There was a time that in the northeast, two million people were displaced. Now, the communities are returning as government, with local and international support put back damaged infrastructure.

The Buhari administration has shown the ability to take hard decisions, in the nation’s interest as has been seen in dealing with the economy. This administration is doing something that no government had done since independence in 1960, which is moving the economy in a completely new direction. Government has done so much, especially in agriculture, solid minerals and manufacturing, preparing the country for the greatness that we all desire. It would amount to a major reversal, if not self-immolation for the voters to take steps that return us to the discredited past.

Take another example, the reform of the trade and investment sector by which the administration has been streamlining systems, ensuring transparency and fewer rules. That’s what the ease of doing business is all about, measures that have brought a lot of international compliment to Nigeria and for which there is a Presidential Enabling Business Council. As a result of this work, Nigeria moved 24 places on the World Bank ease of doing business rankings, and earned a place on the list of 10 most improved economies in 2017. Aprospective investor denied visa to come by a corrupt consular office in a Nigerian mission can today hop into a plane and obtain his/her visa on arrival. New businesses which took years upon years to register now have a maximum of a 48-hour waiting period to be certified.

In the words of President Muhammadu Buhari, “Nigeria is taking steps towards creating a more business friendly environment for foreign investors and visiting business people. Our Visa on Arrival policy as one of the components of our ease of doing business in Nigeria policy is working. “Corruption has been identified as an impediment to sound business practices. The fight against corruption, the ongoing exercise to rid the country of the remnants of the insurgency, the continuing importance we attach to transparency in Governance.

These are just some of the major policy initiatives, all of which need to be analysed and reported on to the global audience by the media both at home and internationally.�

For decades, demand for fertilizer had never been sufficiently met until this administration came. The foreign exchange part of it, USD 200 million is eliminated; subsidies that run up to N60 billion annually have been stopped and on top of that, prices per bag have crashed from N14,000, to government approved price of N5,500.

From farmers to pundits and experts in the agric sectors, (SECTOR) no one ever imagined that Nigeria could stop rice imports and achieve near self-sufficiency in three years, but here we are: 90-95 percent of rice imports have ceased.

The President is carrying out difficult reforms for the future growth of the country, such as the implementation of the ease of do-

In Nigeria as in many other democracies, campaign and elections are addictions.

They come with attitudes and responses, those that wanted and those that are unwanted. There are worrying excesses that attend our campaigns, and these are already on display.

These, if not managed using voluntary agreement or a code of conduct on rules of behaviour for the political parties and their supporters, can turn things in the wrong direction ing business, the Treasury Single Account, TSA, the whistleblower process, and hundreds of others, including the massive investment in rail, roads, power and airports. If such reforms had happened in 16 years of the PDP, this country would not have been lowly ranked among nations.

In the middle of the process of changing the country from its unwanted standing to a more desirable one, that’s not the time to change a president.

In Nigeria as in many other democracies, campaign and elections are addictions. They come with attitudes and responses, those that wanted and those that are unwanted. There are worrying excesses that attend our campaigns, and these are already on display. These, if not managed using voluntary agreement or a code of conduct on rules of behaviour for the political parties and their supporters, can turn things in the wrong direction.

When they enter into those agreements voluntarily, parties are more likely to feel bound by commitments into which they have freely entered. For a conducive atmosphere to prevail in making wise and informed choices, parties have a duty to sit around the table to decide. More than all the others, the governing APC has a national call to lead this coalition before the revisionists stampede the unsuspecting citizens into substituting the ease of doing business with the ease of doing fraud. –––Shehu is SSAP Media and Publicity to President Buhari

Akwa Ibom: Economic Evolution Through Industrialisation Lekan Babalola

I

ndustrialisation is the process by which an economy moves from primarily agrarian production to mass-produced, technologically advanced goods and services. This phase is characterised by exponential leaps in productivity, shifts from rural to urban labour, and increased standards of living. By typical measurements, such as income per capita or labor productivity, industrialisation can be considered the most important economic development in human history.

Economic historian Deirdre McCloskey, writing in the Cambridge University Press in 2004, argued that industrialisation was “certainly the most important event in the history of humanity since the domestication of animals and plants, perhaps the most important since the invention of language.�

Not all historians agree with the spark that ignited the Industrial Revolution. Most economists point to the changes in legal and cultural foundations in Great Britain that allowed free trade and gave entrepreneurs, the room and incentives to take risks, innovate, and profit.

Having given a background information of the pivotal role industrialisation plays in any economy, it is pertinent that I bring to fore, the improvements that Governor Emmanuel Udom has brought to Akwa Ibom State.

Before Emmanuel Udom came into office on

May 29 2015, Akwa Ibom was rated as one of the states with the highest income inequality peaking at over 0.54 for the self-employed (predominantly farmers), and 0.44 for the employed-salary paid/ wage earners, (UNDP, 2012). Akwa Ibom was also mentioned as the third state with the highest poverty rate of 27.1% within the south-south zone after Cross River State (31.2%) and Bayelsa state (32.5%), (UNDP, 2012) Eugene (2012) and World Bank (2010). National Bureau of Statistics (201) reported that Akwa Ibom State has the second highest unemployment rate of over 25.8% after Delta state in the south-south zone, but leads other states in the zone in terms of income generating opportunities. Adebayo (2002) and Batchelder (2010) showed that, income volatility exists in some rural and urban areas.

Akwa Ibom State was also classified as a predominantly civil service state with the government being the major engine of growth.

The main economic activities of the people are fishing (for riverine and coastal dwellers), farming (mostly for upland dwellers), trading, artisanship and white-collar services.

The robust public sector employed a significant proportion of the states labour force, and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$11,179m preUdom era.

Thus the task before Emmanuel Udom was beyond words but to design an economic frame-

work that would positively turnaround the realities of the state for growth through a well structured industrialization drive spread across all major sectors of the State’s economy. He made the promise on his inauguration when in his speech he said, “I have plans to transform the economy of our state through industrialisation and sustained public-private sector initiative, thereby opening up opportunities for growth and improved living standards�.

To get by with his commitment, He ensured the provision of the much-needed legal protections against political and regulatory risks through the state House of Assembly for investors and placed premium importance on peace and security; to keep investors’ confidence high in the state as safe for investment.

In discussing industrialisation in Akwa Ibom, there are identifiable projects executed or ongoing towards the much talked about industrial revolution. There are some projects completed and operational, some are ongoing while some were refurbished/resuscitated and now operational.

The Electric Digital Metering Solutions Manufacturing Factory, Syringe Manufacturing Factory (Largest in Africa), and Pencil Factory and Toothpick factory are examples of projects under the industrialisation agenda which have been completed and are operating at optimal capacities.

It is worthy of note that the syringe company has the capacity to produce a billion a year, while the Electric Digital Metering Solutions Manufacturing Factory will ensure electricity companies bill Nigerians accurately. Recently, the Port Harcourt Power Holding Electricity Distribution (PHED) and some others in the Niger Delta region ordered over one million meters from the company.

The Flour Mills and Coconut Refinery, Ibom Deep Seaport, Ibom Industrial Park/ Jetty, Plastic Manufacturing Factory and Fertilizer Blending Factory, and construction of 33 Cassava Microprocessing mills are all ongoing projects in the economic diversification agenda of the Governor.

Lastly, the resuscitation of Peacock Paint Industry and refurbishing of Cassava Processing Factories located at Ikot Okudom, Eket LGA; Nung Udoe, Ibesikpo/Asutan LGA and Ikot Ekang in Abak LGA which was leased to private operators for the production of high quality garri, odorless foofoo and cassava flour are examples of revived factories which were once in a comatose state and made operational. The expected impact of the industrialization embarked upon by Emmanuel Udom is evident in every projected and present economic variables.

Babalola, a public affairs analyst and media consultant, writes from Lagos.

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THISDAYt 4"563%": /07&.#&3 ĊĐ ċĉĊđ

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t NOVEMBER 17, 2018

27

MARKET PLACE with Omolabake Fasogbon... 08155131874

L-R: Sariki of Hausa community, Obalende, Lagos State, Alh Saleh Waziri; Executive Director, Micro Enterprise, Bank of Industry, Mrs. Toyin Adeniji; and Iyaloja of Obalende Market, Halja Jokun Tadelogun, during the inauguration of TraderMoni at Obalende Market, in Lagos... recently

Convener, Thinkation Conference, Mr. Ubong King [middle] flanked by Head, Brand Operations, Alvin Ikpe [left] and Administrator, Ubong King Foundation, Mrs. Freda Raymond-Obi during a press conference by Ubong King Foundation onThinkation, a platform for Education and Entrepreneurship in Lagos on Thursday

SCSP Partners Global Firms on Capacity Building,Others

Firm Expands Operations to Solve Housing Challenge

Operational Risk Management firms, Safety Consultant and Solutions Provider (SCSP), in conjunction with NFPAWA, has sealed an agreement with its foreign partners, Leader Group and Johnson Controls, to boost industry knowledge on fire safety procedure and solutions in a capacity building programme.

The initiative became imperative to address wide gap in skills and knowledge on security risk management as well as poor safety culture in the formal and informal sectors of the economy.

Technical Director of SCSP, and Lead Consultant for NFPAWA, Anthonia Beri, noted that while regulations and code of practice for fire safety exist, a lot of people are not aware or have no indepth knowledge of how to relate them, hence the country continued to wallow in huge human and material avoidable loss, while economy stability remained threatened.

Beri noted that Nigeria’s strategic position in the Economic Community of West Africa States

Shipping firm, FSI Global Limited, has expanded its footprint to the nation’s real estate sector in order to address the challenges in the sector.

This is as the federal government is stepping up efforts to tackle housing deficit in the country, which presently stands at 740,000.

Speaking on the expansion move, Managing Director of the company, Seyi Omirin, pointed out that Nigeria needs to produce one million housing units per annum to bridge housing gap.

He lamented that despite that the sector has emerged lately with more investors exploring the market as well as government’s interventions, home ownership is still very low.

He said the company had concluded to save the situation through its several innovative packages that will be released to the market soon.

He said: “Real Estate is one of the most lucrative businesses in Lagos, Ibadan and virtually everywhere in Nigeria today with the never ending demand for apartment, land and properties for personal and commercial purposes. It is also known to be a lucrative venture in the sense that whatever amount invested today on land or property won’t be the same amount it will be sold out later.

“Unfortunately, quite a number of middle and low income earners are yet to tap into the opportunities availed by the flexibility in the sector owing to a number of challenges. Hence, we are exploring the sector to address some of these challenges while making our offerings so affordable and equally flexible for every class of person to enjoy.”

(ECOWAS), region, required that it protects her resources and investment jealously through effective operational risk management for economic sustainability.

“Operational Risk Management is the key to strategic and sustainable growth for any company, country or institution. With the African Union 2063 Agenda, Nigeria is called upon as champions of industries and nations to ensure capacity development in this core area for sustainability cross border trade and integration,as Africa seeks to operate on one platform.

“This is a daunting task requiring extensive capacity development in managing risk towards the continents growth. There is no sustainable growth without operational risk management.

Our economy is as strong as we manage the components in our risk basket. Operational risk is a major risks that falls under the control of the operator.”

To this end, she stated that there was urgent

need to maintain a very highest standards of fire safety management.

She added that the initiative was conceived out of the company’s commitment for economic growth and as part of its corporate social responsibility goals.

Speaking further on the programme billed for 23rd and 28th of November, 2018, she said: “The programme sought to drive compliance to codes and standards, use of modelling tools and also best engineering practice based on codes.

“This will be happening at the new Capacity Development center recently opened by Lagos Business school.

“The joint capability between NFPAWA and SCSP seeks to drive sustainability through risk mitigation via best risk management practices based on compliance, codes and best practice.

“This is therefore the time to drive niche specific knowledge in life & fire Safety, environmental sustainability as well as security and cyber risk management.”

Winners Emerge in Indomie Fan Club Essay Competition The Indomie Fan Club, IFC, essay writing competition has come to an end with not less than six children emerging winners.

Sponsored by Dufil Prima Foods, maker of Indomie Noodles, the IFC competition is a child engagement initiative to enhance the writing and creative skills of members of the club across 3,000 schools in Nigeria.

The competition required participants to submit beautifully crafted stories of about 300 words, using indomitable cartoon characters as subjects of their writings. This year, the competition began on July 20 and culminated in September, with over 41,000 entries received.

The contest produced three national winners who are: Shepherd Duru of Great Flourish Ville

School; Salako Oluwatimilehin of Galilee Junior School; and Okafor Chiagoziem of Great Flourish Ville School.

Three regional winners also appeared in the competition, they are: George Chukwukaima of Child Prime Onyx School (Lagos regional winner); Ettu Ayanfeoluwa of Cornerstone Model School (Ogun regional winner); and Ezugwu Favour Chiagozie of St Bartholomew School (Abuja regional winner). The competition also produced 50 other consolatory winners, who were rewarded with the company’s range of products.

Speaking at the award presentation in Lagos, Head of Marketing, Indomie, Mr. Manpreet Singh described the winners as “outstanding writers”,

adding that the six winners would be featured in the next edition of the Indomie Comic Books.

Singh said: “Beyond just winning prizes, the IFC Essay Writing Competition is designed with the intention of instilling the habit of writing in students. We have noticed that pupils’ reading and writing habits are being endangered by social media and other social distractions. But Indomie feels that something must be done to salvage the situation, hence, the need to intervene with the initiative.

National Coordinator of IFC, Mrs. Faith Joshua added that the contest was one of the ways through which the brand engaged children, giving them an opportunity to express their creative ingenuity.

Chivita Ice Tea Spots New Look Lions Club Restates Commitment Chi Ice Tea, one of the fastest growing brands from Chi Limited, is now Chivita Ice Tea. As part of the rebrand, seen as a strategic move to integrate with the Masterbrand Chivita, the renamed product now comes in a new pack that with the promise of the same refreshing goodness.

With an exciting logo that reflects its new positioning under the Chivita Masterbrand, the product’s innovative back of pack prominently features its health benefits, product quality and consumer benefits.

The pack’s design also has a top to bottom label that is bolder, visually disruptive and combines perfectly with the colour pallet.

Chivita Ice Tea’s new pack design also reveals images of fruits, premium natural tea leaves and tea flow which depict the rare exciting blend of natural tea extracts with real fruits to provide consumers a delightful and natural great-tasting beverage for rejuvenation.

It is expected that the new product pack

would energise the brand in the marketplace and endear the juice to a growing number of consumers who have embraced a tea drinking culture because of its antioxidant properties and vitamins nutrients.

Marketing Director of Chi Limited, Mr. Probal Bhattacharya commented that the overall objectives of developing a fresh visual identity for the juice brand is essential not only to key the product into the company’s master brand, but also to reinforce its attribute of rejuvenation through more appealing visuals that evoke its refreshingly natural goodness.

“Chivita Ice Tea’s new pack design aims to communicate the brand’s core value of rejuvenation and natural refreshment with essential imageries that are attractive and differentiating.

We are confident that the new visual identity will appeal to loyal consumers and strike a chord with a new consumer base desirous of its tasty natural refreshment,” he added.

to Youth Empowerment The Ikeja Metro Lions Club, under the international Association of Lions Clubs, District 404B2, has said that it was clearing the coast to raise the financial status of the youths through its empowerment programme.

It made this known during the formal presentation of the club’s new President, Omolade Lewis-Ibe, in Lagos recently.

Present at the ceremony, the District Governor, Lions Club 404B2, Lion Dupe Dada, emphasised the concern of the club to change lives in all ramifications, paying special attention to economic development of the youths.

She said, our theme for the year, ‘We Serve our Community’ demands that all hands must be on deck to lift our community out of poverty . Beyond

that,we are obliged to cater for the society and that is why our programme affect all manners of people.

“As part of our programmes for the lion year are :pediatric cancer screening, feeding the hungry, environmental projects, eye projects and youths empowerment .”

President of Ikeja Metro Lions Club, Omolade Lewis-Ibe, also emphasised the club’s readiness to support government at each levels to create a better life for the people.

She promised that Ikeja Metro Club at the local level would do it best to execute its programmes in line with the overall objective of the club.

She urged all to contribute their quota in all ways, towards the realisation of the club’s mission.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 17, 2018

FAMILY HEALTH with

W h at Cau ses I tching in You r G enitals?

Common causes in males and females

Most often, genital pruritus in women occurs due to the following reasons: Diseases of the female organs: irritation of the mucous membranes of the uterus or secretions from the vagina that has fallen urine during urination, etc.

Other diseases: endocrine disorders (diabetes, hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism), diseases of the blood. Impact on the psyche: stress, fear and some other negative emotions.

External influences: hypothermia, or mechanical irritation of chemicals, contact with allergens, pollution of the genital area, the infection.

In young women the cause of the itch is most often candidiasis (thrush) and vulvovaginal. In women, after 40 years the cause of itching genitals must first seek internal organs and various chronic diseases in the pathology (eg, diabetes mellitus). For the period of menopause is most typical genital itching due to a sharp deficit of female sex hormones.

The nature of itching in women can be quite varied: periodic, constant, painful, intense, weak, etc. In general, characterised by a strengthening in the night time. Often accompanied by itching genital trauma to the mucosa (scratches, cracks), and the subsequent inflammation, which may itself exacerbate itch.

Itching of the genitals in men

In men, genital itching occurs very rarely and may occur in the following cases: allergy to contraceptive drugs and means of intimate hygiene, which are used by the partner during sexual intimacy; prostatitis; candidiasis of the glans penis (thrush); vesicles; poor hygiene; other reasons.

Itching genitals: a possible solution to the problem In case of itching of genitals should consult the following specialists: The gynecologist (for women), a urologist or andrologist (for men) Dermatologist; If necessary, it will be to visit the profiles of other specialists (infectious disease specialist, endocrinologist, psychiatrist, etc.) for the final diagnosis of the cause of the itch is necessary.

Treatment of genital itching genitals complex,

know exactly why this advice is the best to keep away from trouble.

Allow cool air to keep your vagina dry. Wear cotton underwear or leave your private parts free of tight clothing whenever you can.

The bottom line is that stay clean and fresh at all times

lifeissuesfromwithin@yahoo.com 08053372356 (sms) only

cause tiredness and lethargy along with the itching.

For stopping that intense itch at night, apply ice cubes directly or a cold compress in the vagina. This could turn out to be a burdensome job.

But when you consider the severe itch, doing a cold compress is a much better job any day. At least you can sleep well after the itch is put to rest.

T

he human body is made up of several folds and it is natural that bacteria and fungi dwell in our body parts. This creates s natural balance, which can also be altered if there is s change in the environmental conditions. Either by increase in temperature or external infecting agent.

Genital itching, this is a very unpleasant condition, accompanied by a wide variety of emotional colour from shades of minor irritation and discomfort, to severe depression.

Itching genitals very common worldwide, but is more common in women than in men.

Genital itching can be a symptom of many conditions which may include vaginalinfections in females or jock itch in males. In either sex, itching may be caused by skin irritation, sexually transmitted diseases, and allergies. Other causes of itching may require more intensive treatment.

Genital itch with rash, is a skin symptom that can be caused by a number of health problems and can occur on any part of the male or female genital area.

Rashes are normally reddish in colour, may be painful or itchy, and may include bumps or sores. If you experience any skin rash that you cannot explain, you Itching Genitals should see your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.

Genital itching can be a symptom of many conditions. These may include vaginal infections in females or jock itch in males. In either sex, itching can be caused by skin irritation, sexually transmitted diseases and allergies.

In many cases, genital itching that is caused by irritation will clear up on its own if the irritants (lotions, soaps) are removed. Other causes of itching may require more intensive treatment. If you are concerned about genital itching that does not go away, talk to your doctor or another health care professional.

Prevention is When a man feels itchy down there, the itch is commonly due to a rash caused by inflammatory better than skin diseases, fungi, lice, or a viral infection. While cure any day. If viral infection and lice infestation are usually sexually transmitted, the other skin conditions have nonyou have had sexual causes.

However, whatever the cause of this itch, it is vaginal itching always advisable to seek medical attention instead of trying to treat the problem with over-the-counter skin any time in your creams. life, you will

BOBO BODE -KAYODE

Salt Bath:

Salt can effectively remove itching and bacteria due to its antibacterial properties. Wash your vagina with concentrated salt water whenever you feel the itch. This will give you great relief instantly and prevent further multiplication of bacteria.

Alternately, you can fill half the tub with warm water and add half a cup of salt into it. Sit inside the tub in a squatting position. While sitting, open your vaginal walls using your finger so that saline water goes inside and kills the bacterial action effectively.

Garlic:

aims to eliminate the cause of the itch (for example, the treatment of candidiasis, the removal of local inflammation). If the cause cannot be eliminated, then the prescribed panacea to the general condition and relieve itching: drugs female hormones during menopause, painkillers and anti-inflammatory agents in diabetes, procaine blockade.

Local widely used bath with camomile broth, cream and ointment with anesthetic properties, as well as containing female or male sex hormones. Not the least role in the treatment of itching of genitals play a healthy lifestyle (avoiding the use of products that enhance mucosal irritation of the genitalia), thoroughly intimate hygiene.

Men struggle with itching genitals includes the treatment of prostatitis, with the removal of inflammation of the penis head mucous membranes, etc. If allergies are assigned appropriate antihistamines.

How to prevent genital itching

Females should take the following steps to help avoid genital itching: After urination or bowel movements, wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from the anus (rectum) entering the vagina. Avoid chemical products such as vaginal douches or feminine hygiene sprays, which can upset the acidic balance of the vagina.

Avoid the use of excessive amounts of laundry detergent in the washing machine.

Stay away from over-the-counter itch blockers, as these products can make the itching worse in the long term. If you suspect a lubricant might be worsening the itching, talk to your doctor about the best options.

Avoid trauma to the area, such as excessive shaving and scratching. Eat a well-balanced diet to maintain healthy bacteria in the vagina.

Males should take the following steps to help avoid genital itching: Wash the penis well, including the area under the foreskin in uncircumcised men.

If you sweat throughout the day, consider changing underwear frequently. Both males and females should take the following steps to help prevent genital itching: Keep the genital area clean and dry. Use mild soap, or better yet, avoid soap completely, and rinse well with water. Avoid over-cleaning the vaginal area.

Wear loose, natural-fiber underwear and clothing.

Change underwear at least every 24 hours.

Dry off thoroughly after bathing and swimming.

Avoid staying in wet clothing for long periods of time.

Avoid unprotected sex, especially if you are worried that you or your partner might have an infection.

Home remedies can also be applied under caution.

Talk to your doctor before using any other method.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has excellent antibacterial and antifungal properties. It will help remove the itching completely if it is a fungal or bacterial action that is causing the infection. For enjoying the benefit of apple cider vinegar, take two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and mix it with warm water.

Wash your vagina with this water twice a day for two to three days. This should effectively take care of your problem. Apple cider vinegar makes the vagina acidic where the bacteria cannot thrive for long.

Cold Compress:

Vaginal itching can especially be very troublesome during nigh time. This could interrupt your sleep and

Garlic too has strong antibacterial properties that can relieve your symptoms instantly, or it is probably the smell of garlic that does the trick! Whatever the reason maybe , there is no harm in trying this wonderful herb when you have intense itching that you cannot stop.

Chew 2-3 cloves of garlic down your throat.

Make garlic into a paste and apply inside the vagina by tying it in a cheesecloth. The smell could be depressing, but the relief could come as a surprise!

Yoghurt :

The use of probiotics to overwhelm the bad bacteria in the body is not a new remedy whatsoever.

Pure yoghurt has active cultures that can remove the bad bacteria by adding good bacteria in abundance. For treating vaginal itch, drink a cup of pure unsweetened curd every day. Yeast infections can be immediately taken care of with yoghurt . Yoghurt made of goat’s or sheep’s milk is a better remedy for treating vaginal itch.

Another way to use yogurt is to apply in the vaginal area directly which is a better way of dealing with vaginal itch. Direct application of yoghurt will immediately stop vaginal itch. Constant application will surely remove the problem forever. You can use a tampon for this purpose. Soak a tampon with yoghurt and leave it in the vagina for a few hours.

Frozen yoghurt can also be inserted inside the vagina for instant relief.

Basil Leaves:

Basil leaves have anti microbial , anti fungal and anti bacterial properties. Take basil leaves and boil it in two cups of water.

Steep for 20 minutes covered till the water becomes strong. Drink this water twice a day for removing the bacteria causing vaginal itching.

Anti Bacterial Talc:

Antibacterial talcs are available in herbal as well as medicated varieties. A herbal or homeopathic talc will be mild on the body but requires time to heal.

Over the counter medicated talcs are very effective if you are looking at a quick fix solution to your problem.

Apply the talc in the vagina to destroy the bacteria and also to remove any fungal action as a result of moist surroundings.

Rosemary Leaves:

Rosemary leaves can be steeped with water for 15 minutes and allowed to cool. Wash the vaginal area with this herbal solution and feel the difference in an instant.

KeepingThe Vagina Dry:

Allowing the vaginal area to remain moist due to sweat and water is one reason for cultivation of bacteria and fungus allowing it to create infections and embarrassing problems.

Always ensure that you keep the vaginal area free from moisture to prevent infections. Apply a mild anti bacterial talc for this purpose which will offer its double action on your skin.

Wear Loose Clothing:

Prevention is better than cure any day. If you have had vaginal itching any time in your life, you will know exactly why this advice is the best to keep away from trouble.

Allow cool air to keep your vagina dry. Wear cotton underwear or leave your private parts free of tight clothing whenever you can.

The bottom line is that stay clean and fresh at all times.

––Culled from lifeissuesfromwithin@yahoo. com

GLOBAL SOCCER A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

17.11.2018

Title Defence PAGE. 32

2019 AFCON QUALIFIER Super Eagles, Bafana Bafana Battle for Top Spot

30

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 17, 2018

GLOBAL SOCCER

Super Eagles, Bafana Bafana Battle for Top Spot Bafana Bafana of South Africa will today at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, host the Super Eagles of Nigeria for not only a place for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations slated for Cameroon but also a battle for Group E top spot, writes Kunle Adewale

F

or Super Eagles German-born manager, Gernot Rohr the encounter is more than just a ticket to Cameroon but a revenge against Bafana Bafana who humiliated Nigeria in the first leg on home soil last year in which the Super Eagles lost 2-0.

Rohr is, therefore, seeking revenge this time around.

“The defeat still hurts and we want to take revenge for it. They beat us with strong counter attacks in Uyo. We dominated the game and actually played quite well in the first half, but didn’t score. And then they attacked us on the counter, one towards the end when we pressed for the equaliser,” Rohr said.

Continuing, he said, “It was in June 2017, which is now quite a long time ago. I remember we had many players absent at the time, with that match

taking place in the break between the seasons.”

The German tactician who is happy that his players were returning to form before the clash against South Africa expressed his delight that the Super Eagles players were getting game time in their respective club sides.

He said, “I am thrilled with the playing time my players are getting in their clubs in Europe. They are not only playing regularly, they are in good form and that is what I demand from them every week. They are doing very good and that is very well for us moving forward.”

Rohr also stated that he was keeping tabs on his players’ development by watching their games. “I watch some of their games with their respective clubs and I am impressed with their performance. I also read or listen to the

good comments they get in newspapers, radios, and televisions. I am happy they hit top form ahead of the game with South Africa,”he said.

He, however, hopes that the players not only continue their form in their club sides but also translate it to the national team for the revenge he is craving for.

He said, “If they continue like this, they will make the game against South Africa a bit easier.

“The plan is to avenge the 0-2 loss to South Africa in Uyo by picking the three points in this return leg. A win will mean we qualify for AFCON with a game in hand. We shall give it our best and see whether they can withstand our firepower to stop us,” Rohr posited.

Meanwhile, former Nigerian skipper, Austin Okocha is confident that the three-time African champions had

learnt their lesson from the first leg defeat in Uyo while explaining that South Africa would be more under pressure in the encounter.

“It was a deserved victory for Bafana Bafana then, which I think we took a lesson from,” Okocha told Kick Off. “If we win, that’s our ticket to Cameroon, so the pressure is really more on Bafana Bafana, which makes it also an interesting match to watch. For me, most important is for the players to understand, which I’m sure they do, that it’s a game they can’t afford to lose if they want to qualify for AFCON,” Okocha said.

Super Eagles forward, Moses Simon is also optimistic of Nigeria’s victory against South Africa at the FNB Stadium today in front of their home fans. ”We lost the first game due to avoidable errors, something we have fixed.

NOVEMBER 17, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

31

GLOBAL SOCCER

HEAD TO HEAD 10 Oct 1992: 16 Jan 1993: 10 Feb 2000: 31 Jan 2004: 17 Nov 2004: 1 June 2008: 6 Sept 2008: 11 Aug 2013: 19 Aug 2014: 10 Sept 2014: 19 Nov 2014: 29 Mar 2015: 10 June 2017:

Nigeria 4-0 S’ Africa 0-0 Nigeria 2-0 South Africa 0-4 South Africa 2-1 Nigeria 2-0 South Africa 0-1 South Africa 0-2 South Africa 1-3 South Africa 0-0 Nigeria 2-2 South Africa 1-1 Nigeria 0-2

South Africa Nigeria South Africa Nigeria Nigeria South Africa Nigeria Nigeria Nigeria Nigeria South Africa Nigeria South Africa

Lagos (World Cup Qualifier) Jo’burg (World Cup Qualifier) Lagos (AFCON semi final) Monastir (AFCON group stage) Jo’burg (Mandela Challenge) Abuja (World Cup Qualifier) Port Elizabeth (World Cup Qual.)

Durban (Mandela Challenge) Cape Town (CHAN group stage) Cape Town (AFCON Qualifier) Uyo (AFCON Qualifier) 1 Nelspruit (Friendly) Uyo (AFCON Qualifier)

Group E TEAM Nigeria South Africa Libya Seychelles

The aim is to beat them in South Africa; if they can beat us in Uyo we can also beat them in Johannesburg. A point will be good to see us through to next year Africa Cup of Nations but we are going there to play for a win,” an optimistic Moses said.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles were boosted by the visit of the Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to their Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, training camp on Tuesday promising the team a sum of $25,000 for every goal scored against South Africa, admitting the incentive will motivate the team to fire from every cylinder.

Okowa said: “I am pleased to have the Super Eagles here in Asaba. We hope you make Asaba your home, and as a people, we will begin to follow your progress even more closely. We appreciate the giant strides Nigerian Football is making and commend the leadership of the NFF for making Delta State part of its success story. For every goal scored by the Super Eagles in Johannesburg on Saturday, we pledge a reward of $25,000. Please don’t put a limit to the number of goals you score on Saturday; try and score as many as possible.”

In his response, stand-in captain, Ahmed Musa said: “We thank His Excellency, so much for the motivation to us to do well in Johannesburg on Saturday. We promise that we will return here on Sunday with a victory.

We will also do all we can to give the people of Asaba and the generality of Delta State and Nigerians a very good game against Uganda next Tuesday.”

In his reaction, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick said: “We appreciate the governor for the tremendous support given to the Super Eagles and by extension, the NFF. I want to commend the Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr for assembling a young, professional and very efficient team for now and the future. We will continue to do all we can to making sure they do Nigeria proud.”

On his part, Rohr said: “I thank the Delta State Government for their hospitality and for making us feel so comfortable. I am so happy because the pitch is in a much better state than the last time I was here. The Super Eagles will continue to work hard to make all those who have played one role or the other in its progress happy that their investment in the team is not a waste.”

Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana Coach, Stuart Baxter has warned his players of complacency as he reveals Nigeria would aim to pay them back for a home defeat, stating that his team needs to pick up three points against the Super Eagles at home.

He said, “It has really been a tough task to select the team to face Nigeria without some of our regular players, but we have to soldier on. These injuries

P 4 4 4 4

WON 3 2 1 0

could not have come at the worst of times when we really need to collect all three points because we are well aware of the importance of doing this.”

He, however, revealed that the new players added to the team had a point to prove and could displace some of the regulars ahead of the tournament if they eventually qualify.

He said, “The positive side, however, is that this gives us a chance to introduce other players into the squad, and these are players we have been monitoring, so it is not like a knee-jerk reaction. This helps us to ensure that when we qualify for the tournament we have an even bigger pool of players to choose from. I am also confident that the players brought in will do a good job.”

He went on to state that after the 2-0 win in Nigeria, the Super Eagles would aim to avenge the defeat in the first leg and they have to replicate their 6-0 win against Seychelles in their next group game.

He said, “I must admit this makes the upcoming clash all the more interesting.

Remember we beat them 2-0 in the first leg in their backyard, so they will come here trying to avenge that. On the other hand, we want to regain the top spot which we relinquished with the draw away to Seychelles. The good thing is that qualification is still in our hands.”

In an attempt to secure victory to against the Super Eagles today, South

DRAWN LOST 0 1 2 0 1 2 1 3

GD 6 8 -1 -13

PTS 9 8 4 1

Africa have reduced the price of tickets for the clash.

Nigeria top Group E with nine points and a win or draw will earn the Super Eagles a ticket, even with a match to spare, while the result may not favour South Africa which currently have eight points and possible away win by Libya over eliminated Seychelles will take the North Africans to seven points, just one behind South Africa.

Nigeria missed out of the last two editions of the tournament.

G LO B A L S O C C E R ASSISTANT EDITOR KUNLE ADEWALE WAHAB AKINTUNDE THISDAY ON SATURDAY EDITOR YEMI ADEBOWALE DEPUTY EDITOR CHIKA AMANZE-NWACHUKU THISDAY NEWSPAPERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE

32

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž Ć˜ ͚Ϳ Ëœ ͺ͸͚΀

GLOBAL SOCCER

2018 AWCON

Super Falcons Begin Title Defence Defending champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria will tomorrow in Accra, Ghana, start the defence of African Women Cup of Nations title against Bayana Bayana of South Africa in the opening Group B game of the 2018 AWCON at the Cape Coast Stadium

A

fter a week of intensive training in Cote ‘d Ivoire, the Falcons are ready for thedefence of the title they won in Cameroon and also pick the ticket to the 2019 FIFA Women World Cup billed for France.

The Super Falcons will be searching for their 9th title in Ghana, after winning their eight in Cameroon in 2016.

Head Coach, Thomas Dennerby, is optimistic of Super Falcons’ victory against Bayana Bayana of South Africa. “Of course as a head coach, you are always under pressure, and when you are the head coach of a big football country like Nigeria, you are always under pressure. But honestly, I have been in this business for long and it’s good for me, so I am not so worried about that. “But the expectation for the tournament, of course, we always go to a tournament to try to win it. But I also know because I saw the games from the last tournament that other teams from Africa are really good and I think from the last game that Cameroon was better than Nigeria; also South Africa played a very tough game against the Falcons.

I know there are a lot of good teams hunting us. Anyway, in the end, we need to be one of the three best teams so that we qualify for the World Cup. If we don’t do that, it is not good at all.

We really need to go to the World Cup,�

Dennerby said.

Dennerby who revealed that he had sleepless nights before picking his

final 21-woman Nigeria squad for the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Ghana, said his squad was a mix of experience and youth. He expressed confidence in the selected players to do the country proud. “I think that we really have a good mix of experienced players and younger players with good spirit. We also have a really good squad if you look at the skills or players. We have players with very high speed and playing vision and game reading and strong players. It was good to finally pick the final 21-player squad. The last night before always picking the squad is always a sleepless night,� Dennerby told Goal.com. “It was tough because we have a lot of good footballers and for the coach; it is good when it is really tough. It is always tougher for the coaching staff to make the decision pick the squad,� the 59-year-old said.

Meanwhile, Captain of Bayana Bayana, Janine van Wyk said a win against perennial rivals, Nigeria in their opening game on Sunday can help propel the team to a positive outing at the tournament. “First game is really crucial for us, it is a game between rivals, but I think in the past we have been slow starters in tournaments and we need to change that, and go with the perspective of attacking from the onset,� Van Wyk told the South Africa Football Association official website. “We just need to go out there and not show any fear, most of us here in the

squad are highly experienced and we have played them numerous times, we must just go for it.�

Aside from Nigeria, Bayana Bayana will also face the Shepolopolo of Zambia and Harambee Starlets of Kenya in Group B and Van Wyk described the draw as interesting. “It is a very interesting draw for us if we were in either group it would be considered as a tough group. Women’s football in Africa is developing enormously, there are no more easy teams that we will be facing now,� she added. “I think it is a tough group we are in, and we are looking forward to competing in the tournament. “These are all great opponents we have played and faced before, they never give us an easy run so we need to prepare well for every team because they are all different.�

Host Ghana will kick off the competition today as they host Algeria, while Mali and Cameroon would slug it out in the Group A second game.

The first three teams will book a place to next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

The 21 Falcons for Ghana 2018 Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi (Rivers Angels); Christy Ohiaeriaku (Confluence Queens); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Rivers Angels) Defenders: Glory Ogbonna (Ibom Angels); Sarah Nnodim (Nasarawa Amazons); Ngozi Ebere (Barcelona FC, Cyprus); Faith Michael (Pitea IF, Swe-

den); Onome Ebi (Henan Huisanhang, China); Osinachi Ohale (Vaxjo DFF, Sweden); Josephine Chukwunonye (Asarum AIF, Sweden) Midfielders: Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons); Ngozi Okobi (Eskiltuna UTD, Sweden); Rita Chikwelu (Krstianstand DFF, Sweden); Halimat Ayinde (Asarum AIF, Sweden) Forwards: Anam Imo (Nasarawa Amazons); Rasheedat Ajibade (FC Robo Queens); Asisat Oshoala (Dalian Quanjian, China); Francisca Ordega (Washington Spirit, USA); Desire Oparanozie (En Avant Guingamp, France); Chinaza Uchendu (SC Braga, Portugal); Chinwendu Ihezuo (Biik Kazygurt, Kazakhstan) GROUP A Ghana Algeria Mali Cameroon

TODAY Ghana Mali SUNDAY Nigeria Namibia

TABLES GROUP B Nigeria South Africa Namibia Kenya

FIXTURES v Algeria v Cameroon v South Africa v Kenya

33

ÍšÍżËœ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER

Where Next for Ighalo?

It is commonplace for big players to dump their clubs after relegation though there are few cases where such players sink with their team. With Odion Ighalo’s Chanchung Yatai club now relegated from the Chinese Super League, Kunle Adewale asks what the fate of the Super Eagles striker would be

W

hen Fiorentina was relegated to the Italian Serie B in 1993, Argentine super star, Gabriel Bastituta sank with the club and helped return it to Serie A the following season. He became an icon in Florence and Florentina fans erected his life-size bronze statue in the stadium in recognition of his contribution.

One of Italy’s best goalkeepers of all time, Gigi Buffon did not dump Turin giants, Juventus when they were relegated in the 2006-07 season, in spite of his teammates leaving for greener pastures during Juve’s trying period.

He rather stayed and helped the club gain promotion to the elite division the following season.

However, in spite of Ighalo breaking the Chinese Super League goal record, scoring 23 goals in the just concluded season, he could not save Chanchung Yatai from being relegated. The big question on the lips of observers is if the Super Eagles striker would go down with the club or go in search of another club.

The large chunk of revenue of most clubs come from television rights, which is not attractive for clubs in the lower divisions and therefore may not be able to afford the wage bills of their big players. This raises the question whether Chanchung Yatai would still be able to afford the huge wage bill of Ighalo.

Chanchung Yatai dropped to the second tier of football in China after they lost 2-0 to Dalian Yifang away from home. Ighalo was unable to feature in

the encounter as he suffered a serious injury in their last fixture against Tianjin Quanjin on November 7.

Chanchung Yatai could not depend on their reliable striker who has 23 goals this season in the league.

The result meant that Ighalo’s Chanchung Yatai stayed on 32 points but his national teammate, Mikel Obi’s Tianjin TEDA which also lost 5-1 to Guangzhou Evergrande and with the same number of points with Chanchung Yatai but Mikel’s side scaled through in 14th position with a superior goal difference.

Ighalo put aside his disappointing performance for Nigeria at the World Cup in Russia to emerge the all-time leading scorer for Changchun Yatai with 23 goals to overtake the previous record of 22 goals set by Marcelo Moreno at the club.

Ighalo was roundly criticised for his inability to convert begging chances for Super Eagles in Nigeria’s last Group D crucial game against Argentina at the St Petersburg Stadium.

After Victor Moses cancelled out Lionel Messi’s early lead through a penalty, Ighalo lost a clear chance to bury the game with a sitter but wasted the opportunity before Marcos Rojo snatched the winning goal that sent the South American nation through to the Last 16.

But on returning to his club in the Chinese Super League, the former Watford marksman put that Russia 2018 debacle behind him to focus on helping his club earn respect in the league.

The Eagles striker has been an instant hit in China since joining in

January 2017, scoring 15 in his debut and only last April, Ighalo had equaled Moreno’s record, when he scored twice to down then leaders Shanghai SIPG, a feat that earned him the Player of the Month in China.

His f orm however propelled Nigeria’s German-born tactician, Gernot Rohr to stick to the China based forward and he justified the trust Rohr reposed on him by scoring six goals in three matches of the 2018 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier to put the country in good stead at playing in the biennial competition. “We had gained the confidence to bring Ighalo. I think today he has given the answer. It is wonderful to see him score these goals,� the German said after the game against Libya.

Speaking after the Super Eagles thrashed Libya 4-0, Rohr said: “It is wonderful to see him score these goals.

The positives I take from this game is the team scoring four goals because it is not easy to do that. Secondly, it is the comeback of Ighalo. I am very happy about it because he has been criticised in the social media which went beyond any human endurance limit. “So, I am very happy that he has given them the answer on the pitch.

He proved that he is a great player and confirmed the confidence I have in him.�

It however remains to be seen if Ighalo would remain with his Chinese club or try his luck elsewhere.

Ighalo was born on June 16, 1989. He started his career at Prime FC and later moved to Julius Berger and in 2007, he moved to Lyn in Norway. A year after, was signed by Udineze of Italy but was

loaned out to Granada in Spain, before signing for Watford in 2014.

Last year, he moved to Changchun Yatai in China for a fee of ÂŁ20m.

In March 2015, after a series of strong performances for Watford, the then newly appointed Super Eagles interim coach, Daniel Amokachi invited Ighalo to the senior national, and he said then, “I feel good because it is my dream to play for my country�.

Chinese Super League W

GD

PTS

21

44

68

Guangzhou Evergrande 20

46

63

Shandong Luneng

17

18

58

Beijing Guoan

15

19

53

Jiangsu Suning

13

15

48

Hebei

10

-4

39

Shanghai Shenhua

10

-9

38

Beijing Renhe

9

-13 37

Tianjin Quanjian

9

-7

Guangzhou R&F

10

-12 36

Dalian Yifang F.C.

10

-20 35

Henan Jianye

10

-15 34

Chongqing Lifan

8

-6

Tianjin Teda

8

-13 32

Changchun Yatai

8

-11 32

Guizhou Zhicheng

7

-32 24

Shanghai SIPG

36

32

34

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍżËœ ͺ͸͚΀

GLOBAL SOCCER\\OTHER SPORTS

Banyana Goalkeeper Backs S’Africa to Beat Nigeria in AWCON Opener Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Kaylin Swart believes her team can be victorious when they take on arch-rivals Nigeria in their opening Group B match at the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, at Cape Coast, in Ghana on Sunday.

Banyana have been drawn into what many call the ‘group of death’, which besides South Africa and Nigeria, also includes quality opposition in Equatorial Guinea and Zambia. “Nigeria has always been one of our rivals and we know what to expect from them, but our coaches will hopefully put some puzzles together before Sunday,� said Swart, who

won her first Banyana cap earlier this year against Sweden.“Whichever way we look at it, it’s going to be a battle.�

Referring to the hot and humid conditions in the Cape Coast, Swart said that the heat factor will be the same for both teams. “To say it’s hot here is a bit of an understatement, but we can either sit here and complain, or go out there and play our socks off.�

Referring to the warm-up match earlier this week where Banyana went down 1-0 to hosts Ghana, Swart said: “Ghana are one of the top four nations at the tournament.

“Defensively we were sound, except for the one mistake from a corner kick that we made. We have one or two things to work on but we will be ready.�

Swart and striker Jermaine Seoposenwe were part of the SA side that took part in the World Cup Women’s U-17 tournament in 2010 in Trinidad and Tobago.

However, the goalkeeper was quick to point out that the World Cup at any level is quite different to the Olympics where Banyana played in 2012 and 2016. “Going to the Olympics is one thing and

LASG Donates Sporting Equipment to LASU

The Lagos State Government through Lagos State Sports Commission has donated several sporting equipment to the Lagos State University (LASU).

Making the donation on behalf of Lagos State Government at the University’s Sports Centre, Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Babatunde Bank-Anthony, disclosed that the donation is inevitable towards the development of sports at the Lagos State University.

He disclosed further that Lagos State Sports Commission will henceforth take Lagos State University Sports as parts of its Sports development programme, adding that Lagos State Sports Trust Fund will be invited to assist in getting funding for sports development of the university to turn the sports complex at Lagos State University into a world class. “What Lagos State Sports Commission is doing today is the first step in several things in the pipeline for the university,� BankAnthony said.

The Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Professor Fagbohun, thanked the Lagos State Sports Commission led by the Director General, Bank-Anthony for the onsite visitation to the university’s sports centre and the donation of the various sporting equipment.

He assured that the university would make use of the donated equipment as expected by the Lagos State Sports Commission. “Like Oliver Twist, we ask for more,�

Fagbohun said.

Among the Sports Equipment donated to the university are two complete table tennis board, 10 table tennis bats and rubbers, 20 packets of Joola table tennis ball, a pair of complete basketball Upright, 10 Spalding Leather Basketball, 10 number of Mikasa Volleyball, two Volleyball Nets /Upright.

Teams Jostle for 2018 Nigeria Bankers Games Finals Ticket The stage is set for semifinals of football event at the ongoing 2018 Nigeria Bankers Games at the YabaTech Sports Complex, Yaba on Sunday.

In the semifinal pairings, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) will entertain United Bank of Africa (UBA) at 1:30p.m., while Fidelity Bank takes on Union Bank at3:00p.m.

To qualify for last four, Fidelity Bank defeated Keystone Bank by two nil with both goals scored in the first half of the game, while FCMB beats Sterling Bank by three nil with Ekanem Nsikak grabbing a hat-trick.

Union Bank also qualified for the semifinals, courtesy their 4-3 penalties win over Stanbic IBTC Bank. The match was evenly poised at one goal apiece at the end of normal time went straight to penalties.

In the last quarter final match, 5-time champions UBA took on 2017 runners-up First Bank. Both teams were rivals as they had met in the previous two editions of the tournament with First Bank winning both encounters. The game ended one-all before UBA sailed through on 4-2 penalties.

Before the football matches, athletes will burn the tracks in the athletics event at10:00a.m. at the same venue.

going to the World Cup is different, but if we take things one step at a time, we will get there,� said Swart.

Swart and her colleagues can be excused if the nerves are fluttering so close to the start of the tournament. “Nerves show that we are human, and I would not say that it is a bad thing,� added the goalkeeper.

Following the Nigeria match, Banyana will face Equatorial Guinea on November 21, before wrapping up their group commitments against Zambia three days later.

StarTimes Secures 3-year Rights for Coppa Italia, Supercoppa

Representatives of Lagos State Government, donating sports equipment to LASU

Okocha Shrugs o Super Eagles, Bafana Bafana Rivalry Tag Former Super Eagles Captain, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has shrugged off the rivalry tag between Nigeria and South Africa.

The two teams have well documented tough games since the early 90s and football followers see the Group E Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier today as an avenue to reignite old rivalry.

However, former Bolton of England midfielder has a contrary opinion. Though he sees Bafana Bafana as a good opponent but not a rival to the three-time AFCON champions. “No, we do not see South Africa as our rivals, but we know that they are very tough opponents,� he told Soccer Laduma. “Maybe the Nigerians who are living

here (in South Africa) see that as bragging rights, but I do not have to go with what fans make of the game. “I speak as a football personality, somebody who has been there before, you know.

So I know they are not our rivals, but it is always a good match to watch.�

The playmaker who trilled fans with his silky skills admitted that he wanted to see an entertaining and competitive game at the FNB Stadium. “Well, may the better team win! I want to enjoy the game,� he added. “I want to see a good, very competitive match. Of course, my heart is with Nigeria, but if South Africa deserve it, they should win.�

UNILAG Set to Host University Games Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă? åÓÞÒ The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe yesterday at the institution’s Senate Chamber during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the university and the Nigerian Universities Games Association promised to host an unprecedented NUGA Games.

Professor Ogundipe promised to make the 2019 NUGA Games a memorable one. “Without being immodest, I can confidently tell you that the University of Lagos is prepared to make the 2019 NUGA Games a memorable one. We believe in the ideals of NUGA and in the capacity of its sporting competitions to raise all-round graduates who are equipped for solid service to the nation and humanity. That is why we will spare no effort in our preparations. “The Local Organising Committee (LOC) and its various sub-committees have been set up and their members have been working diligently. Our sporting facilities have been upgraded to world-class standard, such that our young athletes now have the platform to showcase their talents unhindered,� the VC said.

The University of Lagos made a bid to host the 26th edition of the NUGA tournament last year beating the University of Jos

for the hosting right to emerge the winner. “The forthcoming NUGA Games to be hosted by the University of Lagos will the mother of all editions,� Ogundipe boasted.

President of the UNILAG alumni, John Momoh, who also doubles as the Chairman LOC, said the occasion was an epochmaking event. “We are all looking forward to a very successful event,� the Chairman Channels Television said.

In his reaction, the President of NUGA, Professor Stephen Hamalyfeto, admitted that it was not an easy task giving UNILAG the nod to host the 26th edition of the games as many other universities contested for the hosting right.

He, however, hopes the games would open the door to discover talents that would represent the country at the World University Games and other international competitions. “We are confident in UNILAG because it has the facilities and the clouts to host the competition. We want to see the best out of UNILAG,� Hamalyfeto said.

The highlight of the occasion was the handing of the NUGA flag to Professor Ogundipe, who then handed it over to Mr. Momoh.

Africa’s leading digital TV operator StarTimes and Lega Serie A reached a threeyear deal for the exclusive all media rights to Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana in the region of sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the agreement, StarTimes claims the exclusive rights of the two Italian premier Cup competitions in English, French, Portuguese and African indigenous languages from 2018/2019 season to 2020/2021 season.

Coppa Italia is Italy’s single-elimination domestic Cup competition, and Supercoppa Italiana is the annual matchup between the winner of Italy’s Serie A versus the Coppa Italia champion. The 2018/19 Coppa Italia is already well underway, with 16 teams from Serie A, Serie B and Serie C set to take on each other in December, before the eight sides to win their ties will join Serie A’s top eight outfits, who enter the competition at the last-16 stage. “Italian football is one of the best in the world and we are so glad to offer the matches of Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana to our 20 million users in Africa,� said Shi Maochu, StarTimes Sports Director.

Shi said: “Consistent with StarTimes’ mission and values, our search for best sportcontents is always at the heart of our commitment to service excellence. In this regard, our partnership with Lega Serie A will definitely help to serve up a football feast to African football fans in the coming days.� “We are delighted to have closed this important three years partnership for subSaharan Africa,� said Marco Brunelli, Lega Serie A CEO. “We deem that Coppa Italia and SuperCoppa Italiana deserve visibility all over the world and with StarTimes we will cover a wider part of the African continent, assuring the valorisation of our properties.

NB Charges Eagles to Beat South Africa Nigerian Breweries Plc has urged the Super Eagles to extract their pound of flesh from the Bafana Bafana of South Africa when the two sides meet today in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations match day five game at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.

This motivational message was contained in a statement issued by Emmanuel Oriakhi, the Marketing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc on the AFCON qualifying game between Nigeria and South Africa.

South Africa defeated Nigeria 2-0 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in the opening Group E game of the qualifiers in June 2017, but Emmanuel Oriakhi, the Marketing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc believes coach Gernot Rohr and his Eagles are motivated to avenge that loss and confirm their ticket to the biennial African football fiesta in Cameroun next year. “As an official partner of the Nigeria Football Federation, Nigerian Breweries Plc is solidly behind the Super Eagles to deliver the goals and the points to seal the very important ticket that will guarantee Nigeria’s return to the Africa Cup of Nations after failing to qualify for the last two editions in 2015 in Equatorial Guinea and 2017 in Gabon,�

Oriakhi stated.

The Super Eagles had camped in Asaba, Delta State from Monday, November 12 for the match and Nigerian Breweries, whose brands, Star Lager beer and Amstel Malta are the official beer and malt drinks of the Super Eagles respectively has assured NFF and the team of its support all the way to South Africa.

35

ÍšÍżËœ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

GLOBAL SOCCER

Novak Djokovic Rediscovered His Mojo Novak Djokovic’s admission of vulnerability hasn’t made him weaker, it’s made him and tennis stronger than ever.Somewhere along the line, we get it into our heads that sportsmen aren’t people. Though Djokovic gave a timely reminder that sportsmen were real people with real struggles. We may not be able to always relate to them, but they are struggles nonetheless

“T

he fact Djokovic has pushed himself to their level, and make no mistake about it that he has, is a testament to the fact that an admission of vulnerability is not an easy one for him

to make.�

Djokovic wrote an open letter on his website chronicling his difficulties in, first, accepting injury and subsequently overcoming it. “For the last two years, I wasn’t patient with my tennis expectations,� he wrote. “I wasn’t wise in strategising. And I certainly wasn’t clearly hearing my body telling me that there is something serious happening with my elbow. “After many changes made with training, racket, team members, I was trying to find solutions somewhere else and the solution was always inside of me.�

Djokovic is a player who could have settled. For someone playing in the Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer era, coasting along in the chasing pack p pa ck telling yourself how unlucky you were to have your path to greatness blocked by those two is the easy option. History will nott condemn you for it. In fact, n no history h hi story is more than likely to offer its sympathies.

The fact Djokovic has pushed himself to their level and make no mistake about it that he has is a

testament to the fact that an admission of vulnerability is not an easy one for him to make.

He’s a natural warrior, fuelled by passionate ambition and you see it pour out of him every time he’s on the court. There probably isn’t a worse loser on the Tour.

So let’s not underestimate the significance of his words, nor the importance of the admission. It’s okay to be vulnerable, especially in sport.

Djokovic’s added layer of vulnerability has served to make him far more an absorbing character than he ever has been before.

When things go wrong for elite athletes, changes are encouraged to try and break the cycle of negativity as habits, which may have served you well in the past, no longer get the desired results.

When Djokovic went through a dip he attempted to make these changes to try and reignite the spark which made him arguably the most dominant tennis player in history.

It started with the firing of Boris Becker at the end of 2016 after he lost his world No. 1 ranking to Andy Murray, but results continued to decline at the start of 2017, with a second-round exit at the Australian Open being the most alarming.

Then, after losing in the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters he got rid of his whole coaching team including long-term coach and friend Marian Vajda, in what he referred to as “shock therapy�.

Andre Agassi was surprisingly brought in to become the Serb’s new

“super coach� in May 2017 and he did briefly start to find some form that summer, winning Eastbourne and reaching the quarter-finals of Wimbledon without dropping a set. But the elbow injury arrived at the worst possible time and Djokovic made the decision to sit out of the rest of 2017.

The 2018 campaign didn’t start well and with the elbow still proving to be a problem, Djokovic had to change his service motion before having surgery after the Australian Open. Soon after Agassi and his other coach Radek Stepanek left.

Things only really started improving when he went back to Marian Vajda, j , with the real Novak Djokovic j beginning to re-emerge during the clay-court season before it all culminated in a brilliant victory at Wimbledon.

You can’t necessarily criticise Djokovic for most off the changes he made, e, after all the method d for most athletes after enduring a slump in form is to make sweeping changes. However, in Djokovic’s case, he just needed to go back to what madee him so great – getting balls play back into p pl lay ay solid and being sso oli lid back from the ba b acck k

of the court – whilst going back to his old team was vital.

His signature return of serve is something else that he has rediscovered with an incredible72 per cent service points won in his semi-final victory at the Shanghai Masters against one of the best servers on the Tour, Alexander Zverev.

Whilst Djokovic has gone back to what made him so dominant, he has also made several tweaks with the hiring of strategy analyst Craig O’Shannessy giving him a tactical edge, whilst perhaps the biggest tweak is the serve, still slightly abbreviated to what it was a few years ago, game g , but has not lost a service g all week in Shanghai and with only two break points faced, his serve is arguably better than ever.

With Djokovic dominating the hard courts, it feels like 2015 all over again and with just 215 points separating him and current world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, it looks likely that he will return to the summit of the rankings.

The scary thing for the rest of the Tour is that he looks to be just getting started.

36

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t NOVEMBER 17, 2018

FAIRGROUND

Brand Ambassador Shares Remy Martin XO Opulence

with

AZUKA OGUJIUBA

azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

L

ast month, Florian Heriard Dubreuil, member of the House of Rémy Martin visited Lagos and Abuja, sharing bespoke Rémy Martin XO Opulence Revealed experiences with select guests in the two cities.

OPULENCE REVEALED In 1981, to reinforce the quality strategy of the Rémy Martin House, it was decided to create XO, which would express the excellence of the cognac Fine Champagne. The Cellar Master André Giraud with his expertise crafted a blend of over 400 eaux-de-vie. On the nose, it offers a wide spectrum of aromas of late summer fruit combined with rich floral notes of white flowers such as jasmine. The perfect expression of cognac Fine Champagne opulence on the palate with mature flavours of juicy plums, candied oranges, hint of hazelnuts and cinnamon. A velvety texture with a lingering finish.

Opulence Revealed explores the different families of flavours present in this unique cognac. The experience is as visually arresting as it is flavourful; guests were treated to a beautiful table spread on which all the various elements were displayed – a veritable bouquet of flowers joined by decadent parmesan, candied ginger, artisanal chocolate, dried figs, honey, plums, hazelnuts, cinnamon and more. Guests were encouraged to sample these aromas as Florian Heriard Dubreuil guided them through a Rémy Martin XO tasting.

“The concept of Opulence Revealed was created to bring the intricate flavour profiles of Rémy Martin XO to life in a tangible way and it was an honour to share this very special sensory experience with our guests”, shared Florian Heriard Dubreuil.

Florian Heriard Dubreuil (International Brand Ambassador, Remy Martin) and Stephen Jimba (Remy Martin XO Brand Ambassador, Nigeria)

Abubakar, Sulieman Itodo, Co-owners Carribean Abuja and Xavier

L-R: Charles Okpaleke, Florian Heriad Dubrueil, Ijeoma Osuji, Shola Adeyemo and Xavier

Sese Ubwa, Andy Madaki and Tehila Ubwa

Alastair Coombe, Stephen Jimba and Alvin Saal

Michelle Dede

37

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t NOVEMBER 17, 2018

FAIRGROUND

Osinbajo's Pidgin Interview On Wazobia Fm

T

he Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday, paid a courtesy visit to the Management of AIM Group, owners of Cool FM, Wazobia FM, Nigeria Info FM and Arewa Radio with branches in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Onitsha and their headquarters in Lagos.

The Vice President, who was received on arrival by the Group Managing Director of AIM Group, Amin Moussalli and other top management team, commended the team for the warm welcome.

Osinbajo later went live on 95.1 Wazobia FM, to have his First Ever PIDGIN Interview conducted by top Wazobia FM Presenters, Including Lolo1, Twitwi, Kody and Uzo. He also officially launched Wazobia FM visual radio which is a full in studio production for visual broadcast on social media.

The Vice President used the opportunity to speak on various federal government intervention programmes, like the Trader Moni Initiative, School Feeding Programme as well as government's efforts to ease the Apapa gridlock.

Osinbajo during his live interview, said experiences over the years had shown that government’s business should be to, provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the country.

According to him, the Buhari-led administration has now invited some consortiums, including ENI and Shell, to run the country’s refineries to stabilise the oil sector.

Speaking further on the Trader

L-R: DGMD Tatiana Moussalli, APC governership candidate Sanwo Olu, VP, MD Amin Moussalli, CEO Serge Noujaim, Lolo1 of Wazobia FM

Moni Initiative, Osinbajo reiterated federal government’s commitment to empower about two million petty traders between now and the end of the year.

He said that the aim was to further enlarge the financial inclusion agenda, for all Nigerians regardless of social class and economic status.

Osinbajo, who promised to

return for a second round of the Exclusive interview, expressed his total satisfaction with the level of professionalism exhibited by the team.

Moet & Chandon Secret Location Garden Party

T

his Sunday, Worlds most loved Champagne Moet & Chandon will be hosting a select few to a Secret Location Garden Party.

Garden parties are known for their exclusivity, finesse, glamour and class, and The Moet and Chandon secret Garden Party promises to be nothing less.

Moët & Chandon is set to launch its exotic Limited Edition - Nectar Imperial "Urban Jungle" bottle, by hosting the exclusive Garden Party.

Here’s an inside look on what you should expect from the brand’s exclusive garden party to unveil the limited edition Nectar Imperial ‘Urban Jungle’ bottle.

The Limited edition "urban jungle" themed bottle design displays the tropical and fruity essence with vanilla aroma and fruits like mango and pineapple, and it embodies the unique Moët & Chandon style; a style that distinguishes itself by its bright fruitiness, seductive palate, and elegant maturity.

Moet & Chandon will play host and set the stage for glamour, class and fashion excellence.

The selected guests will be treated to an exquisite cuisine specially prepared by renowned Chef Daniel. The menu will have an array of rich and spicy flavored food, which pairs particularly well with the Moet Nectar Imperial. When Special moments such as this arise, it MUST BE Moet & Chandon In a true Moet and Chandon style, there will be the full range of Moet & Chandon – including Moet & Chandon imperial, Moet Nectar Imperial and Moet Nectar Imperial Rose and the Limited edition Nectar imperial from the Urban jungle bottle. Over the course of the evening guests will enjoy the champagne poured delicately into the golden Moet goblets.

Femi Branch

'Femi Branch is Oba Esugbayi'

Guests at the dinner party of Moet

Guests will also be entertained to a variety of Garden party games such as; life board game competition, and other fun activities.

This Garden Party celebrating the

launch of the limited edition Nectar imperial Urban Jungle bottle will reiterate Moet & Chandon, as always present for celebrating life’s most treasured moments.

Versatike Actor Femi Branch would be leading a sterling cast of highly talented thespians including iconic Yinka Davies and Yemi SHODIMU in a massively expected production Executive Produced by the influential duo of Joseph Edgar and Olisa Adibua this December at the legendary Agip recital Hall of The Muson Centre.

The Play title OBA ESHUGBAYI would also feature the very popular Thin Tall Tony fresh from a powerful appearance on the Big Brother Franchise will be thrilling theatre goers with a striking story line that would see them transported to pre modern Lagos wiyh all the suspence drama and intrigues that comes with pre independence powerplay.

MTN Foundation and First Bank are leading corporate Nigeria on this journey that has according to Edgar began the process of redefining our culture through telling performance Oba Esugbayi is showing at The Agip Recital Hall of The Muson Centre dec 23rd 24th and 25th.

38

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t NOVEMBER 17, 2018

AUTO FRSC Boss, NADDC DG, Others for 2018 NAJA Awards

All new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross which was displayed at the 2018 Lagos International Trade Fair

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross goes to the Fashion Week Stories by Bennett Oghifo

A

ward winning Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), recently launched into the Nigerian market by Massilia Motors, is fast making waves with its latest feature at the 2018 Heineken Lagos Fashion Week. Massilia Motors is the sole distributor of Mitsubishi Motors in Nigeria and a joint venture consolidated with the CFAO group.

The Eclipse Cross, which was also on display at Japanese pavilion of the 2018 Lagos International Trade Fair, which held recently, was a beauty to behold at the well-attended fashion show which held in the uptown Victoria Island, Lagos.

The innovation this year was the Virtual Reality booth set up by Mitsubishi Motors where Guests took virtual tours of the new Eclipse Cross thanks to ultramodern VR glasses. In addition, free wifi was also provided by the brand at the venue to guests via a messenger scan code.

Participants at the highly rated fashion show also physically felt and interacted with the trend setting features of the car positioned by the side of the runway tent.

To celebrate the arrival of the SUV, Massilia Motors teamed up with one of fashion’s most celebrated designers, Sisiano, to create a collection called the ‘Eclipse’ inspired by the beauty of the brand new SUV. The main tent went dark and grew quiet as the screens lit up with the Mitsubishi Motors video on the fusion of fashion and the new compact SUV. The Eclipse Cross flashed into view and the breath-taking car with its cutting edge features were prominently displayed to the rapt audience.

The Eclipse collection was widely applauded by the audience. At the end of the show, in sign of collaboration, the Marketing Manager of Massilia Motors, Funmi Abiola and Sisiano walked down the runway to greet the crowd.

Lagos Fashion Week was four days of celebrating the very best of fashion design across Africa. Designers from Ghana all the way through to Cote d’Ivoire as well

as Nigeria, came to showcase the huge creative strides of the industry.

The 2018 Eclipse Cross marks the dawn of Mitsubishi Motors’ new design advancements. Every detail is crafted for confidence-inspiring driving. The exterior’s sharp, sculpted lines give it a strong stance, while the newly developed, premium Red Diamond paint radiates vibrant colour.

Being an intelligent vehicle, the human connectivity features of the Eclipse Cross such as Bluetooth, AM/FM/CD Touchscreen Audio system + MP3, Hands-free phone kit etc. are well pronounced. With Head Up Display (HUD), information is conveyed above the dashboard for easy viewing.

Coming into the Nigerian market with the GLS CVT Gearbox 4WD (2.0 litre engine), some other features of the Eclipse Cross include Rear Seat Adjustment, USB Port, Display Audio, Colour LCD MultiInformation Display, Auto Headlights, Rain Sensor, Electric Parking Brake With Brake Auto Hold, Keyless Operation System (Kos) Cruise Control, Tailgate Window etc.

All is now set for the 2018 Nigerian Auto Journalists Association Awards (NAJA) scheduled to hold December 13, 2018 at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

The Awards, which yearly rewards excellence in the industry, will see the Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Boboyemi Oyeyemi and the Director General of the Nigerian National Automotive Design and Development Council, NADDC, Jelani Aliyu, giving keynote addresses.

The Nigeria Auto Journalists Award is the local version of the traditional global automotive industry award conducted by motoring journalists in different countries and regional markets of the world to recognise the achievements of industry operators in different categories and across segments and vehicle categories.

Car-of-The-Year (COTY), which is the high points of the event, is a very competitive segment designed to honour outstanding automobile model of the year under review.

Other categories of awards are Luxury Car of the Year, Heavy Duty Truck of The Year, Auto Plant of the Year, CEO of The Year, Auto Personality of The Year and CSR Company of The Year, Pick-up of the Year, Showroom of the Year and many others.

According to the Organising Committee Chairman, Mr. Moses Ebosele, the 2018 NAJA Awards will not only recognise and rewards excellence in the Nigerian auto industry in the last one year, but will also provide avenue for critical stakeholders in the sector to rub minds on the way forward.

Ebosele explained that while Oyeyemi is expected to provide background information and statistics on the activities of the FRSC in maintaining sanity on Nigerian roads, Aliyu as head of government agency saddle with the responsibility of supervising the Nigeria auto industry, will be giving insights on the Nigeria automobile industry.

Also giving an insight into what to expect at this year’s NAJA Awards, Chairman of NAJA, Mike Ochonma, said this year’s edition will showcase the best in the Nigerian Automotive Industry.

“The NAJA Awards over the years has been recognized as the authentic bastion when it comes to recognizing the best players in the Nigerian automotive industry. I can assure you, the 2018 edition will not be less as our professionals are already compiling votes in all categories of the Awards,” he said.

Art Installations Signal Countdown toWorld Premiere of New Range Rover Evoque

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and Rover has started its countdown to the world premiere of the new Range Rover Evoque with a fleet of wire form sculptures inspired by the new model.

The full-scale artworks stopped pedestrians in their tracks at locations across London.

Land Rover pioneered the luxury compact SUV sector with the original Range Rover Evoque in 2010, and the next generation of the award-winning model promises to make a similar impact, introducing new standards of design, capability and sustainability.

The brightly-coloured installations were produced by the same Land Rover Design team responsible for shaping the new Evoque and embody the reductive design philosophy that has informed its elegant proportions.

Blending simple lines with modernity, the 1:1 scale wire forms showcase the distinctive fast roofline and rising waist-

line that define new Evoque’s coupe-like silhouette.

Four of the eye-catching sculptures were parked at exclusive addresses around Kensington and Chelsea, finished in distinctive shades of copper, red and blue.

Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Chief Design Officer, said: “The wire forms have been created to preview the new Evoque – which is the embodiment of Range Rover’s modernist design approach. Where better to put these bespoke installations on display than in the heart of London – one of the greatest cities in the world.”

With global sales of over 750,000 and more than 225 international awards to its name, the Range Rover Evoque is a global success story. Order books for the new luxury compact SUV, which has been designed, engineered and will be manufactured in Britain, are due to open at the same time as the world debut in London.

New Range Rover Evoque

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t NOVEMBER 17, 2018

39

AUTO

Mercedes-Benz Begins Fourth Quarter with new Sales Record

Stories by Bennett Oghifo

M

ercedes-Benz started the fourth quarter with a new record in unit sales.

Worldwide, the brand with the three-pointed star delivered 190,021 vehicles, surpassing the previous best October unit sales from last year by 3.9%. In the first ten months of the year, deliveries of 1,905,108 units by Mercedes-Benz were slightly above the high prior-year level (+0.3%). As planned, progress was made last month with worldwide vehicle availability in order to meet the ongoing high demand for the cars with the star. However, unit sales continued to be affected by model changes - for example in the high-volume segment of compact cars and for the C-Class - and by delays with certification in some international markets. In the past month, the brand with the three-pointed star maintained its market leadership in the premium segment in the markets Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Canada and the USA, among others.

“Thanks to the worldwide intensive efforts of the entire Mercedes-Benz Cars team, we started the fourth quarter with a new sales record. We will continue to drive this positive development forward together until the end of the year. Our goal is clear: We want to delight our customers with their desired cars as quickly as possible,” stated Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-AMG G 63, obsidian black metallic

Cars Marketing and Sales. “The new C-Class Coupé and Cabriolet are already having an impact: More than 12,500 dream cars delivered worldwide ensured a golden October for the Coupés, Cabriolets and Roadsters from

Mercedes-Benz. In Germany alone, unit sales of those models posted a substantial increase of more than 25%.”

Mercedes-Benz unit sales by region and market

In Europe, Mercedes-Benz increased its unit sales compared with the previous year and sold 79,994 vehicles last month, representing growth of 3.9%. In the first ten months of the year, a total of 768,950 units were sold (-3.9%).

In Germany, Mercedes-Benz delivered 29,203 cars with the star last month (+16.7%).

The new A-Class was especially popular with a strong sales growth in the domestic market of 86.7% in October. Among others, in France, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Poland, Denmark, Finland and Hungary, more cars of Mercedes-Benz were sold than ever before in an October.

In the Asia-Pacific region, sales reached a new record of 72,429 units last month (+7.9%) and Mercedes-Benz delivered 787,027 cars to customers in the first ten months of the year (+8.1%). And with 50,231 units in China, the biggest market, more vehicles were delivered than ever before in an October (+9.2%). In the period of January to October, Mercedes-Benz delivered 550,938 vehicles to customers in China – more than ever before in the first ten months of a year (+12.7%). Mercedes-Benz set more records for unit sales in the first ten months also in India, Thailand and Malaysia.

In the NAFTA region, 32,778 vehicles were delivered to customers last month (-4.0%).

From January to October, unit sales there totalled 304,722 Mercedes-Benz cars (-5.8%). In the United States, 27,537 cars were handed over to customers in October (-4.9%) and 252,921 in the first ten months of the year (-6.7%).

Thanks to ongoing strong growth rates, Mercedes-Benz set new sales records in Mexico in October as well as in the first ten months.

Volvo Cars Global Sales Up by 11.8 Per cent in October

V

olvo Cars is headed for its fifth consecutive year of record retail sales after posting a double digit 11.8 per cent sales growth in October, compared with the same month last year. The strong performance was led by growth in all key regions of the US, China and Europe. The company sold 53,509 cars during the month.

In the first 10 months of 2018, Volvo Cars sold 526,062 cars, a growth of 14 per cent compared to the same period last year.

This puts the company firmly on course to end 2018 setting a new global sales record.

In 2017, the company sold 571,577 cars.

During the month of October, US sales grew 4.6 per cent, as demand for Volvo’s award winning SUVs led by the XC60, remained strong. Volvo sold a total of 7,327 cars during the month, compared with

7,008 cars sold in the same month last year.

China reported a 3.2 per cent growth in October with retail sales reaching 11,083 cars, with the locally assembled XC60 and S90 models as main growth drivers. Volvo sold 10,744 cars in October 2017.

In Europe Volvo Cars sold 26,892 cars in October, up 12.2 per cent, as compared to the same month last year, following continued high demand for the XC60 and XC40 models.

Globally, the new Volvo XC60 continued to be the best-selling model in the first 10 months of the year with 152,895 cars sold (2017: 154,943 units), followed by the XC90 with total sales at 77,625 cars (2017: 68,067) and the Volvo V40/V40 Cross Country at 65,238 cars (2017: 76,581 units). During the first 10 months, the XC40 sold a total of 58,111 cars and the S90 generated volumes of 47,811 units (2017: 33,943 units).

Interior of Volvo XC60

Optometrists And The Driving Blind Campaign

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astweekIbeganafocusonthedangers of driving impaired or better still driving blind as expressed by the National Optometric Association (NOA). I cited section 57.3 of the National Road Traffic Regulations 2012. In a nutshell, the Section requires all applicants to undergo vision acuity and general medical fitness examination as prerequisite for applying for the National driver’s license.Although I promised last week to take you through developments in other climes such as the United Kingdom, I am inclined this week to first share with you the worry of the Association as expressed by Dr Ozy Okonokhua which borders on two major areas; the need for a national standard and a rejig of the pre-licensing process in the country which was the focus of the page a couple of weeks ago.

I have chosen for the sake of laymen like me who are not too literate in the business of eye examination or even any aspect of medicine to run through the views of the Association sent to me by Dr Ozy through an email as requested. Please kindly enjoy the reading and be free to share your opinion which I will gladly publish on this page without hesitation.

According to Dr Ozy, the current minimum visual Acuity standard adopted for Nigeria is 6/12. This is a standard that was borrowed from Countries with road infrastructures that meet global best practices. This criterion implies that a driver, who can read 6/12 on a well-lighted, stationary chart, can generally be assumed to still be a safe driver in

SAFE DRIVING with Jonas Agwu amnipr, mcipr,mprsa,arpa (Corps Commander) Corps Public Education Officer Federal Road Safety Corps. + 2348033026491 a moving environment and under adverse conditions, such as after dark, in rain or hazy conditions.

This standard of 6/12 he argues did not consider the peculiarities that pervade our roads in Nigeria and the other factors that our road users are faced with.

He therefore maintains that the Nigerian Standard VisualAcuity for Driving should be higher than what obtains in other climes if we are to consider the following; the state of our roads which are most of the times riddled with pot holes, the absence of road furniture in most of our roads, like proper illuminations and markings, the Lack of adequate understanding of the use of our roads by the average road user. Others includethedisrespectforroadsignsbyroadusersand the poor health seeking behavior of Nigerians. The aggregation of these factors means that the Nigerian minimum VisualAcuity for driving must be higher than what obtains in other countries and be tailored to suit our environment.

It is the considered opinion of most stakeholders (NOA) inclusive that the Minimum Visual Acuity

for Driving in Nigeria must be perfect. If we cannot obtain perfect 6/6 Visual Acuity, then the threshold should be 6/9. This implies that the driver will be able to see at 9 meters, what the normal eye is expected to see at 6 meters. A driver with this visual acuity will have a good response time to obstacles and other impediment to driving. This does not take into consideration the Visual Fields of the driver as that is another component altogether To further drive home his point, he recalled the reportofastudyconductedintheUKcalled“DRIVE” which concluded that despite the progress made in the United Kingdom, 1 in 6 road accidents are caused by poor vision on the part of the driver. The result of this study led to a campaign which eventually made it mandatory for intending drivers to have an eye check followed up by checks every three years although as you will see in this write-up there are contentions in the United Kingdom on the need to reviewthecurrentprocedure.Heequally citedanother study conducted by the NCBI National Centre for biotechnology Information (NCBI) to reinvestigate the visual performance of drivers who had a crash record during a year to determine the percentage of visualimpairmentsandrecommendfurtherrevisionof vision-relateddrivinglicenserequirements.403drivers with crash records were screened comprehensively.

The results demonstrated that 33 drivers (8.2percent) had known ocular diseases, including cataract in 9 (2.2percent)andnon-proliferativediabeticretinopathy in 5 (1.2percent). Five participants showed visual trauma, and 65 participants (16.1percent) wore eye glasses. Furthermore, 18 patients mentioned history

of systematic diseases (hypertension in 10, diabetes in 6, and heart disease in 2 patients).Of the drivers, 96.3percent, 17percent, 15.8percent, and 5.9percent had normal (≥7/10) visual acuity, visual field, threedimensional vision, and color vision lower than the minimal standard, respectively.

The studies done in the UK according to Dr Ozy directly infers that visual impairment is a significant causeofroadtrafficaccidents.ThefindingsoftheUK study correlates with a driver’s vision test survey conducted by the Nigerian OptometricAssociation in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps whichshowedthatVisualimpairmentisasignificant predictor of road traffic accidents (RTA). Drivers with visual impairment were nearly two times more likely to be involved in road traffic crashes as compared to those without visual impairments.

Theseexplainswhytheexpertsaredrivingpartnering with the Corps not just in setting standards, but also in improving awareness of drivers vision and need for regular eye checks, ensure a comprehensive eye and vision test is done as a pre-requisite for issuance and re-issuance of drivers’ license, develop minimumstandardsofvisionrequiredfordrivingin Nigeria and further research to enrich our literature.

Although they acknowledge that the current road traffic regulation stipulates certain tests such as eye test, general health condition, hepatitis b, epilepsy, and blood sugar are pre-requisites for a driver’s license applicant, they however argue that eye test is one that needs a more cursory look to checkmate road traffic crash trend TheAssociation is advocating the engagement of professionals to be accredited to comprehensively screen drivers and intending drivers before they can obtain/or renew their driver’s license.

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͹Ϳ˜ ͺ͸͹΀ ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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FASHION FILE

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 17, 2018

By Azuka Ogujiuba azuka.ogujiuba@thisdaylive.com

The Versatile Woman Collection by

Versatile Bay

NOVEMBER 17, 2018 Ëž THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

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FASHION FILE

The Versatile Woman

W

om omenswear brand Versabr tile Bay has til re released a collection co known as The Versatile Woman. As th the title implies, the col collection is made up of p pieces for a woman of substance, filled with m many facets of her life .

The Versa Versatile Woman featu features a mix of elegance and functionality. The Creative Director importance of plays on the importa comfortable dressing women in co and chic clothing. statement midi A collection of statem with a dresses and jumpsuits w colour block & delightful twist on colo pastel.

Versatile Bay is just tthe right forward brand for the fashion fo look and woman who wants to lo putting too feel elegant without pu much effort.

Credit Brand : @versatilebay @versatileba @adun_osilowo Model : @adun_osilo Hair : @fjesam @beautyby_nene Make Up : @beauty @mide_wey Photography : @m Creative Direction : @ thestyle.concierge thestyle.concierg

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EXPRESSION

MEDIAGAFFES

Common Errors

EBERE WABARA

D

AILY SUN National News blunder of October 31 welcomes us today: â€œâ€Śto sensitise (sensitize preferably) the people on (to) the planned labour strikeâ€?

The following improprieties are from a full-page advertorial by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC): “under-aged personsâ€? Get it right: underage persons â€œâ€Śafter which collection reverses back to LGA Offices (unnecessary capitalization) of the Commission.â€? Yank off ‘back’ which is clinically redundant here.

Next are two infractions from DAILY Sun Editorial of the edition under review: “The recently passed Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2010 may likely go down as one of the most debated piece (pieces) of legislation in the nation’s political history.â€? “Now that the Bill is before the President for his assent, it is expected that he will (would) oblige.â€? Expectations are probabilities and cannot, therefore, be affirmative (will). â€œâ€Śthe current chairman of ECOWAS Head (Heads) of State‌.â€? “School fence crushes man to death in Abaâ€?

When a man is CRUSHED, would he still be alive? Just a poser‌. “A man whose identity could not immediately be ascertained (‘immediately’ is otiose here) have (sic) died in Aba, Abia State (another comma) after part (a part) of the fence of‌.â€?

(DAILY SUN, November 7, Page 5) “It was gathered that (just tell readers what you ‘gathered’!) blocks from the fence broke the man’s two legs (gosh—why not just the man’s legs?)‌.â€? (Source: as above) “A witness‌told Daily Sun that the number of casualty (casualties) would have been more if‌.â€?

From DAILY Sun Editorial of November 5 comes the next solecism: “Also, the citizens must be sensitised on (to) the need to live together.�

Politics & Power of November 5 fumbled

BY

four times: “Atiku winning the ticket of his party and becoming a flag bearer (standardbearer) was for me‌.â€? â€œâ€ŚI said that this is (was) now the battle of the eagles.â€? “He was (is) a former governor in Imo for four years‌.â€? Alternatively: He was a governor in‌. Got the point?

THISDAY COMMENTARY of November 5 offered readers this infelicity: “It is unfortunate that for the next few weeks or months, peoples’ (sic) livelihoods will be stunted, students can’t complete their semester examinations, business interests will suffer, families will witness crisis (crises).â€? “The French Education graduate of Delware State University further stamped her prominence in (on) the movie entertainment industry‌.â€? “With over 10 years (years’) experience as an actor, she has proven (proved, preferably) herself worthy‌.â€?

2019 AFCON Qualifier: Omeruo optimistic of Eagles (Eagles’) victory over Bafana Bafana�

Finally from THISDAY Back Page Headline of November 5: “There was a party: Who has jazzed APC� What of the vital question mark?

Common Usage Errors: (1.) He has fine stationeries (1a.) He has fine stationery (2.) The school lacks science equipment (2a.) The school lacks science equipment (3.) The rain caused many damages (3a.) The rain caused much damage (4.) His luggages were seized (4a.) His luggage was seized (5.) The cattle is grazing (5a.) The cattle are grazing (6.) The police has caught the robbers (6a.) The police have caught the robbers (7.) Statistics are (7a.) Statistics is interesting (8.) Measles are terrible (8a.) Measles is terrible (9.) She rejected the advices of her friends (9a.) She rejected the advice of her

friends (10.) Ten kilometers are a long distance (10a.) Ten kilometers is a long distance (11.) The man which came here has left (11a.) The man who came here has left (12.) The woman which son returned has arrived (12a.) The woman whose son returned has arrived (13.) The dog chased Bisi and I (13a.)

The dog chased Bisi and me (14.) To we boys, heavy meals are necessary (14a.) To us boys, heavy meals are necessary (15.) Between Tolu and I there is no difference (15a.) Between Tolu and me, there is no difference (16.) It was him that took the book (16a.) It was he that took the book (17.) It seems to be them (17a.) It seems to be they (18.) Harry is taller than me (18a.) Harry is taller than I (19.) The man and his wife love themselves (19a) The man and his wife love each other (21.) I met an European tourist (21a.) I met a European tourist (22.) He scarcely greets somebody (22a.) He scarcely greets anybody (23.) He hasn’t some money (23a.) He hasn’t any money (24.) He took much yams for her comfort (24a.) He took too many yams for her comfort (25.) Each of them have been here (25a.) Each of them has been here (26.) None of the students write well (26a.) None of the students writes well (27.) They bought a few sugar and salt (27a.) They bought a little sugar and salt (28.) Since he is almost blind, he sees a little (28a.) Since he is almost blind, he sees little(29.)

There is a little milk left; it won’t be (29a.) There is little milk left; it won’t be enough for tea enough for tea (30.) Since he has few oranges he can give us

Me m o to Buha r i , Ati ku

T

omorrow, according to the schedule of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is the day electioneering campaigns towards the February, 2019 general elections will start nationwide. With our fixation and seeming adoration for the election year, and all its accompanying drama, exaggerations, shenanigans, revelries, and many other lying arts...our politics, players and “back-up singers� are priming their bayonets and wet blankets to bestride the country as if all is well...or all shall be well as long as we vote for them!

We have been told that 79 candiadates are set to contest the presidential election (please, don’t laugh). We would have been spoilt for choice if some of the presidential mob had been serious over the years in articulating and attacking our numerous problems and distortions.

Obviously, we’re now in a bad shape...such that two of the most likely individuals to win the 2019 presidential election are quite old (72+); were uniformed men; had campaigned many times to lead us; have all sorts of allegations hanging over their heads; have supporters who love them more than their loved ones, and thus can throw the kitchen sink at anyone in defense of their idols.

But the tune this season has to change...we cannot be dancing the same macabre acrobatics of the past 20 years, and hope for a better result. We simply have to ply another, saner route... insist that enough is enough, across board.

We are no longer interested in their war-chest or their legions of die-hards. We just want simple explanations about WHAT they intend to do for us that will make our lives as Nigerians better than in the last 19 years of participatory democracy; and HOW they intend to do so. It’s really quite simple.

So, as the campaigns open, Candidate Buhari and CoCandidate Abubakar, welcome to our new reality. Will you kindly explain to us your vision, purpose and plans in the following areas: 1. Stabilising and Stimulating the Economy: to lift households and businesses out of the grind of fast-approaching poverty?

(Please, while using your past or current efforts as drivers of your arguments, remember our pains are ongoing and genuine; don’t politicise or digress into name-calling and blame-sharing...just explain).

2. The worrying spate of Insecurity and re-arming of the scourge of Boko Haram terrorism. (We have read of all the heinous acts of the past administrations, and the recurrent devastation across the country... we simply ask that you give us new strategies which can drive fear into troublemakers and bring peace to turbulent areas...don’t grandstand, don’t demonise, don’t

ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

some (30a.) Since he has a few oranges, he can give us some (31.) The poor feels oppressed (31a.) The poor feel oppressed (32.) The sick is not well catered for (32a.) The sick are not well catered for (33.) The worst are yet to come (33a.) The worst is yet to come (34.) She gave us two ten –pounds notes (34a.) She gave us two ten- pound notes (35.) Nduka was on the three-man panel (35a.) Nduka was on the three-man panel (36) They prefer rice more than beans (36a.) They prefer rice to beans (37.) That shirt is more superior than yours (37a.) That shirt is superior to yours (38.) Benji is more senior than Wale (38a.) Benji is senior to Wale (39.) The man’s car is more inferior than his wife’s (39a.) The man’s car is inferior to his wife’s (40.) Bolade is more senior than Shade (40a.) Bolade is senior to Shade (41.) The unit comprises of many systems (41a.) The unit comprises many systems (42.) They discussed about politics (42a.) They discussed politics (43.) Jide asked from the Editor (43a.) Jide asked the Editor (44.) The team reached at Owerri (44a.) The team reached Owerri (45.) The reporters entered into the newsroom (45a.) The reporters entered the newsroom (46.) With regards to the proposal, we have an interest (46a.) With regard to the proposal, we have an interest (47.) The four boys shared the job between them. (47a.) The four boys shared the job among them

COUNTERPOINT BY

FEMI

AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON e-mail: fajalive1@gmail.com mobile phone: (08182223348 - SMS Only)

Buhari

Atiku

ask for our prayers, please... what will you do differently?) What are the guarantees of positive results? On what timelines are we aggregating our expectations?

3. Fighting Corruption Pandemic: (I take God beg you, sirs, don’t flaunt your crusade of the past three years as it is obvious to all that corrupt opponents are easier to deal with than friendly rogues...too many examples for us to beg you to refrain from churning out same arguments and “no-travel-lists�. On the other hand, there’s no legacy in our initial 16 years of the fourth republic that we can use as yardstick for how to properly attack corruption... so, sirs, give us new strategies, new ideas, better frameworks and stronger palliatives... the current structure has several k-legs.)

4. Unemployment and Youth Engagement: (The statistics are appalling, the figures are distressing. The latest tagline is that 85m of us are dirt poor, even by third world standards. We now carry the ignominious label of “world’s headquarters of poverty�!

Please, don’t engage us on this issue as if you are mesmerised by our misfortune. Show us you care, that you are offended and so incensed that you have mapped out ideas and countermeasures that will not only arrest the monumental disgrace, but begin to lift us onto steady and prosperous highways. Don’t trivialise our situation by quoting disembodied statistics of wonder-working investments and micro interventions that are yet to manifest in most homes.

5. Unity in Diversity: (We vote as Nigerians, but deep down we know we are not united.) Though we are of different tongues, tribes and cultures... we are not unique! Several countries have similar diversity, and have gone ahead to forge unity, harmony, service and sacrifice that have welded them into peaceful and

prosperous nations. So, Sirs, what are your plans to take us to a level where our divisions become firewood to cook a giant modern economy, delicious enough to feed all, and managed responsibly to keep on cooking, and dishing equitably to generations, even in the womb of time?

Don’t waste your energies reminding us that the unity of Nigeria is sacrosanct and indissoluble... We hear! What are you doing to make the states work...how do we transit from a country (of 37 statal units) to a nation (of people with shared interests, values, goals and aspirations) competing honorably and progressively for the mutual and shared prosperity of an effective, even-handed federal arrangement? What exactly do you mean

by Restructuring? Why are you afraid of Restructuring? Is the current situation working? Be frank and honest? Is it justifiable?!

Can we not see it as one of the ills plaguing our growth and dwarfing our potential?

Talk with us, don’t grandstand, don’t pontificate, don’t dribble us...we are not fools, or retards... We know when and how a good house is built...it is not merely about mortar and brick! We understand the difference between a bad and a blessed home. So, Sirs... Explain... don’t abuse. Respond... don’t rebuke. Convince... don’t condemn.

Finally, Sirs, I have no doubt that your supporters and opponents have many other important issues to keep you busy and engaged for a lifetime, but kindly look at these five issues mentioned above, and give us a reason to believe in a great future for Nigeria... give us tangible hope that perhaps our time to sow and grow has indeed arrived.

We are tired of politics of attrition, of big abuses and wonderful allegations... of digging up old misjives as if it’s inhuman to lie or recant, and planting photoshopped images to hoodwink the simple. Even in the midst of the slinging mud and loud-mouthed banalities, say what you mean to do for the sake of the suffering majority, and do exactly what you mean and say. Nothing more, or less. Then, whoever we choose, we shall live the next four years with the consequences of our choice.

Just do your part well, so we can get it right for once! May God Almighty guide you through the valleys and shadows ahead.

All the best in your campaigns.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t NOVEMBER 17, 2018

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SHOWBIZFLAIR

Adebayo Salami

Film Houses Take Too Much Money from Producers’ Works OGE GABRIEL I Strike Balance in Everything I Do, Cannot Lose Focus to Fame pg. 48

ANNIETE UDOH Blessings Inherent in Us, Just Discover pg. 50

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t NOVEMBER 17, 2018

SHOWBIZFLAIR ADEBAYO SALAMI

Film HousesTakeToo Much Money from Producers’ Works Adebayo Salami, popularly known by his stage name ‘Oga Bello’, is a veteran actor, filmmaker, movie producer and director. He started his career at the age of 12 and has earned himself a stake in the growth of the Yoruba movie industry today. Oga Bello tells Tosin Clegg his reaction to changes in technology and morality in the industry I’m always happy to relate to them.

I also try to maintain such relationships with them.

My journey so far ll I have to say is thank you to the Almighty Allah for being so kind to me. Talking of the achievements and other things I would only say thank you to Him. I’ve been in the industry for 54 years It’s quite a long time now. I started in 1964 when I was 12 years old.

There have been a lot of changes in the industry since then. You cannot compare those days to nowadays, in terms of so many things, including technology and discipline in the industry. That’s why I said a lot has changed. Even culture itself is dynamic. In those days, there was discipline, but the upcoming ones don’t have respect so much these days, especially for the call time.

In those days, you must respect the call time. About changes in technology, people who started from stage performances had to do it at one take, because there was no opportunity to cut and retake like we are doing now. So, the technology has changed. So many things cause lack in discipline. For instance, back then, we were doing things without expecting any money, as it was about passion for the job. The job satisfaction itself is enough for us and it is always difficult to manage business with artistic work, but when you can, it puts food on your table.

A

I have a lot of productions ongoing We just concluded a Television Series for Startimes which will start showing soon, and I have some movies that I have just shot, one of which is ‘Ekisa’ but I have a big cinema I’m working on with a working title as, ‘Khaki Boys’. Ekisa movie has a tip from a Yoruba adage, which means my blood is more important than any other person. And for the movie, I have myself, Sola Kosoko, Femi Adebayo, Muyiwa Ademola and a host of others.

I think I had opportunity to change the style of Yoruba movies Initially, I didn’t join home videos, as I started with celluloid, together with Ogunde, Ade Love, and Baba Sala. I produced my first movie in 1985, Omo oru nkan in 1987, 1989 I did Eri Okan and at that time they had started home videos but I didn’t join, so also Ade Love and Ogunde didn’t join, because we believed, at that time that home video was not acceptable all over the world. But when the economy started crashing and we needed to survive and sustain our audience, I decided in

Nigerians sometimes talk bad about the country Some Nigerians engage in bad talk about Nigeria and the way they portray our country is too bad.

When I come out of my house and I tell you our house is dirty, stinking or smelling that’s how you are going to take it. But when I tell you our house is neat and we do things right that’s how you are going to take. It’s our people from there that portray us in a bad manner. People in foreign countries appreciate us very well, as we are the second in terms of production, even with the little resources at our disposal. The way we portray ourselves is the way they see us, but when they meet you and know you better, they may view you differently.

Salami

1993 to do Asewo Tori Mekka.

The name, Oga Bello came in 1971 There was a programme on TV when we still had NTV Victoria Island and the programme was called Barbie’s Show and it was being anchored by the late Art Alade and was produced by Oladele Bank Olemoh. So, they gave us a segment there for 15 minutes to perform and during the character analysis we were giving ourselves names and my Oga looked at me and was like you are from Ilorin we would be calling you Bello and that’s how it came about on the programme and it is well accepted by people.

Yoruba movies are a passion for me As I believe, it is through that I can develop my culture and explain better to my target audience. It is

not that I haven’t featured in English movies, I have done one or two, but I can’t remember anymore. But if I am invited, I would go but I won’t go and lobby for anything.

I don’t always judge myself or my works I believe strongly that my fans and people out there are the ones that can judge me. But, anything you want to do, just do it well. We learn, we know it, we practice it and we keep improving on it, as whatever you want to do, you need to move with time. That helped me most, as if I am to be on any work I make adequate research on it.

I’m always happy to meet my fans Their reactions make me see that they love my job and appreciate all that I am doing. If they don’t, obviously they wouldn’t come around and

We are killing our culture And I would tell you how. As a Yoruba man, I don’t see you speaking Yoruba with your children. So, when you are talking of movies they would prefer to watch English movies instead of movies in Yoruba; isn’t that a way of killing our culture, and everything Yoruba too? Well, that’s number one. Two, we have more audience than they do and I remember the cinema started with us. I remember when I released one of my movies back then, Omo oru nkan, the capacity of the Main Bowl at the National Theatre was 3,600 and we had a full house for 12noon, 3p.m. and 6p.m., until the Cinema culture started.

If you can do your investigation, you would hardly see up to 20 per cent of English Movie producers that have broken even. When you go to film school they would teach you how to make movies with a low budget and I believe we are not yet ripe to be spending so much money on movies. More so, the film houses don’t help Producers, as they would be taking too much of percentage off their works. The Yoruba circle is planning on bringing back our cinema culture.

Using younger actors to play the older persons’ role It depends on your script, but I call it a very wrong casting for anybody that does that, instead of using an old man that has the experience. But if it is a transition from a younger cast to an older one it’s a different story, as you use that to interpret your cast. Anything other than this means the producer doesn’t know his work.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t NOVEMBER 17, 2018

Tosin Clegg 07062816737 e-mail: tosinclegg@hotmail.com

SHOWBIZFLAIR

MY STORY

Gists FEMI SLIDE AIMS AT GLOBAL AUDIENCE, GEARS UP Oluwafemi Akinbodunwa, popularly known as Femi Slide, is an Afro Beat musician who combines his musical skills with being a Trombonist. He performs different genre of music such as Jazz, Afro Funk, Highlife and he is admired as a fantastic vocalist. Femi Slide has performed at international concerts, produced albums and live recordings with acts such as Seyi Sholagbade, Bisade Ologunde (Lagbaja), Jesse King, Charly Boy, Waje, MI, Mike Aremu and with a host of a mix of home and foreign acts. He was everyone’s desire at the recently held Felabration in Lagos where he played in his top-notch style and class.

From international Jazz Festivals and more, Femi continues to serenade everyone with his performances as he targets a much wider audience.

He and his band were also recognised with the Afro Contemporary Award for their incredible performances on their tour in South Africa in 2016. Right now, he is set for tours in Europe and United States next year, as a recognised outstanding African art/group of the year, performing in African traditional songs and dance.

Aside from singing, Femi Slide is also a songwriter, a coach and an instructor in African traditional music.

His music has influenced both Africa and international scenes, giving back to the society through his music.

ANNIETE UDOH Blessings Inherent in Us, Just Discover Yourself Anniete Udoh is a Gospel musician who started singing at the age of 10. She has grown to be a blessing to herself and her listening community with three albums to her credit. Udoh talks to Tosin Clegg about her music, her recently released album and much more

GOSPEL POWERHOUSE, ANTHONY ADOKI SET TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM Anthony Adoki is a renowned and award-winning gospel music artiste, leader and a goodwill ambassador. He studied music business from the School of Audio Engineering in Capetown South Africa and is currently one of the lead vocalists and a worship leader at the Redeemed Christian Church of God City of David Parish.

He is a counselor and a member of Fellowship of Gospel Music Ministers Of Nigeria (FOGMMON), an internationally recognised body. His visit to America in recently granted him an opportunity to minister in music to a large audience of different platforms across America.

Anthony Adoki has also taken his music to other countries of the world like Israel, Namibia and South Africa. His traditionally unique style of music won him and his Expression Band, the

Circle of Stars award in South Africa in 2016. He and his band has been privileged to grace both

international and local stages with the likes of Donnie Mclucking, Tyee tribbet, Micah stampley, Ceecee Winas, Sammie Okposo and Nathaniel Bassey, to mention a few. His debut album released in 2009 was a huge success and several singles have been released ever since then.

His latest single titled ‘Pair With Me’, an Afro/highlife love song, has enjoyed massive airplay in Nigeria and across African countries.

The song was written in Igbo and Yoruba with a blend of African traditional instruments. Anthony Adoki and his Expression Band are loved by different audiences because of their traditional flavour and the uniqueness in their style of music. His forthcoming album is scheduled to be released in the first quarter of next year to kick-start their tour in Nigeria, Europe and United States of America.

GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB HITS NIGERIAN CINEMA Girl in the Spider’s Web is a 2018 crime thriller film directed by Fede Álvarez and written by Steven Knight, Álvarez and Jay Basu. It is based on the novel of the same name

by David Lagercrantz, which in turn is based on characters in the book series by Stieg Larsson. The film, a soft-reboot with different actors, is a sequel to David Fincher’s The

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and the second installment in the Americanproduced Millennium film series.

It stars Claire Foy, taking over the role of Lisbeth Salander from Rooney Mara, and follows Salander as she tries to rescue and exact vengeance for battered women. Sverrir Gudnason, LaKeith Stanfield, Sylvia Hoeks, and Stephen Merchant also

appear in the film.

The Girl in the Spider’s Web premiered at the Rome Film Festival on October 24, 2018, and was released by Sony Pictures. Releasing in Sweden on October 26, 2018, and in the United States on November 9, 2018. The film received mixed reviews from critics, although Foy’s performance was praised.

EMIRALTY AFRICA PLANS TO EXPAND IMPACT ON NOLLYWOOD Idris Olakunle Bello is a Public Relations/Digital Marketing enthusiast and Arts Administrator with significant impacts in the academic field of arts and Yoruba film industry respectively.

On his plan for Nollywood, he said, “I am working on convening a symposium for Nollywood filmmakers and stakeholders, to have a cursory glance at the issues of digital marketing, contents direction and social media. Also, I’m currently consulting for BBC

Yoruba as they are planning a conference with Nollywood (Yoruba) actors to discuss the issues of content, quality control and the media.

As founder and creative lead, Emiralty Africa - a Digital Media and PR outfit operating from the city of Lagos, he has worked with top individuals and corporate brands to set and yield excellent results.

He currently handles the Media and Public Relations

affairs of the following brands/ personalities: Veteran filmmaker Adebayo Salami; Remi Oshodi (Surutu), Corporate Pictures Films Production and Marketing, Seyi Edun, Wumi Toriola, Karshoky Entertainment (A Qatar-based entertainment company), among others. He has also handled social media campaigns for over 80 Nollywood Yoruba movies, with a view to getting heavy and commendable impressions from fans, critics and viewers.

H

ow did your journey as a musician start?

My mum introduced me to the choir of her church at age 10. Ever since I have always been in the choir and it got to a point, I started writing my songs and singing. Each time I minister, people, say I’m a blessing. I remember an elderly woman who kept saying I want to buy your album and she inspired my first album which I released in 1999.

Tell us about your new album?

‘I Would Trust In You’ is the title of the new album and I don’t struggle to write songs, it just comes about naturally.

It was around February this year, I decided to go back to the studio and I was asking the Lord for the songs and He was just delivering them to me. There are about eight tracks on the album, which was produced by Ambassador Wole Oni.

What other things are you into?

I’m a career person. I studied Banking and Finance and later went into Insurance. I’m a Chartered Insurer and I believe we are made in the image of God, making us filled with different potentials. Inherent in us are blessings and it’s just for you to discover yourself. Talent is not something to struggle with but when you manage your time well things fall in place.

Looking forward, what are your plans?

The future looks bright for me and when I came out with ‘God of Miracle’ in May, this year, the acceptance was something else. I ministered in the U.S. in about four states and was widely accepted. The next thing is to come out with a video of the song and we’ll continue from there.

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t NOVEMBER 17, 2018

48

SHOWBIZFLAIR OGE GABRIEL

I Strike Balance in Everything I Do, Cannot Lose Focus to Fame Fast rising actress, Oge Gabriel, is just 21 years and has featured in a couple of high-profile movies including the epic series, Ojukwu, currently showing on iRokoTV. Her brilliant display on screen is just a signal that a new generation of movie stars is born and places her among budding talents that will shake the industry. She talks to Chinedu Ibeabuchi about her passion and plan for the industry

Y

hardwork.

ou are one of the fastest growing actress in Nollywood. How did you achieve this feat?

I cannot play a role where I would have to carry a live snake even if they already made it harmless. I so much hate snakes and their looks.

So I don’t want to have anything at all to do with them no matter the amount

It’s God’s grace, determination and

How did your acting career start?

I have always loved movies so much from childhood that I started dreaming of being an actor. My friend shot a short film in 2017 which I played a major role in. I posted it on Facebook and from there, I got the interest of Ossy Affason Jnr. Production. He started casting me in his movies and from there, it’s been a wonderful journey with interest from other producers like MaryRemmy Njoku who cast me in Ojukwu, the Epic series currently on iRokotv/Rok2.

With many established actresses taking major roles, do you think it’s easy for upcoming acts to break through?

The truth is that our movie industry is growing so big every day. It may not be easy but there are lots of opportunities to accommodate more actors in the industry. There are still producers who entrust major roles on talented upcoming actors as far as the delivery is as good as they want it.

How do you combine acting and schooling?

I feel very bad when I hear people say they hate Nollywood, that they can’t waste their time watching Nollywood movies and that our graphics and effects qualities are so poor, etc.

I wish I could recreate those people’s mindset and how they perceive the Nollywood industry. But I know that soon, these haters will turn to Nollywood enthusiasts.

It’s not been very easy but two of them are what I can’t really leave behind. God has given me the strength to push through. It’s just like students that work to help themselves in school.

It’s a University so I read whenever I am free and I shoot when I‘m not writing exams because I do not want to miss my exams for any reason.

Can you share events in your growing up stage that have influenced your career or life philosophy?

Acting also comes with fame.

How do you manage this to remain focused?

Oh yeah! But then I cannot lose focus to fame. I often remind myself of the need to focus on my studies, activities and dreams because I really have to reach my goals in life. So, in my life pursuit, I try to strike the balance in everything I do.

Like I said earlier, I have always loved movies and I started dreaming of being an actor from childhood. When I was growing up, I used to do some short drama with my friends. I also used to take part in my primary and secondary school drama. I used to act at home watching myself in the mirror mimicking Chika Ike, Ini Edo, Stephenie Okereke and others. The school drama helped me to conquer my fears and improved my self-esteem.

Before choosing to feature in a film, what do you consider?

The most important thing I consider is where the film is going to. I try my best to feature in films with good ratings. What’s the need featuring in a film when it may not turn out good for the audience to relish time spent watching it?

Where do you see yourself soon

Gabriel

in the industry?

The journey has only begun and I know that the journey to stardom has its own crosses. I believe I am a prominent actor in the making. I see myself as

a renowned producer bringing new spice to Nollywood, providing more opportunities for budding talents and making the industry better and our movie content more creative and richer.

Despite cinemas, many movie producers still shoot exclusively for DVD release. Is there still a huge market in that segment?

I think there are lots of people that

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER t NOVEMBER 17, 2018

Acting is a Lucrative Career but it’s good to have a Backup cannot afford going to the cinemas and lots of people whom the cinemas are not close to, mostly the people in the rural areas of the country. Some are people who cannot afford PayTV and Video on Demand, so they buy DVD films.

Who is your role model and why?

My Role model is Mary Remmy Njoku, I like her so much. She has achieved a lot and helped a lot of people. She is a true definition of God’s grace! She grows day by day. Despite all she’s got, she is still down to earth, very very humble and accommodating. Finally, I love the happy family she has built and maintained with her husband.

What role can you never act even if offered N20 million? And why?

Haaaa!!! I cannot play a role where I would have to carry a live snake even if they already made it harmless. I so much hate snakes and their looks. So I don’t want to have anything at all to do with them no matter the amount.

How do you feel each time you see yourself on Africa Magic and iRokoTV? Dream come through?

OMG! I feel very excited and pleased with myself (Laughs). I feel very happy when people call me to tell me that they are watching or they watched me. Yes, I feel like my dreams are coming true already but the journey to stardom has only begun. A new generation of movie stars is born.

So how do you manage your male admirers? Can you share one embarrassing encounter?

Laughs! It’s cool when a lady has male admirers. It makes her feel like a Lady.

I try as much as possible to be friends with every responsible ones. I have not had any embarrassing encounter though, perhaps because I maintain my lane.

When not acting, what do you do? And how do you relax?

Movies, movies and movies. During school session, I read as well. I’m a little bit of an indoor person, I just chill with my phone, open Instagram, blogs, etc and relax with what’s happening in the social space. I also open some comedy pages on Instagram and laugh my time out.

So tell us about your relationship?

Single, engaged or married? Are you waiting for Mr Perfect?

Single but in a healthy relationship.

How would you describe your ideal man?

A man who loves and respects God and me. A man with a strong will, a man who gives me space to be who I am and provides me with huge love and support. A man who loves all those around him, a man with integrity and honesty and understanding , a man who is hardworking, a man with compassion, a man who is interesting and full of fun.

How would you describe your personal style?

I love being natural and love styles that I don’t get choked on. Unique style that I know and a style that knows me (Laughs), basically a style that flows well for me.

From your acting stint, do you think acting is a lucrative career as we are made to believe?

Acting is a lucrative career but it’s good to have a backup. It provides you with other profitable opportunities as well. It’s already lucrative for me and it’s going to be more lucrative by God’s grace while I have my backup. I like the flexibility of the career!

Gabriel

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˜ ˞ NOVEMBER 17, 2018

TRIBUTE

From UI, A Well-Deserved Award for Akindele Joseph Ushigiale

T

he University of Ibadan will today roll out the red carpets for an illustrious son of the soil and Parakoyi of Ibadan Land, an industrialist extraordinaire and philantopist, Chief Bode Akindele who is billed to received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters from the institution to add to scores of others recognising his immeasurable contributions to humanity.

Born in 1933 as a privileged child to a well-known Ibadan family of Late Pa Laniyan Akindele, the first Chief Tax Officer of the then Ibadan Native Authority and the Late Alhaja Rabiatu Adedigba Akindele, a prominent merchant and the first lady in Ibadan to go on Holy Pilgimage to Mecca and Medina, Akindele’s journey through the university of life is in reverse mode. Rather than coming from grass to grace, his was a grace to greater grace story given his background.

Unlike his peers who craved for university education after secondary school, Akindele even with his wealthy family background decided that after his primary and secondary education in Ibadan and Abeokuta opted to enroll for overseas tuition correspondence courses in Secretarial skills, Accountancy and Business Management.

Rather than basking in the glory of his upper class background, Akindele chose the uncharted path of striving to be self-made. His gamble paid off handsomely and he is today an international acknowledged industrialist and highly respected person.

Working Life

Between 1952 and 1956, he worked and grew through the ranks and learning ropes in various commercial enterprises including U.A.C Limited as a Trainee Manager; Ibadan Traders Association Limited as Personal Assistant to the Managing Director; Ibadan Bus Services Limited as an Assistant Accountant and later also as an Under-Secretary of the Western Nigeria Union of Importers and Exporters (Incorporated).

Foray into Business

Akindele founded Modandola Group, one of the largest Nigerian-owned conglomerates with interests across the agriculture, beverages, food processing, manufacturing, maritime, real estate and transportation sectors. His company has its international headquarters in the UK where another of his companies, Fairgate Group, deals mainly in commercial properties and counts retail chains like Sainsbury’s and Asda Walmart as tenants.

As a man with deep foresight, Akindele visualized far into the future and founded Modandola as a commodities trading house in the 1950s. When the Nigerian government issued an indigenisation decree in 1972 that mandated British companies to transfer some equities to local businessmen, Akindele acquired a stake in Umarco, a leading shipping company controlled by the Rothschild family. He was also part of a consortium that acquired Stockholm-based tobacco company, Swedish Match in 1990 and sold it to Procordia two years later.

Furthermore, he holds significant stakes in blue-chip companies

Akindele

in the US, as well as a sizeable real estate portfolio in the country.

Within this same period (1956 and 1962), he established Oke ‘Badan Brothers & Company (Produce Merchants); moved its headquarters to Lagos as he felt that the then Western Region, consisting of what is now known as Mid West and Delta States was becoming too small for his business. He took a bold move to establish Modandola Investments Limited which is into property development and later became the flagship and Holding Company of the following companies: Associated Match Industries (Nigeria) Limited, Coastal Services (Nigeria) Limited, Obelawo Farcha Fishing Industries Ltd, Standard Flour Mills Ltd, Standard Packaging (Nigeria) Ltd. Encouraged by the huge success that greeted him at home, in 1983, he set his sights on much higher business stakes and deciding to establish various businesses in Europe, Eastern and Southern Africa and the Pacific Regions.

By 1990, he confounded his competitors by successfully acquiring a major international conglomerate called Swedish Match, the world’s largest manufacturers of Matches and lighters with operations in sixty-two countries covering the five continents of the world. He is also the founder of Bode Akindele Foundation (BAF) for Charity and Alhaja Rabiatu Adedigba Akindele Medical Centre (ARAMED) and currently serves on the Board of Directors of several international companies in both Europe, Eastern and Southern African Regions.

Awards and HonoursOther awards already in Akindele’s

kitty are Oyo State Government Award as the best contributor to the social economic growth of the State in 1989; His Royal Highness, the Late Oba Adetayo Akinbiyi, the Olubadan of Ibadan conferred on him with the chieftaincy title of Parakoyi of Ibadan Land in 1981; the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes honoured him with a Merit Award for his exemplary services and special contributions to the development of Ibadan Land in 1994.Others are, the Methodist Church Cathedral, Agbeni, Ibadan, bestowed on him the title of Baba Ijo of the Cathedral in 1995; The Methodist Church Nigeria bestowed on him the Knighthood of John Wesley (KJW); Honorary Life Vice-President of NAACIMA; Vice PATRON, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Oyo State Branch; PATRON, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Lagos State Branch; Life Patron, Wesley Group, Methodist Cathedral, Yaba, Lagos; Patron, Wesley Guild, Hoare’s Memorial Methodist Cathedral, Yaba, Lagos; Holy Pilgrimage to Jerusalem (JP) in 1999.He was also conferred with the National Honour of the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) by the President, Olusegun Obasanjo in 2002; Fellow of Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM) in 2004; Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, awarded Certificate of Recognition, of Outstanding pioneering contributions to the development of the Maritime Industry in Nigeria in 2005; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Wesley University of Science and Technology (WUSTO); Redeemer’s University honoured him with An Outstanding Contribution Award and awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Management Technology at the Federal University of Technology, Akure in 2006.

Having accomplished his set goals in the corporate environment, Akindele is now set on doing good to society and has established the BAYI Foundation. At its launched in 1985, he said it is primarily a service to Nigerian Youths, adding that BAYI is a collaborative youth development project that has been conceived to provide platforms to stimulate and support youths in innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership and development. “The primary objective is to develop millions of positively focused and well oriented Nigerian youths as innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders. As some of you may have known because of our association over the years, my inspiration through God’s help is to be of benefit to mankind. This inspiration led to the establishment of the BODE AKINDELE FOUNDATION (BAF) in 1985 which has been involved in several special projects, some of which are also dedicated to the development of our youths. “BAF in addition, has sponsored and financed a good number of Nigerians, Christians and Muslims, including clergies, to perform holy pilgrimages. At BAF we try to assist in alleviating the sufferings of others, promote good causes and sustain good and laudable visions. We cover education, research and offer support to the disabled and deprived; it is therefore easy for us to collaborate with others to seek to do what is required for the development of our youths. “We have to come together for the youth (our tomorrow) by taking meaningful actions to tackle the threats and the challenges that are militating against their proper development. These challenges are real. They may take a long time to solve, but that shouldn’t discourage any of us from the belief that we can make a difference. It should inspire us to take immediate actions.

And more than anything, that’s what is needed today – the engagement of everyone who wants to see a better future for our children,� he said.

70 Coronets for Martins Luther Agwai Ahamefula Ogbu

F

ormer Army chief, Martins Luther Agwai who clocked 70 last week is an accomplished man in every field of endeavor he ever ventured into in life. He has the towering image of a giant but gently touches every being with the dove-like balm that engendered him to humanity. Aman of peace who rarely applied the advantages of his strength against the weak, an intellectual giant that scored some rare strings of firsts that brought honour to his family and country; he reached the peak of his profession early in life before exiting into civil society to further his contributions.It was therefore no surprise when the crème de la crème of Nigeria and beyond gathered to celebrate him at 70 where encomiums were poured on him. Most who spoke traced the trajectory of his meteoric rise in his military career which saw world bodies asking for his services from Nigeria.

Born to a Christian family November 8, 1948 in Kaduna, he grew up in the family tradition of deep faith and was the President of Fellowship of Christian Students at Government Secondary School, Zaria. His career path started when he joined and graduated from the Nigerian Command and Staff College, then proceeded to British Army Staff College, Camberley and later, United States Army Armor School amongst others. Agwai manifested academic prowess early, making his superlative grades which stood him out when he made a distinction in his Post Graduate diploma in Public Administration at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) and National Defence University, Washington DC, where he obtained a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy. At NDU, he won the Ambassadors Award for excellence in research and writing, making him the first foreigner to win the award.

Alook at his career trajectory explains the respect he is accorded wherever he goes. Commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1972, he at various times was Chief of Training and Operations and Director, Military Training at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna. Nigerian Military Adviser at Harare which coveredSouthern Africa from 1993-1996. He also was a Directing Staff and Chief Instructor at the Command and Staff College Jaji. Agwai was

Agwai

the Deputy Military Adviser at the United Nations Headquarters, New York and later, Chief of Army Staff before becoming the Chief of Defence Staff among other positions.

Agwai further left his footprints on the international theater as he manned one of the biggest peacekeeping operations in the world with approximately 20,000 troops and 6,000 police as the commander of the combined United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur where his humane standards was imprinted. In a defining rule of engagement in the Darfur peace

operations, the British Broadcasting Commission, quoted him to have said: “We are not here to conquer anybody; we are not here to compel any peace. We are here to work with the Sudanese people - both the government and the parties to assist them to find peace.

We are not here to impose peace. We are not here to fight anybody.�

General Martin Luther Agwai retired in 2009. During the pulling out parade, then Minister of Defence, Retired Maj-Gen Godwin Osagie Abbe said “the magnificent parade accorded Agwai is an indication that the nation is happy... the country is proud to produce a fine officer and a gentleman who gave a good account of himself. I am expressing the Commander-in-Chief’s pleasure,President Umaru Yar’Adua for the service he had rendered to his country and beyond and that is what an officer should be�.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Agwai’s 70th birthday anniversary described him as a clever officer, adding, “During my watch, Agwai moved from being the Chief of Army Staff to be the Chief of Defence Staff. When I still believed we needed him, the international community believed they needed him more than we did. I had to reluctantly let him go.�

The former president noted that the celebrator performed creditably to the extent that he became the adviser to Secretary-General of the United Nations, on military matters.

Obasanjo also described Agwai as an icon as far as military service was concerned in Nigeria and in the international community. “He is a man of his people, an intellectual in his own right. When we have leaders like Agwai, we should count ourselves lucky. We should squeeze them and get the best from them. He has always made himself available any time. We need to make use of these qualities in Agwai,� Obasanjo who is austere in his praises said.

He also commended Agwai for the good work he had been doing in supporting democracy, both within and outside Nigeria.

Looking intently at him, he said, “You have been recorded by history as a Nigerian who embodies all the highpoints of our national achievements.�

Speaking on behalf of the friends of the celebrator, Justice Stephen Makeri, also described Agwai as a global icon. “May you continue to strive in all you want,� Makeri prayed.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ NOVEMBER 17, 2018

POLITY

Umahi, Masari, Ugwuanyi, Okowa, Ishaku to Be Honoured at SME Summit Godwin Amadi

M

any stakeholders, including Governors Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Aminu Masari (Katsina), Ifeanyi Ugwanyi (Enugu), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba), are using Small and Medium size Enterprises (SMEs) to give succour to the army of

Umahi

unemployed youths and women in their states. They are creating jobs not only to boost their states’ respective economies but also providing the atmosphere for businesses to thrive.

The governors seem to be working out of the conviction that SMEs are the engine of economic growth. The expert opinion that SMEs provide the shortest route to economic prosperity sounds true in many countries, especially the advanced countries, where SMEs have been used to build

Osinbajo

strong and sustainable economies.

The journey to setting Nigeria’s SMEs on a sound footing began with the establishment of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

Established under the SMEDAN Act 2003, the mandate is to stimulate, monitor and coordinate the development of the micro, small and medium enterprises, MSMEs, sub-sector in Nigeria.

The latest initiative to reposition

Ugwuanyi

Nigeria’s SMEs is Nigeria SME Summit and Awards 2018.

Driven by Lakewhyte Communications and significantly endorsed by SMEDAN, the Nigeria SME Summit and Awards 2018 is designed to showcase the giant strides of SMEs operators in the face of the odds, promote excellence among the operators and recognise stakeholders who have helped to advance the cause of the sector.

It also promises to be a platform to brainstorm on the challenges inherent in the sector and point the way forward.

The ceremony, according to the organisers, is scheduled to hold on November 29, 2018 in Abuja.

The organisers pointed out that the event is to retune SMEs in such a way that they act as the engine of economic growth and thus help to take Nigeria out of the cesspit.

Apart from the SMEDAN endorsement of the project, Vice President Osinbajo is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour. The choice of the VP to play the role at the Nigeria SME Summit and Awards 2018 is understandable, given the huge attention MSMEs have been getting from the Buhari administration through his headship of the EMT. .

Significantly, five governors who have been adjudged as standing out of the pack in their pro-SME schemes will be honoured at the event.

Umahi, Masari, Ugwuanyi, Okowa and Ishaku, among others, will receive awards for being SME-friendly.

A former deputy governor of Ogun State, Alhaji Adegbenga Kaka, an agriculture entrepreneur, is also billed to receive an award at the occasion while Alhaji (Dr.) Shehu Chindo Yamusa 111, the Emir of Keffi, is the Royal Father of the Day.

PHOTO NEWS

L-R: Secretary General of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Adebowale Oyinleye; Commercial Director, Mott Macdonald Qatar, Mutiu Olayide; President of NIQS, Obafemi Onashile; Managing Director of Mott Macdonald, Mr. Gray Peach; and the Deputy President of the Institute, M. Abba Tor, when Onashile led a delegation of the Institute on a training tour of the $261m storm and ground water pumping station and underground tunnel construction, managed by Mott Macdonald Consultants in Doha, Qatar… recently

L-R: L-R: Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma,; COO, Beeta Universal Arts Foundation, Bikiya Graham-Douglas; and Senior Manager, Program Implementation, MTN Foundation, Abasi-Ekong Udobang, at the premiere of the MTN Foundation sponsored Our Son The Minister at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos

L-R: Remi Adewulu; Senator Osinakachukwu Ideozu; Chairman Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Gbenga Ashafa; Senator Victor Umeh; acting Director General of Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Dr. Abimbola Odumosu; and acting Director of Procurement NITT, Dr. John Adakole, during the Senate Committee on Land Transport’s oversight visit to the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology outreach center in Kano... recently

L-R: President, CFA Society Nigeria, Mr. Banji Fehintola; Head, Corporate Banking, FSDH Merchant Bank Limited,Ms. Stella-Marie Omogbai;Executive Director, Treasury / International Banking, FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, Ms. Olufunsho Olusanya; and President / Chairman in Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Dr Uche Olowu, at the CFA Society Nigeria awards ceremony. where FSDH Merchant Bank was presented with the Gender Diversity award in Lagos recently

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍżËœ ͺ͸͚΀

NEWS

AfDB Approves US$40m for Africa Infrastructure Investment Fund Charles Ajunwa

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved its third equity investment of US$40 million in Africa Infrastructure Investment Fund (AIIF3), a closed-ended pan-African infrastructure fund managed by South Africa-based Africa Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM).

The proposal represents the Bank’s third investment with this fund manager, following a 1996 investment in SAIF and a 2010 investment in AIIF2. With this, the African Development Bank stands to have a positive additional role through this investment, given that the fundraising market continues to be very challenging, leaving an important role to be played by DFIs. In his presentation to the Board, the Bank Group’s Director of Infrastructure and Urban Development, Amadou Oumarou, said that private equity in Africa remained a nascent sector. “The recent downturn in global commodity prices and a reorientation away from private

equity in Africa by a few DFIs have lowered fundraising expectations across the board. This is negatively affecting the availability of equity capital for Africa’s infrastructure space. In this sense, the Bank would play a counter-cyclical role through this investment,� he said.

Commercial and institutional investors are likely to view the Bank’s investment as a positive demonstration effect. The Bank’s investment will also ensure the highest environmental and social standards are applied to AIIF3.

In terms of development outcomes, AIIF3 will create a quantifiable and measurable social and environmental impact by supporting energy and transport infrastructure access across Sub-Saharan Africa. The Fund will support the creation of over 1,500 jobs at the project level and enhance capacity building and skills-transfer .

AIIF is Africa-based and features five regional offices in South Africa, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, and Kenya.

This translates to on-the-ground knowledge and strong relationships to source infrastructure investment opportunities.

RECOGNISED FOR EXCELLENCE... Â L-R: Corp Marshall, Federal Road Safety Commission, Boboye Opeyemi; Chairman, FRSC board, Mr. Bukhari Bello and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; during a courtesy visit to the Governor in Ado-Ekiti...yesterday

Sultan Preaches Unity Among Muslim Ikpeazu to Inaugurate Construction of Organisations Abam Ring Road Next Week Femi Ogbonnikan Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ?ÙÕĂ&#x;ÞË˿

Sultan of Sokoto, Dr. Saad Abubakar, has charged Muslim organisations to work in harmony with one another towards propagating the teachings of Prophet Mohammed who placed much emphasis on peaceful co-existence.

The first class monarch warned against divisions among Muslim organisations, saying Muslims’ togetherness had paid off over the years.

Speaking at the unveiling of Nawair -Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria’s National Central Mosque, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, on Friday, the Sultan said the foundation of the Mosque laid in 1984, should not be a source of worry for the delay, as a result of paucity of fund, but it should be accepted as a time allotted by Allah for its completion 34 years thereafter.Â

The monarch said, “As Muslims, we should belong to all the Muslim organisations. There should not be any division or any discrepancies of whatsoever, because we should consider ourselves first as Muslims before any other thing. “And that is what we have been preaching in the last 12 years.

Alhamudullilahi, we have come a long way and we have seen the result of our being together as brothers and sisters in Islam. “I want to thank all of you who contributed in this project of 34 years. This mosque would not have been completed before now because this is the time Almighty Allah said it’s going to be completed.�

He, however, commended the resilience and commitment of the leadership of the society to have the Mosque project completed.

Also, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, saluted

the tenacity of the leadership of the mosque and made a personal donation of N10 million towards the building project.

In his own short remarks, registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, admonished members of the Nawair-Ud-Deen society to bequeath on their children teachings of Islamic knowledge and values with a view to sustaining the religion.

He equally insisted that only children with sound Islamic knowledge, moral and values would maintain such a giant mosque.  Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Sakariyau Babalola, who is the Deputy President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), noted that the society had contributed significantly as well, uplifted the “public perception of Muslims in Yorubaland.�

Fayemi: I Didn’t Denigrate ASUU Strike VictorOgunje Ă“Ă˜ ĂŽĂ™ ÕÓÞÓ

The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has denied denigrating the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over its agitations and ongoing strike.

Fayemi said his statement has been given several interpretations, particularly to a recent press interview he granted in France, where he alluded to the fact that the union and indeed tertiary institutions had fared better under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode in Ado Ekiti on Friday, said unfortunately, the interview had been misconstrued as a direct comment on salaries of professors and undue meddling in the affairs of ASUU. Fayemi added that as someone from the university system, there was no way he could denigrate professors and the teaching profession.

“Suffice it to say, however, that the thrust of the media interview was the need for honest debate on basic and tertiary education in the country. The reference to salaries of professors was only a light–hearted response to the question as to whether the governor thought university professors were well paid. “Also, contrary to the insinuations that the Governor’s interview took place during the President’s interactive session with the Nigerian Community, the interview actually took place a day after the event. “What Governor Fayemi did in the interview was an appraisal of the country’s educational system, while emphasising that the Buhari administration, more than the previous administrations, had made substantial investment in the sector, which must be acknowledged. “Excerpts of the interview reproduced point clearly at the direction of the interview, which in all intent

and purpose was not an attempt to meddle in the affairs of the union as alleged by some of its chapters.

Fayemi had in the interview said: “I made bold to say that no government has done as much as this government.

Not just for ASUU, but for tertiary education in our country. “Is it enough? Absolutely, it is not going to be enough. We have to keep doing more. “But ask yourself what was the average wage in the university system before. A university professor earn more than me as a governor. My salary as a governor is N500,000.

Most university professors earn about the same amount if not more. “Yes, you may argue that there are other opportunities available, there are also other opportunities that are available that are not being taken advantage of by our academics. I can say a little bit about this because this is my terrain.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State will next week inaugurate the construction of the six-kilometreAbam ring road which will cut across several villages in the agrarian community.

The road which cuts across Ndi Oji Abam through Atan, Eziafor to Ndi OkorieinArochukwuLocalGovernment Area of  the state is in fulfilment of the promise by the Governor when he was hosted to a reception at Ozu Abam preparatory to his declaration of interest to contest for a second term as governor.

Commissioner for Works, Abia State, Hon. Eziuche Ubani confirmed to THISDAY that the procurement process for the construction of the road had been processed and assured that prime importance was placed on the road by the administration in its policy of equitable distribution of development and amenities. “We are in a hurry to do that road becauseitcutsacrossveryfertilecommunities thatarefoodbasketsandwillopenupmany communitiesinlinewiththedevelopment agenda of this administration. “I went with a team of engineers to

do the necessary preliminary processes and yes, we are flagging off the road as soon as His Excellency returns from an official engagement outside the country,�

Ubani said.

Hon.UkoNkole,memberrepresenting theArochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency in the House of Representatives while confirming the development, assured that he would continue to use his good offices to attract the best and most needed development projects to his constituency in line with his campaign promises.

He recalled that he muted the idea for the construction of the road to Ikpeazu during the reception where the governor told him to constitute an Abam think thank to determine areas of immediate priorities to the community.

Following that, a body headed by Professor Kenneth Kalu was constituted and after deliberations, arrived at the construction of the road as immediate priority of Abam Onyerubi and once the message was relayed to Ikpeazu, he dispatched Ubani to commence

action on the road.

Ubani said the road would have about six culverts and would be built with stone base given the terrain.

During the inspection of the road, Ubani who also paid a courtesy call on theAtita 1 of EtitiAbam, Eze Okorukwu Ayi in his palace at Atan Abam assured that work would start in earnest so that it could be delivered as soon as possible.

The royal father commended Ikpeazu and Hon Nkole who he praised for attending to priority needs of his constituents. He assured them of block vote of electorates in his domain as long as they remember them is developmental projects.

Also speaking, President General of Atan Abam Development Union, Mr. Monday Okorie Uche thanked the team and charged Ikpeazu to always go with Hon. Nkole on any issue concerning the constituency as he had proved a worthy representative of the people, adding, “Your second terms are assured.�

Emenike Reassures Supporters of Gubernatorial Mandate A chieftain and founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Ikechi Emenike, has assured supporters of the sanctity of his candidacy in the 2019 Abia governorship election. Emenike stated that the controversy trailing the APC’s governorship primary in the state would be resolved in his favour either by the party leadership or the court of law.

Emenike was declared winner (Obidikee1)  of the APC governorship primaries held on September 30 by Dr. Emmanuel Ndukwe’s faction of Abia State’s APC. Prof. Okezie Abariukwu, Chief Returning Officer, announced in Umuahia that Emenike received a total of 274,133 votes to defeat other six contenders in the party’s governorship primary election. His name was, however, omitted from

the list the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He described the list of candidates forwarded to INEC as Adams Oshiomhole’s “private list� that would not stand the test of the law.

(Oshiomhole is the National Chairman of APC). “I believe strongly that that list is, perhaps at best, Governor Oshiomhole’s ‘private list,’ which he used his office to forward to INEC. And I’m reassuring the vast supporters of the APC that it will not be the final list at the end of the day,� Emenike said.

He regretted that the APC was saddled with a national chairman that shows disdain for court orders and pronouncements. “Ultimately, we have to wait and see how it pans out. A lot of us who are

governorship candidates are in court. And as long as Nigeria is a country governed by the rule of law and practices constitutional democracy, the antics of one man cannot prevail. So, I believe quite frankly that the list is not going to be final,� Emenike said.

Notwithstanding the temporary setback on realising his governorship aspiration, has called on aggrieved members not to leave the party because of the antics of Oshiomhole.“The bottom line, like we tell our members, is to still remain in the party. And that is the good news because, before, virtually everybody would have jumped out of the party. But the attitude is that we are the pioneer members of the party and should not leave the party we founded and nurtured for new entrants to take over,� Emenike said.

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THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍżËœ ͺ͸͚΀

NEWSXTRA

Public-private Partnerships Can Ease Nigeria’s Housing Crisis, Says Okonkwo Charles Ajunwa

IN HIS VINEYARD...

L – R: National Coordinator, Strategic Outreaches FGBMFI , Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa; National Vice-President , Mr. Okeoma Agu; National President FGBMFI - Nigeria, Mr. Ifeanyi Odedo; National Vice President Outreaches FGBMFI, Mr. Isaac Okpanachi ; and District Coordinator – South West 3 District FGBMFI , Mr. Fola Aguda , at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International Nigeria Convention with the theme A ‘ n Open Door’ held at the Police College, Ikeja. Lagos... recently

Court Rules Buhari’s Appointment as Petroleum Minister Lawful Alex Enumah Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has held that the appointment of President Muhammadu Buhari as Minister of Petroleum Resources did not contravene provisions of the country’s constitution.

According to the judge, Buhari’s appointment would have been illegal but for the appointment of Dr. Ibe Kachikwu as Minister of State, who oversees the day-to-day running of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

Justice Mohammed made the declaration while delivering judgment in a suit filed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba.

Justice Mohammed, in the judgment held that, “the phrase ‘hold’ as contained in S. 138 meant to preside, act, to possess, occupy or conduct the actual day to day running of the office.

According to the judge, Buhari by proclaiming or announcing that he was the Minister for Petroleum was not enough to conclude that he holds the office of Minister.

Justice Mohammed maintained that if the president had not appointed someone (Kachikwu) to see to the day to day running of the office, the court’s decision would have been different. “Unless it can be shown that the President is directly conducting,

Bayelsa: Furore over Incessant Police Deployment Gets Messier Emmanuel Addeh Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă‹

The fight over who influenced the deployment of at least seven Police Commissioners to Bayelsa in about 10 weeks has become messier, with allegations and counter allegations between the state government and opposition elements.

The controversy deepened yesterday even as Bayelsa elders, cutting across all the eight local councils of the state, rejected an alleged plan by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to disband the state-funded security outfit, Doo Akpor, for reasons they described as suspicious.

Coming under the Forum of Restoration Caucus Chairmen, the elders comprising mainly octogenarians, said the move was not only unpatriotic, but would further degenerate the security situation of the state.

The state has recently been under the siege of cultists and armed robbers, who have killed and maimed residents, which the government attributed to the frequent change in deployment of Commissioners of Police in the state.

Leaders of the forum, headed

by Chief Thompson Okorotie, a

lawmaker in old Rivers State, told journalists in Yenagoa that planning to ban the outfit for political reasons was not only unpatriotic but capable of compromising the entire security architecture of the state.

Some other prominent elders who attended the meeting were Chief Francis Doukpala (Sagbama), Godwin Odumgba (Yenagoa), Dr. George Fente (Nembe), Victor Sam-Ateki (Brass), Talford Ongolo (Southern Ijaw), George Okrinya (Ogbia) and Isaac Kumoko (Kolokuma/Opokuma).

They maintained that the plan of those prodding the IG to scrap the security outfit, was to make the state ungovernable in preparation for the 2019 election. “ We, therefore urge the Inspector General of Police not to allow himself to be deceived, instead he should continue to allow the outfit to do the good job that it is currently doing for which the Nigeria Police is the major beneficiary,� the elders said.

They also bemoaned the posting and reposting of at least seven police chiefs to the state in the last 10 weeks, maintaining that it had negatively affected security of the people in the state.

directing, occupying the office of the Petroleum Minister then, it can be said that the President actually holds the office of the Petroleum Minister,� the court held.

Buhari appointed Ibe Kachikwu as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, and made himself the senior Minister.

This led the Senior lawyer to drag him before the Abuja High Court seeking an order of court nullifying Buhari’s appointment as Minister of Petroleum Resources.

In the suit No. ABJ/CS/1005/2017, Agbakoba prayed the court to determine if Buhari could hold the position of Minister without the confirmation of the National Assembly.

He said the chaos at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) would not have happened if the President was not Petroleum Minister. “I verily believe that the governance chaos in the NNPC could not have occurred if the president is not also

the Minister of Petroleum Resources. “I am aware that the NNPC provides up to 90 per cent of the revenue accruing to Nigeria. “I am worried that the crisis in the NNPC will greatly reduce Nigeria’s revenue-generating capacity and will affect the revenue distributable to federal, state and local governments in Nigeria,� he submitted. Agbakoba, who is a former National President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said the chaos would  gravely affect development nationwide and drastically impact one and all Nigerians including those in Anambra State (his state of origin) and Lagos State (his state of residence). “I looked at section 138 of the 1999 Constitution and I verily believe it disqualifies the president from holding executive office including that of the Minister of Petroleum, during his tenure of office as president.

BPE Begins Commercialisation  of Four River Basin Devt Authorities Ndubuisi Francis Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË

The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has commenced the partial commercialisation of four River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) in the country, including those of Niger-Delta, Sokoto-Rima, Ogun-Osun and Upper Niger.

The BPE Director General, Mr. Alex Okoh, who made the disclosure at the kick-off meeting for the commencement of transaction advisory services by Agri-Africa Consultant A&E Law and Partnership Consortium for the partial commercialisation of the four RBDAs, expressed delight at the take-off of the exercise.

The main objective of the advisory service, he said, was to restructure and at heart and he is embarking on reposition the RBDAs for more people-oriented projects. For partial commercialisation and instance, he is building a world optimum performance, addtourism center in Ozubulu, Anambra ing that the kick-off meeting South which creates jobs for our was to formally introduce people, open the area for businesses the advisers to the Minister to thrive and among other benefits. of Water Resource, Suleiman “We also cannot forget the role Hussein Adamu and other Ifeanyi Ubah played during the last key stakeholders.

A statement released by general elections through Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN). BPE’s Head, Public ComUbah singlehanded sponsored and munications, Amina Tukur used the TAN platform to ensure Othman, said that Okoh massive election and reelection of noted that the scope of work PDP members into state, National by Agri-Africa Consultant A& E Law and Partnership Assembly and other offices.�

Egwu promised that IPM will Consortium is basically to continue to endorse candidates that provide the requisite advice have the people at heart irrespective and support required for the federal government to of their political parties.

Ihiala Peoples Mandate is successfully implement the a movement that comprises partial commercialisation of indigenes of Ihiala, which is the the RBDAs in a manner largest Local Government Area consistent with relevant in Anambra State and people national policies, laws and from Anambra South Senatorial international best practices.  The scope of work, among district.Â

IPM: Why We Endorsed Ifeanyi Ubah for Senate Ihiala Peoples Mandate has explained the reason the senatorial candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah was endorsed for Senate by IPM. According to the founder of the group, Egwu Odogwu N’epe Mpe, the decision of endorsing Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah for 2019 general elections was not patriotic. He said: “We made a very critical assessment of the candidates that emerged after various parties (PDP, APGA, APC, YPP and others) primary elections in Anambra South before adopting Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah as our candidate.�

Before adopting Ifeanyi Ubah as IPM candidate, IPM also looked at the antecedent and spoken manifestos of all the candidates participating in the 2019 senatorial election in Anambra South and Ifeanyi Ubah came top among others.

The YPP senatorial candidate has the Anambra South people

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nedcomoaks Limited, Dr. Kennedy Okonkwo, a top player in affordable real estate in Nigeria in the November edition of Forbes Africa has revealed that long-term partnerships between private and public sector was key to improving housing gap in Nigeria.

Nedcomoaks Limited, a real estate company engaged in the acquisition, development and management of properties in Nigeria has become a top player in Nigeria’s residential real estate sector which provides employment to thousands of people and annual revenues of over N15 billion in just under a decade.

Dr. Okonkwo has built a strong reputation as a passionate advocate of the power of the real estate sector in Nigeria to contribute to the socio-economic well-being of the country, by providing low-income housing solutions to Nigerians. Government and private players must understand the needs and earnings of the people to be able to service the area

of living in our society.

He revealed to Forbes Africa that public-private partnerships can ease Nigeria’s housing crisis. “Financing infrastructure deficit across Africa will involve collective innovation both across the public and the private sectors,� Okonkwo said.

Okonkwo further stated that creating affordable housing in the developing world requires truly understanding how people in those communities live, saying that a careful understanding of that fact would help in determining how fast we can meet the demands of fast-growing African cities.  The Forbes cover, in an interview with Dr. Okonkwo also revealed an in-depth survey on the key challenges to creating affordable housing in Africa’s growing cities and the need for efficient housing solutions with the role of the government in driving public-private partnership. It shows Dr. Okonkwo’s reflection on the power of collaboration in the housing sector on the continent.

others, include the conduct of diagnostic study on the four RBDAs and define their business objectives and to develop a strategic plan to achieve its operational goals; *Identify, verify, record, classify and value the key assets of the RBDAs including status of title documents of their lands; *Implement in conjunction with the BPE, the partial commercialisation of the four (4) RBDAs develop quality management system, chart of Accounts and opening balance sheets for the four (4) pilot RBDAs based on internationally acceptable standards and introduce operational tools developed through a one off training.

According to the statement, the advisers shall incorporate, restructure and reposition the four RBDAs to be self-sustaining.

The Minister of Water Resource, Engineer Suleiman Hussein Adamu,  who was represented by the Director, River Basins Authority and Inspectorate of the Minister of Water Resources, Mr. John Chigbo said the RBDAs project was in line with the vision of the ministry and promised to support and cooperate with adviser in the course of the project.

On his part, the team leader of the Agri-Africa Consultant A&E Law and Partnership Consortium, Mr. Chigbozu Ekwekwuo expressed gratitude for the opportunity given to the consortium to serve the nation, adding that the consortium had assembled a credible team to deliver t h e p ro j e c t a n d m a k e a g r i c u l t u re w o r k i n Nigeria.

54

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍšÍżËœ ͺ͸͚΀

NEWSXTRA

‘50m Youths Threatened by Dwindling Oil Market’ Omolabake Fasogbon Nigerian youths have been advised to think out of the box in order to sustain the nation’s economy and impact future generation.

This is as experts have predicted a stall in the global demand of crude oil by year 2030 as a result of steady rise in technologically powered innovations.

The convener of Ubangi King Foundation, Mr. Ubangi King explained that 50 million Nigerian youths were likely to suffer from this development except Nigeria shifted focus from crude oil urgently, and invest in other economic viable sectors.

King, at a press conference to announce the kick off of ‘Thinkation 2019’, a talent development programme, sponsored by the Foundation, insisted that Nigerian ever increasing population is a wake-up call to the youths to decide early enough in life. “Nigeria is overpopulated and it is not too good for her economy. 20,210 children were reportedly given birth to on January 1st,2018, this leaves a potential addition of 7,376,650 children added to our struggling large population.

Nigeria is indeed in desperate time, hence, much more than

before, we need perspective, which will breed exposure and exposure leads to creative thinking which will eventually berth innovations.�

He explained further that Thinkation was a force that was championing an era of productive thinkers and ruthless executors in Africa. “Nigeria has a critical mass of young people that can drive its expected change and ‘Thinkation’ is here to find them, inspire, nurture and deploy them

while providing requisite mentorship.�

With over 3000 expected at the programme taking place January, 19, 2019 in Lagos, the event promised to be more rewarding with lineup of notable and credible personalities to inspire audience from all walks of life.

Some of the expected speakers include: Shiri Riley, Austin Okere, Hibaq Ali Abyan and Steve Babaeko amongst others.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as MISS ABDULRASHEED HAMAMAT AYOOLA now wish to be addressed and known as MRS BELLO HAMAMAT AYOOLA. All former documents remain valid.

The public should take note

I formerly known and addressed as MARYAM UMAR BALA, now wish to be known and addressed as MARYAM UMAR MOHAMMED. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MR GURUGU KURMI SARA, now wish to be known and addressed as EVEREST BAHAGO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ABOSEDE BUKOLA OLANIYI, now wish to be known and addressed as ABOSEDE BUKOLA OLASUNKANMI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS FUNMILAYO ADESEWE FLORENCE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AREELU ADESEWA FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

55

NOVEMBER 17, 2018 ˾ THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER

SPORTSXTRA

South Africa coach, Stuart Baxter, planning Super Eagles’ fall

Will Rohr be celebrated today?

Rohr Expects a Difficult Encounter against South Africa Super Eagles Manager, Gernot Rohr, has said that his side’s match against Bafana Bafana of South Africa at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg today will be a difficult game.

According to Rohr, today’s crucial 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier will be one of the toughest games against South Africa for his depleted Super Eagles side.

Defender Shehu Abdulahi, goalkeeper Francis Uzoho and striker Odion Ighalo are sidelined by injury, while

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is suspended.

“This will be the most difficult match for this young team,” Rohr said.

“It’s more than a year since we played against South Africa and lost in Uyo. “It’s a different team now with the experience of the World Cup and my young team will do a good match even if we’re missing four important players especially our goal scorer and goalkeeper.”

He added: “This young

team can do very well, they have big motivation and we want to win. It’s an opportunity for them to step up and prove what they can do. They will fight and give their best.”

Villarreal youngster Samuel Chukwueze and Olamilekan Adeleye, who feature in the domestic league, are in line for official debuts.

The three-time African champions, who arrived in South Africa early Friday,

are top of Group E with nine points from four matches, while South Africa are second on eight points.

A point will be enough to secure Nigeria’s qualification for next year’s African Cup of Nations, while Bafana Bafana may need to win to guarantee their qualification.

Libya, who have four points, take on bottom team Seychelles also on Saturday with only the top two teams advancing to next year’s AFCON in Cameroon.

Bafana Coach Scared of Eagles Physical Strength Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has admitted that they will encounter problems when they face Nigeria today in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier after identifying three key qualities of the Super Eagles that can hurt his team.

The former England U-19 boss has designed a game plan that will neutralise the strengths of the Super Eagles. ‘’It’ll be a very tough game, Nigeria are a good team. They will create problems for us so many levels, physically, tactically, technically,’’ said Baxter. ‘’If we stretch ourselves and we play to the best of our ability and implement our game plan, then I think we will give them problems. If they don’t then they will have a problem with us.’’

Baxter highlighted the fact that South Africa were able to beat Nigeria in Uyo last year because they were disciplined. ‘’We went there, we played very tactically disciplined. That was pleasing for me to see a South African team play as

tactically disciplined. ‘’We have to play as tactically disciplined in this game because we are at home, we need to win, we won’t be on the back foot hopefully, and if we are we have to deal with that but it won’t be a choice.’’

The South Africa National Team trained at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Friday morning ahead of the eagerly anticipated AFCON qualifier against Nigeria.

Meanwhile, SAFA technical director Neil Tovey is quietly optimistic over Bafana Bafana’s chances against Nigeria but admits previous results have added unnecessary pressure ahead of today’s clash.

The two countries meet in a top-of-the-table Group E 2019 African Nations Cup qualifier, where a win for the hosts will secure a spot at the continental tournament in Cameroon, while a draw or loss will make next year’s clash against Libya the deciding contest.

Tovey, who captained South

Africa to AFCON glory in 1996, feels confident ahead of the encounter, insisting that the nature of the opposition will motivate the players to lift their game.

“I’m more confident against Nigeria than I am against anyone else because I know the mentality will change as the players know they’re up against it.

“Your mentality comes from your approach and everything.

So this might drive them a bit more, from a mental point, into a team dynamic. But I think where we are really lacking is in big-game moments, not taking those chances that happened against Seychelles – a big-game moment is when you’re under the crossbar, and you put the ball into the net.”

Looking at Bafana’s overall qualification campaign so far, which includes two wins and two draws from the four games played, Tovey said he wished the team was in a better position, especially following the

goalless draw against minnows Seychelles last time out.

“It’s been a rollercoaster ride,” he says. “After four games, and after the two Seychelles games, we should have been a lot closer to qualifying.

Home and away at Seychelles, we should have really done the job. But you get matches where you just don’t put the ball across the goal line – I don’t think it had anything to do with tactics. On the day, if you don’t take your chances, it makes it all the more difficult, and it gives a team like Seychelles the confidence to lift their game. But if we had scored the first goal, I think it would have been another case of 4 or 5-0 – we just needed that first goal, which never came about through the inability to concentrate at the vital time.”

Libya currently sit four points behind Bafana, yet are expected to do the job away at Seychelles this afternoon, and will have the slight advantage in the final group qualifier at home to South Africa.

Ranieri Warns Fulham Fans not to Rely on Miracles to Avoid Relegation Claudio Ranieri has warned Fulham fans to expect no miracles this season, after replacing Slavisa Jokanovic at Craven Cottage.

Jokanovic was sacked on Wednesday with Fulham bottom of the Premier League, having taken just five points from their first 12 games back in the top flight.

Ranieri achieved one of the greatest upsets in the history of sport by leading 5000-1 outsiders Leicester to the Premier League title in 2016.

However, the Italian says

Fulham cannot rely on miracles to avoid relegation this season.

“We have to work hard,” said Ranieri. “That was a bonus, a fairytale. Forget it. Now it is important to not think about miracles.

“There will be a lot of battles. It is important to be ready together - the club, the players, the fans, all together.

“They have to support us in the bad moments. This is a bad moment.”

Fulham have already conceded 31 goals in the Premier League,

the most of any teams in the division, and Ranieri said he is willing to abandon the club’s attacking style of football if it leads to better results.

“Fulham concede a lot of goals,” he said. “I am an Italian manager and for us Italians, it is important to maintain a clean sheet.”

He added: “At this moment it is important to forget what happened yesterday and look forward. It is important to win points.

“I hope we can play well but if

we play well and lose the match, it is a big problem.

“Fulham played so well against Manchester City, for example, and lost. They played so well against Liverpool, and lost the match.

“I hope to play worse than in these two matches and win the match. That is most important.”

Fulham return to action after the international break with a home game against Southampton, with only three points separating the two teams in the table.

Rooney Reveals Coaching Ambition after Retirement Wayne Rooney has revealed he wants to move into management or coaching once he brings his playing career to an end.

The 33-year-old is currently playing for DC United in MLS, where he said he would end his career as well as taking his coaching badges.

The former England captain said he is planning to return to England once he quits playing, and already has his next role in mind.

When asked about becoming a coach or manager when he hangs up his boots, he told Manchester United’s website: “Yeah, it is something I am passionate about and I want to do.

“Obviously, I need to complete my badges, which I am doing over in the States. Hopefully, by the time I come back to England, I will have them completed and be in a position to accept or reject any offers I get.

“There is always time. You have got time to do TV, if that is the way you want to go. I think everyone is different. I would prefer to give coaching or management a go.

“If it doesn’t work out then I am sure there would be opportunities to do TV and whatever feels right for you.”

Wayne Rooney in his last game for England

Curtain Falls on 2nd Rainoil Open Tennis

Duro Ikhazuagbe The final of the 2nd Rainoil Open Tennis Championship holds today at the Ikoyi Club in Lagos with defending champion Henry Atseye taking on Joseph Imeh in what is a repeat of last year’s men’s singles final.

Yesterday, Atseye beat Sylvester Emmanuel 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 to book the ticket to the final to face his last year victim, Imeh. Imeh defeated Uche Oparaji 7-6 (2), 6-1 to berth in the final..

The winner of the men’s singles will walk away from Ikoyi Club with N500,000 cheque in his pocket.

In the women’s singles final, Christy Agugbom is to battle Blessing Samuel for the star prize at stake in that category.

Agugbom beat defending champion Sarah Adegoke 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 to progress.

Blessing got the better of Aanu Aiyegbusi, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 to reach final.

Yesterday, the pair of Abdulmumin Babalola and Albert Bikom won the men’s doubles event while Christy Agugbom and Blessing Samuel won the women’s version.

Some junior players like Serena Teluwo, and Oiza Yakubu took part in the competition but lost out in the early rounds.

Rainoil CEO Gabriel Ogbechie, has promised that the tournament will be an annual event and will also gradually enter the calendar of the International Tennis Federation.

Saturday, November 17, 2018

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Dasuki to Buhari “I am very much apprehensive about the President’s statement, in that my rights will continually be violated and that no order for my release will be honoured by the Federal Government of Nigeria or any of its agencies.” – Former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, lamenting his continued detention.

PENDULUM DELE MOMODU

dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com

Between An Old Buharist And The New Buharideens

F

ellow Nigerians, today’s epistle was inspired last minute by an encounter I had last night with a Buharideen. I had been contemplating what to write about this week when I ran into a staff of Indomie Noodles, the most popular noodle-processing company possibly in Africa, at a restaurant in Ikeja, Lagos. The gentleman had walked up to me for a quick chat, which was perfectly in order, as far as I was concerned.

Indeed, this is a regular occurrence most places I go. It is always likely that I run into those who usually walk up to me to request selfies or general discussion. And so, this young man announced himself as my fan. He did not stop there, he said he follows me on Twitter and enjoys my tweets but added matter-of-factly, so to say, that he does not always agree with me. I responded that I was grateful for his appreciation of me and his following, but I added that two people can never agree on everything, all the time.

Out of curiosity, I asked what his points of disagreements were. Before, he could answer, I already smelt a rat and so volunteered a guess. “Is it anything to do with Buhari?” I asked calmly. He replied in the affirmative, “yes it is…” Here we go again, I soliloquised.

These days, I hate going into unnecessary and unproductive conversations with those who have been given the nomenclature “Buharideens” on social media. A Buharist is a mild and reasonable supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari. I belonged in that category between 2014-15. Not anymore. I like the President as a person, but his politics and economics leave much to be desired. I can write a PhD thesis on this subject. Back to definitions. On the other hand, a Buharideen is a blind and rabid supporter of Buhari. He does not, and will never see, anything wrong in Buhari, even if you supply all the evidence in the world. It is always a waste of time to engage such political fundamentalists in argument or dialogue. In the course of this election process, I expect that Atiku will probably also sprout such rabid followership. Such is the fervent, unfortunate passion that elections can engender in this country.

‘Why do you disagree with my position on Buhari?” I probed. “Buhari is still the best Nigeria can offer in the present circumstance…”

Hmmm, I sighed. “What are your reasons for saying so?” I had pricked him at that moment and he wasted no time in launching a diatribe of sorts. “Only thieves and looters won’t appreciate this government. Things have improved even if not perfect under Buhari.”

I laughed raucously. I was used to those lines whenever I encounter the Buharideens. Everyone is a thief and looter, or friends of corrupt people, except members of their group. Not to worry.

I decided to take him on, even if I didn’t have the luxury of time at hand. “Do you know your party APC and your Presidential candidate would find it hard to campaign with his strongest weapon, anti-corruption, when tomorrow comes, because APC is heavily populated by the same so-called looters who migrated from PDP. I have not read it anywhere that they were screened out or rejected by your party, rather they have been promptly and amply protected by your party…” He nodded in agreement, but still argued that APC was a much better party despite the obvious hiccups and conflicts of interests.

It won’t be hyperbolic to describe APC as being seriously hypocritical, I told my new friend. I reeled out names of the certified and certificated kingpins of corruption in Nigeria

Buhari

who have ensconced and embedded within the APC without as much as a whimper from the leadership of the party. My friend kept mute, as if thinking hard on how to tackle me. But I kept punching him with facts and my wide knowledge of Nigerian politics.

He tried to wriggle out by going totally banal. “We should just let Buhari complete his second term so that power can return to the South West after that.” Almost spontaneously, I exploded: “who told you power would shift to the South West in 2023?” My friend said “it will, if we support Buhari now…” but I disagreed most vehemently and tried to educate him a bit.

“If you are talking of zoning, then you are wrong to assume that it is a binding agreement.

When Buhari contested in 2003, who was in power? Obasanjo, a Yoruba man. When Buhari contested in 2007, who was in power? Yar’Adua, his kinsman from Katsina State. When Buhari contested in 2011, who was in power? Jonathan, from the oil rich Bayelsa State in the South South, and he was merely completing the term given to him divinely after his boss died in power. When Buhari contested in 2015, who was in power? Jonathan, who was serving his own first term as President and was seeking a second term, the first time a President from the region that lays the golden eggs was in that position. Did anyone, including Buhari, give any consideration to those facts? Did Buhari not contest against Obasanjo? Why did he not say that it was the turn of the South West and so he would abstain and wait for the time when it was the North’s turn.

This is the charade and chicanery on display by the promoters of zoning, which does not even exist in our Constitution.” I concluded.

My friend said no one can stop power coming back to the South. I asked if the South West was the only zone in the South and why he feels the South East or South South cannot have it. “Are the Igbos not Nigerians or why do you think they can’t contest and win the Presidency?” I wondered. My friend said the Igbos have not aligned with a realistic power base which is currently controlled by Buhari.

So, I noticed and noted that the strategy of APC in the South West is to brainwash the people of the region into deluding themselves that power is coming back to them very soon as compensation for supporting Buhari. This is so naïve and simplistic. I warned my friend that as we speak, those who are already warming up for the 2023 Presidential election are not limited, or restricted, to any particular zone.

The nonsensical impression that this jejune assumption creates is that some people hold

the levers of power as personal property which can be dashed out to anyone, or a group of people, at will, but this is a total fallacy. From the issue of zoning, my friend introduced another reason Buhari must continue as President.

He claimed that this is because there is no viable alternative to him. I queried what the man was saying. How can anyone say there is no alternative in a country of nearly 200 million people? I told him that was virtually untrue. It would be pathetic of us as a nation if we believe such foolishness. Exceptional talents abound, in their multitude, that can take us to the promised land. He asked if I can support an Atiku as President of Nigeria and I answered, “why not?’. I felt his next line even before he regurgitated it. “But Atiku is a very corrupt man…” He started the usual vituperations against a man no one has ever tried in a court of Law since leaving office in 2007. No one has even invited Atiku to explain his source of wealth. I told my friend to perish the idea of thinking I, or indeed, any rational man, would ever join his ilk in maligning a soul just for the fun of it. When did allegation become conviction? I informed him clearly that if that is the only way APC hopes to tackle Atiku, it won’t hold much water.

He also exhibited a dangerous mind-set which is presently the fall-back position when Buharideens are cornered. “Where did Atiku get his wealth from?”. He felt he had delivered to me what he must have thought was a sucker punch, but I responded in kind. “Why is it that your members rejoice and gloat about poverty instead of celebrating achievement. If most of our leaders did what Atiku has done in retirement, our country won’t be in this mess. At least Atiku has invested heavily in Nigeria and profited in the process. He should be commended instead of being criminalised without proof. Not everyone possesses this type of business acumen” I added.

He could see he wouldn’t be able to browbeat me about the usual jargons of portraying APC as a party of angels, so he announced he had to go. He appeared sober and subdued.

Before he left, I fired another shot. “How about your primaries? I’m reading all sorts?

Would you say elections were held in many places? Where they held, would you say they were democratic? And what about the sordid allegations of bribery and corruption levelled by aggrieved members, including our adorable First Lady?” These were more of rhetorical questions and I did not expect him to have immediate answers. It was obvious he was not proud of the lack of internal democracy and lurid accusations of corruption that has blighted the conduct of the party primaries and almost set his party ablaze. He quickly thanked me and disappeared into the night.

At least he could not abuse me frontally like most Buharideens do whenever you confront them with hard facts. For me democracy is always a game of continuous experiment. Every four years, a President must undergo a serious examination about his performance so far, as well as subject his physical and mental state to public scrutiny. Nothing suggests that he must be promoted automatically to a second term in office if majority of the people do not think he has performed creditably. I’m of the firm opinion that whoever I support this time would be dropped if he still does not meet expectations. Being a Buharist does not mean I will become a Buharideen.

There is no doubt that APC is seriously struggling to convince Nigerians that it

deserves a second chance. While I won’t join those who claim APC has failed totally, I will support those who feel it has not lived up to its grandstanding pre-2015 election. I say this because we had great expectations.

Notwithstanding the rot that had set into our political, social and economic psyche Nigerians believed that true change was desirable and possible. We voted for APC and Buhari on this basis. That change has only happened in very few cases and objective members of APC agree they have fumbled disappointingly. Most of the areas that we wanted positive change in have turned out to be an embarrassing anti-climax for this government. I will applaud the President for some of the achievements of this government, but that is only because he is the titular head of government. Others, particularly the Vice-President and his economic team are to be commended for the fitful and irregular economic progress we are witnessing.

The President himself has not personally shone brightly and is apparently surviving on a reputation that is at best jaded. The attitude of government to the rash of violence in the country is less than salutary. We were applauded for attacking President Jonathan over the shortcomings of his government but the Buharideens want Buhari to be treated like fresh eggs, or not to be touched at all.

Things must really change urgently and drastically in practically all facets for this government to have any realistic chance of winning the elections. It may not be too late.

But the current trend and discourse is not going to help it. I believe people are tired of the same worn platitudes. There are many like me who feel our democratic rights to choose our preferred candidates are sacrosanct and must be respected. I will never abuse or stop anyone from campaigning or voting for Buhari and I don’t expect anyone to abuse me for my personal choice, like the Buharideens love to do.

I expect the battle of wits to start from next week. The first offensive is likely to be launched by former President Goodluck Jonathan when the book on his political life and stewardship is launched at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, on November 20, 2018.

It promises to be a blockbuster event. The Buhari government has blamed the Jonathan government endlessly for its inability to perform as expected. Former President Jonathan and his supporters would have the first major opportunity to launch a blistering attack on a government that rode to power on the crest of possessing the magic wand to cure the alleged cesspit of corruption and inefficiency they left behind. It is probably a time for Jonathan to compare and contrast. We may yet learn that it is not yet Uhuru, and the past three and a half years have been no more than running on the spot, if even that!

The only ace that the populace have is their democratic right to keep changing governments until we get it right. If we fail to make the right choice several times, that only improves our learning curve.

Eventually, one day, our democratic education and experimentation will be complete, and we will throw up competent and capable candidates from whom we can make proper and informed choices. For now, the alternatives are stark. We can only make do with what we have and won’t keep a failed government just because we are afraid of the next. Who knows, where our salvation lies? God works, mysteriously.

There are interesting days and times ahead…

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