THISDAY STYLE MAGAZINE 8TH NOVEMBER 2020

...NOT IN THISDAY STYLE? THEN YOU’RE NOT IN STYLE

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2020

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CONTENT - CAPSULES - TIPPING POINT PG 4 BOOHOO MAN AND BURNA BOY PG 5 - MEN FASHION TRENDS -THE RED CAP PG 6-7

TREND TO TRY JEWEL TONES PG 8-9 FAT SHAMING PG 9 5 MINUTES WITH DR MAYMUNAH YUSUF KADIRI PG 10-11

A LETTER TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF NIGERIANS PG 11

DURO OLOWU’S COLLECTION PG 17 WANT TO ACHIEVE THAT DEWY LOOK PG 18

Valentine Chineto Ozigbo is a business leader and entrepreneur with over twenty five years experience in corporate transformation, power, hospitality, energy and banking. He recently retired as President and Group CEO of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) to pursue his political ambitions. Mr Ozigbo recently turned 50 and had the chance to speak about his career path. FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI reports

THISDAY STYLE FASHION DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE EDITOR RUTH OSIME

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EDITOR PRINT OLUFUNKE BABS-KUFEJI EDITOR DIGITAL KONYE NWABOGOR

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SENIOR ART DESIGNER MATHIAS ARCHIBONG 07054965500 CONTRIBUTORS RUKY SALAKO ISIOMA USIADE IYANU AYODELE GUEST CORRESPONDENTS AZUKA OGUJIUBA ZINA ANUMUDU JOANNA MACGREGOR SEYI ALAWODE PHOTOGRAPHER TY BELLO DIRECTOR, PRINT PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO 08077092196

#ENDSARS: MORE PROFILES OF THOSE KILLED BY POLICE BRUTALITY (PART 2) PG 19-20 MORE PEOPLE’S EXPERIENCES (PART 3) PG 18

It’s been a very tough couple of weeks. In fact, truth be told, a very tough year! First it was the Corona virus that brought the world to a standstill and made us prisoners in our own homes.

Businesses closed down. Schools were shut down. The loss of income was insurmountable which further added to our stress level. Some are yet to recover as the virus takes a turn for the worse. Life, as we used to know it, is a struggle to return to. But we have managed to tread carefully and work around it trying to pick up the pieces. Thank God for social media and online communication.

But just as we were trying to find our equilibrium again, another disaster hit us as a nation.

As we all know, so much has happened in the last few weeks. The #endsars peaceful protest. The Lekki shootings. And now, Lagos state has set up an 8 man Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution to look into both matters and also the complaints of victims of police brutality.

One thing, these incidents have triggered yet again, is the stress level thrust upon us as a people. There is now even more fear and anxiety in the land.

Another area we have to look into is what effect this has had on our mental health because now, more than ever, this is something growing alarmingly fast in our midst because of the challenges and difficulties faced in living in a climate like Nigeria. Yes, most times, something triggers mental health issues but if you are in an already difficult environment, where too many other issues bring daily challenges to your doorstep, people suffering from mental health are hard pressed to get the medical attention required to handle their delicate issue. Most painfully, the ailment is most times, wrongly perceived as ‘an indulgence’ because it is not a physical ailment.

Dr Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri is a mental health physician and in her interview, she address this pertinent issue that requires urgent attention because mental health has become a very pressing problem.

I do hope we can nip this ailment in the bud soon enough and get it under control to avert its growth. We pray for the souls of those who lost their lives due to police brutality, the Lekki shootings and the wanton destruction of Lagos state and other places. We also pray that those suffering from mental health will get the attention they need living in a system that ignite their fears and uncertainties of what their tomorrows hold.

We pray for Nigeria our country!

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FASHION DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

TO REGISTER AS A DESIGNER VISIT: www.arisefashionweek.world

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9313 Sunday, November 8, 2020

Alero Adollo aleroadollo@yahoo.com

STYLE & DESIGN

CAPSULES

BY FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI

I woke up this morning down in the dumps wondering what tomorrow holds....it is a strange world and it is dead chilly out there.

Once upon a time we glowed in clarity and we took the stars off the skies to light our paths, we had grit thus wrapped our dreams with the firmament, they were crazy dreams for auspicious days...... but alas today reality not only bites, it chews the nearest pilgrim whilst at it and then spits him out.

I look out of my window and I see raw undiluted pain hovering around the rising of the sun as if it has a covenant with the break of dawn and I shrug knowing no matter the readiness to defeat this unwelcome visitor, he will have his way, what can anyone do, it is what it is......sounds defeatist, but not so when many are being dealt repeated slaps in one sore spot.

I remember a quote from Dalai Lama that used to put a smile on my face which simply put states that the purpose of our lives is to be happy, but alas there are too many unhappy faces, does that then mean we are living purposeless lives...

Mothers today continually beat their chests frustrated wondering what kind of world they brought children into, Fathers grit their teeth because they are unable to provide for their families in a world where poverty is fast becoming a pandemic, inadequacy is now a frenemy to many.

Panic and Confusion have befriended unsuspecting souls and are now their live in lovers. I remember the lyrics of this song from “sound of music” that said “we should climb every mountain, ford every stream, follow every rainbow till we find our dreams”, so the pursuit of goals is part of life but why do we then need to keep on running after dreams that do not want to be found and end up as casualties of latent battles birth by fate.

You fight for what you believe in and the world fights you, you walk on by indifferent but alas the world still fights you, you decide to buy a house in lala land and enjoy yourself by drifting in the euphoria of your orchestrated thoughts and the world continues to fight you....

This was not how we were told life was supposed to play out, we were told to go to school, work hard and everything will fall into place, but alas each day mocks our efforts and opportunity ignores our sweat amused at our audacity. A few push on, many fall by the wayside with broken hearts dripping with blood and shattered dreams rolling in glass, but despite this they trudge on because giving up is not an option.

What is this world anyway, it’s like a shadow chasing itself convinced it’s in a race with others, it’s like a fog where everyone believes they can see the way forward but keep on tripping over themselves because of the mist. Who wrote this script and is asking us to act it out without taking into cognisance the fact that we are not made of stone. Na who we offend reach so wey no wan forgive us and give us a breather.

There is no part of the world you go that the heart does not boast of emptiness whilst crashing down, in a few people physical poverty finds a home, in others it’s poverty of the soul or poverty of the spirit......poverty just seems intent on befriending unfriendly foes in one form or the other, what kind of wahala is this we ask, the average soul in transit just wants to be allowed to be but the elements seem determined not to care.

Pinch me, am I still here......why is hope determined to be elusive in a world that needs it so badly, life arrives, life departs but nothing changes, there is nothing new under the sun they say.....We were told about faith, a place of rest and succour to rest when everything falls apart but alas even with that we struggle, how does a loving father allow his children swim in despondency, struggle in toil. Forlorn and dejected many try over and over and over carrying their pain in a reckless box. Should it be this complicated really? The greatest philosophers from Plato to Socrates to Aristotle, Descartes, Nietzsche, Confucius, Karl Marx, Locke et al have tried to unknot and answer the tough questions but alas, existentialism still confounds, I agree with the words of Socrates which said “the only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing”, what do we know really, as there are more questions than answers.

Mother Teresa once said that we should spread love everywhere we go, and that no one should ever come to us without leaving happier, could this then be the antidote to the malaise plaguing humanity, an unselfish life, a life where we live for others, then the words of Robert Louis Stevenson jumped to mind where he enjoined us not to judge each day by the harvest we reap but by the seeds we plant.....

We are fundamentally selfish beings, perchance that is why we are so conflicted. Life is transient and we must learn to make each day count in the deposits we make in the lives of others surely that is the only way back to Eden, the only way back to life.

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Colours of Life with Koko Kalango

TIPPING POINT THE CONCEPT According to Gladwell, “The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behaviour crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.” ‘‘The Tipping Point explains how ideas spread like epidemics and which few elements need to come together to help an idea reach the point of critical mass, where its viral effect becomes unstoppable.’’

Gladwell identifies 3 factors responsible for the Tipping Point as: The law of the few The law of the few purports that ‘The success of any kind of social epidemic is heavily dependent on the involvement of people with a particular and rare set of social gifts.”

2.The stickiness factor The stickiness factor ‘refers to a unique quality that compels the phenomenon to “stick” in the minds of the public and influence their future behaviour.’

3.The Power of context ‘The Power of Context refers to the environment or historical moment in which the trend is introduced.’

You will have to read The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell to get the full gist.

THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS History is replete with tipping points. I will share just two: The children of Israel had been in bondage in Egypt for 400 years. Generations of Israelites cried out to God. One day their cry reached a tipping point. In response, God appeared to a fugitive called Moses and sent him to tell Pharaoh; “Let my people go…”

Moses delivered the message from the King of Kings to Pharaoh, king of Egypt. But Pharaoh despised him and even increased the task of the Israelites. Moses went back and forth between God and Pharaoh in what appeared like a power tussle (but God was actually pulling the strings). God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. He had a grand plan. Egypt’s oppression of His people had reached a tipping point and God was about to set them free in a most dramatic fashion.

You will have to read Exodus chapters 12 to 14 for the full story.

Moses experienced another tipping point in the battle between Israel and Amalek in Exodus chapter 17. When the Amalekites attacked Israel, Moses asked Joshua to choose able men with whom he (Joshua) will go to the battlefield while he (Moses) went to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur. From this elevated place, Moses held up the rod of God (representing the presence of God, the help of God). When Moses had his hands up, Israel prevailed. But when Moses put his hands down, Amalek prevailed. At a point Moses’ hands were tired. Aaron and Hur prepared a rock on which Moses sat and they both stayed on either side of Moses and held his hands up. They kept his hand in this position until sunset, and Israel won the battle. Victory came through collective endeavour. When we reach a tipping point, all hands must be on deck.

OUR EXPERIENCE With the deaths Chijioke Iloanya, Godgift Ekerete, Tony Oruama, Harry Ataria, Mbakwe Oruama, (including minors like) 15-year-old Emmanuel Egbo and 16-year-old Tina Ezekwe and many others, at the hands of the Nigerian police, things have reached a tipping point and the Nigerian youths decided to protest.

But what we witnessed was more than a protest, more far-reaching than a call out, it went beyond a march, it was a movement – a movement of the people in a moment of history!

THE EXAMPLE OF THE NIGERIAN YOUTH We can take away a few things from the protest: Peace The young people staged a peaceful protest - gathering, holding up posters, singing, dancing, speaking, tweeting.

They were using every available tool to make their voices heard, peacefully. They made their presence felt and articulated their demands.

Accountability This movement was crowd funded. Many organisations published the sums they received and how they were spent.

Ordinary citizens were willing to add their two kobo to buy refreshments for those on the streets, to cover costs for security, sanitation, medicals, etc.

Teamwork We witnessed unity of purpose. From the streets of Nigeria to Europe and America, Nigerian youth spoke with one voice.

Celebrities, commoners, male, female, they were all crying out for an end to police brutality, and for good governance.

They were saying ‘enough is enough’ – enough of empty promises, enough of lip-service, enough of being taken for granted.

A SACRIFICE THAT DEMANDS A RESPONSE… We all have a part to play to reform Nigeria. We have prayed, now we must get to work. The blood of innocent citizens shed due to police brutality, the blood of our youth shed in peaceful protest cannot be in vain. …FROM THE GOVERNMENT Government needs to demonstrate that it is listening to its citizens. The President’s address came too late. And while the legislators did well to ask the president to speak to us, they could be pro-active and take a pay cut to show their sensitivity to the hardship of the average Nigeria. Going forward, the government needs to be more in touch with the ordinary Nigerian. We must end the frivolously spending and those looting public funds must be brought to book.

STYLE & DESIGN

BoohooMAN and Burna Boy create magic in this

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, 9313 Sunday, November 8, 2020

EXCLUSIVE

STREETWEAR COLLECTION

BY KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR Top rapper Burna Boy has officially teamed up with online clothing brand BoohooMAN to create an exclusive collection of highfashion streetwear. The Nigerian singer, songwriter, and rapper designed his collection with BoohooMAN over virtual meetings between Lagos, Nigeria, and Manchester, the UK during the lockdown.

For me, Burna Boy is a pioneer across sound and style. Everything he stands for aligns with our core beliefs. This was a huge one for us and I am so happy to have Burna Boy join the family. – BoohooMAN CEO, Samir Kamani Diversifying the product offering are bold, distinct colours such as vibrant green, an ode to the Nigerian flag. In conjunction with his recently released smash hit album, Twice as Tall, the notion behind the Burna Boy x BoohooMAN campaign depicts what it means to be larger than life.

Fashion is another form of self-expression; what you wear can directly reflect your current state of mind. So, with this collection, I wanted every single person to be included, no matter what you do or the lifestyle you lead. I also wanted to start off, making sure it could be accessible and attainable.

– Burna Boy Creatively led by Burna Boy, the full collection boasts simple silhouettes, graphic tees and fresh, bright colour palettes. From matching sets and varsity bombers, and accessories, the custom-created ‘B’ logo is a staple throughout the collection.

…FROM SOCIETY We commend the corporates, NGOs, faith-based organisations, press and others who made meaningful contribution to this cause. Some opened up their doors to shelter protesters, some offered their services free and yet others disseminated information. We can still do more. We need access to basic education and health facilities for every Nigeria. We need to empower people with skills so they can earn an income. Businesses should address these challenges as their Corporate Social Responsibility. Other organisations should take on these priority areas. …FROM YOU AND ME We must all take responsibility for what we have experienced. We must be the answer to our prayer, the solution to our problems. We can begin by doing what is right in our offices, in our schools, in our homes. How about paying our dues rather than trying to circumvent the system through bribery? How about paying our support staff fair wages and taking out medical insurance for them? How about helping to educate an indigent child or to sponsor a youth to learn a skill? Can we be a bit more sensitive to the plight of the underprivileged amongst us?

Things have reached a tipping point in Nigeria. The warning is not just for government.

SAMIR-KAMANIAND-BURNA-BOY-

Koko Kalango is author of the Colours of Life devotional and host of the Colours of Life show. Contact her at: contact@coloursoflife.org and on Instagram: @koko.kalango.

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STYLE & DESIGN

MEN FASHION TRENDS STYLE & DESIGN

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9313 Sunday, November 8, 2020

BY USIADE ISIOMA

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, 9313 Sunday, November 8, 2020

These trends are only beginning to surface on the streets. From patchwork prints to oversized suits, there is a myriad of new styles that flatter anyone’s taste.

Whether you need a wardrobe update or you’re just searching for summer styling inspiration, check out the top ten men’s trends from Arise Fashion run way.

Oversized Blazers

Wide leg pants

The ’70s are back in a big way with these wide leg pants.

These trousers are sure to make an impact anywhere you go. Pair the pants with a slim-fitting shirt or turtleneck to emphasize the bell bottom for a more casual feel.

No matter how you style these, you’ll have the appearance of super long and oh-so-stylish pins. Model for BETHANY WILLIAMS

MODELS FOR NKWO

Cross-Body Bags

Keep your belongings safe and sound with a super stylish crossbody bag.

Whether it be a messenger-style or something small and neat, these are a great way to secure your stuff and do it fashionably. If the strap is too long for your liking, tie a small knot in it, and you’ll have a unique addition to your collection. This is a great way to jazz up an outfit and is a practical way to do it. Model for MAXIVIVE

MODELS FOR NKWO

MODELS FOR NKWO

Floral two-pieces

Feel the summer breeze in a stylish floral two-pieces. With a distinctive collar and short sleeves, they’re an easy way to jazz up an outfit and make a real statement. These combos look extra cool in bright florals, complete the look with simple slide and sunglasses, and you’ll be donning the summer sun in style.

Model for ESTEBAN CORTAZAR

MODELS FOR NKWO

Over the Knee Shorts

Achieve the ultimate casual feel in a pair of over the knee shorts. These are a great way to keep yourself mostly covered but stay cool in the summer heat. Whether you rock these bottoms with a pattern or you keep it cool a bright blue, you can’t go wrong in these statement pieces.

Complete this look with a denim staple and fresh slides. Model for LAWRENCE AIRLINE

Patchwork Prints

MODELS FOR NKWO

Make it loud and wear it proud, patchwork prints are back; this is something that looks great on everyone. Wear a white shirt with patch work prints and contrasting colours to pop the outfit. Stand out even more with funky patch work pants, don’t forget to add a jacket with prints for a classic feel. It’s an easy way to put a modern twist on traditional clothing. Model for OKUNOREN

Sunglasses

MODELS FOR NKWO

Protect your eyes from the sun in the coolest way possible with these sunglasses. Futuristic and sleek, these are the best accessories of the season. Wear them oversized for maximum impact, or keep them small and colourful for a powerful punch.

Whether you choose bright tones or something subtle, these shades will be your favourite way to complete any outfit. Model for OZWALD

High Waisted Trousers

MODELS FOR NKWO

Take it back to the ’40s with high waisted trousers. This is a flattering style that comes back into fashion every few years, due to its versatility.

For a formal look, try pairing them with a tucked-in T-shirt, or put a modern twist on the traditional pants by rocking them with an open shirt. From navy to black, this is a great bottom half to wear all year round. Model for ROBERT CAVALLI

Two-Strap Slides

Make the world your runway with these two-strap slides. Unlike traditional footwear, these shoes offer double support and look extra cool as you walk down the street. Choose from branded shoes or something low-key, and pair them with jeans, suit pants or a pair of flared trousers. You can’t really go wrong with this summer essential.

Rule the world. Model for TZAR

MODELS FOR NKWO

Relaxed Suiting

Not all tailoring has to be tight, so why not let loose with some relaxed suiting?

From the subtle to extraordinarily over the top, wearing a formal outfit in a casual setting never looked so good.

Pair the ensemble with sneakers and a white T-shirt for a laid-back feel, and keep the blazer buttoned up. Rock it, and you’ll be getting compliments all day! Model for OZWALD BOATENG

Take it back to the ‘80s with an oversized blazer.

Large and in charge, put a twist on the essential suit jacket by taking it up a few sizes. Whether it be a pinstripe or something one colour, this is a great way to put a retro spin on a modern outfit without looking too formal.

Choose a fit that’s slightly bigger than the regular fit or go all out with something massive. Pair it with a basic T-shirt or a funky buttondown and pants, and you’re going to be strutting down every street in style. Model for U-MI-1

MODELS FOR NKWO

CAP D RE E TH from culture to runway

BY USIADE ISIOMA

The ‘red cap’ worn by chiefs in Igboland symbolizes authority, tradition, and culture; and it also represents the entire institution of leadership, authority, and power.

The wearers of the Igbo red cap are usually men who have fulfilled certain obligations and maintained

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the standards laid down in their various communities.

They are recognized in the different communities in Igboland by names such as ‘Nzes’, ‘Ichies’, ‘Ozos’, ‘Ogbuefis’ and others.

But somehow, everything in life revolves around each other. The Ankara fabric, which once upon a time was a fabric used by the less-privileged in society, now grace catwalks worldwide because it is mused with creations from the western culture. The fabric is not just designed, it is also beaded and embroidered

depending on the designer. They also are now printed in different textures to give more versatility in creation.

The Red cap has also gone the same route and is now being worn as a fashion item not just traditionally. They add an extra edge because of their colour, so much so that it fused with any type of outfit it is worn with and not just limited to conventional traditional styles. It looks just as good worn with a shirt and a pair of jeans all the way to a smartly tailored traditional attire.

Such is its flexibility that it is fast becoming a hot favourite for those who have their eye on the pulse button when it comes to fashion and style!

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MWINDA MODELS FOR NKWO

GETTY IMAGES MODELS FOR NKWO

GETTY IMAGES NKWO MODELS FOR NKWO

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STYLE & DESIGN

THISDAY Style No. 9313 Sunday, November 8, 2020

STYLE & DESIGN

Fat SHAMING!

Vol. 22, 93

BATTLE OF THE BULGE MODEL FOR PYER MOSS

MODEL FOR DEOLA SAGOE

MODEL FOR RICH MINSI

MODEL FOR DEOLA SAGOE MODEL FOR YUTEE RONE

MODEL FOR YUTEE RONE

TREND TO TRY

JEWEL TONES Fashion’s palette has moved on from acid brights and paintbox pops of colour into the sumptuous realm of jewel tones. With names like amethyst, sapphire, emerald, ruby, garnet and citrine - these hues have the power to make you feel rich and sophisticated. No longer reserved solely for evening wear, jewel and mineral shades in luxurious textures and finishes are key picks for your wardrobe.

Adopting this playful new mood into your everyday look has never been so easy. For example, a glossy satin skirt styled with a dressy top is effortless for day, while a smart shift dress paired with statement velvet sandals will take you seamlessly from desk-to-drinks.

Whether colour-blocked or paired with neutrals, radiant jewel-toned pieces will add depth and elevate your style.

BY KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR

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MODEL FOR YUTEE RONE

This column hasn’t appeared for a while because most of the space in this magazine was, for 3 consecutive weeks, quite rightly dedicated to the ENDSARS protest and its immediate aftermath.

OK so I wish I could proudly tell you that I have made lots of progress since my last weight loss update was published on October 11th. But I’ve actually screwed up majorly and gained 5kg.

Yes, dear readers, while I was gloomily contemplating the parlous state of the Nigerian nation (unarmed youngsters being viciously attacked) and the world at large (coronavirus continuing to drive the human race into retreat), food and drink were my main comforts.

When prolonged global lockdowns have failed to sufficiently retard an incurable plague that has not only wrecked economies but killed so many individuals and destroyed so many livelihoods in so many countries, one can perhaps be forgiven for plunging into despair.

When news outlets regale you with tales of hangry (hungry and angry) citizens raiding warehouses to get their hands on hoarded food, dieting is not my priority…though it should be, if you think about it (let’s face it, eating nonstop is not an appropriate reaction to sad stories about starving people who can’t afford to eat at all).

ANYWAY, some of us self-indulgently reach for several glasses of our favourite tipples and multiple platefuls of our favourite grub whenever we are depressed; and I’ve been fully immersed in an Epicurean binge of Olympic proportions for the past month.

Which is why I weighed 110kg on October 11th but now weigh 115kg.

I partly blame the 2 excellent bakers I recently discovered in Abuja. They produce huge, moistly delicious slabs of red velvet, caramel and chocolate cake; and I have, alas, become a regular customer.

Last Saturday, I ate 6 yes, SIX! – slices. On Tuesday, I had 3 slices. To make matters worse, I smother them in mountains of whipped dairy cream, which is even more fattening than the cake itself.

And it’s not as if these sugary confections are all I’ve been shoving down my gullet with a vengeance.

I’ve also ploughed my way through too many highcalorie savoury dishes, too many bottles of fizzy sweet beverages and too many bottles of brandy and beer.

Meanwhile, I have not done any exercise at all for ages.

Fortunately, I am not willing to permanently cave

THISDAY Style ber 8, 2020

BY DONU KOGBARA

PART 27/28/29/30 (Week 31)

into my baser instincts because the pleasure I derive from rampant gluttony is extremely fleeting; and I seriously hate myself most of the time - for being so undisciplined, for looking so lumpen and for feeling as constantly sluggish and exhausted as most fat, unfit folks feel.

I felt particularly furious with myself on my 61st birthday last month. I’d arranged to meet a couple of friends for a celebratory dinner, but was so self-conscious about my dowdy, obese, sack-ofgarri body shape that I got upset when one of my friends took photographs posted them on a WhatsApp group we belong to.

“You didn’t even ask my permission!” I raged in distress. All I could think about that night was how awful I looked and felt.

What a way to live! Almost always ashamed of one’s failure to control the controllable.

Those of you who have been following my struggle must be as tired of my screw ups as I am.

I started this weight loss programme on March 16th when I weighed a 120kg and measured 49-47-51 (chest-waist-hips) inches.

I have done quite well at intervals and reached 106kg at one point. But I let the balls drop and have regained most of the weight I lost.

However, I am NOT going to give up. I used to be slim and am determined to be slim again. I was happiest and most elegant when I was 70kg, but suspect that it’s overly optimistic to aim for such a Twiggy-esque figure at this fairly advanced age.

So, given that the highest weight at which I felt presentable ENOUGH was 85kg, I am cutting myself some slack and giving myself permission to stop dieting when I get back down to 85kg.

Psychologists and other mind experts understand the negative impulses that make people eat unhealthily and can motivate their patients to change their eating patterns. And I’m considering the possibility of consulting a therapist when I visit the UK next month.

Treatments that therapists use to support their patients’ weight loss aspirations include psychotherapy, which can help one understand oneself better…and identify what is preventing one from being the person one wants to be.

In the meantime, I will try my best to drag myself back on track without expert support. I’m starting a fast tomorrow.

Wish me luck.

DONU KOGBARA IS A VANGUARD NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST. Please feel free to share your thoughts about her weight loss journey on 0805 404 6887 or donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9313 Sunday, November 8, 2020

STYLE & DESIGN

d winning r a w a le p i n ult Kadiri, a m te, is popularly know f u s u Y h a n oca f Pinnacle Dr Maymu o n and adv r a e i d c i n s u y h fo p the lth O, mental hea ity shrink’. She’s also health radio and NG d br e Nigeria an as the ‘cele Africans, a #1 onlin n i y c a r e t io lth li Health Rad creating mental hea ards h Includes beyond. c i h w geared tow s P 1 1 ia with the sychotherapist, r e g i N ly n t lso the o logist, p Kadiri is a psychiatrist, psycho ucer, paren d o r p , r e h s li Physican, eaker, pub p s c li bout God. b a u e p t , a r n e o d n i o s i s t practi and pa and blesse d d e e t i n r e r i a r o m ly people to Guest slim happi e u k M o p h s c n ly t u a n of st ce ren. She re ut the mental health She’s also a ld i h c ly e v o lo t with three ZUKA OGUJIUBA ab ests and shootings a t rs pro dent, A Correspon ians over the #end sa ate. er oll g a lot of Nig the Lekki T

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People, wrongly or rightly, assume that mental health is an ‘indulgence’ of sorts especially when everything else seems to be going on well for the person. Why is it such a misunderstood ailment? ​Mental health disorders fall under the umbrella of misunderstood aliments because for all we know, there are no physical connotations and most people tend to believe only what they see. So for example, if someone has an accident and breaks a leg, that would be visible in their cast during the healing period, maybe some scars and also limping. In this case, people are most likely to rally around to help this person through any difficulties. However, the reverse is the case for mental health and mental illnesses where people are in ‘silent’ depression because even if they dared attempt to share, it would highly likely be met with disbelief, stigma, discrimination and isolation. It is further made worse when people who are expected to have it all together are suffering from depression or any other form of mental illnesses.

Is it right to assume also too that something is what usually triggers this ailment?

Most medical conditions, the cause is unknown and this also goes with mental illnesses. Aside from that, mental illness itself do have known causes which occurs from the interaction of multiple genes and other factors, such as stress, sexual abuse, or a any form of traumatic event ,which can influence, or trigger an illness in a person who has an inherited susceptibility to it. So yes, we can not only assume, but certain factors, as evidences do show, can trigger mental illness. It is also revealed that certain infections, brain defects injury, pre-natal damages, substance abuse, having relationships and financial challenges, and many other factors such as exposure to toxins like lead, poor nutrition and so on, also play a role in triggering mental illness. Sometimes. It can be the death of a loved one, job dissatisfaction, underemployed, unemployment among other environmental factors.

People go through phases of loneliness/financial challenges/unstable well-being and other issues that makes one sad which is a natural reaction to

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H A N U M Y A M DR I R I D A K F U S YU

“Our sons have been victims of SARS brutality, humiliation, fear, extortion and life cut short, they’re our leaders of tomorrow, they’re our future, they are our dreams, our hope, our strength, our pride, our lives. We Mothers live in fear because of these demons called SARS, this has to stop, we say NO to SARS, on behalf of the association of Mothers in Nigerian we say #endsars #endpolicebrutality #endpoliceviolence” such issues. But at what point does one realize they have crossed the line between normal reaction and a mental health situation?

Yes. All these outlined issues are generally normal things people go through at one point or the other in their lives. It can still be termed normal when all these does not affect or interfere with the individual’s functionality in carrying out their daily activities, interpersonal relationships and productivity. There is a thin line between normal and abnormal. The point people should realize they need help when it’s no longer a normal reaction and the following issues occur such as persistent sadness (not for a day or two), but for a continuous period of two weeks and more.

This also goes with low energy level, loss of interest in previously pleasurable activities, poor sleep and appetite, likewise excessive sleep and appetite, poor concentration and attention. This can progress to a severe form where the individual begins to experience feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, helplessness leading to suicidal behaviour. Some individuals can begin to hear strange voices, see strange things and become suspicious of people or things around them.

Once this interferences occur, then it is time to realize

that the individual has crossed normality, and help is needed to address the problem.

With the pulse of the nation at the moment, people are naturally upset at the turn of events.

Many parents/children/families/relatives have gone through emotional and financial upheavals which has dampened their spirits to no end. What is the best mental approach to take at this point in tome?

Best mental approach to take to boost the low morale affecting us a Nation is to imbibe Dr May’s SELFCARE tips as all should know that Self Care is NOT Selfishness, but Self Preservation that helps protect our Sanity.

S: Self Awareness This is the first rule of self care - being self aware.

This makes you know and recognize your stressors and triggers. Find what they are and take the necessary steps in managing them for a more impactful journey in your pathway to wellness.

E: Exercise A very recognized and well researched way of boosting the feel good hormones (Endorphins) that can help manage your stress, including mild cases of anxiety and depression.

L: Limit Excessive Exposure To Media News and social media can affect your health not in only good ways, but also bad ways that impact your mental health. Fake news kill. Scheduling your exposure to this powerful tool can help to keep you emotionally grounded.

F: Find and engage in pleasurable activities and hobbies. These activities will make you more relaxes and discover joy amidst the chaos.

C: Connect With Loved Ones Connecting with loved ones, friends and colleagues is an important component of being human. We all need social interaction to be happier and wellrounded.

A: Ask For Help The ability to ask for help when needed is a sign of strength, not weakness. So from today, don’t feel shy

STYLE & DESIGN

to ask for help.

negatively. In difficult times as this, parents need to build good home climate for their children that is R: Rest/Sleep free from stress or highly minimized stress and full of Learn to rest regularly, there is NO award for the laughter and hope. We should let our children to be busiest person. Adequate rest and sleep keeps you children and protect them from the many negative rejuvenated, renewed and more productive. vices occurring in our society. We owe them that.

These unprecedented items will come and go and E: Eating Right our children wouldn’t know how we were affected Nothing beats eating right and ensuring your body politically, mentally, economically and otherwise. What receives the right nutrients. This boosts your immunity they will remember is how we made them feel. As and fights diseases. Don’t only eat right to loose parents, let’s make it count. weight, eat to stay healthy - that’s the goal.

For the youths who are so despondent about the turn of events and live in dread of what their future holds for them, what advice can you give to boost their morales?

What the youth need to keep their morals high in a time like this, is simply learning to have a positive mindset about their future despite the situation on ground and that of the nation, no matter how dim it How do you explain the plight of the nation to may look. The truth is, in a matter of time, the positive, the much younger ones without inciting fear into promising future and change desired will surely them? emerge. All they need is to continue to do what they Best way to go about this is to; know how to do best, to make themselves happy First try and see through the eyes of the young ones, amidst the chaos and keep their hope and head high because the way they perceive situations most times always until they achieve their goals. They should can be amazing. never ever give up in their pursuit for a better life. In Try to feel what they are feeling (empathy) and our collective desire for a great Nation, we need all let them see that you feel their pains. By so doing, hands on deck, because together, we are stronger. everyone will come to terms and fear of any kind will be alleviated What words of inspiration will you like to part with Use how you feel, to address the plight of the nation for our leaders of tomorrow? to them, in such a way that they will know you are As a leader, it’s a personal journey to be more aware of what they are also passing through and intentional, deliberate and to practice the behavior what they are trying to communicate. Make them you want others to follow. To preserve what it is to be understand that we are collectively traumatized and human, our leaders of tomorrow should understand we all need each other in our pathway to healing it that the strongest driver of leadership and personal recovery. excellence is emotional intelligence. They should Constant reassurance is also very important when it remember that having a bad day does not mean comes to explaining the nation’s plight, as the younger having a bad life. Never, ever give up in their pursuit ones don’t have the time to slow things down, as they for greatness. are energetic and are always eager to see the result or evidence of what you promised. Therefore as you As a mental health professional, looking at the reassure them, make them see that you are trying your divide between govt and its people, what stringent best to make a visible and positive change. steps will you advice the govt to take in addressing Listen to them non-judgementally by doing this, you mental health issues? will understand more about what they want.

The recent unrest and the COVID-19 global It is high time, as a country, we begin to build a pandemic issues facing the nation has surged the culture of compassion where we create safe spaces prevalence of mental health issues. Unfortunately, not for people, especially our young ones to express everyone has access to some available mental health themselves. Psychologically, they are the therapy services or even how to seek psychological and mental generation and are changing the narrative in help. behaviors for mental health services. We need all For example, since the declaration of the COVID-19 hands on deck to make these safe spaces free from global pandemic by WHO, and now the aftermath of criticism, no judgement passed on any one and the protest, our center, Pinnacle Medical Services is people wouldn’t be apostolic towards others. catering to over 60,000 Nigeria employees and their If you are still feeling sad, anxious, depressed, having panic attacks or experiencing any other emotional issues, kindly reach out to a mental health professional today. You can also call our TOLL FREE LINE, 0-8000-SPEAKOUT at Pinnacle Medical Services or call 0809-065-5350 for psychosocial support.

There was a video going around of a woman whose child described the racism he experienced at schools and she begged the government to make Nigeria so she and her child can live in a country where his colour would not be an issue. What was most heartbreaking was watching the boy cry because his mother was crying even though he was too young to understand her message. What could this mother have done better to keep the child in a better place mentally?

It is good for us to know that half of all mental illnesses start before the age of 14 and two-third before the age of 24. With this in mind, we need to be emotionally present for our children by helping them build good self esteem, self worth and self confidence.

In as much as the act of racism can be daunting on the individual’s mental health, this boy can experience emotional and mental health distress such as anxiety, fear, anger, low self esteem among other issues due to this unpleasant situation.

We all need to realize that not everything is for the public. The internet never forgets. Videos such as this can come up in the future affecting this boy

relatives. This is a huge progress from what it used to be before.

Government should therefore invest in the following so that mental health services will be available, accessible, affordable and acceptable to the people.

1. Pass the mental health bill into an act as soon as possible.

2. Increase the budgetary allocation for the health sector.

3. Ensure the National health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) covers more people nationwide as against about 10% coverage we have now.

4. Invest in our primary healthcare centers by bringing in the PPP, public private partnerships.

5. Invest in the human resources unit of the health sector by providing better welfare packages.

6. Continuous public enlightenment and education on our mental health... so, Advocacy, advocacy, advocacy. This helps to start the conversation surrounding mental health and illnesses, amplifies our voices, change the narrative, normalize mental health issues and subsequently, encourage help seeking behaviour.

TEMILOLA ADEPETUN

A LETTER TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF NIGERIANS Dear Young Nigerian, I write with respect to the recent events in our nation.

Tuesday October 20, 2020 will be etched in our memories forever. I commiserate with families who lost their dear ones and to their friends who stood alongside them in the protests for a better Nigeria. May the souls of the faithful departed Rest in Peace and May the Lord comfort and strengthen their families.

We commend you all for giving us an awakening by the peaceful protests and demanding a reformation.

You inspired us by your courage, ingenuity, excellent coordination and execution. You showed us by your actions that we are ONE undivided by ethnicity or religious differences, it was amazing to watch you demonstrate this openly. You won our admiration by rising to the occasion undaunted despite the obstacles that were thrown at you. I salute you all.

As parents we pray that our children should be greater than us, you have proven your mettle without a doubt, and we are very proud of you all.

As we all know, sadly Tuesday 20th 2020 happened and UNKNOWN OTHERS (I am not given to name calling) took advantage of the tragic situation and looted far and wide causing untold havoc and great financial losses to both public and private assets. Those acts are most devastating and regrettable.

I am writing today to encourage you all and to express our gratitude for making the Nigerian populace aware of our civic duties and responsibilities to the generation yet unborn. We know that you feel betrayed, pained, emotionally and physically drained and you have been wrongfully accused; criticized and in the face of it all, you are fearful of reprisals. However, I enjoin you all to continue in your peaceful way and focus on the goal, which is true reformation in our country and prepare for 2023 elections to exercise our voting rights. This is the main channel that we all have as Nigerian citizens to make our voices heard.

Please listen to the interview of an elder statesman Mr. Atedo Peterside Arise TV. He gave an unbiased and meaningful perspective of these events and I dare say a road map of how to proceed. You will benefit greatly from willing mentors like Mr. Peterside, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo and several other sincere Nigerians strategizing with you behind the scenes as we prepare for the next elections. No doubt you will derive tremendous gains from their experience, knowledge, wisdom and more.

Our dear sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, please let us regroup as a nation as one body (as you have shown us) and focus on the goal of reformation of our Motherland. Each one of us has a part to play and we can all work together to support the younger generation of leaders that will emerge at the various levels of government in 2023 and beyond.

As you know, Grandparents, Parents, Uncles, Aunts, Brothers and Sisters all came out and supported the movement for reformation in various ways in the last two weeks, please be assured of their continued support to rebuild our nation.

Our prayers are with you, God be with you all.

Temilola Adepetun A Hopeful Nigerian Mother

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COVER

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9313 Sunday, November 8, 2020

COVER

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9313 Sunday, November 8, 2020

Valentine Chineto Ozigbo is a business leader and entrepreneur with over twenty five years experience in corporate transformation, power, hospitality, energy and banking. He is a multiple award winning CEO and the immediate past President and Group CEO of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) one of Africa’s largest conglomerates that includes Transcorp Power, Transcorp Hotels and Transcorp OPL281. He recently retired President and Group CEO to pursue his political ambitions and along side his philanthropic work which he started many years ago. Mr Ozigbo recently turned 50 and had the chance to speak with FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI about his career path thus far and his new foray into politics and public service.

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B G I Z O OR F Y IT L A T PI S O H G N I L E AV

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CS I T I OL

You have had a storied career working in power, hospitality, energy and banking (commercial, retail, investment and international banking), tell us about your journey in the private sector?

I began my professional career in the private sector and rose to what many consider the top of Corporate Nigeria when I became the President and CEO of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc. My first real job was a holiday job, I had just passed out of my secondary school with distinctions and my principal engaged me as a Maths and Physics teacher at Christ the Redeemer College in Anambra State, a job I held till I left to attend the University of Nigeria.

My second job was after I graduated from the university, my National Youth Service job was at NAL Merchant Bank. Interestingly, my university lecturer, Dr. Jona Ezikpe, got me the job as a reward for scoring the highest in his course, Financial Management.

After my service year, I got a job in Diamond Bank and wass posted to their Warri Branch. At Diamond Bank, I won Best Staff in Warri within the same year I was posted in 1995, and coincidentally Warri Branch was voted the best in Nigeria that year. From Diamond, I was headhunted to work at Continental Trust Bank as the pioneer Branch Business Manager in Warri. I also worked in several other banks including United Bank for Africa and Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank) where I was the Divisional Head of Global Banking.

In 2011, I left banking and moved to the hospitality industry as the Managing Director/CEO of TranscorpHotels, a position I occupied for seven years before moving on to become the President/CEO of the Transcorp Group with investments in Hospitality, Power and Oil & Gas. It has been an incredible 26 years of growth, learning, believing, striving for excellence, and of course, the grace of God. Going back to your time as Managing Director/ CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc, you led a $100 million project that saw Transcorp Hilton Abuja undergo a globally celebrated transformation and upgrade.

You also won the Seven Star Luxury hospitality CEO and Personality of the Year in 2016 and 2019 respectively, what motivates you in your work space?

The simple answer is driving the right vision with an excellent team while employing efficient execution.

When I took the helm of Transcorp Hilton, the upgrade was an imperative given that the hotel had been in existence for 30 years and was yet to witness a major upgrade such as we envisioned and executed. And it wasn’t just about the transformation of the infrastructure, we actually started off dealing with people issues and infusing the right culture of continuous improvement (KAIZEN). Then with an exceptionally great team and vendors, we set out with redesigning the interior and all other aspects. The scope covered the engineering aspects, the interiors and exteriors, and executed this over a period of three years, while ensuring minimal interruptions to guests.

We were faced with quite a number of challenges especially given the very harsh economic realities we faced, but we were able to overcome these, because we had absolute support of our Board members, especially our Group Chairman, Tony O. Elumelu.

Of all the paths you have travelled in your career, which will you say has been the most fulfilling so

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far?

I have thoroughly enjoyed all my career paths, but by far the most impactful was as CEO of Transcorp Hotels. This is so, because I had the greatest privilege of managing and overcoming difficult challenges, balancing conflicts especially with governments and National Assembly.

When I took over in 2011, I realized Transcorp Hotels hadn’t undergone any major audit since Transcorp took over in 2005. With the leadership provided by my boss and my being a chartered accountant with strong corporate governance ethos, we set out to strengthen governance, improve our internal controls

I have been told that I represent freshness to our politics that has not been seen in my home state for a long time. Not only am I competent for my vision, I also bring with me, a non-polarizing youthful energy to the field.

and achieve 100% compliance rating with tax and regulatory expectations. Not only did we achieve these, the company also became the first major corporation to receive a commendation letter from Federal Internal Revenue Service.

We went on to achieve other corporate milestones including taking the company through a successful Initial Public Offering (IPO), the corporate bond program listed on two Exchanges, and many more.

Our transformation has now been widely celebrated.

All these were achieved while managing over 1,200 staff with strongly unionized interest. At Transcorp Hilton, I had the privilege of meeting the world and touching many lives positively, hosting hundreds of presidents and global leaders. I am indeed very grateful for all the landmark achievements that I can’t even begin to list there.

You retired in March 2020 as the Group CEO of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc to follow a new path. Why did you decide to leave the certainty of the private sector for the uncertainty of politics; and philanthropy?

I resigned from my role as the President and Group CEO of Transcorp to dedicate my time and resources to public service; however, I remain on the Board of Transcorp and its subsidiaries.

Why did I leave the private sector? In a nutshell, I was tired of watching from the sidelines while citizens suffered. I was tired of hearing of children dying from malaria just because their mother could not afford the basic medication. I was tired of hearing of a young woman dying at the hospital during childbirth just because she couldn’t afford to pay for care.

These are the people that pushed me to start up my foundation,Valentine Chineto Ozigbo Foundation.

However, it wasn’t enough.

I knew fundamental changes were required if I

wanted to make real change. So, I stepped up to effect the change I want to see in our country and Anambra State. So, I will be running for governorship of Anambra State under the platform of PDP in 2021 elections.

How do you intend to secure the ticket under this party, when a lot of equally qualified candidates are also gunning for the same ticket?

The question of leadership has to be met with a high level of clearheaded judgment, with competence, and with compassion to do what is right for the people you lead. I believe that I have these three qualities in abundance. Asides from my business turnaround experience, my passion makes me stand out. Anambra State made me, I was born there and lived through my formative years there. I understand the people and I have a passion to build the Anambra state I always dreamed of while growing up.

But what’s more, I am in a unique position, by the grace of God, to play the role of a bridge-builder to unify the people of Anambra behind a higher vision of shared prosperity.

I have been told that I represent freshness to our politics that has not been seen in my home state for a long time. Not only am I competent for my vision, I also bring with me, a non-polarizing youthful energy to the field.

I intend to bring these qualities of mine – the ability to break down and solve complex problems, an uncommon business acumen, a solid track record of exceptional performance, digital and future-focused leadership – to the service of my people. I also feel that God has equipped me well for this role when he implanted in me sufficient dose of culture of continuous improvement and consistent hunger for excellence. My vision is an Anambra where everyone is empowered to prosper.

In terms of securing the tickets, we are already on our way to achieving this as analysts already consider us the top contender. I am using plural term because it is not my effort alone. God has been amazing as far as this project is concerned. We are engaging actively, party delegates and faithful at the grassroots, middle and top levels, and I am pleased that I am the only aspirant that has visited each of the 21 local governments twice. At the peak of the COVID menace, we led the charge in providing palliatives and other awareness and safety support to citizens. We are also actively engaging other critical stakeholders, from media to churches to traditional institutions etc. All these plus more, and many other planned initiatives will help to ensure we push the momentum to the next level. So, we are confident of our victory.

As an indigene of Anamabra state, do you think the current administration is doing a good job and if not, what do you think the state needs for it to develop and flourish?

There is no government that is entirely ineffectual so it would be dishonest for me to run down the present government. However, it should be noted that governance is a relay race and the positives recorded in Anambra State can be traced back to the effective leadership under His Excellency Peter Obi, the immediate past governor of Anambra State. His policies and prudent approach to governance laid a solid foundation for his successor, the current governor, to build on. So has Governor Obiano done well? The answer is that he had a good head start when he took

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COVER

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9313 Sunday, November 8, 2020

over from Governor Peter Obi. That said, the current state of affairs in my state is worrisome. There is a widespread feeling that expectations for good governance and purposeful unifying leadership are not being met and I am confident to turn things around when given the opportunity.

which we provide platforms for the young ones to express the talent and get discovered. We have been holding it annually for the last 5 years. But this year, with the COVID lockdowns, instead of suspending the programme, we have taken it virtual and have named it Anambra Talent UNLOCKED. It is currently open for entries. Anambra Talent UNLOCKED overlaps with another core focus of ours, which is to develop culture as vehicle for nation building and renewal. During the COVID lockdowns, we introduced an Ogene Music Contest and an Mbem & Oja Melody Contest. We rewarded the winners with cash prizes and other rewards. Under cultural development, we also host an annual cultural carnival.

What makes our programmes special is that we offer continued support and mentorship. We don’t just hold contests, declare winners and that’s it. We go on to nurture the talents we discover, develop them, and offer new opportunities. For instance, the winner of our talent contest in drama in 2018, Michael Okpala, we got him a role in one of Nigeria’s biggest blockbuster movies, ‘Merry Men’, which I also executively produced.

We also have a scholarship scheme to enable indigent but brilliant students to get a quality education. These are all programmes that have positively impacted the lives of thousands of youths across Anambra and the rest of Africa.

For more on this, we will like to invite the youngsters to continue to check our website www. vcofoundation.org or our social media handles, @ VCOFoundation on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

We need capable leaders with actions, not just words. What is on your political manifesto that you think will help you secure the ticket at the primaries?

I intend to win the primary of the Peoples Democratic Party coming up next year and I will do this by unifying the party behind an agenda that serves Anambra State. I am engaging with leaders of the PDP at all levels and I have also built a strong grassroot movement behind my candidacy and in doing this, I have found that there is a yearning for something new among my people. People are tired of same old bitter politics of acrimony instead of politics of advancement. My candidacy offers them the opportunity to create a new path to prosperity and progress for all.

In terms of specifics, I will be unveiling my blueprint soon which will show basic and transformational initiatives we will embark on to ensure Anambra becomes the best case for what quality governance and people empowering projects should be.

You are also the founder of Valentine Chineto Ozigbo(VCO) Foundation, a philanthropic endeavor that focuses on youth empowerment, capacity building and mentorship. What has the foundation been able to achieve thus far especially during this time of the COVID-19 global pandemic?

The coronavirus struck Nigeria at a time that we were ill-prepared to handle a pandemic of this magnitude.

I count myself as someone who studies the future keenly. Once this virus became a global topic, I knew it would get to Nigeria. I also realized, that a lot of the information on corona virus on social media hinted that Africans were immune to the virus or that the “heat in Nigeria” would kill the virus were disinformation.

I decided to take steps to intervene from a practical leadership standpoint. Early in April, my foundation, Valentine Chineto Ozigbo(VCO) Foundation activated a street awareness campaign in over 50 markets in Anambra. Our aim was to educate our people on the virus and how to protect themselves. We distributed 15,000 bottles of hand santizers and educational materials. We followed up with 10,000 face-masks.

We did this before governments decided that face masks should be compulsory. We already had access to research revealed that wearing face-masks significantly reduces the spread of the virus. We called for the federal government to ban interstate travel to curtail the spread of the virus. Weeks later, the president banned interstate travel. We also distributed palliatives like rice to our people in the 21 local government areas.

All together, we spent over N20 million on our direct programmes and allied programmes we supported. I also donated about N10 million to various other bodies in support of providing palliatives, including N5 million contributed to Anambra PDP’s COVID Intervention fund.

Our COVID-19 intervention programme is driven by our larger vision of making the world a better place for all.

How can young people access the N100million loan guarantee support you have made available and is this only available to the indigenes of Anambra state?

Our N100 million loan guarantee was one of our COVID-19 intervention programmes. When the Central Bank of Nigeria announced a N50 billion COVID-19 Intervention Loan for small businesses and households impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, we thought it necessary to step in with a programme to support our people in Anambra to be able to access the loan.

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What we need now is for the youth to rise up and take up their rightful place in actualizing the of Nigeria by utilizing their voting rights and getting actively involved in developing our nation.

Drawing from my experience in banking, I knew the biggest barrier to accessing financing by small businesses is lack of a collateral. So, I partnered with two financial institutions, Akalabo Microfinance Bank and VFD Microfinance Bank and put up a personal guarantee of N100 million to enable small businesses in Anambra who qualify for the CBN loan to access the funds. It has been a success though at some point, CBN removed the need for guarantees. We have a number of recipients testify about their collection of the funding.

That is what we stand for, at VCO Foundation, our aim is to make the world better for all.

And apart from the loan guarantee support for indigenes of Anambra state, how do other young Nigerians benefit from your Foundation?

One of our core missions is to empower the youth and we have done this through various programmes that have directly uplifted the lives of over 20,000 youth in Anambra and beyond. We have an annual business plan competition through which we empower our winners with millions of naira in grants. We have leadership conferences targeted at building up managerial, personal development, and leadership in our youth.

We have brought in experts from outside Nigeria to pass on the right information to our youth. We have also provided food for the disadvantaged, supported less privileged homes and empowered many women, especially widows.

We also partnered with Feet ‘N’ Tricks in developing freestyle football in Nigeria and Africa and this is also a youth-focused project. We also have a talent contest in

You are also the Chairman of Feet and Tricks Limited, the exclusive promoters of Freestyle Football in Africa in partnership with World Freestyle Football Association. What is freestyle football and what about the sport captivated you?

I first took interest in developing freestyle football when I saw a video of a freestyler performing the sport on social media. I researched further and found thatfreestyle football was a real sport with a global body. I made contact with the leaders at the World Freestyle Football Association (WFFA) and the next week I was on a plane to London to meet with Daniel Wood, the co-founder and head of partnerships, and his team. I found freestyle football fascinating and unlike football, its appeal cuts across gender lines. So, we started Feet ‘N’ Tricks with Kanu Nwankwo, Olisa Adibua, Dom Lawson, Godwin Nwanagu and Odyke Nzewi as directors. We first began with a national championship in 2017.

What is your philosophy of life?

I am a man in pursuit of excellence, who lives by a culture of continuous improvement. Through faith in God, diligence, hard work, and setting priorities right, success and happiness become commonplace.

Do you have any word of advice for the youth come 2023 when they have the voting power to change the narrative of Nigeria?

This is a good question. As I said in my message to Nigerian youth on International Youth Day, never before have the threats and opportunities been greater for a generation of young people in this country.

I believe that Nigeria has been held together by one of the most populous and promising youth populations, this is in spite of the huge upheavals we have experienced as a nation. Our youth have demonstrated resilience and creativity that is uncommon on the continent. They should be celebrated for not caving to the depravity of our times.

What we need now is for the youth to rise up and take up their rightful place in actualizing the of Nigeria by utilizing their voting rights and getting actively involved in developing our nation.

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, 9313 Sunday, November 8, 2020

STYLE & DESIGN

DURO OLOWU’S SS21 COLLECTION

IS EVERYTHING WE EXPECTED AND MORE Duro Olowu who recently shared his SS21 collection says he was “inspired by the African American artist Emma Amos and her powerful original use of vivid colour and texture in her paintings, collages and prints.

Known for her radical feminist agenda and challenging racial stereotypes, Amos understood that activism was part of her existence as a creative.

Her poetic use of colour is front and centre in the striking handpainted striped prints that weave their way through this new collection.

BY KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR

In his interview with Vogue, he said: “I was looking at her work a lot. I love the way she used colour. She had this unexpected, striking mix which really made an impact. But beyond her art, she was the only female member of Spiral, the African-American painting group formed in the Sixties to debate the political role of black artists. She challenged racism and sexism – she was incredibly stylish too”.

– Duro Olowu

Check out the full collection on www.vogue.com Credits Photo by #LuisMonteiro Makeup by #MariaPapadopoulou Model: #NeemaKayitesi

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The dewy soft glam look has become all the rage.

You hardly see anyone wearing full glam makeup anymore. If you’re wondering what a dewy soft glam is; it’s a super illuminated look that emphasizes on your natural beauty. One thing you need to know is that just because it’s a soft and subtle, doesn’t mean it involves less technique.

Here are some tips to best execute this look.

Hydrate Your Face

The key technique to achieving a flawless dewy look is hydration.

Giving your skin the right amount of hydration before wearing your makeup products will give your skin that perfect dewy look.

The right products for giving your face that necessary hydration?

Face moisturiser and hydrating serum. We recommend the Zaron Regenerating Hydrating Serum because of its lightweight formula that locks in moisture for 24 hours.

Image - Zaron Regenerating Hydrating Serum

Want to Achieve that

STYLE & DESIGN

DEWY LOOK Here’s how!

Wear Lightweight foundation

The next step to getting your flawless dewy look will be using a lightweight foundation, applied with a damp beauty sponge. This will allow the foundation glide smoothly on your already hydrated face. If you need to cover spots, wrinkles and fine lines, you can use a cream concealer and also apply with a beauty blender.

Image – Zaron healthy glow foundation

ZARON REGENERATING HYDRATING SERUM

Get your blush on

The most important thing to note when going for a dewy look is keeping your makeup natural, sheer with a luminous skin effect. Put on your blush but DO NOT go overboard and remember to blend well. Try using a cream blush but in the absence of that, grab your favourite eyeshadow palette and choose a colour to suit your skin preferably pink, red or orange.

Finish off with glossy lips

The best lips to wear for a dewy look is glossy lips. Try the Zaron MaxSheen Lipgloss range, with its ultimate high gloss and exciting colour variations. Glossy lips give you a fresh and vibrant look.

Image - Zaron MaxSheen Lipgloss

ZARON HEALTHY GLOW FOUNDATION

Let your setting spray do the magic

To set your look and seal that super dewy finish, use a non-matte finishing spray. There is no wrong or right amount of setting spray when achieving a dewy look.

Image – zaron perfect finish spray

ZARON MAXSHEEN LIPGLOSS

ZARON PERFECT FINISH SPRAY

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9313 Sunday, November 8, 2020

STYLE & DESIGN

#EndSARS (part 2)

MORE PROFILES OF THOSE KILLED BY POLICE BRUTALITY

BY USIADE ISIOMA

Uncontrollable tears flowed in the eyes of millions of Nigerians on Friday night 16th of October as the protesters against the dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) with the hashtag #EndSARS held a candle night memorial service for the victims of SARS/police killings at Lekki, Lagos Island, Abuja and other parts of the country.

In a sombre mood, the protesters mourned the victims – who they described as “fallen heroes.” The hashtag #FallenHeroes was among the most trending hashtags on the bird app, Twitter.

Some of the names of the victims of SARS/police killings were called at the session.

Richard Gora a 21-year-old 200 level

Architecture student at Kaduna State University was arrested by SARS operatives, accused of being in possession of a phone used to send threat messages. He had reportedly bought the phone from somebody. The operatives traced the phone to him and stormed his residence. He was taken to their station and was tortured until he became unconscious. His mother begged for his release so he can be taken to the hospital but the policemen did not bulge, and at night he died.

Tiamiyu Kazeem aka Kaka.

Ken Niweigha

Modebayo Awosika

on 1st October 2008, police officers of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad shot Modebayo Awosika in the head and then set his car on fire. An autopsy showed that he had died of a gunshot. The police told the coroner that his car hit the police patrol vehicle.

The police said that one of the police officers shot at the car as the young man was suspected to be a robber. His vehicle crashed into a ditch and caught fire. The five police officers on duty that night were reportedly transferred to undisclosed locations.

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Ademola Moshood on 28th march 2019, the motorcyclist was reportedly shot dead by a SARD policeman near his residence in Lagos when he allegedly refused to part with the sum of N200 bribe.

Chukwuemeka Matthew Onovo

a 22-year-old student who was shot and killed by a police officer in July 2008. The police claimed that he was an armed robber but an eye witness said he was unarmed when he was killed. According to the witness, he went to the station

Eke Nwoseh and his friend, both aged 17, were

arrested on 15th March 2004 on their way home. Almost a year later, the police told the family that the two boys had been transferred to another undisclosed police station.

Despite repeated enquiries from the families and a petition to the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, their fate remains unclarified. A relative told Amnesty International: “We are surprised that a boy at age 17 can go missing from police custody. If he committed a crime, we should know where he is, it is very painful for us.”

and found his glasses on the ground. He had been shot and killed by the police. No one was held responsible.

“I don’t know who shot my son, till today”, his father said. “It affected me so much. He was my first and only son.”

Emeka Ojinze,

the 23 year old boy riding his motor bike when a police man Iyiagu, attached to CPS Arooma in Awka Anambra State in 2017 used his baton to hit his head, he fell into a gutter and died instatntly. He was scheduled to leave for UAE.

nurturing a baby in Bodija, Ibadan but the state failed her in safety as the Police shot her recently. She was 23.

Rinji Bala Uzziel is one of the victims of #brutality in Nigeria. The 20-year-old 300L History and International Studies student of University of Jos, was shot dead in Jos, Plateau State by Rogue Military Men that claimed that he was part of a burglary gang. The Soldiers had initially released him and five others after taking them to the Sector Command at Zaria Road but asked them to run and opened fire on them. The bullets hit him and he was killed, others luckily, did not get hit.

a 17-year-old boy was beaten to death two years ago by a Police officer in Warri, Delta State. It was gathered that the deceased Ifunanya was fast asleep when officers attached to B Division, broke into their apartment and surrounded everyone in the house with guns while in search for internet fraudsters otherwise known as ‘Yahoo Boys’. The Police have refused to give the family his corpse for over two years now.

of Economics in Kaduna State University.

He had just finished his second Semester exams with the hope of proceeding to his final year, graduating and supporting his mum in Abuja. He therefore travelled to Abuja on Thursday 4th Dec 2014 to carry out a job at the popular UTC shopping complex and while he was sitting outside his friend’s house, he was arrested by the police, tortured and killed in cell.

a UK returnee was reportedly shot dead by a policeman during a confrontation near her home in Abuja.

Sofiyat Yekin, was

Ifunanya Amadike

Femi Bello is a 300-level student

ANITA AKAPSON,

A Nigerian oil militant leader was shot dead in police custody. He was arrested on 26th May 2009 and taken to the state criminal investigation department (state CID) in Yenagoa and paraded in front of the media. He was killed after he had agreed to show them his hideout but tried to escape CID claims, meanwhile eyewitness said he was shot in the leg and ribs, and beaten in the neck area. He was later buried in an undisclosed location by the authorities with his document and laptop burnt.

police stopped a car occupied by six men. They were arrested and detained at Omoku Police station, Rivers State. Their families were informed of their arrest but were not allowed to see them after their transfer. On 11th April, police officers at SOS claimed the men were transferred to SARS. Officers at SARS denied this.

To date, the whereabouts of the six men are unknown.

a mechanic was arbitrarily arrested, detained, extorted and tortured to death by men of the Nigerian Police Force in Rivers State. He was later found innocent after the police said it couldn’t prove a case against the deceased and three others.

twenties, had decided to give Ifeanyi’s fiancée an unforgettable treat since she just arrived Abuja for the first time from Benin in a lounge at Grand Mirage Hotel at Port Harcourt street off Gimbiya street, Garki, Abuja. It was there the then Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Danjuma Ibrahim, allegedly began making romantic advances on Augustina, a faceoff ensued when she turned down the love advances and Mr Ibrahim allegedly stormed out of the night club. He then went to the checkpoint at the end of the street and told officers on duty he had “sighted a group of armed robbers in the area.” When the six unwary victims, on their way home, arrived at the Gimbiya checkpoint in a Peugeot 406 car, Mr Ibrahim allegedly had the car blocked and ordered the officers to shoot the occupants after an argument. Four of them, unarmed, died at the spot in a blaze of gunfire. Anthony and Augustina, who survived the initial onslaught were ‘finished off’ in the wee hours of June 8th by two police officers who claimed, “they attempted to escape from custody.” Augustina was equally strangled as evidence showed.

a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was on her way home with friends around 3am on Wednesday, July 4th 2018, when she was killed by a police officer. The officer shot at the vehicle Igwetu was riding in because he claimed he believed she was a kidnap victim.

Chika Ibeku 29, Gabriel Ejoor Owoicho 29, Precious Odua 27 and two others On 7th April 2009, the

Chima Ikwunado

Ifeanyi Ozor and his friends Chinedu Meniru, Anthony Nwokike, Paulinus Ogbonna and Ekena Megbe all in their mid-

Linda Igwetu Nkechi

The 21 year old, who played in defence for second tier side Remo Stars was crushed by a hit-and-run driver on the Sagamu-Abeokuta Expressway while being taken to the SARS office.

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, 9313 Sunday, November 8, 2020

STYLE & DESIGN

Ismaila Ayinla, the 45 year old man was allegedly shot and killed in a hotel by SARS where he was said to have passed the night in Iwo Osun state.

Tina Ezekwe

a 16-year-old secondary school student, was shot and killed by two police officers at the Iyana-Oworo area of Lagos State in May, 2020.

Alex Ogbu was

shot on the head by police personnel on Tuesday during a demonstration by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria in Abuja. The police were firing live bullets at the protesters when Ogbu was shot on the head and died instantly while some IMN members sustained injuries.

Joseph Ugbeni a 20-year-

old boy and an undergraduate of a polytechnic in Edo State was hit by a bullet in the head by SARS officers shooting sporadically while chasing a suspected Internet fraudster at the Ogoja market along LASU-Igando Road.

His corpse was dumped in the boot of a fraudster’s car, before driving away to the command headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 9313 Sunday, November 8, 2020

STYLE & DESIGN

#EndSARS (part 3)

MORE PEOPLE’S EXPERIENCES IDORENYIN OBONG A contract Android Engineer at Pay stack “I was returning home on Thursday night in an Uber after a hard day’s work. What was supposed to be a routine journey from mainland Ikeja to Lekki became a torturous ordeal when my ride was flagged down by four officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigerian Police for a stop and search in Victoria Island. An officer began searching the car and upon discovering I had a MacBook and an iPhone XS in my possession, surmised that I was into ‘games’, apparently an in-house slang for internet fraud. The officers ordered me to unlock my phone, and went through my emails, WhatsApp texts and Google Hangout and began interrogating me. I told him where I worked and showed him my ID

card, but none of this mattered to the officers who seized my phone and ordered me into their bus. All of this was happening at 11 pm. The officers demanded an N800,000 ransom before I can be released.

I told them I did not have that much and we reached an N100,000 bargain. They said if I didn’t give them the money, they would deal with me and shoot me. The officers drove me in an unnumbered and unofficial patrol bus, from Victoria Island to Marina, a 16km journey, to five ATM outlets before arriving at one where l withdrew N50,000 cash to coerce them into accepting a bank transfer for record purposes. They refused, asking me to transfer the balance into the account of an earlier victim before dropping him off in an unfamiliar area around Marina from where he had to find his way home”.

KEMI QUADRI BELLO Has taken to Twitter to recount how her alleged experience with SARS officers in 2010 affected her mental health.

“Finally, l have summoned courage to share my SARS story: One day back in 2010, SARS picked me up in front of Luth while I was waiting for a cab. I just graduated from Uni and it was a few days to induction(graduation). I came to LUTH to sort out my induction gown. We lived off Ogunlana drive back then. My dad called me that he wanted to come pick me up because he was feeling a certain kind of way about my safety and I was like “Daddy, LUTH to Ogunlana is just a stone throw, I’m a big girl now, let me take a cab. see you soon, love you!” As soon as l hung up, my phone battery died.

While waiting for the cab in front of LUTH, these SARS guys came with their bus. They picked me up along with some other guys and threw me into their bus. They immediately started saying “Na yahoo yahoo boy girlfriend

LAWAL HALIMAT Has shared the heartbreaking story of how her brother was allegedly killed

by SARS officers in Ibadan, Oyo state four years ago.

“My older brother and some boys got involved in a fight. They arrested him and took him to SARS office. From Adelubi police

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see her face, she’s one of them”.

I was in shock. Gun pointed at me.

I started crying, “Sir I’m not a yahoo boy’s girlfriend, I’m a Doctor. I just graduated. I came for my gown” I was screaming and crying. They asked for my phone, the battery was dead and they asked me why I put it off?

They said I was hiding something.

Unfortunately, I had no ID on me but I had the receipt for the gown which I showed them but it absolutely made no difference.

Two of them started using the bottom of their guns to hit me, I was screaming and crying. Some of the other guys in the bus were also being dealt with but I think it’s my screams and cries that irritated them so much that they started beating me. When we got to Ojuelegba, they threw me out of the fast-moving bus. I had nothing on me, I walked from Ojuelegba to Ogunlana, crying and wailing.

I was just glad they dropped me, I was happy they didn’t shoot me or take me somewhere to harm me.

station, they took him to SAR office then killed him.

After killing him, they asked me to bring N350,000. I gave them N250,000 at first then N100,000. I went back and gave it to them on the date we agreed. I did not meet my brother. When I asked, they told me they had transferred his case to Abuja”.

BY USIADE ISIOMA

FATIMA ALI

TONI ASTRO

FATIMA ALI a mother of three, hardworking and a successful business woman was hit by a stray bullet in April 2012 by a policeman while attending a wedding in Mina the ninja state capital. “I heard a sound and that’s all, when I woke up, I found myself in the hospital”.

Haija Fatima a widow is now surviving with a bullet stuck in her skull eight years after she got shot.

According to her sister, she says the judgement was passed that the police should pay N12million for compensation and medical treatment. After accepting the judgement. the police appealed again in Abuja court and didn’t pay a dime for her treatment. According to her daughter Aisha, her mother doesn’t sleep, she pees and poos on her bed and even when she is fed, after five minutes, she calls for food again and it’s not like she is hungry. “Sometimes just because I don’t want to come and see her in that situation, I don’t like coming to the house” says Aisha. Although her kids have been to court and judgement has been delivered in her favour, the police didn’t obey the judgement. Her family is forced to look for alternative means for her medical needs to help save her soul.

Toni Astro, a Lagos-based software engineer, detailing his harassment experience caused the tech community to spring into action.

Today, the officers who harassed and extorted the engineer have been arrested and remanded while Astro has been assured the money the officers extorted would be refunded in full.

“On September 28, I was on my way home when I was accosted by SARS officers in the Ketu area of Lagos Mainland who demanded I follow them to their station for no discernible reason. One of the officers threatened to shoot me in the leg if I did not comply.

They asked for a million naira in exchange for my freedom.

At their Ogudu Area H office, I was physically assaulted in the hopes that I would confess to being an internet fraudster when they discovered I had a laptop with me.

In between slaps and punches, they haggled over my ransom.

After an hour, I was forced to go to the nearest ATM where I withdrew half the money in my account before I was handed my computer and other belongings and asked me to go”.

KAYCEE MADU MIRACLE 23 The 23-year-old was arrested, detained and tortured by SARS for 40days with hardly any food before he was taken to court. He is said to be one of the few that made it alive.

KINGSLEY Alleged he was shot at by a police officer two months after his wedding. The gunshot wound resulted in his left leg being amputated. He did not give a date or place where this incident happened.

Halimat immediately went to the garage and begged to be transported FOC. When she got to Abuja, she met with some police officers who after hearing her explanation, informed her she should go back to Ibadan as it is only cases of persons that have been killed that SARS officers claim have

been transferred to Abuja.

Halimat said she became sick during the course of searching for the truth about her brother and that it was at the same hospital she went for treatment she discovered that the police officers had brought her brother’s corpse to be deposited in the morgue.

Canada’s first black Minister of Justice has recounted how his cousin was allegedly murdered by Nigerian police in 2013. In his tweet “I support the people of Nigeria as they protest to end police brutality and extrajudicial killings. My own cousin Chrisantus Nwabueze Korie, was murdered by Nigerian police in April 2013. Despite my best efforts, the police would not investigate his murder and did everything to obstruct. I also helped to petition a committee of Nigeria’s National Assembly to probe the killing and report back to the House within a timely manner”.

JOY NDUBUEZE Only recently was Joy Ndubueze was lured to a canal in Opebi by Joseph Eze, a police corporal in Lagos state police command and shot in the mouth. Eze thought he had killed Joy then fled the scene.

Buy she was rescued and taken to the hospital by people around the neighbourhood.