BusinessDay 14 Mar 2021 by BusinessDay

Dealing with high cost of Gumi’s divisive utterances

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Sunday 14 March 2021

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As things are now, whoever is Desperate against restructuring does not moments in Aso Rock over love Nigeria - Setonji Page 12

insecurity

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Zidane speaks on Ronaldo return to Real Madrid Page 23

Supreme Court judgment gives APC opportunity to seek lasting solution in Rivers - Abe

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Vaccine hesitancy: Will history repeat self in Nigeria?

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Wike hits back at Akpabio over 13%

Today, VALENTINA UTOH steps up to the ‘4th floor’, ready for the next level

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State governor and the Incident commander, receives COVID-19 Vaccination while the Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi (left), watches, at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba.

Politicians’ interference, poor funding major problem of community policing - Shekarau INIOBONG IWOK

hile many Nigerians are calling for establishment of community policing as the solution to the insecurity bedeviling the country, Ibrahim Shekarau, a former governor

of Kano State, has said politicians must not be allowed to nominate anybody into such outfit, and that funding must be reasonable to achieve the desired result. In a monitored interview, Shekarau, who gave a personal experience with the Community police- Hisbah guards- he floated when he was governor, said it is

only such an arrangement that could see Nigeria out of the security challenge it is going through. He also noted that there seems to be a huge question on value system in Nigeria, which has worsened the security crisis. “There seems to be erosion of leadership values and leaders are no longer promoting values that

were held sacrosanct in Nigeria years back,” he said. According to him, “The challenges are quite enormous and multidimensional. The most important being that of leadership. You envision what you want to achieve. For instance, the current administration gave us its syllabus or marking scheme, focusing on

three major areas- Security, fight against corruption and economy. “When you talk about security, the issue of community policing is key.” Giving instance of how community policing can work without being politicized, he said: “Hisbah Continues on page 4

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News With N128bn budget, NASS still says it’s broke ...As Reps dismiss Senate superiority James Kwen, Abuja

espite having a n n u a l budgetary allo cation of N128 billion, the National Assembly still says it is broke and cannot effectively perform its constitutional duties. Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu who made the assertion while briefing journalists in Abuja, said the budget of the National Assembly must be reviewed to address contemporary challenges. This is coming barely a month after Kalu had said the Nigerian National Assembly is one of the poorest parliaments in the world, lamenting that the pressure from constituents was killing lawmakers. The Chairman, House

Committee on Media and Public Affairs had said: “This is one of the poorest parliaments; you don’t see lawmakers living in luxury. These guys here are suffering; they are under stress, that’s why most of the sicknesses they are passing through are heart attacks, this and that failures. “The pressure from the constituents is way out of the scope. Those who are not supposed to build road are asked to build road. They receive pressure even on issues that are not their duty. And the resources to solve the demands of the public are not there”. Again, Kalu told journalists t hat Nat iona l Ass embly, particularly the House was broke but was afraid of the complaints of Nigerians to make provision for a budget that would make lawmakers run legislative activities, effectively. “The House is broke, I have said it before and I am

saying it again and I am not afraid to say it. The House is broke and it is afraid to appropriate the sufficient amount for them to do their job. That is why today, here is hot; that is why the hearing rooms are not fixed; that is why the house is indebted to contractors who provide one form of service or the other. This is the fact. “Until Nigerians believe that the appropriation that was made for the running of the National Assembly, which happened when naira was 160 to the dollar, is less now than what it used to be. The dollar equivalent of naira today has gone up to over N400. The purchasing power of the budget as it is now is weaker than it was 10 years ago,” he said. According to him, “The budget of the National Assembly is supposed to be reviewed, in view of its purchasing ability, of the services that will help the

L-R: Obinna Ukachukwu, divisional head, Health and Education Sectors, Sterling Bank Plc.; Betta Edu, commissioner for Health, Cross River State; and Henri Onyemachi, Lead, Technology Consortium for Cross River State Health Insurance (CRSHIS), after a meeting, held on the sideline of the official flag-off of CRSHIS, in Calabar.

parliament to move forward. At the moment, it is a weak budget and that is the truth. I have actually fought with the leadership of the House and I have asked the question, ‘Why are you afraid to raise the budget of the National Assembly that will enable us to conduct our services efficiently and effectively?’ We appropriate for agencies to run effectively, yet we are in penury to our own constitutional mandate. It is a disservice to Nigerians; the poor budget of the parliament is a disservice to Nigerians. “Let us be fair in our analogy; let us wear the right spectacles when we analyse and you will find out that this N128bn budget of the National Assembly, that is divided among all the agencies of the National Assembly; that is divided among all the staff – over 3000 to 6000 members of staff; that is divided among all the aides, five aides per lawmaker. Sometimes, people wonder if we really need those aides.” “So, if you ask me 20 times, whether the National Assembly is broke, until they improve the budget of the National Assembly, I will say, ‘Yes, we are broke”, he argued. Kalu also dismissed the belief of superiority between the Senate and the House of Representatives, saying both Chambers work in concurrence for the service of the country. “ Pe o p l e h a v e a l w a y s imagined that there is a superiority kind of status between the Senate and the House of Representatives, the issue still remains that the Constitution does not say so. If it says so, you will not see the House of Representatives always seeking concurrence while the Senate will not seek for concurrence,” he stated.

Wike hits back at Akpabio over 13% Ignatius Chukwu

overnor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and h i s for me r bossom friend, Godswill Akpabio, seem to head to irredeemable level of conflict which both men seemed to have avoided for months when they parted ways politically. Now, Wike has taken a swipe at the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Akpabio, for allegedly accusing governors in the region of mismanagement of 13 percent derivation fund. He has even threatened to release a video clip of where he said Akpabio denigrated President

Muhammadu Buhari before joining the ruling party. Akpabio almost crossed parts with Wike over the Joi Nunieh saga when Wike sent rescue team to bring out Nunieh who was being invaded and seized by men believed to be secret police. Wike said it was disingenuous for Akpabio who as a governor of Akwa Ibom State to act like a demi-god, to accuse incumbent governors of financial recklessness just because they did not attend the inauguration of Niger Delta Development Commission ((NDDC) headquarters building in Port Harcourt on Thursday. The governor took a swipe

at the minister during the inauguration of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Secretariat Building, performed by the National President of TUC, Quadri Olaleye, on Friday in Ozuoba Town of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. “We knew when Akpabio was governor what he was doing. In fact, he saw himself as god then. Now, he has the temerity to insult South-South Governors. We will meet one day. If he did well, why did he fail Senate election? If his people love him, why did he fail Senate election; ordinary senate? And you will come and talk to us.” Wike accused the minister

of sponsoring militants to cast aspersion on Niger Delta state governors by demanding that they should account for N55billion they received. He wondered how the minister came about the said amount. “You (Akpabio) went and started sponsoring so called militants that we should render account of N55billion. Where did we get the N55 billion? If we got N55billion then he got N200 trillion. You cannot insult people.” He explained that the inauguration of the NDDC headquarters building was planned without contacting the governors in the region to know if the date was suitable for them.

Book launch: Don Canvases good governance as solution to coup in Africa Iniobong Iwok

ylvester Akhaine-Odion, a professor of political science, has said that military coup; political instability in Africa could only be prevented through good and responsive governance, charging the government and policy makers to always make people central in their policies at all times. Odion, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Lagos State University (LASU), during a book launch in Lagos Friday, blamed the long years of military incursion into politics on the continent as responsible for the several of the challenges bedevilling the continent, stressing that the ruling class must focus more on people-oriented policy because in democracy citizens are central to policy unlike in military rule. ”Government should always make policies that will uplift the people. Without that, there will always be instability. We need good governance, we need to make people central to policies in Africa,” Odion said. Reviewing the book titled ‘Military Intervention In African Politics’, authored by the acting head of Department of Political Science, LASU, Jimoh Bamgbose, Odion said the recent coup in Myanmar was indication of the resilience of military intervention in politics across the globe. The Professor described the intervention of the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Mali after the August 18, 2020 coup against

the government of Ibrahim Keita as operationalisation of intolerance of military intervention in political process and the desire to consolidate democratic rule on a global basis. He added that the February 1, 2021 Coup d’etat in Myanmar and the August 18, 2020 coup in Mali against the government of Ibrahim Boubachar Keita underline two major political currents. “One is the resilience of military interventionism in politics. And the other is the operationalisation of intolerance of military intervention in the political process and the desire to consolidate democratic rule on a global basis. To state differently, there is the enduring desire to replace the barrel of the gun with the ballot paper. ”Equally, the events also dramatised the interplay of the social forces in society that usually engender military incursion into politics captured in the extant literature. Jimoh Adele Bamgbose’s Military Intervention in African Politics’ articulates these issues in ways that underline their pervasiveness”. Chairman of the occasion, Olusegun Onilude said that the book would be instrumental to the understanding of the dynamics of African politics and that it would help in sharpening the horizons of the political elite on socio-political issues. Onilude, who is the chairman of Badagry Local Government Area, said:”The book is useful to politicians too because we can only learn from history. It will sharpen our political ideas and how to improve the lives of our people.”

Nigerian professor appointed US director of operation SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin

usari Akande Asiwaju, a professor of Business Finance, has been appointed director of Africa Operations for the Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership (CIML). In recognition of his outstanding achievements and noteworthy performance, a Commonwealth of Kentucky in United State of America (USA) elevated the Nigeriaborn professor with broad practical knowledge in the fields of Business management, Account ing and Isl amic Finance. He is an indigene of Ilorin, Kwara State. T h e In s t i t u t e , w h i c h specialises in training a world class professional body in Management and Leadership Education, Ethics and Professionalism, communicated an illustrious son of Ilorin Emirate through

Akande Asiwaju

a letter/certificate signed by the registrar/secretary to council of the Institute, Israel Henry, dated March 10, 2021. As iw aju, a h ot s h ot academician of international repute, is an alumnus of the Religious Exempt American Trinity University California and an American and Australian Certified Management Accountant. A Canadian Chartered Business Administrator, United Arab Emirates certified Islamic Finance Expert and Founder of the Premier Islamic Institute of Accounting and Finance in West Africa.

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News Saboteurs working against PDP success in Lagos - Bode George Iniobong Iwok

labode George, a former deputy national c h a i r m a n of t h e Pe o p l e’s Democratic Party (PDP), has said that the party had consistently failed to win election in Lagos State because of the activities of some disgruntled members working against the collective success of the party. Speaking when he received the South-West zonal chairmanship aspirant of the PDP, Taofeek Arapaja at his residence, George accused some Lagos PDP members of Bode George being imposters, working for the ruling All Progressives C o n g r e s s ( A P C ) , a n d state. George noted that the PDP sabotaging efforts of the party in winning elections in the will not win any election in

the state until saboteurs in the party stop their manipulation or are removed from the party.

He claimed that some party members would claim to be working for the party but at the same time getting contracts from the APC-led government and the working against in the interest of the PDP in the state. George said the party has learned its lessons from previous elections and vowed that it would not repeat the same mistake in the 2023 election. The former NPA boss said that the party was ready to weed out saboteurs and those destabilizing it, stressing that the party was working assiduously to capture Lagos State in the coming years. In his remarks, Arapaja said one of his missions if elected was to deliver Lagos for PDP in the 2023 election, which he said was possible with sacrifices from all members of the party.

ActionAid to FG: ‘Prioritise security for school children, quality education in Nigeria’ VICTORIA NNAKAIKE

s the world all over is still battling C O V I D - 1 9 pandemic, ActionAid Nigeria has said that it recognises the efforts by the current administration to take the country forward. Making some observations and recommendations on the state of the nation as it affects women, girls, communities, among others, ActionAid said: “The cases of COVID-19 have continued to spiral in the country. Despite the COVID-19 Disease Health Protection 2021 law which mandates the use of facemask in public places, citizens are yet to fully comply to the COVID-19 protocols, as Nigerians are seen on the streets and in the markets without facemasks; impromptu regulations such as NIN registration has put many Nigerians on the edge and at risk of contracting the deadly virus, as overcrowding has been reported for many months running at many registration outlets.” According to the group,

“A l t h o u g h t h e F e d e r a l Government of Nigeria has set up online registration portal and house to house registration for administration of the doses of AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccinations received on March 2, 2021, the strategy to ensure the country ‘Leave no one behind’ is still sketchy as the negative myths on the vaccines has continued to thrive”. It also noted that “Insecurity is still on the rise in Nigeria, with many records of insurgency attacks, kidnapping, armed banditry, abductions and killings, with scores of deaths both within the military and civilians, especially in the Northern and central part of the country.” “The rising cases of abduction of school children is alarming and will further disparage stakeholders’ efforts at reducing the rate of out-of-school children in Nigeria, particularly, the girlchild. Schools are now seemingly unsafe for girls and give parents undue justification to force their girl-child into an early marriage. “Nigeria is yet to make giant strides in its poverty alleviation efforts with another 5million Nigerians predicted to fall

below the poverty line because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As recession looms, poverty alleviation schemes put in place by the government have been rendered ineffective largely due to corruption, uneven distribution, and lack of accountability at different levels”. “Nigeria is currently using 50% of its revenue to service debts, compared to the average 17% for other African countries. Despite the huge figure of our debts, there are not enough infrastructures to show for it as many Nigerians remain in abject poverty. Health workers are protesting non-payment of allowances, no stable electricity, and the state of most Nigerian roads is still deplorable”. The organisation further noted that the roles of the Local Government Areas, as the third tier of government in the Nigerian 1999 constitution includes provision of infrastructural developments at the grassroots. Yet, state governments have continued to usurp the powers and functions attributed to the local governments and only acknowledge them as a subunit

of the state with no autonomy. “ActionAid Nigeria, therefore, recommends that the Federal Government set a realistic timeline for the NIN registration to prevent a pandemonium and overcrowding of public places such as the registration centres. We implore all citizens to adhere to the minimum standards of COVID-19 prevention, wearing facemask, handwashing and maintaining physical distance in public spaces. “We a ls o re commend that the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) ensure its multifaceted approach to registration & administration of the COVID19 vaccine be inclusive, recognising citizenry in excluded communities; whilst the National Orientation Agency works with other stakeholders to eliminate perceived myths about the COVID19 vaccine”. “ We r e c o m m e n d t h e overhauling and restructuring of the security architecture to create real changes and avoid putting an old wine in a new bottle; funding, equipment, boosting the morale of the men in the field among others should also be revisited.

Former Reps Speaker, Bankole, moves to join APC James Kwen, Abuja

here are strong indications that a former Speaker of t h e Hou s e of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole will soon join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This emerged on Friday

when Bankole, a member of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), met with the Yobe State Governor and Chairman APC Caretaker Committee, Mai-Mala Buni and Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru in Abuja. Director-General, Press and Media Affairs to the Yobe Governor, Mamman

Mohammed in a statement said his principal hosted Bankole and Jigawa State Governor, Badaru. “The three leaders discussed on a wide range of political issues including the movement of the former Speaker and his supporters into the party. It is evident that APC’s opportunities

in Ogun State is growing and widening. “It would be recalled that former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel who was also former Director G enera l of PDP’s At i ku Abubakar Presidential campaign organisation has recently joined the party,” the statement read.

NIREC urges govt to make legislation against environmental pollution in Nigeria SEYI JOHN SALAU

he Nigeria InterReligious Council (NIREC) has called on both the federal and state governments to make legislation ending all forms of environmental pollution, saying Nigeria as a country is experiencing its own fair share of environmental pollution and global warming effects. NIREC therefore, calls on all concerned industries that produce one form of waste or the other to be truly professional in handling their waste disposal methods and own up by cleaning areas they have already polluted in the cause of their activities. “Our lands are polluted due to improper or lack of available dump site for domestic wastes, wrongful or excessive use of agro-allied chemicals which are mostly washed down into nearby rivers and streams thus also posing a threat to clean water,” said NIREC in a statement signed by its executive secretary, Cornelius Omonokhua. Accordingly, NIREC said Nigerian waters are polluted by direct dumping of refuse in water or water ways thus, causing blockage of such water ways

which results in flooding and contamination of water. The interfaith body said floods caused by blocking water ways and channel are responsible for loss of lives and property worth millions of naira on annual basis. “The fact that Herdsmen and farmers are clashing over vegetation can be directly or indirectly linked to climate change”. According to NIREC, crude oil drilling activities from the oil producing states is another aspect of water pollution mostly experienced in the southern part of the country. “This involves oil spillage from the crude oil activities carried out in that region”. The body states that spillages on land and water are responsible for the death of plants and aquatic animals; thus, making farming and fishing activities more difficult. This, it said, ultimately affects the means of livelihood of the host communities. N I R E C f u r t h e r s ai d indiscriminate burning of bushes and refuse also adds to the problem of air pollution in the country, noting that indiscriminate falling of trees without replanting, illegal mining and others are part of man’s activities that are taking a huge toll on the environment.

Women farmers decry low budgetary allocation for agric in Kogi VICTORIA NNAKAIKE

ogi State chapter of Small Scale Women Farmers’ Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) has decried the six percent budgetary allocation for agriculture in the 2021 budget approved by the Kogi State Government. The women farmers noted that if agriculture was to serve as a means of diversifying the economy of Kogi State as promised in the new direction blueprint of the Yahaya Bello administration, then the 6.58percent allocation to the agricultural sector is grossly inadequate. According to a statement signed by its state coordinator, Sefiya Yahaya, the group said that Nigeria is a signatory to the Maputo declaration of 2003 which reiterated the commitment of every nation to provide at least 10percent of its annual budget to agriculture. The statement further pointed out that, “In Kogi State’s year 202l budget, Agricultural sector yet again got the least allocation compared to other major sectors that drive the socialeconomic development of the state such as Education and Health; Agriculture received the least at 6.58percent compared to 28.89percent for Education, and 31.l4percent for Health.” According to the women farmers, the total state budget in recurrent expenditure for 2021 is now higher than the capital expenditure, which was the re-

verse case with the 2020 budget. However, the association observed that, “There has been fluctuating budgetary allocation to Kogi State agricultural sector budget since 2016 till date. There are unclear budget line items as noted above. “Consistent allocation of sums to Women in Agriculture without releases since 2016 till date. The N100,000,000 budgetary allocation to Youth in Agriculture and the subsequent release of N95, 000,000 in 2020 was unclear as there is no clearcut policies on women and youth in Kogi State. The location, targets, beneficiaries are not stated. “There is no funds allocation for Climate-Resistant seedling to combat climate change in Kogi State. The fund allocated for Research and Development is inexplicably high”. Yahaya in the statement made some recommendations to the state government which include the need to review existing policies and frame work on agriculture, increase funding to the sector to meet the 10percent Maputo declaration, and the need to improve on the funds released to the sector. The statement equally added that there is need for the State Government to focus on resources to achieve greater value for money, enhance legislative oversight of the agric sector, include issues of climate change and improve state budget formulation processes to check for calculation errors to avoid inconsistency as observed in 2021 approved budget document.

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Pressure mounts on NASS over NOSDRA Amendment Bill to save oil region from spills, disasters Ignatius Chukwu

ressure now mounts on the National Assembly to make haste over the lingering Amendment Bill before it on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA). Stakeholders who met in a virtual forum over the matter on Friday, March 12, 2021, resolved to press the NASS to pass the amendment quickly so that NOSDRA can spring back into action and fight oil spill and pollution, especially prevention. The panel was anchored by a catholic cleric (reverend father), Edward Obi, who has done extensive work on the Niger Delta environment and oil pollution. He warmed the audience by showing why and how NOSDRA was formed in response to Nigeria’s signing of a global treaty on oil pollution. The reverend father noted that the urgent need to pass the Bill followed recent engagements with relevant committees of the National Assembly and their renewed commitment to pass it. “This webinar will provide detailed insight into all interventions carried out so far in pushing for the passage of the Bill. “It also seeks to increase the level of public awareness and help participants at the end of the workshop to share engagement plans towards increasing public demand for the effectual passage of the Bill.” The lead consultant on the matter, Sam Kabari (PhD), a university lecturer who has done extensive studies on oil pollution in the Niger Delta, showed evidence that NOSDRA has never been able to fight spills since its creation

in 2006. Rather, he stated, spills have blown up in higher proportions due to oil bunkering that has emerged as a new money spinner in the oil region. Studies show that lack of funding and opposition from many quarters have been the bane of the agency which is under the Federal Ministry of Environment whereas the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) that leads in oil industry regulation is under the Ministry of Petroleum and thus under the president. Kabari’s presentation showed that the amendment was passed in 2018 but assent was declined by President Muhammadu Buhari who gave some reasons. One was that the amendment demanded for 50 per cent of the operational expenditure of oil companies to be given to NOSDRA and that the Bill seemed to usurp the powers of the Minister (President, in this case). Kabari disclosed that those behind the amendment went back to work and eliminated the areas of friction and that

the Bill is now back to the NASS. He appealed to Nigerians to lend pressure for it to be passed and signed this time around. He warned that passing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and expecting it to help the host communities would be a ruse if NOSDRA was not reformed by law to effectively regulate oil activities and stop oil spill syndrome in the host communities. He noted that the success of NOSDRA would amount to environmental sanity for the oil region and would create confidence in the minds of host communities to give peace a chance. Most participants suggested ways of creating public awareness to make the relevant organs of government grant NOSDRA more funds and powers to carry out is functions instead of always depending on the polluters to fund investigations of their spills especially n third tier (massive) pollutions that occur in both on-and offshore locations in the oil region.

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Politicians’ interference... Continued from Page 1

in Kano was not politicized. We eliminated 90 percent of the vices in the state at that time. The earlier we understand this, the better for us. State governments have to be directly involved in terms of funding. The local governments, traditional institutions and the community must work together to ensure the success of community policing. “We recruited responsible, respected individuals as members of the Hisbah guards in every ward and we were paying them. People preferred to go to Hisbah offices to report their cases rather than going to the regular police station because of the level of confidence they had in Hisbah guards. The trouble with community policing Shekarau pointed out that the major problem with the community policing is

that politicians are nominating their thugs as members of the team, and they hijack the good project and convert it into a tool to fight political opponents. He said that when he instituted Hisbah in Kano, no prominent politician nominated anybody into it. It was controlled by traditional and community leaders. Financing, a huge impediment The former governor and serving senator also pointed out that poor financing hinders the performance of the outfits. “We were giving them (Hisbah) up to N5million every month at their central office to help their operations. The local and state governments jointly funded it, but today, I hear they are being given N250,000 (Two hundred and fifty thousand naira) only or thereabout. You do not need to go to school to know that that amount (of money) is far too small to get result.”

Why OPC, Vigilance groups are not community police Any community police outfit or scheme should and must be a creation of the law and aligns with the Constitution of Nigeria. Self-help groups such as vigilantes, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), among others, which are not backed by the law, are illegal. “Certainly, if you allow these vigilantes, they would be found wanting and there would be head on collision with security agents. They should not even attempt to arrest anybody because they are not recognised by law to do so. “During the Obasanjo administration, he told the then Inspector-General of Police to proscribe OPC, Hisbah and some other groups. But we challenged the Federal Government up to the Supreme Court and won the case, and the court actually said they should pay compensation,” he said.

Nasarawa to establish Commodity Marketing Board for AfCFTA, create jobs, improve IGR Solomon Attah

n a move to explore the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement for increasing Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and job creation for the teaming youths population, the Nasarawa State Government says, it would establish Commodity Marketing Board that would enable a free trade in the state. The State Governor, Abdullahi Sule made the disclosure while playing host to the delegation of the National Action Committee on the AfCFTA at the State’s Government House in Lafia. The members of National Action Committee were in the State as part of it nationwide

awareness and sensitisation tour in line with the Committee’s mandate to prepare Nigerians to take advantage of the single continental market while mitigating its threats to the Nigerian economy. Governor Sule said, his administration was going to key into the initiative to harness all the needed potentials, both natural and han resources for the economic prosperity of the state. The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Emmanuel Akabe added that the state would domesticate the policies of the National Action Committee on the AfCFTA for robust economic activities. Sule stated that, his government was going to identify commodities abounds in the

state for exports through Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency. Speaking, the Chairman, National Action Committee on the AfCFTA and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo urged the state governments to explore opportunities in the AfCFTA to grow it IGR through export of goods and services to other parts of the continent. The Minister represented by Abubakar Aliyu Dangaladima, Director of Weight and Measures of the Ministry also held sensitisation meetings with public and private sector players in the State, including MSME owners, professional bodies, trade and manufacturer associations.

More support required as women occupy 6.7% of elected positions in Nigeria IFEOMA OKEKE

dvocates for women’s rights have pointed out that more support is required for women to mount key positions in the country as women make up only 6.7 percent of elected positions in Nigeria compared to an average of 15 percent across SubSaharan Africa. Speaking during the maiden edition of Nigeria Info’s Glass Ceiling Convention, a 100 percent virtual summit held on Sunday to discuss

practical steps and actionable strategies for achieving gender equality, Nicolas Simard, acting high commissioner, Canada said these figures point to the need for greater support and encouragement to female candidates at all political levels. Simard added that the figures also call for more focused and sustained attention on the underlying barriers that prevent or discourage women and girls from considering a career in politics. “These include deeply rooted social and gender norms, as well as unequal ac-

cess to educational and economic opportunities that can provide a gateway into politics. This is why Canada has adopted a feminist foreign policy and why we put such an emphasis on better understanding and addressing the structural barriers to gender equality. This is reflected in all of our advocacy and programming in Nigeria. “The latter includes our support for women’s political empowerment and leadership through UN Women, as well as multi-year core funding to grassroots women’s rights organizations through Action

Aid Nigeria, with the program Women’s Voice and Leadership,” he explained. Speaking during her keynote address, Nse Ufot, CEO of the New Georgia Project (NGP), a US-based civil society group that helped register over half a million voters in the last election cycle, mostly women, youths and people of colour said when NGP launched in 2014, there were several black Americans in Georgia who were eligible to vote but unregistered. Ufot disclosed that the goal was to be specific on how they needed to bring the change

in Georgia where minimum wage was not enough for people to sustain themselves and retire in old age and where there was maternal mortality, poor quality health care and education. She explained that the idea was to sign people up to enable them vote as leaders were becoming unaccountable to the people and NGP set out to change this narrative. “In less than five years, whites will be a minority in Georgia and some people are afraid of this and want to break the machineries to avoid this from happening.

“The reason that people showed up in the extra-ordinary numbers during the last election is because we have been doing the work to ensure people participate and we do this by talking about our shared vision. Race, wealth gap, gender inequality and class are issues that affect people’s daily lives and we used these issues to develop our solutions,” she explained. She disclosed that since NGP launched, they have registered over half a million people and by 2025, it has plans to get the numbers to one million people.

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News Deregulation: Wike builds secretariat for TUC but says Labour is dead Ignatius Chukwu

overnor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State who has built the second multi-storey building for labour has at commissioning declared labour dead. He lampooned the labour movement in Nigeria for what he called their indifference to the incessant increment in pump price of petroleum products, electricity tariff and insecurity in the country. By this, he seems to take a position against deregulation which allows market forces to determine prices and stop subsidy payouts with all its corruption and inefficiency. Wike rather said labour movement in the country is death because it has lost its force of engagement with government and hardly can achieve anything good for the generality of the workforce and Nigerians. Wike made the assertion at the inauguration of the

Wike

Tr a d e Un i o n C o n g r e s s (TUC) Secretariat Building, performed by the National President of TUC, Comrade Quadri Olaleye, on Friday in Ozuoba Town of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. The Rivers State governor observed that the leadership of labour has left substance to pursue shadows and hardly can speak in a manner that can change or achieve reversal of the many anti-people policies being implemented by the Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government. He further said that under

former President Goodluck Jonathan, the leadership of labour mobilised Nigerian workers against some of his policies because he is from a minority ethnic group, but have lost their voice under a majority tribe president. “It is unfortunate that labour has abandoned their role in this country. You are chasing things that are personal to you. All over the world, when government is not going the right way, it is labour that comes out to say we cannot allow it. Majority of our people are civil servants and have others to cater for. But since the inception of this government, labour has died. “Under Former President Goodluck Jonathan, labour was alive. They said the country must come down because he is from a minority area. But look at what is happening. There’s increase in fuel pump price, insecurity, and increase of electricity tariff. Where is labour? Where is TUC, where is NLC? The only thing I hear is minimum wage.

Mandela Washington Fellows in Nigeria rewards winners of community innovation challenge OBINNA EMELIKE

he Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria (MWFAAN) has rewarded winners of the 2021 edition of its Community Innovation Challenge. The community development initiative is a project under the ‘The Cross-Cohort Collaboration Initiative (CCCI)’ of the alumni association, which recognises the role of innovation in creating changes at community, state and national level. The challenges, which saw many project entries, witnessed the emergence of three winners at the end who were presented with awards at the grand finale that was held recently at Next Innovation Hub, Yaba, Lagos. The three winning projects i n c l u d e ; E b o n y i Yo u t h Development Project, STEAM in the Library and SHE SABI. Howe ve r, E b ony i Youth Development Project administered by the duo of

Ijeoma Idika-Chima and Dr. Bright Chimezie Irem, emerged the overall winner, STEAM in the Library by Funmi Ilori and Olatunde Ajoke Omoware emerged first runner up, while She Sabi by Nkem Okocha and Peter Ayeni won the third place. In fulfillment of their promises, the organisers awarded the overall winner a N1, 500,

000 (one million five hundred thousand) grant to support their project in addition to plaques given to all the three winners. Speaking at the event, Ijeoma Idika-Chima commended MWFAAN and the United States of America for creating the platform to upgrade capacity across many levels and to uplift Nigerians by doing so.

L-R: Thelma Osadedebay, representative, The Incubator Reality; Ijeoma Idika-Chima, winner, Community Innovation Challenge Award and Austin Emeanua, from United States Consulate General, Lagos and Mandela Washington Fellowship coordinator at the My Community Innovation Challenge Awards and Fellows Meet Up held recently in Lagos.

Optimising women’s potential will increase Nigeria’s GDP - DBN NLNG soon to unveil Bonny of Nigeria Plc, I am even more plained that women make up ing to have a huge impact on SEYI JOHN SALAU proud to be part of this land- half of the population of coun- GDP. “One way of increasing Tourism Master-Plan

he Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Development Bank of Nigeria Plc, Tony Okpanachi, has said that optimising the potentials of Nigerian women population would help increase the gross domestic product (GDP) of Africa’s largest economy, while failure to do so might affect the socioeconomic development of the country. According to Okpanachi, women are the real architects of society, hence the need to recognise and celebrate their achievement and contribution to Nigeria’s GDP. “As the Chief Executive Officer of Development Bank

mark event, knowing the strategic role women play as reliable builders of Micro, Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises, a segment we are mandated to reduce financial constraints for,” Okpanachi said, at the virtual event organised by DBN in commemoration of the 2021 International Women’s Day (IWD). Panelists at the DBN IWD webinar deliberated on ‘The cost of exclusion: Challenging Gender Stereotype and Promoting Inclusive Growth’, highlighting the critical roles of women in Nigeria’s development trajectory. Andrew Alli, CEO, South Bridge, while speaking on the effect of gender exclusion, ex-

tries, and restricting this huge manpower to just household management will hurt the economy. “Educating women is one of the most important development efforts to growing a country. If women are not able to reach their full economic and social potential, that is go-

Okpanachi

GDP is increasing the number of people in your population who are maximally productive. Looking at Nigeria; having women restricted is having a huge impact on our economy. A quick way of boosting our economy is enabling women to reach their full potential,” said Alli. Nkem Okocha, founder, MamaMoni, said over 7,000 women had been impacted while providing funding for about 1, 500 businesses across Nigeria. According to her, the women have grown and can generate revenue to train their children in school, while some have had up to 80percent increase in household income.

‘She’s a Boss’ to debuts exclusively on Ogélle IFEOMA OKEKE

“

h e’s A B o s s” a television show that brings to reality the other side of the African woman’s story from various fronts, has debuted on Ogéllé, Africa’s pioneer and leading Pan African video sharing platform, on Friday, March 12th. This is in solidarity with the positive rave of the International women’s day celebration, which amplifies and prompt the global recognition of the socio-economic and cultural importance of women in the society, driving their aim for

equity in the entire human community. This show aims to feature conventional and unconventional bosses, the woman who owns 10 shops in Lagos Island or Accra Ghana, the bank MD or Chief Executive Officer of a multimillion or Dollar Company, as well as the woman who sells the best local delicacies in Lagos, etc. “She’s a Boss” is unique because it hinges on inclusivity as it showcases the diverse roles and responsibilities women undertake daily in the course of life, and its impact on their lives, their families, and society. Speaking from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the

Founder, and CEO of Ogéllé, Osita Oparaugo said, “We are excited about releasing the show ‘She’s a Boss’ and will not relent in celebrating women regardless of class and status, who are making huge differences in our societies, especially those who don’t even know or see themselves as bosses. We will extend this show until so many women in Africa are celebrated and their stories told.” Anto Lecky, the anchor of “She’s a Boss” expressed her excitement in leading such an inspiring show that will explore our collective and kindred spirit as Africans, through the stories of both the urban

and rural woman, and the difference women are making in contemporary Africa. “I’m so excited about this show! I am a proud African woman and I want the world to know just how great African women truly are. We have heard stories of leading CEOs, but I’m particularly interested in sharing the stories of women who aren’t often celebrated. “Being a boss is about dominating in your field regardless of the industry and overcoming trials and tribulations, and I can’t wait to show the world our African female bosses,” Anto Lecky explained.

… Concludes training of youths on tourism business, entrepreneurship Ignatius Chukwu

onny Island in Rivers State is soon to become a tourism destination with Dubai-modeling system anchored on a blue print soon to be unveiled by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) to drive the vision. For a start, the NLNG (NLNG) just concluded the training of a group of Bonny youths that would become tour guides like it obtains in Dubai and most other tourism destinations in the world especially Israel. The NLNG said through its NLNG’s General Manager, E x t e r n a l R e l at i o n s a n d Sustainable Development, Eyono Fatayi-Williams, that the company has already progressed its efforts to make Bonny Island, its operational base, a tourist haven as part of its Bonny-Dubai vision with the completion of a two-week intensive and handson training on tourism business and entrepreneurship for some Bonny youths in partnership with Goge Africa. Fatayi-Williams said the training equipped the youths with skills to enable them function as tour guides and champions of tourism, especially in the areas of cultural and ecotourism. The trainees will use existing tourist attractions/ landmarks to promote the tourism potentials of Bonny

Island. The statement revealed that; “To make this goal a reality, we are currently finalizing the Bonny Tourism Masterplan, which will detail the step-bystep activities that will bring the vision alive. These activities include the deepening of eco-tourism at the Finima Nature Park and alignment with Bonny Kingdom and community stakeholders. O t he r ac t iv it ie s include engagements with community, local and foreign investors on tourism opportunities in Bonny and the rebuilding of the Bonny Consulate building, a significant landmark that will serve as the hub for tourist activities on the Island,” she stated. Fatayi-Williams added that NLNG intends to create a tribe of committed Bonny ambassadors who will market Bonny to the outside world. She expressed confidence in the ability of Goge Africa to provide the needed experience and expertise to encourage innovation and maximise Bonny’s existing opportunities. She said the trainees were expected to create and drive businesses that would draw tourists to the Island. She remarked that the capacitybuilding initiative would deliver dividends in the future when the Company’s vision of BonnyDubai would have become a reality.

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Cover

Vaccine hesitancy: Will histo OBINNA EMELIKE

oing by the efforts of the Federal Government and those of the numerous international non-governmental organisations, poliomyelitis would have long been wiped away from Nigeria many decades before it was achieved. But the myths and controversies that surrounded it, particularly in the Northern part of the country prolonged its existence in Nigeria. August last year, Africa was declared polio-free (zero cases of the wild poliovirus). Nigeria was the last polio-endemic country in Africa and was officially certified free from polio after marking three consecutive years since the last case of wild polio had been identified. For many years, a number of international organisations, including Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organisation (WHO) and various aid agencies including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, had collaborated to provide support toward the eradication of polio in Nigeria. The virus, poliomyelitis, attacks the nervous system and can cause irreversible paralysis in children within hours of infection. In February 2013, some gunmen shot dead several health workers linked to polio vaccination efforts in Kano State. Prior to the shooting, some regional Moslem and political leaders had spread the view that the poliomyelitis vaccine could affect infidelity. Recall also that members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram had also spread numerous misinformations against the preventive measure. There were reports in those days that many Moslem men prevented their children from receiving the polio vaccine on account of the false information they had been fed with. Today, it is not just about Moslems that are skeptical about the vaccines; members of other religion are not willing to submit themselves. With the myths and controversy surrounding the Coronavirus (Covid-19) and the vaccine, many people have expressed their views that they may not be willing to accept the vaccine. A recent Covid-19 vaccine perceptions survey conducted by Africa CDC shows that 60 percent believe the vaccine is unsafe. Of all the reasons given by respondents on why they are not willing to take a new Covid-19 vaccine, the following ranked the highest. “I do not believe that the virus exists”; “I am concerned about the safety of the vaccine”, and “I do not have suf-

Many countries, including some African neighbours, have rolled out distribution plans for the vaccines they have procured. But Nigerian government is yet to unveil a coherent plan

ficient information to make a decision.” There seems to be a huge threat to the hope that the arrival of the vaccines was all that the country needed to get over the Coronavirus pandemic. Apart from the fact that vaccination exercises in Nigeria have often met with challenges in the past, the

high level of mistrust in government is another challenge. But while those were unfounded allegations, observers doubt the likelihood of armed men disrupting the Covid-19 vaccination exercise in the country, as many Nigerians including the armed men, believe that Covid-19 is ‘rich man’ sickness, with vaccination centres in secured places, where the rich can be comfortable. That explains why many Nigeria will show apathy to the current exercise even when it is for their welfare, hence the vaccination may not be easy in the country. According to observers, instead of armed men disrupting the exercise this time, the country will witness paid workers reaching out to the masses to encourage them to go for vaccination because Nigeria

plans to vaccinate 40 percent of its citizens against Covid-19 before the end of 2021, and 70 percent by the end of 2022. It would be recalled that last week, President Muhammadu Buhari and Yemi Osibajo, the vice president, led the vaccination parade, and urged Nigerians to present themselves for the vaccination, which is free. As expected, many people are responding to the presidential call for vaccination, but they are elite members of society, top corporate executives and high-profile personalities, who are few in number. The worry for observers is that the majority of Nigerians, who fall in the class ‘masses’, will not go for the vaccination even if it is brought to their doorstep, hence the fear that the apathy could jeopardise the intentions of the exercise.

But, why apathy? Adeleye Solomon Bakarey, senior lecturer/research fellow (Virology), Institute For Advanced Medical Research & Training (IAMRAT), College of Medicine, University College Hospital, University of Ibadan, noted that lack of a coherent plan by government on the vaccination exercise is a big problem, and it is making Nigerians skeptical about the vaccines. “Many countries, including some African neighbours, have rolled out distribution plans for the vaccines they have procured. But Nigerian government is yet to unveil a coherent plan,” he complained on the conversation.com. “In my view, this means that the government is not sincere about making sure there is equitable distribution. The consequence is that

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ory repeat self in Nigeria?

Ihekweazu

Ehanire

people will have doubts about the efficacy of its efforts, as well as, the vaccine. They might therefore, be reluctant to show interest when the vaccines are made available”. Tolani Olumide, a pediatric doctor with the National Hospital Abuja, noted that in history mass vaccinations have always been opposed by the human society on suspicion that there is a hidden agenda, even when the exercise is yielding the expected result. “We expect huge apathy to the vaccination exercise because many people who think Covid-19 pandemic is rich people’s sickness are still standing their ground that it is rich people’s vaccination,” she said. She explained that the government needs to create awareness on the need for the vaccination because many who went for the Covid-19 test were mainly intending travellers and supposedly members of the elite. “Many poor people who had Covid-19 symptoms did not go for tests even when it was free because they do not believe the virus is true and if it is true, it is for ‘big men’. A lot of them recovered, some were asymptomatic and hence still believe the virus is not for them. We need to convince them to go for vaccination,” she insisted. For Magnus Onunwa, an Abujabased humanitarian worker, it will be difficult convincing many Nigerians, even some rich folks to go for the vaccination because they do not see the need when the cases are falling. “My neighbour was arguing that the virus is going and that there is no need for the vaccination. He said that Covid-19 came and will go when it has killed people and suffered the world enough. Many have even worse views on the virus and vaccination,”

he said. Speaking from a professional perspective, Pascal Emordi, a consultant physician at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos, said that apathy is welcome for now and that even medical doctors are expressing apathy on the vaccination. “People want to see the reaction of the vaccines on those vaccinated already before submitting for the exercise. Mr. President and his Vice have both been vaccinated, so the curious minds are keeping their ears on the ground and eyes open for the likely adverse effect of the vaccines. In a few weeks, when they confirm there is no adverse effect, many will throng vaccination centres,” the consultant said. Beyond waiting to confirm the adverse effects of the vaccines, the

experienced doctor, decried that the poverty in the land is increasing everyday and that many want food and not vaccines. “With the harsh economic realities, many people are down and do not fear any fall again. It will be difficult to convince a hungry person to go for vaccination unless you are using food or money to entice him or her,” he said. He also thinks that using religious leaders to convince their followers will not work as many religious leaders still do not believe in the virus and may not encourage their members to go for vaccination. “Some followers do not believe in their leaders like before because of a presumed lackadaisical attitude of their leaders to government inactions and policies against the masses. So, convincing them will be

difficult, as well, it will be very easy if the leaders are pro-followers,” he further said. Worst still, some people who have been vaccinated in Europe are manifesting some adverse effects already, especially blood clothing. With the adverse effect, Norway and Denmark have suspended Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, and the development is giving grave concerns to many on the safety of the vaccines even in Nigeria. “Many Nigerians do not know how potent the newly procured AstraZeneca vaccine is. Some are also bothered about the speed with which things have been done from testing to manufacturing, yet the government has not said anything on compensation for people who develop side effects after the vaccination”, Onunwa said.

Beyond the unconfirmed side effect, most of the observers insisted that the government will have to work hard if it’s going to win people’s trust and also to address the apathy. Speaking in a monitored television programme Friday, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, said the trust quotient in government was very low, as anything that comes from government now appears untrustworthy. Referring to the Africa CDC Covid-19 vaccine perceptions survey in which only 18 percent of the respondents trusted government on Covid-19 vaccine, Na’Abba said” “Once trust is lost, the basis of governance is also lost.” Na’Abba, who also is the cofounder, National Consultative front, believes that the state has lost confidence in itself. According to him, “If people have been living under a condition that is very terrible; politics taken away from the people; political parties taken away from the people, and except one becomes a sycophant one cannot cross to the next level; the level of suffering, unemployment- all these have destroyed the faith of people in government. It is not enough for anybody to say I am not corrupt; I mean well, and all that; the state has also lost confidence in itself. That is where we are now.” For Nigeria to have a successful vaccination outing at the end of the day, there is the need to continue the sensitisation of Nigerians to ensure that the myths and controversies surrounding the pandemic and the vaccine are dispelled.

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Perspective Who wants to be a millionaire?

OLUDAYO TADE

Dr. Tade, a sociologist sent this piece via Dotad2003@yahoo.com

wenty-two years of democratic journey (1999-2021) has brought little dividends for the Nigerian burgeoning hoi-polloi who endures unemployment, battle poverty, die untimely in ill-equipped health infrastructure, train their children in grossly underfunded schools, and are governed by parasitic leadership. The value of what civil servants earned in 1999 was better than what they earn in 2021. These social problems are compounded by rising insecurity and intractable corruption. Some people now raise prayer warriors to ask the Supreme Being to grant them journey mercies as they dare to navigate the valley of death on Nigeria’s hellish roads- don’t blame them, even the Prince of Daura said only God can guard Nigeria’s borders. Politrickcians scammed Nigerians with promises that are jettisoned immediately after mounting the podium of power and authority. Millions/billions of naira from the common patrimony are then diverted for personal and familial uses. They have created a monstrous followership currently fighting against the system that sidelined them. The story is the same from parasitic leadership in the North who callously nurtures almajirai system but train their own children abroad to their photocopies in the South, who cannot provide

free education, reduce unemployment or effectively protect their people from internal and external insecurities. The abandoned children, including their out-of-school comrades have now come of age and dominate the population of rising insurgent citizens. Through banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery and pilfering of commonwealth, the kingdom of Nigeria suffers violence and the violent are taking it by force. Join Politics and with a Degree Certificate in Forest Banditry and Highway Kidnapping, you are on your way to becoming a millionaire with opportunity to speak and dine with the shakers and movers of Nigeria. Indeed, a Diploma Certificate in Mass Kidnapping skill is an added advantage in 2021 Nigeria. Popular Television show, who wants to be a millionaire metaphorically approximate the state of affairs in post-colonial Nigeria where people leverage on their intellectual prowess to answer questions as they move up the ladder of monetary reward from few thousands to guaranteed sums of money. Poorly managed or unanswered questions could cause major loss from N500,000 to N250,000. Just like real life situation, participants are provided with lifelines: they can call a friend, ask the computer to retain one right and one wrong answer, and they may decide to walk away with the sum of money they have won. Crime script analysis shows that kidnapping and banditry are scripted shows just like it is in becoming Governor, Senator, or President. Through hiring of thugs and unleashing of violence and millions of naira, politrickcians emerge flag bearers. After comparing and rating themselves with their opponents on a scale of fifty-fifty, they ruthlessly affirm themselves as next office occupier. To achieve this, they need to ‘call a friend’ to

assist with the realisation of their political goal. It is immaterial if this needed friend is a thug, a corrupt person, warlord or more. What is important is how useful the evil friend will contribute to his/her enthronement. They canvass people across divides, lure people to their side, and collectively rape people of their mandate through violence. After mounting the podium through violent instrumentality, they are called “his Excellency”, “honourable”, “distinguished Senator”, ‘Honourable Chairman’ and ‘Powerful Special Advisers’ among others. Now on the other side, they want to push aside those who enthroned them. Their allies are now working for them to get amnesty or possibly a Federal Ministry of Forest Bandits Commission. In other words, banditry is being pushed to enjoy federal character or is it quota system? Nigeria is treading on a dangerous path if ‘Gumism’ (a pleading that unmerited amnesty should be given to armed Fulani bandits occupying Forests and bearing weapons of war to kill, rape and kidnap in exchange for millions of naira) is allowed to flourish. Criminal gangs across the country will occupy their own forest area, kidnap; rape and make millions while people preaching Gumism will plead the state to grant them amnesty. Who wants to be a millionaire therefore, deconstructs the process through which social support is employed for positive outcomes on the show to make millions. Just as it is on who wants to be a millionaire show, kidnappers abducts their victims, profile them to knowing their network of relations to know the amount of money to demand as ransom. Thinking of survival, the captives think of where help would come from and call a person within his/her network to negotiate and raise money for him/her to be able to

‘walk away’ alive. Everyone concerned begins to struggle to raise the money. They also think of whether to inform the police or not having been warned not to do so by the kidnappers if they are interested in seeing their loved one alive. Calling a wrong person who does not have solution may be costly to the life of the person in captivity. Any wrong move could result in death and this is why most trusted persons are contacted to help during this period. Those who pay ransom on time and cooperate with bandits/kidnappers, get to walk away alive. Sadly, those who try to prove smart, gets the corpse of their loved ones. Nigerians have been kidnapped by politrickcians who promised change and next level but unleashes poor economy, ethnic disunity and insecurity. Ongoing experiences of insecurity and dashed hopes are enough to spur Nigerians to rewrite their own history and reject hushpuppic politrickcians in 2023. To sum up, who wants to be a millionaire presents the sad state in Nigeria where violence rules and the violent is rewarded while the law-abiding people are terrorised by the State. When the state stifles law abiding citizens and slams them behind bars, the message being sent is that there is reward for violence. When governments that cannot provide funding to revitalise public primary and secondary schools as well as universities, spends money to train terrorists abroad, the message to those going to school is that they are missing their way to making cool millions in criminal world. We need to encourage and incentivise lawful behaviour and punish criminals. The possibility of becoming a millionaire should be open to all lawful citizens and should not be a reward for negative deviants.

Benefits of multiple IVF cycles

ABAYOMI AJAYI, MD/CEO Nordica Fertility Centreinfo@abayomiajayi.com.ng,

xperiencing multiple IVF cycle failures is a daunting experience, but while it is true that most couples fail to have a child with their first IVF cycle, it is equally true that the chance of having a baby increases the more times they try. Almost half the number of couples who fail on their first cycle never try a second or third time. Most couples usually give up either because they are discouraged by the outcome or cannot afford another cycle. From studies, the cumulative chance of live birth is 30 percent for the 1st cycle, increasing to 45 percent after the 2nd cycle and over 54 percent after the 3rd cycle. Couples have been known to have up to 65 percent success rate after six attempts, after which the chance of a baby plateaus with subsequent cycles. For IVF success, perseverance is the name of the game. If you are a woman under 40 years of age, the recommendation is that you need to be offered at least three IVF cycles. The idea is that the women should keep going on with the cycles in order to increase

the chance of having a family so the advice generally is that couples should persist with IVF beyond their first few failed cycles. But the guidance is not mandatory. Data suggests that in practice, very few couples go beyond one or two IVF cycles, and it is estimated that about 1 in 10 couples who started IVF ultimately reach three or more full cycles, according to a survey. The whole point is that couples need to stop thinking of IVF as a single shot at having a family, rather, they should think of a couple of cycles as the standard. For couples where the woman is younger than 40 and those of any age using donor eggs - two-thirds are expected to achieve a live birth after five or six treatment cycles. This is comparable to rates that couples conceiving naturally take within one year. It is true that the chance of pregnancy success differs markedly with age, with women under 40 having a 68 percent chance of a baby within six cycles, compared to just 32 percent for women aged 40-42, and 11 percent for those over 42. Dissuading couples from further treatment cycles because they have had one with no eggs retrieved should be discouraged as much as implying that results from one such cycle indicate a very low chance of future success. As the number of treatment cycles increases, the cumulative rate across cycles also increases. It is possible that IVF can fail for so many reasons. Sometimes couples do not make the right decisions that IVF needs. For instance, you are a 46-year old woman who walks into the clinic and say you want IVF. After all the tests you are told that you need to use donor eggs, what do we

do if you insist that in Jesus Name, your own eggs will work? However, we know that the success rate of a 46-year old using her own eggs is less than 5 percent. And then you go on and do the treatment and it fails or you have nothing to transfer. For you to succeed with IVF you need to listen to your doctors and try to make the right decisions. The work of a good IVF clinic is to support you make these decisions. That is why there are counsellors, acupuncturists, and all kind of specialists that can help you come to terms with these decisions. No one wants you to be pushed into making these decisions. You need to look at the implications. Even saying you do not want any treatment is a decision, but are you sure you know the implication? These are things the counsellors will help you with. Even if you make the right decision, there is no guarantee. If you are below 35, be prepared to do two cycles, if you are above 35, be prepared to do three cycles of IVF because IVF is not that we have kept a baby somewhere to give to you. These are things that people are not usually ready to listen to. We have people that are lucky, we have some that have done four cycles and have four babies, and we have those that have done five cycles and no baby, because also there are so many things that if the laboratory you give the raw materials is good, you the husband and wife are actually the determinants of your success. It is what you give us that we can work with. There are some men that seemingly appear to have good sperm. We access sperm as if we are standing by the window and watch men walk past. There is no way you can know who has good sperm or who has

bad sperm. Now, there are tests to see the function of the sperm. Everybody contributes to their own success rate, the quality of the sperm and eggs. Technology can help the sperm, but there is nothing that can be done about the egg. The quality of the egg is number one in determining success. There is a cliché that younger people have better eggs, but there are some young people that their eggs are old because there are hormonal issues going on in them. Some are called poor responders. Before beginning a cycle of IVF using your own eggs and sperm, you and your partner will likely need various screenings including ovarian reserve testing to determine the quantity and quality of your eggs; semen analysis; infectious disease screening and uterine examination among others. The inside lining of the uterus will also be examined before you start IVF. The bottom line is that IVF is the most effective form of treatment of infertility. The procedure can be done using your own eggs and your partner’s sperm. Alternatively, IVF may involve eggs, sperm or embryos from a known or anonymous donor. In some cases, a gestational carrier — a woman who has an embryo transferred into her uterus — might be used. Your chances of having a healthy baby using IVF depend on many factors, such as your age and the cause of infertility. In addition, IVF can be time-consuming, expensive and invasive. If more than one embryo is transferred to your uterus, IVF can result in a multiple pregnancy. Your doctor can help you understand how IVF works, the potential risks and whether this method of treating infertility is right for you.

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Politics Dealing with high cost of Gumi’s divisive utterances Zebulon Agomuo

igeria has continued to flounder on account of divisive utterances by individuals and groups that believe they are above the law or that suffer from entitlement mentality. Despite the provisions of the laws of the land that clearly say that inciting people against others is a punishable offence, such laws are not being respected in the country. Although those in government also parrot indivisibility of Nigeria and their avowed commitment to upholding that oneness, all their actions belie their pronouncements. For some time now, Nigerians have watched in astonishment as non-state actors arrogate to themselves powers that they do not have. They claim they own every part of the country and the right to do whatsoever that pleases them. Unfortunately, government of the day has continued to allow them to ply their dangerous trade. In the last few weeks, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, an Islamic scholar, has been making newspaper headlines. The Islamic cleric has been leading negotiations with terrorists in the forests in North West geopolitical zone of the country. He drew the ire of many Nigerians when he canvassed an amnesty for terrorists that have been abducting innocent citizens in that part of the country. “I appeal to the government and recommend that government should do to them exactly what they did to the Niger Delta militants and give them a blanket amnesty. Then, if anybody will continue we will deal with him,” he told journalists in the wake of the abduction of some students, staff and their relations from Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State. Gumi, who appears to have been a recognised negotiator in government circles and speaks with authority, recently talked about how he travels to various parts of the country to negotiate with bandits. He had also insisted that the armed Fulani herdsmen were not bandits but militants fighting for ethnic survival. “It is a complex issue. It is an ethnic war and the solution is dialogue and teaching them Islam. To them, they are talking about an ethnic existence,” he said. Asked if the bandits are Nigerians, Gumi said: “They are Nigerians. I hate to call them bandits. They are militants fighting for ethnic survival. They want to defend themselves. If there is peace, you will not see such things as banditry,

Mohammed Babagana Monguno

kidnapping, among others.” Gumi waxed garrulous when he claimed that “They are not killing people; they are just engaged in ethnic revenge. The Fulani herdsmen are victims of military excesses. The armed herdsmen are kidnapping to make money.” When asked why it is difficult for the military intelligence to know where the bandits are, the cleric said: “The military knows where they are. When they go in and start killing, the military realise they are creating a monster. The Federal Government should go in and negotiate.” He also recently made a controversial and dangerous claim that Christian soldiers were killing the bandits, thereby putting a religious coloration to the insecurity ravaging the north, and setting one religion against another. He further escalated the allegation by the bandits that the military have killed hundreds of innocent Fulani herders and members of their families. An analyst had noted that Gumi’s statement that he was informed by an army officer that it was Christian soldiers who killed herders while on a mission to tackle cattle rustling in 2014 “is highly condemnable and should not have come from an eminent cleric like him.” To start with, to premise his amnesty call on the Niger Delta example was very wrong. The cases are not the same. Whereas the Niger Delta militants had a genuine reason for taking to arms, as it were, the terrorists have no such reason. For instance, the Niger Delta bears the oil, the main-stay of Nigeria, yet the area is like a war-torn zone. It has remained the least developed part of Nigeria, year-in, year-out. The militancy in the Niger Del-

Sheikh Ahmed Gumi

ta took a different turn after the youths were ferried to Abuja for the Daniel Kanu’s sponsored 2 Million Man March for the late General Sani Abacha, under the infamous Youth Earnestly Ask for Abacha (YEAA), in 1998. It was a campaign formed in 1997 to urge Abacha to transmute into a civilian president. When the Niger Delta youths saw the splendor in Abuja, made possible by the petro-dollar from their domain, and compared it with the squalid nature of the Niger Delta, they decided to go more violent to press home their agitation for a better deal. But that is hardly the case with the banditry and terrorism being witnessed in the North. Boko Haram, for instance, started in Borno State from political thuggery. Politicians were said to have used some youths to win elections and later dumped them. Others with the name of bandits or militias were also said to have been armed by politicians and after elections, the arms were not

Therefore, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi and other opinion merchants are please enjoined to exercise restraint not to drag the image and reputation of one of the most reliable national institutions to disrepute

retrieved; hence, the escalation of kidnapping and banditry in parts of North. Some herdsmen who spoke on viral videos on social media confessed that the AK-47 they are carrying about were given to them by politicians and highly placed individuals in society. So, it is wrong to call for amnesty for terrorists just because militants in the Niger Delta were given amnesty. The bandits and Boko Haram are free to go after those that offended them by reneging on their agreement; the Nigerian nation has not offended them as was the case with the Niger Delta agitators. It needs to be restated that it would be immoral to grant amnesty to criminals who had wasted innocent lives for no just cause. Meanwhile, the relations of those killed would be in abject poverty by losing their bread winners, whereas those that killed them in cold-blood would be treated as kings, pampered and sent abroad on scholarship! Sadly, despite all the dangerous fires Gumi is stoking, the Presidency has neither cautioned him nor directed his arrest by relevant security agencies. This speaks volume of the tactical support and shield that Gumi and his likes are enjoying in a secular state (an idea pertaining to secularity, whereby a state is or purports to be officially neutral in matters of religion, supporting neither religion nor irreligion – Wikipedia). This is not an isolated case as divisive utterances by some individuals and groups in the north have gone un-upbraided by the Federal Government, a situation that appears to have eroded the confidence of many citizens in Abuja. It is salutary however, that the Nigerian Army decided to bare its fangs, warning Gumi and other

“opinion merchants” to exercise restraint with their utterances. Mohammed Yerima, a brigadiergeneral and director, Army Public Relations, the other day warned Gumi to refrain from causing disaffection and divisiveness among the Nigerian army. “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a viral video-clip showing the renowned and respected Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi alleging that nonMuslim soldiers were responsible for the attacks against bandits. “In the video clip, the Islamic scholar was seen telling the bandits that the soldiers involved in most attacks against them were nonMuslims. He further stated that they should be aware that soldiers are divided into Muslims and nonMuslims,” Yerima said. According to him, “While the Nigerian Army would not want to join issues with the respected Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, it is, however, important to restate that the Nigerian Army as national institution does not deploy its troops along ethnic or religious lines. “Therefore, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi and other opinion merchants are please enjoined to exercise restraint not to drag the image and reputation of one of the most reliable national institutions to disrepute”. As if that was not enough, the pronouncement, last Thursday, March 11, 2021 by National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-General Babagana Monguno that the Federal Government would no longer negotiate with terrorists, must have ended the enterprise of the likes of Gumi, in this regard. “We are ready to dialogue with these people but for us, it’s not a priority. We can’t be singing the same song everyday and these people are unreliable. They are ignoble; they are ready to undermine whatever agreement we have had; so, because of that, if the opportunity avails itself, of course, we will talk with responsible people from the side of those people. “I don’t even know how to categorise them because it’s not as if they are looking for something you can point a finger at; it’s not some kind of nationalistic situation, something you can actually identify and relate to. “These are just a murderous group of individuals who are keyed up on drugs and I don’t know what anybody wants to negotiate with these people,” Monguno had said. Analysts are hopeful that the warnings would go a long way to taming, not just Gumi, but all those that may have taken advantage of Aso Rock’s ostrich’s style of problem-solving.

Sunday 14 March 2021

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Politics Supreme Court judgment gives APC opportunity to seek lasting solution in Rivers - Abe Magnus Abe is a factional leader of the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a former member of Senate. In this interview, he spoke on the recent Supreme Court judgement on the crisis rocking the Rivers APC, and the way forward for his faction. INIOBONG IWOK, who monitored the interview brings the excerpts. What is your take on Northern leaders’ complaints about the state of the nation? hey should also take into cognisance that this government has done what the previous administration has not been able to do for this country. Economically, despite the pandemic that has devastated the economy across the word and the problem we had faced, the APC government has been able to manage the country to a point that we are able to meet our monthly obligation. Remember that things got to a point where we could not even sell our oil; one remembers what happened in the previous government where corruption was the order of the day. The division in the country has been sponsored and supported by utterances by leaders across the country, but they should rather speak for the unity of the country. They should help in promoting the unity of the country by the way they speak rather than tearing it apart despite the effort of the present administration in making sure that Nigerians are together. Example is the building of the second Niger-Bridge which was never done by any other administration, the clean-up of Ogoni which the previous administration under a Niger-Delta president could not do. I mean so many other things that the Federal Government is doing for Nigerians irrespective of their tribe or religion. But what has been promoted is the divisive comments of our leaders. I think our leaders need to work together for the unity of the country. We should not condemn everything because we don’t like the government, or want to bring down the political party.

Your faction’s agitation appears to have come to an end with the recent Supreme Court judgement; what lesson has this taught you? First of all, I don’t think reactions to the Supreme Court ruling takes into cognisance of the history of the crisis. There have been series of

Magnus Abe

judgments on this issue in the High Court, Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, and now again the Supreme Court. But we find out that whatever the Court says if the judgement does not suit what the party and its leadership want to hear they simply ignore it; they have never responded to any of those judgments. The Supreme Court ruled that the matter cannot be resolved by litigation and that it is the responsibility of political parties to resolve their differences among members. But we accept the decision of the Court in line with the spirit of what is best for the party. They have spoken severally on the matter and when it is against them they would say it is purchased. What we have done is to look at the future of our state and the situation facing us in the APC in Rivers, and we have come to the conclusion of getting justice for our members; it may not go like that. So, we have accepted it is in the interest of Rivers people that this litigation be brought to an end. Instead, if the party is not ready to accommodate the feelings of our members we look for a political solution to these challenges. We are open to what the party decides to do in the originating issues that make this matter come up in the first place. You would recall

that when these issues started it was about the party structure; members of the party who wanted to take part in congress paid money but they were unilaterally denied from taking part in the process. They were removed from the party; there was imposition and other things which were not in line with the party’s constitution. So, the injustice that was meted out to them was upheld up to the Supreme Court; the party did nothing about it. When the Supreme Court is saying there is nothing we can do we quite agree with the Supreme Court. This matter cannot be resolved legally; it can only be resolved politically and we are open to any solution that takes into cognisance the sacrifices and suffering that members have put into getting their right. But it does not look like some of the chieftains of the party that are loyal to you accept the development? Well, the man that left came to office because of the judgment of the court; he tried to intervene in the crisis; he was actually a member of the minister’s faction; he was not part of us originally; so, his leaving is his personal decision. So, everybody knows that in this country every adult is free to associate as he likes. He took the

decision of the Court that the party would not respond to the issue. But we took it as an opportunity for the party to put its house in order. So, we want to give peace a chance in the interest of the state and our members. So, when we left PDP, we left because we felt we did not want impunity that we wanted change, fairness and progress; that is what we are still saying. What surprised me is that this thing sounds alien to some people in the APC. But this is the same song all of us were singing when we came together to form APC. I have said repeatedly that the APC is not just a political party, it is an idea for a better Nigeria and we must be prepared to work hard to make that idea of a better Nigeria possible. So, we are just doing our beat. So, the decision to end the legal challenge is a fresh opportunity for the party to take a closer look at the challenges, and work toward a lasting solution in line with the ideas of the APC. That is where we are now and the way forward for the APC; I am not thinking of leaving the party. I don’t think putting your house in order is a sign of weakness but an acknowledgment of practical reality that this issue cannot be solved by litigation. We have to look for solutions that accommodate the principles of the party for the members and desires for the future. Does this make you close rank with Rotimi Amaechi? There is no dispute between me and the minister; we are both members of the party. What we are saying is that as members of the party, we have our rights and entitlements; if it is respected within the scheme of things the party can move forward; there is nowhere in a party where the politician must be a friend of everybody before the party can run its business; it is not run that way. If any issue exists between us, that should be between us, which I am not aware of, but for the sake of the APC in Rivers and the people’s demands,

we should work with everyone for the party to move forward. Part of what has made the APC in Rivers attractive is because we have simply refused to do what every politician does. If there is a crisis, you pack your bags and move to another party; all that does not allow for our system to grow. I think it is time for Nigeria to create a system that accommodates dissenting views, despite that everybody may not agree on the same issue and they move on at the same time. That is political maturity and that is what is demanded in Rivers State. We are going to watch the party’s response to these issues, and if the response is in order we would find accommodation there and if not we would have the flexibility to think of measure for our members to achieve the thing that brought them into politics; that is; to find a Nigeria that is better and find a political party that can move the country forward. Me and Amaechi do have political differences. He is the leader of the party in the state and we felt that as leader of the party he should lead the party; that all members who agree not with him should get justice; if that is done it would give space for the people who may not agree with me; that is how a party grows and able to overcome all opposition and get victory. The party has constitutional leadership both state and nationally. So, what happens to the party at this level is the responsibility of all of us including the Minister. We have to look at the party and make it large enough to accommodate all other people. Should the atmosphere not be conducive at the end of the day; would you consider leaving the APC? As far as we are concerned, we are politicians. We should be able to create a platform that accommodates everybody who has contributed to the growth of APC in Rivers. I mean they deserve a right to be accommodated in the party and it is the responsibility of the leaders to make that possible.

‘Makinde fulfilled Coalition Agreement with 2 commissioners, 2 other aides’ REMI FEYISIPO, Ibadan

he former chairman of Zenith Labour Party, ZLP in Oyo State, Wole Abisoye at the weekend disclosed that Governor Seyi Makinde, fulfilled the agreement reached during party as contained in the coalition. Speaking during a political radio programme in Ibadan Abisoye said that the commissioner for land and housing, Abiodun Abdu-Raheem was one of the commissioner-nominees, adding that the second nominee, Waheed Akanbi, a former finance commissioner in the administration of former governor Rashidi Ladoja could not make the list because they could

not resolve issue bothering on his local government of origin. Akanbi, who hails from Ibadan North LGA was asked to claim Akinyele LGA, where his ancestral village is located before he could be given the slot. Some members of the ZLP, including the governorship candidate of the party, Sharafadeen Alli, dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress, APC while others including Abisoye joined the PDP. Abisoye described Alli and other members of the ZLP who have chosen to work with the APC in Oyo State as political jobbers saying there is no way a true follower of Senator Rashidi Ladoja will join a political party which he alleged is sponsoring insecurity in the Country.

He wondered why some of his colleagues have chosen the APC as their destination alleging that the broom party is the cause of high level of insecurity in the country. Reacting to a question on why he led some members of the party to the People’s Democratic Party when the Zenith Labour Party had accused Governor Seyi Makinde of not fulfilling the promise he made with the party, Abisoye revealed that he was not part of those that negotiated with the Governor before the 2019 general elections even as the party Chairman but denied the allegation that the Governor reneged on some of the promises he made with the ZLP. According to him, even as the

Chairman of the party, I was never carried along at that time but I never complained because of my kind of politics. But it is not true that Governor Makinde did not fulfill his agreement. ZLP was given two Commissioners and two Special Advisers. He however noted that the believe of members of the party was that that the ZLP lost out because Sharafadeen Alli refused the offer of the governor to serve in his Advisory Council. “At a meeting, a member of the party stood up and challenged Sharafadeen Alli saying he is the cause of their suffering in the ZLP because had he not refused the Advisory Council membership, other things would have followed”. “Let me tell you this and I am saying

it publicly, even when we were in ZLP, funding was a problem. Nobody was funding the party. We were owing two years rent. It was Chief Ladoja that is no longer contesting any election that cleared the rent sometime ago. We had only one worker there and paying him was a big problem so, the ZLP may be said not to be in existence any longer in Oyo State. Abisoye said it will not be wrong for anybody to refer to ZLP as a party that has gone into extinction in Oyo State since its membership has dissolved into PDP and APC. Describing himself as a full-fledged member of the PDP said the way Governor Seyi Makinde is handling governance with human face is soothing.

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Sunday 14 March 2021

Politics As things are now, whoever is against restructuring does not love Nigeria - Setonji Setonji David, a civil engineer, is a lawmaker representing Badagry Constituency 2 in the Lagos State House of Assembly and head of the House Committee on Information. In this exclusive interview with INIOBONG IWOK, he speaks on the state of the nation, offering solutions to the spate of insecurity in Nigeria, among other issues. Excerpts:

What is your take on the spate of insecurity in Nigeria presently? t is a very precarious situation at the level that we are now, but we all saw it coming and here it is. I share the view that the problem of this country is the 1999 constitution; and until we sit down to discuss the way forward from this constitution we would always have this kind of problem. There are somethings that are under the exclusive list which are not supposed to be there. Look at the governor of a state, they cannot appoint the Commissioner of Police of their state. So, these are the things we should not be having and it is breeding this insecurity. It is the problem of this country and it would continue to linger if nothing is done. Let us review the constitution and restructure the country. Do you think President Muhammadu Buhari has done enough in tackling insecurity in Nigeria? I don’t want to say much on that; it is obvious even to the blind that things are not being done right. I mean great leaders in this country have said it again and again that what we are having is not justice. There should be fairness in the way people are treated. When you are not treating everybody equal then there is no justice. They are holding weapons and you are not taking the right decision on them; then there would be consequences. It is all over the place that people are disenchanted. But your party set up a committee on restructuring headed by the Kaduna State Governor, who submitted the report to the President; up till now nothing has been done? My party is best on the issue; maybe, it is taking too long; at the end of the day justice would be done on what we are clamouring for. So, you think restructuring is the way-out? I have said it again that we need to restructure so that we would have peace in Nigeria. There is no peace in Nigeria. Presently, if you are moving from one state to the other you would be afraid; we need security to have peace. Nigeria was not like this before. Election is not the issue now, how do we have peace when there is no justice? That is why we say let us look at restructuring, great minds have been saying this. But the President and Northern leaders are opposed to it. Does that worry you? Whoever is against restructur-

tinue to project this House to the outside world. We are doing a lot that people should see. Some people may say you would have a hard task in selling Obasa, considering that he has been in the news lately for the wrong reasons? I want to disagree with you on the fact that there is no perfect human being. You know that some people would like to project us for the wrong reasons because of their motive, but by and large the speaker is doing excellently well and he has not been found wanting of any wrongdoing. So, we have nothing to worry about. He is the Speaker of Speakers; 90 percent of the members of the Lagos House of Assembly are solidly behind him. We are the ones that elected him as our Speaker and we would continue to support him. He has not faltered. We are not bothered about negative comments because the public knows he is doing well.

Setonji David

ing does not love this country and does not want peace for this country. That is the way out; nobody has a monopoly on ideas, but we have seen the way things are done in the current system which negates justice. That is why we are saying we need to sit down, but if some people are against it let them come up with solutions to our current problems. Just like what I said earlier, can you imagine the chief security officer of his state not being able to appoint the head of the police in his domain? Whoever is against restructuring is turning a blind eye on issues affecting us now.

in 2023? For us to have peace, no part of the country should hold on to power forever. Others cannot be subservient to them. The presidency should come back to the South and it is the turn of the south-West to produce the president in 2023. It is in the North now, after Buhari’s tenure it should come back to the SouthWest. Because of the contribution of the Southwest to the emergence of this government and its success, it is important that it comes to the region in 2023 and we are prepared for that.

We saw some North-East Governors speak in support of state police recently. What does that mean? It means that it is now coming to their senses; we need to rejig the system and find solutions to our problems. Nigeria is a great country but if you see right now we are bedevilled by challenges; why can’t we tackle them? If you go abroad, Nigerians are doing well and you wonder. We have been saying let us address this so that we can move forward, except we don’t love this country and the unity of Nigeria.

But the South-East says it is their turn to rule in 2023. You don’t agree? Well, it should be a function of your contribution to the party and nothing else. The South-West have contributed to the APC victory. I think it is the time for us to produce the next president.

What is your take on the agitations for zoning of the presidency

Should that candidate be Bola Tinubu? We can see that his political associates are already selling his candidacy across the country. We are appealing to Asiwaju to contest in 2023, because we know he can do it and change things. We know he turned Lagos around. So, we are still pleading with him to

come and do the wonders he did in Lagos State. We told him to come and take over the country, salvage the country. He has not responded yet, but we are sure that when he emerges, the country would not be the same again. There is the perception in some quarters that the Lagos State House of Assembly is a rubber stamp of some individuals and of the Executive. How do you react? That is untrue, it is the most vibrant House of Assembly in the country, others do come to learn from us, and if we are rubber stamp would they come? It is a House of excellence, we have never been, and we are a role model to others. Some months ago, a state in the North came to copy what we are doing here. So, it is not true, nobody is a rubber stamp. We are very independent. You were recently appointed as the spokesperson of the House Assembly; how are you responding to that task? We are very lucky to have a vibrant, hardworking, efficient and knowledgeable speaker in Mudashiru Obasa who was recently elected as the head of the House of Assembly Speakers in Nigeria. So, my focus would be to con-

Which Bill have you sponsored that is dear to you since you were elected into the Lagos Assembly? I have sponsored a bill on the provision of infrastructure and so many others that have been passed. I don’t have a record; there are so many others that we are working on that would improve the lot of Lagosians. What is the pertinent infrastructural need of your constituency in Badagry? The immediate challenge is the Badagry expressway; it is owned by the Federal Government and it has been under construction for some time and has not been completed. We are hoping that will be completed before the rainy season comes to make matters worse. I want to appeal to the government to speed up work on the road, pay the contractor. Some weeks ago, I constructed a six block of classrooms; I dedicated it to one of the schools in my constituency that did not have a classroom. The news was all over the place. The speaker came to commission the project. It was sponsored by me, a personal project. I provided benches, a maker board etc. We are still going to do more and encourage, government to come and do more. Badagry is going to be the next face of Lagos, because most of the other parts of the state are getting full. Government needs to repair that road so that people that are moving into Badagry can move freely.

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Feature

Desperate moments in Aso Rock over insecurity

ZEBULON AGOMUO he Nigerian government appears to be running from pillar to post as insecurity across the country escalates. Kidnapping has hit the all-time high in a country that brands itself as the giant of Africa. In a space of one month, terrorists have abducted countless number of citizens, including school children and their teachers. On Friday, March 12, 2021 a-yet-tobe-established number of students in Kaduna State were abducted by kidnappers. Recall that President Buhari had recently assured Nigerians that the abduction of female students from Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara State, would be the last of such episode in his administration. His assurances were conveyed by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika who led a Federal Government delegation to sympathise with the people and government of Zamfara following the Jangebe episode. The President said that new measures had been developed by the Federal Government to bring a complete end to all forms of criminality in the nation. Sirika had announced in Zamfara that “The President is saddened by the abduction of the students from Jangebe and reassures you that the government has all the resources and wherewithal to contain these criminals.” He also said that Buhari also commended Governor Bello Matawalle’s efforts against armed banditry and promised continued support to bring lasting peace. But with the abduction of many students from the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Mando, Kaduna State, it appears the President’s pledge needs to be reviewed or may be coming too late to move a needle. Recently, an exasperated President had also announced a shoot-on-sight order on anyone seen carrying AK-47 illegally in the country. He had repeated this on Thursday, March 11, 2021 while meeting with members of the National Council of Traditional Rulers at the State House, Abuja. In the last few days, the newly appointed service chiefs, have moved from one state to another, reassuring state governors and Nigerians that the military was on top of the game. Despite these consultations and assurances, the bandits have remained undaunted in their nefarious activities. Today, no day ever passes in Nigeria without the sad news of killings and abduction of travelers and students in their numbers. Buhari talked tough during his meeting with the monarchs, reiterating his shoot-on-sight order. He said he: “What surprises is what is happening now in the North West

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President Muhammadu Buhari

where the same people, with the same culture are killing each other taking their livestock and burning properties. “As a result of that, we had a fourhour meeting of the National Security Council attended by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Service Chiefs, Chief of Defence Staff, the Inspector- General of Police and others, and we gave clear instructions.” “One thing that got to the press, which I read myself was that anyone with an AK-47 will be shot. This is because AK-47 is supposed to be registered and it is only given to security officials,” he said. The President also lamented that “we closed the borders for some years but the intelligence report I’m getting on a daily basis is that those who are conducting the abductions, the killings and so on are still not short of arms and ammunition.” The same Thursday, at the third edition of the weekly Presidential Media Briefing, Babagana-Monguno, a major-general, and national security adviser (NSA), said government would not negotiate or deploy mercenaries to prosecute the fight against insurgents, but would rather deploy all necessary force to eliminate them. “While the government is not averse to talking with these entities, it also has to fully apply its weight.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

You can’t negotiate with people who are unreliable and who will continue to hurt society. We will apply the full weight of the government to deal with these criminals. “These are not people looking for anything that is genuine or legitimate; they are just out to take calculated measures to inflict pain and violence on innocent people. We must deal with them the way they need to be dealt with. We will fully assert the government will,” Monguno said. According to him, “Government will not allow itself to be blackmailed by any group or any individual who thinks he can hide under the surface and use proxies to deal a fatal blow on innocent people.” But analysts are wondering how the Federal Government hopes to guarantee the safety of all citizens, granted that the bandits concentrate on soft targets, where government’s security tentacles appear not reaching. A retired civil servant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, blamed the Federal Government for the escalation in the killings and abductions across the country. “I do not doubt the sincerity of the President in ending the insecurity situation we have at hand, but I blame him for allowing the problem to escalate to a level that it is now becoming almost

impossible to manage. We all saw the responses of the Presidency each time herdsmen killed people in Benue and Plateau, for instance. There is nothing that has not been said about the government allowing herdsmen to carry AK-47 about. The question worth asking is, is it now that President Buhari realizes that it is dangerous to allow unauthorized and largely illiterates to carry sophisticated arms all over the place? What the President is saying now should have been said four years ago,” the retiree said. Another analyst who spoke with BusinessDay also said that the government wasted time in halting the rhetoric that it was using mercenaries to dialogue with terrorists. “It is either that people are not helping President Buhari or there are those pretending to work for and with him, who actually wants him to fail; otherwise, why would the Presidency lie low and behaved as if they were really negotiating with bandits and terrorists, or that they were behind those who claimed to be doing the negotiation on behalf of government? Why coming out now threatening that you are going to deal with those that people have rightly or wrongly believed you have been pampering? There is a huge trust deficit, and this is where the major problem is,” the pundit said, preferring

These are not people looking for anything that is genuine or legitimate; they are just out to take calculated measures to inflict pain and violence on innocent people. We must deal with them the way they need to be dealt with. We will fully assert the government wil

not to be named. Seyi Adetayo, a former operative of the Department of State Security (DSS), said that as long as crime and criminality have political coloration, they become difficult to tackle. He condemned the desperation of politicians in the country, which, he noted, was responsible for their penchant to recruit thugs to prosecute their political agenda. Referring to the statement by one of the Kagara abductees that one of the kidnappers said they were in that business because government reneged on their promises after using them to get political power, Adetayo said: “There is the need to draw a line between government and politicians. There are politicians who are desperate to win election and thereafter abandon the recruited thugs. So, when these politicians get into office, they become part of government that the bandit may be referring to as government.” He also expressed the fears that, “There are possibility of more kidnappings in the north with the remnant of the military we have today. The landmass is so vast that the security agents that Nigeria has cannot man them. There is no way all the schools in Nigeria can be protected. Even if you fence a school, that does not guarantee absolute protection of that school or prevent it from invasion of terrorists; even if you have five hundred armed soldiers in every school.” It is hoped that in the days ahead, the Federal Government would be able to bite and not just bark as there are still many AK-47-bearing elements in the country, who believe they are above the law. What the government does in the next few days will either further erode the trust deficit against it or change people’s perception about the real government in Abuja.

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Today, VALENTINA UTOH steps up to the ‘4th floor’, ready for the next level KEMI AJUMOBI

alentina Utoh is the Founder and Creative Director of Onyx by Valentina, a female clothing and interior design brand that brings art to life through handmade embellished pieces. Founded seven years ago, the luxury clothing brand is renowned for its avant-garde, distinctive and elegant use of craftsmanship to express the uniqueness of every piece. With a wide range of bespoke/ ready to wear collections and notable clientele, the brand Onyx by Valentina is recognised globally with features in the Africa Fashion Week, London; The New African Woman Magazine, The Accra Fashion Week, amongst others. Valentina’s childhood was one of a lot of love for each other. “We travelled a lot with our parents to different places and it broadened our mindset. I also had my father collect art pieces from all over the world and this was a major stepping stone that birthed my love for art through designing.” She stated. Utoh has always loved fashion and style. It was also a more interpretable way for her to express her love for art. Little wonder her styles are quite vintage, classic and timeless. She says her designs are important to her and they exude sophistication and timeless elegance. What then is fashion? I asked and she responds “Fashion means a huge way of expressing oneself outwardly through representation by clothes and other apparels” On her view about Nigerians and fashion, she says “Nigerians are very fashionable and I have experienced this from their choice selections of their purchases and their inputs on my creations”.

Kemi Ajumobi Associate Editor kemi@businessdayonline.com TEAM: Desmond Okon Osaromena Ogbeide LongJohn Deborah Designed by Aderemi Ayeni

Utoh is never shy to tell you that her major challenge in her line of business is power. “Power has predominantly been a challenge but we do our best to mitigate this challenge by conserving energy as much as possible.” She stated. Don’t we all have what we are grateful for? For Valentina, it is the gift of life, for the gift of good health, loving family, friends and clients, and the gift of being relevant through her talent which she describes as a gift from God. It’s Valentina’s birthday today. She has upgraded to the 4th floor and for her, it means a lot. She tells me more “It truly brings a deep sense of intense peace and contentment. This immensely makes every other thing just right. It also means giving out more of me to the betterment of people around me.” Said Valentina. On the effect of the pandemic on her business, she says it affected her differently. According to Utoh, “The pandemic affected us differently and in as much as there was a global effect, but it was a time to restrategise on a few things that were to our gain, and understand the larger strength of virtual style of life, as it’s reach has turned out to be much larger. To every struggling designer out there, she says “1 believe that being passionate is a major thrusting force for any field of endeavour, when this is established, being tenacious and consistent in delivery, plus customer service all contribute as key factors. You should also go for trainings but top of it all, never give up and do not relent in giving your best. Remember that your challenges are also lessons to learn.” In celebrating her 40th today, Valentina looks back and remains grateful to everyone, especially her clients who she describes as women with a sense of style and class. “They are also lovers of art and people in search for unique and rare pieces.” She revealed. On challenges, she says “I haven’t particularly experienced major challenges because I am quite meticulous and I mitigate minor challenges as they come, so they don’t heap up. It keeps me in check by God’s grace.” She said.

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Sunday12 14March March 2021 Sunday 2021

Sunday12 14 March Sunday March2021 2021

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A pot of Eggs in purgatory with avocado Print

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the sauce. Gently pour the egg into the well. Repeat the same process with all the remaining eggs (crack eggs, make a well and add

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whole eggs). Simmer over medium heat for about 10 or more minutes or until you have reached the desired doneness. For me, the

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yolks have to firm up, so I cook a little longer. Sprinkle with cilantro. Serve immediately with, toast and avocado.

MEALS TO ENJOY BY IMMACULATEBITES EGGS IN PURGATORY Level up your breakfast, lunch, or dinner with poached eggs in a hearty delicious, and spicy herbinfused tomato sauce. A one-pan egg-xtravagant meal ready in just 20 minutes. Pair it with crusty bread or toast and you’ll have an incredible luscious meal. What an egg-xciting dish to start your day! INGREDIENTS • • • • • • • • • • •

2 tablespoon (28 ml) olive oil 1 pound (454 g) ground Italian sausage 1 medium onion, diced (about 1 cup) 2 teaspoons (4 g) smoked paprika 1 t e a s p o o n ( 2 g ) It a l i a n seasoning 1-2 teaspoons (2-4 g) pepper flakes salt and pepper, to taste 2-3 teaspoons (10 - 15 g) minced garlic 28 ounces can crushed tomatoes with juice 4-5 large eggs 1-2 tablespoons (4-8 g) freshly chopped parsley or cilantro, (I use cilantro here)

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Heat a large pot with the olive oil over medium heat, add in sausage, onions, paprika, Italian seasoning, pepper flakes and salt to taste. Use a spoon to break up the meat into small pieces. Add minced garlic and continue cooking for about 1-2 minutes. Pour in tomato sauce and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to low and continue cooking stirring for about 2-3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Crack one egg at a time in a small ramekin and then dig a small well with a spoon or spatula in

5 TIPS FOR STUBBORN HAIR CARA ROLLE 1. Heat is Your Friend

little heat to help open up the hair shaft and allow nutrients & moisture into those strands.

Now, we don’t want to go over board and cause heat damage but low porosity hair needs a

For example, you can rinse your hair with warm water and apply your deep conditioner and then

sit with a plastic cap and low heat on your blow dryer to help soak in all those good ingredients your low porosity hair needs. 2. Light Oils Over Heavy Oils

Another thing about low porosity hair is the fact that heavy oils and products in general tend to just sit on top of your hair instead of being soaked into the coils.

low porosity kinks and coils.

This is why low porosity natural hair ladies should stick to light oils like olive oil and grape seed oil.

Hydrolyzed Protein

LOOK FOR THE FOLLOWING: Silk Protein Wheat Protein

Keep this tip in mind when considering our next tip.

These are the only proteins you should use as a low porosity girl. You’ll be shocked to see how many natural hair companies list these on their products!

3. Clarifying Shampoo Please!

5. Know YOUR Hair

Your hair is practically crying out for you to use a clarifying shampoo that will release all the old gel, oils, creams and deep conditioners you’ve used.

In the natural hair community, we love to watch YouTubers & Influencers, hoping the same things that worked for them will work for us.

Without a clarifying shampoo, all the product build up in your hair will ultimately stay there and become coated over with more products (yuck)

Unfortunately, that’s not always the case and often times ends in more hair breakage and going backwards instead of forwards on the healthy natural hair journey.

Companies like Shea Moisture have amazing clarifying shampoos that work perfectly for low porosity naturals.

Pay attention to your own hair. What does your hair like? What does it dislike? If one low porosity girl loves one product that doesn’t work in your hair find a different one.

4. Choose These Proteins Plenty of low porosity beauties don’t understand this part. We’re glad to debunk which proteins you should actually use on your

Listen and pay attention to her (your kinks and coils) and you’ll know exactly what she needs.

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Sunday 14 March 2021

TheWorshipper ‘God’s covenant of peace for Nigeria stands, no matter the situation’ Pastor Isaac Oluwatayo Olalusi, Christ Apostolic Church, Land of Fulfillment, Lagos speaks with SEYI JOHN SALAU in this interview on the essence of the church’s 6th edition of the annual 21 days fasting and prayer, and its transformational power in the believer’s life. Excerpts: Can you tell us about this year’s theme and why it was moved to February? deally, it was supposed to start in February, however, something happened and we had to move it to March with the theme, ‘And I the Lord will make with them a covenant of peace’. The Lord was talking to the Israelites that He would make a covenant of peace with them and the covenant manifest till today. That is why we picked that topic because our people should have trust in God because God does not fail those who put their trust in him. When God says, he will do something; he definitely will do it. Whatever the problem believers should rely on God because our God is God of covenant and God of peace. What influenced the title for this year’s programme? As the world is going now, we know the world is not at peace and if we don’t have God or believe in God; such individual can do something else, hence we picked this title to further encourage believers to come closer to the God of peace. Also, the idea behind the 21 days’ fasting and prayers is to help believers stand on their feet in faith because our God can never fail those who trust in him. Being an annual intervention event for believers, the 21-day prayer and fasting came as a revelation from God that we should observe it on a yearly basis. This is the 6th edition of the annual event, which started

in 2016. Considering the state of insecurity in the country; how can Nigeria benefit from this covenant of peace? Nigeria at the moment needs serious prayers to overcome her security challenges because the country is disorganised at the moment and it is only God that can revive Nigeria. So, we have to pray very well because God has a covenant with Nigeria - to make Nigeria a peaceful place, but there are some people in the country who do not want to repent. So, we have to pray that God change their mind and help them change from their bad ways, which is something only prayer can do. You will agree with me that the scriptures also say, we should pray and work. If you say all that Nigeria needs is prayer; has the church not prayed enough? The church is praying; however, we cannot stop praying for God’s intervention. So, those of us that stand completely on God’s word will continue to pray for Nigeria and am sure God will definitely intercede in our situation. In the first two months of this year; over 500 school children have been abducted from their schools. What does it mean for the nation’s security? We thank God, the abducted children have been returned to their parents safely. However, we still need to encourage the government to do more in tightening our security architecture

Isaac Oluwatayo

across the country, especially around our schools so that the bandits and those abducting our school children will not kill education in the country. Government should tighten our security very seriously especially now that we have new service chiefs and many have hoped they will bring new hopes to the fight against insurgency and the general insecurity across the country. Back to the programme, what

would be the takeaway message for the worshippers? The message I want them to take away is total reliance of God. The theme of the programme, ‘And I the Lord will make with them a covenant of peace’ is to reassure us that God is concerned about what we are experiencing whether as individual or as a country. Hence, he God is making a covenant of peace with us as his peo-

ple, however we have to draw closer to him so as to be in his covenant- that is what I want everybody to take back home: we need not depend on selfhelp, money or connection; for with God, the bible says all things are possible. So, people should get themselves prepared to expect greater peace from God after this programme. How do you relate this programme to the annual lent in Christendom? Definitely, I believe there is a link because lent is a religious activity for every Christian, so it is meant for everybody. For us here in the Land of Fulfilment, we are preparing our people for the year. Lent as a religious obligation prepares us for the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; it is more or less a celebration time. It has been more religious, however, what we have done for the past 21 days is to get our people prepared not even for this year alone; but even for the next decade because we know that this is going to go a long way. What is your message to the new PFN president? I want him to intensify prayer for Nigeria, so that God can deliver her and take control on the socioeconomic situation in the country. Jesus made sacrifices for the church, hence as we should make sacrifices for the church as Christians. Our life as Christians is a life of sacrifice; every day we live is a sacrifice – so anything given to the church is given to God in sacrifice unto Him.

JFC calls for gender CAN cautions Kwara governor on approval of hijab in mission schools parity in the media SEYI JOHN SALAU

he leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to thread on caution and withdraw his government’s approval of wearing of Hijab in Christian Mission schools in the state. CAN in a statement signed by its general secretary, Joseph Bade Daramola, said the advice was necessary because it sees the governor’s action as premature and prejudicial. “It appears to be a contempt of the court because the governor is aware that there is a pending court case on this matter over which the court had earlier ruled that the status quo should be maintained. Is the governor now saying that he is above the law? What is going to spoil if we all wait for the court to pronounce

judgement on the matter? Why this hasty action? “We recalled that some people took laws into their hands in the state by going from school to school to be enforcing the wearing of hijab in secondary schools including the schools owned by mission agents but are only grant-aided by the government,” said Daramola. According to Daramola, the Kwara State government has shown its religious bias by the blanket approval of the wearing of hijab, even in Christian Mission Schools, “instead of the government to caution such trouble makers and admonish them to wait for the court process to be concluded and judgement delivered”. Daramola further stated that the action of the government of Kwara State is not only discriminatory and divisive, but it equally suggests that the government was the one behind the earlier illegal enforcement of the wearing of hijab in Christian schools.

He posited that while the government may give directive on its own schools, it ought to respect the schools it does not directly own nor started and respect the religious cultures of such schools as well. “We urge the political elite to stop using their religious overzealousness in causing division in the society but rather treat all equally irrespective of religious and ethnic affiliation. If we would all do pilgrimage together, there must be fairness to all, mutual respect and justice. No political leader should use his or her position to further the cause of any particular religion or ethnic group in order for peace to prevail. “The Governor of Kwara State has shown open bias for one religion with his inability to wait for court process to be concluded over this matter. CAN has resolved to use all lawful means to reverse the order if the government refused to withdraw the directive,” Daramola stated.

ournalists for Christ (JFC) International Outreach, a faith-based non-governmental organisation devoted to enhancing the spiritual and professional development of journalists and other media professionals, has called for gender parity in the media in celebrating the social, economic, cultural, political and spiritual achievements of women in Nigeria and globally. JFC is celebrating the 2021 International Women’s Day (IWD) declared that men and women are created in God’s image and women have shown leadership in all areas of endeavours, including the media. Lekan Otufodunrin, JFC president, acknow ledged women’s achievements in all spheres of human endeavours, especially the media despite the various challenges they have had to cope with.

“In accordance with the theme of this year’s celebration which is ‘Women in Leadership: Achieving Equal Future in the Covid-19 World’ with the #ChooseToChallenge, we call for accelerated actions to ensure gender parity in the media,” he said. According to Otufodunrin, more women should be given equal opportunities in holding leadership positions in media organisations, just as there is need to have more women voices in media content. “We choose to challenge lack of gender policies in media organisations which will make it possible to provide a more conducive working environment for women in the media,” he said. Otufodunrin therefore, called on journalists to consciously audit those quoted in their reports to give more women the opportunities to air their views on issues of general interest.

Sunday 14 March 2021

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TheWorshipper Inspiration With Rev. Yomi Kasali

info@yomikasali.com

he thought that the Master Himself was deceived and swayed by a tree with leaves is always amazing whenever I read that part of my Bible. There was this day that Jesus was hungry and saw a fig tree from far, the tree looked nice

Nothing but leaves from far but when the Lord got closer to pluck some fruits, alas there was Nothing but Leaves on the tree. Let me share my thoughts with you and hope you shall be Inspired by this piece. There are some people like that Fig Tree today in Church and many outside the church; they actually deceive many good people looking for Fruits. The church is sadly also raising a generation of Believers that are Nothing but Leaves without trying to bear Fruits anymore. Believers are supposed to be Fruit-bearing trees not Leaves-carrying trees. We are so fixated to how we look and want people to adore us on the outside regardless of who we truly are on the inside. Scriptures tells us that we should only judge people ‘...by their fruits, we shall know them’ not by their leaves. I’ll share some Leaves and Fruits disparities with you shortly so you can look around your workplace, church, community and family to discern

CAN flays FG’s inability to complete 200km Abuja-Lokoja highway in 15 years VICTORIA NNAKAIKE

resident of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Samson Ayokunle has flayed the Federal Government’s inability to complete the AbujaLokoja highway that has been under construction for the past 15 years, describing it as a shame of the nation. Ayokunle made the observation in Lokoja at the official inauguration of Government House Chapel for Christian worshippers built by the present administration under Yahaya Bello administration, adding that the lukewarm attitude towards the construction of AbujaLokoja highway remains a sore thumb in the life of various leaderships at the federal level. He stressed that until the nation leaders imbibe the spirit of sincerity and fear of God, the country may not witness the desired change. “Lokoja-Abuja highway is a shame of the country. Do something and remove this shame, 15 years of constructing a 200km-road is a shame,” he said. He pointed out that Nigeria is a complex nation with different ethnic, religious and socio-cultural backgrounds, adding that with its endowed human and material resources, if properly harnessed together, the country would join the comity of great nations, and dust off the present hardships that has bedevilled the nation.

He maintained that a society devoid of justice, oppression will take the centre stage, emphasising that for the country to be great, it needs justice, fairness and mutual respect for one and another in all segments of the divide in society. The CAN president also said that the present generation of people in the country are sophisticatedly educated, hinting that it’s no longer easy to use old trick to deceive people and get away with it. “While practising democracy, let us use our native wisdom. Where you are included, you see government as your own, and where you are excluded, you agitate to right the wrongs. We need justice, fairness and mutual respect in Nigeria,” he said. Represented by his deputy, Edward Onoja, Governor Yahaya Bello expressed gratitude to God for giving them the wisdom and strength to construct a chapel for Christian denomination in the state. He stressed that the adherents of various religions, particularly, Moslems, Christians and traditional worshippers abound in every family setting in the state, saying that when people are dissatisfied with certain policies in society, it beholds on the leadership to take a bold step and rectify the situation. “That is what the present administration of Yahaya Bello has done, by constructing Government House Chapel for Christian denomination,” he said.

who those friends of yours are. Don’t be deceived by leaves anymore and start looking for Fruits seriously so that you can make right judgements. 5 Leaves to run from C h a r m v s c h a r a c te r : Many people think Charm is a Fruit but it’s simply Leaves and nothing more. There are people that are charming and charismatic but lack character hence attract people with their charm but can’t retain them because they are cruel, wicked, and nasty.

Beauty vs brains: This is where many young men and women make the mistakes, they judge people by their Beauty and ignore the Brains. A beautiful car can have a bad engine hence it’s the Brain that should attract us not just the beauty. Beauty can be a function of clothes and so on, but Brains can be very rare to find. Religion vs spiritual: I love the way apostle Paul puts this point, he says some have the ‘form of godliness but deny the power thereof ’ (2

Tim. 3 v 5). Paul told us to do something about this kind of person, hear him ‘...from such, TURN AWAY’. They are leaves-carrying believers not fruit-bearing Christians.

But Leaves.

Gold vs god: This is what Capitalism and Corruption has created today. We judge people with the amount of gold they possess not acts of Godliness. We have embraced Cash (Leaves) as King hence Cash rules our world unfortunately. Which is why we encourage corruption in government, church, and private sector today.

I hope you have been Inspired. Kindly share some of your own ideas about Leaves that we carry and not Fruits that can bless people.

Social media friends vs church friends: There are people who prefer to be liked on social media than in actual smaller fellowships where true tests of friendships are tested and tried. We are addicted to ‘likes’ and don’t care who the people that click are. You see different photographs on IG and people present falsehood as truth. These are Nothing

Let’s change and look within more than outside. We should become Fruitful as believers and not carry leaves only.

Drop me a note of acknowledgment and encouragement and also follow me on my Social media handles below: Instagram: @yomi_kasali Twitter: @yomi_kasali Facebook: www.facebook. com/revyomikasali Youtube: www.youtube. com/revyomikasali Be Inspired! Rev Yomi Kasali is Senior Pastor, Foundation of Truth Assembly (FOTA), Surulere, Lagos.

NEWS NAHCO celebrates International Women’s Day with cash rewards for staff IFEOMA OKEKE

he nation’s leading ground handling company, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO Plc), recently celebrated its women on the occasion of the International Women’s Day 2021, with cash rewards. In celebrating this year’s event, the company held a seminar via zoom, where the topic ‘I choose to challenge’

was given a thorough analysis. According to Olatokunbo Fagbemi, group managing director and chief executive officer, NAHCO Plc, women are the bedrock of the nation, women have contributed immensely in building the family, the society and the nation. “We are celebrating our women today because, apart from being our assets, they have remained the leading lights of this company, we have so many high-flying women in our midst, and we

are happy to celebrate them on this auspicious occasion,” Fagbemi said. On his part, Adeoye Emiloju, chief finance officer, urged the women to challenge the status quo, to aspire to be the best, as the sky is not just their limit, but a starting point. Other highlights of the occasion were the award of cash prize to three deserving female staff who participated in the essay competition, with the theme: I choose to challenge.

The International Women’s Day, is a yearly event which holds on the 8th of March every year. NAHCO Plc is a Nigerian diversified enterprise with interests in aviation cargo, aircraft handling, passenger facilitation, crew transportation and aviation training. The company currently serves several airlines across the major functional airports within Nigeria, and handles the largest chunk of domestic, foreign and cargo airlines.

Sterling One Foundation partners NNNGO to support non-profits

terling One Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Network of NGOs (NNNGO) to bring development to the doorstep of more Nigerians through crowd sourcing of funds for social development programmes. Giving.ng, the crowdfunding platform set up by the Foundation, is at the heart of the partnership. The partnership opens a new funding vista for over 3000 nonprofits in the NNNGO network to deepen and extend the reach of their life changing programmes. Commenting on the partnership, Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, chief executive officer (CEO), Sterling One Foundation, said it would empower Nigeria’s leading non-profits to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of the citizenry.

“Adding value to lives has always been our core, and this partnership provides us with a huge platform to do that. We can impact lives positively individually, but with a common goal in partnership, we will touch more lives,” she said. According to Ibekwe, Giving.ng will provide a platform for NNNGO members who want to raise funds through crowdfunding all year round at no cost to the NGOs. She added that Sterling One Foundation would collaborate with NNNGO to upskill its members. She said Sterling One Foundation is driven by the need for progressive change on the African continent because of its unique challenges. The Foundation is also committed to being the benchmark of positive social impact in Nigeria by creating sustainable solutions for

youth empowerment and job creation via impactful sectors, including education, food security, renewable energy, gender development, and health. On his part, Oluseyi Oyebisi, executive director, Nigeria Network of NGOs, said the nonprofit membership body is delighted to partner with Sterling One Foundation and Giving.ng, its crowdfunding platform. “This partnership opens a new horizon for nonprofits in the country and will boost the nation’s social development pace. It will empower nonprofits to continue to play their essential role of providing services to and representing the needs of poor and marginalised populations in rural and urban communities across the country.” He disclosed that the last 12 months had been a challenging one, with the outbreak of Coro-

navirus reversing the country’s modest social development gains. “For instance, Coronavirus has triggered a broad contraction in non-health aid, with about 70 countries having to halt childhood vaccination programmes. It is the same for health services for cancer screening, family planning, or non-COVID-19 infectious diseases, which are being interrupted or neglected. Despite the need for social services at this challenging time, donor funding and grants are contracting across sectors. “We are glad that Sterling One Foundation has partnered with NNNGO to introduce a new way of raising funds for social impact projects to nonprofits in our network. This is an inspiring partnership for us, and we look forward to working with Sterling One Foundation and Giving.ng.

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Sunday 14 March 2021

Travel What kind of traveller are you? As pandemic infection cases keep falling globally and vaccines are now available, people are set to travel again for tourism. But what kind of traveller are you going to be post pandemic? to wonder whether The Pioneers of today are not great, fearless, eccentric explorers of the Vasco da Gama or Wilfred Thesiger variety but greyfaced men in suits opening up obscure business ventures in (I do not know) parts of China where there are cities that you and I have never heard of with populations of four or five or six million people. I am afraid, I am automatically suspicious of business travellers, a reaction probably born of a combination of ignorance and the jealous assumption that they are likely to become insanely rich through their nefarious trade-related missions. I try to remind myself that Marco Polo was basically a business traveller, as well as a true Pioneer and a stand-up guy.

OBINNA EMELIKE

1. The Collector his type is a sophisticated hunter-gatherer, a hoarder of the exceptional and exotic. Not, however, of endangered species or looted antiquities. He or she travels with a purely metaphorical blunderbuss or bullwhip - or, rather, butterfly net, swishing it this way and that in order to gather up uncommon experiences in out-ofthe-way places. Once caught, these are meticulously pinned in memory and proudly displayed in conversation. Like an actual scientist, The Collector delights in the poetry and precision of proper names (‘You have not really lived until you’ve seen the Orionids meteor shower in the night sky over Pisco Elqui in October…’). 2. The Conformist A dreary universal type. The Conformist travels not for personal satisfaction but for social acceptance - perhaps even finds personal satisfaction in social acceptance. Destinations are chosen from a limited, unimaginative, class-determined table d’hôte menu. This is by no means a toffs-only snob thing. It applies across the social spectrum. The Conformist can be spotted from Magaluf to Megève. The point is not where you have been but what your peers think about where you have been. 3. The Thrill-Seeker Not so much of the adventure-sports variety. Of course, there is no shortage of nincompoops willing to tie their ankles to a rubber band and leap off a bridge or whatever. As with The Conformist, The Thrill-Seeker exists along a continuum - one that

8. The Occasional They are for a reason - an event, a honeymoon, a do, and a football match. Half-sibling to…

Tourists at one of Ethiopia’s famous landmarks

runs from the ticket-purchasing slum-tourist or frequenter of dodgylooking dive bars to the professional war correspondent. The Thrill-Seeker is not altogether unlike… 4. The Escapist Fugitive from the familiar. An intriguing type, labouring under that most delightful of delusions, namely, that anything at all - boredom, worry, heartbreak, guilt, fear, failure, conflict, one’s own reflection in the mirror - can be lost with distance. Alas, it cannot. Yet it always seems worth a try. 5. The Self-Improver Admirable if a little dull. Up early,

out late, cheerfully making the most of everything a new place has to offer. Tremendous stamina, sensible shoes, and likely to do a lot of research beforehand, to pack a lot of books and to return with even more. A second cousin of… 6. The Pilgrim Follower of trails, visitor of shrines - religious and otherwise. The most devoted Pilgrims I have ever seen were not at Lourdes or on the banks of the Ganges but at Beatrix Potter’s old house, Hill Top, in Cumbria. But that was ages ago. These days certain shopping streets and malls seem to exert a similar fascination. I recently played a round of golf in Norway

and afterwards bought my three companions beer and waffles at the clubhouse. The teenage girl tending the bar clearly knew her way around a waffle iron but seemed to me far too young to be serving alcohol. I asked her how she planned to spend the money she was earning. ‘In London,’ she said, beaming, “At Westfield.’ Which of the two Westfields, or the Stratford one is bigger.” 7. The Pioneer Almost extinct in the wild. Like most endangered species, The Pioneer is running out of habitat, since so much of the world has been pioneered already. In a lounge at Changi Airport the other day I had occasion

9. The Oblivious The saddest type of traveller. The one not paying attention, not remotely interested in where he or she is. I was shocked, many years ago, to hear someone ask Ruth Prawer Jhabvala about her fabulously glamorous life as a celebrated novelist and screenwriter responsible for several wildly successful Merchant-Ivory movies. ‘Most of the time I do not even bother to look up and see where I am,’ she drawled from behind a pair of enormous sunglasses, or words to that effect. I was floored. ‘Room with a view’ indeed. 10. The Genuinely Curious Eyes, ears and mind all wide open. They are rare, precious and beautiful. So, which category do you belong to?

Tightened travel restrictions underline current challenges for tourism - UNWTO

ne in three destinations worldwide is now completely closed to international tourism. According to the latest data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the emergence of new variants of the COVID-19 virus has prompted many governments to reverse efforts to ease restrictions on travel, with total closures to tourists most prevalent in Asia and the Pacific and Europe. The UNWTO Travel Restrictions Report provides a comprehensive overview of the regulations in place in 217 destinations worldwide. While previous editions had shown a movement towards easing or lifting restrictions on travel, the latest report shows that the persistent seriousness of the epidemiological situation has caused governments to adopt a more cautious approach. As of the beginning of Febru-

ary 2021, 32 percent of all destinations worldwide (69 in total) are completely closed for international tourism. Of these, around just over half (38 destinations) have been closed for at least 40 weeks. At the same time, 34 percent of worldwide destinations are now partially closed to international tourists. Now, as we work to restart tourism, we must recognise that restrictions are just one part of the solution, the UNWTO warned. Speaking on the development, Zurab Polilikashvili, secretarygeneral, UNWTO, said, “Travel restrictions have been widely used to restrict the spread of the virus. Now, as we work to restart tourism, we must recognise that restrictions are just one part of the solution. Their use must be based on the latest data and analysis and consistently reviewed so as to allow for the safe and responsible restart of a sector upon which many millions of businesses and jobs depend.”

Moreover, the ninth edition of the UNWTO Travel Restrictions Report shows that regional differences with regards to travel restrictions remain. Of the 69 destinations where borders are completely closed to tourists, 30 are in Asia and the Pacific, 15 are in Europe, 11 are in Africa, 10 are in the Americas

A tourist appreciating beautiful scenery

and three are in the Middle East. At the same time, the UNWTO research also indicates a trend towards adopting a more nuanced, evidence and risk-based approach to implementing travel restrictions. Growing numbers of destinations worldwide now require international tourists to present a

negative PCR or antigen test upon arrival and also provide contact details for tracing purposes. Indeed, 32 percent of all worldwide destinations now have the presentation of such tests as their main requirement for international arrivals often combined with quarantine, while the same amount have made tests a secondary or tertiary measure. However, top tourism markets are cautious. As UNWTO leads the restart of tourism, the Travel Restrictions Report also notes how different governments are issuing advice to their own citizens. Analysis of the Top 10 tourism source markets currently advising against non-essential travel abroad found they generated 44 percent of all international arrivals in 2018. UNWTO notes that advice issued by governments will play a crucial role in the restart and recovery of tourism in the weeks and months ahead.

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Art Temple Company unveils world-class Ogidi Studios Stories by OBINNA EMELIKE

he Temple Company is set to open the doors of its new world-class audiovisual facility to all local and international players in the content production landscape. The official unveil of Ogidi Studios also signifies a paradigm shift as the creative powerhouse, marking its fifth year anniversary, launches a full-fledged content production operation. After establishing a solid reputation in talent and event management, the company has expanded its portfolio of services with a bold new extension in line with its mandate to elevate African excellence in the creative enterprise ecosystem. Ogidi Studios is located in Lagos, the hotbed of entertainment in Nigeria. The world-class infrastructure according to Tunde Folawiyo, group chairman, Temple Company, is an entire ecosystem of production for both audio and video content from conception to completion. Folawiyo remarked that Ogidi Studios was the culmination of a long-standing vision. “The truth is there are many visions that don’t get realized,” he said. “A combination of vision, tenacity and funding is what brought us here. Temple is a 5-year old child that has the impact of a 20-year old child.” Idris Olorunnimbe, the company’s group chief executive, added that African talent could now utilise a domestic studio andrealize the same outcomes of famed Hollywood studios.

Spotify’s African Heat campaign celebrates African dance music culture …Features Focalistic, Fuse ODG, Olamide, other African stars

“It has always hurt me when our exceptional talents have to hop on a plane as the only recourse to match their imagination with execution. Ogidi brings an end to that. Anything you can dream can be achieved right here,” he explained. He further said: “Ogidi Studios is an idea that was long overdue. We are excited to contribute our quota to help bring Nigeria to the table to flex muscles and compete favourably with global players such as celebrated international musicians, producers and creatives who have left a mark.” Ogidi Studio comprises dedicated audio and video production studios which can both accommodate multiple projects simultaneously without interference. Its audio section includes both rehearsal and recording studios with both analogue and digital facilities sound-proofed with the latest acoustics technology. The Lagos-based studio

becomes the first studio in Sub-Saharan Africa and among the few in the world to take possession of what some call the Rolls Royce of sound recording. It houses the AMS Genesys Black console, which is complemented with Augspurger speakers using analogue technology integrated into the studio environment and the digital audio workstations. Ogidi’s video production facility includes a 17 by 11-foot green screen with adjunct tastefully furnished spaces such as dressing, beauty, make-up and waiting rooms. To complete the facilities are three-bedroom lodging apartments with exquisite interiors and finishing suitable for cast and crew which also double up as locations. Electronic Engineer and home automation expert, Ron Jones, founder, Infinite Technology Global, who executed the project for Temple Company, noted that with Ogidi Stu-

dios, Nigeria now operates on the same level of sound and video technology with global players. He was supported by Jason Cropper of Vintage Kings Pro Audio Upfitter, an audio specialist and founding member of Grammy award-winning Rock Band, Weezer. “We are playing in a global market and people are looking for a certain standard in recording,” Jones said. “Some of the international artists that are brought here from abroad are used to a certain level of equipment. With Ogidi Studio, we are not just building for Nigerian music for Nigeria but Nigerian music for the world. We are now operating at the same level using the same technology that is used through-out the world.” Ogidi Studios will host a media day on Wednesday March 17, 2021, which will be followed by a grand opening on Saturday March 20, 2021.

s a way of celebrating the power of African voices across the continent and beyond, Spotify is shining a spotlight on African Heat; one of its flagships, curated playlists, through an interactive campaign that brings the spirit of Africa alive around the world. The campaign journeys through a series of partnerships, activations, a dance challenge video (#africanheatchallenge), and more creative content opportunities that will play out through onand-off-platform initiatives on local, regional, and international levels. Highlighting the diversity of African talent, the playlist is an explosion of Afro-centric sounds, carving out a space for African creators to showcase their music to a global audience. Centred on the key role that the Afro-dance community has played in spreading African pop music across the globe, the campaign includes the likes of Focalistic, Fuse ODG, Olamide, as well as, some of the leading female faces of dance music in Africa - Moonchild Sanelly,

ShoMadjozi, Niniola, and Amapiano’sLady Du. “Dance culture has helped my music spread outside of the continent. Music and dance go hand in hand,” said Olamide. By including emerging and established artistes alongside one another - Amapiano’s newer artistes Focalistic and Lady Du together with Azontodance genre pioneer Fuse ODG and Shaku Shakustreet dance driver, Olamide - Spotify is showcasing its dedication to and investment in all artistes. Spotify also took the African Heat to the streets with the #africanheatchallenge. The beautifully shot clip was directed by the talented, award-winning, Johannesburg-based Zandi Tisani, who uses her experience to draw attention to her work in edgy and bold ways. Set to Focalistic’shit “Ke Star,” the clip encourages fans to immerse themselves in the sounds of the playlist, delving into the language of dance to express the connection between African communities worldwide that share a love of dance music. The video features dancers from major cities in Africa and across the globe, including local sensation KamoMpela, Nigeria’s Boluwatife, Ghana’s DWP Academy and more as they move through the streets of their cities doing the #africanheatchallenge. This is not the first collaboration between Spotify and Focalistic who, as one of Spotify’s Radar Africa artistes, has already benefited from the support that the program promises to artists across all stages of their career development.

EbonyLife Place partners Lagos State to host Flavours Of Lagos

bonyLife Place and the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, have joined forces to bring food lovers a unique display of local food at Flavours of Lagos, the first of 12 specially curated monthly events. The event, which was held recently at EbonyLife Place, Victoria Island, Lagos, showcased the best of Lagos’ culinary skills and mixology. Participating chefs and mixologists used locally sourced ingredients to create new, deeply flavored and aromatic recipes. From soups to spicy sauces, ofada to ogogoro, jollof rice to efo riro, visitors experienced the true taste of Lagos. Commenting on the purpose of the event, Uzamat

Akinbile-Yusuf, commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Lagos State, noted that, “The government’s vision is to make Lagos the preferred destination for tourism and leisure in Africa. The exposure of these exciting culinary creations and indigenous foods is aimed at pinning Lagos on the culinary map, and is part of a broader strategy to use the arts, entertainment, cuisine and culture to build our tourism economy.” On the day of the event, which was free to the public, the doors were opened between 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m at Ebonylife Place, the venue, as residents and visitors to Lagos stopped by to experience cooking demonstrations, food tastings, and a diverse culinary

L-R: Solomon Bonu, special adviser to the governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture; Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture; Mo Abudu, CEO, EbonyLife Media, at Flavours of Lagos, recently.

community - from top chefs to creative foodies, all in one space. The great lineup at Flavours of Lagos included chefs, restaurateurs, mixologists, food manufacturers and distributors, critics, bloggers. Mo Abudu, CEO, EbonyLife Place, was excited at hosting the event in her outfit. “We are excited to be partnering with Lagos State with these wide-ranging series of events. Over the next few months, we will be exploring film, fashion, music, social media, health, beauty, traditional cultures and hospitality, in an attempt to reveal what makes Lagos such a compelling destination.” Despite being a free entry event, social distancing was strictly observed throughout the venue.

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Profitable vegetable farming in Nigeria Food & Beverages With Ayo Oyoze Baje

ccording to Encyclopaedia Britannica “vegetable, in the broadest senseis any kind of plant life or plant product, namely ‘vegetable matter’[. It goes further to state that “the term vegetable usually refers to the fresh edible portions of certain herbaceous plants—roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit, or seeds. These plant parts are either eaten fresh or prepared in a number of ways, usually as a savory, rather than sweet, dish”. Over the centuries, almost all of the more important vegetables were cultivated among the ancient civilizations.From then till the 21st Century vegetables have long been noted for their nutritional importance. Most fresh vegetables are quite low in calories. They have water content in

excess of 70 percent, with only about 3.5 percent protein and less than 1 percent fat. Vegetables are good sources of minerals, especially calcium and iron, and vitamins, principally A and C. Nearly all vegetables are rich in dietary fibre and antioxidants. Some of the common vegetables farmed in Nigeria include bitter leaf, ewedu, water leaf, onions, shoko and ugwu. Many of these vegetables share similar farming practices and it iscommon to see several of these vegetables planted on the same farm land. In the paper titled: ‘’Vegetable Farming in Nigeria; What You Should Know’ by Eno Johnson highlighted the fact that vegetable farming in Nigeria has become a serious business because of the money it is minting to vegetable farmers. All over the world, vegetables are always on high demands. This is because of the economic and nutritional benefits they provide to human body. Also, vegetable farmingis attractive because of the returns it brings within a short time. For instance, one can plant and harvest pumpkin leaf, water leaf and green leaf within two weeks! In addition, the capital needed to start vegetable farming is little compared to other crops. Besides small spaces can be utilised for maximum result, even right from the comfort of one one’s house, particularly using hydroponics. Hydroponics is a type of horticulture and a subset of hydroculture, which is a method of growing plants, usually crops, without soil, by using mineral nutrient solutions in an aqueous solvent. Hydroponics offers many advantages, one of them being a

decrease in water usage for agriculture. As for profits in vegetable farming one can buy seeds of N5,000, plant them in a plot of land and spend about N10,000 in farm management. In a few weeks you will be making N5,000 every 2 days! That is why vegetable farming is very lucrative. The turnover starts rolling in within few weeks of planting. The profit margin is so attractive that there is a promotion on Nairaland stating that one could make 200,000 Naira or more monthly growing indigenous vegetables this dry season. But it is easier said than done. The truth however, is that there are challenges to overcome. One of such is preservation because vegetables are perishable. They have short shelf life. The longest period one can preserve them is one week. But to stay long you have to pasteurize then freeze them in refrigerator. Consumers prefer vegetables that are fresh. It is either that you harvest and carry them directly to your point of sale, or you inform the potential buyers so that when the veggies have matured you can harvest and sell directly to them. The other challenge is glut to commercial vegetable farmers during the rainy season. The farmer has to use his discretion to know what to plant at different times of the year.On a general note, organic vegetable farming still remains an untapped area. Health benefits of home gardening From the experience of Baef Epperson, a notable environmentalist and farmer, amongst the five benefits of home gardening are exposure to vitamin D; to increase one’s calcium level for strong bones and boost immunity against diseases. Besides, a 2006 study revealed that gardening

Music entrepreneur commends exploits of Diaspora Nigerians

Nigerian citizen resident in America, Jesse Adesotu Woghiren has commended the ‘I-can-do-spirit’ in Nigerians, particularly those in the Diaspora, noting that they have proven to excel in various endeavours and have been a shining light to others. These have mostly been the testimonies of Nigerians in the US, UK and other nations and this seems to be a contradiction with the myriad of challenges facing Nigeria in insecurity, violence, economic uncertainty and high unemployment rate. Many have observed that if the Nigerian government provides good governance and creates an enabling environment for Nigerians in the Diaspora to invest in and contribute to the economy, the nation will fare better. The American-Nigerian record label owner, Woghiren, CEO/president Bigmanity Music, extolled the virtues of those abroad that have done excellently in all fields of endeavour to provide a good image and show the greatness of its people, urging the government to do better in solving the problems bedevelling the country. “We (Nigerians in the diaspora) are the ones pumping in the real money (capital) into the country for fueling and gaining more substantial value to our per capita. Can you imagine life without our family members’ financial supports from around the world? “Furthermore, we gain undeniable and proven viable recognition

and momentum to our motherland through sports, even the YouTube power play in the equation that’s so consequential in this new century new economic structure. “The Nigerian community has far extended beyond her borders which is why I laugh at ignorant government representatives who think they can act anyhow and get away with it in this day and age. They had better changed that myopic thinking and ways of life before they find themselves in a shameful retrogressive situation that they will only have themselves to blame,” he said. Speaking further on the exploits of Nigerians abroad, Jesse, otherwise known as THE BB02 (TheMan 02), said: “We cannot be ruled out in the comity of nations, as our huge population ought to be a plus not a minus. The emergence of Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala as World Trade Organisation

Jesse Adesotu Woghiren

(WTO) director-general is a great example. “Truly, from the streets level to the top of the ladder in the corporate world, Nigerians in the diaspora rule as our presence cannot be undermined, tamed marginalised or swept under the carpet. “Even currently from the Big Brother Canada to the White House in the United States. Recently, I got a frantic call at home in the U.S from a couple of my Nigerian OAPs, whom I don’t want to necessarily mention their names right now, and calling to say that, they noticed one of the contestants of the BB Canada goes with my last name and I laughed- another story for another day. “We don’t need to talk of the top appointment of Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala as WTO director. The Nigerian presence around the global community is massive. It is said that for every 5 or 6 black people you meet, one of them is a Nigerian. And in the U.S, the young generation of creatives introduced our diverse food, culture, fashion senses and especially the Nigerian brand of music into the subconscious minds of the Americans; young and old.” He also explained that, “Our huge population is a force to reckon with, as you already may know; no other class of people can compete with us, but we just need to unite more and more and quash all the tribal differences and celebrate each other as none is greater than the other.”

could reduce the risk of dementia by 36 per cent. It also enhances one’s mood, act as physical exercise and combats loneliness. How to Start Vegetable Farming in Nigeria One can even start with half plot of land. You can do this at your backyard or spaces around.If you are contemplating commercial vegetable farming then you need to write a vegetable business plan to capture all that is expected to make the business succeed. Commercial vegetable farming is done on a large scale. You have to employ workers on your farm because vegetable needs tending as any mismanagement can result in losses. Before going commercial, find out first which vegetable is consumed most in your location. Consider also those vegetables that have few farmers. For instance, while in the South West Nigeria bitter leaf, efo, ewedu and red pepper are common to prepare the local delicaies, inAkwaIbom majority of the vegetable farmers concentrate mainly on ugu and water leaf used in the preparation of many soups such asafang soup, Atama soap, editan and edikangekon soup. Dry Season Vegetable Farming Dry Season vegetable farming is the best. At this time market traders will be the ones looking for the vegetables to buy. This is unlike during raining season because of glut. You can make profit times three during the dry season than what you make in raining season. It is only few farmers that take advantage of the opportunity dry season presents to vegetable farmers. In fact, there are some agricentrepreneurs who only cultivate vegetables during

dry season. To start dry season farming one has to plan for it. Provide irrigation materials either borehole or well and use good seeds. Especially hybrid seeds because they can grow under any condition and are disease-resistant. Modern vegetable farming To gain maximum benefits on the scale of sale one should consider modern vegetable farming with application of hi-tech technology. This ranges from small-scale production for local sale to vast commercial operations utilizing the latest advances in automation and technology. In addition, vegetables can be grown conventionally or using organic farming methods. Most vegetables are planted by seeding in the fields where they are to be grown, but occasionally they are germinated in a nursery or greenhouse and transplanted as seedlings to the field. During the growing season synthetic or organic herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides are commonly used to inhibit damage by weeds, insects, and diseases, respectively. Depending on the crop, harvesting operations are usually mechanised in well-developed countries, but the practice of harvesting by hand is still employed, especially in conjunction with machine operations. Another concern of the vegetable farmer is postharvest storage, which may require refrigerated facilities.

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media ayobaje@yahoo.co.uk; 07068638066

Chivita 100% emerges fruit juice brand of the decade at West Africa Brands Excellence Awards

eading premium fruit juice brand, Chivita 100%, has emerged the Best Premium Quality Natural Fruit Juice Brand of the Decade at the recently held West Africa Brands Excellence Awards in Lagos to mark its 10th anniversary of recognising excellence and to celebrate the 2021 winners. The West Africa Brands Excellence Awards is awarded annually to companies, agencies and brands that have been consistent in delivering impressive results within the 12 months of review, as well as to individuals who have shown true achievements in their respective sectors. The award is a recognition of Chivita 100%’s market leadership in the fruit juice category as it continues to be at the forefront of enlightening and promoting 100percent fruit juice consumption for everyday wellness. Chivita 100% is a Proudly Nigerian premium fruit juice produced from best quality real natural fruits with no added sugar, no artificial colours, and no preservatives. It is perfect as a daily source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which provide nourishment for health-conscious consumers. According to the Institute of Brand Management of Nigeria, the organisers of the 10th West Africa Brands Excellence Awards, “Chivita 100% has been recognised as the fruit juice brand of the decade because of its immense contributions to the growth, development, continuous innovation, and market leadership

in the fruit juice category of the Nigerian Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry.” Speaking on the award, Managing Director of CHI Limited, Deepanjan Roy, thanked its organisers for recognising Chivita 100%’s strides for innovative excellence in the last decade. “The fruit juice brand of the decade award for Chivita 100% is a positive scorecard of our efforts to maintain dominance in the fruit juice category through innovation, consumer satisfaction and driving the 100percent fruit juice consumption narrative in Nigeria through advocacy and engagements,” he added. Chivita 100% offers consumers a range of nourishing 100% fruit juice choices. It is available in 1Litre pack size in five variants – Orange, Apple, Pineapple, Red Grape, and Real Lychee.

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SundayBusiness Despite challenges in Nigeria’s financial inclusion drive, we have achieved some milestones – Danbatta …As 5th Bullion lecture holds Seyi John Salau

mar Garba Danbatta, a professor, and executive vice-chairman, Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), has said that digital financial inclusion can help governments ensure that social security payments reach their intended recipients and help merchants accepting digital payments gain new business intelligence and access lines of credit. To achieving the above, Danbata disclosed that the NCC was committed “to the promotion of widespread digital infrastructure that will spur our digital ecosystem in terms of availability, accessibility and affordability of telecoms services.” The executive vice-chairman, Nigeria Communication Commission, who spoke virtually, as the guest lecturer fifth edition of The Bullion Lecture held in Lagos, organised by Centre for Financial Journalism, with the theme, ‘Driving Pervasive Broadband Penetration to Deepen Digital Financial Inclusion for Nigeria’s Social and Economic Transformation,’ noted that despite some challenges in the Nigeria’s financial inclusion drive, some milestones have also been achieved. Describing financial inclusion as the sustainable provision of affordable financial service that brings the poor into the formal economy, which means that being able to have access to a transac-

Garba

tion account allows people to store money and send and receive payments, Danbatta, noted that “Great strides have been made toward financial inclusion and 1.2 billion adults worldwide have gotten access to an account since 2011. Today, 69 percent of adults have an account, according to a World Bank report.” On digital financial inclusion, he said: “With a population of over 190 million people, research shows that 73.2 million adults, representing 41.6percent of the adult population in Nigeria are financially excluded. “However, Nigeria remains one of the countries identified by the ITU to have developed policy directions towards deepening financial inclusion in order to address the challenges of access to formal fi-

Ray Echebiri

nancial services.” He pointed out that there was the need to enhance Nigeria’s digital financial inclusion as it is an enabler for about seven out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of 2030. This, he noted, was on the premise that financial inclusion is considered a key enabler to reducing extreme poverty, and boost shared prosperity, and countries with high mobile money account ownership have less gender inequality. According to Danbatta, “Being able to have access to transaction accounts becomes the first step towards broader financial inclusion since a financial account allows people to store money, send and receive payments. “A transaction account serves as a gateway to other fi-

nancial services such as credit and insurance, start and expand a business, invest in education, health, manage risk, and improve the overall quality of lives.” According to him, “Until recently, policy efforts to develop financial services have focused on the formal banking sector and its intermediating function in converting savings into investment. “This meant that the urban population enjoyed access to financial services while financial institutions neglected the low-income population and rural area users.” He noted that “1.2 billion adults have gotten access to an account since 2011. Today, 96 percent of adults have an account. 1.7 billion adults are still unbanked globally. Half of the unbanked people include women, poor households in

rural areas, or out of the workforce. “This, thus, hinders women from being able to effectively control their financial lives”. Advancing some of the reasons people are still unbanked, the NCC executive vice chairman said that the high-interest rates on loans, high premiums on insurance products, and minimum balance on accounts make it unaffordable to low-income earners; that the lack of awareness as to the availability of products and how they are structured, priced, and used also serve as another barrier. He further said that financial products are typically offered in urban areas and near high-income earners, and subject to heavy bureaucratic process makes it un-accessible to low-income earners. It was his belief that “This lack of adequate access to formal financial services is the reason why most people in all regions, with exception of high-income earners, borrow from families and friends.” In her response to Danbatta’s presentation, Chizor Malize, managing director/chief executive officer, Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), commended the level of digital financial inclusion in the country, saying that the drive by relevant institutions is already paying off. Malize also noted that more players are entering the sector, expressing optimism that soonest with provision of needed infrastructure, a lot more people would join the number already being captured. Another panelist, ‘DeRemi

Atanda, executive director, SystemSpecs, commended the two regulators in this space- the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the NCC- urging them to do more. He however said: “If we have set a target to take our broadband penetration to a certain level, where are we now? What do we need to do more to achieve the target?” Atanda, who noted that too many targets had been set in Nigeria without having them met, wondered why there have not been punishment for those who failed the country in this regard. It was also his belief that those who have delivered on their national assignments should be rewarded also. In his remarks, Akpan Hogan Ekpo, a professor and one of the directors of Centre for Financial Journalism, said: “We shouldn’t be too excited that we are out of recession, but must continue to do what we are doing to achieve economic development, not economic growth. If we are celebrating that we out of recession and unemployment rate is so high; food inflation is so high, how then do we move these poor masses in the unemployment circle out of poverty? If you do not have a job, how do you become digitally financially included? So, this is what the CBN and NCC should be thinking about.” Among those at the event were Ray Echebiri, the convener and CEO of Centre for Financial Journalism; Uju Ogubunka, Bukola Onifade and Oldimeji Israel Alo, all directors of the Centre.

Coca-Cola’s 5by20 initiative enables economic empowerment of 2m women entrepreneurs in Africa

he 5by20® initiative enabled the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs across Africa by providing access to business skills, financial services, and support networks. This International Women’s Month, The Coca-Cola Company and its partners are proud to celebrate exceeding our 5by20 goal by enabling the economic empowerment of more than 6 million women around the world. 34% (just over 2 million) of those women enabled by the 5by20 program live and do business in Africa. 5by20 aimed to assist women entrepreneurs across the Coca-Cola value chain – agricultural producers, suppliers, distributors, retailers, recyclers, and artisans – overcome

challenges when establishing and growing their business. By providing access to business skills, financial services, assets and support networks of peers and mentors, women entrepreneurs are enabled to overcome social and economic barriers and succeed as entrepreneurs, while also helping create sus-

tainable communities. The Coca-Cola Company executed 5by20, a global initiative implemented across 33 countries in Africa, where we rolled out locally relevant initiatives. The 5by20 goal was ambitious, and we knew that we could not achieve it alone. Over the last 10 years, we have

worked with countless partners including our bottling partners, civil society organizations, government stakeholders, other private sector actors, and generous financial grants from The Coca-Cola Foundation to recipients within its Women’s Entrepreneur Empowerment priority giving tier. The Coca-Cola Foundation has funded some of our 5by20 initiatives, and the Coca-Cola system has worked with several partners to implement over 300 programs in 100 countries to provide women entrepreneurs with business skills training, mentoring networks, financial services and other assets to help enhance their businesses and lives as well as provide more for their families. Women empowerment and progress against all the Sustainable Development Goals

requires the collective effort of governments, civil society, NGOs, and private sector organizations. Over the last 10 years, we have worked with countless partners who helped us bring our aspiration to life. Partnerships with organizations such as UN Women, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Women Enterprise Fund (WEF), Department for International Development (DFID), USAID, International Finance Corporation (IFC) MercyCorps, TechnoServe, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Hand in Hand Southern Africa, and several other regional and local partners were critical to the success of the 5by20 program. These partnerships are a demonstration that through collective action we achieve more together than we can on

our own. In 2012, The Coca-Cola Company signed a global agreement with UN Women to enable the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs in three pilot countries, which included South Africa. At the end of the four-year partnership in South Africa in December 2016, over 25,000 women micro-entrepreneurs had received business skills, leadership training, mentoring and peer networking skills, and access to finance. According to a report by Harvard Kennedy School Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative, through this program the entrepreneurs increased their revenues by 40% on average and increased their confidence and leadership abilities within their communities.

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Ebele said she came back to Lagos from her trip to meet her husband still weak. “I wondered what kind of weakness that was. Then he didn’t want food. Appetite was gone! Strange! I’ve been married to this man for 13 years, and he is hardly ever ill. He’d always boast that his AS genotype was offering him protection against malaria. True! Even when ill, his stomach was always open for business. So what I was witnessing was new to me.” The eventually went for COVID test and their worst fear was relayed to them.

“My husband tested positive! I burst into songs of praise and worship! I don’t know how that happened. I simply couldn’t understand my reaction. I kept walking the length and breadth of our bedroom, singing. Just singing! My husband was silent all through. Then the singing ceased. I turned to hubby and asked to see the result. “Sugar, relax!” I said. He was relaxed even while he broke the news. Then my brain which seemed to have frozen with the news jolted back to life and “survival mode” kicked in! That was the mode that saw us

through the most difficult 2 weeks of our lives.” Explaining how they battled the scourge, Ebele said, “I developed a strict survival schedule/routine of medical and non-pharmaceutical treatment including 1,000 IU of Vitamins C & D3, Zinc 50mg, meals (his appetite started picking up fast), fruits (he was tolerating oranges the most), salads, lots of water, oxygen level check thrice daily, steam inhalation morning (ginger, lemon, garlic, lemon, turmeric), steam inhalation evening (eucalyptus oil), Morning hot tea (a certain ‘wonder’ detox tea made by Prof. Maurice Iwu and which I got from his IHP store in Enugu), afternoon hot tea (blended ginger, garlic, lemon, lime, honey, turmeric), evening hot tea (that ‘wonder’ detox tea), sunlight, lots of prayers.” Eventually, she said her husband started getting better. “His appetite fully came back, energy level returning, oxygen level impressive, then his worry for me set it in. Once or twice, I got weak, I had headaches (many I didn’t admit, believing it was simply mental and physical exhaustion). We kept praying, observing and assuring everyone that all was well. “After the miracle of help from our God, we were able to get through this difficult period through the support and prayers from family and friends. For the love from family, one can almost take that for granted. That’s why we are family.”

Reminisce launches football show

apper and entertainer, Reminisce has unvei le d a ne w football show, ‘The Agenda with Reminisce’ stating that the show would air on Brila FM and on YouTube. According to him ‘The Agenda with Reminisce’ is an opportunity for fans to bring every conversation around football alive. He said, “I want to hear the views of fans from across the globe and give them an opportunity to add their voice to trending football conversations.” Reminisce is an awardwinning music artiste who is most known from songs like “Ogaranya” “Local Rappers”

Sunday 14 March 2021

Nonye Ben-Nwankwo

My battle with COVID-19 – Ebele, beauty queen

ormer Mrs Tourism United Nations, Ebele Enemchukwu cannot forget in a hurry, how her family battled the dreaded pandemic, COVID 19. In a recent chat with Bliss, Ebele, who is also the CEO of WABIO, said the experience was horrific as the scourged entered her home earlier this year. “What a rude disruption to a good start to 2021! Those were my thoughts when my husband’s test result came in positive at about 10pm on Monday, January 18, 2021. The year had started well. I left Lagos for Enugu/Owerri on an important assignment immediately after the New Year. When I get so busy, I almost always forget to eat. So I make sure I take 1,000mg of Vitamin C daily to keep my immunity up and keep me from breaking down. I was about to ‘reap the benefits’ of this old habit in only days.” “When I spoke to hubby who was at home (our children were with their grandparents), he mentioned not feeling too well, but that he’d be at the hospital the next day. With that, I went back to work. By the time I celled the next day, he was on his way to the hospital as agreed. Later that evening when we spoke before I went to sleep, test results had revealed malaria parasites and he was on medication. I still didn’t like how he sounded. He said “I’m just tired, but I’ll be okay.” He wished me luck with the rest of my assignment.”

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and “Ponmile” among other hits. He is also famous for his acting skills, having featured in the Kemi Adetiba’s popular movie, “King of Boys”. Speaking on his foray

into sports, Reminisce said, “I have always been passionate about sports, especially football. Few people know this, but I once owned a football academy where we

developed some exciting football talent.” On his new show, the entertainer said it is a very important project for him. “I am very keen to share my platform with football fans from all walks of life.” While welcoming Reminisce onboard Brila Media, the company’s Group Operations Coordinator, Debbie Larry-Izamoje reiterated that the brand’s essence is all about empowering Africa in the world of sports. Sh said, “The team and I have deep respect and admiration for Reminisce. His bubbly personality, sports knowledge, and dedication to his craft is such a great representation of some of our core values.”

IWD: Coca-Cola recognises women empowerment with 5by20

ith the global awareness on women economic rights, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited recognises the potential in women to make significant contributions to the economy. This conviction led to the birth of the “5by20” initiative, a Coca-Cola program designed to help uplift and empower five million female entrepreneurs. While reflecting on these initiatives, the Managing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Alfred Olajide, reaffirms the importance of creating an economic model that empowers women and hinges on sustainability. “Women constitute a significant part of the world’s shared success because we recognise their roles not just as homemakers and influencers but as drivers of economic growth

the 5by20 initiative to better fit local needs. These include the IDP Women Value Chain Integration Programme scheme for over 50 internally displaced women.Educating Nigerian Girls in Nigeria Enterprise (ENGINE) value program, launched in partnership with the United Kingdom Department for International Development of Girls Education, which saw the improvement in the economic status of over 21,000 marginalised adolescent girls in Kano, Kaduna, Abuja and Lagos. Another initiative include, The Lady Mechanic initiative which empowered about 100 girls in Benin with auto-mechanic skills; the SHAPE 2020 programme implemented by Whitefield Foundation, sponsored by The Coca-Cola Foundation and endorsed by Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation which trained

and pillars of their communities and business systems. At Coca-Cola, we have initiated these numerous projects through partnerships with non-governmental organisations, women leaders and the government to improve the lives of women who participate in the 5by20 projects. The entrepreneurial spirit of these women has made a positive impact on the larger economy through our value chain whether as retailers, suppliers, producers, artisans and mentors”. The initiative, which began in 2010 and ended in 2020, saw numerous projects funded by CocaCola Nigeria Limited along with its bottling partner, Nigerian Bottling Company for the economic inclusion of over 450,000 women across the country. According to Olajide, the 5by20 initiative targeted women in six segments of Coca Cola’s value chain: producers, suppliers, distributors, retailers, recyclers and artisans. Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and its bottling partner, Nigerian Bottling Company has leveraged diverse platforms to implement

and equipped “at-risk” and “underserved” women in local communities with transferable skills such as catering, cosmetics, fashion amongst others. Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited also launched a Safe Birth Initiative in partnership with Medshare International, the Federal Government through the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, and the Federal Ministry of Health to reduce the high maternal and neonatal mortality ratio in Nigeria. The Coca-Cola Foundation, through the New World Program (NWP), has also awarded a grant worth $100,000 to the Mental and Environmental Development Initiative for Children (MEDIC) towards implementing a Recycling Scheme for Women and Youth Empowerment (RESWAYE). In the same vein, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and its bottling partner, the Nigerian Bottling Company, have announced a collaboration aimed at empowering 1,000 women in Lagos State.

Nigerian Idol Season 6 premieres

inally, it is here! The long awaited sixth season of the popular talent hunt show, Nigerian Idol, hits the screens today. The much anticipated show will open with a special airing of the most entertaining moments from the auditions which took place late last year. The Nigerian Idol platform provides a launch pad for young, talented Nigerians to achieve their dreams in music on the local and global stage. According to Africa Magic’s Channel Director, Wangi Mba-

Uzoukwu, over 3,600 young Nigerians auditioned to be on the show this season. Nigerian Idol season 6 will be hosted by the much-loved media personality, IK Osakioduwa, with superstar singer Seyi Shay, creative entrepreneur, Obi Asika and celebrity DJ, Sose as the Judges. The eventual winner of this season’s show will walk away with a recording contract with a leading record label and 50 million Naira worth of prizes. Nigerian Idol season 6 is sponsored by Bigi Drinks and Tecno, and will air on DStv channel 198 &GOtv channel 29 starting March 14.

Sunday14 March 2021

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Zidane speaks on Ronaldo return to Real Madrid Stories by ANTHONY NLEBEM

eal Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has spoken of a potential return to the club for its former star player Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese superstar joined Juventus from Los Blancos back in 2018 and he has continued his prolific goalscoring form at the Italian giants – netting 92 goals in 121 outings for the Bianconeri. Ronaldo, aged 36, is the all-time leading goalscorer in Madrid’s history with a remarkable 450 goals in just 438 appearances for the club. Ronaldo has enjoyed domestic success with the Old Lady and added two Serie A titles and two Italian Super Cups to his ever-expanding trophy cabinet.

However, Ronaldo is out of contract next summer and his future at Juventus remains uncertain after the defending Italian champions’ Champions League exit. The Juventus forward was slammed by both Fabio Capello and Alessandro Del Piero over his performance in his side’s 3-2 win over Porto on Tuesday. Former Juventus chairman Giovanni Gigli has been critical of Ronaldo as well after he branded the Portugal captain an ‘expensive mistake’ for the Italian side. Zidane’s first stint as Madrid boss was fruitful with Ronaldo’s influence as the pair lifted the La Liga trophy, a Spanish Super Cup and three consecutive Champions League titles. However, his age combined with him being the highest earner at Juvebtus may mean that the Italian

champions decide to move him on this summer to free up space on their wage bill. Zidane told reporters, in quotes carried by El Mundo Deportivo: “You know who Cristiano is, what he has done for this club and how much love we have for him. “Here he made history, he is magnificent. Now he is a Juve player and I cannot tell you anything about what they are saying. He is a Juventus player and I have to respect these things.” Ronaldo and Zidane won three Champions League titles together in their twoand-a-half seasons together in the Spanish capital, while they also won the 2017 La Liga title together. Also, Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has reportedly spoken to Madrid about a sensational return for their club legend. The five-time Ballon

d’Or winner left Manchester United in 2009 to complete a then-world-record move of £80m to Madrid. Ronaldo’s nine-year stay

FIFA Council Seat: Ogba congratulates Amaju Pinnick

he former Delta State Commissioner for Sports, Solomon Ogba has sent out a congratulatory message to the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who on Friday was elected into the FIFA Council – the highest decision-making organ in world football. Ogba described Pinnick’s victory as a very special one for all Nigerians; especially Deltans who have watched the meteoric rise of the astute sports administrator over the years. The former President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria said he is confident Pinnick will perform creditably well in his new office having done so in the past years in similar capacities. “This is indeed a great day for Nigerian sports and I am very happy to see our countr y being projected in shining light in world football circles,”

Ogba said on Friday, following the conclusion of the 43rd Ordinary Gen-

eral Assembly in Rabat, Morocco. “I cong ratu l ate my

brother, Pinnick and everyone that supported this great course,” he added Pinnick is only the third Nigerian to serve in world football’s highest decisionmaking body, after the late Etubom Oyo Orok Oyo and Dr Amos Adamu. The former Delta State Sports Commission boss attained the exalted seat spectacularly after defeating his only rival, incumbent Walter Nyamilandu of Malawi by 43 votes to 8 at Friday’s Congress in Morocco’s administrative capital. Four of Pinnick’s five rivals, Lamin Kaba Bajo (The Gambia), Wallace Karia (Tanzania), Nick Mwendwa (Kenya) and Andrew Kamanga (Zambia) all pulled out before the voting commenced and opted to back the Nigerian. Aside from his election into the FIFA council, Pinnick was also returned as CAF’s Fifth Vice President on Friday in Morocco.

at the Santiago Bernabeu saw him add 15 trophies to his illustrious playing career, including two La Liga titles and four Champions

Leagues. The former Madrid and United star also became Los Blancos’ all-time scorer before he left for Juventus.

Man United in talks with Bailly over new contract

le Gunnar Solskjaer c o n f i r m e d Ma n chester United have opened discussions with Eric Bailly about a new contract. Bailly, 26, joined United from Villarreal for £30million in 2016 but only made his 100th appearance for the club in Thursday night’s Europa League draw with AC Milan. The centre-back is approaching the last 15 months of his contract and Bailly has failed to break the 20-game barrier in the last three seasons. He has only appeared 15 times for United this term and has failed to oust Victor Lindelof as Harry Maguire’s main partner. Fellow centre halves Phil Jones has not played for United in almost 14 months, Marcos Rojo was finally sold in the winter transfer window and Axel Tuanzebe is behind Bailly in the central defensive pecking order. United are in the market for a new centre half but want to retain the brittle Bailly. “Yeah, we have started talking to Eric and Eric’s representatives,” Solskjaer said. “Eric is keeping fitter for longer and you can see his performances as well. I have

been very happy with him. “His playing style has made him lose too many games [through injury] because 100 games, that’s not enough for the period that he has been here. He is getting more and more robust. He is

one we are talking to.” Another player out of contract next year but unlikely to receive new terms is Jesse Lingard, who is thriving on loan at West Ham United. Lingard, 28, has scored four goals in six games for The Hammers since his January transfer but will be ineligible to play against his parent club at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.

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Sunday 14 March 2021

Lesson from the 2021 World Book Day - With Air Force School children

he passion for sustainable human capital development eventually pays off for individuals, communities and countries at large. But to succeed at it, the talents of the pupils/ students who are the beneficiaries have to be identified early enough, right from the foundation level at the primary school stage. Honing their talents and providing them with the enabling environment to excel is an imperative. This of course, is buoyed by stable infrastructure, well-equipped libraries and laboratories. And more so, a crop of highly dedicated and well informed teachers, acting as catalysts for impacting all-round knowledge. That is one that goes far beyond the ambits of the school curriculum. The truth however, as reflected in my motivational book, ‘How to be a Successful Student’ is that sound, solid and impactful education delivery is an all-encompassing feature that involves the inputs of parents, teachers, school administrators, the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and of course, the government in place. Interestingly, such pragmatic partnership and collaborative efforts were made practical during the recent celebration of the 2021 World Book Day organized by the Executive members of PEN International, Nigeria Chapter, ably led by the internationally –recognized, award-winning poet, Mr. Folu Agoi (president). To make the desired impact it was held in partnership with the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the Air Force Primary School 2 at Ikeja, Lagos, with resourceful public affairs analyst, Richard Inumah as its capable chairman. But there was more to the eye-opening event as it unfolded. For instance, right there at the Air Force primary school 2, NatnudO Foods ably represented the private sector, with free offering of mouth-watering delicacies. As for the media, both MiTV and UNILAG FM had their correspondents on ground for the effective coverage of the momentous event. And the government’s presence was made profound by the presence of Squadron Leader Seweje, the Air Force Base Education officer (BEO) of the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base.

“Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.” -Leo Buscaglia

Also there with them were three panelists to do justice to the topic: “Are writers agents of change?” They included Mr.Lekan Sote, respected public affairs analyst and renowned columnist with the Punch newspapers; Mr. Ayo Oyoze Baje , media consultant and the president, Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria(GPAAN) as well as Dr. Raphael James, Director General, Centre for Research, Information and Media Development. There to coordinate the proceedings was the popular author, Taghata, a notable member of PEN International, Nigeria Chapter. But first, who is a writer? A writer is one who puts pen on paper, or with the dynamics of information technology, typesets on a computer to record life’s ever-changing events, his feelings, frustrations, his ideas, dreams and desires. These he shares with the readers in the form of poems, plays, short stories, novels or as text materials covering a wide spectrum of knowledge from the arts, through commerce to science subjects. According to Sote, who kicked off the rich and robust discourse, writers, with regards to the evolution of the Nigerian history have indeed proved to be agents of positive change. Apart from ‘Iwe Irohin’, as the first newspaper in Nigeria by Henry Townsend of the Church Missionary Society in 1859 other newspapers such as the ‘Daily Times’ in 1925, the ‘Lagos Daily News’ bought by Herbert Macaulay and John Akinlade Caulcrick in 1927 and the ‘West African Pilot’ which was launched in Nigeria by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (“Zik”) in 1937, were impactful in the fight for independence from British colonial rule. Similarly, the efforts of such publications, especially magazines such as ‘Newswatch’, ‘The News’ and ‘TELL’ were instrumental in the frontal battle against military dictatorship that eventually paved way for the return of demo-

cratic governance in 1999. On his part, Baje described writing as an art, deserving of full commitment, and writers as vessels in the hand of God to get vital messages to human beings. He quoted Toni Morrison who rightly noted that writers are witnesses to the events of history. And also Natalie Ginsburg who reiterated, that a writer is like a river reflecting what passes before him. He therefore, touched tellingly on his personal experience, particularly at Ochaja Secondary School (now in Kogi state) back in the ‘60s. He recalled how the well-stocked school library and the presence of highly dedicated missionary teachers assisted him greatly and influenced his passion for writing of poems, plays, novels and opinion essays. He started writing short stories in Form 3, even as a science student at the age of 15. That was back in 1968. He therefore, urged the pupils to cultivate the habit of jotting down their daily experiences and ideas in dairies, which would later inspire them to become accomplished writers. Incidentally, that was what ace broadcaster, Lydia Eke of UNIILAG FM told her daughter, Ebube Eke who now boasts of an interesting book titled ‘Queen of the Forest’ even while still in her teenage years. Baje recalled how thrilled he was when some few years back, one of his ardent admirers in the literary world called him to say that his poems as published weekly by the ‘Nigerian Herald’ from 1978 till 1985 formed part of his PHD thesis. That is the power of writing! Capping the discourse was Dr. James, whose profound experiences provide practical ample evidences that here in Nigeria writers are indeed agents of change. For instance, he has published over 20 of his 50 books, donated 41, 296 books as at February, 2021. Besides, he has won 181 awards, the latest being the Nobel Peace Prize award from India. But that is not all. Most exciting is the fact that two of his highly talented daughters are published authors. While the older of them, Oluebube Sharon James happens to be Africa’s youngest published author, doing so at the age of five years and a few months and second in the world, the younger one,

AYO OYOZE BAJE Baje is Nigerian first food technologist in the media and author of ‘Drumbeats of Democracy’

Ambassador Uloma Naomi James published her first book at the age of 11 years. A dancer, poet and model, the world has become her stage. With their presence, the pupils of Air Force Schools 1, 2 and 3 who had exhibited an excellent display through the rendition of poems, short stories and motivational thoughts are adequately inspired to aim for the skies. In the words of Henri Frederic Amiel: “Doing easily what others find difficult is talent; doing what is impossible with talent is genius.” It was instructive that Agoi acknowledged the act of productive synergy exhibited by the Directorate of education, Nigerian Air force with PEN International. He reaffirmed his dedication to the mass literacy initiative and drive in Nigeria and promised to continue to contribute his quota to nation building through its advocacy and support. In a similar vein, Mr. Oshiomhole emphasized on the impressiveness of reading culture and writers, whose actions through scripts writing could translate to positive or negative ideologies capable of defining any society. He, like the Head Teacher, Pastor J. D. Moses was full of gratitude to the guest panelists for their selfless services to the nation and being epitome of moral values and positive references to the future generation. So also, was Squadron Leader Seweje who noticed their visionary and passionate leadership geared towards arresting dwindling reading culture in our society. One is therefore, calling on other schools, ministries of education across the country and beyond to key into this template of catching the talents young and providing our children the enabling environment to excel. As Malcolm X rightly state: “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it, today”.

We applaud while governance keeps receding

IKEDDY ISIGUZO Isiguzo is a major commentator on minor issues

AILY applauses attend Nigerian life. If you are not celebrating, you are listed among those dedicated to seeing nothing good in the giant strides of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, the perfect example of the proxy Presidency. Are there reasons to celebrate when we are not even safe enough to mourn the dead? Anyone who claims he understands Nigeria is just stretching the joke. How would one celebrate what he does not know? In one week bandits take students, release or free them – words we must pay careful attention to for their evolving meanings – take new captives before we can properly welcome the freed ones. Conversation around kidnapping is welcome if it is about

students, and travellers on the country’s roads that seem ceded to criminals. Other demographics have to endure their plight. Nigerian existence has cracks along region, religion, and reasoning. We havenever thought alike but the gaps have widened in the instances we thought. We are more likely to act, then think later even when the consequences are before us. We must be the only country that commits resources to debates on whether bandits are criminals. Rather, we promote particular bandits beyond criminality. They have reasons to opt for such existence, public officials and individuals acting in specious capacities say. Should we not accommodate them or seek our existence elsewhere so that bandits can have a country where bandits are the poster boys of excellence? In the light of these, Fredrick Nwabufo’s piece on Nigerian media and media framing: Wakili a Fulani warlord but Igboho an activist? Draws stronger attention to an oft-ignored impunity in the media. Framing, profiling, salience, are contentious media issues. Many of us deploy them without knowing. There are also subtle versions of them that are etched on our minds. Fulani ceased to be a reference to a group long ago. The leaders of the group appeared to be unconcerned about the ills that others ringed around their people.

Fredrick in his masterful handing of the issues however picked a wrong comparison in Sunday Igboho while discussing the woes of Iskilu Wakili, an ailing, elderly man who his accusers say leads the attacks in some parts of the South West. I am stating so in relation to profiling, not necessarily who or what they both represent. There is a more discernible reason for Igboho fighting in South West forests. Nwabufo should have found a comparison with another fighter in another forest in his homestead. Wakili is a victim of lawlessness, the same lawlessness that produced Igboho. Where we mystify lawlessness with salience, it also falls into dangerous framing and profiling. Governments exist to maintain law and order. The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, Section 14 2 b of the 1999 Constitution states. Do we have governments who observe this provision except in breach? One of the glaring consequences of the disregard of lawful engagements with society is governments losing control to Igbohos. Those who dare drive the security narratives all over Nigeria. Profiling flies on the wings of ignorance. There is ignorance in the media even among the most educated of us. We spread the ignorance to the public with glee. Our focus

is detached from poor governance which sustains brigandage in its various nefarious forms. When the tall, lanky, bearded fellow, in flowing dress, entered the venue, everyone noticed. The previous line drips with framing, profiling, and the salience is obvious. It is not about fashion or the built of the fellow. We can see a dangerous man who can pull a weapon at anytime. He is not from particular, peaceful parts. Suppose he is? He is dangerous. He is of a known origin. He will cause trouble. It is only a matter of time. Everyone will pay him attention for thewrong reasons. Back to Nwabufo, in his defence of Wakili, did he believe that one leading a war must be in front and firing the shots? If Wakili is sick and old, has he always been that way? If he is partially blind, does he see enough to know location of a police station? I have not said that Wakili is guilty, but these are contributions to deepening the conversations about framing, profiling and salience. The more open-minded questions we ask, the more we would be able to address the challenges. We have more to bother about in the increasing recession of governance, and the excuses given for it. Flimsy as the excuses are, they earn Section 142b commodious spaces in dustbins.

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