BusinessDay 15 Jul 2018

BDSUNDAY BUSINESS DAY

No deal yet on Okoko-Seme border segment of LagosBadagry road p.9

Bearish sentiments dominate as equities shed N84bn

??

p. 42-43p.

p. 35

Sunday 15 July 2018 Market & Commodities Monitor Brent Oil

5yr Bond

$75.36

-0.05 13.69%

Gold

10yr Bond

$1,241.70

0.00 14.07%

Cocoa

$2,513.00

20yr Bond

Hurrah Ekiti!

Massive turnout amid heavy security presence APC, PDP trade accusations of malpractices

0.00 14.18%

inside How Nigeria plays big in $370bn global plastics market p. 10

For 2019, Wike has no contender – Emeh

Vol 1, No. 225 N300

RAZAQ AYINLA & YOMI AYELESO, Ado-Ekiti

V

oters in Ekiti State yesterday trooped out in their numbers to elect a new governor who will steer the ship of the state for the next four years.

This is as the tenure of the incumbent governor, Peter Ayodele Fayose, comes to an end in October.

Apart from minor cases of violence reported here and there, the election was largely peaceful and free of incidence. This is in spite of palpable fears arsing from the

heavy depolyment of security personnel to the state for the election.

Even though 35 political parties fielded candidates in the election, it was clearly a two-way contest between Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a former governor of the state and immediate past minister of solid minerals development, and Kolapo Olusola Eleka of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a professor and incumbent deputy governor of the state.

The political parties sought votes from a total of 2,195 polling units spread across the 177 wards in 16 local government areas

of the state.

Early voter turnout amid heavy security presence Voters were seen as early as 6.30 am moving to the polling booths in different parts of the state.

Voters trekked as far as 5 kilometres to the various polling units in order to vote for the candidates of their choice.

Although 913,334 voters registered in the state, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said about 250,000 permanent voter cards (PVCs) remained uncollected as at

P. 2

p. 24-25

Nigerians unaware of Buhari’s achievement because of unavailability of information – Oki

Kolapo Olusola, PDP governorship candidate in the Ekiti governorship election, casting his vote, yesterday.

Kayode Fayemi, candidate of the APC, casting his vote at Unit 9, Ward 11

Opposition playing into APC’s hands CHUKS OLUIGBO & INIOBONG IWOK

p. 26

I

n spite of the professed determination by opposition political parties in the country to dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the 2019 presidential elections, there are indications that President

Muhammadu Buhari and his party may still have a smooth ride back to power in next year’s election.

With barely seven months to the elections, political analysts say the opposition parties are yet to show serious signs of readiness for next year’s elections.

While the APC has long ago zeroed in on

Buhari as its presidential candidate for the election, the opposition political parties are taking too long to announce their flagbearers; a situation some political analysts say does not bode well for the opposition.

“Nigerians are anxiously waiting to see

p. 4

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EkitiDecides Hurrah Ekiti!

Continued from Page 1 the time of the election.

BDSUNDAY checks show that the large turnout of voters could not be unconnected with high mobilization drives by the two dominant party, the APC and PDP. Massive turnout was noticed in Odo Ado, Ijigbo, Ajilosun, Adebayo area, Ilotin, Oke Bola, Atinkankan, Okeyinmi ke ila, all in Ekiti Central senatorial district.

Reports from Ikere Ekiti in Ekiti South senatorial district, where Kolapo Olusola, the PDPgovernorshipcandidate, voted, as well as Isan Ekiti in the Ekiti North senatorial district where Kayode Fayemi, the APC candidate, voted indicate that the electorate arrived at the polling units and booths early as voter accreditation and elections started as scheduled.

Heavy security presence was recorded in all the 16 local government areas of the state as combined security team of Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Security, Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Roads Safety Corps, among others were seen everywhere.

For every 500 metres on every major road, security men were seen stopping and searching some unaccredited vehicles in addition to the detachments of security men manning different polling units and booths across the state, just as military men mounted checkpoints at all roads leading into and out of the state.

Fayemi votes as card reader fails Eleka Kayode Fayemi, the APC candidate, cast his vote at about 10:30am after arriving at his Polling Unit 009, Ward 11, in Oye LGA at exactly 10:19am.

But his PDP counterpart was not that lucky.

There was palpable tension as the card reader failed to recognise the fingerprint of the PDP candidate, Olusola Eleka, at his Ikere-Ekiti country home.

Eleka had arrived at the polling unit at exactly 9.15 am to be accredited and vote.

Although his wife voted, the PDP flag-bearer could not and he had to leave to allow others exercise their civic responsibility.

Speaking on the sidelines of the incident, Eleka expressed worry over the incidence, calling for immediate action to rectify the error for him to cast his vote.

“I cannot say that I do not have confidence in the electoral process, but I am worried, and I do not really

understand what is really happening. The card reader could not recognise my card, they said maybe it is bent, but you can see it, it is straight,” the PDP candidate said.

“I think I am still the only person being affected here, as others are casting their votes without hindrance. I believe the commission will do something very fast to find solution to this,” he said.

Eleka eventually cast his vote at exactly 11:10am.

APC, PDP trade accusation over alleged malpractice Ayo Arise, a senator and chieftain of the APC, accused the PDP of electoral malpractice, alleging multiple voting by suspected youths in some polling units and booths in Oye Local Government Area.

Arise, who voted at his Ward 1 Unit 5 Oye-Ekiti, alleged that the youth were moving from one unit to another with different PVCs, saying the tendency for the PDP and its candidate to rig the election in some areas such as Oye Ekiti was very high.

But a member of Ekiti State House of Assembly and PDP chieftain in OlejeEkiti, Samuel Omotosho, dismissed the allegations of multiple voting, saying PDP didn’t have such tendency as alleged by APC and that the election had been peaceful, insisting that it would be credible except APC did otherwise.

Omotosho explained that there were some areas where the card reader machines were malfunctioning.

He, however, lauded the INEC and the security agencies for the peaceful conduct of the exercise. Responding to the allegation of multiple voting, the presiding officer in one of the polling units, Nafisat Sani, denied any case of multiple voting, saying that the card reader machine would not allow any form of multiple voting.

Meanwhile, some voters pointed out cases of inducement in the election, alleging that the incumbent governor, Ayodele Fayose, who is the political godfather of Kolapo Olusola, the PDP governorship candidate, was trying to influence the voting pattern with an alleged inducement of voters.

A voter who is also a civil servant in the State Civil Service alleged that Governor Fayose credited civil and public servants’ salary accounts with N7,000 each on Friday, a day to the election.

The civil servant, who was also one of beneficiaries of the alleged government election largesse, added that her aged mother, a state pen-

sioner who was in the United States, also received an alert of N5,000 in her account, just as she revealed that people at the informal sector, the transporters, the commercial bikers, market women, among others, also received 4,000 cash each on Friday as part of inducement to vote PDP. Also, some people, especially PDP members, alleged that Fayemi and the APC also distributed money to the electorate in order to influence the voting pattern. He explained that APC also chartered buses from all other neighbouring states being governed by APC to bring all sorts of people to either transport unregistered electorate to vote or convey political thugs around.

“We had information that APC had ‘imported’ political thugs into Ekiti State to hijack our votes and rig the election. We will not allow that; PDP and Prof. Olusola, our candidate, are very popular here and it would take APC a lot of work to wrest power from us,” Tunde Ajayi, who identified himself as PDP member, said.

Reported cases of minor violence A party agent at Polling Unit 01, Ward 001, Udi in Ado Ekiti was attacked with acid by an unidentified person following a dispute.

Meanwhile, voting process was disrupted briefly in polling unit 012 of Igbemo Ward in Irepodun-Ifelodun Local Government Area when a non-uniformed party agent stormed the venue to campaign for his party.

The man who was simply identified as Kazeem stormed the polling unit at about 9 a.m. when voting was already underway.

Speaking in local dialect, Kazeem charged the electorates on the queue to vote for the APC candidate, Kayode Fayemi.

“Vote for APC. Whoever votes for PDP will have his fingers cut off,” he said repeatedly.

The action infuriated another electorate who charged at Kazeem with a plank.

The polling unit was, however, brought back to normalcy by security operatives.

Residents said Kazeem had earlier visited two other polling units with similar message.

113-year-old woman votes A 113-year-old woman, Mama Ibiteye Comfort Bodunde, made history as she defied the odds to cast her vote. She was helped to the polling booth by a young man.

113-year-old Mama Ibiteye Comfort Bodunde

Fayemi and wife

Voters checking their names on the election list in Ado-Ekiti

Sunday 15 July 2018

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Sunday 15 July 2018

Cover Opposition playing into...

Continued from Page 1 who the opposition parties, especially the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), will present. If the newly formed Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), which PDP is a part of, quickly comes up with a credible, formidable candidate, at least we would expect to have a contest next year; otherwise it will be a walkover for APC,” said a political analyst who does not want to be named.

“For now, the general opinion among the Nigerian electorate is that there is no alternative to President Buhari. Even though they agree that things have gone from bad to worse under this administration and that there is need to vote out Buhari, they keep asking, ‘Who do we vote in?’ The APC is cashing in on that. Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State the other day said there is no alternative to Buhari. And they are right; where is the alternative? Yes, names are being bandied, but we don’t have a hold on any candidate yet. So, you see why the opposition cannot continue to delay. Time is running out,” he said.

Catherine Onwuegbu, a politician and social worker, told BDSUNDAY few weeks ago that the more the PDP delays the announcement of its candidate, the more it loses the sympathy of Nigerians.

“I, for one, think that there is no point for the PDP to continue to delay the announcement of its candidate. Nigerians are anxiously waiting to hear the good news. You know the suffering is so much that people are looking forward to a better option. It is said that hope deferred makes the heart sick. The waiting is too much,” Onwuegbu said.

Indeed, there has been a high level of despondency in the country brought about by the failure of President Buhari and the APC to deliver on the change they promised Nigerians in 2015. There is grinding poverty across the land arising from the government’s bad economic policies. Things have been worsened by growing insecurity and violent killings in many parts of the country, particularly in the north-central states.

Worse still, the Buhari administration has shown neither readiness nor willingness to deal with the issue decisively, leading to allegations of tacit complicity against the government.

Only a few days ago, Jerry Gana, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), expressed concern that if Nigeria continued the way things were going, the country faced imminent implosion.

“Being a patriotic and committed democrat, who has carried a burden for the rapid development of our nation for decades, I am deeply concerned at the very real prospect of Nigeria imploding, unless our great party comes to the rescue with a God-fearing, dynamic, untainted and credible leadership,” Gana said while formally declaring his intention to run for the presidency.

“Nigeria is facing an existential threat, the seriousness and proportion of which have never been witnessed since the end of the war. There is crippling uncertainty everywhere. People are suffering unprecedented and untold hardships as a result of arrested development. Insecurity that has rendered human life brutish, short and nasty is rampant across the zones, states, communities and villages. Asymmetrical war on corruption is fuelling further ethnic decadence, while anxiety, unpatriotism and poverty have coalesced into a creepy epidemic of self-doubt. In all of these, the

Oshiomhole

current leadership of the nation, at the highest level of government, seems unconcerned, incompetent or incapable of turning around the drift,” he said.

Also speaking in an interview with a national daily, Chekwas Okorie, national chairman, United Progressive Party (UPP), said, “President Buhari’s administration is a disaster. Another four-year tenure for President Buhari will be Nigeria’s nunc dimittis.”

Analysts say the growing discontent in the country presents an opportunity for the opposition parties to step up and take the lead ahead of next year’s elections. Many are of the view that rated on the basis of performance, President Buhari has no locus standi to re-contest, let alone win the 2019 presidential election. They add, however, that the opposition parties stand a better chance to dislodge the APC in a two-way contest rather than in a multi-party contest involving smaller parties that would end up spreading themselves thin.

But the opposition parties have yet to live up to the bidding as, seven months to the election, they have failed to coalesce and present a formidable presidential candidate that would be acceptable to Nigerians across the divide, and analysts say time is running out as continued delay will only strengthen the APC’s grip and give the party unfettered victory in 2019.

But there are those, like Lanre Razak, a former commissioner for public transportation in Lagos State, who believe that the opposition political parties in the country are not sincere in their opposition to the APC-led administration.

The Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC) and about 38 opposition political parties, including the PDP, SDP, Labour Party (LP), Progressives People’s Alliance and African Democratic Congress (ADC), recently came together under the name Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to contest the 2019 general elections under one platform aimed at unseating President Buhari, but Razak said the alliance would fail because the opposition parties were composed of individuals who were self-seeking, propelled by selfish economic interests and inexperienced to lead the country out of its current woes.

“A lot of the parties who are in the opposition and presently attacking the Buhari administration, I can tell you, are not sincere and are just doing this for what they want

Uche Secondus

to get, which may have not been given to them; so they formed an alliance,” Razak said.

“If you are even talking about opposition, how many of the parties are experienced enough? How many of them have won elective positions like House of Assembly, councillorship and senatorial positions? The only parties are just APC and PDP. Most of those don’t have antecedent, you cannot trust them for anything; they are hungry and most of them are there for economic reasons. The alliance will fail,” he said.

Recall that Nigeria’s political history is replete with similar alliances, most of which yielded no dividend. Looking at contemporary history, Alliance for Democracy (AD), known mostly as a South-West party, in 1999 went into the presidential election in alliance with All People’s Party (APP), which had a stronghold in parts of the North, but the alliance lost.

Following the same pattern, a number of political parties came together in 2007 and formed the Action Congress (AC) whose impact in the presidential poll was largely insignificant. Same with the alliance between the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 presidential election. It was only in 2015 that the APC, which sprouted on the ashes of the ACN, CPC, All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), and fragments of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), became formidable enough to dislodge a sitting president, an unprecedented occurrence in the country’s political history.

Political analysts say the opposition parties of today have what it takes to re-enact the APC’s 2015 feat in 2019 if only they do things right.

One way the opposition will place themselves in a pole position to clinch victory in 2019, pundits say, is to come together and present a common front against the ruling APC. Even though the newly-formed CUPP alliance is already showing signs of crack as elements of some political parties named in the MoU said they were not part of the coalition, analysts are projecting that the alliance would go far, united as they are in unseating President Buhari.

They add, however, that in order to truly succeed and avoid post-election bickering, the type that has continued to suck the life out of the APC, the parties in the alliance must clearly agree on the tiny details of the

terms of the union.

Opposition success will depend on candidate Adeoye Jolaosho, Lagos State coordinator of the Green Party (GP), said that the personality of the candidate the opposition parties present in the presidential election would play a key role in their performance in the 2019 presidential election and the eventual outcome of the election.

The credibility of the candidate, Jolaosho said, is important if the opposition party hoped to dislodge the APC from power next year.

Jolaosho stressed that the opposition parties must avoid presenting a presidential candidate who is seen to be tribalistic, adding that Nigerians were not happy with President Buhari’s leadership style which, according to him, favours a particular tribe.

“The mistake the opposition parties may make with this alliance is on who would be their flag-bearer in the 2019 presidential election. The person has to be credible to all ethnic groups in the country. If we present a presidential candidate that is tribalistic, like what we have seen in the current administration which has been an eye-opener to Nigerians, then it is gameover,” Jolaosho said.

“Also, if the candidates of all the political parties are from the same tribe, the people may tend to say, ‘Let’s vote for the person we have known before’, and this will not favour the opposition. So, I think the parties have to be very careful on their choice of candidates for the presidential election,” he said.

Who flies the opposition flag?

Ebenezer Babatope, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) and former transport minister, told BDSUNDAY in a recent exclusive interview that his party would come out with a candidate that would match that of the APC. “Our party is going to present a candidate that Nigerians will appreciate. There is no more division in the party. We are going into the election as a united force. We have more than the capacity to make Nigerians happy again,” Babatope said.

With the recent alliance the PDP has with other political parties, observers are wondering whether anything has changed or will change. But, most importantly, the questions on the lips of many Nigerians are: Who will that candidate be? And when will the candidate be unveiled to Nigerians?

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News PDP Senate Caucus speaks on Adeosun’s certificate scandal the Federal Government through the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, declined further comments on the issue, saying the NYSC had already spoken on behalf of the government.

Speaking on the development after its emergency meeting in Abuja, Chairman of the Caucus and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio expressed optimism that the Federal Government is on top of the situation.

Responding to a question put to him, the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State said: “Well, certificate is certificate. Whether it is degree or NYSC. Am I right?

I believe that the Federal Government is on top of the situation. And as a caucus, we can’t go into that issue.

“The Federal Government definitely will investigate the issue and come up with a report. As a Caucus we cannot go into that issue but you know the Federal Government will definitely do the needful if the allegation is true”.

OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja

T

he People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senate Caucus has reacted to the alleged certificate scandal involving the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun.

An online platform, Premium Times, had recently reported that the Finance Minister skipped her mandatory one year National Youth Service Youth Corps (NYSC) and then proceeded to procure a fake exemption certificate to cover her tracks.

The report also indicated that although legislators were privy to Adeosun’s fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate, ‘a National Assembly cartel turned it into a tool for blackmail’ by using it to coerce the Minister to keep releasing funds to the lawmaking arm.

Although the NYSC authorities had said it was investigating the matter,

Adeosun

2019: Lagos PDP rules out automatic tickets Iniobong Iwok

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s preparations towards the 2019 general elections gather momentum, the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos state, Moshood Adegoke Salvador, says that there would be no automatic ticket for members of the party currently occupying elective positions as the party would present a level playing field for all aspirants.

Salvador stated this during his remark in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area, while addressing party members in the council sas part of his tour of local governments in the state. He observed that the party was committed to good governance and the upholding of the rule of law, which could only be achieved when all members have a stake.

He said: “Our party will provide a level playing ground for all aspirants at the primaries. We are a disciplined party. We don’t have any room for

impunity because we are determined to give quality service”.

He charged members to sustain the internal peace with in the party in the council, while striving to repeat the success the party achieved in the council in the 2015 general elections.

“This area is known for success. We appreciate you because you have a disciplined executive. I thank the youth. I appreciate you for your hard work.

Salvador

Without your support we could not achieve victory.

I want every one of you to embrace peace, say no to violence. Love one another. We have decided that we would enjoy our victory in peace.

“We will win the House of Assembly, the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Governorship, then at that point, we will celebrate. Remember that you must work very hard to get success. Support

your constituency. The success of the party starts with hard work that you exhibit at the ward level. I am confident that you will deliver. You have done it before and I know that you will do it again and even better” Salvador said.

Sunday Olaifa, chairman of the party in Oshodi/Isolo, said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had never been a threat to the PDP in the area and would use the current crisis in the party to achieve a better result than in 2015. “the APC benefited when some influential members of our party decided to pull out before the 2015 general elections.

We will take advantage of this crisis that will soon consume the party (APC) to win all our elections, including the state and presidential seats. APC cannot come out of its present crisis which has been occasioned by tribalism, nepotism and disregard for human lives on the part of the presidency. The party has deceived Nigerians enough”.

20 more Nigerians win millions in week 3 of Star Lager United We Shine Promo SEYI JOHN SALAU

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total of twenty new winners have emerged in the Star Lager United We Shine Millionaires Promo, while prizes of One Million Naira each was recently presented to the winners at a gala ceremony held in Enugu and Ibadan respectively.

Lekan Olayinka, Regional Trade Marketing Manager Ibadan, for Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc, while speaking at the Ibadan Star Gala prize presentation said NB look forward to putting shining smiles on the faces of many more citizens who will become millionaires in the weeks to come.

“We are thankful to our customers who have been loyal to the Star Lager brand over the years, and we want to continue rewarding Nigerians across the country in the United We Shine Millionaires Promo,” Olayinka stated.

The prize presentation follows the previous week’s presentation held in Abuja, where eleven people were awarded with prizes. The latest lucky winners include Promise Nnabuo, a 27 year old trader based in Ibadan,

Michael, a 38 year old driver, and Adewale, a 50 year old mechanic.

After the prize presentation, Promise Nnabuo said, “I’m still in shock to be honest because everything still feels like a dream to me. I just bought my usual bottle of Star and I only wanted to chill with my friends, but I looked under the crown cork and couldn’t believe my luck. I’m grateful to Star Lager for this promo and the prize,” he said.

Enugu based Itabana Effiong echoed similar sentiments as he described his win as a “life changing experience and the best news of the year.” Michael was also full of praise for the Star brand and expressed gratitude and joy for the unexpected windfall.

Star Lager’s United We Shine Promo, which is scheduled to run until August, 15th is expected to produce over 300 millionaires with the highest cash prize being the mega sum of N10 million.

However, to participate in the promo, consumers are expected to look under the crown cork of the Super Eagles special edition bottles of Star Lager, where they’ll see a 7-digit winning code which is redeemed via a USSD dial of *566*20#.

‘LG autonomy, surest way to bringing development to grassroots’

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alu Mba Nwoke (Etiokwe), deputy leader of Ohafia Legislative council and councillor representing Ohafor ward1, Asaga Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State has called on the National Assembly to fast-track the proper implemention of the autonomy for the third tier of government.

Nwoke, who said that he is a strong advocate of Local Government autonomy, noted that it is the fastest means of bringing development to the grassroots.

He revealed that since he assumed office barely one and half years ago he had so far spent about N6million (Six million naira) for various projects in his ward.

The Local government lawmaker said that during his electioneering campaign he promised his constituents that he would attract dividends of democracy if elected.

“Now that I am in office,

I have to fulfill my promises because it is not wise after making promises you will not fulfil them,” Nwoke said.

He said that he has his business where he earns income to help assist his constituents, hinting that N95,000 subvention allocated to each ward on monthly basis would not be enough to execute all the projects in his ward.

“I joined politics not to make money but to use it as a platform to empower my people,” he said.

Some of the projects which Nwoke revealed he had executed Include asphalting (patching) of bad spot on the hill of Asaga road, procurement of bus to take constituents to harvest cassava every Eke day, rennovation of five resting hall for the elderly persons in various squares within the ward, supplying of water to constituents because of scarcity of water in the ward and paying of WAEC and NECO examination fees for five students.

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News Inventor of HIV/AIDS drugs thanks FG for recognition, grant UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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aduike Ezeibe, professor o f Ve t erinary Medicine of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, and a Nigerian inventor of drug for HIV/AIDS, has expressed his gratitude to the Federal Government for the grant made available to him and certificate of recognition to enable him research further for the cure of the deadly disease.

Ezeibe was among those given grants by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology for his Invention of Medicinal Synthetic Aluminum Magnesium Silicate, (MSAMS) for HIV/ AIDS cure barely two weeks ago in Abuja.

He however, expressed his delight for the grant and recognition explaining that Federal University of Science and Technology had organised a seminar for innovators and Inventors whose research projects had been recognised and approved by the Federal Government.

Ezeibe disclosed that what gave him joy was because his invitation came after the Federal Government had investigated his claims for the cure of HIV

Ezeibe

with MSAMS through an inter-ministerial Committee set up and was convinced with their findings culminated in the recommendation for grant to enable him research further on his work.

He noted that if the Federal government could encourage the production the drug in commercial quantity, it has the capacity to fetch more foreign exchange for the country than crude oil.

The University don appealed to the the Federal Government to sponsor the Medical Research Institute to enable people who need the drugs to obtain them at a reduced price.

Ezeibe while speaking on the efficacy of his HIV drug explained why the dreaded HIV/HBV/HCV diseases are “incurable” and how the MSAMS has come out with drugs overcome the diseases.

In a paper presentation entitled: ‘Reasons Immune Deficiency HIV/HBC/HCV diseases are incurable and how The Nigerian Medicinal Synthetic Aluminum Magnesium Silicate overcomes them’, the inventor explained further that the Aluminum Magnesium Silicate (AMS) molecules are made of Nanoparticles (smaller than HIV, Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C Virus).

He disclosed that this ultra small size enables them reach all cells, adding that the HIV and HCV are positively charged while HBV is negatively charged.

“So, AMS Nanoparticles mop HIV/HCV with their surfaces and HBV with their edges. Infested/cancer cells are negatively charged.

Therefore, the Nanoparticles also bond onto the abnormal cells with their edges and destroy them,” Ezeibe explained.

He used the forum to announce to the University Community (Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike) that “have invented cure for HIV/AIDS, the claim has been receiving support whereas those who made similar claims in the past were shouted down; I am specially grateful to the Nigerian press.”

“I want to thank the Minister of Science and Technology and the Minister of Health who jointly constituted an inter-ministerial committee to authenticate the claim, that The Nigerian Medicinal Synthetic Aluminum-Magnesium Silicate is effective for treatment of HIV/AIDS. I also thank the Ministry of Science and Technology for selecting me as among inventors/innovators to receive three hundred thousand naira (N300, 000 ) only, in their 2018 support for researchers scheme.

Ijaw group sets agenda for political leaders Samuel Ese, Yenagoa

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n a bid to enthrone visionary leadership, good governance and sustainable development in Bayelsa State, an Ijaw leadership group has called for a review of the leadership process to ensure public office holders are answerable and accountable to the people.

The group, G24 Embasara Foundation which held a one day summit in Yenagoa on Wednesday on Visionary Leadership, Good Governance and Sustainable Development in Bayelsa comprises Ijaws who are concerned about the underdevelopment of the state.

Chairman of the group, Ambassador Ambaiowei said that the people deserved improved social amenities and assured that they would ensure public office holders who lack leadership are not voted into the executive and legislature.

Ambaoiwei cautioned against the imposition of candidates saying, “There should be no imposition of candidates on the electorate by any governor or political party; the popular candidates by the choice of the people should emerge. We want a change and for a change we stand.”

A former commissioner in the state and co-convener, Inuruo Wills, said the group was developing the Ijaw Nation Code of Ethics, Leadership and Governance to which every prospective public office holder must subscribe revealing that they

were also interested in preparing people for leadership by building their capacity.

Speaking on the theme: Keys to Visionary Leadership, Good Governance and Sustainable Environment, Nnimmo Bassey, a renowned environmentalist noted that oil and gas exploration and production had distorted the biodiversity of the Niger Delta region.

Bassey said the environment had suffered because of lack of leadership with interest in protecting the environment as well as weak regulatory environment which has led to the destruction of the natural ecosystem.

He maintained that oil exploration had adverse consequences on the environment and was not sustainable adding that efforts were not being made to deploy the oil resources to conserving the environment.

“Oil production depletes environmental resources, for every barrel of oil, there is over 13 barrels of toxic effluents that come from the oil wells and nobody gives account of these wastes which the oil firms discharge into the environment.

Bassey accused Niger Delta leaders of abandoning the rural areas to underdevelopment while using the 13 percent derivation to develop the urban centres stressing that the “attitude of our leaders in the Niger Delta region has made the environmental component of the petroleum legislation to be at the background rather than the forefront.

Govt should create enabling environment for tourism to thrive – Transcorp MD CHUKS OLUIGBO

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overnment has been called upon to create the enabling environment for hospitality and tourism businesses in Nigeria to thrive as well as encourage the growth of marketing destinations in the country.

This is as the tourism sector is said to have the potential to contribute over 10 percent to the nation’s GDP. Valentine Ozigbo, managing director, Transcorp Hotel Plc, made this call while speaking as a panellist at the 2018 Tourism and Hospitality forum organized by Institute of Directors (IoD) in Lagos, Thursday.

Themed ‘Domestic Tourism as a Catalyst to the

Growth of Nigeria Economy’, the forum, which was partly sponsored by Transcorp Hotel Plc, attracted some key players in the tourism and hospitality sector, including Ben Murray-Bruce, founder of Silverbird Group and senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District, who was the keynote speaker.

Ozigbo, who spoke on the challenges of hospitality service excellence in hotels and restaurants, said some successes have been recorded in the tourism and hospitality sector, adding, however, that a lot more can come out of tourism if things are done right in terms of structure, policy, standardization, and leadership by the private sector.

“It will do us a lot of good as a country if government lends the needed support to tourism and hospitality

by encouraging marketing destinations. As practitioners, we would also play our own role in encouraging marketing destinations,” Ozigbo said.

“This is so because as at today, we have not fully tapped into the full potential of the tourism sector.

What we are doing is merely scratching the surface. It will interest us to know that

Ozigbo

the tourism sector is one of the greatest employers of labour in the world and its contribution to the economy is quite huge,” he said.

Ozigbo commended the visa-on-arrival policy currently in place in Nigeria, which, he said, has made it possible for foreign businessmen and women to fly into the country with ease.

He added, however, that more needs to be done.

“One of the things I expect to see, if it doesn’t happen now, it should happen soon, is actually where tourism is a ministry of its own. It cannot be subsumed under other ministries. We can’t be a ministry of many, many things,” he said.

“Government should create the enabling environment and get the businesses to survive and thrive. This allows people to make money and sustain their businesses.

When this is done in a sustainable manner, you will see sporadic growth in the sector,” he said.

Ozigbo said Nigeria as at today is a preferred destination for tourists who have come to love the hospitality they encounter in the country, adding that the services rendered by hotels in Nigeria are among reasons the country is on the map for wonderful hospitality.

“And I can safely say we at Transcorp Hilton are part of that reason and the laurels we have rolled in globally is a sign that Nigerian hospitality has the potential to succeed,” he said.

Recall that in 2018 alone, Transcorp Hilton has garnered several awards from reputable institutions and organizations. These include Travel with Purpose Action Grant for MEA; Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice

Award; Outstanding MICE Hotel in Nigeria; Outstanding International City Hotel; Africa’s Largest Premium Luxury Hotel Brand from African Brand Congress; Excellence in Hospitality Awards from Miss Tourism Nigeria; Outstanding Leadership in Hospitality Operations and Management Awards and Tourism Personality of the Year 2018 given to the Transcorp MD, among others.

Earlier in his remarks, Biodun Jaji, chairman, IoD Tourism and Hospitality Committee, said government and tourism stakeholders should pursue the sustainability and the growth of the sector, adding that there was need for a sustained public-private partnership and investment for the development of domestic tourism in the country over the next 10-20 years.

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News Experts count benefits as National Identity database ramps up to 30.5m …will facilitate ease of doing business, enhance access to credit, stem identity theft ...As registration for NIN intensifies across the country Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson

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he National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has registered about 30.5 million Nigerian citizens into its database for national identity numbers (NIN), after it intensified efforts to enroll as many people as possible, ignoring the setback caused by the lack of funds to issue out the identity cards.

The numbers recorded in July 2018, is a significant jump from the 21.36 million Nigerians successfully registered on the scheme in September of 2017.The scheme started in 2014.

According to Aliyu Aziz Abubakar, director-general of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), “the gradual acceptance of the NIN as a means

of identification by our partners and stakeholders is also driving up the numbers by the day.

For example, organisations like the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), have all made NIN a mandatory requirement for service delivery and others are expected to follow suit,” Abubakar said.

The identity management program was established by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act No 23 of 2007, with the mandate to establish, own, operate, maintain and manage the National Identity Database in Nigeria, register persons covered by the Act, assign a unique National Identification Number and issue general

multi-purpose cards to those registered individuals, and to harmonise and integrate existing identification databases in Nigeria, as a way of easy identification of citizens and in order to facilitate better government planning.

As in the case of the United Kingdom, with the National Insurance Number and the Social Security Number in the United States of America, registered Nigerians with NIN will be able to access

government social interventions, credit facilities, and health care systems and will also promote socio-economic and political development.

This is because every single individual would be accounted for through the database, entitlements will be rightly issued out and issues of identity theft will be curbed with the use of a unique identification number.

Apart from the quest to warehouse the profile of all

Nigerians for effective national planning, the need for synergy with other data management organisations, such as the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) registration, Bank Verification Number (BVN), voters’ card in virtually all sectors of the economy is of utmost importance, as this would make it easier for government to plan and channel adequate attention to areas such as education, pensions, jobs and others, analysts say.

Economic analysts say the recent dedication to citizen registration by the NIMC poses a ray of hope for a boost in Nigeria’s economy in the future, as the absence of unique identity numbers for every citizen in Nigeria may have been a contributory factor to the underdevelopment of certain services and industries in the country.

“The growth of consumer credit may have been sty-

mied by the absence of a unique means of identification of all citizens, which in turn created room for high rate of delinquency of consumers and lenders unwillingness to advance credit to individuals without tangible collateral,” Johnson Chukwu, MD/CEO of Cowry Asset Management Limited told BusinessDay. Chukwu, who is also a member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, said Nigeria lacks a good credit system because of the absence of National Identity numbers.

“At the macro-economic level, consumer credit can be used as a tool for stimulating economic growth. When the monetary authorities lower benchmark rates, consumers are encouraged to borrow and increase their consumption, which engenders increase in demand and consequent increase in production, employment and income.”

US Consulate trains women on structured mentoring FG to upgrade FMC Umuahia to Ngozi Okpalakunne

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nited States Consul General, F. John Bray has stressed the need for structured mentoring programme for Nigeria career women, saying it will provide avenue for knowledge sharing between older and younger employees. .

Speaking at a one day US Public Affairs Section’s forum tagged, “Transforming the future: women mentoring women in the workplace’’, Bay explained that structured mentoring was necessary as it will also assist women to attain senior positions in both the private and public sector .

F. John Bray

According to him, US Department of State is committed to advocating for and including women in the workplace both in the United States and abroad.

“We want to connect our rising stars with leaders, top performers, and others.

And equally important we wanted to provide a mechanism for knowledge sharing between older and younger employees. “When I joined the Department, the State Department workforce was 27 percent, most of these people doing clerical work.

It is now 40 percent, but still not the 50 percent we are committed to achieving.

“Through structured mentoring programmes run by Executive Women at State and our Human Resources bureau we are working to increase the number of women in line with our goal of having a workforce that reflects the makeup of US society,” he said.

He added, “To support women internationally, we established the office of Global Women’s affairs in 1995 and have assisted women to achieve senior positions in both the private and public sector as a priority.

“One of the many programmes that we have, includes the Global Women’s Mentoring programme. I know that a number of Ni-

gerian women have participated in this programme and Darcy is well-qualified to share this mentoring programme with you. She was elected to the board of the Executive woman at State where she actively participated in mentoring women. “Additionally she was selected by the Director General of the Department of State to lead training for the Human Resources department’s 600 employees on structured mentoring for everyone,” Bay said.

While speaking on the theme of the workshop, “Transforming the future: women mentoring women in the workplace”, Darcy Zotter , Public Affairs Officer of the U S Consulate General Lagos, defined mentoring as the process whereby a mentor and the mentee build a candid relationship of trust to continually discuss the mentee’s professional development and approaches that will lead to job success.

For mentoring to be successful, she said there must be an agreement between the mentor and the mentee.

“It is important at the beginning of the relationship to clearly define what each party would get from mentoring . This will make the rest of their time together to be more focused and productive.

“They should discuss ex-

pectations to ensure they can realistically be accomplished and that the mentee’s needs fall within the mentors ability to help’’ , Darcy said.

She added : “The mentee should schedule all meetings with the mentor at least once a month. Prepare any agenda and complete any reflection or prep work needed .

“The mentee should also act as an equal in the relationship , keep an open mind , seek and listen to guidance . In a group monitoring setting, the group will decide on a meeting schedule and set agenda”.

Also, she stressed the need for the mentor to keep appointments ; help mentee cultivate and accomplish a particular goal during the mentoring experience .

Enumerating the importance of mentoring, the US Public Affairs Officer said, it enhances knowledge and skills; build confidence in the target areas and increases clarity around career paths and decision.

To her, the workshop will help Nigerian women in career development as well assist them to navigate in a difficult organisation.

She advised that women should work had and assist other women in the work place so that they will achieve their set goals in life.

teaching hospital - Damboyi UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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ohn Damboyi, chairman, Board of Management of the Federal

Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia has said the tertiary health institution is among four hospitals in the country slated for upgrading to teaching hospitals before the end of this year.

Damboyi, who disclosed this in Umuahia, Abia State when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu at his office, said that a team from the Federal Ministry of Health had inspected the hospital and made the pronouncement.

He said their visit to the governor was to inform him of their determination to transform the FMC Umuahia and to solicit his support towards the realisation of the dream.

Damboyi explained that the Board has come up with the “Friends of FMC Umuahia initiative” to be chaired

by Governor Ikpeazu to ensure that the right structure is put in place to ensure the realisation of the project.

He commended the governor for his contribution towards the kidney

transplant unit of the FMC Umuahia as well as other novel interventions in the health sector of the state.

Ikpeazu, in his speech, said his administration has a vision to deepen universal health coverage for all citizens of the state.

He disclosed that he did not see the FMC, Umuahia as a federal outfit but part of the state.

“FMC is FMC by nomenclature. We do not see it as a federal hospital but we see it as our own hospital. We also own it. There is no federal citizen,” he explained.

He promised to do everything to ensure that the FMC is upgraded to a teaching hospital soon.

“I’m happy with your approach. It is a welcome strategy to allow beneficiaries of infrastructure to own it.”, he said

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News Project, policy continuity as an issue in Bayelsa governorship election Samuel Ese, Yenagoa

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ne issue that has bedeviled Bayelsa State for the past 11 years has been the inability of succeeding administrations to complete certain inherited projects which include the Tower Hotel, Gloryland Drive, 500-Bed Hospital and Bayelsa State Library which are all located in the capital, Yenagoa, among others.

Over the years, the syndrome of abandonment has assumed some frightening dimension although the present administration of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson completed the Ogobiri-Toru-Ebeni Bridge and commenced work on the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road.

Careful observations have shown that the issue is not just about completion of inherited projects, but lack of policy continuity owing to political differences, hence the growing calls among Bayelsans for a governor who will display the will, zeal and commitment to complete such projects for the benefit of the people.

Some governments have demolished some high profile projects to erect new ones, even in the face of

paucity of funds and lack of development, while allowing certain projects to suffer further delay.

With the next governorship elections coming up sometime in October or November next year, after the general elections, stakeholders are expressing fears that unless a man with the right attitude and maturity takes over from Governor Dickson, the state would be littered with a large number of uncompleted projects which could easily become abandoned without the right linkages.

More so, Dickson has initiated a large number of road, hospital, school, housing and power projects, amongst which are the proposed flyover at Tombia Junction, several double carriage way roads off the Issac Boro Expressway, the Circular Road and University of Africa, which may not be completed in the life of his administration, due to paucity of funds.

Other projects including the Agge Deep Seaport Project, ongoing SagbamaEkeremor Road, State Polytechnic, Aleibiri, ongoing Yenagoa-Oporoma Road, 500-Bed Hospital, Tower Hotel, the new policy on education and the Bayelsa State Health Insurance Scheme (BHSS) need someone who

would sustain them and add value to them.

The golf course, New Yenagoa City, the pavilion, Peace Park, Gloryland Castle and Agge Deep Seaport Project among others when fully completed and operational need to be marketed to make them revenue earners for the state in the long term.

Lack of continuity in policy and project completion has negatively affected the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road, especially after Julius Berger left and no other contractor was immediately brought in to handle it. The SagbamaOporoma Road was stalled for several years until Governor Dickson took it over from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) while the OgbiaNembe Road was in limbo due to security challenges.

Charles Ambaoiwei, a one-time Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure under Goodluck Jonathan, as governor, noted that the issue of project abandonment was not to the benefit of the people and acknowledged that it was a good thing that people like Reuben Okoya have joined the governorship race.

Ambaoiwei highlighted a number of reasons for abandonment or delay of projects, including contractual reasons, lack of funding, lack

of capacity by the contractor or consultant, security, but noted that as a state, Bayelsa is in a hurry to develop.

He stated: “We have seen some track records for even his involvement in the building of the Niger Delta University, after that direct labour era projects of Dr. (Mrs) Etebu who was commissioner for special projects preceding him. When I was commissioner for works, he was also commissioner for special projects. We have come a long way in doing so, as a person, he stands a meritorious character.”

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tographer Amazing Klef and top comedian Omo Baba - as well as the director of World Service, Jamie Angus.

The campaign was developed in-house by BBC Creative, who worked in partnership with the renowned graffiti writer turned artist INSA. INSA is at his very best when on location, creating bright and beautiful artworks straight into the environment within the period of two days, 4th and 5th of July, As part of

the campaign the BBC Marketing team commissioned a wall at the University of Lagos where Insa produced a bespoke artwork that connects directly with its surroundings, literally making more of the world around us.

INSA split the wall into different frames to beautifully illustrate the story of tech and business growth. The narrative is brought to life using an image that changes ever-soslightly each time, a labour-

L-R: Senior Manager, Enterprise Business Unit, MTN Nigeria, Ezekiel Bamigboye; Manager, Youth Segment, MTN Nigeria, Ife Oyeyipo; Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede; Senior Manager, Youth Segment, MTN Nigeria, Omotayo George; and Analyst, Youth Segment, MTN Nigeria, Femi Adesina; during the the presentation of gifts at the Vice Chancellor’s Office, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, recently.

Development in Bayelsa State (CDDB) told BD Sunday that there was need for policy and project continuity, in order to deliver on some key projects inherited from previous administrations and pointed out that Reuben Okoya has all the ingredients to tackle the malaise afflicting such projects.

Kolokolo said the issue of project abandonment was caused by opposition politics which is anti-government and makes incoming governments to neglect inherited projects due to political differences.

L-R: Steve Obiago, CIO, Chicason Group; Annie Odo-Effiong, Integrated Marketing Manager, Dell EMC CEAFR; Catherine Abagun, Sales Director, FSI/Oil & Gas, Dell EMC; Chady Ahmad, RSM, CEAFR, Dell EMC Unstructured Data Solutions, and Bertram Idoko, Sales Director, FSI Dell EMC, during the DELL EMC ‘unlock the value of your data capital’ in Lagos, recently.

BBC commissions colourful Wall mural at Unilag

s part of its commitment to drive local contents, inspire Nigerians and increase consumption of its programmes, BBC world service has commissioned a huge art installation at the University of Lagos to support their Make More Of Your World campaign in Nigeria This successful on-ground marketing event was witnessed by some renowned faces – rising celebrity pho-

A former vice chairman of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), called for more people of integrity to join the governorship race, but stressed the need for those aspiring to be subjected to the Ijaw Nation Code of Ethics, Leadership and Good Governance, a document that was put together members of the Ijaw National Congress, the Ijaw Elders Forum of Lagos and a group called G24 Ebassara Foundation.

Oyinkro Kolokolo, director of operations of Campaign for Democracy and

intensiveandmeticuloustask.

The end result is completely mesmerising, creating a looping ‘Gif’ that blurs the offline and online worlds. At either side of the wall, people can scan QR codes taking them toYouTubepageswhereaudiences can view the 30-second TV ad.

According to the Marketing Manager, BBC World Service, Kate Jacobson, “BBC Pidgin was launched about a year ago and after several considerations, it decided to connect with more tribes.

“This work is part of the big marketing campaign, we want to let Nigerians know that BBC is available in all these language services and the BBC is about giving a different perspective; having a different perspective, gives you the opportunity to create things for yourself and make more of your world.

“We use art for Make More Of Your World campaign, because it’s a universal connection, it’s also a beautiful way of expressing what we’re trying to do, what we are trying to depict through our services so, we’re trying to show in our art work that you can get a broader knowledge of the world through our service”.

APRA President commends the African Union on positive declarations at AU summit

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he President of African Public Relations Association ( A P R A ) , Yo m i Badejo-Okusanya has commended the African Union (AU) on it declarations at the 31st AU Summit held in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

Particularly commendable was its effort to bring on board 49 out of 55-member states to sign an agreement establishing Continental Free trade Area (AfCFTA) and its ratification by 6 countries. “This suggests business growth, opportunities and development for our continent, Africa” he stated.

As Public Relations (PR) Practitioners, this formation is considered a boost to the reputation of Africa which we are building further. The adoption of 5 priority sectors by the Assembly of Heads of States which includes the communication sector, indicates that the African Union acknowledges and appreciates the efforts of PR Practitioners and Communication specialist in representing the image of Africa. This in effect serves as a charge for practitioners to do more.

In his statement, Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya advised that, the inclusion of PR Practitioners and communication experts at meetings such as this is very crucial especial as reputation managers across the continent.

He further stressed that, the association is open to invitation to work with the AU on partnerships and collaborations that would foster development and further enhance the reputation of AU as well as Africa as a whole.

With the 2019 theme designated as a “Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement”, it is pertinent to re-orientate the globe and modify the perceptions about Africa and who better knows about perception and reputation management than PR practitioners?

He further expressed his delight with the Assembly of heads of state for the establishment of African Union Development Agency (AUDA) and congratulates the new appointees.

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No deal yet on Okoko-Seme border segment of Lagos-Badagry road …as investors adopt wait-and-see disposition Stories by JOSHUA BASSEY

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nvestors seem to have adopted wait-and-see disposition towards the Okoko-Seme border segment of the LagosBadagry expressway, as Lagos State government is yet to secure the buy-in of a willing investor to develop that section of the road, more than three years after the government threw up the offer.

The state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode while meeting with the business community and captains of industry at a forum tagged “A+ Meets Business” at the Government House, in November, 2017, had re-echoed the offer of that segment of the road to investors willing to partner the government. Ambode had gone ahead to assure that government would be willing to offer the would-be investors land for real estate development along the Badagry corridor as a further incentive.

He told the business community that the PPP Office had been activated and positioned to liaise and work out an arrangement that would be mutually beneficial to government and willing investors in

the project.

No official explanations have been offered by the government as to why investors seem not excited at the ‘good’ offer.

Adebowale Akinsanya, the state commissioner for works and infrastructure, simply told BDSunday that the government remains interested in building the road through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, and looks to closing a deal on it soon.

It was, however, gathered that the seeming unwillingness of investors to jump at the offer may have to do with the ugly experience of Lagos Concession Company (LCC) in respect of the concession of the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

The state government in 2013 bought back the concession agreement it signed with LCC to Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) the expressway.

The initial concession agreement with LCC was

Lagos under threat of coastal erosion, NCF tells FG

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igerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has called for the immediate intervention of the Federal Government to save Lagos from being wiped out by coastline erosion.

The NCF raised the alarm at a conference in Lagos on the dangers of a fast eastward ocean current eating up several meters of land on the Lekki and Victoria Island axis.

Ede Dafinone, NCF’s c ha i r ma n , s a i d s e v e ra l coastal communities had been washed away and if nothing was done, Lagos Island would be underwater by 2030 and the whole of Lagos by 2050.

According to him, the problem of coastline erosion started during the colonial era when moulds were created to protect the Apapa-Wharf. He said the impact caused a backlash on the Lekki axis causing an

overflow of the Bar Beach, but that the Eko Atlantic City project later protected the Bar Beach forcing the problem fur ther dow nstream.

He said the Lagos State government began the construction of groins around the Eko Atlantic City and Bar Beach towards Elegushi Beach to solve the problem.

He explained that the state government had taken the initiative to erect over 15 groins that effectively protected and replenished the coast for up to 14 kilometres.

“It costs about a billion naira to construct one groin and Lagos State government’s inability to continue the project in the last 18 months suggested that they were overwhelmed by the problem,” he said Joseph Onoja, NCF director of technical programme, who made a video presentation at the conference, said by mid-2011, the Eko Atlantic City project

protected the beach but that the problem moved eastward between 2015 and 2016.

He stressed the need for the Federal Government to urgently move in to protect the shorelines against fast ocean currents worsened by climate change and other human activities.

“It took only 24 hours for a whole community to be wiped off in Kuramo Beach.

Other countries are protecting their shorelines and we in Nigeria must do same,” he submitted.

Muhtari Aminu-Kano, the director-general of NCF appealed to both Lagos and the Federal Government to protect the shorelines as far as the Escravos to avert disaster.

“The immediate solution is for Lagos to take the groins construction all the way to Escravos. We are appealing to the managers of the ecological funds to look in the area of these shorelines in Lagos,” he said.

signed on April 24, 2006 under the administration of Bola Tinubu. In 2008, his successor, Babatunde Fashola signed supplemental agreements to enable the firm access longterm funding for the road construction.

The original concession agreement allowed LCC to expand, upgrade and maintain, for the initial phase, the 50 kilometre road and to build another 20 kilometre coastal road along the Lekki axis. The

company was to recoup its investment on the road through toll collection from road users for 30 years before transferring it to the state government.

The government however cancelled the agreement and bought back the concession deal in 2013, thus bringing a deal that was supposed to run for 30 years to an abrupt end.

“Investors may not be too sure of what happens next. Besides, the polity is still not stable. Any wise investor would want to wait and see as events unfold in the build-up to the 2019 elections before staking funds in projects that require billions of naira,” says a key player in the built industry, who craved anonymity.

The Okoko-Seme section is classified as Lot 3 of the 60 kilometres expressway, built in 1970s under the administration of Mobolaji Johnson, first military governor of the state upon its creation in 1967.

Immediate past governor of Lagos, Fashola took the bull by the horn in 2008, when he awarded the first contract for a major reconstruction work that would see the expressway expanded from four to ten lanes, by Julius Berger Plc. The project had been divided into Lot 1 (Iganmu to

Maza-Maza), Lot 2 (MazaMaza to Okomaiko) and Lot 3 (Okokomaiko to Nigerian-Benin Republic border at Seme. The state government subsequently awarded the contract for the Lot 2 to CCECC. The Lots 1 and II of the project being funded by the state government, with provision for bus rapid transit and light rail system, have so far gulped over $50 million, with no specific completion dates attached.

In the meantime, Ambode has directed that the completed portions of the expressway from Eric Moore to Okokomaiko be opened up to traffic. He also ordered the state public works corporation to begin palliative works from Okokomaiko to Badagry, to alleviate discomfort being experienced by the motoring public on that axis.

“Okokomaiko to Badagry/ Seme segment of the road is proposed for PPP due to the magnitude of the infrastructure to be put in place and the humongous financial resources running into hundreds of billions of naira which the state government cannot muster presently due to other vital competing demands,” Akinsanya reaffirmed.

RRS receives 250 First Aid boxes from LASG

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he anti-crime outfit of the Lagos police command, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), has received additional 250 First Aid boxes from Lagos State, with the government promising more support to emergency responders for optimum service delivery to the public.

The presentation of the first aid boxes to the RRS was

by Oluseyi Whenu, permanent secretary, Chief of Staff’s Office, who expressed government’s satisfaction with the

response time of responders in the state.

Whenu, who represented the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, observed that apart from the security lives and property, government was also trying to guarantee health security, especially on the road and during emergencies.

He disclosed that over 800 police officers attached to the RRS had been trained on how to administer first aid on stopping of bleeding, cardio - pulmonary resuscitation,

Seyi Whenu, permanent secretary (m), Office of Chief of Staff, Lagos, and Sola Pitan, SSA on Health Matters to Lagos governor, presenting First Aid kits to Olatunji Disu, commander, Lagos Rapid Response Squad, (RRS) in Ikeja on Friday.

managing fracture and other forms of emergencies before the arrival of medical team.

He said the presentation of the 250 first aid boxes to the outfit was to complement the earlier donation of 150 first aid kits to the team.

He acknowledged the primary role of the RRS as protection of lives and property, noting they get to emergency scenes faster than most responders hence, the need for them to stabilise victims before the arrival of medical personnel. This is why the government is equipping them with first aid training and complementing it with the supply of first aid kits to make them save lives.

Receiving the kits, commander, RRS, Olatunji Disu thanked the government for the gesture. Disu stated that the first few minutes of emergencies are crucial moments, adding that the officers have been trained while attending to victims of emergencies to call LASAMBUS immediately.

He promised that the officers would continue to justify the confidence reposed in them by the government by putting the kits into good use.

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NewsFeature How Nigeria plays big in $370bn global plastics market; and the huge risks in beat plastics pollution IGNATIUS CHUKWU

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ith Indorama-Eleme Petrochemicals churning out the required raw materials in the plastics industry, Nigeria is set to play big in the $370bn global plastics market now in existence, though Nigeria also faces huge risks in the emerging risks in beat pollution especially cancer and other poisons caused by plastics.

This is as a professor of environmental studies and senior research adviser in Shell, Arthur Essaghah, has raised alarm, saying six particular chemicals used in the production of plastics cause canncer and kill over one million sea birds and over 700 organisms per year.

Also, over 150m tonnes of plastics are now sitting in the oceans of the world as wastes, and could overtake the population of fish stock in the oceans by 2050. Packaging is said to cause up to 44 per cent of plastics produced in both the developed and developing worlds.

There were fallouts that seemed to shock students from best science schools in Nigeria that converged at Shell Residential Area in Port Harcourt last week Monday to showcase their inventions at a STEM exhibition (STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

Nigeria had whittled down to about 15 plastics companies by 2006 when the then Eleme Petrochemicals Limited (EPLC) had become moribund. The entry of Indorama who acquired majority shares and revamped the place caused a boom leading to the emergence of over 350 plastics making companies that easily source their raw materials (polymer, polyproplene, etc) from IEPCL which now has a fertlizer plant. Nigeria also exports polymers these days.

These have boosted the use of plastics in Nigeria, adding to the global market and global beat plastics pollution with Nigeria is leader in Africa and also with highest exposure risk to cancer and other dangers, accoring to experts from various segments of the

Future scientists on duty

Osagie Okunbor, MD, Shell

science field.

Shell and Science The moderator, one Mr Michael, livened the young audience with his spices on Shell’s love for inventions and sciences with the drive to contribute knowledge to the world.

The event was Shell’s ‘The NXPlorer’ which seeks to identify future scientists and inventors now. The moderator observed that Nigeria must make a point in the world and that Shell is therefore in search of those who could be the next explorers. The company thus decided to look for them in schools in some parts of Nigeria. Some students in those selected schools were being supported to conduct research and present their works at an annual exhibition.

The schools that came for exhibition at the Shell RA on July 9, 2018, which so far worked on a selected innovative scheme include: Arch-Deacon Brown

Educational Centre (ABEC) now managed by Ibim Semenitari which showcased a sewage conversion/purification machine; Bloombreed High School run by wife of a former Shell MD which presented a hydro-electric wheel; Brookstone International Secondary School which unveiled an electro-irrigation machine; Bishop Crowther Memorial Secondary School with a mini hydroelectric generator that supplies light too; Jephthah Comprehensive Secondary School which came with a Bio-Gas production system; and Oginigba Comprehensive School which showcased a hydro-electric water filtration machine that also used water to generate electricity.

Some important organisations that graced the STEM exhibition include Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) and British Council. The slogan on the lips of most persons at the sexhibition is solving tomorrow’s problem, now.

Alarm over beat plastics pollution The professor, Arthur Essaghah, made earthshattering revelations in his paper that often makes waves at scientific exhibitions and global environment seminars especially where the new threat, plastics, is being reviewed.

He described the Earth as home to humanity where humans were mere guests. He however said humans seem to be bad guests that love to go against every single rule. “It is said that the fight against poverty and drive to create prosperity cannot succeed without a healthy environment”.

Rapid growth, rapid threat The professor went into history and revealed that plastics were first produced in 1907 but commercial plastics were produced in 1950. Most plastics are not bio-degradable and so take up to 1000 years to decompost. Now, production has grown from 2 million

metric tonnes in 1950 to 355 million metric tones in 2016.

This is estimated to grow up to 2000 million metric tonnes by 2050. In fact, plastics in the oceans of the world would grow more than fish stock in the oceans, he said. This is where platics have been implicated in death of fish at sea.

The audience winced when he revealed that 500Bn platics bags are used per year as one million plastic bottles are bought per minute. The packaging industry is $370bn big as packaging alone contributes between 35 and 44 per cent use of plastics; 150m tonnes of platics are right now in the oceans with about 30,000 tonnes per km in the oceans.

Production of plastics has increased from seven per cent to 18, and out of 8.3Bn plastics produced, 6.3Bm or 79 per cent turns into waste and 40 per cet ends up in the oceans. This has been implicated in the poisoning of water and other aquatic resources.

Now, The students were infomed that the following additives during production of plastics were found by scientists to be harmful: Monomers of Polyurethanes (PUR), (PAN) & PVC are most hazardous. Monomers of PE, PP and polyvinyl acetate (PVA) are least hazardous; Solvents (e.g. methanol, cyclohexane); Initiators (potassium persulfate); Catalysts like ZnO & CuCl2 are toxic; Bisphenol-A (BPA) in water & baby bottles – BPA is an endocrine disruptor; Dioxins in PVC; Phthalates & other plasticizers (in PVC and other plastics) are endocrine disruptors; Styrene in taka-way containers – linked to respiratory/cancer problems; Antimony leachates cause diarrhea, vomiting and stomach ulcers.

Beyond poison: Beyond poison, the expert said beat plastics pollution leads to waste management challenges, thus: 22 per cent of plastic wastes get to landfills in developing countries; 10 per cent in Africa; up to 60-170m tonnes are left in streets/drains/streams; Lack of plastic waste policy & management systems; Lack of incentives/financial instruments/EPR; Plastics are not separated from other wastes; Weak management institutions & management systems; Sub-standard plastic bags (less than 20mm thick) is the bane of plastic waste problem; Poor collection, collation / sorting; Low plastic recycling; Challenges of recycling.

Handling of plastics is said to be lousy but this ranges from country to country. Less than 10 per cent of plastics waste ends up in dumpsites.

As a way out, the expert recommended many measures from global to community levels. Some of the suggestions include: Develop & enforce policies; Set plastic waste limits, DRSs, EPR; Set targets/incentives for recycling; Subsidies &tax credits for recycling; Ban on plastic bag; Use of bio-based plastics; and building new habbits such as buying more of biodegradable plastics, reducing use of plastics, etc.

Sunday 15 July 2018

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Feature

Drug abuse: What regulators can learn from tobacco control LANRE ODUSILE

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igeria has a population estimated at 198 million, according to the National Population Commission. Out of this number, more than 60% are below the age of 30.

Business leaders and government functionaries often tout Nigeria’s huge youth population as a huge resource base for businesses, particularly in the context of investment opportunities, consumption and manpower.

Sadly, it does not seem enough is being done to harness the potential and indeed safeguard the future of this very important segment of the nation’s demography.

Poor funding and infrastructural decay in the educational system over time, misplaced curricula and insufficient technical and vocational schools are contributory factors to a youth population mostly lacking adequate skills for the workplace. The result is the high level of unemployment and underemployment among the youth, which the National Bureau of Statistics puts at 52.65%. This is particularly dire among the northern states that also have the lowest levels of literacy.

As the world faces an alarmingly increasing spate of drug abuse, particularly the abuse of opioids and other prescription drugs in recent times, the state of forced idleness among youths in Nigeria makes them a ready target. And opioid abuse has indeed reached such frightening proportions in some states in Nigeria. Opioids are drugs that act on the nervous system to relieve pain. The more common opioids in Nigeria include codeine and tramadol, but opioids also include other prescription pain relievers such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine, etc.

However, it is instructive to note that tobacco, taken mostly in the form of cigarettes, does not suffer the kind of unfettered access and abuse currently prevalent with opioids and other narcotics.

A documentary recently released by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on the abuse of codeine through excessive consumption of cough syrups containing the substance claimed that 3 million bottles of codeineladen cough syrups are consumed per day in just two states in Nigeria. A senator from Kano, Ahmed Lawan, also disclosed at a Senate plenary that 3 million bottles of codeine-laden cough syrups are consumed daily in Nigeria.

Isaac Adewole

The revelation by the BBC subsequently provoked a ban on the production and importation of codeine syrup by the Federal Government as well as the suspension of operations of three pharmaceutical companies that were fingered in the documentary by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Many observers have noted that these actions are insufficient to tackle a deep seated problem that is multifaceted and transcends the abuse of codeine. For instance the opioid pain reliever Tramadol is also grossly abused for its hallucinogenic effect when taken in high quantities as indicated by Biola Paul-Ozieh, the National Chairman, Lagos Chapter of the Association of Community Pharmacists in Nigeria. A National daily on the 27th of March, 2018 reported that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), seized 159million tablets of tramadol at the Apapa ports. In the report, the Director, Technical Services of the agency, Mr. Femi Oloruntoba, was quoted as saying that 50 tonnes of tramadol were recently destroyed in Kano State alone. While accurate estimates may not be available, the spate of seizures across the country by the NDLEA points to a very dire situation. Tramadol can be purchased across the counter in pharmacies or patent medicine stores. It is also a readily available item in street traders’ wares.

Youth addiction, which cuts across gender, economic or social status, location and levels of

literacy or education also extends to other substances such as cannabis, vulcanisers’ gum, and many other cocktails that are peddled on the streets commonly known as ‘’shepe’’. This is in addition to the reported practice of sniffing the fumes, consisting mainly of methane gas from pit toilets or underground sewage pits.

Any strategy to tackle this menace holistically must provide the long-term solutions to the underlying causes as well as the short-term solutions that will address the immediate problems of poor regulation and control of the supply, availability and consumption of these drugs.

The long term solutions include getting the youths productively engaged in profitable ventures or businesses, whether as entrepreneurs or employees. This requires a revamp of the nation’s educational system by providing

Tobacco production, distribution and consumption are highly regulated in Nigeria in line with the National Tobacco Control Act 2015 (NTCA), which established a National Tobacco Committee and a Tobacco Control Unit

adequate facilities and staffing complement; the review and update of the educational curriculum to remove obsolete content and faulty mindsets/premises and replace them with elements that are more suited to current realities, along with the reintroduction of technical and vocational schools. This will ensure the grooming of youths that are readily employable at different positions in the workplace.

Unregulated access to these drugs is, however, the biggest problem as the drugs are freely available in unregulated open markets such as those at Idumota, Onitsha Bridgehead and Sabongari in Kano. Besides, the drugs are accessible without a doctor’s prescription.

Achieving employability of the youths is only useful in-so-far as there are employment opportunities. This calls for purposeful leadership in government and even the business domain to create job opportunities. There must be a proper and coherent policy direction and implementation that will create business and job opportunities for the teeming population. For instance, policies driving improvements in agricultural output by farmers must be complemented by improvements in transport infrastructure to reduce wastages or spoilage in transit as well as policies driving the provision of better storage processing facilities.

Achieving effective regulation of the prescription drugs/opioids market may not be far-fetched as the regulator can easily imbibe the success so far recorded in the effective regulation of the tobacco industry.

Tobacco production, distribution and consumption are highly regulated in Nigeria in line with the National Tobacco Control Act 2015 (NTCA), which established a National Tobacco Committee and a Tobacco Control Unit. The Act also spells out the management of sundry regulatory issues such as prohibition of smoking in public places; duties of persons who own or control public spaces; prohibition of tobacco advertising promotion and sponsorship; prohibition of sale or access to tobacco products by persons below the age of 18; and penalties for non-compliance to each of these provisions.

More importantly, the tobacco industry has long implemented a strict regime of self-regulation. It does not advertise its products on mass media; neither does it sell to anyone below 18 years of age.

In addition, the Act regulates

the standard of tobacco products, content and emission disclosure; product packaging and labeling, licensing of tobacco dealers, enforcement powers of the regulatory committee; and very importantly, advocacy in the form of education, communication, training and public awareness.

Therefore addressing the immediate problem of poor regulation and control of opioids and other narcotic substances could require the creation of a national policy on their regulation and control. This policy or act could prescribe the establishment of a multi-dimensional regulatory unit that may comprise elements from the Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, NDLEA and the Nigeria Customs Service. This agency will be empowered to monitor and control the importation and production of these substances, their supply and distribution within Nigeria as well as their availability. For instance prohibition of sale to persons below the age of 18 must be enacted and enforced. Apparently, the current regulatory regime appears not to have this challenge adequately.

I n c o n t r o l l i n g a v a i l a b i l i t y, street trading of all drugs must be banned and a task force should be established and empowered to ensure compliance. This would drastically reduce availability of illicit drugs as well as abuse of medicines as they will be obtainable only from pharmacies and registered patent medicine stores. Also, just as it is applicable with tobacco, the sale of all identified opiates to persons below the age of 18 should be prohibited.

However, if all these regulations are not backed with enforcement it is really a waste of time and resources as it would not curb the menace but would make the situation go from bad to worse very rapidly.

Public advocacy is also very critical at this stage. Nigerians, especially the youths, must be educated on the dangers of drug abuse as well as in indulging in its illicit trade. The education, communication, training and public awareness model of the NTCA can be mirrored in taking awareness of the dangers of drug abuse to the public. Government should co-opt schools and places of worship, where youths can be easily approached as well as include public places such as markets, motor parks, mechanic villages, etc where scores of vulnerable youth congregate in sizeable numbers.

Lanre Odusile, is a public health communications specialist based in Lagos.

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Sunday 15 July 2018

Feature Uyo: The making of a modern city ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

I

n the last couple of years, Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State in the Niger Delta region of the country has emerged as a modern city with a good network of roads as one of its major unique selling points. This enviable status did not happen overnight. It has been a result of consistent planning, investment and implementation of physical and urban renewal programmes and policies observers say. This has seen Uyo being transformed into one of the most preferred destinations due to its excellent road infrastructure.

Prior to 1999 when the country returned to democratic rule, the master plan of the city had been developed by Obong Victor Attah, one-time president of Nigerian Institute of Architects who later became the governor between 1999 and 2007. This helped in no small measure in developing the bird’s eye view of the kind of roads that would be developed as well as the design for the three ring roads that the city has become to be identified with.

So When Obong Attah eventually became governor, it was not difficult for him to implement the master plan he had designed and thus began the process of developing the road network of the city. Seen as the father of modern Akwa Ibom State, it was Attah who built the airport road, began the construction of the airport itself and set the stage for opening up Akwa Ibom to the outside world as it were.

It was his administration that also started the construction of the Olusegun Obasanjo way which was then known as Abak road and successfully laid the foundation for the emergence of Uyo as a city that cannot be ignored in terms of good roads.

Though his administration adopted the philosophy of patronising local civil engineering contractors in road construction as a way of building their capacities, finally it paid off handsomely though with much criticism.

Enter former governor Godswill Akpabiowho came on board between 2007 and 2015, his programme of uncommon transformation brought a new verve to the development of roads with bridges and flyovers that had never been seen in the city before. With the money that was available due to the high prices of crude oil, it was not difficult for the Akpabio administration to hire five star contractors as he would say and

was able to turn the city into a concentric circle of roads and flyovers.

Akpabio had served under Obong Attah as commissioner spending more than seven years as a member of the state executive council and using the opportunity to map out strategies on how the city and its network of roads would be developed.

So within one year of his governorship, Akpabio was able to turn the city into a delight starting first with a major highway linking the state capital to the Calabar-Itu highway. It must be noted here that prior to that moment, business travellers to Lagos, Abuja or outside the state had to travel to Calabar to board a flight.

And travelling on a deplorable road from Uyo on the tortuous Calabar-Itu highway which has not been constructed despite repeated promises by the federal government was never a pleasant experience.

So by first constructing the link road, Akpabio began his aggressive pursuit of road development and by the time left office in 2015, Akwa Ibom had become known for quality roads and the transformation that had been the trademark of his administration.

In same vein, enter governor Udom Emmanuel in 2015 whose five point agenda including infrastructure consolidation, he did not only continue with the construction of roads. He took it to another level by doing both inter local government roads and inner city roads. In fact, many had thought that the development of physical infrastructure would

no longer take the centre stage.

How wrong they were.

First, his administration saw to the completion of the abandoned Eket-Ibeno, a major road leading to the operational base of ExxonMobil in Ibeno, thus opening up the coasting axis of the state and putting paid to the controversy that surrounded the road.

Apart from development roads linking one local government area to the other, the Udom administration has turned its attention to the construction of internal roads within the city to the extent that areas that were never considered accessible have now been turned into cosmopolitan areas with good internal roads. For instance, the area around Efiong Udo Akpan street, behind Wellington Bassey way, the heart of the city, the area has now been fully transformed with good roads.

As the Udom administration

So within one year of his governorship, Akpabio was able to turn the city into a delight starting first with a major highway linking the state capital to the Calabar-Itu highway

marked its third anniversary, it seems to have acquitted itself in the area of roads and infrastructure creditably pointing out that it has completed over 700 kilometres of roads, 17 bridges and done the second runway at Ibom international airport as well as completed the state secretariat annex housing the ministry of works and other departments.

What appears to have worked significantly well for the Udom administration in this sector seems to be the commissioner in charge of the ministry of works, Ephraim Inyang who has been able to translate the vision of the state government in the area of roads construction into reality.

The commissioner virtually traverses all the nooks and crannies of the state supervising the construction of roads in all the three senatorial districts of the state, from faraway places like Ini local government to the coastal areas of Oron and Ibeno, he has been the driving force behind the vision of the governor in the development of the basic physical infrastructure like roads and bridges. And so the new face of Uyo as a city with good roads can also be due to the hard work and drive of the commissioner.

Inyang believes the state is not only constructing roads but doing roads meant to link economic centres and help in the evacuation of goods and services from the hinterland so that all the local government areas could be linked good roads.

Inokootong Emmanuel, a businessman in Uyo says the

contribution of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Nsima Ekere, an indigene of the state as the managing director has also helped in more ways to turning the city into a modern city. Though there have been issues on the need for better coordination between the commission and the state government, nothing seems lost in getting the best for the state.

“The construction of road is a continuous process, from one administration to another, I would like to score Uyo high as having one of the best road networks in the south south region of the country,’’ he said.

His remarks appear to support a view expressed by a recent visitor to one of the states in the south east of the country who came back screaming that, roads in that state capital are like hell, saying that motorists go tough time commuting daily in the city centre.

The beauty of the good road network in Uyo is that it is possible for people to commute from many local government areas to the state capital on well paved and tarred roads.

A recent visitor to Uyo who came to attend saocial event while driving from the airport to the city did not fail to be amazed by the array of roads connecting one part of the town to the other and particularly the beauty of the airport road which is complete with street lights. “This city has good roads,’’ he said.

From the quality of roads in Uyo, it seems Uyo residents and indeed the people of Akwa Ibom State are taking for granted what others in other state capitals mostly those in the oil producing region of the country are experiencing in terms of bad roads.

While there are some who would want the state government to play down on the construction of roads and focus on other sectors, it is highly unlikely that this would be the case as several other major road projects including the dual carriage way from Uyo to Eket and another from Etinan to Ndon Eyo linking the east west road are already set for completion.

There is also an ongoing road project from the airport road to Oron.

If one were to take his mind back to 1986 about three decades ago when Uyo was the state capital of the then Cross River State, one can appreciate the rapid transformation that has taken place in the city.

Though it is said that Rome was not built in a day, the transformation of roads in the last few years had been quite noticeable.

Thanks to good road network.

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Feature Improving lives of children in the north OBINNA EMELIKE

A

s the hot early morning sun rises above the bustling city of Kaduna, artisans could be seen trooping along the popular Ibrahim Taiwo Road and eager young children with slates and bags chatting heartily on their way to school.

The sight of school children in this part of the country is a delight as more than half of children of school age are out of school, and most families live in abject poverty. Desert encroachment is forcing many families including artisans to relocate to cities like Kaduna thereby overpopulating schools in the city.

It is common knowledge that most communities in Northern Nigeria are overwhelmed with poverty and hunger causing them to gradually lose their sense of self which has led to broken societies where child welfare is no longer a concern.

Millions of children are fighting disease, poor nutrition, neglect, poor or no accommodation, and different forms of abuse, with devastating effect. Poverty and poor living conditions are forcing many children out of school, which is contributing to a growing number of street children. The 2013/2014 Annual School Census (ASC) conducted by the Kaduna Ministry of Education shows that student enrolment slightly increased in private Pre-Primary, Primary, JSS and SSS schools by 12.7 percent, 8.5 percent, 7.9 percent and 8.4 percent respectively and the public JSS, and SSS by 36.2 percent and 47.3 percent respectively, while slightly decreased in Pre-Primary and Primary by 2.8 percent and 2.4 percent respectively.

Some corporate organisations are taking the interventionist approach to bridge the gap by partnering with international agencies to get children back to school and improve the living conditions of families in the North.

A decade ago, Access Bank in partnership with Fifth Chukker and UNICEF began a partnership, which has raised funds towards protecting children in communities in Kaduna. These are vulnerable children who have become destitute as a result of disease and violence.

Access Bank holds a yearly Charity Polo tournament in a bid to strengthen the capacity of community-based organisations, families and communities who protect and provide care to these children, through a dedicated day of fundraising.

The Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield Polo tournament takes place at Fifth Chukker Polo & Country Club, Kangimi Resort, Kaduna, culminating in a final day, called ‘Access Day’, which will take place at The Guards Polo Ground, Windsor, UK. The Tournament brings together national and international polo players who come to play for a cause worth fighting for.

With each year this event gains momentum, highlighting the struggle of these three organisations as they try to build futures for the vulnerable children of Nigeria. The high profile event also increasingly acts as a platform for influential individuals to convene, discuss solutions and drive fundraising for this worthy cause.

Herbert Wigwe, group managing director/CEO of Access Bank Plc., points out that Access Bank is committed to enhancing communities through empowering individuals to forge their own paths. According to him, the bank provides financial support through a continuing emphasis on sustainable banking and financial inclusion.

“Our partnership reflects a commitment to enriching the lives of Nigerians and an acknowledgement of the impact

“The drive to succeed and contribute to communities starts with safe, healthy and well-educated children. These are the children who will grow up to take tomorrow and give back significantly to the older generations who raised them, leading to better societies in the future” the UNICEF Charity Shield initiative has had on the lives of the targeted children in Kaduna State and its environs, he explains.

The drive to succeed and contribute to communities starts with safe, healthy and well-educated children. These are the children who will grow up to take tomorrow and give back significantly to the older generations who raised them, leading to better societies in the future.”

In 2006, care and support services were provided to 240 orphans and vulnerable

children in six focus Local Government Areas and 12 focus communities of Kaduna State. The benefit and impact of the interventions on the focus communities has been huge as many children have been put in school and their quality of lives improved.

Since 2006, the reach has been increased. The partnership has helped UNICEF to support over 12,500 children with scholarships, construction of bore holes in communities, toilet facilities in schools and renovation of dilapidated class rooms, all resulting in increased enrolment of children at schools and significantly improved hygiene standards.

The partnership has increasingly generated public awareness on issues affecting orphans, and created space for community members to discuss issues that negatively affect children especially the Orphans and Vulnerable.

Manuel Rossini, UNICEF Country Representative, who was part of the high profile crowd that witnessed the opening ceremony, thank Access bank and other partners for being there for Nigerian children over the years.

“We are hoping to get more children needing support especially the girl child into schools” says Rossini who made a passionate appeal to corporate and individual bodies to lend a hand by donating

to the charity effort.

“We have no doubt created the space for a lot of them to enjoy their rights to education through this partnership, but we aim to seek more community participation to achieve greater results”.

In addition to the children who are being cared for, the partnership is positively impacting on more than 20,000 people directly or indirectly benefitting from the services rendered in the focus communities and their neighbours. Caregivers have been properly trained and are further developing their basic health, nutrition and hygiene skills by caring for orphans and other children in the community. This partnership has enabled the community to learn enormously about the importance of proper hygiene and this partnership has had a positive domino effect on various groups in local communities including adults and the elderly.

The support has improved the level of education of children in the communities reducing crime rates and cutting down significantly the number of children on the streets. The renovated classrooms have become havens for children who desire to learn and pursue their dreams.

Having seen the positive impact the partnership has on the focus communities, Wigwe pledges his Bank’s continuous support to sustain the project and reach out to more communities who are yet to benefit from the project.

“UNICEF is committed to working with Access Bank and Fifth Chukker to promote children’s rights. Together, we will continue to make a difference for the under privileged children and families in Kaduna State, other parts of northern Nigeria and throughout Nigeria,” he says.

In addition, Wigwe says Access Bank is maintaining its yearly donation of N10m in support of UNICEF towards its projects for orphans and vulnerable children. For him, the Bank is continually seeking avenues through which more resources can be pooled towards supporting the children “We have been working in Kaduna, in collaboration with Fifth Chukker Polo & Country Resort and UNICEF to elevate quality of lives. We need to do a lot more in support of these orphans and vulnerable children to enable them look forward to a better tomorrow,” he adds.

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Takeaways from Thailand cave rescue episode

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Sunday 15 July 2018

TAYO OGUNBIYI Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

O

n June 23, 12 young footballers aged between 11 and 16 and their 25-year-old coach ventured into the Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand and became trapped when heavy rains flooded the cave.

They were reported missing a few hours later and search operations began immediately.

However, attempts to find them were hindered by rising water levels within the cave system and no contact was made with them for about 11 days. After great efforts, British divers discovered the boys and their coach.

After days of pumping water from the cave system and a respite from rain, four of the boys were rescued on 8th July while the rest were rescued by10th July. Over 1,000 people were involved in the rescue operation, including Thai Navy SEALs, volunteers and technical assistance teams from multiple countries.

The delicate nature of the operation made a rescue chief at one point dubbed it ‘Operation Mission Impossible’. Conditions were so dangerous that a retired

Thai Navy SEAL, 38 year old Saman Kunan, died in the process.

Wild jubilation erupted across the world upon news of a successful rescue operation. President Donald Trump describes it as a “beautiful moment” in human history while German Chancellor, Angela Merkel described it as “a wonderful message” to a hurting world. British Prime Minister Theresa May sees it as an ‘amazing triumph’.

The SEALs who were central to the rescue effort revealed on their Facebook page, “We are not sure if this is a miracle, a science, or what. But what is sure is that all the boys and their coach are now out of the cave.”

Also, Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) offers to convey the boys and their coach to Moscow to watch the final game of ongoing Russia 2018 World Cup. Presently, the 12 boys and their coach are quarantined in a local medical facility where they are being appropriately observed by medics. Now that the rescue operation is over, it is pertinent to draw a few lessons from this highly intriguing episode. The first and, perhaps, most vital deduction is what can be achieved in the world when mankind is united, irrespective of language, tribal, cultural and other such differences.

Though the recue team that embarked on the dangerous and deadly mission was multina-

tional in composition, it had only one mission in mind: To rescue the boys and their coach alive.

To achieve this, their language and cultural barriers never really mattered. What really mattered was their primary mission.

Indeed, there was such a global agreement on the urgency of the rescue effort that American entrepreneur, Elon Musk, had to fly to Thailand with a mini submarine and an offer to help in any way he could. The lesson herein is that there is no global crisis that cannot be surmounted when mankind is united to confront it.

Another message worthy of note is the amazing courage and bravery of the boys and their coach to stay alive in the face of such life-threatening condition. Also tied to this is the courage of the rescue team to dare the odds, even at the risk of their own lives.

What a wonderful message of gallantry and perseverance! Incredibly strong is, probably, the best way to describe the boys’ hazardous staying power and eventual escape passage. In an increasingly tough world where socio-economic conditions are becoming quite harsh, the boys have taught us a vital lesson in perseverance and relentless survival instinct. It was amazing to see them in a flickering video smiling and giving the victory sign when they were found 10 days after being declared missing.

The high sense of responsibility demonstrated by their 25-year-old coach, who was trapped in the cave for 18 days with the boys, is equally admirable. In a letter he sent to parents of the kids from the cave, he promised to look after them even at the risk of his life. He also apologized to the parents for whatever trauma they might have gone through in view of the incidence. This is a huge lesson for political leaders, especially in Africa.

Back home in Nigeria, one very considerable point that we need to really take home from the incidence is the need to attach huge value to human lives. So much blood has been spilled in the land that it seems no longer a big deal. Sadly, we seem to be getting used to a stereotyped form of response to bloodletting. First, different people pay visits to sights of gruesome murderous acts, commensurate with those involved, promise heavens and earth until there is another incidence when the whole circle is repeated all over again. The Thailand cave episode is a veritable template for us on the need to review our attitude to the sanctity of human life. The truth is that without the people there can be no nation.

Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

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Sunday 15 July 2018

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NWAMAKA ONYEMELUKWE Onyemelukwe is public affairs and communications manager, The Coca-Cola Company, Nigeria.

F

ootball evokes passion.

It has a magical quality that brings the strangest of bedfellows together. It transcends religion, political inclination, tribe and gender, and more so in Nigeria where the love for the beautiful game is almost unrivalled.

On Tuesday, the 26th of June, 2018, Nigeria played Argentina in our last Group Match at the 22nd FIFA World Cup held in Russia. On a day like that one, it was not uncommon to see men from different ethnic groups grip each other, gasp in unison and clench their fists in united prayer for the success for a shared team.

Tuesday’s match was spectacular. Our boys lost, but they played with so much heart and might that, while disappointed, we could not help but be filled with pride. “To serve with heart and might”, a line from our national song, sung with hands on chest, earnestly promising service in all areas of life, including football.

But football is more than just sports. It has evolved into a powerful ecosystem that captivates the world, controls a good part of the economy, ultimately driving development.

Football means different things to different people. For the young, it means energy and TELDAH MAWARIRE Mawarire is an advocacy and campaigns officer with CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance.

D

uring a recent phone call with a Tanzanian journalist and human rights activist whom I know well, many of my questions were met with uncharacteristic silence.

My friend is bold, plucky, and usually talkative. But on this occasion, politics was too dangerous for her to discuss. With Tanzania’s journalists being threatened, assaulted, and kidnapped, our conversation remained confined to the mundane.

Tanzania, one of Africa’s most stable democracies is sliding toward authoritarianism. For months, President John Magufuli has been targeting his political opponents, attacking journalists, and closing news outlets. While his moves have drawn international criticism, Magufuli continues his assault on free speech and political rights.

Tanzanians are being silenced like never before, and the world should be very worried.

Until recently, Tanzanians believed their country was headed in the opposite direction. After taking office in late 2015, Magufuli introduced a reform-oriented agenda that earned him high praise. Among

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To serve with heart and mind: Leveraging football for economic development role models – individuals channelling energy and passion into what they love, while making the nation proud. For low-income families, it is an avenue through which they can be liberated from poverty and an escape to possibilities, a better alternative to drugs and crime, especially for those living in hostile environments with little opportunities for growth. For the elderly elite, a game of football is time-out for relaxation and a spur to get back into the game. To all, it offers a moment for connection and the medium for teaching lifelong lessons on the importance of teamwork, hard work and dedication. Besides, it helps keep hope alive when circumstances around them suggests otherwise.

Gbagada, Lagos’ periurban city, is a perfect example of football’s worth in lifting youth from poverty and engaging for a brighter future. The neighbourhood, renowned for its modest development, has also been vastly associated with unrivalled talent in the game. Boasting the birthplace of some of Nigeria’s greatest names, including Obafemi Martins, Segun Fetuga, and Godwin Opara, it is revered as the place where footballers are made. With a significant number of community football competitions hosted there annually, for

the youth, Gbagada has produced exceptional talents that have gone on to represent the country globally, positioning Nigeria as a force to reckon with, on the world stage. In fact, the simmering football potential in the area has attracted the attention of corporate organizations such as Coca-Cola that partnered with the Lagos State government to deliver a world-class sports facility worth millions of naira. The Araromi Youth Development Centre was commissioned by none other than the deputy governor of Lagos State, Her Excellency, Idiat Oluranti Adebule earlier this year.

If these initiatives were not implemented, we would have higher crime and drug abuse rates, worse unemployment indices and fewer athletes to represent us internationally. With these opportunities, a chain of growth activities is activated – young people see beyond destructive living to potential for success; the passion pushes them to work harder and encourage each other for greater heights.

As they are recognised locally and internationally, rewarded financially for their work, they can support struggling families, contribute positively to the nation’s reputation and draw tourists and financiers alike to invest in the

development of the country’s resources. A series of economic activities will be triggered – from tourism, ticket and refreshments sales to exclusive broadcasting rights and sponsorship deals that help increase income levels and, eventually, growth.

Coca-Cola understands this.

That is why, since 1978, we have sponsored the World Cup, being fully aware of its importance for connection, individual growth and economic development.

In January, we committed to a $4-million, five-year deal as the official soft drink and co-sponsor of the national teams and, along with our sponsorship, selected seven teenagers to be flag-bearers during the games. Each of them testified to the impact of this opportunity on their lives. As a unique and exciting experience for them, each moment was an eye-opener to life beyond their current situations – an expanded worldview, new friends and on-the-ground knowledge of the history and culture of a different country. We keep working to ensure that these experiences are less of a rarity in the lives of the youth.

Copa Coca-Cola, a grassroots football tournament we have run since 1997, is another indication of our commitment to this cause.

With Copa Coca-Cola, the aim is

to create the world’s largest and most inclusive football grassroots programme. Through national tournaments and international training camps under this initiative, we are helping many exceptionallytalented players get scouted, recruited and deployed to represent their countries, and even international clubs. Wilfred Ndidi, who plays for Leicester in the English Premiership, is a shining example of how Copa Coca-Cola helps to shape lives. Ndidi’s football career took a big leap after competing in Copa Coca-Cola, as it provided him visibility, contributing to his recruitment to the Nigerian Under-20 team, the Golden Eaglets, and subsequently Leicester.

Indeed, it is for such reasons as this that the United Nations has recognised the role of sports, especially football, in achieving seven of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The ability to leverage the power of football to unite, connect, and implement initiatives that support the development of talents is critical, if we are to truly drive youth development in Nigeria.

At Coca-Cola, we will continue to support such initiatives and partner with the relevant stakeholders to serve and give hope to those who desperately need it.

Football does just that.

the rules, other bloggers voluntarily followed suit.

Media outlets are not the only victims of Magufuli’s crackdown; civil-society organizations are also being targeted. For example, in late 2017, the government began what it called an NGO “verification” exercise, ostensibly to update the federal database of non-governmental organizations, but more likely aimed at curtailing the number of groups operating beyond government control. Registration was so costly and time-consuming that many organizations were forced to choose between closing and operating illegally.

African governments have joineddozensofcivil-societygroups in calling for Magufuli to reverse course. But at the moment, an atmosphere of impunity is emboldening those intent on silencing human rights defenders, journalists, and opposition leaders. In April, efforts to organize anti-government protests were met with official threats and intimidation. One police official even warned that anyone who ignored the government’s ban on demonstrating would be “beaten like stray dogs.”

Such threats come amid a surge in political violence. In September 2017, for example, Tundu Lissu, an

outspoken government critic, was shot during a failed assassination attempt. Two months later, Azory Gwanda, a freelance journalist who wrote several news stories about the murders of local officials and police officers, was abducted and is still missing. And in February, machete-wielding assailants murdered opposition politician Godfrey Luena outside his home.

Why are Magufuli and his supporters so intent on stifling dissent?

Some analysts believe the president is attempting to cement power for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party. Others argue that Magufuli’s anti-corruption drive pushed CCM elites into the arms of the opposition, and that his political survival depends on removing the threat they now pose.

Whatever the reason, there is no excuse for government-sanctioned attacks on freedom of expression, association, and assembly. Two years ago, Magufuli – who is known as “The Bulldozer” – came to office vowing to end graft and curb wasteful government spending. As noble as these goals are, they will be overshadowed if he continues his campaign against those who entrusted him with their hopes.

Tanzania’s illiberal tilt his initiatives was a campaign to redirect public spending to fight cholera, and a payroll audit to identify “ghost workers” – non-existent government employees who drain some $2 million from the budget every month. The private sector was not spared with mining companies being accused of under paying their taxes. In fact, Magufuli’s anticorruption efforts were so popular that many Tanzanians viewed their president as the epitome of morality; on social media, the hashtag #WhatWouldMagufuliDo went viral.

But today, that hashtag has become a parody. In banning protests, closing media organizations, and cracking down on his critics, Magufuli has shown Tanzanians, who have never had a strongman leader, that he intends to follow in the footsteps of the many the region has known.

Magufuli’s assault on press freedom has been particularly troubling.

In June 2017, authorities ordered the popular Swahili language newspaper Mawio to cease publication for two years, after it ran a story about tax evasion by local mining companies. The article named former Tanzanian presidents Benjamin Mkapa and Jakaya Kikwete, which the government claimed was a

violation of the Media Services Act of 2016.

Then, in January, five prominent television stations were fined for airing a statement by the Legal and Human Rights Center regarding possible rights violations during local elections last year.

Havingmuzzledtraditionalnews organizations, the state then set its sights on online media. In March, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority began requiring bloggers and digital publishers to register with the government and pay a $920 license fee. The Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations also require Internet cafes to install surveillance cameras, and bloggers to report on-site visitors and other operational details. Anyone who posts content that is deemed to “cause annoyance, threatens harm or evil, encourages or incites crimes,” or jeopardizes “national security or public health and safety” can have their costly license revoked.

Tanzania’s High Court has issued a temporary injunction blocking the new regulations; nonetheless, the government is still getting its way.

For example, after the influential online whistleblower site Jamii Forums stopped publishing in midJune because it was in violation of

(c): Project Syndicate

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Sunday 15 July 2018

Perspective Who speaks for the Fulani boy with the cattle?

OKEZIE VICTOR IKPEAZU is the governor of Abia State

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ike every other Nigerian, I am deeply appalled and genuinely concerned over the horrific and merciless bloodletting being unleashed on the citizenry by the Fulani herdsmen. The truth is also evident that Nigeria’s security architecture as presently constituted is at its wits end or pretending to be, over whose mandatory responsibility it is to deal decisively with the herdsmen jigsaw.

In light of these realities, however, my narrative in this endeavour will seek to slightly differ as I draw and zero in on what I consider a historical neglect, which I am persuaded to believe has become the albatross of the herdsmen menace.

The ingredient of my sincere submission, therefore, is anchored on the disdainful and serial neglect of the Fulani boy by the national government and multiplicity of our Fulani nationality elites who, as it were, would have written their names in gold by advocating a change in the way and manner their nomads tend to cattle. Change, they say, is the only constant thing in life.

If providence smiles on you, the expectation is that you will generously pass it on to some members of the society you represent.

As I script this piece, some of our Fulani brothers globetrotting and bestriding blue-chip companies will gratefully recall their frightening past which was bleak and fraught with hopelessness, until God turned the hand of the clock.

We delight in the vanity and fantasies of playing tin-god and lord of the manor, while our growing Fulani young ones are indoctrinated and radicalized into believing that their destinies and chances of making the much-expected difference are foreclosed. At best, they are conscripted and charged to maim, kill and destroy perceived political and business enemies and, by extension, host communities whose farmlands and sources of livelihood they end up destroying.

Islam, we are told, is a religion of peace and it beats my imagination why these virtues are not being inculcated in these young and upcoming adherents. No argument or explanation will rationalize the violent response of a herdsman

and his collaborating traducers to every assumed or established cattle theft in any host community, rather than toeing the noble path of peaceful settlement. Our enlightened Fulani brothers should, therefore, soberly look inwards, swallow their pride and strategically seek to jointly establish how the interest of their herdsmen brothers can be best promoted without having to keep constituting a nuisance here and there. Indeed, whatever and however the herdsmen act is usually deemed to have dovetailed from the dispositions and insinuations of their elite leaders. The Fulani elite, therefore, have urgent need to change this perception through a deliberate and resolute determination to end the catastrophic orientation of the herdsmen. The sophisticated arms and ammunitions possessed and deployed by the herdsmen are certainly procured and availed to them by some persons above their intellectual background and capacity.

My joy will know no bounds if paymasters of that rustic Fulani boy is provoked by this honest and sincere submission into accepting his obvious failure for not doing enough to better the life of these boys, rather than this despicable delight of using them to make us the laughing stock of the world community.

Let us be pertinently mindful of the truism that nobody has the monopoly of violence and people will naturally react most times in dimensions and proportions with horrific consequences when pushed to the wall, and silence, they say, may not always be cowardice.

Herdsmen in exchange for their cows also access foods cultivated and produced in other parts of the country. If at every slightest provocation those consuming the cows are heartlessly decimated, one wonders who will be left to consume the cows.

The Middle Belt states, largely held to be the major contributors to Nigeria’s food production needs, have become the most affected in the ongoing disregard for the sanctity of human life. Recall the identifying acronym of Benue State as “the food basket of the nation”. It is evidently not for nothing given their richness in agricultural products which include but not limited to yam, rice, beans, cassava, sweet potato, maize, soybean, sorghum, millet, sesame, cocoyam, etc.

My science-oriented background has taught me to know, and rightly so too, that their ized by tropical ferruginous types derived from crystalline rocks with an appreciable quantity of ferromagnesium minerals. The farming cultivation and production comfort in this regard is that the

area allows for participation in both the grain-based and the yam-based economies derivable from the northern part of Benue and the yam cultivation-based economies of the south. This advantageous ecological position permits and facilitates year-round farming activity, contrary to the shifting cultivation which obtains in the South-East.

Interestingly too, choice of farmland in the agrarian Tiv enclave is determined by proximity to the compound, the implication of which is that compounds are part and parcel of the farms with provision for kitchen gardens where large proportion of the vegetables are grown. Consequently, therefore, our Tiv brothers reside in their farms, making any herders dislodgement colossally disastrous.

Plateau State, which is currently reeling from the heartless massacre of over 200 souls for unsubstantiated case of missing 300 cows, is highly conducive for the cultivation of varieties of fruits: tomatoes, vegetables, onions, sweet potatoes and Irish potatoes. Studies have shown that Benue, Nasarawa and Jigawa are the largest producers of sesame.

Down south, the easterners and their western counterparts are still adding taste and value to our economic well-being, following from their constant cultivation and production of palm oil, cocoa, cassava, yam, plantains, bananas and so on.

I sincerely empathize and share in the president’s desire for us to proffer a workable and nationally-accepted recipe to the herdsmen malady. But first, he may have to begin by showing enough commitment in terms of roundly condemning these murderous monsters with a view to winning the people’s confidence in his ability and sincerity to restore peace in the Nigerian polity. The contradictory claim of saying that herdsmen are Libyan militias and in the same vein advising Nigerians to give up their ancestral lands to foreigners

for ranches is too suspicious to be desired.

I have to humbly observe that some of the positions so far churned out were not well panel-beaten with a view to conscientiously accommodating all shades of opinions.

First was grazing reserves and routes which are not anything different from cattle colonies as latter bandied. The multiplicity of angst and rejection which greeted the idea of cattle colonies and reserves as initially advanced took us back to the drawing board.

Acquisition of lands for ranches as currently being considered ultimately involves giving up of lands. But the note of caution is that the peculiarities of states in matters concerning land must be seriously considered and accorded well-deserved priority attention in any peace-anticipated policy formulation for dealing with this matter in our country today.

One of the inhibitions discouraging the willingness of my itinerant Igbo brothers from retiring home to invest borders on scarcity of land.

Other ethnic nationalities and geo-political zones are naturally feasting on this challenge to gainfully play host to our numerous entrepreneurial Igbo brothers who are desirous of a conducive and convivial environment to invest and express their wealth of business know-how.

Given the obvious reality that cattle business is predominantly a private concern, I will advise that we refrain from tinkering with contentious solutions that will aggravate an already bad situation.

My panacea of choice is for us to rise from the ruins of this herdsmen/farmers’ clashes to acquire and cultivate pro-vitamins species of the appropriate grass for our cattle in the vast Sahel of the North East. Our response, therefore, should be towards the establishment of large feed-stock derived from the cultivation of the huge expanse of land in the north. We can replace

desert encroachment with lush green fields for the benefit of our cattle economy. Israel has done it, and there is certainly no reason Nigeria cannot, except insincerity and noncommitment be the anchor of our aims and efforts towards finding a lasting solution to this tragic socio-political quagmire that has engulfed the nation, especially in recent times.

Today’s Dubai used to be a sprawling desert city, which started out as a tiny fishing village. The earliest recorded mention of Dubai is in 1095 in the book of geography by the Andalusian-Arab geographer, Abu Abdullah Al-Bakri. The livelihood of the area’s inhabitants was based on fishing, pearl diving, boat building and providing accommodation and sustenance for the traders who would pass through there on their way to sell gold, spices and textiles. But visionary leadership and well-placed determination provided the vista and caused Dubai to explode within the space of half a century, boasting in its wake eyewondering and ear-tingling high-rise buildings such as the Burj Al Arab and BurjKhalifa and innumerable high-quality infrastructure and expatriatefriendly environment. This is the kind of socio-economic vision and formulation that the Fulani boy with cattle should be oriented and exposed to, rather than making him a perennial beast of burden that has no hope for a great future other than a life of fatality and tragedy whose only means of expression is violence and destruction of life and property.

What a destroyed youth! What a destroyed society!

The further we procrastinate, the deadlier it keeps getting and by the time we get our acts together to restore normalcy, we would have created another devastating hunger problem.

God willing, we shall overcome. But we must demonstrate readiness, availability of ourselves and sincere commitment to really overcome.

Sunday 15 July 2018

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Interview

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Brands can penetrate new market, build loyalty with sports sponsorship – CFA Godwin Dudu-Orumen, rector of Cowbell Football Academy (CFA), speaks to CHINWE AGBEZE on how private sector operators can leverage opportunities in youth sports sponsorship to strengthen consumer loyalty, increase their market share and grow the economy.

He also highlights how CFA has deepened professionalism and morals in the running of academies in recent years.

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FA had an exciting summer camp last year with notable ex-internationals like Gbenga Okunowo, Segun Odegbami and Jonathan Akpoborie joining the coaches to train and inspire the kids.

What has changed in the project over the years?

CFA’s vision is to develop a team that can play junior world competitions when the average age of its members is 17. We started very well with CFA. Today, we have four centres and 23 coaches and we have played local tournaments. The children would be more inspired if they are exposed to the international market. Of course, scouts do visit, but the conditions they give when they visit are often too stiff. For instance, if they are taking our boys to Europe, we are expected to take care of flight tickets and accommodation costs in Europe. CFA has demonstrated quality. For instance, Sunday Falaye, the African Nations Championship hero, is a CFA player. Two of our players – Toyeeb Gidado and Miracle Okocha – participated in the 2014 African Youth Championship held in Botswana where Nigeria won gold medal. Those were among the kids we started CFA with over 10 years ago. Toyeeb captained both the football team and the Team Nigeria that participated in all the games. The two players represent the goal of the academy.

But has the Academy lost the opportunity completely?

The opportunity is not lost.

Today, we still have talented and disciplined kids with great potential. We are looking at how we can make a better use of the investment in CFA. It is a fantastic platform but a little more investment would make it more impactful.

What has been CFA’s most cherished achievement?

We have produced the captain of Team Nigeria. We also have two players who got scholarships on the platform. One of them, Tony Amolu, graduated last year from an American university, while the second also graduated from another foreign university at the end of last year. We have produced the youngest captain in the local league. We organise a summer camp that has attracted participation from Sierra Leone. Nigerian children who are studying in the United Kingdom look forward to the camp. The next edition starts as soon as schools

CSR platform. When Toyeeb captained Team Nigeria in 2014, it was a huge publicity opportunity for Promasidor Nigeria.

Brands can use sports sponsorship to penetrate new market and build loyalty. It is a win-win for both the beneficiaries and the sponsoring organisations.

Those who manage corporate communications of big organisations should educate the chief executives on the benefits in sports sponsorship. Through this, you are empowering the members of the society. CFA has 23 coaches on its payroll.

The children are happy; 500 of them are positively engaged every week. That is huge. If other companies do this, the crime rate will not be as high as we currently have.

go on summer holidays, and registration is ongoing. Thousands of youths have passed through the academy in the past five years. We currently have over 500 children in the four centres where 23 coaches and other support service providers are gainfully employed.

Are you satisfied with the manner Nigeria’s football academies are managed?

There are a number of academies in Nigeria and each has its unique motivation. Some are interested in quickly developing players to sell. Others want to use questionable means to get their players enlisted in national teams. I will not do either of those things. We are interested in developing a platform that will produce disciplined, technically and mentally fit Nigerians.

The academy is a product of my experience as a teenager.

It was tough and turbulent. So, there must be an intervention such as CFA. We camp, train and teach the kids the moral values they need to succeed in their chosen careers. From the academy, many of the kids have got scholarship to acquire university education. Some of our products have Master’s degrees. One of the kids we started with is currently playing professional football in Portugal, after completing his Master’s degree programme in the United States. Some academies want quick money. They pick young players, develop them

and sell. That is not our vision.

We appreciate the opportunity Promasidor Nigeria, makers of Cowbell Milk, has given us to impact on the lives of the kids.

There are several miles to cover.

Every week, hundreds of kids are engaged in life-changing instructions in different parts of Lagos State and Benin City, Edo State.

Organised football academies are very few, which is understandable. So, we are fortunate to secure a sponsorship that gives us the opportunity to do the right things. Many academies cannot afford to do some of the things we do. In fact, grassroots sports, including academies, suffer underfunding. Several academies are not interested in sustainable programmes because of poor funding.

What, in your perception, is the correlation between funding challenge and the perception about sports academies?

Most private sector operators do not understand the benefits in sports sponsorship. They are only concerned about profits.

Indeed, what is the purchasing power of children? But what these organisations don’t know is that there is enormous marketing opportunity in this. In other climes, Corporate Social Responsibility is a veritable vehicle for marketing. It has a huge commercial benefit. If an organisation supports an initiative that turns out successful, it becomes a preferred brand of those who identify with the

Have sports promoters done enough to make corporate organisations see the benefits you listed?

Indeed, the promoters have not done enough. But the truth is that there is a mindset in the corporate circle that is not receptive to sports initiatives and ideas. I once approached a bank’s chief executive who was my friend with a proposal. I told him that we could open savings accounts for CFA members and make account ownership with the bank a condition for participating in the academy.

Unfortunately, he did not see any value in the proposal. Corporate organisations are often carried away with figures.

Is it not surprising that we are yet to mainstream academies into national sports?

Doing that may imply adopting public sector process, which may not work. What will be effective is for the Nigeria Football Federation to encourage the establishment of academies based on accepted parameters and create incentives to make them effective. At some point, the Federation can set up a competition, which only registered academies will participate in. When the government is actively involved in the running of football academies, there might be conflict of responsibilities. The Ministry of Sports and Youth Development may see it as their job even though some of us believe that it could be better handled by the Ministry of Education.

From your experience, what has been the role of academies in national development?

Academies have done very well but the benefits have not been

harnessed. The national football managers are not interested in young boys who had represented the country in youth competitions. They prefer old men. The local league also has coaches who have a mindset that you need to be of a particular age before they can give you a chance. In terms of participation, academies have done very well, but it is slow in elite class acceptance. This is because some of the academies have not been able to participate in the international market. They are not financially equipped to participate in the ultimate market where their products could get better value.

Your Benin centre was celebrated at the maiden edition of the Stephen Keshi U-17 Football Tournament as the Best-Behaved Team. Was it something you looked forward to?

The award reflects our vision – to develop a total man. At the competition, we gave our best but could not win the cup. However, we won the Best-Behaved Team position. Since inception, CFA has not picked up to 25 yellow cards. We teach the kids to behave well, on and outside football pitch.

Between football skill development and general discipline of the child, what is your concentration ratio?

We give equal attention to both of them. We have a training programme that emphasises every aspect of human development.

We did not participate in the Stephen Keshi U-17 Football Tournament to be awarded the Best-Behaved Team. We did not even know about the category before we registered. So, the honour demonstrates the fact that we teach good values.

How many other academies pay attention to the total development of the child, including moral standards?

Discipline is everything. Great careers have been ruined by indiscipline. If you are talented but not disciplined, you cannot work hard. It is tough for many academies to do the right things. But we are able to enforce high standards because of the commitment of our sponsor to the project. We can afford to tell a kid to stay away if he cannot keep a neat haircut. We can afford to tell the coaches to wear Cowbell-branded jerseys from their homes because we have enough money to pay their salaries.

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Sunday 15 July 2018

Interview Whatever service you can render that is quality and legal, Ogawork will find customers for it While Jim Iyke Esomugha is popular across Africa for his incredible feats in the Nigerian movie industry, which cut across several mind-blowing roles in many movies, the Nollywood actor is truly is a man of many parts. In this interview, the successful entrepreneur in businesses across entertainment, real estate, transportation among others, unveils to OBINNA EMELIKE his virtual job solution business, among other related issues

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hat is the virtual job platform all about?

The idea of creating an app is to create comfort, security and give better quality for money. And that is what Ogawork is about.

I have ventured out to different entrepreneur pursuits, we owned an Uber company, a real estate company and we are going to launch another company soon.

But the app is different, it solves a certain problem. It is a general fact that there is no job out there, and this gives me a lot of concern. Ogawork is offering platform for many to be gainfully engaged.

By the time my cousin was finishing from a tech school in Washington DC, I told him the direction my thought was going. I told him that I do not have the technical know-how, but he has. So, I told him that I wanted something along that line developed, so that we can partner to solve problems.

People keep misconstruing the fact that stocking money is what riches or being comfortable is about. But true life is created when you solve a problem in a society and I felt that my direction of thought is going to solve a problem.

Now we have OgaApp; we are the middlemen between artisans, skilled and service providers and clients who need these services. So, we are committed to finding a client an artisan or a service provider closest to where their live, we go further than that by making sure all our service providers go through a vetting system in collaboration with the police.

They go through our vetting system in order to put all the necessary checks and assure end-users that they can allow the artisans into their homes at no risk of endangerment to the person or property. We have gone beyond what every service provider is providing.

As well, as a public figure, I carry certain clout and this goes without saying that we will not only endorse whatever service you have or your business, it is almost like a paid endorsement. As much as you are on our platform and your business is doing well, we have a certain criteria and certain relevance you must meet.

Once you reach that quality,

Jim Iyke

I will advertise your services and business for free because a long as your business is doing well, the platform is doing well too.

What are the categories of services on the Ogawork platform?

Whatever service you can render that is quality and legal, Ogawork will find customers for it. There is a category for everything except illegal services. Whatever the category is, we will find the end-user. Our services are automated and are nationwide. It is the beauty of the jet age and do not have to be physically present everywhere in the country. Right now we are in Lagos, but we spread as we go. We have people who sign on from Kaduna.

Our long vision is to be able to take up everybody that is productive and willing in this economy from different strata and put a smile on their faces.

You cannot do that when you take a certain work group and neglecting the other.

How does the app work?

You can visit www.ogawork. com to see the entirety of what we provide, you can go to Google Play Store or Apple App Store to download our app and find that category of a certain service provider you

are and register. It is free for the first two months for the first 5000 subscribers. When you register, that makes you eligible to be called upon to become service provider. We will find you the end-users because we have customers who are registered under our profile. For instance, if any of our customers ask for a plumber, we will call and link you up with the customer to go carry out the service.

The beauty of it is that you can work from the comfort of your home because we will always refer you to the person closest to your vicinity. We are more of a virtual office, virtual store and a virtual whatever you cannot afford for yourself, your business and service.

How do you ensure the quality of the artisans or service providers?

I am in the construction business and I understand the deficiency. Sadly, the people that are more proficient, especially in finishings are from outside the country.

However, some of our people are very good, but there is a misconception that people who are good at such jobs are from outside. But some of them do not have the capacity to advertise their business to

bring them to the forefront of the end-users, hence they need our platform.

The notion that people who are more skilled at construction jobs are from Togo and Ghana is not true. We are in our eleventh project right now, either renovating or building and I have seen Nigerians across these projects who are highly skilled in creating POPs, laying tiles, plastering, roofing, plumbing among others. Again, I am forced to reiterate, that particular skill set requires patience. The problem our people have is that they are always quick to run up to the mixture and do a hurry job, and under a not so expert eyes, you will not see the deficiency. These people take time to do a good job because they want referrals, they want you to call them back again and that is how things should be done.

I do not care where our service provider comes from. Our chief objective is to empower people, but if there is a lacking in a certain segment of an industry, you will be forced to look elsewhere.

Before we bring somebody on board, he has to be totally proficient. There has to be referrals and you have to have a backlog of works you have done that are well-done.

The chances of delivering a poor job to an end-user are very small. But in the event it happens, we bring back that artisan to do a good job or his risks leaving the platform.

How do you go about payment for the services rendered?

It is a digital age, and the cashless policy is in force.

We are in partnership with Providence Bank and GTBank where everything is done online; get your card and pay for your services. The artisan negotiates his fees as long as the end-user can pay for it, we are not involved.

How is the business sustained if you are not involved in the transactions?

Ours here is to provide the platform. It is a start-up and about establishing a base first, money will come later when the business gets stronger and sustainable. We will be taking 30 percent of our artisans’ fees for providing the end users. But that will be later when the business has

grown to a sustainable level and not now.

How do you safeguard the clients’ privacy and property?

We foresaw the security aspect of the business, especially allowing artisans entry into end-users homes and privacy.

Of course, this is why we sat down with the police commissioner in Lagos State and told him that for every service provider that is coming on our platform, we want them to go through a security vetting system that is set up to carefully ensure that an artisan or service provider is genuine, and can put the minds of the end-users at rest. So, that vetting system includes very complex security questions and referrals in the event that you are not around, we know who is very close to you that we can go after to provide you.

So, by the time you bring us two or three referrals, especially father, mother, brother or children, the backlog of people you have worked for before that can attest to your truth, by the time you give us the backlog of how long you have been in the business or your mileage and place of operation, it will be difficult to default. Nobody can easily jump into the platform, it is watertight.

We have over 500 people between last week and this week that have come and we have been able to verify only 40 of them only because of our strictness. It is slow process, but it is a sure one because at the end of the day, we are taking full responsibility that anybody that walks into endusers homes can be trusted.

Do you have technical partners going by the technology inclination of the platform?

The technical company behind the platform is called Ogawork Limited. It is under this auspice that we created this. Under the Ogawork, we also have Jim Iyke Market hub, an online super store that also design for startups. I have seen people with amazing creativity and my end goal is to see to it that people that do not have face and voice, will be heard. We will find people that will do business with them.

Whatever you want to sell that is legal, we will find the buyers on Ogawork platform.

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Interview Ayade’s ‘Best Governor in Agricultural Development’ award well-deserved – Commissioner Rosemary Archibong is the Cross River State Commissioner for Information and Orientation. In this interview with MIKE ABANG, she explains why Governor Ben Ayade merited BusinesDay’s Best Governor in Agriculture award

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or the purpose of this interview which is to inform the reading public, can you tell us, who is Rosemary Archibong?

Pastor (Bar) Rosemary Archibong is the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Cross River State. I was appointed by His Excellency, Ben Ayade, with effect from 27th November, 2015.

Governor Ayade was recently awarded Best Governor in Agricultural Development in Nigeria by BusinessDay. How do you feel about that?

I think it’s an honour well deserved. This is not a media stunt at all, the facts speak for themselves, that he has put in so much in agriculture, you understand that relying on oil is over and in line with the Federal Government policy on non oil sector, the governor started with massive intervention in the area of agriculture and then there are so many projects on ground to show that he has made great strides in this regard. Then it is actually it is satisfactory and fulfilling that when man works, his works speak for him and the public appreciates that which he is doing. So, for our governor to be recognised as being the best governor in the area of agriculture development and many other areas is quite fulfilling to us and the state is delighted.

Can you tell us the great

Archibong

strides Governor Ayade has achieved in other areas of the economy?

Yes, his thrust is to industrialise Cross River State and he began planning for this even before he was sworn in and sometimes you hear that people assumed leadership without preparing for the office. In this case, the story is different, His Excellency Sen. Ben Ayade took time to invest his own money in searching for the opportunities that the Cross River State can offer. He spent his time and his intellect in ensuring that he discovered what is the best for him to leave as legacies in the minds of the people. He came with two signature projects, the gar-

ment factory, the deep sea port and the super highway.

These are not made cheap projects, these are projects that required a lot of effort in terms of governmental processes, due processes, due diligence and all that.

These are projects that are long term, but within the first year of his stay, he had the garment factory on ground.

Right now, the garment factory is a factory reference as we know it. It employs about 2,000 people and its target are the women who are the main employees of this factory. They are working happily and that stands to show that His Excellency is actually prepared or was prepared for the appointment. There is

also the medical intervention in the area of health, which led him to establish the Calapharm. The Calabar Pharmaceutical Industry, Calapharm is completed, equipment has installed and very soon it is going to be commissioned.

Because of his programme called Ayadecare, there is need to access medication.

With Calapharm, that has been addressed, so that is another one. Of course, we know that the Bakassi Deep Sea Port has received virtually all necessary attention to get it going, so drainage is still ongoing, it is a huge project and work in ongoing.

The 275 KM super highway is also ongoing and I believe that this projects, when they

are completed, will totally change the horizon economically and otherwise in Cross River State. Apart from these, in the educational sector, Governor Ayade has made a big impact. CRS used to be very-very poor in the area of NECO and WAEC examinations, but within these three years of Gov. Ayade’s leadership, there has been great improvement. Cross River State has been able to attract the 3 SUBEB project. This is a Federal Government collaboration with the state to put in place basic Junior Secondary Education that is of international standard and we have one at Ugep that was started by his predecessor, Governor Liyel Imoke that has received impetus by Gov. Ayade.

Work is almost completed and of course it also reduced the fess that used to be paid from, I think its about N150,000 or N145,000 to something like N45,000 or so, and most students have been admitted and rector that has come to resume duty is a UK citizen. In Obudu Gov. Ayade has established BritishCanadian School which is for educational advancement, so the people of the state are so happy. These are of international standard, the structures are international standard, the curriculum that is also of international standard. The infrastructure is now about 75% completed, our intention is to commence admission by September this year, 2018.

CACOL hails Reps over NNPC probe INIOBONG IWOK

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he Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has hailed the House of Representatives over its decision to probe the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) underpayment of a whopping N100b into the federation account.

In a release to the media over the weekend and signed by its president,

Debo Adeniran, stressed t h a t C ACO L h a d e a r l i e r throw its weight behind the agitation for the NNPC to be unbundled and its diverse operations, especially as they relate to collection and disbursement of monies accruing from oil sales, made readily accessible to the public for proper accountability and transparency.

“When one looks at the immense powers and operational latitude given by relevant statutes to the NNPC –which remains a be-

hemoth responsible for regulating operations within the Nigerian oil sector- and the enormous resources at its disposal for same operations, you cannot but marvel at how a single public corporation could wield such enormous power without checks.

“This is more so as the country’s economic mainstay remains the petroleum sector that still supplies over 85% of the overall national revenue. This is why it has always become involved

in one avoidable scandal or another. At one time, it was the issue of billions of Dollars being siphoned as subsidies on fictitious imported petroleum products or keeping of proceeds from oil sales secret and under-recorded.

“The latest in its string of abuses is the alleged underpayment of over N100b into the Federation Account which has reportedly deadlocked the monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee meeting. We all

know the direct implications of this aberration, which has hindered the smooth running of government at the states’ level all over the federation, since such federal allocations keep most of our states running with salaries and other emoluments. This is even more worrisome when one considers the fact that this is happening at a period when a barrel of oil is selling at above $75 as against $51 it was benchmarked in the 2018 budget”.

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Sunday 15 July 2018

TheWorshippers ‘Serving in God’s vineyard produces greater reward’ On Sunday, July 8, St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Oke-Afa, Isolo celebrated its First Fruit Harvest, allowing parishioners of the church to tap into and benefit from the biblical blessings attached to thanksgiving. Ahead of the celebration, Ikechukwu Ezeonyeka, Knight of the Church of Nigeria, chairman, harvest team, and president, Men Fellowship of the parish, spoke with SEYI JOHN SALAU on the importance of thanksgiving to the church.

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What is the relevance of harvest to the church? o start with, harvest is not something that is not biblical. In Genesis 8:22, we can see the importance of harvest, and harvest is all about a period of harvesting what you have sown as human. God has planted you and you cannot say you are not fruitful; He created you and made you to be fruitful, either by getting your loved ones or wife, getting a job, doing business and every other thing in your life as a blessing. Firstly, you are alive, you have a family, and you are healthy; so whatever you are doing, you have to thank God for making you fruitful. When it comes to you as human – you have to thank God because you have many things to be thankful for: this is when we talk about seed sowing. For everything you venture into, and were successful, you have to thank God because you are not the one that made it successful. So, harvest is all about thanksgiving; a period that the church set out for people to thank God for their live, family, and every other thing. If I may go deep a bit into the relevance of harvest to the church, in our church and some other churches; there are types of harvest, and in my church we create types of harvest which other people think is a way to extort money: but we do it to make people key in to it, because there is a blessing that goes with thanking God. We start harvest by unveiling the harvest theme which is also biblical – so it is like a prophetic word that people look forward for each year. This year’s harvest theme is ‘Divine Help’ which is in Psalms 122:1-2; so that any other person coming to thank God will look forward and key into that word – you have it at the back of your mind that whatever you are doing, you are seeking the face of the lord to be your divine help in all situations.

We are here celebrating first fruit; what does this harvest signify for believers?

One critical aspect of the harvest calendar is the First Fruit Harvest which is a very important harvest in the church because it teaches people to understand the implication of first fruit – they come in to give the first fruit of their labour. What we do is to align with the name of the harvest significantly with fruits as something created by God, and after the ministration people come out to sacrifice their first fruit. However, at the unveiling of the harvest theme, we equally call out the harvest features and dates for the year, and from that date every other harvest that will come in the year will be unveiled; tagged the General Gleaners Harvest. Once we unveil the harvest theme, it means the harvest season has taken off, and every Sunday we call on each group to thank God for their group and equally sow a seed for that year.

I am curious to know the wisdom behind celebrating First Fruit Harvest in July?

The timing is really not the main thing, but the prophetic word that comes with

Ikechukwu Ezeonyeka

it – that is, you knowing how to sacrifice and sow seeds, and not the time because seed sowing is every time. There is actually no time that we as believers cannot sow a seed in God’s vineyard.

With all the weekly activities you engage in, where is the time to play your fatherly role at home?

First, it is the grace of God that sustains one in all endeavor because I begin to look at the time; just like one material I was reading that talks about excuses people

The persecution of the church in Nigeria is mainly in the north and I think it is not that the church in the north does not know what they are doing, but there is a problem of co-habitation up north that the Christians in the north were so loose that they did not realise the people they are co-habiting with are not their brothers based on religion

give for not having time for God, but when they diagnose you of one sickness or the other and ask you to come to the hospital for treatment or consultation – you then have time, but when they ask you to create time for activities that would prevent you from going into this casualty, you said you do not have the time. Secondly, it is to key into God’s arrangement of serving in His vineyard; there are certain things in life that does not glorify God; however if you are given a role to play in God’s vineyard, He will equip you to serve in His vineyard.

And, how does He equip me? He has to let me know that there are certain things in my life that I have to drop to create that time to serve. Like the testimony I shared with the Men’s Fellowship – I told them, when I was so much into social life, there is no weekend I do not socialize either its child naming, dedication, or wedding ceremony I will be there and after that I hang-out with friends: why shouldn’t I have time when given a role to serve in the church.

You have time for social; why not to serve in the vineyard of God. These are what we are talking about – social life is about partying and merriment; am not saying people should not socialize but they should know that God’s role comes first in whatever we do as human, and I begin to see that the best place to serve with the greatest impact is to serve in God’s vineyard.

What is your take on the level of insecurity and attacks on the church; is it because the church in Nigeria failed in its primary role?

It is not all about the church has failed

rather it is about persecution on the church.

The church in Nigeria has not failed in its primary responsibility because we have so many ministers of the word, preaching and doing what the word entails, however it is about persecution on the church and the church sleeping at times. Like the word tells us to watch and pray: and at times it is about the church breaking the edge. So, whatever that is happening in Nigeria, prophetically is something that will make the church in Nigeria to be very strong.

The church will conquer and get over these trying times, but it is unfortunate that so many lives are being lost and blood are being shed at the moment but the church in Nigeria has come to stay. If you look at the church in Nigeria today, we are sending missionaries to other part of the world and you know the missionaries that brought this gospel to us are from Europe and America; but now the church in Nigeria is going out to give them the gospel. Biblically, the western world has turned away from the gospel just like the issue of gay marriage and other things that goes contrary to the wish of God. The persecution of the church in Nigeria is mainly in the north and I think it is not that the church in the north does not know what they are doing, but there is a problem of co-habitation up north that the Christians in the north were so loose that they did not realise the people they are co-habiting with are not their brothers based on religion even though they are together on the basis of land, tribe and language; however, they did not realise it in time that they are brothers when it comes to religion. if they had realised this earlier they would know how to co-habit with them, because when your enemy is coming your way; it’s either you stop him at the gate and say I don’t want you – go your way and let me be on my own, but when you open the gate for him to come in, automatically he will know you in and out. However, the Christians will get over it and it will make us stronger. What I know is that the church of God in Nigeria is at the art of God. What is your message to Nigerians and the parishioners of St. Paul’s in particular?

To the parishioners and Nigerians, I want them to know that fellowshipping together is important; we all know that we can equally be in our various homes for fellowship but coming together as Christians to share our views and listen to other people’s testimonies, prayer points, words of exhortation will help lift the believer’s faith. And as we come to church people understand better that the church does not belong to the man of God and whatever you do in the church is done in the name of the lord – you do not look at how other people behave in the church. Once you are in church, know you are there because of the almighty God and when you feel there are one or two people in the church doing things contrary; you just put them in prayers so that God will touch them.

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Politics Teargas in Ekiti, fireworks in Port Harcourt * Rivers PDP henchmen fear Ekiti is rehearsal for Rivers 2019 * Wike in a state broadcast: Says democracy is under threat * APC fires back: Don’t send Rivers boys to Ekiti the way you sent funds IGNATIUS CHUKWU

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Introduction: olitical footsoldiers in Rivers State loyal to Governor Nyesom Wike have been reviewing developments in Ekiti State to see if what is happening in Ekiti right now can happen in Rivers State in 2019.

BDSUNDAY trip to power centres in Port Harcourt witnessed hushed reviews of Ekiti vis-avis the capabilities of strongmen protecting the political landmarks of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State.

Most of the youth leaders (as they prefer to be called) said they would easily withstand the level of threat that faced Ekiti in yesterday’s gubernatorial election. They revealed some of their secrets and strategies, saying they knew exactly what the security operatives would not want to see. In the process, powers beyond guns and cudgels were reviewed and mentioned.

Ekiti State now seems to be a frontline state or sister state to Rivers. This is just because the governors of the two states (Ayo Fayose of Ekiti and Nyesom Wike of Rivers) are close political associates these days who have worked closely to make the PDP a strong opposition force in Nigeria.

Both administrations collaborate on political situations; they criticise the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) together, they skin President Muhammadu Buhari together since the Port Harcourt national PDP conference in 2015 where they adopted a fighting strategy, and they fight for their states in same manner.

This collaboration did not start in 2017 or 2018. When Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (now transport minister) was governor of Rivers State, he also tried to support Ekiti under Kayode Fayemi. He also met security opoosition on the way to Ekiti who turned him away and even threatened to shoot him, according to him.

Support to each other Whenever Ekiti PDP goes to war, they usually find a stunch ally behind them in the nature of Rivers PDP and the Government House in Port Harcourt. This time, the Rivers State lent a helping hand in the name of one month salary to Ekiti.

The Rivers APC shouted blue murder but it did not change anything.

Now that Ekiti has been attacked, the national chairman of the PDP has been dispatched to Abuja to lead protests and mobilise support for Fayose. There have been talks about sending boys to Ekiti to lend helping hands, in the hope that when Rivers faces elections in 2019, Ekiti may reciprocate

Wike

and Bayelsa that would not be doing elections may also support.

Wike’s broadcast As if the violence took place in Rivers State, Gov Wike made a statewide broadcast to the people of the state, thus: “In the early ours of today, Ekiti State Government House was attacked by armed security operatives on the orders of the Federal Government in their desperate and deliberate endeavour to stop the governor and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from organising a campaign rally and victory walk in support of the party’s candidate for the Saturday, July 14th governorship election.

“During the attack, the governor of the state, His Excellency Ayodele Peter Fayose and scores of innocent citizens and supporters of the PDP were cruelly tear-gassed, physically brutalised and humiliated by the security operatives that carried out the dastardly act.

“In explaining the attack, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations), Habila Joshak shamelessly claimed that they acted to brutalise the governor and his people because the rally and peaceful road walk he was to address and lead was not authorised by the police. This claim is totally rubbish and should be told to the marines.” ​W ike further said: “Knowing that it cannot defeat the PDP in a free and fair electoral contest, the APC had earlier threatened to cage the governor and takeover Ekiti State Government House by brutal force.

“Today’s (Wednesday) brutal action was therefore, carried out in furtherance of the deliberate plan to intimidate the people of Ekiti State in order to facilitate the actualisation of the devilish intentions of the enemies of democracy.

“I therefore, join well-meaning

Nigerians to condemn this brazen attack on the inalienable rights of the people of Ekiti State to a peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in the strongest possible terms and warn the perpetrators of the grave danger such actions pose to the survival of our democracy. “​I wish to also draw the attention of the people of Rivers State to the fact that what is happening at Ekiti State is clearly a foretaste of what the APC-led Federal Government has planned to unleash in our State and in deed, the entire country, in their desperate attempt to rig 2019 general elections and retain or return to power having performed woefully and lost the support of the generality of Nigerians.”

The Rivers State governor further said: “As a matter of fact, people did not quite believe me when I told the world that the APC-led Federal Government has plans to assassinate me to enable them capture Rivers State because they know they have no electoral foothold in the state.

“Today, the whole world has seen how Governor Ayo Fayose was barely lucky to have escaped

Knowing that it cannot defeat the PDP in a free and fair electoral contest, the APC had earlier threatened to cage the governor and takeover Ekiti State Government House by brutal force

the state-sponsored attempt at his life with a fractured hand and bruised face because, with him around, hale and hearty, they will never win the Saturday election free and fair in Ekiti.

“In the face of these challenges therefore, I wish to call on the people of Rivers State to be prepared to fight and defend their rights to freely and democratically elect their leaders in the 2019 general election.

“I sincerely believe as most of us do, that Rivers State is worth dying for and it is the responsibility of everyone of us to defend and save our democracy from being killed by the fascist, clueless, confused and irresponsible APC-led regime.

“As your governor I will never surrender your mandate and abiding interest of our state to our enemies who seek to keep us enslaved and plundered even at the pain of death. ​“I wish to commend and congratulate the irrepressible Governor Ayo Fayose and the people of Ekiti State for standing up and standing firm in defence of their rights to freedom, democracy and good governance.

“I want to assure you of the support of the Government and people of Rivers State at these trying times. You need not fear as God will surely defeat your enemies and grant you a resounding victory come Saturday 14th July 2018.”

APC fires back: The APC wasted no time in firing back through Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the media consultant to the new party boss, Flag Amachree. He said: “Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress has reacted to the tweet by the governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, who recently used his tweeter handle to boast of how he would import ‘Thugs from Rivers State’ to Ekiti State for the election!

“Though, we know Governor Wike as someone who doesn’t care about the well-being and security of our people in Rivers State but we will no longer tolerate or keep quiet and allow him to continue to jeopardise the life of any Rivers State man, be him a militant or a thug as Fayose had described our people in his tweet.

“I therefore, plead with Gov Wike to bury the thought or plot of sending more sons and daughters of Rivers State to Ekiti to act as a thug or Militant as being envisaged and plotted as the 30,000 Police Personnel sent to Ekiti by the Police Force is not for a jamboree or sightseeing.

“Sadly, some of the militants earlier sent as advance team have been caught making it imperative for Governor Wike as a matter of urgency to act fast by withdrawing any Rivers State son still staying in Ekiti State acting as a thug or as a

militant.”

The APC chieftain and erstwhile National Publicity Secretary (NPS) of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) further reiterated that any Rivers State blood spilled in Ekiti State because of the 14th July 2018 would be very unfortunate as the blood of any son or daughter of Rivers State is very precious to be wasted in an election that Fayose and his team have already given up as losers.

Eze recalled with nostalgia how Ayo Fayose under the influence of Aso Rock powers in 2014, supervised by Goodluck Jonathan and his security goons, did not only stop Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi then Governor of Rivers State from entering Ekiti State to join Kayode Fayemi, then incumbent Governor of Ekiti State, during the APC campaign, but ordered those sternlooking, gun wielding soldiers to shoot Gov Amaechi should he move an inch into the state. It was a horrendous situation as Amaechi eventually escaped death by the whiskers.

In this regard, Chief Eze blasted Gov Fayose who apart from the above sad scenario once boasted that he is a rock that is capable of crushing both President Buhari and leaders of APC to stop turning himself as a horrendous comedian and concentrate on how to hand over the reins of the State to a better equipped Fayemi who has a blueprint on how to emancipate and develop Ekiti State. “I wish to assure Fayose and his Team of jesters that nobody is interested in his death or comic acts and antecedents. He will live to account for all his atrocities and misappropriation of both Rivers State and Ekiti Funds”.

What is happening in Ekiti State should teach Nigeria politicians that there is a cosmic power that rules the affairs of men. No matter how long it takes, what you sow is what you reap. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and others in league with him should learn and retrace their steps accordingly, Eze enthused.

Eze further stated that the administration of Fayose was a disaster and by refusing to pay the salaries of Civil Servants and Pensioners for over six months causing severe hardship to the entire people of Ekiti State will mark the end of PDP in that State after the 14th July gubernatorial election.

Eze thanked all the PDP bigwigs and key government officials of the administration of Fayose who have dumped the sinking ship of PDP and join the salvation Team of APC and collectively we will restore the glory of Ekiti State to what it should be.

He finally applauded the Ekiti voters for resolving to vote out the administration that have plunged the State into a monumental disaster.

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Politics ‘Why ongoing reforms by Bayelsa government is in workers’ interest’

John Bipre Ndiomu, chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Bayelsa State Council, has been at the forefront of efforts to ensure that civil servants and other classes of workers in the state get their due from the state government.

In this interview with SAMUEL ESE, he spoke on issues surrounding the ongoing public sector reforms in Bayelsa State; the role of labour in the forthcoming 2019 general election, among others. Excerpts:

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My we know a bit about your experience in the labour movement? ctually, I have been in the labour movement for about 25 years or even more and like we normally say, ‘the struggle continues’. It has never been easy and since I became the NLC chairman, that uneasiness, I feel it even the more because immediately I came in, it was just about the time of the recession; and since then, it has been tedious and now the reforms are going on. So, it has not been easy, but then the struggle continues and there is hope as victory is sure How would you describe labour movement in Nigeria?

Yes, under true democracy, when the votes really count, it is a tool for political change.

The labour union stands as a formidable tool in any democratic system. Do not forget that labour does not just speak for workers only. Labour speaks for the poor masses of this country, and when there are difficult situations, everybody will look for labour.

For instance, when there is increase in pump price of fuel, people will say, where is labour?

You know, fuel is not just for workers alone, so the world, the people know that labour speaks for them, and they’ll look up to us.

Of course, in many countries now, labour is even taking over governance. The truth is that the workers produce the wealth, labour produces the wealth, but then there is a group of people that shares this wealth and in most cases, those who produce the wealth are not part of the sharing process.

So, labour still stands the chance of ensuring that governance is being taken over by the right people. I think labour still stands that chance.

Some observers say that labour may have been silenced by the political class. What actually is happening?

Well, labour is not silent. If you are aware of the things that are happening in this country, you will know that labour leaders have been killed in certain states. Labour leaders have been shot dead and till tomorrow, we don’t know who killed them. So, labour has not been silent and will never be silent. The struggle continues in us and we’ll continue to ensure that the rights of workers and their general wellbeing are assured.

What role do you think labourwill play in 2019?

Of course, labour will come out. Labour is not a political party, but then it’s a pressure group. Labour will ensure that the right thing is done. First, we’ll ensure that there will be free and fair elections. In fact, in the state, we have a campaign going on right now that every worker should get his PVC. You must get your permanent voter’s card.

You must vote for a government that will favourlabour. That is what we intend to do and am sure that even at the national level, that is what they will do.

Ndiomu

Do you foresee a situation where the votes will not count even with the PVCs? It’s a very, very serious problem and I think that Nigeria as a nation must correct it. That is one of the most serious challenges and needs to be addressed.

If our votes don’t count, then the politicians will continue to do what they like.

When the votes count, they will respect the voters and then do the needs of the voters.

If we don’t do the needful, we’ll continue to suffer in this country. So, we must make the votes count. And, of course, that is one reason I am happy about the recent pronouncements with the card readers. We have been assured in this country that this time, the card readers will read and they will read well. So, we hope that the votes will count.

What is the level of relationship between labour andBayelsa State government?

First, I will say that in Bayelsa State, we don’t

Very soon this darkness will come to pass and there will be light in this state. I am very sure, very, very optimistic that we’ll overcome all these difficulties

have companies. It’s a civil service state. We can say that our relationship is cordial although there are always problems between the employer and employee. Those problems are always there. But then, generally, I think we have a cordial relationship. Government has not failed to meet with labour leaders when there are issues, and that has sustained our relationship overtime.

But there are allegations of collusion between labour leaders and government in the state.What is the truth?

It would have been better if you are specific. In what areas are they saying there is a compromise? If you talk about salary arrears, we had six-and-half months’ salary arrears before now. We have pushed and three and half months have been paid. We agree we have three months pending and we are not relenting. We will continue to mount pressure on government to pay all our salary arrears. The truth is that when the workers pressurelabour leaders we are propelled to work harder.

What is your take on the ongoing public sector reforms in the state?

Let me clear that. First, yes, there are complaints. If you were in Bayelsa State, you would know there are challenges in the civil service. No doubt about that. There are lots of challenges. There are lots of problematic situations and we have talked with the governor severally on these issues. But I am surprised that people are still saying that.

I listened to the meetings in all the local government areas and almost everybody is of the view that it is necessary to carry out the civil service reforms. Basically, let me

say that from our understanding, from the understanding of labour, the reforms have been put there to avoid costs, to ensure that the civil service is more efficient and effective. Generally, the reforms are meant to reposition the civil service for higher productivity. That is our understanding.

Government has said it repeatedly that the reforms are not meant to sack people.

No genuine worker will be sacked. But, for instance, if you have forged a certificate and you are working in the service, it will affect you. And, legally, we cannot stand for you. That is the position and I think it is people like that that are complaining. We have said over and over again if you have a genuine matter, approach the union. Since the certificate verification was done, a lot of people were found wanting. Workers that were earlier implicated in one way or the other that are genuine who complained to labour were reverified and cleared.

There is always a second chance for you if you are sure you are not guilty. There was also a recent reduction of steps in some ministries. Again, we are saying that if you know you did not manipulate your steps, your increase in steps - because it is the same civil servants that are writing.

Someone who started work with you is now higher than you and you complain. So, there is need to do those things. But, again, let me say by the end of the reforms, the fallout of the reforms, the outcome of the reforms, we are hoping that there is going to be steady promotion, our annual increments will continue as they used to be, our salary arrears will be paid, promotions will come. In fact, there will be general staff motivation. That is our hope and that is the direction we are seeing the reforms. The reforms are to ensure that there is higher productivity in the civil service.

Advice to colleagues and Bayelsans Well, it is hopeful. Very soon this darkness will come to pass and there will be light in this state. I am very sure, very, very optimistic that we’ll overcome all these difficulties.

I am very, very sure that our salary arrears will be paid before the end of this government, this tenure. I am very, very sure that our promotions that are already going on - the promotion exercises are going on, we’ll have them and even our annual increments. There’s going to be staff training and retraining. That is my expectation.

That will be the outcome of the reforms in this state. I wish that every worker should be dedicated, should be hardworking. Our performance should be high and we need the support of every worker. On my own part, we’ll not betray you, we’ll not betray the workers of this state, but we’ll continue to do that which is best for them and we will do it in our own way. Finally, workers should make good use of the health scheme (BHIS) and I want to assure you that the workers that were reverified and cleared will be paid very soon. Solidarity Forever!

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Politics 2019: I have the brightest chances of bringing PDP back to power - Baba-Ahmed A former federal lawmaker and founder Baze University, Abuja, Datti Baba-Ahmed, recently visited the PDP National Secretariat to present his letter of intent to contest the 2019 presidential election.

He spoke to some select journalists on his chances. OWEDE AGBAJILEKE was there. Excerpts: Will you consider leaving the PDP in the event that you fail to emerge as the party’s presidential candidate? t is not likely, so long as I am confident that the constitution of the Party and the Electoral Act were strictly adhered to. And so long as I am satisfied that delegates are not compromised, it is highly unlikely that I will leave the PDP. Just for your information, I am one of those who keep faith in political parties.

As far as I am concerned, it is hardly possible I ever change political party. Because I am in PDP now does not mean that I have changed. In fact, I have remained the same because I am still in opposition. It is those people who cannot stand opposition that decamp and simply go to where they see they are going to win. I am not one of the spineless politicians that are after political offices. In Kaduna in 2015 for example, when I thought I was going to aspire for governorship before I changed my mind, I was the only aspirant then who had never been in any other political party except the opposition. The governor as you have today was built through the will of God by PDP. Four years as Director General and four years as Minister, he dumped the PDP. Other aspirants had been in PDP for twelve years to fifteen years. But simply because they could not contest in PDP, dumped the party at the dying minute and sided with their brothers to defeat the party. And now they are finding their way back to PDP because there is no other option in Nigeria except PDP. So, when you contrast this with other politicians, I have not changed. I have remained constant strictly on the line of opposition. But for almost 20 years of my politics in the Fourth Republic, I am trying to move from the opposition party to make it the ruling party.

I

What do you make of the anti-corruption crusade of the present administration?

Let me say that I am inviting President Muhammadu Buhari to address an international press conference to assure the whole world that there is no corruption in his government.

What are your chances with other heavyweights in the party?

With all sense of humility, I must give praise to almighty Allah that I have the brightest chances. In fact, the chances of all other candidates put together are not up to mine. Because if you elect me as candidate of PDP and this is what is instructive to the delegates: you are 95 percent electing the next President. If you elect any other aspirant beside me, you are 95 percent retaining President Buhari.

He is playing the credibility game and the risks are too high to take. He is ready to pick up any aspirant or candidate at any point in time. I don’t know what they have been planning against me but the risks are too great for this political party and for Nigeria.

If I get the ticket, APC will not know

Datti Baba-Ahmed

what hit it. I have the brightest chances of bringing PDP back to power.

How close are you to the delegates?

Yes, they know me. Because I expect the delegates at grassroots as they are to know everything that is going on in their country. So long you wake up in the morning and you hear it everyday in the news that people are being killed, so long as you buy foodstuff that the price has more than doubled, you will be concerned, however, remote you are in Nigeria to go and find out how is Nigeria going to be next year.

In the process of doing that, those grassroots politicians will inquire about those who are aspiring to be the next President of Nigeria. And in so doing they will ask all the questions. Even before I reach out to the delegates they have known about me.

Coupled with the fact that I have made very fervent efforts to reach out to them through local government coordinators supervised by state coordinators, who are also supervised by capable steering committee that will soon transform into a campaign organisation.

So yes, I am in constant touch with delegates inasmuch as the delegates are conscious, active politicians. And an average politician in PDP is far more superior to those in other parties. And being second only to African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa. It is

only PDP that has seven thousand years of experience. This is because (former) President Obasanjo alone had eight years of experience in governance. Add it with the two-third majority of governance, National and State assemblies, we have over seven thousand years of experience.

And one good thing is that my coming together with the movers and shakers of PDP is re-branding the party, which gives a very rare opportunity to show the world that it is no longer business as usual. In the presence of heavyweights - I am a heavyweight of course - if a very neutral, modest aspirant like me emerges, the message would have been sent out to the world that PDP is a truly reformed party.

And it is electing based on credibility. I am that candidate who will only be elected on fairness. I am that candidate who has never and will not compromise delegates.

So the moment any political party - PDP for example - presents me, the message is out there to the world that this candidate came out through very clean and credible process.

Do you believe President Buhari is still popular in the North?

President Buhari has never been popular.

What you call popularity is stark illiteracy and outright madness. If you segment Buhari’s support, you will find out that he built his politics in the hatred of the elite

by the masses. I don’t call this politics.

There has never been politics of ideas. So what you call support is not support. And in 2003 there was religious bigotry and tribalism because there was this gentleman agreement that let the South of Nigeria rule for eight years. Four years down the line, Buhari came out and said he wanted to contest. So bigotry, tribalism and ethnicity set in and he couldn’t win. In 2007 when we had Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (of blessed memory) contest, you could see his (Buhari’s) support base shrink to less than half from what he had in 2003.

But when you talk of support you need to analyse the strata of society. Is it the shoe shiners? With due respect. Is it farmers, lecturers, medical doctors, businessmen, youths, market women, clergy, public servants. All strata of society, you cannot go and hold to what you call the Talakawas and you tell them that everybody is stealing their money including legitimate businessmen. You built your politics upon that hatred of the Talakawas for the masses and come out to tell the world that you are popular. That is not popularity.

Are you ready to step down for a consensus candidate?

What more consensus is there if you say that let us contest clean? If I win you give me support. And I don’t win and I am satisfied, I give my support. That is consensus.

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Sunday 15 July 2018

Sunday 15 July 2018

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Politics

25

For 2019, Wike has no contender – Emeh Emeh Glory Emeh, a trained accountant and lawyer, is the special adviser to Governor Nyesom Wike on political matters and strategy. In this interview in his house in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, the political strategist told BusinessDay editors – ZEBULON AGOMUO, JOHN OSADOLOR and IGNATIUS CHUKWU – that victory for Wike in 2019 is fait accompli. Emeh spoke on a number of issues ranging from his duties as a master strategist to the political barometer of Rivers at the moment, perception of the Wike administration by the people, what is to be expected in the state in 2019, and the recent MoU signed by 40 political parties in Abuja, which he said was tantamount to a red card to both President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress. Excerpts: You have been around the political space in Rivers State. May we know your trajectory so far? was in PDP. I left PDP for APC for a very short while. I discovered that the APC is not organized and I looked at those who are in the party and if you compare them with those in PDP (where all of us had been), I didn’t find myself in the midst of those who understand what the game means. All of us were taught by Odili how to play politics. I am also one of the products of Chief Sergeant Awuse and during Awuse’s time, if you want to use the general parlance, they called me the engine room of the Awuse political group.

Without being seen to be arrogant, I must confess that I didn’t find the type of brain that I needed to see among the APC people even when they were using my house as their meeting place. One thing led to the other; I had to return back to PDP. The day I was received back to the PDP, I returned with 8,720 persons and it was a heavy funfair in Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Immediately after that ceremony, my house became a Mecca of sorts that anybody who wanted to get back to the PDP or follow my footsteps or would want to see Wike were all coming here. So, that’s how the journey has been to where we are now.

I

For you to be recruited to work with Wike, there must be something he saw in you.

What is it that you think endeared you to the governor?

Wike is a person who is very articulate and he is a politician who instills new sprit of the times and promotes fresh commitment to the values of efficient performance. Whatever he is doing, solutions to problems are prescribed within a framework of a more ideological perspective, and he does it with a conscious and supreme patriotic commitment to ensure that he harnesses available scarce resources to attain a developmental growth perspective. A dancer doesn’t see his back, it is difficult for one to say whom I am, but in this state people know that I am a politician that can make or mar and I am also a politician that can add value. Once I take a political decision, you must know that value has come. Your reporter in Port Harcourt has been here. When I was senior special assistant to Governor Peter Odili on Media, Special Duties and Strategy, I brought tremendous change.

Wike doesn’t have the type of opposition Odili had. Odili had serious opposition; there were heavy politicians in the state that were against Odili. So, when Odili thought that he needed that young man who worked with Awuse to come over, we went over and we changed all that. First was to reach out to the enemies.

All the journalists that were against, we had to reach them. I knew many of them when I wanted to re-arrange Odili’s image in the state.

Now, for Wike you don’t need much of that because he is selling himself. He has done very well in the state. At my age in this state and in the politics of Rivers State, we have never got to the level where a governor is liked beyond his party. In this state, I am not boasting, Wike is loved beyond his party; even those who are supposed to be his archenemy, they love him.

They love him because what he is putting on

ground is not for one person. You know Senate President Bukola Saraki was talking about the road leading to the airport; it is not only PDP that will pass it. Wike is calculative; he was prepared; adequately ready and sufficiently prepared to come to manage the state.

I believe strongly and a lot of our people also believe, from what they say, that since I came the narratives have also changed because in political media management, it is not a reporter’s work. So the governor finished addressing a crowd and his chief press secretary issued a release; that is just one percent (very insignificant) of the media management of the governor; that is what I do as adviser on Political Matters and Strategy. The strategy part of it is to turn around what Wike has said or what people have said about him or have not even said. That you can call propaganda. Propaganda is a weapon of war. It should be used when it is necessary and can assist your purpose. So, what I am doing is more of political media management. Wike finishes a ceremony and I sit back in my office and go through what he has said and see what I can pick out or what people have said. So, if it is only the release by the Chief Press Secretary, some important points may be lost inside the release. So, I pick such points and give them prominence in such a way that people can see them. So, I look at the release and see which area that I can pick that can catch the fancy of both friends and foes. So, if there is any weapon that I have, without being said to be blowing my trumpet, it is that area that I bring my value. I am not a journalist. I am an accountant and a lawyer, but I am gifted to writing. So, if that flair is what attracted anybody, so be it.

Rivers State is a political hotbed with the violence that goes with it. How have you survived the violence in the state as a political actor?

First of all, we don’t actually experience what people over where you stay in Lagos and Abuja think. Politics itself is made up of two important components – one is conspiracy, the other one is aggression. Now, the conspiracy aspect of it is intelligence. In the course of wanting people to appreciate your views and how you want it, you may be aggressive. It does not amount to violence as such. But here, we love ourselves. It is a small place. Those who have been here know that we are the most accommodative in this country, with due respect to other places. This is a place where you can live and nobody will know where you come from. We don’t speak one dialect; there’s no single dialect in Rivers.

The Ikwerres are the most prominent people, close to about 63 percent of the total voting strength of Rivers State. You have the Ogonis that are second to the Ikwerres, and others.

We love ourselves. What is close to what you are saying is that prior to Wike’s time there was this Upland-Riverine dichotomy. What Wike did was to study the real problem of the state, which is this division, and he brought everybody together. The highest number of political actors, valuable, utility politicians in Rivers State, are in PDP and they are with Wike; that’s why you see them all together anywhere we go; and that’s why we call them the Cardinals. What Wike did was to cement the bond of fraternal coexistence and he has broken all the barriers of ethnocentric separatism in this town (Port

state. This state is the highest producer of oil and gas for the country, but we are not developing because the Federal Government has never looked our way. But within three years, Wike has done what Amaechi couldn’t do for eight years. Wike has done what Odili could not do for eight years. Odili himself, at a public function, told Rivers people that Wike has done what he couldn’t do for eight years. If you go to Ndoni where Odili comes from, he also acknowledged to them in a public function, the shores of the Atlantic Ocean are eating into the town, but Wike gave a contract to do the embankment – several kilometres round.

So, Ndoni people, will they be looking at Amaechi or they will be looking at Wike? Odili is solidly behind Wike; he is one of the pillars of this government and that’s why I said it will be difficult; it will be impossible; it will be like camel passing through the eye of a needle for anybody in any party, born of man and woman in this country, at the moment to defeat Wike. When he finishes, whoever that takes over from him, if he is not able to have his capacity, anything can happen. But for now, nobody can defeat him.

Harcourt) and nobody wants to know where he is from; because he is dealing with everybody equally. The way he would treat an Ikwerre man if he does something wrong, you would be surprised, is the same way he would deal with a Calabari man who would do something wrong. If I do something good, he would give me everything that goes with a man who has done well; the same way he would give to a Calabari, Bonny, Opobo, or Ogoni person who has done something well. I think that is one characteristic of him that has changed the narrative in Rivers State. So, I would not go with you that we have suffered violence in the name of politics.

Anybody that is talking about violence does not live here. You know some people are living in Lagos and Abuja; they don’t have houses here; they didn’t bother to build houses here.

This is my house (where the interview took place) and I have the same house in the village.

So, I cannot do anything that would make me to come here and see that they have burnt this house or the one at home. But if I did not have a house here in Port Harcourt or in my village, not even a bungalow, then I would not mind what happens to the people of Rivers State. But we don’t behave like that. Wike has shown us love and we need to appreciate him for what he has done for our people.

2019 is knocking; what are your expectations in terms of the possibility of a second term for Governor Wike?

Fortunately, not me alone; I have always said that there is no alternative to Wike in 2019 in Rivers State; and since I said it, that has been corroborated by a lot of people. I read about a group known as the Support Popular View Group; I read about a group called Wike Solidarity Movement; I read about Wike for Positive Change; National Association of Rivers Daughters; Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI); National Ex-Councillors Forum, Rivers State chapter. It is uncountable the number of associations that are following over one another to appreciate that there is no alternative to Wike in 2019. What he has done, what is on ground now is sufficient to convince anybody that there is no vacancy in the Government House for 2019. Even Amaechi has acknowledged that, even though he turned around to claim that the projects are his own. In any case, every project that Wike commissioned has two pictures – the

Wike does not dismiss anybody; he receives as many that would want to come but he is careful. He is one of the most technical politicians you have in town

Emeh Glory Emeh

old state of such project and the new state. You see, you don’t tell a blind man that there is no pepper and salt in the soup; you can only say there’s no oil because he cannot see. That’s why we are confident. We are very confident that come rain, come shine, Wike will defeat anybody, no matter where such a person may be coming from. After his tenure, if the person who succeeds him doesn’t have his energy and intelligence, then that is not his problem. Governor Wike goes to bed by 2 am or 3 am, sometimes 4 am. He gets up at 8 am or 10 am.

And there’s no timeframe for closing once he resumes for the day. I have worked with four governors in this state. I worked with two military governors and two civilian governors, so I can tell you that, not because I am working for him. Wike himself knows that if he is not doing well, I would say so. I am not looking for anything as such; nobody is self-sufficient, but I can say my mind.

Your reporter here in Port Harcourt knows that I say my mind. What I tell you about Wike is what anybody who is honest or who understands governance (democratic governance) will tell you. Even if it is simple corporate governance – which is the boardroom politics – Wike was prepared. He prepared himself for it. It is not just overnight he developed it. Everything he is doing he gives it a lot of thought and that is why it is difficult to find his type at the moment.

Mao Zedona (former Chairman of the Communist Party of China) said that the wisdom he has is the wisdom of the entire Chinese people but given to him to hold. If he manages well, China will be great; if he doesn’t, China will be ruined. Today, you are seeing all over the place, made in China. It is because of the way

the wisdom was properly managed for the benefit of China. Today, Wike is holding the brain of the entire Rivers people God put in his hand now; it came at the right time, when the state was in dire need of good leadership. That is why everything that he is doing is going his way. That’s why somebody was singing the other day, ‘Everywhere you go na so so progress; as you carry Rivers State turn it to good, we will follow you to promised land’. A musician was saying that few days ago and that is exactly what it is. That’s why I said and I would continue to say it, it doesn’t matter what anybody would say, there’s no alternative to him now.

But how optimistic are you that the election will count?

In our state, anybody who attempts otherwise is looking for trouble. How many can they kill? In Rivers we sing, ‘How many dem dey; why we no go win them?’ But beyond that how many people will they kill in this state when the greater portion of the state are united behind Governor Nyesom Wike? How many will you kill? Kill everybody, because the people will vote for him. What he is doing is for everybody to benefit.

Does it mean you don’t see any formidable opposition in 2019?

There’s none. Ok, which one is opposition? Is it Magnus Abe’s camp? Is it Amaechi’s camp? Is it Bapakuye Bipi’s camp? Is it Chidi Wilioka’s camp? There is the APC; so, which of the camp is he contending with? You know, when God wants to help a people, he brings one of his own to salvage them; that’s what God has done for the

How does His Excellency see the opposition?

Does he see them as people to win over or people to push over?

No, he doesn’t see them as people to push over.

I was in the opposition but he brought me in. If he is a man who ignores the opposition or who pushes the opposition over, he would not bring me in. I know what we passed through for me to be in both sides – I mean, long talk. So, he believes that anybody who is available should be available. He even challenges PDP leaders to ensure that the dividends of democracy go round. He told them, ‘If you chop alone, you die alone’. He challenges them to open their house and receive people. So, he is available; he is free.

Even if Amaechi comes tomorrow and says, ‘My brother, I am tired; let us work together’, that would be it.

Wike does not dismiss anybody; he receives as many that would want to come but he is careful. He is one of the most technical politicians you have in town. He is brilliant; he looks beyond the fence; he sees ahead. He understands very well the dynamism and mechanism of politics and he can plot it. He does not believe that there is failure. He doesn’t believe that what he is going to do tomorrow will fail. No, if you look at his profile you will know: former local government chairman, he became national chairman of ALGON, he became Chief of Staff, minister; he came back and became governor under very difficult circumstances. So, there’s no door he believes that cannot open. No, for him everything is possible. And that’s why we believe that there is no alternative to Wike in 2019.

In recent times, the Rivers State government ran a sustained advert campaign in many newspapers on a security personnel who was said to have played some sinister roles in an electoral process in the state. How far have you gone with that situation now or has everything been sorted out? Again, how do you mitigate the recurrence of such situations as we go into the 2019 elections?

For Governor Wike, whenever he sees anything that ought to be known by the public, he lets

them know. The much he can do is to let them know. When that incident happened, it wasn’t a secret thing; it was televised. It’s just that Nigerians don’t dwell on issues for a long time.

When something happens now, and tomorrow there’s another thing, that takes the former to the backdoor and they forget. It was an open thing Wike himself would have forgotten it; but God was wonderful. The activities of the young police office did not in any way perturb him after he had spoken his mind, but INEC on its own did a report and cried that something extraneous happened. Somebody who is not part of their system came into the system and committed havoc on their staff. He didn’t commit on the Rivers State workers, but on INEC staff and Wike owes the public a duty to let them know.

That was what he did. He has done it; it is up to those who have the responsibility to their conscience to look at it. He has informed them what the INEC has written. The INEC report is open for everybody to read; it is on the internet.

So, for us we believe that in every political process, there will be storms here and there but the ability to manage and wade through the storms makes you a better politician and like I told you before, Wike does not believe in failure. These storms are there; they must come. But Wike has the capacity to manage and withstand them; and this has transcended to all of us who are his followers. So, when he speaks, he activates us to believe that, that is what it is supposed to be.

Wike is a very courageous young man and thank God for the opportunity that he gave to us that we have one among us that can come to talk to us and we get more energetic.

Many Nigerians are increasingly becoming indifferent to elections in the country. This is evident in the number of unclaimed PVCs being declared by INEC across the country, the reason being that they say that their votes no longer count. What advice do you have for the Nigerian electorate as we go into the election?

Democracy is a very dynamic game; it is a progressive game. It is not Mathematics where one plus one is equal to two. So, it is a game that has to progress over time; even the civilized world that has been practicing it, they also experience it.

I have a book written by a former Chief of Staff to President Nixon (former President of America). He said what matters in America is not the vote, but those who count it. When I read it, I said to myself, so if what matters in America is not the vote but those who count it, it means that what we are experiencing here today is not new; they also passed through it many years ago but over time they got over it and got stabilized. I believe that Nigeria will get stabilized if they take very positive decisions.

One of such positive decisions, not that any government is perfect, but what we are seeing in the APC government in Nigeria is never seen anywhere. Look at Bukola Saraki. As students

we read about his father; we even read about him as former governor and now Senate president, you accuse him of stealing N17 million by way of armed robbery and breaking banks. Even if you said that to my grandchild, he would not believe it because it doesn’t make any sense.

That young man, what his father has put on ground can feed him, not to talk about the one he put by himself. That’s just one example of several others why Nigerians are getting to the point of imagining that our democracy will not grow. But I think it will grow.

The decision taken by the 40 political parties to work together in 2019 is the step to growing democracy. Even in the military; when a military government is not doing well, another group of military officers change them; is it not so? In democracy, when a group of democratic leaders are not doing well, another group of democratic leaders change them; that’s what the political parties did the other day. That singular action of signing that memorandum of understanding (MOU) is about 90 percent of removing Buhari and APC. Chairmen of 40 parties agreed in Nigeria, and met, and signed a document to say, ‘We are tired of APC’. If it were in the civilized world, that same day while they were singing the MOU, the president would have resigned.

I think that we would make progress. Whatever error PDP may have committed, I think Nigerians are seeing something that is beyond error. It is said that when you marry two wives, you know the better one. But here in this dispensation, you have to travel to 36 states and Abuja and talk and talk, exhaust your saliva and energy before you can convince people to vote for you.

When you get there, you also spend and waste much more saliva to be able to convince them that you are doing what you said you would do.

So, whether (former President) Jonathan was good or bad, I think this is the worst we have ever seen and since it is the worst we have seen, people are resolved to take back their country. It appears that Buhari and APC do not even know the problem of Nigeria; so they cannot come up with any solution. But before Buhari came in, he enumerated the problems, which means he has taken a study of it, but from what is happening it means he didn’t do any study; he just came to hold power and nothing more; the type he did when he was military head of state carrying gun and shooting and taking over. That’s not how this one is done. This one, you have used your mouth to kill yourself by what you said you would do, yet you can’t do. In the military, you take over power by making one sentence – Dear countrymen. The people are not better than what they were before; you take over. One sentence which one that is better. Now that Nigerians have seen the two, they have to make a choice and the choice is coming on a platter of gold, because Buhari has made it very easy for PDP to come back. If he had performed, they would not come back soon. It is a matter of days now and PDP will get back to office.

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Sunday 15 July 2018

Politics Nigerians unaware of Buhari’s achievement because of unavailability of information – Oki Fouad Oki, factional chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos State and former director-general of the Akinwunmi Ambode 2015 Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation, in this exclusive interview with Iniobong Iwok assesses the state of affairs in the country, performance of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, among other issues

W

hat is your view about t h e c u r re n t escalating insecurity in the

country?

I have said it severally, and it seems nothing is changing, that there is no country in the world that is not having security issues. Why is Donald Trump thinking of building a wall over Mexico? Look at Turkey. It is all over the world. I would not say the president is not doing enough; I would say that the president and his security team need to up their game so that Nigerians can be safe. The loss of one life would be a minus for any government; but we must understand that even those who have gotten military training would say that there are some wars that are not conventional, that you don’t know your opponent. This insurgency war is a type of war that requires a lot of understanding and strategy.

This is the only country where people play politics with security. It must stop. The issues of pulling down your country would not take us anywhere; some call it hate speech, but I think it would not do us any good if we are always thinking of pulling the country down.

What do you have to say about the current defection of some aggrieved members of your party to form an alliance with PDP? It is healthy for democracy.

As some people are moving out of APC, some people are also coming into the party. This is our own transfer season in politics in Nigeria; so let them go.

Some other people are coming in. I am gearing up for combat, to take the opposition and beat them to their game and take the trophy home at the end of the day.

How do your react to the crisis in your party?

I don’t want to be drawn to it; I am in my house and watching unfolding events. Is it not the same [Femi] Gbajabiamila that said what we did was just birthday? I am quietly watching events. At the appropriate time we would react.

Would you still campaign for Ambode as his campaign organisation DG if he approaches you?

That is for the party to de-

Fouad Oki cide; it is not an individual thing. Even the last time, I was seconded by the party to do the job.

Some of your party leaders see you as a rebel in Lagos APC. Is that true?

Do a vox-pox and ask from our party members about this.

Do you know how many messages I get on WhatsApp and from people thanking me for standing up against impunity in the party? We said the membership registration in Lagos was non-existent; it was disorganised and they said no. We said we must carry out membership registration and we have been doing that in spite of their refusal, we have been doing that;

you can go to www. APCLagos. com, and we have tremendous feedback from people, while thousands have registered so far. When you interrogate the people, they would tell you the reality on the ground. They conducted election in 377 councils which is illegal, we wanted 20 local councils which is what is recognised by law. When you are sitting on illegality, how can they come and do the right thing? Today is Saturday [the day of the interview], but I am here working for the party and the country. You would observe that we are few months to the general elections. I know how much mileage we must achieve.

What do they know about elec-

tions and campaign? We have a party that is not popular in spite of the fact that we are in power, I have a mandate to convince the people to take us back.

But don’t you think it would be a hard task campaigning for Buhari and asking Nigerians to vote for him?

I am a Buharist. Part of the problem is that our government has done so much but, unfortunately, Nigerians have not been exposed to understanding what the government has achieved, what mileage this government has to cover, and I am sure within a short time you would see it. We have communication challenges, we are not communicating as we should, but we

are addressing that; we would engage Nigerians more about where this government is and what we met on the ground.

We have to engage the media more about what we have done and we are doing that; we are addressing that.

But Buhari has been accused of being a sectional leader. What’s your reaction?

Again, that issue is the issue of communication. You see, a coin has two sides, the positive and negative. Because of lack of information, Nigerians don’t know what this government is doing. If you look at what the government is doing, most times you may not see it in the newspaper, but you see NOA engaging Nigerians, telling them what the government is doing. We have identified those shortcomings. In Lagos, the government had the same issue, which is communicating with Nigerians. In Lagos, the civic department got it wrong because they were not using the right tools in passing the message. So when the Visionscape issue came up, the party was not there for the government, the same party that was going to look for votes for the governor. It is the same thing that happened at the national level. So we have identified these issues and we are addressing them.

What is your view about the clamour for restructuring of the country?

As I have told you once, I don’t really understand when people talk about restructuring. There were agitations in the 50s that the Western Nigeria should be part of Lagos. Our forefathers rejected it; Lagos has been there for years and they felt it would not be proper for Lagos to lose its status. Recently there were agitations for creation of Oduduwa state and I asked them, where would you put Lagos? There is a popular saying that Lagos should stand alone and you know Lagos was created in 1861. Then we had the British protectorate and the colony of Lagos and we used to be British citizens, followed by Calabar. In Calabar, we have several tribes. So when you talk about restructuring, I run away. The issue to me should be good governance. When there is good governance, there would not be agitations in the country.

Sunday 15 July 2018

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Politics Reps, state governors under attack over plans to abolish Local Government tier ...as NLC, NULGE, CSOs mobilise for protest nationwide KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja

T

he House of Representatives has come under attack over ongoing plans to pass a legislation that will finally abolish the Local Government tier from the 1999 Constitution.

BDSUNDAY authoritatively gathered that various interest groups across the country have commenced mobilisation of Nigerian workers across public and private sectors, with a view to halting the move by the House to stifle grassroots development.

The controversial bill for an Act to repeal the local government (basic constitutional and transitional provisions) Act and for related matters, 2018 which was sponsored by Edward Gyang Pwajok (APCPlateau) has scaled through first reading and is being gazetted for second reading on the floor of the Lower Chamber.

“This Bill may be cited as the Local Government (Basic Constitutional and Transitional Provisions) Repeal Bill, 2018.”

According to the ‘memorandum of explanation’ of the proposed private member, it “seeks to repeal the Federal Legislation regulating Local Governments, which is covered by Section 7 of the Constitution.”

Some of the stakeholders, including the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) which expressed opposition to the intent of the private member bill, accused state governors of sponsoring the legislation which they described as “anti-people and anti-democracy.”

Section 7(1) of the Constitution (as amended) provides that: “The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the Government of every State shall, subject to section 8 of this Constitution, ensure their existence under a Law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils.

Subsection (7)2 also pro-

Saraki

vides that: “The person authorised by law to prescribe the area over which a local government council may exercise authority shall (a) define such area as clearly as practicable; and (b) ensure, to the extent to which it may be reasonably justifiable that in defining such area, regard is paid to - (i) the common interest of the community in the area; (ii) traditional association of the community; and (iii) administrative convenience.”

Sub-section 7(3) of the Constitution further empowers Local Government Councils “within the state, to participate in economic planning and development of the area referred to in subsection (2) of this section and to this end, an economic planning board shall be established by a law enacted by the House of Assembly of the State.”

In the same vein, subsection 7(4) states that: “The Government of a State shall ensure that every person who is entitled to vote or be voted for at an election to the House of Assembly, shall have the right to vote or be voted for at an election to a local government council.”

In furtherance of its powers, subsection 7(5) of the Constitution provides that: “The functions to be conferred by Law upon local government councils, shall include those set out in the Fourth Schedule to this Constitution.”

In a interview with BDSUNDAY, Vivian Bellonwu-Okafor who spoke on behalf of the coalition of CSOs, urged the Legislature to prioritise policies and processes that would engender good governance. She further warned the legislature

Dogara

to shun all forms of activity that would aggravate the sufferings of Nigerians.

“This move by the House of Representatives to abrogate the third level of government is against all known wise counsel.

Local council governments have the closest interaction with the masses, particularly at the grassroots. They organize and see to those sundry and otherwise everyday life matters of local communities and areas, in aspects such as commerce (markets), transportation, agriculture, human resources development etc, they also directly see to peace and security in communities and it’s structures.

“Granted, a bulk of local councils have not been car-

In a swift reaction to the provisions of the bill, Ayuba Wabba, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expressed dismay over the sudden twist of the House to go against the wishes of Nigerians a few weeks after the transmission of the recommendations of the Constitutional amendment to Mr. President

rying out their constitutional duties and responsibilities and thus have not significantly made their impacts felt by the local population they govern, but this is largely attributable to the meddlesome and overbearing roles State Chief Executives have been playing in this regard, as some of these governors simply see local councils as extension of their security votes.

“Many state governors outrightly confiscate the allocations of local governments, in some casses by virtue of the JAAC arrangement and simply administer same to their fancy, to the detriment of local council residents.

“This state of affairs and other failure-contributing factors were what the law-making body would have studied and applied themselves to solving through effective laws and strict oversight to check violations, instead of adopting an extreme and anti-people step such as that proposed,” Bellonwu-Okafor of Social Action urged.

In a swift reaction to the provisions of the bill, Ayuba Wabba, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expressed dismay over the sudden twist of the House to go against the wishes of Nigerians a few weeks after the transmission of the recommendations of the Constitutional amendment to Mr. President.

“We are totally against the bill because it will destroy the activities of the Local Government system. But what we are looking for is to strengthen, not to destroy. This is like abolition of the Local Government tier.

“We need to bring gover-

nance closer to the people and that is part of the insecurity challenges we are currently facing. Local Governments need to get their resources directly.

Everywhere in the world there is Local Government, so no right thinking person will support the abolition of the Local Government in this country,” Wabba stressed.

Worried by the development, the NLC unveiled plans to consult with the leadership of the National Assembly and National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) with the view to halt the piece of legislation.

For his part, Ibrahim Khaleel, NULGE President ,who spoke with BDSUNDAY on phone, accused state governors of plotting a palace coup against the people by using democratic institutions and instruments to subdue the interests of majority of Nigeria’s population living in the grassroots.

“Firstly, let us place on record that we are against the bill. What we are craving for is Local Government autonomy. But this is a more dangerous legislation; sincerely speaking we can’t support that.

“The National Executive Council (NEC) will meet on Thursday to deliberate on this matter. We will also have a press conference on the lackadaisical attitude of the State Assembly and National Assembly to allow Local Government to be more visible.”

According to him, the outcome of the public hearings held in Jigawa , Zamfara and Kano states, jolted the State Assembly with the overwhelming support for Local Government autonomy.

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Sunday 15 July 2018

Politics

Project, policy continuity as an issue in Bayelsa governorship election

O

SAMUEL ESE, YENAGOA

ne issue that has bedeviled Bayelsa State for the past 11 years has been the inability of succeeding administrations to complete certain inherited projects which include the Tower Hotel, Gloryland Drive, 500-Bed Hospital and Bayelsa State Library which are all located in the capital, Yenagoa, among others.

Over the years, the syndrome of abandonment has assumed some frightening dimension although the present administration of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson completed the Ogobiri-Toru-Ebeni Bridge and commenced work on the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road.

Careful observations have shown that the issue is not just about completion of inherited projects, but lack of policy continuity owing to political differences, hence the growing calls among Bayelsans for a governor who will display the will, zeal and commitment to complete such projects for the benefit of the people.

Some governments have demolished some high profile projects to erect new ones, even in the face of paucity of funds and lack of development, while allowing certain projects to suffer further delay.

With the next governorship elections coming up sometime in October or November next year, after the general elections, stakeholders are expressing fears that unless a man with the right attitude and maturity takes over from Governor Dickson, the state would be littered with a large number of uncompleted projects which could easily become abandoned without the right linkages.

More so, Dickson has initiated a large number of road, hospital, school, housing and power projects, amongst which are the proposed flyover at Tombia Junction, several double carriage way roads off the Issac Boro Expressway, the Circular Road and University of Africa, which may not be completed in the life of his administration, due to paucity of funds.

Other projects including the Agge Deep Seaport Project, ongoing Sagbama-Ekeremor Road,

State Polytechnic, Aleibiri, ongoing Yenagoa-Oporoma Road, 500-Bed Hospital, Tower Hotel, the new policy on education and the Bayelsa State Health Insurance Scheme (BHSS) need someone who would sustain them and add value to them.

The golf course, New Yenagoa City, the pavilion, Peace Park, Gloryland Castle and Agge Deep Seaport Project among others when fully completed and operational need to be marketed to make them revenue earners for the state in the long term.

Lack of continuity in policy and project completion has negatively affected the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road, especially after Julius Berger left and no other contractor was immediately brought in to handle it. The Sagbama-Oporoma Road was stalled for several years until Governor Dickson took it over from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)

while the Ogbia-Nembe Road was in limbo due to security challenges.

Charles Ambaoiwei, a onetime Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure under Goodluck Jonathan, as governor, noted that the issue of project abandonment was not to the benefit of the people and acknowledged that it was a good thing that people like Reuben Okoya have joined the governorship race.

Ambaoiwei highlighted a number of reasons for abandonment or delay of projects, including contractual reasons, lack of funding, lack of capacity by the contractor or consultant, security, but noted that as a state, Bayelsa is in a hurry to develop.

He stated: “We have seen some track records for even his involvement in the building of the Niger Delta University, after that direct labour era projects of Dr. (Mrs) Etebu who was commissioner for special projects

preceding him. When I was commissioner for works, he was also commissioner for special projects. We have come a long way in doing - so, as a person, he stands a meritorious character.”

A former vice chairman of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), called for more people of integrity to join the governorship race, but stressed the need for those aspiring to be subjected to the Ijaw Nation Code of Ethics, Leadership and Good Governance, a document that was put together members of the Ijaw National Congress, the Ijaw Elders Forum of Lagos and a group called G24 Ebassara Foundation.

Oyinkro Kolokolo, director of operations of Campaign for Democracy and Development in Bayelsa State (CDDB) told BD Sunday that there was need for policy and project continuity, in order to deliver on some key projects inherited from previous administrations and pointed out

that Reuben Okoya has all the ingredients to tackle the malaise afflicting such projects.

Kolokolo said the issue of project abandonment was caused by opposition politics which is anti-government and makes incoming governments to neglect inherited projects due to political differences. He said: “So, for me, I think the person that would come on board and would keep these sentiments aside, looking and judging by antecedents, going by the character of the persons so far that have indicated interest, I look at one person standing out and that is Reuben Okoya.

“Yes, everybody has his own opinion, but for me as an individual, I think Reuben Okoya has that character in him. I was opportuned to have an interaction with him sometime ago and actually, this discussion came up.

Somebody raised the issue of the airport that is going on, the person was saying was it airport that Bayelsa people need? Why would they be embarking on a project that the people don’t need?

“And he answered, he said ‘No, you cannot say that. That airport, no matter what you say, any government that comes into power would make good use of that airport. You cannot say the project will not benefit the people. It all depends on how you use it or how you see the usefulness of it and you put it into use.

“When he made that remark, it just dawned on me that the man has the intention of visiting projects that have been abandoned and bringing them to completion and making them useful for the benefit of Bayelsans. So, he already has that mindset that the issue of abandoned projects is not what would continue. So, if given the opportunity, it is obvious that the man already has a plan that these projects that have been abandoned have to be brought to completion so that the people can make good use of them.”

Kolokolo said he was convinced that Okoya was the missing link Bayelsans have been looking for over the years as he would bridge the gap between his predecessor and his administration as he has no political enemies and also due to his expertise in crises management.

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Politics nPDP, rAPC, fake 419 lot - Adamu ABDULLAHI ADAMU is an APC Senator representing Nasarawa West, Chairman Northern Senators Forum, former Secretary, PDP Board of Trustees and former Governor of Nasarawa State was recently at the APC National Secretariat, Abuja where he spoke with journalists on topical issues in the party and the National Assembly. JAMES KWEN was there. Excerpts.

W

hat is your mission to the national secretariat of the party?

I have come to pay a courtesy call on the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

Given me that understanding there is a lot of work to be done. He is not deceiving himself about it. He remains absolutely committed to make a success of his mission as chairman of our great party. I cannot say more than I will, we will give him maximum support both at the National Assembly where I am coming from, from the streets of Nigeria, from all the constituencies all the polling units, so that the APC would emerge victorious in the 2019 general election.

Having said that, the chairman of this press forum, I reminded you that I was here sometime in the month of May I think, early May or very late April. I told you here, I may not be able to capture word for word, but I told you the so called nPDP is fake. I told you that. I told you these are people who have got felonies that they are hiding and want to use their positions in the party and National Assembly as a façade, as a veil to hide from the felonies they have committed. The whole thing they are fighting is not so much service to Nigeria but service to their interest and I did tell you that they are just staying in the APC to cause maximum possible damage. I have been proven right. I told you all the noise about wanting to stay and work for the family of the APC but they are just trying to create the kind of impression that in the APC they had no deal. Nobody in the old PDP that became the new PDP and went into the accord with the PDP in 2013, nobody stood beneficiary of that more than the current Senate President, Bukola Saraki. He has benefited more than any single new PDP person and he seems to be the arrow head of this resistance now, or betrayal of the party. I thank God I have lived to witness what I said what has come to pass. It is left for you now to follow up to know who was telling the truth or lying .They did not deserve the attention they wanted because it is not founded in realism, it is not founded in truth, it is not founded on loyalty or patriotism to the country .

What is your take on the coalition of the 39 political parties? Are they any threat?

The issue of threat doesn’t arise. I don’t feel it in my body and I have been in politics if I am modest, may be 40 years.

I have contested election, I have never lost any election, I have operated at the local government level, the National Assembly level, I have been governor in this country , I have been secretary of the board of trustees of the PDP when it was PDP, and I am a second term Senator today. I think without being immodest, I have seen enough of Nigerian politics thus far and from what we have seen so far, the indication is that we are dealing with 419ners. None of them will stand up to say oh I was a senator, I was in the House of Representatives or I was this today ,separating from his base, all politics is local. How many of them can go to their

constituency and say or do what they are doing in Abuja? I don’t call them Abuja politicians because they don’t deserve that, they are just 419ners these are guys who just go from place to place.

The truth is if Saraki and Ekweremadu and the rest of them, leaders today, in the national assembly genuinely feel aggrieved and genuinely want to go out, let them go out. You don’t push pawns.

Nobody who knows the game of chess will play only by moving pawns, you got to move the major actors, the kings, the knights, the bishops, but these ones have got feet of clay. Unfortunately they don’t threaten anybody here and as far as I am concerned, we don’t see them as what they call reformed APC. I think they are rejects. Why do I say so, we are witnesses of the fact that we held a national convention. We started from the unit level, that’s where the ballot boxes are, to ward, local government, zonal to national level and we had a convention. There was no side statement from anybody. Three weeks after convention we are hearing some rifrafs saying that they have form a something called rAPC. You don’t just wakeup and form a party or coalition. What is happening is that those their principals who are in the National Assembly do not want to risk making a declaration, so that they do not lose their seats and so they want to justify there is a split in the APC . That is what they are trying to do. No more no less.

What do you mean by minority?

I did belong to the defunct nPDP, it started from my house. I speak as a Nigerian politician; I speak because I have no letters in my politics.

What is happening today, from the day this Senate was inaugurated, that very day the current president of the Senate went into an illicit accord.

What would happen to the leadership of the National Assembly if they decide to... ( Cuts in) I don’t cross bridges and it’s hypothetical for me to say. Let them do it.

We have witnessed in the past few years, the lack of harmony between the legislature and the executive. What are you doing to ensure there is full harmony, so we can have good passage of our policies?

Nobody who is democrat will welcome what we are witnessing. The fact of the matter is out of selfish ambition, out of the desire to promote self instead of the nation, instead of service we got ourselves in this, whereby somebody who was contesting for Senate Presidency found a way of going into an illicit alliance, accord with an opposing party, betraying the party that elected him there and didn’t say he has left the party. He used the alliance he had with the PDP as it has been and from that the day, the government which is supposed to be an APC government, the national assembly became an opposition party.

That’s a misfortune. And somehow some of you here with due respect saw it, promoted the cause of that kind of misdemeanor which has been our lot since June 9 2015 till date but by the grace of God, we will cure that ailment in the forth coming election.

When the National Assembly submitted the Appropriation Bill, the president did

complain there were things injected into the budget and some removed. I don’t know what the National Assembly has done about the presidents complain.

As a Senator what is your take on this complaint?

Honestly, some of us feel betrayed.

Yes we did passed the budget. As I keep saying, the devil in the 2018 budget passed is in the details. The details were not presented to us and we are yearning till this moment, from last week to today, questions have been asked and we are still working on it to unearth how did this happen. There was an intervention, there were changes in what the president proposed and as a democrat, I didn’t see anything wrong. But the way and manner in which you dance gives an impression of malice and disrespect for constituted authority. Yes, in the National Assembly, we do have constitutional provisions. You can rely on getting involved with the budget but you cannot act in isolation. We are one arm of the three arms that make the government. We commit no wrong, there is no harm if we say hey, Mr. President, where you made provision for A,B,C we think in the national interest, to our own understanding wouldn’t it be better if you see along so so line? But what sense does it make to take money from ongoing projects that were provided for by the president and take it away and we don’t know where those monies were applied, that’s wrong. We really are sad by what we are seeing but the Senate has not finished treating it, and the matter is not yet dead. Meaning you haven’t heard the last about the budget but I want to tell you the president’s observation is very correct.

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Sunday 15 July 2018

AssemblyWatch From the Red Chamber

OWEDE AGBAJILEKE

A

ll roads lead to National Assembly Complex, Abuja as the first ever National Assembly Open Week commences tomorrow.

The four-day event aims to broaden public understanding of legislative functions and processes, highlight the achievements of the National Assembly in promoting legislative openness, create a platform for interraction between legislators and key stakeholders as well as improve public confidence in democratic institutions, particularly the legislature.

Participants include state assemblies, civil society organisations/non-govermental organisations, private sector, media groups and organisations, committees of the National Assembly, re search-

Using NASS Open Week to launder battered image? ers/academia, traditional and religious leaders, development partners, ministries, departments and agencies, judiciary, trade unions/pressure groups, lobby groups among others.

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to declare the event open as Special Guest of Honour.

This will be his first visit to the National Assembly since signing the N9.120 trillion 2018 budget into law. He had accused federal lawmakers of making reductions amounting to N347 billion in the allocations to 4,700 projects submitted to them for consideration and introducing 6,403 projects worth N578 billion.

A semblance of peace seemed to have returned to the National Assembly after a troubling start on June 9, 2015 which saw the emergence of Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives respectively against the directives of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

As a step towards redeeming its battered image, the Eighth National Assembly will do well to use the programme to reveal to the public the salaries and allowances of individual lawmakers.

In March this year, the Chair-

man Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna State) had revealed that he and his colleagues received N13.5 million monthly as running cost.

Unfortunately, four months down the line, there has been no official reaction from the Legislature to either confirm or dispute the figures.

In the same token, the occasion will provide an opportunity for Saraki who doubles as Chairman of the National Assembly to come out clean on the alleged complicity of the federal legislature on the certificate scandal involving Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun.

A report by an online platform, Premium Times, had indicated that although legislators were privy to Adeosun’s fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate, ‘a National Assembly cartel turned it into a tool for blackmail’ by using it to coerce the Minister to keep releasing funds to the lawmaking arm.

That the leadership of the National Assembly is yet to speak on the matter a week after the story broke out, leaves much to be desired.

The just concluded week provided an avenue for members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senate Caucus to bare their

mind on the issue but it ended up becoming a lost opportunity.

Just like the NYSC authorities and the Federal Government through the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, Chairman of the Caucus and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, was evasive on the matter.

Responding to question put to him while addressing Senate correspondents after an emergency meeting, Akpabio, the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State said: “Well, certificate is certificate.

Whether it is degree or NYSC. Am I right? I believe that the Federal Government is on top of the situation. And as a Caucus, we can’t go into that issue.

“The Federal Government definitely will investigate the issue and come up with a report. As a Caucus we cannot go into that issue but you know the Federal Government will definitely do the needful if the allegation is true”.

Meanwhile, the use of federal might in the buildup to yesterday’s governorship election in Ekiti State is another justification on the need for state police. The same Federal Government that sent in over 50,000 security personnel to conquer the state cannot guarantee the security of lives of police officers in Abuja, let

National Assembly’s Open week, a welcome development

I

was privileged to witness the recent inauguration of the Committee saddled with the responsibility of National Assembly Open Week, which coincides with the commemoration of the 3rd year anniversary of 8th Assembly. The Committee is chaired by someone I hold so much in high esteem, Distinguished Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan (APC-Yobe), who doubles as the Leader of the Senate.

According to the Committee, the 4-day activity which starts tomorrow, 16th July, 2018 to Thursday, 19th July, 2018 was aimed at fostering closer interaction with various stakeholders and deepen the understanding of the work of the Legislature (National Assembly). The exercise is expected to broaden public understanding of legislative function and processes and engender interaction between Legislators and key stakeholders who will take advantage of the platform to attend.

Haven reeled out the terms of reference for the Open Week, I wish to acknowledge that the exercise is well-conceived and timely, especially with the level of disenchantment between the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary arms of government.

Going by Senator Lawan’s pedigree during the investigation into the operations of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) through which he resisted all forms of interference and scandal, he can raise his shoulder high in steer-

ing the affairs of the National Assembly Open Week committee.

Of course, there are issues that should be addressed during the week-long programme, including how best to address series of scandal hanging on the neck of the Legislature, ranging from the $50,000 and $30,000 bribes allegedly received by some Senators and members of the House to alter the Electoral Act Amendment Bill; and the recent report about the four Senators and four members of the House involved in the $96,350 foreign training scandal, sponsored by Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) in November 2017 to attend the 43rd international training programme on utility regulation and strategy, though cancelled for undisclosed reasons. According to the report, each of the four Senators and four Members would have pocketed the sum of $9,500 (N3.420 million) and $9,000 (N3.240 million at N360/$) for 10 days.

Some have insinuated that these and other unexplained reasons were responsible for the resentment by some Ministers and Heads of agencies to appear before the Standing Committees to defend their budgets and even appear at either investigative public hearings and honour invitations. The general public including the Media should be educated and convinced public on the justifications for such sponsorship and draw lines on issues of conflict of interests.

We can never forget in a hurry, the issues surrounding budget padding and accusation and counter-accusation over insertion of some bogus amounts in the federal budget. While I align absolutely with the National Assembly that the power of the purse belongs to the Legislature, but the leadership of the National Assembly which stands as the symbol of democracy should take the bull by the horn and fearlessly ensure that we get value for tax payers’ fund. I’m still at loss over what the trillions of naira expended yearly on various projects are used for? Even if the Executive arm which gets approximately N8.350 billion out of the N8.6 trillion of the entire 2018 proposed budget fail to be prudent in its implementation, the onus is on the National Assembly to demand for accountability and transparency in the course of the oversight and bring it to public glare without any element of compromise and gratification.

But what do we see for all of these? Soiled hands everywhere!

The time is now to restore public confidence and trust! Drawn from Speaker Yakubu Dogara’s submission at the joint public hearing on the 2018 budget estimate, Nigerians should “demand strict accountability from all elected officials on this matter.

Jacob Lew captured the issue succinctly when he said, ‘The budget is not just a collection of numbers, but an expression of our values and aspirations.’ The

citizen must therefore insist on the total realisation of these values and aspirations rather than merely the collection of figures.”

I wish to also advise that the issue of alleged pension fraud running to about N2 billion within the National Assembly bureaucracy should not be left unattended to, during the National Assembly Open Week.

The National Assembly should also design a template through which issue of zonal intervention/constituency projects will be open and transparent. As present, it’s obvious that various sub-heads with zonal and constituency projects descriptions are far more than N100 billion jointly agreed by the Legislature and Executive in the annual budget.

All of these are worrisome and should be addressed. Adequate sensitization/enlightenment should be intensified that any of the serving Senator/Member who bring the Institution into disrepute is not covered by any form of immunity going forward.

Meanwhile, the recurring cases of death among National Assembly members and staff which occurred in recent past is causing palpable fears within the Institution, and cautions to all and sundry. While some believed the situation calls for spiritual intervention, some of those familiar with the system were of the opinion that such occurrence is usual in pre-election year. As at the last count, up to 12 people death have been an-

alone protect citizens in the interior parts of Nigeria. If the Federal Government had used half of its energy in deploying security operatives to Ekiti State, in tackling rising insecurity in other parts of the country, cases of herdsmenfarmers clashes, cattle rustling, kidnapping, insurgency, armed robbery among others would have been history by now.

If there had been state police in the first instance, what transpired in Ekiti State wouldn’t have happened.

Thankfully, a Bill for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution for the creation of state and community police passed First Reading last week. The Bill titled ‘Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2018’ was sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and co-sponsored by 75 other senators.

But like I observed on this column last week, except the National Assembly garners the political will to override President Buhari’s veto, the current constitution amendment may be an exercise in futility. The President has never hidden his disdain for proponents of state police, by extension restructuring. And I won’t be surprised if he declines assent to the bill when eventually passed.

From the Green House With

KEHINDE AKINTOLA nounced either via posters on notice boards within the National Assembly while such news about the lawmakers come either through traditional media. For all the concerned staff, there is also the need for spiritual cleansing within the system, without further delay. It’s so unfortunate that all those who lost their lives never dreamt of suffering such fate at such tender age(s), but we should not forget the lessons that come with such incidences.

One of the lessons include the need to improve our health facilities by equipping all hospitals and primary healthcare centres for which several billions are being appropriated yearly, but Nigerians get little or no equitable value and services when they go there. That accounts for the high mortality and morbidity rates in the country and life expectancy when you look at the human development indices.

Sunday 15 July 2018

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SundayBusiness UBA emerges best institution in digital banking in Africa ...more accolades for Leo

P

an-African financial services group, United Bank for Africa Plc, once again added to its growing list of enviable laurels as it was named Africa’s best bank in the digital category at the prestigious Euromoney Awards in London on Wednesday.

The award further lends credence to UBA’s dominance in the digital banking space.

The Euromoney awards ceremony covers more than 20 global product categories, best-in-class awards and the best banks in over 100 countries around the world, recognising institutions that have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and momentum in the markets in which they operate.

In selecting its recipients, Euromoney’s principle is hinged both on quantitative and qualitative data to honour institutions that have brought the highest levels of service, innovation and expertise to their customers.

At the awards ceremony, UBA beat other nominees taking away the prize for ‘Best Institution in Digital Banking’ across Africa, an affirmation of its recent investment in cutting-edge technology, one of which gave birth to Leo, the chat banker that has disrupted banking across Africa.

In a bid to be the undisputed leading financial services provider in Africa in the area of innovation and technology, UBA has steadily included new and emerging trends to its range of solutions in branches, across subsidiaries and on digital platforms. The emergence of Leo has been a continuous directive to push the banking sector beyond financial services and to show that the bank truly comprehends the

L-R: John Orchard, managing director, Euromoney; Ebele Ogbue, general manager, Energy Bank; Kennedy Uzoka, GMD/CEO, United Bank for Africa Plc, and Geoff Hurst, 1966 England World Cup winner, at the Euromoney Award for Excellence in London, where UBA Group was conferred with Africa’s Best Digital Bank.

shift in operations and the movement of the global world with technology today.

The Euromoney award, which is a recognition of innovative products and services introduced by the bank in recent times and targeted towards meeting customer needs, comes on the heels of recent awards to UBA, including Finnacle Client Innovation Awards and Best Bank Awards won by five of its subsidiaries across Africa by The Bankers Magazine. UBA was also declared the best bank in Africa in 2017.

Receiving the award at a wellattended event in London, Kennedy Uzoka, GMD/CEO, UBA

Plc, appreciated the organizers for the recognition, noting that UBA’s dedication to hard work and particular emphasis to offering quality services to customers are being acknowledged.

According to Uzoka, the award affirms the bank’s strong management and unmatched commitment to service excellence.

“This only goes to show that our resolve in continuing to deploy innovative solutions that place customers first, using cutting-edge technology for their collective satisfaction and excellent banking experience, is important to us. This recognition will further spur us to

do more in meeting the needs of our customers with unrivalled services,” Uzoka said.

“For us at UBA, the award is quite an accomplishment, considering Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, and President Emmanuel Macron of France’s recent endorsement both of which centred around highlighting the distinguishing value of UBA’s leading digital opportunities,” he said.

He added that the recent launch of Leo in 15 African countries was evidence that UBA has on its agenda the objective of digital creativity, especially in service for its trusted customer base across the African

continent.

“This award reminds us as an institution not to relent in our pursuit of excellence and to continue to lead the new digital age in Africa, within the financial services industry,” he said.

Clive Horwood, Euromoney Magazine’s editor explained that despite fierce competition, United Bank for Africa stood out in the last year for the inventiveness of its efforts in digital banking.

“One of its signature launches in Nigeria was Leo, an e-chat service using artificial intelligence to help customers execute transactions on Facebook,” Horwood noted.

“Recently, Mark Zuckerberg gave a nod to the service, during a talk at a recent developers’ conference – a sign of its recognition at the highest levels of digital technology. The bank also recently added retina and fingerprint recognition and technology to reduce business travel greenhouse emissions. If it fulfils its ambitious plans to partner with fintech companies, UBA could continue to lead African banks in the area of digitization,” he said.

UBA is one of Africa’s leading banks with operations in 20 African countries and in London and New York, with presence in Paris.

Adjudged to be at the forefront of innovation and convenient banking, UBA is one of the first financial services institutions on the continent to deploy Finacle 10x, a new information technology platform that boosts its services and electronic banking channels.

Today, UBA provides banking services to more than 15 million customers globally, through diverse channels and over a thousand touch points.

Brookstone holds project launch of ‘The Overlook Condominiums’

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rookstone, a leading commercial real estate developer based in Ikoyi, Lagos, in partnership with North court, an award-winning real estate research, management and brokerage company, held the muchanticipated project launch of the development company’s luxury residential project, The Overlook Condominiums, on Sunday, July 8.

The Overlook is centred in between two of Ikoyi’s most prominent social and recreational establishments, the Ikoyi Club 1938 and the Lagos Polo Club, and will overlook the rarest views in Lagos.

The development is designed by internationally-acclaimed design firm, ANA Designs, and is conceived with the vision to deliver a new standard to the market, including unparalleled views of an 18-hole golf course and international polo grounds, residences with grade A standard finishes plus stunning common area amenities, and large living spaces with attention to detail on the most efficient layouts.

Located on the popular Okotie Eboh Street in Lagos’ most prestigious neighborhood, Ikoyi, The Overlook stands nine storeys and

encompasses only 31 exclusive residences comprising enormous all en-suite two-bedroom flats, three-bedroom flats, and threebedroom duplexes.

The building will also have a leisure deck with a private residence lounge, a pool and Jacuzzi, and a gym, as well as a rooftop terrace/

L-R: Emmanuel Atureta, managing partner, Brookstone Property; Dr. A. Awosika, chairman, Chams Plc, and Joseph Orji, managing partner, Brookstone Property, at the project launch of the development company’s luxury residential project, ‘The Overlook Condominiums’, in Lagos.

sit-out area with grilling station, all en-suite flats and duplex-style units, central air, open floor plan kitchens as an option, abundant balconies, walk-in closets, and staff quarters.

“We’re truly proud of the work that our team has done to bring The Overlook to the forefront of luxury living in Lagos,” said Joe Orji,

managing partner at Brookstone Property. “We’re creating a product that brings differentiation to the marketplace, a well-conceived resident experience and value for money. Those who purchase condos in the building will experience a true appreciation for refined quality and superior functionality.”

Atureta Emmanuel, managing partner at Brookstone Property, said the company was proud to present The Overlook, in line with its drive for perfection and unwillingness to compromise, describing the project as “a grade A residential condominium with unparalleled views, functional and ample spaced layouts with top-class finishes”.

“We are excited to be part of The Overlook as the project structure, location and pricing is a unique offering in the Lagos real estate market,” Tayo Odunsi, CEO of North court, said.

“This is an investment grade residential asset that will, in a couple years, become an icon on the Ikoyi landscape. Based on our market intelligence, the project will be coming on stream at a period when the rental market in Ikoyi is expected to have rebounded from its current levels. Consequently, a fresh project of this nature will be a renter’s choice and to the investor’s delight,” he said.

The Overlook offers three floor plans ranging in size from two- to three-bedroom flats and duplexes, each with golf course or polo club views. Pricing is from N120 million.

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SundayBusiness Survival strategies of Nigerian Breweries, NB Plc Food & Beverages With Ayo Oyoze Baje

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hat the Nigerian Breweries, NB Plc has remained the numero uno brewery, particularly in Nigeria over the past seven decades; always coming up with people-friendly, nutritious brands and innovations in services and relationship with the consumers and the public is stating it as it is.

Well known for top notch products such as Star, Gulder, Goldberg, Heineken and Life Lager Beer, Maltina, Amstel Malta, Ferouz as well as Ace, roots and herbs-infused drink, the corporate giant has done well for itself. That is, by bringing on board the best of brains in the sector; from the industry eggheads through the brewers, ingenious scientists and technicians that man the laboratories, marketers and

of course, highly intuitive minds in the Corporate/ Public Affairs department.

Little wonder that it has weathered the storm, not the least being the economic recession, the inclement operating business environment, policy flip- flops with regards to access to foreign exchange and the inclusion of local raw materials for its production.

Besides, it has connected well with the potential consumers of its products and the general public through laudable marketing initiatives that have honed raw talents and made stars out of hitherto unknown Nigerians. These include Star Trek, Gulder Ultimate Search and sustainable link with top entertainers. Others include sponsorship of creative writing through multiple award- winning Chimamanda Adiche, Golden Pen Media Award for journalists and football viewing centres to satisfy the yearnings of the teeming soccer fans.

In a similar vein, it held its 2018 edition of the Nigerian Breweries distributors’ award ceremony to celebrate prominent distributors as well as its top trade partners. As expected, the company rewarded the faithful winners with brand new Mitsubishi vans, beautiful plaques and trophies as well as a variety of its products given out in large quantities for the different categories.

So profound was the effect of the award that the new Managing Director and CEO, NB Plc Jordi Borrut Bel, commended the partners for long years of support. He assured them that the company looks forward to a more rewarding

relationship and sought their cooperation as partners for a win-win situation.

So, what are the secret ingredients that have made the products of NB Plc the favoured choice of its teeming consumers? The success story of 72 years old iconic brand according to Bel could be traced to the strength of its personnel and the Nigerian people. He said: “the critical challenge towards continuous performance improvement remains the capability and speed of response to changes in the business environment through people development”.

Also significant is the marketing strategy of the company that has assumed the status of a master stroke. This is amply evident in its rich portfolio, bubbling with over 19 brands, 40 SKUs, all tailored towards the unique needs of Nigerian Breweries’ customers. What more, the element of availability is assured “with notable foot prints spread across the major regions of Nigeria to ensure consumer proximity”.

As explained by the company’s Sales Director, UcheUnigwe, this year’s theme: “winning more together”, was conceived to recognize and reward the excellent performance of the company’s distributors. That is NB Plc’s trademark of knowing that in today’s knowledge-driven global economy being at tune with the dynamics of the consumer’s needs would always stand the company in good stead.

It would be recalled that one resourceful Ken of Maduakor Group Limited from Nnewi in Onitsha

Huge prospects for Nigeria’s yam exports despite challenges Josephine Okojie

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igeria has developed a four-year national action plan on yam export to generate $10 billion in revenue annually for economic growth and development.

The yam export would allow Africa’s most populous nation generate more foreign exchange into the economy and make exponential gains by way of employment generation and other spin-offs to drive growth.

Nigeria is the largest yam producer globally, accounting for 67 per cent of global output with an annual production of 45 million metric tons (MT) in 2016, data from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) shows.

However, the country is yet to tap the full potential in the crop production. Experts however believe that the country’s action plan, if well executed, will change the current narrative in the production of the crop.

Elizabeth Nwankwo, CEO Oklan Best Ltd, whose company is a major yam exporter in Nigeria, told BusinessDay that yam exports would create ready markets for farmers, raising their incomes, as well as investment and job creating capacities across the value chain.

In spite of the gains in the yam export initiative, Nigeria has failed to increase its yam production within the last five years, even as the population continues to increase,

BusinessDay found.

Furthermore, the country’s production has been constrained by old farming techniques and continuous farmers/herders crisis in the northcentral region, which accounts for over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s total output, experts noted.

“Nigeria needs to increase its yield per hectare in yam production to fully benefit from the export initiative and also develop high ratio propagation technologies through aeroponics, hydroponics and vine cutting to address the problems of quality and multiplication in seed yam production,” Martin Enahoro, deputy director, Peniel Gerar International said.

“We need to address the crisis between farmers and herders in the region, as this would impact negatively on production,” Enahoro said.

According to experts, Nigeria can only realise its export potential and diversify its revenue through agriculture when agro commodity that are bulky can be easily transported at cheaper rates to reduce cost of production.

“Infrastructure impacts export competitiveness. If we do not do anything about our infrastructural gaps, we would not get anywhere economically,” Madu Obiora, former chairman, export group, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said.

“We need to activate various means of transportation to facilitate trade and competitiveness,” Obiora said. “The roads are bad. It takes an average of two and three days

to transport yam produce from Benue (located in the middle belt, of Nigeria) to Lagos (located in southwest). I lost over 100 tubers on my last trip because the trailer got spoilt on the road and had to sleep on the road,” Godwin Apak, a yam farmer in Benue state told BusinessDay. Similarly, the rail infrastructure has remained poor, despite efforts of past and present administrations to improve the infrastructures across the country, experts said.

“The rail infrastructures in Nigeria are poor. The logistics to facilitate export are lacking in the country and this is what has driven export growth in most economies of the world,” said AfricaFarmer Mogaji, chief executive officer, X-Ray Consulting Limited.

“We need to revive our rail infrastructures for easy movement of bulky agricultural commodities from farms to the nearest seaports or airports facilities,” Mogaji said.

Cargo facilities for export are in a poor state despite billions of naira invested to revive cargo facilities.

Last year, the Federal Government flagged off the yam export initiative to Europe, the US and the Americas, to compete with Ghana, the largest exporter of yam globally, to attract more foreign exchange into the economy.

However, local demand for yam is at 60 million MT, according to data from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. This means that the country’s supply-demand gap is 15 million MT yearly.

marketing zone beat two others to clinch the National Champions Award and the company’s best distributor for 2017. According to one of the distributors, Dame Joy Igwe of IfeomaChukwuka Nigeria Limited, Port Harcourt region, who won in many categories, Nigerian Breweries has improved on its services. She urged the company to ensure that more of its products get to consumers at the grassroots and also create more awareness for people to know more of their brands.

Good enough, the decision makers at the company are well aware of this need. That must have informed its move to hold the 2017 Financial Market Forum on the 14th of September 2017 where Johan Doyer and the Finance Director, Mark Rutten hosted a management presentation on the company’s operations. They were later treated to a tour of the Iganmu-based Lagos Brewery.

It was from such meeting that it was announced that : NB recorded 15% y/y growth in revenue in H1’17. This rise was solely driven by earlier price increases given that beer volumes in the period declined mid-single digit y/y.

Notably, cheaper beers take the lead with Goldberg and Life beer becoming the largest segment in terms of volumes. Also, NB continues to innovate – introducing a new variant to the Ready-to-Drink Ace line with “Ace Desire ZOBO”. The drink is targeted towards the healthconscious consumer albeit with the well-loved Nigerian hibiscus flower flavour and 5.5% ABV packaged in a 33cl glass bottle.

The Lagos brewery has one of the largest installed capacities of the 10 operational factories owned by Nigerian Breweries. The factory was established in 1949 as the first brewery in Lagos and has undergone series of renovations to improve efficiency over the years.

It produces 13 brands (out of NB’s total 19 product portfolio) and about 30 SKUs. These brands are produced through a completely automated and meticulously monitored procedure. More striking in the production process were the special and distinct facilities used to produce NB’s sole International Premium brand, Heineken.

It is interesting to note that, one of the most crucial points in the value chain is inspecting the raw materials brought in from the farms – sorghum, barley and hops. NB currently sources 58% its raw materials local – with a target to raise this to 60% by 2020, according to Head Brewer , ChineduUwajeh.

Another survival strategy is that the company continues to invest in its agricultural programmes, working with over 250,000 farmers and inputs like sorghum, cassava and prospectively sugar.

All said, Nigerian Breweries has been strengthened by well informed staff and an enabling solid infrastructure “to take full advantage of the fast-evolving Nigerian consumer landscape with economies of scale keeping a lid on costs and innovative trademark producing a competitive edge.

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media

StarTimes partners Ooni to deepen collaboration on empowerment initiative SEYI JOHN SALAU

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tarTimes in a collaborative move aimed at deepening corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative partnered the Ooni of Ife, Enitan Adeyeye, in a Give Back Concert held recently in Lagos to pool resources to empower the less privileged in the society.

The concert, which was used to officially launch the Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI), a CSR initiative of the Ooni of Ife, is targeted at the less privileged. HAI seeks to draw attention and bring out abilities in disabilities, thereby leveraging the platform to raise funds for orphanages.

TheOoniofIfe,AdeyeyeEnitan,in a statement called on well-meaning Nigerians to join hands with him in meeting the needs of the less privileged children so as to enable more orphans benefit and sustain a decent living.

“I have made up my mind to celebrate the less privileged. I want them to meet with world leaders and successful people in the society so that they can feel what a regular person in the society feels. Believe me, these kids have raw, untapped, amazing and unique talent,” the Ooni said.

Justin Zhang, MD, StarTimes Nigeria, in a statement said CSR is a core value at StarTimes Nigeria and that the company focuses on children because they are the most vulnerable in the society.

“When we heard about this laudable initiative from the Ooni of Ife, we took an interest immediately because we are always optimistic about getting involved with youths projects. We have a project currently ongoing in Abuja and we are working with Nigerians in conjunction with the Chinese government to support villages in Nigeria,” said Zhang.

The Hopes Alive Initiative is an advocacy programme designed to alleviate socioeconomic, cultural and environmental challenges in a bid to reduce the impact of poverty among the most vulnerable in the society while creating equal opportunities for all.

It is estimated that half of the world’s population lives in extreme poverty and from available statistics, one in every five people today live in extreme poverty. Poverty is not just about the lack of money, rather it is about the lack of opportunities, lack of choices, access to essential things in life and daily living, and the lack of hope.

Therefore the initiative has a mandate to alleviate the pains and challenges faced by the underprivileged in the society and in-turn meet out set goals that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations that seek to make the world a better place to live in.

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SundayBusiness Coping with challenge of funding homeownership from family income

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triving to own a home in an environment where poverty is pervasive and there is no mortgage could be very challenging, not only to individual but also family or household income. And this is the lot of many people and families in Nigeria today.

One of the many contradictions that define Nigeria as a country is the poverty of her people in the midst of stupendous national oil wealth. It is estimated that 70 percent of the country’s over 170 million people are poor. A good percentage of this number actually lives below poverty line.

The wealth of the country has not, in any way, translated into good and quality education, health system, low cost and affordable housing schemes, social welfare scheme and safety nets for the people.

As a result, in the midst of their poverty, the people fend for themselves and provide all their basic needs among which is housing. Unfortunately, when concerns are raised about the housing situation in the country, where demand-supply gap is in excess of 17 million units, homeownership level is below 10 percent and the country’s total housing stock is a little above 13 million units, not much is said about the source of housing finance in the country.

Contrary to what obtains in the advanced economies of the

Spiritonomics

Debo Atiba

www.spiritonomics.org

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ver the years, and through many seasons of life it has been established scientifically and spiritually that the most important, most treasured, innate quest in man besides food and others is his PEACE. You have not begun to live until your PEACE is intact. Let’s go spiritual and find out what God has to say about the importance of this hidden treasure.

Over 365times in the bible we are admonished to fear not. Why would that be part of the demand that God would make of us? If this is not important or life dependent God would not have had to emphasize this. The only threat to your

world where housing finance is synonymous with mortgage, and the only known way of building or buying and owning homes is by applying for and accessing a mortgage facility, home seekers in Nigeria generally resort to household income or money saved by individuals to own one.

This is, perhaps, one of a few countries where homeownership is achieved, almost 100 percent, from own savings or through communal and cooperative efforts which rarely happens in advanced economies.

In Lagos, the country’s commercial nerve centre, for instance, there are about 20 million people in the city with about 80 percent of them living in rented accommodation. Unconfirmed report has it that about 86 percent of the housing stock in this city is funded from household income.

Experts estimate that housing finance by public authorities in Nigeria is about 10 percent; mortgage banks contribute about 2 percent, while contribution from banks and other institutions is insignificant.

In a comparative analysis of what obtains in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa, Sonnie Ayere, CEO, Dunn Loren Merrifield, noted at a forum in Lagos that in South Africa, mortgage contributes about 40 percent of housing finance while in Ghana, our much smaller West African neighbour, the contribution is 3

percent. These are several steps away from Nigeria where mortgage contribution is less than 1 percent.

This low mortgage contribution to housing finance in country is due to the cumbersome and unfriendly land administration in the country which makes it rank the highest in property registration and construction permits difficulties.

The country is ahead of all other African countries in procedures legally required for registering property. It takes almost 360 days to register property here as against Ghana’s less than 10 days. In Lagos, the cost of registering property was, before now, about 15 percent of the value of the property.

Also before now, getting a property registered in Lagos involved long and cumbersome procedures, that required about eight stages and 30 steps for each of the lender and the borrower and this is part of the major reasons for the difficulties in getting mortgage for housing finance.

This is against what obtains in other economies including Ghana and South Africa. Ghana, before now, had a dysfunctional land administration, long and expensive procedures that lasted up to five years and involving six different agencies supervising which resulted in inefficient state land bureaucracy and customary tenure.

When, however, the country’s

Talking Mortgage with CHUKA UROKO (08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com)

government instituted reforms, property registration was cut to 34 days and queues at the lands commission disappeared, making it possible for the mortgage sector to thrive.

In Egypt, government identified high fees and inefficient government agencies that hindered the formalisation of real estate as a major issue and sorted it out by reducing property registration fees; simplifying the property registration process, thus encouraging citizens and companies to obtain titles.

To make mortgage contribute significantly to housing finance in Nigeria, governments at both the federal and state levels should start discarding multiple verification payment, deployment of Global Information Services (GIS), making payments with a single receipt, improving capacity building and significant investment in technology.

Developers and mortgage providers say this is a way for the mortgage industry in Nigeria and, according to Hakeem Oguniran, former managing director, UACN Property De-

velopment Company (UPDC) plc, there are five drawbacks to housing finance including cost, character, capacity, collateral and conditions.

Oguniran noted at a real estate event in Lagos that the problem with land registration was with the Nigerian system, explaining that the system was peopledriven and not process-driven.

He recommended that there should be one-stop-shop for perfecting title and should be made business-like.

Abimbola Olayinka, a mortgage expert, says the Land Use Act should be used to empower the people and not as an economic and political tool by state chief executives, adding that the Act should be taken away from the constitution so that it could be easily tinkered with.

He recommends that land administrators should adopt what he calls three-one-three strategy for land registration, explaining that “land titles should be perfected in three days at one central place, and at the cost of 3 percent of the value of the land”.

Greatest need of humanity PEACE is FEAR, and God knows PEACE is your power in this life. To know how important this is to God and how needful to us, it was part of the gift He handed over when Jesus was about to take his leave. He said my PEACE I give unto you...(John 14;27). Jesus was known to be the prince of peace, in fact at his birth it was announced to be the harbinger of peace to the whole world (Lk 2:14). Here the epitome of peace deemed it fit to talk about it, and to leave behind for us as a gift.

Why would he do that?

Since the fall of man, chaos, wanton destruction, wasting, and every evil work was born. So for every precious child of God to live a successful and beautiful life, while still on earth, PEACE is a prerequisite. Many times people act like peace is insignificant but the absence of it, is the source of sorrow, despair and despondency.

Many times we ignore it, when we enjoy it to a certain degree and so we take it for granted. For instance many of us in Nigeria take it for granted that we are not at war

(except for the insurgency in the North). Imagine what life would have been if you were one of the displaced people in the North East.

Have you also noticed that the presence of money and other material things does not guarantee peace. There are many rich people in our world today that are willing and ready to relinquish their wealth if only they could have peace of mind just for one day, let alone for a whole lifetime. They have discovered that with all the money they claim to have they are still not rich enough to be able to afford peace.

Looking at the entire world you will discover that there seem to be need for peace.

So if this peace is so important and the source of a life of pleasure and beauty, surely it must be available for sale. Yes you are right that it must be available for sale and it is, but the only problem is that the currency for the purchase of peace is not money or material wealth.

If peace was physical and can be touched there would be none available in the market for the poor to

buy, only the rich would have it. So God in his infinite wisdom made it in such a way that it will be available to all and accessible to all through the death and the resurrection of His son Jesus. Thank God Jesus saw how relevant it was and He decided to leave it behind for us to walk in it.

John 14:27 What makes it possible for Him (Jesus) to be fast asleep in the midst of a storm, not to flinch at the sight of death is this PEACE and it is yours for the taken if you want. It is his and he gave it to you at a cost of his death so you can have it freely.

Now that we now know who owns it, who has it, it has become easy for us to know where to find it. Jesus was the prince of peace, He was the order that brought disorderliness to an end, and it is with him you have access to this PEACE. Bible says great peace have they that love him (Psalm 119:155). If you think the need for this in your life is important, then your search for peace ends here. Your search for peace in materialism is needless.

That is what the whole world is

doing but you cannot find it there, likewise your search for peace in fame. They are all futile and wasteful. The abundance of this peace that the whole world is looking for is resident in Jesus Christ only, and it is free. The only loving demand from God is your acceptance of the person of Jesus as your Lord and savior and accept what He did for YOU on the cross of Calvary and the PEACE is yours.

If you are a child of God, and have made Jesus the lord of your life, you need not look for the peace of God elsewhere, it is with you. When this truth has not come home to stay in your life you think you do not have it.

Jesus said my peace I give unto you…, all you need to do is to receive it by believing that what Jesus said is true.

Your understanding of the mighty power of God that brings deliverance calms you up in every situation.

Until we become the doer of the truth of the spoken word of God in our lives we can never benefit from the blessing in the word of God. Remain blessed. @spiritonomics.org

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BrandsOnSunday SPOTLIGHTING BRAND VALUE

LG says innovative technology will drive future city DANIEL OBI

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renowned Professor of Economics Richard Baldwin once predicted that “Hotel room in London could be cleaned by people driving robots sitting in Kenya or Buenos Aires or wherever in the world”.

This is a clear indication that the world would someday be driven by advanced robotic technologies as the world is presently witnessing the introduction of these innovative technologies in the market. “We can find these devices in our homes, offices and public spaces.

The advent of these devices would no doubt help in quickening the timely completion of task and also boost productivity”, LG Electronics, a global operator and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances said.

With the astronomical rate at which manu-

facturers are infusing robotic technologies in their product features it would be safe to say this would mark a substantial shift in the way consumers think about the role of technology in their everyday lives.

This is the time to brace up and face the undisputable reality that the era of robotic technology is no longer in the future but right here with us. LG Electronics said it is in the forefront of championing these technological innovations that

would impact greatly on the existence of mankind.

Robots will have a massive impact on life of consumers in the decades to come, and some consumers already prefer interacting with machines.

While we can expect to see robots first debut in public areas, it is only a matter of time before they become affordable and accessible to the average household.

The explosion of accessibility will result in a wide range of different models

DStv crowned Brand of the Year

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igeria’s pay T V o p e r a t o r, M u l t i Ch o i c e Nigeria, bagged two major awards for its DStv and GOtv brands at the recently held 2018 Marketing Edge Brands and Advertising Excellence Awards in Lagos recently.

The sixth edition of the award ceremony, themed ‘Celebrating Excellence in Marketing Leadership’, awarded DStv with ‘Outstanding Satellite TV Brand of the Year’ and

GOtv with ‘Innovative Terrestrial pay TV Service o f t h e Ye a r ’ . O t h e r practitioners in marketing and advertising industry were also celebrated.

Speaking on the awards, Martin Mabutho, the General Manager, Sales and Marketing for MultiChoice Nigeria in a statement said: “We are extremely honored to be recognized as the recipient of two major awards, ‘Outstanding Satellite TV Brand of the Year’

for DStv and ‘Innovative Terrestrial pay TV Service of the Year for GOtv’ from the Marketing Edge Brands and Advertising Excellence Award body. As a business, our customers are our key focus and we remain committed to providing them with the best local and international entertainment content, even as we continuously evolve to meet with constantly changing trends in the broadcast and Pay TV industry.”

for almost every conceivable purpose. No matter how they are implemented, robots and automated systems will be a vital part of the future city.

LG said its range of OLED signage solutions offer the ideal package for future city planners looking to liven up public areas with interactive displays. In addition to offering the highly accurate picture quality that has made OLED famous, these screens are both

flexible and dual-sided.

This means that there will be less wasted space and installers will get more of an impact per panel. These adaptive OLED screens can be tailor made for any location.

However, the emergence of smart home technology has totally altered dialogue about the role of technology around living rooms. Technology has advanced to a level that it now communicates and gets individual components connected to guarantee efficiency and greater optimization in the home.

LG also said its Hub robot is a very good example of technology that can address the concerns of an entire smart home cum city together, under a single-user friendly interface.

“Amazon Alexa’s voice recognition technology easily allows the robot to connect to other smart LG home appliances, bringing them under a single streamlined ecosystem. LG has indeed broken ground in robots designed for residential spaces with the CLOi smart home interface and even

robotic vacuums”.

Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Taeick Son said in a statement: “The future is here with us therefore we must fully embrace technological advancement that is sustainable and can seamlessly fit into a smart city livable for consumers. We will continue to ensure that our innovative products are in line with the master plan for an ideal smart future city.”

Moreover, LG Commercial Air Conditioning solution clearly shows how LG has continuously pushed beyond the border lines, in order to deliver practical benefits for users that impact the most important aspects of their daily lives. Equipped with advanced inverter linear compressors, the efficient designs and superlative performance of the Air Conditioner has obviously set a new standard in the industry. Designed with sustainability in mind, this outstanding product gives a hint into climate control technology that will define the next century.

Winners emerge in NBC empowerment campaign

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n furtherance of its commitment to enriching lives and rewarding loyalty of its trade partners, the nonalcoholic beverage giant, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), has presented N1m seed capital in the form of beverage products and other facilities to each of 16 winners in its ongoing empowerment campaign tagged ‘My Million Don Land’.

The 16 winners comprising local retailers and hub owners, emerged after a series of open market activations and mystery shopping conducted in major markets across Lagos and were all presented with the reward prize of recently.

Speaking on the campaign, the Legal, Public Affairs and Communication Director, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), Sade Morgan, in a statement described the new initiative as part of the company’s commitment towards the empowerment of its trade partners.

The campaign also affords the winners the platform to nominate a school

within their communities that would be provided with five computers as a contribution towards educational development.

She further revealed that the initiative will provide business support for trade partners performing above board and an opportunity to jointly contribute to sustainable development goal which address poverty and education in their respective communities. “ Ni g e r i a n Bo t t l i n g Company Limited(NBC), values and appreciates all its trade partners particularly because their efforts enable us fulfil our corporate promise of enriching the lives of Nigerians. At NBC, we believe we must consistently provide necessary support to all component parts of our external business, especially our trade partners, helping them grow”, she said.

Speaking on the mechanism of the initiative, Acting Commercial Manager (Ikeja Commercial Territory), Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), Diana Otisi, explained that

mystery shoppers are assigned to visit open markets across Lagos State to select the lucky winners (small scale retailers) who meet the set criteria.

“To stand the chance of being selected in any of the locations, mystery shoppers are expected to go out in search of retailers with three particular SKUsCoke Zero, Limca, and Fanta Apple in its stock. Once the retailer is identified, he takes the mystery shopper to the hub owner or distributor supplying the three variants or SKUs” she stated.

One of the winners, Chinedu Nwoye appreciated Nigerian Bottling Company Limited for the initiative explaining that the empowerment would help transform his business for the better. “This is really a business upgrade for me. Now, I can expand my business as I have always dreamed,” he said.

The ‘My Million Don Land’ Campaign is set to continue across various markets in Lagos until the end of August, exciting and rewarding several small scale retailers weekly.

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Equity Market Bearish sentiments dominate as equities shed N84bn ...CCNN, Unity Bank, C & I, NEM the best performing stocks YTD TELIAT SULE

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isted equities shed N84.33 billion last week following the continued dominance of the bearish sentiments in the capital market. The market capitalisation of listed stocks closed at N13.55 trillion last weekend as against N13.63 trillion the previous week. Consequently, this indicator closed at -0.62 percent week to date and -0.47 percent year to date.

The All-Share Index (ASI) closed last weekend at 37,392.77 points compared with 37,625.59 points in the previous week. This amounted to -0.62 percent week to date and -2.22 percent year to date loss.

By same period in 2017, market returns stood at 23.8 percent.

The share prices of the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN), Unity Bank, C & I Leasing, NEM Insurance and Ikeja Hotels are the outperformers in the market. By last week Friday, CCNN’s share price closed at N23 per share representing a YTD return of 142.1 percent. Unity Bank’s share price closed at N1.03 per share translating to a YTD return of 94.3 percent.

C & I Leasing’s share price is 92.2 percent better than its closing figure on the last trading day of 2017.

It ended the week at N2.48 per

share. NEM and Ikeja Hotels’ share prices closed at N3.10 and N3.13, representing 86.7 percent and 75.8 percent YTD returns respectively.

Meanwhile, investors traded 1.219 billion shares valued at N17.33 billion in 17,362 deals last

C&I completes the buyout of Petrotech JV

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&I Leasing Plc, a leasing and business service conglomerate has just concluded the buyout of 27.5 percent minority stake in C & I Petrotech marine Ltd, a joint venture company with six vessels presently deployed to a long term contract with Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC). The parties engaged Wizer Advisory as an independent advisor for the valuation of the hares. As a result of this transaction, C & I Petrotech Marine Limited is now a fully owned subsidiary of C 7 I Leasing Plc. It would be recalled that a few weeks ago, c & I Leasing Plc recorded a successful N7 billion Bond Issue –the first series in a N20 billion debt issuance program. The company had stated that the funds raised would be largely be invested in business expansion and restructuring of the company’s debts over a period of five years among other initiatives which will guarantee increased profit margins and returns for shareholders.

The buyout transaction of C & I Petrotech Marine Ltd minority shareholders is evidence in C & I Leasing’s commitment to investing in its business growth and expansion.

According to the managing director of the company, Andrew Otike-Odibi, “Our journey into the maritime sector as a service provider for the oil and gas sector actually started through the C & I Petrotech Marine Ltd joint venture in 2010 and has over the years culminated in the ownership of over twenty support vessels consisting of crew boats, pilots, tug boats and platform support vessels for providing services such as line and hose handling , berthing and escort services, mooring support, fire fighting, pollution control, security and floating and self elevating platforms. This clearly reiterates our commitment to growing our marine services business and gaining leadership in the field”.

It is hoped that this buyout will further the company’s drive to restructure and reposition its marine business for enhanced profitability.

week as against 1.842 billion shares valued at N16.59 billion done in 18,941 deals in the previous week.

Expectedly, activities were concentrated in the financial services sub sector where 842.82 million shares worth N9.587 billion shares

were traded in 9,231 deals. These transactions amounted to 69.15 percent and 55.31 percent of the market volume and value respectively. It was followed by the consumer goods sector which recorded 113.67 million shares worth

n4.66 billion done in 3,120 deals.

Furthermore, exchange traded products (ETPs) for 79,304 units were traded worth N1.491 million done in 18 deals as against 25,200 units traded in the previous week valued at N454,438.90 in just 4 deals.

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated’s MD, Charles Kie resigns

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cobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), the Lomebased parent company of Ecobank Group, has announced that Charles Kie has formally indicated his intention to leave the Group and consequently his role as managing director of Ecobank Nigeria Limited.

Prior to his current role at Ecobank Nigeria, Kie was the Group executive, corporate and investment bank of ETI, responsible for leading the Ecobank Group’s corporate and investment banking business across the global network of 40 countries, 36 of which are in

Africa. He joined Ecobank in October 2011 as chief operating officer of the Ecobank Capital, and was subsequently appointed the head of the Group’s corporate banking business.

Before joining the Ecobank Group, between 2008-2011, Kie was the Group CEO of Group Banque Atlantique, based in Togo and then Cote d’Ivoire. He also had a successful career with Citibank between 1997 and 2008, rising to the position of CEo of Citigroup West Africa between 2004 and 2008.

The Group’s CEO, Ade Adeyemi said: “as Charles prepares to leave

the Ecobank Group, I would like to thank him for his immense contributions to the Group. He has certainly laid a strong foundation at Ecobank Nigeria and we wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Kie said: “I am proud of what the team and I have achieved together, and i thank them for the good work and their unwavering commitment to Ecobank. I also extend my sincere appreciation to the board. Despite some of the market challenges that we faced over the years, our customers have always been loyal, and it is their patronage that makes the future brighter.”.

Sterling Bank appoints Kilaso, Ajukwu as directors

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he management of Sterling Bank Plc wishes to notify the public of the appointment of Folasade Kilaso and Michael Ajukwu as Non-Executive Director and Independent Director respectively on the Board of Sterling Bank Plc. The appointments have been approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Folasade Kilaso is presently the Principal Partner, Berkeley Legal and Managing Director, Berkeley Training and Recruitment Services Limited.

Prior to setting up these companies in 2014, Folasade was Executive Director at Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria.

She joined Standard Chartered Bank

in 2003 as Regional Head of Legal and Compliance, Africa based in Johannesburg, South Africa. She subsequenfly became the Head of Human Resources for Nigeria and West Africa, a position she held together with her Executive Director role.

Folasade is a UK qualified solicitor as well as a qualified Nigerian Attorney.

She studied Law at the University of Kent, Canterbury and holds an LLM degree from the University of Cambridge specializing in International Corporate Law and Finance. She was appointed a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Sterling Bank Plc in June, 2018.

Michael Ajukwu worked for 21 years

in the banking industry retiring in 2002 as an executive board member of United Bank for Africa(UBA). He holds a B.Sc in Finance from the University of Lagos and an MBA in Accounting & Finance from the New York University.

Ajukwu is currently a non-executive director on the boards of lntafcict Beverages Ltd (Nigerian subsidiary of South African Breweries), Mobax Nigeria Ltd (A South African Company) and Novotel- A member of ACCOR (A French Hotel Group). He is also an Independent Director on the Board of Tiger Brands SA. He was appointed an independent director on the board of Sterling Bank Plc in June, 20)8.

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Sunday 15 July 2018

Arts A centenary for Madiba Fostering Nelson Mandela’s legacy years after his death OBINNA EMELIKE

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hile July 18 of every has been designated International Mandela Day by the United Nations Organisation, the 2018 edition of the celebration is unique because Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela would have turned 100 years should he had been alive today.

Every year, the International Mandela Day is celebrated to make a difference by encouraging people to devote 67 minutes of their time to undertake tasks that would bring joy and relief to the needy in the communities, thus contributing towards changing the world for better.

In spite of his demise since December 2013, the world is rolling out drums once again this year to celebrate the centenary anniversary of a great son of Africa, a global personality and epitome of selfless service and exemplary leadership.

While alive, Mandela was a man of many parts- a symbol of the struggle against apartheid and all forms of racism, and the icon and the hero of African liberation. Mandela has been called a freedom fighter, a great man, a global icon and a living legend among other countless names. He has been an activist, a political prisoner, South Africa’s first democratically elected president, an international peacemaker and statesman, and a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Going by the intimidating credentials, Mandela is worth celebrating even in death, especially at his posthumous centenary birthday.

The South African community in Nigeria led by Darkey Africa, the Consul General of South Africa in Lagos, is rolling even bigger drums to celebrate Madiba at 100 years with many engaging activities across Nigeria.

Speaking on the activities marking the year-long celebration at a media parley at Federal Palace Hotel Lagos on Friday, the

Dignitaries at the Lagos media parley

Nelson Mandela

consul general said the Mission would be partnership with the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) to host a lecture on July 16, 2018 at the NIIA premises in Lagos. The Mission is also collaborating with the Mandela Gardens in Asaba, Delta State, to plant new five trees to add the 95 trees to make a total of 100 trees in the Garden and will be part of 67 minutes charity work, and handover food parcels at an Orphanage in Asaba. Again, the Mission

will also participate in the United Nations Association of Nigeria organised event in Lagos at the Freedom Park, to clean the premises.

The consul general, who had personal and impacting contact with Mandela described him as a husband and a father who sacrificed the joys of family life and of seeing his children grow up. “As a young man, he missed out on a normal life spent with family and friends and pursuing a career of his choice, to fight for the cause he unshakably stood for. Most ordinary South Africans knew little about Mandela during his prison years, as the apartheid government suppressed information, and what was released was biased. Limited information about Mandela was available from the international press, anti-apartheid activist groups and the Free Nelson Mandela campaign”, he explained.

He further extolled Mandela’s virtues saying, “Prison bars could not prevent him from continuing to inspire his people to struggle and sacrifice for their liberation. Public opinion polls repeatedly showed that he was the most popular leader the country has ever had. As the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group observed in 1986, he had become “a living legend”, galvanising the resistance in his country. He is the most honoured political prisoner in history. He has received prestigious international awards, the freedom of many cities and honorary degrees from several universities”.

The consul general also disclosed that even musicians have been inspired to compose songs and music in his honour. Major

international art exhibits have also been dedicated to him and some of the most prominent writers have contributed to books for him and about him, while an atomic particle has been named after him.

For him, even is death, Mandela is worth any celebration because he was a universal symbol of freedom and reconciliation, an icon representing the triumph of the human spirit. “During his lifetime he not only dedicated himself to the struggle of the African people, but with his humility, and his spirit of forgiveness, he captured hearts and inspired people all over the world. As South Africans, we owe it to this great champion of our nation to continue to live by his example”, the consul general concludes.

Beyond the activities by the Mission and its partners, the South African Tourism in Nigeria will be showcasing a video of Mandela alongside the beautiful nature and diverse experiences in South Africa to its Nigerian audience.

According to Mohammed Tanko Kwajaffa, SAT’s trade relations manager, West Africa, SAT is proud to associate with Mandela because of his great legacies.

As well, Roland Kayanja, director of UNIC, said the partnership with South African mission was necessitated by the great values Mandela stood for, which are sustained by the United Nations. He noted that UNIC is joining forces with everybody well-meaning African to challenge governments on good leadership that will propel the continent to equitable prosperity and justice for everyone, which Mandela stood for while alive.

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Arts Nnamdi Agbakoba: On a mission to reignite reading culture, promote world peace

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CHUKS OLUIGBO

wo things give Nnamdi Agbakoba sleepless nights. The first is his passion to rekindle the reading culture in Nigeria, especially among youths. The second is his desire to promote world peace through his works.

The poet, historian and author of ‘Pictures & Poetry of War’, ‘Terrors of War’, ‘That Child’, ‘Deep Secrets’, among other works, is already pushing the boundaries in these two interrelated directions.

With a firm belief that reading culture, a very important component of national development, has almost totally collapsed in developing countries like Nigeria and in desperate need of a jump-start, Agbakoba says he is committed to doing all within his ability and means to help reverse the ugly trend.

A rising author with keen interest in books and poems that inspire the African youth and child, Agbakoba believes that attending secondary and tertiary institutions alone is not enough to instill a healthy reading culture in the youths. Rather, he says, it will take “a deliberate effort made by parents in the home and institutional projects from academic institutions”.

“It will take many years of deliberate effort from parents and academic leaders to rekindle this progressive academic, social culture. No starting point is too small or too big,” he tells a gathering of art editors at a recent interactive session in Lagos.

Agbakoba disagrees with the view that financial constraints contribute to the poor reading culture in the country. Lack of money, he argues, cannot be the problem as youths in Nigeria use smartphones that cost upwards of N80,000-N100,000 but will not spend N1,000 or N1,500 to buy a good book.

“In the 1960s, ’70s and early parts of the ’80s, novels of the James Hadley Chase series, Mills and Boon or the Sidney Sheldon series, amongst many other titles, were very popular amongst youths including my humble self.

But today, all we see are youths and even adults bent over their smartphones sending all kinds of messages, many of them useless to mind-building,” he says. “This has to be and can be reversed with adequate support, encouragement and resources.”

But how does he think this can be done? Through policies that introduce compulsory literature books for all examination candidates? Not a bad idea, Agbakoba says, but not enough as the students will most likely discard the book once the pressure to read and pass an examination is over.

A more sustainable way then, he reckons, will be to create platforms that encourage book reading culture with adequate incentives that inspire reading.

This will entail offering an array of scholarships and prizes to drive interest back to a vibrant book reading culture, not just to pass exams, but also for relaxation and leisure. And authors and publishers have a vital role to play in this regard, he says.

“We all know that youths and students will readily wish to take advantage of scholarship opportunities if available and if presented via accessible and reputable platforms. Youths or students who are interested in such scholarship funds or other attractive prizes must show proof of having read at least two or three novels, apart from recommended examination books, to be eligible to apply for the scholarship and prizes executed after exams are done

with,” he adds.

Agbakoba is already pushing this agenda through a proposal to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) that hopes to see the examinations body adopt one of his books as part of its Book Reading Culture Promotion Policy. His desire is to see Nigerian youths willingly buy and read good books of interest without any coercion or pressure, as it used to be in the days of yore.

“We must, as a matter of urgency, do all in our power as leaders, teachers, lecturers or professors to help salvage the dead reading culture in Nigeria and beyond, before we begin to produce lawyers that cannot write briefs or teachers who cannot spell correctly,” he says.

His desire for a more peaceful world has also seen him found the Society Against Terror and War (SAT-WAR), whose mission is the propagation of peace and security. It has also informed the theme of most of his works.

‘Deep Secrets’, for instance, is an outright discouragement of social vices among youths.

Written to serve as a counterterrorism and counter-cultism therapy “proposed to be dispensed and administered

through the academic system”, ‘Deep Secrets’ delivers a clear message – student and youth cultism, examination malpractice and cheating, police brutality, terrorism, youth restiveness and violence are evil and should not be tolerated while peace, religious tolerance, hard work, family bonding and efficient judicial system are good and should be encouraged.

In the Foreword to the book, Benedicta Okwudili Ikegulu, director, Book Development Centre, Nigeria Education Research and Development Council (NERDC), Abuja, writes that books like ‘Deep Secrets’ or “similar counter-terrorism or counter-cultism literature” can be invaluable in checking “the deplorable activities of university cultists or terrorists” that “have been a crucial social cancer not only in Nigeria but worldwide”.

‘Terrors of War’, in a similar vein, depicts the harrowing terrors of the Nigeria/Biafra Civil War through the eyes of an eight-year-old child.

In a note on ‘Terrors of War’, signed by its officer-in-charge and national professional officer for education in Abuja, UNESCO said, “On a closer reading of the book, we dis-

cover that the poignant depiction of the dereliction of war in the book, rather than promote a bitter recollection and the need for revenge, redirects the mind to a peaceful course of conflict resolution because war is devastating, destructive and anti-social. The book promotes peace, tolerance and dialogue.

These are principles that are at the heart of the United Nations mandate to UNESCO whose activities promote a culture of peace in the world.”

The UN agency, while suggesting that the author “solicit the support of the Nigerian Educational Research Development Council (NERDC) to look into adopting your book as one of the resource materials for the Human Rights Education Syllabus for Schools in Nigeria”, said it would look into areas of supporting in the dissemination of the publication.

For the author, it is not yet uhuru as much work lies ahead.

As such, apart from two books in the works – ‘Esther Amina’ and ‘Harmony of Brotherhood’ – books that promote religious, ethnic and cultural tolerance, he is also working on two other projects. The first, ‘Pangs of Bondage’, is a 30-minute documentary that exposes the plight of abused children, while the second, ‘Trapped in a War Zone’, is a movie based on the novel ‘Terrors of War’.

And Agbakoba is not new to movie-making. Apart from having an early exposure to acting way back in school, the Broadcasting, TV/Radio Production graduate of University of Cincinnati, Ohio ran a movie production studio, Visions Questrom Production, which he started in 1997, and would subsequently play a part in the then budding Nollywood movie industry.

At the heart of his desire to reenact some of the events of the civil war “in an entertaining and suspenseful way”, he says, is the belief that unless humanity learns from the mistakes of the past, those mistakes are bound to be repeated.

“The holocaust of the Nigeria/Biafra War was a horrible mistake,” he says. “However, today we see a resurgence of some of the dynamics that may have caused the Nigeria/Biafra War. It is my fear that if this trend is not arrested as soon as possible via dissemination of appropriate information, Nigeria may fall into the same mistakes sooner than later.”

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Sunday 15 July 2018

Arts Black Fragrance Foundation opens in Lagos

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lack Fragrance Foundation, founded by Emmanuel Akapo, on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 opened officially in Ijesha-Surulere area of Lagos.

It was a moment of great exposition as the executive director talked about what the foundation is bringing to the table for Nigerians.

Undisputedly, Nigeria is a country plagued with widespread poverty and poor access to quality education; further worsen by a government that is not doing enough to address these issues efficiently.

Change does not just emerge, it is ignited by someone and Black Fragrance has taken it upon itself to make a change happen in the country through the foundation.

According to the founder, Black Fragrance’s vision is to contribute significantly to the global effort to end poverty in Africa, and to secure a brighter future for children through access to quality and inclusive education. According to UNESCO, Nigeria has 15 million children between ages 5 – 15 who are out of school. He noted that this is an alarming figure and Black Fragrance Foundation is rising up to the challenge.

While speaking on Black Fragrance interventions he highlighted several measures that have been designed to achieve their goal. ‘’Lack of quality education and poverty are time bombs and we want to contribute significantly towards abating these challenges in Nigeria though not through the usual aids and handouts approach, but through a social entrepreneurship model. We run as a social enterprise that seeks to foster sustainable development in Nigeria through entrepreneurial and social innovations that improve ac-

cess to education, strengthen the creative economy, and develop enterprise. We will create goods and services in the creative industries and plough back a huge chunk of our profits into empowering the underserved in our society” He disclosed that Black Fragrance’s education programme is centered on improving access to and the quality of basic education. He explained further why this is such a big necessity in Nigeria saying, “Basic Primary Education is provided largely by the government; however, many government funded schools in Nigeria have practically collapsed over the years because of poor funding, leaving children from poor homes with no option than to receive their education in such poor facilities or roam the streets”.

He made reference to a country like Rwanda where private schools are shutting down because government schools got empowered and revamped. But it is a pride in Nigeria to send your kids to private schools He also revealed that as a means of economic empowerment, the foundation has established a design academy known as “Black Fragrance School of Design” and a design company by the name “Black

Fragrance Designs International”. He gave his reason for choosing to work in the creative industries as being the most under-exploited sector of the Nigerian economy.

He revealed that the world’s most successful economies have over the last decade leveraged on digital technology to create exponential growth and development in their creative industries. UK creative industries generate £91.8 billion a year amounting to 3.5 percent of their GDP, while those of the US generate $729.6 billion, amounting to 4.2 percent of their GDP. In Nigeria, despite receiving very little support, the creative sector is one of the fastest growing and most prospective sectors of the economy. According to the national accounts, in the first quarter of 2017 alone, the creative industry grew by 12 percent, contributing 1.2 percent to the country’s GDP; generating revenue of $5.915 billion.

Speaking further, he said that the objective of Black Fragrance Creative Economy Support Programme is to create sustainable creative businesses which will grow and lead to job creation. This will in turn contribute to the diversification and growth of the economy and lead to

Emmanuel Akapo

poverty reduction.

“This is the reason we set up the design school; to help meet the needs of upcoming and aspiring designers by empowering them with the technical and business skills they need to thrive in the creative industry. Courses offered in the school include; Fashion Design, Shoe and Bag Making, Cake Design, Interior & Event Décor, Photography, Web Design, Games and Mobile App Design, etc. Our vision goes beyond providing training, to further grooming, mentoring and supporting our graduates to become successful entrepreneurs. Our coaches at Black Fragrance are successful and renowned designers in their own rights who have chosen to share their passion, skills and experiences with students in an organised academic institution. The School shares same facility with its twin company – Black Fragrance Designs International - a design-oriented, innovative company that provides cutting-edge products and services in clothing, shoes and bags, interior and event decor, photography, web and graphics design, animations and beauty crafts. Our drive is to create and grow sustainable employments and trade in the creative sector. This gives our students the privilege to learn first-hand from professional designers who work in our design production company.

At the completion of their training, we will assist our graduates in developing their business ideas, packaging a business plan and provide them with guides and links to access micro-credits and grants. We intend to give out 100 scholarships yearly to indigent but talented youth, while those who can afford to pay a tuition fee will be charged.

From Left: Founder of Edo Development Organisation (E.D.O), Oswald Osaretin Guobadia, Founder, EDO Cinema, Adesuwa Osawe and the Honorable Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Osaze Osemwegie-Ero at the inaugural EDO Cinema screening in Benin City on Saturday.

Prodi-G Concepts inaugurates Edo Cinema to promote documentation of history in film

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rodi-G Concepts, an independent television production company has inaugurated the Edo Cinema project in Benin City with the screening of four short films by Edo filmmakers at the Nosona Studios Art Gallery. The event chaired

by Osaze Osemwegie-Ero, Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, had members of the Edo Development Organisation and other prominent citizens of the state in attendance.

Speaking at the screening, Adesuwa Osawe, director, Prodi-G Concepts, said, “Edo Cinema aims at encouraging the youths to apply their skills to telling Edo historical stories in order to document and archive Edo culture. As a part of this project, we will be having monthly screening and assessment of selected short films from filmmakers across the state with a view of elevating their skills to a level where they can be trusted with commissions to produce researched Edo historical stories.”

“In addition to documenting the history and culture of our people, the project will work with Edo Jobs to encour-

age creativity, productivity and entrepreneurship as participants will have the opportunity to learn about the business of film production from quarterly trainings and workshops where industry veterans will cover areas such as cinematography, lighting, make up for film, sound, scoring for film, acting, script writing, directing and producing.” She added.

In his opening remarks, the Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, said, “On behalf of the state government, we want to thank Adesuwa for putting this together. With the collaboration of individuals and organizations and the governor’s vision, arts and culture is now the face of the government.”

As well, Oswald Osaretin Guobadia, founder and chairman of the Edo Development Organisation, commended Prodi-G Concepts for the initiative saying, “Edo Cinema, the brain child of our very own Adesuwa Osawe, presents an excellent platform for Edo indigenes to showcase their raw talent. The second phase of the project will give additional training and tools to fine tune the output.”

lifting people with ideas to become employers and impact society at large”, Ibidapo, who assured of continued support of the show, said.

On his part, Muyiwa Akande, corporate affairs manager, Sifax Group, disclosed that the group has continued to support the show because of the vision of the organisers to change the mindset of graduates from being job seekers to job creators, which also tally with Sifax Group’s vision of youth empowerment.

He also called on government to introduce entrepreneurial studies in the school curriculum to encourage students to learn such enabling skills and venture out on their own on time.

As well, Airpeace Airlines, which is supporting the show

for the first time, noted that the visionary leadership of the indigenous believes in the empowerment of people, especially the youths for a robust economy, peaceful and progressive living.

However, the previous four seasons of the show produced winners who have created jobs for other graduates. They are: Iroghama Ogbeifun, founder, Hairven Ltd, ( a hair care products manufacturing company); Davies Okeowo, founder, Enterprise Hills; Marvis Marshal, founder, JacMarvis Ltd, ( a company that turns trash to furniture; and Kennedy Lyeh, founder, BlueLeafs Farms (cultivator of herbs and spices).

Registration has also commenced for the show. Interested youths are to visit The Next Titan online portal to register.

Next Titan to lure viewers as Season 5 begins

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OBINNA EMELIKE iding on the successful hosting of the past four editions and the feats achieved by winners, Heritage Bank is leading other sponsors to scout for ambitious entrepreneurs in this year’s edition of The Next Titan, an entrepreneurial reality TV show, which is now in its fifth season.

The TV reality show, which runs for 10 weeks, gives an opportunity to young talented Nigerians from 21-40 years who have great, innovative and unbeatable business ideas, to compete against one another in real-life entrepreneurial challenges in a bid to ultimately win N5 million and a brand new car to start their new business or to

support their existing business.

Aside Heritage Bank, which headlines the new season as the lead sponsor, other sponsors include; Sifax Group, as the associate sponsor, while Ford Motors, Coscharis Motors, Airpeace Airline, Nikky Taurus, Afromedia Plc, and Hygeia HMO are all supporting sponsors.

Unveiling the new season during a media parley held recently at Radisson Blu Hotel Ikeja, Mide Kunle-Akinlaja, executive producer, The Next Titan and managing director, Bravopoints International Limited, reiterated that the reality show was designed to provoke the entrepreneurial spirit of young Nigerians.

“Aside the entertainment aspect of the 10-week show, its importance lies in ignit-

ing entrepreneurial spirit and showcasing the possibility of entrepreneurship in transforming lives with just an idea that can be scaled to greatness with a market and with Nigeria’s population”, he said.

Explaining the modalities of the show, Kunle-Akinlaja said, “The process starts by allowing the contestants to pitch their business ideas through auditions at 4 major zones in Nigeria which are Abuja, PH, Enugu, and Lagos, from which the Top 50 are usually selected for Top 50 Boot Camp, before 16 final contestants with brightest ideas are shortlisted to live together for 10 weeks, and to compete by carrying out weekly evictions in the boardroom by the judges”.

The judges of the show remain the same and are top

Nigerian business leaders such as Kyari Bukar, chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Tonye Cole, CEO, Sahara Group and other captains of industries.

Speaking on the rationale for sustained sponsorship of the show, Fela Ibidapo, divisional head, corporate communications, Heritage Bank, noted that the objective of the show aligns with what the bank wants to do with the small and medium scale industries space, which is discovering and empowering talents to grow, create jobs and impact economy and society at large.

“We have many youths in Nigeria with great ideas but need platforms such as The Next Titan to move forward.

We are supporting government and the economy by

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Entertainment “33” Export to celebrate World Friendship Day with ‘City of Friends’ CHUKS OLUIGBO

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he next edition of the “City of Friends” is set to be lit. If the announcement of the line-up of artistes at the media unveil is anything to go by, then you will surely have a blast when the twoday event hits Lagos and Calabar in the coming weeks.

Nigeria’s No. 1 friendship beer, “33” Export unveiled plans for its signature friendship event “City of Friends” at the Nigerian Breweries headquarters in Lagos on Tuesday, July 10. The event, which is in commemoration of the United Nations’ World Friendship Day, is in line with the “33” Export’s brand positioning as Nigeria’s foremost friendship beer.

Widely reputed for its strong friendship credentials, “33” Export has consistently deepened friendship across the nation by organizing several consumer activities that seek to promote the culture and spirit of friendship and conviviality.

The premium beer brand has taken great pride in creating unique friendship experiences for consumers across the country.

Fans can expect non-stop entertainment as well as exciting games which have become a hallmark of “33” Export at its friendship events.

Meanwhile, Phyno, who is fresh off his new endorsement with another Nigerian breweries brand (Life beer), will be available to thrill audience with his much-loved signature Igbo verses and endearing charisma.

Also, everyone’s favourite, Simi is expected to bring her charm and her beautiful voice to the party as she graces the stage alongside the likes of Kiss Daniel, and Fuji Maestro Wasiu Alabi Pasuma.

Franco Maria Maggi, marketing director, Nigerian Breweries, told journalists that the “33” Export brand is dedicated to building friendship moments.

“We believe that friendship should be celebrated every day, hence all our brand activities are geared towards celebrating friendship. To this end, the “33” Export brand, and more broadly Nigerian Breweries Plc., is poised to continually participate in activities that will unite us along these lines,” Maggi said.

“The brand celebrated World Friendship Day for the first time in Nigeria in 2016,” he said, adding that 2017 was no different as the brand also “celebrated the event in grand style with our Friendship beer”.

“Our plan is to surpass our own best efforts in 2018! Come July 30th, 2018, we will join the world again to celebrate friendship in a grand style. I say grand because this time we are taking the celebration

to the grassroots,” he said.

This year’s edition of “City of Friends” will, among other notable events, see the brand extend its value proposition and introduce a writing competition tagged “PenDown For Friendship”, which will reward winners with training grants to study at a media & communications school in Nigeria.

The writing competition, which is open only to Nigerian journalists and bloggers based in Nigeria, has started accepting entries already.

Entries must be published works on any media platform, both online and print. Also, entries are required to be in English with a minimum of 500 words and maximum of 1,000 words.

“While we are delighted in bringing the best in music and entertainment to Nigerians, we recognize the need to celebrate creative writing amongst our media partners.

We want the stories submitted to reflect the “Friendship” theme along with considerable mention

of “33” Export Lager Beer, though participants have the liberty to choose the type of story they want to write,” said Emmanuel Agu, portfolio manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout Brands, Nigerian Breweries.

The write-ups will be judged by a jury of three acclaimed writers: Anthony Kan, Pelu Awofeso and Olabisi Deji-Folutile.

Anthony Kan Onwordi, popularly known as Toni Kan, is an author, public relations senior executive and teacher. He is co-founder of This is Lagos and Sabi News and was the winner of the NDDC/ Ken Saro Wiwa Literature prize, awarded by the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) in 2009.

Pelu Awofeso, often described as “Nigeria’s foremost travel writer”, is a Nigerian journalist, publisher, travel and culture writer. He is a winner of the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist Awards in the “Tourism Category”.

Olabisi Deji-Folutile, an experi-

enced journalist and columnist, is currently editor, Saturday Punch.

She has worked in different media organisations, including the News Agency of Nigeria and the African Newspapers of Nigeria, publishers of the Tribune titles. She has a Master’s degree in Communication Arts from the University of Ibadan and is currently undertaking a PhD programme.

In addition to this, there will also be the “City of Friends” party in Lagos and Calabar, which will be an enclosed funfair, and pilgrimage of sorts for friends where great memories will be shared. There, friends will be entertained as the brand hopes to be a part of the beautiful friendship memories that will be created on the day.

This year’s “City of Friends” will also feature a consumer engagement activity tagged “That One Friend”. This is a call to “33” Export consumers to also share their friendship memories. These can be in pictures, text or videos and will be published on their social media page – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, tagging the “33” Export brand. The Top 10 consumers with the most shared (and liked) posts will get high-end mobile phones at the venue in Lagos or Calabar.

Excited to share with consumers across the country, the 2018 edition of the “City of Friends” is set to be the brand’s most ambitious yet. The “City of Friends” party in Calabar will hold on July 28 & 29 at the Municipal Gardens, while Lagos will play host come August 3rd & 4th at the Eagles’ Club in Surulere.

Launched into the Nigeria market in 1979, “33” Export Lager Beer is brewed to satisfy, restore, refresh and reward a man with a generous, approachable and fun-loving personality at the end of a day’s endeavour.

MTNF-MUSON programme graduates next generation of music stars CHINYERE OKEKE

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onday, July 9 and Tuesday, July 10, 2018 were remarkable days for MTN Foundation and MUSON School of Music as they held the 11th graduation concert and ceremony for students of the Scholar’s Programme at the MUSON Centre in Lagos.

The MTN Foundation Scholars’ Programme in partnership with the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) is targeted at students with a flair for music, providing them the opportunity to acquire qualitative music education. The Foundation offers stipends directed at the students and provide allocation to cover transportation, textbooks, and tuition for the duration of the two-year diploma course in music.

The event started on Saturday, June 30, with an opera presentation of the “Yeomen of the Guards” and continued on Monday, July 2, with the band & orchestra concert before the final graduation concert on Monday, July 9, and the graduation ceremony on Tuesday, July 10.

The Agip Recital Hall, venue of the event, was filled to capacity.

Some guests who had no seat were seen hanging around to catch a glimpse, while others jostled to get a feel of the performances from the aisles and the entrances.

The turn-up for the ceremony was impressive: made up of enthusiastic guests, parents, guardians, friends and relatives of the graduating students and music lovers.

The graduation concerts featured

great and scintillating musical performances from the graduating set, validating the lessons and instrumental skills acquired during the two-year course as well as entertaining the audience.

The night featured an extensive mix of medleys by the scholars, who seized the opportunity of being on stage to showcase their expertise in playing various musical instruments, flaunting vocal dexterity to the delight of the guests.

The audience was ecstatic; they simply could not hold their excitement when performer Oguntade Kanje stepped up and gave the show of a lifetime, serenading all present with her great voice and smooth tunes.

There was presentation of Diploma in Music certificates to 29 graduating scholars at the ceremony, along with prizes and awards to some “who exhibited MTN values such as Leadership,

Integrity, Can-Do Spirit, Innovation and Relationship”, according to Nonny Ugboma, executive secretary, MTN Foundation.

MTN Foundation presented gifts to the music school, received

by Marion Akpata, director, MUSON School of Music, and Edna Soyanwo, deputy director, MUSON School of Music. They also gave out prizes to the best graduating students.

Since inception, MTN Foundation in partnership with MUSON has proudly graduated over 200 students from the prestigious academy with highly-rated certification. This partnership with MUSON is part of MTN Foundation’s support for arts and culture in Nigeria.

This year’s graduation ceremony was exciting for all who attended as they witnessed the release of this new breed of music and musical experts to the world.

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Bliss with Nonye Ben-Nwankwo

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Email: chiwuagwu@yahoo.com Phone number (SMS only) 08057511893

Celebs gather for Lara and the Beat

I don’t care what people say about me – Benson Okonkwo

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L

ike him or hate him, Benson Okonkwo is one Nollywood actor who is confident of his looks and one who knows that he is not leaving the movie industry soon no matter what.

Having been linked with controversies here and there especially concerning his sexuality, Benson has remained undaunted, carrying his head high and doing what he loves best – acting.

In a recent telephone chat with Bliss, Benson said he doesn’t care what people say aving been away for some time.

Nothing can stop my shine.

The industry is too big. They have said lots of things about me and I just decided to take it that way. Nothing will get to me again. I have zeroed my mind to controversy and negative comments. I have developed thick skin. If you don’t like me, too bad. My diehard fans are still there for me.

In all, Benson has yet to quell any opinion or rumours

people have concerning his sexual preference at least by getting married, he told Bliss he hasn’t seen his life partner yet.

“I have not seen the right person. I don’t want to rush into it. I don’t want to get into it and divorce. I have not seen the person I would want to call my life partner, when I see the person, I would get marry. I am always having issues. I want somebody who is coolheaded.”

At the moment, Benson said he is very busy, shooting movies despite having been away for a while.

“There was a time I took a long break for five years.

Most of my fans were

complaining. They said they wanted to see me since they feel I am special. But since I came back last year, I have been quiet busy.”

Benson said nobody took his place while he was away as he returned and went back to his profession.

“My space was there waiting for me till I came back. It was as if I never left. There is no other Mr Packaging. I am not two. My producers also know it. They can’t do without me. I still model because I have my good looks intact.

I am ageless. Everybody knows I am a fine guy. I have won Nollywood’s sexiest actor for times. My dress sense is very outstanding.”

I don’t feel any different at 40 - Essence

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wale Okoro popularly known as Essence is still basking in the euphoria of clocking the ‘big’ 40 years.

However, in a chat with Bliss on her birthday few days ago, the singer with a silky voice said she didn’t feel any different clocking 40.

“I don’t feel any different.

Something might happen anyway. They say life begins at 40. Maybe I will start seeing life now that I am 40.”

Now that she is 40, Essence said she is not fulfilled yet as she would want to get more in life.

“Everybody would always want some more. However, I am happy that I am alive and I thank God. Usually, I fall ill around this time every year.

This is actually the first time I am so healthy and I am not in the hospital at this time of the year. I am usually hospitalised during this period. I am here eating bread and egg and chocolate juice and I am very healthy. Later, I will make jollof rice and I will later go out.”

Now a gospel singer and all set to launch her new album next week, Essence explained why she shifted from secular music to gospel.

“For about four years now, I have not released any song. I have always been positing on instagram that the shift is coming. This is the shift. It is very symbolic for me. Gospel is me.

I think God just wanted me to do secular music for a while and learn the rudiments of music.

I learnt a lot. It was a training ground for me. My first album, people couldn’t differentiate if I

was doing gospel or secular.”

When asked if marriage is on her list at the moment, Essence described the question as “Jamb Question”.

“That is a big question. I believe God anyway. It is not in my hands. I believe there is a reason God made me to stay this long. When the husband will come, he will come. You shouldn’t worry.”

t was a gathering of top Nigerian celebs last weekend in Lagos as Biola Alabi Media premiered its 2018 hit production, ‘Lara and the Beat’ at the Lagos Continental Hotel.

The lavish event was a resounding evening of fabulous fashion presentation and a mesmerizing music concert, taking cues from key themes explored in the movie – music, fashion and culture.

“We had a lot of fun on set making this movie, and I am particularly excited about the cultural elements that stand out in this movie,” said Seyi Shay, who plays Lara Giwa in the movie. “Music is a big part of this movie, and to see how it was perfectly fused with this production, makes me really proud as a music artiste.”

Like the director of the movie, Seyi Shay, Vector who plays her love interest, Sal, also have a music background, both being major music stars. Other cast members from the music industry include DJ Xclusive (who plays Jide), and Toni Tones (who plays Trish).

“It’s great to see how this blend of movie and music has played out tonight, all the brilliance shown not only by the music cast members, but especially by the traditional Nollywood cast members as well, who really made this a pleasant experience,” said Vector.

Lara and the Beat also has an original music soundtrack produced by ace music producer Tee Y Mix, with significant input from the team at Universal Music Group in Nigeria.

Bobrisky splashes gifts on fans

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nstagram cross dresser, Bobrisky is still breaking the internet with his looks and dress sense.

With so many followers on his social media handle, Bobrisky do have fans that could last him a lifetime.

And known to be one who makes his followers feel good from time to time, Bobrisky announced he was going to gift his followers N100, 000.

According to Bobrisky who claimed he landed an endorsement deal, he said he would “bless” his fans with part of the proceeds of the endorsement deal.

In his post via his instagram handle, Bobrisky said, “Yaay,

another one. Brand ambassador.

They love the way I put effort on people’s product during advertising.

Best brand influencer goes to Bobrisky. From this money, I am blessing my fans N100K.” Impressed with his largess, most of his fans thanked him for his large heart while they congratulated him for his new deal.

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Life&Living Why it is important to have movie theatre etiquette JUMOKE AKIYODE-LAWANSON

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ave you ever wondered how people can be so prim and proper when they are out for dinner dates, conference meetings, social gatherings or even parties, but are so unruly when they go to watch movies at the cinema?

Cinema etiquette is defined as the set of social norms observed by patrons of a movie theater.

There are a wide variety of distractions that could spoil other patrons’ enjoyment of a film, such as cell phone usage, people talking loudly to one another, the rustling of food packaging, the behavior of children in the audience, and patrons entering and leaving during a screening.

Just like in every public gathering, it is important to respect the presence of other people in a movie theatre. Remember that everyone in the cinema has come to enjoy a movie in a quiet, serene environment and do not necessarily need your commentary.

Follow these simple rules to avoid ruining somebody else’s cinema experience; 1. Do not take off your smelly shoes and put your feet up on the

seat in front of you or between the seats. This is a total turnoff for everybody.

2. Turn off your phone or put it on silent mode and reduce its brightness. Remember that you cannot rewind or pause films watched in movie theatres and it will be unfair for the sound of your phone or its light to distract other people and make them miss a scene or even a few seconds of the film.

3. Please do not inconvenience other people by saving seats for

your friends who haven’t even arrived at the cinema ten minutes after the start of the movie. I was so upset when I went to watch Oceans 8 at the cinema and the lady who sat beside me did not allow anyone sit beside her because she was saving the seat for a friend that never showed up.

4. I don’t know how many times this needs to be said. Do not bring your baby to the movies. There is no exception to this rule. If you have to, please be polite enough to step out of the cinema hall when

your baby or toddler starts to cry.

Also, it is wrong to bring children to see adult rated movies.

5. No commentators please; like I said earlier, nobody needs your analyses of the film while its still playing. We are all watching and can see exactly what you are seeing so there is absolutely no need to explain what is going on to the next person. Wait until after the movie to analyse and review the film.

6. Please eat quietly. Nobody needs to hear your mouth move

when you’re eating.

7. Avoid stepping on people’s toes by going to the toilet before the movie starts. If you do need to use the restroom while the movie is on, quietly move out gently without frequently disturbing the people seated closer to the aisle.

8. While it’s easy to just leave your empty popcorn containers on the floor or under your seat, theaters are not giant trash cans that happen to show films. Be sure to throw away any trash, such as empty drink containers and candy wrappers, on your way out of the auditorium. Although there are clean-up crews who come in after every movie to tidy up, they have limited time to get the theater ready for the next group of moviegoers.

It’s also the right thing to do to clean up after yourself because movie theater employees don’t have enough time to properly clean up auditoriums after each screening.

9. Please do not fart and spoil the air for other movie watchers.

It is just plain nasty.

When going to watch a movie at the cinema, please keep these simple rules of etiquette in mind, so that you and others present will have an enjoyable and hassle free experience. Overall, it is just nice to be well behaved, considering other people at all times.

The essential benefits of good old shea butter

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IFEOMA OKEKE

here are essential things that readily come to mind when one pictures a home.

Expectedly, there should be furniture, kitchen utensils, beds, but to name a few. These are essential for shelter and feeding.

However, there are other essential things needed in a home, one of such is shea butter.

As common as this product may appear to be, it has been acknowledged by medical practitioners as very useful and possesses various benefits.

Shea butter is extracted from the nuts of the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) that is native to Africa, shea butter is a fatty oil that exists as solid at room temperature.

The Karite tree bears the fruits, and the nuts inside the fruits are of prime importance. These nuts are crushed, boiled, and manipulated to extract a light-colored fat, which is commonly referred to as shea butter.

The main components of shea butter include oleic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, etc. It gets absorbed quickly into the skin as it melts at body temperature. Its moisturizing and healing properties prove beneficial for many skin issues. It also has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties (to a certain extent) that can be utilized to treat many ailments.

Shea butter is an excellent mois-

turizer for the face and the body.

Its fat content is responsible for its emollient and humectant properties. It locks in the moisture in the skin and keeps it hydrated for long.

Dehydrated and dry skin becomes rough and scaly. Shea butter is used to heal cracked heels, dry cuticles, and rough patches on your skin. You can also use it to simply moisturize your skin during the colder months.

Shea butter is known for its healing properties, which can be attributed to the presence of several fatty acids and plant sterols such as oleic, palmitic, stearic, and linolenic acids.

These oil-soluble components do not undergo saponification or convert into soap on coming in contact with alkalis. Shea butter is more nonsaponifiable than other nut oils and fats, thus imparting it great healing potential.

Shea butter has several derivatives of cinnamic acid that exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. These properties make it beneficial for the improvement of skin conditions that result from an increase in inflammatory compounds.

The product is also considered as one of the best anti-aging agents for the skin. It stimulates the production of collagen, the youthful scaffolding protein in the skin. The vitamins A and E found in this butter keep the skin supple, nourished, and radiant. If used regularly, it reduces wrinkles and also prevents premature wrinkles and facial lines. Its anti-aging properties

can also be attributed to its ability to increase circulation to the skin and promote cell renewal.

These vitamins, along with catechins, also exert an antioxidant effect against free radicals that damage the skin. These free radicals are often found in our environment in pollutants and irritants. The sun’s rays can also increase the free radicals in our skin, which can easily damage the skin cells. The cinnamic acid esters in the shea fat prevent damage from these compounds by giving your skin an antioxidant boost.

For itching skin, both the moisturizing and the anti-inflammatory properties of shea butter prove to be beneficial. Dryness can cause your

skin to start peeling and/or become flaky. It can cause the skin to itch.

The moisturizing fatty acids of shea butter can provide relief by supplying the skin with the oils it needs. If the itching is due to a skin condition like psoriasis, the anti-inflammatory activity of shea butter works really well to alleviate it.

The non-saponifiable matter and vitamin F in this butter are vital ingredients for maintaining the skin’s elasticity. Shea butter also improves the production of collagen in the skin.

Thus, its application restores the natural elasticity of the skin besides hydrating, softening, and beautifying it. Restored elasticity also ensures reduced wrinkles and blemishes.

Shaving hair using razors can often leave your skin irritated and itchy. At times, it might even develop bumps post shaving as a result of the irritation. Shea butter can help reduce this as it moisturizes and soothes the irritated skin. You can also apply the butter a day prior to shaving to smoothen the skin and hair. This will make the shaving process easier and faster and doesn’t leave any irritated spots behind.

Shea butter is often used as a base in ointments or creams prepared commercially for stretch mark treatment. The application of shea butter will restore the natural elasticity of the skin and also improve collagen production. It is a natural emollient.

Daily massage of the affected area with this skin healing butter can lighten stretch marks.

Unrefined shea butter is an excellent natural moisturizer that is devoid of chemicals. Thus, it is ideal for baby care as besides being gentle and soft on the skin, it is specially adapted for the delicate and sensitive skin of babies. It can be applied after a bath and also used for healing eczema or diaper rash on the skin of babies and toddlers.

Shea butter is easily absorbable and provides extra moisture and nutrients that the lips need during the cold season and dry weather conditions. Thus, it acts as a perfect lip balm and is also effective for treating dry and chapped lips. When applied, it forms a barrier on the lips and retains moisture in the skin.

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Sunday 15 July 2018

THINGS TO DO IN LAGOS

The weekend continues on a Sunday which is why the fun never stops in Lagos. Take a look at some of the interesting events happening today: SUNDAY FUNDAY AT WORKSTATION

Official Couple (A comedy stage play) Date – Sunday, July 15 2018 Time – 6PM Venue – Muson Center, Onikan Lagos

Date - Sun, July 15, 2018 Time - 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Venue- Workstation 7 Ibiyinka Olorunbe, victoria island Lagos

Ballers Culture Fest 2018 Date - Sun, July 15, 2018 Time: 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM Venue: Children’s International School Lekki Phase One, Lagos

Sunday 15 July 2018

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BusinessDay MarketPlace With The Creative Director Of Wilson’s Juice, Seun Abolaji going up and down, only our bottles were costing more to make. This is so because our bottle maker gets his palettes from outside Nigeria. As much as we can, we try to control the costs, so sometimes we make 30% profits, sometimes we make 50% profits, sometimes 2% profits. Our prices must be affordable!

Also one time we tried making the juice in round bottles and that was a very huge mistake. We wanted to make our product more accessible to the street and more affordable too. It costs less to produce the round bottle, but very quickly our clients complained about this. For 6 months we tried to sell in the round bottle but our loyalists weren’t having any of it.

We have a product that people have fallen in love with and we try to keep the costs fixed, even when it means us taking the hits from time to time.

W

What is the Wilson’s Juice Story? hile in school, myself and my partner made freshly squeezed lemonade to students, which sold very well. Then we said let’s put it in a plastic bottle and when we did, the demand increased in more. From there, it’s been a step by step business, and it’s been improving steadily.

How did you source for your initial capital?

When we started the business, our initial capital was our personal money. So it was my brother’s money and my money. Then we asked a few family and friends who gave us some money too.

Also we had another business, it was a palm karnel business, which didn’t exactly work out the way we wanted it to, so when Wilson’s came about, we just used the money we had there, together with our other savings to start the business. We didn’t really source as in VC or PE Capital at the beginning, it was all blood, sweat and tears money we used.

What’s been your biggest challenge as a business?

It’s an interesting question to ask about our biggest challenge because our environment is a major one, but we don’t like to focus on our challenges, since everyone has them too. We only focus on opportunities and opportunities to do something is really amazing. When you drink our lemon-

ade made from real lemon fruits, citrus, water and real cane sugar, you’ll know it’s a different drink from what you have in the market. Now trying to push that has been

the interesting part because from marketing to production to distribution, it’s been challenging. But like I said it’s not about the challenges for us, because I won’t even know where to start, it’s about how we surmount those challenges. If it’s a challenge on the road, we push through our drivers to get up at about 3am to deliver in time to our customers. If it’s in the factory, we have 3-4 generators that are running most of the time. If it’s sales, we train our own sales people to know how to approach customers.

Do your costs ever run higher than your profits?

Goodnews is all our ingredients are sourced here in Nigeria, so when Effex was

How have you been able to compete successfully with the big name brands?

We really don’t see them as competition. It’s not a “me too” product. What we have is new to the market and its’s creative and different. For us leadership is at 4 different levels: sacrifice, creativity, integrity and team work.

With these we’ve been able to bring something brand new to the market and really at the end of the day we are all competing for the stocks yes, but what we have here is not fezzy, sugary or flavouring and seasoning. It’s a real juice product and because of that we’ve carefully created our own lane. Yes in Nigeria it’s two big names, 1 that starts with P and the other with C, there’s no number 3 and that’s the spot we are working hard to fill. So that it will become P,C and W. How did you come about

the name Wilsons?

It’s a bit of a long story but I’ll try to keep it short. Our last name is Abolaji and we didn’t want to sound funny with Abolaji’s Lemonade Juice. People won’t have resonated with that. 2 years after putting it in a bottle, we needed a name for branding and so myself and my brother wrote out the last names of all our close friends and three names stood out, but Wilsons (the surname of a very good friend of my brother’s), got picked. It’s a smart marketing name, a goof family name and anywhere in the world, it can be pronounced.

What is Wilson’s 5 year goal?

We have a 2 year goal, a 5 year goal and a 10 year goal to be the number 1 leading natural fruit beverage brand in Africa. Yes it seems very big but that’s what we

are looking at. We are looking to open more branches across the continent and provide more employment to our youths, starting with Nigeria.

If you think about it all the companies that come to Africa are coming from somewhere else, they’ve made their brand name somewhere else and Africans buy their products, but what are we taking to them? This is the reason we are striving so hard in Wilson’s not just to build a brand but a company, because when you build a company you can come up with different brands.

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Sunday 15 July 2018

Travel The gains of Robben Island OBINNA EMELIKE

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n 1999, the famous Robben Island in Cape Town, South Africa, was recognised as a world heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The history and current activities in the once isolated area for people suffering from leprosy, as well as, a place of incarceration for political prisoners under the then Apartheid regime, earned it a well-deserved recognition.

Since the UNESCO recognistion, the once notorious island, which is only accessible by boat, has hosted more tourists than before with thousands who come in batches alighting from ferry and luxury boats on daily basis except during poor visibility and high tide.

The 10 minutes sail on the turbulent ocean is the first reminder of the doggedness of the South African freedom fighters.

The expedition uncovers how the founding leader of Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Robert Sobukwe; the first president of democratic South Africa, Nelson Mandela, and others who were sentenced to life imprisonment, turned the banishment arena into an education stage to enlighten black South African prisoners, therefore paving the way for South Africa’s liberation.

The analogy of the struggles of Mandela, Sobukwe, Sisulu and others in the fight against Apartheid, demanding for the education of prison inmates despite being incarcerated and isolated is both heard and felt on the island.

Sobukwe, who is described as the most feared political prisoner in Robben Island then by the Apartheid government, was particularly isolated from all other political prisoners because of his revolutionary spirit.

With the help of the international community and individual countries across the globe,

The entrance to the Island’s prison facility the Apartheid government was pushed to approve a study permit for all prisoners held in

the Robben Island. Although, study application was granted as a privilege by the Apartheid

regime, famous political prisoners like Mandela, Sobukwe and Sisulu were allowed the

The 5.07 km² Robben Island overlooking Cape Town city and the Table Mountain

study application to deceive the international community that they were been treated nicely.

Political prisoners took advantage of the study application, arming many blacks with requisite knowledge that eventually helped in pulling down the Apartheid regime, giving birth to the new dem ocratic South Africa. By the end of Apartheid, which also ended the incarceration on the island in 1991, many political prisoners left Robben Island with at least a university degree, including Jacob Zuma, former president of South Africa.

Robben Island served other than a prison then, as there used to be animal quarantine centre and leper graveyard inside, as confirmed to be once a leper colony.

Today, the once dreaded island is a museum welcoming thousands of tourists across the world on a daily basis.

There is also an armoury on the island built to fortify Cape Town against any attack during the Second World War that ended in 1945, but ironically, the armoury was completed two years after the war ended.

The oval shaped island, which is 3.3km long northsouth, and 1.9km wide, with an area of 5.07 km² is a beautiful sight to behold with a cool breeze from the ocean that surrounds it. The various sections of the offices and Apartheid government homes on the island are now used as guest lodges. The former home of the Apartheid government commandant on the island used to house Mandela whenever he visited while alive.

The intrigue of the island is that as tourists finish the tour and proceeded towards the entrance gate that also served as exit, they are told to be on a short way to freedom. Of course, the freedom will be full when they cross the turbulent ocean to Cape Town mainland.

But there are hardly mishaps on the route.

Vecta Travels steps up its offerings with bespoke online platform

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ecta Travels Ltd, a ones t o p t ra v e l m a n a g e ment company offering wholistic travel services to its wide range of customers, has launched an online platform; www.vectatravels.com.

The website is a stress-free and reliable reservation tool that offers intending travellers many exciting packages and opportunity to plan trips, compare fares, make reservations among amid bespoke technology that requires very minimal communication with company.

At a media launch of the website in Lagos recently, Tosin Shopetan, general manager of Vecta Tours, said the launch was

part of a concerted effort by the company to offer travel services that would meet the needs of its growing customers in line with the best travel tour practices. ‘’Vecta brings professionalism and personal touch to it services including ticketing, car hire, hotel, issuance of travel insurance, executive lounging among others. We are all you need for comfort”, he stated.

Explaining why travellers should trust Vecta in her presentation, Chioma Atueyi, the agency manager, said: “You can always trust us to give you the best when it comes visa issuance; it is very affordable anywhere in the world. We also

have a competitive advantage and we hire the best hands as regard customer service delivery.”

One of the highlights of the launch was a demonstration of how the website works by Frank Dibia, business development manager of Vecta.

It also witnessed the presence of stakeholders in travel business airline including; Christopher Isaiah of Kenya Airways, representatives of South Africa Airways, Fatima Garbati., former president of Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), among others.

The stakeholders congratulated Vecta for the innovation,

which is geared towards making travels seamless for customers, especially Christopher Isaiah who noted that Vecta Travel is creating values in the travel industry to enhance services to its host of customers.

Speaking further on the services available on the Vecta platform, both online and offline, Dibia said the company, which was established in 2002 with 400 staff, is committed to the satisfaction of every individual customer, no matter the volume of business and peculiar demands.

“We enjoy very good relationship with all the airlines operating from both the local

and international airports and have negotiated deals with all the airlines. We also have access to over 500,000 local and international hotels. For Visa assistance, Vecta has a healthy relationship with the consulates and embassies coupled with its visa experts that advise and guide customers on how to put together all the vital travel documents to ensure the customer is very prepared with the greatest chance of being issued a visa”, the management assured.

Vecta Tours is affiliated to BlueLodge Hotel and also partners Crust and Cream, which are both located in Lagos.

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Travel

AIB, varsity sign pact on usage of metallurgical laboratory at Abuja airport Stories by IFEOMA OKEKE

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he University of Lagos and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the usage of the bureau’s $5.8 million metallurgical laboratory at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The agreement was signed by both parties at the University of Lagos Senate Building.

Akin Olateru, the Commissioner of AIB who is also an aircraft engineer, said it was worrisome that both private and public business organizations expend little or no resource to funding of researches and projects in the country.

The commissioner said with adequate research, the country would benefit more.

He explained that the vision of the management was to make the laboratory a world class facility where giant construction companies and countries like South Africa, United Kingdom and other European nations could come to conduct research.

The AIB boss said the collaboration with the uni-

versity would lead to the recognition of Nigeria as a serious nation in research in the international community.

Olateru maintained that usage of the facility would lead to human capital development in the country, while the laboratory would also give students more opportunity to practice whatever they had been taught in the classrooms.

Aside that, he stated that it would help curb capital flight, stressing that some of the students who go to US, UK, China usually rush back without completing the courses because of many factors.

“If we have this type of equipment here, we will save capital flight. The man do-

ing the research will spend more time at home. He can take more time. If you send him to UK to go and do the research, he is worried about estacode, he will probably rush what is supposed to do in three months in one month and rush back and that will impact on productivity and quality of research, in terms of enhancing and growing the manufacturing sector”.

“This is the foundation.

This is the basis of what we are doing today and we believe that our new partnership we will achieve our objective”.

Olateru said, “This is a very important occasion for us and I believe University of Ilorin too should be proud of this occasion”.

Ethiopian to resume flights to Asmara

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thiopian Airlines, the largest Aviation Group in Africa and SKYTRAX certified Four Star Global Airline has announce that it has finalized preparations to resume daily flights to Asmara, Eritrea on 17 July 2018 with the most technologically advanced commercial aircraft, the Boeing 787.

This follows agreements reached in Asmara between Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and President Isaias Afewerki of the State of Eritrea.

Regarding the resumption of flights to Eritrea’s capital, Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO, Ethiopian Airlines, said: “We at Ethiopian feel an immense

honor and joy to resume scheduled flights to Asmara after 20 years, following the visit to Eritrea by. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. With the opening of a new chapter of peace and friendship between the two sisterly countries, we look forward to starting flights to Asmara with the B787, the most technologically advanced commercial aircraft, which gives customers unparalleled on-board comfort.

“The resumption of air links will play a critical role in boosting the overall political, economic, trade and peopleto-people ties between the two sisterly countries.

Th a n k s t o E t h i o p i a n extensive network of more

than 114 international destinations in 5 continents, our flights to Asmara will avail best connectivity options to the vast Eritrean Diaspora Community across the world and will boost the flow of investment, trade and tourism into Eritrea.

“Very quickly, we plan to operate multiple daily service and to start cargo flights in view of the huge market potential between the two sisterly countries.”

Asmara is the capital and the largest city of Eritrea and is situated in Eritrea’s central Maekel Region.

It is home to the Eritrean National Museum and is known for its early 20thcentury buildings including t h e Ar t De c o Ci n e m a Impero, one of the world’s finest examples of Art Déco style building, Cubist Africa Pension, eclectic Orthodox Cathedral and former Opera House, the futurist Fiat Tagliero Building, the neo-Romanesque Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, neoclassical Governor’s Palace and much more.

Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said he was excited concerning the pact between her and AIB, saying what happened was part of the vision he has for the institution.

“When you talk about research, you can fully apply research when you have an industry that you can interact with. This is what is happening today with AIB’s collaboration with the University of Lagos. It is a win-win situation like you said”.

“What we are going to benefit from with this agreement is that our student will have a good laboratory and our students will be exposed to the latest development in this particular area and also in future”.

Excitement as travellers watch live matches of World Cup on Emirates’ ICE

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mirates Airline, according to Tr i p a d v i s o r, i s fascinating its Nigerian passengers across all its flight with fun and pleasurable moments of viewing the 2018 World Cup matches in its planes.

From A380s to Boeing aircrafts, passengers are positioned as top of mind for this season so that football lovers do not miss out in any of the matches.

The passengers on board are before live coverages of the 2018 World Cup tournament which began on 14th June and set to end on 15th July 2018 on Sports24 and Sport24Extra channels registered on ICE. The 2018 FIFA World Cup is the 21st FIFA World Cup, an international football tournament contested by national teams of the member associations of FIFA once every four years.

Emirates have since the beginning of the tournament kept its travelling Football lovers lively and have made them enjoy live matches on board its aircraft. The airline will screen the 64 matches to keep them away from boredom and help them follow the game through till the end.

T h e a w a r d winning Inflight and Communications Entertainment (ICE) offers unrivalled experience on air, and captivates the minds of travellers who are keen about sports.

Emirates is pronounced as an airline with the World’s Best Inflight Entertainment for the 13th consecutive year as awarded by Skytrax.

There are up to 3,500 channels to explore, so that travellers can take a look at what’s on their flight and create a personal playlist of favourites.

Airbus rebrands CSeries as JetBlue orders 60

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irbus has announced the rebranding of the CSeries of aircraft it took control of last week from Bombardier, as JetBlue ordered 60 of the A220-300 jet.

The CSeries’ CS100 and CS300 are now the Ai r b u s A 2 2 0 - 1 0 0 a n d A220-300, covering the 100 to 150 seat range, aimed at thinner routes than the company’s larger single-aisle aircraft.

“Everyone at Airbus has been looking forward to this historic moment. Today, we are thrilled to welcome the A220 to the Airbus family and are honoured to see it wearing its new Airbus colours for the first time,” Guillaume Faury, Airbus

president of commercial aircraft said at the launch. A report by Airwise.com says New York-based JetBlue is the first customer for the rebranded A220, signing an MoU for 60 firm orders for the larger 130-seat A220-300. The agreement includes options on a further 60 A220s.

Airbus said deliveries of JetBlue’s A220s will start in 2020, and if the options are taken up, the second batch would be delivered from 2025. All JetBlue’s A220s will be assembled at the Airbus Mobile, Alabama plant.

“We expect the A220 to be an important long-term building block in our goal to deliver superior margins and create long-term shareholder value,” Steve

Priest, JetBlue EVP said. “ We a r e c o n f i d e n t the A220 will perform well in every aspect, including network, cost, maintenance, or customer experience. Simply put – our crewmembers, customers and owners are going to love this aircraft.”

JetBlue will use the A220s to replace its fleet of 100-seat Embraer E190s.

Speaking of the move to the A220, Priest said “We expect a seamless transition, and we’ve worked with Airbus and Bombardier to build in maximum flexibility to the order book as market conditions shift over time.”

JetBlue will take delivery of the first five aircraft in 2020, and expects to start phasing out its E190s shortly after.

As part of the agreement, JetBlue also converted part of its A320neo-family order.

It will now take 25 of the larger A321neos instead of A320neos and adjust the timing of deliveries.

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Health&Science Expert shares guide to support asthma management in schools ANTHONIA OBOKOH

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n expert and founder of the Amaka Chiwuike-Uba Foundation (ACUF) have up come with guides which will help to support successful asthma management in schools.

The expert opined that many students have died from asthma crisis while in school and these deaths are partly attributable to unfriendly school environment or inadequate first aid infrastructure in schools to manage asthma crisis.

“According to the Nigerian Thoracic Society, no fewer than 250,000 Nigerians die from asthma yearly. No doubt, this is a conservative figure, because, there are many unreported cases of asthma deaths in Nigeria,” said Chiwuike Uba, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Amaka Chiwuike-Uba Foundation (ACUF).

Uba stated that most times, great focus and care is given to management and treatment of asthma having home setting in mind. Usually, other settings or environments are forgotten and not considered on asthma management approaches.

“Students spend more time in school than they do at home; hence, the school represents a very important setting for asthma management. It can either be supportive or pose several barriers to successful asthma management,” he said.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease which affects all ages but mostly starts in childhood.

It creates inflammation in the inside walls of airways which makes them very sensitive for the allergic reaction.

Asthma may be caused due to genetic, environmental factors or combination of both. Almost all asthma sufferers have allergies.

Some of the allergens are house dust mites in carpets, bedding and furniture, pet dander, pollens, moulds, air pollution, tobacco

smoke, chemical irritants in the workplace and others. Some of the symptoms of asthma are coughing, wheezing, trouble in breathing and chest tightness.

Uba attributed that most of Nigerian school environment is characterised by school personnel who do not know which students have asthma and who are ill-prepared to identify and handle worsening asthma.

“Apparently, schools’ does not recognise the existence and the need for established policies for asthma management in school environment. Painfully, there are no approved asthma management guidelines by the government to guide the schools. Having seen this huge gap in asthma management, the Amaka Chiwuike-Uba Foundation (ACUF) began the “Schools’ Education and Training Workshops on Asthma Management” in 2017.

He further said that the key objective of this programme is to educate schools’ staff, students, parents and health professionals on asthma management techniques.

“Schools are one setting in which many asthma control services can be provided, school nurses can help students use their medications correctly and refer them to medical facilities when the need arises,” said Uba. However, for this to work properly, the medical condition of every student should be made known to

the school management. It is evident that, most parents hide their children’s medical condition from the school management. That is not very advisable.

Below are the following measures should be adopted by both the government and the school management as a quick approach to making the schools environment asthma friendly; hence, reduce asthma prevalence, morbidity and mortality in Nigeria as guide provided by the expert: Develop and establish schoolbased air quality (indoor and outdoor) policies to help reduce asthma-related triggers.

Develop and establish a policy requiring asthma education for all school personnel (especially health service professionals, teachers, physical education teachers, and coaches) as a compulsory requirement. This is to enable them have basic education on asthma, asthma management and be able to handle an asthma or breathing emergency.

Develop and establish a policy and mechanism to ensure access to self-management education and case management for students with asthma.

Develop and establish a policy requiring an individualised Asthma Action Plans for all students with asthma to monitor and manage symptoms and reduce exposure to potential asthma triggers.

NURHI counsels women on family planning AKINREMI FEYISIPO, Ibadan

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he Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), Oyo State chapter has advocated that every woman has a right to determine when and the number of children she wants to have.

According to Stella Akinso, team leader of Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), said that contrary to insinuations, no woman should be forced or coerce to take up any family planning method, adding that each woman has a right to choose for herself when, the time and her readiness to access any family planning method.

“Every woman has right to family planning unhindered and in ac-

cessing family planning, no woman should be coheres in taking a method or force to do family planning.

Speaking at the 2018 World Population Day with the theme “Family planning as a human right” organised by National Population commission (NAC) in collaboration with NURHI, Association for Reproductive and Family Heath (ARFH), Society for Family Health (SFH) and National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Ibadan, Oyo state.

“We are bringing that consciousness to the people to know that they have the right to access family planning and also we urge the state and policy makers to should ensure that contraceptives, commodities are free and service providers are trained to be able to deliver ad-

equate services.

“The service free, so what we are saying is that every woman have every right to decide on their child spacing” said Akinso.

Also speaking Tayo Oyetunji, federal commissioner National Population Commission (NPC) in Oyo State in his address on how to manage the growing population expressed readiness of the State toward the National census.

“We have over the years developed capacity, trained and retrained personnel’s as parts of our efforts by the NPC in Oyo State is ever ready to conduct another population census. We are only waiting for the government to determine when the exercise would take place, he said.

403 Ogun public servants benefit from government medical programme SIKIRAT SHEHU, ILORIN

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wara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed on thursday launched the State Health Insurance Scheme, making it compulsory for all residents.

The event at the state’s banquet hall, Ilorin, Governor Ahmed called on residents to register and take advantage of the statewide scheme to access affordable healthcare delivery in the state.

The governor maintained that the launching had taken the state closer to achieving the dream of universal health coverage by making the scheme compulsory to all citizens and residents.

According to the governor, “the Kwara Health Insurance Law also provides for the establishment of the Kwara Health Insurance Fund, KHIF, which will pool resources from various sources including premium contribution from residents, the State Government subsidy for the very poor, multi-lateral grants, donations, support from the Federal Government and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)”.

He disclosed that an initial N200m had been set aside as the state’s capitalization of KHIF to ensure the scheme is well funded.

The governor noted that the state is committed to contributing 1% of the annual Consolidated Revenue Fund and to subsidize premiums and service delivery to those considered part of the poorest in the society as well as 40% of funds received through the “Saving One Million Lives Performance for Results Initiative”—an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Health, supported by the World Bank

and targeted towards the improvement of maternal and child health in Nigeria.

“I have no doubt that this scheme is primed for success not only because it is guaranteed to be sustainable, well-funded and well managed, but also because it will leverage digital technology to promote efficiency, and transparency”, he said.

In his remarks, Michel Deepen the deputy ambassador of the Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands to Nigeria, promised that the Dutch government would strengthen its partnership with the Kwara State Government to achieve universal health coverage in the state.

Also speaking, Khama Rogot he Lead Health Sector Specialist and Head of the World Bank Group’s Health in Africa Initiative, announced that over four million dollars had been earmarked for Kwara State to strengthen the healthcare service delivery to the people.

Rogo who noted that many African leaders wanted to carry out health insurance scheme without success, describing the scheme as a restoration of dignity to the people of the state.

In his address, Yusuf Usman ,executive secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme, promised to partner the state to guarantee the success of the scheme.

The Executive Secretary, Kwara State Health Insurance Scheme, Bunmi Jetawo-Winter had explained that the scheme was a well throughout and carefully planned scheme to ensure affordable and accessible health care service delivery across the state with each enrolee paying only N25 premium per day.

Lagos to deepen healthcare delivery through medical equipment leasing SEYI JOHN SALAU

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he Lagos State Government in its effort to ensure adequate and efficient financing for the health sector, recently held a sensitization workshop on access to finance and medical equipment leasing in partnership with PharmAccess Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation in the healthcare value chain.

The access to finance and medical equipment leasing scheme is an initiative of the state government, aim at creating a platform for easy access to medical funding by healthcare service providers in Lagos state.

The state ministries of Health and Wealth Creation and Employment will jointly manage the scheme, while PharmAccess will give technical support and a 50 percent guarantee for loans given to healthcare Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

However, the state owned IBILE Holdings will be the trust holder for the scheme.

Jide Idris, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, in a statement said the government in its reform process has realise the need to do things differently in the health sector, and its poised to open the sector up for more funding.

According to Idris, the deliberation on the scheme stated in 2017 with focus on health infrastructure and safe health financing, and that implementation plans for the strategy specify specifically the active

engagement with strategic partners, especially the private sector.

“This Access to Finance initiative and the Medial Equipment Leasing are to serve specific purposes under the universal health sector,” said Idris stating that the government want to empower and at the same time employ the private sector to assist in the healthcare service delivery across the state.

Uzamat Akingbile Yusuf, Lagos State Commission of Wealth Creation and Employment, in her welcome address said the goal of the state government is to tackle unemployment in the state, as the health sector is a viable potential for wealth and employment generation.

Under the new initiative, the Lagos State Ministries of Health and Wealth Creation and Employment in partnership with PharmAccess Group developed a framework where Health SMEs in Lagos are given access to cheaper funding to facilitate their expansion while creating employment.

However, to ensure sustainability of the scheme, 43 defunct Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) were selected to be outsourced to private providers under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

The identified PHCs will therefore serve as a pilot for the Lagos State Access to Finance for Health SMEs Scheme and used as part of the facilities to provide quality healthcare services to the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme.

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Sports

FIFA affirms Amaju Pinnick as NFF president … says Nigeria risks ban over government interference ANTHONY NLEBEM, Reporting From Moscow/Russia

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ollowing the crisis that has rocked Nigerian football recently, Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, speaking to group of accredited global journalists for the FIFA World Cup in Luzhniki stadium in Russia, affirmed that Amaju Pinnick remains the only elected and recognised NFF president by FIFA. “The Nigeria Football Federation has a president and his name is Amaju Pinnick. FIFA is very clear about government interference in football,” Infantino affirmed.

He further noted that FIFA frowns at government interference in legal matters in football.

“Our stands, regulations are very clear that there should not be any government interference in the running and administration of football association of any country.

“If any external bodies thinks they can change it, then Nigeria stand the risk of been banned from football activities just like other countries,” the FIFA boss warned.

“We have a democratic

process at FIFA, it’s very clear cut and simple case as far as FIFA is concerned. We have made it clear to Nigeria and maybe you press can help us transmit the message clearer enough.”

In a swift response, Victor Iroele, senior special assistant on media to Chris Giwa led factioned NFF board debunked the treat of FIFA ban, adding that they have not gone against the rules of FIFA. “We call on Nigerians not to panic about the comment from FIFA President, Gianni Infantino as we have not gone outside the statutes of the Nigeria Football Federation

to address the present leadership impasse. The statutes brought us together in football and no single individual can be greater than the country,” the statement read.

“For the avoidance of doubt, FIFA letter dated June 5th, 2018 in paragraph three line four states:”…recourse to ordinary courts of law is prohibited unless specifically provided for in FIFA regulations and disputes within a member association shall be taken to an independent and duly constituted arbitration tribunal recognised under the rule of the Association, or confederation, or to CAS”

Why we are involved in GOtv Boxing Night – Bet King ...As ‘Joeboy’ vows to beat Ghanaian challenger and retain African title

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op betting firm, Bet King, has explained why it teamed up with pay television service provider, GOtv, to sponsor GOtv Boxing Night.

Speaking at a press conference to announce the 15th edition of the event on Tuesday, Neil Bothma, Chief Operating Officer of Bet King, said the company took the decision to support the event because boxing is a nondiscriminating sport that has the potential to take young people off the streets and teaches them discipline.

“Boxing is an equalizer in the sporting world. Anybody can win on any day. It is the same at Bet King; anybody can win on any day. By supporting boxing, Bet King can take the sport to many homes and teach young people discipline,” he said.

Reigning African Boxing Union (ABU) lightweight champion, Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph, has vowed to crush his Ghanaian challenger, Nathaniel Nukpe, when they clash in the title fight at GOtv Boxing Night 15 on Sunday, July 29.

The bout, which will hold at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo (formerly Liberty) Stadium in Ibadan, is the biggest fight on the night.

The champion boasted that Nukpe will leave Nigeria empty handed.

“This is is my first title defence and I will do everything to retain my title. Nukpe may come with his Kente, but will not leave Nigeria with my belt.

I will floor him. He’d not last the distance. Quote me,” raved Joe Boy. GOtv Boxing Night 15 will feature six other bouts across weight divisions.

These include the international the national challenge bout between ABU welterweight champion, Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi and old foe, Kazeem “Iberu” Ariyo; an international light middleweight challenge duel between the explosive Akeem “Dodo” Sadiku of Nigeria and Franc Houanvoegbe of Benin Republic as well as a national cruiserweight challenge clash, which will see Idowu “ID Cabasa” Okusote up against Michael “Lion Heart” Godwin.

Also in the lightweight division, Prince “Lion” Nwoye will take on the fast rising Ridwan “Scorpion” Oyekola. Vincent “Dada” Essien is billed to fight Segun “Showboy” Olalehin in a national light welterweight contest, while Daniel “Big Shark” Emeka and Sulaimon “Olags” Adeosun will slug it out in a heavily anticipated national light heavyweight clash.

The event, sponsored by GOtv and Bet King, will be beamed live on SuperSport in 47 African countries. The best boxer at the event will go home with a cash prize of N1 million alongside the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy.

Russia 2018: Dwight Yorke tips France for World Cup glory

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uperSport analyst, Dwight Yorke, who has been sharing his expert opinion on DStv and GOtv during the World Cup, has put his neck on the line by predicting victory for France in Sunday’s final.

The former Trinidad and Tobago captain will be on duty for the Russia 2018 showpiece match, with the build-up live on DStv and GOtv from 2pm, along with Andy Townsend and Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha.

Yorke believes that the French have enough quality to overcome Croatia and win a second world title.

“On paper, they are favorites and rightly so with the number of potential match winners in their squad when compared to their opponents. Pogba, Mbappe, Griezmann and Kante all have the ability to turn the game on its head in an instant and it’s the quality possessed by these

players that will see them win,” he said.

On their unconvincing run to the final, he said: “It’s the World Cup final and it doesn’t really matter how you get there so long as you get there. They never really hit top gear in the group stages

where they always squeaked through by the odd goal, but one always felt that they were just one gear away from overrunning their opponents,” he explained.

He, however, cautioned against writing off Croatia on the assumption that they’ll be

weary after having played three matches that went into extra time.

“People read too much into playing matches which have gone the distance of extra time and Croatia showed that against a much younger England side,

who were expected to run them ragged. The hunger and desire they displayed in that match showed they wanted it more.

“They’ve earned their right to contest Sunday’s final and have a really good chance of pulling an upset,” he said.

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NEW YOU CAN TRUST

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SUNDAY 15 JULY 2018

2019 and the theatre of war

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esperation for political power and the personalization of same, here in Nigeria are at the heart of the series of clearly avoidable ethnoreligious crises bedeviling the nation state till this day. Also to blame are the highly attractive apparatchiks of office. These are characterized by obscenely high pay package and the winner-takes-it-all mechanisms that place political appointees as demi-gods to be worshipped by the pauperized populace, rather than serve them. And when might is right, evil thrives, beginning of course, with the general elections.

From records, violence affected more than 120 of the nearly 600 presidential and parliamentary elections held around the world between 1985 and 2005. That is according to UC Berkeley researcher, Leonardo R. Arriola, who led a Social Science Matrix prospecting seminar focused on “Electoral Violence in Developing Countries”.

Amongst the African countries listed by Sara Birch and Muchlinski, in the Journal of Terrorism and Political Violence Nigeria leads the pack when it comes to escalating wave of electoral violence. Others are Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Ghana and Tanzania.

The bitter truth of the state of the nation today is that we are more divided than ever before, as the opinions of the citizenry are bifurcated along, political, ethnic and religious lines. All of a sudden, not a few members of the ruling party, including the morally bankrupt defectors and overtly corrupt others have donned on the toga of saints, as if they arrived Nigeria in 2014 from another planet!

Curiously too, not a few of those in opposition have some questions to answer, while similar culprits in the favoured fold enjoy the protection from the party’s mother wing. Yet, our affairs go beyond the wild wishes of the grieving wailers, or the musings of the mesmerized mindset of the slavish hailers, who never see anything wrong in our present predicament, including the unmitigated bloodletting!

But take it or leave it, our beloved nation is in a dire state, crying for urgent politico-economic rescue.

Here, impunity rules as king as there is scare regards for the sanctity of human life, as it is for the rule of law. An elected leader could therefore, appropriate billions of bail out funds and monthly allocations from the federation account to feather his nest while the mass of

unpaid workers groan on every blessed day in unfathomable agony. Yet, these same people cannot explain what they have done with security vote. That is even at a time the wave of insurgency sweeps across the land-from the Sahel savanna through the tropical forest down to the Atlantic shores.

No one has been able to tell the traumatized citizens who is really arming the Fulani herdsmen and bandits that have turned the once peaceful states of Plateau, Adamawa, Benue, Taraba across to Zamfara into the killing fields of our dear nation.

The situation is worsened by the enormous political powers vested on the executive arm of government. And in a weird scenario where military dictators of yesterday have suddenly metamorphosed into darlings of democracy today, what we have are the political aberrations that have come to define our experience since 1999.

Similarly, court orders are disregarded as will as security chiefs turn deaf ears to the Senate’s several invitations for questioning; to fathom what has gone wrong, and of course the way forward! Who cares if the Zaki Zakis and Dasukis rot on in jail so far someone’s ego is expressly massaged. Who cares if the once beloved food basket states have become the theatres of bloodletting?

We should not be surprised therefore, that Nigeria, an enormously blessed country which should be the leading light in the comity of nations, on economic matters, especially on the African continent is now home to the world’s poorest people, even as it also stands ‘tall’ as one of the fastest growing indebted nations. As usual, there are always excuses for failure, blaming the past governments for our present woes, or call for more patience.

But stranger than this, is when those paid to protect law and order become the violators of same. That brings to mind, the recent maltreatment of the outgoing Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose at the hands of tear gas spewing policemen while on a campaign train with supporters of the PDP candidate.

This has little or nothing to do with Fayose as a person, even if you like to call him a vocal extremist or an irredentist. The misguided physical attack on him has to do more with the gross desecration of that exalted office of a state governor. It could

AYO OYOZEBAJE Baje is Nigerian first food technologist in the media and author of ‘DRUMBEATS OF DEMOCRACY’

Nigeria belongs to us all and the time to pull the ship of state from capsizing over the precipice into the stormy waters of inequity, nepotism, tribal bigotry, religious intolerance and political tsunami is now, not tomorrow.

We cannot afford another civil war

have been any other of his colleagues.

In that wise, the recent protest held at the main gate to the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, led by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus is a welcome development. The hope is that the matter would go for judicial interpretation with the culprits made to face the full wrath of the law, to prevent a recurrence.

Said Secondus: “We are aware and we have been reliably informed that INEC and a section of the security agencies are preparing to rig the election in Ekiti, that is why Ekiti today has been militarized and policed. Over 30,000 policemen are in Ekiti. The citizens of Ekiti are afraid, they are traumatised, they are harassed and they are being guarded not to come out of their homes”.

If democracy truly belongs to the people, then all efforts should be geared towards ensuring that the people’s votes count. The increasing fear is that no matter where the pendulum swings, there may be the devil’s alternative, with a groundswell of protests to trail the results. So, what should we as concerned Nigerians be doing?

It is high time that the coterie of civil society groups, political and public affairs analysts and social commentators say it as it is, by speaking Truth to Power. That places the burden of sustained political re-engineering on their shoulders. They have to enlighten the citizenry, millions of who know little or nothing of the dictates of democracy, that they indeed should be the drivers of the vehicles of governance.

That they should not kowtow to the whims and caprices of their so called elected representatives.

Nigeria belongs to us all and the time to pull the ship of state from capsizing over the precipice into the stormy waters of inequity, nepotism, tribal bigotry, religious intolerance and political tsunami is now, not tomorrow. We cannot afford another civil war!

Quick Takes

Off the Cuff

Femi Adesina’s uppercut to bewildered folks

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ince Wednesday last week when the Special Adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, urged Nigerians, particularly those in the states that are vulnerable to the herdsmen attack, to choose between releasing their land for the Federal Government-proposed ranches or be killed by herdsmen, Nigerians have continued to scream “et tu Adesina”.

They had expected Adesina, being a pastor and from the South to be emotive and show some level of understanding.

Adesina was speaking on an AIT morning programme, and in response to a question on ancestral attachments to land, said: “Ancestral attachment? You can only have ancestral attachment when you are alive. If you are talking about ancestral attachment, if you are dead, how does the attachment matter?”

He further said: “The National Economic Council that recommended ranching didn’t just legislate it, there were recommendations. So, if your state genuinely does not have land for ranching, it is understandable; not every state will have land for ranches. But where you have land and you

can do something, please do for peace. What will the land be used for if those who own it are dead at the end of the day?”

In the estimation of many Nigerians, his observation was very insensitive.

Some critics insist that Adesina’s barefaced utterance in this regard is very dangerous given the country’s current situation.

A lot of meanings have been read from his statement and many believe that there is need for him to apply restraint going forward, in the interest of the country.

A group known as International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law (Intersociety) accused Adesina of insensitivity and escalating the crises by his utterances.

The group also deplored Adesina’s recent statement on 28th June 2018, comparing deaths under former President Goodluck Jonathan administration (2010-2015)/Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007) and his boss’, Muhammadu Buhari (29th May 2015date (June 2018).

It said: “Yet, Mr. Adesina did not provide answers

to the following questions: (a) how many other defenseless Nigerians did Yoruba citizens kill on account of Obasanjo’s Presidency?; (b) how many other defenseless Nigerians did Ijaw citizens kill on account of Jonathan’s Presidency?; (c) which ethno-religious section of Nigeria have been responsible for non State actor killings in Nigeria: Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen and Zamfara Bandits?; (d) how many Christian armed opposition groups are there in Nigeria and how many of the death statistics are masterminded by Christians in Nigeria?; (e)Boko Haram declared war against Christians and Nigerian Government of Goodluck Jonathan; killing thousands of Christians and other collateral Muslims and destroying several Government facilities; are terror Fulani Herdsmen also at war with Buhari Government or solely against Nigerian Christians and their sacred places of worship?”

A few observers however, rationalised, saying he has to do his job, anyway. According to them, “It is either he does his job or ship out; there’s no pretence.”

N500m

This is the amount of money that the Tony Elumelu Foundation donated to support the Delta State Wealth Creation programmes

Rolling stones The breakaway last week of a group that calls itself “Reformed All Progressives Congress” (rAPC) did not come as a surprise to watchers of political happenings in the country. Such characters are in every party to make profit and when the milk is no longer flowing, they check out. Talk of portfolio politicians.

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