BusinessDay 23 Sep 2018

BDSUNDAY BUSINESS DAY

Equities gain N78 bn as investors await MPC’s decisions on rates

p. 34

Again, contemporary African art draws global attention in London p. 36

??

Sunday 23 September 2018 Market & Commodities Monitor Brent Oil

5yr Bond

$78.75

0.09 15.13%

Gold

10yr Bond

$1,210.10

-0.01 15.24%

Cocoa

$2,202.00

20yr Bond

0.03 15.40%

inside Ongoing projects in South East: Truth vs lies p. 12-13

p. 40-41

Vol 1, No. 235 N300

Osun awaits new governor As poll records massive voter turnout INEC, security agencies commended over peaceful conduct

RAZAQ AYINLA, AKINREMI FEYISIPO & BOLADELE BAMIGBOLA, In Osun

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n a matter of hours, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be presenting to the public the winner of the gubernatorial election held in Osun State yesterday.

Our correspondents on ground report of a seamless exercise that made nonsense of some permutations of an expected violence-

ridden poll.

Apart from huge voter turnout across the 3,010 polling units and 755 polling points spread across the three senatorial districts and 30 local governments areas of the state, the security personnel conducted themselves in a most professional manner that has won them immediate commendation.

The exercise, however, witnessed some alleged new ways of vote-buying as our correspondents report of some parties that

engaged in veiled electoral fraud of collecting names of voters who would be settled later.

It was gathered that prior arrangements had been made and agreement reached on who such voters would vote for and the agreed compensation afterwards.

A total of 48 parties participated in the election. The frontline candidates are Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress

P. 2

Nigerian politics not for true believers – Rev. Oshokoya p. 18

We are on a mission to expose Nigerian youths to global opportunities - Fayehun p. 20-21

Gboyega Oyetola, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Osun State governorship election, casts his vote at Oloti polling unit 002, LA School Popo, Iragbiji, yesterday.

Ademola Adeleke, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the election, casts his vote at Abogunde polling 009, Ward 02, Ede North LGA, yesterday.

Pics by RAZAQ AYINLA

Diversification key to economic development – Makarfi Ambode mum on strategies, eyes on primary election p. 27

Zebulon Agomuo

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hmed Makarfi, a former governor of Kaduna State and presidential aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has said

that to arrest the endemic poverty in Nigeria and return the country on the path of growth, government must be seen to be serious with the programme of economic diversification.

Makarfi said that diversification must not be made a political stunt to hoodwink the

citizens, adding that government must ensure that all impediments to realizing the dream are removed.

The former national chairman of the PDP made the observation during an exclusive

p. 3

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Sunday 23 September 2018

OsunElection Osun awaits new governor Continued from Page 1 A total of 48 parties participated in the election. The frontline candidates are Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party, Iyiola Omisore of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Moshood Adeoti of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), and Fatai Akinbade of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The state has a total of 1,682,495 registered voters, while some 400,000 permanent voter cards remained uncollected as at Friday.

Early arrival of staff, materials The election began on a smooth note as early as 8am across all polling units in the three senatorial districts as main and ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and voting materials arrived early. Accreditation and voting started early as well.

BDSUNDAY visits to Osogbo, Sekona, Ede, Ikire, Iwo, Ile-Ife, OdeOmu,Edunabon,Modakeke,Ikirun, Okuku, Iragbiji and Ilesa showed that accreditation and voting began early as the electorate trooped out en masse to vote for the candidates of their choice. Thousands of residents defied the early morning rainfall and walked long distances to their various polling units to perform their civic duty.

INEC official at polling unit 1, Ward 3, Ifon, Oloru Local Government Area, Alawode Abidemi, said officials arrived polling centres with the election materials as early as 6:30am, while accreditation of voters began exactly at 8am at the polling units. She said the card-reading machines were working perfectly.

International and local observers who spoke with our corre-

Rauf Aregbesola, Osun State governor, casting his vote at Ward 8, Unit 01, Ifofin, Ilesha East LGA, yesterday.

spondents at different locations attributed the large turnout and interest in the election by residents to the politically-charged environment and the political awareness of majority of the locals.

Massive deployment of security personnel Combined security forces comprising officers and men of the Army, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Customs

Service (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), among others were generously deployed to man and monitor the electoral process.

They were seen on major roads, highways, as well as major entry and exit routes in the state.

Antics to disqualify me failed – Adeleke Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of the PDP, said he was sure

A voter thumbprints in preparation to cast his ballot at Unit 03, Timi of Ede Place, Ede South Local Government Area.

to emerge the winner provided the election was free and fair.

Addressing journalists after voting at Unit 9, Ward 2, Abogunde in Ede at about 8.05am, yesterday, Adeleke said he was very optimistic that he would win the election.

“They tried to make sure that I did not contest this election. I am qualified, I have all it takes,” he said.

Adeleke said the various allegations against him were false, adding that they were intended to frustrate him out of the race.

“They are all afraid of me because they all know that if I contest in this election and if it is a free and fair election, I am going to win,” he said.

Oyetola confident of victory Gboyega Isiaka Oyetola, candidate of the APC, commended the electoral process.

Oyetola, who voted around 10:15am at Oloti polling unit at ward 02, LA Primary School, Popo, Iragbiji, Boripe LGA, said he was satisfied with the process as well as the peaceful conduct of voters.

Addressing journalists after he voted, Adetola said he was sure of victory.

“I am sure of winning this election. I have worked so hard and my predecessor has laid a good foundation by touching all areas of human endeavour, be it education, health, agriculture or road construction. I am going on with all these achievements. There will be continuity of all the good work that Governor Aregbesola has done,” he said.

Omisore: Electoral materials insufficient in Osogbo At Moore Ward 1, Unit 003, Iyiola Omisore, the governorship candidate of the SDP, voted around 11:25am.

Asked to assess the poll, Omisore complained about alleged insufficient electoral materials in some polling centres in Osogbo, noting that malfunctioning card readers in some voting centres in Ife also affected the exercise.

He urged electorate not to sell their votes, adding that once they collected money before performing their civic right, they would not have right to challenge discrepancy, when whoever is elected through the process misbehaves in office.

Election credible, says ADC candidate Fatai Akinbade, candidate of the African Democratic Congress, described the election in the state as credible, saying he was satisfied with the general conduct of the election.

Akinbade, who voted at 10:35am at Ward 3, Unit 123, Ogbagba, Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area, warned that if the situation changed, some candidates could contest the outcome of the election.

He said with the peaceful and free and fair conduct of the election, candidates of the different

political parties would have no choice but to accept the result.

While expressing confidence that he would win the election, Akinbade commended INEC for the peaceful and orderly conduct of the election.

“Generally, it has been hitchfree. Everybody is conducting themselves well. Everybody is doing what they are supposed to do,” he said.

He said he had not seen any vote-buying, adding, “I believe the election is going to be credible.”

“Talking about the security situation, the moment everybody does what they are supposed to do, there will be less work for the security operatives. It is like they do not have much to do here,” he said.

INEC, security personnel receive commendations Some election observers who spoke with BDSUNDAY commended INEC for the improvement made so far in the electoral process.

Rauf Aregbesola, Osun state governor, and his wife Sherifat, voted at their Ifofin Ward 8, Unit 01, Ilesha.

Speaking to newsmen after voting, Aregbesola commended INEC for conducting a hitch-free exercise.

He also commended the electorate for the large turnout.

Babatunde Olatunji, the lawmaker representing Ife North State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the governorship poll in the area.

He spoke at Edunabon Ward 1 after monitoring the exercise in the area.

“So far, the process is peaceful and people are excited to vote. Materials arrived on time, security personnel were also on ground. I’m optimistic of free and fair election, devoid of any form of violence. We are winning,” Olatunji said.

Joe Okei-Odumakin, president, Women Arise, commended the high level of professionalism displayed by security operatives during the election.

Odumakin, whose NGO deployed 100 observers for the election, spoke with newsmen in Ile-Ife. She said unlike what was experienced during the governorship poll in Ekiti, security agents in the Osun election, though very efficient, were very civil in discharging their duties.

“Unlike what we experienced in Ekiti, security operatives working during Osun poll have been so far very civil. No intimidation, no harassment. They have been very efficient too. We hope the situation will remain the same till the end of the exercise,” she said.

On the turnout, Odumakin commended the electorate across the state for coming out in large number to exercise their

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News Kumuyi, Utomi task youths on entrepreneurship, leadership qualities …As ‘special gathering of youths’ records over 30,000 participants Seyi John Salau

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he General Superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Folorunsho Kumuyi has advised the youth to be positive in life, even in the face of seemingly challenges.

Kumuyi urged them to confront their challenges, emphasising that it is the only way to achieve their dream in life.

The cleric gave the advice yesterday while addressing the youth at a one-day conference with the theme: ‘The Gathering of Unstoppable Achievers’ which took place at Deeper Life Bible Church, International Headquarters, Gbagada, Lagos.

He urged them to look to the brighter side of life, and to forget whatever that may have happened to them before now, which they thought could permanently affect their lives.

“We are not here to fill the space of just to have a programme for the sake of it, we are here to make sure you become unstoppable, unbendable, undeniable, unbreakable and unconquerable achiever,” he said.

According to him, the youth must be “molded, mended, motivated, modelled, monitored and matured” into becoming an unconquerable achiever.

Kumuyi also said that any youth aspiring to become somebody in life must be hopeful.

“I know that in our country today despite the challenges confronting the nation, it is not everybody that belongs to the school

L-R: Dr. Peter Elias, national youth coordinator; Pastor William F. Kumuyi, general superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry; Prof. Pat Utomi, guest speaker, at a one-day ‘special gathering of youths’ organised by Deeper Life Bible Church, in Lagos, yesterday.

of thought that there is no way to move forward.

“If we just have a few people that believe that we can move forward and they are willing to pay the price through sacrifice and love, I believe there is light at the end of the tunnel for the nation” he said.

Kumuyi however, added that people must not base everything on hope without proper planning to do something worthwhile because God has given everyone the heart, mind and intelligence to seek the way forward.

He advanced the importance of having team spirit of people of like mind who are willing to sacrifice time, talents and resources with a view to moving the nation forward as one of the quick solutions to the problems in the country.

He also called on Christians to rely on God and deviate from the attitude of using the weapon of oppressor because he believes as Christians, “we could make our mark for our country and for the rest of the world”.

Kumuyi said he premised the theme of the conference with the

Diversification key to ...

Continued from page 1 interview with BDSUNDAY. “The key to economic development is diversification. We can’t continue to rely on oil and we keep on talking about diversification and not heading anywhere. The insecurity that has pervaded many parts of the country is also reducing agricultural output. We can do a lot here to make agriculture a yearround venture and not seasonal as it has been in this country,” Makarfi said.

“The issue of regulations which inhibit small and medium enterprises must be looked into. There are too many of them; and it is not in the interest of our economy.

We must create a friendly business environment in our nation.

We must drastically reduce these regulations and double taxation so that businesses can thrive.

“There is so much molestation going on by different government

institutions that also hinder growth in this sector. We must improve infrastructure for businesses to grow, not just the road; the rail, the airport, seaports. They must work efficiently so that you don’t lose the returns you are expected to make.

The margin can be lost through demurrage accumulation,” he said.

Makarfi

Makarfi, who promised to recognize the role of the private sector in his administration if voted into power, recommended possible lowering of taxes.

“Taxes are disincentives. As a matter of fact, you can lower the taxes and get more revenue. Efficient assessment and collection mechanism must be put in place to ensure that government does not lose genuine revenues.

“We will collaborate with the players in the private sector. We should be partners; sit down with them; they have their own input to make. We would not say that we know it all or we know it more than they do. We would sit down with them and come out with programmes that will make them real active players in our government,” he said.

Full interview on pages 24-25

youth on the fact that he believed that in the impressible minds of young people are potentials waiting to be discovered and unleashed to greatness.

“I see a great majority of this number disillusioned and unmindful of the great potentials God has endowed them with which often make them fall prey to ungodly and anti-social tendencies and unscrupulous so-called role models and instructors who may take undue advantage of their simplicity and ignorance.

“It is also unfortunate that many

of our youths are engaged in manifold damning activities that are sure to destroy their potentials and stop them from reaching and achieving their God-given goals and dreams.

“The seemingly ungovernable space of the social media has sadly become the chasm, so to speak, for many youths,” he said.

He added that for youths to be what they are supposed to be, the Deeper Christian Life Ministry under his leadership has for over the last four decades been in the vanguard of empowering and re-directing youths towards imbibing greater values, creativity, entrepreneurship and leadership skills by engaging them regularly in conferences, worships, seminars, trainings, mentorship and other youth-focused projects such as Success Academy for Youths, among others.

The Guest Speaker at the event, Pat Utomi, a professor, challenged the youths to recognise the fact that they are future of the country with ability to overcome challenges, as he pointed to two-way forward: “entrepreneurship and good leadership”.

“As 21st Century youth of this country, you can make Nigeria rise again but this can only be achieved when we have true leaders who know how to address the pains of the people and leaders should know that this is the time to change course.

“To be public office holders with low capacity of understanding of problems and how to solve them is truly a disservice to our country,” he said.

Osun poll: Parties adopt new ways of vote-buying Iniobong Iwok with agency report

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ajor political parties in yesterday’s Osun State governorship election devised new methods of voter inducement.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier last week banned the use of mobile phones around the polling booths to forestall vote buying.

But findings by BDSUNDAY reveal that the new method in several polling units across many local government areas in the state was for party agents to write names of electorates after they might have voted in

favour of the party, while the voters would be paid at a different location.

Several party agents at the polling units were reportedly seen holding a notebook with a pen, which were used in writing names.

“The names they are writing is for them to pay people who vote for them later at a different location. The people know where to meet them. I really don’t know how much they pay, but I know we would be paid; some of them are paying N2,000, others N1,000 or N5,000,” said a voter who would not be named.

However, security personnel and INEC officials were seen warning parties against inducing voters around the poling units.

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Sunday 23 September 2018

News

Kwankwaso: My structure will give me victory over Buhari Iniobong Iwok

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majorcontender for the presidential ticket of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said that his strong political structure spread across the country will give him victory over incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari in next year’s presidential election if he clinches the PDP ticket.

He stated this at a meeting with Lagos State PDP leaders and delegates at the party’s secretariat, Ikeja.

Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State and a serving senator, said his political structure, the Kwankwasiyya Movement, has the numerical strength to win the 2019 general election in the party’s favour.

He said that most of the members of the Kwakwasiyya Movement had defected with him from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP and were mobilising across the country toward his victory,

stressing that the movement would work for the victory of the party irrespective of the result of the primaries.

“I have the structure to emerge victorious in the election and most of the members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement across the country were members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some were members of the PDP but many of them have returned to the PDP and are ready to vote in their numbers in 2019,” Kwankwaso said.

“We were very strategic and deliberate in ensuring that we are well organised at the ward levels and I have instructed the chairman of the Kwankwasiyya Movement to get the details of our members in Lagos and integrate them into the party so that we can have maximum impact in the elections.

“I am one of those who had the opportunity to serve the country at the state and federal level and, therefore, I know the politics at every level. I have been in the APC and PDP and I am in a good position to compare the two and know which is better,”

he said. Kwankwaso, who recently returned to the PDP, a party he is a founding member of but dumped to join a coalition which gave birth to the APC in 2013, promised to help reposition the PDP in Lagos State ahead of the 2019 general elections.

He said that the votes from Lagos and Kano States would determine the winner of the 2019 presidential election, stressing that he was confident that he would win Kano State with over a million votes.

“We are here to add value to the party in Lagos.

We know the situation in Lagos, that we have not been able to have a PDP government in the state since 1999, but we would work for that to change,” Kwankwaso said.

“Lagos and Kano have a lot of similarities, especially in terms of population. In the last census, it was revealed that Kano has more population than Lagos and because election is a game of numbers, that is why these two states are very important especially when it pertains to elections.

“In 2015, we saw how

2019: BIM-MASSOB advises members to avoid being as thugs UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia.

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head of the 2019 general election, Anselem Ogbonna, coordinator of the Abia Central zone of BIM-MASSOB, has warned members against being used as political thugs by some desperate politicians.

In a release made available to journalists in Umuahia, Abia State and signed by Ogbonna, it also warned members to avoid hate speeches, which could lead to violence, thereby jeopardising the nonviolence Biafra struggle of its leader, Ralph Uwazuruike.

The group further cautioned members to avoid political campaigns and other political gathering which would only succeed in misleading them.

“I call on our members to distant themselves from any campaign or political

gathering because there will never be a time something good will reach them through some of these politicians.

“They should avoid any campaign or political gathering; mind their activities in the struggle through nonviolence, because it is their activities that will speak for them, Ogbonna said.

“They should stop following some of these politicians, because following them is like following Satan. There is never a time; Satan will give you good direction. They should not compromise with them; they should compose themselves and do what is required of them. You will never ever get anything good from some of these politicians, rather you will be forced to end your journey as a political thug,” he warned.

He counseled members to be a mirror that portrays the good image of Biafra in mind wherever they are,

describing nonviolence posture as the strongest weapon to disarm or crush an enemy.

Ogbonna, who pointed out that Nigeria and many other countries, had failed because of violence, further advised members to be good ambassadors of nonviolence wherever they are, so that people around them would start seeing them as different organ.

“Dissociate yourselves from anything that can lead you to violence. Avoid hate speeches because hate speeches can lead to violence. Always ensure that the strenuous efforts of our leader, Ralph Uwazuruike to get us freedom through nonviolence does not go in vain” “Let us always ensure that people around us emulate us, so that other nations will come to learn from us. Let us remember that a nonviolence nation is a corrupt-free nation”, he advised members.

Youth choir performing at a one-day ‘special gathering of youths’ organised by Deeper Life Church, in Lagos, yesterday.

Kano produced the highest votes for APC. In my senatorial district alone, we got over 700,000 votes and from then till now, the Kwankwasiyya Movement has grown to over 2 million members in the state.

“All of the members of

the Kwankwasiyya Movement would without exception vote for the PDP in the 2019 elections no matter the circumstances. Whatever direction Kano takes, the rest of Nigeria would follow because of the ripple effects.

“We started at the grass-

roots to build our structure and I am very convinced that giving me the presidential ticket is as good as winning the election. All the aspirants in the PDP are qualified but the reality is that the number of aspirants shows the quality of the party,” he said.

Yagba political bloc backs Kano-based businessman for House of Rep Adeola Ajakaiye, Kano

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ey political leaders in Yagba Federal Constituency of Kogi State, who are working to entrench the political dominance of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the country, weekend stormed the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, in solidarity with Elder Leke Abejide, who is vying for his constituency’s House of Representatives slot, in 2019 election.

The event, which was organised solely for the aspirant to submit the Nomination Form he purchased in respect of the National Assembly contest, was used to also showcase to the party’s National Leadership, the recent gains recorded in the Constituency, through the initiative of the aspirant.

Yagba Federal Constituency, whose people are part of the Okun Yoruba of Kogi State, existing in three local government areas of Yagba East, Yagba West and Mo-

pa-Moru, one of the most neglected segments of the Nigerian nation, is still lacking tangible Federal and State Governments presence.

The clear lack of government presence in the area is believed to be the driving factor pushing the people of the Constituency to seek an alternative political party, different from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Addressing a large crowd of supporters, who were at the party’s secretariat located close to FERMA office, in the Federal Capital, Abejide, who is the chief executive officer (CEO) of one of Nigeria`s leading clearing and forwarding firms, said his aspiration was borne out of the need to liberate his people from the state of abject material poverty ravaging them.

Abejide, who recently decamped with hundreds of supporters from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the ADC, lamented what was described as “misrule, vision-less, and poverty generation” fostered

on the people of Kogi State by the APC-led government.

“My supporters and I are here today to submit the Nomination Form which we bought in respect of the Yagba Federal Constituency`s slot in the House of Representative, which by the grace of God I am vying for.

“You will recall that on August 4th, this year, thousands of my supporters and myself decamped from the ruling APC, in a carnival-like political ceremony held in Isanlu, the headquarters Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State.

“We made this move because of the unprogressive political environment being fostered on the good people of Kogi State by the Governor Yahaya Bello administration of the APC. This everybody knows has reduced most people in the state to destitute.

“Jobs are not being created, and many of those working before were suddenly declared ghost workers, this has led to the death of countless number of people, particularly, in Yagba land.

Sunday 23 September 2018

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BDSUNDAY 5

News Saraki says he, not Buhari, has capacity to revive Nigeria

Kwara govt is committed to empower artisans – Governor’s aide

...as Wike urges NASS to force Electoral Act

SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin

Ignatius Chukwu

S

enate President and frontline presidential aspirant now in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bukola Saraki, has told Nigerians that he, not Buhari, has capacity to turn Nigeria around.

He said in Bayelsa State that Buhari was not competent to help Nigeria.

In Port Harcourt, he told Gov Nyesom Wike that he has the capacity to set the country on the path of growth, unity and reconciliation.

“The country is in dire need of a leader that will provide unity. A leader that will represent everybody from whatever part of the country that you come from. I think I am suited to provide that leadership “, the Senate President said.

This is as the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike urged the National Assembly to pass the Electoral Act and demand immediate assent from the President.

The two leaders spoke at the Government House Port Harcourt on Thursday during the visit by the Saraki Campaign Organisation to the Rivers State

G

overnor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has been speaking strongly in Port Harcourt, alleging that the presidency was behind some presidential aspirants in the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

He even said some security chiefs had attempted to choose an aspirant he would support.

Wike in another interview said he had been under pressure to be a running mate (later vice president) to one

Wike

Governor.

Saraki said that the country is in dire need of a leader that will provide unity, carry all groups along and provide a platform of justice and fairplay.

“This is a job that requires all of us to be united and focused. Yes, we have individual ambitions, but at any given time, I am ready to sacrifice that ambition for the party.

“I will continue to appeal to the governors that during

this critical time, we must stay united. We must stay strong for the masses who depend on us to rescue this country “, Saraki said.

Senate President Bukola Saraki commended Governor Wike for the leadership he provided for the PDP at its most critical time.

Responding, Governor Wike said that the Electoral Act should be in place for the processes of the 2019 elections to be legally kickstarted. He said: “As leader

of the National Assembly, do all all you can for the Electoral Act to be passed.

“Once the Electoral Act is passed, if it is not assented to, I urge you people not to pass the INEC Budget because INEC budget is based on the Electoral Act. I urge that these things must be taken together “.

Governor Wike urged PDP delegates from across Nigeria not to elect a desperate person as the Presidential Aspirant of the party.

Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Rivers State governor, (r) and Bukola Saraki, senate president at the Government House Port Harcourt on Thursday during the visit by the Saraki Campaign Organisation to the Rivers State Governor.

O

lawale Kazeem Ol a n i p e k u n , the special assistant to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Artisans Related Matters, has assured members that the empowerment and other benefits that the Congress is agitating for would soon be attended to.

Olanipekun, who gave the assurance in a special prayer, organised by Artisan Congress in the state to mark the anniversary of his birthday, urged members of the Congress to intensify their continuous prayer for the leaders so as to enjoy more dividends of democracy.

He , h o w e v e r, c o m mended the Kwara State Ho u s e o f As s e m b l y (KWHA) over the passage of the Public Procurement Bill, saying that with the passage of the bill to establish the State Public Procurement Agency, the day of joy has come for members of the Artisans Congress in the state.

According to him, it will not only ensure fair

pricing, standards, probity, accountability and transparency in public procurement process but will also aid formulation and implementation policies for continuous utilisation of human and material resources in the execution of public contracts for sustainable development.

He added that the agency will be able to monitor the price of tendered items and keep a database of standard prices as well as coordinate local content performance in public contracts in the state, just as he implored members of the Artisans Congress to use the golden opportunity to showcase their competency, professionalism and expertise whenever any contract is awarded to them for execution.

Olanipekun also promised that the giant step by government would not be regretted as Artisans in the state are ready to contribute their quota in ensuring sustainable growth and development in the state.

He therefore, thanked members of the congress for the kind gesture and their continuous support.

Wike spits fire, turns down VP offer • Says he has not endorsed any presidential aspirant • he never asked to host PDP convention • he will resist EFCC plot to the end Ignatius Chukwu aspirant or the other but that his job as governor and love for Rivers State were stronger at this point in time.

He said he was thus not vying for the position of Vice President of the country as being speculated in certain quarters ahead of the 2019 elections.

Governor Wike said though some of the presidential aspirants seeking his support have offered him the position of Vice President in the course of political consultations, he insisted that the interest of Rivers State is paramount.

Speaking in an interview at the Government House Port Harcourt, Wike said: “There are aspirants who have promised me the position of the Vice President, but I said I will not seek the position.

“Not even in the dream will I seek that position at this point. I am a first term governor and the National Chairman of PDP is from my

state and the South-South.

“These are mere allegations. People can carry rumours, but everything I will do, will be in the interest of Rivers State. Nobody can use Rivers State as a tool. They did that in the past, but not anymore.”

Governor Wike said that the decision to host the October 5/6, 2018 National Convention in Port Harcourt was initiated without his knowledge, adding that he eventually attended a meeting where governors and presidential aspirants ratified the resolution.

He expressed surprise that a few presidential aspirants who never opposed the decision to host the National Convention in Port Harcourt, have turned around to sponsor reports against the venue of the convention.

He said: “I am shocked

that a few presidential aspirants who never opposed Port Harcourt as a venue would begin the sponsorship of media attacks on the venue of the convention, which was not initiated by us.

“When we say that there are moles amongst the presidential aspirants, this is one of the manifestations. A decision that is collectively taken, is being contested through clandestine sponsorship.

“But if they want, the National Convention can be held at Maiduguri, Yola, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano or any other city. A presidential aspirant that would lose, would lose.

“All the national delegates that will vote at the National Convention will emerge from the different local government areas of the country and from the statutory delegates list. None will be

elected in Port Harcourt.

Therefore, it is uncharitable to attempt to create the impression that hosting it in Port Harcourt will influence the outcome”.

Asked to comment on the Lagos State political rift between Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his godfather, Governor Wike advised him to resist the godfather.

He said: “If it is correct that the godfather is against Ambode, I will tell him (Ambode) to resist it. I will tell him to promote the interest of his state. Godfatherism is not good. It negates development. “ He said that in Rivers State, the immediate past governor sold state assets to his business partner, only to turn around to anoint the business partner to contest for the governorship position of the state.

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News

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s the political landscape in Akwa Ibom takes a new turn following the defection of Godswill Akpabio from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), more groups have thrown their weight behind Governor Udom Emmanuel over his second term bid.

One of the such groups is Afe Annang, the supreme socio cultural organisation in Ikot Ekpene senatorial district for the Annang people who have assured the governor that he should be distracted by the recent defections in the state.

The group spoke when they visited the governor by the Itai Afe Annang IV, Okuku Pius Effiong Eside 111 at the Government House, Uyo. Okuku Esideh said that Afe Annang was conscious that those who had occupied the governorship position from Uyo and Ikot Ekpene Senatorial Districts served the state for two terms of eight years individually, stressing that there was no reason to change the arrangement as it concerns Eket Senatorial District in the present political situation in

More groups back Gov. Emmanuel’s second term bid ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo the state.

Esideh, whose address was read by Lambert Udoh stated that the socio-cultural organisation has noted with dismay the recent political scenario in the state emphasizing, “We wish to state without any equivocation, that Annang nation is still solidly behind you.

“We cannot forget in a hurry, how Afe Annang toiled and pleaded with our good brothers from Ibibio and Oron nations for power shift/rotation among the three Senatorial Districts and that was how Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District was able to produce Chief Godswill Akpabio as Governor for eight years after Obong Victor Attah had completed his two terms.

“We wish to state categorically that the annang

Emmanuel

people do strongly support your continuation agenda to serve Akwa Ibom for a second term of four years at the expiration of your current tenure in 2019. Be rest assured that the Annang nation is solidly behind you to achieve your Divine Mandate”. The Itai Afe Annang expressed confidence that the Governor has the proven capacity to face the chal-

lenges ahead, explaining that they were delighted to note that Emmanuel’s gubernatorial campaign was anchored on God. He commended the Governor for successfully piloting the affairs of the state within the last three and a half years acknowledging that his pragmatic leadership and development strides won their admiration .

While rolling out the numerous achievements of the Governor Emmanuel-led administration, the royal father stated, “’we note with admiration your industrialization policy evidenced by the establishment of numerous factories, new appointments of teachers into Primary and Secondary Schools, prompt payment of salaries and allowances up to date, payment of WAEC fees for students in Secondary Schools and payment of arreas of pensions and gratuities to pensioners”.

Quality of training in Anchor University high – dons Seyi John Salau

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nstructors and participants from Africa and beyond rose from a 3-day International Conference held in Anchor University, Lagos (AUL) with excitement and appreciation to the organisers.

The conference with the theme; ‘Basic and Advanced Times Series Analysis: Theory, Practice and Programming’ from September 1114, 2018, was jointly hosted

by Anchor University and International Society for Business & Industrial Statistics (ISBIS).

Speaking at the end of the training, Luis Alberiko

Gil-Alana, a professor and instructor with ISBIS and a Prof of Econometrics & Quantitative Methods at the University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain, expressed his delight at the quality programme and logistics put in place for the conference by AUL. “If I have to compare the quality of this conference with the ones I’ve attended in Africa before now, and this includes South Africa, Benin, Kenya and Rwanda, I will say Anchor University organised the best so far. I was treated to a unique experience on this Campus,” he said.

The second ISBIS instructor at the conference who also doubled as an Associate

Professor of Econometrics at Strathmore University, Nairobi, Prof Robert Mudida, shared a similar view.

“It is almost impossible to believe that Anchor University is less than two years old. The organised system on the Campus and the orderliness are amazing. I am not surprised that these have positively reflected on the quality of the conference,” Mudiba said.

Apart from the instructors, participants from countries across Africa were also upbeat with what they experienced at the conference.

One of the participants, Forster Shitsi, a lecturer from the Department of Banking

L-R: Prof. Robert Mudida (Kenya), Prof. Joseph Afolayan (VC, AUL), Abimbola Olulesi (Ag. Registrar, AUL), Prof. Alberiko Gil-Alana (Spain), Olawale Awe (AUL) and Dr. Olarenwaju Shittu (UI) during the opening ceremony of the conference at AUL.

and Finance with Marshalls University, Ghana, commended the quality of the conference and described the infrastructure in AUL as massive, considering that the University was established less than two years ago.

Balogun Damilola, from the Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Bowen University, Nigeria, believed she had more than she hoped for at the conference.

“I am happy I got what I paid for at this conference.

The standard and the quality of training made it a rich experience for me,” she said.

Also sharing her experience at the conference, Adebayo Adepoju, a lecturer in the Department of Statistics, University of Ibadan, said though she’s been to many private Universities in her 20 years lecturing experience, Anchor University’s serene learning environment is an exceptional one. She also rated the quality of the conference as par with other international conferences anywhere.

Earlier during the opening ceremony, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Afolayan had encouraged the participants to make the best of the training, saying time series analysis has a lot to offer in academic research and enquiries which should help us understand our world better.

“Feel free on our Campus as everything required to give you the best experience is already put in place,” he assured.

‘Why Ajegunle, usually regarded as ghetto, is peaceful’ Jeremiah Mbata

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esidentsofAjegunle have described the area as the most peaceful town in Lagos despite being touted as a slum. The residents say that the crime rate in Ajegunle is very low, compared to other areas. The police in the area confirm the residents’ comments that there is little crime in Ajegunle, a community which has 335 streets and houses over 575,000 people.

A resident, identified as Elias Abon, who operates a ‘baba Ijebu’ gambling kiosk, attested to the fact that Ajegunle is a peaceful area. “I acknowledge that there is relative peace presently in Ajegunle. Ajegunle is a peaceful area,” he said.

Another resident in the community, simply identified as Gloria, while speaking to BDSUNDAY said: “I believe there is relative peace in Ajegunle. Whenever there is dispute over something, people come to settle it. This shows care which is required for peace.”

On why there is relative peace in Ajegunle, another resident attributed it to the communal living environment which enhances understanding and peace.

Despite numerous confirmations of relative peace in Ajegunle, some residents of the area say that peace has not totally been established in some parts of the community, as some criminal activities still take place in those areas.

“There is no peace in Ajegunle because presently, there is riot everywhere.

Hoodlums are always disturbing us here (referring to his area in Ajegunle),”an anonymous resident who resides in Jimojora Street, told our reporter.

However, CSP Barnabas, the D.P.O. Layeni Police Station, placed the icing on the cake, confirming that there

is relative peace in the cosmopolitan community. In his words: “Those of them who are saying that Ajegunle is not peaceful are telling lies; it is the most peaceful environment I have ever seen in Lagos State. Ajegunle is the most peaceful environment, even more peaceful than some other communities,” he said.

Ajegunle, a cosmopolitan community in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, was said to have been created in the 19th Century. The area is generally regarded as the headquarters of good, the bad and the ugly. According to some residents who traced the history of the town ‘Ajegunle’ is a Yoruba word which means “wealth has landed here”, but ironically it is a community that swims in the ocean of poverty, neglect and ignorance.

The area, nonetheless, is unique, owing to the fact that the community inhabits great talents. This cosmopolitan community has produced prominent personalities, some of whom include Odion Ighalo, the Nigerian soccer star who also plays for Chungchun Yatai, a club in China; Don Jazzy, the popular Nigerian music artiste, who ranked second as the top richest artiste in Nigeria with N6.5 billion, as well as Basket Mouth, one of the funniest comedians in Nigeria, just to mention a few.

The cosmopolitan community, otherwise known as the “jungle city”, has a high concentration of all the ethnic groups in Nigeria. Over the years, the community has been tagged a ‘ghetto’ due to the various kinds of illegitimate activities that thrive in the area which have gloomily projected a negative image about the community to people. But this has changed as peace, a major element for substantial community growth, reigns supreme in the heart of the community.

Adeleye to be consecrated Archbishop of Niger Delta Province MIKE ABANG, Calabar

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renowned cleric, social commentator and the Bishop of Anglican Communion, Calabar Diocese, Tunde Adeleye is to be officially consecrated as the new Archbishop of Niger Delta- Prince of the Church of Nigeria- on the 30th September 2018 at the Holy Trinity Parish Calabar, Cross River State.

A statement signed by the Bishop himself, and made available to newsmen in Calabar, said the event would be followed by a thanksgiving service to usher in a new era of peace and qualitative leadership in the Province of the Church of Nigeria.

The statement further stated that important dignitaries from within and outside the country are expected at the thanksgiving service, including political and religious leaders across board.

The statement reaffirmed his belief that the country can only make meaningful progress through true federalism which is currently lacking in Nigeria.

It added that unless Nigeria goes back to true Federalism where states and local governments are given enough responsibilities and powers to control their resources with the centre being unattractive, Nigeria will continue to witness stunted growth and underdevelopment.

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News Imo is sinking into economic abyss, Group cries out SABY ELEMBA, Owerri

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political association, Rebuild Imo Mandate, has decried the state of affairs in Imo State, the Eastern Heartland, and has called on well-meaning citizens to do something reasonably to avert a total collapse of the state, economically.

The group said that the organisation with its over 400,000 stakeholders in the 304 political wards across the 27 local government areas in the state had begun a campaign of change of the system by ensuring that credible people are elected in 2019 to run the government of the state.

It also stated that the economy of the state is now in the ruins and that credible administrators and technocrats must be elected to run the administration of the state if the state must move on economically and be able to at-

tract both local and foreign investments from 2019 onwards.

Kyrian Uzoma Anosike, the State Coordinator, made the observations during the meeting of the stakeholders for Aboh Mbaise chapter at the old Holy Rosary School, now Community School, Uvuru in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of the state.

He made it clear that the organisation is not a political party and that it not affiliated to any existing political party but stands to use its members and other right-thinking members of the public to rebuild Imo State for a better tomorrow.

While remembering the glorious days of the late Sam Mbakwe government, he urged all hands be on deck to ensure that the organisation would work to ensure that credible people who would handle the affairs of the “wounded state” and have the masses at heart are put in government in the state.

The vision bearer of

From left: Engr Morenikeji Aniye (FNSE) Founder/CEO Hotspot Group; Dr Sanusi Ohiare, Executive Director Rural Electrification Fund and Engr Sam Chundusu, Director, Planning Research and Statistics, Rural Electrification Agency (REA) at the agency’s access to Finance Workshop, where Aniye delivered a paper on ‘Technology Innovation for Renewable Energy Deployments across Nigeria’ recently.

the organisation, Chioma Amanze, said the organisation has many strategies it would bring out and work with and that it would also work with the Indepen-

I’m poised to fix Imo – Njoku, PDP guber aspirant SABY ELEMBA, Owerri

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frontline governorship aspirant in Imo State on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Jude Ejike Njoku, a professor of Agricultural Economics, says he is poised to fix Imo State from its present parlous economic state.

He said that capturing political power should not be a do-or-die affair, but that it is the Almighty God that gives power, and He gives it to any person He wants for a purpose.

The former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) and an award winner of the National Universities Commission ‘Best Vice Chancellor”, expressed his optimism to win the PDP gubernatorial primary in Imo State for the 2019 general election.

“At the end of the day if God wants you to get power he will make possible all the conditions necessary for you to capture power no matter whatever may happen”, he said.

Speaking on the role money would play in the electioneering, he said: “Of course, money will play a lot of role,” but he however, advised his well-wishers who know his capacity to fix Imo State and get things going again, including the delegates for the upcoming gubernatorial primary, to pray hard. He said he was optimistic that he will emerge victorious.

“They should work hard, put in their best effort, make

Njoku

sure they should do what they should do by canvassing to get votes from the delegates, God gives power,” Professor Njoku said.

According to him, “I have gotten my governorship nomination form and have returned it; my chances are bright; the permutations change every day.

There were people who thought I was not going to buy the form; they were basing their judgment on that.

Now that I have got it they have to think twice.”

dent National Electoral Commission to ensure that people who are worthy were elected in 2019 general election.

“Imo State is going to

collapse totally if we do not gather together to possess our possession. This is why we are going from local government to local government, we have to

come together.

“This is the reason, it is a mass movement and we don’t have any particular aspirant or party in mind,” she said.

Diamond initiative holds entrepreneurship competition for secondary schools ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

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lans have been concluded by Diamond community initiative, a Non Governmental Organisation to hold its 2018 Entrepreneurship Competition for High School Students in the country.

Diamond Challenge for High School Student is an International Entrepreneurship Competition for Secondary School Students across the globe.

Created through Horn Entrepreneurship in 2012, the program is a cornerstone for entrepreneurial activity based at the University of Delaware, USA. It empowers the next generation through entrepreneurship. Since conception, tens of thousands of secondary/ high school students from all around the world have been engaged.

The Competition which will be hosted in major cities including Uyo, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna is an initiative of University of Delaware Horn Entre-

preneurship, developed to ignite imaginations and empowers world changers through educational offerings.

Through participation in Diamond Challenge, students gain the knowledge, skills, finance, personal capacities, experiences, connections and access to resources needed to successfully manifest innovation and thrive in the rapidly changing world.

Accordingly, Comfort Amanyi, the Executive Director of House of Diamond Community Initiative, the official Nigeria’s partner on Diamond Challenge in a statement made available the media calls on parents, students and schools to ensure their participation in the challenge.

“We will not relent our efforts effort to ensure Nigeria’s team makes it to the final and win a share in the ultimate prize,’’ she said.

The Launch/Sensitization/Business Concept Note/Pitch Workshop of the competition is billed to hold in Uyo, Calabar, Kaduna, Abuja, Lagos, Port

Harcourt and Delta through September, 2018.

Online Submission of Business Concept Note commences on 1st September to 17th December, 2018 The Diamond Challenge School Tour in the 7 States in September through November, 2018 National Pitch Competition holds from February 1st to March 10th 2019 Final Pitch Competition holds in Delaware, USA from 13th to 15th April, 2019 Since its foundation in 2012, the Diamond Challenge has reached more than 3500 students from 155 schools and 30 Countries worldwide. The competition has recently been ranked one of the top 29 best International Business Plan Competitions by Alpha Gamma, a business portal for millennial.

The Competition is an international competition across the globe where winners at various states and national of the world will meet at the University of Delaware from 13th to 15th April, 2019 for the final rounds.

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News

Sanusi, Duke, others call for review of university curriculum Ifeoma Okeke

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he Emir of Kano and former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammadu Sanusi II, has called for a review of Nigerian university curriculum, saying the current curriculum contributes to the number of unemployed graduates churned out every year.

The Emir also suggested that Queens English should not be used as a criterion to determine the level of a student’s intelligence. Rather, he said, local languages should be taught in schools just like in China, France, and other countries that have remained leaders in the global economy.

Speaking during the KingsWeek Founders’ Day Lecture in Lagos organised by King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA), Sanusi said unemployment rate has continued to increase

in the country because Nigeria lacks graduates who are trained for what the economy really needs.

“There was a time in China when every institution taught engineering because China needed engineers to boost its economy in the long run. It is only in Nigeria you find an electronic engineer who doesn’t know how to fix his air conditioner,” Sanusi said.

“Today, graduates of agriculture are not setting up agricultural enterprises. It is at this level that jobs are created. I will like to see reevaluation of our university curriculum,” he said.

Speaking on dangers of placing linguistic barriers for Nigerian students, he said children are growing up not knowing how to speak their mother tongue, adding that if this was not addressed, Nigerian languages may soon go into extinction.

“We still believe that the only way to educate children is to build classrooms,” Sanusi said. “In some devel-

Sanusi

oped countries, children in some rural communities are taught in their homes and under the trees using electronic tablets. We spend so much money in Nigeria building classrooms whereas there are no trained

Duke

teachers to teach the students. It is better to invest in technology and train the students at home. This way, they learn and at the same time remain abreast with their languages, cultures, values and norms.”

Donald Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, commended the organisers of the event for giving back to their alma mater and sustaining the practice for several years now.

Duke, who agreed with

some of the suggestions raised by the Emir of Kano, also condemned the practice of sending children between the ages of one to 17 to study abroad. He said this practice would only make the children alien to their roots and cultural values.

“This practice is not making us improve our education in Nigeria. We need to do more to expand our economy and accommodate vast number of people the country keeps producing,” he said.

Adamu Adamu, the minister of education, who was represented, also commended KCOBA for consistently putting the event together every year.

He reiterated that education is a priority and not a privilege, saying that is why government is trying its best to ensure basic education for every child in Nigeria.

“Government is working hard to ensure science subjects in schools are taught using our mother tongue,” he said.

Ogun guber aspirant promises to upgrade infrastructure in border towns Iniobong Iwok

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L-R: Bayo Ademuyiwa, brand manager, Online Wisdom; Confidence Osein, head programs coordinator, Online Wisdom School Club; Sam Okenye, member of the board of Adviser, Cyber Security Professional and Martin Obiora, MD/CEO,Online Wisdom, at the media Launch of Online Wisdom Cyber Security Education Initiative

by Great Life Technology Ltd in Lagos.

Legend Extra Stout treats consumers to ‘Real Deal Experience’ in Jos SEYI JOHN SALAU

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he city of Jos came alive recently as Legend Extra Stout hosted thousands of fans courtesy of its flagship consumer engagement platform, the Real Deal Experience. The Polo Field in Jos, venue of the event was home to thousands of fans that turned up for the exciting show.

The show came alive as the headline artist and popular Rap-star M.I delivered a thrilling performance. From the moment he mounted the stage, a deafening applause greeted him and grew louder as he grabbed the mic and

sang from his popular hits.

M.I, known for his energetic stage performance left the crowd asking for more. Most of them did not want his session to end.

Co-host Ifu Ennada and comedian DeDon gained mastery of the audience with an epic anchoring performance which kept the audience at the edge of their seats all through the night.

Over the years, Legend Real Deal Experience has been known for its legendary taste, tell and win’ competition and this edition did not prove any different. The competition, a blind taste test in which participants were made to tell the difference between the taste of Legend

Extra Stout and other stout brands. Lucky winners of the competition went home with exciting prizes. The audience was left with a feeling of ecstasy as they were thrilled by how consumers blind spotted the unique taste of Legend Extra Stout from others.

Emmanuel Agu, the brand’s portfolio manager, mainstream lager, and stout brands, Nigerian Breweries said the Real Deal Experience is known for its intense musical performances, hilarious stand-up comedy, funny and poetic eulogies.

According to him, the recently concluded Jos edition was nothing short of the attributes as promised.

governorship aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, has said that his administration would give special attention to the provision of basic infrastructure and empowering residents in the rural areas of the state if elected in the forthcoming 2019 general election.

Isiaka made the declaration in Oke-Aro , Ifo Constituency 11, during the second edition of an interactive session organised at the weekend by members of Ogun-Lagos Border Towns

(OGLABOT) team, where he was the guest speaker.

The second edition of the event is coming on the heel of the successful hosting of the maiden edition held on 26 August 2018, which was for residents of Obafemi Owode constituency in Magbro. Spokesperson of the group, Deji Olatunya, said that the programme was initiated for the aspirant to know the challenges of the people living in the border towns and for the residents to interact with the aspirant.

“The series was initiated for all stakeholders along the Ogun-Lagos border towns and its environs to have better interaction with GNI towards a Sustainable and

Productive Infrastructural Development in their areas,” Olatunji said.

The governorship aspirant, in his remarks, noted that the border towns should be blessing to the state, rather than a liability, stressing that his administration would strive to tap into the resources of the border towns towards their development.

“Being border towns along Lagos corridor should not be a liability but asset, Therefore, the neglect and almost abandon Isheri, Oke Aro, Ibaragun, Ososun, Alagbole, Akera, Agbado, Denro, Lambe, Ibraragun, Agbadkemode, Olagun, Adiyan, OkeOke, etc deserve special attention.”

Pastors Paul and Ifeanyi Adefarasin, Dr. Creflo Dollar, Vicki Yohe, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Bishop Ransom Bello, Pastor Tony Rapu and other pastoral dignitaries at the Spirit Life Conference 2018, held recently.

Sunday 23 September 2018

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PhotoSplash

L-R: Pierre Francois Kamanou, founder, CEO GobalTelecom Services (GTS) infotel; Ambrose Nwadike, managing partner, Telecom Advisory Services; Abiola Adesanya, head of service operation ntel, and Solomon Ogufere, commercial director, Vodacom Business Nigeria, at the Nigeriacom conference and exhibition in Lagos.

L-R: Ambrose Nwadike, managing director, Telecom Advisory Services; Olabiyi Durojaiye, chairman, NCC, and Solomon Ogufere, commercial director, Vodacom Business Nigeria, at the Nigeriacom conference and exhibition in Lagos

L-R: Robert Jasper, general manager, Sandton Sun & Towers; Antony Larsen, General manager, Crowne Plaza Johannesburg; Mohammed Tanko Kwajaffa, trade relations manager, South African Tourism, West Africa; Azwianewi Mbedzi, vice consul (Political), South African Consulate General; Mark Loxley, general manager, Southern Sun Ikoyi; Richard Weilers, managing director, Offshore Division Tsogo Sun Hotels, and Lynton Delaney, finance manager Tsogo Sun, at a Cocktail event for Tsogo Sun Hotels in fostering strategic business alliances between the Nigerian Travel Market and South Africa in Lagos.

Humphrey Otalor, marketing communications manager;Akanna Iweka, sales manage. Cyber Security, Dizengoff Nigeria with Ibrahim Jennifer, pre-sales lead, Ashley Asomugha, Digital and corporate communications executive, and Chimezirim Ihebenachi, enterprise solutions engineer (Cybersecurity), of Castlenet, during Palo Alto Cyber Security information awareness campaign.�

L-R: Yebeltal Getachew, General Manager, Stills and VEB, The Coca-Cola Company; Jonathan Ukoko, men Net category winner; Brad Ross, marketing and C & CL director, The Coca-Cola Company, and Abiona Babarinde, general manager, marketing & corporate communications, Coscharis Group at the Coca-Cola 2018 Golf Tournament award dinner held at Ikoyi Club.

Steven Zhou, Assistant to the President CIG Motors Co. Ltd and Mrs. Lola Ayansola General Manager, Automatic fits & Energy, at the Signing Ceremony of Quick Lane Service agreement between CIG Motors and Automatic Fits & Energy for GAC Motor vehicles.

L-R: Onowu Eziowelle, Obi J. Akukwe; Owelle of Eziowelle; Igwe Mike U.N Okonkwo Etusi; Regional Operations Director (South Region), Airtel Nigeria, Oladapo Dosunmu and Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor of Anambra State (Special Duties), Charles Nwufor, during the unveiling of Airtel 4G LTE services in Anambra State.

L-R: Humphrey Okorie, chief executive officer; Uduak Udoh, chairman, and Nat Ofo, all of the Institute of Internal Auditors of Nigeria (IIA), during the press conference organised by the institute on their upcoming annual conference, at Digital Jewels, Osborne Foreshore Estate, Lagos.

10 Inside Lagos

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Sunday 23 September 2018

Ambode assures completion Agege flyover, Airport road ...orders immediate repair of potholes statewide to reduce gridlock

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Stories by JOSHUA BASSEY

onstruction work on the ongoing Pen Cinema Flyover in Agege area of Lagos, has reached 60 per cent completion level with the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode assuring of its delivery before end of first tenure.

Similarly, the ongoing expansion of 10-lane Oshodi-International Airport Road is now at over 50 per cent completion stage, and would be delivered by the end of the year. Ambode, represented

by Adebowale Akinsanay, the commissioner for works and infrastructure, was on an inspection tour to the key projects in the state on Friday, accompanied by some other officials.

The design of the Airport Road includes reconstruction and expansion of the existing carriage to 3-lane expressway on both directions, construction of 2-lane service road in both directions, construction of ramp bridge to provide a U-turn from Ajao Estate to the international airport, construction of a flyover at NAHCO/ tollgate and drainage works.

Others include the removal of pedestrian bridge at Ajao Estate and construction of pedestrian bridges at Ajao Estate and NAHCO/Hajj Camp, construction of slip road to provide access to Ajao Estate, construction of lay-bys and installation of street lights, among others.

Speaking during the inspection, Akinsanya, explained that after the initial delay which he

Ongoing work on the Pen Cinema flyover, Agege, Lagos

attributed the rains, construction works have resumed in full swing across the state.

At the Pen Cinema project site, the commissioner, said: “This is part of the review of ongoing projects in the state and we are at the site of the critical one which is the Pen Cinema flyover along with airport road in addition to all other ongoing projects.

“Most of the difficult parts of the work are already ongoing.

Overall, we are at about 60 per cent completion stage and right now, we have over 70 major projects ongoing but as can be seen, work is ongoing,” he said.

On the delay, Akinsanya said: “Unfortunately, it is difficult to fight nature and rain has not helped and what we are seeing is the result of the heavy downpour for the last few weeks but the work is ongoing and with the cooperation from the contractors, whatever time we have lost, things will be accelerated.

“We have a good working relationship with Hi-Tech; they are committed to the project and I can assure the people that by first quarter of next year, this project will be commissioned by God’s grace,” the commissioner said.

Giving details, he said 10 out

of the 14 pier walls have already been completed and seven ramps, while the casting of the super structure which is the high beam was progressing well.

He added that the government was aware of difficulties being experienced with regards to potholes, saying Governor Ambode had already directed immediate repairs statewide.

“The governor is committed to the projects and along with this also is the challenge of potholes being experienced in the state.

“We have been directed by the governor that once we have a brief window of no rain, the Lagos

FG begins eviction of occupants under Lagos bridges

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he Federal Ministry of Works has begun the demolition of illegal structures and forceful eviction of miscreants who use under bridges in Lagos as hideouts to carry out unwholesome activities.

Adedamola Kuti, Federal Controller of Works, led ministry officials alongside the police task force from the Alausa command on a tour of various sections under the bridges in the state.

The operation which started at 4.00 p.m. lasted till 8.30 p.m on Thursday, September 20.

The taskforce headed by Shettima Kolo served eviction notices on illegal occupants on the right of way, traders, artisans and other business concerns under the bridges. The operation began with the demolition of a fence constructed under the ramp on the bridge linking Adeniji Adele Road which also links the Carter Bridge and Ebute Ero, on Lagos Island.

Several arrests were made in the process while police also recovered some weapons including axes, cutlasses and knives from the illegal occupants under the bridge.

A staff of an advertising agency, who identified himself as Seyi

Philips told ministry officials that his firm erected the fence to protect facilities servicing its billboard from social miscreants.

Philips added that they did not envisage that the construction would become a hideout for the miscreants.

It was observed during inspection that the Iddo Bridge, which is an extension of the Carter Bridge, had several lockup shops constructed under the bridge.

Some of the shops were being used as warehouses and the occupants claimed that they had been paying rent to the administrators of the facility for several

Traders selling under bridge in Lagos

decades.

The demolition squad advised owners of lockup shops and warehouses under the Iddo Bridge which is an extension of the Carter Bridge to vacate before commencement of the demolition.

The team also served car dealers and mechanic workshops under the Iponri, Ijora-Olopa , Iganmu and Costain Bus Stop sections of the Eko Bridge verbal eviction notices.

Also, affected the old ministry’s training school converted to living houses and brothels under Eko Bridge.

Other bridges inspected are

the Marine Beach, Otto, Apapa and the Costain Bridges.

Kuti told newsmen that three bridges had been destroyed by fire in the past as a result of the activities of the illegal occupants.

“We need to safeguard our infrastructure and that is why we are appealing to Nigerians that once they notice anything that could affect these infrastructure they should inform us.

“Some people are living under these bridges, cooking, doing all sorts of things and some of the items recovered by the police were weapons of destruction.

“Apart from the fact that their activities constitute a big abuse to the bridges, it also constitutes big security threat because you may never know what they are doing under those bridges especially at night. This is a serious abuse that would not be tolerated,’’ he said.

Kuti lamented that some of the illegal occupants have constructed permanent structures under the bridges which were usually locked up during the day.

Kuti announced that the illegal occupants would be given one week written notices with effect September 24 to vacate the Right of Way before eviction and demolition of their structures.

State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) should mobilise to every where across the state and get everything done within the next three to four weeks and so you will see our men working all over the road,” Akinsanya said.

At airport road, the commissioner said the project was delayed to ensure that the quality of the work was not comprised and to minimise impact on residents, but assured that it would be completed by the end of the year.

He commended the residents and motorists for understanding and support, assuring of commitment to completing all ongoing projects.

“The critical thing is the traffic management because one of the key things we need to do is to minimise the impact on the citizenry. So, we have been doing a lot and work slows down because of traffic management because we want to accommodate the people living around this area and we don’t want to make things too bad for them but as we make more progress, traffic will get better.

“For the people living in this area and the general public, I want to thank you for your understanding and support but please bear with us. This is a temporary thing and come January next year, you will see a brand new road. At the same time, there might be other things going on but the road will be opened. The work is taking some time because quality is very important. We don’t want anything to affect the quality of the work,” Akinsanya said.

Badagry court grants 2 men reprieve over ATM fraud

A

Badagry Chief Magistrate Court on Friday granted two men — Mustapha Aree and John Isiga — a N250, 000 bail each over alleged attempted ATM fraud.

Patrick Adekomaya, the chief magistrate who gave the ruling, said the accused should provide two sureties each as part of the bail condition.

In addition, the sureties should show evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State government.

Aree, 39, and Isiga, 49, are facing a two-count charge of fraud and unlawful destruction. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Akpan Ikem, told the court that the accused committed the offences on September 16 at 9.00 a.m. at Ibiye area of Badagry.

Ikem said the police caught the accused using a fake ATM card on the machine in an attempt to withdraw cash.

“They were arrested and taken to the station for further questioning,” he said adding that the accused also destroyed one MTN sim no.

08130665011.

The offences contravened Sections 91 and 403 of Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015. The case was adjourned until October 24.

Sunday 23 September 2018

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BDSUNDAY 11

NewsFeature

Rice production gets boost as Delta raises 48 youths with 96 hectares farm enterprise clusters

…They are to be experts in rice production, processing and packaging

O

MERCY ENOCH, Asaba

ut of 782 youths of Delta State that own and manage the 25 farm enterprise clusters established by the state government, 48 of them own and manage a total of 96 hectares rice farm enterprise cluster in which two hectares belong to each of them, all for the production of rice.

Now, it is harvest time and the youths who have spent six weeks undergoing training under the state’s Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) are showing the world that what is obtainable in the northern part of the country is also possible in the south.

With modern technology, they planted the rice, now harvesting, processing it and packaging it for the public to see the finished product weeks to come.

Those who have seen the farms and the processes involved believe there is no need to doubt that Delta State would soon be producing, processing and packaging rice not just for local consumption but for export to.

Delta State which plays huge role in sustaining the nation’s economy through crude oil supply also occupies a big space in entertainment, sports and hospitality sectors of the economy. Beyond these sectors, Delta plays a huge role in the agricultural sector as the bye products of the crops cultivated in its agrarian communities find their way into the homes of many Nigerians via markets.

With its rich agricultural heritage, Delta State has joined the league of states that produce rice. The state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa told newsmen in Asaba last year, that the state government had discovered that the state has land that is fertile enough for cultivation of rice and therefore would embark on rice planting during dry season.

The commissioner for ministry of agriculture and natural resources, Austin Chikezie also flagged off rice planting season in Okpe LGA and encouraged the people of the state to go into full scale farming, assuring them of government’s support even as he urged them take advantage of the Central Bank Nigeria/Anchor Borrowers Programme.

The state government in its efforts to raise a generation of rice producers, is training unemployed youths on mechanized rice production and processing and this is done under YAGEP through the Job Creation Office.

The Chief Job Creation Of-

ficer, Eric Eboh, has therefore revealed, that a brand of rice called YAGEP Rice would be launched in the state in a matter of weeks.

YAGEP Rice is produced by the beneficiaries of YAGEP otherwise called YAGEPreneurs.

Under YAGEP, a total of 782 unemployed youths in the state have so far been trained in agricultural skills within the past three years. The youths are made up of graduates of tertiary institutions and school leavers including persons living with disabilities. They have been trained in agric skills like poultry, fishery, piggery and crop production and established in the 25 farm enterprise clusters as owners and managers.

Out of the 782 beneficiaries, 48 are on rice production and processing and they are demonstrating this on 96 hectares of rice farm enterprise cluster established by the Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration for that purpose.

Forty-two hectares of the rice farm cluster are located in Deghele, Sapele LGA and is catering for 21 beneficiaries while 54 hectares at Mbiri in Ika North East LGA, is catering for 27 of the youths. Each beneficiary owns and manages two hectares of the rice farm enterprise cluster.

Explaining on the scheme, Eboh, a professor, said, “The YAGEP is an integral element of twin strategy to solve youth unemployment and transform the agricultural value chains in the oil-rich state. The approach is to train youths in agricultural skills, personal effectiveness and life skills, entrepreneurship and business management skills, establish and mentor them in farm enterprise clusters.”

Eboh made the disclosure while taking journalists round some selected clusters includ-

ing Deghele rice farm enterprise cluster in Sapele and fish ponds enterprise cluster in UgbokodoOkpe, Okpe LGA. At Deghele, journalists met work in progress as the YAGEPrenuers were seen harvesting rice on the 54 hectares of rice farm just as threshing machine was threshing the harvested rice. They were assisted by some youths and women in Deghele.

Victor Ukereti, one of the beneficiaries who is of the YAGEP 2018 cycle who is also a youth leader in Deghele , said “We’ve been here for six months now.

This is our first harvest. We are not really experts. We are still undergoing training. We have been trained on all the stages of rice production.”

Eboh added, “the end game of the whole exercise is to have pro-

Today, there is a huge supply deficit in Nigeria. That’s why no matter what the government does, the demand is increasing everyday, the supply gap is increasing. Therefore, if you have a good rice, you don’t look for market

cessed, packaged Delta YAGEP Rice and our partner in that process has a very good rice processing mill in the state”. He said that after threshing, the rice would be transported to the rice mill and thereafter the YAGEPrenuers from Deghele cluster would end up at the governor’s conference table where the processed and packaged rice would be presented to him.

Market for rice produced, processed and packaged by the rice farmers would not be a problem, Eboh said. According to him, beneficiaries of the scheme would not have that challenge because of the way the product would be promoted and marketed. “We think that the rice that is going to come out from this whole enterprise is of high quality and could be sold anywhere in the world”, he added.

What farm clusters mean to Delta State According to Eboh, “The farm enterprise clusters are vital for sustaining youths interest in agriculture as opposed to establishing youths in isolated farms whereby they would not have opportunity to cooperate and do what they want to do together”.

He added that, “The farm clusters are vital also for demonstrating a good agricultural technology and practices. That is, many of the clusters are now examples of good agricultural practices. People are having what we called demonstration effect on the agricultural development in the state. The clusters are having demonstration effects on the agricultural development in the state. They are also vital for promoting enterprise productivity and for promoting enterprise viability and ensuring high level of agric productivity and sustainability.”

“Evidence of the farm enterprise clusters and feedback from stakeholders show that the cluster model is yielding desired impacts. These youths-managed farm enterprise clusters are today transforming the agricultural landscape of the state”, he further disclosed.

He described it as a very new innovation in the state, saying it has never happened before.

All over the state you now have the youth in clusters owning and managing their farm enterprises.

Continuing, he said “these clusters are functioning as agricultural growth poles. They are now poles - triggers of agricultural growth. They are also icons of sustainable youth employment and drivers of agric prosperity.”

Market for the rice “Today, there is a huge supply deficit in Nigeria. That’s why no matter what the government does, the demand is increasing everyday, the supply gap is increasing. Therefore, if you have a good rice, you don’t look for market; we have enough market, even in Asaba the state capital, we have enough market.” Eboh asserted.

What the beneficiaries looks up to: “Training, skills and then, being able to establish themselves from this whole process as specialist in this particular enterprise. The end point is actually the YAGEPrenuer – developing him or her and giving him or her the resources and skills and motivation to earn a livelihood and also to become an employer of labour”, Eboh said.

Benefit of the rice farm to the host community: The Prof noted that the host community would come after the YAGEP. “You see the number of people employed in this farm - people have to cut, they have to pack from the field to the thresher etc. It is a whole chain of employment that is going on here. So, it has spillover effect.”

He went on: “Secondly, this Deghele Community has never seen anything like this. They grow rice but not in this scale and not with the kind of best practices that we have demonstrated here. So, with what is happening here, people have been coming here to see, to watch and to learn.

And that is a very important impact of this project, what we called demonstration effect. It is not just to produce rice, it is to demonstrate that if you do things right, you would get good quality harvest and good amount of harvest. So, the community is benefitting both materially and through learning of best practices”, he concluded.

12 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 23 September 2018

Investigation

Ongoing projects in South East: Truth vs lies T ODINAKA ANUDU

here were screaming headlines on the front pages of national newspapers on August 28, 2018. The story was about the 69 ongoing projects funded by the Federal Government in the South East part of Nigeria.

It made headlines because the governors of the South East had met few days earlier to protest marginalisation of their zone. The governors had alleged that most federally-funded infrastructure projects in their zone were stalled.

Consequent upon this, Nigeria’s Information Minister Lai Mohammed refuted this claim, releasing a list of 69 projects that were going on in various parts of the zone.

“His Excellencies were either misquoted or they were quoted out of context. Either way, this allegation flies in the face of available evidence,’’ Mohammed said in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, at a lecture, in reference to the governors’ claim.

“Though the contracts for many of the roads were awarded before the advent of this administration, they were either poorly funded or not funded at all, hence work on the roads has lingered,” he added.

Mohammed said the 69 roads and bridges, spread across the five states in the South-East Nigeria, were at different stages of completion, thanks to the funding sourced by the present Muhammadu Buhari administration from budgetary allocations, the Sukuk Bond and the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund.

Understanding the problem The South East is one of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. It is made up of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states. It is the only zone among the six geopolitical regions with five states.

The other five—South South, South West, North Central and North East have six states, with North West having one more.

Pundits say the region has the worst infrastructure record, with major federal roads in state of disrepair. The zone is made up of mainly Igbo-speaking people of Nigeria, who are one of the tripods on which the country stands—with the other two being Yoruba in the South West, and Hausa/Fulani in the North-West/ North East.

From the days of Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007) to Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (2007-2010) and Goodluck Jonathan (2010-May 28, 2015), promises of infrastructure revamp were made to the

Oseakwa Bridge

people of the region, but these often turned into political gimmicks targeted at winning votes.

The promises would often come weeks before general elections and evaporate weeks after.

The Investigation My interest was, therefore, aroused the moment I saw the list of projects in the zone released by Nigeria’s Information Minister.

I decided to fact-check these

Completed Mbaise+Ngwa road at Imo River

claims. I noticed that out of the 69 projects, 20 were classified as ‘construction’ while the rest were designated ‘rehabilitation’.

I moved down to the South East to investigate the ones categorised as ‘construction’.

A bridge or a ridge?

I left Lagos for Ihiala. My first port of call was Oseakwa Bridge.

This project had been listed as ‘construction of Oseakwa Bridge in Anambra State, C/No. 6043’ by the Minister. My findings showed that Oseakwa Bridge was awarded on October 6, 2009, to Horizon Construction Co. Ltd at N896.863 million.

When I got to this location, I observed that no work was going on. My findings showed that the project was completed two years after by the immediate past government of Goodluck Jonathan.

But there is something striking about this project. What the Federal Government calls ‘Oseakwa Bridge’ is not technically a bridge. It is just a road in a typical Nigerian village—sandy, hilly and bumpy.

The Cambridge Dictionary (online) defines a bridge as a ‘structure that is built over a river, road, or railway to allow people and vehicles to cross from one side to the other’. This so-called bridge does not fit into this definition.

Also, the road leading to it is not tarred and the road extending from it is decrepit and is not passed by vehicles. Ordinarily, federal government roads always interconnect states in Nigeria, but this so-called bridge does not lead to anywhere.

Villagers told me that work was done and completed on the so-called bridge, but the road looks like nothing was ever done.

Completed projects listed as ‘ongoing’ Findings showed that the list released by Mohammed contained some projects completed by the immediate past administration. Muhammadu Buhari came to power on May 29, 2015, but the list released included projects completed before this date.

First is the Olokoro-Isiala-Oboro-Nnono Junction awarded on December 21, 2010, to Abia Bok Company at N515.315 million.

This road starts from Federal University of Agriculture Umudike, down to Isiala Ngwa. I found that it was completed in 2013. Contrary to claim made by the Minister, the road was not poorly funded.

However, some sections of this road—around Isiala—are decaying, which speaks to the quality of work done, an engineer, Duru Anayamere, told me.

Second is the AhiakwuA m a n g w o - U m u a h i a - Ng w a Ngwa Road, awarded on December 23, 2010, and contracted to La Ann Engineering Nig Ltd for N589.554 million.

I found that this road was completed before May 2015. No work was going on as of September 13 when I used this road. It was neither abandoned nor poorly funded as residents testified that it was completed around 2013.

Another one completed by the immediate past administration but listed as ‘ongoing’ by Lai Mohammed is the OlokoroAlaukwu-Itaja-Okwu-ObuohiaIkwuano, awarded on March 10, 2010, to Rhas Nigeria Limited at N990.673 million. I found that this road was completed before the advent of the current government. No work was going on as of September 14 and it was not poorly funded as claimed by the Minister.

While going to Aba, the industrial nerve centre of the region, from Owerri, Imo State capital, I alighted at Imo River. This river borders Imo and Abia states. The road leading to this river was listed as ongoing. But I found that it was completed in 2014 and is in good shape.

Eight out of 20 ‘not ongoing’ I classified eight out of these 20 roads as ‘not ongoing’ because they are uncompleted and no work was going on around them as of September 15.

On travelling to Isseke TownAmafuo-Ulli with Spur (IhialaOrlu-Umuduru Section) in Anambra State, I decided to engage a commercial motorcyclist on the state of this road.

“You can see that the contractor started in Isseke and stopped at Health Centre, Ihiala. They stopped work here before the 2015 election and nothing has happened since then,” the motorcyclist, who gave his name as Ikenna Iluno, told me.

I stopped at Ihiala Microfinance Bank to buy a bottle of water. I looked around and observed that vehicles were often trapped in the muddy waters in Ihiala, a road the Federal Government listed as ongoing.

Natives of Ihiala were shocked when I told them that construction of the road was supposed to be ongoing.

“It is a lie,” retorted a 72-yearold man, who told me that he now pays N200 to commercial motorcyclist to get home, instead of N100.

So, it is correct that this road was not completed and could have been poorly funded.

I moved down to ‘Ikemba

Sunday 23 September 2018

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BDSUNDAY 13

Investigation

Drive Spur on Oba-Okigwe Road Through Permanent Site of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Anambra State’. This road has some sections that need repair. I did not see any work going on when I used it.

Next is Umulungbe-Umuoka-Amokwu Ikedimkpe EgedeOjieyi Awhum Road. The Federal Government said it awarded a contract on this road to IDC Construction in June this year.

I went through this road but no work was going on yet.

“We have not seen any contractor on this road. We only hear

it on the radio,” a sceptical Daniel Okoro, a commercial driver plying this road, said.

“Maybe they are waiting for the rains to subside,” Uche Ene, another commercial vehicle driver, interrupted.

My investigation took me to ‘Oji-Achi-Mmaku-Awgu Road With Spur To Obeagu-Ugbo in Enugu State’. This road was not completed and no work was going on when I used it. The same fate applies to Ogrute-UmuidaUnadu-Akpanya-Odoru Road in Enugu/Kogi.

I witnessed an anomaly on

‘Aguobu-Owa-Mgbagbu OwaEbenebe (Anambra State Border) with Spur to Awaha-Oyoha-Oyofo-Iwollo Road in Enugu’. This road starts from a town known as Amansea in Anambra State.

But this town was not factored into this project. The only section of this road constructed was between Alaoji and Okpuno in Ebenebe. This is just one out of seven towns which the contract was supposed to cover.

Of particular interest is the Amansea road. It is dilapidated and decrepit. I noticed that some sections of the road were reha-

bilitated. However, I was not convinced that it was handled by the same contractor that worked on Ebenebe axis. The reason is simple: Ebenebe road is solid while the section of Amansea road already serves as a dunghill. No work was going on here when I used this road.

Similarly, ‘Umuna-NdiaguAgba Umuna-Ebenebe-Amasi Awka Express Road with Spur from Umuna – Ndiagu (AgbaEbenebe) Section I in Enugu State’ is bad. Beyond Agba Ebenebe, roads are decrepit. Commercial motorcyclists, therefore, have

a field day here, charging N1,000 to N1,500 to move residents and villagers through this road.

Moreover, I noticed that Ikot Ekpene Border-Aba-Owerri was not ongoing. I was told that the contractor abandoned the road two months ago because he was not mobilised. The contractor his vehicles at a private residence inbetween the United Evangelical Church and Onyedika Industries Limited, Alaoji Ntigha.

Light at the end of tunnel However, seven out of 20 roads are ongoing, from my findings.

One is Nkporo-Abiriba-Ohafia, which was awarded in May 2012, but was abandoned by the immediate past administration of Goodluck Jonathan. Though I classified this N2.739 billion project as ‘ongoing’, work on this road is in fits and starts now, forcing villagers to ask if the government has indeed mobilised Dutum Construction Nigeria Limited or if the contractor is just slow.

The second one is the AbribaArochukwu-Ohafia Road in Abia State, awarded by the immediate past government on December 13, 2012, at N2.265 billion. Sections of this road, handled by Beks Kimse Nigeria Limited, are still bad. I was told that the senator representing the zone, Mao Ohuabunwa, facilitated some level of rehabilitation of this road in March this year, making it a bit motorable. But as of the second week of September when our correspondent visited this road, the road looked decrepit.

Roads in this area have been abandoned for ages and politicians play politics with them, I was told.

“Once the government announces the construction of roads around here, politicians begin to take the praise by claiming that they influenced the contracts,” one native of Ozu Abam Ohafia told me.

“Is it not their job to influence such contracts?” he asks rhetorically.

Next is the Ohafia-Oso Road, which is between Abia and Ebonyi states’ border. Work on this road, though ongoing, is in fits and starts.

The N979.889 million OmorUmulokpa Road, which borders Anambra and Enugu states, is going on, just as Nnenwe-UdumaUburu Road.

Similarly, construction of Nenwe-Nomeh-Mburubu-Nara Road with spur to Obeagu Oduma Road in Enugu State is going on and is handled by Arab Contractors OAO Nigeria Limited.

Also, Ugwueme-NenwentaNkwe-Ezere-Awgunta-ObeaguMgbidi Nmaku Road Project Enugu State is ongoing, according to my findings. True to Lai Mohammed’s words, it was observed that some of the projects are being funded with Sukuk Fund.

Conclusion Out of the 20 projects listed as ongoing by Mohammed, only seven are actually ongoing. I got pictures and videos to prove them. Mathematically, this is equal to 35 per cent.

14 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 23 September 2018

Off Bolatito Adebola Duty With

Mobile: 08053859391, email - iambolatito@gmail.com twitter - @iambolatito

Sifax Group boss, Taiwo Afolabi, splashes Nnamdi Okonwko and his magic wand millions on son’s wedding!

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T

he rich will always showcase their affluence and wherewithal whenever the opportunity comes knocking on their doors. This was exactly what the Sifax Group, Chairman, Taiwo Afolabi, brought to the fore penultimate Saturday in Lagos, as he wowed the guests at his son, Olayinka’s grand and fairy-tale wedding to Abisola Olufunke Omisade, sparing nothing less than a whopping sum of N30million with all the paraphernalia of royalty and candour. The event, which took place at the expansive halls of Harbour Point in upscale Victoria Island is still being touted in many quarters as the most expensive and luxurious nuptial in recent times and may take a long time for another wedding of that magnitude to supersede it. Why? Assorted local food, international cuisine, vintage and expensive champagne, cognac, spirits like Moet, ace of spades, don perignon and others flowed like water, much to the over satisfaction of guests. All you needed to do was to waive at any of the waiters and your wish was their command. The quality and array of guests at the events also spoke volumes, with the likes of

Ambassador Tokunbo AwolowoDosumu, who was the chairman of the reception, Ooni Of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and his wife, Olufunso, SA to governor Amosun on Health, Mrs. Foluke Bello, Senator Florence Ita Giwa, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Hon. Desmond Eliot, Chief Bimbo Ashiru, Chief Dayo Adeneye, Oba Saheed Elegushi, Oluwo of Iwo, Lamex, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, ex-First Bank boss, Bisi Onasanya, Chief Lekan Osifeso, Iyalaje Toyin

Kolade and her husband, Prince Kayode and many other important personalities too numerous to mention. To serenade these A-list guests with their different music brands were top Nigerian acts like Mayorkun, Reekado Banks, L.A.X, the sensational Shuga Band and to crown it was a kingly performance by 2baba himself. It was a moment of fun all the way as guests including the young and the old alike grooved to the medley songs reeled out jointly and severally by these top Nigerian musicians.

Tony Elumelu’s wife, Awele on a mission

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all her a combination of brain, beauty and brawn, you are simply stating the obvious about the delectable wife of banking guru and philanthropist, Tony Elumelu, as Dr. Vivian Awele Elumelu is not only beautiful, but also a medical doctor by training and the CEO of Avon Medical Services Ltd., a concern that has responsibilities for healthcare investments in the Tony Elumelu Group. While it may be too hasty to describe vivacious Awele as a feminist, what you just can’t take away from this mother of seven beautiful children, is her uncommon frankness, particularly on issues that are dear to her heart.

This woman is definitely on a good mission, especially with her

rare humility and desire for humanity development, all of which have endeared her to the hearts of many. Recently, this amiable woman joined other global health leaders at a photo exhibition organized by GAVI, a Vaccine Alli-

ance, for increased vaccine coverage in under-immunized nations, on September 10, 2018, in Geneva, Switzerland. At the auspicious event tagged ‘Vaccine Heroes’, she advocated for the urgent need for the health of children and resilient commitment to working with the global Vaccine Alliance to expand the coverage of immunization in her native country, Nigeria, nay Africa. ‎She was indeed in her element as her submissions and postulations received thunderous ovations from attendees throughout the event. Awele commended the great efforts and achievements by the Vaccine Heroes, Health Workers and the GAVI team in spreading the message and adoption of immunisation globally.

About Kabiru Rabiu’s uncommon gestures

H

e is the son of the Chairman, but he does not hang any airs around himself. To many who do not know him as someone who does not brag about his prestigious background, he will come to them as a man with fine gesture. Kabiru Rabiu is a young man with value and enterprise running in his blood. He serves as Group Executive Director of BUA International Limited after being the general manager of BUA since 2005. For the record, he obtained his MBA International Business from American Intercontinental University, London England in 2002. He

joined Nigerian Oil Mills Limited owned by BUA Group in 2002

as Assistant General Manager and was promoted to the post of General Manager in 2005. He has attended several courses within and outside Nigeria. With his top managerial post as the head of the company, Kabiru carries along all manner of staff in his dealings with them and has never been known to be a favourite of any one of them. That is why his staff always clamour for him. Kabiru has unusual leadership qualities, with an unassuming disposition he empathizes as a matured gentleman would with his reports, demonstrating care for employees and customers as well.

any may not agree with the phenomenal status of the very astute banking expert, Nnamdi Okonkwo and this is because the man does not brook sycophancy or undue publicity, going about his job quietly and diligently.

Like it is often said, history is often written by champions, and sometimes they rewrite it. Nnmadi Okonwko has over time made himself a problemsolver for indigent people across all borders, and this is what he does without blinking an eye.

The quintessential banking guru has unique salient attributes and leadership qualities, and these vary from individuals to individuals, especially when they occupy top managerial positions in their respective organizations. Since he assumed office as the MD/ CEO of the new generation bank, Fidelity Bank PLC, few years ago, ebullient Nnamdi has been daily proving pundits wrong that age is not a big factor when it comes to efficient service delivery and well-focused administration, even in the face of persistent oppositions from both within the financial world. No doubt, he came into office by a stroke of fate, but the banking guru has continued to remain focused, stoic and steadily delivering immeasurable growth to the bank, with several customer-friendly products and services that can make other banks go green with envy. Okonwko is a professional

banker par excellence, with an intimidating academic profile of over two decades, within which he has garnered relevant banking experience across key banking functions, including Branch Services, Commercial Banking, Public Sector and Institutional/ Corporate Banking. His recent milestone with the financial institution, which is a multi-million naira partnership deal with Air Peace for the purchase of new 10 Boeing 737 Max B aircrafts, has become a discourse point in many societal and public circles.

He is one person that will close from work and rush home just to be with his wife and kids to savour them, just like any other family man will do. But there is one thing people don’t know about him, which is, apart from his over two decades experience in the banking industry as a top player, he is also a very good singer and performer, whose vocal prowess will marvel you any day.

Leo Stan Ekeh and his N15bn palatial mansion!

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any will know him as the big brain behind the first indigenous computer company in Nigeria, Zinox Group, but Leo Stan Ekeh, the Chairman of this high-flying Group, is eminently more than that, as he is on the side an ambitious businessman. What do you say of his newly-completed architectural masterpiece of an office complex called Yudala Height in upscale Victoria Island, Lagos. The complex is a testimony in class, pristine and exotic, exquisitely burnished with panache; the building emphasizes without much effort, the sheer and rare taste of the owner. The attention to detail that characterizes the structure is excellent; both the interior and exterior decor were carefully chosen and planned with flawless finesse. Since the imposing and well-appointed building literally sprang up on Idowu Martins Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, passers-by have not failed to attest to the wondrous and unique taste of the Imo State-born multi-billionaire businessman, who is nationally recognized for his pioneering efforts in Information Communication Technology, ICT, in Nigeria and even within the continent. If you must know, the mouth-gaping building is said to have set him back by a whopping N15 billion! For a man whose eyes have been set on the future right from his entry into business, it is not surprising that the eight-floor archi-

tectural masterpiece has changed the narrative about the area on account of its beauty and aesthetic design(s.) The all-glass edifice, with its commanding baroque presence would engender a lot of double takes, while a cursory stroll into its bowels would leave so much to see and salivate about, especially in the main hall with the proposed ceiling fresco.

The first floor of the ornate building serves as a relaxation centre for the man of means and substance, where he can enjoy jazz and other soulful tunes after a hard day’s job. But, in spite of his great accomplishments and rare taste for opulence, Leo Stan Ekeh is still a story waiting to be told, as he has continued to ply his trade in such a way that makes many of his competitors go green with envy.

It is only evident that he enjoys an uncommon grace, considering the inclement business climate in the country.

Sunday 23 September 2018

C002D5556

BDSUNDAY 15

Perspective

I

CHIDI ARINZE

n the last couple of months, there has been unnecessary dissipation of energy especially in the social media between supporters and opponents of President Muhammadu Buhari on the question of whether or not there are any tangible achievements by President Buhari.

Specifically, opponents of the President buoyed by the economic difficulties in the land in terms of huge unemployment and high cost of food, angrily stated that PMB has not achieved anything and that if he has, let his supporters list them.

The pro-Buhari group took up the challenge and has reeled out several road and other projects in various parts of the country carried out by Buhari administration.

In addition, Buhari supporters say that the problems facing Nigerians today took several years of poor leadership performance to create and that no one can expect amelioration of these problems in just three years that PMB has been in power.

This writer wishes to state that PMB has indeed many achievements to his name in the three years of his stewardship so far, the only problem or the blight on these achievements or laudable efforts in the pipeline are the difficult economic condition facing a majority of Nigerian citizens which resulted in growing unemployment nationwide and high cost of foodstuffs which is not surprising giving the poor wages paid to the average Nigerian worker. We need to note that President Buhari is in no way responsible for the poverty or death wages paid to the Nigerian worker. In fact, it is the governments that have been in power since 1999, that should answer for the slave wage paid to the Nigerian worker. PMB administration in fact is at the moment working together with organised Labour to fix a reasonable and living wage for the average Nigerian worker which hopefully would address current economic realities.

We said above that the government of PMB has quite a number of achievements to its name but economic difficulties among the population has tended to blight these.

PMB’s achievements can be categorized into four broad areas for understanding and analysis.

They are (a) policy, ethics and values (b) continuity of government (c) new infrastructures and (d) catalyst for new projects in the states and (e) national security In the area of policy, ethics and values, it can be said that the administration has and is putting in place practices that in the long run would enable the country to run efficiently yielding development and prosperity. Here what comes to mind are the TSA (Treasury Single Account) policy which has reduced free money in circulation, curbed corruption and waste of government finances.

The TSA implementation by do-

President Buhari

A look at Buhari’s achievements

ing the three things listed above, indirectly reduced the amount of money in circulation and created hardship for people who hitherto depended on looters and corrupt persons for their livelihood.

The TSA policy has brought prudence and frugality to public financial management, marking a radical departure from the irresponsibility and waste of the previous Goodluck Jonathan administration. Though it was the Jonathan government that introduced the TSA, he dithered in its implementation until most of the country’s revenue were stolen by his aides and party men. The coming of PMB and his embracing the full implementation of the TSA policy, put a lid on the waste and stealing of government funds.

The TSA, to a considerable degree was part and parcel of the general anti- corruption drive of the PMB administration. Aside the TSA, the policy of economic diversification through concentration on agriculture both for food and as a revenue earner are all part of the achievements of the government of PMB which when maintained and advanced by successive administrations will ensure a better future for Nigeria.

Already, the food import bill of the country has fallen as a result of this policy. Non- oil exports like rice, cassava, maize, millet and sorghum have become revenue earners unlike in the recent past.

Entrepreneurship as an economic culture rather than paid employment is taking root and Nigerians are directly earning foreign exchange as they sell their products and services abroad.

The icing on the cake in the area of policy, is the launch of the government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), the medium term economic plan launched in April 2017 by President Buhari which charts a course for the nation’s economy for the next four years (2017- 2020).

The vision behind the plan is to restore economic growth, invest in the Nigerian citizen and build a globally competitive economy by transforming and modernising critical sectors of the economy.

In the area of continuity of government, to his credit, on coming to power, PMB declared he would focus more on completing the several hundreds of abandoned projects that dot the country’s landscape from the previous administrations. Towards this

end, several projects in the area of roads, railways, airports and general aviation, power or electricity projects that have been abandoned by previous administrations at a great cost to the nation have been given attention and some completed. In view of the many years since they have been abandoned, it is not fair to expect that many of these projects would have been completed in just three years and put to use considering endemic budget delays and slow release of funds for projects. Notable among the abandoned or uncompleted projects completed by PMB is the popular Abuja- Kaduna railway, the Lagos- Kano line etc.

Under continuity which PMB takes seriously, are the many cases of abandoned payments and emoluments of workers like civil servants in the states, retired staff of the defunct Nigeria Airways and unpaid pensions of federal government workers. PMB has taken it upon himself to ensure that debts owned by the Federal Government are paid to alleviate the suffering of the beneficiaries.

In the area of new infrastructures, conceived, ongoing or nearing completion, the Buhari

administration has not done badly. All states of the federation are captured in the governments new road infrastructure construction programme.

Railway projects newly conceived will link all parts of the country with standard gauge railways. If it happens that these ambitious projects are not completed by the time PMB leaves office, it behooves on his successor and successive governments to ensure that the projects as ambitious as they are, are completed.

A spectacular new project, started and completed by PMB administration with lightning speed is the Abuja airport new runway project at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja. This project because of its economic, strategic and national importance was conceived and delivered in a record time of seven weeks!

Four, the government of PMB has been acting as a catalyst encouraging states of the federation to embark on economic ventures and projects that will energies the economies of their states in the years to come. In Edo State, the State government is building a multi- billion naira industrial park while Lagos State in working on an economic free trade zone in Lekki peninsula. The catalyst role is a derivative of the role of policy, ethics and values being introduced to governance

by PMB. It is an off- shoot of the policy on diversification to end dependence on oil as the mainstay and main revenue earner of the nation’s economy.

Finally, President Buhari on the national security plane, inherited a country that was being ravaged by an insurgent group, the Boko Haram. The insurgents had so eroded security in the country that most parts of the North east region of the country where the insurgents were most active had become a no-go area to ordinary citizens and even security personnel. The country’s sovereignty was at stake as the Nigeria Army could not come to grips with the challenge posed by the Boko Haram.

In fairness to the Buhari administration, to a large extent it has fought Boko Haram to a stand- still and freed many of the kidnapped Chibok School girls taken away by the insurgents. Second, the government in a swift move rescued the more than 100 abducted Dapchi School girls kidnapped under its watch unlike the Chibok case that took place under the former ruling party, the PDP. However, it would be right to say that in the area of national security, the PMB government has not given the country total security as insecurity still dogs the land and killings are everywhere but no country has a hundred per cent security as national security is always work in progress.

The herdsmen/farmers clash in many parts of the country remains a challenge for the government though in view of where we were as a country some years back, PMB deserves a pat on the back for a good job so far. .Arinze writes from Abuja.

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Restructuring: Beyond political sentiment

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Sunday 23 September 2018

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

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f late, various individuals and groups have been crusading for the restructuring of the country’s political system. Of the lot, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar seem to be leading the pack as central characters in the discourse. While Osinbajo is insisting that what Nigeria needs is good governance, Atiku is adamant that restructuring remains the only way forward for Nigeria.

Th o u g h m a n y h a v e c o n demned Atiku and other such latter-day advocates of restructuring as mere opportunists seeking for political gains, it is, however, important to see beyond the messenger and focus on the message. Without a doubt, the way our nation’s political system operates manifests certain tendencies inimical to the practice of true federalism.

The distinctive feature of a federation is the constitutional dissection of powers between the central government and the fed-

erating units. In a unitary system, total powers flow from the centre while in a federation, powers are detached between the centre and states. Federalism is supposed to be a mutually evolved system where none of the federating units is inferior to another but each deriving its powers and exercising them within the framework of the constitution. Federalism is normally considered a better political option in view of certain factors.

For instance, it is politically expedient for a country with a huge land mass, big and heterogeneous population, incomprehensible cultural and language diversities to operate a federal system of government as a way of accommodating the diverse ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic interests in the country. In other words, federalism becomes the viable option for a nation, like Nigeria, with diverse interests, as previously mentioned, to exist in a mutually binding framework. It is not an avenue for one federating unit to bully the other. It is not an avenue for the wife of a president or a governor or even a local government chairman to become reckless. It is not a system for states governors to become school children while presidents act as their headmasters. No! Rather, it is a system that calls for mutual respect and fairness among the federating units.

Unfortunately, because over the years, Nigeria has practiced the wrong version of federalism, individuals and institutions that advocate the practice of true federalism are often labeled as rascals, rebels or in some cases secessionists. It is pleasing to note that eminent individuals and organisations in the country have, in the past and in recent time, been canvassing for the enthronement of true federalism in the country.

The way forward is for us to evolve a new constitution that will truly reflect the principles and sprit of true federalism. The present Constitution is lopsided in its power sharing at the expense of the states. For instance, Part one of the Second Schedule of the Constitution listed 68 items in the Exclusive Legislative List on which only the central government has control, while in Part two, it listed 30 items in the Concurrent Legislative List on which both the central and states could exercise control.

In a true federal arrangement, there should be no need for local government creation to require consequential provision of the National Assembly. The inclusion of Police, Mines and Minerals, Railways, Stamp Duties, Taxation of Incomes, and Value Added Tax (VAT) in the Exclusive list is also uneven. Similarly, a situation where states wait endlessly for

the federal government to fix so called federal roads in their domains should be discouraged.

Equally, it is imperative that a new revenue sharing formula, that will be fair to all federating units, is put in place. It is only in a unitary system that such an uneven arrangement in which the federal government takes 52 per cent of the total revenue while the federating units –states and local governments-share the rest. In a proper federation, what the central government does is to focus on central federal matters like foreign affairs, currency, maritime shipping, and defence.

On a final note, the quest for restructuring shouldn’t be given a political colouration. Sadly, this is what the whole campaign seems to be turning to. In reality, however, restructuring is fundamental in order to address certain imbalances in the polity. Thus, advocacy for restructuring should not be misconstrued as promotion of anarchy. No! Rather, it is call for fairness, equity and justice. If we are to move forward as a nation, some of the apparent injustices in the system must be addressed.

We could pretend, for as long as we want, that they don’t exist, but that will not in any way wish them away.

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

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Leading and surviving as a PR strategist in a VUCA world

GODFREY ADEJUMOH Adejumoh, a PR strategist, contributes this piece from Lagos.

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he impact of technology in every sphere of life; across age strata, industries and culture cannot be overestimated. The way we now live, work and play has been changed by technology, perhaps irrevocably. Public Relations, as a discipline, regardless of whether one considers it an art and science, is not immune to the revolution of technology.

Today, technology has brought about citizen journalism effectively enabling anyone with access to the internet to post a message that can go viral in seconds. The days of waiting for breaking news in 24 or more hours through the traditional media are far gone. The days of reputation managers gatekeeping information about their organisations, brands and clients with an exalted ego of having the media under their control are no more, decimated by the power of the social media. Indeed today, no one individual or entity can claim to have absolute control over news and its dissemination.

Besides technology, there are other critical issues that cannot be ignored which impact on the PR industry. One of them is government regulation that is sometimes asymmetric in nature. This is

TOSIN AREMU Aremu, an analyst, writes from Lagos.

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ince I became a tobacco farmer for British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN), my life has improved a lot. Business is better as I am sure that I will sell my produce at the end of the planting season at a previously agreed price. I now use tractors for my operations; my crops are diseaseresistant; and agricultural experts come regularly to teach us new and better ways to farm.”

These are some of the comments of Alao Shonibare, a tobacco farmer for BATN, who also rotates other crops with tobacco on his farms, on the beneficial effects on productivity arising from leaf grower support from BATN. BATN supports local farmers for its tobacco growing operations. The effect of the company’s support on the farming ecosystem is vast and a lot more extensive than what Shonibare has disclosed.

Tobacco leaf remains at the core of its products and this puts the farmers who grow it at the heart of the company’s supply

closely followed by the insatiable appetite of critical stakeholders and their endless demands on organisations in the name of community relations. And then there is the ever-present issue of operating a business in a sustainable way in line with global best practice to impact the environment and people positively. These issues continue to challenge and, indeed, in many instances, shape the practice of Public Relations. They also call to question the competence and relevance of PR professionals in managing reputation.

The one thing that technology and the other issues have used to change the industry is SPEED. Undeniably, keeping pace with the ever-evolving trends in managing stakeholders, customers and consumers vis-a-vis the reputation of organisations has made the operating environment for practitioners volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA).

With this being our reality, can PR practitioners lead and survive in a VUCA world? Here are my thoughts on what practitioners can do to lead and survive in a VUCA world.

Be strategic: This is the first step. People easily get carried away by happenings in their environment, succumb to pressure, become overwhelmed by daily routine and, in the long run, lose focus, rather than being strategic.

This will help you understand clearly what the issues are, develop a clear plan, define your goals, recognise your target and develop the right message to achieve your goals. To be strategic is to be methodical, deliberate, scientific and clinical in your execution. At this stage, it is important to know

that being strategic enables you to take ownership of the challenges you face and have the foresight to tackle them heads-on from a point of advantage that makes you proactive and not reactive.

Be the solution: In a VUCA environment, practitioners are faced with organisational changes, external factors – government policy summersault, economic stagnancy and low purchasing power leading to low margins and growth. In addition, community unrest and agitations impact on companies’ sustainability and operations. In these circumstances, practitioners easily slide into the trap that portrays them as part of the problem. This is the time to be the solution and arise to salvage the challenged reputation of the organisation.

Again, it is important to state that being the solution doesn’t make you the omni-knowledge person that resolves all issues.

No! It only means you have the capacity to play advisory role that leads the company out of these challenges using your currency of influence, identifying the right stakeholders to find lasting solutions and help mitigate negative impact.

In a nutshell, for PR practitioners to lead and survive in a VUCA world, they should have the capacity to be the organisation’s go-to people when and every time the need arises. A practitioner without this ability and capacity will not stand the test of time. Suffice it to say that to be the solution is to be a resourceful, innovative, an outof-the-box thinker and, above all, a challenger of the norm with the right attitude, mindset and strong stakeholder management skills.

See the future, embrace it: The future of our industry will be shaped and defined by technology.

Just as social media evolved from being not a ‘serious medium’ to becoming ‘emerging media’ and now a mainstream medium to engage in real time in reputation management, so will Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) cause a strategic paradigm shift in the industry. The practitioners that denied the power of social media less than a decade ago must be out of relevance today.

Those that will lead and survive in a VUCA world in the business of reputation management must always be willing to embrace the ever-changing dynamics of the world we live. It is not enough to be willing to embrace it, it is more important to be proactive about it, understand it and develop the skill set to use it to the benefits of the organisation. Practitioners that are constantly playing catch-up, deeply rooted in their beliefs like trees that cannot move locations, will not survive a VUCA world, let alone being able to lead.

If they don’t exist already, they will in the near future – algorithms that will study trends on issues of government, regulators and community stakeholders’ engagement with appropriate recommendations of bespoke solutions to organisations, taking into cognisance cultural diversity and centricity. Headline writing is already made easy with mobile apps that enable practitioners to develop content seamlessly. The days of dissipating energy and tagging being busy as being productive are over. These are the days of working smart. The options are: embrace it now if you must lead

and survive or go extinct as a practitioner.

Show me a world or an industry that is not constantly challenged and I will show you a world or industry that is dying. To operate in a VUCA world is not a crime, neither is it alien to humanity. Seeing it ahead of time, preparing to overcome it with resilience, competence and operational intensity are key factors that will determine the practitioners that will survive and lead in that world. Welcome to an innovative world order, where productivity is defined by results not by efforts. To see the future and embrace it is to lead and survive.

Stay humble, keep learning: Just as we have seen the rise and fall of great civilizations, so have we witnessed in the rise of great men. The people we consider the greatest today are sometimes not the most powerful by might or intellectual disposition, but by humility. While we have said that to lead and survive in a VUCA world you need to be a strategic, go-to solutions person that appreciates the need to see the future and embrace it, you also need to hear this: stay humble. Yes! Stay humble and learn, learn and keep learning.

The only way to learn is to stay humble. Stay humble to learn from the best in and outside of your industry. Stay humble to learn from the meek, learn from the street, learn from people you consider unsophisticated. Stay humble and learn from anyone, anything and any circumstances. Just stay humble and keep learning.

The hallmark of leading and surviving as a practitioner in a VUCA world is to be timeless in your impact.

Promoting sustainability and growth: The BATN Leaf model chain. Therefore, improving the productivity and ensuring optimal performance of this critical partner is an imperative for the company’s sustainability.

Being an agricultural resource that requires limited resources – arable land (soil) and fresh water, while contending with the variations of weather, consistent production of high yields by farmers increasingly depends on the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.

BATN operates a robust leaf research and development programme through which it continues to explore ways to improve the quality of tobacco plants while minimizing the environmental effects of conventional production in the field.

The agri-support begins with the very first input, the seeds.

Through their plant breeding programme, the company develops new tobacco seed varieties that offer greater yields and higher quality, as well as resistance to diseases. This improves crop resilience and also very importantly, does not involve any kind of genetic modification. Over

90percent of tobacco grown by farmers are from improved seed varieties and contributes to an increase of up to 20percent in yields compared with traditional varieties. This reduces pressure on all resources.

BATN also continues to develop improved practices and approaches to growing tobacco plant seedlings that help cut back on manual labour and reduce undesirable environmental impacts.

Sustainable soil management practices are essential, if farmers are to continue to use arable land optimally yearly and preserve same for future generations. The company has introduced best practices and technologies that minimises soil loss and degradation in all leaf operations around the world as appropriate to the growing conditions. The practices include minimum tillage, a method that minimises turning or disruption; relay cropping, where two or more crops are grown in sequence;.

In Nigeria, the company incorporated British American Tobacco Iseyin Agronomy Limited (BATIA) in 2003 as a full-fledged subsid-

iary. Located in Iseyin, Oyo State, BATIA oversees all domestic tobacco growing operations and rural agricultural development activities to the over 10,000 people directly and indirectly involved in the company’s tobacco growing operations. BATIA trains a team of extension workers who work directly with farmers to provide them with every available technical support required for profitable tobacco growing, including the aforementioned practices.

In Nigeria, as is common in many developing economies, a lot of farmers are not able to afford mechanization of their operations which, if not redressed, invariably means low productivity. BATIA has put in place a process of direct tractor leasing for farmers and the repayment period for the tractor is 4-5 years.

Therefore, farmers who ordinarily are unable to secure loans from banks for equipment finance get an alternative from BATN. This also provides business opportunities to third party transporters who transport tobacco for the farmers.

In addition to the mechanisa-

tion scheme, the company also enters into contracts with farmers at the beginning of each growing season; guaranteeing to buy their tobacco crop at a fair price, as well as detailing the free support and training they will receive from extension services and options to access resources at zero interest and lower costs, such as seeds, fertilizers and personal protective equipment. These agreements can also be used as security for loans from banks, enabling the farmers to further invest in their farms.

Through growing tobacco, employment is created for tobacco leaf farmers, farm workers, extension officers, Nigerian graduates, local transporters and other players in the agricultural value chain. As the expertise acquired in tobacco operation is applied on follow-up crop production, farmers achieve relatively higher productivity than the average rural grower. Good yields for the leaf farmers means an increase in their income, which can be invested in other business areas, educating their children and supporting their families.

We cherish readers’ reactions to stories and articles published in BusinessDay. All such reactions, which must not be more than 250 words, should be sent to bdsundayletter@businessdayonline.com with names and addresses of writers. The star letter every week will be rewarded.

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Sunday 23 September 2018

TheWorshippers Nigerian politics not for true believers – Rev. Oshokoya Reverend Gbenga Oshokoya of Foursquare Gospel Church, Ikeja, Lagos was the guest speaker at the 2018 Convention of El-Shaddai Bible Church, Omole Phase 2, where he spoke on how not to abuse the grace of God as believers in the kingdom. In this interview with SEYI JOHN SALAU, Reverend Oshokoya urges Christians to pray more for leaders and those in positions of authority. He states clearly that money and religion do not go together. Excerpts: The 2018 Convention of ElShaddai Bible Church, where you were the guest speaker, had the theme ‘The Grace Factor’. Could you explain what is meant by that? race is divine. It is God that grants grace and it engages Jesus as a substitute for our sin so that the sin we have committed can be taken away by Jesus to enable us enjoy freedom. That grace is what we are enjoying today. It is the grace of God that we enjoy as Christians, which is why we must not take the grace for granted; somebody paid for it and the person who paid for it is Jesus, who used his blood to pay for that grace.

You spoke on how not to abuse the grace. Can you shed more light on that?

If someone has freely given you grace – even though the scripture says where there is sin grace also is multiplied – for you not to abuse that grace is for you not to deliberately go into sin because somebody has paid for it. If somebody has paid for it, don’t go back again and abuse it. That is, you are saying that you are ungrateful. So, do not abuse the grace and the only thing that can give you strength not to abuse the grace is to constantly be in Him, read your bible, confess Jesus on a regular basis, and live a life that people can emulate – a life of Christ is a life of denial. When you live a life of denial, when you deny some

G

Gbenga Oshokoya

worldly things, it will make you to be in conformity with the grace of God so you will not have the opportunity of abusing the grace.

Why does it appear that Nigeria is drifting apart even with all the religious centres across the country?

Nigeria’s solution is still God. God is the solution. In fact, He gave us the Christians, the pastors, the authority to pray for those who are leading us so that we will live a peaceable life because if they are not doing

the right thing, it will affect both the Christians and the unbelievers. And for them to succeed, because they are still human, we must pray for them and speak out when we know they are going astray and warn them. God is still the solution to whatever is going on in this country and nobody has any magic wand than for us to pray for those who are there so that they will be able to see and do what is right in the presence of God. Can we then say the religious

Rev.& pastor Godfrey Emmanual, host and Archbishop, Olarenwaju Obembe at the 2018 Convention of El-Shaddai Bible Church, Omole Phase 2, Lagos

leaders are not praying enough?

Yes, I can say that religious leaders are not doing well, in the sense that they fraternize with these political leaders, and when you fraternize with them you will not be able to tell them the truth.

For you as a Christian leader, the political leaders should look to you for a solution. When there is crisis, they should look for the church to provide solution.

It should be like, ‘Thus sayeth the Lord: this is what God is saying concerning this issue at this time’. And the political leaders should obey. But wherein the leadership of the church is fraternizing with the political leaders, it will not be easy for the people to believe you when God has spoken. So for us, the church, we must stand in the principle of offered prayer: praying always for them to succeed. And when you have a message for them, you tell them. So, that means you must not be doing what they are doing for them to respect you when you speak.

When you look at the Nigerian political landscape, there seems to be too much money going round. So, can money, politics and religion go together?

No, no, no. Money and religion cannot go together. Honestly, the church, serious believers – I don’t see them playing politics of Nigeria because the politics of Nigeria is money. Some people use religion when it pleases them, just to win the hearts of the people because they know that majority of the people are gullible; so they use religious sentiments in some parts of the country and use money in other parts. Because of the poverty level that is around, people would want to, one, take their money; two, because of religion they would say, ‘This one is on my side’, and so on. So, the two cannot go together and I pray that the regulator of the electoral system of this country should be able to enforce it. Money should not be used to compel the electorates’ decision because when you use money, you are mortgaging the lives of those who are going to vote. And when you vote for those you have collected their money, it is obvious that when they get there they will keep their money. So, they are only using religion and money for the gullible citizens because of the poverty level of the citizens. They attract the people with peanut and the people, the poor people, are the ones that majorly vote, and that is why they can use those things to appeal to them.

Looking at the cost of nomination forms across political parties, it appears there is a calculated attempt to put off credible candidates in the polity. What is your view?

In this part of the country, the system is not working right and because the system is not working right, you need money for politics. Honestly, let’s say the fact – some people have been providing the money in the past.

For instance, if somebody is contesting for a local government chairmanship, he has to tour all the areas in the local government area, so he needs money. You will need money for people to help you to canvass; you need money to pay for transport, to take care of those who are helping you.

Honestly, political parties need money. But in advanced country wherein they believe in the candidate, they voluntarily support you, but in this part of the world, for now, I will not say whether money is too much or too small, but in each political party they have to call in the stakeholders – stakeholders in the sense that all those who are part of it should reason together. How will you fund the party if money is not available? I think part of the money they are collecting from the people is to fund the primaries and to fund committees set up. I think they actually need money and if they don’t collect the money from you, some people will sponsor it and they will hijack the system later.

As we look forward to 2019 general elections, what are your fears?

I don’t have any fear if all of us can pray. If we can pray that the will of God be done, God has a way of removing anything that is contrary to His will. There is nothing God cannot do. If God notices that a certain person is going to bring crisis, God will push the person out by making him not to qualify or making people not to select him. So, we have to pray to God and also appeal to the electoral umpire that they should do it in a manner that is free and fair, so that Nigeria will have a better society. My prayer is – I believe and I know it – that God is going to select a leader who will definitely lead us to the Promised Land because the suffering will sometime in the nearest future end. We keep praying for those who will emerge, that God will soften their heart and they will do the right thing so that the common people can benefit from the governance of the entire country.

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BDSUNDAY 19

Inspirations The Overcomer’s mentality (1)

PASTOR I.S JAMES TEXT – 1 JOHN 5: 1 – 5

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veryone who believes (adheres to, trusts and relies on the fact) that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah) is a born again child of God; and everyone who loves the father also loves the one born of him (his offspring). By this we come to know (recognize and understand) that we love the children of God: when we love God and obey his commands (orders, charges)… (Amplified Bible).

Do you know that the bible says that believers in Jesus are overcomers? That they are the true winners in life’s constant duels? That their victories are constant, made possible by the never failing power of God? This is regardless of what the external circumstances might be. However, I have long observed that many who confess that they are overcomers do not have the spoils of war to show for their efforts at speaking the word. They do not have fruits that follow their confession. The things they say are not backed by physical evidence. Apostle Paul said in some place that the kingdom of God is not in word only but also in the demonstration of the spirit and power. Believers are required to demonstrate their faith by their works!

Life’s difficulties are not meant to overwhelm us. It ought to be the other way round.

Financial difficulties, which seem to lead the pack of challenges, many people face ought

not to be treated the way many do. One straight-out reason many do not show the fruits following their repentance, as John the Baptist urged his hearers, is because they have not experienced a change in their mentality.

If we do not generally overhaul the way we see, think and perceive things, we cannot overcome. The difference between Joshua and Caleb, and the remaining 10 spies Moses sent to spy out the Promised Land, was their mentality (Num.13:1-14:9).

You could describe them today as Christians who feared the Lord but who perceived Him in markedly different ways. Notice the ratio. It has almost always been like that up till this very moment. What did Caleb and Joshua see that the rest? You would notice that verse 4 of our text didn’t say ‘whosoever…’ but ‘whatever’ (which includes persons, products, ideas, systems, institutions, etc that are born of God). It refers to anyone/ anything that takes its rise from God. Such entities have in themselves the ability to overcome every obstacle or resistance. The question now is, did your business, for example take its rise from God? Many dreams have been dreamt by many and they have been unrealized in spite of the conviction the dreamers had at the beginning, just because such dreams did not arise from God. Ensure that your dreams arise from God. This ministry would have collapsed on its face if it didn’t originate from God going by the opposition that came against us at the beginning. It is your faith (your unrelenting belief and unshakable confidence in the fact that God started this thing) that overcomes the world. You cannot live without faith.

Jesustold Peter once that Satan requested for permission to sift him as wheat but he told Peter that he had prayed for him that his faith fail not (Luke 22:31,32). What keeps many alive even when they are falling is their faith

that they will rise again. Faith will give you the leverage to climb up. It doesn’t matter how many times you have been beaten down. Tell yourself I am not going to be counted out. Let your confidence in God not fail.

The writer of Hebrews says cast not away your confidence (Heb.10:35). This is the instrument that will enable you to do valiantly.

If you believe in Jesus you have faith. Apart from Him you and I will fail but through Him we will triumph. You will rise again! Let this be your confidence in the Lord.

While praying and fasting is important, faith is probably more important. It is very easy to have this “Overcomer’s Mentality” inside the church building but outside, when the giant of reality confronts us many cannot find the voice with which they sang so eloquently (while in church) ‘It is well with my soul…’

You will never be able to sustain your success if Satan is able to easily and frequently move you from the realm of faith.

What does the word Mentality mean?

Mentality means a mind-set, a pattern of thinking, and a way of perception and worldview. The way you react to the world, depends on a number of factors. People are bound to react differently. You have an overcomer’s mentality when each time you are faced with an obstacle, a challenge, an opposition, fear and resistance; you take a deep resolve to continue with the fight.

It’s a determination to go through despite the opposition. You know you have the overcomer’s mentality when, in spite of your awareness of the depth of the spiritual warfare raised against you; you believe you are going to come out tops in the end. Why? Because your faith and boasting, is in the Lord, not in your abilities. You know you have the overcomer’s mentality when you prevail through barriers that seem impenetrable.

You are willing to prevail over the giants you

see. You have a readiness to break through the obstacles.

Why is it important to have this Mentality? If you do not have this mentality it will be easy for Satan to neutralize you. You were created for dominion and Satan fears nothing but the Sons of God. All he does is try to frighten you and bring you down to the level of your senses, trying to make you respond only to information from your 5 sensory channels. The 10 spies sent out by Moses didn’t speak like the sons of God but as human beings (guided by their senses). But you are the sons of God and you are not expected to be senses-led but Spirit led.

Satan is determined to squeeze us into his mold/way of thinking. He does this through the TV, Radio, Newspapers, the internet, etc every day, so that he can get us to think like the people of this world do. That is a slippery ground and you can hardly defeat him there.

But God has given you a higher platform to fight Satan. It is the higher ground of faith.

Outside this platform Satan can get you to become unproductive. He becomes effective in this realm when we exchange God’s value system for the value system of the world. ‘Then I will become like any other man,’ Samson told Delilah shortly after telling her the truth about the secret of his power (Judges 16:7). Like Samson, a Christian with faith/belief in God’s power is not like any other man. Realize the fact that there is a war of values going on.

• To be continue next week.

Dr. Iruofagha James is the Founding Pastor, Glory Christian Ministries, Odo-Olowo Street, Apapa/Oshodi Expressway, Ijeshatedo, Lagos. www.isjames.org Tel: 08060599144

Imprisoned by depression

REV. YOMI KASALI

@rev.yomikasali

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epression has become a very present and worrying trouble in today’s world. Young people are becoming increasingly imprisoned by the scourge of the enemy (the devil) known as Depression. It is a deadly place to find someone, even God’s generals who do not take care of their souls have been slain by this demon in the battle field of life.

Elijah the Prophet said, ‘...and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers’ (1 kings 19 v 4b).

A general like Elijah was not spared with this battle and he unfortunately failed the test. He gave up on God and Life, in fact depression made him think the whole world was against him where it was only Jezebel that was pitched

against him. Those depressed lose a sense of significance and always come out feeling suicidal because they cannot find strength to hang on unto life.

The Lord Jesus was rejected but handled depression better than the great Elijah the Prophet, the Bible says, ‘…the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone...’, we have to learn to handle rejection else we shall slide down into depression in life.

I will share my thoughts with you on ways of battling Depression as believers that are not clearly taught in church daily or weekly. We should know that the Bible did not ignore this dangerous state of the mind called depression but instructs us on how to get out of that state, you know Isaiah mentioned this state when he said, ‘He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint’ - Isaiah 40:29-31 3 SIMPLE WAYS OF BATTLING DEPRESSION: LAUGH EVERY DAY: Never go to bed without a laugh, even God Laughs from His throne (Psalm 2 v 4) so why should not we laugh. Believers of old did not think laughing was a good idea but not

me. I deliberately make it a point of duty to take care of my soul and guard it from depression so I watch good comedy shows, pranks, laugh out skits on YouTube just to ensure I LAUGH every day.

LOVE YOURSELF: The church has not taught us to Love ourselves but love our neighbours, while some teach to Love ‘Self’ and be selfish, so is it possible to Love myself without being Selfish or self-centered as an individual....oh yes.

We are expected to love ourselves as the Lord loves us without us being selfcentered looking for praise of men and worship of men like the devil did.

MANAGE EXPECTATIONS FROM LIFE: This is where young people have been over driven by the ‘motivational’

speakers camouflaging as pastors in the church. They have been taught to aim for the sky, moon and perhaps even ‘heaven’ while also teaching that those who are not achieving are failures in life and hence place these people under so much pressure to perform which leads to depression when they come short of their high expectations of themselves.

Please MANAGE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FROM LIFE. Be inspired.

Shalom.

Rev. Yomi Kasali is Senior Pastor, Foundation of Truth Assembly (FOTA), Surulere, Lagos

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Sunday 23 September 2018

Interview ‘We are on a mission to expose Nigerian Elmos International Consultancy Services is in the business of serving qualified people who desire to travel legally to especially Canada and the United States. Amos K. Fayehun, PhD, educational/regulated Canadian immigration consultant and owner of Elmos, speaks with CHUKS OLUIGBO, assistant editor, on a whole gamut of issues bordering on immigration procedures, the immense opportunities in Canada and the US, reasons for high failure rate of visa applications among Nigerians, and how his firm is working to change the narrative. Excerpts:

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ell us more about Elmos International Consultancy Services.

Elmos International Consultancy Services is an immigration and educational consultancy. It is a unique international firm set up to awaken our youths to the opportunities in the international community, especially North America (Canada and the United States). In the course of wanting to travel over the years a lot of people have been given wrong information, and because they are not well informed, when they get to the international community they are deformed. Some want to move out of Nigeria by all means and so desperately take illegal routes. There are even those who are enlightened, those who are qualified to go legitimately but they still cut corners. Many have been duped. Elmos International Consultancy Services is a light towards this darkness of ignorance that people have been plunged into for many years. So, we help those people who want to visit Canada or the USA, those who want to study, or those who want to relocate, that is, those who want to migrate, and those people who want to invest their money in two categories – as entrepreneurs or as investors.

When you talk about opportunities in Canada and the US, what are these opportunities? And what advantages do Canada and the US have over, say, countries of Europe?

When you talk about Europe, the theory that built up Europe has already expired many years ago; that’s why they are in trouble. Gone is the era of slave trade and colonialism. In those days, countries of Europe were giants controlling the whole world economically, politically and otherwise. But after the independence of most of their colonies, it dawned on them that they are not as strong as we think.

European Union was established as a way of strengthening them. The philosophy of life in North America is quite different from Europe and that is the fundamental opportunity we are talking about. For example, in North America, especially in Canada, if you study in Canada, if you study in America, they believe you have invested so much in knowledge and so, why can’t you stay? You are educated in their own way, you can work in their own way, so you can also be their citizen. Europe does not have that kind of strategy.

You study in the UK or other European countries, you go back to your country.

The education they give to students that come from developing countries may even be different from the education they give to their own people in the sense that they know they are training you for your own environment. The opposite is what obtains in North America. Nigerians, Ghanaians and others that go there are in the same classroom with Canadians, in the same environment. Their thinking is that technically they are building manpower for their own society. So, the opportunity in North America, especially Canada, is enormous. Canada is a peculiar one – the second-largest country in the world in terms of landmass, with

oil and gas reserves higher than Nigeria’s, well advanced technologically and infrastructure-wise but with a population of less than 37 million people. You can fill in the gap, the enormous opportunities that the place offers. You are looking at an environment that trains to retain versus another that trains to repel. That is what our youths must understand – you go to where you will be accepted not where you

will be rejected.

But the general impression you get is that the visa procedures for Canada and the US are the most tedious. Is that truly the case?

Let us not generalise the issue. Canadian and US visas are very difficult for Nigerians, but not so worldwide. I will explain why it is tough for Nigerians. The simple reason is our attitude as Nigerians and the perception the Americans and Canadians have about us. I handle people from the Caribbean. Caribbean people are even poorer than Nigerians but the success rate in the Caribbean is 90 percent, meaning that I have more success rate of visa approval in the Caribbean than in Nigeria.

Even Ghanaians and Beninoise are treated more fairly. It was not like that many years ago but Nigerians started moving to Canada and America to commit crime. You fill a form when you are going that you work in MTN, whereas you don’t work in MTN. You say, ‘I’m going to Canada or America for a month, for holiday’, it’s on record.

You get to Canada or America, then you lie and claim that they are killing people on the road in Nigeria and you managed to escape. You seek asylum. These things are working against Nigeria. It is Nigerians that destroyed Nigeria, not a third party, and that is why it is difficult. I was in Canada of recent and I was dumbfounded when I was called that a serving minister was refused visa to Canada. It was a serious embarrassment to the presidency.

They had to send some people there. And when we get to the authority in Canada, they tell us why they are refusing people.

They tell us our people are criminals, they

are fraudsters. They have many evidences of lying, fraud, everything against Nigerians. They know that eight or nine out of 10 Nigerians that go there will not come back. People have visa to America, they are crossing by road to Canada. Is it done anywhere? The international law says for you to be in any country, you must have visa of that country. So, it is our people that made it difficult. It is our people that made them generalise that the average Nigerian is a liar, a fraudster.

But that perception is not going to last forever. If the Nigerian economy improves tomorrow, the perception will change.

How then are you, in your capacity as a certified immigration consultant, working to simplify these procedures for Nigerians?

For any job you are doing, the first thing is to be qualified for it. The major problem in Nigeria today is that there are unqualified agents – all they know is how to fill form. And people go to these agents. And when they fill form, they help you formulate information that is not true, that you don’t even know about. I have seen somebody they put a different date of birth in his form.

When he got to America, they asked him his date of birth, and he was confused because he didn’t know what the agent filled in the form. So, the question is, Mr Umang who wants to fill your application form, does he know what it takes or he just wants to put in some garbage? Some of them don’t even have records. That’s why even if you get visa now, getting it renewed could be very challenging because there is no continuity, no consistency. But my background as a trained and qualified immigration consultant has really helped me. And I am still upgrading myself on a yearly basis. Number one is that I know what the authority of Canada or America wants. Number two is that I discourage fraudsters or criminals from coming to you. Number three is that I en-

Sunday 23 September 2018

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Interview youths to global opportunities’ lighten people that whatever information they are giving today is on record. You cannot legalize illegality. Once you put something down, you must be consistent. A lot of people don’t know. They believe that when they submit application form, that one is wiped off, and you can then fill garbage next time. No, you must be consistent. Because of my background, because of my exposure, we do it differently.

My clients know me for integrity – integrity in the sense that you have to do it right. That is my philosophy. Even if you are going to be refused, it doesn’t matter; you can still apply again, you can still be given, but you don’t need to cook up information. Let them know what you are. If you are poor, your purpose for going to the US or Canada is clear, they can still give you visa. If you are very rich, and they know that your purpose is not justified, they can still refuse you. That is what people don’t know. I also tell my clients, these people you are dealing with, they are not dumb. For example, someone who is probably 48 years old, has not travelled before, is not married, no good job, who doesn’t know this guy will hang on over there and will not come back?

It’s simple logic. There is no enemy anywhere that says you should not come to Canada or America. What is your purpose of coming to America or Canada? What is your job? What is your income? So, we try to package things in a way that makes sense and we are honest with our clients. Those who are not qualified, I discourage them and tell them to go and improve.

Because of the bad situation we find ourselves in Nigeria, many people want to go abroad, but many back here keep complaining about the brain drain that is affecting the Nigerian economy. This migratory trend definitely has an effect on Nigeria. What do you think can be done?

Your question touches my soul because I happen to be a victim of what you are talking about. I love Nigeria with a passion. But assuming I did not take a step to leave this country when I did, I could have been in a serious dismay today. Nigeria could have put my family and me in a mess. So, whether we call it brain drain or survival strategy, it’s now an individual perception and interpretation.

What is brain drain? The brain drain we are talking about can be the difference between a rational being and an irrational being. Think of a scenario where you put a fish inside a bowl and start to apply heat to it. I’m very sure, from my little knowledge of physics, that the heat applied will change the temperature of that water from cold to warm. Every human nature likes warm – not too cold, not too hot.

But let’s say the heat continues to be applied, then, I believe that water will turn gradually from warm to hot. What do you think a rational fish will do? It will jump out. Now, jumping out, it doesn’t even know where it is jumping to.

Some will jump to dry land and still die. Some may be lucky to jump into water where they will survive. Some will jump to even something worse than where they are coming from – from frying pan straight to fire. That is what every Nigerian is doing. They are just responding to the harsh environment. I had a PhD before I left this country. I was lecturing in a renowned private university. My take-home could not take me home. Every day on campus there, I cried and I asked, how would I sponsor my children in the future? At that point in time, my children could not even study in the university where I lectured because I didn’t have money to pay.

So, when the opportunity came and I migrated to Canada, you call that brain drain? It’s not brain drain, it is survival instincts because I am a rational human being.

So, what categories of people are Canada and the US attracting now?

The beauty of these countries is that they know where they are going in the next 10, 20, 30 years. The categories they attract are really based on their demand and the direction they are moving in terms of development and growth. Now, for example, I encourage a lot of youths to go to Canada as international students if they have the budget. If they go to Canada for one year of study, they are entitled to one year work permit. If they go to Canada for a two-year study as international students, they are entitled to three years’ work permit. It’s automatic. Now, you can imagine the kind of changes that must have gone through such a youth, the kind of knowledge, skill and international exposure that must have passed through that person. Frankly, he would not remain in the saw raw state he was when he left Nigeria. Canada will not ordinarily like that kind of person to go because he has become tailor-made to the country’s needs. So, those are the first targets because it is cheaper for Canada or America to retain those kinds of persons because as international students they have spent a lot of money to acquire new skills, new knowledge. In the second category are the professionals, young professionals that are rotting away. They can be unemployed or underemployed. Many of the professionals in Nigeria are underemployed.

Only very few Nigerian professionals in the youth population earn up to N360,000 net in a month, which is about $1,000 in a month. I think our youths that fall in that category might be less than 5 percent of people who are working. I stand to be corrected. If you are a professional and you are earning less than $1,000, you are underemployed. You are a lecturer, PhD holder, you lecture in the university and you are paid N200,000 in a month, a senior lecturer, definitely you are earning less than even $800. How can you then say you are a professional at the international community? So, those people are also our target. Canada will give you opportunity to relocate under various categories.

Number one, you can go to Canada as a permanent resident, under express entry.

That is also in two categories. You can go

under federal skilled workers’ programme or you can go under provincial nomination, where a province nominates you that they need your kind of guy. If a province nominates you, you are as good as being in Canada. Another category of people that might be attractive are investors. People don’t know that with a very little turnover in Nigeria, you can be an entrepreneur in Canada or the US. Take, for instance, somebody setting up an eatery. If it is an individual, you can say you want to establish an eatery in Canada. It depends on the environment – maybe Toronto, Montreal or other highly-populated area. You discover that Afro-Caribbean people living here are many and you may want to start with two outlets. Then, we also think of investors, maybe you want to invest in real estate, in manufacturing, in construction.

There are a lot of Nigerians that I know – I don’t want to mention names – that are into construction of houses in America, in Canada. Work permit is also possible but it is under a serious condition. So, people should not be deceived that they can just get work permit easily, but it can be processed if someone is specialised in some key areas.

Let’s talk about affordability. How cheap is it to travel to Canada or the US? Now, don’t let me deceive you. There is a wide difference between boys and men.

Head or tail, going abroad is expensive and what makes it expensive is our exchange rate. Dollar has remained dollar for many years. As I told you, I also represent the people in the Caribbean. For the past 17 years, some countries I know in the Caribbean, their local currency has exchanged 2:1 with the US dollar. It’s still 2:1. All of a sudden in this country when I came back years ago, it was N141:USD1 and average Nigerians could still send their children abroad for study. In those days, if you had average of N2 million to N3 million, you could pay the bill for your child in Canada for a year, but with the exchange rate of N360 to $1 now, you can’t dare it if you don’t have up to N7 million plus. So, Naira is the determinant that makes it expensive for people. The school fees of Canada have remained constant for the past five years, it’s not changing; the feeding has

only changed marginally; the inflation rate is in single digits. So, it is nothing happening in the international community; it is as a result of something happening seriously in our local community where anyone can wake up and devalue the Naira overnight and nobody will talk. So, whether you believe it or not, the exchange rate has made studying in Canada and America expensive. That is the truth.

What advice do you have for Nigerian youths who are qualified, who fall within the categories you have mentioned but don’t know how to go about it?

As I told you, it is as simple as ABC. And I’m not talking from theory, I am talking from experience. I was not born in Canada; my wife, my children were not all born in Canada but they are Canadians now. We did three fundamental things that anybody that does them will get through. Simple!

Number one is, you must be qualified for whatever you are applying for. That is the fundamental issue. But people like to go for what they are not qualified for. They are not going to succeed. You must be qualified for what you want to go for in life.

Number two, you must follow procedure.

There is a laid-down procedure. But trust Nigerians, we like shortcut; we don’t want to follow procedure. Number three, you have to pray because not all Nigerians will be given that opportunity. There is a narrow difference between a wise man and a stupid man. A stupid man is someone that makes a simple matter complex. A wise man is someone who makes a complex matter simple. So, you should not be surprised that I make a complex matter simple because I’m a wise man. Those that go and die in the Mediterranean Sea, they are stupid people making a simple matter complex. Why do you want to go to another person’s country without genuine visa, without any paper? Go and look at the records of those people, majority of them are not qualified to go through the legitimate way. So, they don’t want to follow procedure. But if you follow these strict principles, qualify for what you are applying for, follow the procedures, and privately pray to God, it is doable. Then, another thing is, people should be wise and not stupid.

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Sunday 23 September 2018

Interview

‘Commonwealth University here to rescue the poor in oil region’ The General Overseer and doctorate degree holder in Physis, Moses Kattey, is the Archbishop of the Commonwealth Covenant Church Inc. Alode, Nchia Eleme, Rivers State. His church is now out to float a new generation private university. Contrary to the trend that private post primary schools and private universities in Nigeria were for the rich, Kattey says the Commonwealth University is with a mission to bring out education-hungry or thirsty Niger Delta youths and offer them qualitative education without tying cut-throat fees around their necks. For him, it’s an aberration for any successful member of the society to make high cost of education a barrier to indigent or poor students from poor families. This informs why the commonwealth university is billed to take off in September 2019 where the management is looking at the possibility of running the school for three years at a stretch without depending on student’s school fees to handle running cost such as salaries and infrastructures. Also the cleric differs on making it a mandatory policy for church to give empowerment or welfare to its members with an aim to retaining membership, arguing that it’s only the scripture or the gospel preached to the spiritual lives of members that can bond them to the church. These are among other issues the bishop responded to in an interview with our Correspondent, GODWIN EGBA, in Port Harcourt. Excerpts:

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our Commonwealth Covenant Church Inc. is coming up with its own private university, how realistic is that dream now?

Commonwealth Covenant University is a sure dream that has come to stay. It is a God’s intended project for indigent eligible Niger Delta Youths who are thirsty or hungry for academic pursuit. This is the mission of the university billed to take off by September 2019.

How prepared are you for the effective take – off?

We are at an advanced partnership discussion with some overseas and Nigeria Universities such as the Cyprus University near Israel and the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria now waiting for their response. We are also negotiating with banks, individuals and other organizations all geared towards our take – off next year.

What is your consideration for the university curriculum take – off with regards to the the National University Commission (NUC) as a regulatory body of University Education in Nigeria?

Our covenant university is not built on mediocrity or surrounded by mediocrities. Members of the governing board are products of sound academic qualifications, moral and spiritual integrity. We cannot go an inch without the NUC registration and so we are discussing with the authority. We are starting with pre – degree, degree and Remedial programmes respectively in different disciplines.

Running private university education in Nigeria is very expensive. How do you intend to wither the cost effect without charging high school fees like others?

We are not unaware of the trend of charging exorbitant school fees to remain on course.

However, charging exorbitant fees is not a guarantee to qualitative education, it’s not a guarantee

Moses Kattey

that the rich men’s children in such schools can do better academically. Poverty is of the mind and I don’t believe poor Nigerian youths are poor in mind but they can be poor economically and that’s why we are saying that poverty should not deny or be a barrier to indigent Nigerians who are the resilient, desirous and perseverance spirit and quest for education.

Which ever way one looks at your proponent, don’t you still need the financial muscles to accomplish your mission?

The lord is our strength and that’s why we are discussing with banks, individuals and other organizations for financial partnership that would guarantee us run the school for at least three good years without burden of school fees.

We are also going into some sustainable businesses to be run by the University to generate revenue to take care of overhead cost. “God will make a way where there seems to be no way”, is a wisdom to us who believe. We are not profit oriented but we shall

get there.

You are a strong advocate of education for the poor especially in the Niger Delta. What level of empowerment does your church give to its members who are in need of better life like the widows, students?

When we started, we were giving scholarships to people in our church, trained some in some skills but where are they now? So far non is in the church. We were doing it to retain our membership but it didn’t work.

Suffix to say such people have ulterior motives?

I don’t advocate the use of welfare to keep members or people in the church but the power of God. The kingdom message is about power as contained in 1st Corinthians 4:20 - “for the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power”. Our members with us are by power of God. Some people come to the church for financial help and once they are helped they find their comfort zones.

So where should the priority be?

First, I should be able to pay our ministers who are working for God to enable his gospel draw people to Him. It’s the power of God that keeps His people in the church. I stress here that attaching welfare to gospel or evangelism is wrong but faith in word and power of God according to 1st Corinthians 2:5 - “so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on Gods power”.

There are many retained members of their churches who need welfare amidst abundant blessings coming into the churches and their leaders, should they not be placed on welfare schemes?

Many churches do a lot of welfare to their members but those that remain are mostly old members, others go away because they have gotten what they were looking for based on their mind – set and not true salvation.

DigifyPro graduates ready for media, ad agencies jobs DAVID IBEMERE

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raduates from DigifyPro Nigeria programme are now ready to begin their careers in top media and advertising agencies across the country and in the Netherlands following a three-month intensive training on cutting-edge digital skills.

Top agencies like Digitplus, Fuel Media, Noah’s Ark, Iprospect, Automatic, Amnet, Brandeye Media, and Dkt International have indicated interest to accommodate the graduates.

Others are Webcoupers, 141 Worldwide, Business School Netherlands, Algorithm Media, Etu Odi, Teras Doxas, X3M IDEAS, Isobar, and Ovi Media.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Florence Olumodimu, the programme director in Nigeria, said despite technology now being a vital driving force in personal and work life, the supply of highly-skilled tech workers has not kept pace with industry’s growth.

“The digital skills gap in Nigeria results in thousands of unfilled jobs. This opens up opportunities for the teeming unemployed graduates we have in the nation.

DigifyPro Nigeria is determined to address this shortage, thereby creating a consistent pipeline of capable and employable young talent into brands and agencies,” she said.

“Aside from training young people to work in a digital space to the growth of the economy, we also ensured we have a highly-skilled workforce that is able to compete internationally. The training programme also adequately covered vocational and workplace skills such as emotional intelligence; problem solving; decision making and adaptability skills; teamwork skills; effective communication skills; leadership skills; goal setting skills; personal organisation, planning, time management; gender equity sensitivity; knowledge of contemporary issues; self-awareness and selflearning,” she said.

Olumodimu described the DigifyPro participants as “strong people, always giving it their best and staying very passionate”.

“They have to be strong to have survived this far still smiling, still happy and still giving it their best even with all the intense training, case studies, assignments, practical sessions, presentations and tours,” she said.

She called on organisations to come forward with request for the graduates as interns, saying, “We are excited to offer our graduates who have solid digital and work skills as interns.”

Sunday 23 September 2018

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Interview

‘Nigeria needs effective laws to put an end to insecurity’ Edwin Okafor is a Nigerian security and digital communication expert based in Indonesia. He is also the managing director of Access Telecommunications Services Link Limited. In this interview with NGOZI OKPALAKUNNE, he spoke on security challenges in Nigeria, way forward and other issues of national interest.

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What motivated you to go into security management? s a an engineer, l started with telecommunications doing a remote monitoring solution, at a time we discovered that the rate of crime in the global market is on the increase and we keep on seeing only one particular product using to find solution to various security challenges. The problem is that the available product it is not solving the problem. So, we decided to create applications and devices to forestall individual and institutional security.

Homes, offices, schools and malls, among others, are usually targets of attacks. There is, therefore, the need to put in place adequate security measures in these places. Recently, l built a security solution for some schools across the nation.

A major aspect of your work has focused on schools. What’s the driving force for that?

In most cases, the government receive the blame for security challenges; however, in event where the government is lackadaisical, alternatives should be sort for rather than wait endless.

The society is outraged due to the present insecurity in the world especially in Nigeria where killing has gone unabated. The future is bleak with a generation where children are left alone without inculcating in them sound moral judgement.

The perpetrators of this killing in Nigeria are the youths whose parents enjoyed the good image and integrity of Nigeria as a giant of Africa. They received free education, good morals and quality attentions, but failed to bequeath to their children. Their children therefore have nothing to offer the society but chaos.

When people are busy looting and stealing money and give their entire life in pursuit of money and material things, their children will end up selling them off to those street beggars, the poor and needy who managed to build themselves even though they were denied of their societal privileges. Those poor one have time for their children and usually train them on how to manage and build life; this is the reason why great inventors are from poor background. The world is waiting for a rich man’s son that will be the next to invent the wheels.

Most parents don’t know their child’s character or what he is capable of doing because he wants to be the richest man in the world, without knowing that wealth is

Edwin Okafor

immeasurable.

Children should be the priority assignment of parents as hinged on the divine injunction to multiply. They should be trained to be God-fearing, have integrity and well-behaved in society.

It is worth noting that nobody was born with money and at death the money is left to unknown person who has the password and will be unable to say thank you for your foolishness.

Mandela is being celebrated today and many want to answer his name because he was successful and had integrity. How many persons are willing to sacrifice as he did? This poor communication between parents, their children and government has been unfair to humanity.

After many years of research and crave to install peace in the face of the earth, we discovered that people age easily and are sent to their early grave while the issue persist for generations, yet peace is evasive.

It was against this background that l developed interest in building a product that will tele-guide school children and the product is called “ACCESS ME”. It is a security solution where parents, teachers and the school management can jointly achieve security and secure the future of the children in line with sound morals and academic excellence all together.

We donated this hybrid security to schools that have indicated interest, for the safety of the children and study environment. This hybrid security gives the child protection while in the school and gives the parent or guardian ability to remotely monitor the child’s progress.

“ACCESS ME” can protect children from violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect. At the level of prevention, our aim includes supporting and strengthening families to reduce social exclusion, and to lower the risk of separation, violence and exploitation so that society will be better.

What factors are responsible for the rising tide of insecurity and how can these be solved?

Beyond the rhetoric, the major challenge is that we are secretive about the issue of security. We have not been able to figure out those behind insecurity and the factors that cause insecurity.

A major reason for insecurity is unemployment. Not everybody will work with the government.

Then, not even multinational companies can employ up to 10,000 workers at once. Yet, we keep rolling out graduates almost every day. Where do you expect these people to work?

An idle hand is the devil’s workshop, they say. After spending years without jobs, some of these graduates may turn to illegalities

leading to insecurity.

Government is not even helping matters by not providing incentives for small businesses to survive. Multiple taxation alone could easily asphyxiate a budding business.

Another thing is enforcement.

If someone commits a crime, ensure you jail him, publicly dent his image and make sure he cannot do anything meaningful again. If our law enforcement agencies do these, that will curtail insecurity.

Through collaborations, we can scale through the challenges.

My company can support with technology transfer. This is an industry capable of feeding millions of Nigerian homes. With that, insecurity would reduce. Someone who is into a business making money from it would have no business around criminality.

We also need effective laws to put an end to insecurity. Someone caught in a crime should not be seen to be walking freely the next day just because of some legal technicalities manipulated before the jury.

What has been your experience in the IT world in Nigeria?

My experience is not palatable as Nigeria is lagging behind technologically. IT requires software tools provided by software developers, which are not readily available in this country. I, therefore, partner with other players outside Nigeria to achieve the transformation of my ideas into the innovations we have to our credit.

What advice can you give to government, schools, homes and organisations on security?

I can’t advise the government but can request for support from them. These solutions have government content as security is the responsibility of government.

We decided to donate ACCESS-ME to schools because of my passion for children and again to my country, Nigeria.

Child security is of most concern to parents and guardians. AccessMe inculcates a device that can alert parents or guardians of the whereabouts of their children and or in danger. Every organisation, home, school needs security and should go for security products that are tailored to solve their unique challenge.

We made it free for schools to ensure safe learning environment and to carry the parents along with the teaching of their children for the purpose of having a better future for Nigerian children. It’s not a commercial product but my contribution to my fatherland, Nigeria.

APC guber ticket: Ribadu, Great Ogboru, Akomas, Ali, Shittu, Uzodinma, Marafa, others cleared JAMES KWEN, Abuja

F

ormer Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Nuhu Ribadu, was Friday certified to contest for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket of Adamawa State alongside Great Ogboru who is seeking the ticket for Delta State governor and former Abia State Deputy Governor, Chris Akomas vying for governorship ticket.

APC also on Friday cleared Adebayo Shittu, Minister of Communications and Mansur Ali, Minister of Defence to contest for the party’s gubernatorial tickets for Oyo and Zamfara States, while Senators Hope Uzodinma and Kabiru Marafa received the same clearance to seek the governorship tickets of Imo and Zamfara States.

Similarly, former Minister of State for Health, Ali Pate from Bauchi, former APC Youth Leader, Dasuki Jalo from Gombe, Uche Nwosu from IMO state, among others were successfully screened to challenge sitting governors for the APC ticket.

Most of these governorship aspirants who are vying for the tickets freshly have indicated preference for direct mode of primaries unlike sitting governors who have preferred indirect primaries.

One of the governorship aspirants, Ribadu, while speaking with journalists after the screening, dismissed claims that Adamawa State has adopted indirect primaries, stressing that the incumbent Governor, Jubrilla Bindow, is also an aspirant and cannot foist his personal conviction on the other aspirants and critical stakeholders.

Ribadu said: “The governor is an aspirant and there are other aspirants who are also contesting. The rest of the aspirants said they want direct primary. It is not just governorship, but the Senatorial and House of Representatives. Majority of those who are contesting or who want to contest want direct primary.

“Adamawa State is one of the states going through difficult court cases and I don’t think that the party will allow itself to go ahead and do indirect primary when there is a pending court case that is challenging the legality of the state executive. In an event that the court declares the state executive illegal, then the whole thing that was done by that executive will be a nullity and the party will end up in trouble and will not have candidates to go into the general election.

“The issue of direct primary is to be determined by the National Working Committee and will come up with a position. We are waiting, believing that they will look into the case of Adamawa and see that it will be in the best interest of the party for us to have direct primary.

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Politics

Why the private sector will play a huge

Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, a former governor of Kaduna State, a former national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) currently one of the presidential aspirants on the platform of the PDP. In this interview with ZEBULON AGOMUO, Editor, the Kaduna-bo presidential flag-bearer would be stormy, given the huge number of aspirants. He also says that he does not demand any special f him. The distinguished senator also talks about his economic policy, saying that the private sector will play a huge role in his admin The PDP will be having its primaries on October 5th and 6th and you are one of the presidential aspirants. A lot of permutations are flying about because of the large number of aspirants. Again, the unwillingness of the aspirants to accept consensus option has also been the talk of the town. Now, as one of the aspirants, is there any issue with the huge number? ell, first of all it depends on which perspective you are looking at it.

Some say, the more the merrier. I don’t see any particular problem with the number.

We are talking with one another; the party organ is doing its best to ensure that everything goes well. Of course, the number presents the challenge of management, but again we are friends; we are associates. We are communicating with one another. All that we expect is that a credible convention takes place; once that is done it will allay whatever fears. I doesn’t preclude, we, among ourselves, reaching some accommodation agreement.

The number you see now may not be the number that will go all the way to the convention. It depends on interpersonal discussions among us, but the party would not force any position on anybody.

It would not force anybody out.

W

Do you foresee a situation where two or three of you go into the primary eventually?

It is quite possible. That’s why I said that the ongoing discussions we are having among ourselves have the potential of reducing the number. Nothing is cast in stone, you know. You can’t say how many will go to the convention until the day of the convention. It is quite possible that we will find accommodation and go

with the reduced number that would be agreed upon. We are seriously talking on that.

Your Excellency, how ready would other aspirants accept and cooperate with whoever that emerges as your party’s candidate?

If for instance, I emerge under an atmosphere that the convention was conducted free, fair and credible, people will accept; whether it is me or any other person. What people will not accept is if they believe that the process was manipulated to favour some persons (me or anybody). We hope for a credible convention that will produce an acceptable outcome.

Do you think or has it ever come to your mind at anytime that Senator Ahmed Makarfi deserves any form of compensation from PDP, for any reason?

No, I don’t have special rights and I never demanded for special privileges, but then, of course, whatever I was able to achieve is a credit; after all, if you look at things based on performances; that could be true; but it is not a right.

Some of the aspirants are going sentimental. They are going about saying why PDP should pick aspirants from this or the other part of the country to be able to defeat the APC candidate in 2019. How about that? How do you think such aspirants would cooperate with a candidate that is not in line with the position they are canvassing?

You see, for me the ticket is open to anybody from the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Everybody has the same constitutional rights and privilege that the party has extended to the north in this case. But when it comes to political discussions

No, I don’t have special rights and I never demanded for special privileges, but then, of course, whatever I was able to achieve is a credit; after all, if you look at things based on performances; that could be true; but it is not a right through persuasions, you can’t rule out such things; but nobody should demand any of such things as rights.

May we know a little bit of your economic policy, assuming you emerge the PDP candidate and then get voted in as the president in 2019?

First of all, we must diversify our economy. The key to economic development is diversification. We can’t continue to rely on oil and we keep on talking about diversification and not heading anywhere. Of course, we have made some progress in agriculture production, but the insecurity that has pervaded many parts of the country is also reducing agricultural output. Again, even the agricultural output we are not getting the maximum yield per acres and the quality we get is not up to standard.

We can do a lot here to make agriculture a year-round venture and not seasonal as it has been in this country.

We have to move away from the ordinary and elevate agriculture and also bring about agro-allied industries that will be processing our produce for local consumption and export. Our industries must be supported, and must be seen to receive that support, not just on paper.

So that they don’t have to be shifting production to other countries and then we now import such products back to Nigeria. Again, the issue of regulations which inhibits small and medium enterprises must be looked into. There are too many of them; and it is not in the interest of our economy. We must create a friendly business environment in our nation. We must drastically reduce these regulations and double taxation so that businesses can thrive.

There is so much molestation going on by different government institutions that also hinder growth in this sector. We must improve infrastructure for businesses to grow, not just the road; the rail, the airport, seaports. They must work

Makarfi

efficiently so that you don’t lose the returns you are expected to make. The margin can be lost through demurrage accumulation.

Your goods could go bad as a result of bad roads and all that. For some of you who live in Lagos, you know what it means now to go to Apapa or Tincan Port. We must also reform institutions and make them work efficiently.

Our taxes can be lowered. Taxes are disincentives. As a matter of fact, you can lower the taxes and get more revenue. Efficient assessment and collection mechanism must be put in place to ensure that government does not lose genuine revenues. We will collaborate with the players in the private sector. We should be partners; sit down with them; they have their own input to make. We would not say that we know it all or we know it more than they do. We would sit down with them and come out with programmes that will make them real active players in our government.

Sunday 23 September 2018

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25

e role in my administration, by Makarfi

) and a senator who represented Kaduna North Senatorial District, is orn politician allays the fears that the selection process for the party’s favour from the party and that his robust past records will speak for nistration, if voted into power. Excerpts: (INEC) for the 2019 general election.

There are those who may have registered for the sake of having the PVC, not that they are going to vote; because they say their votes may not count.

What do you think about this?

Well, it depends on those who think this way. But Nigerians need to be excited to go to the polls. The incumbent of course, has some people who will still vote for him; but there is a growing number of citizens who are saying ‘never again will this party and president rule us again’.

There’s a lot of disenchantment in the land. But again, it is up to us, PDP, to field a candidate that will excite the voting masses to go to the polls. Whatever we do and who we decide to field will largely determine the attitude of voters in 2019.

So, it is really up to us to excite voters to make this all-important change the country needs at this time.

Some people say that as long as poverty remains endemic in Nigeria, politicians would continue to induce voters with money; and that elections would continue not to be credible. Is there any merit in that?

Yes, but voters can accept money and still freely exercise their choice of candidate.

Let me tell you, the recently concluded local government election in Kaduna, we didn’t have money but because we allowed people to choose their candidates, people came out en masse; they voted, and they defended the votes; and we did wonderfully well in that election. So, it depends on how you conduct the process. The process must be one that excites voters; not to dampen their spirits.

The current administration promised diversification from oil, using agriculture; how is that programme working and do you think that going by what Nigerians have seen so far, the message of diversification will be taken seriously this time around?

I have a record of good performance and achieving whatever I promise. I don’t say what I do not mean to do. I have a record of performance when I was a governor; I have a record of performance when I was in the National Assembly and I have a record of performance when I was given the difficult task of managing a political party. I have also a record when I worked as banker before I joined politics. So, my record speaks for itself.

Distinguished Senator, it is said that about 84 million Nigerians have been registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission

In recent times, some politicians have been bickering over restructuring; what is in your programme about this restructuring and what does it mean to you?

First of all, it is a policy of the PDP. I remember when I was the national chairman we talked about it and I addressed a press conference and we made it clear that it is a programme of the PDP. But then, restructuring means different things to different people; and that is where talk is important. I had some time during the Obasanjo administration chaired a technical committee that brought out the modalities and terms of reference of the Political Reform Conference. We already have two reports on the issue of restructuring and I assure you that we shall implement such reports in line with the aspirations of the good people of Nigeria.

Youth unemployment is on the rise; leading to all manner of anti-social behaviours. How would you tackle this challenge if voted into power?

First of all, in tackling this, I believe that

be richly engaged.

Again, programmes that can help people to be self-reliant would be introduced, not the type of programme where you give people N5,000, N10,000, N20,000 or N50,000.

That is not empowerment. It is not sustainable. We are not talking about money given to people as dash. But something tangible that people can make a career on their own. These are the types of programmes that are in our immediate and medium term plans to put in place to begin to address the issue of unemployment.

What is your advice to the electorate as we go into the election, given the level of disillusionment arising from past disappointments?

They should not be discouraged. We learn from past mistakes. People have history. When you see people forgetting their history, they make a mistake.

There is nobody seeking public office that doesn’t have a history. People should refer to history and learn from it in such a way that it will help them to take a better

How sincerely would you assess the fight against corruption by the current administration?

For me, it is a noble fight that should not be politicized. That’s what we hoped for and that’s what we prayed for. But we all know that it has been politicised. I cannot say 100 percent, but it has been substantially politicised. And once you begin to politicise such a thing, it loses its essence and the support of the people.

We want a situation where you remove politics from this noble cause.

It is for them to conduct a credible election. The survival of democracy; the survival of this country depends on how seriously and responsible we discharge our responsibility

there should be higher public expenditure in the immediate in critical areas – infrastructure, rural development, agriculture- that has the potential to generate employment opportunities for our teeming youths, and of course, we should support the private sector as I have mentioned earlier.

Agriculture should be the greatest employer of labour. Employment would increase and productivity would increase.

You don’t increase productivity without a commensurate increase in your labour force.

We know there is automation but we shouldn’t over-rely on automation when we have abundant labour that needs to

decision than making them resign to fate and then allow evil to thrive.

No; they must resolve to positively move on, not only in their own interest but also in the overall interest of the country. History must produce a worthy outcome and not negative result.

What do you have to say to the INEC; security agencies and other government institutions about the general election?

It is for them to conduct a credible election. The survival of democracy; the survival of this country depends on how seriously and responsible we discharge our responsibility.

24

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Sunday 23 September 2018

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25

Politics

Why the private sector will play a huge role in my administration, by Makarfi Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, a former governor of Kaduna State, a former national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and a senator who represented Kaduna North Senatorial District, is currently one of the presidential aspirants on the platform of the PDP. In this interview with ZEBULON AGOMUO, Editor, the Kaduna-born politician allays the fears that the selection process for the party’s presidential flag-bearer would be stormy, given the huge number of aspirants. He also says that he does not demand any special favour from the party and that his robust past records will speak for him. The distinguished senator also talks about his economic policy, saying that the private sector will play a huge role in his administration, if voted into power. Excerpts: The PDP will be having its primaries on October 5th and 6th and you are one of the presidential aspirants. A lot of permutations are flying about because of the large number of aspirants. Again, the unwillingness of the aspirants to accept consensus option has also been the talk of the town. Now, as one of the aspirants, is there any issue with the huge number? ell, first of all it depends on which perspective you are looking at it.

Some say, the more the merrier. I don’t see any particular problem with the number.

We are talking with one another; the party organ is doing its best to ensure that everything goes well. Of course, the number presents the challenge of management, but again we are friends; we are associates. We are communicating with one another. All that we expect is that a credible convention takes place; once that is done it will allay whatever fears. I doesn’t preclude, we, among ourselves, reaching some accommodation agreement.

The number you see now may not be the number that will go all the way to the convention. It depends on interpersonal discussions among us, but the party would not force any position on anybody.

It would not force anybody out.

W

Do you foresee a situation where two or three of you go into the primary eventually?

It is quite possible. That’s why I said that the ongoing discussions we are having among ourselves have the potential of reducing the number. Nothing is cast in stone, you know. You can’t say how many will go to the convention until the day of the convention. It is quite possible that we will find accommodation and go

with the reduced number that would be agreed upon. We are seriously talking on that.

Your Excellency, how ready would other aspirants accept and cooperate with whoever that emerges as your party’s candidate?

If for instance, I emerge under an atmosphere that the convention was conducted free, fair and credible, people will accept; whether it is me or any other person. What people will not accept is if they believe that the process was manipulated to favour some persons (me or anybody). We hope for a credible convention that will produce an acceptable outcome.

Do you think or has it ever come to your mind at anytime that Senator Ahmed Makarfi deserves any form of compensation from PDP, for any reason?

No, I don’t have special rights and I never demanded for special privileges, but then, of course, whatever I was able to achieve is a credit; after all, if you look at things based on performances; that could be true; but it is not a right.

Some of the aspirants are going sentimental. They are going about saying why PDP should pick aspirants from this or the other part of the country to be able to defeat the APC candidate in 2019. How about that? How do you think such aspirants would cooperate with a candidate that is not in line with the position they are canvassing?

You see, for me the ticket is open to anybody from the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Everybody has the same constitutional rights and privilege that the party has extended to the north in this case. But when it comes to political discussions

(INEC) for the 2019 general election.

There are those who may have registered for the sake of having the PVC, not that they are going to vote; because they say their votes may not count.

What do you think about this?

Well, it depends on those who think this way. But Nigerians need to be excited to go to the polls. The incumbent of course, has some people who will still vote for him; but there is a growing number of citizens who are saying ‘never again will this party and president rule us again’.

There’s a lot of disenchantment in the land. But again, it is up to us, PDP, to field a candidate that will excite the voting masses to go to the polls. Whatever we do and who we decide to field will largely determine the attitude of voters in 2019.

So, it is really up to us to excite voters to make this all-important change the country needs at this time.

No, I don’t have special rights and I never demanded for special privileges, but then, of course, whatever I was able to achieve is a credit; after all, if you look at things based on performances; that could be true; but it is not a right

Some people say that as long as poverty remains endemic in Nigeria, politicians would continue to induce voters with money; and that elections would continue not to be credible. Is there any merit in that?

Yes, but voters can accept money and still freely exercise their choice of candidate.

Let me tell you, the recently concluded local government election in Kaduna, we didn’t have money but because we allowed people to choose their candidates, people came out en masse; they voted, and they defended the votes; and we did wonderfully well in that election. So, it depends on how you conduct the process. The process must be one that excites voters; not to dampen their spirits.

through persuasions, you can’t rule out such things; but nobody should demand any of such things as rights.

May we know a little bit of your economic policy, assuming you emerge the PDP candidate and then get voted in as the president in 2019?

First of all, we must diversify our economy. The key to economic development is diversification. We can’t continue to rely on oil and we keep on talking about diversification and not heading anywhere. Of course, we have made some progress in agriculture production, but the insecurity that has pervaded many parts of the country is also reducing agricultural output. Again, even the agricultural output we are not getting the maximum yield per acres and the quality we get is not up to standard.

We can do a lot here to make agriculture a year-round venture and not seasonal as it has been in this country.

We have to move away from the ordinary and elevate agriculture and also bring about agro-allied industries that will be processing our produce for local consumption and export. Our industries must be supported, and must be seen to receive that support, not just on paper.

So that they don’t have to be shifting production to other countries and then we now import such products back to Nigeria. Again, the issue of regulations which inhibits small and medium enterprises must be looked into. There are too many of them; and it is not in the interest of our economy. We must create a friendly business environment in our nation. We must drastically reduce these regulations and double taxation so that businesses can thrive.

There is so much molestation going on by different government institutions that also hinder growth in this sector. We must improve infrastructure for businesses to grow, not just the road; the rail, the airport, seaports. They must work

Makarfi

efficiently so that you don’t lose the returns you are expected to make. The margin can be lost through demurrage accumulation.

Your goods could go bad as a result of bad roads and all that. For some of you who live in Lagos, you know what it means now to go to Apapa or Tincan Port. We must also reform institutions and make them work efficiently.

Our taxes can be lowered. Taxes are disincentives. As a matter of fact, you can lower the taxes and get more revenue. Efficient assessment and collection mechanism must be put in place to ensure that government does not lose genuine revenues. We will collaborate with the players in the private sector. We should be partners; sit down with them; they have their own input to make. We would not say that we know it all or we know it more than they do. We would sit down with them and come out with programmes that will make them real active players in our government.

The current administration promised diversification from oil, using agriculture; how is that programme working and do you think that going by what Nigerians have seen so far, the message of diversification will be taken seriously this time around?

I have a record of good performance and achieving whatever I promise. I don’t say what I do not mean to do. I have a record of performance when I was a governor; I have a record of performance when I was in the National Assembly and I have a record of performance when I was given the difficult task of managing a political party. I have also a record when I worked as banker before I joined politics. So, my record speaks for itself.

Distinguished Senator, it is said that about 84 million Nigerians have been registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission

In recent times, some politicians have been bickering over restructuring; what is in your programme about this restructuring and what does it mean to you?

First of all, it is a policy of the PDP. I remember when I was the national chairman we talked about it and I addressed a press conference and we made it clear that it is a programme of the PDP. But then, restructuring means different things to different people; and that is where talk is important. I had some time during the Obasanjo administration chaired a technical committee that brought out the modalities and terms of reference of the Political Reform Conference. We already have two reports on the issue of restructuring and I assure you that we shall implement such reports in line with the aspirations of the good people of Nigeria.

Youth unemployment is on the rise; leading to all manner of anti-social behaviours. How would you tackle this challenge if voted into power?

First of all, in tackling this, I believe that

be richly engaged.

Again, programmes that can help people to be self-reliant would be introduced, not the type of programme where you give people N5,000, N10,000, N20,000 or N50,000.

That is not empowerment. It is not sustainable. We are not talking about money given to people as dash. But something tangible that people can make a career on their own. These are the types of programmes that are in our immediate and medium term plans to put in place to begin to address the issue of unemployment.

What is your advice to the electorate as we go into the election, given the level of disillusionment arising from past disappointments?

They should not be discouraged. We learn from past mistakes. People have history. When you see people forgetting their history, they make a mistake.

There is nobody seeking public office that doesn’t have a history. People should refer to history and learn from it in such a way that it will help them to take a better

How sincerely would you assess the fight against corruption by the current administration?

For me, it is a noble fight that should not be politicized. That’s what we hoped for and that’s what we prayed for. But we all know that it has been politicised. I cannot say 100 percent, but it has been substantially politicised. And once you begin to politicise such a thing, it loses its essence and the support of the people.

We want a situation where you remove politics from this noble cause.

It is for them to conduct a credible election. The survival of democracy; the survival of this country depends on how seriously and responsible we discharge our responsibility

there should be higher public expenditure in the immediate in critical areas – infrastructure, rural development, agriculture- that has the potential to generate employment opportunities for our teeming youths, and of course, we should support the private sector as I have mentioned earlier.

Agriculture should be the greatest employer of labour. Employment would increase and productivity would increase.

You don’t increase productivity without a commensurate increase in your labour force.

We know there is automation but we shouldn’t over-rely on automation when we have abundant labour that needs to

decision than making them resign to fate and then allow evil to thrive.

No; they must resolve to positively move on, not only in their own interest but also in the overall interest of the country. History must produce a worthy outcome and not negative result.

What do you have to say to the INEC; security agencies and other government institutions about the general election?

It is for them to conduct a credible election. The survival of democracy; the survival of this country depends on how seriously and responsible we discharge our responsibility.

26

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Politics 2019: Is the concept of crowd-funding resonating with Nigerians?

ZEBULON AGOMUO

O

ver the years, political offices in Nigeria are known to exclusively belong to politicians who have the financial muscle to bankroll their electoral expenses. It is not certain anything has changed from that practice. Given the increasing cost of Expression of interest and Nomination forms of major political parties in the country, it appears that political positions are not for the poor, no matter their leadership competences.

This also accounts for the reason the clamouring for generational power shift may take long to materialise.

In May this year, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the #NotTooYoungToRun bill, sponsored by youths. The law makes it possible for the youth to seek elective positions without inhibitions. But it is not just about signing the bill. The President’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), was to seal the fate of aspiring youths when it rolled out unbelievable range of charges for nomination forms, which observers said are impossible for the youth to provide.

The outrageous costs of the forms elicited a barrage of criticism even from aspirants within the party. The party had sold its form for the presidential race for N45million, while the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), fixed its price at N12million.

Reacting to the shock and unbelief the development generated, the APC said the high cost was because it would not want to use public funds to conduct its election.

Observers have said that neither N45million nor N12million was too cheap for the youth to muster in a society where youth unemployment is endemic.

While addressing journalists early in the year, shortly after the formation of the Nigeria Intervention Movement (NIM), Olisa Agbakoba, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), noted that the major challenge facing the youth in their quest for generational power shift was finance.

Agbakoba had announced that NIM was going to do something different, to raise money to prosecute its project of ensuring that youths take over the reins of power from the older generation.

He had announced that the group had opened an online register for interested members

Obasanjo

Buhari

Omoyele Sowore

Fela Durotoye

Kingsley Moghalu

Olisa Agbakoba

of society to join the Movement, saying that if all Nigerians who are disenchanted at the goingson in the nation’s political arena could contribute just N100 each, it would go a long way to sponsoring a candidate to win the 2019 presidential election.

That method of contribution, he described as crowd-funding.

This, he also explained would reduce the pressure on whoever that may emerge as the preferred candidate of the people. It is yet to be determined how much has been generated since the idea was floated.

Some younger aspirants for various positions have since embraced the crowd-funding option; some of them are said to have generated a lot of money so far, from that source. Fela Durotoye, who recently emerged the candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), is said to have generated a lot from this source.

Omoleye Sowore, a human rights activist, pro-democracy campaigner and founder of online news agency, Sahara Reporters, is said to have also adopted the crowd-funding method of campaign fundraising.

Sowore, who recently reneged on the outcome of the alliance where Durotoye emerged as the consensus candidate of Presidential Aspirants Coming Together (PACT), insists he is still in the race. He announced that “TakeItBackMovement and the African Action Congress Party (AAC) party were still in the race.

Kingsley Moghalu, a former deputy governor of the Central

Bank of Nigeria (CBN), strongly believes that the masses should show commitment in the effort to effect the generational power change. He is also an advocate of crowd-funding as a way of racing substantial funds to prosecute the project.

The presidential candidate of Young Progressive Party (YPP), was also among those who entered into the alliance that adopted Durotoye as a consensus candidate, but like Sowore, he also backed out a few hours after the emergence of the ANN candidate.

degree holder in International Politics, believes that it is the mindset of Nigerians and the loss of confidence in politicians that make crowd-funding a suspicious option.

“Here it is believed that politics is a lucrative venture and that anybody going into it must have got a lot of money. The usual thinking is, ‘Ah, how can I contribute to someone who has a lot of money?’ So, people don’t see the larger picture. If you are telling them it is in their own interest ultimately, they would tell you to go tell that to the marines. It has become part of us to expect money from politicians at election period, so to see a politician come to you asking you to contribute to his election funding, they don’t get it; it does not resonate with them,” Ms Okon said.

“A situation where people deliberately go into election to get some grants for themselves, how then would you take seriously those who are calling for crowdfunding? The idea in itself is great, but the problem is the intention behind it. We see people declare for election, but from the word ‘go’ they know their intentions are not genuine,” she added.

According to her, “The behaviour of typical Nigerians to forget the electorate as soon as they get into office does not help the issue of crowd-funding. People see politicians whom they voted into power turn into another thing; from the harmless lamb they were during campaign to dangerous lions and hyenas when they get to office. So, people do not see why they should be part of

How popular is crowd-funding in Nigeria?

Although crowd-funding has been described as a concept whose time has come in Nigeria given the unwillingness of moneybags to voluntarily exit the stage and the need to retire the geriatric from power, some observers say that it will take a long time for the Nigerian populace to embrace it.

“In many countries outside Nigeria this has come to stay.

People invest in a candidate they believe in, not for personal gain, but for the good of society. It is not enough for the electorate to wait until the Election Day to cast their votes, they must take part in electoral processes. By the time they wait till the day of election, it becomes too late to make the necessary change because the moneybags would have already compromised the process, making it impossible for voters’ votes to count”, Aaron Ogundipe, a Data analyst, said.

Patricia Okon, a Master’s

sponsorship of ‘ungrateful politicians’. I think this is basically the reason the concept is not receiving the kind of attention it should, given the economic situation of the country right now.”

Desmond Okolo, a university don, said the insincerity of politicians may have made it difficult for Nigerians to believe what they say.

“Over the years, the average Nigerian politician has been proven to be inconsistent, covenant breaker and liar. How do I mean? You know you can never trust a Nigerian politician. What he says to you in the morning is different from what he says at noon, in the evening and at night, on a given issue. Forget about those who now hide under generational power shift to promise all manner of goodies. Can we say we have never had youths in public offices since 1999, what was their achievement? For me, it is not about age, it is about mindset; it is about integrity and readiness to say No to negative influence,” Okolo said.

According to him, “Now, I am not very sure how popular any of the seemingly young people is, who are campaigning based on the need for generational power shift. How many of them are ready to openly declare how much they have raked in through the crowd-funding method?

What if they fail to win the election, would they not move on without seeking the views of those who contributed to the fund, what should be done with the money; would they not count it as their own booty? These are the issues. Until our politicians learn to play clean, skepticism will continue to trail their intentions, no matter how noble.”

Natasha Akpoti, a senatorial aspirant for Kogi Central, in an exclusive interview with BDSUNDAY, however, said that crowdfunding is a concept whose time has come in the country.

Akpoti said that some individuals and groups had already started to send some materials that would assist in her campaign.

“I can tell you that I have already been given three buses for my campaign by a group outside my state. Some gave phones and sim cards. You see, when people know that you are going to properly represent them in government, they would spare nothing to assist you. They would go all out; they would go with you to any length. Some of us do not have the resources for the campaigns, but we have what it takes to represent our people well, and that’s what they have seen in us, hence their support,” Akpoti said.

Sunday 23 September 2018

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Politics Ambode mum on strategies, eyes on primary election ...as more groups endorse Sanwo-Olu JOSHUA BASSEY

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ven after being cleared by the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to vie for the party’s ticket in the 2019 governorship election, incumbent Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode is still not in a hurry to go public on how he intends to sway votes in his favour.

BDSUNDAY has been told that the governor is keeping to his chest the strategies to woo party faithful ahead of the party’s direct election, which holds next weekend. Ambode is among other APC sitting governors cleared by the national leadership of the party, last week, to seek re-election in office. However, in his home state of Lagos, all seems not to be smooth yet, as there are conflicting interests.

But while Ambode is seen not talking, Jide Sanwo-Olu, current managing director of Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSPDC), who is seen as Ambode’s greatest challenger, has since inaugurated his campaign organisation, which says it’s working round the clock and mobilising across the 57 local councils of the state to ensure victory in the primaries scheduled for September 29.

The third aspirant, Femi Hamzat, commissioner for works and infrastructure under the immediate past administration of Babatunde Fashola, like Ambode, since picking up the governorship nomination form, has been quiet, in what leaves the impression that the primary contest will be between the incumbent governor and Sanwo-Olu. A source very close to Ambode told our correspondent weekend, that the governor’s silence over the crisis rocking his second term bid, is a show of respect for the powers that facilitated his involvement in active politics and surrendered their platform to enable him contest in 2015. According to the source, in spite of the hard stance of the party leadership over the governor’s second term ambition, Ambode has chosen to refrain from public statements until the primary is lost and won.

“Ambode still sees Bola Ahmed Tibubu as his godfather and therefore, does not want to show disrespect to him.

The governor believes the issues will be resolved and once done, those heating up the system will have no choice but to surrender to the resolution of the party.

Ambode will not join issues with them because he believes the party will do the right thing,” said the source who craved anonymity.

Since the disagreement within the Lagos APC on possible consensus endorsement of Ambode for a second term in office became public knowledge, last week, the governor has refused to speak either by himself or through his media aides, preferring rather, to work underground towards the resolution of the impasse, with interventions so far by groups including the APC national leadership, the Presidency and APC governors.

In the mean time, the Babajide SanwoOlu Campaign Organisation (BOSCO) has welcomed what it described as “the

Tinubu

Ambode

Sanwo-Olu

outpouring of love from Lagosians, particularly the torrents of endorsements from various political and socio-economic groups across the state and several Lagosians living in the Diaspora,” noting that it is a confirmation that the people of Lagos are fully in support of Babajide SanwoOlu’s aspiration to administer the state as governor.

Olusesan Daini, director of media of BOSCO, said apart from Conference 57, which had identified the sterling qualities of Sanwo-Olu and continues to stand behind him, many other political associations and groups have declared their support for him ahead of the Saturday, September 29 party primary elections.

“We have received calls from hundreds of notable politicians from across Lagos State, declaring their love for the choice of Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Some have actually written us letters to pledge their support and to endorse our man,” he said, adding that “PSP operators in Lagos have issued a statement to applaud the choice of Sanwo-Olu, whom many have described as a great administrator, a listening leader and a man of character.’’

BOSCO listed some other endorsements for Sanwo-Olu to include The Consolidation Group (TCG), with the entire Amuwo-Odofin chapter of the All Progressives Congress; Badagry chapter of the APC as well as several notable individuals in the party.

Daini, speaking on the revised time table for the primaries, said although the BOSCO is ready for the election, the shift by three days will give the campaign committee an opportunity to further reach as many party members as possible.

“We need thousands of our members to come out en-masse to vote for Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Saturday, September 29, 2018. We need to show that our strength as a political movement is in our numbers as we are working round the clock to ensure that we record a huge turnout of party faithful on the day of the primary election’’.

Daini also dismissed the insinuation in some quarters that the Conference 57’s support for Sanwo-Olu is for economic reasons saying that those spreading such falsehood are either bereft of knowledge of Lagos politics or are only out for mischief. He said Conference 57’s endorsement and support for Sanwo-Olu is borne out of the group’s desire to take Lagos to a greater height.

“We are reading all sorts of lies, distor-

tions of facts and some falsehood posts on social media aimed at disparaging our movement and our leader. But we have decided not to respond to them because most of the posts are without authors.

Rather than dissipate energy on all that, we have concentrated work on mobilizing our base and preparing everyone for the election’’, Daini said.

Some party leaders who have openly identified with Sanwo-Olu include former minister and notable politicians, Ademola Seriki, Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East Senatorial District), former House of Representatives member Monsuru Owolabi (Bertola), and several current House of Representatives members; former commissioner in the Bola Tinubu administration, Wale Edun, frontline politician Shakirudeen Sola Giwa, Cardinal Odumbaku (Baba Eto) among others.

Crisis for Ambode came to the fore on Monday, September 10, when he obtained the governorship nomination form of his party to seek re-election in the 2019 elections. The governor was said to have been encouraged by his aides and political allies to go ahead and buy the form in order to beat the deadline which was a few days away.

But Ambode got the shock of his life when two other aspirants from the party- Jide Sanwo-Olu and Femi Hamzat, also obtained the governorship forms, thus setting the stage for direct primary contest to select who flies the party’s ticket in 2019.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national leader of the APC and strongman of Lagos politics, had last month announced the governorship candidate of the party would emerge through a direct primary, which gave the signal all was not well within the APC. “We appeal to all our members to update the membership registration and embrace the direct primary that has been introduced and adopted by our party. We are committed to our party; we are committed to the values of the party; we see direct primary as President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption and internal democracy revolution.

“We are going to embrace that in which the party is going back to the owners of the party and that is you the people. It is not we the few; it is we the people. We have embraced democracy and you have your decisions to be made but you have to be members of our party in the first place,” Tinubu said while addressing party members on August 14 at the APC secretariat

in Ogba, Ikeja.

Ambode before now had been alleged not to properly ‘service’ the APC. Asides, his policies, especially the introduction of Visionscape to take over waste management from the PSP operators was said to have directly hurt party stalwarts, some of whom own waste management companies that were barred from domestic waste collection.

Although Tinubu had in April this year intervened in the crisis between Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAM), the state government, and advised that the PSP operators be fully reintegrated into the waste management system, the advice was not fully complied with.

In a meeting with AWAM, an umbrella body of PSP operators, in Lagos, led by Ola Egbeyemi as chairman, Tinunu in April pointed out the need to resolve the issue.

“It is disappointing and sad that at this stage of our development, the matter should result into petition. It should have been continuity and progress. Whatever is the shortcoming, we will correct it. This will get to the governor latest by Monday, April 30.

“It is sad to see Olusosun dumpsite in dangerous smoke. As a grand patron of AWAM, I am concerned driving around Lagos and seeing built up refuse. I must say it is a challenge that is coming back and we will not allow that to happen. The government is trying and responsive but the complexity of Lagos is compounding by the day,” he said.

Tinubu acknowledged the fact that AWAM members travelled abroad to learn international best practices in waste management and should therefore, be allowed to apply it in Lagos.

“I challenge you to go and be ready in your various communities and lines and get ready to work. I appeal to you to maintain peace. The House of Assembly, the government and the party will work together to promote your business interests. The only thing we can do is to encourage this kind of small scale business to grow. The governor might have been experimenting and it is not a shame to reverse to the former,” Tinubu said.

To close watchers of events in the state, it was not surprising that SanwoOlu while declaring for the governorship race on Sunday harped on better waste management and cleaner environment as one area that would attract his attention if he secures the APC ticket and goes ahead to win governorship election in 2019.

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Sunday 23 September 2018

Politics How realistic is Ekere’s single term guber ambition pledge in A/Ibom?

ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

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he Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nsima Ekere who is vying for the governorship position of Akwa Ibom State made a committal statement during a rally in Eket. While delivering his acceptance speech, he promised that if elected he would serve for a single term of four years. The 1999 Constitution (as amended) makes provisions for governors to seek a second term in office at the expiration of the first four years.

This statement has since generated debate and controversy given that campaign promises in Nigeria and utterances at political rallies are often taken with a pinch of salt.

Again, Ekere comes under criticism by observers for playing on the intelligence of the right-thinking people who believe that such statements made in the past were never adhered to. Many see it as a way of currying the favour of voters to enable him get into office in the first place.

There are instances where many politicians did not feel any obligation to the statements they made while campaigning.

For instance, when Muhammadu Buhari was campaigning in 2014, he had promised to serve for only one term if elected president but today, he has willingly accepted to run for a second term without any recourse to the statement and promises he made in the past.

Similarly, former President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have promised to serve only for a single term when he was first elected as president but he reportedly abandoned the pledge when he sought for re-election in 2015. He lost the election with many thinking that if he had served for a single term and allowed another candidate from another section of the country, perhaps Nigeria would have been better off than it is today.

In Akwa Ibom State also, there is a raging controversy that Governor Udom Emmanuel before being elected had entered into an agreement with a section of the Akwa Ibom South senatorial district to be a governor for only one term.

This has since been vehemently denied

Nsima Ekere

and Governor Emmanuel has already received the backing of his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the sole candidate in next year’s election.

While Ekere has made a pledge to run for a single term, he has anchored it on the youths agreeing that he should only go for a single term. In other words, when the youths come back and ask him to go for a second term, he would have no choice than to accept their request.

“Today I have been given a form and I have been asked to run. I would run on one condition. The first condition and the only condition is that you must agree that I run for only one term,’’ Ekere said during the rally.

Given that such statements made in the past were never adhered to, should Ekere’s statement be swallowed hook, line and sinker?

There is a subsisting political arrangement in Akwa Ibom in which each of the three senatorial districts of the state produces the governor for two terms. This agreement has been implemented and two senatorial districts have done so already.

For example, both Akwa Ibom North East and Akwa Ibom North West senatorial districts have taken their turns as it were.

Now, Governor Udom Emmanuel who hails from Akwa Ibom south senatorial district is seeking a second term and Ekere who is also from the same senatorial district is running, if he were to succeed, it means Governor Udom’s bid for a second term would have been truncated though if Ekere were to win, the senatorial district would still have done two terms.

However, the major snag here is that Akwa Ibom North East is already waiting in the wings for Akwa Ibom south senatorial district to complete its tenure in 2023 so that it takes over the governorship of the state. If Ekere is elected governor, many believe he would jettison his one term pledge more so as he had stated his decision would be dependent on the youths who must agree that he should run for a single term.

This therefore, means that the youths can put him under pressure to go for a second term, a development which looks vague and suspicious.

As the man at the helm of affairs at the

NDDC, he sits over a budget of more than N400 billion yearly. Though the commission may not receive all its allocations in a given year, a substantial part of it is usually released for the development of the Niger Delta region and states within the catchment area. If that is the case, should Ekere not be contented with supervising the development of the region? Having served as a deputy governor of the state before, it seems his quest for the number one office in the state is all out to truncate the political arrangement in the state. Be that as it may, Ekere knows that with a single term as governor, he would hardly be able to accomplish much in bringing development to the state, creating jobs and adding value to the system. Perhaps, if he loses out during the polls, he might have lost his position as the managing director of NDDC. Since the political scenario in Akwa Ibom State took a new dimension with the defection of former Senate minority leader, there has been an increased rivalry between PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It seems that the defection has tilted the political calculations but it remains to be seen how it would significantly alter the outcome of next year’s general election in the state.

According to commentators, though Akpabio had defected from PDP to APC, the political gladiators in the senatorial district are still in intact with PDP. “We have only lost about two percent of the voters; we cannot for whatever reason go with him to the other party. Our main worry is the refusal of President Buhari to sign the electoral bill into law; we are for peaceful elections, we are no war-mongers and our instrument of peace is the Permanent Voter’s Card,’’ one commentator from the district said.

Indeed, the political atmosphere in the state looks charged and given the unsavory statement credited to one of the gladiators, it seems most probable that the only way to restore confidence and credibility in the forthcoming election is for President Buhari to sign the electoral bill into law.

And with the promise by Ekere to serve for only one term if elected, it seems politicians in the state are all out to win the votes of the electorate with promises that they may not be able to keep.

Epe division should not be left without representation JAMIU ADEDEJI

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agos State, since 1999, has enjoyed, without the need of a ‘special character’ equal representation across board. It has run unarguably the most inclusive government in the country. Lagos has produced in this period, three female deputy governors. It has also one time left the economy and planning in the hands of a non-Yoruba, in the person of Ben Akabueze.

No one complained, after all, this is Lagos.

Several non-indigenes have won elections to parliament at both state and federal levels - a rare occurrence in the country.

We have had prominent cabinet members who have returned to their various states to run for office, with some emerging as governors. This is largely because Lagos has

assumed the position of the progressive big brother, pointing the torch for others to see.

Things are however, changing fast.

Only recently, the party, for reasons unknown to us has decided to pull the rug from beneath the feet of our Dear Son the governor.

The public humiliation and utter disregard for the office of the governor was a slap on the people of Lagos and more so his kinsmen in Epe. This wasn’t enough for certain elements within the party who are bent on completely denying the people of Epe effective representation.

They have gone further to pressure the party leadership to over look, not just merit but also prestige, by denying Senator Gbenga Ashafa, a true Lagosian, the opportunity to continue to serve his people. May I ask what parameters the party leadership used to arrive at the sour conclusion that Honorable Bayo Oshinowo is capable of effectively represent-

ing his people. Here is a man who in 15 years in the state legislature can hardly boast of a meaningful bill or sustainable project. You wonder how he is a match for the incumbent senator who has completed 96 projects, 26 bills and 12 motions.

The people of Epe vehemently disapprove of such an insensitive decision to deny us the Senate seat and that of the governor. Senator Ashafa is our eye and our voice, a son in whom we are well pleased and has, through his hard work, earned himself the privilege to serve another term.

We therefore, urge the party leadership to be a lot more circumspect and make a turn to support Senator Gbenga Ashafa. We cannot continue to have senators or members of house of representatives who claim to represent us, abscond to their home states to seek higher political office, thereby neglecting their

own constituents, yet such behaviour is being rewarded by the party.

We want Lagos to succeed and we pray it does but we must always ensure that fairness and balance are sustained in our democratic exercise - in this case Epe that has almost witnessed two of its most prominent sons stripped. We will not allow this happen.

Gbenga Ashafa has done the work, lived up to all his promises and consistently supported his constituents. He deserves another term and not the cold treatment he seems to be getting now.

Ashafa deserves another term not just because he is our son but because our son has done an incredible work representing his people. *Adedeji is a leader of young professionals forum Epe Division.

Sunday 23 September 2018

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Politics Only ADC can guarantee good governance, youth participation in governance – Daramola

Babatunde Daramola, chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Lagos State, speaks with Iniobong Iwok on the state of the party and its chances in the 2019 general elections.

Could you lead us into the history of the formation of the ADC? he African Democratic Congress (ADC), as you may know, is an old party. It was founded in 2006 by some forward-looking young men led

by Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu. The dream was to create a party that is tailored to embrace the interest of the generality of the masses, a party that allows ordinary Nigerians opportunity to participate in the political process. But how things got worse in the political system since the advent of the Fourth Republic we still don’t know. Political parties are supposed to be for the people, but rather, what we have now is that it is for some people. This could be said to be the cankerworm that has led to all the political problems that have bedevilled the country in recent years.

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candidates. We have a face now; we have been receiving calls from people wanting to join us. Lagos is in place.

What ae the programmes of the ADC and how are they different from those of other parties?

The plan was that the party would be owned by Nigerians. Every Nigerian would have a right to be a member by paying N200 which was for subscription.

This is different from other parties in the country who are owned and controlled by moneybags and are now using it to siphon the wealth of the country. The ADC offers an opportunity for Nigerians to join a party that is there for them, without them knowing anybody or god-father. It is a party that you can be in and aspire for electives positions without you knowing anybody or licking the boots of anybody.

It is a party that you can be in without anybody authorising your participation.

You don’t need a godfather in ADC. After the birth of the party in the last congress, we outlined our basic ideology. Our executives emerged from within the ranks of the party without any one choosing who becomes the chairman, which is a welcome idea.

What is your reaction to President Buhari’s second term bid?

Buhari should go and rest. The country has never been this divided since inception. There are so many things that have never happened to us that are happening now. This government is directionless.

We cannot continue like this. We thought the Jonathan government was bad, but Jonathan left the naira at 189 or so to the dollar, it is now about N370. People can’t eat. What do they have to show? Things were bad, but they have never been this bad. The Jonathan administration was a far better option than the current Buhari administration. Buhari is worse. The government is nepotistic and tribalistic. See the people surrounding the president, that is why you cannot access him. Look at the security situation across the country.

What is he doing about it?

What is the party’s arrangement with the Olusegun Obasanjo-backed coalition? There are insinuations that the coalition is in control of the party. Is that so?

When we adopted the ADC, what happened was that I was the Lagos State coordinator for Coalition for Nigerian Movement (CNM); we had over 8 million people on our data list nationally. We realised that CNM would remain an NGO without being beneficial to Nigerians. We then thought that we could improve the living condition of the masses by being involved politically. We knew the problems, especially in choosing a platform that aligns with our goals, and there must be obstacles. We talked to some political parties in the country and assessed their platforms. That was how we adopted ADC. We adopted the party because it allows for youth participation that we envisaged when the CNM was created in February. For the fact that it allows for youths participation made it easy for us to choose. So Nigerians should just walk into any state branch to become members.

What is the cost of your nomination forms? Are they as expensive as APC’s?

The cost of APC forms is extremely ridiculous; it is a way to tell the younger people that they should go and steal. If you have such amount of money there are so many things you want to do with it. This would not give chance to the younger people who want to lead the country. We offer a 50 percent reduction on our nomination forms for the youths and it is free for women, but any woman who thinks she has the money can pay. Some women may feel insulted, they can pay. Our governorship nomination form is N5 million, and as I said, we are giving a 50 percent reduction to the youths.

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Are you saying the CNM is not in control of the ADC? It is the ideology of everybody that is still part of the party. We sat down and discussed. Ralph Okey Nwosu is still the national chairman of the party. The former state chairman in Lagos is now my deputy.

We are trying to build the party, which is the most important. This is a party that gives opportunity to ordinary Nigerians; it allows the ordinary Nigerians to challenge for position without necessarily referring to any godfather.

What are the chances of the party ahead of the forthcoming elections in the country?

Our chances are bright; we have the people. APC is a cabal for the few; if you don’t belong you can’t be anything in the country. We have the people; we would make sure that we challenge vote-buying with all our resources in the coming elections. Whatever millions you have, we would make sure it is one man, one vote.

We thank God for the Goodluck Jonathan government which a lot of us condemned, but we have seen how APC has mismanaged our resources. In Lagos APC has mafia that has diverted our resources; it is in the hand of the cabals. We are saying enough is enough, people must come out and vote and also say enough is enough.

The will of the people must prevail.

But the party doesn’t have a structure in Lagos. How then do you win elections?

If you have contributed to a process you would defend that process. That is why we asked people to join our party and pay N200. It means you are a part owner of our party. It means that you would defend our votes during elections. As long as we get people who are striving every day to join us, we believe our chances are bright. They may want to bribe you, but it is our money, it is our stolen money; they should collect the money and vote for the

right candidates. We can compete with the APC in the state. The only resources required are the people. If I have 1,000 people, it means they would protect the votes. The party is already structured in Lagos State. It is five months to the elections and that is very long time. It was just like yesterday that everybody thought Governor Ambode would come back, but events in the last few days seem to be different.

How many positions would the party present candidates for in the coming elections?

Our party would present candidates for all elections in the country, from the state assemblies to the president. We just opened our state secretariat recently. We had a lady who just approached us to purchase the presidential nomination form. Before our primaries we would have enough

Buhari should go and rest. The country has never been this divided since inception. There are so many things that have never happened to us that are happening now. This government is directionless. We cannot continue like this. We thought the Jonathan government was bad, but Jonathan left the naira at 189 or so to the dollar, it is now about N370.

Can INEC conduct credible elections?

They have not been able to convince anybody that they are capable. I hope they can fix the vote-buying we saw in Ekiti State. They have to solve it and allow people vote from their conscience.

They think they can purchase the people’s future. INEC blamed security agencies for not checking vote-buying. These security agencies have been compromises. In the end, INEC may have to prove to Nigerians that they can stop, but let’s see how well the banning of telephone will work. INEC has to come out with strategy to address the situation.

What is your party’s view about the agitation for restructuring of the country?

Well, it is overdue. The country must be restructured. This country must undergo systemic reconstruction; so restructuring must happen. The country would be better for it. Restructuring is one of the strong promises of ADC. What is your assessment of Buhari’s anti-graft war?

The anti-graft war is selective and you can see that it has failed. Nigerians don’t believe that the administration is serious about it.

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Sunday 23 September 2018

SundayBusiness Gateway Brewery: Going green for efficiency, sustainability and growth

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Muola Awolowo

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co-friendliness, perhaps, more than any other practice will be pivotal to business sustainability into the 22nd century and beyond. For efficiency in operations and even market share, businesses across industries have seen the wisdom in reducing their carbon footprint to become environmentally friendly. A global survey conducted by Unilever in 2017 showed “that a third of consumers (33%) are now choosing to buy from brands they believe are doing social or environmental good.”

From buildings constructed to conserve energy usage, office furnishing and stationery made from recycled products to office equipment that consume less energy, and even working with green-minded vendors that provide support services, businesses have been innovating to reduce their carbon emission to ensure efficiency and sustainability. In the financial services industry, the Stanbic IBTC Group, for instance, has a strong eco-friendly policy in place that has continued to position it as a bellwether of innovation. From the installation of energy saving LED bulbs and solar-powered ATMs to motion sensors in buildings for the control of power and tree planting in Zaria, the Group continues to work on reducing its carbon footprint.

Manufacturing concerns especially have a higher burden to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, which is one reason renewable energy such as solar, bio gas, liquid gas, etc are finding increasing use as the preferred energy source while fossil fuel such as oil and condensate is beginning to lose its allure.

Manufacturers such as Unilever, AB Inbev, BATN, and Guinness have continued to ensure they incorporate greenness into every aspect of their operations. They have in place very strong environmental management strategies that help define their support for the environment, robust engagements with their communities and motivation of highly talented workforces. Head, Training, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Timothy Abner, said “adoption of globally accepted environmental practices or standards not only improve business efficiency but also increases profitability.”

AB Inbev, the largest brewery in the world (a survey by Euromonitor shows AB Inbev brews a quarter of the world’s beer) and owners of International Breweries Plc, perhaps best typifies the positive impact deliberate green policy has on business growth. The brewer has managed to sustain its operations for over 600 years and is a global player today with 500 iconic brands sold in more than 100 countries. This rich heritage did not come by chance.

Globacom’s subscriber growth linked to facility upgrade

It was the result of deliberate planning and meticulous execution of policies that embraced technology, engaged with communities and the environment and mobilized the best minds and hands from across Europe, the Americas, and later Africa. For instance, in the 19th century, the company pioneered a refrigerated rail car system that helped it distribute Budweiser beer across the United States and eventually the world. Across the world, AB Inbev has a history of engineering some of the best brewing techniques to produce some of the iconic beer brands on its stable.

In keeping with tradition, the company already has articulated a plan that will sustain its operations worldwide over the next 100 years. The AB Inbev Group has a well defined sustainability policy as ensconced in its ambitious 2025 Sustainability Goals. The goals include engendering smart agriculture to ensure the best ingredients for its brews, providing potable water in its communities, use of recycled materials for packaging, and climate action to reduce green house emissions. Speaking on the rationale for the goals, the Global Chief Executive Officer of AB Inbev, Carlos Brito, said, “We are building a company to last for the next 100+ years, both globally and in Africa.”

Indeed, AB Inbev’s seriousness to achieve its Sustainability Goals was underscored by the newly commissioned Gateway Brewery in Sagamu, Ogun State, by International Breweries Plc, its Nigerian subsidiary. The factory, according to the Managing Director of International Breweries Plc, Mrs Annabelle Degroot, has extensive eco-friendly components across its major operations. “I am excited to announce that our brewery has 2,000 square metres of solar panels for power generation. We produce bio gas from our byproducts to help power our boilers. We are also set up to use liquid gas to power our boilers pending the completion of the pipeline. Liquid gas is both cleaner and more efficient. Our combined heat and power system will make us the

most energy efficient brewery in the AB InBev Africa group,” Mrs Degroot said.

The implication of an energy efficient brewery is manifold, both for the business and the economy.

Power has remained an intractable challenge for manufacturing concerns, as well as other businesses, in Nigeria. The businesses that will survive and post strong growth are those able to creatively navigate the power challenge in a cost effective way. So, apart from the environmental considerations, using clean and renewable energy such as gas and solar, International Breweries has demonstrated its innovative side, which underpins its stated desire to continue in operation for the next 100 years and beyond.

Its energy self-reliance will help it manage production costs which will, down the line, translate to a more competitive pricing of its products. Brand loyalty in the alcoholic beverage industry is very flighty and is highly price sensitive, so the ability to offer competitive pricing will be a huge advantage.

With the embedded power policy of the government, it is expected that at some point the Gateway Brewery will serve as an energy hub from which communities around the factory will get cheap, clean and reliable power supply.

The health implication of a green brewery is equally important for the employees, the communities hosting the brewery and the environment. Carbon dioxide or CO2 is a naturally occurring gas that is present in the air we breathe, though at a very low and safe concentration level. At a higher concentration levels, it could be dangerous to health. Excessive levels of CO2 will readily displace oxygen and may cause asphyxiation, nausea, and seizures, among other related health issues. Fossil fuel like crude oil (diesel, petrol) and coal releases a large amount of CO2, which is dangerous to human health and damages the environment. Renewable energy like solar, gas or wind, on the other hand, emits between 0.02 and 0.2 pounds CO2 equivalent per

kilowatt-hour, which is considered safe. Even the process of fermentation in breweries generates carbon dioxide. Deploying renewable energy in the Gateway Brewery again demonstrates International Breweries’ passion for the wellbeing of its stakeholders, including the employees and members of its host community as well as the environment.

A further demonstration of its burden of responsibility is the provision of potable water to communities around its factories in Sagamu, Ogun State; Onitsha, Anambra State; Ilesa, Osun State; and Port Harcourt, Rivers State in line with its commitment “to improving the communities we’re a part of and playing a positive role within them.” According to Degroot, “Water is a concern in many of the communities we operate in and as a result we have placed solar powered boreholes valued at over N100 million in different parts of the areas of our operation to support the water needs of various communities.” And the brewer plans to do more. “A new phase of this project will begin in the coming months where we will identify important needs in the communities surrounding our Gateway Brewery.” Providing solar-powered boreholes again speaks to International Breweries’ determination to not only reduce its own carbon footprint but also assist its communities do same.

AB Inbev’s ambition, as articulated in its 2025 Sustainability Goals, is to ensure that “100% of our purchased electricity will be from renewable sources and a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions across our value chain.” With eco-friendly practices like the green Gateway Brewery, the solar-powered boreholes for its communities, the deployment of “industry-leading analytics, insights and brands to understand and address the evolving needs of consumers around the world,” among other similar efforts, the AB Inbev Group, which includes International Breweries Plc, may very well achieve these goals even before the target date.

Awolowo, an industry player, writes from Lagos

he latest sterling performance of indigenous telecoms service provider and grandmasters of data, Globacom, as the top growing network in terms of subscriber figures has been linked to the aggressive backbone and infrastructure upgrade done by the network across the country in recent months.

Latest figures released by the industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), showed that Globacom added more subscribers than other players in the month of July 2018.

This is not surprising to watchers of the industry as investigations have revealed that Globacom from as far back as 2017 had been strengthening its existing cell sites, rerouting its optic fibre cables and expanding its existing cable infrastructure. Specifically, Globacom has been swapping and upgrading network equipment with new and higher capacity equipment to deliver improved data and voice services.

It is revealed that Glo’s core data network interface ports have been upgraded from 40GB to 100GB, meaning the traffic handling capacity is more than doubled. Also, the capacity of Globacom’s undersea cable, Glo 1, has been tripled. The network’s renowned 4G Coverage is being extended to several more cities in 33 states consolidating Globacom’s position as the network with the widest and best 4G coverage in Nigeria at the moment.

Specific population centres like Lagos and Abuja are getting concentrated attention with microwave network getting transformed into full IP Network to meet future data requirements of the rapidly expanding markets. The company is also carrying out fibre optic expansion and rerouting.

Globacom’s Regional Chief Technical Officer, Mr. Sanjib Roy, explained that the telecoms company is laying thousands of kilometres of additional optic fibre cable to enhance what already exists and make call and data connections faster and clearer.

He revealed that the network is rerouting its underground network cables in the FCT area from problematic routes, where road construction and other human/ natural interferences are hampering smooth transmissions. Consequently, network availability and the overall network quality in the area have improved tremendously.

“We have also upgraded the transport backhaul with additional 100GB route and redundancy and resilience – thereby making the network more stable,” Sanjib said.

The upgrade of the Glo network has helped create a brand new highly efficient network with massive increase in call completion rate and call termination rate, and also led to crystal clear voice quality, high data speed download and upload with highly reduced congestion.

Sunday 23 September 2018

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SundayBusiness Institute crowns Zeramal, anti-malarial drug, as premium brand of Year 2018

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eramal, the antimalarial drug of KCH Consumer Healthcare Limited has been recognised as the premium brand of the year 2018 by the Institute of Brand Management of Nigeria (IBMN).

The anti-malarial was honoured recently during the IBMN organised award presentation and investiture ceremony held at Sheraton Hotels and Towers Ikeja, Lagos.

The organisers of the annual event explained that Zeramal was recognised for its efficacy in the effective treatment of uncomplicated malaria among millions of Nigerians who make use of the drug product. ‘’The award was conferred on deserving companies as well as brands and individuals who have made impacts on the lives of consumers through their innovations, inventions and ideas,’’ said Desmond Esorougwe, IBMN Registrar/Chief Executive Officer in his remarks at the occasion.

According to him, as the competitive environment becomes increasingly hostile, strong brand building and branding will be required to thrive and succeed. He added that branding has become a strategic asset and source of competitive advantage for companies.

He further explained that the 2018 edition of the IBMN award was aimed at identifying, recognising and rewarding companies that apply branding culture and branding management best practices to analyse, plan, implement and control of polices designed to achieve corporate objective in both profit and non-profit organisations in Nigeria.

The IBMN boss however commended the awardees for their efforts in seeking high standards in their business operations despite the challenging economic environment and therefore urge them not to relent.

Speaking to journalists after receiving the award the superintendent pharmacist of KCH Pharm Oluwaseun Nellie Bastos, expressed gratitude to the organisers for the recognition accorded Zeramal.

She admonished the public to stay on Zeramal anti-malarial ranges in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria because the products meet World Health Organisation (WHO) standards on use of ACTs Throwing light on the circulation in the country of

some anti-malarial with conflicting dosage composition, the pharmacist said that the public need not be confused about the internationally acceptable dosage regime for ACTs because Zeramal ranges have addressed the issue. She explained that only 6 tablets of quadruple strength (QS) or 12 tablets of double strength (DS) or 24 tablets normal strength of 20/120 of Arthemether and Lumefantrine combination therapy can effectively treat uncomplicated malaria in adults as recommended by the WHO. Similarly she further disclosed, for ages 9-14, the standard dosage regime is 6 tablets of the TrippleStrenght (TS) or 18 tablets of the standard of 20/120 Arthemether and Lumefantrine Combination therapy respectively. ‘’The WHO recommendations must be strictly adhered to and that is what we did with Zeramal ranges,’’ she said.

Pharm Bastos, who appealed to authorities in NAFDAC to ensure strict compliance to standards in drug labelling by promoters of medicines in the country, also urged the public to follow WHO recommended dosage regimen when treating malaria because any treatment of the disease that falls short of internationally acceptable standards leads to resistance of the disease causing malaria.

It would be recalled that Zeramal ranges had been well received by Nigerians of all ages and drugstores across the country as the effective anti-malarial for treatment of uncomplicated malaria.

Zeramal ranges are packaged as Zeramal QS for adults, Zeramal TS for ages 9-14 years, and Zeramal Dispersible and Zeramal suspension for 6months-8 years.

The ceremony featured award presentation to twenty-five organisations in different categories and they include; food brand of the year award, table water of the year award and biscuit brand of the year award.

Other categories of awards at the event include cooking oil of the year award, fast food, noodle/pasta, toothpaste, restaurant, automobile and cereal brand of the year.

Similarly, fifty-five marketing practitioners were conferred with Fellow of the Institute; prominent among them was the Chairman of Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria, Goddie Ofose.

Nigeria to adopt world’s first 7nm process mobile phone, as Huawei unveils technology …Experts say the latest Kirin SoC represents a new era of On-Device AI. Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson

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igeria is set to be one of the early adopters of the world’s first 7nm process mobile phone system on a chip (SoC), as Huawei Technologies has taken the lead in terms of cutting edge technology with its Kirin 980 - powered Mate-series devices scheduled to arrive in Nigeria by early 2019.

The system on a chip is a circuit that integrates all components of a computer or other electronic systems onto a single chip and the device is the world’s first cortex-A76 architecture chipset, the world’s first dual NPU design, and the world’s first chipset to support LTE Cat.21.

Giving a Keynote address titled “The Ultimate Power of Mobile AI”, at the recently concluded IFA 2018 in Berlin, Germany, Richard Yu, CEO, Huawei consumer business group introduced the Kirin 980, the system on a chip that will bring about the next evolution of mobile Artificial Intelligence (AI).

As the world’s first commercial SoC manufactured with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturer Company’s (TSMC) 7nm process, Kirin 980 combines best-in-class performance, efficiency, connectivity features, and Dual NPU AI processing

power.

“Last year, we showed the world the potential of OnDevice AI with the Kirin 970, and this year, we’ve designed an all-round powerhouse that not only features outstanding AI capabilities, but also brings cutting-edge raw performance to consumers,” Yu said.

“Equipped with all-new Central Processing Unit (CPU), Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) and Dual Neural network Processing Unit (NPU), the Kirin

980 is the ultimate engine to power next-generation productivity and entertainment applications,” he added.

The cutting edge TSMC 7nm process technology enables Kirin 980 to pack 6.9 billion transistors within a 1cm2 die size, 1.6 times of the previous generation.

Compared to the 10nm process, the 7nm process delivers 20 percent improved SoC performance and 40 percent improved SoC power efficiency.

The Kirin 980 is also the first SoC to embed CortexA76 based cores, which are 75 percent more powerful and 58 percent more efficient compared to their previous generation.

The Kirin CPU subsystem uses an intelligent Flexschedulingmechanism that creates a 3-level energy efficiency architecture consisting of two super-big cores based on Cortex-A76, two big cores based on CortexA76, and four little cores Cortex-A55.

Funke Opeke, CEO, MainOne, with Jean Luc Vuillemin, senior vice president, International Networks, Infrastructures and Services, Orange; during a contract-signing ceremony between MainOne and Orange in France, recently. The two companies signed an agreement allowing for a major investment by Orange in MainOne’s submarine cable system with joint investments in new landing stations in Senegal and Cote D’Ivoire.

Vodacom wants collaboration among network operators to improve quality of service AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

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ollowing the increasing internet penetration as well as the need to deliver efficient services to network users, Vodacom Nigeria has called for partnership among network providers through sharing of information and expertise.

Statistics from the 2018 Global Digital report by HootSuite, shows that internet penetration is on the rise across the world with over 4 billion consistent internet users and more than a quarter of a billion new users accessing the internet in 2017 alone.

Based on this, Vodacom Business Nigeria believed that there is no better time than now for businesses to begin to focus on new col-

laborative strategies to help deliver efficient services users.

Solomon Ogufere, commercial director, Vodacom Business Nigeria, stated this during a keynote presentation at the NigeriaCom 2018 Conference and Exhibition organised by Informa Telecoms Group, and held recently in Lagos.

Th e e v e n t t h e m e d , “Leading Economic Resurgence through ICT Innovation,” created an opportunity for stakeholders within the Information Communication and Technology (ICT) space to brainstorm on pertinent issues facing the sector, most importantly, the place of collaboration in delivering quality service to end users.

Speaking at the event, Ogufere said that operators need to ride on the

opportunities created by increase in internet penetration around the world; rise in Internet of Things (IoT) and new enabling technologies to promote swift development within the ICT industry.

“To achieve this, we must shift from our approach towards collaboration, moving from opportunistic pseudo collaboration to symbiotic collaboration that will lead to efficient service delivery, improved quality and allround better experience for the customers,” he said.

According to him, Africa as a continent still lags behind in digitisation efforts compared to Europe, United States and even Asia that have entered into the fourth industrial revolution. This, he said, shows that there is more ground to cover in terms of technological de-

velopment and this cannot be achieved unilaterally.

“The secret to solving the collaboration conundrum is to create a culture of collaboration which requires constant interaction. Industry leaders must move away from ownership mentality by creating avenues for collaboration at every point within the ecosystem and encourage new entrants with specific expertise into the market,” Ogufere further stated.

Continuing, he added: “Collaboration is fundamental for sustained development across industries. And is an ultimate key ingredient for the development of the economy across all industries. Therefore, being the driving force of all development across the world, this collaboration must begin with technology.”

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Sunday 23 September 2018

SundayBusiness Mortgage access: NHF, poverty and interest rate

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he National Housing Fund (NHF) is, arguably, the best policy intervention to have happened in the Nigerian fledgling mortgage industry. But the Fund, till date, is not adequately implemented to reflect its intents and purposes.

When in 1992 an Act was enacted setting up the Fund, the aim was to enable the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to make mortgage loans available to low income earners, through the primary mortgage institutions (now banks) at affordable (single digit) interest rate.

The Act specifically provides that NHF loans should be given to loan applicants at 6 percent interest rate and for between 20-30 years repayment tenor.

Since inception up to date, NHF loan advance to beneficiaries of the fund and real estate developers is still not encouraging which means the number of those who have been able to access the loans is still very small.

This raises the question as to whether the inability of Ni-

Spiritonomics

Debo Atiba

www.spiritonomics.org

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here are some words that take away all the joy from a man’s heart when they hear it. One of such is the word “DEATH”. It connotes lifelessness, helplessness, hopelessness, forlornness. It brings sorrow and it takes beauty out of life.

How many people will agree with me that death actually is the beauty of life? A life without death is a life not worth living. It is a life that is sour, tasteless and bitter. Such a life is valueless, drab and uninteresting. The design of God for us is to find life in death.

We may never enjoy the beauty that the Word of God has for us except we die.

“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (John 12:24)”, our fruitfulness in any area of our lives is a function of death to unfruitfulness. At every point in time in our lives for us to move

gerians who need mortgage to access same is as a result of poverty, high interest rate or the poor implementation of the NHF? Experts’ opinions differ significantly on this.

While some attribute the poor access to mortgage to stringent loan conditions, others say it is due largely to poverty and/ or low per capita income in the country which is estimated to be less than $1 per day among low income earners. The debate is still open-ended. But in the final analysis, it is easily seen that poverty is at the core of whatever reason that is hindering the access.

High interest rate is a reason for mortgage loans being ‘scarce’, but Anthony Owuye, a finance expert, explains that poverty is the main reason for the low income earners not being able to take up mortgage loans even at six percent interest rate.

“Even the six percent interest rate charged by FMBN has a problem because, at the age of 30, collecting N5 million loan means you are going to repay at

N30, 000 to N40, 000 a month and the question is, how many Nigerians can do this?”, Owuye queried.

The mortgage market in this country has seen quite a good number of home products from mortgage institutions, but these products, when they flooded the market, were unable to translate into increased housing stock in the country, meaning that their proliferation was merely for business survival.

Similarly, with an estimated per capita income of about N195,000 or a little above $1,500, many households would find it difficult to access mortgage. This is because the current average cost of 1-bedroom unit (without land) is put conservatively at N3.5 million.

Adeniyi Akinlusi, CEO, Trustbond Mortgage Bank, notes that at say 20 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of N300, 000 and N1.2 million mortgage, the expected monthly repayment at 15 percent for 15 years is N16, 795.05 which is higher than monthly per capita income of N16,250.00 and the repayment

The beauty of life in death from one stage to another stage it requires some form of death.

Poverty has to die to attain prosperity; illiteracy has to die to attain literacy. Sickness has to die for health to surface. To function in faith, fear has to die. In order to live life to the full, there has to be several deaths in different aspects of our lives, which we may not be conscious of when they are taking place.

Our perception in life truly determines our outcome in life.

If death is perceived wrongly, we would get wrong results which would end up in death the way we all know it. Our definition of death must be redefined in the light of the finished work of Jesus on the cross of Calvary.

When we walk in this light that‘’ to die is to live’’, then we stop being afraid and death no longer has any clutch over us. The fear of it loses its grip on us. The only known enemies that have held us in bondage all through our lives is Death and Fear. This duo has so much grip on mankind that it prevents from accessing the “beauty of life in death”. Inside each word spoken by God lies life and the benefits of life. It takes the discerning and the spiritually intelligent to come to term with this truth. Jesus Christ said ‘’the word that I speak unto you are

Spirit and life’’ (Jn.6:63). However, the fear of death prevents us from harnessing the life in the spoken WORD. If you are not ready to lay your life down in death you can never succeed in business as designed

by God. Every patriarch that ever did exploits and was celebrated, was a person that was familiar with the “beauty of life in death”.

In order for the seed promised to Abraham by God to come into existence, he celebrated and relished death( … he considered his own body not being dead ,neither the deadness of Sarah’s womb, against hope he believed in hope- in death he believed in life and fully persuaded that life could come out of death...)

Same for his son Isaac, who was ready to die believing God’s words that his seeds would multiply in famine. And because of this believe system brought about by the spoken WORD of God, he recorded unprecedented, gargantuan result in business that stupefied the entire country at his time. All of this is as a function of readiness to die for what God said. Planting in famine was like a suicide mission, while others were fleeing.

If you are not ready to lay your life down to take God at His word by dying to your senses, you can

Talking Mortgage with CHUKA UROKO (08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com)

is expected to be 33 percent of income of N50, 385.15.

As at today, interest rate on mortgage loan is in the region of 18-22 percent and after all the charges, one would be talking about 25 percent which cannot mobilize the mortgage sector in the country. Even at 10 percent interest rate, it is still doubtful if the level of income in the country can support the mortgage sector.

Many years ago, when the economy and the financial system were highly regulated, there was different interest rates structure for different sectors of the economy and within that period, lending to the housing sector was as low as 7-8 percent which underscored the importance attached to the sector.

Owuye recalls that suddenly after the N25 billion capital base

for the commercial banks, the desire to survive led almost all of them to play games in order to maximise returns and to get the best for the funds in their hands.

“People discovered that the place to be was in mortgage and consumer financing. It was discovered also that the area of least resistance after consumer financing was mortgage. So, at the end of the day, they were all doing the same thing”, he said.

He blamed the proliferation of these products on business survival, saying, “in the market of continual business survival, which is what underpins the market economy, all players are struggling for survival. And given the issue of oligopolistic competition where all are selling basically the same thing, little attempts are made to create differences”.

never work in divine health. It is only when the WORD of God has become your life and you are ready to die for the truth in the word of God that says “…by His stripes you were healed”, that is when you are truly beginning to live.

You must take your stand on the WORD even with disease and sickness ravaging your body, and symptoms screaming loudly in your ear that you are going to die. You’ve got to be ready to die before you can LIVE under such a circumstance.

It is only people that are dead that can truly live because they have lost their fear of death and have lost their fear of fear itself.

(Hebrew 2:14-15) There was neither help nor hope for Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and Daniel. The only option they had was death and they went for it and they lived.

Many times in our lives and businesses we would be confronted with situations that look like death and circumstances of destruction. However, it is our interpretation of the circumstance and understanding of the “beauty of life in death” that makes for living.

We know for sure it may look like death but resident inside that situation is life, and life in abundance.

If death was not present Jesus

would not have spoken about the LIFE He brought (Jn. 10:10).

If you are not dead you cannot live when the economy is crashing, the pillars that are supposed to hold the world together seem to be collapsing and fear seem to be the order of the day. You cannot claim to be living when the fear of death has paralyzed you. Life is not worth living under such a condition because, you are already dead, and it’s just that you do not know. I believe recognizing the beauty that is in death as expatiated and appropriating it makes for true living. Not embracing this truth and living in fear has killed you already.

Every truth written in the word of God remains on the pages of the Bible alone and are ineffective, until we are ready to die (to dare to believe them and act on them even when the circumstances are contrary) otherwise we may never birth the life that they possess. Beloved, scriptures says “oh death where is your sting… (1 Cor. 15:55)”As you stare death in the face whether in your business or career (through sack letter), remember resident in that situation is life that Jesus brought, so harness it.

Remain Blessed @spiritonomics

Sunday 23 September 2018

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BDSUNDAY 33

SundayBusiness Nestlé Nigeria: Raising intervention on nutrition Food & Beverages With Ayo Oyoze Baje

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o move forward as a country, efforts must be geared towards highlighting peopleoriented achievements of individuals, organizations and corporate bodies with a similar passion that we devolve towards exposing their ills. That brings to mind the consistent focus of Nestle Nigeria Plc on the sensitive issue of creating the needed awareness on human nutrition.

Good enough, it has taken a step forward as practical intervention to mitigate the scourge of malnutrition.

For instance, as far back as 2003 it had succeeded at initiating pragmatic programmes on awarenesscreation for consumers of its prime products(Milo, Nido,, Golden Morn and Maggi Seasoning cubes) as well as the general public to know that indeed, we are what we eat.

These programmes included Nestle Nutrition Duchess Club, Secondary School Competition,

Adolescents Seminars, State Seminars, Workshop for Teachers, Nutrition Line and of course, Nestle Nutrition Media Awards.

To appreciate these salutary efforts, we must come to terms with the parlous nutrition status of Nigerians, right from the state of pregnancy through child birth, the growth of under-5 children, teenagers, adults and of course the elderly people beyond the age of 65. According to the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey Nigeria had one of the worst maternal mortality statistics in the world, at 576 deaths per 100,000 live births.

In fact, as at end of March, this year the Co- Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Bill Gates, said that Nigeria still remains one of the most dangerous places in the world to give birth and 4th country with the worst maternal mortality rate ahead of Sierra Leone, Central African Republic and Chad Still on the issue of early deaths, though the World Health Organization, WHO and UNICEF recommend that babies should be exclusively breastfed during the first six months of life in Nigeria, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding is just 15 per cent.

And it was revealed by the federal government back in September, 2016 that 53% of Under-five Children died of Malnutrition Annually.

But by February, 2018 Nigeria has recorded a significant decrease, especially in childhood mortality rates as the probability of dying between birth and the first birthday (infant mortality rate) dropped from 97 per 1000 live births in 2011 to 70/1000 in 2016-17. The under-five mortality rate also dropped from 158/1000

live births in 2011 to 120/1000 in 2016-17. That was according to the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Evaluation Expert, Maureen Okolo. She disclosed this at a media dialogue on Datadriven Reporting organised by the United Nations (UN) Agency.

Another piece of cheering news is that Nigeria has made progress in micronutrient deficiency control. But about half the children aged 6 to 59 months do not receive vitamin A supplementation. Vitamin A deficiency can mean a child will be growing up with lower immunity, which can trigger frequent health problems and poor growth.

But worsening the nutrition situation is the conflict in the North-East geo-political zone.

Farm fields have been destroyed, farmers have been killed and those alive are afraid to return to their land, as hundreds of thousands of people have fled.

The Roll Out Programme Fully aware that food security is an important element in poverty alleviation, Nestlé launched its Healthy Kids Global Programme aimed at children aged 6- 12. That was in 2009. This is to practically assist in tackling these prevalent problems, by promoting nutrition education, good nutritional practices, healthy lifestyles and physical activity amongst schoolchildren. Two years after its global launch, Nestlé extended the initiative to the Central and West Africa region, starting with Nigeria and Ghana.

The company took cognizance that in youngsters, lack of physical activity and bad dietary habits could lead to obesity. Similarly, the absence of vital micronutrients such as vitamin A, zinc, iron or iodine can cause stunting in

growth and a lower resistance to infection, as the level of immunity is compromised.

As part of its intervention, it came up with the Nestlé Community Nutrition Programme (NCNP). By this it is striving to build capacity for women to produce their own food through vegetable gardens. The NCNP, launched in 1993 was a direct response to the challenge of hunger in South Africa. Also, the Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme was recently rolled out to Cameroon a few years back.

So far, about 1,200 children and 75 teachers have benefited from the initiative. As part of the programme, teaching and learning materials have been provided to ten schools in the country. It also launched it in Côte d’Ivoire in 2014 with an aim to reach about 250 children in the pilot stage.

Education model In Nigeria, 112 schools , 62,483 children and 807 teachers and monitors have also been impacted by the initiative. In Ghana, the Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme reached 27 schools, 10,039 children and 240 teachers since it was launched back in 2011. Each child has received a Nestlé Healthy Kids manual, food models and play kits to use in their 45-minute lesson each week. Nestlé Healthy Kids instructor manuals have been given to teachers to help in the classroom.

Nestlé is working with the Ministry of Education in each respective country as part of its efforts to boost nutrition education. In Nigeria , it has partnered with the federal government, as well as Lagos and Ogun State governments and the Centre for Health Education, Population and Nutrition. It has

done a similar thing with the Nutrition and Food Science department at the University of Ghana to provide teachers with training on the programme.

To further develop the physical activity side of the initiative, children are taking part in one physical activity class each week. Nestlé teamed up with its global partner, the International As s o c i a t i o n o f At h l e t i c s Federations (IAAF), in Nigeria in 2013, and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, to further develop the programme and promote athletics in schools.

Local impact and recognition In 2013, Nestlé carried out its first monitoring and evaluation of the Healthy Kids Programme in Nigeria with the Human Nutrition Department at the University of Ibadan. Results showed that participating school children significantly improved their eating habits and physical activity behaviour.

Global commitment The Nestlé Healthy Kids Global Programme is part of the company’s approach to business, which it calls ‘Creating Shared Value’. It is part of Nestlé’s commitment to promote healthy diets and encourage active lifestyles and physical activity.

All these activities are praiseworthy and should serve as lasting inspiration to several governments, rich individuals and other companies, as only a healthy nation could become productive and enjoy economic prosperity.

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media ayobaje@yahoo.co.uk; 08057971776

Day Wole Soyinka ‘provoked’ Sterling Bank Leadership Matthew Arungwa

I

t was a breezy Wednesday evening with the weather app forecasting light showers – a portent for good fortune among the incurably religious. A well-appointed audience largely made up of corporate whiz kids from global corporations, blue chips, senior management and top performing employees of Sterling Bank Plc, were upbeat as they anticipated engagement with the enigmatic Professor Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate and living legend.

The venue was the luxurious Head Office Annex of the bank in Lagos.

Kongi, as Professor Soyinka, is fondly called by a cross-section of the culture community, arrived in style in company of Abubakar Suleiman, chief executive officer; Yemi Odubiyi, executive director; Emmanuel Emefienim, executive director, all of Sterling Bank. They were his host at the maiden edition of the Sterling Leadership Series which was aptly themed – ‘Corporate-Culture Intersection’.

In his welcome remarks, Sulei-

man described the literary giant as a living legend whose large body of work is positively influencing people on the continent and across the globe. He disclosed that one of the works of Professor Wole Soyinka that helped to shape his life as a youth is a little publication entitled: The Credo of Being and Nothingness. He said the book had a profound effect on his thinking and changed his perception about life.

Although he needs no introduction, Professor Wole Soyinka was introduced by poet, author and publisher, Lola Shoneyin who handed over proceedings to the cerebral Odubiyi. It was a question and answer session anchored by the fine banker of encyclopedic learning – a clear case of a polymath meeting the oracle.

The highly engaging conversations between the two crisscrossed leadership, building strong institutions, racism, migration and arts with answers laced with double entendre drawn from complex bodies of knowledge.

Professor Wole Soyinka’s expansive responses delivered in true oracular fashion deconstructed the

current knotty issues of migration, particularly the death of thousands of migrants on the Mediterranean Sea, the indifference of some developed countries to the plight of migrants, mass burial, loss of identity and hopelessness of majority of young people as well as the ongoing xenophobia in South Africa.

In a response to a provocative question leadership and future of Nigeria, he subtly berated the younger generation for lethargy and connivance with the old brigade to shut themselves out of leadership. He charged the Nigerian youth to brace up and challenge the status quo because the political elite will not surrender power without a fight. Wole Soyinka urged the audience to be good followers by holding leaders accountable for their stewardship from time to time.

Professor Soyinka added that Nigeria has been unfortunate to be led by the bourgeoisie who think that leadership is their birthright. In Marxist philosophy, the bourgeoisie is the social class that owns the means of production during the modern industrialisation and whose societal concerns

are the value of property and the preservation of capital to ensure the perpetuation of their economic supremacy in society.

Over the years, Professor Wole Soyinka has distinguished himself as a rare breed and a man of courage. Besides other remarkable achievements in the academia and public life, he has to his credit two remarkable public institutions.

One is the Palm Wine Club, which he co-founded as an undergraduate at the University of Ife and the other, the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC).

He applauded Sterling Bank’s initiative to send its employees home to collect their PVCs in preparation for the general elections, describing it as civic solidarity. He encouraged the electorate not to give up on the country’s leadership because the signs of another change are already showing.

According to him, banks should take the initiative and promote artistic entrepreneurs, saying the contribution of arts to the society is mostly underrated.

He enjoined Nollywood to wake up so that banks can invest more in their business because it

is a viable industry. He regretted the extinction of art works across the country, remarking that many art works have disappeared from Oyo to Bida, among other notable art centres in the country.

He commended Sterling Bank’s decision to specialise in five key areas of the economy under the acronym of HEART: Health Care, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation.

“I really appreciate your effort in the transportation system while I encourage you to put some effort in the railway system. Solar power is very good, and I use it sometimes in my house in Abeokuta. I will like to see PHCN fully destroyed.”

The choice of Professor Wole Soyinka as guest speaker at the first edition of Sterling Leadership Series further affirms the bank’s commitment to promoting arts and cultural productions. Certainly, the bank is certainly driven by the belief that art and cultural productions are a part of the larger economic ecosystem. It is much more than delighting people and can be an important part of a nation’s economic development and growth strategy.

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Sunday 23 September 2018

EquityMarket

Equities gain N78 bn as investors await MPC’s decisions on rates TELIAT SULE

E

quities listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed on the positive note last week following a 0.66 percent upward movement in both the All Share Index (ASI) and market capitalisation. The ASI added 212.58 points to close the week at 32,540.17 points in contrast to 32,327.59 points in the previous week. In the same manner, the market capitalisation of listed stocks closed at N11.88 trillion last week representing an addition of N77.61 billion when compared with N11.80 trillion its closing figure in the previous week.

The NSE Banking Index appreciated the most among the sectoral indexes in the week that just ended, gaining 2.67 percent WTD. It was followed by the NSE Oil and Gas index which rose WTD by 2.60 percent.

Year to date, however, ASI still ended in the negative by -14.91 percent, the amount of value lost by market capitalisation translated to -12.71 percent. CCNN maintained its position as the most appreciated stock YTD at 149.5 percent, and being trailed

by C & I Leasing at 138 percent; Cutix, 104 percent; Unity Bank, 81.1 percent; NEM, 80.7 percent; Fidson, 62.2 percent; AIICO, 55.8 percent; Sky Bank, 54 percent; Eterna, 53.9 percent while Beta Glass at 52 percent appreciation year to date, completes the list of the top ten most appreciated stocks on the NSE as at September 21, 2018.

Meanwhile, a new life may be injected into the nation’s capital market as the investing community awaits the decision of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which is expected to meet on Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 September 2018.

Investors traded 1.37 billion shares worth N19.50 billion in 16,076 deals last week as against N960.94 million shares in the pre-

vious week which worth N18.33 billion. The financial services sub sector remained the most traded as it accounted for 78.62 percent of the market and 76.62 percent of the market value which amounted to 1.07 billion shares worth N14.85 billion in 9,527 deals. The service industry was second with 78.255 million shares worth N351.51 million in 474 deals. Equities most traded were GTB, Access Bank and Zenith Bank.

Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) worth N449,662.50 were traded in the course of the week translating to 29,750 units in 2 deals as against 41,358 units worth <1.148 million done in 8 deals in the previous week.

A total of 9,710 units of Federal Government Bonds worth N9.59 million were traded in 19 deals compared with a total of 43,000

valued at N42.49 million traded in the previous week. The most traded bonds were the FGS2019S1 and FGS2020S5.

Meanwhile, analysts are upbeat that the MPC should maintain a hold on all the rates. If the CBN sustains a hold on the current rates, it will be the umpteenth time the regulatory institution will be doing so. At the MPC meeting in July 2018, the MPC maintained the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 14%, with the asymmetric corridor at +200 and -500 basis points around the MPR; retained the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Liquidity Ratio (LR) at 22.50% and 30% respectively.

Citing conditions such as the sluggish GDP growth at half year and a slowdown in inflow of forex at the I & E window, analysts at FSDH are of the opinion that the CBN should

maintain the current rates.

“FSDH Research believes the most appropriate monetary policy decision under the current economic and financial market situation is to hold policy rates at the current levels. Although there are some arguments to increase rates, the need to provide necessary incentives for the Nigerian economy to achieve inclusive growth negates an option of a rate increase.

The CBN can continue to use the Open Market Operations (OMO) to manage liquidity in the banking industry in order to maintain price stability”, FSDH said in a note to its clients.

The anchored their argument on the sluggish growth of the economy which recorded 1.50 percent growth in Q2 GDP and a higher demand for forex in the face of a drop in exchange inflows through

the Investors and Exporters Foreign Exchange Window.

“Data from the CBN shows that the growth in the monetary aggregates (term, demand and saving deposits and credits) in the country is below the target the CBN sets for the country. This is an indication that an expansionary policy is required. Thus, measures to stimulate aggregate demand and increase the purchasing power of the citizens will help to achieve a modest growth in monetary aggregates” FSDH analysts said.

At the money market, the 30-day, 90-day and 180-day Nigerian Interbank Offered Rate (NIBOR) rose to 12.05 percent, 13.90 percent and 14.82 percent respectively.

Also, there was some stability in the forex market at the interbank market as the naira/dollar rate remained stable at N306.30/$.

Guinness Nigeria appoints Yemisi Ayeni as a Non-Executive Director

B

rewery giant, Guinness Nigeria has appointed Yemisi Ayeni as a NonExecutive Director and member the Board of Directors of Guinness Nigeria with effect from September 1 , 2018. This follows the retirement of Joe Irukwu as a Non-Executive Director with effect from August 28, 2018. The decision was ratified at its meeting held on Tuesday August 28, 2018.

Yemisi Ayeni is the immediate

past managing director of Shell Nigeria Closed Fund Administrator Limited, a position she held for 10 years until her retirement in April 2015. She is a 1985 honours graduate of Accounting and Business Finance from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. She is a 1989 chartered accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

She started her professional ca-

reer with PricewaterHouse London in 1985 where she spent 5 years working her way through variety of increasing senior audit roles before moving to the firm’s corporate reconstruction and insolvency team in 1990. She returned to Nigeria in 1991 as a senior manager in the corporate finance team of PricewaterHouse Lagos.

In 1994, Ayeni joined Shell Nigeria and held wide variety roles during her 21 years with Shell.

In November 2004, she was appointed finance director, Shell Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCO), earning her the distinction of being the first Nigerian female to be appointed to the Board of a Shell Company in Nigeria.

Until her retirement, Ayeni was a council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the chair of the Exchange’s demutualisation and technical committee; vice chair-

man, Pension Fund Operators’ Association of Nigeria, and the chair of the association’s institute committee. She is currently the chairperson of NASCON Allied Industries Plc and Non-Executive Director of Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Ltd. She was appointed to the Board of Guinness Nigeria Plc as a NonExecutive Director with effect from 1st September 2018. She resides in Nigeria.

Sunday 23 September 2018

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BrandsOnSunday

BDSUNDAY 35

SPOTLIGHTING BRAND VALUE

Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs), take menu online for business sustainability Olukayode Kolawole

I

read with keen interest a story published by New Telegraph newspaper on Monday September 17th 2018, with the headline, ‘Tantalizers: Operational Costs, Competition Cut Earnings’. The publication reported the financials of the company which were released a couple of days ago at its 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM).

It is not surprising to read such news about how most companies’ balance sheets continue to remain in red, at least for a number of reasons: (1) Nigeria is not one of the easiest countries to run a profitable business year in, year out. It is possible, but difficult. You just have to find a smart strategy. (2) Finding qualified skills can be relentlessly difficult: mostly, under-qualified workers are more readily available and affordable than the right fits; finding a balance is key.

(3) Infrastructure deficit still remains most businesses’ headwind: bad roads and epileptic power supply - the real killers of today’s businesses.

(4) Insecurity in certain regions still hamper expansion plans: Boko Haram insurgency in the north; despite the enormous population in the north, no businesses are keen on setting up their operations or even expanding to the north. But, to be fair, Tantalizers isn’t the only company in Nigeria plagued with these sad realities.

There are hundreds of

them. Some stay afloat, with no sustainable impact, while others just die a natural death after years of fighting to stay alive. What a paradox!

According to the Chairman, Board of Directors of Tantalizers, Dr. Jaiye Oyedotun, three major challenges rendered the company unprofitable at the end of 2017: (1) Reduction in credit opportunities. ( 2) Weak consumer demands.

(3) Stiffer competition.

The chairman made an excellent point so articulately on what the company plans to do in the next financial year to change its fortunes for good: (1) Corporate revenue - open new stores, remodel existing stores to become more attractive. (2) Menu recipe revamp. (3) Franchise programmes intensified.

(4) Improve marketing communications strategy to increase share of voice and mind in the marketplace.

These are laudable ideas and a good start to usher in a breath of fresh air towards making

the business profitable again.

As I can recall, I have been a huge fan of Tantalizers since I was a child. And, I must say, with due respect, that while Mr. Chairman’s action plans seem good for a change, I am not sure he and other board members took into account the changing needs of today’s consumers, and the ever evolving ways of reaching them.

The old tricks (methods) might not be sufficient to fight today’s marketing wars.

Legendary marketing experts, Al Ries & Jack Trout in their book, ‘Positioning the Battle For Your Mind’ stated that “to be successful in today’s marketplace, you must touch base with reality”. So, what are the realities in today’s business environment that can help organisations such as Tantalizers and other restaurants win in this cluttered market?

The 21st century consumers are as nomadic as the Fulani herdsmen; they no longer sit in mortar and bricks restaurants to fetch food. In

my opinion, expanding Tantalizers franchise or building new stores doesn’t necessarily guarantee patronage.

Andthemathissimple:what’s the average sales you record yearly from all your existing franchises combined? If the existing franchises are effective, it would have reflected in green on your balance sheets.

Expanding your franchise or remodelling existing restaurants to become more attractive will not do the magic; it will only scratch the surface. Doing that doesn’t explain why people are not patronising your network of restaurants as they ought to. Tantalizers is one of the oldest Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) in the history of Nigeria, and honestly, they serve good food.

But, do people still eat offline? Yes, a tiny fraction of the QSR market still does.

And this tiny fraction doesn’t have the purchasing power you need to scale; you don’t get a repeat purchase or patronage from them as often as you’d expect. Most of the customers who still go to your restaurants to eat are typically parents who like to give their family a treat once in a while - maybe twice in 3 months. They have very limited household wallets.

They can’t be your primary audience for sustaining a fast moving business like Tantalizer, or any other QSR. ‘Consumers Now Live Online’ Is No Longer News The real audience Tantalizer or any other quick service restaurant should be targeting are the Millennials: upwardly mobile young

executives between ages 21 and 34 years. Online is where they all congregate, live, socialize and network; it’s their new habitat. There is a digital revolution and businesses only survive by tapping into the power of big data which will help them to stay close and understand their market better.

This is the age of digital, where almost everything is done online. Leverage the digital intrusion to stay ahead of competition. Smart businesses today are leveraging the power of eCommerce.

The offline market is cluttered already - too many brands saying differentthings all at the same time. And the attention span of each consumer is extremely short; so is their retention lifespan.

So, invariably, brands and businesses are speaking to everyone and to no one.

The real strategy for QSRs will be to take their menus online. There are digital services available in the country that QSRs can partner to drive real growth and profitable revenue, at no cost to them.

Offline restaurants such as Ghana High, White House, Ofada Hut, The Place, Bukka Hut, Shiro Lagos, Casper & Gambini, South Eatery, Social House are benefitting immeasurably from the power of digital. Opportunities abound for today’s businesses to leverage any of the digital marketplace.

Simple Is Smart With the number of Tantalizers restaurants operating across the country, there is no data to prove that setting up new ones in virgin territories

will return the company to a profitable path. It is in fact a capital driven exercise. If a company is not making as much revenues as it should, then, it must be saving cost.

One of the digital services that Tantalizers can leverage to save cost and ensure the companybecomesprofitable is Jumia’s marketplace for food ordering services. With +1,000 restaurants listed on the platform to connect with consumers, there is absolutely no better way for QSRs to improve their business performance. A lot of smart restaurants are already joining the bandwagon.

I am tempted to pose a challenge to the management of Tantalizers: sign up all your restaurants in the 3 key cities between now and December. Let’s begin to measure the impact and track progress in terms of sales 12 months afterwards.

Although, there’s also an option of creating your own online platform where you can take orders from customers.

But, with the current reality of dwindling credit opportunities and limited working capital, and the heavy investment you will need to commit to driving traffic to your online platform, would you rather go ahead with such investment at this critical time when investors are agitating for dividends? The clock is ticking. The consumers are waiting for their favourite restaurant to be the new addition to a marketplace that is helping them save money and time.

Olukayode, Public Relations practitioner writes from Lagos

selected.

After a night of impressive talent showcase, the winners emerged – Emmanuella Alile, representing the University of Lagos, emerged as the winner of the Performing Arts category, while Olamide Olawaiye, representing the University of Benin, emerged as the winner of the Modelling category. The highlight of the night was that of the Fashion Design category which was keenly contested. After a pretty tense moment leading up to the announcement, Yahaya Taofiq, representing the University of Lagos, was named winner of the Fashion Design category and

Master of Style 2018.

Each winner walked away with a prize money of N500, 000 while the Masters of Style winner, Yahaya, also got – in addition to the cash prize – a paid internship with a top fashion designer as well as an opportunity to showcase his designs at a major fashion show in Nigeria.

This edition, however, witnessed a twist as the competition and category sponsors of the Fashion Design category, Imperial Leather and Canoe, introduced the Masters of Style campaign.

The Masters of Style campaign sought to discover and reward the best talents in the category of fashion design.

Master of Style winner emerges at Dare- 2- Dream grand finale

I

t was all glitz and glamour as the 5th season of the youth-empowerment platform, Dare- 2Dream, sponsored by Imperial Leather and Canoe, came to an end recently, at its grand finale event at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The much-anticipated grand finale was the culmination of a series of activities and events that have seen the emergence of talents in the areas of Modelling, Performing Arts, and Fashion Design from across the country. All the contestants in this year’s edition were pooled from 5 universities, namely: University of Jos, University of Port Harcourt, University

of Benin, University of Lagos, and University of Calabar.

18 contestants from the five

universities made it into the Dare 2 Dream Bootcamp where they were groomed

and put through series of tests before the finale, where eventual winners would be

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Sunday 23 September 2018

Arts

Again, contemporary African art draws global attention in London Stories by OBINNA EMELIKE

F

rom September 13-16, 2018, artists, visual art lovers, galleries and collectors across the world had the best of time at the 2018 START Art Fair hosted by Saatchi Gallery in London.

This year, the art fair focused on discovering and presenting ‘tomorrow’s art today’, with specially curated projects from the Far East and Europe, at the ultra-modern exhibition space in the heart of London’s Chelsea district.

However, only two galleries from Africa were invited to showcase works of some indigenous artists at the fair.

Nigeria’s SMO Contemporary Art was one of the two galleries that was invited to participate and exhibit works by emerging contemporary artists from the continent as a way of increasing diversity, and showcasing new creative directions.

As expected, SMO Contemporary Art lived up to the expectations of the Nigerian visual art community at the fair by presenting three cutting edge contemporary artists from Nigeria.

At the fair’s booth 8.3,

Some of the works at Saatchi Gallery London

SMO hosted an exhibition titled InBETWEEN, which showcased paintings by Nengi Omuku, and mixed media works by Ngozi Omeje and Olumide Onadipe.

InBETWEEN, highlights the socio-political and emotional state of Africa’s youth, who often find themselves “inbetween”, whether waiting for admission to school, yearning to travel, searching for employment or in-between racial, ethnic or gender divides at the margins of

society and stereotypic consciousness.

Looking at some of the works, Nengi Omuku presented amorphous presences with afro-centric hairstyles and abstracted internal mindscapes, which allude to wider themes of identity, mental journeying and mutual belonging.

Omuku’s colour palette acts as a subtext for transforming the human figure and exploring fluid states of inBETWEEN. As well, Ngozi Omeje,

an installation artist and ceramics lecturer at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, presented Unbooked, a mixed media installation created out of hundreds of nylon threads and pieces of plastic flip-flops, inspired by the sea of undocumented migrants across the world.

She used string to explore the frailty of life through the use of suspended forms and configurations, which are still connected to universal experiences.

On his part, Olumide

Onadipe, an experimental artist fascinated by textures and environmental themes, presented intricate mixed media sculptures created out of ubiquitous plastic bags, which litter global megacities like Lagos, exploring the social, political and economic realities of migrating populations, affected by territorial encroachment and insecurity, forced labour, consumerism, and environmental pollution.

Speaking on the works,

Sandra Mbanefo Obiago, founder/artistic director of SMO, said, “We are delighted to present a unique perspective on important global issues such as migration, identity, and belonging, from a local viewpoint, and using materials which are either overlooked, or increasingly pollute our environment”.

Obiago, who has focused on presenting art outside traditional gallery settings since 2011, further noted that, “Our artists are some of the most important ambassadors Africa has, in projecting real and often very positive stories onto global platforms with a fresh, colorful energy”.

The artistic director also commended START for its mission of supporting emerging artists by discovering and presenting ‘tomorrow’s art today’, with specially curated projects from across the globe. “SMO is delighted to have been invited to showcase works by three of our emerging artists”.

SMO Contemporary Art is based in Lagos, Nigeria and it specializes in showcasing contemporary art in non-traditional exhibition spaces, focusing on established and emerging artists based in Africa and the Diaspora.

Belvedere partners celebrated artist on design, concept tours in Nigeria

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elvedere Vodka, the original super premium vodka that stands for taste and character, is excited to announce its global partnership with award-winning visual artist, musician, and activist Laolu Senbanjo.

The highly-acclaimed visual artist has designed a stunning limited-edition bottle to be unveiled during series of events in Nigeria this September.

With an artistic vision to reveal the beauty within each of his subjects, the new limited-edition bottle visually brings to life Laolu’s interpretation of the complexity, nuance and character of the Belvedere liquid.

The Brooklyn-based Nigerian-born performance and visual artist, Laolu’s main artistic medium is the skin; he is best known for his body-painting featured in

Beyoncé’s Grammy Awardwinning visual album, “Lemonade.” He’s graced the cover of the Washington Post, and has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, Vogue, BBC, CNN, and NBC. In addition to Beyoncé, he counts artists including Alicia Keys, Swiss Beatz, Seun Kuti, Tony Allen, Alek Wek, and Danielle Brooks among his collaborators.

Laolu applies his mantra, “Everything is My Canvas,” to mural designs, fashion partnerships, live art events and installations, and now to the new limited-edition Belvedere Vodka bottle. The first Belvedere bottle with high-quality full-wrap sleeve technology features a flowing design with sharp edges that represent the water and rye working together to produce dimension and taste.

Subtle skin-sense texture,

which reacts to UV lights, is used to bring another

Laolu Senbanjo

sensory component to the bottle. The charcoal coloring

and distinct shapes create complex, story-rich designs, which draw heavily from his Yoruba heritage. “ W h e n La o l u p a i n t s a subject, each design is unique to what he believes depicts their inner beauty.

This phenomenal message is seamlessly in line with our mission to reveal the unexpected beauty in life,” said Rodney Williams, president of Belvedere Vodka.

“Also as a social advocate and former human rights attorney, Laolu’s philosophies align with our commitment to community and creating positive action in the world; in this case, the program supports the (RED) organization and the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa, a cause we have been supporting for 8 years”, Williams further said.

On his part, the excited Laolu said, “As an artist I get

to share my soul with people around me, my environment and the world and I’m able to channel my experiences like my journey as a human rights attorney and as a Nigerian”.

Ex p l a i n i n g w h a t i n formed the designs, Laolu said, “The Belvedere bottle design came from that inspiration as well as doing a lot of research about what Belvedere is at its core, like the rye and the pristine water. The bottle is an amazing blend of my art and bringing to life what Belvedere stands for – and I get to be a part of giving back to society, which means a lot to me.”

Laolu will be touring Lagos and Abuja from September 24-29,2018 for a series of co-created art experiences and events to celebrate the launch of the new bottle among other activities.

Sunday 23 September 2018

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Arts Rivers State set to host art, culture sector at NAFEST ...35 countries participate in craft expo Stories by OBINNA EMELIKE

T

h e Ri v e r s S t a t e government is set to make this year’s National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) a world class event.

While declaring open the National technical committee meeting of the event, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, governor of Rivers State, represented

by Ipalibo Harry Banigo, his deputy, promised to do everything humanly possible to make this year’s event an unforgettable experience in terms of packaging to meet international standards.

Hosting a delegation from the National Council for Arts and Culture, Ipalibo stated that an event as important as NAFAST goes beyond celebration.

“Culture is a veritable tool upon which the strength of any given community can be sold to the international community and, as such we are going to make this year’s NAFEST a festival with a positive differences”, she said.

According to the deputy governor, one of the best places for night life, natural cuisine and peaceful atmosphere any time of the year is Rivers State.

“Rivers State has a very secure and safe atmosphere for all to work and relax without intimidation or harassment of any kind as against the negative impression the state has been subjected to by some fifth columnists”, she added.

Ipalipo thanked the National Council for Arts and Culture for choosing the state above all other states that bided for the hosting, promising that Rivers State government will not to take the gesture for granted.

On his part, Segun Runsewe, director-general of NCAC, who is also the president, World Craft Center, African Region, thanked Governor Wike for accepting to host this year’s NAFEST slated to hold from October 21-27, 2018.

The NCAC helmsman reiterated in his speech that one of the best ways for peaceful co-existence and unity in any given society is through

R-L: Babatunde Ajibola representing the permanent Secretary of the ministry of culture; Segun Runsewe, DG, NCAC; Ipalibo Harry Banigo, deputy governor, Rivers State and Tonye Briggs Oniyide, commissioner for culture and tourism River State in Port Harcourt recently.

culture.

According to Runsewe, “There cannot be a better time and way to celebrate ourselves in a positive light than this type of event.

Speaking further, Runsewe noted that as the custodian of culture in Nigeria, the choice of Rivers State was timely, assuring that this year’s festival is going to witness free eye

The Wedding Party 2 goes global on iTunes

T

he ELFIKE Collective is happy to announce that On September 28, 2018, ELFIKE Collective will be releasing The Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai for the first time ever on digital platforms across the globe. It is a source of pride and joy that this ELFIKE film collective production will be the very first Nollywood title made available on iTunes.

With its international release in a groundbreaking 24 countries worldwide, the Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai is the highest grossing Nigerian cinema release of all time. Directed

by Niyi Akinmolayan, The Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai represents a triumph of ambitious Nigerian filmmaking.

Fans of Tinuade (Sola Sobowale), Bamidele (Alibaba), Dunni (Adesua Etomi), Dozie (Bankole Wellington),

Scene from The Wedding Party 2

Felix (Richard Mofe-Damijo) and Obianuju (Ireti Doyle) will be able to catch up with them and with all the other great characters and love as the movie traverse the global on iTunes platform.

In addition to iTunes, The Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai will be rolled out on other digital platforms which include Amazon Prime, Microsoft Video, Google Play, myFilmhouse, EbonyLife ON and the Nigerian Government’s satellite based SVOD platform, InView.

ELFIKE Film Collective is an alliance of Africa’s leading studios including; EbonyLife Film, FilmOne Distribution, Inkblot Productions and Kota Studios.

The unprecedented move by an indigenous studio does not only cement the Filmhouse/FilmOne group’s position as an all-rounder in the industry, but also satiate fans of The Wedding Party

franchise who have eagerly awaited the opportunity to own a copy of the sequel, and continually re-live the magic of the film.

Mo Abudu, the managing director of EbonyLife Films, said, “This is an important milestone for our content and for us to tell our stories and put forward our perspective. We are very proud of our achievements in film and movie making, we consistently work to ensure we provide the best content for our audience.”

As well, Moses Babatope, managing director of FilmOne Distribution & Production, a member of the ELFIKE Collective and the distributor of the film, said, “Distribution doesn’t end in the cinemas. It starts there. There’s always an avenue and an experience that the fans are looking for. We just fulfil that need.

FilmOne wouldn’t be the powerhouse it is without the support of its sister companies: Filmhouse Cinemas and myFilmhouse. It’s a thing of pride to see all three of these arms working in perfect sync and capturing markets at home and internationally”.

As a value-add for the audience, FilmOne is making special discount codes available to online consumers of the movie. These will be customised to the film’s starstudded cast and pushed out via their social media handles.

test, waste to wealth initiatives, free skill acquisition, among others.

Runsewe added that for over 31 states to be involved in this year’s forth coming NAFEST shows that the programme is already moving to the next level.

He was also of the opinion that the state, which is symbolically referred to as Nige-

ria’s treasure base and home of culture and tourism, has all it takes to host the event and latch on the festival’s platform to promote her culture and tourism potential.

In the same vein, Bangladesh and Egypt have joined the long list of countries that have committed to showcasing their unique art and crafts in the forthcoming Interna-

tional Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC) slated for November in Abuja.

Shameed Ahsan, the Bangladeshi High Commissioner, assured Segun Runsewe, the director-general of the National Council for Arts and Culture, of his country’s participation during a courtesy call to his office in Abuja.

Ru n s e w e r e s p o n d e d thankfully saying that this year’s maiden edition of the International Arts and Crafts Expo promises to be the first of its kind in terms of packaging and organisation.

The envoy equally accepted to host Bangladesh Day during the event to promote the natural endowments of his country to world.

Runsewe resolved to make this year’s INAC a platform to network by over 35 countries that have indicated interest to participate.

Some of the countries include; Venezuela, Tanzania, Spain, France, USA, Cameroun, Togo, Namibia, Trinidad and Tobago, Syria, China and Pakistan.

‘Vlisco & Co’ second edition; inspired by the Igbo culture

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ith 172 years of experience and heritage in designing prints, Vlisco is deeply rooted in Africa and is notable for drawing inspiration from African women, who have over the years, bought, traded and worn Vlisco fabrics, creating myths around the meanings of their designs.

Last year Vlisco creared a new venture called vlisco&co.

Vlisco&co continues in the same spirit of collaboration and cooperation as in the past.

That is the meaning of &co.

Vlisco&co creates a network of young and experimental creative talents across Africa, which connects to debate, define and demonstrate the interpretation of African culture in modern life and how that interpretation will be expressed in printed fabric.

The maiden edition saw Vlisco&co ask Nigerian designers, artists and creatives to join their new young network to explore the future of African print, asking; How will tradition merge with modernity?

How will the old be improved by the new?

To solidify its longstanding relationship with African creativity, vlisco&co in December 2017 hosted two events, in Accra and in Lagos. The event brought together creative minds from both countries and creative people from the Netherlands to showcase their new

Models showcasing Vlisco designs

ideas. The first ever edition at Alara in Lagos presented an impressive collection by Abiola Olusola and Tokyo James.

Olusola’s proposal was a fresh mix of geometrical fashion using classic Vlisco designswhile James worked with the new Bubble Wax fabric by Vlisco, presenting a menswear collection with a strong modern visual statement.

Vlisco&co also premiered the well-known movie “An Alien In Town” by Daniel Obasi and exhibited the illustrations of Karo Akpokiere, who reinterpreted classic Vlisco designs and the talented DJ, Ayel performing during the event.

Over the last decade, the global fashion industry has experienced an explosion of Nigerian designers across the world. What this has done is show that the Nigerian fashion industry has immense wealth creating capacity and employment opportunities. Nigerians are creating more fashion trends and clothing prefer-

ences that speak to their Nigerian culture. The Vlisco&Co initiative is a commitment to keep exploring and growing the Nigerian fashion space and its massive potentials.

This year, vlisco&co has travelled to Nigeria’s culturally rich Igbo land with its creative Nigerian network to research the ethnic group and its relation with their fabrics. Afterwardsthere was a round table gathering in Lagos to discuss the research and the concept of vlisco&co’s next edition.

The result explores the old and the new Igbo culture, its myths, mystery, magic and its world of colours and symbols.

To celebrate this year’s edition, vlisco&co will showcase their teamwork in Lagos on September 27, 2018. It will incorporate a new movie by Daniel Obasi, two fashion collections by Gozel Green and Fruche, with photography by Yagazie Emezi and a new music composition by talented DJ, Ayel.

38 BDSUNDAY

Bliss with Nonye Ben-Nwankwo

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Sunday 24 September 2018

Email: chiwuagwu@yahoo.com Phone number (SMS only) 08057511893

I might still remarry –Princess

Modupe Ozolua takes NGO to Edo

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opular comedienne, Princess, whose marriage broke up few months after it was contracted, has said she has not given hope on remarrying.

In a recent chat with Bliss, Princess said she will definitely try her hand on marriage again.

“When it happens, I will definitely try my luck on it. I really don’t know. We are looking unto God for it to happen.”

At the moment, the comedienne who was on a hiatus for a couple of years, said she is back and back for good.

“Comedy business is still very fine.

I was able to set a record recently. I performed for about two hours nonstop.

Hopefully, there would be other shows by next year. Other comedians are putting up shows, which I might likely be a part of. We are still shooting movies. We are still working. I have been on a low key for about four years but I am back. The more we work, the happier people will be.”

But as much as she and just a handful of comediennes are in the comedy business in Nigeria as opposed to the number of comedians, Princess explained the disparity in number as a “Nigerian thing”. “ The comedy business is male dominated. We have a couple of new comediennes. I have met about four or them. But in the course of next year, I am sure people will come to know them. The ratio is still very small and we still encourage women who have the talent to be a part of the industry.”

Also a professional actor, Princess said she has been busy on set and she has featured in some movies which would be released soon.

“I did a couple of movies. They are actually comedy movies. Entertainment is my passion. I started with acting. Along the line, I went to comedy. Everything I do is about comedy. Even when I do motivational talks, I still bring humour into it.”

And in recent times, the chubby entertainer has been posting pictures on her social media handle where she’s engaged in rigorous exercise. Even as some people would have thought the actress is aspiring to lose considerable weight thus the reason behind the exercise, she said she was only trying to “keep fit”.

“I used to exercise a lot before now but I stopped for a while. I had to stop for medical reasons but now, the doctor has given me the go ahead so I had to start again. I have shed some weight but my major reason for exercising is to be fit. I don’t want to be thin.”

Princess, who is also a staunch member of Rotary Club Iwaya (Lagos), could help but talk about her club.

“Last year, we gave about 700 children books and some other stuff. We have support from former first lady, Mrs Fashola and Zenith Bank. Some individuals also sponsored us. We are hoping that more people will come on board and support us.”

Again, Yul Edochie backs out from political contest

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or the second time, actor Yul Edochie has backed out from contesting in a political election after having making so much noise about it.

Before now, the actor had wanted to run for governorship in his state, Anambra, but later withdrew after a while.

But it also came as a surprise to many when, the actor expressed his desire to run for the presidency in the forth coming general elections and some of his fans actually took him seriously and were even ready to vote for him despite the fact that he ‘disappointed’ them during the Anambra election which he withdrew from.

However, via his social media handle, the young actor backed out again. Without giving much reasons, the actor posted his withdrawal from the race via his instagram handle saying, “After due consideration and consultations, I will no longer run for President of Nigeria, 2019. To my supporters, worry not. I remain committed to building a new Nigeria that works for all, irrespective of class, tribe or religion. Together we shall achieve it. God bless.

Of course, so many of his fans and foes alike attacked him online and expressed their disappoint-

ment over his actions.

A fan through via the handle, kimberlyekezie said, “You have just shown us how corrupt you too are.”

Another fan via the handle, exbrowne@yuledochie said, “Right from the first day I saw your post a picture saying you’re going for president, I knew you’re not serious, you would still end up backing off like you did with your governorship one. This is so bad for your political ambition in future; you don’t keep backing off every time you come out. It’s sure gonna affect you negatively in future when you will finally become serious because a lot of people are now seeing you as an unserious human being. Too bad.”

In the same vein, a cedric_romeo posted, “Worry wetin? Governor that you contested how far? It is president that you want to win.

Nigeria politics is not Nollywood biko.”

Adding her voice, @kalaellafashion said, “Go find better thing do with your life... Concentrate on movie way your papa don already make way for you and stop disturbing public peace with your childish stunts.”

While @kuteanom posted, “In my opinion, what you need is cheap popularity. This is the same thing you did during the Anambra election.

Time to buy form don reach, you don run.”

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opular philanthropist, Modupe Ozolua put smiles on faces of thousands of children in Edo State as she took her Non Governmental Organisation to the state recently.

Ozolua completed the first phase of giving free medication to 271,000 children and pregnant women in Edo State.

Through her NGO, Empower 54, Princess Ozolua distributed free medication in the State and over 15,000 women and children received free Albenda-

zole, Vitamin A and pre-natal vitamins. Upon completion, 271,000 women and children would benefit from the programme.

Bliss gathered that the program would be conducted in many states across Nigeria and other African countries.

Her dedication to humanity has earned her many national and international awards and recognitions, including “Humanitarian of the Year” by African Award Organisation in Atlanta, Georgia.

Linda Ikeji acquires Bentley for new tot

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fter welcoming her baby few days ago, popular blogger, Linda Ikeji has gifted herself and her new patter of tiny feet, a brand new Bentley.

While announcing the purchase of the wonder on wheels in a series of posts, her sisters, Laura and Sandra, could not hide their excitement as they posted the news on their respective social media handles.

According to Sandra via her handle, sandraikeji, she posted, “Hey lil Jayce, your mum @officiallindaikeji promised you a Bentley , now you have it! Con-

gratulations @officiallindaikeji on your N120m Bentley #Bentleyforbaby.”

She further posted, “I’ve found a car for my wedding, start applying to be on my train. You can imagine a train of 50 gorgeous friends.”

And Laura via her handle, lauraikeji, posted, “Dear Jayce, ya mom went crazy the day you came into this world, oh boy! Ya own don better. Dem born you buy Bentley. Omo mama olowo. Can’t remember what my parents bought when they had me hehe.

Check out Linlin’s Bentley.”

Sunday 23 September 2018

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Entertainment AMVCA 2018: Beyond the glitz and glamour

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CHUKS OLUIGBO

he word icon gets thrown around quite often, but every now and again, a true icon does something extraordinary and reminds us what the word truly means. No one has ever doubted Cobhams Asuquo‘s legendary status in the Nigerian music sphere but he decided to refresh our memories at the 2018 edition of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA).

From Adekunle Gold’s groovy performance to Falz’s high energy display, the night was not lacking in spectacle and Asuquo’s acoustic delivery brought a whole new energy to the AMVCA stage.

The show started with a special cultural performance by the SEKI traditional dance troupe from Okrika, Rivers State. Their ‘kaleidoscopesque’ costumes glistened as they danced and sang their hearts away on the brilliantly lit stage.

A while later, Adekunle Gold’s colorful Afrobeat instrumentation filled the hall and had everyone grooving along. Falz gave all the pop performance desired from a big show like the AMVCAs; he came through with everything from backup dancers to flashy costumes and it was an astonishing sight.

While the men brought the drama, the ladies brought calm with their powerhouse performances.

Award-winning Nigerian soprano, Omo Bello, had everyone in awe with her glass-shattering vocals, while Bisola gave us a surprisingly emotional performance with her tribute to the film industry’s dearly departed through one of Evanescence’s biggest songs.

Nigerian producer, singer and songwriter, Cobhams, took to the stage to perform a special version of his single, ‘One Hit’,

rewritten just for the AMVCA. Why perform an old song when you can remake it, right? The original version of Cobhams’ ‘One Hit’ name-dropped a plethora of movie-making Nigerian artistes.

However, in the AMVCA edition, Asuquo replaced the names of the artistes with names of Nigerian actors.

Everyone from Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde to Odunlade Adekola got a special shout-out from Cobhams. The performance was definitely one of the highlights of the star-studded show. Cobhams’ performance not only thoroughly entertained both audiences at home and at Eko Hotel, it also served as a charming little surprise for all those watching.

Making every single moment of an award show as big as the AMVCA count is truly a Herculean task, but the organizers of this year’s edition have so perfected the craft that they made it seem effortless. Creating memories for viewers and nominees alike is what makes the event truly wondrous.

Just when you think they’ve knocked it out of the park, they raise the bar that much higher.

Celebrating icons while they are still alive is one thing the AMVCAs are known for, but giving us an opportunity to enjoy them in their element while they are still with us is a gift we should all be thankful for.

Other award shows will come and we are sure that they will also have brilliant performances but it will be a while before any show or performance comes close to the sheer perfection displayed by the musical performances at the AMVCAs. When the big players came together A number of African brands speak about promoting African entertainment but very few actually act on their word. The sixth edition of the annual AMVCA was yet another platform for brands to do their part in celebrating the culture. A number of them, seven to be specific, helped make this year’s edition the glamorous spectacle that it turned out to be.

The brands – Konga, Airtel, Heritage Bank, Martell, Sunlight, H20 and Nokia – worked with the organizers, MultiChoice, to put on a stellar show. From the show’s announcement to the Sponsors’ Cocktail, right to the big night, these brands dedicated resources and time to making ensure the night-out went on without a hitch.

Many of these brands have ambassadors who are a part of Africa’s entertainment industry, so it was exciting to see them turn up for their people. Konga and Nokia

lit up the venue at the Sponsors’ Cocktail with interactive games and activities as the celebrities interacted.

One of the more memorable moments of the big night was when Airtel ambassador, Ngozi Nwosu, had her ‘world-famous selfie’ with Falz while presenting him his second AMVCA plaque.

After all the fun and glamour that took place at the event, Martell allowed the celebrities let their hair down at the Martell After Party.

Nigeria’s biggest DJs were also live at the party battling each other as the A-listers danced the night away with Martell. From start to finish, it’s easy to see how involved the AMVCA 2018 sponsors were with creating such a brilliant show.

Their dedication to celebrating African culture is a testament to how truly liberal these brands are to moving the culture up.

Sold out hotels, overbooked makeup artistes The curtains may have closed on this year’s AMVCA, but one impressive effect of the showpiece is its often overlooked, yet immensely important effect on Nigeria’s economy. This is apart from its extensive cultural impact.

The scale of the show means that over 600 people are employed to work on the awards, while another 1,000 businesses directly and indirectly contribute their services to the success of the show annually.

The event has also become a major pull for tourists due to the continental flavour of the awards.

Actors, actresses, scriptwriters and directors from all over the

continent are nominated for the awards and these nominees often troop into town weeks before the main day to enjoy the Lagos experience.

From weeks leading to the Nominees and Sponsors’ Cocktail Party to the days after the event has ended, AMVCA tourists are known to stick around to enjoy the culture of the country. This means hotels, Ubers (and such transporters) and AirBnBs are the major beneficiaries.

Availability of transportation is a major essential and with the proliferation of ride-sharing apps, it has become a lot easier not only for drivers to provide their services but also for consumers to access them.

Makeup artists, photographers and stylists are at the very top of the AMVCA moneymakers’ list.

The exciting thing about the award show is that the event is an A-list affair for creatives from all over Africa. What do actresses from South Africa, set designers from Kenya, cameramen from Libya and directors from Egypt all have in common? They all want to look good on the big night. Some of the nominees and tourists go the extra mile of ordering outfits in Nigerian fabric and made by Nigerian designers.

Makeup artistes, tailors, stylists and photographers may give the celebrities the Midas touch they need, but it is the hotels that give them a place to lay their heads before they even begin to get ready for the event. Anyone who has ever called to book for a hotel around the AMVCA period can attest to getting the “sorry, we are fully booked” response from a number of topnotch hotels. While the big names may be fully booked, however, the lesser known but more homey hotels get their day in the sun as they also receive new international business.

Then, of course, we have the caterers, whose services are especially important because while people from different countries may want to experience Nigerian meals, they would definitely not mind tasting a meal or two that they are familiar with.

Beyond the showpiece which has become one of the most prestigious in the country, the AMVCA offers the perfect tourism opportunity for everyone on the continent and provides an opportunity for various entrepreneurs to exchange their services for money.

TNT Africa emerges as Iconic TCM rebrands

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t is lights, camera, action as Turner ushers in a new era on TV screens all over Africa.

With a fresh, entertainmentfilled offering, viewers can prepare themselves to re-imagine TV through for the entire family.

TNT Africa on September 21 revealed its slick new look which promises to be an immersive experience, providing creative and relevant programming.

TNT Africa is the culmination of TCM’s move to refresh its brand image. The channel moved from its former global positioning in favour of a bolder and more appealing positioning of the ‘American blockbuster channel’.

“The TCM brand has had a strong classic association which does not reflect the actual brand proposition, or deliver the right message to our African audienc-

es,” Guillermo Farré, head, General Entertainment for Turner, Southern Europe & Africa, said.

“Even though we have listened to our viewers and worked hard towards modernizing the image of the channel, there was still a strong association of the TCM brand to ‘classic Hollywood silver screen productions’.

We, therefore, decided to switch TCM to TNT to fully reflect the

new brand identity and perspective in line with our American blockbuster programming strategy,” said Farré.

TNT is one of the best-performing, and well-known, general entertainment brands in the world, being one of the top TV brands in the US, Latin America, Asia and Europe.

So now the channel will unleash an action-driven, pulse-

raising slate, mixed with romantic gems and hilarious comedy aimed to keep its African viewers glued to their screens.

For this rebrand, TNT had an exciting line-up of never-beforeseen titles which were screened from September 21-23, including The Illusionist, The Green Mile, Crank, Robin Hood, Hellboy 2, Doom, Tango, as well as Cash and Gladiator.

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Sunday 23 September 2018

Amazing photos from Lala Akindoju and Chef Fregzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; traditional and white wedding Funny how this couple took the entire Nigeria by surprise this week. First it was their pre-wedding photo pictures that came out last week Sunday, little did we know that it was their Traditional wedding same day, and a few days later they hit us with their white wedding. Below are only a few lovely photos of the couple from their big daysâ&#x20AC;Ś

Sunday 23 September 2018

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Movie review of “from Lagos with love”

by Linda Ochugbua

It was really nice to see some new actors and actresses spice up this new movie – From Lagos with Love - written by Dami Ebele, Dami, over the years, has written a lot TV series and it was nice to see her dive into movies.

This movie was totally awesome; a simple storyline that seemed familiar yet sweet and unique.

The movie talked about different individuals and the difficulties each faced in their marriages or relationships.

It was always one drama to another; sometimes it looked like it wasn’t going to come to an end. But despite all the differences and difficulties, if you must stay in love with someone you must learn to fight for them, no matter what it costs.

I’m not in any way trying to drop spoilers (if you haven’t seen it) but it will only be nice of me to tell you a bit about the movie.

The movie started off with the scene of one of the kids who was based in Abuja with her best friend come to Lagos to see her parents and spend time with her siblings for Christmas.

It was a very interesting Christmas holiday as the vacation turned out to be very dramatic; her elder sister’s supposed happy home was about to hit rock bottom.

Her younger sister was engaged and planning to get married to her Ex-boyfriends younger brother. Her younger brother was engaged to an actress who the mum didn’t want him to marry as she felt she was so old for him.

On the other hand, Enado was in a dilemma as well. She had a very dear friend who had feelings for her but never spoke much about it. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to date him even though deep down she also knew, she had developed feelings for him. She was only waiting for him to speak up.

You will need to watch the movie to see how love found them all and how the Christmas

became a blissful one for all; it was indeed a memorable Christmas filled with love all from Lagos.

Asides the storyline which I found interesting, I also liked the costumes. Although the it seemed similar to some past movies, the unique role played by majority of the “A” list artists made the movie one to enjoy and worth seeing a second time.

Verdict I would rate this movie a solid 8/10.

Well I felt the movie was nice, cool and well written. They paid attention to details and the cast chosen for each role was almost perfect. I also liked the costumes and the production quality.

I think they were quite choosy when selecting the cast because they were all in sync.

For the romantic movie lovers, you are sure to enjoy this love story written by Dami Elebe, if you have being following Dami you will know she is an advocate of well written scripts and movies.

Cast and Crew Cast: Bimbo Manuel, Damilola Adegbite, Enado Odigie, John Etim, Jon Ogah, Shaffy Bello Director: Tola Odunsi Producer: Tola Odunsi, Akin Akinkugbe Written by: Dami Elebe Casting 85mins Genre : Drama Ratings : 12 Feel free to review any movie of your choice in not more than 200 words, please send us a mail to linda@businessdayonline.com and stand a chance to win a free movie ticket. Also check out our social media handles to answer the questions for the week.

Linda Ochugbua @lindaochugbua

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Sunday 23 September 2018

Travel

Journey to another 32 days escape in Calabar begins Obinna Emelike

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nce gain, the journey to another 32 days of excitement in Calabar has began, raising hopes for a bigger and bolder street party in Africa this December.

Annually, the ancient city, which is popular for its premium tourism offerings, hosts over 2 million visitors and revelers in a month-long fiesta tagged Carnival Calabar.

Now in its 14th year, the carnival has truly come of age and the organisers, who have learnt and improved from the past editions, are gearing up for a better, bolder and more exciting carnival this year.

Already, Ben Ayade, governor of Cross River State, has flagged off the carnival this year with the unveiling of the theme, an annual ritual of he carnival.

At the carnival theme unveiling event held in June at the Executive Chambers of the Government House in Calabar, the governor disclosed that the 2018 theme is ‘Africanism’ and urged the participating bands to make good attempts at interpreting the theme through their colour, dances and others performances.

The theme speaks volume of African renaissance and need to be authentic with our values, culture and heritage as Africans.

As well, the theme will guide all carnival bands (Freedom, Passion 4, Masta Blasta, Bayside and Seagul) in well-interpreted choreographic performances and displays at the different adjudication points along the 12-kilometre carnival route.

However, the organisers are

taking the preparations for the carnival a notch higher with series of events across the country. From public awareness at the recently conclude Akwaaba African Tavel Market in Lagos, public hosting at Oriental Hotel by Ita Giwa, senator and leader of one of the participating bands and most recently, the public presentation of the theme at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos on September 20, 2018, the carnival is poised to offer lots of excitement this year.

The theme unveiling event, organised by Cross River State Government Carnival Commission in conjunction with Promotional and Innovation Synergy Limited (PSL), witnessed a mini carnival amid other entertainment offerings that entertained dignitaries including Helge’s Bandeira, deputy consul general, Brazilian Embassy, and his team, Florence Ita-Giwa, politician and band leader, among others.

The highlight of the event was the lighting of the carnival touch by the dignitaries led by Gabe Onah, chairman, Cross River State Government Carnival Commission, Ikechi Uko, the international consultant to the carnival among others.

In his speech at the ceremony, Onah noted that the carnival has grown from strength to strength in the last 14 years and is set to become self-sustaining, especially with the private sector taking advantage of its business potential and stability over the years.

As well, the Brazilian deputy consul general commended the organizers for giving Africa the best show over the last 14 years and promised to support the carnival this year.

On his part, Ikechi Uko, noted that the organizers have travelled to understudy other carnivals and were in Rio Carnival in Brazil last year, but that Calabar Carnival has no match among other carnivals because of the uniqueness of the people, their culture and heritage, which they showcase and preserve through the carnival.

Also speaking, Florence ItaGiwa noted that Cross River State has been lucky to get governors who support the carnival. As the premium tourism offering of the state, she noted the carnival cannot die because of the economic empowerment, social cohesion,

religious affiliation and excitement it offers to the indigenes, the state, and visitors alike.

Besides the touch lighting ceremony, the event witnessed other exciting activities such as Calabar Got Talent, where Precious, a singer, beat other three contestants; a magician, a football joggler and a comedian, to emerge winner.

As well, there was runway show by models and designers of the Calabar International Fashion Week, Calabar Carol, etighi dance by youthful dancers, replica of the 24-hour Festival Village among others.

The Lagos event also provided

the platform to formerly introduce Promotional and Innovation Synergy Limited (PSL), the marketing consultants of the carnival to the public.

Emma Agweye, representative of PSL, noted that the carnival is now sustainable and urged the private sector to take advantage of its business potential to launch products, and create brand awareness.

At the end, the organisers called on the general public to start making bookings for the carnival as this year’s edition promises to be bolder and bigger, especially with the efforts at interpreting Africanism by the bands.

Lagos Luxury Lifestyle Summit announces 2018 speakers … As Lagos State endorses summit

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a n a g e m e n t of the Luxury Lifestyle Summit has announced renowned speakers for the 2018

edition of the summit scheduled to hold on October 26, 2018 in Lagos.

Earlier, Lagos State Government endorsed the summit as the host city and as published in the Lagos

tourism calendar of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

The Lagos Luxury Summit as endorsed by the Lagos State Government will have Foluso

Phillips, executive chairman of Phillips Consulting and erstwhile chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group as the lead speaker to speak on the topic: ‘Growing the Lagos luxury sector: opportunities and challenges’.

Foluso Phillips has experience in the luxury sector coupled with his organization’s extensive research report on the luxury industry in Lagos state, his speech promises to be an eye-opener to the numerous opportunities abound in Lagos State and beyond.

Funke Osae-Brown, partner of The Lagos Luxury Lifestyle Summit and publisher of The Luxury Reporter, announced that the 2018 edition of the summit is unique because it is expanded beyond Nigeria with a specific look at the Kenya and South African luxury markets. In this vein, Michael Mwai, the CEO, Luxuria Lifestyle East Africa, will be speaking on the Africa luxury experience: The Kenya experience.

Nwai’s passion for the luxury industry in Africa is rare with a

distinctive speciality in connecting luxury brands to consumers on the continent and to opportunities in the sector.

Other speakers include; Modupe Ogunlesi, the CEO of Adam and Eve Homeware who has been in the luxury retail space for 20 years and counting. She will speak on luxury retail in Lagos: The making of homegrown luxury brand while Bola Allison, who has been a Jewellery for 15 years will speak on The next phase of luxury in Lagos: expectations and challenges.

The Lagos Luxury Summit will also feature a panel discussion to further engage professionals and experts in the luxury sector Tope Ogbeni-Awe, partner of The Lagos Luxury Lifestyle Summit and chief service officer, Topcomm PR, has called on brands to take advantage of the summit to showcase their products as spaces are limited.

A golf tournament to engage professionals and corporate brands is in the pipeline for the second day of the summit.

Sunday 23 September 2018

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Travel

Aviation, aerospace stakeholders launch global study on women in Leadership Stories by IFEOMA OKEKE

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ive stakeholder organisations in the aviation and aerospace industry will launch a global study - “Soaring Through the Glass Ceiling” - to identify and promote means by which the aviation and aerospace industry can more effectively recruit and advance women into leadership roles. The study is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2019.

Wo m e n h a v e m a d e great strides in many professional fields and industries but there remains a gap at the leadership level.

As an example, fewer than one quarter of the American aerospace workforce are women, with an even smaller percentage in lead-

ership roles.

More can and should be done to enable the advancement of women into important leadership roles in the global aviation and aerospace sector.

The aim of this joint study is to identify the root causes of any barriers to advancement that may have hindered progress to date. More importantly, the study will highlight those practices and policies which have been successful in promoting gender diversity in leadership. In so doing, the study will surface and document best practices for all stakeholders to consider, whether at the overall industry level or at the level of specific industry participants or educational institutions.

Specifically, the multi-

faceted effort will include a global survey of women, human resources leaders, organization leaders, and education leaders; inter-

views around the globe with women, human resources leaders, organization leaders, and education leaders; Case studies on success

3.8m passengers use Dubai Airports in August - Report

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ore than 3.8 million travellers u s e d Du b a i International Airport in August, making it one of the busiest month of the year so far.

There was a significant increase in the number

of smart gate users, as some 673,759 passengers benefited from the facility at the airports, an official at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai said.

Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, director general of

GDRFA Dubai said that travellers’ movement in August hit a record number with 3,821,722 passengers going through Dubai airports. The increasing number of travellers using smart gates also helped ease passenger movement through the airports, he added.

“Dubai International Airport is on top of the busiest airports in the world, especially during public holidays and Eid days, as many travellers come to spend their vacation in the UAE, especially in Dubai. With the rapid developments in the city, more people have become interested to visit, Maj Gen Al Merri said.

“We follow our leaders’ directives to make people

happy. It is a major goal of GDRFA and we are keen to implement it by having the necessary mechanism to make it easy for travellers, especially during holidays,” he added.

With the installation of 122 new-generation smart gates at all terminals, Al Merri said, travellers no longer have to stand in queues at passport control counters.

GDRFA Dubai also has smart gates at the airport, allowing travellers to use their smart phones to cross the gates using what is called ‘UAE Wallet’.

“We are using the future accelerators to build a modern and efficient system to keep the travellers and public happy,” said Maj Gen Al Merri.

Air Peace assures on projecting Nigeria’s image

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ir Peace has said that the airline is changing the negative narrative about Nigeria through its exceptional flight services.

Speaking at the recent Nigerian Charity Bazaar hosted by the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana in collaboration with the NigerianWomenAssociation in Ghana , among other pro-Nigerian groups, Chris Iwarah, Air Peace corporate communications Manager, told Nigerians in Ghana that

its strides in the aviation industry in West Africa are to project the image of the country positively across the world.

Iwarah, who addressed the diplomats and other dignitaries during a visit to Air Peace stands at the bazaar, said the airline had deepened its commitment to creation of seamless connections in Nigeria, Africa and the world with the signing of an agreement with Boeing for the delivery of 10 brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Air Peace, he said, was the first and only airline on the West Coast of Africa to order the state-of-the-art aircraft from Boeing.

He assured that the carrier, which had so far taken delivery of two of the four Boeing 777 aircraft it recently acquired for its longhaul services to Houston, London, Dubai, Sharjah, Mumbai, Guangzhou-China and South Africa, would continue to strive to make Nigerians proud with its flight operations.

The bazaar was held at the Nigeria House, Accra to rally Nigerians from all walks of life and friends of Nigeria to celebrate the nation’s unity in diversity and commitment to charity.

The event was graced by Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana , Ambassador Michael Olufemi Abikoye, the ambassadors of Pakistan, India , China to Ghana , members of the diplomatic corps as well as leaders of the Nigerian community in Ghana.

stories within the industry; and review of prior studies and literature on the advancement of women, both within and outside the

industry.

These four streams of activity will be undertaken in parallel and the study’s findings will be shared broadly through each organization’s events, websites, and publications.

The five stakeholder organizations who have joined forces for this important project represent the key sectors within the industry and bring complementary knowledge of the issues and opportunities for women in the industry globally: Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), Airports Council International (ACI) World), International Air Transport Association (IATA), International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA) and Korn Ferry – Civil Aviation Practice (NYSE:KFY).

First Airbus C295 delivered to African operator for humanitarian operations

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enya-based D A C Av i a t i o n International has received its first Airbus C295 for humanitarian missions in North-East and Central Africa.

DAC, which specializes in humanitarian missions in Africa, has leased the a i r c r a f t f r o m Du b l i n , I r e l a n d - b a s e d l e s s o r, Stellwagen Group. DAC will be the first African civil C295 operator, reaffirming the versatility of Airbus’s medium tactical transport and mission aircraft and its suitability to operate in some of the world’s harshest and challenging operating environments.

In 2017 Stellwa g en

specialist aircraft capable of operating humanitarian and freight missions in austere environments as well as supporting government agencies in search and rescue and other roles.

The Airbus C295 is a tactical airlifter in the light and medium segment. It is robust, rugged and reliable, able to operate from unprepared rough, soft and short airstrips on missions enduring up to 11 hours.

It is a highly versatile aircraft, able to perform many different missions including transport, medical evacuation, maritime patrol and surveillance, signals intelligence, and airborne early warning.

To date, 206 C295s have

Group ordered 12 Airbus C295s and placed an option to purchase additional aircraft. The acquisition positions Stellwagen Group to serve the civil market requirements for

been ordered by customers around the world, including Algeria, Angola, Ghana, Egypt and Mali in Africa.

DAC Aviation has been providing humanitarian assistance for over 25 years.

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Sunday 23 September 2018

Life&Living

Know all about choice menu, chef recipe for In-flight meals as you tour the world …With debut of Food and Wine channel on Emirates entertainment system JUMOKE AKIYODE-LAWANSON

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igerian travelers on Emirates Airlines can now enjoy the newly introduced Food and Wine Channels on the award winning In-flight Communication and Entertainment (ICE) channel in order to get the behindthe-scene view of how the airline makes its on-board menus and its works with global partners.

The channels give an inside look into Emirates’ US $700 million dollar investment in fine wines and its regional and seasonal food menus prepared by award-winning chefs. Both the Emirates Food and Wine Channels can now be viewed on all flights.

The Food Channel showcases the detail that goes into menu development by Emirates Chefs and ingredient sourcing for onboard meals. The airline serves about 110 million meals each year with the same attention to detail in First Class, Business Class and Economy Class. Each episode explores how the airline brings the finest products on board through long standing partnerships worldwide, including local suppliers and artisans. The first two episodes take the viewer to Umbria, Italy, where Emirates purchases its olive oil from Monte Vibiano and to Sri

Lanka to understand how the Dilmah tea is selected to be served on board.

The episodes also feature some recipes from its regionally inspired onboard menus so customers can recreate Emirates’ signature Prawn Machbous, or learn how to make a classic crepe at home. The recipes can also be found on emirates.com. The Food Channel was launched with two episodes and more episodes will be added next year.

Joost Heymeijer, Emirates’ senior vice president, catering, stated: “We go to great lengths to present our

customers in every class with a great dining experience. A lot of detail goes into preparing the meals and choosing the wines. The channels give viewers access to our food and beverage philosophy, the catering strategy and how we work with our partners. In addition, our tutorials and recipes give our customers something interesting to ‘take home’ with them.”

“So if you’re enjoying a fine wine like Château Haut Brion 2004 on board, there is an accompanying wine tutorial to help you appreciate and understand its nuances and what makes it unique.

Welcome to the world of fragrances

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here is a synergy in the mixture of materials that tells a story or better mirrors personality and character. A perfume is a picture painted in smells with notes and tonnes like music and art. But just like painting and music, perfumes have life and feeling that helps you navigate through their world and brings you to an outstanding ascent.

Choosing a fragrance that’s right for you is important in a world where there are countless scents available.

That brings us to fragrance categorization - fragrances are often categorized by concentration or their most prominent fragrance note.

Classification based on concentration refers to the strength that a fragrance has and it is broken into Parfum, Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, Eau de Cologne, and Eau Eraiche. Fragrance concentration is often found underneath the name of the perfume on a bottle.

Another way to categorize fragrances is using its prominent notes.

Whether you are a lover of scents or you just want to explore and know more about the world of perfumery, we’ve put together a handy fragrance note guide to help you make an informed decision on which best suits you.

WOODY: Largely favoured by men, woody perfumes often have light top notes with a muskier heart. Compris-

ing of sandalwood, patchouli and oakmoss, these warm, dry and musky notes provide an air of sophistication and mystery to all who wear them.

Women prefer the woody notes for evenings. Great examples of Woody Fragrances are The Spirit of Dubai Oud which was newly introduced into the Nigerian market and Silver Wood by Korloff.

Silver Wood by Korloff: The scent is a blend of cardamom, cinnamon and lavender.

FLORAL: By far the most popular type of perfume, the floral fragrance is a romantic, light and slightly sweet scent. These fabulous perfumes are a blend of flowers such as rose, violet, lily, jasmine and lavender. Most men’s floral scents have orange blossom at their heart, giving an alluring tone.

Wear floral scents to show off

your sweet side. Classic examples of great floral scents are Nuit Andalouse

by MDCI – a strikingly sweet floral scent, Un Jardin a Paris by Korloff – a chypre floral fragrance for women and Quelques Notes d’Amour by Yves Rocher – a warm spicy floral scent.

Nuit Andalouse by MDCI: The scent is a blend of violet, orange and green notes ORIENTAL: As their name suggests, oriental perfumes originate from more exotic parts of the world. Made from spices such as pepper, cloves, cinnamon and vanilla, these fragrances are warm and sensual. There is also a certain depth to this scent that is quite popular with the more adventurous! Some Oriental fragrances you would love include Delirium by Gritti, Bois Secret by Evody and Amber Noir

by Yves Rocher.

Bois Secret by Evody: The scent is a blend of luminous bergamot spiced with black pepper FRESH: Also known as citrus or green notes, fresh fragrances are often made from lemon, orange and bergamot; then accented with herbal notes to give that refreshing scent that revive the senses. These are a great choice for an uplifting aura for both men and women. Great examples are Mandarine Sultane by Alexandre.J and Arancia Ambrata by Gritti.

These products are exclusively available at Montaigne Place Stores.

Similarly, if you’ve just enjoyed the Braised Coconut Beef Short Ribs served on your flight and want to recreate it at home, we have that recipe on the Food Channel,” he added.

The Wine Channel features a documentary on Emirates’ wine buying strategy, and the direct relationships it has cultivated with the world’s finest winemakers to procure some of the most exclusive vintages. Emirates invests heavily in its cellar and has established a robust wine programme in the last 10 years. Each day, it serves over 80 kinds of wines, champagnes,

and ports across its network.

A series of wine tutorials have also been introduced on the channel. Oliver Dixon, head of fine wine at MMI (an Emirates Group company) and part of the Emirates wine buying team leads the viewer through a tutored tasting, giving valuable insight into the history of the producer and the elements that give each wine its flavour. There are currently 10 episodes on board and more wine tutorials will be added soon.

Emirates’ Food and Wine episodes sit alongside 3,500 other channels of on-demand entertainment on ice, including movies, award-winning television box sets, tens of thousands of music tracks, podcasts and games. ICE also features varied content such as expert-led LinkedIn Learning courses that cover topics such as Leadership, General Management and Marketing; as well as uTalk language courses offering lessons for beginners.

Over 170 aircraft are equipped with live TV featuring sports tournaments as they happen and real time news updates. Wi-Fi is available on over 99 percent of the Emirates fleet and customers across all cabins can enjoy 20mb of free data. Emirates Skywards members can enjoy unlimited free Wi-Fi or discounted data plans throughout their flight, depending upon their tier and the cabin that they are flying in.

Grand premier of ChiefDaddy the movie, set for December IFEOMA OKEKE

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tart planning your movie dates, girl’s night out and December holiday outings right now, as EbonyLife Films has announced that the highly anticipated movie, ChiefDaddy will premiere on the 2nd of December 2018, at the Oriental Hotel in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria and will be released in all cinemas across the country on December 14.

In usual EbonyLife fashion, the premiere is set to be a grand affair, with a guest list including dignitaries, business moguls, celebrities and socialites. With the dress code being ’Opulently Nigerian - Be Extra’, the event promises to be a thrilling and exceptional extravaganza, showcasing Nigerian fashion culture like never before.

Mo Abudu, executive producer is looking forward to another landmark event. “Every year, the crème de la crème of Lagos society shows up for our extraordinary premieres and this will be no exception. This time, with Chief Daddy, we are going to have even more fun with fashion, while unveiling what promises to be the biggest movie of 2018. For those fortunate enough to be invited, we promise a wonderful occasion and a hilarious, highly enjoyable, family

film.”

With possibly the most starstudded cast in Nollywood’s history which includes Bisola Aiyeola, Funke Akindele, Zainab Balogun, Shaffy Bello, Lepacious Bose, Ini Edo, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Linda Ejiofor, Mawuli Gavor, Kate Henshaw, Ayo Lijadu, Jude ‘MI’ Abaga, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Beverly Naya, Chinedu ‘Nedu’ Ani, Uti Nwachukwu, Taiwo Obileye, Chioma ‘Chigul’ Omeruah, Rachel Oniga, Beverly Osu, Nkem Owoh, Patience Ozokwor and Joke Silva. Also featured is entertainer, rapper and two-time AMVCA winner, Folarin ‘Falz’ Falana, who may be the breakout star of this movie.

The dramatic comedy, Chief Daddy, written by Bode Asinyanbi and directed by Niyi Akinmolayan chronicles the sudden death of wealthy and extremely generous Chief Beecroft, and the events that unfold subsequently. The movie, which features unique and eccentric characters, combines drama, comedy and a very catchy soundtrack.

After the premiere, anxious fans won’t have long to wait, as the movie opens in cinemas from December 14th. In the meantime, they can look forward to another four teasers before the main trailer is released in late October.

Sunday 24 September 2018

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Kiddies

L- R Chairman Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Abeokuta chapter, Omolola Banjo; national President APWEN, Felicia Agubata and cross section of the awardees of “Invent it, build it’’ programme organised recently by APWEN in collaboration with the NNPC in Abeokuta, Ogun State .

Cross section of the pupils at the event.

Gulliver’s Travels O

ne stormy night at sea, a ship was wrecked.

All the passengers on board drowned, except Lemuel Gulliver. Gulliver was an great swimmer and swam for many miles before he could reach the shore. Gulliver was very tired and decided to sleep. He would look for food after having sufficient rest.

Gulliver slept for a whole day.

When he woke up, the Sun was beating down upon him. He tried to move, he could not. His hair, hands, legs and body were tied to the ground. He saw little men running all around him. Someone had got a tiny ladder and was climbing up to him. The little man, no bigger than Gulliver’s thumb nail, came up to his ears and said, “You are in the land of Lilliput, we are Lilliputians. We are taking you to our Emperor, so please do not make any trouble.

You will be shot at.” Gulliver almost laughed at this threat but nodded.

A huge wooden structure with wheels was brought.

Gulliver was slid on to it after much struggle. The wooden structure was pulled through the streets of Lilliput with all the Lilliputians lining up the streets.

It was a carnival atmosphere which the Lilliputians seemed to be enjoying themselves, much to the amusement of Gulliver.

Finally, they arrived at the

Emperor’s palace. The Emperor was there to receive Gulliver, “You are indeed a strange sight.

If you are to stay here you will have to be of service to my people here,” he said pointing to the crowd. Gulliver said, “I agree to any condition but only if you untie me.”

Gulliver was freed. He was provided with food and water, a house was built for him. It was a monumental effort by the Lilliputians, who were all out to serve Gulliver. Gulliver stayed with the Lilliputians, helping them with many small tasks.

It so happened, that the neighboring kingdom of Bleuse were not in a very friendly relationship with Lilliput. The King of Bleuse declared war on Lilliput. He took a hundred ships to mount an attack.

The Lilliputians ran to Gulliver for help. The Emperor said, “Don’t let us down now Gulliver; we need your help.” Gulliver walked into the sea. He took long rope, tied all the hundred ships together and dragged them in the water. Gulliver pulled the ships the whole day, until the army of Bleuse was giddy and in no position to fight.

The King of Bleuse came begging for peace between the two kingdoms. The Emperor agreed.

Gulliver was hailed as the hero and lived in Lilliput for many years.

APWEN partners NNPC to ignite passion for engineering among the girl-child …Award scholarships to school girls in Ogun NGOZI OKPALAKUNNE

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n order to inspire the girl-child to take up sciences with the view to pursuing a career in engineering, the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), recently organised a one-day forum for hundred selected girls from 10 different primary schools in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The event which took place at St. Peter Claver’s Nursery and Primary School in Abeokuta was the third in its series across the six geo–political zones of the country and it came under the theme, ‘Invent it, build it’’.

President of APWEN, Felicia Agubata who spoke at the event described the programme as a girl-child education event aimed to target group of girls aged 8-10 years in the six geo-political zones.

Agubata further stressed the need to teach the girls to be brave and courageous and maintained that the objective of the programme was to ignite passion for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in young girls and to showcase the socio-economic value and application of engineering in everyday life.

“When boys meet 60 percent of job vacancy qualification criteria, they apply for, that, is being brave. For the girls it is different. They only apply for the jobs when they meet 100 percent of the criteria. The bravery deficit is why girls are underrepresented in STEM, in boardrooms, and everywhere.

“We have to teach them to be brave early in school, when it has the most potential to impact their lives. We also have to show them that they will be loved and accepted not for being perfect, but for being courageous in working towards perfection.

“Not for starting off as perfect human beings because perfection is attained through hard work, discipline, focus and being brave in tackling the odds”, Agubata added

According to her, APWEN believed that early contact with the target group will indeed spark off a desire and an ambition of the girl -child to study the sciences and ultimately pursue engineering as a profession.

“As the girls begin to imagine great careers in engineering and diligently demonstrate passion and with the right guidance, the sky will be their limit.

“APWEN’s role is to mentor, point the way forward and partner with the would be champions to midwife their careers by way of providing learning aids, seminars, scholarships at some points and above all inspiration”, she added.

Giving a brief background of APWEN, she said is the umbrella body for female engineers, scientists, technologists and mathematicians in Nigeria.

The mission of the organisation she said include: to continuously increase awareness that engineering is a career for girls, thereby improving the strength of female engineers; to encourage women to achieve professional excellence as engineers and leaders; and to promote STEM as a positive force in enhancing the quality of life.

On the objectives of STEM, Agubata said, it aimed to provide a forum for promoting sorority amongst females in STEM; to encourage engineering studies and practice amongst female Nigerians; and to create a platform by which women engineers can collaborate with other women in other professions in Nigeria and elsewhere.

It is interesting to note that the first edition of the programme took place early this year at Bauchi, while the second edition was held in Benin, Edo State.

Explaining the reason for selecting Abeokuta as the venue for the 3rd edition of the Invent it, build It programme, APWEN President said it was in honour of an illustrious son, a pacesetter, Adekunle, Olumuyiwa, Akanbi Mokuolu, the President and Chairman of Council the Nigerian

Society of Engineers and the first female Agricultural Engineer in Nigeria; Idiat Aderemi Amusu.

In her words: “Their humble beginnings and success stories are being showcased today to inspire these pupils here to go into STEM that will lead them to a career in engineering because STEM is an economic driver and engineers are problem solvers.”

Also speaking, the Group Managing Director, NNPC Maikanti Baru commended APWEN for the initiative and promised that his organisation will partner with APWEN to bring the project to fruition “I was quite excited about the potential of the programme to encourage and motivate our younger ones in the study and pursuit of a career in the fields of STEM. I then promised that NNPC will partner with APWEN to bring the programme to fruition,” he said.

Challenging the girls to embrace sciences, he said: “Do you know that everything you see around you from pencils to desks, through shoes, dresses, vehicles, roads and many other things, are products of Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics?

Engineers are the gears of progress and they accelerate the world. They are the future of the nation”.

On his part, His Royal Highness Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, Alake of Egbaland commended the organisers of the programme, saying that such effort will certainly encourage the participants to be female engineers of great repute.

One of the high points of the event was a foundation-laying ceremony done for the provision of a modern Science and Technology laboratory for St. Peter Claver’s Nursery in honour of His Royal Highness Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, Alake of Egbaland.

Sc h o l a r s h i p s w e r e a l s o awarded to 10 female pupils who showed interest during the experiments performed by the pupils and they will be sponsored from primary to university level by the organisers.

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Sunday 23 September 2018

Health&Science Cancer treatment centre set to begin in Ondo

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cancer.

The establishment of the center, according to her was a victory for the women of the state as they would no longer die needlessly due to cancer.

To get a better deal for the people of the state, she said there would be participation of the private sector, non-governmental organisations, International and local donor agencies.

Akeredolu, however, identified late presentation for cancer treatment as a major factor in the cog of the wheel of progress of successful treatment of cancer.

She asked for the resuscitation and strengthening of a Health Promotion Department to aggres-

sively educate the public on what to know about their health using education materials and all available media.

While thanking committee members for the interest in the project, she charged them to be on the run and hit the ground running to ensure the project would become a reality in no distant time since there was the political will which had been demonstrated by the approval of two billion Naira take off grant in the 2018 budget.

Tasks were then shared to committee members and timelines given for which to deliver so that the first phase of the project can commence latest by the end of the year.

WHO requires $14.1bn investment case to save up to 30 million lives ANTHONIA OBOKOH, Wired Report

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he World Health Organisation (WHO) on September 19th published its first investment case, setting out the transformative impacts on global health and sustainable development that a fully-financed WHO could deliver over the next five years.

The investment case describes how WHO, working together with its Member States and partners, will help to save up to 30 million lives, add up to 100 million years of healthy living to the world’s population and add up to 4 per cent of economic growth in low and middle-income countries by 2023.

Achieving these results would require an investment of $14.1 billion from 2019 to 2023, representing a 14% increase in WHO’s base budget over the previous five-year period. These investments would help achieve the “triple billion” targets of WHO’s General Programme of Work: 1 billion more people benefitting from universal health coverage; 1 billion more people better protected from health emergencies; and 1 billion more people enjoying better

AGENCY REPORT

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YOMI AYELESO, Akure he Ondo State Government is set to establish a Cancer Treatment Centre in the state as parts of efforts to reduce number of death arising from the killer disease in the state.

Speaking at a maiden technical meeting of the Cancer Control Advisory Committee put in place for its establishment, wife of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Betty said starting the Cancer Treatment Centre was a dream come true.

As a survivor of cancer, Betty Akeredolu said she had dedicated her entire life to fighting cancer and so passionate about starting a treatment center that would be affordable and sustainable, saying the committee was set up to join the fight against cancer by establishing a treatment center that was a model, non-profit making but sustainable with government input and private participation to reduce incidences of morbidity and mortality associated with

Expert says 2.7 million Nigerian women engage in abortion

health and well-being.

“This is the first time we have estimated the results we could achieve and the impact we could deliver with the right resources,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Our investment case isn’t only about investing in an institution, it’s about investing in people, and in the healthier, safer, fairer world we all want.”

Th e i n v e s t m e n t c a s e shows how a stronger, more efficient, and results-oriented WHO will serve and guide governments and partners in their efforts to improve the health of their populations. It highlights new mechanisms to measure success, ensuring a strict model of accountability, and sets ambitious targets for savings and efficiencies.

“WHO is the only international organization that enjoys universal political legitimacy on global health matters,” Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany, says in the investment case.

The document highlights the vital work WHO does in providing up-to-date, evidence-based health guidance to support countries in improving the health of their population.

“As it embarks on its eighth decade, the World Health Organization is as essential and central as ever,” said Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda. “It has a unique role in developing new norms and standards, and sharing life-saving tools and technologies.”

The investment case also emphasizes WHO’s focus on equity, gender and rightsbased approaches that aim to close gaps in health service coverage and empower individuals and communities to ensure no one is left behind.

“WHO’s leadership is essential to placing UHC at the forefront of the global development agenda,” said Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank Group.

The investment case outlines WHO’s critical role as a partner, convener, and driving force in coordinating efforts across the global health arena.

“We look forward to working with the World Health Organization, governments and partners around the world to build strong primary health systems as an essential step to achieving health for all,” said Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Public Health Scientist, Suzanne Bell on Thursday said the abortion rate by women of reproductive age in Nigeria has risen between 1.8 and 2.7 million.

Bell, who made the disclosure at a dissemination exercise of the Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 (PMA 2020) in Abuja, said that the rise was as a result of unintended pregnancies.

The event with the theme, “Measuring Performance, Informing Policy and Empowering Communities’’ was a collaboration of the Centre for Research Evaluation, Resources and Development ( CRERD) and the Bayero University, Kano.

According to Bell, majority of these abortions were considered unsafe, hence the need for increased awareness and access to family planning, to protect the lives of women.

“In 2018, PMA 2020 conducted a survey to produce updated and expanded estimates of abortionrelated indicators.

“The survey results provided new insights into the characteristics of women who have abortions and the pathways leading to abortion within or outside the healthcare system.

“In Nigeria, most public tertiary facilities provided post abortion care (92 per cent) and safe abortion services to save a woman’s life (81 per cent); lower level public facilities and private facilities were much less likely to do so.

“In 2017, the annual incidence of likely abortions in Nigeria was 41.8 per cent per 1000 women aged, 15 to 49, which is nearly 1.8 million abortions.

“When including information related to the experience of respondents closest confidants, the rate of likely abortions in Nigeria rose to 2.7 million.’’

Mrs Bell said women living in rural areas, women with no education and women who are poor were the most likely to have had

the least safe abortion.

She further said six out of 10 abortions were considered least safe and 11 per cent of women experienced complications for which they sought post abortion care at a health facility.

Earlier, Elizabeth Omoluabi, principal investigator, PMA2020, said one out of every four children were unintended, giving rise to some of the abortions committed by women.

Omoluabi, therefore, called for the empowerment of women to have family planning before marriage in order to reduce the abortion rate.

“The 2018 survey conducted revealed that there has been steady rise in family planning due to awareness on its need.

“19 per cent of Nigerian women are now using modern contraceptives as shown by the survey.

“In our survey, we used three instruments which include household, female respondent and service delivery point questionnaire to carry our survey.

“The impact of quality data in planning is important and hence the data will help us to plan to save the lives of Nigerian women.’’

She added that the PMA2020 in its survey was able to use innovative mobile technology to support rapid- turn around surveys to monitor key indicators for family planning.

Also, Ghaji Bello, director- general, National Population Commission (NPopC) pledged the continuous support of the commission toward the country’s family planning data.

The PMA2020 is implemented by local universities and research organisations in 11 countries.

PMA2020 Nigeria is led by the (CRERD) and Bayero University, Kano, with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health.

The survey has been carried out in the states of Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, Nasarawa, Anambra and Taraba.

Sunday 23 September 2018

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BDSUNDAY 47

Sports

Re-elected Pinnick promises greater focus on youth development ANTHONY NLEBEM

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n overwhelming majority of the Congress of Nigerian Football on Thursday, September 20th, 2018 in the city of Katsina re-elected incumbent Amaju Melvin Pinnick for a second term as President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), with the history – maker immediately paying glowing tributes to President Muhammadu Buhari and top officials of the Federal Government for their huge efforts in sustaining association football in Nigeria.

Pledging to focus even harder on youth development programs in his second tenure, Pinnick, who is also the 1st Vice President of the Confederation of African Football, said there is no victor and no vanquished in the race as football remained the ultimate winner.

In his acceptance speech, Pinnick specifically thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Chief of Staff to the President, the DG, Department of State Services and the Inspector General of Police for their tremendous support for the board.

“We respectfully ask for more support as we start a new tenure, during which we aim to consolidate on our vision of building a sustainable football culture for our dear country, and continue the great march towards ensuring financial independence for the NFF. “We owe this country a lot, and we are committed to working hard to give back so much to it. We intend to set up a reconciliation team in a few days to reach out to aggrieved members of the football family with a view to bringing everyone under one umbrella for the purpose of a united front in the pursuit of the greater good for Nigerian Football.”

The NFF supremo also thanked the Governors of Delta and Edo States for their understanding and support, as well as players and officials of the various National Teams for their efforts in doing Nigeria proud at all times.

A festival atmosphere reigned in the ‘Home of Hospitality’ as the full machinery of government was in motion to watch over the big occasion of the NFF 2018 Elective Congress, alongside the presence of observers from world football –governing body, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football.

In his congratulatory message, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement; “Allow me to extend to you my warmest congratulations on your re-election as the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the 2018—2022 period, at today’s NFF Elective Congress

in Katsina State.

“Please also convey my congratulations to all of your colleagues of the Executive Committee who were elected with you. I wish you and your team the best of luck, strength and every success for all the challenges ahead.

At the opening ceremony, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State poured encomiums on the NFF administration led by Pinnick for its major strides over the past four years, noting trophies won in the FIFA U17 World Cup, Women Africa Cup of Nations, the U23 and U20 Africa Cup of Nations, Olympic football bronze and the recent WAFU U17 Cup triumph in Niger Republic. He praised the aggressive marketing drive of the administration that has galvanized a steady move towards financial independence, while pledging that the Government of Katsina State will continue to invest in football development because of the game’s virtues of youth empowerment and meaningful engagement.

During the polls, which was conducted by the NFF Electoral Committee put in place by the NFF Congress at last year’s General Assembly in Jos, Plateau State on 19th October 2017, Pinnick swept aside three other contestants, polling 34 votes to second –placed Aminu Maigari’s 8, with former international Taiwo Ogunjobi getting only 2 votes. There was none for club owner Chinedu Okoye.

Pinnick became the first man since Father Dennis Slattery (of blessed memory) in 1957 to be elected back-to-back to one of the hottest seats in world football.

Second –placed Maigari, the immediate past NFF president, warmly embraced Pinnick after the vote, saying: “The vote has come and gone, and football is the winner.

The focus is football development. I bear no grudge and I must say that I

am indeed delighted by the strides that Amaju Pinnick has taken since taking over from me four years ago. He is like a son and I am proud of him.”

Incumbent Seyi Akinwunmi was more emphatic in retaining his seat, bagging 41 of the votes to challenger Sunday Dele-Ajayi’s 2. One vote was deemed invalid.

In other votes, incumbent Ibrahim Musa Gusau retained his seat as Chairman of Chairmen on the Board, polling 42 of 44 votes, following the withdrawal of Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah on the floor of the election.

Ahmed Yusuf Fresh and Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande retained their seats on the board, after a nerve –jangling contest that went to three rounds. Chairman of Kwara State Football Association, Busari Ishola was eliminated in the first round after polling only 10 votes, leaving Yusuf and Fresh to vie in the second.

Fresh edged it 22-21, and Ishola was then re-instated to challenge Yahaya-Kwande for the remaining slot from North Central. In the event, Yahaya-Kwande won by 28 votes to 14.

Emmanuel Ibah defeated Oswald Atuake 28 votes to 15 to win the remaining slot from the South South (following Pinnick’s re-election), while Ganiyu Majekodunmi and Sharif Rabiu Inuwa were unopposed for the South West and North West slots.

Three candidates slugged it out in the South East, with Enyimba FC chairman Felix Anyansi-Agwu winning the lone slot available (as Chidi Ofo Okenwa still has a seat as Chairman of the Nigeria National League). Anyansi-Agwu polled 32 votes, to nearest challenger Emmanuel Ochiagha’s 8. Jude Obikwelu and Pastor Emeka Inyama, who withdrew from the contest on the floor of the election, still got two votes and one vote respectfully.

FIFA observers Luca Piazza , Solomon Mudege, and CAF observer Sita Sangare witnessed both the opening ceremony and the entire Elective Congress proper.

Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Barrister Muhammed Sani Katu afterwards swore in the new Board.

In his acceptance speech, Pin-

nick thanked the Congress for the confidence reposed in the new board, adding: “We owe this country a lot, and we are committed to working hard to give back so much to it. We intend to set up a reconciliation team in a few days to reach out to aggrieved members of the football family with a view to bringing everyone under one umbrella for the purpose of a united front in the pursuit of the greater good for Nigerian Football.”

Next up for Pinnick is his formal inauguration as the 1st Vice President of CAF, at the body’s Extraordinary General Assembly in Egypt on Sunday, 30th September.

NEW NFF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Amaju Pinnick – President Seyi Akinwnumi – 1st Vice President Shehu Dikko – 2nd Vice President Ibrahim Musa Gusau – Member Ahmed Yusuf Fresh – Member Felix Anyansi-Agwu – Member Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande – Member Babagana Kalli – Member Sharif Rabiu Inuwa – Member Chidi Ofo Okenwa – Member Aisha Falode – Member Mohammed Alkali – Member Musa Duhu – Member Ganiyu Majekodunmi – Member Emmanuel Ibah – Member Mohammed Sanusi – Secretary

FIBA Women’s World Cup: Elonu ready to lead D’Tigress to success JONATHAN ADEROJU

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daora Elonu is no visitor to the unpredicted from a basketball game and as such says she has herself prepared for what the big teams in Nigeria’s Group B opponents will bring to the World Cup. The 28-year-old forward re-joined the team after her spell with the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA she believes basketball all over the world is the same but admits the difference is in what a team brings.

She told FIBA.basketball that despite being out of the team’s preparations for a few weeks, she is confident that her team has the right synergy to carry her through the first round matches.

According to Elonu “No pressure on me, everything is team effort.

We all trust each other so there is no pressure. It’s going to be a good experience for us.”

“I have missed a lot, especially being with the girls. I have missed being around, I have missed work also. So much work has been done on the team which I have skipped but I am sure to catch up with the work and progress very quickly.”

Elonu who had won the NCAA title with the A&M University back in 2011 while addressing the pressures her position as team captain brings to her noted that she does not allow anything weigh her down.

Elonu further said, “Till now, nothing

has weighed me down and I just hope it would continue that way. The girls trust me and I have the same trust in them. And as long as they choose to go the same way, and we are on the same track, I would absorb any type of pressure in Spain and give my best.”

“I can boldly say my teammates and I are under no iota of pressure. We cannot dispute the fact that rankings matter but it is the game of basketball we are all going out there to play.”

“We are looking forward to compete with them and doing well since we have been drawn in the same group already. We have played against Turkey before and we did put up a good fight, but we have not faced Argentina or Australia before.”

On her expectations, she stressed that “I expect us to go out there as always and compete, we have the fighting spirit, and we are well prepared, what else can we then expect but to do well?

BDSUNDAY

NEW YOU CAN TRUST

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SUNDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2018

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Imperative of public enlightenment for good governance

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he ever growing gap between the socioeconomic status of the political classcum-corporate titans and the average Nigerian makes it a compelling need for the civil society to take up the gauntlet of sustained public enlightenment. Another reason is the resultant effect of the demeaning, yet defeatist mentality of the victims of pervasive, yet preventable poverty worshipping this set of people as if they were some demi-gods! Unknown to them, power belongs to them and not their unrelenting oppressors.

How, for instance would the poorest Nigerians feel about the Inequality Report entitled ‘Inequality in Nigeria, Exploring the Drivers’ released by Oxfam International, in May 2017 that the combined wealth of five richest Nigerians, put at $29.9 billion, could end extreme poverty in the country? How would they respond to the shocking revelation by the same body that public office holders stole an estimated humongous amount of $20 trillion (dollars) or about N7,200 trillion Naira from the national till between the period of political independence back in 1960 up to 2005? But that is not all.

What about the gnawing fact that despite being referred to as one of the largest economies in Africa, the country spent an insulting 6.5 per cent of its 2012 budget on the critical sector of education and a pitiable 3.5 per cent on healthcare delivery? Indeed, how would he imagine the fact that as at then 57 million Nigerians lacked access to safe water and 130 million were denied the needed sanitation? Is the situation much better as at today? The answer is there for all to see.

This telling situation calls for sober reflection on the part of the favoured few citizens while enlightened Nigerians should show greater concern, beginning with accurate public enlightenment in addition to telling the truth to power. According to Enlightenment philosophers the concept of public enlightenment, sometimes called the ‘Age of Enlightenment’, was a late 17th- and 18th-century intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individualism and skepticism. The Enlightenment presented a challenge to traditional religious views. Enlightenment thinkers were the liberals of their day. They believed that rational thought could lead to human improvement and was the most legitimate mode of thinking. They saw the ability to reason as the most significant and valuable human capacity.

On the surface, the most apparent cause of the Enlightenment was the Thirty Years’ War. This horribly destructive war, which lasted from 1618 to 1648, compelled German writers to pen harsh criticisms regarding the ideas of nationalism and warfare.

American political leaders like Jefferson, Franklin, James Otis and John Adams were heavily influenced

by Enlightenment thinking. In fact, it provided the philosophical basis of the American Revolution. An effective model for Public enlightenment should be one that will enable all stakeholders gain easy access to each other. The salutary aim of course, is to achieve efficient dissemination of information; take into consideration the geopolitical and socio-economic nature of the region in question.

In the Nigerian situation, we have had the likes of Herbert Macaulay publishing the Lagos Daily News, Ernest Ikoli, using the (Daily Times, 1926) and Nnamidi Azikiwe (The West African Pilot in 1937) with a similar focus on public enlightenment. They brought news from the outside world to grab the attention of the growing middle class. It was also to highlight the challenges of national development as well as to demand for political independence from the colonial masters.

Decades later, attention shifted to enlightening the public on the demand for democratic government from the iron-grip of the military dictators. So, magazines such as Newswatch (Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Muhammed and Dele Giwa, of blessed memory), The News (Bayo Onauga) and Tell (Ayodele Akinkuotu) , went to town to stir public consciousness in this regard.

Ever since the return of democratic dispensation in 1999, attention has since moved to the persisting quest for good governance in Nigeria. There are several top-rate television and radio stations, newspapers and online publications trying to bridge the information gap between our political leaders and the led majority. The truth however, is that much still has to be done, to sensitize Nigerians on their rights and responsibilities.

Other areas include instituting an electoral process devoid of violence, ballot box snatching and of course the recent manifestation of vote-buying. We want our votes to count because free, fair and credible elections remain the firm foundation on which to build the house of democracy.

But we are still battling to have governments peopled by honest Nigerians- those who make promises

AYO OYOZEBAJE Baje is Nigerian first food technologist in the media and author of ‘DRUMBEATS OF DEMOCRACY’

and keep to them; those who take responsibilities for their actions instead of becoming masters of blame-game. That the issues of nepotism, lope-sided political appointments, calls for political restructuring, high costs of accessing political power and running the machinery of government, religious and tribal sentiments, insecurity, disunity, joblessness and mass misery persist means that sustained public enlightenment has become an imperative.

As reflected in his book, ‘The Rise of the Public in Enlightenment Europe’, the author, James Van Hom Melton highlighted the rise of the public in the eighteenth century Europe. Back then the public assumed a new significance and relevance when it came to decision making. Governments came to recognize the power of public opinion, especially in political life. This was buoyed by the expansion of print culture which had created a new reading culture leading to the emergence of an enlightened public. Soon, it became quite evident that government could no longer take the public for granted.

“Thus, in order to ensure that communication gap does not exist between the government and the citizenry, governments across the globe now pay utmost attention to public enlightenment campaigns. This is a deliberate and conscious strategy to duly inform and educate the citizenry as well as share ideas about government policies, plans, activities and programmes”.

Indeed, we have come to the point where we have to learn from the Greek history of political governance. Out of Monarchy, Aristocracy and Democracy the people evolved to choose the last listed. According to H. A. Clement, author of The Story of the Ancient World, “their cities were small enough to enable all the citizens to meet together and make decisions and did not need to elect representatives as we do….Whenever anything important was to be decided they all met together.”

Perhaps, we can translate this to a situation whereby, people’s decisions and not that of politicians at the ward, local and state levels take the day. Government must now adopt the bottom-up approach in decision making, to make the dividends of democracy to benefit the people instead of the self-serving political elite.

Quick Takes

Off the Cuff

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Always beggarly!

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ach time Nigerian government attends a global summit, while other countries will be telling the story of how they are progressing and adding value to the quality of life of their citizens, Nigeria is always whining, complaining and begging for money and other forms of assistance.

Nigerian government has always measured the success of a global event by the amount of promise of assistance it is able to obtain from host countries.

A country, which got her independence in 1960, has had a misfortune of leadership that does not see the feature, and depends on the outside world for survival, in everything.

Despite the huge assistance from donor countries and organisations, Nigeria looks like a third world country, with decayed and decaying infrastructure littered everywhere.

Sadly, the huge financial assistance often ends in private coffers. Either today or yesterday, the story remains the same. Nothing has changed.

Early this month, President Muhammadu Buhari attended the Forum on China-Africa Co-

operation (FOCAC) with a large delegation made up of politicians, who are the major problem of the country (so to say), rather than going with private sector operators that understand what the country actually needs.

The President and his delegation spent the entire time in China telling the story of how Nigeria urgently needed assistance in virtually every aspect of life.

What they didn’t say is that China should come and put food in our mouth!

They painted us black in the eyes of their hosts as if we were the worst country on earth by virtue of creation. But Nigeria is a country that is richly blessed and divinely endowed in every sense of the word.

When the President returned, he was beating his chest that “Nigeria has benefited over $5billion in projects from China.” This is to say the least, demeaning.

Geoffery Onyeama, foreign affairs minister, the other day was speaking about another global event Nigeria is expected to attend, I think, the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly taking place in New York on Tuesday, he said that the event

would give the country the opportunity to tell the world the challenges Nigeria is facing such as stolen funds stashed abroad, the fight against corruption, the war against Boko Haram; insecurity, among others.

It has always been negative stories. We hardly have positive reports to present at such high profile events. If we are not begging for assistance in the area of infrastructure, we are begging countries to help us repatriate monies our brothers and sisters stashed abroad. We beg them to assist us combat Boko Haram, kidnappers, ritual killers and other issues that are very embarrassing that Nigeria is still grappling with at 58. It has always been begging, begging and begging. We do not meet other countries on position of strength or with something that can boost our bargaining chances.

It is unfortunate that it appears that those who go for such events only go for low-hanging fruits that ultimately make no sense, as they do not even understand the intricacies of these so-called gestures. What a nation!

This is the number of local firms said to be jostling for various railway contracts in the current year.

Controversy The other day, President Muhammadu Buhari and Bukola Saraki, Senate president, engaged themselves in a slanging match. The face-off that started shortly after the emergence of Saraki as leader of the National Assembly has festered. The enmity got worsened by the recent defection of Saraki from the APC. Now, they decided to go verbal against each other. I don’t think I should reproduce what they said to each other, but there is need for caution, by both parties, after all, power is ephemeral.

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