BusinessDay 24 Mar 2019

Obasanjo breaks silence on 2019 polls

PDP, Kwankwaso kick, reject Kano supplementary election …Ask INEC to cancel poll …As thugs burn ballot boxes, votes in Benue

Hails tribunal’s judgment on Osun guber Tackles groups opposing Atiku’s lawsuit against Buhari

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Iniobong Iwok with agency report

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday broke his silence on the conduct and outcome of the 2019 general election, even

as he hailed the declaration by the Osun State Gubernatorial Election Tribunal that the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ademola Adeleke was indeed, the governor-elect of the September 27, 2018 poll.

Obasanjo said that the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against Adeleke was a desperate attempt to change the

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OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja, Adeola Ajakaiye, Kano & Benjamin agesan, Makurdi

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he People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has distanced itself from the supplementary governor-

ship election held in Kano yesterday, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the exercise.

The party accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of

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One year after, Dokubo rides the waves at Amnesty Programme p.9

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The fatalities, casualties and economic losses in the Rivers’ endless political wars

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Vol 1, No. 257 N300

??Nestle, Cadbury boost export sales by 25 percent in 2018 p. 43

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Market & Commodities Monitor Brent Oil

5yr Bond

$67.75

0.00 14.47%

Gold

10yr Bond

$1,308.60

-0.15 14.25% 20yr Bond

Cocoa

0.00 14.12%

$2,132.00

inside Street hawker gets free store after feeding transported prisoners in Lagos traffic p.6

Burnt ballot boxes and votes by thugs in Zendesha council ward of Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, during the supplementary gubernatorial election in the state, yesterday.

Lagos explains existence of high number of ‘illegal’ private schools

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Escape to Canada

How frustrating political, socio-economic situations force Nigerians into self-exile Canada now new Promised Land ‘I regret not leaving Nigeria 20 years ago’

Ilashe Island: An escape within P. 21

2019 election was one of the worst in Nigeria’s history – Adebanjo p. 31

Zebulon Agomuo, Obinna Emelike, Amaka Anagor-Ewuzie, Ifeoma Okeke, Isaac Anyaogu and Caleb Ojewale

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n the late 1980s, the urge to leave Nigeria by many citizens was so strong that government had to sponsor an enlightenment campaign on a Network programme

of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). The programme was tagged ‘I’m checking out!’

In the short drama, the lead actor, ‘Andrew’ (the late Nollywood actor, Enebeli Enebuwa) was seen complaining bitterly about the harsh economic condition of Nigeria and how he would not take it any longer. With a canvass bag on his shoulder and a sweeping swagger, he blurted out: “I’m Checking Out!’

But another character, who acted as a patriotic Nigerian, was seen urging him not to do so, but to stay back and help to salvage the country from the ruins. That was precisely in 1984.

Enebuwa, who though rose to the pinnacle of his career as an actor, never saw the dream Nigeria. Instead, things continued to so degenerate that 28 years after he made the feeble attempt to check out, he did

“Check out” to India in 2012 on medical ground, when it was too late. And died there. Perhaps, he may have been alive today, had he checked out in 1984!

Today, it is difficult to see many Nigerians, particularly the youths, who believe there is anything salvageable in Nigeria; hence, the increasing quest by many to quit the country by every

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Escape to Canada Continued from page 1

means possible.

The introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) by the then Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s regime inflicted excruciating pain on Nigerians, so much that many citizens decided to leave the country for some breath of fresh air.

Over three decades after ‘Andrew’ threatened to “check out”, portraying the desperation and frustration of Nigerians in the country, Nigeria’s fortunes have taken a deeper dip.

The Nigeria story is a pathetic one and there appears not to be light at the end of a long tunnel.

Many Nigerians are not just making threats of “checking out,” they are indeed checking out on account of worsening political situation and socio-economic quagmire which have combined to kill joy in the country.

In his piece ‘The Exodus of Nigerian Doctors’ published in one of the national dailies last Thursday, Olusegun Adeniyi, a former presidential spokesman, said: “… the question is important against the background of what happened last Saturday in Lagos, when hundreds of young Nigerian medical doctors converged at the premises of a hotel in Ikeja for a recruitment test conducted by the Saudi Arabia health ministry. A few weeks earlier, dozens of others were at the British Council to sit for the regular Professional Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) exams that will enable them to emigrate to the United Kingdom to practise medicine.

“While I cannot count the number of young professionals I know who have either moved to Canada or Australia in recent weeks (many of them with their families), the case of medical doctors deserves special attention. In addition to the UK and Saudi Arabia, many of them are also heading towards South Africa, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and just about any country where their talents could be put to use in a rewarding manner.”

Unlike in the 1980s when many of those who left the country went to pick jobs (brain drain) as there were none in-country, today, many who leave Nigeria do not have any idea of what they are going to do abroad; they just want to get out.

In 1984, government succeeded in dissuading many citizens to stay back and salvage the country together with the authorities; but 35 years down the line, nothing has been salvaged. The country today is ravaged by rising cases of armed robbery; kidnapping; ritual killings; bribery and corruption; collapsed public infrastructure; Boko Haram insurgency; falling standard of education; rampaging killer herdsmen; assassinations, high level of unemployment, shambolic elections, mockery of fight against corruption, subterfuge, and a host of other maladies that have taken over the country.

The conduct of the 2019 general election, which many Nigerians have regarded as shambolic, appears to have further eroded the faith of many Nigerians in the country. And since after the elections, many Nigerians have started to question their continued stay in the country.

Analysts converged on the opinion that the conduct of the elections was the worst outing by any election umpire in the history of Nigeria.

A young man, who simply identified himself as Jude, told a story of two uncles of his who cheated death by relocating to America where their daughters live.

“I have two uncles. One retired as a school principal with his wife also; the other retired from a private firm. When the challenges of old age began to take toll on them, they began to fall sick every now and then. Good a thing, the two of them have daughters who live in America with their families.

It is over six years they have been in America; if you see their pictures, they look like new babies with their wives. I am very sure, if they had been in Nigeria, they would have died two years back because of their health status while here.”

...Want to emigrate? Here’s the legal way

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peakingwithBDSUNDAY, a manager with an agency which helps Nigerians to process their visa applications for skilled-migration or studentship, said applications for emigration had so increased in the last few months that his office now entertains about 20 daily.

According to him, “emigration is not very easy because it takes between 11 and 12 months before you complete the process. But if it is students’ visa, it takes about three months. So, it is easier for young people to go than adults.

Many of the adults that go there leverage on their children who either went to study initially and

after they finished their studies, they have their permanent residency (PR).”

The manager, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Many people are so desperate that they are seeking visas to travel without any skill.

Canada needs skilled manpower.

So, you must have a skill that they need and which you also need to survive on. They do not just grant you visa for the sake of it. It is easier for students, and as a student you can work for 40 hours a week.

Apart from Canada, Australia is another hot place people are rushing to now for studies and migration.”

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Front row from left: Pakistani High Commissioner to Nigeria, Waqar Ahmad Kingravi; First Secretary, Aamir Habib Abbasi and other dignatories, during the events to mark the March 23, 1940 Lahore Resolution that ushered independence for Pakistan, in Abuja on Saturday.

Obasanjo breaks silence on 2019...

Continued from page 1

will of the Osun people.

The former president in a statement Saturday also condemned those urging Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president and candidate of the PDP in last month’s presidential election, not to go to court, stating that such calls were coming from the “enemies of Nigeria” and those seeking to intimidate Nigerians by threatening violence.

Atiku had rejected the outcome of the February 23 polls, alleging fraud and rigging in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He asked the court to overturn the result and declare him president-elect, defying calls to concede defeat.

While such calls have publicly come from mostly Buhari’s supporters, some groups have suggested a potential legal victory for Atiku could trigger unrest in the country.

Those groups have therefore, argued a preference for a stable Nigeria at the cost of any merit Atiku’s claim may have.

However, in his first public com-

ments on the election, Obasanjo, who backed Atiku for the top job, attacked such suggestions coming from those who “call themselves our development partners and friends”.

“Those who have conceived and are promoting the narrative that if Atiku Abubakar continues to seek legal redress there will be violence, are evil minds looking for excuse to unleash violence on Nigerians,” he said.

“At no time in history has sustainable peace been built on theft, injustice, corruption and inequity. These merchants of chaos and violence should have no place in any decent society. And they must know that no intimidation or prophesy of violence and doomsday will cow anybody.”

He took a swipe at Buhari, stressing that the incumbent President thrice challenged the results of presidential elections he contested in the past.

According to the statement, “Let me also commend Senator Adeleke for his statesmanship in going to court to seek justice. This is the right and proper thing to do in

any decent society. Going to court must be encouraged and not discouraged as some people are now attempting to do.

“While I have refrained from commenting on the 2019 elections because one of the parties has gone to court, may I point out that those who call themselves our development partners and friends and preachsacrificingjusticeonthealtar of so-called stability are enemies of justice, democracy and Nigeria.

“We will continue to sustain Nigeria in stability and unity on the altar of justice, equity, fairness, freedom, human rights and democracy. Stability cannot be successfully built on injustice, corruption, inequity, and divided nation, and incompetence, nepotism and onesidedness.

“Nigeria will march forward with or without those who will want to feed us with diet of values and actions that are not acceptable in their own countries. Nigeria is of age. And if Buhari could go to court three times to seek justice, even without reasonable cause, any Nigerian who feels denied of justice must feel free to go to court”.

INEC advised to train, retrain staff for future elections UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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ames Uchegbuo, a political analyst in Abia State, has advised the INEC to improve on the use of card reader machines in the future elections in the country.

Uchegbuo, who gave the advice in Umuahia while interacting with newsmen at the weekend, emphasised on the need for the INEC to always embark on training and retraining the electoral officers and other personnel that would play a role in the electoral processes in order to reduce election malpractices and other electoral vices allegedly perpetrated

by some of the INEC staff in the previous elections.

He recalled what happened during the recently concluded elections in his Ahuwa-Oboro community, Ikwuano L.G.A, where some of the election materials brought by officials were in shortfall of 400 which the supervisor could reportedly not explain what led to the disappearance of the materials entrusted to his custody.

“Those that the card reader machine could not capture were allowed to vote and the figure was registered and counted, in an attempt to favour one political party, to secure undue advantage against the tenets of democracy,”

he said.

“The INEC should take note and ensure that any ballot paper that was not registered in the future elections, should be discarded,” he advised.

Uchegbuo frowned at a situation where the card reader machines read a different figure, while the ballot papers would read another thing.

“This is enough to reject the votes and the results brought in by the INEC staff, who might have compromised in the process to favour a particular political party.

This is capable of undermining democracy in the country”, he warned.

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News Group opens American cancer treatment & research centre in Imo SABY ELEMBA, Owerri

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merican cancer treatment and research centre has been officially opened in Ikeduru Local Government Area, Imo State; it is managed by the International Health Care consulting in United States of America (USA).

The American cancer treatment and research centre is a public private partnership (PPP), venture with the Imo International Health System (IIHS) and handles all cancer treatments which include detoxification and rejuvenation, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery and palliative care. The Radiation Therapy equipment is powered by Solar and Wind (power) which are available for 24 hours for 365 days of the year.

A list seen by our correspondent in Owerri, which contains various kinds of cancer ailments released by the American Cancer Centre in Nigeria, puts the total number of cancer incidences recorded in Nigeria to 115, 950, with breast cancer having 26, 310 or 22.7 percent.

This is followed by Cervix Uteri Cancer, 14,943 or 12.9 percent, Prostrate Cancer 13,078 or 11.3 percent; others are Colorectum Cancer

6,692 or 5.8 percent, NonHodgkin lymphoma, 5,367 or 4.6 percent and other Cancer ailments, 49,560 or 42.7 percent. The Centre, which is the first of its kind on the African continent, as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) provides free cancer screening on Mondays; Tuesdays for free Facility Clinic/ antenatal; Wednesdays are free Cardio screening, while Thursdays are for free Immunization, and Fridays are for free Diabetics Screening services.

At the occasion, Governor Rochas Okoroacha who was by the former member for Obowo State Constituency, Imo State and now Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mark Uchendu, urged the management of the hospital to create room for medical students for internship just as he commended the doctors from US “who despite all odds deemed it necessary to come to Imo State to establish this hospital, the first in Africa”.

He said it was a dream come true as the desire of Governor Okorocha is to create good environments for the establishment of hospitals for the wellbeing of the Imo people and urged people to give the hospital management the necessary cooperation to make the venture thrive.

Professionals task Buhari on speedy enforcement of policy to drive economy KELECHI EWUZIE

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rivate and public sector professionals have urged the Muhammadu Buhari administration to use the opportunity of the next four years to marshal out clear-cut economic policies that can attract the needed investments.

They opine that the main problem the country faced in the first term was the lack of direction, adding that it doesn’t matter the economic policy, but that with the right people to manage the policy, the economy will thrive.

Tajudeen Akande, president, Lagos Country Club, says the Federal Government must engage more with the business communities in order to put forward a clear cut, well communicated policy to help businesses do their own strategic plans and strategic response.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos announcing activities to mark the 70th year anniversary of Lagos Country Club and the unveiling of the club’s new logo, Akande called on Buhari to as a matter of urgency set up a policy implementation team to carry out whatever policy government comes out with.

According to him, “The country cannot afford to wait for another six months for the list of the ministers. We must know the team that will drive the plan.”

Akande further said that in the almost 70 years o f e x i s t e n c e o f La g o s country club, the group have undoubtedly made significant impact in the society at large and in our immediate environ; having provided excellent recreational facilities and a conducive atmosphere for relaxation.

“This has impacted positively in the life of our members as evidence in the large number of septuagenarian, octogenarian and a few

nonagenarians still active in our midst, and interacting with young, vibrant, upwardly mobile business executives,” he said.

Babatunde Okunuga , director-general, Lagos Country Club 70th Anniversary said the success of the club today is not a happenstance, for this great club has been blessed with leaders who tilled the ground and rolled up sleeves to give us a befitting place we have prided as a second home.

He said part of activities lined up to mark the landmark event includes: Family funfair, Seminars, Wellness/ health talk, Sports week, anniversary lecture on 30th July and the grand ball on the 3rd of August, 2019.

iWOW inspires women entrepreneurs on thinking globally, yet acting locally in business Ifeoma Okeke

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he Inspired Women of Worth (iWOW) has again inspired women to think globally, yet act locally to sustain their businesses and make a difference in whatever they do.

Speaking during iWOW’s global possibilities summit, 2019 during the weekend at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, Claire Omatseye, managing director, JNC International Limited (JNCI) said that in thinking globally and acting locally, women entrepreneurs must take self development seriously.

Omatseye noted that in making a difference, there is a need for passion, hard work, innovation, perseverance, self development, positive and creative thinking.

She stressed on passion and purpose as requirements for profit, adding that surrounding one’s self with right thinking people will help entrepreneurs stay on their vision and purpose.

She praised women for being multi-tasking but stressed on the need to be careful on taking up so much responsibilities that could be overwhelming and affect their health.

Also speaking on the theme of the event “Power Woman,” Udo Okonji, found-

er and Trustee of IWOW, explained that in raising powerful women, there is a need to develop a sense of clarity and confidence.

Okonji noted that in being a power woman, the starting point is choosing a name as a way to discover yourself and work at achieving the name you have ascribed to yourself.

“Don’t be afraid to choose words and names that connect with you. There is something about a name that makes you level up. Just by embracing your light, demonstrating your gift, just by being you and inspiring people, you are a power woman.

“A power woman is a woman on a journey to finding and fulfilling purpose. Follow your interest and passion.

Solve the problems around you and you will be fulfilling purpose. Entrepreneurs fight until they achieve their dreams,” she added.

According to her, some of the requirements of becoming a power woman include having a growth plan, creating a vision and staying on it, having a change of mindset for a better transformation, finding a power tribe, focusing on building an empire, not being afraid of success, not being a hater of successful women, bringing something to the table, being bold, fearless and courageous, being able to give, love and empowering other people.

L-R: Olayinka Ogunmekan, past president of Lagos Country Club, Olumuyiwa Williams, Trustee; Tajudeen Akande, president; Oliver Ogbonna, Trustee and Babatunde Okunuga, director-general of the Club’s 70th Anniversary, during the Club’s press briefing and the unveiling of the Anniversary Logo at the Club in Ikeja, Lagos.

EEDC arrests 156 vandals, decries construction along power lines Emmanuel Ndukuba, Awka

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bout 156 electricity installation vandals have been arrested by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) between January 2018 and now.

Tony Obi, managing director of the company disclosed this during a Forum organised for the company’s customers in Awka Business Area in Awka.

Obi, who was represented by Frank Ejiofor, head of security, said the company during the same period secured no fewer than 50 con-

victions within its network between January 2018 and this time.

He said the vandalism and energy theft were major challenges to efficient service delivery in the franchise area, reiterating that EEDC had zero tolerance for such vices. Obi bemoaned the spate of indiscriminate construction along High Tension Power lines which according him was a great danger to the people and company.

He said the company would soon embark on disconnection of all customers who encroached in power line right of way and serve them with disconnection notice with fines as directed

by the Federal Government.

He said the company had spent about N200 million for the upgrade of an existing 7.5 MVA injection substation to 15 MVA and installation of a new 7.5MVA injection substation within the Awka district in a bid to boost supply. “We are determined to improve power supply in a five states where we have franchise, in Awka we a upgrading an injection substation at Agu-Awka and building a new one at ABS and the company has spent about N200 million on those projects.

“We are worried by activity of installation vandal, between last year and now

about 156 of them have been arrested across the network, about 50 of them have been convicted and many of them are in courts.

“We are calling on our customers, communities and all security agencies to partner us in safeguarding these facilities by reporting and if possible apprehending them so that together we all can enjoy better service and good business,” he said.

Emeka Ezeh, head Communication, EEDC, said no fewer than 250, 000 customers had been issued pre-paid meters from the 700, 000 unmetered customers it inherited on taking over in 2013.

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s the battle for the leadership of the Ninth Senate gathers steam, political watchers have warned that the inability of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senate Caucus to put its house in order, could undermine the chances of its preferred candidate, if not well handled.

Although the governing party is in control of the upper legislative chamber in the Ninth Senate, observers say if the APC national leadership and the party’s Senate Caucus fail to forge a common front on its choice of Senate President, the party could repeat the mistakes of 2015 where Bukola Saraki emerged as Senate President, against its preference for Ahmed Lawan.

BDSUNDAY reports that out of the 106 senatorial positions declared so far by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC controls 64 seats, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 41 lawmakers and Young Progressive Party (YPP) one. The remaining three senatorial seats of Imo North, Imo West and Plateau South are yet to be declared by the Commission.

“There are dissenting voices within the APC Senate Caucus and some law-

Senate Presidency: APC’s divided house could undermine its chances OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja makers are waiting to take advantage of APC’s inability to calm frayed nerves.

The emergence of Saraki in 2015 as Senate President will serve as an impetus to those nursing the idea of ignoring party supremacy”, a political analyst, Emmanuel Ezeh, told BDSUNDAY. There are four front-runners from the APC jostling for the position of Senate President. They include: Senate Majority Leader, Ahmed Lawan (Yobe); his predecessor, Ali Ndume (Borno); Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriations, Danjuma Goje as well as his counterpart in Agriculture, Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa).

With 41 PDP senators, political comnrntstors say the 2015 scenario could play out again, as there are strong indications of a block vote.

Investigations also revealed that while the Presidency may have pitched its tent with Adamu as Senate

President, the APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu, has thrown his weight behind Lawan.

Already, there are horse trading and lobbying, as the four contenders are holding nocturnal meetings to strategise on how to clinch the nation’s Number Three position.

Some senators are also pledging allegiance to their preferred candidates.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Education Fund, Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano), he drummed up support for Lawan.

The lawmaker noted that the North East has the highest ranking senator in the 9th Senate and that the geopolitical zone should not be denied their rights by taking the position away to another zone.

He said: “It is now a golden opportunity for all and sundry to facilitate the election of the Senate President using the template of the established international parliamentary practice.

L-R: Daniel Oscarson, vice president, Global Market Development, Insurance Auto Auctions; Mohammed Iyamu, VP Trading, Cars45 and Mike DeCandia, VP, Operations/Sales, Auto Export Shipping at Insurance Auto Auctions Stakeholder Engagement Session, held at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

3,050 young Africans get $5,000 each under TEF Entrepreneurship Programme Onyinye Nwachukwu, Abuja

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oung African entrepreneurs numbering 3,050 who have businesses of less than three years old at the weekend received $5,000 grant each from the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) to help them boost their activities and create the much-needed wealth on the continent.

The awardees were chosen from 54 African countries, and 37 percent of them, representing 1,605 of the total are Nigerians chosen from each state of the federation, and through what both the authorities and beneficiaries called a very tedious and transparent process.

The 3,050 entrepreneurs were announced in Abuja as the 5th cohort of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme out of which 1,000 are directly funded by the Foundation and an additional 2,050 supported by the Foundation’s partners.

This year’s partners include the African Development Bank (AfDB) which sponsored additional 1,000 awardees; United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP) which also sponsored 754; and the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) which took up 180. Benin Republic sponsored 50 of its citizens; and Botswana 20. For the time, Anambra state sponsored 15 of its citizens under the programme while the United State consulate sponsored 20 entrepreneurs across 10 Nigerian states.

Of the total number selected, 42% of them are women, indicating a rising interest among women entrepreneurs, authorities said.

Also, 216,025 applications were received, up from 151,000 applications the previous year.

Agriculture, fashion, commercial/retail are the highest sectors of representation.

The five key parameters used in assessing the applicators include feasibility, market opportunity, scalability, financial undertaking, leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

“Tihe Entrepreneurship Programme is half way through its 10 year mark of empowering African entrepreneurs and has achieved a significant milestone,” Tony Elumelu, the founder of TEF said in Abuja at the unveiling.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation is the leading African philanthropy committed to empowering African entrepreneurs which is guided by the philosophy, Africapitalism, which proposes that the private sector holds the key to unlocking the sustainable development of Africa.

Through its flagship Entrepreneurship Programme, a $100m commitment by the Elumelu family to empower 10,000 African entrepreneurs over a 10-year period, the Foundation empowers African entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurship ecosystem across 54 African countries.

The goal is to create at least 1million jobs and contribute over $10billion in revenue to the African economy.

Since its inception in 2015, the Programme has empowered 4,000 African entrepreneurs directly and an additional 470 entrepreneurs supported by the Foundation’s global partners, authorities say.

At the event which was also attended by the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, Elumelu stressed the importance of private sector in the development of Africa’s economy.

According to him, small and medium scale enterprises remain are the main drivers of the economic transformation and must be supported as much as possible.

“No one but us will develop our continent. The private sector has a key role to play in doing this. It is not the big businesses that make the difference, but the SMEs are known for creating jobs, alleviating poverty, helping to bridge inequality gaps and ensure that our women are more economically involved.”

“It is in this realisation that the TEF decided that entrepreneurship is the most catalytic way of making little contributions to humanity.”

He said that the selected finalists are 3,050 young African men and women from 54 African countries.

Aisha Buhari in her speech commended the TEF programme which she said would foster entrepreneurial development across Africa, providing much-needed funds, training and mentorship to commercial enterprises that promote social and economic change on the continent.

Glo deepens position as digital solutions leader at Africa CEO Forum in Kigali

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nnovative telecoms firm, Globacom, has said that it would take its impressive portfolio of digital solutions in the telecoms sector to the Africa CEO Forum where chief executives of multinational companies and policy makers will meet in Kigali, Rwanda on March 25 and 26.

Globacom, the apex Diamond Partner of the Forum, said it was delighted by the opportunity to share with the participants some of the digital solutions in telecoms that could be used to spur Africa’s economic prosperity.

The company highlighted some of the digital capabilities it will exhibit at the event to include 5G Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud computing and third generation of the industrial Internet of Things.

Also to be displayed is the strength of its Glo 1 submarine cable which is capable of supporting West Africa’s internet bandwidth requirements.

“Globacom is strategi-

cally positioned for the third decade of the millennium to address the needs of next generation businesses. We understand that businesses have their distinct identities and each has its own unique needs.

To address these needs, we offer a range of customised and community-driven voice and data connectivity solutions that help to manage complex networking systems,” the company said.

“We will also showcase our verticalised IT solutions such as E-Health, Smart Cognitive Learning, Smart Energy, amongst other services that are particularly useful for collaborations, device management, workgroup storage and information security,” it added.

Globacom said it would soon launch other digital applications that would further enhance its capacity to deliver advanced connectivity and fixed solutions to medium and large enterprises, large wholesale carriers and ISPs in Nigeria and Africa.

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News

Anambra advises donor agencies on proper identification

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Emmanuel Ndukuba, Awka

he Anambra State government has urged development partners to properly identify with the planning ministry to main-

stream their activities into state plan and budget.

Commissioner for Economic Planning Budget and Development Partner (EPDP), Mark Okoye, who gave the advice, noted that this would help the ministry to properly acknowledge

their support.

Okoye made the call during the opening ceremony of a 2-Day, 2018 End-of YearInter-Agency Review Meeting in Awka, on Friday The meeting was aimed at reviewing progress made in all the inter-agen-

cy activities in the state in the year under review and for better planning in the year ahead.

Okoye noted that the administration of Governor Willie Obiano had visibly demonstrated willingness to partner with develop-

ment partners toward the actualisation of state’s vision and aspiration.

“Government’s counterpart contribution has always been paid with a sense of duty and commitment.

“The governor has gone further to create an enabling

environment for these partnerships to thrive,’’ he said.

The commissioner told the participants to resolve with renewed focus and commitment toward ensuring that Ndi Anambra would get the best from these partnerships.

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Sunday 17 February 2019

News

Street hawker gets free store after feeding transported prisoners in Lagos Traffic David Ibemere

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ite Food Limited has rewarded a 27-yearold Ugochukwu Ibere, a street hawker of sausages with a well stocked shop of its products for free, who last year in August became a social media sensation for feeding transported prisoners in traffic through the tiny holes of Nigeria Prison Force van with his products for free.

Some of the items gifted to Ibere aside a two-year-rent payment include a generating set, deep freezer, and shop amenities.

Speaking at the opening of the store located at 181 Bamgbose Street Lagos Island, Ibere who also has been commissioned by the company to sell in bulk to retailers rite products and other grocery items, said his act of kindness was simply from his experience as a prisoner.

He recounted how after the death of his father at 18 from a family of 17 children, meant he has to give up school, became an apprentice, and was later tortured wrongly for stealing.

Ugochukwu Ibere

“My experience of going through several days without food in the prison, legs and hands tied to the ceiling while I was beaten to pulp, was all that motivated my action, the pity I felt for the prisoners that very day stretching

their hands for help brought me to tears.”

An elated Ibere remarked, “I chose to hawk along that road specifically for the prisoners I was told that was there route and when I finally saw the truck I could

Abejide, ADC’s elected House of Reps member in Kogi, denies links with Faleke Adeola Ajakaiye

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eke Abejide, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) newly elected member of the House of Representatives, in Yagba federal constituency of Kogi State, has described the insinuation that he was sponsored by Hon. James Faleke as mischievous.

Responding to a document authored by some individuals purported to be leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, which was made available to journalists in Lokoja, within the week.

Abejide said his election as a representative of the good people of Yagba Federal Constituency on the platform of ADC in the green chamber of the National Assembly, was never sponsored by Hon. James Falake, a member representing Ikeja federal constituency of Lagos State, at the Assembly.

Stating that while he ordinarily does not see any reason to join issue with “the group of disgruntled and jobless individuals” parading themselves as politicians in Ijumu or any other place in Kogi State, who are behind the document, he however, wishes to say that he is too profound and successful in all facets of life to be sponsored by anybody within and outside Nigeria.

Adding that the African Democratic Congress which he nurtured

from inception to a position of strength which cumulated in its victory over established political parties, including the ruling APC, in Kogi State, in the recently concluded National Assembly election in his constituency, has no relationship whatsoever with Falake or any other person (s), for that matter.

Abejide noted that for the avoidance of doubt, he wish to place it on record that he is a very successful business mogul capable of sponsoring himself, and to state it straight that he, Abejide “sponsored/inaugurated the party ADC in Yagba Federal Constituency, single-handedly sponsored himself and all other State Assembly candidates of the party in Yagba land without receiving a dime from Hon. Falake of APC”.

In the same vein, he said that he has always enjoyed the goodwill and support of Yagba Federal Con-

Abejide

stituency through his over six(6) years unprecedented empowerment programmes for widows, less-privileged, students, youth and the aged spread across Yagba land and that alone earned him the landslide victory at the last National Assembly Election In Yagba land.

“The sponsorship allegation at its best can be described as the figment of imagination of some few demented souls in Kogi APC who are already jittery of their diminishing popularity occasioned by failure of governance of APC in the state.

“Rather than been a beneficiary of anybody’s sponsorship, it is an open secret that before now, Honourable Abejide has been one of the major financiers of APC in Kogi State, at a point when the present governor of the state, Yahaya Bello was still in the Labour Party of Nigeria, and working with the PDP to truncate the APC`s victory he is presently enjoying.

“I want to make it clear to all that he is too big to be sponsored by anybody, noting that his election was facilitated chiefly by the Supreme Being, and the solid and steady relationship he has cultivated over time with the good people of his constituency, and from other walks of lives, through his numerous active -public -spirited programmes.”

“It is only individuals suffering from grand delusion that will attribute his hard earned electoral victory to Falake, who hails from Ijumu Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal constituency where ADC lost to APC,” he explained.

not hold back, as that was the only way I could help, I never did it to get this, I did it from my heart, I cannot thank God enough for what he has done for me.”

Facebook user, Denike Ajitena who shared the story of Ugo-

chukwu also could not hide her joy that her post 6 months ago could change a life.

In her words, “this was beyond imagination. How could he have guessed that his act of kindness would generate such goodwill?!

From selling out of a carton in traffic to owing a store! How long would it have taken him to save for rent alone? And the brand new equipment the company put? And he will even be able to add provisions and general grocery items to the free products.”

While thanking Rite Food, Ajitena challenged Ugochukwu to work harder to become an “importer, exporter” and much more.

Speaking on the donation, Adesewo Joseph Regional Sales Manager Lagos, said the gesture is part of the company’s cooperate social responsibility in uplifting life.

Representing the Managing Director, Rite Foods Limited, Seleem Adegunwa, Joseph added that Ibere story resonates in line with the company’s vision over the years across the country in touching lives, ‘we are proud of him as an ambassador of what we stand for’.

Taiwo Afolabi’s free dental outreach touches 184 lives in Ibadan market AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

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total of 184 market men and women have received free dental and other medical care from the Taiwo Afolabi Free Rural Dental Outreach held at the popular Dugbe market in Ibadan recently.

The community health outreach, which was organised by the University Of Ibadan Association Of Dental Students and sponsored by SIFAX Group, is a free medical mission targeted at rural communities in Oyo State.

The beneficiaries enjoyed services such as body mass index (BMI) measurement, blood pressure test, random blood glucose measurement, blood pressure measurement, dental clerking, examination and referrals, extractions and scaling and polishing.

A cross section of medical personnel deployed for the event include doctors, medical and dental students from the University College Hospital, Ibadan, who utilised the op-

portunity sensitised the beneficiaries on how to improve their oral health.

Olumuyiwa Akande, Corporate Affairs manager, SIFAX Group, said the sponsorship of the programme was part of the humanitarian gestures of the company, adding that SIFAX Group believes that healthy citizens translate to a healthy nation.

Urenna Emenyonu, president, University of Ibadan Dental Students Association, said the aim of the outreach was to create oral health awareness and to promote good oral health hygiene in the society.

S h e n o t e d t h a t S I FA X Group’s support for the outreach has helped to not only reach out to many rural persons but also equip the medical students with adequate field knowledge needed for them to excel in dentistry.

She called on other corporate organisations to emulate the company by partnering with the student body to take the rural health mission to other communities.

Sunday 24 March 2019

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BDSUNDAY 7

PhotoSplash

L-R: Kola Ajimoko, 1st vice president, Risk Management Association of Nigeria (RIMAN); Victor Olannye, executive secretary, RIMAN; Abraham Amkpa, board member, RIMAN; Magnus Nnoka, president RIMAN; Ahmed Kuru, MD, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), and Olumide Olayinka, board member, RIMAN, during a courtesy Visit by RIMAN executives to AMCON in Lagos recently.

Segun AjayiKadir, director general, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) (r), having an handshake with Femi Hassan, President, Institute of Loss Adjusters of Nigeria (ILAN), shortly after a visit for collaboration between MAN and the Institute

L-R: Lion Simeon Akindele, Past President; Lion Dupe Dada, District Governor 404B2 Nig; Lion Elizabeth Ibe, President, Ikeja Metro Lions Club; Mr. Odukanya Olabode Adewale, LASTMA Zone Head, Zone 10 GRA; Lion Kehinde Shogunwa, Service Chairperson; Lion Raphael Akinsulire, Region 6 Chairperson; Lion Blessing Umebali, Marketing Communications Chairperson; Lion John Oriazowan, 1st Vice President; Lion Ikechukwu Anigbo, Social Director; Lion Herbert Ehebha, Past President and Lion Ayobami Ojo, Project Manager all at the Club Core Project donation of Booth to LASTMA held recently in Lagos.

L-R: Chinwe Greg-Egu, brand manager, International brands, NB Plc; Charlotte Langhorst, creative director, African Artists’ Foundation, and Nguveren Ahua, development manager, African Artists’ Foundation, at the Maker Lab Exhibition In Partnership With Tiger Beer.

>>>

L-R: Tajudeen Akande, president of Lagos Country Club and his wife, Omolara during their conferment of Tadese and Yeye Tadese of Ikorodu by the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, HRM Oba Kabiru Shotobi in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

President Mohammadu Buhari (m) flanked by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governorelect, (l), and his deputy governorelect Obafemi Hamzat, during a courtesy call on the president by the later, in Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

L-R: John Momoh, founder/CEO, Channels TV; Yewande Sadiku, executive secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission; Demola Sogunle, chief executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank, and Yinka Sanni, chief executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, at the Blue Women Network event held by Stanbic IBTC, in Lagos, to commemorate the International Women’s Day

L-R: Oluremi Hamzat, wife of the deputy governor-elect, Lagos State; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State governor-elect; Aisha Mohammadu Buhari, wife of the president; Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of the vice president, and Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, wife of Lagos State Governor-Elect, during a victory Lunch by Mrs Aisha Buhari, at Oriental Hotel, Lagos

8 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 24 March 2019

Perspective

Mohammed Adamu, Ag. IGP, that I know T SHINA PHILIPS

he appointment, on 15 January 2019, of Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, as the Ag. Inspector General of Police by President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to elicit commendations from many Nigerians, especially those who know the pedigree of Adamu as a quintessential and a thorough-bred police officer. Those who know what the new IGP will be bringing on board are equally delighted at the positive changes the Force will witness in the coming months and years.

These high expectations appear to be very well placed. Mohammed Adamu has distinguished himself at every post and command where he has served since 1986 when he was commissioned as Cadet ASP in the Police Force. When eventually confirmed as the nation’s Police Chief, Adamu will be one of the most educated Inspectors General of Police in Nigeria’s history. In 1983, he graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with a B.Sc (Hons) degree in Geography. In 2010, he again obtained a Master’s degree in International Criminal Justice Systems from the University of Portsmouth, England and in 2018, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in International Relations by Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu State.

Mohammed Adamu has served as the Divisional Crime Officer at the Mgbidi Police Station in Imo State; Officer-in-Charge, General Investigation, Nigeria Police Zone 6 Headquarters, Calabar and as a detective at the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos. In 2007, Ag. IGP Adamu was appointed the Director, Peacekeeping and Training, Force Headquarters, Abuja and later deployed as the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of Administration in Ekiti State Command. In 2012, he was transferred to the Kaduna Police Command as Deputy Commissioner of Police and Head of the State Criminal Investigation Department. He became the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Police Command in 2013 and was promoted Assistant Inspector General of Police in 2015 and placed in charge of Zone 5 Police Headquarters, Benin-City.

Adamu remains one of the best trained Police officers in global policing. He is the first ever African to be made a Director in the over 82 years history of INTERPOL Between 1997 and 2002, he was seconded by the Nigeria Police to the INTERPOL General Secretariat, Lyon, France as a ‘Specialised Officer’ on Economic and Financial Crimes in the Economic and Financial Crimes Sub-Directorate. He held this position until he was made Assistant Director in-charge of the African Sub-Directorate at the INTERPOL General Secretariat.

In 2005, he was promoted Director, National Central Bureau and 1-24/7 Global Communication System and Development within the hierarchy of the INTERPOL Secretariat, Lyon, France.

In 2010, at its General Assembly Session in Singapore, Ag. IGP Adamu was elected Executive Member of INTERPOL in 2012; he was elected the INTERPOL’s Vice

Shina Philips, president of Nigeria Pitch Awards, presenting award statuette to Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu at the Force Headquarters, recently.

President responsible for Africa at INTERPOL’s meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam. As an International Assessor, I have had more than a brief interaction with the Ag. IGP, and I am very optimistic that his appointment would be in the overall interest of Nigeria.

First, I must join many wellmeaning Nigerians to commend President Muhammadu Buhari the President and Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for appointing Mohammed Adamu to lead the Nigeria Police Force. I say this with all sense of humility and respect that Adamu is one of the best trained, most exposed and most professional Police Officers on the African continent. His educational qualifications and experience on the job eminently qualifies him for

the Police top job.

His training in International Criminal Justice Systems and other in-house Police trainings have placed him in good stead to steer the ship of the Police aright. He has served in Operations, Investigations and administration at the highest level of the Police Force; he has served in the southern and northern parts of the country and has spent quality time abroad working with the INTERPOL. He is very well respected in the international Police circle. He is very well experienced in global policing. His experience and contacts will help Nigeria regain her respect and place in the comity of nations.

Expectations from the Ag. IGP We must realise that policing a country like Nigeria is never an easy job. Only a Police IGP with

the right of exposure, expertise and discipline and an eagled-eye focus can successfully lead the Force.

The challenges are enormous and it is a task that one man alone cannot surmount. Having said that, I will also say that Mohammed Adamu I know is brave, intelligent and professional; he has the capacity to lead the gallant men and women of the Police Force. He is a passionate and focused leader. My expectations of him as the IGP are ambitious. I expect the Police Force under him to be absolutely focused on crime prevention. He did this when he was Commissioner of Police in Enugu when he encouraged the use of sports, especially football to engage the attention of youths and steer them away from criminal activities.

We will also see a Police Force that will be very disciplined and focused on her traditional responsibility of fighting crime and protecting the society. He is a silent achiever. Nigerians will experience a Police Force working stealthily but efficiently and effectively to achieve set goals. We will see a Police leadership without unnecessary controversies and negative media exposures.

Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu will bridge the gap between the Police and the public. We will find police officers and men interact professionally with the public and treat them with tact and respect. Adamu will work assiduously to smoke out criminals and hunt them down.

Through his exposure, I am sure the Ag. IGP will work to reform the Force and make her meet international and global police standard.

His exposure will help him lead the Nigeria Police along international best practices which is something the public has always desired from

Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu (l) receiving award statuette from Shina Philips in Enugu, June 2017, while he was Commissioner of Police.

the Force.

Why we honoured the Ag. IGP ‘Firstly, I want people to know that the Nigeria Pitch Awards have always supported the Nigeria Police Force. The Nigeria Police have played pivotal roles in Nigerian sports. Remember the contributions of Samuel Peters, ‘The Nightmare’, a former Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the world; Chioma Ajunwa, an Olympic medalist who is still a serving police officer, the late Sunday Bada, Sunday Adeleye, Sunday Oyarekhua, Kikelomo Ajayi a former captain of the Super Falcons and many other Police Officers who have brought sporting glories to Nigeria. So, the Police, among security agencies in the country, have taken the front role.

Secondly, we have followed the trail of success of the Police in the area of football and sports generally and have continued to identify and honour those individual police officers who have made tremendous efforts to improve the state of sports in the Police in particular and in the country generally. In 2013 in Calabar, the Nigeria Pitch Awards honoured Gideon Akinsola a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the security of the Super Eagles and the stadium during matches. 2016, in Kaduna we honoured the then Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Sir Mike Okiro with an award. At that event, we had in attendance the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the Honourable Minister of Youths and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, top members of the NFF Board and Super Eagles players led by Coach Samson Siasia and John Obi Mikel.

Also in 2016, the Nigeria Pitch Awards honoured Solomon Arase who was the Inspector-General of Police at that time. We also honoured Ebere Amaraizu, a Superintendent of Police and Police Public Relations Officer to the Enugu Police Command for his invaluable contributions in the use of football to engage the attention of youths away from criminal activities. As a result of Amarizu’s contributions, the Police Machine FC, the Police football team made great exploits and recorded victories even over established teams like Rangers International. Incidentally, the Enugu Command football success was inspired by the Ag. IGP when he was CP in Enugu.

We honoured the Ag. IGP for his support for the use of football to drive down the crime rate in Enugu and in order to encourage him to do more to support sports in the Police Force. From his antecedents, we expect that sports will receive a very massive boost in the Force.

Finally, Matchmakers Consult International has continued to support the Nigeria Police Force.

The Africa LAMPS Awards, which is scheduled to debut later in the year, represents Legends of Arts, Management, Politics, Science, Sports and Security. As organisers, we will collaborate with the Nigeria Police in order to continue to encourage our officers to do more for their fatherland.

Shina Philips is the MD/CEO of Matchmakers Consult International, organizers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards and Africa LAMPS Awards.

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Perspective

One year after, Dokubo rides the waves at Amnesty Programme

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DIKE MBAH

o doubt, the famous saying ‘he who the cap fits let him wear it’ is clearly the case here and a truism in respect of Professor Charles Dokubo, the hard working, focused and compassionate Special Adviser to the President on Niger the Delta and Coordinator, Amnesty Programme. The energetic Professor has changed the story of the people of the Niger Delta, riding on the Amnesty platform. It has been a harvest of testimonies of great accomplishments. But with his impressive credentials, we should not expect anything less from him. I even make bold to say that given his impressive credentials, the best is yet to come from the ‘action man’.

Meet the man Charles Dokubo Charles Quaker Dokubo had his primary and secondary education in Abonema, Rivers State, before proceeding to Teeside University, United Kingdom, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Modern History and Politics (1981). In the same year, he was admitted into the prestigious University of Bradford, United Kingdom, from where he obtained a Masters degree in Peace Studies and a PhD in Strategic Studies with a specialisation in the Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the implications for global security.

From 1983 to 1985, he was a Lecturer in the School of Peace Studies, University of Bradford., Between 1984 – 1985, he was a consultant for the Oxford Research Group on Nuclear decisionmaking processes in South Africa, Israel, Brazil and Argentina, where he distinguished himself as a man who knew his onions and whose judgement on such a delicate issue could be relied upon. No wonder, he was invited to join the committee on AFRICOM and Nigeria’s security perception, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He subsequently became a member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Security in the Gulf of Guinea.

Professor Dokubo was before his appointment as Special Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Director of Research and Studies at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos.

Dokubo at the helm of affairs in the Amnesty Office Observers of the Niger Delta region in general and in particular, the Amnesty Office and Programme since Dokubo took over, have made rave reviews of his fist one year in office. Indeed, several

Charles Dokubo

beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme in the last one year are today spreading the good news and literally ‘counting their blessings’.

A good number of people- men, women, the youth and the agedhave had their lives positively impacted upon through the Dokubo-chaired Presidential Amnesty Programme. Madam Ekioukere Foster from Bayelsa State but resident in Bomadi, headquarters of Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, was among thousands of beneficiaries of starter packs distributed by the Presidential Amnesty Programme under Dokubo, to empower residents of communities that were badly affected during the Niger Delta crises. Many people in the region who shed tears of sorrow in the past are now shedding tears of joy.

This is because the Amnesty Office under Dokubo has reached out to flood victims in some communities in Niger Delta, through the distribution of relief materials. The Amnesty Office has also entered into partnership with the National Technology Incubation (NBTI) to improve the quality and certification of the agricultural and non-agricultural products of Amnesty Programme beneficiaries.

Doubting Thomases In life, no matter how wonderfully and creditably one discharges one’s duties or tasks, there are bound to be a band of nay-sayers, who would, for the sake of ulterior motives, sometimes cast doubts on one’s integrity and even commitment to one’s assignment and try discredit such great efforts, no

matter how gallant and altruistic they may be, in the service of country and man. They would always want to make a bone of every issue.

This, perhaps, explains the motive behind a recent protest by some sponsored individuals demanding that Professor Dokubo resigns his appointment following the recent looting of the Boro Town Amnesty Training complex in Kaiama, Bayelsa State.

The protesters suggested that Dokubo should step aside to allow for an independent and unbiased investigation into the said looting that allegedly lasted five days without any intervention by

‘

The “aggrieved” youth insisted that PAP officials must be probed on allegations that they stage-managed the stealing of amnesty equipment to conceal alleged fraud and nonexisting contracts in the Amnesty Office

security agencies.

The “aggrieved” youth insisted that PAP officials must be probed on allegations that they stagemanaged the stealing of amnesty equipment to conceal alleged fraud and non-existing contracts in the Amnesty Office. But some analysts say, “This is a very simplistic and self-serving allegation against a person of Professor Dokubo’s standing,” a man of strong commitment to the people of Niger Delta and unflinching support for the present Government.

An analyst, who would not want his name in print, said that instead of protesting when the head was already off, the protesters should have stormed the facility and resisted the looters, knowing full well that the facility was provided in the overall interest of the people of the Niger Delta.

“I think the protesters under the aegis of Concerned Niger Deltans for Sustainable Development (CNDSD), should have been proactive enough by resisting the looters since they claimed they saw the looters and the looting took place in the public glare. The protesters were also trying to incite President Muhammadu Buhari against Professor Dokubo, when they said that the erudite Professor was mocking Buhari’s anti-corruption war,” the analyst said.

According to him, “They accused the Professor of not acting swiftly to stop the looting at the vocational facility. But we are no strangers in Nigeria where people, because of their entrenched interest, go to any length to discredit

a good job and to even to malign a good man. “By the way, people have always protested whenever they believe that they are not allowed to carry out their nefarious agenda. Protests are as old as the Amnesty Programme itself.

I think what is important is for people to find better ways of addressing their grievances rather than resorting to uncivil ways and name-calling.”

Festus Ekeh, a Port-Harcourtbased environmentalist, speaking in tandem, said: “I also find it amusing that Professor Dokubo, who so much believes in the Buhari Administration and his anti-corruption stand to the point of openly campaigning vigorously for the re-election of the President, could be accused of working against the corruption fight of the present government.

One thing that gladdens my heart is that nobody can deceive the President; he knows the calibre of the man he appointed as Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs. No amount of campaign of calumny can stampede Mr. President to sack Dokubo” because he is credibly delivering on his mandate.

Professor Dokubo is not oblivious of the activities of fifth columnists, when he advised those he described as enemies of the Niger Delta, particularly ambitious politicians eyeing the position of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), to desist from their smearing campaigns and other ignoble acts that are capable of portraying the people of the whole region in bad light.

Dokubo, not sleeping on guard It is interesting to note that Professor Dokubo did not gloss over the looting incident at the Vocational Centre. He was not nonchalant either. In short, he did not only condemn the sad development with all the bile he could muster, but also quickly raised a special investigative panel to unravel the identity of those behind the unpatriotic act.

Dokubo, who was appointed a year ago to head the Amnesty Programme, has as a mandate to retool the programme, to make it more robustandimpactfulfortheenlisted ex-agitators in the Niger Delta, with the ultimate goal of achieving sustainable peace and development in all facets of the region.

Good jobs attract commendation Apart from being an intellectual, Dokubo is also “street-wise”.

He has good knowledge of the problems of the Niger Delta people and how to solve them peacefully so as to create an enduring Continues on page 15

10 Inside Lagos

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Sunday 24 March 2019

Lagos explains existence of high number of ‘illegal’ private schools …says Sanwo-Olu will continue to clear mess JOSHUA BASSEY

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agos State deputy governor, Idiat Aderanti Adebule, says the existence of high number of private schools, some of which are illegal, is to accommodate high population of children of school age, even she believes that the incoming administration of governor-elect, Babajide SanwoOlu will continue the fight against unregistered and illegal private schools in the state.

Adebule, who superintends over the education sector in Lagos, spoke against the background of the recent collapse of a threestorey building on Lagos Island, in which 20 persons, including school children lost their lives.

One of the floors in the collapsed building was used as school, confirmed to have been operating illegally before the building caved in on Wednesday, March 13. Since the unfortunate incident, the state ministry of education has come under attack for allowing the existence of illegal and unregistered private primary and secondary schools in nooks and crannies of Nigeria’s commercial capital, with thousands of pupils/students in their enrolment.

Adebule, while reacting to the torrent of criticisms that have trailed her administration of the sector since 2015, acknowledged the enormous challenges facing the sector in Lagos, and limited resources at government’s disposal to confront them in one swoop.

“It is common knowledge that the challenges in the management of private schools in Lagos State are enormous and hydra headed

Babatunde Fashola, SAN (l), minister of power, works & housing, and Boboye Oyeyemi (r) corps marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), at the Exhibition Stand shortly after the Opening Session of the Workshop on the Activation of the Five (5) United Nations Conventions on Road Traffic Acceded to by Nigeria at the Central Bank of Nigeria International Training Institute, 02 Lasele Street, Off Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, Abuja recently.

and this government has been tackling them systematically and in phases. Considering the population of school age children in Lagos State, the 1010 public primary schools and the 670 public senior secondary schools are not sufficient to provide access to quality education” She explained that upon assumption of office four year ago, the ministry conducted a ‘need assessment of public schools and discovered that N69 billion was required to fix the infrastructural and other ancillary needs of schools.

It therefore decided to embark on the intervention in phases and to partner private operators as crucial stakeholders.

Commuters task Lagos over gridlock on Ikeja-Along axis of Lagos-Abeokuta road

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ommuters and motorists plying the IkejaAlong axis on LagosAbeokuta Expressway have called on the Lagos State government to intensify efforts toward decongesting constant gridlock on the road.

Those who spoke on Friday said that they now spend over two hours in traffic from Ikeja GRA, inward PWD and IkejaAlong between the hours of 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. daily.

According to them, traffic jam on that axis from 3 p.m. has become a recurring issue due to commercial vehicle activities at the Ikeja-Along bus stop terminal.

The motorists also decried the lackadaisical attitude of some personnel of the state traffic agency stationed at the area to ease traffic.

Adekunke Iyanda, a civil servant, said the officials were not strict enough in enforcing the law, adding that the bus drivers undermined their presence by parking on the road to pick up passengers.

He pleaded with the bus drivers to use the bus stop park lane appropriately, to avoid causing

traffic for other road users.

Shittu Adeyanju, an Uber driver, said the traffic along that route had discouraged him from plying the route regularly. “When a passenger books a ride to Iyana Ipaja, I usually decline the order because of the traffic along that route. These bus drivers act like they own the road and they insult you whenever they are corrected,” he said.

He suggested that there should be regular mobile patrol by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials along that route to ease the flow of traffic.

Shade Jegede, a trader, urged LASTMA officials at the area to exert stricter rules and sanctions for defaulters and resist the temptation of collecting money from drivers.

“Lagos is not a lawless state, so LASTMA officials should be impartial in carrying out their duties. I am sure if the officials are strict on them, we will see a positive change in no time,” she said.

Hassan Mamud, the public relation officer of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority

The deputy governor said what the government did was to review the tactics deployed by former administrations to regulate the proliferation of private schools by interfacing with education service providers with a view to regulate, motivate, educate and enlighten them on the benefits of voluntary compliance with regulations.

“Furthermore, the three decades old Education Policy (last reviewed in 1988) of the state was reviewed under this administration towards improving the quality of education delivery and issues bothering on the private schools were extensively dealt with in the policy with their co-operation. This is to ensure that the State oper-

(LASTMA) acknowledged that there was more pressure on the road. He, however, assured that it would reduce when the ongoing construction of BRT lane is completed.

Mamud said that majority of the commercial bus drivers also compounded the problem, adding they always flout the traffic rules and regulations on the route.

“There is pressure on the road for now as a result of ongoing construction of BRT. “At the same time, commercial bus drivers are so reckless in driving thereby contributing to gridlock along the corridor.

“The state government has constructed lay-bys, we also introduce barriers where the commercial buses can stop and pick their passengers without disrupting traffic but they refused to make use of it,” he said.

The attitude of the commercial drivers, he said contributed to the traffic jam. According to him, some of the commercial buses are impounded recently while over 200 commercial motorcycles were also impounded to create sanity along the routes.

ates a contemporary policy that is also in tandem with global best practices.”

Quarterly interactive session, she said, was instituted and held regularly with stakeholders.

“Guidelines for registration which hitherto was shrouded in secrecy was published and made available on the ministry’s website for the general public. The process of registration was made less strenuous and seamless; transaction was more transparent and rackets of extortion were broken.”

To ensure quality, the government, the deputy governor said, decided to separate the private Schools and special programme department from the quality assur-

ance directorate in order to ensure transparency, introduce checks and balances; reduce corruption, extortion, indiscipline, recklessness and impunity of private schools to form associations which the government relates with.

She noted that while few schools found to be operating under unacceptable conditions were shut down, the government does not, however, favour school closures in a country with alarming rate of out-of-school children and unemployment. Rather, the ministry of education is disposed to ensuring that such schools comply with the approval requirements.

“It is on record that many schools have been sanctioned for examination malpractice and the scourge has greatly reduced given the many measures that have been introduced to the conduct of examinations in Lagos State, adding that the government in the last four years has preoccupied herself with reforming and managing the private sector participation in education service delivery.

“It is the belief of this administration that whatever it could not complete in the sector will be accomplished by the incoming g administration of Babajide SanwoOlu who is also passionate about education.

“What the government has done significantly was to fast-track approvals of private schools and to ensure that unscrupulous personnel no longer use the instrument of office to extort members of the public to satisfy their greed.

I have no regret doing that and I will fight such until my last day in office as the superintendent of the education sector in Lagos State,” Adebule said

Water shortage: LWC identifies erratic power supply as problem

M

uminu Badmus, the managing director, Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), has identified erratic power supply as a major challenge inhibiting the corporation’s water production and supply.

Badmus said this at the 2019 International World Water Day celebration in Lagos, with the theme: ‘Leaving No One Behind’.

According to him, the corporation is not deterred by the power supply as it will continue to strive toward meeting the water needs of its customers. ‘‘Water is a human right, essential for wellbeing and survival of all humans. The Corporation has continued to develop on its strategies toward increasing water production and supply.

“It has also widened its data base to effectively supply water to more Lagosians. It has equally deployed water meters to property across the state so people can pay the exact amount of water they consume. ‘‘I want to appeal to all our customers to always pay their water bills,’’ he said.

Badmus said that the payments

would enable the corporation to serve the customers effectively and efficiently. He claimed that its water was the best, adding that it was also the cheapest not only in Africa but across the globe.

Badmus said that the 2019 Water Day’s theme was apt and instructive as it meant that all must be involved in the actions needed to tackle the challenges of water scarcity.

Tayo Ajose, the Corporation Head, Sales and Commercial, advised Lagos residents to connect to its water mains.

He said that after payment for the connection, it would take the corporation three days to connect the resident to its services.

Ajose explained that its billing system had been harmonised in such a way that everybody in Lagos would have access to water at minimal cost.

He said that its metering system was introduced to ensure that people paid for the actual volume of water they consumed.

He said that it was also to ensure that consumers used water responsibly which ensured that water got to large percentage of the population.

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Nigeria and the imperative of safety practices

Frank Aigbogun editor Zebulon Agomuo DEPUTY EDITOR John Osadolor, Abuja

Tayo Ogunbiyi

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STRATEGY, INNOVATION & PARTNERSHIPS Oghenevwoke Ighure GENERAL MANAGER, ADVERT Adeola Ajewole ADVERT MANAGER Ijeoma Ude FINANCE MANAGER Emeka Ifeanyi MANAGER, CONFERENCES & EVENTS Obiora Onyeaso BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (South East, South South) Patrick Ijegbai CIRCULATION MANAGER John Okpaire DIGITAL SALES MANAGER Linda Ochugbua ASSIST. SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Florence Kadiri GM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (North)

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GM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (South) Ignatius Chukwu HEAD, HUMAN RESOURCES Adeola Obisesan

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

S

afety has always been a vital issue across many societies across the world. Globally, there is increased pressure for organizations, homes and public institutions to operate safely and move towards zero harm. Best practices have used programmes such as behaviour-based safety to produce significant improvements.

Public safety is concerned with hazards in the home, in travel and recreation, and in other situations that do not fall within the scope of occupational safety. Safety practices are the activities and measures that seek to reduce perilous conditions that can cause bodily injury or/and death.

Despite Nigeria being a country where essential and accurate statistics is hard to come by, one cannot but notice the countless numbers of untimely but avoidable deaths and bodily injuries that has plagued our society over the years.

It will be sadly recalled that over a hundred people were

killed in an inferno that rocked a factory in Odogunyan, Ikorodu in 2003. The report of a panel of inquiry that investigated the incident concluded that the disaster could have also been avoided if the management of the company involved had strictly adhered to laid down industrial safety rules and regulations.

International Labour Organization, (ILO) estimates that 337 million workplace accidents and 2.3 million deaths occur every year, averaging 6,300 deaths per day, across the globe, including Nigeria. An average of 200 cases of industrial accidents occurs in Nigeria daily with an equally high rate of fatalities. According to experts, at least 50 million Nigerians are at risk of occupational hazards. This group includes about 3.2 million including children who are involved in economic activities, even as abused participants in the labour market.

Nigeria is ranked 191 out of 192 countries in the world with un-safe roads with 162 deaths per 100,000 from road traffic accidents. A World Health Organization (WHO) data reveals that over 1.3 million people are killed annually in road accidents while over 50 million people sustain different degrees of injuries from such crashes. Ironically, in Nigeria, people pay limited attention to safety matters.

Okada riders defy the rule to wear crash helmets while fire suppression equipment, where available, are either obsolete

or unserviceable. Banks across the country install metal detecting cubicles at their entrances without adequate provision for alternative fire exit in case of emergency. Fire exits in most public and commercial buildings have been converted to storage rooms. Rather than pass through Pedestrians Bridges across our highways, people prefer to take the dangerous route of crossing through the road, even at times with children.

Nowadays, the issue of safety and health at workplace which once occupy a major place in the programme and plan of employers is no longer accorded prominence. Within the context of Nigeria organizational plan, the issues of safety are now considered non-essential in operational plans because it is viewed as consequential to profit margin and thus overhead cost resulting from provisions for safety is grossly cut down.

Sadly, the cost of hazardous practices is clearly huge, excruciating and heartbreaking. Accidents result in pains and deaths to victims, waste of time, money and materials and damage to equipment and structures. The sight of seeing people lose loved ones in needless circumstances is, to say the least, quite agonizing.

Thus, it is really essential that we embrace a culture of averting accidents by all means. The socioeconomic impact of accidents is grossly incalculable. For instance, the huge resources being chan-

neled to the health sector at all levels might amount to nothing if people are involved in needless health hazards that put pressure on health facilities as a result of avoidable emergencies.

Any society that is built on sharp disregard for safety practices might have to contend with needless pains from time to time.

Therefore, the earlier we opt to embrace simple safety culture, the better for us all. For instance, on our roads, people drive with uttermost disrespect for traffic rules. Always ignore, however, is the fact that failure to obey simple traffic rules and regulations often lead to traffic chaos that gives room for social miscreants to rob motorists of valuable items and vandalisation of cars. And in most cases, when culprits are apprehended, they sometimes resort to anti social antics.

If we are to fulfil our potentials as a nation, we have to collectively review our attitude to the sanctity of human life. We have to change our value system.

To begin with, those who willingly circumvent vital safety laws should be brought to book by the spirit of the law. What it takes for evil to gain a stronghold in any society is for evil to continually go unpunished. This is the only way we can move forward as a people.

The human life is too precious to be wasted through careless human conducts.

Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

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Special Feature

The fatalities, casualties and economic losses in the Rivers’ endless political wars IGNATIUS CHUKWU

Exodus of CEOs, relocation of investments, capital flight, delayed investment decisions, job losses, contracting economy, violence, breakdown of security, panic in financial sector, special high prices and interest rates for Rivers, total blockade of FG investments, collapse of Onne oil/gas free zone, fall of Trans-Amadi -Business community stirs, threatens to rise if the gloom lingers in seven days.

T

he economy of Rivers State in the past six years is viewed as a war-time economy.

The major feature of such an economy is uncertainty and ‘planlessness’ (absence of planning) by business owners and hesitance by investors. The consequence is usually contraction in the economy where growth is either stagnant or is rather backward. Most entrepreneurs, investors and professionals who spoke with BDSUNDAY in the week painted this same picture.

The fatalities As a result of breakdown of law and order, many business travellers within or across Rivers State end up in the so many evil forests that have sprung up in the state; the Rumuji axis of Emuohua, the Ndele axis along East West Road, and Ahoada end on the way to Bayelsa State.

A medical doctor was just rescued from the forest after three days. Ritual killers have joined kidnappers to catch travellers.

Kidnappers harvest ransom, ritual killers harvest body organs. Blood is flowing freely in the forests that once flowed with milk and honey through best variety of cassava, palm oil, yams, and many others. The canoes and boats that ferried fish and aquatic treasure now ferry kidnap victims through the creeks. Any safe trip in the waters of Rivers State must be accompanied by military gunboats.

This is because the security agencies take orders from the APC-controlled federal government, the state government is controlled by the PDP. Both parties do not see eye to eye, not because they have fiercely opposed ideologies but because

Nabil Saleh

they have two specific leaders (Chibuike Amaechi and Nyesom Wike) fiercely sworn to perpetual enmity since 2012.

Thus, when Wike was minister at the federal level, we was accused of using federal might to stifle governance in Rivers State in the bid to smoke Amaechi, then governor, out of Government House. Now that nature has created a reverse of fortunes, Amaechi, now a minister, is accused of exactly the same, or more. It has been the fate of Rivers State since 2012 that no election in the state, be it local council or ward election, let alone governorship election, would go without chaos. Often, one of the two parties would not participate. (The PDP did not participate in the LGA elections Amaechi’s APC government organised in 2015; the APC did not participate in the LGA election Wike’s PDP organised in 2017; the APC was not on the ballot in the current elections that are stalemated).

The politics of Rivers State has gradually been pushed to the definition of winner kills others. Thus, any person on either the PDP or APC is acutely aware that if he loses, he may be eliminated, crushed or pushed into exile. So, it now is better to stalemate an election than allow yourself to be defeated.

During campaigns, the threats are made clearer than manifestos. The rules are clear, it’s the Russian roulette; one party must go down.

Lives have been lost. Both sides have mourned close allies.

Some have been beheaded. A top PDP member called EFCC has fallen, APC;s Monwan Etete and his two brothers have fallen, a lecturer of recent doctorate degree achievement, Ferry Gberegbe, is still in the mortuary. Lesser mortals who have been killed are counted in many tens. APC had once listed 100 members said to have been killed in 2015. Many more hundreds may have gone on both sides.

The casualties The casualties are mainly the businesses. Many businesses have opened and shut down, all due to political darts shot at them from behind. Transactions closed out by one administration have been revoked by the next. The Shopping Mall started by Celestine Omehia on Aba Road has continued to waste uncompleted. Recent casualties include the sale of power projects and Olympia Hotel. The N150Bn Monorail project is lying prostrate in the state capital, sticking its horns at the governor right in from of the seat of power. The plan to

build an N800Bn mega city has suffered setback; the cassava project to make Rivers a cassava variety power has vanished, the Allanblackia project with Liver Brothers has grown wild, overseas scholarship scheme has left behind ruined future of foreign scholars, and many more heartbreaks.

Many government owned businesses and economic installations such as the RSSDA, Auto Syringe company, the LR Agric Venture, the Banana Plantation Project, the Fish Farms, etc, have shut down. Some projects such as plan to relocate the Rivers State University to Omagwa has stopped, the development of a modern stadium at the mega city has stopped at the main bowl which angrily took 15 lives when the man who started it (Amaechi) came there for the presidential APC rally.

Security has suffered most in this situation. There has been endless transfer of police commissioners in the state. Gov Wike once lamented that if any CP said hello to him, he would be transferred. During Amaechi, Mbu Mbu was believed to have been specifically sent to overthrow the sitting governor.

There were casualties in the judiciary where some persons who were due to be chief judge of the state were denied until a new governor came. The result was that their tenures expired

‘

The politics of Rivers State has gradually been pushed to the definition of winner kills others

few hours after mounting the throne.

On the political scene, many careers have crashed too. Some who won elections on Wike’s PDP began to lose at the courts as soon as Amaechi gained national prominence. The division between Amaechi and Magnus Abe has also claimed many careers. Abe lost both the governorship and senate tickets and so did not contest. Tonye Cole resigned from big position in Sahara Energy only to miss out on the ballot for governorship. Dumo Lulu-Briggs spent for years to pop up APC only to lose at the guber primaries and crawl to Accord Party, yet, the arrows of the political enemies shot him down. Many career public officers have also paid dearly when their masters and mentors crash out. This is the fate of the executive director of finance and administration in the NDDC who lost out when Abe’s loyalists were shuffled out recently.

Economic costs There have been huge economic costs in the form of exodus of CEOs in the state, relocation of investments, capital flight, delayed investment decisions, job losses, contracting economy, breakdown of security, panic in financial sector, secret hold on new bank loans, special high prices and interest rates for things going to Rivers State, seeming total blockade of FG investments coming to the state, collapse of Onne oil/gas free zone, fall of Trans-Amadi, etc.

The real picture of the economic doom and costs would better be painted by the industry players and other technocrats.

Some pleaded for anonymity.

Nabil Saleh, President, PHCCIMA Need to tone down for sake of businesses The President of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), a chief, Nabil Saleh, wishes to join other wellmeaning business leaders and captains of industries to appeal to the State’s political leaders and other top politicians in the state on the very important need to tone down on political actions capable of creating higher levels of tension and panic in the state.

Tension and political wrangling have created uncertainty which is never a friend to business. At the moment, there is high tension, violence, and acrimony in Rivers State. There have been postponement of elections, inconclusive elec-

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BDSUNDAY 13

Special Feature

Mahmood Yakubu. INEC, chairman tions, shooting, killing, harsh language, etc. These have generated fear and uncertainty in the state thus affecting investment decisions. On a daily basis, business owners and investors weigh investment options, but political tension is keeping such offers on perpetual postponement.

Many business owners outside Rivers State who were waiting for the elections to come and go so they could make new decisions after assessing the political atmosphere and analyzing the government of the day have remained uncertain and confused. They have thus continued to shift their decisions. This certainly is not good for business.

The PHCCIMA wishes to therefore appeal to the political leaders to always put the interest of the economy above all other considerations because it is the economy of the state that they would fall back on to provide jobs and create wealth and fulfill their electoral mandate after capturing power.

If the economy is destroyed while struggling for power, what would anybody who wins the election fall back on?

For now, new investments are not coming, new investment decisions are waiting, job creation is on hold, and business expansion is not happening. Movement of goods and materials are affected due to instability and insecurity. Business is slowing down, generally. There are many public holidays for elections but these elections end up inconclusive. The atmosphere is not business-friendly for now, and the economy is simply on hold.

There is need for the political class to consider the business community in their pursuit of power, since we are made to believe that power itself is meant

to be used to help the common man in the State.

Ibifiri Bobmanuel, REIF President The business will react if in seven days this stalemate does not change One of the strongest business leaders in Port Harcourt and Nigeria, Ibifri Bobmanuel, president of a fast emerging business force, the Rivers Entrepreneurs and Investments Forum (REIF), said the business community in the state may not wait for more than seven days to rise up and take some action. He said this has become necessary because the business owners had done much to create a civilized engagement platform for investors to engage with the political class, to no avail.

His words; There are huge negative impacts of the ongoing political impasse in Rivers State.

Business thrives on clarity of policy and direction, but as it is right now, there is no such clarity. This is because governance has been thrown into chaos.

There is no more anything that goes with ease in Rivers State, not even movement round the state capital.

Investments that ought to flow into the state are held up because of fear of the unknown, fear of where the government is heading to. It was to create clear direction of governance for businesses that REIF spent huge resources to organize the second edition of the Port Harcourt Debate series. It was to create the platform for engagement with those likely to become governors so they could see what the private sector desired most.

The business owners probed into the minds of those that may become governors.

We have come to identify transition as the greatest problem Rivers State has come to

face. That is why REIF picked interest in it and initiated the debate series. This needless impasse is uncalled for. This is because, when the push comes to shove, it is businesses and investments that would be the first to crash. Exodus will take place.

Why is Rivers State different?

Some 26 states went for election of governors but it is only Rivers State that is suspended, hanging. Imagine, some investors were present at the governorship debate few weeks back and were ready to move in after the elections. Now, they can’t move in.

REIF position is this, in any election; it is one person that will win. When this happens, the losers greet the winners and move on. People will now work with the winner. We think the cause of the endless crisis is that there are too many persons that have nothing doing in governance that hang around those in power. They must be those who think they cannot survive without being around power. They are those causing mayhem.

See how Aba Road where INEC office is located is now shut down completely, thereby creating a high turnaround time for businesses. This creates millions of naira loss per day, but who cares? Movement is hampered. Security of goods and assets as well as lives is drastically reduced. The major issues that bother the average Rivers person are about roads, safety, seaports, etc. The politicians must wake to what is important to the people of Rivers State and do what is right.

We will watch them for another seven days, after which we the business community will

Ekama Akpan

come together and call them to order. We will call a spade a spade because their fight is sinking Rivers State. We will put things into perspective. Everybody must be made to realise that the economy, not politics, must take the first stage.

Ekama Emilia Akpan, CEO, Showers Group, Education investor Education is worst hit, help!

Ekama Akpan knows Rivers business sector inside out.

She was tow-time chairman of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN, Rivers/Bayelsa), and national vice president for South-South/South-East. She is present a SMEDAN board member.

She said investors are leaving the state because of endless and avoidable political crisis since 2012. News investors are not coming into the state. This is bad for any economy.

Banks are wary of the situation. If you get close to bankers, you can feel their worry. It is now very difficult to get loans.

To drive you away, they slam outrageous rates on you. Some would tell you to pay N2m for N5m loan. Nobody can pay that rate. Banks now demand for up to six cheques (postdated) for any loan. They must be facing high rate of failures by borrowers. There is suspicion in the financial system in the state.

Increase in VAT will worsen the situation. Youths are on the rampage doing what they like because the centre can no longer hold. This increases insecurity and threat to everyone.

Business travel is in jeopardy.

Most schools no longer can pay teacher salaries because many parents do not pay school fees anymore. They will plead and

beg for months and from there, the child stops coming to school.

The huge debt goes like that.

Many parents are frustrated and threatened. You can see it. Many companies and businesses are close to shutting down. Everybody is simply limping. There is no capital inflow into the state.

Political actors must recognize this situation and redress their actions. They must know that the situation is now desperate. The situation is hitting hardest at the education system. The nation is still seeing the reflection in a child that rebelled against little levy, because her parents could not afford it and her future was threatened. She was ready to submit her body for endless flogging, if it would solve the problem and keep her in school to write the test. This is a serious signal. Governments should now look at the public schools again and do something.

The FG and state governments should also know that the private schools are holding a huge number of pupils and students that the public schools can no longer hold. There is need to look at the private schools and create a loan window for them, especially those that proved their mettle over the years.

There is need for a support fund and helpful loan system. Threats and fleecing of the proprietors will not help. People may shut down and rest.

Uba Obasi, CEO, ALCON Nigeria Limited Businesses do not like instability; we’ve lost Q1 to elections Uba Obasi is seen as a gogetter. His company, ALCON, is into manufacture of electrical components with global seal of perfection. In the last 13 years the company has handled construction of Afam Gas receiving facilities at Okoloma, Rivers State (2005), was awarded NLNG green banding in HSE, SPDC Gbarain security of supply (SOS) phase one (2015); the Soku NAG compression facility installation project, and the Woji fabrication yard rehabilitation and expansion (2016).

He said; The elections have created instability and business does not like uncertainty. The economic cost is much but if you calculate from 2012, it is monumental. For us, we have lost the first quality of 2019. We appeal to the political gladiators to consider the economy in their actions and utterances.

Lawyer, Onne oil/gas insider The world is waiting for Rivers on this The political crisis has led to a lot of cost, and if you take it back to 2012 when all this actually started, it becomes monumental. First, there is a climate of uncertainty and insecurity. Money hates such climate, money hates uncertainty. The damage is huge but it does not seem to matter to the political actors. Businesses are fleeing steadily. Some companies that Continues on page 14

14 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 24 March 2019

Special Feature The fatalities, casualties and economic losses in the Rivers’...

Continue from page 13 had been wishing to move now seem to find legitimate excuse to relocate to Lagos.

There is job loss every day in the state. There is massive capital flight, too. What militancy cost the state is nothing compared to what political instability is causing in this state. The threat is bigger because it creates uncertainty and inability to plan ahead. Some companies sent their staff out of Port Harcourt during the elections.

The Onne axis is badly hit. Downsizing is going on right now. Major suppliers are relocating to move to where the majors are going to.

The road to Onne which some private sector leaders wanted to rebuild to pave way for ease of doing business has been put on hold. The only way out is for the political gladiators to cease fire a bit. Only tranquility can restore business climate. Port Harcourt is a very attractive business area and this is not only to foreign business owners. The world is waiting for Rivers State to resolve this impasse.

A public affairs specialist in petrol chemical industry International financiers are assessing the Rivers environment Big businesses or multinational corporations are mega dollar investments. The investors always monitor the political environment to be sure their investments are safe.

Rivers State is host to many of such investments especially in oil and gas, petrochemicals, fertilizers, manufacturing, among others. Most of these investments are funded by international financial institutions such as the IFC, AfDB, etc. These are huge investments that provide thousands of jobs, raw materials, huge revenue to the state government and indeed the federal government.

The current election impasse in Rivers State, for instance, has generated huge fears, apprehension and tension among the multinationals and their investors.

On daily basis, they’re seeking credible intelligence on the political situation and everything is shrouded in confusion, speculation and absurdities.

This scenario is anti-investment, anti-development and anti-progress. Businesses strive under stable political environment, stable policies and all the rest. For now, we don’t know which government is likely to come to power in Rivers State.

The political tension with violence is too much. At this point, all investors are reassessing their investment positions, ready to take decisions to protect their investments The organised private sector in Rivers State, especially the REIF and MAN, etc spent over N40m to organise a Rivers Debate for the main governorship contenders in the state, all in a

Chika Onuegbu bid to set the tone for investment friendly state. Unfortunately, it all now seems a big waste in the maze of political rascality and ominous seeds of violence and instability being witnessed on daily basis since the first election in March 9th..

It is important for all political gladiators to consider the negative effect of their political brigandage in the economy of Rivers State. If they drive multinationals and their big investors out of the state because of the ongoing political uncertainty and tension, then it would be such a bad omen for everyone.

INEC’s extension of the Rivers State elections resolution to the 2nd week of April makes the situation even more scary for investors, who are already weary of the political situation. There is need to end this uncertainty and the fierce political rivalry in the state by people who ought to act as brothers.

Chika Onuegbu, former TUC boss Port Harcourt may become the next Warri, if…

When the Warri boys were terrorizing the oil industry years back, they were cautioned, just like Rivers people are being cautioned today to save Port Harcourt. They refused and were quoted to say the oil companies will never afford to leave Warri.

Now, they are said to send emissaries for the oil giant to return.

Onuegbu is a thoroughbred technocrat, financial analyst, and permanent committee chairman of PENGASSAN’s PIB panel. He still works in an oil multinational firm.

His highly informed and insightful view, which seems in line with what the investors are say-

ing, caps the views.

The endless political tension is not in the best interest of Rivers State whatsoever. Investors are not ready to bring in capital in the state anymore. Rather, exodus is going on. I met a group of investors just yesterday (Thursday, March 21, 2019) who wanted to come in but pressure from their families and colleagues made them to decide to go back. They said everyone was asking them; Where, Rivers?

The instability affects the private sector more. The Rivers State public sector is like it’s at

Ibifiri Bobmanuel

war with the FG, and it’s like one is in opposition to the centre. The FG is investing and doing projects in other states but there is ominous silence in Rivers State. There is no form of engagement with the FG. Meanwhile, this is the place where the money is coming to the centre. It’s sad.

Rivers State has since dropped out of competition with Lagos.

Other economic hubs within the oil region are even taking over, offering alternative locations to Rivers State and Port Harcourt.

Look at the Federal budgets in at least 2016 and 2017; you find

nothing for Rivers State, it is as if the state does not exist.

See Trans-Amadi industrial areas; it lies desolate. Exodus has occurred there. It’s high time the elders of the state stood up to be counted, putting behind every sentiment. This is the time to rise up. This situation must be resolved, else, soon, Port Harcourt would be like Warri in Delta State.

Conclusion What Rivers lost between 2012 and 2015.

Rivers State was cruising well and high after 2007, chasing Lagos in terms of economic competition amongst state, until the political crisis set in 2012 with the break up between then Governor Amaechi and his kinsman and political ally, now Governor Wike. The first casualty was the ambitious N250billion bond almost in the kitty. It required FG sign-off. The signature could not come because the FG had become an enemy. That scuttled the bond and pushed the state to take high short-tenured bridging loans from commercial banks.

That ruined the long-term projects and put the administration in cash squeeze.

The next loss was the World Bank AfDB N23billion loan to transform PH water system and expand to the sub urban areas.

This has remained a lost dream to this day. There was crash of federal allocation to the state from about N30billion per month to less than N6billion in the months before Amaechi left. There was drying up of federal projects, and this seems to continue to this day, due to reverse of fortunes.

Another casualty between 2012 and 2015 was non-refund of Rivers State spending on federal projects. This was up to N100billion by 2015. There seemed to be relegation of Rivers State to the background at national level, contrary to the lofty heights Peter Odili administration had launched Rivers State to.

Another major setback was the grounding of Rivers jet that played a big role for the state and made Rivers a super state. There was also the stalling of the two security choppers equipped with optical vision facilities and infra red to pick out kidnappers and oil thieves from far and at night. This was followed with the collapse of the Rivers security architecture especially the works of the C4i and the Israeli partners. The result is the resurgence of abductions, robbery, insecurity and tension.

There was receding businesses; financial hardship, instability and low rating environment. Uncertainty took a position along the state’s highway to this day.

Experts warned as they are still warning that other states especially Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Bayelsa were powering ahead in the race to attracting investors. There is a contest of the new headquarters of the Niger Delta. Rivers State must wake up because the contest is way ahead.

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BDSUNDAY 15

VOX POP

Our expectations from the elected politicians

F

ollowing the just concluded 2019 general election, Nigerians say it is now time for the elected politicians to make good their promises by redeeming them.

BusinessDay spoke to some Nigerians on their agenda for elected politicians in the next four years, beginning from May 29.

Omoronke Racheal “I don’t have any expectation from the newly elected candidates, but the re-elected candidates, particularly, the presidential candidate. I expect the President to make things better for the people. The hardship in the country is intense.

A lot of businesses have either up or are folding up because of some faulty policies, thereby leading to high rate of poverty and unemployment in the country. So, I want them to create accessible job opportunities for graduates.”

Tosin Dokumo I am not expecting anything special; I expect that this government will continue in the course they’ve been treading.

But if am to suggest, I should think that the ERGP actualisation should be their main focus, while trying to complete all ongoing infrastructural projects. I also hope that some restructuring and shakeup be done in the cabinet to take out the inefficient ministers.

Emeka Ucheaga “Buhari was re-elected so we expect the status quo to remain. In the next four years we expect economic growth to be sub 2.5 percent, below population growth. We think the stock market will perform better than it did in the last four years. There will be little change in policy and economic direction. We don’t

President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

expect a lot of infrastructure spending but we expect to see higher fiscal deficits and for Nigeria’s debt position to seriously worsen in the coming years”.

Felix Eniogeru “Hmmmm... As a Christian, I pray they’re all used by God to fulfil His purpose for this country. But, as a human and a Nigerian, I sincerely need the military back in power, if you ask me. Nigerians need more beating and panel beating to think aright. With the so-called politicians enjoying servitude under illiterate governance because of the chance to ‘chop and clean mouth’, there is no hope in sight for Nigeria”.

Omobola Adu “With the current state of the economy, there is the urgent need for the elected government officials to get working to improve the economy.

“The Nigerian economy is not in a good state, we can see that

from the capital market through the huge amounts withdrawn by investors. The elected officials need to return a sense of confidence in the Nigerian economy by implementing market-friendly policies.”

Damilare Akin “The major expectation of an average Nigerian is for the new government to tackle headlong the numerous challenges facing the economy. This is not the time to keep telling Nigerians about how the previous administrations failed (i.e. Federal Government), rather, the government must begin to shop for the best brains in the country to fill the cabinet, for the economy to move in the right direction.

Priorities of the government, either at state or federal level, should be to ease the burden of businesses so that private business owners can expand and employ more; tackle insecurity so that farming cycle will not be

affected; implement the new minimum wage agreement to stimulate consumer spending; and provide credit to SMEs at more cheaper rate.

State governors should channel appropriate policies to issues around weak IGR. Most Nigerian states depend solely on monthly FAAC allocation, this is not healthy for them going forward, given the fact that minimum wage implementation is in the pipeline. Hence, they should leverage on resources they have (e.g good land for agriculture) to improve their internal revenue capacity so that in the advent of any oil price shock, there will be no crises.”

Ayobami folunsho “I am only hoping they do the right things. I do not have any expectation. From time they have always promised things that they will never fulfil; so, why now do I think there would be a change? I am only hopeful that

the people around them might influence them to do the right thing.”

Bilkisu Yakubu Well I expect good governance, accountability, fairness in appointment, irrespective of tribe and religion; more attention should be shifted to the educational section. The government should also improve the electricity supply in the country.

Jeremiah Isaac I know majority of Nigerians never wanted the incumbent president, Buhari, re-elected, nonetheless, he has been declared the winner after the presidential election which took place on the 23rd of February.

Since the President promised us ‘Next Level’, it is time to show and not just tell what the next level holds. One of the major sectors the president should focus on is the economic sector. Nigerians definitely would be waiting for a paradigm shift in the economic policy of government that would take the economy to that level that every citizen would begin to feel that something positive has begun.

That robust economy would then connect development to other sectors.

Femi Adelakun “They are all desperate politicians. Their personal gains are first on their priority list. At least, the money spent on electioneering campaign must be recouped.

So, for the first two years, I am not expecting them to do any tangible thing in the country.

Bimbo Nothing spectacular from what we have seen and what they have done before. I really have no comment, because to be honest, although I expect a better-driven and well-run economic system, I doubt that’s what they will do.

One year after, Dokubo rides the waves at Amnesty Programme Continued from on page 9

peaceful coexistence in the region that would also enhance the quality of life of all Deltans. It is clear that he has been doing that and would continue to do so without fear or favour. Restoring and sustaining peace in the region will attract investment and business. Thus upon assumption of office, Dokubo summoned meetings of all Niger Delta stakeholders, comprising, among others, ex-agitators and leaders of the region where the issues at stake were openly discussed.

In the last one year, Dokubo’s good works have continued to earn him plaudits. He has not only repositioned the Agency, but has alsobroughtlife,peace,succourand economic development to Niger Delta region.

Dokubo’s managerial ability has enabledhimtoputfinishingtouches to the five vocational training centres across the Niger Delta region,

whichalsomadeitpossibleforthem to come on stream. These include the Maritime Vocational Training Centre at Oboloma, Rivers State; Basic Skills Vocational Training Centre in Boro town, Kaiama, Bayelsa State;PowerandEnergyVocational Training Centre in Bomadi, Delta State, Oil and Gas Vocational Training Centre, Agadagba-obon, Ondo State and Gelegele in Edo State.

The projects cut across ethnic and religious divides.

On several occasions, some groups of ex-militant leaders have passed unanimous votes of confidence in the Amnesty boss and the way he is trying to turn things around for the better for the people of the region.

In his piece, ‘In praise of Charles Dokubo’ published in a national daily, Teremi Zuokumor, said: “The amnesty boss deserves to be commended for ensuring that the onshore education unit of the

Amnesty Office attends promptly to the welfare of students pursuing degree programmes in Nigerian institutions.Itwouldberecalledthat on assumption of duty, Dokubo had tasked the onshore education unit to develop a sustainable plan for the next two years.”

Towards the end of last year, a former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police (rtd), Lawrence Alobi, noted the gains of Amnesty Programme under Dokubo. According to him, “Professor Charles Dokubo is a leader who believes in human capital development. What is human capital development? It makes people contribute meaningfully to the needs of other people, the needs of their environments and to their own needs. He is a leader who believes in team spirit; a leader who believes in empowering the youth; a leader who is focused; a leader who knows the main purpose of

why the Amnesty Programme was established.

“When you are purposeful, you know the vision and mission. I think he is driving the programme very well. There is a great difference betweenhispredecessorsandhimself.

Therearealotofchanges.Theyouth themselves applauded his effort so far. Charles is embarking on human capitaldevelopmentandempowerment of the people. Training and capacity building will re-orientate the youth for them to see themselves as contributors; not as destroyers, and as builders of their region. They willthenhaveadifferentperception because perception determines an attitude,” he said.

Ruling party happy with Dokubo Recently, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) hailed the Presidential Amnesty Programme under the leadership of Dokubo, saying it has been positively transformed. The party noted that the

active participation of the Niger Delta people in matters of national concern resulted from Dokubo’s untiring efforts at deepening the prevailing peace and stability in the Niger Delta region.

“Under your watch, the Presidential Amnesty Programme has been positively transformed and has ensured stability in the Niger Delta region. This is in line with the Change Agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration as enshrined in our manifesto,” the party said.

What else need we say? It is end of discussion, so those who are bent ondiscreditinghimwillnotsucceed.

It is better for all the people of the Niger Delta to give their support to a man whose commitment to their welfare and progress is never in doubt.

Mbah, a public affairs analyst, writes from Lagos

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Politics The politics of inconclusive polls and the fury in polity James Kwen, Abuja

O

ne notorious feature that characterised the 2019 general election is “inconclusive” which took toll mostly on the March 9, 2019 governorship elections.

Governorship election was declared inconclusive in six states- Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Sokoto and Plateau.

In all of these states, the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was leading except in Plateau State where the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was leading.

In all instances, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officers justified their decisions according to Section 53 of the regulations and guidelines for 2019 general election.

According to section 53 (e): “Where the margin of lead between the two leading candidates in an election is NOT in excess of the total number of voters registered in Polling Units where elections are not held or voided in line with sections 26 and 53 of the Electoral Act, the returning officer shall decline to make a return until polls have taken place in the affected Polling Units and the results collated into the relevant forms for Declaration and Return”.

To be specific, the major reason INEC declared the 2019 governorship election in the six states inconclusive is because the votes cancelled in each of the six states is more than the margin between the leading candidates and the runner-up.

Results of polls in these states showed that in Adamawa, PDP scored 367, 471 while APC got 334, 995 votes with PDP leading by 32, 476 votes less than 40, 988 cancelled votes.

In Bauchi, PDP got 469, 512 votes higher than APC with 465, 453 but the margin of lead was 4, 059 less than 45,313 cancelled votes.

For Benue, PDP was winning with 410, 576 votes against APC with 329, 022 while the cancelled votes were 121, 011 higher than the lead margin of 81, 554.

Coming to Kano, PDP had led with 1, 014, 474 votes against APC with 987, 819 votes. However, the margin of lead was 26, 655 less than the cancelled votes of 141, 694.

On the other hand, APC was leading in Plateau State with 583, 255 votes over PDP votes of 538, 326 but the margin of lead stood at 44, 929 votes less than the cancelled votes of 49, 377.

In Sokoto, PDP had led with 489, 558 against APC which recorded 486, 145 votes but the difference was 3, 413 votes less than 75, 403 cancelled votes.

INEC has rescheduled and conducted elections in these states on Saturday,

Mahmood Yakubu

March 23, 2019.

Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Publicity who announced the decision of the Commission said, “the Returning Officers in Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto States declared the Governorship elections inconclusive.

Consequently the Commission will conduct supplementary elections on Saturday 23rd March 2019 to conclude the process.

“Supplementary elections will also hold in polling units in all states where State Assembly elections were declared inconclusive and winners could not be declared.

“The elections were declared inconclusive for a combination of reasons, mainly the discontinuation of use of the Smart Card Readers midway into the elections or the failure to deploy them, over-voting and widespread disruption in many polling units.

“In compliance with the Margin of Lead Principle derived from Sections 26 and 53 of the Electoral Act mm (as amended) and paragraph 41(e) and 43(b) of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of elections, the outcome of these elections could not be determined

without conducting polls in the affected polling units. Hence, the Commission’s decision to conduct supplementary elections in line with this principle.

As convincing as INEC may sound, the most pressing unanswered question is that: why elections were declared inconclusive mostly in five out of six states that were being won by the PDP? The politics behind the inconclusive polls became manifest as the sitting APC

Supplementary elections will also hold in polling units in all states where State Assembly elections were declared inconclusive and winners could not be declared

governors affected ran to the Presidency to definitely find help while others resort to court where the President reportedly showed no sign of coming to their rescue.

For instance, the rescheduled collation of results in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State last Tuesday was quashed by a court order procured

by Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State.

Also, in Adamawa State, the Adamawa State High court issued an injunction restraining INEC from proceeding with the supplementary election following the application by the Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), a registered political party which did not take part in the main election.

This has consequently raised serious concerns as first expressed by the victim of this unpleasant circumstance, the PDP, with leaders accusing the electoral umpire of bias.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan accused INEC of being “overtly partisan” and surrendering its independence to the ruling APC by “declaring governorship elections in states where the PDP was in clear lead as inconclusive”.

“More worrisome is the resolution which arose from a meeting between some governors of the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari, where the PDP has been informed that a decision was taken to seize Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Plateau, Sokoto and Kano states in the March 23, scheduled supplementary election.

“It is instructive to state that the Buhari Presidency has not denied this strong allegation of rigging plans, thus strengthening the reality that the APC is always prepared to benefit from electoral fraud.

“The PDP wishes to state that after our deliberation and interface with stakeholders from the various states where governorship supplementary elections have been scheduled to hold, the party mandates all our members to resist any attempt by anybody to tamper with the will of the people in their states.”

Similarly, the House of Representatives obviously worried by the phenomenon of inconclusive declaration of elections has resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to amend the Electoral Act to address the problem of inconclusive elections.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Sunday Karimi calling on INEC not to subvert the will of the people by resorting to the provisions of its guidelines (relating to inconclusive elections) but to adhere to the Constitution and allow aggrieved parties to proceed to the relevant Election Tribunals in order to ensure peace and security and to promote the credibility of the Electoral Process.

Karimi (Kogi: PDP) remarked that

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Politics since the November 21st, 2015 Gubernatorial Election in Kogi State, inconclusive elections has become a demon hunting the Nigerian Electoral System, thereby eroding the confidence of the electorate in the electoral system.

He argued that the escalating trend of inconclusive elections has cast a shadow on the neutrality of INEC as an umpire in the electoral process, stressing that the declaration of elections as inconclusive has become a tool to subvert the will of the electorate in the country.

While insisting that INEC should not be allowed to continue to whimsically declare elections inconclusive, Karimi asserted that the combined effect of Section 134, 179, 111 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended) and 26(1) as well as Section 53(2)&(3) of the Electoral Act shows that inconclusive elections was not envisaged in the country’s law, except where there was over-voting in a polling unit, not where votes already cast were cancelled.

Ali Madaki (Kano: PDP) in his contribution, recalled that the circumstances that led to the declaration of the Kano governorship poll inconclusive was a clear indication that INEC is now a tool in the hands of powerful forces within the ruling All Progressives Congress to subvert the will of the people.

Madaki, who served as the PDP agent in the Kano governorship poll, accused INEC of encouraging thuggery and violence over the ugly trend.

He stated that, “What we went through in the last one month was war. What happened in the last one month is akin to military coup. The section of the Electoral Act that we are talking about, which give INEC the power to declare election inconclusive, that is Section 26 of the Electoral Act. I know for a fact that the constitution of Nigeria is supreme. It is above any other law made by us or made by anybody.

“And the Constitution of Nigeria is very clear about what you need to do to declare a winner in an election but for one reason or the other, but in most cases INEC has shown not to be independent because in states where PDP is winning the elections were declared inconclusive.

“We know for a fact that all the ballot papers used in Kano are still there intact with INEC. Even the original result sheets that were torn; it was the result that were torn, it was the duplicate. We submitted it to them they said it has passed through hands so they cannot use it again. We then told them the professor who collated this result is here, let him look at it, is it his document or has it been tampered with; they said no, they went and declared our election inconclusive.

“We are talking about the integrity of President Muhammdu Buhari – his integrity, if he has any, is being questioned seriously. If he is watching, he has been declared as a winner while the margin of victory is less than the number of canceled votes all over Nigeria, but he has been declared winner and our candidates of PDP in six states of northern Nigerian have been declared as inconclusive and from information available to me, in the next two weeks when we are going for the election, they will use every resources available and declare APC as winners in these elections. Let me sound a note of warning that we will not take it.”

Aminu Tambuwal

Abdullahi Ganduje

Muhammed Abubakar

Samuel Ortom

Diri Douye (Bayelsa: PDP) who expressed concern over the development argued that the National Assembly should blame itself for allowing primordial sentiments override that of national interest after President Muhammadu Buhari declined assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill (2018) which would have entrenched the transmission of technology in the transmission of results.

To further buttress the political undertone of the inconclusive polls, Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, had accused INEC of working with Governor Mohammed Abubakar to subvert the will of the people.

Dogara lamented that, “It is now clear that Independent National Electoral Commission is working in concert with Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar to rob Bauchi people of their mandate”.

According to the Speaker, who hails from Bauchi, “The facts are as follows: Deliberately delaying the collation of Tafawa Balewa votes by Bauchi Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Ibrahim Abdullahi in anticipation of an ex-parte order which was obeyed even before it was enrolled and served on INEC National Chairman in Abuja, the Bauchi REC hastily said he will obey the order that was not served on him.

“Total disregard of the INEC chairman’s directives by Bauchi REC to release details of total PVCs issued and collected in respect of the 29 Registration Areas and 36 Polling Units where cancellation of votes took place and supplementary elections is supposed to hold in Bauchi State on Saturday (yesterday). Our political party wrote to him twice and yet

he refused to release the details of total number of PVCs collected. Therefore, the only reason to explain this is that massive fraud is being orchestrated by the REC.” Dogara further said: “The declaration

by Bauchi REC that he will proceed with supplementary elections in some units where elections were cancelled when the main elections is yet to be concluded in Bauchi state in contravention of the provisions of Section 26 (4) and 53 (4) of the Electoral Act and paragraphs 33(a) & (e), 34 (e) of the Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of elections issued

by INEC and sections 26 and 53 of the Electoral Act. “As long as collation of Tafawa Balewa votes remains outstanding by virtue of the court order, the governorship elections in Bauchi State have not been concluded and therefore, there ought not to have supplementary elections until collation of Tafawa Balewa votes is completed and the margin of lead between the candidates is determined according to law.

“Bauchi REC should tell the whole world whether INEC can order a rerun elections in units where elections were cancelled as a result of over-voting as against those where there were hitches.

Cancellation due to over-voting is supposed to be punitive and such units should never be rewarded with the opportunity for supplementary elections as doing so is akin to allowing a student caught cheating in an exam to rewrite the exams.

“The world should know that almost all the units where supplementary elections are ordered by Bauchi REC were cancelled due to over-voting except in only one where election was canceled as

Simon Lalong

a result of violence.

“We have it on good authority that when the Bauchi REC Ibrahim Abdullahi had problems with his former employers, he sought the intervention of Senator Bala Mohammed (then FCT minister) to take up the matter with the President which didn’t yield any result as a result of which he openly boasted to his confidants that he will do whatever it is within his power not to return Senator Bala Mohammed as Governor-elect.

“The world should ask whether his personal squabbles with Bala Mohammed is enough for him to rob Bauchi people of the mandate they have freely given to Senator Bala Mohammed.

“The world must also note that the enemies of Bauchi people have stalled the collation of Tafawa Balewa votes to allow Governor MA Abubakar the opportunity through the illegal Saturday’s supplementary elections to fraudulently raise enough votes to cover the margin between him and Senator Bala Mohammed.

“If he succeeds in this on Saturday (yesterday)- God forbid- then by Monday the world will be told that the ex-parte order granted by the Federal High Court Abuja has been vacated to enable collation of Tafawa Balewa votes which will now pave way for Governor MA to be declared winner with whatever margin he makes from the supplementary elections.

“If on the other hand, Governor MA Abubakar is unable to exceed the margin of lead from the votes he may fraudulently allocate to himself from the supplementary elections then Tafawa Balewa votes will be hotly contested so that he can have another opportunity of rigging his way back to power having been overwhelmingly rejected by the people of Bauchi State.

“So, Bauchi people and indeed the world should know that the chief facilitator of this evil plot is no other person than the Bauchi REC, Ibrahim Abdullahi in collaboration with rogue elements within the security services.

“We also have it on good authority that security personnel have been deployed to all the affected Polling Units with the specific instruction to rig the election for Governor MA Abubakar even if people will be killed.

“The world must also know that Bauchi election is already won and lost. The winner is Senator Bala A. Mohammed (Kauran Bauchi) while the loser is Governor M A Abubakar.

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Politics Agenda for next House of Reps: Stakeholders list revisit of Electoral Act, economic bills, others James Kwen, Abuja

A

head of the June takeoff date of the 9th Session of the National Assembly (House of Representatives) stakeholders in democratic governance has suggested revisit of the unsigned Electoral Act amendment bill, bills that will boost economic prosperity and strengthen institutions as the main legislative agenda.

According to the stakeholders, poor electoral system, economic uncertainties and weak institutions are the bane of Nigeria’s social, political and economic advancement.

The current 8th National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives whose life ends soon, came with a somewhat bogus legislative agenda which almost became difficult to actualise.

The Yakubu Dogara-led House agenda among others states that, “The 8th House of Representatives (2015–2019) takes off against a background of huge expectations from Nigerians about the way government business is conducted.

“To address these expectations, the House of Representatives will implement a Legislative Agenda that will position the House to deliver legislation in aid of development and reforms aimed at improving conditions of living in Nigeria. This Agenda outlines steps and prioritizes legislative actions required to achieve set goals and objectives.

“This Legislative Agenda takes lessons from the experiences of the 7th House of Representatives and seeks to consolidate the gains and achievements thereof. The House recognises that there remains widespread citizens distrust of public institutions and government generally. It is also recognised that there is a lot of public misconception and misperception about the functions and contributions of the legislature to Nigeria’s overall socioeconomic and political development. Yet, the legislature’s contributions to Nigeria’s democracy remain critical and important.”

It also stated that “The 8th House of Representatives will assert its role in providing leadership in the areas of accountable and transparent government, citizens engagement, as well as constituency representation. The House of Representatives will collaborate with its counterpart in the Senate and other arms of government to legislate for the common good of the Nigerian people.

“Our legislative activities will cover critical spheres of life in Nigeria. The House will legislate to achieve reforms in Nigeria’s national economy and development, tackle poverty, unemployment, confront the scourge of corruption, terrorism and security challenges in the country.”

According to the lawmakers,

“The House will also give priority to green legislations to address environmental challenges such as desertification, erosion and pollution. The 8th House of Representatives will also work assiduously to improve the governance process in Nigeria by legislating to cut the cost of running government, reduce wastage and tackle National Revenue leakages.

“The House commits to playing its part in rescuing Nigeria from the clutches of hunger, poverty, disease, social, economic, political and infrastructural quagmire. The 8th House of Representatives, as a Peoples’ Parliament, will be sensitive to public demands for transparency and accountability not just by the House of Representatives but also by government at all levels.”

Dogara and his colleagues also said: “Our legislative actions would therefore, seek to build public confidence and trust and be responsive to citizens’ questions regarding the conduct of legislative business. The House will work for public good and serve as the institution that defends the rights of the people to an accountable and transparent government.

“The House’s relationship with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) will be that of partnership and collaboration to deliver on citizens’ expectations of the legislature”.

However, first setting agenda for the incoming House, Mahmood Yakubu Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC told members-elect to start work early and conclude work on the electoral framework in good time, well ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Yakubu while presenting certificates of return to the incoming 9th National Assembly members at the International Conference Centre Abuja, urged them to come up with a review of the electoral law that would assist the commission to begin work on post-2019 elections review and road map to 2023 as the success of Nigeria’s elections depends on the electoral legal framework.

“As a process governed by law,

the success of elections in Nigeria depends, to a large extent, on the electoral legal framework and most importantly in ensuring adherence to the law.

“I want to assure you that we will continue to work with the National Assembly to review and strengthen our electoral law. But, I want to appeal to the senators-elect to please start work early and conclude work on the electoral framework in good time, well ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“The tendency to delay electoral reforms, particularly the review of electoral framework until it is too close to the elections, leaves the commission with little time to develop processes, including regulations and guidelines, make required consultations with stakeholders, embark on effective voter education, including sensitisation, train staff and organise deployment for the elections.

“I am glad that among the members-elect are members that we have worked very closely with and some of them have taken initiatives or even sponsored private member bills to advance the cause of electoral reforms.

“We look forward to working very closely with you in the next Assembly. However, all these are matters to be considered, I hope we will do so in earnest”.

Similarly, Idayat Hassan, Coordinator, Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD called on the incoming 9th Assembly to as a matter of urgency work on electoral reforms and avoid been rubber stamp in the guise of harmonious executive legislative relationship.

“The most important agenda should be electoral reform from day one. The Executive must not just pursue harmonious relationship now that she has majority in government but most also send executive bills to the NASS for passage,” she suggested.

Joseph Otteh, Executive Director, Access to Justice affirmed that amendment of the Electoral should be focus of legislative agenda by the 9th Assembly to curtail the electoral malpractices.

“There are several areas where

the National Assembly can help improve governance, beginning from reviewing the process that brought many of them in as lawmakers. That could be a good point of departure.

If we do not strengthen the integrity of our electoral system, we will see an escalated level of abuse of the system in future elections.

“Nigeria needs new electoral laws that will provide not just improved balloting procedures, but non-discriminatory and mandatory enforcement of criminal laws governing the conduct of elections and tampering with election results. We should ensure that those who participate in perverting the electoral system must be kept away from the system for a very, very long time as a deterrent.

“There are yet other major challenges that are too many for any brief narrative: we must find ways to make our Constitution more meaningful for our people. The constitutional amendment process must continue until the Constitution truly becomes a peoples’ charter – guaranteeing popular access to the benefits of our commonwealth and patrimony.

“We want to see amendments that say the State must use its resources to cater to the health, housing and feeding of our people, of our elderly, of the unemployed, of the children, so that State resources are not used in servicing extravagant pension payments to ex-Governors who are now serving Senators and are receiving much more than they need.

“We want to see our out-ofschool children back to the classrooms, so we can produce citizens who can lead productive lives, notwithstanding that their parents are too poor or uneducated themselves to send them to school. Let the 9th National Assembly pass laws that offer this opportunity and hope to the Nigerian people”, Otteh maintained.

To Jude Uzoma, coordinator, Foundation for Sustainable Development and Inclusive Growth, the 9th National Assembly should be very committed and look at public outcry with regard to poverty, poor education, lack of adequate water supply, accommodation and many other issues.

Uzoma also advocated reworking of the Electoral Act amendment bill, making laws that will strengthen anti graft agencies and diversify the economy.

“I look forward to the National Assembly passing laws, not just passing laws and making sure the existing laws become functional.

Particularly when we talk about the Electoral Act that the President refused to assent to in the last National Assembly, you will realize that it not just because the President feel entrapped by the Electoral Act. It is probably because certain clauses were politically inclined and to favour some interests. So in the 9th National Assembly we don’t need all that, in as much as we want the President

to assent to the Electoral Act, there must be amendments. “ Th e s c h e d u l e o f e l e c tion in Nigeria where the Presidency comes first and then the State(governorship) comes second should be reviewed. The President and the State governors elections should hold on the same day while the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly be the same day. This will reduce tension.

Why do we have tension? Some other persons are depending on the other person - you must deliver me before I can deliver you. I think it will help go a long way in building our democracy.

“I think the anti graft agencies - the constitutional structures of these agencies are susceptible to control by the President. The 9th National Assembly should carry out amendment of their acts to be completely independent of the influence of the President. We need an amendment to these structures because when we have structures that are at the mercy of other structures, they become eventually dysfunctional. If you can get the anti graft agencies working properly, we have gotten 69percent of our problems solved because the bane of Nigeria socioeconomic development is corruption. We can say any other thing but the major problem is corruption. Corruption field religious bigotry, ethnic cleansing, name it.

“Diversifying our economy because now it is largely monolithic; depending on oil. Particularly, the manufacturing and mining are key to industrialization but are also hinged on power. We must get away from consuming culture in our economy. We are consumer related in our economy.

“Businesses are growing in Nigeria but they are not growing in terms of manufacturing they are growing on behalf of manufacturers in other countries. What that means is that we will be hardly in charge of our Naira, we won’t be able to stabilize inflation because a lot of things we consume here are determined by the behaviour of the manufacturer abroad. Our National Assembly should focus on manufacturing laws”, he stated.

Evans Ufeli, Executive Director, Cadrell Advocacy Centre, asked the 9th Assembly to amendment the constitution to improve economic fortunes of Nigerians while the Petroleum Industry Bill should be fully passed to change the narrative of the oil sector.

“Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution which defines the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policies must be made justiceable so that the socioeconomic right of Nigerians can be guaranteed. The constitution should be amended so the socioeconomic rights of Nigerians as drawn in the 1999 Constitution as amended, can in truth and indeed, guarantee the security and welfare of the people as the primary purpose of government.

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Politics Furor over Atiku’s petition as anxiety grows

F

Innocent Odoh, Abuja

ormer Vice President and the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded election and his party officially launched their bid to reclaim what they referred to as “stolen mandate”, raising another round of tension in the country.

The petitioners filed a petition at the elections tribunal on Monday March 18 in Abuja, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the polls. Atiku and PDP in the petition claimed that the INEC computer server shows that he won the February 23 presidential election with about 1.6 million votes to defeat incumbent Buhari.

In the petition the former Vice President is also relying on 50 sets of documents, filed before the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja against INEC, President Buhari and the APC respectively.

INEC had on February 27, declared that President Buhari won the election with 15,191,847 votes to defeat Atiku, who it said polled 11,262,978 votes, but Atiku and his party cried foul insisting that the elections were massively rigged.

Atiku and the PDP stated in their 139-page petition that “from the data in the 1st respondent’s (INEC’s) server…the true, actual and correct results” from “state to state computation” showed that Abubakar Atiku polled a total of 18,356,732 votes to defeat President Buhari whom they said scored 16,741,430 votes.

The petition said further that the results were the total votes scored by the candidates in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, as there was “no report on server” about the results from Rivers State as of February 25. By this, Abubakar Atiku claimed to have defeated President Buhari with 1,615,302 votes.

Atiku also in the petition resuscitated the allegation that President Buhari was not qualified to contest the election on the grounds that he did not possess the constitutional minimum qualification of a school certificate.

The five grounds of the petition read, “The 2nd respondent (Buhari) was not duly elected by the majority of lawful votes cast at the election.

“The election of the 2nd respondent is invalid by reason of corrupt practices.

“The election of the 2nd Respondent is invalid by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).

“The 2nd respondent was at the

Atiku

time of the election not qualified to contest the said election.

“The 2nd respondent submitted to the 1st Respondent an affidavit containing false information of a fundamental nature in aid of his qualification for the said election.”

Atiku’s bid appears to have been boosted by the reports on Friday March 22, that the election tribunal in Osun State had declared that the PDP candidate in the September 22, 2018, governorship election, Ademola Adeleke won the election in the state against Gboyega Oyetola of the APC, which INEC declared as the winner.

Speaking to BDSUNDAY on Friday, a political analyst and the National Chairman of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Godson Okoye, said that Atiku will reclaim his mandate in court as there were obvious discrepancy in the results the INEC declared in the presidential election which he said did not tally with overall results of the elections.

“If you want to know the result once you sum up valid votes in all the polling stations across the country you will have the results of the election, which is what the server posted before they made it public. So in the fulness of time, Atiku will be president, we are very optimistic about that. It is just a minor delay and delay is not denial.

In the fulness of time justice will be done,” he said.

Meanwhile, leaders of thought and elder statesmen from four of the geo-political zones of the country, have also backed Atiku’s decision to go to court to challenge the results of the election, stressing that the “results cannot stand the scrutiny of any self-respecting court.”

The leaders under the aegis of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders

Forum, in a statement on Thursday also called on the judiciary to shun what they termed “the climate of fear that pervades Nigeria and do justice because the entire world would like the judiciary to do the needful.”

The leaders in the statement in Abuja after a meeting at the Asokoro residence of Edwin Clark denounced the 2019 electoral process especially that of the presidential election, stressing that the process fell below the minimum standards.

In the statement issued by Yinka Odumakin for South West; Chigozie Ogbu for South East; Bassey Henshaw for South-South and Isuwa Dogo for Middle Belt, the elders and leaders said the total subversion of the will of the people was traceable to President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign amended Electoral Act into law.

However, a legal practitioner and political analyst, Kayode Ajulo, believes that Atiku’s petition is “dead on arrival,” claiming that the former Vice President was not eligible to contest the election be-

If you want to know the result once you sum up valid votes in all the polling stations across the country you will have the results of the election, which is what the server posted before they made it public

cause he was not a citizen of Nigeria by birth.

Ajulo, who is a Constitutional Lawyer and Secretary of Forward with Buhari independent campaign team, revealed in a statement made available to BDSUNDAY on Friday, that a source close to him has concluded plans to go to court to challenge the legibility of Atiku to contest.

Quoting relevant laws, the source according to Kayode, said Atiku Abukakar is not fit to contest. “Atiku is from Jada town in Adamawa State of Nigeria. However, Jada used to be in Ganye Local Government Area in Adamawa.

Ganye is regarded as the mother of the whole Chamba tribe. Jada is a town and Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria.

Jada as a Local Government Area was created from Ganye Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria.

“Ganye, however, was never part of Nigeria legally until the February 1961 plebiscite where the people of the then Northern Cameroon voted to join Nigeria. The area had been entrusted to Britain by a League of Nations mandate in 1919 and later as Trust Territory by the United Nations in 1946.

“With the defeat of Germany in World War I, Kamerun became a League of Nations mandate territory and was split into French Cameroons and British Cameroons in 1919. While France integrated the economy of their part of Cameroon with that of France, the British administered theirs from neighboring Nigeria, making Atiku’s Jada a British franchise.

“A plebiscite was held in British Cameroons to determine whether the people preferred to stay in Cameroon or align with Nigeria.

While Northern Cameroon pre-

ferred a union with Nigeria, Southern Cameroon chose alignment with their mother country,” he said.

He said further that: “On June 1, 1961, Northern Cameroon became part of Nigeria, and on October 1, 1961, the Southern territory dissolved into Cameroon.

“Ganye, which incorporates Atiku’s birthplace of Jada was the headquarters of British Cameroons, but following the plebiscite, joined Nigeria. It is instructive to note that when Atiku was on November 25, 1946 born to a trader and farmer, Garba Abubakar, Jada village and other parts of Chamba land in the then Northern Cameroon were still known as British Cameroons.

“It is interesting to also note that none of Atiku’s parents or grandparents was born in Nigeria. Atiku’s ancestral origin is deeply rooted in the then Northern Cameroon,” he said.

He stressed further that since the Nigerian constitution clearly states that only a citizen qualifies to contest for any election, he quoted Section 5 of the Constitution which states that (1) The following persons are citizens of Nigeria by birth, namely- (a) Every person born in Nigeria before the date of independence either of whose parents or any of whose grandparents belongs or belonged to a community indigenous to Nigeria. Provided that a person shall not become a citizen of Nigeria by virtue of this section if neither of his parents nor any of his grandparents was born in Nigeria. (b) Every person born in Nigeria after the date of Independence either of whose parents or any of whose grandparents is a citizen of Nigeria; and (c) Every person born outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria. “(2) In this section, “the date of independence” means the 1st day of October 1960.”

“As it can be gleaned from the facts already supplied herein, Ganye which incorporates Atiku’s birthplace of Jada was the headquarters of British Cameroons, but it joined Nigeria following the plebiscite.”

According to Ajulo, the provision of Subsection 1(c) cannot still avail Atiku because there are two conditions precedent that must be satisfied, viz: 1) he must be born outside Nigeria; and any of his parents must be Nigerian citizen.

Quoting the source, Ajulo said “Atiku was born outside Nigeria (the then Northern Cameroon) and none of his parents was a Nigerian citizen.”

He therefore, submitted that the Constitution is supreme and its provisions have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“This informs the reasons why we are approaching the law court to enforce this,” he said.

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Politics Ogun: Looking beyond elections and building on Amosun’s legacies Iniobong Iwok

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lections all over the world come with hatred and everything divisive. It is worse in Nigeria, where the winner-takes-it-all principle is very strong.

Although it is said that in politics there is neither permanent friend nor foe but permanent interest, sometimes, the enmity and resentment arising from political contests run very deep and wide. That’s why the country has experienced cases of assassination of politicians that were said to be politically-motivated.

Now that the elections are over, it is expected that the bitterness that characterised the exercise should be consigned to the dustbin of history.

Ogun State is one of the states where the general election was tough. The Presidential election was not an issue, but the governorship poll caused a lot of adrenaline rise, right from October 2018, following the acrimonious primaries of the ruling party in the state, All Progressives Congress (APC).

Following the outcome of that primaries, there arose some disagreements that followed through to the elections. But now that the elections have been lost and won, all the parties in the feud must return to status ante. To continue on the firing line would portray anyone who insists on that as a bad sportsman, lacking the spirit of sportsmanship.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun does not love Ogun State no less than anyone who may claim he loves the state. For this love, he has faithfully served the state for almost eight years, and in a matter of weeks, he will be leaving behind many bold imprints.

Since after the elections, Amosun has directed members of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), a party that was formed after the acrimonious primaries, to go back to the APC. But it was said that there has been resistance from some leaders of the APC who believe that such returnee APM members should have nothing to do with APC anymore.

But Amosun is not just a newcomer in politics. Having been around for long, he understands the game so well that even his political foes know the stuff he is made of.

The Ogun State governor

Ibikunle Amosun

has a personal relationship with the First Family in Nigeria that spans several years, and it is not likely that the current impasse between him and some party leaders would undermine that age-long friendship.

In addition, Amosun enjoys a robust friendship with many of those around the President.

He remains an asset to the APC family, having won his mandate to go to the Senate in the 9th National Assembly that would be inaugurated in June.

During the APC gubernatorial primary, Amosun, being a sitting governor, favoured Akinlade Akinlade as a successor and communicated same to his party, but some interests within the APC kicked against it, preferring Dapo Abiodun who hails from Iperu-Remo in Ogun East zone.

The real issue is the fact that the incumbent governor believes that for equity, justice and fair play, all the ethnic groupings in the state should be given the opportunity to control power.

Since the creation of Ogun State, Yewa-Awori people of Ogun West have not produced a governor for the first time, a situation that has bred rancour and feeling of marginalisation. So, the thinking is that Akinlade’s emergence would placate the people in that axis and also help to address whatever infrastructural deficit they may have suffered over the years.

The governor had reasoned that if Akinlade was elected, his emergence would enable him embark on projects that would make his people feel belonged

and heave a sigh of relief, such as construction of rural roads to ease transportation of farm produce, among other developmental projects.

These were the thinking of Governor Amosun that pitted him against some party bigwigs in APC. The Amosun administration has recorded a lot of feat in terms of infrastructural development and economic vibrancy, resulting in Ogun State’s internally generated revenue from N750 million to N7 billion monthly.

Recall that the governor never relented in his campaign for Buhari’s return, even in the midst of the crisis.

Apart from Lagos with its huge resources, no other state in the South West mounted the level of unprecedented media and publicity blitz in favour of President Buhari ahead of the presidential election.

On the need for the leadership of the APC at the national

Ogun has been largely transformed under Amosun’s watch into a peaceful state where citizens’ safety and protection of business facilities are great priorities of government

level to bury the hatchets and close ranks with Amosun, an analyst, who claimed that he followed the campaign in Ogun, said, “APC would be making a serious mistake by putting Amosu at arm’s length.

“If you ask me; I would say that it would be in the overall interest of the APC to mend fences with Governor Amosun.

They must sit at a round table and iron out their differences. Good a thing, the President is a good friend of his; he should mediate between the feuding parties.

I can say plainly that perhaps, few politicians have illuminated the political scene in the Southwest region and Ogun State in particular, since the advent of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, than the incumbent Governor Amosun,” the analyst said.

Amosun a chartered accountant was born in Abeokuta in 1958, attended African church primary school and then African Church Grammar School, and Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta. He subsequently attended the University of West-Minster, where he acquired a Master of Arts in International Finance.

His political sojourn started in 2003, when he was elected as the senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial district in the upper chamber of the National Assembly on the platform of now defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP).

Amosun, however, made an unsuccessful attempt for the position of the governor of Ogun State in 2007.

He ran for the same office in 2011, on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and won.

Upon assumption of office in 2011, the administration made giant stride in different sectors; by transforming the state and focusing on development of infrastructure with new road networks and expansion of old ones, prioritising education and job creation.

Leveraging his state’s proximity to Lagos and with the rising cost of living and doing business in the City of Excellence, Ogun easily became a destination for many, including investors. In the first three years of his administration, Amosun is said to have attracted about 100 companies to Ogun State.

He also created a ‘New City’ in Ogun State, which cuts across the three local council areas of Ogun Central Senatorial District, namely Obafemi/Owode; Ifo,

and Ewekoro, while a model school is being built by his administration in the areas. Infrastructural development in border communities such as Arepo, Ibafo, among others, is presently at advance stage.

In an attempt to improve transportation and commerce in the state, Amosun has since signed an N1.2billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Chinese company for the construction of a rail system.

Upon his re-election and assumption of office in 2015 on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Amosun continued in his industrialisation drive with the construction of airport and aggressive rail transportation project in the state both of which are expected to boost commerce.

An Abeokuta-based public affairs commentator, who also works with a non-governmental organisation, commended Amosun’s development efforts in Ogun State.

“Irrespective of political leaning, all honest citizens and visitors to Ogun State agree that the outgoing governor and his team have, in the last eight years, delivered an expansive transformation agenda that has seen the state capital and several other cities and major towns in the three Senatorial zones greatly remodeled,” the commentator said.

According to him, “Ogun has witnessed a seemingly welldesigned and thoughtfully executed plan-cum-blueprint to re-engineer her economic, infrastructure and industrial sectors such that today, Ogun State is the fastest growing industrial hub in South West Nigeria. The state IGR profile has also massively improved just as Security and infrastructure renewal have become the norm.

“From being one of the states with high notoriety for armed robbery, kidnapping, ritual killings and other sundry crimes, Ogun has been largely transformed under Amosun’s watch into a peaceful state where citizens’ safety and protection of business facilities are great priorities of government. That Ogun has become peaceful today owes largely to an effective governance style that promotes selfless and unbiased commitment to all segments of the state, fairness in deployment of state resources and a clear infrastructure re-modelling mission blueprint.”

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Ilashe Island: An escape within

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Arts ‘He saw the spaces between the margins’ Adrian Piper, Hans Ulrich Obrist, others remember Okwui Enwezor, the legendary curator

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rtists whose careers he shaped and curators whose lives he changed discuss Enwezor’s legacy.

When Okwui Enwezor, one of the world’s most influential curators of contemporary art, died last week after a long battle with cancer, the world lost one of art’s great minds.

During his decades-long career, Enwezor organized numerous exhibitions, including the 2015 Venice Biennale and documenta 11 in 2002, and served as artistic director at Munich’s Haus der Kunst for seven years (before his tumultuous departure last year). He promoted a global view of art that forever changed the way art history is written.

We reached out to a handful of artists, curators, and others to reflect on his life and legacy. Here are their tributes.

Daniel Birnbaum, artistic director of Acute Art and curator of the 2009 Venice Biennale One cannot overestimate the importance of Okwui’s vision, of his creative impulse, and of his tireless efforts to transform the art world and its institutions to make possible alternative ways to engage with art beyond our standard thought patterns and western narratives. I got to know Okwui in the mid-1990s and he has remained a friend and a key inspiration all these years. I am eternally thankful to him and will never forget his generosity and intellectual brilliance. What an incredible loss for all of us who care about art and poetry and philosophy and want to feel fully alive in a world in which all of these things really matter.

Rashid Johnson, artist Okwui is and was one of the most gifted curators I’ve ever known. He saw the spaces between the margins and found ways to give voice to those whose genius was often overlooked.

Adrian Piper, artist None of us can ever know what it was like for him to experience, develop, and exercise his enormous creative and intellectual capacities with full confidence in their power on the one hand, yet to be the unremitting target of envy and malevolence from the mediocre for the exceptional quality of his achievements on the other, because he never discussed it. When directly attacked, he defended himself with dignity and self-control, choosing his words carefully. The rest he bore in silence. I knew more about what he had to bear than I knew him, because the mediocre conscientiously showered poison-tipped arrows of gossip and disparagement in all directions, and because he never complained about them. He just did more great work, making his way calmly among those who flaunted their putative liberality on matters of race by virulently attacking him, because of course if they had been racist, they instead would have patronized him with excessive compliments, right? I prayed that he was as impervious to the poison as he seemed, but didn’t see how that was possible because there was so much of it.

Okwui Enwezor, curator of the 56th International Art Exhibition, “All The World’s Futures”, Courtesy of Giorgio Zucchiatti

I experienced him in person as a private, courtly, generous and brilliant colleague who beamed when I informed him that we had our Igbo heritage in common, and smiled whenever I reminded him about the traditional virtues of the Igbo warrior. At the dance party after the opening of documenta 11, I saw that his modest demeanor concealed great physical grace and stamina; and that he was a proud, upright man who felt honored, rather than aggrandized, by the intrinsic worth of what he had achieved there, namely that all of us, who would not have been there were it not for him, in fact were there, to honor him. He honored me, in turn, by accepting and welcoming me for who I was. I watched and cheered and prayed for him from the sidelines as he fought his way through and beyond each one of the traps, snares, and set-ups staged by the mediocre, on to one world-class victory after another.

He broke through so many barriers of exclusion in his variegated professional activities that in the end, all that could be left of him in any case was a cloud of dust for the mediocre to choke on. I preserved my image of him as the invincible, Stoic Igbo warrior for as long as I could. But even when that was no longer possible, it was clear that his conquests were permanent and could not be reversed, because we will be there to defend them.

El Anatsui, artist The past weeks have been exhilarating and devastating, as I have grappled with my dear friend and colleague Okwui’s illness and passing, while simultaneously opening my solo exhibition at Haus der Kunst.

The exhibition, which he co-curated, is the culmination of a decades-long relationship. Okwui and I first met at the beginning of our international careers in the ’90s. He included an article about me, written by Chika Okeke-Agulu in the first edition of NKA, the journal he founded [with Okeke-Agulu and Salah M. Hassan] which would go on to become a defining resource for African and diasporic art.

I am humbled that even during Okwui’s last days he was determined to engage with and showcase my work. He remained the fiercely passionate curator he always was throughout the entire process of putting together this monumental exhibition, meticulously crafting the checklist and issuing confident directives during installation, even when he couldn’t physically be at the museum. His voice and presence imbues every aspect of the show.

Even though he couldn’t join us at the opening, I think he was happy to have had so many visit him when they came to Munich.

When I won the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale that Okwui organized, I knew he was giving me as much of a challenge as an honor, a challenge to keep pushing into new territory, to never be complacent, a trait I also admired in him. As I continue to make new work, I will keep that challenge, that support, that friendship, very close.

Hans Ulrich Obrist, artistic director of London’s Serpentine Galleries It’s a devastating loss of a friend, of someone who completely changed the art world. We met in 1996 in London, when Okwui was preparing the second Johannesburg Biennial. He brought together a whole group of curators for this seminal exhibition and he asked me to contribute a text about migratory museums to the catalogue. Migration was a key topic of Okwui’s.

This biennial of his was a gamechanging one. It was a major statement towards a more polyphonic, polycentric art world, and it completely changed this idea of what a large-scale exhibition can be. I think it was also a blueprint for many of the other larger shows of Okwui’s that were to come later; documenta being the most famous one, and most recently the extraordinary postwar exhibition at the Haus der Kunst. These large-scale exhibitions he made were bridge-building endeavors, of multiplying and bringing worlds together, rather than creating

the homogenizing or standardizing synthesis that museums do sometimes. They were basically performative, experimental spaces—like laboratories.

These large-scale exhibitions, this German notion of the Grossansstellung, was his medium—but only one of his mediums, because he had so many dimensions. He was not only a curator, he was also a critic, a writer, a poet, and an educator—its almost like superstring theory. He was also a publisher, editor, and co-founder of the seminal NKA magazine, which from 1994 onwards addressed the fact that Africa and Diaspora Arts were neglected and which was in a way a protest against forgetting.

As Eric Hobsbawm once told me, memory is key for the 21st century as maybe amnesia is at the core of the digital age.

There are entire libraries that should be coming out about Okwui.

He leaves behind an immense legacy that will become so much more important in the years to come. Thank you Okwui, we miss you.

Hiwa K, artist Europeans, Westerners, Who is going to interpret your dreams from now on?

In the Old Testament, Joseph, an outsider, unlike Egyptian dream exegetes, was the only one who was capable of interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams. Though he came from elsewhere, he could read them clearly.

In our times, at the very moment of urgencies that humanity is facing, which include global climate catastrophes, rise of populism and racism, a return to neo-fascism, deepening class divisions and gender inequalities, in such times in which we are very vulnerable, Okwui Enwezor has left us and made us even more vulnerable.

He was the echoic voice, resonating many yet unheard voices from all the non-Western parts of the world.

The world lost one of its greatest poets, one of its most vibrant dream interpreters, whilst the West is searching for an image that is identical to itself again.

David Adjaye, architect Okwui’s passing is a huge loss to those of us who could call him a friend but also a devastating loss to the art community as a whole. His boundless energy, introspection, and intellect made him one of the best curators and museum directors I have ever met. His long battle with this terrible disease was handled by him with such dignity it was humbling to observe and he will forever be a force of nature. The time I spent with him was profoundly special and endlessly inspiring.

John Akomfrah, artist We knew it was coming but the finality of his passing makes it even more devastating. Okwui was this enormously prophetic figure, wise beyond his years, whose insights— vision, if you will—literally shaped the universe many of us now inhabit.

He was like an enormous tree in the glare, whose shadow provided refuge, hospitality, generosity, and love for so many.

Courtesy of artnet News

African art takes center stage as Miami Art Week looks to Lagos

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he organisers of Miami Art Week are paying more attention to Africa, and Lagos in particular, as preparations gather momentum for the 2019 edition of the art fairs, which holds annually in Florida, United States of America. This year, Miami Art Week, which holds annually during the first week in December, will devote one of its major fairs to African Contemporary Art. Ta g g e d “ Èk ó Mi a m i , ” t h e name of the fair is derived from Èkó (Lagos), the native name of Africa’s most populous city and one of the world’s fastest growing cities. Èkó Miami is the premier International art fair dedicated solely to Contemporary African Art during Miami Art Week. This is the first time Africa will be taking centre stage at this global event, which will host over 20 international art fairs, 1,500 galleries and over 15,000 artists.

According to Toks Ogun, the organiser, in the first week of December of every year, Miami becomes the epicenter of the art world as it hosts thousands of artists, galleries and international art fairs. “Èkó Miami will bring to the world stage the most prolific and profound works that Africa has to offer. It will feature art from both masters and emerging artists on the African scene”, he said.

He further explained that, “An extensive and enlightening educational program that includes discussions, workshops and other cultural immersions from the African landscape will also be showcased at Èkó Miami.

This focus on African art is an indication that African artists are making significant inroads

onto the global scene. Bonhams, Sothebys, Christies and other renowned International Auction Houses are beginning to pay serious attention to us”.

The aim of Èkó Miami, according to him, is to promote and support indigenous emerging and established artists, galleries and for the further appreciation of our arts and culture on a global scale. The programme is expected to attract 15,000 visitors over a period of three days.

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Arts Ogun establishes museums, monuments agency …refurbishes Fela Anikulapo’s family residence in Abeokuta RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta

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bikunle Amosun, governor of Ogun State, has approved the establishment of Museums and Monuments Agency through an “Executive Order”, which is expected to preserve valuable relics and monuments, as well as, coordinate all historical and cultural events such as annul Drums Festival, among other cultural events.

BDSunday recalls that Governor Amosun has earmarked some budgetary allocation for the preservation of relics and monuments across the state, including the agelong residence of Fela Anikulapo’s family in Abeokuta; Hubert Ogunde’s abode in Ososa, Odogbolu Local Government Area, among others.

Speaking in Abeokuta through Yewande Amusan, senior consultant to

Preserved family house of the Kutis along NEPA Road, Isabo in Abeokuta

the Governor on Culture and Tourism, the governor stated that the agency was established to develop and improve the propagation of

Ogun State’s cultural and historical heritage, as well as, develop museums and historical monuments within the state, and coordinate all

museum-related activities and streamlining administration and procedures.

Governor Amosun added that the agency would estab-

Edo assures on exciting NAFEST 2019

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reparatory to the 2019 National Festival of Arts and Cu l t u r e ( N A F E ST 2019) slated for Benin, the Edo State capital, Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo State, has assured of the state’s full commitment and support towards a successful hosting of the event this October.

The governor gave the assurance during a world press conference organised at the instance of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) to flag off publicity for the 2019 edition of NAFEST. Speaking at the briefing, the governor who was represented by Osaze Osemwegie-Ero, commissioner

for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Edo State, noted that the state is prepared to take on the responsibility of hosting one of the biggest art and culture festival in the world.

He stated also that culture brings unity irrespective of cultural affiliations, adding that the state has what it takes to make NAFEST truly remarkable.

In terms of providing adequate security for NAFEST 2019, he revealed that the state governor is putting a lot of security measures in place.

“We cannot talk about promoting tourism without concern for security. Edo is very safe, but we are still putting in place a lot of security measures before October”,

he said.

While delivering his address at the event, Segun Runsewe, director-general of NCAC, said that Nigeria needs cultural diplomacy to curb persistent ethnic clashes in the country.

He noted that NCAC plans to use Edo State to communicate to the whole world that Nigeria is indeed beautiful.

According to him, “There is a new beginning for us to speak for ourselves, enough of the negativity and bad things about us. We must celebrate ourselves and showcase what we have to the world.

“We are going to have a new beginning in Edo State from October 19-26, 2019.

L-R: Osaze Osemwegie-Ero, commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Edo State; Segun Runsewe, director-general of NCAC and a staff, during event in Benin recently.

If we move from one state to the other, there will be less hate speeches, disagreement and more love. Culture is the secret to make a new beginning for our great country”, he said.

The DG emphasised that NAFEST is a demonstration of the critical relevance of culture in forging national unity, peace, mutual understanding and for building bridges of love and friendship across the different ethno-religious divides in Nigeria.

“Indeed, Edo 2019 promises to be unique in all respect.

Edo State has a very rich and diverse cultural heritage dating back to several centuries”, he remarked.

Speaking further, he also revealed that one of the distinctive features of NAFEST 2019 would be a Day of Royal Splendour, adding that the event would be in collaboration with the revered Oba’s Palace in furtherance of the centrality of Benin Monarchy to the socio-cultural activities of the state.

He called on traditional rulers in Nigeria to collaborate with the NCAC in the task of reviving Nigeria’s cherished cultural heritage and using culture as a springboard for driving the process of national development.

The 2019 edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) is scheduled to hold in Benin City, Edo State from October, 19-26, 2019 with the theme “Our Royalty, Our Pride”.

lish diverse museums to manage the state’s rich cultural heritage and serve as fulcrum for keeping and attracting international investors, as well as, encourage tourism generally.

The agency, according to the governor, would attract new investments within the cultural heritage sector of the state, such as fostering sustainable growth and creating employment opportunities, adding that it would also develop and maintain lines of collaboration with different ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) within the state.

He further stated that the agency would coordinate and implement the required liaison and facilitation services between the state and federal MDAs as required from time to time and conduct effective implementation of all museum and cultural heritage

projects and programmes, as outlined in the Culture and Tourism Policy of Ogun State.

The agency is also expected to acquire, publish and revise data and information on the establishment and development of additional museums and monuments periodically, and evaluate the state’s potential as a cultural and historical destination of choice in Nigeria, on a continuous basis.

Aside that, the agency is expected to plan and organise all museum activities including; exhibitions, tours, road shows and museum professional fora, to promote museum investment opportunities and also to provide research and educational opportunities for the acquisition, documentation, preservation and restoration of both cultural and historical objects and built heritage in the state.

Kehinde Wiley launches artist residency in Senegal

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ehinde Wiley, the artist behind Obama’s official presidential portrait, has launched an artist residency called Black Rock Senegal in Dakar. The program will bring visual artists, writers, and filmmakers together on Wiley’s compound to work alongside him for one to three months.

“As an artist who works in the west, I desired a space of renewal to explore new ideas and to create work outside of a western context, to create work within the context of my own lineage,” Wiley says. The project is also an opportunity to pay it forward for the artist, who was deeply shaped by his own residency experience at the Studio Museum in Harlem at the start of his career. The first residency cycle begins in June; applications are due April 15, 2019.

Wiley is a contemporary African-American painter known for his distinctive portraits. His subjects are often young black men and women, rendered in a Photo Realist style against densely pattered backgrounds. Wiley melds references from many sources, including Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres’s portraits of Napoleon Bonaparte, Islamic architecture, and hip hop culture.

“I believe it’s possible to hold twin desires in your head, such as the desire to create painting and destroy painting at once,” the artist has explained. “The desire to look at a black American culture

as underserved, in need of representation, a desire to mine that said culture and to lay its parts bare, and look at it almost clinically.”

Born on February 28, 1977 in Los Angeles, CA, he received his BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1999 and his MFA from the Yale School of Art in 2001. The artist has gone on to have several successful exhibitions including “Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic,” which opened at the Brooklyn Museum of Art in 2015. On February 12, 2018, both Wiley and the artist Amy Sherald unveiled their official presidential portraits of Barack Obama and Michelle Obama for the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. The artist currently lives and works between New York, NY and Beijing, China. Today, Wiley’s works are held in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Denver Art Museum, the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, among others.

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Sunday 24 March 2019

Life&Living

Living large on a small budget

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Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson

ver wondered how everybody seems to be (balling) living the rich life on social media. Sometimes you scroll through pictures on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat and just see people living as if they are children born to Bill Gates or Aliko Dangote.

Captions on pictures such as ‘living my best life’, ‘champagne chilling’, ‘living my life like it’s golden’, you only live once (YOLO), gets you wondering if you are the only one with problems in this life, because the social media personalities seem to always have fun – jetting out the country ever so often, eating at the fanciest restaurants and wearing all the latest fashion trends, and you wonder how you could possibly live this good life on your small budget.

Everybody wants to have fun, relax and joy enjoy, sometimes, especially after all the hassle and traffic of Lagos and Nigeria in general.

However, living on a small budget does not mean you have to give up the good life. There are ways to eat well, travel the world, and dress like a million buck without having to break the bank.

Tips to get the most mileage out of your money Eat well on less money: Instead of spending your whole paycheck in an expensive restaurant, that prob-

ably serves the most tasteless food but has a good ambiance for nice pictures, you can use a tiny fraction of your money for grocery shopping and make cook book recipe style meals at home that picture nicely when plated properly. Look on Pinterest or Instgram for food plating suggestions. Also if you’d like to have that restaurant feel, then you should opt for brunch or lunch rather than dinner. Lunch menus are priced slightly lower than food during the

dinner rush.

Take advantage of nature for fun and exercise: Explore the world around you for free. Go for a run, walk, hike or swim on the beach and picnic in the park. Chances are that the scenery outside beats the view of the wall at your local gym. A picnic with your loved ones will most definitely save you more money than hanging out at the cinema or going out for dinner. Chances are that it’ll even be more fun with good

music from your speakers and Ipod or mobile phone.

“I enjoy going to the mountains and hiking,” said Michelle Jackson, founder of the blog Michelle Is Money Hungry. “Typically, my friends and I will carpool and have an Instagram-worthy day. There’s nothing better than enjoying what’s in my hometown’s backyard.”

Significantly cut your cost of travel: You can do this by looking for off-peak season travel tickets

and booking way ahead of travel date to ensure you get the lowest price possible. Also, you should explore your options for mode of travel. Taking a coach or train could save you a lot more than booking a flight. You could also cut down on travel expenses by planning to stay with friends or family at the destination instead of booking a hotel. Take short trips instead of long vacations, that way, you’ll even have more fun, as everyday will be booked for a different activity. You might also want to consider group bookings. Apart from the usual ‘the more the merrier’, there are always discounts on fun park entries and tourist attractions for a large group of people or families.

Buy fairly used designer items instead of brand new: Although this is not as common in Nigeria, thrift stores in the United Kingdom and United States stock up on fairly used designer clothes and accessories. You could also easily attend auctions, garage sales to get quality items at a fraction of its original cost.

Expensive clothing items such as wedding dresses can also be rented rather than bought.

Look out for sales and coupons for non-DIY things: You can easily wash your hair at home or paint your nails at home by yourself. But to get a haircut, spa session and other treatments, you might have to wait for when the stores are offering discounts to save money on luxury.

Doorstep: How technology is changing the narrative of food, parcel delivery IFEOMA OKEKE

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here is nothing that can be as frustrating as having the money to buy an important commodity such as food, yet finding it extremely difficult to get it at the time you desire it.

As the popular saying goes, ‘A hungry man is an angry man.’ While we work every day to get results in our offices and workplace, so also we need to take care of the human doing the job. And one of the ways to do this is to ensure we eat healthy.

On a daily basis, we are surrounded with junk meals and can easily pick them by the road side, canteens around us and kiosks but gradually we will be harming our bodies with high cholesterol, high fat and high carbohydrate junk meals.

It is understandable that good food doesn’t come easy, especially when our choice restaurant where our ideal meal is prepared is far from where we work or our homes and the traffic situation in Lagos doesn’t help matters.

However, e-commerce technology is changing that narrative. You can now order meals on your computer or phones at your convenience and get them just at the time you desire.

DoorStep, an online food delivery and logistics company based in Nigeria has risen to the occasion by solving the big problem of logistics in the delivery of food and parcel across Lagos, making it as fast, cost effective and efficient as possible.

Speaking during the unveil of

the company in Civic Centre, Lagos, Justin Emeka, founder and CEO of Doorstep Dispatch Services said after studying Lagos environment and its traffic nuisances, he decided to create a platform that will help people eat good food and send parcels from one place to another more easily.

“I was never really a tech person but I have studied the world and I have realised that the world is moving towards technology. Every business is trying to fit their entire operations into a mobile app or a website and that increased my curiosity,” Emeka said.

He further stated that the utilisation of the app is very simple and the process is quite short. According to him, “You download the mobile app, which can be found in Google play store and iOS store, register and then find a list of all choice restaurants. It is as simple as ordering, tracking and receiving.

“For the parcel delivery, you open the parcel delivery app, select your pick-up location, send it and come pick it up. My organisation is responsible from the take-up point to the delivery point. Our prices are very competitive and lower than what other delivery companies are charging. The price of the food is the same price the restaurant charges,” he said.

Emeka said DoorStep is partnering with over 50 restaurants and the numbers keep increasing, adding that the company created a seal that covers every meal, with an inscription on it saying if the seal is broken, it should be rejected.

“I have done my research and I see tweets online about how people perceive some of these services. So, customers are supposed to inspect the order before accepting. This is part of the safety measures we have taken to ensure people get healthy and safe meals,” Emeka explained.

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Entertainment

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Disney acquires 21st Century Fox, X-Men, part of Hulu Jonathan Aderoju

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ver more than a year of working to get final approval, Disney’s extended process of acquiring 21st Century Fox is finally done.

The merger has giving Disney full control over a number of 21st Century Fox entities including the company’s entire movie studio division, its 30 percent stake in streaming service Hulu, and the Fox Television Group.

The acquisition received final approval from antitrust regulators around the world in recent months. Despite the acquisition, Fox Corp will retain its independence, and entities like Fox News and Fox Sports in the United States.

According to Bob Iger, CEO, Disney, in a press release, “This is an extraordinary and historic moment for us; one that will create significant long-term value for our company and our shareholders.

“Combining Disney’s and 21st Century Fox’s wealth of

creative content and proven talent creates the preeminent global entertainment company, well positioned to lead in an incredibly dynamic and transformative era.”

Disney’s main focus is on 20th Century Fox’s film assets, its catalogue of film and television shows, and its stake in Hulu.

Disney CEO previously spoken about the company’s plans to incorporate Fox content into its own business plans, including possibly integrating franchises like Deadpool and the X-Men into its own Marvel universe and bringing Hulu to an international audience.

The deal now gives Disney control of nearly 40 percent of today’s market share. Possibly the biggest addition to Disney’s portfolio, and the most important as it prepares for a directto-consumer business model, is becoming a majority stakeholder in Hulu.

Disney now has a controlling 60 percent stake in Hulu, and analysts predict that Iger will try to gain even more ownership over the streaming service. He has told investors numerous times

that he has no plans to abandon ship, even in light of Disney gearing up to launch its own streaming service. Iger wants to increase spending on Hulu’s programming side, and bring it international. It would make Hulu, which already boasts 25 million subscribers in the United States, more of a competitor to Netflix.

And if Disney does expand Hulu into the European market, it means more original content and licensing of European series as new impositions have made it mandatory for streaming services.

According to Kevin Feige, copresident of Marvel Studios, it is not just content and streaming that will be affected by the acquisition. On the corporate end, both Disney and Fox employees are expected to be hit by the acquisition, which will see an estimated 4,000 employees laid off.

Most of these jobs are expected to be roles that now find themselves duplicated. Analyst Rich Greenfield told The Hollywood Reporter that it could be closer to 8,000 employees, calling the merger “bloodshed.”

2Baba receives OAU’s honorary fellow award Jonathan Aderoju

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nnocent Idibia , Nigerian music icon better known as 2Face before he rebranded as 2Baba, has been conferred with the award of the Fellow of the School of Music by the Department of Music, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State.

The 43 year-old musician, who is also a songwriter, record producer and entrepreneur, became the pioneer recipient of the award, which was presented to him at the department’s 1st public lecture and fellowship award.

However, 2Baba had earlier announced through his Instagram handle, @official2baba that he would be delivering a public lecture at the institution after which the award of the fellow of school of music would be conferred on him.

“Being the torch-bearer for the new pop movement is a role I do not take lightly. And I am honored to have been found worthy of such noble albeit enormous responsibility”, 2Baba said as he received the award. The musician, who was also a guest lecturer, presented a paper on the topic “2 decades of Afro-pop in Nigeria: The perspective of 2Baba”.

The music icon, who has been relevant in the Afro-pop scene for two decades and is one of the most decorated and successful Afro pop artistes in Africa. He was honoured at Igbinedion University in 2016.

He is a recipient of several awards including five Headies Awards (Hip-hop award), four Channel O Music Awards, BET Award, MOBO Award, Kora Award, MTV Europe Music Award, and World Music Award. He has released several

albums including; Face 2 Face, Grass to Grace, The Unstoppable, Away and Beyond, and The Ascension.

The award winning singer and songwriter was a member of the defunct music group, Plantashun Boiz with Faze and Blackface.

The group successfully produced two albums in 2000 and 2003 after which they split in 2004.

2face released his solo debut album Face 2 Face in 2004 after which he gained recognition.

The 43-year-old producer established an NGO called 2Face Idibia Reach-Out Foundation, whose motto is “service to humanity.” In 2009, he was appointed as ambassador by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

He is the founder of Hypertek Entertainment and also the owner of the Buckwyld and Breathless concert.

‘Being Annabel’ is not a thrilling thriller

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our boyfriends’ rickety car spoilt on a Lagos bridge, and while you were waiting for a good Samaritan that will at least give you and your boyfriend a lift to your destination or help fix the car, your twin sister that you have not seen for many years pulled over with a flashy jeep. You went closer to the car thinking that help has finally come, but she alighted from the car wearing a short red valentine gown. She made straight for the bridge, you saw her, and maybe she didn’t see you. She climbed the bridge rail and woops, she jumped into the river and got drowned while you were there screaming. What a coincidence that your sister will have to stop at the very place you and your boyfriend got stranded.

What a story!

Then your boyfriend convinced you to leave the scene of the suicide in your sister’s car for fear of being arrested.

She just committed suicide and you guys abandoned your car and were riding back home in hers. In shock you agreed, and the next thing, yes, the following day, you started to scheme how to hijack your dead sister’s life because both of you are identical twins. You have already recovered from the shock of witnessing her suicide.

Starring Desmond Elliot, Oma Nnadi, Elex Ekubo, Ken Erics as the major characters, ‘Being Annabel’ couldn’t be saved by its cast. In fact Elex Ekubo was struggling with elocution, his pidgin didn’t sound authentic and he was struggling to be funny. He is not a natural funny character and failed woefully trying to appear so. Oma Nnadi did put up a sterling performance and exhibited real talent by playing a dynamic role in one film. It is not easy to play two different contrasting roles in a particular film. Acting requires drowning oneself into a role, coming out from a role and going into a different one entirely could be mentally tasking. It will be said of Oma Nnadi, ‘she tried to salvage a thriller that failed

to thrill”.

There were sound issues too. The sound was cracking at a point and even went mute at the scene where Annabel (Oma Nnadi) was tearing a card that was sent to her at her work place. I don’t know if it was from the film or from the cinema. I know most times the cinemas give the audience what they were given so could it be the film had a faulty sound?

I like the fact “Being Annabel’ created suspense. The thing is this, even with a plot that is unoriginal and lacks verisimilitude, the film succeeded in creating suspense.

I just had to suspend my disbelief to see where the story will lead me to. The plot was very chorological and easy to catch up with. It was well developed too except that the film failed to tell us how Oma Nnadi met or started dating Despond Elliot who she had killed the wife in a hit and run accident. After hitting and killing Desmond Elliot’s wife in an accident, she went to bury her to conceal the manslaughter.

I have never heard of ‘hit and bury’. I only know of ‘hit and run’. Who wants to go through the stress of burying the victim of an accident instead of running away? It is illogical for me.

That was another aspect of the film that was undeveloped.

The scene where Alex Ekubo and Ken Erics were fighting was too clumsy and unrealistic. They failed to convincingly enact that scene even with the sound effects. On the contrary, the scene where Annabel jumped into the river was so real. That was my best scene.

The film will engross you for the wrong reason. You will just want to know how it will end for curiosity sake. But at the end of the day, you will ask yourself ‘what the heck?’ You ‘may’ want to spare your time, money and popcorn for ‘Being Annabel’.

Destiny Isiguzo Follow on instagram @destinyisiguzo and on twitter @isiguzocid

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Sunday 24 March 2019

Travel

Ilashe Island: An escape within W OBINNA EMELIKE

hile driving on a typical sunny day, a peep from the car windscreen or on the side mirror revealing a snaky gridlock can be frustrating.

The intense sun does not help the matter either, while the toxic fumes from vehicle exhaust pipes that continually pollute the air leave motorists, their passengers and even passers-by who inhale them at risk of life-threatening sicknesses.

It takes a visit to an ear doctor to know the extent of damage noise from unnecessary blaring of vehicle horn does to the ear drum, while the dusty environment is almost making many blind.

But you can for once escape to a place where the land is fresh, friendly and natural.

It is a place where no car horn blares; where there is no human or vehicular traffic, where the noise is sweet melody from the chirping of birds, the magical clapping of ocean water, and where freedom is free. It is an escape just by the corner.

Yes, Ilashe Island, a sleepy riverine community in Lagos, is just by the corner. Tucked in-between the lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, Ilashe has a peninsula of sort that is an escape from the madness of Lagos metropolis. It is just about 25 minutes ride on boat from Victoria Island, 20 minutes from Marina and about 10 minutes from Apapa.

While the inhabitants, whose occupation is mainly fishing, go about their business undisturbed, great fun takes place at the ocean bank at their frontage. One thing that will draw your attention is the serenity, freshness and freedom in the atmosphere around the

community that truly negates the madness and life in the fast lane of Lagos metropolis.

The freshness starts from the array of beautifully arranged coconut trees that dot the roadside to the peninsula and also shade visitors from the intensity of the sun. The sand keeps increasing in volume and slows visitors’ pace as they move closer to their destination, the ocean bank. To ease movement, operators of the beach and most beach house-owners have quad bikes.

Unlike other shores along the several kilometres stretch of the Nigerian coastline on the Atlantic Ocean, the sight of Ilashe is unique. Of course, the beach has the signature of Lagos beaches: white, lush, sandy shores, coconut orchards just behind the beaches and all breath-taking view of the sea. But the ocean current seems stronger here to make surfers salivate on the prospect

of riding on the waves of the strong ocean water that crash on the shores. The first thing that draws your sense of sight is the several beach houses owned by high-profile people in the society and expatriates, who use them as hideouts and for holiday outing.

Some of the buildings are in form of a simple bungalow, while many others have elevated balconies where the owners can sit to enjoy the ocean view. But they all feature beautiful designs on wood architecture.

Looking at how the houses breathtakingly dot the ocean bank, the picture that comes to one’s mind is that French Cote d’Azur reputed to be the millionaires’ playground. Going by the calibre of personalities that have beach houses there, Ilashe Beach is simply Nigerian millionaires’ playground.

You cannot beat the rustic allure of the beach house’s wood and thatch construction that lack nothing in terms comfort.

The exquisite furnishings, swimming pools, personal bars, water pumping machines and generators are among facilities that ensure unending comfort and swell time in the beach house.

There are some of the beach houses that are rented out by their owners on holiday elsewhere or very busy. The locals also run some others. Ogini Ogunbiyi, an operator, says a beach house for a weekend stay costs about N45, 000, while the visitors also make provisions for their own feeding.

He assures of security and the high level of privacy has not yet been overrun by urchins.

From the beach house, one could explore a panoramic view of tens of ocean vessels as they berth on the high sea waiting for their turn to come into the Lagos wharf. It points to the congestion in Lagos wharf.

Why not join the millionaires and if you cannot, then come and see where they commune with nature and where things are as God created them. You are free to come with your picnic boxes, swimming pants, skirting and kayaking tools because there is enough space, water, sand and even sun to play and birth on.

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BDSUNDAY 27

Travel

Air Peace receives 3rd Boeing 777 aircraft, to create additional 1,500 jobs IFEOMA OKEKE

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e s t Af r i c a ’s biggest carrier, Air Peace on Wednesday pushed Nigeria’s aviation profile a notch higher with the delivery of its third Boeing 777 aircraft. This is also as an additional 1,500 direct and indirect jobs will be created from the new aircraft.

The airline took delivery of its first Boeing 777 aircraft on February 23, 2018, making history as the first Nigerian carrier to acquire and register the type of aircraft in the country.

The aircraft marked 5N-BVE and named “Ifechukwu” was soon followed with the delivery of a second Boeing 777 marked 5N-BUU and named “Ojochide” six months after on August 25, 2018.

The airline’s latest bird of steel touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at about 3:20pm on Wednesday. It was honoured with a spectacular water salute staged by men of the Fire Service Department of the Federal Airports of Authority of Nigeria, with a crowd of the carrier’s management and staff as well as aviation authorities and airline workers cheering ecstatically.

Air Peace said the latest aircraft

Air Peace 3rd Boeing 777 aircraft, 5N-BWI (Anuli Peggy Onyema) moments after landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Wednesday

in its fleet was a big boost for its plans to soon start long-haul flight operations to Sharjah, Dubai, London, Houston, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai and Johannesburg.

Addressing reporters shortly after the aircraft marked 5N-BWI and named “Anuli Peggy Onyema” landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Allen Onyema, Air Peace chairman/chief executive officer, said the airline had proved beyond doubt that it was the face of the bright future of Nigeria in the global aviation industry.

He dismissed claims that Air Peace was merely acquiring and parking wide-body aircraft at the

Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, saying the airline was strategically increasing the number of aircraft to be deployed for its long-haul operations to ensure quick and efficient recovery when any of the aircraft was out of service.

Onyema insisted that the airline had earned the respect of financial organisations and other critical stakeholders in the global aviation industry, assuring that the entry of the new aircraft would create more jobs for Nigerians and others.

“I don’t think Air Peace is parking aircraft for fun. We brought in these aircraft to use them. We want to do this country very proud.

We want to make every Nigerian proud of their own. Both the government and people of Nigeria have been complaining that there has never been any successful Nigerian airline. This is one airline out of Africa trying to do something different. All we need at this point in time is the support of everyone - both the government and people of Nigeria.

“I set up Air Peace in order to create jobs in a country with so much potential yet nothing to show for it. I and my wife just created this to give back to society.

And that is very evident in the way we are running Air Peace. This particular aircraft will create at

least another 1,500 jobs and I want people to look at the potential and the number of families feeding from this airline. Every Nigerian who is working takes care of about another 12 Nigerians.

“So, if I am going to employ 1,500 Nigerians because of the entry of this aircraft, it means this aircraft will be feeding 1,500 multiplied by 12 people daily. This airline is the biggest, not only in Nigeria, but the entire West Africa. This airline is respected worldwide.

“In Air Peace you have over 3,000 direct workers. We’ve created about 9,000 ancillary jobs in just four years of our operations. All we need is the continued support of the press, the government and the people of Nigeria. A lot of people are saying Nigerian airlines are poor, they are indebted, they don’t have integrity. Air Peace has integrity. All the banks in Nigeria want to work with Air Peace because of our integrity. All the banks outside Nigeria are looking towards Air Peace. They see Air Peace as an emerging force out of Africa and everybody wants to support it”, he said.

The carrier, he assured, would offer Nigerians and other air travellers a dependable and comfortable alternative on the Sharjah, Dubai, London, Houston, GuangzhouChina, Mumbai and Johannesburg routes.

Peacock, Turkish Airlines partner to boost cargo, airfreight

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igeria’s airfreight subsector is set for a major boost as Peacock Aviation and Allied Services Limited teams up with Turkish Airlines Cargo to deliver efficient and on time cargo services.

The strategic partnership with the Turkish mega carrier follows yearlong negotiations, which culminated in the appointment of Peacock Aviation as its Sole Appointed Cargo Sales Agent (SACSA) across the Nigerian territory.

The deal guarantees shippers in Nigeria the lowest possible air freight rates on a wide range of general and special goods on the airline’s vast global route network.

Peacock Aviation is a part of the Peacock Group, Nigeria’s leading travel and logistics management business, with a presence in 10 Nigerian commercial cities and the UK. It holds licenses from IATA, NCAA, Nigerian Customs, NPA and NIPOST as Cargo Agent and Agents of Foreign Airlines while Turkish Airlines is the fourth largest carrier in the world by destinations.

The partnership was unveiled March 12 during a luncheon at Spice Route Restaurant on Victoria Island, Lagos by representatives of Peacock Aviation, Turkish Airlines and Wema Bank Plc, which are the financial partners in the deal.

Peacock Aviation was led Se-

gun Phillips, its executive chairman, while the Turkish Airlines team was led by Yunus Ozbek, the general manager, Lagos, who was accompanied by Sevket Battal, the cargo manager. Wema Bank Plc was represented by Wole Ajimisinmi, its regional director.

Announcing the partnership, Phillips said: “This partnership was made in Heaven specifically with our customers in mind; we want to enhance their airfreight experience in a consistent and sustainable way. Peacock Aviation and Turkish Airlines bring immense strategic values to the table: we have a large customer base and a strong presence across Nigeria while Turkish Airlines boasts a vast global route network and high technology equipment, and huge capacity all sizes, nature and types of cargo worldwide. This deal is a win-win for everyone, particularly our customers.”

Yunus Ozbek, Turkish Airlines General Manager, Lagos, said: “We have a longstanding relationship with Peacock, which is a very professional company. That’s very important for us because Turkish Airlines is the flag carrier of Turkish Republic, with 40% owned by the Turkish government for the Turkish people while 50 per cent is in the open market for everybody. We also have a lot of investors from all over the world. That gives us a lot of responsibilities.”

Ozbek said Peacock was a natural choice in the airfreight partnership because the airline needed a dependable company that would meet its aspirations and status as a global player in the industry.

He said: “We believe Peacock is the best here, they’re real professionals. They have been in the industry for a long time and they know what they’re doing.

We have a lot of responsibilities for our investors and customers; we want to do the best for them and we can only achieve that by working with the best in Nigeria.”

But Peacock is looking at the wider implications of the partnership for the Nigerian economy.

Phillips explained: “The timing of this deal is perfect: the Nigerian Government is diversifying the economy into agriculture, and is actively promoting export.

Jumia launched cruise travel to deepen market offerings Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson

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umia Travel, the hotel and flight marketplace for e-commerce company, Jumia, has launched cruise travel to encourage more Nigerians to go on cruise voyages. The launch is also aimed at expanding the company’s offerings to its customers.

Omolara Adagunodo, managing director, Jumia Travel disclosed the new development in a press statement.

According to Adagunodo, Jumia Travel made the foray into the cruise business to meet the immense demands by Nigerians for cruise travel and to expand its footprint to become a more robust travel agency offering hotel, flights, airport pickups, travel insurance and cruise travel.

“We do not want to be known strictly for hotel and flight business. We want to evolve into an online travel agency that offers every travel related service you can think of. This is why we are going full throttle into cruise travel and most importantly our customers asked for it and this is our response,” she said.

Adagunodo further stated that since the platform started selling cruises, the response has been overwhelming adding that a substantial number of Nigerians have bought cruises to various destinations around the world.

Stating the reason for this, she said: “The cruises are selling out because we have gone the extra mile to negotiate the best available rates in the cruise market for our customers and the fact that we accept installment payment.”

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on March 22, 2019, which interestingly falls on Tony Elumelu’s birthday, making it more unique for the man.

The event marked the 5th Edition of the Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Program at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

Th e Se l e c t i o n An nouncement also featured

a Nigerian TEF Alumni Meet up, as well as an interactive dialogue with the TEF Founder, Tony O. Elumelu, CON, who is now on the threshold of history as the first African to make such an indelible mark in the continent. Yes, Anthony Elumelu is enigmatic and quintessential

in all ramifications, and this is no exaggeration. Today, his Tony Elumelu Foundation, TEF, has over the years been giving succor and relief, via empowerment to youths, not only in Nigeria, but throughout the continent of Africa, for sustainable growth and development.

The Herbert Wigwe, Uzoma Dozie rare bond

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hen their two banks, Access and Diamond, entered into a merger, months back with Access Bank being the receiver partner, many in the industry had thought it was one of those corporate unions that would find it very hard to pass the acid test. But the respective MDs/CEOs of the two banks have over the months been proving cynics wrong, as their chemistry appears to have properly mixed, pointing in the direction of a fruitful, mutual and beneficial venture at the end of the day.

Herbert Wigwe of Access and Uzoma Dozie of Diamond have become

so inseparable in their bid to make the merger workable and pace-setting in

the industry. And it will no doubt come to many as a surprise when on April 1,

this year, the merger eventually becomes effective and operational, that the bond between these two must have played a very big role in what is to be expected from the merger thenceforth.

The two are eminently qualified professionally, academically and they have not disappointed their brand in no small measure. Let’s tell you that Herbert and Uzoma are quietly taking Access Bank to a newer level that cannot be imagined.

They are directly working hand in hand to make Access a superior bank in the banking industry and this is why they remain a very good formidable duo in the set up.

Omowunmi Olalere diversifies from banking

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er story is that of a woman who has a strong passion for delving into what her peers dare not.

Ha v i n g w o r k e d i n the banking sector for a considerable number of years, entrepreneurial and industrial Omowunmi has now followed her innate passion to be an entrepreneur by leaving the banking world to float her own business, Numero Group, which comprises of Numero Homes, Numero Farms

Sunday 24 March 2019

Bolatito Adebola

Tony Elumelu Making History with TEF

he name Tony Elumelu should not come to many in the business and corporate world as a misnomer, as he has been there done that in these two principal sectors as a formidable player. Since he left the Pan African banker, UBA, Toney Elumelu has remained standing tall in all his endeavours, especially through his Tony Elumelu Foundation, TEF, a leading African philanthropic NGO, committed to empowering African entrepreneurs.

Last weekend, in Abuja, TEF unveiled over 1,000 African entrepreneurs from 54 African countries to participate in its 2019 Entrepreneurs scheme.

TEF announced the selected applicants for the 2019 cohort of the Foundation’s flagship Entrepreneurship Program

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and Dozen Price, its latest baby. Dozen Price is the group’s online retail store where they sell home groceries, household items, and personal care on bulk purchases, using a flexible payment pattern.

This service is available to people in corporate organisations, especially paid employment.

Dozen Price has been in existence for about 13 months now. As a passionate and very focus-driven enterprising women, the former top

management staff of Access Bank advises young business owners to be steadfast, continue to do what they know best and seek knowledge because they need to research all the time, they need to try to brace up, they need to continue to strategise, for at the end of the day, they will break even because every week, month and all year round.

She insists they should always try to learn from their failures and try to improve better on them.

Sifax boss, Taiwo Afolabi, expands bourgeois horizon

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is mercurial rise in virtually all the businesses he has ventured into has never been a champagne party, as he has proved his mettle in all these areas, nay maritime, hospitality, real estate, oil and gas, just to mention a few. Yes, Barrister (Dr.) Taiwo Afolabi’s story is a great lesson for self-starters everywhere because it debunks so many of the prejudices and stereotypes that unfairly hold many back.

He has dispelled the idea that being from a humble background is at variance with being an aristocrat.

But like they say, those who work hard for their money, albeit legitimately, must have every eight and reason to flaunt their riches through acquisition of avant garde items like automobiles, mansions, yachts and stuffs like that.

Recently, Dr. Taieo Afolabi, the quintessential industries leader under the umbrella of Sifax Group, added to his fleet of wonders-on-wheels, two of world’s most exquisite auto brands, a Bentley Bentayga 2019 model and a Bentley Continental GT, setting

him back by a wondrous sum of $394,000 for the purchase, even as he, not wanting to cut corners, accordingly paid the accrued duty tax and other ancillary payments to the Nigeria Customs Service.

For the record, the Bentley Bentayga auto machine is unlike any other sport utility vehicle in the world, as, being an all-purpose car, offers an exceptional driving experience, and has been applauded as the world’s fastest SUV delivering an unmatched balance of phenomenal power and exquisite levels of craftsmanship.

With a top speed of 306 km/h, the car offers an invigorating driving experience that both thrills and captivates; this car is more than just about ability, as its imposing and dynamic speed ability enjoys a truly commanding road presence, making a powerful statement on every terrain.

Dr. Taiwo Afolabi is indeed a man of taste and rare splendor always reeking in his bourgeois class with every pride of having worked for all the good things he now enjoys.

Oyeyimika Adeboye become first female MD in Cadbury

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igerian women in virtually all spheres of life have continued to make their fellow men go green with envy, giving them a run for their money in mostly male-dominated areas of management, and by extension lending further credence to the proverbial saying that what a man can do, a woman can even do better.

One woman that has again proved made potent these sayings is the industrious Oyeyimika Adeboye, who was recently appointed managing director of bluechip Cadbury Nigeria Plc, making her the first female ever to occupy the position since the inception of the company over 50 years ago.

Oyeyimika Adeboye’s appointment takes full effect from April 1, 2019.

In a good commentary on Adeboye’s appointment, the company says it remains committed to promoting gender equality, diversity and inclusion. She takes over from Amir Shamsi, who moves on to a new role within Mondelēz International, the parent company of Cadbury Nigeria. Oyeyimika Adeboye joins the growing list of top female

executives at the helm of affairs in multinational companies operating in Nigeria.

The new MD/CEO of Cadbury trained as a chartered accountant, and joined the board of the company in November 2008, as finance and strategy director, West Africa, having worked previously as a director of finance and chief financial officer of Nigerian Bottling Company Plc. A fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Nigeria, Adeboye has a track record in finance, strategy and business administration both in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Sunday 24 March 2019

Bliss with Nonye Ben-Nwankwo

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Email: chiwuagwu@yahoo.com Phone number (SMS only) 08057511893

My grouse with Sesan Rufai – Liz Anjorin

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ctress and fashion entrepreneur, Liz Anjorin is still spitting fire in Businessman and hotelier, Otunba Sesan

Rufai.

The actress, who had once threatened on her instagram handle that she was going to expose the “secrets” of Rufai, has said she would still go ahead with her threat if care is not taken.

Trouble started when Rufai’s online platform, GoldmyneTV reported a story about Liz’s donation to ailing Baba Suwe, which she didn’t like. She went on her page and ‘blasted’ Rufai saying she was going to expose “dirty secrets” about both of them.

But then, a national newspaper thereafter, reported that Rufai had said the matter was too “irrelevant” for him to look into or talk about while an associate of his reportedly said Liz was seeking for “cheap attention” and also challenging her to go public with the so called dirty secrets she has concerning their boss.

But in a recent chat with Bliss, the popular Yoruba actress narrated her grouse with Rufai and what led to the fracras and still said she woul expose him.

According to Liz, “He has been trying to bring me down but my God will not bring me down. That means he is a failure who is trying to bring down an innocent soul that calls him ‘daddy’. I treat his workers well anytime I meet with them.

“I read about Baba Suwe and immediately, I responded and gave my own contribution. But somebody came on my page and was asking why I should be dancing when my colleague was ill. I was angry and I asked the fan where my colleagues were when my mother was down with stroke for four years. I however added that

I had made my contribution. But when they (GoldmyneTV) carried the story, they didn’t add the part where I said I had made some donation for Baba Suwe. They turned the story around. I told him that he also have his dirty secrets as well.

You can’t bring me down because you feel you are powerful or you have the platform.”

Liz claimed Rufai called her later that night to apologise “I told him not to call me his Baby. Has he seen me messing around or selling my body? I told him he knows me as a very hardworking girl but he has never celebrated me. I took my domestic help abroad. I sent 17 children to school and he never celebrated me. I have done so well in the industry and in the society and he has not said anything nice about me.

MTV Shuga Naija gets new producer

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he award-winning drama series, MTV Shuga has made an impact in the entertainment industry in Nigeria, with so many people staying glued to their TV stations to watch the drama series.

And now, a fresh season of the drama series is set to return to the country with a brand new producer – Tope Oshin!

Known for setting the pace for female directors in the Nigerian movie industry, she has earned accolades for her amazing portfolio, featuring movies including, ‘Relentless’, ‘Fifty’, ‘Wedding Party 2’, ‘New Money’, ‘We Don’t Live Here’, and most recently, ‘Up North’.

But that is not all, according to MTV, the new Shuga series also seek brand new talents to feature in this season.

Following the recent premiere of the new season of MTV Shuga Down South in South Africa and the announcement of upcoming campaigns in Cote D’Ivoire and India, MTV Shuga continues to champion conversations about real

issues affecting young people using relatable characters and stories that revolve around contraception, sexual health, family planning, gender-based violence and other social issues.

MTV Shuga Naija, is a multisectorial partnership led by the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and is supported by MTV Base Africa, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and NGOs. The campaign kicks off with open auditions, which will be held on Thursday, April 4th at the Classique Event Centre, Ikeja Lagos.

MTV Shuga has been at the forefront of attracting and developing new acting talent including Timini Egbuson, Emmanuel Ikubese, Bukola Oladipupo, Helena Nelson and Jemima Osunde; last season’s open auditions attracted over 1700 hopefuls. MTV Shuga Naija would-be actors will be judged by a diverse range of industry experts and selected based on their acting skills and originality.

“He apologised and said it was his worker that wrote the story.

He said he had told them to bring down the story. I told him he ought to write an apology letter to me and post it in the same platform he posted the negative story. He said he would bring the girl who wrote the story to my office to beg me and I said I wouldn’t want to see the person. I told him I didn’t want to see him either. He has many dirty secret. It is just that I am not in this world to bring people down. It is only God that can expose. I hand over everybody who say negative thing about me to God. He writes bad stories about me because I am doing well n he industry. It is good to be good in life. He should stop saying that he has no secret because I have all his secrets and I can expose him whenever I want,” she said.

Nobody can stop me from being happy – Anita Joseph

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ike her or hate her, controversial Nollywood Actress, Anita Joseph, has said nobody will stop her from dance or twerking especially on her social media handle.

The young lady has drawn so many fans and foes with her seductive and suggestive dancing videos where she twerks and displays her massive backside and which she usually posts on her social media handle.

The videos usually attract so much admiration and much more criticisms but the actress has said she doesn’t care at all.

In a video she posted recently on her handle, the actress said, “The other day, two people were complaining that I play too much at my age.

What age? Is there age limit to happiness? I really

don’t understand. That is my problem with people.

They want you to change and be who you are not.

They want you to do their bidding. I will not do that.

Who are you? I will continue to dance and play, I will continue to be joyful because that is who I am.

Do you understand?

“If you don’t like it, get out of here! I don’t care, it is not my business. I am like Jesus my father; He doesn’t change so I can’t change. I am so sorry, if you don’t like me I don’t know why you are watching my video and I don’t know what you are doing on my page. Leave me alone please!”

Most of her colleagues and friends including self acclaimed Nigeria’s male Barbie, Bobrisky, supported and‘liked’hervideowhileencouraginghertopostmore.

Hymnodia 2019: Top 2 emerge on stanza 7

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he ongoing reality show, Hymnodia is heating up and soon, the hymntestant (as the contestants are known) with the best vocal chords will emerge the winner and go home with the mouth-watering prizes.

Interestingly, one of the best hymntestants, Kenneth Ekhuemelo, failed to maintain his presence in the frontline positions as the Judges announced the top two outstanding performers of Stanza 7.

Ekhuemelo, who was one of the top two performers in Stanza 6 has been maintaining a great showing in the contest thus far with his singing. The bass singer, who exhibited confidence in his appearance, stage craft and composure, rendered the selfcomposed hymn, Have Mercy on Me, inspired by Psalm 51.

Replacing Kenneth in the top

2 for the Stanza was the broadranging soprano, Rachael Darley for her sterling composition titled Amen while the consistent Olumide Dada ‘the Baritone Singer’ retained his Top 2 place for his composition Heal Me Lord.

The Judges on Stanza 7 were legendary musician Onyeka Onwenu; Dupe Ige Kachi (popularly known as Ige Sings), singer, songwriter and voice coach; and Sunday Olawuwo, music director of Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja, Lagos.

As usual, they were joined by Benneth Ogbeiwi, Dean of the Hymnstitute.

Other performances at the Stanza 7 Performance Show were Mobolanle Oladimeji, Jemine Edukugho, Juliet Nwabia, Uduakobong Akpan, Blessing Agu and Abigael Nnadi.

30 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 24 March 2019

Interview Thinking globally, yet having local expertise, has attracted clients to my brand - Zakariyau Bidemi Zakariyau is the founder & CEO of LSF|PR, a full service public relations agency with core competencies in corporate communications, consumer and lifestyle brands. She started her company at the age of 23. In this interview with IFEOMA OKEKE, she speaks about her passion for what she does, among other things. Excerpts:

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an you tell us about yourself and some of your achievements in the industry so far?

Bidemi Zakariyau is the founder & CEO of LSF|PR, a full service public relations agency with core competencies in corporate communications, consumer and lifestyle brands. I was awarded the Best Law Student during her Business Foundation degree at Brooke House College, Leicestershire, England. I went on to study Law at the University of Sheffield.

After university, I interned at two top tier law firms, in the same year I enrolled at the Nigerian Law School.

While at law school, I founded LSF|PR, the agency’s clients include some of the best global and local brands including Philips, Branch, Reckitt-Benckiser, RemyCointreau, Godrej and many more.

Under her leaderships, LSF|PR has received certificate of excellence by the SABRE Awards (2018) – the world’s biggest PR awards programme, dedicated to benchmarking the best PR work across the globe and in the same year won Campaign and Idea of the year in Africa at African Excellence Awards) held in Dublin, Ireland.

I have been listed by Forbes Africa as one of the innovators and game-changers in business on the prestigious 30 Under 30 list (2018), African Woman Leader (CMO Asia), Rising PR Practitioner by the Nigerian Institute of public Relations – Lagos Chapter (2017). In 2016, I won the Future Awards Africa for Media Enterprise.

In 2017, I launched an online magazine – The Luxe Digest, with the aim of playing a key role in altering the perception of Africa and fostering Pan-Africanism. I am a member of The Nigerian Bar Association, The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and a board member of Réle.

Please tell us how you founded LSF|PR, one of the leading PR agencies in Nigeria?

I founded LSF|PR in 2012. I always had an interest in media when I was younger, but I was awarded the Best Law Student at Brooke House College (Leicestershire, England), so I decided to study Law. I moved back to Nigeria after university at the end of October 2011 and decided to do a legal internship before joining law school.

I started my PR journey because I realised I was not interested in legal practice and wanted to explore something that I would find fulfilling. At the time, I noticed that there weren’t many boutique agencies specialising in specific sectors.

I was inspired by the possibility of building a company that could

Bidemi Zakariyau

scale, diversify into different industries and create a sustainable business long-term.

Can you take us through some of the places you have worked over the years and how will you describe the experiences?

I started my company straight out of Law School and it’s been the most rewarding and eye-opening experience. My company gets to work with different clients. One day, we are working on a brand activation for a global beverage brand, another day it’s a global oil & gas servicing company. Other times it’s strategy for a local financial company or we’re working with an FMCG consumer brand. It’s all very exciting.

What milestones have you achieved since you set up LSF|PR? We started as a fashion PR agency, after much success in this area we decided to focus on more corporate and consumer accounts. The breakthrough moment happened when we signed Laurent-Perrier Champagne. Our relationship with the company officially started in 2014 and we currently handle all their key accounts including Remy-Cointreau (Remy Martin, Cointreau, St Remy, Louis XIII), Brown Forman (Jack Daniel’s), William Grants & Sons

(Glenfiddich) and Laurent-Perrier.

These accounts were huge for us as they were all global brands, our work with these brands – positioning them in the Nigerian market had a beneficial effect on the growth of my company. We gradually started getting recognised for our work in mid- 2015, which led to us securing more local and global clients within the corporate and consumer sector.

What were some of the challenges experienced that are peculiar to your journey?

I dealt with many challenges and currently deal with some general business ones such as lack of infrastructure for business to thrive, lack of media platforms for content which anyone in the PR profession would also find frustrating.

One challenge I had to deal with repeatedly in my early days was having parents believing and respecting the talents of young women; I started my company at 23 and found that it wasn’t only clients that were a bit skeptical about working with a young woman. In fact, many people, including family members of potential employees found it odd that I was such a young entrepreneur and this made hiring even more difficult.

Considering the number of

awards you have bagged and clients you have managed at under-30 years of age, what has been your drive and how have you achieved these? (How many awards have you bagged since you started)?

I’ve never let society’s ideologies of what one should achieve at a certain age define my goals. What is more important to me is working on myself as an individual and growing continuously. Yes, awards are great but I also do not let them define who I am. What’s more important is the impact I leave on the people around me, and the lasting impact of my work with my two companies, LSFPR and The Luxe Digest. So, while I am appreciative and thankful for the recognition of my work, I believe it’s important to continue to look onwards and break glass ceilings and barriers for myself and other young women.

What do you think has sustained your clients’ patronage and contributed to the growth of your agency?

LSF|PR is a results-driven agency and we always go the extra mile for our clients. We think outside the box and think globally, while having local expertise. I believe this unique combination is why clients feel confident in keeping us on as an agency.

Having travelled so widely, how will you compare the Nigerian market, as regards Public relations to what is achievable outside the country?

When it comes to the client side, there is a difference in how services are valued in Nigeria and in other markets. Responsible marketing is becoming more common in the West. Brands are taken a stand on political, environmental and social issues – for example Serena Williams and Nike, Bodyform with their blood normal campaign, this is something that hasn’t really happened here. I wish more brands would embrace the ideas that agencies or their in-house teams have for them and be willing to take a risk to stand for something, which honestly would help them connect emotionally with consumers.

Who are the women who inspire you and how have you emulated from their examples?

I have a few: Christine Lagarde (the managing director of the IMF), Amy Jadesimi (the MD/CEO of LADOL) and Khanyi Dhlomo.

In the marketing field, there is Bozoma Saint-John. She’s currently the CMO of Endeavor and was previously at Apple and Uber. I love that she advocates for black women. She is an effective leader and also carries herself with confidence. She doesn’t dim her light for anyone and is confident in her own abilities.

Were there times you almost

gave up building your brand? How were you able to manage these moments?

Building anything in Nigeria is extremely difficult. There are days I feel exhausted, there are days I feel like quitting but I choose consistency over everything, and that really keeps me going. On a bad day, I remember that I only need to get through the day and do the work that’s required and the next day is likely to be a better one.

Other times, I try my best to take a break if I’m feeling completely burnt out, it’s a good way to refresh your mind and get you back in the swing of things.

How important is vision to you as an entrepreneur and how does it affect your social enterprise/business/career? What are the biggest challenges/obstacles you’ve faced implementing the strategies to achieving your vision in the Nigerian terrain?

Vision is important because it gives you a direction and something to look back at even if you succeed or fail.

From a leadership perspective, vision is everything. What type of leader are you if you have no vision? You have a team depending on you and it’s your job to share that vision with them so they can execute effectively. You can’t be a leader if you can’t lead by example.

I know that my team works so hard because they see how hard I work, consistent and dedicated I am to executing the vision I set out for my two companies.

In your own little way, how are you creating employment opportunities for youths through your business?

I’ve been running a career development program for entrylevel job seekers for the past two years. When I first started my company I found that many potential employees lacked the basics of applying for a job and needed help. I wanted to create a program that would help them address their employment issues.

We have a four-week class where we teach the participants how to put together a proper CV, get into the right mind-set. We even have a class focused on “how to get a job, keep a job and grow at a job”.

I also try my best to match them with job opportunities.

I also run a mentorship program for young women between the ages of 18 and 30. Most are trying to work in the communications and creative industries. I act as a mentor to them – offering career advice, sharing my mistakes and early learnings. This year I have expanded the idea and I now bring in other successful women to talk them through various lessons in order to expand their network.

Sunday 24 March 2019

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Interview

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BDSUNDAY 31

2019 election was one of the worst in Nigeria’s history – Adebanjo AYO ADEBANJO is an elder statesman and leader of Afenifere as well as Southern Middle-Belt Forum. In this exclusive interview with INIOBONG IWOK, he says the future of Nigeria is bleak if urgent steps are not taken to restructure it. He also assesses the 2019 general elections, among other issues in the polity. Excerpts:

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ow do you react to the emerging of Ayo Fasanmiled faction of Afenifere?

They are people with questionable characters; they are rebels. We have said it before and they could not refute it. All they are doing is because we have this Southern and Middle-belt leaders gathering and they see that we are succeeding and so they gathered themselves together to support Buhari.

All this time we have been issuing press releases and talking about issues, where have they been? They called a rally in Ibadan, what was the outcome?

Why did they lose Oyo State which is the seat of the Yoruba land? They also lost the governorship position; even the governor of the state lost his Senatorial election bid. These people are being sponsored by Bola Tinubu.

They lost Oyo state, it is an indication of their rejection. We went to Oyo and talked to our people not to vote for them and you can see that they failed. They lost in Osun and Oyo states and these are areas they were commanding before; how far did they perform now?

But they have always been winning elections?

They only won elections when they were with us. Tinubu himself and others won election under my chairmanship; they broke away after then and were now saying that because they won election we should be bowing down to them.

But when issues concerning the Yoruba’s came, he could not talk because Buhari would not be happy with him and then you are going about making statement that you are Afenifere because you have money, we don’t dispute it with you because the Yourbas know their leaders.

That is what they have done in these elections. Because you have money and you have been buying votes in the past and you cannot do it this time. They like to confuse people; sometimes they would say Afenifere does not represent anybody. If that is the case, why don’t you organise your own? Don’t call it Afenifere. They would say they are Afenifere renewal. You are in government you don’t you set up your own and call it another name and let’s see what the Yoruba’s would say?

What is your assessment of the general elections?

The elections were a farce; I don’t regard Buhari as president. He is INEC declared president; when we get to court; we would know who is the real president.

How can you call Buhari president with the way the presidential election was conducted, in a 21st century Nigeria? Look at the elections; they was completely militarized. Corps members were openly kidnaped to rig the elections.

Nobody want to tell me such election would be recognise by the court. We would not go for violence; let the court ignore the evidence that would be put before them.

Are you surprised that gubernatorial elections were declared inconclusive in some states?

That is part of the irregularities; it is in all the states they know PDP would win. Even in Lagos State they were snatching ballot papers, intimidating the voters from voting , they harassed the Igbos who they knew would vote for restructuring of the country; they scared the Igbos with military officers. All this should tell what is happening. If you are popular, why send military to help you rig elections?

What is your assessment of INEC and its chairman?

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The elections were a farce; I don’t regard Buhari as president.

He is INEC declared president; when we get to court; we would know who is the real president

The chairman has performed below expectation. These elections were one of the worst elections in the history of Nigeria. The misrepresentation of Atiku at the collation centres, the cancelled votes and other irregularities.

In so many states there were irregularities, if you look at it well, Atiku won by more than 3 million which Buhari claimed to have won.

We will go and place all our facts in the judiciary and we know they would deliver. I am not one of those people who would say don’t go to court, why would I say that? Atiku would get justice there. If he does not get justice, he would get justice in the court of the people who know the true. I am telling the judiciary to disgrace themselves by ignoring the facts.

Were you surprised with the way allegations against Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen was handled by President Buhari?

The removal of Onnoghen was part of a script that Buhari has got ready. He wanted to harass the Judiciary because he believed he would lose the presidential election and so appointed a CJN who would appoint judges to head the election tribunal.

You were part of the Southern and Middle-belt Forum leaders who held a meeting with Atiku last week, what did the forum tell him?

We give him courage and told him that we were solidly behind him. Go to court, in spite of what some people are saying. How can you ask the man who was cheated to go and congratulate the man who cheated him. That is bad.

That is condoning fraud. I am condemning those who say that.

They should have encouraged him to go to the tribunal and seek justice. Anybody including the members of the peace committee discouraging Atiku not to go to court is abetting fraud.

How is your assessment of the peace committee?

They have not demonstrated peace retention enough; they should have said let’s maintain peace and no violence,; but Atiku go to court.

You also met with the newly elected governor of Oyo State last week; what was the discussion about?

No, he came to visit me; we were in Oyo State before the election and told our people to vote for him. He also went to Ruben Fasoarnati, realising how important our messages have been.

I told him to continue the fight because we know Buhari would not restructure the country and if Buhari does not do it, that means he does not want Nigeria to remain as one and that is what Clark was telling you.

The only thing to keep this country together is to have a federal structure where every unit would be autonomous and develop at its own pace. But to do that you have to restructure.

Restructuring is not a magic thing; it is just for us to stay together as one country, but let us agree on a constitution that would bind us together. By the time you restructure, the separatist group in the east would calm down and the Avengers would stop their agitation.

These issues would be solved and the crisis and killings would stop. The killings in Southern Kaduna would stop because the people would be given their state and autonomy. There is crisis there because the people ruling them are oppressing them and it has to stop.

The government looks away as if it does not know what is happening; how can that be?

People are being killed and you are pretending as if you don’t know, the killing is still going on and nothing have been done.

There can be no remedy because those opposing you are the ones in control. I told Makinde that, until we agreed on restructuring, any government under this constitution is a lame-dock government that lacks authority. That is what is also happing in Benue State where they are killing them and they are turning blind eyes as if they don’t know what is happening.

But President Buhari said restructuring is not the way forward for the country; what do you think?

Buhari does not understand what he is talking about. We have been talking about restructuring before he came in; before the first election was held.

The Vice president who is from your region does not seem convinced about restructuring?

The Vice President is a dishonest intellectual. Tinubu and Osibanjo came to office on the basis of restructuring; and it was on the basis of restructuring that Osibanjo took Obasanjo to court when, during his time as president, Obasanjo did not release local government funds when he was the Attorney General in Lagos State.

They know about that, but are just turning blind eyes to it.

I know Osinbajo well; he is my son. Intellectually and academically, he is a first class, but he is a disgrace. Somebody who was born into restructuring is saying he does not know what restructuring is all about. His father and I were the key followers of Awolowo.

The VP has been involved in sharing the Tradermoni; how do you react to that?

My anti-government stance is not about that. It is a disgrace for Osibanjo to be doing that. Why can’t the minister of trade and investment be sent. You turned the VP to a marketing officer and the man does not even recognise him. The Yoruba’s there are just senseless. Which government controls Lagos? We have problem of trucks in Lagos. The vice president came, no solution, but when Buhari came the trucks disappeared.

When the general elections came, they disappeared again.

How can anybody tell me we are equal partners in this government. What they did for the Igbos in Lagos was not because they are Igbos; it is because they joined forces with the Southern leaders forum to advocate for restructuring of the country.

Am not a PDP man, Afenifere is not PDP, but all the Southern leaders have agreed that any party that agreed to restructure the country was the party we were going to vote for because that was the party that would solve the problems of Nigerians.

But PDP was in power for 16 years put the country in this mess?

No, it is because of what they wanted to do. That was why we were supporting them. To show that we have been consistent in Afenifere, we had supported Buhari before. In 2007 Afenifere supported Buhari’s presidential ambition when he agreed to do a sovereign national conference.

He has not denied it. He bought uniform that we wore in Adamasigba stadium in Ibadan. We supported him then because of what he wanted to do for the country.

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Sunday 24 March 2019

TheWorshippers ‘Worshippers must get to place of surrender, reverence, and worship to receive the word of God’ The Fountain of Life Church annual men’s forum, ‘Discovery for Men’, held last week Sunday, 17 March. The forum’s first rally for 2019 themed “Great Discovery,” focuses on building Men to take up leadership roles. In this interview, EBEN a Nigerian gospel artist and Abiodun Serif Olopade, popularly called MC Abbey spoke with SEYI JOHN SALAU on the roles fathers’ play in developing and building societies. Excerpts: What does ‘Discovery for Men’ mean to you as a gospel artist?

BEN: I think it is very important because fathers has very pivotal role in the society.

There is always the possibilities of children drawing directions – even families are built around the father; the man himself. When the man has direction, the family has direction; so it is important to know what it takes to be a man and that is why this meeting is very key.

This is affecting the society at large because if you can get the fathers thinking straight, then the family will think straight; and then the society at large will think straight.

Don’t you consider it’s a mismatch hosting men’s forum in a week the world is celebrating women?

It is not a mismatch at all because in a woman you have a man; so a complete man must appreciate and celebrate a woman, which is how you know a complete man. So, what we are doing is not sexist; it’s all in general because if the man has an idea and knowledge on how to treat his wife, respect his wife and love his wife; then it’s all good for the women – if a man knows what to do, the woman has no issue

E

L-R: Pastor Tolu Odukoya-Ijogun, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, Bishop Taiwo Adelakun & Pastor (Mrs) Nomthi Odukoya, during The Fountain of Life Church’s first annual 2019 Discovery for Men programme, themed: Great Discovery, which held at the head quarter in Lagos.

with him.

As a gospel artist, what is the place of music in a forum like this?

Music is important in programmes like this because God is a God of melodies. The Psalmist said, “Sing unto the lord a new song”. Melody and music is one of the ways we express our worship – we can do it in poetry, dance; but music is one of those ways we convey our emotions, our thoughts to God, and it’s one of the ways he speaks to us: music and melody in general is important in worship.

As one of the guest artist for the forum; how do you think

L-R- Discovery for Men Directors:Ron Mgbatogu, Dapo Shonibare, Jimi Soyobo, Mamond Alibalogun, Music Minister, Eban; Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, MC Abbey, Pastor Ladi Babatunde, Biodun Balogun and Pastor Jimi Odukoya, during The Fountain of Life Church’s first annual 2019 Discovery for Men programme, themed: Great Discovery, which held at the church’s head quarter in Lagos.

your song will communicate the message to the audience?

If a man knows how to interact with his maker, worship his maker, then he will know how to coexist with the rest of humanity. Jesus said if you do not love your fellowman, how can you love me; so if I can get them to a place of surrender, reverence, and worship – they can learn and receive the word of God that will change their lives, in so doing it will transfer to how they relate to the world at large.

What message are you passing to the audience through your song?

That they should trust God: if God have given a man an idea as a man and a vision; believe him enough to pursue that vision. So, being a man is about taking steps and stripes; so you need to trust your steps to take them – they should leave with that mind of a lion to confront any obstacle in life, and that is what I communicate in my music.

As the compere (MC) of the forum, what does discovery for men depict for you personally?

MC Abbey: ‘Discovery for Men’ depicts opportunity to unravel the potentials that men have and have not yet tapped into. It is to help men be the best that they can be both as husbands, as fathers, and as nation builders; so also that they

are well positioned based on information and revelation from God’s words to be the best that they can be because nobody can tell a product on how best it could work than the manufacturer of the product. And, that is why we always go back to God to unveil to us the truth and realities that he has placed for men when he created men – what was his vision, what was his plan; so we can draw from that and become what we behold.

How as this programme imparted you, seeing you have been attending the forum over the years?

MC Abbey: personally for me, ‘Discovery for Men’ has been very tremendous. From having the right perspective of life and also being a father, what it entails – what are your responsibilities, learning how to be responsible and responding to your abilities.

These are the things that pastor Taiwo has thought over the years and it has impacted my life gracefully. As a man, husband and father, I have done the little I can in my capacity to change and empower lives in the ways I can.

How do you think discovery for men can transform Nigerian men and help them have a rethink?

MC Abbey: like I said it would change Nigerian men mentally and spiritually. When the Nigerian men that are privy to attend this kind of conference; when they take in the word, and work on the word practically – the transformation starts from there. By so doing the change has begun, and when that happens; it is like a ripple effect, it affect every other part of the society.

We pray that more men would have access to this; we pray that more men would reach out to wanting to be better, so that when they have this kind of platform announced they can easily tap into it, and drink from it to be better men; and if we have better men in the society, I bet you this country and the world at large will be a better place.

Mensa Otabil, Mike Okonkwo to minister at Word and Power conference

G

hanaian pastor and theologian, Mensa Otabil will be joining Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Rev Yinka Yusuf and Ituah Ighodalo, host and senior pastor of Trinity House in ministering at the 2nd annual Word and Power Conference of the church in Lagos.

Starting from Wednesday 3 April and running through Sunday 7 April, the conference which has the theme ‘Set Time’ will hold at

the church’s main auditorium, Zion Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

In a statement released by the church and signed by the convener of the conference and senior pastor of the church, Ituah Ighodalo, the Word and Power Conference is one of several initiatives of the church to help it achieve its goal of teaching people to live right according to God’s word.

Trinity House, which obtains its motto from the book of Acts chapter 10, verse 38, “Everywhere he went he was doing good,” is organising the conference as part of its objectives of changing lives, transforming nations and fulfilling destinies.

The church through its various programmes and initiatives is a voice to leadership across all spheres of society and challenge people and leaders to do the right

thing in the right way.

The first edition of the conference last year had pastors Ayo Oritsejafor, Tunde Bakare and Bishop Mike Okonkwo as speakers. The conference will hold from 5pm weekdays (Wednesday to Friday) and end with a celebration service at 9am on Sunday.

The church is inviting everyone to the conference. Trinity House is a place where everyone is comfortable and can fit in.

Nigerian politicians are promoting corruption, says Cleric SABY ELEMBA, Owerri

R

everend Eric Onunji, general overseer of True Believers Assembly, with its headquarters in Imo State, who displays deep aversion to corrupt practices, has said that Nigerian politicians are helping to enthrone corruption through the way and manner they offer money and other gifts to the gullible people to enable them win elections.

He told our correspondent that his hatred for corrupt practices was why he drove away the members of the church who collected money, sold their conscience and voted for candidates who they initially did not want to vote for the during the recent concluded general election.

“My word to the politicians in Nigeria is that to use money or gift to get the heart of the masses to vote for you or the candidate of your choice is a deceit; doing that means that you are helping to corrupt the people and this is corruption from the political class. You are also helping to pollute the church of God; it is not healthy for the society, and it is evil.” Onunji further said: “Church leaders who go to the politicians

Reverend Eric Onunji

for financial assistance in order to canvass and also get people to vote for them, the stomach of such leaders is their own god and their end will be destruction if they do not change their attitude”.

He recalled from the scriptures how Esau sold his birthright just to eat food, and said that those who collected money to vote against their conscience have also sold their birthrights by accepting money to elect bad leaders.

“Those people are the Esaus of today, and just like Esau, they have eaten the bread and stew of lentils”.

According to the cleric, “They have made themselves cheap products and have mortgaged the future of their children and their own future as well”.

He advised Christians to resist evil attractions and control their fleshly desires and appetite, stressing that those who could not control their appetite are “dead while they are still living”.

Sunday 24 March 2019

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BDSUNDAY 33

BrandsOnSunday SPOTLIGHTING BRAND VALUE

When Soulcomms keys into gender parity, launches ‘Wonder Women’ Campaign DANIEL OBI

T

he theme for the celebration of the 2019 International Women’s Day with the hashtag, #BalanceforBetter, is designed to draw global attention to the call for gender parity at the workplace. This is in recognition of the increasing role of women in building organizations, outside their traditional role of building homes, as a guarantee for sustainable peace and development.

This theme finds practical expression at Soulcomms Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading Strategic Communications and Engagement companies, where a deliberate policy of gender balancing sees women occupy commanding positions that have enabled them unleash their expertise on the execution of some of the high profile campaigns involving the biggest brands in Nigeria. It is a policy that has worked for the company in the 15 years of its existence, and has been partly responsible for its high flying success and favourable rating in the industry.

In a rare display of ability to juggle responsibilities at home and in the workplace, the women at Soulcomms, who could be correctly described as Wonder Women, have been able to effectively play their roles as wives, mothers, daughters and sisters while at the same time striving to continually raise the bar of their performance at work.

It is proof of the extraordinary strength and capacity of these women that they are able to meet domestic obligations early in the morning of each day and would be in the office timely and still physically and mentally equipped for the day’s tasks. Yet, they may not leave the office often times until much later.

Anyone living and working in Lagos understands that the bustling metropolis, contributes substantially to the low life expectancy rate in Nigeria, because of the nightmarish stress of wading through chaotic traffic that is considered among the worst in the world on a daily basis.

A major factor that has aided the work of the Soulcomms women is that they have understanding, considerate and cooperative families who have come to terms with the demand of their job, and actually assist in whatever way they can to make them perform better.

The women’s ability to effectively combine official and domestic responsibilities has been made possible by a combination of education and training in some of the best institutions within and outside the country, and many years of hands on experience in developing top brands that have remained household names in the country. It has been a case of positively impacting workplace experience on the home front, and vice versa.

Affirmative Action has remained

Mojisola Saka

Yemisi Oyekanmi

Janet Adizua

Omonigho Agbator-Momodu

a culture at Soulcomms, where there are equal opportunities for growth and development. But this does not take away emphasis on competence and performance.

This explains why women have the freedom to express themselves through their expertise in the various areas in which they have core competencies. They have been able to add value to a company that has come to be reckoned with in the nation’s integrated marketing communications industry.

The position of Mojisola Saka, lead business driver as Chief Operating Officer, has nothing to do with her gender. This is to say that she was not engaged to fill a gender gap that existed in the company in a deliberate manner; rather, it was essentially because she fits the bill of the expert that is required to drive operations at the top-rate consultancy firm.

With experience that cuts across advertising, experiential, direct and social marketing, as well as the financial services industry, she has been able to lead a team of highly qualified and talented professionals in the past eight years to execute some of the most exciting campaigns that involve both local and international brands that are household names in the country. She does this effortlessly from strategic and execution perspectives, the reason she is regarded as an amazon in the industry.

Moji, who is at all times guided by her personal philosophy to “stand and be known for the best”, is imbued with inter-personal skills that are considered quite exceptional and outstanding, the reason she is

able to manage diverse interests at home, in the workplace and among different clients. Excellent in rapport with her team, she is seen as a leader who carries everyone along in official and unofficial matters.

The string of successes recorded

by Soulcomms in its executed projects within Nigeria and the West African sub-region can be ascribed to her deft knowledge of strategic communications, engagement and messaging. It is an experience she has garnered over time through trainings that have global dimensions. A holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, she has a Diploma Certificate in Issues and Crisis Management and an Advanced Certificate in Social Media Management, from the London School of

Her creative flair and uncanny ability to engage in tactical thinking are reflected in the ease with which she handles strategic institutional communication involving the public, government and organizations, as well as expert execution of media relations projects involving crisis, perception and reputation management for internal and external publics

Public Relations and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), in the United Kingdom, respectively.

Moji’s expertise in building and managing relations goes outside her official engagements in the projects she leads Soulcomms to execute for clients. It also includes volunteer services she renders selflessly to her country.

In the past five years, she has volunteered her services as a member of the Event Planning Sub-committee of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, an evidence of the high esteem with which she is held in the marketing communications industry. She is also currently in her third tenure as Executive Treasurer of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) and now a member of the Communications, Media and Publicity sub-planning commitment for the Nigeria Economic Summit (NES) at 25. It is no wonder she is regarded as a leading light among the new generation of strategic communications and consumer engagement experts in the country today.

Moji is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, CIPR and an alumnus of the International School of Communications, London.

The perfect blend of highly qualified women in different backgrounds, coupled with the flexibility of the style of running Soulcomms, gives Yemisi Oyekanmi the latitude to unleash her competence as a creative and passionate brand developer. Bringing into her position as Engagement Lead, inspirations by legendary copy in campaigns for global brands like Ford, Volkswagen and Guinness, her passion for creativity was nurtured by her ability to analyze campaigns involving some top names.

With years of quality experience working with a leading ethical fashion retail brand in the United Kingdom, Yemisi’s career path has grown to become all embracing and covering all aspects of marketing communications. Her creative flair and uncanny ability to engage in tactical thinking are reflected in the ease with which she handles strategic institutional communication involving the public, government and organizations, as well as expert execution of media relations projects involving crisis, perception and reputation management for internal and external publics.

This expertise is also present in her tactical delivery on strategies for social media/SEO management, in addition to her innovative execution of projects related to consumer marketing, events, branding, project marketing and management. Yemisi’s dexterity has come into play in the implementation of various high profile projects that cut across sectors which include telecoms, financial services, oil and gas, education, Information Technology and FMCGs. Others are tourism

and hospitality, luxury goods, as well as government, stakeholders and community relations.

A look at Yemisi’s educational attainment and training would reveal a rich pedigree that explains why she is unarguably well equipped and best suited for her role at Soulcomms. She has a Bachelor’s degree (combined honours) in Advertising and Media Communications, as well as an MSc. in International Marketing from the Lincoln Business School, England.

Soulcomms has a reputation for providing the conducive environment women need to hone their skills, regardless of their fields of study. This explains why Omonigho Agbator-Momodu, a graduate of computer science from the Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma, Edo State, is one of the high flying women driving the success of the company.

Omonigho, who is Manager, Engagement at Soulcomms, has a specialty that is backed by proficiency and proven skills in experiential and direct marketing in areas such as events and project marketing, as well as operations development and management. Her deft knowledge in operational development and execution strategies account for the remarkable successes she has recorded on projects in which she has played leading roles. This dates back to her days at Neo Media and Marketing where she cut her teeth in the industry.

With a certification in Administrative Management from the London Academy Business School, Omonigho’s passion for cutting edge project execution has seen her deploy her ability for strategic thinking into highly successful panNigerian campaigns with incredible results in various sectors. These include telecoms, financial services, FMCGs, as well government, stakeholders and community relations.

Janet Adizua is the Media Executive, Strategic Communications at Soulcomms. She joins the distinguished list of women that are making invaluable contributions to the success story of the company that is highly sought after in the public and private sectors. With core competencies in media relations, brand strategy, as well as experiential and events management, she expertly applies innovative strategies to execute media relations for top brands across all sectors, with identifiable and measurable results.

A graduate of marketing from the University of Calabar, Janet’s passion for event planning and flawless execution comes into play in the highly commendable manner she has executed tasks that are related to her areas of core competence.

Her love for humanitarian work comes into focus against the background of the fact that she currently works, pro-bono, as a media consultant for several leading not-forprofit organizations and charities.

34 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 24 March 2019

The Sunday Magazine

Harsh economic realities, desperation fuel departures T

OBINNA EMELIKE he prevailing socioeconomic conditions in Nigeria may be responsible for the desperation by many citizens to leave the country by all means.

It is shocking that the volume of visa issued by the US embassy has been on the rise since 2008 reaching 179,145 in 2016. As well, about 168,000 Nigerians paid $26 million for Non Immigrant Visas to America in 2017, a figure that almost doubled in 2018.

Recall that when Michael Adeyeye, the then Mayor of Brent in the UK, visited Babatunde Fashola, then governor of Lagos State at Alausa, in 2013, he disclosed that the population of Nigerian immigrants in London had hit over 1million people. That number could be nearing 1.5 million now.

Across the world, the number of African immigrants is growing and three out of every 10 African immigrants in the Europe, US, and Canada are said to be Nigerians, according to Global Border Reach, an international immigration service agency. As well, one out of every 10 Nigerians that travelled with visiting visa for sports competitions, youth events, conference, among others abscond, while barely half of the students return back to the country after their education, especially in the UK and United States of America, Canada and Germany.

Of course, the exodus, which is fueled by the growing social infrastructure deficit and economic realities in the country that have not improved over time, coupled with emerging problems such as security, kidnappings, and currency devaluation. The sad developments have combined to push more youths to cross the Sahara Desert to Europe (though many end up in the belly of the hot desert and the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea).

Yet, adults over 50 years are still queuing at embassies for visas to jet out of the country, citing reasons such as insecurity, poor healthcare, low standard of living and low life expectancy. That is how bad the situation is for many now, including the old and not just the youths.

The insecurity more than any other factor, explains the daily exodus of Nigerians into developed countries. This is particularly true of Canada, which has continued to ease its immigration policies to motivate foreigners to work and take permanent residence in the country.

From 1973 to 1991, there were about 3,919 Nigerian immigrants in Canada. Going by the country’s 2016 Census, 68,680 people identified themselves as Nigerians, with almost half (33,580) living in

Asylum seekers, including some Nigerians, walk down Roxham Road to cross into Quebec at the U.S.-Canada border.

Ontario. As well, there were over 11,000 Nigerian students in Canada today, who hardly return back to Nigeria after graduation because of the better job opportunities, abundant social infrastructure and high standard of living.

With the recent influx of Nigerians, it will not take a long time for Nigerians to gain more significant numbers. Analysts say the Nigerian population will get more significant in a few years. And if the current influx is not checked, the Nigerian population in Canada can triple in a few years.

Why the exodus, especially in recent times?

Emeka Oduenyi, an executive in a bank in Lagos, told BDSUNDAY that his wife and children now reside in Canada where there is assurance that his children would have quality and affordable education. “I can afford their school fees over there, but despite that the high quality, education of these children is free at the primary and secondary levels. So, why kill myself paying for millions in the so-called British schools here,” he said.

Oduenyi lamented that many Nigerian parents have become hypertensive over the exorbitant school fees they pay for their children in foreign universities and few private ones in the country, noting that the fallen standard in public educational institutions has compelled parents to turn to private schools.

Mary Yakubu, who walked into Quebec in Canada with her three children in November after staying in the United States for 11 months on a visitor visa, said conditions in Nigeria were worsening.

“They kidnap,” she said. “They burn houses. They’ll even burn a

church.” For her, it is better to be a slave in another country than to be hunted because of one’s faith, tribe or political affiliation in her country of birth.

Ademola Shittu, a young medical doctor, who left for his masters in 2014 and has since settled in Canada, said the poor working conditions, poor remunerations and lack of professionalism by senior practitioners, who cannot be checked are reasons seven doctors in his set are better engaged in various hospitals in Canada. “Imagine being paid while doing a research work by a hospital that needs your services, I mean in dollars. You work at ease with the most flexible schedules amid most advanced aids, machines and technology.

Nobody wants to suffer; at least, I am comfortably taking care of my bills here and my parents in Nigeria.

They will live longer if they are here because there are good hospitals and no air pollution here”, he said.

In line with Shittu, Margret Ntuli, a career consultant in Manitoba, Canada, said that lots of Africans are turning to Canada because the country’s approximately 9,984,670 square kilometres landmass, which is about 11 times bigger than Nigeria and a young population of less than 40 million, present huge job opportunities for skilled African immigrants. If you are skilled, you can earn from $5,000 a month depending on your employer and the contract you signed.

Aside those with university degrees, skilled labourers such as plumbers, technicians, welders, among others earn good pay as their services are in high demand, yet regulated.

Denis Uke, a Nigerian who resigned his plum banking job to

relocate with his family of five to Canada last March, got a good job after two months, while his children got enrolled in schools just two weeks after their arrival.

Today, Denis has a car of his own and his wife, who also resigned as a banker in Nigeria, is also working with a car of her own.

“Life is easy here, everything we see as luxury in Nigeria including cars, houses and good jobs are all necessities in Canada. No wonder the people live happier, longer and more confident than we do in Nigeria”, he said.

With all these going for Canada as a welcoming country, destination with many job opportunities and now more preferable than the US, more Nigerians are taking even bigger risks to get to Canada; their new promised land. But there is a twist in the rush to Canada from United States of America by lots of Nigerian immigrants.

At present, Nigerian asylum seekers are flooding into Canada across a ditch in Upstate New York and Canadian authorities want U.S. immigration officials to reduce the foot traffic by screening Nigerians more stringently before granting them US visas in Nigeria.

Many of the Nigerian asylum seekers are arriving in Quebec with recently issued US visitor visas, said Mathieu Genest, a spokesman for Canada’s immigration minister.

“They are not using the visa for the reason it was intended for,” he said. Canada is not asking US officials to refuse entry to Nigerians.

It is seeking stricter screening to ensure that Nigerians who are granted US visitor visas truly intend to return home”, Genest said.

The request is an unsurprising one between two countries that

have collaborated for decades on migration-related matters. But also, it is a sign that Canada is feeling new pressure on its borders as US immigration and refugee policies shift.

In Canada, Nigerians were the biggest group of claimants for refugee in 2016 and 2017, and they often cite violence of the Islamist militant group Boko Haram and other problems, including persecution-related to sexual orientation and religion as reasons to seek asylum in Canada.

But the reality is that the harsh economic conditions, little or no social infrastructure and regard for human life, lack of job opportunities, insecurity and bad governance are top reasons most Nigerians are leaving in mass.

The irony is that governments over the years have promised to better the lives of Nigerians at every election campaign, yet nothing happens afterwards and the vulnerable Nigerians march on without getting their leaders accountable.

“If over $10 billion was spent on electricity and there is no steady light till date, I wonder why people still campaign for elective positions and sadly, why people still vote.

Government mentioned billion spent on road constructions yet potholes are everywhere, they said they created over 1 million jobs but for their party members and you think people should still stay in the country if they have the opportunity to leave”, Magnus Aker, a university don, lamented.

Both Aker and Denis regret the exodus, which they decry as brain drain. But to avoid the drain of the pool of intellectuals, they think Nigeria must earn the loyalty of her people by giving their welfare a priority, leaders being accountable and also challenged by development across the world.

How many Canadians are in Nigeria as immigrants and why must we be the ones always visiting? They asked.

For Denis, a year in Canada has changed everything for his family because of the good life, fantastic opportunities and true freedom to be human. “More Nigerians will keep coming until the country is fixed. It is a shame to all the people back home, especially those who have held strategic positions and still couldn’t muster courage to make policies or implement same that would have lifted the country”, he said.

The greatest irony for many in the exodus to Canada saga is that government seems not to care why people sell their properties, use their life savings and even steal to raise money to facilitate their movement to foreign countries.

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BDSUNDAY 35

The Sunday Magazine

To Europe at all cost Five hundred years ago, Europeans carted off Africans across the Atlantic with the business end of a rifle as motivation, today they are shutting their borders to keep away Africans willing to pay for the privilege of their own servitude, writes ISAAC ANYAOGU.

F

ive hundred years ago, Africans couldn’t possibly be bothered about Europe. If you have a white skin, you either had a disease or the gods were after you. We didn’t care about what was on the other side of the Atlantic. Life was simple, however brutish and short until Europeans came with a bible and a gun, told us we couldn’t live without either, and made our lives shorter.

But it wasn’t just enough that they sold us sugar and rum, they needed slaves to till their soil, tend their kitchens and sometimes warm their beds. So between 1500 and 1866, nearly 12.5million Africans were herded into slave ships at gunpoint to America and Europe. The first big ship used to cart away slaves to America, a 700-ton vessel that hauled 400 captured Africans in 1564, was named after Jesus.

Centuries later, slavery has been abolished but there was no restitution for decades of exploitation, no compensation for years of looting of our resources both human and material and to crown it all, they no longer want us in Europe and America which they developed on the back of our resources.

“Ah! We die there!” said a Libyan returnee embarking on his next trip to Europe expressing his frustration.

In the past, Africans captured each other to sell as slaves. Now a free people are voluntarily offering themselves as slaves, enduring hazards worse than their ancestors to cross the Mediterranean into a land they may not earn minimum wage. The slaveships of the past have been replaced by the dinghies of today, this journey

as precarious as the former.

“I was soon put down under the decks, and there I received such a salutation in my nostrils as I had never experienced in my life: so that, with the loathsomeness of the stench and crying together, I became so sick and low that I was not able to eat. I now wished for the last friend, death, to relieve me,” wrote Olaudah Equiano a former slave, who after being freed was active in the abolition movement in England in the 18th century, about his experience.

A crew member who alerted Spanish Maritime Rescue to a capsized boat on February 4, 2018 said: “Most of the bodies were floating face down. Some wore life jackets. But there were a lot of life jackets without any bodies inside.

At first I saw just one body, then another and another and another.

It was terrible. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.”

But viewing the migrant problem in Africa solely from the linear prism of a desperate people searching for redemption in a phantom utopia, presents a fatally flawed view of the problem. It not only validates the elitist narrative of discontented migrants chasing stillborn dreams but absolves a marauding race of their responsibility in creating a continent hostile to dreams. It also limits the role

of ruinous governments and the commerce of greed.

We are only three months into 2019, yet the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has recorded 282 deaths of migrants trying to cross Mediterranean into Europe.

To put this in proper context, (IOM) reported that 111,558 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea in 2018. For five years, the arrival of irregular migrants and refugees has topped the 100,000 threshold – although 2018’s total is low compared to those recorded at this time in 2017 (167,916) and 2016 (358,018.

The organisation has a Missing Migrants Project (MMP) and recorded 2,217 deaths in 2018 while crossing the Mediterranean on one of three major sea routes accounting for the most deaths along routes to Europe.

OIM says that in the Western Mediterranean, it documented the deaths of 744 people in the waters between North Africa and Spain, compared to 224 on this route through the full year 2017. The team reports that there has been a consistent increase in the number of migrant deaths recorded in the Western Mediterranean each year since IOM began keeping track.

Large swaths of people dying yearly on this dangerous expeditions to Europe are Nigerians.

Nigeria has Africa’s biggest population, one of its most rudderless governments by most accounts and a peculiar brand of politicians who worship avarice.

Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR Director of Europe Bureau, in 2017 said many of those who travelled by boat from Libya were mainly

from Nigeria and Eritrea. He said that increased border restrictions and lack of accessible legal ways to reach Europe have caused more desperation among refugees and migrants. The closure of the Western Balkan route has seen a significant number of people reaching Greece throughthe Eastern Mediterranean route despite fraught with dangers.

To make this journey, many Nigerians travel through Kano to Agadez in Niger and then set off then set off through the Sahara desert for Libya from Agadez on open cargo vehicles. The Sahara desert, larger than the United States is one of the most difficult legs of the journey to Europe, a third of those who set often do

not survive.

The political situation in Libya where different factions are fighting for political dominance worsened conditions in the country and made it difficult to traffic migrants to Europe.

Worse still since 2015, European countries have enacted tough measures to keep out migrants, including increased electronic surveillance of north African borders used by smugglers, prosecution of those helping asylum seekers and clampdown on non-profits running search and rescue operations across the Mediterranean sea.

But a people dissatisfied with

their conditions in a country will always find a way. Hence, many who were repatriated from Libya are making plans to return. What is even more worrisome is the spate of middle class Nigerians emigrating to Canada, Australia and some European countries and these are Nigerians supposedly having better opportunities in the country.

Nigeria’s response has been cavalier. Weeks to the 2019 general election where Muhammadu Buhari was running for office, many Nigerians expressed a desire to flee the country for Canada and the country started trending on micro blogging social media site, Twitter.

While receiving the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants and members of the party from the three senatorial zones of Kwara State at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Buhari encouraged Nigerians to remain faithful and loyal to the country in all their dealings and told those planning to go, to go ahead “You don’t have to be in uniform to be loyal. What I said long ago in 1984 is still valid today. We have no other country but Nige-

ria. Others who feel they have another country may choose to go. We will stay here and salvage it together,” Buhari said.

Many seem to be acting on that directive. The desperation by Nigerians to emigrate to Canada has led the government to budget over $900million for new measures to prevent illegal emigration from Nigeria. Some Nigerians obtain a United States visa, stay for some days in the US and make their way to Canada as illegal migrants.

In 2018, Canadian officials in Nigeria have been working with the U.S. on developing tools to flag Nigerians applying for U.S. visas who may be at “high risk” of crossing illegally into Canada across the U.S. border. Last year, the majority of illegal migrants arriving in Canada are Nigerians who have recently been issued U.S. travel visas.

As the world grapples with what to do about global migrant crises, discussions about solutions have often excluded the root cause of the crises, the entrenched poverty in Africa worsened by unfair trade and exclusory globalisation, pervasive corruption aided

by Multinationals. These would have been addressed to dent the flow of migrants from Africa to Europe.

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Sunday 24 March 2019

The Sunday Magazine Travel agencies sees 30% surge in ‘I regret not leaving ticket sales to Canada in one year Nigeria 20 years ago’ IFEOMA OKEKE

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AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE any Nigerians who had the opportunity to travel out of the country many years ago but chose to stay back for the love of country are regretting not leaving.

A media manager named Johnson Coker (not real name), who is above 60 years old, told BDSUNDAY: “I am beginning to explore the possibility of relocating from Nigeria because nothing seems to be working here. There has been too much stagnation in too many key areas and for too long.

“The poor state of the power sector, transportation, education, health, security and other sectors really pose daunting challenges for the Nigerian citizen.”

Social scientists say emigration is a sure sign of political failure and the alarming flow of Nigerians out of the country points at political failure.

Twenty-five years back, he said, “I had an opportunity to relocate to America but I turned down the offer. I thought jumping ship was unpatriotic and I was convinced things would get better with time in my country Nigeria. But it seems for every step we take forward, we take five steps backwards.

“At the onset of another opportunity of democratic governance 20 years ago, there was a gust of optimism. Government promised to liberalise the economy. By 2001 the telecom sector had been liberalised and we had private operators licensed to run mobile networks. All of a sudden, CEOs and street beggars were carrying mobile phones and I was convinced that my country had finally broken the jinx of hopelessness, poverty and despair.

“Then it was the turn of the power sector and everyone was hopeful and that was to be the real game changer because if we could have broken the power supply jinx, Nigerians being naturally enterprising would have broken loose, establish businesses and create wealth and employment in abundance.”

According to him, “There would be competition for labour. If you wanted quality labour you would have to pay quality wages because you would be competing with many other employers for the same labour.

“But after 20 years and many billions of dollars spent, we have not been able to resolve the power challenge. It is really a shame and while our crooked politicians wobble and fumble, time is passing by and you can’t get that time back.

I am still a patriot and would rather stay in Nigeria but I am beginning to explore the prospects of emigration even if it means spending a little time out there and more time back home.”

The media manager lamented

the state of the country, saying, “Many are living in abject poverty as recent World Poverty Clock report, which was compiled by the Brookings Institute said Nigeria has overtaken India as the country with the largest number of people living in extreme poverty, with an estimated 87 million Nigerians, or around half of the country’s population, now living on less than $1.90 a day (N684). This is despite being a leading producer and exporter of crude oil in the world.

“You can see that the trader groups have largely given up on the leadership of the nation. They disregard government, pursue their business and provide their own electricity, water and security.

They fly abroad for medicare and likewise send their children abroad for education. For them, it’s about self-reliance.”

“The Nigeria I see presently has shown no sign that the power sector issues would be resolved in the next 20 years because government after government has not shown sufficient political will to tackle this ‘economic monster’ head-on.

I referred to power sector problem as ‘economic monster’ because if Nigerian government musters serious will to address the power supply challenges, over 50 percent of Nigeria’s economic woe, would near their end.

“Small and medium businesses wouldshieldofftheburdenofspending minimum $200 –$400 (N72,000 – N144,000) every month to generate power to sustain a business that could hardly yield N500,000 (about $1,390) per month.

“For me and many Nigerians, if governmentresolvesthepowersectorproblem,uglyissueslikeN30,000 (about $83.33) minimum wage saga, which the government was forced to agree to on the basis of rob Peter, pay Paul (meaning increase Value Added Tax and indirectly, market prices of commodities) and subsidy removal would naturally resolve themselves,” he further said.

Look at the state of our rail system. Today, just like Professor Pat Utomi rightly said, we are celebrating just Lagos-Ibadan rail track after 20 years of uninterrupted democracy when smaller countries of the world have been able to build

a good rail system.

Apapa, which houses the two major seaports (Apapa and TinCan Island Ports), has degenerated in standards due to the menace of trucks and tankers commuting to the port city everyday to take imported cargoes and lift petroleum products. The problem of Apapa, which seems to have become rocket science to both the Federal and State Governments, skyrocketed because our government failed to be proactive enough to avoid the rapid spreading of tank farms in place of reviving our crude oil refineries and lifting products by rail.

“You see, these three thingspower, transportation and education- are critical to socioeconomic development. Our health sector challenge seems to have reduced apparently due to the introduction of workable health insurance covers.

“Nevertheless, I see many Nigerians are no more willing to mortgage their lives for government because we have a country that is infested with socioeconomic failure, and automatically the next line of action for its citizens, is emigration,” the media guru said.

Another Nigerian who is seriously embittered at the goings-on in the country and government’s apparent lack of solution to Nigeria’s socio-economic and political malaise, said to our correspondent, “If you go to countries like US, UK, Malaysia, Libya, Indonesia and South Africa, Nigeria has the highest number of prisoners because many frustrated Nigerians leave the shores of this country without concrete arrangement as to what their next line of action and means of livelihood would be. These are the set of people that usually indulge in crime after emigrating and they end up in prison.

“Imagine! The failure of Nigerian government has become so visible in this country that a government that finds it difficult to provide portable and drinkable water for its populace deems it fit to go ahead to tax people for digging a borehole in their houses in search of water. Government is always eager to squeeze the citizens without meeting its own obligation to the citizens. I give up.”

Non-immigrant Visas Issued to Nigerians according to data by the US State Department 2009 -55,581 2010 - 64,279 2011 - 63,503 2012 - 83,944 2013 - 113,503 2014 - 141,527 2015 - 156,147 out of 493,795 issued in Africa 2016 - 179,145 out of 551,154 issued in Africa 2017 - 168,980 out of 515,434 issued in Africa 2018 - 143,783 out of 493,989 issued in Africa

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ernard Bankole, president of National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), has said that travel agencies operating in Nigeria have seen over 30percent increase in ticket sales to Canada in the last one year.

Bankole, who didn’t give specific number of tickets sold to Canada, said most visited destinations are Europe and North America (America and Canada). He said travellers mostly go through America and Europe into Canada since American border to Canada is not so tight as a result of the absence of economic threat.

The president of NANTA who expressed worry over the fact that there are almost two million Nigerians in Canada, explained that the influx of Nigerians to Canada is as a result of the hardship in Nigeria.

“The economic environment is not favourable. In the past we see the downtrodden, bricklayers, carpenter and other low level people running abroad for a greener pasture. However, what we are seeing now is that the middle class that was created during President Obasanjo’s era is also running to Canada.

“During the Obasanjo era, people were coming from abroad to Nigeria to find jobs. That was when we had telecoms upsurge.

Sadly, people are now moving back to Canada because it is easier to get citizenship and papers.

Canada’s weather has not been so friendly but Nigerians don’t mind to endure. In those areas that are very cold, there are job opportunities.”

“Another reason for this influx in Canada is the fact that America became tougher with their immigration rules,” he said.

Ikechi Uko, a travel expert told BDSUNDAY that Canada is next to America, considering job opportunities and good economy, adding that if people cannot get American visa, they choose Canada.

According to Uko, “Canada has a much more conducive environment for immigrants and they have huge land mass and a small population. So, they need

UK Entry clearance visa applications by Nigerians 2005 - 263,487 2006 - 239,913 2007 - 205,862 2008 - 197,838 2009 - 183,856 2010 - 182,360 2011 - 191,093 2012 - 191,004 2013 - 190,698 2014 - 168,370 2015 - 149,358 UK 2016 - 112,074 194,000 persons who were born in Nigeria 2017 - 106,639 were legal residents as at December 2017 2018 - 129,788

UK Visas Granted to Nigerians 2005 - 138,935 2006 - 119,926 2007 - 117,557 2008 - 112,737 2009 - 116,391 2010 - 125,765 2011 - 137,492 2012 - 128,831 2013 - 131,156 2014 - 122,967 2015 - 103,674 2016 - 72,690 2017 - 71,010 2018 - 82,780

Bernard Bankol

to populate their country but they choose who comes in. They are recreating their country; there is a policy and they are following in that plan.”

He explained that anytime there is a collapse of the economy, the young people move out, stating that the same trend happened during the Babangida and Abacha regimes.

“Now we are having a large number moving out because of the collapse of the economy.

Once people went abroad in the 1960s and 1970s, they went to school, but now most people are going for greener pastures.

“Canada has the best immigration system now that favours Nigerians. Canada is looking for musicians, journalists and people of different capacities. A lot of Nigerians meet the standard of what they are expecting.”

Uko further said that “There are over 11,000 students from Nigeria who are currently studying in Canadian colleges and universities.”

Analysts say that the Nigerian population in Canada will get more significant in a few years.

Many young people depart Nigeria at ages between 14 and 17 years to access pre-university education and then proceed to develop careers in Canadian universities and colleges. Others go straight to the universities and colleges after secondary education in Nigeria. Yet many others are going for postgraduate programmes, which guarantee postgraduate work permits (PGWP).

Approved Canada Visitor Visas for Nigerians 2012 - 6,884 2013 - 8,635 2014 - 10,904 2015 - 13,852 2016 - 15,582

Compiled by CALEB OJEWALE

Sunday 24 March 2019

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LifestyleHomes&Suites

BDSUNDAY 37 Paul Ojenagbon pauloje2000@yahoo.com

Showcasing Dillon’s exquisite stable

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illon Consultants Nigeria Limited, firm of real estate developers and promoters, has some of the classiest and most fascinating estates in the Lagos residential realty if not the entire country. Their homes are often tastefully designed and imbued with spectacular views, no wonder they rank high among the few developers who have the rare capacity to sell their units off plan when most developers are stuck with completed units seeking buyers that take time to come. What this implies is that a real estate product with a stamp of quality and excellent craftsmanship would find a ready buyer, never mind the state of the country’s economy.

Dillon’s classy stable unveils quite a handful of enthralling residences but this edition will shed the spot light on Michelle Court and South Brook Homes. Michelle Court (a truly beautiful name for a start), described by the developers as a “retreat in the heart of the city”, located at Oniru, next door to the bustling commercial district of Victoria Island. It is beautifully designed and landscaped, providing stunning views of the surrounding classy Oniru and VI neighbourhoods. It comes with a host of state of the art amenities that makes it a preferred residential address for those that can afford it. It consists of 15units of 2,3 & 4 bedroom apartments options, with 1 unit of 2 bedroom, 3 units of 3 bedroom flats and 11 units of 4 bedroom terrace houses respectively. The units are ensuite, attached with 1 room service quarters with living areas and dining section in tow. All the rooms including the kitchens are furnished with air conditioners. Each apartment is connected with intercom and DSTV dual view with every room pre-wired for the purpose.

Buyers can tweak the interiors of their units to their taste at no extra cost. The kitchen is modern, functional and ready to use, fully fitted with gas cooker, heat extractor, oven and washing machine.

The stainless elevators also add class and conveniences to each package.

A close circuit television (CCTV) device is installed to aid security control from the main gate and mobile police.

There are generators of appropriate capacity to complement electricity supply from the mains. Water is available from bore hole made good with treatment plant. The estate is confined within an electrified perimeter fence held in place with a remote motorized gate. A string of recreational facilities for the enjoyment of the residents include swimming pool, community bar and children playing ground. Michelle Court has been completed; the 2 and 3 bedrooms have been bought, leaving out a few units of 4- Bedroom Terrace houses each slammed with a price tag of N120 Million. It requires 70 percent initial payment and 30 percent balance after six months or within a more convenient payment plan elected by the buyer. The immediate neighborhood has an interesting mix of high end retail stores, food courts, markets/shopping malls business and educational facilities.

South Brook Homes, Dillon’s other development is located in highbrow Ikoyi, precisely at Plot 19a, Macaulay Road, South East, Ikoyi. It is a bigger estate of mixed development comprising 38 units

of tastefully designed ideal family homes made up of 6units of 4- Bedroom Duplex, 16 units of 4 Bedroom Terraces and 16 units of 3- Bedroom apartments. The development which has just commenced is approached off plan. Most of the units are gone already except the 4- Bedroom Terraced Duplexes with service quarters that carry a price tag of N150 Million per unit.

Some of the features especially facilities in Michelle Court are replicated in South Brook Homes but there are appreciable variations in the design concept, décor, depth of facilities and other details. In addition for South Brook, there is a creche for toddlers to kick start education for the young ones. There is a well equipped gym, fully fitted lounge, outdoor pool, sauna and spa for the elite residents. Each detached house has a cinema room and the four bedrooms are spacious and come with their unique charms. South Brook is essentially a beautiful, well secured estate that is surrounded by lush and luxuriant greenery. Because of the larger space, residents can savour the added beauty of a well manicured land scapping as well as custom design of their own surroundings. The title on the property is Deed of assignment. A 20-percent initial deposit is required with the balance spread out as follows: 20 percent after six months, 20 percent after the next six months and 40 percent upon completion before handover.

38 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 24 March 2019

SundayBusiness WANDY FOODS: Meet Awojuyigbe, the Food & Beverages lawyer-turned-food entrepreneur With Ayo Oyoze Baje

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s Nigeria continues to search for the diversification of her economic base from crude oil to agriculture, amongst other sectors, it is important to highlight the activities of those that have been driven by the passion to excel in such areas. Their experience would always serve as a benchmark and a source of inspiration to the younger generation.

One of such is the highly determined, self-effacing Ms. Gbonju Awojuyigbe, who one has had interaction with over the past decade. She is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lagos-based Wandy Foods Limited. It is a food processing company, mainly into processing and packaging of such items as pure honey, chilli pepper, pounded yam flour, whole wheat

flour, plantain flour and the local condiment called iru, all registered by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control(NAFDAC).

Yet, there are other interesting facts about the fecund brain behind these useful products. For instance, she is a 1992 law graduate from the Nigerian Law School, also an alumnus of Fate Foundation bagging the 2005 Fate Foundation Alumnus Award. Awojuyigbe first worked with First African Trust Bank before going fully into food business.

On her modest beginnings in the industry, she delved into rice and later plantain flour production business with N5000. According to her “ I started in January 1998 in my house with just one reluctant staff” . The choice was influenced by her late grandmother because of its health benefits. When she started the experience was quite exciting.

“What happened was that I was working in the bank and then I got attracted to production, I told my late grandmother that I wanted to try one or two things and she told me to try plantain flour because not many people knew its health benefits. I started with rice flour, later added plantain flour, bean flour and chili pepper. I am also a bee keeper and I bottle and sell honey.

She was one of the first food processors to package plantain flour in Lagos. According to her:“People wanted to get it, they wanted to taste it, wanted to try it

and see what it could do.”

Her colleagues were my customers, they were buying everything I produced and that encouraged me to supply supermarkets, starting with Value Mart next to our bank and later started supplying other supermarkets.”

Why I chose supermarkets: “I decided that my niche would be supermarkets because supermarkets in those days do not owe. You supply them and in 30 days, you get your money. Some even pay you immediately, some after seven or 14 days. There was no stress, once your invoice was with them, you would be sure of your money but that is not the story today”.

On her movement to the Incubation Centre: “I had money at a point and instead of just spending the money on myself, I bought a warehouse in Maryland but when NAFDAC came for inspection, they said it was too small, I couldn’t partition it. So with some help, I got this place at the Technology Incubation Centre (TIC), Lagos under the National Board for Technology Incubation. We do not pay rent but they accommodate us for a given period”.

To enhance her entrepreneurial skills, she had to undergo various training schemes including food processing techniques at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research,(FIIRO)Oshodi,business success secrets at Success Digest

NIMASA targets 5-year Cabotage waiver cessation in Nigeria’s shipping business AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

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etermined to enhance indigenous participation in Nigeria’s shipping business through the implementation of the Cabotage Act of 2003, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has earmarked plans to end Cabotage waivers for foreign owned ships within the next five years.

This was the outcome of a recent meeting held between NIMASA and its stakeholders in Lagos, on the need for collaboration in order to facilitate optimal implementation of the Cabotage law.

Recall that part III, section 9-11 of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act, 2003 provides for waiver on the requirements for ownership and manning of Cabotage vessels by Nigerians and also building of such vessels in Nigeria, where capacity is lacking.

However, in order to encourage more indigenous participation, which is the essence of the Act, NIMASA is desirous of stopping these waivers and has put in place a strategic plan in that regard. It includes the New Cabotage Compliance Strategy (NCCS) under

which certain categories of waivers have been suspended.

Dakuku Peterside, director general of NIMASA, said during the meeting that the Agency was determined to ensure that Cabotage waivers were stopped in the next five years.

“NIMASA’s mandate is all about promoting and regulating shipping in Nigeria and we have no intentions to stifle anybody’s business. Rather, we are committed to promoting, protecting and providing the enabling environment for the local ship owners to grow and compete with their international counterparts. We are determined to work with our stakeholders,” he said.

Represented by Gambo Ahmed, executive director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Peterside told the stakeholders that part of the strategy to bring an end to the issuance of waivers was to develop infrastructural capacity and human capital with respect to training of seafarers to attain global standards.

He called on the stakeholders to cooperate with the Agency to realise the Cabotage implementation, adding that it holds a huge potential to create jobs, add to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and bring about a boom in the economy.

Temisan Omatseye, a ship owner,

noted that NIMASA was the only Agency recognised and mandated by the government to regulate and enforce shipping activities in Nigeria.

Omatseye urged the Agency to use the powers bestowed on it by law to ensure total compliance with the Cabotage Act and apply punitive measures against erring shipping companies.

“If we don’t begin to enforce the Cabotage law, the use of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) will be defeated,” Omatseye added.

On his part, Neeraj Kumar of TMC Shipping Pvt, India, commended the efforts of the Agency towards ensuring the implementation of the Act, stating that the ports are critical to economic growth.

Kumar pledged India’s willingness to collaborate with Nigeria, especially, in the area of shipbuilding.

Other stakeholders, who spoke at the event, unanimously applauded the efforts of the present management of NIMASA towards actualising a robust maritime sector through various stakeholder-oriented programmes and promised their full support and cooperation.

They also called on the Federal Government to support the Agency to ensure greater indigenous participation in the maritime sector.

and London South Bank University.

According to her, starting a business is not a bed of roses considering the country’s current infrastructural and operating challenges.

One has to contend with epileptic power supply, inadequate funding and the bad nature of roads from the farms. These do lead to long delivery times. Huge investments are also required to meet her production volume target.

In spite of these challenges she is fully focused on realizing her dream.

Her driving passion is to become a food producer with huge turn over and become one of the largest food producers in the country in a few years.

She is not satisfied with being a local champion. So, she has taken the necessary steps to prepare her products in terms of quality for the export market. It is also operating a small honey processing unit and moved her office from Agege to Moweaxis.Goodenough,theLagos State government has offered her and five other entrepreneurs hectares of land at an affordable price to grow food crops.

Her first set of customers were her colleagues, who were buying everything she produced and their patronage encouraged her to supply supermarkets.

Young entrepreneurs have to learn from her on the initial challenges to prepare for: “I have seen first-hand why people are not going into production. It is so frustrating for a manufacturer

in Nigeria. Sometimes I wonder who led me into this business. I sometimes feel it must be the devil because production is so bad in Nigeria; that is the humble truth. You do everything by yourself; you are virtually all alone. That is one thing I pray that the current administration will look into.

“Initially, it was so interesting when I started years ago. It was fun getting grains and at the end of the day, you have flour. Then I would buy wheat and make wheat flour and wheat cookies. I would browse the internet, get some stuff and I would experiment. We were selling but right now, it is so frustrating.”

There are lasting lessons to learn from Awojuyigbe. Her sheer determination to add value to our local agricultural products and her zeal to learn more on how to deliver them in top quality are commendable. Besides, is her uncommon courage to keep going on against all odds and lift her company from being a local player to the international scene would always stand her in good stead.

We applaud her salutary efforts and enjoin both the federal and state governments to fish her type out and provide them the enabling environment to succeed.

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media ayobaje@yahoo.co.uk; 08057971776

‘Access to fund still major challenge for start-ups’ SEYI JOHN SALAU

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or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the Nigerian ecosystem, access to cheap fund remains a challenge for many start-ups and entrepreneurs shriving to stay afloat in business and be sustainable. However, for women in management and business, efforts must be made to turn their ideas into a bankable business plan to attract more investment and capital to the business.

This position was started at the 15th annual lecture of Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), with the theme Balance for Better: ‘Who said so?

Changing the status quo’ held recently in Lagos.

Bolanle Austen-Peters, the founder and chief executive officer of Terrakulture and keynote speaker at the lecture, said funding is still the biggest challenge facing women in business in Nigeria.

According to Austen-Peters, many women settle for small businesses instead of pursuing big ventures because tough route to access funding.

She however opined that, although more could be done for women, they still owed it to themselves to do what was good for themselves regardless of what life or society threw at them.

“Women are more averse to borrowing; we are more careful and that poses a challenge in some cases because men go for the bigger pile.

So, a lot of women end up doing petty businesses as opposed to big businesses. I think we need to break out of our shell. I think we are fearful by nature and we need to overcome that.

“It is tough to raise funds but institutions like the Bank of Industry (BoI) are supportive and I advocate that women approach the likes of the BoI and other development institutions for funding. Women should be bolder,” said Austen-Peters.

Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi, the chairperson of the executive council of WIMBIZ said, the theme for this year was designed to encourage women to overcome doubts.

“Last year, the committee had a political flavour and they wanted women in politics. This year they chose ‘Balance for Better’ as the theme. The idea is overcoming the voice that says you can’t do it because you are too young, too old, because you are male or female or because you have a disability,” she said.

As part of efforts in advocating for a gender balanced society, the WIMBIZ 15th annual lecture addresses gender balance issues in Nigeria and the limitations that currently exist towards achieving it with solutions on how to overcome the challenge.

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Sunday 24 March 2019

BDSUNDAY 39

SundayBusiness Revised NHF: Fresh hope on more home affordability for workers

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or Nigerian workers, the passage of the revised National Housing Fund (NHF) bill by the National Assembly is not only a piece of good news, but also one that raises fresh hope for enhanced access to mortgage and more home affordability.

Liquidity issue in the mortgage system is expected to be a thing of the past.

Nigeria workers, especially those in the public sector, are the least advantaged in terms of home ownership in Nigeria, considering that their take home pay at N18,000 per month can hardly give them three good meals a day and pay other bills including house rents and school fees, not to think of buying or building houses.

They need some support in the form of mortgage to enable them buy or build their own houses. It was in the realization of this need that the Federal Government, 27 years ago, came up with the National Housing Act 1992 that gave birth to the NHF. NHF was aimed to mobilise funds for the provision of affordable housing for Nigerians. The outlined sources of funds for the fund included contributions by Nigerians in both the public and

private sectors; investment in the fund by commercial and merchant banks; investment in the fund by insurance companies and financial contributions by the Federal Government.

But, over the 27 years of its existence, contributions from Nigerian workers have been the mainstay of the fund. Lack of compliance to the provisions of the Act by commercial and merchant banks and insurance companies has affected its liquidity and capacity to create the required impact.

Indeed, mortgage experts argue that the slow growth and minimal impact of the fund over the years are attributable to the failure of both the banks, insurance companies and other stakeholders to live up to expectations. This was the situation that gave rise to the review and passage of the new NHF bill by the National Assembly.

Some of the notable provisions in the new bill are the 2.5 percent contribution of monthly income to the fund by Nigerians in the public and private sector. This comes with benefits and is refundable on retirement. As a contributor to the fund, a worker can apply for a housing loan of up to 15 million after only six months of continuous contribution. The loans attract

Procurement and Supply Chain

with Gob-Agundu Uche Branch chair (CIPS), Nigeria (… Culled from CIPS Positions on Practice) Prerequisites of supplier development IPS believes that a fundamental prerequisite for supplier development,andindeed the development of any purchasing and supply management strategy, is that Procurement professionals analyse, evaluate, and appreciate their own organisation’s corporate objectives and business needs. The supplier development projects which are undertaken must be in support of the procurement strategy which, in turn, supports the organisational strategy.

Supplier development requires key technical purchasing and supply management skills, as well as contract management and project management skills. It also demands excellent interpersonal skills to develop communication between the buying organization and the supplier and ‘sell’ the idea behind the development project

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both internally with colleagues and to the supplier. Procurement professionals must have the ability to work effectively with all those involved irrespective of their status in either organisation.

One of the key interpersonal skills required is empathy, i.e. the ability to appreciate others’ perspectives. For example, the buying organisation must appreciate the supplier’s position and the impact of this development on their business. In some cases, their other customers might perceive that they are being neglected because of so much resource being channeled into a supplier development programme of another customer, which may also be one of their competitors.

An empathetic procurement professional will recognize these issues and allow suppliers the scope to deal with them.

Selecting Suppliers for Development Before selecting suppliers for development, the Procurement professional must first have identified areas with an

low-interest rates of 9 percent per annum and are payable over 35 years.

Secondly, commercial banks or merchant banks and insurance companies are now required to invest 10 percent of their profit before tax into the fund. In the existing law, commercial and merchant banks were required to invest a whopping 10 percent of loans and advances to the fund while insurance companies are required to invest a minimum of 20 percent of non-life funds and 40 per cent of its life funds in real estate.

The bill also stipulates fines to be applied to commercial and merchant banks as well as insurance companies to ensure compliance amongst others.

Though these provisions are still contentious as analysts say that asking every commercial or merchant bank, insurance company to invest 10 percent of its profit before tax (PBT) into the fund at an interest rate of 1percent above the interest rate payable on current accounts of banks could hurt them, close watchers of the mortgage and housing market in Nigeria commend the unfolding development.

These market watchers insist that it is a positive development in the quest to tackle the perennial

Talking Mortgage with CHUKA UROKO (08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com) problem of sustainable housing finance that is required to develop the country’s housing sector.

“The provisions of the new housing bill are relevant and will enhance the potential of the NHF scheme to increase access to decent, quality, affordable housing for Nigerian workers, especially those within the low- and medium-income brackets”, said John Ikyaave, a housing industry expert, in Abuja.

The fear of the analysts is that when such a financial strain is put on private companies, they will be forced to cut costs by sacking staff and freezing new investments, just as the new bill will probably see some of the companies pass on the cost to consumers, thereby triggering a surge in inflation.

But Ikyaave reasons that the new NHF bill, which is now awaiting the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari, will support the provision of housing loans at

best and lowest market interest rates of between 6 and 9 percent that can be paid for periods of up to 35 years.

“Currently, if you go to commercial or mortgage banks for a housing loan, the interest rates you will be charged usually range from 19 to 25 percent. Now, how many Nigerian workers can afford that? The NHF is the only scheme that gives housing loans at single digits and for longer-terms of 35-years. A stronger NHF with robust financial inflows will have the capacity to extend its range of affordable housing solutions to more Nigerian workers and create wider impact”, he posited.

Ikyaave commended all housing industry stakeholders who contributed to the passage of the bill and encouraged President Buhari to see its merit and sign it into law to kick-start a new phase in the provision of social housing in the country.

Supplier development (2) understanding of why supplier development should be undertaken and what it involves.

CIPS advocates studying the supply base and evaluating the extent to which it meets the needs of the organisation. Suppliers of key supplies and services should be rated according to their current performance and an ideal, or desired, performance as well as compared to other suppliers. This evaluation should also cover the relationship between the two parties, e.g. the style of relationship and how this compares to the preferred type of relationship. CIPS believes that these processes will encourage competition between suppliers, especially if it leads to a supplier accreditation such as ‘Best of Breed’.

CIPS believes that it is ideal if the relationship between the suppliers and the buying organization is managed on a key account basis, i.e. an individual is given responsibility to manage a number of contracts.

CIPS also believes that supplier development is a two -way process that includes buyer development so that those organizations can develop towards jointly developed organizational goals.

As supplier development can be a resource-intensive process, CIPS suggests that it should only be undertaken with those suppliers from which real business benefit can be derived. The selection of suppliers for development should be dependent on: · Category strategy

· Scale of value/improvement · Opportunity · Cost, complexity, and duration of value attainment · Supplier co-operation · Value/risk positional analysis Suppliers can be categorised regarding supplier development in three ways: they are either being developed, on hold as a potential for development or identified as not being worth the investment of development.

Supplier development is undertaken with existing suppliers that can be, and agree to being, improved. The supplier’s performance against agreed criteria should be measured to identify the scope for development at the outset and, once the development process has started, to monitor and manage improvement.

However, suppliers will be more motivated to take part in a development programme if complex detail reporting is avoided.

Highly visible key milestones are the best monitoring system. Timetables for specific developments need to be reasonable in length if only to avoid the potential for disruption that might be caused by staff changes.

Incentivising suppliers Some suppliers may be resistant to being developed. Therefore, Pr o c u r e m e n t p r o f e s s i o n a l s embarking on supplier development require excellent commercial and interpersonal skills so that the right suppliers can be selected.

One of the best times to raise

the issue of supplier development is either up front in the tender document itself, or secondly after a positive tender decision when the supplier will be feeling pleased with a successful outcome. Elements of the development programme can then be included in the subsequent contract.

For current suppliers, careful monitoring of their actual performance and presenting them with any poor results may act as motivation to sign up to a programme of development to close the gap to the customer’s expectations. Increasing the buying organisation’s commitment to a supplier can encourage co-operation in a development programme. This could be by adding the supplier to a preferred supplier list, for instance. In particular, when significant supplier investment is required for capability or product development, the offer of a longer contract period can be helpful.

Supplier positioning In many cases, the development of the supplier will be of benefit to the supplier’s other customers, some of which may be the buying organisation’s competition.

This may be an incentive for the supplier to participate in a supplier development project (i.e. they can improve relationships with all their customers as a consequence).

…to be continued next week when we shall examine Pre requisites of supplier development among others.

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Sunday 24 March 2019

SundayBusiness New Chivita Ice Tea excites consumers

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long with its promise of refreshingly natural goodness, Chivita Ice Tea’s recent visually disruptive packaging design that is modern, aspirational and trendy, is helping the brand stand out in a competitive marketplace.

A cross-section of consumers who offered their perspective on the new look Chivita Ice Tea noted that they were excited by the brand’s new positioning under the Chivita Masterbrand.

Its new package design is a bold statement of its premium quality, health benefits and consumers’ benefits that has made the product visually appealing to consumers as it maintains its front shelf

space and preference.

For Tomiwa Adeleke, a Lagos-based lawyer, the rebrand of Chivita Ice Tea was an innovative strategy that connects with consumers because of the pack’s unique imageries which is visually attractive and differentiating from competing brands.

“I drink Chivita Ice Tea very often whenever the need for refreshment arises.

For me, its great taste and unique blend of natural tea leaves and real fruits, as well as health benefits, make it a preferred choice for rejuvenation and refreshment.

The brighter and bolder rebranded product pack was a pleasant surprise to me and is triggering positive product enquiries from my friends who are excited about its renewed appeal,” he said.

Agatha Eromosele, a mother of four, who works as a nurse in the Lagos General Hospital stated that the new look Chivita Ice Tea is a welcome development.

“There is no ambiguity as the new design means the product announces itself from afar on the shelf. Its refreshing benefits are well captured by the persuasive

imageries and content on the new product pack. As a health conscious consumer, I love the exciting blend of premium natural tea leave extracts with real fruits which makes Chivita Ice Tea a natural choice for me and others who care about their health,” she said.

Commenting about the product rebranding and the positive feedback from consumers, Marketing Director of Chi Limited, Mr. Probal Bhattacharya stated that it was pleasing to see consumers resonate with the product’s fresh visual identity, which keys it into the Chivita Masterbrand. The new design also reinforces its promise of rejuvenation through more appealing elements that evoke its refreshingly natural goodness.

“The objective for rebranding Chivita Ice Tea was to communicate the brand’s core value of rejuvenation and natural refreshment with strategic imageries that are attractive and differentiating. We are excited about the response so far and look forward to growing consumer franchise and affinity with the new pack,” he said.

Access, Diamond Bank host International Women’s Day conference

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ccessandDiamond Bank commemorated the International Women’s Day by hosting female entrepreneurs to a conference on 14 March 2019 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event themed ‘Think W... Build Smart and Innovate’ featured insightful sessions as the speakers highlighted issues and solutions on how women can effectively leverage on technology and finance to build profitable and innovative businesses.

Delivering the keynote speech, the CEO/ Group Managing Director of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe said “Women, over the years, have continued to break boundaries, reinvent the status-quo and take advantage of the opportunities provided by technology and quality financial systems to make things better in the society.

This year, the International Women’s Day Conference, has been designed to educate

women on how best to leverage innovations because we have come to the realisation that female owned businesses also hold the key to the growth and stability of our economy.”

Wigwe said, “As a Bank, we are in full support of a gender-balanced society, this is why, through our Access Bank W Initiative, we educate women through our capacity building and mentorship programs, to ensure that they build and sustain brands that are globally recognised. We also have funding opportunities that are tailor-made for women and their businesses.”

This was followed by a goodwill message from the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Laure Beaufils, as she advocated more support of female entrepreneurs and called for solidarity amongst women to facilitate gender parity.

“It is commendable to see corporates step up to bridge the divide by providing

women with platforms and education to help build successful businesses. Globally, women need to serve as support systems for one another and adopt a ‘Pull-Her-Up’ mentality, as against pulling each other down. Only then can we achieve the balance that we seek,” she said.

The event also featured two panel sessions, as the speakers provided insight into how female entrepreneurs can access investment opportunities and build smart businesses using technology, product, and service differentiation.

Other business leaders and personalities that participated in the panel sessions include Bonaventure Okhaimo, Chief Operating Officer, Development Bank of Nigeria, Titi Osuntoki, Executive Director, Business Banking, Access Bank Plc, Adebola Adefila, Chief Executive Officer, Banrut Rolls, Toyin Onigbanjo, Founder, August Secrets, Chukwuka Nonye, Founding Partner, Cuici Consulting and Director General, Delta Economic Summit Group; Patricia Nzolatima, Chairwoman, Bizolly Holding, among others.

The networking event ended with a grand dinner followed by an after-party anchored by ace Nigerian Disc Jockey, DJ Spinall and performance by Falz the Bad Guy.

Going Digital With

Wison Moore

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hat is social media management?The most basic definition of social media management is that it is the online management of social media accounts.

Such Internet management of social media accounts could be for individuals, businesses or organizations.

While content development and postings are big parts of social media management, they are only a small part of this amazing business strategy.

A brilliant and effective social media management plan is part of the overall digital marketing strategy of the individual, business or organization that is using it.

However, since social media management is an important business and marketing decision, we don’t recommend leaving it to just a good family member, your neighbour’s smart college kid that’s good on Facebook or the faint at heart.

A professional social media management strategy starts with an audit.

After auditing and signing up for the different social media accounts, the next step is to create different profiles and background images as recommended by the respective social media networks.

Such awesome and impactful images reflect the brand and importantly, are designed specifically to be emotionally relevant to the target audience because they get results.

Most people on the Internet already know that well-crafted social media profiles and images amplify the brand.

Moving forward, managing social media accounts includes researching trending topics, the creation of content that takes advantage of the buzz in the social media landscape of the targeted keywords and promoting the content massively and ruthlessly.

Using the 20/80 rule, if 20% of the time is used in creating the content, then 80% of the time should be used in promoting the content.

That tested formula works all the time.

A major part of social me-

What is social media management? Why use asocial media management agency? dia management is monitoring, listening, engaging and converting such interactions into buyers of your products or services.

As the volume of conversations and engagements on the different social media platforms increase, it becomes ridiculously timeconsuming.

What started out taking a few minutes of your time, is now taking hours. Honestly, such an insane amount of time has become an unnecessary invasion into your private space without achieving the results you envisioned.

In other words, the other important components of social media management like listening, tracking, engaging, and monitoring the target audience have become an annoying commitment.

Sadly, this affects the time that is spent on the core business which most busi-

the return on social media investment is not an option.Business executives would not buy-in and budget for social media strategies without a measurable demonstration of how the efforts are impacting the business’ goals.

Measuring and tracking social media return on investment lets marketers dedicate more time and resources into what’s working, and improve the tactics that aren’t delivering real value. #3. You get experts As experts in their field, professional social media management companies have the experience and understanding necessary to navigate the turbulent sea of the social media landscape.

Social media, in general, is dynamic with tons of new updates for the multiple social media networks.

And when you add soft-

ness owners enjoy.At this juncture, most companies outsource their social media management to a social media management agency that understands their niche or they intensify their in-house social media management efforts.

They know that a wellthought-out social media strategy works holistically and seamlessly with their other marketing strategies.

Such brilliant marketers understand and appreciate the advantages of social media marketing.

Why use asocial media management agency?

Here are the reasons why companies, organizations or individualsare hiring a performance-driven agency instead of keeping it in-house. #1. You get strategists One of the benefits or advantages of hiring a trusted social media agency is that a professional agency becomes your marketing ally and strategist.And as such, the agency develops a social media marketing strategy or plan before engaging with the audience.

The plan or road-map is crafted to meet the specific goals of the business and the target audience.One of the most important benefits of having a capable strategist is that she ties all of your social media activities to specific business metrics. #2. You get results (huge ROI) For social media management companies, measuring

ware and search engines’ algorithm changes that leave hardly any time between trending topics and old news. It is better to hire the experts. #4. You save money The different hats expertly worn by the social media management team cannot be practically replicated by an in-house social media marketing team.Some of these duties include the design and crafting of a successful social media marketing campaign.

A professional agency has a community of social media experts that are responsible for coordinating with other experts on the team on content creation, SEO, graphics, and advertising specialist.

It costs more money to combine the duties of the sales or marketing department with that of social media management.

When you hire an agency that specializes in social media management, you get the benefits of the individual expertise.Your agency would help you choose your social media channels, build your audience and optimize your content.

Moore is Director of Marketing Anaconda Marketing Ltd, a Lagos-based Digital Marketing Agency +234 080 579 37786 wilson.moore@anacondamarketing.com.ng http://anacondamarketing. com.ng

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NewsXtra INEC to Why we declared Ayade winner of Cross Lagos present certificates of return to SanwoRiver governorship election – INEC Olu, others March 27 MIKE ABANG,Calabar

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained that Senator Ben Ayade the incumbent governor of Cross River State and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in

the last governorship election was declared winner because he scored the highest number of valid votes in all 18 local government areas of the state and was returned elected.

Ayade, who won in all the 18 local government areas of the state, won the election with a winning margin of 250,323 votes.

He polled 381,484 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress

(APC) candidate that polled that polled 131,161.

Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Eyo Ekpo polled 4, 818 votes.

Announcing the results at about 4am on Monday, March 11, INEC Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Warri, Delta State, Akii

Ibhadode, said the PDP candidate having scored the highest number of votes and fulfilled the requirements of the law, was returned elected.

According to him, number of registered voters is 1,486,026; accredited voters 542,115, valid votes 522, 309, rejected votes 11,499 and total votes cast 533,808.

IGP orders investigation into death of NSCDC officer allegedly killed by policemen ... Condoles, reassures family of unbiased probe INNOCENT ODOH, Abuja

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he Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu, has ordered a comprehensive and speedy investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the late Ogar Jumbo, an Assistant Superintendent of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) allegedly killed by policemen.

This was disclosed in a statement on Saturday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, stress that while condoling with the family, the Commandant General of the NSCDC, friends and professional colleagues of the deceased, the IGP has reassured them that everything humanly possible will be done to ensure that justice prevails in the case.

He equally enjoined that the NSCDC along with the family of the deceased, may, for the purpose of transparency, nominate any medical doctor of their choice to witness the autopsy, at the appropriate time and venue. “Needless to state that an autopsy, which is a comprehensive forensic examination on the body of a dead person, will help the investigators to have a definitive understanding of the real cause of death of the deceased,” the statement said.

The IGP therefore calls for calm from the family and friends of the deceased and the entire public, reiterating that the case will not be swept under the carpet, the statement added.

The policemen at Nyanya , a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), reportedly beat the NSCDC Officer to death on Wednesday, allegedly for disobeying traffic rules and running on one way with his car.

Participants at the Annual General Assembly/20th anniversary of the West African Network for Peace building (WANEP) Nigeria held recently in Lagos.

PDP, Kwankwaso kick, reject Kano...

Continued from page 1 disruption of the exercise and bloodletting in the state.

A statement on Saturday by Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP National Publicity Secretary, said: “Rampaging APC thugs violently took over polling units, attacked and chased away voters and engaged in massive thumb-printing and ballot stuffing for the APC”.

According to him, “INEC is already aware that the Police arrested the Kano State Commissioner for Special Duties, Muktar Yakasai alongside APC thugs he led to disrupt election in Yelwa in Dala Local Government Area of the state.

“Also INEC is already aware of how APC thugs attacked voters in polling units in Gama area of Kano State during which four PDP members were feared killed and many more injured before they carted away ballot boxes for stuffing for the APC. “The PDP cautioned INEC to note that in this circumstance, any result they come out with from this convoluted electoral process will be a sham and will surely be rejected by the people of Kano State.

“It is completely reprehensible that the APC and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje would resort to violence and bloodletting as a means to at-

tempt to hold on to power after they have been rejected by the people.

“The PDP invites Nigerians to note that our party grew democracy for 16 years without watering the quest for power with the blood of the innocent as the APC has done in the 2019 general election”.

The party therefore, urged the electoral body to save the nation from crisis by cancelling the election.

Earlier, owing to the disturbances in Gama and a few other areas where thugs allegedly prevented voting, the state chapter of the PDP said it had rejected the supplementary governorship election that held in 28 local government areas.

Chairman of PDP in the state, Rabiu Bichi, who addressed journalists Saturday in Kano, said the party rejects the election because it was characterised by violence and intimidation of voters.

Bichi said he had on Friday drawn attention of the Police command in the state, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of ferrying in armed thugs from neighbouring states.

“What is happening today (yesterday) is not election. Thugs have taken over most polling units and have been attacking our members and voters.

“Many have been injured; in fact, a member of the state Assembly rep-

resenting Gwale, Yusuf Babangida on election duty was attacked and seriously injured.

“We also have reports of attack on our members in Doguwa, Gwale and Dala, we are collecting the whole list of those attacked,” he said.

The PDP chairman said the party would seek legal redress.

“We are going to pursue our right through legal means. Today is a sad day for Nigerian democracy, especially in Kano “Recall that governorship elections were held on March 9 not just in Kano but Nigeria as a whole “After the election, results from 43 out of 44 local governments were announced and we were leading, it was only the results from Nasarawa Local Government that were pending and that was because the state deputy governor, the commissioner for local government and chairman of Nasarawa Local Government led some thugs to attack the collation centre and disrupted the process by tearing the result sheet.

“That is why INEC called for this supplementary election. As you all know, the Nigerian constitution doesn’t know anything supplementary election; all I know is that we have won our election. What is happening in Kano today is simply foolishness,” he said.

In a separate interview with journalists at his residence, Rabiu Musa

INIOBONG IWOK

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State says certificates of return will be presented to the Governor-elect in the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Deputy, Babafemi Hamzat, and others on Wednesday, March 27.

SamOlumekun,thestateresident Electoral Commissioner (REC), stated this in a statement at the weekend, stating that 40 elected lawmakers of the state House of Assembly in the March 9 election would also be presented with certificates of returns in the ceremony.

“The presentation of certificate of return to elected candidates is in conformity with Section 75 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

“The presentation ceremony will takeplaceatINECLagosoffice6,Birrel Avenue, Sabo Yaba at 11a.m,” he said.

The statement further said that the presentation of certificates of returns to elected members of Lagos State House of Assembly will come up at 2p.m, while the governorship’s holds at 11am.

The statement further urged all invited guests to be seated by 10:30 am and 1:30pm.

Sanwo-Olu, who was candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 739,445 votes to defeat his closest rival, Jimi Agbaje, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 206,141 votes, and other contestants in the March 9 governorship election.

Kwankwaso, a former governor and leader of the PDP in Kano State, also called on INEC to cancel the exercise.

Kwankwaso said that the call was based on “reports reaching his party which indicates that hundreds of armed thugs were alleged to have been brought into the state by the APC, preventing pro-PDP voters from participating in the election in all the affected LGAs where the reelection were being conducted.

The former governor also accused the security agents of conniving with the ruling party to manipulate the election and its outcome. He threatened that his party would have no option than to challenge the conduct of the election in court if INEC upheld it.

Meanwhile, armed thugs yesterday set ablaze election results in Zendesha council Ward of Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.

The thugs, who were shooting sporadically in the air at the collation centre before getting access to the results, hijacked the ballot boxes and set the results on fire. The thugs were said to be sponsored by opposition parties in the state.

BDSUNDAY gathered that the result of the gubernatorial and state Assembly re-run in Ukum Local Government favoured candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

It was alleged that the state Assembly candidate of the social Democratic Party (SDP), Benjamin Ashaver, was the brain behind the action.

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NewsXtra NTI commences training, awareness programme on HIV/AIDS in North Central

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VICTORIA NNAKAIKE, Lokoja

n its bid to boost quality health education in Nigeria, the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) has commenced the training of school teachers in the North Central Zone on Morals and HIV/AIDS awareness in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. The programme kicked off in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

The participants at the workshop were head teachers, health educators, guidance and counsellors, Islamic and Christian religious teachers in basic education from the six North-Central states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Speaking during the inauguration of the training in Lokoja, the NTI Director-General, Prof. Garba Azare, said that the moral HIV/ AIDS component of the SDGs workshop was equally important due to its intended benefits of ensuring good health and healthy living in schools.

“It is only healthy children and teachers that can aim to achieve the much-needed socio-economic physical and mental capabilities.

“We urge that the workshop be given its desired attention and importance in order to rally support from key education stakeholders for the programme.”

Represented by the Registrar of

L-R: Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos State; Pastor William Kumuyi, general superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, and Bishop Sola Ore, chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos State, after a joint press briefing announcing a programme, tagged: ‘Ministers Development and Networking Summit,’ with the theme: ‘Building the Builders,’ in Lagos, recently. The summit takes place on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at the Deeper Life Bible Church, Gbagada, Lagos.

the Institute, Mohammed Usman, Azare assured the Federal Government of the Institute’s readiness to work closely with them to achieve the set agenda for improved quality education in the country.

Also speaking, the Chairman, NTI Governing Council, Malam Kaka Yale, said the moral component was especially relevant considering the role it could play in creating awareness of HIV/AIDS scourge and marshalling out strategies of combating its prevalence in

Nigerians urged to create positive conversation online JONATHAN ADEROJU

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naroomfilledwithstudentandprofessionalspeechmakersofdifferent ages, Lagos joined the rest of the worldtocelebratethisyear’sWorld SpeechDaywiththethemeWorldCitizenship - Time For A New Way Over the course of more than three hours, speakers, who were also made up of finalists from the first National Youth Speaking and Leadership (NYSL) on public speaking held last year, walked to the front of the hall in Ikeja and chose to either stand behind the podium or walk in front of it while holding a microphone with oratory performances typically seen during a competitive,oracademictournament.

Convener of the event, since 2015, Florence Olumodimu said this year’s event which held on March 15th was designed to celebrate the power of the internet in the last 30 years and how it has help individuals around the world find their voice.

“World Speech Day is a day dedicated to celebrating speeches and speechmaking,throughamultitudeof live speaking events across the globe.

Today we carry out more conversations online while having less and less human interactions, it is easier to connect with and engage governments andourpoliticalleaders.Wecanmake our voices heard. We are the catalyst for change. I for one am proud to be an advocate for women and youth development and empowerment.”

She added that everyone has ideas and everyone can have a voice, the internet is a great place to start a conversation that can change the world positively.

“We cannot run away from the realities that economic inequalities, natural disasters, wars and other unforeseen circumstances widen further the economic, political and social divide amongst nations, the question ofclosingoropeningbordersespecially those of more economically strong nations is one that must be discussed and tackled. No needhidingourheads in the sand as mass migration to more economically and stable nations are on the increase. Today’s world activism and advocacy is now a currency that more people are involved in and creating awareness for issues close to their hearts and of importance to their communities and humanity, and the internet is a great place to get the world to hear you.”

Olumodimu a social entrepreneur and founder of Life Developer Network, who is also a distinguished Toastmaster, added that her passion for communication and leadership is the force the yearly celebration.

“I believe we must have the conversation about the world becoming borderless and having world citizens! The world has truly changed significantly in the last 30 - 50 years, and we must be ready to change our behaviours and attitudes for a better tomorrow for all citizens of the world and it only start with a single click.”

the society.

Yale also disclosed that the target audience, which is basically teachers that are rooted in religious education and guidance and counselling, are expected to propagate the message in their respective schools.

Represented also by Jonathan Mbaaka, director, Physical Planning, Federal Ministry of Education, he charged all the participants to pay attention during the workshop that would help to make the neces-

sary impact at basic level.

In her contribution, Rosemary Osikoya, the Kogi Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, equally urged the participants to spread the knowledge in various states.

She also stressed that the state government had trained teachers and school managers on curriculum and quality assurance, as steps taken to restore standard and quality education in schools across the state.

Supplementary election: Voters in Taraba commend INEC over early commencement, conduct NATHANIEL GBAORON, Jalingo

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oters in various polling units across Sunkani and Serkin Duste ward of Ardo-kola Local Government on Saturday expressed satisfaction with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over early commencement of voting in the House of Assembly supplementary election.

At the Adamu Chamber polling unit 001 under Sunkani ward, voting commenced exactly 8am as INEC officials arrived at about 7:30.

The voters were excited as INEC officialsandelectoralmaterialsarrived the polling units on time, while voting also commenced at exactly 8am.

At Jauro Ibrahim polling unit 005 under Serkin Duste ward, voters were seen casting their votes at exactly 8am.

Ibrahim Abdulahi, who voted at Adamu Chamber expressed satisfaction over the conduct of both INEC and the voters. He however, decried the stress of coming back to vote for the second time just as he advised INEC to conclude the process without further delay.

Speaking to journalists, the PDP chairman for Taraba State Victor Bala Kona, said: “The election is very peaceful. l appreciate INEC for early commencement of the supplementary election, I also appreciate the people of Ardo-kola for their orderliness so far.”

Travelex partners CBN, holds agendasetting seminar for BDCs, March 26

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n its continuing efforts to assist the CBN in strengthening the nation’s BDC Sector, Travelex will hold its 2019 BDC Seminar in Abuja on March 26, 2019. The timing of this year’s seminar is aimed at helping set an agenda for the BDC sector under the incoming administration.

Th e p l a c e o f Bu r e a u D e Change (BDC) industry in the economy of Nigeria cannot be over-emphasized. For its important roles, whether in the past or now, government has always taken special interest in the activities of operators in the sub-sector.

Determined to assist the operators make informed assessment of their activities in the foreign exchange market with a view to enhancing their performance going forward, Travelex Nigeria Limited, in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has concluded arrangements for a one-day seminar for practitioners in the BDC industry.

The event tagged, ‘The BDC Industry in Nigeria: Retrospect and Prospect’, is slated for Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja.

A statement by Anthony Enwereji, general manager, Travelex Nigeria, said the seminar

would have in attendance Mr. Godwin Emefiele, governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as the keynote speaker.

Enwereji added that Aisha Ahmad, deputy governor, Financial Systems Stability Directorate, CBN, would speak on ‘Review of CBN Forex policies and guidelines on BDC operations (2015-2018)’, while Ayo Teriba , CEO, Economic Associates, would address the audience on ‘Analysis and proposals for strengthening Nigeria’s end-user forex policy’.

The seminar, according to the statement, will feature Ibrahim Magu, executive chairman, EFCC, who is expected to speak on ‘Anti-corruption and anti-money laundering laws and regulations as they concern BDCs in Nigeria’.

Other key speakers at the seminar are Mr. Modibbo Hamm a n Tu k u r, d i r e c t o r, Ni g e rian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU); President of Association of Bureau de Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), and Mark Smith, Commercial director for Africa , Travelex UK. According to Enwereji, the seminar will also feature an interactive session (questions and answers), and suggestions for strengthening the Nigerian

BDC sector.

In its avowed commitment to see the growth of the BDC industry in Nigeria , Travelex has consistently interfaced with operators to bring them to speed with international best practices.

Recall that Travelex also held a similar session in September last year to cater for the BDCs in the southern half o f t h e c o u n t r y, d u r i n g t h e countdown to the 2019 general election in Nigeria to help BDCs guard against facilitating illicit financial flows associated with the season of campaign financing. It was stated at that time that African countries lost more than $50 billion annually through illicit financial flows.

This event has become an annual programme as part of Travelex contribution to the s o c i e t y ( C S R ) . Th i s y e a r ’s event is intended to address t h e B D Cs o p e r a t i n g i n t h e northern half of the country.

Travelex Group is a foreign exchange company founded

by Lloyd Dorfman and headquartered in London. Its main businesses are international payments, bureaux de change, and issuing prepaid credit cards for use by travelers as well as global remittances.

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@Businessdayng

EquityMarket Nestle, Cadbury boost export sales by 25 percent in 2018 Stories by TELIAT SULE

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igerian firms continue to push for more space at the international market following an increase of 25 percent in export sales by the food and beverages giants, Nestle Nigeria Plc and Cadbury Nigeria Plc, the analysis of their audited financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2018 has shown. Both firms recorded combined foreign sales of N8.41 billion up from N6.72 billion in 2017, representing an increase of 25 percent across the two firms.

Although their export sales remain marginal when compared with the overall sales, the growth recorded in foreign sales in the last financial year was a sign that if policies targeted at promoting foreign competitiveness are further refined, more Nigerian firms could gain a foothold in the international market space.

Both firms recorded gross revenue of N302.25 billion in 2018 as against N277.23 billion in 2017. Overall total sales, both domestic and for-

eign sales, rose 9 percent in 2018.

The combined foreign sales of the two firms in 2018, or N8.041 billion, amounted to 3 percent of the total revenue compared with N6.71 billion which represented 2 percent of the total sales in 2017.

When an individual appraisal was conducted on each firm, Nestle Nigeria made N262.8 billion from the domestic market and N3.47 billion in the international market in 2018 whereas in 2017, domestic sales amounted to N241.12 billion while foreign sales amounted to N3.03 billion. Whereas its domestic sales rose by 9 percent foreign sales increased by 15 percent.

This implied that Nestle maintained 89 percent control of the domestic market and 41 percent market share in the foreign market.

Cadbury posted total sales of N35.97 billion in 2018, an increase of 9 percent over N33.08 billion it made in 2017. From the last year’s total sales, N31.04 billion was from the domestic market while N4.94 billion was from overseas. In effect, domestic sales rose by just 6 percent while foreign sales increased by 34 percent. Cadbury Nigeria controlled

11 percent of the domestic beverages market while it controlled 59 percent of the export of beverages in 2018.

“Cadbury Nigeria’s local sales, and by extension total sales, will continue to be small when compared with Nestlé’s because of the limited number of products it has for the

Coronation Securities, CSL Stockbrokers top weekly chat

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oronation Securities and CSL Stockbrokers have topped the activity chart on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for the third week in March 2019. The former led the volume chart while the latter topped the value chart.

On the volume chart, in the third week of March 2019, Coronation Securities executed 433.58 million shares representing 18.10 percent of the total volume of shares traded during the week. Rencap Securities accounted for 7.75 percent of the total shares traded during the week. CSL Stockbrokers traded 179.32 million shares representing 7.48 percent. Readings Investment as well as Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers traded 165.5 million and 131.06 million shares representing 6.91 percent and 5.47 percent respectively of the total shares traded during the week.

Others on the volume chart are Morgan Capital Securities, Cardinal Stone Securities, Quan-

tum Zenith Securities, FBN Quest Securities and Greenwich Trust Limited. Morgan Capital Securities traded 95.4 million shares which amounted to 3.98 percent of the weekly activity volume. Cardinal Stone Securities traded 73.8 million shares amounting to 3.08 percent; Quantum Zenith Securities and Investment traded 58.7 million shares representing 2.45 percent; FBN Quest Securities executed 55.4 million shares representing 2.31 percent, and Greenwich Trust traded 52.99 million which amounted to 2.21 percent of the total trades last week.

Altogether, the top ten stock broking firms traded 1.43 billion shares representing 59.74 percent of the total trades in the third week of March.

On the value chart, CSL Stockbrokers traded N3.24 billion shares representing 13.21 percent of the market activity value. Closely followed was Rencap Securities with N2.98 billion worth of trade

or 12.13 percent of the market activity by value. Coronation Securities traded N2.77 billion worth of shares amounting to 11.29 percent just as Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers traded N2.15 billion shares or 8.75 percent of the total market activity by value.

Other investment banking firms on the top ten chart by market value include EFCP which traded N1.48 billion or 6.02 percent; Quantum Zenith Securities and Investment, N1.06 billion or 4.33 percent; Readings Investments N981.17 million or 4 percent; FBN Quest Securities, N920.10 million or 3.75 percent; Primera Africa Securities N744.07 million or 3.03 percent, and the Nigerian International Securities Limited which traded N616.37 million shares representing 2.51 percent of the market activity by value.

The top ten stockbrokers traded N16.95 billion representing 69.02 percent of the entire market activity by value between March 18 and March 22, 2019.

food and beverages market. Nestle has products for every household and that gives it an edge over its competitors”, an analyst who did not want his name in print said.

For Nestle and Cadbury Nigeria, their domestic and foreign market shares remained at 89 percent and 11 percent respectively in 2017 and

2018.

Cadbury Nigeria has equally announced it will pay shareholders N0.25 per share as final dividend for shareholders whose names appear in the register of members on or before May 17, 2019. Earlier, Nestle announced N38.5 final dividend per share for shareholders.

ETI denies forfeiture order on Ecobank Transnational Inc

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cobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), the pan African bank, has issued an official statement on the purported Federal High Court’s forfeiture order on Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, a statement issued by Madibinet Cisse, company secretary and group general counsel stated.

“Our affiliate, O&O Networks Limited, is defending long-standing proceedings in the Federal High Court relating to its ownership of shares in Airtel Networks Limited that were once owned by it.

Legal proceedings were first initiated against O&O Networks Ltd in December 2006 by Broad Communications Ltd (“plaintiff”), in the Federal High Court of Nigeria. In 2006, the plaintiff’s claim was grounded on an alleged right of first refusal over shares in Airtel Networks Limited that O&O Networks owned. The plaintiff claimed ownership of the Airtel shares based on its right of first refusal. In 2017, the plaintiff amended its claim to seek monetary compensation of USD equivalent of Naira 10 billion

(approximately US$28 million) in place of its claim of ownership of the Airtel shares.

“Since the matter was filed in 2006, it has not proceeded to trial on the substantive merits of the claim to date though a trial date on the substantive merits was recently fixed for May 28, 2019.

In August 2018, O & O Networks sold its shares in Airtel Networks Limited for Naira 22.5 billion (approximately US$62.5 million) with the permission of the Federal High Court on 7 June 2018 and subsequently in September 2018, the plaintiff filed an interlocutory application requesting the Federal High Court of Nigeria to grant an order directing O&O Networks to place Naira 22.5 billion (approximately US$62million) - the entire proceeds of the sale of the Airtel shares and an amount which is significantly in excess of the plaintiff’s total monetary claim - into an escrow account in the name of the Chief Registrar of the court, pending the final determination of the substantive claim”, ETI said.

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Sunday 24 March 2019

Consumer Watch

Government urged to protect consumer rights … as Nigeria marks World Consumer Rights Day NGOZI OKPALAKUNNE

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igeria joined the rest of the world recently to celebrate the World Consumer Rights Day 2019 with the theme, ‘Trusted Smart Products’.

The global event, which comes up every March 15, serves as a means of raising world awareness about consumer rights and needs.

Experts are of the view that marking the event gives an opportunity to demand that the rights of all consumers are respected and protected, According to them, the celebration is also an avenue to protest against market abuses and social injustices which undermine those rights. But the question is how many Nigerians are aware of their rights as consumers?

It was against this background that Consumer Watch interviewed a cross section of consumers in Lagos metropolis to ascertain if they are actually aware of their rights.

Christiana Chukwu, a public servant, affirmed that she is not aware of anything called consumer rights in Nigeria, adding that she does not believe that such rights exist.

Chukwu further said: “If Nigerian consumers have rights, why are there much exploitations by the manufacturers? The fact is that consumers in the country are at the mercy of both the international and local manufacturers. They produce whatever they like and push into the market for consumers to buy. Some of the products in the market are of low quality, especially products from Asian countries. When you buy such products and discover they

are fake, there is nobody to complain to and you will either use it or throw it away, thereby wasting your hard-earned money.

“I blame the agencies saddled with the responsibility of protecting the rights of consumer in the country for such high level of exploitation of consumers by the multinationals. They have failed to enforce consumer rights, as a result foreign and local manufacturers do whatever they like and get away with it. It is not like that in other countries of the world,” she noted.

Bene Eziani, another consumer, lamented the activities of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), saying that it has reached to the extent of taking them to court.

“If there is adequate enforcement of consumer rights in the country, PHCN wouldn’t have exposed Nigerians to so much hardship. For instance, users of electricity in the country will pay

their bills without enjoying constant power supply and nothing is being done about it. When Nigeria Electric Power Authority, (NEPA) was privatised some years back, Nigerians were glad with the hope that there would be an improved power supply like in other African countries.

“Nobody is talking about the activities of the telecommunication industry in Nigeria. They extort money from subscribers without explanations.

“The service subscribers have systematically received from these providers, a mix of rudeness, lies, disrespectful treatment and frustration.

“They are aware that their Nigerian consumers do not have the financial backing to challenge them and they have no protection from government”, she said.

On his part, Dinma Simeon, a consumer affairs analyst who spoke in a recent interview on the

issue, said although he is aware of his rights as a consumer, he is not interested in pursuing it.

According to him, “An average Consumer Protection Right agent is not likely to provide you any service, unless he is sure of deriving benefit from it. So, a Consumer Protection Right agent can only protect you if he is expecting to gain something from you.

“Assuming, l have the resources to obtain justice, l might seek for their services. Look at this example, the governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode banned hawking in Lagos State and made it a punishable offence.

“However, this has not deterred hawkers from constituting a nuisance which ranges from sell of fake products to causing gridlocks on the road.”

He further observed that the law against hawkers is not being enforced because of the unwillingness of the agency to enforce it, adding that the agency is rather more interested in collecting extra payment from the offenders in the form of uncounted taxes and levies.

“It is not possible for a poor man who is also a poor consumer to get justice in Nigeria over a well-to-do manufacturer or seller because he does not have the resources to pursue the case,” he insisted.

He therefore, stressed the need for the management of the relevant agency to be alive to its responsibility and also ensure that its staffers carry out their duties in line with the laws guiding their operations.

In his words: “They should be trained to do their job without fear or favour. If they do their job without compromise, consumers will have confidence in them and

will be willing to report any matter because they are sure to obtain justice”.

While speaking at a press briefing heralding the World Consumer Rights Day 2019 in Lagos, the state Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Olayinka Oladunjoye stated that officials of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) would continue to educate the public on the rights of the consumers.

Oladunjoye described Consumer Rights Day as a global celebration of consumer rights and solidarity within the international movement to ensure that consumer rights are respected and protected.

The Commissioner further explained that LASCOP would soon carry out a sensitisation walk and engagement with relevant stakeholders at Ikeja Computer Village to educate the traders about consumer rights.

According to her, Computer Village was identified for the sensitisation exercise because the location parades an array of computer and electronic devices classified as smart products.

Such awareness-raising programme, the commissioner affirmed would encourage manufacturers to consider factors like consumer affordability, convenience, safety, security and privacy while producing smart devices for use by members of the public.

“We realise that owing to the incorporation of smarter products into the lives of the people, issues such as lack of security, safety amongst others and lack of internet access due to high data charges have become worrisome to both consumers and stakeholders; however, the State Government will see to these issues,” she said.

TAAT, ACAI join forces to deliver improved technologies on cassava to farmers

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he Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) and African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI) trained persons drawn from universities, research institutes, Oyo State Cassava Growers Association (OYSCGA), and other development partners on the use of the Six Steps to Cassava Weed Management toolkit.

The toolkit was developed by the Cassava Weed Management Project and has proven to help users to more than double the yield from the current African average of 9 tons per ha to more than 20 tons per ha.

The refresher training of trainers (ToT), which comes ahead of the 2019 cassava cropping season aims to equip partners with the necessary tools for successful delivery of technologies.

Addressing participants at the training, TAAT Cassava Compact Leader, Dr Adebayo Abass said the ToT would place

the participants in a better position to deliver the technologies being out scaled by the TAATCassava Compact programme.

He noted that the Six Steps to Cassava Weed Management toolkit had been consolidated into a Cassava Technology Demo toolkit and is being disseminated across 15 African countries under the TAAT program.

While commending the work in Nigeria, Dr. Abass reiterated that the aim of TAAT Cassava Compact was to scale out proven technologies across Africa with the view to achieving an African Green Revolution.

In his welcome remarks, ACAI Weed Scientist, Prof. Friday Ekeleme said the training would contribute positively to-

wards the implementation of demos this year.

He urged participants to adhere to the principles of the Six Steps to Cassava Weed Management toolkit for better results.

ACAI’s Digital Extension & Advisory Services Specialist, Godwin Atser took participants through the theory and practice of the Six Steps to Cassava Weed Management.

He explained that the toolkit was a complete package that addresses all aspects of good agricultural practices in cassava production, adding that farmers who used the toolkit had more than doubled cassava yield (>20 tons/ha) from the current national average of 9 tons per ha.

Topics covered during the training included: GAP: Harnessing Experiences/Results from Cassava Weed Management Project, Cassava Agronomy, Principles and Practices of the Six Steps to Cassava Weed Management toolkit, Calibration,

and Safe Use and Application of Herbicides.

There was a video demonstration of the Six Steps to Cassava Weed Management toolkit.

Participants were also introduced to the IITA Herbicides Calculator mobile App which allows farmers to know exactly the amount of herbicide to apply on any given field.

Participants at the training were drawn from the National Root Crops Research Institute (Umudike), University of Agriculture Makurdi, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Leventis Foundation, Psaltry, Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme, Bestacor, Oyo State Cassava Growers Association, Justice Development and Peace Movement, Oyo; KOLPING in Abia, and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. Participants commended TAAT/ ACAI for conducting the training and promised to put the knowledge gained to practice.

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BDSUNDAY 45

Health&Science World Tuberculosis Day: Nigeria needs to create effective tuberculosis funding plan – Experts …as ignorance fuels prevalence ANTHONIA OBOKOH

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oday is World Tuberculosis Day and the disease is one of the most formidable challenges to Nigeria’s healthcare and need to be tackled on multiple awareness.

As Nigeria is one of the countries with the high burden of disease, experts has raised fresh concern on the strain of funding gap in tackling Tuberculosis (TB) calls on the Federal Government to urgently commence plans for effective funding of management and also liaise with relevant Agencies in the Health sector to work out a plan.

Experts also opined that ignorance and the increasing gap in the funding for TB control is leading to over 300,000 undiagnosed TB patients causing threat to the public health.

Ac c o r d i n g t o Wo r l d Health Organization, since 2000 about 54 million lives have been saved, and TB death fell by one- third, but 10 million people still fall ill

with Tuberculosis each year, with too many missing out on vital care.

Commenting on the way forward, Taiwo Adedeji a medical practitioner based in Lagos said despite several efforts to address and combat the disease, TB continues to remain a public emergency, especially in Nigeria.

“Commensurate with the theme for this year’s World TB Day 2019 it’s time to end TB, in order not to jeopardize the treatment of the millions of Nigerians government at all levels must continue to work with our international partners to identify alternative sources of funding.”

Adedeji said, public private sector support and

implementing intervention will help get a breakthrough in the country’s fight to end Tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is an infection disease caused by bacteria known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis; the most frequent symptoms include cough of two weeks or more weight loss, night sweat and loss of appetite.

Osagie Ehanire the Minister of State for Health, , said there is a need to bring TB screening and awareness to the grassroots to encourage and educate people on where to get tests done when they suspect the disease especially if the person has been coughing for more than two weeks.

Health benefits of Baobab tree B aobab is a tree that grows in the dry savannas of Africa, Australia and parts of the Middle East.

In Nigeria, baobab tree is cultivated and used traditionally in the northern parts of Nigeria. While the all parts of the tree are utilized for different uses, the fruit, seeds and leaves of the baobab tree are highly prized for their nutritional and medicinal qualities.

This seemingly unknown fruit has recently gained big traction in the western parts of the world and has been named as a super food and a super fruit due to its amazing health benefits. Baobab leaves have been used to treat several ailments like malaria, fever, infections, anemia, and boost the immune system.

Baobab leaves also possess antihistamine qualities which mean it can be used to treat common allergy problems (problems that require the use of medication like loratidine). The leaves are also rich in vitamins C, A as well as the minerals potassium and calcium. The leaves are usually dried, ground up as a powder and used to thicken and flavor soups and stews.

Baobab fruit is also highly nutritious and very medicinal.

First of all, baobab fruit has one of the highest amounts of antioxidants than any other fruit on earth! Antioxidants are crucial in preventing cancer, strengthening the immune system and even giving you clear, glowing skin. It also has the highest amount of fiber, vitamin C, potassium and magnesium than any other fruit. In fact, the calcium found in baobab is higher than that found in milk! This means baobab can strengthen the bones and even reduce your risk of developing tooth problems.

The high fiber content helps in improving digestive

health and it prevent conditions like constipation, intestinal ulcers, inflammatory bowel diseases and piles.

Baobab slows the increase of blood sugar and reduces the amount of insulin needed to keep the blood sugar under control.

Baobab maintains heart health. Baobab is very rich in potassium (5 times more than bananas) which helps balance out sodium and maintains normal blood pressure levels.

In addition, the fiber content of the fruit helps to lower cholesterol, further reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Baobab helps prevent cancer. With the excessive in-

“We need to make people aware of test and treatment center as treatment is free.

Nigeria is one of the highest burdened countries. He described the disease as a leading cause of death in the world as 1.6million people died of TB in 2017 alone.”

However, the national Strategic Plan for TB control 2015- 2020 was a call to action for all stakeholders in Nigeria to mount a collective response to the challenges of Nigerians cases in eliminating this life threatening incurable aliment.

There is a need to notify every case and remove stigma associated with the condition through awareness.

“Tuberculosis knowledge in Nigeria is low; it is 25 percent of the populace that have knowledge about TB,” said Itohowo Uko, head of communication and social mobilization, the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) “We want people to know what the disease is all about thereby erasing the wrong and misinformed knowledge about the disease,” she said.

flammation in the body which can lead to cancer, the regular consumption of baobab fruit helps prevent cancer due to the anti-oxidants properties and anti-inflammatory properties found in the fruit.

In conclusion, baobab is a nutrient rich and highly adaptable food, and can easily be incorporated to your diet. Add a tablespoon to your favorite smoothie recipe, yogurt, oatmeal or cereal for an extra boost of nutrients.

Also for a post-workout drink, stir a tablespoon of baobab powder in a glass of water to replenish the electrolytes lost during your workout.

You can even apply baobab fruit powder directly onto your skin. Mix a teaspoon of baobab with honey and apply to your skin. Leave it on for 5 minutes and rinse off. This simple mask helps brighten the skin complexion and even the skin tone. Eating baobab will add more vitamins, nutrients and fiber to your diet which will help your body reap the health benefits of this exotic fruit.

Contributor Tobi Ayodele Keeney Managing Director Quincy Herbal

P & G’s Oral B commits to offer free dental checks to 10million Nigerians

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n commemoration of the 2019 World Oral Health Day, P&G Nigeria’s Oral B brand of toothpaste has expressed commitment to reach 10 million Nigerians with free dental care over the next four years through its Mobile Dental Clinic Program.

Tolu Pogoson P & G Country Category Manager, Oral Care (West & East Africa), said, ”We are committed to improving the oral care of Nigerians, hence our drive to reach 10 million Nigerians, educating them on oral health and giving free dental checks through our Mobile Dental Clinic. We want to inspire individuals to take charge of their own oral health by taking specific actions to help prevent oral diseases and safeguard their overall health.”

The company would be investing in enlightening Nigerians with a view to equipping people with knowledge to aid early detection and best treatment options amongst other areas. Pogoson explained it this way: “Our efforts would be in educating consumers on the wider implications of protecting their oral health,

helping them recognize that preventive care is always the best option. We would harp on early detection and treatment, which are crucial to ensuring the best outcomes against oral diseases and associated health complications.”

The official theme of the 2019 World Oral Health Day (WOHD) is ‘Say Ahh: Act on Mouth Health’. With this drive, Oral B is calling on individuals, families and communities to take action to protect their oral health, even as millions of people around the globe continue to suffer from poor oral health.

Poor oral health extends far beyond the mouth, with the possibility of taking a serious toll on an individual’s overall health and well-being.

However, we at Oral B are confident that targeted actions can curb the prevalence of oral diseases by making oral health a priority for everyone. This is why it is important for us to continue to reach millions of Nigerians, giving free dental checks and educating them on good oral health practises, for many years to come.

MALARIA: Are we winning the fight? mission

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s the country approaches the World Malaria Day 2019, it is imperative to review the success or otherwise of the fight against malaria in Nigeria so far.

According to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, DirectorGeneral World Health Organization in World Malaria Report 2018, “there are two findings that I find particularly worrying: first, several countries that carry a disproportionate burden of disease have reported increases in malaria cases, setting us back even further; and second, the level of investment in malaria control remains inadequate”.

We must not forget to mention that Nigeria carries a quarter of the World‘s malaria burden. Nigeria accounts for 19% of the World’s malariarelated death according to the report.

One key area critical to the fight against malaria is the availability and accessibility of antimalaria drugs. Even if these drugs can prevent or cure malaria, how available are they? In a research carried out by Pharma Project Consulting Services Limited among 96 wholesalers and 316 retail outlets, a total of 137 brands of antimalarial drugs were seen on the shelves in Lagos. About 60 percent of outlets visited are registered Pharmacy outlets while 40% were Patient Medicine Dealers.

Lonart has 96percent coverage in Lagos occupying the first position while Lokmal occupies the tenth position with 57percent

coverage. Coartem has the second widest coverage in Lagos with coverage of 89%.

Amartem Forte has 86% coverage while P-Alaxin shares the third position with Amartem Forte. The last 100 brands of antimalaria studied had 5% coverage of Lagos State. This implies that the popular brands are found everywhere despite the high cost while the more costeffective ones are not available in about 95% of the 28 different areas of Lagos.

Lonart is also found to be the most stocked antimalaria drug in Lagos. A total of 2,112 packs of Lonart (representing 18% of total number of antimalaria packs in Lagos) were found on the shelves in Lagos. In the second place was P-Alaxin with a total number of 1,192 (10%). Amartem Forte is in the third position with 830 packs found on the shelves as at the time of the survey. The quantity stocked indicates the level of usage and this further confirms that the popular brands are still the once most utilized. The detailed report is available on the website of Pharma Project Consulting Services Limited.

If antimalaria drugs (especially ACT) are going to make significant impact on the fight against malaria as planned, the distribution and availability of the products must occupy the front burner of discussion in our drive to reduce to zero the malariarelated death by 2020.

Pharmacist Yemi Akinsola

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Sunday 24 March 2019

Sports Eagles struggle to sparkle in 3-1 win over Seychelles

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Stories By ANTHONY NLEBEM

igeria surprisingly made a hard job of beating Seychelles on the final day of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification series, but the performance on Friday was put down to the fact that the Super Eagles had made sure of a place in Egypt before kick –off.

What was supposed to be a stroll turned into a trudge as the Eagles failed to find the opener, and the semi –professionals from the Indian Ocean island impressed with some inswingers and smart pull –outs. wCape Verdian referee Fabricio Duarte awarded Nigeria a penalty in the 34th minute, judging that midfielder Wilfred Ndidi had been unfairly hacked in the box. Odion Ighalo made no mistake from the spot, recreating the spot kick he scored to make it 3-0 for the Eagles in Seychelles during the first leg

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in September 2018.

Six minutes later, a free kick close to the box by Oghenekaro Etebo was punched away by the brilliant Ah Kong Ian. A minute later, Nigerian goalkeeper Francis Uzoho’s howler, as he came out to punch the ball from a free –kick, allowed Melanie Rody good

time and space to equalize.

In the 50th minute, Henry Onyekuru headed past Ian from a pull –out by Jamilu Collins, to restore Nigeria’s lead. But the visitors again came close to securing a leveler in the 73rd minute as a Mellie Warren missed the ball in the six –yard box from a low

pull –out.

Substitute Moses Simon made it 3-1 for Nigeria as he slotted firmly into the net after a run from the left flank by Collins.

The Eagles will on Tuesday at the same venue tackle the Pharaohs of Egypt in a prestige international friendly.

GOtv, SuperSport win big at NIS award night F

rontline Digital Terrestrial Television service, GOtv, and SuperSport, the leading sports promoter and broadcaster on the DStv and GOtv platforms, have won big at the 25th anniversary celebration of the National Institute for Sports (NIS).

While GOtv emerged the Outstanding Grassroots Sports Programme Television Station 2019, SuperSport won in two categories as Outstanding Sports Promoting Television Station of the Decade (2019) and the Outstanding Television Sports Programme of the Decade.

MultiChoice Nigeria also emerged the Outstanding Sports Promoting Company of the Decade.

While receiving the awards on behalf of MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho, Chief Customer Officer, MultiChoice, said the awards are in recognition of MultiChoice’s effort in delivering the best content across its various platforms. He added that the company remains committed to providing quality services for its subscribers.

“MultiChoice will continue to make great entertainment more accessible to Nigerians

Over 380 teams selected for Trophy 5-a-side tournament s at week two since its launch, over 380 teams have emerged in the ongoing registration of interested participants of the Trophy 5-a-side Field of Honour tournament. The 10-man teams, which were recruited through in-bar accreditations across Lagos, Osun, Ogun and Oyo states, will be representing their communities in a round-robin stage, after which winners will proceed to the knock out stages.

The campaign, which is expected to run for 10 weeks, will produce a final winner by May 12, 2019.

The in-bar activation which commenced March 7 recorded such a success that participants, who collected their tokens and have been grouped into teams, are already warming up to begin the qualifying matches, while accreditation continues.

The winning team will take home N3 million cash prize, meet with Samuel Eto’o, renowned African football superstar and have the opportunity to participate in the continental finals taking place in Tanzania later this year.

Winners at the knock-out stages will also be rewarded with various consolation prizes and memorabilia, in

appreciation for their participation.

While some of the teams are yet to come up with club names, some others already have and rearing to go. They include: Chukwu-Emeka Motors FC- Alaba Zanzibar Ozo FC – Iba Estate Wesley FC - Alaba FC Rapha - Jakande Isheri EL Miranda FC - Ajangbadi Diamond FC - ALABA Ijele Sports Club – Alaba Though team selections will take place in four states: Oyo, Ogun, Osun and Lagos States, football loving Trophy customers will be recruited as ‘Super-fans’ across the country via weekly questions and sweepstakes availing customers outside the four states, the unique opportunity to participate in the tournament as fans. Four lucky fans will attend the Pan African regional finals in Tanzania, all expense paid, to cheer our team to victory. Kindly follow our social media handles to get updated on this live, (@ Trophylager @TrophylagerNigeria).

For more information on the tournament and to get a full list of accredited outlets closest to you, please visit www.africa5s.com

AFCON 2019 to attract thousands of tourists to Egypt …estimated 2.1 billion followers all over the world

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Olushade Adesola, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports presenting the Outstanding Sports Promoting Company of The Decade Award to MultiChoice Nigeria and been received by the Chief Customer Office, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho at the 25th anniversary ceremony of the National Institute For Sports held in Lagos on Wednesday recently.

by delivering quality sports and local content to its customers,” said Mabutho.

Speaking on youth development, Mabutho explained that MultiChoice has empowered thousands of Nigerian youth through the GOtv Sabimen initiative.

“GOtv Sabimen is a programme that trains participants on the rudiments of service activation, response to customer enquiries and resolution of GOtv ser-

vice issues,” he explained.

The Chief Customer Officer further noted that participants receive practical training from both internal and external facilitators on how to handle various enquires by customers and eventually grow on to become their own bosses, which is the main objective of the programme. Today over 5000 Nigerian youth in various parts of the country have been employed through this initiative.

Prior to the awards presentation, the Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Solomon Dalung, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olusade Adesola , commended corporate bodies supporting the development of youth and sports in Nigeria. He also appealed to other corporate bodies to emulate the kind gesture of companies like MultiChoice in youth and sports development.

he Africa Cup of Nations Championship (AFCON) is likely to attract more than 50,000 tourists to Egypt in June 2019,” Sports and Youth Minister Ashraf Sobhy affirmed during the higher meeting of the organization of the Africa Cup of Nations 2019.

Believed to be followed by almost 2.1 billion people all over the world, Sobhy referred to the championship’s foremost eminence economically and sportively. Still, Sobhy asserted the big event’s key role in reviving Egyptian tourism.

In the same vein, the sports minister reviewed the estimated budget assigned for hosting the Africa Cup of Nations in terms of matches broadcast as well as the stadium equipment.

During the meeting, Sobhy briefed the attending ministers and organizers about all the ongoing procedures to develop the stadiums that will host the matches in Cairo, Port Said, Suez, Alexandria, Ismailia and El Salam.

Additionally, Sobhy articulated that Hassan Allam, Egypt’s leading engineering company, will finish construction work at Port Said

Stadium by the end of April, Alborsa News reported.

In like manner, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Ahmed Ahmed voiced Egypt’s capabilities to host huge international tournaments.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli assigned the Tourism Ministry to set a comprehensive tourism program, especially for African players, guest, delegations and more.

Equally important, the minister of communications assured that all coverage desired by the African delegation, especially internet connections at stadiums, will be constantly obtainable.

Above all, the Prime Minister Madbouli emphasized providing a fully equipped healthcare system in anticipation of any injuries during the matches, in addition to the availability of enough ambulances.

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BDSUNDAY 47

Sports

‘AJ can be the biggest boxing star in history’ The Matchroom Sport promoter, who has been with Joshua since he turned professional in 2013, will still try to organise an undisputed fight with Wilder for November or December in order to appease fight fans.

Negotiations with Wilder began last summer, during which time Fury was only just returning to the ring after a 31-month hiatus.

There is serious demand to see WBC champion Wilder and WBAIBF-WBO titlist Joshua clash while it’s still an undisputed bout, and Truax thinks that match-up, along with Joshua vs Fury, needs to happen.

Truax had a short stint in boxing limelight after shocking James DeGale

Stories by ANTHONY NLEBEM

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ormer super middleweight world champion Caleb Truax believes that Nigerian-born British boxer, Anthony Joshua, can be the world most famous boxer in history.

Joshua next faces top-10 heavyweight challenger Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller on June 1 at Madison Square Garden after failing to agree terms with Wilder and Fury.

While Wilder turned down a nine-figure off e r f r o m DAZ N t h i s week which included two fights against AJ, Fury kept bargaining for a larger flat fee than Eddie Hearn could grant him.

to become 168lb IBF champion in December 2017, and recognises a star when he sees one.

“I think Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is the biggest star [in boxing] right now but I think Anthony Joshua has the potential to pass him in the near future,” he explains to Express Sport.

“He’s a heavyweight and, historically, the heavyweight division has been the one that’s driven boxing, basically. That’s the one that captures the casual fans’ attention.”

Joshua’s reign at the top has garnered huge interest in his homeland, drawing crowds of at least 75,000 for his last four defences.

His last three fights have clocked over 1million buys on Sky Sports

Box Office, while his relationship with subscription video streaming service DAZN is a revolutionary movement in the States.

But for all the numbers and money in the world, his true legacy will be defined by the results of his blockbuster encounters, believes Truax.

“First of all he has to fight Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury to see who’s number one,” added the Minnesota fighter.

“If he can come out on top of that three-way, then I think he’s going to be the biggest star in boxing, quite possibly the biggest star in boxing history.

“The potential is just astronomical for him if he beats Wilder and Fury.”

Pacquiao too fight Mayweather in June Quality over quantity the message amid F1 grid expansion- CEO F B

oxing fans are waiting for WBA world c h a m p i o n Ma n n y Pacquiao’s next fight. Various reports say it could be in June or July against Errol Spence, but others speculate it could be a rematch between him and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Read on for details.

Shortly after Errol Spence successfully defended his welterweight world title last Saturday against WBC lightweight titleholder Mikey Garcia, Spence called out the Filipino boxing legend, believing now is the perfect time for them to have a match, Boxing Scene reported.

Spence said Pacquiao is only a few fights away from retirement, and it is best to fight him before he hangs his boxing gloves up for good. Additionally, he feels that it “makes sense” to fight Pacquiao now for another reason: his pay-perview record.

The IBF belt-holder and now WBC diamond welterweight strap-wearer said Pacquiao holds the world record for the most tickets sold at AT&T Stadium for his fight with Adrien Broner.

He said he wants to break that record and, perhaps, sell enough tickets to get 70,000 seats filled.

Pacquiao, a few moments after Spence was declared the winner in his fight against Garcia, went up the ring to congratulate him. Right then and there, he himself said that he doesn’t mind fighting against Spence for his next bout, Fight Sports reported.

Both boxers feel ready

to fight one another in the ring, likely around July after they both receive enough training and conditioning.

What about Spence VS Mayweather?

Sp e a k Fo r Yo u r s e l f asked Spence if he had any plans of fighting Floyd Mayweather. He said fighting Mayweather is “where the real money’s at,” but plainly said that that fight won’t be happening.

Spence said Mayweather is now retired and has no plans of stepping back into the boxing ring one more time for another fight. He explained that Mayweather’s not afraid of having a blemish on his boxing record (zero losses), but is very smart with how he goes about what he does.

“Floyd’s a smart businessman,” Spence said.

Now, what about MayPac 2?

With all the reports pointing to a Pacquiao-

Spence fight in July, it seems unlikely for the Filipino boxer to have a rematch w i t h t h e r e t i r e d Ma y weather. One rumor, however, seems to point out to one last bout between the soon-to-retire and the already-retired.

ESPN boxing analyst @ BarbosaBox tweeted (via Boxing News 24) that the soon-to-be Hall of Famer will have a fight against Mayweather on “Showtime PPV and sooner rather than later!!!” It is believed that this fight will take place in the U.S. in June. @BarbosaBox explained that Mayweather could make easy money fighting exhibition bouts in Japan, but those won’t bring in as much money as one last bout with Pacquiao. Of course, a rematch -- or an exhibition match -- between the two remains to be seen, so stay tuned.

ormula 1 team bosses have urged caution amid hopes of expanding the grid in the near future, saying the priority should lay with ensuring the health of the existing outfits racing before welcoming new entries.

FIA president Jean Todt said he would like to see the F1 grid expand to 12 teams, the field having stood at 10 teams since the start of the 2017 season.

To d t ’s h o p e s w e r e echoed by F1 CEO and chairman Chase Carey, who said there was “real interest” from new teams to join the grid, although both figures said it was important to maintain the strength of the current field.

Todt and Carey’s views were shared by a number of F1 team bosses, who warned against upsetting the applecart.

“I think it’s important that the starting grid looks complete and that for the live spectators that you see lots of cars going around the track,” said Mercedes F1

chief Toto Wolff.

“But I think we are in a decent place right now for Formula 1 and the value of the teams is more important, to keep those franchises limited to attract the best brands to enter or participate in existing teams.

“I think that is the most important thing going forward.”

“I always go quality over quantity,” added Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. “I think we’ve got 10 teams that are in pretty decent health at the moment compared to previous years and I think that as we are seeing, when the grid is expanded, none of those teams that came in a few years ago are still here today.

“In Formula 1, the cost of entry is so high it’s virtually impossible unless you’re an OEM or multi-multi-billionaire, and sometimes not even that’s enough.

“I think we’ve got a good balance at the moment. I would prefer that we look after what we’ve got and have

good quality and a closer grid than just inviting more entries for the sake of filling the grid shot and being more cars to lap.”

Renault team boss Cyril Abiteboul said that while any new teams would need to prove they are able to add value to the F1 field, it would be worth considering under the right business model.

“I think that what’s important is the number of teams that are competitive and can really directly contribute to the show and can pretend that they are expecting to win,” Abiteboul said.

“But if there is a business model which is sustainable for 12 competitive teams, I think that that should be what is looked at.”

The last new team to join F1 was Haas, which briefly lifted the grid up to 11 teams for the 2016 season before Manor’s closure at the end of that year, dropping the field back to 10 entries for 2017.

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Bitter lessons from Pius Adesanmi’s death

P

ermit me for being personal here but at the end, we all stand to gain from the hard lessons it teaches us all. Let us talk about death! Oh yes, we loathe it, detest it, fear it and always pray it is postponed to yet another day. But it comes all the same- in various ways; sometimes like the hungry hawk swooping down with great momentum to rip the chicken far from the mother hen’s embrace.

Or, the predating lion accelerating its pace and clawing the helpless prey of a gazelle before tearing it into bloody pieces! It could also come like the brutal blow of a hammer to squash the unsuspecting fly.

Yet, at other times it gnaws slowly, through debilitating diseases and finally forces the soul from the body, leaving the relations in untold, tearful agony, anguish and pains! That is death for you, the cruel coward!

For that of Prof. Pius Adesanmi (now of blessed memory), it took two good days for the piece of tear-jerking news to sink into my spirit. As concerned compatriots came telling me about the tragic air crash involving an Ethiopian Airline, that took the precious lives of all the passengers and crew, including the Kogi State indigene and erudite professor away from our increasingly wicked world, I kept soliloquizing; “Pius Adesanmi, Pius Adesanmi, who is

Pius Adesanmi?”

But like a bolt out of the blues it got to me. “You mean Pius Adesanmi, the man who was working on my manuscripts, with the aim to getting them published for global appraisal, or possible acclaim and eventually getting me a writer’s residence in Canada?!”

Words simply failed me.

Amongst those manuscripts are my novel, ‘Our Women’s Anger’- a fictional account of the struggle of some women activists to produce Nigeria’s first ever female president against all odds; my poetry collections, ‘Petals and Thorns’ and ‘Sing Me a New Song’ the first and second in a trilogy of poems based on the state of the Nigerian nation, spanning the First Republic to the current dispensation. The third is ‘Gone to the Dogs’ still in the works.

Precisely, it was in February of 2017 that I informed Prof.

Abdulkareem Adinoyi, one of the most brilliant students I ever got to teach, in my 20 years career of mentoring the younger ones in secondary schools across three states of Bendel (now defunct), Kwara and Kogi. Currently, a world- renowned but self –effacing engineering genius, teaching in Canada we met at Abdul Azeez Attah Memorial College, Okene, Kogi State where I was a science teacher in the late ‘90s.

One recalls, with great delight his passion for requisite knowledge. Though I was his teacher in

Biology, he never ceased, along with some of his classmates to bring up seemingly complicated issues in Physics and Mathematics which we sat down together to ‘trash out’. Thank God that he went ahead to score distinctions in six subjects at the WAEC/GCE OL, and a First Class from the University of Ilorin before bagging his PHD. Now back to Adesanmi. It was Adinoyi who linked us together, to add value to my books, many of which are literally wasting away.

This was his response to my letter, on Tuesday, 28th March 2017, at 9.13 GMT. “My dear Ayo: “Many apologies. I have been traveling, lecturing, etc. It has just been crazy. I thought I had written to acknowledge them (my manuscripts). I have keyed them in with my summer reading assignment and will start reading once the semester is over and I get a breather!”

“Pius, PHD (UBC, Vancouver).

Professor, Department of English Language and Literature. Director, Institute of African Studies, 438 Peterson Hall, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa,ON K1S 5B6, Canada”.

Months later, precisely on 13th September 2017, 19:14 GMT Adinoyi paid a visit to him in Carleton and assured me that yes, indeed, Adesanmi had gone far with regards to assessing my books. Imagine how thoroughly

excited I was.

While I was still waiting for details on the publishers’ response and getting other details to relocate to Canada, the tragedy took place; Pius lost his brilliant life in an air crash and here we are grieving.

This was what my former student, Adinoyi had to say: “My dear teacher, it was not long ago you were a year plus. My teacher I remember, I sent you a happy-birthday-greeting, an act I usually don’t do on Facebook but you are so special. Because you are special I violated one of my own rules for interacting with the social media.

“Pius’s death was a big shock.

Each time death comes knocking, it appears as a new experience. No amount of previous experiences, vast as we all know, is enough to help people navigate the crushing and punishing agony that usually come with such unbelievable moment. Each death is always different.

“On your books’ feedback, I think we have to count it among the good things or promises that time has not allowed him (Pius) to keep. In a way, it should be a lesson for all. Think good, do good, act on your good thoughts ASAP. Nobody owns time”.

This got me extremely sober.

It got me thinking…Each person’s death draws us to ours. So, if I die right now, all my books, my creative ideas and works; my cloth and house designs, my

AYO OYOZEBAJE Baje is Nigerian first food technologist in the media and author of ‘DRUMBEATS OF DEMOCRACY’

cartoons, my School of Wealth Creation, my self-composed gospel and motivational songs would amount to nothing! Too bad! Pius’s death has therefore, become a spur, a challenge and a trigger to get me adding pragmatic value to whatever I want to achieve here on earth.

So, what am I still waiting for?

And you my dear reader, what are you still waiting for to act on your dreams? Truth be told, as much as we hate to think about death, it is one critical issue that should guide our every thought and actions every blessed day.

As the Holy Bible states, “the end of a thing is more important than the beginning”.

As Adinoyi has rightly noted, thinking and doing good and more importantly, acting on our good thoughts would do us all a world of good. In fact, one cannot but extrapolate this line of thought to Nigeria’s political space. If only our self-serving, power-hungry, nepotistic, despotic and intimidating politicians realise this truism, Nigeria will be better off than we are today.

May Adesanmi’s gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

Seyi Makinde: A man whose time has come

T

DOTUN OYELADE

hursday, March 14, exactly five days after winning the state gubernatorial election, Seyi Makinde sauntered into the beautiful ambience of the official residence of the Governor of Oyo State at Agodi.

Donning a fitting dull grey, sparsely embroidered, casual and brown loafers, he was met by Governor Abiola Ajimobi resplendent in a light brown complete ‘agbada’ and what a perfect host he was.

Camaraderie was in the air with the two men grinning from ear to ear, dowsing the obvious tension of the recent election that saw the governor’s political ego severely bruised In the main, it was an avuncular banter between two men whose personalities will occupy ample pages in the annals of Oyo State.

One, for what he had done in the last eight years and the other for what he is about to do in the next four years.

I was on the entourage of the in-coming governor not only as a matter of duty but also to enjoy myself as I watch history being made with my professional antennae on full alert.

It was a momentous occasion because it was the first time that a democratically elected in-coming governor will pay a courtesy call on another democratically elected out-going governor, since 1959, when Obafemi Awolowo handed over the baton of western region to Ladoke Akintola.

Omololu Olunloyo took over from uncle Bola Ige acrimoniously in 1983 and any thought of a courtesy visit was forlorn of course, Kolapo Isola’s reign was cut short in the milieu of the June 12 conundrum while in 2003, Lam Adesina and his successor, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja never exchanged such courtesies.

By 2007 when Ladoja lost the election to his erstwhile deputy, Adebayo Alao-Akala, the heat wave between them was volcanic and could bake a loaf of bread to say the least; so, a courtesy call by Akala was a literal death wish.

When Ajimobi defeated Akala in the governorship election in 2011, he wrote to all the banks doing business with the government and asked them to stop all forms of transactions willy-nilly even before he was sworn-in and in equal measure stopped the last salaries of all political office hold-

ers the moment he assumed office.

Given that inclement scenario, a hand shake was not remotely considered.

But here was Seyi Makinde seeking audience with Ajimobi and dismantling in one fell swoop, a forgettable stereotype.

In the Government House at Agodi in Ibadan, the terraces, the well-cut lawns, the marbled floors and the chandeliers were opulent and gubernatorial. But as I watched the governor-elect taking in the fawning of Governor Ajimobi, I asked myself, is this all Seyi Makinde wanted, leaving his comfort zone and deploying stupendous wealth and time only to live like a king which he already is?

Was this what was on his mind when he philosophically told the owner of a private radio station when he was barred from a programme the other day “You can bar me from your radio station, but you cannot debar me from the government house.”

Heck no! I see Seyi Makinde in the trenches for the next four years battling hard to better the lot of the people and doing it differently. It is going to be tough, but then, one of his favourite quotes must come

in handy here: “When the going is tough, the tough gets going.’’

To be sure, Seyi Makinde traversed the nooks and crannies of Oyo State without ceasing and probably had the most strategic interactions with the high and the low from the hilly topography of Ibarapa, the rich plains of Oke Ogun, the nomadic valour of Ogbomosoland and the rallying enterprise of Ibadanland.

Doggedly, he kept selling his mission even while his main rival was still contemplating between resigning or taking a leave of absence from his plum job.

His public awareness machinery was second to none not only because he started his campaign a full year before even winning his party primaries, but also because the execution ensured that his name was heard on at least 10 radio stations, many times every day, between January last year and March 7, this year when campaign ended such that the masses were stuck with his good name as the only alternative.

I was in charge of the media during the Lam Adesina’s successful campaign 1998\99 and Alao Akala’s 2006/7 and none of them was anywhere near the profes-

sional blitzkrieg that Makinde brought to town and it paid off bountifully.

The 515, 621 votes polled by the governor-elect was the highest garnered by any gubernatorial candidate in Oyo State since 1999, except in 2003, when Ladoja polled 636,730 votes to defeat Lam Adesina.

While Akala defeated Ajimobi by a superior vote of 118,000 in 2007 and Ajimobi returned the favour with a superior vote of only 33,000 votes in 2011 and went on to defeat Ladoja with 73,000 in 2015, Seyi makinde defeated Bayo Adelabu with a whopping record vote difference of 158,000. A veritable landslide by all account!

Another uniqueness of Makinde’s victory is the high hope that defined his emergence and if anyone can do it, this man who remained committed and convinced of winning the election in spite of all odds, is poised for a successful spell starting from the next few weeks.

•Oyelade, who managed former Governors Lamidi Adesina and Adebayo Alao-Akala’s images, is now spokesperson of Seyi Makinde, governor-elect of Oyo State.

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