BusinessDay 25 Aug 2019

Canadian firm, Dynamics Intelligence, to exit Nigeria over employees’ alleged fraudulent practice MICHAEL ANI & BUNMI BAILEY

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ynamics Intelligence, a Canadian-based technological firm, has announced plans of exiting the Nigerian market over alleged fraudulent practices by employees and contractors working for the firm.

Jenna Bourgeois, chairman of the company, who confirmed the exit via his LinkedIn account, Thursday, said over time, the company has been faced with

several cases where employees and contractors extorts the company “Effective immediately, we will be closing our operations in Nigeria. Over the last year, we have faced numerous examples of employees and contractors extorting the company,” Bourgeois said on his LinkedIn account.

He noted that while the firm on several occasions have given Nigerians a chance to gain skills Continues on page 3

Zulum inherits Shettima’s nightmare in Borno …Appeals to Abuja for urgent action …As Boko Haram’s onslaught persists

TONY AILEMEN, Abuja, Iniobong Iwok, Lagos

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uring campaigns for elective political office, only a few people see beyond the fanfare and the razzmatazz.

The dream is always about how to capture the office. Usually, the picture seen from the outside of the grandiose of power is not usually the case when one gets into the office. Like in business, when a new investor takes over a company, he inherits the assets and liabilities. By the same token, Babagana Zulum, governor of

Borno State may have inherited the troubles of former governor Kashim Shettima in the Boko Haram ravaged state.

On many occasions, Shettima was pictured shedding tears

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over the menace of the Islamist sect and the wastage of lives that greeted their bloody campaign. On many occasions, he cried to President Muhammadu Buhari and to the highest echelon of security authorities in Abuja, seeking intervention in the low-grade war that has seen thousands of Nigerians dead since 2009. As governor, Shettima escaped death a number of Continues on page 3

BDSUNDAY BUSINESS DAY

www.businessday.ng Sunday 25 August 2019

‘Udom’s administration is focused on industrialising, remodelling Akwa Ibom’p.10-11 inside

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BDSUNDAY 19

THE PROLOGUE

Journeys on Nigerian highways now ‘rocket science’

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one are the days when it was taken for granted that a traveller from one part of the country to the other would get to his or her destination in one piece. Today, as soon as a Nigerian takes off on a journey, all his/her relations and friends go into intercessory mode. They only heave a sigh of relief when there is a call from the traveller that he/she has arrived the destination in peace.

Today, any journey, whether in the day or night on anyNigerianhighwayisakintoKingDavid’sallusion

to walking through the valley of shadow of death; reason being that the activities of kidnappers, killers and rapists have become everyday occurrence despite the ubiquitous check points. Today, Nigerians so dread travelling by road to the point that days to the expected journey, prayer and fasting sessions are mounted, and pastors are contacted for special intercession. It is sad that although Nigeria is not in a defined war situation, the scenario seems as though there was a civil war going on. From what can be seen, it now seems that inter-state journeys have become a ‘rocket science’, CHUKA UROKO, OBINNA EMELIKE and AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE said.

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Ravaged by sickle cell anaemia

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Vol 1, No. 277 N300

Buhari should be in touch ??69 directors join boards of listed companies in 8 with suffering Nigerians months .34 p.12 – Nwokedi pp 41.

Abba Kyari: Prime minister in a presidential system Miyetti Allah cries foul Concern mounts over cooperation with ministers It is standard global practice - BMO Schedule of office covers his roles

BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS

Continues on page 2

p. 30-31

A Story of Our Times: An Autobiography of Sylvanus A. Ekwelie

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L-R, Fisal Shuaib, CEO National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Permille Ironside, deputy representative UNCEF and Mahesh Swaminathal, country director, Nigeria/US Centers for Decease Control and Prevention (CDC during a pres briefing on “Three Years Without Wild Polio Virus Case in Nigeria” held in Abuja. picture by TUNDE ADENIYI

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Sunday 25 August 2019

Cover Abba Kyari: Prime minister in a presidential system

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By our reporters

bba Kyari, the Chief of Staff (COS) to President Muhammadu Buhari, may have become the most powerful man in the shadows of the President. During President Buhari’s alleged unstable first term, the COS was said to be the brain behind the administration’s major policy thrusts and the power behind the throne.

The influence Kyari wielded in Aso Villa, the seat of power, is such that he could stop anyone from seeing the President no matter how highly placed and no matter the urgency of the situation. This, perhaps, prompted the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, to raise the alarm that a cabal in the State House has hijacked power from her husband and are holding him hostage.

When the First Lady said that ‘hyenas and jackals’ have put the nation under their vice-like grip, it was said to be a veiled reference to Kyari and another silent operator known as Mamman Daura, a relative of President Buhari.

In virtually all President Buhari’s appointments, Abba Kyari was said to have made significant input before Buhari would announce it to the public and there is no major government contracts that were signed and sealed in the country, which does not have his imprimatur. At the moment, he sits at the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the cash cow of the nation, where he allegedly commands unparalleled influence.

BDSUNDAY gathered that ministers and other highly placed public servants dread him and struggle to be in his good books.

There was no one that crossed part that survived his wrath. When former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, went public with the alleged scandal of the $25 billion dollar contract awarded by the former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru, without board approval, it was because Kyari and his men allegedly stopped him from seeing the President over the matter.

Today, Kachikwu is out as Buhari did not reappoint him as minister.

And in what appears to be another milestone for the COS on Tuesday, at the end of the two-day orientation seminar organised for the incoming 43 ministers, President Muhammadu Buhari charged them not to have personal contact with him but that all submissions for President’s attention or meeting requests be channeled through Kyari.

Kyari was not known to have made any significant contribution to the election of President Buhari.

Those who knew him well said he was on the fringes in the electioneering activities of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015. But he bounced into reckoning the moment he schemed his

if such a person would receive his cooperation to see the President.

“For a government that is playing catch-up; trying to cover lost grounds and remedy what was done wrongly in the first term, I do not think they should engage in policy or arrangement that would constitute a stumbling block but rather create an easy access to the President to attend to matters with dispatch.”

It is feared by many that Kyari has been behind most of the ethnocentric and parochial policies and appointments of President Buhari in the last four years and could be emboldened to do more.

Irrespective of the powers in the hands of the COS, the President takes full responsibility for the action or inaction of his government and faces whatever outcomes.

Abba Kyari

way to become the COS. Even after spirited efforts were mounted by aggrieved parties on President Buhari to sack him, the president refused to yield to pressure and reappointed him. The position is so strategic that the man who fills the vacuum practically decides many sensitive issues as the information he passes to the president decides what action that will be taken.

Kyari, according a source, which prefers anonymity, “is shrewd, calculative and manipulative, and surely knows how to exploit every opportunity for his own advantage and that of the cabal.”

Abba Kyari’s strong grip on this administration makes him so cocksure any decision he takes is almost binding on the President.

Last week, the COS issued a query to Babatunde Fowler, the head of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) over dwindling revenue fortunes of the country.

Such is the demonstration of unquestioning power.

‘President’s elevation of Kyari, a bad omen’ Speaking to BDSUNDAY on Saturday, a politician and the National Coordinator of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, (MACBAN) in Benue State, Garus Gololo, kicked against Kyari having such ‘absolute’ powers. Gololo had once mounted strong effort asking President Buhari not to reappoint Kyari.

He warned that Kyari may use his powers to undermine genuine APC members and stop them from seeing the President on important issues which might affect the chances of the party in 2023 elections.

“The point is that I am against it because if Kyari wields this type of enormous power in 2023, APC may not survive. The way I am seeing it, he will block people who are qualified from seeing the President. We voted President Muhammadu Buhari not Abba Kyari and we are planning for

2023,” he said.

He advised the ministers to find a way of getting to the President instead of Kyari who he alleged is very corrupt and could be an obstruction to the good intentions of many people.

“I kick against it because Abba Kyari never really worked for APC and he will use this power to block genuine party members from seeing the president. The ministers should be able to see the president directly and not through him,” he added.

Is he now a prime minister?

Anxiety mounts The announcement last Tuesday, by President Buhari that ministers should report to his chief of staff rankled. Many analysts wondered why Kyari should exercise such a high authority meant for the President. They also wondered if the President was incapacitated in any way to carry out his duties of office.

“Why is this happening to us?

Why has Kyari become so powerful in this government? People go to visit the President; he is seen standing at the right hand side of the President in a group photograph. He now queries everybody and does the work of the President. Are we running a two-party parliamentary system that makes the prime minister more powerful than the president? Is Abba Kyari now a prime minister? What actually is happening? When some of the excesses we are seeing today happened in Nigeria, it was during the military era, where there were no rules, but decrees,” a pundit, who asked not to be named, said.

On the likely danger of the arrangement, the analyst said: “We have seen him issue queries to Tunde Fowler and to Head of Service. He was the one that tendered Buhari’s WAEC Certificate in court on behalf of the President; he summons top military chiefs, signs sensitive documents binding on Nigeria. Now, the ministers have been made to report to him, and his mood and disposition toward a minister would determine

‘There’s nothing to worry about’ Ezenwa Nwagu, chairman of Partners for Electoral Reforms, has said there was no need to worry over the directive of the president to his Chief of Staff, adding that it is a normal practice.

“The schedule of duty of the COS is not outside of what the president said, even if it is not spelt out. Even in the states, most of the correspondences to the governors pass through the COS. This is not a fundamental issue,” he said.

He noted that what is important is for the president to put the ministers through some kind of performance index within a period of time as he had indicated, which the Secretary to the Government of the Federation was going to oversee.

“I think we lost the opportunity to ask the president to tell us what a particular minister will be doing and within the duration of time he has given that minister to achieve.

I think citizens have the responsibility through the Freedom of Information (FoI) to find out what the ministers are supposed to be doing and ensure that we put pressure on them. And if within the period of one year they are not able to meet those things they say they will do, then we should raise the red flag.

“The big issue is that the citizens have the responsibility to oversee government, including the president himself to deliver for the good of the people and allow them to do their politicking. There are many other ways the ministers can interact with the president,” he added.

It is standard global practice - BMO In its reaction, the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO), in a statement titled, ‘Access to the President through chief of staff is standard global practice’, a copy of which was sent to BDSUNDAY, the group said: “The office of the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President is not only the hub of most issues that require the President’s

attention but also of paramount importance for the smooth running of the administration.

“The President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to his ministers to channel their submission to him through his Chief of Staff is quite in order. It is in fact standard practice globally.”

In the statement signed by Niyi Akinsiju, chairman, and Cassidy Madueke, secretary, the group said critics of the directive are either uninformed or are hoodwinkers. “For the avoidance of doubt, no new power has been conferred on the office of the Chief of Staff except that the President has chosen to run an administration that is better organised.

“We also wish to remind critics of this directive that in developed societies, especially the United States of America from where we copied our presidential system of government, the office of the Chief of Staff is key to driving the successful delivery of good governance to the citizens, and Nigeria’s case cannot be different.

“Additionally, the President, in his wisdom, is desirous of avoiding the staccato arrangement of the past that was disorderly and uncoordinated, even as it hampered the smooth running of government activities.”

Understanding the responsibilities of COS The growth of the power and influence of the office of Chief of Staff depends on the President.

Only the President can decide the relevance of that office and how powerful it could be. He is the only one who can delegate authorities and power to that office. This is because, all powers flow directly from him.

In a published article in one of the national dailies, Eric Teniola, a former director at the presidency, noted that in line with the Schedule of the office as at 1999, the duties of the COS are many and varied.

According to Teniola, such responsibilities include, “Coordinating the activities of all Principal Staff Officers of the President; Conveyance of all directives and decisions of the President, to the SGF, CDS, members and other top functionaries of government; formation of ad-hoc bodies, as well as, stipulating their terms of reference in conjunction with SGF; Chairing of meetings of Principal Staff Officers to the President; Monitoring and coordinating the day to day activities of the President, and Clearance of all official military and civil matters, as well as, preparation of executives summaries on official issues.

They also include, arrangement of all official appointments and engagements of the President, in conjunction with ADC to President; arrangement and convening of all meetings sanctioned by the Continues on Page 3

Sunday 25 August 2019

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News Canadian firm, Dynamics Intelligence...

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andemployment,itcannotcontinue to run a company when it can’t trust the people whom it works with.

Dynamics Intelligence is a technology solutions company that partners with Microsoft and Amazon to create custom cloud based productivity software.

The announcement by the firm is coming few hours after the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raised red flag over massive internet fraud that have cost

the united states an estimated $3 billion between 2015 till date.

In 2019 alone, the country has so far lost about $1.1 billion to cybercrime, the FBI noted in a 145 pages document released yesterday.

The FBI named about 8o persons, many of whom are Nigerian, linked to the crime.

The chairman of Dynamics Intelligence in his message noted that the company is well disappointed given the fact that it has spent much time trying to give Nigerians the benefit of the

doubt only for the company to still have this happen.

He advised other organisations interested in outsourcing operations in Nigeria to seek Indian-owned companies.

“Any company interested in conducting business in Nigeria can reach out to us to learn how to avoid being scammed by technical resources,” he said “Furthermore, customers who wish to outsource, are well advised to seek an Indian-owned company for the best results,” he further said.

ActionAid Nigeria adds 24 women peer education circles to existing 33 in Kogi VICTORIA NNAKAIKE, Lokoja

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n order to make sure that the impact of women are felt in developmental issues in the country, ActionAid Nigeria under its Women Peer Education Programme intervention in Kogi has created additional 24 circles in 12 new communities to the existing 33 in seven communities, to promote learning and advancement of women.

Gift Omoniwa, ActionAid project manager and executive director, Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID), disclosed this at the State Level Women Peer Education Facilitators interactive meeting on in Lokoja.

Omoniwa, who also said the state currently had 33 women peer education circles in seven communities in Adavi and Igalamela-Odolu Local

Government Areas, disclosed that the programme was aimed at promoting self-learning and advancement of the rights of women at community-level, adding that the additional 24 circles in the 12 newly approved communities would boost the success so far recorded in mobilising and organising women at community level around issues that affect their lives politically, socially and economically.

“We have a model that is developed to identify and address day-to-day issues that affect women in their various communities and also at the state level at large,” she said.

She revealed that under the programme, women in Ugbedomagu community in Igalamela-Odolu Local Government Area were able to advocate for the reduction of widowhood mourning period from

Abba Kyari: Prime minister...

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President, as well as, coverage of such meetings including provision of secretariat services; organising Federal Executives Council meetings in conjunction with the cabinet secretariat and advising the President on schedules of the meetings to approval and eventual communication of same by the COS to the Cabinet Secretariat; attendance of National Defence and Security Council meetings, and coordination and attendance of the annual council/boards of Defence, NA, NN, NAF, NWC, CSC, NDA and NDF, as well as, following up all decisions reached at the meetings.

Teniola further noted that the provision also included, “Serving as a link between the President, and the Service Headquarters; Vetting of all draft speeches for the President, in respect of services functions; Management of correspondence to and from the President, including the circulation of enrolled legislation, proposed Executive orders, decision

memoranda, speeches and other Presidential documents to relevant State House functionaries for clearance and comment; Ensuring that any document being forwarded to the President is in suitable condition, technically and substantively for President review and action; maintenance and control of the President’s projects and welfare accounts, and authorisation of use of Presidential Air-fleet by government functionaries.”

Although schedule of office covers his roles, pundits fear that he would abuse the power considering the fact that he has the ear of the President, and the directive by the President that the new ministers should not to have personal contact with him, rather channeled such through Kyari, would bring out the tyrant in him, as absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Their fear is already confirmed with recent demonstration of unquestioning power by Kyari in querying Babatunde Fowler, the head of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) over dwindling revenue fortunes of the country.

11 months to three months in the community, stressing that they were also able to address the issues of healthcare facilities confronting the women, set up an adult literacy classes and skills acquisition centre facilitated by members in their bid to support other women to improve generally.

In the same vein, Comfort Mataga, Peer Education Facilitator from Osisi community, said education and skills acquisition were crucial to the girl child, adding that a girl or woman without education would be a minus issue in the society.

Hannah Eneojo, facilitator from Ugbedomagu also said through the programme in her Community, girl child enrollment in schools had increased just as issues of petty jealousy among women had drastically reduced.

BDSUNDAY 3

Akpeazu commends Pan Martine Investment’s exploits in Abia

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UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

k e y Ez e n w a and his organi s a t i o n , Pa n Ma r t i n e I n vestment Limited have been applauded by the Abia State government for bringing the hitherto moribund Golden Guinea Breweries Plc back to life.

John Okiyi Kalu, Abia State commissioner for Information, who made the commendation in Umuahia during a facility tour of the Breweries, lauded the doggedness and hard work of the private sector owners of the company who he noted worked day and night to bring the company back to life.

Kalu urged Nigerians to look out for the Golden products (Golden Guinea Lager, Bergedorf Lager and malt, and Eagle stout in beer parlours across the country and enjoy their favourites.

“I am happy to inform the good people of Abia State, Ndigbo and Nigerians in general that they can go to any beer parlour in the country and drink any of their favourites Golden Guinea products,” said Kalu.

The Abia Information commissioner disclosed that the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu administration was poised to support private sector organisations to create as

much jobs as possible in the state to take care of the current and future employment needs of brilliant graduates in the state.

Sam Hart, special adviser to the governor on public communication, in his remarks, said: “People have taunted us with the Golden Guinea. A regular question that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu gets is, where is Golden Guinea you people promised us? So, a resuscitated Golden Guinea will be a mockery silencer.”

Golden Guinea originally commenced business in 1963 and was named Independence Brewery Limited with annual capacity of one million gallons. The location of Umuahia was chosen due to the importance of water.

Production was cut short at the Brewery by fire accident in 2003 but several attempts have been made to bring the Brewery back to life.

The company holds a franchise rights from Germanbased Holsten Breweries to produce and market Golden Guinea Lager, Bergedorf Premium Lager and Bergedorf Malta. Majority shares in the company were later purchased by Pan Martine Investments Limited promoted

by Okey Nzenwa.

In April, 2018, the Brewery received a grant of N3.6billion from Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) and the Bank of Industry (BoI).

Zulum inherits Shettima’s nightmare...

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times as the insurgents laid ambush to his convoy. During some of his Save-Our-Souls (SOS) visit to Aso Rock, he met with President Buhari, three senators from the state, members of the House of Representatives, the Chief of Defence Staff, National Security Adviser, Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

Ordinarily, Shettima’s troubles should have discouraged any other politician from vying for the office of governor in the volatile state, but as it is said, the grass is always greener on the other side and the taste of the pudding is in the eating.

Less than four months after he was sworn in as Shettima’s successor, it appears that Zulum has begun to see the good, the bad and the ugly sides of power. He daily hears the cries of agony of his subjects and the intimidating and taunting

voices of the insurgents who launch deadly attacks from their fortress in the dreaded Sambisa forest.

Like Shettima , Zulum has reportedly made a tearful and passionate appeal to the President over the wicked activities of Boko Haram, a sect that has held some Chibok School girls abducted in 2014 up till now, and has also refused to let go a Christian girl, Leah Sharibu, violently taken away along others from their school in a sleepy community in Yobe State.

Today, Zulum may have discovered that he is wearing a crown of thorns.

Last Friday, following renewed attacks on communities in Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents, Governor Zulum ran to the seat of power in Abuja where he appealed to President for urgent plans to effectively police the Nigerian borders along the embattled state.

Borno, located on the North Eastern part on Nigeria, is also

borders to the country’s neighbors, including Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Zulum lamented the renewed attacks in Borno communities of Gubio and Magumeri, burning government establishments and religious worship centres.

The governor had rushed to Abuja to see the President on the possible ways to end the nightmare in his domain. He disclosed that the state had begun a process of dialogue with local communities with a view to integrating repentant Boko Haram militants and called on the Federal Government to speed up the process of granting pardon to militants who are ready to lay down arms. “ We h a v e a l r e a d y c o mmenced the process of dialoguing with our traditional rulers, religious leaders and youths with the view to identifying militants who wants to repent.

“We also want to appeal to the President to help speed up the process of granting pardons for repentant militants,” he said.

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Sunday 25 August 2019

News Rivers governorship election: PDP tenders results from polling units to show Wike won convincingly Ignatius Chukwu

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overnor Nyesom Wike practically contested against himself in the March 11, 2019 governorship election in Rivers State because the courts barred the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) from contesting. Even the party (African Alliance) where a stalwart of the APC went to contest was knocked out too.

Yet, the election became fiercer because the APC backed the AAC. The outcome has been subject of tribunal contests. Now, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State on Thursday tendered what it believes are strategic enough to clinch the case. It tendered results from polling units from different Local Government Areas to the Rivers State Governorship Election

Tribunal to justify the re-election of Governor Wike.

The Polling Units Results were tendered in respect of the petition filed against the election of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike by the defeated Rivers State Governorship Candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Victor Fingesi.

Tendering the results from the bar, counsel to the PDP, Godwin Obla (SAN), said the polling units results were from 356 polling units.

Obla told the tribunal that the result sheets were from some of the polling units in Obio/Akpor, Khana, Ogu/Bolo, Bonny, AkukuToru, Ahoada East, Opobo/Nkoro and others.

He informed the tribunal that the PDP resolved to tender results to prove that elections held across the state at the polling units and declarations made under very peaceful atmosphere.

Wike

He added that since INEC and Gov Wike have called witnesses to prove that the Governorship Election was conducted in line with the Electoral Act, the PDP chose to prove the conduct of the elections through documentary evidence.

Addressing journalists after closing the PDP defence, Obla said that from documentary evidence and oral testimonies of witnesses, the 2019 Governorship Election in Rivers State was held in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act and Governor Wike emerged victorious.

He said: “This morning on behalf of the 3rd respondent, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, we tendered a total of 356 exhibits in support of our case. We feel satisfied that the requirements of the law required of us, has been fully met and that is why we decided to close our case today.

“Don’t forget that the 1st respondent, INEC, called witnesses, the 2nd respondent, Governor Nyesom Wike, who is the candidate of the 3rd respondent, PDP, called witnesses and tendered a lot of documents those relates to this same subject matter. The interest of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents is actually the same”.

Also speaking, Dolapo-Telle Attoni, ADP counsel, “The PDP presented from the Bar a bundle of electoral documents they claimed INEC used in conducting the governorship election. They tendered about 356 alleged polling units’ results. We had asked for few minutes to study these same documents and also obtain Certified True Copy of the said documents which not comply by INEC”.

Following the PDP closing its case, the tribunal has adjourned till September 16 2019 for the adoption of addresses by parties in the petition filed by Action Democratic Party and its Governorship candidate. The case of the AAC is still dragging at appeal levels where the issue of who the rightful counsel is being contested.

I went to Germany for investment drive, not for new yam festival - Ekweremadu Regis Anukwuoji, Enugu

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ke Ekweremadu, a former deputy Senate president, has said he went to Germany for an investment drive to enhance industrial development of his people and not for new yam festival contrary to what some people said.

Ekweremadu, who was speaking to a large crowd of people from various parts of Enugu State, particularly Enugu west senatorial district that trooped out to welcome him to his home state after his attack by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), also pointed out that it was his custom not to touch new yam before October 30th.

He thanked the people of Enugu State and all Nigerians who showed concern over his attack and said that he has forgiven the people that attacked him.

Among those he addressed are Ohanaeze group, the youth and women organisation, who thanked God for spearing his life.

The leaders of the various groups who appealed to Ekweremadu to forgive the people for “they did not know what they were doing” , however, warmed that what happened should be the first and last as they would never, ever accept such attack again.

They described Ekweremadu as one man who fights for Igbo agenda and does not deserve the attack on him by the IPOB members.

According to the leaders of the groups, Ekweremadu has no boundary in the distribution of amenities as it relates to Enugu west senatorial district in particular and Enugu State as a whole, ranging from empowerment through Ikeoha Foundation to road constructions and provision of water, among others.

Food prices drop as harvest season commences Blessing Bala

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rices of key staples food such as rice, tomatoes and beans have declined in the last couple of weeks as farmers commence harvest.

This is happening barely two weeks after the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, which is often accompanied by high food prices. Traders at Mile 12, Oyingbo and Iddo markets in Lagos expressed excitement over cheaper prices of food items at the outset of harvest season.

Although food prices are cheaper, experts say a restriction on foreign exchange for the importation of food items into the country as disclosed by President Buhari would undermine the gains achieved in curtailing food prices. Besides potatoes tuber (Arish and sweet), which witnessed price surge, the drop in prices of farm produce has necessitated consumers to demand for more of the food items, a BusinessDay market survey conducted on Tuesday and Thursday shows.

Tomatoes and onions, however,

are relatively cheaper and stable.

A basket of tomatoes, which was sold between N10,000 - N13,000 a month ago, is now being sold for N7,500 depending on the freshness and specie of the tomatoes. The survey shows.

Similarly, price of a jute bag of onions dropped from N33,000 to N25,000, while red chilly (pepper) now cost N15,000 for a big bag, from N27,000 sold a month ago.

A bag of drum beans fell from N52,000 to 19,000, while a bag of honey beans now sells at 14,000 as against N22,000 it cost before the celebration.

Furthermore, a medium-sized tuber of new yam, which was N1,500, is now sold for N1,000; price of a bag of ginger dropped from N10,000 to N7,000, while the price of 50 kg brands of rice is now N14,500 at the market but some other local markets still sell for at N15,000.

The drop in prices is not peculiar to cash crops alone as prices of vegetables of all sorts decreased following farmers’ bumper harvest, a development which crashed okro prices from 7,000 to 5000, according to traders in Iddo market.

How collaboration with OPC reduced crime rate in Southwest - IGP Iniobong Iwok

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he Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has said that the agency’s collaboration with the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), in terms of information gathering, has led to a significant reduction in crime rate in SouthWest of Nigeria.

The IGP, who made the claim through a delegation sent to the Aare Ona Kankanfo of Yorubaland and leader of the OPC, Iba Gani Ad-

ams, in Lagos at the weekend, said that he would sustain the synergy and partnership with the OPC to further reduce crime rate and ensure peace in the southwest area.

Rising from a meeting with the delegation, the Aare Ona Kankanfo commended the initiative of the IGP to partner with his organisation to fight crime, as he pledged that the OPC would not betray the course.

Adams noted that the most important part of security is intelligence gathering, as he recalled how the police in Lagos were able to end

the menace of the dreaded Badoo cultists involved in several killings in the state by forming a partnership with the OPC. He also noted that the OPC was not set up as a crime-fighting organisation as he revealed the circumstances that led to its involvement in security matters when landlord associations sought its assistance to stem the tide of rising crimes.

He reflected on the confrontations between the OPC and the police between 2000 and 2004, and expressed joy that today the IGP has found the organisation

worthy of his collaboration in crime fighting.

Commending the IGP for believing in community policing and taking pro-active steps, Adams said that the OPC would work with the newly established police special squad to be deployed to the southwest, as his men who know the territory well are ready, willing, and able to confront criminals in the region.

Leader of the IGP’s delegation, Jude Nwankor, assured Aare Ona Kankanfo that the mistake of the past would not repeat itself again.

Members of the delegation included the Officer in Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Lagos, Peter Gana and the Commander, Seme Border Patrol, CSP Ogechi Moses Udu. Also at the parley on the side of Iba Adams were the former Special Adviser, Political, to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Basorun Akin Osuntokun; OPC’s Director of Mobilisation, Dauda Asikolaye; Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo; Osi Aare Ona Kakanfo, Gani Kola Balogun; Segun Sani; and other key members of the group.

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News

Advisory council urges Ikpeazu, Assembly to pass Abia Charter of Equity into law UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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he Abia State Advisory Council has appealed to the State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu and the State House of Assembly to commit the Abia Charter of Equity into law to ensure equal distribution of political offices among the three zones in the state.

Anaga Ezikpe, chairman of the council, made the appeal in Government House Umuahia weekend while briefing newsmen on the activities lined up for the celebration of 28 anniversary of the creation of Abia State.

He noted that when eventually, the Charter of Equity is passed and signed into law it would quell the fear of domi-

nation by a particular group or the other in the state.

The elder statesman, who is one of the founding fathers of the state, disclosed that the proposed Abia Charter of Equity had been sent to the various Assemblies since creation of the state but none has been courageous enough to pass it.

“Proposed Abia Charter of Equity has been taken to various Assemblies of the House to put it into law but up till now our demand for the House to pass the bill has been futile,” Ezikpe said.

He said that his joy is that the three zones have produced governors according to the letters of the equity.

He however, said that the state has not fared badly since its creation 28 years ago.

Kwara governor sends antipoverty bill to Assembly SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin

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overnor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State has forwarded a bill to institutionalise his various initiatives to drive economic growth, counter poverty to the state Assembly to ensure equitable distribution of resources in the state.

The bill, when passed, will establish the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWSSIP) which would be charged with the responsibility of tackling poverty, ensuring equitable distribution of resources and economic growth.

The governor’s plan is to ensure that his various interventions to tackle poverty and make living a lot more meaningful for the people are formalised and institutionalised.

However, it is a social security plan that benefits everyone, regardless of their affiliations.

Rafiu Ajakaye, chief press

Abdulrahman

secretary to the governor, in a statement on Thursday says such programmes would outlive the administration and guard against people, especially the aged, falling into destitution or depending on any individual politicians to access whatever support the state can offer them.

Modelled after the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programmes, the statement added that KWSSIP would comprise Kwara State Conditional Cash Transfer (KWCCIT) to support those within the lowest poverty bracket by improving nutrition and increasing household consumption; Kwara State Also, Poverty Reduction Programme (KWSPRP) to assist Kwarans to acquire and develop lifelong skills; Kwara State Government Entrepreneur and Empowerment Programme (KWSGEEP) which shall lend money to petty traders, artisans, farmers, enterprising youths, men and women; and HomeGrown School Feeding Programme (HGSF).

“The HGSF will ensure school feeding of schoolchildren in order to increase school enrolment, reduce malnutrition, empower community women, and support small farmers in the state,” the statement said.

This comes a few days after Abdulrazaq visited the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) at Jamba-Oja in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state where he said the thrust of his administration is to lift the people from poverty line, using heavy investment in agriculture and human capital development.

Ganduje visits foreign missions in Abuja, calls for collaboration in economic development Adeola Ajakaiye, Kano

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or closer ties between Kano state and the United Arab Emirates, a modern and global city development project would soon be on board between the state and UAE, called Twin-City Concept, with the view to bringing closer economic cooperation and cultural fertilisation for mutual sustainable development.

This was revealed by the UAE Ambassador in Nigeria, Fahad Obaid Al-Taflaq, when the governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje paid him a courtesy visit at the Embassy, in Abuja, with the aim of strengthening relationship between the state and the Arab Emirates.

Pleased with the high level presentation and articulation of Kano’s interest in the about-to-be-strengthened ties, as posed by Ganduje, Obaid reveals that, “Because of the importance we attach to Kano State, as well as your special visit to us today, let me disclose to you Your Excellency, that we are coming up with Twin-City Concept for Kano and Dubai, for our mutual development.”

Explaining that, “If the concept is viable and it pleases you, we will be glad to start working on it very soon. We share many things in common, especially Kano being the commercial nerve centre of the North and some parts of the African states.”

Kano State, according to the ambassador, is a “Historical Icon” of which his country wants to see that other areas of mutual benefits are explored, for

Ganduje

the sustainability of the strong economic ties, both parties want to create for posterity.

Responding to Ganduje’s request for reconsidering the shuttling of Emirates Airlines to Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), as Kano has for many years being a global destination for many international passengers, Ambassador Obaid assured that “This request is very vital and will be handed down to appropriate quarters.”

Encouraging further that, “This request I am sure will be under serious consideration by the Airline in Allah’s name. Though Airline’s routes distribution is widely across the global community, then Kano is an important route that something should be done about it.”

He briefed the governor how well informed he (Ambassador) is about the position of Kano in global economy, since during

Trans-Saharan trade.

“Where Kano played an important hub and a centre for the world trade. Merchants were coming all the way from Arab places down to Kano, through the TransSaharan trade. We are very familiar with the economic position of the state, since then,” he said.

Obaid argued that he was so concerned with Kano, not only on the economic front, but also because of cultural reasons, clarifying that, “... through trade, Islam came down to Kano, which makes it quite possible for us to have similarity in some of our cultural displays.”

About Etihad Airlines, he disclosed that the management of the Airline is now trying to first and foremost clearly understand the operations and operational routes, at the global engagements.

While discussing possibility of making other Airlines from UAE to Kano, the

Ambassador, hinted that, he would have loved El-Arabia Airlines to be coming to Kano, but the only difficulty they would face in such proposal “...is the fact that ElArabia Airlines cannot fly more than 5 hours per trip.

So, if you look at it from Kano to Dubai or Abu Dhabi the fly time is more than 5 hours.”

After listening to the governor attentively, when he was recounting feats achieved in the education sector, with explanatory discussion on the recently pronounced free and compulsory education policy by the state, the ambassador assured his visitor that he would always be ready to help Kano achieve greater heights in education.

“Your Excellency, you are my big brother. Whenever you want me in Kano I will be glad to come. I therefore, assure you that I will come to Kano this early September for the Summit on free and compulsory education. I will be looking forward for more closer ties with Kano, particularly in the areas of education, cultural promotion and economic advancement,” he concludes.

In his request for reconsidering the Ambassador to help make effect the coming back of Emirates Airlines to Kano route, Governor Ganduje, reminded the Ambassador about the big market in the state for the Airline and other Airlines coming from many destinations of the world.

“Kano is a gateway for connecting to other destinations of the world. Emirates Airlines was sometime in the past one of the friendly Airlines of the state. We want to renew that relationship,” Ganduje pleaded.

CNN celebrates Africa’s 3 top innovative waste-to-wealth managers

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he new edition of the Globacom-sponsored CNN African Voices Changemakers, a 30-minute magazine programme, celebrates three top innovative Africans, who are into waste-to-wealth ventures with a view to rescuing the continent’s ecosystem from further degradation.

The first of the environment health triumvirate is Bilikiss Adebiyi Abiola, 36, a Nigerian Chief Executive Officer of a recycling company in Lagos. Abiola began her tertiary education at the University of Lagos from where she relocated to the United States of America after the first year, to continue her education at the Fisk University. She later proceeded to

Vanderbilt University, where she bagged a Master’s degree.

She was in the employ of IBM for five years and was subsequently granted an admission for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

At MIT, she picked Waste Management as her course, which gave the inspiration to delve into recycling, a novel approach, by offering incentives for waste by the city dwellers. Later on, Abiola took her ingenuity in waste management to her city of birth, Lagos, Nigeria, where on a daily basis, the residents generate 9,000 metric tons of waste. By the year 2012, she co-founded a company called WeCyclers, which col-

lects recyclable rubbish from households within the city.

The company has given sustenance to at least 80 staff members that use tricycles to gather waste.

Her efforts in the venture have received numerous mentions in the media not only in Nigeria but in the United Kingdom, America and Germany, and she has been awarded grants from her alma mater, MIT, to further her research in waste management. She equally won the Cartier Women’s Initiative Award for sub-Saharan Africa in 2013. Most importantly, her continuous efforts at waste management are contributing to making the environment cleaner.

Abiola will be joined on the

programme by two Liberians, Abraham Freeman and Baccus Roberts, who co-founded the Monrovia-based Environmental Rescue Initiative (ERI).

The duo will use the programme to tell viewers how they are using their efforts to challenge all Liberians, in particular, and the citizens of all nations in general, to take up the challenge of ridding the environment of waste and innovatively generating revenue from the same source.

Freeman and Roberts, using their company, ERI, remove trash from the streets of Monrovia by using plastic components generated from the mountains of waste to fabricate paver bricks for construction.

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Sunday 25 August 2019

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#RevolutionNow, Ekweremadu’s attack: PDP chieftain warns against bad governance James Kwen, Abuja

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he National Vice Chairman, Peoples Democratic Pa r t y ( P D P ) South-South, Emmanuel Ogidi has warned that Nigerians are fed up with bad leadership which had hindered progress in the country over the years.

In an interview with journalists in Abuja, Ogidi said that the #RevolutionNow protest and the attack on former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu showed that the people were getting frustrated.

Ogidi, who cautioned leaders against bad governance said that the worst was yet to come if leaders do not change their attitude towards governance and the people.

“We are in danger; we the leaders have failed the people, because they trusted each time we go to the ballot and make promise.

“And as soon they elect us, we deviate from the promises made before the polls; what is happening now is even worse, the people mandate was stolen.

“Unless leaders change, things will get worse because

Emmanuel Ogidi

Nigerians now know that they may not get justice,” he said.

According to him, even the umpire of the election, in spite of all the assurances given, could not tell the people the whole truth with regards to election results and use of server.

Ogidi said that lies were short-lived and that the people were now aware of the whole truth as indisputable facts were being presented.

The PDP chieftain described the attack on Ekweremadu as transfer of aggression and that the #RevolutionNow protest showed that the citizens have started reacting.

He said the killing of police officers in Taraba by military men after proper identification and a criminal was set free was most unfortunate.

Ogidi noted that a situation where agents that are

supposed to protect the citizens had started killing themselves and freeing criminals could make people react out of frustration.

“My advice to leaders today, therefore, is for them to be very careful when they go out and should also not expose themselves. The people are frustrated and until we come out clean and say the truth, we are no longer safe anymore.

“I foresee danger because the economy is so bad and suffering in the land is real; the spate of insecurity and the lack of hope in sight that the security apparatus can address it anytime soon shows that we are not safe,” he said.

He said the #RevolutionNow protest has started attracting more sympathy from groups and individuals across board as the Joint Northern Action Front had joined the initiative.

According to him, people are no longer ignorant as we use to think, people are now bold to vent their anger and dissatisfaction against leaders, we have lost that myth around us.

The PDP stalwart said the ‘Giant of Africa’ had gone to sleep and was in deep slumber and must wake up from

the unfortunate position.

“That is why people attack Nigerians abroad, look at South Africa that Nigeria did so much for; the other day in Congo, Nigeria’s ambassador ejected and embassy properties were thrown out.

“Just like Leah Sharubutu, nobody is safe, the pastor coming from Kaduna was kidnapped recently, a woman and her daughter who visited Nigeria were kidnapped, raped and ransom collected and she had sworn never to return, not even her corpse for burial.”

On the restriction of Forex on food items, Ogidi said it was a disgrace for Nigeria to import palm oil, toothpick and other food materials it could produce locally.

He said that the country derailed, which led to importing such food item which could be produced locally.

The PDP Vice Chairman, however, said that many farmers had lost their lives in the farmer/herder crisis had kept living away from their farms.

He said the restriction of forex would spell inflation and hunger in the land as price will rise and citizens would not have money to purchase food.

‘Big Family Dream’ show to deliver entertainment value, financial literacy to families AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

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afot Studios, producers of the international television shows called Kids Say the darndest things, has in partnership with Lifemate Furniture and AG Mortgage Bank Plc, announced plans to launch a new television game show for families called The Big Family Dream.

The Big Family Dream, which will be premiered on MNETs’ African Magic Family from October 2019, is a financial literacy game show, premised on the basis that families have dreams that cut across having good apartment, car, education for children and more.

With an allocation of N10 million visual money, these dreams come true upfront for the 20 families selected after a rigorous audition process, but they are required to fight to keep their dreams by competing with other families.

At the end of the show, the only standing family will keep the dream prize, which is a fully furnished apartment while the runner

up get consolation prizes with an option to get desired furniture from Lifemate on discounted rate.

Speaking at the media launch of the show in Lagos on Wednesday, Oludare Onasanya, executive producer, disclosed that the dream prize for this season is a 3-bedroom apartment sponsored by AG Mortgage Bank Plc and furnished by Lifemate Nigeria.

According to him, the runner up will get an all expense paid weekend getaway at City Height Hotel by Opebi link Road in Ikeja, Lagos. “The Big Family Dream is one of the many original formats, Bafot Studios has, and we are pleased that sponsors are already seeing the potential of the show.”

“Apart from the prize, the show holds a lot of entertain-

ment value for families as it will afford them the opportunity to learn a lot about life and financial management.

We created this format to provide wholesome family entertainment while giving family oriented brands an opportunity to deliver value to families in Nigeria,” he added.

Ejiemhen Orebayo, public relations officers of Lifemate Nigeria, who said the firm was

L-R: Oludare Onasanya, executive producer of The Big Family Dream TV show; Ejiemhen Orebayo, public relations officer of Lifemate Nigeria; Olowu Bardia (popularly called Illrymz), TV host and Nathaniel Uchegbue, head, Legal Administration, AG Mortgage Bank Plc, during the media launch of The Big Family Dream TV show in Lagos, recently.

delighted to be part of the family game show because Lifemate is about family, further said that the company deals with various furniture that serves family needs from the living room to bedroom and to kitchen cabinet.

Describing Lifemate as a one-stop-shop for complete household furniture, she said the participants on the game show represent the target demography that Lifemate has delighted over the years with its premium home furniture.

“Our participation is a way of showing our appreciation to Nigerian families and to assure them of our commitment to improving their lifestyle.

We are very pleased with the partnership and what it has achieved so far,” she added.

Nathaniel Uchegbue, head, Legal Administration, AG Mortgage Bank Plc, said the bank has been in the business of providing to Nigerian middle class, which Big Family Dream show represents.

“We see this as an opportunity to tell Nigerians that owning a home is a possibility and we have been driving this concept for years.

Akwa Ibom seeks FG intervention in road projects ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

A

kwa Ibom State has urged the Federal Government to intervene in its dilapidated roads across the state to ease the difficulties faced by commuters.

Ephraim Inyang-eyen, state commissioner for works, who, made the call in Uyo, the state capital, while responding to questions from journalists, said the state was already saddled with several road projects tasking its meagre resources.

He explained that the state being a major contributor to the nation’s oil revenue deserved a better treatment than what it is getting so far.

According to him, AbakEkparakwa-Port Harcourt highway, Ikot Ekpene-ItuCalabar highway and Ikot Ekpene-Aba highway have gone beyond mere patches and needed total reconstruction.

“Akwa Ibom is a major contributor to the national purse through her resources; it is sad to note that many states in the north with little or nothing to contribute have better federal roads. It’s unfair, and the state needs, as a matter of urgency, federal government intervention on federal roads across the state”.

Inyang-eyen, who observed that though several ongoing road projects handled by his ministry have experienced setbacks owing to the heavy downpour in the state, however, assured that most of them will be delivered according to specifications for the use of motorists soon.

“We have resolved never to do any substandard job in this state and will not hesitate to terminate any project found to be below our standard. Akwa Ibom people deserve the best,” he said.

He warned that government would not tolerate any act capable of derailing the ongoing physical infrastructure in the state, urging those refusing to be compensated for their property on the right of way to have a change of heart.

Inyang-eyen, who said the state government was working towards ensuring a comprehensive drainage system to ensure that the 25km UyoIkot Ekpene highway stand the test of time, also hinted that it would put the minds of residents challenged by flood along the road

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Lagos targets mother/child mortality reduction stories by JOSHUA BASSEY

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agos State commissioner for h e a l t h , Ak i n Ab a y o m i h a s said that the continuous implementation of strategic maternal and child survival intervention policies and programmes is geared towards the reduction of maternal/ child mortality in the state.

Abayomi, who stated this during an advocacy meeting with some stakeholders, community leaders and residents of Badore, in Eti-Osa local government area, noted that local and national statistics of maternal and child mortality and morbidity rate were of utmost concern to the state government, hence the adoption of various strategies to combat it.

“One of these strategies is the construction of maternal and childcare centre (MCC); a specialised healthcare centre for mothers and children aimed at taking maternal and child health care closer to the people by reducing the travel time and improving the quality care to the highest possible standard.”

Aboyomi, who was represented at the meeting by the director of projects in the ministry of

health, Olusoga Oduwole noted that the state government has completed yet another MCC which is located on Ogombo road along Abraham Adesanya Estate in Eti-Osa local government area as part of efforts to increase access of residents to qualitative and efficient maternal and child health services.

“The facility which will commence operation soon is a four-floor 110bed complex designed to respond to maternal and child health issues by providing quality services for the restoration, improvement and promotion of the health and well-being of women, babies and children in the local government area and adjoining communi-

ties”, he said.

The commissioner explained that the facility has two theatres where surgeries could be done, consulting rooms, treatment rooms, antenatal and post natal wards, baby nursery, pharmacy, laboratory, and offices amongst others.

Abayomi added that the construction of MCCs in Lagos State was designed to stem the tide of maternal deaths which occur as a result of delivery by unskilled birth attendants, hemorrhage, infection, obstructed labour and malaria among others stressing that women should not die in the course of life procreation process.

According to him, “the concept of the construc-

tion of maternal and childcare centres was mooted with the conviction that these interventions would impact positively on the health indices of our mothers and children who constitute a significant percentage of clients attended to at public health facilities” He disclosed that the Eti-Osa MCC was set to commence operation and would serve as a referral centre to all primary health facilities in Eti-Osa local government and accompanying communities.

He opined that the facility will yield the much desired and anticipated impact towards the reduction of maternal and child mortality in the area.

We have potential to match global cities in housing provision - Official

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ewly inaugurated commissioner for housing in Lagos State, Maruf AkinderuFatai, says the state will be competing with other smart global cities in the provision of affordable housing for residents.

Akinderu-Fatai stated this upon his resumption of duty, saying the state government recognises the high influx of people into Lagos from all parts of the country, hence the need to bridge the housing deficit.

“Lagos is the unique destination of choice for not only Nigerians but also nationals of neighbouring countries. People come to Lagos for every reason.

They do not have any plans for going back, thereby in-

creasing the housing deficit on daily basis.

“We have to provide decent accommodation for them all,” he said in a statement by Adeola Salako, director, public affairs of the ministry.

The commissioner, who

was a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly committee on housing and also a member of the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2015, said that in spite of the challenges of the huge gap, the new administration was capable of resolving the issues through sustained efforts.

He added that the “ministry of housing will speedily complete some of the ongoing housing schemes, while private sector participation will be energised to yield an added value in the sector”.

According to him, Lagos had the wherewithal to compete favourably with smart cities of the same category all over the world in provision of housing.

“Actualising the vision of building a 21st century economy with decent shelter for all is within reach.

Lagos is blessed with the potentialities and we are strongly committed to bringing it to fruition.’’

He urged stakeholders in the housing sector to support the government in order to speedily achieve the vision of providing qualitative and affordable homes for all classes of Lagos residents.

Also, the special adviser housing, Adetoke BensonAwoyinka, said the ministry will look into the provision of temporary shelter for the distressed and vulnerable people to reduce the problem of homelessness and destitution.

@Businessdayng

7 Inside Lagos

Kellogg unites families in Lagos DAVID IBEMERE

K

ellogg, a breakfast cereal brand is organising a long breakfast table for families in different locations in Lagos State. So far, over 1860 people have been covered at three locations in the state.

Ke l l o g g ’s Bi g Fa m ily Breakfast is an activity where everyone around an identified locality gets invited to come with families, friends, neighbours to sit as one big Kellogg’s family to have breakfast.

They are served Kellogg’s cornflakes with milk in a relaxed atmosphere where those moments of quality family time can be cherished.

This activity is planned to run for several weeks and to cover six local government areas. It began in Festac town in the last week of July which attracted attendance of over 316 participants, and then in Ikosi-Ketu the following week with over 1,223 participants, the most recent was at LSDPC Alaka Estate in Surulere with more than 380 crowds.

Speaking during the activity at LSDPC Alaka Estate, Darlington Igabali, marketing manager, Kellogg, said the rationale behind the campaign is to promote family bonding amid busy lifestyle. It is to encourage the coming together of parents, kids, friends, neighbours and cherish the moments through Kellogg’s breakfast cereal

“Kellogg has always promoted the importance of breakfast and family time, We realised that there is a decline in breakfast dining as a family and we are committed to be a part of the solution by showing people that having breakfast as a family can be on the best way to start our day” he said.

“We carried out a dipstick survey across few areas with the question; “when was the last time, you had breakfast as a family?” and the feedback was generally “not in recent time!”.

Ni g e r i a i s a n a t i o n blessed with a rich culture towards community and family values, however, urbanisation and busy schedule have made most of us compromise on certain activities that bond us together such as; Family breakfast time before the start of our day,” said Darlington.

It has been an exciting and clearly well attended events at all the locations and the major highlights of the gathering follows a nice ritual where everyone opens the sachets together as one big Kellogg’s family.

During the Kellogg’s Big Family Breakfast activity in IKosi-Ketu, Ekemini who came along with his family said “this is such a beautiful concept which reminds us as Nigerians of the need to keep our family values by creating time to bond with ourselves. The need for family time cannot be over emphasised, Ekemini said.

Hotelier arraigned over murder of motorcyclist

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he police in Lagos have arraigned a 29year hotelier, Damilola Bamiduro, who allegedly drove recklessly and killed a motorcycle rider.

The defendant, who resides at Alagbado, faces a two- count charge of reckless driving and causing death of an innocent citizen, before an Ikeja Magistrate Court.

The prosecution counsel, Ezekiel Ayorinde, told the court on Thursday that the defendant committed the offence on August 11 at Raypower road, Alagbadeo, Lagos.

He alleged that the defendant drove his pathfinder jeep in a dangerous and reckless manner and crushed a 35-year motor-

cycle rider, Joel Bamigbola to death. The victim, he said, was declared dead in the hospital.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of section 20(1) of Road Traffic Law, Law of Lagos State, of Nigeria, 2012. Bamiduro, however, pleaded not guilty.

The magistrate B.O Osunsanmi admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Osunsanmi ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State government.

She adjourned the case to September 30, 2019 for mention.

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Sunday 25 August 2019

PhotoSplash

L-R: Ayoola Oluga, co-founder/chief executive officer, Agrecourse; Bimbo Onakomaiya, managing director, Peaktrust Insurance Brokers; Ayoola Fatona, head, agric/micro insurance, Leadway Assurance; Adetola Adegbayi, executive director, Leadway Assurance, and Uka Eje, co-founder/ chief executive officer, Thriveagric, at the Agric Breakfast seminar organized by Leadway Assurance in Lagos.

L-R: Captain Ibraheem Olugbade, executive director, SIFAX Off Dock; Hakeem Odumosu, member, Apapa Gridlock Presidential Task Force; Kayode Opeifa, team lead, Apapa Gridlock Presidential Taskforce, and Celine Ifeora, deputy director, monitoring and enforcement, Nigerian Shippers Council during the engagement meeting between the taskforce and SIFAX Group’s management team which was held at Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited Terminal, Apapa.

L-R: Obielumani N. Ideh, director, Foundation for African Culture Heritage; Oluseyi Oyebisi, executive director, Nigeria Network of NGOs; Soji Apampa, founder/executive director, Convention on Business Integrity; Biodun Ogunsola, senior consultant, CSR-in-Action, and Lauretta Asemota, director-general, Clean and Beautiful Atmosphere Initiative at the 9th CSO Professionalism Effectiveness and Therapy Workshop organised by CSR-in-Action and sponsored by Access Bank in Lagos

L-R: Kunle Oyelana, managing director, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc (GSK), and Isa Dutse, permanent secretary, ministry of finance, during a courtesy visit by GSK to the Ministry of Finance in Abuja, recently.

L-R: Nils Deeke, water resources/technologies manager, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC); Abubakar Gwadabe Buhari, Seriki Fulani Jaedanawa of Kano; George Polymenakos, Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited; Zoltan Syposs, group quality, safety/environment director, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC), and Ibraheem Saad, general manager, production, Kano State Water Board, during the handover ceremony of NBC’s education and water CSR projects in Kano State.

L-R: Oguntunde Akintayo, Port Harcourt plant manager, International Breweries; Tolulope Adedeji, Marketing Director, International Breweries; Owoh Chimaobi Chrismathner, hero brand ambassador, (Aka Zoro) and Johan Gouws, Breweries Operations Director, International Breweries, at the commemoration of Brand Day at the Port Harcourt Brewery Plant in Rivers State.

L-R: Alaye Adebayo, chairman, Agbado –Okeodo; Elugile Mzimba, general manager, CONLOG Meter Solutions Nigeria; Lawrence Okoye, business manager , Akowonjo business unit , Ikeja Electric ; Ogochukwu Obi-Chukwu, chief commercial officer, Ikeja Electric, and Felix Otemuyiwa, bale of Ireje , at the Ikeja Electric /CONLOG customer sensitization , at Akowonjo business unit Lagos.

Pic by Pius Okeosisi

L-R: MD, Ofada Boy,Omotunde Adenusi; portfolio Marketing manager, Mainstream brands, Nigerian Breweries), Ehis Emokhare, Media Marketing Manager, Friesland Campina PLc, OluwaFemi Ogundoro, MD/CEO, Maxima Media Group, Omotunde Lolo (On-Air-Personality), olufemi Akintola (Category Business Manager, Nestle Plc), YinKa Adebayo (Executive Director, Mediareach OMD), Lola Adeniyi, Marketing Manager, Fan Milk Danone recently at the 1 year anniversary of Views channel, channel 108 on startimes.

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Sanwo-Olu’s cabinet and the greater Lagos journey

Frank Aigbogun EDITOR Zebulon Agomuo DEPUTY EDITOR John Osadolor, Abuja

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)

Bashir Ibrahim Hassan

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

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

I

n his book, ‘What is History?’ Historian, E.H. Carr, attempted to put in perspective the role of people and personalities in defining and shaping events in the society.

While Carr agrees that the society offers the platform for individuals to achieve set goals, he, nevertheless, argued that there are personalities whose vision and strength of character have significantly shaped, defined and influenced their respective societies.

No doubt, Carr’s position is supported by numerous empirical facts. Through the ages, the history of several societies has been massively influenced, if not entirely altered, by the actions of certain individuals or a group of people. For instance, personalities such as Adolf Hitler, Mikel Gobachev, Nelson Mandela, to mention but a few, have radically modified the course of history in their respective societies and, by extension the entire world.

In the same vein, in the current political dispensation (1999date), the socio-political land-

scape of Lagos State, the nation’s Center of Excellence, has been significantly enhanced by the thoughts, visions and activities of some personalities who toiled endlessly to ensure that Lagos retains its status as the nation’s destination of choice. These men and women, who have been privileged to be members of the State Executive Council, have, no doubt, remarkably contributed their quota to the growth and development of the State.

In order to really underscore the strength of character as well as the profundity of their contributions to the evolvement of a modern Lagos, today, many of them occupy various prime positions across all strata of governance in the country. For instance, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Minister for Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Vice President, Mr. Ade Ipaye, Chairman Asset Management Company, AMCON, Mr. Muiz Banire, Chairman Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Babatunde Fowler, Mr. Ben Akabueze, Director General Budget Office and a host of others are among men who had once served as cabinet members in the State at one time or the other.

The bottom line here is that Lagos State, especially since 1999, has always been renowned for putting in place so-

phisticated cabinet comprising hardworking, competent and visionary individuals with knack for achieving greater results and accelerated progress. This is the path that Lagos has been following and that is the road that has translated into a huge success for the State.

The result has been sustained policy consistency and resultant remarkable strides in continuous improvement in revenue generation and fiscal performance, infrastructure modernization, renewal and expansion, social service delivery, improved judicial system, enhancement of security and implementation of poverty alleviating and job provision programmes to succor the most vulnerable segments of society in Lagos State.

It is, therefore, not surprising that Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has decided to follow in the same noble pathway as he recently put in place a cabinet with an intricate blend of professionals, administrators, scholars and politicians. On parade in the Sanwo-Olu ‘Greater Lagos’ cabinet is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, first class economist, a distinguished professor, veteran administrators , shrewd accountants, experienced politicians, successful entrepreneurs, world-class bankers, trail- blazing transport consultant, accomplished engineers, reputed journalists and knighted surveyors, among others.

From their antecedents, there is no doubt that the new cabi-

net members understand the challenges of the State and are prepared to key into the present administration’s vision of a engendering a Greater Lagos.

“Members of this new cabinet were carefully picked based on their cognate experience in their respective professions. We took our time to pick the best hands for the tough job Lagosians elected us to do. This cabinet will be unique because as usual, we take the lead in innovation, genderbalance and youth inclusion”, Governor Sanwo-Olu said.

The Governor, who took the oath of office on May 29 this year made it clear that the goal of his administration is to advance the social and economic progress of the State and its people regardless of faith, social class, or origin of birth.

Going through the profiles of the new Commissioners and Special Advisers, it is quite certain that Governor Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, now have the right individuals that would assist them in achieving the Lagos of their dream.

Within a spate of short time, the Sanwo-Olu administration has shown great determination to sustain and surpass tradition of excellence which the State is widely known for.

Hopefully, as members of the new cabinet settle down in their respective MDAs, their actions and activities would translate into a safe, secure and prosperous Lagos for all.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Dick Kramer - Chairman Imo Itsueli Mohammed Hayatudeen Afolabi Oladele Vincent Maduka Keith Richards Opeyemi Agbaje Amina Oyagbola Bolanle Onagoruwa Fola Laoye Chuka Mordi Mezuo Nwuneli Charles Anudu Tunji Adegbesan Eyo Ekpo

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Sunday 25 August 2019

Politics ‘Udom’s administration is focused on industrialising, remodelling Akwa Ibom’ CHARLES UDO, commissioner for information and strategy, Akwa Ibom State, in this exclusive interview with INIOBONG IWOK, who was in Uyo, said the Udom Emmanuel administration was poised to delivering dividends of democracy to the people. He also spoke on a wide range of issues affecting governance in the state. Excerpts:

G

overnor Udom has just resumed a second term; what shape would the transformation agenda take?

In the first tenure, the governor had outlined the five-point agenda, which was the focus of his developmental and governmental initiative. But having accomplished that, which culminated in his re-election for a second term in office, he clearly outlined another set of objectives he hopes to achieve in the next four years. Those objectives are outlined in what he called ‘The Completion Agenda’.

The new agenda encapsulates eight key areas, which includes, industrialisation, infrastructure, aviation development, rural and riverine area development, security, human capacity development, agriculture small and medium-scale enterprises. These eight points are the milestones this government hopes to accomplish in the next four years.

The milestones were arrived at following a critical review of the first four years; the impacts of the programmes and projects. As well, it included the responses from people and their expectations in the last four years. So, all are summarised in that eight points we called ‘The Completion Agenda’. In the next four years, the government wants to be held accountable on those eight points.

What have been the governor’s major achievements in the last four years?

In its first tenure in 2015, this government rolled out a fivepoint agenda, which it clearly set out to accomplish- job creation, wealth creation, poverty alleviation, infrastructural consolidation and expansion, political and economy inclusion.

The overriding objective of the agenda was to achieve the dream of industrialisation and turn the state to a tourist destination. Part of the objectives was also to make the state an agricultural hub because we

have rain almost across the year.

Also, what informed the fivepoint agenda was the fact that since the state was created, the economy has revolved around government and the political circles. When the youths leave school, they think of becoming politicians or civil servants because these were the two options the state can afford.

But developed economies do not depend on government.

So, this government’s overriding goal was to diversify the economy of the state from being public sector to private sector-driven.

But in doing that, we also took cognisance of the fact that several industrial initiatives of the government and advances of government in the different parts of the country to achieve that failed, and we went to town to ask why those initiatives failed.

With that at the back of our mind, we decided that industrialisation agenda would solely be investor-driven; as government will no longer build industries.

Experience has shown that if you do that, it would be recipe for disaster; because those industries would be run like an extension of government agency and would die a natural death because it cannot compete. The government decided it needed to create an enabling environment for investors to come in, set up their investments, run them and thrive in the state.

Some of the key things that an investor would want are confidence in governance, integrity in governance and accountability. If these are absent, you cannot have a discussion.

So, the governor decided with his background as an a accomplished private sector player to leverage on his large and rich networks of friends and business associates to establish trust, integrity, confidence, and accountability that allow investors to trust us.

The next hurdle to cross was creating infrastructure; which is roads, power and security.

We took over government in

2015, and for the better part of the previous administration; crime rate was high. So, the first agenda for the government was to sanitise the system, ensure security of lives and property.

The next agenda was power.

Power has been a national epidemic since independence as successive governments have tried to address the issue without success yet. We realized that if we are to thrive as an

industrial entity, we need to address the issue of power.

So, government invested a lot in the Ibom power plant to generate enormous wattage of power, but unfortunately since government is not in control of the distribution network; we realised that we still had issues with the power been generated not reaching where it should reach and at the right wattage.

Today, the Transmission

Company of Nigeria only evacuates about 40 percent of the generated power by Ibom power plant.

That is worrisome, because if you take all the power generated, its means that the entire state would be power sufficient. But because we do not have control of power transmission, we thought the best way to control how power is generated and when it reaches the consumers is to leverage on the technology called injectors stations.

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Politics So, we began to build injector stations in different parts of the state. The idea is to take electricity where it is generated, drive it to the nearest point to the consumer and then the distribution start from there. That means we have distribution hub, instead of generating and distributing from one source.

The idea of the distribution hub is to make sure that injector station faults and issues could easily be detected and resolved at a faster rate.

The first one we installed was in Uyo in July, 2017 and it transformed power supply.

The Uyo injector station covers Esonoma, Shelter Afrik, Ewe housing and its environs.

There was a drastic improvement during peak period; sometimes, you have power about 20 hours a day. Of course, there are still challenges, like aging distribution lines among others, which are not in our control.

With the success, we are doing more.

Today, we have one ready at the airport to be connected to the national grid.

There is another one built in Ekum, in Npat Enin, and three others in the works now. With those three we should cover key areas, while the one in Nkpat Enin would cover industrial areas and coastal cities.

The one at the airport will cover Onna, Oron and Eket. So, we think with that we are ready to attract the world to come and invest in Akwa Ibom state. We went to town looking for investors and there are 17 industries functioning in the state, which are all investors driven.

About 16 of them are fully commissioned, the 17th one is the flower mill and it is ready as test run is ongoing. Sometimes next month, before the state anniversary, we will commission it.

Also, we have Africa’s largest syringe manufacturing company, which produces the jubilee syringe. We also have Demitry Solution Company that produces prepaid meter.

So, with that we have achieved a larger chunk of three of the Five Completion Agenda of this government. Today, we can rightly tell ourselves that employment in those areas has improved with direct and indirect employment as each distributor in that company is an employer of labour.

If you look at the community, the impact is enormous, for instance a woman who lives in any of those community would either go to farm or petty trading, but now the opportunity for petty trading have enlarged because there are more people coming to that locality to do business every day.

She can even decide to run a canteen because she is guaranteed of customers, while the young man on the street can start a recharge card business.

But there are complaints by some local government areas that development is not even. In Orukanam several communities are without electricity due to the bad state of their transformers.

The government is responsible to provide transformers while the people protect them. If we have given transformers to communities in Orukanam and the people damaged them, we will not keep replacing them.

No government can solve every problem in four years, not in this part of the world. Every government has a focus and our key agenda like I told you is about the Nyegbono culture.

In the past, there was so much crime in the state because the youth had nothing to do. Today, we are focused on another agenda, which is to teach people how to fish, and not give them fish. The government

But unlike the previous administration, it seems this administration does not enjoy good publicity?

You do not sell Fanta and beer with the same method. Every government has a strategy. If we do not enjoy good publicity, how come this government won a second term in office despite all the federal might? How come the people stood by the government? That is an indication that despite all the publicity and communication we have grown consciously in the mind of the people.

We have built that consciously over time and you do not do that overnight.

You do not do that by being docile; you do that by being strategic. The previous government strategy was making noise; we have a different way of doing things.

This government is not a government of applause; it is about giving dividend of democracy. No government in Nigeria in first term is able to achieve what we did in four years, which is why you could see Akwa Ibom people rise up and support this government.

cannot help you protect infrastructure.

In Ini Local Government Area for example; which is the rice belt of this state, the first tarred road was done by this government. It means that all the rice farmers in Ini were been exploited by people who come to buy their rice at cheap prices because of the bad road. So, what government did was to create access road in Ini Local Government Area, linking up to Arochuckwu.

Before, it takes a day with a bike to get to Arochukwu, but now it is about twenty minutes. Now, the rice farmers have more people coming to buy their products.

Our dream is that the rice sellers in Ini will sell their rice at the right price and quantity. With good roads, they will no longer be exploited as it takes maximum of one hour to get to Uyo to sell at better price.

We said if we must open up the economy of the state, we must ensure that wherever you stay, it will not take you more than one hour to get to state capital, especially the farm and coastal areas. That is why we are constructing large network of roads spanning over 1,700 kilometres.

In the health sector, we inherited deplorable facilities in the secondary hospitals across the state. From Etinan, Ikot Okoro, to Ikono, no one was functioning.

You cannot talk about being an industrialised society and a tourist destination if you do not have good secondary healthcare facilities.

The government set out to fix the secondary healthcare across the state, from Etinan, Ikot Akoro, Awa, Ipita and Anua. We have fixed them, one at a time with state-of- the-art facilities.

What efforts is the administration making to ensure even location of projects across the state?

What do you mean by location of projects? If you talk about industry, industries are investor-driven, they choose where they want to site their industry,

where they want to go, and there are factors that determine it. We would not compel investors to go to where they do not want to go; after all, anywhere you go you would still employ indigenes of the state.

Government can spread the location of schools, healthcare institutions, roads, among others, but when it comes to location of industries there is nothing we can do; because if you build an industry with government funds it will die a natural death. There was Ibom Metal Company before, but it is no more, because they were tied to government.

If you look at a state like Ogun, there was a time the state was synonymous with tourist and owning hotels, but today the hotels are dead, because they were run by the state government.

What we are saying is that we are business people and are here to run the economy of the state for overall benefit.

If you look at the completion agenda, we have plans for rural and riverine areas development. Take the coastal areas like Eastern-Obolo and the rest for example, our fishermen in Ini were being exploited, they spend most of their days in the water fishing and the middle men would wait for them in their air-conditioned car till they get desperate and sell at giveaway prices.

This is because he knows you do not want to risk the fishes spoiling because it could be the fishermen’s meal ticket for the day. What the government’s focus in the next four years will be is to provide fish processing plants with cold rooms and oven.

What informed the decision to build the international worship centre?

Every state has a phase. Akwa Ibom is the only state in the world named after God and the government decided to build this. Nigeria as a country has a worship centre; every government has a priority; if we are 99 percent a Christian state, I do not see anything wrong in the state having a worship centre.

How do you react to report of secret recruitment by the state government?

It is not true. This government publishes annual state of account; I am not sure any state government in the country does that. If you want to talk you should look at the antecedent of this government, we are highly professional in what we do. So, this government does not engage in this practice, that is why we have 16 industries, foreign investors coming in to set up industries and live with our people. We are here diversifying the economy. What is the benefit of secret recruitment?

The level of insecurity is escalating across the country; what measures is the state government taking to beef up security across the state?

I have been talking about the completion agenda and one of the agenda is security; we are not talking about herdsmen because they are not our problem, rather we are talking about protecting Africa’s largest Syringe company which is a Turkey citizens’ own company; they brought their people to invest here. We are talking about security for the fertilizer milling company investors which is the largest flour mill in Europe. We are not bothered about herdsmen, they are not coming here. We are putting structures for the future generation in the state.

Is Ibom Air owned and operated by the state government only, or is the private sector involved?

Ibom Air is run by the state government; Ethiopia Airline is run by the government.

Firstly, we have redefined the landscape; the youngest airline flying in Nigeria before Ibom Airline was 21 years old, but all Ibom aircraft are six years old. Look at Ethiopia Airline, even Rwanda that just came out of genocide has a thriving airline, then Ibom Air would survive through the years.

The fact that Kenya and even Uganda have thriving airlines, this would survive. The governor was a banker; I was a banker, so, I understand business. We know that this business is viable, if you look at every major airline in the world today, it has some level of government involvement, it means that this business is profitable if done right. What we have done is to set up Ibom Air and give it to consultants to manage it and there are key performance indicators and we know that this is how it is going to be run.

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Sunday 04 August 2019

Politics

Buhari should be in touch with suffering Nigerians - Nwokedi CHIKA NWOKEDI, a philanthropist and business mogul was a governorship aspirant in Imo State in the March gubernatorial election on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In this exclusive interview with INIOBONG IWOK, he said that President Muhammadu Buhari must be decisive in tackling the current security challenges in the country. He also spoke on other issues in the polity. Excerpts:

H

ow would you assess the Emeka Ihedioha administration in the last few months in Imo State?

During my governorship campaign and even on my posters, I wrote that Imo State shall be great again with me or someone else as governor of the state. But people asked me why did you say so? My reply to them was that because it is not by force to be the governor of Imo State.

But, whoever that is governor of the state is someone that is chosen by God. I see and believe that Imo State shall be great again.

Ihedioha just assumed the position of the governor of Imo State; there is nothing I can say until after one year; there are eyes on him. I would comment later, for now, let’s allow him to work.

What should be Ihediohia’s immediate task?

His immediate task should be creating jobs for the citizenry, for the teeming youths of the state. Security is an issue, but if there is no job you cannot achieve much. The governor cannot do it alone, there is need to give people free education. He needs to know what is good and bad. Most importantly, as I am talking to you now, there is no road in Imo State; the roads are in a poor state. I just came back from the village some days ago; all the roads Okorocha did like 30 roads, about 18 of the roads are now bad and not motorable. I went there and I saw them; in one of the roads in Orlu, the bridge collapsed because there was no rod put to support it when it was being constructed. And you know when you are governor; your tenure is just for some time and after some time you leave office. So, let people feel your impact. Look at the former governor of Imo State, he knew he did not perform and it would haunt him.

What is your view about the newly inaugurated state’s asset recovery committee; Okorocha’s daughter accused a member of the committee of slapping her recently?

I am not aware of that; I don’t believe all that we read in the newspaper. Every government has a right to recover stolen state property. I saw some messages on the social media that a lot of the property stolen of Imo State has been recovered.

How do you react to the worsening security situation in the country; you are close to the police authorities and the APC government?

Frank Okiye

Let us leave APC or SDP alone. Let us look at how we are going to make the country work. We don’t need that now, what we need to do is to collectively join hand to move the country forward.

There is no security in the country; the lives of the people are not secured.

I was attacked at Benin toll gate recently; they pursued me all the way to Ore; they wanted to kidnap me, but immediately they stopped me and attempted pulling their gun I zoomed off.

They chased me and started firing at my car, but they could not succeed.

They were four boys, kidnappers, they wanted me to park and they brought out guns and pursued me, until they got to the check point where there were security personnel. So, it is scary; there is no security in Nigeria; things have gotten out of hand. I don’t know if they were robbers or kidnappers.

Some Nigerians have accused the President of not doing enough; what is your take on this?

Yes, but I think the President has appointed people to work and deal with this issue, but they are not working or giving him good advice. Buhari does not watch television or read newspapers.

Nigeria is a large country with enormous problems, the current President is not like former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, who as a president does not read papers, but moves around and monitor what is happening across the country and know what is happening.

So, let Buhari move out and know what Nigerians are going through. The people are suffering and the security situation is worsening. Let him come to Lagos by road. Let him move from Abuja to Kaduna by road, he would know how bad the state of the roads is. But he is always flying, how can

someone that is appointed Minister of Works be traveling by air? Let him travel by road so that he can see the state of the roads in the country.

But we all have a role to play, it is not all about Buhari alone; we are one Nigeria, let all of us check ourselves and our actions.

But the government said they are installing CCTV and drones on our major highways?

Are you in this country? Did you not see the large amount that was used to purchase CCTV and drones in the previous administration, where are they now? It is a failed project before arrival. The thing can’t work; anyone can curtail crime if they are serious about it, but we know they are not. So, they know what they should do; let us see if it would go a long way in solving the security situation if it is deployed.

Have you thought about joining the ruling party in your state, or are you thinking of quitting politics?

For now, I am not a member of any party. I went and I saw things for myself. Nigerian politics is not for men of God, I believe God that I would be back in 2023. Things are so bad that even if majority of the electorate come out and say they want me, it would not be like that because of the kind of electoral system that we operate now.

As far as I am concerned, I have experience in politics now which would help me in 2023; if God says I should be there, he would take me there. But mark my word, I cannot kill because I want to rule. That is why when I say Imo shall be great again with me or without me. I am praying for the people, who are there, I will give them

support because I know one day I will be there.

What I am thinking now I came out in 2019 after election let us focus on governance, how this country would be good. It is how we plan that we would be.

I cannot quit politics because I want to serve my people. I have been helping the less-privileged with several ways with my little resources. Can you imagine what I would do for the people if I become the governor of the state? I don’t have money but I build four houses for my people; I initiated boreholes, I have been helping people, with what God gives me. During the Obasanjo administration, ministers were asked to take a bow and go by the federal lawmakers during screening. I am not an APC man, but we must say the truth. I am sure they know what they are doing.

What does this latest honour from your community mean to you?

I was surprised when someone forwarded me a picture of myself which was taken in 1995; after I had just collected my first Chieftaincy title; I was very young.

Recently, I received a letter from leaders of my community that they wanted to honour me with a chieftaincy title, but I said no. However, after speaking with my brothers, they advised me to accept the chieftaincy title; that it is an honour. But the ceremony coincided with my birthday and the dedication of my child. I said how I would travel for the ceremony and again go for the new yam festival, but I have decided to take the chieftaincy title because it is an honour based on what I have done for them.

I have taken chieftaincy titles everywhere across the Southeast; there is another one here; they are giving me in Mushin, Lagos, in December.

What make this unique is to give me courage to do more because it is an honour for me.

Right now, there is no road to enter my community and it is shameful.

Rochas Okorocha is my brother; we are from the same place in Ideato. My place to his area is about five-minute drive, but he did not build any road in the community; that is why I came out to contest for the governorship ticket of the SDP. The roads are bad, now I have sent money for them to do the major road because my friends are coming from across the country for the ceremony.

I have given borehole to the people in my constituency; we are doing a lot there.

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Politics

INEC’s de-registration axe dangles over failing political parties

I

INNOCENT ODOH, Abuja

ndications have emerged that many of the registered political parties in Nigeria face grim prospects of being de-registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following perceived poor performance during the 2019 general elections and inability to meet the requirements of the law concerning elections.

During the 2019 electioneering, the political parties jockeying for positions were at the thick of the exercise canvassing for votes most with highfalutin manifestos that sometimes appear confusing.

But months after the general elections, the 91 registered political parties and the 71 parties that participated in the polls by fielding candidates are practically out of the political space leaving the turf for the two dominant parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) tearing at each other over government policies. The Action Democratic Party (ADP) appears to be the only party outside the big two, which still maintains a consistent interrogation of government policies and making pronouncements on the state of the nation.

BDSUNDAY gathered from a source that INEC may have concluded plans to deregister some of the parties following woeful performance of the parties during the polls and their inability to meet the requirements of the Electoral Act on issues of elections.

“This move is necessary to reduce the parties to a manageable number and also save cost of printing electoral materials in coming elections. It will also reduce the confusion caused the electorate during the last elections,’’ the source said.

“During elections, parties canvass for votes but after elections those parties which lose elections form the opposition to put the ruling party on its toes to deliver the dividends of democracy. They voice different views and criticise the government for their failures and mobilise opposition to the government. They form veritable tools that shape public opinion and with the help of the pressure groups, the parties launch movements for solving problems faced by the people,” a source said.

This is hardly the case with the current parties as most have gone into political limbo and waiting perhaps for the next round of elections. Nigeria is beset with disturbing level of insecurity, social dislocation, disunity, eco-

nomic crisis and high level of unemployment. These are the issues that the parties are supposed to discuss and mobilise Nigerians to interrogate the policies of government towards these issues. The parties’ according to the source are “missing in action.”

INEC has the power to register political parties and outline the procedure for such registration. Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution provides for the Right to Freedom of Assembly as well as the right to form or join a Political Party. The Constitution also stipulates provisions on the formation of such groups in Sections 221 – 229 while the Electoral Act in Sections 78 – 102 contains provisions and regulations on Political Parties.

Section 78 of Electoral Act as amended “(7a) also provides the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the power to deregister political parties on the following grounds- (i) breach of any of the requirements for registration, and (ii) for failure to win Presidential or Governorship election or a seat in the National Assembly).

INEC has powers to also deregister political parties on the following grounds: Breach of any of the requirements for registration; and ~ Section 78(7a); Failure to win at least twenty five percent of votes cast in one State of the Federation in a Presidential election; or one Local Government of the State in a Governorship election.

INEC is further empowered to deregister political parties based on failure to win at least one ward in the

Chairmanship election; one seat in the National or State House of Assembly election; or one seat in the Councillorship election.

From the foregoing therefore the Electoral Commission has the power to cut the number of parties as many of them never participated in the last elections and those who did many won nothing and therefore failed to meet the requirements.

However, speaking to BDSUNDAY on Friday, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Lawrence Oyenkanmi, said the commission is not nursing any intention to deregister parties.

“When we make a decision we will publish a statement of what we want to do. This sort of decision cannot be taken by one person, we will have to consider the pros and cons, the evidences and take a decision.

But so far, the commission has not done that. So I don’t want to preempt what the commission will do I think we should wait when the commission takes a decision on that it will be made public,” he said.

He noted that the commission organises quarterly meetings with stakeholders including political parties to discuss issues.

Also speaking on Friday, presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the last election, Yusuf Yabagi Sani, said “some of the parties are formed just for the purpose of participating in elections and once the elections are over, they just go back to their businesses and wait for another round of elections.”

Sani, who is also the National Chairman of the ADP, said the party came on board not just for the sake of participating in election but to deepen democracy as a matter of deliberate action by citizens of this country. “If we don’t get the parties right there is no way we can get the issues of unity of this country and economic development right. We must take serious steps to ensure that we deepen this democracy, enhance it, nurture it, not only during elections election is just one process of forming government.”

He noted that public discourse on what is wrong with the country and how to correct it should be on continuous basis. He added that politics is a serious business and should not be reduced to commercial and mercantile enterprise by those who join politics to make money.

Sani noted that it might be a noble idea if INEC wishes to de-register parties. He however, charged the electoral commission to go beyond that and look at the attitude of Nigerians, especially those who win election in one party and defect to another with the mandate. He said that some of the parties INEC may want to de-register have won elections before but the candidates took the mandate to other parties. He charged the commission to address these issues before it can think about de-registering parties.

The axe of de-registration appears to be dangling on non-performing political parties but how and when the electoral commission will carry this out is yet not certain.

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Sunday 25 August 2019

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Politics Attack on Ekweremadu, politics of Biafra and 2023 presidency SOLOMON AYADO, Abuja

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he recent assault on Ike Ekweremadu, a former deputy Senate president, in Nuremberg, Germany, by members of the proscribed Independent People’s of Biafra (IPOB) has elicited many questions as to whether the shameful act could have been politically motivated due to clamour for the actualisation of a state of Biafra, and/or because of the emerging battle ahead of 2023 presidency.

Rather than a peaceful clamour for the achievement of the state of Biafra as being widely speculated, the battle for freedom by the members of the Independent People’s of Biafra (IPOB) has assumed a messier dimension. The agitation seems to be getting violent and more dangerous by the day, thereby transferring aggression on South East leaders, a development, observers say, could throw the region into more crises, especially ahead of the 2023 that the Igbo nation is craving for power shift.

Sources say that the IPOB members’ attack on Senator Ekweremadu, precisely on Saturday, 18th August, 2019, stemmed from the allegation that the former DSP is sabotaging the group’s effort to actualising the creation of State of Biafra because he wanted to become president of Nigeria in 2023.

Also, the attackers hinged their demonstration on the premise that the masses were being massacred by herdsmen while their leaders could afford to party and wine in foreign lands.

They (IPOB) claimed that Ekweremadu and other prominent Igbo leaders, especially governors of South Eastern states are frustrating the Biafra struggle, hence it is imperative to physically bring them on track - and also, that there is insecurity in the southeast region and the leaders are simply looking the other way.

Following the attack on the senator, political pundits say the assault is disgraceful. They also suspected that it was motivated by some major political actors. According to analysts, Ekweremadu has already positioned well and that some bigwig Igbo political leaders are threatened, hence the planned attack to rubbish him.

Of course, this is not the first time prominent Nigerians had been attacked and embarrassed in the Disapora. However, the recent attack on a senator who stands for the progress and stability of his people is most denigrating and cannot be easily forgotten.

On March 10 , 2016, then Rochas Okorocha, then governor of Imo State, was disgraced at the Chattam House, London by a solo IPOB protester who called him a “liar’’ and “murderer ’’, and attempted to

prevent Okorocha from giving his address.

The recent attack on Ekweremadu and many others in the past, represent a dark spot on Nigeria’s democracy where leaders put personal aggrandisement above the common interest of the generality of the people. This makes the masses aggrieved.

“The tendency of grooming authoritarian leadership under any guise in Igbo land and Biafra in general will never be tolerated because the republican nature of Igbo man does not allow such authoritative rulership,” Samuel Edeson, spokesperson of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), said.

As it is, some prominent Nigerian leaders, as well as many political analysts are warning that if not urgently addressed, the ugly situation is capable of tarnishing the democratic image of the country, and could thwart the keen aspiration of the Igbo for the 2023 presidency, as well as the actualisation of a Biafran state.

While Leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has described the attack as a ‘courageous act’ and ‘polite warning’, the Federal Government has condemned the attack, saying it was shameful and pathetic.

Kanu’s reaction was contained in his official Twitter page. He said: “The courageous act by IPOB at Nuremberg Germany is a polite warning to those engaged in selling our collective interest to Fulani caliphate. Nwodo, Igbo governors are warned.”

Meanwhile, in a statement issued in Abuja, the Chairman of

Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on behalf of the Federal Government, said the incident was an embarrassment to the country.

“It is also shamefully pathetic that an event, which was nobly put together by the Ndi-Igbo community whose members make up the majority of Nigerians living in Germany, ended up in such a disgraceful manner,” She said.

Somehow, there appears to be apprehension as the Leader of IPOB has warned all south eastern governors to halt foreign travels as the group has planned to unleash attack on them, in abroad.

With this development, the questions are what becomes of the safety of the governors? Are they also sabotaging the actualisation of state of Biafra? Who and who among them is nursing presidential ambition? Are the attacked leaders really incompetent in addressing security challenges? The questions are endless.

While there is the opinion that the inability of the governors to end insecurity in the eastern region and their alleged seeming inability to speak up against the obvious injustice against the zone are among the issues IPOB is agitating, others posit that it is because most Nigerian leaders fraudulently amass wealth and travel abroad to squander. The leaders often times do not show concern to the abject poverty condition of the teeming populace.

A prominent Igbo leader told BDSUNDAY on condition of anonymity that what Kanu and IPOB group members are doing was influenced by some key political actors.

Although the names of the political gladiators are not mentioned, the source said some political bigwigs from other zones outside South East were also involved.

Their aim, the Igbo leader alleged, was to ensure that south eastern leaders are distabilised and scattered so that they cannot fight a common course. According to him, the North and South West are also, seriously strategising to occupy the number one seat in 2023.

Speaking on the threat issued by IPOB, Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, had said the travel ban and planned attacks on them by IPOB were simply an empty threat.

Umahi stated in a statement issued by Emmanuel Uzor, his chief press secretary, that the governors of the southeast had no issues with IPOB to warrant the group’s threat to attack them anywhere abroad.

“The IPOB members abroad should come home and settle any issues they hold against the governors, instead of doing so in a foreign land.

“Attacking governors in a foreign land is a wild goose chase.

We love the IPOB members because they are our children,” he had stated.

According to him, “They don’t need to attack the governors to achieve Biafra and we warn them not to allow political opportunists to use them to destroy the zone. They should unite and work with the governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo to achieve a president of Igbo extraction in 2023, instead of fighting the governors. We want

them to be close to us, instead of taking the struggle to international arena.”

Oliver Orji, a public affairs commentator, while reacting to the attack, said: “The fact that former deputy president of the Nigerian Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, was nearly lynched by an angry mob in Nuremberg Germany did not come to many Nigerians as a big surprise given the present helpless frustration among Nigerian masses home and abroad.”

Orji posited that “Although I personally do not support physical assaults on public officers no matter what the grouses are, public protests and civil demonstrations are a part and parcel of a healthy democracy – more so, when it is recognised that those occupying such positions are accountable to the masses.”

“It is common to see presidents egged and drenched by angry protesters in civilised countries; a sign that power belongs to the people.

Such outpouring of emotions when not lethal or life-threatening is totally permissible, if it galvanises public functionaries into living up to their responsibilities.

“Ekweremadu may have been an unlucky scapegoat (given his decent representation in the Senate) who has taken one for a political crop perpetually accused of being ensconced in obscene luxuries and cloistered from the everyday grind of the long-suffering citizenry, but his ordeal is a warning that ‘abroad’ may no longer be a safe haven for leaders who shirk their main responsibility of representing the interests of the masses,” Orji insisted.

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Politics Agbedi and his ‘Onward Restoration & Transformation’ SAMUEL ESE, YENAGOA

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ne thing that is noticeable, but regrettable during election periods in Nigeria and Bayelsa State is the fact that those seeking elective offices make many promises in order to get the support of voters and some of those promises are never kept.

However, in the midst of all that insincerity, there are some persons who are exceptions due to their lifestyles, their simplicity, accessibility and humility coupled with the way they manage their interpersonal relationships.

Since interested aspirants declared their intention to contest their party tickets, several of them have come under the searchlight of delegates who are to vote during the forthcoming primary elections; it is September 3 for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with 24 aspirants.

It is difficult to read the mind from the look on one’s face, but it is possible to understand if someone is sincere about his promises with careful study of the manner in which he responds to people, how he interacts with them and how addresses situations.

Frederick Yetimone Agbedi, member representing Sagbama/ Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives is one man who has continued to amaze Bayelsans who have had the opportunity to encounter him due to his simplicity.

His private residence is as open as his transparent style of living with the perimeter fence made of iron pillars and rods so that any passerby has a clear view of the compound unlike the private residences of other top political figure in Bayelsa State.

When you see some of those private residences in Yenagoa, the walls are so high and imposing as prison walls which conveys the feeling that the owners are so far removed from the common man on the street, the ones they want to govern.

For Agbedi, a three-term federal legislator who has grown through the PDP and held several offices including state chairman, you would think that he would have acquired that peculiar attitude of most successful politicians that sets them apart.

But, even at his hometown of Aghoro in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, it is the same simple lifestyle; he knows all the locals and remains so accessible to all his constituents, a failing among many politicians.

One journalist recently remarked about Agbedi that if he gets to any community in the

state, at least thirty persons would go out to meet him and exchange pleasantries due to the level of his grassroots mobilisation over the years.

Those who have had dealings with Agbedi would readily tell you he is a different breed who picks calls and replies text messages; maybe, that was the reason he trekked for about two hours on a muddy and slippery road, fell severally and in his muddied clothes got to a community to inspect a school building project.

It is this kind of service to his constituents, who voted him into the House of Representatives to represent them and influence the siting of development projects in their communities through his legislation that his supporters want him to replicate as governor of Bayelsa State.

Bible scholars would tell you that King Solomon said a king ought not to listen to everything his servants say otherwise, he would hear them cursing him, but while it is so for most politicians who have refused to shed their medieval tendencies, Agbedi mixes with both the high and the low.

And, in today’s world, it is when a leader mixes with even the most lowly people that he would get to hear their criticism of his policies and programmes and therefore, understand their peculiar challenges as individuals, groups and communities.

This is the bedrock of the bottom-top approach to budgeting that modern governments employ in addressing the challenges of citizens of rural communities,

which, unfortunately, fraudulent politicians pledge to implement, but jettison once they get into office.

So, when Agbedi talks about his blueprint for the development of rural communities, in particular, oil producing communities that are not benefiting from oil producing companies, federal, state and local governments, you are immediately convinced of his sincerity.

When he says rather than taking development from Yenagoa to the coast, he would take development from the coast to Yenagoa, you feel the pain burning deep inside him for far-flung rural dwellers who struggle everyday to travel to their local government headquarters in the absence of roads.

This is particularly true of people in Brass, Nembe, Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor Local Government Areas who travel by means of speedboats from one point to another due to absence of roads; they suffer at the hands of pirates who operate along the waterways.

So, why not resume work on the construction of the Yenagoa - Koluama Road from Koluama, Nembe - Brass Road from Brass and Sagbama - Agge Road from Agge for those rural communities to realise that government feels their pain too?

Why not link all the coastal communities from Agge through Koluama to Brass and Odioma by a coastal highway by bringing in all the multinational oil companies and the Federal Government so that all the parties involved undertake the construction of different

stretches of the road?

This is the kind of approach to the development of the state that has escaped many governments in the past, but so possible that with little effort so much can be achieved when all the stakeholders in the oil and gas industry are involved.

As a grassroots man who is not far away from his people, there is the belief that he would not globe-trot like some governors who spend so much time outside the state that they fail to connect with the soul of the state.

Of all the governors, only former President Goodluck Jonathan spent much time in the state in his short spell as governor; others could go away for days on end, arguing that they were on important national assignments while the state stood still until they returned.

Agbedi struck an important cord when he assured of domiciling Bayelsa money in Bayelsa, supporting Bayelsa business people to become national and international players in order to attract more investments into the state.

While addressing correspondents in Yenagoa on his Onward Restoration & Transformation agenda for Bayelsa State, a conversational Agbedi gave an insight into how his administration would transform the economic fortunes through deliberate policies if elected governor.

Listening to him, correspondents could not help but applaud his ingenuity and manner he presented his blueprint which covers all the critical sectors of the econ-

omy and how he would involve all the stakeholders in addressing specific issues.

For instance, he disclosed that rather than worrying over the vagaries of the price of crude oil in the international market, his administration would look to palm oil to lift the local economy out of the woods and generate much needed internal revenue.

Comparing the price of crude oil per barrel which is below $60 and palm oil which is $520 per barrel, he explained why his administration would focus on and manage the state-owned Bayelsa Oil Palm Estate for profitability rather than relying on monthly allocations from the centre.

As a man who has a clear understanding of the plight of oil producing communities in the state, he assured that he would establish the Bayelsa State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (BASOPADEC) to domicile funds for their development.

On why he wants to be governor of Bayelsa State, Agbedi explained his understanding of the office of a governor as that of a supervisor who must conduct checks and be able to call his subordinates to order when necessary.

Hear him: “I realise that as a governor, your duty is to supervise and understand how to check, monitor and applaud your lieutenants when they have done well, the ability to call your lieutenants to order when you believe that they are straying out of the radar ...”

Of his ambition, Agbedi described himself as the only professional politician gunning for the office of governor, saying: “I pride myself as a professional politician.

I have been in politics for about four decades. I believe that am the only professional politician that is running for the governorship position in Bayelsa State.

“I am also a professional in many respects, as teacher, character moulder, trainer, a councilor. As somebody who studied English, I can expressly express the desire of my people and as graduate of Public Administration, I am an administration expert and for you to be a governor, you must have that competence which I have as a development study student, a development expert of course.”

On the issue of zoning, which some interest groups are using to undo him, Agbedi has maintained that there is no zoning to which many individuals, stakeholders and groups agree.

He ticks all the boxes and is qualified in all respects to become the next governor of Bayelsa State and a growing number of people believe in his Onward Restoration & Transformation Campaign to change the fortunes of the state.

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Sunday 25 August 2019

Personality Reuben Okoya, the new face of hope in Bayelsa

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olitics is a game of influencers, and it is about those who have influenced their people most, especially when it comes to their yearning aspirations. A man that is making a grand entry into the political turf of Bayelsa state is Reuben Okoya, and his solid pedigree and wherewithal are speaking volumes for him in the firmament of the volatile politics of his state.

His entry into the gubernatorial contest has just suddenly altered the political calculations in the state of “Glory of All Land.” And like an eagerlyawaited breath of fresh air, Reuben Okoya, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a former Commissioner for Special Duties and Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), is now stealing the political show, as he is now the toast of all who matter in the politics of Bayelsa State.

For one, Okoya has an edge over others who are similarly jostling for the throne. And that is his ability to combine the wisdom of the elders with the dynamism of the youths, which is obviously lacking in most of those parading themselves to take a shot at the Bayelsa government house. Yet others who share his political philosophy believe that Okoya if given the chance will bring into the

Reuben Okoya state’s governance; creativity, innovation, style, patience and commitment, the qualities for which he has been credited with while superintending over political offices in the past. A deft manager of human and material resources, the architect and scion of the late monarch HRM Ezekiel Okoya of Ekpetiama is today canvassing a new approach to addressing issues of under-development and injustice in the Niger Delta, which his people have been subjected to over the years but which when

tackled in a number new ways would spur growth in the oil-rich region and bring about better life for the people.

Speaking at the recent 2019 Isaac Boro Day anniversary and wreath-laying ceremony for the late icon of struggle, at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Okoya, a popular philanthropist, said the time had come for fresh perspectives to be adopted in tackling youth restiveness and related issues in the region, while he urging the Ijaws, especially the youths, to acquire more edu-

cation in order to deepen the struggle for fairness and equity.

Okoya, a leading contender for the PDP governorship ticket in the state, said through proper communication and display of intellectualism the Ijaw people could get the understanding of others and attract attention to their sufferings and general underdevelopment of their land.

Commending Boro for his sacrifice for the Ijaw nation, he said that people had at some point resorted to armed struggle, but it was important and more effective to fight with the brain using the tool of communication and engagement, noting that every war has always ended on the round table through superior arguments.

The PDP stalwart said Nigeria’s well-being has and is still depended on the crude oil in the Niger Delta, and called for dialogue and education in order to convince other ethnic groups that the indigenes of the region should get more benefits. Arc. Rueben Okoya is a 1978 alumnus of University of Oklahoma, USA, where he bagged a bachelor’s of science in Environmental Design (BSED), and a master of Architecture (M. Arch) from Florida A and M University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA in 1984. He is a member of Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Royal Institute of British

Architects (RIBA) and American Institute of Architects (AIA). He comes from the illustrious family of Late His Royal Majesty Ezekiel Pappah Okoya of Bumoundi in Ekpetiama Clan, the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama kingdom and late Sussanah Okoya of the eminent family of Chief Michael Engule Soba of Igbedi, both of Bayelsa State. He is a devout Christian with true greatness wrapped in humility, simplicity and strong unshakable faith in the will of God. Arc., Okoya is happily married to Natalie, who is also a technocrat, they are blessed with lovely children.

With his ‘’ROK” Foundation, he has always been given to the less-privileged in the society. In his benevolence, hundreds of people (individuals and families) across the nation have received sundry cash and material donations since 2003. His passion is to reach out to a greater number of people, who are in dare need for assistance, and that has been the fore focuses on meeting the various needs of the people in Nigeria beginning with Bayelsa State. Reuben Okoya (ROK) Foundation strives to ensure a better quality of life for the people by organizing valuable outreach programs that positively impact and contribute to their economic wellbeing.

Feature

Spotlighting opportunities in the agriculture value chain OBINNA EMELIKE

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n 2017, the Nigerian agriculture sector witnessed a revolutionary discourse on the economic benefits of sustainable agriculture value-chain as an alternative source of economic development and foreign exchange with the launch of First Bank Agric Expo.

It was a first-of-its-kind initiative that afforded the bank the opportunity to aggregate top players in the agricultural sector under one roof for easy relationship establishment, as well as, enlighten customers and prospects alike about First Bank readiness to support their Agricultural businesses.

The event, which was oversubscribed by 100 percent in its maiden edition because of its relevance, also positioned the bank as a thought leader in the agricultural financing space in the country.

For leading that discourse and opening the agricultural financing space, the bank’s agric portfolio recorded a growth of N11.65billion as a direct impact.

Riding on the success of the maiden edition, the bank has gone ahead to further engage key policy influencers, agriculture service providers, primary producers, exporters and top players in the agric value chain, among others in the 2018 edition, as well as promising a better engagement in this year’s edition of the expo.

Considering the falling oil prices and the urgent need to diversify the economy, the agric expo is imperative.

Expressing his delight on First

A tractor at work on a farm Bank’s leading role at not just promoting Agriculture but diversifying the Nigerian economy, Adesola Adeduntan, CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, sees opportunities beyond economic diversification in the non-oil sector, which agriculture leads.

“As Nigeria expands opportunities in its non-oil sector, especially Agriculture, we remain committed to the growth of the agricultural sector and its contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product”, the CEO said.

Also, the bank is venturing into the agric financing space in order to promote entrepreneurship and employment opportunities bearing in mind that agriculture has potential to take millions of unemployed off the streets when the right invest-

ment are made and thoroughly coordinated.

So, the bank is using the agric expo, which is now in its third edition to “build the agribusiness economy, which is capable of delivering sustained prosperity by meeting domestic food security goals, generating exports, supporting sustainable income and creating employment opportunities”, Adeduntan assured.

Ironically, Nigeria, according to Audu Ogbeh, former Minister of Agriculture, spends about $22 billion annually to import food into the country.

But with sustained gains from the agric expo, more funds would be available to agric entrepreneurs to improve production, and reduce the high importation of food that

has negatively impacted Nigeria’s balance of trade.

With more funding, the bank assured that Nigeria can be selfsufficient in producing things it has comparative advantage on, especially rice, the staple food, which can be grown across the country.

As well, improved funding in the agric sector will result in more entrepreneurs, more investments, more hands in the farms, more food produced, huge foreign exchange earnings from exportation, as well as, less crime in the country.

Though the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report stated that the value of agricultural exports rose by 115.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018, the country can double the value if agric entrepreneurs are financed and guided,

which makes the First Bank Agric Expo very imperative.

As a continuous financier of credit worthy agro-allied businesses, the bank is rolling out drums once again to hold the third edition of the agric expo. Like the previous editions, the expo will hold on August 30, 2019 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos on the theme, “Agricultural Value Chain – Spotlighting Opportunities and Managing Risks” and would have Professor Benedict Oramah, president, AFREXIM Bank, as the keynote speaker.

It will host over 600 delegates and over 60 exhibitors who will to display the latest technology in farm equipment, tools and machineries, as well as, packaged finished agricultural produce, logistics and supply, thereby keeping the participants and sundry agribusiness practitioners abreast with new opportunities in the Agricultural industry.

Besides the plenary session, the expo will feature three masterclasses with in-depth analysis on specific areas of Agribusiness, facilitated by enterprising Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).The masterclass facilitators include; Leonard Anyanwu, group executive director, Saro International Limited; Segun Ogunwale, team lead, Kominity Digital and Bamidele Ayemibo, managing director, 3T Impex Trade Centre, who will provide insight, as well as, share success stories and experiences.

For the agric entrepreneur looking to grow your business, there are many reasons to be at the expo as First Bank has a large base of agribusiness clients across Nigeria who you will likely meet.

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Interview We are unlocking the key to Nigeria’s economy - Nwankwo Value Drivers Investment Nigeria Limited recently organised an Agriculture Entrepreneur Skills Acquisition Training Programme for graduates and school leavers from different parts of Nigeria in partnership with Total Exploration and Production Nigeria. The CEO, Uzoh Nwankwo in an interview with IFEOMA OKEKE, looks at its impact and sheds light on his company’s plans to empower Nigeria’s teeming youth to tap into the opportunities in Agriculture, with the help of Total E&P. Excerpts:

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to have multiplier effect in the Nigerian economy, jobs will be created, while it will also help to change the orientation of youths who never saw agriculture as a business venture.

an you tell us a bit about what you do?

Value Drivers Investment Nigeria Limited is an organization conceived for human capital development within and outside corporate entities. We desire to partner with corporate bodies, foreign missions and NGOs in the quest to developing human capital in several areas of human endeavour, ranging from agriculture, safety, fashion, projects management, and health care, to name a few.

Though incorporated in 2014, the company has been in operations for about a year.

We offer human upliftment and livelihood skills through training, exposure and development. We endeavour to advance economic growth of people through up-scaling knowledge and empowerment.

What support will Value Drivers provide to the graduates to support them as they step into the real world?

Value Drivers and Total E&P will continue to monitor and evaluate the progress of these candidates for the first 12 months, to see how they fair and offer necessary advisory services when the need arises.

We are aware that financial support from Total E&P will go the way of beneficiaries that succeed in what they do. We deem the support necessary to ensure the success of the beneficiaries and the sustenance of the program for the benefits of more youths and the society at large.

Is this your first time of carrying out a programme of this nature?

This was the first edition of the Total Agriculture Entrepreneur Skills Acquisition Training Program. However, Value Drivers is currently in partnership with other organisations to deliver more value across other relevant areas in line with our vision. Agribusiness is just one in the portfolio of programmes we have.

We have a multi-disciplinary team made of professionals with proven track record in their respective fields. We have other empowerment programs on safety, business risks management and assurance billed to come up later in the year.

knowledge.

The future prospect is great and if followed through, Nigeria will grow from importer of foods and allied manufactured items to a major exporter in the near future. Agribusiness is vital to our future and holds the key to lifting majority of Nigerians out of poverty much more than any other sector.

Why are you focusing on the skills training on Agriculture, and what prospects do you see if more people get on the programme?

Agribusiness is the key to unlocking Nigeria’s economy.

It is currently the least tapped, hence so much opportunities abound for our youth in the area. There are very few local players and we are here to uplift our youths to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the sector.

This can only be achieved through knowledge and skills acquisition, which is what we are currently doing. What differentiates us from others, is how we run the program as a business program and not just passing of agricultural

What criteria are used in the selection of participants?

The sensitised the public and called for applications, with suitable applicants invited for an initial interview with Value Drivers. Subsequently the shortlisted candidates were presented to Total E&P for assessment and validation before the final selection, which was jointly made by Value Drivers and Total E&P. It was quite competitive because the number of candidates required was limited, hence, there was a stringent selection process to ensure the best candidates emerged from the six geopolitical zones of the country from the numerous applications received.

Uzoh Nwankwo

How were the facilitators of the programme selected?

The facilitators were professionals and experts in their various areas amply qualified to facilitate the program. We went for the best faculty that can be obtained around. This is the reason our lead faculties were from Lagos Business School, other Agribusness Subject Matter Experts and Dominican Farms, which boast of mainly ex-IITA staff as facilitators. The subject areas were many and included; Good Agriculture Practices (GAP), Farming methods/practices in cassava, vegetable, snail and crop production, Agribusiness value chain in cassava, vegetable, and snail business, General principles of farm Accounting and book-keeping, Farm produce branding, Packaging and marketing, Risk Management in Agribusiness, Farm as a business, Business Plan development and Business Proposal writing among others. This includes the theory delivered in Lagos and practices demonstrated in the Dominican Farms in Ibadan, Oyo State. No doubt,

the quality of the delivery by the facilitators has put the beneficiaries on the right pedestal for a successful farm entrepreneurship.

What kind of impact do you envisage that this first batch of graduates of the ‘Agriculture Entrepreneur Skills Acquisition Training Programme,’ will be able to make?

The graduates have been developed and empowered and the sky is their limit. Indeed, they have brighter future, which is our main objective in Value Drivers, to give our youths and people hope and better life through knowledge empowerment.

The first batch, a pilot scheme had six youths, however, with the help of our sponsors the next edition will increase tremendously. We might be seeing up to 60 youths being put through the scheme in the near future. We will work with other partner organizations to do more aside from the people sponsored by Total. The success of the scheme is bound

Why did you decide to partner Total Nigeria on this programme?

Partnership is the key to success of the program. At Value Drivers we value our partners and collaborate with different experts and organizations to ensure success and quality service delivery. The objective is to deliver top quality agricultural training that empowers Nigerian youths with livelihood skills. Through capacity development initiatives, Total aims to empower as many people as possible and actively support nation building efforts in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals numbers one and eight, - ‘no poverty’ and ‘decent work and economic growth’ respectively.

What are your projections for the next 5 years?

The organisation expects to have equipped youths and other people in many entrepreneurial areas such as agriculture, safety, fashion and ICT among others, for good livelihood, employment and empowerment. We want to change the orientation of our youths to embrace entrepreneurship in these areas much more, so that they would not just be working as artisans for subsistence living. We expect a boom in entrepreneurship and business, boost in locally produced and processed products as well as export to earn foreign exchange and improved balance of trade for our country, Nigeria.

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Sunday 25 August 2019

Interview

‘African science reporting must cover all aspects to drive development’ Uzodinma Iweala is a medical doctor, a novelist and the chief executive officer of the African Center in New York, USA. In this interview with JOSEPHINE OKOJIE at the just concluded 11th edition of the World Conference for Science journalists (WCSJ 2019) in Lausanne, Switzerland, Iweala spoke about the challenges limiting science reporting in Africa and how research can transform their findings into development. Excerpts:

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an you tell us about the African Center?

The African Center is the former museum for African Art in New York. WE have a 70,000 square meters facilities on 5th avenue in New York and it’s a prime location and the institution is about telling the different stories about Africa ranging from culture, music, art, literature and film among others.

The centre looks at policies, good governance and perhaps the future of the content, like how do we get people to think about what we want Africa to be in its various states and in its various countries. We also get to think about business a little bit, so, it’s really the idea that you cannot understand Africa until you understand these three things which are business, art and culture and that give you the whole picture.

In a nutshell, can you evaluate science journalism in Nigeria?

I do not know if am the best person to evaluate but I think what I find interesting is that most of the science reporting I have seen in the country has been tilted towards health and not so much about physics, space and the likes. I will say there is need to reshape the science stories that come out, sometimes I think the stories have too much information or other stories are too short.

We need to redefine how we provide people with stories about science that would really interest them. Sometimes, I read the house section of the newspapers just to get a sentiment of what people are talking about and I think the publications have too much information which they can catalogue into different aspects of healthcare. This easily gives an overview of different things that are going on in the health sector easily.

What do you think the African researchers or scientist can do differently to ensure they translate their research findings into development?

The first and foremost thing is to recognize that people are doing really good work and

Uzodinma Iweala

we should not be surprised on the level of intelligent we have in Africa and Nigeria in particular. We have to commend ourselves for the level of research that the researchers are giving despite constrains in conducting the research. Two, we must recognise that there are constraints in translating this research into development because nobody is really paying attention to what they are doing. But this is not the researchers fault. If you look at the developed world, like where I went to medical school in Colombia, they literally have a whole team of people just dedicated in ensuring that the research from the institution is translated into practice.

Also, there is an infrastructure to convert the hard times the researchers vent in research to development.

I do not know how sophisticated the system we have in Nigeria is like and this may be why researchers are not really able to monetize their work and again to find the right kind of sharing experience between

lab heads and universities and private companies when it comes to the discoveries of arts or scientific research and that is what impact research outcomes in Africa.

It is important we grow our science reporting to inform the wider public as much as possible on wider science subjects, this also helps in translating research to development.

Like for a topic like GMOs, the general public needs to understand the pros and cons in GMO consumption. How can we feed ourselves in the face of a changing climate? The job of the scientist and science journalist is to make the issue clear to the public - like what is it we are actually talking about and is there safety in its consumption among others. It is really interesting that folks should know pretty much about the entire genetic modified food.

The theme of this conference is ‘reaching new heights with science journalism’.

How can Africa’s science reporting reach new heights?

Let’s start by celebrate our

own, recognizing people like yourself for actually doing really good work. Secondly, we must create a synergy between the researchers and the science journalists in order to drive deeper and regular communication.

One of those things I have not seen very much in any Nigerian newspaper is reporting about space, space aspiration, physics and engineering among others. Who knows maybe it is not relevant to us but we have attitudes about that, we have ideas about it, we have our own cosmologies about it like who know who’s little kid the stories is going to inspire when they read them. African journalists need to think much better because there is so much more in writing about science and this world is just discovery. I remember been younger and seeing all this in the newspaper and it prompted me to read books about physics and I do not know anything about physics then. Who knows whose kid is going to become an astronaut? Who knows

whose kid is going to sit down and say you know what, Nigeria needs a space programme?

As the editor-in-chief of Ventures Africa, what do you think are the challenges confronting science news reporting in Nigeria?

The most obvious one is limited resources. Everybody is looking for money and investigating stories requires money so, we just need to be honest about resources. The second thing is inadequate media expertise, for some of these things we need people to have a bit of technical knowledge in the background. For example, physics, I might feel it’s too complicated for my personality but there is somebody out there who does have that understanding and that person should be recruited and given that opportunity. Also, we have to look at different ways of doing things; we just have to think about different modes on how to do things not to try to replicate what we see from the developed world all the time.

You know journalist practice in New York is not the same practice in Lagos or Abuja.

In newsroom all across Africa you see less female reporting science; so what do you think we can do to bridge that gender gap?

First of all that’s a whole lot of nonsense from my perspective at Venture Africa and also very important people are women where all of the women that were working were doing all kinds of news, this was not any form of ‘oh you report on arts and entertainment,’ everyone had to do everything cause we were such a small team and I think everyone one can do anything either as women or men. We need to have more women in top editorial positions in various media houses. It has been shown that when you have a more diverse newsroom you get better stories which means if you have women reporting on things that men usually consider that they are usually experts, you get better stories and more diverse stories. So, am up for more diverse newsroom and giving opportunity to people who actually needs them.

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THE PROLOGUE

Journeys on Nigerian highways now ‘rocket science’

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one are the days when it was taken for granted that a traveller from one part of the country to the other would get to his or her destination in one piece. Today, as soon as a Nigerian takes off on a journey, all his/her relations and friends go into intercessory mode. They only heave a sigh of relief when there is a call from the traveller that he/she has arrived the destination in peace.

Today, any journey, whether in the day or night on anyNigerianhighwayisakintoKingDavid’sallusion

to walking through the valley of shadow of death; reason being that the activities of kidnappers, killers and rapists have become everyday occurrence despite the ubiquitous check points. Today, Nigerians so dread travelling by road to the point that days to the expected journey, prayer and fasting sessions are mounted, and pastors are contacted for special intercession. It is sad that although Nigeria is not in a defined war situation, the scenario seems as though there was a civil war going on. From what can be seen, it now seems that inter-state journeys have become a ‘rocket science’, CHUKA UROKO, OBINNA EMELIKE and AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE said.

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Journey on Nigerian highways now ‘rocket science’ CHUKA UROKO, OBINNA EMELIKE and AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

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n Nigeria, politicians have the penchant of promising the electorate ‘dividends of democracy’ and to a very large extent, what these politicians mean by dividend of democracy is resurfacing, reconstruction and patching of existing roads and highways most of which are in terrible conditions.

In the last 20 years of the country’s return to democratic governance, many of the highways have seen considerable improvement coming after several years of budgetary allocations such that some roads, like Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Lagos-Benin-Ore Road, EnuguOnitsha Expressway, etc have been under reconstruction in the past 10-15 years.

Now, at a time when the people should be celebrating the improvement on the state of these highways with pleasurable rides, less accidents, reduction in journey time, and safety of lives and property, they are contending with insecurity on these highways, making life miserable for them.

With what is happening on the highways today, it has become pretty difficult to understand what political office holders mean when they talk about dividends of democracy, more so, if this is all Nigerians can get from 20 uninterrupted years of democratic governance in the country.

In the last four years, the experiences on the highways have been, to say the least, horrible.

Until most recently, especially since ‘change’ made a bold entry into governance, travellers on the country’s numerous highways dreaded only two major things- accident and highway robbers.

Unarguably, Nigeria had lost many souls owing to bad roads, reckless driving and armed robbery activities. Some years back, it was usual to see portfolio and itinerant pastors and prayer warriors at various motor parks in the morning rendering prayers and giving travellers assurances of safety on the roads.

The story appears worse today. Nigerians have returned to an era when journeys, whether in the day or at night, on any Nigerian highway, is a huge risk akin to what King David, in his book of Psalms, describes as “walking through the valley of shadow of death”. Kidnapping, killing and raping have become everyday occurrences despite the ubiquitous police and army

Armed Miyetti Allah members set up vigilance group in Ondo State.

checkpoints on the highways.

Nigerians so dread travelling by road now that, many days to a planned journey, prayer and fasting sessions are mounted, and pastors are contacted for special intercession. It is sad that, though Nigeria is not in a defined war situation, life is so unsafe that it seems as if there was a civil war going on.

From what has happened and keeps happening, it now seems that inter-state journeys have become rocket science while the roads themselves have been turned into ‘highways to hell’.

Many Nigerians are at a loss as to how these highways which criss-cross the entire country

came to this sorry passé. Though some people attribute the ongoing kidnapping, killing and rape to collapse of values and rise in cult activities, others blame it on leadership failure reflected in the action and inaction of government.

“Yes, I agree with you that values have collapsed in this country. People, especially the younger generation of Nigerians, neither believe in the dignity of labour nor do they believe in the virtues of hard work. Again, the society no longer interrogates people’s source of wealth but celebrates them,” Cyril Gbadebo, a social commentator, confirmed to BDSUNDAY on phone.

Gbadebo explained that most of the people who are engaged in these activities, which are acts against God and humanity, are young men who are not ready to work, but want to get rich quick.

“They know that their activities are bad and even risky, yet they do it because they are driven by uncontrolled and inordinate ambition to dare the devil,” he noted.

But Ernest Makinde, a political scientist and convener, Good Governance for People’s Welfare, an NGO, thinks differently.

He blames these social vices on what he described as “failings in governance fueled by leadership errors.”

Makinde explained to BDSUNDAY that the failure of government to create jobs is the reason for the high unemployment level in the country that has left many young people idle, pushing many of them into crime and criminality. “But that is the social and economic dimension to it,” he noted.

“There is the political dimension to it,” he continued, adding, “This is where the leadership errors comes in. If somebody from a particular section of the country wins a election and becomes the president of the country, it is expected that he becomes the president of the entire country; but that is not the case in Nigeria today which, to me, is the cause of our present travails.”

He said that many Nigerians believe, wrongly or rightly, that the insecurity in Nigeria that is holding the entire country hostage today is because government seems to be looking the other way as fellow Nigerians are killed, kidnapped and raped by criminals now dubbed ‘bandits’.

“We have succeeded, as a people and even as a government, in emboldening criminals because none of them has been arrested, prosecuted and jailed to serve as a deterrent to others.

Social misfits are now lording it over the rest of honest Nigerians who can no longer move about freely in their own country for fear of being killed or kidnapped and several millions of naira demanded for their freedom,” Makinde lamented.

Increasingly, criminality, especially kidnapping, is becoming big business and those engaged in it are not only bold, but also daring as reflected in a recent kidnap incident in the Ode-Omi, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of of Ogun State where kidnappers abducted three people, collected N3.5 million, a carton of schnapps, 30 liters of palm oil and 10 tubers of yam as ransom before releasing their hostages.

Social life, inter-state transport business, others shrink Currently, families are rescheduling engagements, students are scared of traveling, and motorists lack courage to hit the road as the killers are increasingly laying siege to preys on highways, with hefty casualties every day. Moreover, businesses such as transportation, haulage, and logistics are at the verge of suffocation.

“When you hear someone was killed by these terrorists, you will hardly feel it until someone you know falls victim. My business associate lost his brother in

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an attack along the Abuja-Kaduna highway in March. The dead has not been buried because they are from Taraba State and insecurity is high in that area. It is sad seeing what Nigeria has degenerated to”, Luke Janah, an Abuja-based business man, said.

In same vein, Mbamara, an Aba-based business man, decried that the ugly development would disrupt business flow, decline transaction volume and also run many out of business if security is not restored soon along the highways.

“I know online payment is the in-thing, but I need to be at Tin Can Port Apapa to do some paper works in order to clear my goods. So, if I cannot travel again, that will delay the clearing, cause scarcity of the product, and increase cost if I have to pay extra to get someone to clear it.

At the end, I will push the avoidable expenses to customers”, Mbamara decried.

Following the worsening situation, some transport companies are considering engaging police escorts to lead their busses across the country, but are deterred by the cost.

“We have over 100 buses that leave and enter Lagos every day, if you engage police escorts, it means over 100 police per day.

If you multiple the cost per week and month, transport fares will

rise from N7,000 now to about N15,000 from Lagos to Aba”, Lawrence Ezuma, a staff of a popular transport company with headquarters in Lagos, said.

Harry Isu, a passenger at Libra Park Okota, said that it is better to pay more for safety than to ply the ill-fated highways unescorted. But a driver with over 10 years experience with Young Shall Grow Motors, said what he has been seeing on the highways in recent times are beyond police escort. “If you have a police escort with one riffle and your bus breaks down along the dreaded highway, he cannot face five gunmen. The Army should flush them out”, he said.

Isu said that government can always tackle the challenge if they want to and also leave politics out of it.

As many people call off their trips by road, it presents good business opportunity to domestic airlines. Michael Ocheme, a business strategist with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce, said if flights are cheap, a lot more people would fly because we have good safety record in the air for now.

“To get more passengers to fly, domestic airlines need to deploy low-cost aircraft like in Europe, charge competitive fares and people will hit the airports for as low as N12,000-N15,000,”

Ocheme said.

He noted that the airline business is about volume and frequencies of flight; hence airlines can get many flights a day at cheap fares to make up for the high fares small flight frequencies they have now.

But a domestic airline executive, who craved to be anonymous, said the tax paid to government agencies form 70 percent of air fares, and if government reduces such taxes, flights can go as cheap as N10,000 from Lagos to Kano or Maiduguri.

Safe journeys now pure miracle Gone are the days when it was taken for granted that a traveller from one part of the country to the other would get to his or her destination in one piece. Today, as soon as a Nigerian takes off on a journey, all his/her relations and friends go into intercessory mode. They only heave a sigh of relief when there is a call from the traveller that he/she has arrived the destination in peace.

Killings and kidnapping of innocent Nigerians on the nation’s highways were treated with mere rumour until Friday, July 12, 2019, when the 58-year old Funke Olakunrin, second daughter of Afenifere leader, Reuben Fasoranti, was murdered by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Olakunrin, was travelling

from Akure to Ore in Ondo State.

Long before this deadly incident, there had been series of reports that virtually all the highways in Nigeria have been taken over by alleged killer herdsmen.

These herdsmen have been accused of extreme violence in these parts of Nigeria. They have also been accused of masterminding series of killings, forceful abduction, rape of victims and extortion of monies worth millions of naira for the release of their kidnapped victims.

Formerly, it was Boko Haram insurgency, which thrived in the northeastern part of the country, but today, the game has changed from insurgency to kidnapping and banditry as many have been reported dead due to the reckless activities of these hoodlums in Nigeria.

A middle-aged lady, who gave her name as Joy, narrated her recent ordeal in the hands of killer herdsmen along the Benin-Ore Road on her way from Lagos to her country-home in Akwa Ibom State.

Joy told BDSUNDAY that she was abducted alongside five other passengers for over 5hours before only four of them were released.

happened recently when the passengers of a Toyota Sienna car travelling from Lagos to Owerri was also shot at and the passengers were herded into the bush from where their family members were contacted by the kidnappers.

A mother of three children, who gave her name as Chioma, was travelling to her village in Imo State with her elder brother for the burial of their mother, when both of them fell into the kidnappers’ net.

They were taken to the bush from where her husband was contacted by their abductors.

The husband was asked to pay the sum of N10 million for the release of his wife and brotherin-law. The husband of the victim ended up paying the sum of N3 million and the wife was released after being raped and brother-inlaw brutally wounded before his release by the abductors.

Tales of escapes by a whisker The social media is awash with stories of miraculous escapes of some people, whose vehicles were shot at, but they managed to evade being kidnapped. The Lagos-Ore-Benin road is the most notorious.

Ubiquitous check points, increasing menace

“On approaching the popular Okada Junction, 5-hefty men with guns suddenly emerged from the bush and ordered all the passengers to come down and lie down flat with their hands on their heads. People were also asked to submit their phones and monies in their position without hesitation.”

“After that, five of us including were taken into the bush where we were brutally assaulted by our abductors and we sustained various degrees of injuries and in my case, my left foot was badly injured after it was hit with the head of the gun. I saw so many other captives, who were mostly travellers abducted on that route as well. People were also forced to tell them how much they think their families can pay as ransom for their release,” she added.

According to her, “They collected our phones and access codes, ATM cards with our pin numbers as well as our monies. It was after we were released that I realised that about four other 18-seater buses were captured by the hoodlums and their passengers also abducted.”

Another pathetic incident

In its effort to arrest the unfortunate situation, the Federal Government, through the Army authorities appears to have flooded the highways with soldiers. As commendable as this is, some victims have also alleged that they were intimidated, molested and extorted by some of the uniform men on the road.

Some Nigerians also do not feel comfortable whenever they run into these check points because, the kidnappers also are known to mount road blocks to confuse and deceive unsuspecting Nigerians.

“I travelled to my village recently from Lagos. I was scared at the number of check points we passed on the road. It dawned on me that Nigeria is in a serious trouble. From Lagos to Uyo, everywhere was militarised. At some points, whenever they stopped our vehicle, passengers would be edgy because anything could happen. When I got home, everybody was asking if I really came by road. It is a serious matter. What I don’t know is how serious government is taking the matter,” a civil servant, said, craving anonymity.

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Arts In ‘A beautiful struggle’ with Kadara Enyeasi body, Kadara chose the male body in a provocative way that most people will never imagine.

In the early days of his artistic career, the self-taught photographer took the Nigerian art scene by storm with the unveiling of some thought-provoking nude portraits of himself before engaging models as his subjects. The development, which drew more critics and few commendations testified to his guts, inspired him to dare more and later won him popularity in less than five years of practice.

“My work centres on the black male nude specifically. In a highly religious and traditional country like Nigeria, the male figure is seen as a taboo, and its exploration in art is minimal. My work challenges that”, he explains.

But despite the critics back home, Kadara enjoyed the most commendations from the exhibition of his self-portraits with Nataal at Red Hook Labs. “People seem to appreciate my works better when they travel outside the country”, the artist says.

For his love for photography, Kadara, a graduate of Architecture from the University of Lagos, abandoned his profession to follow his passion. Aside photography, he is a multidisciplinary

OBINNA EMELIKE

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or lovers of visual art, collectors and galleries, the year 2019 started on the right footing and high hopes. One activity that rightly opened the year was ‘City Chronicles’, a photography and video exhibition by Kadara Enyeasi and Logor Oluwamuyiwa.

The exhibition, which opened on January 26, 2019 until February 15, 2019 at the Af r i c a n Ar t i s t s ’ Fo u n d a t i o n encapsulated the daily life of major cities that are fleeting and quickly buried in people’s memories, with exciting snapshots that competed for at tention.

In the exhibition, Enyeasi and Oluwamuyiwa explored a new kind of experiencing where the viewer is invited to bend low to perceive each image and cinematic textured video, in a theatric stage, where the city’s unnoticed vestiges and aesthetic underbelly take prominence.

The admixture of images, movement and sound, consider such slow movement an introspection that could unearth a different spirit of a place.

Kadara Enyeasi is a multidisciplinary artist who studied architecture before turning to making portraitures, fashion and architecture photography.

He plays with form, space and perspective and often looks at the body in relation to the urban environment. Enyeasi has exhibited at the Africa Centre in London, Bozar Festival in Brussels, La Triennale expo in Milan, Odessa/ Batumi Photo days in Ukraine and FOAM in Amsterdam. In 2017 he was an artist-in-residence at the Arthouse Foundation in Lagos, Nigeria.

Months later, Enyeasi is exhibiting again. This time, he is j o in e d by Da f e Ob o r o, Pap a Oyeyemi,and Abiola Olusola in an exhibition titled ‘A beautiful

struggle’.

The exhibition, which is sponsored by Vlisco and Co, features recent works by the two artists at 2nd Floor, 26 Moloney Street, Lagos Island, Lagos.

Though it started on August 18, 2019, you need to visit to see the sheer creativity on display by the artists, especially Enyeasi, who is aptly a self-taught artist.

The artists await your visit until September 1, 2019 when the exhibition will end.

However, there are many reasons to visit to see the works.

The youthful Kadara Enyeasi is among the few artists who have drawn the society’s attention to what is beneath the cloth through his works. While some artists reveal more of the female

artist whose creativity ingenuity cuts across various fields; sculpture, fashion, and digital art. His versatility and guts make him an upcoming artist to watch in the Nigerian art circle.

On the rationale for self-portraits, Kadara says, “I use selfportraits to see myself. It was all about understanding myself”. But he later decided to use models as his subject on discovering that he was either honest or telling lies with his pose. With models, he says, “I try to reveal the reality of my subject’s mood behind the lens”.

Trailing his works is a fantastic endeavor. From 2010-2014 he created works he tagged ‘Human Encounters’ due to his focus then.

Lately, his interests have gone beyond photography to travelling, fashion, social documentary work, looking at architecture from a cultural perspective among others.

“I have been working on collage. I enjoy juxtaposing images, colours and text. And I continue to take fashion commissions with brands in Nigeria and Ghana.

Fashion comes easily to me because I like form, silhouette, line and perspective”.

In his less than a decade practice, Enyeasi has many exhibitions and collaborations to his credit.

His feats include; the Africa Centre in London, Bozar Festival in Brussels, La Triennale expo in Milan, Odessa/Batumi Photo days in Ukraine and A White Space in Lagos. The artist was also a 2017 participant in the Arthouse Foundation residency programme.

Reviewing his journey to artistic stardom, Kadara recalls his encounter with photography when he was 13 years, photographing his sister (who then was an aspiring model) to practice.

“I starting by taking my sisters photographs with a 2MP Nikon camera, and later moved on to take my family members, myself and the public much later”.

Kadara is truly progressive in his career. Besides taking up painting, he is also working on a book.

American film showcase debuts in Lagos OBINNA EMELIKE

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n an expression of its commitment to strengthening the ties that link Nigeria and the United States of America, the U.S. Consulate Lagos has inaugurated a documentary film festival.

The film festival, which was hosted with partnership with Ascends International Studios Limited and the Silverbird Group, opened at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos on Monday, August 19, 2019.

It featured screenings of eight contemporary documentaries from the American Film Showcase from August 19 to 22, at Silverbird Galleria, as well as, panel discussions for filmmakers, industry professional, students and youth audiences.

In his remarks at the inauguration, Russell Brooks, United States

Consulate Public Affairs Officer, who highlighted the universal power of storytelling and the potential of film to inspire social change, noted the Consulate is intimately involved with the creative community in Lagos. “We especially support that community’s efforts to use the power of film, music, dance, or

literature to expose society’s ills or celebrate the brilliance and artistry that also form the human experience”, he said.

Explaining further, Brooks said that the major highlight of the festival was the American Film Showcase, the premier film diplomacy program of the U.S. Depart-

ment of State, which is produced in partnership with the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts.

“The American Film Showcase brings award-winning contemporary American documentaries, independent fiction films, and documentary know-how to audiences around the world, offering a view of American society and culture as seen by independent filmmakers”, he said.

Apart from showcasing eight documentary films, and featuring eight panel sessions, the festival, on the second day, witnessed a virtual appearance by Mary Mazzio, the director of the film ‘I Am Jane Doe’.

Her film is one of the most discussed documentaries of recent years due to its riveting subject matter-sex trafficking.

For the audiences, each of the films sparked thought and dialogue,

while inspiring some of them to explore the means of telling their own stories.

For the period the festival lasted, the documentaries offered the enthusiastic audiences contemporary insights into the American society with loads of inspirational stories that span entrepreneurship, technology, food, music and dance, as well as, some disturbing aspects of the darker sides of human nature.

Speaking on the stories, Brooks said, “Whether these stories are uplifting or distressing, these are important stories that must be told.

We owe it to the heroes, to the victims, we owe it to ourselves”.

While appreciating the partners for the successful inauguration, he hoped that the festival would become a consistent feature of the U.S. cultural engagement with Lagos State and the people of Nigeria.

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Arts Hamza Attah and his symbolic art OBINNA EMELIKE

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rom breathtaking artworks such as the Awolowo statue, the iconic foot statue at Ojodu Berger, Mobolaji Bank Anthony, Jakande and Tinubu statue all in Lagos, the Kano Monument, horse head statue at Fifth Chukker Resort in Kaduna, among others, HamzaAttahdisplayedsheer creativity in his sculptures.

The lawyer turned artist, who is the managing director of Poly 3D Art Studios, which engages in the production of monumental and commer-

cial works of art.

Based on the creative ingenuity of the art studio, it won contract to participate in the competition to make art in various spaces around Lagos metropolis to commemorate Lagos at 50, which was also in line with its philosophy of creating monumental and cultural art in urban spaces to inspire youths to greatness.

One of the remarkable works it delivered for the competition curated by Terra Kulture was the symbolic Epe fish statue.

While transiting through Epe, a beautifully designed fish statue delights the eyes at the T-junction that ends

the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

The iconic statue is a symbolic expression and also celebrates the traditional disposition of the founding fathers of Epe, as a generic community of fishermen primarily because of its proximity to the lagoon.

The fish statue is one of the many aesthetic works of art commissioned by Lagos State government and deployed at strategic locations across the state. Of course, the beautiful works added value to the Lagos environment and most importantly money to the pockets of all the artists that created the works.

But why fish is one may ask? The fish signifies that Epe locality is not only the fish basket of Lagos State, but also tourism enclave, cultural hub and history. These are potential the locality has not been able to package and market to visitors who hardly go beyond Lekki despite the pristine nature and rich cultural heritage that awaits them across the lagoon to Epe.

Interestingly, in his narrative of the artwork, Hamza Attah, the sculptor of the fish statue, said the monument depicts modern Epe as the collecting point for the export of fish in Lagos, fishing is the major occupation of the people in Epeland. The sculptural work associates the community with the fish that put Epe on the global map.

“In Epe we celebrate fish, this is our pride, hence there

London exhibition highlights black creativity

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celebration of Black creativity in Britain and beyond at Somerset House in London spanning art, film, photography, music, literature, design and fashion On June 12, 2019, Somerset House in London opened the exhibition, “Get Up, Stand Up Now” in celebration of 50 years of Black creativity in Britain and beyond. This exhibition features over 100 interdisciplinary artists, who are exploring Black experience and its influence from the post-war era to date.

Curated by Zak Ové, whose father Horace Ové created the first feature film by a Black British director, the exhibition showcases historic works spanning more than half a century and newly commissioned works from many creative

artists working today.

So m e k e y f e a t u r e s include an original soundtrack by Trinidadian DJ, producer and member of Major Lazer, Jillionaire, which is streamed throughout the exhibition space, visual artist Larry Achiampong, the musician known as Gaika and filmmaker Jenn Nkiru who are participants of the Somerset House Studios Residency.

Also, on view are works

by Yinka Shonibare CBE, Ishmahil Blagrove Jr., Horace Ové, Victor Ekpuk and many more. “ Ge t Up, St a n d Up Now”, running as part of Somerset House summer series will be on view until September 15, 2019. See more photos from the exhibition.

Courtesy of thesoleadventurer.com

Installation view, “Get Up, Stand Up Now”, at Somerset House, London. Photo credit: Kojo Abudu

is no other object that is as befitting as the fish”, the artist explained.

But Akinwunmi Ambode, former governor of Lagos State, who instituted the artwork, has a better reason for the fish statue. Beyond enhancing the environment, the governor explained that, “The fish statue is a celebration of the communal economic activities, which revolve the vast potentials available in the coastal area including fishing, marine transportation and job opportunities”,theformergovernorsaidat thecommissioningofthestatue.

The he hoped that visitors to Epe would stop by the T-junction to take picture with the fish statue background and local photographers can make money from it as well. But the tourism and revenue potential of the statue, according to the artist, would be sustained if, “The Epe community protect the monument and other infrastructureprovidedbyhis administration to enhance thesocio-economicopportunities available in Epe”.

Well, many motorists, passersby and even locals have reason to at least pause to see the new attraction and may be take pictures.

Beyond the fish statue, Epe now boost of a marina by the lagoon, the serene Epe Resort and Spa, historic relics of ancient wars, colonial administration among others.

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‘Year of Return’ turns around tourism fortune in Ghana OBINNA EMELIKE

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hile on a postretirement vacation, an America couple visited the Elmina Castle in the Central Region of Ghana as part of the tour itinerary handed over to them by a tour company in Houston, Texas.

The tour, which was towards the end of their one-week trip, almost marred the whole experience, especially for the wife who was all tears on sighting the pitch-dark dungeon where African slaves were once held before being shipped across the Atlantic to America.

“I think every black person outside Africa should visit one of these slave castles to learn history, discover how people were treated in order to get over some issues bothering their identity”, the husband said.

As well, in their respective visits to the Gold Coast Castle, a seaside fortress converted to the slave trade by the British in the 17th century, Bush, Clinton and Obama, were disheartened by the sight of the dungeons, and thousands of shackled Africans huddled in squalor before being herded onto ships bound for America.

Like President Barack Obama, almost every visitor with African roots, who visits the slave castles across Africa, fights to keep the emotions in check.

To preserve history and seek ways to forge ahead despite the sad past, the Ghanaian government is wooing more Africans in the dispora, especially African Americans to return to the continent or visit as often as possible.

To this effect, Nana AkufoAddo, Ghana’s president, in September 2018, in Washington, D.C., declared and formally launched the “Year of Return, Ghana 2019” for Africans in the Diaspora, giving fresh impetus

Visitors at Gold Coast Castle, Ghana to the quest to unite Africans on the continent with their brothers and sisters in the diaspora.

The year 2019 was selected as ‘Year of Return’ because it marks 400 years since the first ship of slaves landed in ‘Jamestown Virginia, America’ in 1619 from Jamestown in Ghana.

However, Ghana is banking on the commemorations to give a major boost to the number of tourist arrivals as it encourages the descendants of slaves to return to their roots and hopes to increase visitor numbers from 350,000 in 2018 to 500,000 this year, including 45,000 AfricanAmericans.

Truly, the diasporas have been returning to Ghana since the presidential declaration.

Michael Jai White, American actor and director, visited Ghana towards the end of 2018 and

promised to be back for the ‘Year of Return’ later in 2019.

The actor and over 40 African diasporan celebrities took part in “The Full Circle Festival”, designed to attract visitors to Ghana. The list included Idris Elba, Boris Kodjoe, Naomi Campbell, Anthony Anderson and Adrienne-Joi Johnson. During the visit, Akwamuhene Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, the Akwamu Paramount Chief, enstooled White as Chief “Oduapong” meaning “Tree with strong roots that does not fear the storm”.

As well, there are other prominent African-Americans who have heeded to the call to return home at least on regular visits.

Among them was a delegation of Congressional Black Caucus led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that visited recently.

Like most visitors, they headed to the slave sites to mark the

anniversary since the first slave landing in 1619.

Since their visit, social media has been awash with pictures taken at different slave relics and sites, especially the whitewashed fort lined with cannons where dozens of prisons studding the Atlantic coast were held before their journey to the New World.

Just last Tuesday, Ghana welcomed 250 non-resident Africans including Ghanaians who had been away from the country and the diaspora as part of the celebrations of the ‘Year of Return’.

Ziblim Barri Iddi, deputy minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, who welcomed the returnees at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, expressed joy over their return to their motherland and opened doors of opportunities to them beyond the celebration.

In appreciation of their visit,

and as part of the activities to celebrate their return, a durbar of chiefs would be organised, where President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would have a personal encounter with them.

The encounter with Mr. President, he explained, would enable the returnee participants to reflect on the historic and reconciliatory journey from ‘Jamestown in Ghana to Jamestown in Virginia USA’.

For all Ghanaians and the African continent, the ‘Year of Return’ is long awaited, but the returnees are truly making use of the opportunity to explore the country and feel at home.

As expected, there is a huge surge for tours by the returnees while Ghana looks to rake in tourism revenue of $925 million (830 million euros) at the end of the ’Year of Return’ later this year.

South African Tourism West Africa to host trade roadshow in West Africa

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outh Africa Tourism (SAT) will be hosting another trade roadshow in five cities across Nigeria and Ghana. The cities include; Kumasi and Accra in Ghana and Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos in Nigeria.

Nigeria and Ghana contributed 76 percent of Africa’s tourist arrival into South Africa in 2014, outbound travel and spending has grown over the years in the West African

region with a 12.7 percent increase in trips over the period between 2013 and 2018 for the Ghanaian market and a 1.9 percent increase in trips from 2013 to 2018 for the Nigerian market with total outbound expenditure growing by 14.6 percent.

The roadshow began in Kumasi, Ghana on August 21, 2019; followed by Accra on August 23, Abuja on August 26, Port Harcourt on August 28 and Lagos

on August 30, 2018. It will highlight South Africa’s affordable experiences and diversity of offerings to key travel partners in the West African region; spanning across travel, accommodation, entertainment and events with a focus on opportunity for partnership development among South African Product Owners (SAPO), trade partners and other stakeholders.

Activities during the event will include, trade

workshop/engagement in each city, SA Specialist graduation ceremony,

launch of the South Africa Trade Awards (Accra for Ghana & Lagos for Nigeria).

Sunday 25 August 2019

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BDSUNDAY 27

Travel Tips that will help you sleep during long haul flights Stories by IFEOMA OKEKE

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here are lots of annoying things about long haul flights, but nothing is quite as frustrating as clock-watching for hours at a time because you’re struggling to drift off and fall asleep.

And while there are obvious steps you can take to try and make getting some shut eye that little bit easier, what do cabin crew do to make sleeping on an aeroplane all the easier?

Flight attendant and travel blogger Kara Mulder has revealed her unexpected tip for nodding off on her blog The Flight Attendant Life, and it’s all to do with when you eat.

She explains that she sets her

watch to the time zone where she’s landing, and only eats at what would be regular times, writing, “Immediately change your watch

to the local time. Fall into a local time schedule and routine with eating and sleeping.

“Do not go to sleep at 1pm.

Wait to fall asleep at a regular time [in that time zone]. Your body will quickly readjust.

“If the snack and meal service is

not served on your eating schedule, go ahead and pass on the food.

Pack your own healthy granola bars, trail mix, dried fruit, etc. Also, be careful and avoid foods that cause gastrointestinal distress and be careful not to overeat.”

Considering our schedule revolves solely around as and when we’re next eating, this is definitely a tip we can get on board with. It makes sense as to why it would work, too - if it’s three in the morning at the destination you’re flying to, you probably shouldn’t start digging into your breakfast.

This also makes sense if you’re hoping for your time zones to line up when you get there - and hey, if part of Kara’s advice is to take snacks to avoid going hungry, we’re on board.

House Committee on Aviation say reappointment of Sirika is good for continuity

Sirika looks to increase in aviation contribution to GDP

nolim Nnaji has commended the reappointment of Hadi Sirika as Minister of Aviation by President Muhammadu Buhari saying it was good for continuity.

Nnaji who is the Chairman House Committee on Aviation noted that he would expect the Minister to hit the ground running because he was already familiar with the terrains.

“There is so much to be done within a short time to prepare the industry for the challenges posed by the emerging African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA), so we don’t need a new person that will require a lot of time to learn the ropes,” he said.

The lawmaker representing Nkanu East and West Federal Constituency, Enugu State also stated that he is happy the minister is coming at the time the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) is commencing the reconstruction of the Enugu Airport Runway.

He urged the minister whom he said understands the problems associated to Enugu Airport, to use his knowledge as a seasoned aviator to ensure that the right things are done immediately

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Hadi Sirika

because of the importance of the Airport to the South East.

“I am sure he will be interested in finding out how the Enugu Airport runway failed within Six years of commissioning and believe he will assist our committee in unravelling the circumstances that led to the collapse of the runway during our investigation.

While congratulating him on his reappointment, Nnaji equally assured him of the cooperation of his committee towards providing a Safe, viable and reliable air transport industry for the country.

He stressed that he welcomed his new portfolio as a substantive Minister of Aviation which according to him will enable the Minister to be focused solely on the Aviation industry.

The aviation committee chairman further made case for adequate funding of the industry because of its strategic role in stimulating the economy of Nigeria.

Nnaji who expressed concern over the glaring dominance of foreign airlines on the nation’s major international routes said that the legislative arm of government would work closely with the executive arm of government to correct the imbalance.

… says Nigeria Air still on road map he newly sworn-in Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has said that he looks forward to having an increase in the contribution of aviation to the tune of one percent to the Gross Domestic Product of the country, in the first few years.

This is as the aviation unions made up of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association o f N i g e r i a ( AT S S S A N ) , Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the National Association of Air Transport Pilots and Employees (NAAPE) put up a surprise welcome reception for the minister after taking oath of office.

He said Nigeria Air is still on the road map adding that “This industry has a lot for Nigerians and it connects people, nations and markets. One airplane that will come in means 300 jobs.

More than that, it is a catalyst growth for the economy of our country and contributes to the GDP. From what we have done, we have raised the contribution to the GDP from 0.4 to 0.6.

We believe that in the next one year, it will increase the GDP contribution by at least 1percent.

With 200 million people, at the centre of Africa, aviation for sure will add to the quality of lives in Nigeria.”

Responding to the gesture by the unions Sirika said, “I truly appreciate the aviation workers for coming out in numbers to receive me. I am not sure if it has not broken me to pieces. Indeed it did. I am being the macho man that I ought to be to hold back tears.

This surprise by the grace of God will not be misplaced.

“We worked together as a family and I missed them. I never thought that I was coming back.

I could not find a forum to say

a big thank you to them. Now that we are back, we will still continue from where we started from. If there is need, we will tweak to make it better what we have done before in the interest of our country and our industry aviation.”

Sirika reiterates the collaboration of stakeholders in the country when he said “Nigerians should know that while we are here given the opportunity, we together with the stakeholders, the union and that staff; we drew a road map and we are following that road map.

“We will continue with the road map.it it needs adjustment, we will adjust it appropriately so that it will serve the industry better. So that it will be in tune and in tune with the presidential directive, that everything must be pro-people. So, we will continue with the pro-people initiative of the President. We will ensure that all our actions will be in the interest of the people, the worker, the industry and the country in general.”

Citing the universal nature of aviation, Sirika commented that: “I want to point this out that

to Nigerians and the world in general, there is only one aviation.

There is no aviation B. Aviation is universal. It is the same aviation in China, America, South Africa and in Nigeria. We cannot work as island.

“We must work together because the standards are the same. Anything that affects someone in Niger will affect another person in Singapore.

People should desist from seeing aviation as elitist. I use to read on paper and here on the news that, ‘How many people fly?’ it is not that. If Dangote has employed 100,000 people and he has to travel from one place to another in an aeroplane, it is not him that is travelling, but also the 100,000 workers.”

Ab e n e g o Ga l a d i m a , t h e National Presidents of NAAPE, and Kabir Gusau, President General of ANAP, on behalf of other unions expressed their satisfaction in having Sirika back as a substantive minister and appeal for a continued collaboration with the unions in the industry for a better working relationship which will give room for progress of the industry.

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Sunday 25 August 2019

Entertainment Why many celebrity marriages crash marries a celebrity for his/ her money and later discovers that there is no money, the marriage will not last”, he says.

Odion discloses further that pressure from family, friends, fans and even managers often lead celebrities to try out marriage with a one leg.

“Often, we managers and artiste agents think that marriage will raise our client’s profile, especially if they are hoping for a corporate signage or deal. In that case, the managers are only after the deal and not the fate of the marriage after the money has been made”, he says.

These impromptu marriages, according to him, crash months and even days after because the couples hardly

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ESEOGHENE AYOMAH ometime ago, Olu Jacobs, a veteran Nigerian actors, was asked why Joke Silva, his wife, still bears her maiden name, the answer he gave said it all.

“She is her own individual.

When I met her, she was an actress known as Joke Silva so why should marrying me now deny her and her audience her name. She is Miss Joke Silva who is Mrs. Joke Jacobs. It is as simple as that. People now begin to say what they like.

They have even written that we are separated and all sort of stuff. When she is working, she is Joke Silva but she is Mrs. Joke Jacobs at home.”

The Nollywood veterans, who are celebrities in their own right, have been married since 1989 and have stayed married since then.

The intrigue is that both are actively traveling on the job for movie shootings, raising children and also staying in touch and out of scandals. As well, Omotola Jalade, another top actress, who married Captain Matthew Ekeinde Ekeinde, a pilot, since 1996, is still married today.

Sadly, most movie stars in Nigeria who are carried away by the ‘celebrity thing’ hardly learn the secrets of staying together and out of scandal from the likes of Olu, Joke and Omotola.

The Nigerian celebrity circle was stunned in 2011 when Kate Henshaw, one of its own who was held in high esteem, abandoned the ‘married’ status in a mutual separation with Roderick James Nuttal, her husband.

The disappointment for

supporters of ‘sane society’ was that after 12 years in marriage, Kate was beginning to be a reference point for respected married celebrities, suddenly she failed, giving the lily-livered would-be celebrity couples reason to think twice.

But like the biblical saying that it is easier for the camel to pass through the eye of the needle, than for a rich man to get to heaven, does it mean that it is also very difficult for celebrities to stay in marriage.

While gossipers’ ears itch for the news of another celebrity whose marriage has crashed, the reality is that celebrities are humans as well, and there are many divorces that do not make news because the separated couples are not celebrities.

Considering the fact that there are always the watching eyes of the public, why do celebrities allow their marriages

to crash?

One of the reasons is the very busy schedule of most celebrities, which does not allow enough time for family bonding.

Most celebrities travel a lot; hence spend most of their time away from home. Jennifer Ojodu, a model, says that time is better managed when a female celebrity married a man who is not in the public view as man can travel with his wife sometime or take charge of the home front.

For her, the trouble is when both are celebrities with busy schedule; as one goes for a concert in New York, the other travels to London for movie shooting. “The most lasting relationships in celebrity marriage are those where the both are not celebrities and understand the job demands of each other”, she says.

As well, money is said to be the root of all evil and even in marriage. It is worse for

celebrities because they need steady supply of huge money to stay public. But when there is no money, some celebrities can go to any length even infidelity to stay in glamorous.

According to Michael Odion, an artiste manager, all celebrities are not wealthy and rich as most fans think; the glamour is often part of the show, which the promoters put up. “When a gold-digger

‘The Wives’ returns this September

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ate Henshaw, Jide Kosoko, Shaffy Bello, Lala Akindoju, Binta Ayo Mogaji and Toyin Oshinnaike will feature in ‘The Wives’, a stage play showing at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos from September 5-8, 2019.

Written by Professor Ahmed Yerima and produced

by Make It Happen Productions in partnership with YNaija, ‘The Wives’ is the story of Chief Theophilus Gbadegesin Olowookere, his three wives, Angela, Cecilia, and Tobi, and his sister - four women caught in a web of lies spun by their billionaire benefactor. Upon his death, accusations of murder and fraud are rife between the women, with series of events finally uncovering an uncomfortable family secret.

Speaking about the new

project, Lala Akindoju, CEO of Make It Happen Productions said, “With the unique unfolding of the plot, and the way it explores the question of whether a man can keep his most cherished secrets forever, ‘The Wives’ remains a wonderful contribution to art.

“We are very enthusiastic to be together again to present this wonderful play, and the audience should expect to be extremely thrilled and entertained,” she added.

The stage play is directed

by Akindoju, who has also produced the Open Mic Theatre, V-Monologues, and London Life Lagos Living.

‘The Wives’ promises to be an outstanding stage performance.

The play is supported

by Africa Magic, ‘W’ by Access Bank and Africa Movie Channel.

know themselves and even if they do, they lack maturity, tolerance and love to mend their differences when situations arise.

Kareem Badeh, a showbiz promoter, says most celebrities are insecure about something, and there is always one gossip about them, and when the media spotlights the rumour, an already shaky marriage seek the divorce

option. “Most divorce cases among celebrities emanate from rumours of infidelity, domestic violence or shady deals. But they spread like wildfire and often out of hand as most celebrities have no time to find out the true situations”.

Badeh thinks the media plays a huge role in the growing cases of divorce among celebrities.

He refers to the media as ‘rumour machine’ that tries to pull gullible traffic. “The media plays a very vital role in celebrity divorce; when they always remind you of who your partner was before you met, and paparazzi are always there to say who your partner had spoken to, had dinner with, hugged, where when and how. Celebrities should learn to turn deaf ear and get blind to what they see or hear on the media in the sense that this had led to many separations in marriages among celebrities today”, he says.

Considering the fact that celebrities are in spotlight always and meeting with the high and mighty in the society, there is tendency to face more temptation than the normal people who may be more beautiful, even richer but not in public domain.

“Imagine when a governor, a sitting senator, or one of the billionaires is asking a celebrity out. Those who are married may resist it at first, but as the pressure mounts alongside its benefits, the celebrity’s defence will be broken. From one date, there would be more that would eventually lead to divorce.

There is no way you will date a governor without people knowing it”, he concludes.

Sunday 25 August 2019

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BDSUNDAY 29

Bliss with Nonye Ben-Nwankwo

Email: chiwuagwu@yahoo.com Phone number (SMS only) 08057511893

It shall not be well with those Hi Life Fest: How Chijioke dragging my name – Liz Anjorin became the latest king of highlife

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ctress and businesswoman, Liz Anjorin practically spat fire few days ago on some cyber bullies who trolled her on her social media page.

Liz more or less, cursed those fans and foes saying it shall not be well with them.

Trouble started when Liz posted the picture of her colleague, Ronke Odusanya on her page, congratulating her on the birth of her baby.

As such, some of her followers who felt Liz didn’t accord same gesture to her other colleague, Toyin Abraham who also gave birth recently, came on her page and trolled her.

The actress, who is not known to keep mute when trolled, fired back and admonished her ‘haters’.

In series of posts, Liz said it is not a must to acknowledge everybody and she also congratulates those who congratulate her in her ventures as well.

Writing in Pidgin English and her Yoruba parlance “People should check other celebs’ pages, na only me dey in the industry? If people sick, after I don do my little, some will say why Liz no contribute money. If dem born, after I don drop my own congratulatory message, dem go say why Liz no post.

“It shall never be well with all of you dragging my name for useless things I dey here under sun dey hustle on how to survive.

Na una life I come?

“January 8th, my mother’s remembrance… January 13th, my turbaning; April 4th ..My birthday; June 6th, my daughter’s birthday; July 11th. .. Celebration

of my house; 27th of July…Death threat… How many artistes carry placard? I received a death threat few weeks ago, just 2 or 3 celebs commented under the post.

Others wish themselves quick death on instablog with private account and yet none of my fans dragged anybody.

“I go dance from January to December, una no drag any celebs to come and buy cloth or repost my advert .The write up under my new house will make a blind man shed tears yet I never dragged anybody to celebrate with me. Oh Allah I just told you, let any soul that is dragging my innocent name in baseless issue die miserable...look at how I defend them behind them, let things that make them happy turn to things of sorrow for them,” she said.

Meanwhile, under her post, Toyin Abraham reached out to her and said, “We love and appreciate you sis.”

Also, Toyin in her recent post on her social media page, has admonished her fans and apologised on their behalf.

She said, “For #TOYINTITANS , you guys are gifts that keep giving. You have made my life better. You have become a part of my life, I am grateful for the love. It’s so pure and true, I could take it to the bank. You guys are bankable. I also need to address the issue of overzealous fans that have gone overboard with their actions. I apologise on their behalf. #TOYINTITANS are generally well behaved, but as humans we err. I pray God will see us all through IJN.”

Muma Gee reaches out to ex hubby

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inger cum actress, Gift Uwame, popularly known as Muma Gee, has extended her warm greetings to her estranged husband, Prince Eke.

In her instagram post recently, Muma wished her ex hubby a happy birthday.

Actually, her birthday post was meant for her daughter who shared

the same birthday with her ex and while celebrating her daughter on her social media platform, Muma also extend her warm regards to her ex.

In the post Muma said, “Hurray!

My Lil Princess is 3 today. All gratitude to God our creator, Monalisa Oma Prince-Eke, I wish you long life in good health and wealth with lots of blessings. Happy birthday my beautiful angel and sweetheart.

I love you so much my baby. @ realprinceeke happy birthday to you too.”

Prince Eke didn’t acknowledge the post or comment on her page.

Muma and Prince Eke got married few years ago. Their four year old marriage crumbled in 2017 after series of allegations of infidelity and domestic violence.

At the moment, Muma has relocated to Lagos from Port Harcourt while sources said Prince has moved permanently to the US.

he life of young man, Chijioke Charles may never remain the same as he became the latest sensation in Highlife music.

And as he won the Hi Life Fest talent hunt competition proudly sponsored by Life Continental beer last Sunday, the young guy could not hold back his happiness as he beat several other competitors and contestants to clinch the title after weeks of the Hi Life Fest battle.

Pocketing his grand winnings of N5m and beaming with smiles from ear to ear, Chijioke said, “I dedicate this win to God, my family and everyone who supported me, I am lost for words. This is definitely the happiest day of my life and I am so grateful to Life Lager.”

But the night wasn’t all about the contestants and their displays.

Guests were taken to another level of fun when the ‘masters of the game’ came on the stage and lit up the whole arena.

Kicking off the guest performances on the night was KCEE. The electric singer showed just why he is a fans’ favorite in the East, with some impeccable stagecraft and impressive dance

moves. Performing back to back his hit tracks, KCEE got everybody on their feet as they danced along to his vibes.

Following up his performance was veteran singer, Onyeka Onwenu. Onyeka once again proved her legendary status with a performance which was full of zest and some sultry singing. It was truly a sight to behold.

The icon really showcased she is indeed, an elegant stallion. Not just few would remember her incredible performance.

Wrapping up the night was Phyno. The multi-talented rapper rounded off the night with a tracklist of all his chart-topping singles.

His performance was practically a sing-along with the fans, as both he and the guests in attendance both had the time of their lives during his powerful performances.

Phyno is loved by everybody!

The young and old just couldn’t sit at a place and everybody yearned for more even when he was done with his performance.

The conclusion of this year’s edition of the fest marks another landmark achievement in Life Lager’s growing list of successful consumer engagements.

‘The Wives’ returns with Kate Henshaw, Jide Kosoko, others

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ateHenshaw,JideKosoko, Shaffy Bello, Lala Akindoju, Binta Ayo Mogaji and Toyin Oshinnaike will feature in ‘The Wives’, a stage play showing at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos from 5th – 8th September, 2019.

Written by Professor Ahmed Yerima and produced by Make It Happen Productions in partnership with YNaija, ‘The Wives’ is the story of Chief Theophilus Gbadegesin Olowookere, his three wives, Angela, Cecilia, and Tobi, and his sister - four women caught in a web of lies spun by their billionaire benefac-

tor. Upon his death, accusations of murder and fraud are rife between the women, with series of events finally uncovering an uncomfortable family secret.

Speakingaboutthenewproject, Lala Akindoju, CEO of Make It Happen Productions said, “With the unique unfolding of the plot, and the way it explores the question of whether a man can keep his most cherished secrets forever, ‘The Wives’ remains a wonderful contribution to art.

“We are very enthusiastic to be together again to present this wonderful play, and the audience should expect to be extremely thrilled and entertained,” she added.

The stage play is directed by Akindoju, who has also produced the Open Mic Theatre, V-Monologues, and London Life Lagos Living.

The play is supported by Africa Magic, ‘W’ by Access Bank and Africa Movie Channel.

30 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 25 August 2019

Focus

Ravaged by sickle cell anaemia ...A tale of woes, anguish over misdiagnosis, negligence and ‘blind love’

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Desmond Okon he facility’s reception room is artistically decorated. There are paintings on almost all the walls. Most of the artworks have children-related themes.

And although, the motive for such interior décor is unknown, the ambience tends to bring hope for kids who walk in with their parents crying or tensed.

The most prominent art piece are the multiple-coloured cubes stacked on each other to form three pillars standing on old car wheels—these are the first things you see as you walk in with a suffering child.

But this ambience was not enough to ease Kola’s agony who laid on the soft black-leather sofa rolling side-ways and holding his back and leg at the same time, while his mother ran to get help.

Kola, now 11 years, has been suffering from sickle cell anaemia all his life. Since he was found to have the disease, his parents have been making trips to various hospitals seeking better management alternatives.

“We noticed when he was 6 months old. We just saw that his leg was swelling. So, when we got to the hospital, we were told it was a sign of SS, and that we should go and run a test. Since then, we’ve been managing it,” his mother, Yinka, said holding drugs contained in a black nylon.

Yinka, who is also secondary school teacher, said managing the situation has not been easy since they started going to the clinic every three months, stating that there has not been any complication since then.

“There hasn’t been any problem because we follow the rules and instructions. We also get health talks at clinics. He’s 11 years old and he’s been admitted only twice since then. The last time he was admitted was in 2013, he’s never had to need blood since.

“It has been God, even today I have cried. But I know I will overcome it. What I know is that he will die. I have that faith. But I know it’s my cross. I have to carry it and bear it,” she said.

However, despite using the drugs, she told BDSUNDAY that during cold weather, he has crisis more than normal as a result, “he’s been complaining of pain in the back, in the leg, and everywhere.”

“There is a drug we give him. So, we’ve come for the drugs. But at times, the pain persists, but there is an injection they give to him for the pain to stop,” she further said.

While explaining the situation to this reporter, the teacher said she never imagined she would have a child affected with sickle cell, having gone into marriage with the hope of having an AA genotype.

According to her, she had done a genotype test as a student of a higher institution, but it turned out she was given “a fake result.”

Lola (not real name) 12-years-old, battles with sickle cell as she waits quietly for help to come.

“They gave me AA. It was a school hospital and the thing (result) is in my documents. So, when we found out he was SS after 6 months, I said it couldn’t be because I know my husband is AS. So, I was asked to go and do it again that’s when I realised that it is AS,” she said.

“I sometimes feel tensed that he would have a crisis at any time,” said Juliana Williams. “To manage it, we have to work with what works for him. His main problem is malaria, so we have to make sure that there are no mosquitoes around.”

Juliana and her husband, Pius Williams had come to the sickle cell centre located at Idi Araba, Lagos, Nigeria, with their son (name withheld) who is under five years to get drugs. This would be the second time of visit since they found that their boy has sickle cell disease when he was only six months old.

The couple were not expecting to have a baby with the disease as they had done a genotype test before marriage. “The test said my wife was AA, so we didn’t know we would have an SS child,” Pius

Williams, a business man, said.

“When we travelled out, he did not have a crisis. So, I think this is just in Nigeria because of the mosquitoes and everything….

It is expensive to manage and we cannot keep record of what we’ve spent because it’s a continuous thing,” he further explained.

Somewhere in Surulere, Lagos State, a crowd that of the size of a mini-market, composed of children, teenagers, and adults (mainly women) covered the entrance of a sickle cell advocacy centre, all seeking for help in form of treatment.

Sitting in a corner and bending over holding his waist, was Tunde Fredals, a boy around 11years. He told BDSUNDAY that he could not describe the pains he goes through.

His sister, Opeyemi Fredals, who brought him to the centre, said he has problems in his waist and leg.

“He had an attack once in school, but because his teachers know he is SS, they called my mum because he was running temperature and was going through pains. Before, we didn’t know he has sickle cell.

The genotype was wrong, maybe

a mistake because they said he was AA. So, when he fell sick, they had to take him to the hospital and discovered he is SS when they did his genotype,” she explained.

Also narrating her story, a woman who gave her name as Linda said she discovered that her 12-year old daughter, Lola, is sickle cell anaemic when she was six months old as well.

She added that taking care of her since then has not been a jolly ride as she has since been moving from hospital to hospital.

“Most times she complains of pains all over her body. At times, stomach and chest pain. It’s not all the time she has crisis I am able to take her to the hospital. So when it starts, I give her the first aid to calm her down,” she said.

Like some other women who spoke to the reporter, Linda was also a victim of misdiagnosis. According to her, the result of the first genotype test she did was AA, but was proven otherwise when Lola was born.

when he falls sick; he gets back up within two weeks.

According to him, although his family has been a strong support, helping out in times of crisis, his condition affects him as a person.

“The crisis comes in different forms; today, it might be the leg, the hand, the head and the back- serious pains. This really affects me as a person. Most times, it keeps me out of school; I won’t be able to do anything.

“I will just be lying down receiving series of injections, and that could go on for a month. I also face peer pressures here and there, but thank God for the kind of family I have, they have been very supportive,” the 25-years-old said.

Michael told BDSUNDAY that his condition prevents him from socialising much due to stigmatisation. Though he plays when he can “but there is a limit; so I don’t over-stress myself,” he said.

The disease Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a common haematological disor-

Tunde Fredals (not real name) is being led out of SAMI by sister after receiving drugs

The two sons of Bilikis (names withheld) still struggling with sickle cell after losing their brother.

“Before I got married, I and my husband did the genotype, but I was given a fake result, this was years before the wedding. I did not check my genotype again after then even after I gave birth to my first child. It was when I gave birth to her, (Lola), that I checked and I was told am AS.” In her pains, little Lola confirmed to BDSUNDAY that her condition is affecting her studies as attendance in school is affected. “It’s not every time I go to school,” she said, almost whispering.

For Awosope Michael, he visits the clinic every three month for checkups, except when he has crisis, then he goes for treatment.

The student and entrepreneur said

der, affecting millions of people worldwide.

It is most prevalent in malarial endemic areas in the tropics where outcomes are often poor due to resource constraints, resulting in most children dying before reaching adulthood, said a study published in the Journal of Global Health.

As a global burden, it accounted for over 30,500 births in 2010, with millions of people currently affected across the globe. From their findings, “it is clear that both the highest prevalence and highest mortality of SCD is in Africa,” the researchers said.

A report by United Nations, said it is present on four continents:

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Focus in sub-Saharan Africa and in the Maghreb, in Asia (Middle-East, Arabic peninsula, India), in the Americas, on the North (USA), centre (Guatemala, Caribbean islands), and on the South (Brazil, Surinam, Guiana), in Southern Europe (Southern Italy and Sicily, Greece, Turkey).

A more recent study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) said five percent of the world’s population carries trait genes for haemoglobin disorders, stating that over 300, 000 babies with severe haemoglobin disorders are born each year.

“The majority of children with the most severe form of the disease die before the age of five, usually from an infection or severe blood loss. In countries such as Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana and Nigeria, the prevalence is between 20 to 30 percent,” WHO reported.

Last year, the Coalition of Sickle Cell non-governmental organisations in Nigeria decried the prevalent rate, stating that at least 150,000 children are born with sickle cell disease in Nigeria every year, while about 40 million Nigerians are healthy carriers of the sickle cell gene.

Life expectancy Speaking to BDSUNDAY, Maureen Nwachi, head of administration, Sickle Cell Advocacy Management Initiative (SAMI), said the situation had improved from what people used to know it to be and think it was due to ignorance and lots of myths that surround it.

“Now, we have lots of advocacy and awareness going round, people are beginning to understand it better,” she said, adding that the level of awareness and management has contributed to increasing life expectancy as compared to the past.

“It’s not every doctor somebody living with sickle cell should see. There are people who specialised in that area; they are called hematologists. They are the ones who can identify some things a general practitioner would normally misdiagnose as another health problem, and then it would cause a complication which can lead to death. But with time, doctors have been able to bridge the gap where there is no longer ignorance in the management system. So, I think that has helped over the years,” she said.

According to her, some people who know that they have the disease have gone on to live their lives and are doing well. “Understanding themselves, and knowing what to do par time, what to eat. So I think that is what has helped over the years,” she said.

“Technological advancement has helped a lot,” said Olayemi Onijala, Scientist at Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria.” Life expectancy is high now because so many things we were not aware of, now we can do them.”

“In the past, some of them, between the ages of two to 16 years usually have stroke, and then, there was nothing for us to use in diagnosing the stroke. So now we can diagnose the stroke easily, and now we have many other drugs that are helping them to build their immune system,” the scientist said.

Despite improvements in awareness and advancement in

Sickle patients and their mothers waiting outside to get help

technology, Nwachi, who is also a genetic counselor, said the state of sickle cell in Nigeria may have improved but that it is still not enough, being the country with the highest burden of with sickle cell.

Why the problem remains endemic despite improved state From BDSUNDAY’s investigations, there is evidence that the problem persists, and the reasons include misdiagnosis, negligence of parents and love. This also shows why Nigeria’s situation has been described as endemic.

Most of the women who spoke to the journalist said they were victims of misdiagnosis. But a few others like Bilikis did not carry out a genotype test before marriage. Bilikis, a hawker, once had six children.

Three out of those children had SCD and one died two years at six years. She now roams with two affected children (both 15 and 12 years) from one clinic to another in search of relief.

Asked why she did not do a genotype test before marriage, she replied: “If person do am, anything wey go happen go happen. If you no do am, wetin go happen go happen.

So, I no do. As you see me so, I no dey sick, but I don’t know my genotype,” she said in Pidgin English.

Simply put, what Bilikis meant by that statement is that, whether or not she had done the test from inception, whatever would have happened, would have eventually happened- an attitude that blames it on fate.

Despite her sufferings, Bilikis who is nearly 40 years-old and has been married for 21 years, told BDSUNDAY that she does not

know her genotype till date, and is determined not to know.

“Wetin I wan use am do again?

Even if I do am now, e no change anything,” she added, arguing that it would make no difference if she checks her genotype.

Micheal, whose mum is a retired nurse, earlier said that his parents knew they were both carriers but went ahead with marriage with the hope of a miracle; thereby subjecting him to life-long crisis, unless that ‘miracle’ happens.

“By the time my husband and I were aware that we were both AS, we had gone far in our relationship; so we couldn’t break up.

So, we started praying to God, that our lives are in your hands.

We knew of people who do not have an SS and they are both AS. So, we had the faith that ours would be like that. But she came out SS as the first born.

“We took everything by faith; we believe that it was God who gave her to us, and so, we’ve been managing it,” Titilayo said, while waiting for her 15-year-old daughter to receive care.

Nwachi, head of administration, Sickle Cell Advocacy Management Initiative, (earlier mentioned), further explained that ignorance was the first cause because people in the rural areas do not understand what it means to have a genotype, and the options they have to avoid having a child with sickle cell if they go into a relationship.

“Then two, we have problems with our diagnostics labs; misdiagnosis is a problem. I don’t know how we are going to curb it. So, sometimes, when we can’t come

25 years-old Micheal sits at the waiting room after getting his vitals done

in during that genotype testing, we refer people to places we know are credible and they will get the result. These two are the major problems,” she said.

While blaming half-baked scientists in Nigeria, and obsolete equipment as factors the disease has remained in the country, Onijala, a scientist (earlier quoted), said the fact that nobody gets to sue anybody for wrong result which ends up causing families a lot of stress, also contribute to the problem “Again, very few of us are married because of love. Some are saying that ‘because I love her, I don’t want to leave her. Even though we are going to have SS I don’t mind.’ But they don’t really know the challenges of having an SS baby because they’ve not seen one before. So, we have a lot of that in Nigeria,” he said.

Finding a cure Experts confirm that a stem cell transplants (found in the bone marrow) through a bone marrow transplant is presently the only potential complete cure for SCD. They however, say that “it is risky”.

In an exclusive interview with Jannah Amiel, founder of SuperNurse Educator based in Florida, United States, BDSUNAY learnt that there’s about a 5 percent chance of death after stem cell transplant.

Amiel said that the procedure is not likely to be an option for most adults “because risks become greater with age.” She added that finding a bone marrow donor that is a match to the recipient can be challenging.

“And even when there is a match, like with other types of transplant procedures, there’s a risk for some serious complications like severe infections or the recipient’s immune system rejecting the transplant—all of which can be life-threatening.

“The stem cell transplant (via bone marrow transplant) procedure is successful in curing about 85 percent of people with SCD. But remember, because this treatment option is not available for most adults, this percentage largely reflects the paediatric population,” she said.

But Ameil also said that organisations like the National Institute of Health (NIH) have launched initiatives to help find a cure for SCD that’s not related to bone marrow transplant from donors, but will concentrate on how to genetically modify the stem cells of a person living with SCD. NIH is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research, founded in the late 1870s. The initiative, called ‘Cure the Sickle Cell Initiative’ was launched in September of 2018.

“They’re also working on the ‘Production Assistance for Cellular Therapies’ (PACT) programme to support research on other curative therapy options. These will offer alternative treatments for those who aren’t candidate’s bone marrow transplant or cannot be matched with a donor,” she said.

But before the initiative, which Amiel described as “good news”, would begin to yield results for US and the world, the present hope for a permanent cure is still the stem cell transplant.

“But they are very expensive and inaccessible to people, especially the kind of people we cater to—very low income, even the middle class income people will think twice before they attempt to go through such procedure because it runs into millions,” Nwachi lamented.

She further speculated that it could cost as high as N7 million (about 19,337 USD) in Nigeria, and only one doctor had successfully done such a procedure.

Besides high cost, which Onijala projected to be around N12 to N20 million abroad, there are other issues to think about.

“It takes a lot and the period of stay for the procedure takes about five to six months for a complete bone marrow transplant. So, that is the known permanent cure for now for sickle cell,” said Onijala.

It all comes down to Nigeria’s government Therefore, with little or no hope in sight for sufferers, the government is now looked upon for effective management programmes; or at least, to fund non-governmental organisations working to rid Nigeria of the burden.

“Presently, we don’t really get government support when it has to do with sickle cell. The way they fund malaria, HIV, if that is the way they are funding sickle cell, it will reduce the burden of sickle cell in the country. But we don’t see government funding anything. I’m sure there is a bill in the Senate lying there for over seven years; nobody has passed the bill up till today “ Si c k l e c e l l f o u n d a t i o n s should be funded. There should be a budget from Nigeria, such that anybody coming here should be treated free; anybody coming to that centre should get drugs free, pay the staff money, and employ more doctors for sickle cell,” said Onijala.

According to Nwachi, the government needs to recognise that this is a public health problem. She said this would help put some policies in place.

Similarly, on financing NGOs, Nwachi said: “Funding is always a thing, we can give palliative care.

They come here now and we give them routine drugs which will last them for one month and they come back the next month. But someone would need extra attention. Sickle cell can cause a lot of other complications. Some people may need to do x-rays for bones, or run a test to check their kidneys,” Nwachi said.

According the researchers cited earlier, in order to address this burden, there is a need for national comprehensive new-born screening to identify patients, and the development of holistic SCD care programmes to provide therapeutics and education for families and children with SCD. While that is yet to be in place in Nigeria, there remains bleak hope for affected children like 14-years-old Daniels Williams who wants to be a civil engineer, as parents continue to run helterskelter wanting to drink from the milk of human kindness at NGOs. “I’ve heard about SS but I didn’t know the level of problems associated with it, until I had him. My second one is SS, and it has not been easy,” said Yinka.

32 BDSUNDAY

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TheWorshippers ‘Sincerity of purpose, fear of God needed to turn Nigeria’s situation around’ The Gospel of Redemption Evangelical Mission (GOREM City of Wonders) will commence its annual anniversary tagged ‘Higher Grace’ by tomorrow, Monday, August 26. Reverend Prayer Otuomachi, the senior pastor and overseer of the church, speaks on the 2019 anniversary and what worshippers should expect in the week-long event of the church. Excerpts by SEYI JOHN SALAU:

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What is the motive for celebrating this anniversary? n the bible days, God instructed His servants to celebrate certain seasons as a remembrance and it was a remarkable experience. It was from these examples we followed to celebrate our yearly anniversary. Furthermore, we use the anniversary celebration to reflect on God’s past and present mercies. This also rejuvenates our faith in God after noting some landmarks he gives yearly. This also makes us to trust in God more for our future victories. Also, the observation of the anniversary helps us as a local assembly to set goals to be achieved each year. This is why we break new grounds every year that we mark the anniversary.

What should the worshippers expect as they celebrate the 2019 anniversary?

In Gorem Church, our mantra is to lay more emphasis on looking unto Jesus; the author and finisher of our faith. More so, because Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever; in Gorem Church; this makes the worshippers have high hope whenever any programme of the church is approaching. Furthermore, as the announcement is being made regarding the anniversary, many worshippers see it as another special time to dine and wine with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

All these and more make the worshippers in Gorem to be expectant of the anniversary each year.

Away from the anniversary; what is the solution to the current security challenges bedeviling the nation?

Challenges generally are the indices of growth, depending on how you handle it. Therefore, the security challenge in our country is not peculiar to us. Some countries at one time or the other had their peculiar challenges in one area or the other. Challenges are forerun-

Reverend Prayer Otuomachi

ners of growth provided it is well handled; to this effect, the authorities concerned in our country from the lowest to the highest level should put up their thinking caps to find lasting solutions to the security challenges we are currently facing as a nation. They should critically look into the problem with the aim to finding the causes of this problem and at the same time proffer solutions. A careful observer will discover that our youths are mostly those that fall prey to being used for carrying out evil acts. Therefore, the government in power should go the extra mile to find the culprits and make them to face the wrath of the law, and at the same time empower our youths to avoid idleness.

What can be done in Christendom to revive the fortune of the nation?

First is the saying that charity begins at home. The Christian community must first put their house in order and stop fighting one another

but rather embrace unity which our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, preached and showed us example to follow (Jn.17:20-26) then; they will speak with one voice in obedience to God’s word in 2 Chronicles17:14 which says “if my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will heal their land”.

Secondly, Christians should engage themselves in more intense fervent intercessory prayers for the nation, both in their private and public worship as commanded in 2Timothy 2:12 for those in authority, kings and others that we might have peace.

Can we attribute the atrocities in the country to sin and wrong doings?

If you look at God’s dealings in the bible days with nations; sometimes, God himself permits some unpalatable situations to teach

nations of the world a lesson because of their evil deeds. At other time, God might not be punishing the nation for their sins. But, to us some lessons as a nation - the bible says it is those that God loves he chastens. Hebrew 12:5; Revelation 3:19. Nevertheless, the government of the day should also rise up to its responsibility by seeking ways of curbing this menace that threatens our existence as one nation and even paralyse our economic activities, especially loss of human lives and other valuables.

Therefore, I pray for Nigeria where service in its true meaning and sense will be manifested at every facet of leadership, and when I mean at every facet of leadership I am not just talking about our leaders within the political spectrum; both leaders in the church and every area of life, where service in its true sense will be service. It’s very difficult for you to find anybody saying that they don’t have some religious affiliation.

I think that we can’t replace God in leadership. If we look at God’s example, the bible says that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us – that for me is golden example of what leadership is.

How can church leaders help to curb the high rate of crime vis-à-vis the crunching economic situation in Nigeria?

The greatest good to be done to any man is to get born again; this will go a long way to transform and reform him by the grace of God. This will make him deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, but live soberly, righteously and Godly in this evil world and become zealous of good works. To this end, my Godly counsel for every church leader is, preach the pure undiluted true gospel of our lord Jesus Christ. They should also preach and pray for their congregations to be the light of their world wherever they are found. And above

all, we, church leaders should live exemplary life styles following the footsteps of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ for our members to pattern after. The word minister in the English form - means someone who serves, but in our cultural context it is someone who is served.

So, if we look at things properly, if we put God in His right place, if God occupies the right place in our hearts; if we fear God, things will align themselves.

Back to the church and you as a minister; how do you cope with the pressure of ministration as a young preacher?

Many enter into the ministry with wrong motive and selfish reasons to amass wealth for themselves. But not sooner than later, they discover that the money they thought would come and make were not as they thought. To this end, they become confused and discouraged on the way. Also, many ministers lack passion and love for God and humanity. These and many other reasons make many that truly had genuine call from God to bow out of ministry or are stunted in growth.

Finally, what has been the feedback from your outreaches?

We started such outreaches following the footsteps of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ too, in whatsoever we do; we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is why we move at the pace of the Holy Spirit; the owner of the church. God says that the glory of the later shall be greater than the former. Following this principle, it does not say that the former has no glory or is less important. So, applying this scripture, we temporarily suspended the former for the later glory. It was only for some logistic reasons we suspended the free food initiative, just for a while. By God’s grace, we will continue it as God gives us the permission.

Lekki, Badagry, Daluwon Assembly Halls to host global convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses Isaac Anyaogu

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ne of the largest global conventions in 2019, spanning six continents and over 200 countries and presented in over 400 languages, will be coming to Lagos and

surrounding cities between the weekends of August 30 and December 20.

Jehovah’s Witnesses will host a global series of three-day conventions featuring the theme ‘Love Never Fails.’ It is anticipated that there will be an attendance of about 45,000 at 39 conventions to be held at Lekki, Badagry and Daluwon Assembly

Halls.

“These events will illustrate the positive influence that love can have to bring people together from diverse backgrounds,” Jama Onwubuariri, a local representative for Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Convention Programme Highlights, said.

The convention programme will examine how Bible prin-

ciples help people in practical ways. The Friday programme will address how love can help people surmount obstacles such as a troubled upbringing, chronic illness, or poverty. Saturday’s programme will consider how Bible principles help husbands, wives, and children to show love for one another.

Sunday’s programme will in-

clude a public Bible discourse entitled ‘True Love in a HateFilled World—Where?’ that will address overcoming prejudice and hatred.

Conventions of Jehovah’s Witness are free to the public; no collections are taken. A complete programme schedule is available on the organisation’s website.

Sunday 25 August 2019

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TheWorshippers Inspiration With Rev. Yomi Kasali

@rev.yomikasali

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artha is 32 years old, still single and searching, feeling left out and left behind by her peers, working and making a living yet quite unhappy and sad because of her emotional state. She reminds me of the Bible Martha who was preoccupied with worrying

What is wrong with martha? about small stuff and wondered why Jesus allowed the worry-free Mary to enjoy His presence while she worried about making everything work at home. What is Wrong with Martha really?

Martha’s colleague at work is a young man of 34 years and married with children, working in a tech company, attends church every Sunday and is seen in the community as a good up mobile young man but seriously challenged by his work life; no progress and seems stuck on the same level at work.

There are many cases of people who are not making the kind of progress they desire and are very sad about the state of their lives. Those who are religious seem to worry more than those who are not as religious which is an oxymoron because the reverse should be the case.

Worry is a killjoy that steals happiness. Many people do not know that ‘Happiness is a Choice and does not happen by Chance’, some even foolishly pray to God to make them Happy when He has told us in His word how

to be happy...

‘Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say Rejoice...Be careful (Worry) for nothing but in everything, by prayer and supplication, make your requests known unto God and the PEACE

of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ’ (Philippians 4 v 4-7).

I honestly wish every Christian can memorize, internalize and apply the above

passage, I guarantee you a life of Happiness and less Worry. It is the Word of God that works wonders without errors.

4 Reasons not to worry Worry robs you of happiness: I am yet to see any person glued to worry that is happy. It is almost impossible because it is one thing that Worry will take from anyone.

Happiness is a state that is achieved when someone is alien to Worrying.

Worry takes away the peace of god: I am sure you would have noticed the sequence of Apostle Paul’s admonition in the above passage to the Philippian Church.

The Peace of God only shows up when ‘we’ do not worry (v 7), unfortunately, many church goers have not really experienced the true Peace (John 14 v 27) simply because we have embraced Worry in our hearts.

Worry weakens your faith: Well, it looks like we are the ‘faithless’ generation prophesied several times in the scriptures because I hardly hear preachers teach faith again but rather magnify ma-

terialism from the pulpits. We teach unachievable goals of success and bring our members of perpetual captivity of the minds which makes them feel less important and inferior to others. Worry weakens faith because the Faithful do not worry.

Worry produces pain without profit: worrying causes pain in the heart and it can never produce profit on earth. Stress is the main cause of heart attacks and pains today. Worrying has sent many young people to early graves in this generation unlike our fathers who were not as successful but also did not die early because of stress related diseases. Stop worrying and live long on earth.

Please dear reader, I hope you have been Inspired today not to Worry, regardless of the economical, security and political challenges in our world today. DO NOT Worry, Be Happy.

I do expect to read your feedback on how this article has blessed you.

Be Inspired!

NEWS

Rivers 2019 WAEC ranking excites governor’s team

We are working towards making Calabar a destination hub for export business in Nigeria - Anie Iton

Ignatius Chukwu

MIKE ABANG, Calabar

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nie Iton, managing director of Bright Flow Logistics, says her organisation, Nigerian Private Sector Alliance (NIPSA) is working towards making Calabar, the Cross River State capital, the home of export business and destination hub in Nigeria.

Towards this end, she said NIPSA inaugurated and established the first chapter of the body in the state to create a platform for discussion in export business and opportunities, According to her, “The first Calabar Business and Private Sector Forum organised by NIPSA and Bright Flow Logistics is target at bringing together businesses, governments, as well as creating partnership to deliver rapid and sustainable growth of the Calabar Business Environment, its seaport and trade facilitation within and outside the state.

Nwiabu Legborsi executive director of NIPSA, who spoke with our correspondent in Calabar, said the business forum was a melting point for business leaders, government officials, financial institutions, SME, youths, women, and civil society leaders to network and have discussions on issues of business environment reforms, trade facilitation, investment and the boundary opportunities that lie in the belly of the state.

“Our focus is on economic justice using social

Anie Iton

innovation to close the inequality gaps through inclusive economic growth and support to people at the base of the pyramid.

Our vision is to support the private sector as a driver of for social innovation, inclusive economic growth and sustainable development, Our mission is to provide the platforms to bring together government’s development partners, civil society leaders, academia, and business organisation to address complex development challenges that no one party alone has the capacity and resources to do so more effectively,” he said.

The President of the Calabar Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Eta NdomaEgba in his opening remarks said the Chamber has been at the forefront in advocating for the capital dredging of the Calabar Port channel.

This he said will remove the draft limitations as well as the sizes of vessels that can call at the Calabar Port.

T

he West African Examinations council (WAEC) has released its ranking of states for 2019 but officials of the Rivers State government say the state has been highly rated in recent years.

Simeon Nwakaudu, senior special adviser to Gov Nyesom Wike on electronic media said Wike came prepared to reposition the education sector of the state.

This is as aides to former governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, have been beating their chests saying the foundation was laid in their master’s time. They have showcased many primary and secondary school infrastructural facilities to buttress their claims. The Wike aides however insist that the sector was in shambles when Wike took over in May 2015.

Nwakaudu said: “As a former Minister of State for Education and later Supervising Minister of Education, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, knows the right techniques and routes towards improving the education sector of the state.

From 2015, when he took over as governor of Rivers State, he has tactically approached the challenges in the education sector with a view to addressing the deep rot he inherited from the immediate past APC-led Admin-

istration in the State.

He said the WAEC rankings for Rivers State since 2016 showed improvement in the quality of investment in the education sector. “Ordinarily, the Rivers State governor continues to work on the system quietly, without emphasising the sustained improvement achieved.

“The fact for the sustained improvement is emphasised by this data: Rivers: 2016--4th; 2017--- 2nd; 2018--- 4th; and 2019----4th.

He said the facts speak for themselves. “In Rivers State, Gov Wike has prioritised education because it is the best legacy any administration can leave for future generations.

“With a high percentage of investment in basic and senior secondary education by the Wike administration, Rivers State can only remain among the top states in WAEC ranking.

“Though opposition elements are unwilling to accept the reality of the strategic sustained growth in the education sector of Rivers State, the 2019 WAEC ranking is a confirmation that the Wike administration is on the right track.

“Over the last four years, educational facilities in 23 Local Government Areas have been developed and equipped. More schools have been slated for reconstruction by the Rivers State Government. They will be equipped for functional learn-

ing. These schools are spread in all the 23 Local Government Areas of the State. By the time Governor Wike concludes his second term in 2023, over 1000 basic and senior secondary schools would have been reconstructed and equipped.”

He said beyond the reconstruction and equipping of schools, the Rivers State Government under Wike has engaged in the training and retraining of teachers. “The training and retraining programmes have been driven by the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board and the Ministry of Education.

“The administration also subsidised the registration fees for Rivers State students undertaking the West African School Certificate Examination (WAEC) and the National Examination Council Examination (NECO) and sustained provision of science equipment, chemicals, materials and consumables to all secondary schools in the State for WASSCE and NECO examinations.

“For the UTME examinations, beginning 2020, the Rivers State Government will bear the cost for Indigenes and non-indigenes. The empowerment of the future generation through education is a deliberate policy of the Wike Administration. The results that are streaming in yearly are planned for the good of Rivers State.

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Sunday 25 August 2019

Equity 69 directors join boards of listed companies in 8 months

T

Stories by TELIAT SULE

hirty-eight (38) listed firms on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) announced different changes to their boards in the first eight months in 2019, leading to the appointments of 69 individuals in different capacities, four institutions while ten other individuals announced their exit from companies’ boards.

On the average, most of the board members have at least 20 years of work experience.

Between January and August 2019, the companies that made changes to their boards are 11 Plc, Access Bank, African Alliance, AIICO Insurance, AXA Mansard, Berger Paints, Cadbury Nigeria, Conoil, CWG, Dangote Cement & Sugar and Ecobank.

Others are Sunu Group, Ellah Lakes, eTranzact, Fidelity Bank, Forte Oil, Interlinked Technologies, Zenith Bank, among others.

Among those appointed, two are acting managing directors, a chief compliance officer, seven chief financial officers, four company secretaries, two chief operating officers and a deputy managing director.

Others include twenty executive directors, two external auditors, three independent non-executive directors, fourteen managing directors and chief executive officers, a company’s registrars as well as fifteen non-executive directors.

On the contrary, six managing directors and chief executive officers were among the

Index

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Market Returns Jan 31, 2019

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Market Returns Aug 23, 2019

Market Returns Aug 24, 2018

-­‐2.78%

0.93%

-­‐1.24%

-­‐4.66%

-­‐11.81%

-­‐11.55%

-­‐7.35%

-­‐3.05%

1.21%

0.40%

9.17%

4.17%

7.13%

1.66%

-­‐2.57%

0.71%

-­‐1.37%

-­‐13.11%

-­‐22.55%

-­‐23.82%

-­‐9.87%

-­‐0.60% -­‐4.04%

0.87% 0.53%

1.69% -­‐1.73%

-­‐1.45% -­‐11.39%

-­‐1.80% -­‐19.60%

-­‐1.87% -­‐21.49%

-­‐25.51% -­‐9.42%

-­‐2.49%

3.05%

1.26%

-­‐8.04%

-­‐16.49%

-­‐16.60%

-­‐10.64%

-­‐3.26%

5.37%

-­‐0.40%

-­‐2.16%

-­‐8.49%

-­‐16.48%

-­‐0.30%

6.91%

-­‐2.61%

-­‐5.15%

-­‐16.89%

-­‐26.74%

-­‐29.29%

-­‐16.24%

-­‐7.27%

-­‐1.20%

-­‐3.87%

-­‐16.21%

-­‐25.26%

-­‐26.43%

-­‐10.68%

0.72%

2.41%

1.51%

-­‐12.03%

-­‐20.11%

-­‐22.06%

-­‐4.10%

5.77%

2.84%

0.14%

-­‐12.12%

-­‐13.26%

-­‐12.15%

-­‐11.40%

-­‐3.12% 0.31% -­‐1.16% -­‐12.35% -­‐19.85% -­‐21.19% Market 0.93% -­‐0.41% 12.67% 15.25% 15.39% Capitalisation -­‐2.78% Computed by BusinessDay Research and Intelligence Unit (BRIU). For enquiries, please call 08098710024 or teliat.sule@businessday.ng ; biodunteliat24@gmail.com

-­‐6.63% -­‐4.97%

Estonia,7.4 percent; Chile, According the data on ten thatboards announced 69 individuals directors join of listed companies in 8 to months their exit from boards of com- female seats on boards by the 8.2 percent; Japan, 5.3 perpanies TELIAT during SULE the reference Organisation for Economic Co- cent and Korea, 2.1 percent period. Further, two were chief operation and Development have the least female memberships of different the boards of the average per-(NSE) financial officers (CFOs), Thirty-­‐eight (38) listed firms aon (OECD), the Nigerian Stock Exchange announced director and a non-executive centage of women on boards companies as at 2017. changes to their boards in the first ight months in in OECD 2019, leading appointments of 69 stakeholders’ ofecompanies coun-to the “Mounting director. individuals in different capacities, four was institutions while ten individuals announced challenges tries 22.3 percent as other at expectations, Among those appointed, faced by companies 2017.

In France, 43.4 percent seventeen of the new board their exit from companies’ boards. On the average, most of the board members have at to opermembers are females, repre- of board members of compa- ate under fluctuating ecoleast 20 years of work experience. senting 25 percent of the total nies domiciled in that country nomic conditions, pressures board appointments just as were females in 2017. It was of globalisation and increased Between January and August 2019, the companies that made changes to their boards are 11 males constituted 75 percent 43 percent in Iceland; 42.1 regulatory requirements have African Alliance, AIICO Insurance, AXA Mansard, Berger Paints, Cadbury percent in Norway and 36.3 brought the quality of perforofPlc, theAccess boardBank, appointments percent Sweden. mance of the Boards of Direcyear to date.

Nigeria, Conoil, CWG, Dangote Cement & Sin ugar and Ecobank.

tors under greater scrutiny.

Boards have recognized that it would be important for them to continually assess how effectively they are performing their roles against the objectives and the goals they have set for themselves”, Deloitte said in one of its publications.

In terms of qualification, Ainojie Alex Irune, an executive director at Oando Plc, has the highest academic qualification among the new board appointments from January to August. He got his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Nottingham in 2009.

Twenty three (23) new board members have masters of business administration (MBA), four new board members with masters of science degrees, while two new appointees have masters of law (LLM) degrees. One of the new appointees, Folashope Babasola Aiyesimoju, who was appointed as the managing director and chief executive officer of UAC Nigeria is a CFA holder while Ebenezer Onyeagwu, the new group managing director of Zenith Bank Plc, is a fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

The boards of directors of companies are statutorily required for skills and expertise, corporate governance, credibility, strategic direction, legitimacy, as well as for independence and accountability.

The way a company’s board is composed usually has impact on its corporate governance.

Equities gain N400bn in five days on federal cabinet’s inauguration

J

ust in five days, listed equities gained by N403.2 billion on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). This may be attributed to the inauguration of federal cabinet where in the course of the week, minister-designates were assigned different portfolios. At the close business last week Friday, the market capitalisation of quoted stocks closed at N13.52 trillion compared with N13.12 trillion in the previous week.

The All Share Index of the NSE closed last Friday at 27,800.17 points which

amounted to 0.62 percent appreciation when compared with its closing figure the previous day. Year to date, market activities are still down by -11.55 percent. This compares to -14.33 percent in the previous week.

At the close of business, only 17 stocks ended in the positive territory. These are C & I Leasing, 310.1 percent; Dangote Flour, 203.6 percent; MTNN, 53.3 percent; BOC Gas, 45.4 percent; Chams, 30 percent; Sterling Bank, 25.8 percent; UBN, 22.3 percent; Caverton Offshore, 13 per-

cent; Wapco, 12.4 percent; and Courtville Business Solutions, 10 percent. Others such as Custodian Investments, AIICO, John Holt, Julius Berger, Learn Africa, Mansard, Red Star Express appreciated by single digit year to date.

In the course of the week, Red Star Express announced its plan to raise funds through Rights issue.

“Dealing Members are hereby notified that Red Star Express Plc has through its Stockbroker, APT Securities and Funds Limited, has submitted an application to The

Nigerian Stock Exchange for the approval and listing of a Rights Issue of Two Hundred and Ninety Four Million, Seven Hundred and Forty Eight Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty (294,748,380) ordinary shares of Fifty Kobo (N0.50) each at Four Naira Fifty Kobo (N4.50) per share, on the basis of one (1) new share for every two (2) ordinary shares held. The Qualification Date for the Rights Issue is today Wednesday, 21 August 2019”, NSE notice to market participants stated.

Further, the authorities of the NSE also realised the Rule of the

NSE Derivatives Market; the amended rulebook of the NSE to Dealing Members’ Rules, Part IX; as well as the deferment of the implementation of the rules on the release calendar for regulatory announcements and filing of listed companies.

“Notice is hereby given that, the earlier announced effective date of the Rules on Release Calendar for Regulatory Announcement and Filings of Listed Companies i.e., Monday, 2 September 2019, has been deferred until further notice”, the NSE stated in a note to all stakeholders.

Sunday 25 August 2019

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Feature

Improving transparency, efficiency and effectiveness of IGR systems Ngozi Okpalakunne

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hallenges and strategies for improved Internally G e n e ra te d R ev e n u e (IGR) at all tiers of government was the major focus of a two-day conference recently held in Lagos.

The event tagged, ‘Challenges and strategies for improved IGR’ had in participation state government officials and private sector operators. It also gave the participants opportunity to understand their rights and responsibilities, especially as regards taxes and value added tax strategies for generating IGR. Speaking at the event, Executive Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, Alausa, Ayo Subair, described IGR as the totality of monetary receipts that government at all levels in Nigeria earns from its statutory activities within its jurisdiction, adding that it includes, but is not limited to taxes, fines, fees, licenses, proceeds of sales, rent, interest and dividends.

Ayo further explained that IGR is a critical and foundational importance to sustainable economic development and growth and added that only very few nations if any in human history, have been able to defy economic influence on their respective socio-political realities.

“As we all know, improvement entails a positive change from status quo and it is difficult if not impossible to improve what you cannot measure.

Luckily for us, we have an idea of where we were as at end of December 2018, courtesy of the Joint Tax Board. It is as follows, Federal Inland Revenue and Customs 6,520B; all states’ boards of internal revenue1,176B; all local government agencies 281B (estimated); total 7,977B; GDP127,763B. “The above translate to tax to GDP ratio of 6.2 percent .The real amount generated by Local Government Authorities is not properly documented and more effort is required to capture this accurately. This will ultimately translate to higher tax to GDP ratio.

“We are all aware that Lagos State has been at the fore front of tax administration reforms in the country through the pioneering efforts of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Successor governments in the state have followed this visionary path charted by the governor emeritus to close up revenue gaps arising from dwindling and uncertain federal receipts that are still largely dependent on unstable oil prices. It is there-

L-R: Tunji Adeniyi, a former Ekiti State commissioner for finance and economic development; Bicci Alli, acting executive chairman, Osun State Internal Revenue Service; Hamzat Ayodele Subair, executive chairman of Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Blakey Ijezie, Managing Partner/CEO, Okwudili Ijezie & Co., Amechi Ebeledike and John Nejoh, CEO, Nejeed Consulting Limited, at the conference.

fore, not surprising that Lagos accounted for 32.5 percent of total IGR of all states of the federation and FCT in 2018.

“President Muhammadu Buhari in his June 12, 2019 inaugural speech gave us an idea of where we want to be by setting the strategic national goal of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within the next ten years.

“To lift considerable number of people in any jurisdiction out of poverty, there must be sustained economic growth and development in that jurisdiction. The Bretton Woods Institutions of World Bank and IMF have also asserted through empirical research findings that for sustained economic growth and development to be realised, minimum tax to GDP ratio of 15 percent is required.

“The President in that same speech cited UN report projecting Nigeria’s population to 411 million by 2050. This projection implies doubling of the population within a generation in the next 33 years at an estimated growth rate of 3 percent.

“I guess we can start to anticipate the enormity of the revenue gap that we have to bridge at all levels if we are to achieve the strategic goal set by the President. Minimum modest GDP growth of 5-6 percent may be required whilst IGR drive must start to climb up from the current 6.2 percent to the minimum level of 15 percent”, he added.

While commending the efforts of the organisers of the

conference, Okwudili Ijezie & Co Chartered Accountants, he said the event could not have come at a better time.

Earlier in his speech, Managing Partner/CEO, Okwudili Ijezie &Co Chartered Accountants, Blakey Ijezie affirmed that the conference which is the first in its series aimed to expose participants to alternative strategies and initiative that will improve transparency, efficiency and effectiveness of IGR systems.

Ijezie also added that participants would also be equipped with the basic skills for evaluation and appraisal of the existing Revenue Collection Framework and what is happening in other jurisdictions.

He also said that a fresh awareness will be created for participants on legal and institution framework that are essential in effective revenue collection.

Delving into ‘Understanding Internally Generated Revenue’, CEO of Nejeed Consulting Limited, John Nejoh affirmed that there is an arrangement for the central collection and distribution of revenue by all the federating units and that as a result, the revenue generated outside the central collection and distributable sources are held solely by the sub- national entities for their use and classified as IGR. According to him, the quantum of IGR varies from state to state in Nigeria as it is influenced by the culture, politics and economic setting of the

residents of the state.

Enumerating some of the usual IGR sources, he said they include personal income tax, capital gain tax of individuals and business names, stamp duties, pools betting, lotteries, casinos and gambling taxes, road taxes, business premises registration and renewal levy, development levies, naming of street registration fee in state capital, among others.

While admitting that the topic of the conference was timely, he stressed the need for government to be proactive in the development projects by showing that they know how to bring to the grassroots in order to achieve maximum results.

Also, he advised that the anticorruption institutions and the fight against corruption should be enhanced.

He said: “It is incredible the amount of funds that is lost to corruption according to EFCC and the ICPC reports. The people must continue to hold their representatives accountable. It is only through this that government can live up to their responsibilities by providing public goods and services for all Nigerians.”

A former Ekiti State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Adetunji Adeniyi who spoke on, ‘The real issues in increasing sub-national IGR’, defined funding as crucial for running government, adding that there cannot be expenditure without revenue.

He further stated that the sub-national governments

should take revenue mobilisation even more seriously than contract awards.

While stressing the need for creativity and innovation to be employed to encourage tax payment, he called on the state government to build sustainability to their tax system.

On his part, managing partner Patmos Professionals, Mark Anthony Dike who spoke on ‘Challenges and impact of IGR in Nigeria’, observed that the spectre of multiplicity of taxes reared its ugly head in Nigeria around 1995.

This, he explained, was when various taxes and levies were introduced at the state and local government levels at the behest of consultants who took over the functions of the states and Local Government revenue authorities under the name of Accelerated Revenue Generation Programme (ARGP).

To him, the concerted efforts of the Joint Tax Board yielded results in 1997 when the then Head of State directed the Joint Tax Board to work out modalities for streamlining the scourge and submit a report to the Minister of Finance.

The Joint Tax Board, he explained, carried out its assignment and made a number of recommendations to stem the tide.

Highlighting some of the recommendations of the Joint tax board, he said they include, all forms of multiple taxes and levies being charged by the state and local governments should be abolished; genuine receipts of payments of taxes and levies made in one state should be accepted in all other states and local governments across the country; the number of taxes levied on one single tax base such as property or income should be reduced.

Others were- there is no jurisdiction for states to levy property tax or tenement rate as the constitution has vested the power of collecting tenement rates in local governments, more so, as individuals and corporate property owners pay personal income tax to state and Federal Governments, respectively; no levy, tax permit or fees should be charged by state and local governments within the state on the same tax base.

For example, tenement rate and property tax should not be collected by the state and local governments on the same property; the use of tax contractors should be discouraged since it is contrary to the provisions of the tax laws; tax consultants may be appointed to assist a tax authority of a state, but such assistance must not be extended to the assessment and collection of taxes, among others.

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Sunday 25 August 2019

ExecutiveBookshelf A Story of Our Times: An Autobiography. Sylvanus A. Ekwelie (2018), Enugu: Rhyce Kerex Publishers. 428 pages ISBN: 978-978-8506-09-6 Reviewed by Chido B. Nwakanma, School of Media and Communication, Pan Atlantic University

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A constitutional through eight decades iographies are recommended reading for persons at every stage of life, but more so for young ones because “biographies explore the events in a person’s life and find meaning within them.” Meaning within a person’s life is even more apparent in autobiographies.

Sylvanus Ekwelie brings to this story of his life and times the skill of the journalist, the authenticity of the autobiographer and sociological imagination.

Renowned sociologist C. Wright Mills takes credit for coining the term “sociological imagination” to refer to an awareness of how the part fits into the whole or “the awareness of the relationship between personal experience and the wider society”.

With a fitting title, ‘A Story of Our Times: An Autobiography’, takes the reader on an exciting walk (a constitutional, as he taught our class) through eight decades of development in SouthEast Nigeria, Nigeria and Africa.

Ekwelie tells the story of Nigeria in the 1930s up to the 2000s. It is one of struggle through the years of living almost in a state of nature, battling and overcoming diseases and poverty, yet contented with the leisurely pace of life in rural Nigeria and its many splendours such as hunting for rodents. Then the journey through education; he ran away initially, but soon became an exemplar of the values and benefits of the new Western Education.

Sylvanus Ajana Ekwelie is an emeritus professor of mass communication. He was a pioneer student of Journalism at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, part of those in the successful experiment of UNN founder Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe to add academic rigour to the training of journalists in West Africa. After that, most of his life and fame revolved around his alma mater.

The very brilliant Ekwelie excelled in his studies and earned a scholarship to America. Hard work, brilliance and grace enabled him to get an additional grant to pursue a doctorate. He thus became the first graduate of the department of mass communication, UNN to earn a PhD. This rich narrative tells of a life of many firsts, a true pioneer in several areas. It chronicles his journey as a pupil, primary school teacher, undergraduate, a post-graduate student in America and earning the diadem of a PhD. Many themes resonate through A Story of Our Times: An Autobiography. They include the role and influence of the mission-

aries in education, the virtue and benefits of friendship and integrity, hard work and grace. There are lessons on being African and black in the United States, rebuilding of the department of mass communication after the civil war, intrigues and games in the ivory tower, the battle to maintain standards and more.

The felicity of the writing makes this book an engaging read. Ekwelie, the style teacher, is evident in this his second book.

His first work drew on many years of teaching the subject as a foundation course in MC 111. Sylvanus Ekwelie (2005), ‘A Master Style Guide’ gets high

praises for teaching the principles and critical issues in style, from names and titles, through diction and spelling, choice of words, abbreviations, capitalisation and punctuation and usage as it affects gender.

A Story Of Our Times expectedly conveys Ekwelie’s thoughts on journalism and the transition to communication studies as well as various developments in integrated marketing communication such as the creation of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).

The then Dr Charles Okigbo, a lecturer under Ekwelie’s supervision at UNN, was the first

Every student of mass communication in the University of Nigeria from the years 1973 to 2006 has an Ekwelie story to tell.

Students recount these stories to celebrate the joy of learning and the thrill of discovery

Registrar. Ekwelie served on the first Council.

He offers a concise summary of the history and developments of media in pages 209-210. He distinguishes between journalism and mass communication, tracing the journey from print through advertising and public relations as well as broadcast journalism. He notes, “In the 20thcentury, journalism became critical in daily life. Anything with such an appeal and reach is worth studying to determine what it does or does not do.”

The appendix to this work is a must-read as it contains the Ekwelie manifesto or what he calls “My media philosophy”.

The author comments on general issues in the public life of Nigeria in “The Author’s World”, chapter ten, pages 297-342. He laments the decline of values. A Story of Our Times is recommended reading.

As his students noted while honouring him in 2010, “Every student of mass communication in the University of Nigeria from the years 1973 to 2006 has an Ekwelie story to tell.

Students recount these stories to celebrate the joy of learning and the thrill of discovery.

The stories are often humorous or witty, sarcastic or even comical, but each class tells its story in appreciation of lessons

learnt in the use of English, in writing or the broad field of communication.

“Many students remember Ekwelie for the introductory journalism classes in the use of English and Introduction to Mass Communication. Pumped up and exultant at scoring very high grades in JAMB and in English and Literature in the West African Examinations Council School Certificate examination, students come with a swagger.

Ekwelie would first deflate the balloon of self-importance and then redirect. After the first few classes, you knew you do not know much, but you are energised to learn proper usage, pronunciation and writing.”

Ekwelie earned his master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Wisconsin. He served as head of the department of journalism at Texas Southern University, Houston Texas, before returning to Nigeria. He was the Head of Mass Communication from 1977 to 1985, and again from 2001 to 2002, Director of African Studies Institute, UNN from 1988-1989, and Dean of the Faculty of Arts 1998 -2000.

Upon retirement from the University of Nigeria, Prof. Ekwelie spent seven years imparting knowledge at the University of Port Harcourt on contract.

Sunday 25 August 2019

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BDSUNDAY 37

SundayBusiness The drive towards creating model mortgage system

W

ith President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of ministers and the setting up his cabinet, Nigerians expect that governance would take off sooner and quicker, such that every file containing programmes or policies at both public and private sector levels should be dusted for action.

This applies mostly to government ministries, departments and agencies, especially those that have something to do with the financial system, including the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) which, though private sectorled, has public purpose being the brain-child of the federal government.

In its short history, NMRC has made impact in the Nigerian mortgage market and, despite challenging operating environment, it is still pushing for more.

One of the many pre-occupations of the company is the creation of a model mortgage and foreclosure laws by their pilot states.

As part of efforts at growing a

mortgage system that will drive affordability, the company says it is driving a legislative reform in the mortgage sector by proposing a model mortgage and foreclosure law by key pilot states including Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Kano and Ogun states.

What the company is driving at, according to one its directors whose primary mortgage bank is a major shareholder in the company, is to get various states houses of assembly to pass foreclosure laws as a prelude to mortgage-backed affordable housing delivery.

This is good news for home seekers who may need mortgage facility because foreclosure law, upon adoption, aims to fast-track the process for creating legal mortgages, ensuring timely resolution of disputes and creating an efficient foreclosure process.

According to the authorities of the mortgage refinancing company, the model mortgage and foreclosure law is in its final form for engagement with 21 pilot states committing to the implementation of an enabling environment for the develop-

Procurement and Supply Chain

with Gob-Agundu Uche Branch chair (CIPS), Nigeria

I

Introduction ncentivisation as a technique can be applied to achieve superior or improved performance for both supplier and buyer and leads to benefits such as lower cost, early delivery, inventory reduction, increased sales, reduced costs, improved labour utilisation, better technical solutions, safer product, or higher quality product. This can be achieved through introducing rewards and mutually agreeing on targets in relation to cost, schedule, quality, safety, inventory reduction, increased sales, reduced cost, improved labour utilisation, or better technical solutions.

Su p p l i e r Re l a t i o n s h i p Managers are usually responsible for drafting clauses associated with supplier performance improvement incentivisation and mal-performance disincentivisation, that is, risk/ reward mechanisms. The reward sharing contracts differ from a normal fixed-price or unit-cost

contract where there may be little incentive for the supplier to improve their performance.

Despite its benefits, incentivisation should only be used where appropriate. For example, it is important that (1) the cultures within both the supplier and client organisations are compatible; (2) there is wide acceptance across organisations, stakeholders, and all management levels; and (3) the buyer has the ability to pay. The latter point highlights the importance for buyers to carefully assess all steps and the likely cost of incentivisation. If incentivisation is open-ended and does not have some form of cap, there is a risk of exceeding the funds allocated for incentivisation purposes. This could have negative consequences, particularly if incentivisation is associated with budget constraints.

Definition Incentivisation is the term used to align the motivations of the client with the supplier and viceversa by and stimulating supplier’s

ment of the mortgage market.

But this engagement, it seems, is lasting for too long to the worry of all interested parties.

The company says it will be focusing on building capacity and completing outstanding operational activities. “With the the completion of our second tranche equity capital raise and mortgage refinancing; we will be working hard to meet our mandate to revolutionize the Nigerian mortgage landscape”, officials of the company assured.

Over the years, the company has demonstrated uncommon resolve to live out its mandate with refinancing of some mortgage institutions including Imperial Mortgage Bank Limited—a primary mortgage bank.

Ben Akaneme, Imperial Mortgage’s managing director has described the refinancing as “an outstanding achievement in the march towards the realisation of affordable and single-digit interest rates for mortgages in Nigeria”, assuring that the bank would continue to strive to achieve its mission of enabling easily accessible and affordable mortgages to Nigerians in order

Talking Mortgage with CHUKA UROKO (08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com)

to ensure housing for all.

NMRC seems to be conscious of the demands and obligations inherent in the Nigerian business environment and so, assured that it would continue to anchor all our services on global best practices, good corporate governance and strict risk management practices.

NMRC came into the Nigerian mortgage market on a very high pedestal, promising a major shift in the interest rate regime in the market. But the authorities of the company says, though it is a partnership between the government and the private sector, the company is private sectorled, relying on financial market condition to determine interest rate on mortgage loans, meaning that the rate that applies to

commercial loans also applies to its mortgage.

It is, however, the desire of NMRC, the Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to achieve single digit interest rate, but they are not there yet because the market does not allow single digit interest rate. As it is today, NMRC cannot meet the single digit interest rate until it is able to reach that point where the market allows it.

Right now, the comp[any is working under market conditions hoping that, over time, as the market deepens and grows, the issue of single digit interest rate will be expected. It assures that whatever the rate is today, its desire is to drive rates down to single digit.

Supplier incentivisation performance improvement in return for enhanced reward.

Incentivisation can lead to a purchasing partnering relationship.

Successful application Successful incentivisation implementation requires a detailed dialogue with the supplier and greater attention to performance and contract management than for traditional contracts. The higher investment in incentivisation must be balanced against the additional benefits and savings to be achieved.

Steps to successful application Set clear objectives and deliverables when incentivising a contract.

Baseline setting: get the buyer to establish the total cost of the existing service.

Identify whether the improvement in quality and/or cost reduction can be achieved with- out incentivising the contract.

Establish expected benefits.

Decide whether incentives will be financial (e.g. those which have a monetary value) or related to some contractual benefit (e.g. a longer contract with larger scope).

Po s t a w a r d m o n i t o r i n g : manage contract and conduct post implementation reviews.

Hints and Tips Paying incentives on the basis of notional, rather than actual, performance targets should be avoided. It is also important to decide how to deal with the supplier if it does not achieve them

To ensure a successful incentivisation process it is important to develop and set effective measurements and targets for both parties Ef f e c t i v e c o n t r a c t management is essential to ensure successful incentivisation There is a need for transparent structures in respect of cost and performance by both par- ties.

Willingness on the part of the supplier to participate in the incentivisation scheme is always helpful and makes process more efficient.

Potential advantages https://lh3.googleusercontent. com/Hjt4c7a8EIkhrjsOCk8VLgM0WEs7IH5GuSHUmR6rppq WnRckv1EI7MEjfU7adt2YO2a WVNZGWOVYyT8UqApjl8dqi v1xS9qiiwfH5yskiwjbpdeytNpf oouRtFa8HLgfNVSQxgpb5fDD AV4bg Incentivisation can help buyers reduce costs and achieve earlier delivery and better quality of safety levels. https://lh3.googleusercontent. com/Hjt4c7a8EIkhrjsOCk8VLgM0WEs7IH5GuSHUmR6rppqW nRckv1EI7MEjfU7adt2YO2aW VNZGWOVYyT8UqApjl8dqiv1 xS9qiiwfH5yskiwjbpdeytNpfoo uRtFa8HLgfNVSQxgpb5fDDAV 4bg Incentivisation of suppliers can result in greater certainties regarding delivery time, cost and/ or quality. https://lh3.googleusercontent. com/Hjt4c7a8EIkhrjsOCk8VLgM0WEs7IH5GuSHUmR6rppqW

nRckv1EI7MEjfU7adt2YO2aW VNZGWOVYyT8UqApjl8dqiv1 xS9qiiwfH5yskiwjbpdeytNpfoo uRtFa8HLgfNVSQxgpb5fDDAV 4bg Supplier incentivisation can reduce the time spent resolving contractual disputes.

Potential Disadvantages h t t p s : / / l h 3 . googleusercontent.com/ Hjt4c7a8EIkhrjsOCk8VLg-M0W Es7IH5GuSHUmR6rppqWnRck v1EI7MEjfU7adt2YO2aWVNZ GWOVYyT8UqApjl8dqiv1xS9q iiwfH5yskiwjbpdeytNpfoouRtF a8HLgfNVSQxgpb5fDDAV4bg Establishing an incentivisation system requires buyers to invest a considerable amount of time https://lh3.googleusercontent. com/Hjt4c7a8EIkhrjsOCk8VLgM0WEs7IH5GuSHUmR6rppqW nRckv1EI7MEjfU7adt2YO2aW VNZGWOVYyT8UqApjl8dqiv1 xS9qiiwfH5yskiwjbpdeytNpfoo uRtFa8HLgfNVSQxgpb5fDDAV 4bg There is always a risk that the effort involved in establishing an incentivized arrangement will not equate with the additional benefits https://lh3.googleusercontent. com/Hjt4c7a8EIkhrjsOCk8VLgM0WEs7IH5GuSHUmR6rppqW nRckv1EI7MEjfU7adt2YO2aW VNZGWOVYyT8UqApjl8dqiv1 xS9qiiwfH5yskiwjbpdeytNpfoo uRtFa8HLgfNVSQxgpb5fDDAV 4bg The practice of incentivisation requires making a judgment on commercial risk. Therefore, it is essential that risks in the contract are understood.

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Sunday 25 August 2019

SundayBusiness Setting agenda for the Ministry of Agriculture Food & Beverages With Ayo Oyoze Baje

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he new Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, has reportedly hit the ground running, knowing the enormity of the challenges the ministry must confront and deliver on the Next Level agenda of the current All Progressives Congress(APC)-led administration. Beyond warning members of staff of the ministry to brace up for the tasks ahead and shun indiscipline and lackadaisical attitude to work, he has highlighted the importance of agriculture to grow the economy.

Said he: “For a number of reasons, people tend to downplay agriculture because they do not know its importance to national development.’’ Furthermore, he stressed that if Nigeria got it right in repositioning the sector, it could “colonise West African region without firing any bullet because most of them depend on us from what we produce.” And

to drive his vision he has urged the relevant departments to put finishing touches to the ministry’s budget to meet the September deadline given by the National Assembly.

But that is just part of the holistic picture of what needs to be done to fast-track the diversification policy from undue emphasis on crude oil sales to some other productive sectors including solid mineral development, tourism and of course, agriculture. Significant is the need to identify the hurdles that lay between where the country’s agricultural potentials lay presently and Nanono, nay APC’s vision to make the country self-sufficient in food production.

Amongst these challenges is the insecurity incubus in several s t a t e s a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y, severally traced to the heinous crimes committed by members of Boko Haram insurgents, armed bandits, kidnappers as well as killer Fulani herdsmen.

States such as Benue, Taraba, Borno, Adamawa , Zamfara , with pedigree in agriucultural production are some of the worst hit. With Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Borno) as the Minister of state for agriculture he should take more action. Without curtailing their activities, efforts by the federal government through the ministry of agriculture at ensuring food security in such areas would be like pouring water into a basket!

Other issues to tackle include access to arable land, practical knowledge of modern technology toactivateandboostthevaluechain of food production, processing, preservation and marketing. Would the farmers also have access to affordable, modern machines

to drive the aforementioned processes? What about access to high-yielding, fast-growing and early –maturing, disease-resistant seedlings as made available by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and some research institutes?

Besides these, other questions are being raised about the quality of our raw food products, when it comes to meeting the international standards for food export. As yours truly recently highlighted, according to Bola Oyedele, the brilliant brain who is the Consultant with Cenovate8 company that facilitates exports of African agric products to the UAE, only last year a demand was made for ginger during the Meet the Farmers Conference in Dubai, running into millions of dollars but no Nigerian was able to meet the demand! But a Chinese man did by obtaining the same quantity demanded from some Northern states in Nigeria! He went ahead to supply such after due processing, according to standard specifications.

Also recently, Prince Ajibola Oluyede, the Chairman of NICERT Ltd, that is into food standardisation revealed that some Nigerian food products, including beans are being rejected in the international market because they do not meet the Federal Law No 10 of 2015 based on acceptable global standards.

The new Minister of agriculture should set in motion processes to bridge that quality production gap.

Another worrisome aspect is how to entice and engage more of our job-seeking youth out there to get fully active in the food value chain. As Oluyede stated, as at 2002 over 52 % of Nigerians were actively engaged in profitable agriculture but fast forward to

Unique integrated auto care berths in Abia UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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nique Integrated Auto Centre Limited (Toyota Auto Centre) has formally berthed in Umuahia, Abia state capital, along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.

Jaja Ihesiaba, one of the direc-

tors of the company, during the unveiling of Centre said it would serve as sales of Toyota and Jac vehicles, servicing, sales of spareparts and training for people to acquire skills on how to repair vehicles using automated and computer system.

He said that would vastly improve the automobile industry

in Abia State, adding that the immediate benefit would be making motoring easy and elevating automobile performance, among others.

The director disclosed that the centre would also play a leading role in providing skilled employment opportunities for Abians with wide range of activities associated with the Centre. According to him, personnel of diverse skills and qualifications would find a comfortable environment to work, workers salaries and benefits would encourage high performance and output while its door would be wide open to both skilled and unskilled labour.

Precious Mbuko ( a mechanical engineer), sales reprehensive of Toyota Automobile, South East and one of the directors of Unique Integrated Auto Centre, said that he attracted the centre to Umuahia, for his people to benefit and have knowledge of how to fix vehicles.

He said that the Centre uses computer to diagnose cars to detect where the problem is coming from before fixing it, adding that he had worked in so many Automobile companies both in Nigeria and abroad as an a mechanical engineer.

2015 and the figure has dropped to 22%.Between then and 2018 the figure has risen by only a minimal 2%. Though 36.6% of Nigerians, representing 90 million people are said to be presently engaged in farming (including both profitable and non-profitable types), they are not adding enough value to the food Value Chain.

The piece of good news is that a stable foundation has been laid by the previous administrations of Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan and recently, the Muhammadu Buhari government for the ministry to build upon. For instance, the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has made available N82billion in funding to 350,000 farmers of rice, wheat, maize, cotton, and cassava. Others include poultry, soy beans and groundnut farmers. The recipients have so far cultivated over 400,000 hectares of land to increase food production especially in Kebbi, Niger, Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, Benue, Zamfara, Anambra and Kwara states.

Similarly, according to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) the establishment of Special Agro-processing Zones (SAPZs) in Nigeria has the potential of attracting between one to four billion dollars investments into the country, the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Ekiti, Dr Kayode Fayemi has revealed. “This SAPZs which will bring together the farming and the processing community have the potential of attracting about one billion dollars from the African Development Bank. AfDB and up to 4 billion dollars with the entry of private sector investors.”

Efforts at improving the

standards of Nigeria’s agricultural exports to align with global standards due to the rejection of our produce at the EU Border Controls are also on. Notable too is the Livelihood Improvement Fa m i l y En t e r p r i s e s ( L I F E ) programme initiated by the Buhari Administration aimed at bringing life back to rural communities through the empowerment of youth, women and other vulnerable groups across the country. The spinoff effect is to operate up to 1,000 cottage industries in the country and ultimately engage about 1,995,500 youth and 997,500 women for enhanced productivity.

One’s humble suggestion is that both the federal and state governments should consider special scholarship schemes for those studying agriculture and related courses such as agronomy, food science and technology, nutrition and agric engineering.

They should graduate to either run their farms, employ others, or simply act as farm extension workers. They would be the catalysts of government policies on food production to assist the farmers in deploying modern farming techniques, use of tractors, weed killers, planting of hybrid seedlings, application of pesticides, organic farming and harvesters. Some would be useful in the processing and preservation methods. Our hope therefore, is that more will be done than promised on the critical issue of food security.

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media ayobaje@yahoo.co.uk; 08057971776

Abia HoS appeals to FMBN to consider low income earners for facility UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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nyii Wamah, Abia Head of Service (HoS), aware of the plight of low income public servants in the country, has called on the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to consider to a great extent the group in their facilities, particularly affordable Housing for them.

Wamah made the appeal in Umuahia when Chris Ibuzo, zonal manager, FMBN, paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

While bemoaning the plight of this cadre of workers in their every living, the Abia HoS requested the Federal Government to evolve a programme of action to better the lives of this group in both public and private sectors of the economy.

He expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the FMBN in the up to date payment of refund of National Housing Fund contributions to retired Public Servants.

Chris Ibuzu, earlier in his

speech disclosed that FMBN has from January to July refunded N67,068,558.16 (Sixty seven million, Five hundred and fifty Eight thousand, sixteen kobo National Housing contribution with interests to 642 retired Abia Civil servants.

Ibuzo disclosed that they were on the visit to appreciate the support and assistance the bank has continued to receive from the state government and hoped that the cordial relationship would be sustained.

Sunday 25 August 2019

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SundayBusiness Smartphone review: The mind-blowing features of new Tecno Phantom 9 mium gold-coloured pack and bears a design that properly captures the class and sophistication of the Tecno Phantom series.

Just unboxing the phone makes you feel as excited as a kid in a candy store.

You will find a black anti-slip phone cover; a black ear piece; a white USB cord and a three-pin charger to go with it. You will also find an instruction manual; a warranty certificate; a metal pin to help with opening the SIM and memory card slot; and of course, the phone itself.

Opening the dual SIM card slot which also doubles as the memory card slot is easy when you use the metal pin that is made for that purpose.

Once you insert your SIM card or cards, you can turn on the device with the

Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson

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he new Tecno Phantom 9 from Af r i c a ’s f o r e most smartphone brand is drawing remarkable attention. Some people love its colour and sleek design, others love its fantastic selfie camera with the smart dual flash, still others love its huge RAM and memory space – everyone loves a thing or two about the Tecno Phantom 9. But you may be wondering, “What is it really like to use the Tecno Phantom 9?” “What does this new device really offer you?” If that is the case with you, then (let me walk you through it) you have come to the right place.

The device spots a pre-

Sterling environmental makeover (STEM) moves to Sokoto

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frica’s Most Agile company and Nigeria’s leading commercial bank, Sterling Bank Plc has donated more than one thousand pieces of uniforms to the Sokoto State Government as part of an effort to boost sanitation and hygiene in the state and in furtherance of the bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative known as the Sterling Environmental Makeover (STEM).

The uniforms, which will be passed on to the Sokoto Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) to enhance theperformanceofsanitation workers in the state, are intended to give the sanitation workers an identity while on

duty, according to the management of Sterling Bank.

While presenting the overall uniforms to the Sokoto State Commissioner for the Environment, Honourable Sagir Attahiru Bafarawa, the duo of Ibrahim Aliero and Ado Shehu, Sterling Bank’s branch manager, institutional banking and branch manager respectively, urged the state government to intensify efforts at keeping the state clean, adding that the bank is aware that government alone cannot realise its objective of keeping the environment clean.

According to Ibrahim Aliero, “The essence of the presentation is to compliment the state government efforts towards maintaining

a clean environment.

“At Sterling Bank, we are concerned about our business environment. The overall sanitation kits donated to SEPA is part of our bank’s corporate social responsibility idea to sustain a clean environment, more so we believe that a clean environment is important for conducive business activities.”

“These overall kits are durable and of good quality that will endure the vagaries of the weather for a long time.”

In appreciation, Honourable Bafarawa applauded Sterling Bank for the significant role it is playing in ensuring a sustainable environment as part of its corporate social responsibility.

The commissioner also called on all other stakeholders to emulate the good gesture of Sterling Bank towards the state government in the effort to keep Sokoto State clean.

He said, “Sanitation is not the responsibility of government alone. I therefore enjoin all other stakeholders and corporate organisations to support government efforts in ensuring a clean environment.”

Sani Abdullahi, a street sweeper who spoke on behalf of his colleagues during the presentation ceremony, commended Sterling Bank for the donation.

power button, which is the lone button located at the side and begin to enjoy the latest Android 9.0 Pie! And oh, you won’t need a memory card at all because the phone comes packed with a huge 128GB internal memory space. So, go ahead, store all the pictures and videos you want, plus enjoy them on the dot notch screen, and while you’re at it, feel free to multitask because the 6GB RAM on this device makes the processes smooth.

Another feature worth mentioning is the Onscreen Fingerprint Scanner. It adds a decent level of security to this device. It is paired with Face ID which adds an extra layer of security that is as awesome as it is futuristic What about the much talked about AI Triple Camera? The 16MP+2MP+8MP

camera is something you can’t afford to ignore on this device. It is paired with a 32MP front camera with dual flash – so you can take all the pictures, selfies, and make all the video calls you want, without even needing to wear make-up because the AI Triple Camera will make you look naturally beautiful.

Great sound comes out of the improved earphones.

Listening to hit songs on them is mind-blowing. To top it all, this phone has a battery that lasts for a whole day of normal use with just one full charge.

Maybe that’s one of the reasons they say Tecno is for Nigerians.

So, my verdict is this: If you have got good taste and style, you should definitely get this device. I did. And I love every minute with it.

Adoption of AI will liberalise energy industry potential - Edozie Josephine Okojie

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rank Edozie, managing director of Neconde Energy Limited, has said that the adoption of big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and mobile technology adoption will help liberalise the huge potential in the country’s energy industry.

Ed o z i e , w h o w a s speaking at the 2019 Conference and Exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) held recently, said industry operators have failed to leverage the potential of AI and big data to reinforce the perception that Nigeria is a gas province with profitable huge opportunities for growth.

He stated that his organisation has been able to surmount its various challenges by adopting an innovative business approach, which has positioned the firm to deliver quality services, according to a statement.

The managing director said utilising big available data would change the country’s energy landscape as it would make players in the sector realise the need to liberalise the

price of gas, create more value chain opportunities and make fuel subsidy unnecessary.

On his part, Mele Kyari, group managing director, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), reinforced Edozie’s position, noting that technology plays an important role in driving the sector globally.

Kyari pledged to address the myriad challenges facing Nigeria’s oil and gas industry to achieve all the aspirations of the government and players.

Neconde is an independent Nigeria oil and gas company serving as a

special-purpose vehicle for the acquisition and development of petroleum assets. In January 2011, the company participated and emerged successful in the bid for the acquisition of 45percent stake in OML 42 previously held by Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited.

Neconde’s status as an indigenous company with an excellent management team offers a viable option through which the currently underdeveloped reserves of the Niger Delta could be brought into production with attendant economic benefits for the country.

40 BDSUNDAY

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Sunday 25 August 2019

BrandsOnSunday SPOTLIGHTING BRAND VALUE

Beyond the Ekweremadu saga On August 17, 2019, a group of people loyal to Independent People of Biafra, IPOB attacked Ike Ekweremadu in Germany as part of designed moves to advance its course. But this report argues that IPOB can achieve imaginary Biafra, by achieving economic independence of the South East. For instance, about 40 years ago, China left political scene for other countries to focus on its economy, today China is economically and politically strong. This model can be replicated here. Daniel Obi writes

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ver the years, nonviolent push for the independence of Biafra by some social movements has led to confrontations with national law enforcement agents. In distant and immediate past, some of these confrontations have turned violent leading to death of many people.

The social movements’ agitations are wrongly or correctly informed by the belief that the region they represent will be better off economically and socially by being independent but the national security agents are not comfortable with this aspiration and therefore they have the mandate to stop any part of Nigeria from seceding.

Since 1967, there have been causes for these agitations. Odumegwu Ojukwu, a top ranking officer and the then military governor of the eastern region declared independence of Biafra when he felt that the counter coup of July 29, 1966 after January 15, 1966 coup resulted in the death of many Igbo civilians residing outside their domain. This led to three years of Civil war. Ojukwu’s intention as posited by analysts was more of safety interest.

Since 1966 till now, the South East feel cheated, embittered and marginalised. Within this period spanning over 52 years, the country has been ruled by people from other regional extractions except South East. Not only that, there appears to have been calculated moves to stop South Easterners from occupying sensitive positions. The youth, even those born after 1970 are watching and are asking questions and this is further fuelling the agitations for actualisation of Biafra.

Government at the centre is yet to enter into any dialogue to assuage the South East instead of the regular military option which has deepened tension and the agitation.

Ike Ekweremadu

There have been rise and fall of movements for this cause.

With the waning of Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) formed by Ralph Uwazuruike, formed about 15 years ago, Nnamdi Kanu, a Nigerian-British based in London became the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB to further drive the same cause.

Since then, Kanu has become more vocal, using radio, social media to convince more people including foreigners and Nigerians in Diaspora on his agenda.

Attack of Ekweremadu in Germany Embittered that some politicians of Igbo extraction in Nigerian government are either blind to the injustice to the South East by Nigerian government or that they are not speaking against it, IPOB representatives recently pounced on former Deputy Senate Presi-

dent , Ike Ekweremadu in Germany where he has gone to attend the New Yam Festival organised by an Igbo group in that country. At the event in Nuremberg, Germany, the lawmaker who dressed in isiagu, a renowned top dress worn by Igbo people on such special occasions was seen in video which has gone viral being attacked by a mob that tore his cloth and dragged him out of the event.

IPOB threatened that it has also stationed its members in other countries and cities to attack prominent Igbo leaders who have not shown enough courage to their agenda.

The secessionist group is also angry against many Igbo leaders for being aloof to the Operation Python Dance by the military in the South-east in 2016. Federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari had on September 18, 2017 designated IPOB as a terrorist organisation.

Views on the attack While IPOB believes that the attack was its identified method to continue to pursue its agenda and get prominent Igbo leaders to understand and support this cause, others have condemned the attack as either lacking in direction or embarrassment to Nigeria.

The federal government had described the attack as “an embarrassment to the country.” Similarly, the South-East Governors Forum, the Ohaneze Ndigbo and the Southeast zone of the main opposition party, PDP, condemned the attack on the Enugu senator.

The South East Forum, according to a report noted that IPOB lacks understanding on the fact that Ekweremadu has been at the forefront of championing the Igbo cause for emancipation.

Others say Ekweremadu may have been a bit centrist but he has been forceful on condemning the mayhem against the South East. However he made an error, according to an analyst, by wearing Isiagu cloth with Federal Government insignia which further provoked the IPOB members to the physical assault. “Though, he was trying to project patriotism”.

An analyst who took a critical broad view of the attack and its intentions believed that IPOB and similar groups should have been more directional and strategic in its course than the confrontational approach being employed.

Instead of attacking Ekweremadu and threatening other Igbo leaders, groups should have taken them into confidence and enter into strategic discussion on how to advance South East agenda without being confrontational.

Dialogue with Igbos wherever they are and being strategic in the Igbo course will rather be a better weapon in advancing Igbo agenda than being confrontational with Igbo leaders.

The analyst believed the an-

ger among the people should be controlled and they should rather react with a sense of purpose. He agrees that there is partisan conduct against the South East, but groups such as IPOB should be strategic, co-ordinated and weigh options to correct the parochial treatment against the region.

Instead of agitating for Biafra, which may not be realised, as the nation cannot afford to experience another civil war, the analyst believed that there should be serious promotion of powerful economic bloc of South East to create local and international traction to the region. IPOB and its leaders can utilise their networks to convince Igbos outside the region and in Diaspora to invest in the region and create strong business hubs that are hard to be ignored by the international business community.

It is important to note that States now hold the key to regional and national development as Federal Government is constraint with many challenges but low revenue. Today, states like Lagos that are visionary will remain economically important in the near future especially as Abuja feeding bottle is not only drying up but has many mouths to feed.

The Biafra course should shift to economic dominance, promotion of Aba and Nnewi industries, Ebonyi agriculture, Onitsha market and creation of facilities to attract businessmen and women in other cities and investors abroad.

South East cannot remain politically and economically irrelevant at the same time especially when the people are entrepreneurial and are driving development in other regions.

About 50 years ago, China left the world political scene for countries like America, Russia, Germany and UK and start building its economic front. Today, China is both economically and politically strong. This model is worth copying.

witnessed thrilling musical performances from a variety of Nigerian artists and also provided a platform for up-and-coming talent to also showcase their talents.

Speaking on the success of the Regal Afro Beat party, General Marketing Manager, Grand Oak, Mridul Sharma said in a statement said Fela was a phenomenon and

his influence on the music scene could not be overstated as he birthed new genres of music and captivated many hearts locally and internationally, which is why he should be celebrated, especially with such a platform like the Afro Beat Party that allows for people to enjoy musical acts driven by his influence.

Regal Dry Gin remembers Fela with Afro Beat Party

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oremost brand, Regal Dry Gin, a product by Grand Oak Limited, thrilled fans and Afro beat lovers alike as it took ownership of this year’s edition of the Afro Beat Party, which held recently at The New Afrika Shrine in Lagos.

The Afro beat party, an annual music concert organised in

honour of the Afro beat legend and world music icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, witnessed a lot more excitement this year as Regal Dry Gin treated fans and consumers to nights of musical variety and African-inspired cocktails from mixologists at the Regal bar, one of the highlights of this year’s edition as it added spice to the two-day

event.

The Regal Afro Beat Party 2019 was indeed an opportunity to celebrate the life and music of Fela, as many of his fans and up-and-coming artists had the opportunity to perform some of his iconic songs to the utmost delight of the guests at The New Afrika Shrine. The two-day event

Sunday 25 August 2019

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LifestyleHomes&Suites

Paul Ojenagbon pauloje2000@yahoo.com

Meridian Park fits the budget

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eridian Park Estate is a massive housing campaign spread out in two major locations in Lagos namely Ajah and Awoyaya, both in the Lekki axis.

While the Ajah site is situated at the General Paint Bus stop behind Abraham Adesanya Estate,off the Lekki-Epe expressway,the Awoyaya site is situated further down the expressway, just beside the head office of Coscharis Motors.

The development which covers an extensive 25 hectares area is being undertaken by Lekki Gardens.

Although the 3-bedroom duplex appears to be the most popular range,there are several other housing types 3-maisonnete, 4-bedroom maisonette,4bedroom duplex,5-bedroom semi detached duplex among at others.

Each type has two variants-deluxe and premium.

Amazingly, each house type opens up into a fascinating world of large living room, an exquisite dinning area, spacious kitchen with a pantry,a maid’s/ guest

room with toilet. The elegant stairs take one to the family living room as well as a well appointed master bedroom which comes with a balcony, massive walk-in closet and bathroom in addition to other bedrooms,all ensuite. Some other prominent features include POP ceiling and interlocking pavement.

For Meridian Park, it is a harmony of class, style and living in a property investment choice along the serene atmosphere of the Lekki Peninsular.

The estate is supported with a raft of facilities that include good road network with covered drains, street lights, stealth-level security, green recreational areas, children’s play ground, affordable 24/7 power supply and recreational center amongst others.

According to the developers, they have delivered over 1500 homes in the last 3years. Through the conveniently planned payment policy, customers are assured that not even their own budgets

no matter how stringent, can stop them from owning their dream homes . For example, for a 3-bedroom duplex at Ajah or Awoyaya, all that a prospective buyer needs to secure a stake is to pay N1.99million initial deposit and pay the balance within 2years.

The payment plan is ideally off plan. It takes about 12 months to deliver a purchased unit. The prices for the units vary according to the house type and variants,the site,the payment plan elected

among other factors. Units at Ajah and the premium range are generally more expensive than those at Awoyaya and the deluxe range. Outright payment for the 3-bedroom duplex is N15,675,000 at Awoyaya but N18,165,000 at Ajah just as while the 2-bedroom attracts outright payment of N10,867,500 at Awoyaya,it is N12million at Ajah, and so on.

The land is secured with a deed of assignment which currently being processed to higher grade.

Flourish Court shows promise in Alasia

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lourish Court is an ongoing development within a residential neighborhood in Alasia-Ajah opposite the Lagos Business School,off the Lekki- Epe Expressway. It is being undertaken by Folkland Property Development Company Limited.

Barring traffic permutations, it takes 5 minutes drive from Victoria Garden City ( VGC) and a bit less than that from Ajah. Notable landmarks within the neighborhood include Abraham Adesanya Estate, Ikota Shopping Complex Phase II, Dominion City Church, Lekki Gardens and the University View Estate among others.

The prominent house type on offer are 2/3 bedroom apartments.

Other house types by the same developer are available at their other campaign at the exotic Lakowe Golf Course. These include 4-bedroom semi detached duplex with a maid’s room and 5-bedroom fully detached duplex with a maid’s room. The estate is accessed through an automated gate.

High security is top priority with adequate arrangement to be put in place to protect lives and property

within the estate. The estate boasts of good road network with functional drains to let off flood waters.

Potable water is from bore with treatment plant. Power supply is guaranteed round the clock 24/7

and there would be street lights to illuminate the estate at night.

Recreational facilities include swimming pool and tennis court. To up hold quality of the environment,a green area would be maintained while regular cleaning would be carried out to keep the surrounding clean and tidy.

The prices for the 2nd/3bedroom starts from N15 million with 1percent initial payment required. The 2-bedroom units in Flourish Court carries N16 million price tag and the 3-bedroom N20million. For the Lakowe Golf Course houses,the 4-bedroom semi detached unit attracts a price tag of N45 million with N4.5million initial deposit required and for the 5-bedroom duplex,it is N60 million with N6million initial deposit required.

Formal construction will commence soon as the site is currently being sandfilled. The title on the land is Certificate of Occupancy issued by the Lagos State government.

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Sunday 25 August 2019

Health&Science What you need to know when buying a health insurance plan

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ANTHONIA OBOKOH

he Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) or a preferred provider organisation (PPO) is not the only tittle that shows that you can rightfully gain access to healthcare service delivery; there are other questions that you need to ask before you choose a health plan.

The benefit of Health insurance plan is one-way Nigeria can enhance universal coverage, therefore, efforts are being made

to devise a strategy to extend the coverage to other states as well as those employed in other formal sector outside this federal formal sector, as well as those employed in the informal sector.

The health insurance landscape can be complicated to navigate, that is why most Nigerians who are covered get health insurance through an employer.

This article gives a guide to what questions to ask when choosing the best plan for you and your family, whether it’s through the federal marketplace

or an employer.

However, to choose a plan you need to compare types of health insurance plans. Most HMOs in Nigeria provides four health Insurance plans; Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

Know provider (HMOs) networks of specialists and hospitals, in this case you have to know and pick the nearest facilities that is convenient.

Compare out-of-pocket costs and ask of benefits which should be clearly laid out how much you will have to pay out of pocket for services. By so doing, that will

put your family’s medical needs and look at the amount and type of treatment you have received in the past. Though it’s impossible to predict every medical expense, being aware of trends can help you make an informed decision.

Prior to the things to ask of , one of the challenges most health plan users complain of in Nigeria is that most HMOs may not cover some treatment due to the specialty and as well as some prescription drugs.

On this note, it is best advised you ask as earlier stated to Know

provider (HMOs) networks of specialists and hospitals because HMOs are the most restrictive, limiting you to doctors in their network.

So, as an enrollee, the question to ask is to demand for a referral, where by you can from a primary care physician in the network referred to facilities where the service can be delivered.

However, note that just as not all health insurance plans cover all doctors, not all benefits are always covered. This is especially true for certain medications and alternative practices.

Kwara to partner PSN, warns youths against drug abuse SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin

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he Kwara State Government has expressed its readiness to partner with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and other stakeholders in the health sector to improve the quality of life of the people.

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq the state governor, represented by his deputy, kayode Alabi stated this when he received the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria led by its President, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa on a courtesy call at the Government House, Ilorin.

He explains that the importance of PSN in quality health care delivery could not be over emphasized and called on Stakeholders in the health sector to play critical and vital role in the fight against drug abuse in Nigeria.

The Deputy Governor states that the government would collaborate with the Society to stop drug abuse and misuse of drugs in the Society, as he even implored members of the Society to be efficacious in the high rate of misused drugs as it is really consuming the lives of Nigerians.

While appreciating the PSN for the visit, the Deputy Governor pledged the state government’s commitment for partnership and called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to put up policies that would make Pharmacists to hold critical posts in the health sector, restating the Government commitment of making life better for Kwarans.

Earlier, the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharmacist Ohuabunwa Sam congratulatedGovernor,Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and his deputy, Kayode Alabi on their electio and inauguration and prayed God to protect and guide them to achieve success.

Pharmacist Sam says the society is ready to partner with the state government to control drug misuse and abuse to improve healthcare delivery in the state.

The PSN President called on the State government to expand and upgrade the essential drugs programme to meet the health need of the people among others.

He pledges to partner with the

government to bring health care delivery closer to the people and recommended that Pharmacists in the state should be adequately taken care of and man the various health facilities.

Meanwhile, the state Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has called on the Nigerian youths to shun drug abuse and other vices that could affect them from realizing their potentials.

Abdulrazaq, made the call when he received members of the Scouts Association of Nigeria, Kwara State Chapter, led by its Commissioner,Deacon Olabisi Afolayinka, at the Government House, Ilorin.

The governor, recalled his days as a Scout boy in the Capital School Kaduna, he noted that the association had contributed to nurturing youthsbecominggoodcitizensand contributing to the development of the society.

He says: “This is an association that prepares youth on how to be good citizens and how to relate with fellow citizens. These are virtues that the youths should maintain today. In our days, there was no rampant cases of drug abuse.”

He urges the youths to use their energy for productive ventures and join the scouts to make positive contributions to the society.

The Governor who was announced as the Ambassador of Peace of the Association, promised to live up to expectations by giving the necessary support to the body through relevant government agencies.

Olabisi Afolayanka, earlier in his remarks,explainedthattheconstitutionofthebodyautomaticallymakes the governor of any state its patron and the President its grand patron.

He commends Abdulrazaq for the audience extended to the body, saying that was the first time any governor was hosting them in Kwara State for the past 21 years.

Adding that, the association had been founded to build young boys and girls to make useful contributions to the country, saying that cultism and other vices were not known in schools in the past when Scouts held sway.

He urges the governor to support the association to carry out its mandates in Kwara State.

L-R: Ugochukwu Jay Chikezie Founder/CEO, Tremendoc Limited; Osas Ighodaro, Brand Ambassador; Charlotte Odunlade-Akeju, chief business director and Adetokunbo Adetona, chief financial officer, at the launch of Tremendoc Doctor-On-Demand App and Brand Ambassador in Lagos.

Doctor-On-Demand App deepens access to healthcare for Nigerians

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KELECHI EWUZIE

etermined to improve affordability and accessibility to quality healthcare for Nigerians, Tremendoc, a technology service firm has introduced into the Nigeria market a Doctor-OnDemand application for ease of connection to doctors across the country.

Ugochukwu Jay Chikezie, Founder of Tremendoc says the application has the capacity to revolutionise the healthcare sector of Nigeria by providing users connection in real time to licensed doctors across the 36 states of the country Chikezie while speaking at the launch of the App in Lagos said Tremendoc App is designed to provide a convenient and affordable avenue for users to access licensed doctors one on one at any time of the day via audio call, video call or text.

According to him, “Tremendoc is the best solution to Nigeria’s healthcare issue. Its fast, it’s affordable and it’s super convenient. It’s literally as convenient as chatting to friends on social

media. I felt it was important to create and promote this app to improve the landscape of the country’s health sector and create a better and healthier Nigeria”.

Chikezie further observe that the doctor to patient ratio is alarmingly low in Nigeria and one can imagine how crowded hospitals can be across the country especially in the more urbanized areas.

“First time users have the opportunity for a free 30 day trial that gives them access to licensed doctors 24/7, through video call, audio call or chat. After the trial is over, they can decide to carry on with the service with a subscription fee of N1000/ monthly”, Chikezie said.

In Nigeria today, millions of citizens are constantly on the move and often times they are too busy to sit in waiting rooms for hours to consult with a medical doctor or healthcare specialist.

Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation released statistics showing that there are 4 medical doctors to every 10,000 Nigerians.

With an estimation of four doctors for every 10,000 inhabitants in the country, More than 40,000 of 75,000 registered medical doctors in Nigeria are practicing outside the country while 70 percent of the medical doctors in the country are either unemployed or have taken up side jobs to survive.

On her part Osas Ighodaro Ajibade, Award winning actress, humanitarian and philanthropist who was unveiled as the brand ambassador, Tremendoc says she firmly believes early and proper diagnosis would prevent tragic and life changing incident.

Ajibade, years ago lost both her sister and her unborn child to the common disease, malaria, this is why she is so passionate about Tremendoc.

“After dealing with the traumatic experience of losing my sister, I knew that something had to change in Nigeria’s healthcare system. That’s why I’m so on board with the release of the Tremendoc app. It could have helped my sister and it can help so many lives across Nigeria”, Ajibade said.

Sunday 25 August 2019

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BDSUNDAY 43

Sports Stanbic IBTC at the centre of youth development with HiFL

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Stories by ANTHONY NLEBEM

t is often said that sport has an inherent ability to bring people together, in particular the youth, and yet until recently, the tremendous potential of sport to achieve youth development objectives has been little utilized. By its very nature, sport encourages participation bridging national, ethnic, social and religious divides. It is precisely for this reason that sport, when used as a tool for development, can serve as an impetus for social transformation and change!

For the likes of Ebiri Wofai, the gritty and rugged defensive stalwart of the UNICAL Malabites in the ongoing Higher Institutions Football League, this is a true truth.

For avid followers of the local Nigerian sporting scene, the phenomenal rise of Ebuka Odenigbo has been one of the shinning lights of an otherwise dour league season amidst the crises and his recent triumph in the Aiteo Cup was the icing on the scintillating cake.

Across the Collegiate Ecosystem, stories such as Donald Akpan Ibanga, who mesmerized fans in Uyo with his oral prowess while running commentary during the group stage games or even Edidiong Edet who has proven that leadership transcends age and gender, by being an active member of the 2000+ HiFL Volunteer Force scattered across all elsewhere of

L-R: Ebuka David, Kano Pillars striker and former team captain, UAM Tillers, receiving the HiFL 2018 champions trophy from Professor Stephen Hamafyelto, President, Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA), with Dr Demola Sogunle, CEO Stanbic IBTC; Sola Fijabi, Director, PACE Sports and Entertainment Marketing and Professor Anande Richard Kimbir, Vice-Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, at the finals of the 2018 Higher Institutions Football League held at Agege stadium, Lagos.

the country where she leads 20+ volunteers who ensure that the games run smoothly in her campus.

All of these youths share some common connections, they are young and vibrant, they are in the university system, have also found fulfilment and satisfaction from the different passion points that football provides. Above all, they are all part of the Ecosystem of Nigeria’s and Africa’s collegiate football league, the Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL).

Launched in 2018, the HiFL is organised by PACE Sports and Entertainment Marketing in partnership with the Nigerian Universities

Games Association (NUGA) and has left an indelible mark in the collegiate sporting scene in the country with athletes signing professional contracts and receiving scholarships from participating.

At the heart of this initiative is STANBIC IBTC, at the start of the 2019 edition of the Higher Institution Football League, the institution signed an impressive five deal with PACE Sports, organizers of the league, a sponsorship that kept the group as one of the competitions lead sponsors.

In the 2nd year of the Higher Institutions Football League season, over 3000 volunteers across

Nigerian Universities, have worked to propagate the good image of the institution to their immediate student community and more than, 80 STANBIC staffs have presented Man of the Match awards to deserving players at the end of every match.

STANBIC IBTC’s sponsorship of the HiFL is one of the many engagements of the group that showed that it is committed to focusing on the youth and delivering on its strategic objectives as a digitalized customer-centric universal financial services organization.

Without a doubt, the Institution is rising above its core financial services specialization to deliver its valuecommitmenttomeaningfully contributing to the development of the nation while uplifting the socioeconomic living conditions of its citizenry through strategic focus and investment in initiatives under three key pillars of social, economic and environment.

HiFL may be Stanbic IBTC’s most far-reaching youth-centric engagement, but it certainly not the only initiative created by the institution to drive youth development. Other initiatives such as the Youth Leadership Series (YLS) help connect with the youths at a deeper level by promoting their entrepreneurship drive as well as the establishment of the Stanbic IBTC innovation lab in Yaba, Lagos, set up to support techpreneurs, financial technology and startups are among other initiatives de-

signed by the institution to move the Nigerian youth forward.

Speaking on the why the institution threw its weight behind the Higher Institution Football League, partnership, Yinka Sanni, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, said the sponsorship is in tandem with the company’s determination to help grow and develop a vibrant and productive youth population in Nigeria.

Sanni stated, “so far, we are impressed with the organisation of the HIFL. The 2018 HiFL edition set a standard that we are proud to be associated with. As a company, one of our objectives is to engage the youth through initiatives, which will contributetotalentmoldingandcharacter-building. We have committed in long term to this project because we sincerely believe in its course as aligned with ours” Sanni said.

In fulfilment of its commitment to moving Nigerian youth forward, STANBIC IBTC proudly sit at the center of youth engagement with the Higher Institutions Football League, a move that is driving exponential growth both in brand awareness and affinity for the institution, the partnership is also helping the brand build an increased customer base, stronger customer loyalty and top of mind awareness around and beyond the participating campuses.

Indeed, it has never been a better time to be a YOUTH in Nigeria with Stanbic IBTC Moving Them Forward!

Emulate Ogunsanya’s support for Boxing, says DG, Lagos sports commission

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luwatoyin Bolowotan, DirectorGeneral, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), has urged prominent Nigerians to emulate the commitment of Adewunmi Ogunsanya (SAN), Chairman, GOtv Boxing, to the revival and growth of boxing in Nigeria. Bolowotan made the call on Thursday while speaking at the closing ceremony of the maiden Lagos State Inter-

club Boxing Challenge. The threeday competition, sponsored by Ogunsanya, attracted over 100 male and female boxers from boxing clubs in Lagos State to the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos.

Bolowotan described Ogunsanya as a strong pillar of support for boxing in Nigeria through GOtv Boxing Night, which has revived the sport, and GOtv Boxing NextGen Search, which

L-R: Ayisat Adekanye, Board Member, Lagos State Boxing Association; Akinsoji Ambode, Chairman, Lagos State Boxing Association and Jenkins Alumona, CEO, Flykite Productions, at the Adewunmi Ogunsanya-sponsored Lagos State Interclub Boxing Challenge held at Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba.

is consolidating the revival by unearthing fresh boxing talents “Let me use this opportunity to thank the sponsor, Adewunmi Ogunsanya for his commitment to the growth and development of boxing in Lagos State and Nigeria,” he said.

Ogunsanya also received plaudits from Akinsoji Ambode, Chairman, Lagos Amateur Boxing Association (LABA), who expressed appreciation for the support towards the successful hosting of the competition, which he said will help replenish the pool of boxers in Lagos State and reinforce the bedrock of boxing in Nigeria.

At the end of the competition, Mujeed Yinusa of Supreme Boxing Club was named the best male boxer, while Pelumi Adewale of MCB Boxing Club emerged the best female boxer.

Both boxers were presented with a trophy and certificate.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included Messrs. Aina Emmanuel, a top LSSC official; Jenkins Alumona, CEO, Flykite Productions, organisers of GOtv Boxing Night and GOtv Boxing NextGen Search; and members of LABA.

NB, NOC reaffirm partnership ahead of Tokyo 2020

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igerian Breweries Plc and the Nigeria Olympic Committee, the custodian of the Olympic movement in Nigeria with the mission to develop, promote and protect the Olympic brand have reaffirmed their continued partnership in the run-up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The agreement, which kicked off in 2018 will have two of Nigerian Breweries Plc’s biggest brands, Star Lager Beer and Amstel Malta headlining the partnership as official alcoholic and malt beverages of Team Nigeria.

With Tokyo 2020 taking place in July 2020, Amstel Malta and Star Lager Beer will play an important role in supporting Team Nigeria on their journey to and through the games.

Both brands will not only support the team, but will also provide premium enjoyment for fans with engaging campaigns

leading up to Tokyo 2020.

Speaking on this strategic partnership, Emmanuel Oriahki, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., said; “Nigerian Breweries Plc. is passionate about sports in Nigeria and we know our consumers love to celebrate great moments in sports. We are thrilled to be able to bring people together to enjoy and celebrate Team Nigeria on their journey to Tokyo 2020 where we believe our talented athletes will do their best and shine.”

Olabanji Olabanjo, SecretaryGeneral, Nigeria Olympic Committee, added, “We are happy to have Nigerian Breweries Plc as our partner.

Amstel Malta and STAR are brands we are excited to work with not only because of what the Nigeria Olympic Committee stands to gain but also because of what is in it for the fans and supporters of Team Nigeria.”

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Between extortion and the sanctity of petroleum contracts in Nigeria, DRC and Senegal

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ast week, a commercial court in the United Kingdom gave reason to a claim by engineering company, Process and Industrial Developments Ltd (P&ID), which demands over USD$9 billion from the Nigerian government over a failed gas deal. The decision follows a 2017 arbitration award and turns it into a legal judgment, which could allow P&ID to seize Nigeria’s international commercial assets.

P&ID’s claim is based on a 2010 contract signed with the government of Nigeria for the construction and operation of a “gas processing plant to refine natural gas (“wet gas”) into lean gas that Nigeria would receive free of charge to power its national electric grid,’’ the company’s website states.

Under the deal, the Nigerian government should have provided the necessary infrastructure and pipelines needed to supply gas to the plant. P&ID would build the plant for free and then operate it and commercialise the output for a period of 20 years.

The company claims that over this period it would have earned USD$6.6 billion in profit, an incredible figure that becomes ever more fantastic as the company claims that the yearly 7percent interest it is supposedly charging on this capital has now accrued to USD$2.4 billion, at the rate of USD$1.2 million a day, which closes the full amount at a perfectly round USD$9 billion. The whole situation is in itself extremely puzzling. After all P&ID, a company created specifically for this project, is claiming it is entitled to the full amount of what it would have gained over a period of 20 years of work, even though that period would not be over for another decade and some. Further, it is already charging interests on capital it would, if the project went forward, still be a decade away from generating. On top of that, it has chosen to pursue the matter in a British court, and has a separate law suit in an American court, when the contract was signed in Nigeria, under Nigerian law, and should be pursued in a Nigerian court, as the Nigerian legal

team has repeatedly stated.

Nigeria is seeking an appeal to the decision, but P&ID is not wasting any time in trying to seize Nigerian assets abroad, and it might well manage to do so, at least in part.

Further, P&ID has never even broken ground on the construction of this power plant, which it claims would have benefitted so many thousands of Nigerians. The company has reportedly spent USD$40 million on preparatory work, although it is impossible to attest what that work has been.

Even just looking to the amount spent, work done and compensation sought, the figures seem simply absurd. USD$9 billion corresponds to 20percent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves, it would be unthinkable that a nation state would pay that much capital to a small unknown enterprise that invested not but a small fraction of that amount in the country and done none of the contracted work. Further, it is perplexing that a British court would even consider such a decision.

However, this issue represents an important cautionary tale for African governments everywhere. Very few things

Investors need to know that their investments are safe and that they will be protected by the law in case the other parties falter on their obligations

matter more in the struggle to attract investment and build a favourable business environment that will push the economy forward than the absolute sanctity of the contracts signed.

Investors need to know that their investments are safe and that they will be protected by the law in case the other parties falter on their obligations, as it seems to have happened with the Nigerian government. It is by no means the first time a situation like this happens. Just in March, an international court ordered the Democratic Republic of Congo to pay South African DIG Oil Ltd USD$617 million for failing to honor two oil contracts. This is an unacceptable and unjustifiable loss of capital for the people of the DRC. This is particularly, taking into account that the loss is incurred because the country’s leaders failed to comply with a contract that could have brought a considerable amount of wealth for the country for many years to come, in both royalties and taxes, as well as help develop its oil industry.

Senegal’s government under President Macky Sall was very smart to avoid this kind of litigation when it was confronted with the issue of the Timis Corporation and its ownership of acreage that included the Tortue field, which is estimated to contain more than 15 tcf of discovered gas resources.

If President Macky Sall had proceeded with terminating a valid contract for the acreage, the Timis Corporation would have engaged in arbitration and would have probably gotten a favourable judgment against Senegal. In the process, the gas fields would have sat dormant and produced no returns for Senegal and its citizens. Sometimes, leaders are confronted with tough choices and it takes a profile in courage to find solutions and still respect the sanctity of contracts.

Even with criticism from civil society groups, Equatorial Guinea has honored

NJ AYUK Ayuk is the CEO of Centurion Law Group, executive chairman of the Africa Energy Chamber, author of the upcoming book, ‘Billions at Play: The Future of African Energy and Doing Deals.’

contracts with U.S. oil companies that many oil analysts believe are unfavorable to the state. This principle has kept Equatorial Guinea’s oil industry stable and US firms continue to invest in new projects like the EGLNG backfilling project with Noble, Atlas Oranto, Glencore Marathon and the state.

African leaders and African nations cannot afford this sort of mistakes anymore.

If on the one hand, contracts must be respected, protected and followed through, the people in charge of evaluating and signing those contracts must have the project’s feasibility as the dominant reasoning behind any decision. What is the purpose of signing contracts for fantastic projects where there is neither the capital nor the conditions to pull it through? Our economies live out of their reputation too. No investor wants to work in a system where contracts are not honored and where their investments are not protected.

While P&ID’s request for USD$9 billion in compensations seems absurd, companies that see the contracts they sign with African governments, or any governments, disrespected, must have the right to claim compensation, just in the same way that African leaders must be responsible for the contracts they sign and must make sure that situations like this do not repeat themselves. Enough money has been wasted on lawsuits that could be used to benefit the lives of Africans. This is true for the oil and gas industry and in any other industries.

Quick Takes

Off the Cuff

Like Ghana, when will African Diasporas return to invest in Nigeria?

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lthough remittances from Ghanaians living abroad to Ghana increased by 7.3 percent to US$3.8 billion in 2018, the West African country appreciated the increase, yet it wanted more.

The former Gold Coast colony is looking beyond the remittances from its citizens to meaningful investments by African Diasporas across the world.

While that may be a dream to most African countries, Ghana is making frantic efforts at getting Africans outside the continent to invest in the country.

In September 2018, Nana Akufo-Addo, president of Ghana, was in Washington, D.C., and he declared and formally launched the ‘Year of Return, Ghana 2019’ for Africans in the Diaspora, giving fresh impetus to the quest to unite Africans on the continent with their brothers and sisters in the Diaspora.

The year 2019 was selected as ‘Year of Return’ because it marks 400 years since the first ship of slaves landed in ‘Jamestown Virginia, America’ in 1619 from Jamestown in Ghana.

Today, many African Diasporas from America and Europe are visiting Ghana to com-

memorate the 400 years celebration, and most importantly, explore investment opportunities across the country. The good thing is that the government and the people are facilitating it, improving on infrastructure, removing all travel barriers such as visa, difficulty in getting licences for investment, improving on ease of doing business, among others.

Michael Jai White, American actor and director, Idris Elba, Boris Kodjoe, Naomi Campbell, Anthony Anderson and Adrienne-Joi Johnson were among 40 African Diasporas who have visited Ghana to take part in the year of return activities.

As well, there are other prominent AfricanAmericans who have heeded the call to return home. Recently, a delegation of Congressional Black Caucus led by Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker, visited, toured and explored opportunities in Ghana.

Just last Tuesday, Ghana welcomed 250 nonresident Africans including; Ghanaians, who had been away from the country and the Diaspora as part of the celebrations of the ‘Year of Return’.

With the ongoing ‘Year of Return’, Ghana is about realising its target of increasing visitor numbers from 350,000 in 2018 to 500,000 this year, including 45,000 African-Americans and looks

to rake in tourism revenue of $925 million (830 million euros) at the end of the ’Year of Return’ later this year.

However, Nigeria was a major source market for the infamous slave trade, but the country is missing out on the opportunity presented by the celebration. Though slaves were not shipped out of Nigeria and Ghana to America at the same time, Nigeria has not had any major event to draw her citizens abroad or Africa Diasporas to visit.

But the country needs such events to grow revenue from her non-oil sector, particularly tourism, now that oil price is no longer stable.

Nigeria needs to put her house in order, tackle insecurity, improve on visa issuance, ease of doing business and infrastructure deficit to woo outsiders. But, is the country ready, as crude oil still spills dollar into her account?

Nigeria has always been looked at as the big brother in Africa. Sadly, smaller countries it played the big brother and Father Christmas role to are becoming stronger and economically enabled, while the touted “big brother” is becoming atrophied in every sense of the word.

N2 trillion

Out of the total N8.9 trillion 2019 Nigeria Budget, this is the amount that would be used to service foreign and local debts. This stands at 24.04percent of the total budget

Ministerial charge!

“You have to work hard to build the city because it is a great city established by our predecessors.

Abuja is a city that is growing far beyond normal growth speed, so we have to work at a speed more than the normal rate.”

-Muhammed Bello, Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

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