BusinessDay 29 Jul 2018

BDSUNDAY BUSINESS DAY

Buhari off to Lome today for ECOWAS/ECCAS summit, others

Nigeria’s cocoa industry: Death of a golden goose

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Oando, CCNN’s impressive ?? half-year results lift market capitalisation by N9bn

Sunday 29 July 2018 Market & Commodities Monitor Brent Oil

5yr Bond

$74.15

-0.24 13.76%

Gold

10yr Bond

$1,233.40

-0.002 14.29%

Cocoa

$2,233.00

20yr Bond

0.06 14.22%

inside What makes Nollywood bubbly and exciting for foreign, local audiences – Aghahowa

p. 35p.

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Vol 1, No. 227 N300

Presidential campaign issues Economy, security, job creation to dominate

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CHUKS OLUIGBO & INIOBONG IWOK he 2019 general election is barely seven months away, and even though the electioneering campaigns are yet to begin in earnest, key issues that will dominate the presidential campaign are gradually crawling out.

As aspirants to the presidential ticket of the various political parties crisscross the country to carry out consultations and engage with citizens and stakeholders in readiness for the party primary elections,

they have been hinting at the issues that would top their campaign agenda in the major election next year.

Whereas President Muhammadu Buhari, who won the 2015 presidential poll on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), hinged his campaign on a threepronged pillar of security, economy and war on corruption, BDSUNDAY’s monitoring of comments by some of the presidential aspirants in the 2019 election show that the dominant issues so far have been economy, security, restructuring, stable power, poverty reduction, youth empowerment,

among others.

Kingsley Moghalu, a former deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and presidential hopeful on the platform of Young Progressive Party (YPP), who has been on a #ToBuildANationTour across the country, has dwelt on the need to restructure the economy, revamp the power sector, drastically reduce poverty, create employment for youths, promote entrepreneurship and innovation, and support small businesses.

“Our population currently stands at about 200 million with unemployment rising from

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Thrills, frills and razzmatazz at BusinessDay States Good Governance Awards 2018

Oshiomhole

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The desperation over Saraki: The name of the game is power

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Ortom

Ortom bombs Oshiomhole Says, ‘Speak with decorum, draw line between party chairman and union leader’ Benjamin Agesan, Makurdi

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overnor Samuel Ortom yesterday reacted to the allegation that he was complicit in the gale of killings going on in Benue State, advising Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress

(APC), to always speak with decorum and be “statesmanly in his utterances”. He also urged him to carefully note the difference between party chairman and union leader.

Ortom wondered why Oshiomhole who had recently lavished him with praise could now begin to make spurious and unfounded allegations just because he left the APC. A statement made available to BDSUN-

DAY in Benue quoted the state government as saying that “On the 19th of July, 2018, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole poured encomiums on Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.

“Oshiomhole was addressing journalists

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Analysis Gombe 2019: Audu, others seek to succeed Dankwambo Zebulon Agomuo

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he battle for the governorship seat currently occupied by Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo has begun in earnest. A good number of indigenes of the state, who have achieved, in their own right, have already signified interest to slug it out on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the incumbent governor’s party. Gombe is traditionally, a PDP state; hence the large number of aspirants on the platform.

A good number of others are also seeking the position on the platform of other parties.

This analysis focuses on some of the front runners in the PDP and their chances of succeeding Dankwambo, based on people’s perspectives.

On the list are Sylvester Andrew Audu, a retired general; Hassan Muhammadu, current commissioner of Finance; Bala Tinka, a businessman and government contractor; Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna, Ahmed Yayari, chief of staff to the governor, and Ahmed Abubakar Walama, state commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Others are Muhammad Bello, businessman; Yahya Ahmed, retired banker and former MD of the Federal Mortgage Bank and Ambassador Haruna Garba.

They also include Awwalu Lawal, businessman and also son in-law to former President Ibrahim Babangida; Isa Wade, Haruna Garuba, a serious contender but said to lack the necessary resources to fund the project; Inuwa Garba, a former speaker of the state House of Assembly (opponents say he is too young to be saddled with the responsibility of governing a state like Gombe), among many others.

General Audu One of the prominent contenders is Audu, who comes from Gombe South, an area that has not produced governor since the creation of the state.

The retired general is counting on the good will of his people even though he is not as rich as some other contenders.

Audu is described as an experienced and exposed Nigerian, who has handled important positions while he served in the military.

In a recent interview, Audu said he was being prevailed upon by the people to join the fray to become their governor.

According to him, although he may not be enjoying government support, the will of the people is what matters and upon which he relies.

An apostle of “politics of inclusion”, Audu said that should he become the governor, he would allow everybody to participate in his administration, irrespective of party leaning.

“It is going to be an all-inclusive, peopleoriented governance. The people will determine what they want and I will just be the one that will implement their wishes and desires which will enhance the speedy development of the state, especially in the area of human capacity development. I will use everything within my power to develop the state. I will deploy equity and fairness in the distribution of people-oriented projects and ensure a civil service that is vibrant and motivated because the civil servants are the bedrock and the engine room of development in any society whether state or federal,” he said in a recent interview.

The retired general believes that his ambition is not a do-or-die affair, but one that must be supported by the people for a better Gombe. His campaign mantra is “vote whoever you think is best.” And this is the message he takes to the people as he campaigns.

Sylvester Audu

Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna

Hassan-Muhammadu

Bala Tinka

“I will never ask my people to vote for me but ask them to vote for whoever they think will give them what they need.

I am a detribalised person and our call in the military is service to humanity; we can be posted anywhere to serve. And we served with the fear of God, yet we are not religious bigots; we gave everybody a chance. I don’t have a pre-conceived idea about people or a particular tribe of people.

I give equal opportunity to people to prove their mettle. I will give you a chance to prove who you are and I will treat you accordingly,” he said.

On the chances of Gombe South this time around, he said: “Gombe South has not produced a governor or a minister since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999.

And once you exclude some people then they can take up arms because I believe that if you interview some of the Boko-Haram boys about the current insurgency in some parts of the country today, you will find out that there is a grievance and so when such grievance is addressed then you have a peaceful atmosphere to play politics but when there is lingering grievance it may degenerate like it is happening in many parts of the country.”

Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna He is currently the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO). He made his money outside of politics. A self-made man, who believes in lifting other people, particularly, the less-privileged.

His chances are bright if he gets the PDP ticket.

His admirers describe him as a “silent servant to humanity” who has impacted heavily on the development of both Gombe State in particular and the country in general. His philanthropic gestures are open to all. He is said to have many students on scholarship at various stages of their academic endeavours. His contribution to his party, PDP, has been immense. A detribalised Nigerian in all ramifications who employ his staff based on qualification and merit not on religion

or tribe. He has given employment to over two thousand graduates from across the country.

He started his working career with the Nigerian Bank of Commerce and Industry in Abeokuta. He later switched from finance to industry, when he joined Kaduna Aluminum Limited and from there he moved over to Kaduna Machine Works as Group Chief Accountant. While he was preparing for an executive position, he was initially promoted to the post of marketing manager before being appointed the General Manager of Kaduna Machine Works.

Furthermore, having garnered enormous commercial and managerial experience at the executive and board levels in the utility, heavy equipment distribution and manufacturing businesses, in 1990 Gwamna left to manage his own business, the Amstrade Ventures Limited, a company which imports and sells heavy duty earth-moving equipment.

More so, in 2000, he started working in the utility sector when he accepted the position of the first executive chairman of Gombe State Water Corporation. He had also served as the Managing director of Sahelian Energy and Integrated Service Limited before taking up the position of managing director and chief executive officer of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO).

His leadership style while serving at various capacities had earned him multidimensional experience in the business world. He has also had a robust experience on how to manage men and materials.

A graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Gwamna also received his Doctorate Degree from the London Metropolitan University.

Bala Bello Tinka He is a prominent PDP figure and a major contractor of the state government and the managing director of Tinka Point, a construction firm. He is a close confidant of Governor Dankwambo and he is seen to be enjoying the governor’s backing in

his aspiration to become Dankwambo’s successor. And many see his closeness with Governor Dankwambo as an advantage in securing the party’s governorship ticket. He is also the chairman of “Talba Neighbour to Neighbour”, a group that is showcasing the developmental strides of the governor; he appears to be close to all the who-is-who in the political arena in the state.

Recently, Dankwambo urged the people of the state to support Tinka’s ambition.

The governor made the call through Charles Iliya, his deputy, during the 20th anniversary celebration of Tinka’s Company, Tinka Point Limited, held at the Pantami Township Stadium, Gombe.

The governor said that following the track record and hard work of Tinka, the people of the state should support him in achieving whatever ambition he has.

“If people of Gombe want to send someone who will represent them well, then here is Bala Bello Tinka”.

He said: “Bala Tinka dines and wines with the high and mighty due to his hard work. He has equally eased some of our problems as a government by employing hundreds of youths in his company.”

Although Tinka is entrenched in the politics of the state, critics see him as a man with some baggage.

He is a politician with deep pocket, but his brushes with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may have tainted his image.

Hassan Muhammadu He is currently the commissioner for Finance. He is sad to have a mission to work with, and empower the downtrodden poor and the less-privileged to access basic social services, overcome poverty and attain their full potentials.

He has been around in the politics of the state and also not limited to the state. He has also served at the federal level in many capacities.

In 2008, Muhammadu was appointed as a special advisor on Infrastructure Financing and Donor Coordination to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

His responsibilities included advising the Minister of the FCT on how to raise funding for public infrastructure in the FCT from sources other than the national budget and to coordinate donor funding for valueadding projects.

The establishment of the Abuja Infrastructure Investment Centre (AIIC) is said to be a direct offshoot of his robust advice while he served at the FCT. Healso spearheaded the branding of Abuja as a choice investment destination, achieved through the development and launch of a unique logo (city brand) for Abuja, showcased in roadshows in London and Abuja.

In 2009, he was also appointed as the special advisor to the Minister of Finance, to advise the minister on matters concerning institutional development, including the structure and functions of the Budget Office of the Federation, the structure and functions of the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Ministry’s Agencies and Parastatals, as well as advising on the operations of the Nigeria Customs Service, and implementation of Nigeria’s Financial Sector Strategy (FSS) 2020.

Ahmed Yayari Yayari is said to be relying on his closeness to the governor to be anointed Dankwambo’s successor, but pundits say that though he has been loyal to his principal, he does not seem in the eyes of observers that he possesses the requisite experience needed for that high profile job. According to observers, lack of sufficient experience may work against his ambition.

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Cover Presidential campaign...

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8.2 percent in 2015 to 18.8 percent. Nigeria currently stands as the poverty capital of the world, with 152 million Nigerians – about 80 percent of our citizens – meeting the criteria of absolute poverty,” Moghalu said at a town hall meeting with residents of Abeokuta, Ogun State, in April.

“When you think about the statistics and apply this to the economy, we cannot continue this way,” he said.

Also, while on a tour of Ikeja Computer Village in Lagos in June, Moghalu spoke on the need to improve businesses and create jobs through massive investment in technology, entrepreneurship, and education reform. “ Te c h n o l o g y i s t h e biggest driver of the global economy in the 21st Century, and this sector can play an important role in reviving our economy. For example, most of the wealth in the cell phone business is generated outside our country even though some of the raw materials are taken from Nigeria,” Moghalu said.

“Upon becoming president in 2019, we intend to provide the opportunities for locally-based companies to manufacture and assemble mobile phones in Nigeria to boost income,” he said.

Nigeria’s economy is still reeling from its worst recession in two decades, with a GDP growth rate of 1.95 percent in the first quarter of 2018, down from 2.11 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Elishama Rosemary Ideh, who is vying for the presidential ticket of the Alliance for a New Nige-

ria (ANN), has similarly centred her agenda on the economy (reform Nigeria’s revenue generation and allocation structure, including federal tax regimes, reduce the cost and simplify the processes and procedures of doing business), welfare of civil servants (ensure fair remuneration for workers in terms of wages, welfare packages and retirement benefits), and war against corruption.

In a 10-point agenda released on May 29, Fela Durotoye, another presidential aspirant under the auspices of ANN, said he would focus on power, security, education, healthcare, infrastructure, business and industries, economy, rule of law, job creation, and reducing the cost of living in the areas of food, transport, housing, fuel, and so on.

“Together, we will build a Nigeria that is the most desirable nation to live in. A nation where things work and people can prosper and enjoy good success as we together, enjoy peace, economic growth and stability through the collaboration and partnership of all,” Durotoye said in a tweet on May 29.

On his part, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is also aspiring to the presidency on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform, has spoken extensively on restructuring and the economy.

Atiku, who formally declared his presidential ambition on July 21 in Yola, Adamawa State, said if elected president in 2019, his government would rebuild the economy, secure the lives and property of Nigerians, and reunite the country.

“What the PDP is going to do is restore our economy, restore hope of a greater Nigeria and ensure that we have security of lives and property,” Atiku said.

Also speaking during a question and answer session at Chatham House, UK, earlier in April, Atiku had said he would achieve restructuring of Nigeria in six months.

Political analysts and politicians who spoke to BDSUNDAY align with the views expressed by the aspirants, saying security, economy and job creation should be the focus of the campaign.

Wole Oyelese, a former Minister of Power and a candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the Oyo Central Senatorial District in 2015 general election, said the fight against corruption and urgent restructuring of the country should be priority and top campaign agenda for the presidential candidates.

“The focus for me has to be on security and fight against corruption that is the bedrock of all things.

Restructuring of the country is also important, because when you do that, there would be security and business would strive,” Oyelese said.

“When you have restructured the country, then we can have peace and some of the current agitations would be curtailed. If you go round the country, that is what people want to hear and personally, I think it would be key campaign issue for us here in the South-western part of the country,” he said.

Yomi Koleosho, chairman of the Green Party

Ortom bombs...

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at the party’s secretariat in Abuja shortly after his meeting with Governor Ortom whom he described as one of the star performers of the APC. He also described Governor Ortom as an honourable man. Oshiomhole went further to state that the party would do everything to keep the Benue State governor within its fold like a highly valued diamond and not let him

defect to another party.”

Th e s t a t e m e n t a l s o quoted Oshiomhole as saying that “Governor Ortom is not going anywhere. He is a very, very prominent member of our party. We appreciate his leadership in Benue and we will do everything possible to help those who have issues to have those issues resolved. Anything we would do, I would do.”

The release noted that “The APC National Chair-

man was right when he commended Governor Samuel Ortom over his performance in the last three years. Oshiomhole’s commendation of the governor was in agreement with the unanimous endorsement the Benue State chapter of the APC gave him during its state congress recently. “ We w e r e h o w e v e r, shocked when, a few days later after Ortom’s defection from APC, we read

L-R: Nike Onikepo Akande, special guest of honour and immediate past president, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Felicia Nnenna Agubata, president, Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN); Dele Adetiba and his wife, Mayen Adetiba, past president, Association of Consulting Engineers of Nigeria, during the opening ceremony of Mayen Adetiba Technical Boot Camp for girls organised by (APWEN), in Lagos.

(GP) in Lagos State, said the priority should be tackling the current insecurity in the country and creating jobs for the large number of unemployed youths in the country.

“If the people don’t have anything doing, they would not care about infrastructure in the country.

The issues for me should be unemployment, stable power, and creation of jobs for the large population of the people who are jobless,” he said.

Ayo Kusamotu, politician and political strategist, said considering the worsening security situation in the country, it was important that those who emerge as the candidates of the various political parties should place security at the top of their agenda, as well as revamping of the economy.

“The major issue, to me, has to be security. The candidate has to know that right now the biggest issue in the country is the herdsmen killings, and we have seen thousands of people

being killed in all parts of the country without any response or proactive measures from the government,” Kusamotu said.

“The state of the economy is also an issue. Securing the economy is important, let the people benefit. We need to encourage local business owners; a lot of them think they are at war with this government and its policies. If you can’t make the business climate conducive, how do you now talk about investors coming into the country? In America , President Trump’s focus is on the economy; local economy is crucial,” he said.

Kusamotu also raised the issue of corruption, alleging that the government-owned Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is the biggest source of corruption in the country today, “where we don’t know how much we are producing and importing and things are not being well accounted for”.

Wale Ogunade, an ac-

tivist and president of Voters Awareness Initiative, said that revamping the economy should be the focus of the presidential candidates, while criticising the incumbent Buhari administration for poor handling of the economy.

“I think the economy should top the campaign agenda of the candidates.

The economy presently is in a bad shape. President Buhari has not done well in that sector,” he said.

Ogunade, however, urged Nigerians to be more discerning and question their leaders who have failed to keep their campaign promises.

“Personally, I don’t see any of the candidates implementing any campaign promise to Nigerians. Nigerians don’t seem to bother if the president implements what he promised them during the campaigns, after they have taken the small free food and few cups of rice the politicians give them,” he said.

Comrade Oshiomhole making a 180 degrees turn to launch verbal attacks on the governor. “ Th e A P C N a t i o n a l Chairman’s sudden aggression towards Governor Ortom has revealed among other things, the true oppressive intentions of the ruling party APC against Nigerians.”

It accused “Oshiomhole of flying a kite of an agenda to intimidate and suppress Nigerians who desire freedom from a party which has clearly failed to secure lives and property,

thereby ushering in an orgy of violence never before witnessed in the history of the country.”

Advising the APC national chairman to approach his job with maturity, the Benue State government said: “Oshiomhole ought to be telling Nigerians why they should vote for APC next year instead of embarking on a voyage of attacks on perceived opponents. His unprovoked attack on Governor Ortom and other members of the opposition has not translated to

a single vote for the APC. “A man of supposed high political stature like Oshiomhole should rather be out to court the sympathy of the very few key actors still left in the APC even in the face of unprecedented frustration by anomalies in the party instead of launching laughable verbal assaults on those who can no longer stand the strange happenings within the party.

Insulting almost all those who have left due to the Continueds on Page 4

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News Buhari off to Lome today for NBC slams ECOWAS/ECCAS summit, others N500,000 fine

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igeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja today for Lome, Republic of Togo, for the Joint Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) holding on Monday.

The summit would deliberate on common security threats to countries in the ECOWAS sub-region and members of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) aimed at forging concerted strategies in tackling the menace of terrorism, trans-border crimes and other forms of violent extremism, Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said in a statement yesterday.

Shehu said President Buhari had expressed support for the proposed ECOWAS/ECCAS Summit when President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, who chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, paid him a visit on June 29 in Katsina.

On arrival in Lome today, Shehu said the president would have an interactive session with the Nigerian community in Togo at the Nigerian Embassy.

He added that while in Lome, the Nigerian delegation would also participate

President Buhari

in a meeting on a Single Currency for ECOWAS with the deadline of 2020.

He said Nigeria’s leadership role in the sub-regional aspiration cannot be overemphasised, being the largest economy in West Africa and on the continent.

Shehu said the president will on Tuesday join other West African leaders for the 53rd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Govern-

ment, which is expected to be dominated by the political and security situations in Guinea Bissau, Mali and Togo; institutional reforms of the ECOWAS Commission to enhance its effectiveness; illegal migration of Africans to Europe; the worrisome violent clashes between herders and farmers, among others.

He added that a new chair of the ECOWAS Authority is expected to take over from President Gnassingbe at the end of the session.

He said President Buhari will be accompanied on the trip by Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State, Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali, Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun, Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Danbazau, and the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment Okechukwu Enelamah.

“The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin; the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar; and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, are also in the President’s delegation,” Shehu said in the statement

HDI seeks media collaboration to strengthen basic education in Lagos SEYI JOHN SALAU

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non-governmental organisation, Human Development Initiatives (HDI), with the vision to strengthen vulnerable humans in society, especially children through development programs and initiatives recently engaged stakeholders in the education value chain across Lagos State, as it seek media collaboration on modalities to strengthen basic education in Lagos.

Olufunso Owasanoye, executive director, HDI in a statement said every child in Lagos state must have access to quality basic education, with standard educational infrastructure and service delivery, hence the need to engage various stakeholders in the sector. “This training can come at no better time than now when education, especially basic education is in dire need of the support of all stakeholders,” Owasanoye said.

According to her, the engagement was meant to equip the stakeholders, especially to support existing governmentinstituted measures in the area of moni-

toring and evaluation of Universal Basic Education (UBE) projects across Lagos.

“This training aims to strengthen your capacity in advocating for positive change in the implementation of Lagos SUBEB 2016 Action Plan. It will also equip you with monitoring and tracking tools, and how to deploy them to ensure the effective delivery of basic education projects in your respective communities.

“Your interest and active participation as a stakeholder will go a long way in helping to achieve the Education for All goal as well as quality service delivery in the basic education sub-sector,” Owasanoye stated.

The HDI with support of the MacArthur Foundation embarked on projects monitoring to ascertain the utilisation of Universal Basic Education (UBE) funds in collaboration with other grantees of the foundation. The project focuses mainly on transparency and accountability in the utilisation of UBE funds, particularly in Lagos.

HDI currently monitors projects in nine focal Local Government Areas in Lagos, which are Agege, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Amuwo-Odofin, Apapa, Ibeju-Lekki, Mushin,

Ojo, Shomolu and Surulere.

States through their States Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) directly manage the bulk of UBE funds allocated to them. The funds are for projects such as construction, rehabilitation, fencing and furniture for both teachers and pupils.

The initiative is targeted at ensuring that education goods and services get delivered to schools. Through this initiative, stakeholders engaged both government (supply) and other non-state actors (demand) side on the implementation of the 2016 UBE Action Plan for Lagos State, using a sandwich strategy of ‘pushing from below and squeezing from the top.’

Stakeholders engaged in monitoring includes but not limited to government (UBE, LSUBEB, the 20 LGEAs in Lagos and the Federal and Lagos state ministry of education), School Based Management Committees (SBMCs), Parents’ Forum, Community Based Organisations, Community Development Associations (CDAs), traditional and religious leaders, Civil Society Organisations and the media.

Ortom bombs...

Continued from page 3 party’s inability to address their grievances would only convince those yet to make up their minds that they are truly in the wrong place.”

The statement further faulted that “Oshiomhole appears to be in a hurry to justify his moniker as an ‘undertaker’ who has come to evacuate what is left of the once popular APC into oblivion as

recently observed by the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party.

“We advise the embattled chairman to get busy with the job of his office and minimise his divisive and hate-filled statements. As a former governor, Oshiomhole ought to be statesmanly in his utterances. As the Chairman of the ruling party, he ought to speak with decorum and caution, to market his party and its

candidates to Nigerians and not try to whip political opponents into silence,” it further said.

We advise the APC National Chairman to stop his shameful dance on the graves of innocent Benue children, pregnant women and others slaughtered by armed herdsmen.”

The statement added that “Governor Ortom won’t let APC’s latter day media

on Ray Power’s ‘Political Platform’ T

he National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) yesterday imposed a fine of N500,000 on DAAR Communications (owner of AIT and Ray Power) for persistent violation of the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, according to report by NAN. In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, Maimuna Jimada, NBC’s Head of Public Affairs, said the organisation was sanctioned due to “provocative, inflammatory and divisive comments” by anchors of Ray Power’s programme “Political Platform”, saying the comments were against the broadcasting code.

She said the Commission on May 2, 2017, Aug. 15, 2017 and February 2018, held meetings with staff of DAAR Communications to caution them on unprofessional manner of anchors of the programme.

She stated that the Commission had charged the team handling the programme to be fair, and balance their reportage.

According to her, during the Feb. 7 meeting, the Commission stressed the need to comply with the broadcasting code to avoid sanctions.

“The Political Platform episode on July 24, was marked by sensational and heated expression of opinion by its anchors, who went on to make unproven and inciting allegations.

“For avoidance of doubt, the Director-General drew the attention of DAAR Communications to the following provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code: (1) Section 1.9.3: “A presenter/anchor shall not express his or her personal opinion in a programme.”

“Also Section 5.2.7: ‘A broadcaster shall, in using political material for news, avoid taking inflammatory and divisive matter in its provocative form and Section 5.2.5 stated that political broadcasts shall be in decent language,” she said.

Jimada reiterated that broadcasting stations should ensure that anchors of their programmes were properly informed and trained on the ethics of the profession as well as the provisions of the broadcasting code.

attacks distract his administration from providing good governace to the people as he has been doing.

“Though the Benue State Governor has left APC, he appreciates the leadership and members of the party for recognising and appropriately praising him for his laudable achievements. We already alerted Nigerians, particularly the people of Benue State that these attacks on Governor Ortom will surely come from enemies of the state.”

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News

2019 elections will end in anti-climax – Abia APC boss UDOKA AGWU, Umuahia

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o n a t u s Nwankpa , the Abia State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has predicted that the 2019 elections will end in anticlimax.

Nwankpa explained that those who would be hoping to buy votes, hoard Permanent Voter Cards( PVCs) or rig elections would be disappointed and no single head would roll while propaganda of the opposition would end in vain, adding that the electorate would vote for those they want to the utter disappointment of parties negatively criticising the APC. On the defection last Tuesday of over 52 APC federal lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives to the major opposition party, the PDP, during plenary, Nwankpa described it as a welcome development politically as there is always the principle

Nwankpa

and theory of elimination and substitution for the purpose of moving forward.

The Abia APC boss, who was briefing newsmen in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, noted that in any development, there is always a period of synergy and separation, while maintaining that APC was midwifed

based on the amalgamation of some political parties who even did not understand themselves.

He pointed out that some people joined APC, just because they saw the party as a cover to dodge from their past misdeeds, while others joined because they were aggrieved, desperate

for power and frustrated, and at the end, they were all disappointed.

He further hinted that in the course of this, the party had not really been able to have a synchronised state which had resulted in some internal problems.

Nwankpa said that most of the people who claimed to have decamped from the party were those who had lost their political relevance and could not even win their polling units, move or present any bill since the inception of their office at the National Assembly and therefore, had become political liabilities to the party and the people they represent.

He further said that no amount of defection from the party would prevent APC from achieving its political fortunes both at the federal and also taking over the mantle of leadership of Abia come 2019 as every man’s vote must count.

He urged all eligible Abians to go and register and obtain their PVCs and arm themselves to enthrone positive change in the state in 2019.

90% of courses at AKSU enjoy full accreditation, says VC ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo

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ore than 90 percent of the courses offered at the Akwa Ibom State University have been fully accredited by the National Universities Commission.

Only three programmes have interim accreditations which are likely to receive full accreditation when a team of NUC officials visit the institution by the end of the year.

Eno Ibanga, the Vice Chancellor of the University who made this known in an interview said the three programmes which have yet to be fully accredited though with interim accreditation include history and international studies, religious studies and philosophy as well as mass communication.

He noted that the school has developed its infrastructure to the required standard needed to give students the kind of training that would create jobs for them while the institution has pursued integrated farming scheme and has become self sufficient by producing palm oil for consumption and fish feeds for farmers through its faculty of agriculture.

According to him, the students of the faculty of agriculture undertake their

industrial attachment programme in the faculty adding that it has carried out linkage programmes with foreign universities in furtherance of research and innovation.

Ibanga, a professor of physics said the management of the institution does not give opportunity for cultism to thrive and prevents it by thoroughly screening students to the extent that it does not admit students with tattoos.

“I count myself blessed to be a Vice Chancellor of Akwa Ibom State University. We have autonomy, without it, the institution will not succeed and the autonomy has been upheld by the government. The management of Akwa Ibom State University, (AKSU) has free hands and autonomy to operate to achieve academic excellence.

“We encourage our staff to go into research and develop the place. Akwa Ibom University has entered into collaborations with some foreign institutions in the area of research and training.

He reiterated the determination of the management to focus on science and technology while also pursuing programmes in the management and liberal arts as well as social sciences to ensure access to even access to University education.

DigifyPro trains 20 unemployed graduates on digital marketing DAVID IBEMERE

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wenty lucky unemployed graduates between the ages of 20 and 30 years have commenced a free eight-week intensive digital marketing training designed to make them self-reliant and employable.

The not-for-profit initiative organized by DigifyPro Nigeria, a subsidiary of Digify Africa PRO, with support from Facebook will impart necessary practical, real-world learning experiences in the participants with a promise to end in a job for the participants through internship.

Florence Olumodimu, programme director, DigifyPro Nigeria, explained that the training could only accommodate 20 out of the 700 participants in a bid to give attention to each participant.

Olumodimu said the programme, which was

designed to give trainees practical hands-on experience, would cover topics such as vocational and workplace skills, agency processes, customer care, client services and digital

marketing.

“This training is meant to increase youths’ employability skill; it is going to be free for all participants instead of paying N1 million being charged

by some other companies.

After the eight weeks programme, each of the 20 beneficiaries will be put in one of Nigeria’s top marketing communications agencies for an internship of three months,” Olumo-

L-R: Emmanuel Utomi, performance coach, Shaw Trust; Deremi Atanda, executive director, SystemSpecs Ltd; Pastor Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Church and Niyi Adesanya, convener, Niyi Adesanya Leadership Boot Camp, during the 2018 boot camp in Lagos.

dimu said.

“Our end goal is to inject the Nigerian advertising industry with well-trained DigifyPRO graduates who bring with them a new burst of energy and critical cutting-edge skills,” she said.

“What we found in South Africa when we launched this initiative Digify Africa is that a lot of the universities’ training is quite theoretical. When young people and graduates enter the industry with a lot of theories and not so much in the practical, they find it difficult to take up some practical challenge. So we plan to merge the two, both the theory and the practical skills, which is not so difficult in the course of the digital training so they can have much experience,” said Qhakaza Nthembu, head of strategy, DigifyPro. Nthembu noted that the programme would also enlighten the participants and they can learn a lot of basics of social me-

dia, introduction to content creation, advertising page, web design as well as how to apply all they have learnt.

“The need for industry support is very vital and that is why we would bring the agencies within the industry each week to give some live brief to the young selected graduates on what the agencies are currently working on or a challenge they are currently experiencing which will be thrown out to the 20 young people for them to apply all the knowledge they have learnt. Of course, they need to put that which they’ve been trained into practice and then present right back to agencies,” she stressed.

Digify PRO has been running in South Africa since 2014 and has graduated more than 500 digital professionals into the South African marketing, advertising and small-scale businesses. It was launched in Nigeria in 2016.

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News Shoneyin, Bantu, others attend ‘Culture at Café One’ series

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overs of fine art and African culture have been in for good times as the recently launched Café One, a fusion of gourmet coffee, workspace & events destination announced a series of arts and lifestyle events tagged ‘Culture at Café One’. The weekly event holds on Sundays at Café One located in Lennox mall, Lekki Phase One. The debut event was headlined by multi-talented alto vocalist, music producer and song writer, Joyce Olong followed by award winning journalist and performance poet, Wana Udobang popularly known as Wana Wana.

Wana Wana, who is widely known for her work as an On-Air-Personality put together a riveting performance from her sophomore poetry album, In Memory of Forgetting, which included the thought provoking Catfish, Showgirl and This Is Not A Feminist Poem among many others.

22-year-old Joyce Olong who is also adept with the keyboard treated guests to a live performance of tracks from her debut EP, Merci Beauté including Stay another day, Sister and Shekels; which she admitted was inspired by the ongoing violence in her state of origin; Benue between the indigenous farmers and Fulani herdsmen. Upon request by guests she also sang covers by foreign artistes who have

influenced her style of music including Bob Marley, John Legend, Asa, etc.

Other artistes who have showcased at the Culture at Café One Series include mixed media artist and winner of the 2016 Samsung Mobile #TechMeetsArt competition, Haneefah Adams, spoken word artist and award winning winning advertising exec, Ndukwe Onuoha and multi-disciplinary painter cum sculptor, Jekein Lato-Unah.

The events has been attended by both corporate and arts industry heavy weights such as US based Nigerian born visual artist, writer and photographer, Victor Ehikhamenor, critically acclaimed poet and author of ‘The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives”, Lola Shoneyin, Nigerian-German singer and social activist, Ade Bantu and Nigeria’s premier spoken word poet, Sage.

“The turnout from these Culture At Café One series confirm that contrary to popular belief, Nigerians are interested in African arts and culture. I have attended from the first event and have seen the weekly increase in attendance. As a bank, we will continue to support anything that adds value to people and I can confidently say that Culture at Café One is here to stay,” said Yemi Odubiyi, executive director Corporate and investment banking, Sterling Bank.

I will turn Oyo agrarian state Tegbe, APC guber aspirant ....says ‘I am not Ajimobi’s anointed candidate’ Akinremi Feyisipo, Ibadan.

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governorship aspirant on the platform of the Al l Pr o g r e s sives Congress (APC), Joseph Tegbe has promised to turn the pacesetter state to a big agrarian one, saying “it will have the capacity to feed the region and the country by taking it from its current peasant to mechanised farming”.

According to him, “my focus is to make this state an agrarian state; from peasant farming to mechanised farming. We will enumerate landowners, cluster them together under a big holder who will help the farmers with things like clearing the land, supplying seedlings to plan and when it is harvest time, they guarantee the off take through a commodity exchange.”

Tegbe, who is a senior partner at KPMG, said his second focus would be on technology “because there are many youths in Oyo State. When we bring metropolitan fibre into Oyo State and create technology hubs, this will eventually trigger

industrialisation”.

“We are known in Oyo State for trade and commerce but it must be done in a structured manner and that is my third focus area. In trade and commerce, we will enumerate them and support them in a structured manner and they will do what they are doing in a more structured way and the state will be finally getting out of poverty.”

The aspirant, who is said to be the anointed candidate of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, said “Education, healthcare

and infrastructure would be the three developmental pillars. For me, primary education should be free in all its ramifications. We all went to school with bursary, endowment funds can pay bursary and we will work towards that. Basic healthcare must be available and we will do that under the universal health insurance scheme”.

Speaking during a press conference to intimate the media of his political ambition and visions of turning around the economic fortune

Joseph Tegbe

of the state if elected the next governor, he said that he has been part of the Ajimobi administration since its inception in 2011 by serving as a member of the Economic Team and as a consultant on economic policy.

He said his understanding of the vision, policies, thinking, working and ability to predict economic and social activities puts him in a good position for the Agodi Government House job.

He however said that the incumbent governor has not endorsed nor anointed anyone to take over from him.

Tegbe expresses optimism that if God anoints him to be the next governor of the state, nobody can stop him from achieving same.

He denied the insinuations making the rounds across the state that he was brought into the race by Governor Abiola Ajimobi as his anointed successor.

“I am close to Governor Ajimobi like every other person but I will borrow what Governor Ajimobi said and which he has repeated at different times and in different fora that he has not anointed anybody,” he said.

Teach for Nigeria set to bridge inequality gap in nation’s education system …targets 500,000 pupils annually

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each for Nigeria, a non-profit organization focused on improving the quality of education for Nigeria’s most marginalized children, is targeting to impact over 500,000 primary school children across Nigeria annually over the next 10 years.

In line with its plans to expand and deepen its efforts in this regard, Teach for Nigeria hosted captains of industry and private and public sector leaders at its inaugural annual education cocktail and fundraiser in Lagos recently.

Themed ‘Educate Nigeria’, the event served as a platform to highlight the Teach for Nigeria vision, mission, strategy and progress made since inception in 2017 in addressing the inequality that exists in disadvantaged schools in the programme’s current coverage areas, Lagos and Ogun States, as well

as its expansion efforts into the Northern region of the country in 2018.

It also provided a means to enlist the support of and recruit champions from the private sector to secure financial and strategic com-

mitments towards raising much-needed funds to be invested in transforming the educational system and ensuring that every Nigerian child, regardless of status, has an opportunity to attain quality education.

Folawe Omikunle, CEO, Teach for Nigeria, said education in Nigeria has over the years suffered a steady and continuous decline resulting in poor learning outcomes for most students, particularly disadvantaged

students from low-income communities.

“As part of efforts to ensure that the standards are raised for all our children, Teach for Nigeria was established and I am proud of all that we have achieved so far and grateful for the support and commitment we have received from our Fellows, champions and ambassadors,” Omikunle said.

Gbenga Oyebode, chairman, Teach for Nigeria, said the initiative is focused on developing a movement of leaders across the nation who are committed to putting an end to educational inequity.

“The present state of education in Nigeria, where about a third of our children are not in school and over half of those in school are not learning, is not acceptable,” Oyebode said.

“Every well-meaning Nigerian must, therefore, join

hands to ensure that ongoing initiatives, such as Teach for Nigeria, which aim to make sure that disadvantaged children in Nigeria who lack access to an excellent education have a better chance at achieving a successful future, are encouraged and supported,” he said.

Teach for Nigeria, as part of plans to expand its coverage to the Northern region, signed a Partnership Agreement with the Kaduna State government on June 25, 2018 that allows the programme to place Fellows in high-need primary schools in Kaduna to teach students for two years. The first cohort of Kaduna Fellows will begin to lead their classrooms by September 2018. This milestone brings the programme much closer to achieving its vision that one day, every Nigerian child will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education.

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News Safety, environment take centre-stage at Eunisell’s ‘Safe Choices’ awareness day

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xperts at an in-house workshop held by oil servicing firm Eunisell Limited at its Lagos office said health, safety, preservation of the environment and staff wellbeing must be accorded priority at the workplace.

The experts at the Eunisell ‘Safe Choices’ Safety Awareness Day revealed that the ratio of serious accidents to near misses in the work environment is estimated at 1 to 300 at-risk behaviours.

Topics such as ‘how to identify hazards in the workplace’ and ‘risk assessment for day-to-day operations’ created the necessary awareness that behind every fatality or serious injury, there are hundreds of at-risk behaviours and unidentified hazards.

At-risk behaviours are activities or work-related environmental issues that fail to meet or bypass best practices, safety programmes and training procedures and include lack of HSE knowledge and awareness.

Chika Ikenga, Group Managing Director, Eunisell, said

at the event that safety and the environment are the company’s primary concerns and as such, the company takes very seriously the wellbeing of its team, customers and vendors.

“While working on projects, we are duty-bound and committed to implementing our Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) policy as well as meeting the rigorous standards set by our customers,” Ikenga said.

“We want our business and operations to be as riskfree as possible and our impact on the environment to be minimal. Our approach is proactive and this is why our Health, Safety and Environment policy evolves and is adaptive to meet the unique needs of each project without comprise,” he said.

Since its establishment in 1996, Eunisell has been providing bespoke solutions to firms in the industrial, downstream and upstream sectors, developing eco-friendly solutions to help companies achieve optimal performance and profitability.

Ohanaeze fumes as Ekweremadu narrates ordeal Regis Anukwuoji, Enugu

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he Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremaduwho was received like a hero weekend in Enugu as he came back from Abuja, said that the beauty of democracy was dialogue.

Ekweremadu said this to an unprecedented crowd that received him in Enugu after his ordeal on Tuesday in Abuja where security operatives were said to have laid siege to his official residence to prevent him from leaving his house for the plenary on the floor of the Senate.

“The beauty of democracy was dialogue to resolve issues and not recourse to persecution and intimidation,” he said.

Speaking on his ordeal and that of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Ekweremadu said that what was meted out to them was tantamount to assault on democracy which is contrary to dialogue and the rule of law.

Ekweremadu, who said that about 200 security personnel besieged his house, pointed out that Nigeria needed to have a peaceful

Ekweremadu

change of government that could stop the killings and wastage of lives and property.

He also said that Nigeria needed a country where people would be free to go about their businesses without molestation.

“We need a country where court orders will be obeyed.

We are looking for a situation where people will be free to do their businesses anywhere in Nigeria without molestation,” he said.

Talking on the implication of keeping him indoors, Ekweremadu said that if they had succeeded in caging him

and the Senate President, they would have removed them, pointing out that the evil intent of the siege was to prevent the mass defection of the lawmakers that cross-carpeted.

The Deputy Senate President also said that he came down to Enugu so that the people, his political supporters would know that, “I am alive”.

His described the siege as that of caging Daniel in the den of lions, from which he eventually came out unscathed.

National Assembly members from Enugu State who

were present at the solidarity rally were Toby Okechukwu; Kingsley Ebenyi; Emeka Ujam and Dennis Amadi, all of whom also condemned the several attacks on Ekweremadu which they said were against the tenets of democracy.

Speaking on behalf of the crowd of supporters of the Deputy Senate President, Alex Ogbonna, president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Enugu State, said that what happened to Ekweremadu was a sign that democracy was tilting towards tyranny.

“I personally look at it as a drift towards tyranny. It is dictatorship,” Ogbonna said, lamenting that over time they have been persecuting Ekweremadu in many fronts since he reemerged as the deputy Senate president.

He however, said that they would not tolerate anything happening to Ekweremadu, pointing out that should anything happen to him, they will not take it lightly.

“Let nothing happen to Ekweremadu because it will not be taken lightly. We have gathered here in solidarity.

We are with him and he is doing what he is supposed do,” he said.

Lara Day School celebrates 55 years of excellence …holds 48th graduation ceremony, prize giving day

RCCG Gloyland set to hold financial breakfast meeting Josephine Okojie

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h e Re d e e m e d Christian Church of God (RCCG), Yo u n g A d u l t s and Youth Affairs (YAYA) Gloryland parish, Zone 3, Province 8, has concluded arrangements to hold its first quarterly breakfast meeting where the balance between finance and Christianity will be discussed.

The meeting with the theme, ‘My Placement on the Platform of Wealth (God’s perspective)’ will be held at the zone on August 4 with the guest speaker, Pastor Taiwo Ojo explaining the intricacies and misconception about the acquisition of wealth.

Yomi Lawal, zonal pastor, said the event is to enlighten the young adults on the in-

tricacies involved in wealth creation and accumulation based on the stand point of the gospel.

He said it’s also a continuation of the wonders of the Lord in the affairs of members of the parish, adding that a proper understanding of godly process in finance management will distinguish a true Christian from the other.

Christopher Owolabi, zonal and parish youth president, said aside questions and answers that will come from the financial matters, issues concerning marriage, career, and personal development will also be examined.

He said skills acquisition will also be a feature of the impactful event where purpose-filled leaders are expected to be raised for the development of the country.

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ara Day School, one of Nigeria’s private schools celebrated its 55th anniversary and graduated its 48th set in grand style, recently. The event had in attendance, members of the governing board, the school management, alumni, parents, pupils, the media and other stakeholders of the school community.

Speaking at the event, Olatomi Keleko, executive director, Lara Day School, spoke on the challenges, trials, legacies and achievements experienced since the establishment of the school.

“Lara Day School has come through so many years of turbulence and challenges since its establishment in 1963. The school started with a population of seven

children and we have since grown; we are grateful to God and all those who stood by us through these years.

Lara Day School has moved from one generation to this present generation and we are moving to another generation very soon,” she stated.

Patricia Tioluwani, head of School, who also spoke on the anniversary and graduation ceremony, said: “I am

L-R: Jumoke Coker, member, Board of Directors, Lara Day School; Erelu Adesola Obafunmilola Abisoye, member, Board of Directors; Onwusika Somkene, outgoing head boy; Barretto Daniella, outgoing head girl; and Patricia Tioluwan, head of school, during the celebration of Lara Day School’s 55th Anniversary and 48th graduation ceremony in Lagos.

highly elated and grateful for this wonderful double celebration; our 55th Anniversary and 48th Graduation ceremony. It has been 55 years of maintaining a very strong vision, mission statement and a very rich heritage; 55 years of continuously improving standards; 55 years of consistent excellent results”.

“Our 21st Century teaching method supports various learning styles and multiple intelligence. Our staff and our parents have grown from being mere acquaintances to beyond even friends; you might even mistake us to be family members. Our facilities support 21st Century teaching and learning. These and many more have been our strength for the past 55 years and we are still growing stronger,” she enthused.

The event also served as the Graduation Ceremony and Prize Giving day for the 2017/2018 set. The 2017/2018 set tagged ‘The Platinum Stars’ were presented to all in attendance, “they are significantly brilliant; terrifically talented; amazingly knowledgeable; remarkably dependable and supremely ambitious,” Tioluwani said.

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Water transportation critical to resolving Lagos’ road congestion - stakeholders …as NBC, 7Up others seal deal with LASG to rid water bodies of plastic wastes Stories by JOSHUA BASSEY

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takeholders at are unanimous that water transportation is critical to addressing the logjams on the roads in Lagos just as the state government says it remains committed to making the necessary investments that will open up the sector to more private sector participation.

The stakeholders, including government officials and boat operators, took the position at a water transportation conference, which held at the Eko Hotels & Suites, in Victoria on Friday.

Lagos, the smallest of Nigeria’s 36 states by geographical space, occupying 3,577 square kilometres of the country’s total 923,773 square kilometres, is 25 percent water, with virtually all divisions of the state reachable by water, yet road accounts for more than 99 percent of its mass transit. With an estimated population of 22 million, the impact on road infrastructure is so grave that an N42 billion is being lost monthly to road congestion.

Akinwunmi Ambode, the state governor, who led discussions at the conference, acknowledged the importance of building critical infrastructure as well as creating the enabling environment

for investors’ participation in the development of the sector.

According to Ambode, though the sector had been left unattended to over the years, the current administration is nonetheless committed to fully harness the potential of the water transportation to the benefit of the people and economy of the state.

“So you ask yourself why is it that in the history of Lagos and Nigeria we did not just think of other modes of transportation other than road.

What really went wrong?”

Ambode wondered.

He observed that the chaotic traffic situation in the state metropolis was putting

under pressure on the roads with attendant danger to lives and property. This, he noted has made reforms in the water transportation sector compelling and his administration is championing it.

He said: “The question to ask is what brought us to this despicable situation where the only mode of transportation for over 22 million people is road and the road itself chaotic. In the last three years, we have been fighting traffic and unfortunately in the last two weeks, we have seen what has happened in Apapa and what we have been trying to do.

About three weeks ago, we saw what happened with regards to the Otedola bridge disaster.

Of the over 22 million people in Lagos, about 8 million are walking on the streets every second and at the same time, 86 people enter into the state every one hour according to United Nations statistics for 2016 which is the largest in the world.”

Arguing in favour of water transportation especially in reducing congestion, the governor said it was instructive to that being surrounded by water; many parts of the Lagos could be connected within few minutes.

“I was in Apapa and I looked at the gridlock and it made sense to me that it is just five minutes ride between Apapa and Marina and so the question is can’t

we create barges that take our cars and then push them there in just five minutes and so in no time everybody is in their offices instead of going through the traffic?

“Between Badore and Ikorodu is just ten minutes. So, we lay off people on Ikorodu axis. This is something that has been waiting for a long time and I just think this is the right time for us to do it because those coming behind us will not forgive us if we don’t take advantage of all the things we need to do to develop water transportation,” Ambode added that major channelisation projects, shoreline protection and jetties, among others were currently being constructed as part of efforts to boost the sector. He said in addition to efforts ongoing, the conference was basically to come up with sustainable framework to boost water transportation and encourage people to adopt it as alternative to other modes of transportation.

Calling on investors to take advantage of the reforms in the water sector, the governor said it was instructive that in the last 36 months, more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). He assured that his administration would continue to create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

Ladi Lawanson, the commissioner for transportation,

also speaking said the conference was to evolve effective framework in partnership with the private sector and relevant stakeholders to play up water transportation in Lagos with the view to diverting pressure from the roads to water.

Ganiyu Balogun, a major player and managing director of Tarzan Ferry Services, welcomed the renewed efforts by the government to reinvigorate the water transportation sector.

He said stakeholders were aware of the challenges in the sector and willing to partner government towards addressing them for the benefit of the people and the economy.

Meanwhile, the state government has sealed a seal with a consortium of multinational companies, Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance, to rid the water bodies of filth with specific focus on plastic waste. The agreement will also bring about the setting up of a world class collection and recycling framework for plastic waste in Lagos State.

The consortium including Nigeria Bottling Company, Coca-Cola, 7-Up Bottling Company, Nestle and Nigerian Breweries, among others, will be investing in boats with capacity to collect waste from the waterways, thereby protecting the ecosystem and boosting water transportation.

around this area while we would also do a jetty so that we can use the ferry to bring athletes and sports people to the new facility.”

Ambode, however, appealed to the residents to cooperate with the government, assuring that once the facility delivered, it would be handed over to them to protect against vandalism.

Adebowale Akinsanya, commissioner for work and infrastructure, giving a further insight, into what to expect, said the new sports arena, would also boost of administrative building, as well as a bus terminal.

Akinsanya explained that work would also be carried out on the access road leading to the stadium. There would be administrative building and other complex here. In addition to these, we would improve on the roads to access the stadium.

“What we want to do is to discourage people driving in, instead they would take buses to come in. So, there would be a small terminal for buses to come in. In addition, we are doing a jetty across, a shoreline protection and the jetty would be functional 24 hours.”

Akinsanya said talks were ongoing other relevant agencies of the government to improve facilities in 58 schools located within the area.

“Part of the mandate is to do something to accommodate the children. In doing this, we would get input from the community. We have engaged them before, but we would continue to engage them and get this going quickly,” he said.

Ayoola Fatai, chairman of Ajeromi Ifelodun local government area, welcomed the idea and assured that the residents would cooperate to make the project a reality.

Maracana: Transformation underway in Ajegunle …as Ambode visits facility again

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he Maracana football stadium, in Ajegunle, a densely populated area of Lagos, is to witness a transformation into a multi-purpose sports centre with complementary facilities befitting a modern sports arena.

The facilities will include standard football pitch, volleyball court, tennis court, swimming pool, track and field area, events centre and others for recreational activities.

Ajegunle, besides churning out music stars, is also reputed to have produced several talented footballers many of whom have advanced in their career to play for the national team as well as international clubs in Europe and other parts of the world, with the Maracana stadium as the breeding ground.

The planned transformation of the facility is, therefore,

intended to add impetus to the zeal of the youngsters to continue to leverage on it to realise their life ambition, and positively harness their natural talents.

Akinwumi Ambode, Lagos State governor, who disclosed the plan during a visit to the stadium, Thursday, told the excited residents of Ajegunle, especially the youths that the design for the new stadium is ready and the contractor set to move to site.

“The last time I came here, I promised that I was going to do something in this arena. I am not happy that after three years of my administration, the reconstruction of the Maracana stadium is yet to commence.

“However, the design is ready, the contractor is here, and they will start the work soon. You have to cooperate with them. If you go to Onikan stadium, you would see that we are rebuilding it to

world-class facility, by January it would be completed. The contractor working on Onikan stadium is the same that would handle the Maracana stadium,” said Ambode.

The contractor, according to Ambode, has also been given the mandate to address the challenge of flooding which poses serious challenge

to school children due to the swampy nature of the area.

He said: “I have also told the contractor that because of the children, there would be an event centre here so that social activities can also hold here. We know that there is a challenge of flooding here.

The same contractor would handle the drainage system

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd left), officials of the state, and the contractor, during the inspection Maracana stadium.

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PhotoSplash

L-R: Suraj Adekunbi, speaker, Ogun State, House of Assembly; Yetunde Onanuga, deputy governor, Ogun State; Sulaimon Daniel, team captain, Alamuwa Grammer School, Ado Odo, Ogun State; Segun Agbaje, MD/ CEO, GTBank, and Ibikunle Amosun, governor, Ogun State, at the GTBank - Ogun State Principals Cup Season 6 Final in Ogun State.

L-R: Ibrahim Aminu, managing director/chief executive officer, Cement Company of Northern Nigerian (CCNN); Abdulsamad Rabiu, chairman, CCNN Plc; Ahmed Aliyu, company secretary, CCNN Plc, and Kabiru Rabiu, director, CCNN Plc, at the 39th Annual General Meeting of BUA Cement Company of Northern Nigeria(CCNN) in Sokoto recently.

L-R: Kehinde Salami, president EXMAN; Damilare Oyewole, general manager, Communication Facilitators Ltd; Adewale Ayara, CEO, Communications Facilitators, and Jire Anifalaje, CEO, Emporium Comms/chairman, Membership Committee, during the Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN) 5th annual general meeting in Calabar Cross Rivers State recently

Godwin Obaseki, governor, Edo State (l), with Louis Edozien, permanent secretary minister of power, works and housing representing the minister, at the 4th National Council on Power, held in Benin City.

Olusegun Awolowo, chief executive officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) (l); The Graduand, Olusegun Awolowo (Junior), his Mother, Adebola Awolowo, during the graduation of Olusegun Awolowo(junior) at Warwick University UK. Where he bagged Bachelor of laws(with honours)in law Qualifying degree with second class, UPPER division.

R-L: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Isaac Adewole, minster of health; Nduka Obaigbena, chairman, Thisday Media Group, and Abdulaziz Abdullahi, permanent secretary, ministry of health, during the 3rd THISDAY Health Policy Dialogue, with the themed “Nigeria’s Universal Health Coverage Aspirations: Why states Matter” in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari presenting a souvenir to the outgoing Finland Ambassador to Nigeria, Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury during her farewell visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja. NAN

Vladimir Voronkov, United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary on Counter-Terrorism (3rd, R); Michele Coninsx, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director, United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (2nd, R); Edward Kallon, Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator, United Nations (UN) System in Nigeria (3rd, L) and Heads of UN Agencies in Nigeria, after a briefing of the visiting envoys by UN Agencies in Abuja. NAN

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Feature When Euromoney Awards recognised UBA’s digital strides CHUKS OLUIGBO

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s digital financial services continue to reshape the way bank customers carry out their financial transactions, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc is leaving no stone unturned in its bid to not just keep up with technology but to always stay ahead of the game.

With eyes on the future, and conversant with the new trend in customer behaviour, the pan-African financial services group has continued to innovate and develop strategies aimed at making banking seamless and effortless for millions of its existing and potential customers. As such, UBA is constantly taking strategic steps to integrate more people into the digital financial services net, drive down cost of service, and build consumer confidence in digital platforms.

For a bank that has invested heavily in building a robust and secure e-banking platform that supports its e-banking operations globally through strategic partnerships with various local and international organizations, UBA Plc’s recent recognition as Africa’s Best Bank in the Digital Category at the prestigious Euromoney Awards in London is an honour well deserved.

Beyond adding to UBA’s growing list of enviable laurels, the award further lends credence to the bank’s dominance in the digital banking space and comes as an affirmation of its recent investment in cutting-edge technology, one of which gave birth to Leo, the chat banker that has disrupted banking across Africa.

The Euromoney Awards, covering more than 20 global product categories, best-inclass awards and the best banks in over 100 countries around the world, recognises institutions that have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and momentum in the markets in which they operate.

In selecting its recipients, Euromoney’s principle is hinged on both quantitative and qualitative data to honour institutions that have brought the highest levels of service, innovation and expertise to their customers.

The award to UBA Plc, therefore, comes as an acknowledgment of the bank’s dedication to hard work and particular emphasis on offering quality services to its customers, especially through deployment of innovative solutions.

“This only goes to show that our resolve in continuing to deploy innovative solutions that place customers first, using cutting-edge technology for their collective satisfaction and excellent banking experience, is important to us. This recognition will further spur us to do more in meeting the needs of our customers with unrivalled services,” Kennedy Uzoka, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, UBA Plc, said at award ceremony in London on July 11.

“For us at UBA, the award is quite an accomplishment, considering Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, and President Emmanuel Macron of France’s recent endorsement, both of which centred around highlighting the distinguishing value of UBA’s leading digital opportunities,” he said.

Uzoka said the recent launch of Leo in 15 African countries was evidence that UBA has on its agenda the objective of digital creativity, especially in service of its trusted customer base across the African

L-R: John Orchard, managing director, Euromoney; Ebele Ogbue, general manager, Energy Bank; Kennedy Uzoka, GMD/CEO, United Bank for Africa Plc, and Geoff Hurst, 1966 England World Cup winner, at the Euromoney Award for Excellence in London, where UBA Group was conferred with Africa’s Best Digital Bank.

continent.

“This award reminds us as an institution not to relent in our pursuit of excellence and to continue to lead the new digital age in Africa within the financial services industry,” he said.

Clive Horwood, Euromoney Magazine’s editor, said despite fierce competition, UBA Plc stood out in the last year for the inventiveness of its efforts in digital banking.

“One of its signature launches in Nigeria was Leo, an e-chat service using artificial intelligence to help customers execute transactions on Facebook. Recently, Mark Zuckerberg gave a nod to the service during a talk at a recent developers’ conference – a sign of its recognition at the highest levels of digital technology,” Horwood said.

“The bank also recently added retina and fingerprint recognition and technology to reduce business travel greenhouse emissions. If it fulfils its ambitious plans to partner with fintech companies, UBA could continue to lead African banks in the area of digitization,” he said.

Indeed, UBA has over the years steadily included new and emerging trends to its range of solutions in-branches, across subsidiaries and on digital platforms – all in a bid to be the undisputed leading financial services firm in Africa in the area of innovation and technology.

The Euromoney award, in recognition of innovative products and services introduced by the bank in recent times targeted towards meeting customers’ needs, comes on the heels of recent awards to UBA, including Finacle Client Innovation Awards and Best Bank Awards given to five of its subsidiaries across Africa by The Bankers Magazine, as well as its emergence as the Best Bank in Africa in 2017.

Adjudged to be at the forefront of innovation and convenient banking, UBA, which prides itself as Africa’s global bank, is active on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, Google Plus, and also runs a corporate blog. UBA was one of the first

financial services institutions in Africa to deploy Finacle 10x, a new information technology platform that boosts its services and electronic banking channels.

Its launch of Leo on January 11, making it the first bank on the continent to embrace Artificial Intelligence in serving its customers, was a result of a continuous directive to push the banking sector beyond financial services and to show that the bank truly comprehends the shift in operations and the movement of the global world with technology today.

At the official launch of Leo in Lagos in January, Uzoka had explained that Leo, being an intelligent personality, would give customers instant feedback as they transact their business on the platform, describing it as “a solution that is from the customer’s standpoint which is easy to use by anyone regardless of your career”.

“The formulation of this product is consistent with the bank’s customer-first philosophy, where we are doing things not the way we like but exactly what the customers want, where they want it, and in the exact platform they want,” Uzoka said.

“And so, we have been working with technology giants from around the world because for UBA with so many customers, we have to deal with those who have the global capacity. Therefore, we at UBA have collaborated with Facebook to come up with this. In future, Leo will show up with other platforms. All you need to do is to have an account with Facebook,” he said.

Highlighting some of the advantages of using the app, Uzoka said the chat language is elementary, and Leo can even help one remember what one needs to do at every particular point in time. On security of the platform, he said that chat banking with Leo does not elevate the risk already available. But the prospective customer needs to provide a Bank Verification Number (BVN) and phone number that is linked to the BVN. Uzoka had also said with the launch of the chat banking app, customers would

be able to open new accounts, receive instant transaction notifications, check their balances on the go, transfer funds and do airtime top-up. They would also be able to confirm cheques, pay bills, apply for loans, freeze accounts, request for mini statements, amongst other things, he said.

Also addressing students of Usman Danfodiyo University (UDU), Sokoto during the commissioning of a pedestrian bridge constructed for the university community by the UBA Foundation as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility on February 19, Uzoka said Leo Virtual Banker was a customer-centric product which gives customers, particularly youths, more power in conducting transactions.

“This is the first time a financial institution in Africa has come up with this manner of solution to simplify the way customers transact, something that has become necessary in today’s fast-paced world with demands for quick-time transactions and response,” Uzoka said.

“We know that students can be very busy with lectures and keeping up with so much activity. It is pertinent they get a young, upwardly-mobile banker like Leo the chat banker to proffer an array of solutions to all their banking needs,” he said.

UBA, one of Africa’s leading banks with operations in 20 African countries and in London and New York, with presence in Paris, provides banking services to more than 15 million customers globally through diverse service channels and over 1,000 branches and customer touch points as well as robust online and mobile banking platforms.

Incorporated in Nigeria as a limited liability company after taking over the assets of the British and French Bank Limited who had been operating in Nigeria since 1949, UBA Plc in 2005 merged with Standard Trust Bank and from a single country operation, it has become one of the leading providers of banking and other financial services on the African continent and beyond.

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Feature

Many ways to die in Nigeria CHUKS OLUIGBO

W

ith innumerable violent but mostly avoidable deaths recorded in Nigeria almost on a daily basis in the past few years, life in the country today has become as described in Thomas Hobbes’ state of nature, where there is “continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”.

It is as captured in the second and fourth stanzas of Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali’s ‘Nightfall in Soweto’, where “A murderer’s hand / lurking in the shadows / clasping the dagger / strikes down the helpless victim” and “Man has ceased to be man / Man has become beast / Man has become prey”.

Death, that oft-dreaded existential reality, seems to have been demystified. In today’s Nigeria, even the average life expectancy of 54.5 is no longer realistic as death is ever lurking in the shadows and life is cheap.

What will kill you in Nigeria is always lying in wait by the corner, ever so near. It doesn’t matter in what part of the country you live in – nowhere is safe.

If Boko Haram’s bomb doesn’t kill you in the market, in the church, in the mosque, in the school or other public places, especially if you live in the hotbed north-eastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States, perhaps because of the reduced frequency of the attacks in recent times, then you must be wary of Hakika, the emergent Islamist sect that is currently occupying large swathes of forests in Nasarawa State.

If you are lucky to escape the AK47s and machetes of killer herdsmen destroying lives and displacing entire communities in the north-central states of Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kogi, or even as far down south as Edo, Delta, Anambra, Ekiti, Oyo, Ondo, Enugu, Abia, and so on, you may automatically join the swelling ranks of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) living in unsanitary, malnutritionravaged and mostly neglected camps in many parts of the country and dying by instalment.

Boko Haram killed over 6,600 persons in 2014 alone and has displaced over 2.3 million people since May 2013. Killer herdsmen and Boko Haram insurgents reportedly killed 1,750 Christians and other non-Muslims between January and June 2018, according to a statement by International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) early in July. The

herdsmen also massacred 8,800 Nigerians, mostly Christians, in three years (June 2015 to June 2018), the statement said.

In May, during the burial of two Catholic priests (Felix Tyolaha and Joseph Gor) and 17 parishioners killed by suspected herdsmen in an early morning raid on St. Ignatius Parish, Mbalom, Samuel Ortom, Benue State governor, claimed that attacks by herdsmen had taken the lives of at least 492 people in Benue in the first five months of the year.

On its part, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) also claimed it had lost over 500 of its members to reprisal attacks in Plateau, Benue and Taraba States.

If you live in the communities bordering Ebonyi and Cross River, Cross River and Akwa Ibom, and Benue and Cross River States or you are travelling along the routes connecting these border communities, chances are that you will be caught in the endless orgies of violence arising from decades-old border clashes over farmlands. The latest clashes in June left about 20 people dead, numerous injured and over 7,000 displaced.

But if you escape the crossfire here by chance, you may not be so lucky with the armed bandits snuffing the life out of hundreds of your fellow citizens in Zamfara State or the notorious kidnappers, armed robbers and car snatchers on the Abuja-Kaduna highway, the Kaduna-Zaria highway and the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road, who have built operational bases in the thick wilds of the adjoining

states from where they terrorise travellers. Their counterparts are also rampaging in other parts of the country, especially in the South-East and South-South, even though the frequency has reduced.

In August last year, police arrested 40 kidnappers on the Abuja-Kaduna highway and rescued three victims during a raid of their hideouts. Just a few days back, reports had it that Halima Idris, a professor and former Commissioner of Education in Katsina State, was killed alongside three others while travelling to Abuja between Jere and Kateri, about 85km between Abuja and Kaduna.

Those nine Nigerians who died in the tanker explosion on the Otedola Bridge axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Thursday, June 28 couldn’t have seen it coming, just as it must have come as a rude shock to owners of the 54 vehicles that were consumed in the ensuing fire. But sadly, their fate is the potential fate of every traveller on Nigeria’s death-traps that pass for roads, where various forms of accidents are not only a reality but imminent.

If you fall sick and you cannot afford medical treatment abroad, make sure to write your will before you go for admission in any Nigerian hospital because there is no guarantee that you will leave the hospital bed alive.

If your case is cancer or some other serious case, you may even prefer to die at home than waste money in a hospital in Nigeria.

With the health sector getting N356 billion out of a total budget of N9.12 trillion for 2018, it is

evident that health care delivery is nonexistent in this country.

There may be a few good hospitals, especially privately-owned, but they are the exception rather than the rule.

If the building you live in does not collapse on you, then you must be careful not to step out of your house when it rains or you risk being swallowed up by the flood. A 2017 report from the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing put the total number of collapsed buildings across the country between 2012 and 2016 at 54. But a January 2018 report in the Guardian said a survey of building collapse in 2015 showed that an average of 27 buildings caved in 14 months, out of which 175 deaths occurred and 427 people were injured.

On its part, flood disaster has claimed hundreds of lives across many states in Nigeria in the last few years. In May, the Nigeria Hydrological Agency (NHSA) released the 2018 flood outlooks in 35 states in the country, with a projection that Sokoto, Niger, Benue, Anambra, Niger Delta, Anambra, Ogun-Osun, Cross-River and Yobe States would have high risks of river flooding, while Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, and Ondo States may likely experience coastal flooding. The outlook also indicated that flash and urban flood were expected to occur in Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, Yola, Abuja, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Calabar, Jos, Owerri, Oshogho, Ilorin, Awka, Abakaliki, Birnin-Kebbi, Kano, Yenogoa, Abeokuta, Ado-Ekiti, Lokoja, Lafia, Nsukka, Gombe, Suleja,

Karu, Nyanya, Abaji, Onitsha, Sapele, Hadejia and other major cities with poor drainage. It further said out of the 35 states, 318 local government areas would be affected, while about 78 of them would have high risk of floods.

Residents of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, are still reeling from the pain of last year’s flood disaster in the city which ravaged over 2,000 homes and forced over 100,000 residents to flee their homes.

You may escape the direct impact of the excruciating poverty ravaging the entire country and driving many of your fellow citizens to insanity and suicide as a result of inability to meet basic family needs, but the increasing demands for assistance from relatives who have been reduced to paupers by the harsh economic environment are enough to make you want to take refuge in the bottom of the lagoon, especially if you live in Lagos.

By the way, Nigeria has recorded worsening poverty rates in the past few years, aided by bad economic policies that led to a recession in 2016 which the country is yet to fully pull out of. Every day more Nigerians continue to slide into the squalor of poverty despite more money budgeted and spent annually across all tiers of government.

A report by Brookings Institution in June 2018 showed that Nigeria has overtaken India as the nation with the highest number of extremely poor people.

According to the report, Nigeria had about 87 million people in extreme poverty as at the end of May 2018, compared with India’s 73 million, with the number of Nigerians in extreme poverty increasing by six people every minute.

Kofi Annan, seventh SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations, is reputed to have once said, “Extreme poverty anywhere is a threat to human security everywhere.” Any wonder that it was speculated in 2015 that 64 million Nigerians suffer from one form of mental illness or the other deserving attention.

But if you escape all of the above, don’t rejoice yet. You may still fall prey to ritual killers operating mostly in the states of the South-West, or you will die by the bullet of a trigger-happy policeman, or if you are a politician, your opponents will send assassins after you.

In all of this, sadly, the government whose primary duty it is to protect the lives and property of the citizens and ensure their welfare just looks on – either due to cluelessness, gross incompetence, wilful negligence or lack of political will to act. In the end, ordinary Nigerians, as they say in local parlance, are on their own.

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Feature

Nigeria’s cocoa industry: Death Despite Nigeria’s huge potential in cocoa production and processing, the country’s processors are still in dire straits, writes Josephine Okojie

“I

f you want to know the current state of the Nigeria’s cocoa sector, visit the Cocoa House,” 72-year-old Ademola Akinmulure, cocoa farmer in Omioliyan village in Ondo State, said, while describing the present-day cocoa industry.

In Ibadan, the 25-storeyed-Cocoa House towers above all adjoining buildings.

This house was once the tallest building in the country and was built with proceeds from export of cocoa beans in the 1960s.

The Cocoa House wears the chocolate colour and occupies over a hectare of land in the heart of Ibadan, southwest Nigeria.

It was once the pride of the country’s cocoa production.

But all that has changed, as the once beehive of cocoa activities is now a shadow of its former self, with most of the offices empty.

The skyscraper reflects the present situation of Nigeria’s cocoa industry.

“Cocoa house was our pride in the southwest Nigeria. Then, every farmer wanted to be a cocoa farmer. But now, all that has changed, as we do not pride ourselves in it again. That is the situation of our today’s cocoa industry in Nigeria,” Akinmulure, who has been a cocoa farmer for over 40 years, added.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Nigeria was a major cocoa producer and supplied most of the world’s demand.

Cocoa was a major revenue and foreign exchange earner for the country and provided millions of jobs for the people, especially those in the southwest region.

Several years down the line, after the discovery of oil in commercial quantity, the once major cocoa producer now lags behind Ivory Coast, Ghana, Indonesia, Ecuador and Cameroon in cocoa production, according to latest data of International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) 2016/2017 season.

The reasons for this are not far-fetched.

BusinessDay investigations in Ondo, Cross River, Edo and Ogun states found that lack of improved seedlings, high numbers of un-rehabilitated trees, aging farmers, low level of investments in the industry and

Cocoa House at liebu by-pass, Ibadan, Oyo state

A cocoa processing machine

bad weather, among others, are major reasons for Nigeria’s loss of ‘cocoa power’ in the global market.

In fact, Nigeria was unable to supply large quantities of cocoa to the world in 2016 despite rise in the prices of ICE and Liffe cocoa beans.

“Most of our cocoa fields are old,” said Sayina Rima, national president, Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN).

“More so, lack of hybrid seedlings has remained a major challenge for farmers.

This is making the country not to get full economic benefits from growing cocoa,” Rima said.

“The implication of this is that the cultivation of cocoa is no longer a profitable crop for many farmers and, as a result of this, the nation’s quantity and quality of cocoa is declining,” Rima explained.

Sorry state of cocoa industry Walking through the gate of FTN Cocoa Processors Plc, located at KM 9, MonatanIwo Road in Ibadan, Oyo State, my gaze caught the lush green grass adorning the factory walls and the well-constructed structures adjacent each other. It was a beauty to behold.

But upon entering the factory that sits on 4 acres of land, however, I discovered that the scenery outside does not truly depict the situation inside.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange-listed FTN, with an installed capacity of 20,000 MT, had only processed 600 MT of cocoa beans in the first half of 2018, BusinessDay found.

The company has been struggling to survive over the past five years and this is evident in its yearly financial statements.

According to details in the company’s nine- month financials in 2017, FTN reported a 59.4 percent increase in its loss after tax— from N263.4 billion in 2016 to N419.7 billion in 2017.

The company also reported a 97 percent drop in revenue, from N842 billion in 2016 to N23 billion in 2017 and a whopping 99 percent drop in cocoa export sales— from N508.2 billion in 2016 to N1.9 billion in 2017.

Similarly, a 94percent drop in local cocoa sales, from N334 billion in 2016 to N21 billion in 2017, was reported.

While most firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange have already released

their q1 2018 and preparing to release q2, the reserve is the case for FTN as the company is yet to release its full 2017 report.

The company last paid dividend to its shareholders in 2010.

FTN case is similar to any of the indigenous cocoa processors currently operating in the country.

Cumulatively, Nigeria’s cocoa industry is operating at less than 20 percent compared with 80 percent of the 90’s, findings show.

This has led to a decline in the country’s valueaddition in recent years, resulting in a $2 billion annual loss, industry data show.

Value addition on the decline Nigeria once had 27 cocoa processing factories in the 1970’s, but the number fell to eight in the 2000s, with a combined installed capacity of 150,000MT. Today, Africa’s most populous country has only five functional factories with a combined utilisation capacity of less than 30,000MT per annum, BusinessDay gathered.

Currently, Nigeria’s cocoa processing industry is operating at less than 20 percent, owing to a combination of many factors, BusinessDay investigation shows.

High operating cost, coupled with higher import duty in European markets and farmers’ preference to sell to merchants— who offer premium price over processors—, has made it unattractive for Nigeria’s remaining five cocoa processing factories to tap export demand for butter, cake and powder.

BusinessDay’s onsite investigation at Ile Oluji Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s oldest cocoa processing firm, found that the company has only processed 2,000 metric tons since the beginning of the year, which is by far below its 30,000 metric tons installed capacity.

This is because of absence of long-term financing and accumulation of debts.

“Our capacity utilisation in the industry is less

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BDSUNDAY 13

Feature

of a golden goose

Cocoa beans in a drying machine

that 20 per cent because most of the cocoa processors are really under the heavy weight of debt. The total debt in the industry today is not less than N50billion,” Akin Olusuyi, managing director, said.

“Despite special funds provided by the government for us, the least we pay as interest is 12 percent at 360 days, while the least for commercial banks is 26 per cent at 360 days,” Olusuyi added.

Also, Multi-Trex Integrated Foods PLC, Nigeria’s largest cocoa processing factory, with a production capacity of 65,000MT per annum, has since been shut down by the Asset Management Corporation Organisation of Nigeria

Farmers sorting cocoa beans

Farmers removing cocoa beans from the pods

(AMCON).

Multi-trex was shut down in June 2015 over a contested sum of N8.5 billion Eligible Bank Asset (EBA) bought from Skye Bank.

Since the shutdown of Multritrex Integrated 65,000 MT-capacity factory, Nigeria has seen its cocoa processing reduce by over 26 percent, according to BusinessDay’s calculations.

Moreover, Nigeria’s cocoa cake, powder and butter attract a 6.1 percent and 4.2 per cent import duty respectively in Europe.

This is bad for Nigerian cocoa exporters in terms of profitability, especially when cocoa products from other countries at-

tract zero per cent.

What this means is that Nigerian cocoa struggles to compete favourably in the global market.

Players point at Nigeria’s failure to sign the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) advanced by Europe as one reason for the imposition of duty.

The EPA is a scheme targeted at creating free trade between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of states.

Declining cocoa production In the 1960s, Nigeria accounted for 18 percent of world’s cocoa and was one of the big three producers in the world, but today, the country is the sixth largest producer and accounts for just five percent of global production, data from ICCO show.

Despite cocoa being the largest single foreign exchange earning commodity after oil for Nigeria, the country has failed to steadily increase its production over the years.

Indonesia, which grew almost no cocoa before the early 1980s when its production took off, is now the world’s third leading producer of cocoa beans, growing 315,000 metric tons in 2016/2017 season, according to ICCO. Nigeria that was once the world leading producer of cocoa has seen its production decline from 240,000MT in 2013/2014 to 210,000 metric tons in 2016/2017, ICCO data state.

Long years of dis-investment and inability of Africa’s most populous country to sustain and improve its production of cocoa have led to sharp decline in productivity.

With the high volatility in crude oil prices and fall in government revenue, experts have continuously called for the diversification of the economy, and cocoa, Nigeria’s flagship export product, has the potential to drive the country economic growth and development.

Old trees Nigeria’s cocoa sector is badly hurt by lack of investments that have seen many trees age in the last five years.

“There are no new investments taking place in the industry. This makes most of the cocoa trees very old,” Olusuyi said.

“Cocoa production has been declining for some time now and this is as a result of a lot of old plantations across main producing areas,” Olusuyi stated.

The country’s cocoa industry is currently plagued by low productivity of less than 0.350 tons per hectare when other leading countries are producing about two to five tons per hectare of improved variety, according to the Institute of International Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

Experts agree that there is a need to increase Nigeria falling cocoa production.

To achieve this, Anna Muyiwa, plant biotechnologist, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CAN), said the country must start rehabilitating old cocoa plantations and develop more hybrid varieties.

“We need to rehabilitate our old cocoa trees in all cocoa producing states. A completely rehabilitated cocoa plantation of proven clone will produce as much as 2.5 tons per hectare,” Muyiwa said, stressing the need to develop more hybrid varieties “Nigeria’s cocoa average yield per hectare is among the lowest in the world and this is due to old age of most cocoa plantations,” she further said.

Aging farmers The average age of cocoa farmers in Africa’s largest economy is 60 currently, implying that the sector is yet unattractive to Nigeria’s young population.

“The average age of a farmer in Nigeria today is 60 years. For a crop that is highly labour-intensive, 60 years will not give the maximum impact in the industry,” Rima said.

“Tree crops like cocoa suffer the most.

We need to start making cocoa and the like attractive to the youths through incentives, because the investments in tree crops are very high and most youths cannot afford it,” he added.

Lack of technology and innovation in the sector has likewise continued to make farming unattractive to Nigeria’s younger population.

“Youths will only find agriculture attractive if there are innovation and technology in the sector. Technology is very crucial if Nigeria really wants youths to embrace agriculture and boost its productivity,” Abiodun Olorundenro, operations manager, Aquashoots Nigeria, said.

Currently, the Federal Government is making efforts to make agriculture more attractive to the youths, but such efforts have yielded little impact as most young people do not want to be involved in the Continues on page 14

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Nigeria’s cocoa industry: Death of a...

Continued from page 13 drudgery of agriculture, experts say.

They add that failure to make agriculture attractive to the younger generation would be disastrous to the country as population continues to grow at about 2.6 percent per annum.

“If we are serious to feed ourselves as a nation, we must attract the younger generation to farming. If we fail to achieve this, our food import bill will continue to rise,” Olorundenro said.

Inputs still a problem With internal and external crisis rocking Nigeria’s Cocoa Research Institute (CRIN) over the last four years, not much has been done in the areas of research and transmission of modern technology in the subsector to cocoa farmers.

There has been battle for leadership in the institute over the last three years, making CRIN have an acting director general within the period.

In addition, Nigeria’s agricultural research institutes embarked on a fourmonth strike that ended in March, 2018.

The strike was to demand for more research funding by the government and a review of scientists’ condition of service at the various institutes.

The crisis in CRIN has also channelled available international research funding to the Ghana Cocoa Research Institute (CRIG) with little or none coming to CRIN over the years, despite having the highest number of scientists in the region.

“All the funds for cocoa development meant for West Africa goes to the Ghana Cocoa Research Institute because of the never ending crisis in the Nigeria’s Cocoa Research Institute,” Rima said.

“The institute has been having internal crisis over leadership and this has crippled activities in the research centre. Also the recent strike embarked upon by agricultural research institutes that lasted over three months was a problem as well,” Rima added.

This has made it difficult for farmers to easily have access to hybrid seedlings for the replacement of old and worn-out cocoa trees all year round.

“We do not get seedlings whenever you want it because CRIN is always on strike,” Adegoke Ademola, a cocoa farmer in Ajebandele in Ondo State, said.

Apart from inadequate supply of seedlings, the high rate of adulterated fungicide and insecticides in the market has impacted on the country’s cocoa production negatively.

“One of the biggest challenges we face as farmers is the issue of chemicals.

Last year, all the chemicals I bought from the market were all adulterated and it destroyed my farm,” Emmaunel Ojong, a cocoa farmer in Effraya Etung Local Government in Cross River state, told BusinessDay. “We need chemicals to protect our plantations against cocoa diseases such as black pod, army worm and swollen shoot disease,” Ojong added.

Irrigating cocoa fields Cocoa can be an all-year crop if farmers can have access to sufficient water supply.

Over the years, Nigeria’s cocoa production has been seasonal as farmers continue to depend on rain-fed agriculture, which has limited the country from realising the full potential of the crop.

Agricultural activities are hard hit by irregular climate patterns, which hurt farming activities.

Experts who spoke with BusinessDay attributed this to climate change, which now affects the agriculture cycle, thus

Premises of Multi-Trex Integrated Foods Plc at Warewa village, on Lagos-Ibadan express-way

making irrigation farming the only way to cushion the effects of inadequate rainfall.

“The time has passed for farmers to be solely relying on climate-fed agriculture as the climate changes,” Akpan Imeh, a climate change expert, said.

Imeh stated that Cote D’Ivoire has expanded its cocoa productivity above Nigeria and every other country because it has evolved the cultivation of the crop beyond the traditional ways that rely on climate.

“If the soil forms a bond, then the soil will be able to withstand a lot of water stress, but if there’s no bonding, irrigation is badly needed,” he added.

But farmers have complained that lack of finance and inadequate government support have made it difficult for them to adopt irrigation farming.

“Lack of funds, coupled with inadequate government support, which, even when in existence, hardly trickles down to we smaller farmers, makes it difficult for us to adopt irrigation,” Oladokun Wasiu, a cocoa farmer in Iddo local government area of Oyo State, said.

The constant supply of water to the farm throughout the year— irrespective of climate— guarantees all-year high yield of cocoa.

Government neglect Despite the potential of the Nigeria’s cocoa industry to change the fortunes of the Nigerian economy, with attendant exponential gains by way of earnings, employment and other spin-offs, the country is yet to fully improve production.

Cocoa, which remains one of the fastest selling and most desirable agricultural commodities in the international market due to the rapid growth and expansion of chocolate confectioneries and other products, is still neglected by the government.

Over the years, government has mouthed support for cocoa farming and processing, claiming that it is serious with making the industry one of the largest foreign exchange earners.

But various government policies have not yet made it beyond the talking stage.

The Muhammadu Buhari-led government promised to revive cocoa production and make payments of backlogs of the Export Expansion Grant (EEG), but this is yet to happen.

“We are yet to access the EEG that was designed to cushion structural misalignment in our economy since 2013. Since last year, we have been given approval by NEXIM and our banks but we are yet to get it,” Akin Laoye, executive director, FTN Cocoa Processors PLC, said.

A cocoa tree in Okondi village- Ikom Local Government, Cross River state.

Promoting local cocoa consumption One major challenge facing Nigeria’s cocoa industry is poor local consumption.

Nigeria has no chocolates manufacturer at the moment despite that the industry is worth about $10 billion globally.

Cocoa is the major input for the production of chocolates. Some beverage companies in Nigeria have their plants in Ghana and get their cocoa from the West African country.

“We should produce, process and consume the final products of cocoa like cocoa drink and chocolate. This would help the country hedge against price volatility at the international market,” Robo Adhuze, chief operating officer, Centre for Cocoa Development Initiative, said.

“We currently consume less than five percent of what we produce. Nigerians are yet to understand the health benefits of consuming cocoa. We need to increase our cocoa consumption and not just exporting all we produce,” Adhuze said.

All the chocolates consumed in Nigeria are majorly imported from Europe and the United States.

Way Out Experts say Nigeria must begin now to rehabilitate its old cocoa plantations, incorporate modern agricultural techniques in expanding its cocoa production and ensure that farmers have easy access to hybrid seedlings, while ensuring that only approved agro chemicals get to the markets.

They add that the country must ensure the development of the cocoa value chain, which has great prospects in the export markets.

Analysts believe that to drive valueaddition, government must provide longterm financing to processors at a singledigit interest rate and provide stable power supply to help reduce production. This is believed to make them competitive.

Logistics channels, marketing and connection to the international market through appropriate agencies like the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) will spur cocoa cultivation, according to experts.

Similarly, the government should incentivise local investors and private sector participation by providing single-digit interest rates to encourage investments and activities in the cocoa sector, players say.

“Unless there is a well-defined policy for cocoa production and processing, the country would continue to export its jobs and lose revenue it would have generated through value addition,” Olusuyi, who was earlier quoted, said.

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Feature

At last, ECOWAS hands over new border facility at Seme OBINNA EMELIKE

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wo year after the completion of an ultra modern facility at the Seme, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has handed over the facility adjudged the best in West Africa to Nigeria and Benin Republic.

It was technically handed over on Friday July 27, 2018 unceremoniously by ECOWAS officials to the authorities of both Nigeria and the Benin Republic and will be fully open for full operation on Monday July 30, 2018.

The facility, which cost N4.5 billion, was jointly sponsored by the European Union and ECOWAS, and also offers scanner for trucks, quarantine office, accommodation for immigration, custom and police officers, passport office, underground prison for criminals, simple detention office for those with minor offences, border post, car park among other conveniences.

While the facility hosts three border agencies at the Benin Republic end; port health, quarantine and immigration, it hosts over seven agencies at the Nigerian end.

With the opening, the new border facility, which has every necessary facility, is expected to facilitate trade, curb illegalities and ensure sanity as everybody and truck will pass through the approved channel and will undergo the necessary checks.

According to an anonymous Nigerian officer at the border, touting, extortion and delays are over as the hi-tech technology are in place and can track and report illegalities.

“The facilities are of international standard and we have been schooled on how to run them. So, f ro m M o n d a y a n y b o d y that passes through the unapproved route will be regarded as illegal immigrant and be prosecuted

The administrative block

accordingly, the officer said.

Speaking on the development, Martins Olugu, an immigration retiree and security expert, commended the opening and said the facility is most beneficial to Nigeria. “Considering the fact that Nigeria

has 114 approved control posts covering about 4,000 square kilometers, the approximately 23, 000 staff strength of the Nigerian Immigration Service is grossly inadequate to police the vast borders.

So, the facility is handy and will easy movement

of both passengers and goods”, Olugu said.

He advised that ECOWAS should station some of its staff at the border to monitor and ensure that b ot h c o unt ri es c o mp l y with international best practice in running and maintaining the facilities.

But most travellers on the route are eager to travel to be the first to experience and also confirm that sanity has returned at the border.

“All I want is free movement, no extortion and less delay at the border. It is the delays and extortions that make transport companies to increase fares at short interval. So, this positive change should be sustained and any form of illegality should be prosecuted”, Kemi Fadina, a regular traveller on the route said.

However, Kelvin Umeh, a driver of one the popular transport companies on the Lagos-Accra route argue that the new facility will not prevent extortion as the border agencies will device other means of extorting money from unsuspecting travellers.

Ikechi Uko, tourism expert and team lead of The Team Africa (TTA), a league of African travel professionals, noted that the opening of the new facility would further boost the seamless travel within Africa campaign, which is championed by the league.

The new facility, according to him, would encourage more people to travel within the ECOWAS region as unnecessary delays, extortions and other illegalities would be reduced while travel experience would be enhanced.

The handover was witnessed by top hierarchy of Immigration, Customs, and other border operatives from both Nigeria and Benin Republic, including Kayode Emmanuel Oguntuashe, Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, ECOWAS and EU representatives.

It would be recalled that work on the project, which commenced in 2012 had also passed through the supervision of many contractors who defaulted before it was re-awarded to Grand Enterprise Route, ( GER-SA ) Siam Togo, which finally completed the construction in 2016.

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Jakande: Celebrating a visionary leader at 89

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Sunday 29 July 2018

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

I

n Nigeria, Lagos State is commonly referred to as the ‘Center of Excellence’. Truly, in terms of its socio-economic uniqueness, Lagos remains a trendsetter in Nigeria. However, inasmuch as Lagos’ socio-economic indices are plausibly mindblowing, it is actually the quality of its political leadership that has really defined it since its creation in 1967. Lagos State has been blessed with visionary leaders whose vision and thoughts have progressively molded the State.

One of such leaders is Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, popularly referred to as LKJ, the state’s first democratically elected governor (October 1, 1979 and December 31, 1983).

From the outset, LKJ pledged to model his government after that of the defunct Western Region of Nigeria, from 1952 to 1959, headed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He said: “That Government was the most efficient, the most dynamic, and the most responsive of all the Governments of the federation. That Government was the country’s pacesetter- the first to do all good things that others later copied. There has never been a

government like it in Africa before or since.”

True to his words, LKJ assiduously went to work to realize his vision. Till date, many of his populist policies and programmes, especially in the housing, public transportation and education sectors, still endear him to all and sundry. The ambitious Lagos metro line project, which, if it had seen the light of the day, would have revolutionized public transportation in the State, was conceived by his administration.

Some of the Housing Estates he established across various locations such as Iba, Isolo, Iponri, Ejigbo etc, are still serving the housing needs of Lagosians.

It was under his administration that movement into State’s current Secretariat at Alausa, Ikeja, began. LKJ reportedly attached so much urgency to the construction of the present government secretariat that he was so bent on the relocation plan that he virtually caught everyone unawares when it finally happened.

Being a consummate journalist, and following the trend of his political mentor, Chief Obafemi Awolowo who established the first television station in Africa, LKJ also established Lagos Television, LTV, which happens to be the first State owned Television in the country. Aside this, LKJ also established the Lagos State University in 1983 for the advancement of learning and establishment of academic excellence in Lagos State. His administration

also constructed water works at Shasha, Agege, Somolu, Apapa, Badagry, Aguda etc to improve water supply and avoid outbreak of water borne epidemics.

A workaholic and tireless leader, LKJ worked round the clock in his bid to fast track the development of Lagos State.

Reports had it that on December 31st, 1983, when the Sheu Shagari civilian administration was toppled, in a military coup d’état, soldiers who came to arrest LKJ met him at his office working deep in the night, on a New Year eve. Such was his legendary dedication to duty and passion for hard work.

It is, therefore, not surprising that LKJ became a star among the 19 governors of the Second Republic. He soon became popular and given several appellations in the media such as ‘Baba Kekere’ (junior Awolowo), ‘Friend of the Masses’, ‘Action Governor’ etc.

Out of the lots, the one that really became most prominent is ‘Action Governor’. Sure, during the Second Republic, there was only one ‘Action Governor’ in Nigeria –LKJ. It was LKJ that begun the transformation of the State’s transport sector. On November 29, 1979, 59 new buses belonging to the Lagos State Transport Corporation were inaugurated with a view to enhancing public transportation in the State. On January 28, 1980, the parking meters began to function in some busy streets in central Lagos. It

was the first of such to be introduced in Nigeria.

In the area of opening up public education to accommodate more pupils and students, the Jakande administration did a whole lot. After only one year in office, additional schools were constructed by the administration. For instance, the number of public primary schools in Ikeja Local Government alone increased from 54 to 86. This implies that 32 new primary schools were built. The number of public secondary schools in the area also increased from 13 to 42, which means 29 new secondary schools were built. All within just a year!

Throughout his public service career, LKJ was on the side of justice and fair play. In a society where leaders go to unbelievable length to acquire ill-gotten wealth, LKJ opted to be different.

It is hoped that leaders in the current political dispensation would take a cue from this visionary patriot by being selfless and patriotic in all their ways. They also need to pay heed to former American President, Quincy Adams, words that “if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

Happy 89th birthday to LKJ, a quintessential leader!

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

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Inspirations The power of divine connections (2)

Pastor I.S James Acts 15:36-41

Continue from last week

(v39) shows there was a sharp disagreement between Paul & Barnabas over taking John Mark along with them. This was the breaking of their relationship and the last time they worked together. They broke a divine connection, they failed to realise that whatsoever God has joined together, let no man put asunder. They allowed their egos get in the way of God’s plan and stopped themselves from working out a solution to a problem that led to the dissolution of their relationship/friendship.

Now, let’s take a look at the difference in the wording of the scripture

in their subsequent actions: (v39b) Barnabas took John Mark and sailed for Cyprus, (v40a) but Paul chose Silas and departed being commended by the brethren to the grace of God…” Barnabas had made up his mind, without consulting God he knew whom he was taking with him (Mark – his nephew). He based his actions on blood relationships, on tribal and cultural considerations – not on God’s will. If you become obsessed about blood relationships and cultural considerations and allow them to influence your choices and actions above God’s word, you will end up destroying significant parts of your destiny.

Remember Jesus redefined family relationships (Matt. 12:50) when he said “For whoever does the will of my father who is in Heaven, is my brother and sister and mother”. So why are we bent on holding onto and depending on cultural considerations, allowing them colour our choices and actions?

Paul however chose his own companion. Now the use of the word “chose” means he had other people whom he could have selected to accompany him. The decision on whom

his companion on his journey would be was basically not his will but that of God. We then see that Paul and Silas were “commended by the brethren to the grace of God”. The Bible didn’t use such words with Barnabas after he “took Mark” and this was the last time we hear of Barnabas in the Bible apart from when Paul referred to journeys he took with Barnabas in the past.

Now, you might want to ask me “Pastor James, which one of Paul and Barnabas was at fault for this sharp disagreement between them and eventual dissolution of their relationship?” My simple answer is “I don’t know”. Maybe it’s Barnabas, maybe it’s Paul. There are a few scriptural passages that indicate that they both might have been culpable in some way.

• (Col. 4:10) “Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you welcome him)” • (2Tim. 4:11) “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry”.

The second quoted passage comes

from the letter that historians consider to be his last before his death and here we see Paul calling for Mark – the person behind the “sharp disagreement” between himself and Barnabas that led to their severing the divine connection between themselves – whom he considers as “useful to me for ministry”. How come he didn’t realise the fact that Mark could have been useful to him earlier in life? Could that realisation have preserved his relationship with Barnabas?

We really should be careful about what we think we know now. Tomorrow, wisdom and light may come into you and render your previously held knowledge obsolete. Youthful passions can cause us to make blanket statements and reject certain people, but we need to know that there are certain things that are more important in the mind of God – what God

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

Joggling many balls

REV. Yomi Kasali

@rev.yomikasali

M

any years ago when my family was living in Paris, my attention was caught by a ball joggler in the city square one sunny day. I was simply on my way to get some groceries or something but was stunned by the figure a few meters away from where I was, standing still and watching with a very rapt attention, I saw the man joggling many balls in the air, I kept waiting to see when the balls will drop but he was too professional to allow them drop and at some point he must have been joggling about 7 to 8 balls at the same time.

This is what management consultants call multi-tasking in life; the ability to joggle many balls at the same time with none of those balls drop, it takes a lot of skills to be able to get that done very well. The Lord knows our capacity and

abilities hence does not put more than we can possibly bear on us, but some people try to carry more than they can bear and make so many mistakes when those balls are dropping in their lives.

I want to challenge us with the words of our Lord with respect to joggling many balls in life, ‘...for unto whom much is given, of him shall be much required, and of whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more’ (Luke 12 v 48). Let me share my thoughts with you today towards inspiring you with the most important balls to joggle and ensure they do not drop off your hands for other non-essential balls in life.

5 Most important balls to joggle Marriage and Emotional Ball: The Bible says wisely enough for us all that ‘marriage is honorable in all...’ In other words, Emotional balls are very important and must not be dropped under any circumstance. We must hold unto this ball for us to have a fulfilled life because the state of one’s emotion determines their feelings of happiness. Managing your emotional ball is very important in life.

Career and Work life Ball: People are nothing to be happy in life if they are emotionally healthy and empty with work. Work life ball must not be dropped while joggling many balls in these trying times, which is why people in civilized

economies make political decisions around provision of jobs for their people. Government must provide jobs for people to be happy hence people must joggle the Job Balls right with other balls for them to be fulfilled.

Faith Ball: This is the most critical in my opinion. We must joggle the faith Ball first before any other ball for us to be happy as believers today. There is a lot of pressure on us not including this ball in our joggling experience but we must make sure this ball is included in our daily joggling experience for us to be ‘complete’ in life, the Bible says, ‘what

shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul.’

Health Ball: My People say ‘Health is Wealth’, But the Bible says, ‘I wish above all things that thou may prosper and be in good health even as your soul prospers’ (3 John 2). This bold assertion in scriptures is very important for us all to be happy in life. An unhealthy person cannot enjoy work, may be bored with faith and certainly hate marriage. We should take time to rest, and do periodic medical checkup. The Health Ball is important and we must joggle the ball.

Play and Social Ball: This is the ball that most people joggle and hold onto at the expense of other balls. I believe we should have time for play and social life without dropping other balls, so I have decided to include this ball in the 5 essential balls for us to joggle daily and regularly.

Like the English adage says, ‘all work and no play makes jack a dull boy.’ we should create time for play and the playtime ball is equally important for all of us.

I hope you have been Inspired and you will not drop these balls, I can afford to drop the ‘fashion’ ball, the ‘luxury’ Ball and other balls but not the balls listed above.

Shalom and be Inspired.

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

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Sunday 29 July 2018

Interview

What makes Nollywood bubbly and exciting for foreign, local audiences - Aghahowa Victor Sanchez Aghahowa is a seasoned Nollywood showrunner- writer, director and producer. In this interview with BILL OKONEDO, OBINNA EMELIKE and SOMTOCHUKWU EPUM, he gives informed insights into the workings, pitfalls and prospects for Nigeria’s movie industry. Excerpts:

I

Re p o r t s o f e x p o n e n t i a l growth in Nollywood t depends on what angle these reports are coming from. In terms of output we have always been top three or top five worldwide. In terms of quality, which is a relative term, I don’t know if we’ve ever placed top five. There may be multiple reason why people are talking about Nollywood and one of the reasons might be how cheaply we produce content, quality content because that’s one of the reasons why there is a lot of international attention on us. We can produce let’s say an entire season of content of questionable quality on the amount that a typical American production would spend on lunch break for a crew for a week.

And by the way, they shoot an episode in about eight days. So that’s less than the cost of lunch for one episode. So if we then on our end need tools to ramp up production quality wise, it still won’t cost them that much to come here and make a season of television. It would be so cheap.

So it’s almost like what outsourcing pay phones or call centres did with North America and India for instance. It would be great to come here and outsource a lot of productions. So that’s one thing.

Improved quality We have always been top five.

Top five in output is like calling Nigeria the giant of Africa. Its in population. What do you do with that information? What difference does it make?

Positives in Nollywood Are there negatives? People are saying now that there is a lot of increased quality in our productions, as compared to what came before but what came before is what built all this. What came before is the real industry, what came before is what brought us to number three, what came before is what caused us to be what is it four percent now of GDP? That’s what is doing it. These new, for lack of a better word- vanity projects, waste lots of money, they haven’t exactly contributed to the improvement of any industry. What has happened is

from an insider’s point of view, this is my personal opinion, let’s just clarify, I am going to diverge from the professional opinion.

What we have are little pockets of industry, we don’t have one unified industry. We have a guild, for instance a directors’ guild which does not even work, but at the same time you are not going to tell me that every director working now is in the guild.

We have a screen writer’s guild but you’re not going to tell me that every writer is protected by the guild. There is no fixed guild rate.

This is not to knock on the guild; this is just stating what is.

So when I say something like there is no unified industry, the little pockets of industry is the people who make things work but each one has a different paradigm, each one operates on a completely different system.

For instance, when people say Nollywood, traditionally you mean the straight to DVD business, not the cinema business which is a completely different business, completely different players, completely different rules, completely different mar-

What we have are little pockets of industry, we don’t have one unified industry.

We have a guild, for instance a directors’ guild which does not even work, but at the same time you are not going to tell me that every director working now is in the guild

Victor Sanchez Aghahowa

gins, which is a completely different business model from somebody who is taking the film to the cinemas, which is completely different from people who make made for TV movies.

You can find your way in one of them and have a full and lucrative career and never be able to cross to the other. Success in one does not guaranty success in another. Now, from the outside you can lump this all and say this is all one industry but in terms of increasing quality, straight to DVD market for example.

For example let me use my mother. Her idea of quality is not the same as somebody who goes to the cinema. When you put your films in the cinema, you are not competing with other Nigerian films.

When you are talking about quality its relative. Certain markets are fed by certain needs. It’s the same as trying to explain science to a kid through an episode of Sesame Street. You are not going to do equations, you’re

going to try and break it down.

Its not an indictment on anybody, its different markets, different entertainment, different things and we are slowly now beginning to segment, people want different things.

Segmentation It’s been segmented mostly in terms of distribution but its also now segmenting in terms of audience as well. I will give you an example of what I mean when I say segmentation. Television in the late 80s, early 90s worldwide began to segment. So if you want soccer, you go to Supersports, for example. If you want music you go to MTVbase, you want news, you go to CNN, it started to segment. Magazine television began to change, there wasn’t that typical cartoons at four, news at five.

But for a long time we held onto that. I am not saying that is good, I am not saying that is bad, that’s just what it was.

So breaking it to market segments, we have always had that

old be all things to all men and embrace everybody, which I don’t know if it works anymore but a certain generation grew up never knowing that, and a certain generation grew up knowing nothing but that, so they had to meet somewhere in the middle.

In terms of distribution, there is the whole online thing now; you meet people nowadays who don’t own a television.

They watch everything off their laptops. There is a whole generation who has no interest in television, unless it’s a smart TV that’s directly connected to the internet, so everything is off Netflix, YouTube, IrokoTV. They don’t own DSTV; they are not interested in boxes. Then there are people who will forever hold on to boxes. There are people who still have DVD players; people who have not seen a disc in decades. So it’s a weird mix, we’re talking about like delivery. For example, you could say streaming for instance over the internet but even within streaming, there is Iroko, there is Netflix that you pay for. Then there is YouTube, where people like NdaniTV and RedTV put up entire channels that you can watch for free anytime anywhere. They are both streaming services, but they are not the same thing. One of them is you watch for free, one of them is you pay for it. So it’s all segmenting based on how you plan to consume your entertainment, and then of course there is the typical market segment where it’s all about demographics. It’s more about splitting among demographics.

Funding models There are a lot of funding models but I don’t think a lot of funding models are regimented. So, there are as many as anybody can think of. There’s funding that comes in from silent investors who want to take a crack at it.

They have done their studies and they have put in fixed amounts of money per year and so we can come and pitch for it. There’s the Bank of Industry thing that was around for a while and still is. There’s marketers funding films, which is one of the big complaints about the old Nollywood model which was that

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19

Interview the marketers were controlling the content and so there was no avenue for “real” creativity and they were stifling creativity because the marketers were asking you to make a specific type of film.

There’s independent funding, when somebody sells their land and sells their house and sells their car and puts some money into the film. I’ve met people who have done that. There’s another one that I’ve seen a few times, which is more hobbyistpeople who have a lot of money from another career and like the glamour of the film industry.

They put a lot of money into it. If the film doesn’t do well, okay, it was disposable change anyway.

There are multiple forms of funding. It’s just people strike out and look for the best. The best means they can tell the stories they wish to tell.

Quality There’s this thing about saying if we can up the quality. I always put that in quotes because quality is always relative. You don’t need that much money for good audio, you don’t need that much money for the picture, and technology has democratised the system. You don’t need a huge hardware rack now to get good audio. You don’t need that much money. Now, a lot of producers use that as a nice tag line to get money from people. Yes you need high budgets for certain types of projects, there are no arguments there. The question is why? If you’re making a film that you want to travel, you want this film to go to TIFF(Toronto International Film Festival) for foreign festivals and the likes, you have to meet some technical standards, fine. If you want to make content for, say Netflix or whatever, they have a technical rider, it has to be shot in 4K that is absolutely fine. But if you are trying to make a film that is a grassroots comedy and your primary market is Nigeria, you can’t explain to me why you are shooting that on 4K when we don’t have a single cinema that can broadcast in even 2K. That makes no sense, why are you wasting that money?

The first rule in film school is if you want to make a film that makes a billion dollars, real simple, make a $10 film that makes a $100, then make a $100 film that makes $1,000, then make a $1,000 that makes $10,000.

One of the problems is that some people have too easy access to funding. Because the film makers don’t really know too much about funding, some of them don’t go through the steps of learning the business side of things and then there are the business people who want to get in but don’t bother about the creative. So what happens for instance is; people, who have a background in finance know how to do the paper work and get a loan. So they go and get a loan and they go and make this film

that costs three arms and a leg without much energy of the creative. The film will make a noise, a lot of noise because you’ve spent money to make noise and then the film comes out and nobody talks about it. I can name three or four films where you heard a lot of pre-release buzz and then the film comes out and nobody is talking about it. The money doesn’t qualify whether the film is going to be good or not doesn’t qualify whether the film is going to travel or not.

The question is; what is the final aim? If you are making a film that you want to go out, that film is going to go out. Not much is going to happen here, that’s fine.

But saying oh you need to make the picture look a certain way, is that to satisfy your audience or to satisfy yourself?

If you are going to take it to the cinema, then it has to look a certain way, there is no argument. If it’s going to go straight to DVD, you might not need all that. You have a budget that you need to work out. Do you need to spend more money on marketing; do you need to spend more money on distribution?

Do you need that sequence where you blow up 20 cars?

Now I am talking from a macro point of view of the industry, not of the individual. What the industry needs is a lot of content that has a lot of impact and makes a lot of money. Some big films will do that; some middle films will do that, some smaller films will do that. But there is no profitability in spending N200million to make a film that makes N400million.

It’s not that profitable as far as I am concerned. A film that costs N10million that makes N100million. One made ten times the budget, the other one made two times the budget.

Marketing Models In recent time I have heard talk, I haven’t experienced it directly. I have heard talk about distributors now doing the same thing marketers used to do then, which is telling you what type of films you can make, otherwise he will not distribute it for you. I have been hearing this for about three or four years now. Distributors saying you’ve got to make this type of film, that’s what sells.

If you bring a film that is not that type of film he will not distribute you. It hasn’t happened to me.

It has happened to too many people around me for me to say it’s not a thing. Let me tell why that’s affecting marketing, because the type of film you make determines how you market it.

I think NdaniTV did a great job with ‘Skinny Girl in Transit’ for instance, the Gt stuff. I don’t think I ever saw a billboard but it vectored straight to the audience it was going to. That was fine.

On the other end of the spectrum, I have seen billboards for films that nobody cared about.

Marketing again is still almost a

‘try what that guy did’ let’s see what happens. But at the same time, there are people who are still doing some underground grassroots campaigns that are working. It’s not standardised unfortunately, like most of the things in our industry but people are trying some independent models, some are doing the normal PR route with the billboards.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

Digital Model It’s both the democratisation of information, meaning anybody who has a smartphone, who has a laptop with an internet connection, has instant access. For instance, I make a horror film and the distributors are telling me comedies are what’s selling.

They will not distribute my horror film. Instead of me to try and get into one of the 20 or one of the 30 screen halls at the cinemas, I can take it to the internet. That’s the great crazy thing about the internet – worldwide access. So, if I put it in that screen in Ikeja for instance, I have access to anybody 20 kilometres radius around Ikeja.

If I put it on the internet, it’s the whole world. The problem, how do I tell the whole world its here.

Its easier to sell it in Ikeja or to come and see it in Ikeja than to sell to the whole planet. That’s where things like Iroko, the subscriptionbased model as opposed to the buy one at a time model. For film, as opposed to music. In music, people tend to now buy singles, as opposed to entire albums but for films it’s more of a streaming model where it’s not people paying for one particular piece of content but paying for access to.

So, you can meet somebody who has access to IrokoTV, and Netflix.

That same person still watches YouTube for free stuff. So it’s almost like there’s no cap on what the market wants but in terms of digital and how it affects us, the streaming model seems to be the one that has caught on the most.

It’s between the streaming model and the free to stream model like Ndani, YouTube channels where you can go streaming for free without paying.

Global Attraction The films that took us there are the films that most people say were of low quality and we should wipe them out. It’s different strokes for different folks. To them (the foreign market) we are considered exotic.

Anime – Japanese cartoon, took over the planet more than 15 years ago. Certain markets, certain vectors, certain audiences had no idea they were there. K-drama is South Korean TV shows, almost telenovelas.

It’s huge business worldwide because it’s exotic. It’s different; it’s out of the unknown because it’s exotic. So, for a certain market, Nollywood is like that too. It’s really excitable, really high energy, over the top, very over the top thing that they haven’t seen before. They say we don’t make things like this. And people say

we should stop making things like this and start making films like they do, yet they love you because you are different.

So you’ve got to find a balance, where yes, you’ve got to keep your quality up. Your sound has to be good; otherwise I am not going to watch it because I can’t even hear what you are saying.

Your picture has to be good but you also have to not lose the essence of what makes you Nigerian. Who are you selling to?

What happens is a lot of people try to make content for Americans. You can’t tell the American the American story, so they make these weird films and Nigerians are like ‘who are you forming for? But we don’t act like that, what’s that?’ And Americans are like ‘what are you trying to do?’

And it just falls in no man’s land.

Nobody is interested.

Collaborations Before you find that kind of collaboration at least in front of the camera, we realise that there have been like three or four or five deals struck behind the camera, which is amazing. Even the last time I was here, one of the big things I was talking about is that we need to collaborate more than we compete. One of the classic feelings everybody

has had watching a film is when the film is over and then the credits are rolling, you watch it like forever and then you wonder, ‘how many people does it take to make a film?’ Who are all these people?’ Because film making is one of the most expensive and the most collaborative art forms, which is why when people don’t treat it like a business, it can be very confusing to people like me.

If you want to write a book, the highest you really need is a pen and a pad. I’m talking about write, not publish. But to make a film, before you even think of how you are going to distribute it sell it or market it, you can’t even make it without a small village. It takes a large amount of people. It’s a very collaborative thing. Most of our big films are collaborative efforts even behind the camera. This is between production houses, marketing houses distribution houses coming together and saying ‘let’s make this content. You make it, I’ll market it.’ That sort of thing.

This is necessary. But not only on that level, on multiple levels. From the public sector to the private sector to politics, to whatever, we have a large issue of distrust which is a fall-out of corruption.

It’s kind of hard for me to say I’m Continues on Page 20

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seen anybody flagrantly abusing the mouth piece or soap box that they have. Can we do more with it? Absolutely, yes.

and go see that romantic comedy and I’m going to see my horror film, we meet back by 2.30.

In terms of what we are going to be able to achieve here, as long as there are gate keepers telling you what you can and cannot make, speaking for the audience. There’s a lot of information then missing in which film makers don’t really know what the audience wants because nobody has tested the audience. There are a few people who have appointed themselves as tastemakers. It happens in every industry. Editors get carried away and start to think that they are taste makers.

Interview What makes Nollywood bubbly and ...

Continues from Page 19 going to roll with you and do this project with you and I’m going to take 20 percent, you’re going to take ten. We are friends until the money comes out and suddenly, that ten, I want 17. Not that people behave like that, I’m saying the distrust. Before we even go into the deal, I assume he’s going to try to be fishy. But again, that has been broken piece by piece.

The more collaborations happen and everything is on the level, the less people will be scared of collaborating.

The big films are all children of collaborative efforts which it should be and I think that is what is going to move us forward.

Big films This is one of our idiosyncrasies.

When you say big, when somebody is putting out a trailer for a film and you say “Here is the trailer for the ‘hit’ movie”, how is it a hit when it’s not out yet? For some people, mostly the hobbyists that fall into this trap, they mistake noise and the public hype of the naira amount over profitability.

Profitability is what is going to give rise to a stronger industry. The bigger movies draw the attention, which is great. They can travel, which is great for the public perception of the industry, to show that we’ve moved past a lot of the things we used to do then, that got us pigeon-holed. Guys who are still building from a smaller level, who don’t have access to that kind of finance will build based on their reputation and their output. We kind of balance each other out.

Piracy Going digital cost us that thing where once you put your stuff online, any 15-year old with a laptop, who knows how to look can get your stuff for free. In the digital age, piracy has taken many forms, which is why building a reputation and building an audience is a lot more important than people think it is. If you build an audience, if you build a reputation, people even if they have access to your stuff, they will still pay the money. It is respect to you. For example, was it last year when game of thrones had an episode leaked, there was this question about whether it was going to affect the ratings. No way will it affect the ratings. I’m going to watch it on Tuesday pirated, I’m still going to show up on Sunday and watch it anyway. The fan base is too strong, it doesn’t work that way.

So old school marketing means and new school record keeping means kind of don’t really understanding each other. For example, ratings used to be how many people watch the episode when it aired, for television. Now it doesn’t apply that way. The number who watched it that night is not as important as it used to be.

Now you hear daily number plus

three. Like who watched it three days after, number plus seven, who watched it seven days after when it came out on the streaming app.

So they add that together now.

It’s changed how we view stuff. Piracy really hasn’t gone anywhere, it may have changed form, its always been there but there are those who also factor in piracy, which I think is a smart move.

If nobody is pirating my stuff it means I don’t have any demand.

Piracy sucks but on the one hand it is kind of a good market indicator to know you have something that’s hot.

If you can factor it in. There are countries in which shows go to DVD before they go to television.

There are countries that when they release from TV to their streaming app, when they air on TV its not that easy to pirate anymore. But the instant they put it on a streaming app, its gone, which is where most of the pirated TV shows come from.

Typically, if you see a show that was pulled off the internet, what happens is that there are no ad breaks. Some countries, there are no ads. What happens is that when it gets to the ad break, you have three seconds of black, and then it comes back up. Some countries code the advert in, so you don’t have that going to black.

The adverts are fixed. You know what that means? It means the brand that sponsored me, even if these guys pirate me; the pirates are going to watch this video with ads in place. So if one million people pirate it, that’s one million people your message reached.

They’ve turned piracy to marketing. You can either fight it or make it work for you.

Societal ills I can’t speak for the industry but I can speak about the industry. It’s a fifty-fifty middle of the road argument that has gone on forever.

The music industry had its turn,

the movie industry had its turn, and the video games industry had its turn of being blamed for every wrong in the world. If you approach it from the classical view of literature, then your job is not to preach, your job is to be a mirror of your society. Do film makers have a responsibility?

I believe so. Is it a duty? I don’t think so. I think it’s a responsibility. I’ll tell you why. Very slowly, this doesn’t happen at once. You don’t release one film and change everybody’s mind. But over time, if its most people’s primary means of exposure, that’s where TV has more influence than film, people start to form opinions that slowly become common knowledge. An example, if somebody is shot with a shotgun he would fly. This is not true but you’ve seen it a million times in films. By the laws of physics it is impossible. You shoot at a car twice it’s going to blow up.

You’ve seen that a million times in the film. It absolutely does not happen. It’s just not a real thing.

But you’ve seen it so many times that it has entered the collective national psyche. We both know that when you shoot a car twice it’s going to blow up. Nigerians wear jeans.

This weather is not exactly great for jeans but we do it. People drink Coke, why? There are no health benefits but we do it. We saw it so many times; it has been reinforced into what we do. Does it influence people? Yes. Pretending that it doesn’t influence people is kind of a fallacy. You may not set out to influence people but realise that you are influencing people.

Therefore, your responsibility is to be careful with the kind of things you put up. That’s why I say it’s more of a responsibility than a duty. So, if the question is do I think that the Nigerian movie industry is doing enough? I’d say yes because I would answer it from the point of view of; are they aware of their responsibilities? As far as I am aware of, yes. I don’t think I’ve

Industry statistics Yes and no. Any serious minded businessman in any industry will keep stats. But like I said before, where its little pockets of people doing their own different things everywhere, there are not many people who are now going to take this guy’s stats and compare them with that guy’s stats. There is something that is situated at the Pan Atlantic University; I think it’s called the Nigerian Centre for Nollywood Studies. They do a lot of that. I have heard of one or two others who are similar. Are there ratified statistics where everybody agrees on this? Not so much. The data has to be correct; otherwise you are sabotaging your own business. He makes a film then comes back and says that film made N600 million. Do I have to trust him that it made N600 million? I don’t have to trust him.

But if I go to the distributor who carried his film, he better have the proper numbers, otherwise he is ruining his own business.

He is going to say N600 million to make us watch his next film. I’m not going to go to him; I’m going to go to his distributor.

It’s like a census; you know they can’t count everybody. What you are going to see is like an aggregate.

In terms of growth, the straight to DVD market was incredibly high but from a surface look, you would say it has slowed down a bit. It’s not as it used to be, where any street you drive down, you virtually have people forcing DVDs into your car window.

Game changers There have been game changers but it’s in small increments which is how all real progress happens. There have been game changers; there will be more game changers. I think there needs to be a real delineation between purely commercial projects, locally commercial projects and international projects. Let me put it this way. Who is your audience? What will happen is when we get enough groundswell for local content that gives us pride in our local content. What we need, I think is segmentation in our content.

For instance one of the reasons Hollywood is still holding on to its position tenuously is their genre format. For example almost only in Hollywood do you see a classic horror film, comedy, romantic comedy, action film? Think about it. Almost every other film market, they do not divide them that clearly, where there’s a horror film that comes out around October. Why? Halloween. So if I’m going to the movies with my wife, I know she hates horror film, so she can go buy a ticket

Regulator They are doing something.

Sometimes a little too much because simply there have been too many cases of them telling film makers to change things in films.

There is a difference between ‘Oh do you want this rating? Or the reason I gave you this rating is because of this, this and this. If this and this weren’t there you would get the ratings you are looking for’.

That’s completely different from ‘You have to change the ending of your film or we will not certify you’. That has not happened to me directly but I have heard reports of that happening. If I am wrong, okay.

Taxation I was talking to a couple of film makers this morning, taxation, it works. They come after us, I guess as well as they should. Your bank account, almighty BVN (Bank Verification Number). They’ve got you. They have access to your bank account. You are supposed to show them your account every fiscal year. If you don’t, they give you a period of grace, and then they come after you. Yeah, we pay tax. A lot of people pay tax because they have to. Across the board FIRS, in the last few years they’ve ramped up their operations. For those of us in the entertainment business, we have felt their hand. They are doing their work, it’s not a bad thing, and you should pay your tax.

Cinema I can’t speak for them because I am not in that particular industry, that’s the distribution industry.

From my point of view, I think they are looking for a balance between what the market can bear and what the market wants.

The market wants entertainment, the market wants cinema. Cinemas are not there as a film going experience. Cinemas are a social experience. People take people to cinema on dates, which by the way is a terrible date because both of you are just staring at the screen and not talking to each other but it’s like people who go to the mall just to see and be seen. In the cinema you are going to pay for an experience. Watching the film on your laptop is not the same as seeing it in a cinema.

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Interview ‘Small businesses need structured finance system to access credit facility’ Lucy Ekpenyong is the centre manager, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) Akwa Ibom State office. In this interview with ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, she x-rays the challenges facing small business operators and how the obstacles can be overcome. Excerpts:

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hat would you say has been the major challenge facing small businesses in Akwa Ibom State?

I think the greatest challenge for now is the issue of power; lack of electricity supply has been a huge problem for small businesses here and that has directly and indirectly impacted on the running cost of small businesses. As you can see recently, you’ve seen a lot of small businesses closing down, you see businesses that you used to see, and they are no more in existence.

The running cost is too high because of the issue of electricity. By the time you buy fuel, you can’t break even, so power is the greatest problem. And we also have the issue of finance.

A lot has actually has been done in case of finance and the Federal Government has been very supportive.

We have seen several funds being provided by the Federal Government through the bank of industry.

Lately, you have seen the Conditional Grant Scheme that was targeted at the informal sector. And we have seen the support government is giving to micro finance institutions in the country just to provide funding to Small businesses. But there is also need for the state government and local government to have a structured finance system that will take care of enterprises that are existing in their locality because most of this people are still not able to access funds and part of it is not that the funds are not available, part of it is that they don’t have a structure, they don’t meet with requirement for accessing this fund, so funding is also an issue. And right now in Nigeria, we don’t really have where you can just walk into to access funds to start a business.

The funding available is just for those who have already started something which is also kind of lim-

ited. A lot of renovation and breakthrough that we would have had unlike countries like India where they have agencies that you can actually go to take funds to start your business, we don’t have where we can go in Nigeria so that small businesses that want to start can actually go and access funding.

You mentioned power as a major challenge; how can that be addressed since it is beyond the capacity of the small business operators?

I will suggest that private organisations should come up with solutions such as the establishment of power plants, that would complement what the government is already doing, I remember sometime ago, I think in Ebony State, I think there was a time United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) was partnering with some private agencies to work on their hydro-power plant and all that. So apart from that, I think that if government can actually solve the power problem, if government can pay attention to the power problem, we will have a situation whereby the unemployment would be reduced, cause like now a lot of people are back home, still the economic situation has not improved and then the power issue has yet to be resolved. There are business areas that have not seen electricity for one month, two months and they are running on generators, so apart from hydro-power issue, I think the SME themselves would also look at the situation of using other alternative sources like solar, the use of solar and other alternative that maybe available within the system.

What about the issue of capacity? Are the small business operators well equipped to break even?

Lately, SMEDAN rolled out the conditionally grant scheme but the scheme was not just to provide grants to informal sector, it was also to upgrade them from the

Lucy Ekpenyong

informal level to the formal and you know there are are lot of advantages associated with being a formal business operator, operating at a formal level, you can bid for job, you can do a lot of things but when you are operating informally, you are just limiting yourself, you have excluded yourself from a whole lot of incentive from government, from donors and all that, so the issue of capacity is there but it is being addressed.

You know we are capacity building agency, so what we have been doing and we are still doing is to continually train both formal and informal people to meet with the standard in operating business but that will also require some kind of support from even the private organisation because you may be aware that the government alone cannot actually do all these things.

We also need support to step up in our training programme. We have counselling programmes; we have mentoring programmes; we have the capacity building, that is, the training on management on enterprises that is on a monthly basis we

organise it for many groups of people.

What improvements have you noticed among SMEs in terms of their responses?

The responses have not been very impressive, because people feel like, what they need most in businesses is money. Everything you hear from SME operators is that money is the problem but by the time they come and you take them through the steps and all that, you notice that money is no longer the problem.

It is just that they are not properly positioned, they don’t even have the capacity to access the opportunities that are available, because opportunities are available everywhere and every day.

So we are continually training, we have a robust curriculum for different categories like I have mentioned, the literate, the none literate, the graduates, the elderly, the school leavers and all that.

So we are continually training them, upgrading their knowledge because you need to upgrade your skills as far as running business is con-

cerned. So we are doing that and then, we also connect the SMEs to even assisting agencies and development organisations.

How do you relate with the Uyo chamber of commerce or other trade organisations in building the capacity of the informal business operators?

Yes, we’ve had a long standing relationship with the Uyo Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture. As you know we came in to the state in 2007. We also have a long standing relationship with business groups including the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) and even the upcoming youth entrepreneurship bodies in the state. And right now we are even extending operation to cater for people in the faith-based organisations because you know we have a lot of people in the church and therefore the church will be interested in people getting out of poverty and one of the ways of getting out of poverty is to have something to do with your hands, so we are doing that.

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ketches With Zebulon

A week of political chess

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ast week will remain evergreen in the history of Nigeria’s politics. The Nigerian political firmament was so much disturbed as political practitioners engaged themselves in political acrobatics.

Although there had been bottledup emotions and discontent across the country, it was least expected that the polity would be so rattled to a level that conveyed even to the undiscerning that things could take such a drastic turn.

IGP insists on invitation of Saraki

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he Inspector-General of Police last Monday in a letter he personally signed, had ordered Saraki to physically report to the head of Investigation Team at the Intelligence Response Team in Asokoro Extension

in Abuja by 8am Tuesday, July 24. He was invited for questioning over the bank robbery incident in Offa, Kwara State in which over 30 people were killed.

Although the Senate president had earlier written to the police boss, stating that he had nothing to do with the robbery when he was first invited last month on the same matter, critics said it was intended to ambush Saraki and to prevent him from making it to the National Assembly on that Tuesday.

The Senate president described it as “a mere afterthought which is designed to achieve political purpose.”

Dino Melaye arraigned, and kidnapped

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ino Melaye, a senator representing Kogi West at the National Assembly was on Wednesday arraigned in an FCT High Court, Apo, on a six-count

charge, bordering on attempted suicide; attempt to escape from custody and damage of police property.

He denied committing the offences, while Justice Silvanus Oriji granted him bail in the sum of N5 million.

The next morning on Thursday, news broke that had been kidnapped by “gunmen”. Melaye is one of the staunch supporters of Senate President Saraki and has been off and on trouble with the Nigeria Police.

Impeachment rumour hovers over Fayose; PDP kicks

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hursday, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) raises alarm over alleged plot to impeach Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti State by the State House of Assembly, which it believe must have been engineered by the APC. Kola Ologbondiyan, national publicity secretary of the PDP, warned APC to stop the joke to avoid some terrible consequences.

Ologbondiyan alleged that the plot was part of APC’s effort to gain access into the Ekiti Government House and tamper with documents and evidence of the alleged rigging of the July 14 governorship election.

In a statement, PDP said: “The impeachment plot, which is being arranged in connivance with the police, is a recipe for the crisis in the peaceful state.

“We are aware that the plot is a desperate bid by the APC to rush into the Ekiti Government House to remove and tamper with documents and evidence confirming the rigging of the July 14 governorship election, ahead of the sitting of the election tribunal.

“Having realised that there is no way their

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t a time the All Progressives Congress (APC) is desperately in talks with aggrieved members who threatened defection, and at a time a number of its members have already dumped the party, causing serious anguish to some party leaders and the Presidency, Adams Oshiomhole, who only recently emerged the new national chairman of the party, delved into an “unchairmanship” conduct.

Oshiomhole was threatening fire and brimstone that he would not hesitate to expel Chris Ngige, minister of Labour and Employment, if he failed to constitute and inaugurate board members for federal agencies’ parastatals under his ministry.

Speaking like a militant, Oshiomhole, a former Labour president, said: “If the minister refuses, we will suspend him from the party. We must return to internal discipline.

For me, it is the height of mischief for any minister, you cannot purport to be an Honourable Minister and you act dishonourably.

Nobody is greater than the party.”

“If the President condones disrespect for his office, I will not condone disrespect for the party. They have taken undue advantage of the President’s fatherly disposition. When we expel the minister, we will not prevail on the President that he can’t keep in his cabinet people who have neither respect for his own decisions nor have respect for the party without which they would not have been ministers.”

daylight robbery at the poll can stand in the court; the APC is now employing all desperate means to subvert the course of Justice.

“This explains why a detachment of the police can be hurriedly deployed to besiege the Ekiti State Assembly Complex last night without a formal request by the Speaker, the Clerk or the Sergeant-at-Arms, who is the chief security officer of the complex.

“Any resort to underhand measures to impeach Fayose, without the constitutionally required 2/3 of the members of the House, particularly at this time, when the lawmakers are currently on their annual recess, will surely be resisted by our members.”

kicked against his confirmation.

But Banire said he “will not join issues with them,” as he “does not desperately need a political job to survive.”

A faction of the APC in Lagos saw the hand of the National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the mess.

Again, when asked his reaction to the defection of 15 senators and 37 members of the House of Representatives last Wednesday, from the APC to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Oshiomhole committed another gaffe, saying the development meant nothing to him and that he would not lose sleep over it.

The APC chairman also bragged about himself being a tested fighter and was ready to deploy the fighting spirit in the present circumstance, wondering why anybody could contemplate going back to the PDP. “I am a tested fighter, I fought them from Edo from zero and I overcame their most powerful godfathers. So, I know what I am talking about, I speak from experience and I will talk, negotiate and persuade but there are core principles that are not negotiable,” he said.

Defection of senators, Reps

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ast Wednesday, some form of drama took place at the bicameral legislative house of the National Assembly, when 15 APC senators dumped the party for the PDP and 37 members of the House of Representatives moved out of the party also.

Saraki and Ekweremadu’s residences besieged by security operatives In the morning of last Tuesday, security agents laid siege to the residences of Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu, Senate president and speaker House of Representatives, respectively. Analysts

Ortom dumps APC

Banire’s acrimonious nomination h e n o m i n a t i o n by P re s i dent Muhammadu Buhari of Muiz Banire, a former national legal adviser to the APC, as chairman Board of Directors of AMCON became acrimonious when Oluremi Tinubu, Olamilekan Solomon and Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos State in the Senate,

Oshiomhole’s threat to Ngige

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n a dramatic turn of events, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State last Wednesday rejoined the PDP. A week before then, Ortom had announced his planned exit, al-

said the essence was to prevail the day’s sitting, having got the wind that some legislators had perfected their plans to move en masse out of the ruling party.

leging that the APC had given him a “red card.” He was to later recant after a meeting with Adams Oshiomhole. Last Wednesday, he was said to have been prevailed upon by the youths in the state prevented him from going for a meeting with Abuja, forcing him to declare for the PDP. The angry youths were also said to have yanked off the APC flag on his official vehicle. He subsequently addressed a press conference where he formally declared, brandishing his resignation letter to the admiration of his people.

Tambuwal, Sokoto lawmakers dump APC

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overnor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal and members of the State House of Assembly said good bye to APC, even as pressure is being mounted on Governor Ahmed Abdulfatah of Kwara State by prominent members in his state to “quit APC now”. All these happened last Thursday.

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Politics How defections exposed the rot in APC

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Stories by INIOBONG IWOK

ust as anticipated, after several months of denials of crisis in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), about 15 senators finally defected from the party. While 12 of the senators defected to the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), two of them however, joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

However, there was a mild drama just before their defection in the Senate, as there was an unsuccessful attempt by the police force to prevent Senate President Bukola Saraki from presiding over the day’s plenary.

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, also confirmed his exist from the APC, after several weeks of indecision, while it is also expected that several high profile politicians would decamp from one party to the other in coming weeks and months as the election period gathers pace.

What is obvious is that the current wave of defections from the ruling party has changed the political permutation in the country ahead of the 2019 general election, while further weakening the party’s chances in the general election.

Perhaps, the defection of the lawmakers and the rAPC members from the ruling party would have been curtailed and minimised if not completely avoided had the party’s leadership taken proactive steps in resolving the issues raised by the group and several aggrieved members over the last three years. Example of such was contained in the group

Oshiomhole

letter to the President and the leadership of the APC some weeks ago.

The rAPC members in the letter complained of marginalisation and persecution of its members by the current Muhammadu Buhari administration despite their contributions to the party’s electoral victory in 2015.

One of the leaders of the group, Timi Frank, had said recently, that “The only two beneficiaries we can remember in our group is Rotimi Amaechi who finally became the minister of transportation and Senator Hajiya Alhassan who became the minister of Women Affairs.”

According to Frank, “These are the two people we can remember. So, I want to make it very clear again that we are

not going to be intimidated by any group or anybody in these issues.”

Instead of the leaders of the APC negotiating with the aggrieved members, they were rebuked, while several others were threatened with probe by the anti-corruption agencies.

It is interesting to note that the ruling party has been mirred in internal crisis since its formation in 2013 in an alliance of Nigeria’s then three biggest opposition parties- the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressive Garand Alliance (APGA).

Just after its formation, analysts had expressed reservation

on the future of the party, and the prospect of the its succeeding, describing the alliance as a gathering of “strange bed fellows who lacked ideology. They predicted that the “marriage” would not last long.

Some analysts also have said that the present crisis rocking the APC is a result of the party’s leadership failure and naivety, wondering why President Muhammadu Buhari who had shown passive interest in the APC’s affairs since he assumed office would suddenly call a meeting with the aggrieved members some hours to their defection and expect a fruitful result.

It would be recalled that before the change of name of the aggrieved members, from nPDP to rAPC the Kawu Baraje group severally wrote to the President for special audience and fatherly intervention, but he pointedly told them that he had no reason to interfere in party affair; advising them to sort out their trouble with the leadership of the party instead. The response, pundits say, may have aggravated the impasse.

Reacting to the defection of the lawmakers and other high profile members from the APC, a chieftain of the party, Fouad Oki in Lagos, called for caution in the current crisis, adding that the current situation portends danger for democracy in the country if not well handed.

“It is sad for democracy in the country. We should reflect on the future of the country. Students of history must note that this was how it all began in 1983 when all ended in military coup. We need to reflect on where we want the party to be; this all started in February when some people sat

down and took unilateral decision on the party.

“The leaders must all rise to save the party; Nigerians must rise to save the country; I hope Nigerians would speak the truth; it seems that Oshiomhole and Tinubu would take the party to the grave; it is sad and Nigerians must rise up and save the country enough is enough,” Oki said.

Wale Ogunade, a political analyst, said that the defection was a big loss to the APC, while accusing the party leadership of not managing the crisis well.

“The defection would have been avoided; I still think the APC did not manage these issues well and it started with the former national chairman.

Defection is normal in Nigeria, but I am not surprised that they are leaving the APC; whatever anybody will say, it is a big loss to the party ahead 2019 general election,” Ogunade said.

However, former Deputy National Chairman of the All Nigerian People’s Party and a Chieftain of the APC, Lanre Rasak, said that the defecting lawmakers and members were moving to the PDP for economic reasons, stressing that they defected when it was obvious that the current administration was opposed to their corrupt tendencies.

“Is it not obvious that these people are after their personal economic interest, and they have seen that Buhari is not a man who can be compromised? But it is left for Nigerians to decide if they want these people. I can tell you that several of them know that they would defect from the party; that is why they were destabilising the party and this administration,” Rasak said.

Why I want to replace Gbenga Ashafa in the Senate – Lanre Razak

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ormer Commissioner for Public Transportation in Lagos State, Lanre Rasak, has said that the desire to use his years of experience in politics to impact the lives of people of his constituency informed his decision to contest the Lagos East Senatorial seat in the 2019 general election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Razak, who revealed his intention in an exclusive interview with BDSUNDAY at the weekend, stressed that he had the requisite experience to occupy the position having served at difference capacities in the party and in public offices in the country.

He also said that having been

in active politics and occupied several positions in the last fifty years, it had become needful for him to use his experience to serve the people of his Senatorial district, stressing that it was the turn of Epe to occupy the Senatorial position.

The APC chieftain disclosed that there were zoning arrangements for the position in the Lagos-East Senatorial district which must be respected by the party.

Razak, a former National Deputy Chairman of the defunct All Nigerian People’s party (ANPP), said that having served for two terms it was important that the incumbent Senator, Gbenga Ashafa, step down for other individuals in the Senatorial district.

“The Senatorial position is

a position that shows support to the executive to achieve the

Razak

best; you need mature people with lots of commitment for

the position, and I want to give my experience which I have acquired over the last fifty years by occupying several positions.

“We can take advantage of this and move the country forward. One of the things we do in the state is that there is zoning in the Senatorial district and it is the turn of Epe. “The Governor comes from Lagos East but that would not deny us the right to the Senatorial position the leadership of the party knows this. This is our entitlement; all those who have declared their intention to contest are from Epe and one should just pray and hope one get the ticket.

We have had other individuals like Senator Adefuye and the rest occupy the position but this is the time of Epe,” Razak said.

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Sunday 29 July 2018

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Politics Thrills, frills and razzmatazz at BusinessDay States Good Governance Awards 2018

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ZEBULON AGOMUO

n the days of President Goodluck Jonathan in government, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) designed the State Peer Review Mechanism (SPRM) to help states encourage good governance and accelerate development in their domain.

It was intended that periodic reviews of progress on state development policies, plans and programmes would help share experiences and reinforce commendable and innovative practices.

While it lasted, the then information minister, Labaran Maku, with a retinue of journalists, moved from one state to the other to see for themselves what was on ground in terms of infrastructure development. Governors who were adjudged to have done well were profusely commended and hailed. Those who were found wanting were also told in unmistaken terms to borrow a leaf from their performing colleagues.

But whereas those who visited the states with Maku in the Jonathan administration were there to “see and praise” or “see and condemn”, the BusinessDay States Competitiveness and Good Governance Awards held at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton, Abuja penultimate Thursday went beyond “seeing and commending”. In this case, there was documented evidence and those who were commended were shown to the whole world and the criteria for the commendation were laid bare.

And whereas many people saw what transpired in the State Peer Review Mechanism of those days as political, the Transcorp event was a product of passionate rating by nonpartisan folks who watch “political matches” from the sidelines.

So, the day will remain evergreen in the history of BusinessDay Media Limited and in the administrations of some state governors that were honoured for great performances.

The event that took place inside the Congress

Hall of Transcorp was to make a public show of good governance going on in some states of the federation, even in the face of economic distress.

A number of states were recognised and honoured. They were adjudged to have performed creditably in various categories.

In the hall, Rivers State stood out. Rivers is the state governed by Nyesom Wike, a man who has been commended by many people, including those from the ruling party, even though he is of the opposition.

What is going for him today is that everybody bears eloquent testimony to the work he is doing in Rivers, for which reason he was crowned the Best Performing Governor of The Year 2018.

Recall that the nickname, Mr. Project, was wholeheartedly given to the governor by Yemi Osinbajo, when he acted as president and was in Port Harcourt to commission a project. He was moved by what he saw and could not allow differences in party leaning to restrain him from saying the truth. To Wike’s credit, the name has since stuck.

So, at Transcorp, Rivers’ indigenes from various parts of the country were present to savour the great moment with the governor.

Many of them were said to have borne their own expenses – transportation, feeding and accommodation.

The very important monarch in the state, King Jaja of Opobo, Dandison Douglas, was physically present to identify with the performing governor on the well-deserved honour.

When the name of Wike was announced by the Master of Ceremony as the Governor of the Year (Overall), the atmosphere became electric. The Rivers’ dignitaries that filled the hall rose to their feet; the live band played a special tune to put the celebrants in the right mood. They roared, danced, clapped and cheered as Kenneth Kobani, a former minister and currently Secretary to the State Government, danced to the stage, where Oba Adeyeye Enitian Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, who was the Royal Father of the Day, and Frank Aigbogun, publisher of BusinessDay, were waiting to hand the award to him.

Before presenting the plaque to Wike’s representative, the Ooni of Ife had expressed satisfaction at the performance of the governor and the level of development in Rivers, which he said he had been a witness to. He announced that Nigeria was indeed in need of many Wikes.

Kobani led the Rivers team among whom were prominent personalities in the Wike administration. They included commissioners, special Advisers, directors, chairmen of boards, local government chairmen, and several political aides of the governor.

Emmah Okah, information commissioner, and Emeh Glory Emeh, special adviser to the governor on political matters and strategy, were very prominent as they danced and giggled in appreciation of the honour.

Kobani, in mesmerising, victorious and triumphant steps, made his way to where King Jaja of Opobo was seated in a majestic mood, presented the trophy to him as a show of respect as a father, and danced back to his seat.

It took the intervention of the Master of Ceremony to abridge the ‘tolerable commotion’ caused by the overjoyed people of Rivers.

Equally royal in his appearance was the amiable governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abdullahi. He did not come alone. He came with a number of cabinet members and firstclass emirs from the state.

The governor, who won the Best Governor of the Year in Tourism Development, was well-pleased with the deserved recognition.

He observed that the state deserved the award for the best-improved in the area of tourism with the great work his administration has done in that area over the years. He urged Nigerians to take a trip to Bauchi and see for themselves that the recognition

by BusinessDay is in order.

When he was called to the stage to receive his award, a retinue of his aides and traditional rulers, led by the Emir of Katagum, Umar Farouq, rose to cheer him. He received the plaque from King Jaja of Opobo, while BusinessDay publisher watched with admiration.

Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, a fine gentleman, who believes he has all it takes to preside over the affairs of Nigeria, was present at the event, with a number of aides and admirers, including monarchs. He was business-like.

Although he is said to nurse presidential ambition for 2019, he never alluded to that. He was presented with an award as the Best Performing Governor of the Year (North) by the Ooni of Ife, who also made nice comments on the personality of the governor, his giant strides in Gombe, and what he stands for in the country.

Dankwambo, in his remarks after receiving his award, pointed out, among other things, that he did not think it was a fair rating to put all the governors in one basket – those who have done seven-and-a-half years and those who have done three-plus years. He believed that there should be different yardsticks to measure performances of governors depending on the duration they have served. It was also his belief that categorising all states together, irrespective of the resources available to each of the state, may not give a true reflection of the strength of a governor. He pointed out that whereas some states get monthly fat allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), some others get a meagre sum, and so comparing the level of infrastructural development in all those states and expecting same level of development may not be a fair judgment.

Governor Dankwambo, however, commended BusinessDay for the initiative and pledged to always identify with the organisation on the programme.

Laoye Tomori, elegant deputy governor of Osun State, represented Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who won in two categories – Governor of the Year (South) and the Best Performing Governor in Social Re-investment.

Incidentally, the first award was handed to her by her monarch, the Ooni of Ife, who said he was honoured to play the double roles as recipient as well as the presenter. Ooni expressed satisfaction with the giant strides that have been made in the state in the life of the Aregbesola administration.

In her remarks after receiving the awards, Tomori read a prepared speech by the governor, who said, among other things, that the recognition had encouraged him to see the benefit of selfless service to humanity, pledging to continue to serve Osun

people the more.

She didn’t come alone – the deputy governor was at the event with some other government functionaries.

Ishiak Abubakar, deputy governor of Kwara State, represented Governor Ahmed Abdulfatah and received the award from BusinessDay publisher, Aigbogun, as one of the three best performing states in Rural & Urban Infrastructure Development. Matthew Kolawole, speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, represented Governor Bello Yahaya. Emir of Misau, Ahmed Suleman, who also came to felicitate with the Bauchi State governor, presented the award to him. Yahaya won the Best Performing Governor in Peace and Security.

Yakubu Lamai, who represented the Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko AlMakura, received the award from King Jaja of Opobo. Nasarawa won one of the three best performing governors in Rural & Urban Infrastructure Development. He won in the same category as the Enugu and Kwara State governors.

Jigawa State Governor, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, was represented by his deputy, Ibrahim Hassan. He was presented with a plaque

by King Jaja of Opobo. He was adjudged the Best Performing Governor in Transparency in Governance.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State was also honoured and was presented with a plaque, having won as one of the best performing governors in Rural & Urban Infrastructure Development. He sent a powerful delegation led by Chukwuka Utazi, a distinguished serving senator, who came with other eminent personalities from the state among whom is a member of the House of Representatives,

Princess Stella Ngwu, representing Igbo-Ekiti/ Uzo Uwani federal constituency.

It was a classy night; it was a night of glamour. The hall was filled to capacity.

The Ooni of Ife’s presence added class to the event. As he walked in with his aides, arrayed in white, exuding imperial majestic aura, the hall came alive and in a jiffy, the MC called for the National Anthem to signal the commencement of the event.

Earlier in his welcome address, Frank Aigbogun, publisher/CEO, BusinessDay Media Limited, said that the award was instituted to “recognise and celebrate the state governors who are contributing significantly to the growth and development of their respective states socially, economically, financially and institutionally”.

He also noted that the award seeks to encourage state governors to look inwards in order to sustain their states as it was no longer fashionable to wholly rely on federal allocation which is not sustainable. He said that state polices should be geared toward improving the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from the economic activities of each individual state.

Aigbogun challenged all the states in the country to look at areas where they have comparative advantage and leverage on the abundant mineral, agricultural, national and human resources in their domain to break their poverty chain. He also emphasised the criteria that justified the awards given to individual states, urging the recipients to strive for excellence, riding on the crest of the well-deserved awards.

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Politics The desperation over Saraki: The name of the game is power ZEBULON AGOMUO

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i n s t o n Ch u r c h i l l , 1874-1965, British statesman, said: “Politics is almost as exciting as war, and quite as dangerous. In war you can only be killed once, but in politics many times.”

Bukola Saraki, a former governor of Kwara State and current president of the Senate, has been “killed” several times in his political career. He has been “killed” many times since 2015 when he won the election to lead his colleagues at the upper chamber of the National Assembly. Today, very interesting, those who “pierced his sides with cruel arrows”, are looking up to him for “deliverance”.

That is the story of power; that is politics for you.

Perhaps, Saraki appears to be the most valuable politician in the country at the moment.

Although a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), his party members and leaders are not sure he is still with them, in truth and spirit, even though he may be clutching a band of broom, willy-nilly.

The acrimony Saraki has been at loggerheads with the leadership of the APC and the presidency. His problem with the party started shortly after the inauguration of the 8th Assembly on June 9,2015. He was said to have defiled the arrangements of his party leadership which had shared out the principal offices to certain individuals. Saraki’s emergence was seen as an affront on powers that be in the APC and the seed of discord was sown thenceforth.

To pay the former governor of Kwara State in his own coin and to ensure he does not enjoy his tenure in office, the presidency in cahoots, with some chieftains of the party had moved against him, slamming some allegations against him.

First, he was accused of false declaration of his assets when he was governor of the state 13 years ago. He became the first serving Senate president to be docked in the Code of Conduct Tribunal on corruption charges. The case went up to the Supreme Court, where he was discharged and acquitted, recently.

While that was going on, the Senate President was again slammed with a forgery case alongside his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu. Both of them were dragged before the Federal High Court, Jabi, Abuja, over alleged forgery of Senate Rules. The High Court, in a ruling

by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, held that the charge which was endorsed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, constituted a gross abuse of judicial process.

Saraki

The most recent is the allegation that Saraki was complicit in the robbery incident that took place in a bank in Offa area of Kwara State in which about 30 people were gruesomely murdered.

On several occasions, the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, had invited Saraki to Force Headquarters in connection with the robbery.

Idris, it would be recalled, has been having a running battle with the Senate over his refusal to honour an invitation by the upper legislative chamber to explain the rising wave of insecurity in the country, particularly, the massacre of many people in Benue State by Fulani herdsmen.

In what many observers considered a vendetta or an attempt to take a pound of flesh, the IGP has insisted that the Senate president must report at the Force Headquarters to be interrogated over the Offa incident.

In the last few weeks, something interesting happened. The invitation was downplayed; the IGP appeared circumspect, but only went brazen after a meeting last week between the Senate president, the President, and the leadership of the APC. The meeting was at the instance of President Buhari to secure the buy-in of the Senate president into his (Buhari’s) second term ambition and to halt the alleged planned exit of the Kwara-born politician from the APC. The IGP revisited the invitation of Saraki over the Offa robbery incident, after the Senate president made public his intention to follow his mind irrespective of the alleged “juicy carrots”

dangled before him as a move for rapprochement by the powers that be.

Aso Rock and the APC must have read his body language and the fact that a number of his (Saraki’s) men are already saying ‘bye bye’ to the APC fold. So, the thinking is that with such senators who are close allies singing ‘defection song’, they may be indirectly conveying the message from Saraki and pointing towards his intention also.

Desperation to win back aggrieved members In the last few weeks, desperation has been high to woo Saraki and other members of the Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC). Recall that Saraki

To pay the former governor of Kwara State in his own coin and to ensure he does not enjoy his tenure in office, the presidency in cahoots, with some chieftains of the party had moved against him, slamming some allegations against him

had, in league with some governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and other chieftains, dumped the PDP and joined the then newly formed APC. It was their collaboration with the broom party that gave APC the overwhelming victory in the 2015 general election.

Three years down the line, members of the defunct New PDP (nPDP) began to allege ill-treatment and marginalisation by the Buhari administration. Efforts mounted by Kawu Baraje, then leader of nPDP to get the government address the issues proved abortive.

The group decided to adopt a new nomenclature– Reformed-APC (rAPC) and vowed to work with other parties to oust APC in 2019. Since the namechange, the Buba Galadima-led rAPC has been getting overtures from both PDP and APC. Last month when Baraje sought the President’s intervention, the Presidency referred him to the party’s leadership, saying it was a party issue that must be trashed out at that level.

The problem with the presidency BusinessDay gathered that Saraki and other senators who were allegedly approached with juicy offers were not enthusiastic because of the culture of broken promises by the President, particularly in relation to the electoral promises made to Nigerians.

A source told BusinessDay that they did not want to be treated like “Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was used and dumped after the 2015 election, and

Sunday 29 July 2018

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Politics was only remembered again when the issue of second term came up.”

APC looking to Saraki whom ‘they had pierced’ The APC and President Buhari appear jittery over the building coalition against the government. The APC leaders who were said to have manifested sheer arrogance when the rAPC pleaded for inclusion in the distribution of posts, have made a volte face, pleading with the aggrieved not to defect.

In a statement issued a few days ago by the splinter group, it said, “We, members of the R-APC, find it very amusing that those who boasted that they won’t lose sleep over our altruistic action, have been hopping from door to door, pleading with our members not to leave by dangling juicy carrots and promising them heaven and earth.”

According to the group, “Such level of double standard is the reason why the R-APC was birthed in the first place because the leadership is not one that keeps promises and it’s the reason why no one should take the APC seriously.”

On the olive branch the APC is extending to Saraki, R-APC in its statement said it was surprised that the President had been holding meetings with Saraki, “reportedly promising mouth-watering offers; the same leader who was ridiculed,scandalised, demonised, criminalised and called all sorts of names by agents of the Presidency just to give the Senate president a bad name in order to hang him.

“As soon as the Supreme court gave a resounding verdict on the trumped-up and frivolous charges against the Senate president, Mr. President suddenly felt a need to praise the judiciary for standing on its own. Power, as they truly say, must be a crazy aphrodisiac.”

In the last 18 years, never had the number three citizen of Nigeria been so dehumanised, harassed, criminalised and disgraced than in this dispensation.

Today, those who seek reconciliation “kept conspiratorial silence, waiting for the sledge hammer to fall on the Senate president while the trial lasted,” the group further stated.

PDP also wooing Saraki Some days ago, the new leadership of the PDP led by Uche Secondus, was in Ilorin, Kwara State, where it had a closed-door meeting with the Senate President. The essence of the meeting was to get him back to the umbrella association.

Earlier, a PDP group in Kwara had expressed its desire to have Saraki back

into the fold. In a statement issued by the group, it said: “We are eagerly and particularly looking forward to the arrival of all the widely acclaimed ‘game changers’ to strengthen our party and return us to our former winning ways.

The clarion call is most appropriately directed to big time political leaders like Sraki, Lai Mohammed and Bashir Bolarinwa.”

Observers say that the defection of “Saraki’s men” points to the direction the Senate president is headed.

A shadow of things to come The drama at the legislative chambers Tuesday is instructive and probably points to more dramas that should be expected before the general election.

The residences of the Senate President and his deputy were allegedly besieged by security agents, ostensibly to prevent them from attending plenary.

That same day, 14 senators and 37 members of the House of Representatives dumped the APC. The decampees also hinted that many more colleagues of theirs would follow in the next few days.

In its reaction to the development, the R-APC in a statement said: “We woke up on Tuesday, 24th July to the very pathetic, ridiculous, fascistic, gangsteristic, and gestapoeic realities that have occupied our democratic space when President Buhari’s police decided to lay siege to the house of the leadership of the Senate, BukolaSaraki.

He was prevented from proceeding to the hallowed chambers to carry out his legitimate duties as the duly elected Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We had raised alarm on the juicy carrot being dangled before some of our members and had alerted the country to sinister moves to call the Senate President a bad name in order to hang him. Barely three days after our earlier note of caution, the well scripted drama to undermine the rights of our members have come to light but in a very disturbing and utterly condemnable, Gestapo manner similar to that of members of the Jacobian scandal club of mediaeval ages in American 16th Century political history.”

What to expect in the days ahead Nigerians should brace up for more dramas. There could be more defections.

The name of the game is power; there is nothing like ideology.

Although the leadership of the APC as represented by Adams Oshiomhole, may have tried to put a bold face to the mass defections, saying he was not bothered by the development, the Presidency may be the more bothered.

The question is whether the defections will affect the chances of the APC in the 2019 elections; time will tell.

Expect more conciliatory meetings between the Presidency and some principal officers of the National Assembly on one hand and also between the party leaders and leaders of the R-APC group on the other hand.

Nigerians should expect a higher level of desperation in the days and weeks ahead. The powers that be may go brutal against opponents in an attempt to coerce some of them into subjection.

Senator empowers 1,000 constituency members with N300m largesse MIKE ABANG, Calabar

T

he Ogoja township stadium in Cross River State was agog with human and vehicular traffic, Friday, July 20, 2018 as residents, party faithful and beneficiaries across board trooped in their numbers to catch a glimpse of the distribution of items/ cash grants to lucky beneficiaries of largesse from a lawmaker.

Senator Rose Oko, representing Cross River North Senatorial Zone, at the National Assembly set it aside to put smiles on the faces of the people of the area as she empowered people from the five LGAs that make up the senatorial district with items and cash worth about N300 million.

It was a beehive of activity as various groups bearing placards with various inscriptions eulogising and singing her praises for being a great achiever and helper as they danced around the sprawling stadium to the rendition of music from both local drummers and English tunes.

Senator Oko, aside living up to her constitutional role as a legislator, decided to put smiles on the faces of her constituents as she empowered more than 1,000 of her people with items and cash grants.

The items as well as cash distributed during the empowerment include N20,000 each to 118 persons; 13 vehicles including five jeeps, seven Peugeot (307), and one Toyota Sienna bus. Other items are 54 motor cycles, 27 tricycles, 12 sewing machines, 47 grinding machines and nine generators. Also among items she empowered the people with are 800 bags of fertiliser distributed among farmers; items for cottage industries, including complete rice mill industry, comprising a dryer with diesel generator; destoner and winnower; Rice mill thresher (mobile units, groundnut sheller, groundnut oil mill with diesel engine, machines, milling machines as well as cash support for the party, PDP .

Among her intervention programme in the present exercise are the completion of a total of 15 class room blocks spread across schools in the five LGAs in her constituency; medical outreach programme where about 80 surgeries were carried out on patients across hospitals in the zone, donation of hospital equipment worth millions of naira and distribution of books to schools Asides all these, the senator has concluded arrangements for the building of a structure at the senatorial district that would harbour a dialysis centre to save the lives of people with kidney problems.

In line with this, Oko has procured dialysis machines awaiting installation as soon as the structure is completed before the end of this year.

The state governor who was on hand to grace the occasion commended Senator Rose Oko for her quality representation at the National Assembly, saying that, he is particularly impressed by the number of motions and bills she has sponsored at the floor of the Senate, which he said, stand the test of time.

“Senator Rose Oko has been active on the floor of the Senate as a legislator. She has led the lobbying initiative to attract so much to the senatorial district, we have every reason to represent her to the electorate for a second term election when the time is due,” Ayade reiterated.

In view of her landmark achievements, the governor, alongside other political top-notchers from the area and the state

Rose Oko

in general, who graced the occasion, are canvassing for Rose Oko’s re-election for a second term, come 2019.

The governor appealed to the constituents/electorate for more support for the senator, saying that she and two other National Assembly representatives, having done very well in their various capacities, should be given maximum support by the people whenever they are presented by the party for re-election for second term bids.

As part of his contribution to Senator Rose Oko’s empowerment programme, Ayade graciously announced a cash donation of N10million to be shared by the five LGAs in the senatorial zone.

Speaking earlier at the event, Chairman of the occasion, Senator Kanu Agabi, former Attorney-General of the Federation, eulogised Senator Rose for the great feat, having done so much within the short time of her representation at the Senate. He noted that when he was in the saddle as a senator in his time, he (Agabi) could not do as much as Rose, hence the need to applaud her for her performance so far. He said: “Once upon a time, I was at the Senate but could not do as much as her. The fact that Senator Rose could achieve this means she is an extraordinary woman. I therefore, urge you all my supporters and electorate who have always supported my cause to give maximum support to our sister, Rose Oko, to go back to the Senate for a second term as one good term deserves another.”

Speaker after speaker at the event spoke in the same vein, commending Oko for her brilliant performance. State chairman of the PDP, Edim Inok, was unequivocal in his endorsement of the senator for a second term come 2019.

“As we can all see, Madam Rose has proven her mettle as a representative who has returned with dividends of democracy to her people. Myself and the party, PDP in Cross River, unanimously endorse Senator Rose to continue her good work at the Senate.”

Liyel Imoke, a former governor of the state, who was on hand to grace the occasion alongside his deputy, Efiok Cobham, congratulated Rose Oko, saying she deserves a second term. Imoke, who equally canvassed for support for the governor, enjoined party faithful to return deserving representatives to office, as the only way to attract resources to the state. It is only when we work together and have a strong political family that we can attract resources to the state.

Senator Oko, in her response, appreciated Governor Ayade, Imoke, Kanu Agabi and the entire audience for the confidence reposed in her to represent them at the upper legislative chamber, while commending them for their sacrifice to stand by her at all times.

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Politics Why I resigned from PDP – Kammonke Abam Kammonke Abam is not your typical Nigerian politician. This youthful middle-age media entrepreneur is aspiring to go to the Senate in 2019. He is unconventional in his approach to politics. He resigned from his party, the PDP, in protest against what he describes as injustice against his people. He plans to prosecute his Senatorial ambition in another party. He believes politics can be played clean and with integrity. He spoke to EFEGADIRIM MADU about his resignation and sundry issues. Excerpts: We heard about your quitting the PDP. What is happening? What went wrong? y resignation is a statement of protest against the stealthy plan to deny those of us from the Old Obubra axis of the party and particularly Ugep, the opportunity to fly the party’s flag which we believe is historically justified to be zoned to us.

We perceive a surreptitious plan to weaken us out of the race and give the ticket to one of their cronies in Old Ikom even though the Senate seat has been domiciled in Old Ikom in the past 19 years. Next year, 2019, would be exactly 20 years of Old Ikom producing senators representing the Central Senatorial District. We believe it is unfair for the party to still want to keep it in Old Ikom. It has become very obvious that the political scale is deliberately and unfairly tilted to favour Old Ikom.

The way things are going, some of us have decided to leave the party for them while we seek alternative platforms that respect our wishes and provide a level playing ground for all aspirants. This is after a careful study and analysis of the political patterns and recent history. The case of Ugep where I come from is particularly disheartening. In the last 20 years, there seems to be a gang up against the political development of the people of Ugep. It happened in 1999; it repeated itself over the years and may happen again next year, if we do not wake up from our slumber. We are determined to do our best to scuttle that sad history from repeating itself. We deserve to be treated better.

satisfied if by this act, the leadership of the party rethinks and an Ugep man is given the ticket of the party. As for me, I shall pursue my future political journey in another platform that will be receptive and respectful of the political interest and views of our people.

M

Could you please, tell us more about this?

The background to this development is that the Cross River Central Senatorial District is made up of six local government areas. Three of them, Ikom, Boki and Etung, are contiguous to each other and used to be under one local government area called Ikom while the other three, Yakurr, Abi and Obubra are also contiguous to each other and also used to be under one local government area called Obubra. For political expediency, the senatorial district is clustered into Old Ikom and Old Obubra. That way political offices are meant to be distributed equitably and fairly. At the emergence of the 4th republic in 1999, the senate seat went to Old Ikom.

Senator Mathew Mbu, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba and now, Senator John Owan-Enoh became Senators on account of this arrangement. Next year, 2019, would be exactly 20 years that Old Ikom is occupying the seat and those of us in Old Obubra are saying

What effect do you think this will have on the polity?

Politics is about communication and negotiation. We want to draw the attention of the world to the unfairness against the people of Old Obubra and Ugep in particular. We believe that the people of Old Obubra and Ugep in particular deserve a better deal in the politics of Cross River State and there is no better time to make that statement than now. My interest is to bring this long agitation to the front burner of the political discourse of Cross River State.

Attention must be paid to Old Obubra and particularly, to Ugep more than it currently is. We have the numbers to make a difference. Truth is Ugep has been taken for a ride for a long time because our political leaders do not seem to realise the huge political capital that Ugep has or they simply aren’t negotiating well enough. And this just must stop.

We have the energy, the numbers, and the resources to take this through Abam

it is time power changed hands so we can also send one of us to represent the senatorial district. Is it a bad thing for us to say we want to share in what belongs to us all? My brother is it bad?

The defence they put forward is that Senator Liyel Imoke represented the district in 1992. Funny enough, just for a little over a year. They also argued that Old Obubra has produced two governors in the person of Chief Clement Ebri and Senator Liyel Imoke. While that is true, the Office of the Governor is a state-wide office. It is not restricted to the Central Senatorial District. So, that argument does not hold water.

In any case, the issue right now is that the party that should look at variables that gives it comparative advantage to win the forthcoming election by picking someone from Old Obubra, seems to throw caution to be wind by doing everything to favour a particular candidate from Old Ikom. My quitting the party is my own response against this perceived injustice.

Why don’t you fight from inside?

Good question. That is exactly what we have been doing in the recent past.

They say it’s a mad man who does the same thing and expects a different result. We’ve fought and are still fighting to have this issues addressed but hasn’t received the attention it deserves.

That’s why we have changed strategy.

You know, it’s politics. There are obviously some people benefitting from Old Obubra and particularly, Ugep not having a voice in the National Assembly. It does appear as if there are sworn enemies determined to keep the Ugep man out of the power loop perpetually.

And from the look of things, if we don’t put our acts together and we miss this golden opportunity, we may not be able to do so in the next eight years. I will be

We believe that the people of Old Obubra and Ugep in particular deserve a better deal in the politics of Cross River State and there is no better time to make that statement than now

You sound angry Yes, why not. Anyone in our shoes as a people will be. It’s as if there is a deliberate calculation to put Ugep down politically. Since the days of Dr. Okoi Arikpo, those with the privilege of calling the shots of power have deliberately choked my community, Ugep, of political breath. At the level of Ugep, we have been meeting for some time to chart a new political course and order that will restore the political glory that Ugep once had. It’s a move to restore the voice of the Ugep man and woman. We’ve been taken for granted for too long and we cannot continue like this. The fact remains that Ugep will continue to decide where the political pendulum of the Central Senatorial District swings to once we put our acts together.

Do you think that your people will come behind you on this?

This matter is not about me. It has nothing to do with my person. It’s a call that well-meaning persons from Old Obubra and particularly, Ugep have been concerned about. I am just accentuating the issues.

With this development, what do we expect next?

We have concluded plans to move to another political party that is more receptive to our interests and the values we stand for.

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AssemblyWatch From the Red Chamber

OWEDE AGBAJILEKE

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he news of the defection of over 50 serving National Assembly members from the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) did not come as a surprise to many.

Those who have been following trends in the political atmosphere will attest to the fact that it was not a question of if but when the aggrieved lawmakers would pitch tent with other political parties.

But first things first: to clear the air on the controversy surrounding the status of some lawmakers, may I inform our readers that only defectors whose letters have been read on the floor of the Senate by the Presiding Officer, regardless of what they tell the press or their constitu-

Defection, in whose interest? ency, are deemed to have defected.

To this end, senators like Stella Oduah, Sonni Ogbuoji, Fatima Raji-Razaki, Hope Uzodinma who were reported to have cross-carpeted outside the hallowed chamber from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are still members of PDP in the records of the Senate. For the avoidance of doubt, they sat on their allocated seats on PDP row even on the last day of sitting last week.

As for the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Lanre Tejuoso (Ogun Central) - whose letter was read as having decamped from APC to PDP only to declare on national television that he was ‘partyless’ and within 24 hours, made a u-turn by joining other APC lawmakers to visit President Muhammadu Buhari - so long as the Presiding Officer has not read his letter rescinding his decision, he will swallow the bitter pill of sitting on PDP row upon resumption by September 25, 2018.

One does not need to be a political scientist to know that Senate President Bukola Saraki is on his way from the All Progressives

C o n g re s s ( A P C ) . H i s h i n t at Tuesday plenary that he would soon leave the governing party, coupled with his conspicuous absence at the meeting the All Progressive Congress (APC) Caucus in the Senate had with President Buhari, are clear pointers to this.

Also, other senators whose physical bodies are in the APC but their souls have left the party include: Sani Yerima, Umaru Kurfi, Tijani Kaura, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Mustapha Mohammed, Danjuma Goje, Binta Garba, Ahmed Abubakar, among others. They were all absent at the APC Senate Caucus meeting with Buhari.

For Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan, the failed coup against Saraki was an anticlimax of some sort having been tipped by pro-Buhari senators as Saraki’s replacement, only to become ‘Minority Leader’ following the movement of fourteen APC senators in the ‘Senate Transfer Market’.

Spanish writer and philosopher, George Santayana, once said: “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it”.

The gale of defection is a case of deja-vu. Just like the

build up to the 2015 general election, the dramatis p e r s o n a e a re a l m o s t t h e same; the only difference is that both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have simply engaged in role reversal.

The unfolding developments also bring to the front burner the dearth of ideology among political parties in Nigeria. This explains why politicians like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; immediate past governor of Kano State and senator representing Kano Central in the National Assembly Rabiu Kwankwaso; Senators Suleiman Hunkuyi, Dino Melaye and a host of others would switch parties from PDP to APC and back to PDP. This also explains the euphoria in the camp of PDP and why the party is already planning a special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to receive them.

Modern democratic societies have organised political parties by bringing together people with common underlying ideologies about how society should be organised in order to achieve the common good.

Defection: Urgent need for board room discourse

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uesday, 24th July, 2018 which showcased the massive defection of 52 lawmakers from the ruling party, All Progressive Congress (APC), within two hours has gone into Nigeria’s political annals. Of course, it was a tsunami for APC to lose 37 members of the House of Representatives and 15 senators for reasons as alleged, ranging from insecurity of lives and property, undue assault on members of Parliament and opposition members and socio-economic hardship, growing unemployment and selective arrest and prosecution of corruption cases and disregard for the Rule of Law, among others.

Of course, no one ever imagined that the consummated between various political parties during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, which led to the emergence of APC, will be shortlived. No doubt, the gale of defection ravaging APC at all levels seems to be unquenchable and affirmed my position as featured in my column last week.

Aside the 37 APC members who formally bided farewell to the ruling party, a handful of members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are also expected to join other parties as from now till the take-off of 2019 general elections. Of course, this is just the beginning. As reflected in my last column, those crying foul with the announcement

of the defection of the 37 APC members during Tuesday plenary session, Speaker Yakubu Dogara offered the right answer for them, by maintaining neutrality in ruling against the new crops of eloping APC members.

“In the cause of this Assembly, there have been criss-crossing from one party to the other and I have been consistent in my intendment that issue of division and factionaliation is always a question of facts. And it is the same position I will maintain today because what will save the Speaker is impartiality and justice to one to me is justice to another.

For the same ruling is the same ruling I’m maintaining today,” Dogara bangs the gavel!!! Going by the provisions of the Standing rule of the House, the Speaker is empowered to declare the seat of anyone who dump the platform through which he was elected into the House without justifiable reasons such as division or factionalisation of his/ her party.

Brief search which I made on country-to-country based analysis showed that Brazil also had a routine party switching in the Congress of Deputies, and still growing. According to the records, since Brazil returned to democracy in 1985, party defections have increased from 25 per cent from 1987-90 to about 40 per cent in the period 1999-2002.

Similarly, Ecuador also experi-

enced high levels of party switching, with about 12 per cent of its Congressmen joining another party or becoming independent in the period 1979-96.

For example, in the United States, since 1990, 12 members of the House of Representatives and the Senate have either switched to another party or become independents.

Likewise, United Kingdom, recorded about 8 defections since 1990, while the number of defections in Australia for the same period was 17: eight Senators and nine members of the House of Representatives. I never knew it could be so painful for a group of APC members who thronged to the House of Representatives Media Centre to protest against what they earlier celebrated while PDP members defected to APC! Of course, now it hurts most! Looking at all the issues raised by various interest groups against the present administration, I will admonish APC; leadership to go back to the drawing board and fix the party and its policies and programmes. Like Femi Gbajabiamila, Majority Leader noted during the protest against the massive defection, APC needs to go back to its ideology and fulfill the election promises.

Firstly, the massive killings must stop now! Enough of paying lip-service to issue of security

of lives!

As observed by Gbajabiamila, the issue of cross carpeting has become a phenomenon every four years. Of course, no politician who has tasted the goodies of office will willingness want to the schemed out of office either by godfather or the electorates. Not even Gbajabiamila nor any of the acclaimed APC members who flanked him will voluntarily surrender to quit office as at today.

When discussing issue of equity, the Majority Leader never believed in that philosophy before now, while PDP members were defecting in trickles but now he recall vividly the “Supreme Court decision in Ameachi’s case, where the Supreme Court said and made it abundantly cleared that it is, in Nigeria today, it is not the person that is elect, it is the party that people elect. I would have asked Mr. Majority Leader why he refused to guide Speaker Dogara before ruling in those days, knowing full well, that he has sworn to uphold the provisions of the Constitution. As a wise counsel, it is time for APC to go back to the drawing board and fix this country to avert the looming political revolution come 2019 February!

For this week, I want to exercise restrain from commenting on the position of the Praliamentary Support Group led by

For instance, in the United States of America, Democrat is to the left, as Republican is to the right.

Unfortunately, politicians in this part of the world jump ship not for the interest of the electorate but for their own selfish gain. Here, people form political parties for the sake of grabbing political power for power sake.

Defecting lawmakers are not concerned about the wellbeing of their constituents but on securing return tickets and continue enjoying the perks of office.

As party primaries commence by next month, no doubt there will be realignment of political forces, as more defections are expected to follow.

While the September 25 adjournment gives lawmakers enough time for political consultations, this will negatively affect pending Executive requests that require National Assembly approval. These include approval of N242 billion 2019 elections budget, approval of borrowings to fund the 2018 Appropriation Act, 2018 budget proposals of 64 government-owned corporations as well as confirmation of appointments.

From the Green House With

KEHINDE AKINTOLA Musa Seriki (APC-Sokoto) and Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC-Kano), specifically on the claim that the Group enjoys the support of Speaker Dogara and the principal officers.

When APC stalwarts eventually get to the drawing board, it is germane for them to include as part of their agenda, issues raised by the Southern Leaders and Middle Belt Elders Forum regarding under-age registration, registration of foreigners from neighboring countries, devolution of powers to States and the entrenching of the true principle of fiscal federalism in the country. These are issues trending issues that require national discourse, which this administration has been shying away from, but actually wrapped inside is the permanent solution to the Nigerian problems.

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Sunday 29 July 2018

Perspective

‘Blatant trade bullying will only backfire’ ZHOU PINGJIAN

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n July 20, The United States threatened to impose tariffs on all US$500 billion worth of Chinese

imports.

Earlier on July 6, the U.S. announced to impose 25 percent tariffs on US$34 billion worth of Chinese goods. On July 11, the U.S. further escalated by announcing a tariff list of Chinese products worth US$200 billion.

Where the trade war waged by the U.S. against China is heading to? The world is wondering.

China’s position regarding the trade war willfully ignited by the U.S. remains firm and clear.

China doesn’t want a trade war, but is not afraid of and will fight one when necessary. Threats and intimidation will never work on China. China is capable of and confident in safeguarding the interests of the Chinese people. The U.S. should be advised to remain calm and handle the relevant issue with a rational attitude. Trade bullying will only backfire.

The main criticism that the U.S. makes against China centers around the trade deficit America runs with China. However, when it comes to trade, imbalance does not mean unfairness as the flow of trade is determined by the market.

China has never deliberately sought a trade surplus. Having a trade deficit does not mean the U.S. is “losing”. It is an erroneous accusation that China has been long engaging in unfair trade practices which have benefited itself and shortchanged the United States.

Let me take the daily Apple here. When an iPhone assembled in China arrives in the U.S., it is recorded as an import at its factory cost of about US$240, which is added to the U.S.China trade deficit by the U.S. side. China, however, earns just about US$8.46, or 3.6 percent of the total factory cost or less than 1 percent of the value in terms of retail price in the transaction, while most of the profits go straight to the coffers of Apple Inc. and high-tech enterprises of other countries on relevant industrial supply chains.

Or take the Made-in-China suit. When China exports a US$450 worth of business suit to the U.S., China gets 5 percent of the profit while the U.S. gets 84 percent.

Can these figures be cited to prove that the U.S. is shortchanged in its trade deals with China and China is playing a zero-sum game here with the U.S.?

The main reasons for the deficits do not lie on the Chinese side. Generally, they result from how resources are allocated in an interconnected

Xi Jinping, Chinese President

Trump, American president global economy and are natural reflections of the global value chain and international division of labour. In particular, there are certain factors inevitably lead to trade deficits. The savings rate in the U.S. remains too low while consumption rate remains too high. The U.S. dollar serves as the international reserve currency. And, the U. S. government imposes restrictions on high-tech exports to China.

The United States has further accused China of so-called “theft of intellectual property” and “forced technology transfer,” charges which are neither fair nor objective.

The Chinese government has codified a robust IPR protection legal system, including setting up IPR courts and dedicated tribunals that enhance the dominant role of the judiciary in IPR protection. Meanwhile, in 2017 the intellectual property royalties paid by China reached US$28.6 billion, a 15fold increase from 2001 when it joined the WTO, running a deficit of more than US$20 billion.

US$7.13 billion went to the US with a yearly increase of 14 percent. More importantly, China is emerging as a leader in global innovation and brand-building.

According to the latest Global Innovation Index (GII) released by the WIPO, China has been the only mid-income economy on the list of the world’s 20 most innovative economies.

The growth miracle of China’s

economic development has never been achieved by stealing from anyone, and never will be.

The accusation of “forced technology transfer” is also pointless and groundless. China does not have laws and policies that compel foreign companies to transfer technology to Chinese companies when investing in China. When it comes to technology or any other cooperation between Chinese and foreign companies, it is purely a matter of voluntary contracts. One is willing to buy, and the other is willing to sell, which is mutually beneficial.

In the world of today, all countries have been economically integrated into the global industrial and value chain to varying degrees. 40 percent of China’s commodity exports and two thirds of its high-tech exports are manufactured by foreign enterprises in China.

We are all interdependent and our interests are closely intertwined. Clinging to the outdated zero-sum game mindset and willfully provoking a trade war will harm the interests of not only the two parties involved but also all other parties in the global industrial chain. It will produce no winners.

By launching a trade war not only with China, but also with the world, the United States is dragging the world economy into a treacherous zone. The trade war dampens the growth momentum of global trade. The trade war shakes everyone’s

confidence in the world economy. The trade war jeopardizes the well-being of all mankind.

Last but not least, initiating a trade war to serve domestic political needs and selfish interests is a typical act of unilateralism and zero-sum game.

It marks a full-blown regression of international rules and global governance since the end of the Second World War, which, if unchecked, will cut so deep to the world economy that everybody should be alarmed by this. The U.S. is firing at the whole world as well as itself, and will only end up hurting itself and the world.

President of the European Council Donald Tusk, who just wrapped up the 20th China-EU Summit in Beijing, said in June that the rules-based international system is under threat, and to everyone’s surprise, the threat comes from no one but the U.S. who built up this system. Many prominent international economists including President Adam Posen of the US Peterson Institute for International Economics also publicly said that today’s US government constitutes the biggest threat to the current world economic order.

China has never imposed unilateral measures on others, nor has it acted against the basics of the WTO, namely free and open trade, non-discrimination, tariff constraints and special and differential treatment, and China has not

the slightest intention of doing these things in the future.

Openness brings progress.

China will continue to press ahead with trade reform and opening up its markets, and work with the rest of the world to uphold free trade and the multilateral trading system.

President Xi Jinping announced four major initiatives to further open the Chinese market at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in April.

Subsequently, the Chinese government introduced specific measures, including drastically reducing tariffs on a range of imported goods. Tariffs on 1,500 types of consumer goods have been lowered considerably.

The import tariff on automobiles has been cut from 25 percent to 15 percent. The revised negative list for foreign investment released late June substantially eased market access restrictions for foreign investors. In November, China will host the ever first China International Import Expo in Shanghai. China will only become more and more open.

China is willing to work together with Nigeria to further open our respective markets to each other, uphold the multilateral trading system and oppose acts of unilateralism, in a bid to safeguard the common interests of human development and prosperity.

(Dr. Zhou Pingjian is Ambassador of China to Nigeria)

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Perspective Why Nigeria lags behind SSA peers in financial inclusion BUNMI BAILEY

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oor level of education enlightenment, adaptation of technology and insufficient telecommunication infrastructure are the reasons financial inclusion in Africa’s biggest mobile phone market has lagged behind its Sub Saharan African (SSA) country peers, analysts have said.

“Some of these countries are better than us in terms of education penetration, early adaptation of technology. For example, in Kenya Mpesa has helped their financial penetration level and financial system and other infrastructures like communication, transport etc,” Johnson Chukwu , CEO, Cowry Asset Management Limited, said.

“And these factors may have contributed to the country lagging behind. But the core of it is the poor enlightenment of people on the value of having a bank account,” Chukwu added.

Ayo Akinwunmi, Head of Research, FSDH Merchant Bank, said that the issue of

the insecurity and the high unemployment rate in Nigeria are factors contributing to the decline in financial inclusion of Nigerians.

“A lot of banks that are located in these areas where there is high level of insecurity are already shutting down. If there is peace there will be more bankable adults,” he said.

“And when you look at the unemployment rate also, people are losing their jobs on account of the recent economic recession we entered in 2016 and existed in Q2 2017 and with the weak purchasing power that we are experiencing is why the number of bankable adults is dropping ,” he explained.

According to the World Bank Fintech Database 2017, the country receded in financial inclusion between 2014 and 2017 and the percentage of banked adults dropped nearly 4 percentage points to 39 percent, while the sub-Saharan African average increased more than 8 percentage points to 43 percent.

“Between 2014 and 2017,

the percentage of banked adults dropped nearly 4 percentage points to 39 percent, while the sub-Saharan African average increased more than 8 percentage points to 43 percent,” the Fintech report said.

Financial inclusion in the country declined in the last four years to 39.4 percent in 2017 from 44.2 percent in 2014 while SSA countries on average gained across the region as the number of bankable people increased to 42.6 percent in 2017 from 34.2 percent in 2014.

Kenya improved to 81.6 percent in 2017 from 74.7 percent in 2014, Ivory Coast improved to 41.3 percent from 34.3 percent and South Africa receded a bit to 69.2 percent from 70.3 percent.

According to a 2016 report

by Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) in Kenya, the introduction of MPesa changed the game as the population of adults in Kenya that are financially excluded is about 17 percent from 23 percent within a decade.

“I think there is still a wide communication gap between the telecoms and the banks

which can only be addressed by the CBN. In the case of Kenya (Safaricom), every bank in Kenya integrated with Mpesa (mobile money app) for ease of transfer,” Ayodeji Ebo, MD, Afrinvest Securities limited, said in a telephone response.

“The telecom then recruited agents across the cities to distribute the products. This model should be further studied and adapted to Nigeria.

To work effectively in Nigeria, the intervention of the CBN will be required to ensure positive synergy between the telecoms and banks,” Ebo suggested.

In South Africa for example, more than 70 percent of adults have a transaction account, more than in Brazil, Chile, India, Mexico, and Russia and its life insurance adoption rate is higher than that of far wealthier countries such as Italy and Spain , according to Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a global management consulting firm.

Ivory Coast has experienced a mobile money revolution. There are now more adults with mobile money ac-

counts, 24.3 percent than with bank accounts, 15 percent.

In fact, Ivory Coast has the fifth highest rate of mobile money accounts in the world, behind Kenya (58 percent), Somalia (37 percent), Uganda (35 percent), and Tanzania (32 percent), according to Brookings Instititue, a highly regarded, nonprofit public policy organisation based in Washington, DC. Financial inclusion is when individuals and businesses have access to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs e.g transactions, payments, savings, credit and insurance delivered in a responsible and sustainable way This month, the Central Bank of Nigeria announced it is not on track to reach its target of increasing financial inclusion to 80 percent by 2020.

It is now reviewing the path it took in 2012 with a “refreshed strategy” and has also signed a co-operation agreement with the Nigerian communications Commission to improve the penetration of financial services using mobile phones.

A season of political carpetbaggers

“It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both. Whoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times. Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand for everyone can see and few can feel. Everyone sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are” -NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI PAUL OJENAGBON

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t is the season of carpetbaggers of the political hue. Like the egrets that feast off and follow the cows seasonally from the Northern part of the country to the Southern strip along with the change in seasons ( not the one to answer if the herdsmen intrusion has also led to this change!), they never lose their identity. They are in politics purely to get returns on their selfish investments, build stupendous financial empires that will outlive them and devolve to the fourth generations of their offspring. Their aspiration is to make the billions upon billions and become the source of envy in their communities as they are driven in long convoys through pot-hole riddled streets or in their obscene palatial mansions that take the breath away while poor neighbours line up beggarly with their plates, daily in front of their houses to seek succor. They have no apology to offer to anyone because they see politics as purely business; they let their monies speak for them by taking care of every interest that would promote their cause and expect to reap ceaseless windfall no matter whose ox is gored. Service to the

fatherland and commitment to the people is only to the extent that their aspirations are met.

They are in every political association or party and at the drop of the hat; they are ready to change camp as many times as they would be accommodated in their new (old) party! They are in party A in the morning, party B in the afternoon and C in the afternoon.

It is always very easy for them to carry on this way because they have never and will never profess to any ideological bent except that which their godfather and mentor, Niccolo Machiavelli taught them “the end justifies the means!”. They are very good students of this Italian diplomat, politician, historian, philosopher, humanist and writer of the Renaissance who famously wrote the book,’ The Prince’ that formed a handbook for corrupt politicians. Machiavelli who lived between 1469-1527 would be very much fulfilled turning delightfully in his grave at their superb performance and strict adherence to his teachings.

Politics of the second republic would be horrible old school to this lot because that was when Nigeria had some semblance of political association based on ideology. It was

a period when a politician was ideologically a reactionary/ retrogressive or progressive. Decades after, we remember that the progressives were those who came under the umbrella of late sage Obafemi Awolowo and his allies who shared in his political philosophy and so had a lot in common while the National Party of Nigeria( NPN) were the reactionaries. It amounted to some political earthquake of some sort at that time to hear of decamping, it was very rare in those days and one case in point was the rift between Awolowo and Ladoke Akintola. The People’s Redemption Party (PRP) under the leadership of Aminu Kano was the Party for the masses (talakawa).

Decamping happens almost every day now and years from now, it would very difficult for historians to place these consistently decamping politicians and that is if they deserve mention at all.

For the political carpet baggers, to hold the membership cards of several parties at the same time is a norm which makes their exits easy even though they still have to put up with the torture of formal and needless announcements. To sustain their relevance, they ensure that they hold a public office through

election for which they are ready to put everything on the line. They must decamp to a party where their election fortunes are seemingly brighter not necessarily because of their own appeal or electoral values but rather the party’s.

They owe no allegiance to the party they purportedly belong to more so if it is at conflict with their own agenda. They are the dissident and rebellious members of any party, they select the party’s rules to obey and that is if and when it favours them. They readily jettison the collective interests of the party at any given chance for their own selfish interests. By their fruits you shall know them, through the flawed character traits they have helplessly projected in the public eye over time. Although they are powerful individual defined by their deep financial chest, they are typified by exaggerated, bloated notion of their self worth and electoral values.

They come at every level-national, state or local. In fairness to them, they are very intelligent, full of wits and street smart individuals who deploy their strong points maximally to their benefits.

They are the carpetbaggers in Nigeria Politics. They are ruthless

negotiators who operate at arm’s length. They are the Shylocks without conscience whose paths lesser mortals must steer clear of by miles.

They remain loyal to the collective cause as long as it pays them handsomely and are not afraid to draw the long knife when they feel betrayed.

The typical carpetbaggers appear like a leap year often before major election and as 2019 beckons, they must assess their chances their chances, trade off old alliances and re-align to re-align again in the not too distant future. They are ready to swallow their vomits severally as they are men without scruples or principles. Some have been in and out of the same party three or more times. All the parties have the carpetbaggers in their fold but they are helpless about them because they could use the pots of ill gotten funds they bring with them, the pots of trouble they also come with notwithstanding. Whichever party they pitch tent with or belong to, it is merely a union of convenience and the fear of this class of politicians is the beginning of wisdom. .OJENAGBON, pauloje2000@ yahoo.com, public affairs commentator, lives in Lagos.

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SundayBusiness

Digitisation to address infrastructural challenges - Vodacom AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

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oncerned with the current infrastructural challenges facing developing cities in the country, Vodacom Business Nigeria, has called on the Federal and State Governments, to look into digitalising the economy and society as pathway to creating a sustainable nation.

Research shows that Nigeria, which is one of the fastest developing countries in the world and the most populous nation in the SubSahara Africa continent with an estimated 198 million people – according to the National Population Commission (NPC), is facing serious infrastructural challenges.

Therefore, matching population growth with infrastructural development has become an issue of great concern across the country, and finding solutions to this growing concern, was the focus of the discourse at the recently concluded Information Communications Technology and Telecom-

L-R: Babatunde Ruwase, president, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI); Olayinka Akeredolu, state director, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Lagos State; Monisola Udoh, director, ICT, Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, representing the minister; Lanre Kolade, MD, Vodacom and Toki Mabogunje, deputy president, LCCI, at the 4th edition of LCCI 2018 ICTEL Expo, with the theme, Development Efficiency and Competitiveness in the Digital Age in Lagos.

munications (ICTEL) Expo, 2018 organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The event, which recently took place in Lagos recently, brought together various stakeholders within the Information Communications

Technology (ICT) industry to deliberate on ways to increase efficiency in the country through digitisation.

Speaking at the event, Olumide Idowu, executive head of Operations (Ag), Vodacom Business Nigeria, said that world leaders are

committed to building smart city in an attempt to develop their cities to meet social, economic, and environmental challenges.

“The significance of digitisation in creating smart cities cannot be overstated because it makes for more

efficient and sustainable economic environment.

The sooner Nigeria shift to a digitalised system, the faster the nation can build a competitive advantage on the global stage and can begin to reap the social, economic and environmental benefits that follow,” Idowu explained.

Idowu, who noted that Nigeria at moment, is in its technological revolution stage, said that lack of infrastructure provides the country with a ready springboard for the utilisation of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to create a smarter and a more efficient nation.

“By using IoT technology, which is commercially available today, a host of intelligently connected services such as efficient healthcare in rural communities become possible reality,” he added.

According to him, Vodacom Business Nigeria in the last one year had in collaboration with some State Governments, made significant strides in the development of smart solutions for problems facing

rural communities within the State.

“For instance, in the area of healthcare, a solution was deployed to help increase the availability of essential medication by monitoring drug stock levels and improving the delivery of healthcare services to citizens, who access public health services. In education, Vodacom has also launched a mobile school management solution which provides real-time visibility of all management activities at schools. The solution has been deployed to over 4,000 public schools in Nigeria,” he disclosed.

Vodacom, he pointed, had in the area of agriculture used connected farmer solution, which provides a platform for connecting various stakeholders within the agricultural ecosystem to create better accountability and efficiency within the industry.

Other digital solutions include payment solutions; backup solutions; energy, utility and security solutions are examples of smart solutions available within the Nigerian context.

Autodesk clamours for use of technology Aspiring entrepreneurs latch unto collaborative platforms of co-working space in Nigeria’s construction industry Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson

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ith the transformation of everything through technology, it has become inherent that Nigeria and Africa’s manufacturing and construction industry can be scaled to match that in first world countries with the use of digital technologies.

As a result, Autodesk Inc., a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software made a call to Nigerian architects, builders, engineers and manufacturers to disrupt the industry by making use of technology.

During a forum themed: “The future of making things”, held in Lagos recently, the company highlighted how the disruptive power of digital technologies can enable a more profitable, resilient and agile construction industry and explained that the construction industry is a new frontier for innovation.

The event also brought to the fore issues plaguing the construction industry such as rising project complexity, globalisation of construc-

tion, skills shortage, and access to capital as well as how cloud-enabled technologies present an opportunity for disruption in the way we design, build and operate buildings and infrastructure.

Simon Bromfield, country manager, Autodesk Africa, stated that advanced technology in construction may seem like an oxymoron, but the industry is a new frontier for innovation.

“Contractors are pressured on many sides, operating in a market driven by money and risk. Securing a profitable place in tomorrow’s market will be linked to a contractor’s ability to innovate. We urgently need to focus on the future- the future of making things with technology. When you see how this connectivity influences every facet of a construction site- improving the efficiency, safety, and cost- it is not even a question of whether the industry will move in this direction, only how quickly,” Bromfield said.

Ch i k e Ch a m b e r l a i n Ibeanu, managing partner, ZDesign & Development Consulting Ltd., said “the future is about collaborating in ways that previously weren’t possible. It is about

having access to knowledge throughout the entire building information modeling (BIM) process, both through desktop products as well as through the cloud. Digitising the construction process and connecting teams with a common data environment improves collaboration and decision making. BIM provides a solid foundation, and enables greater efficiency and productivity. Any construction company looking to drive business margins, resilience and growth must innovate”.

Ibeanu, an architect, went further to share success stories attained from the utilisation of Building Information Modelling (BIM).

The event further explored the relevance of augmented and virtual reality, generative design, AI/Machine learning, smart cities, factory of the future, and climate change solutions, in the future of construction and infrastructure.

Autodesk desires to help people digitise the construction process and project management, building a unified construction data platform to provide accurate information at the point of decisionmaking and drive better decisions and more profitable project outcomes.

OBINNA EMELIKE

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n Thursday, July 26, 2018, policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, service providers, the media and co-working space operators gathered at the IMAX Filmhouse in Lekki, Lagos for the second edition of the annual co-working conference.

The one-day conference, which presented the right avenue for stakeholders to explore the endless possibilities of the sector, was organised by Kola Oyeneyin, creator of Co-working Conference Nigeria and founder of Venia Business Hub, one of Nigeria’s first co-working spaces.

In line with this year’s theme; ‘Coworking: The Catalyst for Innovation’, the conference is aimed at connecting the dots on how coworking, co-creation, collaboration and technology are spurring innovation, entrepreneurship, wealth and job creation while charting the course for a new economy and the future of work.

Aside Yemi Osibajo, the vice president, who inspired the participants with his speech, others speakers at the conference include;

Omobola Johnson, partner at TLCom and former Minister of Communication Technology; Iyin Aboyeji of Flutterwave, Africa’s leading payment platform; Kola Aina, chairman, Ventures Park, Ola Brown of Greentree Investment Company, among others.

In his speech, the vice president said he was delighted to be among young Nigerians who have taken a risk to invest in providing co-working spaces to spur innovation, ideas and work that will disrupt our collective lives and experiences.

“The knowledge economy is bound to change everything, co-working is bound to change everything, how we learn and work. The way we taught in schools before now, was by individual competition in a classroom full of students. But the classrooms of the future will be classrooms where collaboration is the key, where people and young students will be working together, to achieves objectives and ideas. This is already playing out in the way that curricula are defined in various parts of the world today”, the Vice President said.

Also speaking at the conference on the rationale for being the official title sponsor of Co-working Conference

Nigeria, Victor Etuokwu, executive director, Personal Banking Division, Access Bank PLC., said Access Bank is recognised as a leading bank in driving digital banking and fintech innovation in Africa.

“We seek to create new opportunities in emerging markets by providing a platform designed to inspire and challenge innovators and entrepreneurs, as such we have partnered with Coworking Conference Nigeria and leveraged on our global platform to further foster innovation, drive entrepreneurship as well as economic development,” he said.

In his opening remarks at the conference, Kola Oyeneyin, CEO, Venia Business Hub and Creator, Coworking Conference Nigeria, expressed his delight over the growth of the co-working industry in Nigeria from two spaces eight years ago to over 100 today across the country.

He noted that the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has seen a fundamental shift since the emergence of coworking and tech hubs, with many leading startups like Taxify, Flutterwave, Branch Int’l, and AutoGeni tracing the start of their journeys to co-working spaces.

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SundayBusiness Wealth building products still in short supply despite growth

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ime there was in Nigeria when activities in the country’s mortgage market were not only fascinating but also rewarding to those who were part of those activities. While the market remained a fledgling, activities in it, especially before the banking sector reform, were quite interesting. The foray of many commercial banks into retail mortgage after the banking consolidation and recapitalisation led to the evolution of a competitive business environment, and a culture of efficiency and innovation among the operators.

Institutions had to develop competitive spirit not only to remain in business, but also to increase and make good returns on shareholders’ investment. It was such that innovative ideas, especially in product origination, became the norm rather than the exception.

The market was awash with products, especially those that would enable consumers have easy access to homeownership.

Some of the mortgage institutions took it a step higher with the creation of products that would enable property owners

Spiritonomics

Debo Atiba

www.spiritonomics.org

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n our journey through life we would encounter challenges and circumstances that hit us in the face like a lethal punch.

These challenges give us ample opportunities to turn away from our goals, however we have a choice. Life is a process and we are refined as we pass through it.

Trees do not grow overnight.

They have to pass through several seasons before they turn into that sturdy “all-weather” tree.

Rain will fall, Sun will shine, and storm will blow, several times for several years. These weather conditions deal strong blows on the tree. At the initial stage of growth they may look bent over with the ferociousness of the factors in the environment, but at the end they spring back and

build wealth from their property and yet enjoy the comfort of such property.

But that was then. Today, the market is almost bereft of any.

Consumers, therefore, look back to those days in the market and ask where those products from which they could build wealth and make a difference in their investment or assets have all gone to.

They have not forgotten such products as First City Monument Bank’s (FCMB) ‘Unlock your Cash’ and defunct Bank PHB’s ‘Home Owner’s Advantage’ because those are the kind of products that they need today in the face of the economic downturn in the economy.

FCMB’s Unlock Your Cash, a variant of the bank’s flagship mortgage product, ‘MyHome’ was one of the most popular refinance products in the mortgage market. This gave opportunity to people who had worked hard to build or buy their homes to let those homes work for them by releasing the funds comparative to the value of the property towards meeting other life needs.

Some customers who had been forced in the past to bor-

row short tenured loans of 3 to 5 years had the opportunity, through this refinancing option, to access the product while the bank paid off the loan owed the financial institution and provided more manageable repayment amounts that eased the customer’s cash flow through the bank’s longer tenors.

For existing home owners, the bank allowed them to unlock up to 70 percent of the value of the property if they lived in it and 60 percent if they didn’t. It also provided home owners the opportunity of registering their titles, making their properties mobile and ensuring that they were working for them just like share certificates made stocks fluid.

Officials of the bank explained then that they had been able to impact positively on tenured loans in the market by providing longer tenure.

“We have been able to offer long tenured loans to the Nigerian mortgage market. Our observation before we entered the market was that only short term loans were available, making mortgages very unaffordable to the average salary earner. Now, with a longer pay back period,

Talking Mortgage with CHUKA UROKO (08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com) repayments are more manageable, with the option of reducing one’s principal outstanding when his economy improves or even leveraging more funds as the property price appreciates”, they said. This kind of statement is rare in the mortgage market of today.

The Home Owners Advantage floated by the defunct Bank PHB was another wealth building product that, by its name, gave advantage to homeowners to build wealth on such homes.

The product was different from traditional mortgage financing in the sense that it allowed those who owned their homes and had legal titles to them to raise finance out of their property for a fixed period. The finance they have raised could be used to buy new assets or create new investments, grow their wealth and have an even better life.

Over all, these are the kind of

products that both home owners and those who want to own one are longing for. According to them, mortgage products should be able to meet the needs of its consumers. What obtains in the market presently are generally unaffordable and do not give any advantage to existing or prospective homeowners.

Mortgage operators, however, insist that they have ‘something for somebody’ in the market.

Resort Savings and Loans’ RIMPLAN, an acronym for Resort Investment Plan, and Trustbond Mortgage Bank’s HomePlan stand out. According to the authorities of these banks, subscribers to the products have a lot of benefits to enjoy They explain that RIMPLAN is a well thought out product aimed to encourage savings towards homeownership and it facilitates timely and favourably priced mortgage delivery to the subscriber.

to harness the potentials in life’s losses?

1. No retreat no surrender: Scripture says looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him He endured...

(Heb. 12: 2). The picture of the future makes for strength and encouragement in your journey to success in business. Are you better off owning things or you are better off being owned? You cannot see the picture of the future and despise the challenges of the present that is meant to lead you there.

2. Learning mindset.

It must be settled in your mind that life is a teacher and the challenges are tests and examinations to take us over to the next level. This makes us have a learning attitude. However we must not always make mistakes ourselves, it is better to learn from others so as to minimize our mistakes. All of this call for a humble mind to be able to learn.

Talk less, listen more, have the mind of a child so you can pick new things. When you fall, do not remain there, pick up yourself and continue.

3. Right attitude.

James 1:2 says we should consider it pure joy when we go through trials of many kinds. So that should be our attitude. This is because there is sure victory at the end if we stick to God’s word and to the vision we have.

Since successful people went through it, we are no different if our intention is to be successful at what we do.If you ever stop midway, the entire learning is lost and you need to begin again. “He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day”. Harness all the curve balls that life throws at you and turn them to a BLESSING. You must press through and refuse to give failure opportunity in your life to manifest. That is what makes for success.

4. Recognition You must recognise that resident in every challenge that life throws at you are your blessing.

Instead of allowing it to crush you, you must be busy trying to figure out where your blessing is hiding. Ask God to open your eyes to recognize what is in it for you.

Remain blessed. @spiritonomics

Why it is a loss to give up become sturdy, immovable and unassailable throughout its lifespan. In the same way also there are seasons in a man’s life and in every business. These seasons may not be pleasant at all, and they are not most of the time.

The whole experience may come so strong like we are about being destroyed. Apostle Paul said it in a different way about his experience “that they were under great pressure beyond their ability to endure, that they despaired of life in itself’’ (1Cor.1:18). For example friends and family may let us down, you have great ideas but no money to sponsor it, academic failures, loss of money, sack letter or loss of projects that you are working on. It could be confusion in not knowing where to begin again after being beaten blue and black by failure.

All these put together may make us want to throw in the towel and call it quits. However, our reaction to them goes a long way in determining the outcome of our lives. They have come not to destroy us though it appears so, they have come to prepare and strengthen us for the future.

How we perceive all these determines how we end up in life.

Trying something new always has its attendant challenges and most business schools of the world cannot help much as they deal mostly with theoretical knowledge not practiced by those who lecture them. These challenges and supposed loss can be misinterpreted and can cause us to give up and throw in the towel. This is the most critical point in the life of a business and if you dare throw in the towel at this stage, you have wasted years of learning. Great loss indeed! At the point you are experiencing these challenges, you are being formed to become strong, sturdy and immovable in the circumstances of life.

The process of proper formation is a prerequisite for our success, and it is truncated the moment we give up. There is a difference between SCHOOL training and LIFE training. Most times they are two parallel linesand a world apart. If you pass in school and you fail in life you are a loser. If you FAIL in school and you pass in life you are a WINNER. So what must we do

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SundayBusiness Benefits of body detoxification Food & Beverages With Ayo Oyoze Baje

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Introduction he human body engages in various physical, mental and spiritual activities virtually on daily basis.

These expose it to heat, cold, dust, smoke and chemicals including pesticides and petrochemicals that constitute toxins to the human body . There are however, some organs that assist to reduce their cumulative effect, if only they are operating maximally.

Some of them act to neutralize these harmful chemicals. Others assist to either prevent them from entering the body or eliminate them, thereby reducing the incidents of tissue damage. Such important organs include small and large intestines, also called the gastrointestinal barriers. The lymphatic system, the kidney,

Property Logic With Akhigbe Dominic

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The survey plan he Survey Plan is a very important variable in transacting in Real Estate or acquiring Lands.

You cannot process a final title document over land without a Survey Plan; quote me! The survey Plan is akin to the Pilot’s Compass. Without a Compass; the pilot is decreed into oblivion in the flying quest. The survey plan carries very vital information such as names of property owners, dimension of land, spe-

bladder, lungs and sweat glands are also significant with regards to detoxification.

Experts on nutrition explain that the small and large intestines act as the first line of defence. They assist to prevent the toxins from entering the other organs. But once they are too weak to function and the toxins enter the blood, “wahala dey O!” Forgive my interjection in pidgin English.

What happens next at this critical point, according to Good Health Magazine, is that “undigested food particles, bacteria and some other substances that normally reside in the intestine move into the bloodstream”. The aim is to trigger the immune system to react but it may lead to inflammation. If this continues organs such as the liver, kidneys, the skin and lungs become overwhelmed.

Of all these, it is the liver that carries the burden of filtering the toxins and transforming them into harmless chemicals and sending them out of the body through the kidneys as urine or as part of stool.

Others are eliminated through the lymphatic system, kidneys and lungs.

Symptoms How do we know or what signs and symptoms should we look out for that indicate that our bodies are carrying toxins? Good question.

According to much-respected Prof.

Oladapo Ashiru, a professor of anatomy and a Consultant reproductive endocrinologist the answer comes with accelerated ageing, persistent headache, backaches, running nose and fatigue. Other symptoms include itching and body rashes, joint pains, itchy nose, nervousness,

wheezing, irritated eyes, nausea and insomnia or inability to sleep.

Furthermore, ailments such as sore throat, dizziness, indigestion, frequent cold, sinus congestion, stiff neck, bad breathe, body odour, circulatory deficits, constipation, anorexia, fever and high blood fat are traceable to the presence of toxins in the victim’s body.

This is where the food we eat comes in: Detoxification is not a one-off action. Rather, it is holistic as the causative factors are interrelated.

Preventive measures include the thorough washing of fruits that may have been loaded with pesticides, smoke and dust. Serious disorders such as Parkinson’s illness, breast cancer and even Alzheimer’s disease are likely to show up years later.

Malnutrition, anaemia, bacterial infection including typhoid fever could be traced to fruits and vegetables that are not properly washed.

Protect your body and brains by the simple preventive action.

Also, Poly- vinyl Chloride (PVC) released from plastic containers, shower curtains and old mattress covers into our heavily polluted environment and eventually get into our food and water could cause some of the aforementioned diseases.

Stay away from lead. According to Dr. Ellen Silgerbeld, PHD, an expert on toxicology at John Hopkinhs School of Public Health, many women of the age of 40 and above carry lead in their bones. This is toxic and deadly. Lead is common where gold is mined as it constitutes an impurity. Lead in bones weakens them making them susceptible to

easy breakage. Worse still, when it enters the bloodstream it leads to High Blood Pressure(HBP), nervous disorder and of course, kidney problems.

Foods rich in calcium, Vitamin D, magnesium and zinc are effective in releasing lead from the body. Foods rich in calcium are milk, yoghurt, unripe plantain, soyabeans, sardine, cornflakes and dark green vegetables. Those that provide vitamin D, apart from exposure to sunlight include: Fatty fish, like tuna, mackerel, and salmon. Others are beef and liver, cheese and egg yolks. Foods fortified with vitamin D are some dairy products, orange juice, soy milk and cereals.

Food items that boast of high amount of magnesium are tomatoes, potatoes, carrots and green leafy vegetables such as spinach.

Fruits such as avocado amd banana as well as nuts and seeds are all recommended. Other plants such as legumes (black beans, chickpeas and kidney beans), green beans and seafood (salmon, mackerel, tuna) have magnesium.

The best foods that are high in zinc include meat, shellfish, legumes, seeds, nuts, dairy products (milk, cheese), eggs and whole grains such as wheat.

Still on food for detoxification, avoid mackerel that may contain mercury that could lead to heart disease.

Of great significance is to chew your food properly. Food not properly chewed could be expelled in the intestines that could cause obstruction, fermentation and putrefaction.

These lead to pot belly, erectile dysfunction or weak manhood, bad

breath and infertility.

Preparation of food is all-important as protein and carbohydraterich food may lose their power to fight toxins. Also do not over boil eggs as they become denatured and reduce their nutritional value.

Other preventive measures include the need to stay away from chemicals in plastic bottles and food containers. They can raise the risk of breast cancer. Also, flame-retardant chemicals common old foam and electronics could interfere with the function of the thyroid gland and the immune system generally.

Besides, stay away from smoke! A study at the University of Arizona, us warns that even smoke from a stick of cigarette is enough to impair blood flow in the heart. And according to study in Norway, women who smoke up to four sticks of cigarettes a day triple their risk of heart attack.

Even those who expose themselves to smoke and suffer from second hand smoke are also in danger of increasing the body’s toxin level. As at ten years back it was revealed that as many as 50,000 people die annually from across the world by exposing themselves to smoke.

It has also been discovered that dust containing lead and lead could stick to your shoes! So, make a habit to keep your shoes outside your living room and wash your feet properly. Though it is good to go for detoxification in certified medical spas, prevention would always be cheaper and safer than cure.

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media

The intrigues about land titles (2) “Buy Land, they’re not making it anymore” -Mark Trwain, Write & Humorist cific topological information, location of land amongst other very vital information. It is therefore a nullity to acquire a land or landed property without a valid survey devoid of ambiguities.

In fact, a registered Survey is as good as a semi final title. This is how important the Survey plan is.

Deed of assignment The Deed of assignment is the compiled document executed between the Assignor (Seller) and the Assignee (Buyer) as a proof of land purchase and transfer of ownership. In the Deed of Assignment, the purchase receipt and the survey plans are conspicuously referenced.

This document is expected, as a matter of practice, to be signed by all parties related to these transactions. It is also expected to be witnessed by actual and traceable persons both from the Assignors and Assignees sides. It is mandatory for a Deed of Assignment to be recorded at the appropriate land registry

to show legal proof of evidence with respect to the exchange of ownership in any landed property as a way of putting the general public and the state government on Notice. Mere notarization of Deed is not sufficient legal proof.

A Deed of Assignment is to be prepared by a qualified Real Estate Lawyer who should seal the same.

In the course of practice, I have run into some concoctions called Deed of Assignments. This is very laughable and a panacea to disaster. Land Agents are the worst culprits in this exercise in futility. In real estate property transactions, a deed of assignment is a legal document that transfers the interest of the owner to the person to whom it is assigned. When ownership is transferred, the deed of assignment shows the new legal owner of the property. This document can only be done by an individual who is legally qualified to do so.

The deed contains very vital information for Real estate

transactions. This spells out very vital details such as the date the ownership of the property from the former owner to the new owner, the names of parties, a brief history of how the initial owner acquired same, compensation clauses and other very pertinent facts are therein contained. The deed also gives specific descriptions of the property that is the subject in transaction in the property deal.

I have had some funny experiences where land agents just clone earlier Deeds EXECUTED by other Parties and they hand such over to ignorant buyers who walk away with a sense of satisfaction that they have valid proof of transactions. Such Deeds collapse like a pack of cards when subjected to legal fireworks when issues arise. In today’s Nigeria, it is impossible to procure your final titles such as Certificate of Occupancy with such lifted or cloned Deed of Assignment. The best way to go is for the Assignor to engage

a competent and experienced Property Lawyer to prepare this all important document for a fee usually 10% of the value of the property under consideration.

Doing otherwise as a way of escaping additional cost is playing the ostrich game. It is pennywise pound foolish! Deed of Assignment is sacrosanct in the process of acquiring statutory land titles.

Do not work round it! .To be continued Akhigbe Dominic.M. Esq., /Property Law Expert/CEO, PROPERTYLogic Homes Ltd Visit: www.propertylogichomeslimited.com for listed properties & Property information.

Call us on: +234-8034846294 & +234-1-2166914 SENIOR STRATEGIC PARTNER, PropertyLogic Incorporated/ Seasoned Business Coach/Columnist of The BusinessDay/Contributing Editor,govandbusinessjournal.com. ng <http://govandbusinessjournal. com.ng>

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Equity Market Oando, CCNN’s impressive half year results lift market capitalisation by N9bn TELIAT SULE

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a n d o, Ni g e r i a ’s largest integrated energy solutions provider which is listed on both the Nigerian Stock Exchange and Johannesburg Stock Exchange, and the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) last Friday gave stakeholders in the nation’s capital market an idea of what to expect by year end with the release of impressive half year financial results for the period ended June 30, 2018.

In just some few hours after the release of their H1 2018 financial results, market sentiments swayed in their favour as the prices of the two stocks rose significantly leading to the addition of N8.6 billion to their market capitalisation.

Oando recorded 11.4 percent increase in gross earnings which rose from N266.98 billion in June 2017 to N297.31 billion in June 2018. Gross profit jumped by 52.6 percent from N33.43 billion in June 2017 to N51.01 billion same period this year. Profit after tax (PAT) as at H1 2018 was impressive at N8.5 billion, and that amounted to an increase of over 5,000 percent when compared with a loss after tax of N172million in corresponding period in 2017.

Wale Tinubu, Oando Group’s

chief executive officer attributed the impressive results to stable operational environment and increased demand for crude oil at the international market.

“I am pleased to report that Oando Plc has made significant progress in 2018, evidenced by our substantial free cash flow generation and profitability. Oil prices have rallied over the last year, a direct consequence of increasing demand and reduced supply. Higher oil prices, and the resolution of joint venture funding challenges with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has driven increased investment in the upstream sector.

This stable operating environment, coupled with our fiscal prudence, has reinforced our solid financial footing as we continue to build on the momentum garnered in 2017”, Tinubu said.

Cost to sales reduced from 87.5 percent in June 2017 to 82.8 percent same period this year. Gross margin rose to 17.2 percent by the end of the first half of 2018 compared with 12.5 percent in similar period in 2017. Further, net margin improved to 2.90 percent as against negative 0.10 percent in June last year.

With a half year PAT of N8.5 billion, Oando has already realised 60 percent of the N13.5 billion PAT the company made at full year 2017, meaning that if the momentum is sustained, our projection shows it could make as much as

N20 billion PAT by year end.

In less than 24 hours after the results hit the market, Oando’s share price rose by 8.2 percent from N4.85 per share on July 26 to N5.25 per share last week Friday.

This amounted to N4.97 billion increase as its market capitalisation which rose to N65.26 billion from N60.29 billion in just a day.

Similarly, CCNN boosted its

revenue by 42 percent during the period, as it realised N12.08 billion in H1 2018 in contrast to N8.5 billion same period last year.

Gross profit rose by 81 percent to N5.5 billion from N3.03 billion during the reference period just as profit after tax increased by 153 percent from N1.03 billion at half year last year to N2.60 billion by June 2018.

Gross margin improved to 45 percent to 36 percent during the period just as the profit margin increased from 12 percent to 22 percent within the same reference period. CCNN also succeeded in reducing the cost of goods sold relative to sales from 64 percent last June to 55 percent by June this year. It also reduced its finance costs by 61 percent from N78.6 million in June 2017 to N30.9 million same period this year.

With this information at the disposal of both institutional and individual investors, which engendered increased demand for its shares, it share price rose by 10 percent within 24 hours to N31.35 per share on Friday from N28.5 per share on Thursday last week. CCNN’s market capitalisation closed last week at N39.40 billion up from N35.82 billion the previous day, translating to a gain of N3.58 billion in market capitalisation.

Chike Nwanze, Chief Executive Officer, Icon Stockbrokers Limited, challenged the newly inducted brokers to uphold the tenets of the stockbroking profession. “You must make your word your bond. This will have a far-reaching effect in stimulating confidence and growth of the Nigerian capital market”.

The NSE rules state that the dealing members require the services of Authorized Dealing Clerks to access The Exchange’s trading terminals.

These stockbrokers act on behalf of Dealing Members to access the market and assist investors in buying, selling or dealing in securities.

The stockbrokers can only execute trades on The Exchange using the unique identification code assigned

to them.

To be eligible for admission as an Authorized Dealing Clerk, the individual must have the relevant qualifications and have undergone training recognized and prescribed

by The Exchange; be registered with The Exchange; not be less than twenty-one (21) years old; be of good character and integrity; agree to comply with such other requirements for membership as Council may prescribe from time to time; be recommended by a Dealing Member who will be liable for all transactions made on its behalf on The Exchange by the Authorized Clerk and be registered as a market operator under the Investment and Securities Act, 2007.

NSE inducts 20 new authorized dealing clerks

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he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday, July 24, 2018, inducted 20 recently qualified Dealing Clerks with the charge that they should uphold the virtues of integrity, good character and high ethical and professional standards.

In his welcome remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Oscar N. Onyema, commended the new inductees for successfully going through the Exchange’s Automated Trading System (ATS) training faculty, made up of seasoned capital market regulators and operators.

“Your induction today is a testament to your years of dedication and hard work. It also marks the beginning of your journey as Authorized Deal-

ing Clerks of The Nigerian Stock Exchange.

With the extremely thorough and strict process leading to your qualification, I make bold to say that you are worthy to be practicing stockbrokers enabled to trade on any floor of The Nigerian Stock Exchange in Nigeria. I therefore welcome you all to a new relationship which faces inward – for Professionalism, Integrity, Transparency and Reliability; and outward – for Excellent Service to our investor and issuer communities”.

According to Onyema, NSE will not hesitate to wield the axe on any erring member that falls short on any of its rules.

“Let me be clear that we have zero

tolerance policy on all infractions and I am confident that I will not get a negative report concerning any of you”, Onyema stated.

Onyema

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BrandsOnSunday SPOTLIGHTING BRAND VALUE

Of Politics, People & Brands... Selling a Nation Akonte Ekine

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uring the world cup period in Russia 2018 came out the story of Wild Boar football team that got trapped in a cave with their coach. That incident and reactions brought out something special in the human race, love and kindness as a universal truth.

The world stood still as experts in cave-diving, navy seal and medical practitioners across the globe gave their best to save the 13 members of the Thailand football team. The effect of such dramatic and miraculous activities of the world to save the boys shows the state of preparedness of the Thai government and the world to address challenges that might occur in a country.

The event has repositioned Thailand in the mind of the public as a result of its response to the issue of the football team in the cave such that aside from the members of the team enjoying the media stage, the country is enjoying the positive narrative.

Narratives are the cry of Africans today, the feeling that our narratives are left in the hands of foreigners is a function of our inability to address the issue of concerns with clear sense of purpose and direction.

As we journey towards 2019, the heightened demand is that Nigerians

should pick up their permanent voters cards to be able to perform their civic duty during the election period, but alas what is the make of the political gladiators in the country when the subject of pedigree should be a guide in the choice of leadership.

Pedigree at the smallest level should be a pointer to the character of the individuals against the background of the personalities, however, what we see in our political landscape are men and women with inconsistency in character or better seen as consistent inconsistency which is the display of the pattern of behaviour that leaves us with a sour taste.

While the politicians are seen at the local level displaying and purportedly acting for the good of the society, what is rather perceived at the international stage is the state of lack of purpose and paucity of knowledge on the part of the leadership of a nation with about 200 million people yet unable to address basic needs of human existence especially when we look at the mundane things such as light, food, shelter according to Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of need.

The political class is one of our platforms of conversation to the world and what we have consistently done is to send out wrong narratives about the country with our acts. How do we explain issues of forgery amongst people in power

without quick solutions?

Our dear nation is on a journey but that journey seems to be known to the leaders in power or how do we explain the announcement of a national carrier without local office and local representatives in a foreign land by the same government that is advocating for locally made goods yet commissioned a foreign agency to develop the identity of the carrier.

Our narrative as a nation is a contradiction of actions but it must be noted that the biggest single enabler of brands and branding is connection.

A connection of aspirations with values, a connection of emotions with

dreams, and a connection with purpose and mission where our capacity to dream will be met with the infrastructure on ground.

There is a mistake in the marketplace with all the naked men dancing and that mistake is that we are celebrating the wrong values with our show of disrespect to law and order, our show of disregard to morals, our show of complete dishonesty as individuals.

We are selling this nation to an audience of Nigerians with a mindset that they should not trust in dignity of labour, they should be happy to make money without work.

That is a nation we are selling to the world, our

biggest salesman interest is far from the need of the generation that is the most populous in the country, same people that constitute the workforce of the nation has been described as lazy yet they are the most productive of the society today.

What the average Nigerian finds difficult to achieve here, once he is in a foreign land he becomes a superstar, which says a lot about us as a nation.

Outsiders will be glad to see or read our narratives but the first place to ensure that the narrative is right is within the country. The internal publics of Nigeria are in a state of confusion, the message is not clear to

the people, the people are not sure of whom to trust, the institutions are more on the side of the elites and examples are abound to show that the activities of the institutions are more to protect the elites than address issues of concern to the populace.

Within the context of the existence of brand Nigeria are political and business brands. These brands ideally should enable the projection of the country as a great entity but alas our political class are doing great job of selling the nation to the outside world using the wrong content.

Ghana our next door neighbor is at the completion stage of its airport that will allow about 50 airlines to operate while we are forever renovating our airports which yet are below par.

The narrative from Nigeria should change especially when we look at positive developments in technology. The space for positive conversation is better here in view of the fact that great works of the people speak. We should not allow the political colouration of the conversation of those in politics affect the good messages coming from that side of the sector of our nation.

This nation deserves a policy formulation on communication, conversation and engagement of citizen to the extent that we can push for bills on citizens’ conversation.

Akonte is the CEO of Absolute PR

LG harnesses power of steam to supercharge home appliances DANIEL OBI

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G Electronics says it is raising the bar to a new level of home appliance innovation generating a whole new set of washing options.

“With the current demand of time and energy saving homes appliances, LG latest TrueSteam technology is all about efficiency and innovation, helping to get more clothes and dishes cleaner in less time. It is unique and redefines the concept of laundry”, the company said in a statement.

It said the success recorded in home appliances can be largely credited

to the company’s ability to harness the power of steam in a number of its popular products such as dryers, dishwashers and LG Styler. “All the popular LG appliances employ steam to clean by killing harmful bacteria or odors that permeate our clothes and our homes. The solution to remove such threats as allergens and bacteria is high-temperature steam from pure water. Though, a temperature above 100°C (212°F) will kill bacteria”.

According to the company, the TrueSteam technology is one of the most effective ways to kill germs.

A steam generator in LG’s washing machine heats

water to 100°C, making it hot enough to eliminate bacteria and even allergens from pet hairs, dead skin cells and mold. “LG’s

TrueSteam technology not only removes 99.9 percent of allergens but also the residue left by dead allergens. Steam Softener

technology found in LG washing machines softens clothes by reviving each fiber without the use of any chemicals, mak-ing the ply of fabrics even and smoother. Soap residue and fabric softeners that can irri-tate sensitive skin are less of a problem when pure steam is used instead of extra deter-gent”.

It said the TrueSteam is also employed in LG Styler to reduce the presence of allergens and germs in clothes, bedding, sportswear — even children’s plush toys. “In fact, LG Styler has earned the asthma and allergy friendly certification from the respected Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)

for its superior performance in ridding fabrics of allergens. LG Styler’s TrueSteam technology reduces or eliminates the smell of smoke, perspiration and foods that cling to fabrics and knitwear”.

Commenting on the feats recorded with the steam technology the Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa operation, Taeick Son said in the statement: “The success of LG washers can be attributed to a number of innovative advances in washing technology which we would keep improving upon. In the long run we want to ensure that our esteemed consumers are satisfied with the quality of our products.”

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Arts Madiba lives on

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OBINNA EMELIKE f Nelson Mandela were to be alive till July 18, 2018, he would have been 100 years old.

However, death has not deterred lovers of freedom and equality across the world to celebrate the centenary anniversary of the great African son and a global personality who passed away on July 18, 2009.

Going by the all-year-round events marking the centenary anniversary of the late and first South African democratic president, Mandela, who was nicknamed Madiba by those who cherished his fighting spirit and courage, still lives on.

One of such events was a dinner in commemoration of the centenary of Madiba at Federal Palace Hotel and Casino, Lagos on July 19, 2018, a day after his birthday.

The dinner, which was hosted by Darkey Ephraim Africa, the Consul General of South Africa in Lagos, was a gathering of people who knew Mandela and his legacies, as well as, Albertina Sisulu who was celebrated alongside Mandela. The South African antiapartheid activist and the wife of fellow activist Walter Sisulu, was affectionately known as Ma Sisulu throughout her lifetime by the South African public because of her courage.

In his opening remarks at the dinner, Darkey Africa noted that the essence of the commemorative dinner was to further extol the courage, doggedness, forgiveness

Nelson Mandela

and the leadership legacies of Mandela, whom he described as a rare personality.

“When the world expected him to retaliate the wrongdoings of the apartheid regime and even fellow South Africans, he called everyone to embrace peace and forgiveness, when he had opportunity to rule as long as his strength could carry him, he only decided to do one term in office and never influenced any position for anybody except on merit and proven competence.

Mandela’s leadership legacy is something that every African leader should emulate”,

the consul general said.

He noted that there was no need looking unto the West to copy a leadership model because Mandela was an epitome of the finest leadership that even the West struggle to emulate.

Speaking at the dinner, Osayaba GiwaOsagie, a board member of Nigeria South African Chamber of Commerce, noted that Mandela left enduring lessons in leadership, which should be emulated and even taught is schools across Africa.

But the highlight of the occasion was the

keynote address by Emeka Anyaoku, former secretary general of Commowealth.

Rather than the very serious address, Anyaoku went about the business of the day in a lighter mood, picking on the rare moments he shared with Mandela while he was alive.

He noted that Mandela wrote forwards of two books about him, while his first contact with Mandela was in 1986, when as a deputy secretary general of the Commonwealth, he lead delegates to South Africa to negotiate with the then apartheid regime on the process of ending apartheid.

He also repeated the visit in November 1991 on same issue and was in South Africa in 1994 with his wife for the inauguration of Mandela as the first democratically elected president of South Africa. He also met Mandela when he visited as a guest speaker at the 3RD Oliver Thambo Memorial Lecture in Durban.

Sadly, he was at Mandela’s funeral. In all these, Anyaoku always remembers one quote by Mandela about Nigeria’s place in Africa-“The world will never respect Africa until Nigeria earns respect. The black world is looking up to Nigeria and every Nigerian should be made to understand this”.

For the diplomat, Mandela represented a strong moral force, a rare human being who left exemplary leadership lessons and a man who against all odds upheld the virtues of forgiveness, reconciliation and equality.

Besides the sumptuous meals, the dinner also witnessed beautiful rendition of classical music by TK, a music artiste.

Ooni urges Nigeria to prioritize cultural tourism for economic gains …as Ita Osun festival draws global visitors to Ife

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role Oodua & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II has called on government to prioritize cultural tourism as a veritable tool for economic growth of the states in Yorubaland, saying tradition is the root of Yoruba’s heritage.

Ooni Ogunwusi made the call recently in his speech at this year’s edition of the annual Osun festival tagged “Ita Osun 2018” held at the Osun shrine, Ita Osun in Ile-Ife, which served as the first settlement of Osun goddess from where she moved around the world.

“Tradition is the root of Yoruba’s heritage, Nigerian government and all the states in Yorubaland must invest in cultural tourism to productively drive economic growth as this is the case in Isreal, Saudi-Arabia, Brazil and other tourist destinations in the world that use pilgrimages to boost their tourism offerings and impact theie economies”, the Ooni said.

The Ooni, who is the co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, also used the occasion to preach peaceful coexistence among Nigerians saying Nigeria will survive at the time of challenges only if the people maintain peace with one another irrespective of religion and ethnicity.

As the custodian the sacred throne of Oduduwa, the progenitor of Yoruba people worldwide, Ooni explained that Osun is one of the 401 deities sent by the Almighty God to form the world from Ile-Ife then known as Ife-Oodaye.

He said while Oduduwa, Ogun and Kori were in charge of prayer, iron and children respectively, Osun was made a deity that has

to do with water who should always be celebrated as no one can function without water.

The monarch concluded his speech by insisting that Nigerians must uphold their cultural heritage and traditions by showcasing deities like Osun saying water is an essential commodity that necessary and compulsory for humanity.

“No one can be enemy to water, we should therefore celebrate and always remember this deity that has to do with productivity and multiplication. We are not idol worshippers as people think, but we are promoting our cultural heritage as being done all over the world because any stream that forgets the source will surely dry”.

“I am pleading with our governments at all levels, especially in Yorubaland to sup-

port and prioritizing tradition and culture of Yoruba for economic gains because tradition is the root of our heritage”, the Ooni said.

Also, Muyiwa Oladipo, commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ogun State, commended Ooni Ogunwusi for prioritizing tradition and culture of the Yorubas.

“We are celebrating Osun festival by reviving and sustaining our culture, adding that festival is a good thing to value and embrace, because our culture and tradition are dying.

“We need to proudly acknowledge our own Ooni of Ife, who is trying his best to ensure the stability of our cultural heritage.

This why our tourism promoting governor Ibikunle Amosun has always taken part in all the cultural events organized by the Arole Oodua”, he said.

Oladipo admonished all and sundry to support the royal father in uplifting the tradition, saying culture is different from religion.

Santos Pedro Bernardo, a Brazilian tourist from Rio De Janerio who was among the several foreigners that came from countries like Cuba, Brazil, Jamaica Congo Republic, South Africa an USA to witness the Osun fetival expressed delights for the cultural reception they all have so far enjoyed at IleIfe, which they described as the ancestral home not only to the Yorubas but also to the entire mankind.

Speaking with journalists in company of his co-tourists, Pedro Berbardo lauded Ooni Ogunwusi’s commitment to African cultural tourism revolution, which has taken him to several countries including Brazil where he met him recently.

“Ooni is undoubtedly the global face of cultural tourism revolution at the moment. I read about him in 2016 when he travelled to America with about 100 chiefs and priests, awesome! I have since then developed interest in him and I went to meet him at a Rio’ heritage site CRISTO REDENTOR, a Giant (98-ft.-tall) mountaintop statue of Jesus Christ, accessed by train and offering city views with its horizontally outstretched arms spanning 92 feet (28)”.

“We have been visiting tourist sites in IleIfe since two days ago, and I am so amazed to see this land is so culturally blessed, especially the Nigeria’s tallest statue of liberty built two years ago by Ooni Ogunwusi in honour of Moremi Ajasoro. Nigerian government must really encourage this great monarch”, Santos Pedro Bernardo said.

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Arts AFRIMA set to host record-breaking 5th edition …as entry submission end August 1st OBINNA EMELIKE

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he countdown has begun to the August 1, 2018 deadline for submission of songs and videos to be nominated for the 5th annual All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), the biggest music event in Africa that celebrates and rewards the music talents of the continent while showcasing the African cultural heritage to a global audience.

Organised by the African Union Commission in partnership with the International Committee of AFRIMA, announced its call for entries for the 2018 edition of the awards on May 25, 2018 and opened its online portalwww.afrima.org to receive songs and videos recorded or produced by African music professionals either living on the continent or in the diaspora within the eligibility period of August 1, 2017 to August 1, 2018.

Established and emerging African music stars have been sending in their songs and videos to compete in the 36 regional and continental award categories to participate in the process, with the expectation of emerging nominees that will feature at the culturally resplendent 5th AFRIMA main awards ceremony scheduled for November 2018. The impressive submission by Africa’s music industry is an indication that the 2018 nomination entries are set to surpass those received in previous years.

Furthermore, AFRIMA recently saw the introduction

AFRIMA’s Matlou Tsotetsi

of four new award categories to enable more creative professionals in the music and entertainment industry participate in the process, giving room for expansion and inclusiveness. The newly introduced categories are Best African DJ; Best African Dance/Choreography; Best African Lyricist/Rapper of the Year and Best African Act

in Diaspora.

Speaking on the countdown, Lekunutu Sekobo, AFRIMA Country Director, South Africa, advised African artistes yet to enter their works to take advantage of the few days remaining.

“I would like to urge all musicians, record labels, music producers, music managers and the recording industry

of Africa at large to take full advantage of the few days remaining before submissions closes on the 1st of August. I encourage you to submit your crafts or submit on behalf of your clients in any of the suitable award categories.

Africans should embrace this initiative by AFRIMA and show full cooperation and support. AFRIMA is the big-

gest platform where Africans are showing immense enthusiasm through music and art”.

He further added: “I would also like to call on the Department of Arts and Culture under Minister Nathi Mthethwa and the Department of Tourism under Minister Derek Hanekom not excluding corporate South Africans to embrace and give full support to AFRIMA’s vision for Africa’s cultures renaissance so we can overcome the challenges confronting our continent as former President Thabo Mbeki championed in his term of office”.

Once the AFRIMA submission portal closes on August 1 2018, the screening and adjudication process commences on August 7, 2018 by the 13-man AFRIMA International Jury who are experienced and expert African music professionals charged with the responsibility of painstakingly and carefully screening, categorising and assessing the works submitted and determining the entries possessing the merit to be named on the highly contested AFRIMA Nominees List.

Immediately after the week-long adjudication process, the 2018 AFRIMA Nominees List will be unveiled and nominated artistes, songs and videos will then have to slug it out with other regional, continental music contemporaries and legends to emerge winners of the AFRIMA 23.9 carat gold plated trophy.

Meanwhile, Matlou Tsotetsi, director, brand communication, AFRIMA, has challenged African governments and corporate bodies to throw their weight behind

the advocacy initiative of AFRIMA. “AFRIMA Main Awards has been held for four years spearheaded by a coalition of music, production, culture and media professionals. We have had amazing support across the continent, especially from the government of Nigeria, which hosted in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. We are immensely appreciative of the government of Lagos State in Nigeria and some corporate organisationsfrom Nigeria and other countries. In our fifth edition, this is theperfect opportunity for other African governments to also align themselves with this pan African project.

I am calling on the government of South Africa, my home country, to throw her weight behind AFRIMA. South Africa will be sending a very positive message to the rest of the world, and also eradicate the perception that South Africans are not warm enough or welcoming enough to other Africans across the continent”, she concluded.

In its efforts to reward music creativity and talent in Africa, AFRIMA also stimulates conversations among Africans and between Africa and the rest of the globe about the great potentials and values of the African musical and artistic heritage for the purpose of creating jobs, reducing poverty, calling the attention of world leaders to Africa and promoting the positive image of Africa to the world for global competitiveness.

AFRIMA is scheduled to hold in November, with live broadcast to over 80 countries around the world.

Lala Akindoju set the stage for ‘Naked’, acclaimed one woman show

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he Make It Happen Productions (TMIHP) & The Performing Arts Workshop and Studios (PAWS) are pleased to announce the second run of NAKED starring the versatile Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju.

Written by award-winning spoken-word poet, Titilope Sonuga, the show enthralls by the beauty of words that only Titilope can weave.

NAKED is a one woman show that takes the audience on an intimate journey of the highs, lows, achievements and failures of a young woman’s experiences as she navigates through life, love, career and finding her path. It is done using deep thoughts that are usually never shared with others and is a raw honest look behind the human mask.

As well, following its pre-

miere in February 2018 as part of the British Council’s LAGOS THEATRE FESTIVAL, the one-woman show was met with applause and positive reviews – a first of its kind in Lagos.

In her review of the show, Wilfred Okiche, said, “Oneperson shows are not the easiest of endeavors to pull off. The burden of single handedly holding an audience’s attention for a period of time is not one that every actor cares to take on, but Akindoju, an accomplished stage actress and producer, harbors no such fears.”

“To see Naked– written by spoken word poet, Titilope Sonuga- is to take a peep into the mind of an artiste. Instantly relatable, yet sufficiently refreshing, Naked peels back the layers to uncover the issues that a lot of creatives struggle

with on the daily; insecurity, scarcity, feelings of worthless-

Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju

ness, social media scrutiny and harassment.”

The play is directed by Kenneth Uphopho, festival director for the British Council Lagos Theatre Festival, who is also the co-founder of The Performing Arts Workshop and Studios (PAWS). It will run through August 10, 2018 at 4pm for female students and 7pm to the public, as well as, on August 11 and 12, 2018 with three shows per day at 3pm, 5pm and 7pm at the Presidential Suite of Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

TMIHP and PAWS kick off the second run of the play with the celebration of women and the power that can be generated by the collaboration of women in all industries with NAKED acted, written, and produced by all women.

“I am more excited to be collaborating with some of the best people in this industry. I am honored and grateful

for the opportunity to collaborate with these people especially because they are like family. Like I said, “collaborations make dreams come alive quicker”. Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju said.

NAKED is produced by Lala herself, founder of The Make It Happen Productions (TMIHP) and Brenda Uphopho,co-founder of The Performing Arts Workshop and Studios (PAWS) with Oludara Egerton Shyngle as associate producer.

Tickets are now available for sale as the play promises the audience a journey of deep thoughts, laughter and tears.

NAKED is supported by: Diamond Bank plc, Lagos State Inland Revenue Service (LIRS), Accelerate TV, OloriSuperGirl, Bellanaija, Ynaija, Lifestyle Hues and Temple Motion pictures.

Sunday 29 July 2018

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Kiddies

BDSUNDAY 39

Sameti Inheritance Academy holds graduation in style

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Ngozi Okpalakunne

ameti Inheritance Academy, Gowon Estate, Lagos, recently held its graduation ceremony.

The event, the second in its series, offered opportunity for the graduating students, especially those in Senior Secondary School (SSS 3), to be acquainted with the real life after the school walls.

Director of the school, Abraham Inameti pointedly told the graduating students that they would face many uncertainties in both now and distant future, adding that it is not unscriptural to face uncertainty in life but rather unscriptural not to overcome.

He also stressed the need for them to work hard and shun procrastination so as to make it in life.

The Principal of the school, Mabel Inameti, who spoke on ‘The role of stakeholders in the educational sector’, described education as the best legacy anyone can give another, adding that those who tried ignorance ended up becoming fools and failures in life.

Highlighting importance of stakeholders in the educational sector, she said: “While the Ministry of Education issues policy statement which we are not in a position to change, the school, the teachers and parents are variables. So, the bulk of what can be done rests with them’’.

Considering some of the challenges facing educational development in the country, she said it include some government policies on education which according to her were not steady .

O

nce upon a time a caterpillar crawled i n s i d e a h a r e ’s house when the hare was away, and set about making himself comfortable.

When the hare returned home, he noticed new marks on the ground going into the cave. He called, “Who’s in my house?”

The caterpillar boomed out in a loud voice, “It is I! Yes, I who crush rhinos to the earth and tramples elephants into dust!”

The hare hopped about, crying, “What can a small animal like me do with a creature that crushes rhinos and tramples elephants?”

He soon met a jackal, and asked the jackal to talk to the terrible creature who had taken possession of his home and to convince him to leave. The jackal agreed, and when they

Cross section of Nigerian students departing to attend various U.S. universities this Fall, during their pre-departure orientation programme held recently at the US Consulate, Lagos.

Cross section of the graduating students

“The policies are good ones, but the agencies that the government use like the examining body are not straight-forward with the ministry because when they go on inspection during examination, they take anything if you can cover up with money which is not right.

“And some parents too, are carried away with what the eyes can see; they just want their children to come out in A’s. There are sites where you can get these examination question papers and the children believed that they can get good grades without working hard

for it; so their parents pay heavily to get these examination question papers for their wards, eventually the children are confused because they do not know who to believe whether it is the teachers who are Godly, teaching them the right thing or their parents who just want

The story of the Hare reached the place, he barked loudly and said, “Who is in the house of my friend the hare?”

The caterpillar replied in a voice that rocked the earth, “It is I! Yes, I who crush rhinos to the earth, and trample elephants into dust!” On hearing this the jackal thought, “Certainly I can do nothing against such a creature,” and he quickly left.

The hare then fetched a leopard, and he begged the leopard to help him. The leopard assured the hare it would be no trouble at all. On reaching the spot, the leopard bared his claws and growled, “Who is in the house of my friend the hare?” The caterpillar replied

in the same manner as he had done before. The leopard was alarmed and thought, “If he crushes rhinos and elephants, I don’t even want to think about what he could do to me!”

Next the hare sought out the rhinoceros. “No doubt, I am the most fearsome of beasts,” grunted the rhino. The rhino marched to the hare’s cave, where he snorted and pawed the ground with his massive feet. But when the rhino asked who was inside and heard the caterpillar’s booming reply, he thought, “What, he says he can crush me to the earth?” And the rhino thundered away, crashing through the forest.

Growing frantic, the hare

tried the elephant, and asked him to come to his assistance.

But like the others, on hearing what the caterpillar had to say, the elephant knew that he had no wish to be trampled underfoot like dust, and stomped off.

In despair by this point, the hare asked a frog passing by if he could possibly make the creature that had frightened all the other animals leave his house.

The frog went to the cave door and asked who was inside. He received the same reply as had been given to the others. Then the frog went nearer and shouted, “I, who am the strongest of all, have come at last. I am the one who crushes those who crush the rhinos! I am the one

them to come out with the best of the certificates irrespective of how they get it, that is the challenge and something should be done urgently so as to rescue the decaying educational sector of the country. ‘’ She advised parents to look for God-fearing institutions that have integrity and enroll their children, adding “Such schools may not be flashy; they might not be eye-catching, but at the end of the day they will deliver,‘’ she said.

On his part, Chairman Parents Teachers Association , Efanga Offiong advised the graduating students to put out what has been deposited in them to the society .

“You have been given adequate foundation for the next challenge of life; as you go to the university where there is freedom so to say, remember the regulatory life your parents gave you while in the secondary school. And so, do not take such freedom for granted because it may lead you into trouble, you should rather use the freedom to improve on your lives,’’ Offiong admonished . who tramples underfoot those who trample the elephants!”

When the caterpillar inside the hare’s cave heard this, he trembled. He sensed the shadow of the frog coming nearer and thought, “After all, I am only a caterpillar!” And the caterpillar inched out of the hare’s den along its edge, trying not to be noticed.

The animals that had collected around the hare’s house seized the caterpillar and dragged him out. “What, you?” they all cried in disbelief.

“I would never dream of staying in that cave!” said the caterpillar with his nose in the air. “An echo like that is far too crude for a refined creature like myself !” As he sniffed away, all the other animals laughed at the trouble he had given them.

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Sunday 29 July 2018

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THINGS TO DO IN LAGOS It is another Sunday Funday and as always, I have somewhere for you to be at! Here are a few events happening today that will thrill you:

The Girl Boss Meetup Date: 29th July, 2018 Time: 12pm - 5pm Venue: Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos

Curves and Love Shopping Party Date: Sunday, July 29, 2018.

Time: 12 PM. Venue: Bread Lounge, 64B Emma Abimbola Cole, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

The Oxymoron of Kenny Blaq Date: 29th July, 2018 Venue: Eko Hotel and Suites, victoria island Time: 8pm

Scampaign: A Pop Up by Mr Garbe and Friends Mr Garbe has teamed up with Fomo Lagos to bring you a pop-up/exhibition like no other to launch their latest collection “Scampaign”.

Date: Sunday, July 29, 2018.

Time: 12 PM. Venue: Barbar, Cinnamon Garden Mall, Victoria Arobieke Street, Lekki.

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Life&Living Fragrances perfect for a rainy day!

IFEOMA OKEKE

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t is yet another rainy season and everyone hopes to stay clean and smell nice, despite the wet season that could leave some not so pleasant smell on our cloths and bodies.

With the incessant rain and cold weather; it’s best to reach for perfumes that will keep you smelling fresh and clean.

Oriental Woody fragrances are a perfect fit for the weather because they as comforting as a cashmere sweater. Floral fragrances are also successful as antidotes to rain and gloom, especially compositions that reminds one of sun warmed petals. The rainy weather make fragrances diffuse faster and as such, you need fragrances with strong silage as well, a fragrance that can withstand the strength of the weather and linger on your skin longer.

Without further ado, here are our top best niche fragrances for the rainy season!

Monsieur Mon Amour - Atelier Flou This exquisite Eau de Parfum is an oriental signature made for a real gentleman. With notes of Jasmine, Incense, Guaiac Wood, Amber and Patchoili, it is the perfect scent for the strong and silent type whose exquisite taste transpires through his choice of luxury fragrance.

Imagine the amazing fusion when

the incense of Somalia meets with the attar of the wood Gaiac of Paraguay!

Exclusively available at Montaigne Place.

Prolixe - Histories Des Parfums An Oriental Woody fragrance for women and men; with notes of grapefruit, saffron, ceeder, sandalwood, this scent that speaks of Abundance, fullness, opulent gourmand, a profusion of rich spices, and a strikingly balmy and woodsy deepness.

Exclusively available at Montaigne Place.

Tumutu - Liquides Imaginaires A sensual and carnal Citrusy Woody fragrance inviting nudity; a fragrance for wild abandon. Its scent is given off in the ecstasy of pleasure. Top note is pomelo; middle note is coconut; base notes are cedar, patchouli and sandalwood.

Exclusively available at Montaigne Place.

Oud by Franck Boclet A strong and captivating Spicy Woody fragrance; top notes are spicy cloves, ginger and cumin berries that give character to the

Incident Diplomatique – Jovoy We brush by it, we risk it, without ever thinking about the consequences. Incident Diplomatique clearly possesses its share of superb provocation – bold, owned, and entirely inevitable when desire exudes from our every pore.

As unexpected as it is audacious, the fragrance with notes of Mandarin, Vetiver and Patchouli refuses convention and knowingly parades itself. Just as we might give into a staggering impulse too strong to resist, it declares

Rémy Martin treats Nigerian stakeholders to tasting in Cognac, France

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IFEOMA OKEKE

ust like the ancient practice of wine tasting which was formalized and established as far back as the 14th century, Rémy Martin, one of the biggest cognac producers in the world has introduced the unique concept of exquisite cognac tasting.

Cognac, a brandy from the Cognac region of France, is a category that is heavily stereotyped with an

image of rich, successful business types enjoying a hearty measure with a cigar being puffed emphatically. It is also usually thought of as a drink for men only. Ignoring the stereotypes, Rémy Martin, one of the world’s finest cognacs produced to best quality in one of the biggest cognac houses in France, last month, invited stakeholders from Nigeria including Charles Okpaleke (Founder, Play Network), Bayo OkeLawal (Founder of Orange Culture

its urges, teasing tension to the breaking point.

Exclusively available at Montaigne Place.

& Rémy Martin Influencer), Wale Faniyi (Founder of Bite Billionaire) and Bidemi Zakariyau (Founder, LSF|PR) to its headquarters in Cognac, France to experience cognac at its best.

The invited guests had an immersive three-day experience as Rémy Martin hosted them at the Ritz, Paris and Café Chic before heading on to Cognac. On arrival in Cognac, they visited various cellars and were given a tour of the headquaters.

They were also treated to various tasting, including the “Opulence revealed” experience – a table spread filled with the finest tasting Vanillas from Madagascar, Raw honey, Aged cheese, amongst many other fine foods.

To end their tour on a grand scale, they were treated to an exclusive tasting of the most expensive cognac in the world – Louis XIII. It is therefore safe to say that Rémy Martin is not only an after dinner drink, but is an exquisite smooth blend of cognac that can be enjoyed at any time, with or without meals and mixed in a cocktail or just as it is, in a glass of ice cubes.

Sens Abstrait – Evody Abstract art is an appeal to emotion through shapes and colours, which once assembled, neither represent nor suggest reality.

This fragrance was conceived using this same principles, arousing emotions with intertwined and echoing raw materials. Citrus fruits answer to green notes mix with dry, amber woods. A nonfigurative and multiple range of fragrances aimed at awakening the soul, keeping your mind active through the stormy weather.

Exclusively available at Montaigne Place.

fragrance. Then the Oud wood, supported by cedar and patchouli comes on stage and the composition takes its full dimension.

Exclusively available at Montaigne Place.

Things you need to know to get flawless Eyebrows JUMOKE AKIYODE-LAWANSON

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o get your eyebrows to look nice and full, lightly shade the hairs above and below your brows to create a shadow. Make sure you use a low-oil pencil that’s soft, to Shade and then brush your brows upward to give them a natural look.

2. Keep any brow pencil away from your skin where there is no hair. It is a tell tale sign that you’ve coloured your arches in. Remember that you want to enhave what you have, not draw on what’s not there.

3. Brush your brow hairs upward and outward. Your arches will look more natural and fuller when you groom them this way.

4. If you are using a brow gel, make sure you go for a colour that’s the same shade as your brows or one shade darker and with pencils, go for one shade lighter because you want a softer look. When you are drawing the illusion of hair, it looks unnatural if the pencil is darker or as dark as your hair. The lighter colour gives it dimension.

5. Do not use hair dye to colour

your brows. If you must colour them, use vegetable dye. This contains far less peroxide than regular hair dye, therefore making it safer for the eye area. It also lasts longer.

6. Remember that brows serve a purpose to protect your eyes and frame your face, so it is important not to over tweeze them or shave them all off.

7. A brow mascara with fibres in it gives the appearance of fuller brows instantly.

I’m sure we all want our eyebrows “on fleek” at all times, so do it the right way. Please don’t over do them by painting or drawing them on. Your face is not a drawing board.

Lol! And without eyebrows, we’ll look sick and unhealthy. So learn these simple tips on how to get the perfect look for your eyebrows and transform your entire face.

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Bliss with Nonye Ben-Nwankwo

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Sunday 29 July 2018

Email: chiwuagwu@yahoo.com Phone number (sms only) 08057511893

Why I didn’t remarry – Toyin Adegbola

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f veteran actress, Toyin Adegbola, popularly known as Asewo to re Mecca, had wanted to remarry since so many years ago she lost her husband, she would have done so. However, the actress had remained single and she told Bliss the reason in a recent chat on the telephone.

According to the actress who holds sway in the Yoruba movie industry, her children were the reason she chose to remain single with the sole intention of giving them her best.

“I tried to keep myself because of the future of my children. I didn’t want to use my today to dislodge their tomorrow. I sat down with my kids and we discussed it. As at then, there wouldn’t have been any man that would not have wanted me to also have kids for him. He may not even have allowed me to take care of my kids. So I felt the best thing for me to do was just to take care of my kids. I thank God they are all doing well. My first son got married in 2016.”

But the actress disclosed that the route she chose wasn’t cheese and cake.

“I made a lot of sacrifices for my kids. I sold purewater.

If I had chosen to remarry, I wouldn’t have been able to do all I did for my kids. I would have just satisfied myself at

study Theatre Arts. We are just like the mirror of the society to interpret what is good and what is not good to the society. I love to impact lives. I started acting even before I got married to my late husband.”

And her perseverance, talent and goodwill in her their expenses. I don’t have any regret. I appreciate God for what He has done in my life.

You know it is not easy to be a single parent. Nobody will be there to assist you. Men will come to you but what they want is just to have sex with you. If you know what you want in a good time, you would just stick to your decision.”

And she stuck to that decision in the last 35 years that she has been an actor. She told Bliss that she has so much passion for acting and has had no atom of regret since she chose this profession.

“I love acting. I know it like the back of my hand. I appreciate the profession. I didn’t

profession have paid off as she was given an award recently by the United Nations during the International Women’s Day. Talking about the recent feat, the actress said, “It is obvious that I should be happy. I am so glad. To be honest, I have been receiving award since 1997 both home and abroad.

But this came from United Nations. It’s as if I have been uplifted some more. So I am glad I got the award.

“I am also into NGO but it is not known to the public. I have a lot of people I sponsor through school. By next year when I will be celebrating my 35 years as an actor, I would probably publicise it.”

I wish to hold political position someday – Mandy

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hese days that entertainers in Nigeria have become so much involved in politics and some even holding political position and also contesting in electoral offices, Mandy Uzonitisha said she wouldn’t mind getting into politics someday.

In a recent chat with Bliss, the comedienne said she would do so but not at the moment.

“It is not time for me to join politics. One of my greatest wish is to hold a political office. But for now, I don’t think I am interested. We have to stay by the side and push for the youth to take over.

We would be advocating for

youths to be involved.”

When asked how she has managed to remain relevant in the industry even after 26 years in comedy, Mandy said she didn’t have a choice.

“I just had to remain relevant when I still have school fees to pay. I have a child and she must go to school. So when I remember that I have to pay her fees, I just have to work hard. If I were to be an oyinbo, I would have retired. That is the problem you have when you don’t have a job that is pensionable. You will keep forging ahead and doing your best to take care of you children till they are done with school then you will take a long awaited break.

“Very soon I would relocate

with my child for a while. I didn’t want her to get her secondary education outside Nigeria but I want her to go to a university abroad. Now that she is done with secondary school, if she gets admitted to a good school, I would relocate with her and come back when she is settled,” she said.

Mandy also said that her child feels “somehow” being an only child, “But what can she do? This is not the time to start asking for brother or sister when there is cable TV.” Talking about her years in the industry, Mandy said some people still expect her to perform for them for free.

“Some people still call me and expect me to do free jobs for them. They would tell me the likes of President Buhari and (Bukola) Saraki would be there and they would want to give me that exposure so that I would be getting more jobs. Can you imagine such nonsense? Anyway, we are working on something very big for next year. We hope we are able to get sponsors. I don’t want to reveal what it is for now,” she said.

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igerian pops singers; Phyno, Simi and Kizz Daniel are ready to storm the cities of Lagos and Calabar to mark this year’s World Friendship Day. The announcement was made during the press conference organised by “33” Export Lager Beer to unveil their World Friendship Day flagship event tagged City of Friends at the Nigerian Breweries HQ in Lagos.

The artistes while expressing their excitement on the World Friendship Day celebration via their social media pages promised to thrill their teeming fans at both cities.

The artistes will be thrilling their fans with songs from their latest albums.

Phyno will be expected to drop songs Fada Fada, Authe as well as his most recent track NWA. X3M Music act Simi who is loved for her soulful tunes such as Tiff, Jamb Question, Joromi and many others will also be grace the stage to delight all in attendance. In the last two years, Kizz Daniel has proven to be a certified hit maker and will entertain the crowd with tracks like Yeba, Baba among several others.

The City of Friends event holds at the

Kizz Daniel, Phyno ready for World Friendship Day Municipal Gardens in Calabar, this this Sunday 29, while the Lagos event will hold at the Eagles’ Club in Surulere on 3 – 4 August.

The “33” City of Friends event is part of the activities marking the United Nations World Friendship Day. Aside music and dance, there is also a provision for 33 giant sized games that friends can play, enjoy and also have the opportunity to win over 5,000 gift items.

Simi thrills at JJW

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ultiple award winning singer, Simi, was just the bomb in Abuja last Saturday when she thrilled her fans during the Johnnie, Jazz and Whisky event.

JJW is Nigeria’s premier afro-jazz platform showcasing the true beauty of a live performance.

Each JJW night is best described as ‘A blend of music & flavours’.

At the show, the pretty singer dished out hit tracks off her album, Simisola and the guests had no choice but to be on their feet and dance to her incredible vibes.

Simi also showed she is not among the artistes that would require the assistance of a DJ, while miming her songs. The

young lade performed with a live band and she was really cool.

Talking about the show, the X3M music act said, “Music and I are one and the same; we are pretty much inseparable - Its gentle rhythm and pulsating notes; I’m simply lost without music. All music lovers have different flavours, but I would describe my blend of musical flavour as Creamy and Tropical; it just can’t help but take you places in your head.”

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Entertainment MTV Shuga’s new campaigns focus on HIV prevention, self-testing

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CHUKS OLUIGBO, with agency report

nitaid, the MTV Staying Alive Foundation (MTV SAF) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine recently announced a three-year partnership to introduce and evaluate storylines on HIV innovation, including HIV self-testing and preventive drugs (PrEP) into the award-winning drama series ‘MTV Shuga’.

The programme is designed to help millions of young viewers in French- and English-speaking African countries protect themselves from HIV. This follows the recent airing of MTV Shuga Season 6, ‘MTV Shuga Naija’, on MTV Base earlier this year.

The effort, unveiled during the 22nd International AIDS Conference, will span Southern Africa and Western francophone Africa and deliver three new TV series of MTV Shuga, along with a multi-media campaign that promotes sexual health. The enhanced programme will target hard-to-reach populations, particularly individuals aged 15 to 24 years.

The new MTV Shuga campaigns will be deployed in South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire between 2018 and 2020. Preliminary work for both countries begins this year. The South Africa season will deliver another instalment of “MTV Shuga: Down South” due for broadcast in the first half of 2019, followed by two seasons in Côte d’Ivoire.

MTV Shuga fuses hard-hitting storylines with sexual health messages to influence viewers’ attitudes and behaviour. The “edutainment” campaign also features a radio drama that expands on MTV Shuga storylines; print, digital and social media activity; and peer education programmes that challenge stigma and obstacles to young people’s sexual health. The campaign aims to show young people how to protect themselves from the virus, and to seek out treatment.

AIDS remains the leading cause of death among 10- to 24-year-olds in Africa, bolstering the case for innovations and in-

vestments that place a high priority on this age group. Through the MTV Shuga campaign, Unitaid and MTV SAF will shine the spotlight on young people’s real-life concerns.

MTV Shuga is produced by MTV SAF and supported by Unitaid, a Geneva-based organization that funds promising innovations, such as HIV self-testing, that have the potential to make fast, sweeping improvements in global health. The success of MTV Shuga in influencing the attitudes and behaviour of viewers will be evaluated by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

‘The Kids Holiday Club’ excites children this season

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he Kids Holiday Club’ powered by DStv promises to deliver exceptional content that will keep the children entertained, intrigued, educated and equipped with essential life skills through their favourite shows.

MultiChoice is offering the best of children’s entertainment with DStv and GOtv this holiday season.

Catch brand new episodes of Pat the Dot - Pat is the most faithful companion you can think of, he always tries to keep his best friend Lola from getting into trouble. This is however not an easy task when you have a bunch of other animals whose main intent is making his life as difficult as possible! Tune in to Boomerang in July and learn all about kindness.

My Little Pony: This show follows a studious unicorn pony named Twilight Sparkle as her mentor Princess Celestia guides her on the journey to friendship in the town of Ponyville. Tune in to NickToons and learn the value of friendship.

Furiki Wheels: Centres around a hyperactive young sloth with oodles of energy who wants to see the world, so he goes to Racers School to learn how to drive fast.

Watch it and learn how dreaming big can pay off on Disney XD. Timmy Time starts on Monday, August 6, on CBeebies. From the much-loved and criticallyacclaimed ‘Shaun the Sheep’, little lamb Timmy stars in his own TV series. Being the ‘only lamb in the flock’ Timmy has been used to getting his own way, but for the first time, self-willed and naughty Timmy is going to have to learn how to share things with other youngsters and think about their feelings – not just his.

Younger viewers get to learn valuable social skills in Bubble Guppies, catch it on Saturdays on NickJR. Also, Teen Titans Go! will teach viewers skills on how to be supportive, catch it on Cartoon Network every Saturday.

Learn how to get and stay motivated on K.C. Undercover each Saturday on Disney Channel. Oggy and The Cockroaches

features a lazy cat Oggy who enjoys living a simple life: eating and watching TV are among his favourite hobbies. Unfortunately, his roommates often get in the way of his lazy life. It will, premier on Monday, August 13 on Boomerang.

GOtv viewers are not left out of the holiday excitement, Nickelodeon has a fully charged programming stack planned for each Saturday and Sunday morning to keep children entertained and toasty warm during the chilly period.

Catch weekend Marathons of SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon. Also watch a girl named strawberry shortcake, along with her cat Custard and dog Pupcake have friendship adventures in Strawberryland.

Strawberry Shortcakes airs Saturday and Sunday starting August 4,on JimJam. In store are variety of movies for the entire family to enjoy together. So be part of the Kids club and continue the journey of fun activities and entertainment.

“Millions of people in Africa watch MTV Shuga. Our partnership with MTV Staying Alive gives us a terrific opportunity to reach young people who don’t have reliable health information and empower them to take charge of their health, including testing themselves for HIV,” Lelio Marmora, executive director, Unitaid, said.

Alex Okosi, executive vice president and managing director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa and BET International, said MTV Shuga is a powerful campaign that educates and empowers the youth across a variety of issues that

matter to them.

“At VIMN Africa , we are proud to be part of the journey of developing MTV Shuga since its inception, and to continue supporting the campaign across our network as we expand the series into new markets,” Okosi said.

“The need to focus on the sexual health of young people is more important today than ever before. With the advent of developments like HIVST and PrEP, we have a unique opportunity to effect real change in young people’s lives,” said Georgia Arnold, executive director, MTV Staying Alive Foundation and executive producer, MTV Shuga.

“Continuing a multi-platform approach for MTV Shuga helps us keep reaching youth in every aspect of their lives and encourage an ongoing dialogue in the global fight against HIV,” Arnold said.

Peter Piot, a professor and director, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said the school was delighted to be working with MTV SAF by leading studies in South Africa and Cote d’Ivoire to evaluate MTV Shuga’s impact on increasing the demand and uptake of HIV selftesting and PrEP. “With its broad reach and popular appeal across Africa, MTV Shuga has the potential to stimulate awareness of and demand for prevention and treatment services, particularly for young women and men, among whom HIV risk remains persistently high,” Piot said.

Day MultiChoice hosted fans to autograph signing with Alex Iwobi CHINYERE OKEKE

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igeria’s wonder kid, Alex Iwobi will be the new face of DStv Compact, a value-formoney package that showcases the best football leagues in the world and general entertainment content at the most affordable price.

Iwobi

As part of the unveiling of the latest DStv brand ambassador, MultiChoice recently hosted fans to an autograph signing event with the football star.

The Arsenal and Super Eagles forward was seen beaming with smiles and excitement as he posed for pictures with fans.

“It’s an honour to be an ambassador for DStv. The company’s passion for promoting sports is unrivalled across Africa and it has shown over the years that it is committed to bringing the highest quality of sporting programmes and entertainment to millions of Africans,” Iwobi said at the event.

“I am thankful to everyone who has made this possible. I am excited to be part of the DStv family,” he said.

With the new football season only a few weeks away, MultiChoice promises to deliver the best football experience on its SuperSport channels live and in HD glory to all DStv and GOtv football fans all over the continent!

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Travel

Nature awaits you this summer at Nike Lake OBINNA EMELIKE

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t is summer once again and many are set to jet out of the country to impact other economies in their quest for a wonderful outbound holiday experience. But Martins Okeh, a corporate executive, thinks and acts differently. Despite having the means for holiday in exotic destinations, he keeps it within this summer. He keeps imagining how relaxed and playful he is with the local fisherman that paddles pleasurable on the lake. Though he did not understand the fisherman’s language, he feels the rhythmic current of the lake, the smiles on the face of his host and the gestures from visitors relishing on fresh air at the bank of the lake.

“Whao, what a summer at home,” the corporate executive who used to enjoy summer abroad, exclaims as he reclines into a swimming pool bench.

Yes, that was a wonderful holiday at home with less stress, less travel wears and tears, more money in his pocket, a renewed spirit and strength to face his official responsibilities. But most importantly, Okeh is happy to have impacted the local economy during his one week stay at the resort.

Perhaps, you should look inwards this time like the corporate executive, save your hard earned money, settle for some breathtaking home-groomed excitements, and also boost the Nigerian economy that is just recovering from recession.

Bet, the wonders and breathtaking views in Nike Lake Resort will beat your imaginations and pamper you to a pleasurable relaxation typical of resorts of its like over the world.

A few metres before getting to the resort, you will behold with great awe the natural lake stretching over three kilometres with its incredible and rare aquatic population.

On getting closer, a look into the mud-coloured lake water mirrors not just your true self, but also the whole essence of leisure.

A deep of your feet into the water (though with caution), which chills all day long, will cool off the heat and stretch worn-out body tissues.

For a grand summer holiday experience, paddling on the lake is

Nike Lake now main 2 one thing that will take your mind away from the cares of this life and make your visit memorable. Besides, it makes you feel good and sooth the already aching body and nerves induce by the much pressure of work, very tight business schedules and bustle and hustle of metropolitan life.

Like a sort-of confluence, a V shape point on the lake seems to connect bold leisure seekers

to another point of the lake that flows towards the hinterland of the Agbakpa-Nike community. From there, you will see some local fishermen looking for fish to catch and sell or make their soap pot richer.

The vast lush gardens comprising children’s park, soccer field and picnic area will also indulge you.

It is really not yet late, but you can still discover this very accessible lake yourself this summer.

And it might interest you because the ground on which the hotel is built is rich with history: it was used as the headquarters of the Igbos during the civil war.

Besides, a curious leisure buff cannot wait enough to relish on the freshness and hospitality of its rural Agbakpa-Nike setting that is more than imbued with lush and natural landscape that epitomises eco-tourism in every ramification.

Having enjoyed an environment that offers breathtaking views in secure and tranquil setting, you retire into one of the resort’s 210 well-appointed rand tastefully furnished rooms, suitable for all taste and budget.

All the rooms in the resort are either overlooking the wellmanicured gardens or the lake and each room provides the comfort and luxury that is expected from an international 3-star hotel.

The hotel management invites you to dine at the Lake View Restaurant sitting over 200 guests. It’s a sight to behold and one that will induce one’s appetite.

With an in-house physiotherapist, the massage therapy centre is a cove of leisure.

To make your holiday more memorable, the resort offers to take guests to other attractions in the state, especially a trip to see the relics of the once famous coal mines littered across Enugu environs.

A visit to Ohum Spiritual Water Falls - 45km away from the resort - is worth doing, while the challenging Milken Hill, 8km away, will make a good climbing exercise.

Guests who love city life and art can visit the National Museum about 10km away to see and appreciate works of art and the artists.

The elitists and splendour games lovers can visit Enugu Golf Club, an18-hole golf course -12 miles away to excite themselves, while every other guest can take advantage of shopping and banking facilities 10 minutes drive from the resort.

You definitely will find at this serene resort everything you need to make your stay a memorable one. So give it a trial.

Getting there: By air, you can fly in from Abuja, Lagos, Calabar, among other places, to Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu. The resort is five minutes drive from the airport and only 10 minutes from the city centre. By road, you can access the resort from Lagos through BeninOnitsha-Enugu route. The AbaUmuahia-Okigwe-Enugu route serves those from Calabar and Port Harcourt, while those coming from Abuja can take the Okene-OtukpoNinth Mile-Enugu route.

Nike Lake now main

Transcorp Hilton Abuja leverages on technology to elevate guest experience …launches ICEapp by Intelity OBINNA EMELIKE

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s part of its ongoing efforts at elevating guests experience and ensuring value for money offerings, Transcorp Hilton Abuja has introduced a digital guest solution from Intelity that enables its guests to control their experiences and engage with the hotel from their personal iOS and Android mobile devices even before their arrival at the hotel.

In addition to already offering its guests a variety of hospitality technology amenities, such

as complimentary high-speed Internet access in guestrooms and public areas, the new ICEapp powered by Intelity, will equip the award-winning, five-star hotel with a direct connection between guests and the hotel team to improve guest service and communication.

With the ICEapp, all hotel services are made available on a guest’s personal iPhone, iPad, or Android smartphone or tablet.

Guests can access the information needed to personalize a stay and place requests that are sent directly to appropriate hotel team mem-

bers. Top among the mobile hotel services are pre-arrival requests, dining information, housekeeping, valet services and maintenance requests.

“We believe strongly in the digital guest experience, which includes offering a mobile app, so guests have easy access to information everywhere during their stay,”said Valentine Ozigbo, MD/CEO, Transcorp Hotels Plc, the owning company of Transcorp Hilton Abuja. “We are excited to present this innovative solution and establish our hotel as forward thinking when it comes to using

mobile to meet our guests’ needs.”

Commenting on the introduction of the mobile solution, Etienne Gailliez, general manager, Transcorp Hilton Abuja, said, “Guests want a more personalized experience, and ICEapp provides the digital engagement we need to start listening to their requests before, during, and even after their stay.

We are delighted to introduce this new hospitality technology which enables us to deliver personalized experiences to our guests.”

David Adelson, Intelity CEO, said ICEapp is not replacing personalized service, it is enhancing it.

“We are delighted to expand our relationship with Hilton Hotels & Resorts by bringing ICEapp to Nigeria,” Adelson said. “This solution gives Transcorp Hilton Abuja guests more control over their stay by turning their mobile devices into guest service tools, whether they are physically on premises or offsite – literally anywhere else in the world. It also enables the hotel’s management and marketing teams to better engage their guests and take hospitality to even greater heights.”

Transcorp Hilton Abuja’s ICEapp, is available for download on Google Play or the App Store.

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Travel Overland airways increases AbujaJalingo flights to six times weekly Stories by IFEOMA OKEKE

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ffective July 29 2018, Frontline Nigerian airline, O v e r l a n d Ai r ways will fly its Abuja-Jalingo route daily, except on Saturdays. This is up from its initial three times weekly flights on the route.

O v e r l a n d Ai r w a y s ’ flights will depart Abuja to Jalingo at 11 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Also, flights will depart Jalingo to Abuja at 1 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Aanu Benson, the chief operating officer of Overland Airways, explains that the increased flight frequency between the two cities has become necessary considering the traffic demand on the route, adding that it is an evidence of quality service, passengers’ confidence and trust in the

airline.

“With excellent services, increased patronage is only natural and this has been our story since the inception of Overland Airways.

The flight frequency will enable more business travels and connectivity between Taraba State and the country’s capital, thus, allowing for the development of tourism and trade in both

locations,” she said.

Emphasizing on the airline’s commitment to serve the economy and importantly its passengers, Benson added that “the increased flight services on the Abuja-Jalingo route is to accommodate more passengers on the route and give them more options to travel for their businesses and other engagements.”

Emirates announces special offers to Nigerian families

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elebrating the spirit of summer, Emirates Airline, has introduced a unique offer for Nigerian families travelling from Lagos and Abuja to Dubai in Economy Class, for a limited period, by booking between July 19, 2018 and August 3, 2018.

Under the theme ‘ Kids Fly for Free’, children under the age of 12 accompanied by two adults can travel for free and families who want to experience Dubai during the summer time can take advantage of the package offered at USD 2,685/- for 2 adults and 1 child travelling from Lagos and USD 2,583/- for 2 adults and 1 child travelling from Abuja. Travel must take place between July 19, 2018 and September 15, 2018.

Families can also enjoy a range of family friendly products and services to make their family trip even more comfortable and convenient with special family check-in desks, complimentary strollers at Dubai International airport, priority boarding across all airports, kids meals and toys and dedicated children in-flight entertainment,

including a collection of Disney movies, the latest kids TV shows and popular cartoons.

On all Emirates’ flights, customers can look forward to hours of entertainment on the award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice, which offers over 3,500 channels of on demand audio and visual entertainment, from the latest movies, music, audio books and games.

Dubai provides a great escape for visitors. Its yearround sunshine, world-class shopping and restaurants, stunning beaches and iconic buildings offers something for the whole family.

Visitors to Dubai can enjoy some of the city’s must-see places such as theme parks IMG World of Adventures, Wild Wadi Waterpark and Dubai Park and Resorts – the largest integrated theme park destination in the region, f e a t u r i n g Mo t i o n g a t e

She explained that Overland Airways flights are designed to consistently provide effective support to Taraba State’s economy especially the robust agricultural base with outstanding potentials in the production of fresh farm produce and other agricultural products.

“Importantly, Overland Airways will launch the first pilot project in Taraba State

to fly farm fresh vegetables from Jalingo to Abuja and other destinations. We are excited and committed to this remarkable project to support the production and consumption of healthy farm fresh vegetables. Taraba State is endowed with arable land and has recently invested in greenhouse farming and other activities to boost food production

and employment,” she said.

Overland Airways first operated a scheduled commercial flight between Abuja and Jalingo in 2016 and has since been providing efficient air transportation services for travellers between the country’s capital and the Nature’s Gift to the Nation. The airline relies on its fleet of technologically superior ATR 42/72 to move passengers reliably and comfortably between the two cities.

Now in its 16th year of seamlessly connecting cities and driving socio-economic transformation in Nigeria, Overland Airways is Nigeria’s longest-serving and most consistent scheduled commercial airline and provides premium flight services. The airline currently flies to Akure, Asaba, Ibadan, Ilorin, Lagos, Abuja and Jalingo. The airline has also announced that it will be launching its international routes this year, starting with Lome, Cotonou and Niamey, all in West Africa.

Turkish airlines embarks on exclusive sponsorship with CNN in global brand campaign Dubai, Bollywood Park Dubai, Legoland Dubai and Legoland Water Park.

Other attractions in the city include the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, traditional souks and the clear water beaches of the Arabian Gulf.

In addition to the onboard comforts and products, customers will e x p e r i e n c e Em i r a t e s ’ multinational cabin crew, w h i l e e n j oy i n g a c h e f prepared regional and international cuisine, using the freshest ingredients, accompanied by a wide range of complimentary beverages.

Emirates flies 14 times a week from Lagos to Dubai (Twice daily) and four times a week from Abuja to Dubai.

To t a k e a d v a n t a g e of this offer, or for more information on fares, terms and conditions, please visit www.emirates.com/ng or visit the local Emirates office or your travel agent.

Epum Somtochukwu

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u r k i s h Ai r l i n e s , one of the leading global players flying to more countries and international destinations than any other airline, has become the exclusive sponsor of CNN International’s newest show – Quest’s World of Wonder.

The show is a digital campaign which will further raise awareness amongst business and leisure travellers on the different services and offerings of Turkish Airlines. Starting this week through a partnership with CNN International Commercial (CNNIC), the sponsorship of Quest’s World of Wonder sees Turkish Airlines billboards around every TV episode of the new immersive travel show.

Each month the 30-minute show produced

by CNN Vision follows the inimitable Richard Quest as he visits a different destination to dig deep into its DNA, exploring what drives a city and the people who live in it. The sponsorship also features a ground-breaking and stylish product placement

that seamlessly integrates Turkish Airlines into the title sequence of each show, uniting CNN and Turkish Airlines in their shared passion for travel.

On digital, Turkish airlines has exclusive advertising on a dedicated online destination within CNN Travel for the show and additional content about the cities that Quest explores. In addition, a Turkish Airlines brand campaign will run across various CNN TV and digital platforms later this year.

“This partnership is a compelling combination of first-rate content, innovative creative solutions and clever use of CNN’s various TV and digital platforms,” Rani Raad, president, CNN international commercial said.

“Turkish Airlines has an impressive story to tell about its ever-expanding customer offering, and with this project we’re delighted to provide them the opportunity to share this story with the world through the various CNN channels. As CNN continues to set the standard for the industry we relish working with partners such as Turkish

Airlines who are willing to experiment with new ideas and go beyond traditional advertising solutions.” İlker Aycı, Turkish airlines chairman of the board and the executive committee added: “We have a strong long-standing relationship with CNN and we know the series would be in safe hands with a seasoned traveller such as Richard Quest. The series is a natural choice for us given the synergies in global appeal, reach and audience and with the upcoming opening of the Istanbul New Airport, more people than ever can travel with Turkish Airlines. “ We f l y t o 3 0 4 destinations worldwide and the 13 destination which Richard selected for this series provides a real cross section and mix of experiences. We hope viewers will enjoy the variety and take inspiration for widening their world.”

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Sunday 29 July 2018

Health&Science Muhammad Ali Pate international school of public health starts in 2019

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Stories by ANTHONIA OBOKOH

he Muhammad Ali Pate international school of public health, University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED, Ondo is to commence full operation in the 2019/2020 academic session.

This decision was reached at the first full meeting of the board of the school named after the former Minister of State for Health, Muhammad Ali Pate.

Friday Okonofua , vicechancellor, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, in his welcome address described the establishment of the school of public health as icing on the cake and a step to improve health care policies and practices in Africa.

“The naming of the School after this noble Nigerian has received wide acclaim from the government and the good people of Ondo State as well as from those who know the significance of the contributions that Prof. Pate has made to the principles of health governance in our dear country”, Okonofua said.

Also speaking Muhammad Ali Pate, chairman of the board, Muhammad Ali Pate International School of Public Health, expressed his readiness to contribute to the

success of the school.

“I really want to state how honoured I feel by the decision of Ondo State Government and the University to associate me with this undertaking. I also promise my whole commitment to help in whatever ways I can to make this a successful undertaking for the University of Medical Sciences, for the people of Ondo State, for our country, our continent and for humanity”, Pate stated.

He commended the vicechancellor, University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED, Ondo, Friday Okonofua on his visionary leadership before and after his appointment as the VC of the university.

“For me, it’s very inspiring to see what Okonofua has done before coming here and also while he has been here, for me it shows the power of positive example. And for Ondo State to establish the University of

this kind and its decision to establish the school of public health is a very good example for us in Nigeria and for the region”, Pate said.

The board thereafter deliberated extensively on the plan for curriculum development, international collaboration, infrastructural development plans and fund-raising ideas.

The board of the Muhammad Ali Pate International School of Public Health has Muhammad Ali Pate as chairman while Friday Okonofua, FAS is the vice-chairman.

Other members of the Board are A. O Fatusi, Mike Egboh, Adhiambo Odaga , Eugene Kongnyuy, Dayo Adeyanju, Dabesaki Mac-Ikemenjima, Benjamin Uzochukwu, PM.C. Asusu, Roseangela Nwuba, Yemisi Jeff-Agboola, Muyi Aina, Muntaqa Umar Sadiq and Walter Osungbemiro (Secretary).

Viral hepatitis: why you should take precautions

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o r l d He p a t i t i s Da y, observed on Ju l y 2 8 e v ery year, aims to raise global awareness of hepatitis and encourage prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

He p a t i t i s a f f e c t s h u n dreds of millions of people worldwide, causing acute and chronic disease. World Hepatitis Day is one of eight official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

At least there are about five viruses that can cause hepatitis. The three most common are hepatitis viruses A, B and C. In Nigeria the prevalence of hepatitis virus infection is high and citizens lack of awareness about the prevalence of chronic viral disease in the country linking to high number of death.

“About 20 million Nigerians have hepatitis, but many people may appear healthy physically, said Isaac Adewole, Minister of health.

The World Health Organisation says that viral hepatitis B and C are major health challenges, affecting 325 million people globally. They are root causes of liver cancer, leading to 1.34 million deaths every year.

“Hepatitis B and C are chronic infections that may not show symptoms for a long period, sometimes years or decades. At least 60 per cent of liver cancer cases are due to late testing and treatment of viral hepatitis B and C. Low coverage of testing and treatment is the most important gap to be addressed in order to achieve the global elimination goals by 2030,” say the agency.

However, the virus could have mild or no symptoms, but as the disease progresses, chronic hepatitis can lead to progressive liver failure, swelling of the lower extremities, confusion, and blood in the faeces or vomit, dark urine, itchy skin, yellow skin, whites of the eyes, and tongue.

Larne Yusuf, a medical practitioner based in Lagos said that efforts should be made to enhance public education about improving sanitation, hygiene practices and food safety.

“Hepatitis can be prevented and controlled, though recovery might take a little time.

But it is also advisable that people get vaccinated against the virus,” says Yusuf.

Yusuf further said that the following precautions could prevent possible infection of the disease by general hygiene, washing hands with soap after using the toilet.

Eat fruit and raw vegetables if you are sure they have been properly washed, practicing safe sex by using condoms and avoid multiple sex partners.

Consumption of alcohol with moderation and avoid injecting illegal drugs into the body.

He however added that Hepatitis A and C are curable, but hepatitis B is only preventable by vaccine.

Why is my kid’s poop green?

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Wired report

reen poop in kids can be alarming, but it usually not a cause for concern. Diet, such as eating leafy greens, often causes green poop. Otherwise, it may be linked to diarrhoea or bacterial infections.

Poop is usually brown, but it can change colour daily.

This is not usually a cause for concern. The reasons for green poop in kids may be different, depending on their age, such as in babies, infants, and children.

What causes poop to turn green?

Green poop can be a common occurrence in children.

Poop is usually brown because it contains bile. Bile is a brownish-green fluid that the

liver produces. Brown poop generally means that the liver and the pancreas are working normally and adding enough bile to poop.

Because bile is a brownishgreen colour, it can sometimes make the poop look green. In fact, green poop in babies and kids is not unusual.

Sometimes, the stool might even look yellow or slightly orange because of the way bile has mixed with a baby or child’s diet.

Diet and diarrhoea are two of the most common reasons for kids’ poop to turn green: Diet Most of the time, a kid’s poop turns green because the child has eaten something green. Foods that contain chlorophyll, which is the substance that makes plants green, can turn our poop green. Artificial food colouring can have the same effect.

Foods that can cause green poop in kids include: leafy greens, including spinach, kale, and lettuce, Candy, frosting,

or cakes that contain artificial colouring, iron supplements, which can turn the poop green or black Diarrhoea Diarrhoea is often a culprit in poop colour changes.

Diarrhoea happens when the small intestine cannot absorb enough water, which may often be due to a virus.

Because diarrhoea changes the amount of water and electrolytes in poop, and because the material is moving through the digestive system faster than usual, it can change the colour of poop.

Some common causes of diarrhoea in babies and children include: norovirus, rotavirus, which doctors vaccinate most children against bacterial infections, such as salmonella and also medications, such as antibiotics, caffeine, and food

poisoning.

Chronic diarrhoea in a baby or child could signal an underlying condition, such as: inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), food allergies or intolerances, such as to gluten due to Celiac disease, hyperthyroidism, cancer, although this is very rare.

Parasites can also cause diarrhoea. Since children are notoriously bad about washing their hands, they are more vulnerable to parasites.

Giardia is a parasite that spreads through contact with infected bowel movements. People with giardiasis often develop diarrhoea and a greasy-looking stool. Sometimes the stool looks green.

When to see a doctor A doctor should assess a child with very dark or pale poop. Not all poop colour changes are as harmless as green poop.

Curled from Medical News Today.

Sunday 29 July 2018

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Sports

NFF to investigate BBC’ documentary on Salisu Yusuf ... As Nigeria Football Coaches Association backs Yusuf

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Stories by Anthony Nlebem

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Friday that it has noted some media reports arising from a BBC documentary involving the Chief Coach of the Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles, Salisu Yusuf.

“For now, the NFF has commenced preliminary investigation into the matter to assist the Committee on Ethics and Fairplay,” NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, said.

Salisu Yusuf was caught on camera taking cash from men posing as football agents.

The footage was captured by controversial journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas in September 2017 – and is being broadcast for the first time by BBC Africa Eye. The chief coach of the Super Eagles, and first assistant during the World Cup, is due to lead the national team to the Olympics in 2020.

The Nigeria Football Coaches Association have pledged their support for Super Eagles Coach, Salisu Yusuf, who insists that he

is innocent of bribery allegations made against him.

This was after he was caught on camera taking cash from men posing as football agents in a

“sting operation’’.

The footage was captured by controversial Ghanaian journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, in September 2017, and was

broadcasted for the first time by BBC Africa Eye. In the video, the chief coach of the Super Eagles, and first assistant during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, appeared to have received 1, 000 dollars (N360, 000) to select two players for the 2018 Championship of African Nations (CHAN) championship.

He was further promised 15 per cent by the men posing as football agents of the players once they are able to seal a deal abroad.

The association pledged their support in a statement by its Chairman, Ladan Bosso, who is also the head coach of the Nigeria Professional Football League Club, FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

According to the statement, the association said they did not believe the coach should be held liable for any wrongdoing, even though they respect the FIFA code of ethics.

“It is clear to the blind that the coach’s stand wasn’t distorted by the “triviality“of the pecuniary gift made to him.

“The players in question prior to the issuance of the gift had already made the team, and were

in fact among the pillars of the team,” the statement said.

“We do not think that the integrity and reputation of football has been affected by this, though we shall investigate further as it dents the reputation of our association and members.

“Again, we think that the coach should be commended for stating clearly that players’ selection is based on performance.

“It makes no sense that our colleague, who earns over N3 million would stoop so low for pittance of 750 or 1000 dollars, which does not compare to the salary he earns. The trivial nature of what he received is the issue.”

The association also said that Yusuf had debunked the allegation made against him.

“Our member has since debunked the allegations in his response to BBC. “As a body, we shall investigate further this matter and where need be, sanction or caution our colleague.”

“To this effect, we stand with our member pending further investigations, to ascertain if there are any breaches of ethics,” the association said.

Ex-Eagles goalie Ikeme quits football Gov. Ikpeazu happy with construction after battle with cancer work at Enyimba Stadium

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ormer Super Eagles’ number one goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, has announced his retirement from the game at age 32.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers FC safe hands was diagnosed with acute leukaemia in July 2017.

The Nigeria international has been with the Molineux club for his whole career, making more than 200 appearances.

In June, Ikeme said he was in “complete remission” after “a tough year and intense chemotherapy”.

Ikeme had announced on his twitter handle: “After a tough year and intense chemotherapy treatment I would like to let everyone know I am in complete REMISSION. I still have hurdles to get over to be cured but I can hopefully now move forward with some normality.

“I would like to thank my family/friends, to start with who have gone above and beyond for me. The support I have received from Wolves/Nigeria, the football world and from people from all over the world has been hard to put into words. I can’t thank everyone at the Christie and Heartlands Hospital enough for their care!!! What next who knows…I’m just taking it a day at a time.”

“The doctor suggested I

should retire after the toll the treatment has taken on my body.

I can’t really risk trying to come back,” he told the Wolves website.

“My health is my main thing.

I just want to be here for my children, family and friends. In the grand scheme of things, with your life in danger, it’s a minimum price I have to pay to spend the rest of my time with my family.

“I’m happy with what I’ve achieved.”

In a statement, Wolves chairman Jeff Shi praised the goal-

keeper’s strength of character in “what has been a very challenging time for him”.

“Carl is more than just a player in our eyes - he is our brother and an important part of our family,” said Shi. Ikeme joined the West Midlands club - who won the Championship last season to earn promotion to the Premier League - as a 14-year-old.

He was a regular when Wolves won League One in 2014 and played 10 times for Nigeria, who honoured him at this summer’s World Cup by naming him as their 24th squad member.

Th e Su p e r Ea g l e s w e r e knocked out at the group stage in Russia and before the tournament their coach Gernot Rohr said: “My biggest regret is the absence of Carl.”

Ikeme was in goal for Nigeria’s first three matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying series (home and away against Swaziland in the preliminary stage, and away to Zambia in the opener to the group phase campaign) before being diagnosed of acute leukaemia. His first cap was in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Tanzania in Dar es Salaam in September 2015.

Ikeme joined Wolves in 2000 as a 14-year-old and made 274 domestic career appearances in all competitions, 200 of which came for the Molineux club.

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bia state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has expressed satisfaction with the level of work at the Enyimba Stadium, under the remodeling project of the State Government.

Ikpeazu made this known on Friday while addressing newsmen after inspecting the progress of work at the stadium in Aba. He said the project was initiated to transform the stadium to a world class, adding that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) would visit the facility for reaccreditation.

“It is better now, it is more beautiful and more digital, we think it has met world standard, the new 23 restrooms that are being built have been designed taking into consideration those with disability.

“The work that is going on indicates that the target will be met.

“The bottom line is that we want top quality work in everything we do in the stadium, we may also have to provide some facilities for indoor games like handball, tennis,” Ikpeazu said.

He said the state had a strong grassroots sports programme.

Ikpeazu said the state was beginning to make economic statement using sports and described it as a good development.

“Abia is known for soccer, handball, boxing, tennis, athletics and even sprints and we are going very strong in sprints.

“We have soccer ambassadors that represent the country and most of them are investing in football academies springing up all over the state.

“This means that no matter the number of people interested in soccer, the capacity to bring them up to date and expose them to world standard is available,” he said.

Ikpeazuassured that reconstruction work at the stadium would be completed soon as the facility would be inaugurated on 28 August.

BDSUNDAY

NEW YOU CAN TRUST

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Sunday 29 July 2018

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Ambode’s success model for security

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rue safety and security is more than just a camera on a building.

It is about securing your networks, preventing disasters, responding to threats, and communicating across channels, sectors and boundaries. And it’s about planning and collaborating. Network security and physical security are converging. Are you ready?”

-Kenneth Trump (Security expert) The newspaper headlines were catchy and captivating enough: ‘Abducted school girls rescued’.

‘Pastor held for school girls’ abduction’. ‘Jubilation over school girls’ release’. Excitement ran high.

Adrenaline pumped through the blood vessels.

Heartbeats heightened. Eyes dilated. For the avid readers- and there were millions all over Nigeria and beyond-thepalpablesenseofwonderwashowthis featwasachieved,withinsoshortatime.Andwhere else but Lagos, the Centre of Excellence!

That excerpt is taken from a piece written by yours truly on 8th March, 2016 and aptly titled: ‘Ambode and the prompt release of abducted school girls’. Yet, it is but one of the several commendable efforts on the part of the resourceful governor of Lagos State to ensure the safety of lives and property. It falls squarely in tandem with Section 14, Sub-section 2(b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which is one of the primary purposes of government. The other is the process of facilitating and fostering the welfare of its citizenry.

Any government, anywhere in the world that fails to be the protective and providing father-figure and guarantee both does not qualify as one. No amount of propaganda or nauseating excuses can change that. None. Period!

All over the world, the place of leadership in security of any country cannot be overemphasised.

In other words, there seems to be a correlation between leadership and national security.

So,whenAmboderecentlyexclaimedthat:“Our greatestachievementissecurityoflifeandproperty’ and that “Lagos is the safest city in Africa” he was saying it as it is. He knows his onions. He spoke with the passion of a patriot, as the guest speaker at this year’s Executive Intelligence Management Course with participants drawn from the Institute for Security Studies in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The significant step for us all is to glean from his success story on how he scored the bull’s eye.

This is more so at a time some of his counterparts are either politicising the insecurity challenge, or throwing in the towel as their states’ chief security officer; as bandits, or so-called killer herdsmen run rampage over their armless citizens. No one has told us who has been arming them. But Ambode is different, the inspiring exception to the rule of political cluelessness.

Back in 2015, soon after assumption of office he hit the ground running. Lagos State’s security machinery was bolstered by the huge donation of top-of-the range security gadgets.

These included three helicopters, 1004- door saloon cars, 55 Ford Ranger pick-up vans, 10 Toyota Land Cruiser pick-up vehicles, 15 BMW power bikes. Others were 100 other power bikes, 60 Isuzu trucks, two gun-boats, 15 armoured personnel carriers, revolving light sirens and public address systems. There was the donation of related functional facilities such as vehicular radio communication gadgets and bullet-proof vests.

Said he on that auspicious occasion: “Our position is clear and unambiguous: Lagos State has the capacity and the will to go after every form of crime and criminality in order to safeguard lives and property in the state”. Ever since, he has walked the talk.

What with the setting up of the Lagos Neighborhood Corp (LNSC). What about the wise establishment of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) by a Law of the Lagos State House of Assembly in September 2007 as a direct response to the security challenges in the state?

He reiterated that his government has invested a whopping N20 billion on the frontal combat against the mindless monster of insecurity over the past three years. We believe him. It became imperative after the state governor received and reviewed the report of a high powered Security Committee which it established under the chairmanship of the former Inspector General of Police. The aim was to look into ways and means of combating the growing menace of violent crimes in the state and the seeming inability of the police and other security agencies to confront this challenge in spite of their best endeavors.

The report was crystal clear- that the problem was essentially related to logistics, mobility, communications and kitting, especially when considering the peculiar security challenges in the state. It was the finding of the Security committee that a minimum of N3.7billion was required to provide standard security cover for Lagos State including the waterways. This deficit was due to the several years of underfunding of the police especially during the military regime by the Federal Government. But Lagos was going to be different!

The donation of the aforementioned stateof-the art gadgets at the inception of this administration has led to the vibrant information gathering mechanism here in Lagos. With

Ayo OyozeBaje Baje is Nigerian first food technologist in the media and author of ‘DRUMBEATS OF DEMOCRACY’

Said he on that auspicious occasion: “Our position is clear and unambiguous: Lagos State has the capacity and the will to go after every form of crime and criminality in order to safeguard lives and property in the state”.

Ever since, he has walked the talk

it, it was easy for the then Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase to detail the Special Intelligence Response Team(SIRT) to smoke out the heartless abductors of the school girls from Adamma forest, across the river in Ikorodu where they were held in captivity.

The evil cat was eventually let out of the bag.

And now, we know that it was one criminal called Lamienmu that brought the kidnapping job to ArigidithroughFelixandhisgang,Godfrey,Akpoki, Ekpokeme and Orwell. And that the members included the suspects; Pastor Akanji Oluwaseun, James Henry and Emmanuel Arigidi. The last named was one of the kingpins of the dreaded gang who triggered mindless mayhem with bank robberies that had taken place especially in Lekki, FESTAC town in Lagos and Agbara in Ogun State.

But that was just part of the unfolding odious drama. The rest, as they say is history. But this is now.

The lasting lessons to learn from Governor Ambode’s ingenious approach to governance are profound. The first is that he understands the entire gamut of what security and safety of the people he leads entails. He has the right security eggheads in place. He has carried the people along. He understands the imperative of credible information gathering system. He knows that security is expensive and is ready to face the challenge head on, putting proactive measures in place, making the needed financial sacrifices, with rapid response initiatives.

Name them: The Neighbourhood Watch, the Light Up Lagos, the frequent Town Hall Meetings and the requisite infrastructure of good access roads and modern bridges to ease traffic gridlock, the relocation of trucks and tankers are all involved.

Add these to the social security in place, which ensures that civil servants’ monthly salaries and pensions are paid as at when due, (unlike many of his fellow governors), that youth empowerment programmes are right in place and the clear picture of the people’s governor comes into view.

So, sometimes I ask myself; does this man really need to campaign for Second Term? No! Doing well has been his best revenge, or call it a master stroke!

Quick Takes

Off the Cuff

40%

How close-knit is Tinubu to Buhari?

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henever he speaks in the public, he carries the air of one who sleeps and wakes up in the “other room” of President Muhammadu Buhari. But information that filters into the public creates the impression that the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, the Jagaban Borgu, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, may not be as close-knit to the President as it is being portrayed in the open. Perhaps, they used to be.

It was in the public domain for a long time that President Buhari abandoned or, should we say, tried to “bite the finger that fed him.”

It was not a hidden alienation. It was also so serious that the First Lady, Aisha, had to cry out that those who worked for the success of her husband had been sidelined, whereas those who were nowhere to be found when the work was being done were reaping where they did not sow anything.

In February this year, Oluremi Tinubu, a rank-

ing senator representing Lagos central senatorial district at the National Assembly, recounted how sad she felt when her husband was “trashed” after the party won the 2015 presidential election. She recalled that at some points she saw no need for Asiwaju to continue his support for Buhari as a result of the treatment meted out to the political juggernaut, whose fortress is at Bourdillon, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Now the issue of the moment. Last week, President Buhari nominated Muiz Banire, a former national legal adviser to the APC as Board chairman of Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON). But the three Lagos senators, Remi Tinubu, Olamilekan Solomon, and Gbenga Ashafa, wrote a petition against the nomination.

The takeaway here is that the National Leader of the party appears not to have a serious influence on the President, even as he is being used to galvanise votes for Buhari’s second term. The thinking is that, if Tinubu still wields any influence at all, he should have even shut down the nomi-

nation while it was being hatched. Or does it mean there are other powerful elements from Lagos that have stolen the heart of the President from the Jagaban? As the matter is playing out, it does not appear that the resistance from the three senators, which some observers have termed as “the voice of Jacob but hands of Esau” is potent enough to stop Banire.

In the event that Banire is eventually cleared, it would mean that Tinubu would have to review, not only his relevance in the Buhari administration, but also his future stake in the party. It appears that the game being played is that “well, he can go ahead claiming to be in control of the party, but we are in control of government.” And if this is the true position of things, APC victory in 2019 may not be in his favour, ultimately.

Just thinking!

Zebulon Agomuo

This is the percentage slash in the levy paid in some selected markets, ordered by Governor Godwin Obaseki to boost the profit margin of traders in Edo State.

Bad politics!

After all efforts failed to hold Governor Samuel Ortom back from leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party leaders in the state decided to badmouth him, accusing him of complicit in the herdsmen killings in the state. What a pity!

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