BD Weekender Vol 5 by BusinessDay

Saturday, 05 September 2020

WEEKENDER

Editorial

Editor’s Note By Lehlé Balde | SEPT 2020

hope you are all doing well and staying as safe as you possibly can. The thought of the week for me is ‘Gratitude’. There are so many reasons to be grateful despite the ongoing global pandemic and uncertainty that faces the world. I am grateful for many things including you the readers, who turn the pages of the Weekender. We appreciate the support and feedback. Our aim is to be a pleasant informative Saturday read for Africa’s smartest dynamic young professionals. This week was a busy one as BusinessDay held its 4th annual Agribusiness and food security dialogues, which was full online conference. You can catch up here on our Youtube channel. I also moderated an online panel session on Gender lens investing with the theme ‘Investing in the new normal’ hosted by Thelma Ekiyor and the Funding space and sme.ng. It was a really great day long conversation about the future of impact investing in Africa. I wanted to take the time to shout out to amazing contributors, thanks to them our weekend paper showcases diverse perspectives every week and we are very grateful to them. This week I got the great news that our contributor Oge Modie was just appointed special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on strategic communications. Congratulations to her. I would also like to shout out to Vivian Ojo, who just added a role in the strategy team of the 4billion dollar a year, Global Fund to her list of man fun employment ( functional employment) projects. Our front cover invites you to imagine the world of art and luxury during the pandemic, as the much-anticipated Art X Lagos announces their 5th edition which will incorporate digital viewings and exlcusive private viewings. Here a bit of what you can expect in our news roundup: The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has approved the resumption of international flight operations in the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, and Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos as from September 5, 2020 while other airports remain shut. The Federal Government has adjusted the nationwide curfew from midnight to 4am as it continues the gradual easing of lockdown measures imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved the increase of electricity tariffs from 30.23 per kwh to 66 per kwh from September 1, 2020. In happy news Canada has appointed its first black justice minister and he is Nigerian. Imrane Barry, managing director of Total Nigeria Plc is charting new frontiers and staying resilient as the CEO leading the only International Oil Company (IOC) in Nigeria’s downstream sector. Under Barry’s leadership, Total Nigeria Plc has implemented diverse innovations including lubricants, insecticides and solar energy, which is being used to provide alternative power. As always discover some refreshing content including an interview with some of Nigeria’s leading media ladies, culinary delights, 5 things we discovered this week, how lack of sleep is making you fat, what you can learn about publishing your work, learn how recommendation engines work, Mompreneur and much much more. Have a restful weekend and Happy September. Thank you for reading With gratitude, Lehlé Balde

Lehlé Balde is the Editor of BusinessDay Weekender

PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Frank Aigbogun MANAGING DIRECTOR Ogho Okiti EDITOR BUSINESSDAY Patrick Atuanya EDITOR BUSINESSDAY SATURDAY Lehlé Balde EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Fabian Akagha EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STRATEGY, INNOVATION & PARTNERSHIPS Oghenevwoke Ighure MANAGER, CONFERENCES & EVENTS Obiora Onyeaso MANAGER, ADVERTS Ijeoma Ude COPY SALES MANAGER Florence Kadiri DIGITAL SALES MANAGER Linda Ochugbua HEAD OF DIGITAL SERVICES Onyinye Eze HEAD, HUMAN RESOURCES Adeola Obisesan Creative Lead Doyin Philip Design and Art Direction iSixty Contributors Olufikayo Owoeye Anthony Nlebem Art X Lagos Oluchi Okafor Akin Ifeanyi Agunbiade Oge Modie Vumile Msweli Jessica Fortune Dr. Monisola Adanijo Fikayo Babatunde Chef Melissa Uzoebo Chidera Muoka Addoyin Jaiyesimi Mercy Ayodele

Enquiries lehle.balde@businessday.ng Adverts Ijeoma Ude +2348033225506 http://www.businessday.ng/ The Brook, 6 Point Road, GRA, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria. 01-2799100 Legal Advisers The Law Union

email: lehle.balde@businesssday.ng | social: @lehlelalumiere

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WEEKENDER

News Roundup By Mercy Ayodele

elechi (Kaycee) Madu, a Nigerian-born lawyer is breaking new grounds in C a n a d a a s h e wa s r e c e n t l y appointed as the first Black minister and Solicitor General in Canada. SThis is good news especially considering the increased clamour around the world for the elimination of racism and more black representation. Madu, a 47-year-old was born and raised in the South-eastern part of Nigeria. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) honors degree at the University of Lagos and was called to bar in Nigeria.

The Federal Government has adjusted the nationwide curfew from midnight to 4am as it continues the gradual easing of lockdown measures imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Before now, President Muhammadu Buhari declared a nationwide curfew from 8pm-6pm in April as part of the measure to reduce the spread of the deadly virus. In June, the nationwide curfew was reviewed to the hours between 10pm and 4am. The presidential Tax Force (PTF) however stated that people on essential service and travellers returning from abroad are exempted from the curfew. Also, the PTF also explained that cinemas and amusement parks can also operate, with the exception of bars and nightclubs which will remain closed.

International flight to resume September 5 in Lagos and Abuja Madu started his career in Canada when he and his wife migrated to the country for his wife’s postgraduate studies at the University of Alberta. Madu runs a small ﬁrm with his wife in the city with vast experience in litigation practice.

Before now, President Muhammadu Buhari declared a nationwide curfew from 8pm-6pm in April as part of the measure to reduce the spread of the deadly virus. In June, the nationwide curfew was reviewed to the hours between 10pm and 4am.

“I spent my entire professional career ﬁghting for those who lacked means, including at Legal Aid Alberta, Labour, Immigration, and Human right Tribunals. My views on the application of justice and equality will always be integral to who I am as a father, husband, citizen, lawyer, and politician,” Madu said in a statement released on Wednesday.

The presidential Tax Force (PTF) however stated that people on essential service and travellers returning from abroad are exempted from the curfew. Also, the PTF also explained that cinemas and amusement parks can also operate, with the exception of bars and nightclubs which will remain closed.

Madu says he is determined to make the justice system represent all Albertans in a fair and accountable way. Madu is a committed family man with three children and he loves to travel. He also believes in giving back to the community in diﬀerent ways.

No one is talking about the JSS 3 students of Prince Academy in Damba-Kasaya community in Chikun LGA, Kaduna who were abducted by gunmen on 24th of August. Nigerians have been known to

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have zero tolerance for unfavourable policies or acts of violence without reprimand. This has led to the suspension of the social media bill, RUGA settlement projects amongst others. The rape cases concerning Uwa, Tina and Jennifer generated a lot of social media buzz with hashtags clamouring for justice for these girls. Surprisingly, the recent abduction of four girls who recently returned to school for their ﬁnal exams and also their teacher seems to have left almost everyone unbothered as Nigerians and the government have remained silent about the kidnap. The gunmen invaded the community on motorcycles, attacked a church and then proceeded into the school and abducted the girls and their teacher. The gunmen escaped with 17-yearold Ezra Bako, 16-year-old Happiness Odoji, 15-year-old Miracle Saitu D a n j u m a , 1 0 - y e a r - o l d F a v o u r Danjuma and their teacher 29-yearold Christiana Madugu. They have not been found and no one is saying anything.

The Federal Government approves the reopening of NYSC orientation camps. The mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has been granted approval to resume the mobilization of corps members for orientation camps since March when they program was shut down to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. According to the Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force, Dr Sani Aliyu in a brieﬁng on September 3, 2020, the NYSC authorities should consolidate on laid down safety protocols and reopen orientation camps once tertiary institutions open.

Saturday, 05 September 2020

WEEKENDER

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced that interest on local currency savings deposits will be subject to a minimum of 10 percent per annum of Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from September 1, 2020. This takes the savings interest rate from 3.9 percent to 1.25 percent per annum or 0.104 percent per month. “In line with the recent market developments, the Bank has reviewed the minimum interest payable on savings deposits as provided in its guide to charges by banks, other

Under the strategic collaboration with Visa, Sparkle customers will have greater freedom and flexibility in how they make payments. For instance, Sparkle customers will be able to make in-app payments with the embedded Visa virtual card. Sparkle app users will also be able to make eCom / mCom payments with their Visa virtual card and with Visa-branded companion plastic cards attached to their Sparkle profile. For Sparkle, which was founded by entrepreneur, tech pioneer and financial inclusion advocate, Uzoma Dozie, and whose mission is to help Nigerians fulfil their financial and lifestyle needs, the partnership is a major milestone. The partnership with V i s a a l s o h i g h l i g h t s S p a r k l e’s commitment to enabling best-in-class global solutions for its digital-only proposition.

financial and non-bank financial institutions issued in December 2020”, the CBN said in the letter. The low-interest rate on savings accounts means that depositors will be discouraged to save their monies in the bank. This slash may however be profitable for banks as it reduces their cost of funds which implies that banks can now save the money that would have gone to have gone into paying higher interest on savings deposits.

parkle and Visa join forces to empower Nigerian consumers and SMEs Sparkle, a digital ecosystem providing ﬁnancial, lifestyle and business support services to Nigerians across the globe, has today announced a new collaboration with Visa. The partnership will enable Sparkle to provide issuance of Visa cards to its users, beneﬁting consumers, entrepreneurs and SMEs across Nigeria.

The depot price of premium motor spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol has been increased to N151.56 per litre, up from N148, a development that led to most major and independent marketers selling within the range N159 to N160. “Please be informed that a new product price adjustment has been effected on our payment platform. To this end, the price of premium motor spirit (PMS) is now one hundred and fifty-one naira, fifty-six kobo (N151.56) per litre. This is effective 2nd September 2020,” The Pipeline and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of NNPC said in a memo. Less than 24 hours after the increase in the ex-depot price of petrol was announced, retail prices across Lagos and Abuja started selling between N158 and N161.70 per litre.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved the increase of electricity tariffs from 30.23 per kwh to 66 per kwh from September 1, 2020. The increase in tariff initially slated for July 1, 2020 was put on hold by the National Assembly as distribution companies intervened to push the date to the first quarter of 2021 due to the economic challenges in Nigeria. The increase came as a surprise as many Nigerians were enraged and expressed their grievances on social media. According to the document, the new tariff is based on the hours of electricity su p p ly ava i lab l e to cu sto m e rs. Customers receiving at least 12 hours of supply per day would see a rise in their electricity bill but customers who receive less than 12 hours of supply might not be affected by the new imposed tariff.

Imrane Barry, managing director of Total Nigeria Plc is charting new frontiers and staying resilient as the CEO leading the only International Oil Company (IOC) in Nigeria’s downstream sector. Under Barry’s leadership, Total Nigeria Plc has implemented diverse innovations including lubricants, insecticides and solar energy, which is being used to provide alternative power. Barry is leading Total Nigeria with a drive to be a leader in Nigeria’s downstream sector with extensive distribution networks across the country and a wide range of top-quality energy products and services. Barry is also running with the vision of tapping into the human capital in Africa by training people and knowing how to think globally and act on it. Despite the many challenges of the downstream sector such as inappropriate product pricing, bridging product supply, insecurity, irregular gas supply, pipeline vandalism, inadequate pipeline infrastructure and nonfunctional/under-functioning reﬁneries among others which would have sent investors running for cover, Barry has stayed resilient over the years. Barry stated that the reason Total Nigeria will not exit the downstream sector whether now or in the future is because of the company’s strong belief in the country. For him innovation is an indispensable key in operating in Nigeria’s downstream sector.

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Saturday, 05 September 2020

WEEKENDER

Boomerang

Job Hopping Vumile Msweli SEPT 2020

n a world where job security has risen in importance many people are afraid of job hopping. But it remains a very strategic career tool if you are able to utilise is. Job hopping historically has been seen as an indication of a lack of loyalty; naivety which is the luxury of youth; a display of an employee who lacks self-awareness or an inability to adjust or an individual who is merely money hungry. Hopping from employer to employer allows the employee to gather expertise, experience and coverage of arenas that allow them to gather best practice from across an industry or organisation, allowing the employee to become the jack of all trades and potentially being able to drive innovation and implement new industry trends. There is a disadvantage however of moving too soon allows you to gain superﬁcial experience. In climbing the corporate ladder you are usually given a probation period of three to twelve months in order for you to gain an understanding of the role. To master the role and become proﬁcient usually takes eighteen to twenty four months, so moving prior to that can be disadvantageous. In considering if and when to move you must carefully weigh the pros and cons.

Leaping from an old career to a new career where you might not have as much experience requires you to answer a number of questions. The first being am I internally ready for the external changes such as being in a new environment or earning less pay? How will I effectively explain my reason for job hopping to both the recruiter and the potential new employer? How can I show my previous experience no matter how brief would add value to the new role I would be taking on? In effectively answering these interrogations one can effectively address any concerns that a potential employer may have in considering hiring you. In job hopping you must ensure the decision to jump ship is aligned with your career strategy. You must be able to mitigate or accept the risk that comes with incessant changing of employers. You must be able to satiate your potential new employer when they as: “Why are you leaving your current role?”. If in doubt make sure you liaise with your career coach or a mentor to give you fresh insights regarding the ramifications of your decision and how to better position yourself.

Vumile Msweli is a multi-award winning career coach, international speaker and the Chief Executive officer for Hesed Consulting. Hesed is a consulting firm specializing in; career coaching; leadership acceleration; facilitation and training with presence in South Africa; Rwanda; Botswana and Nigeria. She has previously worked for reputable multi-national institutions such as Barclays, Investec, Nedbank, First National Bank and Vodafone and led global teams in Africa (Nigeria; Kenya; Democratic Republic of Congo; Zambia; Lesotho; Ghana; Tanzania; Mozambique and South Africa); and Europe (Scotland; Isle of Man and England). Vumile is an international speaker having spoken in conferences; expos; workshops around the globe on topics such as leadership; women empowerment; finance matters and conducting business in Africa. She is the host of Vumi and Veuve host Women in Commerce as well as has her own regular radio slot in Botswana’s Duma FM and South Africa’s Kaya FM. instagram: @vumimsweli | facebook: Vumile Msweli | twitter: @vumilemsweli

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WEEKENDER

things we discovered this week This list is curated by Lehlé Balde

Better Help

Oriki Spa

ORÍKÌ, a Nigerian word from the Yoruba tribe, meaning your crown, your heritage and your inspiration is a product range created to make women and men 'skinfident' utilizing only the best, efficient & potent natural ingredients & skin secrets from the richest resource Continent in the world, Africa. ORÍKÌ Group comprises of a multi-channel spa, farm to skin retail product company and a wholesale & amenity product line for spa's, hotels, and airlines. A

few months ago, I visited their spa located inside of The Lagos Oriental Hotel. The vibe is very relaxing, as you walk in you hear waterfall droplets and classical music. The place smells really nice and although I have only been to the spa once and I enjoyed my spa treatment thoroughly and will likely go back. You can check out their treatments here: https:// www.orikigroup.com/pages/treatments.

The discussion of mental health is unfortunately still taboo in some communities, however it is an extremely important part of life. Acknowledging the importance of mental health is vital, especially in the very fast paced nature of the world we live in. BetterHelp is an online portal that provides direct-to-consumer access to behavioral health services. The online

The Create Company

counseling and therapy services are provided through webbased interaction as well as phone and text communication. BetterHelp offers

Two of my absolute favourite things in this entire world are flowers and pastries. Fresh

access to licensed,

beautiful flowers have the ability to make

t r a i n e d , experienced, and accredited

anyone’s day better and sweet tasting pastries are sometimes all a person needs to make their day better.

psychologists

Imagine a company that

( P h D / P sy D ) ,

creates both flowers and

marriage and

pastries in one product?

family therapists

Discover beautiful

(LMFT), clinical

edible flower cupcake

social workers (LCSW

bouquets?

The

/ LMSW), and board

Create company

licensed professional

create company

counselors (LPC). It’s a paid

located in Lekki

service and you can download the

Phase 1 Lagos.

app on your play or IOS store.

Visit

their

Instagram but don’t say I didn’t warn you.. You are about t o e n t e r fl o w e r / cupcake heaven ☺ h

www.instagram.com/ thecreatecompanyng/

TAHG

Chia Anulude, created TAHG,

a cutting-edge urban wear brand

DANG LIFESTYLE

based in London that embodies fashion for a good cause. TAHG

For those of you who are part of the dedicated and ‘woke’ community of over

partnered with a charity that helps

500,000 people that follow ‘Diary of Naija Girl’ on Instagram and Twitter, you

less-privileged kids get back to

will know exactly what this is. I started following the community online, earlier

school. It has since evolved into a

this year and I soon learned that the person behind the account, Ifedayo who

social movement for the fashion-

describes herself as a writer, community manager and entrepreneur, was still

forward who want to make a difference.

virtually unknown to her online community of 500,000 people. She recently

Since 2015, through their sales, they have

unveiled her first ever picture during the pandemic and this shows how

helped up to 13,000 people in need through TAHG.

engaging her content is because, typically large online communities are

partnerships, sponsorships and volunteering. The impact has

associated with the person running the account. She started a lifestyle brand

been felt in places such as Abuja, Lagos Sate, Anambra State and the United Kingdom. I got

called DANG Lifestyle which is a shopping and retail company that sells

the ‘Melanin Goddess’ T-shirt, the heart shaped mask and the ‘Bee You’ shirt. The mask is

fragrances, homeware, skincare and fashion. I ordered their candles before the

very ‘breathable’ and super cute. I also can’t wait to rock my shirts. You can make your

lockdown and they smelt divine. My favourite flavour is the Brandied Oud. You

order on their website www.thetahg.com/products

can check it out here: www.danglifestyle.ng I love how she instilled trust in her

They ship worldwide. Follow them on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/_tahg/

community without us even knowing what she looked like through her carefully well thought out and thought-provoking posts.

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Saturday, 29 August 2020

WEEKENDER

Interview

Ojy Okpe

Seyitan Atigarin

An interview with Ojy Okpe, Seyitan Atigarin, Laila Johnson Salami, and Adefemi Akinsanya of Arise News Lehlé Balde SEPT 2020

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Adefemi Akinsanya

Laila Johnson Salami

here is a saying that goes like this… ‘A woman alone has power, but collectively women have impact’. History has shown that when women channel the power of collaboration and support one another, amazing things can happen and there is evidence that shows that women who support other women are more likely to be successful. In this interview with Lehle Balde, Editor of the BusinessDay Weekender, 4 very talented journalists: Ojy Okpe, Seyitan Atigarin, Laila Johnson Salami, and Adefemi Akinsanya, open up about what it’s like to work in the media as journalists, at one of the most-watched and fastest-growing international 24/7 news channels out of Nigeria, Arise news. Prior to the pandemic and particularly at the height of COVID-19 in Nigeria, these ladies distinguished themselves with their stellar and a very accurate reporting that the nation and diaspora depended on to understand the state of the nation during the uncertain year that 2020 has turned out to be. As part of the fourth estate, journalists across the country acknowledge their inﬂuence and status among the greatest powers of a nation. These 4 women are part of the group of individuals who seek to use their voices to tell important, groundbreaking and newsworthy stories with the aim of keeping the public informed and keeping decision-makers accountable for the policies and decisions that aﬀect our nations. These women are shaping the future of journalism and media in the country and across the continent and the rest of the world while being supportive of one another and trying to balance their colorful multifaceted lives.

Saturday, 29 August 2020

WEEKENDER

Laila Johnson-Salami, a global journalist and media personality, changing the narrative one conversation at a time. She is a Politics and International Relations Graduate from the University of Westminster, who spent the early years of her career working with governments and nongovernmental organizations on policy and sustainable development. Currently, Laila is an anchor on Arise News' daily 'News Day' show, a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation #GoalKepper and a contributor to the Financial Times and Commonwealth Secretariat. Her consistent passion for sustainable development has birthed both her organization, the We Rise Initiative, and her company, Forth Strategies.

Ojy Okpe Meet Ojy Okpe Nigerian model Ojy was discovered at the age of 17 by talent scout Jan Malan who entered her into the face of Africa competition. Ojy emerged in the world of modelling to get rave notices and acclaim after the face of Africa competition in which she was a ﬁnalist. With a contract from Storm Model Management, Ojy moved to South Africa to pursue work and could not escape the attention of the fashion industry. Within weeks of modelling this stunner graced the pages of Elle, Cosmopolitan, Drum, True Love and strutted the runway for SA fashion week.While modelling and living in New York, she completed her university degree as a scholarship student at St. Johns University with a BSc. in Communications and a minor in Film Production. After completing her college degree in 2006, Ojy went on to create her foundation, working with the Salvation Army and the Red Cross, she has built up skills that would help her maximize her passion for underprivileged children. She is now the host of the Morning Show on Arise News.

Adefemi Akinsanya

Adefemi Akinsanya a British-born Nigerian Journalist. She holds a BA in International Politics from King’s College London. Her six years in journalism encompasses time at Al Jazeera, Reuters, TRT World, and Arise News. Adefemi speaks four languages, is an avid athlete and a dedicated Arsenal supporter.

Seyitan Atigarin

Adefemi Akinsanya Laila Johnson Salami

Seyitan Atagiran, an award-winning TV Presenter, Broadcast Journalist, Event host, and the Creative Director of Abebibytan. Her career spans working in various TV, Radio and online platforms including Channels, Ebonylife TV, Red TV & Inspiration FM. She also hosts an informative miniseries titled What if on her IGTV which seeks to create alternative realities regarding current issues so people can begin to think outside the box. Seyitan is currently an Entertainment Correspondent for Arise News Television.

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Below are the excerpts from the interview : Journalists have a responsibility to keep decisionmakers accountable. What's the most difficult thing about having these discussions? Laila: I would say that the most difficult thing about having these discussions is definitely knowing that you’re likely to speak to someone who overlooks facts and evidence in front of them. Politics really and unfortunately is all about selfinterest and decision-makers often run away from accountability to protect their self-interest, which makes it difficult to have these conversations. But consistency and confidence in your approach always goes a long way sometimes you have to be that thorn in someone's side! How did you get into journalism and presenting and what makes a great segment in your opinion? Seyitan: My journey into journalism was an intentional one, I have a degree in Mass Communication and a Masters in International Broadcast Journalism. A lot of people don't know this, but my first job after university was as an intake planner at Arise News London. I did that for 6 months before I moved back to Nigeria to continue my career, in presenting and journalism. About what makes a great segment, in my opinion, the most important thing are your stories, they are the foundation on which the segment stands. Then as a producer, it's important to get the right assets i.e. images, videos, and guests that help tell the story, and last but not the least is you, yourself the presenter being able to disseminate information gathered in a concise manner. How has COVID-19 changed the way in which you work? Ojy: The COVID-19 Pandemic has certainly affected the way we all work in terms of the safety protocols that have been put in place to curb it’s spread in the work place. I have certainly taken Social distancing and wearing of the ‘face mask’ very seriously when I am at the office, but as an anchor, reporting the news live daily has been a routine that even COVID-19 cannot change. What motivates you to wake up every day and chase these important conversations/stories? Adefemi: Greed. There are many stories waiting to be told here in Lagos, it makes me feel like a kid in a candy store where my eyes are bigger than my stomach. Meeting people, listening to their experiences, joining them during a day in their lives, and then doing their stories justice. I love the entire process so I always want to do more and more. Television journalism requires you being on -call pretty much 24/7. How do you find the balance between work, life, and other responsibilities? Ojy: I have been in front of the camera pretty much all of my professional career, from being a model to becoming a mum and now a journalist. I just take it one step at a time. Being a journalist, I know how important it is that people depend on me for accurate information, so now my job comes as a priority. I take my time to research my stories before presenting and everything else falls in place. It’s like I was built to do this without even knowing. Adefemi: That's one thing I struggle with being in Nigeria. In the throes of the lockdown, work was the only thing I could do freely. Naturally, it became what I spent most of my days doing. Shooting stories and then coming back to the newsroom to edit them. I would video chat with my family abroad while I'm on the road and again before I sleep. Now life is returning to some form of normalcy, I've enjoyed socializing with the girls and meeting new people but honestly, work remains the heaviest weight making it hard to balance much else on the scale.

Laila: It definitely gets easier over time. When I first started off on The Morning Show and I was waking up at the crack of dawn every day at the age of 22, I struggled. I wanted to have evenings out with my friends, I wanted to not be tired enough to hang out with friends and family after work but that was not the case. I found that my whole life revolved around my job for the first few months, but with time you become more disciplined, and with discipline, it’s easier to have a routine and a schedule. Loving what I do is definitely the motivation because just knowing that you’re on call 24/7 keeps you up at night. I realized over time that I had to make my life as convenient for myself as I could - so I moved closer to work which really helps, I literally live a minute away from the office. My boss has also proven to be a huge respecter of my time and understands that balance is important, so I don’t find myself in many situations where my job has interrupted other aspects of my life. These days I’m usually able to balance things out a lot better! Seyitan: Truth is I'm still figuring it out, It is quite the challenge as most young Nigerians have a "side hustle", however Arise has created a conducive environment that leaves room for some flexibility. We are sent our schedules at the beginning of every week so you can plan ahead. When an emergency comes up though, you have to show up as the news waits for no one. How important is it to have friends and supporters in the workplace? Laila: It’s so important because these are people walking as close as anyone will to walking in your shoes, so they are people that you can lean on. Seyitan, Femi, and Ojy have been such a support system to me at Arise. I actually remember being skeptical of Ojy when I first joined because she was so warm and welcoming of me and for some reason it made me feel on edge. When I realized that Ojy is genuinely the kindest and most caring person you will ever meet, her support became everything to me. And imagine having someone around you that always finds a reason to smile - that's my Ojy. Then along came Femi and Seyitan! I think I clicked with Femi immediately because she grew up in London and we had a lot we could relate to. I also found her extremely inspirational (still do, she's just a package of brilliance) and her energy just radiates! Seyitan and I just bundled into a friendship that I am so grateful for because I turn to her every day now really. Our support for each other feels like it's always been innate and I wouldn’t change that for anything. I keep Frosties (her favorite cereal and probably her favorite food) in my apartment just for her and I get upset when someone else touches them...yes. Just knowing that these three amazing women who I see as my older sisters are there for me in the workplace gives me confidence and keeps me going. Ojy: I cannot overemphasize the importance of having friends in a workplace. It’s great for the moral support and the energy it brings. I love all the ladies at Arise News. God has blessed us all, with all the love we share! It takes a village to put together a great show, so working in a supportive environment is the oil that keeps the show ‘reel’ rolling. Seyitan: It is very important to me but I have also taught myself to thrive if that isn’t the case. However, there is some comfort knowing that there are persons you share a workspace with who have your back, it boosts morale and you are inspired by their support and I get that with Laila, Femi, and Ojy. Ojy is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, I remember the first time I had to produce my segment on the rundown myself (please note if you don’t know that thing, no hope for you). She spent her entire morning helping me, she genuinely wants to see you succeed and always, always has a word of encouragement to give.

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different backgrounds from different corners of the globe and the company is open and accepting of all our different backgrounds. But honestly, if we’re speaking about coverage during the pandemic, all hail Queen Femi. Femi, as I said, inspires me. While the rest of us would head home from the studio to isolate before a new day on air during the lockdown, Femi would head out to get the reports that you saw. She was brave, consistent, and did such an amazing job for the channel. Any advice for young women looking to enter the media industry?

Laila, Seyitan, Adefemi Have I mentioned her fire show, What’s trending? I’m addicted. Laila on the other hand, I commonly refer to as my little sister, who is my big sister wrapped in one, as she plainly just takes care of me as a big sister would. I was first blown away by how intellectual and shrewd she was, don’t get me started on her interview game, then I found out she was 23. Hold up! we clicked instantly from our first conversation and when months later ended up on the same show, it just flowed naturally. Literally, the high’ light’ (pun intended) of my days in the office. Now with Femi, she resumed just a week after I did. She was the “new girl” and I understand exactly how she felt being in a new space, so I walked up to her and introduced myself and can I just say the rest is history. We talk about work, grab lunch, work out, and on Sundays Co-host the Morning Show together and I still can’t get enough. Literally, good vibes all her. Adefemi: The worst time in my career was because of a toxic newsroom. It was awful. I had a line manager who didn't believe in me and was disgusted by my ambition. The stress took a toll on my physical and mental health and I vowed never to tolerate toxicity again. Arise, thankfully, is different. The friends I've made here are great. Seyitan was the first friend I made in the office. We were both relatively new to the Lagos newsroom, somewhat underestimated, in our previous experience and so we clicked. Likewise with Ojy and Laila, a sisterhood has been made. It makes me look forward to coming into the newsroom and seeing happy faces. We are all each other's cheerleader and those organic connections underscore how much value there is in a positive workplace. Arise differentiated itself during the pandemic with excellent reporting, coverage, and world-class journalism. In your opinion what are the keys to running a successful news channel? Adefemi: Arise is very good at letting journalists do what they want. Do you want to be a reporter? Go to the field and shoot a story. Do you want to be a presenter? Come and take a screen test. Do you want to be a producer? Let's see how fast and how well you can write a story. I've learned to use the freedom of opportunity here to my advantage. There's a sink or swim culture at Arise, but the funny thing is, no one ever drowns. Picking the right anchors, consistency in storytelling, and being at the forefront of current affairs and events. Ojy: I think what our chairman has done differently from other news channels, is to identify the talent in all of us, he challenges us to excel. Mr. Nduka Obaigbena is a true believer in growing talent, and because of that, we have all delivered excellent reporting. As a news channel, you have to continue to redefine your organization in ways that sets you apart from the rest. Laila: Having dedicated employees who are dedicated because you motivate them. That's number one. Number two is being open to diversity - at Arise we all have

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Ojy: Yes. Dedication and discipline! It’s also very important to identify a mentor In the industry, follow directions, it all doesn’t happen in one day. Laila: When I first started off in the media, a friend with years of experience said “there will always be someone who comes along with an edge that stands out. You have to always ask yourself what you need to do and what it is that you have that keeps you relevant. That is how your career will stand the test of time.” - some of the most valid advice I’ve ever had. More so, I would say, please always remain true to yourself, there is only one you. Seyitan: Buckle up! It's not going to be easy. This might sound like a cliché but you need to have a passion for it. The media industry seems very “glamorous” from the outside but it is a lot of hard work. It comes with its own share of low moments, disappointments, and setbacks. So, if you don’t love your craft those moments hit you really hard and affect your ability to keep going. Stick it through though and amazing things will happen! Adefemi: Be intentional and fearless. When I was starting out, I didn't know anyone in the industry. Journalism in the UK can be a guarded industry with gatekeepers trying to maintain the white and elite status quo. So don't be afraid to knock on doors you don't recognize. If they don't open, look at the names on the envelopes being delivered through that door and send emails, request meetings, shoot whatever content you can on your mobile phone, and share it until you get the response you want. I fight for the opportunities God has dropped in my lap. A combination of grit and grace. What do you do for fun? Adefemi: EAT! I love food. I've been using my time in Lagos to learn how to cook more native dishes. I share the process on my Instagram stories. Sometimes they're a success, most times they're a failure but I'm getting better with each dish. Next, I'll be tackling Ikokore, a traditional Ijebu meal made from yam pulp. Hopefully, I'll make Ijebu-Ode proud! I also workout 3-4 times a week and relish those sessions even if I cry trying to complete a routine. Seyitan: Pre- COVID, travel was my go-to thing to do for fun. That or, a beach day, drinks with friends, movie night. The usual. Laila: Two things: head to the beach or head to Ibadan. I’m a water baby, I’ve always been and I love spending my weekends at the beach. I’m also from Ibadan, born and bred and there is nothing better than being home for the weekend. I’m in love with Ibadan, it is such a beautiful city to me with so much culture and diversity that I think is often overlooked. If I’m not at the beach and I’m not home in Ibadan, I’m probably in my apartment with Seyitan and my dog, Pablo. Ojy: I know we all love the beach! But most importantly we all support each other, especially when work becomes unbearable, so sometimes we cool off at RSVP!

Culinary Delights

Saturday, 15 August 2020

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Culinary Delights By Lehlé Balde

Cafeteria- The perfect post lock down dine-in experience Lehlé Balde AUG 2020

ello foodies of Lagos, welcome to another edition of Culinary Delights'. I hope you are all doing well and staying safe.

I know many of you expected me to be back dining out as soon as the lockdown was eased on August 14th when many restaurants opened at 50 % capacity. Contrary to popular belief, I was actually at home and was unsure about how I felt about going back out and eating in restaurants. I was certain that if and when I ventured out, it would have to be to a small place, whereby I was sure of the safety measures that had been put in place to keep customers safe, which is why Cafeteria was my official first dining out experience since the lockdown. One of the reasons why Cafeteria was a safe choice for me is because, over the time period that they have been opened, I have subconsciously formed a sense of trust in relation to the restaurant. I believe that in this COVID-19 era, the trust that consumers associate with a restaurant will likely guide where people choose to spend their time. Located on 16 Akin Adesola in the budding neighborhood of Victoria Island Lagos is Cafeteria a cafe/diner that opened its doors late last year and quickly became one of the 'it' spots in the area. Cafeteria has a chic, minimalist design, furnished with peek the burnt orange seats; lightbulb word art; and a see-through kitchen reminiscent of a diner somewhere in New York that for a second you might almost forget that you are in Lagos. Lagosians were excited that a fresh new cafe/brunch spot was had opened its doors and this provided a much-needed alternative for brunch, lunch, and dinner options around town, Cafeteria also quickly became one of the most 'Instagrammable' restaurants in Lagos. Apart from the fact that the food on the menu is very tasty and creatively put together, one of the reasons customers keep coming back to Cafeteria is because of their impeccable customer service. The owners and staff of this restaurant quite literally put their heart and soul into ensuring their customers have a good experience and this is what differentiates Cafeteria from other places.

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As I walked in, my temperature was checked and I was given hand sanitizer. All the staff were wearing nose masks and the spot was squeaky clean. I have to say that this put me at ease. I saw that they had added a few new items to the menu and because I have tried most things on the menu, I opted for the cheesesteak melt with fries and I also ordered the fresh berries and golden pancakes. The steak melt was just right and the flavors of the cheese and steak pieces were a delightful experience up to the last bite. Cafeteria seems to have perfected the art of creating perfect sandwiches and toasties and overall breakfast type food. The pancakes were soft, berries were fresh and the syrup on the pancakes was just right, not too sweet. I really enjoyed my food and was clearly very hungry this day ☺ Like most restaurants Cafeteria was closed for dine-in and only open for delivery and this took a toll on their revenues, but one thing is for sure the owners of this space have a positive outlook and attitude and are grateful to all the customers that still patronized them despite the lockdown and are looking forward to welcoming customers into the space in a safe and socially distanced manner. Pop in for a bite to eat or order from them. Their delivery is efficient and timely and you will absolutely love the food. Call them on +234 818 188 8993. You can also check them out on Instagram @cafeteria_ng

Cheesesteak melt and fries

N4,500

Berry pancakes

N 4,500

Creamy milky matcha bubble tea

N 2,800

Total

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During the lockdown, I ordered from the Cafeteria menu for delivery on several occasions, and I realized that the lockdown exposed the restaurants and eateries that provided value for their customers beyond just the restaurant space or ambiance. Ordering from cafeteria during the lockdown deﬁnitely made my days brighter. I decided to go on a random weekday, on my way home from work to avoid any potential crowds, and luckily the place already has limited seating capacity so I felt safe going there with the 50% dine-in regulations.

N11,800

Saturday, 05 September 2020

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Be REAL Oge Funlola Modie SEPT 2020

ow does one measure authenticity in a world that is full of smoky mirrors? The onset of new media has set unreal standards for people (young and old) and created unhealthy living patterns and a very judgemental society impacting mental health in a most negative way. What do you do to ensure you don’t lose yourself amidst the noise? Just Be REAL R emain Focused E njoy the journey A udacity to honour L et go of wrongs Remain Focused Focus is critical in life. When you focus on something, chances are you will be successful at this thing, simply because focus brings all your energies into that one thing and creates a tenacity to see it created. If you have decided to follow a certain course for your life– let your focus drive you towards resources that will help your journey. Never compare yourself with other, a key distraction that impacts your focus. Quick to follow distraction is discouragement, once that happens, your energies dissipate to manage the emotions that come with this distraction; anxiety, fear, doubt, anger, etc, all negative emotions that sap your energy levels. Always understand that we are created uniquely by God. No one person is the same. Focus on what you have chosen to become and be resolved to beat all odds to get there. Enjoy the Journey Take time out to celebrate your wins!! You have gotten this far and you are standing despite all you have been through. Don’t beat up yourself when things aren’t working out the way you desire. Remind yourself of the journey and the many challenges you have surmounted and keep MOVING!!

Take time to create good memories along life’s journey, use these lovely memories as emotional anchors. Whenever you feel you are in a bad place, use these anchors (music, poems, pictures etc) as pick me ups. Enjoy the journey, celebrate your wins and stay grounded in your resolve to keep going. Audacity to honour This is about you being and staying humble. Yes! Humility must be the hardest part of life however that’s really the unsung hero in the room and the best way to make it to the top of the ladder! Audacity to honour simply is giving honour to everyone even to the least among you. This means to give or show respect to all in spite of age and income! This builds trust and camaraderie (mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together) and keeps you grounded. Let Go of wrongs Oﬀenses will always happen however, your reaction to them determines your level of maturity and willingness to grow as an individual. I have heard this often and not sure who said it; “if you stop to rant at everyone who throws a stone at you, you will never make it to your destination on time or at all.” You must learn how to Let Go!!! I always say don’t take things personal, you will live longer! You really shouldn’t be focused on what people think you are. Be focused on achieving. Cultivate a trust relationship with those that matter on your life journey. Let them know your capabilities and your ability. Be faithful in what you do and always aspire to shine brighter. That way you are consumed with becoming the best and authentic version of you and a better individual to those around you. The naysayers shouldn’t bother you! Let go, once you start to carry all the unnecessary heavy burdens of gossip, malice, bitterness etc, your become too burdened to move forward. Learn to forgive without even an apology from the oﬀender in sight. You have too much ahead of you to bother about opinions and perceptions.

Oge is a published author, writer and speaker. She is the Editor and writer of GetFearlessly AunthenticTM Newsletter, a personal leadership newsletter that chronicles her life as a professional. She is involved in causes for women, young people and the vulnerable. She loves to read comics, watch comedy flicks, listen to music and play golf. Shares her love threefold- Love for God, Love for People, Love for Country. ogemodie.com

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Art of the Week

Lady Skollie, PAPSAK PROPAGANDA - When I was 5 my school took us to the farm of a white man and we stamped on grapes..., 2019, Mixed Media on Fabriano, 200 x 100 cm Image Courtesy of Everard Read Gallery and ART X Lagos - West Africa’s Premier International Art Fair. Learn more at www.artxlagos.com

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Cover Story

Announcing the 5th Anniversary Edition of ART X Lagos Planning for a unique virtual experiment SEPT 2020

Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka and Artist Obi Okigbo at the Debut ART X Lagos Fair in 2016

he 5th Anniversary Edition of ART X Lagos, West Africa’s premier international art fair is opening from 6th November 2020. With the whirlwind of change that the global pandemic has effected on communities, organisations and industries across the world, the company remains firm in its commitment to champion artistic excellence from Africa and its Diaspora as it proudly celebrates the fifth year of West Africa’s premier international art fair - ART X Lagos. Since its maiden edition in 2016, ART X Lagos has welcomed over 30,000 guests to witness the best of African contemporary and modern art from 300 artists, as well as riveting talks with key figures, interactive projects and installations, and of course, the coveted ART X Live! show the one-of-a-kind fusion experience merging art and music. We are grateful for all of the support given during these remarkable years. As plans are perfected for the 5th Anniversary Edition of ART X Lagos and we reflect on the past four years, ART X Collective celebrates members of its community for their invaluable support, saying thank you to the galleries, featured artists, sponsors, patrons, collectors, partners, the media, art lovers and everyone that has contributed to our success, and with whom we have created priceless memories. This sense of gratitude, combined with a desire to continue to contribute to the advancement of the community, This sense of gratitude, combined with a desire to continue to contribute to the advancement of the community,

led to the launch of ART X Review - a mentoring opportunity for young talent, designed to encourage budding artists to keep creating during these uncertain times. ART X Collective is committed to its role as a catalyst within Nigeria and Africa’s art ecosystem, and is excited about the potential of this new initiative. Reinforced by this spirit of gratitude, the 2020 art fair will deliver the opportunity to encounter stunning artwork by the continent’s talent through a series of immersive physical and virtual events. The health and safety of all guests, partners and teams, remains the utmost priority and as such physical interactions will be limited this year, whilst enabling powerful connections with art and creativity as has been the case over the years. A mix of curated projects will expand the imaginations of the fair’s diverse audiences, while collectors will be able to view a selection of unique artworks in-person by appointment, with a supporting digital presentation giving access to the fair’s wider, global audience. ART X Talks will deliver a roster of poignant virtual conversations, and ART X Live! will feature an exciting line-up of emerging music and art talent, brought together in a unique virtual experiment. Programming details for these events will be announced shortly.

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ART X Live! 2017’s Creative Director Dj Aye! And Ghanian Artist Amarae

“This year has tested the very essence of our humanity, and has brought upheaval to us all, with unique challenges to artists and entrepreneurs in the culture sector. The 5th Edition of ART X Lagos will be the culmination of creativity, grit and purpose, in spite of adversity. Our previous editions have shown ourselves, and the world, what is possible within the African imagination, when we come together, united by our passion and enthusiasm for our continent’s creators. Our belief remains, that the future is bright for Africa and its creative talent, and we are thankful to our community for joining us to make this a reality”. Tokini Peterside Founder & CEO, ART X Collective.

A guest at our 2018 Fair with Ben Enwonwu’s Tutu (1974)

About ART X Lagos Launched in 2016, ART X Lagos is West Africa’s premier international art fair, which was designed to showcase the best and most innovative contemporary and modern art from the African continent and its diaspora. Since its debut, four highly successful editions of the fair have held, and firmly anchored ART X Lagos not only as a cornerstone of the Nigerian art and cultural scene, but as one of the most exciting emerging art fairs on the global calendar. More than 30,000 visitors from Nigeria, Africa and across the world have visited ART X Lagos to see the works of Africa’s leading established and emerging artists. Through its contribution to the increased visibility of African artists, the fair aims to reinforce the visual arts as an important component of the creative industry in Nigeria and Africa, and to position Lagos as an emergent cultural capital on the continent. ART X Lagos was founded by Tokini Peterside, and is owned by ART X Collective Limited. Its executive team is supported by an Advisory Board comprised of - Constantine Labi Ogunbiyi, Dudun Peterside, Evelyn Oputu, Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman, Femi Lijadu, Jess Castellote, Junaid Dikko, N’Goné Fall, Papa Omotayo and Reni Folawiyo. For more information please visit: www.artxlagos.com.

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Saturday, 05 September 2020

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Tell Your Story, So Netflix Doesn’t Chidera Muoka SEPT 2020

rands leverage the importance of third-party storytelling because it gives visibility and creates awareness. This process has systematically removed the power of telling stories from the brand and gives it to third-party platforms. Did I lose you? You create a campaign; you share it with media houses and platforms that align with the values such as yours. As the campaign grows, almost every reference of that campaign lives outside of your platform. This third-party structure is a blessing and a curse. For French-Senegalese Director, Maïmouna Doucouré it was the latter. The impact of having third-party platforms share your story is the immense reach that story will have and the impact that comes with it. But what happens when this story is misconstrued? Maïmouna Doucouré wrote and directed her debut feature “Cuties”, which won the World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award at the Sundance Film Festival in February this year. Inspired by an amateur talent show, she saw young girls dressed in sexy outﬁts and dancing a suggestive manner. While speaking about this at the Sundance Film Festival, she says, “I asked myself if these young girls understood what they were doing.” Her research led her to a world that exposed young girls on social media to a world they barely understood. Sexual objectiﬁcation creates more value on social media and young girls just mimic what they see without understanding the mechanisms. She aimed to create a movie that addressed this issue.

One of the major film distribution sources of the pandemic has been Netflix. Whilst marketing this campaign early in the month, the poster showed the young girls of the film in suggestive dance poses. The description of the film also read, “Amy, 11, becomes fascinated with a twerking dance crew. Hoping to join them, she starts to explore her femininity, defying her family’s traditions.” This misleading summary and poster led to Change.org petition to remove the film from Netflix, this petition has over 50,000 signatures. The greatest asset Doucouré had was the fact that she had owned and shared the narrative of this story months prior to its Netflix release and had people who had been part of that storytelling process approach this misrepresentation for what it is. This recent event which has sparked a conversation around the sexualization of 11-year-olds and the miscommunication by global brand Netflix has done two things in the world of storytelling. The world is aware of the sexualization of our young girls and this movie will not only start a conversation but have ripple effects to see the curb of this reality. We are all aware of how powerful it is to tell your own story, regardless of how little the platform might be. Your story would only be told in the format you communicate it to the public, and if a similar event like what happened to Doucouré occurs, you’d not only have the soldiers to kill it, you’d have records of your story in its authentic format.

Chidera Muoka is a multipotentialite and creative director. A firm believer of storytelling committed to pushing compelling narratives through her storytelling agency, House of ZETA. social: @themadamezeta | linkedin: Chidera Muoka

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Saturday, 05 September 2020

Human Resources

WEEKENDER

SHORTLISTED CEOS

Bimbo Abioye Fintrak Software Co Ltd.

Saleem Adegunwa Rite Foods Ltd

Akinwande Ademosu Credit Direct Ltd

Esigie Aguele VerifyMe Nigeria Ltd

Patrick Anegbe Intercontinental Distillers Ltd

Valentine Chime inq. Digital Nigeria Ltd (formerly Vodacom Business Nigeria)

Amy Jadesimi LADOL

Patrick McMichael Eat ‘N’ Go Ltd

Femi Adeoti Inlaks Ltd

Don Ebubeogu Tiger Foods Ltd

Paul Odunnaiya Wemy Industries Ltd.

Titi Adeoye Sankore Investments Ltd

Fejiro Hanu Agbodje Patricia Technologies Ltd

Obi Ezeude Beloxxi Group

Ahmad Farroukh Smile Communications Ltd.

Thomas Pelletier Massilia Motors / CFAO Nigeria

Adebola Sheidu Brains and Hammers Ltd

To register, please visit http://bit.ly/tceonba2020 FOR INQUIRIES & SPONSORSHIPS Kristabel Eriaye

0802 557 6094

kristabel.eriaye@businessday.ng

Seun Oni

0809 945 1851

seun.oni@businessday.ng

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Saturday, 05 September 2020

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What I learnt from my first attempt to get my work published Adedoyin Jaiyesimi SEPT 2020

“You write so well. You should get your work published.”

hat comment was from one of my colleagues. Me? Published? It had never crossed my mind before she said that, and this wasn’t one of those comments that people say in passing. She actually meant it. Let me tell you the backstory of how we got to this point. I had started an internship with a management consulting firm and during my break time, you’d find me reading articles from the top Nigerian blogs of that period. One day, as I consumed my daily dose, my colleague turned to me and asked why I loved reading “those long articles”. I had to explain to her that reading is one of my hobbies and I enjoyed writing in journals, even though it had been a while I had written anything. She encouraged me to write something and every day, she would follow up with, “Have you written something now?” I eventually wrote a story so that she would leave me alone. I had no idea that the story would lead to something even bigger. My colleague now wanted me to publish what I had written. Just as I began to wonder how I would get it published, she asked me to reach out to the editors of the blogs I visited frequently. At this point, I began to panic internally. Was my work really good enough to be featured on such platforms? How would I just send a random email to the editor? I was merely an intern. You can imagine that this colleague was quite the persistent one so I knew I had to do something. I summoned the courage some days later to write to one of the editors. I introduced myself as a budding writer and mentioned that I had a piece that could be featured on their website. Till date, I am still waiting for their response. Because my colleague wasn’t going to rest until my work was published somewhere, I reached out to the owner of another platform I had stumbled on in my quest for fictional content through LinkedIn. Thankfully, she responded and although she could not feature me on her website, she redirected me to another platform where I sent my story to.

Three weeks after that, my story was published on that platform. I’ll confess, it felt good and it gave me the courage to do more. As I began to write more articles and stories, I honed my skills even more and got several opportunities to have my work featured on different platforms. I wonder what would have happened if I didn’t have that push from my colleague. I would have remained in that state of mind where I always questioned whether my work was good enough. The truth is that the first story I wrote wasn’t great but for the point I was in 2012, it was good enough. I was able to use the feedback from that first story to improve myself. I remember one comment that was particularly hurtful. The person called me an amateur writer! In hindsight, the person was right. Instead of crawling under the duvet because of that feedback, I decided to do better. Some weeks after my first story was published, my stories soon became the Editor’s Pick of the Week – the highest prize for users of that platform. This incident has taught me something about growth. It happens in action. You cannot be a better write if you do not write; and you cannot evolve into a great writer if your work remains buried in a folder on your laptop. You have to publish it. You have to share it. Whatever knowledge you have now in your field of expertise, you will only improve and grow as you use it. Instead of constantly second guessing yourself, why don’t you go for it. Send out that article. Share that content on social media. Teach something around the topic you are passionate about. Don’t stay hidden and buried. I believe that no matter the level you currently find yourself in, you have knowledge and wisdom that can benefit other people. I was an intern when I took the plunge to publish my work. That step has led me into the ocean of communications where I have had even greater opportunities open up to me. So what are you waiting for? I encourage you to plunge in and show the world your brilliance.

Adedoyin Jaiyesimi is the Chief Communications Consultant at The Comms Avenue, a capacity building and knowledge exchange platform for leading and innovative communications professionals across the world. She has vast experience consulting for international organizations and top corporate executives and specializes in providing strategic communications consulting for development, philanthropic and corporate organizations. Adedoyin has successfully executed projects for the W Community, Women in Business, Management and Public Service (WIMBIZ), Leading Ladies Africa, Heritage Bank, African Philanthropy Forum amongst others. She has been profiled on She Leads Africa, Leadership Newspaper and Lionesses of Africa. She was also featured as one of The Spark’s Visionary Women in 2019. Instagram - @adedoyinjaiyesimi | Email – adedoyin@thecommsavenue.com

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Saturday, 05 September 2020

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WHAT I ORDERED vs WHAT I GOT BEYOND THE MEMES Oluchi Okafor SEPT 2020

here is no day that goes by that I do not see a picture mix of two seemingly identical products. It has become a huge part of social media humour, we send it to each other, it goes viral, and then tomorrow’s edition comes out from yet another dissatisﬁed buyer. A buyer’s worst nightmare turns a source of momentary humour on the internet, and subsequently a barrage of horrible reviews and trolling for an online business. I’ll attempt to paint a scenario for those who might not be too familiar with the phenomenon. You see something on a mega online store or a small Instagram store/business. The photograph that attracts you is usually well lit, lovely background, sometimes has a good looking model wearing it, holding it or eating it. You think “Oh my God I HAVE to have that immediately”. You place an order, make payment, and patiently await delivery. Delivery man shows up, you open the package and you can usually tell from the ﬁrst sight that you most likely just threw away money. Sometimes you actually have to wear it before you realise the error in your ways. Now depending on your personality, temperament and cost of purchase, this is either followed with weeping and gnashing of teeth, intense laughter, or pure rage.

• Dishonest Seller – This is an ethical and morals issue.

Some have morals, some don’t. Lack of integrity might lead to turning a shopping site into a scam location.

• Damage during production or logistics (delivery) – This is

usually of no fault of the manufacturer or seller. Logistics companies, especially Last-mile bike operators have been known to treat merchandise shabbily, resulting in damage and making the product lose its original state.

Having a “What I Ordered vs What I Got” scenario play out for your goods and services is obviously not a desirable outcome. However it can be a lesson in processes and can give you a great opportunity to correct some existent gaps in your business and marketing process. These are some steps to ensure that it doesn’t happen again, or to ensure it doesn’t happen at all, if you have been lucky to avoid it so far.

• Usually the disgruntled customer will reach out to you

ﬁrst, before going ahead to broadcast the failure. Try everything you can to pacify the customer and oﬀer reparations in forms of a discount, a part-refund, or a total replacement.

Like everyone else, these posts make me laugh. I personally get extra cracked up with the clothing or cake versions of these because those can go exceptionally wrong. This however points to a bigger issue. If you are unable to deliver what you promised in the way it was promised then the ﬁrst step in ensuring great customer experience.

• In the event that the customer goes ahead to release

So many factors are responsible for this dissatisfaction. They may include one or all of the following.

• After the incident dies down (which it will), engage in

• False Advertising – There are several online courses

dedicated to encouraging sellers to put their best foot forward. This can often lead to entirely advertising a false image or condition of the brand.

• Copy and Paste Internet pics (False representation)- In this case, it’s like selling a black shoe and then going on the internet, typing “BLACK SHOE” in the search engine and then showing oﬀ anything that comes from it.

• Overly edited product pictures – Lighting is

EVERYTHING. Angles too. With the right manipulation of both, humans show themselves in the best possible way. Same can be done for products. A little ﬁlter here and there, and voila!

pictures and videos regardless of your attempts to resolve the situation, respond to the situation via a public statement expressing your regrets and apologies, detailing your eﬀorts to also repair the damage and get back into the customer’s good graces. extra self-promotion. Show more evidence of past good jobs, client reviews and customer survey results. With viral situations, a certain level of notoriety is usually gained regardless. There is no such thing as bad publicity. Use the new found “fame” to your advantage. Where most people get it wrong is that they refuse to apologise and take responsibility. If you are able to this, trust will be rebuilt, and your business will be better for it.

A breakdown in customer service is to be expected from time to time. Unfortunately you are not able to determine the scale. You can however do what is within your control, which is respond with grace, compassion, and speed.

Oluchi Okafor is a customer experience consultant and has trained and consulted for over 100 SMEs on how to improve their processes, retain happier customers and deliver great experiences every time. She is also the General Manager at Multimix Academy, Nigeria’s foremost supply chain management institute.

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Saturday, 05 September 2020

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5 Things to Do In Your Twenties Jessica Fortune SEPT 2020

oing through your twenties is similar to experiencing a harsh reality shock. It can be very confusing and sometimes frustrating. Like they say “experience is the best teacher ”. The good thing is, I am willing to share my experiences with you to save you the stress. Talking about things to do in your twenties, I believe there are a million and one things you can do as a young adult, each with their pros and cons, but there are some with great value that positively shape our future. I will tell about ﬁve of such things you should spend them doing; Explore; don’t be that twenty-something who follows all the rules the society lays down without any questions or trying to ﬁnd a new path other than what we were taught. It is such a big world out there and it would be such a shame to live it without exploring. Travel, try a new dish, learn a new language, go kayaking, join a dance group, sing, do anything that interests you, that’s how you will discover yourself and learn about the world. Network; you have probably heard it, but I will say it again, “your network is your net worth”. So spend time connecting and surrounding yourself with amazing individuals, no man is an island, so you will need them. But beyond meeting them, be intentional about keeping, growing and nourishing the relationships.

Write; I am not asking you to be a writer, or change your career path but rather make a habit of writing as some of our life victories are determined by how well we can convince others about who we are. Think about the essays we had to write in school, the application letters to land a dream job, grants to access money and many more. So start by keeping a journal, having a blog or a gratitude box. Volunteer; a personal secret, I got my ﬁrst job while volunteering. It wasn’t planned or a strategy, I just genuinely wanted to help, so I spent time helping and when an opportunity for a job came up, I was top of mind. I encourage you to join organizations in line with your goals and seek out opportunities to help, even if you don’t get a job as I did, you will gain useful experience. Pick up new skills; my mom once said, no skill is a waste and she was right. You will be shocked how a skill you learnt just to pass time becomes instrumental to your growth. So when the opportunity comes to learn a skill, grab it and learn. It is never a waste of time. These are somethings you should deﬁnitely try in your twenties.

Jessica Fortune is the Founder and Host of Twenty Somethings Rant, an independent podcast that caters to the lifestyle of young adults in their Twenties. She is on a mission to create a safe space where young adults feel seen, heard and understood. Jessica is also a lifestyle blogger, communication specialist and Podcast producer.

Social - @jessicafortunes | Facebook – @Oguh Fortune

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HOW RECOMMENDATION ENGINES WORK Akin Ifeanyi Agunbiade SEPT 2020

ou go to the local supermarket and you buy a pack of noodles, a crate of eggs, some spicy Cameroon pepper, and 2 kilos of frozen chicken. Then you proceed to check out your purchases. From everything you bought, it can be safely assumed that you’re trying to beat the Indomie adverts at their own game. But there’s one key thing missing, so the cashier says. ‘Sir/Madam, won’t you buy some fresh groundnut oil? We have several brands in stock’. He/she then goes ahead to list some of them and maybe their prices. You may or may not buy one eventually. Nevertheless, he made a fairly accurate suggestion or recommendation of something you ought to be interested in, based on your purchases. In the simplest of terms, this is what a recommendation engine does. Recommendation Engines are a popular form of Artificial Intelligence that has found many commercial applications. It’s behind the movie recommendations that you get on Netflix. Netflix has said that its proprietary recommendation engine is worth $1 billion. Imagine that. A bunch of complex code in a computer somewhere is worth five times the dividends the FG hopes to earn from the NLNG this year. A typical recommendation engine works using A to B, or input to output mappings. That is, it takes information, in the form of data about you and other users, which is processed to output recommendations that are based on the input. So, if you buy a smartphone online and 100 previous users bought that smartphone and a headset, a recommendation engine would suggest that headset for you.

This data comes in several forms. When you browse any webpage, you leave a digital footprint that is matched to your IP address and can be stored to create a unique profile of you. This is implicit data. When you subscribe to a channel, post a comment, rate an app on your app store, or put items in your online shopping cart (with no intention of actually checking them out), you’re providing explicit data about your preferences. The combination of implicit and explicit data is used by algorithms to create a composite profile of you. We all have profiles on the online platforms that we frequently use. The more you use them, the smarter the recommendation engine gets about your preferences. It's like the shop clerk in the beginning. Maybe the first time, you told him that you weren’t interested in cooking oil because you had a stockpile at home. Give that same reply when you visit the store a second time, he’s not likely to ask you the third time. Recommendation engines are in essence a bet on human psychology. We are creatures of habit, who tend to repeat previous choices. 1 in 3 people who purchase something on Amazon does so based on a recommendation. That’s $93 billion from just suggesting the next best thing. If you’re a business owner, a recommendation engine is a tool you should set your eyes on.

Akin Agunbiade studied Law at Obafemi Awolowo University and is currently enrolled at the Nigerian Law School. He is the producer of the Fit and Proper Podcast, a show dedicated to the Bar Finals of the Nigerian Law School. He is an avid researcher on Artificial Intelligence & Law, with several articles, papers, and a published book, titled, ‘Artificial Intelligence & Law: A Nigerian Perspective’. He is passionate about democratizing access to legal services and legal education. Twitter - @Akin_Agunbiade | Email – akinifeanyi5@gmail.com

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Mompreneur ALL TALK, NO MOVES (DISCIPLINE) TigerFIreRose SEPT 2020

his Mompreneur journey is taking me along paths that seemed very adult when I was younger. When did I become the person talking about discipline, responsibility and persistence? When did the body switch happen and while we are here, can I hit the brakes please? I recently discovered that no matter how skilled, gifted or talented you are, there are some key factors you cannot run away from. A lot of words we have sidelined because they seem too ’serious’ or ’intense’ have revisited and come to stay. Trying to erase the word from your vocabulary does not in anyway reduce the power and necessity of applying the word in your life. Take for example, the word discipline. I have never seen a word that people cringe at so badly, me inclusive. For some reason, it just seems to require so much... discipline. But avoid it or not, Discipline is what will give you the staying power to graduate from basic to expert. For example, a year after having my baby, the baby weight caught up with me. I am 2 dress sizes bigger and I am still trying to adjust to this huge change. I am not completely excited by the weight gain and I have complained and sought out solutions - the most sensible one being diet and exercise of course. For the longest time, I told myself, if I can get this particular exercise routine and that particular diet plan, I will be golden. I eventually got everything I needed and the truth is, I was golden... for the first 21 days. The weight dropped off like magic and I was extremely happy but then i stopped. I had no good reason for stopping except, I lacked the discipline to continue on the regimen I had put myself on despite seeing the results. So now, I sit around all day and complain about how much weight I have gained. I wail all day about how my clothes no longer fit and make unending promises to get back on that diet the very next week but this is a familiar dance routine and till we speak, my target to start is still next week because I lack the discipline to stick to the fitness plan. I am just all talk and no moves in the weight loss department. (Cake and Froyo are my constant downfall). Discipline not only builds consistency but also yields results. There are some days you just ’cannot can’ and its the strength built from discipline that will help you power through on auto-pilot.

Discipline has helped to keep me doing what I love even though my entire dynamics have changed with a baby. Discipline has helped me to make room for motherhood while keeping me running at optimum capacity in my career. Over the years, consistent daily writing and content creation built a discipline that allowed my career wheels to not only keep rolling but gain greater momentum even after having a baby. However, if I had relied on just my gifts and talents without the structure discipline builds, I would be unable to deliver at a certain level and would give a million legitimate reasons for that failure on my path except the actual reason - lack of discipline. My takeaway from my two sides of discipline(the lack of it in my exercise life and the little I have built in my career) are: 1. Even though it seems like such an unfriendly word, Discipline is your friend and has your best interests at heart. 2. Discipline distinguishes you and steps up your talent and gifts from ordinary into the level of expertise. 3. I don’t think I have ever met a disciplined person that lacked results. Discipline and results are an unavoidable tag team. I am about to take my own advice and definitely get back on my diet and exercise plan next week, or the week after... I am definitely starting soon. While I flex my discipline muscles there, I plan to build up an even greater level career wise until I hit that ’expert’ spot! I am about to take my own advice and definitely get back on my diet and exercise plan next week, or the week after... I am definitely starting soon. While I flex my discipline muscles there, I plan to build up an even greater level career wise until I hit that ’expert’ spot!

TigerFireRose is the Chief Executive Officer of TigerFireRose Media. She has cut her teeth in the Visual Content Production industry, having spent time learning and running projects for various production houses commissioned by Africa Magic. Her versatility and creativity has taken her swiftly across the media space, rising in ranks and positions in a short amount of time from Content writer, to Associate Producer, to Production Manager and eventually Executive Producing her own content. She is a born leader who inspires her team to be all they can be, no holds barred!

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How lack of sleep is making you fat Dr Monisola Adanijo SEPT 2020

re you having problems losing weight or you find that you are gaining weight despite reducing your food intake? Lack of sleep May be a major factor. A fascinating study from researchers at the University of Colorado found that one week of sleeping about 5 hours a night led participants to gain an average of 1 kg!! How does this happen? Researchers also found that when dieters cut back on sleep over a 14-day period, the amount of weight they lost from fat dropped by 55%, even though their calories stayed equal. They felt hungrier and less satisfied after meals, and their energy was reduced. How much sleep do we really need to be healthy? The average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep every night for good health. Although some people claim to feel rested on just a few hours of sleep a night, research shows that people who sleep so little over many nights don't perform as well on complex mental tasks as do people who get closer to seven hours of sleep a night. They also have a host of other problems which may be discussed in subsequent articles. How lack of sleep affects your weight:

• Changes to hormones that regulate hunger and appetite. The hormone Leptin suppresses appetite and encourages the body to expend energy. Sleep deprivation reduces Leptin. The hormone Ghrelin, on the other hand, triggers feelings of hunger—and goes up when you’re short on sleep. So obviously, you tend to eat more with less sleep.

• Aﬀects your food cravings, creating more cravings for fat and sugar-laden foods. Your brain can’t make reasoned decisions and use its best judgment about food when sleep deprived, and you’re more likely to be impulsive and give into junk-food desires. We also know that when you don’t sleep well, you’re likely to eat more the next day, which can lead to weight gain.

• Triggers a cortisol spike. Cortisol is a stress hormone that

signals your body to conserve energy by storing food as fat.

• Problems with Insulin; insuﬃcient sleep causes your

body’s ability to process Insulin to drop. (Insulin is the hormone that changes sugar, starches, and other food into energy). When this happens, your body has trouble processing food, so it ends up storing them as fat. Insulin sensitivity, the researchers found, dropped by more than 30% in those who lack sleep.

Tricks and Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep In today’s world, getting adequate sleep can be diﬃcult, particularly when all your screens (computers, TVs, cell phones, tablets) lure you into staying up just a little longer, and Lagos traﬃc makes you wake up super early to avoid getting to work late. But I am sure we can still make some little changes to help us get more hours of sleep. The basics are pretty simple:

• Shut down your computer, cell phone, and TV at least an hour before you usually go to bed

• Save your bedroom for sleep. Try not to have your work materials/gadgets with you in your room.

• Create a bedtime ritual. This may include taking a warm bath, meditation or reading (a real paper book, not blogs/ pdf on your phone).

• Stick to a schedule, waking up and going to bed at the same times every day. You may even need to go to bed earlier if you absolutely need to wake up early the following day.

• Watch what and when you eat. Avoid eating heavy meals and alcohol close to bedtime, which may cause heartburn and indigestion and make it hard to fall asleep. Avoid soft drinks, tea, coﬀee, and chocolate after 2 p.m. Caﬀeine can stay in your system for 5 to 6 hours.

• Turn out the lights. Darkness cues your body to release

the natural sleep hormone melatonin, while light from TV screens, phones and tablets suppresses it.

Cardiologist and the Medical Director at Naveen Healthcare. With experience spanning over 20 years, she built her pathway in medicine and cardiology working in reputable medical centres such as Mecure Healthcare Limited, Barnes Hospital, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Chevron Hospital, Lagos to mention but a few. Her passion for preventive cardiology led her to convene the Naveen Healthcare 10,000 Hearts Project, in order to help individuals detect, protect and correct cardiovascular diseases. Skilled in cardiovascular diagnostic procedures and treatment, a fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, a member of Nigerian Cardiac Society, American College of Physicians, Hypertension society of Nigeria and an international associate of the American College of Cardiology. She launched the first TeleElectrocardiogram project in Nigeria and West Africa and does her part in contributing to good health and wellbeing, a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG3) of the United Nations. email: moni.adanijo@naveenhealthcare.com web: www.naveenhealthcare.com social: @moni_adanijo Linkedin: Monisola Adanijo

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Tips for students going to the university in September SEPT 2020

Keep in touch with your parents and siblings Even if it’s just 10 minutes a day, let your parents know how you are doing, what you are up to, the kinds of friends you are making and any issues you may be experiencing. Also, remember that your parents are probably having a hard time with you gone, so try your best to keep the communication up. Technology has made it possible for us to keep in touch with loved ones free of charge, so there are really no excuses. You can choose from Whatsappp, Viber, Skype, email and much more. When I moved away for University I called my parents almost every day. I know that It sounds excessive but I found it to be highly necessary in order to feel connected to the home that I grew up in. Also, remember that for most of us, our parents are our best advisors. They always have our best interest at heart, so try to open up to them should you have any issues. Choose your friends wisely: your network is your net worth Ever heard the saying that quality is better than quantity? University is a time where you will find yourself. You will experience highs, lows and in betweens. It is important to understand the power of maintaining a positive circle of friends. Find friends that make you feel good about yourself, find friends that encourage you to have a healthy balance between school work and social life. Stay away from people who will try to drag you in the wrong direction or friends that will try to influence you to do things that make you uncomfortable. In French, there is a saying that goes “mieux vaut être seul que mal acocmpagné” which translates to “better alone than in bad company”. I can’t stress this enough! Also, consider that “your network is networth”. The people you network with in university may end up being your business partners or colleagues in the future, so keep a close tab on the five closest people around you. Join communities Think about it this way. Every person that is new at University is going through a similar experience. Everybody is new, everybody wants to make friends and belong to a community. Everybody is a little nervous and experiencing a life changing transition. So, don’t worry, you are not alone. There are plenty of clubs you can join. Be it the Engineers club, the African Students Association or the Poetry Club.

During my time at University, I had a great circle of friends and was a member of my graduating class society. Looking back, I wish I had involved myself in more societies. Some of you might find that as you go along your university journey, you will feel a need to connect with the people that have a similar background to you. There will come a time where you will feel a need to hear music from back home, eat some traditional food and just discuss ideas with people who understand your perspectives. I advise you all to get involved in your African Student Union or Black Students’ Association. It is very soothing to have a group to fall back on when you are homesick or having a hard time adjusting to a new culture. Many of the people you meet during your university years, will end up being your friends for life so choose them carefully! The harmful effects of negative social relationships have been widely researched and documented. Set goals and write them down Writing down your goals has been linked to actually achieving your goals. What do you want to achieve by the end of your first year? 85 % average? Part time job? Make a friend from a different country? Go to the gym 4 times a week? Summer Internship?Meet with your academic advisor every three months? Whatever you want to achieve write it down into tasks that you need to complete. Also, write down what you need to do to in order to achieve your goals. Work towards achieving your goals and you will feel satisfaction when you are able to tick the specific goal off your list. Remember ‘if you fail to plan, you plan to fail’. Consider getting a part time job In western countries, there is a culture of students working from a very a young age from high school to university. Often, they have part time jobs to help them with their personal expenses and some even had full time jobs while being at university full time in order to pay for their tuition fees and other expenses. While it is hard work, studies have shown that young adults who have part time jobs while pursuing their studies have a better understanding of the value of money and a strong sense of organisation. It is also a great way to build Curriculum Vitae and get that dream job right after university.

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Saturday, 05 September 2020

Opportunities

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Saturday, 05 September 2020

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Sports By Anthony Nlebem

Premier League terminates £523m Chinese PPTV deal Anthony Nlebem AUG 2020

he Premier League have terminated its largest overseas TV contract with the Chinese streaming service, PPTV. PPTV finalised a £523million for the rights to stream all 380 Premier League games per season in China, for the three years between 2019-22. But they failed to make their first payment, of £160million, to the Premier League back in March. Six months down the line, that money has still not been paid. The Premier League confirmed in a short statement posted on social media: “The Premier League confirms that it has terminated its agreements for Premier League coverage in China with its licensee in that territory. The Premier League will not be commenting further on the matter at this stage.” PPTV are owned by the Chinese retail giant Suning, who also own CSL side Jiangsu Suning - where it's alleged players have recently gone without payment - and Italian giants Inter Milan. They also boast exclusive rights to Serie A, Ligue 1, LaLiga and the Bundesliga. Suning’s turnover in their last financial year was over £28billion - making the apparent failed payment appears to be about more than merely money. PPTV had been looking to renegotiate the deal, at a time when Premier League clubs have already lost in excess of £500million due to coronavirus. Now the Premier League and its clubs are left facing a further black hole in their finances, after the deal's termination. A PPTV statement said: "After many rounds of talks, there remain disagreements on the value of rights between PP Sports and the Premier League and regrettably we have not reached an agreement with the Premier League. "Although PP Sports has overpaid the Premier League in advance of the copyright cycle, PP Sports will terminate its cooperation with the Premier League."

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The original deal was struck back in 2016, when a number of Chinese companies were diversifying their various portfolios by purchasing English football clubs. That came as President Xi Jinping led a drive for businesses to invest more in football in a bid to turn the country into a footballing superpower. President Xi had set a target for the nation to be the world's biggest sports economy by 2025 and PPTV’s £523million deal was 12 times more than previous rights holders Super Sports Media were paying. However, things have greatly changed since then, both in terms of sport and politically - with escalating tensions between the British and Chinese governments. Conrad Wiacek, Head of Analysis and Consulting at GlobalData Sport, says: “The cancellation of the Premier League’s largest overseas TV deal with China’s PPTV will come as a shock to the Premier League and may suggest that further hard times are on the way. "With the next Premier League rights cycle due to begin in 2022, the league will be looking at new options in a bid to shore up its international rights portfolio. “The league generates in excess of £6.7bn per rights cycle from its overseas rights, in addition to the £5bn domestic rights market - with the deal with PPTV its largest individual international rights deal. "With heightened political tensions impacting UK/Chinese relations, this termination may be seen as an extension of this political battle."

WEEKENDER

Messi makes U-turn, now likely to stay at Barcelona Reports from Argentina claim Lionel Messi could now stay at Barcelona after his father met with club president Josep Maria Bartomeu. If the report is true, it will be a blow to Manchester City after reports the forward was poised for a fairytale reunion with his former Barcelona boss, Pep Guardiola. Messi's father Jorge, who is also his agent, met with Bartomeu on Wednesday after his son last month told the club of his intention to leave on a free this summer after activating a clause in his contract. Barcelona disputed the claim, saying the specific clause expired on June 10 despite the delays to the season, a position then backed by LaLiga, meaning paying his €700million (£632m) release clause is the only way to trigger a transfer. Jorge Messi and Bartomeu's meeting reportedly lasted around 90 minutes and ended in with no real conclusion, though the club president asked Jorge to ask his son to reconsider. Now TyC Sport reports that there is a "90 per cent chance that Messi will stay at Barcelona" with a definitive decision expected soon. The report adds that Messi would see out the final year of his contract and leave on a free next summer.Earlier, a report from TyC Sports cited by Spanish media Marca had claimed that Jorge Messi had told Bartomeu "My son isn't staying at Barcelona". But the Catalan giants do not appear willing to budge on their assertion that they are due a transfer fee of €700m if Messi is to leave the Nou Camp. And if the reports from Argentina are to be believed, then it appears the club's intransigence could force their best player to stay for at least another season. As well as City, Paris-Saint Germain and Juventus are also reportedly in the hunt for Messi. A move to the Ligue 1 Champions or the Serie A kings would open up the tantalising prospect of Messi teaming up with either Kylian Mbappe and his former Barcelona teammate Neymar, or his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Inter Milan have also been linked with a move for Messi, although the club's sporting director Piero Ausilio has indicated that the Serie A giants would not be able to afford him.

Bale speaks on Premier League return

areth Bale has opened the door to a potential Premier League return this summer after admitting he would consider any oﬀers. The 31-year-old Welsh forward has been ostracised at Real Madrid, with his relationship with manager Zinedine Zidane seemingly at an all-time low.

Saturday, 05 September 2020

He almost left for Chinese club Jiangsu Suning last summer before Madrid cancelled the move after demanding a transfer fee at the last moment. And speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Wales' upcoming Nations League games against Finland and Bulgaria, the former Tottenham star claimed his future is in Madrid's hands. "I tried to leave last year and they blocked everything at the last second," Bale said. "It was a project I was excited for last year but it didn't materialise. "There's been other times where we've tried to go but the club won't allow it or they've done something, so I guess it's down to them. "What can I say? I want to play football; I'm still motivated to play football so I guess it's on the club. I can't really do much." Bale added his belief that Real Madrid are a difficult club to deal with, but says he and his agent have not given up hope of him finding a move before the end of the current transfer window. "They're in control of everything, I have a contract and all I can do is carry on doing what I'm doing and hopefully something comes up," he added. "It's not really in my hands. Real Madrid make things very difficult to be honest. I think it's one of those situations where if those options arise it is something I would look at, for sure, and we'll see what happens. "We have plenty of time left in this transfer window and I guess a couple of others as well.” The likes of Spurs and Manchester United have been linked with a move for Bale in the past, but his current contract runs until June 2022, and he has previously insisted that he is happy to see it out despite his lack of playing time.

Pochettino says regrets he would never coach Barcelona Former Tottenham manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has admitted he regrets saying he could never coach Barcelona. The out-of-work Argentine was considered for the Barcelona job before Ronald Koeman succeeded Quique Setien in August, but supporters were unimpressed with comments from 2018, when Former Tottenham manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has admitted he regrets saying he could never coach Barcelona.

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Chef Melissa’s BBQ chicken recipe Chef Melissa Uzoebo SEPT 2020

Introduction

o one is really sure where the t e r m b a r b e c u e o r i g i n a t e d . Th e conventional wisdom is that the Spanish, upon landing in the Caribbean, used the word barbacoa to refer to the natives’ method of slowcooking meat over a wooden platform. By the 19th century, the culinary technique was well established in the American South, and quickly spread to other parts of the West and now throughout the world. While the continent of Africa has its own delicious spices and grilling methods it is no surprise that barbecue chicken is popular on the continent of Africa and speciﬁcally in Nigeria. If you ask me, there are not many things that are better than barbecue chicken and jollof rice.

Method 1. Get your chicken, wash it with salt then get a bowl and place the chicken in it 2. 2. Cut onions, garlic, pepper and put it in the bowl of chicken 3. 3. Get your spices, black pepper, suya pepper /Cameroon pepper, 1 Maggi cube, and thyme. 4. 4. After mixing all the spices together, get your bbq sauce and pour it into the bowl of chicken then mix together (You can shake this but remember not to make a mess). 5. 5. Leave this in the fridge for one night, but if you don’t want to marinate for too long you could leave that in the fridge for about 30 minutes – 1 hour 6. Once you’re done marinating the chicken, get a grill pan and oil it then place your chicken and grill for 20-30 minutes turning it over, apply some bbq sauce at 15 minutes.

INGREDIENTS Salt, Barbecue sauce, Garlic, Black pepper, Suya pepper, Cameroon pepper, Thyme

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7. 7. Once the chicken is done grilling, bring the pan out to cool and then your barbecue chicken is ready Barbecue chicken is best served with chips or jollof rice.

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EVE RY S ATU R DAY

RATE CARD

COLUMN SIZE

COST (N)

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185,200

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