From the Desk of the Publisher We are elated by the good news coming out of Nigeria. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, a sitting President has been voted out of power. The significance of this is that this phenomenon is rare in African politics where it is often the norm to have sit tight leaders who perpetuate themselves in power even when the people they lead have roundly rejected them. Through bare fisted dictatorship or brazen manipulation of the electoral process- leaders like Robert Mugabe, Mobutu Sese Seko, Idi Amin, Paul Biya, De Santos etc dot the African landscape as festering sores to our collective psyche. It is a new day in NigeriaCongratulations to General Buhari for a well deserved victory and to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for being graceful in defeat. History will be kind to this man who despite seeing the handwriting on the wall allowed the votes of Nigerians to count and quickly conceded victory to his opponent. This we all know is rare in African politics. The Jonathan administration may have been mired in corruption especially perpetuated by those very close to the President but he could have chosen to steal the vote against popular opinion. It has been done previously in Nigeria and continues in
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goods and outsourcing of our huge manpower. If India could be the outsourcing capital of the world, why not Nigeria.
We need to ensure steady electricity supply and rebuild our dilapidated infrastructure so that our cost of manufacturing can compare with other emerging economies around the world so as to spur growth in our manufacturing sector. With the exorbitant cost of diesel and power generation The task now before the new Buhari administration is to heal in Nigeria no serious investor the country after a very divisive will locate a manufacturing election and to be inclusive and plant in Nigeria and expect to compete in the global market. fair to all parts of the country despite their political leanings. These are some of the The Nigerian voters have challenges and imperatives for elected Buhari as President of change that the Buhari Nigeria of all tribes and administration must have to tongues and all political leanings not as President of the tackle. All Progressive Congress, the Chike Nweke new ruling party. Publisher We do need fundamental Spring 2015 changes in Nigeria and an exorcism of the cancer of corruption that have crippled the development of Nigeria. Like General Buhari often says"if Nigeria does not kill corruption, Corruption will kill Nigeria" several African countries through brazen election rigging, ballot box stuffing and manipulation but Jonathan chose to allow electronic card readers to properly record votes cast and his ouster from power.
We do need a diversification of the Nigerian economy. A situation where 90% of our foreign exchange earnings come from crude oil exports is totally unacceptable. Nigeria, Africa's largest economy, need to tap into its other vast potentials in processed agricultural exports, solid minerals, manufactured
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CONTENTS 3. From the Desk of the Publisher 8. Cover Story Chief Willie Obiano, One Year Of Giant Strides As Anambra Governor 16. People & Places Candy and Eldon, Together as One 26. Mo Abudu Media Personality & Forbes Africa Woman of the Year 2014 31. Beauty of the Moment Chinyere Adogu 32. People and Places Hand in Hand Celebration of Marriage 2015 44. Spotlight The Foundation Center - Deluxe and Elegant 48. Spotlight Kwara State, State Of Harmony 52. People and Places Celebration of Mama Comfort Okonkwo Anyakpor @ 80 58. Business & Finance Access Bank, A Colossus in the Making 64. Legal Issues Right Of Females To Inherit Property In Nigeria
26 31
58
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CONTENTS 68. People and Places Evangelist Gabriella Eluwa @50 74.Beauty of the Moment Prince Chuks Nasa Iro & His Princess - Blessing 76. Country Profile Kenya, The Magic of Africa 82. Life’s Issues Educated, Unmarried And 30 Something 84. Health & Wellness How To Avoid The Deceptions Of The Food Industry 86. Iruka's Corner An Affair With the Unknown 88. News & Politics History and Lessons from Nigeria’ 2015 Presidential Election 92. Music & Entertainment The World Of Davido! 96. Music & Entertainment The Rave Of Flavour 100. Religion & Spiritual Affairs How Much Are You Worth This Easter Season?
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Cover Profile
Willie Obiano One Year Of
Giant Strides As Anambra State Governor 10 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
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Cover Profile
President AMP (Advance Management Programme) of Lagos Business School for Ten years running. He is also a 2006 BNV (Building New Ventures) Class member of Harvard Business School, Boston USA. Also he is the Patron, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (Lagos Mainland Chief Obiano was John F. District) and National Youth Kennedy Essay Winner 1974 at Council of Nigeria, Anambra CKC and holds a national Merit East Chapter. Certificate for outstanding service during his Chief Obiano started his NYSC(National Youth Service banking career as a supervisor Corps) in Benue State, Nigeria in with First Bank of Nigeria in the 1979/80 Service Year. He is 1981 from where he moved to a Fellow of the Institute of Texaco Nigeria Plc. an oil Chartered Accountants of marketing company as an Nigeria (FCA).He is the Accountant. ChiefObiano rose Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, Executive Governor of Anambra State, Nigeria since March 17, 2014 holds a B.Sc. Second Class Upper in Accounting and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA)both degrees fromUniversity of Lagos.
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to the position of Chief Internal Auditor in Texaco before joining Fidelity. In Fidelity, he has worked in various departments ranging from operations to marketing and internal audit. He served as an Executive Director, Business Banking of Fidelity Bank Plc. Chief Obiano has attended numerous banking courses including the following: Credit & Trade Services Course - Citi Bank, New York (1994) - Treasury and Money Market Natwest, London (1996) - Emerging Market Course FIM Bank, Malta (2002) - Managing Integration Process - Houston Texas 2006.
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Cover Profile In 2012 Chief Obiano retired as Executive Director of Fidelity Bank. As Executive Director, Chief Obiano was in-charge of Business Banking (Corporate Banking, Non-Bank Financial
Institutions, Treasury, (Naira and Foreign Exchange, Oil & Gas, Telecom & Food and Beverages, Transport and Aviation). All the Regional Managers of the bank reported through him to the MD/CEO. Chief Willie Obiano contested for election under the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) which he won with a resounding victory and was sworn in as Governor of Anambra State on March 17, 12 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
so short a time because of the effective strategy of “community Chief Obiano is married with a policing” that Chief Willie beautiful daughter and a young Obiano adopted on taking the saddle as the Governor of son. Anambra State. 2014.
Before Chief Willie Obiano’s tenure as Governor, Anambra State had the dubious reputation as one of the kidnapping and armed robbery epicenters in Nigeria. Within one year of his assumption of office, peace and security reigns in Anambra State. This feat was achieved in
The government through the bold step of strengthening town unions and funding community endorsed vigilante groups have effectively put a stop to the rampant cases of armed robbery and kidnapping that hitherto made Anambra State a State where most people residing outside the State or overseas dreaded to visit. Chief Obiano also took the bold and courageous step of demolishing several houses that were erected by illicit wealth from SPRING 2015
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Cover Profile
asphalted road network. From major State highways connecting the major urban centers in Anambra State to rural feeder roads connecting the rural villages to the major urban centers, every day we hear of the flag off of a new road project and the completion/ commissioning of yet Chief Obiano from the first day anotherone. Governor Obiano’s Anambra State is now truly a of assumption of office has master plan and strategy for road construction in peaceful State that is Anambra State is home for all anchored on his conviction that this is one Since assuming office, of the major engines that Chief Willie Obiano drive economic has embarked on a Chief Obiano has embarked on a development anywhere in major drive to strategy of connecting every part of the world. revolutionize Anambra State with modern asphalted agricultural road network. Governor Obiano’s drive production in to attract foreign capital Anambra State as a and expertise into health way of creating youth care delivery in Anambra employment and State is yielding fruit. A increasing the case in point is the internally generated of the RISE revenue in the State. He has embarked on a strategy of building attracted over $200 million in connecting every part of comprehensive Health Center in direct investment in Anambra Anambra State with modern Adazi Ani by RISE Global kidnapping and effectively gave notice to the practitioners of that dubious enterprise that they had no hiding place in Anambra State. As a result, last Decembers droves of Anambrarians, who hitherto dreaded coming home because of fear of being kidnapped trouped back home in large numbers.
State’s agricultural sector by large corporations like Ekcel Farms and Coched Farms Limited. Chief Obiano envisions an Anambra State that is selfsufficient in food production and less dependent on the federation allocation by the time his fist tenure ends in 2018.
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Cover Profile Health Inc. an American corporation and an additional commitment of a $1.5M investment in Anambra State by RISE. Health we all know is wealth and Governor Obiano dreams of an Anambra State that has the best health care facilities in Sub Saharan Africa to stem the tide of medical tourism to Europe, America and India. Since the summer of 2014, oil prices and proceeds which constitute about 90% of Nigerian foreign exchange earnings have taken more than a 50% plunge. The implication of this is that there is less money to share from the federation account and less money coming to the States from the federal government. The Willie Obiano administration is doing everything to increase the State’s internally generated revenue to
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cushion the effects of the loss of revenue from the federal government. This includes more computerization and more efficient ways of collecting internally generated revenue from corporate bodies in Anambra State and from markets and motor parks in the commercial nerve centers of the Sate like Onitsha, Nnewi, Awka and Ekwulobia. Anambra State recently gave land for the construction of 500 units of housing by the Federal Government in Anambra State during a recent visit to Hon Mrs. Akon EtimEyakenyi, Minister for lands, and Housing and Urban Development in Abuja. This is part of the plan of Governor Obiano’s administration regarding housing provision in Anambra State. The WilllieObiano’s
administration plans to make the problems of housing ownership a thing of the past in Anambra State. Acquiring quality education is always the dream of every Anambra family for their children. To this end the Obiano administration is working hard to improve the standard of education in the State through developing additional infrastructure and renovating existing ones in all the State owned schools. These include the Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu University Anambraformerly known as the Anambra State University Uli with campuses in Igbariam andAwka, The EkwenugoOkeke Polytechnic and all the secondary and primary schools that dot the landscape of the State. The State government
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Cover Profile maintains excellent relationship with the church and clergy in the State and this has helped the administration in effectively mobilizing the people for development. It has also made it administration easy for the citizens to
understand the developmental goals of government Chief Obiano spent a significant period of time after retiring from the banking sector in Houston Texas so he very well understands the importance that
of attracting cutting edge technology, financial resources and technical expertise to the State. A case in point is the RISE clinic Adazi a multi-disciplinary health center that was established as a vision by Dr. EmekaOkeke, a Pharmacist based in San Diego California, U.S.A in conjunction with the G.U.O. Okeke foundation.
Willie is truly working and at the end of his first four years in office, Chief WilllieObiano, AkpokuedikenaAguleri sees an Anambra State that surely takes on a comprehensive and Integrated development strategy in all facets of development in the State.
recently gave grants to 62 secondary Schools in the State as a way of funding them to acquire much needed infrastructure. The
Obiano
Diaspora Nigerians can play in the development of our country. To this end he has employed a lot Diaspora Anambrarians to help in the development of the State. A number of his commissioners and special advisers used to live outside the shores of Nigeria. Chief Obiano appreciates the fact that Diaspora Nigerians are a source 16 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
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People and Places
Bride: Candy Kehinde Awosika
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People and Places
Friends and family gathered to celebrate the love of Candy Kehinde Awosika and Eldon St. Patrick Lewis at the Serenity garden, Torrance Marriott South bay as the two sweethearts took a vow 'to live together for better for worse till death do them part" on Saturday January 17, 2015. The ceremony was officiated by Pastor Charles Charthern and as he blessed the couple, he told them to stay strong together no matter what adversities they face in life. Guests were treated after the ceremony to a fine reception at the Zen lounge at the Torrance Marriot... SPRING 2015
Los Angeles, CA Saturday January 17, 2015
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People and Places
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People and Places
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People and Places
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People and Places
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People and Places
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People and Places
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People and Places
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People and Places
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Profile in Excellence
MO ABUDU Media Personality & Forbes Africa Woman of the Year 2014 28 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
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Profile in Excellence
Mosunmola Abudu, usually known as Mo Abudu, is a talk show host, TV producer,media personality, human resources management consultant and entrepreneur.
Abudu was born in the UK. At age 7, her family relocated to Lagos, Nigeria and she was sent to stay with her grandparents at their cocoa farm in Ondo State, to learn about African culture. At age 11, she attended Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School. At 12, shortly after her father died, Abudu returned to the UK and attended Hammersmith County Secondary School before moving to the Ridgeway School in Kent where she lived with her guardian in Tunbridge Wells. From there, she went to West Kent College and MidKent College. She has a Masters Degree in HR Management from the University of Westminster, London. Abudu is a member of the British Psychological Society, and is qualified in occupational and personality testing. SPRING 2015
Abudu started off her career in the UK as a recruitment consultant in 1987, becoming a branch manager. She went on to work for the Starform Group, managing the Corporate Credit Management Exhibition from 1990 to 1992. In 1993 she joined Arthur Andersen for Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited (now ExxonMobil) to head their Human Resources and Training unit. She left in 2000 to establish a privately owned specialist human resources development company known as Vic Lawrence & Associates Limited (popularly known as VLA). While running VLA, Abudu developed an executive training centre at the Protea Hotel, Oakwood Park, Lagos. Moments with Mo Abudu is the
Producer & host of a TV talk show, Moments with Mo, which is the first syndicated daily talk show on African regional television. By October 2009, over 200 episodes had been recorded and aired with numerous topics ranging from lifestyle, through health, culture, politics, entertainment, tradition, to music and inter-racial marriages. Guests have included celebrities, Presidents, Nobel Laureates, and the 67th US Secretary-of-State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Abudu says the show "highlights the life and accomplishments of a usually well known, but sometimes an undiscovered African individual who by his or her own tenacity and determination has accomplished something, overcome something or been a Executive catalyst for something that LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 29
Profile in Excellence makes her or him a role model to others." Aired on M-Net with TV coverage in 48 African countries, the show now also airs on terrestrial and cable TV in other parts of the world. Abudu is the creator and executive producer of "The Debaters", a reality TV show. Funded by Guaranty Trust Bank, it launched on 3 October 2009. The show focuses on "giving Africa a voice" by promoting oratory. Inspire Africa Foundation Abudu is the founder of The Inspire Africa Foundation, a human investment arm of Inspire Africa Ltd. It is registered as a nonprofit organization focused on raising funds to implement society-transforming initiatives. In January 2009, the Inspire Africa Foundation alongside Moments with Mo, the Lagos State Government and UNICEF held a telethon and a charity benefit concert with the theme "Rock with a Conscience". Donations from the concert have gone towards the protection of street children. The Foundation has opened a charity store branded "The Designers Outlet for Charity", which opened on 5 December 2009 in Lagos, Nigeria. The foundation is also developing a 30 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
children's shelter called "The premier private university. Harbour". Ebony Life Television Awards Mo Abudu launched Ebony Life In recognition of her Television "Africa’s first Global Multi-Broadcast outstanding work in diverse Black fields especially the media,and Entertainment Network" on 1 her service to humanity, she has July 2013. As obtained on the been honoured with many television website, Ebony Life laurels. These include TV is "a multi-platform broadcaster set to reach Africa’s most important target demographic, the custodians of the present and the future. We are set to produce and broadcast over 700 hours of non-stop, original programming with world-class production values. We are set to do this through a variety of engaging platforms that include TV, Mobile, Online, Apps and Live. We are positioned to be the home of the best of African content available." A subsidiary of Media and Entertainment City Africa (MEC Africa), Ebony Life TV is located in Tinapa Resort, Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria. Ebony Life TV has been founded recognition by Forbes Media as with a mission to create Premium and the first African woman to "Original, launch a Pan-Africa TV channel; Inspiring content with an and Entrepreneur of the Year African Soul that showcases the award by Women Werk in New best of Africa for a Global Black York. She has also been listed as audience." one of the 25 Most Powerful The television station transmits Women in Global TV by the courtesy a complete broadcast from PlayBox Hollywood Reporter. Most system recently, she was also honoured Technology for a new DTH with a Honorary Doctorate channel transmitting in HD to Degree (Honouris Causa) from subscribers in sub-Saharan Babcock University; Nigeria's Africa. The installation includes SPRING 2015
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Profile in Excellence
ingest, storage, content management, channel branding and playout automation using PlayBox Technology AirBox and TitleBox servers. According to Playbox Technology UK Sales Director, “the system was assembled in our test centre and configured to suit the requirements of EbonyLife before being delivered. Dual highdefinition servers drive the channel output. The media asset management and traffic system power the operation before going to air. A PlayBox Technology MAM server allows operators to access their growing content library. The traffic system provides advanced scheduling with forward planning and reporting for the advertising sales team.” It is currently transmitting to Southern Africa and is channel number 25 on DSTV. The launch of the station, which was attended by dignitaries from all around the world, saw
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notable Nigerians awarded for their contribution to the entertainment industry. Steve Forbes was on stage to present deserving Nigerians the awards. In a report titled Nigerian Woman Launches Entertainment TV Network, Mosunmola Abudu was referred to as Africa's Oprah Winfrey. With a catchphrase
Abudu told the Associated Press during an interview session. This exploit by Mo Abudu also caught attention of Forbes Media. According to The Guardian (Nigeria), “Forbes Media, a renowned establishment, which has become a symbol of distinction for recognising worthy business decision makers, investors and progressive individuals, who have impacted the world through their stimulation of business growth, has named Mo Abudu as the first woman on the African continent to own a pan-African TV channel.” Abudu lives in Lagos, Nigeria, and enjoys international travel to London, Paris, New York City, Cape Town, and Johannesburg. She has a son and a daughter: "I love them so very much; I can‘t get over the fact that I am a mother.
that says "Everything you think you know about Africa is about to change forever,“ Ebony Life TV seeks “to start selling the good bits of Africa. Not every African woman has a pile of wood on her head and a baby strapped to her back!" Mo Source: Wikipedia
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Beauty of the Moment
Chinyere Adogu is a Nigerian student, model, aspiring actress and the firstAfrican-American to become America's Perfect Teen. For bookings please contact chinyereadogu@aol.com
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People and Places
International Christian Center (I.C.C.), Los Angeles
Hand in Hand Celebration of Marriage 2015 Rancho Palos Verdes-CA Los Verdes Golf Club
Pastors Dipo & Nony Kalejaiye
The International Christian Center (I.C.C.) Los Angeles held its annual valentine party and celebration of Marriage (Hand in Hand Celebration2015) on February 7th. It was a night of love ballads by soloists 34 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
Natachi and Makeda, comedy by ace Comedian Wams Ekas, great music by DJ Paul and fine cuisine by the chefs at the upscale Los Verdes Golf Club, Rancho Palos Verdes CA. Senior Pastor ICC -Dr. Dipo
Kalejaiye exhorted couples to love each other unconditionally regardless of the "perceived faults" of their spouses because that was how Jesus loved us despite all our failings. Also speaking- ICC 1st Lady Dr. Nony Kalejaiye said the Virtuous women's fellowship of ICC holds this annual ceremony to give couples an opportunity to recommit to each other and renew their vows. She also said many testimonies have come out of the 13 years of the hand in hand celebration. It was a night of fun as couples wined and danced into the early hours of the morning.....
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People and Places
Pastor Wole & Deaconess Bimbo Adefeso
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Pastor Oje & Deaconess Helen Uwadia
Pastor Yinka & Deacon Phemi Adeniran
Pastor Nkiruka & Deacon Segun Benson
Alejandro & Marbely Briceno
Saturday & Sophia Aisuan
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People and Places
Pastor Wole & Deaconess Bimbo Adefeso
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Chike & Mercy Nweke
Minister Laja & Sumbo Ibraheem
Festus and Nkechi Apakama
Dipo & Funmi Fashakin
Eugene & Vivian Odega
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People and Places
Paul & Celstine Osaji
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Christopher & Loveth Amakor
Alex & Angel Okafor
Kenny & Jummy Ojute
Mr & Mrs Arogundade
Chuka & Oby Chidi
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People and Places
Kenneth & Ijeoma Udeh
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Bolade & Foluke Ayo-Ariyo
Deacon Tunde & Deaconess Ronke
Pastor Donnie & Dirichukwu Ukattah
Deacon Godwin & Wunmi Obele
Alex & Uche Iroha
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People and Places
Mr & Mrs Adelakun
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Dada & Tosin Ojeisekhoba
Paul & Blessing Ojekwe
Deacon Ike and Minister Chika Onyebalu
Ugo & Chioma Oranu
Emman & Onyi Chukwuma
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People and Places
Christopher & Ethel Ojeikere
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Albert & Angela Williams
Pastor & Pastor Mrs. Akinnitire
Pastor Fredrick & Evelyn Ejiofor
Ben & Pastor Julian Omaivboje
Ehis & Linda Inegbenoise
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People and Places
Pastor Festus & Pastor Mrs. Nkechi Anwuli
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Femi & Bose Saliu
Austin & Nkechi Ene
Orakwue & Uche Onwuli
Francis & Khadijah Dibia
Rex & Amaka Anyaoha
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People and Places
Olukunle & Caroline Bamishile
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Olawale & Grace Ogundimu
Marvin & Karen Uveda
Gabriel & Lorena Castrejon
Wamilele & Makeda Ekas
Oliver & Deaconess Daisy Anajemba
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People and Places
Dr. & Mrs Addo
Ezekwesiri & Nnenna Ekejiuba
Deacon Badewa & Taiwo Olukunle
Kester and Anna Ezuma
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People and Places
Chike & Ifeatu Ejizu
Gibson & Comfort Ojukwu
Sunny & Nkechi Nwanisiobi
Kola & Meg Sofeso
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Spotlight
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Spotlight
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Spotlight
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Spotlight
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Spotlight
Kwara State was created on 27 May 1967, when the Federal Military Government of General Yakubu Gowon broke the four regions that then constituted the Federation of Nigeria into 12 states.
Kwara State State Of Harmony At its creation, the state was made up of the former Ilorin and Kabba provinces of the then Northern Region and was initially named the West Central State but later changed to "Kwara", a local name for the River Niger. Kwara State has since 1976 reduced considerably in size as a result of further state creation exercises in Nigeria. On 13 February 1976, the Idah/Dekina part of the state was carved out and merged with a part of the then Benue/Plateau State to form Benue State. On 27 August 1991, five local government areas, namely Oyi, 50 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
Yagba, Okene, Okehi and Kogi were also excised to form part of the new Kogi State, while a sixth, Borgu Local Government Area, was merged with Niger State.
Ilorin South Ilorin West Irepodun Isin Kaiama Moro Offa
Kwara State consists of sixteen (16) Local Government Areas. They are: Asa Baruten Edu Ekiti Ifelodun Ilorin East SPRING 2015
Spotlight
Oke Ero Oyun Pategi Important tourist attractions in Kwara State include Esie Museum, Owu Falls, Imoleboja Rock Shelter, Ogunjokoro, Kainji Lake National Parks and Agbonna Hill Awon Mass Wedding in Shao. there is need to develop tourist centers in the state to enhance physical development, a place like owu fall needs standard hotel and a good road, which will encourage people to visit the fall as a picnic center. The Nigerian Railway Corporation extends services from Lagos through the state to the northern part of the country. The Ilorin Airport is a major center for both domestic and international flights and has now been built up into a hub for transportation of cargoes. Agriculture is the main source
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of the economy and the principal cash crops are: cotton, cocoa, coffee, Kolanut, tobacco, beniseed and palm produce. Mineral resources in the state are Gold, limestone, marble, feldspar, clay, kaolin, quartz and granite rocks. Industries in the state include Dangote Flour Mill, Lubcon Lubricant Company, Kam Industries Nigeria Ltd, Tuyil Pharmacy Nig Ltd, Padson Industries NiG Ltd, Kwara Breweries, Ijagbo Global Soap and Detergent Industry, United Match Company, Tate and Lyle Company, Resinoplast Plastic Industry, Phamatech Nigeria Limited, Kwara Textile and Kwara Furniture Company all in Ilorin. Others are Paper Manufacturing Industry, Jebba, Okin Foam and Okin Biscuits, Offa, Kay Plastic, Ganmo and Kwara Paper Converters Lim-
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Spotlight
ited, Erin-ile. Others are Sugar Producing Company, Bacita, Kwara animal Feed Mall, Ilorin and the Agricultural Products Company.
"Kwara" is a local name for the River Niger
The state has a federal university ,The University of Ilorin, a state university (h that commenced in the 2009/2010 session, two polytechnics, Kwara State Polytechic and Offa Polytechic, three colleges of education, school of Health technology and school of nursing. It also has a navy
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“
and Al-Hikmah University, both private universities which are located in Omu Aran and Ilorin respectively.
Sporting activities are managed by the State Sports Council. The importance attached to sports led to the construction of a stadium complex. The facilities available at the stadium complex are mainbowl, indoor sports hall, hostel, recreational press censchool and aviation college. It is ter as well as an Olympic size also home for Landmark Uniswimming pool. versity (http://lmu.edu.ng)
�
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People and Places
Celebration of
Mama Comfort Okonkwo Anyakpor @ 80 54 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
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People and Places The Okonkwo-Anyakpor family celebrated the 80th birthday of their momMrs. Comfort Okonkwo on December 13, 2014. The ceremony was attended by mama's children and grandchildren and several relations and friends of the family. The celebration started with a thanksgiving mass at St. Philomena Catholic Church Carson California and an evening reception at the upscale Foundation Centerin Los Angeles. All of Mama's children- Nnamdi Anyakpor,Caroline Okowi,Ike Okonkwo, Emi Anyakpor and Okus Michael Okonkwo along with Mama's grandchildren prayed blessings on Mama for a long life and testified of the hard work she did in raising them and the love she poured into their lives. Guests were lavishly entertained with fine African cuisine and a free flowing bar. One of Los Angeles's best deejaysJasper was also on hand to play the latest Naija jams and fine oldies that made guests dance till the early hours of Sunday morning...
Mama and her children
Mama and her son-in-law & daughters-in-law
Guests at the Mama Comfort Okonkwo Anyakpor at 80 Celebration SPRING 2015
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People and Places
Mama and her grandchildren
Ik & Juliet Okonkwo and children
Mr.and Mrs. Nnamdi Anyakpor
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Mrs. Vivian Odega
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People and Places
Saturday & Sophia Aisuan
At the church service
Princess Ije Fine
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Olukunle & Caroline Bamishile
Ike & Juliet walking Mama into the hall
Diokpa blessing the Kola
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People and Places
Big brother Nnamdi Anyakpor welcoming guests
Unique ladies
Chief Ben Amadi & other guests
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Ike Okonkwo extolling Mama
Mama cutting her birthday cake
Mr & Mrs Biosah
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People and Places
Unique ladies and men
Guests
Guests
Guests
Radiant guests with Mama and Ike
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Business & Finance
ACCESSBANK A Banking Colossus 60 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
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Business & Finance Over the past 26 years, Access Bank Plc. has transformed from an obscure Nigerian Bank into a world class African financial institution. Today, Access Bank is one of the five largest banks in Nigeria in terms of assets, loans, deposits and branch network; a feat which has been achieved through strong longterm approach to client solutions â providing committed
and innovative advice. Access Bank has built its strength and success in corporate banking and is now taking that expertise and applying it to the personal and business banking platform it acquired from Nigeriaâ s International Commercial bank in 2012. The last two years have been spent integrating the business, investing in the infrastruc-
ture and strengthening the product offer. As part of its continued growth strategy, Access Bank is focused on mainstreaming sustainable business practices into its operations. The Bank strives to deliver sustainable economic growth that is profitable, environmentally responsible and socially relevant. The Beginning (1988 â 2001)
â ¢December 19, 1988: Access Bank was issued a banking license and on February 8, 1989: Access Bank was incorporated as a privately owned commercial bank and on May 11, 1989: Access Bank commenced operations at its Burma Road, Apapa Head Office. On March 24, 1998: Access Bank became a Public Limited Liability Company and in November 18, 1998: Access Bank listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange On February 5, 2001: Access Bank
obtained a Universal Banking License from the Central Bank of Nigeria The Change In March 2002, the Board of Directors appointed Aigboje AigImoukhuede as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and Herbert Wigwe as Deputy Managing Director. The mandate was clear: â Reposition the bank as one of Nigeriaâ s leading financial institutions within a five year period (March 2002 â
March 2007).â This task was perceived by many as impossible given the realities of the Bank at the time. Simultaneously, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, who brought commendable and useful board experience gathered from some of Nigeriaâ s leading companies, including MTN Nigeria, Okomu Oil Palm Plc, was also appointed to the Board. The new management team subsequently created a transformational agenda for Access Bank
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Business & Finance which represented a departure from all that characterized the Bank in the past and became the road map for the conversion of the bank into a world class financial institution. The impact of the transformation agenda was reflected in the first year. The bank grew its balance sheet by 100% and posted an impressive N1 billion profit before tax. The profit before tax figure was more than the cumulative profit made by the bank in the previous 12 years. This also marked the beginning of what would be a six year record tripledigit growth trend. Similarly, earnings per share had rebounded to 21 kobo from a negative 2 kobo position, leading to a declaration of a 5 kobo dividend to shareholders for the first time in three years. In recognition of the role of an enhanced capital structure, the Bank embarked on a capital raising exercise in July 2007. The exercise was an astounding success recording an over subscription of over 300%. The public offer comprised of an Over-The-Counter GDR placement of US$250 million which was similarly oversubscribed by 700%. The Bank창 s shareholders창 fund today stands 62 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
at over N240 billion with an expanded shareholder base of over 1,000,000 domestic and foreign investors. Access Bank is consistently seeking for ways to expand its service platform across the African continent. The bank currently operates through a network of about 366 branches across major cities and commercial centers in Nigeria,
Gambia, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The "W" WOMEN GRASSROOTS BANKING INITIATIVE: ACCESS BANK OFFERS SUCCOUR TO WOMEN Globally, women disproportionately face financial access barriers that prevent them from participating in the economy and from improving their lives. Women make up 40 per cent of the world창 s workforce. Many of the sectors that are critical for economic growth in some of the poorest countries rely heavily on women. Small
and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) with female ownership represent 30 per cent to 37 percent of all SMEs (8 million to 10 million women-owned firms) in Nigeria and other emerging markets. These businesses, according to a recent World Bank report, have unmet financial needs between $260 billion and $320 billion a year across the globe. This therefore is women창 s biggest barrier to growth and development. Access to credit can open up economic opportunities for women, and bank accounts can be a gateway to the use of additional financial services. However, women entrepreneurs and employers face significantly greater challenges than men in gaining access to financial services. The Global Findex, a comprehensive database measuring how people save, borrow, and manage risk in 148 countries, revealed that women are less likely than men to have formal bank accounts. In Nigeria and many other developing economies, women are 20 percent less likely than men to have an account at a formal financial institution and 17 percent less likely to have borrowed formally in the past year. Even if they can gain acSPRING 2015
Business & Finance help stimulate inclusive growth generation and providing opcess to a loan, women often portunities for entrepreneurial in the Nigerian economy. lack access to other financial sourcing, training, developThe W initiative services, such as savings, digiment and empowerment. According to the bank, part of tal payment methods, and inDeveloping nations such as the privileges for women and surance. Restrictions on Nigeria characterised as low intheir families under the initiaopening a bank account, such come earners by the World as requirements for a male fam- tive includes access to a comBank, value prehensive ily memberâ s permission, SMEs for restrict several reawomsons. â If enâ s you look at access to SMEs today, accounts. they are conLack of trolled about financial 30 per cent education by women can also Herbert Wigwe, Current MD Aig Imokuede, Former MD and yet nolimit body pays women attention to them. From my from gaining access to and ben- range of loan product and own experience when we efitting from financial services. credit facilities; access to started it in 2006, they had the â Wâ community with Nonetheless, as part of efforts The to offer women exclusive access helpful advice on family and fi- lowest default rate. â second and most important to banking services as well as a nance matters, home and famwide range of lifestyle-oriented ily articles and details of special thing is that by supporting value added benefits and privi- offers; access to a wide range of women and the businesses that they do, it would lead to ecoleges, Access Bank Plc recently great discount, special offers nomic growth in this country. It unveiled the â Wâ initia- and freebies on health, beauty is not a new initiative, it is and fitness. tive. something we started in 2006, The initiatives promoting gen- Others include early savers der equality and fosters greater club for children, access to ma- but we are re-launching it properly and embedding it in our ternal health support, family economic development. institution,â Wigwe exprotection as well as access to According to Access Bank, replained. ducing gender-based barriers in seminars on family planning Wigwe said the initiative beand parenting. The Group the business environment; creating business opportunities for Managing Director/Chief Exec- came necessary because a counutive Officer, Access Bank, Mr. try grows by supporting SMEs, institutions and in the private insisting that if Nigeria must sector to improve working con- Herbert Wigwe said the initiagrow greatly, women must be tive would also support SMEs ditions for female employees, supported. Noting that research owned by women. SMEs conmarket segmentation, and intribute to improved living stan- in the past two years showed clusion of women in commuthat women have far lower dedards, bring about substantial nity relationships; supporting fault ratio than men on loans business skills and financial ca- local capital formation and achieve high level of productiv- repayment, he lamented that on pability trainings for women; the contrary; they have lower ity and capability. and building the business case patronage by financial instituThey have also been identified for equal economic opportunitions than men. He added that ties for men and women, would as a vehicle for employment SPRING 2015
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Business & Finance women empowerment is entrenched in Access Bank to guarantee their liberation and equality. According to Wigwe, every staff member of Access Bank now understands and pays greater attention to women and their needs. With the initiative, he said women now have an online community with â Wâ where they can reach out and connect. â So it is all about the women who want to be inspired, connected and empowered. â Wâ speaks to the strength that every woman around the world carries. It is about women, the Nigerian women and women around the world,â he added. Benefits of the initiative According to the bank, the â Wâ is the first banking solution that allows an entire family to bank and benefit together, while also operating their individual accounts. â We have a variety of accounts to help you manage your unique financial needs. There are accounts designed for young family members to promote and develop their financial management skills,â it
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stated. The initiative according to the bank is all about women that desire to be inspired, connected and empowered. It further explained that it is its commitment to banking women. Its maternal health support segment was specially designed to help women overcome financial barriers while supporting them in their quest for health and motherhood. This scheme supports local and international treatments for fertility, natal support, other specialist procedures include -Hysterectomy (Uterus Removal), myomectomy (Fibroid Removal), dental, bariatric and orthopaedic â Our new approach to banking women provides banking solutions to meet the lifestyle needs of the identified sub-segments: young professionals, woman and family and women in business. â Purely, they are banking products bundled to meet their financial and lifestyle needs e.g. family banking for the woman and family. The â Wâ community provides business contacts and platform for sharing in community forum, access to seminars and networking
events, helpful tips to help women enjoy their lifestyle. â It is a social community designed for women to be inspired, connected and empowered,â the bank added. In addition, the scheme provides opportunity for rewarding and developing female entrepreneurs and achievers. There is also a mentoring programme where some women help others grow in a structured manner. Successful women who would mentor and guide younger women have already been identified by the bank. â We are contributing to economic development and women empowerment by promoting qualified start-up ideas â building an incubator of great ideas. â We are supporting start-ups not just with flexible access to loans, but with capacity building and business monitoring as well free banking services. â The first 100 women to embrace these bundles would enjoy free banking services till December 31, 2014, free CoT, card request charges, free draft issuances charges, amongst others,â the bank explained.
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LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 65
Legal Issues
Right Of Females To Inherit Property In Nigeria By Ogochukwu Victor Onwaeze, Esq
In 2010, I was asked to provide expert opinion on a pending immigration petition where the issue of a potentially levirate marriage in Eastern Nigerian came up. In the end the factual scenario did not qualify as a levirate marriage but was merely an incident of widow inheritance. I had opined that were the case to come before a Nigerian Court, the practice of widow inheritance, which is engendered by the problem of patrilineal inheritance practiced in almost the whole of Nigeria, would be deemed repugnant to equity, natural justice and good conscience and would not be enforceable. The same patrilineal rule of inheritance that restricts the right of women to inherit the property 66 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
of their husband also placed restrictions on the right of daughters to share in the property of their father upon his passing. In 2011, the Nigerian Supreme Court made significant pronouncements that did away with such laws and strengthened the inheritance rights of females in Nigeria. The practice of widow inheritance was the usual channel for a married woman who lost her husband to be guaranteed of continued support for herself and her children. Some scholars erroneously term this type of union a levirate marriage. Levirate Marriage is a type of
marriage in which the brother of a deceased man is obligated to marry his brother’s widow and the widow is obligated to marry her deceased husband’s brother. This form of marriage has ancient roots and its practice was mainly amongst the Hebrews and Indians. It is prevalent in areas where the spread of restriction on consanguinity practically resulted in marital exogamy. A significant difference between levirate marriage and widow inheritance is that under the systems that practice widow inheritance, there is no obligation on the part of the deceased man’s brother to marry his widow and the widow is not obligated to marry her deceased husband’s SPRING 2015
Legal Issues
widow as a married woman. brother. The family may So long as the widow remains dictate a relative of the deceased husband to inherit his unmarried, she remains a member of the deceased widow, but consent of the husband’s family with the same widow is necessary to effectuate the arrangement. There is however no ceremony that takes place to solemnize the union as a She is not able to inherit real marriage, for indeed it is not regarded as a marriage property upon the death of in the traditional her husband, because in customary sense.
because in customary reality the land did not belong to her husband but to the husband’s family.
Of course advancements in education made some of these practices obsolete, in fact, if not in law, especially in the urban areas. However, they continued to hold true in the rural areas and grave injustice was customary reality the land did meted to widows and daughters upon the death Widow inheritance arose not belong to her husband of their husband and father from the need to provide but to the husband’s family respectively. It was continued maintenance of common for a wife to be the widow and her driven away by her children within the family husband’s relative upon his circle due to the patrilineal death without as much as any rights and privileges as if the nature of property inheritance of the property acquired during husband were still alive. in those areas where widow marriage to support herself. inheritance is practiced. The reason for widow inheritance is In terms of real property, the Although lower courts have found in the customary laws of communal ownership of land progressively whittled down was an additional problem. South Eastern Nigeria relating to dissolution of marriage upon Land in most cases is owned by the custom, the first major breakthrough came in 1997 in death of a spouse coupled with the family and the right to the customary laws of property “own” land is based on affinity the case of Mojekwu v. or blood relationship. Since the Mojekwu. In that case inheritance. The death of a decedent’s male relative, wife is not a blood member of husband terminates the the family of her husband she is relying on the Ili-Ekpe custom marriage, amongst the Igbos, not able to inherit real property of some parts of South-East but it does not terminate the upon the death of her husband, Nigeria, had instituted action customary law status of the SPRING 2015
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Legal Issues against the decedent’s wife claiming that he was entitled to inherit her deceased husband’s property. The basis for his claim was that the deceased, his paternal uncle, was survived by the respondent [his wife] and two daughters. Being all women, they were excluded from inheriting property under the Ili-Ekpe customary laws applying to the deceased. Fortuitously for the wife and daughter, the court found that the property in question was not subject to the Ili-Ekpe custom but subject to a Kola Tenancy which allowed the women to inherit the property. Despite this, the Court of Appeal gave a ray of hope when it held that were the IliEkpe custom to be applicable it would have been found to be repugnant and unenforceable as contrary to public policy or repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience. The Court also pronounced the
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Court cases decided on the same day, April 11, 2011. In Ukeje vs. Ukeje the daughter of the deceased sued the wife and son of the deceased claiming that as the daughter of the deceased, she was entitled to share in the estate of her father. The Supreme Court agreed with her and in affirming her Unfortunately, when the case wound its way to the Supreme right to inheritance clearly stated that “no matter the Court in 2004 as Mojekwu v. circumstances of the birth of a Iwuchukwu , the Supreme female child, such a child is Court, while finding for the entitled to an inheritance from women based on the Kola her late father’s estate ... Tenancy that was applicable, Consequently, the Igbo berated the lower Court for deeming the ili-Ekpe custom as customary law, which disrepugnant when that issue was entitles a female child from partaking in the sharing of her not necessary for the determination of the case. This deceased father’s estate is a breach of Section 42(1) and (2) was certainly a set back for the decision which had been hailed of the Constitution, a as a major human rights victory fundamental rights provision guaranteed to every Nigerian ... for Nigerian women. said discriminatory customary It took seven more years before law is void as it conflicts with Section 42(1) and (2) of the the right of women to inherit Constitution” property was finally entrenched by two Supreme custom contrary to human rights guarantees in the Nigerian Constitution and in the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, which prohibit discrimination on the ground of sex.
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Legal Issues In Nweke vs. Nweke , the brothers of the deceased, sought to exclude her widow who had six daughters from inheriting property belonging to her husband on the grounds that she had no male child. The Supreme Court on April 11, 2011 enforced the right of inheritance of the widow and declared Nigerian customs which disinherit women as repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience and should therefore not be allowed to stand. The court described such laws as “punitive, uncivilized and only intended to protect the selfish perpetuation of male dominance which is aimed at suppressing the right of the women folk in the given society.� These little known women in these three cases, especially the latter two have been hailed as champions of human rights for women in Nigeria. It is hoped
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that the courts and especially the society will abide by these decisions and begin to recognize the injustice in our mostly patrilineal system of inheritance in Nigeria. Unfortunately, despite these clear pronouncements, Native Courts in rural areas continue to adhere to the outdated and anachronistic concepts denying women the right to inheritance. Many a time, the women in the cases do not have the wherewithal or the will to continue to fight with the male members of the society for several reasons. It may be a fear of reprisal, physical and otherwise from her in-laws in the case of the widows or from her brothers and uncles in the case of the daughters. The delay in dispensation of justice and the attendant cost also act as deterrence to the women seeking to enforce their rights. The women in the cases discussed persevered for over
20 years before the cases finally got to the Supreme Court. In the Mojekwu case for example, the original party to the case, had died and the daughter was substituted as a party to the case, hence the change in the designation of the case to Mojekwu vs. Iwuchukwu. If these rights are to stick, it will take the collective recognition of the male dominated society that women do indeed deserve to share in the inheritance of the property of their husbands and parents.
Ogochukwu Victor Onwaeze, Esq. The author is an attorney practicing in Los Angeles California and can be reached at onwaeze@aol.com
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 69
Evangelist Gabriella Eluwa @50 70 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
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Celebrant with Church Family
Family, friends and colleagues of Evangelist Gabriella Eluwa gathered on December 20, 2015 at the church hall of Christ Ambassador's Church Los Angeles to celebrate a great and loving woman, mother, sister, colleague, friend and evangelist for Christ at the golden age of 50. Pastor Moses Gago in his short exhortation did a graphic illustration of how many seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years Sister Gabriella has spent on earth and extrapolated it for even double of those number of years and told the gathering of friends and family that we really do not have a lot of time to spend here on earth compared to eternal life in heaven. He therefore urged the gathering to count and number their days and spend it in pursuits that will grant them eternal life in heaven as the time we have here on earth is very short. Friends and family poured glowing tributes to Gabriella the mother, the sister, the friend, the colleague at work, the Evangelist and everybody had nothing but good to say about this virtuous woman. Special performances were done by AmagaeGabriella's grandson who sang a special number, Jeremiah Sanusi who delivered a speech thanking mom for being there for her children and Sister Dora Duru who performed a praise dance. There was plenty to eat and drink and guests danced into the late hours of the day... Following is a photo essay of the event: SPRING 2015
A time of joy
Cross Section of guests
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People and Places
Celebrant enters with family & friends
Celebrants colleagues from Hillcrest
Pastor Moses praying
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Celebrant with children
Mr & Mrs Eka and Bro Michael
Cross section of Guests
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People and Places
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Celebrant with children
Amagae sings a special number
Pastor Moses and Hasana Gago with guests
Cross section of guests
Jeremiah Sanusi delivers a speech
Celebrant and daughter Chioma dance
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People and Places
Dancing Time
MC, Bro. Chike Nweke
Celebrant with Pastors Moses and Hasana
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Guests dancing
Words of exhortation by Pastor Moses Gago
Celebrant and Mrs. Tamplin-Jones
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People and Places
Celebrant with extended family
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Celebrant with MC & wife Mercy Nweke
Celebrant with Church Family
Pastors and Ministers pray for Celebrant
Sis Dora Duru performing praise dance
Evang. Chinyere leads the toast to Celebrant
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 75
Beauty of the Moment
Engaged
Prince Chuks Nasa Iro & His Princess - Blessing
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Beauty of the Moment
H ap p y M arried
Life SPRING 2015
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 77
Country Profile
Kenya , officially the Republic of Kenya, is a sovereign state in Africa. Its capital and largest city is Nairobi. Kenya lies on the equator with the Indian Ocean to the southeast, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, South Sudan to the north-west, Ethiopia to the north and Somalia to the northeast. Kenya covers 581,309 km2 (224,445 sq mi) and has a population of about 44 million in July 2012.
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Country Profile
The country is named after Mount Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa. Kenya is divided into 47 semiautonomous counties that are headed by governors who were elected in the first general election under the new constitution in March 2013. These 47 counties now form the first-order divisions of the country. Under the old constitution, Kenya comprised eight provinces each headed by a Provincial Commissioner (centrally appointed by the president). The provinces ( mkoa singular, mikoa plural in Swahili) were subdivided into districts .Constituencies are an electoral subdivision, with each county comprising a whole number of constituencies. An Interim Boundaries commission was formed in year 2010 to review the constituencies and in its report, it recommended creation of an additional 80 constituencies. Previous to the 2013 elections, there were 210 constituencies in Kenya.
Famous for its classic savanna safaris, Kenya is a country of dramatic extremes and classic contrasts. Deserts and alpine snows; forests and open plains; the metropolis of Nairobi and colorful tribal cultures; freshwater lakes and coral reefs. For many people, Kenya is East Africa in microcosm. The wildlife safaris have been the top tourist attractions in Kenya for decades while other activities include trekking Mount Kenya, ballooning over the Masai Mara and snorkeling in Malindi on the Indian Ocean coast. 10- Nairobi National Park
Nairobi National Park is just a 10 minutes drive from the center of Nairobi with only a fence separating the park’s wildlife from the metropolis. Nairobi’s skyscrapers can be seen from the park. Despite its proximity to the city and the relative small size of the park, Nairobi National Park boasts a large and varied wildlife population. Migrating wildebeest and zebra The current President of Kenya, gather in the park during the dry Uhuru Kenyatta ran and won season, and it is one of Kenya’s with 50.51% of the vote in March most successful rhinoceros 2013. sanctuaries.
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LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 79
Country Profile
9- Malindi Malindi provides a very nice introduction to the coastal tourist attractions in Kenya with its extensive coral reefs and beautiful beaches. There are surfing, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing and other water sports. The Malindi Marine National Park is protected and has fine beaches clear water and very colorful fish. Malindi is served with a domestic airport and a highway between Mombasa and Lamu. 8- Mount Kenya Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second-highest in Africa, after Kilimanjaro. The mountain
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offers a beautiful sight. Its series of peaks are crowned with snow, and its slopes are covered with forest. The 5199 meter (17,057 ft) high summit is a difficult technical climb, several lowers peaks however are an easy destination for any fit trekker. 7- Samburu National Reserve Samburu National Reserve is a very peaceful national park in Northern Kenya. It attracts wildlife because of the Uaso Nyiro River that runs through it and the mixture of forest and grassland vegetation. All three big cats, lion, cheetah and leopard, can be found here, as well as elephants, buffalo and hippos. The Uaso Nyiro River
contains large numbers of Nile crocodile. 6- Hell's Gate National Park Hell’s Gate National Park is a tiny park named after a narrow break in the cliffs, once a tributary of a prehistoric lake that fed early humans in the Rift Valley. It is unique among Kenya’s wildlife parks, as you are allowed to walk or cycle without a guide. There’s dramatic scenery, with steep cliffs, gorges and basalt columns. The national park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, though many are few in number. Examples of little seen wildlife include lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
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Country Profile
abundance of algae attracts vast quantities of lesser flamingos, sometimes more than one million at once. Often called the greatest bird spectacle on earth, the flamingos are one of Kenya’s top attractions. Sadly, in recent years the number of flamingos at Lake Nakuru has been decreasing, due to environmental degradation and pollution.
5- Lamu Island
4- Tsavo National Park
Lamu Island is a part of Kenya’s Lamu Archipelago, and has managed to stay unspoiled and untouched by the mass tourism that has hit much of Kenya’s coastline. As the oldest living town in Kenya, Lamu Town has retained all the charm and character built up over centuries. There are no roads on Lamu Island, just alleyways and footpaths, and therefore, there are few motorized vehicles on the island. Residents move about on foot or by boat, and donkeys are used to transport goods and materials.
Tsavo is the largest national park in Kenya and one of the largest in the world. Due to its size the park was divided into Tsavo West and Tsavo East. The Tsavo West has spectacular scenery with a rolling volcanic landscape while Tsavo East has more open savannah than its western sibling. Tsavo National Park is the ideal destination in Kenya for people who seek 2- Amboseli National Park solitude and privacy as well as the chance to explore the Amboseli National Park is a wilderness. relatively small park located close to the Tanzania border at the foot of Africa’s highest 3- Lake Nakuru mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Lake Nakuru is a very shallow The park is famous for being the lake in central Kenya. The lake’s best place in Africa to get close
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Country Profile
to free-ranging elephants. Other attractions of the Amboseli National Park include opportunities to meet the Maasai people and spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro. 1- Masai Mara National Reserve The Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the top 82 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
“ Famous for its classic savanna safaris, Kenya is a country of dramatic extremes and classic contrasts.
”
tourist attractions in Kenya and the country’s most popular game park. Each year the Masai Mara National Reserve is visited by thousands of tourists who come here to watch the exceptional population of game and the annual migration of zebra and wildebeest. The “Great Migration” takes place every year from July to October when millions of wildebeest and zebra migrate from the Serengeti in Tanzania.
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Beauty Tips
skin care by Nana Ama Afrifa-Addo With summer around the corner, I want to feel good from the inside because what glows from the inside will automatically show on the outside. There are endless beauty tips and beauty products out there to make you look remarkable. These tips and beauty products which range from natural to laboratory synthetics cannot make your skin glow if you are: stressed out, eating high fat foods, deprived of sleep or living a sedentary lifestyle. Our skin tells our life story and with little changes, you can help tell a good life story. Here are a few tips that will help all of us: · Diet: when it comes to skin, you are what you eat. o Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables o The Mediterranean diet is great for the skin o Salmon and foods rich in omega-3 will make a positive impact SPRING 2015
o Excessive sugar increases inflammatory response in the body o Green tea is anti-inflammatory and in the lab has been shown to heal skin o Drink water to clean out toxins · Keep your skin clean and moisturize dry skin; dermatologists recommend moisturizing dry skin twice a day and overnight · For oily skin, use a toner or natural fruit acids · A little sun is healthy and mood-elevating. However, protect your face by wearing sunscreen · Exercise to shed stress hormones and improve circulation · Get your beauty sleep during which your skin rejuvenates and hormones balance · Don’t smoke, and stay away from second hand smoke and other obvious pollutants · Aim for good health - when you are healthy, you look more youthful and act that way; illness weighs you down and saps your energy.
· Smile and you will look younger and prettier · Avoid stress; it ages and depletes vitality. Instead of radiating happiness and positivism, you appear pessimistic as you secrete pollutants in your body. · Avoid strong chemicals and treatments. · Avoid severe changes and a lot of makeup. Beauty should not be forced but rather improved and enhanced. Express who you are — not some false ideal. Don’t conceal the real you. Living the truth of who you are is dazzling!
Nana Ama Afrifa-Addo LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 83
Life’s Issues
Educated, Unmarried And 30 Something: An African Woman’s Reality Grace Neequaye MPH CHES
And I followed those rules. As a teenager with raging hormones, school officials and family made it clear that boys were taboo. Anyone caught with remote interest in the opposite sex was quickly put in place, often times punished. Even in high The order of events growing up, school, my though unspoken was quite clear: father nursery school; primary school; junior secondary school; senior secondary school; university; career. At some point in between those, a husband and possibly children were to be inserted completely avoided the subject but in the right places. A Nigerian friend and I were recently chuckling about a conversation she’d had with her aunt, who expressed concerned that she was approaching 40 and far from settling down. Her aunt asked her: ‘Eh you’re 38 years and you’re not married; are you sure you’re not gay? If you are, you can tell me, it’s okay, I’m your auntie, I will still love you!’ Those of us born between late 1970s and early 1980s have learned that our society has greatly changed the expectations placed on us, especially girls; however the social expectations remain the same.
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Life’s Issues
still made it clear that I had no business socially hanging out with boys. My mother’s loving “be good” at the end of every conversation were the constant reminder that though thousands of miles away, she expected me to keep up with the decorum of the prim and proper Christian girl she had raised.
However, in the quest to protect our innocence, we are often left illequipped to tackle the world of negotiating social scenes and
“
Then one day she says to me, “it would be so wonderful when I
My mother’s campaign continued well into college where she would often call and ask pointed questions about the company I kept. Her “be good” reminders stayed quite strong. We continued well into grad school.
have grandchildren! “
Then one day she says to me, “it would be so wonderful when I have grandchildren! “ Wait, what? When did this transition happen? I thought boys were bad news.’ African parents are notorious for being very strict with their children especially girls. In fact, my parent kept a shotgun behind the front door of our home. I’m sure it was for easy access in case there was a burglar, but we all knew that it was also to let any daring boy who came into the house know who had authority. It is a perfectly valid behavior, especially in a society when girls are often preyed on, and our naiveté used against us.
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”
our perspective. Children must be taught how to navigate not only careers, but family life, starting with making connections with both males and females. As girls have been afforded the same opportunities as boys, there are many women who will pursue a career, shifting their focus from the pursuit of a husband. And as we currently see, there are many women, though unmarried, who lead well-connected, stable and financially secured lives. Children should be raised to understand the choices available and the consequences of each decision. We must not shy away from the possibility that our daughters may decide never to get married, or that they may have children without a husband.
interactions towards marriage and ‘settling down’. Culturally, African parents expect their children to be married by the time they are 30. Indeed, most of my friends in Ghana are married with children and the few stragglers have either disavowed marriage or are desperately seeking any mate. In contrast most of my African friends living in the U.S are single: no potential partner in sight, amidst comments from family members including ‘you must be too picky’ and ‘you’re not the queen, lower your standards a little.’ These comments of course do very little to help someone who really wants to be married but does not seem to meet the right people.
I personally appreciate the values that my family strived to impart to me. While navigating my 30s, I have relied on many of these values to make sound favorable decisions. As I work towards the best me, I continue to shake off the feeling of being ‘the strange one’ and understand that life is what Grace Neequaye I So how do we find a happy ever middle? Times have greatly make of it. changed and we must also adjust LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 85
Health & Wellness
How To Avoid The Deceptions
Of The Food Industry Olufemi Y. Saliu, M.D.
The art of fishing has truly been perfected by the food industry. Consumers are baited and hooked by food. As a result, the food industry exposes all of us to dangers similar to the ones fish face at the hands of fishermen. On Saturday the 14th of March, 2015, I visited a neighborhood grocery store where I’ve shopped for sixteen years. I walked the aisles, intending to refresh my knowledge of food packaging. I wanted to see how the food industry makes us devour unhealthy, and naturally tasteless food. I randomly examined the food packages I picked off the shelves. Familiar 86 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
slogans appeared repeatedly on natural flavors, and zero the products: no animal fat,1% cholesterol. Foods were also low fat, 2% reduced fat, 100% given the appearance of healthfulness by the addition of earthy food coloring and seeds, such as sesame seeds on a bagel. Why do you think seeds on bagels are healthy? I always thought they were added for flavor. I used to pick many of my food items according to their “healthy” packaging. On a memorable day in the fall of 2011, I had my usual two slices of whole wheat bread smeared pure, supports brain, multigrain, with peanut butter and a glass of organic, gluten free, great warm 2% fat milk for breakfast. taste…..naturally, original, no Between 7:00 and 11:00am, I had artificial flavors, no artificial three cups of unsweetened coffee colors, honey roasted, 100% and a sesame studded bagel. By SPRING 2015
Health & Wellness noon I had, along with my lunch of grains, meat, a handful of vegetables and two chocolate chip cookies. But, even though I filled up on these apparently healthy foods, I did not stay full for long. On the way home, by 2:00 pm, I stopped by the doctors’ lounge to grab two more cookies and a cup of coffee. Upon arrival at home I went straight to the kitchen to get a bowl of cereal with reduced fat milk. After drinking the sweet milk residue in the bowl, I decided to go for another bowl. After the third bowl I had to stop because my stomach was very tense. But I still had pounded yam at dinner time. Why did I eat so much on that day when I had eaten the food that the food industry claims to be healthy? The answer can be found on the nutrition facts label of our favorite foods: sugar. During my visit I saw different food items with varying amount of sugar per serving: 1% low fat milk-12 grams of sugar, another brand of 1% milk-30 grams of sugar, berry punch-25 grams of sugar, 100% pure orange juice-22 grams of sugar, honey roasted cereal-12 grams of sugar, and 2% reduced fat milk-13 grams of sugar. Every supposedly healthy food item I examined had an unhealthy measure of added sugar. A couple of weeks ago I went to another store to buy protein powder. I decided not to get it because the tin of whey protein SPRING 2015
had 9 grams of sugar per and bread. This human hook-sugar- is potentially as dangerous as a hook is to fish! In one of his articles, Dr. Robert H. Lustig opined that sugar is as hazardous as alcohol. According to him, “excessive consumption of fructose can cause many of the same health problems as alcohol.” Chronic alcohol exposure is associated with hematological disorders, abnormalities, serving. It’s supposed to be electrolyte protein. Why the added sugar? hypertension, cardiac dilatation, Why are these deceptive cardiomyopathy, dyslipidemia, phrases on the boxes? Why is it pancreatitis, obesity (insulin that virtually every food item in resistance), malnutrition, hepatic a package has sugar added to it? dysfunction, and addiction. Asking these questions is like Chronic exposure to fructose, one of the sugars in food, causes the same long list of terrible conditions. Just as corporate lawyer David Why is it that virtually every Gillespie writes in his book, sugar truly is a food item in a package has “sweet poison.” sugar added to it? Whenever you go grocery shopping, take a second look before you drop any food item into your cart. Those deceptive asking a fisherman why he phrases are the bait so look for the hook-the amount of sugar fishes with bait and hooks. The phrases are the bait per serving. You have the power to remain a fish or free yourself while sugar is the hook! The fisherman’s bait-zero from the hook of the food cholesterol- reeled me in industry. whenever I picked up my favorite snack of honey roasted References: Gillespie, David. 2008. peanuts; but 5 grams of sugar a 1. serving got me hooked. So, for Sweet Poison: Why Sugar Makes twelve years I kept going back to Us Fat. Australia: Penguin Aus. the aisle with nuts. It is the same 2. Lustig, Robert H. et al. 2012. sugar that got me hooked to Public health: The Toxic Truth chocolate chip ice cream, a About Sugar. Nature 482.27variety of cookies, apple juice, 29(02 February 2012)
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Iruka's Corner
A few months ago, I declared to some friends that one of my goals for the year is to be bold and audacious. Interestingly, most of them reacted with the response “you already are”. This response took me by surprise each time. None of them asked what I meant or what I hoped to achieve. They just assumed that I have the guts to leap into any goal I set for myself. It’s either I am bolder than I think I am or I have gotten good at faking it. If they only knew that I am constantly riddled with selfdoubt and second guessing myself; that sometimes I am
crippled with fear and can barely make the next move; that for each move I make, there are many more I did not dare to make. I am still processing how I feel about their unanimous reaction either they do not truly know who I am or they believe I can do anything. I rarely see myself as bold or audacious. I do not always have the nerve to tackle a lot of the things I would love to do. So, why do my friends believe or see me as brave? Is it because I tend to dive in, even when I don’t have all the
An Affair With the
Unknown
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Iruka's Corner answers or know how it will all play out? Or because I try not to let myself be deterred by obstacles? This is why I do not agree with those who define courage as the absence of fear. I may be seen as courageous but it does not mean I am fearless. I get anxious that it may not work out. I get stressed that my plan will fail. I have doubts that the venture may not beprofitable. I worry that I may come up short and disappoint people. When these voices of fear rear their heads, I silence them and muster the courage to go ahead because I believe the price of inaction is greater than making a mistake. I choose to focus on the process not the final outcome. If it fails, I learn from it and move on.
option is to use fear as a guide. Acknowledge the fear and come up with creative options to tackle it. Clearly, you will not have all the answers, but you will be able to move your legs and make a move. This is your first brave decision and an important step in the right direction. You have chosen to actin spite of your fear. That is the true meaning of courage.Remember, fear is not a fact; it is only a feeling.
“
courage is a love affair with the unknown
”
Life is full of unknowns and there are very few guarantees. On a daily basis, we need courage to face our day. We need courage to make that first call, apply for a new job, become an
entrepreneur, take that trip, ask for help, offer assistance, resolve a conflict, pop the question, My favorite definition of courage is ask for a by Osho, the Indian guru, who says raise, that “courage is a love affair with submit an the unknown”.It is natural to be application, that afraid particularly when you take cannot guarantee the final outcome class or just a or do not know your ultimate make destination. The problem arises decision. of when you let fear put you in a state Fear of paralysis to a point where you rejection or cannot take a step. Thepreferred failure may SPRING 2015
keep you from embarking on any of these ventures. Do not let that deter you, rather confront your fear head on and proceed regardless of it. Focus on the process of getting there. Once you do that fear becomes paralyzed, not you. Your perception changes and you find yourself embracing the unknown. There might be disappointments along the way.It’s okay. Use them astools to help you make the next move. I am determined to stay in the game as I continue my affair with the unknown. The outcome is uncertain and failure is a possibility. However, I am learning my lessons along the way as I embrace the uncertainty of it all. Resolve today to enter into a relationship with the unknown. Moveforward in spite of fear. Slow down enough to face your fears and do not get deterred by obstacles. They are just speed bumps. Acknowledge them. Drive over. Keep moving. Your destination is very important.Something greatawaits you there.
Iruka A. Ndubuizu is a “contract guru”, attorney, entrepreneur, consultant and trainer. She is an Assistant Director for Contracts Administration at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and the Founder of Eureka Consulting, LLC (www.eurekaconsultingllc.com). You can reach her at info@eurekaconsultingllc.com; 678.224.1960.
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 89
News & Politics
History and Lessons from Nigeria’s 2015 Presidential Election Prince Dr. Chinedu Ikeanyi president of Nigeria. This year’s contest marks his fourth attempt to win a presidential race, and he has finally won it because of his dogged determination and refusal to give up. By all accounts, the road This is the first time an opposition to Buhari’s presidency has not been party is “allowed” to win an easy. He was not lucky to be election and President Jonathan, the seating president of PDP, which summoned or chosen to run and he was not anointed for the has being leading Nigeria for the position; he fought hard for it. In past 16 years promptly called General Buhari to congratulate him 2003, he lost by over 11 million votes to President Obasanjo, but he and also conceded defeat, as was not discouraged. In 2007, he reported by BBC. I doff my hat off suffered another brutal loss to to these two gentlemen because of the lessons to be learned from their President Umaru Yar’Adua by winning only 18% of the votes; he respective actions. refused to quit. Then again in 2011, Lessons from the President-Elect, he took another shellacking from General Buhari the incumbent President Jonathan, General Buhari has shown but he remained undaunted. What remarkable resilience, perseverance, as well as the highest a determination! level of industriousness in his quest Now, at a retirement age of 72 in to serve as a democratically elected this 2015, General Buhari tried for History was made in March 2015 with the victory of APC’s presidential candidate and the President-Elect, General Buhari.
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the fourth time and prevailed. If this is not a success story reminiscent of Abraham Lincoln’s feat and resilience, I don’t know what else is. As Nigerians, we should all learn from General Buhari determination to continually fight for what you want as opposed to standing idle waiting for a handout. I am hopeful that the fire burning in GMB’s belly to serve Nigeria as her president will also lead him to do what is in the best interest of the country. At 72 years old, the only thing worth living for is a great legacy that will outlive him. I join President Jonathan and the rest of the Nigerians and the world in congratulating General Buhari in his well-deserved victory as the President-Elect. Lesson from President Goodluck Jonathan Like or hate him, President SPRING 2015
News & Politics
Jonathan harbors two salient beliefs that will forever endear him to many Nigerians: Belief #1: “I believe in one man, one vote.” – President Jonathan Belief #2: “I do not want to shed any blood or for anyone to shed blood for me because of a vote.” – President Jonathan President Jonathan did not only imbibe these beliefs, he lived and practiced them every day. Under his presidency, his ruling party, PDP, lost more election court cases than during the tenures of any of his two PDP predecessors Obasanjo and Yar’Adua. This was only possible because President Jonathan was never interested in influencing the court system. He simply left the judiciary alone to do their job (this does not mean that the corrupt judges did not have a
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field day during his tenure). Compared to President Obasanjo’s era, PDP never lost any major court case. OBJ would either impose a national holiday to prevent a crucial court decision or send his infamous EFFC after the plaintiffs. Regarding his Belief #2, we are yet to experience any inglorious and/or mysterious exit of any of the big name politicians during President Jonathan’s tenure. Someone once said that, “President Jonathan is the only Nigerian President that you can openly insult on Nigerian soil and still go home and sleep with your two eyes closed; then wake up the next day and go about your regular business without any harm. The man cannot and does not hurt a fly.” Compared to President Obasanjo’s era, we are yet to solve the mysteries behind the deaths of so many high profile Nigerian politicians including the
former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, and Chief Marshall Harry, the National Vice Chairman of ANPP, who was brutally assassinated in Abuja in 2003. Finally, the biggest lesson from President Jonathan is that he embodies humility by doing today what over 99% of Africans cannot do – the decision to relinquish power without resorting to violence, power-sharing or suicidal tendencies. Recall, with the exception of Ghana and Senegal, there has not been any other countries in Africa where an incumbent President willingly gave up power after losing an election to an opposition party. In most cases, opposition parties are never accepted in African continent – they are perceived as radicals and nuisance who do not add any value to the polity. Remember the
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News & Politics case of muammar Gaddafi who chose to die after 41 years in office rather than give up power; the case of former President Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast who was captured like a rat by the French forces in 2011 for refusing to hand over power when he lost an election after 11 years as the President, and Robert Mugabe at the age of 91 and 28 years as a current serving President, who will rather kill as many of his countrymen as possible than give up power.
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President Jonathan has carved his name on the stone for picking up the phone to contact and congratulate General Buhari for winning the Presidential election 2015. He will forever be remembered as the person who advanced Nigerian democracy beyond any other known patriots in the history of our country. Mr. President, I salute you for this singular class act. Respectfully, Prince Dr. Chinedu Ikeanyi
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LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 93
Music & Entertainment
THE WORLD OF
DAVIDO! 94 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
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Music & Entertainment
David Adedeji Adeleke (born November 21, 1992), better known by his stage name Davido, is an American-born Nigerian recording artist, performer and record producer
His 2011 single, "Dami Duro", was well-received throughout Nigeria. Along with his elder brother Adewale Adeleke, Davido is the co-owner of HKN Music (a record label home to Sina Rambo, B. Red and DeeKay). He has produced for numerous artists, including Naeto C, Skales, Tiwa Savage and Sauce Kid. In April 2012, he signed an endorsement deal with MTN Nigeria. On October 23, 2013, Davido partnered with Guinness for the "Guinness World of More" concert. Davido has won a BET Award, a Kora Award, a Channel O Music Video Award, a Ghana Music Award, a Nigeria Music Video Award, two MTV Africa Music SPRING 2015
Awards, two African Muzik Magazine Awards, five The Headies Awards, seven Nigeria Entertainment Awards and two Dynamix All Youth Awards, among others. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Davido relocated to Lagos at a young age. He released his debut album Omo Baba Olowo in 2012, which includes the singles "Back When" featuring Naeto C, "Dami Duro", "All of You", "Overseas" featuring Sina Rambo, "Ekuro", "Gbon Gbon" and "Feel Alright" featuring Ice Prince. Davido has released the singles "Gobe", "One of a Kind", "Skelewu", "Aye", "Tchelete (Goodlife)", "Naughty" and "Owo Ni Koko" off his upcoming album which was
slated to be released in the fourth quarter of 2014.In a 2014 interview with the Nigerian Tribune, Davido said that his second studio album will not be released in 2014 . 1992–2010: Early life Davido was born on November 21, 1992 to Mr. and Mrs. Adeleke in Atlanta, Georgia. His father, Chief Deji Adeleke, is a Nigerian business magnate while his mother, the late Dr. Vero Adeleke, was a university lecturer.He attended The British International School in Lagos. Davido studied Business Administration at Oakwood University prior to relocating to Nigeria. He is currently studying at Babcock University LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 95
Music & Entertainment in Ogun State. 2011–2012:Omo Baba Olowo Work on Davido's debut studio album, Omo Baba Olowo, began in 2011. On May 7, 2011, Davido produced and released his first musical recording "Back When".The song served as the album's lead single and received frequent airplay.[1] The music video for the single, uploaded onto YouTube on May 9, 2011, was shot and directed in Nigeria by Clarence Peters.Davido told Factory 78 TV that he recorded "Back When" in London. Davido co-produced "Dami Duro" with Shizzi and released it on October 30, 201 The music video for "Dami Duro" was released on January 8, 2012. It was shot and directed in Lagos by Clarence Peters, and was released during the Occupy Nigeria protests. In an interview posted on Notjustok, Davido spoke on the release and composition of "Dami Duro". He said he recorded "Dami Duro" in August 2011. Three months later, the song got leaked after he sent it out to some friends. On May 6, 2012, HKN Music released "Overseas" as a single off the album. The unfinished version of the song leaked prior to the official release. On September 28, 2012, HKN Music released the music video for "All of You". The song was produced by Gospelondabeat. 96 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
When the song was released, it was rumored to be a "beef track". In another interview with Factory 78 TV, Davido debunked the rumors and said he recorded the song with Gospel after meeting him at a mall.] To further promote the album, Davido released music videos for "Ekuro", "Gbon Gbon", and "Feel Alright".
2013–present: In early 2013, Davido began recording his second studio album. On February 25, 2013, he released "Gobe" as the upcoming album's lead single.The song was produced by Shizzi. Charles Mgbolu of Vanguard commented on the release of the single, saying: "It’s a beautiful song with a tremendous video running along. In Gobe, Davido is
beaten up by thugs after winning the girl. It’s a song that exudes fun from start to finish." The music video for the single was shot in South Africa by Godfather Productions The song was ranked second on Premium Times list of the Top 10 songs of 2013. Davido announced via Twitter that the second single "One of a Kind", from the upcoming album, would be released on May 13, 2013. The song was also produced by the aforementioned in-house producer. The music video for "One of a Kind" was shot and directed in South Africa by Tebza of Godfather Productions. It visualizes a united Africa rich in culture and music. "Skelewu", the third single from the upcoming album, was released on August 13, 2013.It was ranked 5th on the aforementioned list of the top 10 songs of 2013. The song peaked at number 1 on Afribiz's Top 100 chart. A dance competition with a cash prize of $3000 (N480,000) was announced days after the release of the song. Davido uploaded an instructional dance video onto YouTube and asked fans to upload videos of themselves dancing to "Skelewu". On October 10, 2013, Davido declared Bello Moshood Abiola the winner of the competition.[ A week after announcing the winner of the Skelewu dance competition, a Sesan directed music video was SPRING 2015
Music & Entertainment released to the public. Shortly after the release of the video, Davido took to Twitter to debunk the video and said that someone betrayed him by releasing it. He also said he'll re-shoot the video with Moe Musa, a UK based music video director. Sesan commented on the release of the music video and said that Davido was satisfied with his contributions to the music video. He also said that it would be immature for Davido and his management to release inaccurate statements in order to defame his brand. On October 21, 2013, the official music video for the single, shot and directed in London by Moe Musa, was uploaded onto YouTube at a total length of 3 minutes and 56 seconds. On February 2, 2014, Davido released "Aye" as the fourth single from the upcoming album. The song was produced by T Spice.[The music video for "Aye" was released on February 7, 2014; it was directed by Clarence Peters. According to the music video's synopsis, "Davido plays a poor farmer who falls in love with the prince’s love interest." On April 30, 2014, HKN Music released the upcoming album's fifth single "Tchelete (Goodlife)" featuring South African duo Mafikizolo. The song, which translates to "Money", was produced by Oskido and Shizzi. Upon its release, the song was distributed by MTN's Play and Callertunez platforms. The collaboration between Davido SPRING 2015
and Mafikizolo came about as a result of them networking at MTN Nigeria's Elite Night event in December 2013.The music video for the song was shot and directed in South Africa. It was uploaded onto YouTube on May 1, 2014. Oskido and Uhuru made cameo appearances in the video. In June 2014, Davido collaborated with Mi Casa, Lola Rae, Sarkodie, Diamond Platnumz and Tiwa Savage on a song for DSTV's Africa Rising campaign, which was designed to inspire Africans to partake in community-based social investment projects. The music video for the song, released on June 24, 2014, was shot and directed by South African production house Callback Dream. The aforementioned artists performed the song at the Africa Rising launch ceremony in Mauritius. In July 2014, Davido told The New Age newspaper that he plans on collaborating with American rappers Rick Ross and Meek Mill.
Entertainment Today reported that Davido signed a N30 million endorsement deal with MTN. The deal unveiled him as the face of MTN Pulse, a marketing campaign for Nigerian youths. On October 24, 2013, Pulse reported that Guinness Nigeria signed Davido to an endorsement deal. As part of the deal, Davido performed at the Guinness World of More Concert alongside P-Square, D'banj, Wizkid, Ice Prince, Burna Boy, Olamide, Phyno, Chidinma, Waje and Tiwa Savage, among others.
Endorsements On April 6, 2012, Nigerian LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 97
Music & Entertainment
The Rave Of
flavour 98 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
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Music & Entertainment Chinedu Okoli (born 23 November 1983), better known by his stage name Flavour N'abania, or simply Flavour, is a prolific Nigerian recording artist, dancer, songwriter, and performer. Flavour N'abania began his music career playing drums for a local church in his hometown, Enugu State. Flavour is popularly known across Africa and the world for his massive club banger, "Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix)". He is currently signed to 2nite Entertainment Music Label. In 2005, he released his self titled debut album, N'abania. In 2010, Flavour released his second studio album, Uplifted. It was supported by the singles "Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix)", "Adamma", and "Oyi Remix". The album's success made Flavour one of Africa's most sought out artists. Flavour was booked to perform at numerous concerts and social events following Uplifted's release Flavour, who is well known for his ability to sing fluently in the Igbo language, was born in Enugu State, Nigeria. His family is originally from Umunze in Orumba South LGA, Anambra State, Nigeria. Flavour began his music career at the age of 13 when he started playing the drums for his church choir in Enugu. The resident pastor at his church introduced him to a friend, Chris I Ordor, the CEO of SoundCity Communications. Mr. Ordor had just started a musical company aimed at training young musicians on the basics of music and nurturing them all the way to a professional level. In 1996, Flavour was invited to join the SPRING 2015
company on an educational scholarship to study music. After three years of playing the drums, Flavour started playing the drums professionally. In 1999, Flavour moved on from playing the drums and started playing the keyboard. He also used to provide backing vocals for other musicians at SoundCity. Musical Career At the age of 19, Flavour emerged unto Nigeria's musical scene as a drummer and pianist for a local
Enugu band. After learning to play drums professionally, Flavour received an offer to p erform at City Centre, LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 99
Music & Entertainment Enugu. The massive crowd at City Centre inspired him to gain new grounds and reach great heights. Flavour's educational background in music enabled him to learn music production from Dekumzy, Isi Charles and Nnachie. 2005: N'abania In 2005, Flavour released his debut album, N'abania, through Obaino Music. The album's success was relative and limited to Eastern Nigeria, particularly, Enugu State. Flavour collaborated with Mr. Raw on the first single entitled "N'abania". The song was recorded at Kingsley Ogoro's studio in Lagos, Nigeria. 2010: Uplifted Following the relative success of his debut album, Flavour released Uplifted in 2010. While working on the album,
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Flavour believed the album would surpass his previous works. Flavour's projection came true when the album broke national barriers. Lolhiphop Records, an established record label in South Africa, released the album after popular demand. The album's top hits include: "Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix)", "Adamma", and "Oyi Remix"; the latter features Tiwa Savage. 2012: Blessed Blessed was released on 18 October 2012 through 2nite Entertainment and iROCKING LTD. The album is the
successor to Uplifted. It is arguably Flavour's biggest album to date due to the amount of producers that worked on it. It was launched on the same day of Flavour's 2nite Club grand opening. In an interview with iROKTV, Flavour said: "I think I'm growing. This is my third album... Now it's time to give them the music, like define myself. I have to be more mature with my music, lyrics and instrumentation wise. I worked with tons of producers and the whole production process made sense. We believe the best is yet to come from Flavor as he appears poised to hold the center stage in African Musical entertainment for years to come... Source: Wikipedia
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LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 101
Religion & Spiritual Affairs
Oladipo Kalejaiye, Ph.D
The Father of Nicholas Longworth was introduced to Longfellow, who remarked upon the similarity of names“Yes, Mr. Longfellow, but I have the advantage of you. Worth makes the man and the want of it the fellow” – New York Press. I am not asking about your net-worth - the value of your home, car, savings, stocks, investments,income properties, businesses and all your other material possessions because the life of a man does not consist in the abundance of what he possesses. Rather ‘am asking of your self-worth. What is your life worth? What value do you think your life will attract? I am writing to declare to you this Easter season that your self- worth is the highest on planet earth 102 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
regardless of how much you can boast of in your account, how small your apartment or studio space is, or what challenges your business or career is going through right now. And I am going to prove it to you. How do you determine the worth of a thing? First, by identifying its maker. This is why brand names of medication are more expensive than the generic and why designer clothing and accessories cost more than those with unknown name brands.Secondly, you determine the worth of a thing by the price someone is willing to pay for it. When the housing market collapsed, prices plummeted and their values were re-set by what people were willing to pay for them. It was no use for a home owner to insist that he bought it for a
higher value. So what is your self-worth using these two yardsticks ?The Bible says God created you in his image so your Maker is Elohim, the Creator of heaven and earth. He isOmniscient(He knows all things even the thoughts of humans before they think).He is Omnipotent (He is Allpowerful over all powers in heaven, earth, in the sea and under the earth). He is Omnipresent (He is everywhere every time– both in space and in time continuum.)This is the God that made you. Therefore, nothing on earth has more worth than you do. Secondly, God the Son gave his life for you by dying for you in order to ensure that you live with him forever! His life was the price he was willing to pay for you. Again, nothing in heaven or on earth is more valuable SPRING 2015
Religion & Spiritual Affairs than the life of God Himself! Therefore, you are of inestimable worth. I want to believe that the most famous verse in the Bible is John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It is instructive that the first twelve words speak about God’s love and what he did and the last twelve words speak about man and what he should do and about the eternal, inestimable value of the attendant reward. In between the two set of twelve words is a word, “Son”, referring to the Lord Jesus Christ. What is so significant about this sentence structure? The Son is the link between God and man, reconciling the fallen sinful world to God. Corinthians 5:19 says: “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” God had to approach the sinners “in Christ.” If he had come directly in his holy consuming fire nature, we would, like wood, have been consumed in an instant completely. The Psalmist SPRING 2015
captured it well in Psalm 11:6: “Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.” Similarly, Habakkuk 1:13: “thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?”
The reconciliation of man to God was done by redemption. “Redemption” means the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil. By reconciling us to God, Jesus Christ saved us from sin, error and the evil of eternal damnation-separation from God forever and spending eternity in the fires of hell.There are three Greek words in the New Testament translated into our English word “redemption.” The first is “agorazo” which means “to buy at the market place.”This is the meaning as used in 1Corinthians 6:20 “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
And Hebrews 10:30-31: “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.” “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” and 12:29: “For our God is a consuming fire.” Redemption
This is like visiting the grocery for shopping and paying for the groceries. Jesus Christ “purchased us from the market of life.” He ended our humiliation in the spiritual slave market where we are routinelyused and abused by the forces of darkness, thereby hindering us from living the best life that God has for us. The second Greek word in the New Testament which translates into our English word “redemption”is “exagorazo” which means “to buy out of the market for one’s own use.” As you know, you can buy something out of the LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 103
Religion & Spiritual Affairs market and store it away as a gift or restitution or resell it and make a profit. In such a case, you have no emotional attachment to what you purchased. However, “exagorazo” implies buying, never to resellor give away but to keep. This is the understanding of redemption that Paul meant in Galatians 3:3 when he said “Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” In other words, Christ has purchased us with a price to keep us so that we would not be exposed for sale again in the spiritual slave market of life, but live, move , and have our lives in Him as opposed to living our lives again according to the dictates of the carnal nature and in self righteousness. The third Greek word translated “redemption” in the New Testament is “apolutrosis”- a compound word. “Apo” which means “away from”, “going away from something or some condition” and “lutrosis” - “ to be free” or “to be loosed.” Therefore, “apolutrosis” means to be
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loosed away from something or condition. Jesus did not just go into the market to purchase us. He did not just go there only to purchase us to keep never to be exposed again on the shelves for sale but he purchased us also to loose us or liberate us from the bondage of sin and when he did, we became free indeed. He loosed us away from eternal death. He loosed us away from poverty, sickness, oppression, depression and all forms of demonic affliction. Conclusion However, even though the Lord Jesus Christ has loosed you from the bondage of sin and reconciled you to God and made you to be of inestimable worth through the gift of redemption to you, until you stretch out your hand and receive this gift you do not have access to it. This is the whole essence of what Christ did on the cross at Easter. I appeal to you to accept his gift this Easter season and your life will never be the same again: Light will replace darkness; peace will replace turmoil of soul; your burden will be lifted; joy will replace sorrow; prosperity of your
body, soul and spirit will be ensured by the Lord.And when you are asked again what you are worth, you can confidently respond that because of the gift of Jesus Christ, your selfworth is of inestimable value. If you want to accept this gift of redemption, please say with me: Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you for your gift of redemption to me. I receive this gift today and I thank you for forgiving me my sins and giving me eternal life. Please come and live in my heart. I receive the promised gift of God’s Holy Spirit by faith now. Amen.
Oladipo Kalejaiye holds a Ph.D degree in law and was a litigation attorney in Nigeria, Europe and the United States for over 17 years. He entered into full time ministry in year 2000, and currently serves as the pastor of International Christian Center, Los Angeles ( You can contact him on the web: www.iccla.com, Facebook: iccla/facebook, Twitter: @DipoKalejaiye)
SPRING 2015