ba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife (born October 17, 1974) is a Nigerian accountant, real estate developer and the 51st Ooni of Ife. He succeeded the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade who died on July 28, 2015. He is an astute entrepreneur driven by turning impossibilities to possibilities. His reign has been marked by a number of modern and progressive outlook and policies.
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On October 26, 2015, Adéyeyè was selected as a king-elect out of 21 contenders to the Ooni stool in an announcement by the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Raufu Adesoji Aregbesola. As a prince from the Giesi Family whose turn it was to produce a king, he beat out a number of competition including his elder brother. Oba Ogunwusi received his Staff of Office from Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Raufu Adesoji Aregbesola on Monday 7 December 2015 at Enuwa Square, Ile-Ife in the presence of several dignitaries from all walks of life including the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. The new king promised to unite the Yorùbás under a peaceful and prosperous reign. Since his coronation, the king has made news for a number of notable actions and pronouncements including the promise not to relitigate supremacy battles with other Yorùbá kings. On January 17, 2016, Ooni Ògúnwùsi broke a 79 year-old antagonism between the thrones of Ife and Oyo by visiting the Aláàfin, the first of such visits in eight decades by an Ife monarch. He has instituted a number of progressive SPRING 2018
causes in Ilé-Ife, including a cocoa young monarch who represents the farm meant to feed thousands of best of Nigeria and a great future for the black people at home and in the widows in the state. Diaspora We were therefore elated when HAPA Awards Founder/CEO Ms. This edition also features other great Tina Weisinger and the Omo Life and Times stories- like the 2018 Yoruba Association of Southern Hand in Hand celebration of the California approached us to join the International Christian Center Los publicity team for the historic visit of Angeles, the profile in Excellence of the Ooni to Los Angeles from a great achiever, Ms. Constance November 12-18, 2017. The week Moonzwe- who overcame the pain long visit and celebrations brought of loosing her husband to build a so much excitement especially to the multi million Dollar staffing Yoruba, the Nigerian and black company. We also did a powerful community in Southern California memorial on Engr. Chike because the Ooni is revered and Okechukwu Nwasike who passed highly regarded as one of the away early on January 20th, 2018 foremost Monarchs in Yoruba land and a spotlight on another great achiever Mrs. Juliet Okonkwo who and the entire black race. celebrated her 50th birthday on It was also a great opportunity to March 17, 2018 observe the young, progressive and articulate Monarch- up close and This is another Life and Times personal and he delivered on all bumper and collector edition which fronts. He has a royal carriage but you cannot afford to miss. was very accessible and spoke to the Chike Nweke needs of the several audiences he Publisher addressed during his week long stay Spring 2018 in Los Angeles from- the city council chambers, to a roundtable of business leaders to a gathering of students to the assembly of the Yoruba and Nigerian community to stealing the hearts of worshipers at the International Christian Center on Sunday November 18, 2018 where he powerfully led the worship and brough some great words of exhortation to the worshippers. It is therefore fitting that the Life and Times editorial Board decided to dedicate this edition of the magazine to honor this great, dynamic and LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 3
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CONTENTS
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3. From the Desk of the Publisher 8. Cover Story The Pomp & Grandeur of the Ooni's LA Visit 20. People and Places ICC Hand in Hand Celebration of Marriage
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29. Profile in Excellence Constance Moonzwe- Quite an achiever 38. People and Places Juliet Okonkwo at 50
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CONTENTS 44. Memorial Remembering the Life & Times of an ICON Engr. Chike Okechukwu Nwasike 58. Health & Wellness Your words and your Health
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64. News & Politics Re-introducing Northern Nigeria 74. Spotlight Swaziland- A Royal experience
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80. Religion Guided Absorption
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Cover Profile
he African community in Los Angeles went agog in mid-November 2017 with the visit of the foremost Yoruba Monarch ,His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, The Ooni of Ife.
ranking African monarchs was at the auspices of the maiden edition of the Hollywood and African Prestigious Awards (HAPA). The Hollywood and African Prestigious Awards (HAPAwards) chose to honor American leaders and African The Ooni’s visit with other Royalties in a week-long
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celebration of the richness of African cultures and the beauty of America to promote world peace. The awards keynote address, tagged ‘The Eradication of Negative Images Associated with Africa and the Forgotten History’ was delivered by the Foremost Monarch of the SPRING 2018
Cover Profile
Yoruba Race; the Ooni of IleIfe, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II. Speaking on the essence of the Awards, the Founder and Executive Producer of HAPAwards, Ms. Tina Weisinger said, “HAPAwards will blend several rich cultures from the motherland from all facets of motion pictures, arts, sports and music.”
other Yoruba Royal fathers in attendance. The richness of American and African cultures was displayed at during the Dinner with the Kings, Fashion show, Yoruba Gala night and the HAPA awards night itself. The week came to an exciting climax when the Ooni attended the worship service at The International Christian Center, Hawthorne. The church founded and pastored The week-long celebration by Drs Dipo & Nony also enjoyed the presence of Kalejaiye, played host to the
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Ooni and his esteemed Royal entourage. The Ooni was welcomed in a rich display of the Yoruba culture by ICCLA’s Women Ministry who were gaily dressed in Red & White traditional attires, and a young girl bearing a bouquet of beautiful flowers. In his welcome address to the Ooni and the Kings present, Pst Dipo took the church into the history of the Royal House and his own native clan of
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Cover Profile
Ogere Remo, which was founded by Crown Prince Onipakala of Ile-Ife. Hence, he noted that the Ooni’s decision to worship at ICCLA was a form of ‘home-coming’. He particularly commended the huge love largely enjoyed by the Ooni from his subjects,
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which stem from his humility, and largeness of heart. Pst Dipo led the congregation to pray for the Ooni and the kings, anchored on Psalm 20 in both English and the Yoruba languages. Thereafter, he presented the Ooni with the gift of a Bible, duly signed
on behalf of the church and bestowed on the Ooni lifemembership of the Church. The Ooni in turn during his address to the congregation, emphasized the importance of praising God particularly for the grace to be alive. He noted that Man while asleep can be
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Cover Profile
likened to being in a state of unconsciousness, which only changes when man wakes up, as determined by God’s Grace. He further admonished that the whole essence of Mankind being to
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honor God as the Sovereign. He mentioned the attractive similarity between ICCLA’s logo and the Oduduwa Royal house and proceeded to lead the congregation in some choruses in worship to God.
The Ooni commended ICCLA for the warm welcome and presented a gift of a Bronzed artwork sculpted by Youths who are beneficiaries of the ongoing Ile-Ife Empowerment program, to Pst Kalejaiye.
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Pastor Dipo delivered a short and powerful evangelistic message “What Manner Of Love” on the love of Christ for Mankind and the need to surrender to His Lordship. He ended it with a salvation altar call. Other highlights of the service were the ICCLA Vineyard Voices and Band’s contemporary rendition of the popular folklore song ‘Olorun Mi’, a song of Praise and dedication to God written by Madam Comfort
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Omoge and re-arranged by Dr. Kunle Pinmiloye (aka KSticks) as well as the reception in honor of the Ooni and his royal entourage.
Esther Taiwo Oladoye- Social Media Director, International Christian Center, Los Angeles, wrote this story for Life & Times
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Feature Article
sychology has it that individuals to become better, development is one of the positive reinforcement creative and more major reasons awards are held is primary to inspiring aspirational. The need for yearly – to reward hard work,
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Feature Article celebrate diligence and inspire creativity and innovative thinking. In the entertainment industry, awards are a reflection of tenacity and hard work. Beyond the glitz, glamour, starry-eyed fanfare on the red carpet lies the true significance of entertainment awards - a positive recognition of ingenious creativity. Over the years, many awards have taken the centre stage in African entertainment, one of which is The Black Entertainment Awards. The BET Awards was established in 2001 to celebrate AfricanAmericans in music and other fields of entertainment. The awards are presented annually and broadcasted live on BET. While the MTV Africa Music Awards, also known as the MAMAs was founded in 2008 by an urban music channel MTV Networks Africa to celebrate the most popular contemporary music in Africa. The HiPipo Music Awards is an annual extravaganza organised to celebrate, promote and recognize music excellence in Africa. It is a celebration of African music, art and culture and was founded since 2007 in Uganda. The African Entertainment SPRING 2018
Awards, also known as AEAwards is another annual event that recognizes individuals who have impacted positively on the AfricanCanadian entertainment industry. Furthermore, The Hollywood and African Prestigious Awards honours recipients who globally promote cultural integration amongst societies. The awards celebrates outstanding achievements by African and Hollywood celebrities, musicians, comedians, sports personalities, community leaders and dignitaries. It is a platform that connects talented Africans to the Hollywood Entertainment Industry. Despite the different awards, there are very few that truly support the African traditions and pay homage to the cultural values of Africa. The HAPAwards which debuted in LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 15
Feature Article 2017, is one of such, as it strives to celebrate outstanding achievements of artists from different parts of the world to contially blend the richness of Africa and the beauty of America. During an interactive session with Ms. Tina Weisinger, founder of HAPAwards, she said “The event stands to bridge the gap between Africa and the rest of the world. It is a blend of several rich cultures from the motherland, honouring kings, queens, dignitaries, celebrities, international figures and community leaders who have helped to spread positive messages around the world.�
growth of culture and heritage, His Imperial Majesty, The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, endorsed the maiden edition of the Hollywood and African Prestigious Awards (HAPAwards). There was also the celebrity painting of the Ooni of Ife by Art Icon, Davood Roostaei, and the Business Roundtable with Stars of Hollywood.
Other dignitaries honoured at the inaugural edition of the HAPAwards include His Royal Majesty King Mswati III of Swaziland and head of the Swazi Royal Family, His Royal Highness King (Dr.) Noble Odaifio Welentsi III of Ghana, Chief Osabarima Nana Ansah Sasraku III Mamfehene and Kyidomhene of Akuapem Traditional area of Ghana.
The Education Seminar and Workshop was organized by students from the State of California, while the Yoruba Indigenous Day with the African Community and a Special Session at the West Angeles Church in Los Angeles added to the cultural development.
In conclusion, the HAPAwards has distinguished itself not just by being another award and paying lip service to uplifting the African culture and heritage but by honouring and applauding the custodians of culture in our society.
As a show of support for the
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Feature Article
ina Weisinger is a native of Chicago, Illinois and recognized as an example of hard work, positive attitude that derived from a solid family background. Tina grew up near Westside of Chicago and has been honored with “The Legends of the West Award” along side Politicians, Judges, Doctors and Entertainers.
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She graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a B.A in Dramatic Arts and is completing her MBA. Ms. Weisinger is a recipient of ‘The Distinguished Student Award’ which is the highest honor of University of Wisconsin. She has also been honored as, Miss. Black Wisconsin (Winner), Miss Black Chicago (Runner-up), and Miss Sepia of Chicago (Winner). Her academic background coupled with social contributions and extensive business experience in the Entertainment industry and other sectors, has made Ms. Weisinger the “Go To” expert in Hollywood. Tina was recruited for President Obama’s Presidential Campaign and
specially invited to attend the Awards (Beverly Hills) and Executive Produced for Inaugural Ball. NAFCA. Ms. Weisinger’s passion for the entertainment sector led Ms. Tina Weisinger founded her to create a Talent The Hollywood & African Awards Management company called Prestigious Dream Entertainment (HAPAwards) in 2017 which Management LLC right in the honored His Imperial Majesty heart of Beverly Hills, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi as the special guest of honor. Her California. success in Hollywood lead her Dream Entertainment to give back to communities Management enjoys a roster via a charitable foundation of clients that has appeared in she founded called, “I Dream several released projects such 4 All Foundation”. as The Black Panther, GrownFoundation has ish, Marvel’s Agent of Shield, The Queen Sugar, Marlon, Lethal supported children, young Weapon, Get On Up, Tyler people and families from Perry’s, Love Thy Neighbor, around the world, providing The Mindy Project, opportunities to scholarships, Shameless, to name a few. community services and Ms. Weisinger personally entertainment trainings. produced shows like Ain’t No Sunshine When He’s Home (Mississippi), The Annual Major Adams Awards Gala (Chicago), NAACP ACTSO Awards Ceremony (California), the NAACP Theatre Tina Weisinger - Founder/CEO HAPAWARDS
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Beauty of the Moment
SHO Clothing is the brainchild of budding Cameroonian entrepreneurs Sheiley Asana, Opportune Akendeu, and Hector Tantoh. SHO Clothing’s mission is to source and provide women of all shapes and sizes with affordable high-quality clothing items that can be worn at either a red-carpet event, a night out on the town or a fun beach day. We truly believe that good fashion does not have to break the bank. Follow us on Instagram @sho_clothing to see our collection and new styles as we update our inventory.
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Beauty of the Moment
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People and Places
he International Christian Center (ICC) Los Angeles held it's 16th annual Valentine event; Hand in Hand Celebration of
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Marriage on Saturday February 10th 2018. Themed - "One Indeed", the Marriage Seminar and Workshop was aimed at
illustrating in diverse ways the foundational truth that every couple's goal in marriage should be oneness.
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Profile in Excellence
oday as the Executive Director and CEO of ITH Staffing, Inc., a premier healthcare and information technology staffing company serving organizations across the country, Moonzwe leads all operations, strategic planning and staff development for this high-volume firm in
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Profile in Excellence Rancho Cucamonga, California. With 20-plus years of experience she has managed large portfolios ($10M) and successfully delivered professionals to companies in hospitality, engineering and health risk management. Moonzwe's broad experience in business consultancy and leadership
has made her an expert in her field. As a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, she continues to be recognized by industry peers, colleagues and employees as a trail blazer, role model and mentor. Putting equal time into her community work, Moonzwe is the Vice President of ITH
Charities, an organization she founded in an effort to promote sustainable healthcare and educational development initiatives, primarily in her native Zambia. The accolades which follow Moonzwe’s important work are just as impressive: Women
of Color Achievement Award, Favorite Healthcare Staffing (selected by The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval), Certified Women's Business Enterprise, and other honors for this entrepreneurial champion. A graduate from California Polytechnic University (Cal-Poly Pomona), and the University of La Verne (ULV); she received a BS in Human Resources and a Masters
in Healthcare Administration. In this interview with our Publisher, Hon. Chike Nweke, Constance talks about her past, her body of work, her triumph over the adversity of losing her husband and her dreams for the future: Tell us a little bit about your background and your growing up years in Zambia?
I was born in Zambia, and we spent a couple years in England, while my parents were pursuing their graduate degrees. I had a sickly childhood, and my memories of Zambia as a child are not as many as I would prefer. I do remember it 30 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
was really important to my parents that we spent time with our extended family. Weekend were always busy with family visits and activities. Church and Bible study was a must for my family, my spiritual SPRING 2018
Profile in Excellence foundation was set in my childhood. I remember our holiday trips to Zimbabwe (the good old days). I have very fond memories of all our family vacations to Zimbabwe, Livingston and the Victoria Falls. My parents worked a whole lot, however, it was very important that we vacationed as a family, those are the memories I cherish the most. It was also in Zambia where I learned the importance of giving back. My parents were constantly giving to the family, community and church. Giving back to causes I believe in was installed in my upbringing. I was
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innocent in those growing up years in Zambia, I always felt safe, secure, loved and valued. When did you come to America, what motivated your coming to America and what where your experiences in those early years as a new immigrant We came to the United States when I was 13 years. It was not my choice, and to be honest, I thought it was a bad idea. My dad was pursing his PHD in Theology. The early years in the United States were very difficult. We went from “riches to rags� it was very hard for
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Profile in Excellence
me to deal with the adjust better than I did. adjustment. My younger sister Coming to the US as a and older brother seem to freshman was tough. With a
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new school and new friends, everything was foreign. It was difficult. Although looking
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Profile in Excellence
back now, coming to the US saved my life. In 1997 I fell into a medically induced comma that I would of not of survived that if I was in Zambia. My condition was such, that Zambia would not have had the medical technology needed to treat me. I also am really grateful, that for my father it was never an option for him to come the US without his entire family, we all traveled to the US at same time. Did you go to school here in America or did you finish your education back in Africa? I came to the US as the Freshman in high school, I did my undergraduate and Master’s degree in California. I’m a true Californian girl. I love California! What career did you first pursue here in America and how did you transition to SPRING 2018
become a business owner? I feel I have always been an entrepreneur, even in my childhood I was always selling something. In high school and college, I always had a side “hustle”. My first job was at Disneyland, I was 17. By 19, I was the HR Manager for a Hilton Hotel. I have spent about 12 years in and out of corporate America. I think it is important to have the experience of working within a corporate structure, you can draw on that experience when you start your business. I would say I had my first “real” company at 25 years old, it was a medical staffing company that I started from the ground up, we did over 2 million in the first 2 years, unfortunately in 2008 the recession hit, to cut a long story short we ultimately sold the assets for very little and closed. It was my first true business failure and business
success. Lessons that I would take to heart in my future business endeavors You lost your husband a few years ago and have gone on even after that tragic experience to build ITH staffing into a business that has over 3Million Dollars in annual turnover. How did you rise up from that traumatic experience and your ashes to where your business and life is today? Your “why” has to be greater than your pain. It is the only way to push through, you must be willing to turn your pain and fears into fuel and use it to become better. I believe we honor the dead by becoming better, stronger and wiser. I lost my best friend and my soulmate. I had waited all my life for Chibeza, finally, a man who truly loved me, and in a blink of an eye, he was gone, our youngest LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 33
Profile in Excellence
Business is in my blood, I know it, I love it and I would rather, fail at business than The journey has not been easy, anything else. I like stress and failure, because I get stronger I would be lying if I said I and better every time. never thought of taking my life and ending it all, the pain To me, when Chibeza passed was dark and deep, the kind of pain that takes your breath away, I had one choice only, start and grow a millionaway, literally, I would have dollar business, I did not have intense moments where I a plan B, I only had plan A. could not breath. Like Will Smith says, there is no point to having a plan B It is complicated, being a because it distracts from plan young widow, mother and A.” entrepreneur, it is just complicated. Your life is truly One day at a time I would like inspirational and you have a web portal- “Meet myself and was constantly Constance” where you speak forgiving myself and others. Living in a space of gratitude. life, faith and inspiration into the lives of thousands of Never forgetting God’s people. How fulfilling is this promise. Psalms 68:5 “A aspect of your body of work father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in and how do you find time to do this and run ITH and cater his holy dwelling” to your children as a Through the pain, I went to widowed single Mom? what I know best, business. was 7 months old when he passed.
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Honestly, people hate when I say this, there is no such thing as balance. What I have is family and friends who know and understand that I will work 24/7 if they let me. I have people who put me in check, like my cousin Monga, who is constantly adding family activities to my calendar, my sister who shows up unannounced from the East coast, and my parents who call me 10 times a day…LOL… I could not do this without the support of my family and team members. I think my entire office team is on my children’s pickup scheduled. I have support with childcare and cleaning as well. I love to work, and I love my kids, so I work when they are sleeping and while there are in school. I take time to SPRING 2018
Profile in Excellence vacation. Monday - Friday, I’m on the clock until 8 pm, then break for a couple of hours, read bedtime stories and back at it until 1 am or 2 am. It is not easy, whoever said, you can run a milliondollar business in 8 hours a day, knows something I don’t - that is not my truth. At this stage in my business, I don’t have balance. What I have is a small group of people that love me and accept me for who I am. They don’t bother to change me, but love me and my kids unconditionally. I have a good team, that is focused on growing ITH My children are my greatest why, they will put me in
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check in a heartbeat, my 4year-old will tell me. “OK mommy, only 2 hours on Saturday, then park, then my cousin will call me, and be like, “Get off the computer and go to the park…” That is pretty much it. Where do you see yourself10, 30 & 50 years from now and when your work is done, how would you like Constance Moonzwe to be remembered? When I die, I want my tombstone to say: Constance, the lady who never stopped giving. Also, Right now, I’m really focused on building my company to be worth 50
million. That is all I’m focused on. 30 & 50 are too far out to plan. As a matter of fact, I plan my life in 90 day increments. What advice will you give to an African immigrant just arriving in America on achieving success in this country? As it is said, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”, follow the customs of those who live in it, follow the lead of those who know the ropes. Your heritage will be your strength, use it, integrate it to the way of life in the US. I have American friends, have coaches and mentors who have done what you are trying to do.
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People and Places
os Angeles - Saturday March 17, 2018
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JULIET IFY OKONKWO @ 50 Friends and family gathered at the upscale Marriott Hotel Los Angeles Airport on Saturday March 17, 2018 to celebrate Mrs. Juliet Ify Okonkwo as she turned the golden age of 50. In a toast to Juliet he husband Ik Okonkwo described her as a virtuous woman who is extremely hard working and sacrifices everything for her family and friends Ms. Juliet Okonkwo was born and raised in Nigeria, West African. She graduated from SPRING 2018
Ihioma Girl’s High School with High Honors. Ms. Juliet is inspired by her mother, Mrs. Rose Agbaka, who was a teacher for 35 years, principal for 10 years and later became the Director of Education for Orlu Local Government School District which is the equivalent to a Superintendent of a County! Ms. Juliet remembers her mother telling her to “reach for the sky” and “whatever you do – do it well”. Her mother’s strong belief in education flowed easily into Ms. Juliet, her second daughter of seven! Miss. Juliet is also inspired by her husband and children Mr. Ike Okonkwo whom together they blessed and raising five beautiful Children: Jennifer,
Nnamdi, Anisha, Jerry, and Maverick, four whom are in the University, and one in Middle School. Ms. Juliet began her career with Los Angeles County Office of Education as a para educator. In 1996 Ms. Juliet graduated from California State University, Dominguez Hills with a bachelor degree in sociology and quickly started her master’s degree in the same field. Upon finishing the course work and working on her theses, she began working in Special Education with students eligible for services with Emotional Disturbance; she then taught students with Autism for the next 7 years.
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People and Places Finally, Ms. Juliet found her true calling and began working with students who are the most impacted by disabilities. She states “all students can learn; it is my job to make sure I give them the information in a way that they can access”. This is evidenced by Ms. Juliet’s classroom where she combines music, art, movement, hands on activities, videos and real world objects to convey meaning and inspire learning.
parents report “seeing a difference”. This can be something as small as helping a student learn to communicate his/her preferences with a motion or eye gaze, but for many of her students and families, this makes a huge impact.
students in the Southwest SELPA and is continuing her education to earn a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration. You can find her most days in her classroom moving faster than the speed of light engaging all students; just be careful if you drop in during Zumba or Karoke time This year, Ms. Juliet worn the because she will make you Teacher of The Year for SWISP participate! division of special education 2017. After a serious competi- There was abundance of food tion with other divisions in and drinks as family and the LA County, she worn the friends of the celebrant wined, Ms. Juliet has recently emTeacher of the year for the en- dined and danced into the braced the N2Y Unique Learn- tire LA County Office of Edu- early hours of Sunday March ing Program which has cation 2017. She will continue 18.. augmented her classroom cur- to pursue this race in becomriculum. “I will take any stuing Teacher of The Year for Following is a photo reel of dent and I promise, we can the entire California. this grand occasion make progress”. While this progress may seem small to Ms. Juliet enjoys working with traditional educators… staff, her current class of Moderate colleagues, administrators and to Severe Multiple Disabled
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Memorial os Angeles, CA Saturday February 3, 2018 Friends and family from all over the world gathered at the Church on the Way, West campus in Van Nuys California to bid farewell to the "Smartest Man Alive" Engr. Chike Okechukwu Nwasike who went to be with the Lord on January 20, 2018. In his eulogy- the
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Memorial officiating Pastor talked about the virtuous life that Chike lived in the service of God and man and praised his commitment and dedication to his family In a Life and Times tribute, Publisher Chike Nweke wroteChike Nwasike was a very deep and compelling personality. You couldn't miss his sharp intellectual bent, his candor, his wit, his engaging sense of humour and his thorough understanding of just about any subject matter when he was in a room. A consummate professional , he scored many firsts in chosen professionsoftware engineering. From his days in Mobil Corporation to his
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founding the Novantus Corporation in 1999 as a vehicle to building complex softwares to solve a myriad of problems in the developed economies and in the developing world.
may the name of the Lord be praised.�
We leave you & console you with this verse from Job 1: 21 in the good book- "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
Below is also an interview Chike gave to Ambrose Ehirim after the publication of his book 'Mind games" in June 2013
We have this blessed assurance that Chike Okechukwu Nwasike- Ezenwa Ochili Ogidi is resting in the bosom of our It will be difficult to find a heavenly father with no more replacement for Chike's large earthly pain or worries..and we personae. will be reunited with him one day in the heavens above. We send our deep condolences to his widow- Noni and his The church service was three amazing children. We also followed by an elegant commiserate with our friend reception held at the Sportsmen Kenneth Emeka Nwabueze- his Lodge Events Center , Chike brother in law, confidant and will be interred to mother earth bosom friend on this irreparable in Ogidi Anambra State, loss. Nigeria on February 23, 2028
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Chike Nwasike And "Mind up. My Dad ran the coal mining Games": The Interview by corporation which at the time Ambrose Ehirim was probably the major energy company of Nigeria, so I would Chike Nwasike is a technology say that I come from an enterpreneur, a software engineering family to be precise executive and founder of and I had the idea early on to be several technology ventures. involved in science or Hooking up with Chike in this technology of some sort. I exclusive interview, we spoke attended a primary school on a whole lot of interesting which was probably the very issues, and in particular, his best school anywhere in the debut novel "Mind Games: world. I am not joking. Looking Mazi And The Far Side." We back, I think the teachers took a talked about what got him into lot of care to pass on to the kids writing the novel and how he a thirst for knowledge and created the characters, his in- creativity which for me has depth research on US endured. I founded a software intelligence and how he consulting firm and another developed his interest, the software development firm Nigeria-Biafra War and what he both in Los Angeles with an sees as the future of African R&D Division in India. Today, I fiction, and lots more. am focused on new technology start-ups in Energy as well as in Let's start from who you are. venture capital. Tell me a little bit about yourself. I read "Mind Games: Mazi And The Far Side." It is I was born in Nigeria and grew fascinating, thorough in its up in Enugu. Enugu in the plot, capturing the true essence sixties was probably the best of "war, conspiracy and love" place a young child could grow as you put it. What had 46 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
engineered this compelling story? The primary reason is simply to entertain my readers. I had always wanted to write a war story but I wanted it to be forward looking, a feat that was a little contradictory since the civil war ended 43 years ago. I also wanted to show how Nigeria is a real part of the world not just some outpost somewhere out there. It is the abundant land albeit with lots of imperfect people. The book is nevertheless said to be optimistic while recognizing the tragedy of life in the last 50 years or so. I also wanted to show just how our traditions paint a rich tapestry. something to be desired by many. While we bemoan our political predicaments, the world is envious of our rich resources and energetic entrepreneurial citizenry. I hope that my readers will do a comparison between American life and Nigerian life. People are basically the same. SPRING 2018
Memorial
At what point did you Massacre" we had known? conclude you must write this story ? Yes, the massacre at Asaba stands as an indictment of the Some of the leaders on both sides of the civil war had passed on and many had no idea what life was like. The events from 1966 to 1970 are getting somewhat dim to many people especially the young who were not yet born. Thirty percent of the book is based on direct experience of the war but the effects of the war, the dislocation and enduring collateral damage continued for many years and is reflected in the peculiarities of the town Umu Achonam. In your remarkable tales, I could visualize what combat is like. The Ali-Jacomah-Josiah Adeogun episode was in fact intriguing. For instance, the quest to kill all male "old enough to carry a weapon." Were you recalling your own experiences or adapting what had happened in the "Asaba SPRING 2018
events such as the battle of Abagana, the fears of the ordinary people and the conflicts among Nigerian soldiers many of whom were not necessarily enthused about the wholesale vendetta against the Igbos. I think it is rather silly to brand many Nigerian soldiers as war criminals. We would like to hear from many such honorable men who refused to obey illegal orders or who aided the innocent at the risk of their own safety. There has to be many who were conflicted, many were humane decent people. All men are imperfect and all men fail, but many are redeemed, many are forgiven and a few go to perdition. One of my editors remarked that no one in the book is a totally good person. Some of the corrupt people do good things when the occasion arises, some fail.
Federal policy and how they executed the war. No it was not my experience, I was 11 years old when the war began and 14 when it ended, but this was not just the experience in Asaba, it Growing up after the war and was quite common. I tried to while in your academic stay faithful to the actual public pursuit, did you envision LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 47
Memorial penning down such experiences by way of storytelling? I did. I distinctly remember that when I left college many moons ago, I expected that I would write something about the war. I just did not know what the angle would be nor could I afford the time. I began to think more seriously about it after I discovered James Michener. No one can tell an epic tale like he did. Then I got involved in designing complex systems and I discovered that humans are the most complex of all systems out there. What's better to write about than those kinds of systems? Why did it take you that long to write this novel? Life happens. We all get super busy and hardly have enough time to do some of the things we might enjoy doing. Writing is laborious and time consuming for me, especially if you build a
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plot and you restrict it by historical events. Everything has to fit in four dimensions, if you will. Every character has to react to type, so when, for example, a General is implicated in a coup, there has to be a long setup that makes it credible.
Makolisa is the worst case data point of every man and the best case data point of every success. . "Mind Games..." takes us into the South Central Los Angeles Riots of 1965 and here we are with Juanita Brown who as the story goes finds herself at the US Embassy in Lagos as Let's talk about the major Consular Officer. What were character Jacob Makolisa in the you trying to relate here? novel. Was his ordeal throughout the novel the kind Makolisa and Juanita have more that you were familiar with or in common than either one it just happened to be part of knows but I won't ruin the your thoughts with regards to story for any potential reader as the novel? this is part of the plot. The American life in the book is He's the ordinary guy who interspersed with the Nigerian suddenly discovers an life. People are remarkably extraordinary gift, but he goes similar through extraordinary sufferings too. Does his gift save him or does it not save him? Samson Uwamaka was a That would be left to the reader typical Nigerian immigrant to decide. I can't say where that story when he had came from, but I work with encountered Jacob Makolisa in people who go through a valley the United States after the to come to a mountain. POW years during the war.
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Memorial Why was this important in the could not continue their novel? education after the war on grounds of circumstances When you end a war, the victors beyond their control. Today, get a parade. The Romans knew the ones still alive feel how to do this. They parade the abandoned by the Igbo booty of war and slaves leadership not recognizing captured in war to the din of a their commitment to the cause. crowd. The vanquished get to What's your take on that? mourn their loss and bury their dead. There is catharsis. In We lost our innocence. History Nigeria we swept the war will judge us harshly under a carpet and pretended concerning how we forgot the that it did not happen. I believe veteran, his children and his there are many war wounds widow. What is equally bad is and many of the participants that we have not focused on suffered in many ways. growing the private sector Uwamaka's tragedy is there to which has the effect of creating show the devastation and lots of jobs for both the educated collateral damage of war which as well as the less educated can last for a generation or amongst us. There is such a more. I think it was US General jostling for state funds for one Patton who said that it was a project or the other and it just good thing that war was so won't do to improve the lives of devastating else men would everyone who needs gainful love it so. employment. If all you do is trade, you may make a lot of On the war, many folks who money, but you won't be hiring had their education cut short lots of people. If you owned a when the war erupted and plant or a factory, you could
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hire the entire village. Let's talk about post-war career in real terms. Some of the folks who fought in the war have been remarkably successful maybe because of their determination, ambition, and hard work learning from their military experiences that was positive. Some never recovered. Why isn't there a connection between the two by way of help or otherwise as can obviously be seen at Oji River with the war veterans on the motorways panhandling? We can do better for the veterans and their widows and their families. It has been forty some years now but it is not too late. It is a crying shame that our governments have not done something far more credible to take care of them. Men who fight together become brothers and you would think that successful veterans would reach out to their brothers. This is the responsibility of all Igbos for
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Memorial whom these men presented artifacts, plus oral and written independence. It was a missed themselves to serve and protect. memoirs of eye witness opportunity to weld a more accounts? What explains that? perfect union after the spilling We ought to stand with them. of so much blood. You know From the theme of "Mind I think it is the same old that in the US, before the US Games: Mazi On The Far Side" "covering up" of our recent civil war, if you met an why hasn't there been a history. The government may American in Europe, they Biafran Museum to date with feel it would be divisive. This is would introduce themselves to hands-on-displays, photo nonsense of course. I meet a lot you as a Virginian or a New galleries of the most blood of young people who have no Yorker. After the civil war, they soaked event, weapons, idea of the travails of our all became Americans. I wonder uniforms, equipment, other country in the first decade after if our ongoing crisies of
nationhood coukd have turned the best , in my view. Also, I've out differently if we had been been a fan of Michael Crichton. honest about our past. I like everything he's written. He has the knack of writing Who are your favorite writers? interesting stories with a scientific tenor and making it Good question, they are many. easy to understand even for the I have to say Chinua Achebe, most technophobic among us. God rest his soul. I make sure I The third great writer would be read one of his books at least James Michener. Reading a once a year. A good book keeps Michener epic tale is like taking on giving and I get a lot from his a stereophonic history class. books every time I read it. I just re-read Arrow of God , easily Reading Mind Games, you get 50 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
the impression that some of the events actually happened. How much of it is real and how much is fiction? The public events are real. The private events are fiction. Okay, let me ask it a different way. Are the private events real but the names have been changed? The private events are fiction. SPRING 2018
Memorial Nice try sir.
You deal with brain science and intelligence and What kind of research did you computers in Mind Games, is do to write so well about US this something you had experience in or did you know intelligence? anyone who had this There's a lot of great material in experience? the public domain and a lot of fine material about the culture I have always been interested in and artificial of intelligence operatives to medicine draw from. The rest, you have intelligence. As an eighteen year old I had admissions to the to use your imagination.
medical schools in Manchester and Ibadan as well as Engineering school at UCLA. I had a difficult time making the choice not to go to medical school but my interest never waned. However I have kept track of current thinking in neuro research. The brain is a very efficient and complex processor with the capacity to store every single bit of
information it is exposed to. As a software engineer for many years I have found that quite compatible with how engineers teach computers to store, organize and process information.
because we will be following the words of the Prophet Chinua Achebe. Africa will be telling it's own story for a long, long time.
There's are a lot of Nigerian and African writers making waves globally. What do you see as the future of African fiction? That is not surprising from the SPRING 2018
country that gave us a Soyinka and an Achebe. Africa is filled with legion of talented creative people and the world wants to hear their stories. I think the future will be filled with a diverse group of writers coming from non traditional backgrounds and this will open up new fiction, new themes. Mind Games is an Adventure Action genre and there is going to be other types and I believe it will be refreshing to the world
Thank you for your time and the privilege, Chike, and all the best! My pleasure and thank you, Ambrose, for the opportunity.
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LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 53
Legal Issues
itizens of the United States are frequently approached by family friends applying to
C
and
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immigrate to the United States to provide an affidavit of support to aid in the consideration of their
application. The Department of Homeland Securityrequires such persons to file an affidavit of support to ensure SPRING 2018
Legal Issues they will not become a public charge when they get to the United States. The applicant is required to submit either a form I-864 or if not applicable, a form I-134. There are a few differences between the two, but the general purpose of both is to provide an affidavit that the sponsor, will provide financial support for the applicant during the period that the affidavit of support will be in effect. Most citizens that are requested to act as sponsors and provide an affidavit of support on behalf of friends or family members, do so without thought to the legal implication of signing the affidavit of support. Although the legal consequences of signing the affidavit of support are fully spelt out in part 8 of form I-
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applicant. Most people also assume that the obligation lasts for three or so years. Both assumptions are incorrect. The obligation of the sponsor goes beyond food stamps and welfare benefits and cover any kind of public tested program, The purpose of the affidavit of means support is to ensure that the including Medicare and other sponsored immigrant has health benefits. enough financial support to live in the United States More importantly, in addition without concern of becoming to ensuring that the applicant reliant on the United States does not become a public government for public charge, the affidavit of support. This is the sense in support is a contract between which most people the sponsor and the applicant understand the affidavit of that the sponsor will provide support. This is, that if the financial assistance to the applicant applies for any applicant at 125% of the income poverty public benefits program such federal This second as food stamps and welfare, guidelines. then the sponsor will be aspect of the affidavit of responsible to reimburse the support is not understood by government for any monies most sponsors and will be paid to or on behalf of the explained fully below. 864, most sponsors do not pay attention to that section before signing the affidavit. This is understandable since the person being sponsored is usually a family member or very close friend.
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 55
Legal Issues
The law regarding affidavits of support is set forth in the Immigration and Nationality Act sections 212(a)(4) and 213A as codified in the Code of Federal Regulations 8CFR 213a. If the sponsored immigrant receives any “means-tested public assistance�, the sponsor is responsible for repaying the cost of those benefits to the public agency that provided it and may be sued by such agency for recovery of the monies spent on or provided to the applicant. As such, if the applicant, after emigrating to the United States applies for and receives Medicare, for example, and is treated at the hospital and the bill for such treatment is paid by the Medicare, the sponsor can be sued by that agency to recover the cost of the treatment. This could be significant, especially if the applicant has a serious 56 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
medical condition that requires expensive and prolonged care. When it is considered that many sponsors sign the affidavit of support to allow whole families (sometimes up to five or more family members) to immigrate, the financial nightmare that a sponsor may face in the future can be enormous. Consider, a sponsored immigrant and family of four that applies for and receives section 8 housing subsidy of $1500.00 per month and food stamps of $150.00 per person per month. In that case, the sponsors obligation for which they can be sued by the federal agency is $2250.00, for the period the the receive the beneftis and the affidavit of support is enforceable.
signing of an affidavit of support. (1) the sponsor dies, (2) the sponsored immigrant dies, (3) the sponsored immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, (4) the sponsored immigrant permanently departs the U.S., or (5) the sponsored immigrant is credited with 40 qualifying quarters of work.
If none of the first four factors apply, then the enforceability period is determined by factor number five which typically equals ten years of employment. If the employment history of the sponsored immigrant is not consistent, it will take more than ten years to meet this requirement. In fact, if the sponsored immigrant never works, the obligation arising A critical factor is that once from the affidavit of support signed, the sponsor cannot will subsist until one of the withdraw or terminate the other four factors kick in. contract. There are only five ways to terminate the Also, it does not appear that a obligation arising from the sponsor can evade their SPRING 2018
Legal Issues
obligation arising from the affidavit of support just because the sponsor’s own income has diminished in the years after the signing of the affidavit of support. As such, the sponsor is still on the hook for any monies paid out by a government agency, even if they lose their job, have retired and no longer working or have increased obligations of their own. As stated above, it is the second aspect of the affidavit of support that is not understood by most people signing the form as sponsor. That is, the affidavit of support creates a contract between the sponsor and the immigrant that the sponsor will provide financial support for the immigrant at a level equal to 125% of the federal income poverty guideline for SPRING 2018
the period during which the affidavit of support is in place. The sponsored immigrant has a personal right to enforce this contract against the sponsor. For 2017, the guideline amount is as follows
For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4,180 for each additional person. The figures are slightly higher for Hawaii and for Alaska.
Ogochukwu Victor Onwaeze is an attorney based in Los Angeles. He can be reached at 213-738-5066 or at onwaeze@aol.com
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 57
Health & Wellness
ords have power, for our own benefit, let us be mindful of what we say about our health and what we say about the health of others, for we may be creating the blueprint for our own health.
W
Five years ago, during an interview, I heard a patient say, “I did a heart scan.” “Why did you do it?” I asked. “Because," said the 65-yearold woman, “in my family, everybody, I mean everybody develops heart disease before the age of seventy, so I know I will 58 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
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Health & Wellness have a heart disease.” "What did the scan show?" "Coronary artery disease; I need a stent." She gave the same narrative to two nurses at different times in my presence, and repeated it to me after I finished her procedure. Along with coronary artery disease, this patient has morbid obesity (BMI 54), hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and high cholesteroland she is a physician. Another physician I know once said: “I don’t care about cholesterol; one will die of something any way.” A third physician opined, “You can’t correct abnormal cholesterol level with diet alone; you have to take
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medications.” Those are just a few examples of doctors speaking against their own health. What about
their lives, too. Here are some of what they are in the habit of saying: • “In my family men die before the age of fifty.” • “Diabetes runs in my family. My grandmother has it, my mother has it, and I have it.” Indeed, diseases run in the family, but just because a disease condition occurs across generations in the same family does not mean it is genetic. It does not mean we have no power over it. It does not mean we should create a narrative about it and hand it down the generations, as our ancestors handed down history in oral tradition. It does not mean we should allow it to rule over us.
Let us examine the claim of the patient I mentioned earlier. “Everybody, I mean everybody non-doctors? I hear many non- in my family develops heart doctors speak sickness into disease before the age of
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 59
Health & Wellness
seventy, so I know I will have a heart disease.” Like a baton in a race, the narrative of heart disease was handed to her early in life. It became her mantra. She tells it to herself, tells it to her family, tells it to her friends, tells it to her doctors, tells it to her nurses. She won’t stop. She keeps telling it. It became a force in her life. A force that overpowers the power in her years of college education, years of medical school education, and years of residency education. Three decades of medical practice could not help. She won't stop. She keeps telling it. It rules over her. According to studies, if this patient with coronary artery disease, morbid obesity (BMI 54), hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and high cholesterol changes her life style, by signifi-cantly reducing her consumption of processed food, increasing her 60 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
coke and lived till he was ninety nine! Why should I give up soda?” • "Eating vegetables everyday! That's boring." • "I don't eat breakfast." • “You are too skinny; your wife doesn’t feed you.” • "She doesn't eat." • "She eats too much." • "You are too fat." • "You need to lose weight." • “I’m just a little overweight.” • “It is easier for men to lose weight." • “I wish I could get rid of this love handle.” More words from people • “Eating raw vegetables is speaking against their health: not in our culture.” • “I can give up everything • “Working out is not in our culture.” except rice and bread.” • "Me, I have to eat pounded What we say about health is a yam oh." response to what we hear, • “I have a sweet tooth.” • “I’m addicted to bread, to what we see, what we read, and what we feel. But what we sugar, to rice.” • “If we can’t eat bread, can’t say has impact on what we eat rice, can’t eat cake, what can think, and what we think has impact on what we do. We we eat?” • “My grandfather drank should be mindful of how we consumption of variety ofvegetables, and fruits-and by per-forming consistent exercise, she could reduce her risk of coro-nary artery disease. If she changes her lifestyle, she could regain power over the force that her years of medical education, and years of medical practice could not overcome. If she changes her lifestyle, she could create a new mantra for generations to come in her family. She could create a narrative that heals, not harms. She could hand over a new baton.
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Health & Wellness respond to what we hear, what we see, what we read, and what we feel. Victor Frankl, an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist, and a Holocaust survivor in his book, Man's Search For Meaning, said, "Between
stimulus
response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
We have the power to choose how we respond to the ideas we have internalized about and sickness: what we are told by
family, by friends, by doctors; what we see, what we read, and what we feel. We have the power to choose between what God says about us and what man says about us. God created the heavens and the earth. He does everything with a purpose. He has a purpose for every man
"Prostate cancer runs in my “Diabetes runs in my family. family." My grandmother has it, my “Breast cancer runs in my mother has it, and I have it.” "Cholesterol runs in my family” family." “Colon cancer runs in my family” “In my family, men die before "Cancer runs in my family." the age of fifty.” "Heart disease runs in my They are words of man, not of God; we should not choose "In my family, women die family." them, we should not say them, before the age of fifty." and for every woman. His plan is for us to complete our tasks before we return to him, not a day sooner. Therefore, the following sayings are from man, not from God:
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LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 61
Health & Wellness Between choosing healthy food or junk food, let us choose healthy food. The consequences of choosing junk foods are ob-esity, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and chronic carRegardless of the medical diovascular diseases. history of our family, we have the power to choose between Between choosing water or words that heal and words that sugary drinks, let us choose harm. We should choose water. words that heal and match them with actions that heal. Let There are things we have no us be mindful of our power to power over. We have no power over what sickness stories choose. we are told by our families, and Between choosing to visit or by others. We dohave the not to visit physicians for power not to make those health maintenance, let us stories our man-tra. choose to visit physicians to maintain our bodies in good We have no power over the medical information dissemicondition. nated through the modern Between choosing to work out media, but we do have the or not to work out, let us power to conduct our own choose to work out. Let us seek research, or to consult our own professional help on what to do physician. and how to do it, so that we do We have no power over how not hurt ourselves. much other people weigh we should not make a mantra out of them. We should heed the guidance of the Scripture: "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
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whether too thin or too fat- but we do have power over how much we weigh. And we have the awareness that weight should not be judged alone; it should be judged in relation to the height. A very useful index to use is the Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI calculator and acceptable ranges are on the internet. Finally, BMI is meaningless if not taken in the context of our overall health and muscle mass. It is possible for people with healthy BMI to have numerous chronic diseases, just as it is possible for people with overweight BMI to be healthy, particularly if most of their weight comes from muscle mass. I myself changed the way I spoke to myself about my health. When I was deep into sugar, when I was obsessed with sugar, when I thrived on sugar, my wife was so concerned that she warned me many times that I was “writing a letter to di-abetes�.
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Health & Wellness "My pancreas is in good shape; “Doctor,” the physician said, I can't have diabetes," was my “your cholesterol is very high. You need to work out and lose usual response. weight. You need to eat fruits With those words, I continued and vegetables. You need to my habitual consumption of cut down your fat intake." sugar and processed food. I With those words, speaking continued to march down the towards change rather than deroad to illness. One day in 1999, nying my ability to change my when I was in the locker room own health, I stepped off the of my hospital, a fellow doctor road to illness and began walking the path to healthy said to me: living. "Doctor Saliu, do ten pushups No matter what medical every morning." problems our families faced in the past, and what medical "Why," I asked. problems we face now, our "You have pot belly," said Dr. focus should be where our strengths are, not where they Mir. are not. Our strengths are in the And in February 2000, when I power to choose between what went to see my physician for God says about us and what health maintenance, during the man says about us. Let us physical examination he said, choose words that heal, and "You have folds on your sides. take actions that heal. Above And you are overweight." A all, when we are in doubt, let us few days later the doctor called follow the ground rule of the Scripture: “...Let the weakling me and gave a lecture. say, ‘I am strong'.”
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Dr. Olufemi Saliu, MD is a board certified nesthesiologist in Los Angeles, California that has been in medical practice since 1985. He has a special interest in writing about and educating people on healthy nutrition & wellness.
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 63
News & Politics
am writing this article mainly for the benefit of Southern Nigerians who have never been to the North,
I
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and mostly have a warped and inaccurate view of the North. I have been driven to write this out of my many personal
experiences, and those of friends and family, as has been shared with me. This is mainly an educative piece about what
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News & Politics Northern Nigeria is in reality; a complete, holistic picture of this region. To make this piece a simple read and easy-to-follow, I am going to write it around 5 common perceptions about the North and debunk them:
that the region is not just mainly Muslim, but wholly Muslim. Whenever I meet someone from the South and introduce myself, I am correctly placed as a Christian. But once I am asked my state and I say Borno State, the next question becomes, ‘Are you a Muslim?’ Religious Perception: The This is despite my name being general belief held by most a very common Biblical name, Southerners about the North is Mark, which is the second
Gospel. Matter of fact, I have been asked that question while attending a church programme, with a Bible conspicuously held in my hands. You could imagine my surprise at that question. This has also been the experience of a lot of friends with common names such as ‘Emmanuel’, ‘Daniel’, etc.
Northern states, at least 5 have a majority Christian population: Plateau, Adamawa, Nassarawa, Taraba and Benue. At least 6 more have at least 40% Christian population. These states include Niger, Gombe, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara and either Borno or Bauchi. That then leaves only Kano, Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Sokoto,
Yunusa and so on. But when the person has an obvious Christian name and is even attends church services, you really begin to wonder.
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Yobe and Zamfara as having Muslim populations above 60%. How then are we all seen as Muslims? This misconception could be excused when the person has an Arabic name, as there are many Northern Christians who bear names such as Jamila, Habiba, Halima, Sadiq, and
To start with, out of the 19
Ethnic Perception: Another common perception of the North is that we are all Hausa. My usual response to this is to borrow the logical argument of LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 65
News & Politics Simon Kolawole, the Editor-inChief of THISDay Newspapers. In an article in which he attempted to educate his largely Southern readership base about the North, he went thus: “If out of the estimated 250 tribes in Nigeria, we can say that the South-West is mainly Yoruba with a few other tribes around Badagry area, the South-East wholly Igbo and the South-South being most diverse in the South with about 40 tribes, that still leaves the remaining 200 tribes in the North.” How then are we reduced to one single ethnic group, Hausa? It is only the North-West that is close to being homogenous, mainly Hausa and Fulani, but with still some minority tribes in the Zuru area of Kebbi State and the multi-diverse Southern
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Kaduna. The North-East and North-Central is filled with tribes, many of whom I have never even heard of. For example, Adamawa State is so diverse that the largest ethnic group, the Fulani, is just 3% of the entire population. In my home state of Borno, there is a local government so diverse that from one village to another, you are likely to meet an entirely different ethnic group. The number of tribes there are so many that we just address the people as ‘Gwoza people’, after the name of the local government. Even though we all speak Hausa as a lingua franca in order to communicate amongst ourselves as trading partners over the centuries, that doesn’t make us Hausa people as much as communicating English doesn’t make you and I English people. As a matter of fact, in
the North-East, Hausa people are a minority and virtually non-existent in the NorthCentral region. Intellectual Beliefs: Now, this is one belief that whenever I am confronted with, it takes me a great deal of self-control not to flip out and lose my temper. Times without number, when I tell people I am from Borno State, I am asked how come I speak such good English. What the hell? What am I supposed to speak? Arabic? The general expectation is that someone from the North is not supposed to be this learned, this wellspoken and articulate in English, this knowledgeable. I remember when a friend asked me if my mother went to school, and the surprised look on his face when I told him that my mum earned her masters’ degree over 20 years ago. There was also a time when my dad
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News & Politics met someone at the Lagos International Airport and they got talking. When my dad told him his profession, the man, in a fit of surprise, exclaimed, ‘I didn’t know that there were professors in the North’. I admit the fact that the North lags behind the South educationally, especially the North-West and the NorthEast. But this is not due to our inability to comprehend what we are being taught, but rather due to the incompetence of leadership in the region to give education its premium importance as a form of human development. We, like every other human being on the face of this earth, can excel when given the opportunity. Talent and intellect abounds everywhere.
nationally and internationally. Daily, the story of young men like Ahmed Mukoshy, who is born, bred and schooled in Sokoto, and yet, rose above his environment to become one of the emerging forces in IT in this country in his early 20s inspires me. This is just one example among many that I could cite but for the lack of space.
I find it outright disgusting whenever people claim that if not for federal character and ‘zoning’, no Northerner would be able to compete in this country. Last week, I was shocked when a friend said only 10% of Northerners in the Federal Civil Service deserved their places on merit, and went on to add that if he had not known me personally and I were to get a job with the Opportunity, however, does Federal Government, he would not. I personally know of many believe that I did not earn it on Northerners who have excelled merit. The most ridiculous one I
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encountered was when earlier this year, former Minister of Finance, Dr Mansur Mukhtar was appointed a World Bank director. Most of the commentators on the 234Next article announcing this achievement for this Nigerian and Nigeria made the ludicrous assertion that the appointment was done to please the North, that Dr Mukhtar did not merit it. Little did they know that Dr Mukhtar had worked at the World Bank and the African Development Bank, prior to his heading Nigeria’s Budget Office on the invitation of the then and present Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala and former World Bank Managing Director, who also recommended him for the post of Finance Minister when she rejected former President Umaru Yar’adua’s invitation to join his government. What is even worse is that they did not
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News & Politics
care to know: their minds were people in the South, save for the all-together already made up and could not political savvy, did not see Cultural/Social/Economic be confused with the facts. coming. Belief: Admittedly, as people of the same region, we share a lot Geo-Political Beliefs: Another One common sight of this in common culturally and common belief among perception being entrenched by socially in the general terms: Southerners and most newspapers is when politicians our mannerisms, modes of especially spread by Southern of Northern extraction speak on dressing, traditional titles (apart newspapers is that the entire 19 national issues. I have from paramount rulers with the Northern states act and think as innumerably seen a washed- exception of emirates), etc. one when it comes to issues of out Northern politician, Despite that, the Jukun in Northern politics. This is one of without any influence or Taraba and the Kataf in Kaduna the biggest untruths about the popularity speak regarding an are very different in the North. Whenever Northern issue, and the next day, specifics, as even the Bura and Nigeria is mentioned, the newspapers carry bold Marghi people of people of Benue, Kogi and headlines saying, ‘North rejects Borno/Adamawa States. To Kwara states do not feel it refers this’ or ‘North plans to do that’, pick the attitude of one ethnic to them. Geographically, they quoting the same washed-out group in the North and attach it are part of the North; politician as speaking for the to all the others, is to put it politically, however, they and entire North. I have rarely seen mildly, a very short-sighted the entire Middle-Belt act a Bola Tinubu speaking and way of knowing and independently. This can be being quoted as the mouthpiece understanding the people of clearly in the last elections of the entire Yoruba ethnic Northern Nigeria. where President Goodluck group, or a Chief Edwin Clark Jonathan won in 7 Northern for the Ijaw people. Methinks Another belief in the South is states, even against his this is a way of selling that the entire North is but an strongest opponent, General newspapers by capitalizing on empty land mass with nothing Muhammadu Buhari, who is a the image of the North as one but trees. I remember the Northerner. This was single, political force which controversy of the 2006 census something I am sure a lot of moves in a particular direction when Kano State was said to 68 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
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News & Politics
have a slightly higher population than Lagos State. Many of my Southern friends called it ‘an impossibility’. In the words of one of them, ‘Lagos is so populated that when you throw grains of rice into the air, they wouldn’t land on the ground, but on people’. However, they all forgot to factor in land mass, because Lagos State is a much smaller state than Kano State, and hence has the highest population density in Nigeria, hence making it look as though it was way more populated.
as we have had more than our fair share of ethno-religious violence, there are many states that have never experienced one, including states such as Zamfara, and others as Nassarawa and Benue. I have not written this as a criticism of the people of Southern Nigeria, but rather, in the hope that this will be an enlightenment of the South about the North. It amazes me when I see that despite the fact that we have been a country for almost a century, yet, a lot of people down South know little or nothing about their fellow Nigerians in the North, but know about Europe and America.
There are cities in the North that have been thriving economically, such as Kano and Kaduna. As a matter of fact, Kaduna State was adjudged by the World Bank in the year 2009 I have also realized that we as as the best place to do business. Northerners have allowed others to say our story for Lastly, the most retrogressive ourselves, hence have given it belief about the North in the distortions, deletion and South is that the entire North is generalizations. What has a hotbed for violence. As much happened over time is what the SPRING 2018
writer Chimamanda Adichie, in her TED talk in March 2009, at Oxford, England, describes as ‘the danger of the single story’, where a single story of the North as a region of poor, illiterate, lazy, Hausa Muslims who do nothing but connive to lord over this country politically and kill Southerners’ has been repeated so much that it is seen as the truth. This is the kind of stuff that creates stereotyping, which in her words, ‘not that it is untrue, but that it is incomplete’. This is one reason I still see the significance of our NYSC scheme, choked with problems as it may be. We need to know each other more. Let us override this stereotypical mind-set and seek to learn about each other with open minds and seek the complete story that gives a holistic picture of our country.
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UBA’s REDTV
n March 16th 2018, the online lifestyle network powered by the United Bank for Africa, REDTV, held an exclusive screening for season 2 of the hit series, Inspector K , at Filmhouse Cinema in Lekki, Lagos.
O
Inspector K is a crime comedy about a wacky inspector who through unconventional ways solves crimes in the city of Lagos. He is supported by two clueless but surprisingly
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UBA’s REDTV
problem is Inspector K is not the best at working in a team as the spotlight seems to get smaller and smaller.
potentially awkward love story we present to you #InspectorK season 2… Thief, Murderer and The Boss.
‘Inspector K is back better than ever. The cinematography is top quality and the script got funnier. REDTV continues to break barriers as it brings together The heat is on as Inspector K’s the best in the industry in all station tries to uncover this its productions’ menacing group, but this time they enlist the help of another This Season promises plenty station and a Special agent of laughs, forced teamwork, from “the abroad”. The only bad guys, a boss and a
The series, which is set to launch on REDTV on March 21st, stars Koye “K 10” Kekere-Ekun, Charlie Chen, Folu Storms, Bosun Shadare, Jemima Osunde, Demi Banwo, Obi Obiora, Martin Ayeni, Damola Layonu and many more.
sometimes intelligent police officers. This season the super inspector has finally met his match. He is dealing with a cartel that seems to be completely untraceable and is always one step ahead of him: drugs, murders, major heist and thievery.
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UBA’s REDTV
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Country Profile
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Country Profile
waziland, a small, landlocked monarchy in southern Africa, is known for its wilderness reserves and festivals showcasing traditional Swazi culture. Marking its northeastern border with Mozambique and stretching down to South Africa, the Lebombo Mountains serve as a dramatic backdrop for Mlawula Nature Reserve’s many hiking trails. Nearby Hlane Royal National Park is
S
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home to diverse wildlife History including lions, hippos and elephants. Bantu peoples migrated southwest to the area of Mozambique in the 16th Geography century. A number of clans Swaziland, which is about broke away from the main 85% the size of New Jersey, is body in the 18th century and surrounded by South Africa settled in Swaziland. In the and Mozambique. The 19th century these clans country is largely organized as a tribe, partly because they were in constant mountainous. conflict with the Zulu. Their ruler, Mswazi, appealed to the Government: British in the 1840s for help Absolute monarchy.
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Country Profile
against the Zulu. The British and the Transvaal governments guaranteed the independence of Swaziland in 1881. South Africa held Swaziland as a protectorate from 1894 to 1899, but after the Boer War, in 1902, Swaziland was transferred to British administration. The paramount chief was recognized as the native authority in 1941. In 1963, the territory was constituted a protectorate, and on Sept. 6, 1968, it became the independent nation of Swaziland. Since 1986, King Mswati III has ruled as sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarch. Political parties are banned and the king appoints 76 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
10 of the 65 members of parliament as well as the prime minister. King Mswati can veto any law passed by the legislature and frequently rules by decree. In 2002, hundreds of thousands of Swazis faced starvation. Two years of drought as well as bad planning and poor agricultural practices were blamed for the crisis. The government came under criticism for buying the king a $50-million luxury jet—a quarter of the national budget—while famine loomed. In 2002, the country's judges resigned en masse in protest of the government's refusal to comply with court decisions. In April 2003, the government information minister announced that the
media were banned from making negative remarks about the government— criticism of the king's new luxury jet in particular would not be tolerated. In 2004, a third year of drought befell the country. International donor agencies and human rights groups condemned the king's plans to build new multimillion-dollar palaces for each of his 11 wives (12 by 2005) while his people faced starvation and the country's AIDS epidemic spiraled out of control. About 30% of the population is infected. Although the king signed the country's first constitution in Aug. 2005, the document essentially maintains the status quo: opposition parties remain banned and the king retains ultimate power. SPRING 2018
Country Profile
concentrates, sugar, wood Current government officials pulp, cotton yarn Kingdom of Swaziland Population: 1,138,000 Capital: Mbabane Ruler: King Mswati III (1986) Languages: English, siSwati (both official) (administrative); 70,000— Lobamba (legislative and Prime Minister: Barnabas Ethnicity/race: African 97%, Sibusiso Dlamini (1996) royal); 4,400 European 3% Area: 17,363 square kilometers (6,704 square Land area: 6,641 sq mi (17,200 sq km); total area: 6,704 sq mi Religions: Zionist (a blend of miles) Christianity and indigenous (17,363 sq km) Language: English, siSwati ancestral worship) 40%; Religion: Indigenous beliefs, Population (2014 est.): Roman Catholic 20%; Muslim Roman Catholic, Muslim Anglican, Bahai, 1,419,623 (growth rate: 1.14%); 10%; Currency: Lilangeni birth rate: 25.18/1000; infant Methodist, Mormon, Jewish, Life Expectancy: 45 mortality rate: 54.82/1000; life and other 30% GDP per Capita:U.S. $4,800 expectancy: 50.54; density per Literacy Percent: 82 sq mi: 176.8 Literacy rate: 87.8% (2011 est.) ECONOMY Capital (2011 est.): Mbabane, Economic summary: Industry: Mining (coal), wood 66,000; Royal and legislative GDP/PPP(2013 est.): $6.259 pulp, sugar, soft drink capital: Lobamba, 11,000 billion; per capita $5,700. Real concentrates growth rate:0%. Inflation: Agriculture: Sugarcane, Largest city: Mbabane, 66,000 6.1%.Unemployment: 40% cotton, corn, tobacco; cattle (2006).Arable land: 10.08%. Exports: Soft drink Monetary unit: Lilangeni Agriculture:sugarcane, cotton, Fast Facts
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Country Profile
corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep.Labor force: 424,100 (2011).Industries: coal, wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textiles and apparel. Natural resources:asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, talc. Exports: $1.603 billion (2013 est.): soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit. Imports: $1.545 billion (2013 est.): motor vehicles, machinery, transport
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equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals. Major trading partners: South Africa, EU, U.S., Mozambique, Japan, Singapore (2004).
(2000).Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2,744 (2012). Internet users: 90,100 (2009).
Communications: Telephones:main lines in use: 48,600 (2012); mobile cellular: 805,000 (2012).Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2 plus 4 repeaters, shortwave 3 (2001). Radios: 170,000 (1999).Television broadcast stations: 3 plus relay stations (2007).Televisions: 23,000
International disputes: In 2006, King Mswati III advocated resorting to ICJ to claim parts of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africa.f an eye, he was gone, our youngest was 7 months old when he passed.
Transportation: Railways: total: 301 km (2008). Highways: total: 3,594 km Member of Commo nwealth (2002). Ports and harbors: none. Airports: 14 (2013). of Nations
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LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 79
Religion
e are ever changing, we are not the same as we were. Our are rewired,
W brains
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strengthened or weakened by our interactions and experiences. This is Neuroplasticity at its best.
Our belief system, our religions are the guiding forces behind the lenses that we use to interpret everything our five
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Religion
senses receive. This is very important, why? Because God has designed us, humans, to be as though sponges. The danger to this is if we do not have guiding principles we end up absorbing from every experience. It is true that we are to learn from every experience but we are to learn from them as guided beings. If we then interpret these experiences without guidance we become a compilation of principles and contradictions that would not withstand the test of truth. Unknowingly we become individuals creating realities too expensive to sustain. Of course, I am speaking beyond monetary expenses. Once a person cannot sustain the cost of a lifestyle, it deteriorates the mind and the body unable to retain its integrity.
Gods commands are not simply to control nor hinder the excitement of one's youth. When you look into the commandments of God as Razi Zacharias often points out, it is to retain the sanctity and value of the adherent. In our times today, retaining our value and sanctity requires us to engrave within our consciousness the Word of God, Jesus Christ. In doing so we diminish constantly the power of death over our manifestations.
If Christ is in us and is the hope of glory, then Christ by the Holy Spirit must guide us. It is then essential we allow grace to save us and the Word of the Spirit engraved in us. Lastly, the image we live behind is what we will be remembered for. I propose that we should be remembered for There are experiences that being Christ-like and be seen harden the heart, devalue the as one with the mind of Christ. soul and waste a life. You see SPRING 2018
Bullus M. Gago, a Pastor and Ph.D. Student. Currently, Bullus is fixated on presenting biblical truths from a scientific, philosophical and theological perspective. His aim is to combat the decline of morality by presenting truths in spite of many attacks against the Christian faith. For invitations Email: bullusmgago@gmail.com
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