Leadeship friday

29.08.14

No. 67

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

www.leadership.ng

N200

NIGERIA'S FIRST FRIDAY NEWSPAPER

i pray ONE OF my sonS joinS the police — IGP ABBA 5

Chibok Diary

DAY

137

Leadership Newspapers

@leadershipNGA

David umAru is like a son to me – ibb

mint board sacks MD, EDs, appoints new boss 15

6

Squabbles Will Never Tear Us Apart — BBOG Group > Page 2

Nigeria Sitting On A Time Bomb 31 states fail WASSCE

Teachers, students trade blame

49.38%

15% -

9S Sc ta or tes ed

24% 4%-10% 9 States Scored

See complete state-by-state table on page 4

4

50.62%

13 States Scored

26%-45% 6 States Scored

51%-65%

they want my life after killing my sons, sheikh zakzaky alleges

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#BringBackOurGirls 137 day

Friday, August 29, 2014

Editor’sNote Here we are again with the usual exciting package of LEADERSHIP Friday for your reading pleasure and relaxation on a Friday like this as you prepare to enjoy your weekend. The regular segments such as the page two which brings you an update on the Chibok issue, ESSENTIALS, FORESIGHT and FRIDAY EXTRA, etc., present you with wonderful and exciting stories that are antidotes to worries.

WOMEN IN POLITICS continues from last week with the interview with Hajia Aisha Lemu, and our SPECIAL FEATURE this week is about the Gurara Dam in Kaduna State. Today’s ROYALTY features His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ ad Abubakar III. Check out all these and more in today’s edition and you’ll be glad you did.

On a final note, we wish you a fun-filled weekend as we remind you to Thank God it’s Friday.

“A bad attitude is like a flat tyre; you can’t go anywhere with it until you change it”.

For Feedback: fridayleadership@leadership.ng

Chibok In The Week Saturday, August 23, 2014 During its protest to mark 130 days of the abducted over 200 Chibok schoolgirls in Bornu State, the BringBackOurGirls group reportedly blamed the federal government for neither going into negotiation nor going into military action with the Boko Haram terrorists that are still holding their daughters captives.

Sunday, August 24, 2014 Parents of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls called for full scale military action in Sambisa Forest to curtail what they described as ‘the excesses’ of the Boko Haram sect in the area and rescue their daughters.

Monday, August 25, 2014 The BringBackOurGirls group decried the rising wave of attacks and showmanship of the Boko Haram insurgents, noting that even residents the residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja will not be spared of the insurgency eventually if nothing is done fast.

Chibok schoolgirls reportedly described as “wicked, fictitious and insensitive” the stories published in some media, alleging that they had given up on their daughters and had asked federal troops to storm Sambisa and launch a full scale offensive against the Boko Haram sect.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014 The BringBackOurGirls group reportedly raised an alarm over the increasing rate at which Boko Haram is terrorising the country, a situation it said if not urgently put in check will spell doom for the nation’s future.

Thursday, August 28, 2014 In keeping with its earlier decision to canvass the solidarity of some stakeholders in the country in its campaign for the release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls who are still in captivity of the Bok Haram sect, the BringBackOurGirls group reportedly paid courtesy visit to the Daily Trust Newspapers and African Independent Television (AIT) in Abuja.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014 The bringBackOurGirls group Today Friday, August 29, 2004 challenged the federal government to tell Nigerians the truth concerning The BringBackOurGirls group have resolved to thrash some of the issues the claim by the Boko Haram threatening the peace among its terrorist group in a video it released members and forge ahead with its that it has declared Gwoza town campaign for safe return ofIROKA the in Bornu State a part of an Islamic COMPILED BYthe UGOCHUKWU abducted Chibok schoolgirls in one Caliphate.

Parents and relatives of the abducted accord.

L-R: Barr. Festus Keyamo; President, Campaign For Democracy; Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, Ceo Rise Network, Ms Toyosi Akerele, Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Liyel Imoke and Chiarman, Jaykay Pharmacy Ltd, Mr Jimi Agbaje, during an Inter-Generational Dialogue on Entrepreneuship Education, Security and Quality Of Governance, organised By Rise Network in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY ADEFEMI ADEWUYI

Squabbles Won't Tear Us Apart – BBOG Group

BY Chika Mefor and Ejike Ejike , Abuja The #BringBackOurGirls Group yesterday thrashed out and resolved some of the issues threatening the unity of the group.

The group, which has been together for more than four months but had been quarrelling over certain matters, decided to resolve the issues bothering its members. In so doing, it agreed that the group did not belong to anyone, but was a group of equal individuals who had come together regardless of anyone's social status, to advocate for the rescue of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram sect in April.

"This group operates on an equal level of leadership. Relationship in this group is unique, because it is the new Nigeria we are bringing up. In this group, there is no pyramid of leadership. Everyone has a level playing ground to talk. We are all here for the Chibok girls.

‎"We have decided to always stand for the Chibok girls. Even after quarrels and squabbles within ourselves, we will embrace and make up. Because we know that our coming here is not about ourselves, not about our tribes, not about politics. It goes beyond all that.

It is about the safe return of the Chibok schoolgirls who have stayed so long with the Boko Haram sect," the group said.

It also agreed to intensify efforts at meeting with religious leaders, former presidents and political party leadership, in a bid to advance the call for the rescue of the girls.

"We have to escalate this advocacy. We have to meet everyone. Our meetings with the media houses have yielded a good result. We will take our advocacy to traditional and religious rulers, political leaders and embassies. This will help heighten our advocacy and lend more voice to the Chibok girls," the BBOG Group said.

...AS COMPILED BY Abah Adah

A little “thank you” that you will say to someone for a “little favour” shown to you is a key to unlock the doors that hide unseen “greater favours”. Learn to say “thank you” and why not? ― Israelmore Ayivor

our stand

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August 29, 2014

Super Falconets

I

n an exciting and dramatic final match of this year’s Under-20 Women Soccer Championship held at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada, this Sunday, Germany defeated the Falconets of Nigeria 1-0 after extra time.

The score line bellied the meteoric soccer artistry of the nation’s team which outplayed the eventual winner in every department of the game.

But soccer is not about superior skills; it is about goals.

If the Falconets had converted the many scoring chances they had, the match would have been wrapped up at regulation time. Yet many would say the officiating was unfair, more so because the Falconets’ goal was disallowed.

We are proud of the team that lost the match but was neither humiliated nor disgraced by the eventual winners. Throughout the tournament, the girls were a beauty to behold on and off the field of play.

It was not a disappointing outing for the nation to produce the second best team at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, in the circumstances that they played.

But that is the very essence of the Nigerian spirit: undaunted in the face of adversity and producing beautiful brides in the midst of squalor. Though they lost by

a stroke of ill-luck, the team deserves to be given heroines’ treatment by an appreciative nation in order for them to excel in future competitions and as exports. The championship was the only cause to smile from a football house that is suffocating under immorality and maladministration.

Even when the thieving bureaucracy did not cater for them, these women and their handlers showed courage, resilience and outplayed the socalled favourite teams before the tournament. From their very first match against Mexico, they never left anyone in doubt as to their championship material.

They went on to trounce highly rated teams like New Zealand and North Korea in the quarterand semi-finals respectively.

Ag. Editor Hassan Gimba Ahmed Deputy Editor Kazeem Akintunde Editorial Board Safiya M. Adamu, Chairman Christian Ochiama, Deputy Chairman Standards Aniebo Nwamu, Director ’Lara Olugbemi, Assistant Director

For displaying the Nigerian can-do spirit, high-level patriotism and perseverance to duty, we commend the Super Falconets and applaud the handlers of the team for their dedication to duty, determination to excel and for making the nation proud at the mundial. Nigerians are extremely proud of the team’s exploits. We commend Asisat Oshoala who won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot as competition bonuses.

The Falconets’ midfielder picked these souvenirs in acknowledgement of her being the best player of the tournament and as the highest goal scorer with seven goals.

The authorities should now ensure that the team bonds together for greater exploits in future tournament and at the senior levels. For the golden girl, Oshoala, and the rest of the team, now that they have the world at their feet, they have to consolidate on the latent talents and explore greater opportunities devoid of greed at the professional and global levels. These should be the focus of the Nigeria Football Federation and the National Sports Commission, not the show of shame of burning and looting that they have come to be associated with.

Founder Sam Nda-Isaiah Chairman Hajiya Ireti Kingibe Group Managing Director Azubuike Ishiekwene Group Executive Directors Michael Okpere Dr Kazeem Durodoye Divisional Directors Abdulmumin Balogun Ademola Oladosu Iyobosa Uwugiaren Salisu Alhassan Bichi General Managers Aminu Abubakar Sule Zipporah D. Tanko Joy Adekanye

Leadership

Holdings

Managing Director Abraham Nda-Isaiah Executive Director Nnamdi Samuel New York Office Mohammed Bello Shehu London Office Dr Bello Salihu Johannesburg Office Abiodun Oguntuase Business Manager Bilkisu Mohammed Rimi

Once the last tree is cut and the last river poisoned, you will find you cannot eat your money.

— Canadian Proverb

LEADERSHIP is a national paper symbolically embedded in the nation’s capital.

We shall stand up for good governance. We shall defend the interest of Nigerian people even against their rulers, and we shall raise our pen at all times in defence of what is right. These are the values by which we intend to be assessed.

We shall never, ever for any reason forget the noble reason of our coming into being: For God and country!

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August 29, 2014

LIVING TO BE 100

One health tip daily

Nigeria Sitting On A Time Bomb

Time to Exercise: Any Time!

We all know that exercise can prolong our lives, but many people say they simply don’t have the time. In our busy routines, it may be difficult to find an hour or two every day to go to the gym or take a fitness class. I tell them that there are many opportunities to exercise throughout their day. My advice: take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park your car a few blocks away from where you’re going. Cut the lawn with a manual mower. Sweep the floor with a broom instead of a vacuum. Wash dishes by hand rather than using a dishwasher. Walk to get your newspaper don’t have it delivered to your door. Every bit of physical activity adds up!

Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu

Ebola: Rivers Places 100 Quarantined Persons On 24-Hour Surveillance

by Anayo Onukwugha, Port Harcourt; Winifred Ogbebo Victor Okeke, Abuja And Abiodun Oluwarotimi, New York

The Rivers State Ministry of Health has placed about 100 persons who had contact with the late Dr Ike Sam Enemua under 24-hour surveillance for possible symptoms of Ebola virus disease.

The ministry has also shut down the late Enemua’s hospital as well as the Good Heart Hospital, a private health facility where he was treated until his demise, and a hotel where a staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) who was treated by the late medical doctor lodged while he was in Port Harcourt.

Enemua died on Friday, Au-

gust 22, 2014, in Port Harcourt, and the result of the samples taken from him, which was released yesterday morning, indicated that he died of the dreaded disease.

The state commissioner for health, Dr Sampson Parker, who disclosed this while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt, said those quarantined include staff of the two hospitals and the hotel as well as Enemua’s wife.

Parker stated that the deceased’s wife, who is also a medical doctor, has already shown signs of fever and has been taken in for treatment, adding that any of those quarantined who shows sign of fever, which is the simplest symptoms of Ebola virus ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

By Kuni Tyessi, Vanessa Akuboh, Abuja; Abdulkareem Haruna, Maiduguri

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) released the results of the May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) 2014, in which approximately 70% failure was recorded. 145,975 out of 1,750,976 candidates’ results are being withheld on the grounds of examination malpractice. These malpractices were reported during both the conduct and the marking of the exams.

The percentages of failure recorded in the past four years range from 75.06% in 2010, 44.66% in 2011, 61.19% in 2012 and 35.74% in 2013, up to a whopping 70% in 2014.

According to the result statistics for WASSCE 2014 summary, Anambra, Abia and Edo states have the highest percentages of 65.92%, 58.52% and 57.82% respectively.

In Anambra State, students who scored five cred-

its and above including Maths and English were 34,094, with 19,109 female students and 14,985 male students. In Abia State, a total of 32,947 students made five credits and above including Maths and English, with 15,347 male students and 17,600 female students. In Bayelsa State, 37,242 students scored five credits and above including Maths and English. 18,479 were male students, 18,763 were female students.

However, eight out of the 36 states in Nigeria recorded a score less than 10%. These states include Adamawa, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi. Others are Gombe, Bauchi and Yobe.

While Adamawa State recorded 8.75% for those who made five credits and above including Maths and English, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi recorded 7.47%, 7.12%, 6.65% and 6.30% respectively.

Gombe State recorded 5.68%, Bauchi 5.28% and Yobe, 4.85%.

In Adamawa State, out of the 30,235 candidates who sat for

With money you can buy a position, but not respect. ― Chinese Proverb

the examinations, 1,510 males and 1,136 females made five credits and above, including Maths and English. Out of the 17,793 candidates who sat for the national examination and made five credits and above including Maths and English in Jigawa, 944 were males and 386 were females. In Sokoto, 25,391 candidates sat for the examinations. 1,193 males and 616 females scored five credits and above, including Maths and English.

In Zamfara, Kebbi, Gombe, Bauchi and Yobe, students who scored five credits and above including Maths and English, male and female, were 1,954, 1,676, 1,107, 1,548 and 743 respectively.

Meanwhile, the scores for Borno, Taraba, Niger, Nasarawa and Oyo states fell within the 15-24% range. Others within this bracket are Plateau, Osun, Cross River and Kogi states.

Scores for Benue, Ogun, Kano, Kwara and the FCT fell ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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August 29, 2014

Nigeria Sitting On A Time Bomb ➔ FROM PAGE 4

within 26-45%. Within this bracket also are Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Ekiti and Ebonyi, Kaduna, Delta, Imo and Lagos states.

Proffering reasons for this mass failure, the deputy vice chancellor of the Tai Solarin University of Education, Professor Joseph Olusanya said that there were many factors responsible for the decline. He said, “Students’ nonchalant attitude towards school is very appalling. We also have a vicious circle of teachers, which means that most teachers at the primary and secondary school levels are half-baked.”

He went on to say, “The level of unseriousness (sic) of students is on the high increase, because the introduction of modern technology has taken their time. Due to low remuneration of teachers, they combine business with teaching, which also affects the output.”

The president of the American University of Nigeria, Professor Margee Ensign, reacting to the mass failure said, “Nigeria as a fast growing country must invest in the training of teachers as already, there is a population explosion, which has led to 11 million out-ofschool children. The training of teachers must be done consistently, as 200,000 are needed this year and by next year, an additional 500,000 will be needed to curb the menace of mass failure.”

While many have said that this is not the time to find fault or apportion blame, causes of unacceptable performance in exams can be attributed to bad or inappropriate legislation and leadership, bad parenting, over-burdened curricula and the negative influence ‘texting’ and ‘chatting’ has on students’ command of the English language. Inadequate infrastructure such as classrooms, learning and teaching resources, insufficient teachers of Mathematics, English and other core subjects can also be blamed.

Then there’s the issue of teachers’ apathy. A student, Carmella, speaking for herself and her schoolmates said, “I feel that my teachers are no longer motivated to teach us. They usually come to class angry and are always on their BlackBerrys. They always seem distracted and give half-answers to questions asked in class.”

In an interview with LEADERSHIP Friday, Dr Irene Osemeka, a renowned educationist said, “Of course the poor quality of our students manifests in many ways. The commonest is the poor grammatical expression in the use of tenses. Most students begin their sentences with ‘As in’, without necessarily making a comparison between two subjects or issues.

“There is also poor examination conduct. Cheating during examination has become the norm and regrettably, with connivance of parents and teachers. There is no doubt that the quality of education is failing drastically despite the effort of government and the major stakeholders in the sector.”

Osemeka also noted that the failing standard of education hinders the nation’s graduates from securing good jobs. “Most graduates are unable to scale through the first leg of an interview, even though they have graduated with honours. As a result of this, it has become fashionable for parents to send their children to schools outside the country. The phenomenon also comes with the Age of Information; an age where there is unprecedented access to information via the various electronic devices,” she said.

Osemeka explained that students can make use of ICT in a way that would increase their knowledge and also assist them in their education.

On the puzzle over why then the revolution in the telecommunication sector, for example, has not had a commensurate and positive effect on the quality of the Nigerian student, she averred that the telecom devices were being used more as a source of entertainment than as a tool to complement class work.

Dr Mohammed Khalid Othman, a lecturer in the Department of Agric Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, speaking on the issue however said, “I feel that the result should be investigated. It is off the shores of normal.

I know several good schools whose students didn’t make the five credits and above including Maths and English.”

In a more cheering development, though WAEC has not released all the results for public schools in Borno State because the state government allegedly has not paid its bills for the students of public schools, the results of some candidates from public schools are very encouraging.

At the Future Prowess Islamic Foundation School, one of the private schools visited by LEADERSHIP Friday, the management celebrated the performance of the graduating students, which, according to them is impressive, considering the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency.

According to the head teacher, Malam Suleiman, a female student of the school, Aisha Tijjani Mustapha, made three distinctions and four credits, while Aisha Usman Isa, another female student, made a distinction and six credits, including Mathematics and English. Yet another female student, Amina Lawan Musa, scored five credits.

“We are really proud of our students, especially the female ones. Our most outstanding student is Aisha Tijjani, who scored C-6 in Commerce, C-6 in Financial Accounting, C-5 in Store Management, B3 in Economics, B-3 in Islamic Studies, C-5 in Civic Education, C-6 in Mathematics and B3 in English Language. Aisha Usman Isa got C6 in commerce, C6 in Store Management, C6 in Economics, C6 in Islamic Studies, C6 in Civic Education and B-3 in Mathematics. Amina Lawan Musa, Financial Accounting - C6, Store Management B2, Economics - C6, Islamic Studies C6, Maths - B3,” he said.

Igp Abba

I Pray One Of My Sons Joins The Police — Igp Abba

By CHIKA OTUCHIKERE, Abuja

For acting inspector-general of police IGP Suleiman Abba, one thing he is confident about is that he is not worried about the issue of tenure of office. According to the chief crime fighter who became the 17th IGP, how long he would spend in office does not cause him sleepless nights.

Abba made this known during a courtesy visit to the LEADERSHIP headquarters Wednesday during which he unveiled the wish closest to his heart concerning his children. He also affirmed that if there was anything he would leave behind at retirement, it would be to entrench a police force with effective ethical police officers in an efficient organisation.

The acting IGP stated: “In one word, I will like to be remembered as an IGP who made sure we have ethical police officers who were effective and whose organisation, the Nigeria Police Force, was efficient. That’s what I look forward to and, incidentally, that is the vision of the Nigeria Police Force.

“Let me tell you, people don’t like saying it: I’m a father of nine children from one woman. Six of them are boys and three are girls. My prayer is that at least one of those boys should be a police officer.”

Abba, who had told journalists during the handing and taking over ceremony between him and the former IGP that he did not like prepared speeches, fielded questions from LEADERSHIP editors like an intelligent police officer who would not be caught napping. Every question had a ready but apt answer.

On the issue of child sexual abuse, the IGP gave an insight into the challenges of dealing with such heinous crimes, stressing that the difficulties of ignorance and wrong beliefs were major stumbling blocks in getting justice for victims.

He said: “Let me start by telling you

Birds are caught with seed, men with money. ― Armenian Proverb

that, in appreciation of fighting crimes that are naturally against children, not only that I know they are very serious offences carrying very long jail terms, but out of concern as a father and as a son too, let me tell you: the situation is very serious and worrisome too, particularly when you know some of the reasons why they commit it.

“I was deputy commissioner of police in Kano and I was also acting commissioner of police in Kano. I think it is worse in states where people have the belief that if you defile a small girl, your sickness, including AIDS, will be cured.

Now the thing is as serious as that. It then means that they are not only motivated by satisfying themselves but also by the need perhaps to get ‘cured’ of certain diseases.

“It then means that the whole thing is moved by ignorance and perhaps a lot of societal problems with regards to our values. So getting over it would require the involvement of all. The schools would need to re-orientate our children to let them know that this is the natural way, and you have to get to a certain age before you can even get involved in it. The religious leaders, both the imams and pastors, would really need to preach strongly against these activities.

“On our own part, we make sure that when offences like that are committed, we don’t, in any way, compound them.

But the problem is that there are still other problems borne out of ignorance --ignorance in the sense that there is also the problem of protecting the victim. So you wouldn’t want a situation where it will be made public.”

The IGP who pointed out that getting officers and men to be hardworking, honest and humane did not require just money, however, said that he had received assurances from the appropriate authorities that budgetary allocations would be made available as and when due.

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August 29, 2014

Ebola: Rivers Places 100 Quarantined Persons On 24-Hour Surveillance ➔ FROM PAGE 4

disease, would be taken in for treatment.

He said: “Dr Ike Sam Enemua died last Friday, August 22, 2014, as a result of what was suspected to be Ebola virus.

The Rivers State Ministry of Health, on becoming aware of the conditions of his death, immediately commenced investigation and contact-tracing. As at today (Thursday), about 100 contacts from the hotel, patients of Dr Enemua, patients of the hospital where the late Dr Enemua was treated till his demise have been identified and restricted in Rivers State.

“The locations are being decontaminated. From our investigations, some facts have emerged: a staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the team that received the late Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian-American diplomat who died of Ebola disease in Lagos, made a trip to Port Harcourt where he checked into a hotel and met Dr Enemua.

“About a week after his departure, Dr Enemua took ill and was rushed to a hospital where he presented with symptoms of high fever, stooling and vomiting. In the course of his treatment, the managing physician became suspicious and took samples for investigation. A few days after, Dr Enemua died. His body was deposited at a mortuary in Port Harcourt.

“Dr Enemua’s widow, who is also a medical doctor and who cared for him during his illness, has taken ill. She is being quarantined. A few hours ago, the result of the samples taken on Dr Enemua came out and it was positive. The diplomat, who was seen by the late Enemua is alive and well.”

The commissioner, who refused to give the name of the late Enemua’s hospital and the hotel where he went with the diplomat, said the state government has the needed resources and personnel to tackle the effects and spread of Ebola in the state.

Primary contact infected his doctor, 1 other in Port Harcourt - FG A primary contact of Mr Patrick Sawyer, who evaded the surveillance of the

Gov Amaechi of Rivers State

medical team in Lagos State, has infected a personal medical doctor who secretly treated him in Port Harcourt.

This now brings to 15 the total number of identified cases of Ebola in Nigeria.

Out of this number, the total number of deaths is 5, while one under treatment is stable and improving.

The minister of health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, who stated this at a joint ministerial press conference with the minister of information, Mr Labaran Maku, in Abuja yesterday, said that the additional two cases were not treated at the isolation ward in Lagos.

“One of them is a primary contact of Mr Patrick Sawyer. Even though he presently does not have Ebola virus disease (EVD), further laboratory tests indicate that he had suffered from EVD,” the minister said.

“This primary contact of Mr Sawyer evaded our surveillance team in the last week of July 2014 and travelled out of Lagos to Port Harcourt where, as we now understand, he consulted with a doctor and was apparently treated for some symptoms. After four days, following a manhunt for him, he returned to Lagos by which time he was found to be without symptoms,” the minister said. “This case would have been of no further interest since he had completed the 21 days of surveillance without any other issue, but for the fact that the doctor who treated him died last Friday, 22nd August, 2014.”

According to the health minister, following the report of the doctor’s death

by his widow the next day, the case had been thoroughly investigated and laboratory analysis showed that this doctor died from EVD. “As a result, several contacts have now been traced, registered and placed under surveillance. However, because the widow is now symptomatic, she has since yesterday been quarantined pending the outcome of laboratory tests being carried on her,” Chukwu said.

He also used the opportunity to tell Port Harcourt residents not to panic, insisting that the Incident Management Committee has already deployed a very strong team to the city. “Just like the situation has effectively been managed in Lagos and Enugu, the situation in Port Harcourt will also similarly be effectively managed,” he added.

Meanwhile, the minister of information has charged journalists to be above board in the reportage of the ongoing fight against Ebola, saying that “journalists are working as doctors of some sort in fighting this disease”.

He said that dealing with any epidemic is largely a public education programme, and that a lot of the work lies with the media people.

“That is why I’m saying that everything we write, we should understand that we either help or worsen the situation,” he said.

Meanwhile, in conjunction with health experts from Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, the World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday announced that it would be organizing a three-day workshop in order to strengthen Africa’s defences against the Ebola outbreak.

According to the United Nations health agency, the three-day workshop brings together more than 40 disease prevention and control officers, clinicians and infection control officers as well as social mobilization, health education and communication experts from 10 countries.

Participants will build their capacity to control EVD, including through surveillance and data management, infection prevention and control, case management, laboratory sample collection and transpor-

tation, and social mobilization and proper use of personal protection equipment.

The first in a series of preparedness and response workshops began on Tuesday in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, with Dr Deo Nshimirimana from the WHO Regional Office for Africa saying that “despite efforts being made to control the Ebola virus disease (EVD) the outbreak was continuing and the number of cases and deaths increasing, thus constituting a threat for all African countries and the world.”

“The EVD outbreak is now not only a health problem, it is a threat to the economy and development of our countries as well, and we need to expedite efforts to quickly control the situation,” he said.

Since the start of the outbreak, WHO and its partners have deployed more than 450 people to the four affected countries: Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Experts deployed include field coordinators, clinicians, epidemiologists, infection control and prevention specialists, logicians and data managers, communication specialists, medical anthropologists and social mobilizers.

Meanwhile, WHO said it had been notified yesterday by the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of an outbreak of EVD in the country’s Equateur Province. The case involved a pregnant woman from a village who butchered a bush animal that had been killed and given to her by her husband.

She became ill with symptoms of EVD and died on August 11 of a then-unidentified haemorrhagic fever.

Between July 28 and August 18, 2014, a total of 24 suspected cases of haemorrhagic fever, including 13 deaths, have been identified.

Samples have been sent to laboratories in DRC’s capital, Kinshasa, and in Gabon for confirmation of Ebola and to identify the strain found in the DRC. The index case and the 80 contacts have no history of travel to the Ebola-affected countries in West Africa or history of contact with individuals from the affected areas. At this time, WHO says, it is believed that the outbreak in DRC is unrelated to the ongoing outbreak in West Africa.

Niger East By-election: David Umaru Is Like A Son To Me – IBB We’re confident of victory with popularity of Umaru – Oyegun

By Abu Nmodu, Minna

The former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Niger East senatorial by-election, Barrister David Umaru is like a son to him and promised to treat him as such.

This is coming on the heels of the confidence expressed by the national chairman of APC, Chief John Oyegun that Barrister Umaru will come out victorious in the byelection scheduled for tomorrow.

IBB who played host to the leaders of

the party led by the national chairman and the governor of Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso at his hilltop house Minna , said that Barrister Umaru has been a member of his household and not new to him.

He stated that “David Umaru is like a member of my family, I see him like my son and I will do to him what a father does to a son , I will surely do. His wife and my children always share ideas together, his wife and my children also schooled in the same school”.

IBB congratulated APC party chairman for his emergence as the national chairman adding that Chief Oyegun has the capacity to lead the party and congratulated APC for his emergence.

He called on all the parties to ensure peace during the by-election and for the

wish of the people to prevail adding that Niger State is a home of peace and commended them for doing a good job.

Earlier the national chairman of APC said that the team was in Niger State to find out about the popularity of David Umaru that they have been hearing about and that they were impressed with what they saw on ground.

According to him, the country needs a change and the time for change has come because people are saying the government at the centre is corrupt but those who are saying the government is corrupt are just praising the government because what is on the ground is worst than corruption.

He stated that the problem of Nigeria has gone beyond building roads, bridges and other infrastructures because what

If it hurts to spend your money, you will go hungry. ― African Proverb

Nigeria needs is general change of psyche and attitude hence if it is not changed, the generation to come would look at corruption and other aberrations as a way of life.

Chief Oyegun said, “We need you (IBB) to support us to change the psyche of Nigeria because permanent damage has been done to the psyche of our people, the trend must change”.

Also speaking to journalists after the visit, he stated that they were to hold a rally in Minna but were denied use of the state polo playing field, describing the situation as a crude way of politics that should not be condoned in a civilised society.

“We find a way to talk to our supporters in a very quiet place but it is not good that we were denied venue to hold our rally”, he said.

NEWS EXTRA /7

August 29, 2014

Court Remands Security Guard In Prison For Murder

by Olugbenga Soyele, Lagos

The Oyingbo Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, has remanded a 32-year-old guard, Azeez Ibrahim, in prison custody for murder. The magistrate, Mrs. E. B. Daodu, gave the order after Ibrahim was arraigned before the court by the men of the Criminal Investigation Department, CID, of the Lagos Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Panti, Yaba on a onecount charge of murder.

The accused person, a resident of Imuti-Ita-oluwo, Ogijo, Ogun State, was accused by the police to have shot to death one Adebusayo Ogunkoya, 22, with a pump-action gun, on July 6, 2014, at about 2.30 am, at his place of work, Mamibila Hotel, Owutu-Ikorodu, Lagos.

Ibrahim pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The offence, according to the prosecutor, Inspector Richard Odigie, is punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

Odigie urged the court to remand the security man in prison custody for the next 30 days, until the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, can be reached for advice on the matter.

He also informed the court that the remand application was brought, pursuant to Section 246(1)(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice of Lagos State 2011.

Murder: Man, 30, Remanded in Agodi Prison Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan

A man, identified as Kazeem Fatai, has been remanded at the Agodi Prison, Ibadan, Oyo State, by an Ibadan Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly causing the death of a 28-year-old.

Fatai, 30, was accused of killing the deceased, Sakiru Ogunsola, with a shard of glass in April, at about 4.00am, along Iwo Road, Ibadan.

The two men were said to have been involved in a scuffle which became violent.

According to the prosecutor, Corporal Laro Isiaka, the suspect committed the crime on April 7, 2014 around 4.00am.

Kazeem was arraigned on a one-count charge of murder.

The charge sheet read, “that you, Kazeem Fatai, on April 7, 2014, at about 4am at Mr. Biggs Fast Food, Iwo Ringroad, Ibadan, did unlawfully cause the death of Sakiru Ogunsola, a male of 28 years, by stabbing him with a broken glass that led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316, punishable under Section 319.”

Women patronising ‘okrika’ dealers at the Madalla Market in Niger State Yesterday. Photo By Nan

Housewife, 6 Others Arrested For Stripping Husband’s Lover Naked

by Osa Okhomina, Yenagoa

The men of the Bayelsa Command of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a house-wife and six others for allegedly assaulting and stripping naked a 23-year-old woman, in Okaka area of Yenagoa local government council, for having an illicit affair with her husband of the state.

LEADERSHIP FRIDAY gathered that the husband, a driver attached to the Bayelsa State government house and a native of Akwa Ibom State, reportedly fled the scene of the incident after his wife and her friends caught him and his lover in a bar.

It was gathered that the incident which occurred yesterday night at a bar along the Okaka road, attracted a huge crowd, as the aggrieved housewife and her friends descended on the husband’s alleged lover and stripped her naked.

An eye-witness told LEADERSHIP FRIDAY that the owner of the bar, who has secretly been contracted by the housewife to spy on the duo alerted her and her friends at about 7.30pm, to the presence of her husband and her lover at the bar.

It is understood that the housewife’s friends joined her in solidarity and sympathy and in order to humiliate the woman who they termed a “man-snatcher”.

“They were shameless; they could see that she was having her monthly flow, yet they took out their phones and began videoing her in the nude, while forcing her to dance.”

LEADERSHIP FRIDAY understands that the crowd which had gathered at the scene enjoyed the whole drama, until the arrival of the men of the police patrol team from the Ekeki Division, who took the six aggressors away.

The investigation, handled by an officer who gave his name as Inspector Chinedu, is expected to lead to the arrest of the owner of the bar, following the filing of an assault charge against the housewife and her friends.

Politicians Jostle As World Igbo Congress Holds In US

By Millie Ibe, Abuja

Politicians from the Southeastern region have of the country have begun tojostle for attention days to the World Igbo Congress, scheduled to hold in the USA. A pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, Southeast Amalgamation for Jonathan/Sambo, has pledged to use the avenue for the return of the president for a second term in 2015.

The high-powered delegation which has already departed Nigeria to attend this year’s World Igbo Congress in the USA, said that no stone will be left unturned in order to ensure that Igbos all across the globe are mobilised for Jonathan’s re-election.

The mission of the group, according to its head of delegation and national coordinator, Nze Elvis Agukwe, is to present series of developments championed by President Jonathan’s administration, so far, in Igboland, to the Ndigbo in the diaspora.

“President Jonathan has not paid lip-service to the issues of reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction which were a part of the agreement reached after the suspension of the Nigerian Civil War. “The Ndigbo never signed any ‘surrender’ paper to anybody, but agreed to a deal to end the killings in Nigeria. It is unfortunate that successive governments in Nigeria never implemented the letters of that agreement, until President Jonathan came

aboard,” Agukwe said.

Agukwe also fingered the construction of the Second Niger Bridge as another huge reason why the president deserves a second term.

“Reconstruction of roads in the Southeastern part of the country and more were all achieved. Not that all problems of Ndigbo are solved, but Jonathan has shown our people respect and recognition as major stakeholders in the Nigeria project.

“As grateful people who appreciate good deeds done to them, we have resolved to mobilise Ndigbo globally to give Jonathan total support in 2015. This is the message we are taking to the United States at the World Igbo Congress Convention,” Agukwe explained.

When a once-beautiful piece of cloth has turned into rags, no one remembers that it was woven by master weavers. ― Nigerian Proverb

8/ NEWS EXTRA

August 29, 2014

Robbery: Police Nab 75-Year-old, Nursing Mother, 7 Others

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba,

Detectives attached to the Umunede Police Division, Ika Northeast local government area of Delta State, have arrested an armed robbery group which includes a 75-year-old armed robber, a nursing mother and seven others.

LEADERSWHIP FRIDAY understands that the suspects were alleged to be members of an armed robbery syndicate that raided Akumazi Community recently, killing a 65-year-old man, Emmanuel Nwabuoke.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the arrest of the suspects, disclosed that they were arrested following the combined effort of police detectives and youth of the community who swung into action in the last two weeks, combing every nook and cranny, in order to ensure that they were fished out.

Expectedly, the family of the deceased, sources said, had already petitioned the

headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force in Abuja over the gruesome murder of their son, as well as frequent robbery attacks on the community.

Kalu disclosed that, upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime, adding that the nursing mother, a 44-year-old house wife (names withheld) claimed to be an informant and the one who prepares charms for the group.

According to Kalu, she is currently helping the police at the state CID and will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.

Kalu also added that 2 AK 47 rifles and some fetish objects were recovered from them.

Meanwhile, sources at the Umunede Police Divisional headquarters revealed that the suspects were transferred to the police headquarters in Asaba for proper investigation, seeing as their killing of the sexagenarian has generated tension in the community.

L R: Chairman, Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Comrade Amaechi Lawrence; National president, NCSU, Comrade Kirfi Mohammed; President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar and secretary, NCSU Federal Council, Comrade Nehemiah Ogem, at the commissioning of the ‘Federal Might House’ of the Nigeria Civil Service Union in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO BY ADEFEMI ADEWUYI

5 Perish, 9 Injured In Auto Crash Alo Abiola, Ado-Ekiti

Five yet-to-identified traders, yesterday, lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident near Irasa Village, along Ado-Iworoko Ekiti Road.

Nine others, including some students of the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, were also critically injured in the auto-crash close to the university’s campus, at about 4:15am on Thursday.

The traders, mostly women, were on their way to Ado-Ekiti in a Nissan saloon car marked Osun AA 529 FTD when a Mazda car with the registration number Lagos KJA 608 CD, said to be occupied by eight students, rammed into them.

The students, according to a source, were returning from a dinner party organised by some of the final-year students of the institution when their car collided head-on with the vehicle carrying the traders who were coming from Ora-Ekiti. While five women in the commercial vehicle died on the spot, the driver and eight othrs from the other vehicle are critically injured and receiving treatment at the emergency unit of the state university’s teaching hospital.

Safe for the timely intervention of the villagers and some policemen attached to the Iworoko Police Division, the students would have been trapped in their car. The villagers had to use cutlasses and axes to cut through and get the students out.

The public relations officer of the university’s Student Union Government, Priscilla Afolabi, who confirmed the accident, said “They are our colleagues coming from a dinner. None of the eight (five females and three males) died. They were coming from a popular hotel close to the university, the venue of the dinner, when the incident happened.”

The Ekiti State Command Police Public Relations Officer, Victor Babayemi who also confirmed the incident said the five persons who lost their lives in the accident were women traders who were coming from OraEkiti to Ado-Ekiti.

Babayemi also disclosed that their bodies had been deposited at the state morgue while nine others who are students of the Ekiti State University and the driver of the commercial vehicle were receiving treatment at the state’s teaching hospital.

FLOOD: 116 Houses, Property Destroyed In Edo

By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City,

Less than two months after a devastating flood resulted in the death of four persons in Igarra, Edo State, 116 houses have been destroyed by flood at Fugar, the administrative headquarters of Etsako local government area of the state, over the weekend, with property worth several millions of naira destroyed.

Luckily, this time, no life was lost, as the state government, yesterday, promised to come to the aid of all those who were displaced by the flood.

The state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, through his deputy, Pius Odubu, who was at th scene for an on-the-spot assessment, yesterday, assured the people that relief materials will soon be brought to ameliorate their discomfort. Not less than 116 houses were affected by the devastating flood.

L-R: Former SSG of Imo State, Nze Ignatius Umunna; deputy speaker, House of Reps, Hon Emeka Ihedioha and member representating Oru-West in the Imo State legislature, Hon Robertson Ekwebelem, during the deputy speaker’s consultation with PDP stakeholders in the local government last Wednesday.

Ifeanyi Augustine Mbah and former Miss Amina Nneokibe Edeh, during their traditional wedding in Ugbawka Village, Nkanu local government area, Enugu State, recently.

Odubu – accompanied by the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Lucky James; special adviser on special duties and executive director of the Office of the First Lady, Hajia Maimuna Momodu, and other key government functionaries – expressed shock at the disaster but assured them that the state government will do its best as soon as it can, to cushion their plight. even as he said the government will also approach the federal government for assistance through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Odubu also visited the palace of the Ogie Aviawu of Aviawu, Chief Jackson Etonakha, where he described the disaster as unprecedented in the history of Aviawu, as over one thousand subjects were displaced.

The areas worst hit include Ivinone, Ulumo- L-R Hon. Chinedu Mbanaso with baby Emmanuella and wife, MaryAnn, with baby Maryhie, Iviocha and Iviavia, all in ward one, Et- Angel, during Emmanuella’s dedication at the Catholic Church of Assumption, Asokoro , Abuja, recently. sako Central.

It is only a stupid cow that rejoices at the prospect of being taken to a beautiful abattoir. — African Proverb

August 29, 2014

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August 29, 2014

Group News Editor: Tony Amokeodo

Jonathan Launches National ID-Card

Ebola: NTI Sensitises Workers On Safety Measures

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday directed all federal government ministries, agencies and agencies (MDAs) to unify their biometric data capture operations with the national electronic identity card (e-ID Card) scheme.

Accordingly, he directed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to enrol and issue the card to all federal civil servants and pensioners for “speedy and safe payment of salaries and pensions.”

Giving the directive when he launched the issuance process of the e-ID card at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the president asked the commission to work with the Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPS) and Pension Department.

Jonathan said, “The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) should also ensure immediate compliance. The regime of duplication of biometric data bases must now have to give way to harmonisation and unification with the e-ID scheme, which shall be the primary data base.

By Ugochukwu Iroka, Abuja

By George Agba, Abuja

“The secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), the attorney-general and minister of justice, and the governor of the CBN should immediately key in.

They should, in conjunction with NIMC, reach modalities for the harmonisation of their biometric projects, including other ongoing projects in other MDAs, with the e-ID card scheme.

“Proliferation and duplication of efforts is neither cost effective, nor security-smart. It is important to remove obstacles that may impede the NIMC from the discharge of its constitutional functions and statutory obligations.”

The president lamented the absence of a national identification system which, he said, made it difficult for targets of government’s subsidy programmes and other social security services to be reached.

He said it was for this reason that he considered the launch of the card as an important milestone which has brought his administration’s vision of a reliable national identity database to reality.

He said: “I am particularly pleased about NIMC because a number of things we are

supposed to do well as a nation, we are not doing well; and sometimes we blame governmen because of the failure of the system and the credibility of the process.

He noted that the national electronic identity management system would go a long way in addressing this challenge.

Jonathan added: “I’m quite pleased today that with the NIMC’s success story, we are moving forward as a nation. Everybody talks about change, and I always say that it is not possible to just wake up and change. A change is a vector quantity; you must have the magnitude and the direction.

“I have taken keen interest in this project, primarily because of the pervasive impact it can have on every facet of the socioeconomic fabric of our dear nation. This is in sync with the transformation agenda of my government”.

NIMC director-general, Mr Chris Onyemenam, had earlier explained that the national e-ID Card was a multi-purpose card for identification, electronic signatures, biometric on-card verification and other applications.

As the deadly Ebola disease epidemic continues to ravage West Africa, the Kaduna arm of the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), in collaboration with Health Services Clinic of Congo of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has organised a one-day workshop in Kaduna to sensitise the public on issues surrounding the deadly virus.

The director-general and chief executive of NTI, Kaduna, Dr Aminu Ladan Sharehu, said the lethal nature of the virus necessitated the sensitisation exercise.

Samples of Ebola preventive kits, which contain soap and sanitisers amongst other odds and ends, were also distributed to all SUBEB and state commissioners free of charge. The kits were also distributed to participants of the workshop and to some schools in Kaduna.

Dr Sharehu said, “I want to assure you that the institute would continue to support the well-being of her staffers. NTI says no to Ebola; pass on the message, not the virus.”

As part of the sensitization process, the institute’s medical director, Dr Jimoh Adiva, lectured participants on the nature of the virus and how it was spread while the chief medical officer, Health Services Clinic of the Congo campus of ABU, dispelled the myth that the virus could be contracted through the handling of money.

Only God Gives Leadership, Sultan Tells Politicians

BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan; minister of agric and natural resources, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; chairman, governing board of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Prince Uche Secondus, and GMD, Access Bank Plc., Herbert Wigwe, during the launch of the national e-ID Card, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN

They Killed My Sons, Now They Want My Life – Sheik Zakzaky

BY MIDAT JOSEPH, Kaduna

Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, has disclosed alleged plan by the Nigerian security agents to orchestrate his death.

Sheik Zakzaky, who spoke at the end of a weekly Tafsir held at the Hussainiyyah Baqiyyatullah, Zaria, on Wednesday, said he had uncovered a plot to unleash further violence on the forthcoming fortieth day prayer session for members of the movement recently killed by soldiers in Zaria, scheduled for Wednesday.

According to Sheik Zakzaky, the government still wanted to shed more innocent blood “The fact is that they have killed three of my sons; specifically, they still want more;

it is my life they are after now at all costs.

“These days, we pass by pre-planned security ambushes whenever we went to or come back from Hussainiyyah. On Monday, they ignited a false flag chaos at one filling station with the full intention to shoot.

We don’t know why they stationed soldiers there. They are still there since after the incident occurred.

“The government has its own “Shia” among the security, whom they use to ignite and instigate chaos. They were told to be on red alert, as they were going to be attacked,” he said.

According to the Sheik, “A group of snipers in suits, headed by one professional sniper called Nyam, was on standby. Nyam and his team were seen passing along Hussainiyyah to where they were lodged. They

were specially brought here to kill.”

He further alleged that the sole aim of the authorities was to cause chaos and anarchy in the country, not minding the consequences.

“We have information that they planned to detonate bombs during the fortieth day prayer congregation. They have also produced many red and black flags with Ya Husain inscription. The flags are there in the barracks right now. It is possible they will unleash an offensive, then place a flag there and attribute it to Shi’a. They may also use the flags to infiltrate the fortieth day prayer session, and be part of it.

“We also learnt that they are going to receive a delivery of dangerous weapons that would be used for the first time on us,” Sheik Zakzaky told his congregation.

The Sultan of Sokoto and president-general, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday admonished Nigerian politicians to see leadership as an act of God which He gives to whosoever He chooses at any time.

The Sultan, who spoke when former Vice President Atiku Abubakar paid him a visit in his palace, equally tasked leaders and politicians to have the fear of God in all their dealings.

Insisting that Nigerians must learn how to play politics of love and all-inclusiveness, Sultan said Nigerians would be looking forward to seeing when politicians would understand and appreciate one another as partners in progress and not enemies.

“Politicians should fear God and exhibit justice in all their dealings. They should also know that it is only God that gives leadership. Therefore, they should learn how best to play politics of love, not bitterness, rancour and hatred.

“We are looking forward to seeing when our politicians would not see leadership as a do-or-die affair, rather a platform to serve the people diligently. God knows whom to give leadership and leaders should in turn see everybody as their own, see every side as their constituency after winning elections, and not to see those that did not support them as enemies,” he stated.

She is beautiful; she has love, understands; she respects herself and others; everyone likes, loves and honors her; she is a goddess.

African Proverb.

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Nigeria Must Remain United Despite Security, Political Challenges – Orubebe

By Christiana Nwaogu, Abuja

Former vice president Atiku Abubakar (left), inaugurating Gidan Mai AdaKalambaina Road in Sokoto, yesterday. With him is Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko and other officials. PHOTO

BY NAN

Impeachment of Enugu Deputy Governor Reckless – Ex-Deputy Govs

By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja

Former deputy governors under the aegis of Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria (FFDGN) yesterday described the impeachment of the deputy governor of Enugu State, Dr Sunday Onyebuchi as a reckless show of power by both the governor and the state assembly.

Rising from an emergency meeting yesterday in Abuja, they appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to wade into the matter to correct the anomaly, and also called on the National Judicial Council “to quickly investigate the judge who constituted the panel over chicken allegations and determine whether or not he had

sufficient evidence to act as he did, with no weighty allegations of corruption or any constitutional impeachable offence against the Enugu State Deputy Governor.”

Some of the former deputy governors at the meeting include that of Abia State, Chris Akomas; Osun, Erelu Olusola Obada; Plateau, Pauline Tallen among others.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the chairman of the forum, Abdulmalik Mahmoud, described the impeachment as “Reckless show of power by the governor of Enugu State and the State House of Assembly,” They advised “The governor to learn from recent history in Nigeria in respect

of governor-deputy relationships.”

The chairman added that the operation of a poultry in the official quarters of the deputy governor cannot be interpreted as gross misconduct.

“Many governors and their deputies do keep livestock (cattle, goats, rabbits, chicken etc) in their official quarters and this is a common knowledge all over the federation. Why should that of Enugu State deputy governor earn him impeachment?

“The constitution is clear on what constitutes impeachment offences and the process leading to impeachment. What has happened in Enugu State is an anomaly that must be re-visited forthwith.

Niger East By-election: APC Chieftain Warns Against Rigging

BY UCHENNA AWOM, Abuja

Former presidential aspirant and oil magnate, Alhaji Uba Malami has warned against the consequences of rigging the forthcoming Niger East senatorial by-election.

Malami in a excluse chat with LEADERSHIP also advised the constituents and electorate in the district to protect their

votes and ensure that the will of the people is respected in the poll.

The politician who aspired for the presidential ticket of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) said he is certain that the candidate of the APC, Mr. David Umaru will emerge victorious in the contest.

He said the APC as at today is well

grounded in Niger State, particularly in Niger East “as such it will be a surprise if the party’s candidate fails to win the election.

“David Umaru is on ground and is the candidate to beat. It will be a huge surprise if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wins the election. The people of the district must therefore be vigilant and protect their votes”, he said.

2015: APC Launches Winning Formula

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday launched a winning formula code named “1 for More”.

The winning formula which is an initiative of a former minister of state, women affairs , Princess Funke Adedoyin, was launched in Ilorin, Kwara State.

“1 for More” initiative entails the appointment of a woman as APC ambassador and the woman in return will woo four members

of other parties into APC. The four recruits are also expected to woo four persons each into the APC. Unveiling the logo of the formula, the national chairman of APC,Chief John Odigie Oyegun said with the new formula his party was set to sweep the 2015 general elections.

Represented by the vice chairman, SouthWest, Mr Segun Oni, Oyegun urged Nigerians to vote massively for APC in 2015 “so that Nigeria can begin the journey to greatness”.

“Nigeria has no business with poverty and insecurity. This is the time for Nigerians to re-

ject what we do not want.

Princess Adedoyin has given us the winning formula with which to win the 2015 general elections. The initiative will be replicated in all the states of the federation”, Oyegun declared.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed said that his administration had implemented policies that benefited the womenfolk in the state.

He said that his administration has created platform that has improved the economic base of the womenfolk in the state.

Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever Walt Disney, founder and CEO of the Walt Disney Company

The immediate past minister of Niger Delta Affairs and former governorship aspirant in Delta State, Elder Godsday Peter Orubebe has said that Nigeria must remain united, despite the political and security challenges facing the nation at present.

Orubebe who is contesting the Delta State hot seat has dismissed the doomsday predictions by many that the security challenges and agitations by politicians ahead of the 2015 presidential election would disintegrate the country, declaring that Nigeria must remain “One and united nation.”

While describing the security threats bedeviling the country as a wake up call on churches and well meaning Nigerians to pray fervently for the country, he said that the issues of terrorism was a global phenomenon and the people involved were killing innocent people to attract attention.

Elder Orubebe further advised that aggrieved parties and government must resolve conflict with justice.

PDP Supporters Assembly Endorses Aduda

By Aiman Rahaman, Abuja

The PDP (FCT) Supporters Assembly has endorsed Senator Philip Aduda representing the FCT at the Senate for a second term in 2015.

The decision was reached yesterday during the general meeting of the assembly in Abuja through a voice vote of members.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, chairman of the group, Comrade Theodore Ochei said the endorsement of Philip Aduda was based on facts gathered from members. ‘’The facts are Aduda’s excellent credentials and track record in the National Assembly where he has worked effectively as the chairman of the Committee on Power. He has put so much effort for the success of the Presidential Power Transformation so as to maximize electricity to the homes and businesses of Nigerians.

In carrying out this all important national assignment, he did not neglect his immediate constituency but embarked on development of infrastructures such as water and rural electrification projects across the FCT,’’ he said.

Ochei also said that aside the bills Aduda presented to the Senate, he also empowered many unemployed youths and women groups coupled with his daily philanthropic and compassionate gestures to residents in solving their various problems.

The PDP (FCT) Supporters Assembly is a coalition of organised youth and women groups of PDP in the FCT.

BUSINESS NEWS /15

August 29, 2014

2.6GHz: Telecom Operators Seek FG Reiterates Support For Professional Bodies Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), led ensure that professional bodies New Approach To Spectrum Auction EZRA IJIOMA, by its president Otunba (Mrs) like CIBN are given opportunity Abuja

By Chima Akwaja, Lagos

Nigerian telecommunication operating companies have asked the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) to come up with new modality for the auctioning of the planned two slots of 70MHz in the 2.6GHz spectrum licence which the regulator intends to sale in the for the provisioning of telecommunication broadband services in the country.

Some of the stakeholders called for the present pattern of national licencing to be maintained, while others want a regional licencing approach that will create room for more players and improved deployment phase.

President, Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Engineer Lanre Ajayi, applauded the sense of seeking stakeholders’ views on the process. However, he sought to know why close to 30 companies expressed interest during the sale of 2.3GHz band earlier in the year, but only two went ahead to bid.

He urged NCC to review the process and create changes for business viability.

According to him, most organisations might become skeptical about the bidding should NCC fail to declare its intentions on time, citing the

sale of 2.6GHz few months after the 2.3GHz as unpalatable for ventures.

On the modalities licencing model, Ajayi said he believes in spectrum trading, where a company with either a national or a regional licence can have the leverage of selling the same to another company without been queried by the NCC. However, president, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Engineer Bayo Banjo, said that the industry should learn from past experience that allocation of licences on national bases has not alleviated the broadband penetration challenges.

According to him, national frequency allocation has caused more harm than good, creating hiccups for organisations during deployment and making recouping of investments hard to attain.

He opined that such practice can become viable if the bidders and eventual winners are meant to sign agreement to cover the 36 states and the FCT, and no redundancy in spectrum utilisation in any of the states.

Earlier in his welcome speech, Engineer Peter Igoh, chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said that, the transparent way in which the Commission had conduct its licencing processes, including auctions, have been globally recognised.

CICAN, Stakeholders Hold Workshop On SMEs Devt OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

The Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN), is set to hold a one-day workshop on the potentials of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as an engine of growth and development.

In a release signed by the chairman of the Association, Mr Oloruntoba Agboola, the association said that despite the importance of SMEs as engine of growth and development, they were constrained by some challenges such as lack of infrastructure, weak operating capacities in terms of skills, knowledge and attitude, inaccessible to finance, poor information technology, lack of safeguards

against occupational health and environmental hazards, multiple taxation, just to mention but a few and the workshop is expected to address these.

The minister of trade and investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, will give the keynote address at Gala/ Award Nite, while the lead speaker at the workshop is the managing director, Bank of Industry (BOI), Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa.

Other speakers include, director- general, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Mrs Juliet ChukkasOnaeko,director-general, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Alhaji Masari Bature.

The federal government has pledged its commitment to support professional bodies in the financial sector to build their capacity to enhance their contributions towards policy formulation and execution.

The coordinating minister for the Economy and Honourable Minister of Finance, Dr.Ngozi Okonjo–Iweala announced the commitment during the courtesy visit by Chartered Institute of

Debola Osibogun.

In a statement from the Ministry of Finance and signed by its director (press), Marshall Gundu, Okonjo–Iweala also commended the delegates from CIBN for their passion to see that the financial sector plays significant role in moving the economy forward.

The Minister assured them of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s commitment to

to synergise with federal government in policy formation, evaluation and execution. The Minister challenged CIBN to be more proactive through dialogue with the federal government before some economic policies get to the public domain. According to her, such collaborative effort will offer it the opportunity to make its input into government economic policies and programmes without bias.

L-R: Globacom’s head of Public Sector, Mr. Tunde Amunikoro; Globacom’s chief commercial director, Mr. Prabhat Aggarwal; the vice chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali and acting director, Advancement Centre, University of Ilorin, Dr. Jeleel Ojuade, when the principal officers of the University paid a courtesy call to Globacom’s corporate headquarters in Lagos on Tuesday.

MINT Board Sacks MD, EDs, Appoints New Boss

By WENESO OROGUN, Abuja

The long-expected shakeup at Nigeria’s currency printer, the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (the MINT) occurred yesterday as the company’s board, chaired by the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emiefele, dissolved the MINT’s executive management committee and named Mr. Joseph Ugbo as new substantive managing director.

A statement by company secretary/legal adviser of the MINT, Lawal Adamu, said the board directed the erstwhile acting managing director/chief executive officer, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamali; director of finance, Alhaji Ibrahim Babayo and director of operations, Alhaji Muhammodu Gambo, to retire with effect from September 1, 2014. The statement also announced the appointment of an executive director in charge of finance and strategy, Alhaji Abbas Umar Masanawa, a former special assistant to Emefiele and a former

deputy general manager of Zenith Bank.

“These changes are in line with the new strategic direction of the company aimed at repositioning the NSPM Plc as an efficient and profit-oriented company that would serve, not only the banknote and security printing needs of our country but also those of the West African subregion”, the statement read.

LEADERSHIP had reported on July 7, 2014, that the planned shake-up at the MINT was predicated on alarming records of dwindling performance confirmed by an 85 per cent decline in profit after tax between 2009 and 2012.

Audited accounts obtained

by LEADERSHIP confirmed that profit dropped from N3.711billion in 2009 to N1.562billion in 2010. The figure increased to N2.128billion in 2011 but declined again in 2012 to NN1.040billion. The company made a loss of N215million in 2013.

Also, since 2009, turnover at the MINT has nose-dived from N32.6billion in 2009 to less than N20billion in 2013.

LEADERSHIP learnt that the MINT’s woes stem partly from bloated overheads following introduction of a new corporate structure in 2009. The new organogram featured one managing director/chief executive officer, four executive directors, seven general managers and 17 assistant general managers.

This contrasts with one managing director/chief executive, four general managers and 13 assistant general managers before the new corporate structure.

Also, there was bickering among directors as they tried to outdo each other to grab the job of managing director as Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamali had served in acting capacity for 18 months without being confirmed. Also, LEADERSHIP reported that the MINT’s board had not been properly constituted for years.

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/business

Not every movement is progress; Some movements are just a way of burning fats!

― Israelmore Ayivor

16/ BUSINESS NEWS

August 29, 2014

Why Aviation Fuel Is Costly In Nigeria- AON

By NKEM Osuagwu, Lagos

Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has called on the federal government to revive the Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) at Warri refinery and the pipeline–hydrant system that supplies aviation fuel to the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos as part of measures to bring down the cost of aviation fuel in Nigeria.

AON chairman, Captain Nogie Meggison, made the call while speaking to journalists in Lagos yesterday on the soaring cost of aviation fuel, which is sold between N160 to N170 per litre by oil marketers in Nigeria.

He said most airline operators in Nigeria spent about

40 per cent of their operation costs on aviation fuel, adding that sometimes it goes beyond 40 per cent on aviation fuel alone.

He said the federal government could intervene in the issue by reviving the Warri refinery, Atlas Cove and Mosemi pipelines –hydrant system used to supply aviation fuel, arguing that the pipelines that supplied aviation fuel to the airport before it was shut down by the late General Sani Abacha led military regime in January 1996, were fully functional.

Meggison said before the pipelines were shut down in 1996, aircraft use the aviation fuel hydrant at the Murtala Muhammed Airport and that no truck supplied fuel to

the airport from the port rather fuel was pumped through pipelines from Atlas Cove and Mosimi.

He urged the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to look into the possibility of reviving the pipelines, which obviously must have become rusty and corroded having been abandoned for about 18 years.

According to him, NNPC needs to revive the pipelines so that airlines could get cheaper and cleaner aviation fuel.

He pointed out that one of the causes of high cost of aviation fuel was the cumbersome chain of distribution and supply it has to pass through before getting to airline operators.

He listed other reasons to include: cost of importing fuel, delay at seaport which translate into high demurrage paid by oil marketers, cumbersome and dramatic process of loading at the Apapa port and inefficient transportation of the product by road from the Apapa port to the Joint Users Hydrant Installation (JUHI) at the airport.

The chairman said that some of the marketers he spoke to on the issue said their vessels get delayed for about two weeks to dock at the seaport and the cost to them is as much as $20,000 paid as demurrage on the product per day while products are on the sea.

Gypsum Equipment To Be Duty Free

By Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja

The federal government has said it was ready to grant duty-free importation of equipment for the development of the gypsum resource.

In a statement obtained by LEADERSHIP Friday yesterday, the deputy director of press, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Ambrose Momoh, said the minister, Musa Mohammed Sada, disclosed this during his meeting with the management of Ojim Royal Investment and Property Limited and a foreign technical partner from Israel led by the chairman, Chukus Chilaka in Abuja on Tuesday.

Sada said, “I can assure you that if you are setting up a processing plant for gypsum resource, I can get you a duty- free import of all equipment you can bring into this country,” adding that “the government is ready to support any potential investor towards the development of the nation’s minerals and metals sector in line with the Industrial Revolution Plan of the present administration.”

He expressed the ministry’s level of preparedness to partner with both local and international investors to achieve backward integration policy to move the sector forward.

The minister revealed that currently the country has a reserve of 12.5 million metric tonnes of gypsum resource spread across different locations of the country with most mining operations carried out by artisanal and small- scale miners who had formed themselves into cooperative groups.

He explained that these cooperative groups were being coordinated by the department of ASM in the ministry and encouraged the delegation to partner with technical departments of the ministry for necessary support and assistance.

The minister further directed the permanent secretary in the ministry to set up a small technical group between the technical officers of the ministry and the delegation to brainstorm on the way forward.

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/business

Not every movement is progress; Some movements are just a way of burning fats!

― Israelmore Ayivor

MARITIME /17

August 29, 2014

How Customs Foiled Importation Of Expired Drugs Into Nigeria Due diligence and careful observation of international trade rules by the PTML command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has helped to foil a deliberate importation of a container load of expired drugs into Nigeria from the United States of America (USA).

A non-governmental organisation, name withheld by the Customs, had provided the list of the drugs it was importing from the USA, all with expiration dates not earlier than 2015 on the basis for which it got approval from National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The approval was addressed to one Dr. Kelechi Mezu-Nnabuo, medical mission’s director of Mezu Foundation International located in Maryland, USA, meaning he has an NGO, and used it to bring drugs into the country.

But on careful observation of the products when they arrived the PTML terminal by the Customs, it was discovered that all the drugs have expired in 2011, 2012 and with the latest expiration year as 2014.

The 40ft container that brought the drugs also contained hospital equipment, including intravenous fluids, imported into the country as donations from a non- governmental organisation in the US. Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command, Mr. Folurunsho Adegoke, told journalists at the port on Monday, that the importer declared the goods as personal effects, but were discovered to contain large quantity of various kinds of drugs and other hospital laboratory equipment during examination.

While handing over the consignment to the director, ports inspection directorate of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs. Maureen Ebigbeyi, the CAC noted that the importer had approval for waiver with a caveat that the drugs must have at least six months shelf life.

“But the drugs have expired. Some expired in 2011, a few others expired in April 2012 and some in April 2014.

If these drugs were allowed to go out, it would be harmful to people, hence we seized them and now hand over to NAFDAC, the appropriate authority,” Adegoke said.

Ebigbeyi commended the Customs for its vigilance, noting that the importer would have succeeded in moving the drugs to citizens if the Customs were not painstaking in its operations, especially as the goods were declared as personal effect.

Lagos Seaport

NAGAFF Alleges Frustration Of International Trade By SON Stories By Samson Echenim, Lagos

National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has called the attention of the presidency, the Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to the activities of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), alleging that the agency is frustrating trade by arresting containers, which have already been cleared by the Customs at the port, on the road.

The group has forwarded a letter to this effect, to the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) and copied the Presidency, the Senate President and the Customs Comptroller -General (CGC), among others, stressing the need for their urgent intervention, to prevent SON, from “ruining the trade” further.

In a statement issued by NAGAFF in Lagos recently and signed by the association’s national deputy president, Mr. Ugochukwu Nnadi, the freight forwarders said, “We have noted, based on reports and complaints from the practising freight forwarders, that the enforcement unit of the SON, over time, has laid siege and thereby arresting containers

within the city roads of Lagos State, Nigeria.”

The federal government had in August 2011 directed some government agencies including SON to operate from outside the ports and only be invited by the Customs if they suspect any particular import.

“It is very surprising that they are arresting containers on our city roads most times late in the night with a team of Police officers rather than following the rule.

Whereas we shall continue to push for rule of law, the immediate problem has to do with security of cargo and persons because there are several cases of container theft and hijacking by unknown armed men in Lagos State,, Ugochukwu said.

He further warned that except something was urgently done, hoodlums might take advantage of the SON alleged wrong operation to begin to snatch containers at late hours.

The body called on NSC, as an economic regulator, to act fast.

“In all these, Section 23 is very specific that the Council may make rules, not inconsistent with this Act for general and efficient conduct of the functions of the

Organisation.

“Whereas it is not our intention to join issues at the moment with SON enforcement unit, as a commercial regulator in our maritime trade and transportation, we want to state that their action is in breach of international trade protocol and practices with its cost implications on cargo in Nigeria.

“It beats one’s imagination how the Enforcement Unit of SON can on their own break the rule by using Police to arrest containers on city high ways of Lagos.

“It is funny and more embarrassing that this seeming illegality is only at the Western Zone of Nigeria because they are not found in North West of Jibiya Border of Katsina State and South Eastern Ports/ Border locations. Our members who have consistently been on the receiving end of this act of illegality and impunity may be forced to seek redress in court if this does not stop forthwith.

“We may be tempted to consider this illegal act as an act of sabotage against the ongoing transformation programme of Mr. President which is predicated on rule of law and development.”

Nigeria Shipyard: NIMASA Refusing Input From Local Marine Experts – MENA The Marine and Naval Architecture (MENA) wing of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has faulted the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s (NIMASA) approach to the building of a shipyard at Okerekoko village in Delta State, stating that the agency has continued to snub local experts who could help to drive the project to success.

MENA’s chairman, Engr. Dominic Onabajo, who berated NIMASA for its nonpatronage and involvement of Nigerian marine architects and engineers in the country’s shipyard building plan, also expressed fears over the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University as well as the creation of maritime courses in some existing universities in country by the

agency noting that there is no manpower to handle the training.

Onabajo, who spoke at the 3rd annual conference and annual general meeting of the group in Lagos, alleged that the group was being snubbed by the director -general of NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi on efforts to make its inputs in the ship building project.

If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. Antoine de Saint-Exupery, fresh writer and aviatorny

18/ TOURISM

August 29, 2014

Ebola: Hospitality Industries Step Up Awareness

L-R: The head of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for Sokoto and Zamfara States , Alhaji Abba Adamu Bauchi; director of Essential Services, National Crafts Development Centre (NCAC), Mr Hilary Ogbechie and head of NCAC, Sokoto Zonal office, Hajiya Binta Maccido, at the commissioning of NCAC in Sokoto State recently. PHOTO BY CHIKA OKEKE

Craft Centres: Key To Job Creation, Empowerment Stories By Chika Okeke, Abuja

From time immemorial, hand crafts have played vital role not only in preservation of a society’s cultural heritage but in sustaining the economic development of a country.

However, the recent commissioning of National Crafts Development Centre in Sokoto built by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) was one of the major steps aimed at expanding the frontier of the crafts’ industry as big business in Nigeria.

Located at Garba Duba road by Mairuwa roundabout Sokoto, the Centre was established to serve as an avenue for training and retraining of craftsmen and women on indigenous technology centre as well as a medium for poverty alleviation, youth empowerment and wealth creation.

It is expected to curb rural-urban drifts and improve domestic revenue of the country as craftsmen would produce crafts in leather design, pottery, wood carvings, textiles, fibre glass designs, decorative items and among others in large quantities for local consumption and export with the support of the federal government.

In his address at the event, executive director of NCAC, Mwajim Malgwi Maidugu, said the essence of establishing the centre was in fulfillment of NCAC’s vision at using cultural resources to contribute to job creation, social integration and economic empowerment in line with President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda.

Represented by director of Essential Services NCAC, Mr Hilary Ogbechie, Maidugu noted that since Sokoto state was renowned for leather production, the centre would run skills acquisition training for SSCE holders as well as crafts shops that would provide tourists the opportunity to have a compendium of the local craftworks.

He said, “Since its located in the centre of the town with convergent of roads, it makes a good location and we are hoping that SSCE holders can learn a trade here and at the end, they will have gainful employment without depending on the government for employment.”

On ways of assisting indigenous craftsmen, he said, “NCAC wants to form a guild where craftsmen can get together, discuss issues affecting them and we will help them to improve by exposing them to Africa Arts and Craft, National Festival of Arts and Culture and other crafts exhibitions in other parts of the world.”

He was optimistic that the Centre would dwell more on perfect finishing and packaging of craftswork in a bid to make their products acceptable even in international market, saying that the formation of guilds and cooperatives would enable them access loans.

Also speaking, the Head of NCAC, Sokoto zonal office, Hajiya Binta Maccido, was hopeful that the Centre would serve as a facilitator in harnessing Sokoto cultural industries saying that she would liaise with federal government for effective training.

“I believe that with the establishment of this centre, it will be a springboard to harness our cultural industries because we have a lot of cultural industries in States like Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara that are into leather production, weaving, raffia, basket marking pottery, and gold smith.”

Macccido further disclosed that the centre would expand and form a modern factory where products would be produced in mass and exported to other countries.

On ways of enrolling craftsmen, she said, “We are hoping to liaise with the federal government, international organizations like UNESCO, state governments. Initially, we will take two practitioners from each of the industries on sample basis and train them free of charge. But once they realize the benefits, we can add a token fee that can be used to buy the training materials.”

On his part, deputy director, Ministry of Culture, Sokoto state, Bello Hammed, said that the state has been participating in various exhibitions such as NAFEST as well as dances and dramas, adding that they encourage artists and artisans for self reliance and job creation.

Also, the head of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in charge of Sokoto and Zamfara States, Alhaji Abba Adamu Bauchi, commended NCAC for its laudable achievement even as he promised to collaborate in ensuring that the crafts produced was of good standard.

In view of the current outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Nigeria, stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industries have taken additional measures to ensure the safety of guests by increasing increased awareness and collaboration with Ministry of Health.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP, the public relations manager of Sheraton Hotel Abuja, Ms Nanji Tyem, admitted that Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Nigerian owners of Sheraton Hotels and Le Meridien, were opened for normal business, but that they have taken additional steps to protect their numerous guests by retraining their staff and increasing sanitation.

“Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Nigeria have taken steps at five area properties to protect the safety and well-being of our guests and associates, including additional training and increased sanitary procedures.

She revealed that Starwood was collaborating with the Ministry of Health and has invested significantly in the safety of guests in response to pandemic threats, including coronavirus, influenza and ebola.

She said, “We have implemented specific training, protocols and procedures throughout our hotels to ensure that they are maintained at the highest standards of hygiene, following the recommendations of the World Health Organization and local health authorities. Our hotels are also collaborating closely with Nigerian national authorities for additional advice and support.”

On his part, the public relation and marketing manager of Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Mr Shola Adeyemo, said that Transcorp Hilton was fully open for normal business activities and vigilant despite the fear the outbreak would create on inbound International travelers to the country.

At AES Luxury Apartment Jabi, LEADERSHIP observed that hand sanitisers were mounted at the entry and exit points of the hotel to help clients keep their hands clean.

Attempts made to speak with the general manager proved abortive as he declined to comment on the issue.

NCMM Requests Stakeholders’ Support On Preservation Of Heritage The director-general, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman, has solicited the support of stakeholders for the preservation of Nigeria’s heritage and monuments in order to create an outstanding legacy for the future generations.

In an interview with LEADERSHIP in Abuja, Usman encouraged telecom operators in the country to partner with the Commission by printing the logos of national monuments on their recharge cards, adding that teachers should be encouraged on the use of heritage resources as teaching aids.

“Giant organizations such as GLO, MTN, ETISALAT, AIRTEL and others could use our monuments for their logos in the form of rebranding their products and put them on their recharge cards while some funds are remitted annually for the maintenance of the adopted monuments.”

While recommending for inventory of educational institutions, he suggested that a conservation management plan should be developed for the seven oldest identified educational institutions in the country in order to assist in their preservation.

“The NCMM should encourage proper inventory of educational institutions in collaboration with federal and states ministries of education to have a compendium of educational institutions in Nigeria. A conservation management plan should be developed for the seven identified oldest educational institutions to assist in the preservation of this legacy.

“There should be regular meeting between NCMM and these institutions to avoid distortions of these structures while heritage clubs should be formed in secondary schools and tertiary institutions to act as vanguard for the promotion of heritage resources which are vital for national development.”

The system will always be defended by those countless people who have enough intellect to defend but not quite enough to innovate.

Edward de Bono, Maltese physician, author, inventor and consultant.

AGRICULTURE /19

August 29, 2014

AgriC REPORT Some silos, tractors and mini harvesters at the launch of the commissioning and flag off of the AEHE in Shedda, Abuja recently, Photo by Ruth Tene Natsa

Nigeria Begins Its Agric Revolution Through Mechanisation The Nigerian agricultural sector is being revolutionised. Ruth Tene Natsa writes on the new Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprise (AEHE) under the private sector programme of the federal ministry of agriculture and rural development.

Our food import bill has declined from N1.1 trillion ($ 6.9 billion) in 2009 to N 684.7 billion ($4.35 billion)

by December 2013 and continues to decline in 2014

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines revolution as any change or reversal of conditions. It is also defined as transformation, conversion, development and change among others. This definition is what best suits the recent changes currently ongoing in the nation’s agricultural sector.

The Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises(AEHE), a private sector driven programme by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is a strategy by the ministry to provide farm mechanisation services to Nigerian farmers.

Such services include leasing/ hiring out of various kinds of agricultural equipment for land preparation, harvesting and post harvesting, repair and maintenance of equipment, among others.

The Ministry disclosed that the AEHE model is aimed at providing agricultural services and serving small-holder farmers with poor resource base to own tractors, eliminate poor maintenance culture of farm equipment, and inability of real farmers to access government subsidized tractors. The scheme is available

to individual farmers, farmers cooperatives, commercial farmers and corporate organizations among others.

The refinancing of the AEHE is broken into four parts, which include federal government 35%, financial institutions 35%, vendors/manufacturers 10% and SPOs equity at 20%.

At the commissioning of the 100,000-metric tonne silos and flag-off of the AEHE in Abuja recently, farmers were optimistic Nigeria was set to be, not just a major provider of agricultural services in today’s world, but is set to sufficiently provide the agricultural needs of the Nigerian nation while becoming a major world contributor to food supply and contributing highly to the world food needs.

Representing Nigerian farmers at the event, Sarkin Noma Zamfara state, Hassan Mohammed Kwazo, recalled that the Nigerian agricultural sector is going through a change that had never been witnessed before. He said, “Twenty nine years ago, farmers had no knowledge of their rights and worked using manual tools until the recent implementation of the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) by President Jonathan’s government, which allowed them access to farm inputs and better profits yields” The Sarkin Noma (farmers king) said if local production and patronage is encouraged, there will not be any need for any form of food importation, but rather

Nigeria will begin exporting.

He said, “In Zamfara state alone farmers can fill up the 1.3 million capacity silo launched.”

Also the president, Tractor Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria (TOOAN), Engineer Bitrus Elesa, said that the AEHE is key to the development of agriculture.

He said “The success of the project will be determined by the readiness of government to give the needed support of 20% of 45.5 billion naira annually to the project, producing indigenous modern farm equipment for better and easier maintenance while ensuring that financial institutions come to the support of farmers towards ensuring better funding among others.”

The minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adeshina in his welcome remarks said smallholder farmers in the country are witnessing a refreshing new dawn. “Our food import bill has declined from N1.1 trillion ($ 6.9 billion) in 2009 to N 684.7 billion ($4.35 billion) by December 2013 and continues to decline in 2014.”

However, he pointed out that despite the gains, there is a low level mechanisation which AEHE will address. He argued that if our farmers could produce an additional 21 million metric tonnes of food between 2012 and 2014, without tractors or mechanised equipment, they will definitely feed the world if they have a fully mechanised agricultural system.

Agric Ministry To Partner Nestle Nigeria On High Energy Foods

by Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja

The minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has pledged the readiness of his ministry to partner with Nestle Nigeria and others in the production of high energy foods.

In a statement to LEADERSHIP, signed by the director of press in the Ministry, Tony Ohiare, the Minister said the Ministry is presently working on bio-fortification of special cassava variety that has Vitamin A. He said that it is no just producing food but nutritious food.

The Minister explained that the private sector must be the driver of the agricultural transformation revolution.

He said it was impressive to note that Nestle materials of production were sourced locally and therefore encouraged the company to always patronise Nigerian farmers with a view to creating markets for their produce.

Adesina, who was touring Nestle Nigeria’s factory at Agbara Industrial Estate, Ogun State, last Friday, disclosed that the value chains were designed to address the challenges in agriculture having realised the fact that the sector would be the biggest money spinner in Nigeria. He said power, water and roads are some of the challenges facing agri-business in Nigeria, but assured of government’s commitment towards addressing the issues.

He disclosed that one million metric tonnes of sorghum would be produced annually, while 800 million metric tonnes of cocoa would be produced in 2015. He urged cocoa farmers not to only export the produce but to also think of processing it so as to add value, adding that the market value of cocoa products stand at $80 billion.

In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nestle Nigeria, Mr. Dharnesh Gordhon, reiterated the need for government and the private sector to work together.

“If you want to go fast, we must go together,” he said.

20/ tax f0cus

August 29, 2014

Tax Implications Of Change In Accounting Date tax in focus

Different and sometimes challenging business decisions can force companies to change their accounting dates. Sometimes regulatory pronouncements such as that issued to banks post consolidation to have a uniform year end was anevent which saw all banks in one fell swoop change their different accounting dates to December.

While some companies have adopted calendar years, some others use fiscal years, which method is adopted is subject to tax implications.

Whereas in the US the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) must give permission for companies to change their accounting dates especially to tackle tax avoidance, and may take as much as 10 years to effect another change in some cases,it is not yet so in Nigeria, an area which should be addressed.

However, a lot of companies still do not know that there are tax implications to change of dates in their accounting period beyond the approval they get from their shareholders to do so. The FIRS being aware of different methods applied by tax consultants and tax officers in the treatment of changes in accounting dates, with each method yielding different results in under-assessment or incorrect assessments levied on taxpayersissued a circular in February 2006 as a guide to officers who have responsibility for filing and assessment duties, and those who may be required, as a matter of duty to carry out preliminary reviews on tax returns submitted by companies as well as officers vested with audit responsibilities, who from time to time will come across cases of change in accounting dates in the course of their audit assignment.

Changes in Accounting Dates There are a number of reasons why a business may wish to change its accounting date and these reasons may include: The need to i) synchronize the accounting date of a subsidiary with that of the holding company. ii) The convenience of stock taking at a particular period of the year. iii) A business may take over the operation of another and as a result wish to change the accounting date of the company taken over to that of its own.

Where a change in accounting date takes place, be it a sole trader, partnership

or a limited liability company, the provisions of section 29(4) of the CAP 21 LFN of 2004 will apply. The Act provides that the Tax Authorities have the power to decide the basis of computing the tax liability for the year in which the change occurs and the two following years of assessment.

As should be expected, the tax official will base his decision on the best advantage to the tax authority. It is important to note that the three relevant years to be considered are: The assessment year i) in which the accounting date becomes different from the date of the earlier years. This is known as the year when the change occurred. ii) The next two years of assessment following that in which the change occurred.

In practice, calculations are made on both the old and new dates. The greater of these two aggregates will be the likely choice of the revenue authority.

Years Involved in the Tax Computations Whenever a request for a change of accounting date has been approved, the company making the change shall be assessed to tax through a special process of determining the basis of assessment. This process requires computations for three relevant years.

Where the year of cessation is involved (ultimate year) in these three relevant years, the request for a change shall not be approved. However, where the year immediately before the year of cessation (penultimate year) is involved in these three relevant years, the request may be approved by the FIRS, depending on other evidences before it.

Assessment Procedure on Change of Accounting Date For an on-going business, current assessment is based on preceding year basis. But whenever there is a change of accounting date, a normal accounting period may not have ended in the year of change. This is so because when there is a change of accounting date, it is either that an account is prepared for more than twelve months to the new accounting date or even less than twelve months to the new accounting year end. The FIRS will often adopt the following procedures to determine the assessments for the three relevant years: Identifying the first i) year in which the business has failed to make up the accounts to its usual accounting date.

ii) Identifying the two years immediately following the year of failure. iii) Computing assessable profit for the three relevant years based on the old accounting date (on preceding year basis). iv) Computing assessable profit for the three relevant

years based on the new accounting date (on preceding year basis). v) Adding up the assessable profits for the three years in (iii) and (iv) above separately. vi) Selecting the higher of the two profits added up in (v) above.

Acting chairman, FIRS, Kabiru Mashi

Illustrations Example 1: Julius Blake Nigeria Limited has been in business for many years. It has for a long time prepared its annual accounts up to 30th April. In 1996, it decided to change its accounting date to 31st October. Available figures showed its adjusted profits as follows:

N (No. of Months) Year ended 30/4/1995 450,000 12 Period ended 31/10/1996 830,000 18 Year ended 31/10/1997 590,000 12 Year ended 31/10/1998 600,000 12 You are required to compute the correct assessments for all the relevant years in the light of the change in accounting date.

Solution: JULIUS BLAKE NIGERIA LIMITED COMPUTATION OF ASSESSMENT Note: The last account submitted before the change was 30th April 1995, therefore, the year of change is 1996.

The three relevant years are therefore 1996, 1997 and 1998. a) Original Assessments (Based on old accounting date of 30th April)

Year of Assessment Basis Period Assessment

1996 P: Y. B (1/5/94-30/4/95) N450, 000 ________________________________________________________________________________ 1997 1/5/95 – 30/4/95 12/18 x 830,000 N553, 333 ________________________________________________________________________________ 1998 1/5/96 – 30/4/97

(6/18 x 830,000) + (6/12 x 590,000) N571, 667 ________________________________________________________________________________ b) Assessment based on 31st October

Year of Assessment Basis Period

Assessment

1996 1/11/94 – 31/10/95

(1/11/94-30/4/95) + (1/5/95-31/10/95)

(6/12 x 450,000) + 6/18 x 830,000) N501, 667 ________________________________________________________________________________ 1997 P.Y.B. to 31/10/96 1/11/95 – 31/10/96 12/18 x 830,000 N553, 333 ________________________________________________________________________________

1998 P.Y.B. to 31/10/97 N590, 000 ________________________________________________________________________________ c) Summary of Assessments

Year Old date of new date of 30th April 31st October

N N

1996 450,000

501,667

1997 553,333

553,333

1998 571,667

590,000 1,575,000 1,645,000

Conclusion: The Revenue Service will choose to raise assessments on the basis of the new accounting date as it results in greater assessment.

August 29, 2014

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August 29, 2014

THE

ELECTABLES On August 30th, 2014

Who

Makes The List?

The best among Nigeria’s politicians; the best among those who aspire for political and elective office; the most popular candidates; the traiblazers; Nigeria ‘s most presentable candidates and those who have the vision and sense of mission to lead.

This is a must read!

A

SPECIAL PROJECTS PUBLI CATION

INTERVIEW /23

August 29, 2014

Government Needs To Partake More In Medical Research – NEIMETH Boss

Amidst the panic the Ebola outbreak has caused all over the country, two weeks ago, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc, launched a sanitiser, ‘Nigerian Complete Protection (NCP)’, which it says could help preventing thespread of the deadly virus. In this encounter with WINIFRED OGBEBO, the managing director/ chief executive officer of the pharmaceutical company, Emmanuel Ekunno, talks more on the product and its importance.

When did you start processing this product?

We started the NCP Handicap processing about six months ago. The product has been there, in different sizes; 200ml, 600ml, 50ml and 25ml. We have been working on it for the last six months; it was only launched at about the same when the Ebola thing broke virus broke out.

We need to know more about this product; what is it all about?

First of all, we are not promoting any product. It just happened that we need these products as a means of curbing the transmission of the diseases. Today, it is Ebola; tomorrow it might be another thing. Like you saw in the accompanying material [of the product], hand washing, both habitual and regular, have been shown as effective (as much as 60 to 70 per cent) ways of reducing the transmission of diseases. So, it’s not really about the product but about teaching Nigerians that conscious act of regularly washing their hands before and after toilet, and after shaking or touching anyone.

Would these products have to be certified by the WHO?

The product is NAFDAC registered and credible. It has four constituents, among which are phenol, halogenated phenol and chlorine. Chlorine, which is used to purify water, is a halogen. Phenol was the first anti-bacterial and disinfectant that came out. This product contains phenol and, you know when substances are halogenated in chemistry, it increases the anti-microbial effect, what we call synergy. Phenolic compounds have the ability to penetrate virus. We are not saying that it is a cure for Ebola or any virus; we are saying that having washed your hand, you can apply it.

You can’t find expensive hand sanitisers which contain alcohol. Alcohol is a hand-sanitiser for two reasons; it comes in handy as a component in cosmetics

and it can dry faster. That ability to dry faster serves as an advantage. Bacteria or virus need more contact time for the anti-viral or anti-bacterial to work. By drying faster, it reduces that time. Secondly, it leaves a residue which, in turn, leaves a coupon on your hand and keeps working for a while. That is what it’s all about.

You are saying this is as good as a sanitiser?

We have alcohol-based sanitisers which are imported and, therefore, expensive.

This is made in Nigeria and the point is that, if you buy this product, you will help to keep the foreign exchange at bay. From the point of view of foreign exchange, capital flight, creating jobs and credibility, we think it is superior to hand sanitisers.

What are companies like yours doing about developing experimental drugs to tackle Ebola?

First of all, know that we are the only company that is talking about this. No other company is talking about this. It’s not that we are ready; only that opportunity met preparation. So, the issue of the virus is a very difficult one, because it keeps changing. When they (the virus) keeps mutating, it keeps changing rapidly. So, it is difficult to get drugs for them. In terms of extensive research, I do not know if any company in Nigeria is doing anything about that. However, since necessity is the mother of inventions, I believe everybody will be working on it. Did you read the results of the research conducted by Professor Maurice Iwu on bitter kola? It is a fact that the active ingredients of bitter kola have been proved to have anti-viral properties. In terms of cure, it takes a lot of money and we need the government to help out in that regard. The government needs to partake more in medical research.

Ekunno Some years ago, the Bank of Industry, in collaboration with NAFDAC, promised to give a certain amount as intervention fund to pharmaceutical industries. Is that plan still operational?

The Bank of Industry is a very good one.

They promised to help provide equipment and working capital. They did well with their statement and, later, when we went back to them to say that we didn’t have working capital, they did not award any money for research. Research is a very long rope. Neimeth is one of the pharmaceutical companies and I’m yet to see any company that is into Research and Development (R&D) like them. Remember, we have Siclagit – a sickle cell drug that is made from African beans.

It has received international recognition and I think that, about five years ago, Nigeria got recognition from the WHO. It has been clinically tested for sickle cell.

Back to your question, the Bank of Industry does not give money for research and development, because it is a long, lonely range. You can start with 20 promising products, but at the end of the day, you will get one or even nothing.

Recently, the WHO certified some pharmaceutical companies; was Neimeth part of it?

No, you know you have first, second or third in an examination. But if you become fourth or third, there is an advantage; you learn [from it]. You will spend more, have upgraded facilities, improve your data and documentation and make them of international standard, all so that you can play in the international market.

As for being on the list, we are not there but we are preparing. In the next

A fool may earn money, but it takes a wise man to keep it.

— English Proverb

This product contains phenol and, you know when substances are halogenated in chemistry, it increases the antimicrobial effect, what we call synergy. Phenolic compounds have the ability to penetrate virus few weeks, some of the companies that have done very well will be recognised.

We congratulate them. We are in the second list and after that, there are others who are on the third list and the fourth, just like that. I promise you, we won’t come last.

What role do you see our pharmaceutical companies playing in the global drug market?

This WHO certification and pre-qualification means that if you want to buy an anti-retroviral or anti-malarial drug, instead of going to [seek out a company in] India, you will have to give the contract to a company which has qualification. That is global thinking and that is what this whole thing is about.

If you are qualified, when they bring the money, we don’t have people to buy from. Now, we have one or two companies that are certified and they will buy from us. If they buy from those companies, it is still Nigerian. The money will flow down into our economy and the economy will further be revived.

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August 29, 2014

Bernard Okhakume MC & A Weekly Digest market consumer advertising 08053040003

mcaandadigestweekly@gmail.com

At this preliminary stage, nothing is agreed until it is agreed. It is only when the scamps are passed for appropriateness of thought and expression the creative team go on to finishing, in preparation for creative review, preparatory to agency presentation to the client.

The process of progressing from scamps to finishing involves the use of the computer with all the software in aiding beauty and exactitude. Then we had the airbrush machine, the pantone color markers, pencils, cardboard papers, water color sets and erasers as basic work tools for the visual artist (in addition to other quite strange materials they some time require then, depending on the assignment and objective).

Those were days that really tasked creative thinking and visual arts. I remember how my colleagues in the creative department manually produced storyboard for television commercial by use of hand. Then we had wild strokes strong and expressive of great thinking. There was no short cut in the creative process.

We dare say brands gained more from that OLD SCHOOL than what obtains today.

In the first place, change crept in but

unfortunately met with laziness and desire for short cut, undermining natural talent. All kinds of things happen today in the average advertising agency that amounts to die-service to brands and the creative process as we started out with. In fact, it is so bad today, that some people who are not artists by nature and by training, bow function as creative artist because all sorts of software is now available for work. Consequently hustlers quickly get computer use skills with a bent for application of tools for visual arts and there we go, as creative artists.

It is exactly same reason all sorts of thing now pass for music: laziness and fast means to success. The entire system and process gets corrupted because nobody wants to go through the hard road. Most of the creative materials in advert materials today are lacking in deep thinking, awkward in expression and constitutes noise in the use of words and picture in the communication for brands. Just as anything sells for music in this market today, anything sells for advertising, leaving the brands compromised, the target audience confused and throwing negativity in the brand build-

Brands And Visual Artists

ing process.

In 2012, we shall step up this critical analysis to include analyzing campaign materials with special attention on concept and finishing. We know there are a few advertising Agencies out there who appreciates the true process and can rekindle the ‘old school’ pattern if the rules are strengthened for guidance. Unfortunately the clients are also not too

strong in appreciation of creative products. But as mentioned above, next year, we shall concern ourselves with playing up the rules with a view to cleaning up the stains.

Change is good and constant, but its implication is only as good as it is expressed. ➔ CONCLUDED

Agbaji Chinedu business 1:0:1 Agrobusiness with Agbaji Chinedu 08035004617

Agriculture should be seen more and more a business opportunity. Agriculture is widespread and many people might take to this sector with a modern, business mind.Agriculture is not for poor people, not for uneducated people, it is for the new generation educated people, with interests in villages, rural areas and in exploiting the full potential of the land resources, deploys new business techniques, to identify markets and produce with an assured market.

Agro input shop makes it possible for availability, accessibility and affordability of agricultural inputs such as fertilizer, agrochemicals, quality seeds, livestock feeds, veterinary drugs, tractor hiring, primary processing and extension services are available for farmers to purchase. Both in the rural areas and in cities.it is a growing business opportunities that Government herself is interested in by establishing and commissioning of One-Stop-Shop Agro-inputs Centre to promote food security programs which is the major focus of the Federal Government in pursuance of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of Mr. President.

PROFITABLITIES OF AGRO INPUT ENTERPRISE

Agbaji@yahoo.com

It is a profitable business venture to venture because of high demand of agro input by farmers, without farm input there will be output, it provides mechanization services to farmers. This is a business one can start with little capital base but it will turn out to be a big venture in a short while,espcialy now that federal government has direct the Central Bank of Nigeria to set aside N50 billion mechanization intervention fund. “This support fund will allow and speed up the full establishment of 1200 private sector driven agricultural equipment hiring enterprises across all states of the federation, this is because of demand for high yield agro inputs and services etc. Most agro input company prefers middle men (shops) to deal with rather than farmers who are the direct consumers of their products.

OPPORTUINTIES Agrochemical (or agrichemical), is a term for the various chemical products used in agriculture. In most cases, agrichemical refers to the broad range of pesticides, such as the herbicides (weed killers), animal food additives, veterinary drugs, and related compounds, which have become absolute-

Agroinput Enterprise ly integral to the production of large-scale agriculture. There are wild reneges of them one can deal on and make good retune on investment.

Seed: Seeds are one of the least expensive but most important factors influencing yield potential. Crop seeds contain all the genetic information to determine yield potential, adaptation to environmental conditions, and resistance to insect pests and disease.

Fertilizer: This plant nutrients, Nutrients existing naturally in the soil, atmosphere, and in animal manure. However, naturally occurring nutrients are not always available in the quantities needed. So we add to them by applying fertilizer, to make plants grow to their maximum potential.Fertilisers can be classified into two categories: organic or inorganic.

Equipment Hiring Enterprise: Such as tractors, harvesters, planters, and other agro related equipment.

Farm Extension services: Agricultural extension officers are intermediaries between research and farmers. They operate as facilitators and communicators, helping farmers in their decision-making and en-

After a rich man gets rich, his next ambition is to get richer. ― American proverb

suring that appropriate knowledge is implemented to obtain the best results.ie Agribusiness consultants. For example on natural resources, animals, crops, on how best to utilize the farmland, how to construct proper irrigation schemes, economic use and storage of water, how to combat animal disease, and save on the cost of farming equipment and procedures,marketing,livestocks farming such as snail,grasscutter,Antelop etc.

Animal feeds and additives: Animal feed is food given to domestic animals in the course of animal husbandry. There are two basic types, fodder and forage. And additives used to promote and improve in livestock’s. These additives could be fattener i.e. gives livestock’s weight. There are others use in poultry that is called odor control.

Financing: you can access agricultural loan from Bank of Agriculture and other commercial banks Be part of YOUTH IN AGRIBUSINESS INITIATIVE for job and wealth creation and food security in Nigeria. Latest agribusiness Information and opportunities are available through business consultancy services.

Manual and VCD on Snail and Grasscutter farming are available.

August 29, 2014

Your Entertainment and Lifestyle Guide

Davido Vs WizKid Battle For Popularity, Ego War Or Juvenile Petulance?

Getting money is like digging with a needle. Spending it is like water soaking into the sand.

ESSENTIALS PLAYLIST

razak’s diary Tattles ― Japanese Proverb

26

STARTERS

August 29, 2014

Top 10 Movies August 15-25, 2014 1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Weekend Gross $28,523,147 Gross To Date $117,765,383 2. Guardians of the Galaxy Weekend Gross: $25,115,564 Gross To Date: $222,661,385 3. Let’s Be Cops Weekend Gross: $17,813,722 Gross To Date: $26,220,986 4. The Expendables

Weekend Gross: $15,879,645 Gross To Date: $15,879,645 5.The Giver Weekend Gross: $12,305,016 Gross To Date: $12,305,016 6. Into the Storm Weekend Gross: $7,892,239 Gross To Date: $31,513,675 7. The Hundred-foot Journey Weekend Gross: $7,176,092 Gross To Date: $23,686,223

8. Lucy Weekend Gross: $5,493,685 Gross To Date: $107,713,190 9. Step Up All In Weekend Gross: $2,659,026 Gross To Date: $11,808,362 10. Hercules Weekend Gross: $2,127,874 Gross To Date: $68,169,096 fridayleadership@leadership.ng follow us on Twitter @essentialsng

one TO WATCH

Essentials Playlist With

Top 10 Music Producers In Nigeria Faze – Your Daughter After a five-year hiatus from the music scene, Faze returns with Your Daughter , a banging Afropop number with hard-hitting instrumentals where he extols the qualities of an omo mummy with vocal finesse. Quite a decent offering for a come-back.

Tekno & B-Red – Shoki Shoki has become, undoubtedly, a trend in the industry and in an applaudable collaborative effort by Triple MG and HKN Gang, music starlets Tekno and B-Red took turns to deliver their takes on the track produced by Selebobo.

Reminisce – Tesojue Nothing gets you grooving like the sound of local kicks and 808s, mixed in with street slangs and a hook you cannot miss. Alaga Ibile presents Tesojue, his first official single for 2014. It is a certified street jam and will get you singing and gyrating in no time.

M.I – King James Jude 'M.I' Abaga broke his morethan-a-year-long silence with the release of King James. He reintroduced himself on the most anticipated track, as Nigeria's ‘king of rap’ and then bragged about taking everything back, especially, his rightful place in the industry.

Skales – Give it to Me Skales has got a new lease of life and he is enjoying it to the full. His debut single, Give it to Me, under his new management company, Baseline Entertainment, is a classically unique fusion of Afro/Highlife and, since its release, has become the fans’ favourite.

Dammy Krane ft. Olamide – Love Na Die

Off of Dammy Krane’s debut album, The Enterkraner, comes this collaboration with street Hip-hop artiste Olamide. Love Na Die is not your typical AfroR&B song, because too many elements make it the beautiful song that it is. Clearly, Dammy Krane is pushing the limits.

Vector – Redefined Since the rap titan's reemergence on the music scene, he has refused to rest on his oars. He released Redefined in quick succession to Where is Vector (W.i.V)? Pretty much like W.i.V? The rap number is another one of his worthy brags.

Ketchup – Holy Mic Dancehall, really, is no genre for all comers, but Ketchup has found his silver lining there, since after Coco Banana with Banky W. So, in like manner, he has released Holy Mic, a street banger laced with the best of his reggae flows. This one is sure to get you dancing.

Durella ft. Toby & AJ'p – My Money Zanga king and Shayo master, Durella tries shaking things up a little with this collaboration with Toby and AJ'p. The result is not as strong as one would expect (even with him hollering in his signature high tenor about his mind, money and hustle).

Vector ft. Toolz & Waje – Shiga Following his previous releases, Vector follows up with Shiga, an indigenous track with rich local influences specially crafted for Naija's well moulded ladies.

While it features background vocals of Toolz and Waje, Vector shines on his lines and vocal dexterity. The fact that he chose the two ‘blessed’ ladies is also a fine point to consider.

Trophy Wife Though this show was cancelled after one season, it is still a show to look out for. This series revolves around Kate, a young, attractive, blonde party girl, who marries a professional middleaged lawyer named Pete. With the marriage comes Pete’s two ex-wives, the stern perfectionist Doctor Diane and the flaky, flambouyant new-age

Jackie, as well as Pete’s three children – over-achieving good girl Hillary, slacker Warren and adopted Asian-American son Bert. The series explores the marriage between Kate and Pete, their modern family dynamics, the ex-wives and their respective children. Michaela Watkins, Bailee Madison, Ryan Lee and Albert Tsai all star in this sit-com.

movie review The Day They Came Title The Day They Came Genre Short Film Director Genesis Williams Year 2013 The Day They Came is a mind-blowing movie, because it makes you wonder why no one harnessed talents like this and, if this was made with zero budget, what would an actual budget produce? The short film doesn’t have much of a story

to it. No. We all know that the concept of robotic aliens isn’t particularly novel.

This is just a sci-fi which showcases the ability of Nigerian CGI designers.

Notably, there were some unacceptable things in the short film (we see cars in flames without burning) but whatever error this work has is pardonable, considering that there was no budget.

— Reviewed by Innocent Ekejiuba of Nollysilverscreen.com

group EDITOR Lerato Miriam Umah REPORTERS Abisola Alawode, Patience Ivie Ihejirika DESIGN & LAYOUT Chukwudi J. Nwabueze, Iniobong Ekong

ACTING EDITOR Hassan Gimba Ahmed

Founder Sam Nda-Isaiah Chairman Hajiya Ireti Kingibe GRP MANAGING DIRECTOR Azubuike Ishiekwene GRP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Michael Okpere, Dr. Kazeem Durodoye

Your weekly ESSENTIALS is filled with exclusive interviews, amazing articles from guest columnists and contributors.

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August 29, 2014

‘My Songs Will Inspire All Nigerians’ Chukwuma E. Okenwa aka C.E.O, is a Nigerian artiste and promoter. He recently released a seventrack album about nation-building and how the youth should work towards making Nigeria a great nation. He speaks with ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM and ADERIBIGBE TOLULOPE. Some time ago, you mentioned that you were into value re-evaluation. Tell us about it.

That is the Values Project. Sometime ago, I observed that every aspect of our lives and the society in which we find ourselves attaches so much importance to rules, but cares far less about values; there is no corresponding reformation with the levels of rules we see everywhere. There are traffic rules, rules guiding schools, rules guiding different professions and a number of others.

Unfortunately, the society finds it quite difficult to conform to the value system. This is why I came up with the Values Project.

My objectives were sculpted by a number of questions about what kind of Nigeria our children grow up to live in and the sharp decline of patriotism. There are four instances when you see raw, unfeigned patriotism amongst Nigerians; during games involving any of the nation’s national teams, when our celebrities are making Nigeria proud, in our politics and when our colours are flown globally by our fellow citizens. But patriotism is beyond these things; integrally, being patriotic is obeying the laws of the nation.

Occasionally, we must ask ourselves how some of our actions impact on the nation, as ambassadors of our great nation. This is the crux, the concern of the VAP Project.

Essentials Taste

In your album there are seven tracks revolving around nation-building and patriotism. How did you come about these ideas which you wish to share with the public?

Actually, the idea stemmed from my search for better ways to reach out to a greater number of Nigerians with these values and music, which is a universal language. Before now, I had the opportunity to reaching out to NYSC members, youths in higher institutions and students in secondary schools. In all, I have written about four books.

Along the line, last year, to be exact, I asked myself how I can reach out to a greater number of Nigerians as soon as possible. So, I decided to do a song – I noticed that I can sing, as well – and set about recording the first track, Make Nigeria Great, which was the only song found fit to be played before the presidential speech during the 2013 Independent Day celebration. Also, it was broadcast on national television (AIT and NTA) and, I think, that gave the song a huge boost. It also got support from the Nigerian community in Canada, as they played the song when they celebrated Nigeria’s independence over there.

When I saw that, I got to thinking that I could also work on other songs for the nation.

A couple of other ideas popped into my head, to release a couple of songs which will come

in handy when the nation is preparing to host a national event. To be candid, I was not looking forward to coming out with an album along the line.

Since the release, what has the reception been like, especially from young Nigerians who rarely listen to these kind of songs?

It has been met with mixed feelings and I stand on the observation that Nigerians have lost interest and faith in this country.

It is unfortunate that, often, when you meet people and show them what you have done for the nation, they feel that you are wasting your time on a country that can never be good. Introducing the work to people has not been easy, but it is also an opportunity to tell people that Nigeria can be better.

Our young people do not listen to the local television; they prefer the social media (Youtube, Facebook and others). While we have a good number of people who still believe, the majority, including our young people, have lost faith.

What do you hope to achieve through this album?

I hope that when young Nigerians all over the world look at this, they can understand that a vital message is being passed through

By Patience Ivie Ihejirika

Cotton Seed Soup Ingredients 2 cups cotton seeds (with shafts removed) 2 smoked/dried fish 1kg meat 1 wrap iru (fermented locust beans) 1 small bunch spinach leaves 2 medium-sized fresh tomatoes 1 onion (sliced) 2 red bell peppers ground chilli pepper powder (to taste) 2 stock cubes 1/2cup palm oil salt (to taste) Direction Wash the seeds and soak in a bowl of water for some minutes.

Blend with onions, bell peppers and tomatoes, then turn into a bowl and mix with hot water.

Sieve the mixture and discard any lump. Turn the liquid into a pot and add the chilli powder, stock cubes, palm oil, iru, fish and meat and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for about 10minutes.

At this point, stir in the shredded greens. Season to taste with salt and cook for another five minutes, or until the greens wilt.

Serve hot with pounded yam, gari, fufu or white rice.

Pineapple Pineapple is one of the world’s most nutritious fruits. Highly nutritious, it can be consumed fresh, canned, in juice form or as an addition to salads, yogurts, ice cream and fruit juice. It can also come in handy as a complement to meat dishes and in fruit cocktail. Pineapples have exceptional juiciness and a vibrant tropical flavour that balances the tastes of sweet and tart. A good, juicy ripe pineapple can satisfy a sweet craving for any chocolate bar.

Health Benefits Of Cotton Seeds The wonderful cotton seeds are used for the preparation of the highly nutritious cotton seed soup. This soup, which is popular amongst the Yorubas and the Edos of Southern Nigeria, is mainly served with pounded yam.

With money you can buy a clock, but not time. ― Chinese Africa

Okenwa music, a universal language which everyone understands.

People have heard a lot about national transformation and all, but they have not heard it coming in this regard and form. It will come as a surprise that a young Nigerian is doing this; not the usual ways of mentioning names and wanting to score some cheap political points and interest, but based purely on patriotism.

The point is to inspire young Nigerians to have faith in Nigeria and believe that the future starts now and that national transformation has to do with corporate responsibility. But a total lack of information has made this very difficult to achieve, because the percentage who read the newspapers are far smaller when compared to the overall population.

People should become informed, because the fact remains that there is no place like home.

28

FEATURE

August 29, 2014

Davido Versus WizKid Battle For Popularity, Ego War Or Juvenile Petulance?

By ABISOLA ALAWODE

Ask anybody in the Nigerian music industry and they’ll tell you that it is a cut-throat world, in the sense that competition is rife amongst all involved in the entertainment world, be it record labels, marketers, entourages or the artistes themselves.

Competition is definitely one of the things that keep the industry going. ESSENTIALS examines the recent rift between two of Africa’s biggest acts, Davido and WizKid, while looking closely at the careers of both singers.

Davido Born David Adedeji Adeleke on November 21, 1992, Davido first came to the lime light when he released the song Back When, in which he featured Naeto C in 2011. This song was mildly received but the singer truly made a splash with the single Dami duro (same year), which turned out to be a monster hit.

He released his debut album Omo Baba Olowo in 2012, which is also his only album to date.

Following the release of this single, Davido became known as ‘Omo Baba Olowo’, perhaps, due to the fact that his father, Chief Deji Adeleke, is a business magnate.

The hit songs Gobe, One of a Kind, Skelewu, Aye and Tchelete (Goodlife ft. Mafikizolo) are all rumoured to be on his yet-to-be released sophomore album.

Not only is Davido a purposeful musician, he is also a producer who has produced for the likes of Naeto C, Skales, Tiwa Savage, Shank and Sinzu (formerly known as Sauce Kid).

Davido is also the CEO of his own record label, HKN Music, which has the likes of Sina Rambo, B. Red and Danagog in its stable. The label is co-owned

by his brother Adewale Adeleke.

Davido has also recorded singles with international acts like Akon, Wale, 4*4, Sarkodie, MI Casa, Diamond Platinum and Mafikizolo. Also, he is set to release songs with other intrnational acts like Meek Mill and Rick Ross.

Davido is also not immune to controversies. Recent examples are his case with the Nigerian Immigration Service, who he accused of always trying to ‘extort’ money from him and, also, the controversy surrounding the Skelewu video.

Davido has been featured in over 13 songs this year alone and he has endorsed companies such as MTN Nigeria and Guinness and while many companies are making a huge attempt to woo him, some of these endorsements deals are still active. The talented fellow has also earned himself a BET, Kora Award, a Channel O Award, a Ghana Music Award, a Nigeria Music Video Award, two MTV Africa Music awards, two African Muzik Magazine Awards, three Hip Hop awards, four Nigeria Entertainment awards and two Dynamix All Youth awards, among others, in the course of his career.

Davido By The Numbers

22 Davido is currently 22 years old. He was

born on November 21, 1992.

2012 Davido released his debut album ‘Omo Baba Olowo’ in 2012.

N30m Amount of money Davido’s endorsement with communications company MTN Nigeria is worth.

2 Davido is currently a brand ambassador for two companies, MTN Nigeria and Guinness Nigeria.

5 Davido has released 5 from songs off of his upcoming album.

7 Davido has over 7 international collaborations under his belt. He is reportedly working to increase this number soon.

13 So far, it has been a good year for Davido, as the Gobe crooner has been featured in over 13 songs this year.

18 Davido has also won over 18 awards in the course of his career.

894,873 Davido has a total of 894,873 followers on Twitter (as at the time of this publication).

With money you can buy a house, but not a home.

Davido

― Chinese proverb

FRIDAY EXTRA I

August 29, 2014

INSIDE

t was very much like a rain of good fortune when five lucky hospitals in Enugu State became beneficiaries of the kindness of the Rotary Club of Trans-Ekulu in Enugu urban.

The club decided to do the good deed, as part of the second phase of their donation of brand new hospital equipment and consumables to help stem the tide of maternal and child death in the state, especially during delivery.

It was more surprising to them, because, barely six months ago, the same hospitals received equipment and consumable from the same club. Four of the hospitals are based in Enugu urban and provide secondary medical attention to the people, while one of them is a general hospital in Awgu local government area.

The benefiting hospitals are the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Annunciation Hospital Emene, Mother of Christ Hospital (run by the Catholic Church), Ntasiobi Specialist Hospital Trans-Ekulu, all in Enugu and the Awgu General Hospital which is government-owned.

The colourful presentation ceremony which was held at the Park Lane premises of the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH) attracted highlyplaced individuals, especially from the medical field, government officials, members of the Rotary Club of Trans-Ekulu and some student nurses.

In his welcome address, the project director of the project and chairman of the committee, Chief Eric Igweshi, said that the deed was done in agreement with their foreign partners, as well as seven rotary clubs in Germany and Austria, in order to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the state through donation of needed equipment that could help the hospitals perform better.

Igweshi assured that all the equipment are brand new and in accordance with specific needs of each of the benefitting hospitals. He also stated that lists of the needs of the different hospitals were compiled prior to the purchase of the equipment.

He specifically harped on the fact that some of the hospitals were provided with 15kv power-generating sets, in order to tackle power supply problems which had hindered their efforts. Equipment like incubators, diagnostic machines, delivery beds, operating tables and lamps, infant warmer and many other highly mechanised medical consumables like bandages, drugs, etc were donated to them.

Igweshi, however, emphasised that the club’s target is to “reduce maternal and infant deaths during delivery in the state”.

The chief medical directors of the ESUTH and Mother of Christ Hospital, Dr. George Njeze and Rev. Sister (Dr.) MaryIgnatia Okafor, respectively, were full of praises for the Rotary Club of TransEkulu.

Okafor stated that, initially, she did not hide her suspicion and skepticism about the request, but, stated that she has been overwhelmed by what the club has done so far. She prayed for the continued suc-

By Nnamdi Mbawike

Dr Ignatia Okafor with another sister and the matron of the project take delivery of some of the medical equipment.

Day Rotary Club Donated Hospital Equipment Worth N25m To 5 Hospitals cess of the club in its endeavours.

Njeze thumbed-up the gesture of the club, stating that it had deemed it fit to remember the down-trodden who can scarcely afford trips abroad for thorough, proper medical check-ups.

The project’s contact person, Chief Okwor, in his short speech, assured that the programme of the club is geared towards fulfilling their four-way test principles which are anchored on charity and service for all.

The special guest of honour, the executive governor of Enugu State, Bar. Sullivan Chime, who was represented by his special assistant on health, Dr. Edith Okoro, pledged his commitment to eradicating mother-child mortality and praised the initiative of the Rotarians.

“The mother and child care programme is one that is so dear to the governor. Rotarians are our partners in progress and the state is getting better, because, not only is the initiative an uplifting one, it is helping the state government provide primary healthcare and the hospitals be equipped with all they need to stem the high rate of infant-maternal mortality,” she said.

Okoro advised the management of the hospitals to “use what you have been given properly for the benefit of those it is meant for. I convey the appreciation of the governor of the state to you people, especially the Rotary Club of Trans-Eku-

lu.”

The project matron Josephine Offor, explained that the project midwives had collected all the data on new-borns (ANC), follow-up ANC, abortives and number of spontaneous deliveries from the respective health facilities for analysis.

She explained that the analysis indicated that the trend for new cases had improved as against the previous year, while there appeared to be a drop for followup cases. Offor also disclosed that the analysis also indicated that on-the-spot delivery accounted for 68 per cent of all the deliveries while breach and vacuum/ forceps deliveries amounted to just a per cent.

According to Offor, analyses also showed the Mother of Christ Hospital as having total delivery of 1,160 in 2013/2014. Total foetal deaths for the hospital stood at 43. Approximate perinatal mortality rate was 37 per 1000 deliveries. Awgu General Hospita showed a total delivery of 244. Just a foetal death was recorded. Approximate mortality rate was one per 100.

According to the analysis, Annunciation Hospital Emene had 344 total deliveries in the year under review. There were three foetal deaths recorded. Approximate perinatal mortality rate was one per 100.

Ntasiobi Specialist Hospital had total

delivery of 259. Two foetal deaths were recorded. Approximate perinatal mortality rate was one per 100.

Maternal mortality analysis also showed that the ESUTH had a total delivery of 1283, maternal deaths stood at 5.

Approximate maternal mortality rate was three per 1000.

The equipment were later handed over to representatives of the five beneficiaries by the governor’s representative in company of Chief Igweshi and other officials.

Other guests who graced the landmark event were the chief medical director of the ESUTH Dr. George Njeze, chief medical director of Mother of Christ Hospital Rev. Sister (Dr.) Mary-Ignatia Okafor, chairman of the maternal and child health committee of the club Chief Eric Igweshi, former head of service in the state and past president of the club Chief Clement Okwor, representatives of the hospitals involved and top members of the club, among other distinguished personalities.

Best Places to taste... Everything Else Big Questions & Answers nobel ultimate top list Why... answers to scientific questions

30 FRIDAY EXTRA/Best places to Taste...

August 29, 2014

Currywurst

Beyond being on a destination quest, the true global traveller is an experience junkie and part of that experience addiction: involves seeing the journey as one big meal, both literally and figuratively. Eating your way through a trip can reveal all sorts of new and interesting flavours — from olive oil to octopus to currywurst!

Everything Else Although most people think of salt as a basic seasoning in the form of iodised table salt, the varieties of finishing salts are truly staggering. To get a primer, just check in with “selmelier” Mark Bitterman at the Meadow in Portland, Oregon, a gourmet shop that specialises in artisan salt, both quarried and from the sea. He carries more than 100 different kinds of fleur de sel, flake salt, and sel gris; smoked salts; infused salts; and even blocks from Himalayan quarries that you can use as a plate. There’s an outpost in New York, but the original location is really the one to see. Ever heard of mahlab? Do you know the difference between Hungarian and Indian paprika? How about the price of saffron per gramme? It’s all there at the Spice Station in Santa Monica, California.

Bins and jars of spices, herbs, salts, and chiles are on full display. Browse, ask questions and then figure out the right seasoning for your next dish. The olive oil industry in the Napa Valley is relatively young, but the St. Helena Olive Oil Company has some of the best extra-virgin olive oils and wine vine-

gars in the state. You can shop in the St. Helena store (housed in a former nightclub), but a better choice is the more industrial production facility and shop in Rutherford, where you can ask for a private tasting. You won’t find more Italian specialties under one roof than in Eataly, in Manhattan’s Flatiron District. Based on a concept from Turin, Italy, this 5,000-square-foot culinary mecca is part-owned by beloved chefs Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich. The selection is almost overwhelming, which is why locals are willing to brave the crowds (and the prices) to go again and again-whether browsing in the marketplace for fresh pastas, cured meats, olive oils, or produce from the “vegetable butcher,” or sitting down for a complete meal. Finish it off with a drink on the roof top bar, Birreria.

There’s no shortage of sandwich shops in the college town of Ann Arbor, Michigan, but Zingerman’s Delicatessen is an experience unto itself. Along with mile-high sandwiches, this local institution sells a selection of cheeses, honey, jams, olive oils, teas, and pretty much any other gourmet specialty food

you can think of.

You may not think a grocery store could top a food list, but when you’re talking about the flagship Whole Foods in Austin, Texas, it’s worth the trip. Located on Sixth Street and Lamar, this enormous center has a mind-boggling array of organic produce, meats, international cheeses, and a huge array of packaged and prepared foods. There’s also a culinary centre for a hands-on experience or for watching chef demos.

Consider Edible Canada as a onestop shop for the best of Canada’s culinary scene. Located inside Vancouver’s foodie haven, Granville Market, the retail shop features northern products like lobster oil made from Nova Scotia lobsters, jams and jellies from an organic farm in British Columbia, and hazelnuts from an organic orchard in the Fraser Valley. There’s also an on-site bistro showcasing Canadian cuisine, regular market tours, chef dinners, and even a “kayak to your dinner” trip to the Gulf Islands.

Japan has dozens of offbeat and wonderful specialty food museums, “theme parks” and emporiums that al-

low you to taste a variety of versions of one dish or food in a single location.

The Shinyokohama Ramen Museum in Yokohama is exactly what it sounds like: a museum dedicated to ramen.

(Believe it or not, this Japanese staple actually came from China.) It became hugely popular in Japan in the 1950s, hence the mid-century theme of the two basement restaurant floors, which feature a replica of a Tokyo neighbourhood. Here you can choose from nine different ramen restaurants, each of which offers noodles from a different region of Japan.

Or, simply do what I do. Before leaving home, buy a box (or two) of toothpicks.

Then when landing in Tokyo, head to the Daimaru department stores. Look for the food halls, with the most amazing displays of fruits and vegetables and other delectables (Want to see a $100 perfect melon? It’s right there).

Here’s how you play the sampling game. The stores routinely put out samples of their food on counters throughout the food halls. But you’ve come prepared-armed with an ample supply of toothpicks. Need I say more?

The old saying that “success breeds success” has something to it. It’s that feeling of confidence that can banish negativity and procrastination and get you going the right way. Donald Trump, American business magnate, author and TV personality

to Taste everything else FRIDAY EXTRA 31

August 29, 2014

Best Butchers

The movement to embrace local and organic foods has even extended to butchers! Instead of buying pre-wrapped meat from your grocery store, you can actually talk to someone behind the counter of a neighbourhood butcher shop who knows where the meat comes from and which cut is the best. In Los Angeles, Lindy & Grundy is owned and operated by two women who work with area ranchers to sell only pastured and organic meats. Brooklyn’s The Meat Hook is a hipster haven with an old-school butcher shop that works closely with New York State farmers. (Ask about a butchering class, where you can break down an entire pig from nose to tail!) And in Portland, Oregon, Laurelhurst Market is part organic butcher shop, part steakhouse, where practically everything is made in-house, from charcuterie to smoked sausages.

Regional Food The Germans know how to do sausage and Zum Schiffchen (little boat) in the Old Town section of Dusseldorf, Germany, is a great, atmospheric place to get it. In addition to trying different types of sausage, you can also chow down on stews, sauerkraut, herring, and oxtail soup, and quaff cold German beers amid the high beams and crystal chandeliers of this 380-year-old brew haus (which Napoleon reputedly ate at).

Ever heard of currywurst? It’s basically a pork hot dog smothered in curry sauce and served with greasy fries. The best place to get it? Curry 36 in the Kreuzberg neighbourhood of Berlin. Don’t expect anything fancy-this is basically a fast-food joint where you stand and eat curry meatballs, curry cutlets, and bratwurst. This is especially a hit for the late-night crowd looking to soak up the liquor, so it’s usually open until 4 a.m.

Sicily is where the cannoli was invented, so it makes sense that Palermo would have one of the best places in the world to buy them: Pasticceria Cappello. Hot dogs in Iceland?

That’s right, Beejarins Beztu has been selling pylsu (basically lamb dogs), since 1937 at the Reykjavik harbor. As if there were any doubt that Brejarins Beztu’s are the best in town, the store’s name actually translates to “the best in town.” There’s even a hot dog named after Bill Clinton, one of the many famous folks who’ve eaten here while on a visit to Iceland. Sure, you have to try Key lime pie when you’re in Florida, and of course the best is in the Keys. Pepe’s Cafe in Key West has been around since 1909, and makes its tart pie with a graham cracker crust and serves it in a bowl, not a plate. While every guidebook mentions Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami Beach it’s partly because the Key lime pies (and the stone crabs!) are that good.

Of course, the debate over who has the best lobster roll in Maine could go on forever. After all, its coastline stretches 3,500 miles, and there are countless unassuming ocean-side shacks serving buttery lobster chunks in soft hot dog buns. (there’s also some debate over whether lobster salad, bound with mayonnaise, counts as traditional.) My pick should come as no surprise among lobster roll aficionados: Red Eats, located in Wicassett, where mounds of tail and claw meat are served on a toasted buttered bun. Mayo is optional.

That said, there are plenty of places outside of Maine that can rival even the best.

In Newport, Rhode Island, try Flo’s Clam Shack across the street from First Beach. In

Clinton, Connecticut, Lobster Landing wins for its quarter-pound lobster rolls served along the Long Island Sound.

Ventura, California, is a quiet seaside town halfway between the better-known enclaves of Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

On San Bueriaventura State Beach, you’ll find the Jolly Oyster, a unique stand that offers sweet-tasting Kumamoto and Pacific oysters, grown by the owner at a farm in Baja California. You can eat them raw right there, or bring them home to shuck and prepare yourself.

Mangonui is a quiet seaside town in Northland, New Zealand. It’s a bit of a trek to get to Mangonui Fish Shop, but once you take your first bite of one of their offerings, you’ll know what all the fuss is about. Everything is made from fish caught fresh that day, which consists of New Zealand species such as John Dory, hapuka, and blue nose.

You might expect the best fish-and-chips to be in London, but in fact, you want to head toward the coast to get the really fresh stuff. Harbour Lights Traditional Fish and Chips in the seaside town of Falmouth in Cornwall, England, is known for more than just its fried food. It was one of the first “chippies” to take a stance on sustainability by refusing to serve any endangered species (like cod roe and skate), so you know you’re dining on fish that’s fresh, local, and ecoconscious.

Naples, Italy, is the birthplace of traditional Italian pizza and has more than 12,000 pizzerias. But they’re not all great ... or even that good. Fortunately, Pizzeria da Michele makes what is possibly the perfect, simple margherita pizza: tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and oil. There is only a handful of tables in the small shop, so the line can go out the door-but just wait it out because it’s worth it.

If a trip to Napoli isn’t on your agenda, how about New Haven?

Pizza has been part of the fabric of this Connecticut city for decades, when Italian immigrants who perfected this hometown favourite opened up dozens of holes- inthe-wall around Wooster Square. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana continues its long tradition as the best, which is why you’ll often see long lines. But don’t balkthe legendary white clam pizza is well worth the wait.

Without a doubt, the best Philly cheesesteaks are in ... Philadelphia, of course.

For old-school ultra-authentic cheeseste

Chef Demos

Not sure what to do with all that produce you picked up? Many farmers’ markets will feature chefs demonstrating their skills, using items straight from the market.

The famous Union Square Greenmarket in New York City has cooking demos every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings. The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco is another hot spot for Local chefs – you’ll see them shopping here. They also put on demonstrations every Saturday in a series hosted by the Centre for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture. In Dallas, a chef at the Market series takes place at the Dallas Farmers Market between late May and October.

Market Tours If you’re overwhelmed by all the options, try a farmers’ market tour, where a local can take you to the best stands, explain the history of the market, and score free samples along the way. Melting Pot Tours takes you through the Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles, where some stands have been in place for decades. In the Napa Valley, chef Julie logue-Riordan will take you to the Napa Farmers Market on Tuesday or the St. Helena Farmer’s Market on Fridays to meet the Purveyors and sample everything from locally grown olives to a diverse array of Cheeses. In Colle di Val d’ Elsa in Italy, American expatriate Judy Witts Francini leads Friday market tours followed by a cooking class using those ingredients.

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.

Epictetus, Greek Stoic Philosopher

32 FRIDAY EXTRA

August 29, 2014

nobel

A Century Of Prize Winners

Henri Bergson

literature

(1859-1941) A French philosopher who in his youth was influenced by the theories of Spencer, Mill and Darwin (although he later came to criticize their rationalist systems), Henri Bergson was the founder of the so-called Philosophy of Life, based on intuition. He showed himself to be equally capable in the field ofliterature.

Henri Bergson’s father, a talented musician, was from a Polish Jewish family on his father’s side, and his mother, also Jewish, was Angle-Irish. His upbringing and the values instilled in him were, however, typically French, and the majority of his life was spent in and around Paris. After attending the Lycee Condorcet, where he demonstrated a talent for both the sciences and humanities, Bergson studied philosophy at the Ecole Normale Superieure between 1878 and 1881, an institution dedicated to training university professors. He taught in various schools outside of Paris, first in Angers from 1881 to 1883 and then in Clerrnont-Ferrand during the next five years. He was also a teacher at the Ecole Normale Superieure and, between 1900 and 1921, held the chair of philosophy at the College de France.

In his book Essai sur les donnes immediates de la conscience (Time and Free Will), published in 1889, Henri Bergson interprets the existence of the consciousness on two levels: the first to be reached through deep introspection and the second an outward projection of the first. The method of intuitive introspection was later developed in 1903 with his work Introduction a la metaphysique (Introduction to Metaphysics). Matiere et memoire (Matter and Memory), published in 1896, was the result of five years of studying anything that had been published on memory and the psychological phenomena called aphasia. In this work Bergson returns to the theme of consciousness and concentrates on the relationship between mind and body. He concluded that the one was independent of the other. This work made him one of the most popular and influential writers of the period.

L’Evolution creairice (Creative Evolution), published in 1907, is considered one of his most notable works and showed the influence of biology on his thought.

In 1891 Bergson married Louise Neuburger, cousin of the French novelist Marcel Proust, and the couple had a daughter. Despite his incredible intellectual energy, Bergson lived the quiet life of a French professor. He died in 194I.

For the services rendered through his research into the constitution of sterols and their connection with vitamins.

Adolf Windaus

chemistry

(1876-1959) Born on Christmas Day into a family of Berlin artisans involved in the drapery business, as a student Adolf Otto Reinhold Windaus was initially passionate about literature but was destined to make his name in chemistry. He was fortunate enough to study at the famous Franzosisches Gymnasium in Berlin, Germany, but upon entering university his attraction to the written word gave way to medicine and the sciences. While still a medical student he was fascinated by a series of conferences given by Emil Fischer, who won the 1902 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and decided to expand his studies to that field while continuing to pursue his plan of becoming a doctor. He graduated in 1900 from the University of Freiburg and successfully defended his thesis on cardiac poisons extracted from digitalis.

On his return to Berlin, Windaus started working with Fischer, who had first inspired him. It was not long, however, before he returned to Freiburg and, following a suggestion by his chemistry professor, started research into cholesterol because very little was known about the structure of cholesterol at the time. Windaus correctly believed that sterols, which are found in all cells, were the original substance of other groups of natural substances and, with this perspective, he developed his research.

In 1919, Windaus managed to transform cholesterol into a matter that had previously been isolated in the bile acids by Heinrich Wieland, a friend of his who won the 1927 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. This allowed him to demonstrate that the bile acids are closely related to sterols. In research carried out in conjunction with Knoop, he was able to synthesize histamine, a hormone of great physiological and pharmaceutical importance.

Windaus’s work took him to the United States and, on an invitation from Alfred Hess, he joined a team studying the antirachitic vitamin D. His interests also allowed him to demonstrate the structure of vitamin Br. Among other studies, he investigated the possibility of using chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer. Besides the 1928 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, which was awarded to Windaus in recognition of his work on the constitution of sterols and their relation to vitamins, he received many other prizes and honors. He was also a highly respected academic, helping students who would also make their mark on history, including Adolf Butenandt, who won the 1939 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Windaus died at the age of 82 in Cottingen, Germany.

In recognition of his rich and vitalizing ideas and the brilliant skill with which they have been presented.

Wine, women and food give gladness to the heart.

— Ancient Egyptian Proverb

Culled from the book ‘Nobel’

INVALUABLE TIPS FOR LIFE 29.08.2014

It’s So Important to Lean into Your Fears Letting go of fear makes you create the life that you haven’t even dared to dream yet

Work/Career How to Have Fun at Work

Finance

The One Thing Parents Can Do To Teach Kids about Money

Marriage

Grooming

Health

How to avoid divorce

Do’s and don’ts for the not so bereaved

Gonorrhoea

34 FORESIGHT

August 29, 2014

WORK & CAREER

being part of a group You can feel motivated simply by being part of a group or team. Being in a group provides support.

How to have fun at work

A

lot of people are in shock at the realisation that nothing good can happen at work while they obsess about particles. The numbers in the cells on your spread sheets are just the after effects of the waves traveling through a building or a team.

You can’t pretend you don’t feel the waves. Everybody knows when a workplace is light and buoyant and fun and cool. The forward energy is palpable. When you work in a place like that, you assume everyone has good intentions because you do, and because these are the kinds of people who get hired into a place like that.

The greatest energy source gotten in organisations is the combined goodwill of people, but you shut down the energy source with crusty bureaucracy.

That’s irresponsible to customers and shareholders, because you’re cutting off your own power supply. People want to dig in and do an amazing job and have fun. That feeling is familiar to you. You know it from sports you played as a kid and musical theatre productions and any other activity where people join together to do something ambitious and awesome.

You can’t keep pretending to yourself and others that the forecast and the budget and the policy make a job worth going to or a company worth working with or buying from. It’s the energy, always, that brings people into an organisation and keeps them there. The energy comes from the people who are already there. Wave troughs and peaks build on one another in a symphonic way. Who wouldn’t want to work in a place like that?

Who wouldn’t rather deal with a Human Workplace than a crusty, frosty, bureaucratic one? You want to give your money and energy to causes and missions that deserve those investments. The best way to make money in your business is to take

excellent care of the people on your team.

When work is fun, you don’t have to hire consultants to design bonus schemes no one can understand. if you can’t explain how you get paid within the first ten seconds of waking up in the morning, your compensation plan is too complicated.

Your energy and passion doesn’t divide down into columns and rows, and everyone in a management role should know that. Give people an inspiring goal that they helped design and have a stake in and your motivation problems are solved.

The fun to be had at work is the fun of discovery and triumph. Extracurricular things like office contests and day trips can be a great addition if the trust level on the team is already high, and that is not a judgment that a manager should make on his or her own. If the trust level is low, then manufactured fake fun events are worse than tedious they’re insulting. They’re a message that tells the team you believe pretending to trust is just as good as really trusting. One of the worst feelings in the world is to be jollied or pressured into somebody else’s idea of fun.

Culled from FORBES.COM

Joylifechangers@gmail.com

The importance of being positive at the work place can never be overemphasised.

Most times the tone and weather of the entire office can depend on it.

It is amazing how just one person’s attitude or behaviour can decide whether or not you have a good day or not.

In some cases, some people leave their homes happy and even whistling into work and another person with a toxic attitude can make all that joy and happiness disappear, changing the entire course of the day.

This surely does affect creativity and productivity in every way. Even the quality of service is affected and the company may lose dramatically as a result of one person’s behaviour.

One morning many years ago, a certain lady’s car wouldn’t start. Due to time constraint, she abandoned the car and made a dash for the public bus. That day she learnt a very important lesson, she decided not to react angrily to anyone acting weird or annoying until she found out what was responsible for them behaving that way.

She drew this conclusion from her experiences on the bus. The driver and his conductor were so rude to the passengers that almost

everyone got off the bus in anger. She, on the other hand had to endure because she had to be where she needed to be.

So imagine how those people will enter into places they were going that morning, probably frowning or already angry.

And if by any chance they bump into another already irritated or angry person at work, it could create an explosive situation that might make it seem they both have had something against each other for a while. That is not the case if you truly get to the bottom of it most times.

So what’s the crux of the whole matter? That your decision to stay positive regardless of any negative or irritable behaviour will send a ripple effect positively to extents you might never even comprehend. Be that person who gives people with a frown, a smile back, the one who says hello first, and the one who compliments on good appearance and a job well done, the one who goes out of their way to buy lunch for someone below them in the office.

There is so much pressure and negativity in the world and by implication in your work places too. Be that change that you desire and expect and it will ripple its way back to you, one way or another.

INFLUENCING PEOPLE

CONTENT Elizabeth Martin graphics Igwe-Ngerem Michael Hassan Gimba Ahmed

group FOUNDER CHAIRMAN GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

By Joy Jones

The Ripple Effect Of Positivity At Work

foresight AG. EDITOR

INFLUENCE PLUS

Sam Nda-Isaiah Hajiya Ireti Kingibe Azubuike Ishiekwene Michael Okpere, Dr Kazeem Durodoye

Foresight published as an insert in LEADERSHIP Friday. A number of the articles here are sourced from diverse sources. Please do send your feedback and enquiries to: foresight@leadership.ng

Smile

“People are always losing the thread of a conversation and need something explained again.”

Of all the facial expressions you are capable of transmitting, it is accepted that the one that needs to be encouraged is the smile. Happiness is the only positive emotion you can show through the face. People aren’t good at giving genuine smiles. There seems to be a problem with getting eyes and mouth in harmony. If you smile with just your mouth and not your eyes it gives that snarling look.

The forcing of a particular expression on your face causes the mind and body to respond. Biochemical changes take

place and the hormones make you feel better and more positive. Feeling more positive helps to achieve more positive outcomes. The emotions can follow facial expressions as opposed to always preceding them. The act of smiling has an important effect on people you are probably well aware of. You’ll also find you get to know people better and have better conversations with them, that your stress levels go down, you become more relaxed, people like you better and you inadvertently become more persuasive.

FORESIGHT 35

August 29, 2014 being on your own

FINANCE

You may be motivated to work alone on a task to satisfy your creativity or need time to reflect without distractions.

Financial FUTURES

Basics of...

Knowing Money Mistakes and Their Solutions

Not having a budget.

Your budget is the key to achieving all your goals. How you choose to spend your money can either take you closer towards your dreams or further from them into debt.

What to do: Take your monthly income, subtract your regular monthly expenses like housing, transportation and utilities, and allocate 20per cent to 30per cent to savings, retirement or debt. The rest covers your living expenses, like eating out, entertainment, etc. If you’re worried about running over, limit yourself to a set amount in cash every week.

Paying unnecessary bank fees.

If your bank is charging you for having a checking account, bill pay, having a savings account, overdraft protection, talking to a representative, etc., shop around.

What to do: On sites like Bankrate.com, Savingsaccounts. com or Kasasa, search for a better deal. Consider credit unions, which have lower interest rates on loans and charge less for bill pay and overdraft protection.

Make sure to keep your old account open long enough for all recurring transactions and checks to clear so you don’t bounce any payments.

Not knowing how much you should save for retirement Most people have no clue how much they should save for retirement at what rate of return. It’s like shooting a gun with no target.

What to do: Most people start with, what can they afford?

When they should really be asking, how much they need. Use an online retirement calculator to find out and see how much you’ll need to put away monthly now to reach that goal.

Not choosing the right student loan repayment program

MAKE YOURSELF

UNFORGETTABLE

A lot of people choose graduated repayment programs, but then, for the first few years, their payments only pay down the loan interest.

What to do: Before your repayments come due, select a program that works with your long-term goals. If you’re already in a suboptimal repayment plan, switch programs.

Having no disability insurance, or an inadequate policy People think, ‘What’s the worst thing that could happen, and so they think, ‘you could pass away unexpectedly. You need life insurance,’ but what they don’t think about is what’s more likely to happen, which is that you would have a disability that would keep income from coming in.

What to do: If your company offers disability insurance, sign up. If not, check different associations of which you are a member, such as professional groups, or shop for disability insurance on your own. If your coverage is inadequate, sign up for supplemental insurance.

Not having the right type, or enough, of life insurance When you have children or dependents, you should have life insurance, but having a policy that doesn’t suit your needs can be a waste of money.

Whole life insurance will cover you for your entire life, but more affordable term insurance which covers you for anywhere from five to 30 years, such as a period when your children will be dependent on you may suffice.

What to do: Work with a financial planner who will evaluate your entire situation.

Also, know what kind of insurance your company offers. culled from practicalmoneyskills.com

Passionate principle

Ethics involves a lot more than compliance with company policies and statutory laws. True, headlines are made when formal regulations are not obeyed and for exactly those reasons, most organisations don’t have problems with these issues. Instead it’s the little things that cause problems. Day-to-day, seemingly insignificant actions represent the largest area for ethics problems and the greatest opportunity for

improvement. You may forget the little things you do, but they can have a significant impact on people around you, either positively or negatively. They can determine whether you are seen as an unforgettable class act, or something entirely different. You are always setting an example, whether you intend to or not. So what messages are you sending by your actions, words, and attitudes?

The One Thing Parents Can Do To Teach Kids about Money

You teach your kids about all kinds of things, from how to ride a bike to how to write a thank you note. But what if there was one thing you could do to help your kids gain a better grasp of money management?

Two-third of kids whose parents frequently talk about family finances feel smart about money versus 37 per cent of kids whose parents don’t.

58 per cent of kids whose parents frequently talk to them about saving for college save for their own college versus 23per cent of kids whose parents don’t. Also, 60per cent of kids whose parents frequently talk about setting financial goals say they are savers versus 46per cent of kids whose parents don’t. Another 60per cent of kids whose parents frequently discuss budgeting say they are very or extremely smart about money, versus 34per cent of kids whose parents don’t.

The same is true for parents who talk about investment vehicles, such as stocks and bonds, they are more likely to have kids who describe themselves as savers and who say they save money so they can go to college. Those conversations are leading to higher confidence. Kids are feeling like they are savvier, so the conversations are really having an impact.

The bad news: It seems that parents are favouring boys over girls when it comes to financial matters. Some 58per cent of boys say their parents talk to them about setting financial goals, compared to 50per cent of girls. And 80 per cent of parents with a boy think he understands the value of a dollar, but only 69per cent of parents with a girl think the same. These days children are really sharp and they pick things easily when told. So parents should introduce money matters and also they should be open to answer every question asked by their wards.

It is not certain whether these findings come from a parental bias or because, for instance, boys show more interest in the topic. It could be that boys are asking more questions about these kinds of things in general. It’s incumbent upon parents to make sure they are having these conversations with their kids, and if their daughters aren’t asking, parents should bring it up.

Also, parents should chat with their children about money matters at least once a week. If you’re in the store, or if they go to the ATM with you, any excuse to have these conversations is good. There’s no kid who’s ever too young to learn some of these things. culled fromdailyfinance.com

36 FORESIGHT

August 29, 2014 being inspired by role models

LEADERSHIP

Having a role model can be inspiring and motivating.

3 Types of Focused Leaders Where the leader looks, so goes the team and the company. Consider where you are focusing your efforts.

Learning to strike a healthy balance in your focus is key to driving your company to the success you want and envision.

Leaders fall into three categories: Internally-Focused If you are a leader that is internally focused, you follow the agenda of your staff. Their priorities are your priorities and you never seem to get around to your own to-do list.

You find yourself buried in your e-mail box late into the night and there never seems to be enough time to think about the steps you need to take to move your company to the next level. While caring for and attending to your employees’ needs, it’s easy to get caught up in the day to day weeds and never really focus on your most important role creating and sharing the strategy for the company.

What can you do? Start by establishing boundaries standing meetings with agendas, a known escalation path, and insisting that employees bring you solutions to the problems they believe are present, are all a good start. Ask yourself if you are empowering your employees to make decisions on their own, or are you suffering from control issues. You have a team for a reason. If you find you are doing their job for them, you need to seriously consider why and address it head on through training, giving up some control or making a change.

Externally-Focused An externally focused leader is driven by all of the outside forces pressing in on the company. You are concerned with what the latest competitor is doing, how the

economy is performing, whether or not your customers are happy. You are willing to sacrifice your internal resources and your time in pursuit of addressing these outside forces and you often use them as an excuse for your lack of success. If you were honest with yourself, you would realise that you have very little control over these things.

What can you do? Realise that companies have succeeded against huge competitors and in less than stellar business environments.

Competitors will always be innovating and you should certainly pay attention, but don’t let them distract you from your goal. New companies are inclined to take bad deals or build inferior products in an

“

to strike a healthy balance, focus is key to driving your company to the success you want and envision.

attempt to unseat a competitor only to suffer later because of issues with performance and the ability to finance projects signed.

And while the customer is always right, make sure it’s the right customer. Whole Foods doesn’t look to compete against Wal-Mart on price.

They understand their customer expects a different level of selection and experience.

The worst thing you can do is to dilute your brand by trying to be all things to all people.

Strategically-Focused You must find a beacon in the distance for your company and drive your organisation passionately in that direction. A strategically focused leader finds a healthy balance between servicing internal needs and external threats. It is your job and your energy that will lead your organisation to the destination you see.

CULLED from huffingtonpost.co.uk

5 Things Clueless Bosses Say That Zap Motivation An aligned and inspired work force is the dream of every true leader. It takes great empathy to connect with employees; in order to lead them; you first need to understand them.

How do you truly understand employees? You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.

So, you’ve been coached, and schooled in the six primal leadership styles. But, you still don’t have the aligned, passionate, and inspired work force that you need. If you ever say one of the following glib, offthe-cuff comments, you will devalue your employees and a devalued employee is not inspired or aligned.

That’s above your pay grade.

You just delivered a mixed message, and guess which one they are going to internalise?

Telling employees that there are pecking orders, codes of conduct, and duties and responsibilities by cast, is simply the stupidest thing a manager can say. You want employees to be unfettered and think of things you haven’t.

That doesn’t happen when they are told to stay in their boxes.

That’s confidential In a start-up there are very few things that are truly confidential. Start-ups are flat organisations and information sharing is a huge part of maintaining that culture.

Telling an employee that something is confidential communicates that you don’t trust them, they are not part of the inner circle, and they are not your peer. Start-ups are all about a group of peers achieving something amazing. It’s better to go first in order to give people the freedom to show that they are not trustworthy rather than to assume it. A trust first culture is truly inspiring.

Please leave the room You’ve invited several

managers and employees to a board meeting. The presentations are over and you have other items to discuss with the directors or management committee. What do you say?

Don’t dismiss them the way a five-star general would do to corporals or privates because they will feel like infantry and await instruction on everything else, rather than taking chances and filling voids that you don’t see. There are much savvier ways to have them leave the meeting like, taking a break.

Your people, your team This is occasionally followed by, ‘would follow you through fire.’ Say the first thing if you want employees to feel like chattel; come with the second statement if you want them to feel like stupid chattel. These statements don’t elevate team members; instead they serve to remind them that even on the ‘team’ that is working elbow to elbow, there is a hierarchy.

It is arrogant and self-serving.

It also brings back memories of lunch time in grammar school when kick ball teams were being selected. This isn’t grammar school; it’s business and everyone should behave as if they’re in charge. After years of leading effectively, being empathetic and inspirational, you might get employees to follow you over warm coals, but don’t say that you see them as lemmings.

Employees are like your children The reason children must leave home is so their parents see them as adults. So, telling 25 to 55-year- olds that you think of them as your children conjures up their memories of being dependent and powerless. You should nurture employees, but show them they’re your peers.

And, don’t say the company is like a family if you’re a really good leader, the employees will say it. And when you hear that, smile, to yourself.

CULLED from INC.COM

WHAT LEADERS ARE SAYING...

Doubt indulged soon becomes doubt realised.Frances Ridley Havergal

A man’s doubts and fears are his worst enemies.William Wrigley, Jr

Doubt whom you will but never yourself.Christian Bovee

FORESIGHT 37

August 29, 2014

MARRIAGE

being in control

Motivation gives you the sense of being in control. You quickly understand what the task involves when motivated.

How To Avoid Divorce Couples who want to stay together should learn to take proactive steps to strengthen their relationship from the start, rather than allowing it to reach crisis point before seeking support run a bath for each other.

Little gestures like couples making cups of tea for each other; leaving notes around the house for a spouse to find; or taking their other half to the cinema even when they don’t want to see the film themselves can demonstrate commitment, smooth over conflict, and build strong and healthy relationships.

High levels of marriage breakdown need deeper solutions than advice on whether to make your spouse a cup of tea. When the low chance that a cohabiting couple will stay together means nearly half of all young teenagers live with just one of their birth parents.

A man taking his girlfriend to the cinema to see a romantic film he feels he may not enjoy can be said to be a great example of a compromise. Women can put their arm around their man when they are out in public, even when they are talking to someone else. They might also make creative presents, such as a compilation of photos and a favourite song to go with them.

Also women should dress to impress, to

show that even after years they still want to look good when out with their man. Men might consider providing their wife with breakfast in bed on a Saturday morning, or stroking their girlfriend’s hair while she falls asleep.

It is easy to get caught up in the larger issues that relationships tend to throw up and, in doing so, overlook the smaller, more subtle things that do really matter and can help keep a relationship healthy and strong. It‘s these small acts that help you to connect with your lover, demonstrate your commitment, improve communication, show you care, achieve compromise and even

resolve conflicts.

You have to recognise the value of the simple gestures and give others ideas of things they could be doing everyday to strengthen a relationship. It doesn’t hurt to give hints and tips.

But it is so much better if people start their relationship on a secure basis in the first place, most obviously by getting married.

The number one predictor of whether people will stay together in the long term is whether they get married. If you don’t, the chances of sticking together are slim.

CULLED FROM huffingtonpost.com

Common Myths about Cheating It’s mainly men who cheat Men born before 1962, cheat about twice as much as women. But women in their twenties and thirties have about the same amount of affairs as men of the same age. More women in this group are working and have more financial freedom and are therefore more likely to take risks with their relationships.

Around 50 per cent of all affairs are with a person in the workplace.

There’s a cheating profile Given the right circumstances, anyone is susceptible to cheating. It’s common for people to become involved in an affair when they had no initial thoughts of being unfaithful. It may not even be consistent with a person’s value system, but if the circumstances and time are right and the opportunity presents itself, that person may be tempted. Although some people are serial philanderers, affairs can happen to anyone.

For men, an affair is usually opportunistic, but for women, it’s usually planned. Don’t fool yourself into believing you’ll never have an affair. Instead, think of situations or circumstances in which you might be susceptible and make a point of avoiding them.

Long-term monogamy leads to an affair More people have affairs during the first two years of marriage than at any other time.

This is the time when women are asking

themselves if they made the right choice or whether they would be better off with someone else. It takes at least two years of living with someone before you really know that person. If a man was a serial cheat before marriage, he may also be a suspect for it during this initial period. Serial male cheats are usually driven by a combination of higher testosterone levels and early childhood experiences, which affect how relationships are perceived as an adult.

A man is driven to infidelity when he’s not happy at home People who never intended to be unfaithful unwittingly formed deep, passionate connections before they realised that they had crossed the line between platonic friendship and romantic love. For male philanderers, the opportunity just happened to appear and they really got off on the chemical highs associated with philandering.

The bottom line is that the more emotional distance you develop between yourself and your partner, the greater the chance an, affair has of starting. Open discussion about your relationship is the best way to ward off affairs.

You’ll get it right second time around Those who decide to pair up permanently with their affair often make the decision to get it right this time. The chemical changes that happen in the brain fool many cheats

in believing they will always live in happilyever-after land.

You can usually sense when your partner is fooling around Most people are oblivious to a straying mate for some time because they are living in the relationship based on the notion that their partner will remain faithful, so they don’t look for clues. When philandering signals do become evident, people prefer to go into denial rather than face the upset uncovering the affair. Women are better at spotting the signals.

CULLED FROM yourtango.com

38 FORESIGHT

August 29, 2014 HOW TO ORGANISE YOUR LIFE

GROOMING

Stop complaining about what you don’t have and start living for what you have.

Do’s And Don’ts For The Not So Bereaved Grieving can be a terribly lonely, isolating, confusing, foggy journey, one that can be made infinitely less awful by thoughtful friends. It can also be made far worse by people who don’t know what it’s like and who may mean well but end up being, well, mean. Grieving is an intensely personal journey. There may be stages but they don’t often come in order or stay in a neat line. They leap around in surprising and unpredictable ways. Friends want to help, to say the right things but often end up feeling they can’t get it right. Some people do not think before they act in a sensitive situation like this one and the appropriate etiquette needs to be highlighted.

Do not ask the immediate family members what happened.

If every single guest comes and asks the person, causing them to relive the whole traumatic scene by narrating it, this becomes difficult. Please be a little considerate and ask someone from the extended family about such details.

Offer prayers and support.

If you are not in the city or cannot make it, your messages or calls can make a huge difference. Do not underestimate the value of kind words.

Do not ask the grieving family about the will.

Asking about someone’s will is not only extremely rude, it is downright disrespectful.

A person’s worth is more than their material assets and honestly, it is not anyone’s business.

Help out.

One can help with domestic and funeral arrangements, such as preparation of food, distributing copies of the program etc.

Do not be a drama queen and talk about what a ‘tragic loss’ it is.

Everyone has a distant relative, the fat aunty who you have never seen but are somehow related to, who comes and howls and screams and squeezes the life out of

Selling Yourself People rarely make decisions as a product of long deliberation. They may take weeks to announce a decision but often make the decision in minutes, even seconds. People do not gather data to make a

ALL THINGS SOCIAL

By Chioma Agwuegbo dfairygodsister@yahoo.com

A Few Thoughts On Your Interactions: What Is Too Much?

Following on very quickly from last week, while you agree that everyone is different, have different levels of openness et al, you should apply some self-censorship to your interactions on social networks.

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A person’s worth is more than their material assets

you. One may think they are actually genuine, except once the drama is done, they sit down and start a gossip session amongst themselves.

The exaggerated grief of this relative will have a lasting impact on those who are actually bereaved. The grieving family knows the importance of the individual they have lost,there is no need to pour salt in your wounds.

Pray for the deceased’s soul.

That is why funerals are so important. Say a prayer.

Do not socialise.

Do not hang around the family’s house to catch up with other relatives. Leave the immediate family with their loved ones, so they can recover from the shock.

CULLED FROM eighthrising.com

People decide, then think decision; they often gather it to justify their decision.

They are not accumulating understanding; they are seeking comfort and support.

Most decisions are made, and then justified, rather than the other way around.

One obvious implication: first impressions are lasting understates the actual case.

The first impression, with startling frequency, is also the final decision. The first thing to plan for is your first impression.

It is assumed that anyone can read the things that are put online.

Anyone could range from folks, peers, a present or potential employer, to thieves, perverts, or even law enforcement agents. Therefore, while you have a lot of fun with the accounts you own, you should be careful too.

You might say it’s your account, why will people care what you put out?

Think of it like this; a post functions like you’re talking to 50 friends in a room, only that everything you’re saying that they can hear, all their friends can hear as well. And the friends of your friend’s friends can hear too. Does that make you want to be a tad more thoughtful?

There are countless cases of people losing jobs, getting in trouble with the law, or even getting harmed because they put out too much information about themselves and their activities.

Google phrases like ‘teen jailed for 56 days for racist tweets’, ‘Justine Sacco’, or spend your lunch break reading these examples (http://www. businessinsider.com/twitter-fired2011-5?op=1) Same thing goes for the pictures you put up. Dear friends, the world has shrunk considerably thanks to the Internet. With social media, it’s shrunk even more! That picture of you in a compromising position that attracts a few measly followers on Twitter today will surface tomorrow when a potential employer searches for you on Google.

General rule of thumb? Take a few seconds to think of the immediate and future effects of the things you post online; if the cons outweigh the pros, consider sending a private message to the person directly involved or shelve the deal altogether.

FORESIGHT 39

August 29, 2014 pass motivation

MOTIVATION

When you’re motivated, you pass on your positive feeling to those around you, making other people feel inspired and motivated.

4 Lessons on How to Learn a New Skill What do you need to acquire a new skill or improve an existing one?

And, more importantly, what do you have to do to keep it? You need motivation.

The first thing you have to do is begin. And your beginning probably began long before you knew you wanted to begin. You kept your desire to learn a secret, even from yourself. And now that you know you want to begin, you have to be willing to fail, to be frustrated, to be bored, to be angry that what looks so easy for some is so hard for you. And depending on how much you want to learn, you will have to develop a routine to ensure that what you learn doesn’t dwindle to nothing because you fail to practice.

1. You need knowledge about how to improve Creating 10,000 presentations in the course of your career and rehearsing them all with great care will not necessarily guarantee you presentation mastery.

Neuroscience and common sense show that factors other than blind repetition must prevail.

Acquisition of skills requires a regular environment, an adequate opportunity to practice, and rapid and unequivocal feedback about the correctness of thoughts and actions.

2. You need an understanding of how to apply the knowledge Every skill has a limited number of key techniques. In tennis, it’s racket back, eye on the ball. But to do that consistently, to turn knowledge into skill, you have to practice. Tiger Woods would hit a thousand golf balls a day.

Professional musicians practice hours every day. There is growing evidence that the only difference between a world-class violinist and an average one is the number of practice hours. The reason for this bold claim is that when you

do something repeatedly, you rewire your brain, grow new synapses, and build a richer, more vibrant network of associations.

3. Learning a skill is doing the skill For instance, the only proven way to become a better speaker is to rehearse under performance-like pressure. The Presidential candidates do this when they prepare for the election debates. They gather their team and practice their answers to anticipated questions. Inevitably, they are shaky at the first debate and stronger in the later ones. It is hard to replicate real circumstances, but practicing your speech aloud to people who are familiar with your topic is again the only scientifically proven way of improving your speaking skill.

4. You need the ability to evaluate the outcome.

What knowledge was applied, and what knowledge was not applied? In other words, you need a coach. It is almost impossible to be your own coach.

The President of the United States has advisors on everything, including people whose job it is to tell him when he’s screwing up. He needs rapid and unequivocal feedback on his thoughts and actions.

People who use a personal trainer get fit faster. Professional sports teams pay for great coaches. Good therapists can transform a person’s perspective. You can read all the how-to books you want, but then you have to implement the suggestions, and then you have to be able to see around your own blind spots, which will take a lifetime. So there you have it, four lessons in mastering a skill: motivation, knowledge, application of knowledge, and unequivocal feedback. culled frombusinessinsider.com

It’s So Important to Lean into Your Fears How are you doing with life? Are things feeling easy and breezy, or do you feel held back in some way by underlying fear? Are you living an inspired, created life, or are you reacting to what comes your way and avoiding those things that make you feel uncomfortable?

Most people are fearful of stuff and they carry around those fears like a fixed identity. A certain lady was afraid of being her and of being found out for being a fraud in some way. She was also terrified of public speaking, afraid of certain types of people, totally afraid of heights, afraid of looking stupid. She got some Cognitive Hypnotherapy and some amazing coaching, and she leaned into them, and they evaporated. Like smoke they drifted off into the ether.

Why? The job of your unconscious mind is to keep you safe and protected, to keep you out of the way of potentially life threatening situations.

Fear in these situations is obviously very useful, but the trouble is that your mind often connects up what should actually be neutral situations to something it perceives is harmful to you. Not so useful if you are standing in front of 100 people trying to give a presentation and your mind is telling you to get out of there.

You have the opportunity

of living an inspired life.

Let go of the fears and you can create the life that maybe you haven’t even dared to dream yet. Your power is in your ability to be vulnerable.

One of the ways to let go of things you are afraid of is to lean right into them. To challenge what your mind is telling you about the situation. A thought isn’t an instruction it’s just a thought. It might seem real for a while, but it doesn’t have to be followed and acted upon. You have a choice to give it power, or to let it drift on and wait for another more useful thought to come along and believe that one instead. It might even make you smile when you start to really see this for your life. Imagine what you could create if you chose not to buy in to those thoughts that until now have got in your way.

Letting go of fears, hiring a coach or therapist, being vulnerable in public - even in a well read online space such as the Huffington all stack together to create a strong sense of empowerment in creating life as you would like it to be.

Treat it like a game. Find a fear and do something that means you don’t have to continue to believe it. Start small if you like but lean into the uncomfortable and discover who you can be without the fear. culled from inc.com

WHAT MOTIVATORS ARE SAYING...

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.Eleanor Roosevelt

The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself.Mark Twain

As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.Johann von Goethe

40 FORESIGHT

August 29, 2014

HEALTH

Identifying barriers Barriers can slow down your motivation or even put a stop on your actions completely.

Gonorrhoea GENERAL INFORMATION DEFINITION

Gonorrhoea is an infection caused by a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Gonorrhoea can affect anyone (even a child) who has sexual contact with an infected person.

BODY PARTS INVOLVED

In males, it usually involves the urethra (urine canal). In females, it usually involves the cervix and, sometimes, the urethra. In both sexes, the rectum, throat and other body parts may be involved.

SEX OR AGE MOST AFFECTED

Both sexes and all ages. It most often occurs in younger persons (ages 15 to 29), and in men more than in women.

74%

• The gonorrhoea rate among women has increased 3.1per cent, to 108.9 cases per 100,000 populations.

• The rate among men has increased 5.1per cent, to 98.7 per 100,000 populations.

• The national gonorrhoea rate declined 74per cent after implementation of the national gonorrhoea control program in the mid1970s.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Symptoms usually begin 2 to 5 days, or up to 30 days after being exposed. Females have few or no symptoms. Males usually have symptoms.

• Burning sensation when urinating.

• White to yellow-green discharge from the urethra.

• Rectal discomfort and discharge (sometimes).

• Sore throat (mild).

• Females may have abdominal cramps.

• Conjunctivitis (eye inflammation). This occurs when the person touches infected genitals and then the eyes.

• If the infection spreads to other body parts: joint pain, low fever, rash, headache, neck pain, and stiffness.

SOURCE

www.cdc.gov

sexually (vaginal, anal, or oral sex). It can be spread from mother to child during birth.

RISK INCREASES WITH

• Any sexually active persons.

• Having sex with an infected person.

• Multiple sexual partners, whether heterosexual or homosexual.

• Child sexual abuse.

• Passage of new-born through the infected birth canal of the mother.

HOW TO PREVENT

• Abstain from sexual activity.

• Avoid sexual partners whose health practices and status are uncertain.

• Use a latex condom during sexual intercourse.

WHAT TO EXPECT DIAGNOSTIC MEASURES

• Your health care provider will do a physical exam and a pelvic exam.

• Medical tests may include blood and urine studies and studies of the discharge from the vagina, urethra, rectum, throat, or eyes.

• Tests for other sexually transmitted diseases are usually done. Additional tests may be done if complications are suspected.

APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE

• Treatment is with antibiotic drugs. Follow-up tests may be done to confirm a cure.

• If the eyes are involved, an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) should be consulted.

• Hospital care may be needed for severe symptoms.

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS • Persons who have no symptoms are at risk for complications and can unknowingly spread the infection.

• Spread from mother to child

CAUSES

Infection from Neisseria gonorrhoea bacteria. It grows easily on delicate, moist tissue.

The bacteria is transmitted

during birth. This can cause serious complications in a newborn.

• Blood poisoning (gonococci septicaemia).

• Infectious arthritis.

• Pelvic inflammatory disease in females (PID), which can lead to infertility.

• Heart inflammation or infection around the liver.

• In males, epididymitis (can lead to infertility), prostate problems, and urethral scarring.

• Risk of getting HIV is higher.

PROBABLE OUTCOME

Usually curable in 1 to 2 weeks with treatment.

HOW TO TREAT GENERAL MEASURES

• Inform all sexual contacts so they can seek treatment.

• For self-care: Use separate towels, washcloths, and disposable eating utensils during treatment.

• Wash hands often, especially after using the bathroom.

• Don’t touch your eyes with your hands.

MEDICATION

• Antibiotics will be prescribed.

Take complete dosage.

• You may take nonprescription drugs, such as acetaminophen or aspirin (for adults), to reduce discomfort.

ACTIVITY

No limits on physical activity. Don’t resume sexual activity until treatment is complete.

DIET

No special diet.

CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF

• You or a family member has symptoms of gonorrhoea.

• Symptoms don’t improve with treatment.

SOURCE: COMPLETE GUIDE TO SYMPTOMS , ILLNESSES & SURGERY, 2012

QUESTIONS ANSWERED: Cold I’ve had a cough for a month, after a bout of flu. Do I really need to see a doctor, or will it gradually die down? When should we see a doctor for a cough?

If you are a non-smoker, any cough that goes on for more than two to three weeks needs investigation.

Your doctor will want to look at your throat and nose, and listen to your chest and take things further from there. If you are a smoker, you will have a cough anyway.

Stopping smoking should stop the cough within a month. If it doesn’t then you need to see your doctor for an assessment of the damage you have done to your lungs. if you have a permanent cough and still smoke, talk to your life assurance company and your lawyer about your will, rather than your doctor.

My neighbour gives her eight-year-old son Echinacea every day to ward off colds and flu. She also gives him added vitamins. She says I’m

neglectful of my children for not doing so. What do you think?

Colds and flu are virus infections that are passed from child to child (or adult) by inhaling droplets of saliva from a cough or sneeze. You are susceptible to the infection regardless of how much vitamin or any herbal or other medicine you have in your body. Echinacea does not kill viruses and there is no controlled trial to show that it protects against any infection.

There are plenty of trials to show

that in a developed country extra vitamins don’t protect against these infections. So be confident that you are doing the right thing by your children. All you need to ensure is that they eat a good range of food, take normal exercise, get normal amounts of sleep, and are confident in their good relationship with you.

Inculcating a habit of taking a medicine a day when you are not ill isn’t good for your attitude to health when an adult.

FRIDAY EXTRA 41

August 29, 2014

ultimate top list FASCINATING BUILDINGS NEVER BUILT

1

VOLKSHALLE (THE GREAT DOME) Designed around 1930 for Berlin, Germany, The Volkshalle (People’s Hall) was a huge monumental building planned by Adolf Hitler and his architect Albert Speer. It was to be the capital’s most important and impressive building in terms of its size and symbolism and the architectural centerpiece of Berlin. Thankfully, the Great Dome was never built due to the breakout of the war.

Interesting Fact. What makes the Volkshalle even more interesting is the illustration plans show a pedestal with the Nazi eagle figure. The eagle along with the pedestal and just the right shadowing, gives an illusion in the form of Hitler’s face and is believed designed to appear only at a particular time of the year.

PALACE OF SOVIETS Designed in 1933 for Moscow, Soviet Union If the Palace of Soviets had been built, it would have become the world’s tallest structure. It was to be built on the site of the demolished Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. A public international contest to design the Palace attracted 272 concepts from architects all over the world. The contest was won

by Boris lofan, who literally expressed the idea of “Lenin atop the skyscraper” in the clearest form.

Interesting Fact. Construction was actually started on this project in 1937 and was terminated because of the German invasion. In 1942 its steel frame was disassembled for use in fortifications and bridges. Also, the cathedral was rebuilt between 1995 and 2000.

2

3

ULTIMA TOWER Designed in 1991 for San Francisco, California Architect Eugene Tsui originally conceived the idea of the Ultima Tower as part of a study of the compact urban area of San Francisco. The structure would utilize atmospheric energy conversion by converting the difference in atmospheric pressure at the top and bottom of the structure into electrical power.

The Ultima Tower is 500 stories tall (two miles high) and is intended to house one million residents.

Interesting Fact. The structure’s shape is modeled after the tallest structure not made by man-African termite nests.

4

SHIMIZU MEGA-CITY PYRAMID Designed in 2004 for Tokyo, Japan, The Shimizu Mega-City Pyramid was a proposed project for construction of a massive pyramid over Tokyo Bay in Japan. The structure would be 12 times higher than the Great Pyramid at Giza, and would house 750,000 people. It would be the largest man-made structure on Earth. The pyramid structure would be composed of 55 smaller pyramids stacked five high. Each of these smaller pyramids would be about the size of the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas.

Interesting Fact. The reason this project cannot be built is that the design of the Mega-city Pyramids relies on the future availability of super-strong lightweight

VOLKSHALLE

PALACE OF SOVIETS

5

TATLIN’S TOWER Designed around 1917 for St. Petersburg, Russia, Tatlin’s Tower would have dwarfed the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The tower was to be built from industrial materials: iron, glass and steel. It was envisioned as a towering symbol of modernity. The tower’s main form was a twin helix that spiraled up to 1312 feet in height, where visitors would be transported around with the aid of various mechanical devices.

Interesting Fact. At the base of the structure was a rotating cube, designed as a venue for lectures, conferences, and legislative meetings. The cube would complete a rotation in the span of one year. Above that cube would be a smaller pyramid housing executive activities and completing a rotation once a month.

6

VILLE CONTEMPORAINE Designed in 1922 for Paris, France, the Ville Contemporaine was to house three million inhabitants and was designed by the French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier. The centerpiece of this plan was the group of 60-storey skyscrapers built on steel frames and encased in huge curtain walls of glass. They housed both offices and apartments of the most wealthy inhabitants. At the very centre was a huge transportation centre on different levels that would include depots for buses and trains, as well as highway and an airport at the top.

Interesting Fact: For a number of years French officials had been unsuccessful in dealing with the squalor of the growing Parisian slums. Le Corbusier thought this design was an efficient way to house large numbers of people in response to the urban housing crisis.

7

BEACON OF PROGRESS Designed around 1891 for Chicago, Illinois, plans called for a 1500-foot stone tower in Jackson Park, Chicago, on the site of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. French-born architect and MIT professor Desire Despradelle came up with the winning design. With more financial backing the structure would have been, by far, the tallest man-made object in the world.

Interesting Fact. The design called for an amphitheatre at the base to seat 100,000 people and sweeping piers that would extend into Lake Michigan for regattas.

However long the night, the dawn will break.

TATLIN’S TOWER

5

FOURTH GRACE Designed in 2002 for Liverpool, England Despite what many believe was the ugliest of all the proposals, architect Will Alsop entered the winning design for this project and named it ‘The Cloud.’

The project’s name, Fourth Grace, is due to the development being located adjacent to the three historic buildings at the Pier Head site known as ‘The Three Graces.’

The project was cancelled in 2004 due to spiraling costs.

Interesting Fact: The Fourth Grace was designed for office space, a 107- room hotel and 50,000 square feet of community facilities, including a bar, restaurant and viewing gallery.

THE ILLINOIS Designed in 1956 for Chicago, Illinois the Illinois was a proposed mile-high (5280 feet) skyscraper, envisioned by Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright believed that it would have been technically possible to construct such a building even at the time it was proposed. The design included 528 stories, with a gross area of 18.46 million square – feet.

Interesting Fact: A number of problems occurred in Wright’s design of The ‘Illinois, including space that was needed to service the elevators which would occupy all of the space available on the lower floors, thus defeating the purpose of the building’s height.

10

HOTEL ATTRACTION Designed in 1908 for New York City, Hotel Attraction was to be the tallest building in New York at the time and was designed by architect Antoni Gaudi. The planned total height was 1181 feet and was probably unrealistic for its time. Little is known about the origins of Hotel Attraction and was unknown until 1956, when a report called The New World Called Gaudi was published.

Interesting Fact. The drawings by Gaudi of the Attraction Hotel had actually been proposed as a basis for the rebuilding of the Ground Zero project in Manhattan.

10

— African proverb

Culled from the book ‘Ultimate top 10 list’

42 FRIDAY EXTRA

August 29, 2014

big

questions & answers

Why don’t trains have seat belts?

America’s Rail Safety and Standards Board has looked into this. It analysed seven train accidents, including Potter’s Bar and Clapham Junction, to see how passengers escaped damaged carriages. Computer models simulated the effect

of seat belts in similar circumstances. Researchers also staged collisions using crash test dummies. The study concluded that, overall, seat belts would actually increase the risk of injury or death in an accident.

Do highperformance cars need multiple exhausts or are they just for Why aren’t we replacing petrol cars with show?

hydrogen car rather than electric ones?

Hydrogen-powered cars are electric: the power comes from converting the gas to electricity in a fuel cell. Many of the leading car manufacturers already have advanced hydrogen prototype vehicles, so we know the technology works.

But one of the big challenges is storage. Hydrogen must be highly compressed to give a range of more than 100km (62 miles). Even then, the tanks are so big that there’s barely room for any luggage.

The latest trials involve miniaturising the tanks, by doubling current compression pressures up to 700 atmospheres. The other issue is the energy involved in splitting water into hydrogen in the first place.

But this technology is improving all the time and increasingly involves renewable energy sources.

An ordinary car’s exhaust is designed to duct toxic gases away from the engine and through both a catalytic converter (to remove some of the pollutants) and a silencer (to reduce engine noise).

The diametre of an exhaust pipe - and the number of twists and turns it takes affects the friction on the escaping gases, which increases the back pressure at the cylinders. This increases the energy required to push the gas out the exhaust pipe and thus reduces the engine’s torque.

Using wider pipes or dual exhausts reduces the wall friction and back pressure, so torque increases.

But if the pipes are too big, the gas expands, cools and slows down, which makes it harder to push out, so the back pressure increases and torque drops again.

Most ‘showy’ exhaust pipes are too large for their engine and reduce torque at all but the highest rev ranges.

One person is a thin porridge; two or three people are a lump of ugali.

— Kuria Proverb

FRIDAY EXTRA 43

August 29, 2014

why?

... answers to everyday scientific questions

Why Men Go Bald?

Men go bald because prehistoric women preferred older men.

There are 193 species of monkeys and apes in the world today, but only one of them is hairless: us. This unusual fact led anthropologist Desmond Morris to come up with his famous phrase ‘the naked ape’.

In fact humans are not completely naked; we have several patches. of hair, most notably on top of our heads. The average person has around 100,000 hairs on his or her head, although blondes have finer, more numerous hairs, while redheads have the thinnest hair.

On average you can expect to drop about 62 of these hairs every day, but you can also expect to grow about the same number of new ones. As you get older this

cycle of loss and regrowth changes: hairs are lost more quickly while new ones grow more slowly.

For a sizeable minority of the population, almost all of them male, the cycle stops completely and lost hairs are never replaced.

The naked ape becomes the bald ape.

One in six men go bald, while one in twenty has a receding hairline by the time of his 21st birthday. Why is this?

Baldness seems to be genetically determined: you inherit baldness from your father or grandfathers.

If we have genes for baldness, we must have them for a reason, otherwise they would have been weeded out by evolution. But what possible evolutionary advantage could come from baldness?

A tree drops a leaf when it will cost more to keep it alive than to let it fall

A bald statement

Sociobiologists Frank Muscarella and Michael Cunningham have discovered that women associate bald men with greater social maturity, wisdom and calmness, and this fits with the general stereotype in our society linking

The man who counts the bits of food he swallows is never satisfied.

— African Proverb

baldness and wisdom. Muscarella and Cunningham suggest that some of our apewomen ancestors found these ‘bald’ qualities more attractive than the immature aggressiveness of younger, hairier apemen, and this explains why baldness not only survived but thrived.

Culled from Why?: Answers to everyday scientific questions

44 FRIDAY EXTRA

titans

August 29, 2014

of history

CAESAR

100-44 BC

“I had rather be first in a village than second at Rome”.

G

aius Julius Caesar, possessed of all the talents of war, politics and literature, was born of a noble but no longer rich family.

Ruthless, cold and irrepressibly energetic (yet an epileptic), he climbed the cursus honorum of Roman republican politics with astonishing speed, a rise made possible by the brutal civil war between Marius and Sulla. Aged 19 and keeping his distance from Sulla, he first distinguished himself in the wars of the east (where he was accused of a gay affair with the king of Bithynia). Caesar was captured by pirates, who ransomed him. Typically, once he was freed, he put together a flotilla and returned to hunt them down, killing all of them. Caesar was a keen practitioner of the adventurous school of politics and a serial seducer of married women - a sexual adventurer, nicknamed ‘the bald adulterer’ who slept with the wives of his rivals Crassus and Pompeys as well as the mother of his future assassin, Brutus. And then there was Cleopatra.

As a nephew of Marius, Caesar was almost murdered by Sulla - and was only able to begin his career after the dictator’s death. His rise was initially limited by the supremacy of Pompey the Great, the conqueror of Syria and Rome’s greatest soldier and wealthiest statesman, who had been awarded an exceptional three triumphs.

Elected consul in 61 BC, Caesar managed to form the First Gaul and the west for Rome, a campaign he later recounted (in the third person) in his Commentaries, revealing his expertise as a historian. He personally fought 50 battles. It was in Gaul that Caesar made his reputation - and his fortune.

Caesar was 41. It was late in life for a conqueror - Alexander was dead at 33, Hannibal fought his last battle at 55, Napoleon and Wellington both fought their last battle, Waterloo, at 46.

In 54 and 55 BC he invaded, but did not occupy, Britain. In 53 the Triumvirate fell apart; Pompey dominated Rome and the Senate ordered Caesar to resign his command. Caesar refused. Caesar’s crossing of the Rubicon, the river that separated his own Gallic provinces from Italy itself, marked his bid for power. Pompey retreated to rally his forces in Greece, and Caesar took Rome, where he was appointed dictator. Caesar defeated his enemies at Pharsalus in 48 BC. Pompey was afterwards murdered in Egypt, where Caesar fell in love with the young queen Cleopatra and fought to establish her rule. They celebrated and rested on a luxurious cruise down the Nile. On the way home, he stopped in Asia to defeat King Pharnaces of Bosporus at the Battle of Zela, his quickest victory, which he celebrated with the laconic ‘Veni, vidi, vici’ - ‘I came, I saw, I conquered.’ Caesar fought and defeated the Pompeyans not only in Greece but in Italy, Spain and then in Africa. He finally returned to Rome in 46 BC to celebrate a record four triumphs. In 44 BC he planned new campaigns in the Balkans and against Parthia. In Rome, he was politically supreme, his power absolute and nearly monarchical, but though his supremacy was feared and resented, he did not rule by terror and was forgiving and clement, using his power for the greater good. Caesar turned down the throne but received the titles Father of the Country, imperator, dictator for life and consul for 10 years, and he was declared to be ‘sacred’.

Caesar’s monarchical powers led to an assassination plot under his erstwhile supporters Brutus and Cassius. Caesar was warned that he might be assassinated on the Ides of March, but he ignored the warnings. On the Ides of March 44 BC, 60 senators attacked and stabbed Caesar as he received petitioners at a Senate meeting.

When he lay dead, he was found to have 23 wounds. After the conspirators were defeated in a civil war, the empire was divided uneasily between Caesar’s commander Mark Antony and his heir, great-nephew and adopted son, Octavian. In 31 BC, however, Octavian defeated Antony at Actium, thereby uniting the Roman empire and emerging as its first emperor: Caesar became a title synonymous with ‘emperor’ or his heir. ‘Caesar’ came to signify legitimate power, the German ‘Kaiser’ and Russian ‘Tsar’ being its derivatives.

Culled from the book ‘Titans of History’

The food that is in the mouth is not yet in the belly. ― Kikuyu Proverb

FEATURE

August 29, 2014

45

Davido Versus WizKid Battle For Popularity, Ego War Or Juvenile Petulance?

WizKid Born Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun on July 16, 1990, WizKid first gained attention when he was featured on M.I's Fast Money, Fast Cars. He further rose to prominence with his song Holla at your boy, which was released on January 2, 2010.

Formerly known as Lil’ Prinz, he rechristened himself WizKid and released his debut album Superstar in 2011. The album included hit tracks like the aforementioned Holla at Your Boy, Don't Dull, Love My Baby, Azonto, Pakurumo and Tease Me/Bad Guys.

WizKid’s sophomore album titled Chosen, is set to be released later this year. Singles like Bombay, Show Me the Money, Roll It ft. Akon and Banky W, Jaiye Jaiye, On top your matter, Drop for me and Talk are said to be on the album.

WizKid is currently signed onto EME/Starboy/Konvict/Disturbing London Record labels. It sounds complicated and a little confusing, right? It simply means that the singer knows so much about his onions that four record companies have considered him good enough for their attention.

WizKid is also the CEO of his own record label Starboy Entertainment, which boasts artistes such as L.A.X and producers Maleek Berry and Legendury Beatz. Also, he has recorded singles with international acts like Akon, Wale, Kardinal Offishal and R2Bees. It is whispered that songs with Rihanna, Chris Brown, Tinie Tempah, Young Jeezy, The Game and Tyga are on the cards. So far, he is also one of the few artistes who have collaborated with Afro beats maestro, Femi Kuti.

WizKid has been featured in over 11 songs this year alone!

WizKid is also not immune to controversies. A recent example is his denial and later acceptance of his 2-year-old son Boluwatife Balogun.

The Caro singer has endorsed

companies such as MTN Nigeria, Guinness Nigeria and Pepsi (he is said to be the highest paid Pepsi ambassador in Africa) and some of them are still active.

WizKid was also ranked fifth on Forbes and Channel O's 2013 list of the Top 10 Richest/Bankable African Artistes.

So far, his claim to fame include; a BET Award, a MOBO Award, three Hip Hop World awards, a Channel O Music Video Award, three Nigeria Entertainment awards, a Ghana Music Award, two Dynamix All Youth awards, two City People Entertainment awards and a Future Award. In addition, he has been nominated three times for the MTV Europe Music Awards and four times for the World Music Award in the course of his career.

Conclusion

So, is the latest battle between both singers a war of supremacy, an ego war or a clear manifestation of juvenile petulance? If they both met on a plane on their way to the USA and were very cordial and friendly with each other, so much that those in their camps were friendly with each other, how did their spat begin immediately they got to their destinations?

Their social media spat is not doing any of them any good. At most, it shows that both of them are very much children. Adults do not carry on such ‘empty’ spats on social networks. They settle it, either via their managers or they meet themselves.

Some people opined that it is going to help sell their records; which records? It doesn’t seem like it, in any way. Who is going to buy the music of two warring young stars because they are feuding with one another or to increase one’s popularity and lessen that of the other? Nigerians have got better things to do with their precious lives.

Wizkid By The Numbers

24 WizKid is currently 24 years old. He was born on July 16, 1990.

2011 The year he released his debut album Superstar.

N56m The worth, in naira, of his endorsement with

global beverage brand Pepsi.

3 Number of companies whose products he has endorsed; MTN Nigeria, Guinness Nigeria and Pepsi.

7 Number of songs the singer has released repeatedly off his upcoming album.

5 Number of international collaborations which the singer has under his belt. He is also working hard to increase this.

11 So far, 2014 has been a good year for WizKid. The Jaiye Jaiye singer has been featured on over 11 songs this year.

17 Number of awards which the singer has won in the course of his career.

1,212,645 Total number of followers the singer has on Twitter (as at the time of this publication).

WizKid

Public money is like holy water; everyone helps himself to it.

― Italian proverb

46 TATTLES

August 29, 2014

Trouble In Paradise: Nick Cannon, Maria Carey Split

If the recently held EMMY Awards are anything to go by, Jay Z and Beyonce are not headed for divorce! The couple did a good job to dispel the rumours when the rapper, carrying their daughter, joined Beyonce on stage after her incredible performance to hand her the night’s prestigious Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

Nick Cannon recently admitted that his six-year marriage with the 44-year-old music heartthrob has been on the rocks for a while now. He also conceded that the couple’s main focus is on their four-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe.

“There is trouble in paradise. We have been living in separate houses for a few months. My main focus is my kids,” Canon said.

Friends of the couple believe cracks started to appear in the pair’s relationship when Nick revealed that he’d previously slept with five famous women, including Kim Kardashian, during an interview with a US radio show in March. The television personality also revealed, in a subsequent interview with another medium, that Mariah wouldn’t sleep with him until they married. The pair have not been pictured together for months and Mariah

What exactly does Rihanna give men that make them pine over her? This is a question rapper Drake will be better poised to answer, as he is set to release a song titled Views from the 6 where he talks about his feelings for Rihanna.

I Don’t Mind Getting Older – Halle Berry

Charles Novia Calls Nigerian Artistes ‘Something Else’

Halle Berry recently said she doesn’t mind getting older and insisted that she “feels more self-assured and self-confident,” after hitting the milestone age of 48. The actress told the Sunday Mirror that “I’m always learning, but I would say a magical thing happened when the big 40th birthday came. I felt as if a light just went on. I felt more self-assured, more confident; like I had the right to really be who I want to be.”

Berry also explained that she is past caring what people think and joked that nobody is actually interested in what she does or said.

“Yeah, it doesn’t matter what they think. Do people really care?

Nobody goes home pondering what Halle Berry did or said!” Berry went on to admit that her priorities and goals are shifting, and while she has “gotten a lot” out of her professional life, she is now striving for “something more meaningful”.

I Was Bullied For Being Skinny – Tiwa Savage Mavin songstress Tiwa Savagew as bullied for being too skinny, as a child growing up in the UK. She made the revelation on Instagram, perhaps, as part of celebration of her mother’s birthday, Tiwa detailed the challenges she faced while growing up in the UK. According to Savage, she was constantly bullied for being skinny and black, a situation she said caused her to take certain drastic measures. “I would get jumped on the bus, head flushed down the toilet and so on. It got so bad that I did something drastic and life-threatening because I was so depressed. I was bullied for being African, skinny, dark and I had a strong Nigerian accent,” she wrote.

But she heaped praise on her mother for helping her pull through the difficult period.

“My mother was called to school on several occasions and, each time, she came she would ask to see the other students bullying me and would always pray for us all. Of course, they would joke and laugh but my mother was always so calm and reserved and she would take me home, cook some Nigerian food for me (we were living in London at the time) and try to make me realise how loved I was, how rich my culture is and how beautiful I am being a Nigerian girl,” she wrote. It was inspiring!

DY Mavis Set To Release New Single

Abuja-based musician Ejiemehye Mavis Aragbonfoh aka Dy Mavis is set to release a new song titled Desire. Desire is, primarily, a Highlife song. The song, produced by Mr Keyz, chronicles Mavis’ search for true love, before he finally found his Desire.

In a recent interview, the singer stated that”Most people go into music for the fame and money that’s why they release songs that have absolutely no meaning. Whenever I write my songs, I take my time. I always make sure the song has an impact in the life of my prospective listener. For example, my song titled Desire is a Highlife song I wrote with weddings in mind. It is also a song that celebrates love.”

KOBO To Hold Exhibition And Sales Day Looking good is serious business. This has led to the emergence of classy, high quality fashion brands in Nigeria today. KOBO (Knitters of Beautiful Outfits) is one of such brands. KOBO’s designs stand out; they are modern, realistic, all-inclusive and ready to wear.

KOBO is definitely going to be around for a long time. KOBO is also set to hold its annual exhibition and sales day on August 30, 2014 at Summerset Hotel, Maitama, Abuja by 2pm.

TiSPY

Which musician was bullied for being skinny?

Popular film-maker and, sometimes, social critic Charles Novia, recently shared his views about Nigerian celebrities taking part in the recent social media craze, the ALS Challenge.

“I am sorry to say, but our Nigerian Artistes are something else at times.

The ice bucket thing for ALS is a good example of their coltishness. They just want to trend on what foreign artistes do for a good cause. In Nigeria, they do it mostly for self-serving photo-operations. Sheesh! I’m sure most Naija (Nigerian) artistes pouring tepid water on themselves think ALS means another new version of an SUV from the look of their pictures. Disease wey dey kill una people for here na EVD (Ebola). Una nor take picture with sanitiser or showing that una dey wash hands to spread awareness; na ALS wey be slowkiller and nor even affect una people much na im una dey pour iceless water for una body? To prove wetin? Say una baff? Really!

Must you do it because it’s trending? If you must follow the Westrn world’s celebrities’ lead, then come together for Ebola. Dove tail on that. It’s really irritating, sha. And when you point it out, they will say you are yarning opata, when na dem start the opata wey cause the yarn. Enough of this second-class mentality.

Find the originality for positivity in your inner recesses. Don’t do it because Dr Dre or Beyonce did it. As usual, my opinion is basically my opinion. If e pain anyone, er...er…pour ice water for your body, enh. Lol. God bless.” TATTLES thinks Novia nailed this one.

The Things

They Said “I like Genevieve like crazy”

–Mercy Johnson, actress “I can’t date an entertainer” Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, OAP

FLiRT “Women with big booty turn me on” ALERT –Ikechukwu Ogbonna, actor

GOT A CELEB GIST? GET IN TOUCH!

August 29, 2014

TATTLES with Abisola Alawode

OUR EAR-ON-GROUND

A Yellow Sun And Its Many Controversies

S

ince its release, the movie adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s book Half of a Yellow Sun, has been marred by a variety of controversies.

First, was its delayed release (because of some scenes thought to be ‘sensitive’), then what some people called a “lack of efficient screen time” for the Nigerian actors in the movie.

One thing is sure; the movie has been in the news but not necessarily for the right reasons. NET’s Adedayo Odulaja takes a look at the movie and its many controversies.

“The announcement that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s award winning book will become a movie can easily rank among the best entertainment-related stories that have emanated from Nigeria. Besides a few people who think [that] having Hollywood actors in the movie is a disservice to the relevant slice of history that Half of a Yellow Sun (in book from or on the big screen), most Nigerians were more than excited.

While this is not another review of the movie, NET seeks to look at the entire project, putting in perspective its importance to the dream of a new Nollywood with functional storylines, quality pictures and ingenious directing, all of which the adaptation of Adichie’s great book combine.

There have been many controversial moments dotting the lane of the project and we look at some of them in this report, from those relating to the movie and others which concern

PUBLiC DiSPLAY

the politics and controversies trailing its cinema run.

Anika Noni Rose incredibly fails to play the Kainene character, just as Ugwu fails to come alive One cardinal sin when looking at book adaptations is to compare the resultant movie to the source material in terms of plot structure and chronology. That said, Anika Noni Rose doesn’t seem to understand the Kainene character she is supposed to bring to life and doesn’t do a good job of it, despite being a fantastic actor herself. John Boyega is another brilliant actor who fails to sparkle in his role as Ugwu.

Thandie Newton impressive as Olanna, save for her flawed Nigerian accent Save for her flawed accent, which is still inexcusable when one considers that her character and Anika Noni Rose’s are supposed to have studied abroad for a while, Newton shines in her role as Olanna. A stint of a few years abroad do not make your accent fade except if you are a Nigerian ready to impress on all [that] you have been abroad. Ask Linguists. Think about her inability to even pronounce the name, Ugwu, let alone being unable to speak a word of Igbo as Olanna does in the book and you’ll get the point.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie got too involved with the movie premiere and controversies Most writers are scared to commit their books to movie adaptations and are usually almost mortified, even, to behold the end product of such ventures. Not Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the Nigerian woman rightly hailed as one of Africa’s best writers.

She was involved in the project from the beginning, but got too involved by putting out statements when the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) delayed the film’s release in the country. The fact that a remix of KUSH’s Let’s Live Together was the movie’s sound-track was also another point.

Issues about funding and sales

“Don’t call him my ex-husband” –Comedian Princess speaks candidly on her failed marriage

grossly over-played Being a cross-continental production, the issues of funding regarding the movie have continued to rear their heads, placing on record its uttermost importance to the future and growth of Nollywood, especially as it concerns collaborations with Hollywood. Unknown to most Nigerians, 80 per cent of the budget of the film, $8m in total, was sourced through Nigerian investors, both individual and corporate. But with Nigeria accounting for about 60 per cent of the film’s crew and actors, including Zack Orji, Genevieve Nnaji, Onyeka Onwenu, Jude Orhoa, Tina Mba, Gloria Young, O.C Ukeje, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Chiwetel Ejiofor and others, some of that revenue has found its way to the Nigerian movie industry somehow.

Revenue versus cost figures don’t look impressive New data obtained by Nigerian Entertainment Today, NET, according to Image and Movie Database Pro (IMDBPro), shows that Box Office figures for the movie’s run in foreign cinemas are a little over N22m, so far, aside the pending earnings from Nigeria. Bench-marking N22, 848, 785 against the over N1bn expended on the project paints a very worrying picture for all concerned but redemption can still come from the cinema run in the country currently, although that is now threatened by the evil of piracy. The public relations stunts by the producers of the movie continue through sending out releases that the movie has become the highest-grossing film in Nigeria yet, but they didn’t release the figures that should lend credence to that claim.

What about Genevieve Nnaji as Kainene?

Finally, would it really not have been better for everyone and everything if Genevieve Nnaji had been cast as Kainene, for instance? Ever the queen, the grace she brings into her role as Miss Lara Adebayo is one of utter conviction and class.

TATTLES 47

Michael Agbo Idibia, father of rave musician 2Face Idibia, passed on to glory on Saturday, August 23, 2014. He died from complicatio ns owing to prostate cancer. TATTLES commiserate with the Idibia family. May Go d grant them the fortitu de to bear their loss.

Finally, Pop duo P-Square are set to release their sixth studio album. This was revealed recently by Peter Okoye, one half of the duo. Also, they will be releasing three new singles in the coming week.

Ini Edo is fast gaining a reputation as Nigeria’s best kisser. The Perfect Plan actress got two nominations in the Best Kiss in a Movie category of the 2014 Best of Nollywood Awards. She is up against Monalisa Chinda, Jackie Idumogwu and Beverly Naya.

Who knew record labels in Nigeria still spend huge sums on artistes?

It is rumoured that the fee for newest signee of Baseline Records (managed

by Howie T and Dipo Abdul), Skales, is in the region of about N200m! The terms of the contract ensures that he gets a brand new car, a house, cash advance and up-keep allowance. One hell of a deal.

TiP FOR “Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.”

THE TOP –Teddy Roosevelt

Call Bisola on 08126995258 Or e-mail at abisolaalawode@yahoo.co.uk

48

COLUMNS

Diary

Razak’s

co s y raz z y @ ya h o o. co m

I’m an impulsive guy with an insatiable thirst for adventure. This is all about my dalliances & escapades.

Trouble Versus ‘Nyanga’ I was driving to go see ‘Mama na’ in Bauchi on Friday. I’ve not seen her since she left the hospital and I felt it was time to leave the craziness of girls and the office, Etim and his mad girlfriend and the boring city of Abuja for some cool, dusty, quietness in Bauchi. At least, I was sure ‘Mama na’ would get some fish pepper-soup with some beef innards together. How I love that delicacy!

Well, I was on my way to Bauchi, driving in the Peugeot 206 Fanta got me from Kaduna. I smiled. That Gambian beauty must be drilling a huge hole in MD’s pocket, since I gave her that idea. She even started a business too.

Toop!Toop!

I looked at my cellphone. A text from Etim.

“We’ve agreed to go our separate ways. Moments agao, we had amicable sex; probably our last before we go our separate ways. She blames you for the whole thing, but I’m glad I’ll have to full concentrate on Nurse Tits.”

I smiled, as I typed: “That’s if you don’t find another one to please you at the same time. You know, you love two-timing.”

Instantly, I got a reply: “Just like you, idiot.”

At this time, I was around the Kugbo area. I laughed so hard, until other motorists and commuters started staring at me. I laughed a little more and increased the volume of Phil Collins’ ‘True Colours’.

In no time, LL Cool J’s Loving You came on. I suddenly felt my car filled with so much love. Like magic, I started thinking of Bhaira and her unconditional love. For all I’ve done and the trust I had abused, she still cared and loved me. Honestly, I wouldn’t do that; not even for myself.

I was so lost in my song, I didn’t see the young lady who was waving me down, until I was almost past. I pulled over.

She approached the front window and said in a cool voice; “Jos.” I smiled. Of course, I’d drive through Jos. “How much?” She asked.

“N5000” “Haba, oga, do you want to buy another car today?”

“I smiled some more and opened the door for her.

“I only have N1500 o. I don’t want problem.”

I noticed that her eyes were somewhat smoky.

Hmm, smoky-eyed beauty, I said to myself.

I was checking her out: full legs, finely proportioned bosom, almost invisible gut, a set jaw, slim waist…

“Can we go now?” She asked me, getting my attention off her body.

“Huh?” Brown skirt, pink body-hug and her hair packed in a tight bun. She also had on brown pumps with peeping toes.

Nice.

“I’m in. Can we go now?” She looked at me funny.

What a fool I was.

“Shebi, you’ll stop to carry other customers in Mararaba?”

“My dear, I am not a commercial motorist,” I said, almost annoyed. Was she trying to put me in my place?

Well, we’d see, wouldn’t we?

“Oh, forgive me,” she said, rubbing her legs.

“So, you like LL Cool J, huh?” She asked.

“Some of his songs, not all. I love any cool, emotional song that speaks volumes to me. Those are the only thing which makes sense in this world.”

SHARE

“Don’t you like ‘gbedu’?”

“Which one’s ‘gbedu’?” I asked, looking at her.

“Songs like Limpopo, Aye, Sekem, Over the moon and others?”

“They are okay for parties, dancing pleasures, not listening pleasure. Those songs are not for people who want to think; unless you want to think about a woman in a canal way,” I said, eyeing her.

“Is anything wrong with that?”

“Nothing; just that any 12-year-old who listens to the song will like to know what it’s all about. Simple.”

She relaxed. I was not a puritan, after all.

Shai’s ‘If I ever came’ on and I forgot about her for a spell, until my cellphone rang.

Bhaira.

I had a stupid grin on my face. “Baby, I apologise. I just passed Kwoi now and I said I would call you when I stopped to buy bottled water. How far na? How Enugu (she had gone to see her elder sister, Rakiya, in Enugu)?”

“Fine,” she answered. “How’s the trip going, so far?”

“Fine.”

“Be safe and careful,” she warned.

“Okay, love.” She was not warning me about security issues.

The reason for her warning her found her way into my car.

“Love you,” she said softly and hung up.

Some hours later, we were about leaving Jos when I remembered that my ‘passenger’ had said she would get off at Jos. “I almost forgot. Where are you getting off?”

“I’ll let you know when I get there. Where are you headed?”

“I’m going to see my mother in Bauchi,” I said.

“Won’t you branch over and sleep somewhere? It’s getting late, you know?” I gave her a side glance.

“Really?”

“Yes, this country is tough now o.”

“Well, I’m going home straight.” I knew her game right away, but I was not playing.

“Okay,” she said, when I got to the market somewhere along Bauchi Road, close to the market near the Army Barracks. “I’ll get off here.”

“Okay,” reaching across her bosom to open her door. I brushed against it slightly and caught a whiff of lavender body spray. Hmmm.

“Alright, off you go no. Take care. Use the N1500 to get things for younger ones,” I said, attempting to drive off.

“Wait now. Where you dey go?”

I smiled. “What?”

“I say where you dey go? What of my money?” Her voice was getting louder and she was getting me undue attention.

“What money?” I sensed trouble.

“Hmm, you go see pepper today o! Why you no want to give me my money?” At that, the market stood still and the problem suddenly dawned on me. I had given a hooker a free ride to Jos and she wanted me to pay for her running around. I should have known better.

She came over to the driver’s side, held me in a vice-like grip and began to yell.

“You must give me my money today o! How can you do when you don’t have money? Do I look like Mama Christmas?”

People had begun to gather and while many had smiles on their faces, I was biter deep down. How would I get out of this?

Write to us! Share your favourite recipes, TV shows, movies, and of course write to Matilda, Mimi and Rasaq. Send us your comments and suggestions on our features.

We want lots of feedback from you! fridayleadership@leadership.ng

When money speaks, the truth keeps silent.

August 29, 2014

Relationships For You, By Me

A Daughter’s Letter To Her Late Father

Hello Daddy, I write this to you now because it’s been a while since I spoke to you.

I think it’s mainly because I was and am still angry that you left us so soon. I know it wasn't your fault but I'm still mad at you.

What have I been up to? Mostly trying to make sure every step I take makes you proud but I find that that pressure to make you proud of me, doesn't allow me to be great. I feel, mostly, because I can't lie to you anymore because you can see all I do. It makes it even harder and I know all you've seen of me makes you unhappy. For that, I am sorry.

Daddy, I assure you that I tried to get that career that conventional career which will make me comfortable, ordinary and rich, but I found out that I was made for more. I have accomplished more than I ever thought I would; yes, it doesn't reflect in my bank account, but I know it will. I just imagined you giving me the ‘side eye’ and saying "I trust your decisions". You were that kind of father – so open-minded, yet set in your ways. You exposed me to so much at so young an age [that] I didn't understand then why you did that but I'm glad because it allows me stay ahead, heightens my curiosity and makes me look more ‘interesting’. You raised your daughters in a way that we could hold our own beside any man and anything (which has turned out to be both a blessing and a curse, I think).

Which brings me to the issue of love.

I promised you [that] I’ll find love and be a good woman to a good man, but it seems it’s not yet my time. I remember you and mummy got married in 1978 and chalked up 23 years of bliss. I want to be able to be with a man who can look at me 10yrs down the line and still feel fulfilled like it was yesterday. I want a man I can look at and know that if he dies, or even I died before my time, we will know how blessed we are to find what many have been looking for and never found. Daddy, love is tricky and I wish you were here to explain it to me the way you made every single thing into a scientific explanation. Maybe, then, I would have grasped the concept of love better.

Daddy I need you to know that I am happy. I know you see something else but I promise you [that] I am happy. I need you to know [that] I am not stunted by the needs of society, I have never conformed, I have made my own decisions, I have been strong, I have loved without question, I have derived joy from working to help others fulfil their dreams, I have seen potential in others and made sure they recognised it and I have always tried to be smart in all my dealings. I, sometimes, fear that being called "amazing" and "really cool" doesn't allow me gain the respect that I feel I deserve from the opposite sex and even my gender, and it makes me, sometimes, to want nothing but to be evil.

However, daddy, don't worry. With God by my side I could never, because He has been good to me without asking [anything] in return and I promise to be good to others without asking [anything] in return – that's not the Achineku way, that's not your way.

We both know I am not where I need to be yet but I see that smirk on your face, as if you see all my accomplishments and you can't wait for me to bask in it, like a movie you have seen the ending to already.

I love you and hate that I can't call you to tell you about this new song I heard and how hard it will sound on those mad speakers you just bought. I know you've seen your little girl hurt by men in the search for peace, by family in the search for belonging and by friends in the search for stability. I know you want to hold me and tell me [that] it’ll all be fine. Truth is, right now, as I write this, I feel your embrace and I feel you tap me on the head while I sit on your lap, like I always do, saying "get yourself together, woman. You’re mine, you'll always be safe, no matter what... you’re mine".

I am always yours, I will continue to make you smile and I will be with you again one day.

This is a letter from your own, your daughter to you. I love you, miss you and I will be eminent, no matter what. Why? Well, because you, Jotham Akighir Gusha-Achineku, never believed in limitations and, daddy, I don’t, either. Our fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. Daddy, I will not be ruled by fear. I will be me.

Hug your parent today, because as you grow old, so do they. Don't take advantage of them. If you always disagree, just agree to disagree and love one another. Tell them how much they mean to you, because tomorrow is never promised. www.miseducationofmimi.blogspot.com Mimidoo Achineku is a PR consultant in the SME, TV & Film industry.

She is a blogger, fabulous, old, depending on who you ask and she isn’t lonely!

— Russian proverb

FRIDAY SPECIAL/BOOKS & ARTS /49

August 29, 2014

With Chikelu Chinelo & Onukogu Kanayo Jubal

How To Win A $20, 000 Short Story Fiction Contest The Cesar Egido Serrano Foundation ‘Museum of Words Flash Fiction Contest’ is calling for submission of its 100 words short story contest that guarantees the winner a $20,000 cash prize, and three runner-ups cash prizes of $2,000 each. This couldn’t have come at a better time when Aerogramme Studio, a writers’ blog, published snippets on ‘how to write a short story’ by multiple New York Times’ bestselling writer Kurt Vonnegut Jr. The foundation’s contest, which attracts 20,000 submissions from over 100 countries, grows more competitive with this year’s theme, ‘Mandela: Words and Concord,’ though there are no subject or genre restrictions.

Writers, however, are to make submissions of original and unpublished contents in English, Spanish, Arabic or Hebrew languages. Any writer is permitted no more than two entries. Entries close on November 23, 2014. The contest is aimed at encouraging dialogue between diverse cultures, ideas, religion and sensibilities; it is a perfect means of showcasing topical, popular issues, cultures, especially the revelation of not-so-popular value systems.

To help writers create gripping imageries of their muse or cause, as the case maybe, here’s a look at Kurt Vonnegurt Jr. tips for writing very good short stories: Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted Give the reader at least a character to root for.

Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.

Every sentence must do one of two things – reveal character or advance the action.

Start as close to the end as possible.

Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading character(s), make awful things happen to them in order that readers may see what they are made of.

Write to please just one person (attention writers, not just yourself). If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.

Dash suspense. Give your readers as much information as soon as possible.

Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

Book Review: The Challenges Of Transforming The Civil Service Year Published 2014 Author Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) Pages 96 Chapters 10 For long, many have complained bitterly about the degree of change needed in Nigeria’s civil service. Complaints, complaints and more complaints found their way to the ears of the government. Very little came in the way of solutions, until the government decided to take the bull by the horns, appointing proactive individuals to head the nation’s civil service and institute some change in the process.

The book, The Challenges of Transforming The Civil Service is a strange book to classify; it is neither an autobiography nor a biography. Rather, it is about the achievements of the out-going head of the nation’s civil service, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji. In a nutshell, the book is all about Aji’s 15-month sojourn as head of the nation’s civil service and the bottlenecks which he encountered in the course of executing his duties.

The book begins with the history of the Nigerian Civil Service from the year of amalgamation in 1914 through the ’30s,’40, ‘50s and post-independence years, as well as the first efforts at reforms, which was highlighted by the Udoji Reform of 1974.

The book does not fail to mention the underlying issues with perpetrating reforms in the civil service.

However, the reader will inevitably get to wonder why, despite the attempt at reforms since the ’70 and a myriad of committee reports, the nation’s civil service still, seemingly, remains, to a large extent, at a crossroads.

The second chapter focuses on Aji’s courage to restructure the office of the head of the civil service of the federation (OHCSF).

According to the bureau, no one had cared to institute any form of change, though many did talk about the dire need for one.

Until the coming of Aji, that is.

This aspect of the work dissects the complete reformation of the structure and function of the OHCSF, from top to bottom, including the divestment of some functions which led to the creation of the BPSR and the Pensions Transition Arrangement. Somewhat surprisingly, it is acknowledged that not everyone in the service supports the restructuring and

the reforms which have, so far, taken place.

More to the credit of the author, it suggests a phase review to ensure that those who remain in the OHCSF are those who support the reforms.

The next two chapters deal with the professionalisation and welfare of the civil servant, in order to ensure better performance. Issues like those involving staff buses, pension schemes, housing schemes, training and retraining, mental and psychological well-being of the civil servant are all finely tied to the progress and performance of the service. According to the author, Aji did initiate these changes. Perhaps, one thing which the author points out – albeit in a rather non-obvious manner – is like a briefing for the new head of service and the need for him to continue with the said refomrs which were just beginning to gain grounds before Aji’s retirement.

Chapter five dwells, quite a bit too much if one may say, on performance management; what Aji did to better the situation and what must be done to further improve it.

Chapter six makes a huge case for the need to manage relationships in the service better; the relationship between the OHCSF and the FCSC, the unions, staff members of all cadres and what not.

Chapters seven to nine dwell on other issues that may not interest the reader so much – unless the in reader is a civil servant. These chapters, in all, make it clear that in 15 months Aji trode where many once feared to tread.

Accolades And Two Books As Goni Aji Calls Time On Service Thursday, August 14, 2014, in the conference room of the ministry of foreign affairs, Abuja, it was a rain of accolades, as most of Nigeria’s eminent civil servants gathered to celebrate the out-going head of the civil service of the federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji. There were unending credits for the man who is considered by many to have initiated practical reforms in the nation’s civil service.

The head of the Civil Service Commission, Deaconess Joan Ayo, called him “a firm, gentle, dedicated man who set about his duties with the fear of God and a great degree of fairness. We need to work for Nigeria, let Nigeria work.”

A permanent secretary with the service called the celebration of the outgoing HOCSF “a true indicator that serving one’s country is nothing more than a call to duty. Aji is what a good example of a public servant should be; detribalised, social, humble, gentle, tender and warming and encouraging transparent policies. He is a true nationalist, a true Nigerian”.

Two books were presented on the day; the first, titled Bukar Goni Aji: A Quintessential Civil Servant, written by a journalist, Abdullahi Buluma.

Buluma’s work highlights the humble beginnings of Aji and his emergence as one of Nigeria’s most practical civil servants, a man who gave his time in office to the fight against indolence and mediocrity in the nation’s civil service.

The second book, The Challenges of Transforming the Civil Service, a compilation by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, revolves around the changes that have been instituted within the nation’s civil service within Aji’s 15-month reign and the challenges which have assailed these achievements.

The director-general of the bureau, Joe Abah, while presenting the book, did not fail to point out the reason for the publication.

“Considering that Aji is a detribalised Nigerian, the book represents the most up-to-date accounts of the efforts, so far, of the out-going HOCSF to change the face of the reforms in the country and ensure that the approach undertaken is the right one,” he said.

Abah explained that since it is the duty of the bureau to celebrate achievers, what they have done and the legacies they leave behind, the bureau’s celebration of Aji’s accomplishments “is well and in order”.

Books from back then

Second Class Citizen By Buchi Emecheta (1989) Smart and determined, Adah pursues her studies with vigour, until her father dies and she is forced to marry Francis, a young man she scarcely knows. Still quite young and not wise with the world, she

takes her young family with her to London, where she becomes the family’s bread-winner.

She gets pregnant constantly, has to work with her pregnancy, cope with a racist society and endure

the non-chalance of a selfish husband who cares nothing about work but wants to lord it over his wife.

Worse, Adah cannot tell anyone about it…until the domestic abuses begin to come.

50

August 29, 2014

Hauwa Booth WOMAN ON THE LOOSE

Ff:@ofastupidwoman: Read @ www.diaryofastupidwoman.com

Waec’s Result: What Manner Of Future Leaders?

During a conversation, a friend mentioned how disappointing this year’s WAEC result is. More incredulous was her narration of what some of the students gave as reasons for their failure.

The reasons were too bad to be true. If they are anything to go by, the result of this steady decline in our educational system and the numbing of the students will be so catastrophic that, we will say, “truly, there was a country”.

One student blamed her failure on the strictness of the invigilators. Another couldn’t be bothered by the subject and paid someone else to write the exam. Another enjoyed the distraction of social media so much [that] he ‘studied’ that instead!

Inec’s Albatross

I’m not feeling charitable towards the INEC at all.

How can the highest body in charge of elections honestly think that five days will be enough to register intending voters? There must be a department that keeps the commission up to date with information such as the fact that, within the four years from the last election, more people turned 18, those who didn’t/couldn’t register for the last election still are not registered, that the political landscape has a new ‘mega party’ and has roused the interest of otherwise sleeping citizens. I was listening to a call-in programme on 106.3 FM addressing this issue with some INEC officials in the studio.

Their answers to the questions posed to them were mere rhetoric and punctuated with self-praise. The usual problems were encountered by the citizenry because of our half-hearted, disjointed and selfserving approach to issues. I mean, why did it take

We have youth who think nothing of cheating, who pride themselves on mastering shortcuts, who lack discipline and want the best of both worlds. As a result, we have a country churning out ‘barely baked students’ who can’t speak English, no cognitive reasoning skills, no grasp of the world around them and, certainly, lack ambition for the future…and these are the people who will, one day, be the leaders.

Sadly, we aren’t alarmed enough. Most commentators laid the blame at the feet of the government. I don’t think this search for an easy way out all the time will work, but it is a catch-22 situation.

citizen action for the INEC to realise that it needed to provide specific information as to where the voter registration centres will be? With the sheer population we all know we have in this country, why would only one centre be created to cover areas that could well be a state? Why would there be only two officers per centre? Sadly, when you finally get registered, you have to come the next day to vet your details before a temporary voter card is given? So you would have used 3 to 4 days on one person? The INEC has absolutely no excuse for this lacklustre outing. It had enough time to prepare and, I dare say, enough funds.

In the long-run, what the INEC representatives said, basically, was that they were taking stock of the complaints and that they will see what they can do.

Nonsense. Okay; they apologised for their missteps but that hasn’t gotten me registered!

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, CBN reintroduces ATM withdrawal fees! Though it is N35 cheaper than what it initially was, nonetheless, we have been robbed of the freedom of choice in a sense. Considering how tough things are, we are practically counting our nairas. Now that a fee has been reintroduced, we are going to see a lot more banks’ ATMs springing back to life and new ones being installed. Tsk! I had wanted to write a bit about the Men of Spartan and how they used wit, brutal military training (from age 7), dedication to country and war tactics to protect their country. However, I realised that it would probably be of no use, since the men who should be trained are no longer 7! Then, I got to wondering, if we will get to a time when all ablebodied men aged between 18 and 45 years will be drafted into the Army or else.....

HAVE YOU prayed for Nigeria today?

The Insurgents’ Hell The Insurgents’ Hell I can’t even remember how carefree we used to be; it seems like a lifetime ago. At every turn you take there is some form of security check, barricade or something to remind us that all is not well. Very soon, even the street hawkers will demand that we be screened before they sell their goods to us! Is this a life? Well, I guess there’s still something to be thankful for. I can’t imagine the horror the people of Borno State, more especially the hard-hit Gwoza, are facing. Why are the insurgents particular about Gwoza? Have our strategists unravelled this as a bid to using the knowledge to get at this group’s Achilles heel?

As if the over-running of Gwoza wasn’t enough, another community in Adamawa State has been over-run and our soldiers ‘tactically manoeuvred’ into neighbouring Cameroon! I hear they are ‘tactically’ back. Honestly, I think the dismal news we keep getting about the efforts of our Army should now be on a need-to-know basis. It is not doing anything for their morale or our blood-pressure.

I need some education fast on the new caliphate that has been declared in Gwoza. What happens to the Caliphate situated in Sokoto State? What do the other powerful Islamic councils like the emirs of Zazzau and Kano make of this, especially as the actions are mirroring that of the ISIS....?

The Rise Of Illegal Car Parks

Driving past Julius Berger round-about early one afternoon, I heard a conductor calling out for passengers heading towards Lagos. Initially, I wondered which area was called Lagos in Abuja when, suddenly, it dawned on me as I noted the vehicle he was pointing at that it was Lagos State he was referring to. On the opposite side of Mabushi, across the expressway, there is a bus park that has been converted to a car park for travellers to Kaduna-Zaria axis and it is slowly becoming a fixture. No action is being taken to put a halt to the growing illegalities. It is when they have become entrenched, complete with a constitution, worship areas and mini wheel-barrow marts that the bodies concerned with regulating these activities will come to dislodge them and we all know what will follow next. A word is enough for the people.

Ebola And The Return Of Schools The FGN has shut-down schools that run the American school calendar, directing that all schools resume mid-October. Apparently, this is in a bid to curb the rise of the Ebola epidemic. I don’t think that the FGN has realised that that action will give rise to another epidemic called ‘off our rockers’! Insanity will be your number one headache then!

WEEKEND

BiTES

Dear FGN, do you realise the torture these kids will mete out to us if we have to contend one more month plus with them?? I have run out of ideas on how to keep the rugrat preoccupied.

Don’t get me wrong; it is appreciated that you have thought about our well-being and the protection of our kids. I just hope you have the proper strategy in place to

A MOMENT OF PATIENCE IN A MOMENT OF ANGER PREVENTS A THOUSAND MOMENTS OF REGRET (need to learn that one).

FEEDBACK: LET’S HEAR FROM YOU

ensure the success of this school clamp down. If not, I fear you might extend the closure till [the] end of November! Please, have you considered that we all dress in Ebola-proof suits instead of shutting down the schools?

However, are you planning to close offices, places of business and worship too?

Sincerely, WOTL

Hello Readers, thank you for reading and spreading the word about this page. We are now ready for your feedback. Let’s hear your take. Constructive criticism and contributions will be published. Send thoughts to diaryofastupidwoman@gmail.com OR 08055241197 via TEXT ONLY. Don’t forget to include your name and location. Please bear with us if yours doesn’t make it onto the page.

KANNYWOOD trends

By Al-Amin Ciroma

August 29, 2014

email: alaminciroma@gmail.com. GSM: 08033225331 (sms only)

Indo-Hausa Flicks Killing Kannywood

K

annywood producers and directors have raised the alarm that the infiltration of Indian movies translated into the Hausa language into the industry is silently killing the Hausa movie industry. In unison, stakeholders believe that the act is being hamstrung by piracy and dishonest traders.

Kannywood Trends understands that marketers of the said products engage the services of Hausa linguists who understand Hindi to translate and lip-synch dialogues in the movies such that both the audio and video are perfectly synchronised with the actions that produce them.

They also ensure that the movements of a speaker’s lips match the sound of his speech.

It is given that Kannywood was originally inspired by the Indian Cinema typography (Bollywood), hence the production and styling of Kannywood movies in this same fashion. Also, songs in such Hausa movies are fashioned after Bollywood.

Thus, Kannywood blossomed and, for over two decades, has remained loved by Hausa-speaking communities across the country and in the Diaspora. But with the advent of the Indo-Hausa genre, activities of Kannywood – which accounts for a whopping N150m annually and employs thousands – are gradually being brought to a standstill. Ironically, even after so many sales, some producers hardly make any profits.

To make end meets, some producers now resort to producing jingles for corporates bodies and television drama series for local television stations.

Accusing fingers have been pointed at the censorship and copyright bodies for being too laid back and for their long silence over the circulation and exhibition of such movies.

Marketers, Producers, Actors Cross Swords Meanwhile, mixed reactions have continued to trail this recent development, as marketers, producers and actors have varying opinions.

Alhaji Rilwanu Smart (Marketer) “As far as I am concerned this is one of the good things that have happened to marketers. I therefore support the sales and circulation of the Indo-Hausa DVD movies. It may interest you to know that a copy of translated Indian movie is cheaper than the normal Hausa DVD in the market. So people can now use this opportunity to patronise us.

“Earlier, we had called on the producers to reduce the price of their

products, so as to beat pirates, but they refused. I remembered something like this happened in Nollywood when the producers detected that the activities of pirates were hurting their businesses. The first thing they did was to compete with them in prices, by reducing the price of their movies. In fact, they sell the same price with the pirates in a bid to push them out of business. By so doing, they were able to cub the menace in Nollywood.

“I am, therefore, calling on the Kannywood stakeholders to come to terms and seek ways of improving their products so as to beat the pirates at their own game. The circulation of foreign films in Nigeria started hundred years back, when certain American and Chinese films in VHS form were dubbed and exhibited throughout the country.

If you recall, none obtained the appropriate rights of the producers. The authorities were fully aware, but none of them raised the alarm; they are no crying foul, because Hindi movies are being translated and synchronised to the Hausa language,” Smart said.

they know the cost of production and post-production? Well, I will remind them that we have a working capital; we pay our production crew, actors, set designers and all others on board.

We know how much we spend from the pre-production to the level of exhibition, so as to ensure that we do our best to produce quality products.

They shouldn’t dictate to us. The reason they find piracy cheap is because they don’t own it (the original idea). It is called robbery!”

Nura Magaji (Chairman, Film Image/Chairman Anti-piracy Committee) “As a matter of urgency, producers of Hausa movies need to come to terms with marketers. We have been having series of round-table discussions where issues were deliberated and digested, but nothing practical was done. We all know there’s a problem, but, first, they should consider compromising on the prices of Hausa DVD copies, so that the encroachment of the Hausa-India can be checked.”

“Some of the guidelines include: 1. Censorship boards should make sure any person(s) interested in translating Hindi movies into the Hausa language should obtain the consent of the producer. He must submit an original letter of acceptance by the producer.

2. The letter must be accompanied by an endorsement from the Indian High Commission in Nigeria stating that the producer (from Bollywood) duly approves that his movies be translated by the marketer.

3. They should also censor the movie in accordance with the guidelines for censoring Hausa movies. Therefore, all manners of callousness, vulgar statements [must] be edited out of the movies.

“We believe this will go a long way in discouraging the pirates.

Falalu Dorayi (Producer/Director) “The advancement of Hausa-Indian movies into the market has succeeded in killing our business. Kannywood creates job opportunities for hundreds of thousands of the society’s teeming youths and accounts for about N50m tax to the federal government annually; yet, they don’t protect the interest of the business. The parastatals and regulatory bodies in charge of film matters don’t do their work effectively. If not, why do they allow the inflow of foreign films into our markets?

“The most annoying thing is that the content of the movies are not in line with our customs. Most times, the dialogues are discourteous, nasty and disgusting and, sadly, our children have access to these movies. What is the censor’s commission doing to correct these insensitivities?

“Funny enough, some marketers make silly excuses that producers should compromise on the prices of their movies. This is greed! Do

Ismail Na’Abba Afakallah (Producer/Stakeholder) “The encroachment of the Hausa-India movies into our markets has succeeded in sending so many producers packing. Most of them are out of business now and we can’t afford to let it continue. In our capacity as stakeholders, we held several fora, deliberated on the matter and have, conclusively, come up with some guidelines which we are going to forward to the appropriate quarters, but first to the censor bodies.

Sabi’u M. Gidaje (Actor/Producer) “This is a clear act of piracy and the copyrights commission is exhibiting nonchalance in containing the menace.

Another problem about the Hausa-India flicks is that most of the translations do not appeal to our audience, because they confuse them a lot. I call on the authorities to come to our rescue.”

Hauwa Maina (Actress/Producer) “I am totally against it. If the pirates want to produce Hindi movies, why don’t they go to India and shoot, or go on joint productions rather than [engage in] this nonsense?

“Our marketers have succeeded in killing Kannywood. People should know that Hausa movies were orig-

With money you can buy a bed, but not sleep.

— Chinese Proverb

Ismail Afakallah

Falalu Dorayi

Hauwa Maina

Sabi’u Gidaje

inally inspired by the Indian films.

Back then, teeming Hausa communities see Kannywood movies as a recipe for what they need. But now, it is as if the marketers are taking them back to where they were coming from, making our Hausa movies irrelevant.

“This is clear act of sabotage and the censor board is only watching them, giving them cover.”

weekend flavour With Solomon Nda-Isaiah

August 29, 2014

My Music Is About Expressing Myself – Lady Donli

Ngozi Ezeonu Bags Chieftancy Title Again

By SAMUEL ABULUDE, Lagos

Actress and screen heartthrob, Ngozi Ezeonu, has scored another plus for herself, with a new chieftaincy title.

The title, Ezenwanyi Ndigbo na Nollywood (Mother of Igbos in Nollywood), was conferred on her by the Igbo Film Forum (IFF) founder, Harris Chuma.

Ina statement, Chuma revealed that his organisation had crowned the notable Nollywood actress recipient of the chieftaincy title because of her immense contributions in the propagation, promotion and projection of Igbo culture as well as her dedication to duty.

Ezeonu, who trained as a journalist at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), is a worthy recipient of the award for the second

Oga Bello

‘Asaolu-led ANTP Is Bound To Fail’

By SAMUEL ABULUDE, Lagos

The Yoruba film theatre union, known as the Association of National Theatre Practitioners, ANTP, is presently enmeshed in chaos, owing to a lack of trust in the leadership by a section of the congress.

Last week, a national executive committee (NEC) meeting with some elders sympathetic to the ANTP national president, Victor Ashaolu, were held in Ibadan and the elders namely Jimoh Aliu, Lere Paimo and others, accused Comrade Ashaolu of not carrying them along in the scheme of things.

Aliu, who addressed the

Ngozi

time.

She was first conferred with the title back in 2011, when she was crowned the ‘Igbo Cultural Ambassador’ by the Igbo Bu Igbo Cultural Movement Worldwide. ‘‘It took us four years of critical search and short-listing before the leadership of the IFF and ONN (Ohanaeze Ndigbo Nollywood) settled for the delectable screen goddess and veteran actress Ngozi Ezeonu,’’ Chuma disclosed.

The actress was presented with her staff of office at the Igbo Film Festival which held on August 27, 2014, at the Nelrose Hotel, Asaba, Delta State.

press, opted to start his own group, adding that the leader had unilaterally taken decision on his own without consulting the elders.

From all indications, the rug is about to be pulled from under Asaolu. Already, those who backed him to win his court case against the former president, Dele Odule, have begun to opt out in turns.

"Fightings in the ANTP is not new to me. I'm not surprised, since Asaolu himself has always fought the ANTP leaders before him. He did the same when I was the president many years ago.

"Pertinent is the fact that late Hubert Ogunde predicted, many years back, that this same Asaolu will divide the ANTP. He said so while Asaolu was a young and adventurous activist whose interest in the arts never yielded fruits. I'm behind TAMPAN, a new body and I decided to pull out of the ANTP with my members, because I foresaw this chaos. We don't need this division but I'm sorry, this is where we find ourselves now," said Oga Bello.

Singer Zainab Donli is an upcoming artiste set to leave a big mark on the Nigerian entertainment scene. In this interview with Solomon NdaIsaiah, she shares her aspirations.

The unique singer’s music career started in church, just like many of today’s singers. "I sang in church and at school. I also used to write poetry because I was not sure I was cut out to be a singer. After that, I did some rap. One day, while I was rapping, some people told me of how amazing my voice is and advised me to consider singing professionally.

Since then I have pursued it vigorously, though the journey has been tough. At first, my parents were not in support of my music but when they saw that I was also doing well in my academics, they were ok with my music," she said.

Given Donli’s agae, it is a bit surprising to learn that the first-year law student of the University of Surex, United Kingdom, has been singing for 10 years. "I have recorded four songs which are presently on my about-to-be-released mixtape. Before now I have released four singles which are yet to make waves," she said.

Donli’s mix-tape is ready, after two years of hard work and the listening party has been slated for Saturday, August 30, 2014, at the Platinum Lounge, Silverbird, and the singer has promised that it will be an entertaining experience.

She also revealed that the

12 songs on the album are a combination of R& B and Soul.

Though Donli began in the choir, she never intended to do Gospel music. No wonder, then, that the singer fingers Lauryn Hill as one of her influences. “She reminds me of when music used to be so pure,” she said.

"I joined the choir because I needed a platform to build myself.

I used to go for rehearsals, but I was in boarding school. After a while, I stopped. True, I am a Christian and a believer but I don't do Gospel because I want my music to express my personality and my journey so far.

“I want my music to speak to people in a way that other females can relate to, because I think that music is about expression," she said.

As far as the mix-tape is concerned, Donli’s favourite number is Skeleton, a song which she says is her favourite.

"I like the song because it talks about [the] secrets in one's life. Most times, people tend to hide behind a mask, because they have so many secrets. This song advices you to be real, be yourself and refrain from bothering about what other people say. We should be able to remove the mask.

Donli

“In the album, I also talk about feminism, although I don't consider myself a feminist. I just like to do songs that empower other females, especially those who are shy. Someone once told me that, because of my gender, I may not go far in music. That is a stereotype I am very much committed to removing,” she said.

Donli also believes that she can make an impact on the Nigerian music scene with her style of music. "I want my music to actually speak to people, not just the usual dance songs that we always hear. When you hear my music you can relate it to an actual event in your life. Dance music is essential, because it makes people happy but there are times when people just need music for selfreflcetion," she said.

The singer, who aims to become a lawyer when she is done with law school says

she is inspired by Beyonce, Asa and Nneka, because of their unique style of music.

For all her drive and enthusiasm, Donli’s challenge is getting people to listen to her unusual songs and like her style of music.

“Basically, people do not want to listen to my type of music because it is not the usual thing you hear. People have been making some negative comments; with some advising that I release a ‘party’ jam, because people love to dance. They don’t want to listen to slow songs but, inspite of the negative comments; I am determined to go on Awith what I believe in”. Donli also advises other upcoming artistes, especially ladies, to be determined in their pursuits. Make sure you learn your craft very well so [that] you can be distinguished in what you do,” she said.

Davido Featured In Kcee's New Single

By SAMUEL ABULUDE, Lagos

His new work, Ogaranya may just be a hit-single like Limpopo, but that has not deterred MTN Ambassador, Kcee from working hard to thrill his fans and get to the top of the hit-list.

The video for Ogaranya might just be on the horizon, if pictures of him and BET Award winner Davido on location are anything to go by.

Ogaranya, WEEKEND FLAVOUR learnt, was premiered last week

Thursday on front-line music television station, MTV base.

Kcee has, in the last two years, released great singles like Pull Over, Okoso, Hakuna matata, Fine Face and the greatest hit so far, Limpopo.

With money you can buy a book, but not knowledge.

— Chinese Proverb

Kcee

53

August 29, 2014

Ribadu: Dilemma Of A Political Party

Stanley Nkwocha Our Eye On Power And Politics

Feedback: stanleyn@leadership.ng

08038011382 (text only)

2015: Is Buhari In The Race For Real?

Adamawa State is surely not the best of spectacle for the ruling Peoples Democratic Part (PDP) at the moment. The aspiration of the former boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) , Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has all but stood the party.

Just to allow time for more consultations, the PDP has shifted its screening of aspirants till tomorrow where it is expected that the die would then be cast and everyone will know his or her stand.

It is obviously clear that Ribadu’s aspiration has ignited confusion amongst stakeholders in the PDP and as it is while the APC seems to have its house in order, commotion seems to be an understatement to the fix the PDP has found itself in.

Needles to say that this ‘fix’ is what the PDP has brought upon itself when the rules of the game get shifted to accommodate individual desires and wishes. The APC seems calm and calculated on its readiness for the Adamawa election. While the PDP seems the most favoured to win the election ( a reason for Ribadu’s defection to the PDP),an undisputable fact remains that except the PDP puts its house in order and put forward a candidate that will command the followership and respect of both PDP chieftains and the Adamawa electorate, the party may be headed for a shocker at the October by-election.

Reports yesterday suggested that all time presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is set to formally announce his intention to contest the 2015 presidential elections.

If this is true, it would be the 4th time the former head of state would be aspiring to lead the country again after having had a go as a military

head of state.

Hmmmm! I don’t know.

Against the risk of being said to be on an errand, I wish the General luck this time.

But he must also know that what he owes the younger generation is mentorship, not this power quest he and others have indulged in since 2003. Time comes when guests must leave a party, no matter how fun it is. Wish him the best of luck.

Stan’s Memo

Musings

i

How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four.

Calling a tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg - Abraham Lincoln

Is there a positive correlation between the bulgy stomachs of past Inspectors general and their corrupt inclinations?

Just figured out that while Tafa Balogun, Sunday Ehindero , Ringim all had cases after service, the slim fit ones like Mohammed Abubakar just pass through as if they never controlled budgets.

Tactical Maneuvering My Foot!

As reports that about 480 soldiers of the Nigerian Army had escaped to neighbouring Cameroun poured out last Monday, not a few Nigerians were taken aback as the implications came hitting us directly on the face. But the Defence Headquarters has been quick to explain that the soldiers only engaged in what they described as ‘tactical maneuver’ .

What ever that means!

I still re-emphasise that few months ago, when Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima deplored the very appalling condition of our Nigerian soldiers in terms of warfare and welfare, he got attacked for deliberately attempting to stoke crisis. But with the embarrassing ‘tactical maneuver’ of our soldiers to Cameroon, need anyone be told of what the real situation is.

The true situation is that the Boko Haram group outran and overwhelmed the Nigerian soldiers who had to flee to Cameroon. If that is what the Nigerian Army calls ‘tactical maneuver’, then they are dead right. If not , they had better get us another befitting military terminology. This one does not sell.

The war against Boko Haram must be seriously fought and not be conducted on military terms. It is either the Army is well equipped, motivated and funded

Go Well, Akunyili or it is not. If in one fell swoop, the Boko Haram sect overran the Police training facility in Gwoza and overwhelmed our soldiers forcing them to run to Cameroon, what was the ‘tactical maneuvering’ there?

Like I said last week, it is high time the president engaged a neutral team to audit the Nigerian Army and its assets with a view to avoiding the ugly and embarrassing trend of this week. Else, there shall continue to be a thousand and one more ‘tactical maneuverings’.

Finally, former minister of information and NAFDAC boss, Prof. Dora Akunyili has been laid to rest. A woman of many parts who will forever live in our hearts.

Akunyili lived the life of a stallion, leaving her imprints wherever she went to. She succumbed to the deadly effect of cancer in India just few months ago.

A rare Amazon has bowed out of the scene after living the life. As we pray for the peaceful repose of her soul, it is our fervent wish that the life she lived on earth inspires and produce a million more Amazons. Rest in peace the people’s hero.

You will forever live in our hearts. Adieu Dora.

Power Play: Danagogo Vs Maigari While the fire which razed the Glass House building of the Nigeria Football Federation seems to have been quelled and brought under control, a new ‘fire’ is being set at the Glass House secretariat as both minister for sports, Tamuno Danagogo and

factional chairman of the NFF, Aminu Maigari have squared up against each other.

While the duo are flexing muscles over the control of the NFF, Chris Giwa who seems to be the anointed son of Danagogo has resumed office

after what was described as a ‘shambolic’ election took place last Monday. As this goes on, Maigari insists that he remains the bonafide chairman of the NFF and has set elections for the NFF for September 4.

As if to show that the ‘fire’

is just beginning, folks like Umeh who fought Maigari and eventually contested and lost to Giwa have made a detour and now pitched tent with old foe –Maigari, describing the same elections they participated in as ‘shambolic’. What an NFF!

Not every movement is progress; Some movements are just a way of burning fats! ― Israelmore Ayivor

54 FRIDAY INTERVIEW

August 29, 2014

My Experiences With APC, PDP leaderships – Gombe Having worked with chieftains of both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Shuaib Gara Gombe talks about his views of the parties.

He spoke with STANLEY NKWOCHA. Until now, you worked with the Kano state governor, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as an adviser. Before then you had also worked with former PDP chairman Bamanga Tukur as his adviser too. Now you are back to the PDP. Would you not say you are unstable?

You know in life when you are going up as a human, you are bound to face this kind of situation especially in a country like Nigeria. As a student of Nigeria’s political development process, with the brief stay I had with Kwankwaso as special adviser on sports development and also with my former position like you have said with Alhaji Tukur, I would like to say that it was a difficult situation for me in and out of the PDP. I have not been a really core active politician that you can think, I’m only a strategist. I don’t take part in party elections because as a matter of principle, I never liked the way we play our politics when it comes to elective positions.

My experiences with Kwankwaso had its good sides and bad sides. And I would like to report here that Kwankwoso does all his thinking himself. If there is anybody that tells you that he tells Kwankwaso what to do, that person is lying. Yes, he can listen to you very well but he takes his own decisions. And I can tell you, all the projects you see in Kano are his own designs. He sits down and thinks about it, then tells whosoever to execute it. He may get your inputs but don’t think that is final. He always has a second opinion before he takes decision.

Unfortunately, for the brief he gave me as his special adviser on sports, I came with a mission knowing fully the type of person he is. But unfortunately, some people within his government and in the state could not see it that way.

And that was the bad side of my own experiences.

But some of the things that happened while I was adviser to Kwankwaso are not things that I would like to reveal now because I believe they are still classified. But at the right time, when these issues lose their classifications, I’m gladly going to share it with the public.

Your being close to Kwankwaso allowed you to really hobnob with the APC leadership just as you did with the PDP leadership under Bamanga Tukur. Could you draw a line between the politics in the PDP at that level and that of APC?

I must tell you that Kwankwaso did send me to the APC progressive governors forum in Abuja. He was scheduled to make a speech that night. When I was going I asked him; ‘Sir when I go and it’s time for you to speak what do I say’?

Because if I go there I’m not representing Kwankwaso, I’m more or less representing Kano State. He said that at the meeting I should announce that he was on his way to the APC then. I’m the first person that publicly went on air and announced that Kwankwaso is coming to APC. When I got there in Abuja, I was privileged to meet with about nine of the APC governors including General Buhari and some of the leadership there. I can tell you, why he chose me to go although not an indigene of Kano State, but at that time I was his adviser. Being an adviser on sports that means he can assign any responsibility to me. That was where my problem in Kano started, that who is this commoner from Gombe State that will come and go to a function of progressive governors to take pictures and be beamed with news reports sitting side by side governors or people like General Buhari. That was where my problem started and I saw it coming. I think he himself realized that, so unfortunately even when the progressive governors were organizing a function right inside government house

Gombe

in Kano, I was not even invited. The protocol department had a list of political appointees from Kano State that were invited.

I want to tell you that it is the same kind of politics that we are playing in the PDP that is being played in APC. The only difference is that you have one character in APC that we do not have in PDP and that is General Buhari character.

Even if we have those that have that character of Buhari in PDP, it is not pronounced.

What do you mean by character?

The kind of antecedence he has, being an honest and sincere person with high integrity and I can tell you, if you take out Buhari from APC, we are all the same as far as I’m concerned.

When you look 60 or 70 per cent of the leadership of the APC and those who are playing the politics in APC, you will see they are the same thing. They all started with the PDP. Those kind of things that are happening in the APC today are those kind of things that were in PDP that made most old PDP members move across to APC. Yes, there are differences of identity in terms of flag, motto, logo and the rest. There are also differences in perhaps manifesto, slogan but I can tell you, the actors; the promoters, the templates are all the same. I can tell anybody I know what is going on.

I personally never liked what happened to Chief Tom Ikimi . I knew him for very long time. I thought that for me as a person, if you ask me to bring one person in APC to be the National Chairman, I will point at him. It is not that the one they have chosen does not have the credibility or the antecedence to be elected chairman of the APC. But the truth must be said. They both play the same kind of politics; the same kind of imposition and the rest of it. I don’t want to belly bore you so much with the examples that is the same in what happened in PDP that is happening in APC, I will reveal that later.

You are from Gombe State and already the political tension in Gombe is already building up ahead of 2015. Do you see a smooth election inGombe State?

Well, let me tell you this, people are celebrating Danjuma Goje today because Ibrahim Dankwabo has been very careless. If Dankwabo wasn’t careless, how can Goje be holding him to ransom as it is. Our people are still not happy with him, but because Dankwabo gave in so much that is why someone like Goje can go back and intimidate

him. Unfortunately, Goje has his own agenda and I want to say it very clearly, it is not the promotion of the message that APC is bringing that made Goje to be in APC. Goje wants Dankwabo out by all means. It does not matter to him whoever becomes the governor of Gombe state tomorrow provided Dankwabo is out. That is Goje for you.

Secondly, Goje went to Gombe and decided to behave in the same manner he behaved when he was governor for eight years under PDP. It was the same kind of attitude, lack of transparency and despotic character he took back to APC and wants to use in promoting APC in Gombe.

Yes they might have a very good message but when the messenger is bad, the packaging of the message is bad, nobody is going to buy. Just like when you produce a very good product, no matter how fine the product is, when the packing is bad, you have already spoilt the product.

Then later on, we had a deputy national women leader in APC who is from the state and she had wanted to contest for the national woman leaders and she worked so hard to make sure North East got the women leadership of the APC. But Goje went and turned everything round; re-negotiated with North Central with Burkola Saraki, his fellow former governor and swapped the woman leader position with youth leadership because he wanted to give it to his son in-law Dasuki ; the same person he wanted to impose as governor or representative which we refused, now he brought him as national youth leader and that was how that woman, north east and Gombe lost that position.

The name Gara Gombe used to shake the sports circle but over the years, we’ve seen the activism which you usually brought into sports got deployed to politics.

What is your take on the latest crisis Andre Nigeria Football Federation and what is the way forward?

That crisis is very unfortunate. We have been having crisis in the NFF every four years, whenever its world cup period, when people are celebrating world cup, we are celebrating crisis. In 2006, 2010 we had it and it is 2014, we are having it. But we have to stop at one point to correct the mistakes of the past. How? We have a minister who is a politician, we have a DG who is also a politician and all of them came with their own agenda. There are insinuations that they want to contest elections. But if you want to contest for election, do not destroy our happiness. The minister, because of his lack of experience in sports did not manage the crisis very well.

That is why we are going into all these mess. And also there are certain interests coming from people who don’t know anything about sports but because they have money, they want to come and take over everything from football.

The only condition that will make me go into sports administration now is when government says; look we are taking our hands off from sports. I have been saying it; the NFA Act 2004 should be completely abrogated to give full private sector control of football. That is when it will be interesting for me. I don’t have energy and time to go and start quarrelling with the minister of sports. No, let it be one hundred per cent private sector driven.

Look, in the UK, France or elsewhere, have heard that the chairman of the football federation is quarrelling with the sports minister or secretary? What the government does is to provide the enabling environment.

On the other side, look at the National Sports Commission, the only commission without commissioners.

You have a DG, a chairman and a minister, national sports commission. Which kind of arrangement is that? If you want to call it the national sports commission, there must be commissioners and because somebody at that time wanted to use the commission to be powerful, he turned it to be DG and even as he has left, other people are still following the same pattern.

That is why every time we have a championship, millionaires get to be produced. So there are serious institutional decay as far as sports is concerned, so much corruption, so much in-fighting and too much politics that we do not need.

Wisdom is not like money to be tied up and hidden. ~ Akan proverb

W men In Politics

August 29, 2014

ANALYSIS

INTERVIEWS

55

DISCOURSE

Integrity Should Count In 2015 – Dr. Lemu Dr. Aisha S. Lemu, is the Director for Non-Governmental Organizations, Neighbour to Neighbour Initiative. She is the MD/CEO of Hammaj International Ltd., and also the President/Founder of Major General SM. Lemu Memorial Foundation. In this interview with Hauwa Mahmud Madugu, she emphasizes the need for each and everyone to exercise their voting rights come 2015, among other issues.

There are about ten contenders vying for the governorship seat in Niger state, who do you think holds the highest chance to emerge governor come 2015

Well, may the will of God be done in Niger State. May we have a leader and a governor that will take the mantle from where the chief servant has stopped. That is my prayer. My prayer is for the state to have a just leader who will consider the plight of the women and youth, especially the widows. A governor that will consider everybody, and also make the security of the state paramount among other things. I don’t want to mention anyone because only God knows who will be best for the state. And we pray to him to give the position to anyone that will improve the state greatly.

At time of elections, contestants are fond of luring voters with gifts like money, rice and so on. What is your take on this?

I will say people should not look at what is been given to them. They should look at the personality. Vote for who you know will help in developing the country. Look beyond the little gifts and look at the bigger picture. Because at the end of the day, every vote counts.

Any chance you will be vying for any post in 2015?

For now I enjoy what I am doing. Maybe someday, but not now. I believe the future lies with God Almighty.

Are you indirectly saying you are not cut out for that?

No. Everyone is cut out for politics either directly or indirectly. Well, if I am called to serve my country, sincerely I will be willing to serve. After all I am a citizen of Federal Republic of Nigeria, so I should be willing to answer any call to service.

I am talking about elective positions where you will be voted in

I don’t have any intention to contest for an elective position now. All I want to do for now is to touch widows and orphans.

To help impact their lives positively. I am

into various empowerment programmes based on my current position in Neighbour to Neighbour Initiative. So for now, I have a lot on the table. It’s not like the two can’t go hand in hand, but for now our major concentration and concern is empowerment.

Do you think the current security crisis in the country may have negative impact on the 2015 general elections?

I don’t think we should be scared because the security of the country lies not only in the hands of the federal government. It is for the state government, the local government, the communities, and for individuals. So it is our collective responsibility to make sure that everything goes well within our environment. I keep asking people, do you now your neighbor? Do you know the people living on your street? So we should start from there. If everybody in a street knows the people living on that street and they see any strange or irresponsible person moving around, they should report to the securities.

If we can do this, I think the security situation will improved greatly, and there will be no cause for alarm.

Any word of advice for the electorate?

Everyone should go and collect their permanent voter’s card. It is your right to vote. It is the right of every citizen to vote, so I will advise everyone who hasn’t gotten his/her card to go and get it so that they can be able to exercise their human rights.

Despite being in politics, you are concentrated more in philanthropism. What is the inspiration?

I work with Neighbor to Neighbor Initiative and I am now the Director for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s). I have been doing philanthropic work even before I started working with Neighbor to Neighbor Initiative.

Presently, we have just registered Major General SM Lemu memorial foundation and the foundation is going to be basically taking care of the masses and

Lemu

the under privileged, especially widows and orphans because I have special interest in them. I am a widow and I know what widows go through. We are going to launch the foundation in due course. The crash that took away the lives of my husband and his colleagues happened on the 17th of September, 2006. This year will make it eight years after the crash so I intend to launch the memorial foundation this year. I also intent to get advice from our Royal Father, the Etsu Nupe, HRH Yahaya Abubakar, and hopefully he is going to be the patron of the foundation. Also, my state governor, the chief servant, Gov. Babangida Aliyu, former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, and former president, General Abdulsalam Abubakar too as well. I am going to consult with them because my late husband was from Niger state and we want all of them to participate fully.

We are going to start the foundation

War is not porridge. — Gikuyu Proverb

in Niger state since that is where he is from. We are going to a have branch office in Abuja, and then hopefully branch out to other states like Kano and Lagos.

You were honoured recently by the Commonwealth University with an honourary doctorate degree. What do you think led to the recognition?

I will say it has to do with my philanthropic work. I feel very honoured because I was chosen from so many to be honoured. I thank Allah for this and promise to do more philanthropic work for the masses, especially widows, orphans, and the displaced. I pray to Allah to bring total peace to Nigeria as a nation and plead to the aggrieved people to seek peaceful resolution to issues and to join hands with government in bringing peace and development because it takes the participation of all to develop.

56 interview

August 29, 2014

‘Why I Was Removed From The PDP National Working Committee’ Bala Ka’oje is a former minister of sports and also the immediate past national treasurer of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview with DAVID ADUGE-ANI, he explains how he was unfairly removed from the National Working Committee of the PDP just because he spoke the truth. He also speaks on other national issues.

As a PDP chieftain and former member of the National Working Committee of the party, how credible are the insinuations that your party is planning to give President Jonathan right of first refusal?

I actually cannot comment on that question for the simple fact that such a statement can only come from the chairman of the party.

Secondly I used to be the member of (NWC) of our great party but I was unfairly removed from the National Working Committee just for the simple fact that I always said the truth and nothing but the truth. Also some people insinuate that I am an Obasanjo boy and perhaps that was part of the reasons why nobody cared to protect me despite the fact that my contributions in meetings and other gatherings of the party were outstanding and aims at improving the lots of our party and democracy in Nigeria.

On the issue of Obasanjo, I will like to say that I have no regret whatsoever that I had kept my relationship with former President.

I am also proud to tell the whole world that we remain inseparable until death do us part.

One of my reasons for keeping relationship with my bosses is that it expresses my unflinching loyalty to my boss. Therefore whoever God has made a president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, whether I am working with him directly or indirectly, my loyalty to that him is 100%.

So it is not out of place for me to be keeping relationship with former or serving presidents of this country. It is a normal thing for me because I have such respect for the leadership. President Jonathan is not an exception, he know that I am loyal to him but some other people who see me as a threat may to their political ambitions may have been telling the president a different story

BananaRepublic RESTAURANT

Ka’oje

about me which of course is false. Most of the things they have told him are just lies and that makes me wonder why Mr. President seems to have believed what they told him and never bothered to protect me when I was been castigated and kicked out of the NWC of our great party.

Several interest groups from your state are worried over your silence to the many calls for you to contest for the governorship position of Kebbi State come 2015. Why are you reluctant to answer the call of your people?

Thank you very much for that question,

I have been called upon by a number of concerns citizens of my state to seek for the leadership of the state come 2015. I also know that all the stakeholders that had shown interest in me to come and contest have their own reasons for showing such interests. I have been looking at their requests very-very closely for some time now and it is indeed time for me to make my own analysis after some wide consultations with major stakeholders and party stalwarts in the state to see how that could be possible.

I realized that I have some predicaments that are working against my declaring for the coveted seat of the governor of Kebbi State come 2015. One of the major reasons is that the current governor whose tenure will be ending in 2015 having served two terms allowed by law is from the same zone with me.

As a matter of fact we are neighbours in terms of the local government areas we come from.

I am from Bagudo local government, while my governor is from Suru local government.

Secondly, the incumbent governor has also shown interest to go to the National Assembly on completion of his tenure as a governor. This two major factors had made it almost impossible for me to go ahead to answer the calls made by my people to run for the position.

Naerls forum

August 29, 2014

National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, ABU Zaria Contact: Dr M.K Othman - 08065571637. mkothman@gmail.com

Review Of Research-Extension-Farmer-Inputs-Linkage System (REFILS) In Nigeria And The Roles Of NAERLS (4) In recent years, another zone South-South Zone was created with NIFOR, Benin City as the coordinating NARI. The coordination involves planning and conducting of Zonal Steering Committee, Zonal Technical Committee meetings in-house review meeting conduct of MTRM/QTRM, OFAR among others activities.

S/N Zone REFILS Coordinating NARI States ADPs 1 North East Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri, Borno State Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe.

2 North West Institute for Agricultural Research, ABU, Zaria, Kaduna State Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi.

3 North Central National Cereal Research Institute, Badegi, Niger State F C T , Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Niger, Kwara 4 South East National Roots crops Research Institute, Umadike, Abia State Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia, Imo. 5 South West Institute for Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan, Oyo State Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti, Lagos.

6 South South Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, Benin City, Edo State Cross River, Akwa Ibom, River, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo. Coordinating NARIs are responsible for implementation of OFAR and Training in collaboration with the relevant stakehold-

NAERLS Administrative block

ers. OFAR is one of the critical REFILS activities which are implemented through the following stages: i. Diagnosis/problem identification and trial planning. ii. On-station research. iii.On-farm research Similarly, training as one of the major activities of the coordinating NARI in collaboration with NAERLS, The following categories of trainings are conducted y the NARI. 1. Orientation/refresher training for new staff and professional members of OFAR Team and other extension activities.

2.

Pre and Post Season Trainings designed to teach technical and field staff on trials, product protocol of new varieties, processing, handling of Agric. Produce, offfarm activities etc.

3. Monthly Technology Review Meeting. This training is aimed at up-dating the knowledge of production handling and processing recommendations of Agric produce.

4.

Special Short Courses: This is designed to upgrading and develops skill of the technical/extension staff for specific issues.

Constraints There three major constraints of T and V implementation and by implication the implementation of REFILS in Nigeria.

Some of the Constraints are: 1. Underfunding of the ADP system, ADP provides the necessary structure to reach out to the farmers for technologies transfer and also field problems identification and feedback to research centres. Currently, the ADPs are being funded by their respective states governments and most of the states are grossly under funding the ADP system. This has made it impossible for the ADPs to be effectively engaged in research and extension activities. Most of the ADPs received less than 30 percent of their annual budgets.

2. Manpower shortage: ADP system is suffering from man power shortage. Most of the ADPs have not employed in the last 15 years while their active staff are ageing as well as retiring. The most affected staff of the ADPs are the extension agents who are the field staff. This is really affecting the ADP system.

3. Insufficient Training: capacity building and continuous training has been the pillars of effecting T and V implementation. However, as a result of underfunding, most of the field staff are not getting

the required training to face challenges of the T and V, as well as the REFILS in implementation.

CONCLUSION Operating training and visit extension system was very successful in Nigeria at the early years when the World Bank actively supported it. The system is no doubt an expensive one and requires continuous release of fund to conduct the various activities for good impacts. However, when the World Bank Support ended, training and visit started facing major challenges for its implementation. Thus, all components of training and visit extension system were automatically affected. Governments at Federal, states and local authorities’ levels have to financial support extension system through adequate funding of the ADP system to be able achieve the needed sustainable agricultural development for self sufficiency and poverty alleviation among the teeming Nigerians. Achievement of the lofty objectives of Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) can be possible with effective extension delivery services nationwide. NAERLS is ever ready to partner with various stakeholders for capacity building, packaging and dissemination of useful agricultural innovation for massive adoption. concluded

pace setter

When Medicine Meets Philanthropy By pembi david-stephen

It is generally acknowledged that the financial support for medical programmes can be drawn from four sources: state or institutional resources, collections for clinical care, research grants and/or industrial contracts and philanthropy. Of these, philanthropy has usually been mentioned last and been pursued with the least vigour. However, as state funds remain stagnant, reimbursement for clinical care decreases and research support is ratcheted down, philanthropy has received more attention and effort.

In fact, judging by the size, prominence and influence of the development departments appearing in many hospitals and institutions, philanthropy has moved to centre stage.

Although physicians mostly don’t want to be seen retorting to this form of support, one man that has fully utilised this for the advancement of humanity and to the benefit of his long deprived people is Dr Marcel Ajah (Ph.D.), M.D, FACOG. A relatively known name in Nigeria, his case is just like the case of Isaac who prospered in a foreign land, he has taken the bull by the horn, reaching for enviable heights and carving a niche for himself. He has devoted his life to giving back to his people. He is a philanthropist per excellence – saving hundreds of thousands of lives in Nigeria yearly through the provision

of free medical care through his international non-profit organisation, Uplift Help International Inc. The achievement of Marcel A. Ajah, is one which has inspired many. His qualities and demeanor of tranquility that he has brought to his office have made him an example to many younger men and he stands strong as a pillar in his profession in faraway United States of America (USA), where he plies his trade.

Having graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor degree in chemistry, from the Mor- Ajah gan State University, Baltimore, Maryland, Dr. Ajah felt it was time to reach out to his USA Ajah proceeded to the university’s school kinsmen in his native land – Ishiagu in Ebonyi of medicine for a Ph.D. in pharmacology and State, Nigeria, where he has through Uplift experimental therapeutics. Ajah later carried Help International Inc established in 2005, a out his residency at the internal medicine unit non-profit charitable organization armed with of the Maryland General Hospital and, also, in the mission for the empowerment of Nigerithe obstetrics and gynaecology of the Saint ans by improving their health, education and Vincent Catholic Medical Centre, Brooklyn, leadership.

Queens New York.

Since the establishment of the NGO, Ajah Ajah, to his credit, is a certified obstetrician makes numerous mission trips to Nigeria, in and gynecologist, as well as the president and order to give free medical services and free CEO of the Women Medical Healthcare & Diag- medications to thousands of patients in his nostics P.C, in Brooklyn and Queens New York home-town, especially. Under his leadership, – his private practice. He is also a senior con- the organisation has almost completed a comsultant of obstetrics/gynecology and laparo- munity hospital in Ishiagu, Ebonyi State.

The goal of this hospital the provision of free scopic surgery.

Having spent some time affecting the lives primary care to all and sundry, as far as its reof the people in his immediate surroundings, sources can carry and permit.

It doesn’t insult common sense to acknowledge that Dr.Ajah means a lot of things to many; he is a member and financial contributor to Amnesty International, as a result of his deep-rooted interest in the protection of women and children; so far, Dr. Ajah has granted scholarships to 30 undergraduate students in Nigeria; he has built 16 4-bedroom unit houses for some indigent people in Ishiagu, Ebonyi State; made substantial financial contributions to the building of local churches in Ishiagu; financial supporter of the Centre for Vesico-vaginal Fistula Repair in Abakaliki, still in Ebonyi State; financial supporter to many aspiring young businessmen and women in Ishiagu, as well as many other contributions which he has made to the life the people Ajah is also a mentor and financial supporter of many newly-arrived doctors from Nigeria seeking residency positions in the United States. As he makes way for them to get residency opportunities, he acts as a father-figure, mentor and encourager of minority American high school students to pursue college education.

Over the years, Ajah has also taken to catering for the larger Igbo group in the Diaspora, the Igbo Community Organization of New York, of which he is chairman of the board, as well as a community organizer and financial contributor.

58/ royalty

By Jibrin Baba Ndace

August 29, 2014

Sultan Sa’ad: A Peacemaker At 58 “The crown of the leader is his integrity, his stronghold is his impartiality and his wealth is [the prosperity] of his people.”

—Shaykh Uthman Ibn Fodio Some are born great, some achieve greatness and, still, others have greatness thrust upon them. While some personalities fit into one of the above description, very few among us achieve prominence through passing all the three categories.

The 20th Sultan of Sokoto and Amir Mumini in Nigeria, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111, belong to the group of the prominent few. He was born great, he achieved greatness and he had greatness thrust upon him.

Born into a noble, aristocratic and Islamic revolutionary Sheikh Othman Bin Fodio’s dynasty, he was born great.

Not carried away by the nobility of his lineage and achievement of his forbearers, he joined a noble profession and, through courage, discipline, hard work and dedication, he achieved, greatness rising through the rank to become a one-star general in the Nigeria Army.

And as he was rising to the pinnacle of his career, he had greatness thrust upon him. As he was working hard to attain the rank of a general, the Almighty Allah made him a Field Marshal.

Eight years on the throne of his forbearers as the 20th Sultan of Sokoto, he has proved that though, he may have ascended the throne unexpectedly, he was ready and prepared to build on the outstanding legacies of the over 200 years Sultanate tradition of quality leadership, knowledge, scholarship, courage, discipline and forthrightness.

Born in Sokoto on August 24, 1956, every of his eminence sojourn before 2006, prepared him for the present responsibility as the Sultan as well as the President General of the Jama’Atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Co-Chairman, Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).

From his primary school education at Sultan Ward Primary School, Sokoto, to famous Barewa College in Zaria to the Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna, where he trained as officer cadet as a member of Regular Combatant Course 18 to his last course in the Nigerian Army at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau state, each environment and scholarly enterprise shaped the Sultan’s world view on traditional institution, leadership and followership, religion, diversity, violence, poverty, education, crisis management, security, diplomacy and governance.

In an interview with Soja Magazine in 2010, his eminence admitted that the Army, which he served for 31 years, prepared him for leadership, role saying: “what I want to say is that the Army will prepare any officer to face all challenges in life. I believe whoever passes through

Abubakar

the military or army and retires will be able to hold himself high anywhere he finds himself. When you join the military as a cadet, the civilian in you is removed by senior cadet. When you graduate or pass out as a commissioned officer you go through so many courses as a junior officer and several other professional courses of your arm of service. You go through promotion examination to excel and promoted; go through staff college; junior and senior divisions, go through to the National Defence College.

“Whoever passes through the service and then finally retires as a brigadier general will not have any problem fitting into any organisation... So we thank Almighty Allah…. He made it possible for us… I know many things I have been doing have a touch of military training in terms of discipline; courage; unity and strength. The Almighty Allah prepared me for the throne by making me joined the army.”

In between his commissioning as a second lieutenant on December 17, 1977, into the elite armoured corps, to his last course at NIPSS as a member of course 28, he attended many professional courses and seminars, at home and abroad, such as the Armament Instructor Course (T55) in India; Junior Division (JD) at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, (AFCSC), Jaji; and Land Force Command and Staff College, Canada for his Senior Division (SD).

His penchant for development in contemporary military strategy and Peace Support Operations (PSO) spurred him to attend other courses in Ghana, Ethiopia and Gambia, which focused on peacekeeping, disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, demilitarization, conflict prevention, management and resolution.

He also held various command and staff appointment. From 1981-82, he

was a member of 245 Recce Battalion for Organisation of African Unity (AU), Peacekeeping Mission in Chad Republic; from 1987- 88, he was second in command of the presidential security unit; in 1993, he was Commanding Officer, (CO) 241 Recce Battalion, Kaduna. In addition to the above, he served as a military liaison officer for the Economic Community of West Africa State (ECOWAS) from 1995- 1999 and Commanding Officer, 231 Tank Battalion for ECOMOG operations in Sierra Leone between 1999-2000. From 2003-2006, he was Nigeria’s Defence Adviser to Pakistan with concurrent accreditation to Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states.

Speaking on his working experience, the Sultan said: “As a military officer and diplomatic representative, I have seen the devastation of war, not only in West Africa, but in Afghanistan, Iraq and other parts of the world. I have witnessed the desperate cries of widows and orphans and the exasperation of bewildered families, desperately struggling to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives.”

In fact, the professional development, command and staff appointments of the Sultan clearly reinforced those sultanate values, which he has been deploying in managing the contemporary challenges of the sultanate, Muslim Umma and Nigeria.

And, so far, he has lived up to the dictates of the time, on the one hand, and kept faith with values he inherited, on the other. He has combined the modern leadership traits required of a military commander and the institutionalized traditional values of the Sultanate in the discharge of his functions.

His eminence, as a one-star general, has internalized the qualities of a military commander as espoused by German-Prussian Major General, Carl

Nature gave us two cheeks instead of one to make it easier to eat hot food.

Von Clausewitz and British Spartan Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery.

Such qualities include professional knowledge, vision and intellect, courage, robustness, self-confidence, discipline, ability to obtain information, resilience, selflessness, quick thinking and good planning.

The son of 17th Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar 111 has also benefitted from the fountain of knowledge of the Sokoto Triumvirate, namely, Shaykh Uthman Ibn Fodio, Shaykh Abdullahi Ibn Fodio and Shaykh Muhammad Bello. The three eminent Shaykhs authored over 300 books and pamphlets that espoused values such as: knowledge as the basic for effective leadership; primacy of justice in the polity; honesty in public affairs; dignity of labour; infrastructure development and uplifting of women through education for growth.

All these qualities have been demonstrated by the Sultan in his handling of intricate affairs at local, national and international levels.

As a Sultan, he has shown profound understanding of the dynamics of Nigerian society as a diverse, multireligious, multi-ethnic nation, seeking to promote peace and unity in Nigeria.

Little wonder, he has been recognized, globally, as a peace maker. Writing in the Daily Trust of Thursday, November 2, 2006, Mahmud Jega in an article titled ‘From Nigeria soldier to Sultan of Sokoto’, described the Sultan as a leader with ‘intimate knowledge of some world’s most intricate crisis points’. Jega said: “Brigadier General Sa’ad Abubakar, or “Sada”, as he is called in Sokoto, spent many of his 31 years in the military as a peacekeeper.”

In fact, in recognition of his contributions to nation building, the Sultan was nominated for Nobel Peace Prize in 2012 along with Cardinal John Onaiyakan.

Described as a thoroughbred soldier, strong-willed and blunt with a highly courageous personality by his military colleagues, his eminence, by his action, has left no one in doubt, about his desire to unite the Muslim Umma and, above all, unite people of all faiths in Nigeria.

As President-General of NIREC, he demonstrated that with the right leadership, peace, unity and stability are possible among the people of Nigeria.

In his seminal presentation on Islam titled, ‘Islam and Peace Building in West Africa: Imperatives of knowledge, justice and anti-corruption, at the Samuel L. and Elizabeth Jodidi Annual Lecture at Weather head Center for International Affairs, Havard University, Cambridge, MA USA, Monday, October, 3, 2011, his eminence discussed ‘the role of Islam in nation building, its values and the prospects for peace and prosperity in the event that the leaders and the led appreciate the significance of those values.’

—Ndace is a journalist with ‘Blueprint Newspaper’.

— Ghanaian Proverb

ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

August 29, 2014

/59

Ustaz Abubakr Siddeeq Muhammad Focus On Faith 08076760011 (sms only) www.abubakrsiddeeq.com, email: deedat@gmail.com

Preparatory Meeting For Hajj 2014 (1)

T

his meeting was held at the National Mosque Auditorium, Abuja on Wednesday 27th August 2014. This was the second in a series of meetings organised by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on 2014 Hajj. That much was clear from Mr Alidu Shutti’s (NAHCON’s Head, Tour Operators Unit’s) Welcome Address in which he recalled that the first meeting, on 15th May 2014, was to review Hajj 2013. ‘This journey’, he said, ‘started on Monday, December 23rd. Today, we have to deliberate on three important issues – to review what happened before now, update ourselves on the current situation, and map out strategy for a successful operation’, he said.

‘Feel free therefore,’ he urged, ‘to express your minds’ on what you think we should do and how to do it.

The Honourable Commissioner Operations, NAHCON, Barrister Abdullahi M. Muhammad MON, gave the Opening Remarks in which he prayed for Allah’s guidance to Hajj stakeholders in the way they conduct this spiritual operation. ‘We have witnessed efficient and better service delivery’, said he, ‘from Hajj tour operators.’

We shall continue to ensure this level of compliance to NAHCON’s regulations in line with the transformation agenda of the current administration, he further averred.

According to him, ‘bag eggs’ who are giving the industry bag name are forced to close shop because the bar is beyond assailment by the unserious.

On Hajj seat allocation, Barrister Abdullah M. Muhammad said, 197 tour operators applied for Hajj 2014 operations, but using ‘the elimination system’, 134 out of that number ‘made the list’. Distributing around 66,000 Hajj seats among the 36 states and Abuja is by far easier than sharing 10,000 seats among 134 Hajj tour operators, the Commissioner lamented.

The elimination system referred to by the Honourable Commissioner covers licences like that of IATA, NAHCON, etc., the company’s performance in previous operations which includes at least two successful Umrah operations, commitment to NAHCON related activities, such as attending meetings, workshops and conferences. Others are compliance to CAC regulations and those of IATA – a company, cannot for instance, submit new office address to NAHCON that is different to what is with IATA or CAC. The change in the place of domicile of an office must be the same in documents related to that company.

NAHCON’s Operation Commissioner further urged tour operators to ‘advise us if we are wrong, but where we are sure that we have not missed the mark, the law will take its full course’. ‘Our aim’, he said, ‘is to make you not only to attain, but also to surpass international standard in Umrah and Hajj operations. In that regard’, he said, NAHCON will support those who are serious in the business and sanction the erring.

L-R: Alhaji Aminu Agoha, President NANTA, ABDULFATTAH Abdulmajeed, National Present, AHUON, and Honourable Commissioner Operations, Barrister Abdullahi M. Muhammad MON

On the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), Barrister Abdullahi said Nigeria is not listed among countries that are prevented from performing Hajj 2014, and the Federal Government must be commended in the containment effort exhibited by Nigeria in fighting the disease.

One of the things that make registration for Hajj operations in Saudi Arabia a nightmare is the payment that tour operators have to make to different agencies in diverse offices between Makkah and Jeddah.

NAHCON has waded into this, and made all such payments on behalf of the entire ‘Nigerians pilgrims, including the pilgrims under Private Tour Companies’. This was contained in a document (ISSUE OF PAYMENTS TO MUASSASAH AND THE CAR SYNDICATE FOR HAJJ 2014), distributed at the meeting, and signed by L U Muhammad.

The Commissioner Operations also alluded to some of the issues in the document, which are: a) SR18 Bank Guarantee Payment to Vehicle Syndicate: the Commission has provided a Bank Guarantee to the tune of SR1,366,000,00 (one million, three hundred and sixty-eight thousand Saudi Riyals only) to cover the 76,000 Nigerian pilgrims, including international pilgrims of tour operators; b) SR50 Ministry of Hajj Deposit: on this also, the Commission has paid the Saudi Ministry of Hajj the total money to cover the entire 76,000 pilgrims from Nigerian through a Bank Guarantee of SR3,800,000 (three million, eight hundred thousand Saudi Riyals only); c) SR500 Registration at the Mu’assasah: the Mu’assasah (Establishment of Hajj Officials from African non-Arab Countries) has agreed to cancel the payment of this SR500 as registration fees; d) SR200 Saudi Ministry of Hajj Deposit: this SR200 per pilgrim, which is another guarantee supposed to be paid by tour operators has been cancelled also;

e) SR5 Tent Damage Deposit to the Mu’assasah: the Commission is finalising arrangement to pay this sum on behalf of the private tour operators; f) SR22.5 Refundable Deposit to the Mu’assasah: the Commission, on behalf of the tour operators, is processing the payment of this sum too.

All these are quite commendable steps that the Commission has taken and we should not just commend them but we should also encourage them by giving them our full support.

Alhaji Aminu Agoha, the President of National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), and National Deputy President (AHUON) raised some points, part of which I have paraphrased below: • With a membership of over 1,000 registered members, Tour Operators and Travel Agents are a considerable source of employment. The government does not adequately appreciate this.

• Despite the global practice to the contrary, Airlines and Travel Agents (who are, by the way, agents of the airlines) in Nigeria compete side by side in the sale of

One of the things that make registration for Hajj operations in Saudi Arabia a nightmare is the payment that tour operators have to make to different agencies in diverse offices between Makkah and Jeddah

their products. Often times, the Airlines sell tickets cheaper than the Travel Agents sell or give more commission than the Travel Agents, thereby denying the Agents their legitimate rights.

• In this country, the Hajj and Umrah Tour Operator faces many challenges.

Regulatory Authorities like NAHCON, NCAA and NTDC seem to be overburdening the Operators. There are different mandatory requirements that could be harmonised into a few. In Europe and America, most travel agencies and related businesses operate only with ATOL whereas in Nigeria, there are myriad regulatory bodies to register with and pay mandatory sums to.

• Despite these stifling regulations, the Travel Agent/Tour Operator has little or no protection from the Regulatory Authorities when there is dispute with the Airlines or other Agencies.

• There are so many unforeseen costs in the provision of services by Tour Operators during the Hajj exercise that often our members barely break even. Alhamdulillah, we are contented with the service to the guests of Allah.

• The Tour Operator and Travel Agent is the local content, the downstream sector of the Aviation Industry in this country and needs to be encouraged and developed.

These points are salient and he spoke the mind of many of us. I am happy we have a listening leadership at virtually all the regulatory bodies who were present. Our hope is that these will not be mere words to them but action points that they will implement swiftly.

The Commission of Operations responded to some of the issues raised by the NANTA President, citing NAHCON Establishment Act, 2006, and drawing the attendees’ attention to section 16 subsections 1 through 6, where payment of fees and performance bond to the Commission were mentioned.

He said NAHCON is always looking for avenues to lessen the financial burden of tour operations in meeting up with regulatory injunction.

He gave examples of how the payment N30,000,000 in bank draft by Hajj operators to NAHCON was reduced to only N5,000,000. Such draft was also returned to tour operators as soon as Hajj seats were released, as against when the draft and its value were tied down until after the Hajj operations.

He advised AHOUN members to see the positive side of NAHCON regulations because such laws bring sanity into the industry and help to mould the Nigerian Hajj tour operator into a sturdy, experienced professional who can stand tall among equals in the international arena.

During one of their meetings in Makkah, the Commissioner said that the Saudi Hajj Ministry officials said that Nigerian tour operators are among the best three in the world!

The subsistence mentality of a person is a prison in which his personal joy is detained. If you want to live in joy, you don’t live for yourself alone. Live for others too! ― Israelmore Ayivor

60/ ISLAM

August 29, 2014

Discourse with Sheikh Muhammad Mahmud Turi turimuhd@yahoo.com 07038199475 (text only)

In the name of Allah who states “Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah; of them some have died and some (still) wait; But they have never changed (their determination) in the least” Q33:24.

Peace and blessings of Allah be upon His noble servant, our master Muhammad and his oppressed progeny.

As the 40th day prayer of our great martyrs fast approaches and people from all walks of life continuously troop to the residence of sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) for condolence, the aspect I wish to discuss this week is the rights of these innocent brothers and sisters murdered after the International Quds day event and their predecessors in general.

To be oppressively killed for religious belief is commonly regarded as Martyrdom.

A martyr therefore is a very responsible person that made a great sacrifice in the interest of Islam leading to loss of his or her dear life in the process. Yes there are other categories of martyrs such as those killed in defense of their persons, family or wealth. But most significant are those tyrannically murdered for their ambition to establish social justice and societal reform.

Imam Ali (as) said “Allah will bring forward the martyrs on the day of judgment with such pomp and splendor, that even the prophets if mounted, will dismount to show their respect for them. With such grandeur will a martyr appear on the Day of Judgment”. When the Imam was struck by Ibn Muljim, the terrorist assassin in the early hours of 19th Ramadan, he said: I have succeeded by the Lord of the Kaaba!

Imam Husain said; “my grandfather told me that I was destined to attain a very high spiritual position but that could not be attained except through martyrdom” Thus, martyrdom is an honorable position that Allah gives to whom He likes. As an inevitable milestone, many prophets and rightly guided predecessors were honored in that way as they treaded the path of Allah in the cause of their revolutionary process.

Evidently, the struggles of Shehu Danfodio and Imam Khomeini (may Allah have mercy on them) were proven examples, just as it happens in the sheikh Zakzaky - led Islamic movement!

Although Muslims have a different view on crucifixion, the Christians similarly, believe in the great sacrifice or martyrdom of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) for the salvation of mankind.

MARTYRS OF THE ISLAMIC MOVEMENT Although the 25th July merciless murder on the members of Islamic movement in Nigeria was not the first, but was the first of its kind. The first historic event in which the movement lost its member was in 1982 at Bauchi during the popular Islamic vocational conference (IVC) when mysteriously the police attacked the

Rallying Around Man Of Allah In Keeping To Obligatory Rights Of Our Respected Martyrs!

participants killing Brother Muhammad Bello.

The second popular event occurred in Katsina on the 19th April, where peaceful procession was staged to protest the blasphemy against the prophet and his wife sayyidah Khadijah by the fun times magazine in the days of Colonel John Madaki where Malam Abubakar Shehu Madomawa from Sokoto was martyred in 1991.

Persecution against members of this movement occurred at different times and places leading to additional loss of members. A remarkable number was lost in the oppressive rule of the dark goggled Abacha before he was caught by the omnipotent. In the last seven years, no fewer than fourteen brothers were tyrannically killed by sponsored thugs and police in a deliberately attack in Sokoto under the present administration.

The attacks came despite the widely recognized contributions of the Islamic movement not only in the socio - economic aspect of the society but entire human endeavors. “And they ill - treated them for no other reason than that they believed in Allah, Exalted in power, Worthy of all praise! Q85: 8.

THE RIGHTS OF OUR RESPECTED MARTYRS Generally, Mu’assasatus shuhada or martyrs foundation is charged with education, moral upbringing and related activities of the martyrs’ families. The foundation is a fully registered non - governmental organization which collects contribution from members and other well meaning individuals for its humanitarian activities. It was established by the insightful sheikh Immediately after the second brutal murder of a member, precisely on 1st January, 1992.

The foundation has an intact record of all martyrs and their families in about forty years of the movement’s existence covering the circumstances and responsible culprits.

Undeniably, the martyr as a human being deserves commendation for discarding all human desires absolutely preferring the pleasure of Allah the most High.

Allah says “Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet; women and sons; heaped - up hoards of gold and silver; horses branded (for blood and excellence); and (wealth of) cattle and well - tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world’s life; but with Allah is the best of the goals (to return to). Say: shall I give you glad tiding of things far better than those? for the righteous are Gardens in nearness to their Lord with rivers flowing beneath; therein is their eternal home; with spouses purified and the good pleasure of Allah, for in Allah’s sight are (all) His servants” Q3:14 – 15.

In view of the firm faith, good practice and great sacrifice of the martyr, Allah honors him greatly in a special way here and hereafter. A prominent hadeeth al Qudsy, says “I am the successor of a martyr in his family”.

Allah says “Think not of those who are

slain in Allah’s way as dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance from their Lord, they rejoice in the Bounty provided by Allah; and with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their bliss), the (martyrs) glory in the fact that on them is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve. Q3:169 – 170.

The points I want emphasize at this juncture are the following: 1. PRAYERS: The first obligation towards our respected martyrs is prayers. We must always pray for them and their families.

As the sheikh repeatedly emphasizes, we should pray to Allah to accept them and grant their wishes at least in our every night Witr. At the same time we should pray to Allah to give a befitting recompense on the culprits responsible for their martyrdom. Yes they deserve destructive prayers for their murderous action against the faithful. Allah says “If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (Forever); and the wrath and the curse of Allah Are upon him, and a dreadful chastisement is prepared for him.

Q4: 93.

No matter how long, the criminals will also die. A time will come when they will taste the death and account for their bad deeds. Some of those that killed our well mannered brothers in the fast have made a very bad end and remained accusable forever. “And do not incline towards those who are unjust, lest the fire touch you, and you have no guardians towards besides Allah, then you shall not be helped” Q11:113.

Regrettably, they do not think of their end at all and are ready to be used at will for bloodshed. Questions like these are very important; is death an end or a beginning?

Why should I be instructed to kill? What is the wisdom behind it? Where do we go after it? What is the relation between the physical and spiritual aspects of human being? And what are the lessons to learn from the death of others we witness?

“He who created death and life, that He may try which of you is best in deed; He is the exalted in might, Oft forgiving” Q14:42.

2. SHUHADA DUES: Secondly, we must pay more attention to the general welfare of the martyrs’ family. This could be achieved by utmost support and cooperation to martyrs foundation through prompt payment of Shuhada dues.

With money you can buy a doctor, but not good health.

― Chinese Proverb

We must pay this due so that the honor of these great families is sufficiently protected more than we care for ourselves.

This is the interpretation of the hadeeth above. In fact most Islamic scholars have interpreted the verse; “.....on them is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve” Q3: 170. They referred the fear to the destiny in the hereafter and grieve, regard to the family the martyr lefts behind.

So we must emulate the practice of the Leader of this movement that promptly pays the due for the welfare of the martyrs’ families. We should also learn to visit the martyrs’ families from time to time.

Interestingly, all the martyrs’ children are at various school levels. Some are already running various courses within and outside Nigerian universities! This goes in line with what the sheikh maintains that as far as education is concerned sky is not even the limit but the beginning.

3. CONTINOUS REMEMBRANCE: We must learn to remember our martyrs always. In line with this, we should learn to pay special visits for prayers to their graves. As we care for their children, taking care of their graves is also a duty we should respect. It is imperative to commend the effort of the foundation for renovating their graves in particular and cemeteries in general.

JANNAT AL - RAHMA or GARDEN OF MERCY is the prominent graveyard exclusively for our martyrs in Zaria. We have good lessons to learn especially from other countries where cemeteries are rehabilitated - cared and electrifiedfor visits, prayers and remembrance, unlike here where they are disrespected, irrationally feared and considered a home for ghosts! “O you who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance And prayer; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere” Q2:153.

REWARDS ACCORDING TO DEEDS Allah is absolutely just. So He does not treat His creatures unfairly. Every soul is a hostage of its own deeds”Q74:37.

Therefore the righteous and the wicked are rewarded accordingly. “But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that their portion is Garden, beneath which rivers flow. Every time they are fed with fruits there from, they say why, this is what we were fed with before, for they are given things in similitude and they have therein spouses purified; and they abide therein (forever)” Q2:25.

Finally, as we re - appreciate the sympathetic concern and pledges of various groups to take legal action on the deliberate murder of the 33 members including the three sons of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) by the military in favor of the Islamic movement. The world reminds them and looks on earnestly to see the fruits of their faithful attempt.

Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah.

FRIDAY SPECIAL/BOOKS & ARTS /49

August 29, 2014

With Chikelu Chinelo & Onukogu Kanayo Jubal

How To Win A $20, 000 Short Story Fiction Contest The Cesar Egido Serrano Foundation ‘Museum of Words Flash Fiction Contest’ is calling for submission of its 100 words short story contest that guarantees the winner a $20,000 cash prize, and three runner-ups cash prizes of $2,000 each. This couldn’t have come at a better time when Aerogramme Studio, a writers’ blog, published snippets on ‘how to write a short story’ by multiple New York Times’ bestselling writer Kurt Vonnegut Jr. The foundation’s contest, which attracts 20,000 submissions from over 100 countries, grows more competitive with this year’s theme, ‘Mandela: Words and Concord,’ though there are no subject or genre restrictions.

Writers, however, are to make submissions of original and unpublished contents in English, Spanish, Arabic or Hebrew languages. Any writer is permitted no more than two entries. Entries close on November 23, 2014. The contest is aimed at encouraging dialogue between diverse cultures, ideas, religion and sensibilities; it is a perfect means of showcasing topical, popular issues, cultures, especially the revelation of not-so-popular value systems.

To help writers create gripping imageries of their muse or cause, as the case maybe, here’s a look at Kurt Vonnegurt Jr. tips for writing very good short stories: Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted Give the reader at least a character to root for.

Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.

Every sentence must do one of two things – reveal character or advance the action.

Start as close to the end as possible.

Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading character(s), make awful things happen to them in order that readers may see what they are made of.

Write to please just one person (attention writers, not just yourself). If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.

Dash suspense. Give your readers as much information as soon as possible.

Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

Book Review: The Challenges Of Transforming The Civil Service Year Published 2014 Author Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) Pages 96 Chapters 10 For long, many have complained bitterly about the degree of change needed in Nigeria’s civil service. Complaints, complaints and more complaints found their way to the ears of the government. Very little came in the way of solutions, until the government decided to take the bull by the horns, appointing proactive individuals to head the nation’s civil service and institute some change in the process.

The book, The Challenges of Transforming The Civil Service is a strange book to classify; it is neither an autobiography nor a biography. Rather, it is about the achievements of the out-going head of the nation’s civil service, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji. In a nutshell, the book is all about Aji’s 15-month sojourn as head of the nation’s civil service and the bottlenecks which he encountered in the course of executing his duties.

The book begins with the history of the Nigerian Civil Service from the year of amalgamation in 1914 through the ’30s,’40, ‘50s and post-independence years, as well as the first efforts at reforms, which was highlighted by the Udoji Reform of 1974.

The book does not fail to mention the underlying issues with perpetrating reforms in the civil service.

However, the reader will inevitably get to wonder why, despite the attempt at reforms since the ’70 and a myriad of committee reports, the nation’s civil service still, seemingly, remains, to a large extent, at a crossroads.

The second chapter focuses on Aji’s courage to restructure the office of the head of the civil service of the federation (OHCSF).

According to the bureau, no one had cared to institute any form of change, though many did talk about the dire need for one.

Until the coming of Aji, that is.

This aspect of the work dissects the complete reformation of the structure and function of the OHCSF, from top to bottom, including the divestment of some functions which led to the creation of the BPSR and the Pensions Transition Arrangement. Somewhat surprisingly, it is acknowledged that not everyone in the service supports the restructuring and

the reforms which have, so far, taken place.

More to the credit of the author, it suggests a phase review to ensure that those who remain in the OHCSF are those who support the reforms.

The next two chapters deal with the professionalisation and welfare of the civil servant, in order to ensure better performance. Issues like those involving staff buses, pension schemes, housing schemes, training and retraining, mental and psychological well-being of the civil servant are all finely tied to the progress and performance of the service. According to the author, Aji did initiate these changes. Perhaps, one thing which the author points out – albeit in a rather non-obvious manner – is like a briefing for the new head of service and the need for him to continue with the said refomrs which were just beginning to gain grounds before Aji’s retirement.

Chapter five dwells, quite a bit too much if one may say, on performance management; what Aji did to better the situation and what must be done to further improve it.

Chapter six makes a huge case for the need to manage relationships in the service better; the relationship between the OHCSF and the FCSC, the unions, staff members of all cadres and what not.

Chapters seven to nine dwell on other issues that may not interest the reader so much – unless the in reader is a civil servant. These chapters, in all, make it clear that in 15 months Aji trode where many once feared to tread.

Accolades And Two Books As Goni Aji Calls Time On Service Thursday, August 14, 2014, in the conference room of the ministry of foreign affairs, Abuja, it was a rain of accolades, as most of Nigeria’s eminent civil servants gathered to celebrate the out-going head of the civil service of the federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji. There were unending credits for the man who is considered by many to have initiated practical reforms in the nation’s civil service.

The head of the Civil Service Commission, Deaconess Joan Ayo, called him “a firm, gentle, dedicated man who set about his duties with the fear of God and a great degree of fairness. We need to work for Nigeria, let Nigeria work.”

A permanent secretary with the service called the celebration of the outgoing HOCSF “a true indicator that serving one’s country is nothing more than a call to duty. Aji is what a good example of a public servant should be; detribalised, social, humble, gentle, tender and warming and encouraging transparent policies. He is a true nationalist, a true Nigerian”.

Two books were presented on the day; the first, titled Bukar Goni Aji: A Quintessential Civil Servant, written by a journalist, Abdullahi Buluma.

Buluma’s work highlights the humble beginnings of Aji and his emergence as one of Nigeria’s most practical civil servants, a man who gave his time in office to the fight against indolence and mediocrity in the nation’s civil service.

The second book, The Challenges of Transforming the Civil Service, a compilation by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, revolves around the changes that have been instituted within the nation’s civil service within Aji’s 15-month reign and the challenges which have assailed these achievements.

The director-general of the bureau, Joe Abah, while presenting the book, did not fail to point out the reason for the publication.

“Considering that Aji is a detribalised Nigerian, the book represents the most up-to-date accounts of the efforts, so far, of the out-going HOCSF to change the face of the reforms in the country and ensure that the approach undertaken is the right one,” he said.

Abah explained that since it is the duty of the bureau to celebrate achievers, what they have done and the legacies they leave behind, the bureau’s celebration of Aji’s accomplishments “is well and in order”.

Books from back then

Second Class Citizen By Buchi Emecheta (1989) Smart and determined, Adah pursues her studies with vigour, until her father dies and she is forced to marry Francis, a young man she scarcely knows. Still quite young and not wise with the world, she

takes her young family with her to London, where she becomes the family’s bread-winner.

She gets pregnant constantly, has to work with her pregnancy, cope with a racist society and endure

the non-chalance of a selfish husband who cares nothing about work but wants to lord it over his wife.

Worse, Adah cannot tell anyone about it…until the domestic abuses begin to come.

50

August 29, 2014

Hauwa Booth WOMAN ON THE LOOSE

Ff:@ofastupidwoman: Read @ www.diaryofastupidwoman.com

Waec’s Result: What Manner Of Future Leaders?

During a conversation, a friend mentioned how disappointing this year’s WAEC result is. More incredulous was her narration of what some of the students gave as reasons for their failure.

The reasons were too bad to be true. If they are anything to go by, the result of this steady decline in our educational system and the numbing of the students will be so catastrophic that, we will say, “truly, there was a country”.

One student blamed her failure on the strictness of the invigilators. Another couldn’t be bothered by the subject and paid someone else to write the exam. Another enjoyed the distraction of social media so much [that] he ‘studied’ that instead!

Inec’s Albatross

I’m not feeling charitable towards the INEC at all.

How can the highest body in charge of elections honestly think that five days will be enough to register intending voters? There must be a department that keeps the commission up to date with information such as the fact that, within the four years from the last election, more people turned 18, those who didn’t/couldn’t register for the last election still are not registered, that the political landscape has a new ‘mega party’ and has roused the interest of otherwise sleeping citizens. I was listening to a call-in programme on 106.3 FM addressing this issue with some INEC officials in the studio.

Their answers to the questions posed to them were mere rhetoric and punctuated with self-praise. The usual problems were encountered by the citizenry because of our half-hearted, disjointed and selfserving approach to issues. I mean, why did it take

We have youth who think nothing of cheating, who pride themselves on mastering shortcuts, who lack discipline and want the best of both worlds. As a result, we have a country churning out ‘barely baked students’ who can’t speak English, no cognitive reasoning skills, no grasp of the world around them and, certainly, lack ambition for the future…and these are the people who will, one day, be the leaders.

Sadly, we aren’t alarmed enough. Most commentators laid the blame at the feet of the government. I don’t think this search for an easy way out all the time will work, but it is a catch-22 situation.

citizen action for the INEC to realise that it needed to provide specific information as to where the voter registration centres will be? With the sheer population we all know we have in this country, why would only one centre be created to cover areas that could well be a state? Why would there be only two officers per centre? Sadly, when you finally get registered, you have to come the next day to vet your details before a temporary voter card is given? So you would have used 3 to 4 days on one person? The INEC has absolutely no excuse for this lacklustre outing. It had enough time to prepare and, I dare say, enough funds.

In the long-run, what the INEC representatives said, basically, was that they were taking stock of the complaints and that they will see what they can do.

Nonsense. Okay; they apologised for their missteps but that hasn’t gotten me registered!

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, CBN reintroduces ATM withdrawal fees! Though it is N35 cheaper than what it initially was, nonetheless, we have been robbed of the freedom of choice in a sense. Considering how tough things are, we are practically counting our nairas. Now that a fee has been reintroduced, we are going to see a lot more banks’ ATMs springing back to life and new ones being installed. Tsk! I had wanted to write a bit about the Men of Spartan and how they used wit, brutal military training (from age 7), dedication to country and war tactics to protect their country. However, I realised that it would probably be of no use, since the men who should be trained are no longer 7! Then, I got to wondering, if we will get to a time when all ablebodied men aged between 18 and 45 years will be drafted into the Army or else.....

HAVE YOU prayed for Nigeria today?

The Insurgents’ Hell The Insurgents’ Hell I can’t even remember how carefree we used to be; it seems like a lifetime ago. At every turn you take there is some form of security check, barricade or something to remind us that all is not well. Very soon, even the street hawkers will demand that we be screened before they sell their goods to us! Is this a life? Well, I guess there’s still something to be thankful for. I can’t imagine the horror the people of Borno State, more especially the hard-hit Gwoza, are facing. Why are the insurgents particular about Gwoza? Have our strategists unravelled this as a bid to using the knowledge to get at this group’s Achilles heel?

As if the over-running of Gwoza wasn’t enough, another community in Adamawa State has been over-run and our soldiers ‘tactically manoeuvred’ into neighbouring Cameroon! I hear they are ‘tactically’ back. Honestly, I think the dismal news we keep getting about the efforts of our Army should now be on a need-to-know basis. It is not doing anything for their morale or our blood-pressure.

I need some education fast on the new caliphate that has been declared in Gwoza. What happens to the Caliphate situated in Sokoto State? What do the other powerful Islamic councils like the emirs of Zazzau and Kano make of this, especially as the actions are mirroring that of the ISIS....?

The Rise Of Illegal Car Parks

Driving past Julius Berger round-about early one afternoon, I heard a conductor calling out for passengers heading towards Lagos. Initially, I wondered which area was called Lagos in Abuja when, suddenly, it dawned on me as I noted the vehicle he was pointing at that it was Lagos State he was referring to. On the opposite side of Mabushi, across the expressway, there is a bus park that has been converted to a car park for travellers to Kaduna-Zaria axis and it is slowly becoming a fixture. No action is being taken to put a halt to the growing illegalities. It is when they have become entrenched, complete with a constitution, worship areas and mini wheel-barrow marts that the bodies concerned with regulating these activities will come to dislodge them and we all know what will follow next. A word is enough for the people.

Ebola And The Return Of Schools The FGN has shut-down schools that run the American school calendar, directing that all schools resume mid-October. Apparently, this is in a bid to curb the rise of the Ebola epidemic. I don’t think that the FGN has realised that that action will give rise to another epidemic called ‘off our rockers’! Insanity will be your number one headache then!

WEEKEND

BiTES

Dear FGN, do you realise the torture these kids will mete out to us if we have to contend one more month plus with them?? I have run out of ideas on how to keep the rugrat preoccupied.

Don’t get me wrong; it is appreciated that you have thought about our well-being and the protection of our kids. I just hope you have the proper strategy in place to

A MOMENT OF PATIENCE IN A MOMENT OF ANGER PREVENTS A THOUSAND MOMENTS OF REGRET (need to learn that one).

FEEDBACK: LET’S HEAR FROM YOU

ensure the success of this school clamp down. If not, I fear you might extend the closure till [the] end of November! Please, have you considered that we all dress in Ebola-proof suits instead of shutting down the schools?

However, are you planning to close offices, places of business and worship too?

Sincerely, WOTL

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KANNYWOOD trends

By Al-Amin Ciroma

August 29, 2014

email: alaminciroma@gmail.com. GSM: 08033225331 (sms only)

Indo-Hausa Flicks Killing Kannywood

K

annywood producers and directors have raised the alarm that the infiltration of Indian movies translated into the Hausa language into the industry is silently killing the Hausa movie industry. In unison, stakeholders believe that the act is being hamstrung by piracy and dishonest traders.

Kannywood Trends understands that marketers of the said products engage the services of Hausa linguists who understand Hindi to translate and lip-synch dialogues in the movies such that both the audio and video are perfectly synchronised with the actions that produce them.

They also ensure that the movements of a speaker’s lips match the sound of his speech.

It is given that Kannywood was originally inspired by the Indian Cinema typography (Bollywood), hence the production and styling of Kannywood movies in this same fashion. Also, songs in such Hausa movies are fashioned after Bollywood.

Thus, Kannywood blossomed and, for over two decades, has remained loved by Hausa-speaking communities across the country and in the Diaspora. But with the advent of the Indo-Hausa genre, activities of Kannywood – which accounts for a whopping N150m annually and employs thousands – are gradually being brought to a standstill. Ironically, even after so many sales, some producers hardly make any profits.

To make end meets, some producers now resort to producing jingles for corporates bodies and television drama series for local television stations.

Accusing fingers have been pointed at the censorship and copyright bodies for being too laid back and for their long silence over the circulation and exhibition of such movies.

Marketers, Producers, Actors Cross Swords Meanwhile, mixed reactions have continued to trail this recent development, as marketers, producers and actors have varying opinions.

Alhaji Rilwanu Smart (Marketer) “As far as I am concerned this is one of the good things that have happened to marketers. I therefore support the sales and circulation of the Indo-Hausa DVD movies. It may interest you to know that a copy of translated Indian movie is cheaper than the normal Hausa DVD in the market. So people can now use this opportunity to patronise us.

“Earlier, we had called on the producers to reduce the price of their

products, so as to beat pirates, but they refused. I remembered something like this happened in Nollywood when the producers detected that the activities of pirates were hurting their businesses. The first thing they did was to compete with them in prices, by reducing the price of their movies. In fact, they sell the same price with the pirates in a bid to push them out of business. By so doing, they were able to cub the menace in Nollywood.

“I am, therefore, calling on the Kannywood stakeholders to come to terms and seek ways of improving their products so as to beat the pirates at their own game. The circulation of foreign films in Nigeria started hundred years back, when certain American and Chinese films in VHS form were dubbed and exhibited throughout the country.

If you recall, none obtained the appropriate rights of the producers. The authorities were fully aware, but none of them raised the alarm; they are no crying foul, because Hindi movies are being translated and synchronised to the Hausa language,” Smart said.

they know the cost of production and post-production? Well, I will remind them that we have a working capital; we pay our production crew, actors, set designers and all others on board.

We know how much we spend from the pre-production to the level of exhibition, so as to ensure that we do our best to produce quality products.

They shouldn’t dictate to us. The reason they find piracy cheap is because they don’t own it (the original idea). It is called robbery!”

Nura Magaji (Chairman, Film Image/Chairman Anti-piracy Committee) “As a matter of urgency, producers of Hausa movies need to come to terms with marketers. We have been having series of round-table discussions where issues were deliberated and digested, but nothing practical was done. We all know there’s a problem, but, first, they should consider compromising on the prices of Hausa DVD copies, so that the encroachment of the Hausa-India can be checked.”

“Some of the guidelines include: 1. Censorship boards should make sure any person(s) interested in translating Hindi movies into the Hausa language should obtain the consent of the producer. He must submit an original letter of acceptance by the producer.

2. The letter must be accompanied by an endorsement from the Indian High Commission in Nigeria stating that the producer (from Bollywood) duly approves that his movies be translated by the marketer.

3. They should also censor the movie in accordance with the guidelines for censoring Hausa movies. Therefore, all manners of callousness, vulgar statements [must] be edited out of the movies.

“We believe this will go a long way in discouraging the pirates.

Falalu Dorayi (Producer/Director) “The advancement of Hausa-Indian movies into the market has succeeded in killing our business. Kannywood creates job opportunities for hundreds of thousands of the society’s teeming youths and accounts for about N50m tax to the federal government annually; yet, they don’t protect the interest of the business. The parastatals and regulatory bodies in charge of film matters don’t do their work effectively. If not, why do they allow the inflow of foreign films into our markets?

“The most annoying thing is that the content of the movies are not in line with our customs. Most times, the dialogues are discourteous, nasty and disgusting and, sadly, our children have access to these movies. What is the censor’s commission doing to correct these insensitivities?

“Funny enough, some marketers make silly excuses that producers should compromise on the prices of their movies. This is greed! Do

Ismail Na’Abba Afakallah (Producer/Stakeholder) “The encroachment of the Hausa-India movies into our markets has succeeded in sending so many producers packing. Most of them are out of business now and we can’t afford to let it continue. In our capacity as stakeholders, we held several fora, deliberated on the matter and have, conclusively, come up with some guidelines which we are going to forward to the appropriate quarters, but first to the censor bodies.

Sabi’u M. Gidaje (Actor/Producer) “This is a clear act of piracy and the copyrights commission is exhibiting nonchalance in containing the menace.

Another problem about the Hausa-India flicks is that most of the translations do not appeal to our audience, because they confuse them a lot. I call on the authorities to come to our rescue.”

Hauwa Maina (Actress/Producer) “I am totally against it. If the pirates want to produce Hindi movies, why don’t they go to India and shoot, or go on joint productions rather than [engage in] this nonsense?

“Our marketers have succeeded in killing Kannywood. People should know that Hausa movies were orig-

With money you can buy a bed, but not sleep.

— Chinese Proverb

Ismail Afakallah

Falalu Dorayi

Hauwa Maina

Sabi’u Gidaje

inally inspired by the Indian films.

Back then, teeming Hausa communities see Kannywood movies as a recipe for what they need. But now, it is as if the marketers are taking them back to where they were coming from, making our Hausa movies irrelevant.

“This is clear act of sabotage and the censor board is only watching them, giving them cover.”

weekend flavour With Solomon Nda-Isaiah

August 29, 2014

My Music Is About Expressing Myself – Lady Donli

Ngozi Ezeonu Bags Chieftancy Title Again

By SAMUEL ABULUDE, Lagos

Actress and screen heartthrob, Ngozi Ezeonu, has scored another plus for herself, with a new chieftaincy title.

The title, Ezenwanyi Ndigbo na Nollywood (Mother of Igbos in Nollywood), was conferred on her by the Igbo Film Forum (IFF) founder, Harris Chuma.

Ina statement, Chuma revealed that his organisation had crowned the notable Nollywood actress recipient of the chieftaincy title because of her immense contributions in the propagation, promotion and projection of Igbo culture as well as her dedication to duty.

Ezeonu, who trained as a journalist at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), is a worthy recipient of the award for the second

Oga Bello

‘Asaolu-led ANTP Is Bound To Fail’

By SAMUEL ABULUDE, Lagos

The Yoruba film theatre union, known as the Association of National Theatre Practitioners, ANTP, is presently enmeshed in chaos, owing to a lack of trust in the leadership by a section of the congress.

Last week, a national executive committee (NEC) meeting with some elders sympathetic to the ANTP national president, Victor Ashaolu, were held in Ibadan and the elders namely Jimoh Aliu, Lere Paimo and others, accused Comrade Ashaolu of not carrying them along in the scheme of things.

Aliu, who addressed the

Ngozi

time.

She was first conferred with the title back in 2011, when she was crowned the ‘Igbo Cultural Ambassador’ by the Igbo Bu Igbo Cultural Movement Worldwide. ‘‘It took us four years of critical search and short-listing before the leadership of the IFF and ONN (Ohanaeze Ndigbo Nollywood) settled for the delectable screen goddess and veteran actress Ngozi Ezeonu,’’ Chuma disclosed.

The actress was presented with her staff of office at the Igbo Film Festival which held on August 27, 2014, at the Nelrose Hotel, Asaba, Delta State.

press, opted to start his own group, adding that the leader had unilaterally taken decision on his own without consulting the elders.

From all indications, the rug is about to be pulled from under Asaolu. Already, those who backed him to win his court case against the former president, Dele Odule, have begun to opt out in turns.

"Fightings in the ANTP is not new to me. I'm not surprised, since Asaolu himself has always fought the ANTP leaders before him. He did the same when I was the president many years ago.

"Pertinent is the fact that late Hubert Ogunde predicted, many years back, that this same Asaolu will divide the ANTP. He said so while Asaolu was a young and adventurous activist whose interest in the arts never yielded fruits. I'm behind TAMPAN, a new body and I decided to pull out of the ANTP with my members, because I foresaw this chaos. We don't need this division but I'm sorry, this is where we find ourselves now," said Oga Bello.

Singer Zainab Donli is an upcoming artiste set to leave a big mark on the Nigerian entertainment scene. In this interview with Solomon NdaIsaiah, she shares her aspirations.

The unique singer’s music career started in church, just like many of today’s singers. "I sang in church and at school. I also used to write poetry because I was not sure I was cut out to be a singer. After that, I did some rap. One day, while I was rapping, some people told me of how amazing my voice is and advised me to consider singing professionally.

Since then I have pursued it vigorously, though the journey has been tough. At first, my parents were not in support of my music but when they saw that I was also doing well in my academics, they were ok with my music," she said.

Given Donli’s agae, it is a bit surprising to learn that the first-year law student of the University of Surex, United Kingdom, has been singing for 10 years. "I have recorded four songs which are presently on my about-to-be-released mixtape. Before now I have released four singles which are yet to make waves," she said.

Donli’s mix-tape is ready, after two years of hard work and the listening party has been slated for Saturday, August 30, 2014, at the Platinum Lounge, Silverbird, and the singer has promised that it will be an entertaining experience.

She also revealed that the

12 songs on the album are a combination of R& B and Soul.

Though Donli began in the choir, she never intended to do Gospel music. No wonder, then, that the singer fingers Lauryn Hill as one of her influences. “She reminds me of when music used to be so pure,” she said.

"I joined the choir because I needed a platform to build myself.

I used to go for rehearsals, but I was in boarding school. After a while, I stopped. True, I am a Christian and a believer but I don't do Gospel because I want my music to express my personality and my journey so far.

“I want my music to speak to people in a way that other females can relate to, because I think that music is about expression," she said.

As far as the mix-tape is concerned, Donli’s favourite number is Skeleton, a song which she says is her favourite.

"I like the song because it talks about [the] secrets in one's life. Most times, people tend to hide behind a mask, because they have so many secrets. This song advices you to be real, be yourself and refrain from bothering about what other people say. We should be able to remove the mask.

Donli

“In the album, I also talk about feminism, although I don't consider myself a feminist. I just like to do songs that empower other females, especially those who are shy. Someone once told me that, because of my gender, I may not go far in music. That is a stereotype I am very much committed to removing,” she said.

Donli also believes that she can make an impact on the Nigerian music scene with her style of music. "I want my music to actually speak to people, not just the usual dance songs that we always hear. When you hear my music you can relate it to an actual event in your life. Dance music is essential, because it makes people happy but there are times when people just need music for selfreflcetion," she said.

The singer, who aims to become a lawyer when she is done with law school says

she is inspired by Beyonce, Asa and Nneka, because of their unique style of music.

For all her drive and enthusiasm, Donli’s challenge is getting people to listen to her unusual songs and like her style of music.

“Basically, people do not want to listen to my type of music because it is not the usual thing you hear. People have been making some negative comments; with some advising that I release a ‘party’ jam, because people love to dance. They don’t want to listen to slow songs but, inspite of the negative comments; I am determined to go on Awith what I believe in”. Donli also advises other upcoming artistes, especially ladies, to be determined in their pursuits. Make sure you learn your craft very well so [that] you can be distinguished in what you do,” she said.

Davido Featured In Kcee's New Single

By SAMUEL ABULUDE, Lagos

His new work, Ogaranya may just be a hit-single like Limpopo, but that has not deterred MTN Ambassador, Kcee from working hard to thrill his fans and get to the top of the hit-list.

The video for Ogaranya might just be on the horizon, if pictures of him and BET Award winner Davido on location are anything to go by.

Ogaranya, WEEKEND FLAVOUR learnt, was premiered last week

Thursday on front-line music television station, MTV base.

Kcee has, in the last two years, released great singles like Pull Over, Okoso, Hakuna matata, Fine Face and the greatest hit so far, Limpopo.

With money you can buy a book, but not knowledge.

— Chinese Proverb

Kcee

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August 29, 2014

Ribadu: Dilemma Of A Political Party

Stanley Nkwocha Our Eye On Power And Politics

Feedback: stanleyn@leadership.ng

08038011382 (text only)

2015: Is Buhari In The Race For Real?

Adamawa State is surely not the best of spectacle for the ruling Peoples Democratic Part (PDP) at the moment. The aspiration of the former boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) , Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has all but stood the party.

Just to allow time for more consultations, the PDP has shifted its screening of aspirants till tomorrow where it is expected that the die would then be cast and everyone will know his or her stand.

It is obviously clear that Ribadu’s aspiration has ignited confusion amongst stakeholders in the PDP and as it is while the APC seems to have its house in order, commotion seems to be an understatement to the fix the PDP has found itself in.

Needles to say that this ‘fix’ is what the PDP has brought upon itself when the rules of the game get shifted to accommodate individual desires and wishes. The APC seems calm and calculated on its readiness for the Adamawa election. While the PDP seems the most favoured to win the election ( a reason for Ribadu’s defection to the PDP),an undisputable fact remains that except the PDP puts its house in order and put forward a candidate that will command the followership and respect of both PDP chieftains and the Adamawa electorate, the party may be headed for a shocker at the October by-election.

Reports yesterday suggested that all time presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is set to formally announce his intention to contest the 2015 presidential elections.

If this is true, it would be the 4th time the former head of state would be aspiring to lead the country again after having had a go as a military

head of state.

Hmmmm! I don’t know.

Against the risk of being said to be on an errand, I wish the General luck this time.

But he must also know that what he owes the younger generation is mentorship, not this power quest he and others have indulged in since 2003. Time comes when guests must leave a party, no matter how fun it is. Wish him the best of luck.

Stan’s Memo

Musings

i

How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four.

Calling a tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg - Abraham Lincoln

Is there a positive correlation between the bulgy stomachs of past Inspectors general and their corrupt inclinations?

Just figured out that while Tafa Balogun, Sunday Ehindero , Ringim all had cases after service, the slim fit ones like Mohammed Abubakar just pass through as if they never controlled budgets.

Tactical Maneuvering My Foot!

As reports that about 480 soldiers of the Nigerian Army had escaped to neighbouring Cameroun poured out last Monday, not a few Nigerians were taken aback as the implications came hitting us directly on the face. But the Defence Headquarters has been quick to explain that the soldiers only engaged in what they described as ‘tactical maneuver’ .

What ever that means!

I still re-emphasise that few months ago, when Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima deplored the very appalling condition of our Nigerian soldiers in terms of warfare and welfare, he got attacked for deliberately attempting to stoke crisis. But with the embarrassing ‘tactical maneuver’ of our soldiers to Cameroon, need anyone be told of what the real situation is.

The true situation is that the Boko Haram group outran and overwhelmed the Nigerian soldiers who had to flee to Cameroon. If that is what the Nigerian Army calls ‘tactical maneuver’, then they are dead right. If not , they had better get us another befitting military terminology. This one does not sell.

The war against Boko Haram must be seriously fought and not be conducted on military terms. It is either the Army is well equipped, motivated and funded

Go Well, Akunyili or it is not. If in one fell swoop, the Boko Haram sect overran the Police training facility in Gwoza and overwhelmed our soldiers forcing them to run to Cameroon, what was the ‘tactical maneuvering’ there?

Like I said last week, it is high time the president engaged a neutral team to audit the Nigerian Army and its assets with a view to avoiding the ugly and embarrassing trend of this week. Else, there shall continue to be a thousand and one more ‘tactical maneuverings’.

Finally, former minister of information and NAFDAC boss, Prof. Dora Akunyili has been laid to rest. A woman of many parts who will forever live in our hearts.

Akunyili lived the life of a stallion, leaving her imprints wherever she went to. She succumbed to the deadly effect of cancer in India just few months ago.

A rare Amazon has bowed out of the scene after living the life. As we pray for the peaceful repose of her soul, it is our fervent wish that the life she lived on earth inspires and produce a million more Amazons. Rest in peace the people’s hero.

You will forever live in our hearts. Adieu Dora.

Power Play: Danagogo Vs Maigari While the fire which razed the Glass House building of the Nigeria Football Federation seems to have been quelled and brought under control, a new ‘fire’ is being set at the Glass House secretariat as both minister for sports, Tamuno Danagogo and

factional chairman of the NFF, Aminu Maigari have squared up against each other.

While the duo are flexing muscles over the control of the NFF, Chris Giwa who seems to be the anointed son of Danagogo has resumed office

after what was described as a ‘shambolic’ election took place last Monday. As this goes on, Maigari insists that he remains the bonafide chairman of the NFF and has set elections for the NFF for September 4.

As if to show that the ‘fire’

is just beginning, folks like Umeh who fought Maigari and eventually contested and lost to Giwa have made a detour and now pitched tent with old foe –Maigari, describing the same elections they participated in as ‘shambolic’. What an NFF!

Not every movement is progress; Some movements are just a way of burning fats! ― Israelmore Ayivor

54 FRIDAY INTERVIEW

August 29, 2014

My Experiences With APC, PDP leaderships – Gombe Having worked with chieftains of both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Shuaib Gara Gombe talks about his views of the parties.

He spoke with STANLEY NKWOCHA. Until now, you worked with the Kano state governor, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as an adviser. Before then you had also worked with former PDP chairman Bamanga Tukur as his adviser too. Now you are back to the PDP. Would you not say you are unstable?

You know in life when you are going up as a human, you are bound to face this kind of situation especially in a country like Nigeria. As a student of Nigeria’s political development process, with the brief stay I had with Kwankwaso as special adviser on sports development and also with my former position like you have said with Alhaji Tukur, I would like to say that it was a difficult situation for me in and out of the PDP. I have not been a really core active politician that you can think, I’m only a strategist. I don’t take part in party elections because as a matter of principle, I never liked the way we play our politics when it comes to elective positions.

My experiences with Kwankwaso had its good sides and bad sides. And I would like to report here that Kwankwoso does all his thinking himself. If there is anybody that tells you that he tells Kwankwaso what to do, that person is lying. Yes, he can listen to you very well but he takes his own decisions. And I can tell you, all the projects you see in Kano are his own designs. He sits down and thinks about it, then tells whosoever to execute it. He may get your inputs but don’t think that is final. He always has a second opinion before he takes decision.

Unfortunately, for the brief he gave me as his special adviser on sports, I came with a mission knowing fully the type of person he is. But unfortunately, some people within his government and in the state could not see it that way.

And that was the bad side of my own experiences.

But some of the things that happened while I was adviser to Kwankwaso are not things that I would like to reveal now because I believe they are still classified. But at the right time, when these issues lose their classifications, I’m gladly going to share it with the public.

Your being close to Kwankwaso allowed you to really hobnob with the APC leadership just as you did with the PDP leadership under Bamanga Tukur. Could you draw a line between the politics in the PDP at that level and that of APC?

I must tell you that Kwankwaso did send me to the APC progressive governors forum in Abuja. He was scheduled to make a speech that night. When I was going I asked him; ‘Sir when I go and it’s time for you to speak what do I say’?

Because if I go there I’m not representing Kwankwaso, I’m more or less representing Kano State. He said that at the meeting I should announce that he was on his way to the APC then. I’m the first person that publicly went on air and announced that Kwankwaso is coming to APC. When I got there in Abuja, I was privileged to meet with about nine of the APC governors including General Buhari and some of the leadership there. I can tell you, why he chose me to go although not an indigene of Kano State, but at that time I was his adviser. Being an adviser on sports that means he can assign any responsibility to me. That was where my problem in Kano started, that who is this commoner from Gombe State that will come and go to a function of progressive governors to take pictures and be beamed with news reports sitting side by side governors or people like General Buhari. That was where my problem started and I saw it coming. I think he himself realized that, so unfortunately even when the progressive governors were organizing a function right inside government house

Gombe

in Kano, I was not even invited. The protocol department had a list of political appointees from Kano State that were invited.

I want to tell you that it is the same kind of politics that we are playing in the PDP that is being played in APC. The only difference is that you have one character in APC that we do not have in PDP and that is General Buhari character.

Even if we have those that have that character of Buhari in PDP, it is not pronounced.

What do you mean by character?

The kind of antecedence he has, being an honest and sincere person with high integrity and I can tell you, if you take out Buhari from APC, we are all the same as far as I’m concerned.

When you look 60 or 70 per cent of the leadership of the APC and those who are playing the politics in APC, you will see they are the same thing. They all started with the PDP. Those kind of things that are happening in the APC today are those kind of things that were in PDP that made most old PDP members move across to APC. Yes, there are differences of identity in terms of flag, motto, logo and the rest. There are also differences in perhaps manifesto, slogan but I can tell you, the actors; the promoters, the templates are all the same. I can tell anybody I know what is going on.

I personally never liked what happened to Chief Tom Ikimi . I knew him for very long time. I thought that for me as a person, if you ask me to bring one person in APC to be the National Chairman, I will point at him. It is not that the one they have chosen does not have the credibility or the antecedence to be elected chairman of the APC. But the truth must be said. They both play the same kind of politics; the same kind of imposition and the rest of it. I don’t want to belly bore you so much with the examples that is the same in what happened in PDP that is happening in APC, I will reveal that later.

You are from Gombe State and already the political tension in Gombe is already building up ahead of 2015. Do you see a smooth election inGombe State?

Well, let me tell you this, people are celebrating Danjuma Goje today because Ibrahim Dankwabo has been very careless. If Dankwabo wasn’t careless, how can Goje be holding him to ransom as it is. Our people are still not happy with him, but because Dankwabo gave in so much that is why someone like Goje can go back and intimidate

him. Unfortunately, Goje has his own agenda and I want to say it very clearly, it is not the promotion of the message that APC is bringing that made Goje to be in APC. Goje wants Dankwabo out by all means. It does not matter to him whoever becomes the governor of Gombe state tomorrow provided Dankwabo is out. That is Goje for you.

Secondly, Goje went to Gombe and decided to behave in the same manner he behaved when he was governor for eight years under PDP. It was the same kind of attitude, lack of transparency and despotic character he took back to APC and wants to use in promoting APC in Gombe.

Yes they might have a very good message but when the messenger is bad, the packaging of the message is bad, nobody is going to buy. Just like when you produce a very good product, no matter how fine the product is, when the packing is bad, you have already spoilt the product.

Then later on, we had a deputy national women leader in APC who is from the state and she had wanted to contest for the national woman leaders and she worked so hard to make sure North East got the women leadership of the APC. But Goje went and turned everything round; re-negotiated with North Central with Burkola Saraki, his fellow former governor and swapped the woman leader position with youth leadership because he wanted to give it to his son in-law Dasuki ; the same person he wanted to impose as governor or representative which we refused, now he brought him as national youth leader and that was how that woman, north east and Gombe lost that position.

The name Gara Gombe used to shake the sports circle but over the years, we’ve seen the activism which you usually brought into sports got deployed to politics.

What is your take on the latest crisis Andre Nigeria Football Federation and what is the way forward?

That crisis is very unfortunate. We have been having crisis in the NFF every four years, whenever its world cup period, when people are celebrating world cup, we are celebrating crisis. In 2006, 2010 we had it and it is 2014, we are having it. But we have to stop at one point to correct the mistakes of the past. How? We have a minister who is a politician, we have a DG who is also a politician and all of them came with their own agenda. There are insinuations that they want to contest elections. But if you want to contest for election, do not destroy our happiness. The minister, because of his lack of experience in sports did not manage the crisis very well.

That is why we are going into all these mess. And also there are certain interests coming from people who don’t know anything about sports but because they have money, they want to come and take over everything from football.

The only condition that will make me go into sports administration now is when government says; look we are taking our hands off from sports. I have been saying it; the NFA Act 2004 should be completely abrogated to give full private sector control of football. That is when it will be interesting for me. I don’t have energy and time to go and start quarrelling with the minister of sports. No, let it be one hundred per cent private sector driven.

Look, in the UK, France or elsewhere, have heard that the chairman of the football federation is quarrelling with the sports minister or secretary? What the government does is to provide the enabling environment.

On the other side, look at the National Sports Commission, the only commission without commissioners.

You have a DG, a chairman and a minister, national sports commission. Which kind of arrangement is that? If you want to call it the national sports commission, there must be commissioners and because somebody at that time wanted to use the commission to be powerful, he turned it to be DG and even as he has left, other people are still following the same pattern.

That is why every time we have a championship, millionaires get to be produced. So there are serious institutional decay as far as sports is concerned, so much corruption, so much in-fighting and too much politics that we do not need.

Wisdom is not like money to be tied up and hidden. ~ Akan proverb

W men In Politics

August 29, 2014

ANALYSIS

INTERVIEWS

55

DISCOURSE

Integrity Should Count In 2015 – Dr. Lemu Dr. Aisha S. Lemu, is the Director for Non-Governmental Organizations, Neighbour to Neighbour Initiative. She is the MD/CEO of Hammaj International Ltd., and also the President/Founder of Major General SM. Lemu Memorial Foundation. In this interview with Hauwa Mahmud Madugu, she emphasizes the need for each and everyone to exercise their voting rights come 2015, among other issues.

There are about ten contenders vying for the governorship seat in Niger state, who do you think holds the highest chance to emerge governor come 2015

Well, may the will of God be done in Niger State. May we have a leader and a governor that will take the mantle from where the chief servant has stopped. That is my prayer. My prayer is for the state to have a just leader who will consider the plight of the women and youth, especially the widows. A governor that will consider everybody, and also make the security of the state paramount among other things. I don’t want to mention anyone because only God knows who will be best for the state. And we pray to him to give the position to anyone that will improve the state greatly.

At time of elections, contestants are fond of luring voters with gifts like money, rice and so on. What is your take on this?

I will say people should not look at what is been given to them. They should look at the personality. Vote for who you know will help in developing the country. Look beyond the little gifts and look at the bigger picture. Because at the end of the day, every vote counts.

Any chance you will be vying for any post in 2015?

For now I enjoy what I am doing. Maybe someday, but not now. I believe the future lies with God Almighty.

Are you indirectly saying you are not cut out for that?

No. Everyone is cut out for politics either directly or indirectly. Well, if I am called to serve my country, sincerely I will be willing to serve. After all I am a citizen of Federal Republic of Nigeria, so I should be willing to answer any call to service.

I am talking about elective positions where you will be voted in

I don’t have any intention to contest for an elective position now. All I want to do for now is to touch widows and orphans.

To help impact their lives positively. I am

into various empowerment programmes based on my current position in Neighbour to Neighbour Initiative. So for now, I have a lot on the table. It’s not like the two can’t go hand in hand, but for now our major concentration and concern is empowerment.

Do you think the current security crisis in the country may have negative impact on the 2015 general elections?

I don’t think we should be scared because the security of the country lies not only in the hands of the federal government. It is for the state government, the local government, the communities, and for individuals. So it is our collective responsibility to make sure that everything goes well within our environment. I keep asking people, do you now your neighbor? Do you know the people living on your street? So we should start from there. If everybody in a street knows the people living on that street and they see any strange or irresponsible person moving around, they should report to the securities.

If we can do this, I think the security situation will improved greatly, and there will be no cause for alarm.

Any word of advice for the electorate?

Everyone should go and collect their permanent voter’s card. It is your right to vote. It is the right of every citizen to vote, so I will advise everyone who hasn’t gotten his/her card to go and get it so that they can be able to exercise their human rights.

Despite being in politics, you are concentrated more in philanthropism. What is the inspiration?

I work with Neighbor to Neighbor Initiative and I am now the Director for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s). I have been doing philanthropic work even before I started working with Neighbor to Neighbor Initiative.

Presently, we have just registered Major General SM Lemu memorial foundation and the foundation is going to be basically taking care of the masses and

Lemu

the under privileged, especially widows and orphans because I have special interest in them. I am a widow and I know what widows go through. We are going to launch the foundation in due course. The crash that took away the lives of my husband and his colleagues happened on the 17th of September, 2006. This year will make it eight years after the crash so I intend to launch the memorial foundation this year. I also intent to get advice from our Royal Father, the Etsu Nupe, HRH Yahaya Abubakar, and hopefully he is going to be the patron of the foundation. Also, my state governor, the chief servant, Gov. Babangida Aliyu, former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, and former president, General Abdulsalam Abubakar too as well. I am going to consult with them because my late husband was from Niger state and we want all of them to participate fully.

We are going to start the foundation

War is not porridge. — Gikuyu Proverb

in Niger state since that is where he is from. We are going to a have branch office in Abuja, and then hopefully branch out to other states like Kano and Lagos.

You were honoured recently by the Commonwealth University with an honourary doctorate degree. What do you think led to the recognition?

I will say it has to do with my philanthropic work. I feel very honoured because I was chosen from so many to be honoured. I thank Allah for this and promise to do more philanthropic work for the masses, especially widows, orphans, and the displaced. I pray to Allah to bring total peace to Nigeria as a nation and plead to the aggrieved people to seek peaceful resolution to issues and to join hands with government in bringing peace and development because it takes the participation of all to develop.

56 interview

August 29, 2014

‘Why I Was Removed From The PDP National Working Committee’ Bala Ka’oje is a former minister of sports and also the immediate past national treasurer of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview with DAVID ADUGE-ANI, he explains how he was unfairly removed from the National Working Committee of the PDP just because he spoke the truth. He also speaks on other national issues.

As a PDP chieftain and former member of the National Working Committee of the party, how credible are the insinuations that your party is planning to give President Jonathan right of first refusal?

I actually cannot comment on that question for the simple fact that such a statement can only come from the chairman of the party.

Secondly I used to be the member of (NWC) of our great party but I was unfairly removed from the National Working Committee just for the simple fact that I always said the truth and nothing but the truth. Also some people insinuate that I am an Obasanjo boy and perhaps that was part of the reasons why nobody cared to protect me despite the fact that my contributions in meetings and other gatherings of the party were outstanding and aims at improving the lots of our party and democracy in Nigeria.

On the issue of Obasanjo, I will like to say that I have no regret whatsoever that I had kept my relationship with former President.

I am also proud to tell the whole world that we remain inseparable until death do us part.

One of my reasons for keeping relationship with my bosses is that it expresses my unflinching loyalty to my boss. Therefore whoever God has made a president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, whether I am working with him directly or indirectly, my loyalty to that him is 100%.

So it is not out of place for me to be keeping relationship with former or serving presidents of this country. It is a normal thing for me because I have such respect for the leadership. President Jonathan is not an exception, he know that I am loyal to him but some other people who see me as a threat may to their political ambitions may have been telling the president a different story

BananaRepublic RESTAURANT

Ka’oje

about me which of course is false. Most of the things they have told him are just lies and that makes me wonder why Mr. President seems to have believed what they told him and never bothered to protect me when I was been castigated and kicked out of the NWC of our great party.

Several interest groups from your state are worried over your silence to the many calls for you to contest for the governorship position of Kebbi State come 2015. Why are you reluctant to answer the call of your people?

Thank you very much for that question,

I have been called upon by a number of concerns citizens of my state to seek for the leadership of the state come 2015. I also know that all the stakeholders that had shown interest in me to come and contest have their own reasons for showing such interests. I have been looking at their requests very-very closely for some time now and it is indeed time for me to make my own analysis after some wide consultations with major stakeholders and party stalwarts in the state to see how that could be possible.

I realized that I have some predicaments that are working against my declaring for the coveted seat of the governor of Kebbi State come 2015. One of the major reasons is that the current governor whose tenure will be ending in 2015 having served two terms allowed by law is from the same zone with me.

As a matter of fact we are neighbours in terms of the local government areas we come from.

I am from Bagudo local government, while my governor is from Suru local government.

Secondly, the incumbent governor has also shown interest to go to the National Assembly on completion of his tenure as a governor. This two major factors had made it almost impossible for me to go ahead to answer the calls made by my people to run for the position.

Naerls forum

August 29, 2014

National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, ABU Zaria Contact: Dr M.K Othman - 08065571637. mkothman@gmail.com

Review Of Research-Extension-Farmer-Inputs-Linkage System (REFILS) In Nigeria And The Roles Of NAERLS (4) In recent years, another zone South-South Zone was created with NIFOR, Benin City as the coordinating NARI. The coordination involves planning and conducting of Zonal Steering Committee, Zonal Technical Committee meetings in-house review meeting conduct of MTRM/QTRM, OFAR among others activities.

S/N Zone REFILS Coordinating NARI States ADPs 1 North East Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri, Borno State Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe.

2 North West Institute for Agricultural Research, ABU, Zaria, Kaduna State Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi.

3 North Central National Cereal Research Institute, Badegi, Niger State F C T , Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Niger, Kwara 4 South East National Roots crops Research Institute, Umadike, Abia State Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia, Imo. 5 South West Institute for Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan, Oyo State Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti, Lagos.

6 South South Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, Benin City, Edo State Cross River, Akwa Ibom, River, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo. Coordinating NARIs are responsible for implementation of OFAR and Training in collaboration with the relevant stakehold-

NAERLS Administrative block

ers. OFAR is one of the critical REFILS activities which are implemented through the following stages: i. Diagnosis/problem identification and trial planning. ii. On-station research. iii.On-farm research Similarly, training as one of the major activities of the coordinating NARI in collaboration with NAERLS, The following categories of trainings are conducted y the NARI. 1. Orientation/refresher training for new staff and professional members of OFAR Team and other extension activities.

2.

Pre and Post Season Trainings designed to teach technical and field staff on trials, product protocol of new varieties, processing, handling of Agric. Produce, offfarm activities etc.

3. Monthly Technology Review Meeting. This training is aimed at up-dating the knowledge of production handling and processing recommendations of Agric produce.

4.

Special Short Courses: This is designed to upgrading and develops skill of the technical/extension staff for specific issues.

Constraints There three major constraints of T and V implementation and by implication the implementation of REFILS in Nigeria.

Some of the Constraints are: 1. Underfunding of the ADP system, ADP provides the necessary structure to reach out to the farmers for technologies transfer and also field problems identification and feedback to research centres. Currently, the ADPs are being funded by their respective states governments and most of the states are grossly under funding the ADP system. This has made it impossible for the ADPs to be effectively engaged in research and extension activities. Most of the ADPs received less than 30 percent of their annual budgets.

2. Manpower shortage: ADP system is suffering from man power shortage. Most of the ADPs have not employed in the last 15 years while their active staff are ageing as well as retiring. The most affected staff of the ADPs are the extension agents who are the field staff. This is really affecting the ADP system.

3. Insufficient Training: capacity building and continuous training has been the pillars of effecting T and V implementation. However, as a result of underfunding, most of the field staff are not getting

the required training to face challenges of the T and V, as well as the REFILS in implementation.

CONCLUSION Operating training and visit extension system was very successful in Nigeria at the early years when the World Bank actively supported it. The system is no doubt an expensive one and requires continuous release of fund to conduct the various activities for good impacts. However, when the World Bank Support ended, training and visit started facing major challenges for its implementation. Thus, all components of training and visit extension system were automatically affected. Governments at Federal, states and local authorities’ levels have to financial support extension system through adequate funding of the ADP system to be able achieve the needed sustainable agricultural development for self sufficiency and poverty alleviation among the teeming Nigerians. Achievement of the lofty objectives of Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) can be possible with effective extension delivery services nationwide. NAERLS is ever ready to partner with various stakeholders for capacity building, packaging and dissemination of useful agricultural innovation for massive adoption. concluded

pace setter

When Medicine Meets Philanthropy By pembi david-stephen

It is generally acknowledged that the financial support for medical programmes can be drawn from four sources: state or institutional resources, collections for clinical care, research grants and/or industrial contracts and philanthropy. Of these, philanthropy has usually been mentioned last and been pursued with the least vigour. However, as state funds remain stagnant, reimbursement for clinical care decreases and research support is ratcheted down, philanthropy has received more attention and effort.

In fact, judging by the size, prominence and influence of the development departments appearing in many hospitals and institutions, philanthropy has moved to centre stage.

Although physicians mostly don’t want to be seen retorting to this form of support, one man that has fully utilised this for the advancement of humanity and to the benefit of his long deprived people is Dr Marcel Ajah (Ph.D.), M.D, FACOG. A relatively known name in Nigeria, his case is just like the case of Isaac who prospered in a foreign land, he has taken the bull by the horn, reaching for enviable heights and carving a niche for himself. He has devoted his life to giving back to his people. He is a philanthropist per excellence – saving hundreds of thousands of lives in Nigeria yearly through the provision

of free medical care through his international non-profit organisation, Uplift Help International Inc. The achievement of Marcel A. Ajah, is one which has inspired many. His qualities and demeanor of tranquility that he has brought to his office have made him an example to many younger men and he stands strong as a pillar in his profession in faraway United States of America (USA), where he plies his trade.

Having graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor degree in chemistry, from the Mor- Ajah gan State University, Baltimore, Maryland, Dr. Ajah felt it was time to reach out to his USA Ajah proceeded to the university’s school kinsmen in his native land – Ishiagu in Ebonyi of medicine for a Ph.D. in pharmacology and State, Nigeria, where he has through Uplift experimental therapeutics. Ajah later carried Help International Inc established in 2005, a out his residency at the internal medicine unit non-profit charitable organization armed with of the Maryland General Hospital and, also, in the mission for the empowerment of Nigerithe obstetrics and gynaecology of the Saint ans by improving their health, education and Vincent Catholic Medical Centre, Brooklyn, leadership.

Queens New York.

Since the establishment of the NGO, Ajah Ajah, to his credit, is a certified obstetrician makes numerous mission trips to Nigeria, in and gynecologist, as well as the president and order to give free medical services and free CEO of the Women Medical Healthcare & Diag- medications to thousands of patients in his nostics P.C, in Brooklyn and Queens New York home-town, especially. Under his leadership, – his private practice. He is also a senior con- the organisation has almost completed a comsultant of obstetrics/gynecology and laparo- munity hospital in Ishiagu, Ebonyi State.

The goal of this hospital the provision of free scopic surgery.

Having spent some time affecting the lives primary care to all and sundry, as far as its reof the people in his immediate surroundings, sources can carry and permit.

It doesn’t insult common sense to acknowledge that Dr.Ajah means a lot of things to many; he is a member and financial contributor to Amnesty International, as a result of his deep-rooted interest in the protection of women and children; so far, Dr. Ajah has granted scholarships to 30 undergraduate students in Nigeria; he has built 16 4-bedroom unit houses for some indigent people in Ishiagu, Ebonyi State; made substantial financial contributions to the building of local churches in Ishiagu; financial supporter of the Centre for Vesico-vaginal Fistula Repair in Abakaliki, still in Ebonyi State; financial supporter to many aspiring young businessmen and women in Ishiagu, as well as many other contributions which he has made to the life the people Ajah is also a mentor and financial supporter of many newly-arrived doctors from Nigeria seeking residency positions in the United States. As he makes way for them to get residency opportunities, he acts as a father-figure, mentor and encourager of minority American high school students to pursue college education.

Over the years, Ajah has also taken to catering for the larger Igbo group in the Diaspora, the Igbo Community Organization of New York, of which he is chairman of the board, as well as a community organizer and financial contributor.

58/ royalty

By Jibrin Baba Ndace

August 29, 2014

Sultan Sa’ad: A Peacemaker At 58 “The crown of the leader is his integrity, his stronghold is his impartiality and his wealth is [the prosperity] of his people.”

—Shaykh Uthman Ibn Fodio Some are born great, some achieve greatness and, still, others have greatness thrust upon them. While some personalities fit into one of the above description, very few among us achieve prominence through passing all the three categories.

The 20th Sultan of Sokoto and Amir Mumini in Nigeria, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111, belong to the group of the prominent few. He was born great, he achieved greatness and he had greatness thrust upon him.

Born into a noble, aristocratic and Islamic revolutionary Sheikh Othman Bin Fodio’s dynasty, he was born great.

Not carried away by the nobility of his lineage and achievement of his forbearers, he joined a noble profession and, through courage, discipline, hard work and dedication, he achieved, greatness rising through the rank to become a one-star general in the Nigeria Army.

And as he was rising to the pinnacle of his career, he had greatness thrust upon him. As he was working hard to attain the rank of a general, the Almighty Allah made him a Field Marshal.

Eight years on the throne of his forbearers as the 20th Sultan of Sokoto, he has proved that though, he may have ascended the throne unexpectedly, he was ready and prepared to build on the outstanding legacies of the over 200 years Sultanate tradition of quality leadership, knowledge, scholarship, courage, discipline and forthrightness.

Born in Sokoto on August 24, 1956, every of his eminence sojourn before 2006, prepared him for the present responsibility as the Sultan as well as the President General of the Jama’Atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Co-Chairman, Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).

From his primary school education at Sultan Ward Primary School, Sokoto, to famous Barewa College in Zaria to the Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna, where he trained as officer cadet as a member of Regular Combatant Course 18 to his last course in the Nigerian Army at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau state, each environment and scholarly enterprise shaped the Sultan’s world view on traditional institution, leadership and followership, religion, diversity, violence, poverty, education, crisis management, security, diplomacy and governance.

In an interview with Soja Magazine in 2010, his eminence admitted that the Army, which he served for 31 years, prepared him for leadership, role saying: “what I want to say is that the Army will prepare any officer to face all challenges in life. I believe whoever passes through

Abubakar

the military or army and retires will be able to hold himself high anywhere he finds himself. When you join the military as a cadet, the civilian in you is removed by senior cadet. When you graduate or pass out as a commissioned officer you go through so many courses as a junior officer and several other professional courses of your arm of service. You go through promotion examination to excel and promoted; go through staff college; junior and senior divisions, go through to the National Defence College.

“Whoever passes through the service and then finally retires as a brigadier general will not have any problem fitting into any organisation... So we thank Almighty Allah…. He made it possible for us… I know many things I have been doing have a touch of military training in terms of discipline; courage; unity and strength. The Almighty Allah prepared me for the throne by making me joined the army.”

In between his commissioning as a second lieutenant on December 17, 1977, into the elite armoured corps, to his last course at NIPSS as a member of course 28, he attended many professional courses and seminars, at home and abroad, such as the Armament Instructor Course (T55) in India; Junior Division (JD) at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, (AFCSC), Jaji; and Land Force Command and Staff College, Canada for his Senior Division (SD).

His penchant for development in contemporary military strategy and Peace Support Operations (PSO) spurred him to attend other courses in Ghana, Ethiopia and Gambia, which focused on peacekeeping, disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, demilitarization, conflict prevention, management and resolution.

He also held various command and staff appointment. From 1981-82, he

was a member of 245 Recce Battalion for Organisation of African Unity (AU), Peacekeeping Mission in Chad Republic; from 1987- 88, he was second in command of the presidential security unit; in 1993, he was Commanding Officer, (CO) 241 Recce Battalion, Kaduna. In addition to the above, he served as a military liaison officer for the Economic Community of West Africa State (ECOWAS) from 1995- 1999 and Commanding Officer, 231 Tank Battalion for ECOMOG operations in Sierra Leone between 1999-2000. From 2003-2006, he was Nigeria’s Defence Adviser to Pakistan with concurrent accreditation to Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states.

Speaking on his working experience, the Sultan said: “As a military officer and diplomatic representative, I have seen the devastation of war, not only in West Africa, but in Afghanistan, Iraq and other parts of the world. I have witnessed the desperate cries of widows and orphans and the exasperation of bewildered families, desperately struggling to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives.”

In fact, the professional development, command and staff appointments of the Sultan clearly reinforced those sultanate values, which he has been deploying in managing the contemporary challenges of the sultanate, Muslim Umma and Nigeria.

And, so far, he has lived up to the dictates of the time, on the one hand, and kept faith with values he inherited, on the other. He has combined the modern leadership traits required of a military commander and the institutionalized traditional values of the Sultanate in the discharge of his functions.

His eminence, as a one-star general, has internalized the qualities of a military commander as espoused by German-Prussian Major General, Carl

Nature gave us two cheeks instead of one to make it easier to eat hot food.

Von Clausewitz and British Spartan Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery.

Such qualities include professional knowledge, vision and intellect, courage, robustness, self-confidence, discipline, ability to obtain information, resilience, selflessness, quick thinking and good planning.

The son of 17th Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar 111 has also benefitted from the fountain of knowledge of the Sokoto Triumvirate, namely, Shaykh Uthman Ibn Fodio, Shaykh Abdullahi Ibn Fodio and Shaykh Muhammad Bello. The three eminent Shaykhs authored over 300 books and pamphlets that espoused values such as: knowledge as the basic for effective leadership; primacy of justice in the polity; honesty in public affairs; dignity of labour; infrastructure development and uplifting of women through education for growth.

All these qualities have been demonstrated by the Sultan in his handling of intricate affairs at local, national and international levels.

As a Sultan, he has shown profound understanding of the dynamics of Nigerian society as a diverse, multireligious, multi-ethnic nation, seeking to promote peace and unity in Nigeria.

Little wonder, he has been recognized, globally, as a peace maker. Writing in the Daily Trust of Thursday, November 2, 2006, Mahmud Jega in an article titled ‘From Nigeria soldier to Sultan of Sokoto’, described the Sultan as a leader with ‘intimate knowledge of some world’s most intricate crisis points’. Jega said: “Brigadier General Sa’ad Abubakar, or “Sada”, as he is called in Sokoto, spent many of his 31 years in the military as a peacekeeper.”

In fact, in recognition of his contributions to nation building, the Sultan was nominated for Nobel Peace Prize in 2012 along with Cardinal John Onaiyakan.

Described as a thoroughbred soldier, strong-willed and blunt with a highly courageous personality by his military colleagues, his eminence, by his action, has left no one in doubt, about his desire to unite the Muslim Umma and, above all, unite people of all faiths in Nigeria.

As President-General of NIREC, he demonstrated that with the right leadership, peace, unity and stability are possible among the people of Nigeria.

In his seminal presentation on Islam titled, ‘Islam and Peace Building in West Africa: Imperatives of knowledge, justice and anti-corruption, at the Samuel L. and Elizabeth Jodidi Annual Lecture at Weather head Center for International Affairs, Havard University, Cambridge, MA USA, Monday, October, 3, 2011, his eminence discussed ‘the role of Islam in nation building, its values and the prospects for peace and prosperity in the event that the leaders and the led appreciate the significance of those values.’

—Ndace is a journalist with ‘Blueprint Newspaper’.

— Ghanaian Proverb

ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

August 29, 2014

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Ustaz Abubakr Siddeeq Muhammad Focus On Faith 08076760011 (sms only) www.abubakrsiddeeq.com, email: deedat@gmail.com

Preparatory Meeting For Hajj 2014 (1)

T

his meeting was held at the National Mosque Auditorium, Abuja on Wednesday 27th August 2014. This was the second in a series of meetings organised by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on 2014 Hajj. That much was clear from Mr Alidu Shutti’s (NAHCON’s Head, Tour Operators Unit’s) Welcome Address in which he recalled that the first meeting, on 15th May 2014, was to review Hajj 2013. ‘This journey’, he said, ‘started on Monday, December 23rd. Today, we have to deliberate on three important issues – to review what happened before now, update ourselves on the current situation, and map out strategy for a successful operation’, he said.

‘Feel free therefore,’ he urged, ‘to express your minds’ on what you think we should do and how to do it.

The Honourable Commissioner Operations, NAHCON, Barrister Abdullahi M. Muhammad MON, gave the Opening Remarks in which he prayed for Allah’s guidance to Hajj stakeholders in the way they conduct this spiritual operation. ‘We have witnessed efficient and better service delivery’, said he, ‘from Hajj tour operators.’

We shall continue to ensure this level of compliance to NAHCON’s regulations in line with the transformation agenda of the current administration, he further averred.

According to him, ‘bag eggs’ who are giving the industry bag name are forced to close shop because the bar is beyond assailment by the unserious.

On Hajj seat allocation, Barrister Abdullah M. Muhammad said, 197 tour operators applied for Hajj 2014 operations, but using ‘the elimination system’, 134 out of that number ‘made the list’. Distributing around 66,000 Hajj seats among the 36 states and Abuja is by far easier than sharing 10,000 seats among 134 Hajj tour operators, the Commissioner lamented.

The elimination system referred to by the Honourable Commissioner covers licences like that of IATA, NAHCON, etc., the company’s performance in previous operations which includes at least two successful Umrah operations, commitment to NAHCON related activities, such as attending meetings, workshops and conferences. Others are compliance to CAC regulations and those of IATA – a company, cannot for instance, submit new office address to NAHCON that is different to what is with IATA or CAC. The change in the place of domicile of an office must be the same in documents related to that company.

NAHCON’s Operation Commissioner further urged tour operators to ‘advise us if we are wrong, but where we are sure that we have not missed the mark, the law will take its full course’. ‘Our aim’, he said, ‘is to make you not only to attain, but also to surpass international standard in Umrah and Hajj operations. In that regard’, he said, NAHCON will support those who are serious in the business and sanction the erring.

L-R: Alhaji Aminu Agoha, President NANTA, ABDULFATTAH Abdulmajeed, National Present, AHUON, and Honourable Commissioner Operations, Barrister Abdullahi M. Muhammad MON

On the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), Barrister Abdullahi said Nigeria is not listed among countries that are prevented from performing Hajj 2014, and the Federal Government must be commended in the containment effort exhibited by Nigeria in fighting the disease.

One of the things that make registration for Hajj operations in Saudi Arabia a nightmare is the payment that tour operators have to make to different agencies in diverse offices between Makkah and Jeddah.

NAHCON has waded into this, and made all such payments on behalf of the entire ‘Nigerians pilgrims, including the pilgrims under Private Tour Companies’. This was contained in a document (ISSUE OF PAYMENTS TO MUASSASAH AND THE CAR SYNDICATE FOR HAJJ 2014), distributed at the meeting, and signed by L U Muhammad.

The Commissioner Operations also alluded to some of the issues in the document, which are: a) SR18 Bank Guarantee Payment to Vehicle Syndicate: the Commission has provided a Bank Guarantee to the tune of SR1,366,000,00 (one million, three hundred and sixty-eight thousand Saudi Riyals only) to cover the 76,000 Nigerian pilgrims, including international pilgrims of tour operators; b) SR50 Ministry of Hajj Deposit: on this also, the Commission has paid the Saudi Ministry of Hajj the total money to cover the entire 76,000 pilgrims from Nigerian through a Bank Guarantee of SR3,800,000 (three million, eight hundred thousand Saudi Riyals only); c) SR500 Registration at the Mu’assasah: the Mu’assasah (Establishment of Hajj Officials from African non-Arab Countries) has agreed to cancel the payment of this SR500 as registration fees; d) SR200 Saudi Ministry of Hajj Deposit: this SR200 per pilgrim, which is another guarantee supposed to be paid by tour operators has been cancelled also;

e) SR5 Tent Damage Deposit to the Mu’assasah: the Commission is finalising arrangement to pay this sum on behalf of the private tour operators; f) SR22.5 Refundable Deposit to the Mu’assasah: the Commission, on behalf of the tour operators, is processing the payment of this sum too.

All these are quite commendable steps that the Commission has taken and we should not just commend them but we should also encourage them by giving them our full support.

Alhaji Aminu Agoha, the President of National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), and National Deputy President (AHUON) raised some points, part of which I have paraphrased below: • With a membership of over 1,000 registered members, Tour Operators and Travel Agents are a considerable source of employment. The government does not adequately appreciate this.

• Despite the global practice to the contrary, Airlines and Travel Agents (who are, by the way, agents of the airlines) in Nigeria compete side by side in the sale of

One of the things that make registration for Hajj operations in Saudi Arabia a nightmare is the payment that tour operators have to make to different agencies in diverse offices between Makkah and Jeddah

their products. Often times, the Airlines sell tickets cheaper than the Travel Agents sell or give more commission than the Travel Agents, thereby denying the Agents their legitimate rights.

• In this country, the Hajj and Umrah Tour Operator faces many challenges.

Regulatory Authorities like NAHCON, NCAA and NTDC seem to be overburdening the Operators. There are different mandatory requirements that could be harmonised into a few. In Europe and America, most travel agencies and related businesses operate only with ATOL whereas in Nigeria, there are myriad regulatory bodies to register with and pay mandatory sums to.

• Despite these stifling regulations, the Travel Agent/Tour Operator has little or no protection from the Regulatory Authorities when there is dispute with the Airlines or other Agencies.

• There are so many unforeseen costs in the provision of services by Tour Operators during the Hajj exercise that often our members barely break even. Alhamdulillah, we are contented with the service to the guests of Allah.

• The Tour Operator and Travel Agent is the local content, the downstream sector of the Aviation Industry in this country and needs to be encouraged and developed.

These points are salient and he spoke the mind of many of us. I am happy we have a listening leadership at virtually all the regulatory bodies who were present. Our hope is that these will not be mere words to them but action points that they will implement swiftly.

The Commission of Operations responded to some of the issues raised by the NANTA President, citing NAHCON Establishment Act, 2006, and drawing the attendees’ attention to section 16 subsections 1 through 6, where payment of fees and performance bond to the Commission were mentioned.

He said NAHCON is always looking for avenues to lessen the financial burden of tour operations in meeting up with regulatory injunction.

He gave examples of how the payment N30,000,000 in bank draft by Hajj operators to NAHCON was reduced to only N5,000,000. Such draft was also returned to tour operators as soon as Hajj seats were released, as against when the draft and its value were tied down until after the Hajj operations.

He advised AHOUN members to see the positive side of NAHCON regulations because such laws bring sanity into the industry and help to mould the Nigerian Hajj tour operator into a sturdy, experienced professional who can stand tall among equals in the international arena.

During one of their meetings in Makkah, the Commissioner said that the Saudi Hajj Ministry officials said that Nigerian tour operators are among the best three in the world!

The subsistence mentality of a person is a prison in which his personal joy is detained. If you want to live in joy, you don’t live for yourself alone. Live for others too! ― Israelmore Ayivor

60/ ISLAM

August 29, 2014

Discourse with Sheikh Muhammad Mahmud Turi turimuhd@yahoo.com 07038199475 (text only)

In the name of Allah who states “Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah; of them some have died and some (still) wait; But they have never changed (their determination) in the least” Q33:24.

Peace and blessings of Allah be upon His noble servant, our master Muhammad and his oppressed progeny.

As the 40th day prayer of our great martyrs fast approaches and people from all walks of life continuously troop to the residence of sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) for condolence, the aspect I wish to discuss this week is the rights of these innocent brothers and sisters murdered after the International Quds day event and their predecessors in general.

To be oppressively killed for religious belief is commonly regarded as Martyrdom.

A martyr therefore is a very responsible person that made a great sacrifice in the interest of Islam leading to loss of his or her dear life in the process. Yes there are other categories of martyrs such as those killed in defense of their persons, family or wealth. But most significant are those tyrannically murdered for their ambition to establish social justice and societal reform.

Imam Ali (as) said “Allah will bring forward the martyrs on the day of judgment with such pomp and splendor, that even the prophets if mounted, will dismount to show their respect for them. With such grandeur will a martyr appear on the Day of Judgment”. When the Imam was struck by Ibn Muljim, the terrorist assassin in the early hours of 19th Ramadan, he said: I have succeeded by the Lord of the Kaaba!

Imam Husain said; “my grandfather told me that I was destined to attain a very high spiritual position but that could not be attained except through martyrdom” Thus, martyrdom is an honorable position that Allah gives to whom He likes. As an inevitable milestone, many prophets and rightly guided predecessors were honored in that way as they treaded the path of Allah in the cause of their revolutionary process.

Evidently, the struggles of Shehu Danfodio and Imam Khomeini (may Allah have mercy on them) were proven examples, just as it happens in the sheikh Zakzaky - led Islamic movement!

Although Muslims have a different view on crucifixion, the Christians similarly, believe in the great sacrifice or martyrdom of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) for the salvation of mankind.

MARTYRS OF THE ISLAMIC MOVEMENT Although the 25th July merciless murder on the members of Islamic movement in Nigeria was not the first, but was the first of its kind. The first historic event in which the movement lost its member was in 1982 at Bauchi during the popular Islamic vocational conference (IVC) when mysteriously the police attacked the

Rallying Around Man Of Allah In Keeping To Obligatory Rights Of Our Respected Martyrs!

participants killing Brother Muhammad Bello.

The second popular event occurred in Katsina on the 19th April, where peaceful procession was staged to protest the blasphemy against the prophet and his wife sayyidah Khadijah by the fun times magazine in the days of Colonel John Madaki where Malam Abubakar Shehu Madomawa from Sokoto was martyred in 1991.

Persecution against members of this movement occurred at different times and places leading to additional loss of members. A remarkable number was lost in the oppressive rule of the dark goggled Abacha before he was caught by the omnipotent. In the last seven years, no fewer than fourteen brothers were tyrannically killed by sponsored thugs and police in a deliberately attack in Sokoto under the present administration.

The attacks came despite the widely recognized contributions of the Islamic movement not only in the socio - economic aspect of the society but entire human endeavors. “And they ill - treated them for no other reason than that they believed in Allah, Exalted in power, Worthy of all praise! Q85: 8.

THE RIGHTS OF OUR RESPECTED MARTYRS Generally, Mu’assasatus shuhada or martyrs foundation is charged with education, moral upbringing and related activities of the martyrs’ families. The foundation is a fully registered non - governmental organization which collects contribution from members and other well meaning individuals for its humanitarian activities. It was established by the insightful sheikh Immediately after the second brutal murder of a member, precisely on 1st January, 1992.

The foundation has an intact record of all martyrs and their families in about forty years of the movement’s existence covering the circumstances and responsible culprits.

Undeniably, the martyr as a human being deserves commendation for discarding all human desires absolutely preferring the pleasure of Allah the most High.

Allah says “Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet; women and sons; heaped - up hoards of gold and silver; horses branded (for blood and excellence); and (wealth of) cattle and well - tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world’s life; but with Allah is the best of the goals (to return to). Say: shall I give you glad tiding of things far better than those? for the righteous are Gardens in nearness to their Lord with rivers flowing beneath; therein is their eternal home; with spouses purified and the good pleasure of Allah, for in Allah’s sight are (all) His servants” Q3:14 – 15.

In view of the firm faith, good practice and great sacrifice of the martyr, Allah honors him greatly in a special way here and hereafter. A prominent hadeeth al Qudsy, says “I am the successor of a martyr in his family”.

Allah says “Think not of those who are

slain in Allah’s way as dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance from their Lord, they rejoice in the Bounty provided by Allah; and with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their bliss), the (martyrs) glory in the fact that on them is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve. Q3:169 – 170.

The points I want emphasize at this juncture are the following: 1. PRAYERS: The first obligation towards our respected martyrs is prayers. We must always pray for them and their families.

As the sheikh repeatedly emphasizes, we should pray to Allah to accept them and grant their wishes at least in our every night Witr. At the same time we should pray to Allah to give a befitting recompense on the culprits responsible for their martyrdom. Yes they deserve destructive prayers for their murderous action against the faithful. Allah says “If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (Forever); and the wrath and the curse of Allah Are upon him, and a dreadful chastisement is prepared for him.

Q4: 93.

No matter how long, the criminals will also die. A time will come when they will taste the death and account for their bad deeds. Some of those that killed our well mannered brothers in the fast have made a very bad end and remained accusable forever. “And do not incline towards those who are unjust, lest the fire touch you, and you have no guardians towards besides Allah, then you shall not be helped” Q11:113.

Regrettably, they do not think of their end at all and are ready to be used at will for bloodshed. Questions like these are very important; is death an end or a beginning?

Why should I be instructed to kill? What is the wisdom behind it? Where do we go after it? What is the relation between the physical and spiritual aspects of human being? And what are the lessons to learn from the death of others we witness?

“He who created death and life, that He may try which of you is best in deed; He is the exalted in might, Oft forgiving” Q14:42.

2. SHUHADA DUES: Secondly, we must pay more attention to the general welfare of the martyrs’ family. This could be achieved by utmost support and cooperation to martyrs foundation through prompt payment of Shuhada dues.

With money you can buy a doctor, but not good health.

― Chinese Proverb

We must pay this due so that the honor of these great families is sufficiently protected more than we care for ourselves.

This is the interpretation of the hadeeth above. In fact most Islamic scholars have interpreted the verse; “.....on them is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve” Q3: 170. They referred the fear to the destiny in the hereafter and grieve, regard to the family the martyr lefts behind.

So we must emulate the practice of the Leader of this movement that promptly pays the due for the welfare of the martyrs’ families. We should also learn to visit the martyrs’ families from time to time.

Interestingly, all the martyrs’ children are at various school levels. Some are already running various courses within and outside Nigerian universities! This goes in line with what the sheikh maintains that as far as education is concerned sky is not even the limit but the beginning.

3. CONTINOUS REMEMBRANCE: We must learn to remember our martyrs always. In line with this, we should learn to pay special visits for prayers to their graves. As we care for their children, taking care of their graves is also a duty we should respect. It is imperative to commend the effort of the foundation for renovating their graves in particular and cemeteries in general.

JANNAT AL - RAHMA or GARDEN OF MERCY is the prominent graveyard exclusively for our martyrs in Zaria. We have good lessons to learn especially from other countries where cemeteries are rehabilitated - cared and electrifiedfor visits, prayers and remembrance, unlike here where they are disrespected, irrationally feared and considered a home for ghosts! “O you who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance And prayer; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere” Q2:153.

REWARDS ACCORDING TO DEEDS Allah is absolutely just. So He does not treat His creatures unfairly. Every soul is a hostage of its own deeds”Q74:37.

Therefore the righteous and the wicked are rewarded accordingly. “But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that their portion is Garden, beneath which rivers flow. Every time they are fed with fruits there from, they say why, this is what we were fed with before, for they are given things in similitude and they have therein spouses purified; and they abide therein (forever)” Q2:25.

Finally, as we re - appreciate the sympathetic concern and pledges of various groups to take legal action on the deliberate murder of the 33 members including the three sons of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) by the military in favor of the Islamic movement. The world reminds them and looks on earnestly to see the fruits of their faithful attempt.

Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah.

NEWS NATIONAL /61

August 29, 2014

Pro-democracy Groups Endorse Fintiri’s Ambition

By Onukogu Kanayo Jubal, Abuja

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) and 22 other pro-democracy groups in the country have endorsed the decision of Alhaji Umaru Fintiri to contest the Adamawa State gubernatorial by-election, describing it as a welcome development for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.

Executive secretary of the centre, Comrade Philip Agbese, who disclosed this in a chat with newsmen after a meeting of the 23 groups in Abuja yesterday, saluted Fintiri’s courage, calling it an act that should be emulated by every active player in the polity, considering his fearless and transparent posture in the discharge of his duties as an elected representative of the masses.

Agbese noted that following exhaustive deliberations with various groups on the state of the nation, the centre has resolved to “support a popular candidate like Alhaji Umaru Fintiri whose demonstration of genuineness of purpose, vision, charisma and usefulness has brought about peace in Adamawa State.

“I stand to speak on behalf of the 23 pro-democracy groups here today to tell you that as Nigerians and active participants in the democracy of our dear nation, we have resolved to unanimously endorse the ambition of Fintiri for the governorship by-election in Adamawa State, after considering his enormous sacrifices, commitments and dedication to the sustenance of our democracy.”

Confab Delegates Express Shock Over Dambatta’s Death

By Christiana Nwaogu, Abuja

Delegates to the recently concluded National Conference have expressed shock over the death of Alhaji Magaji Dambatta who died at the National Hospital, Abuja on Wednesday.

In a statement issued by the Confab’s assistant secretary, media and communication, Akpandem James yesterday, the delegates said it was unfortunate that as officials of the 2014 National Conference

were winding down activities at the Secretariat, another sad news of the death of a delegate was received.

“Alhaji Magaji Dambatta, who came on the platform of socio-political/cultural and ethnic nationality groups, from the Northwest zone died on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at the National Hospital, Abuja where he was taken to after an unsuccessful medical trip abroad,” the statement noted.

An indigene of Kano State, Alhaji Dambatta was born in 1931.

He attended the Bayero University in Kano and worked as a senior reporter and Northern Regional Editor of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC).

He was a senior information officer in the Northern Nigerian government and an information and public relations officer in the Region’s Agent General’s office in 1961.

The late Alhaji Dambatta was also a chief information officer in the Northern region and a reporter and editor of the Daily Comet in Kano between 1950 and 1953.

Funeral prayer for the late Malam Magaji Dambatta at Kano emir’s palace, Kofar Kudu ground in Kano, yesterday.

PHOTO BY ABUKAKAR

Akunyili Takes Final Bow

By Mike Ubani And Okechukwu Obeta, Awka

The remains of the former information and communication minister, Professor Dora Akunyili, were yesterday committed to mother earth in her husband’s compound at Agulu in Anaocha local government area of Anambra State amidst encomiums from eminent Nigerians who came from various parts of the country to pay her their final respects.

Her burial was preceded by a requiem Mass at the Madonna Catholic Church, Agulu.

Delivering a homily, Rev. Fr. Damian Akpunonu described the deceased as a devout Christian who exhibited true Christian virtues in her private and public life, noting that as a wife and mother, she took care of her family members, while during her public service, especially when she was the director-general of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, she even put her life in danger in the course of fighting against fake and substandard drugs.

The clergy urged Nigerians, especially public office holders to emulate Dora’s uncompromising principles of truth,

SALIHI.

honesty hard-work and service to humanity, stating that her legacies while in NAFDAC were enough to earn her a place in the Kingdom of God, as according to him, every human, no matter how mighty, must be judged on whatever he or she did while here on earth.

The funeral mass which had His Eminence, Francis Cardinal Arinze, former Prefect, Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline at the Vatican as the Chief Celebrant, also had in attendance His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, about 20 Catholic Bishops, over 500 Catholic priests and others from other denominations.

FCT Education Secretariat Pledges Support

By Paul Chiama, Abuja

The FCT Education Secretariat has expressed readiness to provide all the needed support to the management of FCT Education Resource Centre (ERC) as a way of improving the education and development of Nigerian children.

The director, FCT Department of Mass Education, Alhaji Musa Maikasuwa Yakubu, made this declaration yesterday while speaking at the closing ceremony of an annual programme code-named Books Enlighten And Reading Helps Us Grow (BEARHUG)

for school children in the FCT, which took place at the City Library, Abuja.

Speaking at the ceremony which had the theme, “Bridging the Gap”, the director said, “I want to specially thank the organisers of this programme. This holiday children’s library school is an interesting thing. It is something that should be sustained.

Whatever it is that will be required, of course, the platform is already created.

“The ERC is able. Whatever it is again that you need that is beyond the ERC, the Education Secretariat is there and ready to assist you any time”.

Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever Walt Disney, founder and CEO of the Walt Disney Company

Speaking further, Yakubu urged parents to pay more attention to the intellectual development of their children and wards through a sustained reading culture.

“The parents, at this point in time, should be encouraged to create a reading corner in their houses. That is the only way reading culture can be revived in children. The children spend most of the time at home and few hours in school. So, when the child gets home, the only thing left is for the child to go back to his or her books”, he said.

62/ NEWS NATIONAL

August 29, 2014

Bad Leadership Reduced Nigeria To Failed State – Masari

By Muazu Elazeh, Katsina

Former speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari has decried bad leadership in the country, insisting that it has reduced the nation to the status of a near failed state.

Speaking when he visited the palace of the Emir of Daura in continuation of his consultations on his gubernatorial ambition, Masari specifically faulted bad leadership from 1999 to date, saying it was responsible for the current pitiable state of the nation.

He said that to deny the pathetic condition of the country today as our leaders are known

to do, is the highest form of insensitivity to the plight of most Nigerians who are forced into living a life that is not better than slavery.

The former speaker said he was joining the Katsina guber race to provide the needed good governance, assuring that when elected, he would ensure good governance to help reposition the state for greatness.

Responding, the emir of Daura, HRH Umar Faruk Umar, said the desire of Nigeria’s leaders to accumulate wealth for their children to inherit is responsible for all the ills bedevilling the nation, adding that instead of serving the people, the leaders appear more concerned about cornering the nation’s wealth for their families.

The emir disclosed that he has no bank account anywhere in the world, saying he decided not to keep a bank account because he had no desire to accumulate wealth at a time many of his subjects cannot access basic necessities of life.

He maintained that as a leader, he does not want to engage in any enterprise that would give him undue advantage over anyone especially his subjects.

The emir said that whenever he acquires any material possession, he quickly shares it among his subjects to avoid the temptation of accumulating wealth when there are many needy people in the society.

L-R: Mrs Victoria Amokeodo; deputy editor, LEADERSHIP Newspaper and son of the deceased, Mr Kazeem Tunde, his wife, Hafsat; directorgeneral, Ekiti State Television, Mr Jamiu Mojeed, LEADERSHIP Group news editor, Mr Tony Amokeodo, his sons (sitting) Rafael and Israel, at the fidau prayers for the late Fasasi Akintunde, Kazeem’s father, in Lagos yesterday.

2015 Elections Will Be Crucial – Osoba cause of the current tension in the nation, but expressed optimism that the elections would usher in a new Nigeria.

The former governor lauded INEC for successfully conducting credible elections in recent times.

Osoba, a fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, said journalists need to be properly guided especially on election coverage, and tasked media practitioners to be guided by objectivity at all times while discharg-

ing their duties.

In a terse speech, the president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Muhammad Garba decried the increasing cases of assault and intimidation against journalists, noting that about 14 cases of assault were established in recent elections.

Garba stressed the need for media owners to explore insurance coverage for journalists in view of the hazards associated with journalism practice.

Nyako, Biggest Factor In Adamawa APC – Sajoh

By Mohammed Ismail, Yola

The director of press and publicity to the former governor of Adamawa State, Admiral Murtala Nyako, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh has disclosed that the former governor was the biggest factor in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state as he single-handedly nurtured the party to its present status in the state.

Sajoh’s comment came on the heels of an accusation by the national vice chairman, North East of the APC, Engineer B. D. Lawal, that the former governor was a liabili-

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin has called on the Defence Health Maintenance Limited (DHML) to extend health insurance coverage to retired military personnel and their families in line with the Armed Forces Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service.

Admiral Jibrin stated this when he received the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of DHML, Retired Surgeon Commodore Ahmed Abdullai at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja on Thursday, August 28, 2014. He said that military retirees should be supported to access free medicare to serve as incentive to serving personnel.

The CNS called on the organisation to synergise with the benefiting services to develop effective research and development to advance the frontiers of medicare in the Armed Forces in particular and the nation in general. He reiterated the continuous support of the Nigerian Navy to the organisation in its efforts to provide comprehensive health insurance services to serving and retired military personnel.

In his remarks, the MD/CEO of the DHML, a retired surgeon, Commodore Ahmed Abdullai, thanked the Nigerian Navy for its support to the organisation from cradle and pledged to live up to its mandate. He assured the CNS that very soon veterans across the country would begin to access free medicare.

By Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

OLAJOBI.

Former governor of Ogun State, Mr Segun Osoba has said that the 2015 general elections will be the most crucial in the history of Nigeria.

Osoba, who is the chairman of the 10th All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) currently holding in Katsina, stated this yesterday at the opening ceremony of the conference.

He said the elections would be crucial be-

By Bayo Oladeji, Abuja

Ohakim Declares For Imo Governorship

PHOTO BY GBENGA

By Muazu Elazeh, Katsina

Navy Makes Case For Treatment Of Military

ty to the APC. “We take serious exception to his unwarranted tirade against the respected Admiral, simply because he feels the man is no longer in power.

“Admiral Murtala Nyako’s entry into the APC was the biggest factor that entrenched the APC in Adamawa State. It must be acknowledged that as at today, majority of the foot soldiers who are fighting to ensure the success of the APC at the grassroots are Nyako’s supporters,” Sajoh said.

He expressed regret that Lawal only deemed it right to make such vituperation

when Nyako was not around, saying such attitude is highly regrettable.

“One expected all our respected party leaders to appreciate the massive investment, goodwill and sacrifices made by Admiral Nyako in building the party in the state rather than taking advantage of his absence from Government House, Yola to make such uncharitable statement about him.

“We also urge party leaders within the APC fold to work towards uniting the members rather than creating unnecessary divisions in order to gain relevance within the media space,” he said.

Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever Walt Disney, founder and CEO of the Walt Disney Company

The immediate past governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, yesterday declared his interest to vie for the governorship seat of the state in 2015 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Addressing party members and journalists at the state PDP secretariat, the former governor affirmed that he is not ashamed to re-contest the position after losing out to the incumbent, Rochas Okorocha in 2011.

Ohakim, who said he is tired of being asked why he is re-contesting by the people of the state, pointed out that he is vying to complete the gigantic projects he started in the state which have been abandoned by the incumbent governor.

“There is no need hiding my joy; this is the month of August, the month of my birth; another good news I have for you is that after completing my consultation, I have offered myself to complete my tenure as the governor of Imo State.

“Some people have said in publications that Ohakim forgot something in Government House; has Ohakim no shame? Yes, I have no shame and I am seeking the mandate to go back to the Government House to defend the mandate given to me before with my last blood.

“The man serving now has one term but I have more tenure to complete; the next fight would be to fight governor to governor, project to project and mandate to mandate,” Ohakim stated.

He alleged that he left N28.6billion for the present administration in a hidden account, which he said had been used on frivolities, building roundabouts and other things that were not important to the masses.

NEWS NATIONAL /63

August 29, 2014

Enugu Gets New Deputy Governor

L-R: Head of department, Education and Information Technology, FCT, Mr Cimbo Leda; deputy director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Barr.

Obia Edmond, and director, FCT Department of Mass Education, Alhaji Musa Maikasuwa, during the closing ceremony of “BEARHUG” Season 5, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO

By Nnamdi Mbawike, Enugu

Enugu State governor Sullivan Chime has appointed Rev. Raph Ifeanyichukwu Nwoye as the new deputy governor.

He replaces former deputy governor Sunday Onyebuchi who was impeached last Tuesday following the adoption of the report of the panel by the members of the Enugu State House of Assembly which found him guilty.

The new deputy governor, who was presented to the House for screening and confirmation, hails from Nkanu East local government area, the village of Mr. Onyebuchi, the impeached deputy governor.

When members of the House of Assembly received a letter from Governor Chime informing them that he had got a replacement for Onyebuchi, they hurriedly screened and cleared him.

Speaker of the House, Mr. Eugene Odo, read the governor’s letter on the floor of the House after a plenary session of the House that had earlier deliberated on the bill for the Control of Nomadic Cattle Rearing in Enugu State and Other Matters Related Thereto (HB.3), 2014, which second reading was stepped down last Tuesday.

LEADERSHIP GM Loses Father

By Ebriku John Friday, Abuja

The death has been announced of the father of the general manager, Creative Design of LEADERSHIP Group Limited, Mr Chuks Nwabueze, Pa Cyril Oligbo Okoye.

Pa Okoye died at the age of 88 after a brief illness at his residence in Ogbunike Community, Oyi local government area of Anambra State. The late Pa Okoye, popular called Akunniya (translated as ‘his father’s wealth) was born in 1926.

He was a civil engineer and before retiring in 1985 to private farming business, he worked with Ibro Brothers, a construction company based in Lagos.

He is survived by his wife, five children, four grandchildren and other relatives among whom is the general manager, Creative Design of LEADERSHIP, Mr Chuks Nwabueze.

Speaking about his late father, Mr Nwabueze said, “My dad was a humble, Godfearing and a very sociable person, which explained why he spoke several Nigerian languages. Till his death, he never used glasses to read; his vision remained clear. We will miss his words of counsel, love and cheerful spirit.”

BY OKEKE JANE

We’re Winning War Against Oil Thieves, Vandals – Civil Defence

By Christiana Nwaogu, Abuja

The commandant-general, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Prof Ade Abolurin, said yesterday that his agency was winning its fight against oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other crimes in the nation.

Prof Abolurin, who linked their success story to cooperation from civilians and the general public, said the Corps had contained a lot of security challeng-

es bedeviling its area of operational responsibility.

He said, the attainments of the Corps conform to the vision of President Goodluck Jonathan to transform Civil Defence into a force better able to tackle contemporary challenges.

On the steps taken by the Corps to combat oil thieves and vandals, the CG disclosed, was to mount surveillance on key routes where illegal operation were being carried. He added that efforts had

also been intensified in building a relationship of trust with the communities where pipelines are channeled.

According to Prof. Abolurin, this strategy has boosted the Corps information gathering on the illegal activities of the nation’s saboteurs.

He said, “I believe we are winning the war against vandalism, bunkering and oil theft. We make arrests on a daily basis and this is a very clear signal that their era is long expired.”

Adamawa At 23: Fintiri Reiterates Commitment To Development

By Pembi David-Stephen, Abuja

The acting governor of Adamawa State, Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Finitri, has congratulated the people of the state on the attainment of 23 years of statehood.

In a release signed by the chief press secretary to the governor, Solomon Kumangar, the governor saluted the courage and resilience of the people, noting that in spite the stunted growth and arrested develop-

ment occasioned by maladministration and bad leadership, especially in the the last seven years under former Governor Murtala Nyako, they had remained strong and steadfast in the quest to rescue the state from the doldrums.

Fintri assured the people that working together to make Adamawa State great again is a task that must be accomplished.

The acting governor thanked all the stakeholders and the civil populace for their

unflinching support to the young administration’s transformation project which is mainly the reason he has bowed to public pressure to contest the October 2014 gubernatorial by-election in the state.

On the moral question being raised by some aspirants about his participation in the PDP primaries, he explained that it is within his right as guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution to contest, stating that it is legally and morally right.

NLC Demands Better Welfare For Workers

By Michael Oche, Abuja

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for improved working conditions for workers to make them more efficient and productive.

Speaking in Abuja during the commissioning of the Federal Might House developed by the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Federal Council, the president of the NLC, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar said the union must ensure that their members are comfortable.

He said the project is laudable and urged other unions to emulate the NCSU.

He added that the NLC is concerned about workers’ welfare, which is why it initiated the housing project for Nigerian workers.

Speaking on the Ebola Virus Disease and efforts by the federal government to contain it, Omar said the union was comfortable with measures taken by the government.

He stated that the shift in resumption of schools is a welcome development as children are vulnerable and need to be protected.

He said, “We welcome the decision to avoid the spread. Schools are places where children are crowded and they are most

Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever Walt Disney, founder and CEO of the Walt Disney Company

vulnerable. If government has gone this extra mile, then it is a welcome development”.

Also speaking, chairman of the NCSU federal council, Comrade L. U. Amaechi said the union executed the building project without sourcing for loan from any financial institution or levying any member.

He said, “Apart from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) that assisted us with N1.5million towards the project, the project was totally funded from the council’s 40 per cent of check-off dues collected from members.”

64 FEATURE “Our communities do not have potable drinking water, despite being the source of the water that is being supplied to the Federal Capital Territory saying. It is also disheartening that 34 people from Kuturmi Community have all perished inside the Gurara Dam reservoir as a result of boat mishaps. This is because the road from Katari, off the Kaduna-Abuja expressway linking the communities with the outside world and, also, the one from Anturu Village to the dam are in terrible condition, contrary to the agreements reached in 2001 between the federal government and the contractor to construct a motorable road,” a depressedlooking resident, Daniel Umar, told LEADERSHIP FRIDAY. Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, had, while commissioning the projects, back in 2000, reiterated that the Gurara Water Project was in line with the unwavering commitment to ensuring the provision of adequate and efficient infrastructure in the FCT and environs.

“Gurara Water Project is expected to meet the average daily raw water demand of the FCT in the next 50 years. I am informed that this project which consists of a dam with a reservoir capacity of 880 million cubic metres and a three-metre-diameter, 75 kilometer-long steel pipeline, is one of the few of its kind that exist in Africa today,” Obasanjo had said back in 2000.

According to Obasanjo then, the availability of water in the dam has given birth to the power plant which the Kaduna State government is building and a 2000-hectare irrigation scheme with the potentials for small-scale industries, job creation, poverty reduction and wealth creations.

To ensure that the projects took off immediate without inference from the host communities, the federal government, in agreement with the communities, pledged to construct a number of amenities for them.

Strangely, these projects are yet to be seen.

According to Umar, the government pledged that about 2000 hectares of land shall be developed and given to replace the parcels of land which have been submerged by the dam’s reservoir.

“The government pledged that the project will also act as a fishing ground which will be the best around and that 10 megawatts will accrue to the people of the community from the electricity to be generated from the dam. We were also promised that our youths would be gainfully employed by the project construction firms and the Gurara Dam Management Agency, that the project will provide good road network, potable drinking water, healthcare facilities, schools and other developmental opportunities and, based on these promises, the host community happily embraced the project without knowing that future developments would turn their hopes into a lie.”

Eight years after, with the projects at about 95 per cent completion, inhabitants of Kuturmi whose farmlands were taken over are still enduring thirst, hunger and fear which has resulted to the death of 34 residents.

Umar, who had lost a relation to in a boat mishap on the dam’s reservoir appealed to the government to implement the agreement of 2001. He told the government to honour the agreement and that “the agreement should be implemented while social amenities like clinics, primary schools, accessible road networks and market which have all been denied them should be provided as contained in the agreement of 2001.”

August 29, 2014

Gurara Dam

Gurara Dam: Inside Kaduna Forgotten Community It was all celebration among the residents of Kuturmi Community in Kaduna State, back in 2000, when former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, envisaging that the provision of sustainable access to safe and sufficient water will enhance the sociocultural and economic development of the area, awarded a multi-billion naira Gurara Water projects. Today, the joy with which the people welcomed the development has become sour, MIDAT JOSEPH writes.

Umar also revealed that sick people and pregnant women in the communities are always at serious risk, due to the absence of a health centre; pointing out that the closest clinic to them was located about 60 kilometres from them, with only one secondary school.

Another resident, Elisha Danfulani, who spoke to LEADERSHIP FRIDAY, pointed out that “during one of the initial consultative meetings organised by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR), we, as the host community, demanded to know our fate in view of the environmental impact assessment of the project on our people and land.

Rather than tell us the negative impact of constructing the dam, we were regaled with how we will benefit from electricity, roads, social amenities, improved fishing and irrigation farming scheme. When they finished, we were far from satisfied, as we presented our agitations which were accepted during the consultative meetings.”

According to Danfulani, the authorities who promised to step-down 10 megawatts electricity for the host communities have all reneged on their word.

“Government promised to provide the pipe-borne water to us through the Gurara Dam; still not even a drop of pipe-borne water has been made available for our domestic use. Most of our people have now been afflicted with water-borne diseases as a result of drinking contaminated water from the dam reservoir. Efforts to have the authori-

ties provide us with a mini-water treatment plant at both the lower and upper dam reservoirs have proved abortive. It is immoral and unjustifiable to take water, treat it and sell to Abuja residents, while the host communities are left to drink contaminated and deadly/poisonous water.

“In some villages located at the lower course of the dam, some primary schools were constructed without furniture. The authorities promised to construct more classrooms at the government day schools in Ariko and Anturu but nothing up till now.

Even the primary school promised for Akwana II, a relocated community and some villages at the upper part of the dam reservoir has not been fulfilled,” Danfulani added.

Another resident, Bulus Damina, who spoke of his frustration, said that the project was meant to provide healthcare facilities to the host communities. He did point out that it was unfortunate that not a single healthcare centre has been located within the vicinity.

“During the consultative meetings, it was agreed that feeder roads will be provided to link all relocated/resettled communities (like Akwana 1 & II) that do not have access roads to the district and local government headquarters. We all move our farm produce or travel via canoe to Kachia local government. So far, as much as 34 people have perished in the dam reservoir due to canoe mishaps.

“We were promised at the commencement

With money you can buy blood, but not life. ― Chinese proverb

of the project that our youths would be employed, but, presently, less than 15 per cent of our youths were engaged by SALINI Company while only 5 are currently working with SCC Nig. Limited as labourers. All appeals to them to employ more have yielded nothing,” he narrated.

The president of the Kuturmi ethnic people, Dikko D. Danlami, also expressed concerned over government’s inability to meet its terms of agreement eight years after.

Danlami insisted that the government must re-visit the issue of compensation payment which was characterised by many irregularities. “Imagine, some people whose farmland was taken over forever being paid as low as N6,000.

“It is disgraceful that a government cannot keep to all the promises made to the host community. Promises of provisions of electricity covering 15km radius, potable drinking water, irrigation farmlands, fishing ground, schools, healthcare facilities, roads network, employment of youth, social and recreational amenities and many others have been left unattended to,” said Danlami.

Danlami warned that the government’s negligence could lead to a break-down of law and order, as the leadership of the Kuturmi Unity Development Association cannot continue to guarantee a peaceful working atmosphere for the contractors, as the constant failings of government has resulted to a build-up of tension in the community.

OPINION 65

August 29, 2014

The Place Of Ipcr In Resolving Nigerian Security Impasse

BY Abu I. Michael

Threat to peace is threat to human existence. No single individual could assertively guarantee the safety of his/her life in violent situation. The advancement of every society worldwide is consequentially the function of a peaceful atmosphere. This is the more reason why responsible governments leave no stone unturned in pursuance of peace, its promotion and sustenance.

Inasmuch as we loathe bloodshed, let me quickly point it out that hostility is almost ubiquitous and it is not peculiar to any given society on the surface of this earth. However, what are most important are the capacities and the ability available to tackle crises to pave ways for a better peaceful situation for the economic and socio-political progress of the society that matters.

I am not unaware of our beloved and fellow Nigerians from various backgrounds that have been killed. Crises particularly those with sadistic undertone have never been rewarding. That is why we have lost

fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, friends, colleagues and associates as well as private and public property running into millions and billions of naira in the boko haram insurgency for instance.

Nasarawa State is in the news again – it is still all about violence in which people have been reported to have been killed.

Some social commentators have averred that our major crises have been sociopolitical and ethno-religious in nature. We shall not allow the situation to plunder our spirit of tolerance, mutual understanding and national cohesion; the only way to do this is cooperation between the masses and the government. We recently showed such cooperation in the Ebola imbroglio.

We need similar spirit in the war against insurgency.

Through careful observations, one could see that societies that have triumphed over crises are knowledge-based economies.

That is why research centres all over the world have become solution grounds.

Being an intellectual, I want to believe that President Goodluck Jonathan having taken several steps to resolving the Boko Haram

Jonathan

impasse and other related incidences thought it deem to recently approve the appointment of Professor Oshita Oshita as the Director General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) to underscore the importance of researches.

Recently I had the privilege of interacting with the professor, an articulate, ebullient, and agile brain power of a man fully prepared for the task of his offices. His credentials indicated that he is an expert in peace and conflict matters having worked within and outside the shores of this country deserves nothing less than total support of the government and the masses. The federal government must properly fund the institute as befitting

of a research centre for robust packing of activities of fact finding and researches to deal with our problems squarely.

The people must be forthcoming in giving facts and truths to social researchers whose findings and recommendations would help in proper formulation and policies and their implementation in resolving crises, enhancing harmonious and peaceful co-existence for our common unity. This is to create advantageous atmosphere that would encourage speedy socio-political and economic growth. The place of the IPCR in resolving our security impasse cannot be overemphasized.

— Michael is with the Federal Information Centre, Lafia.

Monster That Handcuffed The Tertiary Institution

by Larai Deshi Kangkuk

When the sun keeps shining the earth glitter, but as darkness takes over, the lingering of the light ends until a drastic measure is taken. In the same vein, when a man is cut in the act of stealing or theft, he is handcuffed and taking to one of the military or paramilitary station to receive the right execution. This can be rightly said is what the corrupt beings in the tertiary level deserves and at once be applicable to the level of corruption in the tertiary institutions. The tertiary institutions appear to be the third level of education that is eaten up by corruption.

Tertiary institutions are the third segment of education with order, rank, or importance. For such powerful and desirable word to be attached to the tertiary institutions, it palpably understood that seriousness is the key elements in the operation system. In facts, it is in this domain that one gets to know his place in the society, his environment, the happenings and every other things that are legally and morally acceptable.

So, tertiary institution in the present day can be described as a segment out of education sector that is struggling to free itself from the shackles of the corruption. Tertiary institutions is the higher level of education that impute in one the capability of being a citizen that respect the law and human right regardless of status in live.

History has shown that tertiary institutions are places that provide the society with colourful future leaders that have the

attributes to raise the country to a greater height, because they are trained to be expatriates in different field for easy going.

The early graduate of the tertiary institutions are identified by their conduct, caused as of then, corruption had not overshadowed the institutions so none of them received his training with illegal activities, and all things are gotten by personal effort and merit. Before, education is seen as central to preventing corruption that’s why its spread was dormant.

By then the Nigerian government have realized that education is a vaccine to development without which the country will not progress, that’s appears to be the backbone which moves the education sector to what we have today, but with the arrival of some uncouth citizen as lecturers and students all effort proves blank.

Corruption is a major drain on the effective resources for education, in the sense that all resources ushered into the education sector are being diverted to satisfy other needs which may or may not be enjoyed and be profitable to the public in general. Corruption in education is particularly damaging because it endangers a country’s social, political and economic future, as a result of the effect it may probably brings on the country, it is pertinent to say is more detrimental in education sector than other sector. Corruption in education always has long-term effect, because it can affect all means of livelihood with negative effect on the country that conceived and brings forth violence, crimes, among others. Corruption therefore can be said to be a lack of disci-

pline, deviation from norm; appearance of bias and intention to subvert.

In present day tertiary institutions corruption has become part of the regulations guiding the conduct of the institution because it has overshadowed all the rules laid down by the school management with the help of some students and lecturers. Today in almost all the tertiary institutions, corruption has become the order of the day, for issues of bribery and nepotism appears to be the leading parts of corruption in the tertiary institutions. With low standard of living, corruption threatens equal access and quality of education. It consequences are particularly harsh on the poor who, without access to education or with no alternative but low-quality education and have little chance to escape a live of poverty.

To draw corruption in the side of lecturers is the issue of bribery, nepotism and selling of information on exams that is tangible.

Lecturers are classroom teachers in the tertiary institution that passes the right information to the students. But today lecturing is more of giving course outline and books to photocopy without guide on how to use it which is legally wrong but yet done by some lecturers, acceptance of bribe from student for favour in terms of grade and favouritism shown to relatives or close friends, to some extent sexual lovers whom are students most especially among male lecturers and female students, which at the side of female lecturers and male students is rare.

At the side of student, the popular corruption activities is the threatening of lecturers to receive grade, bribery and selling

of self to acquire grade (especially female students). It is a common knowledge that student buy their way in or out of the university either in cash or in any kind. No country can develop on that basis. If the tertiary institution close their eyes to it and allow it to go on, it will become a norm, so measures has to be taken to tackled the issue of corruption both among students and lectures. In fact, it is in compatible with one of the major aims of education that is producing citizens that respect the law and human rights.

To untangle the root cause of the corruption is the fact that both the Lecturers and students do not adhere to the rules and regulation guiding the conduct of the institutions instead everyone does as it pleases him or her. To curb corruptions in the tertiary institutions in the side of lecturers, increase accountability in educational system with clear recruitment, career-development, rules that are based on merit with simple and clear line of responsibility should be encouraged because corruption has effect such as it increase the level of poverty, unemployment, inflation and conflict.

And in the side of students the mentality that personal effort and merit count is needful and also any student who decide to bribe should be highly executed to show example to all other student who have interest in doing so, by this the level of corruption in the tertiary institutions have the probability of reducing.

—Kangkuk wrote from Dept. of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri

66 letter to the editor

Reverse The Closure Of Schools

By Fred Ohwahwa

Recently, the federal authorities announced that primary and secondary schools in the country will not re-open until October 13, 2014 for the new academic session. Reason: the need to curtail the spread of the Ebola virus and prevent its spread by children.

While one understands the fear that the coming of Ebola into our country has engendered, it is difficult for me to accept the panic mode many people have decided is the best way to respond to this health challenge.

The decision to close all primary and secondary schools in Nigeria is poorly thought out, and at best whimsical.

Why close only primary and secondary schools? We should also close all tertiary institutions, market places, churches and mosques, offices, motor parks and all places where people are bound to interact. That should be the logical step to take.

But we all know that that would an unreasonable thing to do. We complain that WAEC results are dismal and proceed to take decisions that will only

worsen future results. We take decisions that fail to take cognizance of the fact there are exams to be written by the students (both local and external) that will not make allowance for the four weeks or so that we will deprive the children of instructions. We want our children to compete globally but fail to draw a link between poor performances and whimsical decisions.

The other time, that is 2010, schools were closed because of voter registration exercise!! And government officials who should know better were defending the decision.

Now, we are no longer satisfied that ASUU and allied unions routinely cripple the schedules of tertiary institutions.

We now want the young ones to see the closing of their schools for whatever reason as normal.

We are not in a war situation and the closure of our schools cannot be justified. The decision should be reversed, and all schools should be encouraged to put in place proactive measures to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus.

—Ohwahwa wrote from Central Area, Abuja

Adamawa And The Race To Govt House

By Murtala Hassan

The die has been cast for the Adamawa by-election which has been scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold on October 11, 2014. The senator representing Adamawa Central senatorial constituency, Ahmed Barata has not only expressed his intention to contest the election slated to hold on 11th October, 2014 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but is seen by many as the leading candidate for the coveted seat if he emerges victorious at the party’s primary election.

He has, over the years, been rendering selfless service to his people by providing basic social amenities and developmental projects across the state. It was to this end that the people asked him to contest the governorship by-election in the state. Being a grass-roots mobiliser, he has empowered the less privileged, including women and orphans and has provided scholarship to thousands of Adamawa student both within and outside the state.

He has the ample understanding of the challenges bedeviling the masses. Before Barata declared his intention to run, the PDP in the state and their aspirants had boasted that they would go to sleep should the APC made the mista ke of giving its ticket to some of the contenders. But the PDP now knows

that Barata would give them a good run for their money. Declaring his intent to contest the gubernatorial contest before the party executive at the state secretariat complex of the party recently, Barata said his mission to join the frays to rescue Adamawa from the social and economic doldrums bedeviling it for a long time.

He said in consideration of the abundant resources which the state was blessed with, poverty ought not to have a place in Adamawa. He said he would make judicious use of the resources to salvage the state from the ripple effects of poverty.

According to him, his major interest is to address the welfare of the people of the state.

Born on February 13, 1960, at Barata in Shelleng local government area of Adamawa State. He was elected Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2011 under the platform of the PDP and based on his previous legislative experience, he was made chairman Senate Committee on Culture, Tourism and Orientation – a position he still holds to date.

Given his vast experience in leadership and responsibility, Senator Barata is the ideal person to lead a complex state like Adamawa with many ethno-religious groups. The stability and survival of the present democratic politics depends on how the leader controls the potential ethnic disputes that result from such democratic interactions.

—Hassan wrote from Adamawa

August 29, 2014

ICT: A Tool For Youth Empowerment

by Mohammad Ali Inname

In today’s world there is hardly much that is done without the computer, it is the common factor in government, communication, banking and other ventures. When you empower an individual he will in turn empower many no matter the field. Looking at ICT in today’s socio-economic and political development of the world and Nigeria in particular you will understand that it is a tool for wealth and job creation, product and service marketing.

Findings by the Office of the Special Adviser on ICT Sokoto State reveal that many schoolteachers are not familiar with the rudiments of computer science education and as such cannot teach what they do not have or know. In many public primary and secondary schools, the Government of His Excellency Alh Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sarkin Yamma Sokoto) invested huge resources in equipping and providing computers for learning, however in most cases these computer laboratories are locked up and left to gather dust due to non-utilization by teachers and students.

It was based on this findings that the office of the Special Adviser ICT collaborated with the Graduate Internship Scheme under the Federal Ministry of Finance to recruits 500 unemployed graduate with degree and HND and post them to various primary and secondary schools where IT facilities are avail-

able to help make all those nonfunctional/ underutilized computers fully into use by teachers and students for the socio-economic development of the state.

Looking at the socio-economic development of sokoto state today, ICT will play a vital role in the NEW SOKOTO STATE and Nigeria as a whole as it is been taken to the people at all level with the indigenous graduates that can speak both the local language and English that have been trained for that purpose. This scheme will not only equip the teachers and students with ICT knowledge, but it will also boast the educational system and bring about jobs and wealth creation in the state as well as all opens the state to international communities. Agribusiness and tourism in the state will be improved as products and services will be marketed via ICT. The sustainability of these developments will be facilitated by the Governor’s strong commitment to the development of education sector. Schools management and students will be sensitized on the benefits of ICT, from both social and economic aspect. This approach will improve the low level of basic ICT skills in schools in the state in the short and medium term and bracing up for challenges of adaptability to Computer-BasedTesting by National Examination bodies on the long term —Inname sent in this piece from Sokoto

67

August 29, 2014

SCHOOLS, EDUCATION, & FAITH PLATFORM

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF

SPECIALISED CLASSIFIEDS PAGES GOD’S GENERALS CHAPLAINCY INITIATIVE

THE CHURCH OF DELIVERANCE WORLD-WIDE

plateau intelligentsia development initiative

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Initiative has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The general public is hereby informed that the above named INITIATIVE has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

The Trustees Are: 1. Rio Thompson Ekpo 2. MWO Fidelis David Orok 3. Esther David Atadiaha 4. Christopher Isong Udoh

The Trustees Are: 1. Prophet Adigun Adeshola Olumide 2. Mrs. Adigun Adekorede Adewunmi 3. Evang. David Olukoya

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To carry out hospital/humanitarian care in an encouraging state to the prisons, police cells, hospitals, less privillaged, military barracks.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To propagate the gospel of Christ.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of the publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: Chairman

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Dr. Meshak Daniel Jatau - Chairman 2. Mr. Zendi Lazarus Mikuk - Secretary 3. Bishop Benjamin Argak Kwashi 4. Ms. Nakris Elaine Kwardem 5. Mr. Niyang Michael Pankyes 6. Mr. Jim Pam Wayas 7. Mr. Alex Ladan 8. Dr. Fabong Jemchang Yildam 9. Mr. Solomon Kwakfut 10. Barr. Bapman Evaristus Nanmin THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To provide a platform where plateau youths can actualize their potentials.

2. To undertake charitable courses with the view to assuaging the plight of the needy.

3. To encourage youthful participation in socio-economic and political activities at local, state, national and global scales.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: B.Y. ATSEN; 08066070855

NSUKWE ISIELU DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

centre for communications programs (ccp) nigeria

BLESSED GLOBAL UPLIFTMENT FOUNDATION

The general public is here by notify that, the above name ASSOCIATION has applied to corporate affairs commission, Abuja for registration under part ‘C’ of companies and allied matters act No.1 of 1990

The general public is hereby informed that the above named has applied to the corporate affairs commission for change of trustees under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Hon. Kenneth Ezeigbo 2. Chinedum Dick 3. Elder Richard Onyekwere 4. Chief Udo Iroabuchi 5. John Ezeigbo 6. High Chief Ejikeme Ekeke 7. Hon. Chinwe Ephraim 8. Augustine Nwabuisi 9. Ugochukwu Onyemaizu 10. Chief Collins Umezuruike

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mrs. Hadiza Babayaro - Appointed 2. Ms Mojisola Makanjuola - Appointed 3. Mr. Kareem Tejumola - Re-Appointed 4. Susan Krenn - Re-Appointed 5. Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi - Re-Appointed 6. Ike Osakwe - Re-Appointed 7. Dr. Mairo Mandara - Re-Appointed 8. Mr. Mabiala Maumba - Re- Appointed

The general public is hereby informed that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Prof. Muhammed Bello Agaie - Chairman 2. Dr. Ndajiya Abdulrahman - Secretary 3. Dr. Yunusa Umar 4. Dr. Sunday Ichima 5. Mallam Muhammad Nna Maishera 6. Mallam Yunusa Baba Ndajiya 7. Dr. Tiffin Ibrahim Agaie

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To promote the interest of the community.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, Corperate Affairs Commission, plot 420 tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

Any objection to this change should be forwarded to the registrargeneral, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To organise public lecture and campaign on significance of peace, unity and their relationships with societal development.

2. To organise free training on entrepreneurship development.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

ASA AGBAIYE EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION

TEENS IMPACT & IMAGE NETWORK

ODUKOMAIYA DESCENDANTS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby informed that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

The general public is hereby informed that the above named has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

The general public is hereby informed that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Oluwaninyo Anthony Aderibigbe 2. Adekunbi Abdul-Warith Babatunde 3. Momodu Abodunrin Olanrewaju THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To provide the knowledge of information technology both hard and soft wares to the youth in the grassroots and also spread such knowledge to there contemporary.

2. To empower the youths of the community to be information technology oriented to prepare them to be self sufficient and self resourceful.

3. To ensure that the youths of the community are prepared for the modern world and qualified to be part of the information technology age and also make there contribution to its improvement for a better tomorrow.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Oyediran Olanrewaju Olugbenga 2. Omoyibo Tega 3. Ajayi Opeyemi Bamidele THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To impact on teenagers positively and help them to take responsibility for their actions and decisions.

2. To enhance the vision of teens to see the big picture of the future and to inflence them positively to achieve their visions.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

Signed: SECRETARY

LAGOS WETLAND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

The general public is hereby informed that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the corporate affairs commission for change of trustees and amendment of its constitution under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

The general public is hereby informed that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

RETIRED TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Tony Esu 2. Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar 3. Mr. Obiajulu Ema Okonkwo 4. Mr. Michael Olaniyi Fashua

THE FOLLOWING CLAUSES IN THE CONSTITUTION HAVE ALSO BEEN AMENDED: 1. Article I: S 1.3 2. Article II: S. 2.5 3. Article III: Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 4. Article IV: Sections 10 5. Article V: 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 6. Article VI: Sections 16, 17, 19 and 21 Any objection to this change should be forwarded to the registrar-general, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

For booking or inquiry call

> HENRY UBIMAGO 08068640944

> augustine 08061602706

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To establish a project that will be beneficial to the entire community stakeholder maintain an office for administration purposes.

2. To protect and advance the social-economic and cultural interest of the community.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: EZEJI GLORAI 08038769236

> GLORIA OKwUM 08038722368

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

RONKE OROGE ODUFUWA FOUNDATION

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Moshood Shehu 2. Miftau Adetayo Rabiu 3. Adeniran Segun Victor

THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Donatus Ekemini Obot-Etiebet 2. Ms Vicki Udauk Adebola Etiebet 3. Mr. Enobong Jimie Idiong 4. Mr. Sunny Amos Offiong 5. Ms Nseobong Jeremiah Akpan

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To carry on the name of the family.

2. To project the good image of the family from the present generation to the next generation and generation yet unborn.

3. To protect the interest of its members.

Signed: SECRETARY

OBOT ETIEBET FOUNDATION CAC/IT/NO 9369

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Ayodele Olusanya Odukomaiya 2. Mrs. Grace Abosede Adekoya 3. Mr. Olusegun Oladimeji Odukomaiya 4. Mr. Ademola Olaolu Isaac 5. Ms. Omotayo Oluwaremilekun Odukomaiya

The general public is hereby informed that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mrs. Modele Lasisi-Famuyiwa - Chairman 2. Mrs. Moyosere Adetu 3. Mr. Adeoye Oroge 4. Mrs. Olufela Ashaka - Secretary 5. Mr. Oladimeji Adekunle 6. Miss Omorinola Arojo 7. Mrs. Okeigho Onwuegbuzie THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. A foundation set up in memory of Ronke Odufuwa (nee Oroge) who was known for her magnanimity and large heart.

2. A charitable organisation for the support and relief for the less priviledged and needy in the society.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

> ABIGAIL SAMBO 08064382438

> GLORIA RAPHAEL 08061356519

> GLORIA ODIO 08034285851

> GRACE OJO 08035054444

68

August 29, 2014 HANDMAID OF GOD MINISTRY

LEGAL NOTICE

DOMINANT FAITH LIFE MINISTRY

This is to imform the General Public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1 of 1990.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA

The general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part C of the companies and allied matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MRS. FRANCISCA AKPOTU (JP) 2. DR. (PST) PAINGHA JOE ALAGOA 3. MRS. NKEMDIRIM ALAGOA 4. BARR. IBIWARI OGOLO AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 2. TO BUILD UP FAMILIES THAT WILL AFFECT THE NATION AND THIER IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT POSITIVELY. Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Whereas the person/persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the person(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of administration of the personal property.

Notice is hereby given that the said letters of administration be granted to such person(s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT” the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication.

SCHEDULE Deceased name and address Applicant for grant ABUBAKAR ABDULLAHI Abdullahi Abubakar and GANTE ENGINEERING Abdulwahab Abubakar Who died on the 31st July, 2014.

Block 30 Brick City, Kubwa, Abuja The son and daughter of the said Dated at Abuja this 28th August, 2014. deceased.

SIGNED: MRS. FRANCISCA AKPOTU (JP)

Signed: Barr Hafsat Sadiq For: Probate Registrar

INITIATIVE FOR IMPROVEMENT IN RESPECT TO SOCIAL STATUS OF THE DISABLED This to notify the general public that the above name initiative has applied to the Corporate Affairs commission abuja for Registration under part C of the company and allied matters Act no 1 of 1990 The trustee are: 1. MR. MICAH SHABI 2. MR. ALPHA LUKA 3. MRS. AYUIMOH AJAYI ADAMSON 4. MRS. BLESSING SAMSON 5. MRS. ZAINAB BLESSING AJAYI

CHAIRMAN MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER SECRETARY

AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. To care for the disabled and people with special needs 2. To ensure that the rights of person with disability are proyected 3. To create awareness on media about the plight of the disabled and people with special need 4. To advocate for law for person with special needs 5. To advocate for improvement in respect to the social status of the disabled 6. To raise and provide financial support for identified disabled person to start business in their area of strength 7. To encourage enterprenuership education and vocational skill for persons with special needs 8. To collaborate with other non governmetal organization, government agencies and international organisation in order to empower person with special needs.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar general Corporate Affairs Commission abuja, plot 420 tigris crescent off aguiyi ironsi street p.m.b 198 garki abuja within 28 days of this publication

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Adekunle-Peters Gbadebo 2. Theresa E. Joshua 3. Esther Adekunle 4. Oluwatosin Adeola 5. Atte Susan 6. Erinfolami Olaniyi 7. Akari Dressman

- Chairman - Secretary

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of Christ.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, corperate affairs commission, plot 420 tigris crescent, off aguiyi ironsi street, maitama, abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: OBINNA SMART 08036696846 SOLICITOR

TRUE HOLINESS CHURCH

LEGAL NOTICE

This is to imform the General Public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1 of 1990.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. APOSTLE NOBLE GREENE 2. PASTOR (MRS.) SOPHIA GREENE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Whereas the person/persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the person(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of administration of the personal property.

Notice is hereby given that the said letters of administration be granted to such person(s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT” the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication.

SCHEDULE Deceased name and address Applicant for grant ALHAJI YUSUF ADEJOH Yusuf Suleiman Sule and Ismaila Ministry of Defence, Abuja

Adejo Yusuf N0. 8 Adebayo Close Jubille Road Suleja, Niger State.

Dated at Abuja this 28th August, 2014. The sons of the said deceased.

Who died on the 23rd December, 2003.

SIGNED : APOSTLE NOBLE GREENE

Signed: Barr Hafsat Sadiq For: Probate Registrar

Signed secretary

THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE WELFARE OF RETIRED LOCAL GOVERNMENT STAFF,AKWA IBOM STATE

LEGAL NOTICE

KANO INDIGENS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

The general public is hereby informed that the above named Association has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA

The general public is hereby notified that the above named INITIATIVES has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part C of the companies and allied matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.ENGR. EMMANUEL DANSON USOROH 2.BARR. IDONGESIT ROBSON UDOH 3.OBONG IMOH HARRY UDOIWEH 4.MRS SYLVIA ENO GEORGE 5.ELDER ADOLF EFFIONG NKANG 7.COMFORT ANTHONY EKANEM 8.COMRADE ATABONG UDO UBOKUDOM

– CHAIRMAN - SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO FORTER UNITY AND PROGRESS OF ALL RETIREES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE IN AKWA IBOM STATE. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Whereas the person/persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the person(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of administration of the personal property.

Notice is hereby given that the said letters of administration be granted to such person(s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT” the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication.

SCHEDULE Deceased name and address Applicant for grant ANTHONY AMERIOR Mrs. Doris Amerior and Maxwell A. FCDA

Amerior Block 12 flat 3 Karu, Abuja The widow and son of the said Dated at Abuja this 28th August, 2014. deceased.

Who died on the 7th July, 2014.

Signed: SECRETARY

Signed: Barr Hafsat Sadiq For: Probate Registrar

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Alhaji Saidu Dattijo Adahama 2. Professor Murtala Sabo Sagagi 3. Dr. Nazifi Abdullahi Darma 4. Alhaji Ado Muhammad 5. Alhaji Nura Ibrahim AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To improve co-operation and community development of Kano.

2. To enlighten citizen on peaceful democratic participation.

3. To promote effective youth participation in economic activities through skills acquisitions.

4. To generate real time data for sustainable development of Kano through community effort.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, corperate affairs commission, plot 420 tigris crescent, off aguiyi ironsi street, maitama, abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: DR. NAZIFI ABDULLAHI DARMA

IZZI ROYAL CLUB OF NIGERIA

ASSOCIATION OF NON-INDIGENE RESIDENTS IN OGUN STATE

THE CHURCH ON THE ROCK EVANGELICAL OUTREACH IT/8793

The general public is hereby notified that the above named CLUB has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part C of the companies and allied matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part C of the companies and allied matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named CHURCH has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for change of trustees under part C of the companies and allied matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Ogbuefi Austin Azuka Nkeze - President 2. Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nalado 3. Eze Willy Ejimnkoye 4. Evang. Tom Oshiogwemoh Okhumoya - Secretary 5. Pere (Dr.) Tam John Waridi JP 6. Alhaji Inuwa Garba Sarki 7. Prince Emmanuel Lawrence Sylvester

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Rev. John Ejikeme - Retained 2. Pastor Mrs. Rosemary Ejikeme - Retained 3. Bro Solomon Mbelu - Removed 4. Bro. Anthony Ifeanyichukwu - Retained 5. Bro. Victor Oladejo - Removed

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) NWAJI AMAUCHE JEREMIAH - PRESIDENT. 2) ) ONICHA ANTHONY 3) ALEKE SUNDAY MATHEW. 4) NDUBISI IBINA. 5) NWAEDU CHINEDU. 6)NWOGHA STEPHEN OGUEMA. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE INTEREST OF THE MEMBERS. 2) COMING TOGETHER WITH MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BY SOCIALIZING WITH EACH OTHER FOR THE GROWTH AND COMMON EXISTENCE THEREBY MAINTAINING OUR CULTURAL VALUES.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote unity, mutual help and spirit of cooperation amongst members.

THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Bro. Ejikeme John Ekene 2. Pastor Ejikeme Henry Chukwudi

- Appointed - Appointed

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, corperate affairs commission, plot 420 tigris crescent, off aguiyi ironsi street, maitama, abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, corperate affairs commission, plot 420 tigris crescent, off aguiyi ironsi street, maitama, abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Any objection to this change should be forwarded to the registrar general, corperate affairs commission, plot 420 tigris crescent, off aguiyi ironsi street, maitama, abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: NWAJI AMAUCHE JEREMIAH - PRESIDENT

Signed: SECRETARY

Signed: BARR. JAMES AGU

ELOYI

I FORMALLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ELOYI ODANGLA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ELOYI JOHN ONUH. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID MENJ OIL NIG LTD AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

Abayomi-Adebayo

I formerly known and addressed as Idowu olubusola Charlene now wish to be known and addressed as AbayomiAdebayo Olubusola. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Abdullahi

I formerly know as Abdullahi sule wish to be known and called as Abdullahi Sale. All my former documents remain valid. The authority concerned and general public to take note.

JOB

I formerly known and addressed as JOB SAMUEL now wish to be known and addressed as JOB SHUNOM SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

felicia

I formerly know as miss felicia Turman now wish to be know and adressed as mrs felicia m.

Nabawa all former document remain valid, general public, to please take note.

OLUBUSOLA

I formerly known and addressed as IDOWU OLUBUSOLA CHARLENE now wish to be known and addressed as ABAYOMIADEBAYO OLUBUSOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

SOPEIN

I formerly known as MISS PIUS ANAMIYE ELIZABETH, now Wish to be known and addressed as MRS SOPEIN ANAMIYE ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

ELEOJO

I formerly known and addressed as MISS SALAMATU MUHAMMED now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ELEOJO OGALI. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

CHIBUZOR

I formerly known and addressed as MRS CHIBUZOR ANASTASIA UDOH now wish to be known and addressed as CHIBUZOR ANASTASIA EKWONYE. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

MOSES

I formerly known and addressed as JOSEPH MOSES OR PAUL MOSES now wish to be known and addressed as PAUL MOSES. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Immigration Service, National Population Commission, all Government Parastatals, Banks, etc and the general public should take note.

LAWAL

I formerly known and addressed as MISS FUNMILAYO TOLU OLUWOLE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS FUNMILAYO TOLU LAWAL. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

GRACE

I formerly known and addressed as GRACE ENUWA IDUH now wish to be known and addressed as GRACE ENUWA ITODO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

69

August 29, 2014 BUILDING TECHNICIANS AND MANUAL LABOURERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA The general public is hereby notified that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part C of the companies and allied matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. HON. OBONG TONY OKPON 2. MR. PAUL INIOKPON (JP) 3. BARR. JOHNSON EBONG 4. COMR. NDUESO EFFANGA 5. OFFIONG ASUKWO 6. MR UDUAK UDO 7. SAMUEL HENRY 8. PST. INIOBONG JACKSON 9. MR. ODUDU SILAS 10. MR. NDIFREKE JOHN AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To cater for the welfare of members.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, corperate affairs commission, plot 420 tigris crescent, off aguiyi ironsi street, maitama, abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Chairman

JOS PEACE DIALOGUE FORUM

LEGAL NOTICE

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. David Lambo - Chairman 2. Dr. Jonah Madugu 3. Alh. Umaru Sani 4. Chief (Barr) Bankole Falade 5. Isha Agwom Nyam 6. Hajiya Khadija Hawaja Gambo 7. Dr. Yakubu Sankey-- Secretary 8. Amb. Layiwole Laseinde 9. Hon Isa Chungwom Song 10. Barr Zach Nwankpa 11. Barr. Smart Irabor 12. Hon Aminu Zang 13. Alh. Salihu Umar. 14. Pastor (Mrs) Esther Ibangah The Aims and Objectives Are: 1. To facilitate peaceful co-existence amongst the various communities in Jos and its environs through dialogue and confidence building.

2. To facilitate economic empowerment of youth and women of the communities of Jos and its environs.

3. To facilitate and embark on the rebuilding of selected places of worship and schools as a measure of confidence building for sustainable peace.

4. To liaise with government and non governmental organizations, donor and international agencies in the peace building process.

5. To facilitate reconciliation through mediation amongst the various communities of Jos and its environs.

Any objection should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja within 28 days of the publication.

Whereas the person/persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the person(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of administration of the personal property.

Notice is hereby given that the said letters of administration be granted to such person(s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT” the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication.

SCHEDULE Deceased name and address Applicant for grant ARC. JERRY IKE NWEKE Mrs. Victoria Ike Nweke, Mrs. Modesta Jerry Parks Nigeria Ltd. N. Ike and Mrs. Kennechukwu Ike Who died on the 27th March, 2014.

Nweke

A8 Army Quarters Fed. Housing Kubwa, Abuja Dated at Abuja this 28th August, 2014. The widows of the said deceased.

Signed: Barr Hafsat Sadiq For: Probate Registrar

Signed: Izang Aware Esq. 08036461253 or 08174081700

GREEN- WALLS CHARITY FOUNDATION

LEGAL NOTICE

MAKAMA RELIEF FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA

This is to imform the General Public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1 of 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. HIGH-CHIEF ODIRIONYE CHARLES ANYANWU 2. MRS GLORY CHARLES ODIRIONYE 3. AJUNWA BENJAMIN EKENE 4. PROF. AKINPELU BIODUN 5. BISHOP ENWEREUZOR VICTOR DAVID 6. MRS CHARITY ABUBAKAR 7. MRS MARIA STEPHEN AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO RENDER SOCIAL AND CHARITABLE SERVICES TO HE LESS PRIVILEGED MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY. 2. TO POSITIVELY ENGAGED THE YOUTH ON PRODUCTIVE AND RESULT ORIENTED VENTURES AND PROMOTE VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND SKILL ACQUISITION. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: CHAIRMAN

Whereas the person/persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the person(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of administration of the personal property.

Notice is hereby given that the said letters of administration be granted to such person(s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT” the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication.

SCHEDULE Deceased name and address Applicant for grant CHIJOKE OLUROTIMI MGBOKWERE Pearl De Latorre Venegas Grd to Remi Tamirec, Abuja

Rosa Mgbokwere Plot 1275 River Niger Street Maitama, Abuja Dated at Abuja this 28th August, 2014. The widow and daughter of the said deceased.

Who died on the 13th July, 2014.

Signed: Barr Hafsat Sadiq For: Probate Registrar

LEGAL NOTICE

THE FRONT PORCH MINISTRY

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA

The general public is hereby informed that the above named ministry has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1 of 1990.

Whereas the person/persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the person(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of administration of the personal property.

Notice is hereby given that the said letters of administration be granted to such person(s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT” the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication.

SCHEDULE Deceased name and address Applicant for grant ALHAJI HASHIMU AMEDU Husseini Hashimu Salisu and Beside Pry. Health Centre, Tungamaje, Mohammed Amedu Abuja Beside Pry. Health Centre, Tungamaje, Who died on the 25th February, 2014.

Abuja.

Dated at Abuja this 28th August, 2014. The son and brother of the said

deceased.

Signed: Barr Hafsat Sadiq For: Probate Registrar

LOSS of OF document DOCUMENT loss LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public of the loss of the original land document issued to her by ministry of federal capital territory, Abuja dated 17/05/2001 bearing Mrs. Grace Shabu measured about 1,500m2 with plot No. 871 within Dakibiyu District, Abuja belonging to Mrs. Naomi Henry Yurkusi was missing. All efforts made to trace the said documents proved abortive. If found, please contact the nearest police station. General public should take note.

LOSS of OF document DOCUMENT loss LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to inform the general public of the loss of the original copy of consent to sublease certificate of occupancy No. N. 178 over piece of land at Bida Ref No. 178/I/35 belonging to ALHAJI SHAFII DANLADI KABARAINI was missing. All efforts made to trace the said documents proved abortive. If found, please contact the nearest police station. General public should take note.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.DR.VICTOR OLADOKUN 2.MRS ETHELLE-EKPE ADEREMI 3.PASTOR OLADIMEJI THOMPSON 4.MRS REBECCA IKHIODA 5.MRS ADESUWA ONYENOKWE 6.DR. MUNA CHIRA

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Ishaku dogo makama 2. Joseph steven shipi 3. victor audu 4. Sunday luka 5. Stephen oluwole 6. Seth christopher 7. Hannatu danjuma AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To provide relief to disaster victim.

2. To educate citizen on disaster management and control.

3. To assist in the ressettlement of disaster victims where need be.

Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: A MAZANAWA ESQ

AMBASSADOR RAPH CHUKWU UWECHUE FOUNDATION THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MRS NGOSI FELICIA ANURUDU 2. MISS NDIDI ANN UWECHUE 3. MR. REGINALD UMEIKE 4. MR PAUL AKPOVIRI ESEGBUE

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. 2. TO ESTABLISH CHURCHES WORLDWIDE. 3. TO WIN SOULS INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral, corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1 TO ASSIST THE LESS PRIVILEGED AND THE ORPHANS ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: TRUSTEES

SIGNED: ENOCH UCHENNA IBE ESQ

LEGAL NOTICE

CORRUPTION, INJUSTICE, ABUSE OF OFFICE AWARENESS INITIATIVE

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

Whereas the person/persons whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and place in the said column. And whereas the person(s) whose name and address is set out in the second column hereunder claimed the relationship of the said deceased and has applied to the above named court for the grant letters of administration of the personal property.

Notice is hereby given that the said letters of administration be granted to such person(s) unless “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT” the grant thereof is filed in the probate registry of the above named court within twenty one (21) days from the date of publication.

SCHEDULE Deceased name and address Applicant for grant ENE DIO IDOKO (A.K.A ENE AGENE) Mr. Dio Idoko and Catherine Uduwa Behind Rahima Bakery New Karu, Behind Rahima Bakery New Karu, Nasarawa State.

Nasarawa State.

Who died on the 12th June, 2014.

The widower and sister of the said

Dated at Abuja this 28th August, 2014. deceased.

Signed: Barr Hafsat Sadiq For: Probate Registrar

fadahunsi

I formerly known and addressed as miss okunola temitope haishat now wish to be known and addressed as mrs fadahunsi temitope haishat. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1 PROF. AWODIYA AMOS MAB ISHOLA, JP 2 (RTD CP) BARR ABAYOMI AKEREMALE 3 MICHAEL OLABODE FAKANDE 4 IWALOYE OLUSEGUN CLEMENT 5 BONIFACE IFER 6 OGBONNA IFEANYI CYRIL 7 SAMBO ABDULLAHI JAMIU 8 SIR WUYA PATRICK EBUGA 9 ADEWUSI TUNDE ADEKUNLE 10 FARUR UMAR AIMS AND OBJECTIVEs 1 To fight against corruption, injustice and abuse of office 2To promote development of good leadership qualities and culture in youth.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR – GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED: TRUSTEES

obinna

I formerly known and addressed as miss onwuegbuzie mary dympna now wish to be known and addressed as mrs obinna mary dympna. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

amacha

I formerly known and addressed as ochiegbu richard onyebuchi now wish to be known and addressed as amacha richard onyebuchi. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

yanmeer

I formerly known and addressed as yanmeer tyotswam now wish to be known and addressed as yanmeer simeone tyotswam.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

sports PREVIEWS AND NIGERIANS ABROAD August 29, 2014

NFF Crisis: Maigari’s Men Are Not Sincere – Danagogo

By SALIFU USMAN, Abuja

Sports Minister and chairman National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr Tammy Danagogo has identified lack of sincerity and un-gentleman of football administrators has been responsible for the continuous imbroglio in the nation’s football sector.

Addressing newsmen yesterday after held a meeting with the new executive committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and some senior management staff of the federation, including chief Accountant, Andekin Christopher, head of legal department, Okey Obi and assistant director (communication), Admola Olajire, he said most of the people running football are not gentleman enough to keep agreement, but only believes having their way and at Danagogo winning at all cost.

“Our greatest challenge in being passed with money and brohaha is that most people that signing extension of tenure for are involve in football are not person and so on. That was very sincere. They are not gentleman provocation and wrong steps and honourable enough to be that metamorphosis into what trust with agreement. They just we seeing now because we have believe in having their way and step in to stop that course of impose somebody or extending winning all cost.

“Like I said in my speech somebody tenure.

After stopping it, people when address the congress, we had a meeting Sunday reacted in different ways.

He said Christopher Giwa-led and we all agreed on what to do. But before the day of executive committee were in his the congress, resolutions are office to brief on the outcome

of their election and he has also reach out to other faction to come and hear their own side.

“As government we will not haste into conclusion on the crisis. They came to brief me and I have listen to them. I have also called the other group to come, but they said they are somewhere that they can’t today.

So, next week I will hear them before decide on what to do,” he said.

200 Golfers For 2014 NB Jaji Golf By onjewu dickson, Abuja

The 2014 edition of the prestigious Nigeria Breweries (NB) Plc/ Jaji Golf Tournament would be teeing-off tomorrow at the Armed Forces Command Staff College (AFSC), Jaji, Kaduna and is expected to feature no fewer than 200 golfers from across the country.

LEADERSHIP Friday Sports gathered however, that most of the golfers would be thronging Jaji from the 19 states in the north and the FCT, with few coming from clubs located in the south.

Confirming the tee-off, the Public Relations Manager (North) NB Plc, Mr. Danjuma John-Ekele explained that the Kakuri Brewery

Manager, accompanied by several top management staff and executives of Jaji Golf Club would do the ceremonial tee-off by 7am tomorrow.

He explained that the company sponsors the tournament annually as part of its corporate social responsibility.

“We owe the society corporate social responsibility and there can be no better way of expressing this than through sports being a unifying factor that brings people of different ethnic groups and religions together.

‘Besides the unifying benefit, obesity, diabetes and other health challenges that arise from poor physical activity can be limited through engaging in sports, which

makes it important for all round healthy living,” he stressed.

Speaking further, he said that NB Plc has also impacted in the lives of its host communities in the north, through interventions in provision of world standard health facilities and building/ furnishing of blocks of classrooms in primary and secondary schools.

When contacted, Competition Secretary of the Jaji Club, Mr. Solomon Yusuf Sarki explained that golfers should expect a better tournament this year as a result of noticeable improvements recorded on the course.

Several top golfers are expected to participate in the two-day tournament which ends on Sunday.

2014 World Cup Superstars: FALCAO (Colombia)

NAME: Radamel Falcao Garcia Zarate Date of Birth: February 10, 1986 Place of Birth: Santa Marta Club: Monaco World Cups: 1 APPS : 0 Goals:0

Radamel Falcao had surgery for anterior cruciate ligament damage in January, and although his surgeon believes that he will make a fast recovery, by ACL reconstruction standards, recovering in than five months to play in the World Cup would be astonishingly fast.

Why does this matter so much? In qualification for World Cup 2014, Falcao’s nine goals represented one-third of Colombia’s total haul, and most pundits doubt whether the Cafeteros come anywhere near to living up to their FIFA rid ranking (a slightly flattering 5th) if he’s not the team.

Falcao made his senior debut (in the Colombian second division) at the tender age of 13 years and 199 days Although Colombian, ‘El Tigre’ built his reputation in Argentina, Portugal and Spain. After eight years

Falcao

developing with River Plate he signed for Porto in 2009, and immediately his playing statistics rocketed into the ‘legend’ category: 34 goals in all competitions in 200910 and 17 goals in 14 Europa League matches in 2010-11 (Porto won the competition).

The numbers for his time at Atletico Madrid were similarly impressive.

In most ‘best footballers in the world’ lists, this scintillating centre forward easily makes the top 10.

NIGERIANS ABROAD

Arokoyo Looking To Kick On Newly-signed Gaziantepspor defender Gbenga Arokoyo hopes to kick on this season following his switch from Swedish outfit Mjallby AIF. The 21-year-old Nigerian, who has represented his country at various youth levels, enjoyed a solid two seasons in the Swedish Allsvenskan and featured extensively in the Gaziantep outfit’s pre-season.

Arokoyo has put pen to paper on a four-year deal at the Kamil Ocak Stadium and believes he will make a success of his time at Gaziantepspor.

“It was a very good experience for me in pre-season. I played seven games, we won four and drew three,” the former Kwara United man told.

“I’m prepared for the big step and with God on my side I believe everything will work out fine.”

The Falcons travel to Sivas

Arokoyo

to take on Sivasspor in their Turkish Super League outfit on Sunday and Aroyoko is relishing his prospective duel with striker and compatriot John Utaka.

Willingness to change is a strength, even if it is means plunging part of the company into total confusion for a while.

Chairman and CEO of General Electric

Jack Welch,

71

August 29, 2014

Di Maria: I Want To Emulate Ronaldo At Man Utd New Manchester United man Angel Di Maria says he is determined to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford and do justice to the No.7 shirt.

The Argentine winger says he spoke to the Real Madrid superstar, whom he was team-mates with for four years, ahead of his move to Old Trafford and was informed of the history and importance of

his new shirt number.

And following his €75 million move to United, Di Maria insists he will do his best to reach the high standards expected of him and insisted he is happy to play wherever the manager wishes to deploy him.

“I was aware of the importance of the No.7 shirt,” he told reporters.

Lack Of Proactive Plan, Bane Of Development – Danagogo By onjewu dickson, Abuja

The Honourable Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Tammy Danagogo has identified the lack of proactiveness on our developmental plan as the bane of the nation’s accelerated development.

The Minister made this assertion on Thursday 28th August, 2014 in his Abuja National Stadium office when he received in audience a delegation from the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) led by the Director-General, Mr. Benjamin Dikki.

Commending the delegation for the visit which is a follow-up exercise to the earlier concession of the Lagos National Stadium and part of the Abuja National Stadium the Minister stated that the visit underscores the BPE’s commitment to

truly reform and galvanize the Private sector in sports.

Dr. Danagogo noted that it is a truism that Private sector is more involved in running businesses worldwide whilst government’s role is to regulate and draw up a policy framework.

Speaking further, the Minister reinstated that this was the cardinal point of the President’s Sports Summit convocated in 2012.

“What you are seeking to do is in tandem with Mr. President’s vision of involving every well meaning Nigerian by opening all these stadia to Private involvement” he said.

Consequently, the Minister pledged the National Sports Commission’s commitment to work with the BPE to deliver this laudable goal of reforming the sports sector.

AUC TION! AUC TION!!!

LOSSAUC OF TION!!

DOCUMENT This is to invite the general public for Auction sales of unserviceable motor vehicle, plants and equipments at the following venues: 1. Nigeria Custom Service F.O.U. Zone ‘‘D’’ Bauchi, Bauchi State.

Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2014 Time: 10am 2. Katsina Area Command, Katsina State Date: Friday, September 5, 2014 Time: 10am For more info please contact: Auctioneer: CHIEF SAIBU S. AKAN 08023070200

This is to inform the general public of the LOSS OF LAND ALLOCATION PAPER OF PLOT NO. 842 OF ABOUT 1000M2 IN KUBWA EXTENSION II LAYOUT BEARING YAHAYA IBRAHIM, BELONGING TO ERNEST EZEJA. All efforts made to trace this missing document proved abortive, if found, please kindly return to the nearest police station.

LOSS OF OF DOCUMENT DOCUMENT LOSS This is to inform the general public of the loss of the original copy of BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION certificaate of registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission. All efforts to find the said original copy of the certificate prove abortive, the association has since applied for a certified true copy from the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Members of the general public are kindly advised to note. If found, kindly return to the nearest police station or the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja or any of its branch in Nigeria.

Any objectin to the application should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commissin, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this pulbication.

Signed: PROFESSOR HABU MOHAMMED Secretary

By onjewu dickson, Abuja

EPL side Manchester City have been handed a tough draw in the UEFA Champions League draws held yesterday. They play in Group E and would be challenging Bayern Munich, Roma and CSKA Moscow.

Five-time winners Liverpool will face defending champions Real Madrid on their return to the Champions League.

Liverpool, back after a five-year absence, have also been drawn alongside Basel and Ludogorets of Bulgaria.

Manchester City will face Bayern Munich for the third time in four seasons, as well as CSKA Moscow and Roma.

Arsenal face Borussia Dortmund for the second season running, while Chelsea look

By SALIFU USMAn, Abuja

The new executive committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) under the leadership of Christopher Giwa has commenced the reconciliation process with the opposing faction and some stakeholders who are still expressing displeasure over their emergence as NFF board.

The NFF president, Christopher Giwa stated this yesterday while speaking to newsmen at the National Stadium, Abuja after paid a courtesy visit to the Sports Minister and chairman National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr Tammy Danagogo in his office.

This is to inform the general public of the loss of original land document with plot No. 967 in Cadastral Zone, E23 of Kyami, File No. KN 62076 belonging to ALIYU SANI MADAKI of block 99 flat 4, O. A. U, Qaurters Wuse 2, Abuja FCT was missing. All efforts made to trace the said documents proved abortive. If found, please contact the nearest police station. General public should take note.

I formerly known as MISS OBASSA OLUBUNMI ABOSEDE now wish to be known as MRS WILLIAMS OLUBUNMI ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

MONICA

I formerly known as MISS MONICA AMAHA now wish to be known as MRS MONICA AMAHA LAZARUS. All former documents remain valid.

Federal High Court and the general public to please take note.

OTITOJU

I formerly known as GAJI MODUPE OLUWATOYIN now wish to be known as OTITOJU MODUPE OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

NWIGWE

I formerly known as EBERE CHIDI now wish to be known as NWIGWE CHIDI. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

OMOKARO

I formerly known and addressed as EBOHON OMOYEMWEN ANTHONIA now wish to be known and addressed as OMOKARO OMOYEMWEN ANTHONIA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

to have a kind draw against Schalke, Sporting Lisbon and Maribor.

In Group A, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Olympiacos and Malmo are paired. Group B comprises holders Real Madrid, FC Basel, Liverpool and Ludogorets Razgrad.

Benfica, Zenit St Petersburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Monaco would battle for supremacy in Group C, Group D, boasts of Arsenal FC, Borussia Dortmund, Galatasary and Anderlecht.

In Group E, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, CSKA Moscow and Roma will compete while Group F has Barcelona, Paris St Germain, Ajax and Apoel.

Mourinho’s Chelsea lead the list of teams in Group G, with Schalke, Sporting Lisbon and Maribor completing the group.

NFF Crisis: Giwa Begins Reconciliation Processe

LOSS OF OF DOCUMENT DOCUMENT LOSS

OLUBUNMI

LOSS OF OF DOCUMENT DOCUMENT LOSS

UEFA Champions League: Man City Land In Tough Group

DAVID

I formerly known as MISS ADEKUMBI TITILAYO ADIO now wish to be known as MRS DAVID JACOB ADEKUMBI TITILAYO. All former documents remain valid. Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa and the general public to please take note.

ONYEZE

I formerly known as MISS ONOH NNENNE PATIENCE now wish to be known as MRS ONYEZE NNENNE PATIENCE. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

MARIAM

I formerly known as MISS MARIAM AHUOIZA ABDULLAHI now wish to be known as MRS MARIAM AHUOIZA CLEMENT. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

AKINYEMI

I formerly known as MISS FAGBEMI OMOLARA GLADYS now wish to be known as MRS AKINYEMI OMOLARA GLADYS. All former documents remain valid. FCDA and the general public to please take note.

MEKWUNYE

I formerly known and addressed as MISS LATEEF MORIAM OMOWUNMI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MEKWUNYE MORIAM OMOWUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

He said they have started talking to all the major stakeholders for them to mend fences and move the Nigeria’s football forward. He added that a committee will be set up to help bring all the aggrieved members together for them to have one unite football house.

He said his election will mark the turning-point in Nigeria football. “If you listen to minister’s speech when he came to address the congress before the election, he said the congress will mark the end of crisis in our football. In my acceptance speech, I also did mention that this will mark the turning-point in our football.

“By the grace God the reconciliation pro-

LOSS OF OF DOCUMENT DOCUMENT LOSS

This is to inform the general public of the LOSS OF ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY C of O (CUSTOMARY) WITH NO. FCT/GAC/ RLA/5344 IN RESPECT OF PLOT NO. 45 PHASE I, RESIDENTIAL LAYOUT II, GWAGWALADA MEASURING 1511.430SQM, BELONGING TO PRISCILLA GAIYA. All efforts made to trace the missing document proved abortive. If found, please return to the nearest police station.

OKALA

I formerly known as MISS EZENWAFOR CHINAZO CHARLESIA now wish to be known as MRS OKALA CHINAZO CHARLESIA. All former documents remain valid.

Nigeria Immigration Service and the general public to please take note.

EKEH

I formerly known as MISS ANYANWU CELESTINA CHIKA now wish to be known as MRS EKEH CELESTINA CHIKA. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

AZOR

AZOR is my surname, while EMMANUEL is my personal name NWEKE is the middle name. As from this day, this is the way it will be.

All former documents remain valid.

General public to please take note.

OLUFUNKE

I formerly known as OLUFUNKE OLUWATOYIN BALOGUN now wish to be known as OLUFUNKE OLUWATOYIN AJISOLA-JUDGE. All former documents remain valid.

General public to please take note.

SANUSI

I formerly known as MISS ABUBAKAR ZAHARATU LADI now wish to be known as MRS SANUSI ZAHARATU ABUBAKAR. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

AHMED

I formerly known as AHMED LAWAL now wish to be known as AHMED TIJJANI LAWAL. All former documents remain valid. University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Authority concern and the general public to please take note.

TAHIR

I formerly known as TAHIR MALLAM MUJITABA now wish to be known as TAHIR MUSTAPHA MAKAMA. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

MUHAMMED

I formerly known as MUHAMMAD ABDULLAHI BABA ONORUIZA now wish to be known as MUHAMMED ABDULLAHI ABDULSALAM BABA. All former documents remain valid.

General public to please take note.

BLESSING

I formerly known as MISS NGWAKWE URUAKU BLESSING now wish to be known as MRS KENNETH URUAKU BLESSING. All former documents remain valid.

General public to please take note.

1X1 SPACE FOR SALE

AMUSEMENT PARK

i’m good to my wife — i never go home

—Fred Dibnah

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY c

www.leadership.ng

NIGERIA'S FIRST FRIDAY NEWSPAPER

No. 67

azu@leadership.ng Twitter: @azuishiekwene

N200

29.08.14

Text only: 08052100356

We Got It Right On This One

A

bout four weeks ago, after the initial report of the spread of Ebola to Nigeria, I listened to an expert on CNN and smiled as he spoke. He said something to the effect that an Ebola epidemic in Nigeria would be the world’s most unwanted disaster.

What he didn’t say was obvious from reading his lips. It’s not just the potential devastation of the deadly disease on a country with our population and size that frightened him. There was this hint that Nigeria being Nigeria, should Ebola take root here, the world might have to leave everything to help save us from ourselves.

At a point in the Ebola story, Nigeria seemed vulnerable to isolation and, possibly, a flight ban. Yet, I knew it won’t happen.

Not even with the vigorous campaign of the Donald Trumps of this world. It’s not because the US, Britain, France or South Africa love us less; it’s because they love their money more. With the 10 leading carriers in Nigeria grossing an annual income of $3billion, they know that it would be foolish to cancel flights, except if matters really came to a head.

I’m, however, relieved we have shown that we can handle something softer than banana. On Wednesday, a newspaper reader at a newsstand likened the news that Nigeria had finally contained Ebola to the end of the civil war.

Maybe that was a bit dramatic, but let’s face it: Ebola is almost a civil war on public health. Keep in mind that, in the last five weeks, the virus has killed 1,427 or over 50 per cent of the reported cases in West Africa. Health officials believe this figure is understated.

Keep in mind, too, that the virus, which tends to thrive in relatively poor communities, is still without a cure. Imagine what calamity it would have left in its trail had it not been contained on time.

So, how was it done? I’m hoping that all those on the frontline will

I wonder what would have happened if Ebola had come in through another state

tell the full story someday, but there’s a trail that sheds some light. A good deal of the credit for the containment must go to First Consultants Hospital and the team that received the LiberianAmerican, Patrick Sawyer, on the first day in Lagos.

If the team led by Ameyo Adadevoh (who unfortunately died with one other nurse) had been less professional, Sawyer would have done far greater damage. From a number of accounts, including those of his estranged American wife, the man seemed to be on a desperate mission to spread misery and grief as far and wide and vigorously as he could before dying. Why he chose to come here, only he knows.

The prompt response of the Lagos State government to First Consultants’ red flag also shows

that governance can make a difference. In the midst of the panic and confusion about what to do and how to care for the infected, a number of whom were already taking refuge in churches or fleeing to their villages, Governor Babatunde Fashola showed remarkable leadership.

I have joked with a few friends that if Ebola had come in through some other border in the country, we might have been in far more serious trouble.

It’s not hard to imagine why.

While Lagos, the epicentre of the problem, was still managing to contain it, people in some other parts of the country were being admitted to hospitals either for drowning themselves in salt-water bath or for seeking some other phoney remedies. I wonder what would have happened if Ebola had come in through such states.

President Goodluck Jonathan also rallied the states in a way that we have not seen for a while.

Could the federal government have responded earlier by securing the borders after the virus was reported in Guinea and Liberia? I think so. Could it have buried the hatchet with striking doctors after declaring a national emergency? I think so.

These shortcomings do not, however, diminish the remarkable coordination between the federal government and the states in dealing with what might have been a national calamity. The close monitoring of the index cases, the joint progress report by both the commissioner of health in Lagos and the federal minister of health, the willingness to share information and receive help, and the seriousness with which other agencies weighed in show that Nigeria can work if we want it to.

It’s not over yet. Two fresh cases were reported in Port Harcourt yesterday and the WHO Ebolametre for West Africa is still in the red zone. That’s why the minister of health should not be content to

say the battle has been won and walk away.

But even the success story so far needs telling. The minister and all those directly involved need to tell the public exactly how the virus was contained. In the case of the two US aid workers, Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, for example, the world followed their story from the time they were evacuated from Liberia to their admission to Emory Hospital in the US, their treatment with the trial drug, Z-Mapp, and their recovery and discharge from the hospital.

I’m aware of cultural differences, which sometimes tend to stigmatize patients. But closet medicine – the alternative to openness and sharing – can only further expose our people to more bitter-kola treatment washed down with salt-andpepper solution. It is important to know what has worked and how it has worked for the survivors.

Also, now that we have things under control, we cannot afford to live for ourselves alone. Sawyer has shown that what affects your neighbour potentially affects you.

We must take the lead in sorting out neighbouring countries, especially Sierra Leone and Liberia, while we keep an eye on our own borders. Hygiene and vigilance remain key.

GHANA MUST GO 60% of subsidy fund smuggled out of Nigeria

— Jonathan

That Strange ‘Tactical Manoeuvre’ Last week when I warned that army chief Kenneth Minimah would have to do more than threaten to execute mutineers to raise flagging morale in the war on Boko Haram, a familiar mob came after me, straight out of the cyber gutter. A few days after my column, however, the Cameroonian army reported that 480 Nigerian soldiers had fled across the border to Cameroon in what our own army spokesperson, Major-General Chris

Olukolade, would later describe as a “tactical manoeuvre”. Any manoeuvre that would make more than one battalion of soldiers flee their posts, surrender their weapons on the other side and then trickle back into their country through another route should give any thinking person serious concern. Our thoughts and prayers are with our soldiers and their families. The night may be long but, sure, daylight will come.

By spirits?

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