Spur Magazine Nigeria March 2012 Edition by Nigeria Spur Magazine

CONTENTS 26 We Should See Unemployment as a Huge Opportunity - Dr. Akpata

34 If You Have A Vision, Go for It... - Omotayo 36 Education, Research Should Spur National Development

80 Life After Campus A Blinker of Hope

- Gov. Fashola Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN at University of Lagos

72 Achievers at Achievers University Pioneer Students Graduate

28 Jim Ovia Foundation Empowers 250 Youths

46 Prof. Peter Lewis, Others X-ray Leadership in Nigeria

52 Mai Nasara’s Nigeria Prize for Literature

43 Accounting for People’s Money Will Stem the Tide of Corruption - Prof. Omolehinwa

10 ...At Loyola Jesuit College Inter House Sport Emotions Sway As Connelly Clinches Trophy MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 03

EDITOR’S NOTE Education: A permanent vehicle in the spectrum of human life NIGERIA SPUR MAGAZINE EDUCATION LEARNING LEADERSHIP MARCH 2012

www.spurmag.com

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faleye Davidson Olusesan EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Faleye Olubukola, Oluranti Agunloye, Ikpeekha Christopher, Alade Kayode, Owoeye Abimbola MANAGING EDITOR Starrys Obazei ASSOCIATE EDITOR Agboga C. Pamela STAFF WRITERS Adeolu Charles Alupogun-Iran Patience Omeruo Omolola Ojo CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Timothy Okwu Dr. Faith Ekpekurede, Sunday Saanu BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & ADMINISTRATION Deborah Oke, Oluwatoosin Adewuyi Oluwakemi Amusan SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY Adedoyin Adedeji INTEGRATED BUSINESS EXECUTIVE Itiola Abiodun FINANCE & ACCOUNTING Akinbolusire Kehinde, ACA CORPORATE BRANDING & CREATIVE CONCEPT CONSULTANT Olawale Olayiwola CREATIVE/GRAPHIC CONSULTANT freelART®DESIGNS freelartdesigns@yahoo.com ADVISORY Bishop & Rev’d. (Mrs.) Felix ‘Kemi Adejumo Copyright©2012 Royal Diadem Communications Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this magazine in whole or part is prohibited. Any infringement is liable to prosecution. Spur™magazine and accompanying logos, designs and product marks are the trademarks of Royal Diadem Communications Ltd and are for use exclusively with its product and services. Office Address: 94 Yaya Abatan Street, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: 017101826, 07090067741. Emails:info@spurmag.com 04 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

ducation is the beginning of learning experience throughout all the stages of human life and whenever one stage ends, knowledge acquisition continues for the sustenance of the next stage. It is a permanent, unstoppable vehicle in the spectrum of humanity or human life. It continues from one generation to the other. The more Nigeria SPUR Magazine explores what is in education, the more we are enlightened that it is almost limitless. Education is the key to national development which is brought about by two resources: human and material. Even in the absence of natural material resources, human capital, if well trained, can go on with modern technological licence to create products and services, leaving in its trail thousands or millions of jobs. Human capital development involves training all strata of human hands and brains in the production of goods and services. All it takes is intellectual energy refined by education to create things. Humans are small creators. It is not surprising that we are what we are because our Creator made us so. Education sustains creative activities in life. All we need first is the creative strength acquired through education; every other thing falls into place as we use our creative ability to convert materials into products. And do we have the materials in Nigeria? Yes, in unimaginable, great quantum! God wants humans to be small creators of things, that is why he gave us one of His cardinal qualities –power (mental power) He made us mentally more powerful than all the powerful animals on earth. So God gave humans, yes Nigerians, abundant natural resources for conversion into products that will make the country prosperous. But we are still poor because we are not producing. Our educational system culminates into the ivory towers as solution providers to our social, economic, security and other needs through researches, but these institutions are not fully used because they are hindered by inadequate funding and out-dated curricula. Governor Fashola in line with our cover story this month laments what is lacking and enjoins: ‘Education and research should spur development.’ A lot of people also blame corruption and lack of patriotism on the part of the leaders and Nigerians in general. Again, we are just consumers, not producers. Our industrial sector is already comatose; it is also hampered by lack of critical infrastructure. We produce hundreds of thousands of graduates every year without planning for their placements in the work place. Many analysts believe we can only change things with industrial and agricultural revolutions. Meanwhile, Nigerian students also have to plan for the best academic results, second class upper or first class, so as to compete effectively for the few jobs available until the national change we are all waiting for arrives. It must arrive because Nigeria has all it takes to be among the most industrialized nations on earth! Our cover feature aptly entitled: ‘Life After Campus: A Blinker of Hope,’ explains the journey of the Nigerian students right from the cradle and not just from matriculation to convocation, and what Nigeria must do towards creating jobs for our teeming graduates. Any student can be a genius. Geniuses are easily made through diligence. Akhigbe Iziren, Unilag’s overall best ever graduand in 2012, in this edition, said he made 4.98 GPA or 99.9% principally due to hard work and learning “how to study.” He also said he would like to be part of the change that is coming to Nigeria. Jim Ovia is not the richest man in Nigeria, but he believes so much in software development and the opportunities therein for the youth in Nigeria that he budgeted N50m for 10 Starrys Obazei, best soft-ware developers in 2012. Managing Editor These and many other stories are in this package to spur you on.

Spur Icon

Prof. Yemi

OSINBAJO

rof. Yemi Osinbajo is currently an independent director of CitiBank Nigeria and an ethics adviser to the board of the Africa Development Bank. He is the senior partner at Simmons Cooper Partners, a professor of law and a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He is a former attorney-general of Lagos State and Commissioner for Justice. As attorney general of Lagos State, he undertook farreaching significant judicial reform in Lagos State, addressing critical areas as judges' recruitment, remuneration, training and discipline and also access to justice for the poor by establishing appropriate institutions in the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) and the Citizens Mediation Centre (CMC). He obtained an LLB from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 1978 and then an LLM from the London School of Economics in 1980. He was admitted to practice

before the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1979. He has 31 years of litigation experience including significant trial and appellate work and is regarded as one of the finest advocates in Nigeria having conducted very important constitutional and precedential cases before the Nigerian Supreme Court. He has also advised and represented clients in a broad range of commercial and corporate issues. He has served in various capacities within the United Nations. Prof. Osinbajo is a member of the International Bar Association and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law and has served in the Nigerian Body of Benchers and the Council for Legal Education of Nigeria. He is actively involved in the pursuit of legal education reform in Nigeria. This is our spur icon for the month of March. MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 05

face of

spur S

he is a highflying student of the department of Computer Science, Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, with a CGPA of 3.61. The last child of four children, she is young, beautiful and very intelligent. She aspires to be a famous computer programmer and her role model is Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook. She loves to read and dance.

Deborah Tosin

SHOBOWALE 06 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

Facts File

Rain contains vitamin B12

It took Leonardo Da Vinci 10 years to paint Mona Lisa

Rarest type of diamond is green A group of owls is called a parliament

Word 'Goodbye' originated from the phrase 'God be with yeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Your most active muscles are in your eye

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Facts File

The tongue is the fastest healing part of your body

Humans are the only primates that don't have pigment in the palms of their hands

Hostile people are more likely to develop heart disease

Every second, 100000 chemical reactions take place in our brains

Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature

Fire moves faster uphill than it does downhill

It took the radio 38 years, and the television 13 years but it took the World Wide Web only 4 years to reach 50 million users MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 09

Youth Centric

...AT LOYOLA

Jesuit College INTER-HOUSE SPORTS

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Yo u t h C e n t r i c

Emotions Sway

Connelly AS

CLINCHES

TROPHY

M A R C H 2 0 1 2 S P U R M A G . C O M 11

Yo u t h C e n t r i c ByAdeolu C.Alupogun-Iran

oyola Jesuit College, Abuja is a known name among secondary schools in Nigeria. The school is not only respected for academic excellence alone but also for sporting activities. The school was established in 1996 by the Society of Jesus and named after the founder of the society, St. Ignatius Loyola. LJC, as it is fondly called, occupies 70.4 acres of land on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory, and it is carefully fenced to ensure both students' safety and academic convenience. In a bid to provide all round education to its students, the management of the school decided to expose their pupils to sports and also assist them in attaining the best, not just in their academics but also in sport. The 2012 Loyola Jesuit College Inter House Sport competition commenced with morning holy mass, a perfect way of handing over the proceedings to God Almighty. The mass lasted for about an hour and a half, after which the competition began. Declaring the event open, the chairman of the occasion Hon. Benjamin Okoko, stressed the important role sports play in Nigeria, â&#x20AC;&#x153;...sports as we know, is one thing that truly unites us as one country...â&#x20AC;? He urged parents to be generous in supporting their children who show talents in sporting activities. He said with sports given the right of place among secondary schools in the country, Nigeria will have a future.

XAVIER HOUSE parading

Valeri holding placard for Loyola House

REGIS HOUSE parade Chidubem Emelumadu holding the placard for Connelly house

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Yo u t h C e n t r i c

REGIS house demonstration

Grace Chineyemba (connelly house) after presenting flower to the chairman

Oyindamola (R) parade master for XAVIER House

Cutting the cake for the interhouse sport

MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 13

Yo u t h C e n t r i c

Chiaza, Chukwuneye (Games Prefect) and the Sport Director (Mr Paul) lighting the torch

Chukwuneye lighting the torch

REGIS HOUSE saluting the president, chairman and principal

Loyola House Parade and Anukam Chinaza (parade master)

LOYOLA JESUIT COLLEGE Boys Band

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Connelly house demonstration and Kamila (Parade master)

Yo u t h C e n t r i c

Mr Feese (member of the board of governors) (L), Fr. Egbe (Rep. of Arc Bishop of Abuja), Fr. Ehi Omoragbon (President Loyola Jesuit)

Hon. Benjamin Okoko (Chairman and Chief Launcher)

Fr. Ugo Nwekwe, SJ (Principal) giviing his welcome address

Mr. Paul Uke, Sport Director during an interview with Spur magazine crew

Mr Ikechukwu (Host)

MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 15

Yo u t h C e n t r i c

Connelly House, winner of 2012 interhouse sport

REGIS House matching

Oyindamola (R) parade master for XAVIER House

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He congratulated the management team of Loyola Jesuit College for being a forerunner of vision and hope for the nation. LJC has four houses: Connelly, Regis, Loyola and Xavier, which keenly competed for the ultimate prize. This year's edition was particularly stunning because of the height of determination every student invested into all the activities. Speaking at the ceremony, the mother of the day, Hon. Fidelia Njeze commended the students for their determination on the track and admonished them not to relent at all times. As with all competitions, a winner must emerge. At end of the race Connelly House topped the table with 29 gold medals, 26 silver medals and 23 bronze medals, with Regis following closely and Loyola House in the third position while Xavier clinched the last position. Speaking with SPUR magazine, the Sports Director of LJC, Mr. Paul Okey expressed his satisfaction on the performances of the students at the competition. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has been wonderful! From this

Yo u t h C e n t r i c

Egbuna Chukwuma (XAVIER house)receiving gold medal

Kenechukwu (REGIS house) receiving gold medal (1500m race) from Amb. Martin MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 17

Yo u t h C e n t r i c

Judges

Mrs Fidelia Njeze (former Minister of Aviation)

Connelly House during their house parade

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Yo u t h C e n t r i c inter house sport we have produced students who represented the Federal Capital Territory [FCT] in the last Athletes of Hope and we had a girl who came first in long jump...” And on the secret behind his students' motivation, he says, “Most of them are competing for the award of a sport scholarship abroad, of which about four of the alumni of Loyola Jesuit College are currently benefactors.” Responding to questions from SPUR magazine, the head boy of Loyola Jesuit College, Omer, talked about the high level of discipline obtainable at the school. He said: “We all came from different backgrounds; there are students who are well disciplined and those who are not, but adequate punishment awaits anyone who does not align with the rules and regulations of the school. We have disciplinarians here.” Commenting on the reading culture at Loyola College as compared with the reality of things among Nigerian youth, the principal, Rev. Father Ugo Nweke, said, “...a student who does not read can never survive here... In fact, our challenge has been that our students study too much...” He urged government to established new libraries in all communities because by so doing the reading culture among Nigerian youth will be revived.

Female parents during novelty race

Cherry field College (invited school)

Male parents during the novelty race

MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 19

Youth Centric

cram! SO YOU TEACH HER TO

ByAdedoyinAdedeji

t was a Tuesday morning and the pressure to get to work early was much on me. I had woken up quite late and this morning I had to do everything possible to reach the office on time. As I popped into the bus, waiting impatiently for it to move, my attention was drawn to the conversation of a teacher and a student in the back seat. The teacher said, “Bola, you scored the highest in the biology exams, how did you do it?” The shy student smiled and said, “Ma, I can’t really say.” Then the teacher replied, “I’m sure it took you quite a long time to memorize your biology notes because your answers were exactly the same as the one I gave you in class, if you continue to memorise the other subjects this way, you will end up becoming first in your class this term, so keep it up.” As the bus began to move, my mind dwelt on this short conversation between a teacher and her student. Then I said to myself: “So this teacher does not teach her student to learn biology, she teaches the students to cram biology.” Nigeria is full of students and youths that have been sub-consciously programmed to cram their way through school right from primary school. Too many youths have crammed their way to a first class or second class university degree and are totally clueless of what to do with themselves after school. While growing up, we were told that all you need to do to get a good life after school was to get good grades, so whether you cram or learn in school it is no one’s problem. Getting good grades is very important, but we all need to ask ourselves what we have learnt while aiming for those good grades? What is the essence of good grades when you don’t have the capacity to be a solution provider to the pressing issues confronting the human existence? Personally, I had always chosen the 20 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

path of rebellion to this “cramming” ideology right from secondary school. I don’t get good academic grades like others not because I don’t listen in class or read my books but because I always choose to write my examination answers the way I understand what the teacher taught us rather than “crammed” textbook answers. My results could be painful but when the pain fades away, there is always this sense of fulfilment that I have learnt something worthwhile during my study of this subject. This “cramming” ideology is probably one of the biggest issues confronting a multitude of Nigerian youth because it makes us a slave to the Nigerian system. We graduated from school and expect the system to provide everything for us. We seriously depend on our “crammed” grades to provide a great job and the good life we want for us. During a recent official visit to the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa State, I had a great privilege to engage Mr. Abubakar Tahir, a veteran journalist and AUN’s assistant vice-president (PR and communication) in an intellectual discussion where he rightly pointed out, that because of Nigeria’s colonial history, virtually all universities in the country are fashioned

along the British tradition. According to him, the British system is good but with 150million people in Nigeria, we need other options to choose from. Also this system of education places more emphasis on your field of study but today there is great need for more broadly educated graduates. Graduates that will leave the university with first hand training, and experience a good sense of their future. The direction of the world is the convergence of knowledge not divergence of knowledge. Interdisciplinary approach of learning is necessary among students and lecturers. We also have to place more attention on critical thinking rather than the papers; we have to train university graduates to be independently minded. To save the future of our country, one of the biggest favours we can do for ourselves is to take a deeper look at our educational system and start implementing genuine reforms. We have too many first-class and secondclass graduates yet very few are innovative, very few of them can create something based on their courses of study. We have to upgrade our educational system to focus more on innovation and self-development.

Youth Centric

GTBank's unhidden love for children

J. K. Olusegun Agbaje, Managing Director, GTBank Plc

t is natural to love children and one gets deeply pained to see them suffer. Globally, there are several programmes put in place to cater for the special needs of children and GTBankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Support for Health Initiative is noteworthy. GTBank has shown special interest at helping Autistic children through its Health Initiative. Autism is a social health challenge affecting the behaviour, language and communication skills of children. It is not a disease per se but a challenge and is on the increase in Nigeria with over 1.2 million already affected and afflicting one out of every 110 newborns worldwide. Guaranty Trust Bank has been in the forefront of championing social causes related to Autism through its support for Autism initiatives and a host of other health and child care related interventions. It is doing so with support for Autism related interventions and initiatives in Nigeria. The bank is ready to partner with national and international individuals or corporate entities, who can help promote Autism awareness. The bank uses several publicity campaigns among other initiatives, to garner support. The major challenge facing Nigeria for the management of

Autism is the widespread ignorance. The bank's readiness to make accessibility to invaluable information and enthronement of enabling environment for efficient management of Autism is tremendous and Nigerians are increasingly overwhelmed by this wonderful CSR gesture. In this regard, the bank is organizing a two-day seminar on March 13 and 14 for only invited participants, who can also get invited through online registration. Strides so far made by GTBank include their support for the first ever Autism information handbook for Nigeria. Also at a conference sponsored by the Bank in the past various stakeholders representing policy makers, development bodies and non-governmental organizations met to chart a path for the development of the first National Autism strategy and one of the outcomes of that meeting was the commitment of the MDG office to support the National Society for Autism upon the development of the national strategy. Instead of suffering from Autism, GTBank, just like any loving parent, wants children to be bubbly all the time and enjoying many good things including Smart Kids Save Account. What is a Smart Kids SaveAccount? Children generally like buying things, that is, consuming, but GTBank wants them to have a culture of the better opposite â&#x20AC;&#x201C;saving. Children imbibe saving culture through banking awareness from an early age. The attraction here is the minimum opening amount of N1,000 with the tiered interest rate of 0.5 per cent, 0.75 per cent and one per cent above prevailing Guaranty Trust Bank interest rate on savings account. There are also transition stages. SKS account is migrated to an SKS Teen account (which comes with a trendy ATM card) when the saver attains the age of 13 years. SKS can be converted into a cheque account, with the young saver as an authorized signatory. This is, however, only after the smart kid saver has attained the age of 18 and the child can begin to operate the account with standing order payments or direct debit through electronic payment modes for easy periodic lodgments. And if the account is opened with N10, 000 the child will receive a branded gift. The kid is further entitled to win fantastic prizes at the annual raffle draw. What a great way to achieve future financial goals! MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 21

Event

Nigeria Needs Innovative &

Entrepreneurially Oriented

Graduates - Prof. Ogunmoyela By Patience Omeruo

he higher education curriculum can no longer be relevant if all it does is focus theoretically on what technology is and how it impacts society, but most especially, it must as a matter of urgency begin to focus more on how to prepare students and produce graduates who will live an innovative and entrepreneuriallyoriented way of life in all endeavours, for our rapid industrialization, through creative thinking. This formed part of the lecture delivered by Prof. Olugbenga Akinbajo Ogunmoyela , Dean of College of Food Sciences, Bells University of Technology, Ota, entitled: “The Impact of Technology on Economic Growth: Implementation of Academic Curricular'' at the School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology's 3rd annual lecture series.

Prof. Olugbenga Ogunmoyela

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Prof. Ogunmoyela spoke extensively on the impact of technology on economic growth of a nation and the place of academic curriculum. He began by explaining how technology had impacted human life and narrowed it down to how technological innovations from outside the shores of this country have impacted us. He said “Nigeria has become a consuming nation always waiting for new technologies from anywhere in the world for our adoption rather than adopting or evolving policies

which will free and develop the creative minds of our people over time.” He went further to espouse innovation and economic growth as key; “…technology has become the chief driver of economic growth as all sectors of the economy are driven by technological-related mechanism and as such there is a need to educate the public on both the nature of technology and its impact on society and economic development.” This, he said, requires formulating models for education

E v e n t

Dr. [Mrs] Kudirat Ladipo, Rector Yaba College of Technology during the 3rd annual lecture series of school of technology Yaba

Engr. Olawunmi Gasper at the 3rd Annual Lecture series of School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology

Mr. Gbenga Odubaba, Bursar Yaba College of Technology

Dr. Olaseni Mobolaj, Deputy Rector Yaba College of technology

Prof. Olugbenga Ogunmoyela receiving a gift from Dr. Olaseni Mobolaji

Prof. Olugbenga Ogunmoyela during his lecture

MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 23

E v e n t

Mr. J.O. Adigun, Dean, School of Technology Yabatec

Engr. Olawunmi Gasper, Director of NABTEC

Hon. [Mrs] Olayinka Olsdunjoye

Hon. Kayode Opeifa, Commissioner of Transport Lagos State during the lecture

Dr. Malomo, Head of Dept Food sciences and Mrs. Folasade Ayinde

Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, Special Assistant to the President on Media Matters at the 3rd Annual Lecture series of School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology

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E v e n t

Crosss section of students at the lecture

represented in the curriculum so that technology and the language generated from it will have a deep impact on the curriculum itself, both in terms of a new language use and in calculating how to use such technology in the curriculum. He stressed the need for our educational curricula to constantly respond to new societal changes that will not only examine what technology is and how it impacts on society, but will also be relevant in preparing students to live effectively in this global village as 'doers,' so the world does not pass us by. He added that, “higher education will no longer be relevant if all it does is focus theoretically on what technology is and h o w i t i m p a c t s s o c i e t y. ” H e recommended: “Higher education must begin to focus more on how to prepare students and produce graduates who will

live an innovative and entrepreneuriallyoriented way of life, for our rapid industrialization, through creative thinking.” He urged lecturers to challenge the natural tendency of students towards laziness and complacency, but encourage their inquisitiveness to question interpretations by thinking outside the box. He further said that, a new approach is required if our economy is to be transformed and with the political will, commitment and genuine transformational spirit to pursue the right educational curricula, policies, strategies and partnerships, we will unleash the creative potentials of our people. He concluded by calling for visionary and selfless leadership at all levels to spearhead a national technology

Prof. Rufus, Dr. Malomo at the 3rd Annual Lecture series of School of Technology, Yaba College of Technology

revolution via better funding such as is rapidly transforming the south African economy , if we are to shift from a 'consuming' to a 'productive' mode. The event which took place at the Yusuf Grillo auditorium on February 22, 2012 had a host of dignitaries in attendance. They include the honourable Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, Mrs. Oladunjoye Olayinka; Special Assistant to the President on Media Matters, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi; Commissioner for Transport, Lagos State; Mr. Kayode Opeifa; Director, NABTEC; Engr. Olawunmi Gasper; Rector, Yaba College of Technology, Mrs. Margaret Kudirat Ladipo; Deputy Rector, Academic, Dr. Olaseni Mobolaji; Bursar, Yabatech, Mr. Gbenga Odubaba.

Hon. [Mrs] Olayinka Oladunjuoye, Commissional for Education Lagos State at the lecture MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 25

Interview

We should see unemployment as a huge opportunity -Dr. Akpata

r. Noel Akpata is a management consultant and one of the speakers at the recently held youth empowerment programme organized by the Jim Ovia Foundation in partnership with global information and communication technology brands. Dr. Akpata spoke with SPUR magazine's ADEDEJI ADEDOYIN and bared his mind on the roles Nigeria youth should play in the development of our economic sector. You are one of the foremost Nigerians advocating a change within the country. So how has it been, going around the country and the globe trying to advocate this change? It has been fantastic. I represent Nigeria at the world economic forum on emerging economies. I have come to realize that most of the European and Asian nations have a strategy towards Africa, especially Nigeria, but we don't have a strategy for them and it is affecting the way we get results and grow as a nation. We have a country that boasts of a huge youth population but it is unfortunate that this huge youth population is highly unemployed and that presents a huge challenge and an opportunity. That is the way I see things, from a creative, problem solving perspective; not just talking about the problem but also coming up with strategic solution to solving the problem. So I think we have a huge opportunity in the unemployed sector of the Nigerian economy if only we can go back to the drawing board and actually think up of series of ideas. We can actually run through a strategic process that we can actually engage in to produce a result. China and India are leveraging on their populations to cause changes in the global landscape. Brazil just overtook United Kingdom as the 6th largest economy of the world. How are they doing this? Brazil is the largest exporter of beef and orange juice to the world and this is creating jobs for the Brazilians, employing their unemployed who are 26 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

predominantly youth. We need to begin thinking along this line. I tell youth I meet that we have one elected president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but we have a population of 167 million people. I believe and say that we have 167 million nonexecutive presidents of the federal Republic of Nigeria. Every Nigerian needs to start seeing himself as the elected president of this country, even if it is on the non-executive basis. We need to see ourselves as leaders who have skills and abilities that can turn our resources around, producing results that can influence the communities, local governments, state governments and the entire nation. I just told people at this forum that the president, state governors are just slices of the big cake called the Nigerian population. The average Nigerian youth would want to dupe you of as little as N20,now if they have access to a billion naira, how much would they steal? So this people we criticize are being criticized because they are in the lime-light. When some of us get into the lime-light, we would probably do worse. We need to begin to see that Nigeria is as strong as its weakest link; we need to see ourselves as potential change agents. We need to begin to see ourselves as leaders that can effect changes in areas no matter how small. By the time we do this the weak links become stronger and the nation in turn would become stronger.

Interview dream around the information that you have already built and begin to see how to develop a strategy around it and how to market that strategy to begin to gather people who would invest into your strategy. But you can't do that if you don't have the necessary information because the people you are going to be asking for help have the information and know the trends. we need to build ourselves and you don't need to go to Harvard to do that; the Internet has come so you can get online. Instead of wasting your time telling your friends how you went to the market, use those platforms to build yourself and propagate your visions so people will begin to buy into it. This is the way we need to start going as far as the youths are concerned in Nigeria.

Dr. Noel Akpata

Due to the current Nigerian system of the 'godfather' mentality, few youth believe they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do things for themselves. What is your message to young Nigeria graduates on how they can harness what is within them despite the system? First, we need to realize that the entire world is going through a phase right now. This phase presents a scenario where you don't have loose finances anywhere any more. Top global brands as we know them have crumbled. Companies are laying people off. It is no longer business as usual, so we need to begin to think outside the box, looking inwards in Nigeria. Every Nigerian youth needs to ask himself, what am I passionate or driven about? Because when you find out what you are passionate about that is where it starts, then there is nothing that can stop you. You will create iron from plastic when you are passionate about something because there is an inner drive. It is not about the timing of when the resources come to you, it is about how prepared you are because the world awaits a prepared man. When the world sees a well prepared man, people will be willing to give the resources to make it work because they would see how it will benefit them as well. The youth need to start to build ourselves. We have the Internet, we shouldn't complain that we don't have the money to go to Harvard, go to Youtube and download lectures and listen to them each day until you begin to speak better than the Harvard graduate. Build skills into yourself, get on the Internet and connect with people outside this country. Learn what they know, ask questions, build yourself and articulate that

You are a medical practitioner turned consultant and business developer, do you feel we need to stay at one position or we need to cut across? What is your view about the trend of profession in our nation? We need to re-evaluate why we take on certain professions for ourselves. Most of the time, the youths when making key decisions on the courses they would study do not have enough information about themselves, they don't study themselves. Most of the decisions are likely made under duress, maybe there is no other course to study or they don't like a particular subject or their family is poor so they have to do a professional course that would guarantee a lifetime of income. We make a lot of decisions based on certain factors that are not in line with who we are we, and then we end up with jobs that do not activate the passion centres in our brains. As such you are not creative, seeking to set records or take it to the next level, all you are interested in is to get a salary. We need to re-evaluate all that to a stage where what we do as a profession is in line with who we are. When we get to that level we are going to see phenomenal changes because we will begin to see people who are passionate about what they do, find fulfilment in it and still earn from it. They are setting one record after the other as a result. Who is Dr. NoelAkpata? I am a management consultant and an African representative to world economic forum for emerging economies and also consulting with the African business round table. I also run my own business organization called 'take the lead', we consult with several top level companies within and outside the country. MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 27

Event

JimOviaFoundation

empowers 250 Youths ...gives N50m to best 10

28 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

Event

ByAdedoyinAdedeji

nformation and Communication Technology (ICT) is increasingly becoming a viable tool for youth empowerment across the world. Leading economies of the world are also using ICT innovations to drive positive national development in their countries. Driven by the passion to empower Nigerian youths, the Jim Ovia Foundation in partnership with Global Information and Communication Technology brands which include Google, IBM, Visafone, Qt and TLC Solutions sponsored the Yo u t h E m p o w e r m e n t a n d I C T Foundation to provide world class software training for over 250 Nigerian youths. The empowerment programme held from January 30 to February 3, 2012 at the prestigious Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. Jim Ovia, initiator of the Jim Ovia F o u n d a t i o n a n d t h e Yo u t h Empowerment/ICT Foundation, is also the founder of Zenith Bank Plc and Visafone Communications Limited. He is the Chairman of the Nigerian Software Development Initiative (NSDI) and also Chairman, National Information Technology Advisory Council (NITAC). He is a member of the Honorary International Investor Council as well as the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI). Jim Ovia is a philanthropist and has headed numerous Non-Governmental Organisations [NGOs] at various times. It is important to state that he was the first

President of the Nigeria Internet Group (2001-2003). He is the founder and Chairman of Mankind United to Support To t a l E d u c a t i o n ( M U S T E ) , a philanthropic organization focused on providing scholarship for the less privileged. Some of the beneficiaries are now qualified professionals in diverse fields. The five- day free training programme tagged: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Developing Nigeria's Next Generation of ICT Entrepreneursâ&#x20AC;? focused on developing mobile programming skills using the Google Android platform. According to a statement from the Jim Ovia Foundation, the training is focused on providing practical mobile web software training in hardware, Androids mobile apps, Java, QT, CSS3 and HTML5 training. The Android application training workshop for youths in Nigeria was divided into phases. The first stage of the programme embraced 250 youths, who were required to undertake a screening test on the foundation's website as part of the selection process. The ultimate objective of this project was to create an eco-system of advanced professional Android mobile application developers that will take advantage of the emerging Android-based mobile market in Nigeria and across Africa. The training focused on mobile marketing application, gaming application, e-Reader and eBook application, gaming advertising application, video on demand application and sales force application.

MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 29

Event

Founder of the Jim Ovia Foundation Mr Jim Ovia

The Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson while declaring the training open, assured Nigerians, especially stakeholders of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, that the dream of having a converged ICT regulator is still alive. According to her, the world is a global village and the world of technology is converging with the introduction of communication tools designed to do both broadcasting and communications from a single device. Commending Jim Ovia Foundation for its initiative on youth empowerment, Johnson said: "With the right training and capacity building, youth in Nigeria will not only be able to develop the necessary skills that will enable them innovate and create software applications to be reckoned with, but it will also enable them establish Information Technology (IT) businesses that can thrive and make a difference.” A c c o r d i n g t o t h e m i n i s t e r, 30 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

developing skills and empowering young Nigerians to be software entrepreneurs is an important part of building a vibrant, commercially successful and socially useful software industry, there are still many other factors that are required to make the aspiration a reality. One of the facilitators at the training, Mr. Chike, speaking with Spur magazine commended the foundation and said this was the first time a private sector driven initiative of this magnitude would happen; reaching out to young people, creating awareness and providing them the necessary capacity that will elicit some level of interest and motivation to those who can actually self-develop and perhaps take it forward. Teddy Omotade Aitan, an ICT entrepreneur who was a participant at the training, commended the animators and the organizers of the event. He added that “it's been very awesome, great facilitators, great exposition, good learning tools, everything's been good.”

A major highlight of the training was the third day when Jim Ovia demonstrated his support for youth entrepreneurs by providing N5m for at least 10 entrepreneurs who have viable business ideas with potential for growth and market dominance. Questioned by journalists on his ability to sustain the N50m given to the best promising youth entrepreneurs, Mr. Ovia said his foundation will take care of that. And for those who go beyond expectations, his bank, Zenith Bank Plc, would come in to support. “So Jim Ovia Foundation is solidly behind us young entrepreneurs and all gaps have been taken care of,” one of the participants enthused. The event ended on Friday, February 3, with a closing ceremony and issuing of certificates to the participants. The certificates were issued by Jim Ovia; Mr. Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC and Prof. Akin Ibidapo Obe.

Event

Founder of the Jim Ovia Foundation Mr Jim Ovia discussing with the Executive Vice Chairman NCC Eugene Juwah

Executive Vice Chairman NCC Eugene Juwah and Prof Akin Ibidapo Obe

Mr. Jim Ovia during the event

Founder, Jim Ovia Foundation, Mr. Jim Ovia presenting certificate to one of the participants

Executive Vice Chairman NCC Eugene Juwah presenting Certificate to one of the participants

Prof Akin Ibidapo Obe presenting Certificate to one of the participants

MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 31

Event

Mr Chike Maduegbuna, one of Training Facilitators

Basket Mouth, master of ceremony

Jim Ovia Foundation ICT training Participants 32 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

Event

Member of the Group F

Members of Group B MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 33

Interview

If you have a vision, go for itâ&#x20AC;Ś - Omotayo

e is a public relations consultant and writer; known in most quarters as the Renaissance Man. He recently published his first book 'London Life, Lagos Living', a collection of his observations that has become short stories. His name is Adeoye Bobo Omotayo and in this interview with Patience Omeruo and Adedoyin Adedeji, he talks about his life, why he returned to the country after so many years and his book. Why did you decide to return to Nigeria given the fact that most Nigerians who go abroad to study would rather work there? I believe if you are brought up in a family where you are away from home but never really away from home, moving back to Nigeria would never really be an issue. I grew up in a traditional family; I don't have a father because my father died when I was three years old but I had a very 'handsome' mother and one of the things she tried to instill in her kids is not to forget where you are from. The Yorubas have this saying, 'ma gbagbe omo eni ti o se,' meaning 'never forget whose son you are irrespective of wherever you are.' How do you combine work as a public relations practitioner and creative writing? It is very difficult; as I speak to you, I have about 20 different places I need to be. PR is what I do; writing is what I love. What you have to do is balance the two of them. I think with the book, it is good that I am in PR because I have been able to make some noise about the book without too much hassle and I haven't had to pay someone to orchestrate it but then I enjoy PR. I understand the media, I have respect for what you do and so the rest is history. 34 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

What inspired the book 'London Life, Lagos Living'? To be honest, I can't stress it enough when I say my book is a labour of love. I think very much that often in Lagos, it is a case of you either sink or you swim and I chose to swim and very often I find a lot of people around me who are sinking and perhaps haven't realized it. I embraced all of the good and bad things that are available today in the world and I think a lot of people never thought I would be able to cope in Nigeria, so when I got back, it was such a big deal and people used to ask me if I wanted to go back or remain here. Any way, what happened is that I used to do this writing called the Friday Track and through this medium I would talk about everything and anything, be it love, relationship, family and I would vent about it and it became a therapeutic exercise. I got things off my chest and when people read it and began giving comments about it; it was comforting and made me want to write more. The whole idea about 'London Life, Lagos Living' was, I didn't want to sound like a juke box, telling people how to live their lives, but I wanted to raise some serious societal issues through my writing. My writing style is conversational, meaning I write the way I talk. I actually read a lot and I find the literature available in the world just dull, over

Interview descriptive, over use of imagery, metaphors and so I thought a way to combat it is to write how people speak and it will help this whole idea that Nigerians don't read. I don't believe that Nigerians don't read, but we don't read enough; so it is a case of Nigerians only read what they need to read. What I wanted to do with the book was create something that is really good to look at and at the same time, create something that is easy to read and something that will make you think. I was also inspired by the movie,'Jenifa' by Olasco Film Productions and it is purely because I believe that the movie is important in letting people realize that you shouldn't lose yourself using humour. Who is your target audience for this work? In my mind-set, a boy or girl, who is into pop culture and entertainment between the ages of 18 and 27 was like the core audience; those are the people I felt would rush to the shop the day the book came, I felt other people might buy it if they came across it; but that is the core audience. The second audience are people who like design, strong graphics, illustrations because the book is really beautiful and it is so because I worked with the best photographer, graphic designers, illustrators and I knew that if you were interested in that sort of art, you might look at it, even if you don't want to read the book, the graphic is enough to provoke your thought, that was my secondary target audience. The primary target audience was young people between the ages of 18 and 27, people who spend their time going through the different blogs. Why did you choose the style of writing you used - the use of conversational style, infusion of humour and satire? I think it is because it is a style that has gotten the most response. It was when I started writing that way that I started getting reactions. I found a formula and I stuck to it. I have tried all sorts of writing styles but I remember that it was the first time that I realized that I was striking a cord with people and I have just stuck to itâ&#x20AC;Ś

some magazines abroad, but the moment I realized that I enjoyed writing was when I set up my blog called Renaissance Man in 2007 in England and basically it was a blog that had all sorts of nonsense. I am a big music fan so I had music, film, celebrity, fashion. It was just a dumping yard. It was actually the blog that The Guardian Newspapers saw and decided to work with me. The Renaissance Man came because I sat down one day and thought and said I needed a name that would incorporate everything that I embody. I am a bowl of contradictions. I like wearing suits and at the same time I love my agbada; the same way I would listen to any wine house, I would listen to Pasuma and Osupa. I found out there is a lot of contradictions in me and I think very often, people can't pin point me. You would find me in an art gallery, I would talk about artworks and you take me to a normal guy doing sculpture on the street and we can talk about it, so I felt the Renaissance Man was a name that could incorporate all of the different extremities. What were the challenges you faced while trying to publish the book, especially with publishing houses? The work could have been a hit or a miss, so I don't blame the publishing house. It is a business, not an NGO, if it were one then they could say, 'bring your book,' but they had got to make money. In a way I couldn't blame the publishing house; they were there to make money and as far as they were concerned they couldn't rise above a certain mind-set. If this was any other part of the world, they would find a genre to put my book in, but in this part

You seem very familiar with the Yoruba language considering you made use of it in your work. How is that possible considering the number of years you spent abroad? We spoke Yoruba in my household all through my younger years. English was not the first language in my house and till date it is still not. My mom will speak to me in Yoruba and I would reply in Yoruba or English but my mum speaks to me predominantly in Yoruba; so the first language in my home is Yoruba and I think that helped. Until the age of 10 when I went to England, we used to speak Yoruba... Yoruba is a very big part of my language because I honestly feel that it is beautiful for expressing certain things. You are known as the Renaissance Man, how did you come about the name? In my whole writing life, I used to write for

Omotayo

of the world, there was no genre; as far as the publishers were concerned the book won't fly, it wont sell, they couldn't see it. I decided to call their bluff and publish it my self. Of course, it was tough to create the book, finding money was expensive, that was the only challenge. But do I regret it? Absolutely not, sometimes you have to take a risk and I took a risk and it paid off. In that light, what would you say to upcoming writers? If you have a vision, go for it. It is really very simple. I am actually going to give a talk in a few days to a class on publishing and I remember the woman saying to me, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;what is your presentation going to be about? Presentation! There is no formula, if you want to do something, go and do it. The first thing every one has to realize is that if you feel strongly about something, you have to believe in it and do it; I know it sounds like a clichĂŠ but somehow, things fall into line. The amount of favour I received through this book is not my doing, but God's doing and that's just because I was dogged and said I wanted to do something and I knew the gods and the universe conspired. I honestly believe that if you are truly passionate about something, things would work in your favour and I got a lot of favour off this book. There are some people that I called and asked for help and they helped me. So to anyone who wants to do something like this, go for it, don't accept no and my story is not the first when you talk about people in the music and fashion business. Half of them got no. it is not the most talented people in the world who get book deals. There is a lot of talented people out there and it is not always the best that gets the bargain, but if you believe in something you can push it. What is your take on the writers using the digital medium as a channel to showcase their work or express themselves? I believe in citizen journalism, I think it has changed the media landscape and you can never underestimate how powerful it is until you realize that the likes of CNN and BBC rely on citizen journalism for information and when major cable networks like that start making use of citizen journalism then you realize that we have a real platform here. I don't think a lot of people know the power or how to really use this medium. It was so powerful when I would write something from my loo and post it and I would get a response from Japan within five minutes. That is powerful so I think if you can crack it the sky is the limit. I know we have some very popular guys like Tolu who are masters over this media and I think other people can use it to their advantage. Good. I am not computer illiterate because I can post things on line but in terms of drawing traffic to my site and all that, I don't know. But the bottom line is that it is a powerful tool and if young people can sit in their rooms and go round the world using the Internet, then I'm all for it because we can only increase the stakes. MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 35

Event

By Adeolu C. Alupogun-Iran

he School of Post Graduate Studies (SPGS), University of Lagos is renowned for its standard of inviting intellectual individuals to deliver its traditional annual lecture. This year, on the 31st of January 2012 at the school's main auditorium, SPGS had the privilege of hosting the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) and the theme was 'Education, Research and National Development.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; He started out by identifying the reasons why Nigeria needs efficient research institutions. In his view, the common features of underdevelopment, while too numerous to recount, are pointers to the probability that Nigeria needs research to understand phenomena as they exist now and make sense of them. He also said the nation needs constant review of existing structures and models in order to better predict and cope with its future within the global context. Having identified this, he discussed the history of the relationship of the

Education & Research Should Spur National Development

- Fashola 36 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

Barr. Olwuwarotimi Shodimu, Hon. Justice George Oguntade Rtd, Gov. Babatunde Fashola, Prof. Babatunde Shofoluwe and Prof Obinnah L. Chukwu

academia with civilization. He further acknowledged their notable contributions to the developments in arts, sciences, politics and other spheres of life which clearly owe their origins to intellectuals. He stated that intellectuals since the dawn of civilization were sponsored and courted by kings for their ability to analyze human beings and their habitats, foretell events and provide solutions to societal situations. However, this was no longer the case in Nigeria. The governor identified the various challenges which faced education, research and national development and proffered some solutions. His focus was on the relationship between education, research and national development. He brought to the fore the disparity between the academia and the society, reminding them of the roles played by universities pioneered by our forefathers. He expressed that the bulk of research and education that has changed the conditions of man and extended the boundaries of civilization has given us a better idea of ourselves and the world we live in, emanated from universities whether directly or indirectly. Also, another role played by universities was bridging or equalizing knowledge across civilizations. He therefore suggested that new discoveries in research efforts should be simplified for popular medium or translated into something very handy and systematically disseminated through a nation's educational system, and then such learning should be applied in the society towards the ultimate goal of national development which must of course, encompass the personal development of individual citizens. Again, he encouraged public officers like presidents, governors, and permanent secretaries to

help prepare students by returning to the universities to teach undergraduates what they had learned in the course of their working lives, as that is what obtains in other developed nations of the world. The second challenge, he identified, was that of policy formulation and what informs such policies. The governor urged government at all levels to engage with the heads of departments and heads of faculties at the various universities; lecturers would be able to formulate papers to get the pulse of the student bodies on policies and the students, via their reports, will also be contributing to the development of the nation. He added that policies of government should be informed by research from the universities as that decision has helped his government grow tremendously, citing the example of the contribution of Professor Olusanya of department of architecture at the University of Lagos to the management of traffic in Lagos State. He said national developmental and economic objectives must be the bedrock and the drivers of the country's educational policies. Again, Governor Fashola identified the challenge of universities operating with outdated and nonpractical curricula, which make graduates unequipped as prospective employees in the society. He claimed that the universitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; curricula had become so outdated that most employers were compelled to retrain graduate employees to meet the demands of the work place. He suggested that the universities should therefore develop practical, fresh and up-to-date curricula that recognize the needs of today's economy. In addition, he suggested that government at all levels should recognize and actively promote education as the key to survival and economic development. This involves the evolution of a consistent policy, devotion MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 37

Prof. Obinnah L. Chukwu, Dean School of Postgraduate Studies

Vice-Chancellor University of Lagos, Prof. Babatunde Shofoluwe

of more funds to the sector and ensuring that its leadership is always placed in the right hands. Placing education on such a high pedestal will further motivate an inflow of funds from the private sector by way of donations and endowment. He also suggested that there should be an institutionalized system of staff exchange between universities and industries. For instance, the Lagos State government's institutionalized collaborative efforts of involving local students and lecturers in large and novel projects. The governor in the concluding part of his lecture urged the academia to immediately chart a course through research on what can be done immediately to ensure better security and restore Nigeria to its preeminent role of peace keeper in Africa and to restore its reputation as a land where law and order reign. Secondly, the academia should identify the areas in which Nigeria is best placed to lead the world and find a unique pathway that will lead this country to glory. Oba Ajibade, one of the royal fathers who attended the lecture said he was impressed with the lecture adding that “… what he (Fashola) has said today, if put in proper use, will benefit Nigeria, and there will be a change in all spheres of the Nigerian economy.”

Dr. Emmanuel Adedun, Sub-Dean School of Postgraduate Studies University of

38 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

Prof. Yetunde Ogunlewe

Hon. Justice George Oguntade Rtd, Chairman University of Lagos School of Postgraduate Studies 8th Annual Lecture during his opening remarks

Prof. and Mrs Folasade Olumide, the first female registrar of University of Lagos

Barr. Oluwarotimi Shodimu, Registrar University of Lagos, Hon Justice George

Dr. Muiz Banire, Chief Molade Okoya and Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye

Dean Faculty of Law Unilag, Prof Oyelowo Oyewo exchanging pleasantry with Gov.

Cross section of Royal Fathers

MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 39

Prof. Ojusaju

Prof. Mende and a colleague during the lecture

Prof. Bidmus, Dean Faculty of Education

Prof. Akinsanya

40 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo taking the closing prayer

Prof. Rosemary Eghowon responding to questions shortly after the annual lecture

MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 41

HRH Oba Ajibade Bakara, Randu of Imota during the University of Lagos School of

42 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

Event

Distinguished Professor Eddy Omolehinwa

Accounting for people's money will stem the tide of corruption â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Prof. Omolehinwa ByAdeolu C.Alupogun-Iran

n February 8, 2012, while ladies were calculating how much their dates were going to spend on them on Valentine's day, and the men were seeking ways to cut the cost, Professor Eddy Olajide Omolehinwa gave his inaugural lecture on 'Accounting for People's Money' at the Main Auditorium of the University of Lagos. Incidentally, this lecture comes more than nine years after his professorship.

Addressing the guests in the hall, he explained his reason for his choice of lecture topic with an insight into how things had been far better in his college days. According to him, while a student at King's College, the only time the power had gone out was for security reasons during the Civil War. He showed how over the years, accountability has become a constant source of concern to the Nigerian citizens and how Nigeria has had a consistently low ranking on the Transparency International Corruption

Perception Index 1996-2010. The highest score the country has received to date is 2.7 out of a possible score of 10 in 2008. It was against this background that he decided to focus his seven-part lecture on accounting for people's money, because without proper accounting, there would be no accountability, and without accountability, the tide of corruption cannot be turned back. He then defined people's money as the money that ought to be collected by all government agencies and parastatals MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 43

Event

Prof. Babatunde Shofoluwe, Vice Chancellor University of Lagos

Prof. Babatunde Shofoluwe welcoming the distinguished Prof. Eddy Omolehinwa to the comity of professors

Prof. Fajemirokun at the Inaugural lecture

Chief Lugard Osanobua, former President Unilag Alumni Association at the Iaugural lecture

from all legitimate sources and which should be paid into the appropriate accounts for subsequent authorised specific utilization for the benefit of all Nigerians by the relevant government officials after meeting all the conditions for the withdrawal of money from such accounts. In his seven-part lecture, he first gave an overview of research in public sector accounting along with some of the problems associated with doing research in the area (public sector accounting) in Nigeria. Next, he identified the 44 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

environmental peculiarities of public sector institutions that lead to differences in accounting between the public and private sectors. Following that he studied the reasons why the country has received little dividends from her oil wealth. These reasons included poor costing of projects and abuse of payment of mobilization fees, among others. Then he delved into what public accounting is all about, the conditions to facilitate its effective practice and an overview of its evolution in the western world, particularly in the US and UK.

After that, government accounting in Nigeria between 1960 and 1999 was considered, as well as the different aspects of government accounting in Nigeria from 1999 to 2012 which were relevant to the topic. In the final part, he gave his suggestions on the things that need to be done to change the situation, as well as the role enhanced public accountability can play in resolving the oil subsidy controversy in Nigeria. In his words: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In my opinion, the best option is for the government to leave efficient oil refining

Event

Mrs. Ronke Lanipekun, Ms Chidinma Ekugbah and Chief Lugard Osanobua at the Iaugural lecture

Mr. Akin Ambode, Acountant General of Lagos State Mr. Oladele Oyelola

[R] Mr. Sam Falayi

Mrs Omolabake Omolehinwa, Mr. Segun Ayadi and Dr. Kunle Oyeyemi

[L] Prof. Funsho Akere at the Inaugural lecture

in Nigeria to those who can do it at competitive prices similar to what we have in the telecommunications industry.â&#x20AC;? In closing, he thanked God, his late father, his college principal and various family members, friends and colleagues who had in one way or the other contributed to his career, and he expressed his hopes for the future in a prayer that an accelerated solution would be found to the elongating problems of Nigeria.

The Omoleyinwas

MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 45

PROF. PETER LEWIS, …as CVL honours Pat Utomi By Omolola Ojo

he Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL) is a non-profit organization sponsored by the Pat Utomi Foundation. The centre aims at re-orientation by focusing on those values that can make people great leaders. In view of this, the centre holds lectures annually. The CVL annual lecture series is one of the important programmes of the centre and is a key instrument for constructively contributing to nation building and economic development. This year's CVL annual lecture held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island on the 7th of February, 2012 with the theme 'Leadership and Nigeria's Performance.' This lecture being the 9th in the CVL Annual Lecture Series was also used to mark the birthday of the founder 46 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

of CVL, Prof. Pat Utomi. The keynote speaker for lecture was Peter M. Lewis, a professor and director of African Studies at the John Hopkins University USA, who spends most of his time studying the political and economic development of countries in Asia andAfrica. The lecture delivered by Prof. Lewis was a comparative one; he compared the Nigerian economy with Indonesia's since their histories and structures were quite similar. But he showed how over the years, good leadership in Indonesia has made the positive difference in their economy. He explained with figures and illustrations how the economy of Indonesia was transformed over a 40 year period (1965- 2005). Having identified the root problems of economic performance in Nigeria, he also proffered suggestions on how developmental leadership can be achieved. They include improving the selection process of leaders which

may involve a debate in order for people to assess the leadership qualities of proposed candidates. He also said that leaders should delegate authority to technocrats who can focus on giving the leaders the right policies and helping them make the right choices since the technocrats are not politically minded. Developmental government policy ought to rest on effective institutions, which can place a restraint on the arbitrary choices of the government in order to create credibility and help transfer incentives to small, medium and large business owners, Prof. Lewis explained. He added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Coalition building is central to development; therefore government must build a life line and a line of communication with investors and producers even in economic crises. Leadership from across the society can be equally important and this should come from the civil societies or the popular sector and not necessarily from the hall of power.â&#x20AC;? The second speaker, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, founder of the

Daystar Leadership Academy identified Nigeria's cultural background as a major influence on the nation's concept of leadership. He further identified measures of improving leadership and he traced it back to early childhood. Leadership training should be included in Nigeria's school curriculum, as this will help mould the kind of leaders citizens want to see, he said and urged Nigerians to embrace leadership at all levels in the society and also create a paradigm shift. Alhaji Ibrahim Usman and Alhaji Muhammed Ayatudeen were supporting speakers and both emphasized inculcating values in children and diversifying the economy. The spotlight of the lecture was the cutting of the cake by the 'birthday boy' as Pat Utomi on that day was fondly called by Honourable Deji Falaye, Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, who anchored the cake -cutting session. Dignitaries from different walks of life attended the lecture. MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 47

Prof. Peter Lewis, Prof. Pat Utomi, D. [Mrs] Ifeoma Utomi Pastor Sam Adeyemi, Mrs Nike Adeyemi and Alhj. Ibrahim Usman during the cutting of Prof. Pat Utomiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthday cake

Prof Peter Lewis delivering the 9th annual lecture of Centre for Values in Leadership

They include: Ayoola Oba Otudeko, Chairman, Airtel Nigeria; he was ably represented by Dr. Ebun Bolodeoku, director, special projects, Honeywell Group; Governor Segun Mimiko, Executive Governor of Ondo State, he was represented by Hon. Deji Falaye, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism; Prince Barrister Segun Aregbesola; Mr. Deepak Sirvastava, Executive Director & COO at Airtel Networks; Emeka Okpara, Director of 48 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

Pastor Sam Adeyemi deliverying his lecture at 9th CVL annual lecture

Communications, Airtel Network; Igwe Prof. Green Nwankwo, fmr. CBN Chairman; Mrs. Stella Okoli, MD/CEO, Emzor Pharmaceuticals; Jimi Agbaje, fmr. Lagos State gubernatorial candidate; Mrs. Gloria Essien, ED, Exxon Mobil; Gbenga Sesan, CEO, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria, and Toyosi Akerele, CEO, RISE Networks, amongst others.

Event

Alhaji Ibrahim Usman, one of the discussants during the CVL 9th annual lecture

Mr. Deepak Srivastava, Executive Director Airtel delivering his speech

Dr. Ebunoluwa Bolodeoku delivering an address on behalf of Chief Oba Otudeko

Soni Irabor during the Centre for Vaues in Leadership annual lecture

Barr. Ayodeji Falae giving a remark on behalf of the Ondo State Governor

Prof. Pat Utomi giving the welcome address

MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 49

Event

L-R: Dr. Stella Okoli, Dr. Ije Jidenma and Mrs Oluseyi Ifaturoti

Lady Nkechi Onuigbo during the CVL 9th annual lecture

Alhaji Muhammed Ayatodeen, Mr. Emeka Okpara, and Linus Okorie

Barr. [Mrs] Ifeoma Obi and Barr. Ayodeji Falae

50 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

Chief Segun Aregbesola asking question

Mr. Chukwudi with one of the participants

Mr. Rufai Ladipo, President, AAAN(r)

Chief Opeyemi Agbaje

Igwe Prof. Green Nwankwo, former CBN Chairman

Ms Toyosi Akerele, CEO, Rise Networks

Lagos Business School team [R] Mr. Peter Bankole

MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 51

Event

Mai Nasaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nigeria Prize for Literature By Adeolu C. Alupogun-Iran

52 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

E v e n t

L - R, Ayo Olofintuade, a runner-up for the literature prize, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate for Literature, Prof Ayo Banjo, Chairman, Advisory Board for Literature, Babs Omotowa, MD, NLNG, Mai Nasara, winner The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2011 at the public presentation of Mai Nasara and his book The Missing Clock, at the Nigeria Institute of InternationalAffairs.

ajority of Nigerians get celebrated in terms of their purses and not what they have been able to achieve through dint of hard work, intellectual wit and many other acts of ingenuity. This culture is gradually escaping into the past, as corporate organizations and public spirited individuals are rising to tame this millstone in our society. It is in this light

that the Nigeria Prize for Literature, which comprises the Nigerian science and literary awards, was instituted in 2004. The aim of the award is to bring Nigerian scientists and authors to public attention and celebrating excellence in scientific breakthroughs and literary craftsmanship in the nation. The Prize for Literature rotates among four genres -

Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Children's literature. This year's entries were taken from writers of children's literature which was considered based on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Language, editing, characterization, plot, relevance, core values, and illustrationsâ&#x20AC;? The awards since inception have had sixAuthors and five Scientists on its winning list respectively

including the 2011 prize winner. The 2011 Nigeria Prize for Literature winner Adeleke Adeyemi under the nom de plume 'Mai Nasara' interestingly won with his first publication -'THE MISSING CLOCK.' Speaking to Spur magazine during his public presentation, Adeyemi said he submitted his work hoping for the best, ''...hope things eternal in a human heart... you have to

MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 53

E v e n t

54 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

Awardee, others with students of Vivian Fowler School

E v e n t

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Event

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Event

be hopeful but certainly you cannot live on it!â&#x20AC;? To him preparation has met with opportunity. He decried the non-availability of well equipped libraries in our society. This he described as almost non-existing, he called on stakeholders to build more public libraries and help stock the existing ones to be more functional. One of the runners-up Chinyere Obi-Obasi, while

responding to questions from Spur magazine, appraised the reading habit in the country. She pointed accusing fingers to parents who prefer to buy snacks instead of books for their children; she urged parents to make books available to their children as this will help in developing them mentally. The Prize which was initially $20,000 each in Literature and Science has

increased over the years. This year's winner went home with $100.000which made the Nigeria Prize for Literature the richest literary prize in the world. Nigeria Prize for Literature is sponsored by Nigeria NLG Limited in partnership with Nigeria Academy of Science and NigeriaAcademy of Letters. Guests at the public presentation of 2011 Nigeria Prize for Literature include:

Prof. Wole Soyinka, Prof. Gabriel Okpara, Prof. Banjo, Chairman, Advisory Board for Nigeria Prize for Literature, Prof.AkachiAdimora-Ezeigb; Chairman, Panel of Judges for 2011 Aw ard, Managing D i r e c t o r, N i g e r i a N L G Limited, Babs Omotowa; school children, among others.

MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 57

LANDMARK COLLEGE INTER-HOUSE SPORTS Celebrating Students' Physical Excellence By Adedoyin Adedeji

andmark College is a day and boarding international secondary school located in the Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State. The school is committed to harnessing the potentials in each student and also provides a secure, supportive and challenging environment for the young ones to attain academic and personal excellence. As part of its objective to develop an all round student, the school holds an annual inter house sport competition for its students and also invites students from other schools to participate in the invited school games. This year's interhouse sports competition, the third in the series, took place at the University of Lagos sports complex on the 17th of February, 2012. The sporting activities for the day kicked off with a match past by members of the school's four houses which are Ixora (blue house), Lily (green house), Viola (red house), and Zinnia (yellow house). Representatives of each house competed in the various categories of track events that took place and they are the 100 metre race, 200 metre race, 800 metre race, relay races and the egg and spoon game. Parents and staff were not left out of the fun as there was also the 100 metre staff race for both parents and staff. In the invited school category, Homat Comprehensive College, Ikorodu came third, Supreme Educational foundation School, Magodo second, while the International School,

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University of Lagos, Akoka emerged as winners in the female relay race category. In the male category, Baptist Academy came third, Yaba Tech Secondary School, Yaba came second and International School, University of Lagos, Akoka, emerged winner. The principal of Landmark College in an interview with SPUR magazine said Landmark College encourages sporting activities and as such students are involved in sports three times a week and on Saturdays for students in the boarding house, adding that the school has introduced inter-primary school collective sports as part of its sporting package for the year. He further said that sport is important as there is a lot of people who through participating in sports have gotten scholarships to study abroad. SPUR magazine also spoke to Joel Onuelu, a sport teacher in Land Mark College, who expressed joy at seeing students participate in sporting activities, adding that it was all in a bid to ensure the development of a complete student. Present at the occasion were chairman, Board of Governors, Mr. Isiaka Idowu Oyebamiji; CEO, CAAL shipping line, Mr. Tony Nwabunike; CEO De-Columbus Nigeria Limited, Lady N.C Okonkwo; School Administrator, Mrs. Tinuola Oyebamiji; Principal of Landmark College, Mr. S.B Agboke; parents, staff, and students, among others.

Yo u t h C e n t r i c

MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 59

Yo u t h C e n t r i c

Students of Viola House

Landmark School Principal - Mr S.B Agboke

Ixora House Students

Mr. Tony Iju Nwabunike, CEO, CAAL Shipping Line 60 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

Zinnia House Students

The Egg and Spoon Race

Red Cross Students

Cross Section of Lily House students

Zinnia House students with their house master MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 61

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Yo u t h C e n t r i c

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Yo u t h C e n t r i c

Female athletes on the track

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Mr & Mrs Lily House

Yo u t h C e n t r i c

200M race (girls) about to start

Girls relay race for invited schools

MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 65

Mr. I. I Oyebamiji - Chairman Board of Governors, Landmark College with Mr. Tony Iju Nwabunike, CEO, CAAL Shipping Line presenting the champions, Lily House the Cup

Mr. Tony Iju Nwabunike, CEO, CAAL Shipping Line presenting Zinnia House with second place cup

Mr. Tony Iju Nwabunike, CEO, CAAL Shipping Line presentation Viola HOuse with third place cup

Parents (female) race 66 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

Health

Avoid Obesity, Diabetes with Plant-based Diets By Starrys Obazei

he benefits of plant-based diets have been undermined over the centuries. And when it is discussed, young ones do not seem to show any interest whatsoever because their health is still very vibrant. It has been found out that vibrancy of one's health begins to decline after the age of 25 and to show that healthy children or teenagers can be affected by dietary recklessness, such young ones are these days beginning to suffer from ailments otherwise meant for adults above age 25. The greatest health culprit is Type 2 diabetes known for affecting adults through over-eating, over-drinking and subsequently obesity. Type 1 diabetes is genetic and may affect children as early as possible. However, the prevention and treatment for both Types 1 and 2 diabetes are handy in dietary control. Basically, diets –mainly fruits and vegetable- are really 'magical' for treating young ones who suffer from obesity and diabetes; they can also be avoided all together. The truth about plant-based diets had been politicized by big pharmaceutical companies in Europe and America. If the truth about plant-based diets is known the slump it would cause in pharmaceutical business will be alarming. It is like, 'it's better people keep suffering and dying instead of slumping pharmaceutical business by telling people to eat right to stay healthy or restore good health.' Bill Clinton, former US president, might not have opened up in 2009 about his decision to become a vegan –an extreme vegetarian - one who eats only beans with vegetables, and fruits and avoids red and white meat, eggs, even fish, if he was not out of office, some people have reasoned. Clinton had been a lover of hamburger and hamburger is loaded with bad cholesterol. Clogging of his blood vessels caused his medical problem. And if you are a pre-teenager, a teenager, just any age and you eat recklessly, what happened to Clinton at 58 can happen to you. After four bypass surgeries in 2004, he gave in to the advice

of becoming a vegan. Today, the trend of one surgery after the other is no longer there for him and on CNN he sang aloud the benefits of using vegetables and fruits to cure or prevent diseases that can clog the blood vessels. Clinton confessed: " So I did all this research and it says that 82 per cent of the people since 1986 who have gone on a plant-based, no dairy, no meat of any kind - I eat very little fish – 82 per cent of the people who have done that have begun to heal themselves. Their arterial blockage cleans up, the calcium deposit around their heart breaks up. “This movement has been led by Doctor Caldwell B. Esselstyn at the Cleveland, Dean Ornish out in California, the doctors Campbell, father and son who wrote The China Study, and a handful of others. But we now have 25 years of evidence. So I thought... I'll become part of this experiment. I'll see if I can become one of those who can have a self-clearing mechanism.” You may not suffer from Clinton's own particular ailment. What is common

is obesity which is a signal that you are going down the road of becoming diabetic and suffering from diabetes' family of other diseases like stroke, heart attack, blindness, diabetic sores that can lead to amputation. You can avoid this calamity just by concentrating more on more minerals in your meals by eating more of vegetables and fruits instead of carbohydrates and proteins. Balanced diet is silently all about balancing acidic foods with akaline ones, they are supposed to be equally balanced. Over-acidity is the cause of all diseases and unfortunately, all the staple foods in Nigeria are purely acidic. And this is the cause of obesity and diabetes in children. If you are already obese, gulping any orthodox or herbal drug for slimming down is a complete waste of time. What you need is just eating fruits and vegetables, cut down on meat and carbohydrate; you'll feel the difference and your body and health will 'tell' you that you are on the right track to full recovery.

MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 67

Discourse

20-2020 Without

Locomotives! ByAdeolu C.Alupogun-Iran

have taken considerable time to ponder on the many issues that grossly affect my beloved nation. This self-sojourn has been a very traumatic experience laced with bloated mental burden and unthinkable depression. Though depressive, it offered a profound insight into many areas of anomaly and equally proffered appealing solutions to them. After considering the many facets of the Nigerian system infected with the ineptitude virus causing dysfunction and unfathomable damage to the nation's economy, I chose to break my long silence with the transport sector. Long before the advent of civilised society, we have heard tales from history of how man moved from one end of the earth to the other on foot without the mechanical aid of cars, buses, trains, aeroplanes, even bicycles! This is a pointer to how crucial mobility is to mankind. Listening to those tales would make you feel that there is a modicum of hyperbole in them because you cannot reconcile then and now, but the bitter part of it is that, it is all true! They embarked on such journeys and returned with few hazards. However, it usually took months before they could undertake the next trip. A great relief came with Blaise Pascal's invention of the first 68 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

horse-drawn public bus in 1662 and with this breakthrough, other better inventions followed. The post-world war II era changed the face and lot of transportation in history, consequent upon the height of technological advancement displayed during the war. A lot of effort was now diverted to making transportation of people, goods and materials easier and faster during the industrial revolution period. This diminutive history lesson is pertinent to providing an understanding of the points to be raised here. It is crystal clear that the compelling drive for all inventions championed by man is to bring ease, convenience, improvement and efficiency in doing things. The colonial period is an important phase in the life of Nigeria; apart from the many evils perpetrated by the task masters, they were also responsible for quite a number of astute achievements, which we will see as we proceed. Prior to Nigeria's independence in 1960, there were many options readily available to commuters, air, road or rail; the choice was yours to make. But today, the questions agitating the mind of several Nigerians are; what happened to Nigeria's rail service? Why is our road too congested today? Why is the air flight too costly for average Nigerians? What is the effect of this on Nigeria as an emerging world economy? These questions beg for answers.

Discourse It is on record that Nigeria is one of the first African countries to use rail system as a means of transportation in Africa. Way back in 1895, considerate effort and resources were committed to building the rail system in Nigeria. This effort paid off in 1901 when the first railway line was commissioned to connect Lagos with Ibadan. Bauchi Light Railway had its own route: Zaria-JosBukuru which opened in sections between 1912 to 1914; JosBukuru in 1927, and Wushishi Tramway, Zungeru-Wushishi-Bari Juko, in 1902. It is quite shameful to note here that more than a century after this superlative feat was achieved in Nigeria, what we have left are the remains of several locomotives and coaches preserved close to the zoo at Jos for school children during excursion and tourists to behold. The absence of a functional rail system in Nigeria as available in most African countries has spelt doom on the country's economy and quite opprobrious is the recent World Health Organisation th statistics on traffic-related death rate which placed Nigeria 13 in the world. The moribund rail system in the country has put too much burden on the poorly maintained road networks available. This unnecessary burden has resulted in a huge carnage on our roads as many families' bread winners have either met with sudden death or the entire families have lost their lives. This is absolutely unacceptable for a country with such great potentials and enormous wealth. The passive state of Nigerian rail system spurred the need to transport goods and services by road. The presence of heavy duty trucks on the nation's highway brought numerous hazards to lives and the poorly constructed roads; most painfully, it is an utter wastage of tax payers' money on renovations that are mere respite. It is a known fact today that an average Nigerian family cannot conveniently afford a flight ticket if they choose not to travel by road. The absence of more alternative options to road or air transportation in Nigeria removes healthy competition which is one of the intrinsic factors that drives a nation's economy towards quantifiable growth and development. Half a century after freedom from the task masters, no phenomenal achievements have been scored; in fact, we have failed to sustain what they left behind as a footprint for posterity to judge them appropriately. The dearth of rail system in Nigeria has left many jobless because of outright laxity and high levels of corruption that took place in Nigerian Railway Corporation [NRC]. There is an endless list of what Nigeria has failed to do as a nation but that is not the crux of this work. There have been conscientious efforts channelled towards the nation's transition from emerging economy to one of the leading world economies, Vision 20-2020 if you care. The reckless act of lip service and public propaganda will not take us anywhere. Our leaders have been chasing shadows leaving unattended more critical aspects of the economy which need salvaging. There is gross unemployment rate in a land with many potential areas for creating more gainful employments than imagined. According to a UN statistics more than 75 per cent of Nigeria's population is unemployed and out of this about 51 per cent are youth. Nigeria is the only country world over with the highest percentage of man-power redundancy. You can hardly imagine the impact this has on the economy. A functional rail system will engage the service of so many Nigerians, apart from the employment opportunities, it will reduce to a great extent the rate of accident on highways as goods and services that ordinarily could have been moved by road will be transported by rail in a cost effective manner. An effective rail system possesses a high tendency of luring potential investors into the economy. The benefit of functional and effective rail service on the economy is beyond imagination. We cannot be projecting to be one of the 20 leading world national economies without this essential part of economic development being resuscitated. Besides, the government seems to have forgotten that an improved standard of living of its citizenry is also

a yardstick for transition into the world industrialized economies' club, and a nation whose citizens live below $2 per day is certainly not a candidate to be considered. A virile rail service is one of the many areas capable of achieving that for the government. For many decades in the history of this nation, statistical records of massive rural to urban migration is appalling, of course, every man wants the best for himself! Why should I stay in a place where my dreams and aspirations cannot be met? The rural pasture could be made greener, if government implements policies geared at providing better living conditions. Government generated revenue from agriculture will greatly increase. Research has shown that rail service lures more people to the rural community, thereby increasing their productivity in agriculture. Functional rail sector has been recognised to bringing a huge turn around in the economic life of the rural community and also curb the rate at which labour required in agriculture moves out. This will in return, boost the entire nation's economy significantly. If a farmer could get the same value for his product at the point of production, what is the need relocating? A definite alternative to road and air transportation has been argued by pundits to be an essential factor for an improved way of life. The fact that rail service affords travellers additional options on how to get to their destination, notwithstanding, it is most cost effective, it will also reduce the cost of transportation by road drastically. With rail service in place, you may live in Osun State and work at the Lagos Island without necessarily residing in Lagos State; this is what an active and effective rail service can do. One of the reasons traffic gridlock has become intractable in Nigeria apart from the ones caused by accident and bad road is basically due to non-availability of affordable and effective means of mobility apart from road and air. Taking a cue from Prof. Bamiro during the recent University of Lagos convocation lecture where he said that â&#x20AC;&#x153;...in the last two decades, higher education worldwide has moved from the periphery to the centre of governmental agenda in most countries. Universities are now seen as crucial national asset in addressing many policy priorities..., sources of knowledge and innovative thinking; provider of skilled personnel and credible credentials; contributors to innovation...'' Nigerian government must change its attitude toward university funding in the country and this sector would revolutionise as prescribed by the distinguished professor. As essential as mobility is to the survival of mankind, the reintroduction of rail transportation is long overdue in this country. Countries like United Kingdom, United States of America have benefitted immensely from this critical infrastructure. Through this, a proper planning can be engineered not only with people of great skills in this area; the rail development will certainly be sustainable. The 21st century economy works better through synergy. Our civil engineers collaborating with transport experts in rail system development, the nation's roads will have a respite and be better for it. The benefit of this is better experienced than imagined. In this tumultuous phase of economic hardship no country will solely survive its hazardous impact without synergizing with its ivory towers, this fact, the western countries had learned earlier. Just at our back yard here, South Africa, tasked all her tertiary institutions and also gave all the necessary support, this worthy sacrifice is being reaped now; South African economy is just like the proverbial beautiful bride for foreign investors. This feat, I am optimistic, is achievable here in Nigeria if we align with transformation necessities and deviate from quick fix approach. Stop Press! Our honourable Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and her delegation returned recently from China with the good news that the Chinese are ready to assist Nigeria in the development of light rail, industry and infrastructure. Good news indeed!

MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 69

Prodigy

I'm

Genius - Unilag's Best Ever Graduand with 4.98 GPA or 99.9%

he CEO of Encomium magazine, Kunle Bakare, once told this reporter in mid-90s: “I prefer diligent people to intelligent people. Intelligent people are proud and sometimes lazy that they get beaten by diligent people with lower intelligence quotient. I prefer diligent people because they ultimately become intelligent…” The above actually came true for Iziren who thrice tried to enter Unilag through JAMB but could not make it. After his ND at Yaba College of Technology, he had upper credit, Unilag wanted a distinction. He went for his HND and came out with distinction, got admitted in his “university of first choice and the nation's pride.” At Yaba he learnt how to study and through diligence based on self-motivation, he became the overall best ever graduand in the history of Unilag with a GPA of 4.98 in mechanical engineering. In other words, he scored 99.9%, a record meant for the Guinness Book of Records. While the university, friends, relatives and well wishers are still celebrating the 26-year-old graduate, he maintains that he is not a genius. He spoke to STARRYS OBAZEI at the Anglican Church of Ascension, Opebi, Ikeja, where he is a mass servant (on Sunday, February 19, 2012).

There is a saying that some are born geniuses and some are made such, which do you think is truly your case? I am not even a genius in the first place. I don't think a genius would read or study as much as I did. Well, I think I learnt; in my case I learnt how to read like I said in my valedictory speech. I am not a genius; I don't think I am even now, because I can say that what I have now is book knowledge until I go to the field and say I know everything, then I begin to 70 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

think along that line. Until then, I'm just a reader and a student.

genius. Do you agree? Well, you can say that. But like I said I am not a genius.

And actually in your convocation speech, you said you know that much is expected from you having made 4.98 out of five points. In percentage that is 99.9. That is an act of a genius. Like you said that day, you want to work harder in the field. I know that if you work hard you are also going to succeed. That means that diligence can make one a

It's okay. When you were reading you valedictory speech, you said you learnt how to study from a student a t Ya b a C o l l e g e o f Technology, whose note everybody was reading. Tell us more; how did you learn how to study? This is the way it was. You know that in secondary school, it is what you are taught in class that will most likely

come out in the examination. You don't have to necessarily read so much or study beyond what you are taught. Just listen in the class, copy a few notes, read little and you'd pass. But in higher institution you have to do a lot more reading, a lot more studying, a lot more group discussion with fellow students and lecturers. So the reason out I said that in Yaba I found that I understand better when I read and write. Most times I have notes. So, writing my notes like my first reading, then I read it again, second and

Prodigy third time depending on how much time I have. By doing that I read it and I understand what I am reading. I think I understand my own writing more, that's why I probably write notes. I have notes, for every course I always have a note. That is interesting. You also said in your speech that the way you study does not mean that you don't play. You mentioned you play with your phone a lot, chat with friends, watch movies. You also said you study or read for five hours daily. How were you able to keep to that timetable of reading five hours a day, is it a high sense of responsibility. First of all I wake up early. A friend of mine called it being disciplined. But I wake early, I have so much time on my hands that I can either use it to play or use it to work. Sometimes I use it to work. Most times I use it to work. A university don disparaged first class graduates of Nigerian universities, that they are incompetent. Not many subscribe to it, but what do you think about this? Well, to me even if you finish from a school abroad, if you don't apply yourself or you don't improve yourself, you're as good as finishing from a Nigerian university. But I think Nigerian universities do their bit, it's left for the students to improve themselves, to go further, school abroad, have work experience and all that. I think, I don't know, that in schools abroad also they would push you to the field to go do something. They can't teach you everything in school. That one is for sure, no matter the school. It's like you believe strongly in hard work. Yes, I do. Hard work pays now, doesn't it?

Everybody is afraid. All my friends said you're likely not going to be a Nigerian any longer; that Europe or America would snatch you… It depends on what they mean by snatch. I personally, I'll actually prefer to go do my master's and Ph.D abroad, but the idea of snatching, no. I think I like living in Nigeria. Even if I go for school abroad, I'll come back and work here. What about if you have a lot of enticements that can make you change your nationality? Change my nationality? No, once a Nigerian, always a Nigerian! There's a couple of things that a friend of mine said, but I'm not going to say here. But there is a couple of things that he said that I thought about and I said, 'ah, that's true.' He said that there's a couple of things you can do and get away with them here, but not abroad. That is the way he put it. For me, I’m a Nigerian always! Are saying from your heart of hearts that you love Nigeria? I am actually looking to a situation where Nigeria would be one of the great nations in the world. It may not be 2020. I'm really looking forward to it and being a part of the change or improvement. We also learnt that the result you made has never been made before in Unilag? Yes. Why are you still denying the fact that you are a genius whether through hard work or through birth? It's through hard work! In your speech you also talked about self-motivation and that your mother sat you down and said you must make first class. You said you wanted to make your mother happy. Is it true that having a goal or self-

Akhigbe Iziren with fellow graduands.

motivation can really make somebody to be studious? Yes, having a goal or a vision helps. I think if you decide where you want to be or where you want to go, and you work towards it you'll get there or if you don't get there, you'll get very close to it. Academically, you're a star; don't you think that a lot of girls are going to admire you so much, how are you going to cope with advances from ladies? I am old now. At this point in time, I don't think that anything I don't want can distract me. It's only what I want to distract me that can really distract me. It's only things I allow that can distract me. Akhigbe, it's nice speaking to you. I have your phone number and your email address. Even if you are in Europe or America, I'll keep in touch with you. And I wish you all the best. But are you going for your master's and PhD right away? Right now, if I want to go abroad to do a master's and Ph. D, I think for most schools the entries and registrations have ended for 2011/2012. It will probably be next year, unless I check online and see a school that is yet to conclude for this year and I'll probably try that. But I'm looking at going back to school next year starting in September/October, 2012, a

new session. Meanwhile, who do you like to work for? It depends… I have not had any offer. But you told me during the convocation that you are already a graduate trainee. So who will you like to work for? Who will I like to work for? Who'll any engineer like to work for? GTB will snatch you; they don't care whether you studied religious knowledge or any other course, as long as you have a first class. It's really true; they'll take you for a job. GTB? Eh! You told SPUR during your convocation that you are a graduate trainee with GTB. Yeah. But… And there are some other offers. I have not really had any other offer. But I have to keep my options open. I wish you all the best and I pray you repeat what you did in the academia in the workplace! Yes, I look forward to doing that and that is why I want to do a little and have a work experience; that is why I want to leave reading or studying for a while. MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 71

Event

Achievers at …pioneer students

graduate

STORY BY ADEOLU C. ALUPOGUN-IRAN

72 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

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he rain clouds rolled back the balance of their watery storage as the morning sun warmed up the ancient city of Owo in Ondo State. Nature itself recognized this was a day for light and laughter as Achievers University presented to the world its first set of graduates. Achievers University was established in 2007 by Dr. Bode Ayorinde. The school, which took off with two colleges and 133 students in 2008, is saddled with the noble responsibility of producing well educated and entrepreneurially oriented individuals, who will not only be useful to themselves but also to the society. The convocation, the first of its kind at the premier private university in Ondo State, will never be forgotten in the history of the school. The university during the convocation ceremony officially installed Dr. Bode Olajumoke as the first chancellor of the school. The Chancellor during his address reiterated that ''Achievers University's mission to be the best in Africa and one of the best in the world is achievable.'' He strongly expressed his concern for the low funding of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, and he used the platform to appeal to well meaning individuals to help fund university education in the country, as is the case in more advanced and civilised societies. Charging the university to always shy away from frivolous awards of honourary degrees which are capable of impairing the university's integrity and reputation, he said ''...we must avoid and guard against this mistake by not compromising the integrity... no matter the lure; otherwise, it will taint our repute.''Admonishing the graduands, Dr. Bode Olajumoke urged them to be worthy reference points in their chosen fields. ''Achievers is a laudable and good name which you must proudly protect wherever you go! ...people's perception of your alma mater can open or close doors for those coming after you.'â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 4 1

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8 1 CAPTIONS 1. Dr. Bode Ayorinde, Founder Achievers University. 2. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor Osun State. 3. HRM Oba Victor Olateru Olagbegi. 4. Ms Bisi Olateru Olagbegi, representative of Ondo State Governor. 5.Chancellor Achievers University, Dr. Bode Olajumoke. 6. Prof. Adebayo Odebiyi. 7.Chief [Mrs] Toyin Olakunri, OFR. 8. Dr. Bode Olajumoke, Prof. Adebayo Odebiyi dressing Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. 9. Prof. Odebiyi dressing the Chancellor during the conferment of Honourary Doctor of Law. 10. Prof. Adebayo Odebiyi and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola during the conferment of Honourary Doctor of Science in Public Policy and Management on him. 11. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Osun State Governor delivering his acceptance speech. 12. Chief [Mrs] Toyin Olakunri, OFR, Prof. S.O Oyewole and Dr. [Mrs] T.E Ojo. 13. Achievers University Dons. 14. Dignitaries from other universities. 15. Chancellor Achievers University, Dr. Bode Olajumoke congratulating Elder Simeon Olakunri,SAN before his conferment as Honourary Doctor of Law. 16. Elder Simeon Olakunri with Olowo of Owo After his conferment ceremony. 17. A guest and Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN (l). 18. Otunba Titi Laoye-Tomori, Deputy Governor Osun State, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, First Lady Osun State and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor Osun State. 19. Senator Ajayi Boroffice. 20. Pro-Chancellor Achievers University, Dr. Bode Ayorinde during his convocation address. 21. Dr. Olu Agunloye(r) at the convocation ceremony. 22. Dr. T.E Ojo and Sen. T.O Olupitan. 23. Deputy Governor Ekiti State, Mrs Olufunmilayo Olayinka and her Osun counterpart Otunba Titi Laoye-Tomori. 24. Arc Bola Balogun with Prof. Omotosho. 25. Chief of Staff Osun State Government, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola. 26. Ondo State Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN], Mrs Jumoke Anifowose on arrival. 27. Master Olumide and her sister Oladuni Ahmed both First Class students. 35. Vice-Chancellor Oduduwa University, Prof. J. Adeleke Ogunwale. 36. Vice-Chancellor Al-Hikmah, Prof. Suliaman Abdul Karim. 37. Vice-Chancellor Benson Idahosa University, Professor Gideon Omuta. 38. Achievers University Chancellor, Dr. Bode Olajumoke and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola waiting to be conferred. 39. Achievers procession. 40. Achievers' Principal Officers. 41. Vice-Chancellor Wesley University, Prof. Tola Badejo. 42. Prof. Zacharaih Adeyewa with a colleague at the convocation ceremony.

them to be worthy ambassadors and to lead by example as they have been tutored. Achievers University graduated 104 students, with seven in first class category, 37 in second class upper category, 42 in second class lower category and 8 in third class category. The over all best graduating student, Miss Oladuni Ahmed became the cynosure of all eyes as she carted away loads of gifts. The university honoured three eminent Nigerians who over the years have remained symbols of distinction in their chosen careers. They include: Elder Simeon Olakunri, SAN, he is a Life Bencher and former chairman of the Body of Benchers in Nigeria; Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Executive Governor of Ondo State and Engr. RaufAregbesola, Executive Governor of Osun State with Doctor of Law and Doctor of Science in Public Policy and Management

Congratulating the graduands, the Vice-Chancellor, Achievers University, Prof. Adebayo Odebiyi urged the pioneer graduates to apply their knowledge appropriately to every life situation with the fear of God; he encouraged them to ''put on the cloak of integrity as this will pave way for them before kings...'' Speaking further, Prof. Odebiyi described the graduands as the ''...torch bearers. Something has been infused into your consciousness... there is something in a name and that it is not without a cause that you find yourself in Achievers U n i v e r s i t y. ...today is your commencement day, the beginning of your ascent into your destiny...'â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Pro-Chancellor, Dr. 'Bode Ayorinde, was full of praises and adoration to God Almighty. T he dream of Achievers University could have been impossible without his help, he said. While charging the graduands, he urged

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Event

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respectively. While congratulating the ProChancellor for the vision to establish the university, Governor Olusegun Mimiko stressed the intrinsic role private universities are playing in both the economy and society. “...I wish to note that the role and benefit of private universities in the educational development of the country cannot be over emphasized. We are all aware of the increasing number of our youth craving for university education and it is a fact government established institutions cannot absorb them all. Private universities have come to fill this gap...'’ In the same vein, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in his acceptance speech entitled, 'Ideas must rule the world,'

charged private universities in the country and intending ones to concentrate on specific fields of scholarship rather than focusing attention on all '' ...they must be wary of the pitfall of generalization that has become the albatross of 45 or so private universities in the full time and destructive competition between federal and state universities. Private universities have to be focused and concentrate their limited resources on specific areas of scholarship ...for excellence.'’ Speaking with SPUR magazine, Ameachi Desmond, a graduating student said, ''...Achievers University has helped me achieve my goals and targets, now I'm a graduate.'' Also, Olumide Ahmed, one of the first class graduands from

Microbiology department spoke glowingly about his alma mater: ''...one of the things I really cherished about Achievers is the quality of the academic staff... I'm sure of this graduating set, we were properly baked. We can walk shoulders high with any graduate of other schools because we studied under the best lecturers in the business; for Achievers and their academic staff, I give kudos." The overall graduating student, who also is a younger sister to Olumide, Ms Oladuni Ahmed, a first class graduate of Biochemistry, minced no words in describing how Achievers University made her who she is today, ''...I have been nurtured and groomed intellectually in many spheres of life and how to get things done properly in a more organized pattern... and I say 'thank you' to Achievers University.” Eminent personalities from all walks of life graced the occasion. The ceremony had in attendance SenatorAjayi Borofice, Oba Victor Olateru Olagbegi, the Olowo of Owo; Barr. (Mrs.) Jumoke Anifowose, Ondo State Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN]; Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN; Mrs. Olufunmilayo Aduni Olayinka, Deputy Governor of Ekiti State; Otunba Titi Laoye-Tomori, Deputy Governor of Osun State; Col. Rowland Omowa, rtd; Princess Bisi Olateru Olagbegi, royal fathers, among others.

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C Life After ampus

A BLINKER OF HOPE

ment the problem of youth unemploy PUR magazine is peering into hundreds of thousands of spur ll wi t ha t ions t solu ng i and proffer associated with 'life after campus' to successfully face the ns o i tut i t ns from Nigeria's tertiary i year y ver e out ned hur c s e uat grad of studentship - the compulsory one ability after dropping the last toga challenges of personal economic st nnot be left to carry on alone. The ose not above age 31. But they ca year National Youth Service for th ney from matriculation to struggle is everybody's. ration. It is really not just a jour Life after campus requires prepa orily all-encompassing. It s pul e. Life after campus is com if l f o s e ri a vag t uen seq sub he t and convocation inues after Youth Service. This culminates partially and yet cont that ng i m m wi s n i on ss e l a ke i l s i and tempestuous journey. If you serious preparation for life's testy compulsory swimming lesson is a ing through the storms of life m im lesson all together, the sw the d oi av r o ons ss e l he t ng i dur cheat ney actually begins from the cradle. and writer, therefore must surely come. And this life's jour ecommended by one Jewish lawyer 'Training a child from infancy' as r 'fixed,' so to say, as y ead r al is d chil the mental capacity of the becomes mandatory. At this stage, iuses. But those with s and this is why some are born gen in the individuals' intelligent quotient arily important is prim is t tuation is not immutable; wha low IQs are not to be pitied; their si our altitude' in y e n i rm e t de ll wi de u t ti ng goes, 'your at the mental attitude and as the sayi positive life. titude can definitely effect some So positive changes in mental at nd. bou a ples changes in mental capacity; and exam tre atest scientists had a lack-lus Isaac Newton, one of the gre the at e m ca t poin ng i turn s hi e, 1661, performance as a student. But in Jun on became a fearless and focused t New n whe y t i rs ve ni U ge brid Cam e. He was so devoted to his student in mathematics and scienc others (students and e l study and research that whi id of a scourge at ra af re we e m i t professors) in his rsity was that time and Cambridge Unive his o t t wen he cl ose d d ow n, countryside home and

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thought about nothing, but his research. His devotion to a cause or research paid off. He discovered the law of gravity. Another genius was Einstein. Albert Einstein was reportedly a backward child, oddly shaped in the head, a poor student and a trouble maker at high school, who failed exams and could not do well in languages. But he ultimately turned out a genius. Einstein could also have been an “unrecognized child p ro d i g y, ” a c c o rd i n g t o o n l i n e encyclopedia, Wikipedia. At the end he discovered the law of relativity, which laid the basis for the release of atomic energy. He established the law of mass –energy equivalency through his famous Energy = mc2. Your success in life at a stage is primarily your own responsibility to turn yourself to a genius. It was Albert Einstein's. It was Isaac Newton's. So, it is yours too. But you must come to the stage of personal decision; what can your parents, the society, the university and you, the student do to make Newton or Einstein out of you? We don't have to go far in geographic distance and time to find such a self-made genius, for example, in Nigeria. University of Lagos (Unilag) had actually created one and handed him over to the world on February 16, 2012 during the last part of their two-day

convocation. His name is Akhigbe Iziren, from Edo State. He was declared the best graduating student ever with the best result in the history of Unilag. He scored a grade point average of 4.98 out of five points. And the announcer 'hastily' added that it was like scoring “98 per cent” in all his papers. But the truth is: Akhigbe scored 99.9 per cent! And he scored that in mechanical engineering! Take it or leave it, the predictions about him from many anonymous interviewees are that this young man is 'no longer a Nigerian henceforth; either America or Europe will definitely steal him' and like he said in an exclusive interview with SPUR, he is pursuing his master's and doctorate degrees right away. But he has already got some distractions, right now he is attending GTBank's graduate trainee course. GTBank, founded by banking whizkids or geniuses Fola Adeola and late Tayo Aderinokun, had already 'snatched' him. He is now caught between working and going for his post-graduate course which ultimately will be on scholarship. Any student can be in Akhigbe's stead, but what did he do to become so much attractive for employment now and scholarship offers. He did not start as a genius. He did his university matriculation exams with Joint Matriculation Examination Board

thrice without success. In his first attempt he got 200 and the cut off then was 230; he tried again and scored 230 the following year, but the cut off mark had been upped to 270 for Unilag's mechanical engineering that year; so he gave up and opted for National Diploma at Yaba College of Technology. After getting his OND, the thought of Unilag as “the university of first choice,” made him attempt getting direct admission with OND, but he was turned down because he had an upper credit and he was told to try again with Higher National Diploma (HND) with distinction. And he finished with distinction and actually got admitted into Unilag. This first scale of success was possible because he knew what he wanted, what was required, he went for it and got it. He called his driving force “self-motivation.” There was yet another motivation from the mother and this brings us to the role of parents in molding students for life after campus. All students cannot be Akhigbe; you can still succeed with even a third class as we shall find out. Akhigbe was trained by his parents, the society, the university, the government and he also 'trained' himself. His journey was full of ups and downs, but at a point he found his secret of keeping his ups only (in academics). STARRYS OBAZEI reports... MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 81

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…Parental motivation

ll the human segments that affect the training of children to complete adulthood start from the parents. Parents come under society, even as all other segments. This segmentation and separation are necessary because of the grips they have on children right from infancy. Under society we have parents, societal values, basic schools and industrial sector. The government and the universities stand as independents. Parental direction is needed to help geniuses to remain on the right track and to make anybody above or below average intelligence a genius. Parents are heads of families and families are the tiniest units of the society. Evidences abound that some geniuses are really made by motivation from parents, who make themselves “teachers, companions, communicators and friends” to their children as prescribed by the book, The Secrets of Family Happiness. We don't know the role the parents played to make Einstein studious. In the case of Newton he lacked emotional support of parents. His father had died and when barely three his mother remarried and handed him over to her grand-mother. However, parents play pivotal roles in carving the attitudinal lives of their children. Some parents also catch their children young by testing them out in many fields. At this stage the parents (not in Nigeria, but in Europe and America; though Nigeria can also start doing so) employ private teachers/experts to inculcate the special knowledge in science, linguistics, mathematics, sports, vocations, among others; to their children. 'Knowledge is power,' the saying goes, so parents must know what to do to prepare their children with knowledge acquisition. This equips the students to live up to the saying that 'when the going gets tough, the tough gets going' (successfully) As soon as a child is born, parents assume a great responsibility to nurture this child to adulthood. They should therefore monitor their children so as to guide them aright especially in their choice of careers. They should also teach their children to love reading and studying. One pregnant mother, an avid reader herself, has already started reading to her baby in the womb.” She told SPUR: “I love reading and I want my child to love reading and studying. In my almost three decades of life, I have seen that diligence (in reading and studying) is much better than intelligence. Every diligent student ultimately turns out intelligent. From early stage, I am going to teach my child how to read from as early as between two and three years and I'll buy many books of interest for my baby.” Parents may be blamed for certain failures in their children's upbringing. Most parents do not instill in their wards a sense of hard work and entrepreneurship; as such most of these young ones grow up without basic training. They go through school with the mind-set that as long as they have a degree then they are made for life. Parents are the guardians of youth but most parents have relented in their duties. A parent points out the problem: “Parents are expected to guide these young ones on their career choices but what plays out in most homes is a case where the children decide on career paths with no real reason for choosing that path, except maybe their friend is taking the same path, or they are tired of sitting at home and they want to also be in school. Whereas the real situation should have been that the parents monitor their wards. They should

be able to identify the ward's strongest point and this can be traced from the basic academic foundation –primary school. At the secondary school level it will now be clear whether the child is a commercial, arts or science student, before the eventual choice of discipline in the university. “Aside helping them choose a course that when they graduate, there is a market for them, they should also help these young ones imbibe skills –vocational skills -that would help them survive in the real world. Whatever vocational skill they parents have, the should transfer such to their children and they can never tell, the children may enhance that trade with their education. Most of these young ones do not know what is involved in the real world; they have been shielded all their lives and by the time they graduate from school and find out it is a different ball game, it may be too late. We, as parents, know the truth about life; we will be doing our children a disservice if we do not prepare them for this reality. “For example, my second daughter is today a fashion designer and make-up artist. I caught her young. Right from primary school, she fell in love with drawing which she developed so much in secondary school. Her drawing took a tilt when she started drawing Cinderella designs. Cinderella film had a hold on her mentally. She began creating fashion styles even from styles she observed in nature. She once saw a flower that resembled a palm tree with steps on its trunk. She designed her skirt like that and a tailor made it for her. When I heard about this, I made her to learn tailoring after secondary school while waiting for admission into the university. “When I also noticed she was good in mixing colours (which she learnt from fine art in secondary school) for her personal facial treatment, I sent her to learn make-up and she bought a make-up kit from Forever Living Products. Today, she is happy living on those two professions. She has her shop now and her clients are always increasing. Though now at Nigerian Open University studying

Most of these young ones do not know what is involved in the real world; they have been shielded all their lives and by the time they graduate from school and find out it is a different ball game, it may be too late.

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mass communication, she is looking forward to remaining selfemployed.” Like one Dr. Akpata said, “Most of the time, the youth when they are making key decisions on the courses they would study do not have enough information about themselves; they don't study themselves. Most of the decisions are likely made under ‘duress'. The fact remains that when parents fail in this role; you find young ones going into the higher institutions to study courses they have no interest whatsoever in, or cannot cope with and the result is naturally disastrous.” Another parents added: There are courses and there are courses. Some courses in themselves are already professional. Medicine, accounting, pharmacy, engineering, education, among others, are professional. My child wanted to study B .A. English, but after listening to my analysis she went to the university to study B. Ed. English, which is simply B. A. plus education, in English. She could apply for jobs requiring graduates in English and if it is a teaching job, she is now better qualified than a B. A. English graduate. However, a B. A. English graduate is not indefinitely disadvantaged. One can still go for post-graduate diploma in education, journalism, among others.” One graduate who spent years looking for jobs, suddenly

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Goodluck Jonathan, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

realized that working with his hands could be just all that he needed. He went to Wale Adenuga film production and photography school and after his training he is now no longer able to cope with video and photo coverage jobs he gets. Sometimes he gives out jobs to fellow video and photography professionals. Within six months he bought a very good car as a necessity for carrying his equipment and quickly getting to his assignment venues; and he is now happy working with his hand. It is also easier for professionals to acquire their degrees and become job creators instead seekers. With a varsity education such people will do better in quality production and marketing. They will do better than their ‘illiterate’ counterparts. So, in the alternative, those who studied unprofessional courses, can learn one trade/occupation or the other. Plying such trades always leads to greater success as their education will be brought to bear on their practice as well. One University of Ibadan 25 year old male graduate told SPUR that he regrets studying an unprofessional course. “Now I want to go to the United States of America for a technical education in a vocational institution. My father, who is U.S. based, is organizing that for me. Afterwards, I shall come back to establish my own business in Nigeria, according to my dad.” “I am particularly concerned about the grade my child will pass out with,” Mr. Stephen Azu said. “I had to educate him about the university environment, that he should start firing from the first day in school with the goal of obtaining nothing less than second class upper, even a first class. He made a first class and he has a culture of reading just anything. He enjoys it. Just to keep his aptitude high all the time! Just look at it now; acquired banks' workers are being sacked in their thousands and fresh graduates are on line for recruitment; what cadres of graduates are sought? Of course, second class upper and first class only. So if you are going to the university to play and fail to get either second class upper or first class, you are simply wasting your time as far as Nigeria is concerned these days. As a parent, I had made these facts clear to my son. Today, he is happy to be positioned as a graduate with first class.” Another set of graduates are also having a swell time with passions turned to professions. Let us start with TY Bello, graduate, musician and photographer. TY, as she is popularly called, is both a singer and a photographer. She sang among the musicians that ushered in President Goodluck Jonathan to Nigerians on May 29, 2011 and today she is still working with the Presidency as an official photographer. What multiplicity of talents outside one's academic training! Christopher Okondo is a graduate of business administration from the University of Ibadan. Before his admission, he fell in love

with photography, not just for earning income, but for the pleasure of admiring and praising God for his creative works. Some of his photographic souvenirs to his alma mater are in the university's library. “During my convocation,” he told SPUR, “the Vice Chancellor told me, 'You are already employed. Just go ahead and exploit your field.' So when I left school, I pitched my tent with Kelechi Amadi-Obi, one of Nigeria's foremost photographers. (Kelechi Amadi also veered into photography outside his course of study Law) I left him last year to set up my own office at Ogba, Lagos where I am doing photography and other related works.” SPUR visited his office and noticed that his works in photo-books are out of this world; and he is now an employer of labour. ol’Victor Ojelabi is an electrical engineer, but he is now making millions every year doing graphic designs (specializing in magazine) for many companies. One interesting fellow made a living out of his ‘mobile’ passion –love for cars. He moved from being a mere lover of cars to becoming a 'mechanic.' He learnt it through knowledge of everything about cars. He also became a ‘journalist’ when he started writing 'MOTORING' for FAME Weekly in the 90s and later for ENCOMIUM magazine. Much later he became an OVATION magazine correspondent in the United States of America. His name is Tosan Aduaye. He was not a trained journalist, but a B. Sc. Accounting professional. While pursuing his ICAN qualification, he took his love for motoring into owning a workshop at the back of his house where he repaired all sorts of big cars for his friends who introduced more clients to him. He basically lived on this along with his pay in journalism. Right now in the United States, SPUR learnt, he now publishes a magazine. SPUR hopes to get in touch with him and publish his interview in the next edition. You may know a neighbour next door who is doing the same. There can't be anything as gratifying and edifying as turning one's passion into a profession. … The corporate organizations

ay back when our parents were kids, (like, ages ago) the fate of graduates was much more certain. There were not many of them in school, and once they graduated the corporations came with job offer letters with cars and accommodations included. There was prestige in graduating and that was the ticket to the good life then. Over the years, more students fought their way into the universities. The graduates doubled and tripled while the corporations struggled to stay afloat in a steadily declining economy. The corporations stopped coming to the students, and the large population of students had to start making the application letter trips to the corporate Nigeria. When graduates who have never worked come out seeking new frontiers, they will most times have to attend interviews alongside veterans looking for better employments. While some companies do conduct separate interviews for fresh graduates, the bulk of them have to fight with applicants with years of experience. So NGOs have now come to the rescue. Some NonGovernmental Organizations, like Fate Foundation in Lagos and Learning for Living in Delta State, have taken it upon themselves to close the gap between fresh graduates and their more experienced counterparts. These organizations set up training for graduates to help them get jobs with companies and also help them start up entrepreneurial activities. Some companies have now formed foundations that partner with NGOs to help the universities complete the 'baking' process of the graduates. Mrs. Kaddy Obaseki who has worked with NGOs had this to say: “One way NGOs and corporate bodies can help fresh graduates is by helping them have confidence and focus, because when they come out of school and face unemployment, it is not very easy for them to focus. NGOs can help them to think outside the box. We have to present raw materials where students who are naturally gifted can benefit from. MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 83

Cover seems to be no hope of solving the endemic and perennial problems of inadequate power and other critical infrastructure. Universities

Brig-Gen. Nnamdi Okorie-Affia, DG-NYSC

Prof. (Mrs) Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i Minister for Education

However, the first challenge these NGOs face is getting the graduates to attend training and seminars. While some of these training might be a bit expensive, a lot of them are free. All the participants need is the transport fare. It is important to state that the drowning man who does not stretch out his hand cannot easily be helped out of the water. Graduates have to realize that learning does not end in the campus or at convocation. And no one has ever suffered allergic reactions to further study. Mrs. Obaseki also appeals to companies to relax their rules on the GPA requirements for applicants, especially with the undeniable fact that quite a few of these points were not obtained through study. “Companies that set questions and allow many graduates take their aptitude tests have a higher chance of gathering a healthy crop of employees than those who just put out a newspaper advert for 'first class or second class upper' graduates. Even better, companies that offer graduate trainee programmes with participation certificates, and make their selections based on the training, contribute even more to the society. The graduates who are not selected can use their certificates from the organization to enhance their curriculum vitae,” she says. … The role of the industrial sector

angote Group of Companies has shown how much the industrial sector can contribute to the generation of employments for Nigeria's teeming youth with its staff strength of more than 12, 000. This year will see Dangote employing more with Ibese Cement Plant commissioned. Small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) also contribute more than the giant private companies. SMEs are notably called “the engine room” of biggest economic activities in any country. However, the real sector is not optimally contributing its quota to creating jobs for all classes of Nigerians because of the absence of enabling environment due principally to the lack of critical infrastructure. This situation had led to the exit of many multinationals to a better environment in Ghana. Notable companies like Michelin Nigeria Ltd and Dunlop Nigeria Ltd left Nigeria for Ghana principally because of the inclement climate of operation bordering on one major problem –lack of adequate power supply. It is now frighteningly rumoured that Patterson Zochonis (PZ), Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Unilever and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and even Guinness are eyeing the Ghanaian soil for their operations. While these companies are in Ghana, employing Ghanaians and paying taxes to the government there, their major market destination for their products is ultimately Nigeria. This is so unfortunate and more so because there still 84 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

he governor of Lagos, Raji Babatunde Fashola (SAN) got it right when he accurately narrowed graduate unemployment down on the actions and inactions of our citadels of higher learning. He said at an annual lecture of Post-graduate studies, at the University of Lagos: “The real problem is our national underdevelopment. I think it is therefore pertinent to explore the question whether Nigeria poor showing on the development index can be attributed to our failure to use the instrumentality of education and research to improve social welfare. He continued: “In the light of that assessment we can go on to consider the extent to which our research institutions typified by universities have been able to deliver on their statutory mandate to proffer possible steps which may be taken to strengthen them in that regard. I deal with what I call the research and report mandate of universities. According to the mandate of universities, one will expect them to be at the fore front of efforts to solve our perennial problems such as the design and construction of affordable housing with locally available materials, water purification, development of alternative and renewable energy sources, agricultural development, management of small businesses and cottage industries, crime investigation, corruption in public administration and religious and ethnic conflicts. However, events compel me to the conclusion in Nigeria we have allowed too wide a golf between our educational institutions and the demands of society at large. In other words, we take education and research and the award of degrees almost as an end and not as a means to an end. I ask the question how many of our public officers have come back to the university to share what they learned and this is what you see in other nations that we aspire to compete against.“ Pointing to outdated curriculum as a glaring culprit, Fashola said: “We must be practical about the curriculum that we apply in our schools today and it is only when the town and the gown meets that we can have very effective and efficient curriculum. Our curriculum has become so outdated that most employers are compelled to retrain and re-orientate fresh employees to meet the demands of the work place in many instances the employees are urged to forget the theories they learned in school and wake up to the realities of the outside world.” In other words, the governor is emphasizing here that Nigeria should imbibe what obtains in the developed countries; their curricula are revised from time to time to suit their nation's developmental needs and they vary from one country to another at various times; that is what makes them developed. The students

s the popular maxim says, “life is a process, no one can manipulate it.” Every man seeks improvement, because he has been wired to do so. The process from conception through infancy to adulthood is an evidence of self-improvement. However, this improvement comes in diverse forms, depending on what each person wants to accomplish. Some young adults can also wake up any time and get devoted to their studies in and out of campus. Akhigbe’s speech after being announced the best student at Unilag, acknowledged those with lower grades as possible successes in their endeavours. Gani Fawehinmi was a first class lawyer in practice, but at the university he made a third class; Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, a literary giant or genius, did not make a first class; Keyamo is vibrant and brilliant, but at the university he did not make a first class. You are what you want to be! People wake up from their cerebral ‘palsy’ any time and make use of their dormant mental capacity. Many human brain cells are empty, waiting to be used by you. It has been found out that the

Cover brain is like a library; some libraries get filled to the brim and no expansion is planned whatsoever for accommodating more books. But in the case of the human brain, it is almost indefinitely expandable in operation. It is ready to absorb and absorb its 'dietary' nutrients without feeling overfed or suffering from constipation. And its food is nothing but information, especially the ones obtained from reading and studying. Studying is the foundation of success in and out of campus for graduates. Studying made Einstein and Newton. It also made our own Iziren. Studying though is not enough. What course is to be studied is important and its relevance to life after campus must be checked. This stage involves parents, students, primary and secondary school career counselors. Some careers are chosen much earlier, when the children begin to exhibit talents in sports, music and other professions. The quest for improvement has translated into many discoveries and inventions of our time. In actual fact, it is a compelling factor that informs most individuals' decisions to be educated by going to school. In the pre-literate society this idea was conceived to be a process whereby individuals go to an experienced person to learn a vocation or craft; after certification they became free to set up their own establishments. An undergraduate, who opted for anonymity, delved profoundly into graduate unemployment and possible solutions. He says: “In the early period of modern education, students were not being taught theoretical principles alone; they were also armed with necessary skills and knowledge to prepare them for the task ahead. But this noble practice has since stopped in the nation's varsities. In the last decade, the veracity of Nigerian graduates' abilities has constantly been questioned; the passiveness of the higher institutions to respond in time to this great challenge with appropriate measures has in part resulted in the huge unemployment rate we have in the country at present. Sometimes corporate employers look beyond the shores of Nigeria for their human capacity needs. It is unfortunate. “Most graduates have also erroneously fallen victim of the one-way disposition of most institutions as they graduate with no other skill besides their academic certificate. As an undergraduate or aspiring one, endeavour to enlist in a vocational programme today. Interestingly, this graduate's love for graduate entrepreneurship made him to search for cases of encouragement to others. “I wrote some time ago about a young man, an undergraduate student of one of Nigeria's leading state universities, who is an established hair stylist. Apprenticeship in any vocation for either graduate or undergraduate is no longer a reproach, no, those times have gone! If you are on semester break or during ASUU strike, use that time line to enlist for a vocation, a step in this direction saves a great deal,” he says. “In the course of my job, I had met chemical engineers who are into tailoring, they sure have some advantages over other tailors

Late Gani Fawehinmi

Wole Soyinka

…Societal values

ocietal values also affect students and if negative they can cause a national malaise. Can you stand to be different? Success may trail those who are actually different. We spoke to a Youth Corps member, who regretted the ugly norm in Nigeria. “People like material acquisition without producing anything,” he says. “They achieve this through corruption, frauds (419) and ritual killings. Also an environment where people tend to prefer consuming goods imported to producing goods locally portends nothing but poverty, industrial backwardness and virtual export of labour now resulting into high unemployment. This is our worrisome state in Nigeria. We need a change. Leaders must also stop embezzling public funds and stashing same to foreign accounts. Patriotism is lacking. Without patriotism tackling unemployment will be like shadow chasing; nothing can be really achieved and this is really unfortunate.

who did not see the walls of ivory towers; they are now job providers with a difference indeed! Most of them started while they were undergraduates. The economy in return rewards their labour because they dared to take proactive steps that contribute to its growth. “Graphic designing is a goldmine in this present time, acquiring this skill requires a little financial investment, but it is very lucrative if you know your onions. Computer institutes are all over the place for you to learn from. As a student you stand a better chance of grasping stuff faster and better; sincerely, I tell you the best time you have to maximize opportunity is now, I have been through the process and now I wish I could have equipped myself earlier than I did. “Decoration is one area undergraduates can invest time and seek expertise. You can start earning hundreds of thousands right from school, and after school you could decide to open a decorating outlet. Mind you, after the basic knowledge from school, enlist for professional training to sharpen your grasp of the trade. Let me quickly chip this in; while you learn to decorate also seek to acquire skills in bakery because the two go hand in hand. By doing so, you are expanding your scope of business and I know many Nigerian graduates who are into party decoration and baking of cakes. “Often graduates leave school for the National Youth Service Corps unprepared, therefore many a time opportunities come but without a corresponding level of preparedness they are lost. At the three weeks compulsory orientation camp a lot of business training

Festus Keyamo MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 85

Kelechi Amadi-Obi

TY Bello

and skill acquisition seminars are part of the programmes corps members are mandated to participate in. A short term loan facility with little or no interest rate is available for access. Opportunity meets with preparation for folks who have preparedness ahead of time. They seize it and before the service year winds up, they are job providers. “Today it is somewhat easy to finger parents for most of the woes that befall their wards neglecting completely the fact that, it is not entirely their fault. There is a popular adage where I come from that says after you were given birth to by your parents, you have the sole responsibility to rebirth yourself. This implies that when your parents have done all they could by enlisting you for programmes whether in school or other means of transmitting knowledge, the onus lies on you to make something tangible out of such efforts. Of course, no parent will do your semester examinations and other crucial means of certification for you. Most often a time students allow youthful exuberance to be cloud their sense of purpose and in the process get involved in trivial activities. Diligence is key attribute no one can do without; therefore as you traverse this essential phase of life I sincerely implore you to imbibe these congruent elements.” Governments

oth the Federal and state governments have roles to play to reduce the rising tide of unemployment in Nigeria. It is true that government has no business in business as regards activities that produce real products and services except those necessary function of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). Statistics has shown that Nigeria's unemployed population is swelling in an unfortunate age bracket of 15 and 24 and 25 and 44. “This is time-bomb bracket. The government must do something 86 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

fast to detonate that bomb.” President Jonathan’s swift action was not surprising as he announced programmes to cater for the more than 14 million unemployed in 2011. Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria nicknamed YouWin!, and an estimated 110,000 jobs are being planned as part of government`s efforts to tackle unemployment in the next four years. The President disclosed that due to the age distribution of youths, “which makes them more in number”, it was imperative for them to take the driver's seat of the country's development and therefore need all the support his administration could offer. Under the YouWin! programme thriving enterprises would submit business plans for expansion which will take in other youths and build capacities through the financial assistance to 3,600 youths. Again, over 3,600 Nigerian youth are estimated to benefit from the programme. It is expected that the new scheme would create between 80,000 and 110,000 sustainable jobs over the next four years. The Federal Government holds the view that working directly with young talented people or the gifted ones will help in solving the problem of employment. The President also reiterated that N50 billion will be set aside for employment generation. In this endeavour, partnership with the private sector is very critical. It was the need for the Federal Government to create job opportunities that informed President Jonathan's Economic Advisory Committee to take Agriculture as a priority. Agriculture is the second biggest contributor to Nigeria's gross domestic product. But it has been neglected. Even being able to feed ourselves will make the much spent –N1.3 trillion spent in 2010– to be channeled to other areas of necessities. Government has to deliberately improve on agriculture and the economy generally so as to effect consistent and sustained growth that can support employment. Some national economic growth reports had been chaffed by

Cover

experts. Economic growth should definitely affect employment rate, reducing it. But Nigeria's increase in economic growth as claimed by CBN statistics was once taken to the cleaners by Pat Utomi. He called Nigeria's economy an act of God economy. He continued that the Almighty gave us oil and when there is less bombing of the oil pipelines, we would export more crude which translates to more money and if the rain supports agricultural yield, there would be increase in both national consumption and exportation. These mean more income and increase in GDP tagged increase in growth rate by the government, whereas everything is God-given. Indeed an act of God economy! We practically produce nothing in Nigeria. A visit to Shoprite or any big department store would make you pity the state of the nation. Things sold in these stores are more than 90-something per cent imported. Even tooth-pick and handkerchiefs are not produced in Nigeria. China exports tooth-pick to Nigeria and right now they even have plastic tooth-pick. Handkerchiefs are not produced here because they cannot be sold for N50; the cost of production here is just too high. Think about all the shoes and clothes worn in this country; virtually up to 90 per cent are imported. Our shores are just open for the importation of all kinds of shoes and clothes. And the more dehumanizing part of it all is the importation of second hand wears with the most dehumanizing being importation of pants, bras, towels and stockings. Just imagine what jobs would be created if 50 per cent of our clothing materials and wears are made in Nigeria. It is only the government that can show the way to reversing it. Much had been said about agriculture. It is now like a jingle. In the time past, Oceanic Bank was much in the news as regards its stand on SMEs and this reporter had the privilege of investigating banks truly in support of SMEs, it was discovered that all the banks had SMEs department, but Oceanic Bank did not have one. Clear duplicity of the public! Nigeria has no 'department' for making agricultural revolution a success. What with the N1.3 trillion spent

such things in the world. Why are we crying about rising unemployment when all we know is to consume the products of other nationals' industrial hard work? The saying that Nigeria does not produce bicycle spoke is nothing but true,” Wole Adenuga, told SPUR “We do not need to have all the know-hows in the world before we can begin the production of things. All that the Federal Government has to do is to provide security physically and legally for foreign investors, provide reliable rail and road systems and above all, make uninterrupted supply of electricity possible in Nigeria. At this stage nothing stops the FG from encouraging big companies that sell cars like Toyota and Kia Motors, to manufacture or simply assemble these cars in Nigeria. Many other big product brands can also be encouraged to do so. China and South Korea went through this way to their industrialization. They 'forced' American companies to do so in their countries and over time they 'stole' the technologies. China, in spite of its highest population, is even employing more of their people on foreign lands through state-sponsored capitalism while they practise communism at home. They do many things to make sure their citizens are employed. But Nigeria, before fuel subsidy removal, had the highest cost of production in the world. And yet the government, simply aiming to make money for its own purse, decided to make the cost of production much higher still when it could have opted to remove the cause of fuel subsidy in the first place, which is the government's inability to refine enough crude oil for local consumption. Sometimes, I want to cry. I know that future generations of Nigerians will blame our generation for failing to do what is right in order to grow our economy and employ generality of our people,” Mr. Adenuga told SPUR. One analyst and publisher recently said that 'unitarism is the cause of unemployment because it destroys creativity. With a powerful central government simply sharing federal allocation from crude oil earnings, everybody is mainly focused on how to share the national cake. “Nobody is thinking about what happens next when the crude oil price falls to as low as 45 dollars per barrel. Nigeria is sitting on an economic time bomb. Even in the petroleum industry, our local content as regards exploration and exploitation know-how is very low. The only thing we do is just get what accrues from the sale of crude oil. Nothing more! The petro-chemical industry has not been developed and that holds in its bowel hundreds of thousands of jobs for Nigerians,” he said. Whatever the government has done or it is trying to do, the problem of unemployment remains solidly untouched. A Youth Corps member told SPUR: “YouWin programme for empowering successful business plans of young entrepreneurs could have been highly successful if it is done in Ghana, where electricity supply is regular. The first thing first remains the first thing first. It cannot be circumvented. Lack of power is Nigeria’s No. 1 hindrance of industrialization. Spending money on other things is simply laughable. Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was very right when he told President Yar'Adua to prune his Seven point agenda to “two or even one –electricity.” Nigeria may be shameless when it watches multinational employers of labours leaving our shores for Ghana. Putting N50billion aside for employment programme is still a misplacement of priorities if electricity deficiency remains unsolved.”

“...Sometimes, I want to cry. I know that future generations of Nigerians will blame our generation for failing to do what is right in order to grow our economy and employ generality of our people” in 2010 importing food. Nigeria has an overwhelming comparative advantage in agriculture than any other country in the world. Our cash crops: cotton, cocoa, rubber, groundnut and palm produce have been neglected over the years. And there is no sign of revival, even now –eight full years away from 2020. For example, Nigerian women like print and wax (cloths) which are products of cotton. But textile industry almost became non-existent and that had almost cost the country the loss of cotton production. Right now it is being reversed by an Indian company. An industrialist, who uses cotton for the production of cotton wool for hospitals, told SPUR that cotton farmers are becoming happy again as the Indian company is 'spoiling' them with cash encouragement to keep producing cotton. But unfortunately Nigerian users of cotton for production virtually beg this company for their industrial cotton consignments. This company is now a monopoly. They are also into rice production big time. There seems to be virtually no area Nigerians are seriously devoted to production. “When I am on the road, I see different kinds of cars. Cars, cars everywhere, but none is produced in Nigeria. We basically do not produce anything mechanical, electrical and electronic, but we are among the greatest users of

Additional reports by Pamela Okoro, Lola Ojo, Patience Omeruo, Adeolu C. Alupogun-Iran and DoyinAdedeji

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Interview

ewande Zaccheaus is the CEO and owner of Eventful Ltd, She began her career as a legal officer in the Nigerian-American Merchant Bank and later joined Ecobank Nigeria Plc, where she worked for 13 years as the pioneer Company Secretary and Legal Adviser before resigning to set up Eventful Ltd in 2002. She was the guest at this month's edition of 90 Minutes Speaker Series, a monthly forum where leading business people and entrepreneurs are interviewed as they share their business and life experiences with young professionals. The event which took place at the Bogobiri House in Ikoyi was a platform for passionate entrepreneurs to tap into the wealth of experience of the Eventful Ltd boss. SPUR magazine's Patience Omeruo and Adedoyin Adedeji were present and bring you excerpts from that event. Yewande Zaccheaus

‘Don't give up on your dream’ Your experience leaving the bank after 13 years to start out on your own I was in the bank for 13 years. I started out in the legal department as the company's secretary and legal adviser and I enjoyed it. It was a nice place to work; it was a transnational bank, so we did a lot of traveling in West Africa and all that. But after a few years I started feeling a bit restless because doing legal work in a bank is quite restrictive. So I thought maybe I am getting a bit bored with just the corporate law, so I asked to be moved to banking because I was company secretary which meant I had dealt with the board of directors, the shareholders and so on. They thought, 'you will be a good person to head the private banking arm,' so I went in there and found out that it was actually not what I expected and I no longer enjoyed my work. It was easy because for me it is important to be fulfilled. It is also important for me to love what I was doing and at that time I hated Monday mornings. I didn't want to go to work, I was bored, I was not enjoying it. I was very well paid, highly regarded, and I could really have stayed there. But I knew that this was not life, there must be more to life than just getting up in the morning, wearing your clothes, doing the same old things and coming back home; I decided that I was just going to take that leap of faith. I did that by asking the people who were in their own businesses, 'what made you decide to go into that business?' and for everybody it was basically just what they loved doing, 'I just love to design spaces,’ ‘I love to do clothes,' ‘I just love cooking.' I began thinking, 'what it is that I really love to do?' And that was how I made it. It is very difficult because there are so many benefits that go with being in a corporate job which is why everybody is afraid; you give up the free medical, the free tickets, the free holidays, the free car and a driver. It was a tough decision to make, but I was totally frustrated. 88 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

The early days of Eventful Ltd You know, when you want to do something that is totally unconventional, because 10 years ago, and it was exactly 2002 I started Eventful, you had to really have a lot of confidence in yourself and what you do because if you don't and it doesn't work you are going to be shaken up and you are going to give up. But I was just convinced that this gift could be harnessed into a business. Although at the beginning, it was slow, that conviction just kept me going. While with Eco Bank I was already organizing events; I was responsible for the HR department as such if we had retreats and AGMs I would organize them because I was the company's secretary. What I was more worried about was whether the personal events would take off. Whether a traditional Yoruba family will hand their daughter's wedding to a total stranger, but in terms of the corporate events I was quite sure that people will really get into that. Though it was slow I had the backup, I didn't just start and go and take a fanciful office on Victoria Island and employ 10, 000 staff, no! I had my husband give me one room in his own office. I had just one personal assistant and it started out that way. I was like, 'well, if I do this for two years and it doesn't work out, I'll just become Madam Executive Director in Mr. Zaccheaus' office.' (laughs) So I had that as back up plan, but basically because I had worked in the corporate world and I had the network; once people realized this was what I was doing -it was just by word of mouth and many responded: 'Oh, Yewande is doing..., ah, ok, let's ask Yewande to do it!' And you do one, you do it well and somebody else sees what you've done and asks you to do it again. And that was just how we grew.

Interview Vital ingredients for starting a business Passion is key, because it has to be something you must love to do. And I think that when you have passion for what you are doing, when the challenges come, because they will, it is never going to be a bed of roses, even now there are still some issues that happen, but because you love what you are doing and you are fulfilled doing it, you'll press on. Therefore, I think that passion is key. Another important ingredient is that you must have a clear vision of where you want to go. Not everybody has to build a multinational business, you may, but what is right for you at this time is to keep your business small, maybe because you have young children you are taking care of or maybe because you don't want to be a highflying go-getter. And then you must be very good with your finances. It's very important. If you are reckless with your finances and you start a business and you are not keeping records; this is where a lot of us get it wrong especially women. It mustn't be just a hobby, it must be something you want to do and do well so that you can leave a legacy. At the end of the day, you would have done this thing for five or ten years and the minute you leave it alone or you walk away, it won't die with you. Inspiring the next generation of leader in Nigeria We need to acquire skills; I think it is actually quite important that people acquire the skills that are necessary. And I am not talking about just going to the university, I think if you know that these are peculiar areas that you want to go into, you need to understand that you must equip yourself for whatever areas you are going into, so whether it is a short course which are available and are very cheap in places like Fate Foundation, I think it is important that we are continuously improving ourselves. Challenges The key challenge in business in Nigeria for most entrepreneurs and for me has always been the issue of finding the right staff. I have found out that people are always in a hurry, not ready to wait and really learn. And when they do learn they are not ready to put their own time back into the company, everybody wants to leave before they are even ready to go off and do their own thing. And you find out that you are continuously training and just when you've got them to that point where you can say, 'yes, I can leave them to this thing,' they are off. Also, that is another challenge for everybody in business. Electricity is such a problem that you need to have your generating set. Your take on perseverance Absolutely, never give up. That is the other thing, never give up, because if you want something that badly you really put your might to it, don't give up on your dream.

Maintaining balance I said it is very difficult, my vacations are sacred and nothing comes between my vacations especially my children. My son is grown up now, in the summer, he is in the university so he doesn't really need me for his holidays anymore but I still have my young daughter who is just 12 and August is my month, it's one month that we go away because really when you are here no matter what if there is an event then you are doing it, somebody is calling you; you are going to some meetings. I had an event, the president's daughter when Obasanjo was there, and also his son was getting married I just let them know that I won't be there but my staff will handle it, the same thing with Dangote's daughter. Just to let you know that it does not matter the level of the people and the worst that can happen is to say, ‘if you are not there we will give it to somebody else’and I'm ready to take that risk. Most times they'd say, ‘if you trust your staff, that's ok,’ then we'll trust them and it worked out well. I go on vacation with a group of friends, my husbands and two other couples, every year we do that. It started as a joke and we just realized, my God, it is an amazing time out!' Especially, good times with the church brethren, but I love watching movies, I love theatre and I love trying new restaurants. I have not still been able to switch off my phone at night; everybody says that they switch off their phones. I just feel that it's at that time I switch that phone off that something that needs to come to me will miss me. Your definition of success My life comprises of three major areas, my home -my husband and children, my family that is my parents and siblings because I come from a very close knit family, then my spiritual life, my walk with God, my work in the church, and then my business. So for me if I have succeeded in one and not in the others then I'm not a successful person. If you've been able to do reasonably well in the areas that count in your life without compromising, I think for me that's success. I think if I have been an amazing business woman and I have a miserable marriage that's not success, if my children don't have a relationship with me; for me it's being a whole person, it's being content and having a reasonable degree of happiness with every area of my life and that none is suffering, because at the end of the day you have to really like yourself, it doesn't really matter what other people think of you as long as you know, 'these are my values and these are the things that are important to me and I have done my best in each of these areas regardless of what other people think.' It may not be somebody else's definition of success but if your definition of success is how 'far I have done with these areas' and you've achieved all that and you live a happy balanced life, then you are a successful person.

Running your business Once you start your own business, especially the type of business that I do, there is no time. Once you are doing an event, whether it's on a Saturday or in Maiduguri, wherever it is, and the people who for the three weeks to six months that you are planning their events they are your latest best friends because you are in and out of their office or homes; they are in and out of yours too, you know everything about them. It totally consumes you. So you have to really be very mindful and don't let it overtake your life because you have to keep that balance. It's a hard thing to do, when you are in it and you are doing it well your business is you. It's not just about something you can keep separate; it's who you are and what you do, so you are living and breathing it all the time. I find that people still say, 'Yewande, you have to be there.' They are not just going to allow anybody else because event management is such a personalized thing I find that I'm still very much involved but not like before. I had a major event for a huge bank but I was able to go in there for a couple of hours and I was able to talk to them on the phone and ask how it was going before I got there and then once I finished that I'll go back to check them and be there. I think if it's something you are so concerned about the quality and the standard you can't really take your eyes off the work. Zaccheaus MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 89

UNN CONVOCATION CEREMONY ...10,243 students graduate

By Patience Omeruo he 41st convocation of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka witnessed the conferment of various diplomas, first and higher degree certificates, to a total of 10,243 students. Ninety-four of the graduands received the first class honours, 2,305 second class honours (upper division), 4,958 second class honours (lower division), 1,593 received the third class honours, while 858 persons graduated with unclassified certificates and diplomas. Doctorate degrees were awarded to 170 individuals, master's degrees to 892 persons as well as 191 postgraduate degrees. The convocation ceremony kicked off on Monday, January 23rd, 2012 with a preconvocation press briefing by the vice chancellor, Prof. Bartho Okolo at the Enugu campus of the university. A public lecture delivered by Dr. Joseph Shevel, Principal, Galilee Institute, followed on Tuesday, January 24 at the Princess Alexandria Auditorium. th It was all sports and fun on Wednesday 25 January, as the convocation ceremony stepped down the formalities for a day. First stop was at the Akanu Ibiam Stadium where the guests were thrilled to a football match, and later, the gaiety climaxed at the Music Night. On Thursday, 26th January, the university played host

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to former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who delivered the convocation lecture titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Education and developmentâ&#x20AC;? at the Princess Alexandria Auditorium. Afterwards, guests were treated to a cocktail dinner hosted by the vice-chancellor. The day was crowned with the presentation of awards by the university vice-chancellor to outstanding graduating students. The convocation proper took place on January 27th at the Margaret Ekpo Convocation Arena, where degrees were conferred on the graduating students. A Jumat service was held afterwards at the university mosque. A film presentation by the Theatre and Film Studies department brought to an end the day's activities. The conferment of the postgraduate diplomas, higher degrees and award of honorary degrees was done at the Margaret Ekpo Convocation Arena on the January 28, with the Vice-chancellor's Lunch following immediately. The highlight of this event was the award of honourary degrees to former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN); co-founder; Lagos business school, Prof. Pat Utomi; Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Plc, Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi; TajudeenAfolabiAdeola and Patrick Uba. The week-long ceremony rounded off with a church service at the university's Christ Church Chapel on the 29th of January, 2012.

E v e n t

Members of the Senate Ceremonials Committee outside the entrance of the Margaret Ekpo Convocation Arena

Guest lecturer, Dr. Shevel (right), Principal, Galilee Institute, in procession

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc., Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi (centre), with Prof. Pat Utomi tagging along

Vice-chancellor, Prof. Bartho Okolo (left) with wife in procession

Former President of Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakogba (left) in a friendly chat with Professor Pat Utomi (centre) MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 91

E v e n t

Ivonye Tochi, best graduating student, Archeology and Tourism

Overall best graduating student, Rev. Sis. Mary Onyido at the Class and Prize Night

Best graduating student, Mass Communication department, Mr. Nwachukwu Chidiebere, flanked by a colleague

Graduands leading the procession

Best graduating student, Computer Science, Nnabuko Uchenna (right), shaking hands with the VC

Okoro Chinedu (right), best graduating student, department of Arts Education shaking hands with the VC

Eze Ogbonne (right), best graduating student, department of agricultural economics being congratulated by the VC

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Fashion

Dressing To Win Your

Dream Job II

By Patience Omeruo

our appearance speaks volume about your personality. In our last edition we talked about how a female should dress for an interview. This edition will focus on the males since the male folks also have to dress appropriately for an interview. When you are invited for a job interview you are expected to dress right and it entails choosing the right clothing, belt, tie, socks, jewelry, briefcase and even fragrance that will be worn to an interview. In dressing for an interview, it starts with the choice of outfit. Choosing the right outfit for an interview is very important! If you are not told to dress in a particular way, then a suit is your safe bet. In choosing a suit you have to be mindful of the colour, fit, and style. Radom sampling revealed that most interviewees believe black is the appropriate colour for formal suits, but fashion experts disagree. They say that dark grey and navy blue are the safe colours for formal interviews as a black suit is too formal. Aside that, it allows for flexibility in the choice of a shirt and tie. In the fitting of your suit, it should be neither too tight nor loose; we don't want the interview panel looking for you in your suit; besides, you would look ridiculous in such an outfit. As for style, you need to be careful here and not be carried away by the wide array of styles in the market. Aone or two buttoned two -piece matched suit is a safe bet with emphasis on matched; don't go trying to combine colours, and please, no double-breasted pocket suit. Choose a fabric

that is natural as it allows your skin to breathe better but more important take the weather into consideration. Having decided on the suit, the next thing is selecting the appropriate shirt to go with it. A white or blue solid shirt with a straight collar and long sleeves is it. Avoid patterned shirts. You don't want to look too flashy. Your shirt should be 100 per cent cotton, no blend and most important, it should be clean and well ironed. Next stop is the tie; now most guys have issues with selecting the appropriate tie for the right occasion and outfit. It is not wise to invest in too many ties since tie styles change frequently. In dressing up for an interview, stick to conservative colours that are solid. And if you must wear a patterned tie, don't overdo it and make sure it goes with your outfit. If possible use a red or blue tie, and it must be made of pure silk. No bow tie, I really don't know where people get the idea that they can wear a bow tie to a formal interview. Shoes are regarded as least important by people when dressing for an interview but it is highly important. Remember the saying, 'put your best foot first,' it comes to play here. Your footwear can make or mar whatever outfit you wear, so you need to pay attention to it. Wear a black or brown leather shoe for an interview. Knowing that your shoes should go with your belt, a black pair of shoes would give you less hassle and like I said in the last edition, don't forget to polish them. Your socks are the bridge between your trousers and shoes. Your socks should be dark coloured and long enough so that you do not show any skin even when you are seated. Now, most people have asked if the male can accessorize. Well on a normal day, yes. When dressing for an interview, no. Limit jewelry to a simple wristwatch (nothing flashy, it is not a time to display your designer collections) and wedding band if you are married. As for a brief case, do not carry anything large, just a small briefcase or portfolio to keep your curriculum vitae in. When going for an interview, forget your favourite cologne or aftershave as a member of the interview panel may be allergic to it. Use something not too strong, if you must wear one. Make sure your nails are well kept and get a haircut. Dressing right is the difference between you and the next person. So the next time you step out for an interview, dress to win your dream job. MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 93

Event

UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS' MOST MEMORABLE CONVOCATION

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he University of Lagos held its convocation ceremony on the 15th and 16th of February 2012 although activities lined up for the convocation week started with a preconvocation lecture on the 13th of February and a cocktail the following day. The convocation was earlier slated to take place in January but was postponed due to the nationwide strike that took place in January. University of Lagos, graduated 3,224 students with 370 students from the faculty of arts, 514 students from the faculty of education, 313 from the faculty of environmental sciences, 583 students from the faculty of science, 504 students from the faculty of social science and 985 students from the distant learning institute. At the ceremony, the vice chancellor Prof. Babatunde Shofoluwe presented to the dignitaries and general public the first class students. The university had a total of 118 first class graduates, the breakdown is as follows: Faculty of Arts – 2, Faculty of Business Administration – 20, Faculty of Education – 1, Faculty of Engineering – 37, Faculty of Environmental Sciences – 10, Faculty of Science – 25, Faculty of Medicine – 1, Faculty of Social Sciences – 14, Distance Learning Institute – 8. Prof. Shofoluwe informed the attendees at the convocation of the awards and scholarships received by the students of University of Lagos. He attributed this feat to the conducive and enabling environment of the school. The awards and scholarships were the 2011 Roger Hatchuel Academy awards which was received by Mr. Jesudemilade Oresanya, a 300 level mass communication student; LG Electronics scholarships which was awarded to ten outstanding students from the Faculty of Engineering; Google's Student ambassadorship, Endowment Scholarship awards, Wetherheads NI million prize in advertising, Martin Luther King Jr. quiz competition, Oluremi Tinubu's New Era Foundation scholarship and awards. He also acknowledged the success of lecturers who were excelling nationally and internationally. Mr. Sylvester Feyi Akunbuli, a lecturer in the distance learning institute, won the outstanding research and best session awards in a global competition. In addition, the VC stated the newly approved courses which commenced in the 2011/ 2012 academic session. MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 95

L-R; Barr. Oluwarotimi Shodimu, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai, Dr. Adeyemi Temitope, Prof. Adetokunbo B. Sofoluwe, Prof. Rahmon Ade Bello and Prof. Obinnah L. Chukwu during the convocation ceremony

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MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 97

Prof. Adetokunbo B. Sofoluwe during the convocation procession

Prof. Rahmon Ade Bello during the convocation procession

Barr. Oluwarotimi Shodimu

Mr. Lateef Odekunle, Bursar University of Lagos

Dr. Okanlawo Adedeji

Prof. Obinna L. Chukwu

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Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, Pro-Chancellor, University of Lagos

Prof. Omololu Soyombo, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences

Prof. O. B. Familoni, Dean, Faculty of Science

Prof. U.E. Mendie, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy

Prof. Musbau A. Salau, Dean Faculty of Engineering

Prof. Leke Oduwaye, Dean Faculty of Environmental Science MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 99

Prof. Akin Oyebode (L)

Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai, Prof. Babatunde Sofoluwe, during the conferment of Emeritus professor on Prof. Jones Taiwo

Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye

Prof. Babatunde Sofoluwe receiving the goodwill message from the ViceChancellor of University of Ilorin, Prof. Oloyede

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This year's convocation was anchored by the head of department of Mass Communication, Professor Ralph A. Akinfeleye and had the vice chancellor of the u n i v e r s i t y, P r o f e s s o r Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe as the chairman of the convocation. The convocation was attended by s t a ff , d i g n i t a r i e s f r o m different walks of life. They include His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu 1, the Oba of Lagos; Yemi Oshilaja, the executive director of New Era Foundation; Senator Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, founder of the New Era Foundation, amongst others. The second day was reserved for doctorate and Bachelor of Science graduates. And it was really grander with many postgraduate candidates clinching their degrees and being honoured on that day. Some of the dignities that sat patiently and watched the well timed event were the Honourable Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Rufa'I; Senator Remi Tinubu; Prof. Gemaliel Onosode; Rev. (Dr.) Wilson Badejo; Prof. Sule Abass; HRH anthony William O v r a w a h ; M r. M a r t i n s EwubareAreh, among others. Everything went well as many science departments' graduands were 'paraded' and honoured. The more touching aspect was the professional oath taken by medical science graduates after which they were pronounced now qualified to be Dr. This; Dr. That. Then came the moment everybody was looking for: The presentation of the overall best student from the department of medical engineering, who made 4.98, never made before at Unilag. This result is equivalent of making 99.9%. He was later called up to give his valedictory speech which was very inspiring to his colleagues and other attendees.

Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai and Prof. Adetokunbo B. Sofoluwe

Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, Iziren Akhigbe, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai, Prof. Adetokunbo B. Sofoluwe, Ms Damilare Akanni and Prof. Rahmon Ade Bello

Barr. Oluwarotimi Shodimu, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai, Prof. Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 101

Senator Oluremi Tinubu at the University of Lagos convocation ceremony

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Prof. Tolu Ogunlesi, fmr Deputy Vice Chancellor (A&R)

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Prof. Sule Abass, President University of Lagos Alumni Association

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Iziren Akhigbe and Ms Damilare Akanni, best graduating students from the Faculty Engineering and Business Administration

Dr. Wilson Badejo, former General Overseer of Four Square Int'l Church

Mrs Shodimu and Mrs Sofoluwe MARCH 2012 SPURMAG.COM 105

Mrs. Odekunle and Mrs Shodimu

Senator Oluremi Tinubu with the New Era Foundation Executive Members

Mr. Dare Adebisi, University of Lagos PRO 106 SPURMAG.COM MARCH 2012

Mr Debo Akinola with his wife