Feel closer this Easter With great low fees send money to your loved ones in Africa
Send money from anywhere you see a MoneyGram sign
1-800-926-9400 moneygram.com Licensed as a Money Transmitter by the Banking Department of the State of New York. MoneyGram and the Globe are marks of MoneyGram. All other marks are owned by third parties. Š 2013 MoneyGram All Rights Reserved. MG0213-18
Giving back sometimes is a hard thing for us to do... We often complain of the limitations on our time, our resources and every other possible reason. However we can give out of nothing. I grew up observing my old grandmother, Mother Elizabeth who passed away in 2009 at the age of 95. Grandma as long as I had known her did not have any serious income. She had a little farm and raised a few farm animals and traded some of her produce once in a while Grandma however was a giver. Any person who crossed her path would testify of her generosity. She will give her time to patiently listen to anyone who had a problem and sought her counsel and offer her deep wealth of wisdom. She will even take on a strangers burden when she gets wind of a problem and redirect her loved ones in love even when they do not seek here counsel. She will offer gifts to anyone who came to visit her and cook up those delicious meals to serve her visitors.. You can therefore give no matter your circumstance.. That is why the work of 'COMPASSION WITHOUT BORDER" founded by Lady Lara Okunubi is so profound. Despite all our hectic schedule and demands on our time, it is noteworthy and commendable that this widowed mother of four who runs two successful businesses finds time to start a charity committed to feeding the homeless and giving a helping hand to those in need. With the help of her strong Executive Committee and willing volunteers, COMPASSION WITHOUT BORDER" feeds over 500 homeless people in the Los Angeles skid Row every holidays and has plans to SPRING 2013
open homeless shelters and provide pathways for rehabilitation to the homeless into main stream society. Compassion without Border also started the BOOK IS GOLD Program that gives book vouchers to needy students within our community and offers skills training to those in need. Their service to the community is commendable this is why the cover profile of this edition is dedicated to the work of this great charity. Just before we went to press we received the sad news of celebrated writer, Professor Chinua Achebe whose book "Things fall Apart" is the most read African Novel that has been translated into over 48 languages and sold over 50 million copies. Achebe in life stood for a just an egalitarian Nigeria and he was widely admired because like Daniel he refused to feast on the "evil King's table" by rejecting two national honors from corrupt administrations. Achebe was a man of sound principles and a great author who will forever be cherished because of the indelible marks he left in his lifetime. We also take you in this edition to Ghana, the land of the Golden Experience and Lagos the heartbeat of Nigeria. We also have our regular health and wellness column, people and places with special spotlight on the NCF Valentine party in Chicago, the ICC-LA hand in hand cruise, farewell to Elder Godwin Nwafor Okeke and other staples you expect in Life and Times.. We also welcome Charles Chudi Oje a licensed financial advisor with Wells Fargo Financial Advisors who will be our MONEY and FINANCE Columnist and will be giving us those professional tips to weather this tough financial times.. The LIFE and TIMES brand is growing thanks to our loyal readers and advert patrons like you and we want to thank you for your continued loyalty and support.
V{|~x a達x~x Chike Nweke Publisher Spring 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 3
MARCH 2013:Layout 1
09/04/2013
10:59
Page 4
Contents 3.
From The Desk Of The Publisher
8.
Cover Story: Lady Lara Okunubi Founder, Compasion Without Border Cover Profile: Dr. Olufemi Saliu President, Compassion Without Border Cover Profile: Dr. Laja Ibraheem Treasurer, Compassion Without Border Profile In Excellence: Spotlight On Lady Tina Ocheze Ukaigwe, (Chicago, Illinois) Fashion & Styles: Keneisha — Jamaica Super Model Tour Profile In Excellence: Spotlight On Chief Mike Ukaigwe Profile In Excellence: CHIEF Charles Arinzechukwu Egbuna Profile In Excellence: Lady Jane Ibekie (Chicago) People and Places: ICC-La; Hand In Hand Cruise- Aboard Regent Sea Beauty of the Moment: Timisola Ogunleye People and Places: Ndi Igbo Cultural Foundation (NCF) - Chicago Fashion & Style: Sheena — Jamaica Super Model Tour
15.
18.
20
23. 28. 32. 36. 46. 86. 56. 65.
4 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
106
118
8 SPRING 2013
83 72. 83. 85. 86. 88. 94. 100. 106 114. 118 114. 126 128. 118 114.
People and Places: Homegoing Of Elder Godwin Nwafor Okeke Money & Finance: Understanding the Language of Investing Subscription Beauty of the Moment: Ifunanya Ify Ibekwe People and Places: Victoria weds Tayo Fashion & Style: Princess — Jamaica Super Model Tour Fashion & Style: Tracy-Ann — Jamaica Super Model Tour Country Profile: Ghana — A Golden Experience Arts & Entertainment: The P-Square Phenomenon People and Places: Lagos—The heartbeat of Nigeria Health: The Drug Called Bread Youth: The When Question News and Politics: Eradicating Poverty In Nigeria News and Politics: Achebe is dead but he lives. Religion and Spiritual Affairs: Enemies Of Marriage: How to fortify yours against them
NOVEMBER- DECEMBER 2012
114
23
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 5
LIFE AND TIMES MAGAZINE is published by Life and Times Network Inc. a publishing and Public Relations Company, 7095 Hollywood Blvd, #485 Hollywood CA 90028 Tel: +1-424-204-2703 Fax: 310-626-9754, Email: mail@lifeandtimesmagazine.com, lifetimenet@gmail.com, www.lifeandtimesmagazine.com
COMPANY BOARD CEO/Publisher: Chike Nweke MEMBERS: Dan Musa, Ph.D Lara Okunubi Ebere Anakwenze Clem Ainabe, Ph.D Arthur Abraham, JP Halilu Haruna, CEA Joachim 'Joe' Nwude, JD Amaka Akudinobi, Esq Frank Oti Ayodele Adeleye Umar Baba Eugene Edoga, LLD (Head, Abuja-Nigeria Bureau) Arinze Egbuna (Regional Director-NE,U.S.A) Iruka Udeagha-Ndubizu, LLM (Regional Director-SE,U.S.A)
EDITORIAL BOARD Chair, Clem Ainabe, Ph.D Deputy Chair, Jude Akudinobi, Ph.D Executive Editor: Arthur Abraham Correspondents: Chinyere Ifeacho Osayande Aghazebamwan Stella Johnson Yemi Abiodun Tommy Musa COLUMNISTS Dr. Dipo Kalejaiye- Religion Victor Onwaeze Esq- Law Dr. Olufemi Saliu- Health Chudi Oje,MBA- Money and Finance Chris Abili- News and Politics Ijeoma Nwawka- Youth Photographers: Devere Wheatfall Ade James Frank Osaemeka Kingsley Nwamadu Uju Anokwute HEAD MARKETING/ADVERTISING Jude "Majid" Nwosu, MBA
6 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
Cover Story
LADY LARA OKUNUBI FOUNDER, COMPASION WITHOUT BORDER
8 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
Cover Story
Madam Lara Okunubi is intangibly alluring to many people in the community. Whether she is participating in a fundraiser, knocking doors in support of a political candidate, rooting for Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, or hosting a weekly Friday Bible session with friends, she’s she does so with genuine enthusiasm. On Saturdays she’s at one function or the other supporting a community member and having a good time with friends. Sunday mornings finds Lady Okunubi at the door-step of her
SPRING 2013
church as a Greeter, welcoming people into the sanctuary for service. Yet, this mother of four who runs two successful businesses (Monday through Saturdays) still finds time to undertake the charity of feeding the homeless on scheduled days. Chike Nweke, Publisher Life and Times Magazine sat down with Lady Okunubi to talk about "Compassion Without Border", a charity she founded and supports, her dreams for our Community and her hopes for Nigeria...
Q: Of all the volunteer work that you do which one are you most excited about? Ans: Without trivializing any of them I feel more privileged to be able to participate in the homeless outreach. For me it is not just about handing out a meal, it is about making each one of them feel like an individual, that they matter, that there’s hope for change even if they don’t see it now……that’s why we go to minister to their external needs, to let them know that LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 9
Cover Story
they are not forgotten. It’s a relationship I uphold with passion and steady commitment.
Q: You have been feeding the homeless for quite some time now, Why and how did you get started and what has kept you going for these past twelve (12) years? Ans: It was shocking for me to discover that there is homelessness and poverty in America, the supposed “land of milk and honey”. After interacting with some of the people on “skid row” and listening to their stories I realized how issues like anger, depression, hopelessness, low self-esteem can easily spiral into chronic stress, loss of confidence, mental illness, poverty and even homelessness, when there’s no
10 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
support or intervention. They are not ordinary people, amongst them are veterans who have sacrificed their lives for others, some of them were professional at one point of their life and some are mothers with children. I grew up with this benign motive to contribute whenever there’s a need, whether it is money, time, ideas or resource. So, it is difficult for me to walk away from such provocative situation without the desire to want to be part of the solution. Anyone could fall into such predicament but for the endless Grace of God, so I am very appreciative of the privileges I have enjoyed in life. Do you know that there are 131,000 homeless people in California alone? The population has dropped by about 3.5% because some people are doing something about it.
The passion to engage in this outreach started in fulfillment of a college requirement for one of my children but it soon escalated into a project when I realized the magnitude of this crisis. We have encountered children, some people from Nigeria, Ghana and other foreign countries that came to America in search of a good life yet ended up in the homeless community. It hits home for me when I see these faces that the privileges I enjoy is not by power, hard-work or education but the mercy of God. So, why should I not lend a helping hand when much has been given to me and so little is expected? I am motivated to go on because I want to impact lives, to be that helping hand desperately needed, without condition or expectation, to spread the good news. We all do our share of good SPRING 2013
Cover Story
deeds but it’s beyond that. It’s about having sincere irritation about things that are not right and could be done better. We have to make it count and meaningful. There are many situations that need community assistance and we cannot ignore them. Yes, you can’t be everything to everybody but we can do those simple things within our control. If we define your goals and desired outcome then identify the road map to get there, people and resource(not those that will criticize or discourage you). I tell my children “there are many ways to skin a cat” so do it your way as long as you get it done.
Q: Where do you presently get the funding for the work of "Compassion without Border"? Ans: Currently, it is funded with personal resources from Okunubi family, Ibraheem’s, Saliu’s, and Omotayo’s who are members of the executive committee and have adopted this project as part of their annual family budget. We get occasional support from other families and friends for example the Nweke’s, SPRING 2013
Aladesuru’s, Anakwenze’s, Fashola’s etc I want to seize this opportunity to thank all of our volunteers that made the work easier to accomplish. 1. Damilola, Busola, Folashade and Yemi Okunubi, 2. Ibukun, Tobi and Ife Ibraheem 3. Lolade, Femi and Fola Saliu 4. Hakeem, Christine and Rasheed Omotayo 5. Uche Nweke 6. Eze and Odera Anakwenze, 7. Rukayat Abdulraman 8. Sis Shade Aladesuru-Dosunmu, 9. Seun and Wahab 10. Elite Foundation - Mr. Sobowale, Fashola, Adebowale and Akinshilo The help of these families and dedicated volunteers have helped us to move from feeding 100 to over 500 people at a cost of $2 per person for each event. The people we feed are homeless they don’t have a kitchen so we have to serve hot meals. At every feeding event, many people leave disappointed because we ran out of food. So, we see a growing need and therefore motivated to do more
Q: What are your plans of reaching out to the larger community and corporate donors to help you in this onerous task that you have embarked on to help the homeless? Ans: Our strategic plan for 2014 is to feed 750 to 1000 people in Los Angeles and about 500 in Nigeria. But we also need tools to encourage entrepreneurship,
such as sewing machines, bicycles, money to purchase crops, beauty supplies, hygiene supplies, hair clippers for door-2door grooming service, etc. We have a team working on the cost and capacity of these needs which we hope to post on the website by December 2013 www.compassionwithoutborder.com to solicit for partnership. We will also host the traditional fundraiser or solicit support through some other creative ways.
Q: Where do you see "Compassion without Border" 10, 20, 50 years from now? Ans: The vision is to impact lives by creating a Support System that is sustainable and measurable. Some people need their hands held longer than the other so in addition to feeding millions of people, to teach apprenticeship to those who desire it and support those who have limited abilities with daily living skills. There are many people in Nigeria scavenging the dumpster for food or recyclable containers to convert to money. These kinds of people are trainable if a proper structure can be put in place. These are examples of lives we hope to impact in 10, 20 or more years. With adequate partnership, accountability and relentless focus we should not only have measurable results but also have success stories from those who have benefited from this program, then moving on to do the same for others, kind of a ripple effect if you like. LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 11
Cover Story
The Book is Gold project initiated by Dr. Femi Saliu (President of CWB) and the Leadership Series sponsored by Dr. Laja Ibraheem(Treasurer of CWB)are some of the commitments we hope to see grow in the next 10, 20 years with adequate funding.
Q: How do people who are interested in the work of "Compassion without Border" join hands to support? Ans: Every act of generosity goes a long way, whether you are giving of your time, money, products or clothes. Our philosophy is if you’ve ever received help or an act of kindness from someone else turnaround and Pass-it-On! The need is real, the work is huge you cannot do it alone. Join us at www.compassionwithoutborder.com or start your own small group of making a difference.
12 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
Q: You are involved in a lot of Community causes. You are a fervent believer and active within our Christian Community, you are the Vice President of the Nigerian American Political Action Committee(NAPAC) that has set out to mobilize our people to effectively participate in the political process here in the United States and has given active support to a number of political candidates recently. You are active within the Social Circle and serve as patron to a number of cultural/social organizations within the community. What are your dreams for unity and progress within our Community?
Ans: You wonder how I find the time to do all these, well where there’s a will there’s a way. I believe there are two columns in life. In one column are the things you can change and the other, are things you cannot change. The defining factor for me is my relationship with God and His expectations of me which includes loving and helping my neighbors. In my numerous engagements, I have discovered that service to God and others is the bedrock of fulfillment in life, nothing else can do it for you. That’s why I am driven by the emotion and mandate to make a difference and giving my all to achieve it by getting involved with various groups. Growth does not happen in isolation, neither can unity. It takes a relationship and connectivity with one another. My dream is that someday, every Nigerian in America will come together and work together for the good of our community either here or back home. Technology unfortunately has driven us even further apart. In the world of texting, tweeting or bb many people are content in isolation while some don’t want anything to do with Nigerians. Yes, one person can make a difference but imagine what the effect will be if we have more people making the effort? It took fifty years for some of Martin Luther King Jr.’ dreams to come true (Obama) because people did not relent. The same for us, that day will come when Nigerians are ruling the world all over the globe. But first we have SPRING 2013
MARCH 2013:Layout 1
09/04/2013
09:07
Page 13
Cover Story
to work on putting our house in order and work together in love and truth. I believe we will have tangible unity and progress because we are fundamentally good people, we just have to appreciate our strengths and respect our differences.
Q: You still have very strong family ties in Nigeria and visit home quite often and have plans to extend the work of "Compassion Without Border" to Nigeria. Based on your observations during your visits back home on the level of poverty and lack, what are your hopes and dreams for Nigeria? Ans: There’s a quote I learnt a while ago that “if you change the way you look at things, the things you see will change”. Nigeria has many challenges ranging from health care, secuSPRING 2013
rity, poverty, exhaustion, diseases; while lack of statistics might have dwarfed the prevalence rate of these pandemics, they are nevertheless not invincible. There are many skeptics who think the situation in Nigeria cannot change but I am very optimistic of a better day. a greater Nigeria! I saw a population of resourceful people, focused on making a living, striving to have a sense of worth. So people should not wait till someone they know is kidnapped to understand the security issues in Nigeria or for someone you know is stricken by cancer, die of malaria, cholera, muscular sclerosis, heart disease. diabetes, etc. before you support the cure for these problems. On individual level don’t wait till you are able to make huge impact, start with little ones within and outside your family scope, reach out and touch anybody.
I hope that your readers or listeners sense of service will be heightened and spurred into action because we need everybody’s help particularly those of us with international exposure (America, Europe, Asia) who have experienced higher standards and quality than what people back home have. We must not discount the impact of our help of time, resource and talents. Compassion without Border is working on collaborating with other existing organizations who organizes Medical missions to Nigeria to achieve for bigger impact and minimal cost. This is definitely, when we need more community support both here and Nigeria to make it happen. Nigerians are endowed, beautiful and great achievers but we need more of us coming together to focus on moving our community forward, from dreams to reality.
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 13
Cover Profile
Dr. Femi Saliu-presenting Book is Gold award @ Life and Times 2012 Fiesta
DR. OLUFEMI SALIU President, Compassion Without Border
SPRING 2013
Helping define the policy direction and day to day running of "Compassion Without Border" is Dr. Olufemi Saliu who serves as the President of the Governing Council. Dr. Olufemi Saliu, MD is a Board Certified Anesthesiologist in Los Angeles, CA with 28 years experience. He attended medical school at Obafemi Awolowo University College of Health Sciences and graduated in 1985 and has also trained in several top American medical colleges since coming to the United States.
Dr. Saliu is a passionate believer in helping the poor, destitute, lost and hurting in our Society and commits time and resources to the work of "Compassion Without Border" Dr. Saliu's pet project in 'Compassion without Border' is the "Book is Gold" initiative which aims to supply books to indigent students who cannot afford them in our schools and colleges. Dr. Saliu is married to Bosede and they are blessed with three wonderful children. Femi and Bose recently celebrated 25 years of of a blissful marriage.. LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 15
Cover Profile
The Saliu's Celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary and Bose's 50th Birthday
16 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
Cover Profile
The Saliu family
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 17
Cover Profile
DR. LAJA IBRAHEEM Treasurer, Compassion Without Border
Laja Ibraheem, MD. is a geriatric psychiatrist in private practice, Executive director of Renew Behavioral Health Inc. Married with three children.
18 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
He is the Treasurer of "Compassion Without Border", a position he holds with integrity and endearment. Laja has a humble and genuine distress for underutilized talent or abilities but rather than point fingers at the inadequacy of such situation his mission is how to make it better. He is a solution finder. As an organizer and guest speaker in various skill development/empowerment settings, he has succeeded in orchestrating
synergetic relationships amongst community leaders for the benefit of the communities, whether it is family, business or spiritual. His passion and relentless desire to equip people with godly counsel, leadership tools/training and financial resources for the welfare of the community has generated many success stories. His goal is to impact lives with this life transforming tools both in United States and Nigeria. So, in the next 5, 10 or 15 years we hope that lives of hundreds of people have been improved with the word, skills and work.
SPRING 2013
MARCH 2013:Layout 1
09/04/2013
09:08
Page 20
Profile In Excellence
Spotlight On
Lady Tina Ocheze Ukaigwe, (Chicago, Illinois)
20 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
Q. Please tell us a little bit about your family and educational background. I was born in Lagos, Nigeria; to Chief and Mrs D. D. Oranagorom of Umunuko Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government, in Anambra State. Growing up, I was good in both arts and science subjects; however, I pursued the sciences for their ease, objectivity, and direct format in achieving results. I studied Mathematics and Physics at Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri, learning first hand and perfecting later, the acts of accomplished teachers. Further, I went to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where I studied Mathematics and Statistics. Later, when I immigrated to the
SPRING 2013
MARCH 2013:Layout 1
09/04/2013
09:08
Page 21
Profile In Excellence
United States, I obtained my second Bachelor in Mathematics Secondary Education from Chicago State University with a Masters in Educational Administration. I have taught Physics and later Mathematics both abroad and here in the United States, serving the School System for the past 20 years.
Q :When did you come to America and tell us a bit about your journey in America? In 1984, I got married to Mike Ukaigwe who was then studying in USA. In 1985, I came to the States for our wedding. It was not easy then leaving a steady job at home, to live in a foreign land without much source of income. After my first child therefore, I traveled back to Nigeria in 1986. It was not long when I finally came back in I987 to stay, and the rest was history. Quickly, I figured out I have to get a second Bachelor of Science to ease the transfer of transcripts from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. With that, it was easier to get a job in the public schools system. Before that, I worked in a private educational system.
Q: You have raised some very successful children that have gone ahead to excel in different professions, what are the challenges you faced in raising this children here. Raising three boys and two girls is filled with great chal-
SPRING 2013
lenges. As a high school mathematics teacher; the educational challenges were minimal. This was because I arrive home approximately the same time with the children to help them with their studying and homework. The private catholic school system where we sent them also helped shape the moral trainings they received in their lives. It was a lot of burden paying their school fees, but the family believed it was money well invested. School runs were challenging by themselves to say the least. We had a system where either my husband or I drop off the children in the morning and the other person picks them up. Sometimes, mostly at the beginning of their lives; the children will be in different schools, with entirely different starting and ending times. Sometimes, we collaborate with other parents, where we drop all the children off in the mornings and they pick up all of them after school. When we know we cannot handle the runs, we pay bus services to either pick up or drop off the children to and from their schools. In all, we give thanks to God Almighty. It has worked out perfectly well for the children. Our last child is the only one still in high school. Three are in the universities while one has graduated and is working with the cooperate world.
Q. You are deeply involved in Community programs and causes especially with
regards to issues that concern the women and children of our community, what do you consider your greatest accomplishments and challenges? I offered my services years ago as the secretary to the organization that promotes Igbo Language and Culture in Chicago. That metamorphosis into an Igbo School; where we teach Igbo language, culture, dances and games to the children of Igbo immigrants in Chicago and Environs. I am proud to state that during the eight years I was the school coordinator, our children learned the values of our language and culture. They are, as a result proud to identify with the language and proud to associate themselves as Igbo children in Chicago and all over the USA. I also served as the recruiting membership secretary to Enumbra Nigerian Foundation, an organization we set up 22 years ago for the immigrants from both Enugu and Anambra states of Nigeria. I am the current Vice President of this organization, now called Ndigbo Cultural Foundation (NCF). We primarily serve and protect the interests of our Igbo community here and at home. This organization has championed the course of the Igbos in Chicago; helped our members on medical missions to Enugu and Anambra states of Nigeria. This organization is instrumental to many programs for the Nigerian community in Chicago like-the Iliji Festival, the Children Programs, Igbo
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 21
MARCH 2013:Layout 1
09/04/2013
09:10
Page 22
Profile In Excellence
Kitchen, Couples Nights, and now this incredible Valentine’s Event. As a practicing catholic, I need to render my services to the church to bring our faith to the forefront in the Igbo community. To that effect, I serve as the current General Coordinator of the Igbo Catholic Community in the Archdiocese of Chicago and its Environs (ICCAC). We promulgate the catholic faith in the Igbo Community through our prayers, works of charity for the poor, sick, and bereaved members. ICCAC has one Reverend Father who serves as our Chaplain and elected members of the chaplaincy council who help in this faith effort. We also have many other Priests and Reverend Sisters who are always helping us in the Lord’s vineyard. We hold monthly mass services in Igbo language, complete with Igbo songs, prayers and praises just like at home. We teach children mass serving, community services and are currently in the process of starting catechism classes for them in Igbo language. One of my greatest accomplishments has to be my services to the Igbo School. The program helped propel our Igbo children to their greatest heights in their recognition of whom they are and where they come from. Through Igbo School, our Igbo children in Chicago and neighboring suburbs can identify themselves and relate to themselves easily face to face and now through the social media. It
22 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
promotes unity and love for our children who grew up in this community. It gives me great joy as a mother, to know that most of these children are now gradually following our footsteps. The challenges over these years have been enormous. Combining these services for my community in the twenty-six years I have lived in Chicago has not been an easy one. My professional background did prepare me slightly for the services that I offer. It however, can never be enough. In addition, one needs dedication, hard work, and love for humanity to do what I do daily with joy.
Q: Having attained the success that you have today, what words of advice, will you give to the young ones in our community or the new immigrant who just arrived in the United States on how to achieve success here? My advice to the young ones, especially the new immigrants will be that of patience, sincerity, and hard work. One of our adages says, “A patient dog eats the fattest part of the bone.” One cannot make it in America over night. One has to
be patient, and learn from others how the system works. If one makes too much mistake because of not listening to advice that might cost one’s progress in life. Patience is the key to success in the USA. Above all, one has to be sincere to other human beings they meet in their journey, as well as be willing to work hard.
Q: Please talk briefly about any other important issue that we did not cover in the above questions. We as parents have to guide the children with the examples we want them to model. The era of “do as I say” is over. The children raised up in this culture might ask why they have to do as you say; without backing them up with inspiring behaviors for them to emulate. Above all, teach the children the Igbo language and culture at home. When they grow up, they will benefit from them. As an educator, I wish all Igbo parents and families the greatest luck in educating the Igbo children. Education is the passport to freedom for our children’s future in a foreign land. May God continue to guide and protect our families and community, Amen!
SPRING 2013
Fashion & Style
Jamaica Super Model Tour Name: Keneisha Mitchell 5'9 119lbs From: Kingston, Jamaica
SPRING 2013
Shot on Location in Negril, Jamaica at Coco La Palm Resort Photographer: Devere Photography
Model Booking Contact: mail@lifeandtimesmagazine.com Reference: Devere Photography
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 23
Fashion & Style
24 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
Fashion & Style
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 25
Fashion & Style
26 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
Fashion & Style
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 27
MARCH 2013:Layout 1
09/04/2013
09:11
Page 28
Profile In Excellence
Spotlight On
Chief Mike Ukaigwe (Chicago, Illinois) Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family and educational background. My name is Michael Okechukwu Ukaigwe from Ozubulu in Anambra State Nigeria. I am married to Justina Oranagorom from Ukpor. We have five children, three boys and two girls in that order. I went to St. Patrick's Catholic School (Coal Camp) Ogbete Enugu then Bubendorff Memorial Grammer School Adazi for my high school, class of 1972. I worked at Post & Telecommunication department Enugu before going to P & T School Oshodi Lagos for my diploma in Telecommunication. I rose to Senior Technical officer 28 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
before leaving Nigeria in 1982 for Oklahoma State University at Stillwater. I graduated in Civil Engineering at Alabama A & M University in Huntsville. I took courses in Computer science and became a Computer Engineer. I worked with LaSalle Bank at Chicago and was the lead Engineer in their Y2K project in 1999. I worked with ABN-AMRO as their Computer Network Analyst. I finally worked for Law Title Insurance Company where we computerized their system throughout USA. Today we have a branch of Law Title International in Lagos Nigeria working for Lagos State
government in their Land Regularization and I am instrumental to that branch opening and operation. Q. When did you come to America and tell us a bit about your journey in America? I came to USA in 1982. It was in Fall of 1982 and unknown of what is cold weather I came wearing only a Nigerian made suit hoping it will stop any cold. Yes, I was dead wrong as moving from the Bus Stop at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater to the International Student Hall, I thought I was going to die of cold. That was a huge welcome for me and my first bitter lesson.
SPRING 2013
MARCH 2013:Layout 1
09/04/2013
09:11
Page 29
Profile In Excellence
Q. You have raised some very successful children that have gone ahead to excel in different professions, what are the challenges you faced in raising these children here.. Excellent question! First of all it is God that raises children not us. We are only guiding them with all our human flaws but somehow God guides their direction and you will look like a genius. My family commits all we do to God. Sundays are special days in my house and we all know it. We pray together every night (though we may skip some nights due to conflicting schedules). All our children went to catholic schools primary and high school; that was a wise investment for their morals. My lovely wife is a Math teacher and science is the foundation of all my children. Both of us spend quality time teaching them everyday religiously and it paid off later for them. God gave them intelligence and understanding and we just contributed our best. The big key is that you and your wife must be in agreement on how to teach, discipline, challenge and nurture them before they grow up. Both of you must be on the same page when talking to the children even when one of you is wrong. In your privacy you then make the corrections. Q. You are a leader in our Chicago community, what do you consider your greatest accomplishments and what are some challenges you think our community in Chicago still needs to overcome. Any good leader is as good as the supporters. I was blessed with
SPRING 2013
many good reliable friends who will always help, guide, criticize and direct me. A good leader must accept criticism and learn from his/her mistakes. I was the brain behind forming Anambra Nigerian Foundation that became Enumbra Nigerian Foundation and now Ndi-Igbo Cultural Foundation. I was once one of the Presidents and still a member of the Board. I was the founding Chairman of Chicago PDP. In 2002 I was also the Chairman of PDPUSA Congress/Convection Committee that instituted PDPUSA at Boston, MA in USA. I am also a founding member of Igbo Catholic Community Archdiocese of Chicago. I am equally a Knight of St. Columbus, 4th degree holder. The challenges of being a leader in our community can be thought-provoking or intriguing. Some of us older Igbo men must grow up. We must stop this idea that “If I go through the eye of a needle that everyone else has to suffer the same faith�. This is what is keeping the Nigerian community from developing faster in USA. We need to learn how to share any good information free from malice. If we did not benefit let our children benefit or even their future generation. We have this wrong attitude of rising and dying with most of our wisdom. Secondly some of us older Igbomen are more interested to see the younger ones suffer and will even try to destabilize them if we see any progress. I am speaking from experience and was a victim early in my life in Chicago.
Q. Having attained the success that you have today, what words of advice will you give to the young ones in our community or the new immigrant who just arrived in the United States on how to achieve success here? I am happy with most Nigerian parents as most of us cared about our children education. We are equally blessed by our children who have stayed focused in their education. To the younger couples I will say pray to God and exercise a lot of patience. It is always rough for married couples here in the State but we came from a different background and please do not be fooled we are Igbos. The temptation is always there but with patience and slow to act we do much better. Look for positive things from each other not negatives and learn to forgive when wronged. Do not allow any family issue to linger more than two days. Cut it off as a man and tomorrow will be better always. This society favors women do not use it as a yard stick. Men should compromise and understand that we are in a different culture. We will all prevail otherwise what is your alternative. The new immigrants will be like most of us thinking that USA is a piece of cake before arrival. No! Take it easy, listen and take candid advice when given. Keep God first in your family. This is a country of law and if you break their laws you will pay the price. Be careful in all you do and when in doubt ask, there will be someone who will tell you the truth. One mistake is all it will
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 29
MARCH 2013:Layout 1
09/04/2013
09:13
Page 30
Profile in Excellence
take to ruin you and your family. Avoid unnecessary altercations even with anybody but know your right and protect it. Keep a low profile until you have understood the system. My first five years in America was baptism under fire. It took me another two years to start getting my bearing right. Q: Please talk briefly about any other important issue that we did not cover in the above questions. Issue that bothers me sometimes is when I see some of our Igbomen who are old and still reside in this country. I then wonder what they expect their children to do. I am an Igboman. I know where I come from and will always go back to my roots regardless how comfortable I will feel in USA. My reason is based on my upbringing and Igbo
30 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
culture. “Nwa-Eze efu na mba”; “Isi nwa Igbo adi ato na mba”. American Jews will go to Israel and enroll and fight to defend Israel. We Igbos need such connection to Igboland or our children will not know the importance. To me once an Igboman is sixty years old in any foreign land it is time to go back to Igboland and help your community for the rest of your live. We can always visit for months but changing the abode will be educational to our children and for our sanity. This is just my own idea and I am selling it to my children. To see an Igboland in Old People’s Home in America is an eyesore and not acceptable. Do not fear your town in Nigeria you are one of the owners. Your other town indigenes do not own it more than you unless if you feel that
way and I do not as an individual. If you are scared what do you expect your children to do? Finally be nice to all you know, you will never know how God can pay you back. It is a blessing to have many friends who trust you. I disagree with the adage “aka nni kwor aka ekpe” and the reverse. Do it for God the blessing most of the time comes through someone you have never helped in your life. Stop using people to measure your success as God decides that not you. Live a simple happy life with your neighbors and love all their children like you love yours. When you render help do not go about telling the whole world the person helped is not a fool and beside “as long as you did it for one of my brother you have done it for God”. Remain blessed. SPRING 2013
Profile in Excellence
CHIEF Charles Arinzechukwu Egbuna (Ozallanwachinazo). CEO, OZALLA CONSTRUCTION COMPANY CHICAGO Please tell us a little bit about your family and educational background.. My name is Charles Arinzechukwu Egbuna (Ozallanwachinazo). I am an Igbo-American living in Chicago, and have a wonderful, lovely wife Ify Egbuna and five great children. I have a Bachelors of
32 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
Science in town planning, construction engineering and medical imaging. I am also a registered radiologic technologist and currently enrolled in Masters program for public health administration. When did you come to America and tell us a bit about your journey in America? I came to America in the nineties in pursuit of academic and business opportunities. The journey has neither been easy nor difficult. Like most ndi-igbo in Diaspora, it is God's providence that I am here and doing well. Thank you for asking.
Ozalla Construction company has become a leading name in Construction in the Chicago area, tell us a little bit about the history of this company and how you have achieved the success you are today and where you see your company in the future?. As the name suggests, it means "God has answered". As wise men say, failure is a precursor to success. You recognize a great man by his ability to get up whenever he falls down. A business man must be very resilient in order to survive. I have owned other companies prior to ozalla and each time I suffered a setback, I simply learn from it, improve and push harder. Ozalla is a minority owned intermediate construction enterprise that operates in Chicago and greater SPRING 2013
Profile in Excellence
Chicago-land. Since 2000, Ozalla Construction Company, LLC, has become recognized as having a reputation for innovation, and result oriented construction management/general contractor by clients and competitors alike. This recognition was earned by developing and maintaining an ability to work effectively with others, by being responsive to the interests and needs of our clients and by consistently delivering an on time, on budget quality service. With more than fifty years of combined multifaceted business experience of 8 team members working together and providing quality service in the areas of project management, architectural services, concrete, carpentry, masonry, roofing, plumbing, electrical, HV AC and general contracting in both private and public sectors, Ozalla has developed a reputation for professionalism, quality and seasoned performance. Ozalla Construction Company, LLC has rehabbed, renovated, and restored over 71 buildings in Chicago and greater Chicago land. Ozalla Construction Company is on the move to becoming the expert's expert in all facets of construction services. Whether serving as a general contractor, or as a construction manager, Ozalla provides experienced personnel, with the latest construction equipment/tools and the management system necessary for the most complex projects. Our sustained growth rate can be attributed to our adept inhouse management professionals
SPRING 2013
Ify, my lovely wife has been a friend, a wife and mom, beyond compare. I really thank God everyday of my life for her. I think I am able to work and engage in business activities because she always steps up to the plate and do so joyfully. that run the Ozalla daily construction activities. Our success in commercial and residential projects can be seen throughout Chicago and greater Chicago land. We are bonded, licensed, and insured. We are committed to always achieve 100% customer satisfaction by providing quality construction services, which exceed the needs and expectations of our clients, to put it differently; our goal is our client's satisfaction. How do you juggle your busy schedule with your role as the father, caring husband to your beautiful wife Ifeoma and your five adorable children? The honest answer to that question is that I do not know. God has been faithful to my family. God has been able to turn all my mountains into level grounds. Ify, my lovely wife has been a friend, a wife and mom, beyond compare. I really thank
God everyday of my life for her. I think I am able to work and engage in business activities because she always steps up to the plate and do so joyfully. Above all, I enjoy and love what I do, and so it does not stress me out. Jehovah has been so wonderful to me that all I can say is thank you God. You are deeply involved in Community programs and causes in the Chicago area, what do you consider your greatest accomplishments and challenges? Yes, I have been as involved in my community programs as God allowed me. I must start by saying that we have a lot of smart and hardworking ndi-igbo in Chicago land. Most ndi-Igbo in Chicago are very hospitable, unassuming, practical and friendly. Like other great ndiigbo in Chicago-land, I contributed my own quota towards the growth of the community. I was involved in the formation of numerous Igbo programs in Chicago land. Some of those programs include, but not limited to; Igbo Catholic Association Chicago and Environs, Igba-eze dance troupe, UmuIgbo Alliance, Igbo school, Igbo soccer clinics, Igbo fest committee (currently Igbo associations of Chicago land), created Enumbra group forum etc. I was the president of Enumbra Foundation (the current Ndiigbo cultural foundation) and the founding general coordinator for Igbo Catholic Mass Association, Chicago and Environs. I currently serve in Ndi-Igbo cultural foundation board of directors but
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 33
Profile in Excellence
plan to retire by the end of the year to create opportunity for other members to serve. The formation of the Igbo fest committee still gives me a lot of joy, and this came about through the effort of few friends that selflessly worked hard to unite ndi-igbo. In the mid 2000, there was a great division amongst ndi-igbo in Chicagoland. The "old Imo state" block viewed the "old Anambra state" block with suspicion and vice versa and neither attends the other’s social events. Even the annual Igbo picnic that used to unite ndi-igbo then was dead, and has been dead for over three years. The meeting of the mind amongst these gentlemen brought about the Igbo fest committee which is today known as the Igbo associations of Chicagoland. It also brought about the annual ndi-igbo couples night. I am extremely overjoyed that the dream shared by those few friends roughly 8years ago has been fully realized. Today, you can hardly hear Imo or Anambra, what you hear most is "ndi-igbo" and that’s who we are. To that extent, I admit we have been very successful. I must admit that some great ndi-igbo fora in Chicagoland like Enumbra, Matardor and Ogene also contributed to the healing effort. My advice to ndi-igbo in diaspora is to start the process of empowering our kids through handing over our organizations. It is a shame that we still see men and women in their late fifties and sixties still serving as execu-
34 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
We must start the process of diminishing our presence while at the same time exalting our children. tive officers and board members in Igbo organizations. My question is, why do you do that when we have kids that are professors, radiologists, specialists, business executives, administrators, etc. We must be willing to let go of these offices in order to "really" empower them. Remember, these are no longer kids, they are full adults, married with kids! and they are most likely to attract government aids and generate new ideas in ways that the old players can never imagine. We must put our misplaced priorities in order for the growth and survival of ndi-igbo future. Our kids are our future and fortunately, that future has arrived and we must give way for the natural process to take its course. Our kids are most likely to open new doors of opportunities that any of the existing old players do'nt even know that exist. They do not have accent, they are natural born Americans, and they are very successful, what else do we want? The good thing about this proposed change is that it will put Igbo miscreants in check, because instead of Chief O, asking
you to stop making noise in a meeting, it will be Dr. Bryn telling you "papa Chukwudi, please could you tone it down?" and without accent! please answer me this question, do you think papa Chukwudi will argue with a child he carried in his own hand when he was born? Do you get my point? We must start the process of diminishing our presence while at the same time exalting our children. Having attained the success that you have today, what words of advice will you give to the young ones in our community or the new immigrant who just arrived in the United States on how to achieve success here? To the new immigrant, life in America is not easy; you should be willing to throw your ego aside and do whatever is legally necessary to survive. Whatever was your social status in Nigeria does not apply here. In most cases, you might have to start afresh and be willing to do even the worse menial jobs for your survival. USA is a classical case of a child crawling, standing, and walking before running! Above all, find a God fearing church that will enhance your connection and personal relationship with God. To our young ones, "only you can help you" and so always make the best use of your time. Education is everything, with good education there is no door you cannot enter and no position you cannot attain. If you seek and find the black sheep in the afternoon, you will have no stress sleeping at night. SPRING 2013
Profile in Excellence
Lady
Jane Ibekie Chicago
Q. Please tell us a little bit about your family and educational background. Ans: I am the mother of 11 beautiful children. They are all grown with my youngest at 26 years of age. My husband, Sir Godfrey Ibekie passed in 1995. I have 7 daughters and 4 sons and they are located in different states in the U.S. Q : When did you come to America and tell us a bit about your journey in America? Ans: My family and I came to the U.S. over the years starting in 1994. The journey to America has been wonderful as all my children are here in the U.S and I am thrilled as they are all doing very well. 36 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
MARCH 2013
Profile in Excellence
Q: You have raised some very successful children that have gone ahead to excel in different professions, what are the challenges you faced in raising this children here. Ans: I’m blessed and thankful that my children have grown up and are doing well for themselves in life. Just like any family, there are many challenges, but with 11 children, it’s a bit trickier. I’m lucky because God has blessed me with great children who have kept their heads together and focused on making their lives better. Some of the challenges we faced when my children were young is keeping 11 children in line because there are 11 personalities, goals, and directions. I think that I may not have had all the time to give to every one of my kids as much as I would have wanted, but I’mhappy because my older children were able to step up and take on mother and father roles for the younger ones. Q : You are a leader in our Chicago community, what do you consider your greatest accomplishments and what are some challenges you think our community in Chicago still needs to overcome. Ans: I think one of the main challenges many families face is balancing work and family life in the realm of assimilating into a new culture while trying to preserve the cultures upon which we were raised. It’s a dif-
MARCH 2013
ficult dance to do, but we must remain true to the true values that we came to this country with and these values are: God, family, education and community. We cannot allow ourselves to lose sight of why we came to America and lose track of the values that brought us to this country. I believe that we must remain focused on those values and continue to teach our children these values so that they can continue to represent us very well in the general American public. Q: You are deeply involved in Church activities and a founding member of the catholic Women Organization in Chicago and Community programs and causes especially with regards to issues that concern the women of our community, what do you consider your greatest accomplishments and challenges? Ans: I formed Chicago Igbo Catholic Women’s Organization in order to bring our community closer to God through prayers and acts of services in our community. The organization is thriving with over forty active members who are giving back to the community and hosting events that are catered to bringing our Nigerian Community closer to God and to each other. Q Having attained the success that you have today, what words of advise will you give to the young ones in our community or the
new immigrant who just arrived in the United States on how to achieve success here? Ans: I believe that the most important thing for our young ones and new immigrants to keep in mind is to remember to keep our priorities of God and family in mind at all times. America is a very different country than Nigeria and some of the things we learned in Nigeria will not work in this country. So I encourage our young ones to really get to know the successful Nigerians within their communities and find out how they can best adjust and assimilate into this society. Additionally, let them focus on getting their education because getting educated is the most important thing they can do to move their lives forward.
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 37
Arts and Culture
R F A
O T O M I o
fC O t a e eB
h
gT n i g n i Br
A
US e h T ngo To
Congolese music is probably one of, if not, the most popular style of music in Africa. I know the second I let a fellow African know that I am from the Congo; their response is usually, without fail, “Oh, I just love your music!” I’m not the least bit surprised by this reaction; we have a long history of producing some of the most talented and influential musical artists in Africa, such as Tshala Muana, Koffi Olomide, and Fally Ipupa. The Los Angeles-based Afrik Moto is no exception; this band is keeping the tradition of Congolese music going strong in the
38 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
MARCH 2013
Arts and Culture
United States. Afrik Moto is definitely not your grandmother’s gospel band; though the message of spreading the word of love and faith is still there, the delivery is new, exciting, and a breath of fresh air. With uptempo dance songs like “Lelo Esengo”, “Mater’s Voice” and their most popular, “Generic”, you almost forget you’re listening to gospel music. Founded in the Fall of 2009, the band consists of seven members: Christian Lukombo (lead singer), Joachim Kalombo (keyboard), Parigo Asuka (drummer), Patrick Mpenga (bass guitar), Richie Longomba (singer), Masengo (dancer) and Fabrice Keto (lead guitar). Dr. Soloman, the band’s manager, was looking for a gospel band, and asked Parigo to reach out to musicians he knew. After getting the members of the group established, they then had to come up with a band name, which is sometimes even harder than actually putting a band together. After careful consideration, they eventually agreed upon the name Afrik Moto, meaning Africa under the fire from heaven, a truly fitting name for a gospel band. Since their formation nearly four years ago, Afrik Moto has become a pivotal part of the Congolese community in Los Angeles. I was at a concert of theirs a few months ago, and it was so great seeing new and familiar faces there showing their support for the band. As well as their own concerts, they also perform at other events, like weddings, birthdays, and other cel-
MARCH 2013
ebrations; however, their bread and butter is still performing for their congregation every Sunday. It’s nice to know no matter what opportunities become available to them, or how successful they become, they always remember where they come from. Inspired and fueled by their faith, Afrik Moto is
going on in the Congo. There will be live musical performances from Afrik Moto, as well as Wholicare Choir, Gasi, and Thunder of Praise. And in true Congolese fashion, there will be an endless amount
eir h t y ed b n i d ele erm nd; u t f e nd ba is d a a o d t pire rik Mo t being ice for s n I vo us Af j , a d h fait beyon t to be o an g w o t lso y. t a i y n u the m m co the
determined to go beyond just being a band; they also want to be a voice for the community. With that in mind, they’ve teamed up with some great organizations, such as the African Activism Association of UCLA and THE DOSHA BRAND™ for an upcoming charity event benefiting the people of the Congo. The event, Music for Peace in the Congo, is a music festival taking place at the end of March in Los Angeles, CA. The goal is to raise awareness as well as funds to aid in the crisis currently
of food, as well as a raffle giveaway of some amazing prizes, all in the hopes of aiding those in need. Giving back is one of the core beliefs of Afrik Moto, and plays a role in everything they do. When asked on how we as Africans can change the overall public perception of us, drummer Parigo replied “We can change the overall perception of Africans by keeping values such as love, charity and generosity, from the mother land no matter what”. Such powerful words to live by. Diva Kakonde THE DOSHA BRAND™
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 39
Arts and Culture
Phemi Adeniran - ARTIST Phemi Adeniran is a multi-talented and versatile artist, who expresses himself in the material and medium that best expresses the statement he want to pass across. He is a 1986 graduate of Fine Art specializing in sculpture from Yaba College of Technology Yaba Lagos, Nigeria. He loves to paint and he has participated in several art exhibitions in Nigeria and in the United States. Phemi is a teacher of special students and he holds a Master of Science degree in Special Education. 40 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
He believes the strength of an artist lies in the development of the mind, this enhances perception and also widens the scopes for creativity. Inspiration can be triggered by anything. It is important for an Artist to be able to dominate his work with his being. Art mirrors life, since life is multifaceted. An attempt to reflect on it will naturally yield a myriad of thoughts. The beautiful and the ugly, the joyous and the saddening, the inspiring and the despairing, the palatable and unpalatable.
Art should be made relevant. It should serve as a tool for progress. It should be made to touch and inspire lives. It should advice, report, record, and correct situations. It should act like a voice or a tool to improve the well-being of the community/society.
Contact: Phemi Adeniran mamadelo@hotmail.com (310) 955-7766
SPRING 2013
Arts and Culture
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 41
Arts and Culture
42 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
Arts and Culture
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 43
Arts and Culture
44 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
MARCH 2013:Layout 1
09/04/2013
09:13
Page 46
People and Places
Guests at the hand in hand Cruise Luxury yacht- Regent Sea ready to sail
Tables set for dinner
Hosts: Pastors Dipo and Nony Kalejaiye
ICC-LA;
Hand In Hand Cruise -
Aboard Regent Sea [2/23/13]
46 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
The International Christian Center (ICC), Los Angeles organized its annual Hand in Hand marriage retreat aboard the Luxury Yacht "Regent Sea" in Marina Del Rey CA on February 23, 2013. It was a beautiful evening affair- as couples recommitted to each other for stronger marriage bonds and were treated to fine dinner, comedy, most romantic couple competition etc. Speaking at the occasion Pastor Nonyelum Kalejaiye who started the Annual hand in hand celebration of marriage said that the goal of this
annual love feast was to gather couples in a social non pious environment to celebrate each other and to recommit to their marriage vows. In the main highlight of the evening, host pastor Dr. Dipo Kalejaiye led all the couples gathered in a renewal of their marriage vows. It was a beautiful and classy evening outing as attendees danced the night away after the formal festivities with music provided by rave of the Los Angeles social scene- DJ Paul. Following is a photo essay of this classy event..
SPRING 2013
People and Places
The Adefesos
The Uwadias
The Aisuans
The Nwekes
The Bamishiles
Mr. and Mrs. Ogundimu
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 47
People and Places
The Salius
The Ojutes
The Bensons
The Onyebalus
The Okonkwos
The Udehs
48 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
People and Places
The Ojukwus
The Anajembas
The Oranus
SPRING 2013
The Olubimos
The Ugo Enes
The Chidis
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 49
People and Places
The Onwulis
The Adenirans
The Egwus
The Obues
Mr. & Mrs. Tony & Maureen Adigwe
50 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
Mr. & Mrs. Emeka & Ebele Enuwa
SPRING 2013
People and Places
Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy & Sola Arogundale
Mr. & Mrs. Ade & Bola Adeyemi
Mr. & Mrs. Marvin & Karen Uveda
Mr. & Mrs. John & Julie Obanor
Mr. & Mrs. Dipo & Funmi Fashakin
Mr. & Mrs. Sam & Cynthia Osuji
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 51
People and Places
Mr. & Mrs. Gibson & Lamide Anugwom
Mr. & Mrs. Patrick & Nelly Joos
Mr. & Mrs. Gabriel & Chisom Ogbonda
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher & Loveth Amakor
Mr. & Mrs. Austin & Justina Etiaka
Mr. & Mrs. Charles & Ann Smith
52 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
People and Places
Mr. & Mrs. Austin & Nkechi Ene
Mr. & Mrs. Ibukun & Deborah Bamdele
Mr. & Mrs. Tunde & Dolapo Ojute
Mr. & Mrs. Ernest & Nnenna Ekejiuba
Mr. & Mrs. Charles & Lilian Duruji
Mr. & Mrs. Samuel & Jennifer Anusiem
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 53
People and Places
Mr. Emmanuel and Mrs. Chika Erharbor
Mr. and Mrs. Malama
DJ Paul- entertaining the guests
Mr. and Mrs. Alex & Margaret Bwalya
Dancing Time
54 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
Beauty of the Moment
Contact: Timisola_95@yahoo.com
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 55
People and Places
Engr Tony Onyeabo, President and Arc. Chuma Ezeokoli Chairman; NCF- Chicago
Ndi Igbo Cultural Foundation (NCF) - CHICAGO Valentine Party Feb. 16, 2013 It was a night to remember as the members of Ndi Igbo Cultural Foundation (NCF) Chicago Illinois and their spouses, friends and well-wishers in the larger community gathered at the Ramada Hotel, Glendale Heights Illinois to celebrate their love‌The love feast featured comedy, a raffle draw, performance by an American soul and RB singer who serenaded the crowd
56 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
with love songs and a medley of Nigerian, African and other dance songs by rave of the Chicago social circuit- deejay Dayo Panaki. According to the President of NCF, Engr. Tony Onyeabo, the Annual valentine party is one of the programs that the organisation embarks on to bring families closer together and to keep the flame of love burning in the homes of its members. He said that we are sometimes over worked in this country that we
forget to create time for our spouses and our marriages suffer as a result of this. Speaking in the same vein, Chairman of the Board of NCF, Arc. Chuma Ezeokoli said that the NCF is the umbrella association of the Igbos in the greater Chicago area and is committed to preserving our cultural heritage and passing this on to our children. He said the NCF holds Igbo language classes and plans in the near future to hold an annual Igbo Summer camp for our children.
SPRING 2013
People and Places
Banquet Table
Arc. Chuma and Caro Ezeokoli
Valentine decor
Dr. Sidney & Mrs Victoria Okolo
SPRING 2013
Oba Ralph and kate Ebisi
Mrs. Abisola and Sister
Mrs. Sophia Ojukwu
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 57
People and Places
Emma and Ifey Onua
Chika and Ngozi Ezeani
Cedric and Ngozi Melton
Ifeoma Edeh and Ngozi Ezeani
Mr. Nnamdi Egbuna and Dr. Emeka Onwuta
Mr. Charles and Mrs. Lucille Oduocha
Mr. and Mrs Ben Charlley
58 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
Dr. Chukwuma Anyasor and wife
SPRING 2013
People and Places
Chika and Ebere Aranonu
Ik Oluka and other guest collecting dinner
Guests
Guests
Mr. & Mrs EzeChukwu
Emma Okafor and Charles Egbuna
Philippa Okoye and Dr.(Mrs.) Ada Azodo
Lady Jane Ibekie
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 59
People and Places
David Ofodile & Vincent Onyema
Dr. & Mrs. Ibe
Drs. Ifenlota and Kizito Orjiakor
Dr. & Dr. Mrs. Ezike
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Onyekachi
Mr & Mrs. Romeo Okabuonye
60 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
Mr.and Mrs. Al Olieh
SPRING 2013
People and Places
Charles and Ifeoma Egbuna
Mr. & Mrs. Akaekpuchionwa
Mr. and Mrs. Okey Ogbuagu
Dr. and Mrs. Emeka Ibekie
Uche Nwanah and Chinwe Roberts
Engr. Tony Onyeabo
Ms. Shakura Haqque & Dr. Flo Onubogu
Mr. Patrick & Mrs. Uche Nwanah
Mrs. Uzo Ayoghu & "son" Chinwike
Guests
Dr. & Mrs. Jude Nwosu
Mr. & Mrs. George Anele
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 61
People and Places
Guests
Guests taking dinner
Dinner served
Mrs. Uche Onwuta & Mr .Richard George
Dr. Emeka and Uche Onwuta
Mr & Mrs. Bosah Okoye
Mr. and Mrs. David Ofodile
Dr. Mike and Dr. Ada Azodo
Mr & Mrs. EzeChukwu
Guests
Mr. Richard and Mrs. Chioma George
62 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
People and Places
Mr. Joe and Mrs. Chika Orameh
Guests
Guests
Mrs. Felecia Onyeabo and Robbie Booth
Dr. & Mrs. Okorocha & daughter
Engr. Dozie and Dr Adaora Ogbuefi
Guests
Dr. & Dr. Mrs. Okoli
Prof. & Mrs. Bibiana Ukaegbu
Rev. Sr. Chukwuma, Dr. Emeka Ibekie & Rev. Sr. Asoegwu
Mr.Tony and Mrs Felicia Ogbuli
Chief and Mrs. Mike Ukaigwe
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 63
People and Places
Mr. and Mrs. Emma Ik Adophy
Dancing Time
Dancing Time
Mr. and Mrs. Al Olieh
Soloist..Mike Hampton
Mr. and Mrs. Emma Okafor
Mr. and Mrs. Aloy Okonkwo
Cha- Cha Slide, Dancing Time !!!!
64 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
Fashion & Style
Jamaica Super Model Tour Name: Sheena Graham 5'7 140lbs From: Silver Spring, Jamaica
SPRING 2013
Shot on Location in Negril, Jamaica at Coco La Palm Resort Photographer: Devere Photography
Model Booking Contact: mail@lifeandtimesmagazine.com Reference: Devere Photography
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 65
Fashion & Style
66 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
Fashion & Style
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 67
Fashion & Style
70 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
Fashion & Style
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 71
People and Places
Homegoing Of
Elder Godwin Nwafor Okeke 72 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
People and Places
The following is a photo essay of Papa’s burial ceremonies‌ The family of Nwafor of Afube village Amichi Nnewi South local government of Anambra State, Nigeria, celebrated the passing of their father Elder Godwin Nwafor Okekewho died in September 2012 at the ripe age of 80 years, in Los Angeles California. A Christian Wake keeping and celebration of Life took place in Los Angeles to celebrate Papa on Saturday October 13, 2012 at OUR COMMUNITY HALL, 205 W. Torrance Blvd, Carson CA 90745 His remains were later flown to Nigeria for his final journey. His home going service included services in Lagos Nigeria and at his Country home in Amichi where he was buried on Wednesday December 12, 2012. The family later did an outing service on Sunday December 16, 2012 at Christ Church Amichi.
Papa burial poster
Papa was survived by; Mrs. Bridget Okeke (Wife) Children: Hon. Larry Nwafor (son) Hon. Amechi Nwafor (son) Engr. Judith Eze (Daughter) Nnamdi Nwafor (son) Amaka Obichukwu (Daughter) Onyinye Nwafor (Daughter) Obiageli Nwafor (Ada Dollars, Daughter In-law) Chinenye Nwafor (Daughter) Mr. Azubuike Eze (Son In-law) Mr. Obinna Obichukwu (Son Inlaw)
Apam's Undertakers
Apam's Undertakers with the coffin
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 73
People and Places
Larry, Mama, Amechi and Nnamdi
Mrs. Bridget Nwafor Okeke
Larry with officiating Bishop
Mrs. Bridget Nwafor Okeke
74 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
People and Places
Praying over the dead
Judith,Onyinye and Amaka
Family at the service
Crowd at the Service
Larry eulogizing Papa Final interment
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 75
People and Places
Amaka,Onyinye, Chinenye and Oby
Oby Nwafor (Ada Dollars)
Family members
Ada Dollars and Mom
Crowd of mourners
Ada Dollars doing her thing
76 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
People and Places
Ada Dollars and Larry
Chinenye's family
Larry spraying dancers
The Nwafor Ladies
Amechi spraying wife
Ada Dollars and family
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 77
People and Places
Mama and family
Ada and Larry
The Nwafor ladies
Larry, Oby, Uboma and Amechi
The Nwafor Men
Mama and Sisters
78 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
People and Places
Oby and Larry
Mama and the ladies
Oby and Larry
Prince Obi and Amaka Obichukwu
Oby and Chinenye
Onowu and family
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 79
People and Places
Larry & Oby with friends at LA wake
Amechi Nwafor
Oby and Larry
Mama Oby and Mama Larry
Larry Nwafor
80 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
People and Places
Nwafor family at Los Angeles wake
The Nwafors' and The Egwus' in LA
The family SPRING 2013
The Larry Nwafor family LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 81
Retirement planning doesn’t retire when you do You may be retired, but your money still has to work hard. What strategies can you use to help meet your goals? Please come in for a no-cost review of your annuities and your overall retirement plan. We will be glad to help you.
Please note that this is not, in any way, intended as an invitation to replace an existing annuity. Such an exchange is often not suitable due to such factors as surrender charges on your existing contract, the surrender charge period on the new contract, transaction costs associated with the exchange, the values of the new contract versus the old contract, and the various fees and expenses associated with the new product. Therefore, replacing an existing annuity should only be considered after a careful evaluation of these factors as well as a thorough review of your existing contract. Insurance products are offered through nonbank insurance agency affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company and are underwritten by unaffiliated insurance companies. Wells Fargo Advisors does not provide tax or legal advice. Be sure to consult with your own tax and legal advisors before taking any action that may have tax or legal consequences.
Charles Oje Financial Advisor Wells Fargo Advisors 2321 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 2275 El Segundo, CA 90245 Telephone: 310-725-2267 Email: chuck.oje@wellsfargoadvisors.com
INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC-INSURED NO BANK GUARANTEE
MAY LOSE VALUE
Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. Š 2011 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved. ECG-670007
1011-0398A
Money & Finance
Stocks and bonds could probably be considered the basic building blocks of an investment portfolio, and you’ve most likely heard of them before. But beyond just these two basic terms there is a whole world of investment opportunities, and sometimes the financial world seems to have a language of its own. Fortunately though, there are many resources available to help you understand what it all means. To get you started, let’s discuss a few of the most common terms you might hear and what they mean to you.
Asset Class – a term used for categorizing different types of investments. There are basically three asset classes: stocks, bonds and cash. Asset Allocation – the process of selecting and blending investments from different asset categories to reduce investment risk and reach long-term investment goals. This refers to how much of your money you put into stocks, bonds and cash equivalents (such as checking accounts, money market funds and CDs). Proper allocation keeps your money spread over different types of investments, so if one particular type is struggling, the other types
Understanding the Language of
Investing
By Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Chukwudi Charles Oje MBA (Licensed Financial Advisor with Wells Fargo Financial Advisors)
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 83
Money & Finance
could still be doing well. Although it will diversify your portfolio, asset allocation does not protect against fluctuating markets or uncertain returns. Diversification – the process of deciding what mix of investments to own within each asset category. After you have determined the proper asset
allocation for your investments, diversification helps you spread your investments out even further. Owning stock in companies from a wide variety of industries, for example, puts you in position to see possible benefits from moves in different sectors of the economy. Dividend – when a company decides to share profits with investors, it usually pays a dividend to stockholders. The company’s board of directors decides when these payments are made, and how much they’ll be, but typically dividends are paid on a quarterly basis in the form of cash or additional stock in the company. Commodity – as opposed to stocks and bonds, which are
84 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
simply valuable pieces of paper, these can include tangible products that are traded on an authorized commodity exchange. There are many different types of commodities, including agricultural products, metals, and petroleum. Foreign currencies and financial instruments and indexes can also be considered commodities. Hopefully now you have a little better understanding of some of the basic terms associated with investments. In addition to knowing about these options, it may be helpful to know where you can find some of these investment vehicles. Rather than just going out and searching, there are many markets and systems set up to help investors with the process of buying and selling: Exchange – a system for the organized trading of securities. There are several major exchanges in the United States, including the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange and Chicago Board Options Exchange. Several regional exchanges throughout the country also trade securities.
Over-the-counter (OTC) – a highly sophisticated communications network on which dealers trade securities that are not listed on any exchange. All government bonds and all other nonlisted stocks and bonds are traded on the OTC network. Nasdaq – an electronic information network that provides brokers and dealers with current price quotations on many actively traded over-thecounter securities. While understanding these terms should help give you a good start, there is plenty more to learn about the world of investments. Another great way to educate yourself is to speak with someone who is well versed in the language. A Financial Advisor can take the time to explain what everything means, and help you make decisions about how to meet your own personal needs.
This article was written by Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Chukwudi Charles Oje in Manhattan Beach at 310-725-2267. [Disclosures] [PCG / ISG:] Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered brokerdealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.
SPRING 2013
SUBSCRIBE 1 year 4 editions $40 Plus $8 for shipping and handling Total $48.00
2 years 8 editions $80 Plus $16 for shipping and handling Total $96.00
Life and Times Magazine is available in all African stores in California and New York and is coming to a store near your city very soon!
You can also subscribe online with your visa/master card/discover at
www.lifeandtimesmagazine.com and click the ‘subscribe button’ on the home page.
... . . . . . . ........... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................................................................................................................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......
SUBSCRIBE NOW Title....................... Name:............................................................................. Mailing Address............................................................................................. ...........................................................................Zip Code ........................... Length of Subscription.................................................................................. Make checks in US Dollars payable to Life and Times Network Inc Electronic/Credit card payment options now available. Mail or fax to: LIFE AND TIMES PUBLICATIONS, 7095 HOLLYWOOD BLVD, #485, Hollywood CA 90028-6035, Tel: 424-204-2703, | Fax: 310-626-9754 Email: mail@lifeandtimesmagazine.com
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 1 year 4 editions: $40 Plus $8 for shipping and handling Total $48.00 2 years 8 editions: $80 Plus $16 for shipping and handling Total $96
Beauty of the Moment
•
Fall 2013 Raw Fashion Show; designs by Efgee
•
Macy's & Le Vian Jewelry Showcase Fashion Show
•
The House of Blues Jazz Fashion Show by designer Savanna
•
Pac 12 Commercial directed by Kurt Spenser (Basketball Commercial)
•
2nd Annual Independence Day Fashion Show by designer Tatyana Peter
•
Project Red Velvet Fashion Show; designs by Erika Jewels
•
"The Garden Experience" Fashion Show by designer Kimiko
•
The Ankara Fashion Show 2012 Contact: IfyIbekwe@ymail.com
86 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
Beauty of the Moment
Keneisha Mitchell Model Contact: mail@lifeandtimesmagazine.com
MARCH 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 87
People and Places
Beautiful Victoria Ifunanya Agusi said I do to her heartthrob the urbane and handsome Omotayo Okaniawon Damola at at a classy ceremony, in Los Angeles on March 30, 2013. LIFE and TIMES won the exclusive rights to the wedding's photography and media coverage.. The following is a limited release of the engagement pictures. Wedding pictures will be published in the June 2013 edition of LIFE and TIMES ****For your event -Hollywood style- photos, magazine and television coverage at a budget you can afford contact LIFE and TIMES: mail@lifeandtimesmagazine.com or call 424-204-2703
88 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
People and Places
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 89
People and Places
90 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
People and Places
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 91
People and Places
92 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
People and Places
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 93
Fashion & Style
Jamaica Super Model Tour Name: Princess Fraser 5'9 115lbs From: Silver Spring, Jamaica
94 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
Shot on Location in Negril, Jamaica at Coco La Palm Resort Photographer: Devere Photography
Model Booking Contact: mail@lifeandtimesmagazine.com Reference: Devere Photography
SPRING 2013
Fashion & Style
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 95
Fashion & Style
96 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
Fashion & Style
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 97
Fashion & Style
98 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
Fashion & Style
Jamaica Super Model Tour Name: Tracy-Ann Dehaney 5'11 140lbs From: Green Island, Jamaica
Shot on Location in Negril, Jamaica at Coco La Palm Resort Photographer: Devere Photography
Model Booking Contact: mail@lifeandtimesmagazine.com Reference: Devere Photography
Fashion & Style
102 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
Fashion & Style
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 103
Fashion & Style
104 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
Fashion & Style
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 105
Country Profile Ghana was the first place in sub-Saharan Africa where Europeans arrived to trade - first in gold, later in slaves. It was also the first black African nation in the region to achieve independence from a colonial power.
A Golden Experience
106 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
MARCH 2013
Country Profile
Ghana Before Independence: Ghana before Independence on March 6, 1957 was called the Gold Coast. The earliest Europeans to arrive here were the Portuguese in the 15th Century. On their arrival, they found so much gold between the River Ankobra and the Volta and subsequently named it "da Mina", meaning The Mine. In 1482, the first castle was built in the Gold Coast by the Portuguese at Elmina. This was built to enhance their trading activities especially gold and slavery. By 1598, the Dutch were in the Gold Coast to also trade. They built forts along the coastal areas notable among them being the Komenda fort. In 1637, they captured the Elmina castle from the Portuguese and that of Axim (Fort St. Anthony) in 1642. Many other European traders came to the Gold Coast to trade. These included the British, Danes and Swedes. These European traders built several forts along our coastlines. In 1872, the Dutch lost interest in the coast and ceded their forts free to the British. Thus ended a period of Dutch occupation lasting 274 years. By 1874, the British were the only Europeans in the Gold Coast and thus made it a crown
SPRING 2013
colony. This in effect gave them total control.The British government established their headquarters at Cape Coast Castle. This had been their headquarters since 1662 and is one of the greatest historical sites in the country. It has numerous dungeons which were used to keep slaves before being transported to the Diaspora. There had been many wars fought between the people of the Gold Coast and the British over governance. In 1874, an army under Sir Garnet Wolseley crossed the Pra River into the Asante territory. The Ghanaians referred to this War as the "Sagrenti War" because they could not pronounce Sir Garnet’s name correctly. The British force, this time proved too strong for the Asante who, after a long and brave fighting, agreed to sign a peace treaty at Fomena. At about the same time the British defeated the Anlo people in the Volta area. On the 12th of September, 1874, the whole of Southern Ghana including Anloland became a British colony. The Capital was removed from Cape Coast to Accra two years later. After the Second World War (1939-1945), things began to change in the then Gold Coast. The discrimination against educated Ghanaians in the civil
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 107
Country Profile
service was on the increase and high positions were reserved for white men while Ghanaians became "hewers of wood and drawers of water". The European and Asian firms were also seriously exploiting the Africans. The Exservicemen (Ghanaian soldiers
108 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
who fought in the World War), helped in another way to expose the weakness of the British. They realised that they performed better than the whites on the battlefield. These Ex-servicemen again saw the struggle for independence in India and
Burma where most of them went to fight. They were therefore inspired to struggle against the same British in Ghana after their return from the war. The first political party was formed in August 1947 by Paa Grant, Dr J.B Danquah and others. It was named the United Gold Coast Convention (U.G.C.C). Its slogan was "Self Government within the Shortest Possible Time". The U.G.C.C. therefore invited Dr. Kwame Nkrumah home from his studies to become the full-time General Secretary of the Party. The U.G.C.C. had earlier on criticized the Burns Constitution of 1946 introduced by Governor Sir Allan Burns. In January 1948, Nii Kwabena Bonne III, a Ga Chief organized a general boycott of all European imports. A series of riots followed the boycott in early February, 1948. The last straw that broke the camel’s back was the famous February 28, 1948 incident. Unarmed ex-servicemen marched to the Christiansborg Castle on that day to submit a petition to the Governor about their poor conditions. Superintendent Imray, a white police officer, ordered the policemen at the castle to shoot. When the police refused to do so, Imray himself opened fire on the unarmed soldiers at the Christiansborg crossroad. Three of the leaders namely; Sergeant Adjetey, Private Odartey Lamptey and Corporal Attipoe fell dead. Thereafter, riots broke out in Accra. European and Asian stores were looted by the
SPRING 2013
Country Profile
The U.G.C.C. which awakened fervent national consciousness in the Gold Coast was what might be described as a liberal group with its slogan of "Selfgovernment in the shortest possible time." This attitude did not please Nkrumah who wanted "Self-government Now". Following disagreement of ideologies, Kwame Nkrumah left the U.G.C.C. and formed a more radical nationalist party -Convention People’s Party (C.P.P) on June 12th, 1949 with its motto "self-government now". He was joined by Kojo Botsio, K.A Gbedemah and others. On 9th January, 1950 the C.P.P organized a nation-wide boycott and strike for workers and the masses. The people refused to buy all British goods. angry mob. The rioters forced open the Central Prison and set free its inmates. After the riots, the Nationalist leaders in Ghana sent a strong worded cable to the Secretary of State in London. They blamed the Governor, Sir Gerald Creasy, greatly. They called him "Crazy Creasy" because he had failed to handle the problems facing the country. The Secretary of State however blamed the Nationalist leaders for being responsible for the disturbances in the country. Consequently, six of the leading nationalist were arrested and detained. They were popularly referred to as the BIG SIX. These leaders were J.B Danquah, Kwame Nkrumah, Obetsebi Lamptey, Akuffo Addo, William Ofori Atta and Ako Adjei.
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 109
Country Profile
Workers were warned not to cause any trouble. In the cause of the riots however, two policemen were shot dead. On January 21st 1950, Nkrumah and other leading C.P.P members including Kojo Botsio and K.A. Gbedemah were imprisoned at the James Fort Prison, Accra, on charges arising from pursuing what was termed as "Positive Action"
Kwame Nkrumah in June 1953 submitted proposals for a new constitution. It was upon those that the April 1954 constitution was introduced making the country virtually self-governing. This new constitution provided for an All-African cabinet from an enlarged legislature. A general election followed in June 1954 from which the C.P.P won
country in Africa, South of the Sahara to regain independence from colonial rule. A new chapter was opened in the history of Ghana. On the eve of Ghana’s independence, Kwame Nkrumah (then Prime Minister) proclaimed at the old Polo Grounds in Accra: "At long last, the battle has ended and Ghana, our beloved country is free forever."
against the Government. The imprisonment of Nkrumah made him a hero and martyr in the eyes of the people. In 1951, the pace was set for general elections. Kwame Nkrumah was in prison when the elections were conducted. He overwhelmingly won the elections and was released by the then Governor, Sir Charles Noble Arden-Clark to head the new government. This however became the British Colony’s first African government. In March 1952, Kwame Nkrumah was designated Prime Minister. He was to appoint a cabinet, which was not to be responsible to the Governor but the Assembly.
79 out of the 104 seats of the National Assembly. In 1956, another election was held in response to a pledge by the British Secretary of State for the colonies that if the newly elected legislature, by a reasonable majority, passed a resolution calling for independence; a firm date for the changeover would be announced. C.P.P won 71 out of the 104 contested seats. The British Mandated Togoland also held a plebiscite to join the Gold Coast. This action opened the way for Ghana’s Independence and on 6th March, 1957, the curtain was drawn on the old order. The country emerged as the first
Ghana spearheaded the political liberation of colonized Africa from the very first day of her Independence. Dr. Nkrumah championed the cause of African Unity which let to the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU). Ghana became a sovereign member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement
110 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
First Republic: On 1st July 1960 Ghana became a Republic In 1966, the Ghana Armed Forces and Police led by Lt. Col. E. K. Kotoka and Maj. A. A. Afrifa overthrew Nkrumah’s administration and the first Repub-
SPRING 2013
Country Profile
lican Constitution of Ghana. A National Liberation Council (NLC) took office, headed by a retired army officer, General J. A. Ankrah. Lt. General A. A. Afrifa, in 1969, succeeded General Ankrah as the Chairman of the NLC.
Second Republic: Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia’s Progress Party (PP) took over from the NLC by winning the 1969 elections. The Progress Party Administration with Dr. Busia as Prime Minister and former Chief Justice Edward Akuffo Addo, one of the Big Six as President, was overthrown by a military coup in 1972 led by the then Col. I. K. Acheampong. He formed and chaired a military junta, the National Redemption Council (NRC). General I. K. Acheampong became the Head of State and
SPRING 2013
Chairman of the NRC. The name NRC was later changed to the Supreme Military Council (SMC). General F.W.K. Akuffo replaced General Acheampong in a palace coup in July 1978.
Third Republic: The SMC II was overthrown on 4th June 1979 through a mutiny by some officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces who established an Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) with Fit. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings as Chairman and Head of State. The AFRC was in office for only three months. On 24th September 1979, the AFRC handed over power to Dr. Hilla Limann leader of the People’s National Party (PNP) which won the 1979 elections. The Limann administration and the Third Republican
• •
Ghana is a sub-saharan african country Population: 23.800m (2009) 24 million (2010) • Population growth annual: 2.4 • GDP: 26.2 billion USD • GDP per capita: 1,098 USD • GDP growth annual: 4.7 USD • Life expectancy total year: 63.4 at birth • Infant mortality rate: ( per 1,000 births ) 51.3 • Literacy rate, youth: (female ages 15 – 24 78.9 • Prevalence of hiv/aids ages 15 – 49 5.4 (2007) Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank website) • Total land area: (92456 sq m) (239460 sq km) • Independence: March 1957 • Ghana has ten (10) administrative regions • Ghana has 170 districts • District assemblies are the political authorities • Ghana has 230 electoral constituencies • Ghana has had five successful elections since 1992 • Ghana is an island of english speaking country in the ocean of francophone nations: (Burkina Faso in the north, Togo in the east, Cote D’ivore in the west and the Atlantic ocean in the south)
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 111
Country Profile
Constitution of Ghana were overthrown in yet another military coup in Ghana’s post Independence history in 1981. The coup was led by Flt. Lt. Rawlings who again became Head of State and Chairman of a Provisional National Defence Council, (PNDC) which he established. The PNDC ruled Ghana from 31st December 1981 to 7th January 1993. A combination of internal and international pressure factors led to a return to constitutional multiparty democratic rule in 1993. In the Presidential election held on November 3rd 1992 Flt. Lt. Rawlings contested on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and beat eminent African historian and human rights activist Prof. Albert Adu Boahen, the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party, into second place. In the Parliamentary elections the Progressive Alliance, made up of the National Democratic Congress, the National Convention Party and the Eagle Party won 198 seats out of the total of 200. Four other parties, the NPP, PNC, NIP and PHP
112 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
boycotted the parliamentary elections on account of dissatisfaction with the electoral arrangements.
Fourth Republic: The Fourth Republic was inaugurated on January 7th 1993 with the swearing in of H. E. Flt. Lt. Rawlings as President and his running mate, Mr. Kow Nkensen Arkaah as Vice President. On December 7th 1996, Flt. Lt. Rawlings was re-elected for a second fouryear term as a President, with Prof. John Evans Atta Mills as his running mate. In the 1996 elections, President Rawlings beat Mr. J. A. Kufuor of the NPP to second place. In the Parliamentary elections, the NDC won 133 seats, the NPP 61 seats, PCP 5 seats and PNC 1 seat.
Kufuor Wins Terms In Office:
Two
In the third Presidential and Parliamentary elections of the Republic, held on December 7th 2000, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) won 100 seats while the National Democratic Party (NDC) obtained 92 seats. The People’s National Convention
(PNC) obtained 3 seats, independent candidates 4 seats and Convention People’s Party (CPP) 1 seat. In the Presidential elections, none of the seven candidates had 50% plus one vote as required under the Constitution. Thus in the Presidential run-off on December 28th, 2000, between the two candidates with the highest votes, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor (NPP) emerged the winner with 56.90% of the valid votes cast while Professor John Evans AttaMills of the (NDC) had 43.10%. In December 2004 President John Agyekum Kufuor won a second and final four-year term as President of Ghana.
John Evans Atta Mills wins 2008 elections Professor John Evans Atta Mills (born 21 July 1944) who is currently the President of the Republic of Ghana won the Forth Presidential and Parliamentary elections of the Republic, on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He was inaugurated on 7 January 2009, hav-
SPRING 2013
Country Profile
ing defeated the ruling party candidate N a n a Akufo-Addo by 50.23%–49.77% in the 2008 election. None of the seven candidates in the 2008 Presidential elections did have 50% plus one vote as required by the Constitution. The Presidential run-off which was a straight contest between Professor John Evans Atta Mills of the NDC and Nana Akufo-Addo of the NPP held on December 28th 2008 could not also produce a clear winner until Tain Constituency decided and Professor Mills emerged as the Presidentelect. Professor Mills was Vice-President from 1997 to 2001 under President Jerry Rawlings, and he stood unsuccessfully in the 2000
SPRING 2013
peaceful election. A respected communication expert, historian, and writer, Mahama was a Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2009 and Minister of Communications from 1998 to 2001.
Decentralisation: and 2004 presidential elections as the candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He died in Office on July 24, 2012.
John Dramani Mahama (Born 29 November 1958) has been President of Ghana since July 2012. He was the Vice President of Ghana from 2009 to 2012, and he took office as President on 24 July 2012 following the death of his predecessor, President John Atta Mills. He was elected to serve his first term as president in December 2012 following a
Vital to this evolutionary, if checkered, process is the decentralization of power to regional, district, local and unit levels across the country. There are 138 district administrative set ups and assemblies. The districts are administered by assemblies of directly elected and appointed members. District Chief Executives (DCE’s) who head the assemblies are appointed by the incumbent President and approved by the District Assembly. *****Source, Ghana Government Portal http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/aboutghana/ghana-at-a-glance/1237-know-moreabout-ghana
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 113
P-Square are a Nigerian R&B duo composed of identical twin brothers Peter and Paul Okoye. They produce and release their albums through Square Records. In December 2011, they were also signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik label. In May 2012, they also signed a record distribution deal with Universal Music South Africa. 114 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
MARCH 2013
Arts & Entertainment
The story of P-Square began in St. Murumba secondary school, a small Catholic school in Jos, Nigeria. Identical twins Peter and Paul joined their school music and drama club where they b e g a n singing, dancing, and mimicing songs by MC Hammer, Bobby Brown and Michael Jackson. They later formed an a cappella quartet called "MMMPP" (M Clef a.k.a. Itemoh, Michael, Melvin, Peter and Paul). Drawing inspiration from their music idol Michael Jackson, they began break dancing, formed the group called "Smooth Criminals" in 1997.They dropped M Clef from the group "MMMPP" which later was changed to "MMPP". Their artistic talent and precise dance routine soon made them household names in the city of Jos, where they performed at
MARCH 2013
school functions and other occasions. Later in 1999, Peter and Paul returned to music school to develop their skills on keyboard,
drums, bass and rhythm guitar. Their work includes the soundtracks for a number of films like Tobi, Mama Sunday, Moment of Bitterness and Evas Later in 1999, they applied to the University of Abuja to study Business Administration. The Smooth Criminals disbanded when its members left to various other universities. Subsequently Peter and Paul formed their own group, variously called "Double P", "P&P", and "Da Pees", until they eventually settled on "P Square". They are managed by Bayo Odusami aka Howie T, a seasoned concert promoter and the CEO of Adrot Nigeria Limited. In 2001, "PSquare" won the "Grab Da Mic" competition, and hence Benson & Hedges sponsored their debut album, titled Last Nite, which was released under Timbuk2 music
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 115
Arts & Entertainment
label. P-Square was also nominated as "Most Promising African Group" in the Kora Awards three months after the release of their debut album. They eventually won the 2003 Amen Award for "Best R&B Group". In 2005, P Square released their second album, Get Squared under their own label, Square Records. This album was marketed nationwide by TJoe Enterprises, although they were still managed by Howie T of Adrot Nigeria Limited. The video for the second album held the #1 position on the MTV Base chart for four straight weeks. They have an ever growing fan base across South Africa with a particular stronghold of diehard fans in Cape Town. The group has performed alongside the following international artists like Ginuwine, Sean Paul, Akon and Busola Keshiro. The members of P Square are now located in Lagos.
116 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
Late in 2007, they released their best selling album so far, Game Over. It has sold 8 million copies worldwide. In 2009, P-Square released their fourth studio album, Danger . The album features collaborations with 2face Idibia, J Martins and Frenzy. The first single called "Danger" is a hip hop song with cutting synths and a frog bass baseline similar to an Eminem song. The video affirms this with the presence of clowns and staggered movements in front of the camera reminiscent of comical videos by Eminem They are also known for the close resemblance which the twins have to American R&B Superstar, Usher Raymond. On 4 April 2010, P-Square was named the Artist of the Year at the KORA All Africa Music Awards in Ouagadougou, Burkina-Faso while they were in London for a Concert at the Troxy, and they will receive a whopping sum of $1 Million Dollars as the Award Winners, in Ebebiyin City. Albums 2003: Last Nite 2005: Get Squared 2007: Game Over 2009: Danger 2011: The Invasion International singles 2009 / 2012: "E No Easy" (P-Square feat. J. Martins) 2012: "Positif" (Matt Houston feat. P-Square) 2012: "Chop My Money (I Don't Care)" 2012: Alingo
Won 2006 Hip Hop World Awards Best R&B Album (Get Squared) Best Music Video (Get Squared) Album of the Year Get Squared) Song of the Year ("Bizzy Body") 2006 City Mag 9th Awards Show Best Hip Hop Group 2006 Nigerian Music Awards (NMA) Album of the year (Get Squared) Music Video of the year (Get Squared) 2007 Channel O Music Video Awards- Best Duo or Group 2008 Channel O Music Video Awards Best Duo or Group Video of the Year ("Do Me") MTV Africa Music Awards 2008 Best Group MTV Africa Music Awards 2009Best Group 2010 KORA Awards - Artiste of the Year 2010 LIL PERRY PRODUCTIONS Producer of the Year 2012 Channel O Music Video Awards - Best Duo, Group or Featuring Music Video ("Chop My Money" with Akon and May D) Nominated BET Awards 2010 - Best International Act KORA Awards 2003 - Most Promising African Group (Nominated) MOBO Awards 2006 - Best African Act MOBO Awards 2008 - Best African Act * MTV AFRICAN MUSIC AWARDS- 2008
MARCH 2013
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 117
People and Places
The heartbeat of Nigeria
Lagos is a port city and the most populous city in Nigeria. Officially, the population of Lagos was last recorded at 7,937,932. Lagos is the second fastest growing city in Africa and the seventh fastest in the world.Lagos was originally inhabited by the Awori subgroup of the Yoruba people. 118 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
Under the leadership of their Olofin, the Awori moved to an island now called Iddo and then to the larger Lagos Island. In the 15th century, the Awori settlement was attacked by the Benin Empire following a quarrel, and the island became a Benin war-camp called "Eko" under Oba Orhogba, the Oba of Benin at the time. Lagos is a metropolitan area which originated on islands separated by creeks, such as Lagos Island, fringing the southwest mouth of Lagos Lagoon while protected from
the Atlantic Ocean by long sand spits such as Bar Beach, which stretch up to 100 km east and west of the mouth. From the beginning, Lagos has expanded on the mainland west of the lagoon and the conurbation, including Ikeja and Agege, now reaches more than 40 km north-west of Lagos Island. Some suburbs include Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry, and more local councils have recently been created, bringing the total number of local governments in Lagos to 57.
SPRING 2013
People and Places
Lagos Mainland Most of the population lives on the mainland, and most industries are located there too. Lagos is known for its music and night life, which used to be located in areas around Yaba and Surulere In recent years more night clubs have sprung on the island, making the island, particularly Victoria Island, the main nightlife attraction. Lagos Mainland districts include Ebute-Meta, Surulere, Yaba (location of the University of Lagos and Ikeja, site of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and capital of
Lagos State.Greater Lagos includes Mushin, Maryland, Somolu, Oshodi, Oworonsoki, Isolo, Ikotun, Agege,Iju Ishaga, Egbeda, Ketu, Bariga, Ipaja, Ajah and Ejigbo. The city of Lagos is the main city of the south-western part of Nigeria. Some rivers, like Badagry Creek, flow parallel to the coast for some distance before exiting through the sand bars to the sea. The two major urban islands of Lagos in Lagos Lagoon are
SPRING 2013
Lagos Island and Victoria Island. These islands are separated from the mainland by the main channel draining the lagoon into the Atlantic Ocean, which forms Lagos Harbour. The islands are separated from each other by creeks of varying sizes and are connected to Lagos Island by bridges. The smaller sections of some creeks have been sand filled and built over, however.
The Islands of Lagos.. Lagos Island contains a central business district. This district is characterized by high-rise buildings. The island also contains many of the city's
largest wholesale marketplaces (such as the popular Idumota and Balogun markets). It also has the National Museum of Nigeria, the Central Mosque, the Glover Memorial Hall, Christ's Cathedral (CMS), and the Oba Palace. Though formerly in a derelict condition, Lagos Island's Tinubu Square is a site of historical importance; it was here that the Amalgamation Ceremony that unified the North and South protectorate to form Nigeria took place in 1914.
Ikoyi Ikoyi is situated on the eastern half of Lagos Island and joined to it by a landfill. Ikoyi is also connected to Victoria Island by a bridge carrying a main road over a Five Cowrie creek. Ikoyi housed the headquarter of the federal government of Nigeria and other buildings owned by the government -including the old federal secretariat complex. The complex today is on reestablishment. In Ikoyi there are military and police barracks, a top-security prison and a federal high court of Nigeria. Ikoyi also has a number of ho-
tels, night clubs, a recreational park and one of Africa's largest golf courses. Originally a middle class neighbourhood, in recent years, it has become a fashionable residential enclave for the upper middle class to the upper class. There are also commercial activities in Ikoyi which is spotted in increasing number of offices, banks and shopping complexes. The commercial section is concentrated in the South-West.
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 119
People and Places
Ocean. Already, most of the land has been reclaimed. The proposed development is targeting 400,000 residents and 250,000 commuters flowing daily to the island. The project is planned to return the coast to its position in the 1950s and 1960s, reversing damage done by erosion.
Administration
Victoria Island Victoria Island with its annex is situated to the south of Lagos Island. It has expensive real estate properties and for that reason, many new luxury condos and apartments are blooming up everywhere. Along with Ikoyi, Victoria Island occupies a major area in the suburbs of Lagos which boasts of several sizable shopping districts. On its sea shore along the Atlantic front, there is environmentally reconstructed Bar Beach.
Iddo Across the main channel of the lagoon from Lagos Island, there is a smaller settlement
called Iddo. Iddo is also a railroad terminus and it is situated on the mainland. It is now connected to the mainland like a peninsula. Three major bridges join the island to the mainland. They are the Carter Bridge which start from Iddo, the Eko Bridge (formerly called the Second Mainland Bridge) and the Third Mainland Bridge which passes through densely populated mainland suburbs through Lagos lagoon.
Eko Atlantic City Eko Atlantic City is a planned 21st-century city, intended to be built on land reclaimed from the Atlantic
Lagos is a State made up of 57 Local Government administrations and controlled by a central State administration led by the current Lagos State Governor, Raji Fashola. Metropolitan Lagos is not a municipality and has therefore no overall city administration. In fact there are 16 Local Government administrations that control Lagos metropolis. The Municipality of Lagos, which covered Lagos Island, Ikoyi and Victoria Island as well as some mainland territory, was managed by the Lagos City Council (LCC), but it was disbanded in 1976 and divided into several Local Government Areas (most notably Lagos Island LGA, Lagos Mainland LGA and Eti-Osa LGA. The mainland beyond the Municipality of Lagos, on the other hand, comprised several separate towns and settlements such as Mushin, Ikeja and Agege. In the wake of the 1970s Nigerian oil boom, Lagos experienced a population explosion, untamed economic growth, and unmitigated rural migration. This caused the outlying towns and settlements to develop rapidly, thus forming
People and Places
the Greater Lagos metropolis seen today. The history of Lagos is still evidenced in the layout of the LGAs which display the unique identities of the cultures that created them.
Lagos Climate Lagos has a tropical wet and dry climate that borders on a tropical monsoon climate . Lagos experiences two rainy seasons, with the heaviest rains falling from April to July and a weaker rainy season in October and November. There is a brief relatively dry spell in August and September and a longer dry season from December to March. Monthly rainfall between May and July averages over 400 mm (15.7 in), while in August and September it is down to 200 mm (7.9 in) and in December as low as 25 mm (1.0 in). The main dry season is accompanied by harmattan winds from the Sahara Desert, which between December and early February can be quite strong. The highest maximum temperature ever recorded in Lagos
was 37.3 degrees Celsius and the minimum 13.9 degrees Celsius.
Tourism Lagos, subsequent to the remodernization project achieved by the current administration of Governor Raji Babatunde Fashola, is gradually becoming a major tourist destination, being one of the largest cities in Africa and in the world. Lagos is currently taking steps to become a global city. The 2009 Eyo carnival (a yearly festival originated from Iperu Remo, Ogun State) which took place on 25 April, was a step toward world city status. Currently, Lagos is primarily known as a businessoriented and a fast paced community.[25] Lagos has a number of sandy beaches by the Atlantic Ocean a few are Badagry beach, Eleko beach, Elegushi, Alpha beach. Two of the popular beaches include Bar Beach and Lekki Beach. Lagos has a variety of hotels ranging from three star to five star hotels. Other places of in-
terest include The Tafawa Balewa Square, Festac town, Lekki Conservation Centre, The Remembrance Arcade and the Slave Jetty in Badagry For the newcomers to Lagos, one of the many ways to get around is look at some of the local sites like VConnect.com and LostinLagos.com. They are like the local Yelp services. You can explore the Nigerian cuisine, Lebanese cuisine, Chinese cuisine and various other cuisines by looking up these local info websites. Some of the popular hotels include Welcome Centre Hotels, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Federal Palace Hotel, Stop Over Motels, Ikoyi Hotel, Sofitel Lagos Moorhouse Ikoyi, Eko Hotels And Suites, and The Palmview Manor. Visitors are mostly attracted to Nigeria's rich culture, entertainment scenes and vitality which Lagos city offers. Tourist attractions include Oba's Palace, the Nigerian National Museum, Shrine of Fela, the beach resorts.
Sources: http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/habitat/profiles/lagos.asp and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagos
Health
By Olufemi Saliu, M.D.
I changed my diet: ate plenty of vegetables, a minimum of four fruits, and a handful of raw cashew nuts, a table spoon of ground flaxseeds a day, and moderate amount of grains. I lost weight but my belly fat was persistent. One day I decided to let go of bagel-and the belly fat melted away.
122 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
SPRING 2013
Health
That was the situation of things until last summer when I stumbled on a Registered nurse in my hospital reading a very fascinating book: Wheat Belly, by William Davis, M.D. In addition to giving me an insight into why I lost my belly fat, it threw light on the hazards of modern day wheat. “If God did not want us to eat wheat, He wouldn’t have created it,” remarked a close relative during a visit from Nigeria, after I told him about the book I just ordered from Amazon.com that could turn what I’d told him about wheat upside down: whole wheat bread should be preferred because of the intact fibers that slow down its rate of absorption thereby mitigating against a spike in blood glucose. M y brother was right: the wheat created by God was meant for human consumption. However, the food scientists have-to increase yield, and cut the cost of productiongenetically transformed the original wheat. This modern day wheat is fraught with a number of health hazards.
SPRING 2013
The key to the hazards of wheat is in how efficiently it increases the blood sugar: it’s amazing to know that two slices of whole wheat bread increase blood sugar more than two tablespoons of pure sugar. It is the concept of this dynamics that I’ll try to elucidate in this article. The predominant carbohydrate in wheat, amylopectin A is so easily digested in the gastrointestinal that its product, glucose is rapidly absorbed. On the other hand, the main carbohydrate in legumes (beans), amylopectin C is so resistant to digestion that it’s passed on to the bacteria in the colon for digestion. The bacteria
break it down to nitrogen and hydrogen, not glucose. So wheat increases blood glucose; beans increase gas, and bulk in your colon. Persistently high blood sugar level may be compared to a car going at 150 MPH where the speed limit is 45 MPH. Cops are called in to maintain the order. In the blood, it is insulin. It drives the glucose into the cells. If you had your breakfast at 7am, by 9am the blood sugar would be so low that mental fatigue, hunger, and craving would set in. You’d be looking for donuts, bagels, coffee, or whatever you can find to eat. The two-hour cycle of high and low blood sugar can go on all day long. Eventually, the pancreas cannot meet the demand for insulin. Diabetes sets in. During the cyclic activities of insulin, the sugar driven into the cells is converted to fat in the belly, and o t h e r parts of the body. That is the foundation of development of high cholesterol, obesity, coronary artery disease, heat attacks, and stroke. The belly fat is unique in the sense that it secretes estrogen, and inflam-
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 123
Health
matory chemicals. The estrogen may cause breast development in obese males. The inflammatory hormones are partly responsible for the numerous chronic diseases in obese people. A good example is arthritis. In addition to carbohydrate, wheat has protein. Gluten, the predominant protein in wheat may cause celiac disease in some people by provoking a unique immune response that inflames the small intestine, manifesting as abdominal cramps and diarrhea. This condition is treated by total elimination of gluten containing food: wheat products. “When I gave up bread for a few days, I was tired, cranky, and moody,” said a friend. “I’ll rather cut it down slowly,” she went on. Her friend at work told me she couldn’t stand her mood in those few days. “I’ll do everything except quit my evening bread,” remarked a relative, when I was in Nigeria last April. He habitually washed down a couple of slices of bread with cocoa drink before going to bed. “I’ve personally wit-
124 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
My early morning salad: yellow bell pepper, kale, broccoli, and tomato
nessed hundreds of people report extreme fatigue, mental fog, irritability, inability to function at work or school, even depression in the first several days to weeks after eliminating wheat” said Dr. Davis in the book, wheat belly. “Complete relief is achieved by a bagel or cupcake” he concluded. I think most people are addicted to bread, and wheat products. Gluteomorphin, a polypeptide isolated from glutenfrom wheat-was shown by NIH scientists, in the brains of laboratory animals, to bind to the same receptor as morphineand its effect is reversible with naloxone, the antidote to morphine. So I’m not surprised some people exhibit addiction, and withdrawal symptoms in relation to wheat products. I got my wife, and my sister, Joke to give up bread. My relative in Nigeria has given up eating bread prior going to bed. After she stopped eating bread for weeks, my sister took a bite of bagel in her office in New Jersey.
SPRING 2013
Health
.
She went on to develop abdominal cramps. Joke was so sick that she said: I’ll never eat bread again. Some people develop such symptoms if they go back to eating bread, and wheat products. I didn’t have any cramps when I ate a little piece of cake on my son’s birthday. You might not be so lucky. My dear readers, if you are very serious about your health, I’ve got four words for you: say no to bread. By bread I mean everything made from wheatwhite bread, whole wheat bread, bagels, croissants, sandwich, multigrain bread, cake, muffin, waffle, pancake, toast, cereal, donuts, cookies, pizza, and wheat
SPRING 2013
pasta. The general rule is before you eat anything, read the label; if it contains wheat, it’s not meant for you. “What then can we eat?” is the commonest question I get from friends, and relatives. You may eat anything but wheat: . Plenty of vegetables (variety) . Moderate amount of fruits (variety) . Moderate amount of whole grains such as oatmeal, quinoa, and brown rice. These grains are also available in flour form. . Legumes such as beans
Raw nuts such as walnut, cashew, and almonds . Seeds such as flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds. . Fish, chicken, lean meet, and eggs. . Drink water but avoid soda, and malt drinks served at Nigerian parties (made from wheat). I habitually begin my day-by 6am- with a plate of salad made with kale (2oz), broccoli (5oz), bell peppers (6oz), and tomato (5oz); a cup of cooked oatmeal mixed with a table spoon of ground flaxseed; a handful of mixed raw nuts: cashew, walnut, and almonds; one banana-and a glass of water. A similar plate of salad is usually a part of my lunch, and dinner as well. In about a year on any-foodbut-wheat diet, my cholesterol dropped from by 100 points to 130. I don’t get tired in the mornings anymore. I’ve not had coffee in over fifteen months. My joints are strong, and mobile. You too may say no to bread, and construct your own any-food-butwheat diet. Try it for six weeks, and send an email about your experience to mail@lifeandtimesmagazine.com. If you’re already on medications, you may need monitoring-and need for medications might change. Don’t be too far away from your physician. Finally, do not take my word for it. Get your own copy of the book: Wheat Belly, by Dr. William Davis. You would never see food the same way again.
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 125
Youth
The When Question Young Nigerians will undoubtedly be faced with the following question at one point of their youth: “When do you plan on serving?” Serving refers to the state-mandated service year that all Nigerian graduates must complete before gaining employment within the country. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) started off in May 1973 with
126 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
the mission of promoting national unity among youth1. What is interesting about the when question is that it presupposes that one will defin i t e l y serve. Instead of meandering to the subject of whether one plans on participating in NYSC, the question jumps
right to the logistics of actually doing so. The eagerness behind the question at the very least leaves young Nigerians with the desire to give the idea of serving some thought. With this in mind, it surprised me to find out some years back that many Nigerians are not too thrilled with NYSC. According to them, the program lacks the luster and appeal that it once had. Although most will agree that its origins are well grounded, different circumstances in today’s day and age have removed much of the positive aspects that NYSC once offered. In the
SPRING 2013
Youth
safe for them to return there. Though some vexations lie in requiring most youth corpers to teach or farm, the fact remains that these NYSC reformations show that someone in power is listening to complaints that the program is no longer useful. The most encouraging piece of information I received whilst home was that a growing number of young Nigerians in diaspora are returning to Nigeria. Contrary to popular belief, NYSC has not proven to be a deterrent to these youth who are ready to join the Nigerian workforce. NYSC instead is merely a means to an end. I like last few years, the goal of promoting unity was dimmed by the mass killings of southern Nigerians who were serving in the northern parts of the country. Their deaths were a grim reminder that something must be done to curtail manifestations of ethnic and religious intolerance. Suffice to say, my answer to the question of when I plan on serving is not readily apparent. However, a recent trip to the motherland gave me a glimmer of hope. My peers living there, having recently served, expressed a sense of pride in doing so. Though frustrated with certain structural defects of the program, they viewed completion as a rite of passage and something that could never be taken away from them. I was also encouraged to hear that policies had been undertaken to
make the work done in that year of service more purposeful. One such policy is having youth corpers (as those serving are commonly called) fill in in sectors of national deficiency such as education and agriculture. In addition, Nigerians from the south may now contest postings to the north until it is proven
to believe that that end is to better Nigeria. There is no question that with more young people invested in the country things will invariably get better. Because of this fact, the question of when things will get better becomes more answerable. - Ijeoma Nwawka
1
To learn more about NYSC, visit http://www.nysc.gov.ng/index.php
SPRING 2013
LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 127
News and Politics
Eradicating
Poverty In Nigeria ____________________ BY CLEM AINABE, PH.D
Poverty – the condition of being poor; lacking or deficient in necessary properties. At any state, poverty can be humiliating and/or dehumanizing. In the abject state it can drive good, upright citizens, to do things they ordinarily will not do in order to survive. The percentage of Nigerians living in absolute poverty - those who can afford only the bare essentials of food, shelter and clothing, according to the national bureau of statistics, rose to 60.9 percent in 2010, compared with 54.7 percent in 2004. The sad thing about this is that everyone who juxtaposes Nigeria’s natural and human resources with its population invariably
128 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
comes up with the same result – no Nigerian or anyone in Nigeria should be living in poverty. Nigerian government, at different phases/stages had had to take on poverty and its attendant pains, perpetrated on the citizens. From mid 1980s to now, different policies have been put in place with the intention, superficial or genuine, of making major dents on poverty. Among them are: Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFFRI), Better Life Program (BLP), Directorate of Employment (NDE); People’ Bank of Nigeria (PBN); Community Bank (CB); Family Support Program (FSP); Family Economic Advancement
SPRING 2013
News and Politics
responsibility to demand from our government our entitlements that we entrusted to them … our rightful share of our national cake!!!
What can be done?
Program (FEAP); Poverty Eradication Program (PEP); National Poverty Eradication Program (NAPEP); and National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS). The major focus of these programs is/was to reduce poverty through proving employment opportunities and access to means (start off capital and/or credit) for them to start their own business. Unfortunately, like many well intentioned government projects in Nigeria, they did not live up to their expectations. They inevitably succumbed to the choking hands of corruption (government officials hijack monies meant for such public projects and kept them in private bank abroad thereby starving local projects of those funds that would have been used to generate employment SPRING 2013
for the people), short sighted government policies (a total disconnectedness between the poor and the policies put together to address poverty), among other things. Bad past experiences with government promises, shame,
lack of knowledge of their entitlements as citizens, despondency have left most of the poor in Nigeria to resort to other means, sometimes unspeakable, to survive. The most painful and unsettling thing is that most of them have taken on the attitude of “I am on my own”. I refuse to endorse this mindset as I believe that it is our collective
I am aware that what am about to offer may sound like a broken record, however, done collectively, it could make a difference. I believe that stiffer policies/laws against government officials who steal any money earmarked for public projects that are meant to generate jobs should be put in place. The policies/laws are
to be implemented without fear or favor. Give incentives to entrepreneurs to set up businesses in untapped areas of the economy with potential for growth. Long live our great country, NIGERIA. Dr. Clem Ainabe is the Chairman of the LIFE and TIMES Editorial Board LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 129
News and Politics By Chika Unigwe, Ph.D Winner, 2012 Nigerian Prize for Literature
Achebe
In his last book, There Was a Country, Achebe writes: ‘As a writer I believe that it is fundamentally important, indeed essential to our humanity, to ask the hard questions, in order to better understand ourselves and our neighbours.’ This role of the writer was one Achebe was very committed to. It informed his writing starting with Things Fall Apart, his best known work, published in 1958 at a time when issues of identity and nationhood were urgent on the African continent to his latest book which explores the ways the leadership of Nigeria has failed Nigerian citizens. But it was not just in writing that Achebe asked the hard questions. He lived it too. An ardent believer in the value of speaking truth to power, Achebe was a fearless, vocal critic of Nigeria’s failed govern130 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
ments. In 2004 and 2011 he rejected to accept the National Award given him by the Obasanjo government and the Goodluck Jonathan government respectively. Mincing no words in explaining why it was against his conscience to accept the award, Achebe wrote to Obasanjo, “Nigeria’s condition today under your watch is, however, too dangerous for silence. I must register my disappointment and protest by declining to accept the high honour awarded me in the 2004 Honours List.” In 2011, he wrote to Goodluck Jonathan “the reasons for rejecting the offer when it was first made have not been addressed let alone solved.’ He taught me by the way he lived that integrity is always, always possible.
is dead but he lives. As a writer, Achebe was one of my earliest role models. I remember reading Things Fall Apart at an age when my literary fare consisted mostly of books by Enid Blyton, and school taught me nothing of pre-colonial Igbo land. I loved the simplicity of the writing. But on a deeper level, that book opened up to me a whole new world at an age I was learning at school that Mungo Park 'discovered' the River Niger and that my forefathers were 'heathen savages' saved by colonization. It showed me that history taught in schools was not always accurate, and gave me the hunger to seek my history. More importantly, it gave me permission to tell my own story, my own way. Achebe is dead but he lives. In his works, and in the works of all the writers he inspired all over the world. SPRING 2013
Religion and Spiritual Affairs
Enemies Of Marriage: How to fortify yours against them
A man was crying over a gravestone saying “why did you die? why did you die?” Another man questioned him. “Did your mother die?” “No”. “Your father?” “No”. But the man continued to weep profusely “why did you die?” “Well, who died?” He answered: “This was my wife’s first husband.” For many couples, it has come to that. They daily regret and lament their decision to marry their mate. The marriage is a horror movie playing out in real time! A deceased Christian had the following written on his gravestone: “Beneath these stones do lie. Back to back, my wife and I. When the last trumpet the air shall fill, if she gets up, I’ll just lie still.” Wow! This Christian was willing to forfeit the resurrection in order to avoid any further co-habi132 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
tation or interaction with his earthly spouse! Spouses who are still alive and can’t bear the nightmare of what they call marriage bail out through divorce. Someone said “Love the quest, marriage the conquest, divorce the inquest.” Today, love quests that matured into marriage conquests are ending in bitter and sordid divorce “inquests”. If this article succeeds in helping your marriage to avoid becoming part of the “inquest” statistics, it has accomplished one of its primary objectives. I hope it does! Do you know that among Americans who have said their wedding vows, one out of three have been divorced at least once? George Barna, who directed a study on this, noted that Americans have grown comfortable with divorce as a natural part of life:
“There no longer seems to be much of a stigma attached to divorce; it is now seen as an unavoidable rite of passage. Interviews with young adults suggest that they want their initial marriage to last, but are not particularly optimistic about that possibility. There is also evidence that many young people are moving toward embracing the idea of serial marriage, in which a person gets married two or three times, seeking a different partner for each phase of their adult life.”
You will agree with me that this prognosis is grim and scary. However, your marriage does not have to help fulfill it. You can literally inoculate yours against the enemies of marriage.
SPRING 2013
Religion and Spiritual affairs
Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese warrior, wrote in his classic The Art of War, “if you know your enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.” Of course, it is obvious that if you know neither yourself nor the enemy, you have lost the battle even before it starts! I have identified below some of the enemies of marriage and what you should know about yourself so that you may make changes that’ll help fortify yours against these enemies.
Enemy Number One:
Lack of unshakable foundation. Many Hollywood marriages are built on the foundation of beauty, money, success and fame. These are defective foundations. They are shifting and sinking sand. Therefore the marriages collapse fast. Have you asked yourself: What is the foundation of my marriage? If it is built on “sand”, then when the wind of life begins to blow and the rains of life begin to fall and the flood of life begins to beat against it, it will crumble, but, if it is built on the “rock”, it will stand. There was a shipwreck and a young boy was the only survivor. He had struggled against the waves to swim to a rock he saw not too far away from him. He held onto the rock for three days until he was rescued. When asked whether he was not afraid being alone day and night in open sea for three days, he SPRING 2013
Enemy Number Two:
Lack of allowances for daily irritations.
Have you asked yourself: What is the foundation of my marriage? replied, “I never stopped shaking since I bear-hugged the rock, but the rock itself did not shake.” There is another rock the bible talks about. He is called the Rock of Ages- He is an unshakeable Shaker, unbreakable Breaker, and Immovable Mover. His name is Jesus Christ. When a marriage is built on this Rock, it has acquired an unshakeable, unbreakable and immovable foundation. All that the couple needs to do is take marching orders from the Rock. His manual is the Bible. It explains their roles and offers guidance on how to fulfill them. What is more? The Rock is also the One who empowers and enables them to obey these marching orders! Remember, it does not matter how gorgeous, luxurious and expensive a mansion is, if its foundation is defective, it’ll come crashing down. It’s not a matter of “whether’, it’s a matter of “when”. Lack of an unshakeable foundation is an enemy of marriage. Is yours fortified against it?
A couple had been married for fifteen years and is now having more than the usual disagreements. The wife came up with the idea of creating a Fault Box in which both will drop daily notes of irritable habits of the other spouse. At the end of the month, they’ll examine the notes, apologize to each other and cease their irritable habits. So, she diligently dropped off into the box notes of daily irritations: leaving the jelly top off the jar, wet towels on the shower floor, dirty socks not in the hamper and on and on. At the end of the month, after dinner, they opened the Fault Box and the wife began to read out her notes of what irritated her daily during the month. The husband apologized and promised to make amends. Now it was her turn. She noticed a lot of notes were also there but all of them have the same message, “I love you”! The instruction from the Rock in Colossians 3:13 says you must make allowances for each other’s faults… He also says you should always cut your spouse some slack and accept them the way He The Rock has accepted you: John 6:37: “The Father gives me my people. Every one of them will come to me, and I will always accept them”. God says “I just love you, period! Not because of what you do! ” Jesus treated us much better than we deserve. He made us acceptable. Not that we changed. He simply says “because of me, you are acceptable to God”. Accept your spouse as God has accepted youunconditionally. Until they overLIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE 133
Religion and Spiritual affairs
come their irritable habits, accept them. It does not mean you approve of these irritations. It simply means you are obeying the marching orders of the Rock and by so doing you are fortifying your marriage against this enemy number two. Lack of making allowances for your spouse’s daily irritations is an enemy of marriage. Is yours fortified against it?
Enemy Number
Three: Lack of loving acts Love is not an emotion because emotions cannot be commanded at will. For example you cannot command someone to cry or to be happy or be sorrowful. These are emotions and often uncontrollable. Commanding someone “don’t worry, be happy”, won’t cut it for a grieving spouse. It is a myth that you can “fall in love” the way you uncontrollably, accidentally fall into a ditch! Love can cause strong emotions but is itself not an emotion. Love is more than sentimentality. More than arousal. More than attraction. Love is a behavior. Love is action. Love is a commitment you make to do something. You make a decision to love or not to love. That is why God commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves and the husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the church and gave Himself for her. 1 John 3:18 says “Let us love not with words but with action and in truth”. Acting in love when your spouse does not deserve it is acting like God who loves you and acts in love towards you when you don’t deserve it. It is the highest form of love. When your 134 LIFE & TIMES MAGAZINE
spouse is being nasty, you act back in love not because that’s what she deserves but because love is what she needs and that’s what you’re giving her. Maybe you feel so abused by your spouse that you have lost all feelings of love and you are contemplating a divorce. Hold it: there was a woman who had lost all feelings of love for her husband. She hated her husband and wanted to hurt him all she can. Her psychiatrist advised her that the best way to accomplish this goal is to act in extremely loving way towards him, showing him unusual kindness, showering him with compliments and doing stuff for him that he loves- without expecting any appreciation in return! When he’s used to all these and he’s become fully dependent on her, having enjoyed her company greatly, he would do anything to not let her go. Then bam! She will file for divorce. “That will shatter him completely” said the psychiatrist. “He would not be able to bear the thought of losing you” he concluded. So the lady went and did all she was told to the best of her ability. She really excelled at them because she wanted him to really
hurt at her departure when the time comes. On her return date of appointment with her psychiatrist, he asked her, “so how did it go?”. She said the marriage is great now and the husband is so happy and in high spirit. “Great”, said the psychiatrist. “Now go and file the divorce papers”. “Never” she shouted indignantly, my husband and I are having the fun of our lives in this marriage. I love my husband dearly!” Feelings of love follow acts of love. You don’t need divorce. You need to start acting in love. Not acting in love in your marriage will rob you of loving feelings for your spouse. It can cause you to say “I don’t love him/her anymore”. It is an enemy of marriage. Is yours fortified against it? (To be continued) Oladipo Kalejaiye holds a Ph.D degree in law and was a litigation attorney in Nigeria, Europe and the United States for over 17 years. He entered into full time ministry in year 2000, and currently serves as the pastor of International Christian Center, Los Angeles ( You can contact him on the web: www.iccla.com, Facebook: iccla/facebook, Twitter: @DipoKalejaiye)
SPRING 2013
+\SU +S\ /PPY\^VO]]Vc
-YXXOM^SXQ 8Oa CY\U
KXN AO]^ +P\SMK
0Vc +\SU +S\ XYX ]^YZ 8Oa CY\U 405
^Y 6KQY] 8SQO\SK b aOOUVc KXN
MYXXOM^ ]OKWVO]]Vc ^R\Y_QRY_^
8SQO\SK KXN AO]^ +P\SMK y
+\SU +S\ YPPO\] ^RO WY]^ Ob^OX]S`O XO^aY\U ^R\Y_QRY_^
8SQO\SK -OX^\KV AO]^ +P\SMK y
/bZO\SOXMO K WYNO\X PVOO^ aS^R KX K`O\KQO KQO YP cOK\] KVV
WKSX^KSXON Lc ZK\^XO\] 6_P^RKX]K >OMRXSU 3LO\SK y <OVKb aS^R WY\O MYWPY\^ KXN WY\O ]ZKMO YX LYK\N y =K`Y_\ KX SX^O\XK^SYXKV WOX_ YP AO]^O\X 8SQO\SKX M_S]SXO y /XTYc ^RO LO]^ YP 2YVVcaYYN 8YVVcaYYN OX^O\^KSXWOX^ y
.OVSQR^ SX ^RO QOXO\Y_] LKQQKQO KVVYaKXMO$
b UQ :\OWSO\ ,_]SXO]] KXN b UQ /MYXYWc -VK]]
-KVV +\SU +S\ YX
"!! # +<35 -YX^KM^ cY_\ VYMKV ^\K`OV KQOX^
9\ `S]S^ Y_\ aOL]S^O K\SUKS\ MYW
PVc aY\VN MVK]] D U L N D L U F R P + YZO\K^ON Lc 2S 0Vc >\KX]ZY\^O] +O\OY] = +