Sat 26 Apr 2014

S A T U R D A Y WEEKENDBEATS 36

Ndiomu Brown Lures Moviemakers To Bayelsa

E D I T I O N COVER 49

CELEBRITY 24

Primordial Sentiments, Religious Bias Threaten National Confab

Shining Nigerian Stars Of Half Of A Yellow Sun

SHOWBLAST 33

Mo Cheddah The Rebirth Of

TheGuardian Conscience, Nurtured by Truth Saturday, April 26, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,903

www.ngrguardiannews.com

N150

It Takes Twins To Tango

Confab’s Committee On National Security Submits Preliminary Report From Terhemba Daka and Karls Tsokar, Abuja NDICATIONS emerged yesIheave terday that Nigerians may a sigh of relief if the 2014 National Conference approves the full implementation of the recommendations of its committee on National Security to be submitted when the delegates reconvene for plenary session next month.

The 24-member committee which is scheduled to meet again next Monday to put finishing touches to its assignment, is dominated by high profile retired security agents who were assembled by the leadership of the National Conference to proffer solutions aimed at tackling the myriad of security challenges besetting the country.

A delegate to the National Conference and member of the committee, Senator Bello Maitama Yusuf who gave the assurance after submitting a preliminary report to the main committee on National

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Feuding musical icons, P-square reconcile. See story on P2.

Insurgents Have Relocated With 191 Abducted Girls, Parents Allege From Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri OME parents of the 234 SGovernment abducted students of Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State yesterday claimed that the Boko Haram sect which abducted their children on Tuesday, April 15 relocated, along with 191 of the abductees, from the Sambisa camp to Bale village in Damboa Council on Thursday night.

The relocation, according to a 59-year-old parent who prefers anonymity and who spoke on behalf of other parents, was to flee from troops pursuing them in the forest.

“Since the abduction of our daughters, we have been living in fear, with increased anguish of not seeing our loved ones alive or dead.

• Nightlife Restricted In Maiduguri “We were told that soldiers are right now in the bush of Sambisa Forest, looking for these missing children since they were abducted 11 days ago.

“As poor parents who can not do anything right now to rescue our daughters, we put all hopes on the Almighty God and continue to pray and fast that our children be released unconditionally by these gunmen,” he said yesterday in a telephone chat with The Guardian.

He further disclosed that Bale village is a farming and herdsmen community located in the same forest and that the parents were prevented by secu-

rity personnel from searching the forest.

Meanwhile, in Maiduguri, the state capital, nightlife remained restricted, despite improved security.

The relaxation of the stop and search exercise on major roads and streets by soldiers and policemen after the February 14 and March 8, this year multiple blasts, has enabled many residents of metropolis to freely commute to and return safely from markets, schools and other public places that were targets of insurgents’ attacks in the last three years.

The dismantling of the roadblocks by soldiers at the Department of State Security (DSS) office, the Police

Command headquarters and Post Office areas on Airport road has not only facilitated the smooth movement of traffic, but also ensured motorists and residents of Bulunkutu and Gomari commuted freely and safely to their respective destinations.

Traffic hold-ups at rush hours in the evenings have also disappeared with the deployment of policemen and traffic wardens to main intersections of roads by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tanko Lawal.

The control of traffic flows, made possible by the removal of road blocks on Airport Road, Kashim Ibrahim Way and Lagos Street under construction.

This has forced policemen and wardens to remain at their duty posts till 8pm; and an hour to the 9pm curfew in the metropolis.

The only roads and streets that have multiple road blocks of used tyres and wood are the ones leading to the Boko Haram enclaves of Lawan Bukar, Budum, Shehuri North, Kaleri, London Chiki, Kumshe, Abbaganaram, Gidan Yasi, Gambouru, Galadima, Kofa Biyu, Zajeri and Bulabulin Ngarnnam wards of Maiduguri.

Even the markets that were opened by soldiers and policemen last year are yet to be patronized by customers.

A resident, Yahaya Musa, said: “Some of us are still afraid to go to Gombouru, Budum and Abbaganaram markets on Kashim Ibrahim Way.”

He said with the removal of road blocks early this year, the people feel safe going to Maiduguri Monday Market which is still guarded by soldiers at the El-Kanemi roundabout rather than going to the markets in Boko Haram enclaves that claimed many lives and property in the last three years.

“The pattern of commuting of residents and other communities in the metropolis has changed following the removal of road blocks on two major roads by the security agents. In fact, nightlife and other business activities have shifted to southern parts of Maiduguri, including the Government Reservation Area (GRA) on Damboa, Biu and Bama roads.

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THE GUArDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

2 | Saturday, April 26, 2014

Feuding P-square reconcile, Back Together Again

By Daniel Anazia FTEr weeks of rumours of A their imminent split which left hordes of their fans wondering what was amiss, one of Nigeria’s, nay Africa’s musical icons, PSquare (Peter and Paul Okoye), and their elder brother/manager, Jude ‘Engees’ Okoye, have reconciled.

In a series of messages on social media, twitter, the award-winning musical duo yesterday announced an end to the hostilities that hit the family, which had been on for months but only came to a head last week.

Taking to the twitter via their various tweet handles early yesterday morning, Paul @rudeboypsquare said: “Psquare! Stronger Than Ever!!!”. Shortly after, Peter followed suit with his short tweet @PeterPsquare: “Forever Psquare!”, while Jude @judeengees sealed it with “Family is everything indeed. Long live Psquare!”

Those who have followed the crisis thank God for restoring peace to family and the brothers on a day Jude, the elder brother, Jude is marking his birthday and also proposing to his former beauty queen girlfriend, Ify Umeokeke, winner of MBGN Tourism 2012.

Earlier reports had indicated that Peter had refused to be appeased despite interventions from close friends, as he reportedly gave condition for peace, saying his wife, Lola, must be accepted and respected by the family or they risk total isolation from him.

Although the main cause of the rift between the brothers is yet to be ascertained, a source close to the brothers said Peter was tired of the long years he had to plead with his family to accept the woman he has decided to spend the rest of his life with.

“He wants Lola to be wel-

Nightlife restricted In Maiduguri CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “Most traders and providers of other social services have since last year relocated from northern part of Maiduguri to south and southeast, extending to as far to Polo road that serves Jiddari and Silimanti wards of the metropolis, including the NNPC depot and CBN quarters, ” he added.

He said since the February and March multiple blasts, there has not been any major attack on residents.

comed in the family just as Anita (Paul’s wife) has been accepted irrespective of her tribe or age. This is his condition,” the source said.

Some said that it is not about his wife as the brothers had been at loggerheads for a while now and things just got out of hand. According to reports, the twins fought at

their dance rehearsal earlier in the month, but this was not what had ultimately prompted Peter to severe his relationship with the rest of the family.

“Peter has taken their attitude towards Lola even more to heart than what role he plays in P-Square, be it singing or dancing. He can

no longer endure the ill-affection concerning his wife,” the source added.

An insider said the crisis escalated when it was learnt that Peter had allegedly bought a house in the United States of America for Lola.

While the face-off lasted, fans and haters alike, took to the popular social media,

twitter and facebook, to express various opinions, say prayers, dish out steaming advices and also lay blames. Most fans prayed for a solution to the rift other than a break-up.

Ovation Magazine owner politician, Dele and Momodu via his twitter handle @DeleMomodu sought

an end to the crisis rather than lay blames. “We should not judge on the basis of who’s wrong and who’s right; the illustrious Psquare family made Africa very proud!” he said.

A leading telecoms firm which endorsed the duo had threatened to cancel their deal if both go their separate ways.

People watching a drama presentation by Gombe State Cultural Troupe on the use of long-lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets during the commemoration of this year’s World Malaria Day in Gombe… yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Naval Officer Kills Bus Conductor Over N500 Bribe TrIGGEr-happy Naval offiA cer yesterday allegedly shot and killed a commercial bus conductor at Warehouse Bus Stop, along Apapa-Mile 2Oshodi Expressway at about 7.15 am.

The Guardian gathered that

trouble started when the victim, who was later identified as Lekan, a native of Ibadan, refused to give officer, a rating, a bribe of N500 which they usually collect from motorist that ply the route.

According to an eyewitness

who works in one of the petroleum depots in the area, the officer killed the conductor with his service rifle. “The Naval officer took the boy’s life for nothing, just because he and his driver (Oga) refused to give the

Naval team N500. It is unbecoming of these Naval officers; they extort money from motorists,” he said.

As a result, there was pandemonium, which resulted in hectic traffic on the road caused by the Petroleum

Tanker Drivers Union (PTD) of NUPENG who took to the road to protest the killing of the young man.

The identity of the officer could not be ascertained at the time of this report.

Confab’s Committee On National Security Submits Preliminary report CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Security which met in Abuja yesterday, expressed optimism that if the outcome of the recommendations produced by the panel is accepted, Nigerians will begin to go to sleep with both eyes closed.

Fielding questions at the end of the committee’s deliberation which held at the National Judicial Institute yesterday, Senator Yusuf who is the Chairman of a subcommittee, disclosed that the panel dwelled on sundry security issues in its assignment and has submitted its report for consideration.

“We have submitted our report and have moved further to speak on various issues like National Security Council, National Defence Council, National Crisis Management Committee, the Intelligence Community Committee, the Joint Intelligence Board, the States Security Council, the Local Government Peace and

Security Committee and Boko Haram insurgency.

“We have discussed on these and have taken them item by item and we have given our own suggestions and recommendations to the main committee. The main committee (Committee on National Security) will come here and discuss generally on Monday with the other sub-committees.

“I am optimistic that if what we produced is accepted, it will solve over 90 percent of the security problems of this country. The country is under siege with the security problems like what happened in Nyanya, the abduction of the over 200 school girls in Borno State among others”, Yusuf said.

Addressing newsmen at the venue, Chairman of the main committee on National Security, Mohammed, Gambo Adamu Jimeta, a former Inspector General of Police (IGP), commended the subcommittee for a job well done,

and assured that it will form part of the policy documents from which a good constitutional provision may arise.

“They have done an excellent work and we have now decided again to go and come back on Monday to dust up the various committee reports and dovetail them in a way that they could make a very good conference report on national security.

“Luckily, some of the samples of the reports we have seen this morning (Friday) have a lot of promise for the realization of a good policy document and proposal out of which a good constitutional provision may arise.

“No doubt, the report will address the number of security challenges confronting the nation. From the content of the membership of this committee, there is a lot of experience and personal involvement in matters of national security”, he said.

On what new security idea the committee was bringing to

the table, the Co-Chairman of the Committee, Albert Horsefall explained that the trend in the area of security was changing by the day, hence the panel was poised to produce a blueprint that would assist security agencies to carry out their duties efficiently in the face of the challenges confronting the country.

“Security as you know concerns all of us and it is a moving vehicle. Every day, something new happens. And the trends are changing by the day. What we have done so far is to produce preliminary documents that will enable us to come up with a finale blueprint that would guide our armed forces and the country’s security services and other law and order services to perform much better than they are doing, especially in the face of the challenges that confront us today.

“We now want to produce an holistic security passage that will guide the opera-

tional commanders and leaders of the services to be able to perform better and enable Nigerians go to sleep with two eyes closed”, Horsefall said.

Members of the Committee on National Security include: Lt Gen Jeremiah Useni, Gen Alani Akinrinade, AIG Bashir Albasu, Brig Gen Mohammad Mansur Da-Ali, Brig Gen Don Idada-Ikponmwen, Maj Gen Geoffrey Ejiga, Gen Zamani Lekwot, and Maj Gen Alexander Mshelbwala.

Others are former Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada; Col Tony Nyam, Group Capt Canice Ohadumere, Gen Paul Omu, Group Capt Joe Orji, High Chief Jerome Okwuonu, Chief Gani Adams, Damian Dodo (SAN), former Governor of Nasarawa State, Aliyu Akwe Doma, Senator Ahmed Inuwa Mohammed, Hajiya Fati Dogonyaro Ali Monguno, Chief Nicholas Daru Nkemdeme and Barrister Samuel Adetuyi.

Saturday, April 26, 2014 3

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

NEWS

Catholic Church Tasks FG, Northern Governors On Boko Haram From Anietie Akpan, Calabar S a panacea to end the Boko A Haramcrisis in Nigeria, the Catholic Church under the Caristas Nigeria/Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), has called on the Federal Government to commence the immediate prosecution of anyone or group linked with the Boko Haram crisis for felony.

The religious group also charged northern governors

to go back to the study commissioned by the late Sardauna in the 60’s and implement its recommendations as it affects Almajiris.

A press statement signed by the Director Church and Society and Chief Executive Officer of Caritas Nigeria/JDPC on behalf of the Group of Directors of Diocesan JDP/Caritas, Rev. Father Evaristus Bassey, said, “the Federal Government should not resort to a policy of distraction, as its agents trade accu-

sations and counter accusations.”

“Treasonable felony should be distinguished from mere criminal action, and anyone proven to commit treason in the form of support to an organisation that is intent on dismembering the country should be brought to book, even if the constitution provides against criminal immunity. Government and politicians should avoid expletives that heat up the polity,” Bassey said.

He added: “Government should look more into root causes of the renewed insurgency. It is not sufficient to think that Boko Haram is only sponsored by politicians who are desperate to take over power. The level of sophistication and the assemblage of weaponry and logistics support suggest a well funded and technically sound operation beyond the capacity of local entities.

“The Nigerian government should also look into the spec-

ulation that some foreign nations are not happy with the potentials of Nigeria and are intent on dismembering this country using the forthcoming elections in 2015. It is amazing that no single Nigerian has been convicted for being a major sponsor of Boko Haram.”

While praying and sympathising with the families and souls of those who lost their lives during the Nyanya bomb blast, the Catholic Church said, “Houses of Assembly of

Northern states should legislate on Almajiri as practiced in Nigeria. They should study best practices in other countries and promulgate legislation that promotes the dignity of these children.”

“We suggest Northern state governors should go back to the study commissioned by the late Sardauna in the 60s and implement its recommendations as affects Almajiris. A process of dialogue and engagement should be commenced with the various Imams so that they themselves see the merits and do not counter it as something imposed by government.

“The Federal government should engage Islamic clerics of all sects and bring in Islamic scholars from other countries to discuss the true teaching of Islam in relation to other faiths, and Islam and violence; as it appears the terrorists are misinterpreting the Holy Koran,” Bassey said.

The group also suggested that the legislature should “work towards enshrining the rotational presidency in the Constitution as this seems to be one of the root causes of political conflicts in Nigeria.”

PDP Chieftain Urges Dissolution Of Political Structures In North-East President Goodluck Jonathan (left); Chairman, Presidential Advisory Council (PAC), Chief Emeka Anyaoku; and other members of the Council after a breakfast meeting with Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

CBN Issues Nov 30 Deadline To Banks, Others To Be PCIDSS Certified HECBN has mandated commercial banks, switches and processors to be Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCIDSS) certified

by November 30, 2014.

This is contained in a circular issued by the CBN Banking and Payments System Department yesterday in Lagos.

The circular was titled “Timeline for PCIDSS certification by all deposit money banks, switches and processors.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PCIDSS is a framework used to prevent, detect and appropriate security incidents in payment operations among banks. The framework helps banks to ensure safe handling of cardholder’s information at every step.

The apex bank said that it would sanction any bank that did not key into the PCIDSS before the date. The CBN added that from the pre-certification assessment it carried out, some banks were yet to comply with the mode.

“In view of the above, all deposit money banks, switches and processors are required to be PCIDSS certified on or before November 30, this year.

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Why I Won’t Return To PDP, By Amaechi From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt IVERS State governor, Chibuike Amaechi has refuted insinuations that he intends to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and leave the state indebted at the end of his tenure.

The governor, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last year, explained that though some prominent chieftains of the PDP had approached him to return to their fold, he has told them never again.

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It would be recalled that the Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, who Governor Amaechi has urged Rivers people to resist his political aspiration to succeed him in office, had alleged that the governor and others who defected to the APC were planning to return to the PDP. But Amaechi told journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday that though he had earlier hinged his return to the PDP on the return of all the state’s oil well ceded to President Goodluck Jonathan’s home

state of Bayelsa, his progressive stance, which he said is contrary to that of the PDP, remains a constraint, stressing that he does not intend to rejoin the party.

He said: “No, I am not returning to the PDP. I have finished with the PDP; I have told them. I made a promise that if they return the Kalabari oil wells, we will see how it goes, but until that happens.

Beyond the oil wells, I have told them; they have approached me, if they want, I will call the names of those

that approached me but that is not an issue. There are issues that are fundamentally different between the PDP and me. If I am progressive, it must be seen in the type of life I live, in what I do and how I relate with people and my type of governance.

“We introduced popular free education and gave laptops to children to take home.

There are so many things we are doing that are contrary to the ideologies of the PDP, but they are wonderful men and women”.

Do Not Be Distracted, Benin Monarch Tells Jonathan From Mohammed Abubakar Abuja GAINST the backdrop of the A growing insecurity and other social challenges facing the country, the Oba of Benin, Omonoba Erediuwa, has tasked President Goodluck Jonathan to remain focused and undaunted as he faces the task of resolving them.

Speaking through the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Ambassador Ebeheden Erediuwa, who delivered the monarch’s message to the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday, he stressed the need for Jonathan to have another term of four

years to enable him complete the development of the SouthSouth. Erediuwa, while speaking to State House correspondents later, said his father was disturbed about the developments around the country and had decided to send him on solidarity.

His words: “I am here on a special mission and having been an ambassador to many countries, I can say I’m a special envoy who is carrying a special message on behalf of my father who sent me here to convey this message to Mr. President that we have been following the things that have been happening in the country.

“My father is praying for Mr. President in the Benin Kingdom. He is praying fervently for him to be able to withstand the pressure. He sent me to let Mr. President know that the spirits of the ancestors of the kingdom are with him and they will see him through. And also to pray that the opportunity will come for him to continue the good work he is doing in Benin and other parts of South-South for at least another term.”

The President had earlier in the day held a breakfast meeting with the members of the Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) on International Relations led by

the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku at his official residence in the Villa.

The Guardian learnt that the meeting was scheduled to deliberate on the diplomatic implications of the current security challenges on Nigeria’s foreign image.

Speaking with reporters, Anayoku said the essence of the meeting was to assess the country’s image as a fallout of the crisis that the country was experiencing, saying the team offered to the President a lot of useful suggestions and asked him a lot of questions to which he satisfactorily responded.

From Emmanuel Ande, Yola O put a permanent end to the bloody insurgency ravaging the north eastern part of the country, the chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Adamawa State chapter, Mr. Joel Madaki, has urged the Federal Government to dissolve all elected political structures in the affected states (Adamawa, Borno and Yobe) to pave way for effective operations of the military.

Madaki, who spoke to journalists yesterday in Yola, alleged that some political office holders in the affected states were not supporting the military to put an end to terrorists’ activities in the area.

He said: “In my opinion, the Federal Government should dissolve all political structures in the three states that are under state of emergency. This will give the security agents, especially the military, full control of the three states and allow them to check all activities in the area.

“There will be no governor or other top government officials convoys again. So, security can check each and every car that is on the road. But now, there are people within these three states the security agents can’t check because of their political office and nobody knows what they are moving with. So, the best thing is to dissolve all political structures. That is my opinion but the security

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The gUarDian www.ngrguardiannews.com

neWs Court Orders stay Of execution On lekki-ikoyi Bridge

By Bertram Nwannekanma ePrieVe yesterday came to the lagos state government over the court verdict on the lekki- ikoyi Bridge as a Federal high Court, lagos, yesterday ordered a stay of execution of the judgment.

Justice saliu saidu, has in his earlier judgment on March 27, 2014 declared toll collection on lekki-ikoyi bridge in lagos illegal on the ground that there was no law permitting that.

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But in a ruling yesterday, the court granted a application for stay of execution filed by the lagos state government, on March 28, the day after the judgment was delivered.

With the court’s ruling, toll collection will continue on the bridge, pending the determination of government’s appeal challenging the judgment. “i hereby grant the application for stay of execution of the judgment delivered on

March 27, 2014 pending the determination of the appeal by the applicants,” saidu held. in his reaction to the ruling, ebun-Olu adegboruwa, the lawyer who instituted the suit in which the court delivered the judgment, said he was ready for the appeal.

“We will pursue the appeal.

The ruling is just temporary; it is not a reversal of the judgment of the court,” adegboruwa said.

The state government and

regional integration, Catalyst For national Development, says aregbesola

By Abiodun Fanoro sUn state governor, rauf O aregbesola has identified regional integration as a more effective tool for national development and promotion of equitable contribution to the national economy and national wealth. governor aregbesola, who said integration could either be at the political or economic level or both, observed that the benefit inherent was that resources could be pooled together and also that the arrangement would seek a joint exploration of each member-state’s areas of economic strength and advantage for the good of all. aregbesola said the southwest had realized this and had started working in that direction under the aus-

pices of the Development agenda for Western nigeria (DaWn), which he noted had gone far in the formulation of implementation strategies and programme of engagement for member-states and other stakeholders - formal and informal. speaking with journalists in lagos at the weekend after receiving the Centenary leader award from the Oodua nationalists Coalition (OnaC), a Pan-yoruba organization, the governor noted the efforts of the group in promoting the unity and integration of yorubas within and outside the southwest, including those in the Diaspora.

The governor, who observed that there was no state in the country that was not endowed exclusively with one

or more natural resources, believed that regional integration remained the best tool to bring them out for economic benefit for the country and the people, stressing that this would end the trauma of dependency on the central government and the poor state claim syndrome.

The guest speaker at the occasion, Professor ayo Olukotun of leads City University, ibadan, Oyo state, in his lecture titled, ‘People’s Power, Democracy and livelihood Transformation in the southWest: The Prospect and Challenges,’ had earlier underscored the importance of regional integration as the catalyst for regional and national development and made reference to the DaWn model.

the attorney general in the state, Mr. ade ipaye, who are both the third and fourth respondents in the main suit, had filed the application for stay of execution on the grounds of its appeal against the court’s judgment.

The court rejected adegboruwa’s allegation that the state government was not entitled to be granted the application because it had disobeyed the judgment.

“Though the respondent (adegboruwa) has alleged that the applicants have disobeyed the judgment of court, a party cannot be held for disobeying an order he is appealing against,” the court held.

The court added that the application by the state government fulfilled the necessary legal requirements, as

its appeal and adegboruwa’s cross appeal against the judgment presented “arguable grounds of appeal” and “recondite and substantial legal issues” to be sorted out by the Court of appeal.

The judge added that the facts presented before the court by the applicants, were in his view, “special and exceptional circumstances” which warranted the granting of the application.

The government had on March 28, 2014, a day after the judgment was delivered, filed a notice of appeal and an application for stay of execution of the judgment. in its appeal filed at the Court of appeal, lagos, lagos state government argued that the lower court was wrong to have held that there was no existing law backing toll collection on the

shonekan, Others Urge nigerians To Build institutions

By Debo Oladimeji OrMer head of state, Chief ernest shonekan has said that nigerians should build strong institutions rather than building individuals. speaking in an interview during the 10th Centre for Values in leadership (CVl), leader Without Title (lWT) sector leadership Tribute series in honour of Dr. Pascal Dozie at 75 in lagos on Thursday with the theme: economic Policy

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Tripartite Partnership for Progress and economic Development he said: “institutions are the things that will last forever. individuals have their span of life. it is better to build institutions. how do we build one? We just have to start building institutions from our individual homes. everybody must play a role in order to start building institutions.”

Chisco Transport expands Operations ne of nigeria’s foremost O fleet management firms, Chisco Transport limited, has intensified its fleet expansion programme with a recent introduction of 50 new 14 passenger capacity hiace minibuses. This is in a bid to meeting customers’ travel needs using the right fleet type to deliver the right customer experience service. in a release made available to The Guardian, the management resolves that it focuses on exceeding their customers’ expectations, noting that as a diversified global brand, the firm is spurred to drive this project, knowing that the transportation system will continue to have an impact on the tourism sector.

The programme started in October last year with the injection of 20 brand new Mercedes specs of medium/smart coaches.

Ogunsola For Burial he families of Chief T samson Oluyemi Ogunsola have announced his burial, which is billed for ansar-uddeen comprehensive college, iganmode road, ansar-uddeen bus stop, Ota, Ogun state. according to the family, late Pa Ogunsola who died last year would be laid to rest next saturday, May 3 by 12.00pm.

TheGuardian on Sunday

RIVERS POLITICS R E season Of Bad Politics V The Return Of CO Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

sUnDay, aPril 27, 2014

igeria is polarized, and extremely so. Those old lines of differences have resurfaced and are being widened daily by politicians.

President Jonathan and some governors are working from two opposite ends; the political parties are bitterly separate, never seeing anything good in one another. religious leaders are trading blames and cursing the day the country was formed. all these at a time a common enemy is chiseling away the heart of the nation. Whatever happened to BiParTisanshiP! The Guardian explores how not to polarize a country!

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Jonathan

Celestine Omehia —

A healing balm or more trouble for Garden City?

Nyako

BUSINESS NEWSFEATURE IBRU Amaechi

Omehia

Things the new CBn governor could do differently.

NIGERIAN DIASPORA: FOLLOW our pathfinder into an untapped offshore resource base.

These and more in The Guardian on Sunday. Grab your copy

Clergy eager to see benefits of emergency rule in northeast.

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Saturday, April 26, 2014 5

NEWS

Poly Students Protest 11-Month-Old ASUP Strike In Abuja

By Eno-Abasi Sunday (Lagos) and Kanayo Umeh (Abuja) HENational Association of T Nigerian Polytechnic Students (NAPS) Friday staged a mass peaceful protest to make known their grievances over the lingering strike of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), calling on the Federal Government to intervene as a matter of urgency.

Blocking the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, the students said they are tired of

- Call For Wike’s Removal - Govt Appeals To ASUP To Call Off Strike staying at home, promising to mobilise all students nationwide and shut down the Ministry.

The students body which accused Wike of not being capable of resolving the industrial action embarked by the union carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Wike Must Go,” “Spend Money on Education not Confab,” and “10 Months Old Strike, We Want to

Resume,” among others.

The Senate President of NAPS, Salaudeen Lukman, told journalists that Students had spent 11 months at home doing nothing while the Federal Government had kept mum on the strike so far.

Questioning Nyesom Wike’s ability to function effectively as the Supervising Minister of Education, he called for his immediate removal as a minister and urged for a reform

in the education sector.

According to him: “We have complained earlier that the Minister of Education is weak, he cannot handle this sensitive ministry. The need for Mr. President to sack barrister Wike is very important. The entire Nigerian students have declared Mr. Wike a persona non grata in all polytechnics in Nigeria. If the federal government refuse to remove him, we have passed a vote of no confidence on him.

The protesting students also urged the leadership of ASUP

Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, his wife, Mercy Orji, Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Abia State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Okechukwu Ogah and other government functionaries at the commissioning of the ultra modern Abia State Eye Centre in Umuahia the Abia State capital yesterday.

not to subdued in their pressure “the mission must be accomplished, there must be an end to the disparity between HND and B.Sc in this country, there must be proper funding for polytechnic.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim to chair the committee that would resolve the lingering dichotomy between University degree and polytechnic Higher National Diploma (HND).

Speaking at a special retreat for chairmen of governing councils of federal polytechnics and federal colleges of education Thursday in Kaduna, supervising Minister for Education, Mr. Nyesome Wike declared that with this development, the issue of dichotomy between these two classes of graduates would be resolved shortly.

Wike added that the SGF and members of the committee last week met with the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), as part of efforts to resolve the dichotomy.

The minister, who noted that other demands by ASUP have also been resolved, explained that the issue of the release of white-paper for visitation panels to federal polytechnics and federal colleges of education was being concluded at the Office of the SGF.

Power Can Make Nigeria One Of The Best Economies, Says Nebo From Kanayo Umeh, Abuja IGERIAhas the potentials N of becoming one of the best economies in the world when the current power road map is fully implemented.

The Minister of Power Prof.

Chinedu Nebo said this on Friday while inspecting the construction of the National

Seminar For Female Entrepreneurs

Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) administrative tower in Abuja.

He said power remains a veritable key to the country’s industrial revolution.

According to him, “Power stands as a veritable key to industrial revolution in Nigeria. Nigeria is now the number economy in the whole of Africa growing at a beautiful rate of more that 6.5% annually, but experts have said that if power is corrected and we have enough

quantity and good quality power that our growth rate might even get to double digit. That is a challenge for all of us.

“We are now number 26th economy in the world, but power alone can get us to faster than anything else and to one of the top in the world.”

He identified capacity building for workers in power sector as a necessary measure needed to adequately prepare them to function effec-

tively in a challenging global environment and eliminate expatriate quota abuse which contributed majorly to lack of capacity development of Nigerian workers particularly in the oil and gas sector.

Speaking to journalist, the Director-General of NAPTIN Engr. Ruben Okeke, said that the institute intends to constructs a 132-33KV-transmission substation for teaching and learning.

He noted that the original

cost of the full development of the project was between fifteen and fourteen billion naira.

“We are having well over twelve of thirteen buildings here. We are going to have residential, we going to have a two hundred and forty executive hostel, we are going to have gig buildings for distribution school, transmission school and generation school. Each of the schools is going to be equipped with workshop for training.”

O engage and empowRights Commission Probes Dangote, Soldiers Over Killing Of Seven T er women from diverse In the petition signed by 18 From Lemmy Ughegbe, Abuja professional and career back‘Petition Against Dangote has led to the killing of any grounds with practical busiHE National Human Rights Cement Plc and the Soldiers Nigerian, the commission prominent indigenes of Yion deal decisively with the in Gboko Local Council, ness insights, with a view to TCommission yesterday in DeployedToDangoteCement will matter. Every life is impor- including a Senior Advocate of improving their financial Abuja said it was set to investi- Plc Gboko Plant. capacity and global relevance, gemWoman Magazine is set to host an exclusive networking, educating and mentoring seminar.

With the theme, ‘Raising Global Female Entrepreneurs,’ the forum is designed to also provide them the opportunity to network, get mentored and impacted with business solutions and guidelines to enable them forge ahead in a challenging and competitive business world.

The event holds by 11am on Saturday, May 10 at Protea Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

gate Dangote Cement and soldiers guarding its premises in Gboko over their complicity in the dastardly killing of seven Tiv youths and injuring others who escaped.

Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bem Angwe made this disclosure while receiving a petition from a group – Concerned Gboko Indigenes, entitled,

Angwe said the Federal Government remained committed to the protection of lives and property and therefore the commission would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that it gets to the root of the matter.

“We will investigate the matter thoroughly and where we find that anyone or group have acted in a manner that

tant.

“We believe in the sanctity of life and no one can and should be allowed to take any person’s life,” he stated.

He assured the group that the commission would see to the justice of their petition, which he noted had raised issues of grave breaches of fundamental human rights, especially the right to life.

Nigeria, Sebastine T. Hon (SAN) and President-General of Yion Development Association [YIDA], Hon. Ande Per, they said the killings by the soldier followed protest of youths over the shooting of a Terhile Jirbo who “went to defeacate in the bush around the company and one of the soldiers demanded he removed the faeces with the use of his mouth.”

Stakeholders Set Up Committee For Peace

By Eniola Daniel PEACE group, Community Peace Initiative Development (COPEDI) has been inaugurated in University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) to produce a model for conflict resolution and peace building between the university and its host community, Aluu.

The committee made up of 20 members from the host community and the university, is the fallout of the incident involving the killing of four students of the university by some persons in Aluu in 2012.

The Purdue Peace Project (PPP), a project of the Purdue University, Indiana, United States of America in collaboration with Health Matters Incorporated (HMI) initiated a process that led to the formation of COPEDI for the purpose of facilitating participatory dialogue on issues that have potential of causing violence between the university and Aluu community.

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Ugwu-Oju Tasks S’East, S’South Professionals On Devt.

By Olawunmi Ojo OR the Southeast, Southsouth region to develop to its full potential, persons occupying positions of trust, professionals and the people of the region must begin to conscientiously improve governance and resolve existing conflicts.

President, South-East SouthSouth Professionals, Emeka Ugwu-Oju made the call yesterday in his welcome address at the inaugural South-East South-South Development Forum 2014 in Asaba, Delta State.

He also stressed the need to start investing heavily in people and increasing competitiveness and diversifying the economies of the region as a strong pre-requisite for growth.

In his speech, titled, ‘Can southeast south-south region of Nigeria claim the 21st century?’ Ugwu-Oju said the Forum was a project instituted for the adoption of a practical and action oriented 20-year roadmap for the rapid transformation and inclusive development of the South-East South-South Region.

Sighting the high rates of growth and development in such economies as Japan, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Botswana, he expressed confidence that region could imbibe and adapt the key characteristics exhibited by the high growth economies mentioned.

‘We can imbibe and adapt these characteristics to our regional economy to achieve similar high growth rates over the next 20 years.

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

6 Saturday, April 26, 2014

NEWS Kwara Needs More Pharmacists, Says PSN

Police Arraign Man, 65, Over Rape Of 15-Year-Old Boy From Willie Etim, Yenagoa

The prosecution counsel, Mr. Kenneth Adokeme, while arraigning the accused before Bayelsa High Court sitting in Yenagoa, told the court that the homosexual acts of the accused were offence against the provision of Section 139(a) of the Criminal Code, cap.14, of the 2006 Laws of Bayelsa state.

The prosecution counsel said: “The accused first committed the offence in 2012 when he (the boy) was returning from school at Okaka along the Mbiama-Yenagoa Road of the

state capital. The accused stopped beside the boy and took him to his house at BayBridge area, even after the boy told him that it was not his destination.”

“The accused tricked the boy into his house after telling him that he was a relation of his mother. But when he entered the house of the accused, the accused shut the door and asked the boy to remove his clothes. When the boy refused to obey him, the accused brought out a knife and threatened to kill him if

he dared shout. The boy had “ Incidentally, the boy started no option but to obey him. crying when he heard his OLICE in Bayelsa State have From Abiodun Fagbemi,Ilorin “The accused had sex with the uncle’s voice. The uncle was arrested and charged a 65HE Chairman of boy through the anus and the told by the younger sister of year old man, Uchenna Pharmaceutical Society of boy bled profusely. The the boy that a strange man Ignatius, to court over alleged Nigeria (PSN) Kwara State accused, after that, repeatedwas inside the bedroom with forceful carnal knowledge of a Chapter, Mojeed Oderinde, ly go to the boy’s school at closhis brother. The uncle forced 15-year old boy in Kpansia area has deplored the dearth of ing hours to take the boy the door open to meet the boy of Yenagoa Local Government pharmacists in the service of home to have sex with him.” and the accused on the bed.

Area of the state. the Kwara State Government.

According to the prosecuting The accused ran into the toiThe accused, who is an indiOderinde also alleged that counsel, luck ran out on the let and was apprehended by a gene of Anambra State and a salaries of pharmacists in the accused, when on January mob. commercial motorcyclist, was employment of the state 17,2014, he visited the home of The presiding judge, Justice reported to have started havremained the lowest when the boy and took advantage of Margaret Akpomiemie, compared with what obtained ing canal knowledge of the boy the absence of the parents to ordered that the accused be since 2012 with a threat to kill in neighbouring states and have carnal knowledge of the remanded in prison custody warned that the development, him if he made the dastard act boy. till May 9, 2014. known to his parents. if not reversed soon, could lead to mass exodus of pharmacists from the state.

The PSN leader during the third merit award of the society yesterday in Ilorin disclosed that the state government required at present 110 pharmacists as against 13 deployed to its hospitals across the state.

Out of the 110 required pharmacists, he said a pharmacist should be attached to each of 16 local council in the state for effective health care delivery system.

Oderinde said: “In Kwara state now, we need 110 registered pharmacists to serve the existing hospitals owned by the government. But it is unfortunate that we have only 13. That figure is not sufficient. There is widening gap between patients and pharmacists here. We are experts and custodians on drugs.

“Any nation that allows just anybody to dispense drugs is encouraging drug abuse.

Besides, we are calling on the state government to increase wages of pharmacists in the state services to at least move closer to what our colleagues get in the neighbouring Political Adviser to Governor of Delta State, Hon. Fred Majemite; Secretary to Delta State Government, Ovurouvie Macaulay; father of the bride, Mr. Akpo Esajere of The Guardian states. Pharmacists can’t be Newspapers Limited and Member, Delta State House of Assembly ,Hon. Tim Owhefere, during traditional wedding between Veno and Timi in Lagos on Thursday relegated in the scheme of things under the health secCovenant tor.”

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Anambra Monarchs Demand Judicial Inquiry Into Oko Crisis

Church Holds Crusade EW Realm Baptist Church N will end its crusade, which started April 24, tomorrow, April 27.

The crusade, which begins by 5:30 pm today at the church auditorium, 15/17 Omila Road, opposite Military Cantonment, Ojo, Lagos, will have Rev. Emmanuel Ufuah and Rev Mike Oye ministry.

The crusade, which is being hosted by Rev. Olusegun Aigoro will, however, begin by 9 am on Sunday.

St. Anne’s Old Students Meet Tomorrow EETING of old girls of St. M Anne’`s School, Ibadan, Oyo State, (all sets) comes up tomorrow by 2 pm at Triplecross Secondary Schools, 14,Wemco Road, beside Metalum Limited, off Agidingbi, Ogba, Lagos.

INGETREX Holds Exhibition In Lagos HE International General Trade Exhibition Nigeria (INGTREX) holds exhibition from April 29 till May 1 by 10 am daily at Plot A2, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.

T

From Chuks Collins, Awka HE crisis rocking the sleepy town of Oko in Orumba North Council of Anambra State, which led to the destruction of the palace and personal effects of the town’s monarch, Prof. Laz Ekwueme, has attracted the attention of the Anamabra Council of Traditional Rulers.

The monarchs, rising from a general meeting at the Anambra State Government House yesterday, called on the state governor, Willie Obiano, to set up a judicial panel of inquiry to immediately look into the case.

Also, speaking for the first time since last week when he was alleged to have been chased out of the community by some rampaging youths and other elements alleged to have been hired for the purpose, Ekwueme, who is the

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Ekwueme Alleges Threat To Life sibling of the former VicePresident, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, said his life was in serious danger, and therefore called for panel of inquiry on the crisis.

The crisis which, started with the appointment of Prof.

Godwin Onu as the rector of

the polytechnic, has been raging and allegedly got to a head on Saturday with altercation between some soldiers and some youths suspected to be mercenaries imported to cause mayhem in the community.

Before now, the town had been polarised between the youths and the elders, even as the community leaders had allegedly accused the rector of gross incompetence, meddlesomeness and secretly planning to relocate the polytechnic to his home community of Ezira.

‘Anambra Hospitals Are Mere Clinics’ From Isaac Ojo, Awka IVIL Rights Concern (CRC), a non-governmental organisation, has called on the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, to increase funding to health sector to improve the deplorable state of health institutions across the state.

Director of the group, Mr. Okey Onyeka, made the call yesterday while briefing journalists on the activities

C

of CRC in the state.

He noted that most of the 36 public health institutions in the state lack essential equipment for effective delivery of medical services to the citizens.

According to him, some of the general hospitals in the state, including the Enugwuukwu, Ekwulobia, Ogidi and Umuleri general hospitals, could be best described as mere consulting clinics.

Onyeka urged the state government to define the components of its “free education policy”, adding that Obiano’s recent offer of free education up to Senior Secondary School (SSS) level has not been successful as parents are still paying heavily for their wards in spite of the free education policy.

He, therefore, call on Obiano to come out and clear the air on the issue.

University Holds Conference

HE First Covenant T University International Conference on African Development Issues will hold at Convenant University, Otta, Ogun State on May 5 and 6.

The conference will feature Prof. Thomas L. Sargent of New York University- a 2011 Nobel Laureate in Economics- and Prof. Eric Maskin of Harvard University, the 2007 Nobel Laureate in Economics.

Some other eminent guests expected at the event include Prof. Jonathan Leape of the London School of Economics, former Minister of Finance, Dr. Kalu I. Kalu; acting Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Sarah Alade and Director-General of Budget Office, Dr. Okogu Bright.

Others include Prof. John O. Ifediora of the University of Wisconsin, US; Prof. Machinko Nissanke of the University of London among others.

APC Peaceful Congress In Bauchi Excites Wakili From Ali Garba, Bauchi LL Progressives Congress A (APC) Chieftain in Bauchi State, Alhaji Ali Wakili, has commended supporters of the party in the state for remaining disciplined throughout the registration

and congresses in the state.

Wakili, who spoke in Bununu during the Local Government congress yesterday, attributed the peaceful conduct of the registration and congress to the discipline and calmness of the supporters.

He said: “If you look at it, since

we started this APC affairs from the registration to the ward congress, we have seen how receptive, how interested, how peaceful and calm the members of the party have been.”

Wakili, a one time senatorial candidate in Bauchi South on

the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), was optimistic that the party has what it takes to change the system.

The APC chieftain said the multitude of people that turned out in the party’s registration and congresses so

far indicated that they are interested in the changes that are going to take place in their lives and the Nigerian state.

He, therefore, called on APC supporters nationwide to be prayerful, vigilant and peaceful during the state congress.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, April 26, 2014 | 7

METRONOTES

‘Lagos State Private School Safety Management Conference To Ensure Safety In Schools’

By Debo Oladimeji O ensure safety of school children, SchoolRun,Lagos T in partnership with the Lagos State Safety Commission is organizing a one day Private School Safety Management Conference on May 7,2014 for private schools in Lagos State.

The theme of the conference is: “Ensuring Safety Culture and Compliance In Private Schools.”

According to the Principal Consultant SchoolRun Academy Venture, Mrs. Bisi Akin- Alabi, the second Private School Safety Management Conference is to ensure that risks to life and property within the school environment are minimized. “They are managed and reduced considerably. To ensure that students learn in a safe and conducive environment,” she said.

She said that private schools in Lagos State will now be ranked according to their rate of compliance to the standard set by the Lagos State Safety Commission,” she said.

Akin-Alabi said that the conference is going to help participants to acquire knowledge on how to minimize accidents in and around the school premises and to develop skills in nurturing the pupils and students to be safety conscious.

“Every child must have a knowledge of safety and they should be safety conscious.

“For example, I was speaking to a parent recently and he told me that his wife would have died in England, if not for his five years old child that had been taught something about safety in school,” she said.

She regretted that we have a lot of cases in Lagos State

Obideyi

where children died due to lack of awareness of safety precautions.

“In one school somewhere in Ajao Estate, a child was choked in late December 2012. The child that was hale and hearty in the morning was dead by 5 pm, when the parents came back to pick the child up.”

The baby, she said, was just six months old. “The attendant of the school did not know what to do. This is one of the reasons why SchoolRun is interested in the safety of our children in schools,” she said.

She disclosed that Lagos State is the first state in Nigeria to take the giant step of organising safety conference for private schools.

“Safety is an integral part of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of education for all. Because we can not achieve education for all if the lives of our children are being cut short through avoidable accidents and needless dangers.”

According to her, the programme was launched in 2012. “We are just moving forward. We are making progress,” she said.

Mrs. Modupeola OlaObideyi, the Team Leader for the School Safety Project said that SchoolRun is interested in the safety of the school children in Lagos State.

“So basically we want different organizations that are dealing with children and schools to partner with us.”

She said that organizations and accredited safety agents must be registered by the Lagos State Safety Commission.

“There is a registration fees of

N110,000 for private companies and N55,000 for Accredited Safety Agents (ACAs). After registration they will have to attend our workshop. It is after the workshop that they will be given safety packs and they will become a bonafide member of school safety alliance.

“So that they can have access to the school safety catalogues that will come out in September 2014, as well as the school safety portal.”

Executive Director, Special Risks Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) PLC, Mr. Sina Elusakin said that the company is partnering with SchoolRun to provide safety to our children in schools.

“Our role as an insurance company is to ensure compensation for injuries done to children as a result of accidents while they are in school.

“Secondary responsibility is to ensure that the school environment is safe for the children. And in respect to all services rendered to the children, via bus services and others.

The school buildings should be built in compliance to safety standards, the teachers must have safety knowledge,” he said.

He said that the teachers must be able to know what to do when confronted with safety situations.

Elusakin said IGI has in place a good children education insurance policy.

“We hope to contribute to the success of the project and the future safety conferences, “he said.

He believed that the project will be embraced by the all parents.

Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mrs.

Dominga Odebunmi said that Lagos State places safety at the top of its agenda in its quest to transform Lagos into a model Mega City.

Lagos Safety Commission, she said, was set up by the law passed by the 6th House of Assembly of Lagos State Government, to set safety standards for all sectors involved in socio-economic activities in the state. “The Agency will also issue or withdraw overall safety compliance certificate at all levels.

“To achieve its main objectives, the first mandatory School Safety Conference was held in January 2013. It has become necessary to organize a 2nd Private School Safety Management Conference for those private schools which were unable to attend the first one.

“The second safety conference will take place in collaborations with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Poverty Alleviation of Lagos State.”

She said that SchoolRun is the Consultant of the project acting on behalf of Lagos State Safety Commission to facilitate collaborations beyond school boundaries for the event.

“SchoolRun is appointed to deal with all registration enquiries,” she said.

According to her, all schools will need to register for the programme at least three delegates from the following list: The Principal, Head of Junior School, Head of Nursery, School Safety Appointed Person, Kitchen Assistant, Head of Boarding Schools, House Matron or House Master, the School Nurse among others.

Akin-Alabi

Odebunmi

8

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, April 26, 2014

JUSTHUMAN

Save Suliat From The Stranglehold Of Tumor Of The Jaw

By Bukola Ogungbe

Suliat Bola Adepoju, a 42-year-old woman, is suffering from ameloblastoma, tumor of the jaw.

She is seeking the help of Nigerians to undergo a surgery.

OR Suliat Adepoju, the tumor of the Fswollen jaw ailment started in 1999 as a slight jaw. After visiting a doctor, she had a surgical operation at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, and that took care of it.

Later, the tumor started recurring and she visited Me Cure Health Care Limited, Oshodi, Lagos, where she was told that she would have to undergo surgery in India.

“After five years of taking drugs after the first operation at UCH, the pain recurred.

Then, I went to Me Cure, Oshodi, and complained to the doctor who told me that the facilities I need for treatment are not available in Nigeria; that I have to go to India for a surgery the cost of which is put at N6. 4 million. This money covers ticket to India, treatment, and contingency expenses,” Suliat said.

The tumor has severely distorted her face and stopped her from normal search

for daily bread.

She says she has been told that if the turmor is left untreated, her nasal and oral airways could be obstructed, and breathing properly might become a great challenge. She, therefore, pleads with concerned persons, religious bodies and corporate organisations to assist her raise funds for the surgery.

She expressed her gratitude to God saying that He has been helping her, through kind-hearted Nigerians. They assist her with daily feeding and most of them wonder how she still manages to do morning evangelism even with the swollen jaw.

“I still do morning cries (evangelism), and it is only through the grace of God that I don’t have severe headaches.

The doctors are surprised about my sickness, as severe headache is expected, and they term it a miracle,” she said.

Suliat who is single, pleads with concerned persons who are touched by her story to please send financial assistance to the account details below: Account name: Bola Adepoju Bank: First Bank of Nigeri

Don’t Let End Stage Renal Disease Be The End Of Ogunsan

By Laolu Adeyemi F nothing is done urgently to enable him undergo surgery, Oluwole Ogunsan may succumb to end stage renal disease. He has been bedridden since last year when doctors diagnosed him and discovered that his two kidneys have failed and have to be replaced immediately.

Thirty-six-year-old Ogunsan who hails from Ekiti State was diagnosed to have ‘End Stage Renal Disease,’ secondary to chronic glomerulonephritis, which made him dependent on dialysis since last year April.

“My parents have spent all their life savings and even sold properties to get the N4million needed for my surgery, yet we have not been able to do raise the money. We have tried all we could but raising the money has almost been a mirage because weekly dialysis also takes money away since last year,” he said.

Ogunsan is calling on government at all levels and well-meaning Nige-

I

rians to come to his rescue. “ I don’t want to die,” he added.

A letter dated April 4 last year and signed by a Consultant Nephrologist, Dr. A Arogundade of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, also confirmed Ogunsan’s ailment. The letter made available to The Guardian further explained that his case requires thrice-weekly haemodialysis, adding that kidney transplantation is the ultimate treatment.

When the Guardian put a call through to him, his voice failed him and he could hardly speak for 10 seconds before the calls dropped.

Twenty minutes after the short conversation, a text came in, reading: “I am very sorry, I am on dialysis machine and I must not be caught receiving calls”.

Readers who wish to help Ogunsan can send their donations to his account details and telephone number below.

Access Bank: 0061013526 Guarantee Trust bank (GTB): 0131554880 Telephone number: 08144068979

TheGuardian

Saturday, April 26, 2014 | 9

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Arts&Culture National Troupe Preaches Peace, Unity At Easter Chorale

Chorale group performimng during the programme

By Gbega Salau O re-echo the need for Nigerians to live as T one and in peace, the National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN) during the easter celebration organized an easter Chorale where it preach-

es peace and unity using music, songs and drama.

All songs sang were popular and hit songs of Nigeria artistes. Some of the songs include Oni dodo” by late fela Anikulapo kuti, ``One Love” by Onyeka Owenu, ``Taxi driver” by Late bobby benson, ``baby Mi” by Victor Olaiya Da and eko

Akete.

On hand to watch the troupe perform was a full house who was appreciative of the performance with occasional and intermittent claps, especially when they get elated by a presentation. This is besides many sang

Suberu, The Witty Teacher

By Omiko Awa exists in opposites — the good, the LitsIfe bad — no middle stand. And sometimes by very being, life presents its inhabitants

and Njoku demanded various sums of money from Adegoke and Afolabi. The two fathers never suspected any fowl play and ignorantly give out the various sums of money demanded.

The boys get the money, but the money could not hold as a result of Suberu eagerness to torture his master, Mr. Afolabi.

Things, however, go sour, when Suberu in a disguise resulted to assaulting his master, inflicting injuries on him. No longer able to bear the pains, the man speaks out and to his surprise discovers that he has been under the control of his house help.

While the trick lasted, Suberu dictated the turn of things in the affairs of the lovebirds and their parents. He played the multiple roles of a matchmaker, a counselor and registrar of marriages, who makes wedding dreams come true, despite overwhelming hindrances.

Written by Dapo Adenugba, produced by

with comedies that soothe their agonizing situations. for mere reason that some people could not solely bear their pains, when life turns its ugly side to them, they open their doors to guileful men, who come in diverse forms to defraud them.

Perhaps, it is in making sure that this crafty men do not always have a fields day that Abraham Lincoln, former US President, said: “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”

This apopththegm was recently showcased in a stage play titled That Scoundrel Suberu, adapted from Moliere’s That Scoundrel Scapin.

Presented by the Spruce Company, a troupe behind the Live Theatre on Sunday, the play centres on love, parenting and intrigues.

Opening with Suberu, a crafty, witty old butler and his friend Njoku capitalising on the crack that exists in the love life of their masters’ children Segun and Adora, and Wole and Simibiatu, to retaliate the wrongs their masters — Adegoke and Afolabi — and their children have done to them. Though Njoku is naïve and would not want to do it for the fear of being cut, Suberu talks him into doing it, as a way of making extra money and teaching the children and parents some sense.

Summoning courage the two set out to convince Segun, who has fallen head over heel in love for Adaora that they could make his father, Mr. Adegoke give him money that would enable him marry the love of his life.

The same message goes to Wole, who is in love with Simibatu, the daughter of Mr. Afolabi. While the boys look forward to getting some money from their fathers, the tricksters knowing, that the two fathers do not want the marriages to hold, tell them that they can stop their sons — Wole and Segun — from marrying.

Appearing in different forms that conceal their true identity to the two fathers, Suberu A scene from the play

Adenugba Oluwanishola and directed by Sunkanmi Adebayo, the play, which was first put up by the Dramatic Society at the Arts Theatre, University of Ibadan in 1966 tells how loose moral and parents not being close to their children could make everyone in the family to suffer some form of hardship in the hands of those they should be in control of. It also tells us that whatever position of the divide we may find ourselves, we should always be fair to our subordinate, contemporary and even our superiors.

The play was part of Live Theatre On Sunday activities to bring back live theatre.

And every last Sunday of the month, the group holds a show at the Unity Centre, John Street, Ikeja, GRA, Lagos.

along with the troupe, as well as shaking their bodies and foot while on seat watching the presentations. The members of the NTN on stage were colourfully dressed just as the costumes complemented each presentation.

Midway into the performances, a veteran artiste, Dejumo Lewis, who gave a brief speech, applauded the National Troupe of Nigeria for keeping the flag flying and sustaining the tradition for which the troupe was created and known for.

“We have all being enjoying the beautiful performances in songs, dance and music that the NTN has been dishing out to us. It is very clear that they have done well and I have associated with the NTN since inception and increasingly it has been living up to its statutory objectives as a true national organization.”

This performance of this afternoon for me is beyond expectation as they make me more proud to be a Nigerian as one can see the beauty, talents and resources Nigeria has got.

Lewis, who said he was proud of the NTN charged all the guests not to forget and loss the central message of the performance but to keep and work on it.

According to him, Nigeria has got all it takes to be the greatest country in the world and Nigerians individually and corporately must contribute to making it the greatest.

“The challenge now is to be patriotic for the unity and greatness of Nigeria.”

Speaking with journalists, the DirectorGeneral, National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN), Martin Adaji, said the choice of the theme of the Chorale, Peace and Unity was deliberate because of the mood of the nation. ``We decide to package something that can lift the mood of the people. `This country remains unbreakable and unshakable.

“There is no one that will drive us away and we should join hands and fight the enemies living within us. ``The things that hold us together should not be allowed to divide us. We sympathise with the government and other people that are hurting, one way or the other because of the challenges”.

He urged Nigerians not to lose hope, as great things would come their ways, as the country will get over its current challenges.

Author Donates Free Books to Students

By Emeka Nwachukwu bOUT twelve schools have benefitted A from the book donated by the author of ‘My Nigeria…. Peoples, Places and Culture,’ Constance Omawumi Kola –Lawal.

Students and teachers attended the event, which was held in Lagos, from different schools in Lagos. The occasion was spiced up by former kid musician, Tosin Jegede, who thrilled the guests with her evergreen song ‘Children, obey your parents’.

The author said the book would go a long way in making Nigerian children familiar with culture and people of the country. She advised students to make sure that they make use of the book, as it would assist in their understanding of the country.

The 98-page book is a compendium of people, places and culture of Nigeria.

The occasion was also used to announce ‘The Pride of Nigeria Annual Poetry Competition’.

According to the organizers, the competition aims to build skills and appreciation in Nigerian children, by encouraging them to write poetry.

On the submission timelines, the organizers said the entry submissions should be collated and submitted between September 30 and December 16 of a competition year, as no entries would be accepted after the closing deadline.

Prizes would be awarded to the best three poem entries, judged according to competition criteria.

moc.swennaidraugrgn.www NAIDRAUG EHT

10 Saturday, April 26, 2014

TRAVEL&TOURISM Japan Grants Jordan $6.7m To Build Petra Museum APAN will grant Jordan J(around 686,200,000 yen $6.7) to build a new museum in the ancient city of Petra, under an agreement signed recently.

The new museum is scheduled to be inaugurated in 2016, according to a Japanese embassy statement.

The 1,800-square-metre museum will showcase historical and archaeological artefacts discovered in the Petra region, and raise the local community’s awareness on protecting both the tangible and intangible heritage of Petra, the statement said.

“We are very much confident that this museum will also contribute to the community development in Petra region,” said Japanese Ambassador Junicho Kosuge, who signed the agreement with Planning Minister Ibrahim Saif.

Source: Jordan Tourism Board PHOTO: LAOLU ADEYEMI

The Gambia Sheraton Hotel pool where white men also enjoy cool nature of the beach

Eko Signature Debuts Amidst Fanfare

By Florence Utor T WAS indeed a signature Itheevent when EKO Signature, newest addition to Eko

Hotels Group officially opened at 145/147 Adetokumbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, last week.

Abia Adopts Carnival Cantata As Annual Event From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia HE Maiden edition of the Abia state Easter Carnival Cantata held on Easter Monday in the state capital, Umuahia has been approved to become an annual event.

The theme of the Carnival/Cantata that attracted people from within the capital city and other parts of the state was “ Showcasing Abia State Investment And Tourism Potentials”.

The state governor Theodore Orji gave the approval while speaking at the closing of the carnival at night at the township stadium saying, “ with our successful trail-run of this Carnival/Cantata for this year, I am emboldened to direct that this event be institutionalized as an annual event in Abia state just as I envisaged”.

Attributing the dream of the innovation to his wife Mercy Odochi whom he lauded for “ having the courage to pull it through”, the governor encouraged participants and tourists to continue to keep this date with the state “to experience the magic of Abia State.”

He observed that fanfare and exhibition of human talents have exposed the investment and tourism potentials of the state.

The Carnival was sponsored

by First Bank, Masters Energy

T

Oil and Gas, Bourdex Group and the state government.

State Culture and Tourism Commissioner Chief Onwuka Uzoma said the Carnival would boost state tourism and culture, divert the youths especially the unemployed ones off the streets.

However, a traditional ruler who spoke on condition of anonymity faulted the carnival for not featuring traditional rulers and their role as custodians of tradition and culture and expressed the expectation that the future event should address the lapse.

A staccato of fireworks released into the sky heralded the arrival of another hospitality establishment Lagos witnessed by crème la de crème in Lagos including the Lagos State Governor, Babatude Raji Fashola In his opening address, the Managing Director, Eko Hotels, Ghasan Faddoul said, the signature hotel attests to the leadership of the Eko Hotels Group as the heartbeat of hospitality not only in Lagos but also in Nigeria. He added that the project stands as a yardstick for many other projects in Lagos State.

He said the plan is “to make Eko Hotels a one-stop hotel destination in Africa that can compete with similar establishments globally,” and assured customers that excellence and quality would be maintained in the hotel.

Governor Fashola lauded the effort of the Eko Hotels Group, noting that Signature hotel represents another addition to the footprint of in-

creasing investment in Lagos that is growing the economy of the state in particular and the country in general.

He said the advancement in tourism validates the understanding that the future of Lagos lies not only in taking advantage of the digital age, but in using the asset to build the tourism economy of the state.

“This is a great development to tourism and hospitality in the state. It would increase business opportunities and GDP for Lagos and Nigeria.

“From my part, it represents the vote of confidence in the policies and the programmes that the government in the state has implemented towards ensuring that businesses thrive here, polices of efficiency, service delivery, access to justice, protection of citizens rights, proprietary and personal and I think that security of life and property.

He maintained that the new investment being commissioned could not have hap-

pened without the appropriate government policies which included the creation of a ministry of tourism, enunciation of the right policies that engenders confidence in investors that in spite of what they have there is confidence that they can increase their businesses by building and expanding as well as investing more.

“This is an investment that shows that our regulation is okay. This is partnership that works. There is opportunity for economic exchange and a whole value chain while Lagos is increasingly becoming the destination for real business”, he added.

After Fahola declared the opening of the Eko Signature, there were fireworks everywhere. The Governor and the guest were ushered to the poolside to experience all the refreshments arranged for the day. Two Nigerian entertainers, KCee and Mr. Song thrilled the

guest with their songs.

Other performances, from live band to group miming, also excited the guests.

The Eko Signature, near the old Eko Hotel building, is estimated to worth N2.5 billion. With a bold contemporary style and 171 exquisitely furnished 5 star suites, all details have been designed and created to relax and indulge senses.

Each room has an elegant and modern setting that goes with a contemporary European touch. It is well designed with a touch of class and furnished with the professional executives and guests in mind.

Apart from the 171 5-star suites, Eko Signature has other facilities like a bar, six meeting rooms, butler service, room service, spa and library. Their workers are well trained to understand the business environment and to offer excellence services to guests.

NTDC Seeks Support From SURE-P Ajibola Amzat IGERIAN Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) has solicited the support of the Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) in order to drive domestic tourism policy.

NTDC boss, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo during a courtesy visit to the parastatal reiterated her plan to move Nigeria domestic tourism promotion from mere rhetoric to reality, emphasizing on the immense advantages of promoting domestic tourism to Nigerians.

Sally Mbanefo added that she would grow the tourism value chain for jobs and revenues in furtherance of her domestic tourism agenda, to em-

N

power local governments at grassroots, create jobs for youths and reduce urban migration while also organising seven regional sports carnivals, which according to her will focus on youth participation and engagement.

Unveiling her 2014 agenda to the SUREP team, Sally said her administration would ensure publication of a National Domestic Tourism Calendar for all; plant Tourism Information Desk at major airports; production of an NTDC branded magazine for private sector and state government to showcase their tourism assets, and also, air a television quiz game show that will educate Nigerians on tourism sites, reward them for visiting the sites and also gen-

erate revenue for the corporation.

She informed the SURE-P team of the various Memorandum of Understandings (MoU), which she has signed with various national and international bodies, and corporations, which is geared towards achieving her lofty dreams for Nigeria tourism development, via domestic tourism promotion.

The chairman of SURE-P, General Martin Luther Agwai (rtd), who said he had been monitoring the giant strides of the NTDC boss, commended her unrelenting efforts at ensuring proper promotion of domestic tourism in Nigeria, which will maximally benefit the country and her good people.

“I must say that Sally Mbanefo has re-

ally done so well for our country and the good people of Nigeria through her aggressive and practical domestic tourism promotion. You are at home with SURE-P, as it is in our agenda to ensure promotion of tourism in Nigeria. Hence, you have our total support. With you at the helms of affairs at NTDC, we have no doubt that Nigeria tourism, especially domestic tourism, will be well developed and promoted to enable Nigeria and Nigerians benefit from the money spinning sector,” Agwai said.

The SURE-P chairman charged the NTDC boss to always be on ground to offer useful advice to the team on the development and promotion of tourism in Nigeria.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, April 26, 2014 | 11

Instructions on how to play the game Starting from the square numbered ‘1’, fill in the first word, writing from left to right. Also fill in the second word, starting in the box numbered '2'.

You will observe that the second word will overlap the first word.

Also, the third word will overlap the second word and so on.

Keep on filling the words in a clockwise direction until all the squares are completely filled, using the clues/ definitions below:

OVERLAPPING WORD GAME with OLULANA KAYODE O8023183727 olulana3@yahoo.com Solutions To Overlapping Word Game ‘48’

Overlapping Word Game ‘50’ 1. Red super giant star in the sky

1. Oscillate 2. Atelier

2. Arachnid with poisonous stinger

3. Recluse

3. In direction of land

4. Useful 5. Last 6. Stature 7. Ureter 8. Erupt 9. Tricycle 10. Clean 11. Annual 12. Legacy 13. Cycle 14. Cleric 15. Calabar 16. Barrage 17. German 18. Nautical 19. Languish 20. Ishmael 21. Elegant 22. Antigen 23. Negate 24. Tell

4. LGA in Oyo State 5. Damaging organism 6. Walk with long steps 7. Wish for something 8. Free from obligation 9. Preventing infection 10. Become frozen 11. Indented area on skin 12. Building 13. Frozen water 14. Study something 15. Almost 16. Short personal poem 17. Sign or nameplate 18. Make lawful 19. Cry out loudly 20. Beg earnestly 21. Treatment for disease 22. Succession of hereditary rulers 23. Isa ___, Bauchi State Governor 24. ‘’One’ in Hausa language

On The Path Of Winners

By Bayo Ogunmupe\ 08034673443 http:/ogunmupe.blogspot.com

Your Mentality Determines Your Destiny I

N creating a great destiny for yourself, you must adopt the right mental outlook. The right mentality is exemplified by making money in honest deals, settling God first through tithing and charity with 10 per cent of your income, saving 20 per cent for investment and spending the remainder on your bills.

In defining your mindset, we mean your mentality, your perception or way of thinking. By investment, I mean creating a channel, or structure by which you can accumulate and multiply your money or assets. Investment mentality is the mindset where money works for you instead of you working for money.

First of the shapers of your mindset is your upbringing. A negative background definitely shapes your mindset. You must never allow your background to hinder your future. Never follow the evil pattern of your father’s house. ‘‘And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house’’ – Judges 6:15. The verse above revealed the effect of Gideon’s background on his mindset and how it almost robbed him of his destiny. Gideon had to deal with the altars in his father’s house to enter into his destiny. He destroyed the physical altars that strangled his mindset.

The second shaper of your mentality – your environment is important in determining your future. Your environment is where you live, where you work and where you worship. A shark kept in an aquarium grows a few inches, when kept in

the ocean, it grows into its full potential. Don’t let your environment stunt your growth. For 75 years, Abraham’s destiny was limited by his environment. In order for Jehovah to bless him, God had to move him out of his environment to upgrade his mentality. If you failed to update your knowledge, you stay outdated. If you are not inspired, you expire. If you don’t upgrade, you stay downgraded. If you are not in the know, you cannot be in the flow. If you are not informed, you become deformed. Like Abraham, you may need physical change of environment before you can prosper. Never allow your environment limit your destiny.

The third thing that shapes your mentality is your level of exposure. Lack of exposure has made many people to have primitive, myopic and warped views of life. Which is why you need to venture outside of your domain. Traveling is a source of education and knowledge.

Traveling confers wisdom on the traveler. ‘‘Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all thy getting, get understanding,’’ Proverbs 4:7. Another translation of that verse is: Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And whatever else you do, get good judgment.

King Solomon of ancient Israel was reputed of being the wisest and richest man who ever lived. Surprisingly, that reputation was built on his being given wisdom, knowledge and understanding by Jehovah. Thus, you can enhance your personality by traveling, excur-

sions and reading biographies. What you expose yourself to determines the exposure you get. You must avoid exposure to things that would pollute your life.

The fourth shaper of your mindset is your associations: the people you associate with. You are enhanced or limited by the kind of people you associate with. A farmer once stumbled on the eggs of an eagle on a mountain. He returned home with one of the eggs and kept it among the chickens for hatching. Later the eaglet was born and lived with the chicks in the farm. The eaglet lived with the chicks, ate what they ate, behaved the way they behaved and feared what they feared.

But the older she grew, the more she noticed some differences between her and other chicks.

One day, she heard the cry of the mother eagle; something rose up within her; she spread her wings, surrendered to the wind and soared away into the sky. From this you will know that the eagle had always got the potential to fly. Her association with chicks had limited her, bad company had polluted her mentality. ‘‘Do not be deceived, evil company corrupts good habits,’’ 1 Corinthians 15:33. ‘‘He who walks with wise men will be wise. But the companion of fools will be destroyed,’’ Proverbs 13:20. You cannot contradict reality, your association determines your destiny. Choose your friends with care!

The last shaper of your mindset is your vision. ‘‘Where there is no vision,, the people perish,’’ Proverbs 29”18. Don’t allow your vision limit your

provision. Other mind shapers are reading the bible book of proverbs regularly, awakening the holy spirit through listening to your inner voice, otherwise known as your intuition and praying regularly.

Our champion this week is Samuel Johnson, by name Dr. Johnson, the English poet, essayist, critic, journalist and lexicographer.

Johnson is regarded as one of the most outstanding figures of the 18th century. His Dictionary of the English Language (1755) was the first English dictionary to use illustrative historical quotations.

Born in Lichfield, England in September 1709, Johnson died in London in December 1784. The son of a bookseller, Johnson was educated in the University of Oxford and set up a school near Lichfield. In 1737, he went to London with his pupil, David Garrick. His early writings were journalism for the Gentleman’s magazine. He came to public notice with his attacks on Prime Minister Robert Walpole. In 1745, he published a critique of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

Later he published a didactic poem: The Vanity of Human wishes. Though his dictionary gave him a great reputation, he still had to live on journalism.

In 1763, Johnson met James Boswell with whom he formed a famous friendship in literary history. Boswell’s Life of Johnson was the exquisite biography for centuries. Brilliant as Johnson was as a writer, he was even more brilliant as a conversationalist.

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THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, April 26, 2014

DIARY

Chairman, Ituah Ighodalo Foundation, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo; Wife of Lagos State governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola (second left), presenting the posthumous award for Late Rev Reginald Agiobu-kemmer for his great contributions to education to his eldest child, Mrs. Sereba Agiobu-Kemmer Pearse and the immediate past president Kings College Old Boys Association (KCOB), Dr. Sunny Kuku during the foundation award and scholarship ceremony of the Trinity house in Lagos…recently

Prince Ademola Dada, Chairman, Island Club (right); Sir Asiwaju Dosu Fatokun, Senate Group President, Island Club; Dr Tajudeen Okoya and Alhaji Deji Salako, Vice-Chairman, Island Club at the recent social meeting of the Senate Group of Island Club in Lagos…recently

Cross section of beneficiaries receiving free test for malaria, diabetes, high blood pressure among other diseases during a programme organized by the Lagos State Ministry of Health in collaboration with Apapa Local Council and Arewa Youth Foundation to commemorate this year World Malaria Day at Tego Barracks, Marina Beach, Apapa Local Council, Lagos yesterday

Wife of the Pastor-in-charge, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Revelation Sanctuary, Deaconess Edith Igbinigie (fourth right) accompanied by members of the Good Women Fellowship during a visit to the Bethlehem Orphanage Home, Ikotun, Lagos…recently

Grand mother; Mrs. Ngozi Okoye; Mother, Dr Mrs. Adaobi Ebere carries her daughter, Princess Adanganga Keira Ebere and her Aunty, Chidera Okezieokoye during Adanganga’s birthday in Lagos…recently

Associate Cowrie Partners, Folake Awoyemi; Partner, Sola Adeyegbe and Chief Operating Officer, Wetherheads Advertising Group, Funke Nwankwo during a press conference to herald the Nigeria inaugural Infrastructure Building Conference billed for June 26 and organized by Cowrie Partners in Lagos on Thursday.

The Chief Executive, Accrossgates Group, Mr. Uche Ifemeludike; Chijioke Amobi; Dr. Chika Samuel-Nwoha and Mr. Ikechukwu Okeke during Dr Samuel-Nwoha’s induction at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos…recently

Country Director, Development Africa, Joshua Kempeneer (left); Managing Director of Total Nigeria Plc, Alexis Vovk and Deputy Managing Director, Total E&P Downstream Deepwater, Mr. Charles Ngoka, during the flag off three days Anti-Malaria outreach programme sponsored by Total Group of Companies and Development Africa in commemoration of 2014 World Malaria Day at Ajiran, Eti Osa Local council area of Lagos…recently

President, Royal Elites Association (REA), Mrs. Oluseyi Nikki Ojikutu, an Anesthetic practitioner at King’s College Hospital, United Kingdom (third right); Dr. Fola Rogers-Saliu, Secretary-General to the Honourary Consul to the Republic of Djibouti in Nigeria (second right) and other members of REA, presenting a cheque to the General Manger of Heritage Homes, Mrs. Vivian Olakitan Osuntokun during their visit to the orphanage on Wednesday, as part of activities to celebrate Ojikutu’s and Rogers’s birthday in Lagos.

Miss Oladipupo Mariam and other students during their convocation ceremony held recently at the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos

Chairman, Red Cross School Sub-committee, Molara Ehindero; Head of Retail Sales, IL Bagno, Oyinola Majekodumi and Financial Controller, IL Bagno, Smart Akusebo during the unveiling of the toilet facilities renovated by IL Bagno for the Red Cross Motherless Babies Home, Yaba, Lagos

Saturday, April 26, 2014 | 13

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

SHORT STORY

By Segun Durowaiye (08055356855)

A Great Coincidence A

T the age of 17, Salome was heavily pregnant with a child who had no father.

What manner of a woman could be pregnant with a child with no father? Many years back, she was neck-deep into prostitution. In fact, she had been in that ignoble profession at a very tender age. She was so wayward and promiscuous that she ran away from home and started living on the streets eking out a living as a prostitute without her parents’ consent.

Heavens, Salome was beautiful! Perhaps she thought being beautiful was a license to be promiscuous and lascivious. She had everything in the right proportions. She had a dazzling light skin, unblemished, spotless and soft like the hibiscus flower. She had starry eyes and sparkling white teeth. Her boobs were round, full and tempting. She was tall and charming. Her sensuous curves could turn a saint into a sinner. Her ethereal beauty was so intimidating and enchanting that she felt she must sell her womanhood for money.

Salome had a secret plan in mind concerning the yet unborn baby in her womb. She actually wanted to sell the baby immediately after delivery for filthy lucre. That was her master plan and reason for keeping the pregnancy. She had discussed this with some young girls in her age group who were also in the same dirty trade with her.

Most young girls had the dangerous and risky habit of committing abortion on monthly basis without the fear of God and disregarding the fatal consequences of their actions. Salome was no exception; in fact, she could be called the queen of prostitutes at her young age regarding her dynamic exploits and skill in the profession.

One eventful Thursday morning, Salome was feeling the throes of labour and she realised her time of delivery must be around the corner. Pronto, she called one of her friends to accompany her to the illegal ‘delivery home’ where she would finally sell her baby after giving birth. Within thirty minutes, they were there amid the pains and agony of pregnancy.

The religious belief that ‘God is slow to anger’ became manifest here because she gave birth safely and easily. She was extremely happy when she was delivered of a bouncing baby boy. She knew there and then that she would be several thousands of naira richer within the next few minutes. She had initially bargained with the handlers of the ‘delivery home’ that she wanted one hundred thou-

sand naira for her baby. The baby boy was collected from her and the proprietor of the ‘delivery home’ handed her the total cash. The proprietor was a robust-looking man who looked like someone in his late forties.

She beamed with smile and said with glee, “Thank you sir!” Salome was living in Aguda, Surulere, Lagos when this incident took place. She took her money with excitement, counted it and left the premises. She continued with her unholy job without much ado and not minding the numerous dangers inherent in it.

Her baby was bought by the Nnanas who were a successful and rich. The Nnanas were a childless couple who were so desperate to raise a child at all costs. They bought Salome’s baby for five hundred thousand naira from the proprietor and took him to Imo State where they lived and did business. They raised the baby in a wealthy environment and gave him good education and all he needed to be a successful young man.

He was named David. He attended the best schools in town for his primary, secondary and tertiary education. One particular day when David was around 17, one of his friends poked a hurtful joke at him by calling him a boy sold into slavery by a poor prostitute mother. He felt so bad that he cried and ran to his foster parents to ask them who actually gave birth to him. All along he didn’t know that the Nnanas were not his biological parents. He didn’t have the slightest inkling that they weren’t his true parents because of the care and love they showered on him.

“Tell me my true parents or I’ll kill myself…”

David told his foster dad that day. “I’m tired of hearing insults from neighbours and friends alike.”

“We are sorry, David, you must accept your fate and bear it stoically and courageously.

There’s nothing we can do, it’s a long, painful history. Just accept your fate. We don’t know how to locate your real mum…I’m sorry, I just hope she’s still alive…” the elderly man replied while hugging David who was really shedding painful tears.

Despite the fact that he lived in an affluent home with all the trappings of wealth, David wasn’t happy because he didn’t know his real parents. David was a light-skinned, tall and handsome young man. He was very brilliant and had As in all his examinations at the secondary school. He attended Imo State University and graduated in flying colours. He was the best student in the social science department that very year. He had a B.Sc in Business Administration and also Masters in Economics.

All these happened many years back. Salome was now a grown up woman in her mid-50s; actually she was 57 years old. She had no other child except the baby she sold for one hundred thousand naira in the past. She had no husband and no acquaintance but lived alone in a single room located at Mushin, a Lagos suburb.

The life she had lived in the past still haunted her. She was now working as a cleaner in BW International Merchant Bank based in Lagos Island. She had stopped doing her ungodly profession.

One Monday morning, Salome arrived the premises of her working place very late. It had been her habit to get there late almost every day. The security man was angry this time around; he accosted her and scolded her for being an habitual late comer.

“I’ll make sure you are sacked from this company, you stupid woman,” the security man said with unmitigated annoyance. “You’re fond of coming to this office late every time. If you can’t do this job why not stay at home or find another job elsewhere?”

“Please, don’t threaten me or talk to me like that. I live very far. That’s why I have this problem.” Salome replied him tremblingly.

“You’re crazy to tell me such nonsense. I promise you’ll be sacked here soon,” the security man replied.

“Why d’you have to abuse me that way because I’m late?” Salome questioned.

But instead of a verbal reply the security man gave Salome a thunderous slap on her cheek. The frail-looking woman fell down and her eyes was filled with painful tears. The security man grabbed her again and gave her three more dirty slaps. Salome couldn’t control her emotions again as she started crying ceaselessly. She staggered to a corner in the bank’s premises and resolved in her mind to kill herself by committing suicide in a most tragic way.

Salome went down memory lane, thinking about her bitter experiences in life and concluded to end it all that very day. She was still crying uncontrollably and wondering at the cruel treatment when the Managing Director of BW International Merchant Bank saw her in that melancholic state. He was approaching his chauffeur-driven expensive car when he saw the troubled woman. He moved closer to find out what the problem was.

“Hello woman, what’s the problem? Why are you crying?” the ebullient and smooth-talking director asked. He brought out his handker-

FITNESS

By Oyinkan Talabi(Bodyworks@theequilibrumcenter)

F

LEXIBILITY is a key component to our physical and mental wellbeing. It seems unnecessary. I have even heard some men comment that it is for women only.

Fortunately or unfortunately, stretching is the only way to gain flexibility A major benefit is that it reduces your risk of injury. How? Flexibility is about removing tightness in the muscles, increasing their range of movement and keeping them supple.

This tightness is what affects how quickly your physical body responds to your mental reflexes in times of danger.

Increasing muscle range of movement is also very necessary for restoring balance to the body after hours of movement or lack of movement.

Some people workout regularly and don’t stretch. This is very dangerous, because during the exercise process, your muscles (dependant on what muscle groups you are working) are constantly elongating and contracting. After exercise, the muscles will shrink, becoming shorter and tighter. The stretching process helps to reduce the shrinkage that happens.

Once your body is out of balance, you are again more open to injuries. In fact, injuries just show up everywhere, with back pain being one of the most common.

Stretching is also great for calming your head and keeping you refreshed long after you have finished the stretch.

Below are some poses that will help balance you out while working on you.

Throughout your stretches, keep your breath even and regular and hold your stomach mus-

Stretches cles in as much as you can The first two poses are to be done on one side before repeating on the other side.

Stand with your feet about four feet apart. Turn your left foot slightly in towards your right and your right foot also turns right at a 90-degree angle. Turn your hips to face your right foot and bring your hands up to shoulder level parallel to the floor.

Take a deep breath in and as you exhale, bend your right knee over your right foot as parallel to the floor as you can. Keep your face and shoulders relaxed, but imagine your hands are

being pulled away from you in opposite directions.

Keep yourself strong and centered, your stomach muscles in hold for five breaths. Then move to the next pose.

Muscles Works Quadriceps (top of thigh), Hamstring (back of thigh), Calfs, Hip Flexors, Rotator cuff- (shoulders), Biceps and Triceps (front and back of arm) From the above pose, bring your left hand to the floor next to your right foot; turn your left foot so your weight also moves to the ball of your foot.

Stretch your right hand up towards the ceiling

chief and cleaned the tears off Salome’s face.

“Thanks sir…you can’t solve my problem…”

Salome replied between sobs, “by this time tomorrow I’ll be a dead woman…I swear I’ll commit suicide…no one can make me change my mind. I’ve been maltreated, insulted and assaulted by the security man for coming late and I’ll soon lose my job…”

“No one will sack you from this bank ,I assure you.” the director said while restoring back her hope and confidence.

“Please, hear my story sir. I’ve been through hell in life and just feel the next thing to do is to die a gruesome death. Let me brief you about my life.”

Within some few minutes, Salome narrated her past history to him and he listened carefully and attentively. Just then, as Salome wiped the tears streaming down her face with her cloth, she properly scrutinized the face of the man consoling her and talking to her. She wondered that the director had the same look and colour like her. The director himself wondered that the poor woman he was consoling had the same appearance like him and light-skinned.

The resemblance was just too much. The director asked her some questions regarding her background and she told him the plain truth.

Alas, the Director was David Nnana, the very son Salome had sold for one hundred thousand naira many years ago. It was the greatest coincidence of all time! David burst into tears and wept while hugging his lost mum. It was a bitter and sweet reunion. In absolute tears, they both spoke. David was 45 years old while Salome was 57 years old.

“You shouldn’t have sold me my mum, why did you do it?” David asked his now repentant mum.

“It’s a painful world my son… a world filled with injustice and oppression…it was a big and costly mistake on my part. I shouldn’t have done it…” Salome replied tearfully and sorrowfully.

“Mother, you’ll stop this job instantly and pack into one of the duplexes I recently completed at Ikeja G.R.A,” David said while strolling into his office with his mum. “I’ll give you a car with a driver to take you anywhere you so wish.

I’ll take care of your needs as from today onward. You have no problem.”

That was how Almighty God arranged the meeting of Salome and David 45 years later. Salome now lived a life of opulence she never dreamt of in her imagination. God is faithful.

(imagine your hand pulled by a rope from the ceiling). Turn your face also towards the ceiling.

If your neck hurts, look down to your lower hand. Spread your weight evenly, but make sure your knee is just over your foot.

Keep your stomach held in. Hold for five even breaths. Repeat on other side.

Muscles Works Hip Flexors, Quadriceps (top of thigh), Hamstring (back of thigh).

Sit comfortably on your sitting bones. Bring your feet together about a foot in front of you by bending your knees and. Hold your upper body up, with your stomach held in. Place your hands on either side of you. Keep your shoulders and elbows soft while imagining little weights on your inner thighs.

Now stretch one hand over your head with your palm facing down stretching through your side from your waist. Keep yourself evenly distributed and make sure you don’t rest on the lower hand.

Muscles Worked Obliques (sides), Hip Adductors (inner thighs) Come to your hands and knees, with your knees directly below hips and your hands under your shoulders. Push up and lift your knees off the floor, straightening legs.

Take your heels towards the floor, relax your shoulders and let your head fall in between your arms.

To come out off this, keep your knees soft and walk your hands towards your feet and slowly unroll your self up.

Muscles worked Hamstrings, Calfs Try to do these at least twice a week. It might be uncomfortable when you start. However, just breathe into it and hold for as long as you comfortably can (who said it was easy, but it will get easier).

Love your body and it will love you right back.

(Info@bodyworksnigeria.com)

14

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, April 26, 2014

PART 2

Only the strong can take up serious construction jobs in NigeConstruction activities is said to be as old as man. And with the presence of an empowered body like Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI), the need to professionally understand construction standards as well as the best equipments for each job is imperative. Again, the selection of suitable equipments/materials for a particular project depends upon the design needs, among other factors. Meanwhile, time is of essence in construction operation. However, findings indicates that construction activities in Nigeria has drastically increased, with many firms focusing on low-result delivery due to sub-standard equipments and other challenging factors. Alh. Tijani Adediran Adekanmbi, Director General, FOCI, in his resolve to improve the industry, reaffirms that local contractors requires maximum support from the public sector in order to boost their performance and business, noting that it takes only the strong industry players to take up construction jobs in Nigeria.

ZAKHEM CONSTRUCTION NIGERIA LIMITED: Towards an improved 21st century construction needs AKHEM Construction Nigeria Limited was incorporated in 1992 to take part in Nigerian development projects, and has since its establishment, executed contracts in Oil and Gas, Water, Power, Mechanical, Civil and Building projects. As an indigenous company, in 2012 the company restructured itself to be in line with the requirements of the NORDIC ACT 2010.

Z

Saliently, over the years Zakhem has become a major player in global Engineering and Construction, with presence in four Continents including America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Middle East. It has under its employment, over thousands of skilled professionals in its worldwide network.

As a result of professional prowess, some of the on-going projects includes: 36”X450km Expansion of Escravos to Lagos gas pipeline

project. Similarly 18”x83km Gas Pipeline from OB/OB to IEFCL Port- Harcourt was recently awarded to Zakhem by INDORAMA, which is due to be completed in April, 2015; Ø42”X45km gas pipeline project from Obeita to Rumuji through Ubaita (OUR) in OML58, awarded by Total Nigeria Plc., which is a joint venture project.

Added to Zakhem’s good record is timely and quality delivery of projects. In 1992, Zakhem secured the Pipeline and Depots Projects Phase III Contract 3, awarded by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which comprised Detailed Design, Engineering, Material Procurement, Construction and Commissioning of 820 kilometers of 8 inches and 12 inches diameter pipeline and erection of 168,000m3 of storage tanks facilities.

In 1994, World Bank funded Project from

Lagos State Water Corporation (LSWC) was secured, for the Rehabilitation of Isashi and Iju Water Works.

In 1998, Zakhem secured a job from Pipelines and Products Marketing Company Ltd. (PPMC) for the Repairs of System 2C 16” Crude Pipeline Leakage at River Usuma. This was successfully completed and handed over to PPMC in 2001. This was also followed by Abaji Pump Station Rehabilitation Project Contract “B” in 2000 by the same PPMC and handed over to PPMC in 2002. In 2005, PPMC awarded the Rehabilitation of 16”X140km multi product pipeline from Mosimi to Ore. In 2013, PPMC awarded the contract for the supply of 70km line pipe of different diameters.

The Natural Gas Supply to New Power Holding Company of Nigeria Independent Power Plant

at Papalanto (Engineering, Procurement and Construction of Gas Pipeline), was awarded to Zakhem by NGC in 2007 which was completed the same year. In 2007, NGC also awarded the contract for the construction of 24”X32km gas pipeline project from Itori to Abeokuta in Ogun State including metering station, which was completed and delivered.

Other executed and completed projects by Zakhem include but not the least: Ethanol Blending Project (Phase I) at Mosimi and Atlas Cove Depots project in 2006; Ø36” x 198km Gas Pipeline to PHCN Power plant at Geregu (Phase I and II) which was awarded by Nigeria Gas Company in 2006; Emergency rehabilitation of explosion site at Atlas Cove Depot including clean up exercise and construction of temporary facilities for product

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Towards an improved 21st century construction needs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 evacuation and provision of emergency water system; Ø16”x7.4km Sectional Rehabilitation of Atlas Cove-Mosimi Products Pipeline; Installation of approximately 1.5kmxØ24” of River Escravos Crossing, using Horizontal Directional Drilling method from the Escravos Gas Plant (EGP) facility to the East Bank to the Escravos River which runs parallel to an existing 16” Pipeline by Chevron Nigeria Ltd. In furtherance, additional projects executed by

Zakhem are: 18”x90km Gas pipeline- Ajaokuta to Obajana, awarded by Obajana Cement Plc in 2004; Gas Pipeline from Itori to Ibese cement Plant Contract awarded by Dangote Industries Ltd in 2010.

Our safety, health and environment goals are zero accidents- no Injury to persons and no damage to equipment. This we do by ensuring that all necessary measures are put in place for the sustenance of such policy.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

15

Komatsu Panafrican equipment: One stop shop for construction needs rofile of Komatsu Panafrican equipment: PANAFRICAN Equipment Nigeria Limited was incorporated in 2010 as a division of the Panafrican Group, becoming the only authorized dealer in Nigeria for the full range of Komatsu products in December of that year. Established to meet the growing demand for heavy construction and mining equipments to service Nigeria’s fast-growing

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economy, Panafrican Equipment Nigeria is part of a larger multinational corporation with existing operations in Sierra Leone, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and planned operations in Liberia and South Sudan. We are totally committed to the training and career development of our Nigerian Staff, some of whom have already had training overseas. In each market, we offer a full range of services that Mr. Giuseppe Pozz, Managing Director, Komatsu Panafrican Equipment includes but not limited to sales of new and factoryreconditioned equipments, original spare parts supply, qualified technical services and technical operator training, full maintenance and repair contracts (MARC), warehouse and inventory management and technical training.

Area of specialization: We specialize in Construction, Agricultural and Mining equipments which include (but not limited to) Graders, Dozers, Excavators, Wheel Loaders, Dump Trucks and Backhoe Loaders.

Unique selling points: We provide world class quality equipment made with best in class Japanese production systems, which were developed specifically for the Nigerian environment; for conditions such as poor fuel quality and harsh operating conditions. All new equipment purchases also come with a one year unlimited hours warranty – a first in Nigeria. We also provide customized after sales services and parts; tailored to the specific needs of each customer.

Model Feats in the Nigerian market: We recently sold USD$35 million worth of Komatsu construction equipment to the Dangote Sugar Group. We have 5 units of PC1250 Excavator’s (109 Ton) currently working with Dangote Cement, with a further 6 on order for other territories. We are proud to say that these machines have given an average of 97 percent availability in excess of 8000 hours of arduous operation.

This has been achieved by working in close co-operation with our customer, Dangote Cement, whom we are proud to supply.

Business projection: To be the supplier of choice for Quality equipment from super-large machines capable of mining applications to mini units for urban use.

Nigeria is a market with great potential for growth in infrastructure and agriculture, particularly with the new backward integration policies.

16 | Saturday, April 26, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

TheGuardian

Saturday, April 26, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com

17

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Love&Life

... Celebrating The Feelings You Share!

with SIMON Egbo 07032944123

IN THIS EDITION

True Story: Senior Pastor’s Wife Impregnated

By Young Pastor In Same Church

Princess of

Love

LOVE ADVENTURE

Rabia Meets Her New Neighbors’ TRUE CONFESSION

RE- ‘My Boss Slept With My Wife Fertility Problems/Fibroid/Seeking Male Child: Do you have Fibroid, sexually transmitted infection/disease, find it difficult to get pregnant, have any form of infertility problem, miscarriages or need a baby boy or girl? Call 07025350586, 08122352054.

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If you want to be our next Princess of Love, e-mail or forward your photos/data to simonclar@yahoo.com Or call 07032944123 or 07031028714

Nollywood Actress

How To Build Loving Relationships H

OW many of us have learned how to build loving relationships? Where did we learn? At home? At school? There is an art and science to building strong relationships. These indispensable tips were written with romantic relationships in mind, but with a little modification, you can apply them to your friendships, family and even work relationships.

1. Create a safe environment where you can trust and share openly without being afraid.

Don’t interrupt, even if you need to put your hand over your mouth to stop yourself. Learn to fight fairly. No name- calling. Don’t make threats.

Apologize when you know you should. If you’re too angry to really listen, stop! Go into another room, take

RELATIONSHIP AND LOVE TIPS FOR THIS WEEK: space for yourself, breathe and “calm down.”

Remember: your partner is not the enemy.

2. Separate the facts from the feelings.

What beliefs and feelings get triggered in you during conflicts? Ask yourself: ‘Is there something from my past that is influencing how I’m seeing the situation now?’ The critical question you want to ask: ‘Is this about him or her, or is it really about me? What’s the real truth? Once you’re able to differentiate facts from feelings, you’ll see your partner more

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clearly and be able to resolve conflicts from clarity.

3. Connect with the different parts of yourself.

Each of us is not a solo instrument. We’re more like a choir or an orchestra with several voices. What is your mind saying? What is your heart saying? What is your body saying? What is your ‘gut’ saying? For example: My mind is saying ‘definitely leave her,’ but my heart says ‘I really love her.’ Let these different voices or parts of you co-exist and speak to one another. In this way, you will find an answer that comes from your whole self.

4. Develop and cultivate compassion.

Practice observing yourself and your partner without judging. Part of you might judge, but you don’t have to identify with it. Judging closes a door. The opposite of judging is compassion.

When you are compassionate, you are open, connected, and more available to dialoging respectfully with your partner.

As you increasingly learn to see your partner compassionately, you will have more power to choose your response rather than just reacting.

5. Create a “we” that can house two “I’s”.

The foundation for a thriving, growing, mutually-supportive relationship is to be separate and connected. In co-dependent relationships, each person sacrifices part of him or her self, compromising the relationship as a whole. When you are separate and connected, each individual “I” contributes to the creation of a “we” that is stronger than the sum of its parts.

The differences between you and your partner are not negatives. You don’t need to be with someone who shares all of your interests and views. We may sometimes fear that these differences are incompatibilities, but in fact, they’re often what keeps a relationship exciting and full of good fire.

6. Partner, heal thyself.

Don’t expect your partner to fill your emotional holes, and don’t try to fill theirs. Ultimately, each of us can only heal ourselves. Your partner, however, can be supportive as you work with yourself, and vice versa. In fact, living in a loving relationship is healing in and of itself.

7. Ask questions when you’re unsure or are making assumptions.

All too often, we make up our own stories or interpretations about what our partners’ behavior means. For example: “She doesn’t want to cuddle; she must not really love me anymore.” We can never err on the side of asking too many questions, and then listen to the answers from your whole self — heart, gut, mind and body.

Equally important is to hear what’s not being said — the facts and feeling that you sense might be unspoken.

8. Make time for your relationship.

No matter who you are or what your work is, you need to nurture your relationship. Make sure you schedule time for the well-being of your relationship. That includes making “play dates” and also taking downtime together. Frequently create a sacred space together by shutting off all things technological and digital. Like a garden, the more you tend to your relationship, the more it will grow.

9. Say the “hard things” from love.

Become aware of the hard things that you’re not talking about. How does that feel? No matter what you’re feeling in a situation, channel the energy of your emotions so that you say what you need to say in a constructive manner.

There you have it. Be kind to yourselves. Remember: change takes time and every step counts.

(Culled from tango experts) Stories/comments to simonclar@yahoo.com.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

18 | Saturday, April 26, 2014

LOVE&LIFE Senior Pastor's Wife Impregnated By Young Pastor In Same Church

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HE Holy Book that states that at the end time, so many unholy and ungodly things will happen seems to be right after all with all kinds of things happening under this heaven.

This is certainly not the best of times for the flock of Lord’s Delight Ministries (a.k.a Delight Arena) located at 51, Afolabi Street, Ishibiri Road, Ajangbadi, Lagos, as its founder who is currently embroiled in a sordid divorce suit, is accused of being impregnated by a young pastor.

At the centre of the storm is Pastor Rita Obioma Obiakor, the General Overseer of the church and her minister husband, Pastor Paulinus Obiakor. Both are entangled in a web of accusations and counter-accusations of infidelity, and behaviour unbecoming of the clergy. The duo dragged themselves before a customary court, sitting at Ojo, Lagos, under President T.A Said, seeking dissolution of their 15-year-old marriage.

The Orlu, Imo State-born prophetess alleged that her estranged husband and father of her four children, has turned a thorn in her flesh.

Speaking through her counsel, Godson Samuel, she justified her decision to opt out of the troubled marriage thus: “My husband is on the verge of destroying all the work and effort that I have put in place to establish this church over the years”.

Continuing, she outlined the heart of the matter: “I got married to him when I was barely 16 years old, and he, 27 years. Then he had nothing, jobless and looking very unkempt. I started doing odd jobs to make both ends meet. Precisely in 2005, the Lord called me into his vineyard to serve him and show his people the right path.

“My calling was a prophetic one, so was my ministry. Since the establishment of that ministry in our two-bedroom apartment at Amukoko, the Lord has been blessing us. But my husband was like a Judas to my ministry.

He was always behaving abnormally to the members, until I made him a part of the church and also gave him a good post. Yet he wouldn’t let me be. He is always accusing me

LIFE STORY of sleeping with church members during night vigil or anointing services”.

She further alleged that her husband’s greed and jealousy has done much damage to the image she had laboured so much to build.

The disharmony between the couple degenerated to the extent that she was forced to buy another plot of land at Shibiri, Ajangbadi, a far away suburb, and constructed a new church, thereby abandoning the old church located at 1, Bakare Street, Amukoko.

She also abandoned their accommodation, and gave up some members of the old church to her estranged man. “I moved in with my children to a rented apartment close to the

(new) church while my faithful members moved into our new church.”

In spite of all these, she alleged that he continued to harass her and members of her new church, which consequently began to affect the church’s growth. “So I had to ban him from entering the church and having access to the members too,” she said.

However, when her husband stepped into the dock to give his own side of the story, he brought a new twist to the divorce case. The 45-year-old clergy in his testimony against his wife alleged atrocities which contradict her position as the general overseer.

He accused his wife of defiling the church by sleeping with prominent male members of the congregation in order to raise funds and establish herself financially. The land she

Advice: Pls dear readers, mail your comments or reactions to this email: simonclar @yahoo.com

Rabia Meets Her New Neighbours LOVE ADVENTURE S

EVERAL years ago, Rabia and Ahmed decided to change jobs and move to another city where they bought a new house. Rabia had always wanted to live near the ocean so they bought a place in a suburb. It was a few miles away from the ocean but was affordable. It also had a small pool in the backyard.

Ahmed who is four years older than Rabia, had lived and worked in Northern states all of his life and they were both very excited at the idea of spending winter afternoons lounging by the pool. Lying around the pool all day seemed to suit Rabia but Ahmed soon got bored after they moved.

Within two weeks, Ahmed got so bored that he started to spend more time at work to ensure he got recognised for his good work on his new job.

Rabia was more social of the two and liked to get to know the neighbors.

Soon, Rabia was chatting with neighbors that Rabia ran into in the grocery store and she even joined a couple of other women for coffee morning parties and for morning walks.

They had purposely chosen a neighborhood that did not have a lot of retired people. Rabia was at that time in her mid-thirties and Ahmed was forty-three and they had no desire to spend their time in a retirement community. It was a typical suburban community where most of the couples in the neighborhood worked, although some had been laid off because of the economy.

During the coffee mornings and her morning walks with the other women, Rabia learned all about the neighborhood. Every evening she shared the information or as Ahmed liked to refer to it (the latest gossips) about their neighbors.

“You know the guy that lives next door, the one that's always at home during the day, puttering around the

house,” Rabia told Ahmed one evening. “I guess he has been laid off for the past three months and then his wife left him just before we moved into the neighborhood. The poor guy, first he loses his job and then his wife walks out on him.”

“Well, that explains why his yard looks so good, he has plenty of time to work on it,” Ahmed replied.

“He does have a nice yard, he used to work for a landscaping company,” Rabia told Ahmed.

“He's usually hanging out in his backyard with a buddy when I get home from work”, said Ahmed.

“I guess he got laid off too,” Rabia replied. “The girls said he's single and lives in a place around three doors down. They think he'd be a real catch, he's pretty good looking and does construction work.”

“They both sound pretty handy, maybe we should hire them to help us with some work around the house.

I'll talk to them sometime,” said Rabia.

“Speaking of the house,” Rabia told Ahmed, “the new washer and dryer are going to be delivered tomorrow.

The store said they would drop them in the car port but we'd have to move them in the house.”

“Great! The poor economy certainly hasn't given some places enough incentive to provide good service. Oh well, the store did give us a good deal on the appliances. I'll do it when I get home from work,” Ahmed responded.

As Ahmed left for work the next morning, he gave Rabia a good look.

Rabia was reminded of their previous conversations when Ahmed had shared with Rabia his thoughts and told her he always considered her, his trophy wife.

Ahmed had told Rabia time and again that even at mid-thirties, she's better looking than women ten years younger then her. Rabia used to have

acquired for the new church and her new apartment, he alleged, were paid for with funds she raised from her illicit sexual affairs with male church members.

“My wife is the founder of the church, but as her husband, I am entitled to be the general overseer of the church. I had suspected my wife was frolicking with the wealthy and influential members of the church. My fears were eventually ascertained when she abandoned me and moved to her new church and apartment at Shibiri with a younger man she employed as her personal assistant known as Pastor Nwachineye,” Obiakor claimed.

He further dropped a bombshell that she was impregnated by one of the pastors she employed. He substantiated this accusation by alleging that she took the man in question to her village and had introduced him to her family members and relatives as her new husband. “That is a big sacrilege because I am still very much alive and active, so why would she take another man to replace me?,” he argued.

His bitterness towards his wife, Obiakor asserted, was that she has been denying him access to their children.

“When I insisted on seeing my kids to know how they were faring, she adamantly refused and urged me to pay a certain amount into her joint account with her new pastor lover. I did that just to make sure my kids are fine and well taken care of,” he said.

In spite of everything, Pastor Obiakor was not prepared to let go of his wife. He affirmed that his estranged wife was more like the bread winner of the family before the union ran into troubled waters; that it was she that brought him fame and fortune; therefore, he is ready to forgive her for her transgressions and even take her back as his wife if only she would withdraw the suit. The case was later adjourned for further hearing. (news2onlinenigeria)

long black hair but now keeps it cut fairly short, so it frames her face.

Rabia has light brown eyes that Ahmed thinks dance when Rabia laughs and he found her smile captivating.

A former cheerleader, Rabia had kept fit, and she is very shapely.

Perhaps a bit big but in the right places, with medium large 34C breasts and a full round bottom and oversized 36” hips. Like she often did, now she wore tight fit dresses that accentuated her curves.

“I'm tempted to stay home from work and ravish you,” Ahmed told Rabia. She was thrilled with the prospects of love making, but coyly told Ahmed, “No, no, you run along to work. I'm just going to lay by the pool and catch up on some reading,” and gave him a sexy smile. It seemed he really did not want to go, but left reluctantly.

Work was pretty light. Finally at 2 pm, Ahmed’s boss told him to knock off for the day. Ahmed drove home thinking about Rabia in the bikini besides the pool and anticipating a little “afternoon delight.” As he pulled into the driveway, he noticed that the washer and dryer had not yet been delivered.

“Since I'm home early, maybe I can convince the delivery guys to help me move them in place,” he thought to himself.

When he walked to the front door, Ahmed noticed it was open. That was strange, Rabia usually kept it locked. Ahmed walked in through the living room and out to the pool.

Rabia wasn't there but as he walked back into the house, he could see that the washer and dryer had arrived and were already in the utility room.

True Confession “Oh baby, fuck me hard.” It was Rabia's voice, coming from the bedroom.

Ahmed quietly walked to the bedroom and glanced in the door. The bikini was lying on the floor and his wife was on her hands and knees on the bed. A short muscular man was between her spread legs, his ass gyrating as he thrust his cock in and out of her pussy. Another man, thin and quite handsome, was sitting in the chair beside the bed watching and jerking on his dick. They were so intent on the action that none of them could see Ahmed watching from the door.

“Get on the bed, I want to suck you while he fucks me,” Rabia commanded the thin man. He climbed onto the bed and lay down in front of her. His cock was long, around nine inches, and as it slid into Rabia’s mouth, it almost choked her. Soon her head was bobbing up and down as she took most of his cock into her throat and then pulled away, letting its head touch her lips before going down for more.

“Unhh, unhh, unhh,” moaned Rabia as she bounced between the cock in her mouth and the cock in her pussy. She was clearly having a good time.

Ahmed quietly stepped away from the bedroom door and walked to the kitchen where we kept a small digital camera. Ahmed had been swingers at one time. So he wasn't jealous, he was turned on. And he wanted to get some pictures because it might not happen again. He returned to the bedroom door and started taking photos. The first one was of all three of them, his wife on her knees sucking a strange man while another stranger's cock plunged in and out of her pussy.

Then he knelt and zoomed in for a shot of the cock entering her pussy. One of his legs was lifted so he got a picture of the short man's cock buried deep inside her, his balls slapping against her pussy lips. He got several more pictures from the door and then moved into the room for some better angles.

RE- ‘My Boss Slept With My Wife’ Y friend, I read your article in M The Guardian Newspaper Nigeria. You mentioned your boss f**king your wife, Jillian, in public during his night party.

According to your statement, your wife got what she deserved but for your boss, f**king her in your presence and the presence of your colleagues is a serious offence. Hey, your boss has no respect for you.

As for your wife, now she had it like she had always wanted, but you ought to caution her and tell her ‘when you were a teenager or single is better for this attitude of yours not now that you are mine’.

I think you try if really this is true life stories. It is unfortunate for this episode to take place in the presence of your colleagues. I will advice you take legal action against your boss and his co-travelers. okohcharles455@gmail.com ENJOYED the truth that you brought out in the article of April 5, 2014 in the Saturday Guardian newspaper and I hope that many single ladies/guys will read and learn from it and I also hope that the article goes international so that the Western world will know that moving in with a guy/woman will destroy the sanctity of marriage. They should not give in to the pressure but think of the damages this will cost them in future. May God continue to heal you and strengthen you, Amen. This article should be re-run for all to see.

Thanks

I

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, April 26, 2014 | 19

RELATIONSHIPS

By Alita Joseph

“F

ROM his looks, I knew he could not be good in a relationship.”

You decide, however, to give love a trial, because his sweet words belied his appearance. In the end it turned out to be a match made in hell.

Frankly, it is not all the time that we can predict a person by his unspoken words. We have misinterpreted body languages to our regrets. You hear stories of lovers who say something, always a behavior, put them off at first meeting, but not only did they go into those relationships with positive minds, they also live happily together.

What is going on? It is an issue of communication- lack of it. Your loved one says something, but you can only see his point on the other side.

His attempt at body language does not jell at all and misunderstanding tries your union. That is what it looks like to you.

However, it may be necessary to point out that there is always communication where two people or more are together; lots of it.

The issue is that we may not be getting across or we choose not to understand. Worse, we may choose to read a different meaning into what we are being told, even in verbal communication.

For example, your better half takes every opportunity to tell you that he does not love you. He adds, sometimes, that he does not know how long you would be together, but that he does see you sharing his future.

On your part, however, you say that he does not mean what he says. You think that your arguments make him say such things. So, you want to work harder.

But he has been clear about his position and would not expect you to be so heart-broken when eventually the relationship crashes.

Do not wonder what went wrong.

You may have had happy moments, but you just did not understand each other when it was most important.

Take this example, a husband watched as his wife prepared to go

When Communication Is At Cross Heads

his heart.

Your first date may be an eye or ear opener. It may also turn out to be a heart-to-heart, because likes minds have come together. And you know what that means.

However, if confusion reigns at that first outing, although you like this handsome dude with engaging behaviour, strike up a general discussion and watch out for his words.

If he engages you with vivid description of events, you may have a visual thinker to deal with.

He will use words, like “perspective, I see what you mean, Outlook, insight.”

To him, the world is in the form of a picture in their heads. He thinks fast and the word comes out in form of images.

The Auditory Thinker HE one who thinks with his ears, uses sound as a guide.

Beware! He may annoy you by saying that he “hears” what you say. If you are not of a kind, you may think that hearing is not the same thing as understanding. He could hear with one ear and it goes out the other, which is very annoying.

Now, you know why? He speaks like that. You will know that he does understand what you say. Your talks and annoyed tones have sounded the right cords with him.

Strive to understand him too and make him happy. Listen and really listen to him when he says, “listen while I explain.”

Keep quiet when he speaks. Make eye contact and the right response, so he knows that you are with him.

The One Guided By His Heart E goes over his feeling before he will tell you anything. He is slow in thinking, because he literally consults his heart before he commits.

His words are emotional, so step carefully and not lose your temper when he accuses you of causing him “stress.”

Your disagreement may not be as strong as to cause stress, but his feelings run deep. So, he uses words, like “rough,” “warm” and “cold.”

T

out. She woke up early, did the chores, all the while humming.

Quite out of character, he thought and challenged her, as she was about to leave home. There was an accusation of infidelity, even although he did not believe she was unfaithful; he was aware that his wife had her club meeting that day.

Her happiness was difficult to understand. He, therefore, solved it the way he thought appropriate.

People have argued that was wrong, because he drives his wife to the venue. They have called his behaviour controlling too, arguing that he does not want his wife to show so much joy at leaving his side.

He could smile sympathetically at her behavior and could have thought, with a secret and understanding smile, that she was happy to leave the cares of home duties for a few hours.

He could then, as a loving husband, planned more outings for her in the future, some people have said in condemnation.

Some people have said he should not be blamed for jumping to conclusions, because many men are like him; they cannot think differently because it the way they see the world.

But it should be pointed that such behaviour does not make a happy home.

Try to understand each other when you speak- verbal or non-verbal.

“So, you are happy?” Watch to see what happens before jumping to the conclusions.

To make it easy, linguists suggest that no two people are the same. So, it is not a question of looking for your missing ribs or the one that completes your tongue literally; they do find each other, but not in that way.

The two like minds may come together in marriage, because they see the world from the same point of view. But others can come together and see eye-to-eye by simply striving to understand one another.

It is a question of listening to your spouse to know how to get to him or

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Giving Your Man What He Needs not deserve them is because of two things that turn the alpha male off.

OST ladies do not know how to treat The first thing is: Some women think they “do the man in their lives. Treating the not deserve” an alpha male. So, when they meet opposite sex is as easy as ABC. a smart, attractive, friendly, absolutely hunky Have you ever heard of the saying “treat guy and they feel their hearts flutter when he others as you want to be treated?” There you smiles at them, in their minds, they tell themgo; it is that easy. selves: “Girl! Stop fooling yourself! You’re probI want you to sit back and think of the ably not his type, so stop thinking silly things.” cutest, tallest, hunkiest guy in your life right Even when the guy shows he obviously likes now. What if I told you he could be yours? I spending time with them, they still tell themcould teach you how to make an alpha male selves: “Oh dear, I think he really likes me, but want to chase you, instead of the other way nope, nope. I am not the “alpha female” type. I around? probably should not get my hopes up...”

Maybe your friends would be really jealous I mean, hello! He is right there in front of you, of you. That is pretty normal. Maybe other totally available for the taking, and you are guys would be really jealous of you and want you all to themselves, too. Or maybe you would simply enjoy every moment you would spend with each other, with lots of hugging, kissing and you-know-what?

Now, let us snap back to reality. What is your relationship with your man really like?

Does he even see you as one of his closest friends? Does he see you as an acquaintance?

If you are like most women, then the cutest, tallest, hunkiest guy in your life right now is probably out of your reach somehow. Maybe out of your league. Maybe too high up to notice you. Or maybe you are just in his friend zone. That is just sad.

But here is the thing: What if I told you that he could be yours and what if I told you that I could teach you a way to make him the most desirable guy in your life, not just notice you, but actually chase you and want you all to himself?

Here is the thing: I believe every woman has the potential to attract, catch and keep alpha males- strong, capable, determined, mature, loving and of course, yummy men.

The reason we miss out on alpha males and why they end up with women who totally do

By Kemi Amushan

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telling yourself you do not “deserve” him?

It is like you are invited to a five-course dinner, but you settle for yam and akara because you think it is “all you deserve.” This is absolutely crazy.

The second thing that turns off alpha males is the exact opposite of thinking you “do not deserve” a good guy.

Instead, you would do absolutely anything to make a guy you like you back.

Many of us do this. We think that the more we please him, the more he will like us and the more likely he will pursue a relationship with us. Unfortunately, that is not true.

Have you ever given a man gifts, done him

favours or even given him free sex, only to lose him to another woman soon after?

That is the thing about alpha males (and other smart, attractive, successful guys). They are used to having women trying to please and impress them.

So, what would he think when you come along, trying to please or impress him? He will think, “Oh, great. Here is another one.” And you go straight to his friend zone.

So, how do you win the heart of a strong, successful, responsible man? I will get to the answer shortly. But here is the thing: Most women think that to win an alpha male, they have to be an “alpha female.”

Unfortunately, this is yet another misconception. I have met several “alpha couples” and believe me, it is a relationship that is far from ideal.

In fact, pairing an alpha male and an alpha female is like putting a time bomb together.

Their personalities clash so badly that it is just a matter of time before the whole thing blows up.

So, if alpha males do not like alpha females, what kind of women do they want? What kind of woman rocks an alpha male’s world?

Here is the answer? Ever heard of the age-old saying, “behind every great man is a great woman?” That is the kind of woman he wants.

Basically, she is the kind of woman who helps him achieve everything he wants to achieve in the world, and is sensual enough to make him want to come home to her every single night.

He wants the kind of woman who is confident; has total control over her life; can get what she wants; understands male psychology; makes him want to work harder; supportive and respectful; and sexy, sensual and seductive.

Let me ask you. Are you that kind of woman? If not, then you should be all these things I listed above.

To the loving relationship we all deserve, good luck in love and life. Cheers!

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

20 | Saturday, April 26, 2014

08116706852 Email: amara@amarablessing.com

WEEKEND with AMARA

Understanding The True Meaning Of Marriage ISTENING to my favourite station, 92.3 Inspiration FM, this afternoon, a woman called asking why her husband should be demanding sex when he has failed in his duty as a husband providing for the home. I was lost at first as I wondered why a woman would reason that way. But it didn’t take long for me to look at it from her own perspective.

As a married person, you have no reason to deny your spouse sex. Your husband was providing before he lost his source of income. I know that it can be frustrating for a woman to assume the role of a man in the home. I know that some men get their wife to that point where she feels like sex doesn’t matter. The man, while making money, ignores the wife’s need for intimacy and now that he is jobless and wanting more sex, she is not in the mood for all that.

People, we must learn to keep it balanced and understand our spouse. A good number of women have little or no desire for sex in their childbearing years and that is when men want more of it. The man, if not careful, goes on rampage and wastes his strength and substance. After childbearing years, the woman’s desire for sex heightens and that is when the man is unable to perform his matrimonial duties. Such men now resort to engaging teenagers and young girls who perform all that magic on them without them doing much. If care is not taken, the woman looks for a younger man to satisfy her desire for intimacy.

This said, no one has the right to deny each other sex. The fact remains that sex should be a binding factor in marriage and not a stumbling block. Sex, instead of creating problems in our homes, should bring healing and solutions to problems.

Couples should help each other not to see sex as yet another house chore. How then do we do this?

Always have it in mind that your body ceases to be solely yours that very moment you sign the dotted lines; that moment your father collects the bride price from his family; that very second you promised to take her as your wedded wife.

You can no longer claim ownership of that body. So many of us are yet to truly understand the meaning of marriage. I have heard married women and men tell their spouse that they give their body only when they feel like it. You may not always feel like it but you have to feel like it. Many have also used spirituality to kill their sex life. You sleep in the church and fast from week to week, ignoring your spouse. Your first ministry is your home, your spouse comes first. Even Apostle Paul warned married couples against spending too much time in fasting and prayer. He warned us against letting the devil in through that very door.

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IMAGE AND ETIQUETTE EED some image and etiquette advice? Here are some nuggets that cut across different levels.

Don’t stop at what you put on your body, clothe yourself with an attitude that exudes sophistication, class and style and assume a compassionate heart. Do not let careless ease or indifference rob you of all that you can become, (Proverbs 1:32) but strive for your highest calling!

Grace, Elegance And Charm Are A Way of Thinking I find one of the clearest places in the Bible of a woman who had all the trappings of the above to be the story of Esther. Her beauty was so innate and ethereal that we still speak of her today! “…. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her. And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti”. Esther 2:15 & 17 If you read the story, you will find out that Vashti was a very beautiful woman in her own right. However, we must realize that physical attractiveness is not an attribute that stands on its own; the foundation of beauty or attractiveness is cleanliness, proper grooming, neatness, etc.

Even this is reflected in the nature of Esther’s queenly preparations (cleansing, purification, etc). Also, a woman is considered ethereally beautiful and regal for her etiquette as we see in the ousting of Vashti for her apparent disregard of it (Vashti was the king’s ex whom he put away for her disregard of him. For more insight, read the book of Esther in the Bible).

Where beauty and charm do not suffice etiquette, deference, preparation, purpose, compassion, wisdom etc, triumphs, showing that a pure purpose is the source of true beauty and influence. What we put on – whether it be clothes or perfumes, moderation is to be a guide. People ought not to look at you and see the expen-

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If you are married and suddenly your husband loses his job, I know it’s not easy for you. I know that nature has not given you that role. I know that it can be very ugly seeing yourself the provider instead of the helper. I don’t care how many excuses we make for this kind of life, the fact remains that nature has

not made the woman a provider, she is a helper. But what can you do? You have to brace up, be strong, and face that very challenge of life. Don’t let your new position take away the feminine part of you. His being jobless is not a good enough reason to deny him sex.

And my dear brother, you have to help that woman. You have to stop adding to her stress. You have to put yourself in her shoes and feel her pain. You have to stop demanding for sex every night. You stay at home from morning till night while she works from 8am to 6pm and all you do is remind her that it’s your conjugal right and the next day you are out there with stories to her family and yours that she now sleeps around.

This isn’t fair.

And who knows? It’s possible your wife is avoiding sex because you have turned it to hard work for her. Someone recently told me how she dreads sex because a good number of Nigerian men believe that good sex is about the banging and macho. My brothers, it’s possible your woman isn’t interested in that banging and hey; she has to preserve her body and make it good for you for a long time.

If you go on with the excessive bangs and all that, she may not be the woman you would want few years from now. Forget about what you see those porn stars do; she is your wife and wants real intimacy with you. It should be nothing short of lovemaking. You can actually make her feel loved and cherished; you can make her feel like a woman; you can help her experience orgasm without the banging. That’s what she wants.

I once counseled a woman who lamented over her sex life.

Her husband reported her to me for not wanting to have sex with him. As we spoke, she told me that her husband would always blackmail her into giving him a blow job but when she asks for same, the man reminds her that he is a titled chief and shouldn’t do such.

I had to ask certain questions to be sure she keeps her Southern Hemisphere clean. When I met again with the man, I was able to change his mindset of carrying chieftaincy title into the bedroom. Whatever you want your wife to do for you must be done for her. If you won’t give oral sex, please don’t ask for it.

Thank God they are now happy with their sex life. Sex shouldn’t be seen as another house chore. Wives, keep your self clean and be willing and ready to seduce your husband. Husband, be willing and ready to love and cherish her body. Don’t waste your substance. Don’t forget; it’s no longer “My” body; it is now “Our” body.

08116706879 (SMS only).

E-mail:regalgraces@yahoo.com

Nuggets For Different Cases sive clothes (or cheap clothes – as far as it can be helped), nor the strength of your perfume, nor the label of your apparel, etc.

These things ought not to be so apparent.

Consider yourself an art work on canvas and your clothes its frame. If the frame gets all the attention, either for good or bad, the purpose of the painting is defeated and its beauty reduced to a common thing.

Our clothes ought to accentuate our character, send a message across and let the beauty of our spirits make an impression.

And in all that we do, we ought not to take for ourselves the glory that should go to God. The potter who beautifully and wonderfully fashioned a vessel ought to get the glory and not the vessel.

Think First of Your Neighbor, And Then Yourself Never think too highly of yourself; very often this leads to a story of humility that touches the heart – avoid this. We can get so preoccupied with our looks, for instance, that we dress ourselves according to our misguided personal reflections. We ought to think outside the box to accommodate those around us as well. Ask yourself questions such as “Who am I going to see?”, “What is their highest expectation?”, and “What message do I want to send across?” “What perception should they have of me?” “What style is befitting of a person of my stature and aspiration?” “Will it impart grace to (or edify) those around me?” “Will they be comfortable around me?” Here, this golden advice rings true and will serve you well.

“It is not good to eat much honey: So for men to search out their own glory is grievous.” – Proverbs 25:27 (ASV) “For I say, through the grace that was given me,

to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think as to think soberly…” – Romans 12:3 (ASV) Regal Stature And Demeanor Hold your head high and keep a straight back - You are a man or woman of great dignity (Songs of Solomon 4:4; 7:7) Be approachable by having an open face and a pleasant disposition – True hospitality is a emblem of the crown (1 Timothy 3:2, Hebrews 13:3) Draw people close to you by being and showing genuine interest in them – You cannot touch or impact a single heart without compassion. (1 Peter 4:9) Try not to interrupt them while they are still

Never think too highly of yourself; very often this leads to a story of humility that touches the heart – avoid this. We can get so preoccupied with our looks, for instance, that we dress ourselves according to our misguided personal reflections. We ought to think outside the box to accommodate those around us as well. Ask yourself questions such as “Who am I going to see?”, “What is their highest expectation?”, and “What message do I want to send across?” “What perception should they have of me?” “What style is befitting of a person of my stature and aspiration?” “Will it impart grace to (or edify) those around me?” “Will they be comfortable around me?” Here, this golden advice rings true and will serve you well

speaking but show expressions of attention like the nodding of the head.

You do not have to agree with everything people say but judge when to speak and when to keep silent. Letting one know the point where you both agree before stating your opinion will give you a soft landing if you intend to disagree.

Practice and deliberate research will help you use words that aren’t derogatory but still send your message across.

Sometimes there are some people who we will just not get along with. The Bible says as far as possible we should be at peace with all men so be respectful and tactful without compromising your principles. (Romans 12:18) Use as few words as possible; many words dilute your message and devalue its worth. “Clarity and cogency can be reconciled with greater brevity…It is slothful not to compress your thoughts” – Sir Winston Churchill Image and Etiquette: As a young lady, I suffered much from inferiority and timidity. I had an unhealthy distrust of myself and God-given beauty. By God’s grace, I found answers in the Bible (especially the Songs of Solomon) which transformed me. His Word transformed me from a bitter, angry teenager to a cheerful, content, peace-filled and purposeful woman; Jesus changed me from the inside out. I have a passion for etiquette and image and I know that our outward image and our attitudes are influenced by our heart; therefore, image and etiquette is spirit, soul and body. Having been given the knowledge, experimental application and experience through His grace alone, this is what I teach. Unconventional…yes, but it remains the truth to the degree that I have understood it. For this, I make no apologies.

Website: www.regalgraces.com.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, April 26, 2014 | 21

Working Actress

By Omoni Oboh

Do You Represent Naija?

Omoni Oboli and I represent Naija! This IGodAM April 22nd was my birthday! I can’t thank enough for all He has done. Where do I begin from? His mercy truly endures forever!

Surrounded by so much depravity and woes, I still can’t find anything that doesn’t scream the mercy and grace of God in my life. I’m truly blessed and highly favoured.

There has been a growing need to criticize in our society nowadays. The idea that no one is seated right next to me while I spit out all the venom that I feel towards another person who, in most cases, I don’t know, has turned many internet buffs into blogging gossips with a retinue of followers who are encouraged to dance to their tunes. This is so not the way to start building our nation. There’s a time to vent and there’s a time to be a part of the solution. I can’t imagine that I would sit on my high horse and point fingers at another person, claiming that the problems I’m going through are as a result of another man’s ineptitude alone. This is the irresponsible thinking that inoculates us from taking due responsibility for our involvement in defining who we turn out to be. We are not just victims sitting and waiting for things to happen to us, but are willing subjects allowing others and circumstances to define who we are and who we turn out to be.

When we take to speaking only evil about our neighbours whom we see every day, we clearly speak what our hearts think and meditate on daily, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. That means that our very words are enough to make informed statements about and against us. Other nations do not necessarily need to dig deep to accuse us of dishonesty, corruption or simply

put us down. All they need to do is sit back and quote what we put out there. These same things are being done in other nations, but they do not use their mouths to destroy themselves as we do.

In the same way, in the movie industry, we somehow started something that the whole world can’t seem to understand how we did it, but instead of us to build on it we still find many people condemning this massive achievement that’s ours. We make comparisons with Hollywood and what they look out for in their movies and they want us to emulate them in some of their decadent acts in the name of art. Let’s not get it twisted, the Nollywood we built is not born out of the Hollywood we see, but out of a yearning to find our own identity and to tell our own stories the way it appeals to us as a people. That appeal has somehow endeared other nations to our movies, and our fan base has multiplied ever since ‘Living in Bondage’.

Instead of aspiring to decadent heights, and calling it art, we should try to preserve the good essence of our culture, and learn to tell our stories ‘Nollywood’ style, with good cinematography. We are not Americans and we couldn’t do American as good as the American anyway. So why are we trying? Our accent is ours, so let’s own it! The world is learning and speaking pidgin English because we sold it to them. They are also speaking with our accent so that they can sound like we do. This is happening in America with many of my fans, and I admire that about them and what Nollywood has taken to the world.

With an inferiority complex comes the yearning to be admired for adapting to the language and cultural beliefs of other nations

When we take to speaking only evil about our neighbours whom we see every day, we clearly speak what our hearts think and meditate on daily, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. That means that our very words are enough to make informed statements about and against us. Other nations do not necessarily need to dig deep to accuse us of dishonesty, corruption or simply put us down. All they need to do is sit back and quote what we put out there. These same things are being done in other nations, but they do not use their mouths to destroy themselves as we do. we believe are far superior to ours. When we begin to see ourselves in a different light we can begin to appreciate the seemingly impossible feat we have pulled off with the outbreak of Nollywood. The pull-down syndrome we have adapted so that we can sound intellectual is laughable, to say the least. The world is wondering how we do not understand the magnitude of what we have been able to achieve, and not just in the entertainment industry, but in other sectors as well. The world will not celebrate you, you have to rise above your differences, indifferences, prejudices and pettiness to speak the nation you want to see into existence and celebrate yourself. Let us be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath. The Nigeria we want will not appear just because we wished it alone, and then turn around to speak against it. We have to take responsible and calculated actions towards seeing it arise

out of the ashes of what we see it to be today.

If we celebrate our true heroes and lift up the celebrities and our poster boys and girls whom we admire for their good works, we will begin to raise a generation of people who know how to sow the seed of love for our nation that will grow even in the hearts of other nations who will admire us. This is what will attract the world to Nigeria, and this attraction brings economic growth that we all will benefit from.

So ask yourself today; do I represent Naija?

I’m I a clog in the wheel or I’m I the oil that makes it run freely? Quit pointing those fingers and looking for someone to pull down, hiding under the name, ‘anonymous’. Any fool can rant but it takes effort and planning to build a nation. Don’t forget to watch a Nollywood movie at the cinema today and buy an original DVD. Till next week, keep smiling!

‘How Govt Can Defeat Boko Haram’ government should create employment opportunities and there should be stable light. There is not going to be stable light until 2017.

Do you think that a change in government in 2015 will bring peace to the country?

No. Not even a Presidential candidate from the North will be able to solve the problem of Boko Haram. And I am telling you that if All Progressive Congress (APC) does not pick Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) as its presidential candidate, he will opt out of APC. HAT is your view about the recent bomb blast at Nyanya There is going to be a lot of wrangling in the party. We need to Motor Park in Abuja? pray against political tension. Again, there is a red alert ahead of Now the issue of the bomb blasts in Nigeria is a serious matter. the nation. We need to pray over This is not a matter for President Goodluck Jonathan alone. We all of these irrespective of whatever religion you practice. all need to pray for the security of this nation. At the beginning We must pray that religion or democracy will not break this naof April, I said let the whole country fast from April 1to 7to avert tion. The people sitting at the confab have what it takes, but is the bloodbath in the country. It has happened now. government going to put the necessary things in place? Besides, What do you think is the solution? let the people at the confab be more serious. Tell the government The solution is not far fetched. The country has to declare what should be done. seven days of fasting and prayers. May 1 to May 7 should be set What more do you think the government can do to win the Boko aside as days for fasting and prayers. After that, God will expose Haram war? this Boko Haram people.

The government can win the war against Boko Haram but there The government should not take this issue of Bomb scare is Boko Haram in the government. They are also being sponsored lightly. It is a serious issue because the terrorists are still going by outsiders. to attack some sensitive places. Government agencies, markets But what did you think Boko Haram really wants? and other places. Their target now is to move to shopping What Boko Haram wants is for Nigeria to break up. I am telling malls. If the government is not aware of that development, I you that North will suffer a lot if that happens. There is much for am giving them a security report. the government to do in the North than any other geo political This is not a matter of you have your Ph.D or you are a philoso- zone. Otherwise Nigeria will break up from the North. pher or whatever. This issue is beyond all of that. The governThat is why the ongoing confab must focus on the problems of ment has to act quickly. Boko Haram members are not spirits. the North. And the problem of the North is democracy and reliAs I am talking to you now, we have three terrorists group in gious sentiment. this country. Al Qaeda is already in Nigeria. They want to get Do you think that the abducted girls will be released by Boko closer to even Aso Rock. That is why the government has to reHaram? cruit more security agents to fight this battle.

We have to pray that the terrorists will release them alive, that The security agencies must be on their toes. Everybody must they will not harm those innocent school girls. be his brother’s keeper. We must be vigilant. Government will To what extent is the state of emergency solution to the Boko only do what it can do, we are to help ourselves. Before the last Haram menace? attack in Nyanya, Abuja there must have been a signal that State of emergency, curfew, closing of borders are all rubbish. such a thing will happen. And ask me why they are using God Forget state of emergency. The government should use prayers to do all these suicide bombings. and military to fight terrorists. And many countries will soon Do you think that Boko Haram can break Nigeria? join hands with Nigeria to fight terrorists.

Part of the things that we need to pray against is that Boko Are you talking about help coming from countries like the Haram crisis will not break this country because we are apUnited States (U.S)? proaching a situation whereby external bodies will now be Forget about U.S. It is a serious mater. Let the government wake coming to help us to attend to our needs. I think we must take up. Don’t let the government sign a treaty with people that will it seriously. be sponsoring terrorists. Nigeria is sitting on a time bomb and Are you satisfied with the state of Nigerian economy? this government must act fast. I am telling you that we have The Nigerian economy is nothing to write home about at the prophets in this country, both Christians and Muslims who can moment until 2017. That is when we will have a better econfind a lasting solution to the Boko Haram menace. But the govomy and the government should be working towards that. The ernment is not talking to them.

Ayodele

Primate Babatunde Elijah Ayodele, the founder and spiritual head of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos spoke to DEBO OLADIMEJI on the state of the nation and how the government can win the war against terrorism.

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22 Saturday, April 26, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

PEOPLE Going down memory lane, he said: “Three months after I became the union secretary, and recognizing that Dunlop was the only company manufacturing tyres in Nigeria then, as Michelin’s factory had a bad fire incident, I led the workers to a strike which almost crippled tyre business in Nigeria.

“At the end of that strike action, the total take home pay of junior staff grade four became higher than that of senior staff grade two. This started another chain reaction as senior staff who had no union, then began an illegal strike.

While addressing a meeting with Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), the then Nigeria Labour Congress President, Alhaji Hassan Sumonu during an argument shouted: ‘if every one of you had George Ekeh in your factory, you’ll sit up!”

Ekeh resigned after working for one year in Dunlop to further his studies, after which he became a hydrology consultant to the United States Embassy, where he drilled the boreholes and designed all the water facilities still in use there today. He also installed and managed the water facilities at the German and Swiss Embassies in Nigeria for many years.

He introduced the concept of using Ultra Violet (UV) lights for bulk water treatment as against chlorine, which was implicated in cases of cancer.

“I designed and submitted a lot of water treatment models to the Federal Ministry of Works (water and sanitation) to be implemented in community mini-water works in the country,” Ekeh said.

At OSO Condensate in Eket, a Mobil /Federal government project, he designed and submitted the proposal on sucking water directly from under oil rigs, using Reverse Osmosis (RO) to recover oil, salts and spring quality water to be used by the community on the rigs, thereby saving costs of freighting potable water from ashore.

“This was adopted and implemented but not through my company due to the Nigerian factor. I was not compensated for this at all,” he said.

He conceptualized the idea of sachet water business in 1987, which was intended to make high quality water easily available to the poor.

Today, he is delighted that the idea he birthed has today become a main stay in the nation’s economy.

In 2003, Ekeh organised the first trade fair on the Internet through his communications company, Omimi Communications Ltd. “This was the first time ever that Nigerian companies would exhibit their products and services real time on the internet and viewed from any part of the world. This was meant to project the Nigerian nation, her economic and social life to the entire world,” he explained.

In political activism, Ekeh is fearless and this played out when he and a few others in NADECO fought for the return of democracy to Nigeria after years of military dictatorship. This was however not enough to make him seek elective office.

Celestina Ogwumike. The movement gained Explaining his personal disposition on this, momentum as many more students joined Ekeh said, “I have refused to seek elective office and by the time we got to Egbeada, indigenous in Nigeria because I strongly believe in working Egbeada students also joined. Ebgeada with people totally committed to honesty, changed its mind and returned to the Ubomiri integrity and elevation of human value.” fold.

He was the pioneer National Secretary General “During the period I served, I was assisted by of Pan Ndigbo Forum (PNF) which later joined other people to bring the equally other political associations such as PDM, Arewa collapsed women’s wing of the Lagos branch Consultative Forum and others to form the rulof the union back to life”. ing the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

Ekeh said he would use his position to pro“I was one of the five publicity committee mote and attract development, create employ- members of the party with people such as ment for the people as well as maintain the late Senator Chuba Okadigbo, Abubakar peaceful co-existence in the community.

Rimi, Jerry Gana and Alhaji Kaita,” he disclosed.

Ekeh started his education at St. Mary’s Speaking on his relationship with his political School, Okigwe, and later, St. Mary’s Primary associates, Ekeh said: “Some of my very close School, Ubomiri, from where he gained admis- political associates call me a Political Prophet”. sion into Christ The King School, Aba, in curThey take his opinions very seriously because “it rent Abia State. is on record that most of my political predicHe later attended Ascension High School, tions turn out to be very accurate. For this reaEleme in Port Harcourt before the Nigerian civ- son, they also call me ‘The Only Living Saint’.” il war broke out. At the end of the war, he was Ekeh is an executive member of Ndigbo Lagos, enrolled at St. Saviour’s Secondary School, the umbrella organisation of Igbo professionals, Umuaka Orlu where he later the Secondary businessmen, cultural associations and trading School Certificate. organizations in Lagos. He is a commentator on Ekeh preceded to Punjab University, India, to public affairs. study Economics and Public Administration He is dedicated to the service of his people, and came out with Honours Degree in home and abroad. While living in the United Economics. He went on to work with Dunlop States, Ekeh was an active member of Ubomiri Industries Nigeria Ltd for a year.

Students Association (USA).

While in Dunlop, his leadership quality was Noted for his writing and singing skills, Ekeh discovered and he was quickly elected to be edited and produced the first ever magazine the secretary of the workers’ union. His actions published by Ubomiri Students Association. in that position were so successful that it He is the author of the book titled, Now Step changed the character of trade unionism in Into Glorious Light published in London by Nigeria.

Author House.

‘I Believe In Working With People Totally Committed To Honesty’

Ekeh, right, with Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State. asked by the late Eze Duruokpanne (II) to send a delegation of very eminent sons of the community comprising the late Chief Festus MMA Saint George Ekeh, Chief Executive Emeghara, who is the first secretary to Imo Officer (CEO) of Justy Foods and Confectionaries, makers of the first therapeutic State Government; Nze Peter Ogwumike, a very wealthy and highly respected businessman in breads, cookies and cereals, is known for blazing the trail where only very few Imo, and Mr. Joe Okorie, to Lagos to resolve the would dare. He is the originator of the popular problem.

“The delegation requested that I get involved, sachet water, which would later become popuwhich I obliged, contested the election, and lar as ‘Pure Water’. served the Lagos branch of the town union for The political activist, who played key roles in almost 10 years. the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) “As a very young man burning with love for days, and various other political events in Ubomiri, I started a one-man campaign Nigeria, is once again in the news. against the break up. This was in the 70s when On Monday, April 21, he was crowned the Ishi Ubomiri, the highest traditional title to be held Egbeada decided to pull out from Ubomiri and become a town on its own. I radically opposed by anyone in the serene town of Ubomiri in this, staged a walk-in to every compound in Imo State.

It is not an accident that his coronation coin- Ubomiri, starting from Umuocha cided with Easter Monday celebrations as it was (now Amawughe Autonomous Community) to Egbeada,” Ekeh said. seen as a sign of a new beginning for the hisContinuing, he said: “In every compound I toric town. Incidentally, this was one assignentered, I preached to them the benefits of a ment he said he resisted until it became united Ubomiri and why Egbeada should not inevitable. break away from Ubomiri. As I continued this Born on December 11, 1953 to late Chief march, I was later joined by another student, Ebenezer Ekeh and Justina Ekeh of Umuokwaramba family, Umuajogba, Amaubru Ubomiri, young Ekeh exhibited sterling leader- I have refused to seek elective office ship qualities when he served the Lagos chapter of the Ubomiri Town Union. Then, he used in Nigeria because I strongly believe in his position to effectively unite the three working with people totally committed Ubomiri autonomous communities, which to honesty, integrity and elevation of have remained united till date.

He recalled: “In Lagos, when the Ubomiri human value.

Town Union collapsed, the home union was

By Bertram Nwannekanma

E

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, April 26, 2014 | 23

WOMAN Dr. (Mrs.) Dorcas S. Onuminya is former Kogi State Commissioner for Health. A consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, she is passionate about safeguarding the lives of women from pregnancy-related conditions.

She shares her experiences.

From John Akubo, Lokoja

I

MMEDIATE past Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Dorcas S. Onuminya, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist is obsessed with saving her womenfolk from the danger of lack of awareness in pregnancy-related complications during delivery.

“In obstetrics, you may have a healthy woman that came in for labour and you think all is well but in the twinkling of an eye, it may boomerang and become a tragedy that may end up in the death of the woman and even that of the baby. So, you have to be on your toes all the time when you have a woman in labour”, she says.

This she avers explains the intricate nature of the field of study that should be reserved for those who have the love for saving the life of the mother and child at heart.

“As a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, pregnancy is a joyful moment for any woman except when it is an unwanted pregnancy. The major challenge lies in the fact that few women like to specialize in the field not because they don’t like, it but due its stressful nature,” she adds.

Onuminya says as a consultant, she could hardly be on call and would not be seen in the hospital unlike other areas of medicine such as paediatrics, ipso-pathology and haematology where the consultant can stay away when on call because before they get to a level of complication, the issue must have been sorted out.

She observed that men have theoretical knowledge but lack the practical experience of carrying pregnancy and labour. “God has not given them that opportunity and so for them to feel exactly the way a woman will feel is lacking.”

However, she explained that there are some men who care, adding that many are good because they have wives and so they attach themselves to the course.

She revealed that some women even prefer male gynaecologist to attend to them. “That is the truth but in most parts of the North, no Hausa man or a Muslim would like a male to attend to his wife while in labour, especially having access to their private parts. So, we need more women.”

On the issue of awareness for rural women who still deliver at home with all the attendant risks, she said majority of pregnant women deliver their babies without assistance.

“It is only about 10 per cent that need skilled personnel but then like I said earlier, what you term normal can turn out to be a difficult one within a second. So, it is advisable for every pregnant woman to attend ANC. “Something like elevated high blood pressure does not give the woman any sign, most often no headache. Like essential hypertension, it is when the complication comes that you will know that it is the result of high blood pressure. It is the result of elevated blood pressure.”

Onuminya stressed that more awareness should be created, especially in the Northern parts of the country where the prevalence of maternal mortality is high.

Born into the family of Ocheja and Awawo Onuche in 1971 in Ochadamu of Ofu Local Government in Kogi State, she started her primary education in the village at the LGEA in the 1976.

She proceeded to Community Secondary School, Ochadamu where she spent about three to four years but had to relocate to Plateau State where her brother resided to attend the Girls’ Science School in her quest to study science subjects. She left secondary school in 1988 and later studied Medicine at

Onuminya

‘Pregnancy Is A Joyful Moment For Any Woman’ the University of Jos. She graduated in 1998 with her first degree in Medicine and got 2000 married to Prof.

John Onuminya, a professor of Orthopaedic and Traumatology.

She later proceeded to Irua Specialist Hospital in Edo State for her postgraduate training. “That was where I started my training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and by the grace of God, in 2008, I passed my Part Two to become a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons, particularly in Obstetrics and Gynacology.”

She was Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynacology at the state’s hospital briefly before being called up 2009 to the Ministry of Health as commissioner.

“I was there till January 2012 when the new administration came on board. I worked in that capacity with Captian Idris Wada for two months before the cabinet was eventually dissolved and I went back to my work at

In obstetrics, you may have a healthy woman that came in for labour and you think all is well but in the twinkling of an eye, it may boomerang and become a tragedy that may end up in the death of the woman and even that of the baby. So, you have to be on your toes all the time when you have a woman in labour

the specialist hospital in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.”

Three months after, she was appointed the Special Adviser on Health Insurance to Governor Idris Wada.

On the value she has added to the health care delivery system, she recalled: “I established five zonal hospitals which I will call general hospitals, like the zonal hospitals at Kabba, Okene, Dekina, Idah and Ankpa.”

Onuminya also got the imaging diagnostic complex in the specialist hospital which deals with X-ray, mammography, CT scan and MRI waiting for installation on completion of the building, had the TB centre built in the specialist hospital while she was commissioner, a branch of which sponsored by the NNPC to assist people living with HIV/AIDS. Another achievement she could point to was the issue of heads of all tertiary health institutions in the state sitting tight at the helm perpetually without any time limit.

“But during my tenure, a policy was formulated for heads of such institutions to occupy the offices for four years and if they are good enough, it can be renewed for another four years but maximum of eight years.

“People that spent about 10 to 12 years were asked to leave for the policy to be implemented if not, when they become head of the place, they will remain there as provost unending which was not good for an academic environment” she said, adding that the health insurance scheme was her brainchild.

“By the grace of God, we have gone far with the assignment. All our students in tertiary institutions in the state are already on health insurance programme.”

The special adviser said the flag-off for political office holders to key into the programme has been approved and worked out, adding that they are just waiting for the governor to kick-start the programme.

Thereafter, other civil servants in conjunction with the judiciary, would follow.

“The staff of our tertiary institutions will be next and then finally the core civil servants, because to some extent, it has some financial burden. We are moving phase-by-phase to enable us actualize our dream and the aim is to ensure that everybody in the state keys into the health insurance programmme so that when we pool the resources together, whether rich or poor, if you have some health challenges, certainly you can walk to any of the health facility where you have your provider, and access the services without carrying money in your pocket to get what you need.”

On what appealed to her the most in her practice, Onuminya pointed to the reproductive health, including antenatal care for pregnant women, immunization and nutrition for infants as ways of addressing the number three and four of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

“These are the areas that appeal to me even though oncology is equally on my mind. But then, I discovered that a lot needed to be done because most of our patients with cancer of the reproductive tract, whenever they are diagnosed, they see it as a death sentence but counseling is very important in the management of cancer.

“So I am contemplating on the two. Maybe at the end of the day I might zero it down to oncology aspect of gynaecology.

On how her spouse copes with her call to duty that take her away from her primary duty as a wife and mother, she said: “As a gynaecologist, even in the course of my training, there are weekends I get to the hospital on Friday. I would not get back home again until 4pm on Monday. My husband is used to the situation. It is demanding; you have to sleep in the hospital when you are on call. My children, when they see the ambulance coming, they will say, ‘Mummy ambulance is here.’ But you know they are already used to it.

“My husband is a wonderful man. I don’t think I would have been able to reach where I am today if not for his factor. So, should there be another life after this, I will marry him 10 times over again.”

Her spouse, a graduate of the University of Jos, did his postgraduate in the same school and he got some external posting to Enugu. A Fellow of the Nigeria Medical Surgeons, he went into academics in Ambrose Ali University and rose to become a professor before he was called to the state specialist hospital. He

TheGuardian

24 | Saturday, April 26, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Weekend

CELEBR ITY

By Shaibu Husseini NFORTUNATELY, the much-anticipated big U budget film, Half of a Yellow Sun (HOAYS), an adaptation of Chimamanda Adiche’s bestselling and award-winning novel with the same title, did not open in cinemas across the country yesterday as advertised. The Nigeria Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), the agency of government responsible for classification and censorship of all films and video works in the country, wants aspect of the film that they perceive can fuel ethnic uproar expunged.

The promoters of the film that was directed by UK-based Nigerian born playwright Biyi Bandele and produced by Yewande Sadiku and Andrea Calderwood, have reportedly complied with the NFVCB’s directive and so screening of the film that has been described as a touching love story set in the period of the unfortunate Nigerian civil war, would, according to BigSam Media, the print and online publicity company of the film, commence as from May 2. When the visually pleasing movie that had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2013 begins its cinema run, moviegoers should look out for some Nigerian actors in the cast who did well to give the movie its acting credits.

Genevieve Nnaji There was no truth in the tale that popular Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji only played in two scenes in HOAYS. Although she played in a few scenes, the role that the screen diva played (Ms Adebayo, a scholar who develops a flirtatious relationship with Odenigbo) in HOAYS cannot be termed a cameo performance. By far a leading actress, ‘Rarity’ seems the best word to use to describe Genevieve Nnaji’s status, approval and monumental popularity rating as a screen diva. ‘Stunning’ is yet another word that most observers have adopted to describe the dazzling talent of the native of Umuebi-Amuzu in Aboh- Mbaise local government area of Imo State.

Those who have followed the shinning career of the single parent and one album music star seem to be in agreement in their submissions that her status can be termed a rarity because not many actresses of the Nigerian acting skies, have been lucky to be overwhelmingly accepted especially by a movie crowd that rarely celebrates an act for a long time.

Genevieve was already a mega star at her mid20s. Her stars have continued to be on the rise and it does seem that she is on the road to even greater heights. Described at a recent international movie event as ‘Nigeria’s Genevieve’ and our answer to the Hollywood star Halle Berry, Nnaji is undoubtedly one of the most popular acting figures in the Nigerian movie culture if not in the continent. She is equally among the very few Nigerian home movie stars who enjoy red carpet reception wherever she goes and whose earning per movie appearances and per endorsement has always stood in the region of

Shining Nigerian Stars of Half of a Yellow Sun

six digits.

Gloria Norbert Young It is difficult to miss Gloria Norbert Young’s performance in HOAYS. The actress, show host, event specialist and former reporter with the defunct Daily Times and the defunct Classique magazine, who had a successful transition from showbiz-media to acting put up a good showing in HOAYS. A trained mass communicator, Gloria’s smooth transition is something that has pleasantly surprised even her parents. They thought it was just one of her one-off outings on screen. The more they thought so, the more her screen credits mounted. Today, with less than a decade and half romance with the movie, Gloria, a former General Manager in charge of Productions with Charly Boy’s defunct New Wave Studios, has lifted her precious talent to a level that deserves wide recognition.

Indeed, Gloria has with her infectious enthusiasm, become one of Nollywood’s celebrated actresses who have cut a memorable swathe in countless movie productions amongst which are ‘Millionaires Are Saints’, ‘Black Powder’, ‘Bitter Encounter’, ‘The Return’, ‘Echoes’, ‘Baby Sitters’, ‘Tycoon’, ‘Deadly Affair’, ‘Glamour Girls’, (her first movie credit) ‘Hostess’ and Izozo produced by Victor Eriabe.

O.C Ukeje Notable Nollywood actor and winner of a previous edition of the defunct Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) reality show, O.C Ukeje also stars in HOAYS. The actor, whose journey to the top of the Nigerian acting skies is not difficult to tell, put up a good showing in HOAYS. Principled and focused, O.C’s sun has continued to rise far above his reality show win.

Born Okechukwu Chukwudi, ‘OC’ Ukeje is one of those few reality show winners, whose artistic contributions is making a way for him in

CelebrityEXTRA ...

Monalisa Quits Partnership With Lanre Nzeribe T first started as a rumour.

INollywood The gist was that popular actress Monalisa Chinda has parted ways with her long standing ‘partner’, Mr. Lanre Nzeribe. But an official statement issued a week later by Monalisa’s publicist and media managers clarified the issue. The statement announced the resignation of Nollywood actress Monalisa Chinda from Monalisa Magazine, the all gloss magazine the actress launched with so much glitz a few months ago. Also, Monalisa’s resignation, according to the statement, ‘marks the end of her partnership with Mr. Lanre Nzeribe’.

Her media managers said the actress was forced to take the decision ‘due to irreconcilable professional

differences’. The statement reads: “Over the past few months, both parties have made concerted efforts to retain their partnership, to no avail, which led to their mutual agreement that a separation would be the best course of action. Though she has, so far, committed so much time, energy and resources into the project, it is high time she moved on as she pursues renewed ethos to raise her standards of professionalism and focus on projects closer to her heart.

Monalisa Chinda extends her sincere appreciation to the entire staff of the company for the great working experience during the time being. She wishes Mr. Nzeribe and the staff all the best in their future endeavours”.

Case closed.

Nollywood. From his screen debut, ‘White Water’, OC, a Marine Science graduate of the University of Lagos, has been having a steady run in the movie and it appears that the beat won’t stop for him as long as he continues to work with the right crew.

Onyeka Onwenu Accomplished singer and current Director General of the Women Development Centre, Onyeka Onwenu is clearly one of the stars of HOAYS. The singer who combines singing with acting, put up a high wire act that almost dwarfed the performance of some of the leading female actors. Moviegoers would no doubt find Onwenu’s interpretation of a protective mother in HOAYS very impressive.

Tina Mba Enugu born actress Tina Mba is one stage and screen actress who is underutilized. Tina who has been in acting for over 20 years is one actress who any good director would want to have in a production, whether stage or screen.

An actress and latter-day theatre producer of many stage and screen credits, cast Tina in any role that fits her description and the wellhoned thespian will interpret the role delightfully.

No wonder the crew of HOAYS sought her ought to lift some of the scenes of the film with her superb acting abilities. Indeed, Tina who combines acting with producing stage productions, showed stuff in HOAYS and contributed in giving the movie its acting credits.

Jude Orhorha Jude Ufuoma Orhorha is living his dream and one of his many career ambitions is to feature in a couple of internationally acclaimed movies. The actor and stand up comedian has achieved that with his effort in HOAYS. Born shortly after the Nigerian civil war, which was why he was named Ufuoma, which means ‘Peace’ in Urhobo his dialect, Jude Orhorha had always wanted to be an actor from the onset even though his late father wanted him to become a doctor.

Not only did he grow up with a healthy appetite for acting, Jude said the environment in which he grew up didn’t permit him to engage in any other vocation other than acting. Today Jude, a self professed devoted disciple of the vocation who has shown deep commitment to the profession, is one stage and screen actor who is roundly believed to be head and shoulder above his contemporaries and even more.

JIMMY JAT

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Experience Bayelsa

Honour Deserved

MONDAYS–FRIDAYS IN THE GUARDIAN

SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2014

LAUTECH Produces 92 First Class Graduates ... reveals plans to establish software engineering course

By Falaiye Kola Oluwaseun ROF. GBADEGESIN the Vice chancellor of Lautech said that LAUTECH had successfully fulfilled its academic obligations and programmes, as the institution on Wednesday, April 23, graduated a total number of 12,181 first degree and 9,376 post graduate degree students spanning over three academic calendars -2009/2010, 2010/2011 and 2011/2012.

Of all, 92 students made first class, 3,202 in the second class upper category, 6,300 made second class lower while 1,961 and 145 made third class and pass respectively.

Also while addressing a press conference to signal the commencement of the 11th special convocation at the senate chamber of the institution,

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Work It..

Powered by POISE SHOWBLAST /33

Box Office Berths On DStv Explore

He revealed that LADOKE Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) has concluded plans to establish a software engineering course in the institution to complement its efforts at setting the pace for engineering breakthrough in the academic terrain in Nigeria and the industrial world.

Professor Gbadegesin said, “this university is unique in our programme.

Very soon, in the next six month, we’ll establish a software engineering programme that will be producing software for most of the industries in the country and even some of our sister universities in the country.

“We also have it in mind to use it to solve economic and unemployment problems in the country and as well chart a new course for engineering future in our country.”

CAREER /27

Youth & Graduate Jobs Powered by Jobberman.com KEEP IT REAL /35

Taking Risks

JAMB 2014 Shocking Statistics T IS NO LONGER news that JAMB has released the result of its 2014 UTME examinations for PPT and DBT modes.

According to the Registrar of JAMB, Prof Dibu Ojerinde while announcing the release of the 2014 UTME results at JAMB headquarters, a total of 990,179 candidates applied for PPT while 25,325 candidates applied for DBT which amounts to 1,015,504 applicants”.

Out of this, 36,164 were recorded as invalid results and 37,315 are for applicants who were absent on the exam date. 2,494 results were withheld due to various examination malpractices.

Ojerinde revealed that in PPT, 275,282 candidates scored below

I

ZAINAB BALOGUN tv personality and actress

150, 122,157 scored 150-159; 115,456 scored 160-169, 315,401 candidates scored 170-199 while 108,488 candidates scored 200-249.

In DBT, 2,471 candidates scored

ASUP Strike:ASUP Sets April 29 For The Planned Nationwide Protest If...

HE ACADEMIC STAFF Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), on Wednesday, said it had concluded all necessary arrangement to embark on a nationwide protest over what it described as government’s insensitivity to its lingering strike.

The National President of the union, Dr Chibuzo Asomugha, told newsmen in Abuja that the protest would take place on April 29 if the Federal government fail to meet their demands on or before the aforesaid date.

This is coming on the heels of Kebbi State chapter of the union’s decision on Tuesday to call off the 10-month old strike.

Asomugha said failure by the Federal Government to meet the demands of ASUP and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) and the consequent shutdown of the nation’s public polytechnics and colleges of education was worrisome.

“In fact, we are planning for the protest on April 29 and if it doesn’t come up on the 29th, then it would be immediately after May Day. “We have been waiting for the federal government. The strike should

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THE CURSED LARRY ELLISON

THE MAN WHO SOUGHT THE ORACLE

have been suspended about three weeks ago but we haven’t heard from them.

“So, with this kind of development we do not even think there is any measure of sincerity on the part of the government’’, he said.

He expressed confidence in the resilience of ASUP members, He said the union would hold final meeting on the proposed strike with the Nigeria Labour Congress and other stakeholders.

Nyesom Wike, Supervising Minister of Education, had in a meeting in February with the union, accused it of thwarting government’s efforts at resolving the strike.

The second committee, headed by the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, is yet to convince the striking lecturers.

ASUP embarked on an indefinite strike in September 2013 over the non-release of the white paper on the Visitation Panel to Federal Polytechnics.

T IS NOT new that ASUP embarked ISeptember on an indefinite strike in 2013 over the non-release of the white paper on the Visitation Panel to Federal Polytechnics and the non-commencement of their needs assessments.

And without a doubt becoming a slap on the nation's face as concerned Parents in Nsukka beseech with the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) to make sacrifice by shifting grounds to end the Strike.

Mr Paul Ugwuanyi, a secondary school principal, said he was concerned as a parent, saying that the government and the union should consider the interest of the student whose academic future was hanging in the balance.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

26 Saturday, April 26, 2014

CAMPUS

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GUNMEN ATTACK SECONDARY SCHOOL STAFF QUARTERS, KILL 5YEAR-OLD

LAUTECH Honours Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Chancellor/Award of D.Sc

By Falaiye Kola Oluwaseun ORMER LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR and National Leader of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) Sen. Bola Tinubu yesterday was invested as Lautech Chancellor and also awarded the D.Sc (Honoris Causa) in Management Sciences by the institution.

The Convocation and Investiture award and lecture took place in the SIFAX Lecture Theatre and it started at about 11am on Wednesday April 23rd, 2014. The occasion was the 11th (special convocation) ceremony of the University.

The Convocation Lecture was delivered by Dr. Robert Michael Franklin, President Emeritus of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He delivered a lecture on “Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education for Nigeria, Africa and the Diaspora.”

In attendance were APC big wigs all around the country,while speaking yesterday, The APC National Leader urged election riggers to stay clear of Osun and Ekiti States during the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

According to him “I fear this government will not allow free and fear elections in 2015. If the balloting during the last year’s vote on the chairmanship of the Nigerian Governor’s forum is indicative, then coming elections will be ones where numbers and Maths are immaterial,” he said.

He maintained that without reforms, elections may likely be ones where those the people rejected would be proclaimed the people’s choice, adding that such malpractice would only place the nation on a dangerous straits.

“To avoid this calamity, we need sweeping electoral reform. Foremost, we need a fully biometric voters verification and validation of registration system.

Adding that “Our current system encourages multiple voting and not verifiable one man

F

one vote. As such, it is a veritable invitation card to massive fraud and malpractice,” he said.

Tinubu, who is also the Chancellor of the Institution, condemned in its entirety the Nyanyan killings and the abduction of female students in Borno, saying the their assailants had grown more brazen “Their mayhem has not abated.

The tempo and consistency of attacks suggest that this government’s approach is not only tepid but wrong-minded. We have reached a point where uncertain policy and half measures do not suffice.

“These terrorists have declared war not only against government but against the whole of us,” he said.

He implored the Jonathan administration to develop a grand strategy to bind this menace, urging it to move the African Union summits to jointly and decisively eliminate all sources of insurgency within the member states.

The APC National leader said that patriotism was about country and not self nor religious bigotry, saying Nigerians must stand bi-partisan, united and in complete solidarity against the threat to the nation.

Tinubu faulted the recently released GDP by the federal government, adding that the magical statistics does not translate to improvement in the people’s economic condition.

He pledged to do his best for the institution, saying he dared not do less because he followed the footsteps of men who never saw failure as an option.

Dignitaries at the convocation includes former

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uki@poisenigeria.org,

By Falaiye Kola Oluwaseun

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head of state, Rtd Gen. Muhammad’s Buhari, Former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, Minority leader of the House of Representatives, Sen. Sola Adeyeye, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa and other APC leaders.

MISSING OAU PROF'S FAMILY CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION HE FAMILY and community members of the missing lecturer of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile Ife, Professor James Bolarinwa Olomo, has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, to assist in the search for their kinsman.

Prof. Olomo, a renowned Professor of Nuclear Physics at OAU, Ile Ife was declared missing last

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powered by

Experience is the best teacher, but the tuition fee is very high. I am Uki Dare, C.E.O of Poise’ Graduate Finishing Academy, mother of two and wife of one. I will share with you lessons I have learnt from my experiences around transforming from a young lady with big dreams to a young C.E.O with massive goals. I won’t bore you with long prose and philosophical arguments I promise to be real and answer all your questions in just TWO WORDS.

Uki Dare WORK IT

Work It...

Have you found your talent as I suggested in ‘Find It’. What then do you do with it? What happens when your talent and your career are in two different fields? How do you turn your talent into your career? I have two words for you…’Work It’.

Think of your favorite pair of shoes and your oldest pair (the ones still in active service). Which of them do you spend more time polishing when you need to go out? The truth is that your newer shoes need less care in order to look smashing but your oldest pair might need one or two rounds of polishing before they can look half as nice as the new ones. It is the same with your talent and gifts.

A lot of times we focus on polishing and working the areas of our weaknesses and we neglect our strengths, in the belief that we are amazing enough in those areas. Let’s use Charles as a case in point example: Weakness discovered vs Response Charles discovered he had the tendency to procrastinate so he took a training on Time Management.

He noticed a gap in his ICT skills and dedicated time to lots of practice to improve himself.

Strength discovered VS Response Charles noticed that he had a way with words and he enjoyed creative writing. People always

praised the things he wrote since he was a child. He decided one day to write a book and it never occurred to him that if he got training in the area of his talent he would be more likely to write a best seller than someone who didn’t have his natural talent.

OLICE in Bauchi State said unknown gunmen set ablaze some houses in the staff quarters of Government Girls Secondary School, GGSS, Yana, killing a five-year old girl on Sunday.

The Bauchi State Police spokesperson, DSP Haruna Mohammed while confirming the incident said the gunmen stole a private vehicle belonging to the Principal of the School and also destroyed a bank vault.

The attack came barely a week after gunmen abducted 129 girls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State. It is not clear whether the two attacks on government girls schools are related.

The gunmen also attacked the staff quarters of GGSS Yana, Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi State, around 2.30am on Sunday.

They set the school bus ablaze; and in the process, a five-year old girl was killed in the fire while the vault of a bank was destroyed. A combined team of security forces are on the trail of the attackers.

year October after he travelled to Eket in Akwa Ibom State for an engagement as Radiation Safety Adviser (RSA) by an oil company based in the state.

The family of Olomo and Otan Ayegbaju community, home town of the missing professor, at a joint press conference appealed to wellmeaning Nigerians, especially security operatives to assist in finding the missing Prof.

It could be recalled that Olomo was kidnapped on July 16 2013, but was released on August 16 of the same year after spending 31 days in his abductor's den.

The President, Otan Aiyegbaju Progressive Union (OAPU), Mr Ademola Olawale said the community and Olomo’s family had made several efforts to find the missing professor but to no avail, hence they call on the Federal Government and the Police for assistance.

He said the community had sent representatives to the Akwa Ibom State Police Command as part of efforts to find Olomo, adding: “The Police in Akwa Ibom State are trying their best but we are of the opinion that the presidential intervention in the matter will hasten the process of finding and release of Professor Olomo.”

business based on their natural talent to which they have not added any equipping skills or knowledge development.

Everyone has a gift, but what do we do with it?

Sometimes, we are like Charles, we get training Some people are so blessed because their careers in interpersonal skills or emotional intelligence are already in line with their gifts but it does not if we feel we are too shy or we read books on mean that everyone’s gift must be in line with financial intelligence when we notice that we their careers, after all many people have multiple are not managing our finances right. As the per- gifts. My advice for you, if you are one of those that son who wrote ‘Upgrade You’ a few weeks ago, I have discovered their gifts but have not yet had am here to tell you that this is very good but the opportunity to use it is this even more importantly, you need to ‘work’ your strengths.

- ‘Work It’.

Polish them and showcase them. The things When you discover your weakness…Upgrade You you do well without anyone teaching or pushing you, are the things you can become a mas- When you find your passion…Learn More ter of, with just a little more practice or learnDon’t be an amateur in the area of your ing. talent…Improve You There is always something more to learn. Read to groom and improve in the area of your tal- Roll up your sleeves when you find your gifts and…Work It ent. Do not put your career on hold for this, because the skills, contacts and not to mention money that you are making today will come in You can find this and previous Two Words on the handy. When the time comes to pull out and Poise’ Graduate Finishing Academy blog. pursue that passion squarely, when the time is http://poisegfs.blogspot.com. right, you will know.

Please drop a comment. Also, here is a special I have seen too many people leave a glowing invitation for Thursday the 24th of April. Poise’ career to setup a business in the area of their Graduate Finishing Academy is having a free ‘passion’. This is good but the only problem is seminar on how to kick-start your career and I that they are still amateurs. They are starting a hope to see you there.

Olomo

JAMB 2014 Shocking Statistics CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 below 150, 2,830 scored 150-159, 3,808 scored 160-169; 6,678 candidates also scored between 170-199 while 1,309 candidates scored 200-249.

Eight centres in Abia, Rivers, Ebonyi and Imo States have been indicted by the board for extorting from N500 – N1, 000 from the applicants. The board’s helmsman pledged that the culprits will be dealt with.

He however, said that this year’s UTME is one of the best the board has ever conducted.

The shocking Statistics released by the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Board, Professor ‘Dibu Ojerinde is flabbergasted Universities have highest number of applicants as applicants who chose universities as their first choices are 995,901 in number while those who chose Polytechnics as their first choices are 13,761 applicants; Colleges of Education and Innovative Enterprise Institute have 20,558 and 32 applicants respectively who chose them as first choices.

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28 Saturday, April 26, 2014

JOBS & CAREERS

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JOBS & CAREERS

30 Saturday, April 26, 2014

JOBS & CAREERS

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National Development Strategy Series NICHOLAS OKOYE, Founder EMPOWER NIGERIA Initiative

FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO

ACCESS TO CAPITAL PAPER 11 been inundated with emails recently IedHAVE about the need to talk about the risks associatwith raising capital. Whereas I have spoken about public capital which is raised through issuing bonds and private capital which is raised in several ways including angel investment, venture capital, private equity and public listing or an initial public offering, can all be undermined by an unstable and shaky political and economic environment? We have a great head start with the rebasing of the GDP which puts our economy at $510 billion. And this is legal. I have read a lot of the debates for and against and I made a strong argument in this column recently on why we should celebrate the rebased figure, however we still have a lot of work to do. The true potential of the Nigerian economy is much much larger, remember that we are operating a $510 billon dollar economy that runs largely on home and industrial power generators. That means that if we can provide power supplied by the grid, then we are very likely to add an additional whopping $200 billion to the GDP, and this does not include the 60% or so unbanked economy that have not been included in the calculations due to the fact that their financial transactions are off the financial grid.

RISK The biggest risk to Nigeria today is the one signified by the political situation today. I did say last week that we as Nigerians have every reason to smile, as our Nation is going places and nothing will stop it. However that doesn’t mean that we should completely ignore the risks which can be mitigated. So the Boko Haram and the so called Fulani herdsmen are killing people in the northeast of Nigeria and around the Plateau and Benue regions. To make matters worse we have irresponsible political leaders such as Governor murtala nyako, who form now on, nobody should ever refer to as “Excellency” as he has lost the right to that title. A man who wakes up in the morning and decides to fan the embers of civil conflict just because he is angry with the President. What a gang of Political Leaders Nigeria has been cursed with. As we are encouraging unity and collective effort to progress that will create jobs for millions of Nigerian youths, people like Gov nyako want to take us back to 1966, and 1967 almost 50 years ago, so he can be at the helm of a new conflict that will put brother against brother and ignite another holocaust in Africa. What an irresponsible so called Leader.

Drones are now commercially available and can perform high level of surveillance anywhere in the Country the United States or any country in Europe, what are the chances that the terrorists will still be holding on to the girls? The entire jungle would be on lock down by now. And everything that moves in that area would be monitored on a second by second basis from the White House situation room, using space satellites and drones. The Department of Defense would have a daily briefing room to brief the families and the country on the progress every day and by now the terrorists would be seeking an exit strategy as the heat would be damn too much for them or anybody. I need to see that kind of dedication to the lives of the Nigerian people from our officials. That is why we have a democracy it is supposed to be a Government of the people, by the People for the People. If the Government does not want to ask for the help of the powerful Nations then we should hire powerful mercenaries, there are many former Special Forces operatives that are for hire out there. These are men that have been trained and retired by the US marines, the British SAS, the US CIA, the US navy Seals, and so on. They can penetrate that forest or any place on earth and carry out surgical strikes within 24 hours.

It would be easy for these types. These are the types of people that took out Osama Bin Ladin in the depth of night in faraway Pakistan, and came back to the United States to have breakfast with their families. If we have our own Special Forces then now is their time to act. If we do not then we need to hire mercenaries or ask the United States, France or the British Government for help.

THE NINE STAGES OF PUBLIC QUOTATION Consultation/Discussion Stage In this stage of raising capital the issuer who is referred to as the company or project that needs funding, will need to meet with all the stake holders that will be affected by the listing. The stake holders will include shareholders of the company, the regulators and the Nigerian Stock Exchange. At the Stock Exchange you will need to understand the market’s appetite for new listings especially in your industry.

Decision Making/Mandate Stage Once you have made up your mind and received the blessing of your shareholders you will need to identify the professionals that will help you to succeed in this offering. These professional firms in include your Financial Advisory firm or issuing house, your stock broker, your reporting accountant, your new issue lawyers etc. other parties that may not participate directly in the issue but whose opinion is valuable will include the auditor to the company. You will also need a Receiving Banker that will receive the funds that have been raised and pass it on to you after the Securities and Exchange Commission has satisfied that the offer is successful.

Documentation/Packaging Stage The packaging of the documents required for the offering is normally done by the led Financial Advisory firm or the issuing House.

The selling document as it is called or Prospectus, will carry all the pertinent information regarding he offer which an investor will

Counter Terror Body Language I am trying to read the body language of the President and the Federal Government regarding the over 200 young girls that have been kidnapped by the terrorists. I have witnessed the way in which the Malaysian Government mobilized the entire World to help look for the missing airliner that still has not been found. At the last count the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, Japan, China, Korea, France and others were all involved in the search. And over $235 million has been spent so far. Why haven’t we mobilized the World to help us recover the school girls? There is no shame in accepting that we do not have all the technology and experience needed to find them, so lets us suck it up and ask The Military style Drones are in use in Afghanistan by the US military. The Drones are providing a very the World for help. If that so called jungle was in valuable support to the War on terror

need to make a decision. The Regulator will make sure that all material facts about the company, its directors and the offer are completely disclosed to the public in this document.

NSE Quotation Approval/SEC Registration Stage The Nigerian Stock Exchange Council will need to approve the offering if the securities are to be listed on the Exchange quotation system. The Council of the Exchange delegates this responsibility to the quotations Committee of the Council which meets regularly to consider offerings from time to time.

Completion Board Meeting Stage A completion board meeting is an expanded meeting of the board of directors that will be kind ceremonial. The meeting is designed to get all the directors to sign off on the documents that contain the material facts to the offering.

This day also signifies that start of the selling of the shares.

Distribution/Marketing Stage The sale of the shares have commenced and if you are targeting the general public then the marketing of the offering can be carried out on television, radio and other means of multimedia. If you are targeting the asset management and investment management community then you will carry out your road shows at this time.

The offer will be open for a fixed period of thirty days or so.

Range of Analysis/Allotment Stage Once the offer has closed the parties to the issue will carry out a range of analysis and allot shares to the investors accordingly. If investors have oversubscribed the offering then a scheme or arrangement will need to be used to insure as many investors get allotted shares as possible.

General Undertaking/Declaration of Compliance Stage The directors and parties will make a complete submission to the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as the Nigerian Stock Exchange and indicate by a signed undertaking that they have complied with the laws and all regulations surrounding the raising of funds in a public offering.

Listing Stage The sold shares get listed on the electronic quotation system on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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EMPOWERNIGERIA

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CASE STUDY

Guide to Personal Development

By Nicholas Okoye

nokoye@empowernigeria.com

LARRY ELLISON:

N the Guide to personal Development we have outlined three levels in which every young person must be able to improve. That is for your personal development to be complete and for you to achieve success and happiness you must somehow cover these three levels.

I

Personal Mind Set. You must have made up your mind that you will succeed and that you must succeed. You must therefore develop a positive attitude towards your life even if it is over bearing and there is no hope insight.

When adversity hits find a way a laugh about it. We always say “ONE DAY WE WILL ALL BE LAUGHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM: right and in all cases once time passes we do laugh about it, a problem we had once thought would consume us all. So here is an idea why don’t we laugh about the problem now, and see how much better yon will feel. Don’t way for a few months or a few years laugh now and you would have succeeded in developing a positive mental attitude.

THE MAN WHO SOUGHT THE ORACLE AWRENCE JOSEPH (Larry) Ellison was born in LJewish New York City August 17, 1944, to an unwed mother. His father was an Italian American US Air Force pilot. After Ellison contracted pneumonia at the age of nine months, his mother gave him to her aunt and uncle for adoption. He did not meet his biological mother again until he was 48. He is an American businessman, best known as the co-founder and chief executive officer of Oracle Corporation, an enterprise software company. In 2014, Forbes listed him as the third-wealthiest man in America and as the fifth-wealthiest person in the world, with a fortune of $48 billion.

Ellison graduated from Eugene Field Elementary School in Chicago in January 1958 and attended Sullivan High School at least through the fall of 1959 before moving to Chicago’s South Shore, a middle-class Jewish neighborhood. Ellison remembers his adoptive mother as warm and loving, in contrast to his austere, unsupportive, and often distant adoptive father, who adopted the name Ellison to honor his point of entry into the United States, Ellis Island. Louis Ellison was a government employee who had made a small fortune in Chicago real estate, only to lose it during the Great Depression.

Although Ellison was raised in a Reform Jewish home by his adoptive parents, who attended synagogue regularly, he remained a religious skeptic.

At age thirteen, Ellison refused to have a bar mitzvah celebration. Ellison says that he has a love affair with Israel that is not connected to religious sentiments, but rather due to the innovative spirit of Israelis, particularly in the technology sector.

Ellison was a bright but inattentive student. He left the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign after his second year, after not taking his final exams because his adoptive mother had just died.

After spending a summer in northern California, Ellison attended the University of Chicago for one term, where he first encountered computer design. In 1966, aged 22, he moved to northern California.

During the 1970s, after a brief stint at Amdahl Corporation, Ellison began working for Ampex Corporation. His projects included a database for the CIA, which he named Oracle. Ellison was inspired by a paper written by Edgar F. Codd on relational database systems called “A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared

Data Banks”. In 1977, he founded Software Development Laboratories (SDL) with two partners and an investment of $2,000; $1,200 of the money was his.

In 1979 the company renamed itself Relational Software Inc., and in 1982 officially became Oracle Systems Corporation after its flagship product, the Oracle database. Ellison had heard about the IBM System R database, also based on Codd’s theories, and wanted Oracle to achieve compatibility with it, but IBM made this impossible by refusing to share System R’s code. The initial release of Oracle was called Oracle 2; there was no Oracle 1.

In 1990, Oracle laid off 10% of its work force (about 400 people) because it was losing money.

This crisis, which almost resulted in Oracle’s bankruptcy, came about because of Oracle’s upfront marketing strategy, in which sales people urged potential customers to buy the largest possible amount of software all at once. The sales people then booked the value of future license sales in the current quarter, thereby increasing their bonuses. This became a problem when the future sales subsequently failed to materialize.

Oracle eventually had to restate its earnings twice, and had to settle class-action lawsuits arising from its having overstated its earnings.

Ellison would later say that Oracle had made an incredible business mistake.

Although IBM dominated the mainframe relational database market with its DB2 and SQL/DS database products, it delayed entering the market for a relational database on UNIX and Windows operating-systems. This left the door open for Sybase, Oracle, Informix, and eventually Microsoft to dominate mid-range systems and microcomputers.

Around this time, Oracle fell behind Sybase. From 1990 to 1993, Sybase was the fastest growing database company and the database industry’s darling vendor, but soon fell victim to merger mania.

Sybase’s 1996 merger with Powersoft resulted in a loss of focus on its core database technology. In 1993, Sybase sold the rights to its database software running under the Windows operating system to Microsoft Corporation, which now markets it under the name SQL Server.

In 1994, Informix overtook Sybase and became Oracle’s most important rival. The intense war

between Informix CEO Phil White and Ellison was front page Silicon Valley news for three years. In April 1997, Informix announced a major revenue shortfall and earnings restatements. Phil White eventually landed in jail, and IBM absorbed Informix in 2001. Also in 1997, Ellison was made a director of Apple Computer after Steve Jobs returned to the company. Ellison resigned in 2002.

With the defeat of Informix and of Sybase, Oracle enjoyed years of industry dominance until the rise of Microsoft SQL Server in the late 1990s and IBM’s acquisition of Informix Software in 2001 to complement their DB2 database. As of 2013 Oracle’s main competition for new database licenses on UNIX, Linux, and Windows operating systems comes from IBM’s DB2 and from Microsoft SQL Server, which only runs on Windows. IBM’s DB2 still dominates the mainframe database market.

In 2005, Oracle Corporation paid Ellison a $975,000 salary, a $6,500,000 bonus, and other compensation of $955,100. In 2007, Ellison earned a total compensation of $61,180,524, which included a base salary of $1,000,000, a cash bonus of $8,369,000, and options granted of $50,087,100. In 2008, he earned a total compensation of $84,598,700, which included a base salary of $1,000,000, a cash bonus of $10,779,000, no stock grants, and options granted of $71,372,700. In the year ending May 31, 2009 he made $56.8 million.

In 2006, Forbes ranked him as the richest Californian. In April 2009, after a tug-of-war with IBM and Hewlett-Packard, Oracle announced its intent to buy Sun Microsystems.

On July 2, 2009, for the fourth year in a row, Oracle’s board awarded Ellison another 7 million stock options. On August 22, 2009, it was reported that Ellison would be paid only $1 for his base salary for the fiscal year of 2010, down from the $1,000,000 he was paid in fiscal 2009.

The European Union approved Oracle’s acquisition of Sun Microsystems on January 21, 2010, and agreed that Oracle’s acquisition of Sun had the potential to revitalize important assets and create new and innovative products. The Sun acquisition also gave Oracle control of the popular MySQL open source database, which Sun had acquired in 2008.

Activity. What you do, what you say, who you say it to and where you go, are all a part and parcel of your success plan. You must act in order to succeed.

You must choose your business or your profession and you must dedicate all your energy towards its success and possible global domination. Your choosing a business idea from the EMPOWER NIGERIA line up, your action to raise the money you need from friends and family first and then subsequently from one of the EMPOWER NIGERIA partners if your friends and family are not forthcoming. Activity is key. Nothing happens without ACTION. The fact that you have eaten this morning is because either you or someone else has taken the time and the effort to prepare the meal. The meal did not prepare itself. So if you really want to be a successful man or woman loo deeper at this level of activity.

Environment. And yes we are talking about the Nigerian environment. So it is very important that our Leaders create an environment that is business friendly. We are working on this and in some cases they are listening. Some States are getting it more than others.

And some Ministers on the Federal level are getting it more than others. I understand Nigeria has slipped again on the Global “Doing Business in” Index prepared by the World Bank. This is unacceptable. We should now examine ourselves deeply and find out why we are slipping like this. If it is a matter of personnel then we need to et the right personnel into Government to make the changes that are required.

We are all in this struggle together and that is what our civil servants and politician need to understand. So the more we make it difficult for business to operate the more peace will elude us and we will not reach our goals.

Join the EMPOWER NIGERIA initiative and let’s change Nigeria together

Saturday, April 26, 2014 33

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SHOWBLAST

Destinambari…

The Rebirth Of Mo’Cheddah

was 18; I’ve won the Channel O awards, Dytime is right, and I only want to make music namix awards, Fab awards and more. I traveled that I love and music that am proud of.”

Going by her tone and body language, fans ROM the bustling zone of Fola-Agoro, Akoka, all over the country for different performances and I was mixing all these with school as well,” should expect some changes from her usual Lagos, pop singer Modupe-Oreoluwa anshe noted. style of music. nounced her arrival in the country’s showbiz For the singer, combining her music career “I want to make timeless music because industry. With her exceptional performance in music is like art; it’s timeless, it’s not supposed the video for her hit track, The Finest (Won Beri), with academics was a very challenging task.

“Reading in between flight for exams and to have a season or time. Now, I’m clearer on the Creative Arts graduate of the University of the artiste I want to be and what I want to do Lagos gave an impression that she has come to all… it just got to a point where I needed to relax and take time out to observe. I started with my own life,” she said confidently. stay. loosing my identity and I just wanted to get it Obviously, Mo’Cheddah’s old works were inAside her collaborations with A-List artistes fluenced by her youthful age. such as M.I, Sasha, Mode9, eLDee, Terry the Rap- back,” she said.

Though two years absence obviously created “Then I was very young, and at a very young man and others, the petit singer showed some a gap between the artiste and her growing fan age, you are influenced by the change in the insparks of creativity in her craft, which earned her slots in major gigs like Girl Power 2009 Tour base, the break was a learning opportunity for dustry; I was influenced by the changes I was Mo’Cheddah. going through as a teenager.” alongside Ashionye and Nikki Laoye. She was However, as an artiste, Mo’Cheddah is dialso the 2nd place winner with Knighthouse at “I learnt a lot about myself and I made some certain decisions to only produce the kind of verse. the Hennessy Artistry 2009 competition, music I love going forward. I took time to re“I can rap, I can sing; I could do soul. So, at a where she battled the likes of Bez and Cobpoint in time, I was doing everything and I hams Asuquo, Iceprince and Jesse Jagz, Jimmy mind myself why I do what I do, why I love to couldn’t distinguish between what I really Flames and Dr Frabz. By the time she dropped do music and how it makes me feels, because wanted to do and what I was influenced to do. her hits track, Ko Maa Roll, most observers con- music is supposed to be natural; it’s supposed to come from the soul. It was time when I had But, now I’ve grown, I know what I want; I cluded she has come to stay. to reflect, and now that am back, I know the However, for two years, nothing was heard from the light-skinned singer as regard releasing new works. In fact, she was hardly featured in major concerts within and outside the country. While it was rumoured that the Mo’Cheddah had traveled out of the country in search After a long wait since the some of this young artiste’s of greener pastures, others tagged her a flash Star Music Trek comgreatest performances yet. in the pan. menced, fans of the popular The fifth concert will hold at But just as fans had started probing into her artiste Wizkid will today Sam Okparaji Stadium, with whereabouts, Mo’Cheddah has made a drawatch the EME artiste take the likes of 2Face, MI, Dr Sid matic return to music after two years of keephis turn on stage in Orlu, and Mr Raw. A pre gig at the ing low profile. In what seems like a deliberate Imo State.

Orange Groove Owerri will attempt to have a loud comeback, the pop Widkid’s last appearance precede the concert in Orlu, princess has collaborated with fast rising rap on The Trek was in 2012 and with lots of fantastic branded artiste Phyno in her latest single, Destinambari. since then fans have been gifts such as carpets, headIn a recent chat with Showblast to announce rooting for the prolific phones, home theaters etc to her comeback, Mo’Cheddah revealed she took singer to perform once be won with many more time away to relax and work on herself as a again on the spectacular lucky fans standing a chance woman. music stage. of winning even more excit“Really, when you think about it, I’ve been With a string of massive ing gifts doing music since I was 12 years old; I’ve been hits to his credit, there’s no Wizkid will also perform in working non stop and I’ve won several awards. doubt that music lovers at Benin City on the eighth Don’t forget that I won the MTV awards when I Star Music Trek will witness Trek concert on May 17.

Stories by Chuks Nwanne

F

Orlu Hots Up For Wizkid,Others

know what I feel. So, it’s just a matter of making that decision to do what you love.”

In recreating herself, Mo’Cheddah has also left Knighthouse Music, a platform that brought her to limelight.

“I’m running my own record label now, called Cheddah Music and it’s just me and my board of directors. The vision is to stay true and not to compromise who I am as a person and as an artiste.”

Though she left Knighthouse at the expiration of her contract, there are indications that some unresolved differences between both parties might have forced the singer to go solo.

“Nothing really happened; my contract expired and they had taught me everything I needed to know. At the time when I left the record label, I made a decision to be on my own, which also influenced the decision of me taking a break at that point.”

For now, it is music all the way for the Ko Maa Roll crooner.

“I don’t know how to do anything else apart from music; I’ve been doing music for a very long time. I just want to make music, because for me, it’s a passion; it comes from my soul.

The beautiful thing about music is that you have the power to create and influence people.

So, for me, the joy of music is creating good music and blessing people with the God given talent, because it’s a gift, and being able to share that gift with the world is priceless, so it’s not really about the money, it’s about achievement, making an impact and leaving a legacy,” she said.

Asked if she’s in any way threatened by the number of female artistes currently on the scene, Mo’Cheddah said, “Not at all! You know, at the end of the day, it’s not a competition, it’s an expression; we are all expressing ourselves.

Really, I love them all, am proud of what they’ve achieved, but what separates me really is the God given talent in me, my style of music, my sound, my drive and how far am willing to go with what am feeling. At the end of the day, I just want to make good music and I think

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SHOWBLAST

Gentlemen’s club meeting world standards

By Florence Utor S the Lagos State GovernA ment is upgrading infrastructures, and in some cases build new ones, as a way of making the state live up to its emerging mega-city status, the people, themselves, are not left out, as they are keying into the vision by putting up facilities such as night clubs that would enliven nightlife.

One of such clubs is Unique Gentlemen’s Club also known as Adult club, located at Ogundana Street, Ikeja.

According to the operator, Emmanuel Ofor, “the facility has been in existence for a while, but with the new face of Lagos, it has to be improved upon for better services.”

Enlightening the public on the club’s activities, Ofor, said, “the club is a regular night club limited to adults. The activities that take place here are not different from what is obtainable; there are dance, life band and others.”

Commenting on the public outcry in the past about night clubs Ofor noted: “We have

our differences in life, so, everyone cannot like nightclubs. However, government regulates the activities of nightclubs to make sure they confirm to the law.

“Also, Lagos State government has realised that if the state is to be a true mega city, then what is obtainable in such cities across the globe should equally be found in it.

So, Unique Gentlemen Club like any other across the globe could help conserve foreign exchange and contribute to internally generated revenue by serving as avenue, where tourists and Lagosians to enjoy superlative entertainment and nightlife. It is a club that has been fine-tuned to suit out culture.”

Talking of client’s age limit, Ofor said, “you must be 25 years and above to be allowed in. We have law enforcement agents and bouncers that scrutinise people into the club. If one is underage, you can never be allowed in even if you have bag of money.”

Marketing Manager, DStv, Chioma Afe (left) General Manager, Marketing and Sales, Multichoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho, Regional Manager, Mnet Africa, Wangi Mba-Nsokwu and ublic Relations Manager, Multichoice, Caroline Ogbuma at the Launch of DStv BoxOffice in Lagos PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

BoxOfffice Berths On DStv Explore N line with its resolve to Inology move with the latest techin the pay TV industry, MultiChoice has officially launched BoxOffice in Nigeria, in what is yet another move to provide DStv subscribers with the ultimate in home television entertainment.

Held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, the launch was an opportunity for the pay TV Company to introduce the product to the media, as well as to explain how the service works.

BoxOffice is a service that allows subscribers to conveniently rent and watch the latest blockbuster movies in the comfort of their homes, right on their DStv Explora decoders.

With BoxOffice, DStv subscribers can now rent and

keep movies for up to 48 hours, for N400 per movie, and your first movie is courtesy of DStv Nigeria. Thereafter customers using the service may choose to use any of the flexible payment options to rent and make anytime movie time with BoxOffice.

The service will give subscribers access to a wide variety of movies from comedy, drama and family movies, to horror, fantasy and a whole lot more, including a selection of great Nollywood titles such as Plantain Girl and In Her Shoes to start with.

Speaking on the new product, the Managing Director of MultiChoice Nigeria John Ugbe informed that with BoxOffice, DStv Premium subscribers can enjoy the

best and latest of Hollywood and Nollywood on their Explora decoders.

“DStv services like BoxOffice form part of a bigger MultiChoice strategy to use cutting-edge technological innovation to help people enjoy some of the best entertainment available at a time that’s convenient to them.

“And with the all-new Explora decoder, we’re taking on demand video to a whole new level, by offering subscribers an experience that mimics the Internet, but on a decoder, and without the high data bills.”

“With this innovative service,” Ugbe added, “our subscribers can watch the latest blockbusters before they become available on TV, legitimately. BoxOffice delivers

quality, simplicity, choice and convenience at the touch of the GREEN Button,” he said.

With up to 20 movies at any one time, the DStv Explora is packaged with a brand new, stylish HD user interface, which makes finding favourite movies on BoxOffice so much easier.

Content is displayed using HD poster-art – just like an Internet video service. In addition, the Explora has powerful search features that help subscribers find movies quicker and easier as it searches across the Electronic Programme Guide. Explora’s remote control further enhances the experience with dedicated shortcut buttons to BoxOffice and other viewing options.

Burna Boy, Seyi Shay,Others Groove Orijin In Lagos O the sound of music T from the likes of Burna Boy and Oritsefemi, Guinness Nigeria Plc unveiled Orijin to its Lagos consumers, in an electrifying atmosphere at the Elegushi Beach, Lagos. Earlier launched in Ibadan and Port Harcourt, the brand became the toast of consumers at

the Beach as they had a nice time out with lots of music and entertainment.

Guests at the Elegushi Beach were treated to scintillating performances from Burna Boy, who belted out hits after hits to the admiration of the excited crowd, which singer Seyi Shay set the stage on fire, alongside

Burna Boy

Bovi

Jimmy Jat

FRCN SetTo Honour DG, Staff HE Federal Radio CorporaT tion of Nigeria, FRCN, Lagos Operations, will on Monday, April 28th, 2014, stage the 2013 Merit Awards for staff and a reception for the Director General of the Corporation, Mallam Ladan Salihu, at the Golden gate Restaurant, Ikoyi, Lagos, starting from 3pm.

A statement by the Director, Lagos Operations of FRCN, Mr. Ike Okere informed that the forum is packaged to reward hardwork and excellence among members of

staff of FRCN in Lagos in line with the station’s tradition of excellence in broadcasting.

According to Okereke, the forum is also an occasion to celebrate veteran journalist and broadcaster, Mallam Ladan Salihu, who was appointed Director General of FRCN in February by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The event to be chaired by the Registrar, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Alhaji Garba Kankarofi, will parade veterans in broadcasting and captains of industry.

her dancers. As for the Afro hip hop star Oritsefemi, it was an opportunity to once again test his popularity in the industry, while comedian Bovi spiced the evening with his jaw breaking jokes that got many reeling with laughter.

Speaking at the launch, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Seni Adetu, said Orijin is a drink that appeals to the modern African who wants to enjoy the best while still holding on to their African roots.

“In line with Guinness Nigeria’s tradition of continuously delivering great brands to meet our consumers’ varying tastes, Orijin is a quality brand that will not only bring excitement to consumers but also give them the opportunity to connect with their heritage.

It is a vibrant yet rooted drink – a celebration of modern African culture, which embodies all that is alive and exciting in Africa today.

With a refreshingly unique taste, Orijin is the flavoured alcoholic drink our consumers deserve.”

To the company’s Market-

ing and Innovation Director, Austin Ufomba, the product has come with a difference and is here to stay in the Nigerian alcoholic beverage market.

“Following its earlier launch in Port Harcourt and Ibadan, the drink has gained wide acceptance across our markets. Our consumers in Lagos today are also having a feel of what this iconic drink offers its esteemed consumers. As a company with world acclaimed brands, we are constantly seeking out new ways to connect with our consumers while providing them unforgettable experiences,” Ufomba informed.

He further hinted, “we have a wide network of distributions and partners who will ensure that every of our discerning consumers are able to enjoy this drink anytime they want to. In the last two years, Guinness Nigeria Plc has launched quality brands, which include Dubic Extra Lager, SNAPP Apple flavoured drink and Alvaro. Our consistency testifies to the fact that innovation is part of our DNA.”

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

KEEP IT REAL...

Saturday, April 26, 2014

35

YOUTHMAGAZINE

with Kemi Amushan

Taking Amushan Kemi

Risks

T’S always good to know what one is doing. Listening to your inner voice and trusting your instincts is very key in developing one’s self. I believe there are signs describing what is about to happen or what has happened. For me I believe in signs a lot and whether it is a stop sign or a yield sign, signs are everywhere in the world of dating and relationships.

We make a choice to see them or to ignore them. It is our brain’s way of trying to lead us in the right direction. Sinking feelings, apprehension, and anxiety are all ways for our sixth sense to quietly tap us on the shoulder and whisper in our ear, “Something doesn’t feel right.” Unfortunately, most of us try our best to ignore our inner voice. There are hundreds of ways that we do this including burying ourselves in our work, taking up hobbies, and cutting off friends or family members who have an opinion different from our own. Often we try anything and everything to prevent our brains from uncovering the truth. As long as we can cloud our inner voice or keep it busy, then we won’t have to listen to it or so we think.

Listening to our inner voice is the key to finding happiness.

When we ignore it, we suppress not only our ‘something doesn’t feel right’ voice, but we also suppress inner peace, happiness, and comfort. We exchange all of that for temporary peace and happiness that comes to us in small doses. What ‘doesn’t feel right’ still catches up to us, whether it is in our dreams, through the voices of our friends or family, or in the moments when we are sitting in the same room as our significant other and still feel lonely. It takes time for us to learn how to listen to ourselves and to stop ignoring signs. In the end, the reward is a lot sweeter.

Now let us face the issue of the day, why do people complain about the dating scene when things are not going well. It maybe that you’ve had a slew of bad dates or the guys you are meeting aren’t quite right. Maybe you’re recently single and just don’t trust men because you’ve been burned too many times.

I can sympathize because for a while I kept men at a distance, thinking that I was protecting myself from the heartbreak of another failed relationship. The only problem was, while I didn’t get hurt, I also wasn’t getting any closer to finding the right guy.

I wanted a relationship. I wanted to experience love, not just lust

I

or chemistry but real love with someone who loved me.

No matter how badly I wanted things to be different, to find someone I connected with, I kept meeting emotionally unavailable men. It took a while to realize that the guys I was dating weren’t the problem, even if they were unreliable or not ready for a relationship. If i truly wanted things to change, I needed to approach dating differently, to really understand what I wanted. I had a few walls up when it came to men. I wasn’t sure I could trust them. After all that time cultivating my own independence, I didn’t know how to be vulnerable, I was a confident single woman after all! But relationships require something from us – we have to get out of our comfort zones. We have to push ourselves a little bit, otherwise we stay in the same place and meeting the same types of people.

Are you the type that’s afraid of taking risks when it comes to dating? Better get rid of that fear and go with that gut feeling of having a happy life. Try something new by firstly putting yourself out there.

Taking risks requires vulnerability on our part and facing our fears. It means venturing into the unknown, potentially encountering rejection, heartbreak or worse. These aren’t trivial things, and because they are scary, they hold us back.

We prefer to stay in the comfort of what we know even if it’s not working for us. This is why we gravitate back to exes who aren’t right for us, or to the same unhealthy relationship patterns with new guys. We’re comfortable repeating our experiences because we know what to expect.

If you want to attract men who are interested in relationships, who are willing to take risks, then you must be willing to take risks, too. Real connection means you’re willing to show your fears, your disappointments and your vulnerability to another human being. It’s scary I know, I’ve been there. But let’s take this one step at a time.

Start with recognizing how you’re meeting people and what you could do differently. Instead of going for the same types of guys, try someone a little outside your preferred age range, or

who doesn’t have the physical characteristics or career that you typically go for. Attend parties where you don’t know many people, or venture into a networking event alone, without your group of friends or your phone to keep you company.

When you’re on a date, try taking things a bit more slowly, asking him questions and getting to know him. Open up about yourself instead of playing it safe because you’ve been hurt in the past. Allow yourself the possibility that you will find connection.

Taking these small steps helps you break the pattern. There’s no guarantee things will work out between you and your date, but if you don’t try to give love a real shot, you will definitely miss out on it. Listen to that inner voice that says it’s time to give love another try.

To our happiness, cheers

Events

In association with

One Nite: Live & Unplugged with Naeto C Date(s): 26/04/2014 Location: Intercontinental Hotel 52 Kofo Abayomi Rd, Victoria Island, Lagos Promoter: LoudNProud MORE INFO: www.afritickets.com

Date(s): 04/05/2014 Location: Terra Culture, Tamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Promoter: M-IKAZ TICKETS: 3,000.00, 5,000.00 MORE INFO: www.afritickets.com

WIE Africa 2014 Date(s): 03/05/2014 Location: Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos Promoter: Women Inspiration & Enterprise TICKETS: 45,000.00, 55,000.00, 85,000.00 BUY TICKETS HERE: www.afritickets.com

Sweet Mothers Ball 2014 Date(s): 11/05/2014 Location: The Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Promoter: 2910 Limited TICKETS: 25,000.00, 200,000.00 MORE INFO: www.afritickets.com

36

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, April 26, 2014

YOUTHMAGAZINE

WEEKENDBEATS

Come Experience Bayelsa, NdiomuBrown Tells Moviemakers

By Sahibu Husseni

OVERNOR Henry Seriake Dickson’s gospel of turning the oil rich Bayelsa State into the next tourism destination in Africa re-echoed loudly in far away South Africa, one of Africa’s home of tourism. The Emperor Palace Hotel, venue of Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) party where nominees for this year’s edition of the Awards which holds on Saturday April 26 was unveiled, was the place where the tourism potential and sites which are abound in the state were showcased to the world.

At the party which attracted the best of African movie makers and actors, the Director General of Bayelsa Tourism Development Agency, Mrs. Ebiza Ndiomu-Brown, who is gradually becoming the face of tourism in the state on account of how she has been implementing Governor Dickson’s tourism agenda, told the filmmakers to take advantage of the many film shooting friendly sites in the state.

According to her, ‘’not only is the state blessed with natural tourists attractions and sites that can blow the mind of any producer, Bayelsa State, which has played host to AMAA since inception over 10 years ago, is ready to give generous incentives to any producer who decides to make any of the tourist sites his location’’.

The Tourism boss whose agency has, in the last one year, successfully hosted top-notch entertainment events like Bayelsa International Jazz Festival (BIJF), Most Beautiful Girl in Nigerian (MBGN) among others also said: “We have beautiful and exotic locations that are good for shooting of your films. Come and experience Bayelsa and we have incentives and talents that will make your work very smooth,” However, before the nominees’ party, Mrs. Ndiomu-Brown had also in Lagos at a dinner held for long standing, fresh and potential sponsors of AMAA, appealed to corporate Nigeria to partner with Bayelsa State in making the Awards a world class event. She told the gathering that Governor Dickson is fully committed to the ideals of AMAA, which explains why he is committed to the promotion of excellence in the African movie industry.

According to her, ‘’AMAA provides a platform to celebrate the brilliant artistic works of Africa’s movie makers which has in turn encouraged creativity and excellence in the African movie world’’. She also said that the value chain this has generated could never be quantified in terms of goodwill and financial reward to the practitioners. “There is no gainsaying that the motion picture industry in Africa is experiencing a tremendous improvement as a result of the motivation and competitive nature of the world movie industry,” she observed.

Aside the entertainment that African filmmakers have brought to every home in the continent, the Tourism Boss also said that Nollywood has equally created jobs for teeming population of Nigerian youths. But to sustain the culture of reward for excellence in the movie industry in Africa, Ndiomu-Brown called on corporate Nigeria to throw its weight behind AMAA as government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of funding the event.

“It is indeed quite gratifying to note that Nigerians rose to the occasion by helping to further the frontiers of excellence in the movie making in Africa. His Excellency, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson the governor of Bayelsa State, believes in excellence and that is why today Bayelsa State is undergoing an uncommon transformation because of his avowed desire to positively touch the lives of our people. The legacy of excellence and good governance has become a familiar hallmark in our dear state.

However, it has become obvious that government alone cannot continue to shoulder the responsibility of sponsoring AMAA. Indeed, as a visionary leader, the governor on assumption of office two years ago decided to formulate policies and programmes to shore up alternative sources of income generation in the state.

And that is why he set his sight on the development of the tourism sector utilising the vast

G

untapped tourism potential that abound in the state.

Need I remind you that we have a very rich cultural heritage, eco-tourism and historical sites waiting to be explored by potential investors. We have the longest coastline in Africa and that means we have an array of natural beaches which favourably compares with beaches anywhere in the world’’.

Ndiomu-Brown reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa State to continue to host the event annually even as she canvassed more support from donors. “We are of the view that AMAA as a tourism event provides us with a veritable platform to promote and market the tourism potential of the state hence, the restoration government of Gov. Henry Seriake Dickson’s commitment to host the event year after year. However, we need your unflinching support to translate this vision into reality for the greater benefit of the larger society. We must bear in mind that AMAA is Africa’s version of the Oscars. AMAA has over the years gained international recognition and acceptance. G.T. Smith once said ‘donors don’t give to institutions. They invest in ideas and people they believe in.

As a result of the blossoming film industry in Africa, thousands of our youths are gainfully employed in various departments of the industry. In organizing AMAA we have successfully trained over 500 youths yearly in areas of cinematography, editing, script writing acting and so on giving them a platform to become self productive. Let us work together as a team to create the ambiance for the cinema industry to thrive in Africa. And at the end of the day, everyone is happy including the investor and the general public,” she told the distinguished

Singer Tiwa Savage Headlines WIE Symposium Africa OUNDER of the Wellbeing FounFKwara dation Africa and wife of former State governor, Mrs Toyin Saraki; award-winning fashion designer Folake Folarin-Coker, founder of Tiffany Amber; Mo Abudu, CEO of Ebony Life TV; Bola Adesola, CEO of Standard Chartered and television star, Julie

Tiwa Savage

Gichuru will co-host the second annual WIE Africa. This was announced recently by WIE cofounder and CEO, Dee Poku.

This is the second time that the WIE Symposium will be venturing into Africa following its successful launch in Cape Town last year. The symposium will break new

grounds in Nigeria by bringing together the continent’s stars and emerging young female leaders to empower and inspire the next generation. WIE Africa will be held on 3rd May at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria.

Tiwa Savage, the celebrated Nigerian singer/songwriter is one of the many soon-to-be announced headline speakers. She has written songs for the biggest names in the music industry including Babyface, Kat Deluna, Fantasia Barrino, Monica and Mya, among others. Tiwa’s debut album Once Upon A Time was released in the summer of 2013 and experienced critical and commercial success.

Folorunsho Alakija, the selfmade founder of Famfa Oil, and Nigeria’s first female billionaire will speak in a spotlight session, sharing her knowledge on leadership with the ambitious and aspirational crowd that WIE attracts.

At the time of confirming her attendance Folorunsho Alakija said: “I am absolutely delighted to be attending the Women Inspiration & Enterprise (WIE) Africa event this year as I am extremely passionate about the empowerment and success of our women in their own rights. The global world is indeed expanding in leaps and bounds and women should not

be left behind in this achievement as we have indeed also contributed to this major development in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Every woman should be extremely proud of this feat - but more still needs to be done.”

WIE (Women: Inspiration& Enterprise), founded in 2010 is a global annual conference and community designed to empower the next generation of women leaders. WIE Africa is timed to coincide with the World Economic Forum Africa and will showcase the women taking a central role in shaping the Africa of tomorrow.

WIE Africa aims to contribute to changing any negative percep tions of Africa as a whole by showcasing successful African women and innovation.

Dee Poku, co-founder and CEO of WIE said: “In this truly exciting second edition of WIE Africa, our mission is to get to the core of how Africa’s talent can both drive development within the continent and have global impact. I’m so thrilled about the incredible calibre of people we’ve managed to attract to the event.”

The day will be packed full of panels and workshops featuring speakers from the worlds of politics, business, philanthropy, media, fashion, entertainment and the arts

Saturday, April 26, 2014 37

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

YOUTHMAGAZINE

WEEKENDBEATS IKE it happened last year, once again, it is reL ward season for consumers of Legend Extra Stout as the third edition of the Real Deal promo, which kicked off on Friday, March 28, has continued to put smiles on the face of lucky Nigerians.

Already, the first set of 10 lucky consumers has emerged through a raffle draw held last Thursday, at the O’Jez Restaurant, Surulere, Lagos. The 10 will travel to Dubai for a N1 million-worth all-expense paid shopping experience. The evening of pure fun saw loyal consumers of the Legend brand seated and savoring the favorite stout brand as early as 7:30pm in anticipation of what the evening held, while the DJ played hit tunes from his wheels of steel.

The event finally kicked off as the compere, hilarious Alincology mounted the stage and welcomed the guest urging them to relax and enjoy the evening. And to keep the grove going, he ushered in the Wale Zion Band, which took the stage and got guests nodding to their potpourri of renditions as they (consumers) savoured their ice cold Legend Extra Stout.

Though the event was meant to produce 10 lucky winners of N1 million worth of shopping money in Dubai, the organisers had other surprises for guests. Asides the raffle draws for the Dubai tickets, five Blackberry phones, five 32” LED TVs and Five refrigerators were all up for grabs that evening via transparent raffle draws.

Kenny Ade, a tailor who resides within Surulere environs was among those who won Blackberry phones. Kenny expressed happiness at the winning, which he described as unexpected.

He said, “Of course I’m very happy. I didn’t come here expecting to wine a Blackberry. Although this is not my first Blackberry phone, I still feel elated and if I don’t get to win a ticket to Dubai this is a worthy compensation”.

Kenny however expressed strong hope of winning the Dubai Shopping ticket as he still has more tickets for the night draws.

Ayodele Olu, who works with a restaurant and Dotun Oloyede, an ICT Engineer were among the winners of 32 inch LED TV. Both of them expressed surprise at their winning describing it as unexpected as they were at the even at the instance of their friends.

Olu had just listened to his friends who prevailed on him to sit down for a few drinks and had drunk only a bottle of Legend, which earned him a raffle ticket. According to him he did not take the whole thing seriously.

He said, “This is so surprising to me. I didn’t even plan to be here much more winning anything. I work in a restaurant around here and was not willing to sit down for any drink but my friends persuaded me and I bought just a bottle. I was so surprised when my name and ticket number were mentioned.”

Ayodele confessed that he has never owned a LED TV before and plans to use it in his house.

Oloyede on his own part attributed his winning to God who he claimed must have arranged everything in his favour.

He said, “In fact I’m so short of words. I can only thank God Almighty because only he could have arranged everything to work out like this; meeting my friend at home even though I didn’t inform him I was coming and he (persuading) me to follow him down here could only be the hand of God. My friend has not even won anything yet. If this is what Legend’s promos is all about, they should keep it up; I say kudos to them for this wonderful gift.”

Temitope Dele Oladele added a little drama to the evening when his ticket won him a refrigerator. Oladele started running and screaming, “Is it my own, I am here o!” repeatedly right from his table as soon as his name and numbers were announced causing a general laughter.

Oladele who resides on Shita Street, Surulere said he saw the information on Facebook that very day and decided to come. Despite the unexpected windfall Oladele still looked forward to winning a ticket to Dubai for the N1 million shopping spree.

The raffle draw for the all-expenses paid shopping in Dubai was the last draw for the night and was done in two phases – manually and electronically. While the manual draw was design to produce a winner from among the audience at the event the electronic draw, which was with the aid of a computer was for entries from consumers across the country, who were not present at the event.

As the main draws for the night commenced the entire arena suddenly became silent as everyone concentrated on their names and ticket numbers. Mr. Jubilee Diagboya was the surprise winner of the evening.

A Legendary Dubai Shopping Experience For Lucky 10

He narrated how he entered for the draw that night.

“I was at a Beer Parlor few days ago when some people asked us to drink Legend Extra Stout that they will give us raffle tickets that will give us a chance to go to Dubai for shopping. I and my friends did and they gave us the tickets; that is how I came here tonight”, he said.

Asked if he expected to win a ticket to Dubai as he came out that evening, Pa Jubilee, who said he started bragging to his people that he is going to Dubai as soon as he received his raffle tickets, confessed that he did not really expect to win a ticket.

He said, “Although I had bragged to my people that I will go to Dubai, I didn’t really think I

would win and at a point I almost started leaving, but I said No, I would see the end of this whole thing. Then suddenly I had my name and number, I didn’t know when I stood up and walked up the stage because I was too shocked”.

Some of the lucky consumers that emerged from other parts of the country are: Nawala Simon and Aliuhuo Vivian Chinasa, both from Imo State, Bishara Yohanna from Sokoto, Ernest Favour Nzelu from Abuja, Okon John Sampson from Akwa bom State and Kazeem Sadiku Gbenga from Ogun State.

54-year old Nawala Simon, a dealer in commodities plans to sell whatever goods he shops for in Dubai.

Mr. Simon, who has never travelled out of Nigeria, is also basking in the euphoria of get-

ting his first international passport. Aliuhuo Vivian Chinasa’s reaction to the news that she would be going to Dubai was that of elation.

The 28 year old salesgirl also said this would be her first time of travelling outside the country; hence she would also be acquiring an international passport for the first time. Luck shone on her when she went on a date with her boyfriend who bought her Legend Extra Stout.

She sent in the cork entry, which earned her an all-expense paid ticket to Dubai.

Bishara Yohanna did not expect to win when he sent his entry. He said he was exhilarated when word reached him that he emerged one of the Dubai ticket winners. Describing Legend Extra Stout as his brand, he said he saw the advert on TV and decided to send in his entry.

Speaking further, the 31-year old airport worker said: “Even though I’ve travelled to Ghana before, this is my first time of acquiring an international passport. My wife was elated when I broke the news to her. But then, she has told me to buy her something. My children have also given me a list of what to buy for them.”

Ernest Favour Nzelu’s initial reaction to the news that he would be going to Dubai on an all-expense paid trip to Abuja was that of caution. He only believed it was real when he said the officials of Nigerian Breweries Plc who contacted him did not ask him to part with any cash. Nzelu, who runs a bar in Abuja, said the new Legend packaged bottle attracted him. He said he was surprised when he was announced as one of the Dubai-bound Legend Extra Stout customers.

After taking several shots at consumer promos, Okonofua Friday hit the jackpot with the Legend Extra Stout consumer promo. According to him, he was out drinking with friends in Benin. One of his friends won a free recharge card, but he sent in his entry and won the Dubai promo trip.

Kazeem Sadiku Gbenga was also attracted to the new Legend packaging. The 29 year old National College of Education Certificate holder who is about getting married sent in two entries.

Okon John Sampson’s attraction to Legend Extra Stout is the unique bitter taste and he also felt highly elated at winning the grand prize of an all-expense paid Dubai trip for an opportunity to shop for items worth one million.

Upbeat Swing For FACE Africa 2014 LL seem set for this year’s FestiA val of Arts And Culture Exhibition Award (FACE Africa) scheduled to hold in Atlanta Georgia USA from May 2 and may 3. The annual event has been used as a platform to showcase Nigeria’s cultural heritage and tourism.

According to Princess Asha Okojie-Osazuwa, one of the organisers of FACE, the event has also provided the opportunity for the organizers to showcase Nigeria’s ecological, torusim and cultural endowments.

“With Nigeria’s booming tourism industry, its development and growth must meet international standards, awareness must be created, other cultures must be made sufficiently known not only because the world has become a global village but because people appreciate what they understand.

So the platform will create the environment to network, do business and capitalize on the fast growing hospitality and tourism sector in Nigeria. There would be a star studded events, live performances from local and international artists, entertainers, celebrity guests, and a movie premier, including; cultural dance groups, and beauty contest,” she said.

Endorsed by Nigeria Ministry of

Culture & Tourism National Orientation, Abuja, Nigeria and to be held from May 2-3, 2014 at Sheraton Gateway Hotel Atlanta, 1900 Sullivan Road, Atlanta, GA 30037, the two day event which is also held in collaboration with in collaboration with the Consulate General of Nigeria, Atlanta and many individuals and corporate organizations, is expected to attract more over one thousand attendees, dignitaries, delegates and people from all walks of life to the city of Atlanta from around the world.

Organisations such as Association of Nigerians Organization in Georgia, Association of African

Women in the Diaspora, Nigeria in Diaspora organization, Upward African Women, and Arik Airline will be recognized for their support in the African Diaspora.

Also there will be a symposium that will consist of workshops, conference and break out sessions.

There will also be an exhibition and cultural expo which entails cultural displays, business networking, health education, pageantry and fashion show designed to help boost tourism and enable tourist and investors gain confidence and insights to travel destinations for sustainable tourism and foster the spirit of

friendship and harmony between the two countries.

But prior to the award night, the new search will be on for FACE of NEHITA, a cultural beauty pageant that is designed to motivate and inspire young women to become leaders of tomorrow, instill self confidence by empowering them with knowledge, maximize their talents, and leadership skills to create awareness through beauty, intelligence, and diversity to achieve personal growth and development.

To be hosted by Joseph Benjamin Chibuzor and Lawrence Akhidenor, there will be live performances from local and international artists such as Bez Idakula, Ayoola Johnson, Joel Amadi, (Joe El), Majekodunmi Ibrahim Olayiwola (General Pype) Joseph Chibuzor, Oko, Waconzy, Kola Gbedu Master and cultural dance groups during the May 3 award ceremony. The award ceremony will honor individuals and organizations that have dedicated their lives and time to the continued growth and promotion of culture, heritage, language, libraries, archives, museums, awareness, and preservation of language, environment, arts in schools, and educational programming in Africa and African Diasporas.

38 Saturday, April 26, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

FASHION

YOUTHMAGAZINE

Star Focus

Zainab

Balogun This extraordinary beautiful TV personality and actress talks to The Guardian correspondents Myles Igwe and Kemi Amushan on her career, journey so far and style.

AINAB is a TV and film actress as well as Z a presenter/producer for EbonyLife TV. She has currently featured on ‘EL Now’; a

and despite the fact that she didn’t have any experience what so ever, she learnt her skills along the way and created her own platdaily entertainment news show for what’s form rather than waiting for someone to cool, black and happening. She’s also one give her one. of the three hosts on ‘The SpOT’; an origiOne of the jobs that excites her the most is nal daily talk show with a unique hangacting. “To me a production set is a comout style and format. pletely different world. Watching all the Zainab Balogun is a very cheeky, fun and components come to together to simply tell all round workaholic. As typical as it one story is an experience I’d advise anyone sounds, she always wanted to be a lawyer. to watch. I am at my best pulling a character She graduated with a Law degree from and script apart. I feel fulfilled when I’ve Kent University and specifically wanted to conveyed a look and feel that satisfies my work in media and entertainment law but director and audience” She said. somehow her creative side drastically took She further revealed her love for writing over and won the career battle. She was and that one day, she wants to start directborn and raised in London and has a pret- ing her own productions because these ty big family. “There’s just something roles require a lot expertise that she hasn’t about having so many characters, cousins, yet acquired. Just because you can do somenieces and nephews that made growing thing, doesn’t mean you should. In the next up one big event”, She said. couple of years, Zainab hopes to tap into the Speaking on her rise to fame, she shared more business side of things that may not that it all still sounds very new to her. She necessary be industry related. fell in love with acting in her teens when She mentioned that she has had several she was modelling and got sent for comhigh points in modelling from seeing a mercial castings looking for extras. As an shoot in a magazine to travelling for work extra, your role can be very small yet sigand If she had to pick one right now, she nificant and you had to be convincing. She would say it was her first London Fashion enjoyed playing these roles and being a Week experience with a popular designer different person other than herself even if called Tata Naka. Every little thing was it was just for 30 minutes and small thought out and executed to the last detail. change. From there she started to audiIt was just as amazing as she pictured it tion for more leading and supporting would be. roles to see where it could get her and to Also sharing the lowest point in her life, her surprise she was actually getting she mentioned that the number of rejecbooked. Presenting started much later tions you go through when you are just when she created an online entertainfinding yourself could be demoralizing. ment web show geared towards Africans.

These things attack your confidence and Again, this was her first stint on the job performance. Your insecurities are height-

ened but you learn to literally let them go over you head.

Zainab enjoys being a TV presenter but also plans to secure more acting work in TV and film not only nationally but also globally.

Speaking on fashion and style, Zainab doesn’t think fashion is overated. She thinks people make it overrated. It’s a billion dollar business that we all have access to and you can choose how and if you want to do just that. Some people live and swear in the name of fashion but fortunately she’s not one of them. She respects the art 100% and will forever have her favourites.

Her style icons include Olivia Palermo, Lisa Folawiyo and Gwen Stefani and her fashion accessory is definitely a necklace because it makes a world of difference to an outfit. She also said she’s crazy about shoes and can’t stop buying them.

A word of advice for those looking up to her would be “Don’t be fooled by the glitz and glam you think my life comes with.

Everything comes with a lot of hard work and sacrifices. The biggest advice I can give someone is to tell them to be prepared to learn and absorb everything. Stay professional, offer your services where you can, shadow an experienced professional and most importantly network!

Nobody is too big or too little for you to connect with. Ask questions and don’t get tired! The strength of your success comes from you falling and getting right back up to do it again. In all things, do what makes you happy. With every ‘no’, there’s a ‘yes’ waiting for you somewhere.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, April 26, 2014 39

FASHION

YOUTHMAGAZINE

The Ultimate Brogues

By Myles Igwebuike S a student sadly, I’m always A faced with a grim predicament; the choice between food or clothes sadly, staying alive has to take precedence, so I am forced to glance, but not touch, desire but not have. Awkwardly touching and wishing makes it even tougher to walk away. Ugh the struggle is real lol, Hi my name is Myles and I have an addiction, I can’t stop loving shoes, which I’m sure many people out there have this same problem. So far I have managed to keep it under control this past few months and I believe I will be able to continue to do so in the future (I gotta eat).

However, there is one type of shoe that I’m obsessed with more than any other; I find myself compellingly drawn to them, I cannot scroll past a shoe online store without gazing longingly at the screen and make people around me uncomfortable as I sit gazing into my phone trembling with desire.

Whether boot or dress shoe, full, semi, quarter or closed, the brogue is absolutely an iconic piece of style, one which we should all embrace and I for one

think that anyone who doesn’t own at least one pair should stop reading right now and buy a pair like right now.

Myles’s Brogue Types and Picks As with many styles of formal shoe, brogues are remarkably versatile, suiting both casual and smarter looks. The term Oxford is thrown around a lot when discussing brogues and to many of you it might mean absolutely nothing. What it essentially describes is the closure of the shoe; the construction of the lace holes and vamps, originating from Oxford University.

Damn, now I feel like a professor. It is from this that we get the different styles – full or wingtip, semi, quarter and longwing don’t forget that (just taught you another thing).

Well my only pick is the full brogue it’s practically self-explanatory, the most iconic style, with notched and perforated seams and edges and the patterned toe-cap (wingtip is used more frequently in America). The semi brogue has the same patterned toe-cap but only has a serrated and perforated edge along the toe-cap rather than on all the seams and edges.

The quarter brogue has no toe-cap pattern, just the serrated and perforated edge at the toe-cap. Longwings are now much less popu-

lar and not often seen and it’s my all-time favourite. I actually have five pairs lol.

The issue with brogues is that different styles tend to better suit certain looks or outfits. Ask anyone (Girls please confirm) what they look at first in an outfit and I can guarantee that most, if not all of them will say the shoes, I know my female friends do it and I even know that my mum does it also, so it’s always vital to get it right.

I’ll get this bit out of the way first, but I’m sure if you are considering brogues or have some now, you already do this fastidiously – clean your shoes, polish them like there’s no tomorrow, as if your life depends on it.

Unless they’re distressed versions from All Saints or made of suede then leather shoes are meant to be squeaky clean and shiny especially with all this dust on the streets of Lagos, Uncle Fash please do something.

Now, I’m not a big fan of the whole pointy brogue, it just doesn’t seem right to me, for some odd reason it relentlessly reminds me of the street men of Congo,” Les Sapuers” I’m serious I don’t know why. But if they tickle your fancy, fair enough. The best thing to do with them is pair with slim jeans in preferably a black or dark wash (straight cut or anything larger will swamp the slim profile of the shoe), a shirt or polo and light vest or jacket. I would also stick to black or dark brown, as they work with most looks, will transcend trends and aren’t too showy. The whole point of brogues being used in this way is to revamp up an otherwise proper casual look.

40 | Saturday, April 26, 2014

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Saturday, April 26, 2014 | 41

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SOCIETY Abia Holds Maiden Easter Carnival Recently, Abia State held her maiden Easter carnival in Umuahia, Abia State. Here are faces of some dignitaries that graced the event.

Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia State, his wife, Lady Mercy Orji and wife of the deputy governor, Lady Nene Ananaba

Lady Mercy Orji, wife of Abia State governor with Lady Nene Ananaba, wife of the deputy governor riding in one train

Cross section of dignitaries

Chief Emeka Wogu, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Nwogu, Abia state commissioner in NDDC and other dignitaries

Participants

Church Honours Ibari chukwuemeka St. Brendan’s Catholic Church, Amakohia, Ikeduru, Imo State recently conferred the title of Ezinne on Mrs. Ibari Benedicta Osuji Chukwuemeka. Below are some faces that graced the occasion.

Ezinne Ibari’s children: From right: Mrs. Veronica Nwachukwu, Engineer Kenneth Chukwuemeka, Mrs. Nancy Roberts, Mrs. Chidinma Igbo and Mr. Francis Chukwuemeka

Ezinne Ibari Benedicta Osuji Chukwuemeka

The celebrant (Ezinne Ibari) with some officiating priest

The celebrant displaying her certificate of honour

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42 | Saturday, April 26, 2014

GARDENING

With Sereba Agiobu-Kemmer

Prepare Soil For Planting About Soil GOOD soil is the first step to a great garden. Soil types vary from the extremes of constantly dry, nutrient-poor sand to 90 per cent rocks held together with 10 per cent soil to rich, heavy clay (which forms a slick, sticky, shoe grabbing mass when wet, then dries to brick hardness). Fortunately, most soil conditions fall somewhere in between these extremes. Still few gardeners find they have that ideal ‘‘rich garden loam’’ to work with. Soil can be amended with sand to make them looser and drier-or with clay to make them moister and firmer.

They can be given plentiful doses of organic material – old leaves, ground-up twigs, rotted livestock manure, and old lawn clippings – to improve texture and structure. Organic material nourishes any kind of soil, which, in turn, encourages better plant growth.

Learn how to make the most of the soil in your area. The first step is to identify your garden conditions by having your soil tested.

Soil Testing Have your soil tested by a horticulturist or do your own tests to determine if you have a light and sandy soil, moderate and productive soil or a heavy clay soil. Get soil tested before you start adding fertilizers and amendments to your garden soil.

This follows the old advice ‘‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’’

Sometimes unnecessary tampering with nutrients or soil acidity can actually create more problems than benefits.

Soil tests tell you nutrient levels in your soil, a plant version of nutrient guides on packaged foods. They also note pH and organic content, two factors important to overall smooth sailing from the ground up. You could get a soil testing kit, which contains a soil-collecting bag and instructions. Follow the directions precisely for accurate results. The results may come in a chart full of numbers, which can be a little intimidating at first. But if you look carefully for the following you can begin to interpret these numbers: if the percentage of organic matter is under 5 per cent, the garden needs some extra compost.

Nutrients will be listed separately, possibly in parts per million. Sometimes, they are also rated as available in high, medium, or low levels. If an element or two comes on the low side, you will want to add a fertilizer that replaces what’s lacking.

Soil pH: Refers to the acidity of the soil. Ratings below 7 are acidic soils. From 6 to 7 are slightly acidic, the most fertile pH range. Above is alkaline or basic soil, which can become problematic above pH 8. Excessively acidic and alkaline soils can be treated to make them more moderate and productive.

Add only nutrients your soil test says are necessary. More is not always better when it come to plant nutrients. Don’t feel compelled to add a little bit more of fertilizer that promises great results.

Too much of anyone nutrient can actually produce toxic results, akin to disease or worse. Buy and apply only what is required, and save money for a better use, like more plants.

Determining pH levels It is always best to choose plants that thrive in the pH of your existing soil. If you must alter the pH, follow these guidelines.

Use ground limestone to raise the pH of acidic soils. Limestone is nature’s soil sweetener, capable of neutralizing overly acidic soils. The amount of limestone you use will vary depending on the specific soil conditions. Simple home tests kits, or professional tests, can be used to determine the soil’s pH. If you dump limestone on soil randomly, you run the risk of overdosing the soil. Follow the instruction on the limestone package or on a soil test.

To lower the alkalinity and increase the fertility of limey and other soils with high pH, add cottonseed meal, sulfur, pine bark, compost, or pine needles. These soil amendments gradually acidify the soil while improving its texture. Garden sulfur is a reliable cure when added as recommended in a soil test. It acidifies the soil slowing as microbes convert the sulfur to sulfuric acid and other compounds. Maintaining the new and improved pH is an ongoing project. Recheck the soils pH every year and continue to add amendments as needed.

Soil Texture Soil texture refers to the size of the soil particles.

Sand: Sand has the largest particles and they are irregularly shaped. This is why sand feels coarse and also why it drains so well. Sand doesn’t compact easily.

Silt: Silt particles are much smaller than sand, but are irregularly shaped.

Clay: Clay has more microscopic sized particles that are almost flat. Clay packs very easily, leaving little or no room for air and water to move about.

Sandy loam: Sandy loam is considered the ideal garden soil and consists of a mix of the three basic textures. However, don’t run out to buy sand to add to your clay soil or vice versa.

Mixing sand and clay will give you concrete. There is more to the equation than just balancing soil textures.

Texture check up Check texture of your soil in a jar filled with water. This test is simple to do and it provides important information about your soil. Gather some soil from the garden choosing a sample near the surface and down to a depth of 8 inches. If you have dry clay, pulverize it into fine granules, and mix well.

Put 1-inch layer (a little over a cup) into a quart glass jar with ¼ teaspoon of dish washer detergent (which doesn’t foam up) add enough water to fill the jar 2/3 full. Shake the jar for a minute, turning upside down as needed to get all the soil off the bottom, then put the jar aside where it can sit undisturbed.

One minute later, mark the level of settled particles on the jar with a crayon or wax pencil. This is sand. Five minutes later, mark the amount of silt that has settled out. Over the next

sereba.agiobu.kemmer@ngrguardiannews.com

Getting Down To Earth

It’s not impossible to have green plants grow in sandy soil

Before you decide what to plant in your garden, take a look at the soil

Loam wins the blue ribbon for best all round soil Compost in garden hour or so, the clay will slowly settle out and allow you to take the final measurement. These measurements show the relative percentage of sand, silt, and clay – the texure of your soil.

Soil that has a high percentage of sand (70 per cent or more) tends to be well aerated ready to plant, but also tends to need more frequent watering and fertilizing than heavier soils.

Soil that has 35 per cent of clay or more retains moisture well, so it takes longer to dry and may need less watering. It can be richer and is more likely to produce lush growth with just the addition of compost and occasionally a little fertilizer. Compost is important. It helps break up clay soil so it won’t be too dense and poorly aerated. Soil that has nearly equal percentage of sand, silt and clay can have intermediate characteristics and is generally well suited for good gardening.

Soil structure Soil structure refers to the way soil clumps together. You can usually determine what your texture is by testing your structure. Squeeze a handful of damp soil into a ball in your hand.

If you poke the ball lightly with your finger and it breaks apart, it is probably sand. If a bit more pressure breaks it, you are dealing with silt. If it sits there despite your poking, you have mostly clay.

A good soil structure is crumbly. This allows plant roots to work their way through it, air can pass through and water drains, but not so quickly that the plants can’t assess it. An ideal garden soil or loam would be about 40 per cent sand, 40 per cent silt and 20 per cent clay.

There are two basic ways to improve soil structure and they work in tandem.

Soil dwelling insects and earthworms moving about in the soil help aerate the soil and they add small amount of organic matter, the second structure improver.

Organic matter: Organic matter improves any type of soil.

Compost, leaf mould, manure and green manures are all decaying organic matter. They loosen and enrich soil and provide food for soil dwelling insects and earthworms. You can loosen soil structure by tilling and sometimes this is necessary. But tilling can over crumble soil and it kills the insects living there. So regular tilling is not the best option.

Soil tests may seem like a lot of work without much reward, but if your soil is working at its full capacity, your plants will bloom at their best as well.

Soil is often, viewed as the boring part of gardening, while

Manure, digging and incorporating well-rotted organic matter can improve all soil types garden soil will never be glamorous or even interesting as choosing plants, there is a whole world under our feet that literally and figuratively is the foundation for our gardens. The sustaining force of any great garden is its soil, and before you start gardening, it’s a good idea to know a lot about the best types of soil. Plants get their nutrients from the soil and without the right type of soil, your plants won’t grow as well as they could and may even wither and die. When discussing what is healthy soil the main concern we generally focus on four things: texture, structure, pH, organic matter and fertility.

New gardeners are cautioned to put money and effort into improving their soil before they even consider planting, but few appreciate the wisdom in what they are hearing until they watch their new plants struggling for survival and demanding more and more food and water.

Learn to feed the soil and let the soil feed the plants. Building healthy soil is an on going process. By making healthy soil a focus at the start of making a garden, you will have a head start on creating a sustainable organic garden

Saturday, April 26, 2014 43

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HOME&DECOR

New Look For T Your Space

Living room • Give the space a single main focal point using, for examHERE are simple and inex- ple, artwork. pensive ways to give your • Introduce ambient lighting home a savvy look, be it in to make for mood change. the living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.

Dining room • You can paint the house.

• Make the dining room a This can be the walls or a large place to share with family canvas painted in a colour and guests. Make it inviting, that appeals to your senses. and less formal by ensuring • Re-arrange existing furnithat the users are comfortture, objects and art. able and enjoy the space.

• Simply changing the light• Provide sufficient and ing with a bulb, you can see direct lighting over the table what transformation you can with ambient lighting at the bring in a space. surround.

• Bring in fresh new colour with a few solid accessory pil- Bedroom lows.

• Use adequate ambient • Change cabinetry door lighting for a soothing light fronts or hardware. effect.

Here are some tips for specif- • Cosy bed linens will add ic rooms: allure to the space.

By Ekwy P. Uzoanya

Kitchen • Keep the area clean, crisp and clutter-free.

• Your fresh fruit and vegetables will the kitchen feeling inviting.

• Let natural light bring the outdoors in.

Serving With Ease L

ITTLE items especially when they are cute have a way of combining with other things to give sophistication to a place.

Apart from creating elevated look, they make some tasks assume different shape than they will otherwise be. The serving trolley is one of such furniture that can add style to entertainment in the home or when guests are around.

It is useful in a large and spacious lounge where it can come handy for serving drinks such as tea and wine. It makes for easy movement of drinks, eliminating the need for a person going from one person to the other performing the job.

Knowing its utility and practicability, local manufacturers of plastics have included it in their production line. Though some serving trolleys are fashioned like coffee tables, with the roller feature, which makes for moving it around, there is no mistaking one.

This furniture comes in various shapes, sizes, and materials. Other materials used to make it include wood, steel, glass, wicker and also combination of materials.

Give the bar or entertainment area a lift with serving trolley and add fun and interest to the setting.

Bathroom • Be creative in your display of bath materials like towel and floor coverings.

• Keep counter surfaces clean and clutter free by keeping your personal items away from view.

44

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Saturday, April 26, 2014

HEALTH FEATURE

Simple Ways To Prevent Ebola Virus

By Joseph Okoghenun HESE are not the best of times for anyone T living in the West African sub-region because of the outbreak and continuous spread of Ebola virus in the region. At least four countries: Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Mali are battling with Ebola virus epidemics.

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, has been fortunate not to record any single case of the deadly virus so far. But there is panic that the virus may spread to Nigeria.

The Federal Ministry of Health had earlier warned Nigerians traveling to the affected countries to be mindful of Ebola virus just as it warned against indiscriminate consumption of ‘bush meat’, especially fruit bats. Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have reportedly banned the sale and consumption of bush meat.

People are expected to avoid close contacts with alive or dead wild animals and wash their hands regularly; wash and peel fruits before consuming them because fruits eaten halfway by bush animals have been shown to spread the virus.

In addition to these general guides, it is expected that all hands be on deck. Experts believe that airline crews have a role to play in the prevention and management of Ebola virus. America’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC) therefore advises crew members on a flight with a passenger who is ill with fever, jaundice, or bleeding and who is traveling from an area in which Ebola cases have been reported, to take precautions by keeping the sick person separated from close contact with others as much as possible.

Crew members are also expected to provide the sick passenger with a surgical mask to reduce the number of droplets expelled into the air by talking, sneezing, or coughing or give tissues to those who cannot tolerate a mask. CDC also adds that personnel should wear disposable gloves for direct contact with blood or other body fluids, in addition to knowing the symptoms of Ebola virus.

Symptoms of the virus typically include fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, weakness of the body, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain and lack of appetite. But some patients may experience rash, red eyes, hiccups, cough, sore throat, chest pain, difficulty in breathing, difficulty in swallowing, bleed-

ing inside and outside of the body.

Symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 21 days after exposure to Ebola virus, though eight to 10 days is most common.

The captain of an airliner bound for Nigeria is expected to report to the Federal Ministry of Health, any state Ministry of Health in Nigeria or the nearest office of the World Health Organisation (WHO) if he suspects that a passenger has the virus.

If exposure occurs abroad, personnel who think they have been exposed to the virus and who develop symptoms during travel should visit a doctor and alert the healthcare provider in advance about the possible exposure to Ebola virus so that arrangements can be made to prevent transmission to others.

Cargo staff of airline also need to be cautious. Although packages should not ordinarily pose a risk to package cargo employees because Ebola virus is spread through direct contact with blood or body fluids – urine, saliva, semen – from an infected individual, packages visibly soiled with blood or body fluids should not be handled. And cargo handlers are expected to wash their hands often for prevention of all infectious diseases.

Once passengers have left an aircraft, the main source of infection will have been removed. However, infectious blood, or body fluids that may remain on surfaces of the aircraft interior may pose a risk of infection if those particles come into direct contact with a person’s eyes, nose, or mouth. Therefore, frequent hand washing is of primary importance for all personnel working on commercial passenger aircraft.

The airline’s ground and cleaning crews should be notified at the same time so that preparations can be made for cleaning the aircraft after passengers have disembarked.

When cleaning commercial passenger aircraft after a flight with a possible Ebola hemorrhagic fever patient, personnel should take precautions and wear non-sterile disposable gloves while cleaning the passenger cabin and lavatories.

Healthcare workers have frequently been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed Ebola cases. The transmission risk of the virus in the healthcare and laboratory setting is well documented.

During the 1995 Ebola haemorrhagic fever outbreak in Kikwit, former Zaire, and now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one

fourth of the cases were in healthcare workers with a history of recent patient care.

After barrier-nursing practices such as wearing protective clothing were implemented, the risk of transmission was reduced.

Healthcare workers can be infected through close contact with infected patients or contaminated hospital materials and medical wastes. The risk for infection can be significantly reduced through the appropriate use of infection control precautions and adequate and strict barriernursing procedures. Therefore, health worker should observe standard precautions when dealing with all patients in the health care setting, regardless of their infection status.

Standard precautions are designed to prevent unprotected contact between the health care worker and blood and all body fluids whether or not they contain blood and mucous membranes. When a specific diagnosis is made, additional precautions are expected to be observed, based on how the disease is transmitted.

Hand washing is known to be the most important precaution for the prevention of all infections. Hand washing before and after contact with a patient who has fever should be a routine practice in the health facility —even when Ebola virus is not present. Washing hands with soap and water eliminates microorganisms from the skin and hands. This provides some protection against transmission of Ebola virus and other diseases.

In services where health care workers see patients with fever, cake soap cut into small pieces, soap dishes and running water should be provided for workers because microorganisms grow and multiply in humidity and standing water. Another option is to have a bucket for collecting rinse water and a scoop for dipping, if running water is not available. Above all, healthcare workers should observe the steps of hand-washing: Place a piece of soap in the palm of one hand, wash the opposite hand and arm extending from the elbow to the wrist or the fingertips, rub the surfaces vigorously for at least 10 seconds, and move soap to the opposite hand and repeat. And use clean water to rinse both hands and then the forearms.

Healthcare workers have frequently been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed Ebola cases. The transmission risk of Ebola virus in the healthcare and laboratory setting is well documented. During the 1995 Ebola haemorrhagic fever outbreak in Kikwit, former Zaire, and now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one fourth of the cases were in healthcare workers with a history of recent patient care. After barriernursing practices such as wearing protective clothing were implemented, the risk of transmission was reduced.

No new cases were reported among health care workers who used these practices.

If running water is not available, pour clean water from a bucket over the soapy hands and forearms. The rinsed water should drain into another bucket. Health workers are expected to use disposable hand towels because sharing towels can result in contamination. If towels are not available, healthcare workers and health facility staff can air-dry their hands.

Another possible area health workers could be infected with Ebola virus is through the use of sharp instruments like injection needles, syringes among others. Disease could be transmitted through accidental needle stick injuries. Therefore, health workers should always handle and dispose sharp instruments safely. They are not expected to recap needles after use but should limit invasive procedures to reduce the number of injectable medications. This will limit the opportunities for accidental needle stick injuries. But when an injection is necessary, health workers should always use a sterile needle and sterile syringe for each injection. And disposable needles and syringes should be used only once and be discarded in a puncture-resistant container, and then burn the container in an incinerator or pit for burning.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

45

HEALTH FEATURE

WHO Moves To Stem Malaria Deaths

macy shops and local markets, these nets that are meant to be given free to those in ESTERDAY, April 25, was World Malaria Day, need are being sold for thousands of naira dedicated by World Health Organisation an average Nigerian cannot afford.

(WHO) to draw the world’s attention to the Even Artemisinin-based Combination global fight against malaria. The theme for the Therapies (ACT) drugs that have been subsi2013-2015 malaria campaign, ‘Invest in the dized by WHO for as low as N150, are being future. Defeat malaria’, highlights the need sold in some pharmacy shops for almost for political commitment to finance and N1000. defeat the vector-borne disease that caused However, progress has been made in the 627, 000 deaths globally in 2012. fight against malaria in Nigeria. For Malaria transmission occurs in 97 countries instance, the proportion of households and territories around the world, inflicting owning one or more ITNs in Nigeria has the heaviest toll on countries of sub-Saharan increased from 8 per cent in the 2008 Africa.

Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) to 42 In Nigeria, malaria has remained major pub- per cent in the 2010 Malaria Indicator lic health problem where it accounts for more Survey (MIS). Besides, the proportion of chilcases and deaths than any other country in dren under five years reported to have slept the world. According to WHO, about 40 per under an ITN the night before the survey, cent of malaria deaths occur in Nigeria and increased from 6 per cent in the 2008 DHS the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). to 29 per cent in the 2010 MIS. According to Malaria Fact Sheet, a publicaAccording to the MIS, the most common tion by the United States Embassy in Nigeria, reason why no one slept under the net was malaria is a risk factor for 97 per cent of that it was too hot. A smaller percentage of Nigeria’s population. The Embassy added that households said the net was too difficult to estimated 100 million malaria cases occur in hang, the net was not needed or there were Nigeria with over 300,000 deaths per year, no mosquitoes. But a review of 59 articles and contributes to an estimated 11 per cent to published in Malaria Journal cited inconmaternal and 30 per cent deaths of children venience, comfort, problems with hanging under the age of five in the country. nets, lack of space and low awareness of According to a WHO source, sources of need as reasons for not using nets. funding for malaria in Nigeria have been According to WHOM, international dismajorly from international donors: Global bursements for malaria control rose from $ Fund, United States Agency for International 100 million in 2000 to $ 1.94 billion in 2012 Development (USAID) and WHO. And fund for and $ 1.97 billion in 2013. National governmalaria has been used to provide insecticides ment funding for malaria programmes has and spray materials, insecticide-treated nets also increased since 2004 but not at the (ITNs), diagnostic testing facilities, anti-malari- same pace; the total for 2012 was $ 522 milal medicines, monitoring and evaluation lion. human resources and technical assistance The currently available funding is far below management and other costs. the resources required to reach universal Although over 60 million long insecticide coverage of interventions. An estimated US$ treated nets have been distributed across the 5.1 billion is needed every year for this purcountry, corruption and lack of political com- pose. In 2012, the global total of internationmitment in reducing malaria incidence has al and domestic funding for malaria was $ not allowed these life-saving materials to 2.5 billion – less than half of what is needed. get to those in need of them. In some pharFifty-two countries are on track to reduce

By Joseph Okoghenun

Y

their malaria incidence rates by 75 per cent, in line with World Health Assembly and Roll Back Malaria targets for 2015.

These 52 countries only account for four per cent (8 million) of the total estimated malaria cases. Fifty-nine countries are on track to meet the Millennium Development Goal target of reversing the incidence of malaria (between 2000 and 2015).

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Friends Africa, Dr.Akudo Anyanwu-Ikemba, a public health expert, believes that African governments can do a lot to fight malaria. Aside increasing domestic funding, AnyanwuIkemba believes that governments need to be innovative and proactive in tacking malaria.

“Governments need to increase domestic funding for operational research to ensure locally-tailored approaches are being used.

They should also provide effective public outreach to educate people about treatment and control of these diseases. The question is, do already overwhelmed governments in Africa have the capacity to do this?

“Unfortunately, funding to control mosquitoes is being reduced, while progress in fighting malaria is also threatened by growing parasitic resistance to anti-malarial drugs. The combination of a renewed international commitment to fight malaria with increased domestic financing of malaria programmes and investment in technology is needed to win the battle against this disease. I believe that through successful private-public partnerships in Africa, we can achieve this.

“In Africa, health advocacy efforts to fight malaria have been led mainly by local and international civil society groups. Advocacy at the international level is sustainable and effective only when combined with advocacy at the local level. Certain traditional advocacy methods such as flyers and billboards should be replaced with more innovative techniques involving celebrities and mobile technology.

Friends Africa, a pan-African non-profit that fights AIDS, TB and malaria, uses Nollywood

stars and soccer players to educate the public about malaria, and we have found them to be a powerful and effective voice. They can certainly make the use of bed-nets sound much “cooler” to a teenager than any government.

“It will take significant innovative financing, leadership and technology to win the battle against malaria. African governments need to play a stronger role in securing finance for malaria programmes, monitoring transmission trends and designing national strategies to control the disease.

“African governments are engaged on the issue. I have witnessed first-hand how excited our presidents are about progress on malaria.

But there is a long road ahead, and we must not give up.

“WHO recommends ‘Integrated Vector Management’, which focuses on the connections between health and the environment.

Environmental management (eliminating breeding sites, like stagnant water), biological controls (the use of larvicides where there are few, easily locatable, breeding sites) and chemical methods (indoor spraying) can together prevent the spread of vector-borne disease. Of course, this should be combined with early diagnosis and treatment of malaria, and prevention using insecticide-treated bed nets,” Anyawu-Ikemba said.

She added that Nigeria needs to brace up to tackle with environmental challenges that might make it difficult to tackle vectorborne diseases, including malaria.

“Climate change hasn’t helped either. We are likely to see an increase in these diseases (vector-borne), as the planet gets hotter. Global warming has an escalating influence on biting rates, breeding sites and reproduction rates. And as globalisation spreads, the reach of these disease carriers increases with it.

“Limited resources in the poorest countries, where the disease is most prevalent, also make controlling the malaria-causing plasmodium – carried in the gut of female anopheles mosquitoes – extremely difficult,” she said.

TheGuardian

46 | Saturday, April 26, 2014

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

NaturalHealth Natural Health With G. C. Ihesie

Mobile phone no: 08033065263, E-mail: ihesie84@yahoo.com.

The Health Benefits of Eating Seasonal Foods 111 A

CCORDING to Leviticus 17:11: “… the life of the flesh (body) is in the blood.” The human blood is regarded medically as “tissue” in liquid state. A tissue is a grouping of like cells working together.

An organ is a group of two or more different types of tissues, precisely arranged, so as to accomplish specific activities.

In fact, the entire human body is believed to be made up of about 140 trillion cells (derived from zygote after 48 successive divisions) and it has been estimated that there are millions of metabolic processes and chemical reactions that occur every seconds within the cells of the body.

Research has shown that a normal cell feeds, breathes, excretes and reproduces itself through cell division, either to replace worn-out cells or to repair damaged ones.

And the speed at which each cell can divide and reproduce itself and the time it will stop doing so vary from cell to cell depends on the needs of the body.

The amazing fact is that each of the cells that make up the body is formed, nourished and maintained by the blood that circulates round the entire systems.

Therefore, the quality of the bloodstream and the health of the manufactured cells and tissues are dependent on our daily foods intake.

It is the foods we eat daily for our nourishment that provide the body with all the essential raw materials needed for the up-building of efficient and disease-resistant cells.

Diseases, like cancer (abnormal cell growth), coronary heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, deterioration of brain cells and the consequent poor mental activities, etc are today known to be largely due to many years of poor eating habits and unwholesome lifestyles.

Over the last 100 years, the science of human health regarded the man in flesh and blood as a kind of “grand machine” directed, driven and controlled by the brain and the central nervous system, which was believed to be the ultimate biological computer.

Therefore, the foods (grains and cereals, legumes, nuts and seeds, meat and animal products, dairy products, fats and oils, water, oxygen as gaseous food) for nourishing the body were seen primarily from materialistic perspectives- as suppliers of basic energy, calories, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals, enzymes and other phytochemicals.

Recent spiritual knowledge and energy/radiation medicine has revealed that man in the phys-

ical body is much more than the so-called “grand machine-” the body, controlled only by the “ultimate biological computer-” the brains and the central nervous system.

Richard Gerber (M.D.), in his book: Vibrational Medicine … 2001, published by Bear and Company, Canada, wrote: “The Einsteinian viewpoint of vibrational medicine sees the human being as a multidimensional organism made up of physical/cellular systems in dynamic interplay with complex regulatory energetic fields.”

Simply put, apart from the physical body, every human being has a bio-energy circulatory system that is similar to the blood circulatory system.

It is this bio-energy body that forms a blueprint that guides, controls and maintains all the body structure and also provides the “glue” that holds the cells together.

It is now known that improper eating habits, wrong lifestyle choices and emotional upsets affect this bio-energy circulatory system negatively, causing imbalances in the entire systems.

Most of degenerative diseases of our time have their origin in the subtle energy levels of our being.

From the Einsteinian viewpoint, the old materialistic way of viewing food has becomes outdated.

Gabriel Cousens (M.D.) noted in his book Spiritual Nutrition and the Rainbow Diet, published in 1986 by Cassandra Press, USA: “… food can no longer be seen as calories or proteins, fats or carbohydrates or any material form only.

“Food is a dynamic force, which interacts with humans on the physical body level, the mindemotional level and also the energetic and spiritual level.

“The study of nutrition is the interaction with and assimilation of the dynamic forces of our total being.”

Furthermore, in her book, Star Signs, published in 1988 by Pan Books, Limited, London, Linda Goodman’s wrote: “Food intake is nothing but the breakdown of colour vibrations.

“Diseases treated with initially impressive, but temporary success with drugs, chemotherapy, chemicals and antibiotics in response to germ attacks be treated for PERMANENT, healing by changing the colour-sound frequencies of the patients, which balances the colour harmonies of their auras.”

Everything in life (including the foods we eat daily) has an energy pattern and energy has

form, colour sound and movement (vibration).

Poor eating habits, nutritional deficiencies and unwholesome lifestyles are among other factors that can disorganise the colour-sound frequencies of our bio-energy circulatory system or the auras, thereby resulting in disharmony or disease.

Conversely, good eating habits, wholesome lifestyles and correct breathing and healthy exercises, etc energise, rejuvenate and balance the entire bio-energy circulatory system, which is the harbinger of good and radiant health.

In one of our previous articles: The Health Implications of Eating Foods from Foreign Soils, we observed that: “… each race has different and unique physical characteristics, such as stature, shape of the body, colour of the skin (pigmentation), genetic make-up and possibly biochemistry and physiology, which are adapted to the general climatic conditions of the geographical zone.

“And the physical body of each human being is literally made from the dust (soil) of that part of the earth upon which he/she was born.”

It is a common saying that “there is no accident in Nature” and everything happens in accordance with the Natural Order or Law that governs the entire universe.

Consequently, every human being on earth belongs to that race, country and tribe and the geographical zone that is most suitable for his or her physical maturity and spiritual growths.

For it is only in this race and zone that he or she can fully unfold and manifest his or her full powers and abilities and remain vigorous.

And all that he or she needs to achieve these, such as life experiences and foods for nourishments the body are already carefully arranged in Nature and provided at the appropriate time or in their due season- annual cycle.

In the book of Psalms 145:15-16, we are told that: “The eyes of all look expectantly to you (the Lord Almighty). And you give them their food in due season. You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.”

Dr. Alexis Carrel (a pioneer researcher in Human Nutrition) once said: “A man is literally made from the dust of the earth. For this reason, his physiological and mental activities are profoundly influenced by the geological constitutions of the country where he lives, by the nature of the animals and plants, which he generally feeds (on).

This structure and its functions depend also on the selection he makes of certain elements among the vegetal and animal food at his disposal.”

PetLife With Dr.Tunji Nasir

C

AN we ever stop talking about Parvovirus? No matter how many times it is discussed, it shall find an audience.

This is mostly as a result of the unending nature of its occurrence in our puppies. So, it has become somewhat of an enigma that must be scratched at all times.

I found a material written by Dr. Karen Becker, an homeopathic veterinarian at Mercola.com, on this same subject, which reveals the fact of a new strain and tips on how puppies can be saved when infected by Parvo virus.

“If you are a dog owner, you probably know that canine parvovirus is a very serious disease seen primarily in unvaccinated puppies and immunocompromised dogs or in puppies that were vaccinated with vaccines with ‘issues,’ thereby rendering such puppies technically unvaccinated.

It is highly contagious and can be fatal. A Parvo infection causes hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, which is characterised by vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

The disease is easily transmitted from one dog to another through contact with infected feces.

It can also be spread by direct dog-todog contact and contact with contaminated environments or people.

Beware: This Disease Can Kill Your Dog In Less Than 72 Hours Parvo can infect kennels, food and water bowls, collars and leashes and the hands and clothing of people who handle the sick dogs.

The virus is highly environmentally stable and can remain infectious in soil for at least a year.

Symptoms And Treatment Of A Parvovirus Infection PARVO causes similar symptoms in all infected puppies and dogs, including vomiting, severe and often bloody diarrhea, lethargy, fever, and loss of appetite.

In dogs infected with the virus, dehydration is a constant concern and can occur very quickly as a result of the vomiting and diarrhea. This is especially dangerous in very young puppies.

Most deaths from Parvo occur within 48 to 72 hours after the onset of symptoms, which is why it is critical that you take your dog to a veterinarian immediately, if it shows signs of the infection.

There is no specific anti-viral therapy for parvovirus (whatever the strain maybe). Treatment of an infected dog consists of immediate delivery of supportive care, including replacing fluids and electrolytes, controlling vomiting and diarrhea and preventing secondary infections.

Since the disease is so contagious, affected dogs should be isolated to minimise spread of infection.

The goal of treatment of parvovirus involves supporting your dog’s organ and body systems until its immune

response can conquer the infection.

Protecting Your Dog From Parvo Through Proper Vaccination I THINK you will agree that the best way to treat a Parvo infection is to prevent it from happening in the first place.

The parvovirus is nothing to fool around with. It is very much alive and thriving in our environment and frequently ends the lives of dogs that become infected.

Over-vaccination is an ongoing problem in the veterinary community, but in my professional opinion, providing baseline protection (two or three puppy vaccines) against Parvo provides your pet with lifetime immunity and provides you with peace of mind.

The protocol followed in vaccinating puppies against Parvo (the vaccine protects against all strains) is a distemper/distemper shot before 11 weeks of age (ideally at nine weeks) and a booster at about 14 weeks.

It is then tittered between two to four weeks after second shot to ensure the puppy was not only vaccinated, but immunised.

This is a core vaccine protocol that provides the basic minimum number of vaccines to protect against life-threatening illnesses, without over-vaccinating. Never should you vaccinate before eight weeks of age.

Saturday, April 26, 2014 47

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

BRANDINTELLIGENCE

With JOSEPHINE EKEH 08026266181, 08168113577

Resistance To Regulations By Stakeholders Is APCON’s Major Challenge, Says Kankarofi Registrar of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi, in this interview with BIODUN OBISESAN speaks on the efforts the Council is making to establish professional standards in the industry and regulate advertisement in the media so as to protect consumers against misleading adverts.

OW has it been coordinating activities of H ad practitioners, since you assumed office in APCON? It has been quite exciting and challenging managing the interests and conflicts that are associated with establishing and enforcing effective regulatory regime for the advertising and communications industry in Nigeria.

How impactful has your tenure been so far?

We believe we have made significant impact in creating awareness and commitment among the various stakeholders about their responsibilities and obligations in achieving a healthy marketing communications environment, which have resulted in a highly improved compliance level.

What are the major challenges in the industry in ensuring that advertisers operate within the confines of the APCON regulation?

The major challenge has been resistance to applicable regulations by various stakeholders who find such regulations initially uncomfortable. Engaging with them to secure understanding and compliance has been quite taxing. While you are trying to secure such understanding and voluntary compliance, other stakeholders become impatient, sometimes rightly so, because they expect you to act swiftly and decisively against infractions but you know the ultimate purpose of regulation is not to punish but to obtain compliance, first by persuasion and eventually by compulsion.

Which industry has been most notorious in flouting the APCON regulation?

Different sectors of the industry present different and, sometimes, peculiar challenges which reflect their peculiar sectoral and business interests. We try to manage such challenges as they present themselves, using the regulatory framework, which incidentally provides for the participation of the various sectors of the industry. It would appear that the print media

Kankarofi sector has posed some difficulty in compliance because, recently, the leaders of that sector, for whatever reasons, have not cooperated with the Council as they should.

How do you deal with the menace of unregistered practitioners?

The law makes it a criminal offence for anyone to undertake any form of advertising practice for gain if he is not registered as an advertising practitioner as provided by the law. Registered practitioners are clearly identifiable by their certificates of registration and practice seal and stamps, which they are required to place on their practice documents. Names of eligible practitioners can also be confirmed from the APCON website and in the published/gazetted registers of adverting practitioners. Anybody or organisation that deals with an unregistered practitioner cannot claim he does not know what he is doing.

How equipped is ASP as regards monitoring the media to ensure compliance?

ASP does not have the exclusive mandate to monitor and detect unwholesome advertise-

Berger Paints Opens Colour World Centre In Lekki

By Florence Utor N a bid to save its cusItotomers the stress of going the mainland to meet their products requirements, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc, a leading paints and allied products manufacturer, has opened a new Colour World Centre in Lekki, Lagos.

Addressing stakeholders in the construction industry and the media during the inauguration of the centre on the week, Managing Director of the company, Mr. Tor Nygard, said the new centre would enhance accessibility, visibility and availability of its products to its customers living in the Lekki axis of Lagos State.

Nygard said the centre would also serve as a channel for distributing the whole range of Berger’s products as well as produce variety of colours to customers’ specifications with its tinting machine facility, remarking that, “it is a ‘one stop shop’ for all painting needs.

The managing director not-

ed that also available at the Lekki Colour World Centre are Berger’s well-known brands such as Luxol, Clinstay, Super Star and Classic, among others, which continues to enjoy extreme popularity across Nigeria.

Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the company, Mr. Clement Olowokande, said the Lekki Colour World Centre was the first to be commissioned by the company after it turned 55 years in Nigeria on January 9, 2014, adding that the company was built to last forever.

He advised existing and potential customers of the company not to use inferior paint products to paint their buildings, stressing that less quality products affect the walls of the building and that it is more expensive to correct in the long run.

He added that Berger Paints would soon become the first paint company in West Africa to automate its factory, remarking that the company wants to arrive in the future ahead of competition.

ments. The responsibility is primarily that of APCON as an institution; and for that purpose it has a department of monitoring and enforcement with a full complement of staff and monitoring facilities in Lagos and to some extent, in its other offices across the country. The monitoring facilities are, however, inadequate to guarantee a 100 per cent capture of advertisements exposed in all media throughout the country. The Council, therefore, relies also on complaints by competitors, consumers, other stakeholders and members of the public in going after unapproved and unwholesome advertisements.

In recent times, the trado-medical health sector has attracted the attention of APCON with regards to regulating misleading information.

How successful is your campaign with this group so far?

This is one area of major challenge due to proliferation of trado-medicine offerings and practitioners. Most of the practitioners, incidentally, do not use the services of communication professionals in their marketing activities. In

collaboration with other relevant agencies, APCON has been engaging with and sensitising those of them who could be identified to educate them on the regulatory requirements for their practice. There has been significant understanding and response by the traditional medicine practitioners arising from these engagements.

The mass media, which provide platforms for exposure of advertisements, should assume the responsibility of ensuring that only approved and wholesome advertisements are exposed to the public.

But they have not always lived up to this responsibility because of their selfish business considerations.

APCON has been clamping down on various offenders of the regulation code. What progress has been made in this area?

Action against violators of advertising laws and regulations is an ongoing process. That process involves initial engagement with the violators with a view to getting them to remedy the infractions where necessary or their commitment to behave responsibly, subsequently. The clamp down that you referred to is usually a last resort employed against recalcitrant violators when persuasive engagements appear to have failed.

Remember that law backs these regulations, so APCON has a duty to compel people to obey the law so that law-abiding practitioners do not feel shortchanged by allowing lawless persons to operate unchecked.

Looking at online platforms in Nigeria, are there plans to regulate advert placements?

Advertisements, in whatever media, are subject to advertising regulation. Online advertising is, by its nature, more specialised and targeted and, as such, presents peculiar challenges in effective monitoring and enforcement of regulations in that medium.

We find some ad agencies simultaneously running media buying and out-door agencies. Is there any law promoting specialisations or are practitioners allowed to operate a one-stop shop?

The ethics of advertising does not support an advertiser or ad agency, owing the media in which his advertisements are exposed. The regulation, however, is that any firm operating in the advertising industry should be focused on a particular specialisation and should obtain the license for that specialised practice. No firm can operate in two or more specialised areas of practice and anyone who desires to do so must incorporate separate firms and obtain licenses for each area of practice.

Dangote Opens New Chapter In Cement Marketing With ‘Big Boss’ Campaign

Dangote HE marketing communicaT tion industry has seen a lot of interesting campaign themes for brand positioning. As appealing as the themes are, they have become an anthem among consumers. Though the intention of the brand engineers is to use the themes to position brands ahead of competitors, those themes also show new value propositions being introduced into the market

with the brand.

In the brewery market, some campaign themes, such as ‘Chairman,’ ‘Honourable,’ ‘Legend,’ ‘Oga’ have been adopted to confer market leadership on some beers to show their niche, and when at the bar for drink, consumers often call for their preferred brand with the names. However, such campaign theme has not really been common in the cement market until recently when Dangote Cement unveiled Dangote 3X 42.5 grade, a newly repackaged cement brand from the staple of Dangote Cement, with a campaign theme, “BIG BOSS”.

In the past, when unveiling their market offering, most of the known cement brands often come with campaign themes that only communicated brand promises without making an assertive theme that is daring, while their packaging, which often bored the users with some content names that are too botanical to understand and hardly

communicate the value propositions in their product information. For instance, Lafarge Type M Cement ad was crafted with a campaign theme, ‘A new Solid Look’ across all the media. Also, Dangote Cement had woven past campaigns around a theme – ‘A promise of strength.’

A top manager at a global marketing research firm said brands use these themes for different reasons, part of which is to hype the major values associated with the brands.

However, in a latest move to capture the market, Dangote Cement Plc is offering a new creative approach to cement marketing in Nigeria, from packaging, labelling, value proposition, to the campaign creation and use of the media.

In its latest unveiling of repackaged Dangote Cement, the group is adopting new style and assertive or bold campaign theme, ‘Big Boss’, to launch onslaught against

competitors whose brands have been in the market for longer time.

As daring as the campaign theme is, Dangote Cement has also redesigned its product packaging, crying out with its ‘3X’ value proposition, which, according to the Group Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Oare Ojeikere, means “Xtra strength; ‘Xtra life and Xtra yield.”

Ojeikere said: “In our latest campaign product unveil for Dangote 3X, we are offering the market a lot. 3X’s means higher strength characteristics with 42.5 grade cement which gives higher yield than the 32.5 available in the cement market.”

On the campaign theme, he said: “We have decided to use the theme ‘Big Boss’ to differentiate our brand from others, in terms of leadership, values and quality, such that if you go to the market, all you just need to ask is I want to buy the Big Boss.”

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

48 Saturday, April 26, 2014

BRANDNEWS Star Announces New Music Game Show IGERIA’S No.1 beer brand, Star, has in partnership with Talpa N International B.V, announced the arrival of the country’s first ever music talent and game show called ‘Star The Winner Is.’ The exciting new show combines musical talent with the spontaneity and unpredictability of a game show to deliver entertainment to audiences across the country and beyond, while giving contestants a rare opportunity to embrace fame and fortune in a life changing reality experience.

Star Lager beer, known for major music platforms in Nigeria such as Star Quest, Star Mega Jam, the Star Music app and the record-breaking nationwide concert tour, Star Music Trek, is pioneering a new vista in entertainment TV with the innovative combo of music and games guaranteed to thrill Nigerian viewers.

The Winner Is, a premium global singing competition, delivers an unbeatable combination of competitive singing duels and instant money and dramatic decisions. It currently airs across the world, including the UAE, China, Germany, Italy and Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam and its entry into Nigeria on Star’s platform promises to discover extremely talented Nigerians, turning them into shining superstars.

BRANDINTELLIGENCE

BrandiQ Tasks Undergraduates On Entrepreneurship, Launches Campus Club

By Lawrence Amaku CALL has gone out to uniA versity students, particularly lovers of Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), to endeavour to develop their intellect and creative minds during their formative years in school in a bid to acquire the entrepreneurship mindset needed for the job market as a way of tackling unemployment and its attendant socio-economic problems.

This charge was given by key figures in the IMC industry as well as entrepreneurs, notably

seasoned broadcaster and publisher of Today’s Woman magazine, Mrs. Adesuwa Onyenokwe and CEO of Trends Insight Intelligence Network, Mr. Franklin Nzekome during the inaugural launch of the BrandiQ Campus Club at Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), Lekki, Lagos.

In a welcome address delivered by the Dean, School of Media and Communication, PAU, Prof. Emevwo Biakolo, he described the gathering as a forum for cultivating imaginative ideas for the good of the society.

“You can’t put values to small

ideas; with time they blow to become institutions. The small ideas of yesterday have become the great institutions of today.”

Referring to the motto of BrandiQ – ‘Vision Powered by Intellect,’ he said that the occasion provided a platform to “create a chain of learning,” noting that the time has come for BrandiQ to move on to higher goals.

Setting the tone for the dominant subject of discussion, the Editor-in-Chief, BrandiQ Magazine, Mr. Desmond Ekeh, described the occasion as a “watershed.”

Ekeh, who stated that he conceived the idea of a brandfocused magazine right from his days as a student of journalism, announced the intention to move the BrandiQ Campus Club train to other major campuses across the federation.

“We have spoken to industry experts who are poised to mentor students in the area of their endeavour. This will involve the use of conferences, workshops, seminars, symposiums and other professional windows and mediums of supporting the academic world,” he said.

LASSA Courts APCON Over Outdoor Conference

By Abiodun Obisesan AGOS State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASSA) has LNigeria renewed ties with the Advertising Practitioners Council of (APCON) in preparation for its epoch-making outdoor conference and exhibition scheduled to hold on June 25, 2014.

Addressing a joint audience comprising APCON and LASSA delegations at the APCON office in Lagos, the President of LASSA, George Kayode Noah, highlighted the strategic role its parent advertising body would play during the conference which is meant to garner millage for tourism in Nigeria.

His words: “No doubt, APCON is a very important stakeholder in advertising industry and we appreciate the support we get from them, from time to time. In all major conferences across the globe, exhibitions are held to revamp the economy. Dubai generates £5 billion from conferences and exhibitions every year. It is high time Nigeria did likewise for Africa. Hence, we have invited major global players in the advertising industry.

“In the same vein, the conference will also be open to Mass Communication students across Nigerian universities and Africa. This has become necessary because we have also found out that little or no emphasis is placed on outdoor advertising in our school curriculum. Countries like Kenya, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and South Africa are also heavily involved in this ground-breaking conference in June.

Winners In Hollandia Yoghurt Promo Relish Prizes OLLANDIA Yoghurt has rewarded consumers with gifts H worth millions of naira in its just concluded promo. The company dished out the gifts in line with its promise of rewarding consumers who participated in the Refresh N Win promo.

Consumers, who participated in the promo won many prizes, including iPads, iPhones and smart phones, every week by edraws. Those were in addition to instant airtime recharge from major telecommunication service providers.

At the grand finale of the campaign in Lagos, Chi Limited, maker of Hollandia Yoghurt, raised the stake by rewarding two customers with a trip to London and Paris respectively, instead of one winner making the trip to either of the two destinations as winner of the grand prize.

A consumer of Hollandia Yoghurt in Benue State, Chigozie Victor, won the grand prize of a trip to London, while another consumer in Oyo State, Akinwole Dolapo, was the proud winner of the grand prize of a trip to Paris.

The promo, which commenced last year, was closely monitored and supervised by the Nigeria Lottery Commission and the Consumer Protection Council.

30 Winners To Emerge In LG Online Quiz G Electronics, a global leader in air-conditioning and energy L solutions, has announced that 30 winners are expected to emerge in the ongoing LG ‘Mosquito Away’ Air Conditioner (AC) online quiz. The competition is intended to celebrate erudition and intellectualism.

Expected to run for a period of four weeks, the quiz put together by LG Electronics is aimed at engaging as well as giving back to its teeming consumers.

The LG Mosquito Away online quiz competition is being conducted on a dedicated website. Interested participants are expected to visit as well as register on the site for a chance of winning.

Speaking at the launch of the quiz, General Manager, Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions, LG Electronics, West Africa operations, Mr. Junhwa Jeong, said: “For us at LG Electronics, the competition is a way of delighting as well as giving back to our teeming consumers. The multi-stage competition is a fun way of testing as well as assessing how well consumers know about the newly introduced LG Mosquito Away AC.”

Editor-In-Chief, BrandiQ, Desmond Ekeh (left); CEO of Trends Insight Intelligence Network, Franklin Ozekhome; Editor, TW magazine, Adesuwa Onyenokwe; and Dean, School of Media and Communication, Pan-African University (PAU), Prof. Emevwo Biakolo during the inaugural launch of the BrandiQ Campus Club at PAU in Lagos…recently

MTN Unveils One World Data Roaming

By Lawrence Amaku ELECOMMUNICATION operator, MTN, has taken another remarkable step in ensuring that subscribers travelling outside their base countries will not have to pay exorbitantly for the international mobile roaming (IMR) service.

This has been made possible by the recent launch of its ‘Browse like Home When You Roam’ with MTN One World.

The MTN One World is a new data roaming tariff where MTN prepaid and post-paid subscribers, who travel out of the country, have access to the Internet on their mobile phones and send text messages, paying a standard home rate of 5 kobo per kilobyte and N4 per SMS, as if they were in Nigeria. The service is available in any of 19 MTN operating countries. These countries include Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Congo, Rwanda, Guinea Conakry, Zambia, Iran, Sudan, Guinea Bissau, Cyprus, Swaziland, Yemen, Afghanistan and

T

Botswana.

The Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, Larry Annetts, explained that the key strategic focus for the new tariff plan is to ensure data communication at the most affordable and friendly rate on the go.

He said: “We are always committed to deliver a new world

of digital experience to our customers and the thrust of this initiative is to ensure friendly roaming tariff where our customers, who travel to any of our 19 operating countries, can still feel at home, browsing at a standard home rate of 5 kobo per kilobyte.

“Our customers traveling to Ghana, Cameroun, Republic

of Benin, South Africa and other MTN operating countries can continue to update their profile messages, share pictures and great moments on social networks, as well as send and receive emails, upload and download information and browse the Internet without any differential in data cost.”

Absolute PR Marks Fifth Year Anniversary

By Abiodun Obisesan AGOS-BASED public relaLhastions firm, AbsolutePR, adopted the Bolt dynamism, in that having spent barely half a decade on the Nigerian PR turf, it has expanded the reputational circle of influence to other advanced PR climates.

Determined to challenge established and traditional PR conception, the Akonte Ekine-led crew has navigated a torrid beginning that has also produced an enviable, sterling track record in the Nigerian PR landscape.

Incorporated as a brand and

reputation management firm in 2007, Absolute PR commenced operations in Lagos in 2009, after the Lead Strategist and CEO, Akonte Ekine, decided to rewrite the story of brands and reputation management in the country with his wealth of experience in the field after managing world-class brands such as LG Electronics, MTN, MoneyGram, Unilever (Close UP), Microsoft, Skyebank and Discovery Fund, Skye Shelter Fund, to mention a few.

Ekine said the sustaining factor of AbsolutePR is skewed to having balanced

complex. ‘‘Mark Twin’s statement that “it is not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog’’ has been my slogan for a very long time now. So, anywhere we go, we try to let people see our desire to do something in our environment rather than flaunting our status.

Every one that is working here is throwing in their best because they are motivated to see themselves in the future and not now. If you can visualise your future, then you are likely to see yourself better in the line of duty.”

TheGuardian

Saturday, April 26, 2014 | 49

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Cover

Abubakar 111

Kutigi

Oritsejafor

Confab: Primordial Sentiments, Religious Bias As Sore Points

By Samson Ezea NLIKE the 2005 National Conference that U Muslims constituted the majority, and the issue of religious bigotry or bias never cropped up at any point, the present National Conference took off with religious distrusts, bias and sentiments among the delegates from the different religious divides.

The religious bias and primordial sentiments that had characterised the Conference so far started unfolding immediately after the inauguration of the Conference by President Goodluck Jonathan on March 17, 2013. Two days after the inauguration ceremony, precisely on March 19, the umbrella organisation of all Muslims in Nigeria, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) in a press Conference in Kaduna accused President Goodluck Jonathan of nominating more Christians to the National Conference than Muslims who, they said, are the majority in Nigeria.

The group said, “Although democracy is a game of number, this has not been respected. For instance, while Muslims constitute the majority in the country, Christians, who by all acceptable records are not more than 40 per cent of the country’s population, ironically constitute 62 per cent of the total delegates.”

JNI Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, who addressed journalists, said, “We find it a great disregard and disrespect to the conscience of the Muslims that of the 20 delegates of the Federal Government, only six are Muslims. No Muslim is deemed fit to make the list of the Nigerian Economic Summit. In fact, in the representation of the security agencies, Muslims have been so unimaginably shortchanged with only one Muslim out of the six retired military and security personnel; one out of six retired security and NIA officers, and two out of six delegates of the Association of Retired Police Officers.”

In consequence, he said, “This means, of the 18 security experts belonging to these three groups, only four (22.2%) are Muslims. The question is why this serious short-changing of Muslims in these very sensitive groups?”

He said, “We want to assure everybody that the leadership of the Ummah is taking up the matter and will relentlessly continue to pursue it until the inequities are addressed.

Lending support to the position of the group, The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on March 26 led some prominent Muslims in the country to the Presidential Villa, Abuja to protest what they called their marginalisation

in the composition of the Conference delegates.

At a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo and a few top government officials, the Sultan and the other Muslim leaders faulted the composition of the national conference, saying it was skewed against them.

Their protest took place just as the delegates to the conference were quarreling over what constituted a majority in taking decisions on issues, which they later resolved.

The Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof.

Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed during the protest visit to State House that the Sultan and his team made their grievances known when they met with Jonathan for about an hour in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said that the President assured the delegation that his administration was committed to being fair to all Nigerians irrespective of their religion or tribe.

He said, “We came to discuss with the President and we are happy we consulted him, and he has given us reasons to reassure Muslims that they are not deliberately marginalised and he has asked us to convey the feelings of the government, the genuineness of the government and the fairness of the government to the entire populace.

Even before that, there were cases of sharp disagreements during the Conference proceedings, as Lagos-based outspoken pastor and delegate to the Conference, Mr. Tunde Bakare and others accused the Conference chairman, (Rtd) Justice Idris Kutigi of reciting Islamic incantations during prayers at the Conference venue.

Expectedly all these incidents since the inauguration of the Conference had bred mutual religious suspicions, primordial sentiments, and distrusts among the Conference delegates and Nigerians from different religious divides as the Conference activities proceeded.

Just after the last week naming of the members of the various committees and their chairmen by the Conference leadership amidst protests by some of the delegates, citing bias, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) faulted the composition of the National Conference Committee on Religion, alleging that the Chairman of the Conference, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, was working out a script to undermine the interest of Christians in the dialogue body.

According to CAN, “Justice Kutigi has done his

wish to ensure that the leadership of the committees favours Muslims in Nigeria.

In a statement by CAN Director (National Issues), Mr. Sunny Oibe, the association observed that religion is a sensitive issue, adding that Kutigi did not include any delegate representing CAN in the committee.

CAN added that members of the Committee on Religion as obtained from the Conference Secretariat are Alhaji Nurudeen Lemu (chairman); Bishop Felix Femi Ajakaiye, co-chairman (representing Ekiti State at the conference); Hajia Shetu Alfa, Bishop Joseph Bagobiri, Hadija Dije Dattijo, Prof. Obini Ekpe, Pastor Bosun Emmanuel and Prof. Layi Erinosho.

Others are Malam Muzzammil Sani Hanga, Prof. Andrew Haruna, Monsignor Obiora Ike, Godswill Iyoha Iyoke, Prof. Munzali Jibril, Hajiya Talatu Nasir, Justice Mamman Nasir (rtd), Dr. Jonathan Obaje, Prof. Ishaq- Oloyede and Hajia Amina Omoti.

The statement reads: “Justice Kutigi is from Niger State and the Committee on Religion should be a sensitive committee. The chairman has decided to scatter the Christians in the conference and now brought Nurudeen Lemu, the son of Sheikh Lemu, who is also from Niger State, to chair the committee and did not pick any delegate representing the CAN. The supposed Christian in the committee, Dr. Jonathan Obaje representing the Diaspora at the conference, has been given express permission by Kutigi to travel back overseas for holiday; he is not even in Nigeria at present and does not represent CAN. The delegate is not around and Christians will be affected during voting.

“Bishop Felix Ajakaiye who was named cochairman in the committee is representing Ekiti State and not CAN. In that case, we have already lost and the ratio will now be 12 members for Muslims and six for Christians.”

“To us in CAN, Justice Kutigi is working out a script to undermine the interest of Christians at the conference. Ordinarily, the Christians who have been on the receiving end from members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect in the North should be a co-chairman in the Committee on Religion. But what Kutigi did was to pick a Muslim from the North as chairman and a Christian from the South-West (Ajakaiye) who has little or no knowledge of what is happening in the North as co-chairman. The interest of Christians in this case will not be adequately protected.”

Not resting on its oars in giving it back to CAN whenever there is any little disagreement

between the two major religious groups in the country, an Islamic group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) had issued a statement accusing the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of blackmailing the leadership of the National Conference.

MURIC, which was responding to a statement

by CAN accusing the Chairman of the Conference, Idris Kutigi, of religious bias, also lambasted the Christian group for disowning fellow Christian co-chairman of the Committee on Religion, Bishop Felix Ajakaiye and the Christian member, Jonathan Obaje.

“Where exactly is the injustice done to CAN? The committee on religion has two chairmen: a Muslim and a Christian,” MURIC said on Wednesday via a statement by its Executive Director, Ishaq Akintola. “Imagine CAN disowning the Christian co-chairman, Bishop Felix Ajakaiye and the Christian member, Jonathan Obaje. It is laughable. CAN claims its co-chairman is representing Ekiti State at the confab and not CAN! Yet this co-chairman bears the title ‘bishop.’ What is CAN’s problem?

“CAN is simply showing the world that the best form of defence is to attack, but only fools are deceived when the pot calls the kettle black. It is left to the conscience of the leadership of the national conference and the honourable delegates to decide whether or not they will allow themselves to be railroaded into submission.

“The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) advises CAN to desist from causing distraction. A national conference is a more serious affair. CAN must cultivate the spirit of give and take. A winnertakes-all attitude must not be allowed to dominate affairs in a forum which is originally designed to engender harmony. It is a place for true patriots. CAN’s latest outcry is an attempt to divert attention from real issues.”

Clearing the air on development, the secretariat of the National Conference on Thursday denied any ploy to undermine Christians through the composition of the committee on religion, saying only 13 delegates who are Christians indicated interest to work in that committee.

A statement by the conference secretariat spokesman Akpandem James said before composition of committees, all delegates were asked to choose three committees they wish to serve in. Only 13 Christians and 20 Muslims chose to be in the committee on religion.

Many Nigerians are of the view that if the prevailing religious distrusts, primordial sentiments, and others that have dominated proceedings at the National Conference are not well handled, they may make or mar the outcome.

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COVER

‘The Sentiments Are Reflection Of The Ideological Emptiness Of Our Political Space’ Comrade Peter Esele, former president-general Trade Union Congress (TUC) and delegate to the National Conference speaks on the prevailing primordial sentiments and religious bias at the National Conference.

By Samson Ezea Are you worried over the religious/primordial sentiments that are already rearing its ugly head at the National Conference?

HERE are concerns about such issues but I think it is better we all talk about it. The political leadership over years of our nationhood has deepened the divide to further their selfish interest.

We are more divided now than anytime in our history. It is unthinkable to ever believe, we once elected a Muslim/Muslim ticket in this country. The reasons are not far-fetched. Nature abhors vacuum, when there is no political ideology to discuss, sentiments will take root. I am a supporter of separation of state and religion.

Whatever faith you profess should be your personal business. There is so much poverty, unemployment and insecurity in the land. I think we should pay attention to it and provide solutions. If you calculate the amount of money spend by the various states, local and federal governments in the last 20 years in sponsoring pilgrimage to Mecca and Jerusalem it runs into several billions of Naira - funds that would have been better put to create jobs and empowering individuals to make such undertaking themselves. It is morally wrong for state fund to be used for such. I know Edo state Government recently made such declaration.

What we have now is simply a battle for who gets the bigger pie.

Unfortunately, majority of leaders in all strata have a penchant of say-

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ing what they don’t do, and do what they don’t say. The media has a huge role to play in identifying people who engage in divisive politics and put them on the spot. The sentiments are a reflection of the ideological emptiness of our political space.

Don’t you think such ugly developments will mar the Conference like the previous ones?

I don’t think it will, rather it depends on how the 492 delegates want it to be. The first two weeks was very difficult for everybody, not unusual for such a large gathering. I will disagree with you that previous conferences failed. Some of us had the privilege of reviewing previous national conferences under the Chairmanship of former Chief Justice Belgore. There are wonderful recommendations that were never implemented by previous administrations. It is not within the purview of the delegates to implement recommendations.

One area I think right now we have all agreed upon despite our differences is the need for the country to remain one united and indivisible entity. The real work is what we have to do towards achieving it.

The sound bites coming from the various sub- committees are encouraging. Please, don’t get me wrong. I am not saying there will be no further disagreements; in a democratic setting they are expected. There can be no position without opposition. There are series of behind the scene consultations going on towards building consensus on a number of very controversial issues. Our wish is to do what is best for the country within the best of our abilities.

What better ways do you think the situation should handled to avoid the failure of the Conference?

The conference leadership is doing that already by ensuring the rules

In a country such as ours this is expected. The two dominant religions are in a battle for influence and with it all other things shall be added unto it. I think that distrust is more on the faith-based delegates in this conference and not a blanket Muslim/ Christians divide.

Esele that was approved by delegates are respected. There are series of consultations on very controversial issues before they are brought to the floor. So far I think the leadership has done well for now.

They managed the division of delegates into various sub-committees on the spot. You know there was uproar initially. One thing life has taught me is that no matter what you do, you can’t please everybody.

It seems there is so much distrusts and suspicion among the Christians and Muslims at the Conference?

In a country such as ours this is expected. The two dominant religions are in a battle for influence and with it all other things shall be added unto it. I think the distrust is more on the faith-based delegates in this conference and not a blanket Muslim/ Christians divide.

The distrust and suspicion has been aided and abetted by the political class at various levels

since the military era. What we are seeing now is seed that has been sown over a longtime which we are now harvesting in the orgy of religious violence in different parts of the country.

In the Conference I know a CAN delegates from the North who talked about how their rights to freedom of worship has been denied and how so many of their members were murdered and churches burnt. Also, a delegate who is Muslim (JNI) from the East told us the same story. He didn’t talk about killings, but denial of his right to freedom of worship.

In all of these complaints the solution is very simple, if only our laws are respected. Those who are behind religious violence are criminals irrespective of how highly place they are Christians or Muslims, North or South. There can be no peace without justice.

There are three very important institutions that can bring about

change in our society- the family, media and Judiciary.

If families can teach the values of love, tolerance, humility and handwork, while the media, the societal watchdog ensures that it beams its light on those who help build the society and also hold the deviant in all strata of our lives accountable. The Judiciary should ensure that those who commit crimes take responsibility for their actions. When these three institutions function optimally, our national rebirth will take the right direction.

I guess you are surprise that I didn’t mention the politicians. If politicians have the family values I enumerated earlier from birth, you won’t expect anything different when he or she becomes a leader in whatever parts of our political life. He/ she can only give what he has. Our society is an aggregate refection of who we are.

It may prove difficult for some peo-

‘Those Behind Religious Sentiments Are Bigots And Pretenders’ National Chairman of Labour Party and delegate to the National Conference, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu speaks on the issue of religious bias at the National Conference

By Samson Ezea Are you not worried with allegation of religious bias at the National Conference?

HOSE making the allegation are religious bigots, pretending with their religions.

Each delegate was given opportunity to choose three committees he or she will like to serve. Majority of the delegates who came to the Conference on the platform of religious groups refused to choose religious committee. They choose to be in other committees instead of the religious committee. So why should they or any group, be it Christian or Muslim group raise any allegation of reli-

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gious bias against the Conference leadership?

These groups and individuals are bunch of religious pretenders and bigots.

Which religion are they talking about? What business does religion has to do with the National Conference?

We are in the Conference to brainstorm on the country’s problems. I am quite disappointed just like many Nigerians on the attitude of some of the delegates and other Nigerians.

Don’t you think the ugly

development may lead to a walkout by a group at the Conference?

Those who are tired of discussions are free to walk out, while others will continue with the Conference agenda.

All of us will not and cannot walk out at the same time.

We will conclude the Conference and come out with the way forward for the country. We are aware that some people have sinister motives of truncating the Conference, but we will not allow such happen.

Those who are tired of discussions are free to walk out, while others will continue with the Conference agenda. All of us will not and cannot walk out at the same time. We will conclude the Conference and come out with the way forward for the country. We are aware that some people have sinister motives of truncating the Conference, but we will not Delegates at the conference allow such happen

Nwanyanwu

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COVEr

‘It Is All About Trustful Give And Take’ all about taking the bull by the horns and being deliberate in changing the course of historical cycle.

It is all about trustful give and take. The entire conference would have collapsed weeks back over the issue of 75% or 2/3 voting threshold. However, I serve in one of the committees handling some of the contentious issues Political restructuring and Forms of Government and we have taken all decisions on issues we discussed without dividing the house.

By Samson Ezea That has been achieved because we have been able to fix the larger screen at the centre, while the small screens serve as platWhat is your reaction to the allegation of religious bias against forms of engagement. This is what the moment requires. the Conference leadership in the composition of the religion The mistrust between the Christians and Muslims is as a result committee? of years of manipulation of religions by politicians who may HE primordial factors are rearing their heads because we have not even believe in God. We must now deliberately reach out across the divides to be able to have mutual understanding to played the ostrich over the years forgetting that social scienknow that though we worship in different places. God tists have argued that a problem is not resolved by pretending Almighty is neither a Christian nor Muslim as posited by that it does not exist. We mouth “indivisibility and many other “bilities”“ when we have yet to provide the architecture for Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

In the 1989 lecture at Birmingham, Tutu had told the story of a such wishful thinking.

We live in denials and when realities now confront us we begin drunk “They tell the story of a drunk who crossed the street and to react as if strange things are happening. These factors we call “ugly” are the true reflections of the failure of our system to inte- To be frank with ourselves, the vocal faces of grate the people of Nigeria after amalgamation.

We have confused unity with unification and that is the very rea- Muslim North have made a lot of issues on the son why we remind an unsettled society. Except we resolve these composition of the Conference because over the issues, they will continue to resolve us in their own ways. years their hold on power has conferred permanent The challenge before the Conference delegates is to ensure that the issues are dealt with, not like the previous ones. dominance on them and now that there appears a There comes a moment in the life of a country when it must rise semblance of balance or perhaps slightly having up and say “enough s enough”. Insanity has been redefined as repeating the same process and praying for a different result. It’s the shoes on other feet is so discomforting

Mr. Yinka Odumakin, a delegate to the National Conference speaks on the issue of primordial sentiments and religious bias dominating the Conference.

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Odumakin accosted a pedestrian, asking him, “I shay, which ish the other shide of the shtreet?” The pedestrian, somewhat nonplussed, replied, “That side, of course!” The drunk said, “Shtrange. When I wash on that shide, they shaid it wash thish shide.” Where the other side of the street is depends on where we are. Our perspective differs with our context, the things that have helped to form us; and religion is one of the most potent of these formative influences, helping to determine how and what we apprehend of reality and how we operate in our own specific context.

My first point seems overwhelmingly simple: that the accidents of birth and geography determine to a very large extent to what faith we belong. The chances are very great that if you were born in Pakistan you are a Muslim, or a Hindu if you happened to be born in India, or a Shintoist if it is Japan, and a Christian if you were born in Italy. I don’t know what significant fact can be drawn from this — perhaps that we should not succumb too easily to the temptation to exclusiveness and dogmatic claims to a monopoly of the truth of our particular faith.

You could so easily have been an adherent of the faith that you are now denigrating, but for the fact that you were born here rather than there.”

To be frank with ourselves, the vocal faces of Muslim North have made a lot of issues on the composition of the Conference because over the years their hold on power has conferred permanent dominance on them and now that there appears a semblance of balance or perhaps slightly having the shoes on other feet is so discomforting. The lesson in all is that we must always insist on fairness at all times and do to others as we would want them do unto us. It is important to remind them also that the dust they have raised over representation could ignite a sense of regret in Christians who voted for a MuslimMuslim ticket 21 years ago.

We would not achieve higher ideals for as long as we use secondary contradictions to pursue primary goals. We must focus on higher ideals while we provide level playing field for all faiths to flourish.

‘Those Alleging religious Bias Against The Conference leadership Are Illiterates And Uninformed’ Mark my words, nothing will be resolved at the National Conference, not even the current insecurity, unemployment, education crisis and other problems bedeviling the country.

I saw it coming and I am not surprised. The Conference is part of the government’s politics of hoodwink and deceit.

Those making allegation of religious bias against the leadership of the Conference are

By Samson Ezea illiterates and uninformed. It is the Christians that are majority at the Conference, even when rANklY nobody should be surprised on it is obvious that Muslims are more in populathe prevailing primordial sentiments at tion than Christians in Nigeria. the National Conference. Primordial sentiSuch false allegation against the Conference ments have been part and parcel of the counleadership has always been the stock in trade try’s national life. of the organisation under its present leaderOver years, the elite had always believed that ship. So, Nigerians are familiar with CAN’s they cannot win any election contest without antics, so nothing is new about the allegation. resorting to primordial sentiments. They have used it against the electorate without Although I am a delegate, the being punished. And it has worked for them and they are still using it for their own selfish National Conference is a monumenpolitical interest. That is why the concept is tal fraud designed by the Federal still thriving in the country today.

Government to ensure that a new Although I am a delegate, the National Conference is a monumental fraud designed constitution will be written to enable by the Federal Government to ensure that a President Goodluck Jonathan to stay new constitution will be written to enable President Goodluck Jonathan to stay in office in office beyond 2015 beyond 2015.

Second Republic lawmaker and Kano delegate to National Conference, Dr. Junaid Mohammed speaks on the allegation of religious bias against the leadership of the Conference.

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Mohammed

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Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Politics I Left APC Because I Fell Out Of Favour With Ngige, Says Odedo Charles Odedo, representing Idemili Federal Constituency of Anambra State in the House of Representatives, who recently dumped the All Progressive Congress (APC), explained why he took the action and his next move.

From Chuks Collins, Awka HY did you dump the All Progressive W Congress (APC)?

I resigned from the APC because I feel my ambition to return to the House of Representatives may not be realised in that party.

I have fallen out of favour with Senator Chris Ngige, who gave me the opportunity to return to the House in 2011. When I noticed that the relationship was not as good as it used to be, I knew it was time to go.

He is my leader; I will not stay in his party to fight because he gave me a chance when nobody wanted me. I will rather go away quietly since I am no longer his favourite.

I want to publicly thank Ngige for giving me that opportunity. I am most sincerely grateful. My ambition to return to the House is very popular among Idemili people, but a few elites want to frustrate the will of the people.

But only Idemili people can decide my fate.

You were seen as one of his foot soldiers in the state. Would your exit not affect his political career in next year’s elections?

No, not at all! I do not think that my exit will affect his political career next year. Mind you, before my entry into politics in 2005, he was already a governor.

Remember also that in 2011, he was elected a senator against a candidate supported by the then governor.

I benefitted a lot from Ngige’s goodwill and the good works he did in Anambra Central, especially in Idemili North and South.

I may struggle to make it on my own, but I am willing to take my chances.

My experience with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007 was a bitter one, because after winning the primary election, my name was removed.

I fought all the way to the Supreme Court before entering the House of Representatives in July 2008 and lost about 13 months.

I was already a member of the House before I joined Ngige in the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011. I was to be denied the ticket of the PDP; hence I left for the ACN, where I won the election.

Now that I perceive I may not get the ticket

Odedo of APC, I have to take action.

What really happened between you and Ngige that made you to quit APC? I really do not know what my offence was, but I noticed that a clique of sycophants around him were no longer happy with me.

They constantly criticised all my actions and used lies, threats and blackmail to advance their agenda. They managed to get close to Ngige more than anybody else.

Let me give you a few examples of the signs that showed me that I had really fallen out of favour with Ngige.

One, I was not allowed to put an acting chairman in my ward; just one out of 326 wards in the state.

When in 2012, my ward chairman was removed for disciplinary reasons, I actually appointed an acting ward chairman, pending the time of election for proper replacement.

One of the members of the clique from my ward invited Ngige to his house, ganged-up with the suspended chairman and convinced Ngige that the appointment I made could not stand. I was summoned and directed to reverse that appointment.

Secondly, the people that followed me from PDP to ACN were never fully accepted and were always marginalised in the scheme of things.

For example, very senior members of my campaign organisation were never invited to critical meetings, despite my consistent demand. At one of the stakeholders meeting, one of my senior directors got angry and went to the meeting

uninvited, but he was thrown out.

Thirdly, during my 2012 empowerment programme for the constituency, the senator called me to explain the 10 people I had empowered with 10 vehicles after the clique reported to him that I was only interested in those that followed me from PDP. But after an audit of the distribution, to their shame, it was discovered that I had shared the vehicles 50/50.

Fourthly, during our governorship campaigns, I had offered to bear the expenses of the flag-off, as it related to my constituency, but this was rejected, despite the fact that the campaign needed funds at that time.

Fifthly, four days to the November 16 governorship election last year, Ngige changed his security and one member of the cliques very close to the senator prevented me from going to his suite to see him, which I considered unfair and most humiliating.

Sixthly, his chief of staff had called a party meeting to announce that he was going to contest election for the House of Representatives and told everyone that Ngige had zoned my position to Idemili North, effectively zoning me out. Other aspirants from the zone had been calling similar meetings for the same reason.

I protested to Ngige, but this matter was never addressed in an open forum, rather I was told not to worry about it.

Also, during the ward and local government congress of our party, a person I had reported to him as being very arrogant and therefore unfit for grassroots politics was made the chairman of the party in the local government by eight members of the clique who were clearly opposed to my ambition to return to the House now being put in strategic positions.

These led me to conclude that the conspiracy against me had been perfected and I had no choice, but to leave the APC. Which political party are you planning to join?

Point of correction, I came into the 7th Assembly on the platform of ACN, not the APC. I really do not believe in the APC, as I see it as a gang up against the President. Section 68 (1) (g) of the constitution allows me to leave if I am uncomfortable with the merge.

I am returning to the PDP, my original party, which is broad-based and with the effective leadership of the President and the enthronement of internal democracy by the national chairman, I am confident that PDP will win next year’s general elections.

Does your defection have anything to do with the belief in some quarters that APC does not have a firm root in the Southeast?

My defection has to do with the fact that APC in the Southeast revolves around some person-

alities. It is more or less a one-man show; almost a dictatorship and not a democracy.

Do you see the ongoing national conference as capable of providing solution to some of the basic problems in Nigeria?

The quality of people at the conference has the capacity to deliver good results to Nigeria.

However, it has not been given adequate time to do their job.

I think the conference should be given an extension of time.

What is your take on next year’s general elections?

I think that benefit of doubt must be given to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The media should educate the public on the need for a peaceful conduct during the election, while government should provide a safe environment for the elections.

Most importantly, INEC must ensure a transparent, free, fair and credible election, as this would reduce tension and bring peace to our land.

What is your view of the state of insecurity in Nigeria?

This country is under serious threat, because when ordinary hardworking citizens and innocent school children are attacked and killed and places of worship, like churches and mosques, attacked at will, you will agree with me that we are in serious trouble.

However, I want to advise that Nigeria should focus on some critical areas, because of the state of insecurity in Nigeria.

I suggest that emphasis should be given to agriculture for mass production of food to reduce hunger and create employment opportunities, as I believe the insurgency is fueled by hunger and unemployment.

Government should stop the importation of most things, especially things we can produce.

As a matter of priority, government should set a deadline to stop fuel importation.

Security of lives and properties and welfare of our citizen is the primary reason of government. So, the security agencies should be reorganised, especially the intelligence departments, for a proactive approach to securing lives of our citizens.

The security agencies should be well funded and exposed to foreign trainings, so that their capacity and efficiency will improve.

Nigerians must be patriotic. It is the cooperation between the people and the security agencies that has made some countries very secure.

So, government, as a matter of policy, should encourage integration and discourage division along ethnic and religious lines.

One Year After, Adamawa Residents Differ On State Of Emergency From Emmanuel Ande, Yola N Saturday April 19, 2014, the state of emergency declared in the three north-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe became 12 months old. As a result, residents of Adamawa are now asking if the emergency rule would be extended or lifted.

Some residents who spoke with The Guardian expressed mixed feelings over the emergency rule. While others want government to lift it, some are of the opinion that it should be extended.

Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed, a chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC) said that it is time to lift the emergency rule. He noted that the hardship of the emergency rule has grounded the state, arguing that since it was introduced a year ago, the federal government has failed to cage the insurgents.

For him, the emergency rule should be lifted for normal life to return. He however said that military should continue with their routine operations to maintain peace.

Mr. Haruna George, a political analyst based in Yola, the state capital, said that government should extend the emergency rule since the insurgents are still waging war in the area. He argued that the situation would be worse if the emergency rule is lifted without caging the insurgents.

“To me, I want government to change tactics by removing the governors of the three affected states in the emergency rule and replace them with military administrators. This is because

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I am suspecting some political office holders using their position to frustrate the efforts of the security agents,” he stated.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alexander Badeh, who spoke recently in Yola commended the President for his decision to declare state of emergency in Adamawa state, pointing out that Adamawa would have been the operation base of the terrorists if the state was left out of the state of emergency.

“I completely disagree with people who are against the declaration of state of emergency in Adamawa. Before the declaration, there were several attacks in Mubi, Madagali, Maiha, Ganye, Gombi and other places in the state, so how can you say the state is safe when people were being killed by the insurgents. My men discovered their hideout in Falin forest in the state recently,” he maintained.

He pointed out that the decision of the President was not only in interest of the north-east region, but that his action was in line with the oath of his office and the provisions of the 1999 constitution of the country, which empowered him to always defend the people of Nigeria and its territory against insurgents.

On the activities of the insurgents in the north-east region, he said that some foreigners were involved in assisting the terrorists with their operations in the zone.

“The insurgents’ operations are not 100 percent Nigerian. Some foreigners are also involved by either providing them with logistics or personnel for their criminal activities”, he stated.

He vowed that his officers and men would continue to launch

attack on the insurgents’ abode and smoke them out of their criminal camps.

A self-acclaimed spiritual healer, Alhaji Alhassan Mohammad Goni popularly called AMG last week threatened to expose the sponsors of Boko Haram insurgency if in two weeks the group did not suspend the current bloodletting and hostilities in Nigeria.

He claimed that among those sponsoring Boko Haram activities are top military officers, politicians, governors and other monarchs with the sole aim of causing confusion in the country.

“The emerging picture is a mafia-like inter linkage between the Nigerian security forces, political office holders, judiciary and members of the Boko Haram sect,” AMG said.

However, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Special Duties, Mr. Phineas Padio said the state of emergency in Adamawa state was politically motivated. He argued that there was no security evidence that there was a security threat in the state.

Last week heavily armed gunmen took over residences surrounding the Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola, which is housing 80 percent of students and lecturers for over five hours without any intervention from any of the security agents. Residents wondered the essence of daytime road-blocks and no night patrol. They are calling on the federal government to re-examine the operations of the military in Adamawa for effective protection of life and property.

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POLITICS

‘Nigerian Political Class Is Irresponsible And Selfish’ Dr. Junaid Mohammed, a Second Republic lawmaker and Kano delegate at the National Conference, spoke to JOHN AKUBO in a telephone interview on the state of the nation, especially on the recent exchange of letters and accusations between Adamawa state governor, Murtala Nyako and the Presidency.

What is your view on the recent allegation by Adamawa State governor, Alhaji Murtala Nyako of genocide against President Jonathan?

HEY are demonstrating their incapacity to be responsible and this irresponsibility has been at the core of all the problems Nigeria has been going through. I however disagree with you on the choice of the word ‘class’ because ‘class’ presupposes a group of people who have identified, articulated and pursued their own interest. That is, they have already gone through the motion of being exhaustive to find out what is in their own interest as a group. This presumes some coherence. The Nigerian political class is irresponsible and incoherent. They are incapable of articulating their own interest not to talk of pursuing the national interest.

All that you say and others are likely to say can be subsumed under the rubrics of class irresponsibility because a class that has failed to emerge for over 50 years and that has failed to evolve in the same period and that is unable to articulate strong interest and pursue the same is certainly irresponsible. And the word class cannot be used to describe it.

Yes, there are people who claim to be politicians, there are members of the elite that pretend to have the interest and future of the country; I have not seen evidence of these people behaving like a class because they are not a class, they are irresponsible. They have been unable to evolve a bipartisan approach.

If you say the class structure can be divided into only two groups, you are not being real and you cannot be taken serious. This is a class that is tilted across the board along many false lines. There is the purely economic false line, then the tribal false line, sub-tribal fault line, the linguistic false lines and the other interest groups who are promoting capitalism. So, you cannot be talking of a class, which can be assessed or determined by what it is representing and what it will pursue. These are just a bunch of confused, opportunist, irresponsible, anti-electoral and anti-historical people.

Talking about the exchanges between President Jonathan and some other leaders, there is only one constant factor through all these: this irrational behaviour has always emanated from the President himself or his spokespersons. I am informed that in most of these excessive, exuberant languages, the President has been instigating them to go on the attacks.

If you tell me it was Goodluck who coined the reply to Obasanjo, I will say you are not speaking the truth because we knew how the reply came about. We know how Rueben Abati was able to corner some people and get the response. The president said no they should wait but later they came back with the same response.

Now, I don’t know if the President is above mistake or is above the law. Agree or not agree with Obasanjo, what he raised were germane issues that have to be replied and in replying them, one has to be careful with the choice of metaphors. That was not evident in the reply that was drafted by those who drafted the reply to Obasanjo.

Looking at what happened in Kano, Kwankwaso does not support Jonathan.

During the PDP convention, he made it clear that he was not going to support Jonathan.

When Jonathan emerged as the candidate of his party, Kwankwaso refused to campaign for him to the extent he influenced voters in Kano to vote for Buhari and that is why Buhari garnered over 1.5 million votes in Kano.

Now, for him to think he can treat Kwankwaso not just as an opposition, but as a nobody is completely anti-democratic; that is not how to build constituencies within a party or within the country itself. Whether you like it or not, Kwankwaso is the freely elected leader of Kano people. To alienate or punish him is punishing the Kano people.

Besides, if Nigeria is made up of 170 million people, you cannot expect everybody to respect, love you or take your word like that

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Mohammed of a god.

What is your disposition to the accusations and counter-accusations between the PDP and APC over terrorism?

Ordinarily, I will not like to comment on Olisah Metuh because he is quite irresponsible. As spokesperson to the party in power, that position demands certain responsibilities from you and one of such is not to play loose on the side. It is not good to intimidate people or go about insulting people because you are in a siege mentality. Within the PDP and the Presidency, there is this siege mentality that everybody is against us so let us latch out at everybody. That is not the way you grow a political system and that is not how to build a nation or build a country. If somebody in that position makes that kind of careless allegation against the APC, it is up to him to provide the fact because the country is also entitled to such facts in order to know who is irresponsible.

If the APC decides to defend itself and employ such tactless language, you can only imagine

None of these events is the direct effect of the policies of Okojo Iweala or President Gooduck. We are benefiting from certain economic situations, which were the cause of our own policies. They say a fool and his money are easily parted; a man who has been lucky in politics can easily part with his Goodluck. At the end of the day, we are going to find ourselves in a very messy situation because the economy from all indication is not doing well and is set to be getting worse and we should be ready for a melt down the possibilities. If this is the kind of behaviour from people who claim to be in charge and believe they have a mandate to govern, then we are in very big trouble. What would you expect from people who don’t have a mandate? If the PDP wants to continue to rule this country as a single party, then they

are not talking of democracy but one party totalitarian democracy. Nigerians cannot accept it and I can assure you it is doomed to fail.

What is your reaction to the recent issue of Governor Nyako and President Jonathan?

Again you are paying much attention to pronouncements. Do you swallow hook line and sinker the rubbish coming out of Marilyn Ogar, the spokesperson of SSS director of propaganda and misinformation or are you prepared to swallow that of Brigadier General Caleb Olukolade of the Defence Services Information Bureau. They have been misleading people and have been misleading themselves. Unfortunately, the danger in propaganda is that more often, people end up in believing what the propaganda is. That can be dangerous. They believe that when you tell a lie often enough people would believe. When they are mishandling and misusing the security situation as an alibi to steal the country dry and deny the presidency the means to develop, they are misleading the President to believe the situation is getting better whereas it is getting worse. The situation has gotten out of control.

For over two years and a half, I have been saying that there is no military solution to the problem of Boko Haram insurgency; there has to be a political solution. Before now, they claim they would not negotiate with terrorists. Now, the government is not only willing to negotiate with terrorists but they are saying they are prepared to continue negotiation. That is an indication to me that this thing has failed. It has failed because in the first place, there was no sincerity on the part of the government.

Secondly, some elements around President Jonathan believes he can use the rules of the insurgency to win international public opinion especially the western countries that are gullible, and that he can also use the rules to muscle through government and misbehave and still wriggle himself back without election, getting a tenure elongation through the back door under the guise that the security situation is dangerous to conduct a free and fair election. These the Nigerian public cannot accept because the man is not doing well; he is incompetent and inept in handling very sensitive issues especially issues of security and national economy. And there are some characters who claim to be in alliance with his tribal group, especially from the Southeast, who today control more than 47 per cent of the key economic positions in the country. They are only doing that to enrich themselves.

The rebasing of the Nigerian GDP places us as the top country in Africa and we are celebrating the fact that the GDP has been going up at the rate of over 7 per cent for the past four or five years. Is this not enough to justify the re election of Jonathan?

None of these events is the direct effect of the policies of Okojo Iweala or President Gooduck. We are benefiting from certain economic situations, which were the cause of our own policies. They say a fool and his money are easily parted; a man who has been lucky in politics can easily part with his Goodluck.

At the end of the day, we are going to find ourselves in a very messy situation because the economy from all indication is not doing well and is set to be getting worse and we should be ready for a melt down.

As far as I am concerned, nothing has been done in security and in the economy. In his inaugural address to the national confab, he did not mention the issues of security or the mismanagement of the economy and the fact that the country is facing a very uncertain future because they were not important to him. We have to be careful with what to believe from these characters because propaganda alone does not run a country, it does not put food on the table and it doesn’t create jobs. It is not in the interest of this country for the president to continue being president unless there is some kind of phenomenal change in the way he and his people maintain a focus on these issues I have enumerated.

54 Saturday, April 26, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

NEWSINTERVIEW

‘The Right Diagnosis Is Key To The Right Treatment’

By Ekwy P. Uzoanya

Vedic Lifecare Hospital, a new hospital located in the Lekki axis of Lagos, used the occasion of the commemoration of this year’s World Health Day, which held on April 7, to launch its Telehealth Department. Its General Manager, Dr. K S Chandraprakash spoke to journalists on the hospital’s mission and related issues.

HAT is Vedic Lifecare Hospital all about?

W Vedic Lifecare was borne out of the need for quality healthcare facilities here in Nigeria. The main investors in this venture are local Nigerian people. They have travelled abroad; India and other countries, for healthcare services and when they realised that the kind of healthcare services provided in India are far better than what is available here in Nigeria, they thought it important to bring that kind of quality healthcare services to Nigeria.

They have partnered with an organisation called Manipal Hospitals. Manipal as a group is about 65 years old and has been in the field of education. They also have a chain of about 15 hospitals, which manage more than 5, 500 beds. Manipal as a group is the third largest healthcare provider in India.

This Vedic Lifecare Hospital here in Lagos is managed and operated by Manipal Hospitals.

We also have diagnostic facilities with 1.5 Tesla MRI and CT scan, mammography, ultra sound and a whole lot. We have an excellent laboratory facilities and consultations in 14 different specialties including general medicine, paediatrics, gynaecology, ENT, orthopaedic, and gastroenterology. We have a dental department and dermatology department.

The whole idea of us establishing this centre here was because a lot of Nigerians end up com-

ing to India for their healthcare needs.

Unfortunately, we find that they come with the wrong diagnosis, and a lot of tests need to be repeated which put them through a lot of stress, and they feel disappointed. We at Vedic Lifecare believe that the right treatment starts with the right diagnosis. And to that effect, the centre has come up.

Our collaboration with Manipal Hospitals helps us to provide world-class healthcare.

We are connected to Manipal through a facility called Teleradiology where all the MRI, CT scan, x-rays taken here are all sent to Manipal real time. We have very senior radiologists sitting in Manipal viewing the scans that happen in the centre here in Lagos. It is not just the radiologists in India who provide radiology diagnostic services, there are also super specialists like neurosurgeons, gastroenterologists and cardiac surgeons to back up the diagnostics that we have here.

Our aim is to become leaders in healthcare delivery in Nigeria, and subsequently in Western Africa. Soon, you will hear from us about venturing into tertiary care and partnering care. We will be able to get into services like organ transplants. That’s our vision and that is the reason we want to partner with the Ministry of Health (Lagos State) to spread the word of a healthy lifestyle, of the importance of preventive health.

The walkathon programme on the prevention of vector-borne diseases is the first programme we are doing with the Ministry of Health since the centre was opened recently.

We have all the people including the local Nigerian staff that have all been taken to Manipal in India and trained and they have come back. So, it is appropriate for us to use

the auspicious occasion of the World Health Day to be able to launch such a world-class centre for the benefit of the Nigerian population.

You talked about Nigerians going to India with the wrong diagnosis. How does your clinic intend to make sure that such does not occur now that you have your hospital here in Nigeria?

As I said, we believe that the right diagnosis is the key to the right treatment. How do we ensure the right diagnosis? Just to give you an example. Fever is possibly a symptom of close to a 100 different results. How does a physician place his finger and say this is malaria, typhoid or viral fever? There are various lines of established clinical pathways that the doctor follows to ensure that he arrives at the right diagnosis.

The right diagnosis that he arrives at is backed up by clinical laboratory tests, radiological imaging and also his experience and expertise in being able to differentiate the different types of presentations that the patient comes with.

Through a process of exclusion, you will be able to arrive at the right diagnosis.

There are many things that go behind the different diagnoses. One is the basic understanding of the disease itself – the kind of prevalence of different diseases occurring in a certain population. Taking the patient through the rigours of the family’s history, laboratory tests; he can arrive at the right diagnosis.

Unfortunately, we find here in Nigeria that every fever is treated as malaria and the antimalarial used today really does not make sense.

We need to know exactly what it is that we are taking medication for. Medication is a foreign substance; it is a poison if it is not required by the body. People need to understand that they need to go to the right place to be able to get

Medication is a foreign substance; it is a poison if it is not required by the body.

People need to understand that they need to go to the right place to be able to get the right kind of diagnosis and treatment.

the right kind of diagnosis and treatment.

How affordable are the services you render to the common Nigerians?

Our registration fee is N1,000 and consultation fee is N5,000. This is not just the GP; this is the super specialist, gold medalists with rigorous years of experience. We do look expensive but we are far from being expensive. The whole purpose of establishing this centre was to be able to provide world-class healthcare delivery at affordable costs and that is what we stand for.

The equipment and facilities you have, how can you compare them with what we have in our hospitals?

I don’t think there is a comparison. I think we are well ahead of what is available. Having said that, we are nowhere near complete. We have 1.5 Tesla MRI, for example. So, we are trying to put in the best technology and equally qualified and experienced doctors. We will continue to get even more recent technology into Lagos.

How long have you been in Nigeria?

I have been here for four months and from the day I landed in Lagos, believe me, I feel very much at home.

So far, how has patronage of your services been?

It’s been excellent. We have not promoted ourselves. We have not exposed ourselves to the public. All those who see this building walk in, and by word of mouth, people have been coming. And I must say that we have had this drive in these last four months to ensure that our processes and systems are in place and people are quality enough to deliver quality healthcare.

How do you see Nigeria’s health system?

It is not right for me to discuss. But there is a fact that we need to face. The fact that we need to appreciate and work on is the fact that if we are able to sensitise people towards being able to live a healthy lifestyle – go for a walk, eat healthy food, being sensitive to what they do to their bodies, if we know that prevention is better and cheaper than cure, I think we’ve done our job.

Saturday, April 26, 2014 | 55

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

FOOD&DRINKS system. The ingredients used in preparation of this dish are rich in rich in beta-carotene (Provitamin A, an antioxidant that protects artery walls from blocking and lowers cholesterol level), protein and potassium (a mineral that is essential for regular heart rhythm and help prevent high blood pressure).

Eat right today by eating potato served with tomato sauce and think twice before you indulge in the wrong type of food that can be detrimental to your arteries and your health this Easter period.

Recommendation Potato with tomato sauce is highly recommended for everybody but most beneficial for people that want a healthy artery and heart.

Ingredients Quantities Potatoes 750g Ripe tomatoes ½ kg Onion 3 medium size Olive oil 2 tablespoons Salt A pinch Crayfish 2 tablespoons Pepper 6 medium size

By Chinelo Nwagbo

OMORROW is Easter, an important annual religious celebration in the Christian liturgical year. According to Christian scripture, Jesus was resurrected from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. Some Christians celebrate this resurrection on Easter Sunday.

People mark this festive period by consuming both nutritious and non- nutritious foods. Eating foods especially nutritious ones promote quality and healthy life.

Today’s recipe – potato with tomato sauce is one among many nutritious food that can be use to mark this great feast.

This nutritious dish favours smooth func-

T

By Ekwy P. Uzoanya OME people have the unSlergypleasant experience of alwhen they drink beer, wine, and liquor. This is also known as alcohol intolerance, which is caused by an inability to break down alcohol or by various ingredients

Recipe For The Arteries (Potato With Tomato Sauce) tioning of arteries (channels through which blood, nutrients, oxygen pass to all cells for body utilisation). Poor diet and life style could result to arteriosclerosis (narrowing and blocking of the artery walls due to fat and cholesterol deposit). Arteriosclerosis and

in alcoholic beverages.

There are ways to determine if you fall into this category and avoid it as provided by health and food experts.

According to them, such people should know that is not the alcohol itself that is the problem but one of the grains used to make the alcohol, or a

Method of preparation Wash the tomatoes, pepper and blend.

Peel the onion, wash and chop them and fry or sauté until golden.

Add the blend tomatoes, crayfish, a pinch of salt and cook on a medium fire for 20 minutes from the time that the liquid from the tomatoes begins to boil.

During this time, stir occasionally.

Run through a strainer if you wish and set aside.

Peel and wash the potatoes.

Boil the potatoes until they are tender.

Drain.

Sault the potatoes in a little oil in frying pan.

Add the tomato sauce.

Cook on a low flame for 10 minutes.

Remove from fire and serve.

high blood pressure are the main causes of stroke and myocardial infarction (heart attack), which are widespread serious diseases today.

Consuming potato with tomato sauce promotes healthy arteries and the cardiovascular E-mail: chineloeby@yahoo.com

preservative used to keep it fresh that is the culprit.

These drinks each contain the allergen histamine, produced as a result of the fer-

Avoid That Drink Allergy

mentation process, which triggers allergic reactions in humans.

Know some common symptoms associated with an allergy to alcohol, which include headache, nasal congestion, itchy, red and inflamed skin, accelerated heartbeat, nausea and vomiting, runny or stuffy nose and abdominal pain.

Try to drink one type of alco-

hol only for a day. Stick with the particular drink to see if any symptom will develop, cross it off your list and take the sane step for another brand. This will help you determine the one that offends your body and which does not.

Determine how much alcohol you can consume without experiencing symptoms, sticking with one drink in trying to pinpoint the amount of alcohol that is needed for symptoms to manifest.

Stick with alcohols you know do not affect you, and along with alcohols that contain fewer ingredients.

56

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Change of Name ABDULMALIK: Formerly Abdulmalik Mutallab Osaruyi now Osaruyi Daniel.

All former documents remain valid. General public note.

ADAHOR: Formerly Miss Easterbel Nkemetti Adahor now wish to be known as Mrs. Easterbell Nkemetti Adahor-Olakitan.

All former documents remain valid. General public please takenote.

ADAMMA: Formerly Miss Juliet Adamma now Mrs. Juliet Adamma Chukwu Okoro. Former documents remain valid.

Public take note.

ADEBAYO: I, formerly Miss Kafayat Oluwatosin Adebayo now known as Mrs. Kafayat Oluwatosin Iwobho. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEBIMPE: I, formerly Miss Ayeoba Eunice Adebimpe now Mrs. Oluwasola Eunice A. Ayeoba.

ADEGBITE: I, formerly Adeola Oluwaseun Adegbite now Mrs. Adeola Oluwaseun Ogundare. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

ADEJO: Formerly Miss Adejo Adebimpe Olubunmi now Mrs. Adeboyejo Adebimpe Olubunmi. Former documents valid.

Public note.

ADEKO: Formerly Miss Abolanle Oluwafunke Adeko,now Mrs Abolanle Oluwafunke Shofowora. Former documents valid.

Public note.

ADELEKE: Formerly Miss Adeola A d u r a g b e m i Oluwafisayo Adeleke, now Mrs Adeola A d u r a g b e m i Oluwafisayo Aleraye.

Former documents valid. Public note.

ADEMIJU: Formerly Mrs. Ademiju Temitayo Olayemi now Miss Oke Tayo Olayemi. All former documents remain

valid. TADEM Interlink Enterprises, public note.

ADEOGUN: Formerly Adeogun Olajide Daniel Isola now Mr. Omo-Aladeogo Olajide Daniel. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ADEOTI: Formerly Omoniyi Adeoti now known as Joseph Akolawole Okunola. Public note.

ADESINA: I, formerly known as Miss Adesola Adenike Adesina now wish to be called Mrs. Adesola Adenike Okuboyejo. All documents remain valid.

The general public please take note.

ADINDE: Formerly Miss Nneka Adinde now Mrs. Nneka Aneke. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

AFFIA: Formerly Miss Margaret Etim Affia, now Mrs Margaret Patrick Akpan. former documents remain valid. Public note.

AGBEDE: Formerly Miss Agbede Olawunmi Omolara now Mrs. Ajiboye Olawunmi Omolara.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AIBANGBEE: Former Aibangbee Osunde Evans now Lucky-Osagie Evans. Former documents remain valid. NYSC and public note.

AJIBOLA: Formerly Miss Ajibola Florence Abosede, now Mrs Odusina Florence Abosede. Former documents valid. Public note.

AJIBOYE: Formerly Miss Ajiboye Oluwatosin Bosede now Mrs. Aremu O l u w a t o s i n Bosede.Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

AJIYEN: Formerly Joyce Eyefe Ajiyen now Mrs. Joyce Eyefe Odinbu. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

AJUDUA: Former Miss Ajudua Uche Sandra now Mrs. Oyedeji

Uche Sandra. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AKINGBADE: I, formerly known as Miss Folakemi Tolulope Akingbade now addressed as Mrs. Folakemi Tolulope Kadara. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

AKINRENFON: Formerly Miss Oyebola Oyeronke Akinrenfon, now Mrs Oyebola Oyeronke Safolahan.

Former documents valid. Public note.

ALABI: Former Miss Alabi Wasilat Oluwakemi now Mrs. Ogunlana Wasilat Oluwakemi. Public note.

ALADE: Formerly Miss Oluwakemi Suliat Alade now Mrs. Oluwakemi Suliat Oyetade. Former documents remain valid.

Public take note.

ALEGBE: Formerly Miss Ozienkhaye Joy Alegbe, now Mrs Joy Ozienkhaye Balogun.

Former documents valid. Public note.

AMAO: Former Miss Amao Opeyemi Oluwakemi now Mrs Adigun Opeyemi Oluwakemi. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AMEH: Formerly Miss Josephine Alexandra Ameh, now Mrs Josephine Alexandra Ajih. Former documents valid. Public note.

AMUCHI: Formerly Miss Amuchi Nneka Catherine now Mrs. Asuai Nneka Catherine. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

AMUZIE: Formerly Miss Ketochukwu Chidinma Amuzie now Mrs. Ketochukwu Chidinma Onyekwena. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ANAJEKWU: We formerly Anajekwu Peter Martins, Anajekwu Henrietta Amara, Anajekwu Mmesoma Emmanuela, Anajekwe Maryjane Ifunanya, Anajekwe Seraphine

Anuri now James Peter Martins, James Henrietta Amara, James Mmesoma Emmanuela, James Maryjane Ifunanya, James Seraphine Anuri. All former documents remain valid.

General public note.

ANEFU: Formerly Miss Joy Ikwubiela Anefu, now Mrs Joy Ochanya Iyoko.Former documents valid. NOSDRA staff & public note.

ANIH: Formerly Miss Anih Angela Chinenye, now Mrs Ezeh Angela Chinenye. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ANUCHA: Formerly Miss Jennifer Ada Anucha now Mrs. Jennifer Ada Okpoyo. All documents remain valid. General public note.

ANYAEGBUNA: Formerly Miss Theophine Ebele Anyaegbuna. now wish to be addressed as Mrs Theophine Ebele Christopher Elekwa. Former documents remain valid.

General public note.

ANYANSI: Former Miss Ann Magaret Joyner Anyansi now Miss Ann Magaret Joyner Anyansi-Nton.

Former documents remain valid, Public note.

ANYASI: Formerly Miss Rosemary Chikodi Anyasi now Mrs. Rosemary Chikodi Egbuniwe.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ARO: Formerly Kolawole Adeyemi Aro, now Kolawole O l u w a s e g u n Oluwatomisin.

All former documents remain valid. Public note.

ATAYERO: Formerly Miss Atayero Tayo Oluremi, now Mrs Ekundayo Tayo Oluremi. Former documents valid. Public note.

ATTEH: Formerly Miss Atteh Mercy Edet now Mrs. Umam Mercy Edet. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

BADARU: Formerly Patrick Onuora Badaru now wish to be known as Patrick Omashola Nora. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

BADEJO: Formerly Miss Badejo Kehinde, later Mrs Ubruke Kehinde now wish to be be addressed as Mrs Omoghene Kehinde.

Former documents remain valid. Public note BADEJOKO: Formerly Miss Badejoko Temitope Oriyomi now wish to be known as Mrs. Okonofua Temitope Oriyomi. All documents remain valid.

Public please take note.

BASSEY: Formerly Miss Aniekan Ibanga Bassey now Mrs. Aniekan John Iseza.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

CAREW: Formerly Miss Bolaji Mulikat Carew now Mrs. Bolaji Mulikat Adebayo.

Former documents remain valid. Lagos State Government & public note.

CHINYIUGO: My name was mistakenly spelt in my Driver’s Licence as Chinyiugo Richard Osita. My correct name is Chinyelugo Richard Osita James. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

CHUKWU: Formerly known as Dr. (Miss) Chukwu Janet Onyeka now Dr (Mrs) Ekejiuba Janet Onyeka. Former documents remain valid.

NYSC. Public note.

CHUKWU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Chukwu Ijeoma Ogechi now wish known to be known and addressed as Mrs. Amadi Ijeoma Ogechi. Former documents remain valid.

Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, Anambra State University, Uli, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Public note.

CONFIRMATION OF OF NAME: EFFIONG: Effiong Evelyn G. and Udosen Evelyn Valentine is same person now Mrs Otoh Evelyn Ernest. Former documents valid. Public note.

DIKE: Formerly Miss Dike Mercy Chidinma now wish to be addressed as Mrs Amakoromo. Mercy Chidinma. All former documents remain valid General public note.

DOMINIE: Formerly Caroline Enewan Dominie now Caroline Enewan Akporido.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

DAWODU: Formerly Miss Moriam Motunrayo Dawodu now Mrs. Moriam Motunrayo Popoola. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

EBELIKE: Formerly Ebelike Chidozie Samuel now Adiele Chidozie Samuel.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

EDEDET: Formerly Miss Itoro Ededet Akpan now Mrs. Itoro Chukwunweike Okolie. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

EDIBO: Formerly Miss Edibo Ojochide Mary now Mrs. Sani Ojochide Mary. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

ELUWA: Formerly Nwabueze Nelson Eluwa now Nelson Nwabueze Mark. Former documents remain valid.Public note.

EMERE: Formerly Miss Emere Eugenia Chidimma now Mrs Ogu Eugenia Chidimma. former documents valid.

Public note.

ENE: Formerly Asa Etta Ene now Mrs. Asa Edem Benson. Former documents remain valid. Federal College of Education, Obudu and public note.

Saturday, April, 26, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

57

Change of Name ENWEZOR: Formerly Enwezor Miss Ujunwa Nnenna now Mrs. Godwin Ujunwa Nnenna Joy. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ESHO: Formerly known as Esho Adewunmi Elizabeth now Omodunmiju Adewunmi Elizabeth. All former docremain uments valid. General public note.

EZEBUBE: Former Miss Gloria Ijeoma now Mrs. Okonkwor Gloria Ijeoma. Former documents remain valid. Public take note.

EZEH: Formerly Miss Ezeh Queendaline Kosisochukwu, now Mrs Nzekwe Queendaline Kosisochukwu. Former documents remain valid. UNN, Public note.

EZEIGBO: Formerly Miss Ezeigbo Perpetua Njideka, now Mrs Azudugwu Perpetua Njideka. Former documents remain valid. NMCN, Public note.

EZEKUDE: Formerly Miss Ezekude Irene Onyeje now Mrs Ogor-Dibia Irene Onyeje. Former documents valid. Public note.

EZEONWUKA: I, formerly Miss Adaeze Victoria Ezeonwuka now known as Mrs. Adaeze Victoria Ejinkeonye. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

FADELE: Formerly Miss Tolu Fadele now Mrs. Tolulope Marcus-Dennis. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

FASEKU: Formerly Miss Faseku Olaitan Olutayo now Mrs. Faleye Olaitan Olutayo.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

FIONA: Formerly Miss Fiona Chinyere Perpetua now Mrs Iloanusi Chinyere Perpetua.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

FAROTIMI: Formerly Miss Farotimi Aderinkola Ige Christianah now Mrs Adebisi Aderinkola Ige Christianah. Former documents remain valid. General public note.

GANIYU: Formerly Miss Ganiyu Omotayo Moriu now Mrs. Akindoyeni Omotayo Moriu. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

Omowunmi Grace Ilesanmi now known and addressed as Mrs. T e m i t o p e Omowunmi Grace Anjorin. All former documents remain valid.Public note.

INYANGOTU: I, formerly known as Miss Joy Udo Inyangotu now wish to be and adknown dressed as Mrs. Joy Uko Jackson. All former documents remain valid.

GIWA: Formerly Miss Giwa Folahan Catherine now Mrs. Adeyemo Folahan Catherine.

Documents remain valid.

Public note.

ITODO: Formerly Miss Itodo Lilian Chibuzo now Mrs Okeke Lilian Chibuzo. Former documents valid. Public note.

GODWIN: I, formerly Lilian Omonor Godwin now Ebhohimen Omonor Lilian. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

I T O - O D U D U : Forme ly Miss ItoOdudu Olaronke Dorcas, Mrs Fredrick-Enabudoso Olaronke Dorcas. Former documents valid.

Public note.

ITUA: Former Oboh Boris Itua now Oboh Toritseju Boris. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

GOJOR: Formerly Miss Lale Gojor, now Mrs. Lale Susan Ukandu. Former documents valid. Public note.

GUOBADIA: Former Miss Guobadia Evelyn Itohan now Mrs. Lucky-Osagie Evelyn Itohan. Former documents remain valid.

LAPO and public note.

IDIEGE: Formerly miss Cecilia Ejeh Idiege, now Mrs Cecilia Ejeh Akpan. Former documents valid. Public note.

IDRIS: Formerly Mr. Joshua Madaki Idris now wish to be addressed as Mr. Madaki Joshua. Former documents remain valid. The Department of Petroleum Resources and general public note.

IJISESAN: Formerly Miss Ijisesan Yetunde Titilayo now Mrs. Daniel Titilayo. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

IKOTUN: Formerly Miss Ikotun Olushola Diana now Mrs. Orimoloye Olushola Diana. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

ILESANMI: Formerly Miss Temitope

remain valid. Public note.

MADU: Former Miss Madu Vincentia Obinow Mrs. ageri Chukwu Vincentia Obiageri Kenneth.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

MOKWUGWO: Formerly Mokwugwo Ifeoma Esther now Mrs. Ifeka Ifeoma Esther. Former documents remain valid.

National Orientation Agency, public note.

NKOLE: Formerly Miss Nkole Ebere Roseann now Mrs Egbe Ebere Roseann.

Former documents valid. Public note.

NNAKWUZIE: I, formerly Miss Nnakwuzie Hope Chikaodili now known as Mrs. Ikedinma Hope Chikaodili. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

KANU: Formerly Kanu Kevin Obinna now Nwaogwugwu Kevin Obinna. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

NSEOBONG: Formerly Mrs. Felicia Nseobong Umanah now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Umanah Felicia John.

All documents remain valid. General public please take note.

KOMOLAFE: Formerly Miss Modupeola Adetoun Komolafe now Mrs. Modupeola Adeotun Potokri. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NWABUGHUOGU: Formerly Chibuzo Udo Nwabughuogu now Chibuzo Udo Iheukwumere. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

KUDAYISI: Formerly Miss Omolara Kudayisi now Mrs. Lara Kudayisi-Emeralds.

Former documents valid. Public note.

KUYE : Formely Miss Kuye Taiwo Oluwaseun, now Mrs Orimoloye Taiwo Oluwaseun. Former documents valid.

Public note.

LEBI: Formerly Stella Folake Lebi, now Stella Folake Oyesile.

All former documents remain valid.

General public note.

MADUAKO: Formerly Miss Maduako Nwanyieze Queen now Mrs. Duru Nwanyieze Queen.

Former documents

NWABUOGARANYA: Formerly Miss Uchenna Blessing Nwabuogaranya now Mrs. Uchenna Blessing Mmadueke. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NWAOBIALA: Formerly Miss Chinwe Adanma Nwaobiala, now Mrs Chinwe Alexandra NathanielOkoh. Former documents valid. Public note.

NWEKE: I, formerly Miss Chinwendu Frances Nweke now known and addressed as Dr. (Mrs) Chinwendu Frances Ezigbo. Former documents remain valid.

General public take

note.

NWODO: Formerly Miss Nwodo Dorathy Chinasa, now Mrs Ndu Dorathy Chinasa.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NWOKWOR: Formerly Miss Nwokwor Ann Uchechukwu, now Mrs Akunne Ann Uchechukwu. Former documents remain valid. NANNM, Public note.

OBALEEM: Formerly Miss Obaleem Ann Unoma now Mrs. Martins Ann Unoma. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OBIKE: Formerly Miss Rita Ijeoma Obike now Mrs Rita Ijeoma Orie. Former documents valid. Public note.

OCHULOR: Formerly Miss Vivian Chidimma Ochulor now Mrs. Vivian Chidimma Osima.

Documents valid.

Public note.

ODEFUNSO: I, formerly Miss Adefunke Adeyomi Odefunso now known as Mrs. Adefunke Adeyomi Odesina. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ODUNAYO: Formerly Miss Odunayo Oluwatoyin Titilayo now Mrs. Ogunyemi Oluwatoyin Titilayo.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OGBUKE: Formerly Ogbuke Frank Osita Chinyelugo now Richard Osita James.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OGBU: Formerly Precious Nkiruka Ogbu now Mrs Precious Nkiruka Thompson.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OGUNDEJI: Formerly Miss Ogundeji Oluwaseun Mary now Mrs Ishaku Oluwaseun Mary. All former documents remain valid public note.

OGUNDIPE: Formerly Miss Ogundipe Oluwabunmi Oluwaseun henceforth bears Mrs. Ajayi Oluwabunmi Oluwaseun. Former documents remain valid. Ogun State Goverment and public, note.

OGUNDIPE: Formerly Miss Ogundipe Rukayat Abolore now Mrs. Sanusi Rukayat Abolore.Documents valid. Public note.

OGUNDIYUN: Formerly Miss Abosede A y o d o t u n Ogundiyun,now Mrs Abosede Ayodotun Adeniran.

Former documents valid.

Public note.

OGUNLAJA: Formerly Ogunlaja Ebunoluwa Olufunke now Mrs. Sodiya Ebunoluwa Olufunke.Documents remain valid.

Public note.

OFFIONG: Formerly Miss Nsikan Edem Offiong now Mrs. Nsikan Justine Bobson. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OGUNLANA: Formerly Miss Kudirat Olubola Ogunlana now Mrs. Olubola Bamidele. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OFFOR: Formerly Miss Jennifer Chinasa Offor now Mrs. Jennifer Chinasa Chuks Okoro. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OGUNRINOLA: Formerly Miss Olabisi Idowu Ogunrinola now Mrs. Eboka Olabisi Idowu. Former documents remain valid. Lagos State Government & public note.

OGBONNA: Formerly Miss Adaoha Chidinma Ogbonna now to be addressed as Mrs. Adaoha Chidinma Alala. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OGUNSAKIN: Formerly Maria Omolola now Mrs. Osimen Maria Omolola. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

58

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Change of Name OHABUGHIRO: Formerly Mercy Nwakaego Ohabughiro now Mercy Ihunanyachi Mark.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OJOGHO: Former Miss Ojogho Adaobi Cheryl now Mrs. Adaobi Cheryl Mgbeahurike. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OJO: Formerly Miss Ojo Suliat Faderea now Mrs. Adetunji Zulaykha Faderera.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OKEREAFOR: I, formerly Miss Okereafor Pauline Chidinma now known as Mrs. Harry Pauline Chidinma.

Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OKEZIE-ENWEREJI: Formerly Miss Ezinne Okezie-Enwereji now Mrs. Ezinne Iyke-Onyeije.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OKEZURUONYE: I, formerly Miss Esther Ugonma Okezuruonye now Mrs. Esther Ugonma Ohiri.

Former documents remain valid. National Hospital Central Area, Garki Abuja, public take note.

OKOH: Formerly Mr Chukwudiebube Azubuike Okoh, now Mr Chukwudiebube Azubuike NathanielOkoh. Former documents valid. Public note.

OKORONKWO: Formerly Mr. Okoronkwo Nkemdirim Jonathan now Pastor Nkems David Okoronkwo. Former focuments remain valid. Public note.

OKORO: Formerly Miss Juliet Adamma now Mrs Juliet Adamma Chukwu Okoro. Former documents remain valid.

Public take note.

OKOYE: Formerly Chizoba Anthonia Okoye now Mrs. Chizoba Anthonia

Okosi. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

Cecilia. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OKWARA: Formerly Miss.Okwara Ezinne Beulah now Dr. (Mrs) Nkems Ezinne Beulah. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OLUWOLE: Formerly Miss Foluke Oluwafunmilola Oluwole now to be known as Mrs. Foluke Oluwafunmilola Omoruyi.

Former documents valid. Public note.

OKWUOSA: Formerly Miss Okwuosa Uju Christiana now Mrs Okafor Uju Christiana. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OLANIYAN: Formerly Miss Olaniyan Oluseyi Rebecca now Mrs. Opadeji Oluseyi Rebecca. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OLANIYI: We formerly Olaniyi Mistura is now Olaniyi Feyisayo while Olaniyi Seyi is noww Olaniyi Afeez. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLISA: Formerly Miss Charity Chinyere Olisa now Mrs. Charity Chinyere Ogbe Nee Olisa. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OLISA: Formerly Miss Uche Josephine Olisa now Mrs. Uche Josephine Eja Nee Olisa. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OLORUNFEMI: Formerly Miss Olorunfemi Bukky Grace now Mrs. Sholanke Bukky Grace. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OLOWOSEUNRE: Former Miss Idowu Aina Esther Olowoseunre now Mrs. Esther Idowu Ikuejamofo.

All former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OLUFADEJU: Formerly Miss Olufadeju Damilola Priscilla now Mrs. Ebhota Damilola Priscilla. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OLUWOLE: I, former Miss Oluwole Mayowa Cecilia now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ajijola Mayowa

OMIKUNLE: Formerly Miss Olufunke Bunmi Omikunle, now Mrs. Olufunke Bunmi Shofu. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OMOBUDE: Formerly Miss Evbu Omobude now wish to be addressed as Mrs Evbu Omobude Omokaro.

All former documents remain valid.

General public note.

ONADEKO: Formerly Mrs. Onadeko Adebukola Olayinka now Mrs. Akinyele Adebukola Olayinka. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

ONWUBIKO: Formerly Miss Mabel Chinwendu Onwubiko now Mrs Sam Mabel Chinwendu.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ONWUCHEKWA: Formerly Miss Onwuchekwa Rhoda Adannaya now Mrs Okoronkwo Excel Adannaya. former documents valid. public note.

ONWUKA: Formerly Onwuka Uchenna Patrick now Ifeka Uchenna Patrick. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ONYIA: Formerly Miss Onyia Blessing Chidinma, now Mrs Ugochukwu Blessing Chidinma. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ORANUKA: Formerly Miss Oranuka Chinenye Ogochukwu now Dr( Mrs) Okafor C h i n e n y e Ogochukwu. former documents remain valid. public note.

OSAKWE: Formerly Miss Osakwe Poya

Jessica now Mrs. Poya-Jessica Oweilayefa James. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

OSHOMAH: Formerly Oshomah Miss Onoshoke Emorelu now Mrs Abiola Onoshoke Emorelu.

All former documents remain valid.

General public note.

OSONDU: Formerly Miss Osondu Jane C. now Mrs Anyanwu Jane C. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OTOTOI: Formerly Miss Okeme Ijeoma Itotoi now to be addressed as Mrs. Okeme Ijeoma Abunene. Former documents valid.

Public note.

OYEWALE: Formerly Miss Oyewale Folake Priscilla now Mrs Towoju Folake Priscilla. Former documents valid. Public note.

OZOMADU: Formerly Miss Ozomadu Ebere Jane now Mrs Nwofor Ebere Jane.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

RICHARD: Formerly Richard Osita Chinyelugo James now Benjamin Osita Ogbonna James. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

SAIBU: Former Miss Tawakalit Joke Ogunfunmilayo Saibu now Mrs. Tawakalit Joke Ogungunmilayo Sanyaolu. Former documents remain valid. Lagos State Government and public take note.

SANNI: Formerly Miss Kafilat Olajumoke Sanni, now Mrs Wahab Olajumoke Kafilat. Former documents valid. Public note.

SANTANA: Formerly Miss Morounkunbi Omotayo Santana now Mrs. Morounkunbi Omotayo Coker. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

SHODIPO: Formerly Miss Shodipo Olaitan Adebomi, now Mrs Ogundiwin Olaitan Adebomi.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

SHOMADE: Formerly Shomade Olabisi Oluwadamilola now Mrs. Ayodolapo-Ajao O l a b i s i Oluwadamilola. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

SHARON: Formerly Ekukudoh Queensley Sharon, now known as Ekukudoh Queensley Diamond. Former documents remain valid. General public note.

TALEAT: Formerly Taleat Saida Olufunke now Miss Taleatu Olubimpe Ajoke. All former documents remain valid.

General public note.

TERU: Former Miss Teru Tolulope Elizabeth now Mrs Abolaji Tolulope Elizabeth.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

THOMP-ONYEKWELU: Formerly Miss Chiamaka Otitodilichukw u k a Thomp-Onyekwelu, now Mrs Chiamaka Dili Umeadi. Former documents valid.

Public note.

UDOH: Formerly Miss Victoria Loveth Udoh now Mrs. Victoria Loveth Faniran. Former documents remain valid. General public note.

UGBEBOR: I, formerly Miss Ugbebor Eguono Sarah now known as Mrs. Numa Eguono Sarah. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

UKHUREIGBE: I, formerly Cynthia Daniel Ukhureigbe now known and addressed as Cynthia Ikpefa Uanseru. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

UMEADI: We, formerly Umeadi Florence Ebele now Nkili Ebele; Ibeto Oluchukwu Jennifer now Nkili

Oluchukwu; and Umeadi Israel Ugodinaobi now Nkili Israel. All former documents remains valid. Public note.

UNAEZE: Formerly Miss Unaeze Chinyere Catherine now Mrs. Nwokorie Chinyere Catherine.

All former documents remain valid.

Fed-Poly, Nekede, FUTO, general public note.

UWUGIAREN: Formerly Justina Iroghama Uwugiaren, now Justina Tanko. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

YAKUBU: Formerly Miss Faith Fatima Yakubu now Mrs. Faith Fatima Adisa.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

YUSUF: Formerly Dr. (Miss) Yusuf Salimat Abisoye, now Dr. (Mrs) Yusuf-Awesu Salimat Abisoye. Former documents valid. Public note.

IF FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHANGE OF NAME YOU WANT TO BUY A COPY PLEASE

CALL 0802 306 4437

Saturday, April 26, 2014 59

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

TRANSITION

Professor Akintunde Cole-Onitiri, Two Years After

By Onyedika Agbedo

H

IS death on April 27, 2012, took his loved ones, especially members of his immediate family by surprise and left them downcast.

Tears flowed! And on Friday May 25, 2012, when he was lowered to the grave at the Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi, those who witnessed the solemn ceremony knew that a great man, who devoted his life to the service of God and humanity, departed this sinful world. And so, bidding the late Prof.

Akintunde Cole-Onitiri a final farewell was not an easy thing for them to do, but tributes flowed.

Two years after his demise, his family, still recovering from the shock of his unexpected departure recalls his life and times, experiences with him and how he impacted their lives.

His wife, whom he fondly referred to as Mma Ceecee writes in her tribute: “All the years we spent together. Starting from nothing, we struggled together, we joked together. We shared all together. My childhood love where are you? That night, the last night you slept with me, we talked, we planned, we joked, there was so much laughter…we continued in the morning.

How I held your head in my arms as we discussed! The future looked so bright; little did I realise that that would be the last. When you left that afternoon for the office, you gave me a beautiful smile and a peck, with the words, ‘see you soon, try and get some rest’. But now I am seeing you no longer…But you know something? I remember what you always said to me in difficult times—‘It is well’. I believe it is well because I know God’s presence is a friend to me. He will keep my lamp burning and turn darkness to light.”

His son, Akintunde Cole-Onitiri (Jnr) has this to say: “As a father, he was the “Cool Dad” but yet he was a disciplinarian. He was strict with his children

Cole-Onitiri and made sure we grew up with the right principles when we were kids.

But as we got older, he allowed us to think for ourselves and establish our own path in life and we did that; but we knew that he was always there for us to give us advice when we wanted it, a shoulder to cry on when we needed it and a good talking too when required. He was the kind of father/man that you can rely on, someone that would never let you down; he couldn’t let you down because it was against his principles to disappoint you. He was wise, kind, caring, loving and a man of principles.”

Born on the August 28, 1944, in Braithwaite Memorial Hospital, Port Harcourt, to the late Mr. Olawale

Cole-Onitiri of the Onitiri family of Lagos and the late Mrs. Angelina Ibifuro Cole-Onitiri (nee Banigo) of Grand Bonny Kingdom, Prof. Akintunde Cole-Onitiri was the secondborn, though the oldest son in their family of eight children.

He attended St. Cyprian’s Primary School, Port Harcourt, where he was identified as a shining star and made to take the National Common Entrance Examinations when he was just in Standard Five. His performance was excellent and he was accepted into the prestigious King’s College, Lagos, and was the youngest in his class.

While in King’s College, he continued along the path of tremendous

distinction and won many academic laurels for Best Student and for Services to College Life. He also went on to become School Prefect, House Captain and Company Quarter Master Sergeant (head) of the King’s College Cadet Unit. He won Entrance Scholarships as well as the Federal Government Scholarship for Best ‘A’ Level scores (his scores being the best in the whole of West Africa) into the College of Medicine University of Lagos in 1964. He stood out in his academic work at the university and was chosen to pioneer the intercalated Pre-Doctoral Fellowship Programme between the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester New York and College of Medicine University of Lagos. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Sciences and his MB.BS. degrees and subsequently attained a Masters degree in Chemical Pathology as well as a Doctoral degree in Chemical Pathology at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London.

Thereafter, he joined the University of Lagos, College of Medicine as Lecturer Grade 1 and as a result of his outstanding work, speedily became Professor of Chemical Pathology—the first alumnus of the University to become Professor and the youngest professor in his time! He was exceptional in his training of B.Med Science students, MSc and Ph.D students. He was external examiner in almost all the Colleges of Medicine in Nigeria and also in the University of Nairobi in Kenya, the University of Ghana and the University of Zimbabwe in Harare.

He later left the College of Medicine and was the Proprietor and Chief Medical Director of Shalom Hospital of International Medical Check-up Centre in Surulere, Victoria Island and Lekki, Lagos, in 1984.

The late Cole-Onitiri was a Fellow of the following organisations: The University of Cambridge (UK), the Univer-

sity of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York (USA), The National Medical College, The West African College of Physicians, and the American College of Clinical Pathologists.

His broad expertise spanned Laboratory or Investigative Medicine, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Nutrition, Obesity (Bariatric Medicine), Preventive Medicine, Wellness Medicine, Stress Management, Geriatric Medicine, Risk Factors for Disease, Molecular Biology, Immunology and Genetics.

He was an active member of King’s College Old Boys’ association, holding several portfolios, culminating in his appointment as Chairman of the King’s College School Based Management Committee. He was a member of the Board of Regents of Covenant University Ota and Chairman of the Research Committee of the Board.

Cole-Onitiri surrendered his life to Jesus Christ in 1988 at a meeting of the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International. He was thereafter baptised in 1990 in All Nations Church of Jesus Christ, FESTAC, Lagos where he then served as a Deacon and was afterward ordained a Pastor. He later became an Elder of the church.

With his wife, the Rev. Dr. C. A. Onitiri, he founded His Heavenly Light Ministry located along Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos. Until his death, he was the President of the Ministry.

The late Cole-Onitiri was a man of many parts: Medical practitioner par excellence, economist, prolific writer, bank director, inspirational speaker, chairman of businesses in oil and gas, finance and construction industries of the economy, pastor, church builder, caring husband, father grand father and brother.

He is fondly remembered by his wife, children and grand children, brothers and sisters. May his gentle soul continue to rest in the bosom of the Lord.

Efere Ozako… A Life Of Colour, Good Noise And Law

By Maero Ozako

R

IGHT up till the morning of his passing, my brother, Efere, lived a most ‘likely’ life, one filled with adventure, travel, laughter, mischief, noise and law. It was a full dose of everything. In fact, his cup always ran over. His character defied all description because, one minute, Efere was belting out jokes and the other minute, he was slapping the keys on his iPad, totally focused. His quintessential ‘leap’ of his forefinger while he wrote always irritated my father and amazed my mother both of whom he adored. Why would anyone especially the son of two teachers hold his pen in that manner? There was nothing ‘normal’ about Efere. One minute he was arguing about Fareed Zakaria’s latest article in the Time magazine with my father, the next time, he was listening to a needy youth. The youth were his people. Efere was very keen on connecting people, networking. I called him, ‘yellow pages.’

It was he, Efere, who insisted on wearing his shoes left to right till he was about nine years old. He argued with my parents that he did not have to be like everyone else. He won his case with my most strict parents. He was socially flamboyant but reserved; a man who never gave for the camera. It is worthy of note that it was not until his death that we learnt of a donation of a piece of land to the skills centre for the blind.

Efere was sure-footed; one of those fetuses that leapt out of the womb with a pen in his hand and a wig and gown. He knew he wanted to be a lawyer from when he was a child. Once, when he was about nine years old, he went ‘missing.’ My mother was to find him at the High Court in Benin, listening to proceedings, dressed in his spanking white Federal Government College, Warri, school uniform. He was a reader, a scribbler, doodler and a writer. He was terribly curious. I recall how he would open all letters that came in the post for mummy or papa and just read them. When he bought bole (roasted plantain), Efere would stretch out the creased news-

Ozako paper and read.

At eight years plus, he finished primary school. He got a scholarship; distinction, then off he went to Federal Government College, Warri. I recall a particular incident. He was on suspension from FGC, Warri. ‘Papa Davis,’ the British principal was sick and tired of Efere’s antiques. He was sent home. I looked ‘forward’ to him getting some trashing from my father, the ‘floggist.’ Efere was suspended because he wrote a petition to P.H. Davis. He had refused to use cutlery and was constantly using his hands to eat to the chagrin of this ‘oyibo’ man. Barbaric! He must have thought of Efere. Efere went on to argue that since his ancestors used their hands to eat, he would continue the tradition.

He was a most serious character, a most intelligent lawyer. He hated to be called ‘Barrister’ but seemed to smile when he was called

‘de law!’ First he started talk-shops with, ‘First lets kill all the lawyers’ then this became, ‘Wetin Lawyers dey do sef?’ He was focused on making sure that people understood what law really is.

He was in the forefront of putting a real structure in place for Nollywood and he will be remembered as Nigeria’s foremost entertainment lawyer.

He adored his family, loved his parents and will be constantly remembered for his mischief and jokes with siblings and friends.

Efere who studied law at the University of Benin, practiced law till his passing.

He was described by his colleagues at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) as fiercely loyal, a brother and friend by the Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, ‘my champion’ by Dewunmi Ogunsanya, Chairman of Multichoice, and by the honourable Minister of Communication and Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson as one, ‘who exhibited a level of professionalism that earned him a nomination into the Nigerian Digital Migration Team (Digi Team), a presidential committee responsible for guiding the nation through the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. To my daughter, Zulu, he was a mentor taller than any. To my 86-year-old father and 75year-old mother, he would never be forgotten. He was visitor to the Kenyan film festival with Professor Wole Soyinka a few years ago. The clown that he was, he announced to me, ‘Maero! My photo even comes before the Profs’ in the film festival brochure! See levels!’

For his children, Omaina and Amanesi whom he adored, he left these word on a KQ flight to Nairobi on October 21, 2011: ‘My fervent prayer is to leave as good a name as I was given by my father and a good memory for my children. I have not spent much time as I wished with them, but I do hope that they will, in time understand, and forgive my not always having been around.’

Chukwuemeka Joseph, his young friend sums it up, ‘He hated people saying’ I am planning to’… ‘stop planning and start doing’ he would say.’

Efere lived life in a hurry; he ate fast, thought fast, wrote fast and left this earth too fast!

We as a family have lost the heart of our family. To me, I have lost my brother and life will never be the same again; a gentleman from sole to soul. I know he is up there making a good case. Today, I do not remember a good man; I celebrate an authentic man who packed so much into a short 47 years ago. Rest, my brother and my pal.

Augustine Oyebisola Oshunloye, Five Years After

F

IVE years after his demise, the family of the late Chief Augustine Oyebisola still mourns his exit. But they thank God for the life that he led even as they pray for the peaceful repose of his soul.

In a joint tribute by Oyewole and Olayinka Oshunloye on behalf of the family, they wrote: “We give God the glory for the life of our father, grand father and father-in-law who departed this mortal life to immortality on March 20, 2009 at 88 years. He was buried on May 1, 2009. Papa, we always remember you as the most caring father. As we mark the fifth anniversary of your death, all we have to say is that we want you but God wanted you at the right time.”

Oshunloye

60 Saturday, April 26, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

TRANSITION Prof. Cornelius Olaleye Taiwo (1910-2014): An Academic Par Excellence

By Onyedika Agbedo HE remains of renowned educaT tionist, administrator and lawyer, Professor Emeritus Cornelius Olaleye Taiwo, who died at the gracious age of 103 on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at his Ikeja residence in Lagos, were laid to rest yesterday amidst tears and glowing tributes. As Nigeria’s oldest professor, Pa Taiwo was arguably the face of education in Nigeria and his exit to the great beyond has signaled the end of an era in that sector.

In fact, at an annual inaugural lecture way back in 1998, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. E.O Obe, captured Pa Taiwo’s place in the education sector in Nigeria with these words: “We in the Faculty of Education have a hardworking academic father who is always following our progress.

I, in particular, have been closely related to him, inspired by him and have benefited immensely from my association with this illustrious octogenarian. He is our distinguished Emeritus Prof. C.O Taiwo. I have, in fact, adopted him as my model academic father.”

The late Taiwo was an academic par excellence and acquisition of knowledge was his second nature. This was evident in the array of degrees he obtained and his contributions to the growth and development of education in Nigeria. His chain of academic qualifications includes: M.A Degree in Mathematics from Trinity College, Cambridge University; B.Sc. (Special); M.A; M.Sc; Ph.D; D.Litt, from the University of London. He also obtained a Barrister-at-Law degree of the Middle Temple Inn’s Court and became a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. A well-rounded man indeed you would agree!

Born on October 27, 1910, at Oru-Ijebu

Taiwo in Ogun State, to Isaac and Lydia Taiwo, the late Taiwo started school shortly after World War I and attended St. Luke’s School, Oru, Ijebu in 1921. He proceeded to St. Andrew’s College, Oyo, and later attended Yaba Higher College, Lagos. He attended the University of London and earned a D. Litt degree in 1982. He also earned an M.A Degree in Mathematics from Trinity College, Cambridge University; a Barrister-at-Law degree of the Middle Temple Inn’s Court and Hon. LL.D. (Cape Coast).

He commenced his teaching career as the headmaster of Sagun United School, Oru-Ijebu, in 1932. He was the

first African Principal of Edo College, Benin City and became Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in the former Regional Government of Western Nigeria. He was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple (Inn of Court), London on February 4, 1964, and enrolled as Barrister-at-Law and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on July 3, 1964.

The late Taiwo worked with the Western Nigerian Government between 1960 and 1966 when he served variously as Administrative Officer, Inspector of Education and ultimately as Permanent Secretary

to the University of Lagos where he spent 11 years, private legal practice and authorship of books. He became the first Emeritus Professor of Education and Provost of the University of Lagos. He was also appointed as ProChancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Ilorin on September 1, 1990. He taught in many other universities before retiring from active service.

Pa Taiwo received the following civic awards and honours: Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) (January 1, 1962); Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) (October 1, 1964); LL.D (Cape Coast) honoris causa (March 7, 1981); Fellow of the Commonwealth Council for Education Administration (FCCEA) (August 15, 1982); University of Lagos 25th Anniversary Gold Medal (January 16, 1987); The Boy Scouts Association of Nigeria Certificate of Honour (September 19, 1987); Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Education (FNAE) (September 24, 1990); Fellow, Federal College of Education, Abeokuta (March 10, 1995); Fellow, St. Andrew’s College of Education, Oyo (March 23, 1996); and Professor Emeritus of Education, University of Lagos (May 3, 1996). He was inducted into the ‘International Educators’ Hall of Fame, Nigeria, on June 10, 2000.

He was at various times Chairman, Lagos Branch of the National Parents Association of Nigeria (1977); Chairman, The Nigeria Society (1982); Chairman, Nelson Publishers Limited (2005); Council Member, Atlantic Hall Educational Trust; Chairman, The Association of CSS Bookshops (1984-1992); Chairman, The Nigerian Academy of Education (1985-1989); and Member, Lagos and Ijebu Anglican Diocesan Boards.

A true community leader, Pa Taiwo also served as Chairman, Oru-Awa-Ila-

poru Education Trust (1976-1989); Chairman, Oru Development Council (1976); and Baba Ijo (Leader of the Laity), St. Luke’s Parish, Oru (1973).

He was conferred with the traditional titles of “Agbon” of Oru, Ijebu by the Ajuwale of Ijebuland on December 20, 1958 and the Olotu Aaye of Ijebuland by the Ajuwale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru K. Adetona, Ogbagba II on October 26, 1991.

The late Taiwo placed premium on academic honours, especially those awarded him in recognition of his industry in education. And a day he always remembered was when he was awarded D. Litt by the prestigious University of London. He wrote about it in his memoir thus: “My presentation for the D. Litt degree of the University of London provided an exciting and fulfilling occasion. It was 2:00pm on Wednesday, March 10, 1982, in the Royal Albert Hall, London. A graduate to be presented was allowed one or two guests, who in my case were Otunba (Mrs.) Shonibare and my daughter, Mrs. Dupe Ogunlesi. Being guests of a Higher Doctor, they were seated in the front where they had the best view of the ceremony.”

His surviving children, Chief Ladi Taiwo, a prominent Lagos lawyer; Dr. Bayo Taiwo, a Consultant Radiologist; and Modupe Ogunlesi, Managing Director of Adam and Eve Store and wife of Mr. Lanre Ogunlesi of Sophisticat; many grandchildren and great grand children will always miss him but will take solace in the enviable legacies he left behind. May his gentle soul rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord, Amen.

Gordon Edafe Umukoro For Burial May 10

Beauty Anna Omoko, One Year After T

By Peter Emuejevoke Omoko HEN Mama asked us when she would be discharged from the hospital on Friday April 5, 2013, we only told her that the doctor had assured us that she would be strong enough to return home the Monday of the following week. Unknown to us, she won’t live to see that day as the ominous hands of death snatched her away from us two days later.

Mama had woken up that Sunday morning, April 7, 2013, with a friendly smile on her face — a smile that betrayed no inkling of an imminent demise. In her nature, she had asked after everyone at home and was assured that they were in good health.

Mama paused, looked around and then shook her head. She gestured to her eldest daughter, Onajite, to come to her bedside. She held her hand consolingly and muttered: “Whenever the grandchildren came to the shop and play around, am I not happy?

Even though they sometimes break my wares, am I not happy seeing them around?” Onajite only nodded her head to assure her that she would soon be discharged. Mama then continued: “How come I’m not allowed to enjoy my children?” she asked. “Don’t worry mama, you’ll be strong again soon,” Onajite said in tears. Mama looked at her, shook her head as tears streaked down her cheeks. “Where is Isaiah? Is it behind me that you’ll discharge me?” Mama said with a cranky voice. “No mama, nobody will discharge you behind your back.

Mama…! Mama…! Doctor…!” Silence! That was how Oyibo Mama left us.

Mama was the eldest child of her father with about 32 younger ones. Her mother left her marriage to pursue a

W

Omoko trading career when she was still very young. Mama was therefore brought up and trained single handedly by her late father, Pa Joseph Gere Onovayen through the assistance of his other wives. She attended Afiesere Primary School at Afiesere where her father was a teacher for several years.

As a child who grew up in the custody of other wives, she became strong, industrious, tolerant, humble and respectful.

Mama got married to our father, Mr. Johnson Hwahwa Omoko, who was then managing a joint business enterprise with a maternal uncle, Mr. John Dovi at Warri Main Market in

1972. The marriage was blessed with nine children, five boys and four girls. However, few years into their marriage, a lot of challenges arose in Papa’s maternal family. This resulted to the splitting of Papa’s business with his uncle. Papa could not sustain his own part of the business and reluctantly left for Odimodi in present Burutu Local Council of Delta State to start up a fishing trade in what is known as urhie in Urhobo terminology. In all these challenges, Mama was beside him.

At Odimodi, Mama’s industry was admired by all. During fish harvest time (between October - November), she worked day and night even when she was heavy with a child just to see that her husband’s fish were well preserved for sales.

She had one of her sons, Isaiah in one of such peak periods in 1984.

Mama’s industry was unmatched.

She was into petty trading and provided a strong support to her husband. From the little daily contributions and osusu she did, she made sure her children went to school. Those who could not go to school due to family challenges were made to engage in one trade or the other. Mama’s eldest son was able to train as a welder where he excelled at Globestar Engineering Company, Warri, and by God’s grace has travelled to Canada with his entire family.

I remember when I got admission into the university in 2003. A friend had asked me if my school fees would be paid from “that Mama’s table”. I assured her, YES. Before Mama’s death, I did not only graduate with a B.A. degree in English but have also got a Masters degree and a lecturing job.

Mama sold her choice clothes,

beads and jewels just to see that her children got something out of life.

And after she had positioned some of her children on solid pedestal and got rewarded with a lock up store, where she only had to sit to see her children get married and her grandchildren run around, death struck!

We grew up to know our mother as a staunch devotee of the Igbe Ame religious sect. During worship days, she travelled from Warri to Ughelli where her cathedral is. She was so faithful and conscious of the dos and don’ts of the religion that worshipped at home whenever she missed the opportunity to attend the service at Ughelli. She never attended any other cathedral around.

However, Mama embraced the Catholic faith in 2003 to join her husband who had been a Catholic right from childhood. Like Paul who was first zealous in the Jewish tradition before becoming a soldier of Christ, Mama transferred her zest in the Igbe Ame religion into her Catholic faith.

She was so committed that in 2006, she and our father had their blessed marriage celebrated at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Warri.

Mama was humble, respectful, honest and always stood for the truth.

Mama brought up her children to always live as one. Whenever one of them is in difficulty, she rallied the others together to attend to him/her.

She guided her children as a mother hen would protect her chicks from the preying eyes of the hawks.

Although Mama is dead, we are proud beneficiaries of her courage, strong will, love, patience and industry. Adieu Mama! .Onoko is of Department of English, Delta State College of Physical Education, Mosogar, Delta State.

HE families of Olorugun Umukoro Evwamuedo and Umutoyo Erhiyovwe both of Okpara Inland in Ethiope East Local Council of Delta State have announced the final rites of passage of their son, Olorogun Gordon Emanyan Edafe Umukoro, The Orovwiroro of Agbon Kingdom, who died on Thursday, February 20, 2014.

According to the programme, a Service of Songs will hold in his honour on Friday May 9, 2014, at 30A Aideyan Avenue, GRA, Benin City (opposite Golf Course from 4pm to 6pm.

On Saturday May 10, 2014, his body will leave Faith Medical Benin City at 7am to his hometown in Okpara Inland. The body will lie-in-state shortly at 10am at Urhuegbe Primary School, Okpara Inland after which the funeral service will hold at the same venue.

This will be followed by interment at 12 noon at the Olorogun Gordon Umukoro country home.

Guests will be entertained immediately after interment. The family thanksgiving comes up on Sunday May 11 at First Baptist Church, Okpara Inland at 10am.

Umukoro

TheGuardian

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, April 26, 2014 61

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Sports Akerele Targets Golden League Jackpot, Glasgow Ticket

By Gowon Akpodonor IGERIA’S 400m rising star, Omeiza Akerele, N arrived Ilorin, Kwara State capital yesterday afternoon looking so determined to clinch

The disappointment of not repeating his elevated to the Nigerian U-20 Athletics team to NUGA Games record at the Abuja leg of the AFN Mauritius last August, Akerele was in Team Golden League notwithstanding, Akerele feels Nigeria’s U-17 team to the World Youth he is on the right track for the Commonwealth Athletics Championship in Ukraine. He made a Games. great impact at that championship, running a “The Golden League in Abuja was my first personal best time of 47.23 seconds in the major competition this season and finishing 400m. second in the 400m race was not too bad for In Mauritius, Nigeria’s hope of winning the me,” he said. “The guy who beat me championship rested on the boys’ 4x400m (Ogunmola) has been around for a long time team after the South Africans and Ethiopians and I am a junior athlete just coming up. To increased their pressure on Team Nigeria on upstage such a senior athlete in the 400m the medals table. But a resilient Akerele came means I have to go the extra mile, which I am to the rescue with a big fight on the final lap of ready to do because I need that extra push to the 4x400m final, winning the gold in a dramake it to the Commonwealth Games. My tar- matic way. get is to run a 45 seconds before the Games and In a manner reminiscent of the great come I am sure of achieving the target,” he said. back by Innocent Egbunike at Nairobi ’87 All At the 11th African Junior Athletics African Games, Akerele anchored at 3.14.50 secChampionship in Mauritius last year, Akerele onds to take the country to the top of the was the cynosure of all eyes. His gold medal for medals’ table. He became an instant hero.

Team Nigeria in the 4x400m relay final at the Apart from setting his eyes on the ticket to Stade Germain Comarmond Stadium was remi- Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Akerele niscent of the heroic Enefiok Udo-Obong’s race is also wants to break Egbunike’s record in at Sydney 2000 Olympics. The performance 400m, which has remained untouched since took Team Nigeria to the top of the medals 1987. table in Mauritius.

Egbunike made big headlines setting many “With good training and more international records in his days as an athlete. He was a exposure, I am sure of giving bronze medalist in the 4x400m relay at Los Nigeria a medal in Angeles ’84 Olympic Games, but one of his Glasgow,” he said. heroic moments in Africa was in the 400m Akerele must win the title at Nairobi ‘87 All-Africa Games, where he Ilorin leg of the AFN beat homeboy, David Kitur, in a dramatic final Golden League and watched by the country’s president, Daniel the remaining Arap Moi. three editions to To the young Akerele, that record of 44.17 secstand a chance of onds set by Egbunike in far back 1987 has sharing in the N2 stayed too long in Nigeria’s athletics and it is million jackpot. time to break it.

Before he was

the gold medal in the quartermile event in today’s second leg of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) money spinning Golden League.

Two weeks ago, Akerele lost the gold medal to Tobi Ogunmola of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps (NCDC), at the first leg of the Golden League at the Abuja National Stadium.

Akerele’s time of 46.92 seconds was not good enough to outrun Ogunmola, who posted 46.66 seconds at the Abuja event.

This time around, Ogunmola is in far away Philadelphia, USA, flying Team Nigeria’s flag in the Penn Relay and Akerele feels the coast is very clear.

He had arrived the Abuja National Stadium two weeks ago with the hope of using one stone to kill two birds.

Akerele, a Political Science student of the University of Benin (Uniben), was targeting the gold medal at stake to stand the chance of sharing in the AFN’s N2 million jackpot and at the same time, improve his performance in the 400m to stand a better chance of making Team Nigeria’s list for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games in June.

His effort in Abuja could only fetch him a silver medal after posting 46.92 seconds in the final, a performance he considered not good enough, compared to the 46.70 seconds he ran two months ago in the final of the Nigeria University Games (NUGA), at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife. “I just arrived Ilorin for the second leg of the AFN Golden League and I hope to improve on my performance of two weeks ago in Abuja,” Akerele told The Guardian yesterday. I felt so bad that I could not go near my Personal Best time in Abuja, but I am very optimistic that things will be different in Ilorin. My target is to run a new Personal Best here because I have worked very hard,” he said.

Since Akerele broke into limelight in August last year in Mauritius, where he won a gold medal for Team Nigeria in the 4x400m relay on the final day of the 11th African Junior Athletics Championship, his athletics career has been on the rise.

At the 2014 NUGA Game at Ife, Akerele emerged the star athlete, capturing three gold medals to rescue the University of Benin (Uniben) on the medals’ table. He posted new personal best of 46.70 seconds in the 400m final. He was in Uniben’s gold winning relay 4x100m team as well as the 4x400m, but the joy of many spectators was the way and manner he captured Akerele...After grabbing the 4x400 relay gold for Tea Nigeria in Mauritius his individual gold in the 400m.

Akerele...during the NUGA Games at Ife

62 Saturday, April 26, 2014

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SPORTS

Africa: Rated Too Low For The World Cup! ORGET it, the rest of the world is not discussing the chances FAttention of any of the African countries winning the 2014 World Cup. is firmly riveted on South America and Europe.

tions for continuation of service. A winning team is not the product of a whimsical process or wishful thinking. It is not also a sprints event - the quick assembly of players from differI have been combing the international media. The most com- ent climes and styles shortly before a major championship. plimentary reference to Africa is nothing more than as ‘irritatAs Barcelona FC, Spain, Brazil and even Argentina have clearly ing’ hiccups to be dealt with and used as fodder by other reminded the world in recent years, a winning team is built teams. It is annoying! like a marathon race – athletes drawn from a pool of excepLast week, I reported my conversation with some experitional talent, ceaseless training, a clear strategy, consistency in enced, respected and renowned football journalists in the UK. implementation, ability to withstand the periods of pain and They gave Africa almost no chance at all. loneliness, uncommon patience, mature organisation, perseSo, as a result of what I considered rather blatant and disreverance, discipline, single-mindedness, the courage to go on spectful, I threw my hat in the ring, swam against the tide of in the face of disappointments and failures, confidence and ‘informed’ thinking, and wagered, with patriotic gusto, that unwavering support by administration and the public, and Nigeria, my country, will win the World Cup! Most readers even more! outside Nigeria have not stopped laughing at my effrontery.

Even after all this, ultimate success still cannot be guaranteed This week my annoyance is being compounded. For the first as there are the elements to consider as well as opponents time in my life, I saw an official document on global betting x- working as hard or even harder to win the same trophy! raying the chances of the 32 teams in the World Cup. It is Winning the World Cup is a truly daunting challenge. That’s revealing but not really surprising when I think deeply about why Africa’s football administrators must adopt a new attiits content. tude and strategy to support their coaches and teams, and preIvory Coast are the most highly rated of the African teams pare them to achieve miracles. th going to the World Cup. They are in 18 position amongst the They must not put excessive pressure on their teams and han32 participating countries! Unfortunately, several weeks to the dlers through unrealistic targets that only make achieving World Cup, I don’t know enough about Ivory Coast yet to pass them a bigger burden than they already are. any informed comment for now on the team.

Keshi’s situation is a classic example of how not to prepare a Surprisingly, even though Nigeria are the current African coach to succeed. champions and in a group considered to be slightly easier He is being harangued, harassed, pressurized, confused, disthan those of the other African countries, Ghana in 23rd positracted and even threatened. tion are still rated ahead of them. Nigeria is nestling in relaNigeria – Easing The Pressure! tive obscurity in 25th position. That’s how lowly Nigeria is I have been asking myself the question: where does the ‘arrorated both by the international media and the pundits! It says gance’ of those setting the target of at least a semi-final berth volumes. for Nigeria coming from? Where does the temerity of those This is the reality. No African country is considered good attaching Stephen Keshi’s future to achieving what is considenough in the present dispensation to win the 2014 World ered almost an impossibility by everyone outside Nigeria’s Cup. Football Federation’s Technical Committee, coming from?

That does not mean one of them cannot, or will not, win it.

Why must Keshi lose his job should he fail to win the World After all, did two African countries not eventually win the Cup or get to the semi-finals, when experts (except those setOlympic Games football Gold against all odds? That may not ting him up for the kill by painting Nigeria as a potential winbe the same level of competition but it surely gives an indicaner when everything else points to the contrary) think it is an tion of what is possible in a game of football under certain impossible mission to do so. conditions.

From the way things are shaping up in the administrative and It simply means that should any African country win this technical madness between Keshi and the technical commitWorld Cup, it would be considered a ‘miracle,’ a truly exceptee of the NFF, he is being set up as a scapegoat, to take the tional and extraordinary achievement. No accolades would be blame and lose his job for any kind of inevitable loss at the spared in capturing its significance and essence.

World Cup. Therefore, rather than put undue pressure on the coaches of I don’t know for sure how the coaches of other African counAfrican countries by setting them unrealistic and extremely tries are being treated and prepared for Brazil 2014. I am only difficult targets, they should be giving the freedom and confihoping that they will take the advantage of being considered dence to get the best out of them that would make winning a as serious underdogs going to the World Cup to spring surpossibility. prises and shock the rest of the world.

Freedom means the time, patience, understanding, motivaGhana – How Prepared? tion, support and confidence to build a World Cup assembly I picked up my phone and called up my good friend, Steven of exceptionally gifted players without making work a hellish Mawuyenga, in Ghana. place, setting improbable targets and making them condiSteve has always been a die-hard fan and believer in the Ghanaian brand of football, a unique mix of South American flair, European organization and African athleticism and fighting spirit!

When I asked him about the new Black Stars preparing quietly to take on the rest of the world in Brazil, he went to town.

Hear him.

Believe it or not Ghanaians are very confident about the present Black Stars.

These are a mixture of some old but experienced and several young but exceptional players all doing very well in Europe. They showed hunger and competitiveness to justify their inclusion in the team as replacement for some aged legends, including Michael Essien, with sterling performances during and immediately after the qualifiers for the World Cup. The man on the streets of Accra believes that with the Black Stars anything is possible. Typically, Ghanaian players are brought up these days to respect opposition, but not to fear any team.

Were they in Nigeria’s group, for example, The Black Stars of Ghana thrilled football fans at the South Africa 2010 World Cup.

Ghanaians would go to sleep because they would qualify against such relatively easier opposition like Bosnia and Iran.

Ghana are in a difficult group, but they will still defeat both Portugal and the USA. It is the Germans that would provide the greatest challenge, recalling that they lost to them the last time around. Ghanaians hope they can at least steal a draw against Germany and qualify from the group.

Ultimately even a semi-final place will be good enough for Ghana because then they will claim to be the first African country to achieve it!

Ghanaians have not set any specific targets for their team and technical crew. What they have done is attach big incentives to arriving at different stages of the championship and using those as targets for the team and their handlers. The higher the team goes the more the incentives. That way, they are not putting any undue and unnecessary pressure on the handlers such as the threat of losing their jobs should they not get to a particular stage of the competition.

Expectations amongst Ghanaians are very high though. The country is quietly confident. The people will support their team and coaches no matter what happens in Brazil.

Next Week It is amazing how little of the other African representatives to the World Cup is known outside their home countries, and how little the expectation from them is around the world.

Next week we shall be consulting our ‘oracle’ and start to look at the group matches involving all the African teams!

Saturday, April 26, 2014 63

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SPOrTS

Odemwingie: “I Acted Out Of Anger About Nigeria” • There Are A Lot Of Boring Athletes, Who Never Say Anything HEN Peter Odemwingie wasn’t picked for the 2013 Africa W Cup of Nations, it seemed his international career was over. It wasn’t so much that the then-West Brom striker hadn’t made the cut, but the Twitter rant that followed: “On my noninclusion to the Eagles list, I am not surprised,” he fumed. “Not surprised Keshi and NFF couldn’t tell me themselves. No personality!”

Just over two years later, however, the in-form Stoke hitman could be back in the fold to help Nigeria’s cause in Brazil this summer. The 32-year-old has made efforts to repair the bridges previously burned to cinders, and, as he tells FFT, believes he’s got what it takes to make a difference. Excerpts: So it seems you still want to play for Nigeria? One last ride into the sunset?

Of course, I’m available. I’m getting very close to the end, but I won’t say the end yet! I have some more years in me for the Premier League and the quality is still there.

The question was never whether I wanted to play. Whenever invitations came, I answered the call and I happily accepted them. Now in Nigeria we say “e get as e bi” meaning “that has to do with the situation”.

Now the approach has been made and the coach and I have been talking for a few months now. At the end you can’t make all decisions when you are angry. I have let go of things from the past. It’s not a do-or-die matter. I’m taking things really easy being a father and expecting a second son as well, so things are easy.

You went on Twitter and expressed your displeasure when you weren’t picked by Nigeria for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Honestly, did you think the team could win?

Yes, I felt so actually. Many people won’t know this, but most of my disappointment was because I had joined the Premier League and become a better player, so I felt that would be my best Nations Cup ahead of the other four that I had played in before.

Osaze Odemwingie I had a feeling we would win. Because with the other African countries, the level had dropped a little bit; they had switched from one generation to the other so it’s a bit slow. The level of football on the continent in general had gone down, but I felt we still had the players and talent to win it. I was happy we did, because in the end all we are looking for is to have a bit of banter with other African players in Europe when we meet each other.

When we were in the dressing room at West Brom, Youssouf Mulumbu and I talked and he would say “Nigeria are not the same”. Now we can give it back to any player we meet since those bragging rights matter a lot. We all live far from home, so when we can give it back to them I say “Listen, we’re still the

Undergraduate Is Winners Golden Bet’s First N1m Winner HETODE James, a third W year computer undergraduate of the Olabisi Onabanjo University and a resident of Badagry has emerged the first lucky winner of over N1 million through a top Nigerian sport betting company, Winners Golden Bet. At a brief ceremony at the

company’s headquarters in Oregun Lagos, James, was presented with a cheque of his winning by the special guest, Seyi Akinwunmi, Chairman, Lagos State Football Association.

James who placed his bet at one of the company’s agent outlet in Badagry, expressed joy at being the first winner

of the amount and also being offered an opportunity to be a brand ambassador for the company.

He praised the management of winners golden bet for the transparency of its operations as well as for honoring the promise to pay winnings instantly.

Akinwunmi advised the

winner to spend the money wisely. Hon. Idowu Obasa, chairman Winners Golden bet in his own response, said he shared in James joy and promised that the company would maintain the standard of integrity it has set for itself.

Winners Golden Bet, which debuted early this year, is the sponsor for both the Lagos State FA Cup and the Sport writers Association Nigeria (SWAN Cup) also in Lagos State.

best in Africa.”

What’s your relationship with Stephen Keshi like now? Is it bett e r ?

It’s fine. We’ve been speaking. We’re on good terms now. Last time I spoke with him was when he arrived in Nigeria. I heard he landed and I read your [FFT] piece with him. I called him and wished him all the best, because it will not be an easy period for him since he has raised the bar high and our fans have tasted success.

When I showed my dissatisfaction, I acted out of anger. The thing I asked for was a bit of recognition and some respect just to say to me “Peter, you are one of our players”. They wanted to move on with younger players, that was a simple thing and they had every right to do that.

A phone call goes a long way. A few other players asked for a simple phone call too, like Joseph Yobo [of Norwich City] and top striker Emmanuel Emenike, because we are so far away from home and it makes us feel welcomed. I overreacted, especially with everything that was going on with West Brom before the January transfer saga.

Keshi and I talk now, thanks to Dr. robinson Okosun [Nigeria’s team psychologist]. He came to see me and said, “Keshi has no hard feelings towards you as a person”. I was happy to hear that because I didn’t know. Any player in the world with club or country would react in the same way, but the difference is that not everybody is on Twitter and not everybody unwinds there...

FFT asked Keshi in Atlanta about people saying you are stubborn. He says you haven’t been managed properly. What’s your take on that?

The pressure of being a public figure is enormous. It’s not easy playing in a big league like the Premier League, or playing for a big country like Nigeria. Your job is being criticised and nitpicked. The word stubborn in Nigeria is looked at in a different light. You have your demands, which you need to make to be the best at your job. It is creating an environment where you feel you can be the best.

When people talk about discipline, in reality in football, discipline is what you do on the pitch. Everything else – what you do in the media – is all about people’s opinions. We are all different... there are no angels in the game. As stubborn as many people say players like Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] or Mario [Balotelli] are, they are big players. There are things about Messi that people don’t know.

The discipline in sport is what you do on the pitch. An indisciplined player is one who comes to training late all the time, gets red cards all the time. All the things off the pitch are about your personality, and you can’t please everyone. Things don’t have to be taken personally. There are a lot of boring athletes that never say anything.

The fans want to know you more than just being a footballer. If you’re someone who says, “I will never say anything or give anything” and never show yourself outside of football, you’re not giving back to football and society.

So you and Keshi discussed coming back to the national team t h e n ?

Yes, we spoke about that. I did declare myself available and he didn’t say it’s not a possibility. He’s happy I am doing well.

The one thing I really like about him is that he keeps emphasising the importance of the team. It’s always about what’s best for the team and sometimes I will need to accept things.

He gave me an example of [John Obi] Mikel, how things went in the beginning. If he always says it’s about the team then it’s a good way to look at it, because it is a collective sport.

How do you rate your chances of sneaking into Nigeria’s World Cup squad for Brazil then?

It’s not a question of whether I believe I will strengthen the team. I will be a useful player for the team, I want to be there. It’s a team that is doing well and has done well over the past year.

Every team needs depth. It’s a tournament and it’s about 23 players. It’s not about 11 players because the matches come every three or four days, and there can be injuries and other things.

I am 100 per cent sure I will be a great addition to our national team in the World Cup. I’m in good form physically and psychologically. If there are any issues I am ready to sit down, talk about them and iron things out.

• Culled From FourFourTwo.COom

Osun Open, Miccom Club’s Flagship Tourney Tees Off

By Eno-Abasi Sunday FTEr three years of A absence from the country’s golfing calendar, the

Lagos State FA boss, Seyi Akinwunmi, winner of N1million jackpot, Whetode James and Chairman, Winners Golden Bet, Idowu Obasa at the presentation ceremony.

Osun (State) Open Golf Championship, the flagship tournament of MicCom Golf and Country Club, Ada, Osun State, has returned.

Over 40 pros are expected to vie for honours in their 18-hole pros’ event, which the vice captain of the club, Bola Ahmed has described as a worthy one.

“The Osun Open is our flagship tournament. The fact that it is coming back has sparked a lot of activities at

the club and the surrounding communities. On Friday (yesterday), the professionals would be teeing off the event,” Ahmed stated ahead of the tourney.

According to Ahmed, who chairs the organising committee, the state government’s support for the tourney has immensely facilitated its return.

“The state is blessed with a lot of talents and the MicCom facility is the hub of the sport in the state. That is why most of those talents are here. The support from the state for this event is a very encouraging step and it

goes to underscore the state government’s sports development policy,” said the vice captain.

He added that the captain of the club, Akeem Afolabi and its patron, Tunde Ponnle, have ensured that the facility is in top shape in readiness for the over 120 players, both pros and amateur that are expected to grace the event.

“We are set and everything is in top shape,” he explained, adding that players are drawn from Benin, Ibadan and Asaba golf clubs as well as Ikeja, Ikoyi and Dolphin clubs in Lagos.

TheGuardian

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, april 26, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Rodgers: We Won’t Change Our Pattern against Chelsea HE tactical message T Brendan Rodgers will send out to his players ahead of Liverpool’s eagerly anticipated showdown with Chelsea tomorrow is simple: “We don’t change.”anfield is priming itself to deliver one of the most raucous atmospheres in recent memory when Jose Mourinho returns to Merseyside with a five-point gap to close on the Reds.

Lying in wait for the Blues will be a Liverpool side that has dropped just four points in the Barclays Premier League since new year’s Day and one determined to claim a stunning 12th consecutive win.

It’s a side that has made a habit of springing from the traps; arsenal, Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have all conceded at least once within 10 minutes of play against Rodgers’ side in recent months. against norwich City on Sunday, Raheem Sterling continued the tradition with an early stunner at Carrow Road and his manager insists there will be no deviation from this tact at anfield in two days’ time.

“We’re a team that is very aggressive in our attack,” said Rodgers. “I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat it again - I believe the best teams start quick and finish strong.

“I think that was an example of us last weekend [at norwich]. We started the game well and went 2-0 up.

We played some wonderful football, we had a period where we had to show that determination and resilience and by the end we finished strong and saw the game out. “you have to look at the opponents’ strengths and you have to be aware that Chelsea’s qualities are on the counterattack. They have fast players, they will sit deep and they’ll block men behind the ball. “at times they can apply an educated pressure on the ball, but you understand their qualities as more on the counter-attack. So you have to pay attention to that.

“But for us, it’s about us playing our own game and the opponent worrying about our strengths and then us ensuring that we’re close and we’re nice and compact when we haven’t got the ball.”

When the showpiece clash at anfield draws to a close tomorrow, the aim for Liverpool is to have opened up an eight-point lead on Chelsea at the Premier League’s summit.

Later on in the evening, three of the club’s star players will learn if they have been selected as the most recent PFa Player of the year. Daniel Sturridge, Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez make up half of the six nominations for this year’s prestigious prize.

Rodgers confirmed Sturridge will be examined over the coming days to see if he is fit enough to feature against Chelsea after the England international was withdrawn from the Reds’ 3-2 win over Manchester City. all being well, Suarez and Gerrard are set to lock horns with the Blues in front of a baying anfield audience at the weekend, and Rodgers reserved a word of praise for the duo during his press conference on Friday.

“Suarez is a brilliant talent,” said the manager. “I think the supporters have seen him mature over the course of this last season or so.

“This is a real, real intelligent man, who fits the values of this club, which is about humility and class and he has all of that.

I think his development over the course of the last season or so has been remarkable, both on and off the field. Liverpool have benefitted from that.

“He’ll be rightly in the running [for the PFa prize]. For me, he’s been an outstanding player consistently over the course of the last year.

“I look at Steven Gerrard as being up there with him as well because Steven has been brilliant, not just as a captain, but as a player. His game is at a real, real top level as well.”

• Culled from www.Liverpoolfc.com

LMC Wants Foreign-Based Internationals Back In Glo Premier League n innovative scheme that is a aimed at attracting to the Glo Premier League nigerian players with international exposure has been launched by the League Management Company (LMC) and this is already accommodated in the 2013/14 nigeria Professional Football League (nPFL) Framework and Rules.

The scheme, christened the ‘Elite Players Project’ was explained in detail to the 20 Premier League Clubs in a circular signed by Salihu abubakar, the LMC Chief Operating Officer and listed the major objective to include the improvement of professionalism in the nPFL by permitting clubs to register a maximum of two ex-international players in addition to the maximum 35 allowed in a season.

Introducing the project to the clubs in the circular of april 20, the LMC said, “the LMC hereby brings to the notice of all participating Clubs of the nPFL the commencement of its ‘Elite Players Project’. This project is pursuant to Rules

9.65, 9.67. 13.60.1, 13.60(viii) and 15.21 of the nPFL Framework and Rules 2013/14 season.”

The LMC further explained that the benefits of the scheme to clubs, players, fans, sponsors and the League. “It has been designed to increase and deepen players-experience pool of the league, bolster the morale and confidence of younger players in the nPFL, project the image of the league as a welcoming and conducive playing environment for the return of nigeria’s finest crop of international professional footballers and boost the mass appeal of the league for commercialization”.

The LMC, however, also listed criteria which will qualify any player to benefit from the scheme and stated, “the exinternational player must have played for nigeria at the Olympic Games, nations Cup, World Cup or alternatively have earned at least 20 international caps and must have played in a world class league of undisputable pedigree for a minimum of five seasons.”

Liverpool’s twin terror, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, are lying in wait for Chelsea.

PHOTO: WWW.Dailymail.co.uk

Giggs Wants Passion, Flair Back In Man yan Giggs has vowed to R bring passion, excitement and flair back to Manchester United during his brief stint as manager.

He addressed the media yesterday for the first time since he was appointed interim player-manager following the sacking of David Moyes.

His message was music to the ears of United fans, who had grown tired of watching their team play during Moyes’ woeful 10-month spell in charge.

The slow, unimaginative way the team performed in Moyes’ final game in charge last week disappointed Giggs, who is conscious and proud of United’s historical reputation as one of the most fearsome attacking teams in the land.

Giggs knows Sir Matt Busby and Sir alex Ferguson became club greats because their success was borne out of a commitment to attacking football. and now he wants to see a similar style of play from his team in his four matches at the helm.

“My philosophy is the Manchester United philosophy,” Giggs said.

“I want players to play with passion, speed, tempo and be brave, with imagination, all the things that are expected of a Manchester United player.

“I want to see goals, tackles, players taking players on and getting the crowd up.

“I want the passion that should come with being a Manchester United player.

“I’ll tell the players just to try

to enjoy yourself, express yourself. I just want them to enjoy themselves and give the fans something to smile about in the remaining four games.

“It’s been a frustrating season and I want to end it on a high.

The stadium will be bouncing.”

There was an air of infectious optimism in the academy building at Carrington yesterday, as Giggs spoke to the media in the same room where Ferguson used to hold his press briefings. If that positivity brushes off onto the players, then United should end the season strongly.

Giggs, kitted out in his training gear, could not conceal his delight at being asked to manage a club that has literally been his life.

“It’s probably the proudest moment of my career,” said Giggs, which is quite a statement considering he has won 35 trophies at United.

Giggs will be without forward Robin van Persie for his first match in charge against norwich today.

Van Persie is still recovering from a knee injury while defender Rafael is unavailable because of a thigh problem.

Midfielder Giggs could name himself in the squad for the game against the Canaries, which comes four days after the dismissal of Moyes. norwich will again be without Joseph yobo. The on-loan nigeria defender has a calf injury, but should return to first-team training next week.

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