Sat 29 Mar 2014

Nigerians Groan Under Epileptic Power Supply COVER 49

S A T U R D A Y

Otakponmwen: CELEBRITY 23

Mr ‘Famous’ Of Nollywood Celebrity

E D I T I O N WOAMN 22

HEALTHFEATURE 45

‘Every Nigerian Should

Adaugo:

Keeping Hope Alive For Pregnant Women

Access Health Facilities’

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Saturday, March 29, 2014

Vol. 30, No. 12,875

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Muazu Tasks Fayose, Others On Reconciliation From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh and Abosede Musari, Abuja HE National Chairman of T the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmad Adamu Muazu yesterday urged the party’s flagbearer for the June 21 Ekiti State governorship election, Ayo Fayose to commence an urgent peace move with all stakeholders in the party at the state level.

Presenting a certificate of return to Fayose at the party’s National Secretariat yesterday, Muazu assured that PDP would emerge victorious in the election once all stakeholders were reconciled.

The PDP chairman equally spoke against political godfatherism, saying that his leadership of the party encouraged free and fair elections as opposed to imposition.

In his remark after receiving the certificate, Fayose dedi-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr Mack Kast, left; TCN Deputy Chairman, Mr Sola Akinfemiwa; Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Waziri and Vice President Namadi Sambo at a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Rivers Govt, Okocha Bicker Over Suspension Of CJ From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt HE Rivers State Government T and the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Onueze C. Okocha (SAN) yesterday traded accusations over the suspension of the state Chief Judge by the National

Judicial Council (NJC).

Rivers State Commissioner of Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said the government finds the decision of the NJC to suspend the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Peter Agumagu, despite

a decision of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, as an act of highhandedness and intolerance.

Semenitari explained that the attitude of the NJC has given credence to the fears of the Rivers State government that the body has been influ-

enced by one of its members, Onueze C Okocha ( SAN) who has filial ties with the NJC’s preferred candidate, Justice Daisy Okocha.

She pointed out that the impression is that the NJC is using its old boys and networks and could not be both-

ered about the propriety or constitutionality of usurping the role of the Governor of Rivers State in the appoint ment of a chief judge for the state, or respecting the niceties of separation of powers.

Semenitari accused the NJC

of seeking to unleash an assault on the fundamental value of separation of powers in Nigeria’s constitutional system. To buttress this, she argued that the Rivers State government is well aware that CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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2 | Saturday, March 29, 2014

Sambo Directs TCN To Begin Distribution Of Power From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja HE Federal Government T has directed the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to take over all completed transmission lines and commence immediate distribution of power.

This directive was given by the Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo during an interactive session with the Board and

Supervising Management of the TCN and other officials of the power delivery sector in the State House, Abuja.

The Vice President, who congratulated the new Chairman of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Ibrahim Dahiru Waziri on his new assignment said that, “government needs to address three sectors in order to achieve the objectives of adequate power supply.”

According to him, they include financing the power sector, addressing properly the generation, transmission distribution and development of gas infrastructure for gas supply and production of hydro-power plants to meet the planned objectives of the vision 2020:20.

Sambo said: “There are lots of challenges particularly as government is keeping the TCN as a government

owned entity as a new strategy for bringing in Manitoba to manage and transfer technology to our local expertise.”

He assured them of government’s continued support and partnership toward achieving the set goals.

Sambo promised to commence discussions regarding the needed further support. He noted the approvals received by the company and assured that govern-

ment would further invest in the TCN. He noted: “With the existing infrastructure, already a transaction adviser has been appointed and work is ongoing to assess them with a bid to transferring all the transmission investments of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) with a view of NDPHC being full board members and major investors in the transmis-

Rivers Govt, Okocha Trade Words Over Suspension Of CJ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 there is no constitutional provision compelling the governor to appoint a chief judge based on his or her seniority (irrespective of the fact that Justice Agumagu is the most senior judge in the state), or even the arm of the judiciary to which such a person belongs. According to her, what the constitution requires is a minimum of 10 years post- call qualification.

“This is evidenced even by the appointment of the immediate past Chief Judge of the state, Justice Iche Ndu, who was appointed chief judge over his senior at the bench. At the time of Justice Ndu’s appointment, the Justice Sotonye Denton-West was the most senior judge in the Rivers State judiciary, yet the NJC did not compel the governor at the time to announce her as Chief Judge.

The refusal of the NJC to abide by the recommendations of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission on the appointment of the state Chief Judge and its insistence on a particular candidate is a cause of worry for the Rivers State Government”, said Semenitari.

She explained that the NJC’s insistence on the appointment of Justice Okocha as the CJ may appear to mark the council out as

clearly partisan and self-serving in a case in which it is a party.

She regretted that the NJC appears not to have taken into consideration the judgment delivered by Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High court, Port Harcourt in which it is a party. She insisted that irrespective of the fact that Justice Agumagu is the most senior judge in the Rivers State judiciary and was seconded to establish the customary Court of Appeal in 2008, Section 271 (3-5) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is explicit on the appointment of a chief judge of the state.

According to her, that section of the constitution clearly states that: “A person shall not be qualified to hold office of a Judge of a High Court of a state unless he is qualified to practice as a legal practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for a period of not less than 10 years.”

Semenitari added: “When Honorable Justice Akanbi of the Federal high Court struck down the decision of the NJC to preclude Justice Agumagu from consideration for the position of the Chief Judge, the Rivers State Government fully expected the NJC, as a law abiding institution, to choose the path of civility and appeal if it was dissatisfied with the decision. Rather than do so, the NJC has chosen the path of unconstitutional bullying, lawlessness and injudicious racketeering. It is a dark day for our country when the most senior justices and lawyers in our country resort to high-handed self-help instead of judicial redress”.

She said the Rivers State Government wishes to reiterate its respect and admiration for the judiciary but will respectfully remind the NJC that it is a statutory body, not a court. Accordingly, she said

the state would request the NJC not to allow itself to become a tool in the hands of advocates of nepotism and sectional interest.

“The Rivers state government will urge the NJC to respect the ruling of the Federal High court and indeed the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which it has a responsibility to uphold in the interest of justice, fair play and fair mindedness. By the way it has acted, the NJC seeks to put itself above the law. We would respectfully remind the NJC

that it is not above the law. The path of legality for the NJC is to seek redress in the courts”, said

Semenitari.

But the former NBA President, Okocha (SAN) has denied the accusation levelled against him by the Rivers State government that he influenced the decision of NJC to suspend Justice Agumagu.

Okocha who described the allegation as nonsensical, argued that members of the NJC are credible men and women who could not be influenced by anyone. He noted that the Rivers State

Government did not follow due process in the appointment of Justice Agumagu as the state chief judge. He then wondered why he should be fingered in the suspension of the state Chief Judge.

He has however urged the state government to as a matter of urgency, appoint a new acting Chief Judge and an acting president of the Customary Court of Appeal to head the state judiciary and the customary court of Appeal respectively.

sion agency.”

He charged the Ministry of Power to meet and come up with solutions on areas to tackle further in order to forge ahead and directed that all the projects commence simultaneously.

Earlier, Waziri expressed delight at the audience granted him by Sambo and commended the Vice President’s efforts at revamping the power sector, which he said clearly manifested in the International Financing Conference on Power.

He noted that the TCN had about 125 key projects at the moment and is keying its company’s goal into the national vision 2020:20 objective to wheel at least 20,000 megawatts target.

He requested for adequate funding and a multi-dimensional approach, which will be complementary to work towards solving issues of power. He pledged his commitment to ensuring a successful project.

The Managing Director, NDPHC, James Olotu opined that the current status and costs of all the NDPHC transmission projects be transferred to the TCN.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali (r), with the Head of European Union (EU) delegation to Nigeria, Ambassador Michel Arrion, during the minister’s meeting with EU group of ambassadors in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Muazu Urges Fayose, Others To Reconcile CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 cated his victory to all those who contested the primary election with him.

Fayose, who defeated 13 other candidates to emerge the PDP flagbearer, said he was sure of defeating incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi because he knew how he became the state governor in the first place.

He said: “I won’t look for government appointment because if they appoint you today, you may be removed tomorrow. I won’t ask the Federal Government for appointment if I fail to win this election.

“Let the Federal Government

not consider me or any member of my family if I fail to send Fayemi packing.

“I’m sending Fayemi back to where he came from and we shall take over the Government House.”

He also assured that he would reconcile with his counterparts to ensure victory for the party at the June 21 governorship poll and appealed to all he might have wronged in the past to find a place in their hearts to forgive him. He assured them that he had learnt his lessons having gone into political hibernation for 12 years.

On the insinuation that President Goodluck Jonathan aided his victory at the pri-

mary election, Fayose said his emergence had sent jitters into the camp of the opposition.

According to him, the opposition camp, especially the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, are aware of his political prowess and have begun to panic ahead of the election.

“I am a political lion and my emergence has thrown them into confusion. They know my worth and that is why they are worried,” he asserted.

Fayose boasted that the political temperature of the state would change after the President would have handed him the party’s flag and

his campaign train moves in the state within the next one month.

He said his campaign would be issue- based, adding that his past achievements would speak for him.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has insisted that Fayose will have to face his trial in the N416 million case for which he is being prosecuted by the commission.

According to a statement by the EFCC yesterday, a Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has refused the request by Fayose to delay his trial to enable him concentrate in prosecuting his ambition.

Saturday, MARCH 29, 2014 3

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

NEWS

Nigeria Seeks EU’s Support To Tackle Insecurity From John Okeke, Abuja ORRIED by the turbulent W security situation in the country, the Federal Government has urged the European Union (EU) to render their support to the country in order to tackle the activities of the insurgents in the country.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali made the appeal yesterday in Abuja when the EU group of Amassadors led by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Erian

Mishel visited him in his office.

Wali, who thanked the EU ambassadors for their support, stressed that the security situation in the country has been of concern to Nigerians.

“I will like to thank EU for the support and contribution towards checking the menace of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, in the country. It has been a great concern to us.

What is tackled in Sub-Sahara countries is tackled almost in every country.

“We look forward to receiving

your support in the area of technical support; we look forward to having a lot more support in that direction. We hope you will better understand our situation and support us in trying to get on top of this situation,” he said.

Wali added: “So, in this respect the EU has really done a lot in supporting our effort to contend the scourge of terrorism in our country since we brought to the fore the seriousness of the situation. There is also the potential of this

problem escalating and we need to come together to contain the rise of the situation and make sure we arrest this level of scourge from erupting in other countries of Africa.”

The Minister also expressed satisfaction to the EU ambassadors for their support towards the peaceful conduct 2015 general elections.

“I would like to thank EU for the support that you have been giving to Nigeria for our development. For example, when you talk about democra-

cy, I would like to say we are grateful in terms of the support and the financial support to the INEC for the forthcoming elections in 2015.

“I’m sure that a lot of you are in touch with the INEC and have been giving technical advise to the various institutions in our country that will assist us to achieve a free and fair election. So, I thank you very much for the support you are also giving in that direction.”

First Vice President, Institute of Directors (IoD); Mr. Yemi Akeju (left); President/Chairman of Council, IoD, Chief Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi; Founder/CEO, Allied Technol Systems Ltd, Mr. Henry Boyo; and Managing Director/CEO, Financial Derivatives Company Ltd, Mr. Bismarck Rewane during the IoD Members’ Evening, where Boyo and Rewane received awards for their participation…yesterday

…As ECOWAS Leaders Condemn Boko Haram, Others From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja EADS of States and H Governments of West Africa, under the aegis of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) rose from their 44th Summit in Yamoussoukro, the Ivorian capital, yesterday, with a strong condemnation of the ongoing insecurity in the north eastern part of Nigeria.

At the opening ceremony, which was attended by leaders of the sub-region, including President Goodluck Jonathan, who led the Nigerian delegation to the forum, the leaders also deliberated on other matters that are affecting the sub-region such as the situation in Mali and the next elections in Guinea Bissau.

During the ceremony, Jonathan was awarded a medal titled “Son of Excellence” in appreciation of the country’s recent efforts and sacrifices in bringing peace ad stability into Guinea Bissau, Mali and other troubled parts of the sub-region.

In his opening address, Ivorian President and outgoing chairman of ECOWAS Authorities of Heads of State and Government, Alassane Outtara, opened the floodgates of condemnation for

the Boko Haram insurgency troubling the north-eastern part of Nigeria.

Ouattara, who called for cooperation among the countries in the sub region, said that sister nations could no longer afford to keep quiet because the insurgency affects Nigeria alone.

He spoke extensively on what his administration was doing to take Cote d’ Ivoire to the

next level.

He emphasised the need for common ECOWAS tariff and opening up of more business opportunities among member nations as well as cooperation in the area of infrastructural development.

He also commended Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and other sub-regional countries for their contributions towards the restoration of peace in

Guinea Bissau and Mali.

Also speaking, the president of ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo submitted that for the subregion to achieve its MDG targets, leaders must develop human capital and consolidate on peace and security, “for human security must be at the core of regional concern.”

He condemned the Boko

Haram activities in northeastern Nigeria, adding that it was a “stark reminder” for sub-regional leaders to urgently put heads together and nip the violence in the bud.

He commended the gradual return of peace and security to the sub-region but quickly added that leaders cannot afford to ignore the new threats posed by terrorists

Health Minister Issues Alert On Ebola Fever Outbreak From Chuka Odittah and Emeka Anuforo, Abuja HE Federal Ministry of Health T has issued a health alert asking members of the public to take steps to avoid being infected by the deadly Ebola virus currently ravaging neighbouring Sudan, Guinea and Congo.

Although the ministry affirmed that it had sufficient expertise to track the spread of the viral disease, it however warned members of the public to avoid destinations where the diseases are prone.

The Ebola virus causes Ebola virus disease (EVD) in humans, with a case fatality rate ranging between 60 to 90 per cent. The virus is transmitted to humans through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected ani-

mals. Hunting for “bush meat” in forest and pre-forest areas and eating of bats have been associated with this outbreak.

A statement from the Federal Ministry of Health, yesterday, signedbytheSpecialAssistanton Media and Communication to the Health Minister, Mr. Dan Nwomeh, said that all health institutions in the country have been put on red alert over a possible outbreak of the deadly airborne disease.

“The Federal Ministry of Health urges the general public to take measures to avert the outbreak or spread of the disease. Persons with high fever, headache, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea and bleeding and especially with a history of travel to Guinea, Sierra Leone or Liberia are urged to report to the health authorities.

Though the health institutions have been put on red alert for

Ebola here in Nigeria, the WHO does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions to Guinea in respect of this outbreak.

“Nigeria has the capacity to diagnose the disease if it appears in our country. The Nigeria Centre forDiseaseControl(NCDC)iscurrently studying the outbreak trends and has mobilised its rapid response teams and developed a detailed response plan that includes a comprehensive health education/health promotion to sensitise Nigerians, enhanced surveillance to detect and treat the disease, while mobilising its treatment/isolation centres. An alert has been issued to all State Commissioners of Health to mobilise against the disease”, the statement said.

Ebola is a deadly haemorrhagic feverwhichfirstappearedin1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks

inNzara,SudanandYambuku,in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In February 2014, the Republic of Guinea reported an outbreak of Ebola, which had hitherto not occurred in the West African sub-region.

Between that period and March 26, 2014, a total number of 86 cases were reported out of which 62 deaths occurred with a mortality rate of 72 per cent.

The most affected areas in Guinea are the south-eastern forest areas that currently have seven persons undergoing treatment in isolated centres. The outbreak was confirmed as Ebola by the Institute Pasteur, Lyon, France; Institute Pasteur, Dakar, Senegal; and in Hamburg, Germany. It is now confirmed that the outbreak has further spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone where suspected cases are being investigated.

Benue Killings: Commissioner Alleges Use Of Chemical Weapons On Communities From Joseph Wantu, Makurdi ENUE State Commissioner B for Information, Mr. Justine Amase has revealed that over 200 deaths recorded in Benue communities so far following the inversion of the Fulani marauders were through the use of chemical weapons on the people.

Amase, who made the revelation in Makurdi yesterday while chatting with journalists, called on the international communities to quickly intervene by investigating the dangerous dimension the crisis has assumed.

“As a matter of urgency, something must fast be done to end the crisis. There has been serious suspicion that the gunmen attacking Benue villages are using chemical methods of eliminating lives. It has been reported that 15 persons died few days ago in Gwer West Local Government Council of the state without gunshots wounds or cuts on their bodies,” Amase said.

Chairman of Gwer West Council, Mrs. Eunice Mbajwa, had last Thursday told journalists that those that died were all foaming from their mouths and had no cuts on their bodies to imply that they were shot or slaughtered.

The commissioner further said that the state government has through the Ministry of Health moved the corpses to the hospital for autopsy test and proper medical confirmations.

Court Restrains Lagos From Collecting Fees On Waterways

By Bertram Nwannekanma UST a day after it voided the JLekki-Ikoyi collection of tolls on the Bridge, a Federal High Court, Lagos, on Friday restrained the Lagos State government from collecting fees on waterways.

Justice James Tsoho, in his judgment on a suit filed by Incorporated Trustees of Tourist Boat Association, held that the Lagos State government has no constitutional right to collect any fee on the waterways within the state.

Delivering judgment in the matter, Justice Tsoho said the waterways in the country belongs to the Federal Government and that the Lagos State government or its agency has no constitutional right to collect fees on any of the waterways in the state.

Justice Tsoho ordered that only the Federal Government through the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) that has legal and constitutional rights to collect fees on the waterways in the country.

The plaintiffs had in a suit number FHC/L/CS/543/12, through their counsel, Adejare Kembi and Amosun Vivianne, sought for an order restraining Lagos State government or its agents from collecting any fees or toll from them as they claimed that such fees or tolls were being collected by the NIWA.

4 Saturday, March 29, 2014

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NeWS immigration test: Newly Constituted Presidential Committee to Start Work Soon

By Tonny Otaru OllOWiNg the tragic test carFimmigration ried out by the Nigeria Service penultimate Saturday, the Presidential Committee appointed to assist in conducting a fresh recruitment exercise is set to begin work. this was confirmed by the Chairperson of the Committee and Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Deaconess Joan Ayo while briefing newsmen on the activities lined up by the Commission to celebrate its 60th anniversary. the committee was put in place recently by President goodluck Jonathan to take over the recruitment immigration exercise earlier conducted by the Ministry of interior in collaboration with the immigration service, which led to death of some youths.

Answering questions from journalists at the weekend, Deaconess Ayo said she would soon consult other members of the Committee before deciding on what step to take next. “i just got my official notice two days ago. i am going to call all my members into a meeting very soon, the aftermath of the meeting will enable me know when and how we are going to conduct a free and acceptable recruitment exercise for the service.” earlier in her speech at the occasion, the FCSC Chairman

had stated that section 158 of the amended 1999 Constitution granted the Commission independent powers to “exercise its powers to make appointments or for disciplinary control over persons which shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other authority or person.”

She further declared that the

vision of the Commission is “to ensure an efficient civil service that is patriotic, highly cultured and committed to the sustainable development of Nigeria.”

According to her, “the mission statement of the Commission is to apply existing rules and regulations through collaboration and innovation within the

frame work of our core values, to discharge with cost effectiveness our mandate of recruitment, promotion and discipline.”

She further stated that the Commission deserved to celebrate its achievements over the years, while also reflecting soberly.

According to her: “We need to also reflect on areas where we did things wrongly and consider how to make amends”.

A programme of activities for the celebration shows that there would be a Muslim Jumat prayer today, which would be led by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

Anambra to Use Soldiers For Nnewi North lg Polls From Chuks Collins, Awka O forestall further embart rassment and breach of the local government electoral process, the Anambra State government, through the state independent electoral Commission (ANSieC) has resolved to use the military for maintenance of peace, security, sanity and orderliness for the rescheduled Nnewi North local government election. this was disclosed by the acting chairman of the Commission, Mr Sylvester Okonkwo while fielding questions from newsmen in his office yesterday.

He said this has become imperative to save the commission and the government further embarrassment or repeat of attacks on the staff of the Commission who suffered physical abuses and material losses in the hands of supporters of political parties during the twice rescheduled election in the council area.

Okonkwo, who was just reporting back to work yesterday since the failed January 18, 2014 Nnewi North Council rescheduled election due to severe illness, lamented that the state government starved the commission of the required funds during the elec-

tion. that it was so bad they were unable to tackle major necessary security and administrative logistics.

He came to tears about what he described as widespread ballot box snatching during the January 4, 2014 Council poll in the state, promising

that it would not happen again. this ugly situation, Okonkwo noted, therefore exposed the commission and her staff to high official and personal insecurity and risks that some received gunshot wounds while some others were serially threatened with acid attacks.

Bauchi Set to Receive Jonathan tomorrow From Ali Garba, Bauchi HeAD of President A goodluck Jonathan’s visit to Bauchi tomorrow to commission some legacy projects of governor isa Yuguda and to attend the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) north east zonal unity rally, the Chairman, Bauchi Volunteer Forum, a political pressure group, Alhaji Danladi inuwa has disclosed that the commissioning of the international Airport would boost socio-economic development and improve internal revenue generation of the

Aviation trainee Pilot Survives Air Mishap

By Ibe Uwaleke

Accident investigation NiPSS Boss, Don Want government, Private Sector tHe and Prevention Bureau (AiPB) and other relevant agento Finance Researches cies have swung into action to

From Chuks Collins, Awka the acting Director of the National institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Prof Ogoh Alubo has called on the private sector to wake up to one of their key responsibilities of financing and sponsoring research works in the country, as it is done in other climes.

Prof Alubo made this call yesterday at this year eminent Persons’ lecture series by the Faculty of

Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka with the theme, ‘Research issues in Social Science.’

Also, the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences of the University, Prof Au Nnonyelu appealed to the federal government to set aside three percent of the nation’s annual gross Domestic Product (gDP) to fund researches in the country.

Alubo, who was one of the guest lecturers at the two-day workshop, pointed out that most of the research efforts in

universities are sponsored by foreign private concerns. this, he noted, automatically ties the researchers to the conditions and whims of the sponsors.

“We have all manner of foundations abroad, which sponsors particular areas of research and these are always independent of the government but the story is completely different in Nigeria, i don’t know names in the private sector that are doing enough to encourage researchers and research,” he stated.

investigate the circumstances leading to a trainee aircraft, which survived an air mishap yesterday.

A trainee aircraft No 5N-BRM belonging to the international Aviation College veered off the runway while landing on a solo flight at the ilorin Airport at 10.20 UtC with one pilot on board. in a statement issued by the coordinating general manager of aviation parastatals, Mr. Yakubu Dati, no casualty was recorded in the incident.

TheGuardian on Sunday

Corruption in Nigeria, POLITICS O Real Or imagined!

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

COVER

SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2014

ReSiDeNt Jonathan thinks perception of Nigeria as a highly corrupt country in the international community is exaggerated and not in tune with the reality on ground. Year after year, transparency international (ti) ranks Nigeria among the most corrupt countries of the world. if the outside world perceives Nigeria as being utterly corrupt, how do Nigerians perceive themselves and their country?

P

NDO State searches for a new political paradigm.

NEWSFEATURE eDiCAl science thinks good things can come out of Marijuana (indian Hemp). But the law says it is harmful and dangerous. Some countries are working to bridge this gap, but elsewhere, as in Nigeria, users help themselves outside the law.

IBRU

M

Leadership Challenge — What The Religions Must Do To Cover Lost Ground.

SPECIAL REPORT

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

igH cost H of orthodox medicare and the shift to herbal remedies.

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Saturday, March 29, 2014

5

nEWS nERC Explains Why nigeria Is having Irregular Power Supply

By Joseph Okoghenun hE ChAIRMAn and Chief T Executive Officer of the nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (nERC), dr. Sam Amadi, has given hints why nigeria has not started experiencing regular power supply in spite of privitisation of the power sector.

Amadi, who spoke in Lagos as a guest speaker during annual public lecture organised by the Institute of the Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of nigeria (ICSAn), explained that inadequate gas supply as well as low power generation capacity was responsible for the intense erratic power supply being experienced in most

• Exonerates Generator Sellers Of Conspiracy states of the federation.

The nERC boss, however, dispelled the popular belief that cabals as well as generators sellers in nigeria have conspired to sabotage the power sector by ensuring that nigerians do not experience power supply, adding generator sellers are only filling a vacuum created by inadequate power supply in nigeria.

The theme of the lecture was: “Regulating The Power SectorOpportunities, Prospects and Challenges.” ICSAn Registrar, Mr. dele Togunde, said the lecture was one of the ways by the institute to contribute to national development generally and power sector specifi-

cally.

ICSAn Vice-President, dr. nat Ofo, called on nERC to create enabling environment to boost utilisation of alternative sources of power supply as palliative measures to

cushioning effects of power blackout. Ofo further urged the regulatory body to put in place mechanisms to received and address complaints from electricity consumers as a mean towards strengthening power regulation in nigeria.

Amadi said one of the major

challenges facing power sector today is non-availability of enabling law to empower nERC or any other regulatory body in the power sector to regulate gas supply in nigeria, unlike what obtains in developed economies of the world where gas is heavily regulated.”

Ekiti denies Bamidele Claims On State EXCO From Muyiwa Adeyemi, Ado Ekiti hE Ekiti State Government T has described as “blatant lies” comments made by the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate that half of Governor Kayode Fayemi cabinet members support his ambition.

Bamidele had at a campaign

rally at Ido-Osi on Thursday said half of Fayemi’s cabinet member did not only support his governorship ambition but are funding his campaign.

But a statement issued yesterday by the State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Tayo Ekundayo said Bamidele’s comment was

a futile attempt to cause disaffection among the state executive council.

Ekundayo said: “This is another in the series of blatant lies being peddled by a desperate politician who is struggling to stay afloat in the face of the defeat that awaits him in the June 21 polls.

Confab: Isiaka Tasks delegates On Tax Administration

By Laolu Adeyemi n APPEAL has gone to the A delegates at the national Conference, holding in Abuja to address the issue of corporate taxation to reflect the principle of true federalism.

In a statement issued yesterday, Prince nasir Gboyega Isiaka while congratulating President Goodluck Jonathan for the convocation of the confab described it as a welcome development. he, however, enjoined the delegates to “take another look at our tax laws with a view to addressing the issue of corporate taxation vis a vis tax administration and collection.

According to him, “each tax jurisdiction should be responsible for all taxes in its jurisdiction in accordance with the principle of true federalism”.

Isiaka, an Investment Banker turned politician charged Ogun state delegates to shun narrow and parochial political issues and pursue issues that are germane to the people’s wewlfare.

FG Inaugurates 7th nnMA Governing Board From Karls Tsokar, Abuja hE Chairman, Governing T board of the 7th nigerian national Merit Award

Representative of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, accompanied by Hon. Chika Ene of the State House of Assembly (right) and the Commissioner for Gender Affairs & Social Development, Mrs. Ndidi Chukwu (left) among other dignitaries inspecting some agricultural produce displayed by the women during this year International Women’s Day celebration in Enugu....yesterday

CBn Blames Commercial Banks Over Scarcity Of Lower denominations From Emmanuel Ande, Yola hE APEX bank, the Central T Bank of nigeria (CBn) on Friday breaks silence over the persistent scarcity of lower denominations of naira in the market, accusing the commercial banks of flouting CBn directives, which instructed that all banks must withdraw

monies in a minimum of four different denominations.

The Acting Controller of Yola CBn branch, Alhaji Abba Baba Titiwu, told The Guardian yesterday in Yola that the attitude of commercial banks operators has constituted a harsh economic environment for small scale business men and women due to lack

of lower denominations of naira in the market.

“Commercial bank managers will come to CBn and make a request for a withdrawal of n100 million or more and they will say that they want only n1000 and n500 naira notes, if we insist to give them n100 and n50 or n20 naira they will claim that the mon-

Community Elects 37-Year Old Monarch, Sues For Peace From Chuks Collins, Awka hE 37-YEAR old newly elected traditional ruler of Amanuke community in Awka northh Local Government Area, Anambra state, his highness Igwe dennis Ezebuilo has appealed to the citizens of his community to embrace peace and reconciliation for development to take place in Amanuke.

The Abuja-based Igwe-elect, according to his subjects, enjoyed overwhelming support from the ten constituting

T

villages in the community as a result of his years of outstanding philanthropy and ended the protracted crises that had engulfed the sleepy town in prolonged leadership tussle.

Ezebuiilo loved by the citizens which was openly displayed by the rousing standing ovation given to him when he made his maiden entry to the general assembly at Amanuke town hall passionately appealed for all to close ranks in the interest of the community and her future generations.

he urged all the feuding community leaders to bury the hatchet, sheath their swords and pursue peace at this time.

The outgoing President General of the town union, Chief Shadrack Anaekwe who incidentally is also the state chairman of the state’s ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) said that Ezebuilo’s election as traditional ruler followed the strict transparency and application of laid down procedure of the town’s constitution, culture and tradition.

ey is for ATM. But the question is which kind of ATM will take n100million naira,” he said.

Titiwu who is the Assistant director Banking services disclosed that in order to reduce the burden of scarcity of lower denominations of naira on

small scale business men and women the Yola branch of the CBn has fashioned out a policy of giving out the lower denominations directly to business people that needed the lower naira notes for their businesses at the bank office.

Lagos, Kano Agog With Food Fortification Campaign

R

EnEWEd efforts to educate nigerian consumers on the importance of buying fortified food products have been accepted by the people Lagos and Kano metropolis.

The drive is been channeled through a social marketing and communication campaign by the national Agency for Food and drugs Administration and Control (nAFdAC), in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved nutrition (GAIn).

The Large Scale Food Fortification program, which is in its third phase in nigeria, has the social marketing and

communication campaign aimed at sustaining previous gains while enhancing compliance, enforcement and demand creation, so as to improve the vitamin and mineral status of the populace.

To this end, key retail markets and strategic neighborhoods in Lagos and Kano have become a beehive of activities involving the distribution of information, education and communication (IEC) materials printed in English and local languages meant to empower consumers with appropriate knowledge that will help them make healthy choices.

(nnMA) Professor Francis Idachaba has expressed worry that the over bloated employment carried out by his predecessors would compromise the integrity of the body, even as he pledged to forfeit all allowances to him while serving on the board.

Inaugurating the board yesterday in Abuja on behalf of the federal Government, the Secretary to the government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim said it is another effort by the government to “promote merit, hard work and intellectualism in the nation’s quest for sustainable development”.

Anglican Gives Awards To Faithfuls BOuT 40 Anglican A Faithful of the Church of nigeria, Anglican (Communion) Bendel Ecclesiastical Province will be honoured with an award in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the growth and development of the church on April 5th at St. Andrews Cathedral, Ekpoma at 10am.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee, the Rt. Revd, disclosed this recently. dr. P.I. Onekpe, who is the Bishop of the Ika diocese, Agbor, delta State. he said this would be the second provincial award ceremony since 2009. Bishop Onekpe said, to be an awardee, one must be a communicant who is morally upright and nominated by the Bishop of his diocese and have a good record of selfless contribution to the church and must be a husband of one wife or a wife of one husband.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

6 Saturday, March 29, 2014

NEWS

CAN Rejects Establishment Of Grazing Reserves

By Chris Irekamba

• Archbishop Condemns Sultan’s Protest

HE Christian Association of T Nigeria (CAN) has rejected the proposal to establish

Ministries, Archbishop John Osa-Oni, has condemned the protest by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111, who led some Muslim leaders in the country to Presidential Villa in Abuja, to register his grievances on the composition of the National Confab.

Osa-Oni also described as barbaric the call by the Lamido of Adamawa, Dr. Muhammadu Barkindo Mustapha, one of the delegates representing the National Council of Traditional Rulers at the National Conference, to lead his people to secession away from Nigeria and join the

grazing reserves across the country as a means of resolving the protracted fracas between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in various parts of the country.

Reacting to a news report that the Federal Government had approved the constitution of a committee to work out the modalities for establishing grazing reserves across the country, the National President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said such proposal was absolutely unacceptable to the Christian community, which, he said, has been at the receiving end of a grand plan to Islamise the nation.

Meanwhile, the General Overseer of Vineyard Christian

Republic of Cameroun.

Osa-Oni told The Guardian on telephone that Nigerians should understand that the country is a secular state and advise that Nigerians should put religion aside when discussing national issues.

Calling on the Muslims to reconsider their utterances, theGeneralOverseersaid:“The National Conference is not about any religion but about Nigeria? And in Nigeria, there are Christians and other sects.

You can’t be putting pressure on the President because this country is neither about Christians nor about any oth-

er religion. This country is not for Muslims and it is not for Christians. It is for everybody.

Nigeria belongs to everybody.”

In a statement made available to The Guardian, the CAN president said the proposal to establish grazing reserves is another grand design to islamise the nation, warning that if President Goodluck Jonathan accepts the proposal, the country should be ready for the consequences.

According to Oritsejafor, Christians in the country will not fold their arms while the Federal Government unilaterally hand over their farmlands to Fulani herdsmen for grazing reserves, which will in a few

years might be converted to Hausa-Fulani emirates.

Oritsejafor said: “Is there any other tribe in this country that can do these things for three years running now and get away with it? This culture of impunity must stop. The best way to tackle clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers head on is for the Federal Government to first and foremost investigate the source of arms supply to the herdsmen before the clashes grow out of control.

“Two, we must establish grazing reserves for them in their own locale where government can establish modern facilities including schools, hospitals

and other facilities that will make life conducive for them and their families, bearing in mind that in other nations of the world, cows are not paraded on highways as we have here.”

The CAN president added: “Exceptsomebodyisbeingeconomical with the truth, there is no where in the civilised world where cattle rearers walk long distances with cows onthestreets.AllacrossEurope and America, cow owners have permanent settlements where they graze and slaughter their cows while refrigerated vehicles take the meat to different parts of the country for distribution.”

‘51 Million Nigerians Suffer From Sleep Disorders’

By Olawunmi Ojo CCORDING to a sleep disorA der specialist, Dr. Obafemi Akinjobi of Marvina Sleep Disorders Centre, no fewer than 51 million Nigerians suffer from sleep disorders.

Akinjobi stated this during a programme organised to mark World Sleep Day in Lagos.

Akinjobi said: “It is imperative to talk about the alarming rate of sudden deaths in Nigeria, occasioned by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), because of its adverse medical and public health effects. About 51 million are estimated number of Nigerians who snore and are at the risk of OSA. Yet the medical disorder is alarmingly underrated and generally underdiagnosed in Nigeria.

“It is time for public health authorities to embark on accelerated awareness campaign for the public basic signs, symptoms, treatment and management of the medical problem.”

Fabamwo Tasks Civil Servants On Professionalism

By Tunde Akinola HE graduates of specialised T Information Communication Technology (ICT) programme and the certificate course in Local Government Administration have been admonished to justify government investment in their training.

The admonition came from the Director General, Public Service Staff Development Centre, Magodo, Mrs. Olubunmi Fabamwo, at the graduation and award of certificates and prizes to participants of certificate course in Local Government Administration for 2009 and 2013 sessions, and specialised ICT programme for secretarial assistants in 2011 to 2013 sessions.

Fabamwo reiterated that the government through the Ministry of Establishment, Training and Pensions and the Public Service Staff

MD/CEO of Kakawa Discount House Ltd, Mr. Laoye Jaiyeola; MD/CEO of NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim; CIBN Registrar/CEO,Dr. ‘Uju M. Ogubunka; CIBN Assistant Director, Mr. Akin Morakinyo and NDIC Executive Director, Hon. Omolara Abiola-Edewor, during the public presentation of the first set of NDIC-sponsored candidates on Chartered Bankers/MBA Island in Lagos …yesterday

National Confab: OPC Cautions Against Secession Threat

By Ibe Uwaleke ATIONAL Coordinator of the O’odua Peoples’ Conference (OPC) and a delegate to the ongoing national conference in Abuja, Chief Gani Adams, has said that nobody can threaten the Yoruba nation with secession.

He was reacting to the comment credited to Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Bakindo Aliu Musdafa on the floor of the conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

While speaking with journal-

N

ists at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos, shortly on arrival from Abuja, Adams recalled that several conferences had been held in the past to keep South-South in Nigeria, a region, he said, has been demanding for at least 25 per cent derivation on the crude oil produced in the area.

He lamented the degradation he saw when he visited Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Yenogua, the capital of Bayelsa State recently.

Adams said the situation in Port Harcourt and Bayelsa is not different from the one other states in the region are experiencing, adding that the Yorubas would not have swallowed the bitter pills of injustice being perpetrated in the Niger Delta region if Yorubas were the people producing 85 per cent of the oil resource in Nigeria.

Adams said: “We have had several conferences in this country to keep it as one, and we used them to solve the problems of this country. It

was the 2005 Conference under then President Obasanjo that led to the derivation formula for each region of this country. The South-South requested for 25 per cent, but Northerners rejected it. And that is why we are where we are today. Over the weekend, I was in Port Harcourt where the majority of the oil resource is coming from. But there is nothing there, apart from the GRA; go to Bayelsa State, the situation is the same, and Delta State is not different from the others.”

Jonathan Mourns Hamma Misau, Kutigi Expresses Shock

By Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja RESIDENT Goodluck P Jonathan yesterday commiserated with the immediate family and members of the Association of Retired Police Officers (ARPO) on the passing away in Abuja of one of their representatives at the ongoing National Conference, Hamma Misau, an Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police (rtd.).

Jonathan, in a statement signed by his Spokesman,

Dr.Reuben Abati, also extended his condolence to the government and people of Bauchi State as well as the Chairman of the National Conference, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi (rtd.) and other delegates.

According to the statement, “the president joins them in mourning Hamma Misau, who patriotically served his nation, state and community throughout his 34 years of distinguished service in the Nigeria Police Force and even in retirement, continued to

be actively engaged with efforts to move the nation forward as shown by his participation in the National Conference.”

Meanwhile, Kutigi has expressed shock over the death of Misau. While sympathising with the family and entire nation, Kutigi, however, said it was gratifying to note that the former AIG died in active service of his country, though at a time his experience was most needed.

Also, confab Assistant Secretary, Media and

Communication, James Akpandem, in a statement on the resumption of the conference on Monday, said vote of proceedings for the conference that was stalled for days “would be adopted by the conference for deliberation” when it resumes next weeks.

Akpandem report of the outcome of the consultative meeting between principal officers of the conference and select delegates will top the list of issues to be discussed by delegates.

Group Endorses Nweke For Senate GROUP, Ozalla A Development Union (ODU), Lagos State Branch, has endorsed Former Minister of Information and current Director General of Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Frank Nweke (Jr.) for Enugu-East Senatorial seat come 2015.

Moving the motion for the endorsement during the group’s special meeting in Lagos yesterday, ODU patron, Chief Chidi Nwanneche, said Nweke’s track records gives him leverage above his rivals in the contest.

The motion was seconded by Chief Obiora Okwuibe and supported by members of the union, which charged its members to put all hands on deck to deliver Nweke in the election.

President of the union, Chief Dennis Okoh, said that Nweke has consulted with union for the Senatorial position. “ We endorsed him and gave all our support because he is a good man,” Okoh said.”We will make sure he will be there. We will work for him and go out and talk to people. He is already qualified for it. When the time for registration comes, we will move en masse back home to register as voters and from there we move forward.”

Saturday, March 29, 2014 | 7

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METRONOTES

Lessons From The Ill-Fated NIS Aptitude Test

By Debo Oladimeji HIDI, not real name, woke C up two Saturdays ago hale and hearty. He had thought that his dream of a better job would be realized after the aptitude test for the recruitment of staff into the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) that later turned sour that day.

As early as 5am, he was already at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos venue of the aptitude test waiting for the examiners.

Unfortunately for him, he was one of the unlucky ones that could not stay to write the test as he was wounded during the stampede that ensued while he was struggling to enter the stadium.

He was rushed to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

His parents combed every nearby hospital before they eventually discovered that he was one of the victims rushed to LASUTH. Although he has been discharged, he is yet to regain consciousness. “I pray that my son will be able to talk again. I am yet to know what actually happened. He is in the best position to say what happened,” said his mother.

The atmosphere was dull at the National Stadium penultimate Tuesday as even the staff and nurses of the Sports Medicine Centre at the stadium said they were not aware of the aptitude test. “It was not a sporting event. We did not deplore our staff there.

What I heard in the news was that about two people died but it was outside the gate.

The people came around 4 am and we could not even enter by the time we reported for work in the morning,” one of the nurses at the centre said.

One of the eyewitnesses, Shola Adegoke disclosed that what happened that day was not an aptitude test. He recalled that many of the candidates came with flashy cars.

“People had to pay N500 to park their cars outside the stadium when there was no place for them to park inside the stadium.

“Some of them did not get the chance to enter the stadium until after the test. I was trapped myself. Some of the women came with their babies. Some people came from Calabar and Owerri,” he said.

He advised that such an aptitude test was better conducted state by state. “I think that it is better for people to apply through their states for such an aptitude test. Some of them came all the way from Abia State but at the end of the day, they could not write any test,” he added.

Another witness, Shola Kayode said the test should have been conducted at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Lagos. “They destroyed some of the facilities in the stadium during the aptitude test. Even if they were going to conduct aptitude test of that magnitude, they should have provided for emergency. No ambulance was on standby,” he said.

One of the security men, Sunday (not real name) said by 4 am, people had already besieged the stadium. “It was

a large crowd. Even to open the gate was a problem,” he recalled.

Mrs Dominga Omolara Odebunmi, Director General, Lagos State Safety Commission, (the agency responsible in Lagos State to ensure security of lives and properties) described the incident as a sad one. “I will not want to say that some form of safety considerations were not made because the immigration service operates with caution,” she said.

However, she averred that the NIS underestimated the task. “The number of people that applied was an indication that certainly there was a need for proper safety risk assessment,” she added.

Odebunmi said that there was every likelihood that stampede, security issues, terrorism and of course accident or other forms of injuries, could occur when people gather together in large numbers.

“The moment the crowd is actually impacting on the plan that they have made, a secondary measure should have been clicked in straight away. We call it Plan B. It was clear that this operation that took place across the country should have been better planned,” she said.

Odebunmi recalled that early in the morning of that day, she saw quite a number of people walking along Western Avenue.

“Unfortunately, nobody informed the Lagos State Safety Commission of the exercise to see whether we have safety marshals. Even if they had safety marshals, we did not see any crowd control measures publicly on the streets of Lagos.”

She recalled that the situation instantly put pressure on officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). “I would be surprised if LASTMA were duly informed. This was because I also heard on the traffic radio that LASTMA were calling on people who parked their vehicles along the stretch of Western Avenue to move their vehicles because they were already creating serious traffic. Even if they did not plan that from the beginning, they could still have asked for support.

“The exercise has unraveled a lot of distasteful scenarios and I am very glad that the President is ready to get to the root of the matter. The outcome should really serve as a lesson to others”.

Odebunmi advised that in future, the state where such an event is to hold should be involved. “It is the state that understands the modalities and the structure of the state better. The era where we would have the Federal Government wanting to carry out exercise or programmes in a state and not get the state involved, should be a thing of the past,” she said.

She also said that technology should have been used to prune down the number of applicants. “If we have 4,500 spaces, what are we doing with over one million people converging for the job? It instantly brings from a safety point of view what we call ‘high risk’. IQ (Intelligence

Quotient) test could have been sent electronically to prune the number down.

“Where you cannot eliminate the risk, you reduce it to the barest minimum. In addition to that, you create what we call isolation. In other words, you can space it out for a period of time if you must screen them physically.”

In the same vein, Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Babajide Omoworare condemned the poor handling and lack of adequate provisions at the centres the aptitude test were to take place across the country. “The senate asked its commission on interior to investigate the matter, if possible conduct a public hearing and

The moment the crowd is actually impacting on the plan that they have made, a secondary measure should have been clicked in straight away.

We call it Plan B. It was clear that this operation that took place across the country should have been better planned. report to the senate.”

He lamented that unemployment is becoming a challenge in Nigeria. “Unemployment is on the rise. And I think it is not all Nigerians that will have the opportunity of a white collar job. In other climes, the youths are encouraged to go into small and medium scale enterprises. They can even become employers of labour.

That is the only way we can go ahead in this country,” Omoworare said.

Chukwuemeka Obua,

spokesman of the NIS, said it is good for Nigerians to know the truth about the ill-fated recruitment exercise.

“The Comptroller General of NIS does not have the power to recruit, promote or discipline any immigration officer.

The power to employ or recruit, as the case may be, is invested in a board called Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prison Service Board. This board is made up of 10 persons.

“If you are talking about

where culpability should lie, it is the entire board. The Chairman of the board is the Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro. All the service chiefs of the prisons, immigration, fire service and civil defence are members of this board.

“The board takes a decision.

This is the first time the recruitment exercise is contracted out to a consultancy firm. But this is not the first time we would be recording deaths during recruitment exercise,” Obua said.

8 | Saturday, March 29, 2014

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Saturday, March 29, 2014 9

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10 Saturday, March 29, 2014

DIARY

Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Abike Dabiri-Erewa and General Yakubu Gowon at the 2nd Oba Okunade Sijuade annual Leadership Lecture and Awards in Ile Ife, Osun State, where Hon Dabiri-Erewa was presented with Excellence in Leadership Award…recently

The Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Mrs. Sally Mbanefo with school children who promoted various products during the World Oral Health Day/ National Oral Health Conference held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja recently

Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Uyanna welcoming the retired Anglican Bishop Ofondo, Rt Revd.

Michael Ipinmoye to his office at Ado Ekiti during the advocacy visit of Igbimo Ure to his station in Ekiti State…recently Former General Counsel, FCMB PLC, Olajumoke Bakare (left) with the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser of Skye Bank Plc, Abimbola Izu during a training programme, titled, Changing Role of In-House Solicitors at Commercial Banks in the face of increased Regulatory Scrutiny organised by Law Kartel Solicitors in Lagos… recently

Mrs. Peace Isaac with other staff of Big Fish Restaurant and Bar Ltd during a presentation of Scanfrost freezer and other gift items to Mrs. Isaac, after her 11 years of service to the company in Lagos recently

Conference Lay President, Remi Omotoso; Bishop Diocese of Lagos mainland, Rt. Revd, Isaac Olawuyi; Archbishop of Lagos Methodist Church Nigeria; Dr. Joseph Ajayi, JP, Lay President, Barrister Olusegun Sofunke and the Lay President, Akin Oyewusi at the 52nd Synod of the Diocese Circuit, Railway line, Mushin, Lagos…recently

Mr. Austin Anowa, the Patron General of Ofobi Social club of Anioma cutting his 53 birthday cake in Lagos…recently

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Agoha (middle), flanked by members of the bride and groom’s family after their wedding at St. Francis Catholic Church, Idimu…recently

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Saturday, March 29, 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 ‘46’

Overlapping Word Game ‘47’ 1. Absorb information

1. Lawgiver

2. State of being latent

2. Erroneous

3. Hindu sacrifice with particular purpose

3. Ouster

4. TV comedy show

4. Erosion

5. __ Soyinka, Nigerian Nobel Laureate

5. Only

6. Useful experience

6. Lynch

7. Observer

7. Haunch

8. African animal resembling giraffe

8. Church

9. Blue dye

9. Charade

10. Ex Ogun State Governor

10. Demand

11. Former Nigerian Head of State

11. Android

12. Abu ___, Former Min. of State for Finance

12. Ideal

13. Samuel ___, Late Liberian President

13. Lose

14. Precisely

14. Serene

15. Song words

15. Enigma

16. Remove testicles from

16. Mantle

17. Independent of time

17. Eleven

18. Disease caused by herpes simplex virus

18. Naturally

19. Object for crushing in a mortar

19. Lyrics

20. Break free from captivity

20. Istanbul

21. Consumed

21. Bulwark

22. Early morning prayers in Catholic Church

22. Arkansas

23. Beginner

23. Aspire

24. Unit of currency in Ghana

24. Real

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

On The Path Of Winners

Developing The Mindset That Creates Success HENEVER you have the opportunity to ocW cupy a place of responsibility, what is required of you is to be faithful so that you can be honoured. One of the greatest impendiments to success is pride. Proud people refuse to follow advice that can deliver them from poverty.

People who are proud over-estimate themselves. Hence, they avoid starting small in their businesses because they suffer from delusions of grandeur.

Let us travel through the Bible to receive its wisdom: ‘‘Whoever secretly slanders his neighbour, Him I will destroy. The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure,’’ Psalm 101:5. Thus, because of God’s disdain for the proud, the door of divine blessing is closed against them. Proud people always end up in the shame of poverty. ‘‘A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honour,’’ Pro 29:23. Pride brings a man down, which is why it is a major cause of poverty. ‘‘You are proud because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains. ‘Who can ever reach us way up there?’ you ask boastfully. Don’t fool yourselves.

Though you ascend as high as the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,’’ says the Lord, Obadiah 3, 4. The opposite of pride is humility. This means in order to attain success in life you must develop the mindset of humility. It is the way of Jehovah to diminish the full and enlarge the modest. It is the way of humans to overthrow the full and replenish the modest. God brings down disaster on the full and bless the modest.

It is the way of man to hate the full and love the modest. Humility displayed in a position of honour increases the radiance of that honour, displayed in a lowly position, men will not seek to

brush it aside.

Therefore, the modest man encounters good fortune in all his undertakings.

In life, the positive and the negative are constantly interchanging. Applied to our situation, it means that a humble man should sometime change his manner by gathering strength and taking the offensive. It will be necessary he defends himself against those who would take advantage of his humility.

Obeying God and lawful order is the second attitudinal mindset of champions. Disobedience is the opposite of obedience. How many of you would have his employee disobey him and yet gain promotion? I doubt if any of you would promote such a disobedient employee. How come then, you expect to disobey God and still get His blessings?

Disobedience has kept many people away from God’s abundance.

There are two dimensions to disobedience.

One, disobedience to the commands of God and two, disobedience to God’s wealth creation principles. ‘‘If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword,’’ for the mouth of the Lord has spoken,’’ Isiah 1:19. Here are two conditions upon which you could partake of the good of the land. One, be willing and two: be obedient. Unfortunately, many people are willing but a few are obedient to God’s commandments. Willingness isn’t enough. You must obey the laws and principles of wealth creation. ‘‘If you obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures, but if they do not obey, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die with-

out knowledge,’’ Job 36: 11-12. Thus, poverty is the result of disobedience. People presently claiming to serve God are only doing so on their own terms. But serving without obedience is an offence. Serving and obeying gains you divine prosperity and a lifetime of pleasure. Therefore, obedience is the panacea to Jehovah’s blessings. ‘‘If you fully obey the Lord your God by keeping all the commands I am giving you today, Jehovah your God will exalt you above all the nations of the world. You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God,’’ Deu 28: 1-2. Read Deuteronomy 28 verses 14 to see the list of blessings attached to obedience.

Certainly, you cannot be obedient to the commands of God and still remain poor. ‘‘But if you refuse to listen to the Lord your God and do not obey all the commands and laws I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you,’’ – Deutoronomy 28:15. On the following verse 16 is the gory list of curses disobedience can bring to your life. You cannot disobey and enjoy all that Jehovah wants you to be.

You are advised to read the entire 15th chapter of First Samuel to get the full import of Saul’s journey of disobedience. It is better to obey God than to bribe Him with the proceeds of your disobedience. Many think they are obedient because they don’t realize that: one, delayed obedience is disobedience; two: partial obedience is disobedience, three: adjusted obedience is disobedience and that incomplete obedience is disobedience. Poverty is a spirit and a curse. Many are poor because they live in disobedience to economic principles and wealth creation laws.

Our champion for today is Robert (Bob) Levin-

son, the American private investigator and retired deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) agent. He was taken hostage on March 9, 2007 when visiting Iran’s Kish Island while researching a cigarette smuggling case. He is currently the longest held hostage in American history. Born in March 1948, Levinson was kidnapped exactly two weeks before the 2007 Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnel to be interrogated and used as a bargaining chip in investigations with Washington.

In December 2013, the Associated Press reported that their investigations revealed that Levinson was working for the CIA. However, U.S. government said Levinson was not an employee of the government at the time of his capture. In December 2007, Christine Levinson, wife of Robert and her son Dan, traveled to Iran to learn more facts about Levinson’s disappearance. They met Iranian officials in Tehran and visited Robert’s hotel on Kish, the Hotel Maryam. But they got no clue to his whereabouts.

Pressed by Charlie Rose in an interview for CBS news, in September 2012, former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ‘‘did not deny Iran still has Levinson in its custody, and hinted that there had been talks about a prisoner exchange.’’ And President Barack Obama met with Christine Levinson at the Oval Office in March 2012 to assure her of governments determination to secure his release from Iranian officials. Levinson’s current status is that the father of seven, suffers from diabetes, gout and hypertension, his whereabouts are still unknown. His passport has never shown up in any other country.

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TRAVEL&TOURISM Gambia Birds Begins Plying Nigeria In April

By Laolu Adeyemi who was in Gambia ESPITES may have come the R way of Nigerian Tourists who are willing to visit Gambia

Crocodile versus man

Rebuilding House Of Oduduwa

By Ajibola Amzat HEN an Owu man murdered a woman from Ileife in cold blood about seventeen century, it was not just a case of homicide. It was also an assault against the sovereignty of Ife kingdom, a city-state regarded as the cradle of Yoruba civilization and the headquarters of the kingdoms in Yorubaland. The consequence was multiple wars that raged for a hundred years in the land. Even when the ceasefire was achieved and Kiriji peace treaty was signed in 1893, the kingdoms remains divided till date. The post-independence politics in Nigeria further fragmented the people of South West to the extent that the ethnic communities could hardly speak in one

W

voice even in a matter of collective interest.

But one man has stepped forward to mobilise the children of Oduduwa towards re-building a united Yoruba nation.

His name is Olootu Omooba Ashaye, the National Coordinator and Chief Resource Person, Oduduwa Descendants World Assembly (ODWA). The organization’s objective among others is to end hostility by fostering unity, peace, progress, friendship and cordiality among Yoruba people in any part of the world.

In the view of Prince Ashaye, there is a need for an organisation that would function as the apex body of the Yoruba ethnic people both at home and abroad with the aim of bringing the people under one strong, united and pro-

gressive body with one voice on national and global issues, irrespective of political and religious differences of the members.

His words: “The plan is to make Oduduwa Descendant World Assembly the main and the only Yoruba ethnic platform for all Yorubas in the world; and to promote and preserve the culture, wisdom, tradition, native civilization and economic potential of the Yoruba people, among others.”

Presently the organisation is putting up plans to construct Yoruba World Headquarters in Ile-Ife where the administration of the Yoruba affairs will be carried out. The multipurpose building will consist of Oduduwa assembly hall, auditorium, First Class Obas’

complex, museum, international trade fair centre, state secretariats, Oduduwa Youth Organisation complex, botanical and zoological gardens.

Other facilities will include library, 5-star hotel, recreational park, conference centre, religious centre, staff school, mechanic village, shopping centre, hospitals, staff housing scheme, helicopter pad, green areas and others.

The organization has also published a research document that aggregates the rich history of Yoruba people. In the book, the diversity of Yoruba’s culture and the inter-ethnic interaction that characterised the civilization of Yoruba people are neatly articulated. The leadership of the organization would soon

announce the lunching date of the book, said Prince Ashaye.

Director African operation of CES Industries, Inc. the company contracted to raise fund for ODWA Kingsley Obasohan said the effort is ongoing to raise funding for the building of the headquarters which would be sitting on 100 hectares of land.

According to the organogram of the pan Yoruba organisation, board of trustees and paramount rulers in Yoruba land would manage the organization while an advisory council of First Class Obas and Senior citizens would assist the group.

“The project belongs to the Yoruba royal fathers and the entire people of Yoruba land.

We are just facilitators,” said Prince Ashaye.

as effort has been concluded to fly Gambia Birds airline to Nigeria directly by month end.

The Gambia Tourism Board (GTB) Director General, Mr. Benjamin Roberts and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Mr. Momodu Joof during an interview with the Guardian in Gambia during the week, disclosed this.

Joof confirmed that the Gambian Birds will by end of this month starts flying to Nigeria and bring passengers from Nigeria.

An effort Joof described as deliberate in boosting population of tourists that come to Gambia globally. He further explained that the gesture would not only help Nigerians to fly freely to Gambia but also attracts investor, saying air access has been a major challenge.

“Gambia sees Nigeria as key market since we share similar activities and culture. There are Nigerians who have settled in Gambia. We have good corporate ties and excellent bilateral relationship ’” he noted.

According to Roberts, Gambia government is fast making effort to attract tourists from Nigeria and every other parts of the world.

Towards this ends deliberate efforts were being made by government to remove air access challenge by bringing Gambia Birds to Nigeria. With this, Roberts expressed that airline fares might be forced down and it would augment services of the Arik airline- the only airline that plies NigeriaGambia at the moment.

Joof disclosed that her government wants the nation’s tourism business to cease from being seasonal. “We want to make Gambia a tourist destination throughout the year as against having November to April as our peak season.”

He concluded: “Seasonal tourism is not good for our investor and our economy.”

Uganda Slashes Tarrifs For Gorilla Tracking ORILLA tracking in G Uganda, for the months of April and May this year,

National Co-coordinator and Chief Resource Person, Oduduwa Descendant World Assembly, Prince Olotu Leye Ashaye presenting map of the proposed world headquarters to be built in Ile Ife at the world press conference organized at Shagamu, Ogun state, while a trustee member of the organisation, Mr. Segun Jakande looks on.

will be considerably more affordable for tourists coming to The Pearl of Africa for a big game safari after the Uganda Wildlife Authority announced that tariffs would be slashed in order to boost the sale of permits during the low season months.

Regular tariffs now stand at US$600 per person per tracking for foreign nonresident visitors but for April and May the cost is reduced to US$350, aimed to attract more tourists to Uganda and in particular into the two gorilla national parks of Bwindi and Mgahinga.

Source: www.eturbon

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, March 29, 2014 13

TheGuardian

14 | Saturday, March 29, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Politics

Disagreements And Discordant Tunes As Confab Adjourns Again

By Samson Ezea LTHOUGH, it is too early in the day for one to pre-empt or conclude what will be the outcome of the National Conference, what has transpired since its inauguration on March 17 calls for concern, caution and worry.

Despite the high expectation and optimism that heralded the calibre of personalities nominated as delegates to the Conference, the first two weeks out of the three-month period slated for the Conference has been wasted on mere frivolities, pettiness and unnecessary disagreements that do no one any good.

It all started with allegations and counter-allegations against the Chairman of the Conference, Retired Justice Idris Kutigi over religious bias, favouritism, dictatorial tendencies and others.

When it appeared that the problems have been resolved, and the Conference was about to take off for the major and topical national issues for which it was set up in the first place, another controversy over voting procedures cropped up. This is despite President Goodluck Jonathan’s position during his inaugural speech that the modality for arriving at decisions should be by 75 per cent or at worst by consensus.

But instead of abiding by the modalities as released by the Federal Government, some delegates in a bid to achieve what many may call “predetermined agenda” decided to oppose the rule.

Throughout the fourth day of plenary at the Conference, arguments and disagreements over voting procedure to be adopted took the centre stage. Unfortunately at the end, it ended in a deadlock as delegates again failed to agree on the voting procedure to be adopted.

This resulted in the formation of a 50-member Consensus Group to resolve the lingering crisis over whether the Conference should adopt a consensus, three-third or two-third majority in taking decisions.

Members of the Consensus Group include Chief Olu Falae, Dr. Kunle Olajide, General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd.), Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN), Chief Peter Odili, Edwin K. Clark, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Prof. Jibril Aminu, Prof. Jerry Gana, Alhaji Adamu Waziri and Mallam Tanko Yakassai Others are, Senator Ibrahim Idah, General A.B. Mamman, A. K. Horsfall, Chief Josephine Anenih, Issa Aremu, Ms. Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau, Hajiya Bola Shagaya, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) Amb. Vincent Okobi, Amb. (Prof.) Lawrence Ekpebu, OFR, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, Hon. Mohammed Umara Kumalia, Prof. Auwalu Yadudu, Prof. Iyorchia Ayu, Obong Victor Attah, Senator Khairat Abdulrazaq

A

Gwadabe, Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba, Adamu Aliero, Atedo Peterside, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, and Prof. Isa B. Mohammed.

Equally part of the group are Kashim Ibrahim Imam, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Senator Ken Nnamani, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Alhaji Sule Yahya Hamma, Dr. Abubakar Saddique Mohammed, Chief Olusola Akanmode, Justice Lawal Hassan Gummi, Mr. Ledum Mitee, Mr. Fola Adeola, Senator Mimibariya Amange, Hon. Anayo Nebe, Raymond Dokpesi, Benjamin Elue, General Alani Akinrenade (rtd.), Nduka Obaigbena and Justice Mamman Nasir.

Later at the afternoon session when the wise men were called to come and give their report, two minutes were allotted to each member of the group, but the delegates argued that for them to speak, it would take time and since it was obvious that they have not yet concluded consultation on the voting pattern, it was, however, resolved that more time be given to the committee to do a thorough job on the matter.

Feelers from the wise men revealed that, the committee believed that the 75 per cent or consensus would be unacceptable, therefore, they are now proposing for 70 per cent.

Although, it was not tabled before the conference, but some of the delegates who were privy to the recommendation expressed pessimism, that majority of the delegates would not accept this, insisting that anything short of two-third majority would be unacceptable.

Signs of trouble had emerged earlier on that day as delegates arrived and formed clusters to discuss the controversial voting procedure.

However, when the Chairman, Idris Kutigi, finally declared the sitting open at about 10.30a.m, the chamber was already charged and delegates were ready for a showdown.

It was the warning by the Lamido of Adamawa, Aliyu Mustapha that some so-called elders who claim to be supporters of the President were about to derail the Conference that ignited trouble.

Obviously angry, Mr. Mustapha explained that he had been trying to speak on the floor of the Conference during the past three days, but was not recognised by the leadership.

He, therefore, used the opportunity to advise delegates to jettison what he described as “socalled Western Conference” because such would not do Nigeria any good.

Mr. Mustapha said he was surprised at the behavior of some delegates who were trying to overstep the bounds set by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said, “Some so-called elders who claim to be supporters of the President are causing prob-

lems at this Conference.”

This was followed by deafening shouts of “No, no, no, no,” from some delegates who refused to back down even when Mr. Kutigi pleaded that the royal father be allowed to speak.

The traditional ruler, who stood his grounds and continued speaking amidst the uproar, warned that the opposing delegates risk causing Nigeria’s disintegration with their unruly behaviour.

He said delegates from the other parts of the country should desist from pushing the North to the wall to avoid unpleasant backlash.

The soft-spoken monarch further argued that Adamawa Kingdom transcended Nigeria and Cameroun, adding that his subjects have somewhere to go if the country disintegrated.

When it was obvious that the Conference would be disrupted, the Chairman handed a list over to Vice Chairman, Bolaji Akinyemi, to read out to the house.

After reading the names of members of the Consensus Group, Kutigi ruled that the Conference adjourned till 4.00pm to enable them to meet and discuss on the controversial voting procedure.

At exactly 4.13pm when the Conference reconvened, Mr. Kutigi again announced that the Consensus Group met during the lunch break but could not resolve the issues at stake.

He said, “I have a little explanation to make.

The group we formed in the morning has been meeting at a hall in the Administrative Block.

That meeting continued until we adjourned for lunch.

“We went a long way to solve our problem. We have to go back and finish our meeting. When we finish, some of your representatives will come back to brief you.

“We want to make a comprehensive report of our meeting. We don’t want a repeat of what happened yesterday. The people we called are not permanent. We will call on others to come and join us and by the grace of God we will succeed. This meeting stands adjourned till Monday March 31.”

Also in furtherance of the delegates’ protest over the poor quality of food, the delegates on Wednesday boycotted the food provided, not even going near the dining hall.

The food provided, was however, eaten by the security, drivers and aides to the delegates and even those who provided the food, so that it would not be a waste of resources.

Many Nigerians are of the opinion that a lot of controversies in and on the National Conference are unnecessary and would appear to have been created to execute some sinister

plot (like deliberately derailing the Conference or forcing an extension of the time allocated for the conference.

Some have queried the debate over the size of majority needed to pass any resolution at the Conference, stressing that 75 per cent was clearly stated as one of the modalities of the procedure for the Conference. They believe that delegates should be able to convince their colleagues of the importance and fairness of any proposal being pushed by them.

Speaking to The Guardian on the development, one of delegates, Comrade Peter Esele said the controversial debate on the voting procedure, despite President Jonathan’s proposed 75 per cent was for the Conference to establish some level of independence.

“It will not be good if the Conference delegates accept President’s position hook, line and sinker. So, where is the independence of the Conference? We will resolve the voting procedure logjam.”

According to a Lagos-based legal practitioner, Mr. Kenneth Odidika, President Jonathan must have felt that it was necessary for most Nigerians (delegates) to agree on important issues regarding the terms and conditions of our living together which was why he provided for such majority.

“The mistake that was made was nominating people who are so set in their ways that reasoning is not part of their make-up. These are people who are stiff-necked and the surviving members of the elite club of pillagers, plunderers and rapists of the Nigerian nation. And this cuts across the whole nation – North, South, East and West.

“Lamido Adamawa was most irresponsible in his outburst, where he not only threatened to secede, but suggested that the ease of movement of the Boko Haram between Nigeria and Cameroon is engendered by some filial relationship and fraternal loyalty. The security agencies ought to be grilling the man. Part of the problem in tackling the menace of Boko Haram is the issue of sacred cows,’ Odidika said.

Meanwhile, there were feelers yesterday that the 50-member committee tagged Consensus Group, which was set up on Wednesday to resolve the voting logjam had agreed on 70 per cent at the second day of their meetings. The agreement will be passed to delegates on Monday for ratification. Until the delegates ratify the proposed 70 per cent by the Consensus Group on Monday, it seems there is no end to the disagreement yet, and it cannot be ruled out that it may not linger again at the Conference next week.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, March 29, 2014 15

POLITICS

‘Ekiti Polls Will Determine Direction Of Confab’ Bimbo Daramola, representing Ekiti North I in the House of Representatives, and directorgeneral, Dr. Kayode Fayemi reelection campaign organisation, spoke to journalists in Lagos on the June 21, 2014 election in the state, reports Seye Olumide.

HAT are the issues that will shape this W election?

There are a number of issues and directions to this. The very first thing will be substance.

That will be very material to the thrust of the campaign. We are going to have a campaign that will be issue-driven, agenda-setting.

My candidate, the campaign organisation, and by extension, the people are not just angling for second term for the sake of second term, just by the stereotype.

We are doing this out of the strong conviction driven by the tangible template that Dr. Kayode Fayemi has made in the past three and a half years. That will be material and would shape the campaign and conduct of election.

I know too well that the opposition is also there, rearing their heads and as a political party, they want to expand their territory.

I am inclined to assume that between 2003 and 2007, they were in power and the train that moved from Lagos hit Edo, ran through Ondo and berth at Ekiti and Ekiti reunited Oyo and Oyo eventually closed in on Ogun State. That will also come up. The opposition is also interested in taken back power from the party.

Thirdly, you will agree with me that this may not be nice, that one of us, who used to be a member of the house or same family, said he would be at the ballot for this election. All of these will shape this election by all intents and purposes; there is nothing you can do about that.

You cannot run away from these facts.

Elections are won on the basis political parties driven by individuals and the people ultimately have their way and every other thing key into this.

With about 200,000 registered members, does your candidate stand a chance of defeating the candidates of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party in the face of the number of voters in the state?

Yes, the APC registered members were in excess of 200,000 and the total registered voters in Ekiti is about 649,000.

Elections are won on the basis of so many factors. It would have been a completely different thing if we did not have an incumbent or all of the candidates are running as general candidates, fresh.

The truth of the matter is that the strength of the party is a factor, yet strength means nothing. It is just like trying to ascribe power to the size of a dinosaur, which, today, is facing extinction because the size has not been able to help the dinosaur.

The people have said PDP is the largest party in Africa and all that jargon but we also know that the party is depreciating and decimating as we speak.

I don’t want to benchmark the success of our elections on the fact that we are driven by population, which is driven by their conviction by what Dr. Kayode Fayemi has been able to do in three and half years.

I have said tat different times that till today, there is no one coming into the election with tangible assets as my candidate. He is not coming into election with promissory notes; he is coming into the election to say, ‘I will do’ but to say, ‘I have done.’

You do not mouth reputation; you earn reputation and performance and reputation of delivery governance and that has added value tangibly to the lives of Ekiti people.

It is something on the streets that no one can deny and we expect that those people, who are direct beneficiaries of the impact of his good governance in the past three and half years will not fold their hands and

Daramola entrust their fate and fortunes into unsteady and shaken hands.

They will rather entrust their fate and fortunes into a steady hand and consolidate on the good work in the past three and half years.

Why is the governor expressing fears that the election will be rigged?

I am not aware that my governor is expressing fears. In any case, there is the fear of the unknown. As human beings, we wake up, step out of our homes, committing our lives into the hand of God. There is always the fear of the shadowy. But the truth is that we have to confront our fears because we will soon that they do not exist. We have seen it before. Don’t forget that we are Ekiti people that do not brook cheating; we do not brook injustice.

Dr. Kayode Fayemi was not in office when Ekiti people stood by him, head to head, toe to toe and did not blink. We were not in government, yet pursued the mandate and by the grace of God, it was eventually delivered into our hands.

He has treated that mandate with so much sanctity. The recognition of that alone will shape the resolve of our people to stand beside him and by him to ensure that no matter what the electoral marauders are trying to do, they will not succeed.

In concrete terms, what are the fears?

The fear will not be too far-fetched. We have seen the seeming incompetence and lack of capacity of some of the institutions in the conduct of elections in the country. We have seen them time and time again apologising to Nigerians for the failures in Anambra, for the failures in Delta.

You (press), as the moral compass and the conscience of the society, also have the moral obligation to the populace out there.

It will be in the interest of President Goodluck Jonathan and his party to ensure that they play fair and ensure that the will of the people prevails in the election. It will be the fairest thing to do.

We know that this country is being tugged out at every corner regardless of the talking session in Abuja. The true test of the direction of the confab will be determined by elections in Ekiti because election is about allowing the people to exercise their civic responsibility WHAT informed the intense jostling of candidates to be governor of Ekiti State, given the number of people aspiring from various parties?

It is a sad spectacle and I am too sure this is one of the eternal legacies of Governor Fayemi’s administration. By the grace of God,

I have never seen an argument as hollow, puerile and jejune as that.

You spent Ekiti people’s money to repair roads in Ekiti and you didn’t finish the roads and another governor comes and out of responsibility to Ekiti people, who voted him, completes the roads and you are saying that is not a laudable achievement! You expect him to go and look for money to create Fayemi roads.

before the end of the second term of Governor Fayemi, all Dick, Tom and Harry will find aspiration to Okebadeke (seat of government) in Ekiti State not very comfortable anymore.

Dr. Fayemi would have sufficiently raised the standards such that anybody that aspires to lead Ekiti State will first of all benchmark himself. People will point to him that having seen all legacy and credential that your predecessor had left, are you still competent to fit into these shoes?

Some of the things they have said about Governor Fayemi is that he is not the ‘jule’ kind of governor who goes to eat ‘bole’ in the street place, market place or doing seeming things that are populist. He is not building stomach infrastructure.

Can you equate, in terms of character, a governor who goes to the streets to buy bole and ground nut from the woman on the streets and a governor who ensures that 25,000 senior citizens get a stipend of N5,000 and put them on subsistence care of their health and immediate needs perpetually and statute barred?

If you take social biometrics into consideration, you will discover that in the long run, people are better off than with a governor giving to emotional sentiments and goes to the streets to say, ‘how much is your ‘bole’ and pays N5,000 for it and that is where it ends.

This is a governor that provided 30,000 laptops for students and another 18,000 laptops for their teachers and trained them as well and made payment of teachers spread over 24 months.

This is because he knows that there is no profession that does not have ICT components in it. The world is not waiting on Ekiti and we cannot afford to play catch-up anymore.

Governance all over the world cannot be rated differently because the ultimate destination is to ensure that the quality of life of the people gets better. That is the essence of governance; anything short of that is defeatist.

If a governor has imbibed that and manifested that sufficiently enough and the people are saying, ‘we have entrusted our mandate into your hands for three and half years and it’s turned out this well.’

For instance, the Ikogosi Spring that is now talked about lay prostrate for 21 years in a roll of successive governments. It never caught their attention. It took the attention of Dr. Kayode Fayemi to reverse the trend and created jobs for people.

Ikogosi that lay prostrate for 21 years played host to the Nigeria Media Merit Award. In December, 20,000 people went to the place.

If everyone of them spent N200, that will develop the economy of Ikogosi, which eventually aggregates to the economy of the state.

This is what a leader should do. The only governor, who had the mind that something good could come out of Ikogosi, was Otunba Niyi Adebayo.

If your child has performed well, the next thing is to promote him to the next class. We have a candidate the Ekiti people believed have earned it.

What will Fayemi do differently in his second tenure, if re-elected, considering that critics say the projects he delivered in his first tenure were started by the previous administration?

I have never seen an argument as hollow, puerile and jejune as that. You spent Ekiti people’s money to repair roads in Ekiti and you didn’t finish the roads and another governor comes and out of responsibility to Ekiti people, who voted him, completes the roads and you are saying that is not a laudable achievement! You expect him to go and look for money to create Fayemi roads.

That is also very salutary that he picked up the projects because, the intension is that these ab initio, the projects will serve Ekiti people.

Whether that intention was right or wrong, overpriced or not, another came, priced it well and distilled the further benefits of it and went ahead to complete it. It’s pedestrian for anyone to criticise a governor for that.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

16 | Saturday, March 29, 2014

POLITICS

We Want To Rescue Kaduna From PDP, Says Buba All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain in Kaduna State and Director General of Save Kaduna Group (SKG), Ambassador Sule Buba, speaks on the efforts by some concerned citizens to bring government on the path of purposeful development in the State, saying his organisation is poised to support a pragmatic leadership to emerge next year. host of others, where there is significant transformation in all aspects of social life, Kaduna is in a big slumber.

What informed the formation of the Save This informed the formation of this group; that Kaduna Group 2015?

E are aware of the political situation in the we cannot just fold our arms and watch things deteriorate further in our state, and by extencountry and those of us who are old sion other parts of the country. enough in the political system in this country For that and because of our concern, we are worried with the way and trend of politics formed this group to rescue this appalling situain this country, Kaduna state in particular. tion in Kaduna in 2015.

We have to dichotomise between what tranI want to put this on record that our intention spired between 1999 and 2008 and what is not to quarrel or fight any group or any indiobtains then till date. vidual. We are after the system; we want to Kaduna State, as we are all aware, is the political hub of the entire northern states and it had transform the system, because even if the individual that represents the system is removed been the dictator of the agenda of not only it and the system is not corrected, you will not politics, but also the country at large. have the desired result.

But that was then, not now. Kaduna then was That is why our intention and agenda, which is able to dictate the tune because of certain variables. There was a lot of development; so much to have a different focus and restore the past political awareness and Kaduna was the centre glory of Kaduna State and Nigeria in general.

This is an onerous task this generation has of all activities.

But from 2008 to date, there seems to be a dull bestowed upon us and if we sit down without period, where nothing is happening; no politi- doing anything, then the future generation will hold us accountable. cal activities, no physical and human developWe will like to discharge our responsibility to ment.

In fact, it appears that one is finding it difficult the best of our ability, and that is why we said let there be change. That is why we left the to know or to see and say that we are getting Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has run our due share of the federation account, short of ideas and allowing it to continue to rule because we don’t see development taking in Kaduna and Nigeria will be very hazardous. place.

We are not praying for a disaster, but this is If you compare what is happening in neighsomething that we cannot afford or allow to boring states, like Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and

From Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief

W

Buba happen. That is why we believe that by forming this group, obviously we are going to bring drastic change in the art of governance in the state.

We are after the total transformation of the system; we want to see that we have a government that is accountable to the people, people-based, grassroots-based, government in which the man on the street and villages would have a say.

Those of you who have known us for a long time know that we are after the progress of the state and the country at large. Changing this government is a task that must be done; it is a duty that history has bestowed upon us.

I would like to promise that when we are in the Promised Land, it is going to be a collective government. So, our group is not a cult; it is open and welcomes any interested person to join.

We are determined to fight by constitutional means to reach the Promised Land and we would not be deterred. No intimidation or harassment will deter or discourage us.

This is our resolve and we believe that by the grace of God, with people’s support and encouragement, we are going to make it.

You served as director general of the campaign

organisation of the late governor of the state, Mr. Patrick Yakowa in 2011 and you happened to be one of the victims of that election, because your house was burnt. At what point did you discovered that PDP had failed the masses, having served the PDP government, at what point did you discovered that PDP is not sellable any longer?

We discovered these anomalies in PDP sometime early last year and we were hoping that things could be okay.

But when you see people falling apart and you counsel and your counsel is not welcome, then you have done your part. So, instead of waiting for this system to collapse, we decided to opt out.

This problem started one to two years ago.

Some well-meaning Nigerians in the PDP, who belonged to the new-PDP before the eventual merger into APC, did their best to correct things.

We care for the interest of the masses of this country, but we were ignored. So, since the problem is with the leadership, we decided to check out.

Emergence Of The New Chairman Of Southeast Governors’ Forum

By Charles Ajunwa ECENTLY the South East Governors’ Forum R (SEGF) reached another milestone in its existence as a rallying point for the governors of the five states that constitute the South-east geo-political zone. A thunderous ovation had greeted the announcement of Governor T.A. Orji of Abia State as the new chairman of South East Governors’ Forum after a meeting of the forum at Enugu, the regional capital of the South-east. Days after the change of baton the ovation is still resonating. It is a pointer to the fact that the choice of the visionary and hard working Governor of Abia to pilot the affairs of the Forum enjoyed a wide acceptance. Even the usually critical media practitioners could not help but applaud the South-east governors for their choice when Governor Peter Obi broke the cheering news to them. The newsmen that covered the SEGF meeting were moved to join the joyous throng, given that the new chairman of the SEGF is a man they know has already proved his mettle as a quality leader.

The smooth transition is commendable. In deed, the South-east governors silenced the prophets of doom who had predicted that the change of leadership of the SEGF would be chaotic and stormy. They had even gone to their rumour mill to spin out falsehood about the failure of the SEGF to agree on who should succeed Governor Obi as chairman. But while they were anxiously waiting for the South-east Governors to fail in their bid to choose a new chairman, the naysayers were roundly proved wrong with the maturity and high sense of responsibility with which the Governors conducted the transition process. It was devoid of rancour. There was no expression of primordial sectional sentiments. The transition process was as smooth as silk. Governor Orji enjoyed the trust and confidence of his col-

leagues hence they unanimously agreed to give him the mantle of leadership.

For those who have been following the political and leadership trajectory of Abia State Governor, Chief T.A. Orji, his choice to lead the SEGF was not a surprise. Here is a man whose political maturity reaction to national issues has propelled him beyond the confines of God’s Own State where he is the chief executive. In fact, it is no longer news that Governor Orji has become a strong and respected voice at the national level.

This much was pointed out by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku , when he came to Umuahia last month to inaugurate one of Ochendo’s Legacy Projects, the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA). A 48-room ultra modern office complex. The minister had attributed Governor Orji’s rising profile to his sterling performance, which has made the people of Abia, the Presidency and the national leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to be very proud of him. It is therefore a wise decision on the part of the South-east Governors that one of them whose voice and opinion is respected at the national level should take the lead.

In his characteristic humility, Governor T.A. Orji has accepted the additional responsibility placed on his shoulders. He has also acknowledged that the task before him “is enormous”. But he remains unfazed by the new responsibility. As a man of courage and wisdom he has assured that he would not be overwhelmed by the task of leading his people. He has continued to prove it since 2007 when he mounted the saddle of leadership in Abia State. As a team player he knows that he would not succeed alone and has therefore called for the cooperation of not only his colleagues but every segment of the South-east zone.

Yes, Governor T.A. Orji is a leader who understands and applies the popular aphorism that when a man dreams alone he becomes a dreamer but when he dreams with others he becomes an achiever. His predecessor, Governor Peter Obi of

Anambra State had enjoyed full cooperation of the Governors since 2007 when the leadership of the SEGF fell on him. It is noteworthy that the SEGF operated without rancour and bickering and ego contest that was the case before Obi took over. It is therefore expected that such brotherly atmosphere would continue to prevail under the new leadership of Governor T.A Orji.

Good enough the new chairman of SEGF has hit the ground running. Governor T.A. Orji has set out his priorities right. He said that he would work hard to bring to reality the elusive economic cooperation of the states of the South-east zone. The clamour for the economic integration of the component states of the South-east zone has been on since the formation of the South East Governors Forum. Proponents of the Southeast economic integration are of the view that it would enable the component states to tackle common development challenges by pooling resources together and investing in such areas as power, waste management, education, infrastructure, among others through a jointly owned investment company. This could be made possible through a jointly owned investment company like the Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation (ENDC) that used to be the investment arm of the defunct Eastern Region. In making economic cooperation of South-east states a priority issue Governor Orji believes that it is possible for the zone to have a common investment portfolio. As a man synonymous with legacy projects the Abia Governor said that the five states of the South-east could pull their resources together and execute projects that would be of mutual economic benefit to the zone and serve as a lasting legacy for the people.

Another priority area the new SEGF Chairman has set as his area of focus is to ensure that the South-east will remain united, cohesive and to speak with one voice as has been the case since 2007 when Obi took over as chairman. Governor

T.A. Orji is a man of peace and he always craves for peaceful environment and strives hard to create it. It could be recalled that he inherited a highly polarized Abia State where the political elites were fighting among themselves due to the divide and rule policies of the past administration which was laced with injustice and enthronement of mediocrity, and disrespect to elders. But on assumption of office Governor Orji set himself to the task of reconciling all the Abia political elites and today they speak with one voice. All the centripetal and centrifugal forces tearing Abia apart and stagnating its growth have disappeared.

No doubt Ochendo would apply his healing balm in making the South-east to be united and speak with one voice. This has become more urgent as the Nigerian nation commences the process of holding a national conference where each zone of the country would table its demands and expectations for the emergence of a truly united, strong nation where peace and justice would reign.

Good enough, Governor Orji has said that he would galvanize the South-east zone to cooperate with other zones of the country on issues that would promote peace, equity and justice and development of the country, citing the issue of insecurity in the North-east and the forthcoming national conference.

Having placed his hands on the ploughshare of leading the South East Governors Forum, there is no looking back for Chief T.A. Orji. It therefore behoves on his brother governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the political elites across the South-east zone irrespective of political leanings, and indeed every Igbo man and woman to give maximum support to the new chairman of the SEGF to work for the peace and progress of the zone.

• Ajunwa is Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State

TheGuardian

Saturday, March 29, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com

17

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Love&Life

... Celebrating The Feelings You Share!

with SIMON Egbo 07032944123

IN THIS EDITION

Love Connections

Princess of

Women Seeking Relationship/Marriage

Love

True Confession:

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Having An Affair But Can’t Leave Marriage

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Call professor love on 07032944123 for relationship/marriage counseling and direct hook-up. Pls call before texting your request.

LIFE STORY FROM ABROAD

Men Seeking Relationship/Marriage Wale, an engineer, 34yrs of age, resides in Lagos, needs a pretty, working class, humble and Godfearing lady btw the ages of 22-28yrs for relationship that will lead to marriage. Pls call 08034892116

Is It Possible To Wait TOO LONG To Get Married?

Love Dictionary

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Okechukwu, tall, handsome, 33 yrs, resides in Lagos, needs a working class Igbo lady btw 23 – 30 yrs for a serious relationship. Call 08185640107.

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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

Love Quote: You can’t show love to someone at the expense of someone else who loves you.

Randy K. Milholland

Common Signs That Your Girlfriend Is Cheating On You IFFERENT people have different explanations and theoD ries including signs which they consider as relevant cheating signs presented by their partners. However, some of the commonest signs that she is cheating on you which you must watch out for include: She Starts Paying More Attention to Her Appearance If your girl suddenly starts taking more time with her hair and make up and dressing up without any special occasion, then she could be trying to impress whomever she is cheating with. Pay attention especially to her underwear selection since most girls like to wear sexy undergarment when they are with someone new. If she wears granny panties when she is around you but puts on a lace thong to head to work, then this could be a sign she is seeing someone.

Your Intuition Your gut feeling may also be an indicator that something is wrong somewhere. If you have worked on overcoming your jealousy but still feel something is not right and have that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, or you find yourself looking for excuses for your partner’s behavior, then pay close attention to other things on these signs of cheating spouse for a recurring pattern. Pay close attention to the signs and your instinct but make sure you don’t confuse signs with proof.

She Uses The Computer A Lot When You Are Not Around You don’t need to hack into her mail to observe how she behaves online. Does she use the computer excessively, especially after you have gone to bed? Have you discovered an

email account you never knew about and she refuses to share the password with you? In today’s world, this happens to be one of the most common of the signs of a cheating girlfriend.

Accusing You Another common sign you are being cheated on is her accusing you of the very same she is guilty of, cheating. They may drop hints that you are having an affair because their own guilt is starting to wear on them.

Secret Phone Conversations Does she leave the room every time she gets a call on her phone? Is she just trying to be polite? If your partner is trying to guard her conversations on her phone, then there may be a reason to make you worried.

Sudden Changes In Sexual Desires Some cheating spouses will begin to avoid sexual contact with their partners, while others may seek it out more than usual. Both increased and decreased sexual interest can also be signs of other things such as hormonal changes. So this sign of cheating needs to considered along with the presence of other signs. Beyond her level of sexual desire, one thing you need to look for is change in how she does certain things during sex and intimate moments. Does she kiss differently? Does she want sex in certain positions or activities that she never expressed interest in before? If so, this could simply suggest an interest stimulated by a magazine article or perhaps a tip from one of her friends, but a sudden change in sexual technique can definitely be a sign that she is learning new tricks from a new partner.

‘I Need Some Space To Figure Out My Feelings’ Women who are involved with someone else will require more space, time alone or away from the family. She may say it due to confusion over her feelings or stress at work. This can be a sign that there is someone else and she is trying to figure out ways to have more freedom.

A Sudden Need for Privacy If things the two of you used to share suddenly becomes private, pay close attention because something is probably up.

She may start password protecting computer activity. Cell phone and credit card bills may also be hidden. If you make out an attempt to find out info that used to be common knowledge between the two of you, you will be accused of snooping or trying to control your spouse. BIG WARNING SIGN!!!

Arguing Over Nothing Will she argue with you over the tiniest things? If it feels like she’s coming after and you are unsure as to why, it could be because she is looking for a way out. Reasons to validate what she did ‘hence her cheating on you’. In case she starts blowing up over little things and the relationship seems unsteady, this may be signs of things to come.

Me personally I don’t support cheating because it’s morally not right, even the society doesn’t take cheating issues lightly, and it is the most painful thing one could ever do to his/her loved one. stories/comments to simonclar@yahoo.com.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

18 | Saturday, March 29, 2014

LOVE&LIFE

Having An Affair But Can’t Leave Marriage need someone to put my IintoREALLY life back on track, to turn me back the mother and wife I once was.

True Confession

A year ago, all that mattered to me was my family whom I took pride in and would do a lot for them without expecting anything in return. After all , love is unconditional and as a mother, it’s my job to love, care and protect them. I didn’t even ask a lot from my husband nor did he expect a lot from me. We were just in a good marriage, hardly any arguments between us and we took pride in our parenting and are proud of our beautiful, bright children.

It all started when a single dad at school confessed to me that he finds me attractive and admitted fancying me for a while. It all came as a big surprise to me as I do not expect a mum like me to still have ‘admirers’.

Although I turned him down but since then, my confidence grew and I started enjoying the fact that I can still attract male attention.

Six months ago, I met William. I was very much attracted to him, physically and sexually. We started off texting back and forth, first with light and gentle flirting. We met up for a few drinks now and again and have a good time laughing and flirting.

Then it soon developed into a bit more and more and then more.

I am not one into casual flings or reckless, irresponsible behaviour but then suddenly before I realised, I found myself having an affair with William. A proper fullblown affair. By the time I asked myself ‘what have I done?’, it was too late. I have already slept with him. I know it was all principally and morally wrong. I know I have done something very bad and my husband would not forgive me if he knows what had happened.

I asked myself what do I want from this relationship with William? Is it just purely for sex?

Physically, we both look good together and we are both in lust with each other although William said it’s not just about that. He said he cares about me and wanted to see me every weekend. He kept telling me he misses me whenever he is not with me and he would send me daily text messages which were all very sweet to read.

I thought I was falling for William because I can’t get him out of my mind and I really love being with him. I am so attracted to him that no one else can catch my attention because my heart

and mind is just set on him alone.

The problem is I can’t seem to leave my marriage because I don’t want to break my family apart and let my kids and husband down. What I have is beautiful and to destroy it could be the biggest mistake and regret in my life. Yet I can’t stop contact with William no matter how hard I tried. I always ended up going back to him again and again.

It is like an addiction. Maybe I am in love with him but I am just in self-denial.

Although William has told me he loves me, but he doesn’t convince me enough that our relationship has a future. Although I can see myself (on my own) with him but I can’t see my children in the picture. William is a single guy, still living a bachelor life and there is no way he would swap his convertible two-seater sports car into a family car. Everything in his life is that of a bachelor; even his bachelor pad is so unchild-friendly and immaculate that I can’t even imagine my kids sitting on his leather creamy sofa. I can’t even see him swapping his bachelor pad to a family home.

All signs are telling me is I am a ‘current’ girl he is currently seeing until he finds himself a single girl

he is willing to settle down with. I have somehow raised that issue in a joking way with him and of course he denied it. I didn’t press him more because I don’t want to spoil the fun between us. Also I felt I have no right to press him for commitment when I myself am still married. He did say to me before that I should make my mind up on what I want in life or with my relationship and he is jealous to imagine sharing me.

There is no sharing. I have become even more emotionally and physically detached from my husband.

Thinking back over the years, we have grown apart emotionally and intimately. There is hardly any connection between us and I am no longer attracted to my husband in a sexual way. No matter how I want to try with him again, I just couldn’t find myself interested in the whole idea.

I think its because I am so distracted having William around. Sooner or later this is going to come out and my husband will find out what I have been doing.

I really have to decide what I want in life but at the moment, it’s nearly like saying wanting to have the cake and eat it. In my dream, if I can, I would just walk away from my marriage and start a new life with

‘Is It Possible To Wait TOO LONG To Get Married?

NDREAS and I were together for over six A years before we got married, and living together for five of those. We’d already survived

LIFE STORY FROM ABROAD

several rounds of unemployment, interstate moves, college graduations, and holidays spent with each other’s families.

At a certain point (maybe around four years in?), the questions from friends and family shifted from, “So, are you two getting married?” to, “Why bother? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

That was the point at which I realized maybe we’d waited a little tooooo long.

Wait, did I just say we waited too long to get married? Is that even possible?

It may indeed be possible. At that four year point, it felt like people started assuming if we hadn’t gotten married yet, it was because we didn’t want to — not just that we hadn’t gotten around to it. I’ve seen this with other long-term unmarried couples, too: People start to assume maybe you’re using your relationship to protest marriage inequality. Or they assume you’re not interested in marriage at all.

I even had some friends assume we weren’t married yet because we hated the idea of marriage — you know, like they did. Ah, yes.

Projections! I had strange conversations that revealed a lot about people’s fears of marriage: “Yeah, who needs to get married? You’ll just stop having sex and bicker all the time! If it ain’t

broke, don’t fix it!”

I suppose these fears aren’t completely unjustified. There is that weird phenomenon of longstanding relationships falling apart after making it legal. Is that evidence of people waiting too long? How does all this relate to the phenomenon of the epic, half-decade engagements? You can definitely wait too long between getting engaged and getting married. I’ve seen it too many times to count on the Offbeat Bride Tribe: if the engagement is longer than three years, plans shift so many times en route to the wedding date that you might as well be getting a four-year bachelor’s degree in Wedding Planning Purgatory And Hellish Studies.

Brides purchase a dress, and then a different one year later, and then a third a few months before the actual wedding. You put a deposit down on a caterer, and they go out of business 18 months later. You collect ten gigs of wedding inspiration on your computer, and then realize you actually like the inspiration more than your fiance and break-up. You pick a theme.

Then another one. Then a third. Then decided fuck it and just elope.

In my experience, four month engagements are easier on couples than four year engage-

ments. For us, there was just a certain time when a six-month engagement felt just right for both of us. We were both firmly committed, but it took a while to get to a place where planning a wedding fit into our plans and emotional landscape.

But did we wait too long? I’m going to go with no, we didn’t wait too long — the slow-moving timeline we were on worked for both of us. It continues to work for both of us: we’d been together over ten years before we had a child (although half of that was not by choice). We only just combined our bank accounts last year.

We’re both pretty fiercely independent, and clearly, moving slowly has worked well for us as a couple.

At this point, we’ve been married as long as we were unmarried — Dre’s and my 2004 wedding marks the half-way point of our relationship.

And I can say that I have no regrets about not having been married sooner.

The only true too long is if partners are mismatched in their timeline and expectations. To me, the only real way to wait too long is if one partner gets sick of waiting, and calls the entire relationship into question. Then, and only then, you’ve waited too long.

Then again, if you’re sick of waiting — maybe it’s time to propose.

William but I can’t leave my children behind and it pains me to imagine letting my husband down because it would be a blow to him.

It would kill him if I leave.

Also, is William the kind of guy who is worth sacrificing for? That question has been hanging on my head. If I leave my marriage for a guy who is worth every tear and pain and manage to have a good relationship and lead a happier life with, that would be beautiful but William might not be worth the sacrifices.

Should I confront William and ask him to be honest with me on what he wants? He got to give me some kind of commitment.

Part of me thinks if he can’t commit on a long term thing with me and include my kids in, then he is a waste of time and effort. He is just not worth it. But to raise all these with him means potentially I am at risk of losing the fun I can have with him. And if he said yes he is ready to commit, do I really have the heart and courage to leave my marriage and tear all their world apart?

Please, please, please, has anyone been through a similar experience or can someone wake me up?

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

Love Dictionary What is Love?

LOVE is the gentle touch with a hint of passion and a soft sprinkle of lust.

Love is trust.

Love is holding hands ever so gently under the moon light Love is trust Love is staring so intently into your lover’s eyes with the feeling that, this is so right.

Love is a sweet walk in the park with that special someone.

Love is pain, pleasure and everything nice Love is trust.

Love is loving and caring for you in a very special way.

Love is remembering the simple and special things we do and say.

Love is remembering how sweet you are.

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.

Low Sperm Count/Premature Ejaculation – Solution is here. Call 07025350586.

Baby Sex/Gender Selection – Decide the sex of your baby (male or female). Call 07025350586, 08122352054, 08131161840.

Lovers’ Answers Game: The rule: Ask the opposite sex one question about love, and choose your lover from the top three answers.

This weeks question: Why is it necessary to double-date?

Call 07032944123 to send your question or answers.

SPECIAL REQUEST: A professional needs a good looking, well educated and mature lady, who is a working class or a professional. Slim or average in body shape, age btw 34 -43yrs. Pls contact Professor love for details.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, March 29, 2014 | 19

RELATIONSHIPS

By Alita Joseph T is thought that a woman is always Iwilling ready to settle with any man who is to marry her.

It is not all the time, however, as many women have come to some juncture in their relationships where marriage seems to be the only way to go and questioned their future lives with these men.

These are areas where women are not so eager to move with their men Age THERE you are, enjoying your life because you think time is on your side.

You have fun together parting every weekend with the hope that he will propose one day and you will agree to be his wife.

But all of a sudden, it takes your birthday and you realise that you want to settle down now, not next year.

The problem is, he wants to play for a longer time; he tells you that he wants to explore the world more before he settles down.

You have seen everything there is about the world, so his immaturity hits home of a sudden.

Take Linda for example: “When I turned 25, I thought I had become ancient. Every statement I made was ‘at this my age.’

“Relatives and friends were alarmed and I could see surprise when strangers would ask me: ‘And how old are you exactly?”

But I thought I had outgrown my relationship and left him. I went into another relationship straight away and became pregnant. I was left alone to take care of myself and my baby.

Don’t set an age by which you must marry. You could be making a mistake. Some women you see leaving one relationship to the other do so not because jumping around makes then happy.

Many must have made happy love connections in the past, but left

When She Hesitates

what you want from him.

Meeting His Family MEETING a man’s family for the first time can put the question on weather a woman can go through life together with this man. Seeing that Tim is only a younger version of this man who appears too strict can put you off and you see yourself wondering if you will continue to argue over little things for the rest of your life as you do now.

Before you leave him, think of the good things you have seen in his family.

But you may be wrong to judge him by what you observe from his family. He may find some of these habits unappealing and want to leave them behind. Many people grow up trying to leave what they have learnt at home behind them.

So look for what you may have in common with them. If there is none, chances are that he admires your behavior which is so different from his family.

when they thought their other halves did not understand them.

They discover, however, that subsequent ones were nothing to compare with the true love of their lives who may have married.

So, they move from one place to the other trying to gain something similar or close to the former one.

It is alright to plan where you should be, but if you are not married at that time, although you have a potential mate, stay with him.

Drop hints now and then. He will understand that time is not on the woman’s side.

By Kemi Amushan F you have a special guy in your life right Inect now and you feel and know you want to conwith him on a deeper level and in a way no other woman has ever connected, then you just have got to understand some things.

You have to know what men really want in love and relationships, and make him realise you are the only woman in the world who can give it to him.

I want to shed a little light on the dark, mysterious and perennially annoying male mind.

You will find some women asking: “How can I make a guy fall in love with me and the thing is that I even find out that other women do it effortlessly, but I can’t!”

In today’s newsletter, you will be learning how to unlock a man’s heart and make him notice, approach, appreciate and soon love you. I am not making this up, ladies, I am dead serious. I am talking about my personal experiences and the experiences of my male friends.

Most guys will share the story of how they met that one special woman who touched their hearts and blew them away and how they never dated other women ever again.

How? She simply had one distinct advantage over all the other women they ever met.

So, I will be sharing with you what a particular male friend of mine shared with me today.

Let me promise you something: When you have this distinct advantage, you will instantly know how to “touch a guy’s heart,” even during your first five-minute conversation with him. He will be thinking about you long after you say “bye” and he will stay up all night wondering how to ask you out.

You will also gain that unique ability to make each meeting with him more enjoyable than the last. As time goes by, he will be more and more interested in you and eventually his interest will mature into true love. No joke! Trust me.

But here is the catch. Sometimes, when you are good at unlocking a guy’s heart, you cannot help, but collect some unexpected male attention (and affection) wherever you go, even

New Year Resolution EVERY New Year, I watch as a neighbour, Nonye, resolves that she will get married. It is not that flippant talk you hear; she says it confidently and quietly. With each disappointment, she dumps a man in her life.

She is intelligent and hardworking, but she cannot understand that she cannot force a man to marry her or that marriage should not be your New Year resolution.

So, she makes her resolutions, but keeps them secret as resolutions are made to be kept.

if you are just talking to friends, acquaintances, co-workers, etc.

But I don’t think you would mind that. Would you?

Now, the secret is easy to talk about, but very challenging to accept and practice. If you want to “touch a man’s heart,” you simply have to understand how he acts, reacts, thinks and feels, not just about love, but about life in general.

In other words, you simply have to understand and accept him completely. You have to just get him, because guys do not vent. When women get stressed, we vent.

But if she does not share her resolution, how would her current boyfriend know the best New Year present he could ever give her?

Also, if the partner’s resolution may be not to get hooked to woman, so both of them would have different wishes that particular year and both of them would be working on parallel lines.

Instead of making a wish, look at what is happening now in your relationship. Discuss your misgivings with your partner.

Make it a two-way affair. Ask him what he wants, and then tell him

We call our girlfriends and talk for a few hours. That is something guys envy about us, because they cannot do that; it is not in their nature. They just do not vent.

And over time, they find themselves under a lot of stress and pressure. And deep inside, they feel that need to simply be accepted and validated.

Remember back in secondary school, when you had that dreaded need to feel part of the happening click in school? Guess what, it is like that for guys too, except that secondary school does not end when they are 17. Their need for acceptance and validation lasts their

Male Mind Connection

When Friends Break Up Relationships have ended because close friends could no longer work through their issues. If on the possibility that you are looking at your own relationship right now and seeing only weak points because those same things caused your friends to break up. But your friends’ problem need not affect your love life. You are different people entirely.

When those issues that cause their breakup come up in your relationship, think of what you like about your boyfriend and let them help you at this critical stage. You may be right that he is below who you think you should stay with. But he may also be more than you expect.

Make sure though that you are not restless because you think that you should be free like your friend to look around before settling down.

entire lives.

But that angst, depressing and torturous feeling ends completely once they meet that one special woman that knows what they are going through, understands their needs and accepts them completely.

No kidding. It is like a tidal wave of joy and relief when men meet that special woman. All their pain, all their grudges, all their “good reasons not to fall in love” get washed away when they find that one special woman. I am sure you have seen it happen before.

A guy who is a hopeless player in his 20s suddenly turns into a strong, capable and devoted family man in his 30s after he meets that one special woman.

Or a juvenile delinquent suddenly does a 180degree turn in his life and he starts going to church and helping other troubled youths break the cycle after he meets that one special girl.

So, what is my big message for you today? It is simple and straight to the point: Yes, having a loving mindset and good dating skills are important, but they are not nearly as important as the ability to touch a man’s heart.

This is because quite simply, it is their biggest emotional need. And that one special woman who meets that need is the one who changes their lives forever.

Become his “one special woman”. The power lies absolutely in your hands and as I have said, without the ability to touch a man’s heart, all of these “dating stuffs we talk about are temporary, only-skin-deep, band-aid solutions to a long-term problem.

So, if “nothing is happening” between you and your man, try to take a closer look. You might have just a “band-aid connection” with him.

Don’t settle for a band-aid connection. Touch his heart.

I definitely recommend you apply these lessons in your life for at least a month because when you unmask the male mind, you unlock the male heart.

This is what a guy shared with me. It is what they want and need the most.

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

20

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, March 29, 2014

WEEKEND with AMARA

08116706852 Email: amara@amarablessing.com

Stopping The Rot In Nigeria’s Education Sector ROWING up, we learnt the song about G how sweet education was and how difficult it can be to learn. But the most troubling part of that song included the realities of those years in that, “if your parents had the wealth, then you would be educated.”

Since then, thankfully, the barrier of education has largely been broken. The Nigerian government, federal and states, have mapped out huge budget allocations for education. In fact, education gets the largest chunk of the federal budget, more than defence and housing combined. Yet, education in Nigeria still is a nightmare to many people.

The atmosphere of learning is more like a market place than a centre for learning. Our universities look more like standard primary schools and our students, particularly the females, are pimping their bodies to pay their way through college and our boys are been used as thugs by the political class during and after elections. As someone who studied in Nigeria and also studied outside Nigeria, there is no basis for comparison really. And this is very sad considering that Nigerian students abroad have almost always excelled in their fields of study.

The quality of education is on a constant decline in the country. Education in Nigeria is no longer designed to train students for effective thinking. To think incisively and to think for one’s self is very difficult and this is where the value of education should be measured. But it seems to me that the focus of education in Nigeria is to “acquire the certificate.”

No wonder we see graduates, though having gone through some of Nigeria’s best universities, still move about steeped in “half truths and prejudices” and unable to express themselves. Indeed, a great majority of our so-called graduates cannot think logically or methodologically. More than eighty percent of our students are mentally poor; perhaps

this also effects the larger society where it seems things hardly work the way they should.

If occupational status is to be tied to education by the notion of meritocracy, then our institutions should be more than ready to task the students and get the best out of them in a genuine learning environment.

Speaking not too long ago at the 20th National Economic Summit in Abuja with the theme, ‘Leadership And Ownership in Nigerian Education in Focus’, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole said: “Nigerian leaders must act with courage, conviction and be decisive to stem the rot in the sector.”

He noted that there was a time in this country when students threatened to shut down their schools and the authorities had to engage them not to boycott classes. And that “we have moved from that era to one in which our universities were shut for over six months and it was not an issue.”

What then is the problem? Perhaps this problem started with how the government treated the university lecturers and teachers. In Nigeria, teachers are underpaid and sometimes, not paid at all for months. It is increasingly true that teachers always complain of poor wages and salary given to them by the government. In such a situation, we see teachers going on strike.

However, Nigeria has many other problems facing her education sector and corruption is at the root of those problems. Corruption affects revenue allocation when those in charge choose to embezzle the funds in the education sector. Of course, with the embezzlement of the funds, the provision of quality teaching and good educational facilities in our government schools are compromised.

But one of the most visible problems facing education in Nigeria is lack of good educational facilities.

In some Western countries where education is not only affordable, corruption free, funded and taken seriously, science students for ex-

IMAGE AND ETIQUETTE With Pamela

Education comes with a great responsibility; it does not just empower, but it also teaches one how to use that power. I sincerely don’t think that we Nigerians have enough education yet. Otherwise, how come our country is in this mess? Perhaps our country is in mess because the right investment has not been made in education. ample, do more practicals than theory because they have the facilities. In Nigeria, the conditions are different even when the courses are the same. Evidently, Nigerian students rarely stand chances against the students of the developed countries.

Ironically, when Nigerian students travel abroad, they excel in their various disciplines.

This shows that the problems are not the students but the environment, the leadership, the poor facilities etc.

Not too long ago, a picture was taken revealing how tens of hundreds of students of University of Lagos were packed into classes without electricity, without enough ventilation and without any public addressing system.

Surely, the only thing the lecturer would be able to achieve in such circumstance is to lecture and dictate notes to over a hundred students in a class without considering if the students got it right or not, and the next thing is that he will ‘meet them in the exam hall.’

With such a congested classroom, learning would almost be impossible; and this is an increasing problem. So far, it appears that the politicians and university leadership, particularly the governing body, don’t see the issue

here, and understand the severity of the situation.

This is only going to achieve one thing if noting is done and done urgently: they are going to turn the students and our youths into some under-qualified individuals like them and prepare them to handle posts beyond their scope in the future.

Its a pity the universities in Nigeria no long realise the importance of educating us; this country’s youth, it’s next generation! What is going to happen to us if three-quarter of every academic year is spent sitting at home?

Some lecturers have no passion for tutoring and are just hanging on to ‘a job.’ How could they teach in such an environment? Surely, if the funds are mismanaged at the doorsteps of the academic institutions, then it means that the university dons are more active in ruining the future of their youth than they are active in preparing them for tomorrow.

This is not the only problem facing the education sector in Nigeria. And while it demands for urgent action to be corrected, other problems such as lecturers welfare should not be overlooked. The next battlefield upon which we must fight to build a better Nigeria is in the area of education.

Education comes with a great responsibility; it does not just empower, but it also teaches one how to use that power. I sincerely don’t think that we Nigerians have enough education yet. Otherwise, how come our country is in this mess? Perhaps our country is in mess because the right investment has not been made in education.

Money surely has a crucial role to play, but more than money is the need for personal initiatives, the values of responsibility and commitment. If we are to examine the devastating effect poor delivery of education has caused Nigeria as a country, we shall come too see that there is noting that destroys any society than neglecting education. The government must take action before all hope is extinguished.

08116706879 (SMS only).

E-mail:regalgraces@yahoo.com

HE mistakes a lot of T us make – both Is Beauty A Vice Or Virtue (11) Taking Off Our Masks men and women – is that we try to beautify and hide our broken inner selves with outward adornments. All the makeup and cosmetics in the world cannot hide the darkness and aches within our souls. You want to be desired and therefore you adorn yourself in the way you perceive will make people desire you. It doesn’t matter much if the image you present is a debased one – some men dress themselves up so vainly that they look like full grown men struggling with puberty. And the women, with demeaning apparel that exudes loose morals. Men are to grow in stature and wisdom, full of knowledge and Godly fear, having a strong and dependable character that wins the favour of God and Man. “Jesus grew in wisdom and maturity. He gained favor from God and people” – Luke 2:52 (GW). Women are to be adorned like temples – well pleasing, modest and beautifully polished on the outside and flowing with the ethereal aura of grace, unadulterated wisdom and a character that is gentle, feminine and full of good works. This inner beauty is what determines the outer image and perception. Therefore, if you are to be truly beautiful without, you must first be clean within. “…You hypocrites! You clean the outside of cups and dishes. But inside they are full of greed and uncontrolled desires. You blind Pharisees! First clean the inside of the cups and dishes so that the outside may also be clean.” – Mathew 23:26 (GW) To find our true identity, we must find God. It is when we can appreciate His attributes – His glory, beauty, love, etc., that we understand that He has made us to be just as He is.

How much we know God and understand

His virtues determines how much of Who He is we manifest.

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians 3:1718 KJV) So if you have come to know His love for you, you too will manifest that love not just to yourself but to others. If you have known much of the peace of God, when people come in contact with you, they will just perceive peace. This knowledge is not the knowledge of the book but the experience of the Spirit.

A Frugal Heart Knows No Burdens Many years ago, as a teenager, I was an angry, bitter and disappointed young woman – and rightfully so, I reasoned. My father would appeal to me to smile and not to upset my pretty face but I could find no reason to. In the process, I hurt those around me, God bless them! Oh, it wasn’t as if I was so far away from God for I always ran to Him to give a report, but my circumstances were more real to me than the grace that God had made available to me.

Then one day, I realized how sad I was and I asked myself if I wanted to be right or happy, hardened or vulnerable enough to love and be hurt, independent or open to the endless possibilities of love. I wanted to be a happy, cheerful and delightful woman so I chose that in spite of my misgivings.

This request I brought to God to make me so for it was not into me to truly desire it or make myself so. Slowly, but surely, I changed; I learnt to chose my battles, I learnt of the healing forgiveness brings, I learnt to look and trust in God for each outcome, I learnt to drop burdens at His feet, I searched the scriptures and found who

God says I am and what He has made me and started reading those beautiful words to myself. I am still very much a work in progress but His grace is sufficient. When you make peace with yourself and those around you, life would mean so much more and you will find that the best things in life are never far from you!

The Root And Manifestation Of Beauty I’ll put it simply; our beauty is tied up in God’s beauty just like our identity is found in Him. When you find God you find yourself. If you don’t feel right about your relationship with God, ask Him into your life.

The physical is only a shadow of the spiritual. If you must be loving, kind, gentle, patient – beautiful then you must have the Spirit of Christ in you because that is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5).

I don’t know how else to put it – we find our beauty in all that He is in Himself and the same, He is pleased to produce in and through us.

I’ll put it simply; our beauty is tied up in God’s beauty just like our identity is found in Him. When you find God you find yourself. If you don’t feel right about your relationship with God, ask Him into your life. The physical is only a shadow of the spiritual. If you must be loving, kind, gentle, patient – beautiful then you must have the Spirit of Christ in you because that is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5). I don’t know how else to put it – we find our beauty in all that He is in Himself and the same, He is pleased to produce in and through us.

There is an inner glory that radiates without, transforms your outward presentation and even affects the attitudes of those around you for it puts you in favour with God and man.

You cannot fake it, you cannot buy it, and you cannot manufacture it because it is the grace of God – freely given when we ask. It makes all the difference. This isn’t propaganda/hype – that will only hurt both you and I. Your image won’t change automatically; Our Heavenly Father isn’t Santa Clause or a fairy godmother. He will mend you and change you from within and in turn, your glory will affect and change your image and environment. He will not accuse nor will He condemn but He will give you life and beauty in exchange for all the ugliness and bleeding within. All you need do is believe in, speak to and depend on Him; He will give you grace sufficient and transform you Himself. Ask Him into your life and you will find that “a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench…” – Mathew 12:20 (ESV) 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.

Email: askpamela@regalgraces.com

Saturday, March 29, 2014 | 21

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

MARITAL SEX

How To Love (3) ESUS teaches us how to love. He teaches us how Jhow to pray. He teaches us how to fast. He teaches us to give.

You may want to do a good thing, but if you don’t know how to do it, you may spoil it. Lots of people become parents without knowing ‘how to.’ We want to do everything ‘instinctively,’ and there are many things in our nature we still need to learn and master.

We have seen how feelings of love are not same as love. How we need to cherish our feelings, but be committed to love, and the way of love. In simple ways, Jesus taught us to love.

1.

“And the second is like, namely this, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

(Mark 12 vs 31) Everyone has a measure of self-love, which is not self-pity. Some people have no love or value for themselves because certain persons in their lives make them feel they worth nothing. And people who like this won’t love you any better.

When we do not have a healthy self-esteem that stems from our relationship with God, the universe, and ourselves we can’t give what we don’t have.

I have heard people say they follow their hearts, and I warn them to be careful, because our heart may be wrong, for the Bible says our hearts is deceitful.

Some people think they are gay because people have told them they are, so their heart accepted it.

Some become thieves because someone told them so, not necessarily because they stole.

We won’t say we are bad persons because we made a few wrong decisions or acted selfish at one time or the other, but if our heart is not right with God or with others, we will extend it to the people we say we love.

People love their ‘neighbour’ as themselves.

Note, this refers to our neighbour. And Jesus told us that we are neighbour if we are close enough to help a person in need. A neighbour is simply someone who cares about another. We can only love our neighbour as ourselves.

Some others have an inflated ego. They love themselves so much there is no space for another.

They see the need of another as intrusion. They don’t want to be vulnerable; they don’t have any one to live or fight for.

Jesus said if we ever have regards for ourselves or

desire personal happiness, we shouldn’t wish for ourselves alone, but for others too; for your neighbour. Extend yourself, love!

2.

“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have love you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13 vs 34) We should note ‘as’ in that expectation. We are to love as Christ loved us. There is always an ‘another’ in your life, in your church, in your organisation, in your community. There is someone, an ‘another’ of you.

We are to love that person in your family, member of same faith or conviction as Christ loved us. How did Christ love us? In spite of our sins, he loves us. He forgives us when we asked for mercy. He loves us, even when we knew nothing. He loves us to the very end.

We must know how Christ loves, and then we can love that way. If we can’t, He won’t ask us to. In spite of our sins, He loves us. He forgives us when we ask for mercy. He loves us, even when we know nothing. He loves us to the very end.

We must know how Christ loves, and then we can love that way. If we can’t, he won’t ask us to. We owe another this kind of love. He gave

his life for us. Can we live with others in our plan? Do we think about people as we make progress in life? How we live affects others.

3. “Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”

(Ephesians 5:25) I think the special kind of love finds its model in the love of Christ. Someone once asked me what I considered the best love stories of alltime and I said, “the Cross.”

Many can give money, pleasure, sex or food, but not themselves. Giving yourself is the best expression of love. The best way to love is to give yourself, your life, your time, your story and your history.

How Do We Do That?

Pay attention to the one you owe to love. Listen and observe closely the person you owe this lifetime commitment of love.

When you love and value a person, they are your joy, your concern, your interest, and you need to pay close attention to them.

When I love a person, I perceive them worth attending to, worth listening to, worth caring for. You can love better if you know better.

The Risk of Loss

When you love like Christ loves, you risk loss, you risk being misunderstood and you risk being rejected. That means love is not laziness; it is active, more coupled with courage.

It involves risk.

Some people are going through emotional traumas because they want to avoid legitimate suffering. Jesus died for the whole world, yet there are people who have spat on his person and principles. That is the cost.

Love is really worth the pay to give it.

The Disciple Of Life Jesus said, “for their sake, I sanctify myself.”

Make yourself better. Take excuses off. Do all to make your life good for the people you love?

Improve in your way of relating, giving and caring. Learn how to use words better. Love demands the Cross.

Learn how to ‘cherish’ the one you love. Love ultimately brings out the best in us.

Selah!

E.C. SAMUEL crossrayz@gmail.com

Working Actress

By Omoni Oboli

There’s No Gain Without Its Accompanying Pain AM Omoni Oboli and I represent Ihave Naija! For many of us, we seem to come to the conclusion that the development we want in our country and the subsequent changes we must effect to see it manifest in our time is nothing but wishful thinking. This is evident in the manner in which we tackle many of the challenges that we are faced with daily.

We seem to have so given up on our nation attaining the standards we see in other nations we admire that we go as far as thwarting the good intentions of those who might even consider trying to fix it. What a shame! It’s like throwing in the towel in the fight to reap the fruits of the promised land by convincing ourselves that it is unachievable and then vehemently opposing those who think it is. We not only fight the opponent but turn around to fight the coach and the referee as well!

I have mentioned this in many interviews in the past that I wasn’t born with a silver spoon, but my success in life is greatly based on the fact that I never saw myself as an underachiever nor a failure. There was this overwhelming enthusiasm in me to strive towards success that I didn’t relax enough to wallow in my immediate and depraved situation at the time. I simply pressed forward

towards what I had constantly visualized, and my body and all my efforts were programmed to respond, not to my limiting reality, but to my visualized reality. I wasn’t going to be daunted by the situations and lack that I was experiencing, but my visualized reality was the force that compelled me to achieve the seemingly unreachable goals that I had set before me.

I wasn’t qualified as an actress, but I had the desire, and that desire gave birth to the zeal to train myself in the art so that I can become the actress I am today. When I say I wasn’t qualified, I mean that I wasn’t born acting from my mother’s womb. I didn’t intuitively become an actress. The interest (desire) must first be present, which is then followed by the action (training), and then the fruit of that labour towards the attainment of the objective was made manifest. I was always part of the school and church drama; I never tried to be all things.

Meaning, I tried to do sports but realized early my lack of zeal, and hence, my lack of fruit in that area.

I was dedicated to writing, directing and producing drama whilst still in primary and secondary school. My dedication has now been made manifest in the performances

that many of you get to watch on your screens globally.

My zeal and dedication would have amounted to nothing if there was no medium to express it. It would have been the case with many people around the world today who have a dream to be recognized for the talent they have been nurturing, but no movie industry to give them the release.

I thank God that while I was busy honing my skills in acting, writing and directing, others were busy preparing the stage for my talent to see the light of day. These are the men who didn’t stop because of their own situations and circumstances and wallow in their misfortune, but they took up the challenge to find newer and more profitable ways to bring this product, today called Nollywood, to the rest of the world. Living In Bondage became the first fruit of that vision and today the rest of us are riding in the wagon because they had the magnanimity to invest their energy into starting the engine. We are on the roll, and gaining momentum daily as the wagon’s engine is being renewed with better and more skillful materials to keep it running, and running faster.

How do we draw a parallel with

the complaining attitude of many?

We must be clear on what we desire, then we can begin to envision the outcome and begin to set goals that are tailored towards achieving those desires. Success didn’t happen to me overnight (not that it’s impossible), and so we should work hard towards making our dreams come true. There’s no way around hard work, and many times when we do get what we desire without the necessary work, it seems to slip from our hands as easily as it first came.

With hard work, character is also built into the individual, group or nation, because there is also a blessing in the process of attaining our goals. We can sit around and believe enough that it would and could not be possible to see our nation succeed, but others see it. They come in daily to reap from where we as landlords should be reaping. We can fold our hands and point accusing fingers at someone else, blaming them for our woes, or we can begin to train and expand our perspective so that we too can attain to those lofty heights that we have come to envision.

There’s no gain without its accompanying pain. The gain is the anaesthesia that dulls the pain towards

attaining it, and the pain is the rock (the strong character) that gives our dreams the needed foundation to build and also appreciate what we have and can accomplish through dedicated effort. I would love to be at the top of my game without any effort, but I’m also aware of the tremendous education that I’ve gotten from the pains I went through and still going through to be at the top of my game.

This zeal becomes contagious so that many other star actors and actresses continue to deliver their best so that they don’t get left behind while others are improving. So it may feel good to get to the top without effort but there’s a good chance that when you do get there, you would feel like an impostor and end up making the mistakes others would recognize form afar, because they went through and welcomed the process of getting there.

So let’s stop the negativity and start seeking the positive things in ourselves and in our nation, knowing that the desire and the effort needed to transform our nation lies solely with us by the grace of God. Till next week, keep smiling!

Follow on twitter @omonioboli, facebook.com/ActressOmoniOboli

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

22 | Saturday, March 29, 2014

WOMAN Mrs. Adaugo Nwalema is the Executive Director of Hope Alive Child Care Initiative (HACCI).

She quit her banking job to set up a non-governmental organisation to help women and children. She highlights problems in the Nigerian health care system and proffers solutions.

Adaugo: Keeping Hope Alive For Pregnant Women And Children

and maternal loss. The second programme was for breast cancer prevention. One cannot always blame the doctors for miscarriages or still births, and that is why we are doing this to let women know the things they are supposed to do at any point to curb diseases and not blame doctors.”

She disclosed that she funds the foundation, but receives support from some doctors who believe

By Bukola Ogungbe in what she is doing. “I have been funding it myO contribute towards salvaging the dam- self. I wept for four years after the death of my aged health system in Nigeria and the children and money meant nothing to me. I have problems it has created for people, espe- to prevent the womenfolk of this generation cially nursing mothers and pregnant women, was Mrs. Adaugo Nwalema’s reason for setting up Hope Alive Child Care Initiative (HACCI).

“I lost my two kids due to lies and incompetence of the doctor,” she said as she explained her reason for setting HACCI. She explained how her doctor referred her to a teaching hospital because her water broke, and on getting there, the doctor told her that nothing was wrong and that she should go home, that she would deliver in about two days’ time.

The next morning, she lost the baby. She blames the doctor because it was after the loss of the baby that she realized that when a woman’s water breaks, she is at the risk of losing the baby, if not carefully treated.

This kind of treatment did not stop, as she would also blame the doctors for the loss of her second baby. According to her, the loss of the second baby was psychological. “It was because of the negligence of the doctor,” she said.

Adaugo explained how the doctor used her as a specimen for some student groups in the hospital. She said she took no offence but after the seventh session, and having been kept there from 8.00am till 4.00pm, she opted out and said she was not continuing any longer.

Then the doctor told some nurses to put her on admission, and thereafter the doctor related to her mother that Adaugo needed observation. She eventually asked to be discharged and sorted out her issue in another place.

After the incident, Adaugo said she thought of going to a private hospital, reasoning that in all the hospitals she went to, she was not treated well because they were all government-owned. But she found a worse system in private hospitals.

Adaugo, who had her masters in Business Administration from the University of Lagos, said after leaving her banking job, she had the vision to strengthen the health care system in Africa using Nigeria as a case study.

The areas of focus of HACCI include health systems strengthening, maternal /reproductive health, and new born and child health.

Having tasted the health care system of both Nigeria and United Kingdom, she said her foundation sets out to sharpen the health care system by giving out palliative care to terminally ill children; reducing maternal and child mortality; empowering pregnant women on survival; educating women through seminars, and bringing out a complaint box for every woman to complain if there is any doctor’s harassment or they are made to face life threatening situation.

“HACCI accommodates women who have been maltreated by the doctors, women that doubt doctor’s report, and women that are faced with life-threatening situations. We also give them appropriate information and care within our power.

“The big idea in the game is knowledge.

When a woman knows what can kill her, and her doctor asks her to take it, she would refrain. So, we build a reading habit to help women.

“Women should get information from the Internet about health issues and see if the symptoms they are facing are evident, and ask doctors good questions, because it is like handing over your life to someone to do what he likes with it,” she said.

Since beginning operation in 2012, HACCI has organised two programmes, the first one titled, ‘Ending Preventable Child’s Death’ was held at the National Stadium, Lagos.

“It was a walk to end child death in Nigeria, drastically reduce still births, miscarriages Adaugo

T

from the tears of four years that I had.

“I also believe this issue is critical and some doctors have supported me, telling me that they are fed up with their colleagues’ quackery. Women who have been in my shoes have also given their full support.

“Although finance have been a major challenge, but it is not drawing us back. We also need to create awareness, and we believe that in time, we would reach Nigeria.”

When asked about who she blames for the bad health system in Nigeria, she said: “When I

spoke to most of the doctors, they blamed the government for lack of infrastructure. The teaching hospital I went to had only one x-ray machine. I would blame the government for lack of infrastructure.” She also blames appropriate bodies for employing incompetent doctors.

Her advice to Nigerian women is: “Knowledge is power. Health is wealth. Always ask questions. We should learn to share problems with people.”

TheGuardian

Saturday, March 29, 2014 | 23

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Weekend

CELEBR ITY

Otakponmwen:

Mr. ‘Famous’ Of Nollywood Famous ‘Walter Mcroy’ Otakponmwen did not pioneer movie poster and movie jacket printing in Nollywood, but the native of Okada in Ovia North Local Government Area of Edo State changed the game when he took the decision to venture into that area of the home movie business. After designing and printing posters and movie jackets for some of the sector’s critically acclaimed films like ‘Izaga’, ‘Year 2000’ and ‘Igodo’, it was to Otakponmwen’s Famsota Printing and Films Limited that all roads led to.

Everyone wanted the dark, tall and unpretentiously friendly actor, former high school footballer and latter day director and producer to design and print movie posters and jackets for them. Observers say that it was his designs and prompt delivery of jobs that made Famous quite famous among those who were in the business.

But while the general impression is that Famous who was raised in Benin City, started out in Nollywood as a printer, the true story, as Famous told it, is that he had made name as a stage actor before he ventured first into the printing business. He tells his own story from here…

By Shaibu Husseini Did you start out in Nollywood printing posters and movie jackets?

O and that is the impression a lot of people have but I started with acting and I started way back in 1982, but on stage. My very first stage play was in 1982. By 1987, I had taken part in a couple of plays including ‘The Marriage of Anansewa’ at the Ayota Arts Theatre in Ajegunle, Lagos. So, Nollywood actually met me in the industry. Even when Nollywood was booming, we were still doing stage plays. Most people in Nollywood easily identify me with the printing aspect but I actually started as an actor.

So was it in Lagos or Benin that the idea to print movie posters started for you?

It was in Lagos. I was invited from Benin to Lagos by my brother to come and begin what

N

he said was the ‘real life’. After combing the streets for several weeks without a job, I was offered the job of an errand boy for one Chief Frank Okpalla who owned a lot of businesses, including a printing press. He would send me to deliver mails around and was always sending me to the supervisor of a printing press, which I later learnt was his own.

That was in the 1990s. But any time I get to the printing press, I would marvel at how a plain paper would be passed through a machine to produce a printed material. So I now told myself that it is something that is worth knowing about. I approached the manager and any time my boss travelled, I will come from Yaba to Surulere to learn the job. I learnt the ropes within months and the course I did at the Yaba College of Technology also helped. Soon, I became the talk of the industry. I became a freelancer and by 1994, I joined a friend to run his printing press. That was where I was working before Nollywood started gaining ground.

At what point did you venture into movie poster design and printing?

It was at the point that Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun who was living in my one-room apartment wanted to do a film for Emma Nsikaku in 1996 titled ‘Year 2000’. My one-room apartment was like a melting pot for artistes and even journalists. Some of these people I mentioned were all affiliated to that one-room apartment. Anyway, Lancelot cast me to play a role in ‘Year 2000’ and I also handled locations.

But when it was time to produce the poster and jacket, Lancelot told Nsikaku about our relationship, that we are brothers and that I am indeed his elder brother and he also told him I was into printing. So, Nsikaku gave me the job.

After ‘Year 2000’, we did ‘Yesterday’ and I was also given the printing job to handle. But after the poster of ‘Year 2000’ came out, Nsikaku started getting calls from his colleagues, marketers, who wanted to him to connect

them with me and he did. Through him, Ojiofor Ezeanyachi who owns OJ Production got in touch with me to handle the poster of ‘Oath’. After that, he commissioned me to handle the poster for ‘Izaga’ and then ‘Igodo’.

It was from there that I became a bride for Nollywood producers and marketers. In 2000, I won an award for best poster jacket design at the defunct The Movie Award (THEMA). So, more people now started coming and bringing jobs.

At what point did you venture into actual movie production?

It was after I won the award that I was motivated to go into movie production. I produced my first film in 2001 titled ‘The Reverend’. I followed it with ‘Razor Blade‘ and then in 2002, I produced ‘Dirty Prostitute’ and ‘To Rise Again’. But in 2003, I decided I was not going to produce any film so I settled down and set up my printing press.

I returned to the production turf in 2004 and produced and directed ‘Two Good Friends’ starring Francis Odega and Mr. Ibu, which was my story in Lagos. The story happened to be the highest selling movie that I have done. In 2005, I shot ‘Dr Damian’ and in 2006 I started my NGO – Famous Academy – where we produced a television series that exposed some negative vices in our society.

After that, we shot ‘Battles of Love’, ‘What Went Wrong?’ and ‘Wind of Mistake’. Basically that was how I entered the industry and what I have achieved so far.

But were there things you did while growing up that showed you were going to end up an entertainer?

Yes. I was once a choirmaster. I was also in charge of drama. I was always doing plays for the church. I am a Baptist. So it has been a part of me.

I was also a great dancer. In my secondary school

CelebrityEXTRA ...

days, my nickname was ‘Walter disco’. So it has been in my blood.

Do you consider your involvement in Nollywood rewarding?

Yes, it has been rewarding and I give God all the glory for where I am today. I may not be so rich but I am comfortable. I have gotten recognition both at home and abroad. That’s enough for me. I don’t know what I would have been if not for this work. As for my most successful jobs, I will list ‘Two Good Friends’ and then the ‘Igodo’ poster and movie jacket that I printed.

‘Igodo’ made Famous who he is today. I do say it and I don’t hide it. I bought a location bus out of the monies I was paid for the printing work on ‘Igodo’. I got my first car, a Mercedez Benz flat boot, through ‘Igodo’. What happened was that OJ the producer was owing me some money. When I went to meet him for it, he showed me the car and told me he wanted to sell it and buy another one. The money he owed me just came in handy.

Are you satisfied with the state of Nollywood?

Well, things are going to get better for Nollywood. The problem has been that Nollywood had premature growth. Those who entered initially didn’t understand the workings of the industry. Any man or any industry that is after quick profit is bound to crash. But the industry is having a rebirth. Everything is with time. We are just passing through a phase. By the time we are through with this phase, we will now begin to see a transformation.

What is your favourite food and are any of your children taking after you?

I love to eat starch and any soup. I can use starch to eat even oil and salt. I also love pounded yam. As for my children, well, they have been used to play some roles in movies but they are not keen on acting yet. They need to face their education. It is schooling first and every other career wish will be granted them.

What do you do when you are not busy and what is next for Walter Mcroy?

I play football. I play football thrice a week: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. I love the game of soccer. They called me ‘Bulldozer’ when I was in school. I even played two Principal’s Cup tournaments for my school. Football was my first choice of career but my brothers never allowed me to play football. I derive joy from playing football, the same way I derive joy from making friends. As for next project, I have a project that I am working on right now. It is about a campaign against women in traffickshow will include visits to schools ing – sex trade, prostitution and HIV. It will be nationwide, and town hall meet- done under Famous Academy. We want to enings in every state across Nigeria. lighten and educate parents on how what they do at home affects their children outside. That

FCT Minister Endorses Tricia Esiegbe’s The Psychologist AYS after she secured the enD dorsement of the Nigeria Police for her pet project, The Psychologist, notable Nollywood actress, Tricia Esiegbe Kerry has secured yet another endorsement.

This time the endorsement is from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed. At a special unveiling ceremony of the project, which the actress explained is designed to expose sexual predators within Nigeria and also to create a support platform for victims of child molestation, the Minister who expressed happiness in receiving Tricia and her team, applauded the team for coming up with such an important project. He assured Tricia and her team of his support

and that of the FCT administration and pledged his commitment to partnering with Tricia’s Boldfaces International in its mission to fight against child sexual offenders.

Earlier Tricia had told the Minister that Boldfaces International foundation was set up to among other things, encourage victims of child sexual abuse to come out and tell their stories. She also informed the Minister that the team is set to launch its planned celebrity road show campaign, which will begin from Abuja.

“We chose Abuja because it’s our capital territory and particularly because of the enormous work you have done to rid Abuja of

some of these negative vices since you assumed office as FCT Minister”, Tricia said, adding that the road

24

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, March 29, 2014

With Sereba Agiobu-Kemmer

sereba.agiobu.kemmer@ngrguardiannews.com

HERE comes a time when every T gardener gets bitten by the bug.

Like one woken from slumber, after the prolonged heat and drought, suddenly life returns with the first whiff of cool air and rain.

Then, the sudden frenzy to get busy, the rush with axe, hoe, shovel, secateurs, knives, cutlass, you name it, all the backlog of chores neglected, plus the flowery plans and designs of the future must be executed all at once.

So, you join the green brigade and many gardeners are debating now what course to adopt towards the hideous trial of victims left by the dry season’s onslaught.

I have to write ‘little,’ because it would be lacking in proportion to set recent events on the same level of high tragedy as the misfortunes of Phedre or the Duchess of Malfi. Yet, I note a threatening bulge in the number of garden owners applying for tragedy queen roles.

Most plants do not even know how to do their dirty sensibly. Imagine having to divert your gaze from the Hibiscus shrub with dead leaves hanging offensively for weeks without dropping. Those dead leaves do not remove themselves, but remain a reproach.

In some cases, it is difficult to distinguish whether it is garden owners who are dying (broken-hearted) or their plants. Plants don’t always age beautifully or die gracefully. How do you tend your own plant?

The dry season is quite a testing time, as it becomes clear whether we are going to witness a rapid and complete desertification. The countryside tends to look its worst during the dry season, with masses of tired, dusty, scorched and caterpillar-riddled foliage. The more reason it seems that our gardens should be gay oases, now of all times.

It is a good time to take a critical look at the garden and decide which passengers are there.

I decided recently against the rather invasive parrot’s flower (Heliconia psittacorum) growing by the border beside the wall along the driveway.

First, they cannot keep a neat, straight line, and worse, they have nearly choked and put out Augusta (Gardenia Augusta) out of sight, but she just managed- I don’t know how she did it- to peep out with a single bloom that was all the more beautiful for its snow-white purity and scent.

No question about it; those ragged invaders with their sickly yellow parrot’s beak mistakenly called flowers have been removed today. What a nice space.

One is just waiting for the rains to return in full swing, with new plants of Gardenias and contrasting copperrich Acalypha Wilkesiana or Ajuga.

Also, that clumb of Iris Sibirica, which is an excellent plant in a marshy spot near water, but in a border. Its season is too brief and after flowering, its foliage becomes so obstructive that it flops and envelopes all the neighbouring plants, which one would prefer to be flopping over and enveloping it.

I might replant in the back garden around the base of the overhead water-tank that is always over-flowing, so it can stay well-drenched or drowned.

When you acquire your seedlings, plant them where you hope they will do well and remain for years to come.

Yet, chances are that you have hit on their ideal role, even with a lifetime experience behind you and a vivid mind, which can picture flowering scene where there is scarcely one helpful hint at the moment of plant-

rden A critical look at ga

Balsams – impatiens balsamina

ck muscle Exercise for the ba

Heliconia Psittacorum (parrot flower)

Assistance from enthusiastic young green brigade

Watering (DSC)4 929 copy jpg)

Gardenia augusta (Gardenia Jasminoides, Rubiaceae)

Hoeing and weed ing

GARDENING

ing.

Plants need to be moved around and you may move them half a dozen times before you get the position right or before they die. But that is nothing to be ashamed of. Trial and error may be a bit wasteful in time and energy, but is much likely to turn up the right answers than doing nothing at all.

In any case, plants can rarely be left on their own devices for long, anyway. They start going back or else aggressively muscle out their neighbours.

How many big patches of any one plant can you boast of in your borders? I don’t mean the invasive kinds, of which it is only too easy to have lots and so has everyone else. I mean things that are rather exciting in quantity, like some of the better Kniphofias or Agapanthus or cardinal-flower-type lobelias or a dazzling Cranesbill, like the Magenta and black Geranium Psilstemon or a vast quilt (covered with bees and butterflies) of Balsams.

Instead of just two or three and perhaps the spires of not one, but 10 or 12 blue Perovskias, Digitalis Excelsior hybrids behind them, somewhere, in not far distant, a cohort of white Cimicifuga spikes, ebullient buns of pink, double dwarf Ixoras in a fermenting tumulus nearby.

One thought, one dream leads to another, and that is the stuff that gardening plans are made of, maybe, at the start of a new season.

I know that one has to contend with the old cry of ‘we haven’t got the space,’ but surely even around us today, more can be achieved than by pecking around with one or two.

Plants love to be divided and re-set in freshly improved soil. And this sort of propagation is of the simplest, yet the itch to be making more seems to be absent from vast majority of garden owners.

By all means, start with just one plant.

Then, when you see how beautiful it is, go on to the next step.

Change is usually for better unless it is of the reducing kind, which is dishonestly presented as streamlining. There is little call for that in our garden, as long as we remain in reasonably good health or can turn for assistance to younger, willing hands. Now, that is not usually too difficult.

Enthusiasm is infectious and gardening an inspiration, as soon as you scratch beneath the surface. So, you quickly get on first with deadheading and pruning and generally to tidy up after your plants.

Then comes weeding. The single plants can be hand-weeded, just make sure you remove the roots. Weeds can be loosened by carefully working a hoe or cultivator through the beds.

It is important to clear the beds. A hoe can make weeding larger area easier on the back (oh yes).

For more troublesome weeds, use weed killers, such as those containing glyphosate, and repeat, if necessary.

Eradication of perennial weeds is essential, if you are to avoid major problems after planting. Digging and mechanical removal will deal satisfactorily with many. But some of the most persistent, often multiplied when fragments are distributed by digging and raking, can be treated effectively with modern herbicides.

Glyphosate is particularly useful; it kills the weeds completely, but does not affect the soil.

In some cases, it is difficult to distinguish whether it is garden owners who are dying (broken-hearted) or their plants. Plants don’t always age beautifully or die gracefully.

How do you tend your own plant?

FASHION /39

EMPOWERNIGERIA /31

DONALD

Kinabuti Hosts Soiree To Launch New Kbuti T-Shirt Collection

TRUMP

The Real-Estate Tycoon

MONDAYS–FRIDAYS IN THE GUARDIAN

SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014 Alvan Ikoku College Of education Academic Staff union Berates FG Over Neglect He Academic staff of Alvan T Ikoku Federal College of education, Owerri, have described as most unfortunate the Federal Government’s alleged refusal to address the problems hindering effective teaching and learning in the system.

The branch Chairman, College of education Academic Staff union, (COeASu), Mrs. ukachi Wachuku, stated this while addressing the protesting lecturers in the school. She maintained that the major issue that necessitated the current industrial action had to do with infrastructural decay, lack of staff motivation and poor conditions of service.

“We are compelled to embark on this demonstration to let Nigerians know that government has abandoned the colleges of education in Nigeria to decay because students of these institutions are children of the poor of the society,” Wachuku said.

She called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, engage COeASu in a sincere and result-oriented dialogue, with a view to addressing and resolving the contentious issues without delay.

Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT Minna) students

OAu Student Takes Learning Beyond The Classroom, Conduct Research In Ode Omu Community went on a three-day social research excursion in Ode Omu T was a relishing experience community, Osun State.

Intimating the all 300level 114 of both learning and leisure students on the importance of for the students offering the the study trip, the project coorcourse, Social Research Methodology (DSS 306) as they dinator, Dr. Titilayo Ayotunde, said the research work is aimed at putting into practice what they (students) have learnt in class.

“Statistics have it that non communicable diseases are claiming more lives than communicable diseases. So we want to know the perception, attitude, practices and knowledge of the people of Ode Omu on diseases like Cancer, Diabetes and Hypertension and its effect on mortality rate.”

On arrival at Ode Omu, the students were received at the

From Kemi Busari, OAU Ife

I

Nigerian Idol Gets Fierce, First 3 Contestants Qualify For Top 12 Spot uSIC reality show and M indeed the hottest in Africa, Nigerian Idol is blazing

Top 12.

Also, performing at the result show is Nigerian Idol hot week after week, as 12 of alumni, Stephen Onochie popthe numerous contestants are ularly known as ‘Steve O’. He selected for the gala rounds. emerged as 2nd runner-up in Performing songs from the season 2, which saw Mercy international artistes, the first Chinwo emerged winner. group of 10 had four golden Sponsored by etisalat and tickets recipient from the Pepsi, Nigerian Idol is aired on audition phase. Three of these Saturday and Sunday’s on acts will be revealed at the NTA, STV, HIP TV, CRBC first result show that airs Calabar, DRTV Warri and today as contestants in the Various Startimes Channels.

One of the respondents, palace of the Alayegun of Ode Omu, Oba Hammed Oke, who in Oyeniran Akinropo, a school his welcome remark said he is teacher in a chat with Life happy his community is select- Campus, said he is impressed ed for such project. He, however, about the research work. “The enjoined the students to be law students are doing great job, but I advise they enlighten the rural abiding and focused, and feel dwellers more on preventive free as they conduct their measures for these diseases.” research.

Another respondent, a woman The monarch and his chiefs, including a retired professor in in her 80s, pleaded with the the Department of Chemistry, team to help inform governObafemi Awolowo university, ment that it is not only the stated ailments identified that is Ile-Ife, Prof Isaac Ojo, were the first set of people to be enumer- attacking the community.

Rather, there are other health ated and administered questionnaires. The students, which challenges like ear problem. “My had earlier been grouped, pro- own problem is the ear; let the government come to our aid,” ceeded to other parts of the community for proper enumer- she complained. ation. Describing the town, Prof While describing their experiOjo said, Ode Omu is the centre ence on the field, Oyewole Tolani and Ajibola Adenike noted that of the universe.

Cross River’s First Lady Woos Nollywood Producers To State From Tina Todo, Calabar

shooting a film titled King He wife of Cross River Turner, in the State paid her a State Governor, Mrs. courtesy visit.

Obioma Liyel Imoke has Mrs. Imoke observed that encouraged Nollywood pro- people travelled to South ducers to take advantage of Africa and other countries to the tourism terrene in the shoot films while the country state to shoot their movies. has beautiful places like She made the call on Calabar, which movie producTuesday in Calabar, the state ers could take advantage. capital when the cast and According to her, with the crew of Gastan Production development of tourism by Film, who are currently the present administration,

T

the state has become a haven for film production as she assures them of adequate cooperation and support while in the state.

She used the opportunity to invite outfit to the 32-day annual Calabar Festival, which she described as Africa’s biggest street party and also urged them to join her band (The Master Blaster Band) in this year’s carnival.

the exercise is incomparable, worthwhile and it is one they will love to do over again. And for Tosin Arowolo, the research work has been able to bridge the gap between class work and real field experience.

Kemi Busari, is a 400 level Political Science Student, OAU, Ife

CAREER /27

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From Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia CATholIC reverend father and A former acting Vice Chancellor, Gregory University Uturu (GUU), Abia Atate , Prof Jerome okonkwo, has called for sustained teamwork by the Micheal okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MoUA) leadership, staff, students and other stakeholders in order to sustain the progress, achievements and harmony prevailing in it.

The cleric spoke on the topic ‘harmony’ while presiding over a thanksgiving service to mark the third year anniversary of the institution’s fourth vice Chancellor, Prof hilary odo Edeoga.

During the event, Edeoga, was publicly credited by the university community with numerous unprecedented achievements and forwardmoving innovations in the 22 years old university. okonkwo said the acclaimed successes attested to have been recorded

by Edeoga would subsist if all the

VC Task To Sustained Teamwork, Marks Three Years In office stakeholders play their roles and make their expected contributions from their individual and collective duty posts.

“In every duty post one is deployed to in MoUA, one has a role to play and contribution to make to the teamwork, but all ought to be carried along by the leadership as a team player in order for best results to be effected,” he stated. he charged the VC to consider himself as what he called a ‘public personality’ who would be judged by others, adding that the VC should also be steadfast in prayers while executing his tasking assign-

ment till the end of his five-year tenure.

The nigeria Union of Journalists (nUJ) Abia State Council in a goodwill message stated, “the industrial harmony that has permeated the gamut of MoUA, the phenomenal growth being experienced both in infrastructure and academics resulting from VC Edeoga’s effervescent administration are eloquent testimonies of the shinning achievements of a shrewd , knowledgeable, skillful, indefatigable but benevolent leader.”

Top of Edeoga’s acclaimed successes is his the funding from internally generated revenue sources at n1.5 billion

cost, the building of 10 new students hostels, which were formally commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by the former Education Minister Prof ruqqayattu Ahmed.

At the event, the West African Students Union (WASU) leadership presented Edeoga with the 2014 Award of Excellence, stating that his choice was decided by the Executive Secretariat on the basis of nominations submitted by an international jury of members unions and friendly international organizations worldwide.

In his remark, the VC attributed the successes credited to his tenure to the product of the support and co-operation with him by the staff and students of the university. he, however, solicited the continued support in order to make his remaining years more eventful.

Edeoga expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for approving the total sum of n5.4 billion for the school under the need Assessment Programme, and prayed for its timely release.

Edeoga

Forestry College Matriculates 400 Students

By Fabian Odum roF. SoloMon Badejo, Executive Director, Forestry research Institute of nigeria (FrIn) said that the Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan would support students willing to excel to do so.

At the 2013/2014 matriculation ceremony of the college in Ibadan, Badejo said the 75-year-old institution had put in place mechanisms to

P

TWO WORDS

Uki Dare

• Pledge To Reward Brilliant Performance facilitate good teaching and learning.

“The institution is ready to provide assistance to any student willing to excel,’’ he said.

Badejo urged the students to study well in order to make good grades that would help them to secure good jobs in future.

Provost of the college, Prof. Morenike

powered by

uki@poisenigeria.org,

Sure Thing..

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.

Sure Thing HY does everyone call only me when they need money? Why is it that I am always given the most difficult tasks? She keeps doing this because she knows I will always forgive, should I change? Maybe I need to become a bit more stubborn and put my parents on their toes, they cannot tell my sis all these things they are telling me. Are you feeling like changing your personality because people around you seem to be getting away with doing less? Do you feel like you are being taken for granted? I have two words for you, but first I will tell you about some guys, I call them My guys.

W

This is a true story about the three men I work with. In order of how I met them, niyi, Sam and henry. A few weeks ago in ‘Find It’ I spoke about my job and how hectic it gets. God uses them to make it possible. As I always say, you can describe our job in 12 words: We train people in the job market and help them get jobs. Those 12 words translate into A loT of work for them and require so much dedication. Because our jobs directly affect people’s lives and futures, there are no working hours, we are always on. They

ojo, urged the students to shun cultism and other social vices.

She warned that the college would expel any student caught involved in any act of cultism, since the college does not tolerate cultism.

“You are advised to add virtue to your learning and characters,” the provost said.

get practically no free days either, we work all week long doing one thing or the other because there is always so much at stake. In the midst of all this, I am always grateful for one thing. “My guys are a sure thing.”

While writing this, I am in Kenya on a business trip, but of all the things I have to bother about, while I am away, I don’t have to worry about what is going on in the office.

I am not wondering if they will be resuming at 10:00 A.M instead of 8:00AM. They won’t. I don’t have to be scared that classes won’t go on as scheduled or that if I am not at a meeting, things won’t go right. I am not scared that the place will fall apart in my absence or the scheduled tests will not take place. I know all will go well. Calling them a Sure Thing does not mean they don’t make mistakes. They have strengths and weaknesses just like everyone else, but I know that if something goes wrong, they won’t sweep it under the carpet and hide it from me.

If they face challenges they will figure out ways around them and nothing will be left unattended to or undone. Even though they are very different and are good at different things, I believe I know who they are and what they stand for and that makes them a sure thing.

Who can say that about you? Your Boss? What about your family? Your Friends? People you deal with? What is that one thing that people always require or even demand from you? It shows what you are known for. Are you always called to settle fights or to make them hotter?

To pray for someone or to insult them very well? In what issues do people say, “let’s call her” and for what things do they say, “let’s leave him, he won’t agree”? Those are the areas they know you as a Sure Thing.

When I was finishing from the university I had a problem with the fact that people were always asking me for my last kobo because they knew I was a nice person who found it hard not to give.

I always found myself broke and the people who took all my money were enjoying them-

selves at my expense. I decided that the remedy was to harden up and toughen up: that way people would stop playing on my intelligence. The result was that I unconsciously became stingy. I achieved my aim because it was no more so easy for people to pull my heart strings and make me feel their pain, no one could ‘use my head’ anymore: but at the same time, those who needed my help couldn’t get it. I found that it was so easy for me to say, ‘Sorry I don’t have.”

This was good. But guess what? I was miserable. I kept telling myself I was still a nice person; I liked being a nice person but all my actions said otherwise. In order not to be a Sure Thing for giving, I was becoming a Sure Thing for selfishness. This posed a challenge. God made me a giver so I enjoyed giving but how was I supposed to find the balance between being everybody’s fool and this selfish person I had become? I found the answer. nobody was taking all my money; I was the one giving it out in a way that hurt me, because I didn’t like to say no. The secret was in self-management.

I realized it is possible to be a giver and still be wise and manage my finances properly. I softened up again and now I do not mind being known as the one who is too nice and is always giving, because that is who I am. I just manage myself better: I give when I can When I can’t, I say no but I still always endeavor to help find an alternate solution Back To You So your sister does no house work and gets away with it but if you leave one dish in the sink, the roof will fall – It could be a compliment, maybe you are your parent’s sure ‘responsible’ thing.

Maybe you get away with bad grades but when your sister comes home with a B, there is a family meeting – Watch out because that is a sign of their expectations from you.

It is true that people might tend to take you for

granted sometimes but I would say it is better to have a positive trait that comes with some disadvantages, than having a negative trait that comes with advantages. Don’t downgrade yourself, instead manage yourself better, know what you want and become more assertive, so you are being yourself for the right reasons and with the right motive.

With this I must also sound a word of caution. like I wrote in ‘Get Weird’, it is dangerous to be someone who goes with every flow and cannot be vouched for on any matter whether negative or positive. Where ever you are you must make your mark. here are my two words of advice for you today: Know You, Create Yours, Watch It, Be Assertive If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything…Know You Stop going with every flow…Create Yours Exempting you from responsibilities is not a sign of respect or trust…Watch It If you feel like you are being taken for granted…Be Assertive Learn to manage yourself and your relationships, but whatever you do, remember that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a… Sure Thing!

To My Guys: Niyi, thank you for being extraordinarily trustworthy, credible and most of all committed. It’s a pleasure to be able to take that for granted – in a good way.

Sam, it’s really great that you are so good with working on new projects. And yes, that’s why I always give you the stressful work that requires running around and setting up new centres.

Henry, I’m so glad that you are committed to excellence, even though I know it makes me drop chaotic things in your lap from time to time. Well done.

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28 Saturday, March 29, 2014

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JOBS & CAREERS

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National Development Strategy Series

FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO PILLAR TWO :

ACCESS TO CAPITAL Paper 3 E HAVE been talking about access to capital and how Nations of the world access capital for development purposes. I have however indicated how the entire third world of developing Nations fell into a debt trap which undermined the growth and development of many Nations for many years. Nigeria in particular was hit heavily by this trend and we only recently were able to escape the trap when we exited the paris club due largely to efforts of the then and current Minister of Finance Mrs Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. Across Africa the situation was also as bad as Nations were put into debt by their dictatorship regimes in collusion with the Western Nations’ Banks and Nations.

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The Debt Crisis in the Third World The crisis continued unabated for almost twenty years from the late 1960s to the 1980s. Billions of dollars were borrowed for white elephant projects which had little or no economic value to the Nation that is borrowing the money. In fact in many cases the projects only existed on paper and whereas huge funds were borrowed there was nothing on ground to demonstrate that these funds were borrowed. This shows that the funds did not go to buy any machinery or fund some major infrastructure project, but simply went into the pockets of the dictatorship regime’s members. A quick look at the borrowings made by countries run by some of the world’s most infamous dictatorships including Mobuto in Zaire ( now Congo), to Suharto in Indonesia all the way back to Marcos in the Philippines, show that these men had large appetites for personal wealth but had strong alliances with the western world’s international banking fraternity. The Banks extended credit lines to these dictators without any limits giving rise to the entire third world debt situation to change from less than $100 billion in 1970 to over $600 billion by 1980 in just ten years. The entire situation was similar to a drunken feeding frenzy in which the drunken Bankers just could not help themselves and just kept approving loans to these dictatorships knowing fully well that the funds were being stolen. It is either the Bankers were compensated for every third world nation they out into this trap or it was an orchestrated attempt by the Western World’s Banking fraternity to impoverish the Nations of Africa and the rest of the third World. There was no stopping them and then heads starting to get cooler when the law of diminishing returns set in.

This meant that the Nations in question could no longer afford to pay back the annual repayments even after heavy taxes and forward selling of their natural resources. Foreign Exchange in many of the third world Nations began to dry up and for the first time there was a real fear of default. The fear of default meant that if a Nation stopped paying its interest payments it will trigger off a band wagon effect which could cause all the Nations to stop paying which in turn will destroy the Banks in question, and then threaten the entire World economy.

MEXICO DEBT CRISIS The first major sign of default was during the

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURAL LEADER

NICHOLAS OKOYE, Founder EMPOWER NIGERIA Initiative

Mexico debt crisis of 1982. This particular case is one of the most important cases of the third debt crisis as it set the tone for the entire world to realize for the first time that there was a vicious circle at play in the financial system of the entire world which had connected almost all Nations of the Third World to the World’s most important Banks which in turn were depended upon to fund the World’s major businesses, which in turn were feeding the World’s most powerful Countries. In 1982 the Government of Mexico announced that it could no longer service the huge debt it had been saddled with and it would be defaulting on the debt repayments. This off course meant that the Banks that held the Mexico debt could go out of business which in turn would threaten an entire chain of dependents including many United States based businesses including companies that supplied the USA with its basic requirements. So the United States Government stepped in and tried to negotiate the debt and did everything possible to get Mexico to continue with the repayments and tried to prevent default. When Mexico made it VERY clear that it simply did not have the money and that it would in fact be defaulting on the debt, the United States Government did something that was unprecedented in the World Financial markets at that time. The US Government paid off the US private banks for all the Mexico debt owed, and instructed the IMF and the World Bank to step in alongside the US bail out. This in effect transferred the holders of Mexico debt from the reckless private drunken western Bankers to the Government of the United States, the IMF and the World Bank. In effect the bail out of the US private Banks had little to do with the Government of the people of Mexico, as the debt was still exactly as it was before the crisis, it only meant that the Government and the people of Mexico no longer owed the US private Banks but they now owed the United States Government. A full expansion of this formula was proposed by Nicholas Brady the then Treasury Secretary (Minister of Finance) of the United States. In 1989 a new bond was launched in the United States and in world financial markets called the “Brady Bonds” And most Nations of the entire South America converted their unpaid debt obligations into Brady Bonds which also allowed the Banks in the United States to take them off their balance sheets thus saving the day. What the United States Government did after the MEXICO transaction was to encourage European Governments to do

the same, so all over the World, debts that were already know as reckless, uneconomical, and downright fraudulent, debt that in many cases did not benefit the countries in which these debt were taken, debts that in many cases ended up in the pockets and bank accounts of dictators, were now being transferred from private banking debts to debt owed to countries of the western World.

It was this transfer of private bank debt into public debt now owed to the Governments of the Western World that gave birth to the THIRD WORLD DEBT CRISIS. HE THIRD WORLD DEBT crisis gave rise to the unprecedented control of African Nations which was wielded by the Western World, the World Bank, IMF and this control gave them the power to direct policy all over the third World including control of African Government policy, Government spending and Government direction. In many cases this control plunged Africa and Nigeria in particular into the worst kind of dictatorship unrivaled by the military dictators themselves. The World Bank and the IMF started to demonstrate control over nations and national economies that even the most despotic regimes could not achieve.

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Structural Adjustment Programs I am sure many middle aged Nigerians and students of economic history will remember this term. It was used by President Babangida after he initiated a national debate to ask the Nigerian people whether we should take the IMF loan. Nigerians debated very enthusiasti-

cally and in the end the IMF loan was rejected.

However Nigerians did not know that the Paris Club of Nations who now held Nigerian debt, the World Bank and the IMF were all children of the same father and mother. So even though we rejected the IMF loan due largely to the stringent conditionality, we as a Nation were forced to implement the conditions even though we rejected the loan. So the Administration of President Badamosi Babangida rejected the IMF loan but implemented the Western World, IMF designed and World Bank promoted “STRUCTURAL AJUSTMENT PROGRAM”. These Structural Adjustment Programs were implemented all across the Third World in a strange one size fits all frenzy. So once again the Third World was at the receiving end of the Western World and its manipulations. The Structural Adjustment Programs were promoted by the World Bank as the magic bullet for the Third World but in reality it was murder. Governments of the third World were forced to liberalize trade which means that you must import all your needs from Europe or the United States, and for Nigeria even the basic things were imported. It also forced the Nations of the third World especially Nigeria, to spend much less on social services such as health and education and spend much more on debt service and debt repayment. The evil of the Structural Adjustment Programs is that Nations of Africa and the rest of the third World sank deeper and deeper into the hole. It became difficult if not impossible to find one Nation anywhere in the World that had implemented the World Bank/ IMF Structural Adjustment Program, and was able to attain sustainable economic development.

ONALD JOHN TRUMP was born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, the fourth of five children of Frederick C. and Mary MacLeod Trump. He got interested in real estate business from his father who was a builder and real estate developer and who came to specialize in constructing and operating middle-income apartments in Queens, Staten Island and Brooklyn. Donald Trump was an energetic, assertive child, and his parents sent him to the New York Military Academy at age 13, hoping the discipline of the school would channel his energy in a positive manner.

Trump did well at the academy, both socially and academically, rising to be a star athlete and student leader by the time he graduated in 1964. He entered Fordham University and then transferred to the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1968 with a degree in economics.

As a student, Trump worked with his father during the summer and then joined his father’s company, the Trump Organization, after graduation from college. He was able to finance an expansion of the company’s holdings by convincing his father to be more liberal in the use of loans based on the equity in the Trump apartment complexes. However, the business was very competitive and profit margins were narrow. In 1971 Donald Trump moved his residence to Manhattan, where he became familiar with many influential people. Convinced of the economic opportunity in the city, Trump became involved in large building projects in Manhattan that would offer opportunities for earning high profits, using attractive architectural design and winning public recognition.

When the Pennsylvania Central Railroad entered bankruptcy,

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DONALD

TRUMP

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GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURAL LEADER

THE REAL–ESTATE TYCOON. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 Trump was able to obtain an option on the railroad’s yards on the west side of Manhattan. When initial plans for apartments proved unfeasible because of a poor economic climate, Trump promoted the property as the location of a city convention center, and the city government selected it over two other sites in 1978. Trump’s offer to forego a fee if the center were named after his family, however, was turned down, along with his bid to build the complex.

In 1974, Trump obtained an option on one of the Penn Central’s hotels, the Commodore, which was unprofitable but in an excellent location. Trump then worked out a complex deal with the city to win a 40-year tax abatement, arranged financing, and then completely renovated the building, constructing a striking new facade of reflective glass designed by architect Der Scutt. When the hotel, renamed the Grand Hyatt, opened in 1980, it was popular and an economic success, making Donald Trump the city’s best known and most controversial developer.

Trump married Ivana Zelnickova Winklmayr, a New York fashion model who had been an alternate on the 1968 Czech Olympic Ski Team, in 1977.

After the birth of the first of the couple’s three children in 1978, Donald John Trump, Jr., Ivana Trump was named vice president in charge of design in the Trump Organization and played a major role in supervising the renovation of the Commodore.

In 1979 Trump leased a site on Fifth Avenue adjacent to the famous Tiffany & Company as the location for a monumental $200 million apartmentretail complex designed by Der Scutt. It was named Trump Tower when it opened in 1982. The 58-story building featured a 6-story atrium lined with pink marble and included an 80-foot waterfall. The luxurious building attracted well-known retail stores and celebrity renters and brought Trump national attention.

Meanwhile Trump was investigating the profitable casino gambling business, which was approved in New Jersey in 1977. In 1980 he was able to acquire a piece of property in Atlantic City.

He brought in his younger brother Robert to head up the complex project of acquiring the land, winning a gambling license, and obtaining permits and financing. Holiday Inns Corporation, the parent company of Harrah’s casino hotels, offered a partnership, and the $250 million complex opened in 1982 as Harrah’s at Trump Plaza. Trump bought out Holiday Inns in 1986 and renamed the facility Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino. Trump also purchased a Hilton Hotels casino-hotel in Atlantic City when the corporation failed to obtain a gambling license and renamed the $320 million complex Trump’s Castle. Later, while it was under construction, he was able to acquire the largest hotelcasino in the world, the Taj Mahal at Atlantic City,

which opened in 1990.

Back in New York City, Donald Trump had purchased an apartment building and the adjacent Barbizon-Plaza Hotel in New York City, which faced Central Park, with plans to build a large condominium tower on the site. The tenants of the apartment building, however, who were protected by the city’s rent control and rent stabilization programs, fought Trump’s plans and won. Trump then renovated the Barbizon, renaming it Trump Parc. In 1985 Trump purchased 76 acres on the west side of Manhattan for $88 million to build a complex to be called Television City, which was to consist of a dozen skyscrapers, a mall, and a riverfront park. The huge development was to stress television production and feature the world’s tallest building, but community opposition and a long city approval process delayed commencement of construction of the project.

In 1988 he acquired the Plaza Hotel for $407 million and spent $50 million refurbishing it under his wife Ivana’s direction.

Trump reached south to build a condominium project in West Palm Beach, Florida, and in 1989 he branched out to purchase the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle for $365 million, renaming it

the Trump Shuttle. In January 1990, Trump flew to Los Angeles to unveil a plan to build a $1 billion commercial and residential project featuring a 125-story office building.

It was in 1990, however, that the real estate market declined, reducing the value of and income from Trump’s empire; his own net worth plummeted from an estimated $1.7 billion to $500 million. The Trump Organization required a massive infusion of loans to keep it from collapsing; a situation which raised questions as to whether the corporation could survive bankruptcy. Some observers saw Trump’s decline as symbolic of many of the business, economic, and social excesses that had arisen in the 1980s.

Yet, he climbed back from nearly $900 million in the red: Donald Trump was reported to be worth close to $2 billion in 1997. Donald Trump’s image was tarnished by the publicity surrounding his controversial separation and the later divorce from his wife, Ivana. But he married again, this time to Marla Maples, a fledgling actress. The couple had a daughter two months before their marriage in 1993. He filed for a highly publicized divorce from Maples in 1997, which became final in June 1999. A prenuptial agreement allotted $2 million to Maples. In January 2005, Trump married for a third time in a highly publicized wedding to model Melania Knauss, who gave birth to a son, Barron William Trump, in March 2006; it was her first child and Trump’s fifth.

On October 7, 1999, Trump announced the formation of an exploratory committee to inform his decision of whether or not he should seek the Reform Party’s nomination for the presidential race of 2000.

In 2004 Trump began starring in the NBC reality series The Apprentice, which quickly became a hit. In later years the show began showcasing celebrities as contestants under the revised name The Celebrity Apprentice.

In 2012 Trump’s flirtation with politics returned when he publicly announced he was considering running for president again.

However, his association with the “Birther” movement, a fringe group that staunchly believed President Barack Obama was not born in the United States, discredited his reputation politically to varying degree.

Regardless, Trump has continued to be vocal against President Obama—not only regarding his place of birth—but also on a variety of his political policies.

Food Carts And Tricycle Carts HREE-WHEELED CARTS are a common sight in many mobile foods gathering place in the world. This tricycle mobile food cart is a fully electric van for food catering with three wheels. It is just like a flow restaurant with fashionable outlook and reasonable inner-structure. You can equip it with different kitchen wares to provide various delicacies and beverage for customers. Tricycle food carts are affordable to small retailers offering different specialties and snacks.

The food carts trend has gathered so much steam that there wouldn’t seem to be enough tires left in the world to get another mobile kitchen trend like the food cart rolling along.

While the number of food bikes pedalling through city streets does not compare to the number of food trucks/carts, they are quickly becoming a go-to mobile option for urban operations. As bike-powered foodservice concepts become more common in dense, urban areas around the country, the possibility of food trucks yielding to their two-wheeled (or sometimes three-wheeled) cousins seems more likely.

The food carts would definitely make for a profitable business in the industry. Food carts could sometimes be referred to as Food-onwheels, well yeah, they are on wheels. In Nigeria a bike powered Food cart is a winner

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as it is cost effective and gives you mobility with very little investment. You can brand your cart and ride it around the neighbourhood or market and sell your food. In addition you may decide to own an entire army of food carts in which many others can be riding your bike food carts for you and making daily returns.

To find out about this and other business ideas, visit our showroom at W2, THE ARENA Army Shopping complex, Bolade Bustop, Oshodi, Lagos. You could also contact our sales representative at +234 1 277 1388 OR Email us on info@empowernigeria.com

Guide to Personal Development

By Nicholas Okoye

nokoye@empowernigeria.com

A Sound Balance On All Four Dimensions HE human being is made up of several functioning body parts that have to be in balance in order to achieve peak performance. Any world class athlete that has won an Olympic gold medal will tell you that peak performance is a combination of a host of certain factors. And once you discover the combination and you can hit it on all cylinders the chances are that you can achieve world Class results. That means that you can become the best in the entire World in what you are doing. Just think about it being the very best in the World in what you do. Usain Bolt has told the World that he started training to be a World champion runner from the age of six years old, and it took ten years before he started winning World class tournaments. And it was not just the fact that he practiced every day of the week and twice on Sunday, it was the fact that he understood the balance required for peak performance and he was able to attain that balance and he rode it will the way to the top.

The balance is a combination of four Dimensions and I have outlined them here.

Sound Mind: You cannot expect to be good let alone be the best at anything if you do not have the mental capacity to understand what you are doing, put your determination behind it and engage a healthy mind that fits the purpose. Your mind must believe it, your mind must accept it and your mind must be fed with the food it needs to keep it with a strong desire for continuous peak performance.

Healthy Body: the Body is the temple of all achievement, so if it not healthy the chances of achieving peak performance will be very slim. The need for a sound mind and healthy body stands out for all performances whether in school, as an athlete, or in business. You need to eat the right foods, do the right exercise and avoid all the poisons such as tobacco, alcohol, white sugar, white flour and white salt.

Active Spirit: the spirit is a part and parcel of the individual and whether you are religious or not that fact remains that every living thing on earth, we are not so sure about living things on other planets, but for the living things on this earth, we all have a spirit. And that Spirit must be kept active engaged in a direction that you love or you have a passion for, that way it stays active. A lot of people feed their spirit by engaging in religious activity, some tend to meditate.

Others practice applied faith, whatever you do it must be an activity that keeps the spirit active. This is paramount for peak performance.

Happy Emotion: if you have a great emotion then you are likely to maintain the balance you need for peak performance. Your emotions must be in check at all times so that it does not slide into a negative state.

The negative states are deadly and can destroy any well attained peak performance balance you may have achieved. You can sometimes be unbalanced by a spouse, a close friend or even a work collogue, if this happens find a way to remove yourself from that environment and ensure that you have neutralized the reason for the negative emotional state or atmosphere before you return.

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At 10, AMAA Rolls The Drum For Mother Africa

Winner of the Best Actress in the leading Role award for AMAA 2012, Rita Dominic (middle) poses with Nse, Deepak Srivastava of Airtel and Kate Henshaw at the award ceremony staged in Lagos.

By Chuks Nwanne EFORE now, Africa, to an average American or European, brings to mind images of famine, poverty, sickness and war as erroneously promoted by the western media. As far as these set of people are concerned, aids, tribal warfare, and chaos are the associative key terms that come to mind whenever the black continent is mentioned in any international gathering.

Even with in the current century, these erroneous notions have not been fully abandoned. However, majority of these set of people have never visited Africa and most likely will not. Therefore, any information that is received about Africa is taken for granted, as there are no means for contestation.

If critically examined, Africa’s image in the Western media is not a self-portrait; it is not a case of ‘what you see is what you get.’ But because media shapes, molds, and monopolises those images, references to Africa are received sometimes with disdain and contempt.

Even African descendants, who have virtually no cultural competence, actually contribute to how Africa is projected globally. Obviously ashamed of their heritage and historical past, some of them side with media characterisations projected through stories, datelines, specials, and nightline episodes. This attitude, while supremely disturbing, also abets the media in denigrating Africa.

But the continual portrayal of Africa in a bad light only perpetuates ignorance in a world much closer in proximity than ever, before a media industry that thrives on the negative.

Though in reality, textbooks, classrooms, news,

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Peace Anyiam-Osigwe

media, entertainment, museums, Internet, and religious missionaries remain the formats for which the Western public learn about Africa.

However, all over the world, films and television are enormously important avenues for international cultural understanding, which is a key goal of the modern public diplomacy strategy. Film in particular, remains a powerful tool in citizen diplomacy, a concept that promotes the right of individuals to help shape foreign relations. Already in Nigeria, Nollywood, the Nigerian film industry, has gone a long way in providing platform for the positive promotion and projection of the values of the Nigerian nation, its cultures and peoples; other African nations have since followed the trend.

So, in 2005 when the Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) was established, with the aims to facilitate the development and relevance of African film & cinema by providing a rewards & recognition platform for filmmakers on the continent, it was the hope of the promoters that through AMAA, the world would begin to see the true picture of mother Africa. And to a large extent, that dream seems to materialised.

Founded on the best film tradition, AMAA is geared towards research, training and propagating filmmaking in Africa, with the mission to promote the African culture, encourage professionalism in the movie industry, offer professional development and networking opportunities. Away from the stereotypes in the Western media about Africa, the film project founded by Peace Anyiam Osigwe, is conceptualised as an annual celebration of the brightest and the best in African movie. It’s about class and style, glitz and razzmatazz of the black continent, which the Western media seem to have turned blind eyes on.

Over the years, AMAA project has evolved from a one-day live televised event to an all-yearround engagement platform for filmmakers, industry professionals and their fans. Today, the initiative has become one of the most prestigious and glamorous entertainment industry event through which the world see the beauty of Africa.

Aside from entertainment, African films also serve as a link for Africans in the Diaspora with those at home. These films have

the potential to serve as a shared collective experience, a reminder that Africa is a vibrant continent filled with colour, energy and possibilities. This is one role AMAA has played so well; creating a viable platform for rebranding of Africa through films.

Ahead of the 10th Anniversary of the film project that has greatly changed the perception of Africa globally, the AMAA team has been working round the clock in an effort to put together a spectacular event this year. While the College of Screeners is currently battling to trim down thousands of entries submitted by African filmmakers from different part of the globe, jury members on their part are gearing up to the tedious task of selecting winning films for each category.

As for the stars and stakeholders in the motion picture industry, South Africa beckons ahead of the traditional nominees party, which serves as a prelude to the main event in Nigeria on April 26, 2014. Already, Bayelsa State, which hosted the maiden edition of the award ceremony, has been unveiled as host for this year.

From all indications, the 10th anniversary edition of AMAA may just turn out different from previous editions, but that’s if things go as planned.

For instance, in a bid to ensure that fund would never be a barrier to the 10th anniversary celebration, the governor of the state Hon. Seriake Dickson on Saturday at the Civic Centre, Lagos, mobilised the private sector to support the prestigious pan-African awards. The Governor, who also used the occasion to regale guests at the event about his achievements in office in the last two years, said his administration wants to develop the economy of the state beyond oil, describing tourism as a major economic driver for the non-oil sector economy.

“With AMAA, which is our flagship entertainment event platform and other entertainment events we are promoting in the state, Bayelsa is gradually becoming the entertainment headquarters of Nigeria. Investment in AMAA is an investment into the future of Nigeria. We are committed to promoting Nigerian talents in movie, music and fashion. Bayelsa is building a film City where filmmakers from all over the world can come and shoot their films. We are also developing our tourism infrastructures to make Bayelsa the leisure capital of Nigeria.”

Earlier in her speech, the Director General of Bayelsa State Tourism Board, Mrs. Ebizi Brown urged the private sector investors to come and invest in the state as it has generous incentives for investors, adding that the history of AMAA with Bayelsa in the last 10 years has been one of

partnership for development.

In the same vein, the Chief Executive Officer of the awards, Ms. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe recalled the history of AMAA with Bayelsa since 2005 and thanked former Governor Diepriye Alamyesigha and President Goodluck Jonathan for their support for AMAA from inception till date.

“I want to appeal to Corporate Nigeria to support us in the creative industry. Nigerian young men and women should be supported to grow. Nollywood and our Music are great cultural exports from Nigeria that world has embraced and respected. Three presidents who came for Nigeria Centenary event few days ago in Abuja said Nollywood and our Music are hugely popular around the world and in their countries. There is money to be made in this sector with right support and investment. By sponsoring AMAA and other events in the industry you will get return on your investment. AMAA working with our media partners has developed multi-channel media platforms that will give your brand right exposures pan-Africa and globally,’’ she said.

It would be recalled that Ghanaian A-List Actress and one time African Movie Academy Awards winner of the Best Actress in a Leading Role, Lydia Forson, has been unveiled as the brand Ambassador for this year’s award.

Speaking at the unveiling event, which took place at the African Sun, Amber Residence Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, an extremely elated Lydia said her relationship with AMAA started about 7 years ago, when she first attended the award in Nigeria out of curiosity.

“I came to Nigeria and bought my ticket myself because I missed my AMAA arranged flight; that year I didn’t win but I was amazed by the quality of filmmakers and professionals in the industry I met. I was like ‘wow, this is how huge this platform is.’ I have formed life-long relationships from AMAA because I have been coming every year after the first time.”

However, the icing on the cake for Lydia was when she won AMAA as Best Actress with Jackie Appiah.

“It opened a lot of doors for me; the calls for jobs were coming in from different parts of the world and when I asked why they were all calling me for some of the career defining jobs I got after I won, they said, ‘but you are have just been crowned as the best actress in Africa.’

AMAA is ours and we must support it. There are challenges here and there which people have talked about but for me AMAA is bigger than any logistics problem and the advantages and

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End Of The Road For Chinelo In Knorr Taste Quest RADuALLY, it’s getting G closer to the finish line of Knorr Taste Quest 2, yet it still re-

Stories By Daniel Anazia S part of its support to the growth of the country showbiz industry, Nigerian Breweris Plc, through its Maltina brand, has announced plans to support this year’s edition AY Live Concert on Easter Sunday, as well as Gbenga Adeyinka’s Lafmattazz billed for Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Speaking at a media briefing held recently at the Wheat Baker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, the Corporate Affairs Adviser of the company Kufre Ekanem informed that the briefing was conceived as a platform to announce the brand’s plan for the year.

“We invited you here today to inform you of a few things that Maltina is planning for 2014. As you may be aware, three years ago Maltina was relaunched with the payoff line Sharing Happiness. This gives the brand more leeway to ensure that more consumers get to feel the

A

brand at various consumer touch points.”

In furtherance of this, Kufre announced that the brand would be aligning with two great comedy shows in happiness, AY Live! anchored by comedian AY and Laffmattazz anchored by Gbenga Adeyinka 1st..

“I’m sure you would agree with me that Maltina is partnering with two of Nigeria’s greatest comedians, AY and Gbenga Adeyinka 1st. To us happiness is a choice and comedy is a great avenue for us to relax and build the internal oasis of fun.

Laughter – as you will all agree - is a positive infection, and helps to spread the happiness that we have within us.”

AY Live! has been voted the comedy event of the year for the last three years, and has gained a large following on social media as those who are present and those unable to make the show seek to share the comedic antics later on. The event is billed for Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos on Easter

mains to be seen who will walk away with the coveted prize of being Nigeria’s best in Culinary matters with a brand new car, kitchen equipment and cash prize.

Over the past weeks, hot has indeed been getting hotter, and episode 11 was no different. The theme for this episode’s challenge was A Desert with a Nigerian Twist, and the contestants were given a massive 25 ingredients to make four deserts in just 1hour 5minutes.

Some of the ingredients included: Apple, Cocoa, local Cherry (Agbalumo), Grape Fruit, Eggs, Cashew Nuts, Cranberries, Garri, Flour, Rice Crispi’s, Bread, Digestive Biscuits, Rice, Cream Cheese, But-

ter, Chocolate and Knorr.

The contestants went about their task with the usual excitement, in anticipation to be the best for the task ahead.

After an intense time of cooking, the contestants were asked to present their dishes.

Chinelo was the first to present her dish; she got very bad reviews from the judges, with Dr Roberts stating that she made Eba and butter, and called it pastry. Chef Renée also felt she did not incorporate the ingredients very well.

However, Popoola took the judges by surprise, and had good reviews, the judges only complaint was that his food presentation had not improved over the course of the show. His grapefruit cheesecake and Bread and Butter pudding were also applauded.

Simi

Sammy

Sunday. The show will also be replicated in Port Harcourt on May 1 (May Day) and in Abuja on June 28 (Eid El Fitr).

On the other hand, Laffmatazz, the Gbenga Adeyinka & Friends Comedy and Music Concert is an experiential platform for the whole family which features notable Nigerian entertainers in its fourth edition, tagged The Evolution.

“Maltina will take a sponsorship role with the show which is scheduled for three locations beginning with Ibadan on Easter Sunday. Apart from comedy, I know you are all aware of other dimensions of the Maltina Happiness platforms we explore to engage our consumers. The flagship of these is the Maltina Dance All, the most popular family dance show in Nigeria. The show has run for seven consecutive years now and has remained the reference point for dance and family bonding. Season 8 is loading … but today is about laughter, the best of medicines,” he said.

Ayo Bankole centre… showbiz treasure in the heart of Surulere OR many fun seekers tired Fhangouts of the usual loud, rowdy in Lagos, there is good news for you as there is what is described as ‘entertainment treasure’ right in the heart of Surulere, The Ayo Bankole Centre for Arts and Cultural Expression (the ABC).

The name Ayo Bankole definitely rings a bell, right? Yes, it does. Tucked at the end of Yesufu Sanusi Street, off Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere, the ABC sits comfortably on number 32.

Ayo Bankole jnr in a statement signed by his media company, said the ABC “was established primarily as an arts centre with the aim of promoting music in particular and the arts in general and to be a vehicle for influencing youths and the society positively.”

The centre he said is named after his dad, the late Ayo Bankole (1935 -1976) who during his lifetime achieved national and international recognition as a composer, organist, and ethnomusicologist. In Nigeria Ayo Bankole was active as a broadcaster on radio and TV, he was a lecturer at the university of Lagos, and championed the cause of

music in many schools and churches. “He was a key figure in the 2nd all Africa Games (1973) and FESTAC 77. He was also involved in research on Yoruba music and the music of people of the then Rivers State. The ABC accordingly aims at promoting the various aspects of musical endeavour that the late Ayo Bankole excelled in during his lifetime.”

A visit to the lounge reveals class and Ayo Bankole Jnr. Reveals why the ABC is not the usual lounges dotting Lagos.

“In order to be able to run various ABC programmes with minimal recourse to external venues, we invested in a multi-purpose hall with the necessary infrastructure to make it suitable for a range of performances, workshops and exhibitions. Largely as a result of the flexibility of the hall, both the British Council and the Goethe Institute have run programmes in the ABC within the past year.”

For jazz lovers, you don’t need to travel far to savour pure, undiluted jazz music every Wednesday. “The ABC runs a mid-week Jazz event which currently features saxophonist Olu Jazz.

X3m Music Signs New Acts 3M Music has announced clined since childhood. He reX the signing of two young leased his mix tape called “A and vibrant artistes, Simi and mix tape and some”in 2011. This

Every Friday the ABC stages a cabaret gig that involves singing different genres of music. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays are Karaoke days. The last Sunday of each month the ABC hosts a concert termed “Jazz and Old School with Ayo Bankole and Friends” where several bands and solo acts (singers, comedians, etc.) feature. The ABC intends in the near future to introduce a highlife night and also a monthly dramatic production.”

The ambience of the centre

gives one a feeling peace.

Very cool especially in this hot weather period, and the interior décor of red fabric mixed with a shade of black and the bamboo touch sends one to a Caribbean/African lounge immediately you walk through the padded door. The ABC caters for the upwardly mobile and all classes of clientele who would always stop by after work on Wednesday and listen to cool Jazz music and on Friday lose some buttons on the dance floor.

Sammy. The powerhouse record label, home to Nigerian R&B/Soul singing sensation Praiz has signed the new artistes as part of activities to change the music landscape in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

25 year old, Simi born Simisola Ogunleye started out singing and dancing in her early teens as a member of the teenage church choir. The versatile and uncanny creative Simi has a style of music that can be described as Afro-pop, infused with soul and pop. Her debut album which was released in 2008 included hit songs like Ara Ile, Ogaju, Iya Temi to mention a few.

Sammy Yakubu popularly known as Sammy is a 25 year old multi talented songwriter, singer, dancer and guitarist who has been musically in-

mix tape had a cover of songs from popular foreign artistes, which showcased him as a talented R&B singer.

Folashade Anozie, A&R Manager X3M Music while commenting on the recently signed artistes says, “Simi is the next big thing. She is a great addition to the X3M Music family.

Sammy is an Atomic bomb waiting to explode. This has been a long time coming and we’re excited for him. Let’s go make history”.

“It gives me so much joy to be a part of other people’s journey, to be able to inspire and guide new singers coming up in this business,” Praiz expresses his joy at having new sign on acts.

Both Sammy and Simi are presently working on their singles from their debut and sophomore albums respec-

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Bright Gain

WEEkENDBEATS

The Eko Brass Band performing during IREP Festival held at the Freedom Park, Lagos...recently

HIS year’s edition of the iRep InternaT tional Film Festival wrapped up on Sunday, at the Freedom Park, Marina, Lagos, with a special jazz night featuring some notable Nigerian artistes. Among artistes on parade are Bright Gain, Adeh, the Eko Brass Band, Segun Awe, Femi Leye and others. Anchored by former editor, The Guardian On Sunday and a Director of the film festival, Jahman Anikulapo, the concert dubbed Naijazz Show, was packaged by Ayoola Shadare’s Inspiro Production.

With the theme Rhythms of identity, the grand finale of the four-day event opened with the screening of Dapo Osinaike’s film, Blind Aspiration, a short documentary on Dr. Ife Akintunde, a blind Nigerian living in the United kingdom, who became the first blind student to study Law at the prestigious University of Lagos. Then followed by the screening of Stephen Latty’s True Somebody; The African Soccer Dream, a short film that documents a vital time in African soccer.

There was also the traditional CORA Stanpede on the topic, Evolution of Identity; Music Video as Documentary. Moderated by Chris Ihidero, the session has the likes of filmmaker Charles Novia, Molara Woods and others as panelists. The session was wrapped up with the screening of Coz Ov Moni, a music video by Ghana’s FOkN Bois, before paving the way for participants, who were drawn from different parts of the world, to jazz up.

After few minutes of soundcheck by the band and brief introduction by the anchorman, Jahman, the evening of live music kicked off with Adeh, a fast rising Afro jazz guitarist, thrilled the gathering with cover songs from classic and contemporary Nigerian musicians. Young and talented, Adeh left no one in doubt of his mastery of the guitar as he performed with so much dexterity.

While the audience waited for the second act to mount the well-lighted stage, there was a brief presentation by the iREP organizers, including Femi Odugbemi, Theo Lawson, Makin Soyinka and Jahman Anikulapo; it was an oppor-

iRep 2014 Ends On A Jazzy Note tunity to appreciate participants for their contributions during the four-day event.

The vote of thanks ended on a surprise note, as the group presented Lawson with a live chicken as birthday gift; his birthday actually coincided with the closing day. It was smiles all the way as the men sang birthday song for the celebrant.

Action resumed on stage with the 12-piece Eko Brass Band, a big band ensemble put together by 2-time Grammy award co-winner and master percussionist, Lekan Babalola.

Their set was energetic and got the crowd dancing as they play popular Lagos music in the agidigbo and Fanti style. In what seem like a deliberate attempt to get the crowd dancing, the band played some popular Fela songs, which got some members of the audience singing along.

An accomplished musician with over 100 compositions to his credit, SPAN academy of Jazz and contemporary music director Bright Gain took to the stage with some of his music student. Their set was pure Jazz in the straight-ahead and bebop style, with Bright leading on a rarely seen instrument in this part, the electric upright bass guitar.

Their performance included moments of almost celestial surrealism and rapturous solos that enthralled the audience, who responded with a loud applause.

Meanwhile, the final two acts for the evening were no less engaging. Segun Awe of the Afritonas fame, who recently returned from the United States, presented a set that was a blast from the past. He led his 10-piece band and played original compositions from his past albums. A veteran in the trade, his energetic stage performance, singing, dance steps and dexterous guitar playing was reminiscent of the God Father of Soul James Brown of blessed memory. He

sang most of his songs in the Ekiti dialect, interlacing with consistently modern grooves.

Femi Leye ended the night with two songs. Particularly, his hit track Irawo owuro saw him deliver intricately patterned solos and improvisations on the guitar to the crowds delight. iREP is a touring film festival established by three Nigerian culture figures to promote independent documentary films and global awareness about the role of documentary films in deepening participatory democracy. Some of its other objectives include creating platform of awareness and expression for aspiring and practising filmmakers, as well as to provide forum for people’s ingenuity to be showcased without prejudice to style or subject.

Segun Awe

By Chuks Nwanne

Nsukka Hots Up, As Stars Trek University Town Today SUkkA, the University Town, will today come under heavy sound of music, as superstar entertainers including 2face, M.I, Olamide, Naeto C and Phyno storm the area today for the flag off the eagerly anticipated first stage of the annual pan Nigerian concert, Star Music Trek 2014.

Nigeria’s favorite concert, The Trek, which holds at Local Government Stadium, Nsukka, will officially kick off the impressive 10 city-10 week music tour across Nigeria. Excited music

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fans within Nsukka and surrounding areas will gather for a night of electrifying performances from star artistes with popular regional talents also having an opportunity to thrill the audience.

2face Idibia, headline artiste for The Trek said, “there are implications of missing this concert, so be warned. It’s the only place where you’ll get the best of Nigerian music from the greatest artistes around on one platform in one fantastic night.”

“Last year on The Trek was

truly awesome. From Enugu to Owerri to Aba, the momentum just kept going; massive appreciation to fans for giving me a reason to keep doing this for a living. For me as an artiste, it’s the best thing when you can connect so well with your fans and play music that they obviously enjoy and appreciate,” M.I assures.

The 2014 line up of artistes was revealed at an exclusive sign on party, which held at The Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos on March 19, 2014.

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WEEKENDBEATS

COSON Vows Not To Sacrifice The Interest Of The Music Industry HAIRMAN, Copyright Society of NigeC ria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji has said that the representatives of COSON in the on-going NBC/NCC/COSON/BON/IBAN Joint Committee will not sacrifice the interest of the music industry for any reason.

Addressing members of the COSON management at a meeting during the week, Okoroji said, “we understand the historic nature of the on-going negotiations. In the interest of the country, we are willing to bend backwards where it is necessary and compromise where we consider it appropriate, but we will not under any circumstance sacrifice the interest of members of COSON or the right owners in the various countries around the globe, who have mandated COSON to manage their rights. You have my word that we will not sacrifice the interest of the music industry in Nigeria,” he said.

However, Okoroji rejected any attempt by individuals or groups to use the music industry to subsidize the broadcast industry in the country.

“By population, Nigeria is by far the largest country in Africa; our

GDP is set to outstrip that of South Africa in a few years. Our music is heavily in demand across the world, more than that of any nation in Africa. No one has yet given me any reason why in tiny countries, such as Zimbabwe, Botwana, Malawi, etc, they are collecting far more royalties for music from broadcasting stations than Nigeria. No one has told me why South Africa has to collect over one hundred times more royalties for music from broadcasting stations than Nigeria.”

To the COSON boss, the royalties paid in Nigeria must be reasonable and in accordance with prevailing standards.

“This is about the future of our children, who are investing their talent, time and resources to create the great music that is shaking the world. They have my assurance that regardless of the provocation, intimidation or threat, we will fully defend their interest.”

According to Okoroji, COSON is not interested in distributing pittance to our stakeholders as copyright royalties.

“Music is intellectual property with substantial value; those who want it should be ready to pay for it. Our industry must show in its returns the fact that we are by far, the most active in the continent. We cannot say that we are the first and then we are behaving like the

last.”

On why the negotiation has lasted for too long, the explained that, “this can never be a never ending process; the NBC pronouncement is clear as to when this process comes to an end. We are being very patient and professional. We have refused to be provoked so that no one seizes it as a reason to do that, which is contrary to the interest of the music industry. Anyone who meets with us will tell you that we do not posture. We deal with facts. We are bringing a lot of incontrovertible facts to the table and my hope is that at the end of this process, the music industry would have taken a major leap forward. I wish to thank the leaderships of the NBC and NCC for their engagement.”

It will be recalled that on January 9, 2014, the National Broadcasting Commission published a major pronouncement in reaction to the COSON, BON/IBAN conflict and set up the NBC/NCC/COSON/BON/IBAN Joint Committee to review copyright royalty tariffs with respect to broadcast of musical works and sound recordings and to ensure that the royalties paid by broadcast stations in Nigeria are fair, reasonable and in accordance with prevailing standards. The joint committee was inaugurated in Lagos on February 24, 2014.

Yaw and Julius

Kcee, Ice Prince, MI, Seyi Shay, Others On Stage With Yaw’s The Street ITH only a few days left to the most anticiW pated stage play of the year hosted by top Wazobia FM OAP, Yaw, the media space is still abuzz with conversations about #TheStreet.

The annual live play which holds tomorrow at the Eko Hotel & Suites is the 6th edition of the Yaw Live On Stage series.

According to Yaw, the two-man stage play, featuring himself and top-notch comedian, Julius Agwu is a satirical piece portraying major events in Nigeria from January 2013 to February 2014. “We have infused comedy and dance into the stage play to deliver a totally mind blowing package,” he said.

The Street is not about comedy alone, the event will be juiced with exciting performances by top Nigerian celebrities including Kcee, Ice Prince, Timi Dakolo, Seyi Shay amongst others.

Senior Brand Manager Star, NB Plc, Ita Bassey, Rapper, Phyno, Brand Manager Star, NB Plc, Biyi Fagade, and Corporate Media & Brand Pr Manager, NB Plc, Edem Vindah, during the sigin on ceremony of stars for this year’s Star Trek held at the Marquee, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos recently

Frills, Trills As Legend Wears New Look

By Daniel Anazia ESTERDAY, March 28, 2014, the mystery surY rounding the much-touted BlackREALvolution movement was finally revealed. It was actually a re-launch of Legend Extra Stout, manufactured

by Nigeria’s foremost brewer, Nigerian Breweries Plc. For several weeks, social media was agog with the buzz surrounding the BlackREALvolution, which was presented to the public as a movement.

Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, the Afro-beat king was the headline act of the evening and suffice to say that the multiple-Grammy awards nominee was in his elements as he kept the crowd swaying non-stop to the rhythms of his band. Co-opting him to lead the social media campaign turned out a brilliant decision.

Femi, scion of his late father, Fela, is immensely popular, both as a world-class musician and as a social crusader that has canvassed against corruption, nepotism and oppression, amongst other vile activities which man commits against fellow man.

Enter 2Face Idibia, arguably one of Nigeria’s best known musicians, popular for monster music hits and countless awards. Yet, his tweets were

themed around making the society better, transparency and corruption, bearing good examples and so on. The hype was massive.

Excited Nigerians that thronged the Eko Atlantic, Barbeach venue in anticipation of the BlackREALvolution movement launch were pleasantly surprised, alright, but not disappointed. They had a swell time at the event.

It was at the event that brand enthusiasts finally drew the connection between the Legend bottle re-launch and the Black – REAL volution.

Legend stout is black; and the brand is widely known as THE REAL DEAL. And the bottle relaunch could aptly be described as a revolutionary phase in the life of the brand.

Amidst funfair, pomp and circumstance, the new look Legend Extra Stout with Stanoil and metalized metal labels was introduced to the general public. It could be described as a milestone in the lifespan of the stout brand, regarded as one of the most enduring brands from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc. The Legend stout is regarded as the only ‘REAL’ stout, brewed to perfection with a unique bitter taste.

Legend Extra Stout reportedly has a rich his-

tory that is replete with innovation because the brand continuously focuses on optimum consumer satisfaction. Little wonder the brand is regarded as one of the fastest growing stout brands in Nigeria.

This unique stout brand is said to have undergone evolutions in times past since it was first launched in 1992: from being fortified with vitamins and formulated to enhance its taste, to changes in its bottle shape and labelling.

The only constant thing in life is change.

And for the change to be meaningful, it has to be an upgrade. The re-launch of Nigeria’s fastest growing stout brand, the REAL DEAL, could be described as an upgrade.

Consumers can now go to their restaurants or bars to savour the new product. Even though Legend Extra Stout is being re-packaged, the great taste which numerous customers have enjoyed all these years remains the same. Legend is said to be the only full brewed stout in the Nigerian market with a unique bitter taste and longer lasting foam head, giving it the authenticity to be called ‘The Real Deal.’

The new Stanoil and metalised label could

be said to represent quality and the ‘premiumness’ of the brand. This affirms the unique positioning of Legend as the stout of choice for the sociable, modern, ambitious and courageous Nigerian, yearning to enjoy the finer things in life and living life to the fullest and standing out of the crowd.

Consumers that also purchase the newly packaged Legend Extra Stout can be rest assured that they are drinking the Legend Extra Stout which has been produced under the highest standard of quality. Consumers are urged to go out and enjoy the new Legend with the same old unique bitter premium taste.

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Saturday, March 29, 2014 37

KEEP IT REAL...

YOUTHMAGAZINE

Amushan Kemi

with Kemi Amushan

Communication Mode In Your New Relationship

OUNG AND YOUTHFUL love could be fun.

But at the same time, it could be disastrous. While growing up, I was more of a tomboy. I made friends easily with boys my age and even older and I remember then it made my female friends jealous like crazy. I can still say so till now. Guys always find it comfortable and exciting to talk to me. It’s like I have answers to most or if not all their problems. I was and I’m still their best buddy but a female buddy.

Most times guys like when they can relate on the same level with a woman. A woman that acts like a lady and thinks like a man. A woman that can see a man from a man’s point of view. They get completely lost in you almost to the point that people would think you are dating each other.

I remember back then when mobile phones just came out. One would be considered a “big babe or big boy” to own one. The use of landlines and nitel pay phones used to be the only way we could carry on relationships because our parents back then never used to like the idea of male friends coming to visit their daughters at home. But now, the digital world has clearly changed the way we communicate and conduct our relationships.

However, that doesn’t mean that our old-fashioned forms of contact are old news. Learning the art of 21st century communication can be tricky as this new media convenience has given us the ability to hide behind digital walls.

With the simple text-written language, we lose some of the key ingredients in holding a meaningful conversation and understanding tone and context.

With the aid of exclamation points, question marks, dashes and commas, we can assist our recipients with some indication of emotion through punctuation. Yet, our society often times communicates through sarcasm, wit, banter and yes, even T9 and voice-to-text capabilities. Therefore, in lies the problem: there is so much room for error and miscommunication.

It’s all about finding a healthy balance.

Especially in new relationships, we tend to want to be more guarded, using social media and texting to our advantages, as it is more comfortable. However, it is very important to know and understand the proper etiquette for when each form of communication is acceptable.

Consider these thoughts below about each form of communication to be your guide to knowing the appropriate and inappropriate times to use each method of connecting when building a new relationship.

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Twitter The Good: I honestly never liked twitter but when my friend introduced me to it, I saw a bit of fun in it. I mean this guy is hooked on it and I remember calling him a twitter junkie one time and he was even happy about it. I never even understood what it was all about. But with Twitter gaining popularity, it’s no wonder that relationships are also blossoming. I later found out that twitter is a great networking site to find people within your social circles that may share common interests. Therefore, the “there are plenty of fish in the sea” motto can really hold true. Also, for just starting a relationship, this is a good way to quickly share fun and flirty comments or tweets to get the conversation ball rolling. Or, if you are thinking about the person, you can send him or her a quick tweet to let him or her know that they’re on your mind.

The Ugly: With social media dating, you always have to be cautious about what you post. In reality, your business is out there for everyone to read and indulge in your juiciest updates. This can be detrimental to any relationship, because people can stick their noses into your personal life with their “he said, she said” bits.

Texting The Good: Texting is a great way to assist a new relationship. For example, if you’re feeling flirty or trying to break the ice, a simple text can do the job. This is a fast way to let someone know that you are thinking about him or her and excited for a first meet. Often times, texting helps ease the pains of rejection, especially when you are meeting online and just want to see how things go. Plus, it takes less time to send and can be done anywhere. Just make sure that your text is simple, so there is no confusion.

The Bad: Avoid lengthy text messages, particularly ones with an over-abundance of emoticons and pet names. This can get annoying pretty quick. Text messaging is meant for a quick check or mention like a “Thank you,” or “I’ve been thinking about you.” Anything that runs over 50 characters is pushing it. If you need to say something and provide details, call. That way, you can avoid any miscommunication due to lack of punctuations or tone.

The Ugly: Never cancel the day of a date or break up with someone through a text. Be courteous to one another and make the proper moves towards being polite and respectful to the other party. If you have to cancel for a good reason, explain that to your date to show him or her that your interest is still there. If you just aren’t interested, call the person and make the conversation short and sweet. Most likely, your date will appreciate that you didn’t waste his or her time playing games.

Make the Call At the end of the day, if you have something to say to your significant other that is in any sense important or meaningful, make it a point to call them. For example, if you are on your way to a first meet and get into a car accident, don’t text your date. Call your date and explain what happened after you’ve called a family member for help. It’s always important to call your family or someone that can help. Most likely, your date will understand if he or she had to wait around a little before hearing from you. The person will probably want to help or are just glad you are okay.

Whatever method you choose, do it wisely.

Make it a point to consider how the other person will feel receiving information from you. If it’s a simple ‘Hello,’ text them, a ‘Hey, look what I found and it made me think of you,’ tweet them, a ‘Let’s talk about plans for next Friday, movies?’ call them. At the end of the day, communication is the key to a healthy relationship.

Trust me.

The Bad: Ultimately, there is a character limit for your tweets. Therefore, you have to make sure to say what you need to say in 140 characters or less. This can really make it hard to hold a meaningful exchange or conversation. Also, I found out that Twitter relationships don’t last To our happiness, cheers. as long as real-life communications.

April 5th Connect Nigeria’s 1st Writers’ Conference The first edition of the annual Connect Nigeria Writers’ Conference will hold at the Protea Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos on the April 5th, 2014. The conference theme is ‘The Business of Writing’ which will be addressed by an amalgam of knowledgeable key note speakers such as Deji Badmus, Sefi Attah, Adaku Ufere, Ike Nnaebue, Abiola Salami, Lekan Otufodunrin, and Seun Salami. The aforementioned speakers will be delivering speeches, presentations and interactive sessions that will address topics centered on the business aspects of scriptwriting, online editing, novel writing, fashion editing and much more.

The writers’ conference is part of ConnectNigeria.com’s corporate social responsibility objective to promote knowledge development and skill acquisition in Nigeria. It is primarily targeted at undergraduates aspiring to careers for which writing and editing skills are a basic requirement. According to Mr. Emeka Okafor, Managing Director of Connect Nigeria, “Connect Nigeria is a socially responsible organization and since we understand that getting gainful employment is a challenge for graduates, we cannot turn our backs against this problem…

Many of these students can start their own businesses and employ other people if they can merge their writing skills with entrepreneurial abilities. Our objective is to empower people with information.’’ Mr. Okafor also added that writing is a technical skill and as such, it is imperative that the academic community and business establishments work together to enable easy transition of students into the professional environment.

Though originally established as a company that organizes information about Nigeria with the aim of making such information easily accessible and resourceful for Nigerians, Connect Nigeria has added another dimension to its business offering.

As part of its vision to empower Nigerians with useful information, Connect Nigeria also organized an e-Business Fair in October 2013. Attracting over 2,000 people, it was aimed at connecting small business owners with service providers such as banks and ICT firms on how to build and harness modern electronic technologies with their business operations.

For more information and to register for the Writers’ Conference go to: http://connectnigeria.com/articles/writers-conference/

Jobberman CEO to speak at 2014 MIT Africa Innovate conference itable job site in the world) and New York Hedge Fund, Tiger Global. Over 1 million professionals and circa 25,000 companies make use of the job portal.

At the conference, Adewunmi will join a panel discussion focusing on how Technology is disrupting industries in Africa and touching fundamental aspects of people’s lives on the continent. Fellow panelists include Joost Bonsen (Moderator) lecturer, MIT Media Lab; Dr. Bitange Ndemo, former Permanent Secretary, Government of Kenya; Anne Githuku-Shongwe, Founder/CEO, AFROES Interactive and Consulting; and Sangu Delle, CEO, Golden Palm Investments.

Other speakers slated for the Boston event in April include Folorunso Alakija, Entrepreneur/Philanthropist; Bola Ahmed YODEJI Adewunmi, a familiar name in Tinubi, Leader, All Progressive Congress; online recruitment in Africa, will speak at Ashish Thakkar, CEO, Mara Group; Alex the 4th yearly MIT: Africa Innovate Cummings, Chief Administrative Officer, The Conference to be held on April 11 and 12 at the Coca-Cola Company; Tonye Cole, CoMIT Media Lab. Founder/Group Executive Director, Sahara Adewunmi is the President & CEO of Energy; and dozens more industry leaders and Jobberman.com, launched in August 2009, innovators shaping the future of Africa.

Jobberman is the biggest job site in SubAfrica Innovate is an intimate showcase of Saharan Africa with strategic partnerships with the latest ideas and innovations in entreprekey media companies and in strong financial neurship, finance, healthcare, energy and eduposition with backing from SEEK (most profcation.

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FASHION

YOUTHMAGAZINE

Kinabuti Hosts Soiree To Launch New

Kbuti T-Shirt

By Kemi Amushan INABUTI Fashion Initiative (KFI) in partnership with Thea Kuta launched a new collection of t-shirts from its Kbuti label last Saturday.

The event which hosted loads of friends and clients to a variety of foods, drinks and music showcased the Tshirts which were printed specially for the Kbuti label as part of its social project by the youths of orile iganmu community and Kfi. The 4 weeks training that ended last 2 weeks had 14 male and female youths who graduated from the orile iganmu community Lagos.

The workshop solely tutored by the Thea Kuta primarily focused on teaching the art of silkscreen production using simple affordable locally sourced materials. A practical example of how art and passion can be used as a vehicle to inspire and empower people and make a positive impact.

The vision exclusively is to teach a profession, activate the potential capacity of the youths and give power to private artisanship.

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Collection

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Saturday, March 29, 2014 39

FASHION

Thrill Your Mum This Mothers’ Day

By Kemi Amushan OTHERS’ day comes around once in a year M and it is a day specially dedicated to all mothers. In recent times, we’ve been confused on what particular date it falls on. In different parts of the country, it is celebrated on different dates and it gets pretty confusing for most people.

But finding the perfect gift for Mother’s Day isn’t always easy. You could do the classic route and send a lovely bouquet of Mother’s Day flowers. Or you could always get something pretty to wow her: a heartshaped pendant, a shiny new watch, a scarf in her favorite color, or a new bottle of her favorite perfume.

The Mother’s Day gift ideas are endless. That’s why we’re gathering top picks to make it easy and give you an idea on what to get her. This year, we’ve put together a couple of wow kinda gifts to gladden that special mother of yours.

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Saturday, March 29, 2014 | 41

HOME&DECOR

Plants As Attractive Indoor Decoration

By Ekwy P. Uzoanya SING plants indoors is popular in U virtually every space that people want to experience a homely feeling.

It is an attractive indoor decoration that can add a softness of line and provide a bit of nature indoors.

Bringing plants indoors may entail knowing that the ideal location of a plant for decoration may not be the ideal spot for plant growth. This is a factor that can limit growth. But artificial lights are useful when natural window light is insufficient. They make it possible to grow healthy plants in any spot in the home.

For home and apartment owners who use live plants indoors, inadequate light may be a challenge. With more and more people having to work outside the home for long hours, there may be little sunlight penetration through the windows during the day, or taking out the plants in the sun occasionally if there is not adequate light inside. This can also be the case in a stretch of humid days when there is absence of sunlight.

Supplementary lighting through electricity can go a long way.

Electricity is an easy way to provide light for plants that do not receive adequate natural light.

Fluorescent tubes are good sources of artificial light available for plants in the home. Cool-white fluorescent tubes are more desirable.

Fluorescent tubes come in various sizes and shapes such as circular, Ushaped, square or straight.

Avoid incandescent light bulbs because they are not particularly good. They are a good source of red rays but a poor source of blue. The heat produced by them is too much for most plants. But if they must be used, they must be located some distance from the plants; thereby reducing intensity of the heat the plants receive.

Pleasure With Family Images AMILY images are highly Faretreasured in homes. They always a pleasure to behold when carefully treated.

Find a place in the house that photos of family members can perfect place. Think of the stairways, especially for houses that are built on two floors. This is a private section of the home that the family members pass by several times in a day.

Stairways are particularly good because of the large amount of the open wall space that provide. It is a perfect place for family photos because everyone in the household will have the opportunity to enjoy the pictures as they go about their daily business.

Let not some of these personal images be too much in view of visitors as they will be in a place like the lounge. To make the best out of stairway for displaying them and other mementoes before hanging pictures, consider the lighting. If the stairs are dark, add overhead spotlight on a track.

That will not just improve the view but also make the stairs safer for traffic.

For a stairway that has a lot of pictures, accent the wall with a paint of bright colour.

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TheGuardian

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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 Healing And Medicinal Powers Of Pure Honey lll The Wound And Ulcer Healing Effects Of Honey OR more than 3,000 years, the wound and skin ulcer-healing effects of honey have been known among the ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Egyptians.

Hippocrates (460-357 B.C.), reputed to be the father of modern medicine, noted that honey “cleans sores and ulcers of the lips, heals carbuncles and running sores.” And Celsus (circa 25 A.D.) believed that honey agglutinate wounds.

The early practitioners of modern medicine used pure honey effectively to treat all manner of sores, burns and wounds.

However, with the discovery of antibiotics, honey, as an effective wound and ulcer-healing agent, was relegated to the background. Despite this relegation, however, folk medicine practitioners continue to prescribe honey for wounds, sores and burns that were not responding to antibiotic treatment.

In the December 1985 issue of the British Bee Journal, there is an article by Dr. Michael Bulman, who stated that honey has been used as a sterile surgical dressing as far back as the Middle Ages.

With the increasing failures of most of the once trusted antibiotics in the treatments of wound infections, and the recognition of the remarkable effectiveness of honey and some of the other folk remedies in this regard, the Royal Society of Medicine Journal in its 1989 editorial, stated that “the time has now come for conventional medicine to lift the blinds off this ‘traditional remedy’ and to give it its due recognition.”

Today, honey has been re-introduced into modern medicine and many reports in medical journals have correctly noted honey as a last resort in the treatment of infected wounds, burns and ulcers.

In most clinical settings, honey is effectively used for the treatment of wounds and all kinds of ulcers, including burns, surgical incisions, surgical wound infections, protection of skin grafts, cuts, abrasions, bed sores and diabetic ulcers.

Most first, second and third degree burns are completely healed with honey without the need for skin grafts and with no infection or muscle loss.

After cleaning with the appropriate cleaning agent, such as hydrogen peroxide or with pure

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honey, undiluted honey can then be applied directly to any long-standing non-malignant sore, skin ulcer and wound and then covered with a sterile bandage, which should be changed daily.

Pure and unadulterated honey has been found to contain more than 75 different compounds, including antimicrobial compounds, hydrogen peroxide, hormones, organic acids, esters, formic acid, vitamins (A, B, C, D, E, and K), complex assortment of enzymes, etc.

A union of these various constituents gives honey its antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, cell regenerating, cicatrising and demulcent properties.

Various types of infected wounds, sores and skin ulcers that had not responded favourably to conventional treatments may be free of infection within seven to nine days of the first topical application of honey.

Further application of honey helps replace dead tissues with healthy granulated tissues. Using pure honey to treat diabetic ulcers can successfully prevent skin grafting and amputation.

Pure honey is also used effectively in treating of first, second and third degree burns that could have come from fire, hot liquid, acids, chemicals, etc.

The first step is to immerse the affected part of the body in cold water as soon as the injury is sustained until the pain has subsided. Then the surface of the area affected is cleansed with pure honey and covered with pure honey and may at the same time be

covered with a clean gauze (bandage) lightly, such that air would be allowed into the wound through the gauze.

The gauze could be wet with the honey as often as possible to keep it moist. The surface of the burn should be cleansed and dressed with the honey at least twice daily.

Honey helps to keep the wound clean, reduce pain and irritation, prevent any bacterial infection, absorb pus (oedema fluid), eliminate offensive smell and decrease the time it takes to heal by rapidly promoting healing process.

Many studies have shown that the effectiveness of honey treatment of infected wounds, sores skin ulcers and burn wounds is due to the followings.

First, honey has strong and broad antimicrobial activities that inhibit the growth of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis, etc).

Honey is a super saturated sugar solution that has water-withdrawing (or osmotic properties) and destroys microorganisms by absorbing moisture that keeps them alive (i.e. dehydrates them).

Therefore, no germs can live or survive in pure honey. Honey excavated from 3,000 years old tomb was found to still perfectly retain its healing properties.

Secondly, honey contains complex enzymes, hydrogen peroxide (which was referred to as inhibine in the old literatures) that has powerful antiseptic properties and aids the healing

process by promoting tissue formation.

A poultice, that is, a thick layer of honey thickened with cornstarch can be applied on infected wounds, skin ulcerations, bites and stings to help draw out poisons and reduce inflammation and pains.

Other external uses of pure honey include: A mixture of pure honey and olive oil or coconut oil can be applied on a cracked breast nipple to heal and soothe the painful fissure.

Applying pure honey on the skin generously will help in the smooth healing of skin eruptions due to chicken pox without leaving any skin blemishes.

To relief the pains that are associated with arthritis, rheumatism, gout and sprains, honey pack could be applied to the affected part. A paste made by mixing honey and cinnamon (3:1 ratio) can be applied directly on the skin to treat skin infections, such as ringworm, eczema and pimples and to soften the skin.

4) A mixture of honey and fresh onion pulp could be applied as a poultice on a sprained joint to help relief pain and reduce inflammatory reactions.

5) One of the most effective means of strengthening the eyes and preventing most of the diseases associated with it is to use pure honey as eye drops from time to time.

It is effective against all kinds or eye infection, such as conjunctivitis, immature cataracts and early stages of glaucoma.

However, this should be done with the supervision of a competent natural medicine practitioner.

To Be Continued.

PetLife With Dr.Tunji Nasir

Fishy Graves one thing in common: Fish.

With the several inhabitants of water, fishes hold sway; they rule their water homes as colossus; glidsurface in a variety of ways. ing majestically and streaming in As oceans, graceful and surfing different wave patterns; some make away on receding sandy shores, dashing movements while others crossing continents and defiling shave more mellowed paces in their borders at its whims; as rivers, watery labyrinth. streaming along inexplicable pathways, laced with greenery and rocks; Apart from our beautiful birds, fish parade a much more complex comfalling into valleys, getting trapped bination of colours with a refractive in canyons; as streams, under the myth, to an extent that no artist has canopy of trees, cool as an infant’s bum and defining the paths villages been able to capture the essence of grow; and as oasis, providing succor their colour presentation.

It is no longer a fiction or a fabled for the desert wayfarer; as lakes, tale, but a reality through advancepunctuating the enormity and expansiveness of treacherous lands. ment in technology that man has been able to explore the mystery of Indeed water rules! underwater and the allure of its Water, as strings of blessings from beauty. above, water trapped beneath the fecund earth, provides the stream of It is also true that quite a large variety of fishes are buried in their life under which our subjects live.

Some are fresh, some are salty, and watery graves. Some very thin, others some are brackish. Yet, they all have as big as you can imagine.

ESPITE the abundance of land, it D is a common fact that water forms three-quarters of the world

Different types of fish also exist- fresh water fish (Gold fish, Blue Fish, American Eel, Common carp, snail darter), salt water fish (Atlantic cod, salmon, tuna, Great Baracuda), Sharks (Whale Shark, Great White Shark) and Rays. The varieties are too numerous.

It is a profound opinion of biologists and sea-divers that the potential to

discover more fish exists, as a great assortment of fish swim and dart within the water without any taxonomical classification.

Today, interior decoration practitioners have brought the deep sea and riverbeds into various homes in form of a contraption known as aquarium.

The aquarium tank and its contents mimic the wonderful work of nature by bringing into our homes sights pleasing to the eyes.

The tank, which is the most important equipment for the enthusiasts, has over the years come in various shapes and sizes, depending on the sensibilities of the owner. They either come in glass or acrylic.

The right size of an aquarium depends on many factors, such as space available, size and number of fish desired, years of experience.

Budget is also a prime concern. It must, of course, have a stable base and must be fully aerated with a filtration system in toe.

For children or starter owners, glass bowls are available to keep your fishy delights. Small tanks that sustain small number of fish and equipped with complete filtration system are also available. They make a very nice addition to our offices and homes.

For those who love nature in its abundance, it is clear that the existence of water and fish and their transfer to pet our lives is a clear testimony that man is blessed in a variety of ways.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, March 29, 2014 45

HEALTHFEATURE Dr. Owe Esiet is a co-founder and Director at Action Health Incorporated (AHI), a youth serving organisation based in Lagos. The public health expert who regularly consults for local and international organizations on various health issues, believes that Nigeria has not brought maternal mortality rate to an acceptable level.

Armed with postgraduate qualifications in public health and international law and diplomacy, Esiet urges Nigerians in different communities to rise up to demand for quality healthcare service.

By Joseph Okoghenun What is your take on the issue of reproductive health in Nigeria?

IGERIA is a paradox; Nigeria has all the necessary policies, guidelines, documents, frameworks, monitory and evaluation plans and roadmaps that should ensure that every Nigerian has access to adequate and appropriate gender-sensitive sexual and reproductive health information services across the landscape. But is that the reality? In fact, it is embarrassing for those of us who work beyond the scope and parameters of Nigeria.

Nigeria is ranked lowest in the world when you look at all the indices. I can say categorically that the chances of a pregnant woman in Nigeria having a safe delivery – a pregnant woman and her baby being alive – is comparable to a woman in places like Afghanistan and Somalia; war-torn and crisis- prone areas. The reasons are numerous: The poor value placed on human lives that results in poor investment, weak health systems strengthening, inadequate and poor distribution of human and other resources to solve this problem.

But government believes that Nigeria has moved ahead in maternal healthcare as the country has been able reduce maternal mortality rate, according to the 2013 National Demography and Health Survey. Is that not contrary to your stand?

The National Demographic and Health Survey is the only composite study that we can use in this country. Yes, we recorded significant drop in the National Demographic and Health Survey, but there is regional disparity in it. In the North- East, Northwest and North-Central, maternal morbidity and mortality rate is unjustly high. Even when we come to other regions of Nigeria, we have not brought it down to an acceptable limit. Take the Southwest, for instance, where literacy and infrastructural development is high, maternal mortality rate is yet to be brought to an acceptable level. You can then imagine what happens in hard-toreach communities – mountainous places and desert areas where there is transport only once a week; Niger Delta areas where there are no roads.

These are some of the challenges when we don’t invest in the lives of people. The greatest resource available to any nation is the people – not oil, not rice, not groundnut or cocoa. If you have all of these, but you do not have a population that is alive, or you have the potentials but you do not have the population that has the potentials, what happens? We need to have a complete rethink to redress the perpetuated injustice against women and girls, especially the young people. People speak on the surface. Why must Nigeria be ranked among war-torn countries when it comes to the issue of maternal health? Are we at war? We are not a nation at war. This nation is endowed with many resources. No Nigerian should be in a state where he/she cannot access health facilities and potable water. How many Nigerians have access to potable water? Do you know what that means? Diarrhoea and diseases are killing our children. Why must people die of cholera in Nigeria?

Dubai, located in the desert, created one of the largest seaports in the world. But we have water. Our simple request is treat our water. But we can’t treat water. It is a shame.

Selling water has become a profession in Nigeria. We are talking of basic things of life.

How do we try to understand the health

N

Esiet

‘Every Nigerian Should Be Able To Access Health Facilities’ seeking behaviour of our people to ensure that they have access to health? Why can’t we bridge the divide between our people and healthcare professionals who our people do not trust only to patronise quacks?

Why should our people leave healthcare facilities for prayer houses to seek miracles?

These are some of the things that make us look stupid in the committee of nations.

But some people have blamed our poor maternal rating on social issues, including religion. Is that thinking not correct?

I have said that religion is not our problem.

Why is maternal mortality rate not high Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Qatar, Dubai? If it were because of Islamic region, for instance, all the women in those countries would have been dying. But they are not dying. Look at Italy, US and UK. Why are women not dying in those countries? It is because we are not doing what we are supposed to do. I think the time is now.

Nigerians are not demanding accountability. Accountability is not a fight against corruption, as we know it. Accountability is simply asking ‘why can’t I live as a Nigerian and be guaranteed my right to life and safety’?

Some pregnant women do not use healthcare facilities during pregnancy. What sociological reason could be responsible for this?

How friendly are our healthcare facilities?

Do not be surprised that there are generations that have never entered hospitals.

Our healthcare facilities are intimidating and imposing. If I live in a hut, imagine me in need of services in a teaching hospital that has giant gates. Have you not noticed that when villagers come to the city, they become timid? That timidity continues in their interaction with infrastructures because there is nobody to guide them and give them orientation. Moreover, there is no one-stop shop where somebody can explain to them exactly what they want.

In our hospitals, you pick registration cards in point A and go to point B. At each point, you queue: you queue to get card, you queue to do vital signs etc. And the end of the day, you spend the whole day in the hospital. Remember that these are people who live on less than a dollar per day; they are daily bread earners. If they miss income for that day, who will feed them?

To such people, it is better to be earning N10 from menial jobs and patronise those who hawk mixture of alcohol and roots in the name of drugs.

What do we do as a people to change the face our healthcare?

We all need to become advocate and vanguard of our women. In that process, we will become advocate for ourselves. We must demand and ask questions from the people who are collecting our collective wealth.

We must have community associations that would ensure that every woman or girl that is pregnant has access to information. For instance, we have CDAs (community development associations) in Lagos. We must use these structures. Injury to one is injury to all.

There is a saying that when your neighbour’s house is on fire, be careful because the fire might get to you. Therefore, public health facilities that are located in our communities must have a relationship with us. We must have a joint working agreement whereby representatives of our communities and hospital management will be meeting and interfacing with each other so that, for instance, if Laide, who is pregnant at 20, is turned back from hospital, she should have somebody to report to in her community and who will pick up the matter up.

We know that anything that is not supervised does not get done well. The supervising authorities in our health facilities must demand to know how well these facilities are doing.

Why should our people leave healthcare facilities for prayer houses to seek miracles? These are some of the things that make us look stupid in the committee of nations.

TheGuardian

46|Saturday, March 29, 2014

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Arts&Culture Shonekan, Alele-Williams, Mobolaji-Johnson, Others Back Community’s e-Library Initiative tion system are very efficient, effective and well-funded, one can imagine how important the impact of community libraries would be in developing countries with deficient educational system.”

According to Omolayole, who attributed his success in life to his passion for reading over 64 years ago, though a large number of populations of any country can be made, through education, to read and write, this does not mean that most citizens are hooked on reading.

Affirming that ability to read and write depends on intellectual endowment, Omolayole stressed that access to book through libraries is the ready avenue for encouraging the cultivation and the spread of reading culture.

His words: “Books, clubs, literary and reading societies, competitions, book exhibitions and fairs have their part to play. Nobody can develop the ‘fullness of life’ that has not discovered the joy of reading for pleasure.”

He said the use of library should be part of the school curriculum from Grade 4 to SSS 3. “Every class should be brought to the library by the class teacher for one period at least once in a week and schools should inculcate the idea that “Library hour is happy hour”. I have no doubt that if this library project and its contribution to educational development are sustained; it is going to be beneficial to all.”

To Ekiti

Shonekan, Alele-Williams and Omolayole at the event... Recently.

By Gregory Austin Nwakunor HOUGH, they appeared aged and frail: Former T head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, former military governor of Lagos State, Brig. Gen. Mobolaji O. Johnson (Rtd.), Maj Gen. Timothy Ogundeko (Rtd.) and Prof Grace Alele-Williams, they were, however, not left out in the list of eminent personalities, who converged on the quiet Ijebu-Imushin, Ogun State, for the City Prof Academy Community e-Library Project, which held recently. They were, indeed, up-and-doing, old age notwithstanding.

Themed Community Library Initiative In Nigeria: A Vote For Reading Culture, the event coincided with the seventh anniversary of City Profs Academy (CPA) and official commissioning of the Community Library Initiative (CLI) Ijebu Imushin Community e-library.

The Oloko of Ijebu Imusin, Alaiyeluwa Oba Stephen A. Onafowokan, who played host to the teeming guests, lamented the poor reading culture in the country, saying the use of phones, video machines and other electronic gadgets has contributed to the erosion of cultural values. The resultant effect, according to him, is the geometric decline in academic performances.

While commending the initiators of the project, which will not only cater for the student population of the town, but also anyone desirous of acquiring knowledge, the Oloko said CPA, through the library, has given more Nigerians opportunity to have access to quality books.

Chairman of Literamed Publications, Otunba Yinka Lawal-Solarin, who has been a major supporter of the initiative, underscored the need for stakeholders to encourage reading of books that promote the Nigerian culture.

According to him, the absence of a developed reading culture in Nigeria is one of the most visible obstacles to national development. In his words, “though we can say that we have passed the stage of oral tradition culture, and have even gone beyond the culture of books to the information age — computers and Internet — we must also emphasise that the door to the IT age is the book.” For him, books lead the way to accessing computers.

According to Lawal-Solarin, who was honoured with an award for his contributions to the project, it is not enough that books are donated, but every school must encourage their pupils to read, by buying, at least two books, per term.

Apart from creating a reading habit, he said it would encourage indigenous publishers. “What

is most important is that our books are culture-based books, they are not stories about blue-eyed children running around the snow. They are books with cultural relevance.”

He described e-learning as a double-edged sword. “You can get a lot of information by just goggling any topic. Information is very important for learning whether you are reading culturally relevant books or any other books. E-library is not a disadvantageous thing to rural communities despite infrastructural challenges, but it should be ensured that they could access the Internet at all time. In the next few months, all our storybooks would be on the Internet so that children could read them.”

In his remarks, Brig. Gen Mobolaji-Johnson said, “learning is never too late. We find situations where students who close from school just roam about the street with nothing to do. Some of them read useless magazines because that is what is within their reach.

The establishment of the library is the right step forward. Parents should encourage their children to partake in the use of this facility and many of such facilities should be replicated all over the country.”

In the same vein, Prof. Grace Alele Williams said that nobody is being excluded from the use of the library facility, stressing that knowledge is for everybody. Paying special tribute to the young generation of individuals, who spearheaded the initiative, because they could not find jobs after graduation from the university, she underscored the need for effective learning in schools, adding that reading and writing are crucial to improving knowledge and education.

“As students, you cannot excel in an environment that is not conducive for learning.

Sound education cannot be achievable. The idea of library initiative was introduced 15 years ago, taking pupils two hours everyday for reading. We built the first library in Akoka with the assistance of Lagos State and other stakeholders. Later on, more ideas on library came up. Reading improves communication. This is a community library where we can encourage our children to read so that this place can be like others such as Victoria Island and Lekki,” she said.

With the amount of commitment and effort dedicated to the completion of the

project, chairman of the occasion, and former head of State, Shonekan, said the commissioning of the facility has proven what patriotic Nigerians can achieve if given opportunity.

According to him, the involvement of nongovernmental organisations and individuals proves that government alone cannot provide the citizens’ needs.

He said the drive to provide library facilities at the state and local councils’ level by well meaning individuals and NGOs should be commended stressing that this would bring development to all the nooks and crannies.

Shonekan reiterated the need for more involvement in the area of skills and knowledge acquisition so as to take education to a higher level.

He said NGOs and wealthy individuals, despite financial and material resources available in developed countries, were able to build libraries, adding that the similar initiative should be adopted to develop Nigeria.

Besides, he stressed that education still needs the participation of the private sector, NGOs, and kind-hearted individuals adding that the impact of books in child development cannot be over-emphasised because books are next to teachers.

Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barr. Segun Odubela, lauded the effort of members of CPA-CLI and other stakeholders for their kind gesture.

He pointed out that education is part of the state’s focal point. “In recent times, ICT has made reading possible and that is why the establishment of such e-library by a non-governmental organisation is commendable. This is a welcome development because it promotes reading culture in the state.”

Former Managing Director of Unilever and Chairman, Board of Patrons, Dr. Michael Omolayole, described the project as a legacy for the children and generations to come.

According to him, the effort of CPA is an ongoing movement that would reach other states in Nigeria. “It is like a mustard seed that is germinating. I remember, the emphasis of my address three years ago was the need to promote community libraries in Nigeria. If the system in developed countries helps citizens in those countries to acquire better knowledge and better education even when their educa-

By Kayode Steve Adaramoye Glorious mountains rising like Morning sun from east but never Set in the west, luminous moon Outshining gold and diamond as Beatific rainbows arching her azure sky Tale by tale growing horns like luxurious Desert mystery, glory shining glory in Alluring firmament, beauty in erupting Stars, decorating the dark night Harvesting awesome glory in cataracts Of wonders, expansive vine field in Flake of glory, shooting honor into Golden regime of glitzy wonders Exploding honor into pot of diamond In the sky of dazzling rainbows Exploding luminous beauty in Powerful voices of egg heads In diadem, painting canvas of knowledge On pyramids of glory, touching The sky in explosive signs and wonders Ha! see voluminous gold running rivers On diamond mountains and silver valleys All glittering sun in exploding waves of gold Harvesting moons of luster in pearls Running powers in beeping mountains Rise and rise mountains of glory, to Explode petals of your flower jewelries Pump wonders in foam and fury and flush To bejewel the firmament in glowing fire As your rivers run flame in flake of glory Ha! alluring mountains of stars, in World fermament are your seeds Sown in fertile soil of gold, yielding Fruits for fruits for world to Harvest in power and joy and glory Ha! Ekiti, your rein reigns shooting wonders Across golden eaves and boughs To pearly valleys and lustrous mountains To declare the Infinity’s glory In endless bounty of exploding wonders! * A Yoruba ethnic tribal group in Nigeria.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, March 29, 2014 47

BRANDINTELLIGENCE

With DESMOND EKEH desmondekeh@yahoo.com; 08023215535, 08111813032

APCON, NBC, NAFDAC Unite To Tackle Misleading Trado-Medical Ads

By Abiodun Obisesan N the last three decades, health reports have indicated a significant rise in alternative or traditional medical practice. Concomitant to this rise is the financial empowerment that has enhanced the usage of the mass media by trado-medical practitioners in propagating the efficacy of their products. Today, with the help of the media, traditional medicine seems to be quite popular among a vast majority of the Nigerian populace. Regrettably, with this popularity come massive reports of unsubstantiated claims by herbal practitioners who use the media to publicise their products and services.

In a constructive move to stamp out the reported menace of misinformation arising from advertising and media promotion of herbal products to the consumers, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) organised a stakeholders summit with trado-medical practitioners on issues bordering on adherence to the code of conducts of advertising.

The theme of the summit was “Regulating Trado-medical Packaging and Communication for a Healthy Society.” The forum, which was held at the main auditorium of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), sought to sensitise the general public about advertising claims and regulate trado-medical messages and packaging in Nigeria.

Addressing the audience, comprising herbal experts, advertising practitioners, regulators and other stakeholders at the forum, the Chairman of APCON, Lolu Akinwunmi, expressed concern about the high incidence of uncoordinated advertising of herbal drugs on various media in Nigeria.

“In recent times, I have been listening to programmes on some Nigerian indigenous radio stations and what has caught my interest is the indiscriminate ways messages on herbal drugs are sent out to the public. From all indications, in as much as the trado-medical practitioners are a part of the health sector of the medical unit, the government has shown its desire to regulate these messages for the health benefit of the consumer. The Nigerian government is conscious of the trado-medical practitioners.

Hence, it is resolved to address issues relating to misinformation with regards to incredible messages to the vulnerable Nigerian consumers,” Akinwunmi said.

Over the last decade, there has been a marked shift from orthodox medicine to alternative/traditional solution and the Nigerian consumer has heightened this dramatic change due to the purported affordability and efficacy of alternative medicine.

Akinwumi adduced some other reasons behind this phenomenal twist.

“Trado-medical products are very popular now

I

than before because of their ubiquitous nature and accessibility. This is why we have outlined some seminars for trado-medical experts in a bid to check unguarded information outlet to the consumers who are ready to cash in because of the seeming expensive operation of orthodox practice compared to the ready-touse trado-medicine. We must also ensure that their adverts are vetted before getting to the end users. Hence, APCON, NBC and NAFDAC are ready to work with trado-medical experts to ensure that the right to good health of consumers are not eroded,” he said.

Different papers were also presented at the forum for the benefit of the practitioners.

Director-General, NBC, Dr. Emeka Mba, presented a paper on the “Guidelines for the Broadcast of Trado-Medical Programme”. Also, APCON Registrar, Alhaji Aminu Kankarofi, made a presentation on “Trado-Medical Advertising: What We Must Do”.

Mba pointed out that traditional medicine remains an indispensable component of Nigeria’s health services and practices, patronised by a large percentage of the population. He noted that it should, therefore, be integrated into the nation’s health delivery system in a manner that protects users of traditional medicine and the general public.

“There is need for a council to control the practice of traditional medicine and establish standards for admission into the practice. Specific training programmes also need to be organised from time to time to educate traditional medicine practitioners on various regulatory requirements to guarantee compliance,” he said.

In his address, the APCON registrar, Kankarofi, observed that the health of consumers is endangered, given the incidence of misguided communication. According to him, “all over the world, countries provide guidelines for the broadcast of health-related programmes.

Nigeria cannot be an exception. Traditional medicine practitioners have not subjected their practice to regulation and this has given room to influx of various forms of alternative medicine products and practices from other countries.”

The Director-General, Traditional Medicine Association, under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, Moshood Lawal, harped on the genuine concerns, which the incidence of misleading messages on the curative effect of traditional medicine has brought to the fore.

“The general consensus is that more wrongful information about the multi-faced use of traditional medicine has become the norm. Hence, the health hazard of its usage on consumers can never be over-emphasised. The Ministry of Health is concerned and hopes that this forum will regulate messages sent out to Nigerians,’’ she said.

The forum observed that although sponsors

Young Nigerian Creative Eggheads For Cannes Lions Festival

By Ntia Usukuma ALENTED, young and highly creative professionals have emerged winners across various categories in the just-concluded 2014 national competition which climaxed at the Cannes Lions Nigeria Dinner and Awards held at Planet One, Maryland, Lagos recently.

The highly creative entries, adjudged outstanding by the jury and regulators, attest to the fact that the Nigeria advertising industry and the academia are breeding a new crop of highly creative minds giving hope of a future ensured for the advertising and allied industry.

The young winners, who will be representing Nigeria at the Cannes Festival of Creativity

T

holding in Cannes, France, in in the Young Lions Film June, include X3M Ideas’ team Competition and will repreof Idirigbe Omaga Isaac and sent Nigeria in that category at Onuwabhagbe Jessica the Cannes Festival.

Ehinomen, who won the Young Adenike Akinbisehin and Lions Design competition. Arthur Mazi of SO &U and Similarly, Ibekwe Banjo Bankole are winners of Ophylia Temidayo and Eguko the tickets to Miami Ad School, Efetive Oluwadiya of Chain Europe, while in the students’ Reaction PR won the PR compe- category, Dimtang Bishmang tition and will represent of the Federal University of Nigeria at the Young Lions PR Technology, Minna is the Competition at Cannes.

Roger Hatchuel Academy The Young Lions Media Winner.

Competition was won by In his welcome remarks, CEO, Fakayode Joshua and Chini Production, Nnamdi Ogunwede Rotimi represent- Ndu, representatives of the ing MediaReach. The duo will Cannes Festivals in Nigeria and contest at the young Lions organisers of the event, Media Competition. revealed that it was a busy In the same vein, Etuodi week of competitions for the Communications team of Young Lions, Roger Hatchuel Yusuf Olanrewaju and Sanni Academy and the Miami Ad Oluwatosin emerged winners School Scholarship candidates

are required to ensure that their communications are compliant with applicable regulations, media organisations would be held responsible for violations of the relevant codes by any materials exposed in their medium.

In the final analysis, the forum agreed that a working committee that incorporates APCON, NBC, NAFDAC and various trado-medical bodies should be formed to achieve a wholesome practice. The forum also underscored the indispensability of traditional medicine in the healthcare delivery system of a country like Nigeria, which has relied on it for centuries with a degree of success.

Chairman, Advertising Practitioners of Nigeria (APCON), The forum also acknowledged that Mr. Lolu Akinwumi, giving an address at the stakeholders broadcasting and advertising are reg- summit with trado-medical practitioners in Lagos…recently. ulated practices. Thus, trado-medical practitioners promoting their products must comply with the provided guidelines.

Regulations applicable to medical products do not discriminate between orthodox and tradi- Eleweomo, said it is a welcome development tional medicine and both are required to com- that their messages would be regulated for the ply with the regulations to receive approvals by interest of consumers. “We all desire the good of Nigerians. So, the regulation of communication NBC, APCON and NAFDAC. Participants at the event also resolved to should help safeguard the citizens of Nigeria acquaint themselves with the guidelines on tra- from illicit messages. However, we hope that recditional medicine, advertising and program- ommendation will not lead to victimisation of ming provided in the relevant codes and to our members. It should be fair on everyone,” she comply strictly with them. It was also resolved said. that traditional medicine practitioners should Another trado-medical practitioner, Mr. Tunji always engage the services of relevant commu- Arowolo also believes that the forum has nications professionals in designing, producing achieved a major objective, which is to regulate and exposing their promotional messages, so as and censor advertising messages before they to obtain greater value and comply with appli- reach the consumers. “We are peace-loving cable regulations. The forum also urged that Nigerians and believe that this forum shows that National Assembly to expedite action on the pas- the traditional medicine deserves the same treatment as orthodox medical practice. The recomsage of the Trado-Medical Council bill.

Speaking on the outcome of the summit, a tra- mendation is in the interest of Nigerians and I do-medical practitioner, Alhaja Bilikisu strongly believe that it can only move the tradomedical practice forward,’’ he submitted.

Prime Exchange Rewards ‘ Star Achievers’

By Joseph Okoghenun MIDST pomp A pageantries, Exchange Limited,

and Prime a real estate multi-level marketing organisation, has rewarded ‘star achievers’ on its Prime Exchange Network Marketing Platform.

The event, which was held in Lagos as part of the celebration of 3rd Achievers’ Nights and Awards , saw 22 people rewarded in different categories. While 13 people were rewarded as “Star 1 Achievers” with N25,000 each , 9 others were rewarded as “star 2 Achievers” with N100,000 each along with other bonuses.

According to Project Director Prime Exchange Limited, Mr.Olarewanju Mabinuori, to qualify for Star 1 Achievers , agents under the platform needed to sell between five to 24 plots of land and between 25 to 74 plots of land to qualify as Star 2 Achievers.

Mabinuori, who explained that the firm markets credible real estate firms that conduct their businesses legitimately, added that the scheme gives people the leverage to make money at their own pace.

Mabinuori: “ We are a real estate network marketing organisation which uses multi-level market strategy to build network of marketers.Looking at the

potentials of real estate industry and also understanding the need for job creation, we created multi-level marketing to enable individuals runs marketing of real estate as their own business.

“On the prime exchange platform, we have several levels of reward. The reward level are in stages. Today, we acknowledge these achievements. In all, about 22 individuals have achieved different levels of reward; about 13 are in star one and 9 in star two. Star 1 Achievers are getting a bonus of N25,000 in addition to every other commission and Star 2 Achievers will be rewarded with N100,00 with other commission.”

48

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, March 29, 2014

BRANDNEWS How BJAN Celebrated World Consumer Day

By Henry Otalor HIS year’s World Consumer Day, held recently all over the T globe, again brought to the front burner consumerism and the plight of the average consumer. Many stakeholders, therefore, saw this year’s Consumer Day as providing the opportunity to address some of these issues, while at the same time, raising fresh questions bothering consumerism.

To commemorate the day, Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN) organised a seminar at Ikeja, Lagos, where various issues on the plight of Nigerian consumers were raised.

There were lots of questions begging for answers. For instance, is the Nigerian consumer really helpless? If not, who is the corporate entity or the regulator? How justified is the assertion today that consumers are at the whims and caprices of the service providers and manufacturers?

The Group Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria and President of the Advertisers’ Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Mr. Kola Oyeyemi, who was the guest lecturer at the event, argued that the Nigerian consumer had moved from the oppressed, depressed and difficult-to-impress consumer to a knowledgeable, demanding and highly disloyal consumer.

He further argued that besides having such consumers to contend with, service providers or manufacturers daily contend with the regulatory authorities, infrastructure gap and the state, through its various tax agencies.

Also, Mr. Kolawole Oyeyemi posited that often it is the Nigerian consumers that are ignorant of the operations of service companies, and as a result run foul of certain terms and conditions, leading to loss of money.

He further labeled the Nigerian consumer as not only disloyal and demanding, but also a potential destruction of brands because of their knowledge of IT.

BRANDINTELLIGENCE

LG Launches Fridge With Tropical ‘Evercool’ Technology G Electronics, a global Ltronics leader in consumer elecand home appliances, has launched its new premium range of refrigerators with patented power cut Evercool technology into the Nigerian market.

The innovation is meant to prevent a situation in most Nigerian households whereby food perishes due to poor preservation and thrown away as a result of frequent power cuts.

The event, which held at LG Showroom in Lekki, Lagos, was aimed at meeting the needs of Nigerian consumers suffering from long power

cuts and who feel the need to have fresher foods for healthy daily life.

Outlining the features of the refrigerator, General Manager, Home Appliances division, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Hyunwoo Jung said, “LG Evercool Refrigerator retains freshness and keeps food and vegetables fresh for seven hours. Evercool refrigerator is a triple cooling system with three evaporators. The main evaporator works with power and the two other evaporators work without power.

During power cuts, compressor stops compressing refrig-

erant and instead the two evaporators on the sides take over to keep circulating cool air. This circulation enables longest cooling even in fridge for seven hours, based on third party test by Intertek.”

Intertek is the leading provider of quality, safety, testing, inspection and certification.

Jung added: “LG Evercool refrigerator has come to solve the problem faced by households as a result of the constant power outage that is the reality in Nigeria today. This unique LG patented technology offers cooling retention up to seven hours in the refrigera-

tor and 10 hours in the freezer portion to keep food fresh and healthy.

“We manufacture products that fit the needs of Nigerian consumers and this launch is another benchmark innovation based on customer’s insights.”

Also Speaking at the occasion, Managing Director, Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohammed Fouani said: “LG Evercool refrigerator comes with Tower LED light, Multi air flow, Convertible box for optimal temperature from -10C to 40C which is being controlled by exclusive cold air duct for a suitable condition for food.

INDIGO Gets PRCAN Membership NE of the budding Public Relations Consultancy firms in O Nigeria, Integrated Indigo Limited, has joined the professional group of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN).

Indigo was admitted as a member of PRCAN at an induction ceremony which took place during the association’s Quarterly General Meeting held recently at the ADNA Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

Speaking during the induction of the company into the association, President of PRCAN, Mr. Chido Nwakanma, disclosed that the company was enlisted into the association having met all necessary prerequisites for the practice of Public Relations.

Nwakanma also stated that the membership and accreditation committee of the association headed by the Vice President, Mr. John Ehiguese, carried out the on-site physical inspection of the office premises and certified that the agency is qualified to be enlisted as a member of the association.

In his remarks during the induction, the Principal Consultant, Integrated Indigo Limited, Mr. Bolaji Abimbola, described the firms membership of PRCAN as a very remarkable milestone for the company.

“The PRCAN membership is a very significant milestone for our company as this is a very symbolic way to celebrate our one year of existence and practice of public relations as a company and adding value to clients businesses.”

Abimbola thanked the association for inducting Integrated Indigo Limited as a member. He assured that the company would continue to uphold the public relations professional ethics and contribute its own quota towards the development of PRCAN.

Brand Communications Manager, Oral-B, Tomiwa Ajewole (left); Project Smile Initiator, Dr. Amy Traore-Shumbusho; and Brand Operations and Integration Manager, Oral-B, Afolarin Ojo, during the media launch of the second edition of Project Smile on World Oral Health Day 2014…recently.

Star Music The Trek 2014 Set To Excite Consumers

By Abiodun Obisesan

biggest Pan NIGERIA’S Nigerian concert organDiamond Bank Hosts World’s ised by a leading brewing company, Nigerian Breweries Richest Black Woman Plc, has rolled out strategic

By Abiodun Obisesan IAMOND Bank Plc, a leading player in the Nigerian retail D banking space, recently played host to the richest black woman in the world, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija.

The initiative tagged ‘Diamond Woman’ is a woman empowerment forum, which is strategically organised and targeted to cater for the corporate needs of career women in the society.

The event, which took place at Civic Centre, Lekki, Lagos, stirred discussions on womanhood and the corporate world.

Speaking at the event, Head, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Proposition, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Chima Nnadozie, highlighted Diamond Bank’s effort to reposition women in all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

“Diamond bank believes that the African woman can do more in building a strong and formidable Nigerian society. Women are accountable, trusting and loving. Hence, we are not surprised that Folorunsho Alakija has become a shining light and a reference point to Nigeria. Her feat as the richest black African woman is no mean feat because it has put Nigeria on the world map. Diamond woman is a platform that is designed to inspire Nigerian women to dream big and be the change that we desire,” Nnadozie said.

Alakija shared her corporate life experience, which has seen her evolve through three major sectors, namely banking, fashion designing and the oil industry, with the audience.

According to her, sheer willpower and unshaken belief in God are the reasons she has conquered her world.

“Nothing has changed since I was acclaimed the richest black woman in the world. Apart from constantly pushing myself to do more, I owe all my success to God,” she said.

Alakija added: “It is also instructive that our modern-day women should be submissive to their husbands; it is a tested, tasted and trusted nugget which has aided my success story today. My experience in banking, fashion, and the oil sector has also grounded me in dealing with business propositions.

Nigerian career woman should strive to be 100 per cent successful at the workplace and the home front.”

plans to excite consumers as Star Music The Trek is set to tour

Nigerian states with popular music artistes.

The event, held at the Federal Palace Hotel was feverpitched, as renowned Nigerian music artistes like Tu Face Idibia, Wizkid, M.I, Davido, Wande Coal, Sound Sultan, Timaya, Mr Raw,

Phyno, May D, Olamide, KCee, Sean Tizzle, Naeto C, Dr. Sid, Tiwa Savage, and Alabi Pasuma (making his debut on The Trek) were unveiled to the audience.

Speaking at the unveiling funfare, Corporate Media and Brand PR Manager, Nigerian

Zenith Bank Adopts SmartStream’s Corona TLM Reconciliation Solution EADING financial institu- be reconciled through the like ATM dispense errors can This allowed have their cash corrected in L tion, Zenith Bank of system. time.

Nigeria Plc, has added anoth- SmartStream to emerge as no er feather to its cap by becoming the first bank in Nigeria to adopt and successfully implement SmartStream’s Corona TLM Reconciliation solution.

The bank’s objective for adopting this solution includes elimination of manual errors, secure timely completion of transaction, centralise all reconciliation process in one single system, focus more on exceptions management and operational risk, and attain high processing efficiency.

The process of selecting SmartStream’s TLM Corona was very rigorous and had to be done in multiple stages with some weak vendors pulling out because of tough operational processing and transaction types that had to

the best solution because they met all the evaluation criteria in terms of matching rate, automated exceptions and investigation, dashboard reporting and automatic issue escalation according to well-defined workflow.

With this successful implementation, Zenith Bank has joined the league of over 2000 leading banks globally who are users of CORONA TLM Reconciliation and Exceptions Management Solution.

The solution from SmartStream covers a complete lifecycle of Transaction and is able to support multiple cycles of matching of ATM/POS and other switch based transaction in real time ensuring that customers who have challenges

There was a lot of excitement at the bank when the first day of productive use of the system showed over 98 per cent matching rate, a testament to the fact that the solution has a very robust reconciliation engine that can take away the pains of manual or semi manual transaction reconciliation challenges of the bank.

Another very important feature of the system, which the bank is benefiting from, is its ability to automate the investigation and exceptions management process. No longer will reconciliation be done at the branches as the system has the ability to pick unmatched items and distribute these items to branches automatically creating an automated investigation process for each transaction.

Breweries Plc, Edem Vindah, spoke about the rationale behind this year’s theme “My City Rocks”.

“We realise that Nigerians are extremely proud of the cities, the uniqueness and all the traits that make these cities special to them. Thus, we are giving our fans another opportunity to connect and share on what makes their cities rock. So far, the response has been amazing with all platforms utilised to allow consumers share in the excitement,” he said.

Vindah added: “My City Rocks campaign was an exciting precampaign on print/electronic and digital platforms preceeding the sign-on press conference. The campaign was driven simultaneously by on-air personalities, celebrities and consumers which gave exciting insights to what individuals considered as the major highlights of their cities.”

For over 12 years, Star Trek has toured several semi-urban areas in the country with Nigeria’s finest music artistes to the delight of millions of fans across the country.

This year, the Star brand will play host to consumers in Ado-Ekiti, Benin, Ekwulobia, Makurdi, Nsukka, Onitsha Fegge, Orlu, Umuahia, Uyo and Lagos.

TheGuardian

Saturday, March 29, 2014 | 49

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Cover

Phase 2 of 534 megawatts Omotosho power plant commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan last year

Power Privatisation:

Disenchantment, Protests Trail Non-Improvement Of Supply over 184 trillion cubic feet.

Several efforts to find gas for power over the ORE than four months after Nigeria hand- years have remained a mirage, despite repeated assurances from government after governed over 10 distribution companies and four generation companies to private investors ment. At least 70 per cent of Nigeria’s total under its privatization programme, the nation power output is supplied by gas-fired plants is still unable to generate substantial power for according to the Ministry of Power statistics.

Indeed, Nigeria’s critical power sector is its populace. worse hit. In fact, going by the statistics, about The state of discontentment is raging every30 million Nigerians still lack access to public where. People are getting impatient with the electricity. This is in spite of the ongoing system, while government is shouting itself almost hoarse, battling everyday to explain the reforms in the power sector. These unconneed for patience and putting the blame large- nected Nigerians mostly in rural areas still provide their own energy using local means ly on gas unavailability, alleged sabotage, among other issues. The issue of gas availabili- (lantern, candles, firewood, generator among others). ty has unfortunately become a singsong, castFrom estimates at the Bureau of Public ing huge doubts on the ability of government Enterprises (BPE) Nigeria requires about to sincerely resolve the issue.

40,000MW to stabilize its power needs. The Already, there are pockets of protests in some country currently generates less than 3,500 parts of Lagos and many other parts of the mega watts going by the available figures. country over the failure of the new owners to Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo said recentimprove supply in the face of over-billing. ly that the immediate goal of the Federal Disillusionment is already setting in. While some residents of Abuja and environs occasion- Government was for the majority of Nigerians to enjoy between 16 and 18 hours of electricity ally speak of improved supply, such stories daily, while major cities like Lagos and Abuja dare not be repeated in many parts of the were being targeted for between 22 and 23 country, as residents would readily lynch anyhours’ supply daily, a target which would be body who speaks of improved power supply. achieved in a few months time. The ultimate Many are still in darkness, wondering if they goal, he added, was for Nigerians to get 24 would ever reach the Promised Land. hours daily supply eventually.

Despite being the 12th largest producer of He maintained that though this dream petroleum in the world, and also possessing would still take sometime, it would be realthe largest natural gas reserves in the contiized, with the foundation already laid by govnent, Nigeria is unable to find gas to power its thermal plants, sparking off unending fluctua- ernment for increased generation and enhanced transmission and distribution. tions in supply and throwing the populace As promising as this dream looks, its attaininto repeated darkness. ment seems uncertain, as physical evidence, Natural gas reserves are said to stand at well

From Emeka Anuforo, Abuja

M

including the gas challenges, very old turbines and a compendium of other challenges could proof otherwise.

There are also growing doubts over the abilities of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to provide needed regulation of the sector and ‘bite’ when necessary.

Unable to stomach the situation anymore, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) last week wrote to the electricity utilities warning them to improve service delivery to residents or face the full wrath of the law.

In a copy of the letter sighted by The Guardian, NERC said three months had gone by since the handover of the utility to private investors, stressing the need for improved service delivery.

Director of NERC Dr. Sam Amadi in the letter, noted: “It has been three months since the hand over of electricity utilities to private owners.

“You took over at a time of great expectation that with the sale of publicly owned generation and distribution assets to private sector operators, there will be discernible improvements in power supply to homes and businesses. As you very well know, the government accepted the privatisation program because of its confidence in the ability of the private sector to infuse finance and managerial capabilities into the electricity industry, thereby increasing adequacy and reliability, among others.

“You were selected as a preffered bidder because you presented the best plans for reducing Aggregate Technical Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses. You also presented credible financial and technical capa-

bility to meet the expectations of the power sector reform program.

“Since November 1, 2013, the Nigerian Elect Regulatory Commission has focused attention on ensuring that the new owners enter into the market without any financial turbulence.

We recognized that you were entering the Nigerian electricity market at a time of uncertainties hence we engineered the interim rules to assist with the entry into Transitional Electricity Market. As part of confidence boosting, we agreed to review the benchmarks of ATC & C losses, which will lead to a tariff review. All these steps were taken to enable you sign again a strong foothold in the market as part of the Commission’s commitment to nurture the nascent electricity market.”

The letter read: “Three months after hand over, the state of electricity supply has not improved significantly. We recognized the problem of gas supply, which reduced the amount of power that you could sell to customers and consequently, revenue from the market. We also recognized the fact that many of you were burdened with repayment of debt used to acquire the assets. But the customers cannot continue to wait to see any meaningful improvement in supply and customers cannot to wait to see any meaningful improvement in supply and customer care. Since November 2013 we have threats of protests by the civil society in certain parts of the country.

“Our investigations show that apart from the well known problem insufficient generation and periodic transmission failures, the failure of supply to these communities is caused

CONTINUED ON PAGE 50

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

50 Saturday, March 29, 2014

COVER

Why Nigerians May Wait Longer For Stable Electricity

By Onyedika Agbedo HE cliché, “the more you look, the less you T see” appears to be the most appropriate expression to describe Nigeria’s electricity problems. Come to think of it: Since the restoration of democracy in the country in 1999, successive governments have battled to fix the problems in the power sector and ensure that Nigerians enjoy constant electricity in their homes and business premises to no avail. From the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who kick-started the power sector privatisation process, through the dismantling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) into 18 successor companies; to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who declared a threeyear state of emergency in the power sector in 2008 with the intention of spending US$5 billion in the rehabilitation and expansion of Nigeria’s power sector (although he could not live to see out the programme); and now to President Goodluck Jonathan, who moved to consolidate on the gains recorded in the sector by his predecessors in office through an articulated Road Map for Power Sector Reform, the crisis in the power sector has defied virtually every solution thrown at it by the government at the expense of the country’s economy and her already impoverished population.

Barely four months after he was sworn into office to succeed his late boss, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, President Jonathan launched the Road Map for Power Sector Reform, which was expected to drive Nigeria into the league of countries that enjoy constant electricity supply. At the event, which took place in Lagos on August 26, 2010, Jonathan had promised that “I and my Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo, GCON, are conscious that what we do with the Nigerian electricity supply industry will go a long way in determining whether Nigeria remains in darkness or joins the rest of the world in the race for development. Our commitment is to bring an end to our nation’s stunted growth and usher in the fresh air of prosperity by pursuing a new era of sectorwide reform which is driven by improved service delivery to every class of customers in

the Nigerian electricity sector.”

The President went further to add: “A friend of mine jokingly asked me: Can Nigeria celebrate one day of continuous (uninterrupted) power supply? Then I answered: “By God’s grace by December 2012, Nigeria will not just celebrate one day, but one week, one month, and even better. It’s actually with that vision and mission that we are here today to launch the Roadmap for Power Sector Reform.”

The highpoints of the Jonathan administration’s reform programme in the power sector were the appointment of Manitoba Hydro International, a Canadian firm, as the management contractor for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for a three-year term in a $23 million contract on July 30, 2012, to turn around the fortunes of the TCN; the privatisation of successor companies carved out of the PHCN; and the subsequent handover of the successor companies to the new owners on November 1, 2013.

Since the private investors took over the management of Nigeria’s power sector, expectations of a new dawn in the sector have been high, but again to the disappointment of Nigerians. Initially, the competence of the new investors was called to question even as it was reasoned that they needed time to study the system and settle down into the job of lighting Nigeria adequately. But barely five months into their management of the sector, Nigerians are still being served electricity in piecemeal. Ant it gets worse by the day!

However, the Minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo has absolved the new owners of the PHCN successor companies of any blame. Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Nebo apologised to Nigerians over the power cuts being experienced across the country and heaped the blame on non-availability of gas, infrastructure vandalism, sabotage in the power sector and low water level to power the hydro power plants.

While Nebo’s explanation was timely, as Nigerians now know where to direct their anger, it casts doubt on the entire reform programme of the Jonathan administration and raises suspicion that his efforts in the sector might still come to naught like those of his predecessors in office.

In the first place, it is on record that since the launch of the Roadmap for Power Sector Reform in 2010, Nigeria’s electricity generation has been hovering between 3, 000 and 4, 000 mega watts. As at March 20, this year, the country’s power generation output was put at 3, 463 mega watts before it dropped by 963 megawatts, leaving Nigeria’s over 160 million population with just 2, 500 mega watts of electricity to share. Meanwhile, the reasons adduced by Prof. Nebo for the shortfall (nonavailability of gas, infrastructure vandalism, sabotage in the power sector and low water level to power the hydro power plants) are the same reasons Nigerians have been regaled with over and over again, even before President Jonathan launched his reform programmes.

What it means is that we have not made much, if any, forward moving step in the sector since then. Yet government has been assuring of improved supply by June this year.

Although the situation has become complex, what might further complicate Jonathan’s efforts in the sector is the fact that the bulk of the country’s gas infrastructure is rooted in the Niger Delta region where he comes from. This implies that Niger Delta is key to satisfying Nigeria’s electricity needs. So, if the menace of pipeline vandalism in the region is not put under control, it will be foolhardy for anybody to dream of stability in the electricity sector.

Therefore, the President must muster enough political will to deal with these vandals and saboteurs in his backyard no matter who they are, if he intends to succeed in this project.

These same people were instrumental to the failures of Obasanjo and Yar’Adua in the power sector, so a radicalised approach would help.

Recall that pipeline protection contracts were allegedly awarded to ex-Niger Delta militants in a deal meant to solicit their cooperation and provide jobs for them after they had accepted the Federal Government’s amnesty in 2009.

Also, it was recently reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) allegedly awarded contracts worth N5.6 billion for the protection of pipelines to some private companies, some believed to be owned by exNiger Delta militants. The point here is that as government is sweating over non-availability of gas occasioned by gas pipeline vandalism, the

Nebo same government is allegedly spending billions on the protection of the infrastructure.

This is aside the fund being spent on maintaining the country’s regular security personnel stationed in the region.

The truth is Nigeria’s electricity situation is worse off than pre-November 1, 2013, and it is within the powers and means of government to initiate and clinically execute an intervention strategy that will turn things around. As noted earlier, government has taken the blames but in doing that, it must get down to work and do the right things to prove to Nigerians that it really means to light up their world beyond selling off the country’s power assets to private hands.

Epileptic Power Supply: Any Respite For Nigerians Soon?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 49 more by your failure to invest in routine maintenance and facilities upgrade for the past 3 months since the hand over.’

Amadi said his Commission was now taking the issue of customer complaints seriously and would use all the instruments at its disposable to ensure compliance.

He particularly noted that his team would insist on the discos meeting all the requirements of customer care.

Faced with the problem of gas to power, Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo this week called for the effective implementation

Dikki

of Nigeria gas to power master plan.

He stressed the need to reduce gas flaring and channel the gas for domestic use, harping on need to develop the financial muscle to buy the gas at competitive price.

In the meantime, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission ( NERC) and the new owners of the successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria ( PHCN) say they have formed a strong front to engage the National Gas Company ( NGC).

Head of Public Affairs at NERC, Dr. Usman Abba Arabi, said in Abuja recently that NERC and the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the utilities have agreed to engage the Nigeria Gas Company in a bid to find a lasting solution to the problem of gas availability for power plants.

Managing Director of multinational oil firm, Chevron, Mr. Andrew Fawthrop was frank when he said last week that Nigeria’s potential in oil and gas would remain a mirage if issues of inadequate funding, poor policy implementation and low capacity building in the petroleum industry were not addressed.

He identified policy implementation and partnership among oil companies and the industry’s regulators as some of the needed factors to guarantee gas in the country, lamenting that oil had been made priority at the detriment of gas.

He, however, said that with timely implementation of the right policies and provision of adequate infrastructure, Nigeria would become a gas powerhouse.

Meanwhile, the perennial gas availability challenge that has plagued the power sector in the past is also threatening the declaration of the Transitional Electricity Market (TEM) an important element of the electricity transformation agenda when activities would be

determined by contracts and obligations.

The Transition Electricity Market (TEM) is expected, among others, to herald the start of contractual arrangements in the power sector and the automation of billing and metering operations of the Market Operator in line with the Market Rules. Going by government privatization timetable, the next crucial phase of the electricity reforms is the Transitional Electricity Market (TEM) stage for the commencement of a fully contracted electricity market mode under an anticipated robust commercial and technical regime.

The declaration of TEM, which was earlier scheduled for this month had to be called off when the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the new owners of the nation’s generation and distribution firms raised concerns that many of the conditions precedent for the declaration were still problematic. NERC had quickly advised the Minister of Power to stay action on the declaration.

Nebo confirmed worries that gas and other challenges were standing in the way of the TEM. The minister said: “As we move to fulfill all conditions precedent upon the declaration of the Transition Electricity Market (TEM), we still face some challenges. Gas supply and security issues, transmission, revenue collection just to mention a few. As you are aware, the declaration of TEM will automatically kick in the contractual obligations of all market participants.”

An energy law experts and Managing Partner of US based Wall Street Firm of Ayanruoh & Company, Felix Ayanruoh described the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) currently awaiting passage as holding the key to solving Nigeria’s gas to power challenges.

He told The Guardian in an email exchange, “It is troubling, to say the least, that with the current challenges facing the petroleum industry

in particular and the economic well-being of the nation in general, the bill is still tucked in the drawers or our National Assembly members.

“Pipelines are part of the crucial infrastructure of oil and gas production. They are quintessential for the transportation, storage and marketing of natural gas, crude oil and refined products. Nigeria has several domestic pipelines that transmit natural gas to gas generating power plants among others.

“Presently, all if not most, gas pipelines that transmit natural gas to gas powered electricity plants are owned by the Nigerian government. Suffice to say that it has been proven over and over again that corruption; inefficiencies and the heavy regulated downstream sector have been significant barriers to overall development and economic growth. A heuristic examination of power generation shortages bedeviling the country today suggest that gas availability aging pipelines, poor maintenance, pipeline vandalism, inefficiencies and corruption remain major factors.”

He went on: “It is imperative to state here that the PIB when passed will capitalize the nation’s vast gas deposits which are currently seriously underutilized. The extraction and utilization of gas will not only reduce gas flaring and protect the environment, but will also increase power generation among others. The bill will deregulate the downstream sector, which in turn will lead to oil and gas pipelines privatization. The private sector brings with it operational efficiency, innovative technologies, managerial effectiveness, access to additional finances, construction and commercial risk sharing.”

Saturday, March 29, 2014 COVER 51

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Power Sector: Government Is Attempting An Escape

By Mallam Garba Shehu

I

T doesn’t sound like we have a government in place. If we had one, someone should start worrying about the sliding power supply.

I am of the generation of Nigerians who cut their teeth on candle lights and rechargeable lamps and given the way things are going, from bad to worse, I have come to the inescapable conclusion that the vision of 24-hour, seven-day-a-week electric power supply is unreachable in my lifetime.

Toyosi Akerele, an inspiring youth leader recently announced in a fanciful pun that the present generation of leaders had handed nothing but generators to this generation of Nigerians.

At home in Kano last weekend, neighbours said they hadn’t seen light for five days in my part of the GRA. In normal times, you got more power supply here than those who lived in slum sections of the outer city.

I met someone from there who said for 15 days, they hadn’t seen a blink.

In Abuja and the other cities, power continues to deteriorate, with just a few cities and towns enjoying very little supplies.

On one of those days last week in Kano, radio news announced the allocation of 12 megawatts to the Kano distribution company with Kano, a megacity by all standard, getting six megawatts, Katsina four, Dutse two and Azare zero.

In February 2013, soon after the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) executed the share sale agreements which saw the “historic” handover of the 14 of the successor companies carved out of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the federal government, with a fixed eye on propaganda proclaimed 2013 the “year of power.”

Much hope was raised that the take-over of the generation, transmission and distribu-

tion successor companies by private investors – someone called them asset strippers – will see the new owners revamping the sector and impacting positively on the nation’s power supply. Last year, most Nigerians celebrated Christmas in darkness.

Wherever a new leadership takes over a political or even a business entity, there are fleeting changes that often come with that.

The new leaders start with a zeal to score quick runs, in this case, improving the level of service to make an immediate good impression. Since the new owners of the power companies took over, what Nigerians have experienced is a slip-up. Apart from introducing quite a few faces, nothing by way of improvement has come to the consumers.

In a hot season as we are now in, with temperatures hovering above 30 degrees Celsius in a majority of cities, and 40 degrees Celsius and above in the fringe cities of the North, this is a period where there is usually an increase in the demand for power for cooling the environment as well as storage.

An increase in demand and declining supply make for a very bad combination. With a population of 170 million, Nigeria requires an average of 40,000 megawatts of electricity. As it is, less than 4,000 or 10 percent is available for both industry and domestic consumption.

After surrendering to the deteriorating situation for many years, those citizens who believed the government that things would get better and delayed such investment decisions as the purchase of generating set are now the wiser. They are bringing out money from savings to buy their own units. For those who can’t afford to do that, there is a booming electricity supply underground by retailers who wire up shops and houses in neighbourhoods, selling power per minute and hour. Without this, women can no longer prepare soup and store food in refrigerators. They will also have to buy beef and

poultry on a day-to-day basis. Government offices that cannot power a whole establishment now buy 2 – 5 KVA generators exclusively to power the office of Permanent Secretary or even Minister.

As a television reporter covering the Ministry of Power, this was how bad things were in the final days of the Shagari administration. At that time, overall national output had dropped to a miserable 900 megawatts. The only difference is that you had the power sector under a state monopoly. You could then by right, hold the Minister and his government responsible for the situation.

But state control of the power sector, as argued by many, was counter-productive and eventually was dismantled. With this socalled “significant milestone” by which generation, transmission and distribution are driven by the private sector, government officials are already pointing at the new owners as those responsible for the terrible situation.

But government can’t run away from the public. With 80 percent of power plants which are gas-fired deprived of regular gas supply amidst increasing sabotage of gas and oil pipelines in the delta region as illustrated by the recent bombing of the gas supply pipeline between Excravos and Warri, it is hard for the government to play ostrich on this matter even if that is their wish. They can’t run away from responsibility by abandoning consumers to the antics of “asset strippers” exploiting the ordinary citizens to their marrow.

You wonder why you have a minister of power, with the addition of a junior minister if all they have to do is to drink tea at the Council of Ministers and draw fat salaries and allowances if they have no power and will to regulate the sector. Why the hell do you have a huge government agency, the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) if they cannot ensure market and operating rules in the power sector? Who is there to right the wrongs in the power sector?

Shehu It doesn’t sound like we have a government in place. If we had one, someone should start worrying about the sliding power supply, insisting on performance and righting the wrongs that are right therefore before everyone’s eyes. Should government be running from its responsibility?

Shehu, a veteran journalist/ media consultant wrote from Abuja

EMS Is A Child Of Necessity In The Power Sector, Says Aneke Mr. Uche Aneke, General Manager Public Affairs Electricity Management Services Limited speaks on the role of the management in the privatised power sector.

By Samson Ezea

W

HAT are the roles of Electricity Management Services (EMS) in ensuring steady power supply?

One obvious post-privatization challenge of the power sector in Nigeria is the need to have a professional and technical agency of government to close up technical gaps which might have been created at this crucial stage of the power sector reform.

It is true that government has concluded the privatisation of the unbundled successor companies of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the eventual handing over of these companies to their new owners. The hard fact remains the absence of competent, independent enforcement agency in the power industry that will ensure that power is efficiently and safely produced, delivered and utilized for the benefit of Nigerians.

There are apprehensions already in some quarters that the new owners of the generation and the distribution companies may sacrifice standard at the altar of profit making by not complying with the relevant codes and regulations to ensure the use of right quality materials/equipment for building new networks, and at the same time ensure that existing networks are brought into good shape to deliver safe and reliable electricity to consumers.

The need to close up this gap in the industry necessitated the establishment of the Electricity Management Services limited (EMSL) by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Federal Ministry of Finance in line with the Electricity Power sector Reform (ESPR) Act 2005.

The Minister of Power Professor Chinedu Nebo inaugurated the management team of EMSL in September last year on the approval of President Good luck Jonathan. The team has since commenced operations. As one of the critical key players in the power industry and the newest agency of government, EMS plays pivotal roles in providing sector wide services to the electricity generation, transmission and distribution companies,

end-users consumers and other related businesses.

The core mandates of EMS include to ensure that electrical materials/equipment/instruments used in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry are of the right quality, standards and specifications; the power systems and networks put in place have been properly planned, designed and executed before use to ensure that such systems are capable of delivering safe, reliable and regular electricity supply to the consumers nationwide. Other mandates are to ensure the safety of lives and property within the grid and off-grid networks and also to ensure that systems are guaranteed and electricity meters and instruments are of the right quality for proper accountability of energy produced, delivered, supplied and utilized by consumers It also includes the promotion of measures for advancing the skills and expertise of electrical engineers and other technical personnel engaged in the Nigeria Electricity Supply industry and to provide other professional technical services for commercial opportunities.

A critical look at the roles and responsibilities of this body reveals the key role of the enforcement of Technical standards and regulations, Technical inspection, Testing and Certification of power electrical installations, electricity meters and instruments etc. The roles are not only strategic, but timely. It is indeed a child of necessity. This is because a robust and efficient EMS will ensure that all electrical materials and equipment are properly inspected, tested and certified before putting them into use and guarantees safety of lives and property in the Nigerian electricity supply industry. There is no doubt that Technical compliance ensures systems stability like in other parts of the world.

EMS role becomes even more important in the face of escalating incidences of accidents and equipment failures in the electricity supply industry. In the period of 2010 to 2013 alone, more than 200 people died from electricity related accidents. These ranged from transformer explosion to outright electrocution. Statistics released by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission indicates

that a total number of 102 deaths and 72 injuries from electrocution were recorded across the country in 2012 alone.

Between January and July of 2013, 59 deaths from electrocution were recorded while 60 injuries were reported within the same period. This could have occurred due to the absence of an independent standards enforcement agency, which otherwise would have stopped the impunity in the power industry, prosecuted the perpetrators of such sub- standard projects.

It is obvious that once EMSL carries effective technical inspections within the sector, the risks of electrical accidents will be drastically reduced. There is no doubt that EMSL will surely deliver on this mandate.

The National Meter Test Stations located at Oshodi, Lagos, Kaduna and Port Harcourt are well equipped and manned by highly skilled technical personnel.

In Nigeria today it is the only establishment with relevant and cognizance competence and facilities to perform the functions of meter testing, calibration and type test to verify and confirm their efficacy and prove that they comply with the requirements of relevant standards and accuracy class as specified in the metering code.

EMSL therefore is well positioned to close up technical gaps in the industry and provide adequate support for investors in the post-privatised power sector. To cope with the demands that will emanate from the influx of diverse meters and other electrical equipment, all that is required is the expansion and modernization of its meter testing, calibration and certification activities.

It is also very important that EMSL collaborates with the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) and other stakeholders in the electricity power sector on standards and specifications of all major electrical equipment and materials manufactured or imported for use in Nigeria, to provide uniformity and ensure that all electrical equipment and materials comply with approved standards.

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

52 Saturday, March 29, 2014

COVER From Lawrence Njoku (Enugu) HE situation has gone from bad to worse.

T Tell me why anybody who is not using the pre-paid meter system should pay for electricity for February and March this year? The supply was not there at all”. These were the exact words of Mr John Igwe on Thursday when The Guardian approached him to react to current electricity supply situation.

He stated that power supply has declined seriously since the new investors took over, stressing that the hope that came with the development has given way to despair.

Igwe, who runs a business centre on Ogui road, Enugu stated that he has to grapple with the sudden rise in the price of fuel to be able to serve his customers using generator. He wondered whether any business could flourish under the present situation.

Indeed, Enugu has faced serious electricity supply challenges in the last one-month, that several areas of the state had gone from day to day and sometime weeks without electricity supply.

In fact, residents are calling on the Nigeria Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) to prevail on electricity providers to strike out the fixed or maintenance charges on customer’s bill.

“It is fraudulent and sad that even when they don’t supply us with electricity they are asking us to pay the fixed charges or meter maintenance fees which is as high as N750 per month.

This is unfair and should be stopped. They cannot collect fees for services not rendered. The power distributors will sit up when these charges are struck off,” a resident, Mrs Joyce Ugwu said.

The ugly development has been compounded by the sudden increase in the pump price of petrol, thereby forcing those unable to meet with the situation into darkness. Cost of doing business has also been affected.

Nduka, who runs a salon on Edinburgh road, said he has decided to increase cost in order to continue to run his business. For instance, he said from N150 for haircut for adults, he now takes N200, adding that, “even with this, I barely manage to meet up.”

be looked into if we want to end our unemployment situation”, Nduka said.

During their hand-over of the now Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) last year, its new Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Robert Dickerman had assured that the company would be reengineered to meet with the demands of her customers in Enugu, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Anambra states.

According to him, the pillars of the new investors, which would be anchored on integrity, customer service and performance were the tools required to meet the expected change and realize the objectives and goals.

He had assured the gathering at the Okpara Avenue headquarters of the company in Enugu, that efforts would be geared towards distribution of services to enable the company remain in business.

Dickerman said with resourceful workforce, the company was sure of improving the epileptic power situation in the five states of the geo political zone, adding that the resources to do so were available.

So far, the management of the EEDC in Enugu is embarking on tour of various areas of the zone with the purpose of meeting and explaining the current electricity situation to her consumers.

Observations from the places visited so far in Aba, Umuahia, Ebonyi and Onistha have indicated that the situation has not improved and calling on the management to act fast and save the situation.

Speaking however on the development, EEDC’s Public Relations Officer, Eugene Aniowo stated that a lot of re-engineering had gone in to ensure efficient and reliable supply in electricity in the zone.

He agreed that the situation had been challenging and that the company may not have lived up to the promises it made at the onset. He however said efforts were in top gear to salvage the situation.

“If we don’t supply, we will be out of business I will pack up and go home. The situation is not and when our customers don’t pay for the servencouraging at all; nobody will be encouraged to ices, we will not also be in business. So our be self-employed with the kind of supply we are desire is to ensure that we satisfy them at all having these days. Electricity supply remains the times and I want to appeal that they exercise litsoul of every business in Nigeria and this must tle patience,” he said.

Electricity Supply In Enugu: From Hope To Despair

“The truth is that it is not as easy as one had thought. You can see that I don’t put the generator unless I have a customer, you may also notice that this generator undergoes repair almost on weekly basis and when it is not here,

In Calabar, Power Still In Short Supply From Anietie Akpan, Calabar HE power situation in Calabar has been epileptic even T though some areas have been enjoying better supply than others. But for the past two months, the supply has been better than what it used to be.

Comparatively, the Calabar Municipal area has had better supply than Calabar South as the residents of the latter often complain of no power supply.

A consumer and Journalist living in Satellite town, Mr. Lawrence Mpama said, “the power situation has improved from what it used to be. At least, now you see light for almost 24 hours without blinking, which to me is a great improvement.

“But my worry is the continuous use of estimated bill by the power distribution agency in Calabar. I expect that this new agency should inject new ideas and approach to the job because this method of estimation is outdated and lazy.

Consumers can easily be cheated because the estimate method is often inflated.”

Another consumer and a businesswoman in Calabar South, Mrs. Mary John said, electricity supply has been bad in the area.

“Sometimes you will stay for two days, you will not see light in this Ekpoabasi area. Even when the light comes, it will not last before they take it.

“We are really suffering. The government should monitor these new companies and ensure the right thing is done. Every month, we get high bill yet we don’t see light. This is not good for business. As you can see, I depend on my generator to do my small hairdressing business. Now there is fuel problem we buy at black market at high price.”

She noted that because of the poor electricity supply, prices of commodities and services have generally gone up increasing the sufferings of people. “The government should please do something about it. What we really need in this country is steady power supply for prices of things to come down,” she said.

Even Plateau Government House Is Not Spared Of Power Outage From Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi, Jos OWER supply situation in Plateau State has become worse than when the sector is being managed by publicowned companies.

The situation is not different at Government House as there is standby generator that is working 24 hours.

Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Plateau State Governor, Mr. James Mannok, affirmed that the challenge of power outage has become a worrisome phenomenon in the state.

“We too experience electricity outage,” Mannok said.

“Government is also affected. But this is usually overcome because we have a standby generator that swings into action immediately the electricity supply is out. Right now as I am talking to you, the standby generator is on because there is no electricity supply.

Similarly, residents of Jos the state capital are not finding it easy to cope with the epileptic power supply. For Miss Oby, a tailor, the epileptic power supply is not business friendly. She said the problem has paralysed her work. “What pains me most is that I am unable to fulfill my promises to my customers. When I give my customers date to collect their clothes, it will just dawn on me that there is no light. I have not seen any difference

P

between the defunct PHCN and the private investors,” Oby said.

To Ibrahim Choji, a dry cleaner, the business has never been as bad as now due to increasing rate of epileptic power supply.

But a textile dealer at the Ahmadu Bello Way, Jos, Alhaji Shehu Usman, said the power outage does not in anyway affect his business, as he does not need electricity to operate.

A welder, Paul Samson, who depends solely on electricity to do his work, said that electricity outage has dealt a devastating blow to his business. “You know, I can’t do anything without electricity.

I have lost many customers especially as I am not financially buoyant to buy generator. I don’t know what the government is doing. Today they will bring light, two to three days after; there will be no light. I am tried,” he said.

Also some residents have expressed fear over possible outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis in the face of heat and inadequate power supply. “One would have been sleeping outside the house to get fresh air. But that is not possible because of insecurity. One is forced to stay indoors with windows open, but closed doors. Not to have light at this hot weather is a risk to one’s health,” a Jos resident, James Yakubu, said.

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Saturday, March 29, 2014 53

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54 | Saturday, March 29, 2014

SHORT STORY

By Segun Durowaiye (08055356855) REALLY don’t want to narrate this story. I “I know I was used by the devil. I had gone to see him that day after worship session in order to greet him because he had said he wasn’t feeling well. His name was Samuel, and I was madly in love with him. I was blindfolded by love that I couldn’t see anything wrong with the step I was taking. Was it love or lust? Samuel was my first love and I didn’t see anything bad in going to bed with him. He had been pressurizing me to give him a chance. He said, ‘it won’t do any harm’ to me if I allowed him taste the forbidden apple just once. I told him my stand on that issue, insisting that my religion forbids sex before marriage; that my pastor would get to know and I would be excommunicated from the church. Then he began to use all the tricks in romance encyclopaedia. At a point, he even proposed marriage to me. There was nothing I could do, I felt helpless. He reminded me of my beauty and that I was his first love too. He started fondling me, caressing me all over. It was like heavenly bliss, or so it seemed.

“I was carried away by wild passion. I had never been in that mood all my life. I was swept off my feet by Samuel’s power of love.

Somehow, he finally had his way. That love making was to be my greatest undoing because two months later, I discovered I was pregnant for Samuel, and my pastor must not know. When I realized I was pregnant, I confidently told Samuel. He was very happy. He told me we should get ahead with our marriage plans since he had a good job and money wasn’t his problem. I accepted but with fear because my religious belief forbids such relationship and they would be angry with me at my place of worship. My parents had told me from the beginning that they agreed and consented to our relationship and marriage plans. I told Samuel he had to see my pastor for counselling, thinking we could bend or change the religious rules.

“Finally, we were in the presence of my pastor for counselling prior to our marriage ceremony. My pastor reeled out strict rules to us that day, quoting several chapters and verses of the Holy Book. He warned me against getting pregnant before marriage or having sex at all. I knew there and then that I had sinned and committed unforgivable blunders and felt really unworthy to be in the presence of the Lord. I felt really heartbroken and sad that I had taken a wrong and sacrilegious step contrary to my religious principles. Why should ‘love’ put me in such pain, dilemma and confusion? What should I do? I want my pastor and other members of my place of worship to

Confessions Of Sister Rebecca grace my wedding ceremony. Then I thought about abortion! Yes, I must abort this little foetus in my womb to maintain my sanity! Wouldn’t this be double sin, because I heard that abortion is also murder?’ I reasoned. I told Samuel about my intention. He wasn’t happy about it. But he insisted I should do whatever pleases me and would give me joy because he loved me and wouldn’t want to lose me.

“The following day, I contacted a friend who told me he knew of a medical doctor who specializd in abortion. Pronto, we were there and we haggled on the cost of the abortion. We finally reached an agreement. I was laid on a bed in the next fifteen minutes and he got some tools for the operation. I started praying fervently not to lose my life in the process. About thirty minutes later, the operation was over but it was very painful. The lower part of my stomach ached seriously. I was stretched on another bed to rest for about two hours. At the end of the day, I managed to go home. I saw Samuel that evening and told him about the abortion.

He suddenly went blank, quiet and aloof. I looked deep into his eyes and I could see the tears streaming down his brows. He was very sad. He moved closer to me, hugged me and in tears spoke such moving words that stuck to my memory ever since. ‘You shouldn’t have done it for love’s sake…we’re inseparable…like the moon and the stars. I’ll always love you Rebecca…’

“No one knew the secret except me and Samuel. Surprisingly, he didn’t disappoint me.

We went ahead with our marriage plans and did a fantastic wedding ceremony a couple of months later. My pastor was there and many members of our church. I felt quite happy at the development because I thought I was doing the right thing. When the devil gives you joy, it’s temporary or short-lived.

“I’m now in eternal sadness and gloom because I later learnt that the doctor who carried out that abortion was a quack. A series of tests I did later in my life in a reputable hospital showed that the quack doctor had destroyed and removed my womb and I can’t be pregnant

again. I’ve been married for the past 10 years and can’t bear the fruit of the womb. Every day looks dreary, sad and melancholic to me. The tears refused to cease in my eyes. I could be called Mrs. Gloom because of my persistent mood swings and sadness. Samuel never stops to shower me with his usual love and adoration. He is a very great man filled with sincere feelings of love for me. We have all the materials things of life to make us happy but with no child of our own. At times when I think about the history of my life, I really don’t know who to blame. Is it my pastor, God or the devil? The only thing that could give me complete and total joy is to be pregnant and carry a bouncing baby boy or girl in my hands.

“We’ve spent millions on medical tests and operations to solve this problem but all to no avail. Spiritualists and herbalists have gotten

millions from us to bail us out of this misery but they could do nothing. At times I feel like committing suicide if not for the presence of the Holy Spirit. Now I get closer to God even than before because He is the only one who can give me joy.

“About four months ago, Samuel came with this idea of adopting a four-year-old boy as our child. He brought the handsome young boy home and ushered him to my presence, only if that would make me happy. Immediately I set my eyes on the young boy, all my troubles and pains seemed to fizzle away. The boy is a product of a motherless babies home. His name is Ayokunumi, meaning ‘my heart is filled with joy’. And sincerely, it looks like my joy is bouncing back. We’ve registered him in an expensive school in our area. He’s doing fine.

“I treat him like he is my own child and shower him with lots of love and adoration. He is a very brilliant boy and Samuel dotes on him like his own son. Sometimes when I walk down memory lane, my sympathy goes to young girls alike who unwittingly and carelessly commit abortion for one reason or another. I think it’s not the best option because of the serious danger inherent in it. If I come back to this earth again, I pray to still meet a man as wonderful, kind and loving as Samuel. I’ll definitely walk down the aisle with him again. Such men are rare. He is an excellent man among men.

May God guide us from making costly mistakes that could alter our destiny.”

FITNESS

By Oyinkan Talabi (Bodyworksnigeria.com) T can get confusing when you are fasting, whether or not to keep exercising, how to break your fast and generally stay balanced during and after the fast.

Fasting is great practice; it helps the body detoxify both physically (toxins stored in the body’s fat tissue are dissolved and removed from the body), spiritually and mentally.

However, the things you do during the period and after will determine if you reap and keep the benefits of your fast.

There are many kinds of fasts: Forgo food and water for a few hours- three hours, six hours, eight hours or 12 hours- the most common is sun up to sun down.

Forgo food and water for the whole duration of the time of fast- –commonly called a dry fast.

Forgo food only and consume water and liquids during the duration- commonly called a wet fast.

Forgo certain food types, like stew, protein, and bread- commonly called a white fast.

Forgo something other than food that you know takes you personally out of balance, like not using your gargets for certain periods of time, not watching television, etc.

All are legitimate fasts and a mix of the above should be carried out at regular intervals throughout the year.

Today, we will concentrate on the first three, which are focused on the reduction of food intake, thus a reduction in the amount of energy (fuel) your body needs for your daily ac-

I

Fasting And Your Body tivities.

What happens to your body during a fast?

The digestive system gets to rest and cleanse itself.

Your body generates energy by breaking down muscle fibre.

Energy is diverted to your immune system, and this allows the body to rebuild, heal and replenish itself. Tumors have been known to shrink during fasts.

Your body taps into deep protein reserves in its DNA, thereby creating healthier cell.

Reduction in the core body temperature.

This is connected to the reduction in your metabolic rate, because the digestive system is resting.

Blood sugar reduces and anti-aging hormones are released These changes that occur in the body in response to fasting depend on the length of the fast. Technically, the body enters into a fasting state in about eight hours after the last meal when the total absorption of nutrients from the food is completed in the gut.

Where does the energy you use come from?

Calories (energy) stored as Glycogen (your body converts food, especially carbohydrates, into glycogen). This is then stored in various parts of the body and used as needed.

So, within the first 24-48 hours of calorie reduction, your body first burns glycogen

stored in liver, then proteins in the muscle, finally dispose tissue- body fat.

During this process, the body’s metabolism slows down in order to conserve energy. If you are also forgoing water, dehydration sets in, hence the headaches, dizziness and irritation some people experience.

How do you break your fast?

This is very important. I have heard of people breaking their fasts with soft drinks and biscuits. This is a “NO, NO.” Your body has not had any nutrients for hours and empty calories are not what it needs (it never needs empty calories, but that is another article altogether).

Some people also break with heavy meals, like Eba or pounded yam, which as well are not the way to go.

It is like loading up a cold car engine with the air conditioner and driving 100km/hr as soon as you start the engine, which will wear the engine out and defeat the purpose of the fast.

The first foods that you consume upon breaking a fast are critical in nourishing the body, and they should not expend much energy to digest and assimilate. Liquids, like fresh juice are a great way of introducing food back into your system.

Non-acidic fruits and vegetables- watermelons, apples, bananas, grapefruits- are easy for your body to digest. Citrus, like oranges,

might be too acidic for an empty stomach.

Don’t overeat; listen to your body. Discover the amount of food that your body needs to live a vibrant, healthy life. You will feel satisfied with smaller amounts of food, sluggish and tired when overeating.

Rich foods full of fat, salt and processed sugars will cause nausea, headaches and weakness. A bowl of fruit will be thoroughly satisfying. Because the digestive system has to work less, there will be boundless energy to spare.

Have an activity lined up to do after eating. Make it something you want to do. It will be easier to move away from the table.

Eat slowly and chew your food well. Saliva has enzymes that assist in digestion. The enzymes in saliva can digest up to 80 per cent starch, 30 per cent protein and 10 per cent fat.

Be relaxed. Try to unwind when eating.

Decide ahead of time what you want to eat and the amount, rather than when you are hungry.

Educate yourself on how to begin a lifestyle of healthy eating. Fasting is a wonderful new beginning, a foundation for a lifelong, healthy diet. Healing has been known to happen when one fasts.

The above may sound hard, but remember, fasting is all about self-discipline.

Working out while you fast is also very important, if you already exercise.

Next week, we will cover fasting and exercise. Love your body.

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Saturday, March 29, 2014 55

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Saturday, March 29, 2014

Change of Name ADEBANJI: Formerly Miss Adebanji Falilat Oluwatoyin now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ajani Falilat Oluwatoyi. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

valid.Public note.

ADEBANJO: Formerly Miss Adebanjo Omolola Omowunmi, now Mrs Odugbesan Omolola Omowunmi.

AGBO: I, formerly Miss Agbo Patience Ochanya now Mrs. Okewu Patience Ochanya. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

ADEGOKE: Formerly Adenike Odunola Adegoke now Mrs. Adenike Odunola Oladipupo Afolabi Olowodasha. Former documents remain valid.

UNILAG, public note.

ADEGBORE: Formerly Miss Yewande Omowunmi Adegbore, now Mrs Yewande Omowunmi Omofonma.

Former documents valid. Public note.

ADEKUNLE: I, formerly Miss Adekunle Bilikisu Olubukola now Mrs. Akinwande Bilikisu Olubukola.

Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

ADELAKUN: Formerly Miss Adelakun Abosede Adijat now Mrs. Bankole Titilola Abisoye. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

ANDEM: Formerly Ewa Glory Andem now Mrs. Glory Bassey AndemEwa. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ADENUGA: Formerly Miss Adenuga Adenike Esther now Mrs. Adeosun Adenike Esther. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ADESINA: Formerly Miss Adesina Oluwafeyisayo Olakemi now Mrs. Ajayi Oluwafeyisayo Olayemi.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ADESOYE: Formerly Miss Omowunmi Aderonke Adesoye,now Mrs Omowunmi Aderonke Ghirardelli. Former documents valid. Public note.

ADESUYI: Formerly Miss Adesuyi Adekemi Mercy now Mrs. Olawoye Adekemi Mercy. Former documents valid.

TESCOM Ado-Ekiti, public note.

ADEYEMI: I, formerly Miss Adeyemi Diekade Abosede now known as Mrs. Afolabi Diekade Abosede. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEYEMI: Former Miss Adeyemi Oluwatosin Mary now Mrs. Olagunju Oluwatosin Mary. Former documents remain

AFELUMO: Formerly Miss Temitope O. Afelumo now Mrs. Temitope Lawrence Bello. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AGHADIUNO: Formerly Miss Rita Weyinmi Aghadiuno, now Mrs Rita Weyinmi Olaofe. Former documents valid. Public note.

AGHAJI: I, formerly Miss Aghaji Bridget Chinyere now known as Mrs. Ejike-Onye Bridget Chinyere. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AHUKANNA: Formerly Miss Ijeoma Divine Ahukanna now Mrs Ijeoma Chukwudi Paul.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AJAYI: Formerly Ajayi Funmilayo Olayinka now Mrs. Eke Oluwafunmilayo Olayinka. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

AKINGBASO: Formerly Akingbaso Olasimbo now Mrs. Nnaji Olasimbo. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

AKINPELU: Former Miss Akinpelu Damilola now Mrs. Kareem Damilola.

STACO Insurance Plc and public note.

AKINTUNDE: I, formerly known as Miss Akintunde Olabisi Florence now wish to be called Olatundu Olabisi Akintunde. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

AKINYEMI: Formerly Akinyemi Abisoye Blessing now Nomayo Osamede Blessing. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AKPAN: Formerly Miss Akpan Imaobong Judith, now Mrs Nnam Imaobong Judith. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AKPAN: Formerly Miss Uduak Akpan, now Mrs Uduak Emeka-Chinkata.

Former documents valid. Public note.

AKPANYUA: Formerly Miss Akpanyua Chioma Juliet, now Mrs Nwuko Chioma Juliet. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AKUMA: Formerly Miss

Maryjame Akuma now Mrs. Maryjane Nnenna Eleri Anwara. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

BABATUNDE: Formerly Ibrahim Babatunde Alli now Ibrahim Mohammed Alli. Former documents valid. GTB, general public note.

AMANZE: Formerly Miss Chidinma Goodness Amanze now Mrs. Chidinma Goodness Ihekuna. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

BADMOS: Formerly Miss Badmos Adedayo Adeola now Mrs. David-Adefila Adedayo Adeola. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

AMUSA: Formerly Amusa Adebola Abibat now Mrs. Adeniyi Abibat Adebola. Former documents valid. Public note.

ANAELE: Formerly Miss Blessing Adaku Anaele (Dr) now wish to be addressed as Dr (Mrs) Blessing Adaku Nwabueze. All Former documents remain valid. General public note.

ANUKA: Formerly Anuka Chioma Princess Blessing now Chukwunyelu Chioma Princess Blessing. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ANYANWU: Formerly Miss Anyanwu Vivian Chioma, now Mrs Emmanuel Vivian Chioma.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ARIBISOGAN: Formerly Miss Taiwo Eunice Olusola Aribisogan now Mrs. Obayemi Olusola Toyin Taiwo. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ASHIRU: Former Miss Ashiru Tawakalitu Adeola now Mrs Kareem Tawakalitu Adeola. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

ATHINGBAN: I, formerly Miss Athingban Mauyon Mary now known as Mrs. Arowolo Mauyon Mary.

Former documents remain valid. Public take note.

AYANDELE: Formerly Miss Ayandele Olanike Veronica now Mrs Adeniran Olanike Veronica.

Former documents valid. Public note.

AYODEJI: Formerly Miss Ayodeji Temitope Grace now Mrs. Omolayo Temitope Grace. All documents remain valid.

General public note.

AZIENGBE: Formerly Miss Aziengbe Dorah Eduwa, now Mrs Jimoh Dorah Eduwa. Former documents valid. Public note.

BABALOLA: Formerly Miss Babalola Olutayo Titilayo now Mrs Adepoju Olutayo Titilayo.

Former Documents valid. Public note.

BALA: I, formerly known as Yusuf Bala now to be known as Yusuf Yahaya.

Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

BALOGUN: I, formerly Miss Balogun Omolara Wulemot now known as Mrs. Onye Omolara Deborah. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

BAMGBOSE: Formerly Miss Bamgbose Temilade Rukiyat now Mrs Omamogho Temilade Rukiyat. Documents valid. General public note.

BASIRIYU: Formerly Bude Abiodun Basiriyu now Bude Abiodun Oluwatoyin. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

BISIRIYU: Formerly Miss Bisiriyu Aminat Bolanle now known as Mrs. Abiodun Aminat Bolanle. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

BOMBATA: Formerly Miss Bombata Hajarat Oluwakemi now Mrs. Bombata-Ibrahim Hajarat Oluwakemi. All documents remain valid. General public note.

BUKA: Formerly Miss Deborah Buka Ifesinachi, now Mrs Maduako Deborah Ifesinachi. Former documents valid. Public note.

BUKO: Formerly Miss Tina Aderonke Buko now wish to be known as Mrs. Titilola Aderonke Ogunjimi. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

BUSARI: Formerly Busari Mariam Remilekun now Mrs Oyeyemi Mariam Remilekun. Former Documents valid. Public note.

CHARLES: Formerly Miss Anurika Jennifer Charles now Mrs Anurika Jennifer Ekene. Former documents valid. NYSC, public note.

CHUKWU: Formerly Miss Joy Ihuoma Chukwu now Mrs. Joy Patience Amusi. All documents remain valid. Police Edu-

cation Department Force Headquarter, general public take note.

Public note.

CHUKWURE: Formerly Mrs. Chukwure Chidinma Nwakaego now Miss Okoli Chidinma Nwakaego. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

DAWODU: Formerly Miss Mosunmola Ayoka Dawodu,now Mrs Mosunmola Ayoka Oladiran.

Former documents valid. Public note.

DENNIS: Formerly Miss Dennis Ogunbiyi Kofoworola Stella now Mrs. Olubiyi Kofoworola Stella. LASG NOUN general public note.

EBAHOR: I, formerly Miss Ebahor Flora Erezi now known as Mrs. Orji Flora Erezi. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

EBUNOLORUN: I, formerly Miss Ebunolorun Kamilat Mopelola now known as Mrs. Aderoju Kamilat Mopelola. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

EGBADON: I, formerly Miss Egbadon Monica Ebinehita is now known as Mrs. Monica Osaze Iluobe. Former documents remain valid. General public note.

EGBEDEYI: Formerly Miss Egbedeyi raliat bisola, now Mrs Owolabi raliat bisola. Former documents valid. Public note.

EJIOFOR: Formerly Miss Ejiofor Euphemia Tochukwu now Mrs Nnabuife Euphemia Tochukwu. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

EKANEM: Formerly Miss Vivian Sunday Ekanem now Mrs. Vivian Edidiong Thomas Etukudo.

Former documents remain valid. University of Uyo Teaching Hospital and public note.

EKANEM: Formerly Miss Ekanem Ukeme Veronica, now Mrs Usoro Ukeme Veronica. Former documents valid.

Public note.

EKANEM; Formerly Barr Miss Juliana Francis Ekanem, now Barr Mrs Juliana Ugochukwu Imaobong Iroabuchi.

Former documents valid. Public note.

ELEE: Formerly known as Elee Chinaka now wish to be addressed as Okere Kevin Chinaka. All Former documents remain valid. General public

note.

ELEMBA: Formerly Miss Elemba Lucia Nwanyioma now Mrs Nwokorie Lucia Nwanyioma.

Former documents valid. NYSC, Public note.

EMAGOR: Formerly Miss Bridget L, Emagor now Mrs. Bridget Voke Greatman-Uwame. All documents remain valid.

General public note.

EME: I, formerly Miss Jane Ola Eme now known as Mrs. Jane Ola Kuti. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

EMERENINI: Formerly Miss Emerenini Emilymary Chima now Mrs Okolie Emilymary Chima.

Documents valid. Public note.

EMUEZE: Formerly Miss Precious Princess Emueze now Mrs. Precious Princess Saleh.

Former documents remain valid. Delta State University, Ministry of Interior, public note.

ENIAYEWU: Formerly Miss Aminat Olayinka Eniayewu now known as Mrs. Aminat Olayinka Olohunlana.

All former documents remain valid. Public note.

ENO: Formerly UdoUmoh Christiana now Udoh-Umoh Christiana Eno. Former documents remain valid.

Embassies, Immigration, public note EYO: Formerly addressed as Miss Arit Asuquo Eyo now wish to be known as Mrs. Caroline-Arit Kelvin Akisot Ayi. All former documents remain valid.

Public note.

EZENNA: I, formerly Miss Ifeoma Vivian Ezenna now known as Mrs. Ifeoma Vivian Onyeji. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

EZEOBATA: Formerly Miss Ezeobata Stella Ndidi now Mrs Nzeli Stella Ndidiamaka. Former documents valid.

Public note.

EZEOYE: Formerly Miss Ann Nneoma Gloria now Mrs. Ezeoye Nneoma Gloria. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

EZIAKOR: Formerly Miss Charity Ukaamaka Eziakor, now Mrs Charity Amaka Chukwu. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

Saturday, March 29, 2014 57

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Change of Name EZEKIEL: I, formerly Miss Joy Uche Ezekiel now Mrs. Joy Uche Asesho Lucky Gatta. All documents remain valid.

Public note.

FADARE: Formerly Mr Fadare Samson Babatunde, now Mr Ayoola Samson Olatunde. Former documents valid.

Public note.

FADIMU: Formerly Miss Fadimu Florence Oluwatimilehin, now Mrs Omohomion Florence Oluwatimilehin. Former documents valid. Public note.

FAGBEMIGUN: I, formerly known as Mr. Fagbemigun Moyosore Oluwaseye now wish to be addressed as Mr. Stephen Moyosore Oluwaseye. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

FAGBEMIGUN: I, formerly known as Mrs. Fagbemigun Tinuola Oluwayemi now wish to be known as Mrs. Stephen Tinuola Oluwayemisi. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

FAKOREDE: Formerly Miss Fakorede Folashade Maria now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omoteye Folashade Maria. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

FALADE: Formerly Miss Temitope Rebecca Falade now Mrs. Temitope Rebecca Kelade.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

FATAI: Formerly Miss Fatai Omobolanle Kudirat now Mrs. Olatujoye Omobolanle Esther.Documents valid. Public note.

FATOSIN: Formerly Fatosin Adeyemi Olutemi Festus now Fat Adeyemi Festus. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

FRANCIS: Formerly Francis Hannah Temitope now Francis Ann Oghenekevwe old documents valid.

GABRIEL: Formerly Miss Elizabeth Queen Gabriel now Mrs. Elizabeth Queen Olabode. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

GENTRY: I, Gentry Damilola Adedoyin wishes to notify the general public that my name was mistakenly stated as Oluode Damilola Adedoyin in my NYSC discharge certificate. This certificate remain valid and my

name remain Gentry Damilola Adedoyin. Public and NYSC note.

GBOBANIYI: Formerly Miss Monisade Roberta Gbobaniyi, now Mrs Monisade Roberta Martins. Former documents valid. Public note.

GEORGE: Formerly Miss George Tolulope Temitope, now Mrs Ayoola Tolulope Temitope. Former documents valid.

Public note.

HAMMED: I, formerly Mr. Hammed Taoreed Kehinde now known as Mr. Oyemade John Kehinde.

Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

HAMMED: I, formerly Mr. Hammed Taofeek Taiwo now known as Mr. Oyemade Peter Taiwo. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

IBE: Formerly Miss Ibe Rosemary now Mrs Ndukwe Rosemary. Former documents remain valid. Public take note.

IBEAJA: Formerly Miss N k e c h i n y e r e Onyedikachim Ibeaja now Mrs. Nkechinyere Onyedikachim Omenye.

All former documents remain valid. Public Note IFESI: I, formerly Miss Nnenna Ifeduba Ifesi now known as Mrs. Nnenna Ifeduba Ezeadebor. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

IGWE: Formerly Miss Igwe Chinyere Gift, now Mrs Agonsi Chinyere Gift. All former documents remain valid.

General Public note.

IJADUOLA: Formerly ljaduola Miracle Oluwatobiloba now Oladipupo Miracle Oluwatobiloba.

Former Documents valid. Public note.

IJAOLA: Formerly Ijaola Dare Tope Sulaimon now Ijaola Sulaimon Dare. Documents valid.

Public note.

IJEH: Formerly Miss Ifeoma Christin Ijeh, now Mrs Ifeoma Christin Slyva. Former documents valid. Public note.

JIMOH: Formerly Miss Jimoh Taiwo Morufat now Mrs. Sowunmi Taiwo Morufat.Documents valid. Publicnote.

JOB: Formerly Mary Job, Mary Favour & Blessing Ozieme, now Mrs Blessings Ozieme-Felix. Former documents valid.

Public note.

JOSEPH: Formerly Miss Joseph Juliet Ayodeji now Mrs. Omogaga Juliet Ayodeji. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

IKEH: I, formerly Miss MaryJane Chisom Ikeh now known as Miss Favour Chisom Ikeh. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ILESANMI: Formerly Kehinde Demilola Ilesanmi now Kehinde Damilola Odofin. All former documents remain valid. Public note.

IME-OBONG: Formerly known as Ime-Obong Patience Anietie Ukpe now wish to be addressed as Ariel Anietie Ukpe. All Former documents remain valid. General public note ISHOLA: Formerly Miss Olubunmi Bilikisu Ishola, now Mrs Olubunmi Funmilayo Alabi. Former documents valid. Public note.

ISIEGO: Formerly Isiego Paul now Mr Chukwudi Paul. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

JIMOH: My name Jimoh Azeez Oluwagbenga was mistakenly written as Jimoh Azeez Arishekola.

All documents remain valid. Mapoly, general public take note.

KOLEOSHO: Formerly Miss Koleosho Abiodun Esther now Mrs Moyegun Abiodun Esther.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

KOMOLAFE: Former Komolafe Bolanle Omolara now Mrs. Adebisi Bolanle Omolara. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

KUDEBU: Formerly Kudebu Yemisi Deborah now Mrs Oyefusi Yemisi Deborah. Documents valid. Public note.

LAMIDI: Formerly Olusegun Lamidi now Samuel Boma Moses. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

LAWAL: Formerly Funmilola Afusat Lawal now Mrs. Funmilola Afusat Raji. Former documents valid. Public note.

LAWAL: Formerly Miss Lawal Islamiat Olabidemi, now Mrs Filani Islamiat Olabidemi.

Former documents valid. Public note.

MADUAWUEKE: Formerly Miss Maduawueke Chinonso Sample now Mrs. Onuoha Chinonso Sample. All former docu-

ments remain valid. General public note.

MADU: Formerly Miss Madu Chizoba Princess now Mrs Onuoha Chizoba Princess. Former documents remain valid.

NYSC, Public note.

MAJOR: Formerly Major Florence Nkem now Mrs. Nkwachukwu Florence Nkem. Former documents valid. Public note.

MBOGU: Formerly Miss Mbogu Ifeoma Goodness now Mrs. Ibekwe Ifeoma Goodness. All former documents remain valid.

Public note.

MAKANJUOLA: Formerly Makanjuola Waris Adeshina now RamadanJibreel Abdulwaris Adeshina. All former documents remain valid.

Public take note.

MOGAJI: Formerly Miss Mogaji Raliat Taiwo now Mrs Onigbokun Raliat Taiwo. Documents valid.

Public note.

MOKE: Formerly Miss Sarah Ogeheneochuko Moke now Mrs. Sarah Preye Yinkore. Former documents valid. Delta State University Abraka, NYSC, Etisalat and general public note.

MUOZOBA: Formerly Miss Ngozi Iverin Doris Uche Muozoba now Mrs. Ngozi Doris Cynthia Okpala. Former documents remain valid, public note.

MUMINI: Formerly Mumini Abiola Abioye now MUMEEN Abiola Abioye.

All former documents remain valid. Public Note.

MUTIAT: Formerly Mutiat Ayinde Aderayo now Ayinde Mutiat Aderayo.

All former documents remain valid. Public note.

NGANWUCHU: I, formerly Miss Nganwuchu Ihuoma Uchechi is now known as Mrs Unegbu Ihuoma Uchechi. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note NICHOLAS: Formerly Miss Nicholas Charity Onyinyechi, now Mrs Ezeora Charity Onyinyechi. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

NKOYO: Formerly Miss Nkoyo Edem Isuo, now Mrs Nkanta Nkoyo Emmanuel. All former documents remain valid.

General public note.

NORA: Formerly Sandra Modupe Nora now Mrs. Sandra Modupe Emevo.

All former documents remain valid. Public note.

NGANWUCHU: I, formerly Miss Nganwuchu

Ihuoma Uchechi is now known as Mrs. Unegba Ihuoma Uchechi. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

NWABA: The families whose surname was known as Nwaba now wish to be known as Chukwuemeka. Former documents remain valid.

General public note.

NWADIRE: Formerly Miss Nwadire Uchechi Doris now Mrs Nwankwo Uchechi Doris. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

NWAIRO:I,Formerly called Chinyere Meuche Nwairo now wishes to be called Chinyere Meuche Obi. All Former documents remain valid.

General public note.

NWAIWU: Formerly Miss Chioma Lynda Nwaiwu now Mrs. Chioma Michael Osuoha. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

NWAJIAKU: Formerly Miss Nwajiaku Chiamaka Ogochukwu, now Mrs Okoye Chiamaka Ogochukwu. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

NWANDU: I, formerly known as Miss Anulika Ayesha Nwandu now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Anwuli Ayesha Azaino. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NWARIENNE: Formerly Miss Nwarienne Christiana Anulika, now Mrs Molokwu Christiana Anulika. Former documents valid. Public note.

NWEKE: Formerly Mrs. Nweke Ogechukwu Joy now Emmanuel Ogechukwu Joy. Former documents valid. Public note.

NWOKEUKWU: Formerly Miss Nwokeukwu Chioma Joy now wish to be addressed as Mrs Chioma Joy Victor – Ukah. All Former documents remain valid. General public note.

NWOSU: Formerly Miss Nwosu Blessing Ngozi now Mrs Okoye Blessing Ngozi. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

Nzelu Amalachukwu Ijeoma now Mrs NzeluOkeke Amalachukwu Ijeoma. Former documents remain valid Public note.

OBAJEMU: Formerly Miss bosede Christiana obajemu, now Mrs bosede Adeyemi Taiwo.

Former documents valid. Public note.

OBASI: Formerly Miss Obasi Ngozi Favour now Mrs. Nicholas Ngozi Favour. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OBIAGAZIE: Formerly Known as Miss Obiagazie, Sylverline Kelechi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Eziechina, Sylverline Kelechi. All former document remain valid.

Public note.

OBIEKWE: Formerly Miss Obiekwe Christiana Nneka Onyinye, now Mrs. Nnamani Christiana Nneka Onyinye.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OBANDE: I, formerly Miss Grace Obande now Mrs. Grace Ikwumonu.

All former documents remain valid. Public note.

ODIGIE: Former Dr. Miss Odigie Onosetale Mary now Dr. Mrs. Okojie Onosetale Mary. Former documents remain valid. General public please note.

ODUBIYI: Formerly Tolulope Omolara Odubiyi now Tolulope Omolara Fajimi. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

ODUGBESAN: Formerly Mr Babatunde Odugbesan, now Mr Femi Odugbesan. Former documents valid. Public note.

ODUKOYA: Formerly Miss Odukoya Tomisin Funmilayo now Mrs Akinyinka Tomisin Funmilayo. Former document valid. Public note.

OFFOR: Formerly Onyinye Pauline Offor, now Chioma Okereke.

Former documents remain valid. General Public take note.

NWOSU: Formerly Miss Ruth Nwosu now Mrs Ruth Chinedum Akpasua. Former documents valid. NYSC, public note.

OGAYEMI: Formerly Ogayemi Oluwabunmi Taiwo now Adeniranye Oluwabunmi Taiwo. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

NZELU: Formerly Miss Nzelu Adaobi Linda now Mrs Okolie Adaobi Linda.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OGUNDELE: Formerly Ogundele Moses Kayode now Olukayode Moses Oladele. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

NZELU: Formerly Miss

58

Saturday, March 29, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Change of Name OGUNSEYE: I, formerly Modupe Atinuke Ogunseye now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Awonusi Modupe Atinuke. All former documents remain valid.

Public take note.

OGWIJI: Formerly Miss Ogwiji Onma Rita now Mrs. Ameh Onma Rita.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OKAFOR: Formerly Miss Okafor Njideka Prescillia, now Mrs. Nnaji Njideka Prescillia. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OLANIYAN: Formerly Miss Olaniyan Esther Oluwatosin, now MRS showole Esther Oluwatosin. Former documents valid. Public note.

OLANREWAJU: Formerly Olanrewaju Felicia Temilola now Mrs. Agboola Felicia Temilola.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ments valid.Publicnote.

OLAOGUN: Former Miss Olaogun Omotayo Bilikis now wish to be known as Mrs. Afolabi Omotayo Bilikis. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

MUOZOBA: Formerly Miss Ngozi Iverin Doris Uche Muozoba now Mrs Ngozi Doris Cynthia Okpala. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OKAFOR: Formerly Ijeoma Linda Okafor now Mrs. Ijeoma Mariln Chuks-Ene. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OLATUNJI: Formerly Miss Olatunji Folayemi Oluwakemi now Mrs. Olajide-Olorunfemi. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OKEKE: Formerly Miss Okeke Lilian Chibuzo now Mrs Itodo Lilian Chibuzo. Former documents valid. NYSC, public note.

OLAYITAN: Formerly Soetan Ibrahim Olayitan now known as SoetanBalogun Ibrahim Olaotan. All former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OKO-BOH: I, formerly Mr. Oko-Boh Nwabueze now to be known as Mr. Nwachukwu Nwabueze Peter. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OKOEGUALE: Formally Miss Joy Edewede Okoeguale, now Mrs. Joy Edewede Onasabogbe.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OKON: I, formerly Miss Maureen Patrick Okon now wish to be called Mrs. Maureen Emmauel Onukak. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OKONKWO; Formerly Miss Ifeoma Anulika Okonkwo now Mrs Umeh Ifeoma Anulika.

Former documents remain valid, Public note.

OKONKWO: Formerly Miss Fidelia Ogechukwu Okonkwo now Mrs. Fidelia Ogechukwu Onyegbule. Former documents valid. Public note.

OKORO: Formerly Okoro Chinyere Angela now Mrs. Ogbogu Chinyere Angela. All former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OKUNUGA: Formerly Okunuga Morenike Oluwafunmilayo now Mrs. Olukoya Oluwafunmilayo Morenike. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OKWU: Formerly Miss Okwu Ruth Amarachi, now Mrs Jibowu Ruth Amarachi. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

OLOMOLA: Formerly Miss Olomola Oluwaseun Abidemi now Mrs. Ogunsuada Oluwaseun Abidemi. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

OLORUNMODIMU: Formerly Olorunmodimu Felicia Omobowale, now Sanni Felicia Omobowale.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OLORUNTOBA: Formerly Miss Oloruntoba Deborah Iyabo now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ademola Deborah Iyabo.

Former documents remain valid. Osun State Government, public note.

OLOWOLAGBA: Formerly Miss Olowolagba Toyin Silifat now Mrs Obasa Toyin Silifat. Documents valid. Public note.

OLUWALAMBE: Formerly Miss Yemisi Oluwalambe now Mrs. Yemisi OluwalambeEmokpaire. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OMOSEHIN: Formerly Omosehin Omotola Vanessa now Adedapo Omotola Vanessa. Former Documents valid.

Public note.

OMOYEMISI: Formerly Miss Omoyemisi Amosa now Mrs. Adeniyi Yemisi.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ONASANYA: Formerly known as Miss Onasanya Omolara Olaitan now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ajibola Omolara Arinola.

All former documents remain valid. Public note.

ONI: Formerly Miss Janet Ojuolape Oni now Mrs Janet Ojuolape Ologun.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ONITA: Formerly Onita Florence Arinola Oluwayemisi , now Mrs. Laiyemo Florence Arinola Oluwayemisi. Former documents remain valid. Public take note.

ONUOBIA: Formerly Miss Onuobia Chinedu Precious now Mrs Ginika Chinedu Precious. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

ONUOHA: Formerly Miss Ihuoma Onuoha now Mrs Ihuoma James Chukwu. Former documents remain valid.

Bende LGA, Public note.

ONUM: I, formerly Miss Onum Gladys Iro, now wish to be addressed as Mrs Uka Gladys Kalu. All former documents remain valid. General Public note.

ONWUKA: Formerly Miss Onwuka Augustina Chinyere, now Mrs Chidi Augustina Chinyere. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

Obumneke. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

OPUTA: Formerly Oputa Oroma Celestina now to be known as Fiscker Oroma Celestina. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OPUTA: Formerly Oputa Sorcha Kathleen now to be known as Fischer Sorcha Kathleen. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OPUTA: Formerly Oputa Lucas Aindreas now to be known as Fischer Lucas Aindreas. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OSENI: Formerly Miss Oseni Maryam Omobolanle now Mrs. Folarin Mary Omobolanle.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OSHODI: Formerly Miss Oluwabanke Rukiat Oshodi, now Mrs Oluwabanke Rukiat Adele.

Former documents valid. Public note.

OSHOMA: Formerly Joy Eniye Oshoma now Mrs. Joy Eniye Adeshina. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OSUIGWE: Formerly Osuigwe Judith Chibuzor now Odion Judith Chibuzor. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OWOLABI: Formerly known as Miss Owolabi Oluwaseyi now wish to be known as Mrs. DansuOwolabi Oluwaseyi. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OYATOYE: Former Miss Oyatoye Aduragbemi Tolulope now Mrs. Kolade Aduragbemi Tolulope. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OYEGBAMI: Formerly Miss Yetunde Deborah Oyegbami now Mrs. Yetunde Deborah Oyegbami-Oluwo. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

ONWUKWE: Formerly Miss Onwukwe Ugonna Ezinwa now Mrs. Osie Ugonna Ezinwa. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

OYELADE: Formerly Miss Simiat Titilola Oyelade now Dr. Mrs. Simiat Titilola Adeogun. All former documents remain valid. General Public take note.

OMIYEFA: Formerly Miss Omiyefa Christiana Mojure Olubunmi now Mrs Bello Christiana Olubunmi.

Documents valid. Public note.

ONYENEKWE : Formerly Miss Onyenekwe Ifunanya Dominica now Mrs Nnaike Ifunanya Dominica. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

PATRICK: I, formerly Mr. Patrick Ikechukwu Ogboo is now known as Mr. Ogboo Chinedu Collins. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OMOKOLADE: I, Omokolade Oluwasegun is the same as Omokolade Owolabi Oluwasegun Micheal. Former docu-

ONYENUFORO: Formerly Miss Onyenuforo Blessing Obumneke now wish to be known as Mrs Mbagwu Blessing

REMI-ADEOYE: I, formerly known as Miss Jokotade Remi-Adeoye now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs

OLUYEMI: Formerly Fatosin Adeyemi Oluyemi Festus now Fat Adeyemi Festus. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

Jokotade Shonowo. All previous documents still remain valid. The general public should please take note RUFUS: I, formerly known as Rufus Dayo Abraham Onaderu now wish to be known and addressed as Onaderu Dayo Abraham. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

SADIKU: Formerly Sadiku Bilkisu Ahuoiza now Lawal Bikisu Ahuoiza.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

SAKA: I, formerly Miss Saka Bilikis Folashade now Mrs. Folashade Martins Idemudia. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

SAMPSON: Formerly Miss Jennifer Chinwemmeri Sampson, now Mrs Akorah Jennifer Chinwemmeri.

Former documents remain valid. Public note.

SANDAH: I, formerly known as Dr. Sandah Nana now wish to be known as Dr(Mrs) Maimuna Nana SandahAbubakar. All former documents remain valid.

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and general public note.

SANNI: Formerly Sanni Berikisu now Mrs. Akinola Berikisu. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

SHOLUWA: Formerly Julie Bemigho Sholuwa now Mrs. Julie Bemigho Tseke. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

SHOWAMI: Formerly Oladimeji Olalekan S. now Showami Oladimeji Olalekan. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

SUBAIR: I, formerly Miss Subair Asisat Ibironke now known as Mrs. Alimi Asisat Ibironke. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

TAYLOR: Formerly Miss Tayor Adebisi Henrietta now Mrs. Kon-Ajayi Adebisi Henrietta. All former documents remain valid.

General public note.

UBANWA: Formerly Ndidiamaka Patience Ubanwa now Mrs. Ndidiamaka Patience Onyekacha. Former documents remain valid.

Public note.

UBUO: Formerly Aniedu Edet Ubuo now Mr. Aniedi Okon Nelson. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

UCHE: Formerly Miss Uche Chinenye Naomi,

now Mrs Opeodu Chinenye Naomi . Former documents valid. Public note.

UCHEBO: I, formerly Miss Ijeoma Sylvia Uchebo now Mrs. Ijeoma Sylvia Egwuatu. Former documents remain valid.

Anambra State University, general public take note.

UDECHUKWU: Formerly Miss Udechukwu Esther Ujunwa now Mrs. Ikedum Esther Ujunwa. Former documents remain valid. Public note.

UDENSI: I, formerly Miss Udensi Peace Etea is now Mrs. Peace Bright Okezie Nmeregini. Former documents remain valid.

ABSU, NYSC and public take note.

UGWU: Formerly Miss Jennifer Onyinye Ugwu, now Mrs Jennifer Onyinye Ogbonna. Former documents valid.

Public note.

UKAH: Formerly Miss Ifeyinwa Pamela Ukah now Mrs Ifeyinwa Pamela John. Former documents valid. NYSC, public note.

UNEGBU: Former Helen Chinyere Unegbu now Mrs. Helen Chinyere Ebonine. All former documents remain valid.

General public note.

UWAIFO: Formerly Miss Maryam Uhunminenkpema Uwaifo, now Mrs Maryam Uhunminenkpema Enobakhare.

Former documents valid. Public note.

VICTOR-UDUNZE: Formerly Miss Chidera Vera Victor-Udunze now Mrs. Chidera Vera Aguwa. All documents remain valid.

General public note.

YEMI: I, formerly Mr. Yemi Olaosun now known as Mr. Ibrahim Olaosun Adigun. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

YOYO: Formerly Miss Uwuseba Yoyo now Miss Samantha Ogheneregor Simeon. 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

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, March 29, 2014

59

TRANSITION

Fidelis Eno James Etim (1936 - 2013), A Tribute OW time flies. A year ago today, Akwa Ibom H State and Nigeria lost a gem. Evangelist (Dr.) Chief Fidelis Eno James Etim (OFR) (1936 – 2013) was indeed a man of many parts, Evangelist, philanthropist, politician, educationist, community leader to mention a few. The turnout at the late Evangelist’s burial last year was indeed a testament to the impact this great son of Uruk – Uso, Ikot Ekpene had made on the society with the high and mighty to the lowly being represented in huge numbers.

The intention of this write up is not to dwell on what is already known about the man, but rather to focus more on what might be considered his legacy and relevance today in our state, Akwa Ibom and our country Nigeria.

Only those without eyes will not admit their concerns about the spate of violence in the land be it executed by the dreaded Boko Haram sect or the now frequent ethnic violence conducted in various segments of the country. The calls for disintegration of our nation are also cause for lots of worry concerning our nationhood.

It is worthy of note that it is also a year of political transition in our nation with the current office holders being replaced by a new crop of leaders. In this clime of “winner takes all” we will examine the peculiar brand of politics that the late Evangelist was associated with. “Detribalized” was a word frequently used to describe him. It was not uncommon to see persons of all tribes, race or gender in close association with the late Chief. He had a famous maxim associated with himself which was “it’s good to be good”. He was a firm believer that if goodness were deployed in all things, all would be well. This might appear as overly simplistic when you look at the desperation that man exhibits in trying to achieve his aims and goals in this day and age but “goodness” like “truth” has always triumphed. Evangelist Etim believed in the “general good” and that is why in all the official positions he found himself, he always set as a priority the need to assist and enrich the lives of others.

His tenure at the Federal Polytechnic, Yola, has now become legendary. He was believed to have used his position as a Rector to enhance the educational opportunities available to his people who hitherto may not have been able to acquire qualitative education. It was rumoured that at some point that he even low-

Etim ered the entry qualification to make room for candidates who may not have possessed the requisite entry qualifications to gain admission into higher schools of learning. Today, stories are rampant of how these conscious actions of the late Etim helped to broaden the opportunities of many such persons especially in Akwa Ibom State.

Politically, the late Etim bestrode the political landscape of Akwa Ibom State like a colossus, advocating a policy of what many have described as “a negotiative transfer of power into the political agenda of Akwa Ibom State.”

Evangelist Etim’s role in what metamorphosed into a peaceful transfer of power

from the majority Ibibio’s to the minority Annang’s in 2007 is not in doubt. You will agree that a feat of this magnitude is not easy to attain, but because of the detribalised disposition of the Evangelist and his multi-ethnic assemblage of friends and associates, and the trust he enjoyed across Akwa Ibom State, he was able to allay the fears of the Ibibio’s who were the senior partners in the Akwa Ibom project.

Sadly, today the ugly head of ‘ethnicity’ has gradually found its way back into the political parlance of our time and you now find the state sinking back to the brink of suspicion and debauchery. The late Etim saw be-

yond this undignified style of politics and was an advocate of equity, justice and fair play. On a day like this in which he is being remembered, one would want to appeal, like indeed he would have done, for a return to civilised politicking.

It is painful that the sound of guns and blood letting seems to have drowned out the voice of reason and civility.

The late Etim loved his people and is fabled to have been at his best when he was giving back to the less privileged. His open door policy earned him lots of tributes and appreciation. He was indeed a man of the people who always had a listening ear for the needs of his people. His passion for excellence was evidenced in all he did and there was no place for substandard approach to assignments for him.

Many have described him as fearless and courageous, but also balanced; the kind of mettle that will be required in the nominees to the ongoing National Conference.

In the spiritual realm, the late Evangelist was also not one to be left behind; he vigorously pursued the knowledge of God and had a most intimate relationship with his saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. His teeming admirers recall with nostalgia this passion, and the fact that he never failed to attribute all he was able to attain in life to the love and mercy of God in his life. His song, “I will never forget the Lord who made me, He has made me to live a wonderful life” was always frontal in any of his speeches, showing the great values of modesty and humility that this great man was known for.

Ikot Ekpene where he hailed from was always dear to his heart, and he loved to return home at every opportunity to be amongst his people. He spoke so much about the great history associated with Ikot Ekpene and considered himself extremely fortunate to have been of Ikot Ekpene extraction.

In conclusion, Evangelist (Dr.) Chief Fidelis Eno James Etim (OFR) was a statesman of enduring legacy and repute whose light will never dim because of the irrepressible values that he stood to uphold. He was driven by a passion for excellence, a knowledge of God, a love for community and empowerment through education and an undying love for his family and friends.

May the gentle soul of this rare and uncommon gem continue to reign in the hearts and minds of all lovers of goodness. Rest in peace.

• Etim is fondly remembered by Patricia, Fidelis, Solomon, Udeme and the entire Etim’s family.

Remembering Prof. Jelili Omotola’s Enduring Legacies HE Late Jelili Adebisi AjetuT mobi Omotola (SAN) was a man of true pedigree and fine distinction whose scholarly and brilliant mind was evident through his vast achievements and contribution in the academia and far beyond, most especially concerning land law in Africa.

The Late Professor straddled major citadels of learning with immense published works, conferences, court references, inventions, professional/academic distinctions, scholarships, fellowships, journal contributions and editorials.

True to his colossal status, he published 50 articles in various Law Journals from 19732004. His first article in 1973 in the Nigerian Law Journal Vol. 7, pp.38-47 was titled “Adverse possession of Registered Land” and his 50th article in 2004 was titled “Primogeniture in African Customary Law: Survival of Culture: University of Indiana Law Review Vol. 15 (2004).

Professor Omotola was also a prolific legal writer who wrote his first book, Essays on the Land Use Act first published by the UNILAG Press in 1980. In 1982, he wrote the “Report of a National Workshop on the Land Use Act” also pub-

lished by UNILAG Press. In 1983, he offered “Cases on the Land Use Act” and in 1984, he became the Editor, Journal of Private and Property Law, UNILAG. At this time, he was also the Head of Department.

He became the Dean of Law in 1986, a position he held till 1990.

The erudite late Professor invented the word “DEEMED GRANT” in order to distinguish it from “ACTUAL GRANT’ in the Land Use Act (1978).

First contested at the Court of Appeal, but later accepted as Professor Omotola’s invention in the Supreme Court.

The term is now nationally adopted.

At a public presentation of the book ABC of Contemporary Land Law in Nigeria, written by the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike held recently, Prof. Amos Utuama, SAN, the Delta State Deputy Governor, said that “the commitment and interest in the research and teaching of Property Law, of the late former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Jelili Adebisi Omotola was unparalleled.”

According to him; “Prof.

Omotola’s seminal writing on the Land Use Act were and re-

main of immense assistance to members of the legal profession, like the judges, lawyers who argue before the courts, and this help law students and bureaucrats in understanding its policy and principles. His works remain most authoritatively outstanding, cited and relied upon by the very best in the legal profession”.

He commended Justice Umezulike for dedicating his work to Prof. Omotola and bringing the memory of the legendary legal scholar back into reckoning.

In his article, Reminisce on Omotola, Land Law (The Guardian, Sunday, April 13, 2008), Kunle Sanyaolu avers that “although he was many things to many people, including being an activist and National Executive Committee (NEC) member of the Nigerian Bar association (NBA). Omotola stood out distinctively for his profundity for law relating to real property. Two (now eight – emphasis mine) years after his demise, Omotola’s life and times continue to be cherished by thousands of people who had one opportunity or another to have come across him”.

Sanyaolu writes further

that, “as an administrator, he would be remembered for being the architect of a millennium University of Lagos (UNILAG). His tenure as Vice Chancellor featured an unprecedented pace of activities and development of the ivory tower, which would be difficult to match or surpass”.

The tenure of the late Professor Jelili Adebisi Omotola as the Dean of Faculty of Law from 1986 to 1990 was the precursor to what he later did as VC. His domineering traits, doggedness, ambitious, unrelenting, zealous and non-conservative approach to achieving success and excellence were unmistaken. Love or hate Omotola, he was simply unafraid. He was particular about making a mark and leaving his footprints in the sands of time, and this, he achieved severally. Both the Faculty of Law and the University, which he later served as Vice-Chancellor were no doubt the beneficiary of the Jelili Omotola legacy and radical breeze.

For 24 years or so before his death, Omotola had advocated a review or repeal of the Land Use Act, enacted 30 years ago. He dealt extensively with the law in his UNILAG inaugural lecture in the late 80’s, and

came out with a resounding applause. His comprehensive position and suggestion on the Act were then reduced to the “10 Commandments” by the Vice Chancellor at the time, Professor Nurudeen Alao. It is instructive that even after his death, his analysis of the Land Use Act remained so strong as to elicit

Omotola

yet another round of lively debate on what should be the fate of the Act. Omotola was a dynamic achiever of major goals with a distinct pedigree, a Professor extraordinaire and a man of the people, a primu inter pares, and undoubtedly, one of the best law Professors Nigeria has had.

TheGuardian

www.ngrguardiannews.com

60 Saturday, March 29, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Sports FIFA U-17 Women World Cup

By Gowon Akpodonor OME of the players wept openly while others Spitch wore long faces, as they stepped out of the when their journey in the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup was cut short by Spain in the early hours of yesterday.

That has been the scenario with the Nigerian U-17 Women’s team, Flamingoes, since they started featuring in the World Cup. As one of several ever-present teams in the FIFA Women cadet championship, players and officials of Flamingoes were hopeful that no matter what happened, they would make it to the final in Costa Rica. They boasted of replicating the Golden Eaglets’ feat in UAE by winning the World Cup in Costa Rica. All that are now illusions, as the girls were rounded up by Spain in their quarterfinal match, which ended 3-0 yesterday morning in the city of Liberia. Not even the presence of Sports Minister, Tamuno Danagogo, who took the message of the Presidency to the team in Costa Rica, could serve as motivation for the girls in yesterday’s game.

For some Nigerians back home, the defeat was so painful in many ways. After staying awake to watch the Ghana versus Italy match, which the Europeans won 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation time, the fans hoped that the Flamingoes would live up to their pre-match boasts.

The 3-0 defeat they handed to Mexico in their last Group match had given many Nigerian fans the belief that at least the Flamingoes could break the quarterfinal jinx. Some of the fans back home were already singing victory songs even before the game against Spain kicked off. But it was the same old story, as the Europeans saw off Nigeria with a dominant 3-0 win, no thanks to Patri Guijarro’s double.

The contest was end-to-end in the first half, before the Spaniards took the game by the scruff of the neck with two second-half goals.

Guijarro converted from the penalty spot just before the quarter-hour mark when Nigeria’s Ugochi Emenayo was ruled to have tripped Andrea Falcon, who was running into the penalty area with the ball at full speed.

Flamingoes:

Another Mission Impossible Spain doubled their advantage just prior to the hour mark with Dominguez once again setting up Garcia this time with a through pass, which saw the latter hold off a defender and beat the advancing Flamingoes goalkeeper, Onyinyechukwu Okeke.

The match went out of sight for the Nigerians with 20 minutes remaining as a fierce strike from Sandra Hernandez from a 45-degree angle burst through the hands of goalkeeper Okeke and Guijarro was there to force the ball home from close range.

The voyage to Costa Rica was the fourth for the Flamingoes in the World Cup. At the inaugural edition in New Zealand 2008, the team, led by the Late Coach Felix Ibe-Ukwu, could not make it beyond the group stage despite winning their first match 2-1 against Korea Republic. The team with players likes Desire Oparanozie, Helen Ukaonu, Gloria Ofoegbu, Soo Adekwagh and Ebere Orji went down 0-1 to England and played 2-2 with Brazil to finish

third in the group.

At Trinidad and Tobago 2010, the Flamingoes, led by Coach Peter Dedevbo, topped their group, but were knocked out in the quarterfinal stage in one of the all-time classic matches of the competition, going down 6-5 after extra time against eventual winners, Korea Republic.

At the 2012 edition held in Azerbaijan, Coach Dedevbo also led the team, topping their group.

But their hopes of becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals were dashed, as France, who went on to lift the trophy, eliminated them on penalties.

In Costa Rica 2014, the girls were able to top Group D after winning all three matches against China PR, Colombia and Mexico before their elimination by Spain in the early hours of yesterday.

Some keen followers of women football in Nigeria may give Coach Bala Nikyu and his girls some kudos for making it to the knock out stage going by the poor level of women football in the

Attention will now shift to the Nigerian U-20 women’s team, Falconets, who will be contesting in the FIFA U-20 Women World Cup in Canada in few weeks time. The Falconets will be led by the ‘Chosen One,’ Coach Dedevbo who is expected to enter history book, as the first Nigerian coach to take a national football team to three World Cup competitions.

country.

“You cannot give what you don’t have,” one of the fans said in a radio sports programmes yesterday after the Flamingoes missed the opportunity of entering history book.

For over a decade, women football league in Nigeria has been run without a sponsor. And since coming on board, the Aminu Maigari-led board has been making promises of securing a sponsor for the league. It has not come to fruition.

In the absence of a good league, the coaches have to scramble for any available material whenever the country is preparing for international competitions.

The Flamingoes picked the ticket to Costa Rica 2014 World Cup ticket on a platter of gold following the withdrawal of their opponents, South Sudan.

In the absence of the qualifying series, the Bala Nikyu- piloted side played some friendly matches in Abuja before engaging the Black Maidens of Ghana in two-legged international friendlies, which the Nigerians won.

They also had 19 days training tour in Faro, Portugal, the Flamingoes, winning all their build up games except a barren draw with Belgium Women’s U-17 team in Brussels. But all those victories counted for nothing since the team failed to deliver in the quarterfinal match against Spain.

Attention will now shift to the Nigerian U-20 women’s team, Falconets, who will be contesting in the FIFA U-20 Women World Cup in Canada in few weeks time.

The Falconets will be led by the ‘Chosen One,’ Coach Dedevbo, who is expected to enter the history books, as the first Nigerian coach to take a national football team to three World Cup competitions.

But he has an uphill task ahead of him because Nigerians are waiting to see Dedevbo’s Falconets win the World Cup or at worst, reach the final to equal the record set by Coach Egan Edet at Germany 2011 edition of the championship.

Anything short of a final ticket in Canada 2014 may put Dedevbo in the bad books of the Nigerian Football Federation and even soccer

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, March 29, 2014

61

SPORTS

Before Stephen Keshi Is Sacked! wish I could inherit Stephen Keshi’s calmness. I do not know Icollected how he does it. I mean, how can a coach be so cool, calm and when faced with the prospect of an almost certain sack after the World Cup? This is not alarmist. The likelihood is that except the Super Eagles play very well and cross the first round, except they survive the second round, except they get to the quarterfinals and cross it, except they get to the semifinals, or something extraordinary happens massive enough in its impact to justify why the team could not get to the semifinals during the championship, tradition tells me that Keshi’s job as the most successful manager in the history of Nigerian football would be on the line in the aftermath of Brazil 2014!

Don’t get me wrong. Look at the facts. Look at the history of Nigeria at the World Cup. Not even the historic, absolutely brilliant performance of the Eagles at Nigeria’s best World Cup yet, USA 1994, could save Clemens Westerhof’s job. He left the team straight from the USA! Four years later, Bora (I can never remember his second name), a man with the enviable credential of being the only man in history to have led four different countries to the World Cup, and who stepped in at the last minute to lead Nigeria (and increase his tally to five) to France ’98, did not survive.

His case was bad. He had spent most his short stay with the Super Eagles enjoying the money, sights and sounds of Nigeria and had not even settled into the job before the World Cup came with its mixed bag of some great and some very poor performances.

After the failure at France ’98, he did not even bother to return to Nigeria to pick up his few belongings.

In 2002, Nigeria experimented for the first time with a Nigerian in charge of its World Cup assignment. It was a last-minute

Super Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Keshi.

emergency manager, Festus Adegboyega Onigbinde, with a consortium of other Nigerian coaches that took the team to Japan. They were a disaster.

Presenting, in my humble opinion, one of the weakest national teams since Nigeria’s Independence, the Eagles performed so poorly that I don’t recall the manner of Chief Onigbinde’s ouster as manager. Any way, which way, he did not return from Japan to the national team.

Of course, 2006 was even worse. Nigeria did not qualify with Christian Chukwu, the Nigerian Nations Cup football hero, in charge of the Eagles. He did not survive the heat of the city of Kano that scorched the life out of the Super Eagles when they played Angola in their last but one qualifying match!

2010 was going to be a significant year. Africa’s first World Cup could be Nigeria’s opportunity to win the championship. The country hired the Swede, Lagerback. He came and intoxicated with the effect of the cheap money he collected, led the Eagles to a crisis-laden World Cup in South Africa, failed woefully and did not return to Nigeria.

That has been the tragedy of all Nigeria’s coaches to the World Cup. The common threads that run through all of them are the reckless promises, the relative failures (except 1994) and then, the resultant end to the romance with the coaches.

As 2014 approaches, the question is: would it be different this time around? Would Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, the most successful coach in Nigeria’s football history, survive the aftermath of the Brazil 2014 World Cup? To start with, his contract expires with the end of the World Cup. What would it take for it to be renewed?

Can the Eagles win the World Cup? Can they get to the semifinals of the championship? Okay, lets even go down a little lower. Can the Eagles get to the quarterfinals and equal the existing African record? The responses to these questions provide us with a window into the answers.

If the answer to any one of the above happens to be ‘yes,’ even his legion of ‘enemies’ in the NFF will join all Nigerians in begging Keshi to return. The only question that would be asked then would be how much more money he wants that would tempt him to renew the contract.

Now, lets look at what may happen.

I do not know of anyone who thinks the present Super Eagles team has the ability to win the World Cup in Brazil.

Semi-finals? Even the NFF has backed away from setting that as a target for Keshi. It may be a reflection that even they do not think or expect that the Eagles will get to that far.

So, quarterfinals? No one has set even any minimum target. So, without a barometer to measure expectations against reality, what are we left with but the perfect stage for Keshi’s inevitable ‘sack’ no matter what happens?

So, I had been wondering how Keshi is preparing for it, even as he also prepares to list his team for the World Cup sitting on a time bomb laid for him by tradition and by those around him that hate his guts and character.

I was with fellow ex-captains and legends of the Eagles - Henry Nwosu and Augustine Eguavoen - at the media parley this past

Segun Odegbami week where the ‘Big Boss’ was drilled by journalists.

It was an excellent opportunity to look into Keshi’s eyes, watch his body language and try to pry into his mind to guess what’s going on there.

Keshi shocked and dazzled me. I was expecting to see a man that is jittery and tense, instead I found a man brimming with confidence and self-assurance.

I do not know how he does it. I mean, how he has sustained this cool demeanor.

As I listened to him meandering through the heavily-loaded questions hauled at him by editors, I had to lean across at a point and whispered to him how much of a politician I thought he had become.

He whispered back to me that he was merely following in my footsteps!

He answered questions without committing himself to anything, not giving out anything and not offending anyone. Of course, all the papers the following day were filled with Keshi’s guided responses to the questions hauled at him. Yet, the more I looked at his responses, the more I am left without any clear answers.

The good thing is that he never promised anyone anything. He said his target at the World Cup was personal and that he would take the matches one after the other. He seemed happy with the players in his team, and yet insisted there are opportunities for all others to come and try their luck before he makes his final list. I still do not know if he will invite and take Osaze, Uche and Yobo to the World Cup. I still do not for sure know the state of his relationship with his employers. In short, I am still not clear about so many things.

Having said that, I also do not think I need to know more than I do already. What is important is that the man knows what he is doing.

I will not be surprised at all if the team goes far in the championship. I will not also be surprised if the team crashes out early.

So, I am going to Brazil 2014 without stressing myself with my usual reckless optimism that the Super Eagles will win the World Cup. I am going to be like Keshi, be confident and take the matches one at a time, after all, no matter, what he does, short of winning the cup, he will almost certainly be a candidate for ‘sack’!!

AIPS-Africa Congress: Remarkable Success, Beyond Pre-Congress Expectations

N

O longer the same story. And as they left for home after four days of a hectic and programme charged journalistic congress, they had a head full of new expectations and a heart full of appreciation.

Surely, this was different and even the two factions of Ivorian sports journalists, who attended the AIPS AFRICA Congress in Dakar from March 17 to 21, had a reassuring story to take home.

The two leaders found in the Dakar, a haven to reengineer a united and solid association that will reflect a fresh Ivoirian voice amongst other colleagues across Africa.

“We can tell you here that we are together now and we will get back to you before the congress in Baku next month,” revealed Magloire, one of two presidents of the Ivorian sports press, as his counterpart, Elizabeth Goli, nodded in solidarity after a soul lifting meeting with the executive committee of AIPS A F R I C A .

If the Ivorian sports press look ahead to a more viable and all encompassing engagement, it is, perhaps, a breath of comforting air for African sports journalists, who can at least tip their hats up and count on the promise of a fulfilling time. For the first time in its long chequered history, the attendance record of the African sports congress came close to 25 countries, with those absent pleading to join the 90th anniversary congress in Baku from April 27 to May 1.

But it was not only about the

record participation of delegates, but the inspiring presence of president Gianni Merlo and the glittering spread of distinguished African sports titans.

From the IAAF president, Lamine Diack, to NBA Africa Vice President, Amadou Galou Fall, to the self effacing Senegalese Sports Minister, Mbagnick Ndiaye and his effervescent Congolese counterpart, Dr. Leon-Alfred Opimba, it was a full house with plenty to chew and take home knowledge and experience wise.

The fact that the year was already loaded with activities did not also give room for discussions on the mundane, but rather, the focus was on the challenges posed by the various programmes on the sporting calendar.

These programmes include the month-long FIFA Brazil World Cup, from June 12 to July 13, the Commonwealth Games, July 23 to August 3 in Glasgow, Scotland and the Africa Youth Games to be staged in Botswana from May 22 to May 30 by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).

There was, indeed, an update on preparations ahead of next year’s 11th All Africa Games by the CongoBrazzaville’s sports minister, Obimpat on what had so been accomplished ahead of the Games.

It is noteworthy that the Games are returning to its birthplace 50 years after it debuted in CongoBrazzaville in 1965.

It was, indeed, at the forum that Sports minister in his presentation,

showed video clips of accomplishments to date of ongoing preparations and a strong re-assurance of his government’s firm commitments toward completing the building and rehabilitation of all sporting infrastructure, five months ahead of the start of the Games.

The other key participants had also made insightful high level presentations, notably: in the “Changing Africa’s Sport Fortunes through Marketing and Media,’ by Senegalese, Papa Diack, the IAAF Marketing Adviser and owner of Pamodzi Sports Marketing, made inspiring presentations.

He had shown the optimism about Africa being a destination of choice for successful marketing initiative, given the successful staging of the World Cup by South Africa, the first on an African soil.

In the ‘The African Sport Challenge’

by Nigeria’s Dan Ngerem, President ‘Dan Ngerem Sports Foundation’ and former President, Nigeria Athletics Federation, held the audience spell-bound about the abundant resources in human and material resources in sports.

This, he said, was at the level of the abundant talents and the consuming levels.

He, however, hinted about accountability as key in promoting the private-sector collaboration in securing private funding for sports.

A former CAF Director of Communications, Nigeria’s Suleiman Habuba, took the audience on a journey in the coverage of big football events, stressing there

was no compromise in providing excellent production conditions for the media.

And in his presentation on communication, an IOC media consultant, Senegalese, Diamil Faye, took the stage on ‘Media and Professionalisation of Sport,’ where he stressed that there was need more than ever before to do things right by engaging experts to deliver quality Games to match the sophistication of the growing sports fan base in the continent.

From all the presentations, it was obvious that the African media was important in the drive for sporting excellence in the continent, but that at the moment the place of the African media had yet to be firmly established.

It was the general consensus, then, that the African sporting media must position strategically to take its rightful place among the comity of nations. ``They should be more organised in tapping to the enormous funds available in the sports,’’ communiqué noted.

Merlo had re-emphasised the need for African sports journalists to realise that at all times they were faced with challenges, just like their counterparts in Europe, saying, ``You must be ready to fight at all times for your right to exist. This is one guiding principle that we inherited from our founding fathers in 1924.

• Culled From The News Agency Of Nigeria (NAN).

AIPS Africa President, Mitchell Obi (middle), with President, Pamodzi Consulting, Papa Massata Diack (right) and former CAF Director of Communications, Habuba Suleiman, at the AIPS Africa Congress in Dakar… recently.

62 Saturday, March 29, 2014

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

SPORTS

We’re Still Underdogs, Simeone Claims TLETICO Madrid coach A Diego Simeone still maintains his side are underdogs for the Primera Division title as the season moves into its closing stages.

Atletico go into today’s clash with Athletic Bilbao one point clear of Barcelona at the top of the league with just eight games remaining as they chase a first title since 1996.

Real Madrid sit two points further adrift after back-toback losses, a record in contrast to their city neighbours who have won their last four

league matches.

But Simeone maintains that the resources of the two teams below them still makes Atletico outsiders, and they also face the daunting prospect of a possible title decider against Barca on the final day of the campaign.

“Each match becomes long, hard and difficult,” he told a press conference.

“The guys are making an incredible and marvellous effort. The season is enormous but it will be valued by how it ends.

‘Manchester City Are Title Favourites’ Mourinho believes referJtheOSE ee Chris Foy’s performance in defeat at Aston Villa could

Nasri.

I Don’t Expect To Be Welcomed At The Emirates, Says Nasri ANCHESTER City midM fielder Samir Nasri is anticipating another lessthan-warm reception from Arsenal fans when he returns to the Emirates Stadium today but insists it will not affect his focus.

Nasri was with the Gunners for three seasons before switching to City in the summer of 2011.

The France international has

received abuse from Arsenal supporters on previous occasions when he has gone back to face the club.

And ahead of City making the trip to London on Saturday, Nasri, quoted on mcfc.co.uk, said: “I don’t expect to be welcomed with open arms by the crowd but hopefully that’s because they were disappointed to see me leave and perhaps at some point they loved me.

cost Chelsea the title.

Premier League leaders Chelsea, who play Crystal Palace today, lost 1-0 at Villa Park in a match which saw Mourinho sent to the stands following the dismissals of Willian and Ramires.

Mourinho maintains Manchester City are title favourites and Liverpool have a strong chance, while he refused to rule out Arsenal despite hammering the Gunners 6-0 last weekend.

If the Blues are beaten by one or two points in the title race, Mourinho will look no further than this month’s defeat at Aston Villa, which still leaves him seething at the perform-

Glo Premier League

Enyimba, Warriors’ Derby Divides Abia T’S a derby day in Abia and Inerves certainly remains a day for and passion, where families are split down the middle and lifelong friends are fiercely divided for 90 long minutes.

Since the creation of Abia State in 1991, Enyimba has enjoyed football monopoly and its emergence as a powerhouse in Africa after back-toback CAF Champions League conquest turned out to be the icing on the cake.

Although based in the commercial city of Aba, Enyimba has remained a team that unites the Abia people.

Abia Warriors, a younger team formed in 2003 and based in the state capital, Umuahia, has entered the big league to rub shoulders with Enyimba.

The Warriors may not decimate Enyimba’s followership beyond Abia, but it will attract a sizeable support within Umuahia and its environs.

However, tomorrow’s event will determine the extent of support for the young side when both teams clash in the first-ever Glo Premier League Abia derby.

Will it be a friendly derby?

For the first time in Abia, the Blue (Enyimba) and Red (Abia Warriors) sides have become pronounced.

Both teams are not strangers considering their mild rivalry in the Abia State Federation Cup. Enyimba may have won the 2013 Federation, but The Warriors own the bragging rights following their victory

in the state final last year.

Against all expectations, Abia Warriors emerged state champions after a 1-0 victory decided at the Enyimba Stadium.

In fact, Enyimba’s supremo, Felix Anyansi Agwu was infuriated with the loss that he berated players of the team.

That episode has since become history and Enyimba faithful believe it’s time to confirm their superiority over their ‘younger brother.’

If there was nothing attached to their previous meetings, the presence of both teams in the elite class simply means there is a renewed battle for the ownership of Abia.

Abia Warriors chairman, Emeka Inyama, is a former sports commissioner in the state, who supervised both teams. Today, he is on the Red side.

It is interesting that no fewer than seven former Enyimba players now defend the colours of the Warriors.

The list includes goalkeeper Olaniyi Fabiyi, Chidozie Johnson, Ogbonnaya Okemiri, Uche Oguchi, Onyekachi Okoye, Bishop Onyeudo and Cletus Itodo.

In fact, Onyeudo, who emerged Enyimba’s top scorer last term, entered the history books as the first player to cross directly from Enyimba to Abia Warriors in the Premier League era.

On the other hand, Enyimba’s duo of Andrew Abalogu and CHAN 2014 star, Bright Esieme, played for Abia Warriors before joining ABS, then in the top flight.

• Culled From Naijapremierleague.Net.

ance of referee Foy. Asked if the Villa match could be pinpointed as costly come the end of the season, Mourinho said: “Yes, because the other matches we lost because we didn’t play well, because the opponent was better than us, because we missed big chances.

“If you go to the other matches you find the natural reasons for losing a match, if you go to the Villa match it’s difficult.

“What happened in the defeat against Villa I never learn, I never accept.

“Somebody was very successful in putting a hurdle in front of us. And we crashed the hurdle against Aston Villa and we lost.

“Villa was not a normal football match and we always hope that football matches are normal.”

Mourinho will face a personal Football Association disciplinary hearing at the end of next week to challenge his improper conduct charge issued following his dismissal at Villa.

“With eight games to go, the advantage is for those who have more resources. If we get to the final four or five rounds like this, we’ll liven up a bit.

“We have worked very well keeping a solid base. A group of players have wanted to improve and grow, knowing their faults and strengthening their virtues.

“This shows us that believing in what one does and working little by little, humbly, we can compete.”

Barcelona go into their derby clash against Espanyol rocked by the news that Victor Valdes has played his last game for the club.

The goalkeeper, who will leave the Nou Camp in the summer, tore his anterior cruciate ligament against Celta Vigo in midweek and will be out of action for at least six months.

Manager Gerardo Martino admitted that losing the vet-

eran was a blow but is confident his side will cope after losing Ibrahim Afellay, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Jordi Alba and Carles Puyol for periods of time this term through injury.

“It’s a very hard blow, but this team has lived blow to blow for a long time and we will move forward,” Martino told a press conference.

“This point in the season I thought that everything that was going to happen to us had already happened.”

Real will be looking to bounce back from their recent disappointments when they take on Rayo Vallecano.

Losses to Barca and Sevilla have put a huge dent in Los Blancos’ title aspirations but playmaker Isco remains confident they can bounce back.

“We are Real Madrid and are obliged to pick ourselves up,” he told realmadrid.com.

Today’s fixtures Premiership Man Crystal Palace Southampton Stoke City Swansea West Brom Arsenal

v v v v v v v

Aston Villa 1:45 p.m.

Chelsea 3: 00 p.m.

Newcastle 3: 00 p.m.

Hull City3: 00 p.m.

Norwich 3: 00 p.m.

Cardiff 3: 00 p.m.

Man City 5:30 p.m.

La Liga Real Madrid Espanyol Celta Vigo Athletico Bilbao

v v v v

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Rugby Spreads Its Wings Across Nigeria

By Christian Okpara

HE programme to make rugby one of Nigeria’s most popular games is on.

From April 5 up till the end of the year, cities across the country will start feeling the pulse of the game, which in other climes is rated at par with football.

Beginning with the SouthWest League announced by the Nigerian Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) on Thursday in Lagos, the game will take a strong foothold in the other regions, where connoisseurs of the game will witness the Northern League and South South/East Leagues.

According to officials of NRFF, these leagues will run

T

Regional Director EXP Marketing, Tertius Strauss (left), NRFF board member, Joy Mayaki, Secretary General, NRFF, Uche Onwumedi and Vice President/Technical Director, NRFF, Fasimoye Olatunji, during the unveiling of NRFF 2014 programme in Lagos…on Thursday.

concurrently this year and the winner of each regional league will contest in the Super League for the title of the 2014 best team in the country.

The Northern League has seven teams, while the South West and South South/ East League has eight and four teams respectfully.

Eight clubs will contest the South West league over two rounds during a 24-week season with all matches being played at the National Stadium, Lagos.

Accordint to the NRFF Vice President, Tunji Fasimoye, the Vice President, it was important for the growth of rugby for players to get regular competition and opportunities to show their skills ahead of the international season.

“Nigerian rugby players around the country have been starved of regular competition and it is the NRFF’s intention that the leagues will provide players with the chance to play and put their hands up for selection to the national team ahead of the Confederation Of Africa Cup Group C tournament in Botswana in June,” Mr Fasimoye said.

Fasimoye thanked CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Company for their drive towards the development of Rugby in Nigeria and their support in sponsoring the 2014 Regional Leagues.

He also thanked the media

for their growing support for rugby and acknowledged their role in rugby’s development.

One of the pillars of the game in the past decade, Kelechukwu Mbagwu, who is also the Chairman of the Friends of Rugby, explained that the South West League matches will be played every second Saturday with the first match of the day beginning at 10:30am and the last game ending at 6 pm.

“A lunch time interval, between the first two games and the last two games of the day, will provide opportunities for schools, women and social rugby games to share the platform and build a rugby culture in the country.

“League points will be awarded on the basis of four points for a win, two points for a draw and one point for losing by seven points or less.

“In keeping with international trends to encourage attacking rugby one bonus point will be awarded for scoring four tries or more in a game,” he said.

The draws for the South West League was conducted in the presence of the clubs and their captains.

Looking forward to a succesful season, he said the “media have a crucial role to play in growing and developing rugby. We count on you to help spread the word among boys and girls as little is known about the game.”

THE GUARDIAN www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, March 29, 2014 63

TheGuardian

www.ngrguardiannews.com

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Conscience, Nurtured by Truth

Fans Have The right To Protest, Says Moyes AviD Moyes, the embatD tled manager of Manchester United, remains defiant despite the prospect of public humiliation at the hands of a group of angry supporters.

Hailed as the ‘Chosen One’ for being the hand-picked successor to former United boss, Alex Ferguson, who retired as British football’s most successful manager at the end of last season, Moyes has overseen a sharp decline in his first term in charge of the now ailing Premier League champions.

And such has been United’s slump - they are 18 points behind leaders Chelsea and 12 adrift of the top four - one angry fans’ group has threatened to hire a plane towing the message “Chosen wrong, Moyes out” over Old Trafford during Saturday’s match at home to Aston villa. “i’ve heard what they are saying about it (the banner),” Moyes told a news conference yesterday.

“People can do that, and obviously they are entitled to do that,” added the former Everton manager. “it’s not what i’ve been witnessing,” insisted Moyes. “i’m witnessing great support inside the ground, i’m witnessing great support from the people i bump into outside. “it’s a long journey, and this is only the start. i’m more determined than ever to succeed,” said Moyes, who is on a six-year contract at United.

This week Premier League chief executive, richard Scudamore, suggested that the decline of United, a major commercial player off the field as well as a dominant force on it, was damaging the worldwide profile of the league.

“When your most popular club isn’t doing as well, that costs you interest and audience in some places,” said Scudamore during a promotional visit to Johannesburg.

“There’s lots of fans around the world who wish Manchester United were winning it again,” he added.

But they will have to wait one season a least.

United can now only reach a maximum total of 72 points this season, which would be their lowest in the Premier League.

Warri Wolves will meet CA Bizerte of Tunisia in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup tie…this weekend.

CAF Confederations Cup

Tunisians Deny Warri Wolves Access To Stadium

By Gowon Akpodonor NEWS report that the A government of Delta State is owing players of Warri Wolves four months salary is not going down well with officials of the state’s sports commission.

Wolves are currently in

Pinnick Kicks Over Unpaid Salary Report Tunisia for the return leg of the CAF Confederations Cup match against C.A Bizertin.

The team was denied access to training pitch at the match venue yesterday, contrary to CAF rules, which

says an away team must be allowed to train at least twice on the match pitch before any match.

Shortly after the team arrived in Tunisia on Wednesday, an online

Glo Premier League

Gombe Humble Heartland, El Kanemi Host Akwa United

By Christian Okpara EArTLAND of Owerri took H the lead in their Week 4 game against Gombe United last night, but the homers rallied to a 2-1 victory in the game played at the Pantami Stadium.

Former youth international, Bright Ejike, gave Heartland supporters hope of an away win when he scored in the 19th minute, but Sulieman Usman dashed such hopes

with the equalizer shortly after, before Uche Yarma made sure of all the three points for Desert Scorpions off a fierce header in the 76th minute.

Yesterday’s win is Gombe United’s first home victory in the four-week-old league, which continues today across the nation.

Today in Kano, El Kanemi Warriors, will aim for their second win in their new

‘home,’ having beaten Abia Warriors there during the week. They face Akwa United, while Sharks will entertain Crown FC in Port Harcourt.

Dolphins of Port Harcourt are also at home to Sunshine Stars, while Nasarawa United will host neighbours, Lobi Stars of Makurdi in Lafia.

Tomorrow at the Aba Stadium, Enyimba will host Abia Warriors in the first ever Abia derby in the Glo Premier

League, but the game between Kano Pillars and Warri Wolves in Kano has been postponed to April 2 owing to the Wolves’ continental engagement. For the same reason, the game between Kaduna United and CAF Confederation Cup campaigners, Bayelsa United, will hold on April 9.

Bayelsa United are involved in a Confederation Cup game against How Mine FC of Zimbabwe today in Sapele.

Published by Guardian Newspapers Limited, rutam House, isolo, Lagos Tel: 4489600, 2798269, 2798270, 07098147948, 07098147951 Fax: 4489712; Advert Hotline Lagos: 7736351, Abuja: 07098513445 (iSSN NO 0189-5125) Acting Editor: All correspondence to Guardian Newspapers Limited, P.M.B. 1217, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria.

TAiWO AKErELE

E-mail letters@ngrguardiannews.com; www.ngrguardiannews.com

report quoting an unnamed Wolves’ official, said the players have not been paid for the past four months as a result of a serious cash crunch.

The report entitled, ‘No promises by grumbling Wolves in Tunisia’ has been described as untrue by the chairman of Delta State Sports Commission, Amaju Pinnick.

Quoting an unnamed official of the club, the report said: “We are not promising anything from that game.

They owe us four months’ salary. They have also told us that the away match bonus of the game against Union Douala will not be paid because it is their policy that they don’t pay match bonuses in continental games. it is so bad that a state like Delta will owe their players and they still want us to perform miracles.

“The team traveled with only 16 players instead of 18 or even 20. The reason is

that the club has been struggling financially and we can’t afford to travel with a large number of players and officials. Only two coaches, Paul Aigbogun and Sam Okpodu will make the trip,” the report stated.

But Pinnick described it as a calculated attempt to distract the team and paint the state government in bad light. He fingered one of the officials currently with the team in Tunisia as the one spreading false news about the club.

“We will surely get to the roots of this matter,” an angry Pinnick told The Guardian yesterday in a telephone conversation. “He thinks he can paint us in bad light and get away with it. We are not owing players any monthly salary. The records are there,” he added.

The return leg match will be played tomorrow at the 16,000-capacity Stade du 15 Octobre in Bizerte, Tunisia, with the winner qualifying for the competition’s playoff into the group phase.

The first leg ended 0-0 in Warri last week.