June 2011 Timeless by Timeless Courage Publishing Limited

TIMELESS Published Since April 2003

Vol. 9 No. 6

JUNE 2011

300 NAIRA

Now that the Elections are Over

…Agenda for President Jonathan for the next 4 years Style

Choosing Your Wedding Cake Society

Pap is for Women Dabar

I Love You, but I Want Better

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From the Editor-in-Chief Nigeria – Where Abnormality is Normal It is normal to stop in the middle of the road to greet a friend and quite normal to block the road so no other car can pass. Indeed, it is quite normal to be most destructive. It is normal not to have constant electricity and it is expected that one owns a generator. In fact it is a great source of embarrassment not to own one. It is quite normal for there to be no diesel, no petrol and no kerosene. It is usual for the generator to break down and be unserviceable, and usual for there to be no parts for repairs.

e have reached a stage in Nigeria, where it is normal to be bad, where it is expected to be unproductive, where it is abnormal to be normal and wrong to be straight forward. If you held public office and retired to your village, with nothing squandered to show, you most likely would be chased away and derided by your people. You score no points for having been an honest citizen of Nigeria and a diligent representative of the state. Your achievement is measured by how much you stole, appropriate or squandered! In Nigeria, bad things simply are normal, necessary, probably even needed. In Nigeria, bad is good, evil is better and demonic the best. Bribery is normal in this country, it is anticipated, it is expected, it is given particularly in government and largely in the private sector. Most people are tipped, bribed, kicked back, or settled! Or nowadays are blessed. Our love for material things of any kind, even when they are useless to us, makes us so amenable to compromise. Our greed and desire for things we have not worked for, not earned, make us all so susceptible to wickedness. In Nigeria, to be fair is to be foolish, to be straight is to be late, to be upstanding is to be down trodden, to be honest is to be rejected. Bad driving is normal in Nigeria; it is expected for people not to obey traffic signals, disregard the lights and where possible ignore the policeman or traffic warden. It is not normal to give way to any traffic whether it is on your left or not and quite normal to drive with your horns blaring. It is normal to drive an unserviceable car, so it can break down on the bridge and cause traffic jams, normal to fight your fellow Nigerian after a minor accident.

Pot holes and bad roads are normal in Nigeria, very normal. Thank God for Fashola in Lagos who with his magic wand or ‘fly whisk’ has ‘wished’ quite a number away but even then a lot of rough surfaces remain.

Settlement is normal in Nigerian, in fact it is applauded and the beneficiaries are envied. It is not normal to hold your head up high in defense of your honesty in an environment where even your wife will say – ‘Na you alone be honest man, Na honesty we go chop?’ Yes indeed, it is normal for everyone to want to chop, chop, and chop until there is nothing left to chop. It is normal to lie, tell a fib, be dishonest, unusual to be straightforward, genuine, and dependable. It is normal not to give value for money, normal to compromise, and reduce your erstwhile abnormal standards. It is normal to be a 419 person. Normal to make money illicitly through armed robbery, drug deals, uncompleted contracts and the like.

It is quite normal for most projects to be left uncompleted for there to be so many abandoned projects for the government to waste a lot of money on. A lot of all that wastage is a lot of normal expectation.

It is not normal to have a good police force in Nigeria, simply just not normal to have a properly functioning hospital. It is not normal for the Airport to be well maintained, air-conditioned, and efficient.

It is normal not to find any staff from messenger to minister on seat, normal not to expect any normal value for a normal day’s work, normal not to get anything done, normal to expect the normal bureaucracy and the usual delays. Normal to be unable to book an appointment or to keep one, normal to not see the normal oga.

What then is abnormal in Nigeria? Everything else which is good, which is proper, which should be applauded, which should be congratulated, which should be rewarded, which should be encouraged, which should be normal.

Corrupt officials are normal in Nigeria; it is normal for most people including directors, ministers and important people in government and society to live beyond their visible means. It is normal for them not to be probed, for them not to explain and quite normal for them to wantonly display this illgotten wealth. Not only normal, it is expected, demanded, anticipated, provided for, encouraged, and cheered! It is normal for a Nigerian to be a Nigerian and that means that he is rude, arrogant, averagely dishonest, corrupt, aggressive, unfair, unfaithful, flagrant, irritable, excitable, averagely loud, and unstraight forward. It is normal for most Nigerians to be unfaithful especially to their wives and now more recently to their husbands. It is normal to go to church, attend the mosque and also consult a witch doctor or carry some witch craft marks or wear talisman.

Any wonder therefore that we found ourselves in such a mess over the years? God have mercy. Nigeria is an amazing country where aberrations, abnormality and the unusual reign supreme! Where there is confusion and disruption, the devil thrives. Who does not therefore know, who normally rules Nigeria? May God take charge of our affairs.

Ituah Ighodalo JUNE 2011

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Contents

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Vol. 9 No. 1

JANUARY 2011

EDITORIAL

300 NAIRA

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CEO

Ituah Ighodalo EDITOR

Ayodeji Jeremiah

...for the New Year As Selected by You - Our Readers

1. UNILAG Bookshop, Akoka 2. Edysyl Bookshops, Jibowu Str, Yaba & Kodesho Str, Ikeja 3. Royal Dividends Store 4. Iman Cosmetics, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi 5. Total Filling Station, Awolowo Rd, Ikoyi 6. Media Store RCCG Christ Church, Gbagada 7. MM1 & MM2 Local Airport 8. CCD Stores, Ogudu 9. Pharm Affairs, Ogudu 10. Cheeses Stores, Ogudu 11. Terra Kulture, Tiamuyi Savage, V.I Culture A Dissection of Chimamanda’s “The Thing Around your Neck at Farafina Book Review Style The Coolest Watches Money can Buy Society “My Vagina is Embarrasing...”

SENIOR WRITERS

Adeleke Adeyemi SENIOR EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Tola Majolagbe EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Titilope Oyelade

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R E T

rtain e t n on, e aud” and ne i t a m r o infor rimage f . Well d f o e g ourc stian pil e Ashiru s e l i g b erita on “Chr by Geor v a k. s ce dition ri e e co.u i . p p o a o e e sp h yah New . I love t r March ge@ a s r s u e u co h el eless Tim and trut re” in yo m i t to t fi ords men s in the dokwe w 0 30 n han item. t “Iro Betty U e r o ift not m ceive a g - s of

T E L

tter ll re in le onth wi d n m se can r every u o e Y r lett A sta

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Matthew Osarenren CORRESPONDENTS

Godwin Thomas Taiwo Tunkarimu Tolu Ifekoya Kunle Michael GRAPHIC DESIGN & PRODUCTION EDITOR

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MISSION STATEMENT To establish a well Structured, Educative and Informative Newsmagazine based on Sound Moral Values; providing Honest, Unbiased Reportage in Fairness to all.

SEPTEMBER 2010 TIMELESS

Editorial

Our debt to King James Bible at 400

ndeed, it is as British politician, historian, and writer, Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800 - 59), said: “[This] English Bible [is] a book which, if everything else in our language should perish, would alone suffice to show the whole extent of its beauty and power.”

Owing to a mix of factors, King James I convened a conference at Hampton Court in 1604, where the decision was made to commission an entirely new translation, to take into account more available manuscripts and increased scholarship over the years. Since it derived its authority from the king, it would be known as the Authorised Version. The king approved a body of 54 scholars (seven did not make it to the end), divided into six committees. The work took off fully in 1607, with a first draft out by 1609. Redrafted the following year, it was finally completed for publication on May 2, 1611. Ever since, no translation has commanded attention as the King James Version (popularly known as the KJV) Bible. Further, no other has enjoyed patronage as much as the King James Bible. Not many people know that the KJV is 400 years old this year; even fewer of the 1.5 billion speakers and users of English worldwide care to ever acknowledge its impact on the language. It stands to ponder that not a few English translations of other holy books, although done much after it, have a propensity to get rendered in the old-fashioned phraseology of the King James Bible. To quote the Encyclopaedia Encarta, “The outstanding prose works of the Renaissance are not so numerous as those of later ages, but the great translation of the Bible, called the King James Bible, or Authorized Version... is significant because it was the culmination of two centuries of effort to produce the best English translation of the original texts, and also because its vocabulary, imagery, and rhythms have influenced writers of English in all lands ever since. “The KJV of 1611 became an enduring work in an age when religion mattered to almost everyone in a way that is difficult to appreciate today. It influenced their lives, their attitudes, their actions – from the highest in the land to the lowliest man or woman.

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“It had an enormous effect on peoples’ lives. Its language and terminology may seem archaic today but it was the everyday parlance of ordinary people and its language became entwined into English literature over many generations, not just in England but wherever the Bible was carried into what has become the Englishspeaking world today.”

It would not be out of place to stage many such events as one planned but not much publicised: the series of commemorative events planned by the West African Theological Seminary (WATS) and the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), as conferences and exhibitions, across Nigeria in June and November, and in select capitals in West Africa in September.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the King James Bible has shaped the English language like nothing else before or after it. Its passages have been the portions (and sometimes even potions) that have kept political and religious fervour going.

In an era of phenomenal mass failure in English examinations in Nigeria, at all levels really, a throwback to the roots of the language as codified in the King James Bible, as lessons drawn out of the rigour of its development, should prove worthwhile as a radical solution to the malaise.

From the adulatory addiction of the ‘KJV-only’ reactionary movement within Christendom, to the nonetheless appreciative avant-garde preachers and teachers of the Bible who are also open to the slew of new successor translations of the Good Book, the King James Bible evokes something close to reverence. It has come down imbued with a larger-than-life image – a mirror that pans back-and-forth between our origins in the misty past and our moorings in the clamorous present. Much of the phraseology that undergirds the English language has come down to us from the first day of the King James Bible. Examples abound: ‘A thorn in the flesh’; ‘Labour of love’; ‘Physician, heal thyself’; ‘The apple of my eye’; ‘Widow’s mite’; ‘A thorn in the flesh’; ‘In the twinkling of an eye’; ‘New wine in old wineskin’, and ‘Thy brother’s keeper’. We can relate to the words of US President Ronald Reagan: “It is my understanding that the Bible...has been the bestselling book in the entire history of printing.” Yet activities to make an important milestone as the 400th anniversary of the watershed event of the issuing of the KJV remain scant and far in between, particularly in Africa.

JUNE 2011

Cover Feature

Godwin Thomas

Now the Elections are Over â&#x20AC;ŚSettling down to Governance

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ow the elections are over and, apparently, winners at these elections are in a chirpy state of mind as congratulatory messages pour in, and as they look forward to serving their motherland. However, while it is in order to congratulate winners of the Aprils polls, the citizenry must resist the urge to do this for too long. We must now look to urgent and pressing issues for which Nigerians trooped to the polls to elect their leaders, especially the president; issues that have defined our collective greatness or the lack of it for so long. Issues that, even the president seems to know and articulate well. Issues we expect and hope he will not stop at academically analyzing them, but will proceed to practically resolve the myriads of problems that have plagued this nation for so long a time. One can safely assume Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the president realizes he was so elected by Nigerians in the hope that being a ‘godsend’ he will separate Nigeria from its ugly past and usher in an era of massive infrastructural development, poverty reduction, economic renaissance and stability, public probity and discipline, national and political integration, and much more! One can also assume the president also knows how effectively he manages the goodwill and hope reposed in him by Nigerians to reposition Nigeria amongst the top 20 economies by 2020 will determine not just his legacy, but the legacy of the Niger-Delta region from where he hails. President Jonathan would do well to accelerate development and, even bring about transformation in the following key areas. The Private Sector Economic pundits have rightly argued that the larger proportion of the Nigerian private sector is anything but real. This is so because this sector depends almost completely on the public sector for survival. It is common knowledge that many Nigerian banks depend on government and its agencies for deposits. And when such deposits are withdrawn, these banks are bound to collapse, taking along with it, and in some cases the life savings of poor Nigerians. This unwholesome situation also creates room for sharp banking practices and makes it easy for public office holders to launder public funds abroad.

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It is argued that “Many ‘private sector’ outfits in Nigeria are actually owned by public officers, their relations or fronts. This creates the impression that such organisations are extensions of the public sector and makes it difficult to know, in real terms, what constitutes the ‘public sector’ and ‘private sector’, respectively, in Nigeria.”

a United States company had revealed; they also do not care much about the quality of their services to Nigerians. Their aim is clearly profit maximization as they set and charge exorbitant fees, review their fees upwards (at will) while the regulators of such industries as telecommunications appear to be on vacation as these firms milk the people dry. The incom-

Nigerian Vice-President Namadi Sambo

The Nigerian private sector is said to consist of companies “incorporated by serving government officials, either using their names or (often) those of family members and friends as members/directors”; “corporations and institutions built and operated with public funds which are privatized and sold, under suspicious circumstances, to persons or companies fronting for high-ranking government officials, and thereafter presented as ‘private sector organisations’”; and “companies owned by expatriates and their Nigerian collaborators or fronts. Although the laws of Nigeria permits foreign private ownership of companies, the vested interests and complicity of collaborators or fronts (mostly government officials or their representatives) for these so called multinational organisations has not bode well for Nigeria and the mass of Nigerians who use their service. In many cases, not only do these companies slight the nation’s laws, as the unearthed Halliburton bribery scandal involving

JUNE 2011

ing government has to check this if it has any hopes of gaining credibility both at home and abroad. Allocation of Oil Blocs & Downstream Sector of the Petroleum Industry Another area deserving urgent redress from President Jonathan is the allocation of oil blocs or licenses to lift crude oil or import refined petroleum products to prominent Nigerians. These unethical favours to few select individuals in a country where over 100 million people are in the throes of abject poverty has, evidently, accounted for most of the pervasive corruption that has defaced the credibility and independence of the Nigerian private sector. As it is common, these individuals own controlling interests in many private companies and run them at whim, and at the expense of other Nigerians. What’s more, there are widespread allegations that licensed importers lift refined petroleum from Nigeria, move some

cover feature nautical miles away, return to the country and make claims on government for importing same. And that these unchecked frauds account for the huge moneys successive regimes in Nigeria claim to be spending as ‘subsidy’ in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry. The task before the president therefore is to check these frauds and revoke oil licenses that were allocated in contravention of the nation’s laws and create a healthy, independent oil sector. The efforts of the present government at building three additional refineries for which it has already reached an agreement with China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited (CSCEC), and its proposed deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry are commendable; however, the incoming regime has a duty to ensure existing refineries operate at full capacity. And that importation of petroleum product is eliminated within the length of that regime. Nigerians do not expect any less, although with the current

You had to appreciate the fact that the president, just like most Nigerians has an in-depth understanding of our lost opportunities owing to inadequate power generation and supply. However, what most Nigerians now lack or have ceded to the President, is the executive power required to smash the powerful ‘generator cartel’ and bring about the implementation of his well articulated “Power Roadmap”. To change the face of the Nigerian economy, the incoming government must give due priority to building power infrastructure by ensuring that interests that have now been expressed by both indigenous and foreign firms in generating and distributing power is properly managed and sustained. The expectation is that government should pave the way for power generation and supply to be managed by private entities, while it concentrates on regulating the activities of such entities. We expect the next government headed by President Jonathan to take personal responsibility for addressing this monstrous setback with utmost urgency and to also tap into the abun-

NYSC members officiating during the just concluded elecions

reduction. We want to see a return of the over 800 manufacturing companies that closed shop in Nigeria, some of which relocated to neighbouring Ghana. Each of some of these companies was said at their full capacity, to employ 5000 Nigerians before their closure. Transportation Infrastructure Infrastructure development is one area in which the next government must feel the palpable urgency in the heart of Nigerians. We cannot wait to see reduced daily auto crashes and loss of precious lives due to poorly constructed or dilapidated roads. The next government must therefore undertake massive construction of roads and enforce the strict implementation of about N200 Billion provided for this purpose in the 2011 National Budget, in addition to exploring additional funding for road projects across the country. Some key projects might include the dualisation of the Abuja – Lokoja Highway, the Kano-Maiduguri Road, the Lagos-Otta Road, and the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge at Onitsha/Asaba. Furthermore, the President Jonathan led government must build rail systems to facilitate the movement of persons and goods across the country. The regulatory environment around the aviation industry must also be strengthened to encourage professionalism and best practices in the sector. Diversifying the Economy Economic experts have continually decried Nigeria’s dependence on oil, noting that economic diversification is crucial for Nigeria to participate effectively in the global trading system. It is estimated that Nigeria can, from 2020, earn up to one Trillion Naira annually from targeted Sesame Seeds, Cocoa, Ginger, Palm Oil and Cotton if it refocuses on Agro Commodities Exports. “The key to Nigeria’s future is in the non-oil export as it is the major nation’s passport to gaining competitive economic advantage in today’s international community.”

structuring this is a tall order and to dismantle the powerful blocs who hold sway in the importation of these products, the President and his cabinet will have to be decisive in the fight against corruption and lack of transparency. Adequate Power Generation

dant alternative natural resources like wind and solar to generate power sustainably. If this is done right as it must be done, then Nigerians can expect an economic renaissance with its attendant benefits, including improved standard of living, job availability and poverty

We are now in dire need of a diversified economy. It is deplorable that the country’s current main source of foreign exchange which has failed to lift the country’s manufacturing or agricultural sectors has been relied on for so long. Crude oil is an exhaustible asset characterized by price fluctuations and cannot be reJUNE 2011

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lied on for sustainable development. The next government, thus have the task of cultivating Nigeria’s vast arable land mass, mining and refining its iron ore and other minerals, encouraging private investment in manufacturing as these hold the potential to create the much needed employment for its youth and distribute the national wealth to the masses. Reduce the Cost of Running Government and Ensure Public Accountability It is common knowledge that the cost of running the Nigerian government is about the most expensive anywhere in the world. And this does not bode well for a country that has its majority in the poor! The cost of running the next government must therefore be significantly reduced and public accountability and discipline must be entrenched across the three tiers of government. The executive in the next government must be decisive in dealing with corrupt public officials. It must in no way shield individuals from prosecution despite their social status. The judiciary which in 10

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recent times has lost face should be restructured to ensure that the system is rid of corrupt judges and officials. National Security and Integration President Jonathan ought to be humbled by the violence that greeted his victory at the polls and the obvious lack of capacity by the nation’s security forces to predict, forestall or quell it in a timely manner. It goes without saying, however, such violence, while inconceivable, obscene and condemnable is, nevertheless, a pointer to some Nigerians’ lack of tolerance and hatred for others. However, the president now has a duty to reach out to all parts of Nigeria by spreading developmental projects across the nation in an equitable manner. President Jonathan must also ensure that tried and capable hands are given the opportunity to serve in the next government, irrespective of their ethnicity or religious persuasion. The next government must now see to the adequate manpower training, proper remunera-

JUNE 2011

tion, and equipping of our nation’s security forces, especially the Police Force. Improvement is also expected in the areas of intelligence gathering and undercover operations to properly predict and forestall potential civil disturbances. President Jonathan must now realise he is running on the ticket of the people, and so nothing short of national stability, practical development and substantial growth is expected of him. As the leader of the next democratic dispensation, he must step up and be his own man and do those things which he has acknowledged will position this nation as a top economy. He must provide electricity, fund education, and build roads and rail systems. He must diversify the economy, carry the north along and strengthen the criminal justice system. He must solve the plethora of problems plaguing the country while also taking advantage of available opportunities toward positioning our economy among the top 20 economies of the world in 2020.

events

Inauguration of S.M.I.L.E.

he international motivational speaker and expert in leadership empowerment, Dr. Myles Monroe spoke in Lagos recently during the inauguration of Strategy for Mentoring Initiative and Leadership Empowerment (SMILE), a faith-based, Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), committed to empowering and mentoring future leaders in Nigeria. The inauguration attracted dignitaries and top government functionaries including the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, Acting Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU) Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, Permanent Secretary in the Lagos Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Paul Bamgbose-Martins amongst others. Munroe, who delivered a speech titled, ‘Mentoring and Leadership’, described SMILE as the greatest gift to Nigeria because of its objective to mentor leaders. He called on the government and corporate bodies to support the gesture. He also advised leaders to strive to become persons of value rather than craving power for ulterior motives. He said any leader that fights to become a leader is a wrong choice, noting that leaders who want to occupy positions for life must learn to let go for others to put in their contribution. Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, who was the special guest, lauded SMILE’s president,

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JUNE 2011

Mrs. Bamgbose Martins for creating the initiative. She appealed to Nigerians to embrace and support the organisation to achieve its goals. “I am delighted to associate with SMILE not only because of the great impact it promises to make in unleashing leadership potentials to the youths but because this initiative is a pride for all members of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO). Mentoring and leadership empowerment remains the most powerful tools to positively impact the next generation of leaders. For me, it is very gratifying that this is the focus of SMILE. I appeal to all of us to embrace this idea and support the organisation to realize its objectives.” President of S.M.I.L.E., Mrs. Tosin Bamgbose-Martins, said the organisation would primarily focus on inspiring people to discover, release and maximise their potentials. According to her, “what counts are the values and legacies people leave behind irrespective of life spent”. She listed the staging of seminars, mentoring, networking, consultancy and training, humanitarian outreach and an annual barbecue party as the major focus of the organisation. “The unique feature of SMILE is that leadership trainee nominees to be empowered would be strictly based on credible referrals. This means the individuals must have shown positive leadership traits which need to be groomed and harnessed.”

events

Ernst & Young introduces ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ Award to West Africa

rnst & Young, leading global consultants on tax, insurance and advisory services, has extended its outstanding global award in entrepreneurship, ‘Entrepreneur of The Year Award’ to the West African region.

The World Entrepreneur of the Year Award was created by Ernst & Young to recognise the significant accomplishments of entrepreneurs around the world. The programme builds on Ernst & Young‘s over 20 years experience and success in running “Entrepreneur Of The Year Award” programmes in many countries. Ernst & Young is looking for visionaries who have demonstrated strong entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, and whose ingenuity, hard work, perseverance, strength and agility have created a successful and growing business. The program culminates into the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year, where the West Africa regional winner of the Master Entrepreneur category will be inducted into the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame in Monte Carlo in 2012. Speaking at the EOY inauguration, the Regional Managing Partner, Ernst & Young West Africa, Mr. Henry Egbiki, said, “As Africa enters a new decade, and joins China and India in crossing the billion person mark, business and government leaders have more reason than ever to be optimistic about future growth prospects.” He added that with the natural resources available in the region, sustained infrastructure and a desire to be part of the global economy, it was no surprise that Africa was seen by many overseas investors as the land of opportunity. He noted that other sectors that would have significant amounts of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) included communications, real estate and tourism. Egbiki said that the projection was based on a survey, “Africa Attractiveness Survey: It’s Time for Africa,” which combined an analysis of investment into Africa over the last decade with a survey of over 562 global executives on their views on how and where investment would take in the next decade. JUNE 2011

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JUNE 2011

Life & Society FAmily

relationships

Health

education

science

Are we there yet? What a way to begin the much anticipated holiday and God help you if it happens to be a place where they do not even speak English, then you’ve really had it!!!

Pap is for women When he asked her if she had any questions, she let out that she had found it funny when her daughter’s friend told her to go for a “Pap smear”; she wondered to herself if and where akamu would be smeared on her.

Life & Society

Are we there yet?

ou have been looking forward to your dream holiday, maybe even saved up for it...like most of us have to and then you finally get there only to find yourself faced with decisions you have to make that may ultimately determine just how pleasant the memories of the place will eventually be. First of all, it is of utmost importance to have prearranged your accommodation, as well as airport transfers especially if it is a destination you are not too familiar with. Believe me, there is nothing as terrifying as being stranded at the airport in an unfamiliar territory and then you finally get a cab whose driver looks maybe a little scary and that’s not all... you now find yourself scavenging the town for a vacant hotel room. What a way to begin the much anticipated holiday and God help you if it happens to be a place where they do not even speak English, then you’ve really had it!!!

If you are having a connecting flight, make sure you have been booked with enough connecting time at the point of transit, as you do not want to be stuck at a transit point, having missed your connecting flight and to make matters worse you probably don’t even have the necessary visa to enable you linger there for longer than necessary.

from a tropical place like Nigeria, it is advisable to pack with you a full dose of malaria drugs, because in some of these exotic places, if you land in the hospital with a tropical disease like malaria, you will be quarantined! And like I always tell people, ensure you are armed with your travel insurance, one that will cover hospitalisation and if necessary, repatriation, you never know when it will come in handy. It is better safe than sorry!

It is equally not a bad idea to have a drafted itinerary of the activities you plan on doing when you get to the place of destination. One thing you must never do is drink the tap water. Ensure you drink their bottled water purchased preferably at the hotel you’re staying at. If you are the adventurous type and decide to taste the local cuisine, make sure you do so at a place that displays a considerable level of hygiene. If you are departing for your holiday destination

YMCA (1st Floor), 77 Awolowo Road, South West Ikoyi, Lagos Telephone- +234 1 4613580, 4613581, 0803246068, 08087185643 info@victorytravels-ng.com, www.victorytravels-ng.com

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Tolu is a travel consultant, extraordinaire, with a wealth of experience of over seven years in the travel and tourism industry. She is a graduate of the University of Ibadan with a B.Sc in Physiology and is currently the Managing Director of Victory Travels and Tours Limited.

Life & Society

o you keep putting your alarm clock on snooze and try getting five or ten minutes of extra sleep leaving just enough time to dash to work or school? Do you have breakfast reading the newspaper or watching T.V or do you simply miss it because you are hard pressed for time? Do you feel groggy and low on energy the whole day? If you do then it’s time you really woke up: Before going to bed – Think of anything exciting you have to do the next day. It does not have to be anything big. Try finding pleasure in the simple things of life. It can be anything from having a scoop of your favorite ice cream to closing a long awaited business deal. You can note it down in your personal diary if you wish but it is more important to make a mental note and to look forward to it.

stress after a hard day’s work. Simply sitting there and watching your breath is a great way to prepare yourself for a nice deep sleep. Sleep right Do not watch T.V. or work on your laptop for at least an hour before going to bed. Keep your bedroom only for sleeping. Try doing all other work in other rooms. Before sleeping take a warm water bath in aromatic oil and don soft, comfortable nightwear. Play some soothing music on very low volume, if you wish. You can

How to Wake up in the Morning

Don’t eat dinner right before bed A lot of people run Tola Majolagbe home after work, cook up some dinner and then eat it and go to bed. This is a bad idea. The process also keep fragrant flowers in your room or you of digestion takes a while and you do not want can dab a few drops of your favorite essential to be laying down right after you ate a big meal. oil on your pillow and bed sheet. Try and leave a few hours in between your bedtime and your dinner and see how you feel the Not too hot, not too cold next day. Another sleep related tip: your sleep is greatly affected by the how hot or cold you are durGo to bed happy with your partner ing the night. It is important to get a good balOne of the best ways to get a terrible sleep is ance as this keeps your energies calm and stops to go to bed before you solve a problem with them from spiking. Try and find a balance beyour partner. Before you go to bed make sure tween clothes and bed covers. For example, your partner is happy (as much as you can) and I like to sleep without any clothes but with a make sure that you are happy with them. It is heavy blanket. This keeps my temperature also one of the best things you can do for your pretty consistent. relationship, let alone your sleep. If you find it hard to fall asleep, do some mediMeditate, pray and calm down before going to tation and relaxation exercises. Also, limit your bed caffeine intake if you cannot cut it down comMeditate or pray or do whatever you do, it is pletely. Besides, make sure your bedroom is a great way to relieve yourself of tensed up dark enough. Invest in thick curtains in case you

have a lot of light coming in your room from outside. Sleep at the same time every night. It would keep your body clock in shape and you will be able to fall asleep in time. Waking up Try to not to wake up to an alarm clock. It is best to get up before sunrise when the air is fresh and crisp. Do not jump out of the bed. Stay in bed for 5-10 minutes visualizing your day. Plan the events of the day and make a mental schedule and also be grateful to your creator for not dying overnight. Have something to be excited about If you get up and go to a job you hate to work with a boss that drives you crazy, you are not going to really enjoy waking up. However, if you have something you enjoy to go to you will be more likely to wake up happy knowing you have a bit of joy coming your way. If you can’t leave your terrible boss then you should make time in the morning to do some sport or activity that makes you happy. Start your day with something happy and fun as opposed to starting it with work. After getting out of bed, step out in the balcony or on the terrace. Let your senses soar in the freshness of the air. Come back and drink a glass of water on an empty stomach, this actually has a lot of health benefits as well as serving to wake you up. The water will kick start your metabolism and as such you will wake up faster and feel more alert and try not to drink coffee...every day, also try herbal tea. Take bath with aromatic products. Have breakfast and step out for a power start to your day, leaving just enough time to dash to work or school.

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Life & Society

Pap is for women Yemi Sanusi

told my mother to go for a cervical smear. She nodded in agreement— and carried on watching TV.

A few days later, I came back with quite a number of not so cheerful stories of women her age with irregular bleedings, pelvic pains and unforgettable foul smells. Their cervical cancer cases had advanced and they wished they had known earlier. I was trying to save my mother (everybody, really) the trouble; to prevent what, really, is totally avoidable. She had a bored expression on her face as I carried on. It was her way of saying ‘Do not disturb’. By the way, my mum is a retired trained nurse and midwife; I’m not accusing her of I-know-it-all. But as the good Book warns, a prophet – insert me here – is not respected at home. After a while, my mother looked up, clapped, and with just the right dose of sarcasm, blurted out singsong, in Yoruba, ‘Ah ah — my daughter the doctor, well done o!’ And that, for her, was the end of the matter. Not for me though. I wasn’t prepared to give it up. I felt like a soldier on a mission. After a bit of rest, I went over to my friend’s some doors away to meet with her mother, a market trader, who I’d always known to be a lot more receptive than my mother when it came to health. I let her into the dangers of cervical cancer and hoped she would spread the word. After all, she had married at a young age and would probably know more women who had also been child brides or had many children at a young age or had unwittingly exposed the fact that they had had multiple sex partners – all factors predisposing a female to cervical cancer. I also knew she had a great list of friends and acquaintances married to men who were always on the move; tanker drivers’ wives, for example. It would have been difficult to tell her to actually share the word with women who have 18

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had extra-marital affairs. No one would willingly confess that to her, I suppose; especially if there was a possibility of gossip flying around.

during a routine pelvic exam, he assured her, detects cancerous or precancerous cells of the cervix, allowing for early diagnosis of cancer.

My friend’s mum was such a sweetheart. She took my little lecture to heart as she promised to go for a Pap smear as quickly as possible. She also promised to spread the word.

The Pap smear, he continued proudly, has helped reduce the death rate from cervical cancer by 70 percent since its introduction in the 1940s. The test is 70 to 95 percent accurate in detecting cervical abnormalities.

I was glad. In fact, I was so happy I offered to check her blood pressure and blood sugar level on the spot. On my return walk home I was beaming, almost whistling. Later in the week, my friend came around to inform me that her mother had gone to the hospital for a Pap smear. The doctor had commended her for showing up; he reassured her she was fine. He had taken time to explain to her the ways of cervical cancer. Its incidence is usually higher in women from low socio-economic groups; of poor personal hygiene and sexual hygiene; even victims of unstable marriages. Loose living habits and prostitution are thought to be contributory. However, the most important factor seems to be early or, worse, premature commencement of sexual activity. When he asked her if she had any questions, she let out that she had found it funny when her daughter’s friend told her to go for a “Pap smear”; she wondered to herself if and where akamu would be smeared on her. The doctor chuckled as he launched into an explanation. The test, he said, is named for the kind-hearted fellow who developed it: George N. Papanicolaou, a Greek-born anatomist; he lived from 1883 to1962. His test, typically performed by a licensed medical practitioner

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“Come back for another check up in six months’ time,” he concluded. Postmenopausal women, he said, were at increased risk for cervical cancer; so it’s important for older women to continue receiving Pap smears throughout their lives. He went on to recommend that her daughter (my friend) show up and get the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine for younger women. Fair enough. Meanwhile, he was so impressed by her conscientiousness in paying attention to her health that he volunteered to give her a full medical check-up whenever she wanted one. She, for sure, had been quite pleased and relieved; she expressed her gratitude profusely, again and again, as the Yorubas are wont to do. I, on my part, was elated that my ‘Prompt Mum’ – my friend’s actually, but you get my drift –was given a clean bill of health. I have a good feeling from knowing she’s safe, at least for now. As I see it, charity may well have to set out from home and make stops down the street before it can begin to make any headway. Now that’s something to write home about! Yemi Sanusi is a medical doctor with an MBA from Lagos Business School. She is the author of Heads and Tales, a medical fiction.

Living & St yle FASHION

BEAUTY

FOOD

HOMECARE

GADGETS

CARS

LEISURE

Picking a Nail Polish Colour

A shiny nail polish adds a bit of refinement to any look, and it works great with sexy and romantic outfits.

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Living & Style

Choosing Your Wedding Cake Tola Majolagbe

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Living & Style

he wedding cake is a time-honoured tradition, and is the highlight of any wedding party. It is not only a delicious treat for guests but a remembrance of your special day. It should follow the inspiration and theme of your wedding and be something worthy of the many photographs that will be taken of it. Choosing a flavor and design is as personal as all other aspects of your wedding day but it does not have to be stressful or difficult. Wedding cakes come in a huge variety of different sizes, shapes and colours. It is entirely up to the couple which flavour they decide on for their special day. Most popular flavours include fruit cake, chocolate cake, sponge cake

and even cream cakes. There are no hard and fast rules and it is entirely the couplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; decision which they would like to select.

look to go with and what is seasonally available. Be sure to complement your overall theme and wedding colours.

1. Choose your flavour. Your cake is not only a work of art but a statement of who you are as a couple, so decide if you want traditional white or trendy red velvet. Your icing can be traditional buttercream, a lighter whipped topping or the elegant, contemporary porcelain-like fondant. Fondant holds up well in warm weather and over longer periods of time on display.

3. Pay attention to your scenery around the cake table. Your wedding cake can be a focal point for the photographer, and friends and family will be gathered around the table, so you will want the whole area to be beautiful. Use a backdrop if it will show up in photos and decorate the table with votive candles, precious photographs of you as a couple or as children, or classic old photographs of parents or grandparents on their wedding day. Add flower petals and fun confetti to the tabletop.

2. Consider flowers and fruits for a modern touch that adds a naturally beautiful look. Your caterer or stylists can help you decide what

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Living & Style

Picking a Nail Polish Colour Adeola Adegboyega

ail polish is the perfect element that can transform your look in a few minutes. However, the range of colour of today’s nail polishes is often confusing and has led some women astray. I have seen dark skinned females spotting green nail polish, and had to sit in an interview where the candidate was wearing four distinct colours on each finger nail! If you are not participating in a circus show or playing a witch on Broadway, you may want to keep the following factors in mind when next you are choosing a nail polish. Skin Colour Fair skin - darker colours work real well. Strong reds with pink lines, as well as berry colours such as strawberries are a great option. Medium red to bright pinks do well also. Stay away from light blue, gold green or yellow colours… seriously; do not even think about it. Medium skin - shades of russet and gold look awesome. Burgundies, wine colours with a yellow and a blue base do well also. If you have an olive skin, neon pink, blue and orange; or metallic, like blue or silver is a good choice. Avoid dark blue and violet.

avoided is bronze as it’s close to your skin complexion. Occasion It is crucial that you choose a nail polish that corresponds to the occasion or event you are heading to. For a business meeting or a job interview, choose neutral shades that don’t draw attention. Try nail polishes with transparent texture in shades of pale pink, beige or cream, which will add elegance to your look. A French manicure would be a smart choice too. Wardrobe If you wear a lot of rich russet and brown shades of clothing, you’ll want to consider adding these shades of nail polish to your collection. Shades of pink and purple won’t coordinate well with your wardrobe and can destroy an otherwise consistent look. Take inventory of what’s in your closet and keep your dominant clothing shades in mind when you choose nail colour. Other tips Always test the nail polish you are about to buy in order to see if this one matches to your skin complexion. In every store, at the cosmetics department, there is a tester for every colour for you to try it. Apply the nail polish on the entire nail; otherwise you won’t be able to see if that shade really works with your skin tone. Take your time and apply all the two coats that are meant for a perfect manicure. This will help you make the right decision. For a fun and flirty look, you can try out pastels like purple, green, blue and pink, and choose the perfect shade of these colours which matches your skin tone.

Darker skin - for this skin colour, almost every possible colour is appropriate. You can get away with almost any rich, deep or vibrant shades of nail polish including vibrant reds and purples. The most recommended are deep red and plum. Pink, violet, light blue and chocolate will work too. One colour that should be 22

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If you choose a darker nail polish, avoid wearing rings, and go for simple jewellery without too many coloured gems. A shiny nail polish adds a bit of refinement to any look, and it works great with sexy and romantic outfits. You can also choose your nail polish according

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to the lipstick colours that flatter you. If you still don’t know which colour of nail polish suits you the best, you could try getting professional advice. You could ask your manicurist for colour advice. She will know what the best shades are for you, and she could also talk to you about the latest trends in the business. Other options when choosing nail colour are to buy inexpensive nail polish colours and experiment until you determine what works for you. You can then buy more expensive polish once you’ve determined the best shades for you. Have fun experimenting!

Business FINANCE

MANAGEMENT

TECHNOLOGY

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

TRADE

MARKETING

The Stock Exchange in Nigeria -Matters Arising Companies can send in their articles for publication on these pages. To participate call 01-4358330, SMS 08026861642 or email timelesscourage@yahoo.co.uk

Business

ntroduction A stock exchange is an entity that provides “trading” facilities for stock brokers and traders to trade stocks, bonds, and other securities. Stocks and bonds are singular units of ownership, liability or investment in an enterprise established primarily for profit or value creation. Stock exchanges also provide facilities for issue and redemption of securities and other financial instruments, and capital events including the payment of income and dividends. Securities traded on a stock exchange include shares issued by companies, unit trusts, derivatives, pooled investment products and bonds. A company or recognized enterprise or government appeals to public for investment in its ownership or instruments by mandate of law through flotation in the recognized stock ex-

derivatives and bonds are traded. Increasingly, stock exchanges are part of a global market for securities. History of Stock Exchanges There is no known consensus as to when corporate stock was first traded. Some attribute it to the key event as the Dutch East India Company’s founding in 1602, while others point to earlier developments. Economist Ulrike Malmendier of the University of California at Berkeley argues that a share market existed as far back as ancient Rome. In the Roman Republic, which existed for centuries before the Empire was founded; there were societas publicanorum, organizations of contractors or leaseholders who performed

to wrest trade with Russia away from Hanseatic dominance. In 1602, the Dutch East India Company was formed as a joint-stock company with shares that were readily tradable. The stock market had begun. The Dutch East India Company, formed to build up the spice trade in what’s now Indonesia and beyond. Control of the company was held tightly by its directors, with ordinary shareholders not having much influence on management or even access to the company’s accounting statements. However, shareholders were rewarded well for their investment. The company paid an average dividend of over 16 percent per year from 1602 to 1650. By 1698, a broker named John Castaing, operating out of Jonathan’s Coffee House, was posting regular lists of stock and commodity prices. Those lists marked the beginning of the London Stock Exchange. On February 8, 1971, NASDAQ, the world’s first electronic stock exchange, started its operations. The Development of Stock Exchanges in Africa African securities markets have developed immensely since the early 1990s. Prior to 1989, there were only eight stock markets in the entire continent of which three were in North Africa and five in sub-Saharan Africa. Today there are over 22 stock exchanges in the continent. This has also been followed by a significant growth in market capitalization and the number of listed companies. By early 2008, the three biggest stock exchanges in the continent, South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria, had a combined market capitalization of over US$1.118 trillion and a combined number of listed companies of over 2000 in 2008. The number is still on the rise.

change within its operating environment. To be able to trade a security on a certain stock exchange, it must be listed there. Usually, there is a central location at least for record keeping, but trade is increasingly less linked to such a physical place, as modern markets are electronic networks, which gives them advantages of increased speed and reduced cost of transactions. Trade on an exchange is by members only. However, there is usually no compulsion to issue stock via the stock exchange itself, nor must stock be subsequently traded on the exchange. Such trading is said to be off exchange or over-the-counter. This is the usual way that 24

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temple-building and other services for the government. Participants in such organizations had partes or shares, a concept mentioned various times by the statesman and orator Cicero. This suggests the instruments were tradable, with fluctuating values based on the organization’s success. These societas declined into obscurity in the time of the emperors, as most of their services were taken over by direct agents of the state. By the late 1500s, British merchants were experimenting with joint-stock companies intended to operate on an ongoing basis; one such was the Muscovy Company, which sought

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Individual African securities exchanges established the African Securities Exchange (ASEA) in 1993, the basic objective being to provide a formal framework for the mutual cooperation of stock exchanges in the African continent. Its functions include exchange of information and provision of material, human and other assistance in the development of the member exchanges. Currently, there are about 19 member stock exchanges of ASEA belonging to 26 countries. Some stock exchanges in the continent are not members of the ASEA. These include countries

Business such as Tunisia and Gabon with recent stock exchange start ups. African stock exchanges are also striving to promote sub regional integration. For instance, 8 countries in the West African sub region which belong to the West African Monetary Union (WAMU) integrated their stock exchanges into a single BRVM regional stock exchange. The BRVM was established in 1998 and is based in Abidjan, the capital of Côte d’Ivoire. The BRVM is the first regional stock exchange of its kind in the world. Roles of Stock Exchanges Stock exchanges have multiple roles in the economy. These may include the following: 1. Raising capital for businesses; The Stock Exchange provides companies with the facility to raise capital for expansion through selling shares to the investing public. 2. Mobilizing Savings for Investment; When people draw their savings and invest in shares, it leads to a more rational allocation of resources because funds, which could have been consumed, or kept in idle deposits with banks, are mobilized and redirected to promote business activity. 3. Facilitating Company Growth; A takeover bid or a merger agreement through the stock market is one of the simplest and most common ways for a company to grow by acquisition or fusion. 4. Profit Sharing; Both casual and professional stock investors, through dividends and stock price increases that may result in capital gains, share in the wealth of profitable businesses. 5. Corporate Governance; By having a wide and varied scope of owners, companies generally tend to improve management standards and efficiency to satisfy the demands of these shareholders, and have resulted in more stringent rules for public corporations imposed by public stock exchanges and the government. 6. Creating Investment; The Stock Exchange provides the opportunity for small investors to own shares of the same companies as large investors. 7. Government Capital-Raising for Development Projects; Governments at various levels may decide to borrow money to finance infrastructure projects by selling another category of securities known as bonds. These bonds can be raised through the Stock Exchange. 8. Barometer of the Economy; An economic recession, depression, or financial crisis

could eventually lead to a stock market crash. Therefore the movement of share prices and in general of the stock indexes can be an indicator of the general trend in the economy. Challenges In spite of their rapid developments, many stock exchanges in Africa are still not mature. Except the three biggest stock exchanges on the continent, i.e. South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria, most exchanges are characterized by low market capitalization, few listed companies, low liquidity, few stocks and information and disclosure deficiencies, among others. The three biggest stock exchanges account for more than 90% of the market capitalization in the continent. The market capitalization is 100% of GDP in Egypt in 2008 while it is slightly less than 50% of the GDP in South Africa. However, in the rest of the continent market capitalization as a percentage of GDP is very low. The low market capitalization and low liquidity are the main reasons why the global emerging market funds are ignoring Africa’s listed securities. It is argued that a stock exchange must have US$50 billion in market capitalization and US$10 billion in value traded to attract any interest from global emerging market funds (World Bank 2006). Only the three big stock exchanges in the continent meet these requirements. Despite the problems of small size and low liquidity, African stock markets continue to perform remarkably well in terms of return on investment. The Nigerian Stock Exchange The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) was established in 1960 and started operations in 1961 with 19 securities listed for trading as the Lagos Stock Exchange. In December 1977 it became The Nigerian Stock Exchange, with branches established in some of the major commercial cities of the country. At present, there are six branches of The Nigerian Stock Exchange namely Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Kano, Onitsha, Ibadan, and Yola. Lagos is the Head Office of The Exchange. An office has just been opened in Abuja. Today there are about 300 securities listed on The Exchange all with a total market capitalization of approximately N8.0 trillion, as at May 2011.

Most of the listed companies have foreign/ multinational affiliations and represent a crossJude Chukwuemeka section in the economy, ranging from agriculture through manufacturing to services. The market has in place a tested network of Stock broking Firms, Issuing Houses (Investment Banks), practicing corporate law firms and over 50 quality firms of auditors and reporting accountants (most with international links). The Stock Exchange and most of the nation’s stock broking firms and issuing houses are staffed with creative financial engineers that can compete anywhere in the world. Therefore, the market has in place a network of intermediating organizations that can effectively and creditably meet the challenges and growing needs of investors in Nigeria. Public trust in the Nigerian stock market has grown tremendously, with about three million individual investors and hundreds of institutional investors (including foreigners who own about 47% of the quoted companies) using the facilities of The Exchange (though this has been shaken a little by the events of the last two years). Characteristics of the NSE Trading: The call over trading system was replaced in April 2001 by the Automated Trading System (ATS). Pricing: Prices of new issues are determined by issuing houses/stockbrokers; while on the secondary market prices are made by stockbrokers only. The market/quote prices, along with the All-Share Index, are published daily. The All-Share Index: The Exchange maintains an All-Share Index formulated in January 1984. Only common stocks (ordinary shares) are included in the computation of the index. The index is value-relative and is computed daily. Clearing, Delivery and Settlement: Clearing, Settlement and Delivery of transactions on The Exchange are done electronically by the Central Securities Clearing System Limited (CSCS), a subsidiary of The Stock Exchange. Regulation: Transactions on The Exchange are regulated by The Nigerian Stock Exchange, as a self-regulatory organisation (SRO), and the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), which administers the Investments & Securities Decree 1999. Internationalization of the Stock Market: The Federal Government in 1995 internationalised the capital market, with the abrogation of laws that constrained foreign participation in the Nigerian capital market. Consequent upon the

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Business abrogation of the Exchange Control Act 1962 and the Nigerian Enterprise Promotion Decree 1989, foreigners can now participate in the Nigerian capital market both as operators and investors. Also, there are no limits any more to the percentage of foreign holding in any company registered in the country. Ahead of this development, The Exchange had since June 2, 1987, linked up with the Reuters Electronic Contributor System for online global dissemination of stock market information - trading statistics, All-Share Index, company investment ratios, and company news (financial statements and corporate actions). In November, 1996 The Exchange launched its Internet System (CAPNET) as one of the infrastructural support for meeting the challenges of internationalisation and achieving an enhanced service delivery. The 2009 Crisis From 2009, the NSE experienced perhaps its greatest crisis in its 50 year listing/operations. 1. The global meltdown affected the NSE. Capital flight was a major cause of stock price crashes in 2009 as foreign investors withdrew their investments in company shares held on the exchange. 2. The NSE All Share Index (ASI) lost 33.78% in 2009 and this does not compare favourably well with other markets that gained 3. Reforms in the banking sector led to a fall in share prices dragging the index along with it. 4. The stock market’s recent poor performance has resulted in the disillusionment of many investors and consequently low trading in stocks. 5. Banking stocks constitute a lower proportion of total market capitalisation, down from 60% recorded in 2008 6. Illiquidity in the financial markets created a significant strain to the general economy, which significantly affected investment in the NSE. 7. High interest rates in the money market created a significant withdrawal of funds from the capital markets as investors were attracted to the high performing and more guaranteed incomes the money market provided 8. Subsequent reduction in the willingness of companies to raise equity capital on the stock exchange thus hindering investment expansion and development 26

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Causes of the Crisis The reasons for this crisis are varied and complex, but largely it can be attributed to a number of factors in the credit markets, which developed over a period of time. Some of these include: • Suspected process manipulation by some traders with purported support/knowledge of management of the NSE • Poor judgement by the borrower and/ or lender or the investor • High personal and corporate debt levels especially in margin loans due to flaws in credit rating assessments • Risk management weaknesses in the financial sector resulting in the disbursement of loans without adequate collateral; this includes the illiquidity of collateral provided • Weak corporate governance structure in some quoted companies leading to suspected manipulation of company results • Increased credit exposure to bad debts within the financial institutions • Regulatory policies, including capital and disclosure requirements that failed to mitigate risk management weaknesses. Moving Forward • A total restructure and implementation of strict corporate governance within the NSE • Proper regulation of the NSE, stock brokers and traders on the stock exchange • Better reporting and auditing standards for companies. This can be enhanced if the IFRS accounting standard is implemented • A commitment by all players to transparency and prevention of the recurrence of the 2009 crisis • Investors should be willing to seek sound investment advice, be better informed and carry out deep research • Access to professional investment management services offers the best potential for better performance in 2011 and beyond • Portfolio managers and investment ad-

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visors to recommend companies with strong business fundamentals • The growth and sustenance of long term instruments which offer higher and more stable returns as investors hedge against risk • The need to educate traders of the exchange on how margin accounts work, and how they will operate under new guidelines as is being proposed Conclusion Nigeria is currently in its developmental stages, and has a wide range of opportunities to facilitate the achievement of successful outcomes in its strategic objectives. Nigeria with its over 150 million population and vast natural resources has one of the best performing and rewarding stock markets in the world. However, this can only be sustained by the setting up of a transparent and well managed NSE. The signs and potentials are there for the NSE to bounce back to its previous performance levels, and begin its process of growth with the listing of additional firms and increased trading activities. It must be pointed out however, that this can only be sustained with a vibrant expanding economy. The above article is published by SIAO, a professional accounting services and management consulting firm based in Ikoyi, Lagos that provides audit, tax, HR, IT and advisory services. SIAO is a one-stop shop for financial advisory services and business assurance. With a professional staff strength of over 80 highly qualified and dedicated personnel, SIAO has consulted for various clients at all levels in a broad range of services including Strategic planning, Financial advisory, Project evaluation, and Financial systems design and upgrade.

Parenting has never been easy but with the current demands on time, it is the time and you are likely to get an inkling into most things like behaviour especially tough being a parent. However there are some common sense ev- changes, improved grades or otherwise eryday tips that can assist you in managing your children. Then Keep quiet When you ask questions remember to keep quiet and really listen to what Television Take away television from your child’s bedrooms if any. You are better off your child is saying both said and unsaid. Make sure you listen in between keeping the television in common areas. Though it can be informative, there the lines. This will help you know what to ask next. Listen to your child when are other uses your child’s time can be put to. The Television can also cut she wants to talk. Even after a rough day give your child a few minutes of down on sleeping time if in the bedroom as there is the temptation for your your time if and if you don’t feel quite up to it ask to talk about it later and child to keep watching until she falls asleep. Be sure to use the Parental lock make sure you do. on the Cable stations that have it. This lock prevents children from viewing Be ”With it” programs rated beyond the age limit set by the parents. Keep up with your children Find out who is Hot and who is not. Find out what movies they are watching, what songs they are listening to, what is shaping WWW Quite similar to the Television, the Internet has the capacity to suck in even their culture. Stay informed. the most basic users. The dangers of the Internet do exist so be on guard. Use internet filter software that can control the websites your child can gain Have Fun access to. You might also want to consider restricting the time spent. You can Remember through it all to have fun and enjoy your child. do this by giving your children separate settings and limiting the amount of time or number of hours each user can have on a daily basis. Remember to Childs Section password your settings if you use a shared computer or the whole purpose It is very Important you remember your parents love you and really only want what is best for you. Talk to your parents make them your friends. Remember is defeated. they are older and though it is difficult to imagine they were children just like you once so they do understand a lot more stuff than you think. They know Ask Ask Ask Always ask your children questions. Ask not like an army general or a mem- all the pitfalls you cannot see so be good trust them talk to them ask them ber of an interview panel but with genuine warmth and concern. Ask ‘Why?’ all questions and do what they tell you. Have fun.

Tayo Olarewaju is the Director of Delightsome Land School, a nursery and primary school in Victoria Island Lagos. She studied Accounting, Educational Leadership and Management. She is passionate about children, enjoys reading and writing and is learning to stay away from chocolate biscuits. She is married with 3 stars and a dog named scratch. If you would like to be a part of the all stars team send your name, date of birth and phone number to 08033527272 or email it to allstars@delightsomeland.org

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PreSchooler activities for Preschool Children from Age 2-5

VICTORIA TANDOH

Name

Name Count the cars. Write the number of cars in each row.

Circle the pictures that start with the letter A.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

PreschoolPalace.org

Car Journeys Car journeys with toddlers can be tricky. If your journey is a long one, take a variety of snacks and try to stop every couple of hours to let them run round and let off steam. Before you set off, cut out pictures of things to spot along the way, such as animals, trucks and stick them onto cards. Show them to your toddler and talk about them. Once you are on your journey, he can call out whenever he sees something that is on his/her card. You could also take a CD of favourite stories or nursery rhymes or just sing along as you drive. If you are not the driver, you can entertain your toddler with games of ‘Peeps’, ‘Round and Round the Garden’ or ‘This little piggy’.

Talk Time Talking to your toddler/child will help him learn about speech and language. Speech development varies widely, but your toddler will be learning new words all the time, even if he isn’t saying them yet. Playing talk game such as saying a rhyme over and over again and pausing to let your child fill in a missing word. For older toddlers, you could sing a song and encourage your child to join in with the chorus. Stories on CD’s or DVD’s can help your toddler develop listening skills. You could try recording yourself reading some of your toddler’s favourite stories. Make a story about your day’s events and encourage your toddler to fill in the details, for example, ‘for lunch, Joe ate pasta. For dessert he had…..’ and pause for the answer. JUNE 2011

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Presents

its

4th Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Exhibition A New Dawn

Date: Wednesday June 8, 2011

Time: 10 a.m

Venue: Terra Kulture Tiamiyu Savage street, Victoria Island, Lagos. Supported by

National Gallery of Art (NGA)

...finishing fittings with style!

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I Love You, but I Want Better

Dabar

Insights for Christian Living

heir love was seemingly made in heaven. They went arm in arm all their years on campus, had many things in common, and attended the same fellowship. The University was their Garden of Eden. Contrasting lives molded together by a homogeneous academic and social community. Their contrasts were the attractive qualities. They met through a mutual friend, Matilda, who indeed had brought them into the popular fellowship on campus. She was raised in a middle-class family and had many of the fine things of life. Her folks were both senior public servants and lived in official quarters and got to travel abroad frequently on trips paid for by government. The economy was better than it is now, and she and her siblings got to travel often too. She was an A grade student, and had schooled at the prestigious Queen’s College. Not only was she intelligent, she was beautiful. Suitors were already lining up right from her A’ Level days at Loughborough College in the UK. She got into the University by direct entry where she studied Pharmacy. Her name is Anjola, but she is more popularly called ‘Angel’. She often wore glasses. He, after several attempts, got enrolled to study Philosophy. He was restless and unsatisfied with both his career path and his situation. A fastidious student of ‘Socratic Methodologies’, he had a philosophy for his situation and everything else that happened in his life. He had interesting and often contrary opinions about everything under the sun. He was broody and aloof, but had a close network of buddies that

George Ashiru

shared his passions. He liked to sing and play the guitar whenever he was alone. His name is Lanre, and he was popularly called Larry. He was rugged in his good looks and spotted a full beard though neatly trimmed. When he frowned, it was a scowl, but whenever he smiled, the sun came out. That was his attraction. He was quite persuasive in words and emotive in expression and it was difficult not to agree with his thought lines - being quite philosophic. He didn’t have a lot of money, never drank or smoked - he is orphaned and was brought up by his Uncles. Larry and Angel grew in the fellowships they both attended and Larry having had an unstable religious foundation, questioned every word and preaching and had a logical twist to every miracle - being a philosopher. Nonetheless, he came quite often, and became quite close to the Pastor of the local fellowship. Soon, he began attending, on Sundays, the mother cathedral, and was soon known for his endless questions, to the Church hierarchy. The Senior Pastor chose to mentor him, as his was a delicate issue. Angel drew closer to graduation while Larry was still in his penultimate year. She was headed for medical internship. But she had begun to complain that Larry seemed more addicted to the Church than to her. They were not spending enough ‘quality time’ together, she complained. He soothed her nerves, promising to marry her at the end of his course. She completed her internship in a different city and then proceeded for the national youth service in yet

another. In the meantime, Larry seemed to have become quite addicted to Christian service and he told Angel. She was pleased to hear that. The distance didn’t help though, and they soon had less time together to plan their future. He was in his final session on campus. One afternoon, he had a call from Angel, she called to break up with him. She cried over the phone. She said the last four years were the most amazing of her life. She sobbed “I love you, but I want better”. She explained how she met another Christian brother where she served, at a local Church. He was an engineer, working in an oil services firm, and apparently had attended Loughborough College a few years before her. They had so many things in common. He had potential. Larry was broke and he put all his heart into Christian ministry. Angel got married....Eight years later... Angel was quite happy. She had two children, a God fearing and successful husband. His name is Dede. Dede came home one night from work with some excitement in his face. He had just being promoted to regional manager in his firm, and transferred to the nation’s beautiful capital city. She was excited too...they had both prayed for this. But first Dede had to visit the City for a month to organise logistics before they could move permanently. Angel reminded him to look for a good Church they could attend once in the City. Dede was back after a month. He had gotten a house. They were okay to move all their pos-

Dabar - Insights for Christian Living The Dabar column is about Christian living. This column is going to deal with real life issues that Christians face in day to day living and the Biblical perspective on these issues with a real life approach to such situations. We will also use this column as a forum to discuss issues affecting Christianity as a whole. As such, letters with issues which can be discussed should be sent to timelesscourage@yahoo.co.uk. Issues to be discussed in the column will be chosen from letters sent in by you our readers. We look forward to hearing from you so we can start treating these issues from next month. Thank you.

TIMELESS

JUNE 2011

Dabar sessions to the City. But he looked and spoke differently on his return. Angel held his hands, and led him to their ‘Situation Room’.

The man was so gentle with words, so empathetic in his ministration and effective in his explanations that he thought he had never heard the Scripture preached before. He knew he just had to meet the man. Afterwards, Dede met up with the Pastor. He couldn’t tell his age...he had white hairs on the sides, and a quite powerful stare, yet gentle mien. After their meeting, Dede recommitted himself to God and chose the Pastor as his personal mentor. Angel was transfixed, and excited. The story was already making her eyes misty. She was inspired. She could not wait to get to the City and experience these wonderful things for herself. They moved into the City and settled in the task of adjusting their lifestyles to the new environment. Dede resumed in the office and she stayed home as a proud homemaker. The children enrolled in a private academy.

“Dede”. You have changed somewhat. “Oh yeah?” Dede seemed surprised “Yes. You are subdued yet happy” “Is it so obvious?” “Sure. Tell, my darling...what happened while you were in Abuja” “Wow”. Dede began. He spoke about going into a Church for service...it was a magnificent edifice. Everything and everyone was proper, friendly and showed genuine Christian character. The worship was unbelievable and he found himself crying. He had never experienced God this way. It made him feel cheated...that he probably never really knew God. Then a woman came forth to minister, and he was electrified. She spoke with passion and conviction. He learnt that she was the Pastor’s wife. Then came the Pastor.

On one of the evenings she phoned Dede at the office and asked about mid-week services at the Church. She couldn’t wait to get the dose of divine anointing that so moved her sweetheart. Dede confirmed there would be a service that same evening. She could go by herself, the driver already knows the Church location. He would join her afterwards from the office. The children stayed home with their nannies. Indeed it was a fantastic edifice. Thoroughly airconditioned with the smell of fresh flowers. It was a contemporary design but with tall domes suited for better acoustics. She was welcomed inside by ushers who obviously were professional women coming straight from their offices, in their suits. The music ministrations were indeed heavenly. It was obvious that the ministry had a lot of gifted music ministers, or perhaps it was the Pastor. She had chills often. Dede was right.

She was going to love this place. Soon Dede joined her. After a few announcements the service moved into the exhortation. The Pastor moved from his seat in front of the congregation, followed by his wife, presumably. Angel followed with rapt attention, the beautiful order of things and the wonderful couple, dressed in corporate suits, as they moved holding hands to the pulpit, where two chairs had been positioned. The Pastor’s wife moved towards the microphone. Dede held her and said. “She is a truly blessed woman”. The Pastor’s wife started to sing. Angel strained her eyes a little, and peered to see her properly, the congregation being so large and many worshippers already standing in anticipation of the ministration to follow. Matilda!!!! shouted Angel. Everyone looked back. Dede looked at her in shock. Then Angel’s eyes wandered to the Pastor. Larry!!!! She shouted again. Then she fainted. Editor’s Note - Generally in life we tend to judge people based on their current position without seeing them as a diamond in the rough which just needs a little polishing to glitter. So many people have lost relationships, jobs and even opportunities because they didn’t have the patience to “stick” with it till the end and gave up at the slightest opportunity (which may not necessarily be the best). In whatever you do or relationships you are in learn to believe in it and remain positive that it could turn out to be the best. We need to learn how to persevere in whatever we do; because it’s only through this that we can enjoy the end benefits. Hebrews 10:36 George Ashiru, a Nigerian Taekwondo master and an ordained minister of the Gospel founded the Ultimate Gold/Love Foundations alongside his own Transformation Ministries. He also coordinates the NGO, Town Hall Meetings Project (THMP) and runs his own IATA accredited travel business and is an official representative of the London School of Business and Finance (LSBF) in Nigeria. He was, until recently the Vice Chairman of the Tourism Group of the Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce, Lagos. One of George’s keen activities is mentorring emerging leaders and giving inspirational talks, to youths, government personnel and the general citizenry, on personal development and nation building.

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Viewpoint

Northern Nigeria Violence The Role of Spiritual Leaders Tosin Makinde

ince independence the most devastating and deadly form of violence in Nigeria apart from the Civil War has taken place in the North with most taking on a religious colouration that are baseless and unnecessary. The efforts of government however expedient and commendable they may have been to stem the tide of perpetual violence in the Northern part of this country has failed to a greater extent to calm the nerves of the irate perpetrators of this needless shed of blood. One intervention that should have helped to a greater degree but has not come forth the way it should is the strict intervention and order from the religious and spiritual leaders of the people of Northern Nigeria especially the Hausas and the Fulanis. They may have at one point or another during the violence appealed to their subjects to stop killing their fellow people and those of other tribes and religion but their seeming laxity and approach in calling these ‘archaic beings’ to order leaving the government to handle the situation has done little to stem the tide of these violence. History has showed that at the order of spiritual leaders from the North; wars and attacks were started and ended. They command their people to fight and also command them to stop and the people are wont in reverence to the office of their leaders to stop the killings. For example the Jihad that swept the north in the 19th century was called for by Uthman Dan Fodiye, every other Jihad that took place after the first must be sanctioned by Fodiye or the subsequent Sultans like Mohammed Bello; if you don’t have their consent, you can’t embark on any attack and they also are the ones that effectively gave orders for an end to any attack which in most cases are justified. The fighters/ attackers have been known to respect the offices of these leaders so much that they dare not listen to them

El-Kanemi of Borno was another good example. He was the power that controlled the people of Borno in the 19th century; the Mais were just like ceremonial landlords while Kanemi could raise a revolt just by a single order. So also does he douse the tension in the empire by order and the people listen to him more than the Mais in power. Also, most of the Emirs are also well respected, that was why the British indirect rule was so successful in the North because the British were dealing with the rulers rather than the people knowing fully well that if the Sultan or Emirs say ‘go’ they go, if they say ‘come’ they come.

out to denounce and order the violence to stop. It is clear that the people have refused to listen to a secular government; the spiritual leaders should take over if they truly and honestly have the interest and unity of this country at heart. Their stance needs to be more stringent and they should work more closely with the government in bringing an end to these unjustifiable killings and maiming of innocent souls who have got nothing to do with their grievances. Tosin Makinde can be reached at tomak83@ yahoo.co.uk

However, since the 20th century when the crises in the North have taken on a larger scale and many innocent Nigerians have been needlessly killed, what have the spiritual leaders in the North who the people still rever greatly done to calm the nerves of their people? Since the people have refused to listen to the government, have the spiritual leaders risen to command their irate subjects to go for peace? The Sultan of Sokoto no doubt is a respected man in this country; he is known to have come out several times to appeal for peace but the rather cold gesture towards asking for calm seems not to be working. Would Uthman Dan Fodiye who all Sultans claim to have emanated from given an order and the people not listen to him or would El-Kanemi have asked the people to start fighting and stop and they won’t listen. The Sultan and the Emirs should order the people to stop killing. They have the power, they are the ones the people can listen to in bringing an end to this continuing needless violence that is painting the image of this great country in bad light.

Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III

After the 2011 post election violence broke out, how many times did the most prominent Northern spiritual and religious leaders come

JUNE 2011

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Podium

World marks Third Sickle Cell Day through even very small blood vessels.

41 years old TBoz, American singer and actress was a member of the popular and succesful 90s female music group TLC and is living with Sickle Cell Disorder. Initially withholding details of her ailment from others, TBoz (Tionne Tenese Watkins) went public with the disease in 1996 and is now a spokesperson for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. She has stated that her faith in God and her optimism has helped her stay free from the more serious effects of sickle cell disease.

n 22nd December, 2008, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/63/L63 that recognises sickle cell disease as a public health problem. Among the objectives of the resolution is the celebration on 19th June of each year as a World-Day of Sickle Cell Disease. On June 19 2009, the first sickle cell disease awareness day was held at the UN headquarters organised by the International Organization for the Fight against Sickle Cell Disease (OILD/SCDIO) in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations (UN). Activities included a video report on sickle cell anaemia, testimonies stand, exhibition by patients’ associations and international NGOs, an art exhibition on the disease, panels of discussion and round table, a First Ladies meeting and a gala dinner.

The World Sickle Cell day is celebrated across the globe with special emphasis in African nations and Asia. The celebrations include a press, media campaigns, music shows, cultural activities, and talk shows. Since no known cure exists for sickle cell disease, the main goal is to prevent further complications due to sickle cell disease. The main emphasis is hence on educating medical professionals, care givers, and associated personnel about prevention, research, and resources to minimize the complications due to sickle cell disease. Hence June 19th is devoted mainly to

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spread awareness, through talks, seminars, pamphlets, literature and consultations. Sunday June 19, 2011 marks the Third World Sickle Cell Day. What is Sickle Cell Disease? Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that mostly affects people of African ancestry, but also occurs in other ethnic groups, including people who are of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent. It affects haemoglobin, the protein found in red blood cells (RBCs) that help carry oxygen throughout the body. It occurs when a person inherits two abnormal genes (one from each parent) that cause their RBCs to change shape. Instead of being flexible and disc-shaped, these cells are more stiff and curved in the shape of the old farm tool known as a sickle — which is where the disease gets its name. The shape is similar to a crescent moon. Common variants of the disease include SC, SD, SE, CE, Sβ thalassemia and SS. SS and SC are the most common in Nigeria. Red blood cells with normal haemoglobin (haemoglobin A, or HbA) move easily through the bloodstream, delivering oxygen to all of the cells of the body. These are shaped like discs or doughnuts with the centres partially “scooped out” and are soft and flexible. They can easily “squeeze”

JUNE 2011

HbS molecules on the other hand tend to clump together, making red blood cells sticky, stiff, and more fragile, and causing them to form into a curved, sickle shape. Red blood cells containing HbS can go back and forth between being shaped normally and being sickle shaped until they eventually become sickle shaped permanently. Instead of moving through the bloodstream easily, these sickle cells can clog blood vessels and deprive the body’s tissues and organs of the oxygen they need to stay healthy. Unlike normal RBCs that last about 4 months in the bloodstream, fragile sickle cells break down after only about 10 to 20 days, which usually causes anaemia. Anaemia is what happens when the body’s number of red blood cells (or amount of haemoglobin) falls below normal. People who are anaemic often feel weak, tire more easily, and may appear “run down.” Signs and Symptoms The symptoms of SCD follow a general pattern, which includes predominantly jaundice and anaemia characterized by erythroid hyperplasia. Other very common symptoms of sickle cell anaemia based on organ damage are characterized by: painful crises, stroke, paralysis, avascular necrosis of the femoral head, loss of splenic function and pulmonary hypertension. Painful crisis can occur in the chest, stomach, arms, legs, or other parts of the body. This is caused by sickle cells blocking blood flow through the blood vessels in those areas. People with sickle cell anaemia can also experience complications from impaired blood circulation and infection-fighting problems. These include a higher risk of certain infections as well as a condition called acute chest syndrome, which is caused by inflammation or trapped RBCs in the lungs. Sickle cell anaemia is not contagious, so you can’t catch it from someone else or pass it to another person like a cold or an infection. A child who has inherited the sickle cell gene from only one parent will not develop the disease, but will have sickle cell trait (these are people with the AS or AC genotypes.) People who have sickle cell trait don’t have sickle cell anaemia or symptoms of the disease, but they can pass the sickle cell gene on to their own children. Because people with sickle cell trait don’t have the disease, they may never discover that they carry the gene. That’s why it’s recommended that people who

Podium are unsure of their genotype status ask their doctors about testing. The periods of pain commonly referred to as pain crises, vary in their severity, how often they happen, and how long they last. Whereas one person may have only one sickle cell pain crisis a year, another may experience them more often. Crises may be brief, or may last hours, days, or even weeks. What Can Doctors Do? To diagnose sickle cell anaemia, doctors use a special blood test called haemoglobin electrophoresis to look for HbS in a person’s blood. There is no cure for sickle cell anaemia, and it is possible for some people to be ill enough to die from the disease. Doctors can provide treatments that help prevent complications from the disease, though. Folic acid, a vitamin that helps the body produce new red blood cells, is often prescribed for people with sickle cell anaemia. Pain medications help relieve the symptoms of crises. Some crises can be managed at home with pain medicines, rest, and extra fluids. But if a crisis is especially intense, one may need to go to the hospital for intravenous (IV) fluids and stronger pain medications. People with sickle cell anaemia may also use oxygen to help ease symptoms during a crisis or an episode of acute chest syndrome. People with sickle cell anaemia may need to get transfusions of healthy red blood cells to help carry oxygen to the tissues of their bodies more effectively, and some may need many transfusions on a regular basis. Several new treatments have helped reduce painful crises and episodes of acute chest syndrome in adults with the condition. These drugs have also decreased the need for hospitalisation. What Can Patients Do? With the right precautions, people with sickle cell disease can do most of the stuff other people do. To stay as healthy as possible, they should take these steps: • Eat a balanced, healthy diet. • Take vitamins, including folic acid supplements, as prescribed. They should however avoid iron supplements. • Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. • Avoid extreme cold or heat. • Exercise regularly, but in moderation. Exercise is important for staying healthy, but overdoing it can trigger a crisis in some people, particularly if they become dehydrated, overheated, or exhausted. • Get plenty of rest.

• Avoid alcohol, drugs, and smoking, which can aggravate sickle cell disease and its symptoms. Some people with sickle cell disease are prone to lung problems, so smoking is particularly risky and must be avoided. • Avoid places low in oxygen. (For example, it’s not a good idea to go hiking at high altitudes or spend lots of time swimming under water or in the air in planes.) • Prevent serious infections by contacting your doctor as soon as illness symptoms start. Be sure to get any immunisations (such as pneumonia and flu vaccines) that the doctor recommends, and always call your doctor if you have a high fever (over 101° Fahrenheit). • Learn as much as you can about the disease and see your doctor regularly to help prevent complications. People with sickle cell disease may need to put some limits on their lives, but with the help of doctors, friends, and family, they can manage the condition and live their lives to the fullest. Over 5 million people are known to be afflicted by the Sickle Cell Disease in Nigeria. Sickle-cell anaemia contributes the equivalent of 5% of under-five deaths on the African continent, and up to 16% of under-five deaths in individual West African countries (WHO, 2006). The statistic in Nigeria though revealing may be even more due to unavailability of adequate statistics in a nation like ours. While an average of 150,000 babies are born annually with the disorder, only 25% of them might make it to their 5th birthday. It’s important to note that Nigeria being the most populous country in Africa accounts for three quarters of the populations living with SCD. It is therefore imperative, that we consider the alarming rate at which the population of those living with SCD is increasing. People living with SCD, apart from the painful crises may experience depression, low self esteem and stigmatisation. Parents abandon children, marriages are destroyed, relationships are broken, those employable are stigmatised all as a result of SCD. Statistics predicts that by the year 2015, if care is not taken, the population of people living with SCD would have hit 40 million. It is not uncommon to have people tag the disease ignorantly as a death sentence.

rant. Counselling, research and management of the disease is also severely limited. The deficiency of genotype awareness and testing, inadequate understanding of basic management needs; poor health care and treatment in our hospitals has further created an abyss in solving the problems associated with SCD. In Nigeria, the medical management of the sickle cell anaemia is achieved by the administration of some routine drugs which have been shown to be able to improve the quality of life of the patients. Apart from Folic Acid as mentioned above, other commonly prescribed drugs for sickle cell anaemia in Nigeria include anti-sickling agents like: Niprisan, Ciklavit and pain medications, which could include but not limited to; Paracetamol, Aspirin, Feldene, to stronger medications like Morphine, Fortrin, Buscopan depending on the physicians prescription. Several Nigerian families and caretakers of SCD patients have resorted to untested herbal and unreliable drug options to get by which are much cheaper than medically clinically tested drug solutions. More specifically, people in the lower strata of the society do not have easy access or funding towards proper treatment. In Nigeria the poverty rate stands at about 50-60% (World Bank report 2006). However, the average cost of medication on a monthly basis for the effective management in a person living with SCD is about $60. This places most Nigerian families at a disadvantage in being able to purchase the basic drugs. There is therefore an urgent need to facilitate proper medical care through drug provisions at subsidised rates to provide a healthy and enabling environment for their survival. Continuous awareness must also be maintained through the mass media, the various Sickle Cell Clubs across the country, NGOs and religious organisations. Funding for research into viable treatment procedures and drugs must be made available for our research institutes, teaching hospitals and universities. Regular seminars should also be organised for General Medical practitioners to update their knowledge on the disease.

Nigeria being a vast country and as a result of inadequate health information, basic elements of knowledge and information have been reduced to a minute percentage of the populace, thereby rendering the majority of the population igno-

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Random Musings with Ayodeji Jeremiah

people working for others engaging in behaviour that will lose that business money or customers or working lackadaisically. The average typical Nigerian employee doesn’t value his or her work no matter how well paid. If it was possible not to work, to party and play all day and get paid for partying and playing; they had gladly do so. When it comes to work, especially working for others, there is a typical Nigerian saying that ‘whether the boss sells or makes a profit or not, the labourer’s wages must be complete.’

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When I had a regular job as an employee, I found it fairly easy to have a good worklife balance. I made it clear that my family was my priority, and after I left the office, I rarely checked e-mail or worked evenings or weekends, and never travelled. When I left the office, the work stayed there, and I didn’t think much about it. But starting my own business changed that, and from what I’ve heard and read, most business owners constantly think about work. Apparently, it’s a common affliction of the self-employed or entrepreneur or business owner. When I left my salaried job, I became completely responsible for my economic livelihood, and could no longer rely on a paycheck that I received regardless of how hard I decided to work. Now, if I don’t do the work, I don’t get paid.” The above is typical of most self employed people, entrepreneurs or business owners. Apart from the fact that if such a person doesn’t work, he doesn’t earn money; there is also the aspect of not wanting what you built usually from scratch to go to waste or die. Where such a person has others working for him or her, there is also the added responsibility of thinking of how to pay their salaries at month end. It is therefore usually amazing when you see 38

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The thinking behind work in Nigeria is that it is hard and exploitative. Like a mentor of mine said, ‘the word hardwork is an oxymoron. Work by its very nature is supposed to be hard. If it is not hard then it is not work.’ The prayer, aim and focus of everyone should be to reach that stage or level where one’s work becomes so much fun that you forget sometimes that you are actually working. To reach that stage requires developing passion for that work. Developing passion for your work requires every individual doing what they love doing – a question of the right peg being in the right hole. However, we find people in Nigeria doing jobs they hate simply because they have to work and earn money. Were you forced to take the job in the first instance? Like the opening quote above shows, if every employee puts himself or herself in the shoes of the business owner and thought of the job as his or her own, things will be remarkably different. A job however for most people is just a way of earning money and putting food on the table. No passion, no motivation, no excellence, everything is just done mechanically like robots. Everyone is looking forward to closing time; to get up in the morning is a problem because you are not looking forward to the work. There is no excellence in getting the job done; everything is done shoddily and hurriedly. Even the Bible says ‘see a man diligent in his work, he will stand before kings and not be-

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fore mere men’ (Proverbs 22:29). Love work for the sake of knowledge and building yourself up; love work for the sake of acquiring experience; love work for the sake of better interpersonal, communication and life skills. Be a professional at what you do. Be diligent. Be competent. Know your onions. Listen, you can have a fancy education, a wall full of certificates and 23,000 Twitter followers and 5000 Facebook friends but if you don’t handle yourself professionally, you’ll never see the true potential that your work and career could enjoy. No one prays to work for someone else for the rest of their lives or remain in the same position for ever. The same way you conduct another person’s business will go a long way in determining how you and others will conduct your own business. Even if you are not interested in or cut out for setting up your own business; knowing and doing your work well now stands you out from the crowd and improves your overall career success. Ask yourself, do I follow through on my promises, do I meet deadlines, do I show up when I say I will, do I handle all my communications the way a real professional would, do I go the extra mile or do I say ‘that is not in my job description? Work on improving your work ethics; your career and your bank account will thank you.

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