Vinod Kumar Chaudhary from New Delhi has smashed the Guinness World Record for “fastest time to type a prescribed 103 character text on a keyboard using the nose” by pecking out ‘Guinness world records have challenged me to type this sentence using my nose in the fastest time’ in 46.30 seconds.
Chaudhary beat the previous record of 47.44 seconds set by Mohammed Khursheed Hussain from Hyderabad – who also typed the same sentence with his nose – on 22 December 2014, but Guinness has only recently verified his achievement.
“Typing is my profession as well as passion, which inspired me to try something different and outstanding,” explained Mr Chaudhary.
“I have always wanted to do something innovative and do my best in all competitions – this gave me the strength the break the record of fastest typing with nose. For this I would practice for at least four hours every day.”
Vinod Kumar Chaudhary smashed the Guinness World Record for “fastest time to type a prescribed 103 character text on a keyboard using the nose
The Guinness team released details of Chaudhary’s success in their weekly Spotlight video, which was a veritable horn of plenty when it came to snout-based records. The olfactory virtuoso faced sniff competition amongst other masterbeaks whose accomplishments ranged from “largest bubble gum bubble blown with the nose” to “tallest object balanced on the nose”.
COMRADE Ogbeifo Shedrack Odeyovwi is the current Chairman of Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON), Warri South Local Government Area Chapter. He is an authority in private nursery, primary and secondary school proprietorship. In this interview with John Dugbe, Odeyovwi who is the Proprietor, Shekof Excellence Academy, Warri spoke on issues bothering on private school ownership and education generally.
What attracted you into private school proprietorship?
The major factor that attracted me is the gradual decline in the education sector, the inability of the government to fully take responsibility of the educational need of our upcoming generation resulting to the lack of passion in our young ones in pursuing educational careers. My passion to effect a change in this regards propelled me into private proprietorship. This is reflected in the motto of my school, ‘Creating Excellent Productivity’.
Can you identify and proffer solutions to problems confronting private school ownership in Nigeria?
One of the major challenges facing APSON Warri South Chapter is that of an unstable state of disunity among member schools. This could partly be as a result of the disparities in the aims and objectives of individual school owners. Member schools are not effectively carried along. Nevertheless, I believe that it is possible to attain an appreciable level of unity in diversity during my tenure.
This therefore becomes my major goal since no system can ever survive wherever disunity is the order of the day. We can lay this problem to rest by encouraging love and respect for each other, ensuring that members’ social welfare is given utmost priority, ensuring that every member school is carried along to achieve the desired educational development, building and maintaining cordial relationship with the C.I.E., Ministry of Education in order to be given due considerations when vital decisions affecting the welfare of our member schools are being considered.
Other challenges which may revolve around lack or immeasurable integrity and discipline will squarely be taken care of by our express resolve to run a very transparent, accountable government strictly in adherence with the laid down regulations in the constitution.
Can you react to insinuations that private schools are magic centres where students get unmerited results?
While accepting the fact that there are irregularities in the education sector of our dear country, it will be a fallacy to insinuate that private schools are magic centres where students get unmerited results. It could be as wrong as saying that all private sectors like private hospitals are places where substandard or irregular health care services are rendered to patients.
I believe that the private schools in all levels be it primary, secondary or tertiary have contributed meaningfully to the growth of the education sector in Nigeria by their commitment to raising students who can compete favourably with their counterparts worldwide byproviding them enabling competitive environment that will encourage them to be at their best.
How would you assess the standard of education in Nigeria?
Frankly speaking, the standard of education in Nigeria is on the decline. Schools generally are no longer receiving the level of attention needed to be given them by the government and as well, the learners in this dispensation have lost the reading culture which used to characterise the learner of yesteryears. The issue of technological advancement has also taken its negative toll on our pupils/students. Nevertheless, we will not get discouraged in reversing the situation.
Can you give reasons for the absence of some proprietors of private schools in the recent election of APSON Warri South Local Government Area Chapter?
I could say that the reason why some school proprietors were absent in the recent APSON election is as the result of the disappointment by past governments especially in the area of delivery of their campaign promises. It would just be natural for some members to be absent since they will have concluded that it would be “business as usual.”
Can you also assess the performance of the immediate past executive of APSON, Warri South Local Government Area?
In assessing the performance of the immediate past EXCO of APSON, I will say they performed below average in the area of unity and carrying members along. Unfortunately, their failure to deliver in this fundamental area directly or indirectly affected their overall performance during their tenure.
What are your plans for the association?
My plans for APSON are encouraging love and respect for each other. Ensuring that members’ social welfare is given utmost priority, establishing APSON members’ multi-purpose co-operative society to encourage the growth of our schools, organising and maintaining regular competitions (debates, awards, sports fiesta, quizzes etc) among member schools, creating a neutral level playing ground for all members to make their inputs whatsoever, without fear of being victimised or intimidated. Partnering with the general public and corporate bodies especially those which are educationally related, to achieve our goals, forming Elder’s Forum, Adviser’s Forum and Ex-executive Forum, carrying regular charity activities (visits to orphanage homes, less privileged etc), Setting up what we will call APSON HOUSE, where we will put up a library to enable our students and out of school young people to uphold the reading culture. Establishing a Computer Training Centre where our students and the general public will be trained for computer literacy. This centre will be run and managed by the Management/ Investment Committee of the association who will be giving a periodic report of the establishment to the general house. Taking part in active community development e.g Periodic environmental sanitations and creating awareness on issues affecting the peace, health and development of our immediate society.
Tomorrow’s problems demand bright, hard-working individuals to solve them, and the only way we can achieve this is by acting as a community to support our schools, our teachers, and the countless people that depend on us for their continued strength. Education is the right of every child and with God helping us, we will continue to strive that this fundamental right is delivered to everyone. Together, we can!
Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), the nation’s sole approved copyright collective management organisation for musical works and sound recordings has commended the Court of Appeal for its recent judgment in MCSN v. Details (Nig.) Ltd (CA/L/506/1999). In the words of the former president of PMAN and author of the ground breaking book, Copyright & the New Millionaires, “I have read the judgment eight times and cannot fault it. The Court of Appeal has clearly restated everything we have been saying over the years with respect to the misadventure of the unapproved MCSN. The court has punched mighty holes on every claim by the recalcitrant group to justify its unlawful operation”.
According to Chief Okoroji who is one of Africa’s most sought after experts on copyright collective management, “the beauty of the recent judgment is that it is very clear and lucid. There is no way to spin it. It is on all fours with the earlier decision of the Court of Appeal in MCSN v CDT(CA/L/787/2008)and the October 2014 judgment of Justice O.E. Abang of the Federal High Court in MCSN v COSON & NCC (FHC/L/CS/377/2013). The decision of the courts will help stabilize the collective management of copyright in Nigeria, boost the economic value of creativity in the nation and chase away the charlatans who want to turn collective management of copyright into an unregulated and unsupervised free-for-all den of thieves”
The full text of the Court of Appeal decision in MCSN v. Details (Nig.) Ltd (CA/L/506/1999) read by Hon. Justice Joseph Shagbaor Ikyegh on Thursday, May 28 is now available at http://goo.gl/ahKgHz The decision supported by Hon. Justice Amina Augie and Hon Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur has indeed buried any little hope that MCSN group may have ever had of operating as a collecting society in Nigeria without the approval of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC).
In the judgment, the Court of Appeal vehemently rejected the long advertised position of MCSN that Section 32B of the Copyright Act (now Section 39) which requires anyone wishing to operate a collective management organization in Nigeria to first obtain the approval of the NCC is unconstitutional. Slamming MCSN’s argument that the section infringed on its right to freedom of association as provided in Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, Justice Ikyegh said that the argument cannot hold ground. Summing up his position, Justice Ikyegh said, “I would reject the appellants argument that Section 32B (1) of the Act violates section 40 of the 1999 Constitution. I conclude that the section is constitutional”.
On the argument of MCSN that the registration of a collecting society is not mandatory but optional, Justice Ikyegh said “Section 32B (5) makes it an offence punishable by fine or imprisonment or both in respect of any person who fails to obtain the approval of the NCC to operate a collecting society, while section 32B (6) thereof makes it an offence punishable by a hefty fine for a corporate body that contravenes section 32 B (4) of the Act dealing with the approval by the NCC for the operation of a collecting society. A provision of a statute such as section 32 B (5) and (6) which makes it an offence with fine or imprisonment or both for the contravention of the requirement for approval by the NCC of the person or body of persons to act as a collecting society under section 32 B (4) thereof bears mandatory or compulsory meaning, not optional or directory meaning suggested by the appellant. By criminalizing the operation of a collecting society without the requisite approval by the NCC, the Legislature has made section 32 B (4) of the Act obligatory, in my modest view. The contention by the appellant that section 32 B (4) of the Act is optional is, with deference, untenable and is hereby rejected”
Contrary to the speculation being spread by MCSN that by the decision, the Court of Appeal has given it a carte blanch right to sue anyone for the infringement of ‘her works’, what the court did was to send back the specific matter (MCSN v. Details) instituted over twenty years ago to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for retrial. The position of the court was predicated on the fact that the provisions of the law which requires that MCSN must be an approved collecting society for it to have the locus to sue for copyright infringement was not in existence when the issues in the specific case arose about two decades ago. The provision was enacted in 2004.
There is nothing whatsoever in the judgment which gives the unapproved MCSN the right to operate in Nigeria today as a collecting society, to collect or distribute royalties or to sue anyone for copyright infringement.
Several officers of MCSN continue to face criminal charges in various courts in Nigeria for operating a collecting society without approval as required by law.
Founder, Little Saints Orphanage, Lagos, Rev (Mrs) Christiana Dele George, is the National President of Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators of Nigeria, (ASOHON). George, who is a trained accountant from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State is the first daughter of retired Major-General Samuel Ogbemudia, the military administrator of the then Bendel State. In this exclusive interview with Emmanuel Udom, she spoke on the successes and failures recorded by ASOHON under her leadership and the role of government in the humanitarian mission of catering for unwanted and abandoned children in Nigeria, among others.
As National President, what has been happening in your orphanage association?
Rev (Mrs) Christiana Dele George
A lot has been happening. Our first preoccupation was to get the Lagos State chapter fully organised and effective. Members of the national executive have been presiding over it for over five years.
We have now elected a new Lagos State executive board which is being coordinated right now by Mrs. Maria Osawemen, founder of Vigilant Heart Society Orphanage in Ajah supported by Mr Victor Uzoma of Friends of God Orphanage and Mrs Bola Martins of Bola Mofo Zion Shelter.
Can you precisely list out your achievements so far?
We have increased the number of membership to include 20 more states. In some states we were able to get uniform signboards for all orphanages, which enable the public to differentiate between unregistered or fake and registered orphanages.
Many fake orphanages have been shut down as a result of our input. There is a better rapport between the state ministries and ASOHON members making room for greater cooperation in defending and upholding the rights of our vulnerable children.
We have organised seminars in the states on such issues as safety, medical emergencies, prevention of accidents in homes and child rights law. In some states like Oyo, Edo and Delta, ASOHON is more involved in policy and decisions of the state government on issues affecting the orphanages and children welfare.
What about challenges?
It was not difficult trying to unite orphanages under ASOHON in Lagos state because we were working with a very faultfinding and pessimistic arm of government in the past, so the need to unite under ASOHON was imperative. We made haste to come together.
However, getting to the state orphanages was a big challenge as some of the state officials were very suspicious of our motives. They wrongly assumed that ASOHON wanted to incite orphanages against government. We are proving so far that our intentions are noble.
The orphanages are willing to join but most do not have websites or even email addresses. They lack the man power and technical support. ASOHON main challenge is lack of funding and support.
Majority of these orphanages need to improve on their standard because they are genuinely caring for our children especially our special needs children. Some of them are so remote that donors cannot get to them.
We still need support from the government. It does not matter how many homes government run without these orphanages they still cannot carry the burden that these orphanages carry. They need to step up by including funding of orphanages in their state budget.
Has the federal and state government assisted the association in any way?
In the approving families for adoption, fostering and in regulating the activities of orphanages they have been very zealous and proactive. In Financial or material supports, government has been very slack in almost all the states.
How is the association tackling quarks in the orphanage sector?
We cannot close down these orphanages ourselves but we work together with the state ministries to investigate and act. We report and they act. We also accommodated a huge number of the children brought from the closed orphanages.
So far the exercise has been very fruitful in many states. Very soon the wheat will be separated from the chaff permanently.
What is happening at the Little Saints Orphanage, which you are the founder?
We have been working hard to continue to blaze the trail. Our main focus is education and we have been able to raise many graduates who today are in full employment. The rest of the children are in school and we have added two more states to our spread in Delta and Oyo states.
Our plan is to open orphanages in five states-Lagos, Oyo, Delta, Edo and Ogun. The only state left is Edo. Our God will make a way for us to do that.
What is your take on the attitude of Nigerians on adoption of children?
Just wonderful! When we started adoption in 1996, very few people were interested. We practically had to beg couples to come forward. Today we have a long waiting list. Nigerians have imbibed adoption of normal children. However we need them to take a step further by adopting children with special needs. Adoption is an act of love and these children need homes too.
Who would you hand over your orphanage to when you retire?
I hope to hand over to some of our children to be supervised by the board of trustees. Some of them are already doing social work in the orphanage. They love each other so much. I see them doing better than I have done.
How do you combine your role as a mother, wife, and orphanage home owner?
I have a very understanding and supportive husband who gives me all I need to be at my best. I have a wonderful team of missionaries who are highly dedicated to God and committed to the mission.
My children who are adults already are very diligent. I am so blessed to have them all. This is what the grace of God is all about. When He gives you a vision He gives the grace to accomplish it. I am grateful to God for all the loving people that surround me.
Beyond work, how do you relax?
I just rest and listen to music. We have a great band in the Mission headed by my daughter, Temitayo and listening to them relaxes and inspires me a lot. I love to read inspirational books and watch good movies.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Akwa Ibom, has solicited the support of the media in its quest for enforcement of law in the state.
The appeal was made by Mr. Aniekan Akpan, chairman of the Uyo branch of the association, this week in Uyo, on his visit to the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state, Mr. Patrick Albert.
The NBA chairman said that his association, as the mouthpiece of the Judiciary, wishes to partner the NUJ to educate and enlighten the citizens on their rights and the rule of law.
He said, “I see NUJ as a veritable partner in the enforcement of the rule of law.”
He further stated that it is the adherence to the rule of law that makes democracy an interesting and appealing system of government all over the world.
Akpan also called on producers of legal programmes and judiciary correspondents to liaise with NBA for inputs to enrich the content of their programmes and write-ups.
He, however, noted that the legal practice also had the problem of quackery just as it was being experienced in journalism.
The NBA chairman therefore called for a strong synergy between the NBA and the NUJ to weed out quacks in both professions in the state.
He said, “Our profession is regulated, we have our fees, but the quacks are always spotted going for peanuts.”
Akpan called on security operatives to execute their functions within the limit of the law and avoid trampling on the rights of citizens.
On his part, the state NUJ chairman, Patrick Albert, noted that the law and the media were two important components of a stable society.
Albert said, “The rule of law is the fundamental requirement for the survival of democracy.”
He added that he was impressed by the request for partnership and urged the NBA to contribute to the NUJ desk in the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
Albert congratulated the NBA chairman and his executive members on their success at the recent election of the branch.
Labule, the popular creative community showcase is a brainchild of leading integrated marketing, media, entertainment and event outfit, Inspiro productions, is repackaged and back. Labule which in Yoruba means ‘Community’ is a gathering of creative people and lovers of creativity – Artistes, Musicians, Dancers, Comedians, Poets, Fashion Designers, Artists and more. The 100% proudly Nigerian production celebrates excellence and creativity in the community. The Labule brand promotes Indigenous Arts & Culture, encourages live performances, celebrates people and their creativity and showcases new talents and discoveries in an atmosphere of relaxation and good entertainment.
Past editions of Labule have included Miliki Labule, June 12 Labule, Democracy Day Labule, Richard Quest Labule, Jazz-Matazz Labule, Keziah Jones Labule, Lekan Babalola Labule and Artflow Labule amongst others with guest appearances from UK Based Afro-soul Guitarist Keziah Jones, Two times Grammy Awardee Master-drummer, Lekan Babalola, Ayanfe, Daniel Bankole, CNN’S Richard Quest, esp Afrika’s-Rashid Lombard And Billy Domingo – Organisers Of The World Famous Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Bright Gain and Biodun +Batik.
The repackaged Labule planned to be a once a month show will be launched on Sunday 13 September 2015 at the new fully equipped multipurpose Event And Studio Space that has it all in Lagos – The Super-Fans Arena, 15a, Kudirat Abiola Way, (Oregun) Ikeja, Lagos From 5pm. There Will Be Live Music, Comedy, Spoken Word, Fashion, Art Exhibition, Wine Tasting, Celebrity DJ Play, Networking Opportunities and lots more. Entrance is free with maximum security guaranteed. Labule is supported by Mass Media Partners, Smooth FM, Metro FM, Radio One, Igroove Radio, Citypeople, Efizzi, NAIJAZZ, Muzikal and 1st Day productions.
Globacom subscribers in Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikoyi and environs in Lagos State were treated to a pot-pourri of rib-cracking jokes, drama and the best of Nigerian music as the much talked about Glo Laffta Fest comedy show held in Victoria Island over the weekend.
The Eko Hotels and Suites venue of the event was bursting at the seams with enthusiastic attendees from all walks of life who relished the performances of the A-list artistes who thrilled them..
From the beginning of the show, it was obvious that the fun-seekers were in for a great entertainment.
The evening paraded iconic stand-up comedians in Nigeria including Basketmouth, AY, Bovi, Okey Bakassi, I go dye, Seyi Law, Funny Bone and Gordons. Salvador from Uganda also proved that he is not new to the Nigerian environment as he anchored his skit around Nigerian foods and Nollywood’s strength and slip-ups.
As part of the spice of the night, the comedians’ jokes were complemented by the performances of leading musicians such as Wizkid and Burna Boy.
Basketmouth who acted as co-master of ceremonies sustained the tempo as he dished out his trademark humour while introducing his colleagues in turns to lift the audience to new levels of hilarity.
Bovi added to the fun by giving out recharge cards to quick-fingered fans who were fast enough to load free recharge numbers on their phones. He also added colour to the evening by calling on some young ladies to come on stage and sing the first stanza of the National Anthem. All but one were applauded for rendering the lyrics well.
Okey Bakassi simply raised the roof. He exuded matured confidence as he gradually led the crowd through a maze of complex jokes in a way that only a master could do and still got the crowd roaring in delight at the end of it all. His joke about the biblical King Solomon and his wives was a clincher.
Nollywood stars and Glo Ambassadors, Ini Edo and Odunlade Adekola graced the occasion. So also were comedienne Helen Paul, Dija, Rickardo Banks, Deputy Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun Samuel and Commissioner of Police in charge of Police Cooperative, Dorothy Gimba among the many VIPs who graced the occasion.
Do you have any love issues, questions or concerns, then ‘Love Moments With Akudo,’ is your go-to programme that will throw more light as well as give you the ideal solution for your concern.
Hosted by Akudo Abengowe-Adebayo, a writer, broadcaster, editor and consultant, you can be sure to get the best spices for your love lives on this programme.
Akudo has a background as the editor of Hints Magazine (a relationship magazine) and Beauty Box magazine (a beauty and wellness magazine).
She is well grounded in the entertainment industry with a background of writing for Hints T&B series, and presenting Our Generation (a youth entertainment programme on NTA Enugu), as a university undergraduate.
She holds an HND in Mass Communication and MCS in Communication Studies.
The debut edition of ‘Love Moments With Akudo’ held on Thursday, 3rd September 2015, by 5-6pm and subsequently holds every Thursday on www.gosporellaFM.com a family and lifestyle online radio station.
Keep a fresh date with Love Moments With Akudo as the special guest, Mrs. Lara Kudayisi-Emeralds, an emotions management specialist. She will use her wealth of experience and knowledge to restore peace into your relationships.
After an exhaustive deliberation on the deplorable road and socio-economic situation in Arepo and its neighbouring communities in Obafemi/Owode Local Government area of Ogun State, members of the Journalists Estate Residents Development Association (JERDA), have called on the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, to come to their aid.
This is against the backdrop of the worsening debilitating condition of Arepo road that leads to Journalists’ Estate Phase 1 and 2 and its neighbouring communities aforementioned.
The group, in a statement issued at the end of its monthly meeting, lamented the deplorable condition of the only access road linking Arepo to the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway almost two years after the contract had been awarded.
Observing that the state government had mounted a billboard for the reconstruction of the road since two years without commensurate actions, the association urged the governor to go beyond mere mounting of bill boards to commence physical development of the area.
JERDA, in a statement signed by its chairman, Mr. John Ajayi, and Secretary, Mr. Jude Nwauzor, said: “The only access road leading Arepo Community to the expressway, is not only dilapidated, but beyond palliative measures as such requires urgent government’s attention.”
The association said that the state government should as a matter of urgency order contractor awarded the job to commence construction of the feeder road as promised by Amosun during his electioneering campaigns in the area.
The meeting, which reviewed the growing insecurity in the area, also called for immediate action from all tiers of government to guarantee peace and harmony in the community.
While maintaining that security should be beefed-up in the locality to stave-off possible security breaches in order to ward-off activities of miscreants in the area, the group added that this measure will also protect lives and properties of the residents of the community adjudged as second largest registration figure in the area during the last registration exercise in the state.
Urging the Federal Government to move quickly to protect NNPC pipelines within the community, the JERDA also enjoined state and local governments to address the rising waves of criminality in the area, noting that Arepo community is one of the fastest developing communities in the whole of the state, so much so, that it harbours Journalists’ Estate, which is the first of its kind in the whole of Africa.
The association stressed that the Journalists’ Estate is in addition to over 18 other residential estates existing in the community with enlightened members of the elites class.
It also lauded the recent posting of the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Isa Lawal, to the area, and efforts of his officers who now regularly patrol the long bridge between Berger and Arepo to ward-off criminals operating day and night on the bridge.
The group further urged the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), to continue its work on the long bridge by clearing bushes on the median of the expressway, tasking FERMA to extend the clearing to the left and right sides of the bridge, which harbour hoodlums that molest and rob unsuspecting motorists.
JERDA, however, noted with displeasure that the state government cannot continue to pretend as if the community does not matter with its small population, which it once described as having insignificant electoral values.
It pointed out that government’s continued neglect of the community has compelled the Arepo Central Community Development Association (ACCDA) to embark on raising fifteen million naira through donations in carrying out palliatives on the road, as a self help that has not fully yielded requisite result.
Following series of allegations of corporate human rights abuses in various countries and in different sectors across the globe, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted the United Nations Guiding Principles on Human Rights and Business (UNGP). The UNGP contains 31 guiding principles, with the Protect, Respect and Remedy (PRR) frameworks, to help businesses better manage their relationships with their stakeholders.
As a way of driving the UNGP to the public domain, the Africa Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR), a think tank and resource centre, with the support of OxfamNovib, Netherlands, held a-three-day training workshop for Nigerian business journalists with the theme:Reporting Corporate Social Responsibility; using the Framework of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) to develop a National Action Plan.
Participants were drawn from 25 media houses including the prints and electronic media. Topics covered at the training/consultation included: an overview of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Human Rights and Business; developing a National Action Plan (NAP) for the implementation of the UNGP on human rights and business; introduction to knowledge based journalism; the role of businesses in promoting human rights and reporting corporate social responsibility.
While participants at the workshop commended the Federal Government for paying closer attention to the issue of human rights in all aspects of the country’s national life, they also made the following recommendations: That the Federal Government should endorse and adopt the UNGP on human rights and business because it will help businesses to build sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship with the public.
That the Federal Government should establish a National Council on Corporate Social Responsibility to oversee the implementation of the NAP on the UNGP on human rights and business, as it is done in countries such as the UK, Netherlands and Denmark;
That the organised private sector, shouldimplement the UNGP on business and human rights in order to build mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships with their various stakeholders.
That the National Human Rights Commission should begin the implementation of the proposed Human Rights Fund for the victims of human rights violations especially those who have suffered from corporate-related human rights abuses.
That the National Universities Commission, National Commission on Colleges of Education, National Educational Research Council and National Board for Technical Education start the process of incorporating the provisions of the United nations Guiding Principles on Human Rights and Business into the national curriculum.
That development partners, government at all levels and the organised private sector support an intensive capacity buildingprogramme on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Human Rights and Business.
That the media enhance their awareness-creation around the UNGP and the National Action Plan.
Highlighting some of the reasons why the UNGP would be useful for Nigeria, Austin Onuoha, founder, ACCR noted that unconfirmed research has it that Nigerian businesses spent approximately, N20 billion, in litigation between 2012 and 2014. Within the same period, an unnamed manufacturing and other production companies lost more than $5billion due to production disruption induced by community uprising.
Also, he noted that more than 80 per cent of workers in the manufacturing sector are casual labourers with the attendant poor working conditions. More than 75 per cent of workers in the banking industry are contract staff. This, he said, has been responsible for the upsurge in fraud in the sector because there set of staff have no stake or future in these organisations.
According to Onuoha, in many Nigerian cities, companies empty their waste into the river from where people fetch water for domestic consumption and other uses. Environmental pollution, massive disruption of livelihood, damage to infrastructure and the high-handedness of security personnel, are some of the features of the presence of business organisations. Many businesses do not have effective and functional grievance mechanisms that resolve disputes between them and their stakeholders. This has led to resentment and fractured relationships.
Continuing, he said: “This needs not be so. Businesses play a great role in providing employment, building infrastructure, producing goods and services that add value to human life and civilisation, make profit and generally increase government’s revenue through taxes.
What I desire to write today in response to part 2 of Adamu Adamu’s Hajj and the Saudis (back page column, Daily Trust of Friday, 12 October 2012) has forestalled the publishing of the second part of my PECULIARITIES OF HAJJ in this column. I will revert to that next week insha Allah.
I am not a shi’ah adherent but I’ve always enjoyed the fluid prose and compelling exposition of plausible arguments in Adamu Adamu’s articles. Unfortunately, his plausibleness failed him in the write up under discussion. I concur with the writer in what he stated, among other things, in the first part of the article, which appeared in the same paper on 5 October, 2012, where he decried the detention, under appalling condition, and subsequent deportation of Nigerian female pilgrims by Saudi authorities for not travelling with mahrams. But the writer went out of his way, in the second part, to criticize the Saudis’ management of the Haramayn and demolition of Islamic relics and historical monuments ‘to stop us from committing shirk!’ Well, shirk to Adamu Adamu may be a trifle; in the sight of Allah, it is a great sin, not forgiven one who dies committing it! There is nothing worse than derailing from the way of the prophet (SAW).
I, however, like the type of Shi’ism that Adamu Adamu exhibits in his writings, except if he does that in the form of taqiyyah, dissimulation which I fail to divine. For instance, in his attempt to prove how erroneous the Saudis have acted in demolishing Islamic relics, he said: ‘The caliph Umar bin Khattab understood this so well that during his Caliphate he disallowed whoever was in the precinct of the Haram from locking his house during the Hajj. He said the land belonged to the guests of God and they had more right to the houses than those living in them. So who gave the Saudis the right to tamper with and desecrate of the Haramayn along with all the memorabilia of the Holy Prophet [SAW] and his companions?’ Brilliant! This is at variance with the attitude of Shi’ites, who love to calumniate noble companions like Abubakr, Umar, or even the illustrious wife of the Messenger of Allah, Aisha, may Allah be pleased with them. I will return to this later.
Adamu Adamu confused the warrant of travelling in the earth and seeing the nature of the consequence of those who came before us, like ‘the Pharaoh’, with the ‘artefacts related to the Holy Prophet [SAW] and Islam…’ Let us even assume that the embalmed and preserved body, laying in the Cairo Museum is indeed that of the son of Ramses ll, mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an, it is regrettable that the writer chose this discordant analogy between the preservation of the remnants of obstinate potentates and ‘the artefacts related to the Holy Prophet [SAW] and Islam…’ The verses that adjure believers to travel and see the end of those who were before us have to do with perverted transgressors. Adamu Adamu would have done better with benign inference.
I am not a Saudi apologist. I have had occasions to take strong exception to some of the positions taken by the Saudis and their scholars. I believe that our scholars in Nigeria should be accorded the deference and courtesy that they deserve by the Saudis. I do not accept all fatwas issued by Saudi scholars, thus I wrote Women Can Perform Hajj without Mahram; I allow my wife to drive within and outside Abuja; positions that are not in agreement with Saudi fatwas.
One can disagree with the Saudis on the way they conduct themselves in their relation with the West or how they refuse to use the oil weapon in weakening the Zionist State, etc. but whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day must concede that the Saudis have not failed in their task of administration of the Two Holy Mosques. Those who travel to Makkah and Madinah often can give testimony to the care, maintenance and constant improvement that the Haramayn enjoy under the vigilance of the House of Saud. Of course we know where the complaints are from and where they aim to lead the ignorant. The belief is if you make enough noise after a while you will get listeners. Iran has never made it hidden that it wants to be in control of the Haramayn. The last time they had access to graves of the revered companions was a shame not only to them but to humanity.
The Holy Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah will attest to the expansion it has witnessed superintended by the Saudi leadership. You can safely say that the Haram is enhanced by the minute. Wherever you may be the call to prayer reaches you. The carpeting is exact and gorgeous; the gold-plated decorations and state-of-the-art chandeliers are cleaned around the clock. If the mosque is filled with worshippers don’t worry, 182 jumbo umbrellas are installed in the courtyard to guarantee shelter from rain and sun’s heat. Each of these umbrellas covers about 600 square metres and can accommodate 900 worshippers. Recently, King Abdullah launched a huge expansion project for this mosque expected to be the largest of its kind, which, at completion, will accommodate additional 1.6 million worshippers. If the Saudi government is guilty of anything in this matter, it is going into excess in embellishing the mosques.
In Makkah the House of Saud could not be found wanting in its responsibility towards the Mashaa’ir, monuments of Hajj. Tents in Minaa are now fireproof; the mega structure of the Jamaraat Bridge complex, spacious exit route and highly experienced manpower in crowd management have saved lives during the stoning ritual in Hajj; a feat they carry out without firearms. The Mashaa’ir Railway linking Minaa, Arafaat and Muzdalifah is almost complete.
Before he launched that of Madinah, King Abdullah has laid the foundation stone for another unprecedented expansion of the Holy Mosque in Makkah which will increase its capacity to more than 2.5 million devotees. This initiative is certain to create more rooms for worshippers around the Mas’aa (the running course between Safaa and Marwah). It will also remove the hardship pilgrims face during tawaaf, and enable them perform their rites in a more relaxed and spiritual environment.
The purpose of expansion projects around the Haramayn is not the preservation or demolition of any artefacts; expansions are necessitated by the need to make Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages more comfortable and safer in the face of phenomenal rise in the number of pilgrims annually. So, let this noble course of expansion of the Haramayn persist; let the skyscrapers be built in order to accommodate more pilgrims, and let the blamers continue to criticize the House of Saud for making Las Vegas out of Makkah, provided that will provide a serene, relaxed atmosphere and facilitate the observance of this once-in-a-life-time ritual for the guests of Allah. I am sure that is a lesser crime than standing up and remaining like a statue upon seeing the image of Khomeini or Khamanei or whoever it is they treat like a demigod these days.
The image that the visitor to the Ka’bah will have in his mind as he approaches the Holy Mosque is that of an answer to his prayer for entering the precincts of the Ancient House: O Allah increase this House in nobility, honour, dignity and awe!
Certainly, the House of Saud has shown utmost reverence to the sacredness and glory of the Haramayn, sparing neither effort nor expense in making the place, by Allah’s grace, what it is today. The title of The Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques, let traducers perish in their rage, fits perfectly King Abdullah Ibn Abdullaziz Aal Saud; he and those among this household who came before him and those that will come after him if they do what he did.
If this care and service is what Adamu Adamu referred to as Wahabism; if printing of billions of copies of the Glorious Qur’an for free distribution around the world is Wahabism; and if Wahabism means exerting all within one’s power for the service of the guests of Allah, then I am one of them. Open the windows let the world hear: I am Wahabi. And so what! I’d rather be a Wahabi than desecrate the message of Islam with Shi’ism.
Next week I shall provide ample responses to Adamu Adamu’s case for the preservation of Islamic relics around Makkah and Madinah.
•This article was first published in November, 2012
Public servants have watched helplessly as many retirees retire into penury principally due to the inability of their employers to pay their pension benefits. Mr. Babajide John Savage, a retired teacher living on oxygen, in this story by Oyeniran Apata, appeals to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for speedy process of his pension benefits.
Mr. Babajide John Savage
Mr. Babajide John Savage, a retiree from the service of the Lagos State Government needs urgent attention and intervention of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and well-meaning people of the state to effect the payment of his pension benefits.
Bedridden Savage, who has been living on oxygen to stabilize his health, had a self sponsored surgical operation for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) at a specialist hospital, Fortis Hospital, Munbai, India.
Shortly after 32 years of excellent service as a teacher at New Era Senior Girls Secondary School, Surulere, under the Education District IV, Sabo, Yaba in 2012, Savage took ill and was diagnosed of an ailment called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Savage in an appeal letter to the immediate past governor of the state wrote: ‘I have processed my retirement benefits through the appropriate ministry and my file had been cleared at audit department at Alausa and returned to Lagos State Pension Commission for payment.
Unfortunately, Savage’s name was missing out in the last payment of pension arrears of about N11 billion ordered by Governor Ambode.
Saddened at this development and the urgent need to travel for checkup
in India, Savage in a ‘Save A Soul’ letter to the governor wrote: “Your Excellency it may interest you to note that I spent N3.2 million which was converted to $20,000. I travelled around 31st July and returned back to Nigeria on 15th September 2014.
“I did the operation and am currently living on oxygen to stabilize my breathing. Please help me to facilitate the release of my bond for me to pay up my debts and travel back to India for medical check-up and your support also will be highly be appreciated,” Savage wrote in pains and tears.
However, two weeks after Daily Independent visited LASPEC, no concrete development had taken place on his case as officials said his case was
being looked into.
As members of his children, family and friends watch as Savage lie helplessly in pains on his sick bed, apparently unaware of his precarious health condition, Officials in charge of his pension benefits with oracle number 33044 assured that his case would be given special consideration as August runs to an end.
The question is will he live to collect his pension benefits and enjoy it thereafter?
As Savage counts on divine intervention that will touch the heart of the governor for the payment of his pension benefits, he said in a frail voice, “I am begging them to pay the money. I do not have anything and I want to live,” he said.
Acclaimed Nigeria’s Adunni Olorisa, Evelyn Osagie, a culture journalist with The Nation newspapers, has added another feather to her creative cap. She will be making her debut as an artist this Saturday at a group exhibition by GreenHouse Empowerment Centre in Olambe, Ogun State.
Evelyn Osagie
The exhibition, which is led by Prof Bruce Onobrakpeya, will also feature works of 12 celebrated artists, such as Sam Ovraiti, Princess Theresa Iyase-Odozi, Dr. Mabel Oluremi Awogbade, Ato Arinze, Stella Awoh, K.K.Olojo, Juliet Ezenwa Pearce, Bolaji Ogunwo, Stella Ubigho and Oke Ibem Oke. The two-month exhibition will be opening on September 12 at the prestigious Princess Theresa Iyase-Odozi’s Green House Art Empowerment Centre, Olambe, Ogun State.
From being one of the fresh voices promoting artistic collectives and their crafts through her insightful pieces, Osagie, who is also a performance poet, has joined the league of those documenting Nigeria’s rich cultural and artistic heritage through photography.
Inspired by two renowned female artists, Lauren Greenfield and Elisa Paloschi, Osagie brings her experiences covering the arts/culture sector to bear in her photography.
In line with the exhibition’s theme, Nigerian Visual Artists and Politics, Osagie will be showcasing a body of work, featuring nine pieces in coloured and monochrome in varying sizes. Her displays spotlight issues such as politics, tourism, culture/art, artistic and religious expressions, hope, peace and unity, among others.
Her body of work explores the interaction between people, their art, environment andattendant power-play. The pieces, spanning eight years of her journalist career, feature images showcasing places like Idanre and Osogbo; artists/poets like Prof Wole Soyinka, Odia Ofeimun, Chief Muraina Oyelami of Iragbiji, the late Suzanne Wenger; religion; children, and 2011 and 2015 elections.
Osagie’s choice of subject arises from the desire to share in the stories that unfold around her. She says she sees photograph as an artistic self-expression of reality; thus, she uses her camera to unearth and explore the world around her.
“I have always imagined photograph as unspoken MEMORY garnished with experience. Whether it is a walk down a hill with a friend, the serene town resting in between mountains or the embrace of two iconic poets, each image is a memory of diverse tales in man’s existence.
“Capturing these unspoken scenes in a flash is what excites me as a journalist and artist. The most exciting of all, which I consider beautiful, is that each of those moment s are kept alive in photographs,” she said.
Born in Lagos, Osagie’s foray into photography dated back to her undergraduate days at the University of Benin, where she engaged in poetry performances, creative writing and other artistic endeavours. As a student, this graduate of English and Literature became interested in landscape and wildlife, while visiting relations, and other universities, canvassing for a joint-undergraduate writers’ association.
An award winning journalist, Osagie’s reportorial engagements have also touched a plethora of issues bordering on cultural advocacy; women and child rights; civil rights; mental health; and a host of others.
On the advocacy front, she has been deeply engaged in campaigns, seminars, workshops and other commitments aimed at fostering better policies in rights protection for many Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organisations.
Though the Nigerian movie industry otherwise known as Nollywood has improved tremendously in terms of quality and quantity but it has become a rarity to invest in an advocacy movie of high quality. Interestingly, these kind of films overtime have made more impact in the society in nominal movies. From Mortal Inheritance and the likes, these movies have really made huge statements in tinsel town.
Currently, Dry, an international standard movie is the talk of the town not only because of the aesthetics of the flick but because of the import of the drama film which focuses on the evil of Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF),a condition that arises from obstetric complications.
Briefly, Dry is a 2014 film directed by Stephanie Linus, starring Stephanie Linus, Zubaida Ibrahim Fagge,William McNamara and Liz Benson. Others are Dartwin Shaw, Olu Jacobs, Hakeem Rahman, Hauwa Maina, Klint Da Drunk,Rekiya Attah, Paul Sambo, among others.The movie is a response to the child marriage controversy which pervaded the media since 2013.
It is the story of a 13-year-old girl, Halima (Zubaida Ibrahim Fagge), whose poor and uneducated parents marries her off to Sani (Tijjani Faraga), a 60 year old man, who constantly rapes her. Halima gets pregnant and suffers Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) after child delivery. She’s consequently abandoned by her husband and discriminated against in the society.
The making of Dry was inspired by a true life story of a lady Okereke she met in Northern Nigeria.
“I have been to the North and to other parts of the country, and I have seen first-hand how this health issue defies normal living for girls and women of different ages. I have decided to share their stories through Dry. The issue might seem controversial, but if it will set one girl free and open the minds of the people, and also instructs different bodies and individuals to take action, then the movie would have served its purpose,” she said.
According to Linus, it took an upward of three years to produce the film though it was reported in September 2012 that Stephanie Okereke just hit location for the film.The film marked the return of Liz Benzon to the big screen after a long time of absence from the industry.
To understand the importance of eradicating this anomaly, Kikelomo Bello of the International Development Studies Department, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax NS, Canada did a comprehensive research of the theme of the movie.
This interplay determines the status of women, their health, nutrition, fertility, behaviour, and susceptibility to VVF (WHO 1989).
Under various sub-topics, Bello stated that the physical factors that influence the incidence of VVF include obstructed labour, accidental surgical injury related to pregnancy, and crude attempts at induced abortion.
The single most important economic factor contributing to the prevalence of VVF is poverty, especiallyin rural areas. According to the WHO 1991 Report on Obstetric Fistulae, women with fistulae come almost exclusively from poor families and communities. In her 1981 Zaria study, Murphy indicated that her data pointed to the fact that fistula patients usually come from poor subsistence farming backgrounds (Murphy 1981; Murphy and Baba Tukur 1981).
Shot partly in Aberystwyth, Wales and Nigeria, the 122 minutes movie has the input of a Hollywood movie. The plot is superb, characterisation, impressive, props, setting, costume-believable.
On a recent visit to the Silverbird Cinemas, Ikeja, the number of movie buffs queuing to watch the movie lent credence to the fact that Stephanie did her home work very well. At the end of the movie, most movie lovers were seen dabbing their eyes and discussing about pertinent issues surrounding the theme of the flick.
Nigerian media have been urged to focus more on the rural poverty reporting in order to ensure grassroots development in the country.
Experts at a media workshop for select print journalists on Solution-Driven Rural Poverty Reporting in Lagos organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) with support of World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) said the media need to do more in the area of reporting poverty issues.
Dr. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Head of Department, Mass Communication, University of Lagos said poverty is a global concern but the magnitude is what the problem is really. She declared that media messages on the glaring and growing rural poverty in Nigeria could bring to the fore the issue and a possible intervention to alleviate it.
“Poverty is under reported. We can look at politics and business as entry point to report poverty. If we really deserve development, poverty issues should be reported, media should set agenda for government in order to achieve solution. When we amplify poverty issues, policy makers pay attention. If poverty could be dealt with, other problems would also be addressed,” she said.
According to her, poverty goes beyond mere measurement of a household’s expenditure or welfare; adding poverty has many dimensions and may include inadequate access to government utilities and services, environmental issues, poor infrastructure, illiteracy and ignorance, poor health, insecurity, migration and internally displaced persons, social and political exclusion.
Director, IPC, Lanre Arogundade said that poverty is an underlying factor in different aspects of our lives and it is important journalists report it in order to achieve development in the nation.
“Poverty is connected with politics, development, corruption, budget and it is important journalists have the necessary skills that will help them conduct investigations and do in-depth reports on rural poverty conditions. This is imperative because we all pay the price of poverty,” he said.
The Anti-pipeline vandalism squad of the Nigerian Police on Thursday arraigned three men before a Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly conspiring to illegally deal in petroleum product contrary to provisions of the Miscellaneous Offence Act of 2007.
The suspects – Tijani Gbadamosi, 48; Adeleke Akininbosun, 54 and Kenneth Okoria, 39, were said to have been arrested on August 17, 2015 at Ijaniki area of Lagos while attempting to illegally transport the stolen petroleum products to Republic of Benin.
The suspects were alleged to have unlawfully loaded a Mercedes truck with registration number YB 200 EKY with 70 drums containing 100 litres each.
In count one, the accused persons were accused of conspiring to commit felony to wit dealing in petroleum product without appropriate authority, contrary to Section 3 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act of 2007.
In count two, the accused persons were equally said to have dealt in petroleum product without license contrary to Section 1 (7) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, Cap M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act 2007.
In count three, the accused persons illegally dealt in petroleum products belonging to the Pipeline and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), with intent to import, sell, and distribute, thereby committing an offence under Section 17 (b) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, Cap M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act 2007.
After the accused were arraigned before Justice Mohammed Yunusa, they all pleaded not guilty, while their lawyers, McAnthony and O.A Akinlaja prayed for time to file necessary bail applications.
The request was not opposed by the prosecution represented by Omosun Mathew and Justin Enang.
Justice Yunusa consequently adjourned the matter to September 11 for hearing of the bail application and ordered the accused to be remanded pending the next adjourned date.
In a related development, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has arraigned two persons before a Federal High Court in Lagos for obstructing officials of the agency from performing their lawful duties of safeguarding the health of the citizens.
The accused persons – Biodun Ilesanmi and Tafik Aderogba were picked up in various locations in Lagos for obstructing the members of the Federal Task Force of NAFDAC set up to combat counterfeit and fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods in the country.
Aderogba, who was arrested on September 3, 2015 at Ilasa area of Agbanan in Lagos, was arraigned on a two-count charge before Justice Mohammed Yunusa.
The offence contravened Section 11 (1) (a) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap. C34, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 11 (2) of the same Act.
The offence also contravened Section 25 of NAFDAC Act Cap N1, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2005 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
Ilesanmi, who was picked up at Shop No 28 and 29, Mile 12 Market in Lagos on September 3, 2015, is also standing trial under the same Act.
10 years yesterday Ndaa Chineke dropped to our world of music, blazing fort, shattering the air waves, smashing the record books and carting away all known prizes including the Nigerian Music Award, Highlife record of the year, 2008. With it’s peculiar melody and rhythm, something different, an infusion of God’s music (gospel) highlife and indigenous, Igbo orchestra, Ndaa Chineke made it’s entrance sitting on the throne.
Come Sunday, October 4, 2015 at the prestigious Rock View Hotel Owerri, Ugo Stephenson, will be celebrating, 10 years of Ndaa Chineke the award winning Highlife music that took the dancing public and music world by storm 10 years ago. October 4 is not all about the flagship Ndaa Chineke, it also showcases, the other sides of Ugo Stephenson. This compere extraordinaire, composer, musician, theatre and drama artiste and playwright will also serve for your enjoyment his ANA shortlist drama, Pride of The Living.
Expected for your entertainment and pleasure are the crème de la’creme of the Nigerian music industry including, but not limited to Sunny Nneji, Lagbaja, prince Morocco Maduka, Tedy Goodman. From the Nollywood stable we have, Francis Duru, Sam Dede, Charles Awurum and Onyeka Onwenu. It is not ended yet, the comedy world will drop top class comedians like Uche Ogbuagu, Julius Agwu, Charles Inojie and Banana Mouth.
The event promises to be the best musical show east of the Niger in 2015 as it is the celebration of the best from the shore line.
The highpoint of the day’s event will be the presentation of the Pride of the Living (a drama) and album lunch of ‘Oke Mmadu’-another of the musical works of ugo Stephenson. It is a day for the best of highlife music, comedy, and entertainment in a serene and wonderful environment.
Many watched Tales By Moonlight as children and the values it thought still remain with them till today. It was both fun and educative at the same time. No child in the eighties dare miss the show. But the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) finally pulled the plug on the show. We also remember Jimi Sholanke on Storyland with his guitar telling tales and singing songs to children.
Well, children of today will not be missing out as Jimi Sholanke is back. The Master Storyteller, Legendary Jimi Solanke, returns to television in a grand style doing what he knows to do best, telling stories. He is in the new show titled Once Upon A Time, produced by Glass House Entertainment.
Once Upon A Time is a 30 minutes African storytelling television show that aims at bringing the rich African storytelling tradition and culture to life, where children from different parts of a village come together at the setting of the sun just to listen to a storyteller narrate interesting and at the same time educational fairy tales.
Once Upon A Time is shot in a modern-traditional style and aims at reminding Africans of the roots of their culture. It also aims at bringing childhood memories to life. The primary purpose of the show is to educate its audience as well as entertain them. ONCE UPON A TIME is a show that everyone anywhere, both young and old, would want to run home to sit in front of their television to watch.
The major target audience of Once Upon A Time are the African children, to help them relate with the intriguing yet educational part of the African culture. The show would also be found captivating by the African youths and adults, being able to share memories with their young ones, thus bringing a smile to everyone’s face.
The grand final for Aquafina Elite Model Look contest will take place on Sunday but staff of Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc at Ijora and Ikeja plant had a feel of runway experience when contestants visited the company on Wednesday.
Speaking at the event Managing Director, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, Mr. Sunil Sawhney said: “Aquafina Elite Model Look creates partnership and associations for dreams to come true. Seven-up Bottling Company believes in Nigerian youth and believes in ensuring the Nigerian youth reaches his or her full potential in life.”
According to the Head of Marketing, SBC, Norden Thurston, “Aquafina Elite Model Look has changed the lives of many boys and girls who dreamt of being international models and saw that dream as too big to achieve. Aquafina Premium Drinking Water is a brand that symbolises purity and beauty is so pure you can’t hide it hence the brands sponsorship of Aquafina Elite Model Look.”
At the Ikeja Plant, the General Manager, Mr. Dele Abioye took the contestants round the plant and showed them the processes involved in the production of the water. He expressed satisfaction with their comportment and wished them successful outings.
The visit was both entertaining and exciting as staff strut the runway and winning goodie bags and other prizes in a mock finale.
All is now set for the grand finale to decide who takes over from Victor Ndigwe and Mayowa Nicolas, the 2014 winners. The two models just came back from abroad after signing an international modelling contract.
After all the hype that preceded the eventual release of the movie, there was still some skepticism about the eventual end product. Stolen Lives have been brandished in the media as the next best movie to break the bill boards. Some critics without even watching the movie said viewers will be queuing up at the cinemas to see the movie. Things like that has been said about many other movies and at the end viewers regretted ever shedding their N1,000 on a movie. But that is how the movie world works. The proper hype is needed to promote any movie – good or bad.
Also, my skepticism stems from the fact that Stolen Lives is produced by a green horn, Emmanuel Williams. Williams have worked in a few production before, but stolen lives is his first feature film which he produced all by himself. There was a press screening recently and I was blown away by what I saw. The event held at the Ozone Cinema in Lagos and it had a considerable amount of the cast in attendance.
Stolen lives was not Hollywood standard, but a good story played out beautifully. The film revolves around Amarachi (Owunmi Ugbeye) who is a brilliant young girl whose parents have high hopes on. When she could not make the cut off mark for her chosen course, she was forced to stay another year at home. It was in this hiatus that she began to go out more with her cousin Janette who got admission and is hanging out with campus party girls. Amarachi went for one party with them and was raped in the process.
She could not tell her parents and friends who did the deed and was eventually kicked out of the house. Her friends did not fare well either. Her cousin Janette ended up being HIV Positive. Jumoke fell in love with a cultist and Anita found solace in the arms of older men to make-up for little attention she gets from her father. One of them eventually shot herself, but who could it be? Who is the father of Amarachi’s child? And will Amarachi be received back by her parents. These are the questions stolen lives answers, or does it?
The movie, has in it stars like Alex Ekubo, IK Ogbonna, Ruth Kadiri, Omi Ugbeye, Beverly Naya, Jide Kosoko, Bulky Wright, Kunle Coker, Biola Williams among others. The crew did a good job. The lightings and sound were done well. The scripting was apt. The sequences followed in precise order and with hints of humour and suspense. Will Stolen Lives get all the awards next year? Probably not, but the nominations will surely pour in.
