By Aramide Oikelome  - Lagos

As Christians in Nigeria and other parts of the world prepare for the 16^th edition of the Annual Holy Ghost Congress of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), the Special Assistant to the General Overseer on Administration and Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola has assured that this year’s Congress will be different from past Congresses as adequate arrangements have been made to host the mammoth crowd that the power-packed event is going to attract.

He said the church is leaving no stone unturned and has embarked on significant investments on a number of infrastructures such as accommodation, conveniences, construction of additional motor parks and so on, to ameliorate the hitherto unpleasant experiences and hiccups associated with past congresses.

Odesola said this at a media parley organized to intimate the media and by extension prospective participants with the great things God is set to do in the lives of His people through this year’s event.

Speaking on behalf of the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, popularly known as “Daddy GO”, Odesola said the theme of this year’s event tagged: “The Overflow” is strategic in the agenda of God for the nation because it is meant to assure Nigerians that in spite of the fact that many people are already disillusioned because of the ugly turn of events, Nigeria will get better as God translates individuals, families, communities and the nation at large from the quagmire of defeat and despondency to the pedestrian of overflowing blessings and peace.

The preacher, who also acknowledged that the Holy Ghost Congress has since transcended the confines of the Redeemed Church and become a national affair, added that, “The essence of the theme is to assure Nigerians that “contrary to the opinion of many that Nigeria is on the verge of total collapse, things will get better through the power of God.”

“The Congress is not for the church alone but for the nation. There is still hope for our nation even though we have challenges at hand. No nation is immune to problems. Nigeria will get better beyond 2015 even though many are disillusioned already.”

Buttressing his point with the scripture, which says that the powers that be are of God, he enjoined Nigerians to come together and seek divine help so that the nation can be restored to its rightful position.

Adding his voice, the Managing Editor of the Church’s magazine, Redemption Light, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi debunked insinuations that the programme of the church is responsible for the daily heavy traffic experienced by commuters along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“The incessant Lagos-Ibadan Expressway traffic is not caused by the programmes of RCCG because, even when the church does not have any programme, the traffic jam and its harrowing experience still persist daily. Hence, in order to ensure that the church is not in any way responsible for such, we have invested heavily on constructing as well as improving numerous car parks to ensure that during this Congress, nobody parks along the road,” he said.

“As far as we are concerned, there will be no traffic jam induced by the programme because many outlets have been opened and in terms of accommodating the crowd, the church is investing so much on infrastructure to ameliorate the suffering and inadequacies that are usually associated with such crowd,” he added.

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By Aramide Oikelome   –   Lagos

The General Overseer of Christ Crusaders’ Deliverance Ministries, Akute, Ogun State, Pastor Festus Adewole, has charged that for Nigeria to move forward, all the stakeholders in the political threshold must sheath their swords and allow peace to reign at all levels of government.

He also charged President Goodluck Jonathan, to look beyond personal interest and gains and coordinate his team to achieve credible and peaceful transition during his tenure.

Speaking at a media parley held during the week, Adewole lamented that the present administration as led by President Goodluck Jonathan is characterized by selfish leaders who do not have the interest of the Nigerian masses at heart and warned that posterity will not forgive any leader who, because of personal interest, drags the ship of the nation into perdition.

“It is so unfortunate that our leaders have no vision. Before election, they campaign for selfish interest and after winning election; they sit back and begin to amass wealth for themselves and their household. Their focus is monetary gain, acquisition of properties and ostentatious living as if they will live forever. Some even rule by killing their opponents. Some also live by killing innocent souls to renew covenantwith the devil for sustenance in office or for second term agenda. All will end one day. Where are some of the leaders of yesterday? They are in the grave. I am surprised that they did not bury any of them with foreign currency,” lamented the cleric.

“One thing I know is that everybody will give account of his stewardship one day. If you have so much money that could fill up a whole city, one day you will die and leave the rest for the living. They will not bury you with your wealth. Life is all about contribution,” he added.

Adewole, who stated categorically that there is no Messiah among the present crop of politicians and leaders in Nigeria, also urged clerics and religious leaders to pray fervently that God should come to our rescue as “what is happening in Nigeria presently is beyond everyone and only the hand of God can deliver.”

To this end, he assured that the second annual convention of the church, billed to hold from Wednesday, December 11, to Sunday, December 15, 2013, with the theme: Give Me This Mountain, will be dedicated to pray for Nigeria, that God might intervene and bring about peace.

Adewole further solicited for a peaceful democratic rule in Nigeria, stressing the imminent danger of the recent massive merger of political parties and the politicians that are crossing from one party to the other.

“I do not know why these politicians are crossing from one political party to another but what is important is whether or not their reasons are of any benefit to Nigeria and Nigerians.”

Seizing the opportunity to invite Nigerians to the convention, scheduled to hold at the church camp ground located at Glory Avenue, Lambe, Ogun State, the cleric assured that there shall be varieties of deliverance sessions, workshops and teaching during the five days camping programme.

“We would also be presenting the first set of students of our Bible College for graduation. Expected guest ministers include Apostle Sunday Akingbelure, Apostle Ademola Oladejo and Rev. Oluwapemi while the guest artiste is Evangelist Dare Melody. God said through the programme, heaven will kiss the earth and everything that individuals, corporate bodies or the nation has lost in the journey of destiny shall be restored like in the days of Caleb,” he assured.

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By Yemi Adebisi  -  Acting Head, Literary/Arts

Most literary critics have over-flogged the attitude of reading culture of Nigerians, which was assumed to be dying gradually as values are shifting from moral uprightness, literary dexterity, creativity among others to things that does not increase the individual psyche.

Some experts even said Nigeria has reached an educational crossroad which was said to have underscored the need for the development of a healthy, robust reading culture.

One of the few activists in the forefront of this crusade, Koko Kalango, a woman described in several reports, as being possessive of rare passion for literary resurgence has used different fora through her literary hang-out, Rainbow Book Club (RBC) to woo Nigerians to reading.

Some of the big fishes that have entered her net include Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Raji Fashola and Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi. Her Get Nigeria Reading Again campaign has contributed immensely to national development.

Kalango, who wanted the best for the youth said, “A reading people is a thinking people. In a reading society, a thinking society, when we see a broken down fuel tanker, we do not take our buckets and go there to fetch petrol to sell for a little money. In a reading society, when ravaging floods turn our country into one vast swimming pool and our possessions are floating away before our eyes and we realise our livelihood is threatened, society as a whole would come together to find a solution to find a way to survive. The reading society does not take the law into their hands, and kill people without mercy.”

She admitted that it was just a passion for reading that brought her to what she was doing. “I did not sit down and plan to start doing this. It first started as a hobby. Then, I looked around and saw there was a need and I tried to meet the need. I just wanted to start a reading campaign and talk to children and this has gone along way,” she said.

Kalango has not only pushed youth into reading and turned back; she is also a book worm.

Her favorite books include, memoir, biography, comics, newspapers among others.

When asked the reason why she chose literature since it was not her field of study, she said, “That is the importance of reading and you see what reading does to me. We have a library in the town. Our house was not too far from there. My parents are educated and they used to give us books to read. As a child, my daddy driver would take me on Saturday to the library, drop me and come back later to pick me. I remembered on one occasion I was very ill in the hospital and my father went to Port Harcourt club to buy me series of comics. So basically I am a good example of what children who read can do. I used to read the literary activities of a paper as well.”

Kalango, who studied French, has tried her hands on a number of things, including teaching but her crave for books made her establish a bookshop in Port Harcourt. Aside promoting reading culture in the country, she was also committed to having quality books being produced.

Her thirst for improving reading culture has earned Port Harcourt, the world book capital by UNESCO.

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By Grace Edema

The joy that comes with the Christmas season is once again in the air! As such, food business areas, including eateries, restaurants, bakeries and others should start to wear new Christmas look to attract customers.

By now, restaurant owners should have finalised plans on how to make the restaurant or food service operation a fun and festive place to be. Presently, every restaurant owner and eatery proprietor is making frantic efforts to ensure that they share in the celebration by decorating their operation rooms with various Christmas décor.

This is also the season of interior decorators, many of them smiling to the bank after working for large food business areas at prices ranging from N50,000 upward depending on the size.

The colour of Christmas, which is usually green, wine (red) and gold, are already adorning most eateries and restaurants. Right from the entrance of the eatery, captivating décor objects are seen. When Christmas decorations go up, the spirit of your customers and employees alike also follow suit.  Most of these gigantic objects are a form of attraction to both children and adults who, out of curiosity, would patronise the restaurant, just to catch more fun.

Atmosphere is probably at least half of the reason people are drawn to a certain place to eat. If restaurant operation is decorated to the tilt, and appears to offer a genuine feeling of Christmas cheer, customers would be more likely to choose such business environment to hold their parties.

To reduce cost, it is advisable to decorate the restaurant by yourself with assistance from employees. However, if you desire unique professionalism and have the money, you can go ahead with it.

Some few tips 

Organise and categorise the existing decorations.

Take out all Christmas decorations and ensure that everything is in working order.

Assess the contents and make sure they are modern and match the restaurant’s brand identity.

Clean before you decorate 

Make sure the restaurant sparkles before you begin to put the Christmas decorations.

Dust all fixtures, clean the windows, and make sure all your walls, ceilings and floors are spotless.

Assign each staff member a section of the restaurant to decorate; this will speed up the process.

Select theme 

Before you begin decorating, make a plan for the restaurant.

Ensure that the Christmas colour of red and green match well with the existing colours of the operation.

You can also check online for different themes or take a trip to your local arts and crafts store for more ideas.

Like branding, all your decorations should have a cohesive flow matching the themes and colours of your restaurant.

Use natural elements 

There is no need to spend thousands of naira on new, fancy decorations.

Natural elements such as evergreen branches, leaves or berries with candles and other natural items can also be used to create the impression you want.

It is also advisable to get a real Christmas tree; so that the tree’s natural fragrance will alert customers’ senses.

You can also wrap up kitchen pots, coolers with Christmas decorating items. They can be placed on the food shelf to add more taste.

Glass vases are inexpensive as well as versatile items to use for decorating. Fill it up with water, add Christmas-coloured objects, food colourings and float candles in them. Place one on each table.

Dress up lighting fixtures 

You can add Christmas decorating items to beautify your lightings.

Bring a complete change to your lighting arrangements by including a few brighter Christmas lights to make the entrance more attractive and an element of festive cheer.

The Christmas lights are usually one of the most evocative items that describe the Christmas event.

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Despite the prevailing harsh economic situation in the country, with the resultant low purchasing power of the citizens, some families would still be engaged in the handling of large volumes of various food items during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Several weddings, house-warming and family gathering celebrations are likely to feature prominently at this period of the year. One of the challenges home-makers will face is that of preservation and storage of foods such as birds, fish, fruit juice, ice cream and sundry packaged drinks. Most of the frozen poultry consumed in Nigeria during this season are imported under unhygienic conditions. That is where freezing comes in.

Freezing of foods by keeping them at temperatures below zero degrees Celsius has been one of the most effective methods of food preservation engaged in by farmers, fishermen and hunters since the early times. While these took place in unheated buildings during the cold season, by 1912, a man called Clarence Birdseye had started to offer quick-frozen foods to the public. The invention of refrigerators and subsequently deep freezers made freezing a household preservative choice from the 20th Century. And soon, they became common items in homes of the super-rich and supermarkets.

Additional preservatives are not required, as micro-organisms, including the disease-causing ones (pathogens), hardly grow at temperatures below -9.5 degrees Celsius. A chemical called Carboxymethylcellulase (CMC), which is both odourless and tasteless, is typically added as a stabiliser because it does not change the textural and organoleptic qualities of the frozen foods.

One of the advantages of freezing is that it slows down the decomposition of the food, as residual moisture is converted to ice, thereby inhibiting the growth of most species of bacteria. The process is called Individually Quick Frozen (IQF). However, freezing should be conducted at lower temperatures if the food items are meant to be preserved for longer period of time.

Nutritional losses during freezing

Although there are claims that food items retain their colours, taste and texture after freezing, it is not unusual to find some frozen chicken looking paler than the fresh ones. The freezing of ice into small blocks do crush the tissues thereby making them tender. But of concern to nutritionists is the loss of some vital vitamins as scientific research has shown. These include:

Vitamin A (Beta-carotene). Found in green, leafy vegetables, eggs, liver, cod liver oil, cheese and palm oil, the loss is little compared to some others during freezing and occurs most if the time for the process lasts long.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamin). Present in enriched cereals and grains, the loss is put at 25 per cent of its content. Thiamin dissolves easily in water and is destroyed by heat.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) is found in milk, yoghurt and enriched cereals. Though research is not conclusive, its loss during freezing is put at between four and 18 per cent. Loss has been identified to be caused more by the method of preparing the food, especially vegetables, than the freezing process itself.

Factors to be considered during freezing

Since quick freezing does not add to the physical quality of the food, care should be taken so that only good quality, matured and fresh foods are put forward for freezing. To minimise physical and biochemical changes, the food to be frozen should b passed through temperatures of between -1 and -5 degrees Celsius quickly.

Also, once it is removed from the freezer, the food should not be exposed to humid or warm environmental conditions.

Ideal packaging for frozen foods

To protect the health of consumers, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) officials should inspect and monitor the cold storage facilities in use in the urban centres. Moreso with the erratic electric power supply here in Nigeria. To prevent any form of contamination, materials used for packaging frozen foods should be of good quality to keep away dust, smoke, unclean water and sources of viruses and bacteria. Cover the frozen chicken or turkey with the recommended cellophane package after washing the exterior.

On the issue of mass production and preservation, each warehouse should be of adequate capacity to take the entire food items. It should be equipped with suitable mechanical refrigeration under anticipated conditions of outside temperature and peak loading, maintaining a reasonably steady air temperature of 0⁰F (-180C) or colder in all cold storage areas in which frozen foods are stored.

Each storage area should be equipped with two or more accurate and calibrated temperature measuring devices and at least one continuous recording device, installed to reflect the correct average air temperature. Temperature of each area should be recorded and dated each day. A file of such temperatures should be maintained for a period of at least two years. A member of management should review the continuous recording within one business day of its completion to ensure proper temperature at all times.

It is recommended that refrigeration equipment installations include an audible or visual alarm system that will activate when refrigeration failure occurs. This alarm mechanism enhances rapid response to frozen foods’ exposure to adverse storage temperature. Telephone, electronic mail, text messaging or other appropriate communication systems should be used to immediately notify responsible parties if temperature deviations occur outside of normal business operating hours (e.g nights, weekends and holidays).

Considering the vast population of Nigerians, many of who will continue to depend more on frozen foods either for consumption or economic gains, there is still much more to do. We have higher temperatures here than in the temperate region. International standards must be set and met. Conditions under which the frozen foods are imported, stored and sold should be of concern to the relevant regulatory agency, e.g. NAFDAC.

Nigeria should not be made a dumping ground for expired foreign frozen food. The smuggling of such should be curtailed. That is one of the many reasons NAFDAC should continue to stay at the ports.

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Pastor Olukunle Abraham Akinosun is the President of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Worldwide. In this interview with Senior Correspondent, Aramide Oikelome, he speaks on the crisis in CAC, the deal with the late Prophet Obadare and what the church is doing to end the crisis. Excerpts:

When will you lift the embargo on creation of districts and zones?

Pastor Olukunle Abraham Akinosun

We placed embargo on establishment of districts and zones because we wanted to check some abuses we noticed. We have since achieved stability in this regard.

We have also placed embargo on ordination of ministers since my assumption of office. This we did because all these things have been bastardized. We sent memo to all the CAC branches. We said we wanted total restructuring of everything. It will soon be lifted when all the policy inputs from our districts and zones have been codified. Indeed, we are already codifying the contributions made by our branches.

Was there crisis before you assumed office?

The crisis or challenges facing the church is about 23 years old now. It started in 1991 when strange things, foreign things that the church was not known with started to creep into the church. Evangelism was being merchandised. Before you knew it, people started planting independent churches within the church. The people responsible for these acts were warned repeatedly, but when the people refused to yield to the warning, the authority had to take some steps to discipline them, particularly the leader that started that thing. He and his sympathizers were suspended and instead of apologizing and repenting, they took the authority to court to challenge the suspension. The judgment said that the authority of the church had the right to suspend them. Then they went to appeal court, the case is yet to be determined.

How have you been able to quell some of the crisis to achieve relative peace?

You see, right after my assumption into office as the president, I took it upon myself to visit the leader of the factions, to make him see the need to end this impasse and he promised me.But after that, instead of abiding by what we agreed to do to end the crisis, some of them that do not want the crisis to end started throwing stones and calling names. Some of them said I was seeking for cheap popularity; that that was why I was visiting them to end the crisis.

The problem made the authorities, general executive council go to court in order to know the authentic church and by the judgment of 1^st March, 2011, that said our side is the authentic church and since 1998, and that Supreme (a faction of CAC) has ceased to exist. They are existing illegally and they said that we should do all we could do to show that we are the authentic church recognized by the government.

But you know, we are brothers, despite the problems, they are still CAC members.That is why we have been so lenient. We have been appealing to them because we do not want to enforce the ruling. If we had wanted to enforce it, we would have closed their assemblies.

After that judgment, they gave themselves titles instead of repenting. But we are still appealing to them to come back.

That means some of them are still stubborn?

Yes, some of them even say they are the authentic, even without having license, without having trustees.

Could it be that some people are using CAC church to satisfy their agenda?

That is what is happening. We are being patient to see that the crisis is over before enforcing the judgment because we are still going to address all these things. You cannot just go and build something and put CAC there. CAC is a registered name but people don’t care and they are abusing it because of the crisis on ground. If you challenge any of them now, he or she will say he does not belong to your side.

But Obadare tried to reconcile all the parties before he passed on?

When he was agile, he came to our meeting when we were holding peace meeting that time. He said God directed him to hands off his division, that God directed him that his followers should join the mainstream. We told him that in all the court litigations, his name used to appear as first plaintiff and we told him that his lawyer should write to all the courts that his name should be withdrawn, but before he died he couldn’t do it.

You see we learnt that some people dissuaded him from withdrawing. But before he died, he sent his first son to us. He came here, several times we held meetings with him and we told him to go and appeal to his people.

I’m in interested in this heaven encounter Obadare had, is it on tape?

What Obadare said was God directed him to hands off the entire crisis. But the condition we gave him was that he should go and withdraw his name from the litigations in court, it was at a meeting.

Since Obadare decided to end the crisis before he died, are you thinking about bringing WOSEM back to the fold?

That was the task given to Pastor Paul, Obadare’s first son. I told him that the ‘the problem in the CAC is the problem with WOSEM and now that baba sent you to us that there is no more acrimony, go and bring your people’. I asked him to go and tell them what baba directed him to do. ‘Go and convince them and he told us that he was going to do his best. But he came back that they refused to listen to him.

When the final burial of Prophet Obadare took place, many were surprised that you and other CAC principal officers were not there. What was responsible for this?

The burial has come and gone, we give glory to God. Why not allow the matter to die like that. As for non-attendance at Prophet Obadare’s funeral, it was due to very tight schedule I had at the time. I had scheduled some activities for that period before the burial committee decided to fix the burial date for that same period. You could say why not send people, I want to assure you that our people were at the burial.

But contrary to what many people think, we invited him (Paul Obadare), here that we wanted to know about the programme and be a part of it because his father was beyond CAC. He said they were going to make an international programme and they made it. He said Obadare was not for CAC alone and because of that the programme was going to be international in nature.

Do you see an end of this crisis soon?

You can see the hand of God in it all; that the crisis is ending by the end of the year. Other factions are thirsty for reunification and by the grace of God; by the end of the year we are going to be one again.

How do you hope to stop the court cases involving CAC?

There are not many court cases. All the cases in court now are at the instance of our brothers on the other side. There is an appeal by our brothers on the other side against the civil case in which the registered Trustees of the church and the General Executive Council were adjudged to be the authentic authority of the Church. There is also a criminal case being pursued by them at the Federal High Court, Ibadan against our leaders. On our part, we have withdrawn all cases instituted by us against them. They are the ones still prosecuting the criminal case against our leaders. We cannot force them to withdraw the cases, if they think that is what would settle the matter.

Christians are expected to be gentle and straightforward, why is it that we have politics in the church?

I don’t think it is politics, I think it is selfishness, inordinate ambition, looking for fame and big name. Instead of working for the development and growth of the church, individuals seek popularity.

Looking at the pictures of the past leaders of the CAC hung on the wall, they are all Yoruba, does it mean that the church is just for the Yoruba people alone?

It is a global church. The picture you are seeing are those of past presidents, they were all Yoruba because the revival started here.It is normal; the secretary is allocated to the eastern area.

Many pastors claim to belong to the CAC family, but their conduct and tenets are different from that of the church, are you planning to do something about it?

What you have just said is one of the many negative effects of the crisis in the church. If you want to do something and you approach the church planter to correct them, they tell you that they don’t belong to your side. This is the main reason why we are very concerned about the crisis. Once we are able to unite the church, no one who is not a Christ Apostolic adherent will be able to use the name. That day is closer than before by the grace of God.

How do you know the original from the fake?

You see, you will know if you are familiar with the church, we are easily identified.

What are those things to look for in them?

The CAC doctrine will show you the type of people you are relating with, for example, the Sunday School is number 1, number 2, we have doctrine, even about our dressing, we live in moderation, we hold the Bible, the Word of God as the authentic authority that nobody can amend or revise but whenever you see a CAC that is not acting on the pronouncement of the Word of God as it is in the Bible, that one is not a CAC. Listening to the sermon of CAC, you will really know, they are heaven conscious.

How long have you been on this seat as the president of CAC?

About two years now. I spent one year as General Superintendent before becoming the President.

What are the current challenges facing your administration on the unity of the church and how are you tackling them?

Since assuming office, I have faced several challenges, but none has been tougher than the power and enablement of our God. We have overcome them all. Glory be to God. If I start recounting how they were overcome, that will mean that I am ascribing the power to overcome to myself. But we thank God that the labour of our founding fathers on the unity of the church is not in vain. However, in 1990/1991, the leadership of the church then took bold steps to do some re-organization to instill sanity in the church. Some erring pastors then had to be disciplined. This did not go down well with some people and they took steps against the actions of our leaders.

They went to court and up till today, the case is in the Appeal Court. On March 1, 2011, there was a Federal High Court judgment, which recognized the General Executive Council as the only authentic authority in the affairs of CAC and its constitution in 1998. With that judgment, there is no other body recognized anywhere as the authority of the church. On our own part, we are praying for the erring ones and those outside of the fold to come back. We are being patient to enforce the ruling because we believe that as brothers, we should be able to solve this problem within ourselves. But like I said earlier, whether the devil and his human agents like it or not, our church will become one again.

Since you assumed the position of President of Christ Apostolic Church, how would you assess your set goals and the achievement recorded so far?

We give God all the glory for the achievements recorded so far. Though there are achievements in terms of the goals I set on assumption of office, most of the goals are ongoing things. For instance, I promised to continue developing our university, Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), this is ongoing, considering the capital-intensive nature of university establishment. We want to give glory to God, our university was rated No 1 of private universities and 11^th in Nigeria, and we have over 60 professors in JABU.

The special area of the university is entrepreneurship. When we were processing the establishment of the university, and NUC saw our programme and enforced it on all other private universities. The professors there are not new; they are retired professors. Because of that we have highly experienced lecturers.

Besides, the developmental projects in the church’s camp at Ikeji are also ongoing. My promise to develop staff through academic training and spiritual development is also ongoing. Our ministers now have opportunity to develop themselves academically through the university and our seminary. The re-organization of the church administrative structure is also on-going. We have done serious re-structuring in a bid to be more efficient and effective administratively.

I also promised to develop more income-yielding ventures, very soon this will manifest for all to see. The CAC TV project will soon materialize by the grace of God. What is delaying it is that we are fine-tuning all the loose ends. As soon as we are satisfied that we have tightened the loose ends, we shall take off. When we do, it will be clear to everybody that we know our onions.

But I must confess that the only area where we have had some challenges is the issue of CAC unity. Much as I promised to unite the church factions and I actually took steps that I consider humanly possible to achieve this, it seemed that some people are not interested in peace. They double-crossed us at every point and throw spanners in the works. But I know with prayers, God will unite the church.

What is your vision for the church?

Whenever I get somewhere, I’m not always comfortable until I leave that place better than I met it. In all my works in the past 40 years in all the areas I have worked, I have left them better than I met it that is my vision for the church. I am sure that when I leave the office, it will be better than I met it in all areas- talk of ministers, laymen, departments, etc all of those departments are going to be better than I met them.

By the grace of God, we are marching forward to greater glory. We shall continue to develop the prayer camp at Ikeji and all the developmental projects we have lined up will be accomplished to the glory of God. We shall continue to do our utmost best to see to the resolution of the 23-year old conflict in the church. Besides, we shall continue to look for, and establish alternative sources of income for the church.

Nigeria is 53; would you say we are developing? If you were to advise our leaders, what would you say?

We have national development in terms of infrastructure and development of areas than that of 1960.  We had 3 regions in 1960, now we have 36 states. That is national development. But morally, I think we are retrogressing instead of developing. My candid suggestion for the politicians is to go to the drawing board, particularly to do something on the unemployment rate. It is a very sad situation.

My advice to the political office holders is to create employment for the youths. If there is employment in the country, we will have few idle hands, crime will be reduced. The politicians should be contented. Embezzlement should be discouraged. Another thing is to fix the power problem, many people depends on power to function. Our politicians should maintain what we have properly, not diverting it to private use.

Are we to expect new policy statement and proclamation concerning your church administration?

CAC is a dynamic church, whenever there is need to amend policy and change any administrative policy, we shall not shirk our responsibility. But only administrative policy may change with time; the basic doctrinal beliefs which were based on the Word of God remains unchangeable. They are established in heaven for all ages.

Some of the church leaders are being called one name or the other by their members, this they do to show that these leaders are well respected. Is this not idolization? 

General, district or regional overseers are biblical. But titles like your holiness, is like taking the position of God for oneself. I cannot bear such a title. There is Daddy GO or Papa, they call us Baba, though Jesus Christ said never call anyone your father but that is different from when you say somebody is your Baba. What Jesus said was that they should not arrogate the power of their creator to anybody, because they have only one father in heaven that cares for every need of His children.

How would you react to the recent trend in which young men are assuming the position of G.Os in churches?

It is a welcome development if the following conditions are met: a) the person who is the G. O. is truly a born again Christian; b) the Church is properly established; c) the motive is purely to expand Christ’s kingdom and is not for selfish or carnal intent. The last one is if the G. O. is genuinely called by God. I said this because it is not all churches that are properly established. Some churches are founded by taking away members from established church to form a new one, where the new founder, who might have served in that established church, now calls himself a G. O. That kind of church cannot be said to be properly established. You need to start on a clean slate.  That is the biblical way of founding a church. The new G. O. may also be motivated by desire to have his own empire. That motive is selfish and contrary to the main motive of preaching salvation in Christ. Some G. O.s are goaded into that position by members of the church who tell them it is high time they established their own church. Such people are called by the members and not God. It is normal for people to obey their masters. Whoever calls a minister dictates to him the rules of engagement, that is, he will give him instructions to follow. Where self-aggrandizement calls a person into the ministry, you don’t expect anything less in that ministry than to fulfill that desire. But where somebody is on fire for God, you will see it in his actions. By their fruits you will know them. The young G. O.s should be genuine and no matter how good they are, they must have their own mentors to whom they report for mentoring from time to time.

What do you have to say on the state of the nation?

Our nation is in a very delicate state at the moment due to the selfishness of our politicians. As long as our politicians remain in power, they don’t care a hoot what happens to the people they are purported to be governing. They are always concerned about being in power. But for goodness sake, is the main essence of power not in caring for the interest of the people? But in our own case, our politicians begin to think of the next election immediately after they get to power. They leave the needs of the people unattended to. This is improper. The polity is heated up now because politicians are locked in agitation over which part of the country would produce the next president. They are not focusing on issues that affect the people.  They are not offering alternative ideas on how best to solve the insecurity plague currently blighting our nation. Nobody is concerned enough to give us solution to the epidemic of kidnapping. Violent crimes are currently a malaise in all parts of the country, yet this doesn’t concern our politicians, neither is the issue of irregularity of power supply and the problem of youth unemployment their worry. The nation needs politicians who think first about the people.

What role do you envisage for the church in the current scheme of things?

All the church can do is to pray. We cannot join the political fray.Our weapon of warfare is not carnal. It has power to break strongholds. Then we should continue to speak out the truth. For instance, we should appeal to all politicians currently pitching their tents against the others, whether they are in power or in the opposition to please, allow God’s choice to be in power.

The post CAC ‘II reunite through God’s intervention – Akinosun appeared first on Daily Independent Newspapers.

Not all foods need to be stored in the fridge. Here are some examples, plus where to keep them instead.

Onions 

..

Store unpeeled onions in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location. The National Onion Association in the United States says unpeeled onions require air exposure to ensure optimum shelf life. So discard their plastic bags. Exception: Peeled onions should be kept in the fridge in a covered container.

Pumpkin 

This requires a well-ventilated location that’s also dry, dark and cool such as the basement, according to the CPMA.

Whole melons 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that watermelons lost some of their antioxidant (lycopene and beta-carotene) content when refrigerated. “Antioxidants in foods, including melons, are prone to degradation if they are not stored properly,” says Desiree Nielsen, a Vancouver-based registered dietitian. She suggests leaving whole melons on the counter at room temperature to maintain these antioxidants. Sliced melon should be covered and put in the fridge.

Garlic 

Never store garlic bulbs in the fridge; the CPMA says they can begin to sprout. Instead, store them in a dry, dark place.

Potatoes 

Spuds should be given a dark, cool and dry space, according to the Potato Growers of Alberta. Remove potatoes from their plastic or paper bags, and keep them unwashed in a well-ventilated cardboard box. If you wash potatoes before storing them, the moisture can spark decay.

Honey 

The Ontario Beekeepers’ Association says that honey should be kept in a tightly closed container at room temperature in a dry place. Honey’s acidic pH and sugar content keeps any spoiling microorganisms at bay. Refrigerating it can cause crystallisation, making it hard to spread. Honey will store in your cupboard for an indefinite period of time.

Whole tomatoes 

The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers say cold air can turn their flesh into mush.

Apricots, bananas, kiwi, peaches, plums and mangoes 

These can be kept on the counter until they ripen; they will retain nutrients better, says the Canadian Produce Marketing Association.

Coffee

Ground coffee and beans need airtight containers and a cool, dry and dark spot to retain their flavour and freshness. Freeze large amounts that won’t be used immediately. Wrap it in airtight bags, and store it for up to a month in the freezer.

•Culled from theloop.ca.

The post When you need no fridge appeared first on Daily Independent Newspapers.

By Yemi Adebisi  (With Agency reports)

Booker Prize winner Eleanor Catton, second left, at a photocall in London with fellow shortlisted authors, from left, Jhumpa Lahiri, Colm Tóibín, NoViolet Bulawayo and Ruth Ozeki

Late story teller, the eagle on iroko, Professor Chinua Achebe said in his evergreen book, Things Fall Apart, that “Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered. As the elders said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings.”

On this footnote, the New Zealander Eleanor Catton, whose second novel, The Luminaries, scooped the 2013 Man Booker Prize must have proved beyond doubt that achievement may not necessarily be dependent on age. However, she said she has “been living in a state of uncertainty and anxiety” over the prize.

The 28-year-old is the youngest ever recipient of the Man Booker Prize.

“It feels awesome,” she said. “One strange thing about the last couple of months is that it is such a state of uncertainty and nobody knows how it is going to turn out and I have been living in state of uncertainty and anxiety for such a long time, that I’ve almost not got rid of it yet.

“Even at the after party, there was champagne everyone was celebrating, it was so joyful, so much about the outcome of the prize. Even in this environment I kept getting these flashes of nervousness and the thought that would go through my mind was ‘what going to happen about the Booker?’ and then I would have to steel myself and think hang on, I don’t need to be worried about this anymore.”

The Luminaries, set in the gold rush of Victorian New Zealand, was the longest novel on the shortlist.

Catton said she wanted to write a murder mystery “where the plot didn’t win out over the structure and the structure didn’t win out over the plot.”

Catton has become the youngest writer to win the Man Booker Prize, with the longest novel to triumph in the award.

Catton, 28, beat competition from Colm Tóibín, NoViolet Bulawayo, Jhumpa Lahiri, Ruth Ozeki and the favourite, Jim Crace, to be awarded the £50,000 prize by the Duchess of Cornwall at a ceremony in Guildhall in London.

The author began The Luminaries, her second novel, aged 25, and has eclipsed the previous youngest recipient of the award, the Nigerian writer, Ben Okri, who won at the age of 32 years in 1991.

Judges praised the “astonishing maturity and poise” of her 832-page work, saying the length of a book “doesn’t matter as long as it’s good,” adding that, “dazzling, luminous, vast” novel allowed readers to get lost in a story that is “quite exceptional.”

It is further recognition for the genre of historical fiction, following Hilary Mantel’s two Booker victories for Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. Catton’s work comfortably eclipses the 672-page Wolf Hall, winner in 2009, for length.

Catton joked her work had been a “publishers nightmare” for logistical reasons, saying she had been compelled to buy a new handbag just to fit it in.

Speaking after the result was announced, she said her publishers had been thrilled that the final manuscript was just short enough “not to collapse under its own weight in paperback”.

The book, focused on money, wealth and values, was also the longest novel on the short list, although judges emphasised it was important to look “not at length but quality — and we have got quality.”

A spokesman for Waterstones said that the announcement was “great news for readers,” and that Catton’s “hugely enjoyable and compelling affair” was potentially the biggest seller on the shortlist. Previous winners, including Life of Pi by Yann Martel, which sold two million copies, Thomas Keneally’s Schindler’s Ark and Mantel’s two books, received a significant sales boost thanks to the award.

The decision will be celebrated in Catton’s home country of New Zealand, with the author claiming: “Everybody feels the success is partly theirs.” She is the second winner from the country, after Keri Hulme in 1985.

Catton is unlikely to be fazed by the accolade of being the prize’s youngest winner, saying previously that the question of age was “slightly infuriating” in a professional sense.

Speaking at the ceremony, she said: “I feel very honoured and proud to be living in a world where the facts of somebody’s biography doesn’t affect how people read the book.

“I think that’s true of age and also ethnicity and all sorts of features of being human. When people can look beyond that and consider the work in itself, its always a good thing, so I think we’re lucky in that way.”

Catton thanked her partner, Steven Toussaint but said her family in New Zealand did not have a television and had not yet had a chance to speak to her about the result.

She added she had accepted the prize with “trembling knees” and a “dry mouth”, and had not decided how to spend her £50,000 prize money.

The Duchess of Cornwall, who presented the award, told the assembled audience she had been “longing to know the victor” as a “common reader”, because it “either gives us the chance to discover a new writer, or an opportunity to celebrate the work of someone more established.”

Meanwhile, Okri was said to have sent his congratulations to Catton for breaking his record as the youngest winning writer, in an online publication: “I think its lovely. Records are there to be broken. Give it 15 years and a 26-year-old will win it.”

At the start of Catton’s The Luminaries, a man “not quite eight and twenty” arrives on foreign shores bearing a valuable story.

Catton’s first novel, The Rehearsal, was a postmodern account of a school sex sandal. Though fiendishly clever, it was also a tough read. The Luminaries has been described by a critic as a completely different beast. “It is a pastiche of a 19th-century sensation novel in the manner of Wilkie Collins, and a hugely entertaining page-turner that keeps you going to the very end.” Catton, in an interview, said, “I really wanted to write an adventure story, a murder-mystery that was set during the gold-rush years in New Zealand.”

In the novel’s long first chapter, an Englishman called Walter Moody stumbles across 12 men in a secret conclave. They are all, in various ways, involved in two connected affairs: the death of a hermit who had been hoarding gold, and the attempted suicide of an opium-addicted prostitute. Moody hears all their perspectives and, like Inspector Bucket in Bleak House, attempts to piece together the tale.

In a review, it was stated that the novel is plotted with impressive intricacy: almost every line propels the story forward.

The Man Booker Prize is awarded to the best novel of the year written by a citizen of the British Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland. It is not only one of literature’s highest honors but quite lucrative as the winner takes home £50,000.

Hilary Mantel was the first woman and the first Briton to win the Man Booker Prize twice, and she takes it this year with the sequel to Wolf Hall, her 2009 Booker Prize-winning novel about Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and Thomas Cromwell. Bring up the Bodies is actually part two of a trilogy about Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s chief minister, focusing on the time during which Anne Boleyn is arrested.

The post Stealing Booker Prize show at 28 appeared first on Daily Independent Nigeria Newspapers.

In commemoration of this year’s International Day for the elimination of all forms of Violence Against Women (VAW),  the Young Christian Women Association (YWCA), Nigeria recently took the gospel of non-violence against women to the popular Tejuosho market, Lagos.

It was an interesting mix as some men justified violence against women while others condemned it in its totality. Senior Reporter, Anthonia Soyingbe reports.

All dressed in an orange T-shirt with an inscription “violence is not good on anyone”, armed with placards raised above their faces, members of YWCA led by its National President, Hwongchun Majak, joined women groups all over the globe to preach against the ills of VAW in the society.

The campaign rally by the group was indeed an eye-opener as it afforded some men the opportunity to speak out on why they inflict violence on women. Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan once said, “Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation. And it is perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth. As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development and peace.”

One of the respondents, Chibuike Obinna, a trader in the market, who couldn’t conceal his feelings said with annoyance that women don’t have any right whatsoever. Hear him, “I think the question you all should ask yourselves if you are really sincere is, if women actually have rights?

I am the head of my family and I can do whatever I want at any point in time to ensure she does my wish. I paid heavily to marry her and so she is subject to my authority. She has to do my wish anytime. Her rights were seceded to me the moment I paid her bride price.

Don’t you know at times women need slaps and at other times beatings before they do the needful?”, he asked.

Painfully he isn’t the only one who thinks women are an extension of a man’s property.

Abraham Azu who sells window and door accessories in Tejuosho market parroted Obinna’s opinion. He said, “you people have come again o! I don’t know where you got all these ideas from. I don’t know why we choose to imitate western culture. No wonder some women now hide under gender equality and other gender jargons to disobey their husbands.

For me, I will show my wife the door any day she questions my authority because I am the head and so she must accord me every respect that I deserve. She must always do my wish. I spent two weeks outside our home when she refused my sexual advances three months ago and she went around pleading with people to persuade me to come back home. I don’t have time for arrant nonsense and I will never tolerate any form of insubordination from my wife.”

Thank goodness, Joseph Ogbafe a commercial tricylcle driver in Yaba is different. According to him,  “I don’t support any form of violence against women because women are also created in God’s image and likeness and being a woman doesn’t make men better than women. I will strongly advise that women should equally be submissive to their spouses as most women these days are uncultured. Even at that, there is no excuse for beating a woman, any man who beats a woman should be referred to a psychiatric home and such man is also a weakling. Most homes are now boxing rings and this in turn affects the children and by extension the society,”

Majak is of the opinion that women are gradually winning the war against VAW as many people are better informed on the ills of VAW. She however called on all relevant bodies not to relent in campaigning against all forms of VAW through regular sensitizations and campaigns.

“Violence against women is the product of learned attitudes and norms, and social inequalities. Just as violence-supportive attitudes can be learned, they can be unlearned. Likewise, communities and governments can change the social conditions that feed violence, replacing them with social conditions that encourage respect and non-violence. Our communities can no longer excuse the abuse. Our children, our sisters, our mothers and our grandmothers have a right to live a life free from abuse.

Much has been achieved to date, but the change needed requires coordinated and sustained effort on many levels. It also requires awareness raising, legal changes, national plans of action, and research. Gender based violence has been identified as a product of a learned behaviour and as such it can be changed, particularly through education targeted at young children, youths of both sexes, and women themselves,” Majak opined

According to a document released by United Nations, one in three girls worldwide will, in her lifetime, suffer violence directed at her simply because she is female. Violence against women has become as much a pandemic as HIV/AIDS or malaria. But is generally downplayed by the public at large and by policy makers who fail to create and fund programmes to eradicate it. Violence against women is also a ‘men’s issue’ in particular.

It is men’s wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends whose lives are limited by violence and abuses. It is men’s issue because violence displayed by some men, give all men a bad name. It’s men’s issue because, as community leaders and decision-makers, men can play a key role in helping stop violence against women. It is a men’s issue because men can speak out and step in when male friends and relatives insult or attack women. And it is a men’s issue because a minority of men treat women and girls with contempt and violence, and it is up to the majority of men to help create a culture in which this is unacceptable. There is never any justification for VAW.

Below are some myths about VAW as published by White Ribbon organization

-Violence against women is an issue that only concerns women.

1. There is nothing we can do to stop violence against women.

2. Women should just remove themselves from abusive relationships.

3. Some people deserve to be beaten by provoking the violence.

4. Violence against women only occurs in specific groups.

5. Violent people are mentally ill or have psychopathic personalities.

6. Some people need the violence, enjoy it or are addicted to it.

7. Violence against women is caused by drugs and/or alcohol.

8. Violence only happens to a certain sort of woman.

The post YWCA takes non-violence against women campaign to Tejuosho Market appeared first on Daily Independent Nigeria Newspapers.

By Adedayo Odulaja/Lagos

Seyi Shay thrills guests.

Widely noted for its classy events, Johnnie Walker, the luxury Scotch whisky from the stables of Diageo; took it further recently when esteemed consumers and guests were treated to an exquisite lifetime experience in Lagos. With two-time Formula One champion, Mika Häkkinen present at the Oriental Hotel venue of the event, it was a session of unlimited fun as the ‘Step Up to the VIP lifestyle’ campaign was launched.

The glamorous event, which had a select number of guests present, showcased the luxurious lifestyle for which the Johnnie Walker brand is famous as some guests had an opportunity for a “Drive of a Lifetime Experience” with Mika in the Caparo Supercar at an exhibition drive held at The Palms Mall in Lekki.

The exhibition drive, which turned out to be a spectacular show from the F1 legend, who displayed a combination of raw power and breathtaking control, had the stunning Caparo T1 giving the crowd and lucky passengers an insight into the technology and skill required for the top level in motors ports. The session was witnessed by celebrities including rapper, M.I; ace photographer, Kelechi Amadi-Obi; winner of Big Brother All Stars, Uti Nwachukwu among others and they were all evidently thrilled with the experience.

Speaking on this unique approach to rewarding consumers, Felix Enwemadu, General Manager of Diageo Brands Nigeria, said Johnnie Walker is a brand synonymous with luxury, hence, will not give its consumers anything short of such an exclusive experience.

“We set out to showcase the luxurious lifestyle the Johnnie Walker brand is known for around the world. Having Mika Häkkinen a two-time Formula One champion and Johnnie Walker Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador in Nigeria, demonstrates the extent we have gone to provide a VIP experience for the consumers of our luxury brand,” Enwemadu said.

“As a company we are committed to raising awareness and promoting responsible drinking. We are also using this platform to drive our goal of gathering one million global commitments to never drink and drive via the social media on #imnotdriving. It is a global campaign that demonstrates our commitment to encourage responsible drinking and set world-class standards in responsible marketing,” he added.

According to Häkkinen, “Responsible drinking is a cause that I am very passionate about, and I have been working with Johnnie Walker for the past seven years to deliver this message around the world. I am delighted to be in Nigeria to spread the same campaign of never drink and drive.”

For guests thrilled with that exhilarating display at The Palms, little did they know that they had a lot more coming from the pot of excitement served by Diageo. Later in the evening, guests were treated to scintillating performances by award winning rap artiste including much-talked about US-based Nigerian born rapper, Wale and notable acts in this part of the world including D’Banj, Banky W, Seyi Shay at an A-list after-party hosted by Johnnie Walker and held at the luxurious Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island with celebrities and captains of industries as guests.

Of the stellar line up of acts for the night, Sheyi Shay was the first to hit the stage. But that was not until DJ Oby had serenaded guests with hits from shores far and near for close to one hour once the movement into the VIP lounge was done shortly before 10pm.
With the guests surrounding her, Shay, in a fitting short red top and shiny red corduroy pants, was full of energy and swag on stage, hitting her fans with a new song of hers, later affirming the performance was just a warm-up as she moved into more familiar grounds with popular songs including the popular ‘Irawo’.
Without much ado, it was the turn of rapper, Wale who thrilled guests at the event to tunes either when handling the microphone of directing from the turn table.

The show reached a climax when the fast rising America rapper brought out Nigerian R’n’B/Pop singer, Seyi Shay back on stage to perform his rap song ‘Bad‘. With fans cheering as Seyi Shay blended well into the song, delivering her vocals nicely as Wale’s sidekick, it was a beautiful sight to behold.
It made it all the more desirable considering the fact that the original song was performed by Wale and Tiara Thomas, a former label signee and with a remix with Rihanna having followed the track.

Anchored by Olisa Adibua of Beat FM, it was another evening to treasure for the teeming fans and consumers of Johnnie Walker in Nigeria who thronged the venue for the event.

For his remarks delivered in a video message, Seni Adetu, managing Director and chief executive of Guinness Nigeria Plc, said Johnnie Walker will continue to celebrate the discerning and contemporary consumers who appreciates the luxury brand.

“As we celebrate our consumers with the Johnnie Walker ‘Step Up to the VIP lifestyle’ campaign, we encourage everyone to Join the Pact in the Johnnie Walker global campaign to gather one million commitments globally to never drink and drive while also encouraging them to always drink responsibly,” Adetu added.

The coming to Nigeria of Mika Häkkinen followed the partnering agreement Johnnie Walker entered into with the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team back in 2005. The move further undercores Diageo’s committment to promoting responsible drinking, which is at the heart of the sponsorship of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes with Mika Häkkinen as the Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador of Johnnie Walker.

The post Wale, D’Banj, Seyi Shay headline Johnnie Walker’s step up to vip lifestyle launch appeared first on Daily Independent Nigeria Newspapers.

By Chinwendu Nnadozie/Minna

People who cook with firewood may be inhaling equivalent of not less than 60 sticks of cigarette daily which accounts for the third highest cause of deaths among users after HIV/AIDS and malaria, findings have revealed.

To curb the development, Niger State government is partnering with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the German technical partner to provide alternative source of cooking energy.

The Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Mustapha Lemu, disclosed this while addressing journalists on efforts made by the Governor Babangida Aliyu-led administration to promote an environmentally friendly policy to check lung infections in the state on Monday.

Dr. Mustapha expressed the urgent need for Nigerians to stop exposing themselves to dangers of lung infections, shift from the use of firewood for cooking to embrace use of a cleaner and safer source of cooking.

Attributing cases of deforestation and other non-environmental friendly attributes among Nigerians, especially the rural populace to the use of firewood, the commissioner expressed the preparedness of the state government to initiate moves to discourage the use of firewood.

To check further hazards due to deforestation and health related harmful cooking practices, the state government, Mustapha said, is partnering with the USAID and the German technical partner in the procurement of energy-efficient stoves to be distributed to schools and homes in the state.

He said 100 of such stoves provided by the donor agencies have been donated to educational institutions in the three senatorial zones of the state for experimental purpose while other 100 purchased by the state government will be shared to some households for the same objective.

Households that will be given the energy saving stoves during the experimental period, the commissioner said will be committed to allowing researchers gain access into their homes to gather information on the efficiency or otherwise of the improved cooking stove.

The main objective for adoption of the energy saving stove, he said includes checking respiratory problems among those using firewood for their cooking, reduce the rate of deforestation for a more health and environmental friendly policy and as well, generate employment for the youths who would take up plans for the item to be produced in the state.

The post Firewood cooking is like smoking 60 cigarettes daily –Research appeared first on Daily Independent Nigeria Newspapers.

By Funmi Falobi  -  Lagos

There is no doubt that people with disabilities suffer neglect and at times stigmatization from the society. While efforts are being made in some areas to ensure their inclusion into the society, a great deal still has to be done in the area of HIV intervention for people with disability.

Consequentlies, this year’s disability day focused on inclusion of people living with disability into this  year’s theme; “Break Barriers, Open Doors for an Inclusive Society for All.”
Consequently, at a media roundtable organized by Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria, in collaboration with the Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB), there were calls for more media advocacy for people living with disability especially the visually impaired in the area of HIV/AIDS interventions in the country.

While many programmes and materials are abound in creating awareness on HIV/AIDS, some of them still need to be done in such a way that would meet with the needs of the disabled people in the society.
Speaking on accessibility to information and services for HIV/AIDS for the blind and partially sighted, Dr. Oladipupo Fisher, Lagos State AIDS Control Agency’s Strategy identified hindering factors in HIV interventions for the group to include poor access to HIV information and knowledge, lack of disability friendly services, and low knowledge of disability and HIV. He revealed that 3.2 to 19 million Nigerians are living with disability while over one million Nigerians are either blind or partially sighted.

Painfully, 61 percent of the figure are below 18 years.
According to him, one of the strategies to increase access to HIV services include awareness, creation and information dissemination in disability accessible format – the use of Braille, large print for the partially sighted and audio.

He also emphasized treatment, care and support services targeting people with disability, research, monitoring and evaluation system, capacity building/re-orientation of healthcare workers as well as strengthening the capacity and networking of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

He explained that so far in Lagos State, the body has been able to identify the existing gaps which would reverse and address the challenges identified. Involvement of people with disability in the development of the State’s  strategic plan, sign language training for HIV counselor testers and increase collaboration with various groups among people with disability in order to know their needs and meet them.

He stated that to move forward in the HIV intervention for people living with disability, there must be implementation of disability specific programmes that service diverse persons with disabilities, the need to train the blind, redesigning of HIV/AIDS M&E system to capture HIV in disability information at the national level, full participation of people with disability in HIV/AIDS control and sensitization activities.

“People with disability should be trained in the use of condom so that they too can train their peers. For us to get to zero we need everybody on board. Everybody has peculiar need, everybody must be on board to achieve zero infection, over time prevalence will be zero. For us to live positively we need testing,” he said.

In his submission, Dr. Sheu Adebayo, Executive Secretary, Disability Policy and Advocacy Initiative said people with disabilities are exposed to the same risk factors for HIV as every non-disabled person. Moreover, due to their often marginalised and vulnerable position in the community (e.g. lack of access to information, low literacy rate and stigma), people with disabilities are at an even higher risk of contracting HIV.

He declared that issues of inclusion of people with disability is still far. While government policies are well crafted and bit of information gap for people involved how to find them cause disconnection.
‘When policy makers and stakeholders plan intervention for HIV, there’s this general neglect, people with disability are not carried along in the planning, either forgotten or come at the tail end and issues of involving them become problem – no budget.

If we carry everybody along or strategies, it would have been very inclusive and it saves resources.”
He explained that when disabled people are carried along in the planning, government does not need to spend extra money because they would have included them right from the beginning when they are planning their intervention for the people stressing that HIV programme should be planned like computer that is useful for all.

He also emphasized that media reports and tools should include people with disabilities in such a way that it doesnot become humiliating and send wrong message.

However, he said in some instances, special resources are needed for intervention for people with disability like buying of Braille.

“Radio is good for visually impaired persons to disseminate information. Audio CD is also useful. Where you need extra resources, the cost is very marginal.

Be more practical in your presentation so that those in the audience have a feel of what is being said. Audio and touch is good for people that can’t hear, they feel it.

The deaf work well with billboards.“
While adding that disability causes delay in persons with disability, he advocated that people should be very descriptive in the way they give out information “for  an HIV programme for the blind, describe where the services are and how to get there.  Be detailed in your description as professionals such that everybody is captured.”

He declared that many blind people do not attend HIV programme because they do not know how to access information adding that for the physically challenged, event should be organized with minimal barriers – no fourth floor, use open space for easy accessibility.

Ejiro Sharon Okotie, Coordinator, NAB said sadly, in spite of the progress made to combat HIV, Persons with Disabilities(PWDS) especially the visually impaired have not been fully included.

Disability in itself predisposes a person to hardship and poverty especially in the developing world where there are hardly provisions for persons with disabilities, visually-impaired Nigerians are at a great disadvantage.

She said the empowerment of visually impaired women with HIV knowledge and economic skills in order to achieve gender equity and reduce their social marginalisation and risk to HIV/AIDS is important in the inclusion prospect.

They are more vulnerable to HIV so there is need to increase their knowledge on HIV and AIDS issues.

“In order to have an all-encompassing success in our fight against HIV/AIDS,new HIV infection, stigma and discrimination as well as HIV related deaths in Nigeriaand in reaching the ambition of “Getting to Zero”, the visually impaired and other Persons with Disabilities (PWDS)  must be includedin this laudable ambition as everybody is needed in “Getting to Zero”.

We are passionately appealing to the Government at all levels, CSOS/NGOs, private sectors  and all Agencies to support Nigeria Association of the Blind to reach out to our members in as many ways as possible.

With unity of purpose, the successes recorded in HIV prevention and control would be complete if we get the support of the different stakeholders.
“An HIV-free generation isn’t just a dream, let’s make it a reality!!!”

The post Towards inclusion of people with disabilities in HIV intervention appeared first on Daily Independent Nigeria Newspapers.

By Lucy Ezeliora and Azeez Balogun

Omoni Oboli

After two postponements, the anticipated Best of Nollywood Awards (BON) finally took place in Asaba last weekend.

Despite the apprehensions caused stakeholders by the two postponements, the organisers surprising came up with a successful and spectacular event. Held at the Dome event centre, the first thing that caught the attention of guests was the incredibly long red carpet that led to the venue in fulfilment of the promise made by the organisers to break the world record for having the longest red carpet at an event.

The first menu, served to relax guests before the main course, was given by a traditional troupe that sang traditional tunes till the event proper started about 9:30pm. Master of ceremony, Gbenga Adeyinka, was at his best as he humoured guests with his highly entertaining selections of quality humour from his basket of jokes.

By the time, the Delta State Commissioner for culture and tourism, Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) came to the podium to perform the official opening ceremony; guests were already relaxed for the main course. Branding Delta State as the home of Nollywood, RMD cited the recent influx of movie makers to the state as well as  the large number of movies done in the State as his reason for saying so.

Professor Amos Agbe Utuama (SAN), Delta State Deputy Governor who represented the Governor, Emmanuel Uduagan thanked the organisers for bringing the event to the State. He went on to say Nollywood has the potential to overtake oil in terms of revenue earning for the country

Entertainment was provided by a cross section of the best of Nigerian musicians and comics.

Finally, it was time for the event, the main course proper.  The Best Actor in a Leading Role (English) went to, OC Ukeje for his role in Alan Poza. Best Actress in a Leading Role (English) was Omoni Oboli for her role in Brother’s Keeper. The Best Actor in a Leading Role (Yoruba) category surprisingly went to an Ibo actor, Mike Ezuruonye for his role in the movie ‘Unforgivable’. Best Actress in a Leading Role (Yoruba) went to Joke Muyiwa while The Best Actor in a Supporting Role (English) was won by Alex Ekubo.

Other awards were; Best Actress in a Supporting Role (English), which went to Rita Dominic for ‘Finding Mercy’. Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Yoruba) was  won by Odunlade Adekola for his efforts in ‘Aja’. Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Yoruba) went to  Fathia Balogun while Kola Ajeyemi won the Most Promising Act of the Year for his role in ‘Were Meta’. Most Promising Act of the Year (Male) won last year by Alex Okubo, went this time, to Sylvya Oluchy

The children, the future of Nollywood were not left out. Best Child Actor (Male) was won by  Asimiyu Uthman Omokunmi who acted in ‘Ifa Iwa’. Best Child Actor (Female) went to  Oyinda Lanpejo for her role in ‘Finding Mercy’. Koffi’s movie, ‘Nanny’ won the Best Comedy category while The Movie with Best Social Message went to ‘Journey to Self’. Best Kiss in a Movie was that of Ibironke Ashaolu and Wale Akanbi in the movie ‘Unforgivable’.

For the technical categories: ‘Judgment Night’ won movie with the Best Special Effect. The Best Screenplay went to, ‘Confusion Na Wa’ which also went home with the award for Best Production Design, whose director, Kenneth Gyang won best Director of the Year award as well the Movie of the Year. Movie with the Best Sound went to Cobweb. Best Use of Costume went to ‘Twin Sword’

Revelation of the Year (Female) is Laitan Ogungbele while Charles Billion Pius won the male category. Saturday Independent’s Azeez Balogun was named Movie Journalist of the Year. Divine Touch, was the Marketer of the year.

There were also some funny moments at the event. The first artiste on stage was a young artiste named G-Spliff who made a total fool of himself on stage. His performances failed to impress and to add insult to injury, he lost one of his shoes on stage. Instead of him to continue performing as a professional, he tried to put the shoe back on. Then was the attire of actress Adaora Ukoh. Her outfit could be better described as leopard jumpsuit. It was a leopard skin made into a jumpsuit. Everyone giggled as she walked around the hall. Another attention grabber was Sir Shina Peters. He refused to sit through-out the event. He went from table to table taking pictures. This created a lot of distraction as guests were looking at him instead of paying attention to the stage.

On the whole, this fifth edition of the Best of Nollywood Award was the biggest and the most attended of all. It showed the organisers have put more thoughts into logistics and details. In a chat with Fidelis Duker who was also at the event, “many complain that there are too many awards for Nollywood, but BON has been an award that recognises those that may never be recognised by huge awards like African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA). It is the real awards for Nollywood either you are making Yoruba, Hausa or Ibo movies.”

The post Glitz at Best of Nollywood’s Awards appeared first on Daily Independent Nigeria Newspapers.

Rita Tony Edochie, is doubtless one of the finest Nigerian actresses.  In this chat with LUCY EZELIORA at Asaba, at a movie location, this extremely pretty woman spoke about her life as a mother of four lovely children and how she is often mistaken for the wife of the popular actor, Pete Edochie.  Sit back and enjoy this very interesting interview.

Rita Tony Edochie

Who is your husband?

He is Tony Edochie; Pete is actually my husband’s elder brother.

Did your brother-in-law influence your way into Nollywood? 

On the contrary, I struggled my way into the movie industry. Granted, he established the name but if I don’t do well in auditions, I don’t get roles because of his influence.

You have acted in several movies with him as husband and wife. How come?

He is like a father to me aside being my brother-in-law. I do enjoy acting with him and such roles appear so natural on account of our closeness.

Aside the Rita Edochie, we see on movies, who exactly are you, off the screen?

I am Rita Tony Edochie. Some people have this notion that I am a divorcee but I can proudly tell you that I am not and I can never be. I am an actress, a proud mother of four (two boys and two girls). One of my daughters is married and I’m a proud grandmother. I also manage my home and profession properly.

Is it true that ladies, especially in Asaba, pay producers for roles in movies?

Ladies in Asaba can go to any length to get a role in a movie. They give producers money, furnish their homes, buy them cars just to appear in a movie. Things are very different from what was, when we started.  Instead of the girls going for auditions as we did in our time, they go from one hotel to the other these days looking for executive producer’s and producer’s rooms. The funny thing is the men  would sleep with the girls and still not feature them in their movies because they lack the talents. Forget what a lot of them say about producers refusing to give them roles because they refuse to sleep with them.  They are all liars. They are the ones harassing the men

Did you have any formal education in acting?

I read Mass Communication; my acting by the grace of God is inborn. I got it from my mother.

Aside acting, what else do you do?

I’m a business woman; a contractor. I do a lot of good things that will give me good name and money too.

Before acting, what were you doing?

I was a broadcaster with Anambra Broadcasting Service.

What about your husband?

He is a broadcaster with Anambra Broadcasting Service. Pete was also a broadcaster and so was the wife too. She is now a lawyer

Why did you quit broadcasting?

I really did not quit, I had a problem with them. Some of them became jealous of the quality of my work.  There was this thing we used to do then, when you go for marketing you get paid your money and still get your percentage, so I was getting a lot of money from both acting and broadcasting.

Acting then, didn’t affect my work because I did that only on weekends, when I had my off days; but they didn’t see it like that. Some people felt it was encroaching on my own job.

Do you feel threatened by the presence of new actresses in the movie industry?

No. When you are good you are good. I’m currently on location not because I want to, but because they needed me on account of this job I am doing now.

Can you tell us about your friendship with Patience Ozokwor?

My relationship with Patience is very cordial and we are very good friends. Patience is a very good actress; I can’t fit into her roles very well and vice versa.  We are two different people when it comes to acting, so she is a wonderful woman. I must be honest with you, if they give me her kind of role I can never do it well like her, so that is the difference.

As a woman, what has motherhood taught you?

You can see everything about motherhood all over me. It has taught me not to scare my kids away from me, rather I bring them close, because if you scare them away, you push them into the world, where they can be negatively influenced. I started bringing my children close at a very tender age. It is better you let them know what it takes to be a good child.

You have been married for many years and you are still acting, what is your view about failed marriages in Nollywood?

You see, I tell the younger ones to be ready to be in a man’s house because if care is not taken, you will be out of the marriage before you know it.

You have been in the industry for a long time, do you intend to produce your own movie soon or even produced any yet?

I am a producer, but have produced just one movie; Divided Twins about seven years ago. By God’s grace, I will soon produce another one.

Are you planning to divert into politics very soon?

I’m already into politics but do not have the intentions to contest for any political office for now. I’m just a full member of a political party.

Do you have any pet project you are working on?

Yes, I have one. I have a foundation that helps the poor.

Have you ever been embarrassed since you started acting?

The only time I was embarrassed by my fans was when I acted the role of a wicked woman. It didn’t go down well with my fans but I explained to them that I had to take the part to prove I could also act other roles, not just the crying ones.

The post I’m a proud mother of four –Rita Edochie appeared first on Daily Independent Nigeria Newspapers.

Majek Fashek

It is said that the legacies of great men live far beyond them – hence a lot of top musicians have not been able to stop the celebration of the late Nelson Mandela which started years back when he was incarcerated.

And even in death, Mandela is still been celebrated by countless music acts  across the world.

While some have churned out a track for him while he was in incarceration, others have been motivated to do so in the wake of his death.

In Nigeria, several artistes have celebrated the achievements of the erstwhile South African President with his name becoming a recurring decimal.

Singers such as Sonny Okosuns, Ayinla Kollington, Majek Fashek, KWAM1 have all dedicated tracks to the man popularly called Madiba.

Kollington’s song, though done in his native Yoruba dialect, tells a tale of the suffering of the freedom fighter in jail and his stance to see South Africa free from the shackles of segregation and apartheid, climaxing with a congratulatory message for his freedom at last. The release of the song coincided with the return of Mandela from incarceration as it served as a celebration anthem for Nigerians who listened to his kind of music.

In the case of the late Okosuns, his tribute was a general anti  apartheid song in which he asked African soldiers not to tolerate oppression and economy tyrants.

The tribute in the Nigerian music industry is not exclusive to the older generation alone as top Nigerian-British producer, Eminik, has also released an emotional song which he did to show his gratitude to the icon of peace. The song titled Hero was done in four hours.

The late Mandela was also celebrated by world acclaimed artistes such as Jerry Dammers whose song Free Mandela inspired younger activists and reminding a lot of people who had begun to forget that the civil right leader was still in detention that the fight for freedom for which he was jailed was yet to be achieved.

The Free Mandela song done by Dammers was described as a protest melody which moves to a celebratory beat and a cheerful chorus, while still maintaining its main message, a plea for the imprisoned man to be set free. The song was written and produced by Elvis Costello.

While artiste like world famous Michael Jackson did not release any song for Mandela, he held the anti aparthied crusader in high esteem;  the late entertainer visited him in his south Africa home many times.

The import of music and musicians in the life and times of Madiba became more evident when he celebrated his 70th birthday and a massive concert parading some of the world’s biggest artistes was organised in his honour inside the Wembley Stadium, London.

Notable musicians, poets among others have also been pouring encomium on the man who was instrumental in making sure that Africa hosted the

World Cup for the first time in 2010, an event which attracted not only artistes from his continent, but entertainers such as R Kelly, Shakira, Femi Anikulapo Kuti and countless others.

As tributes continue to pour in and old songs already done by internationally acclaimed singers such as Youssou N’ Dour, Public Enemy, Carlos Santa and U2 become relevant again, other artistes have been doffing their hat to the man who stood for equality of mankind. Some of the works of such artistes include that of Hugh Masekela, a Grammy-nominated Jazz musician from South Africa who did the song Mandela: Bring Him Back Home and U2 who made a heartfelt soundtrack for the newly released movie Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.

Other tributes include Mandela Day done by Simple Minds, Just a Breath of Freedom by 2pac, Freedom Now by Tracy Chapman, Asimbonanga by Jonny Clegg among others.

Apart from celebrating him directly through music, several movies such as Music For Mandela, a film produced in 2013 and directed by Jason Bourque, featuring Rob Allingham and Eddie Daniels have been done to tell the story of the role of melody in Even in death; the music dedicated to Mandela will always play on.

The post Mandela dances on appeared first on Daily Independent Nigeria Newspapers.

Rodney Emeka Igwedinma is the creative director of McMeka Menswear Fashion. His creativity and detailed pieces crowned him as the Young Designer of the Year, 2013 at this year’s edition of MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week. In this interview with Senior Reporter, Ifeoma Ononye, he speaks on how he unexpectedly found himself in fashion and his personal style.

Have you always wanted to be a fashion designer?

I grew up fantasising about being a successful accountant. I wanted to be a proud owner of an accounting firm. However, in line with the dying tradition of forcing children to continue a parent’s trade, my mum, Monica, made me stay in her shop after school and on weekends to learn tailoring, her own trade. It was as if my mum saw the future. She would force me to come to the shop to help her. I didn’t know she was grooming me for great things to come.

I hated studying biochemistry when I got an admission into the university but I was happy to leave the shop on securing admission into Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso. I was happy for two reasons: I had become a university student, and I had outgrown mummy’s shop.        But I never knew all I learnt from mum’s shop stuck to my brain and a passion for fashion has been sown. At LAUTECH, I saw boys looking good in clothes tailored by Nigerians. Men loved to look their best. They love to wear indigenously tailored dresses and shirts. That was when the inspiration came. I quit biochemistry at LAUTECH when demand from Lagos for my brand grew and enrolled at University of Lagos to study accountancy which was my dream.

What was the first outfit you made that got you the attention?

During the school’s semester break, I bought a piece of chinos fabric at the market for N750, designed a trouser off it and wore it to school on resumption. When my friends saw it, they asked to know who made it.  Excitedly I told them I did, but they did not believe it until I made for them too! That was how the news spread and customers started trickling in.

Tell us about your personal style.

My personal style is simple, manly and luxurious.

How much of your personal style do you put in your designs?

I put 100 percent of my personal style into my designs.      What fashion item do you love most?

I adore the suit. It’s a beauty.

Is there kind of fashion you don’t like making for men?

I’d say as a menswear designer, I am pretty diversified. I love the art of making a man look and feel good so I love making different things for men ranging from pants, shorts, shirts, suits etc.

If we walk into your wardrobe, what are we likely to find more?

Something that has the highest number in my wardrobe will be… Shirts! Shirts! Shirts!

Have you ever had a fashion bad day?

Of course I have. Who hasn’t?

Are you a jewelry person, like blings, chain or even wristwatches?

No. I love the minimalistic approach to my dress sense.

What fashion item do you love so much that you will love to have no matter how expensive?

That will be shoes and more shoes.

What are your favourite colours?

I love colours like burgundy, orange and grey

Which car is your dream car?

Mercedes Benz G wagon.

What is your favourite food?

I love pounded yam and nsala soup of 10 lives.

The post My style is simple, manly, luxurious –Rodney Emeka appeared first on Daily Independent Nigeria Newspapers.

Recently, Blessed Oguguamakwa Dikeh of As The Lord Said It Should Be Done Temple came under criticism due to his biblical believes and his purported serving of alcohol in his church. In this interview with REPORTER, Lukmon Akintola, he clears the air on the issues.

Can you give us an insight into how you started your ministry?

I am a citizen of Enugu State, but was raised in Delta State. All my life, I grew up as a house boy until I decided I didn’t want to serve anybody again. On April 14 2001, somewhere around Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos State, I had an encounter with almighty God through his beloved son Jehovah, Emmanuel. During the encounter, I was given a bible for my ministration, but I told the one who was sent to me that since I could not read or write what does he want me to do with the bible, but he insisted that I should collect it. Today, the bible is my arc and it only comes out occasionally.

As a seer, how do you communicate with God?

I communicate with God in spirit every day. I was not ordained by a man, I was ordained by God. I had an encounter with Jesus and he said his father is calling me to come and do his work. That father which he was referring to is the one whom I am maintaining his name today. I don’t maintain the name of Jesus; I maintain the name of God. A king can send his servant to call you, but when you come you don’t continue to relate with the servant; it is the King that you have business with.

What is the mandate given to you by God?

He said I should go and bring back all his children that have disappointed him. He also said that it is his word which he has given me that I should preach and that I should not minus or add to it.

Why do you see Jesus in a different light from the general believe?

I don’t pray in the name of Jesus, I pray in the name of God, because my father, Adam, did not pray in Jesus’ name. Jesus is a servant like me. He has finished his assignment and has gone, I am a servant too. When I finish my work, I will go. Jesus has done a good job, but I have problem with people who are giving him the honour that is not due him. If you say Jesus is the saviour of the whole world, who then is God?

Is it true that you said you will live for 500 years?

Enoch, Adam and Eve, Methuselah and Noah are the gentlemen that lived the life of fulfillment before God. If you check their history you will find out that they lived for like 950 years, 960 years. Those are my ancestors who obeyed God and he gave them longer years to live on earth, but because of the sins of men, God has shortened their lives. In my own time, he doesn’t want to shorten it again. He wants to make it like the days of old. He is the one who promised me 500 years to spend on this earth. I will not die till my 500 years is completed. No sickness and no death. All my church members will not die until they are 150 years and above.

If you don’t believe in Jesus as he is portrayed in the bible, why then do you still preach with the holy book?

There are a lot of mistakes by the writers of the bible, the New Testament. When men offended God, he allowed them to do their will and that is the New Testament also known as The Good News. The original bible of God is called the scull.

Tell us about your prophesies?

Before the flood which took away New York City I told my congregation that God was angry with Nigeria and New York. Three months ago, I also told my congregation that there was going to be plane crashes between September and October. It was actually three plane crashes, but God allowed me to stop one. I couldn’t stop the two others. It wasn’t up to two weeks after the prophesies that the plane carrying Agagu’s corpse to the crashed in Lagos State. After the incident people were calling me from different places and I told them not to thank me, but God.

What is your opinion about rapture; is it for real or another misrepresentation?

There is nothing like rapture. If you tell me that rapture means when a person dies his soul goes back to God and his flesh to the dust then I will agree, but anything other than that I don’t agree. Don’t let anybody deceive you.

You are of the opinion that both heaven and hell are on earth, can you explain this?

There is nothing like hell fire after life. Heaven is here on earth already. When you are suffering you are in hell fire. If you are in poverty and cannot pay your house rent then you are already in hell. But when you are in heaven even if you reside in a flat your landlord will come and beg you for money. He would even say don’t worry I will give the other tenant quit notice for you.

Earlier on you said you could not write or read before you had an encounter with God, at what point did you get the gift because you can now read and write?

When God sends you on an errand, he equips you. So, God has sent me and he has equipped me. I have never been to a bible school for once, but the Holy Spirit is my teacher.

White and Red are colours which seem to mean a lot to you both as a fashion statement and in your place of worship, what do they signify?

Red means life and without blood you cannot be alive, while white represents peace from the most high God and that is why these colours are important to me. God said in the bible to the children of Israel that without blood their sins will not be forgiven.

You have a unique fashion sense, what inspires this?

God is the king of Kings. I represent him so I must dress like a king. My father is a king and I am a prince.

There is this rumour that you offer alcohol to people attending your church for the first time, how true is this?

I won’t say that I am not aware of that rumour, but it is not true. There is a story to it. A group of journalist came to interview me and I asked them what they would love to drink, I gave them what they ordered for including those who wanted beer. It was one of them that went back to write a story that they drink beer in my church. It is unfortunate because I only offered them what they asked for. Is it a crime to entertain your guests. That is how the story came to be.

The post There is no such thing as hell fire –Blessed Dikeh appeared first on Daily Independent Nigeria Newspapers.

By Grace Edema

Tejuosho market

Christmas is here again! Various eateries and restaurants are already wearing the traditional green, gold and red christmas colour decoration. Sellers are waiting patiently for their customers who throng the market in large number during Christmas to buy foods.

Expectantly, the three children of Mr. Moses Sanya believed that their dad would buy them beautiful Christmas clothes and that their mum would cook them delicious meals. However, this might not be, as Moses said he’s yet to pay N100,000 being rent for their miniflat per annum due for the past four months. He told Food and Beverages that except a big miracle happens, any money that comes to his hand would be used to appease her landlord who had been on his neck and threatening to eject him.

“My children will eat what I can afford because I am owing house rent and it will be shameful if the landlord throws us out after using the little money on me to buy food and clothes,” he said.

Flourish Nwankwo, a single parent who works in a media firm, but has not been paid salaries since October, said her nine-year-old daughter was already disturbing about visiting an eatery for the Christmas.

Hwer words: “I have been taking her out to eateries during Christmas, but this year I may not because there is no money. I already have debts to settle and have not been paid.”

Indeed, money is needed to eat good and fresh food. Lack of money makes most people buy less nourishing foods. Due to financial lack, not many have stocked their home with food and drinks for the celebration.

High cost of food, epileptic power supply and cash crunch are some of the challenges hindering food shopping and storage, so Food and Beverages learnt.

Helen Hawkins, a teacher, said: “Is it not someone that has money that will stock the freezer and store with food before Christmas? I don’t have the money, so I will wait till Christmas and use what I have to buy what I need by then. Now, I haven’t done any stocking. And if there isn’t money, we will eat what we have.”

Even those the society looks up to as financially stable, like bankers, are also complaining. One of them, Bunmi Kolade, said: “ Christmas preparation is dry. Even the typical overcrowded Balogun market is not still full of people, but mostly pick-pockets. Prices are skyrocketing and traders are not smiling. I personally would have loved to stock my fridge with chicken and other foodstuff before Christmas comes, but electricity is not helping matters. In all, we pray to have a beautiful holiday.”

A trader at Agege market, Sube Oluseyi, said sales has not been picking up as expected, but she is very hopeful that buyers will start coming in to the market few days to Christmas and there will be higher sales.

In his opinion, Solomon Ammeh said what he is bothered about is government paying more attention to food security and making it available at cheaper rate for Nigerians.

“Government should take agriculture seriously because many Nigerians are hungry and jobless. They should work with the farmers, so that there will be food availability and security. A lot of people are also jobless. If government makes agriculture to thrive, these people can work in the agriculture sector of the economy. We need food to be healthy. Food is expensive in Nigeria,” he said.

Presently, Nigerians are going about their normal daily lives hoping that the season will bring them blessings. Meanwhile, they hope for a better Nigeria where everyone can afford whatever food they wish to eat.

The post Another gloomy Christmas? appeared first on Daily Independent Nigeria Newspapers.

Though born with silver spoon, she is not beclouded by the affluence rather she embraces hard work and laced it with integrity.  She earns a living from what she started with as a passion. Uyok Hanson, whose mother is currently Nigeria’s Ambassador to Czech Republic, is the Chief Executive Officer, Lotus Fitness, a graduate of Sociology from the University of Abuja, and a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom.  She also had a diploma in Financial Management Systems from the Leeds Metropolitan University’s Small Business Summer Programme, and has a Financial Modeling and Valuation Certification from the American Investment Banking Institute in Houston, Texas.  On her return from the UK, she worked with the United States African Development Foundation, where she specialised in Small Business Advisory services, business analysis, and financial management systems for grant access, and feasibility writing. She also worked with UK Owned Osprey Investments, a private equity and business advisory firm before quitting to run a Real Estate brokerage business in the United Arab Emirates. Senior Reporter, Anthonia Soyingbe encountered this trendy mother of two.

Uyok Hanson

Catching up with her that sunny Sunday was an easy task unlike what is obtainable with many top executives. One can’t take away fitness from her and so she was so fit and equally trendy and not skinny.

For her, she developed passion for fitness when she was 15 years old as she was having weight problem then, she embraced healthy eating and a very good diet plan.

Looking beyond her passion, Sunday Independent asked her how she got into the business since there are not too many women in that line of business, “I have a passion for fitness, health and nutrition. I am always talking with friends and families about weight maintenance and fitness. After we relocated to Lagos about a year ago from Abuja, we were looking for a gym around Lekki-Epe axis that will be affordable but what we go around this side was very much on the high side.  It has been a huge success since we started and we are hoping to add some other services.”

Like many women will do, she has since introduced a healthy eating plan for her family. Although it wasn’t easy introducing it into her home but now she has successfully done that.

“Initially it was very tough because we Calabar people love to cook with lots of palm oil. When I started to cut back on many of the excessive eating, my family kicked against it, but now, they have seen the positive side of it. When I started, it was extremely tough and many people laughed at me. But when they begin to see the result, they joined me. We are all living healthy lifestyle now.”

Hard work runs in her blood and she proudly confessed that she works as if she is broke. “Hard work and open mindedness to receive whatever opportunity God brings my way have been the hallmark.  I am not afraid to work hard and get my finger nails broken and I am not afraid to confront issues.”

Family often lays the foundation for human’s attainment in life. She confessed that her parents did not treat with levity when it comes to finance rather they encouraged her to labour too. “My background has helped but my parents are very strict and they always encourage us not to depend on them and they are not the type that will give you financial handout.

“My parents will tell you that they struggled to get money and so they expect you to also struggle to get your own. The best I can hope for in terms of opportunities from family is to create my own contact and ask for their help if I need their help.

Continuing: “I have being encouraged by my parents to do things on my own and they have always supported me. They actually thought I was going to end up in the civil service but my mind is too restless to be in the civil service and I don’t care the benefits in the future. When you have strong confidence and you have a marketable skill, you will get to a point where people will trust you with their ventures. When you are looking for opportunities, opportunities will definitely come. I also keep my eyes open and I grab whatever comes.”

Like most female entrepreneurs, she experiences some form of stereotypes which often discourages many. Tenaciously she wasn’t deterred, and today, she seemed to have overcome that. “Initially some people who have been to other gyms are often amazed when they see that a woman is in charge here but I am open and friendly and result-oriented. I am also very responsive to my clients. Once they see that you are responsive, they have confidence in you. I don’t think I experience much stereotype. The feminine touch is an added advantage for us in Lotus.”

She said her major challenge as a female entrepreneur is balancing family life and career. “The major challenge is balancing the home with my business. There are times you will need to close late but you have to shut the work down and go home because of family factors. The other challenge is being taken seriously especially when you are trying to raise finance and looking for partnership.

“Sexual harassment is another issue. There are some places you walk into and they can’t help but be naughty comments. At such time, you won’t respond to such and there is no need for some conversations. You just ignore it and move on. If it means not getting what you want, you walk away.”

Radiating inner joy and happiness she glowingly praised her husband for encouraging and standing by her in all her entrepreneurial endeavors. “I have a very supportive husband who encourages me to take a risk and achieve my dream. Before I started this business, I wasn’t sure if I could really fit in and when this opportunity came, I grabbed it with the full support of my husband. I still pick up my children from school and my home is doing very well.”

After she conceptualized the idea of running a fitness center, she was initially scared but with the network she has built over the years, it wasn’t too hard as she swung into action with the network of people. “When I took that decision, I was a bit scared that it wasn’t going to work, but it wasn’t too difficult because I have built my network before I quit paid employment. I also have a spouse who was also supporting any financial shortfall. I always tell people that there is always something to do and you don’t have to sweat especially when you have the gift of entrepreneurship.”

With the vision of setting more Lotus Fitness gym in different parts of Lagos, she confessed that her guiding principles in life are freedom and hard work.  “Freedom is my personal guiding principle. I work very hard, I work as if I am broke and I need to do that, so that I can live like a rich person one day. I don’t have a lazy bone in my body and I don’t understand why some people are laid back and wait for people to come and do things for them. My family is equally very important to me and I don’t sacrifice my family on the altar of any opportunity whatsoever.”

The post I work very hard as if I am broke –Hanson appeared first on Daily Independent Nigeria Newspapers.

By Yemi Adebisi

Even as Port Harcourt, Nigeria would be hosting writers all over the world in 2014 as the UNESCO’s World Book Capital City, critics said the literary growth in Nigeria this year was still very poor.

In a telephone interview with former member of House of Representative and past president of the Association of Nigerian authors (ANA), Dr. Wale Okediran, he said more attention should be given to book publishing to promote reading culture. “Literary growth was poor in Nigeria in 2013. Although writers were writing, very few books were published. This could be due to the increasing influence of e-publishing and the distraction effect of social media such as facebook, twitting and the home video on literature.”

He however noted that, unlike in the western world, the book industry has not enjoyed as much support as expected from government and other allied institutions. “The poor support by government and the corporate body to literature is another issue while mainstream publishers still prefer to invest in the lucrative business textbooks to the detriment of the less commercially rewarding creative works. Writers and writers’ organisations need to continue their unrelenting efforts to keep the book in the public domain now and in the future,” he said.

It would be recalled that on December 20, 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan launched a literary campaign entitled Bring Back the Book at Eko Hotel and Suites Lagos. The event, which had an endless list of politicians, technocrats, writers, Nollywood stars and most especially, a big crowd of Nigerian youth, was presided over by the first African Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.

According to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Documentation and Research, Barrister Oronto Douglas, the project was expected to revive the reading culture among Nigerian youth, believed to have gone down the drain. Though same campaign has been inaugurated in few states, observers said the presidency need to revisit the goal of the project and re-evaluate its vantage especially its relevance to the transformational agenda of the government because throughout 2013, there was no mention of the project in any state of the federation.

A scholar and writer from Kebbi State, Ahmed Yunusa in a recent interview with Sunday Independent said the project was killed by politics.

“When I saw people like Odia Ofeimun, Wole Soyinka and the rest of them following Jonathan at the said event, two thoughts came to my mind: maybe the president wanted to use it as a campaign strategy to return back to the office or that it may be real. I quickly concluded that time would tell. I said if the project continues after election, then it is real but if not, then the writers have been raped. I have not heard much about the project after the election like as it was initially publicised,” he said.

However, one of such clubs whose annual programmes and other efforts have played significant roles in promotion of reading culture in Nigeria especially in 2013 is Rainbow Book Club (RBC), Port Harcourt.

For five consecutive years, the non-governmental organisation had held successfully, one of the most pleasant literary feasts in the world record, judging by content and coordination, the Port Harcourt Book Festival (PHBF), formerly, the Garden City Literary Festival (GCLF), in collaboration with the Rivers State government. Its focus this year was on writers and creative economy.

Most of the world great writers that have attended the festival include Wole Soyinka, foremost Kenyan novelist, Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, fictional writer and former Ghanaian minister of education, Professor Amaa Atta Iddo, American civil right activist, Rev. Jesse Jackson among others.

Thursday January 31, history was made again, as the book club, led by its founder, Kalango, brought the book back to the president, during a courtesy visit at Aso Rock villa.

While commending the present administration’s strides in the education sector, Kalango pointed out the significance of the World Book Capital programme as well as the opportunity the victory brought to both the host city and the nation.

Making reference to the words of the UNESCO WBC Selection Committee, she cited that:  “The city of Port Harcourt (Nigeria) was nominated as World Book Capital 2014 on account of the quality of its programme, in particular its focus on youth, and the impact it would have on improving Nigeria’s culture of books, reading, writing and publishing to improve literacy rates.”

Kalango also intimated the President of the book club’s plan to publish an expanded version of the book featuring 100 authors, to mark Nigeria at 100, in 2014.

The President pledged to support the efforts towards a successful World Book Capital year as well as to support the expansion of the pictorial anthology as these were befitting commemorations of Nigeria’s centenary, thanking Kalango for her sacrifice and labour to bring development to the country through reading.

Be that as it may, one of the presumed events that would add to the merriment of the Nigeria’s centenary celebration in 2014 would be the World Book Capital programmes where book is expected to take the lead in the world market with its capital in Nigeria.

History was also made on Friday, February 22, 2013 at the National Theatre annex, Lagos when the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) held a maiden matriculation ceremony for students admitted into the Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma programmes for the 2012/2013 academic session.

In his opening address, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, commended the management and staff of the Institute for ensuring that through the platform of the Lagos Training School, cultural officers at the Federal, State and local Government levels were trained to reposition them for effective service delivery, in consonance with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

This year, ANA was also able to secure funding for the second year of its ANA/Yusuf Ali Reading Campaign early this year.

Founded in 1981 for the promotion of Nigerian writing by foremost novelist Chinua Achebe, the writers’ club also held a successful international convention at Akure, Ondo State in November.

One of the biggest blows that hit the world literary circle this year was the death of Chinualumogu Albert Achebe, on March 22, 2013 at a respectable age of 82.

The funeral ceremony, which was well attended by presidents, diplomats and writers from all over the world commenced on Tuesday May 21, 2013 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where family members, children, friends, in-laws and other well-wishers clogged round the widow, Professor Christy, to receive the body flown in from the United States of America.

At the reception, held at the Abuja airport’s reception hall were such dignitaries like secretary to the Federal Government, Pius Anyim, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, former governor of Abia State, Ogbonnaya Onu, among others.

Series of funeral rites were held at his home town, Ogidi, including Christian wake-keep and literary tribute on Wednesday May 22 before his body was laid to rest on Thursday, May 24.

Describing the passing away of Achebe and its implication to the world literature, Kalango said it was a library sets ablaze. “Night has come for our beloved storyteller, teacher, intellectual and fighter. A library has been set ablaze. Against the dark skies, let the light of this library glow till it is Morning Yet on Creation Day.”

Saturday September 21, 2013 has also entered the diary of death of writers when at the Westgate Shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, the 78-yer-old Ghanaian poet and diplomat, Kofi Awoonor was killed through the massive attack of the Somali Islamic terrorists.

Late Awoonor, in the company of other great intellectuals around the world, was in Kenya as a participant in the Storymoja Hay Festival, a four-day celebration of writing, thinking and storytelling at which he was due to perform on the evening of his death.

Piracy, which stood as one of the major challenges of owners of intellectual properties in Nigeria, was addressed during the year. Several pirates were arrested and convicted by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) giving hope to writers and other stakeholders in the coming year. To this effect, the chairman, Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG), Prof Olu Obafemi NCC for its efforts at curbing copyrights violations in the country.

Obafemi made the commendation when he paid a visit to the Commission’s Director General, Barrister Afam Ezekude in Abuja.

Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, formally conducted the international presentation of Port Harcourt World Book Capital 2014, PHWBC, on Saturday September 28, in Trenton, the capital city of New Jersey in the United States of America (USA).

Held at the Lafayette Hotel located in central part of Trenton, the presentation was organised by the New Jersey-based African Writers Endowment Inc (AWE), and presided by the Governor, who expressed the readiness of his administration to make Port Harcourt destination for the global literature community throughout next year and beyond.

“We are ready to host the world throughout next year to series of programmes that would ensure that Port Harcourt is adjudged the best World Book Capital ever in the history of the project,” stated an elated Amaechi, adding that the World Book Capital project was initiated by UNESCO to promote the cause of writing and the publishing vocations among United Nation’s members.

From all indications, there seems to be hope for Nigerian writers in 2014 with the book year project and as government and other agencies continue to support the vision for promotion of reading culture.

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