… Ignores all-white ensemble dress code

Afro-beat king, Femi Anikulapo-Kuti was pleasantly surprised at Encomium White Gig, on Sunday, December 22, 2013, when he was honoured for his fourth Grammy Awards nomination on his 2013 masterpiece, No Place for my Dream.

The 51 year-old musician, who was accompanied by his sister, Yeni Anikulapo Kuti and friend, Mallam Abdul Okwechime, didn’t have a clue about what was planned at the event.

Days leading to the event -where his citation was read by Executive Director, Tell Magazine, Ademola Oyinlola, former diplomat, polyglot and master of ceremonies, Femi Segun, and popular actor and broadcaster, Yemi Sodimu – he was not informed about the Encomium White Gig event.

According to sources, the pressure for him to adorn a white ensemble was intense as he ignored all pleas, choosing instead the most colourful attire in his wardrobe. He later acknowledged that if he had been told, he would have complied with the dress code.

Full of gratitude for the recognition, Femi Kuti was emotional as he responded to the citation and honour.

An interview session, anchored by sister, Yeni, took all by surprise as she quizzed her brother and Afro-beat king. With three questions about his fourth Grammy Awards nomination, Yeni turned into a journalist that evening of fun and pleasure.

Decked in white trousers and blouse combo, she was a picture of professionalism and seriousness as she kept a straight face and fired her questions. Guests were enthralled at the chemistry and camaraderie between the children of the legend of Afro-beat and one of the greatest musicians that ever lived, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

It was a colourful moment at the six-hour extravaganza, which has emerged as  one of the biggest, grandest and classiest white party. Celebrating Encomium’s 16^th anniversary, the Christmas party was attended by stars of movies and music, television and comedy, as well as entrepreneurs, professionals and politicians.

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By Aramide Oikelome  -   Lagos

The District Superintendent of West and Central Africa of the Apostolic Faith, Rev. Emmanuel Adebayo Adeniran has reiterated that the passionate desire for the restoration of the country’s good old days might be a mirage after all unless there is a conscientious move by both the leadership and followership to return to God.

The cleric made this known to journalists at the end of the annual Christmas Concert which was held at the Anthony Village headquarters of the church on Sunday.

Adeniran, a crusader against corruption in the country, prayed for restoration of peace in the country owing to the state of insecurity that engulfed the country through the activities of the insurgents.

“My goodwill message is that the great God of peace will fill this country, every home, woman, man with the peace that only He can give. I’m praying that the Lord God of heaven, this Christmas, will protect all Nigerians as they travel here and there, to enjoy this season.

“But beyond that, let Nigerians open their heart and homes and places of work to God and let the quickening spirit of God delivers us from the scourge of corruption.

“We have examples of nations that returned to God and He repaired those nations. It is time to turn to God by both leadership and followership. I have hope that this nation can still be blessed. We are victims of ourselves. I wish all Nigerians a most wonderful year.”

On the state of the nation, Adeniran hinted that nation building is a joint effort. He urged Nigerians to live the onerous task to political leaders alone but unite to move the nation forward.

“The state of the nation is one that says that both we and our leaders should look up to God now because we have become our own enemy. We have been giving a good land, we are supplied with rain all the time and good things of life but we are using our own character, behaviour to destroy the good things that God has provided for us.

“It is obvious the nation is facing election and so many things with attacks here and there. And it is obvious that men are failing us but God will not fail Nigerians. If we turn to God, He will return wonderful things to our country. I believe God has a great plan for Nigeria.

Continuing, “The hundred years of nationhood means that we should at this time not to make another mistake; we should return to God and the glory of the country shall be restored.

Asked to comment on the judgement of life imprisonment handed down some arrested terrorists, the Apostolic Faith leader simply retorted: “If we would think of given blood to blood, we will lose the compassion of Christ.

“None of us is qualified to live with either a big sin or a small sin. All men, by reason of sin in their lives, are qualified to die. But it is the mercy of God that spared the life of us all.”

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Alero Benedicta Adegbenro, a grandmother and accomplished businesswoman, is cosmopolitan lady, but depicts no uncouth excesses of city ladies, despite living in major Nigerian cities of Warri, Ibadan and Lagos in her teens, and in Kaduna when she did the compulsory National Youth Service in 1986, after her university education in Europe. She spoke with Senior Reporter, ANTHONIA SOYINGBE, on challenges of motherhood, how marriage can be spiced up, idyllic youth and what can paper cracks in marriage.

Motherhood is a state or status many women dream and realise easily without adequately preparing for the responsibilities that come with it; therefore it is not surprising that many mothers are too careless and perfunctory in child nurturing. Even Adegbenro has observed that many women are reluctant to correct their children or look into the ‘wardrobe’ of their life to know what it houses. Mothers (singles inclusive), she says, should protect, correct, punish and show love to the child while socialising him to be a responsible member of the human race.

“It is patently sacrificial because everyday they are concerned with the welfare of their children, husbands, neighbours, friends and relatives,” she states.

According to her, becoming a good wife, mother and homemaker and an achiever professionally is “not by our strength, but through the help of God. The power of God always abound in a faithful woman, but being faithful includes putting God in the picture, being honest with self and others, being respectful, responsible and reliable. But one needs the grace of God and wisdom from one’s experience of life to marry all these.”

But as women compete in the race of life with men, what can protect them against falling into money, fame and power traps? She says, “Money could be tempting, and ambition could be healthy or dangerous. However, if a woman achieves her dream through reprehensible means, then she is on her way to entanglement in a deadly trap.”

For the mother who looks things through the prism of religion, a woman is ripe to eye political posts once she has responsibly taken care of her husband, children and her home. “She can then aspire to high heavens – presidential, governorship, ministerial positions or a place in any of the several multi-million dollar organisations.”

The businesswoman adds a caveat: “She must be faithful as she moves on the ladder to her prosperity.”

However, if by a quirk of fate an ambitious woman fails or falls, the former banker’s advice is that she should look inwards. “Inward-looking after a misfortune in business or marriage may be a blessing after all, if it identifies the problem and therapies for its cure,” she remarks.

She illustrates with the mirror. “When we look at the mirror, what do we see? Therefore, self-examination, self-assessment, self-correction, self-modification are what a woman needs to stabilise her any time she flounders.

Though many think discourteous treatment of women is a black man’s ill, Adegbenro declares that male chauvinism or male braggadocio is a global phenomenon. She argues: “Even in Europe and America, despite their developed culture of politeness, kindness and unselfish behaviour, especially by men towards women, there are still cases of wife battery by hot-headed husbands and assault on women by many pig-headed men. Also, over there, just like here, ‘barricades’ are placed on women’s path to greatness; but if by dint of pure determination a woman becomes an achiever, nobody denies her honour and respect because their system recognises meritocracy.”

The well-groomed modest grandmother, who confesses she hasn’t enough facts on why few women are in elective and appointive offices in Nigeria despite the mantra of affirmative action by different governments, is however critical of the mindset of the African man because “he tends to be more domineering and patriarchal. In any society where a large population of such men exists, they may feel a little uncomfortable and combative when a woman successfully clears all roadblocks to become accomplished.”

She believes that love, the force that welds hearts or oils the wheels of romantic relations, is not a myth, but stresses that lack of wholesome communication between husbands and wives results in marriages going sour.

“Love is communication or expression, but the way we define love and handle it matters. With unconditional love, couples live in harmony. Ideally, true love grows stronger the more the marriage lives. To live in love is to live in joy.”

Polygamy, infertility and infidelity, she cites, destroy marital unions, but thinks if couples reflect and discuss the problem amicably, a lot of barriers can be broken. But if a woman’s choice of a man proves to be a mistake, “the woman should try and understand the important lesson from her plight, pray over it and ask God to grant her wisdom to change the man.

The solution is not separation or divorce,” she warns.

Adegbenro considers the quality care provided her children as the greatest achievement in her life. With sense of accomplishment and gladness expressed by her brightened face during the chat, she told Sunday Independent: “I am proud about what they are. Although all are in higher institutions now, I am happy they have been taught good manners, acquired godly behaviour and have the fear of the Lord. Success in my life is not the returns on my business, but the dividends of my motherhood measured by the value of achievements in my children’s lives.”

The former banker, who cut her professional teeth on Nigeria Agricultural and Cooperative Bank (NACB) and other in 1986 and left in 1998 after a fulfilled career to establish a private service-oriented enterprise, Corporate Health, a natural health awareness outfit, is also a co-director of Adegbenro Farms, an agribusiness that boasts a fish farm. She confesses that her new vocation has taken her closer to her goal in life.

As our correspondent wondered what her life’s goal is, she lowered her eyes demurely and spoke solemnly as if reciting the Pater Noster: “I like taking care of people, but not like doctors, nurses or physiotherapists. As a trained alternative medical practitioner, my forte is boosting people’s health through natural medicine. I’m also into fish farming because fish is a health food. Health becomes the umbrella of my business, but my hobbies are meeting and helping the sick and the impoverished, mentoring and imparting human beings.”

Young Alero was irresistibly bubbly in her youth – sanguine, upbeat and saw only beauty and life like a romantic artist because youth is innocence and freedom. “I enjoyed my youth attending grand parties, interacting with good friends and visiting places of honour. I listened to music – classical, reggae, rock, highlife, Afrobeat and blues. I love sounds or beats that are melodious and rhythmical. Now, whenever I listen to evergreen tunes, my soul, my spirit and body do a nostalgic excursion back to the good old times,” she states.

But she was not only a music freak. “I attended concerts where I listened to orchestras and their symphonies. I was at cinemas and theatres to watch educative movies or act plays. Youth is the time you learn a lot to challenge your mind, read novels, plays, newspapers and magazines; travel to new environments and learn new things that add to your world view. But the youth of today have been pitiably robbed of the opportunity to responsibly develop themselves socially and morally by enjoying life the ideal way because of economic and social challenges; poverty and insecurity.”

Her marriage to an Egba man, she believes, is with God’s seal because she has never experienced racial stereotypes that characterise mixed marriages. She delightfully speaks further: “I am from Warri married to an Owu. I am very comfortable with my husband’s family. I don’t miss home, neither am I alienated from my heritage. I thank God for my husband’s family because they continually treat me with love like a prized pearl.”

Beyond doubt, the marriage is a happy one. Unconsciously, Adegbenro leaks the spiritual tonic sustaining the health and strength of the union. “It is the presence of God and a godly man in it.”

She expatiates: “My husband is a God-fearing man. We learn from each other God’s word, we spice our union with worthwhile experiences and we charge our love with high voltage unspeakable openness and sincerity. If all husbands see their wives as sisters, and wives see their husbands as brothers, marriages will not be a necessary evil to be endured, but God’s injunction for man to enjoy.

She, however, dropped a rider: “Friction in marriage is natural because it is a union of two personalities with different characters; therefore each of the two players must have the mind to forgive. Once friction is out of the body, it becomes free of poisons that depreciate its health.”

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* Boko Haram in focus

By Aramide Oikelome and Victor Igiri, Lagos

Religious violence in Nigeria over the years has gained attention in the recent times, most especially, as a result of the emergence of the dreaded Islamist group, Boko Haram. 

For the nation, 2013 is no exception of various religious violence that has rocked its territory, especially attacks carried out by dreaded Islamic Sect, Boko Haram, whose target is on Nigerians and on churches and mosques, which has unfortunately claimed several lives in recent times.

As the year draws to its climax, a reflection of most religious violence especially the attacks launched by this group reveals the worsening state of the country’s security, which needs urgent attention, in order to forestall further attacks.

It has been reported that violence linked to the Boko Haram insurgency has resulted in an estimated 10,000 deaths between 2001 and 2013.

Reports released recently by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom revealed, “In the past two years, Boko Haram has become the primary perpetrator of religiously-related violence and gross religious freedom violations in Nigeria. Boko Haram’s targets include churches, individual Christians, Muslim critics, and persons engaged in behavior deemed “unIslamic,” as well as northern elders, schools, police stations, government buildings, newspaper houses and banks. International Criminal Court prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda in November 2012 and August 2013, stated that there is a “reasonable basis” to believe that Boko Haram has committed crimes against humanity in Nigeria.

Since January 1, 2012, Boko Haram’s religiously-motivated attacks are detailed as follows:

50 churches were bombed, burned, or attacked, killing at least 366 persons;

31 separate attacks on Christians or southerners perceived to be Christian, killing at least 166 persons;

23 targeted attacks on clerics or senior Islamic figures critical of Boko Haram, killing at least 60 persons; and 21 attacks on “un-Islamic” institutions or persons engaged in “un-Islamic” behavior, killing at least 74.”

Since its inception in 2009, this sect has carried out several attacks on Nigerians which has received several criticisms both locally and internationally.

As a result of these attacks, in May 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states where he deployed the Nigerian Army.

In December 2011, President Jonathan previously declared a six-month state of emergency in six northern states.To also fight terrorism in the nation, the Nigerian government has initiated some non-military responses to the Boko Haram threat, including offers for peace talks and the formation of a committee to explore amnesty for Boko Haram militants.

An online source revealed the timeline of Boko Haram attacks and related violence in 2013 as follows:

December 9, 2013: The Nigerian Human Rights Commission summoned security chiefs over the 19 September killings of eight squatters in a raid on an uncompleted building in the Apo area of Abuja. President Jonathan lends support to the creation of an African rapid reaction force, which could help tackle the BH insurgency.

28 November 2013: BH insurgents kill 17 residents of Sabon Gari Village, in Damboa District, 90km from Maiduguri, during a raid in which over 100 shops and several vehicles were burned.

23 November 2013: BH gunmen killed 12 residents, burnt several homes and stole vehicles in an attack on Sandiya Village, 85km outside Maiduguri. It is a response to the villagers’ alleged collaboration with troops.

21 November 2013: Suspected BH gunmen kill three vigilantes in the Kasuwar Gwari area of Yola for their collaboration with troops. Gunmen killed four policemen in an ambush on a police patrol vehicle in the Bauchi State capital, Bauchi. Wahabi Islamic group Izala called for the release of Mohammed Nazeef Yunus, a lecturer of Islamic studies arrested for being an alleged BH spiritual leader in central Kogi State. Izala insists he was framed.

4 November 2013: Dozens of BH gunmen on motorcycles and in pickups killed 27 people and burnt down 300 homes in a raid on Bama, a town in northeast Borno State. Twelve people were injured in the raid, according to a local official.

3 November 2013: A BH attack on a wedding convoy killed more than 30 people, including the groom, along Bama-Banki highway, while the convoy was returning from Michika in neighbouring Adamawa State. In a video, BH leader Abubakar Shekau claimed responsibility for the 24 October attack on a military base and police facilities in Damaturu.

31 October 2013: BH gunmen killed 13 passengers in an ambush on a commercial bus in Bama District.

24 October 2013: BH gunmen in military uniform launched coordinated attacks on a military barracks and four police facilities in Yobe State capital Damaturu. Scores were killed, including 35 men in army uniform. It is not clear if the 35 were BH gunmen or Nigerian soldiers.

28 September 2013: BH gunmen opened fire in a dormitory at the College of Agriculture, in the town of Gujba in Yobe State, while students were asleep. Forty students were killed.

25 September 2013: Gunmen killed a priest and two children in an attack in a church in Dorawa Village, in northeastern Yobe State, burning the church and two nearby houses. BH’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, appeared in new video claiming responsibility for several attacks and mocking the 19 August 2013 military claim that he might have been killed. The Nigerian Army said it is trying to verify the authenticity of the video.

20 September 2013: BH gunmen attacked Bulabulin Ngaura village, outside Maiduguri, killing 14 residents.

17 September 2013: BH gunmen killed 142 people and burnt dozens of homes in coordinated attacks on the town of Benisheikh in Borno State. BH gunmen dressed in military uniform used assault rifles, rocket launchers and anti-aircraft weapons in the attacks.

15 September 2013: Suspected BH gunmen attacked a meeting of a local vigilante group in the town of Gamboru Ngala, in Borno State, on the border with Cameroon. They killed 17 people, including the vigilance leader and a local chief supporting them.

14 September 2013: Vigilantes from the town of Biu in Borno State killed four BH members who fled to Michika in neighbouring Adamawa State during a raid. Seven other sect members were arrested in the raid. A policeman shot dead a vigilante following an argument over a traffic infraction, leading to street protest by vigilantes.

11 September 2013: Gunmen with explosives and rocket-propelled grenades attacked a police station in Ga’anda village in northeast Adamawa State, killing two officers and injuring another. The police station was burned in the attack.

10 September 2013: Nigerian troops killed 10 BH gunmen after launching an air strike in the Konduga area of Borno State in which two BH camps were destroyed.

5 September 2013: BH gunmen dressed as traders open fire on a market in the town of Gajiran, 85km from Maiduguri, killing 15 people.

31 August 2013: BH gunmen killed 12 nomads who storm Boko Harma’s hideout to avenge the killing of two herders killed by the insurgents following a previous attack on Yaguwa village in Damboa District of Borno State. BH gunmen disguised as soldiers shot dead 24 vigilantes, who were combing Monguno Forest in Borno State in search of the insurgents.

16 August 2013: BH gunmen opened fire on civilians and a police station in Konduga, killing 11 people.

11 August 2013: BH gunmen stormed a mosque and opened fire on worshippers just before morning prayers, killing 44 people. It accused the community of cooperating with soldiers in the arrest of sect members, prompting an exodus of residents from the town.

10 August 2013: BH insurgents killed 12 residents in Ngom village near Konduga. The attackers shot dead or slaughtered their victims after retiring to their homes.

5 August 2013: Explosions and gunfire raged overnight between BH gunmen and troops in the town of Gamboru Ngala, in Borno State. The military in Yobe State placed a round-the-clock curfew on Potiskum, the state’s commercial hub, amid a huge military deployment ahead of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday. Factional leader of BH Muhammad Marwan claimed responsibility for the 29 July bombings of two open beer gardens in Kano, which killed 24 people.

27 July 2013: BH gunmen killed more than 20 civilians, mostly fishermen and traders. The attack was a reprisal for an attack on them by a vigilante group in Dawashe village, near the town of Baga in Borno State.

26 July 2013: BH gunmen killed 23 youth vigilantes, called the “Civilian JTF”, fighting the insurgents in an ambush near the town of Mainok, 58km from Maiduguri. The vigilantes were returning to Maiduguri, with some suspected BH members arrested in Mainok.

6 July 2013: BH gunmen attacked a government secondary school in Mamudo in Yobe State, killing 41 students and a teacher and setting dormitories on fire. The military arrested the chairman of the ruling All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in Borno State, Othman Mala, over suspicion of BH links.

29 June 2013: BH gunmen sacked seven hill communities in Gwoza District, forcing residents to flee into neighbouring Cameroon and other far-flung areas.

7 May 2013: BH launched coordinated attacks in the northeastern town of Bama against security formations, killing 55 people and freeing 105 inmates.

5 May 2013: A group of gunmen stormed Njilang village in northeast Adamawa State, killing ten residents in attacks on a church and a market.

3 May 2013: A former Nigerian oil minister, Ali Monguno, was kidnapped by gunmen who stormed his vehicle outside a mosque in the restive city of Maiduguri.

22 March 2013: Twenty-five were killed in northeastern Adamawa State when attackers blast a jail, a police station and a bank with bombs, machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Some 127 prison inmates escaped during an attack on the jail house in Ganye town.

17 February 2013: Two BH gunmen and two civilians were killed in a shootout between gunmen and soldiers at a checkpoint in Nigeria’s northern city of Kano. A first contingent of 80 Nigerian troops departed for Mali as part of a UN-mandated African force to help the country battle Islamists who were believed to have forged a close alliance with BH.

The term “Boko Haram” is derived from the Hausa word, “Boko” which means Western education, and “Haram”, meaning “sin”. Figuratively, the name, loosely translated from Hausa, means “Western education is forbidden”. The group earned this name by its strong opposition to anything Western, which it sees as corrupting Muslims, though this interpretation of the name is still disputed, and locals who speak the Hausa are unusual what it means.The group regards the federal and northern state governments, as well as the country’s political and religious elites, as morally corrupt. It further rejects the West and the secular state, seeking the universal implementation of “pure” Shari’ah law to resolve the ills northern Nigerian Muslims face. While the 12 northern Nigerian states already apply Shari’ah in their jurisdictions, Boko Haram believes that it has been corrupted by politicians for their own purposes.

This group is an Islamist jihadist and takfri militant organization based in the northeast of Nigeria, and it was founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2001. The organization seeks to establish a pure Islamic state ruled by sharia law, putting a stop to what it terms “Westernization.”

It has also been reported that the group has been divided into three factions with a splinter group known as Ansaru. The group’s main leader is Abubakar Shekau.

This dreaded group exerts influence in the northeast of the country in states such as Borno, Adamawa, Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe and Kano, and the group is known for attacking Christians and government targets, bombing churches, attacking schools, police stations, and kidnapping western tourists, and has also assassinated members of the Islamic establishment.

There is no doubt that this terrorist group has held Nigeria hostage for so long, but should the government watch in helplessness as they see the lives of the Nigerian people and their properties destroyed daily as the years roll by? Though the present administration has done much to tackle the security challenge facing the nation, but the fact that the dreaded group is still perpetrating its heinous acts on the citizenry is an indication that there is still more to be done to totally eradicate this menace that has continuously ravaged the land. How well this is done in 2014 is what many are anxiously waiting to see.

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By Yinka Shokunbi

Nutritionists, doctors, teachers – even parents – can be heard touting the importance of eating breakfast. There is a common refrain. It jumpstarts your day! You’ll think more clearly!

However, it turns out there is an emerging debate among health professionals whether this recommendation holds any factual weight. Is eating breakfast actually necessary?

Greater risk for heart attacks

Some recently published clinical research may bring us a little closer to the truth. It turns out that adult men who skipped breakfast had a 27 per cent increased risk of a heart attack compared to those who regularly eat breakfast. These findings came from researchers at Harvard School of Public Health in a recent study of 27,000 male health professionals.

But the relationship here is actually quite complicated. People who skip breakfast are also more likely to be unmarried, smokers, and alcohol drinkers, and indeed each of these things is known to raise heart attack risk. Importantly, though, the Harvard researchers found that even after adjusting for these other factors, the increased risk of heart attack among breakfast-skippers persisted.

Fewer calories – All in favour?

There are, however, dissenting opinions about the need for having breakfast. Other high-quality nutritional studies have shown that eating breakfast – large or small – will only increase daily caloric intake. In other words, those who eat breakfast eat more total daily calories. A study done in the Nutritional Sciences Department at Cornell University shows that while breakfast does modestly curb subsequent cravings, in most cases breakfast still leads to more overall calories consumed. The largest survey of American eating patterns (the NHANES study) showed the same things. Potential advantages of skipping breakfast may be especially apparent when you consider a typical American breakfast. I’m thinking of the typical restaurant-style breakfast calorie bomb.

Breakfast or not – What you eat is key  

It has been estimated that 18 per cent of American adults choose to skip breakfast on a daily basis. Although the details are still being studied, many believe that time of day matters for our metabolism. For example, breakfast-eaters may have lower blood pressures and lower blood sugars, which might be attributable to healthy metabolic changes from a healthy breakfast.

But the key here remains what you eat. Breakfast should have a lot of fibre in it to curb those pre-lunch cravings for snacks. Oatmeal is recommended – preferably steel-cut oats which are rich in soluble fibre – and minimally refined cereals with lots of insoluble fibre. These low-calorie options are an inexpensive and nutritious way to ward off a heart attack. On the flip side, stay away from large servings of orange juice and any other liquid “instant” breakfasts, which are filled with sugar and extra calories. Of course, you will definitely want to avoid the common “3-3-3” breakfast (three eggs, three pancakes, three pieces of bacon)!

So who is right, Harvard or Cornell? The bottom line here is that you should eat breakfast if it does not increase your total caloric intake for the day. Ask yourself: are your breakfast choices helping you curb your snacking and portion sizes at lunch? If so, you are probably doing wonders in preventing a heart attack or stroke.

If not, maybe you should be skipping breakfast entirely

©:Johns Hopkins University

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By Yinka Shokunbi

Health experts especially cardiologists have always warned that the harder the heart pumps and the narrower the arteries are, the higher your blood pressure rises. Over time, the wear and tear caused by untreated high blood pressure can damage blood vessels and vital organs.

The last month of the year 2013 has indeed witnessed a lot of hustling and bustling in almost all cities and towns across the country with many doing last minute rush to meet up with the demands of their families as well as ‘mad rush’ to make ends meet.

The first month of the new year is also one many dread as children would be resuming schools and school fees would have to be settled as well as other expenses would have to be settled. Experts have therefore warned that unnecessary agitations could lead to build up of damage to the vital organs such as the heart and arteries.

High blood pressure—also known as hypertension—is a condition that increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, coronary heart disease, and other serious health problems. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the inside walls of arteries.

There is no absolute figure or data to show how many Nigerians suffer hypertension but according to Associate Professor of Endocrinology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Femi Fasanmade, one out of every four admissions in the medical ward is a stroke patient, a result of untreated high blood pressure or hypertension.

About one in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Yet, because high blood pressure itself usually has no symptoms, the CDC says 22 per cent of those with the condition aren’t aware they have it. That’s why getting your blood pressure checked periodically is so important, even if you are feeling fine. Otherwise, you may not realize there is a problem until a complication arises—indicating that possible permanent damage may have already been done.

Fortunately, blood pressure is easily measured with a simple, noninvasive test. Once you know you have high blood pressure, it can be treated with lifestyle changes and blood-pressure-lowering medication.

Types of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can be divided into two broad categories based on its cause.

Primary hypertension

Also called essential hypertension, primary hypertension has no clear-cut cause, although genetic and lifestyle risk factors increase the odds of developing it. This type of high blood pressure usually develops gradually over many years. From 90 to 95 per cent of high blood pressure cases in adults fall into this category.

Secondary hypertension

Secondary hypertension is the direct result of another underlying health condition or a drug side effect. It often develops suddenly, and it sometimes causes higher blood pressure than does primary hypertension. Secondary hypertension accounts for the remaining five to ten per cent of high blood pressure cases in adults as well as most cases in children under ten years old. Secondary hypertension is broken down further into a number of types:

•Renovascular hypertension

•Hypertension secondary to other renal disorders

•Hypertension secondary to endocrine disorders

•Other secondary hypertension

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By Anthonia Soyingbe

When there is enough to eat and drink, especially when it is available at no cost, the temptation of going gluttonous proves irresistible. And what follows? Your guess is a good as mine. Hang-over! That will be the lot of many this yuletide.

A hang-over, according to Wikipedia, is the experience of various unpleasant physiological and psychological effects following consumption of alcoholic beverages and is generally characterised by a feeling of severe discomfort that may last more than 24 hours.

Typical symptoms of a hang-over may include headache, drowsiness, concentration problems, dry mouth, dizziness, fatigue, gastrointestinal complaints, sweating, nausea, hyper-excitability and anxiety. Many people unwittingly are bound to have hang-over in the name of celebrating this season.

Before alcohol renders you useless and shameless, here are some tips on how to deal with hang-over.

Drink fruit juice because it has a kind of sugar called fructose that helps the body burn alcohol faster.

Drink plenty of water and rehydrate yourself. Alcohol causes dehydration of your body cells. It would also be wise to consume a sports drink to replenish electrolytes and lost sodium. Drinking plenty of water before you go to bed again when you get up in the morning after may help relieve discomfort caused by dehydration.

Have two cups of coffee; the coffee acts as a vasoconstrictor – something that lessens swelling of blood vessels that cause headaches. A couple of cups can do a great deal to relieve the headaches associated with hang-overs. But don’t drink too much of coffee.

Eat crackers and honey. Since honey is a very concentrated source of fructose, the honey is also able to help burn off alcohol. Eating a little in the morning is another way to flush out whatever the alcohol remains.

Eat amino acid-rich food. Amino acids are building blocks of protein. Just like vitamins and minerals, they can also be depleted by the use of alcohol. They can be available in capsule form in health food stores.

Eat a good meal. A balanced meal will replace the loss of essential nutrients. Keep the meal light: no fats or fried foods.

Get some pain relief. Take a pain-killer such as acetaminophen.

Take B complex vitamins. Drinking fluids drains the body of these valuable vitamins. It can also shorten the duration of a hang-over.

Finally take time to heal and get back to your normal self.

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BurnaBoy, Basketmouth and MI

Ibadan residents could not have bargained for a more entertaining Christmas show as Globacom locked down the city with a bumper Glo Lafftafest package that paraded 17 national and international artistes in one single swoop.

Indications that the show would be the talk of the town for months to come, emerged early in the day as the audience started trooping in, in large numbers to the venue as early as 2.30 p.m. for an event slated for 6 p.m.

The expansive hall of the famous Kakanfo Inn was packed to the brim at 5 p.m. and the perimeter foyers were not spared too, just as thousands who could not get a space in the hall made use of the large screen beaming the show live.

The side attractions came from the dancing competition which was not limited to any age or sex just as the sensational and energetic choreography by the Quba Dancing Company provided a needed tonic to animate the cheering crowd.

Jimmy Jatt was simply on fire as he scratched the juke box and blended the hottest vibes in a manner that got virtually everybody in the hall rocking and grooving.

With Nigeria’s biggest comedy export, Basketmouth anchoring, the Ibadan edition of the show paraded other stars such as Gbenga Adeyinka, Bovi, Seyi Law, Bash, Akpororo, Osama, Akapella, Odogwu, Omobaba and Ajebaba. All the acts found an object of interest peculiar to Ibadan to peg their comedy sessions while the crowd were amazed to see Warri boy, Akpororo, thrilling them in flawless Yoruba.

The show also featured the Ugandan sensational stand-up comedian, Salvador, who got a standing ovation as he entertained the audience with the nuances of the people in his native Ugbokolo village. A comic character, Lagbeja, was again the hero of his jokes. Thought to be a dullard, Lagbeja sometimes threw punch lines that bewildered his teachers and colleagues. Salvador thanked Globacom for making 2013 the most memorable in his career by featuring him in all the Lafftafest shows. Salvador had won the silverware when Nigerians adjudged him as the best-in-class among the foreign comedians who performed at the mega Lafftafest shows.

While Africa’s best DJ, Jimmy Jatt, manned the juke box, the Nigerian music industry was represented by the trio of Lynxx, Burna Boy and MI. The triad, aided by the dexterity of Jimmy Jatt and DJ Lambo, turned the venue into a dance hall. The crowd rocked with them. Burna Boy particularly had a great show as he won the overwhelming sentiment of the crowd. He brought down the roof when he sang, Ni ‘badan ni won bi mi si o. It was like a clarion call. Almost everybody in the hall got up and sang with him till he ended his session.

Blazoning pyrotechnics, triggered simultaneously with a blizzard of confetti, heralded MI’s appearance on stage as the last act of the night and the 10-week sensational show. MI ended the show in a blaze of glory. Basketmouth and the cast of comedians joined MI as he did the last song, took a bow and thanked the crowd for making the evening and the entire project a massive success.

Globacom packaged the Glo Lafftafest tagged: “Invasion L.O.L.” as part of the activities marking its 10th year anniversary. The show kicked off in Lagos with the mega edition which also held in Abuja and featured top American, South African, Ugandan and Nigerian artistes.

Thereafter, the show, described as Africa’s biggest comedy show, was staged in other cities such as Owerri, Port Harcourt, Benin, Abakaliki, Enugu, Uyo and Asaba.

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By Yemi Adebisi

L-R: Achebe, Mandela and Iyayi

Even as the Year 2013 is about to roll away, the vacuum created by death of a number of writers across the world, who incidentally were great heroes and heroines, many say, would be difficult to fill.

The consolation however, according to a number of reputable icons, was that the world would continue to keep their memories through the sacredness of the works they left behind.

The first on the list was the passing away of the renowned novelist, storyteller and acclaimed father of African literature, Professor Chinua Achebe.

Achebe passed away on March 21 at the age of 82 years. The final burial of this great sage at Ogidi, Anambra State, drew the world to Nigeria as it was witnessed by presidents of nations of the world including diplomats and leaders of thought.

He was best known for his first novel and magnum opus, Things Fall Apart (1958), which has been described as the most widely read book in modern African literature.

Raised by his parents in the Igbo town of Ogidi, Achebe excelled from his tender age and became fascinated with world religions and traditional African cultures.

His other novels include No Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966), Anthills of the Savannah (1987), The Trouble With Nigeria and There Was A Country.

Achebe’s novels focus on the traditions of Igbo society, the effect of Christian influences, and the clash of Western and traditional African values during and after the colonial era. His style relies heavily on the Igbo oral tradition, and combines straightforward narration with representations of folk stories, proverbs, and oratory.

From 2009 until his death, he served as a professor at Brown University in the United States.

The tragic event that occurred to this rare gem on March 22, 1990 almost incapacitated him, if not for his doggedness and strong spirit as a legend.

Achebe was riding in a car to Lagos when an axle collapsed and the car flipped. His son, Ikechukwu and the driver suffered minor injuries, but the weight of the vehicle fell on Achebe and his spine was severely damaged. He was flown to the Paddocks Hospital in Buckinghamshire, England, and treated for his injuries. In July, doctors announced that although he was recuperating well, he was paralysed from the waist down and would require the use of a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

The death of the Ghanaian poet and diplomat, Professor Kofi Awoonor on September 21was another great disaster that befell writers’ circle in the year. He was among those who were killed by terrorists in the September 2013 attack at Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya where he was invited to deliver a lecture at Story Moja Hay Festival, a four-day event.

His work combined the poetic traditions of his native Ewe people and contemporary cum religious symbolism to depict Africa during decolonisation. He taught African literature at the University of Ghana, where he wrote his first poetry book, Rediscovery, published in 1964.

Like the rest of his work, Rediscovery is based on African oral poetry. In Ghana, he managed the Ghana Film Corporation and founded the Ghana Play House. His early works were inspired by the singing and verse of his native Ewe people.

Awoonor’s remains were flown from Nairobi to Accra, Ghana on September 25 for burial and was massively attended by great minds of the world. His other works include Night of My Blood (1971) – poems that explore Awoonor’s roots, and the impact of foreign rule in Africa; The House By the Sea (1978); The Promise of Hope: New and Selected Poems which is billed to be published in 2014.

The news of the sudden death of the writer and activist, Professor Festus Iyayi was announced at the third Muazu Aliyu Babangida International Colloquium, Minna where writers were celebrating the 58^th birthday of Governor Aliyu Babangida of Niger State.

The tragedy took place on November 12, in a ghastly motor accident caused by a reckless convoy of Kogi State, Governor Idris Wada while on his way to Kano State to attend Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) executive meeting concerning the then four-month strike embarked upon by the union.

Iyayi, a member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) was known for his radical and sometimes tough stance on social and political issues. Iyayi employed a realistic style of writing, depicting the social, political and moral environment and system. He was also a former president of ASUU. In 1988, he won the Commonwealth Writers Prize for his novel, Heroes.

Other books written by the activist include Violence, Longman (1979); The Contract, Longman (1982) and Awaiting Court Martial.

A British novelist, playwright, short story writer and a Nobel laureate, Doris Lessing also passed away on November 17.

Her novels include The Grass is Singing (1950); the sequence of five novels collectively called Children of Violence (1952–69); The Golden Notebook (1962); The Good Terrorist (1985), and five novels collectively known as Canopus in Argos: Archives (1979–1983).

Lessing was awarded the 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature by the Swedish Academy describing her as “that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilisation to scrutiny.”

She was the 11th woman and the oldest person ever to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.

In 2001, Lessing was awarded the David Cohen Prize for a lifetime’s achievement in British literature. In 2008, The Times ranked her fifth on a list of “The 50 greatest British writers since 1945”.

Lessing’s novel The Golden Notebook is considered a feminist classic by some scholars, but notably not by the author herself, who later wrote that its theme of mental breakdowns as a means of healing and freeing one’s self from illusions had been overlooked by critics.

Former South African President Nelson Mandela also died on December 5. A writer, politician and philanthropist, Mandela, would be remembered for laying down his life for the emancipation of the oppressed.

He was the South Africa’s first black chief executive, and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation.

Politically an African nationalist and democratic socialist, he served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1991 to 1997.

Mandela served over 27 years in prison, initially on Robben Island, and later in Pollsmoor Prison and Victor Verster Prison before an international campaign was lobbied for his release in 1990. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

He published his autobiography in 1995. His notable work is Long Walk to Freedom.

After suffering from a prolonged respiratory infection, Mandela died on December 5 at the age of 95 at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg.

On December 6, a 10-day mourning was declared by President Zuma. Mandela’s body lay in state from December 11 to 13 at the Union Buildings in Pretoria and a state funeral was held on December 15 in Qunu, South Africa.

Online report confirmed that approximately 90 representatives of foreign states travelled to South Africa to attend the memorial events.

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December 31, 2013, just like every other year will usher the whole world into a New Year. It is traditional for many to wake up to bid the Old Year farewell and to welcome the New Year with great expectations. Senior Reporter, Anthonia Soyingbe, in this report speaks to people on why they attend New Year’s Eve service, also known as Watch Night service.

Toyin Omogbeyin is a leader in one of the popular Pentecostal churches around, a very committed member who despite her very busy schedule tries not to miss any activity in the church. On the other hand, her husband a very liberal man believes that you don’t have to go out to a place of worship before you pray to God or fulfill God’s injunction hence he doesn’t go out to church nor any other place of worship. “My husband doesn’t go to church with us but on New Year’s Eve, he walks into the church some minutes before midnight, he appreciates God for his kindness in the outgoing year and asks for his blessings in the coming year.  I don’t know where he go that notion from but I’m not comfortable with his attitude towards worshipping God,” Omogbemi said, while adding there are spiritual implications of ending the old year right and starting the New Year well.

For the family of Segbeyon based in Badagry, Lagos State, it is an annual tradition for them to go to church every New Year’s Eve and returning from church, they pray together, eat and wine and thereafter they have a small meeting in which every member of the family talks about his or her plans and resolutions for the year.

“I just have to be in God’s presence in the last minutes of the year and also ask for his favours in the New Year. There is no better way to start the New Year than this,” Andrew Okomena said when asked why he will attend his place of worship tonight.

For Mr. Omogbemi and countless others, their next point of call after service is either relaxation points or street parties where they ‘celebrate’ the commencement of the New Year.  This according to Pastor Micheal Etepko is deception and not the best way to appreciate God for a New Year. Hear his argument, “Most of us are living life of deceptions and why go to church at all if you are going to go ‘shake your butt and drink liquor’ afterwards? Why not just go straight to the butt-shaking party? If I were you I would pick the one I wanted to do most. Don’t use church as an excuse to ease the guilt you will feel on New Year’s Day when you have got a hangover. And it is always good to start the New Year doing the same old stuff you have always done. What if you just went to church and then went home? Start off the New Year by changing your life for the better.

Faulting Etepko’s stance, Ajibola Oyebode a Lagos-based Computer analyst, said it is not a bad thing to attend church and thereafter attend street parties. And so he said, “I don’t have anything against anyone drinking and having a good time as long as they do it responsibly. I also don’t have anything against anyone attending church. I don’t see why you can’t do both. If you go to church first and then go to a party, why is that bad? As long as you are not being stupid while you’re enjoying yourself, what’s the harm? Most religions encourage their congregations to enjoy life responsibly. To be honest, I have never understood the people who need to get totally wasted to have a good time. But I don’t care to be out of control, where others don’t see it as a problem. And maybe it isn’t for them. But I like knowing exactly what I am doing at all times.”

Corroborating Oyebode’s stance against Etepko,  Eyemonu Daniel  who attaches strong importance to new year’s eve service said, “I think you have the option of choosing how you live your life and how big a role your religion and faith play in it. For me, I have attended what we call “watch night” service for over 35 years. When I leave the service and the light breakfast that follows, I go home because in my heart there is nothing out there in the world-no dancing, drinking, or other celebration- that can be more fulfilling than what I just left, but then, that is just me. So the answer to your question, as it pertains to me and how I choose to live, there is noting wrong in partaking in parties after attending church if and only you won’t sin in the process.”

“Why does it matter to participate in New Year’s Eve service?” our reporter asked Agbeke Asiwaju and she answered, “honestly the things people get offended by is like hilarious. It doesn’t mean people only live right New Years it just might mean that they have a family tradition or tradition of regrouping in church one important time a year.”

Kayode Salako of Change Agent of Nigeria said New Year’s Eve service is one of the doctrines of the Baptist church where he worships. He was born into a family in which there is a high premium is placed on attending church every 31^st day of December. “For that reason, I was born into believing that New Year Eve service is very important service for  every true Christian. So I believe in it and I attend New Year service. It is the last worship service in the ourgoing year where a grateful Christian go out to thank God for all the benevolent, opportunities and the protection of the outgoing year. I go to church to register my heart of appreciation to God for sparing my life throughout the year and to pray my way into the New Year,” Salako said.

“ I know family members who do not go to church really, but go to my grandma’s church every year to see her sing in the choir, as well as the minister’s who has been a family friend for over three decades holiday sermon. They are not bad people every other day .They just have a holiday tradition that means something to them.  I know people who aren’t even Christian but go on Easter, and Christmas out of respect for someone in their life, and for a better understanding of that person’s faith,” Grace Adeniji explained.

Whether you choose to go out to appreciate God for at least sparing your lives or to do it in the corners of your abode, it worth just thanking God for his benevolence.

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The entertainment industry in Nigeria has achieved greater heights since inception through the investment of some people. One of such persons is, Mr. Aghalieaku Benjamin Arinze, who recently sponsored, Fight of the Legend as well as a masquerade festival; He spoke with Okey Maduforo on his vision for the African culture.

Mr. Aghalieaku Benjamin Arinze

A lot have been said about your contributions to the entertainment industry in Nigeria. How did it start?

You can see that our people are gradually deviating from our tradition and what we believe in and what we should hand over to our children. When you talk about the entertainment industry, you talk about Africa and not only Nigeria or Ozubulu Community in Anambra, where I come from. Entertainment started from Africa. If you look at the Jackson family and the dance, whether hip-up or whatever, you will discover that all these things originated from Africa.

And in Nigeria, we pay more attention to football, without knowing that so many things can create jobs in Nigeria or Africa. Entertainment as a whole has several angles to it.

Take for instance the country Brazil, every year they declare more than 500,000 dollars or close to one million dollars income that comes from tourism. Then we talk about Brazil and you know that when their air line is fully booked, hotels are fully booked and all sectors in Brazil are involved you can imagine the revenue they get from foreign exchange.

All that money people come with is spent in Brazil. Entertainment is a very huge industry that gives employment. For one who has traveled wide especially to the Caribbean; I have come to understand that they believe in Africa. They crave for someone who will bring them home. I now gave it a thought that since these people are looking for who will bring them home; why can’t we do something about it?

So we had to embark on entertainment which would ultimately provide jobs for our youths and reduce the rate of crime in Nigeria. Take for instance the recent Battle of the Legend that I organized at the Oriental Hotel Lagos; during that period, over 150 people were engaged on the job.

It was my idea but people where paid and many people benefited from it. Also the Aghariaku cultural festival that took place last year December, more than 350 people were engaged and they were paid. It was monitored by the state government under the ministry of Information Culture and Tourism. I partnered with government and the cultural festival was a huge success.

I will like to inform you that people from the Caribbean Island, South American, some from America; Uruguay sent me lots of messages begging to be part of the show. The theme of the festival was our culture, our identity. You know that everybody in Nigeria is involved in masquerade festivals, and cultural dances and it all started in Africa before it went global. If you look at the Nigerian passport, what you will see are symbols that identify us as a people and these are cultural and traditional symbols. You will see Eyo the masquerade from Yoruba land. You will see some cultural troops from Nigeria, from North, West and South. That means that our Culture is rich at any level you take it to. That also shows our culture and our identity.

That was why I had to fashion out a concept that will bring Africans in Diaspora home and I want to ensure you that this is a journey that will take days to achieve. They never believe that they are still have in Africa. They want to be part of it.

Now, they are interested in partnering with me and partnering with the state so that at least every end of the year we have a place to go and a place to show case our rich cultural values and tradition. I’m going to bring them to Nigeria, bring them to my State, Anambra. It is going to be a pilgrimage every year. They want it to happen in Africa where they come from. I also want to tell you that the States are getting involved and I want to express my appreciation to Governor Peter Obi for what he has done so far. The idea of the Cultural festival is speeding but due to some circumstances we cannot do it this year.

But we are preparing a very big return for the next event. It will involve a lot of money and a lot of logistics. I also wish to apologize to Nigerians, Africans both in diaspora who are expecting the festival this year.

We had FESTAC 77 that drew a lot of international attention; are you planning a similar event?

What we are doing is larger than FESTAC 77 and I must commend the Federal Government and the organizers of FESTAC 77 for selling this idea. But with developments and modernization, FESTAC 77 would look like a dress rehearsal compared to what will happen in the next event. The FESTAC 77 was and still is very unique, but I want to assure we have indeed advanced.

Besides the cultural festival, are there other spheres of entertainment that you have been involved in?   

During that festival, we held a live show where Nigerian Musicians showed their talents and you know that music started in Africa and our Nigerian Musicians had the opportunity to show case their talents and keeping Anambra State busy, day and night during that period of the festival.

Also recently, if you Google Aghariaku, you will see the things I have been involved in. We like to do something very unique, something that has never happened in Nigeria and in the world before. What we did was getting wrestling and music together in one show and Governor Fashola was very proud of it. He did a lot to make sure the idea materialized successfully. We had the UBWF from America and we had wrestlers like Bobby Rashio and the rest of them that came to take part in the contest. It was a wonderful night of legends.

How do you see the Nigerian Film Industry? 

You will agree with me that Africa do not watch foreign movies anymore and that means that the idea has been sold to the world. Go all over the world and you will see that people have taken special interest in the Nollywood. During my last trip to the Caribbean Island and St. Martins, a man was asking me, can you make me disappear, and asked how? He explained that in African movies, it was the norm to make people disappear. I want to congratulate the Nollywood because they have done well and provided not only jobs, but foreign exchange that has improved the country’s economy.

Is it possible for you to blend the cultural festival into Nollywood?

During the cultural festival; Nollywood stars were involved. We had Chief Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo as the coordinator of the event as well as so many other actors and actresses. I can say that it is one family and it is all about entertainment. In the next festival, we are going to have about 40% Nollywood participation.

The Federal Government has been talking about projecting the image and reputation of Nigeria abroad through our culture and tradition; do you think Federal Government is investing enough in that sector?   

The Federal Government is trying. You should also know it isn’t only tourism that concerns the country. But I want to let you know that government has its own style. Government can do better in that area and they need to work with entrepreneurs and those in the private sector because they go round the world and work with other governments and businessmen and learn a lot. It will not be easy for government alone to do it and I have tried it as an entrepreneur and it was successful and I also discovered it involves a lot of time and logistics which the government alone cannot handle.

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Efe Ebelo  -   Abuja.

Hassan Aliyu is an exporter in Kano, and does a high volume of business that can grow the nation economy’s but sadly, much of the transaction he does is in cash and so there is no record for statistical data and the not becomes very difficult to profile such as exports from Nigeria. Aliyu is not alone in this category and that is why the present administration is embarking on a drive to ensure that such transactions are documented.

This is why the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) has emphasized the need for Nigerian exporters to make use of available banking channels in order to deepen the payment systems in the country and also provide relevant data as these could be used for rating.

Managing Director of the Bank, Roberts Orya who spoke in an interview, said one of the reasons why the Nigerian economy is not rated properly in the world is due to the fact that traders do not route their inflows through the banking channels and therefore there are no documentary evidence to show that they actually had such inflows.

“why are they saying that South Africa’s economy is bigger than Nigeria? It is because the level of informal trade is low in that country compared to Nigeria. In Kano for instance, you can find a man that has been trading and exporting his goods in the last 20 or more years, but does not have any documents to show that those transactions have actually taken place.

“As a trade policy bank, we thought that it would be wise for traders to document their activities, so we decided to come up, with a facility to capture these transactions. You need statistics to rate anything you are doing, because South Africa has their indices, it can be used to rate them. That is why we put some money aside to develop the market and create access and came up with the ECOWAS Trade Policy” he said.

The MD disclosed that the bank is doing its best to ensure that traders understand why they have to improve on their documentation and route their payments through the banking channels rather than make use of cash.

The bank recently announced that beginning from 2015, it would provide soft landing for Nigeria’s exports to other West  African countries to address issues in the market that relates to fear of domination by Nigeria.

Orya said this product is intended to address the psychology of the West African market in which the fear of domination by Nigeria has limited the trade potentials of the country. The mental barrier is easily removed, if like China, Nigeria provides financial incentive for its trade in West Africa.

Orya  disclosed that in the solid mineral sector, the bank is working in partnership with industry stakeholders to take formal mining off the ground again.

He said, “although mining is capital-intense, the Nigerian solid mineral sector needs more than funding. The legal and regulatory frameworks in Nigeria are works –in-progress. The Mining Act has been reviewed to reflect the ideals of all market participants.

“Nexim Bank has so far provided over 2 billion naira in early funding to help some commercial miners to develop their site in order to start operation and invite further funding from other sources apart from the long-term commitment of Nexim Bank to the nascent industry.
According to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD) 2012 data, Nigeria accounts for 64% of GDP (based on PPP valuation) of the 15 member-countries of the ECOWAS. With oil accounting for 85.6% of Nigeria’s export “products,” according to the data, and the fact that Nigeria’s crude oil is mainly supplied to the United States, we therefore have an indication that Nigeria is not doing much with regard to external trade within the West African
sub-region. As a matter of fact, Nigeria’s contribution to trade within ECOWAS is about 10%.

“This data is not an indication that Nigeria needs to retarget its exports. It means there is ample opportunity for the country to leverage its GDP relative to the rest of the Ecowas bloc to increase
its share of trade in West Africa. Therefore, the Sealink project (which Nexim Bank is facilitating to provide direct maritime links) will actually further the reach of Nigeria’s trade to Central Africa,
and through this improve our trade in Africa and beyond.

Only last month, the Central Bank took its cashless policy initiative to Wuse market in Abuja.

The Deputy Governor, CBN, Mr Tunde Lemo, who was accompanied by Mr. Charles Oputa popularly called Charlie Boy led the campaign to the single biggest market in the nation’s capital.

Lemo while speaking to journalists at the sidelines of the rally said the move was to enable the apex bank create the much needed awareness about the importance of the policy.

He said, “We have done a lot to ensure that we remove all the challenges and as we continue, challenges will not deter us.

“The fact that you go to a supermarket and then you have a challenge for five minutes does not mean the policy is not working. Do you stop spending cash because once in a while the cash you have is counterfeit? No.

“And we are also telling others that you don’t even have to have a card for Point of sales. We are rolling out rapid mobile money to make us and its part of the challenges that we are removing.”

He said Mobile money will soon become a virtual POS and with mobile money, 120 million Nigerians who have mobile phones would benefit from the initiative.

“So every Nigerian now is going to be a POS on his own apart from the fact that through mobile money you can spend, receive money. And what we are saying is that every Nigerian will become a virtual branch of a bank  because you go to your bank to lodger and withdraw money.”

This follows the end of a three-month moratorium on the charges given to customers who withdraw or deposit higher than the amount stipulated in the cash-less policy document.

The apex bank had on October 1 begun the full implementation of the cash-less policy in the Federal Capital Territory, Rivers, Kano, Anambra, Ogun and Abia states.

The policy allows the CBN to peg the daily cumulative cash withdrawal or deposit limit for individual accounts at N500,000, while that of corporate accounts is fixed at N3m per day.

Lemo had while speaking about the take off of the policy last month said any customer who deposited above N500,000 per day would be charged three per cent, while withdrawals above the limit would attract five per cent charge.

Lemo had said, “For corporate bodies, the threshold is N2m. If you deposit or withdraw any money above the threshold per day, if it is deposit, it will attract three per cent charge, and if it is withdrawal, it attracts five per cent.

On the transformation of the country’s payment system, Sanusi said tremendous progress has been made to increase the  use of electronic channels and cards.

Sanusi  also disclosed that the bank is exploring ways to support investments in satellite powered technologies as part of its sustained drive towards financial inclusion of millions of Nigerians in the grassroots.

Specifically, the apex bank boss said the bank would identify some of the companies involved in the ICT industry who could facilitate the , deployment of the technologies to the 774 local government areas in the country in order to create access for rural people’s e-payment platforms.

Sanusi, who described the modest achievements of the financial inclusion strategy since the implementation commenced about 18 months ago, as remarkable, projected that the overall plan of the regulatory financial institutions, the banks and their partners was to make Nigeria a model in financial inclusion efficiency globally by surpassing the achievements of some countries now at the leading edge of the drive.

Analysts posit that proper documentation and the CBN’s Cashless policy will no doubt assist in increasing the nation’s GDP and putting it in its rightful place in the global economy.

The post Traders and culture of documentation appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper - news,sports,politics,bussiness.

By Disu Kamor

Many people around the world have commenced the celebration of Christmas by wishing their family members, friends and colleagues “Merry Christmas”.

In the holy land where one still finds today communities of faith that stretch back thousands of years to the very beginnings of the church, there will be Christmas, but sadly it will not be merry.

For this diminishing community of Palestinian Christians who bear witness to two millennial of continuous Christian presence in the land called “holy” by much of the rest of the world, life will be hard and tough as usual under the Israeli occupation.

There is no difference of opinion that what exists in the occupied territories is akin to apartheid and if only a few days back, the entire world celebrated the life and times of Dr Nelson Mandela, who worked hard to break the shackles of the tyranny of apartheid on his people, the same people across the world should not stand by as the entire Palestinian people are subjected to worse conditions (worse by the accounts of some of the prominent leaders of the South African anti-Apartheid movement).

The World Conference against Racism (WCAR), an international event organized by UNESCO, in the edition held in Durban from 31 August until 8 September 2001 (titled “World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance”), declared the Israeli state policy of Zionism, and treatment of the Palestinians as racism. On October 4, 2006, a galaxy of 135 former presidents, prime ministers, foreign and defense ministers, congressional leaders and heads of international organizations issued a joint call for urgent international action to end Palestinian misery.

In their statement they declared that the conflict must immediately be settled in order to assure “security and full recognition to the state of Israel within internationally recognized borders, an end to the occupation for the Palestinian people in a viable independent, sovereign state, and the return of lost land.”

Times like these remind us of the commonalities of our religious heritages, both of which hold the life of Jesus Christ (AS) to be an example for humanity. The Qur’an states “Behold! The angels said: ‘O Mary! God gives you glad tidings of a word from Him. His name will be Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and in the Hereafter and in the company of those nearest to God.’”

This Christmas will once again be a sad reminder to the world and especially the Palestinian Christians that the holy land, our common religious and spiritual epicenter, remains in the grip of strife and tyranny. Roughly half of Bethlehem’s residents are Christian. Many people do not know that Bethlehem, the biblical birthplace of Jesus Christ is a Palestinian city with a mixed Christian-Muslim community, lying in the occupied West Bank territory.

U.N. reports indicate that Bethlehem has become isolated due to the policies of occupation forces. The report states that the spiritual, cultural and economic links between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, located just a few kilometres away, are nearly severed due to the construction of Israeli settlements around the city.

Other reports and survey also indicate that 78% of Christians blame the ongoing exodus of Christians from Bethlehem on the Israeli occupation and travel restrictions on the area Israel has erected physical barriers, restricted travel on roads to Israelis, and has intensified its policy of restricting the movement of Palestinian civilians.

Despite international regulations requiring Israel to ensure access to Christian and Muslim holy places that are under its control, for over 10 years, Christians in Palestine have been prevented from freely entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem for worship, and during Christmas, many in Bethlehem are prevented from travelling to Jerusalem.

For generations, pilgrims wanting souvenirs have bought olivewood in Bethlehem shops selling olivewood in manger scenes.

However, many of these olivewood stable shielding the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph are now gone. In their places, looming over the angelic family, are Israeli watchtowers and towering sections of an adjoining wall. Bethlehem is now like a small prison, everywhere you look, there are walls.

For the Palestinian Christians of Bethlehem, travelling the 10 kilometres distance to Jerusalem’s Old City is impossible without special permission.
As Bethlehem groans under Israeli occupation, Israel continues to plan how to expropriate more Palestinian lands, claiming that the land is needed for “security.” (If it was for security, they simply should use their own land!). Yet the very taking of that land is the cause of much of the resistance from Palestinians, who are Christian and Muslim, who have had enough and continue to fight back in the only way they know how. These policies not only curtail the freedom to worship, they have also had devastating economic consequences for Bethlehem and the rest of the occupied territories. Bethlehem’s economic life has become largely stagnant due to the city’s isolation, and is riddled with boarded-up shops and abandoned development projects. Its people are routinely attacked and humiliated at illegal checkpoints.

While these abominations are ongoing, many people throughout the world are already taking a pause from their daily routines to immerse themselves in the spoils of good fortune, buying presents and expensive gifts and new flat screen TVs, an X-Box video games for kids, and new cars and vacations for spouses, and commercialized crap in a feast of greed that contradicts the very foundation of their beliefs.

The Western, corporate-dominated media (most of which justifies Israel’s violence in a manner that de-contextualizes Palestinian militancy) will start to report that Israel will ease restrictions on travel to Bethlehem over Christmas as it does every year, and that it will be giving candy to pilgrims who are stopped at checkpoints.

It must be noted that such gestures are little comfort to Palestinians who live in the area all year long, and who remain under siege by occupation forces. Many of the visiting pilgrims will be fanatical American evangelical Christians who, being Zionists, believe that supporting Israel is a biblical imperative, and they flock to the holy land in record numbers to offer their supports to their Israel.

The pilgrims tour the Jewish and Christian quarters of Jerusalem’s Old City. They parade through its streets to demonstrate their solidarity with Israel. They visit Galilee, the main locale of Jesus’ ministry. They give hundreds of millions of dollars each year to projects in Israel including construction of illegal settlements on expropriated lands and, together with Zionist lobbies in America, determine a foreign policy that ensures U.S. continues to finance this structure of violence and death to the tune of more than 100 billion dollars.

Democrats and Republicans one-sidedly support Israel, seek dominance over Middle East states, they want a subservient Hamas like Fatah and have the tacit supports of repressive Arab kings that pay only lip service to the dismantling the cruel policy of occupation.

These American evangelicals rarely seek out Palestinian Christians nor care about the erosion of Christianity from its birthplace. The limitation on the freedom of Palestinians, which Israel cites as a security measure, is a form of collective punishment that mainly targets innocent civilians.
More importantly, restricting the movement of Palestinians also results in the violation of one of the most sacred human rights: the freedom of religion. Like their Muslim neighbours, who are prevented by checkpoints and roadblocks from making pilgrimage to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Christians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are denied basic religious freedoms.

Given the inhumane treatments meted out to the Palestinians, the future for Bethlehem residents looks bleak. Israel is, as they remind us often, a “Jewish State” and plans are ongoing to change the facts on ground, even if that entails ethnically cleansing the land of its rightful owners and indigenous population.

Despite its propaganda and lies, Israel does not exist in the West Bank which was occupied in 1967, except in the minds and actions of fanatics who oppose peace and who seek to drive all of the Christians and Muslims out of the holy land.

Today, all peaceable people around the world must join Christians in Bethlehem and Jerusalem in praying that the devastation and conflict occurring at our holiest sites can be overcome through remembering the significance of Christmas and the life of Jesus Christ.
It is tough and hard to be a Palestinian Christian in Bethlehem and Jerusalem or a Palestinian Muslim in the holy land at this time, but frankly it is simply tougher and harder to be a Palestinian in Palestine at any time since the start of occupation.

Many Palestinians will cry out this Christmas again for the suffering of the Christians in the holiest Christian city in the Christian religion. They will cry out and ask why do so many people sit around Christmas trees and pretend to celebrate in the true spirit of Christmas while, for the last 60years, they continue to suffer a terrible injustice, terrible trials and intense stress.

Kamor is the Executive Chairman Muslim Public Affairs Centre, MPAC, Nigeria.

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By  Antonia Soyingbe/Lagos

El-plano

To lovers of Afrobeat music, Afrobeat musician Gabriel Williams, popularly known as El-Plano who grew up under the tutelage of Afrobeat maestro, Fela Anikulapo Kuti at Afrika Shrine next Friday will release his debut single which was produced by Heartbeat by Java, brother to Jesse Kings.
After years of playing at critically acclaimed shows, El-Plano, who is a regular feature at the yearly Felabration and a former label mate of popular singing duo, Psquare, under Timbuktu Records, is set to wow his fans with the brand new single which is a blend of Soul and Afrobeat.
According to him, “this is certainly a chance for my fans to be thrilled with profound music, especially at a time when most songs are heavily lewd, lyrically. I am different in that my lyrics reflect much of my African root.”

El-Plano, whose music has been greatly influenced by the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Manu Dibango, Femi Kuti, Tee Mac Omatshola Iseli and Dede Mabiaku, also disclosed that the video would be out in the first quarter of next year.

“I was privileged to be around the Kuti family. That was where I understood the power of originality and creative ingenuity because music is not just about you going to the studio, paying one producer to give you a beat and you start coming up with words that do not make any impact on people out there. I grew up being inspired by legends. When I look at the situation around me, I don’t see any reason for singing about Rozay, Hennessey and how much gold and stuff I have, when there are people out there that can’t even afford a meal,”  the Afrobeat act who performed at the Ankara Carnival in Toronto, Canada in 2010 said.

The name El Plano derived from his experience in the U.S while playing at the Martin-Luther King Day Concert in Texas called Plano in January 2012.  “Plano is where I realized that not just Nigeria or Africa, but the world needs my music” he said, while explaining the name El-Plano.

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By Aramide Oikelome/Lagos

Pastor Johnson Odesola; Pastor Mike Bamiloye his wife, Mrs. Gloria Bamiloye at the launching of Odesola’s film at the Redemption Camp on Sunday.

It is no longer news that many Nigerians have, in recent times, expressed dismay and disappointment at the unprecedented turn of events in the Nigerian movie industry, going by its attendant negative impact on the society. Indeed, many folks are displeased at the fact that a lot of Nigerian children and youths have been misinformed and misled by the erroneous messages passed across to these young minds through the movie industry, a development which has been adjudged acceptable as it has birthed  the loss of cherished moral values in our society.

Moved by these and other factors, the Special Assistant to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye on Administration and Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola, has decided to take the bull by the horn to address some of the damage done by entertainment industry through films.

Besides, his commitment to the spiritual wellbeing and security of both children and youths in Nigeria in God has led to the birth of an educative and inspirational Christian movie titled Incurable Wound.

Speaking recently at a formal launching of the movie, Odesola, who also doubles as the RCCG Pastor in Charge of Region 1 hinted that the soul-lifting film, which was acted by renowned Nigerian Christian actors comes as a timely warning to both Christians and non-Christians alike as it encapsulates the danger of harbouring or entertaining unforgiving spirit, even when such is hidden under a pretentious smile or laughter.

Giving a summary of the story line, the reviewer at the event narrated that “The journey into the ninety-minute film actually begins with a reluctant father not willing to give away his only daughter, Derola in marriage to the man of her choice. His reason is not far-fetched; he raised the daughter as a single parent. Although he eventually gave her out in marriage, it was not a whole-hearted release; hence the marriage was marred by all shades of distress and defeat.

Unknown to many, there was some form of soul-tie between the father and his beloved daughter. In less than a year into the marriage, the couple began to witness skirmishes that lead to loss of pregnancy owing to the punches the woman received from her emotionally boisterous husband, who hailed from a poor background but was fortunate to marry a well groomed lady from an influential home.

The beans was spilled, however, by the house attendant to the bride’s father, in the hospital where her mistress was hospitalized. The attendant told Dr. Desanya how Caleb, the husband, has been maltreating her mistress back at home.

Miffed by the unpleasant story, the bride’s father rejected all entreaties and pleas from Caleb Pastor. He got engulf in bitterness, so much so that the forgiveness in his heart led to a weird sickness that defies solution both at home and abroad. The wound became healed when he decided to take the right step.”

The premiere Christian movie, “Incurable Wound”, which was shot in Nigeria and United Kingdom is a masterpiece for every serious-minded Christian to watch. The film was launched last Sunday at the Redemption Resort in Redemption Camp and will be made public today at the January 2014 Holy Ghost Night.

In his word, Pastor Odesola, a prolific writer with over 100 books to his credit said the film, which was produced by Faith-Lift Production was produced to address some of the “hidden sins in body of Christ.”

“The film is out to address hidden sins in the body of Christ which many people cannot see but is hidden in the recesses of the heart. This sin can be covered up with pretentious laughter while the hatred is within.”

He went on, “One of the things that triggered the film is the fact that the issue of unforgiveness and outburst of anger has addressed in the Church. So, I thought that instead of writing another book apart from the 100 books already published, there should be another dimension to passing across my message. This is what gave birth to the film. I am hopeful that it will succinctly pass across the message from the Lord, especially among the youth of this generation.

Odesola was blunt when he narrated the challenged he encountered in the cause of producing but also testified as to how God made them to overcome. “When the idea came, there were things I wrote down and others came along that were added. The issues of location and bringing the artistes together were quite challenging but God helped to overcome that in due time.”

He urged that Christian films, like the Incurable Wound, should be a channel to tell people that the truth can be preached without artists going immoral like the “corrupting influence of most Nollywood movies circulated in the society today.”

He assured that the film would impact people’s national life in a powerful way. “If you look at what is happening at the political scene, you will see a lot of unforgivenness around. Should any of these people stumble at the film, it will affect them in a manner that we have a plausible nation”, he said.
Odesola therefore called on church leaders and key officers to support drama ministry because, according to him, “The dynamism of the world has changed from straightforward preaching to acting, and this can be taken anywhere in the world.”

Fielding questions from reporters, Pastor Joseph Obayemi, Pastor in charge RCCG Lagos Province 8 and Pastor in charge of Region 2 submitted that the film is educative to both Christians and non-Christians.

“Honestly speaking, the film is very educative; it has depth message to every Christian. What is the essence of serving God without making heaven? And without forgiveness we cannot make heaven. The film clearly portrays God’s standard and principle,” he said.
The veteran Christian film producer, Mike Bamiloye of Mount Zion Films Production maintained that the film addressed “serious issues and problems many people are suffering from today”, which is the spirit of unforgiveness.

He affirmed that propagating the gospel through movie is a move of God, adding that “It is high time the Church of God rises up and begins to spread the good news through Christian movie.
“When pastors begin to champion the course of drama evangelism, when ministers of God begin to handle film production, then we will be able to negate the evil influence of many of these immoral movies that are commonplace on our television stations today. This is a revival”, said Bamiloye.
Pastor Nath Adejuwon, Pastor in charge of RCCG Region 17, Bauchi also postulated that the film was excellent in areas of its message content, shooting and choice of location and the way each actor and actress “interpreted their roles with corresponding body languages. We can only pray that God will anoint the producer the more, give him the grace to write more pungent stories that our generation needs.”

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The year has started on a joyous note for blogger, fashion stylist and designer, Toyin Lawani. She and her rapper fiancé, Trigakess, welcomed a baby boy in the early hours of January 1 in the United Kingdom.

Although this is Toyin’s first child for Trigakess, the new born baby is however her second child. Soon after delivery, the elated 31 year-old took to Twitter at about 8:15 a.m saying: “We started our New Year with history and blessing…1st of january 2014 and our son Jnr. is born,” she wrote. You will recall that a few celebrity friends and family gathered to celebrate with pregnant Toyin on December 8, 2013, for her baby shower. Interestingly, her fiancé, Triggakess, held his 21st birthday that same day.

Toyin Lawani announced relationship with her 21-year-old lover mid-last year after she ended her previous relationship with a Lagos State Commissioner in charge of Waterfronts, Aremo Segun Oniru. According to reports, Toyin was allegedly the “second wife” of the commissioner, who is a member of a Lagos royal family. Rumors have it that Lawani was lavished with all kinds of gift from the commissioner, even to the fury of his real wife.

The Tiannah Styling CEO eventually walked out of the relationship, leaving the commissioner heart-broken, then went on to her 21-year-old lover with whom she now has a son.

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By Nkasiobi Oluikpe  -  Lagos

Chief Peter Atanda Bajomo

For the younger ones who have a bias against most traditional stools, Chief Peter Atanda Bajomo, the Baale of Saala, Iju Grade II, has demystified the Baale stool that he presently occupies, saying there is nothing fetish or diabolical about the stool in Yoruba land.

“It is just like any other position of leadership that confers a lot of responsibility on you as the leader,” he says.  “Besides that, it doesn’t change anything in you. You are just the normal human being that you were before your installation. The only difference is that if you truly know your onions, it confers more honour and respect on you. There are no secret activities or shrine attached to it.”

Bajomo, a retired assistant chief executive officer of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), was installed the Baale of Saala some eight years ago when his predecessor passed on.

According to him, it never occurred to him at any point in his life that he was going to be a Baale. But fate saw him stepping into the shoes of his predecessor when he died. Besides being the next eldest surviving personality to the late Baale, the community saw in him, leadership qualities capable of navigating them to greater heights.

Ever since, he has been presiding over the affairs of his community as judicious as possible without any complain from his subjects.

He started as a Baale Grade III. Because of the manner in which he handled the affairs of his community, he won their love and saw himself promoted to Baale Grade II, next to the Oba, and now becoming a member of the Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Chieftaincy Committee.

Without a spike of the knowledge of how he relates with his subjects, a brief interaction with this reporter, brings out the maturity of a good leader who freely relates with everybody irrespective of class and without the paraphernalia of royalty.

“People are very free to come to me. If there are traditional rulers who frighten people, I don’t fall into that category. I open my door wide for people to feel free to relate with me,” Bajomo reveals.

“If you scare people away, how would you be able to represent their interest before the authorities,” he asks. “I am here as their representatives and to arbitrate over their affairs. I am like a father to them and they are like children to me. A good father looks for the welfare of his children and that is what I am doing for them to the best of my ability.”

Bajomo joined the LUTH management as a clerical officer. He rose through the ranks to become the assistant chief executive officer until office politics saw him being demoted from Abuja, an experience he recalls with bitterness and refers to as the saddest day of his life.

Bajomo throws a light into what being a Baale means to him. “It is a position that bestows on you a lot of responsibility to people in your domain. You are there to protect their interest in every way possible. You are their mouthpiece to the authorities. In the event of a pressing need that requires the attention of the authorities, you stand as the connecting link or middleman between them and the authorities.

Take for instance, if there is a road construction job to be done in your area. After rubbing minds with your people, you will be the one to carry their desires and complains to the authorities. Even though in most cases, we don’t get responses to these requests, as the local government will tell us, the state has not made provision for it or that they have not received money from the Federal Government. But at least, you have to play your own part.

Human beings, it is said, are the most difficult set of animals to handle. While one may be tempted to dwell on the royalty conferred by the office, truth remains that it is not easy to arbitrate over sensitive matters without being tagged as either partial or taking sides.”

But like Bajomo rightly puts it, “your duty is to foster peace between parties.  It doesn’t matter how close any of them is to you. You just have to be as fair as possible to all. But you also have to recall that you cannot do anything without God. Like the Bible says, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

“If you have the fear of God you will understand within yourself that God alone is the final arbiter to issues. You will always remember to ask Him to direct your affairs.”

Sometime, he says, “we are even more afraid of human beings than God because they are the ones we see. But remembering that there is a God who oversees all our affairs, you will be afraid to do anything that is unjust.”

Speaking of his life before his installation and the reaction of most of the younger ones towards traditional stools, he states: “It is true that the younger ones are being skeptical of some traditional stools. But in my own case, before I became a Baale, I was a Christian, teaching and preaching at the Sunday school. I was involved in all the church activities. But people believe that the moment you become a Baale, you will be serving another god. That is not true.

“My becoming a Baale has not removed anything from my relationship with God. I still worship him the same way I was doing before my installation as a Baale. In my home this morning, I did morning prayer. It is a regular routine here. Nobody can exist or live without God, if he decides that you are not going to live beyond today, you don’t have the power to alter that. So it is paramount that we acknowledge God in our lives, irrespective of the position we find ourselves. Even before you are born, He already knows you and what you will become in life. In fact, to be honest with you, I am even closer to God now than ever because He is the only one that has been sustaining me in this position.  If you have God, you are already armed and you have nothing to fear.

And if you think being a Baale makes him any less a mortal, you are mistaken because he is a complete family man who, but for health implications, watches football match with his family when it suits him.

“I have problem balancing the game and my state of mind. When I have an interest in a particular team, my mindset would be for that team to win. Unfortunately, my heartbeat increases when they are playing. So what I do is to leave the place and busy myself with some other things and will only be asking about the scores.

“I have about two friends who, while watching a match, collapsed and died. One of them is Mr. Ajala, my former colleague at LUTH. In fact, instead of sitting there and having my blood pressure rise, I would prefer to go and take beer.”

Letting us into what used to be New Year celebration in those days, Bajomo says, the only thing he and his contemporaries knew then was that on that particular day, they were going to eat rice. That was all; they never even knew they were transiting from an old year to a new one.

Bajomo was the last child of his mother, born when his parents were already nearly their wits end in life. So he had to be raised by his elder sister who was resident with her family at No. 60 Ibadan Street, Ebute-Metta East. There he grew up with his sister’s children with whom he was eating from the same plate.

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Former CityPeople Fashion Editor, Bola Akinboade-Bello has launched a new clothing line called Betyl BAT Clothing and Accessories.

It’s a ready-to-wear line, which ranges from lovely dresses, skirts, tops, tunics, troussers,  fascinators, corsages, exotic hats amongst others.

She made her entry into the fashion world with her first collection which she described as “effortlessly classy.”

This collection which accentuates the feminine contour is a blend of rich and sophisticated traditional clothing with clean and classic western cuts. The total effect is an easy, breezy delivery that celebrates the modern woman in a minimal, yet captivating way. The collection features different fabrics including adire, lace, lycra and  chiffon to mention just a few.

Akinboade-Bello’s career in fashion, love for design and unique appeal to African ladies has helped her to create the exciting collection.

Speaking on the development, the award winning style writer said she had always had flare for fashion right from a very young age.

However, her journey into the fashion industry started as a model in 1999.  She modelled for top fashion designers and fashion brands. In March 2006, she joined City People Media Group as a style writer and rose within a short period to become the fashion editor. She was the brain behind most of the major fashion events at City People Media

Group such as Ankara Fashion Show, Fashion & Style Awards, exhibitions, fashion fairs.

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As the Godwill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State’s N30 million award endowment to Nollywood has become a source of disagreement among movie practitioners, another governor’s gift is becoming the talk of the town. This time, it is a gift from Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State who recently hosted some stakeholders in the industry. Those invited included actors, directors, musicians, radio broadcasters amongst others and they all had a dinner with the governor at the Ogun State Government House.

Governor Amosun ibikunle

Since then there had been allegations that the General Manager of Ogun State Television (OGTV), Ayinde Soaga had cornered the money that was meant for the welfare of the actors. The rumour mill has also been buzzing with the allegation that some of the actors had in fact manhandled him for stealing their money.

But an aide to Soaga has made a statement aimed at clearing his boss’ name. “The man was not involved in Nollywood activity. Ayinde Soaga is not a Nollywood practitioner. He is a newsman. He is the current general manager of Ogun State Television and not governor Amosun’s aide as captioned in the false report.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun hosted Ogun state entertainment professional forum. The governor in his benevolence, considers his visitors convenience as the dinner went late into the evening, gave the forum of 58 people in attendance, the sum of N2.5m for them to get accommodation and fuel their cars as most of them came in from outside the state to attend the meeting. The Yoruba theatre artistes insisted on sharing the whole sum. The coordinator of the project, a Nollywood director, Kehinde Soaga (not Ayinde) directed that they share the sum of two million Naira and use the remaining five hundred thousand for hotel accommodation and other expenses that may arise, as the government insisted that their convenience and safety is of more paramount importance to them. They were later on checked into three different hotels in the city. The use of Ayinde Soaga’s name and picture on the report is defamatory. That he was almost lynched by actors is a blatant lie. He has absolutely nothing to do with the event and the money so given. He never got a kobo from the money,” the statement issued and signed by his aide read in part.

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Bishop Leonard Umunna

Bishop Leonard Umunna sure has tales to tell. From being a paralysed village boy, often ‘half buried’ in the sand on a daily basis to keep warm while his parents went to farm, to how he got healed, acquired some informal education and how he got a job with the Nigerian  National Shipping   Line where he served for 13 years before resigning to take up full time ministry. Today the presiding Bishop of Bible Life Church, Ajegunle, Olodi-Apapa, is not just a global preacher but also an educationist, writer, artist and a philanthropist. On this occasion of his golden jubilee anniversary in the vineyard of the lord, he shared the story of his life and its numerous challenges, including the death of his wife with SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, Aramide Oikelome

50 years in the ministry is no mean feat or achievement. How has it been serving God for these five decades? 

Serving God for 50 years is not a joke. It is thrilling, exciting, challenging and above all blessed because you are not the one doing it. If you have learnt to rely on the Holy Ghost and work with the scriptures in humility, love and apply wisdom, you will find it easy. His yoke is easy; but if you go by the energy of the flesh or human wisdom or you say you can’t take this or that then you might be in for unpleasant surprises. By the grace of God, I have never had a backsliding; I have never suffered defeat or been involved in scandal. It is by His grace; and also, maybe because of this principle of obeying God instantly and being ready for anything.

Tell us about some exciting moments you have had in this service.

Too many! Apart from my salvation experience, which turned my life around, it is also exciting when I remember how I received the Holy Ghost baptism. It was too wonderful; I have seen the days of miracles, I have seen the dead rise, the blind see, the lame walk whether in Nigeria or Pakistan, a whole train load of sick people were brought out from the hospital to our programme and God healed them. I have seen where they said they will shoot me. They shot and the bullet did not enter. I have seen them cut me. The first layer of my skin felt a little pinch of pain but after that there was nothing more. I have seen harlots stoning me. I have seen revelation of heaven and the streets of gold. So, exciting things have been with me and I am happy that the Lord has kept me till now.

How about the challenges?

The challenges have been too many but I have no regret. I have seen financial challenges too but to God be the glory that till today, I owe nobody. There has never been any challenge that God did not see me through. The challenges have been too numerous; ranging from that of hypocrisy amongst brethren to unfaithfulness. It took me 35 years to realise that a Christian, even a pastor, can tell lie because they told lie against me. It is enough to rattle anyone. How about the temptation to go the way of the multitude and join occult pastors? And because you refuse, you become a lone ranger. The challenges are manifold but by the grace of God, I have always overcome.

As a leader and mentor to many people, how is it like managing human beings?

Managing human beings is not a big issue for me. It is their hypocrisy that seems to be a challenge. When people pretend to be good and you feel relaxed, only to realise that you are already hoodwinked, then you shudder. I also believe that since God called me to raise multitude of souls, He has also given me the grace, anointing, wisdom to do it. I believe that if you are honest, competent, and obedient, God will bring sincere people around you; even though some people would try to be like Judas. A leader should be ready to make sacrifice. If a leader is focusing on God and not forcing his standard on others, he will fare well.  The people will then obey the leader because he is following Christ.

It is generally believed that there are two major areas where men of God are most tempted – money and women. How have you been able to manage your life in these areas?

As you can see, there are many women working with me and by the grace of God, I don’t have problem with them. I was a celibate before I finally agreed to marry. Of course, there have been temptations and traps set for me. Sometimes, women have been sent to come and entice me. They have even attempted to poison me but God always made a way of escape for me. Talking about money, I was to be a Roman Catholic priest. That was my aspiration and that was my first vow. It was a vow to perpetual poverty. So, now that God has blessed and lifted me, what am I looking for? I have never thought about building a house or buying a car, but see what the Lord has done for me. I have been blessed all round; with buildings, cars and many more.  I am not the one pursuing them; rather it is God bringing them in honest ways. I served the government for more than 13 years with no query, warning or suspension. I am a happy man. I am fulfilled and happy, so there is no reason for me to steal. Women and money are not my problem; rather, they are some of the instruments God uses to encourage me to do more. Here in our team, we have many virtuous women doing exploits for the Lord.

One area where people believe you have faced the greatest challenge the death of your wife. Many are wondering how you have been able to cope with that challenge, because we know how monumental such a loss can be, especially for those in the ministry. I suppose this is an opportunity to tell the world about your experience on that matter. How have you been able to manage that challenge? What are your plans for the future?

If you have known how I was born and what my experience was when the Lord gave me a revelation of hell fire, then you would understand how I am able to cope. I believe I have never had a better yesterday. It has always been good yesterday, better today and best tomorrow. For me, it is forward always.  Nothing happens to make life bitter for a believer; it is always to make it better. God foresaw my wife’s death before it happened. God foresaw that I would be born and allowed me to be born, diseased and deformed and an attempt to heal me through medical treatment lead to my death before my father’s prayers brought me back to life. And instead of me walking, I became paralysed for three and half years. I have struggled in life. I did not spend two years in nursery and primary school. I did not even see the four walls of a secondary but today; I am not only a doctor, but also a professor. These experiences are enough to tell me that whatever I meet in life, they are secondary. My standing with God is the primary thing.

Since my wife passed on, the only thing that really touched me is that if you had a partner who started the ministry with you and laboured so hard, it is only natural that you want her to be around till the end and see the glory of the latter house. Her departure is like something has been removed out of me. So, recovering from that shock was the greatest miracle God did for me as I was able to heal quickly. The second aspect is not hard. Before my wife’s exit, I have had this celibate mind. I live mostly on fruits and water. So, I didn’t find it difficult to adjust. When she was alive, my wife would hardly cook because she knew I preferred fruits, which anybody can go to the market and buy. And coming to the area of getting married or not, I answered the questions when my children came to ask some questions recently. My last daughter was insistent that I give a definite answer as to what I wanted to do and I answered that if I should marry a very old woman, which will make them (my children)  humble themselves and take her as a mother, but she may not be serviceable to me in the ministry. And if I should marry a very young lady who is very serviceable, you (my children) will feel neglected, thinking that daddy is now enjoying himself with his young wife and he would not listen to us again. So, I have decided to choose the Bible option, which says that if there be widows or widowers indeed, the church should take care of them and those that are younger should remarry. I am almost 60 years old. For God’s sake, what am I looking for again? Unless God tells me to remarry, I don’t see the need. I have adjusted.

But people like Pastor Kumuyi who is even older than you had to remarry 

Probably he wasn’t a celibate like me. He wasn’t brought up the way I was brought up and he is not in Ajegunle, where I was moved to Federal Palace Hotel Victoria Island as a missionary. My case is peculiar and different. Here is a hard ground, which God has turned from a troubled city to be a jolly city. I don’t need somebody to cook for me or take care of my children. They are all grown up and independent now. I am now a grandfather. So, I am just okay. Only God can tell me to re-marry. There must be someone that will fill the vacuum that He is seeing. For instance, when I married my wife, I didn’t want to marry, but he told me that a bishop must be husband of one wife. I am a contented man and it is only God that will tell me to marry again and I will listen but for now, I have shut that door with an iron bar. It is a principle. Immediately my wife passed on, I called all those that are working with me and I told them that I cannot marry any of them because if I do, the world will say it was that person that killed my wife. Again, others will feel robbed or cheated. So, I have shut that door. So, I am open and simple. In 1975 when God showed me the revelation of Hell, I vowed that whatever he tells me to do I will do it, no matter how it may look like. My wife died in April 2011. This is 2013 and nobody has complained or accused me of any misconduct. By the grace of God, it will never happen. My children are grown up and out of anybody’s care. They are out of the house and they are leaders in different churches and ministries. They are also doing well in their various professions. So, are they now going to come and say they need a mother to take care of them? That was why I said that if I marry an old woman who they can respect and relate to, such may not be serviceable to us in the ministry. And if I should marry a young woman, they will be finding fault with me and with her. So, the right thing, which the Bible says is that if a widow or widower is old and he has produced children who can take care of him, nobody should push that fellow to remarry. The church can help such if he has no children. That is the bible view and that is what I stand for.

On a very last note, having spent 50 years in ministry, you are no doubt a mentor to many young ministers and pastors, what candid advice do you want to give to those who want to go into the ministry or who are just starting? 

The first thing is, ‘did the fellow hear from God?’ Anyone going into the ministry should please hear from God, be sure that it is God speaking. He should also listen to godly counsel. There may be loads of youthful ideas, technology, Internet teachings and all of that but wisdom comes more from the aged with years of experience. So, they should hear from God and also consult with good mentors in the faith; not those prosperity preachers. They should listen to those who can guide them well. Even the older preachers are beginning to deviate, not to talk of the younger ones. But if you are contented, humble, teachable and God-fearing, you will wait for your time. Today, there is a lot of imitation going around. Many want to prophesy, teach, heal and deliver. The one delivering says his own is the best and the one prophesying says that he is the number one while the other one says that without money, anointing brings annoyance. My counsel is, ‘Hear from God. Remain in your place of assignment and be patient. Also, have a good mentor, be humble and wait for your time.’ God makes everything beautiful in His time. There was a time I was labouring, doing everything to excel, yet nothing was forth coming. I cried unto God and said, ‘Lord, everybody is being blessed. What about me?’ He told me, ‘Wait for your time. Wait until you are 50 and when I was 50 years old, He took me to London and America and added so many blessings to my life. Now, look at my golden jubilee anniversary in the ministry. So, if they are ready to carry your cross and obey, I mean, instant obedience, then they will succeed in ministry. If you are not ready to obey simple things, then you cannot make it. I must also warn that in order to avoid any scandal with women, do not allow this private counseling. No matter how powerful you are. That is the policy I adopt. In my case, I have a group of four sisters around me each time I have to counsel or meet people. Whosoever you are, they must be there when you come; at least two of these women must be witnesses. When I was a younger minister, I would open the curtain. It is better to be transparent because of the other person’s suspicious mind and insinuation. The bible says if your meat will make your brother to sin, don’t eat for his sake. In the area of money, they should have their own business, working with their own hands. Before I resigned from civil service for full time ministry, I had established my own business. So, they should have their own businesses or means of generating income and not depend on the church. If God blesses you with a church that is buoyant enough to take care of your needs, fine. If otherwise, then you use your finance to assist the church. But if you say God has called you to be in the church and do no other business, know it that the church is the business of God and you should do it diligently. I can show it to you both in the Old and New Testaments. Jesus Christ told Peter himself to go to his youthful profession where he took the hook to get the fish to pay tax.  Jesus himself was a carpenter before he entered into full time ministry. So, all these things I have told you have helped me. I don’t draw salary from the church or from the school and I don’t know who will say he is the sponsor of this church. No man can sponsor this ministry, whether abroad or in Nigeria. Instead, I sponsor others. You should be able to be a blessing to others. Remain a blessing to others as you are blessed. That is the secret of success in ministry.

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